The Experience Points Podcast

This week's show is all about music games.  It's a big topic, so Jorge and I recruited a talented trio of musicians and video game writers to help us out: Dan Apczynski , David Carlton , and Kirk Hamilton were all kind enough to stop by to discuss the merits of music games.  We cover a huge swath of topics ranging from pedagogy, to musical philosophy, to Bon Jovi's genius.  We've known Dan, David,...

We have clicked though the photograph, plummeted through spiked filled tunnels, and shattered the fourth wall entirely on this week's independent games focused podcast. Join Scott and I as we journey through the surreal landscape of Trauma , praise and criticize the torture that is VVVVVV , and try to wrap our heads around the strange construction of The Stanley Parable . As always, we encourage y...

Jorge and I love talking about Halo almost as much as we love playing it. This week, we discuss what was supposedly Bungie's last Halo game: Halo: Reach . It's a wide-ranging conversation that encompasses everything from the gameplay systems to the grand plot of the Halo universe. As always, feel free to join in with your thoughts and comments. Some discussion starters: - For those of you who play...

Last week Scott and I discussed Mark Filipowich's article on cross-media storytelling. Out of that podcast came a challenge: We would put Mark's theories to the test by watching Halo Legends and Dead Space: Downfall . We have returned with out lives, if not our dignity, in tact, bringing you our views on these films and what they add/take-away from their parent franchises. If you rank amongst our...

Today, it feels like more games than ever enjoy an "expanded universe."  Books, TV shows, comics, and movies all develop worlds and characters that first appeared in video games.  This might be great for devoted fans, but what does it imply about games' abilities to stand on their own?  This week, we use Mark Filipowich's article on cross-media storytelling as a starting point for discussing the w...

Does the entire world love a game that you despise? You are not alone! We invited games journalist and brave contrarian Mitch Krpata on the show this week to discuss his criticism of Ocarina of Time , the value of terrible games, love/hate relationships with indie games, and more. Discussion starters: - What are some games you have disliked that everyone else seems to enjoy? - Is there a value in...

This week, Jorge and I are happy to welcome Peter Brinson to the show.  Peter was one of the lead designers on The Cat and the Coup , a independent game about the 1953 CIA-orchestrated Iranian coup.  After talking about The Cat and the Coup on a previous show , we thought it would be a great idea to have Peter on to learn more about the game's inception as well as his approach to incorporating his...

The summer gaming dry spell is upon us, yet Scott and I both have our gaming dockets full. After a long month of work for the both us, we have returned to our backlog with a ravenous appetite. This week on the Experience Points podcast, Scott and I discuss what we have been playing, from Zelda sequels to isometric shooters, and a few things in between. Let us know what you have been enjoying latel...

Cash-strapped gamers have never had it so good: today, there are plenty of companies literally giving games away for free.  However, developers aren't simply doing this out of the goodness of their hearts; games without initial costs often feature non-traditional ways of making money.  Recently, a few high profile games like Team Fortress 2 and World of Warcraft have started experimenting with fre...

The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and the beaches are crowded, summer is in full swing. To celebrate, PopMatters just featured a great selection of the best summer entertainment . Our compatriots even offered up their choice for great games and podcasts for the season . This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I continue the conversation with more of our own picks for games we associate with...

What do five-year-olds, mythical creatures, and Iranian history all have in common?  They are all topics in this week's independent games podcast!  This week, we take a look at Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure and The Cat and the Coup .  Both are free and quick to play, so we encourage you to take a few minutes to experience two well-made, thought provoking games.  After that, we invite you to l...

This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo has departed, but Scott and I are staying on topic just a little bit longer. Although we both missed the event this year, we kept abreast to the buzz coming out of Los Angeles. Consider us the clean-up crew, bringing you a serious, but not humorless, discussion of the rumors, technical innovations, and idiocies at this year's E3. Let us know your thoughts...

Jorge and I are still processing all the E3 madness, so we thought we'd talk about one of last week's big stories: Call of Duty: Elite.  Activision's new Call of Duty social network promises to provide players with detailed battle statistics, group functionality, and a persistent profiles across multiple games.  However, some of this comes at a price: parts of Call of Duty: Elite will only be avai...

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the state of Science Fiction in modern videogames. It turns out a mere smattering of words is not enough to thoroughly explore the veritable galaxy of topics regarding this ripe genre. Joined this week by Grayson Davis of Beeps & Boops , Scott and I discuss the good and bad of science fiction, a bit of Star Trek , time travel, and sources of excellent Sci-fi gaming. As...

It's time once again to look at some of the independent games we've been playing over the last month!  This week, we discuss a few games created for the Ludum Dare game jam event as well as Christine Love's newest work, don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story .  Both topics encompass a huge amount of material, so we highly recommend you visit the websites listed in the show notes...

The Sony network has returned, but has our faith in the company? What happens to brand loyalty when the going gets tough? This week, inspired by the Gamers With Jobs podcast, Scott and I discuss our own loyalties to corporations and developers, the Sony hacking debacle, and the meaning within these illusory relationships. Some discussion starters: - Where do your brand loyalties lie? - How, if at...

Last week, the Smithsonian American Art Museum announced the games that will be included in its upcoming exhibit The Art of Video Games .  After the curators selected 240 nominees, people voted for which games would be included in the exhibit.  The list is full of influential games, so we thought it would be fun to go through the selections and discuss some of the highlights.  You can follow along...

The internet is abuzz with rumors and speculations about Nintendo's 'Project Cafe,' what most of us are calling the Wii 2. The newcomer will feature a touchpad screen on each controller, HD capability, and maybe the ability to read minds.  But what about its predecessor? Are we abandoning the Wii as a failure? To help us answer this question, we are joined this week by Gus Mastrapa, who wrote a ti...

It is time once again to heed the call of the Elder Gods and protect Earthrealm from the evil forces of Outworld and the Netherrealm in the time-honored tradition of Mortal Kombat.  Or at least that's what Wikipedia said the game was about...In any case, this week we're talking about the latest Mortal Kombat release!   As an added bonus, check out the slide show Hanah made of Jorge and me playing...

There are so many great games from the past, but do they look terrible on your huge HD television? Are those blocky polygons jarring and atrocious? Maybe we should convert them to high resolution remakes. Or maybe not. Sometimes, as Michael Abbot states, "better isn't better." This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the risks and rewards of HD remakes, touching upon designer intent, hist...

We had such a good time on last week's IndieCast that we decided to do double up!  This week, we welcome game designer Jason Rohrer to the show.  Jason is the creator of a host of games, including such well-known titles as Passage and Sleep is Death.  Most recently, he released Inside a Star-filled Sky, a top-down shooter that combines classic arcade dynamics with innovative approaches to procedur...

The Experience Point Podcast is branching out. Scott and I have decided to put on our swim trunks and wade into the world of independent games with a brand new monthly podcast dedicated to the too often overlooked members of the games industry. At least once a month, we will explore two games that have caught our eye. We will also supplement this talks, when possible, with interviews with their de...

When everyone else is nestled snugly in bed, the most die-hard fans are battling the elements, sleep deprivation, and mall security in hopes of being the first to procure a new console or game.  This week, the tale of a man named Isaiah-Triforce Johnson came to our attention.  After waiting in line for a week, he was one of the first Americans to buy a Nintendo 3DS.  His quest got us thinking abou...

Are gamers selfish? That is the question Michelle Baldwin from Pioneer Project asks herself when confronted with "the look." When some unfamiliar with games hears about your small obsession or hobby, a curious glare not uncommon. Where does this look come from? How might social games address the divide between gamers and non-gamers? And how might we contemplate selfishness that makes us better thi...

When Jorge and I found out that someone is making a Gears of War board game , we were a bit puzzled.  We're both fans of the series, but Marcus and company never really seemed like the tabletop types.  This week, we use this odd development as a chance to discuss the relationship between video games and board games.  Topics include the cultural overlap between the board game and video game communi...