Rebroadcast - Episode 97 - Justin Ma & Matthew Davis AKA Subset Games

Checkpoints

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that have forged connections & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guests on today's show are the creators of the amazing FTL and the upcoming Into the Breach, Justin Ma & Matt Davis AKA Subset Games.

We talk about how they both moved to China to get their first job in games, working at 2K in Shanghai, and how they got to know each other as desk mates and eventually, inspired by weekly board game sessions, decided to try and make a game together. That chance meeting led to one of my favourite games of the past ten years, FTL.

This episode is packed. We talk about both of their early video game loves like Full Throttle and X-Wing, what it was like for Justin growing up with a dad who worked at Activision, how Matthew rediscovered boardgaming in college which ultimately, set him on a path to China and back again.

We also talk a lot about their creative relationship, the upcoming Into the Breach, and a whole bunch about the development of FTL including the boardgame influences, the impact of the kickstarter and how they wanted to make players feel like Jean Luc Picard.

"Engage."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE - SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: X-Wing, Mech Warrior, Mortal Kombat, Legend of Zelda, Mario 64, Rez, Full Throttle, Fallout, Planescape, X-Com, System Shock 2, Spelunky, Papers Please, Portal, Prey, PUBG, Advance Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones