It is time once again to heed the call of the Elder Gods and protect Earthrealm from the evil forces of Outworld and the Netherrealm in the time-honored tradition of Mortal Kombat.  Or at least that's what Wikipedia said the game was about...In any case, this week we're talking about the latest Mortal Kombat release!  

As an added bonus, check out the slide show Hanah made of Jorge and me playing the game.  I think the pictures demonstrate the game's real strengths: much of Mortal Kombat's fun comes from sharing its the gross absurdity with friends.  Fighting games, and Mortal Kombat in particular, are great spectator sports.

Some discussion starters:

- Mortal Kombat is one of those iconic games that most people have at least some familiarity with.  What's your history with the series?

- How effectively does the latest Mortal Kombat cater to both fighting game veterans and newcomers?

- What does the future hold for Mortal Kombat and for the fighting genre 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 here. 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: 31 min 53 sec
- Music by The Immortals

There are so many great games from the past, but do they look terrible on your huge HD television? Are those blocky polygons jarring and atrocious? Maybe we should convert them to high resolution remakes. Or maybe not. Sometimes, as Michael Abbot states, "better isn't better." This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the risks and rewards of HD remakes, touching upon designer intent, history lesson box-sets, contextual play, and more.

Show notes:
- "When better isn't better," by Michael Abbot via Brainy Gamer
-Music by Brad Sucks

We had such a good time on last week's IndieCast that we decided to do double up!  This week, we welcome game designer Jason Rohrer to the show.  Jason is the creator of a host of games, including such well-known titles as Passage and Sleep is Death.  Most recently, he released Inside a Star-filled Sky, a top-down shooter that combines classic arcade dynamics with innovative approaches to procedural level generation and unique social aspects.  Jason and his games are always thought-provoking, so Jorge and I were delighted to get the opportunity to chat with him.  We cover everything from Picasso to Spelunky and even manage to touch upon lunar exploration.  We hope you enjoy the show!

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 here. 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: 51 min 02 sec
- Jason Rohrer's website
- Inside a Star-filled Sky, Jason's latest game
- Music provided byBrad Sucks

The Experience Point Podcast is branching out. Scott and I have decided to put on our swim trunks and wade into the world of independent games with a brand new monthly podcast dedicated to the too often overlooked members of the games industry. At least once a month, we will explore two games that have caught our eye. We will also supplement this talks, when possible, with interviews with their designers. This week on the show, Scott and I discuss the rocket-boosting madness of No Time To Explain and the infinitely recursive realm of Inside A Star Filled Sky.