In this episode of ArtWire, the Gold Extra podcast, host Evgeni Puzankov speaks with Soph Podestá, the developer behind A Pearl on the Road, a narrative-driven driving simulator created for the Briefs 2024: Death microfund. Soph shares insights into the formation of her team, Cameria Art Games, and their development journey.

The game follows an old trucker navigating through the Sierras of Córdoba, facing a choice: stop to reflect on meaningful moments or push forward to outrun an inevitable storm. The narrative explores themes of life, memory, and the inevitability of death.

Soph discusses the challenges of game development, including switching to Unreal Engine, long build times, and team coordination. Despite the struggles, she expresses gratitude for the experience and the opportunities Briefs provided.

The episode wraps up with reflections on game jams vs. Briefs, and advice for future participants: just apply and start early.

Check out A Pearl on the Road and other Briefs-funded games via the links in the show notes.