E19: Streamlining

Recorded on May 21st, 2013 with Brian Fife, James Fingal, and Thomas Westberg.

Streamlining - the way the sequels of a game, or games in a genre are re-worked to be simpler, easier - sometimes even with a dramatically transformed core mechanic - is covered in this live episode.

Brian also adds nostalgia to the discussion list. The group talks about the way we hold old, complicated games in reverence (as well as the resurgence of kickstartered ‘homage’ games). They also discuss what makes a sequel good or bad, and whether, as a rule, you should play the latest game in a series.

Referenced items:

World of Warcraft, Nerf, Community Building - Tobold, How Microsoft Labs Invented a New Science of Play - Wired, Eve Online, XCom UFO Defense, Isometric Game, Bioshock 2, Defender, Stargate, Halo, Jaws 2, Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Jason Statham, Steve McQueen, Mass Effect, Desert Bus, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Madden NFL, Tiger Woods Golf, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, SSX Snowboarding, San Francisco Rush, The Walking Dead, Sam and Max, Monkey Island, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Star Wars: Episode 1, The Matrix: Reloaded, King’s Quest V, Space Quest, Maniac Mansion, Larry David, National Public Radio, Portal, Killzone, Gears of War, Legend of Zelda, Fallout, Everquest, Super Meat Boy, World of Tanks, Social Fabric - Tobold, Red Dead Redemption, Half Life, Goldeneye, Super Mario Bros., Doom, The New SimCity, Diablo Three.