The Joy of Gaming Podcast

Episode 12 - The Dark Knight Rises (through the video game ranks)

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 12:

The Dark Knight Rises (through the video game ranks)

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan take on the Dark Knight, or his video games at least. Batman has quite an infamous video game past, and we discuss all of the dark alleys these games have traveled.

We also broaden our gaze and look at superhero games in general – doting on our favorites, and vilifying our least favorites. And believe me, there are plenty of both.

As usual, we also talk about the games we’ve been playing (Yakuza 3, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, etc.) and the latest video game news.

So without further ado, I give you our superhero spectacular. Because this, heroes and villains…is the joy of gaming!

Episode 11 - The Highs and Lows of Sonic Travel

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 11: The Highs and Lows of Sonic Travel After a brief summer hiatus, Rich, Tim, Jordan and the Joy of Gaming Podcast are back and better than ever! Well, at least faster than ever  - because on this episode, we discuss the soaring highs and crushing lows of the Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise. In light of the recent release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, we decided to take a look back at the entire franchise, weighing in on where things started (Sonic the Hedgehog), where things went very wrong (Sonic 2006), and then where things went really right again (Sonic Colors). And, of course, all the spin-offs and everything in-between. And to help us do it, we invited our podcast engineer, Ray Zulkowski, who is an avid Sonic fan, to join in on the discussion and festivities. We also talk news, with 3DS XL, Final Fantasy 7's future and Nintendo's post-E3 event all receiving honorable mentions. And no episode would be complete without a bit of what we've been playing, with Skullgirls, League of Legends, Arkham Asylum and City, and much more. So without further ado, grab a machine gun Shadow the Hedgehog style, and get ready for some super-sonic action. This... is the Joy of Gaming!

Episode 10 - The Big E3 2012 Episode!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 10:

The Big E3 2012 Episode!

It’s that time of year again – when fanboys and girls turn their undivided attention to the game developer demigods to find out what amazing games they’ll be releasing in the next year or two.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012 just ended, and it was pretty great year for the much-anticipated trade show! Sure, the Wii U was revealed in greater detail, but otherwise, developers took a year off from peddling new hardware, and showed us the games.

Rich, Tim and Jordan spent the week checking out everything from Nintendo’s Pikmin 3, to Ubisoft’s sleeper-surprise hacker-noir opus Watchdogs, to Naughty Dog’s excellently demoed The Last of Us, and are here with their favorites, picks and predictions.

We cover the Big 3 Press Conferences, from Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, and break down the big announcements from your favorite developers.

This is the best week of the year for gamers: The Shangri-La of interactive incredibleness. This…is the Joy of Gaming!

Episode 9 - Walkers, Witchers, and Board Games Galore!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 9:

Walkers, Witchers, and Board Games Galore!

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan discuss another type of gaming that brings them joy. Namely, Board Gaming. But first, it’s a discussion of the games we’ve been playing over the last week or two, including The Witcher 2, Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Episode 1, Prototype 2, and some more Radiant Historia.

Next, it’s on to news, featuring The Elder Scrolls Online, Saints Row: The Third, Subscription Xbox, possible IMDB character leaks for Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale, etc. Plus, we give our impressions of the new Avengers movie.

And finally, we talk board games, and explore just how fun life can be when you go beyond the basics like Monopoly and Clue, and explore games like Settlers of Catan, Dominion, Pandemic and Fluxx.

So break out your 10-sided dice. This…is the Joy of Gaming!

Episode 8 - Fez, Radiant Historia, and a Trip Down Letdown Lane

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 8:

Fez, Radiant Historia, and a Trip Down Letdown Lane

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan talk about some great games like Fez and Radiant Historia, but then go all pessimistic and start discussing the games that have let them down the most supremely in the past. These aren’t the worst games out there, mind you, but rather, are the games that gave us hope for greatness, and in the end, failed to deliver.

But first, we cover the games we’ve been playing recently, including Fez, Closure, Ghost Trick, Radiant Historia, Cave Story 3D and more. Plus, Rich explains why he’s still not playing Mass Effect 3, even though ME2 is one of his favorite games of all time.

In gaming news, we talk Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale, Rayman: Legends, Red vs. Blue Season 10, Project Cross Zone, and more.

And finally, it’s on to disappointing games. You know who you are – Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Final Fantasy VIII, Resident Evil 5, Soul Calibur 5, and all of your friends. You got our hopes up and let us down, and now we’re going to talk some trash and get some much-needed catharsis.

Playing games can be a messy business, but somebody’s gotta do it. This…is the Joy of Gaming!

Episode 7 - Smithsonian's "Art of Video Games" Exhibit, and Defining Bad Games

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 7:

Smithsonian’s “Art of Video Games” Exhibit, and Defining Bad Games

On this Episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan discuss a variety of subjects, starting with a visit to the Smithsonian’s new “Art of Video Games” exhibit in DC. News topics include more Mass Effect 3 ending discussion, Peter Molyneux’s career plans, 3DS NPD numbers, and the actual release of Fez on XBLA (YAY!).

Then we discuss the always entertaining subject of “Bad Games.” How do we define “Bad Games,” what makes a game bad, and whether or not it’s possible to intentionally create a campy video game. Of course, this means that the flawed yet amazing Deadly Premonition is discussed, among other games like Earth Defense Force 2017 and Amy, and a good time is had by all.

I mean, what do you expect? This…is the Joy of Gaming.

Episode 6 - Mass Effect 3 and the Battle over DLC

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 6:

Mass Effect 3 and the Battle over DLC

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan discuss the many issues that surround the release and purchase of downloadable games and add-on content. Release-day DLC, Free-mium games, and fighting-game bonus characters all make cameo appearances.

We also discuss the uber-controversial ending to Mass Effect 3 (somehow without spoilers), and ponder the difficult choices Bioware faces in taking this franchise forward.

Plus, we give our opinions on Indie Game: The Movie, talk gaming news, and say the word “Awesome” one too many times.

But it’s all okay, because this…is the Joy of Gaming!

Indie Game: The Movie - A Chat with the Directors

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Special Edition

A Chat with the Directors of Indie Game – The Movie

On this very special episode of the Joy of Gaming Podcast, we chat with Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky, the directors of Indie Game - The Movie. Their film recently premiered to a sold out house at the Sundance Film Festival, won the award for best editing, and is receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

Indie Game - The Movie chronicles the lives of four independent game developers – Edmund McMillan and Tommy Refenes, creators of Super Meat Boy, Phil Fish, developer of Fez, and Jonathan Blow, the creator of Braid, as they face the many trials and tribulations of developing their games with limited time and budget, and deal with the sometimes crushing expectations of the gaming public.

Currently, Lisanne and James are taking the film on a 12-date tour of North America, and Rich, Tim and Jordan caught up with them at the Galaxy Cinema in Raleigh, North Carolina to see the film, and to sit down to chat about the process of bringing their vision to the screen.

Episode 5 - Bidding Adieu to the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 5

Bidding Adieu to the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan say goodbye to two of the greatest handheld gaming platforms of all time – The Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.

With last year’s launch of the Nintendo 3DS, and the recent launch of the Playstation Vita, portable gaming’s changing of the guard is now official, so what better time to talk about all of our greatest memories with these groundbreaking devices?

From Radiant Historia and Bowser’s Inside Story to Patapon and Advance Wars: Dual Strike, we span the genres, recounting the memories that defined a portable generation.

As Shakespeare once said: Parting is such sweet sorrow. This…is the Joy of Gaming!

Epsiode 4 - Life, Liberty and the Right to Play Vita

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 4

Life, Liberty and the right to play Vita

On this episode, Rich, Tim and Jordan discuss the launch of the Playstation Vita, and give their first hands-on impressions of Sony’s new portable powerhouse, as well as its first must-play title, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

Special guest and friend of the show Adam Hedges also stops by to talk about his favorite games of the past few months, and we talk about newly announced localizations, Xbox 720, and more.

So grab a Vita and start working on those platinum trophies. This…is the Joy of Gaming!