++Good Games (Double Plus Good Games) Podcast

With E3 approaching, the team at Double Plus Good Games takes time out to talk about their picks for the top 50 video games of all time.  With over four decades to cover, this episode is a doozy!After E3, the ++Good Games crew will be starting our call in show.  Keep checking our Twitter feed for more information on how you can be part of the program or simply drop us an email at doubleplusgoodgames [at] gmail [dot] com

Also, be sure to tell you friends that when we reach 1000 followers on Twitter we will be sending one of our lucky followers a brand new Xbox 360 game console.  Help us spread the word and you could walk away with a brand new game console of your own. Again lots of thanks to be had about spreading the word and for helping us land new jobs, projects and clients (placement) in gaming. For questions regarding this giveaway, please check our website or send us a message at double plus good [email protected] About ++Good Games/Videogames and Pizza: Whatever happened to truly ENJOYING the world of GAMING?  That's what professional video game industry veterans Anthony Ernst and Neal Bauer want to help you find out every week.             Double Plus Good (++Good) Games is a podcast created by game industry and retail veterans. Over the last decade, each of has has worked together in some capacity. We are using our shared experience and love of games to start a podcast-liferaft, a "podcraft" if you will, to continue on our gaming journey together. We hope you enjoy your time in the Podcraft and thank you in advance for listening and taking a chance on being positive and having fun.   Double+Good (++Good) Games is parent site of Video Games and Pizza and both are part of Bauer Graphics, Inc. 

In this episode we talk with CTO/COO Tim Alvis to delve deeper into the game, development and inspirations for Dark Vale Games' first endeavor. 

Pencil Test Studios was gracious enough to invite ++Good Games into their space to talk to us about their previous projects and experience in the industry, but primarily to get the word out about Armikrog. To return the favor, we invite them into our virtual space to wax philosophical about pants, “soda,” Nintendo, animation methods, and the business of video games. We have two very special guests lined up for our fans, as the ++GG crew crosses clay (again!) with Ed Schofield and Mike Dietz! Our guests come to us live from California’s beautiful Orange County, and we learn about their passion for illustration, animation, when they got into the business, where they met Doug TenNapel, and much, much more!! You don’t want to miss this nostalgic and crazy entry in the annals of ++history!

Pencil Test Studios is an animation studio located in Southern California’s Orange County, one hour South of Los Angeles. They specialize in all sorts of animation from traditional hand-drawn fare, to CGI, and stop-motion. Productions they’ve worked on include Earthworm Jim, The Neverhood, Cool Spot, Star Wars Episode III (the video game), It’s a SpongeBob Christmas, Kog-Head & Meatus, and Pixar’s WALL-E (the video game), among others. Ed serves on the board of directors for Web Wise Kids, the nations leading non-profit organization that teaches kids about internet safety though interactive games; Mike has won an Annie award for his efforts as animation director on Pixars Ratatouille video game.

The Double Plus Good Games podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google and where ever else fine podcasts are served.

As the ++Good Games Podcast celebrates three years of gaming-audio-excellence, we ask ourselves what other crowning jewel can we add to our crown?  ++Good Games has had the pleasure, honor and privilege to have interviewed the likes of; Trip Hawkins, Tim Schafer, Terry Wolfinger, OXM, Eric "Shidoshi" Patterson, Aram Jabbari, Kat Steel, Justine Joli and many more!  Well, the answer to that question, as we enter year four, is one of THE ORIGINAL founding fathers of the gaming industry, none other than, Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari, Chuck E. Cheese and many other companies).  Nolan Bushnell is a man whose body of work spans over four decades and is still being added to today!  It's a truly amazing journey ~ one that the ++Good Games Podcast delves into.  

We discuss a bit about the past, more about the present and learn of a vision that will change the future.  Nolan Bushnell made his original mark by kick-starting the gaming industry with Pong, yet now he has his sights set on an exciting marriage of technology and education with Brain Rush.  Make learning swift, fun and truly allow one to realize their fullest potential.  This is an interview not to be missed.

The reality is that we were incredibly fortunate to have Tim Shafer and Lee Perry talk with us about their “Amnesia Fortnight Project” in which Double Fine broke their studio into four teams and gave each team two weeks to develop a new game. So far we’ve seen TashasComic’s Costume Quest and we are just on the verge of the next gem from this endeavor with “Stacking”.

Downloadable Game of the Year

Runner Up: Orcs Must Die 2 Developed by: Robot Entertainment Published by: Robot Entertainment

Winner: Journey Developed by: That Game Company Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment

Best New IP

Runner Up: Lollipop Chainsaw Developed by: Grasshopper Manufacture Published by: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Winner: Dishonored Developed by: Arkane Studios Published by: Bethesda Softworks

Best HD Remake

Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid HD Developed by: Konami Published by: Konami

Winner: Zone of the Enders HD Originally Developed by: Konami Published by: Konami

Developer of the Year 

Runner Up:  

Winner: Capcom

Handheld Game of the Year

Runner Up: 

Winner: Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion Developed by: DreamRift Published by: Disney Interactive Studios

Console Game of the Year

Runner Up: Lollipop Chainsaw Developed by: Grasshopper Manufacture Published by: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Winner: Dishonored Developed by: Arkane Studios Published by: Bethesda Softworks

Overall Game of the Year

Winner: Assassin's Creed 3 Developed by: Ubisoft Published by: Ubisoft

In this episode we discuss topics such as the Kickstarter darling: OUYA, the decline of console gaming, classic EA titles like M.U.L.E., Archon and Seven Cities of Gold, and carry on a conversation surrounding the tablet computing explosion. As always, Trip has a wealth of predictions for the future and load of opinions to share that make this interview nothing short of exciting, informative, and full of insight. This ++episode is truly not to be missed.

Q1:  What does being a Sr. Product Manager for Microsoft Game Studios entail on a regular basis?

Q2:  What are your feelings being able to work with one of the most recognized franchises on the planet?

Q3:  Can you tell gamers what to expect in terms of who one will play in Halo: Reach as well as some background on the setting for this title?

Q4:  Are there any unique features/gameplay elements that you would like to share with our audience?  What will make this title stand apart from its predecessors?

Q5:  Can you please shed some light on the multiplayer aspects of Halo: Reach?  What can fans expect?

Q6:  I hear that Halo: Reach utilizes a new graphical engine for the XBOX360 built from the ground-up. . . is this true?  Also, what can you tell us about this -- will the visuals be sweeter than cotton candy soaked in Mountain Dew?

Q7:  Nintendo has Mario, Sega has Sonic, and Micrsoft has Master Chief (Halo) -- all of these mascots and titles have sold millions upon millions of copies of software.  The catch is (in my opinion) -- Microsoft has been able to do this with a character that is more mature, and a series that can be enjoyed by fans -- even as they get older.  What do you feel is the secret to this success that nobody else has been able to achieve?

I, Anthony if possible, at this point or somewhere amongs the interview would like to share the following with our special guest:  "Mike, if you don't mind me saying -- I would like to get this on record for you and the fans of Double Plus Good Games Podcast; as many know, I, Anthony, am very picky in terms of character design, visuals, memorable game music and have a tendency to gravitate towards more obscure titles.  But, I want to take this opportunity to compliment Microsoft, Bungie and all those involved in the Halo-series that I truly feel this is a Western title that has the all important 'fun factor,' wonderful character design (especially the Covenant), a color palette that stretches beyond a total of 6 different shades of silver, a Hollywood-quality soundtrack, and is truly a perfectionist in the genre that it catapulted to new heights.  I want everyone to know that I am a fair person, and when I feel a product deserves praise, as in Halo, I will give that praise.  I eagerly anticipate this title as do millions of people around the globe."

Q8:  When this title launches on Tuesday September 14th there will be three versions of Halo: Reach available; 1) Standard Edition, 2)Limited Edition and 3) Legendary Edition.  What can gamers expect from each respective version?

Q9:  What can fans of the Halo series expect in the future?

Q10:  Any last words for listeners and people looking forward to this monumental title?

We interview Aksys Games' Gail Salamanca at Comicon about their upcoming brawler BlazBlue: Continuum Shift

The one that started it all.  Join Andy, Anthony, Dave, Jeff, and Neal as they wax poetic about the Game Crazy and how each of us started working games industry.