Author: Scott

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR 9.15.08: “Like Highlights For Children…But Violent”

A lot of the times with our guests, we like to be timely. And the timing with having Josh Drescher from Mythic on the show to talk to us about Warhammer Online couldn’t have been better. We have to thank him again for taking time out of working on the game (and playing it) and speaking with us. He was great to talk to and actually quite funny. Of course, as usual, it’s where the show gets the title from.

Also in this episode, although later than we wanted, we again mention our Demigod beta key contest. We’ll be giving away a key during the live show next week, but we also have two more keys to give out. To win those, you’ll need to email us (everyone@ingamechat.net) with the best god-power you can think of (in terms of a balanced strategy game).

The rest of the show is spent on talking about Too Human, taking stock in Take-Two (or losing it), Peter Molyneux’s sanity or genius, losing your job in an attempt to be an “internet hero”, all of us being on a beta “black list” it seems, and I explain the reasons (yes, there’s more than one) I added the new Deer Hunter game to my Gamefly queue.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR 9/11/08: “Sporehammer”

I’m not sure if these are considered a pre-show, or a post-show. Regardless, it’s a show, and one we hope you’ll enjoy. It’s a bit more free flowing than our regular Monday show, but that’s the reason we do it, honestly.  In this episode we talk a little bit on Warhammer and Spore, my frustrating time spent with Facebreaker, Jeremy’s time with the Force Unleashed demo, a bit on GameStop and digital distribution, and we also talk about GOG. It’s a discussion that leads us into talk of Mega Man 9 and how we’d all like to see a demographic breakdown of people who’ll buy that game.

Also in this episode we give you a head’s up on a contest for a beta key to an upcoming PC title. You’ll have two chances to win and it’s something we won’t officially announce until Monday’s show, but you can get a head start early by catching this episode of Evil Avatar Radio.

Thanks for listening.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR Episode 122: “It’s Not How Many Inches. It’s How Close Your Face Is To It”

You know, we could almost do a completely separate show focused only on MMO’s it would seem. What with all the information that keeps coming our way in both the form of Lich King, and now Warhammer Online. You’ll hear quite a bit about both in this episode of Evil Avatar Radio.

Also in this episode, we talk with Tarn Adams of Dwarf Fortress. We find out how DF came to be and where it’ll be headed into the future. Not only that, we look, yet again, to the next few months of gaming and how time management of those months are going to be so important. Plus, James has a pretty good idea of where the next big gaming convention should be held. If PAX needs more room, this is where they should go.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR Episode 121: Extra Content

Just so we’re clear, this isn’t extra content from the massive-cast. Trust me, we’ve used every bit of that audio we had. Nope. This is just Strax, Daniel, Dennis, and myself (get well soon James) going over more memories of PAX, but sticking a bit closer to the games. Dana drops by in the beginning of the show to let us know a challenge was made to us by the guys over at the Moofcast. We’re not sure of the stipulations of the challenge or what the stakes are but we’ll take it, regardless.

The rest of the show is devoted (mainly) to the games of PAX. This includes Dragon Age, Jumpgate, Champions Online, Little Big Planet, Legendary, Demigod, Dead Space, Gears Of War 2, The New Xbox Experience (has that name really stuck?), Mirror’s Edge (we’re worried a bit), Fallout 3, The PAX 10, Mortal Kombat Vs. DC, and, of course, LEFT 4 DEAD!!!

Of course, we couldn’t talk about PAX without mentioning, again, Strax’s performance with Rock Band 2, pillow walls for Dainel & Dave, and the deliciousness that is Maple Bacon Doughnuts. Plus, you’ll find out who we’re having on the show for Monday night.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR Episode 121: The PAX-Cast 2008

I’m on a plane right now over (let me check)….Kansas, at the moment listening to the current episode of Evil Avatar Radio. While it sounds like the recording of a panel, it’s actually a group of near 30 people crammed into a hotel room all talking. And, while this might sound scary to listen to, it’s actually the most organized conversation I have ever heard with this many people. Before we switched on the mics, there was sound everywhere from these people, but all it took were the mics to be turned on and the show to begin and we had 30 professional podcasters all doing their thing.

I hope I’m not missing anyone in the roll call here, but the cast is: Gambit, Ghostbear, Sandman, xoanon, UnknownName(?), mister_slim, Rogue_hunter, OrigamiPanther, Alias Unknown, Jackel, TrackZero, mightbe, Sl1pstream, BAPenguin, Bone, Psykoboy2, Straximus, UWCrash, BackseatKiller, AniAko, pheriannath, Kielaran, prenetic, Gaz, Skwish, Rinichanraar, Deadend, Thrak, and Dave.

There is plenty we talk about in the show. Tons of things really, but that’s to be expected when you have 30 opinions in the room. Everything from our “Best Of PAX”, to panels, to meeting each other, to experiences outside of PAX, it’s all covered in this show along with a lot more conversation, too much, actually, to cover in the write-up.  It might be hard to put some voices to the names, but it’s still an amazing thing to hear.

We end the show by going around the room with “final thoughts & thanks” from everyone and while it may be repeating what I said in the show, I’d like to say it again……This is the best group of people to have on a show, period. We have always said from the beginning of taking over the mantel of Evil Avatar Radio that it’s the community’s podcast. We do what we do, not for the developers or special guests, but for the listeners of Evil Avatar Radio. It’s your show, and the highest honor, for me, was being a part of it with all of you in this episode.

Thank you all for, not only just listening, but being on the show. Let’s do it again next year.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR Episode 120: A Conversation With Denis Dyack & Robert Khoo

None of us on the show really know how any episode will ever turn out beforehand. Sometimes we go into the studio ready for a great show and come away realizing we never touched on near half of what we wanted to. Sometimes we aren’t happy with our interviews (no fault at all of our guests) because we’ll either forget to ask certain questions or, of course, I’ll screw it up and hang up on our guests.

Tonight, however, wasn’t one of those episode. Talking with Denis Dyack for me, personally, was a thrill. He’s been involved in some of my favorite (seriously, I’m a fan) games and, honestly, the man really likes to talk about his games and the industry in general. We cover a lot of ground with him regarding Too Human, DLC, 4-Player Co-Op, and sequels. Plus, Denis tells us what he thinks of Evil Avatar.

After that, it’s the further continuation of our celebration of PAX as we talk to Robert Khoo, where we find out that, not only does he enjoy Evil Avatar Radio, he actually listens to each episode. Thank you, Robert. Also during our chat with Mr. Khoo, we ask him more about the PAX split in 2010 (he drops a hint or two during the show), and how he got involved with Penny Arcade along with how PAX actually came to be.

It’s a fun and very informative episode of Evil Avatar Radio. Hope you like it. And we’ll see you at PAX.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR Episode 119: Extra Content

This will start to become the norm for us. Doing an extra show in the week gives us an opportunity to catch up on news we missed during the regular show, talk about newly released games, and hit the bigger stories that may have happened just one day after the main show.

Obviously with having a release like Too Human out there right after the main show, we had to use this time to talk about our time with the game. Plus, you know, we’ve got Denis Dyack on the show Monday along with Robert Khoo – we aren’t going to have much time for anything else.  We also talk about WAR & WoW, and the battle of the opening cinematics between the two, plus we go into the jam-packed fall release schedule, and we don’t even touch November. There’s a brief touch back on Monday’s show as we go back into talking about food – of the fried kind, the new PS3 bundle announced along with it’s odd little friend, the chatpad-thingy, and Microsoft’s desire to “rock the vote”.

It’s a short show, only about 65 minutes, and we hope you enjoy it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR Episode 119: A Conversation With Jonathan Coulton

We really enjoyed this episode of Evil Avatar Radio and we hope you will too. Although, it’s always fun getting to talk to Jonathan Coulton. Turns out, like me, he’s a fan of pinball. So much so that we’ve actually invited him out to Shorty’s one night during PAX for some pinball & beer. He seems pretty open to the idea. Oh, that and letting me introduce him on stage at PAX as well. Here’s hoping anyway.

Seriously, it’s a fun interview and Jonathan does confirm that he will be the final performance at PAX on Friday night. He also tells us about what he’s currently working on, his involvement with Portal 2, and one of the most amazing things he’s ever eaten.

Also in this episode, we hit a few news notes of the week and talk about game demos (Force Unleashed & FFXIII), Castle Crashers, Everquest, Mega Man, Warhammer, & the issue of DRM.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR Episode 118: A Conversation With Jonathan Blow

It happens every so often for us. We’ll get a developer (and on the rarest occasions, a PR person) who doesn’t hide from us. They have something to say and they can say it without feeling like their hands are tied. The creator of Braid, Jonathan Blow, has no reason to hide during this episode of Evil Avatar Radio. In fact, with how well the game is doing, he has every reason to be pretty proud of what he’s done. Not to mention that the game itself is pretty awesome. And well…it’s also pretty.

We spend about an hour talking to Jonathan who tells us quite a bit about himself and how Braid came to be. Everything from pricing to inspiration to conception and rejection of the game, it’s almost everything you ever wanted to know – all without spoilers.

After our chat with Jonathan we then move our focus once again to this year’s PAX and talk with Moe Fwacky, the Cross Country Super Trip organizer. We catch up with him since we spoke with him last year and find out what it’s like and what it takes to travel across the country to the gamers mecca that is the Penny Arcade Expo.

As a show note, you can expect another episode of Evil Avatar Radio to come out by the end of the week.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes Interviews

EAR Episode 117: “Sorry It Doesn’t Look Like A Butthole”

We love August. Ever since last year when it brought a few EvAv’ers together at PAX, we’ve looked forward to doing it again, and finally, August is here. And with it, just like last year, we’ve kicked off a month long celebration of the Penny Arcade Expo with the first of four interviews. This episode brings us Kristin Lindsay (her 5th appearance on the show) to talk to us about the Enforcers of PAX and she answers every question asked to her. In keeping with tradition, I also hang up on her.

Not something I’m proud of, but then again, I hung up on an astronaut, so I think it’s catching on.

After the show…well, you should download it. Jeremy and James go back and forth on the subject of DLC (or in this case, SDK) and its relation to developers versus publishers. This discussion then goes on to spawn all sorts of further talk in, around, and outside of the subject matter.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR Episode 116 Part 2: Pick Your Own Title

Welcome…to Part 2.

We don’t have a title for this show because, honestly, there was just too many to pick from (“Snake”, “This is a Stealth Mission”, “Why is Starbuck Calling Me?”, “Tom Clancy’s Teletubbies”, “You’re Derailing My Thread” among others). You guys do that part and tell us what to call it if you want. What we do know, however, is that we start off this part of episode 116 with an odd message. Plus, during the show we noticed some of you got the same thing as well. Jeremy tells us of his first experience with his PS3, his not so great experience with MGS3, and his little pet peeve of the difference between a PC & a PC running Windows.

Our discussion of Little Big Planet, or Daniels love of games that let you create your own content, leads us into talk (more James than us) of wanting less of the single player experience, even when dealing with single player games. You’ll understand it better when you hear it. The discussion then turns to innovation vs. profit when we talk about the recent situation with Activision.  Finally, we end the show with more complaints of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (I know, we just can’t let it go, but you should hear how we end up at this point).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
Episodes

EAR Episode 116 Part 1: “Nukemware”

Remember when I said that you should tune into this episode because you never know what will happen? Yeah, well, we didn’t know either and this is the kind of episode you get. One split into two parts. In the first half of this first part we talk about Alan Wake, FFXIII on the PC, and I desperately try to find the Tron 2 footage from Comic Con. In the second half, we go around the room finding out that Daniel really likes his Dwarf Fortress and James, he really loves his MMO’s….a lot.

This is one of the shortest episodes we’ve ever done before, but keep in mind that it’s only the first part. There is no after show. There was, but it’s lost to the ages. If you happened to stick around and listen to the cam feed congrats, because that piece of audio will never be heard from again.

We’ll be back with Part 2 later on this week.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
E3 Episodes

EAR Episode 115: The E3 Show

This episode is full. We simply can’t fit anymore into it. And yet we still didn’t get out everything we wanted to talk about. E3 may be small, but the information we get out of it is enough to fill nearly three hours. It’s a full plate and we go over all the big news from the week that was. Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and the games as well including Borderlands, Sonic, Op. Flashpoint 2, Empire Total War, Killzone 2, Halo Wars, MK Vs. DC, H.A.W.X., Far Cry 2, MAG, and so very much more. Bapenguin even calls in and gives us the info of games he got to play on the last day of E3, plus he and I personally (and by name) thank everyone who donated to get us out there.

The episode is stacked and the episode after the episode is running over with info as well. James goes over his new PC build and all the MMO’s he’s loaded into the thing and WWII Online is discussed  leading us into our discussion of the Too Human demo. Plus, we can’t go without talking of The Dark Knight – spoiler-free, of course.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
E3

EAR Episode E3: The Third Day

We’re tired. Again. And again we sat down and tried to punch out a quick episode telling you about everything we saw today, but this mini-episode is close to 45 minutes long. So yeah, we failed that. But, I think you’ll enjoy this go round as we saw a ton more games than we have previous days and had some hands on time with a lot of them as well. We talk about Far Cry 2, H.A.W.X., Brothers In Arms, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, LEGO Batman, Project Origin, MK vs. DC (we liked it), and we also got to see The Who, in concert (for free), at a Rock Band party.

It was a jam packed day and this episode is jam packed full of news and totally foul language.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Categories
E3

EAR Episode E3: The Second Day

We’re tired. We knew that going in and we figured this would be a quick episode. We were wrong and again (as you’ll find out from listening), my estimate was way off. It’s the second day of E3 and Nick and I are back with our thoughts of what took place during the day and we run down some of the other games we took a look at as well. We start off with Nintendo, and I’ll tell you now – we weren’t happy. At all. But as the day went on we completely forgot about Nintendo (as they seem to have done with gamers) and actually managed to save what was left of the day by checking out more games. We got closer looks at Operation Flashpoint 2, Sonic Unleashed, Mad World, Left 4 Dead, Rock Band 2, and a few others as well.

We talk about them all and a whole lot more in this mini-episode of Evil Avatar Radio.

Tomorrow is the final full day for me here at E3 and we’re going to one again try and knock out another show for you at the end of the day tomorrow. We still have lots more to look at and talk about, so check back again tomorrow for Day 3.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS