The Experience Points Podcast
A weekly video game podcast from the co-writers of ExperiencePoints.net

Warning: This podcast contains more adult language than usual. This podcast might be NSFW all thanks to Austin Ivansmith, who recently wrote an interesting article on swearing in videogames. Join us this week while Scott and I discuss the ethics of curse word construction, artistic integrity and avoiding offensive language, and the types of games that just might pull off an "F Bomb" with aplomb. As always, you can find the original article in the show notes below. We also encourage you to leave your thoughts in the comments section and let us know what you think.


Some discussion starters:

- Can language be just as stylized as violence, and therefor be more acceptable?
- Is adding "bad language" toggle option an artistic betrayal or a helpful feature?
- What games include good use of adult language and which do not?

To listen to the podcast:

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.
- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show notes:

- Run time: 26 hr 2 min 24 sec
- "Why all the swearing?," by Austin Ivansmith via Carrot v Stick
- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_97_-_Language_Lessons.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:24pm PDT

EXP Podcast #96: Portal Pedagogy

For many folks, September means having to relinquish the last strands of summer and head back to school.  However, trading the couch for the classroom doesn’t mean you have to abandon video games.  This week, we are pleased to welcome Michael Abbott of The Brainy Gamer and Wabash College to the show.  Michael is in the process of launching “Enduring Questions,” a course “devoted to engaging students with fundamental questions of humanity from multiple perspectives and fostering a sense of community.”  In addition to more traditional texts, some sections of the course will have Portal on the syllabus.  We were thrilled to learn this and invited Michael to join us in discussing the course, how video games function as academic texts, and the challenges involved in teaching games.  

 

Some discussion starters:

 

- Have you ever taken any classes in which video games were on the syllabus?  What games would work well as teaching tools, and for what subjects?  

- Establishing gaming literacy is challenging.  How is critical playing best taught?  How did you learn to analyze games?

- What kinds of challenges arise from using games in the classroom?  How do we overcome things like generational stratification in regards to certain genres or games in general?  

 

To listen to the podcast:

 

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.  

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.  

 

Show notes:

 

- Run time: 1 hr 2 min 28 sec

- “Portal on the booklist,” by Michael Abbott, via The Brainy Gamer  

- “Portal and the Deconstruction of the Institution,” by Daniel Johnson, via Gamasutra

- “In Search of History’s Best Video Games: Canon Fodder, Season 2,” by Stephen Totilo, via Kotaku

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_96_portal_school.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:55am PDT

EXP Podcast #95: Masters of Mastery

Scott and have once again ventured into the frigid north - Canada. This time we return with Chris Lepine of The Artful Gamer, who brings with him some marvelous insight into "mastery" as an aspect of fun. Continuing last week's discussion about the "fun factor," we delve deeper into one particular notion of enjoyment. Along the way we chat about poetic play, the dangerous of neurotic mastery, multiplayer mastery, and the joys of griefing. If we stir up your thoughts along the way, we encourage you to share them in the comments section below. You can also find a link to Chris's original article and more of his work in the show notes.

Show notes:

- Run time: 63 min 23 sec
- "The Neurotic Joy of Gaming," by Chris Lepine of The Artful Gamer
- "Mad Skills," by Nels Anderson of Above49
- Music provided by Brad Sucks




Direct download: EXP_Podcast_95_-_Masters_of_Mastery.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:40pm PDT

EXP Podcast #94: Post PAX Podcast

While we weren’t able to make it to PAX this year, the magic of the Internet allowed us to vicariously experience one of gaming’s best conventions.  This week we’re taking advantage of the still-present PAX afterglow by talking about some of our favorite news from the show.  We touch on the importance of expectations and nostalgia, the quiet innovation of some of the smaller games, and the general evolution of the conference itself.  Since PAX incorporates everything from huge announcements (like Duke’s return) to low-key indie premieres (like The Witness), it’s almost impossible to catch everything, so feel free to jump into the comments to share what stood out to you.  

 

Some discussion starters:

 

- For those of you who made it to the conference, what were your overall impressions?  What would you like to see from PAX in the future?

- What is your reaction to Duke Nukem?  Are you interested in the game and does the franchise have a future?

  - SpyParty was a pleasant and unexpected surprise for both Jorge and me.  What unexpected games impressed you?  

 

To listen to the podcast:

 

- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.  

- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.

- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.  

 

Show notes:

 

- Run time: 27 min 53 sec

- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_94_PAX_2010.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:48am PDT

EXP Podcast #93: Funvestigations

There is a grand project being conducted right now - an effort to catalog why we love the games we love. After propositioning a broad array of players to describe what makes particular games fun, Michael Abbot of The Brainy Gamer has put together a catalog of descriptions for us to peruse. Join us this week while Scott and I discuss wonder and possibility, exploration, special snowflakes, luck, British apprenticeships, and nostalgia. We encourage you to leave your comments in this shred. For the full catalog and to contribute your own ideas of fun, check out Michael's link in the show notes.

Show notes:

- Run time: 35 min 48 sec
- “Fun Factor Catalog," by Michael Abbot via The Brainy Gamer
- Music provided by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_93_-_Funvestigations.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00pm PDT