Wardcast

This week, Dylan is joined by RVA Game Jams co-conspirator Alex Damrath and friend of the show Kenny Kim to talk about everything that happened at E3. We’re excited about: Filling out our 1099s in Anthem Minecraft in 4K Drinking the water from our Xbox One X’s vapor chamber Trying to pronounce Strange Brigade Super “Lucky” Palmer’s Tale Terry Crews’ Crackdown 3 The Legend of Zelda: Death of the Wild DLC Games include Overwatch, Killing Floor 2, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Black Desert Online, Tokyo 42, Arms, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World, and Disney Crossy Road. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

This week, Dylan and Mason are joined by Josiah Renaudin, former freelance games writer for outlets such as GameSpot, IGN, VideoGamer, and Paste and current member of game studio Tangentlemen; host of The 1099 Podcast; and son of Townville, Pennsylvania. The gents talk a little about the lead up to E3, Josiah’s long list of revered guests he’s had on his podcast, destroying PS4 controllers, and their new invention: the Cheeto Glove. Games include Prey, The Surge, Dead Cells, Arms, and MLB The Show 17. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Through the course of time, episode numbers fade in and out of memory. 67, 86, 87, 398. Continuity is meaningless. There is only the now. Sam and Will introduce Dylan to the colliding worlds of cars and anime, and we discuss Ian Bogost’s article, “Video Games Are Better Without Stories.” The guys also develop their own open source résumé file format, and we have a big discussion about the announcement of Steam Direct’s fee. Games include NieR: Automata and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Alex Damrath, founder of Braindeer Games, joins us once again to talk about a proverbial bounty of topics, including being an Interactive Design and Game Development student at the Savannah College of Art and Design as well as the response to his Ludum Dare 38 game, Miskro. With the announcement of Far Cry 5, we discuss the differences in design philosophies between across the storied franchise, and since the new sequel claims to tell a politically-relevant, thought-provoking, and emotionally-engaging story, we use the game to discuss narrative’s place in AAA, how subject matter research can only bring you so far in crafting a story, moving beyond superficiality in your game, and sacrificing some gameplay to prevent ludonarrative dissonance. We also talk about Dylan finally getting the chance to play PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Paul McCartney’s acting career, and the fast-paced world of Ethereum trading. Games include Tabletop Simulator, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Overwatch, Strafe, Risk: Global Domina

Dylan is accompanied by Wardcast stalwarts Dan Cotting and Mason Brown for a very special episode. Shawn Patton, Senior Designer at Schell Games, stops by to talk about their currently in-development VR game I Expect You to Die. Shawn comes from more than 13 years of experience in game development at Schell Games, so he talks to us about a myriad of topics: working at Schell, the new frontier of VR development, being a graduate from the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon, interning at Walt Disney Imagineering, prototyping games via “brownboxing,” helping Dylan with the chance to close a chapter on a childhood MMO he never got the chance to play, and more. If you’re curious about learning more about the development of I Expect You to Die, we also highly recommend Shawn and Jesse Schell’s VRDC talk on the game from the 2016 Game Developers Conference. Games include I Expect You to Die, Superhot VR, EVE: Valkyrie, and Eagle Flight. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com

Dylan and Will come together to talk about Will’s game from Ludum Dare 38, Paisley Princess, which received write-ups on Waypoint and Kotaku. Will also brings to bear board game preferences, Galan Montgomery and Isoteric Games’ recently released Timebomb, whether or not he should play a Telltale game, and the subtle differences between Zone of the Enders and Rise of the Triad. Meanwhile, Dylan takes Winnie the Pooh to the batting cage and considers playing the Phantom Dust re-release. We also discuss Project Rap Rabbit’s kickstarter and Tim Colwill’s piece on Polygon, “Valve is not your friend, and Steam is not healthy for gaming.” Games include Risk: Global Domination; Egg, Inc.; Timebomb; Disney Crossy Road; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; Winnie the Pooh’s Home Run Derby; PaRappa the Rapper Remastered; and I Expect You to Die. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We’re back with more RVA Game Jammers! Dylan and Sam are joined by members Tyler Rhodes and Kirk Musngi. The four all talk about the games they made for Ludum Dare 38’s theme of “Small Worlds.” Sam’s rail shooter Monolith, Tyler’s simulation game Intertidal Snail Breeder Deluxe, Dylan’s shoot ‘em up Bantam!, and Kirk’s web game prototype about traversing the continental United States using craigslist listings. We also showcase all the other game jam entries that we liked as well as Instant Replay Live’s Let’s Play of all the Ludum Dare submissions by RVA Game Jammers. The discussion encapsulates other topics such as the debacle over the Horizon: Zero Dawn frustum culling gif, Tyler exhibiting at Hampton Roads Maker Faire, and Winnie the Pooh Home Run Derby. Games include Little Lands, Afterbirth, Plonat Atek, Vixa, Planet Heist, Rashlander, iii, Tribal Tension, Rocket League, Mirror’s Edge, Far Cry 4, Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Pokémon Go, Magic: The Gathering, Brick Block, Disney Crossy Road, Puyo Puyo Tetri

This week, Dylan is joined by Ruthie Edwards. Together, they talk about grad school, Ruthie’s experience with Breath of the Wild, and a Ward Games’ traffic ticket issued by the United Kingdom. We also discuss what Call of Duty: WWII is and what we’d like it to be, the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition and other Nintendo hardware plans, inaccurate Polygon articles, and another chapter in the “Lucky” Palmer Luckey saga. Games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Grand Theft Auto Online, Puyo Puyo Tetris, Disney Crossy Road, and Overwatch. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We’ve rebranded! The Ward Podcast will henceforth be known as the Wardcast. Be sure to tune your Internet dials to Wardcast from your preferred podcast app of choice. We discover the five states of matter in the Metal Gear universe: solid, liquid, solidus, acid, and rising. Sam explores philosophy in Everything while we talk about comparing games to one another as well as the guilt of not finishing games. Will returns home to Dark Souls, now attempting to do a New Game 7-plus run. Momin returns in back-to-back episodes to dazzle us with his Raiden impression and talk about some of the hottest new Japanese titles, Persona 5’s streaming restrictions, and his MGS Vee theory. Dylan talks about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and the terrifying world of Twitch streaming. We also talk about the art of web design and domain registration, with Momin’s acquisition of indie.haus and Sam’s new landing page for Remote Games. And Ludum Dare 38 is right around the corner, so we discuss our ideas and goals for the game jam. G

We bring aboard a proverbial roundtable of guests this week. We’re joined by Justin Mitchell from Loreweaver Creativeworks, on the eve of launching the Kickstarter for his 16-bit tactical RPG, War of Velana; Alex Damrath of Braindeer Games, working on his multiplayer FPS, Playground; and, returning to the Ward Podcast, Momin Khan, co-founder of Root 76 and co-creator of Clash Cup Turbo. All three guests join Dylan to discuss their quibbles and enjoyments of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Additional discussion includes Justin’s brilliant stallion, Horse #2; a holy trinity of Goombas; and popular games that didn’t quite jive with you. Last but not least, many of us from the RVA Game Jams crew will be showcasing our wares at Pixelfest this upcoming weekend, April 7th through the 9th. We’ll see you there! Games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, NieR: Automata, Overwatch, Titanfall 2, Earthbound, Grand Theft Auto V, and Google Maps Ms. Pac-Man. Got a question for the show? Join us on Disco

Make sure no cops listen to this episode, cause we talk about some illicit game emulation. We also perform some Fresh Prince jiu jitsu and ponder on which Sega game best encapsulates the culture of this decade. In other news: news! We discuss the departure of “Lucky” Palmer Luckey from Facebook; the announcement of Destiny 2; the not so great Inc. article, “It’s Official: Too Many Video Games Really Can Make You Stop Looking for Work and Move In With Your Parents”; and the bankruptcy of peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz. With that last news item, we reminisce about old controller tech as well as talk about our tolerances for horror and thrill-seeking. Games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Jet Set Radio Future, Gun Valkyrie, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, and Super Mario Run. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We’re back from PAX East, having escaped the cold weather and flight delays, and we make sure to cover any missed games from PAX East’s final day. From bugs in MLB to Mass Effect: Andromeda, we discuss how newsworthy topics are more about showing your allegiances nowadays than engaging in discourse. Will digs into some delicious RetroPie, and he and Dylan both contend with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the suspension of disbelief needed for the Sheikah-branded iPad. Will brings up art styles he would have preferred to see in Zelda’s latest release, and Dylan suggests some old proposals. Dylan also asks Will about the future plans of RVA Game Jams. Games include Catrap, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Fire Emblem Heroes, Pyre, Flinthook, Sonic Mania, and Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Taking their nightly break from the festivities at PAX East, Dylan is joined in their PAX HQ by Nick Nundahl and Joe Wetmore of Instant Replay Live along with their colleague and fellow YouTuber Luke Porr. The gents talk about the amazing response to the Hidden Gems PAX panel, the hidden gems of Seeso, and driving in the greater Boston area. We also discuss the Penny Arcade Mega Corp and the question of when to follow your creative whims, and all the while, Joe professes his love for Dylan’s friend, Kenny. Games include Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Bobby Throne Saves the World, Desert of Danger, Buck, The Darwin Project, Flinthook, Dead Cells, Splody, Tooth and Tail, and Ylands. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

From their panel at PAX East, Dan, Alex, Mason, and Dylan return to talk about all of the latest, greatest undiscovered games and experiences they found on the show floor. From the panel description: PAX East is filled with games from wall to wall, and it’s nigh impossible to see everything. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the unique, the eclectic, and the unknown. Each of our panelists will choose a single game from off the beaten path and use their collective knowledge of game development, user experience design, and virtual reality development to highlight, analyze, and discuss surprises on the show floor you may have otherwise missed. Games include Obduction, The American Dream, I Expect You to Die, Think of the Children, Russian Subway Dogs, The Gardens Between, The Italianeer, Bobby Throne Saves The World, Dunk Lords, and Semblance. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Dylan is joined by his Playthrough roadie Wendy Rivera, where they talk about their time at Playthrough as well as what games they’ve been playing. Wendy has been steadfast in her dedication to her farm in Stardew Valley, and Dylan has dabbled with VVVVVV and Night in the Woods. He’s also finished Telltale’s Batman and discusses some spoilers. They also unbox the latest Zelda live on the air while talking about whether or not to get a Switch as well as a smidge of pre-PAX planning. Games include Stardew Valley, VVVVVV, Batman: The Telltale Series, and Night in the Woods. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

In our second panel from the Playthrough Game Convention, Dylan is joined on the stage by a multitude of indie devs to talk about their projects and the process of development. This panel’s guests include Nathan Shumaker from Analog Data, Adam Agro from Solanimus, Sam Kushner from Perfect Square Studios, Dorothy Phoenix from Cloudy Heaven Games, Victor Slaughter from Vandal Entertainment Studios, and Matt Key and Chris Barone from Defcon Games. From the panel description: Multiple indie devs come together to tell you the good, the bad, and the buggy. Laugh with us as we listen to them talk about ancient game development secrets and tell dev tales that have scarred them for life. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Dylan ascends the main stage of the Playthrough Game Convention for a panel with its creators — Tim Howell, Chris Howell, and John “Duffy” Duthie — to discuss the show. From the panel description: Come join the organizers of Playthrough as they discuss what goes into making the show and where they want to take it in the future. Ask them questions and watch them be amazed that anyone cares about the back end of the event. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

This ain’t New Donk City; this is Gothtown, USA, baby! Down here, we’re only talking about the hottest Halo 2 maps, the most embarrassing Internet usernames, and the most mythical video game easter eggs shared in hushed tones over elementary school lunches. There’s more talk to be had about Fire Emblem Heroes and smartphone games in general, leading Will to tell us how he once racked up a five-figure phone bill. But the big talk this week is about Steam Direct, Valve’s upcoming replacement for Steam Greenlight, and how this will affect independent developers and what other consumer-facing considerations they should be focusing on. Games include Fire Emblem Heroes, Mini Metro, Terra Battle, Tanks of Freedom, and Super Mario Run. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

It’s a musical episode this week, as Dylan and Will talk music in game dev and sample some memorable tracks from games past, from The Sims to Dear Esther to Super Mario Land. We also forget how to pronounce Bosca Ceoil. Will tries out Pico 8 for himself after Sam’s recommendation last episode, so he talks about making games and playing games on the fantasy console. We also discuss what an Apocalypse Now game might look like, take a Pootie Tang joke a little too far, and determine that neither Andrew Lloyd Webber nor Henry David Thoreau designed Fallingwater. Games include The Last of Us: Remastered, Fire Emblem Heroes, Hug Arena, Matchy Matchy, and Super Mario Land. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

It’s getting hot and heavy on the show, just in time for episode sixty nine. Mason, Alex, and Dan will be taking a break in order to tackle their final semester at the Brandcenter. In their stead, Dylan is joined by the awesome duo of Sam Loeschen and Will Blanton. The guys talk about the ridiculousness of startup and tech culture, the games they made at Global Game Jam 2017, Kingdom Hearts 8 ½ × 11 (or whatever it’s called), good ol’ Dust2, and Witcher 3’s disappointing depiction of women. Games include Counter Strike: Global Offensive, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Overwatch, and Dark Souls. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!