Mobcast Episode 28

by Aaron Thomas , COMMUNITY WRITER

Monday, November 09, 2009

Tags: Podcasts, Rhythm Heaven, Mobcast, Avatar, The Simpsons, Superman Returns, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Bitmob's Aaron Thomas and Brett Bates are joined by Shanker Srinivasin, and Area 5's Jay Frechette. Ubisoft's Kevin Shortt (Story designer on Avatar) also weighs-in on a number of this week's topics which include 3D-gaming, game-design pet peeves, movie/game double standards, tired genres, and angry gaming.

We also reveal the big winners of our Mobcast Intro contest. I say "winners" because we had so many great submissions we actually ended up picking an intro and an outro.We had some fantastic entries and appreciate everyone taking the time to make them and send them in.

Have a question you want answered? Want so share some important insight with the world? Email the crew at letters@bitmob.com.

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Comments (8)

Skye Nathaniel

November 09, 2009

Great podcast, guys. I have a couple of simple notes on the topic of controversial games. There certainly have been videogames before that force you to do things that make you uncomfortable. Some recent examples include Etrian Odyssey and Shadow of the Colossus.

Also, the topic of double-standard, unfair bias in mainstream media, and in particular Six Days in Fallujah was just recently tackled by Daniel Floyd and James Portnow in their latest video "lecture."

Aaron Thomas

November 09, 2009

What did Shadow of the Colossus make me do that was uncomfortable other than play a game that ran at 15fps? I kid, I kid. But really, I don't really remember any uncomfortable moments in that game. What were they?

Skye Nathaniel

November 09, 2009

A lot of people report feelings of remorse about taking down the colossi themselves, but even if that is not the case it is interesting that the entire game is about doing the bidding of a sealed, evil god in order to selfishly resurrect the woman. With every colossus that you kill, your character becomes more sickly and unnatural looking, and as you play it becomes more and more clear that you are doing something wrong. But that's the game; that's the only thing that there is to do. You're kind of the bad guy.

Gerry Corcoran

November 09, 2009

Awesome content in this week's podcast but the levels were way too low. I had to turn my speakers quite a ways up and the VUs in Winamp barely moved. Also just my opinion but the little random musical overlays in the middle of conversations kind of distract from them and are kind of annoying. That's just me though. Great episode overall though!

Skye Nathaniel

November 09, 2009

Another example I've just recalled of a game in which you do bad things is Braid, albeit unwittingly. Like Silent Hill 2, it depends upon the disconnect between the player and protagonist.

Of all of these games I've mentioned, Etrian Odyssey is probably the most direct instance of doing villainous deeds with knowledge and intent. You're given a quest to do something terrible, and your only choice if you don't want to fulfill it is simply to quit, because you can't progress otherwise. It's not one of those morally justified grey-area deeds, either; it's simply an evil act.

Kai Su

November 11, 2009

The Dog/Cock-fighting and Pokemon analogy blew my mind.