Towerfall Ascension

This week we discuss Matt Thorson(@MattThorson) of Matt Makes Games multiplayer masterpiece, Towerfall Ascension.

Towerfall is an arena multiplayer platform fighting game for two to four players. It draws on inspirations like SNES platformers, the Smash Bros series, and the fighting game genre to weave a simple, elegant, and ridiculously fun and hilarious party-fighting-game. You have absolutely got to play it.

If you’d like to see what the game looks like in action (and you do) have a look at this great multiplayer gameplay footage from GameSpot.

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Apologies in advance for the sound quality of this episode and for its late release. Your intrepid podcast host was moving cross country this week and our equipment and schedule did not cooperate as planned.

2013-14 has been great for iOS gaming, and Apple has picked five great games to honor with Apple Design Awards at this year’s World Wide Developers Conference. We’ve played (nearly) all of them and share our impressions with you!

Threes

A tiny puzzle game that grows on you

*(Currently on sale for $1.99.) *

Monument Valley

An illusory adventure of impossible architecture and forgiveness

Blek

Watching it move is like watching magic

Device 6

A surreal thriller in which the written word is your map

Leo’s Fortune

A beautiful platform adventure game.

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In this episode, we discuss a game that probably all of you have played: Valve’s incredibly popular distraction from Half-Life 3 development, Portal.

Portal is a game so influential it likely requires no introduction. In this episode, Raygan and Shane break down the qualities that made the game was so successful, and its widespread impact on gaming in general.

We command you:

GO PLAY PORTAL AGAIN!

Portal is available on nearly every platform you could want, including:

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This episode was recorded in two parts. In the introduction, recorded just a few days ago, Host and Bro-host discuss the recent announcements at E3, Tom Cruise movies, and a great quick video game about pseudo-nazi-airplane-submarines! In the second half, we wrap up our recent board game special with a lively discussion of Dominion.

Links for this episode:

The Introduction

The Witcher 3 gets a release date – YouTube link

Edge of Tomorrow – staring Tom Cruise

NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour – Edge of Tomorrow

Luftrausers – Official Site

Luftrausers on Steam – $9.99

Ridiculous Fishing – Official Site

The Conclusion to the Board Game Special

In this, our first very special episode, we take a bit of a detour and talk about a gaming passion that has less to do with keyboards and gamepads, and more to do with cardboard and dice. This is our first Board Game Special, and we discuss some of the games that brought us into board gaming as a hobby, with a special focus on games that are both quick to play and quick to teach.

We got so carried away talking about great board games that the episode ran long, so we’ve broken it into two parts. Join us next week for episode 9b!

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