Conference Call

GWJ Conference Call Episode Seventeen

An Interview With Telltale Games CEO Dan Connors!, Uru Live, Hotel Dusk, Vanguard, GRAW 2, Our Favorite Classic Games and more!

Today we're joined by Dan Connors, the CEO of Telltale Games and executive producer of the Sam & Max episodes! We also delve into a bunch of new titles and some of our favorite classic games of all time. An excellent thread of the week, email and even a look at the seedy underbelly of Vanguard.

Want to support the show? Hit the Digg link just above (it's fast and easy to register) or review us on iTunes! 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
Uru Live
Hotel Dusk
GRAW 2
Telltale Games (Sam & Max)
Star Control 2
Tempest
Another World
X-Com: UFO Defense

Thread of the Week:
Gameplay Traits You Like (or don't mind) That Everyone Else Whines About - kuddles

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Show credits

Music credits: 

Intro/Outro Music - Ian Dorsch, Willowtree Audioworks

"One Big Holiday" My Morning Jacket The Wired CD - 0:22:10
"Small Comfort" - Apoplexia (Benoit Casey) - 0:45:39
"The Neverwhere" - Apoplexia (Benoit Casey) - 1:04:45
"Impeller" Ian Dorsch

Comments

I loves me some radio.

An interview? You guys shouldn't be doing "Real Work" while on your conference call! What will your employers think!

Can't wait to check it out at work tonight!

That was a killer interview. Even though it was about a game that I haven't been terribly interested in so far, the combination of great questions and an open and interesting interviewee made for a fascinating listen.

Now bring on that Wii version of the game, eh?

zeroKFE wrote:

Now bring on that Wii version of the game, eh? ;)

Word.

Loved Tempest in the arcade.

So an addendum:
Arcade Tempest on ebay.

Also some of the MAME arcade cabinets you can purchase have the spinner needed to play Tempest.

Great show, guys.

I loved your Tempest story, rabbit. Truly an awesome game, and it had probably the coolest sound effects of any arcade game ever (except maybe Robotron). As for the controller, the Forgotten Worlds arcade game had a similar metal rotary controller for aiming, but you had to push down on it to fire. It was paired with a joystick, which controlled movement.

Speaking of arcade stuff.

http://www.x-arcade.com/products.shtml

Certis: Braehole sent us an email.

When hasn't he sent an email?

Link Bomb! I just heard the explosion, and i'm sure my co-workers think I'm insane.

I had a comment, and now I've forgotten it. Great show though. All of your retro mentions were spectacular games and I'm a fan of all four.

Oh, I know what it is. 1980? Sheesh, noob.

As to the GRAW2 demo ending when you fought the chopper, that isn't a result of the demo being timed, that is literally where the demo ends no matter what. Same thing Ubi did with the Vegas demo, ended it on the most exciting part with a "to be continued".

Sinatar wrote:

As to the GRAW2 demo ending when you fought the chopper, that isn't a result of the demo being timed, that is literally where the demo ends no matter what. Same thing Ubi did with the Vegas demo, ended it on the most exciting part with a "too be continued".

You'd think they could have at least spelled it right. Damn Frenchies.

I loaded up the GRAW2 demo last night, spent 1 minute stumbling around figuring out the controls, and got shot in the head by the AI. Not sure if I'm gonna load it back up again.

Also freeware Star Control II with all the 3DO stuff in there optionally.

http://sc2.sourceforge.net/

Enjoy!

EDIT: To which there is a link in the first post! Hooray to skimming!

Man, bad quests are pretty terrible. They're one of my biggest rpg peeves. Worst part: I don't want to have to care about you if you're too much of a sally to be able to walk across the street.

Thumbnail bomb!

IMAGE(http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7996/img8894lp3.th.jpg)

IMAGE(http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2972/img8893tk0.th.jpg)

These are the screen referred to in the last couple minutes of the podcast. And I agree completely; a regular TV just wouldn't cut it, no matter how fancy it is. The above is an LCD projector similar to what you'd find in a modern classroom or boardroom, complete with component plugs for high-definition capability. However, since my computer doesn't have a direct component output without using a couple bridges, I had to use a straight VGA connection. It's nice for the occassional three-day weekend constant session on the latest release, but I wouldn't recommend this kind of setup for daily use. Works a lot better with the X-Box 360, though.

Ratboy,

I've got my 42 inch LG LCD hooked up to my PC and am also playing Medieval Total War 2 on it. It looks fantastic. I'm suprised as the image doesn't stretch nearly as much as I'd expected at 1024x768.

Let's all just whip out our big screens then, eh?

Did I mention I just got my 42" plasma? Because I did.

It's real, and it's spectacular.

It's real, and it's spectacular.

That's not what your doctor told me.

I was more posting to say you don't require a projector to have a good PC-on-TV experience. Most HDTVs with vga inputs will do.

I was curious how you control your PC, Ratboy. I have a PC hooked up to a projector too but Im tethered by the short leash on my keyboard so I have to sit in the seat closest to the tower (which is tucked away between the couch and wall). The mouse has a longer cord so its not so bad. Do you have a wireless setup for your PC? Got brand recommendations for good performance despite the wirelessness?

So far I've found the setup completely comfortable. The cheap optical mouse I have works just fine right on the fabric of the couch and the keyboard sits in my lap, so its a perfectly adequate answer to the Livingroom PC. I just need to cut the tether

If you look at the second pick, you'll see the computer tower on the right side of the coffee table. That's there because I have a corded keyboard and mouse. Tends to make the room a bit cluttered. The only other drawback I notice that it isn't that terrific ergonomically, especially on a coach, so like I said, I wouldn't recommend it for extended use.

Dang. I haven't heard of a wireless mouse yet that gets the gamer thumbs-up. Several keyboards have gotten the recommendation though.

I've been using my roommate's wireless Logitech Laser mouse.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...

It does the business, and does it well. I cannot recommend the bundled standard cordless mice though. They suck so very bad.

Check the trading post thread for a good keyboard and mouse set I'm selling.

/miraclegrow

Nimcosi wrote:

Loved Tempest in the arcade.

So an addendum:
Arcade Tempest on ebay.

Wow. That one's in REALLY REALLY good shape. Screw the outside pics, I know what the circuit boards look like, and that thing's never seen the wrong end of an enthusiast's iron. Alas, i think it would be several hundred to get it here, and Im sure the box will go for about a grand. I watch them from time to time.

polypusher wrote:

Dang. I haven't heard of a wireless mouse yet that gets the gamer thumbs-up. Several keyboards have gotten the recommendation though.

Still, though, the problem I've noticed is that every keyboard and mouse is designed to be used in a certain ergonomic fashion that using it on a couch for prolonged periods tends to adversely impact your wrists. I don't see wireless versions improving on that unless you have something like a TV dinner tray to place them on. All this talk of the PC-and-TV setup has me itching to try it again with MTW2, assuming the mods I downloaded for it make the game any better in my eyes. What I am waiting to try out on it is Silent Hunter IV when it comes out next month. On my 80" screen, the officers and crew in the control room would look life-size (plus SH4 supports widescreen resolutions).

On a related note, I did try using my CH HOTAS setup for Falcon 4: Allied Force on the big screen a few months ago. Even though it doesn't support widescreen resolutions (at least as far as I can tell) and that plugging in all three components into the computer made an even bigger mess in my den, it quite frankly was the closest experience one could ever come to using an actual F-16 flight simulator that the Air Force utilizes.

So apparently in Star Control you play as Science Dog:

IMAGE(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3706/sciencedogln6.jpg)

And did I hear someone say, "There are Myst books?" Anyone with similiar thoughts will read the Book of Ti'ana.

Alright, the open-source Ur-Quan game... It even has voice-over! And it works. Outstanding link of the month!

Rat Boy wrote:

Still, though, the problem I've noticed is that every keyboard and mouse is designed to be used in a certain ergonomic fashion that using it on a couch for prolonged periods tends to adversely impact your wrists. I don't see wireless versions improving on that unless you have something like a TV dinner tray to place them on.

I've been using my laptop on the couch with the computer on my legs (with a pillow for a heat buffer), feet up on the coffee table and the mouse directly on the couch's cloth for 2 years without a touch of discomfort, so at least for me, its just about cutting the cord

I havent played PC games very extensively on the projector. The VGA cord I bought isnt the best and I have to sit on the side of the couch that doesnt have my butt print so I dont use it for much besides movies and 360. However, I did play most of Half Life 2 on the projector and that was pretty sweet. Even that tense game let me sit back in total comfort and kill stuff.

I might try that mouse, Stylz but I dont really like the side to side mouse wheel tilt, every one I've tried triggers the useless side to side instead of the 3rd button when I try to use it.

polypusher wrote:

Dang. I haven't heard of a wireless mouse yet that gets the gamer thumbs-up. Several keyboards have gotten the recommendation though.

I use a Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 (what a mouthful!), and it works great for pretty much everything I do, gaming or otherwise.