Jorge and I are always going on about why games are valuable, but we're usually talking about their artistic, social, and cultural value.  This week, we focus more on the bottom line.  Inspired by Chris Kohler's fantastic article about game pricing and the effects of the used market, we talk about the monetary factors that influence the games we play and how we perceive the industry.  It's huge topic and we touch on a host of issues that all deserve their own conversations, so I'm sure we'll come back to them in the future.  For now though, we're interested in what you think about when budgeting your game purchases.  Feel free to jump into the comments and share your cost benefit analysis!

Some discussion starters:

- How does a game's price factor into your purchasing decisions?

- What is your current relationship with the used game market?  Has this changed over the years?

- Would more transparency in game company budgets and financial strategies impact what you would willingly pay for a game?

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: 41 min 21 sec
- "Videogames Can't Afford to Cost This Much," by Chris Kohler, via Wired
- Music provided by Brad Sucks

As we mentioned over the last few podcasts, this week on the show, Scott and I discuss Ready Player One, a young-adult sci-fi novel that marries Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with every 80s pop-culture reference in existence. I highly recommend you give the book a read. If you have not yet picked it up, feel free to listen to the podcast anyway. Like always, we remain spoiler-free until near the end. As always, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Also, because I forgot to mention it on the podcast, if I were to pick a giant robot for the final battle, I would pick an Evangelion.

Show notes:

- Run time: 48 min 50 sec
- Music provided by Brad Sucks

We've all played some clunkers in our time, but what what are the roots of a bad game's troubles?  Could it be the person at the end of the controller?  Could we be doing it wrong?  Today, Jorge and I talk about the line between a bad game and a bad player.  Inspired by Sean Sands' thoughts about getting a new perspective on games he hasn't liked, we discuss the search for a clear vision.  We touch on everything from Kinect Star Wars to Far Cry 2, and have a great time searching for the good in even the most tedious experiences.  As always, feel free to jump into the comments with your thoughts!

Some discussion starters:

- Has there ever been a time when you realized you were playing a game "wrong?"  What prompted this realization?

- What kinds of things do bad games teach us?  Is "bad" more of a relative concept based on popular conventions than an absolute category?

- To what extent should developers guide players toward the standard or "right" way to play?

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: 35 min 14 sec
- "You're Doing it Wrong," by Sean Sands, via Gamers With Jobs
- Music provided by Brad Sucks

The Mass Effect 3 fervor remains in full swing, and while many are already growing tired of the backlash against Bioware, it would be a missed opportunity to not discuss ramifications of player-driven protestations. Of course this is a grand subject, so we could not handle it alone. Kris Ligman of Critical Distance and Dire Critic joins us this week to discuss player entitlement, authorial intent, and all the drama surrounding the color-coded end of Commander Shepard. As always, we would love to hear your thoughts on the controversy in the comments section below. You will also find more of Kris' work in the show notes as well as pertinent articles about the Mass Effect ruckus.

Show notes:

- Run time: 41min 06 sec

- "In which Squaresoft wrote a Bioware game. (Spoilers.)", by Kris Ligman via Dire Critic. See her weekly roundups at Critical Distance

- "The Ending," by Cruise Elroy

- "Why the ending of Mass Effect 3 was satisfying, and worthy of the series (Massive spoilers)", by Ben Kuchera via The PA Report

- "The argument over Mass Effect 3's ending makes Ken Levine sad", by Brian Crecent via The Verge

- Music provided by Brad Sucks