He Made One Million Check Boxes

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/a2hceZhcfJ Nolen's website: https://eieio.games/ In this episode, we dive into the mind of Nolan, a developer known for creating wildly unconventional multiplayer experiences like 1 Million Checkboxes and 1 Million Chessboards. Instead of following traditional game dev paths, Nolan explores strange, experimental ideas that bring thousands of players together in unexpected ways.We talk about how he got started, why weird ideas often outperform polished ones, and what it takes to design multiplayer systems that encourage fun instead of chaos. From viral internet experiments to deep thoughts on creativity, constraints, and player behavior—this conversation is packed with insights for indie devs and curious creators alike.This podcast explores experimental game development, indie game design, and viral multiplayer experiences with developer Nolan. Learn how games like 1 Million Checkboxes and 1 Million Chessboards became internet sensations, and discover insights on creative coding, unconventional game mechanics, and building engaging online interactions. Perfect for indie developers, programmers, and anyone interested in unique game design, multiplayer systems, and creative experimentation in game development. Chapters 00:00 Intro & Overview 03:00 Early Experiments 06:15 Creative Signals 09:00 Solving Hard Problems 12:02 Recurse Center Insights 15:07 Solo Dev Reality 18:00 Checkbox Virality 00:21:01 Anti-Troll Design 24:10 Stranger Video Game 27:04 Learning Process 30:18 Chessboards Explained 33:03 Emergent Gameplay 36:01 Ending Experiences 39:06 Game Length Debate 42:10 Future Projects 45:03 Dev Identity Hashtags#gamedev #indiedev #gameprogramming #indiegames #multiplayergames #creativecoding #webdev #gamedevelopment #indiegame #programming #gamepodcast #gamedevlife #experimentalgames