A weekly show discussing various topics on the video game industry and the consumers.
Where to Watch Season 2011
51 Episodes
Mailbag #2
E1
Mailbag #2This week, we answer some more of the popular questions from our inbox.
Non-Combat Gaming
E2
Non-Combat GamingThis week, we consider the neglected potential for game experiences that aren't combat based.
Piracy
E3
PiracyThis week, we dive headfirst into the controversies of video game piracy.
Amnesia and Story Structure
E4
Amnesia and Story StructureThis week, we talk a bit about Three Act Structure, In Medias Res and amnesia as a plot device.
Playing Like a Designer Part 1
E5
Playing Like a Designer Part 1This week, we talk about how to play games like a game designer. At least, we start to.
Playing Like a Designer Part 2
E6
Playing Like a Designer Part 2This week, we finish talking about how to play games like a game designer, from which games to play to what you should watch for.
Achievements
E7
AchievementsThis week, by special request, we finally get around to talking about achievements.
An Open Letter to EA Marketing
E8
An Open Letter to EA MarketingThis week, we turn a critical eye to some of EA's worst recent marketing campaigns.
Ludus Florentis
E9
Ludus FlorentisThis week, we try our best to describe a big upcoming change in the world of video games, as well as what's causing it.
True Female Characters
E10
True Female CharactersThis week, we look at what it takes to write a great female game character.
Tutorials 101
E11
Tutorials 101This week, as promised, we take a closer look at how to build a good tutorial.
Tangential Learning
E12
Tangential LearningThis week, we talk about one of the ways games can teach us new things (without being boring about it).
Gamification
E13
GamificationThis week, we talk about the ways game systems are starting to be applied to real life, and what this means for the future. Also, we are joined by our first guest artist!
Metrics
E14
MetricsThis week, we talk about the increasing focus on Metrics in the game industry, and the possible results this trend might have (both good and bad).
Consoles are the New Coin-Op
E15
Consoles are the New Coin-OpThis week, we speculate that game consoles might soon be going the way of the arcade (and why that doesn't have to be a scary thing).
Games You Might Not Have Tried (...or Heard Of)
E16
Games You Might Not Have Tried (...or Heard Of)This week, we list a bunch of our favorite "under-the-radar" games.
Learning From Other M
E17
Learning From Other MThis week, we discuss some of Metroid: Other M's failings, and how similar games might avoid them in the future.
Gamifying Education
E18
Gamifying EducationThis week, we offer some general examples for ways to improve education using game design techniques.
Graphics vs Aesthetics
E19
Graphics vs AestheticsThis week, we define the difference between a games "graphics" and a game's "aesthetic", and why that distinction matters.
The Myth of the Gun
E20
The Myth of the GunThis week, we try to figure out why the U.S. has always produced more First Person Shooters than Japan.
NOT a Security Episode
E21
NOT a Security EpisodeNow that the whole PSN mess is (mostly) wrapped up, we discuss the changing relationship between corporation and consumer, and the trust that relationship is going to require.
Anonymous
E22
AnonymousThis week, we take a quick break from all the games talk to discuss Anonymous, and whether or not they were actually behind the PSN outage.
Our Oscars
E23
Our OscarsThis week, we talk about the need for video games to have their own "Oscars", and what that show might look like.
The Role of the Player
E24
The Role of the PlayerThis week, we get into a little bit of video game theory, discussing the creative contribution of the player to a game.
Game Reviews
E25
Game ReviewsThis week, we talk about reviewing games, how to pursue a game reviewing career, and how game reviewing might be improved overall.
Race in Games
E26
Race in GamesThis week, we finally get around to talking about race in games, thanks mostly to the release of L.A. Noire.
Sharing Our Medium
E27
Sharing Our MediumVideo games can actually be pretty intimidating to newcomers. This week, we offer some tips for how to introduce others to our medium.
Microtransactions
E28
MicrotransactionsThis week, we talk about microtransactions, and how they COULD be a pretty great thing if we'd just start doing them right.
S.978 and Operation Rainfall
E29
S.978 and Operation RainfallThis week, we share some of our thoughts on two current(ish) events: the dreaded S.978 bill and Operation Rainfall.
The Pre-Production Problem
E30
The Pre-Production ProblemThis week, we kick off the Guest Art Marathon with a discussion on why games really need to start making time for pre-production.
"Art" Is Not the Opposite of "Fun"
E31
"Art" Is Not the Opposite of "Fun"This week, we address the common claim that advancing games as an art means making them less fun.
The MMORTS
E32
The MMORTSThis week, we address the potential for the MMORTS genre, as well as the reasons why making one seems to be such a difficult challenge.
Game Addiction part 1
E33
Game Addiction part 1This week, we begin a two-part series on the much-debated topic of "Game Addiction."
Game Addiction part 2
E34
Game Addiction part 2This week, we conclude our two-part series on the much-debated topic of "Game Addiction" (in a very, VERY unusual way).
Let's Talk About Publishing
E35
Let's Talk About PublishingThis week, we get everyone up to speed on the Rockethub details. After that, we share our plans for the EC Indie Fund! Link to the EC Indie Fund rockethub page!
Pacing
E36
PacingThis week, we discuss proper pacing and it's influence on game design.
Cutscenes
E37
CutscenesThis week, we discuss the role (and frequent misuse) of cutscenes in video games.
Pro Gaming
E38
Pro GamingThis week, we consider the reasons why professional gaming hasn't really caught on in the West (yet).
Games You Might Not Have Tried #2
E39
Games You Might Not Have Tried #2This week, we list off some more interesting games you might never have heard of (or gotten around to trying).
So You Want To Be a Producer
E40
So You Want To Be a ProducerThis week, we take a close look at one of the game industry's less-appreciated roles: the Producer.
This week's guest art by LeeLee Scaldaferri! Check out her weekly webcomic, Name Game!
Propaganda Games
E41
Propaganda GamesThis week, we consider the unfortunate potential games have as tools for propaganda.
Call of Juarez: The Cartel
E42
Call of Juarez: The CartelThis week, we further examine the "lazy design" we discussed last week by picking apart a specific title: Call of Juarez: The Cartel.
Zombies
E43
ZombiesThis week (for some Halloween fun), we decided to talk about zombies.
Working Conditions
E44
Working ConditionsThis week, we take a hard look at just how miserable it can be to work in the game industry, and the causes behind these terrible conditions.
The Uncanny Valley
E45
The Uncanny ValleyThis week, we explain the theory behind the Uncanny Valley, and how best to avoid tumbling into it.
The Diablo III Marketplace
E46
The Diablo III MarketplaceThis week, we consider the intended goal (and possible results) of Blizzard's plan for a "real money" marketplace in Diablo III.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
E47
Deus Ex: Human RevolutionThis week, we try to figure out exactly what it was about the new Deus Ex game we liked so much.
The Singularity
E48
The SingularityThis week, we begin our two weeks of "science distraction" by looking at what role games might play in man achieving technology singularity.
Technobabble
E49
TechnobabbleThis week, we examine that classic staple of mediocre science fiction: technobabble.
Playtesting
E50
PlaytestingThis week, we explain the value of playtesting your game, and offer some tips on how to get the best data possible.
Puzzle Games
E51
Puzzle GamesThis week, we dissect a popular puzzle game to show just how complex and elegantly-designed even a simple game can be.
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