This week’s podcast is pretty random and meandering, as most episodes tend to be, but I think we threaten to get interesting once Ash and I start critiquing my game, Runner.
I figure my contribution to that discussion may come off as a self-deprecating attention grab or something, but I’d like, ideally, to be as hard on my own stuff as I am on everyone else’s. Can’t really learn anything from the stuff you’ve made unless you’re honest about it.
Runner is kind of shit in a lot of ways, but I still like it and am really glad I made it. I wish it were better, but I’d like to think its faults are a result of my essential design rather than simple laziness. That feels like a good thing, though I have no idea why.
Your dad in a wig? That would be.. interesting
DAMN IT! My question almost got asked, but all he said was my twitter screen name.
I’m really surprised Ashly hasn’t seen that Doctor Who trailer! It’s kinda stupid, but in a good way.
this game is a mixed bag. The imagery superimposed over your sprite is sooo annoying. The music, simplistic (battle toads) gameplay, and plot of running from ex’s is awesome. I don’t get the end, it looks like it is unfinished, so make more!
I agree. Being honest with ones work is never a bad thing. I think it’ll only help you become better at all the creative work you do.
Regarding Runner…I enjoyed it. It certainly is a very “personal” game though. Like you said, there’s basically one way to look at, or one right answer to it (I forget exactly how you stated it). Which is great, personal life experiences and stories are very powerful.
I think the connections are made when the player understands the story you’re telling (a story about relationships/what relationships are to you) and then relate their own personal stories to yours. It’s just harder for people to take something away from it since your asking the player to take multiple steps to connect to the game (ie play game, understand your story, process it, and relate it to their own). So I think you just have more of a chance to lose players along the way due to the multiple steps the players are required to make.
I’m afraid that I’m no composer, but if you need something politically analysed or translated mediocrally (spell-check tells me that this isn’t a real adjective but I shall persist) translated into French then I’m your man, but I’m afraid my degree in French and Politics won’t yield much employment paid or otherwise.
what about Batman Forever 64 with Seal playing in the background? I’m guessing that’s one of the ones that’s gonna get nixed?
You guys could just grab some Creative Commons licensed music that allows commercial use if you wanted to use different songs.
Considering you mentioned Frisky Dingo and Sealab 2021, have you also seen Archer? Its also by Adam Reed and Matt Thompson and features the same kind of humor and rhythm.
As someone who’s played a decent amount of tabletop RPGs, I’ll agree they’re awkward going in. The trick is to make all the poop jokes you want, and if the GM doesn’t like it, find another game/group. Games that are overly serious in tone tend to devolve into that sort of thing anyway, so might as well get started off right.
If anyone asks either of you to try Paranoia, I recommend it. The basic gist is that you’re a set of clones in some future, underground facility, being tasked by a schizophrenic computer to do things. Kind of like Portal in some respects, but with the added benefits of mutations, secret societies, and political backstabbing.
I dig this game.