Conference Call

GWJ Conference Call Episode 152

Champions Online, Sean Gets an iPhone, The Geek Community, Your Live Questions and more!

This week Sean, Rob and Julian hold down the fort and do a surprising amount of disagreeing at each other. They also announce some details about the donation drive! But then, if you read the site, you already know about that. Don't forget to submit your own question for the list! If you want to submit a question or comment call in to our voicemail line at (612) 284-4563.

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. You can also submit a question or comment call in to our voicemail line at (612) 284-4563!

Sponsor
Good Old Games

  • 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/Outtro Music - Ian Dorsch, Willowtree Audioworks

"PodunkStump" (Ian Dorsch) - www.willowtreeaudio.com - 0:22:01
"Los Pistoleros" (Ian Dorsch) - www.willowtreeaudio.com - 0:36:13

Comments

We also announce the upcoming live show this weekend!

I haven't gotten a chance to listen yet, but is there another live show?

kaostheory wrote:
We also announce the upcoming live show this weekend!

I haven't gotten a chance to listen yet, but is there another live show?

No, there is no new live show next weekend. That is sick Certis cutting and pasting without looking at what he is actually cutting and pasting.

Thanks to everyone who came out this past weekend though. It was fun.

Re: books into games. I think Iain M. Banks' Culture setting could go into a huge variety of styles of games. There is scope for everything in there really, from sprawling Bioware style RPGs to action (there are a number of mechanics already detailed in the books that could work brilliantly), strategy (in the homeworld vein), exploration and adventure type games. It's a goldmine of a SF setting and if written well (not sure how into videogames IMB is and therefore how well he would be able to write for the medium, but it would be great to have him write them himself), the games could actually be really good.

Was nice being present for the podcast, it was cool being able to rib the podcasters as they were talking

It's not so much the author or book that i would like to see transitioned but the 'worlds' they make. I don't want the stories to be converted into games but write new stories within those worlds.
I'd love to see lesser known/popular fantasy (with mechanics that are usually different to those seen in traditional Tolkein-esque fantasy which is generally the type that gets inserted into games): Kate Elliot, Ian Irvine, Trudi Canavan... even Terry Brooks (his Running with the Demon series and the Landover books). Basically more variation on a theme like 'The Witcher' was because just being slightly different was a real breath of fresh air even if the game was stupid.

I think the Ringworld world would make a good sci-fi setting.... surely there are lots of short stories or novellas in sci-fi that could make as good a jump to gaming as "Do androids dream of electric sheep" did to cinema.

Also what about children's stories? We have The Path (which is more grown-up) but what about Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton etc. Sure, there's rights issues there but a more interactive non-point and click interface could be interesting with regards to mechanics like the more indie games.

My pick for a 10-song RB Pack. The Eagles.

I don't know if the drums parts are any good, but the vocals and guitar would be fun.

So, Rob, has your mom cleared that pile of laundry yet?

Civ Rev was put on the ds and it's the same game engine, just not the same graphics engine, as the 360 and PS3. I'm not using the proper technical speak because I don't know the proper language, but Civ Rev on the DS was fully functional, so the iPhone should be just as fully functional and a little bit prettier.

garion333 wrote:

Civ Rev was put on the ds and it's the same game engine, just not the same graphics engine, as the 360 and PS3. I'm not using the proper technical speak because I don't know the proper language, but Civ Rev on the DS was fully functional, so the iPhone should be just as fully functional and a little bit prettier.

The only difference between CivRev on the consoles and iPhone is that the consoles have the civilopedia, multiplayer, and 3D graphics. Other than that, the game is the SAME. And it's awesome (and will eat your battery as pre-breakfast snack).

I haven't found Rev killing the battery TOO bad. But boy is it good.

Superhero game I'd like to see: Deadpool. With Al in it.

Sands: Enjoy those $90 phone bills.

Gee, all those PAX regrets sound different after the swine flu thing.

A note on books to games, there actually was a game based on the Rama series back in 1996:
IMAGE(http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/all/boxshots2/198407_42766.jpg).

It was point and click adventure with lots of math and logic based puzzles. I think I still might actually have it buried in a box somewhere.

Pirate Bob wrote:

A note on books to games, there actually was a game based on the Rama series back in 1996: IMAGE(http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/all/boxshots2/198407_42766.jpg).

It was point and click adventure with lots of math and logic based puzzles. I think I still might actually have it buried in a box somewhere.

Ringworld also had this.

I was expecting a clip of everyone mocking Rob's laundry at the end of the show and I sat through the whole thing waiting for it, too.

I just changed my sig. Thanks, Julian.

My Rock Band wish list: a nice pack of P-Funk mob classics. The famous stuff, like Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof of the Sucker), Flashlight, One Nation Under a Groove, Up For the Down Stroke, mixed with a few deeper cuts ('74 version of Red Hot Mama, Cosmic Slop, Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication, Ride On) and some Bootsy solo stuff in there (Pinochio Theory or Stretchin' Out). Round it out with a few long ones like Funkentelechy or Munchies For Your Love.

And anyone remember Jellyfish? I think a number of their songs would work too.

I completely agree with what you guys were saying about the energy of PAX. This year was my first PAX, my first convention of any kind actually, and it was just an amazing experience. I thought I was going mostly to play the new games there, but I quickly realized that hanging out with the people there was the real draw for PAX. I had such a great time hanging out with both GWJ people and random people that I met in lines, there was so many nice people there, it was great.

So yeah, I'd like to echo the comment about going to a convention if you haven't been to one, do it, you won't regret it!

I agree about Rama being a great setting for a game. I've always felt that way. But maybe not Rama specifically (since it's quite enormous and barren) but some sort of expansive ship that's full of stuff to explore.

However, I liked the books. And I mean all of them.

Eezy_Bordone wrote:
Pirate Bob wrote:

A note on books to games, there actually was a game based on the Rama series back in 1996.
It was point and click adventure with lots of math and logic based puzzles. I think I still might actually have it buried in a box somewhere.

Ringworld also had this.

And was surprisingly good. (The Ringworld game, that is)

Rob is my new favorite for suggesting TMBG for Rockband and The Tick for a superhero game.

Some of TMBG's new stuff would be awesome on Rockband-- Spine is a fantastic album, and The Else has it's strong points (Take Out The Trash has some chord progressions that I think would be fun to play)

As for The Tick, I've been wanting an open-world Hulk: Ultimate Destruction/Spiderman 2 style game featuring The Tick for ages. I keep picturing the side mission design being hilarious-- eg chasing down a purse snatcher and doing a few hundred thousand dollars of damage to The City in the process. And doing battle the The Human Tonne or Dinosaur Neil would make fantastic boss battles.

I'm surprised nobody called out Elysium for saying books wouldn't make good games right after he said he wished they'd remake Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Irony overload!

There isn't a local con to go to if you live in the UK

Salute is fun and I'm doing Essen this year but I'm really hoping we see dates or firm details for PAX Boston soon as I'm desperate to go and that's more achievable than Seattle

PAX Boston March 26th -28th.

If that site is to be believed.

As if I haven't already been controversial enough on the most-wanted Rock Band group question, I've got my number 3 behind Floyd and Zep:

ELO

Ok, you can make fun of me now.

Now I want to try the Rama and Ringworld games!

Obadiahstarbuck wrote:

My Rock Band wish list: a nice pack of P-Funk mob classics. The famous stuff, like Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof of the Sucker), Flashlight, One Nation Under a Groove, Up For the Down Stroke, mixed with a few deeper cuts ('74 version of Red Hot Mama, Cosmic Slop, Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication, Ride On) and some Bootsy solo stuff in there (Pinochio Theory or Stretchin' Out). Round it out with a few long ones like Funkentelechy or Munchies For Your Love.

And anyone remember Jellyfish? I think a number of their songs would work too.

1000 times THIS!

No longer would people say "Yeah, you passed expert, but you were just playing bass." Bass would become an instrument to be feared! Legions would cower in the shadow of the awesome power of James Jamerson.

The Rama game was not that great as I recall. I got stuck on the... Was it base-16? math puzzle and couldn't finish the game. I'm sure I could now, but I was a lowly teenager when I played the game, unaware of how different bases worked in math.

I'm definitely in the Pink Floyd camp.

The "something different" Hulk game: Minotaur China Shop!

Minarchist wrote:

1000 times THIS!

No longer would people say "Yeah, you passed expert, but you were just playing bass." Bass would become an instrument to be feared! Legions would cower in the shadow of the awesome power of James Jamerson.

Right on! There needs to be a good Motown pack: Uptight (Everything's Alright), Same Old Song, What's Going On, Going to a Go Go, Ain't to Proud to Beg, Grapevine.