Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

About Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

Lightmap is an Australian Podcast Award winning show that explores the creative process of making videogames and interactive media, and introduces you to the creators of some of the most exciting titles. You'll meet developers, musicians, artists, journalist and more, so come join us here and on SIFTER.com.au (https://www.sifter.com.au)

Publisher

SIFTER

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Sept 2015

Latest episode

29 May 2026

Latest episodes

290 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 May 2026

   MINA THE HOLLOWER might look like Zelda, but prepare yourself for something different

   If you're a fan of the Gameboy era Zelda games, MINA THE HOLLOWER (https://www.sifter.com.au/games/mina-the-hollower)would have caught your eye. When you found out it's the team behind SHOVEL KNIGHT, I bet you got pretty excited. Well David D'Angelo and Nick Wozniak developers on the game say don't get it twisted, while the game is inspired by Link's Awakening and Oracle of Ages and Seasons, it's a different take on the top-down adventure. In this episode of Lightmap we learn about the balance between nostalgia and modern gameplay, why adding the modifiers and accessibility features were core to the game and make sure it was spooky enough. Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings (https://pocketcasts.com/ratings) Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade (https://www.sifter.com.au/arcade) to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled. You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by ☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ (https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ) 👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/ (https://sifter.store/) 💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord (https://www.sifter.com.au/discord) SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/kyle-pauletto), Fiona Bartholomaeus (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/fiona-bartholomaeus), Adam Christou (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/adam-christou), Chris Button (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/chris-button), Naomi Jackson (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/naomi-jackson). Cat Jahne (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/cat-jahne) and Mitch Loh (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/mitchel-loh) are Senior Producers and Gianni Di Giovanni (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/gianni-di-giovanni) is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

2. 

   20 May 2026

   Will Obsidian ever get the chance to make another FALLOUT game after NEW VEGAS? Josh Sawyer answers

   Game design legend Josh Sawyer sat down with Roy Wagner at PAX Australia to talk about his journey into the industry, from being a fan of Black Isle Studios to eventually working on the games that inspired him. Sawyer digs into the tension between indie and AAA development and why studios like Obsidian still make smaller, experimental projects like PENTIMENT (https://www.sifter.com.au/games/pentiment). We also chat about the big question everyone wants to know: Could Obsidian make another Fallout now that they sit under the same Microsoft umbrella as Bethesda? Sawyer shares how much cross pollination actually happens between the studios and whether Microsoft keeps them separate. Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings (https://pocketcasts.com/ratings) Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade (https://www.sifter.com.au/arcade) to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled. You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by ☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ (https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ) 👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/ (https://sifter.store/) 💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord (https://www.sifter.com.au/discord) SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/kyle-pauletto), Fiona Bartholomaeus (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/fiona-bartholomaeus), Adam Christou (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/adam-christou), Chris Button (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/chris-button), Naomi Jackson (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/naomi-jackson). Cat Jahne (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/cat-jahne) is Social Producer, Mitch Loh (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/mitchel-loh) is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/gianni-di-giovanni) is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

3. 

   16 Apr 2026

   Alanah Pearce has a plan to stop Hollywood gatekeeping game adaptations

   In the entertainment industry, a triple threat refers to someone ridiculously talented at acting, singing and dancing. So, what does that make Alanah Pearce, the Australian video game writer, actor, content creator, film producer, and one-time boxer: a quintuple threat? The Dispatch voice actor recently announced Charred Pictures (https://www.charredpictures.com/), a production company that helps indie game developers adapt their work for film and TV while retaining creative control — adding yet another string to her bow. Traditionally, Hollywood adaptations of video game franchises take advantage of recognisable characters and settings, while leaving the original creative vision behind. Alanah has a plan to let game developers have more say about how their work gets adapted: and there’s already more demand than she can keep up with. Ahead of her appearance at (https://powerhouse.com.au/program/alt-games)ALT GAMES (https://powerhouse.com.au/program/alt-games) in Sydney, Alanah spoke to SIFTER to discuss all things indie development, what Hollywood can learn from video games, and the importance of community. Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings (https://pocketcasts.com/ratings) Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade (https://www.sifter.com.au/arcade) to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled. You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by ☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ (https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ) 👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/ (https://sifter.store/) 💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord (https://www.sifter.com.au/discord) SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/kyle-pauletto), Fiona Bartholomaeus (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/fiona-bartholomaeus), Adam Christou (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/adam-christou), Chris Button (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/chris-button), Naomi Jackson (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/naomi-jackson). Cat Jahne (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/cat-jahne) is Social Producer, Mitch Loh (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/mitchel-loh) is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni (https://www.sifter.com.au/author/gianni-di-giovanni) is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

67

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

81

Contact Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.