Conference Call

GWJ Conference Call Episode 62

Aquaria, Pain, GameTap Mac, ActiBlizzaVision, FASA, Missing The Boat In Online Gaming, Your Emails and more!

This week we pierce the veil of online multiplayer gaming and find that maybe the industry is completely missing the boat on where the real future is. We also cover the independent game of the year, some smaller titles and why Rob is freezing his nuts off up north.

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.

Sponsor
Liongames.com

  • Subscribe with iTunes
  • Subscribe with RSS
  • Subscribe with Yahoo!
Download the official apps
  • Download the GWJ Conference Call app for Android
  • Download the GWJ Conference Call app for Android

Show credits

Music credits: 

Intro/Outro Music - Ian Dorsch, Willowtree
Audioworks

"A little Piano Tune" - (workbench) - www.workbench-music.com - 0:23:32
"Nocturne for Rapture" Ian Dorsch - 1:02:19

Comments

Just gotta say that I love the piano solo in the middle of the podcast.

I don't have much else to say. I am preparing my 360 and Wii to be sent out for repairs. My life feels so empty. At least I still have my Blood Elf Paladin.

Wow no Lion Games "Pride of the Gaming Jungle" sponser sound bite this time?

Guys, I know this is getting old for my requests, but you may need to write a sign in front of you that reminds you to, "Say the name of the game you are talking about more often." during your conversation about that game. Yes call me Mom and accuse me of nagging. A wag of the finger at you.

And because I was actually curious about how long things are discussed and for those that might get lost, here are the time stamps to the best of my ability in following the conversations. My own commentary in italics.

Opening Music and Introductions - 00:00 - 02:45

Game we are playing
Aquaria Demo - 02:46 - 05:50
Pain - 05:51 - 13:15
L _ Graphic Violence in FPS/Games/Life Tangent - 13:16 - 18:35

Um GTA is all about violence and that's what got it noticed. Though I hate that game so I am certainly bias. So society has shown we are becoming more desensitized to violence.

Game Tap (Mac) - 18:36 - 21:06
Rock Band - 21:07 - 23:48

(Piano Song Break) - 23:49 - 24:25

News:
Activision Blizzard - 24:26 - 32:51
FASA - 32:52 - 37:16

Topic of the Week:
Missing The Boat In Online Gaming or the Future of Multi-Player Online Games
GDC Prime Raph Koster - 37:17 - 62:33

(Piano Song Break) - 62:34 - 63:42

Thread of the Week:
Take a game you like and imagine a developer. 63:43 - 70:30

This Thread of the week has been brought to you by the "C" word and the "F" word. *snicker* (BTW This link wasn't listed on the post so I'm adding it here.). I'm all over that Vampire the Masquerade idea but take that intial story and then expand into an MMORPG type environment. Now that is my dream.

Emails from you!
Igmar Smith -Gamespot Reviewer getting canned thread - 70:31 - 73:47
Doc Badwrench -Mental Modding/Shamed in Iraq - 73:48 - 77:36
Bob Billy -Game Indoctrination (Free form/Scripted) - 77:37 - 81:26
Simon Van Elfin -Bribery for Reviewing Writers Newsworthy? / Scoring Systems on Reviews - 81:27 - 90:34

CNET or Gamespot. Each reviews different things. Each reviews should be taken with a large grain of salt. Both are corrupt and are corporate/market friendly and not moralistic.

Closing and Bloopers - 90:35 - 92:05

Support the show. Spread the word, Digg it and do all that good stuff.

I disagree. If you are paying attention to the show, you can folllow the discussion. I get bored when radio shows/audio books constantly repeat exposition that they have already provided.

Radio has to do that, because people are always tuning in and out. They need to let you know who they are talking to, and who they are on a regular basis. I don't think this is as important in a podcast, but I do agree with kilroy, there are times when I am lost about which game they are talking about. I am sometimes listening to the podcast while doing other things. Other times I am trying to find the spot where I left off.

But this is far from being a show killer. It's just something I've noticed, as well.

Enjoyed the online gaming discussion.

As for the talk about Huxley. Does anyone else get the feeling that they're just putting up what would normally be considered a tech demo? Some of the game play mechanics they talk about seem very low key and when compared against other MMO's they even seem lacking. Of course the FPS side of it needs to be pretty tight as well.

I'm sure that if this gets released and shows on a technical level that this crossover can satisfy both crowds that we'll then see some truely remarkable games.

kilroy, that breakdown kicks ass. If you listen to the podcast during a commute where you can give it most of your attention, then it's not that bad. The style of the show is such that it feels like you're listening in on a big conversation, anyway. But as a result, you really have to give it your full attention. I've personally had to stop listening in the car because my son is at the point where he likes to repeat certain words, and it's much harder to follow at work where my attention necessarily fades in and out. kilroy and Jayhawker are spot on about that.

It's a tough habit to break, I'll admit. I'll try and make a note of it for the next show.

I've been a broken record on the issue of mentioning the game once or twice during a conversation about it only because I am constantly multitasking while listening to the podcast. Often I am doing some work or reading another article or something else and at the same time listening to the podcast. Driving in a car is a bit different but I just don't drive far enough each day to warrant a in car listening.

While I can follow most of it, often I forget what game is actually being discussed. Usually this is because it is only mentioned once at the beginning of that conversation, then it's mentioned as "the game" throughout while other games are being mentioned by name within the conversation. Hence you start wondering perhaps which game it is. Sometimes tangents, some short and some incredibly long, come up in the conversation which also lends to forgetting what game is being discussed. I can't really be any more clear. I actually very much enjoy the format of the show and the cadence, while long and droning at times, is usually pretty good. For example during the Pain discussion, I seem to remember the name being mentioned twice in the entire discussion including the tangent. So from 05:51 to 18:35 in the podcast (about 12.5 minutes) mentioning Pain only twice in the first few minutes gets a bit lost.

I hope I'm not coming off rude in this. I just want to help by giving feedback about an issue I think would honestly improve the podcast for all listeners.

Cheers.

If you're not listening to the show in an empty room with noise canceling headphones as you take detailed notes, you're doing it wrong. Just saying.

Certis wrote:

If you're not listening to the show in an empty room with noise canceling headphones as you take detailed notes, you're doing it wrong. Just saying.

Oh thank you, at least now I feel that my efforts haven't been over the top

I'm in an empty room hiding under my bed and wearing noise canceling earplugs, and I can still hear the podcast. make it stop

"If you've been sitting on the couch with my wife..."

Come on, no one took advantage of this great set up? I'm so disappointed in you guys!

"your wife" jokes seem somehow more sacrosanct than "your mom" jokes.

and why Rob is freezing his nuts off up north.

I haven't listened to the podcast yet but I'd just like to say my room is about 12 degrees (celcius) in my computer room right now. Concrete basement with no insulation and a baseboard heater that smells like death when it's turned on is keeping me slightly above cryogenic temperatures.

Oh. Oh dear.

Only after I snapped did it register the kid's voice hadn't broken. An unfortunate incident.

1Dgaf wrote:

Oh. Oh dear.

Only after I snapped did it register the kid's voice hadn't broken. An unfortunate incident.

Seriously, we need a recording of that. For posterity's sake, of course.

Of course.

Mystic Violet wrote:

I am preparing my 360 and Wii to be sent out for repairs. My life feels so empty..

I just send out my 360 today and have no idea what to do until it comes back. I guess I'll go play Pain or something on my PS3. I hope the turn around is quick.

Great show guys, Try to say the name of the games you are talking about more offen. I forget sometimes and have to go back to get the tittle.

Rabbit I'm coming after you when my 360 gets back to me! I'm not a great guitar player but I'm hoping the drums will be a better experience for me. I have big hands and the guitar feels very cramped for me.

1Dgaf wrote:

Oh. Oh dear.

Only after I snapped did it register the kid's voice hadn't broken. An unfortunate incident.

I just wish I'd been there, man. Too awesome.

I'm onboard for the Vampire MMO. This seems like the perfect game to allow characters to live in a world where you can just exist as your character and not have to be a hero. That's one thing that bothers me about WoW and other MMOs. I just saved the land from all evil and have returned to receive my reward. And so has the guy inline behind me.

I was surprised by the comments on how Canadians can't play Baldur's Gate on Gametap. I had that issue, then I realized my computer was still in Japanese region settings, changed it to USA and English (American) and the game ran just fine. I assume the same thing would work for a Canadian PC.

bnpederson wrote:

I was surprised by the comments on how Canadians can't play Baldur's Gate on Gametap. I had that issue, then I realized my computer was still in Japanese region settings, changed it to USA and English (American) and the game ran just fine. I assume the same thing would work for a Canadian PC.

It's actually a function of living in Canada. Someone else holds publishing rights in Canada and they haven't given Gametap permission to offer the game to Canadians.

You all need to come up with a general scam for getting US credit cards.

rabbit wrote:

You all need to come up with a general scam for getting US credit cards.

The guys on the Red Line here seem to have it down.