E3 is this week. It’s Christmas for gamers, in part because we get a look at what we can expect for (real) Christmas. There will be a lot of posturing and debate online about who “won” and who “lost”, but that doesn’t matter to me. New games? New consoles? I’m pretty sure everybody wins.
Every outlet under the sun will have coverage out the wazoo (which can be painful if left unchecked). If you want to see what all of this is about, start with Rev3 Games. Adam Sessler is legit.
James Chen, co-host of UltraChenTV is my guest this week. THe majority of our conversation revolves around the Fighting Game Community. From his early years playing Street Fighter 2 to playing in, and doing quite well in tournaments, James has seen it all. We discuss the art of commentary including James’ initial motivations for getting behind the microphone. We also cover the challenges, potential, and opportunities in growing the Fighting Game Community. Finally James gives a small preview for EVO 2013 and opens up about his love of Cammy. Enjoy.
You can keep up with James on Twitter at @jchensor and twitch.tv/ultrachentv.
Dave Lang, CEO of Iron Galaxy Studios, is on the podcast this week. We cover Dave’s extensive resume in the video game industry including his early work as a developer and transition from coding to management. Dave discusses the origins of Iron Galaxy Studios and the benefits of working in a supporting role in game development, developing the reputation of Iron Galaxy Studios, and Dive Kick and its reception within the Fighting Game Community. There’s also talk about the “next generation” of video game consoles and something called the “Lang Zone”. But I won’t spoil that here. Enjoy.
You can keep up with Dave on Twitter at @JosephJBroni and
Justin McElroy, Managing Editor at Polygon and co-host of My Brother, My Brother, and Me is my guest this week. We cover Justin’s journalism background and discuss his 15 years of freelance work for various video game sites and publications. Justin also talks about his time at Joystiq, his role at Polygon, the benefits of working with remote staff, and the Skyrim “controversy” from a few years ago. We also cover his podcast, “My Brother, My Brother, and Me” and why recording that podcast has strengthened his relationship with his family. Enjoy.
You can keep up with Justin on Twitter at @JustinMcElroy and polygon.com.
And be sure to check out My Brother, My Brother, and Me at mbmbam.com.
I may not play every LEGO-branded video game, but I can’t help but smile at stuff like this.
And, there’s also sites like this that make the world go round.
Also…
Victor Fontanez, President of broadcasting and consulting firm Team Sp00ky is on the podcast this week to introduce me to the Fighting Game Community. We discuss his early endeavors in the world of streaming video games, the gradual expansion of his operations to forming Team Sp00ky, is involvement in the past two Evolution Tournaments and the logistics involved in operating a successful stream. We also discuss the dedication required to play these types of games at a high level and the role of the community in providing constructive criticism and feedback in a new game launch. Finally, we touch on the growing pains of the Fighting Game Community in the coming years. Enjoy.
You can keep up with Victor and the rest of Team Sp00ky on Twitter at
This has nothing to do with diabetes. This doesn’t really have much to do with anything. But this game looks awesome, and I’m glad I have the means to buy and play it. You should watch this video if you have any interest in Luigi’s Mansion.
This week I’m joined by Robert Bowling, President and Creative Strategist of Robotoki and former Creative Strategist at Infinity Ward. We spend the hour talking about his life before the video game industry, his work at Infinity Ward including how his roles and responsibilities grew and expanded year after year. Robert also opens up about his time after leaving Infinity Ward and why starting his own studio was the only choice that made sense for him. Finally we talk about Robotoki, what it means to run an independent development studio, and the importance of fostering creativity in multiple projects. Enjoy.
Follow Robert on Twitter at @fourzerotwo.
And keep up with the latest from Robotoki at robotoki.com and their latest Kickstarter campaign adventuresofdash.com.
Dealing with the shenanigans of the Nintendo 3DS make me wish I had a gaming podcast to vent on. Remember those days?
Anywho, I’ve upgrade to the third dimension of handheld gaming. If you want our Mii’s to hangout, feel free to add me to your friends list.
My Friend Code is 4 8 15 16 23 42. No wait, that’s not it.
There wasn’t a hair style that said ‘Soul Glo’ so I went with ‘Afro Sheen’
0018-0621-4896. Hit me up.
Kellee Santiago, former President of thatgamecompay and founding partner of Indie Fund is on the podcast this week. We discuss Kellee’s education at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and how a class she took her freshman year laid the foundation for her career in video game development. Kellee also talks about the creative inspirations and motivations behind each of the games developed by thatgamecompany. We also get to the whole “games are art” conversation, starting with her TED Talk. Finally, Kellee talks about the origins of Indie Fund and how a 3-year experiment has evolved into an indefinite opportunity for independent developers. Enjoy.
Follow Kellee on Twitter at @KelleeSan and keep up with the latest from Indie Fund at indie-fund.com.
