One-to-One 8: Dan and Ben creators Dan Marshall and Ben Ward

Eurogamer Podcasts

I was hoping they'd be funny in real-life, because their games are, and I'm absolutely delighted to say they are. I'm still genuinely warmed that they're best friends in real-life and have been since school. I'd hoped as much - it's why I asked them to be on the Podcast together (the first double-header!) - but I didn't realise how fundamental to everything their friendship would be.

They are Dan Marshall and Ben Ward, the eponymous heroes and funny men behind the Dan and Ben series. See them in such daring adventures as Ben There, Dan That; Time Gentleman, Please; and Lair of the Clockwork God - the latter of which was one of my favourite games of 2020.

Dan Marshall is also known for superb burglary platformer The Swindle, among other smaller games like Gun Monkeys and Behold the Kickmen. And while these are games he didn't ostensibly make with Ben Ward, they are still concepts and ideas he absolutely ran past him and asked for his feedback on - and apparently he's hard to please!

The two of them are never happier than when giggling over ridiculous ideas encamped in a pub. Or, while on a writing retreat, which is what they actually call it, spending a week in a cottage somewhere that has a hot tub. What began with writing comics while they were supposed to be working in class has flourished into a lifelong friendship and collaboration. I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I did.

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🎬 Watch the video version of this podcast: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-07-swindle-dev-dan-marshall-reveals-new-spacefaring-game-in-the-eurogamer-podcast

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