The Experience Points Podcast

Valve is shaking up the games industry again with a set of three recent announcements (none of which were Half-Life 3 unfortunately). Leaping bravely into the Next Gen Console space, Valve will soon release their very own operating system, set of customizable Steam Machines, and controllers, all to make playing games in your living room easier. While the news was a long time coming, the mix of the three may actually cause quite a stir. Join us this week as Scott and I discuss Valve's endless money-making loop.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 34 min 17 sec

- News from Valve here.

- Music by: Brad Sucks

We've wandered through these castle ever-shifting castle walls for so long, but we've finally escaped. Actually, both Jorge and I are still fighting our way through Rogue Legacy, but after dozens of generations of fallen heroes, we decided it was time to share our experiences. Gather round for tales of martyrdom, mining, and magic.

- 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 17 sec

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Ouya might be struggling right now, but the concept of a cheap and adaptable home console alternative to the big three is here to stay. What does that mean for the future of gaming? And what does it mean for Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo? Stick around and ask Mr. Businessman! This week on the show, Scott and I go over the edge with the coming technological tide. As always, check out the article that inspired this week's podcast in the show notes below, it's a good one. We also encourage you to leave your thoughts and predictions about microconsoles in the comments below. Do you own an Ouya? Are you a believer?

Show notes:

- Runtime: 28 min 05 sec

- "Snuffing out disruptive microconsoles won't be so easy for the 'big three'," by Kris Graft via Gamasutra

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Thanks to you, the EXP mailbag is once again full of questions! This week, we dig through your emails, comments, and tweets, trying our best to sound like we know what we're talking about. Fourth-wall etiquette, the "indie aesthetic," steam sales, Angry Birds: it's all here. Thanks again for your questions and please keep them coming!- 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: 40 min 05 sec- Music by: Brad Sucks

Gamescom 2013, the enormous yearly gaming event in Cologne, Germany, wrapped up about a week ago. While there were no huge splashes this year, we spend this podcast visiting some of the most noteworthy news items. Join us this week on the show while Scott and I discuss Nintendo's scaling back of dimensions, Ghost conspiracies, console launch dates (which we chatted about before Microsoft's announcement today), and more! As always, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Also, don't forget to submit your questions for our upcoming mailbag episode! Any questions, game related are otherwise, are appreciated. You can reach by email or twitter by checking out our contact info on the right!

Show notes:

- Runtime: 33 min 59 sec

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Hot off the heels of our "Homage to Homes," Jorge and I have made our way through Gone Home, a game whose entire point is to explore a house and its inhabitants. It's dedication to portraying everyday environments and ordinary people actually makes it unique amongst a landscape of fantasy and super powers. The care that The Fullbright Company gives to the game's environments and characters helped spark a wide ranging discussion. We cover topics ranging from teenage romance, punk music, and the folly of trying to become a Street Fighter champion, while leaving plenty of time to discuss the more subtle plot points. As always, we hope you make yourself at home and share your thoughts in the comments.It's the first game from The Fullbright Company, and it stands out for a few reasons.

The football season is upon us! Yet while the games might be raging in the stadiums, our gaming habits have long since abandoned sports games. Why did we play sports games more when we were young? Why did they fall off our radar? And what could bring us back to the field? This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss our professional ping-pong careers, Madden, and free-to-play economics. Let us know your own relationship with sports games in the comments below!

Show notes:

- Runtime: 29 min 16 sec

- Music by: Brad Sucks

I've come to terms with the fact that there's probably never going to be another Bubsy game. That won't break too many hearts, but what happens when we're faced with the potential "death" of a widely loved series like Final Fantasy? Chris Kohler made such a suggestion and was greeted by more than a few irritated fans. We took his articles and analysis as an opportunity to discuss Final Fantasy and whether a few other high-profile franchises have shuffled off this mortal coil. If you have thoughts on a series that isn't long for this world or one that is primed and ready to rise from the ashes, jump into 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 min 32 sec

- "Final Fantasy Isn’t Dying. It’s Already Dead," by Chris Kohler, via Wired

- "The Bad Death of Final Fantasy: Reasons Why It’s Over," by Chris Kohler, via Wired

- Music by: Brad Sucks

In one of the moving boxes around my home are my gaming systems, surely one of the nondescript ones at the bottom of a box mountain. While I try to maneuver through the moving process, we thought now would be a good time to discuss homes and the stuff we put in them. Join Scott and I this week as we chat about, Skyrim, Fallout, and haunted houses. As always, share with us your home-away-from-home games in the comments below!

Show notes:

- Runtime: 30 min 40 sec

- Music by: Brad Sucks

Enclosed, please find one ticket to the Player Haters' Ball. After last week's podcast about the potential benefits of having a strong personality and being outspoken about your opinion (even if it's unpopular), Jorge and I decided to jump up on our soapboxes. We try to keep things pretty positive around here, but sometimes you just have air your grievances. This week, we talk about the things that annoy us, especially those things that everyone else seems to like. Don't worry: things get pretty silly and it's all in good spirit. Sometimes it feels good to talk about what grinds your gears, whether it's a beloved character, a particular genre, or a universally-loved indie darling. Want to get something off your chest? Jump into 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: 35 min 43 sec

- Scott's post about Final Fantasy VII's

- "What We Leave Behind," John Teti's Rogue Legacy review, via The Gameological

- Adam Jensen Does A Safety Dance! (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)

- Music by: Brad Sucks