The Experience Points Podcast

The summer gaming dry spell is upon us, yet Scott and I both have our gaming dockets full. After a long month of work for the both us, we have returned to our backlog with a ravenous appetite. This week on the Experience Points podcast, Scott and I discuss what we have been playing, from Zelda sequels to isometric shooters, and a few things in between. Let us know what you have been enjoying lately in the comments section below, and be sure to chime in with your thoughts on the games we've discussed in 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: 32 min 18 sec - "Cold As Ice," by Nels Anderson via Above49 - Music provided by Brad Sucks

Cash-strapped gamers have never had it so good: today, there are plenty of companies literally giving games away for free. However, developers aren't simply doing this out of the goodness of their hearts; games without initial costs often feature non-traditional ways of making money. Recently, a few high profile games like Team Fortress 2 and World of Warcraft have started experimenting with free-to-play and micro-transaction payment models. They join a host to of other games that are trying to change the way players pay for games. This week, Jorge and I talk about some of the financial, gameplay, and cultural issues surrounding free-to-play business models. As always, we're always interested to hear any of your valuable thoughts, so feel free to jump into the comments with your thoughts.Some discussion starters:- What are some of your favorite free-to-play games and how do they implement their non-traditional payment models?- Do specific types of games or genres lend themselves well to the free-to-play model?- What kinds of cultural and socio-economic issues arise when transitioning to a micro-transaction payment system?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: 32 min 23 sec- "World of Warcraft goes free-to-play until characters hit level 20," via Joystiq- Music provided by Brad Sucks

The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and the beaches are crowded, summer is in full swing. To celebrate, PopMatters just featured a great selection of the best summer entertainment. Our compatriots even offered up their choice for great games and podcasts for the season. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I continue the conversation with more of our own picks for games we associate with the summer. As always, we encourage you to join the discussion in the comments section below.

Some discussion starters:

- What games do you associate with the summer? - Does replayability or game duration affect this association? - Who is your go-to-character in Smash Bros.? (That's right. We only ask the toughest questions.)

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: 27 min 49 sec - "The Best Summer Entertainment," by multiple authors via PopMatters - "Great Games and Podcasts for Summer Fun," by multple authors via PopMatters - Music provided by Brad Sucks

What do five-year-olds, mythical creatures, and Iranian history all have in common? They are all topics in this week's independent games podcast! This week, we take a look at Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure and The Cat and the Coup. Both are free and quick to play, so we encourage you to take a few minutes to experience two well-made, thought provoking games. After that, we invite you to listen in on our discussion that touches on everything from the value of game design to the nature of history. As always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments!Some discussion starters:- How does a game benefit from youthful inspiration? Also: which is your favorite Ponycorn?- How does one balance the impulse to both challenge and educate the player in a documentary game?- Are certain types of games more useful for imparting specific messages? How do game mechanics influence the way a story is told? 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: 48 min 02 sec- Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure- The Cat and the Coup- Music provided by Brad Sucks

This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo has departed, but Scott and I are staying on topic just a little bit longer. Although we both missed the event this year, we kept abreast to the buzz coming out of Los Angeles. Consider us the clean-up crew, bringing you a serious, but not humorless, discussion of the rumors, technical innovations, and idiocies at this year's E3. Let us know your thoughts on all the E3 announcements in the comments section below.

Some discussion starters, in which I can ask anything I want: - What games are you most excited for coming out of E3? - How awful is Ubisoft's Mr. Caffeine? - What is the worse named piece of hardware: the Wii U or the PSVita? 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: 57 min 59 sec - Giant Bomb's E3 coverage portal - Music provided by Brad Sucks

Jorge and I are still processing all the E3 madness, so we thought we'd talk about one of last week's big stories: Call of Duty: Elite. Activision's new Call of Duty social network promises to provide players with detailed battle statistics, group functionality, and a persistent profiles across multiple games. However, some of this comes at a price: parts of Call of Duty: Elite will only be available to those who pay a premium fee. It's move with very few precedents, so we thought it would be a good topic to discuss. As always, feel free to jump in with your thoughts in the comments!Some discussion starters:- How much (if anything) would you pay for premium Call of Duty content? Are there any other games that might hook you with a similar structure- What does this mean for the future of the Call of Duty series?- How will the advent of premium content impact plot-driven games?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: 32 min 00 sec- A preview of Call of Duty: Elite, via Joystiq- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the state of Science Fiction in modern videogames. It turns out a mere smattering of words is not enough to thoroughly explore the veritable galaxy of topics regarding this ripe genre. Joined this week by Grayson Davis of Beeps & Boops, Scott and I discuss the good and bad of science fiction, a bit of Star Trek, time travel, and sources of excellent Sci-fi gaming. As always, we encourage you to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.Discussion starters: - What are your favorite science fiction games?- How should we approach the genre as it relates specifically to games?- How do you see the state of modern science fiction games?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: 48 min 10 sec- Beeps & Boops, Grayson's site- Music provided by Brad Sucks

It's time once again to look at some of the independent games we've been playing over the last month! This week, we discuss a few games created for the Ludum Dare game jam event as well as Christine Love's newest work, don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story. Both topics encompass a huge amount of material, so we highly recommend you visit the websites listed in the show notes to explore all the intriguing games. Weather you're into sword showers, scurvy, or social scandals, this episode has something for you!Some discussion starters:- Which Ludum Dare games did you enjoy?- How can games effectively model emotional and social systems?- What benefits does a highly-structured game like don't take it personally... have over more player-structured games?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: 31 min 53 sec- Ludum Dare, The Rapid Game Creation Community- The Legend of Mulida- Grave Robbers- The Wager- don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story, by Christine Love- Music provided by Brad Sucks

The Sony network has returned, but has our faith in the company? What happens to brand loyalty when the going gets tough? This week, inspired by the Gamers With Jobs podcast, Scott and I discuss our own loyalties to corporations and developers, the Sony hacking debacle, and the meaning within these illusory relationships.

Some discussion starters: - Where do your brand loyalties lie? - How, if at all, has Sony's recent troubles altered your relationship with the company? 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: 32 min 31 sec - "GWJ Conference Call Episode 239," via Gamers With Jobs - Music provided by Brad Sucks

Last week, the Smithsonian American Art Museum announced the games that will be included in its upcoming exhibit The Art of Video Games. After the curators selected 240 nominees, people voted for which games would be included in the exhibit. The list is full of influential games, so we thought it would be fun to go through the selections and discuss some of the highlights. You can follow along with us by downloading the PDF document listing the winners and runners up from the American Art Museum's website. It's a big list, but not nearly big enough to fit everyone's most beloved games, so feel free to share your choices in the comments!Some discussion starters:- Which of your favorites made the list? What were some notable omissions?- What patterns do see across across the time periods and the various formats?- While visual art is relatively easy to convey visually, it is can be more difficult to convey design philosophies. How are games best presented in a public format?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: 48 min 20 sec- "The Art of Video Games," an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum- Music provided by Brad Sucks