Escapist Podcast: 007: Game of Thrones and Team Fortress 2

[Hristo Tzonkov]

Just after "Smoke the blood for 20" xD.

Was that smiley to note that you know it's really "Smoke the blunt 420"?

My head is a mess atm due to lack of sleep so it kinda went over my head I just giggled when I heard it on the podcast.

PS:I prefer a 220.

 

[Xman490]

Bring Your Dog To Work Day? Machinima had that a few days ago! Is there some sort of "official" day for that?

 

[Woodsey]

Sorry, but this won't load. At all. Not even slightly.

I think it's the length.

Same. And if I have to watch that Transformers ad again I am going to murder something[footnote]If I've watched X videos already in a day is it really necessary for me to keep seeing the ad? I've paid my dues. Even Youtube does this somewhat.[/footnote].

 

[Moeez]

007: Game of Thrones and Team Fortress 2

This week, we talk about adaptations, specifically HBO's Game of Thrones and Alice Madness Returns. We also discuss Team Fortress 2, free-to-play models and answer some listener questions.

Watch Video

Criticising Madness Returns on your wishes rather than what's there in the game (3D platformer) and was established from the first game, is biased. Math and word play challenges in Madness Returns would be even more badly viewed by game critics who already favour simpler games like shooters or action games. Lewis Carroll was a MATHEMATICIAN and a LOGICIAN, so he wrote from what he knew. American McGee is a videogame designer, so he develops from what he knows. Unrealistic expectations.

That would be only cool for Alice fans, like Steve Butts. You're asking players to bring out the old-school technique of notepads and figuring out puzzles on a snail's pace, and I would love that since it makes the puzzles deep and rewarding but it would pretty much make a small team (Spicy Horse) bankrupt.

What about the dialogue in Madness Returns? That was true to the adaptation of having the alliteration-heavy, whimsical Shakespearean monologues from the denizens of Wonderland. Deserves some credit.

Remember the last game that tried to have that level of system mechanics with its investigation, picture taking, characterisation, mini-games, puzzles, and shying away from combat?
http://www.joystiq.com/media/2006/03/beyond_gande.jpg
Didn't sell well. It's now worse in this risk-averse phase of the game industry.

 

[bdcjacko]

Can you guys please lean in and speak clearly into the mics?

Love the show, just I hate having to keep turning up the sound to hear what you are "mumbling" about.

 

[UNHchabo]

Here's a very practical reason why the developer would rather you buy a used copy than pirate:

Pretend for a moment that everyone buys their games at retail, and the only game store in town has one used copy, and a few new copies. So *you* don't want to pay full-price for the game, and your money is either going to nobody, or Gamestop. However, let's say the next person has disposable income, but is still smart with their money. If you pirate, then there's a used copy available for them to buy, and all of *their* money goes to Gamestop. If you buy the used copy, then a good portion of that person's money is going to the developer.

So there you go: used sales help dry up the used market, so that future buyers are more likely to buy new copies.

 

[Throwitawaynow]

This week, we talk about adaptations, specifically HBO's Game of Thrones and Alice Madness Returns. We also discuss Team Fortress 2, free-to-play models and answer some listener questions.

Watch Video

Is there an iron lung in the background? It's really distracting, love the discussion though.

 

[Camaranth]

I loved Susan's response to the questions! Thank you for putting it so simply, I had a similar experience the other week and I realised that I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, the way I see it talking about a game is exactly the same as discussing a movie or book.

Look forward to these every week.

 

[ManupBatman]

Love this podcast. Such a different tone then most I've heard, and that's good. Keep it up.

 

[glasgowmatthew]

The second hand game industry is often said to be entirely negative for the publishers. A second hand game sale doesn't put money directly in a publishers pocket but it can indirectly. How many people go out and buy a full price game with the expectation of selling it on afterwards? If they couldn't sell it afterwards would they buy it in the first place? I've not done this with games but I've definitely done it with expensive books. Obviously second hand sales loose the publishers something but the any possible gains seem to be ignored.

 

[vxicepickxv]

Pricing scales for rating games?

You can go digital and still have a large collection of magic cards, with MTGO.

So, in order to be about being a gamer, it's don't be a dick, and don't be afraid to talk about it.

I may, or may not be a cyborg.

 

[bdcjacko]

Also this is just me and I have said it before, I hate the term micro-transaction. There is no such thing, either it is a transaction or not. Is buying a 50 cent candy bar a micro-transaction? No, so neither is buying $3 worth of game content, it is just regular transaction. Also if there was such a thing as a micro-transaction, there would be such a thing as a mega or macro transaction.

It could just be the accountant in me ranting, but, seriously, I want to punch the marketing ass that came up with the term.[/rant over]

Though I perfectly understand the free to play model where you can buy more content as needed and wanted. It is so simple of an idea and makes perfect sense. It is just like giving away the stick/handle of a multi-tool with the basic lay out then charging for the various attachments, thus locking in a dynamic income stream. And occasionally coming up with a new attachment.

 

[Slycne]

You guys address Subscription model and the Free-to-play model... What are your thoughts on the hybrid "Buy-to-play" business model (Buy the box, no sub fee. The best example of it is Guild Wars.)? Would you assume that because they're not charging subscriptions that "they don't care about the content" or "they know it's crap", as Susan said about f2p games?

Guild Wars is certainly an outlier. It basically fits with every other multiplayer game on the market, but because it's an MMO it is instantly lumped into that crowd. It's been able to separate itself well enough to some degree, they are making a second one at least.

I'm personally looking forward to the next iteration. The first one ended up feeling a little flat to me due to its lack of a persistent world map. So unless I had friends online at the same time, I was sort of playing a less interesting single-player rpg.

 

[ryo02]

cant listen to this one or the last one just stops a couple minuets in all the others were fine what changed?

 

[bunji]

She did it again! Where have i heard "be-a-cuase" before?! Its driving me crazy!

 

[MorganL4]

I just wanted to thank you guys, for me this podcast is Much more honest, informative and real than others of this nature, for example G4s Feedback.

 

[Cornish]

007: Game of Thrones and Team Fortress 2

This week, we talk about adaptations, specifically HBO's Game of Thrones and Alice Madness Returns. We also discuss Team Fortress 2, free-to-play models and answer some listener questions.

Watch Video

Criticising Madness Returns on your wishes rather than what's there in the game (3D platformer) and was established from the first game, is biased. Math and word play challenges in Madness Returns would be even more badly viewed by game critics who already favour simpler games like shooters or action games. Lewis Carroll was a MATHEMATICIAN and a LOGICIAN, so he wrote from what he knew. American McGee is a videogame designer, so he develops from what he knows. Unrealistic expectations.

But he developed based on a story by Lewis Carroll; so there will be expectations based on that original story. It's not unrealistic, that simpletons won't like the game if it's based on the original story - would not make it unrealistic as an expectation, simply less profitable.

 

[Susan Arendt]

She did it again! Where have i heard "be-a-cuase" before?! Its driving me crazy!

Here: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/558516

 

[Moeez]

007: Game of Thrones and Team Fortress 2

This week, we talk about adaptations, specifically HBO's Game of Thrones and Alice Madness Returns. We also discuss Team Fortress 2, free-to-play models and answer some listener questions.

Watch Video

Criticising Madness Returns on your wishes rather than what's there in the game (3D platformer) and was established from the first game, is biased. Math and word play challenges in Madness Returns would be even more badly viewed by game critics who already favour simpler games like shooters or action games. Lewis Carroll was a MATHEMATICIAN and a LOGICIAN, so he wrote from what he knew. American McGee is a videogame designer, so he develops from what he knows. Unrealistic expectations.

But he developed based on a story by Lewis Carroll; so there will be expectations based on that original story. It's not unrealistic, that simpletons won't like the game if it's based on the original story - would not make it unrealistic as an expectation, simply less profitable.

But it's not a remake, it's McGee's dark and twisted interpretation. Mental hospitals, blood, language (Alice is called a "fucking ****" by a brute in the real world near the Mangled Mermaid!), combat, new creatures, disturbing imagery (there's a Prawn Jesus crucifixion, seriously), and a more mature Alice. I don't think anyone would be misled what this is trying to be.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110630110531/americanmcgeesalice/images/5/50/MayorDeluded.jpg

 

[Moeez]

Hey wait, there ARE math puzzles in Alice MR! I just forgot. They are on the "Paint the Rose" challenge rooms, most are combat survival rooms, but there are a few with logic puzzles. So, Steve Butts, you clearly weren't looking hard enough

[http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/190/27290710150231773326896.jpg/]

And logic puzzles!

[http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/815/27992610150231912306896.jpg/]