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Instadeath Survivors Support Group

Instadeath Survivors Support Group

By Brian Hazzard

A podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them.

ISSG Features in-depth interviews with authors of modern gamebooks and highlights of gamebook community happenings.
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Currently playing episode

The Fires of Chaterra (Play Session, Part 1)

Instadeath Survivors Support GroupApr 26, 2022

00:00
49:44
Lone Wolf: The Wolf Pack
May 17, 202212:26
The Fires of Chaterra (Play Session, Part 2)
Apr 28, 202238:33
The Fires of Chaterra (Play Session, Part 1)
Apr 26, 202249:44
Lone Wolf: The Future of Magnamund (w/ Ben Dever & Vincent Lazzari)
Apr 13, 202215:19
Lone Wolf: The Story So Far (w/ Ben Dever & Vincent Lazzari)
Mar 29, 202220:24
Technology in TTRPGs w/ Jeremy Morgan (Pericle)

Technology in TTRPGs w/ Jeremy Morgan (Pericle)

S02E12 - Jeremy is back to talk about technology in a space that celebrates the analog. What can apps bring to ttrpgs? Can software replace a game master? Long Dog Games thinks it can do that and more. Listen to learn one possible vision of a future where analog and digital work together to create one rich tabletop gaming experience.

Mar 24, 202212:39
Why we play TTRPGs - with Jeremy Morgan (Pericle)

Why we play TTRPGs - with Jeremy Morgan (Pericle)

Jeremy Morgan is back to chat about why we play TTRPGs. This is a fun conversation that kinda rambles all over the place. 

Check out the video version on the Youtube channel at https://youtu.be/WEvvhSEqIGs

Mar 15, 202212:34
Learning from a failed Kickstarter - A discussion with Jeremy Morgan of Long Dog Games (Pericle)

Learning from a failed Kickstarter - A discussion with Jeremy Morgan of Long Dog Games (Pericle)

S02E10 - We're back with Jeremy Morgan from Long Dog Games, and today we're going to get into some of the history of Pericle, including their first attempt at Kickstarter and how that's taken them to today, as they're launching their new campaign for Pericle: Gathering Darkness.

Jeremy said of their first campaign "We're a bunch of game geeks...Lifelong lovers of games. We're authors, we're artists, we are game creators. The one key thing that was missing is nobody on the team really had any knowledge of crowdfunding at all. We didn't have advertising knowledge. And so what we saw in our first Kickstarter was the people who were with us were like stoked for this game. They thought that  it's a really great idea; this is pushing the boundaries of tabletop RPGs. But our problem was that we spent about $4,000 total in ads and anybody listening, who knows anything about that knows that that's just not enough to do hardly anything with."

Pericle: Gathering Darkness is on Kickstarter from March 9th - April 9th, 2022. https://www.periclethegame.com

Mar 10, 202218:25
Jeremy Morgan: A TTRPG with an app as a GM (Pericle)
Mar 08, 202217:00
Gamebook Digital Releases, with Stuart Lloyd

Gamebook Digital Releases, with Stuart Lloyd

S02E08 - Stuart Lloyd stops by to chat about recent digital releases in gamebooks. Always a blast to chat with THE Lloyd of Gamebooks.

Check out Stuart's blog: http://www.lloydofgamebooks.com/

Mar 03, 202214:31
Recent Gamebook Releases with Stuart Lloyd

Recent Gamebook Releases with Stuart Lloyd

S02E07 - For this short bonus episode, I chat with Stuart Lloyd about recent gamebook releases. So many great gamebooks are being released. Lots to be excited about.

Mar 02, 202210:09
Steam Highwayman Playthrough - Session 4
Mar 01, 202219:14
Steam Highwayman Playthrough - Session 3
Feb 24, 202221:20
2022 Gamebook Events with Stuart Lloyd

2022 Gamebook Events with Stuart Lloyd

S02E04 - For this short bonus episode, I chat with Stuart Lloyd about gamebook related events coming up in 2022. Mark your calendars!

Feb 23, 202206:37
Steam Highwayman Playthrough - Session 2
Feb 22, 202212:59
Steam Highwayman Playthrough - Session 1
Feb 17, 202217:14
Martin Noutch (Steam Highwayman)
Feb 16, 202244:17
Xmas Special - Twas the Krampus Night Before Christmas
Dec 19, 202101:29:55
Oct-Nov 2021 Gamebook News w/ Stuart Lloyd

Oct-Nov 2021 Gamebook News w/ Stuart Lloyd

This is an in-between-seasons episode. Friend of the show Stuart Lloyd stopped by to give us the news! We'll learn what several of the previous guests of the show have been up to over the last year... plus I have too much fun with sound effects.

Dec 06, 202149:30
Jamie Thomson (Fighting Fantasy, Falcon, Way of the Tiger, Fabled Lands)

Jamie Thomson (Fighting Fantasy, Falcon, Way of the Tiger, Fabled Lands)

For this ad-free finale episode, I sit down for a chat with gamebooks legend, Jamie Thomson. He’s authored or co-authored many of he classics, and he’s responsible for entire new subgeneres. During his career spanning almost 40 years, he’s written standout entries in several classic series, including Fighting Fantasy, Falcon, Way of the Tiger, and Fabled Lands, among others.

Thanks for listening to season 1. I look forward to bringing you new content in a new format in season 2, and continue exploring the world of interactive fiction with you.

Nov 16, 202101:00:14
KJ Shadmand (The Island of Doctor Moreau: An Interactive Adventure)
Nov 04, 202144:33
The Island of Doctor Moreau by KJ Shadmand - Part 2
Sep 04, 202145:13
The Island of Doctor Moreau by KJ Shadmand - Part 1
Aug 16, 202152:11
Simon Birks (Arcane Rites)
Aug 02, 202130:27
Arcane Rites: Cult of the Pajoli, Part 2
Jul 22, 202145:40
Arcane Rites: Cult of the Pajoli, Part 1
Jul 08, 202152:40
Epic Gamebook Collections

Epic Gamebook Collections

For episode 14, I spoke with two of my friends from the online gamebooks communities on Facebook. Louise and Michael have HUGE and unique gamebook collections. So we chatted about their approach to collecting, and what motivates them to collect.

Louise's Gamebook Collection Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/966525794108599

Jun 28, 202142:26
S01E13 - Infected Play-through (James Schannep's Click Your Poison)

S01E13 - Infected Play-through (James Schannep's Click Your Poison)

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath

S01E13: For episode 13, Andrew is back for another play-through. In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Infected by James Schannep, we’ll brave the harrowing, and often  hilarious post apocolyptic zombie thriller that was Mr. Schannep’s first gamebook which kicked off the entire Click Your Poison series. Will Andrew save humanity, or shamble ravenously for all eternity? That’s going to depend on the choices Andrew makes.

James's Blog

Get the 10th anniversary hardcover edition of Infected on Amazon

Jun 11, 202101:00:06
Peter Blenkharn - (CEO of ITB games, publishers of Alba)
May 30, 202101:04:39
Jon Lunn (Spidermind Games, Legendary Kingdoms)
May 21, 202101:04:54
Samuel Isaacson (The Entram Epic, Escape from Portsrood Forest)
May 10, 202143:49
Psycho Killer Playthrough

Psycho Killer Playthrough

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath

S01E09 - For episode 9, I bring on my brother in law for some stabby stabby action playing through David Lowrie’s horror gamebook Psycho Killer. Can Andrew get out of the building alive before his murderous pursuer brings him to his gruesome end… That depends on Andrew’s endurance, strength, agility, intelligence, charisma, and fortune… but most of all, the choices he’ll make.

WARNING: This episode contains gruesome scenes of violence and death... and several curse words. Listener discretion is advised.

Psycho Killer on Amazon

Black Dog Gamebooks on Facebook

May 01, 202101:12:59
Dr. Graham Wilson - Bruidd (Rise of the Ancients)

Dr. Graham Wilson - Bruidd (Rise of the Ancients)

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath


S01E08 - For episode 8, I talk to Dr. Graham Wilson. Dr. Wilson is a computing lecturer at Moray college UHC in Scotland. He's a long time game book fan has written academically about branching narratives... And now he's a game book author. He published book one of Rise of the Ancients in 2020, the first in a seven book series.


Rise of the Ancients Facebook Page

Bruidd on Amazon

Bruidd on DriveThroughRPG

Apr 24, 202141:30
James Schannep - Spied (Click Your Poison)
Apr 17, 202132:32
David Lowrie - Black Dog Gamebooks (Shadow Thief, Straight to Hell, Psycho Killer)
Apr 11, 202138:10
Playthrough of Escape from Portsrood Forest, by Samuel Issaacson

Playthrough of Escape from Portsrood Forest, by Samuel Issaacson

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath

S01E05 - For episode 5, I bring on my buddy Joe to play through Samuel Isaacson’s Escape from Portsrood Forest. Will our hero escape the whimsical but menacing forest or die trying? Well, that’s all down to Joe’s choices.

Get Escape from Portsrood Forest on Amazon

Apr 06, 202138:40
The Gamebook Zine - The first issue of a new interactive fiction fanzine

The Gamebook Zine - The first issue of a new interactive fiction fanzine

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath

S01E04 - For episode 4, I sit down for a celebratory chat with contributors to the first issue of the brand new Gamebook Zine. We talk about the features in the first issue, and what's coming for the zine.

Participants:

  • Yours Truly (Brian Hazzard)
  • Simon Palmer
  • James Day
  • TroyAnthony Schermer
  • Patrick ONeill

Referenced Links:

Gamebook Zine on Itch.io

Gamebook Zine on Amazon

Gamebook Jam

Apr 04, 202121:41
Victoria Hancox - Author of the horror series "Choose your path and face the consequence"

Victoria Hancox - Author of the horror series "Choose your path and face the consequence"

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath

S01E03 - For episode 3, I chat with a rising star of horror gamebooks, Victoria Hancox. She started publishing gamebooks in 2019, and is already 3 books into a 6 book series.

We talk about how she brought her background in science and medicine into her first book, and deep themes of misogyny and control of women, as well as animal cruelty to her series.

You can learn more about Victoria on her blog.

Or, check out her books on Amazon:

Nightshift

The Alchemist's Folly

The Phantom Self

Mar 28, 202125:31
Oliver Hulme - Author of Legendary Kingdoms

Oliver Hulme - Author of Legendary Kingdoms

Instadeath Survivors Support Group is a podcast all about gamebooks, and the writers and readers who adore them. Visit our Patreon to support the show: patreon.com/instadeath


S01E02 - For episode 2, I chat with Oliver Hulme from Spidermind games. Oliver is the author of Legendary Kingdoms series, and you can tell from our chat that he is absolutely passionate about gamebooks.


Legendary Kingdoms is a party campaign based open world series. Book 2 "Crown & Tower" is currently live on Kickstarter and is doing amazingly.


After listening to the episode, check out Crown & Tower on Kickstarter.

Mar 27, 202140:24
Stuart Lloyd - Our Gamebook Sherpa
Mar 25, 202125:47
Welcome to Instadeath Survivors Support Group
Mar 24, 202107:20