The Experience Points Podcast

This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Nels Anderson back the podcast. You may know him from one of his many appearances on the podcast...but it's much more likely you know him as the lead designer of this year's breakout hit, Mark of the Ninja! Design philosophy, player choices, and teleportation: we cover a huge array of topics and have a great time doing so. We hope you enjoy it and, as always, thanks for listening!

To listen to the podcast:

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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: 01 hr 03 min 34 sec

- Official website for Mark of the Ninja

- Nels Anderson's website

- "The Long Road From Ninja to Mark of the Ninja," by Patrick Klepek, via Giant Bomb

- "The Stealth Letters," via Rock Paper Shotgun

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Image from Telltale Games

We are back again with another visit the zombie-infested South. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss episodes 3 and 4 of The Walking Dead. This podcast jumps right into spoilers, so if you are looking for more general insight into how the series tells its story, check out last week's podcast.

As always, we encourage you to leave your thoughts and your own play experiences in the comments below. Of all the episodes of The Walking Dead, episode 4 might reveal the most about one's character and approach to surviving the apocalypse. Let us know how you shaped Lee's decisions.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 54 min

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

We've caught the fever. You know: the one that starts with a mild cough and ends with you chewing the flesh off your friends and loved ones? That's right, we've been playing Telltale's excellent adventure series, The Walking Dead. This week, we devote a good chunk of time to the series' interesting design and mechanical choices before heading into spoiler country to discuss the details of episodes 1 and 2. Part of the fun of these games is hearing how other people dealt with many impossible decisions they present, so feel free to jump in with your thoughts in the comments.

To listen to the podcast:

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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: 50 min 51 sec

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Every now and then a game comes along that attempts to address a delicate and rare issue. Minority studio's debut title Papo y Yo does just that. The platforming-puzzle game of sorts is quite explicitly about a young boy and his alcoholic and abusive father. While the game might be "a bit on the nose" for some, it actually reveals quite a bit of narrative depth and artistry. Join us this week on the podcast as Scott and I discuss this unique indie game.

Show notes:

- Run time: 41 min 50 sec

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Over the past year, Kickstarter has made a huge impact on the video game scene. Whether it's huge success stories (like Double Fine's campaign) or one of the dozens (hundreds?) of projects that never get off the ground, the crowd funding site has established a new way to create, market, and distribute games. Even so, there's still plenty of ambiguity surrounding the Kickstarter model: questions of what kinds of projects belong on the service, the way rewards are handled, and what people should expect from their investment still linger. This week, Jorge and I talk about the kinds of projects we've backed, our approach to what we invest in, and how Kickstarter may aid in the search for the perfect barbecue sauce. As always, feel free to jump into the comments with your thoughts!

To listen to the podcast:- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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:- Run time: 33 min 45 sec- "Kickstarter is Not a Store," via The Kickstarter Blog- "Some personal Kickstarter stats," by Darius Kazemi, via Tiny Subversions- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Ah, remember the good ol' days? Back when you would have to blow on your games to make them work? When Battle Toads was so difficult you would cry, but keep playing anyway? When the "hottest graphics" were about as detailed as your Lego castle? Do you miss those days? Could that charming haze be the tell-tale sign of nostalgia glasses? This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the power of nostalgia, retro-graphics, and even mumblecore. As always, check out Leigh Alexander's inspiring article in the show notes and leave your thoughts (and your examples of nostalgia), in the comments below.

Show notes:

- Runtime: 34 min 21 sec

- "Opinion: In Search of 'intelligent nostalgia'", by Leigh Alexander via Gamasutra

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Have you ever been playing a game and suddenly come across something that is a little bit..."off?" I'm not talking about an NPC clipping through a wall or the weirdness you find in a Suda51 game; I'm talking about the little (or not so little) details that take you out of the experience. For example, Sam Machkovech wrote a recent article about how, as resident of Seattle, Deadlight's depiction of the Emerald City left him cold. We use his discussion of fictitious billboards and erroneous geography as a starting point and go on to discuss the ways in which small details impact a game's ability to foster a sense of place. Do you have an eye for detail? Have you played any games set in your hometown? Feel free to jump into the comments with your thoughts!

To listen to the podcast:- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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: 33 min 45 sec- "Dead Wrong," by Sam Machkovech via Unwinnable- Music provided by Brad Sucks

The Japanese RPG as a distinct entity still exists, despite the rise and prominence of the "Western RPG" market. Some games, like Xenoblade Chronicles, might even move the genre forward while reinvigorating the joy we once had in playing the latest JRPG. This week on the podcast, Michael Abbot of The Brainy Gamer joins us to discuss "Why We JRPG". As always, thanks for listening, particularly to these longer episodes, and we encourage you to leave your own thoughts on the genre in the comments below.

To listen to the podcast:

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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 min 53 sec

- "Why We JRPG" by Michael Abbot via The Brainy Gamer

- Music provided by Brad Sucks and "Main Theme" by Yoko Shimomura from the Xenoblade Chronicles Original Soundtrack

What does the way we play games say about our real life behavior? It's a question Lore Sjöberg poses in a recent article about the way our external psychology manifests itself in our virtual avatars. We touch on everything from behavioral quirks to personal notions of justice, so hopefully by the end you have a better idea of what makes Jorge and me tick. Feel like a little bit of therapeutic sharing? As always, we welcome your thoughts in the comments!To listen to the podcast:- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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 22 sec- "Alt Text: It’s Time for Videogame Psychotherapy," by Lore By Lore Sjöberg, via Wired- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Gamescom has come and gone, and with an amazing turnout at that! The yearly European game conference brings out all sorts of good news and this year, the news mostly concerns brand new games on the horizon. Join us on the EXP Podcast this week to discuss downpours, puppetry, armies of Pomeranians, and so much more. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out the show notes for links to all the game trailers we discuss on the show!

To listen to the podcast:

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the 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:

- Run time: 29 min 40 sec

- Trailers: Rain, Remember Me, Tokyo Jungle, Until Dawn, Puppeteer, Tearaway.

- Music provided by Brad Sucks