The Experience Points Podcast

We launch these podcasts every week, but still there is never enough time to touch on every game we play, even if they make an impression. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I take some time out of our regular schedule to chat about a variety of games we've been playing lately, from one "fall" to another. Let us know how you've been spending your gaming hours in the comments below and if we share something on our dockets, please share your thoughts on the game as well!

Show notes:

- Runtime: 37 mins 54 secs

- Music by Brad Sucks

As a relative outsider, I see Notch as an almost-mythical figure. Here is a being who created a system of divine rules upon which millions have built their own worlds. Maybe that's a bit dramatic, but it seems fair to say that Notch has a sizable following of people who are very invested in the game as well as his public image as a lawyer-trolling, Facebook-hating advocate for independent games. But what happens when a figure like this becomes the public face of a controversial decision, such as the recent move to crack down on the selling of in-game stat and equipment boosts? This week we use Richard Cobbett's column as a starting point to talk about celebrity culture, games as platforms, and kids these days.

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes

- Find the show on Stitcher

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- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 31 mins 33 secs

- "Ending the Minecraft Fantasy," by Richard Cobbett, via Eurogamer

- Music by Brad Sucks

The granddaddy of kart racing is back! Mario Kart 8 just made its triumphant return to the Wii U recently, and Scott and I got a chance to blast our way through a variety of tracks. Suffice it to say it made enough of an impression to fuel an entire podcast episode, which you can check out below.

And of course we want to hear from you. What do you think of Mario Kart 8? Does it replace your old favorite in the series?

Show notes:

- Runtime: 36 mins 58 secs

- Music by Brad Sucks

The summer doesn't truly start until pounding music, flashing lights, and the collective funk of thousands of sweaty video game enthusiasts assault your senses. That is, unless you're like me, who watched E3 2014 from the safety and comfort of the cyberspace. Jorge went down to Los Angeles while I held down the fort back home. Now that the booths have been dismantled and the food court cuisine are distant memories, it's time to reconvene and try to make sense of what we saw. We chat about our highs and lows from the show and probably start a feud with everyone's favorite Pixar movie score composer.- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes

- Find the show on Stitcher

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 1 hr 18 seconds

- Music: "I Love L.A.," by Randy Newman

Twenty-five years ago, Nintendo gifted upon us mere mortals the Game Boy, defining handheld gaming for years to come. Today on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I go into our histories with the portable device, what we've been playing now, and what has us most excited for the future.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 37 mins 19 secs

- Music by Brad Sucks

Many of us have been playing games for decades now, which means we’ve seen a lot. Huge advances in computing technology, the evolution of controller schemes, the rise and fall of Gex the Gecko: there’s been a lot at which to marvel. Bryan Rumsey from Gamer Jockies wonders whether we’ve reached the point where the capability of games to inspire a sense of wonder has diminished. Have all the years of exploring virtual words and memorizing the Pokedex made the average game experience blasé? Whether you’re a jaded veteran or perpetual enthusiast, we’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes

- Find the show on Stitcher

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 32 mins 05 secs

- “A Jaded Gamer: Searching for Wonder in Games,” by Bryan Rumsey, via Gamer Jockies

We just played Transistor for you yesterday, but we saved our many thoughts for this moment. Here it is, our debrief on one our most anticipated games of 2014. As always, lets have a discussion about the game in the comments below! I'm sure some of you all have better understanding of the story or the best way to clear a room of bad cells than either of us.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 47 mins 33 secs

- Intro: "We All Become (feat. Ashley Barret)," by Darren Korb via Transistor (Original Soundtrack)

- Outro: "The Spine (feat. Ashley Barret)," by Darren Korb via Transistor (Original Soundtrack)

Why would you live a life of boring safety when you could start a new society in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse? Actually, Episode 3 of this season's Walking Dead series offers plenty of arguments in favor of a nice, quiet existence. This week we go through all of the episode's stomach turning decisions and find ourselves horrified and excited about where the series is going.

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes

- Find the show on Stitcher

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 55 mins 50 secs

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Nintendo recently announced a re-release of Pokémon Sapphire and Ruby for the 3DS. The future for the series is bright, but have we already forgotten the past? This week on the podcast, Scott and I take on the ultimate challenge. How many Gen 1 Pokémon we name?

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 46 mins 52 secs

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Quick Rorschach test: what do you see when you look at the Luftrausers logo? Well, aside from the two of you that said "puppies" (weirdos), it seems that everyone is seeing Nazi-related imagery. The trick is that the game isn't about Nazis or any specific war in general. This raises a question: do games that make allusions to historical realities have an obligation to explicitly address the events from which they draw their imagery? It's the topic for this week and it's one we look forward to hearing your opinions on in the comments.

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes

- Find the show on Stitcher

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 34 min 36 sec

- "Visual Styles and Depictions of the Past," by Jeff Mummert, via Play the Past

- Music by: Brad Sucks