The Experience Points Podcast

Are you a "Gamer" and proud of it? Some actually shy away from the term or want to abandon it entirely. The name "gamer" evokes images of basement-dwellers and incredibly long sessions of  World of Warcraft , at least for those outside the community. But can we salvage this form of gaming identification? Should we reclaim the word and shout "I am a gamer and proud of it" from the rooftop? This wee...

Every week, it seems like there is some sort of mini-controversy happening.  Whether it is outrage over a shady DLC scheme or frustration over a classic series' new artistic direction, there is never any shortage of noise and fury.  This week, we use Sean Sands' observations on the recent Super Bowl to explore the line between constructive criticism and pointless rage.  Feel the need to get someth...

Scott and I have returned with another selection of independent games that deserve your attention for more than a few reasons. We begin with two browser-based MMO's, the first a bullet-hell RPG the other a surreal cat roleplaying game, both of which will tickle your... fancy feast ( YEAAAA! ) We round out the show with a more serious look at  Triple Town ,  Yeti Town , and the dangers of clones an...

This week's podcast is brought to you by...you!  We solicited questions from readers and listeners and received a great batch of topics.  We touch upon a huge variety of issues, including region locking, games with historical settings, and the different approaches to games criticism.  This was a fun show to record and we'd like to do it again, so keep those questions coming via email, twitter, or...

We may say we are all part of a large gaming community, but some groups of players may be living in a walled off city, isolated from the popular discussion of games.  World of Warcraft  may have millions of players, but is the  WoW  community excluded now more than ever? Katie Williams thinks so in her article that inspired this week's podcast discussion. Who built these walls? What are we losing...

When we talk about the greatest games of all time in terms of their design, technology, and art, are we fooling ourselves?  In a recent opinion piece, Leigh Alexander suggests that "truly great games" are all about players' personal contexts.  This week, we use her article about the mystique surrounding Ocarina of Time as a starting point for a discussion about how our memories and the passage of...

We have consulted the Mayan calendar, had a chat with John Cusack, and returned with our prediction on games, habits, and hardware for the coming year. This time we take a scatter shot approach, going down a long list of topics and releases in hopes of sharing out quick thoughts on almost every 2012 issue on the horizon. Naturally we missed out on something you are eagerly awaiting. Let us know wh...

It's that time of the year again, folks: time to pick our game of the year!  Jorge and I could never pick just one (or could we...?), so we each pick three of our favorite games from 2011 and talk about what makes them great.  It was a great year, if I do say so myself, and our lists reflect the many diverse and memorable titles released over the past year.  Of course, we don't come close to discu...

Normally I try to think about high school as little as possible. But recently Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku asked us all to revisit our bygone days and think about high school as an interesting setting for videogames. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I put on our school colors and discuss our experiences with media set in high school and the trials and tribulations of our collective youths that m...

Long before the advent of Achievement Points, players have chased after goals.  But are all tasks created equal, or are some more important than others?  This week, inspired by Wired's two articles on mandatory missions every well-informed gamer should undertake, we discuss some of the game experiences that give us common ground.  As always, feel free to jump into the comments and share your thoug...

No matter how many hours Scott and I spend playing, analyzing, and writing about games, there are still so many sub-cultures to which we remain largely ignorant. Competitive gaming, particular around the fighting game genre, continues relatively under the radar of both gamers and the public.  I Got Next , a recently released documentary by first-time film maker Ian Cofino seeks to shine some light...

Admit it: You didn't think we would do it, did you?  You thought all our talk of investigating Facebook games was brought on by too much turkey and an overabundance of holiday spirit.  Today, Jorge and I are happy to present to you a conversation about our initial experiences with a handful of Facebook games.  In addition to the games themselves, we discuss the nature of social games, monetization...

This week on the EXP IndieCast, Scott and I are joined once again by game designer Nels Anderson, who's recent Montreal International Game Summit talk sparked a lively conversation about systems literacy, 2D indie-darlings, old television shows, player expectations, and so much more. Give this elongated episode and listen and let us know your thoughts by leaving your comments below. As always, you...

It's Thanksgiving time here in the U.S., so Jorge and I decided to get into the spirit of the holiday.  In this episode, we each pick a few video game concepts for which we are thankful and chat about the reasons behind our gratitude.  We cover everything from Batman to sado-masochism, and we're looking forward to hearing about the game-related things that make you optimistic!  Additionally, Jorge...

Naughty Dog's latest cinematic achievement can finally wow players with a heaping load of spectacle and a fair bit of Nolan North charm. Scott and I get in on the "taste for adventure" this week while we discuss  Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception . In this longer-than-normal episode, we discuss a range of issues, from the game's gun-play to its lauded story to the future of our witty treasure-hunting...

What is the point of doing something if there aren't any points to be won?   Radek Koncewicz's post on the irresistible, but ultimately pointless actions we take in games inspired us to think about the little personal flourishes we add to our game playing experiences.  Maybe you're one of those folks who had to catch the Super Mario Bros. 3 wands in mid-air, or maybe you're a strict adherent to th...

We have crossed ancient lands, traversed architecturally unsound bridges of questionable origin, journeyed to the heart of this forgotten temple, and place our mics upon a demigods alter to bring you part two of our  Team Ico  focused podcasts. This week, Scott and I discuss the marvels of  Shadow of the Colossus  as well as historical collections of notable games in general. As always, we would l...

It's time once again for an independent game roundup!  This week, Jorge and I discuss A Closed World, A Tale By Alex, and Fisher-Diver.  All three games are free to play and boast interesting mechanical and thematic features.  Each game is thought-provoking and well-worth playing; we have a wide ranging conversation that encompasses everything from considering the difficulties of incorporating LGB...

Somewhere in a forgotten castle in Japan, where the sound of ocean waves can drift through the remains of ancient keeps, Fumito Ueda is hard at work crafting  The Last Guardian . The only tenable flavor of that otherworldly realm must come from the recent launch of the  Ico  and  Shadow of the Collosus  HD bundle. This week on the show, at the request of listener Chris Rickard, we take a look at t...

Time moves fast in the world of video games.  Technology changes (remember Rumble Paks?), franchises rise and fall (just ask Guitar Hero!), and it's hard to predict what will gain popularity (Minecraft, anyone?).  With the recent release of Gears of War 3, Jorge and I decided we would take stock of what we consider to be one of most important franchises of the last five years.  This show is less a...

If Antonio Banderas can sell sinus medication, why can't Captain Olimar sell herbicide? Maybe he can. Video games have been used to sell a wide variety of non-game related merchandise, but have our iconic protagonists ever been spokespersons?  If not, then Nathan Drake is changing videogames again, and this time he is doing it was sandwiches. This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss the fourth-wal...

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....Jorge and I recorded a podcast about Star Wars.  Inspired by the recent announcement that the Bioware-developed MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic would indeed be released this year, we discuss our expectations and the nature of Star Wars video games in general.  We've flown from one end of this galaxy to the other, and we've seen a lot of strange stuff,...

Like some sort of radioactive monster from the sea, the Tokyo Game Show has risen and invaded Japan. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the most interesting tidbits out of TGS, touching on a variety of subjects, from our longing for the "Japanese" aesthetic to pregnancy peripherals and the prospects for the PS Vita and the 3DS. Be sure to check out the show notes for some of the gam...

This week, Jorge and I are pleased to welcome Krystian Majewski back to the show!  Krystian is designer of Trauma , an independent game that blends puzzle solving, exploration, and interactive storytelling. We discuss the Trauma's development process and ask Krystian about his approach to game design.  We also find time to talk about everything from urban exploration to Lego robots, and we find ou...

We have wrestled with sheep, turned blocks into staircases, and climbed the highest towers to bring you this Catherine themed podcast. This week on the show, Scott and I discuss the latest erotic-story-focused-puzzle game from Atlus, its cowardly and ineffectual protagonist, and its take on gender, marriage, and fidelity. As always, we encourage you to share your own thoughts on Catherine in the c...