Shawn's Lovely Wife Karla Spills The Beans About Zelda: The Twilight Princess, Shawn Plays Viva Piñata (Filled With Fun!), The Changing Face Of Industry Money Grubbing, Tons of Emails and more!
Right Click Here and 'Save As' to Download!
In a very special tenth episode of the Conference Call, we trade in a broken Elysium for a brand new Karla. She gives us the full scoop on Zelda for the Wii and helps Shawn explain Viva Piñata to Julian. How companies are going to get more of your money, the thread of the week and a ton of emails are all here for you!
If anyone would like to submit some original music for the show, read on for a link to contact us! Also read on for show notes.
To contact us, email [email protected]! Send us your thoughts on the show, pressing issues you want to talk about or whatever else is on your mind. You can even send a 30 second audio question or comment (MP3 format please) if you're so inclined.
The Links
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Viva Piñata
Dwarf Fortress
News Stories On Microtransactions
Thread of the Week: I Am a Story Whore (Morrolan)
Intro/Outro Music - Ian Dorsch, Willowtree Audioworks
"All That She Remembers" - Apoplexia (Benoit Casey) - 0:34:07
"The Neverwhere" - Apoplexia (Benoit Casey) - 1:01:52
"Impeller" - Ian Dorsch - 1:13:11
Comments
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Extra note for Braehole, Rapala Trophy Fishing got a nasty 3.0 at IGN. I'd steer dad clear
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
Finding pieces of a dress reminded me of FFVII.
There's no such thing as a California accent! We talk normally; all of you talk funny!
Edit:
Also, you can change your cursor speed in Viva Pinata by clicking the left stick. Also, if you go to a notice and hit X you can see what the notice is about (ie, see the animals that are fighting).
zeroKFE on: XBL | Steam | Instagram
Congratulations Zero, you passed our devious test. You prize is (not) in the mail!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
Did someone slip a couple acid tabs into the group's waterbottles before the Viva Piñata segment?
I wish you guys would stop encouraging him.
EvilHomer3k wrote:You are an evil, evil person.
Baron Of Hell wrote:YOU VILLAIN!
What, I revealed myself to be a horribly obsessive nerd? I thought that would have been abundantly clear by now.
zeroKFE on: XBL | Steam | Instagram
I admit it, I was stoned the whole time. I was eating Sour Pinata Candy and it went to my head. I blame Certis.
Last.fm | Twitter
"If I knew you could claim podcast hosts that way, I would had peed on you back at Tamo." - AgentWred
I think the SEGA CD "Car" game you guys were talking about was "Sewer Shark."
Also, a great example of a game with a great story and awful gameplay is Silent Hill 2.
NOTE: Not a doodle bug.
No I remember sewer shark. This game was like cartoon FMV and you drove a red car. I remember one spot in particular that we couldn't get past for the longest time involved a big jump.
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Spoiler Fanatic!
Hmm, don't remember that one I'm a'feared.
NOTE: Not a doodle bug.
Remember Base Wars?
That was a fun game...
What were we talking about again?
Oh right. Dead on about killing Rabbit in Gears of War. My girlfriend takes some perverse glee in watching him get chainsawed. I'm not sure what it is about him
892 condescending Certis quotes out of a possible infinity - Elysium scores Torchlight lower than expected.
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Xfire/Xbox Live: StylezXP
HAHA! Which half of this married couple said the following in this podcast?
a) Certis
b) Brennil
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein
Site idea (betcha don't get those very often) - post a dedicated link on the left for your thread of the week.
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein
Brilliant.
Get right on that Certis, will ya?
Last.fm | Twitter
"If I knew you could claim podcast hosts that way, I would had peed on you back at Tamo." - AgentWred
Thanks Certis for checking on Rapala Trophy Fishing for me. My dad said he would come over and play a fishing game with me but I guess I'll have to wait for someone to put some real effort into making a playable game. Someday you guys will be able to catch big fish on line with me but not this Christmas.
There was a PlayStation 1 Bass fishing game that came with a little fishing pole that was really fun. I can't remember the name though.
Great show guys, Rabbit the dancing unicorn was funny.
Xbox live: Braehole
PSN: Braehole
Steam: Braehole
Everything else: Braehole
No more stuff on the left, it's too crowded as it is! Good idea, though.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
I think you were right Certis on the Wii and what games will be picked up on it. I will only buy games on the Wii that have a unique game play element that is different from the norm. Everything else will be picked up on my Xbox360.
Xbox live: Braehole
PSN: Braehole
Steam: Braehole
Everything else: Braehole
Yeah, as far as ports and "standard" games go, it's hard to imagine picking the Wii version unless they spend a lot of time nailing the controls down right.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
For this reason, I was really torn about CoD 3 and ended up leaving it off my Holiday wish list. On one hand I know the 360 version is gonna be beautiful, with unusually strong Live MP(talking team numbers), but on the other hand.. same old gameplay in SP. I was really thinking of the Wii version, the controls seem like enough to make it a whole new game. I dont see such huge difference in visuals on the gametrailers cross platform comparison, but I know I will notice it on an HDTV. There's so much gaming goodness right now, I ended up just leaving it off 'the list.'
I really enjoy these conference calls.
I few points I would've debated a bit include:
#1) I think install base and cost to develop will be a bigger factor than given credit as developers look back on their development investments. Gotta feel for any company who developed a PS3 launch title, seems like a lost battle. I think the impact will be less big budget games and longer development cycles. Maybe that equates to less bad game investments over time, but maybe it will result in even less innovation.
#2) I think microtransactions for additional content beyond the core of a game are good to expand play but a model where you pay little for a core of a game and then can buy additional episodes to expand play, both reminds me of shareware and also causes me concern. HL2 has got to be a 'leader' in this area and look how long it takes to churn out additional content. The additional content seems to remain a design document, and itself goes through pro-longed dev cycles. By the time its released, the market has often moved on. I think the consumer will more likely be charged full prices for half a game, and then get to expand it to what it might've been in friendlier consumer times. I think history shows that episodic content / expansion also end up dividing the very communities they target, look at BF2, GRAW communities examples or any other game where some folks buy the maps and others dont.
#3 Related to microtransactions: As a consumer, I appreciate the retail pressure/inventory space impact on game pricing that discount games over time. A little patience, will result in a much better bargain for the consumer as the retailers move boxes over the lifecycle of a product. I'm talking new, not used. Digital distribution doesnt exhibit this downward pricing pressure, at least I dont see it, there is no imperative to move inventory and discount prices to increase demand. I see that to balance the convenience of downloading, overall it is a loss to consumers, because part of the downward pressure of the market on pricing has been eliminated. It is rare to see a priced piece of microtransaction content become free, unless it is re-released as part of a platinum edition, or the community has begun moving away.
Anyways.. Thank you for a great episode again, it helps brighten my workday as I sit chained to my laptop.
I would buy Tiger Woods Wii in a second. Fishing too. RTS games would be interesting, but the Wii doesn't have the power to run those. Baseball would be fun. I've heard that offense in Madden Wii is a lot of fun, if they ever figure out defense I'd actually get that.
And if they evar make a real lightsaber simulator, not this crap they have in Red Steel, I'd buy a Wii in a heartbeat.
"Once you can accept the universe is matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy." -- Albert Einstein
So, is Escapist Radio dead? I thought you were on hiatus.
Steam
Like a pheonix from the ashes, it was reborn GWJ radio. At least as far as I know.
892 condescending Certis quotes out of a possible infinity - Elysium scores Torchlight lower than expected.
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Xfire/Xbox Live: StylezXP
I think the trend is going toward longer development cycles and bigger budgets, not sure why game budgets would shrink AND take longer to make.
How about developers who made Wii launch titles for Japan? Let's have a look at the numbers:
You won't find me disagreeing that install base and development costs are huge factors in deciding what to develop for, but that's only part of the equation.
Both excellent points!
Russ has been so busy with day to day operations at the Escapist, it just hasn't come together. I'm really not sure what the future will hold right now. I was actually doing both shows on alternating weeks for a while there.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
"I had to plant a monkey nut tree." - Certis
Even in context that's just freaking bizarre. Good job boys!
I ask no favors for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is, that they will take their feet from off our necks. - Sarah Moore Grimké
One question for Karla.
Are you considering buying Zelda Wind Waker?
If not, is it because you will have to play with a normal pad, and not the wiimote?
Im thinking myself, maybe its going to be too much Zelda.
Hasbro may have bought the name Avalon Hill 10 years ago but to borrow a phrase, I knew Avalon Hill. It was a friend of Mine. You sir are no Avalon Hill.
Well, no. As much as I'm enjoying TP, I don't feel like I have enough room in my life for a full-on gaming habit. Games will remain a sometimes treat for me.
That and she rarely plays something if she watches me play it for too long first. If Karla shows any interest in something, I usually have to back off and let her at it
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
The game you are thinking of was Road Avenger. Here are some pictures.
I remember playing this, and being very frustrated with the big jump as well.
Oh procrastination. Just like masturbation, it feels great until you realize you just f*cked yourself. - Grenn
Oh you baited me real good, Grenn. Now you owe me a cuddle. - NathanialG
Yes that is exactly the game I was thinking of. Thanks Nimcosi!
"Can I have a job? I donut have much experiences, butt I always use an spellchecker spellchecker on my articles." - Sway
Using Prayer To Microevolve Latent Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria since 2005!
Spoiler Fanatic!
Thanks, guys. BTW, Brennil has a great voice.
Certis: Quintin is both smart and attractive.
Fedaykin98: Good lord, I wouldn't have expected brilliance like that from that nemeslut Quintin Stone!
Yonder: It's weird to say this, but Quintin Stone may be the wisest person here.
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