Codex Rex

This episode we explore the internet phenomenon that was Neopets and discuss the strange directions that the brand has taken over the years. Then, Dachz adopts a Neopet of his own. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1E3Szw_165fgGTwtIpjwHDYLHyc4AJxQC7RZeC0cYyXw/ Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h2GCtc1hGcLEpWl1tDD83bFgAb8ennjOJByUjfb9yBU/

Tyler tells the story of Chex Quest, a game created as a breakfast cereal promotion that spawned a cult following. We also briefly discuss the strange link between cereal and pseudoscience movements in the late 1800s in the United States. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14ueOvpdYHGPi5GutoJcrCe5DXBuw_IokqYEDVwa7LN0/ Sources for this episode are available at: […]

This is the story of Daikatana, John Romero’s first game after leaving id Software, and what would become one of the largest commercial failures in the history of the gaming industry. This is the final episode of our six-part series about the developers at id Software. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J3ITpqXEkGVX1PlTkK3ZSDVIXtdvBdGv-1TlXtSjCjg/ Sources […]

We tell the story of Quake, the FPS that revolutionized online play, but had a troubled and turbulent development cycle. This is the fifth part in our continuing series about id Software. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LhM82lrs0AGfqC-wKjygbRt0BHF3HUDtcI19oLNggyE/ Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Listen to the tale of DOOM, a demon-filled and gory shooter that fundamentally changed the course of gaming forever. This is the fourth part in our continuing series about id Software. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17q7ONAAR0GNGNIGUAY_GMvEvgQx5Tpuh9o_8ZfixXik/ Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

In this episode we discuss Wolfenstein 3D, a fast-paced and bloody game that is sometimes called the “grandfather of 3D shooters.” This is the third part in our continuing series about id Software. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UlRGeIfJFMH2TqPrSIelTiWBqpqK9jc1LGS2gBsBvAY Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

In our continuing series about id Software, we speak about the creation of Commander Keen, a side scrolling game about a boy genius that would form the foundation for id’s future projects. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dLI9Fk-2FuSVQf6eHlug-1sqGywr1-FiH1Dj4IJr7BA/ Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

In the first episode of a new series, Tyler tells Dachz stories of the people who founded id Software, including tales of industry legends John Romero and John Carmack, and the circumstances that brought them together. Slides for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/112baWGctB-5XTmyIkHZBg74jMWJnOtkCJpyg1HTNxEo/ Sources for this episode are available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kensnr9yXmavic2k_ckFAE2fQKP416tiAutp0H4Sx18/

Tyler tells Dachz the story of Keita Takahashi, and how he created the cult classic Katamari Damacy. Then, the two discuss Takahashi’s career and his unique style of creating games. Sources for this episode can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g38WaV45gYBmooXl_ViJ3nyRtmZZNCgHSDpN8PurKQI/edit?usp=sharing

Dachz and Tyler interview Louis Castle about his role in co-founding Westwood Studios and his contributions to the Command & Conquer series of real-time strategy games.