We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 3. Who is the Mole, and why was Yannis laughing so hysterically at some November rain?

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.

Links:

Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol

TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel

TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 2. Who is the Mole, and should they receive an Oscar for their duplicitous performance?

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.

Links:

Four Wishes (independent Korean reality tv show) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLimMCLxaXz0Gj-2ueyEdshOaKK9mQzj_0

Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug) https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city

Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol

TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel

TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We chat with Tonda Ros (Dogubomb) one year after the release of his genre-blending room-drafting puzzlebox sensation, Blue Prince. Our discussion covers Tonda's year as the game's representative in the world; his inspirations across digital, analog, and tabletop works; cultivating player appreciation for virtual spaces; managing player hunches through playtesting; balancing lore with puzzle mechanics; comparing game development with filmmaking; and so! much! more! Kind of like the game itself, we just keep going.

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Blue Prince https://www.blueprincegame.com/

Mythic Spoiler https://mythicspoiler.com/

My Perfect Console – Tonda Ros https://www.myperfectconsole.com/episode/129

realMyst https://cyan.com/realmyst/

Digital version of MAZE: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle by Christopher Manson https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/1l9urle/website_version_of_christopher_mansons_1985/

"It Seems I Have Found Myself In Another Mysterious House" by Rob Dubbin https://roblemsolving.com/games/2025/04/25/mysterious-house.html

The Castles of Mad King Ludwig https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155426/castles-of-mad-king-ludwig

Dominion https://www.riograndegames.com/games/dominion/

Ascension https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/69789/ascension-deckbuilding-game

Blue Prince Soundtrack by Trigg and Gusset https://triggandgusset.bandcamp.com/album/blue-prince-the-original-soundtrack

Jewels in the Attic https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16608/jewels-in-the-attic

Tales of the Crystals https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9755/tales-of-the-crystals

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029120/

The Graduate (1967) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/

MIO: Memories in Orbit https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug tango with Episode 1 and share their Mole suspicions.

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.

Links:

Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol

TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel

TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Chris Plante (Besties, Post Games), Hayden "Docky" Scott-Baron (Planet Coaster), and Rand Hall (voicemailer extraordinaire, Zaga-33 guide writer) for the fourth title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Zaga-33.

This episode: Zaga-33

Next Month: Corrypt (and Lost Levels)

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/zaga-33.html

868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

The Besties https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/

Post Games https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-games/id1815131711

Rand's Zaga-33 Guide https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442555333091262566/1475568523018371295

Drop7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop7

Desert Golfing https://store.steampowered.com/app/757040/Desert_Golfing/

7 Day Roguelike (7DRL) version of Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/03/7drl-zaga-33.html

Assorted comments on Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/zaga-33-assorted-comments.html

Blog about scoring in games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/score-comment-threads-dominant.html

Brick101 Review of all 36 combo powers in Zaga-33 https://brick101.com/reviewing-all-36-combo-powers-in-zaga-33/

Blog about iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html

Follow-up blog on iOS sales numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/because-we-may-results.html

Blog on zaga, score, expressivity, and personality https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/zaga-score-expressivity-personality.html

Blog on creating advancement in roguelikes https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/03/7drl-day-2.html

7 Day Roguelike website https://7drl.com/

PRACTICE 2013: Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iswqa8r-Q

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

Recorded live from the Game Developers Conference 2026! They gave us time in the Official Podcast Box, so we made the most of it discussing the process of writing for the IGF Awards, reflecting on the culture of GDC, and even having a couple surprise guests drop in. Let's get loose!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Scripto

https://scripto.live/

Starfriends

https://shop.brainfruit.studio/products/starfriends-card-game

2026 Independent Games Festival Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoH4EmfB4Z4

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

https://store.steampowered.com/app/205730/Insanely_Twisted_Shadow_Planet/

Dustbiters

https://dustbiters.com/

Tooth and Tail

https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/

Brogue

https://sites.google.com/site/broguegame/

Caves of Qud

https://www.cavesofqud.com/

Monaco 2

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063030/Monaco_2/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

Doug and Rob are joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis) and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) chat with Ben Rausch (Team Lazerbeam) and Anja Venter (Free Lives) about the Playtopia Festival for Indie Games & Immersive Arts that they help organize. They discuss some of the Festival's origins, the logistics of producing in-person games events, the state of alt-control/arts-focused games events around the world, the relationship between South African culture and Playtopia's structure, the importance of showing the new generation how to create these spaces, the balance of growing and maintaining a festival community, and more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Playtopia Festival https://playtopiafestival.co.za/about/

Shroom and Gloom https://teamlazerbeam.itch.io/shroom-and-gloom

Jamming to map creative scenes and practices by Anya Venter https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2023.2281423

A MAZE Festival https://2026.amaze-berlin.de/

The future of public game arts festivals and non-commercial games culture by Robert Yang https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2026/02/the-future-of-public-game-arts.html

Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant https://grants.draknek.org/

Don't Get Your Hopes Up https://store.steampowered.com/app/3795490/Dont_Get_Your_Hopes_Up/

boshi's place https://boshis.place/events/

Glitch City https://glitch.city/

Blood on the Clocktower https://bloodontheclocktower.com/?country=US

Pro Jank Footy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/

Plum Road Tea Dream https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206340/Plum_Road_Tea_Dream/

Plum Road Tea Dream (Performance) https://plum-road-tea-dream.com/#performance

Dressmaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/

Cozy Lives Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cozylivesgames/reels/

Free Lives Discord https://discord.com/invite/freelives

Sex with Friends https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/3407070/

Wee Boats https://store.steampowered.com/app/3578080/Wee_Boats/

Relooted https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/

Cadence https://store.steampowered.com/app/362800/Cadence/

Starfriends https://starfriends.online

Playtopia 2025 Showcased Games https://playtopiafestival.co.za/games-2025/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

Rob and Zach chat with Joonas Turner (Downwell, Noita, Cult of the Lamb), Jukio Kallio (Fall Guys, Minit, Dave the Diver), and Jan Willem "JW" Nijman (Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Minit) about their landmark twin-stick wasteland shooter, Nuclear Throne, and its recent blowout 10th anniversary update. They discuss reopening a project after a decade, balancing through play, the decision to not implement traditional invincibility frames, the shifting culture of what makes a design "engaging," and more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Nuclear Throne https://nuclearthrone.com/

Controls You Can Feel: Putting Tactility Back Into Touch Controls https://youtu.be/OIOitNx9RHI?si=vcV3GCcsiy1W4Efr

Spelunky https://www.spelunkyworld.com/

Shoot First https://www.indiedb.com/games/shoot-first

Crimsonland https://www.crimsonland.com/

Downwell https://downwellgame.com/

Tormentor x Punisher https://tormentorxpunisher.com/

PAPERHEAD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2680280/PAPERHEAD/

Jukio's Bandcamp https://jukiokallio.bandcamp.com/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), and Harry Lee Shang Lun (Earthrise One) for the third title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Kompendium.

This episode: Kompendium

Next Month: Zaga-33

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html

868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

Liz's talk at boshi's place (Brooklyn, NYC | February 19th, 2026) https://boshis.place/events/26-02-20-boshi-s-lecture-series-presents-liz-ryerson https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2702430653

Harry's work https://hellothisismy.website/work/

Kompendium IGF judge feedback https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/kompendium-igf-feedback.html

Mutual learning blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutual-learning-aesthetic-for.html

Metagaming: Playing, Competing, Spectating, Cheating, Trading, Making, and Breaking Videogames by Stephanie Boluk and Patrick LeMieux https://www.upress.umn.edu/9780816687169/metagaming/

Multicolor Alien Olympic https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2970

Glitch Tank https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/12/glitch-tank.html

Being good at Glitch Tank blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/05/being-good-at-glitch-tank.html

At a Distance by Terry Cavanagh https://distractionware.com/atadistance/

Brough on iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html

Garbage In, Garbage Out https://jonathanwhiting.com/games/garbagein/press.html

Exuberant Struggle http://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/02/exuberant-struggle.html

Brough writing on zero sum nature of 1v1 games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-player-lessons.html

TIGSource Versus Competition https://www.tigsource.com/versus-competition/

TIGSource Versus Competition Rules https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=17083.0

TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Voting https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=18424.0

TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Winner (0space by Beau) https://www.tigsource.com/2011/03/31/tigcompo-winner-0space/

0space itch download https://teknopants.itch.io/0space

Jesus vs Dinosaurs https://grapefrukt.itch.io/jesus-vs-dinosaurs

The Impossible Reversal by Peter McDonald https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517916220/the-impossible-reversal/

Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262547390/run-and-jump/

A Is To B As B Is To C https://bocpages.org/wiki/A_Is_To_B_As_B_Is_To_C

Chesh https://www.damiansgames.com/chesh

Brough's blog post about O https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/10/o.html

Brough on the new year (circa 2012) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year-cleansing.html

Side By Side S1 E3: Kompendium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWScEl_DbpM

Earthrise One https://www.earthrise.one/

Miscellaneous Two Player iPad Games https://eriksvedang.wordpress.com/shoot/ https://rustymoyher.com/press/bloop/

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

Rob, Doug, Andy, and Sarah chat with Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Despelote) and Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, QWOP) about their (with Maxi Boch) latest game, the multi-IGF-nominated open-world hard-walking manchild simulator Baby Steps. We discuss the game's in-house approach to voice acting, balancing challenge with humor, creating (and hiding) a looping environment, telling an honest story about masculinity, including explicit content without getting banned from Steam, rock curation, secrets, and so much more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Baby Steps https://www.babystepsgame.com/

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111942/

My Summer Car https://store.steampowered.com/app/516750/My_Summer_Car/

zk map (for stranger) https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/11388

La belle noiseuse (1991) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101428/

Kelly Reichardt https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716980/

Perfect Days (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27503384/

The Taste of Things (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19760052/

NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Jane Ng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yWIoRuwpm0

DESPELOTE: FIFTH TRAILER (now on nintendo switch) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXKlgMZ3Jc

The Love That Remains (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33381401/

Solo (Australian ad) 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCkz0JsaU8k

Solo Man ad, Australia 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3RS78Tp58

Solo (Australian ad) 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1nZZrv8aU

Frog Detective 3 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1171320/Frog_Detective_3_Corruption_at_Cowboy_County/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Darius Kazemi (Tiny Subversions, Harvard Applied Social Media Lab), and Tara Macalister (mathematician, composer) to discuss Vertex Dispenser, the second game in our year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough.

Next Month: Kompendium

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Vertex Dispenser https://store.steampowered.com/app/102400/Vertex_Dispenser/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

Four color theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_color_theorem

Graph coloring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_coloring

Starcraft II https://starcraft2.blizzard.com/en-us/

Splatoon https://splatoon.nintendo.com/ Dota 2 https://www.dota2.com/home Droqen's rare color graph/explanation https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442554518092120186/1465039921147412510

lots of michael brough games https://smestorp.itch.io/lots-of-michael-brough-games

The Sense of Connectedness https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=16151.0

Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html

The End of Gameplay https://droqen.itch.io/the-end-of-gameplay

Utopia Clicker https://tinysubversions.com/game/utopia/

A Jackpot of Skulls https://brainfruit.studio/games/jackpot

_update() Jam https://adamatomic.itch.io/update-jam

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow