IAM Blog Engine

IAM Blog Engine http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs Blogging resource for the Interactive Arts and Media department @ Columbia College Chicago Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:07:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Blogging resource for the Interactive Arts and Media department @ Columbia College Chicago no Critical Hit Episode 11: Dollars per Hour Played http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12575 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12575#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:51:26 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12575 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=12575 Heeeeee’s back! <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalHit%20s1e11.mp3">Direct Download</a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/colum/eHOX">RSS</a> / <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/criticalhitfeed.xml">XML</a> feeds <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 348px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/risky.jpg" alt="Get it?" width="338" height="467" />Get it?</div> Calvin Pohlhammer joins us again this week, and we cover two sort of general gripes: 1) Amateur reviewers equate money spent with hours played and score good short games poorly, and 2) Companies are more likely to run an old series (Halo, Call of Duty, Starcraft/Warcraft) instead of starting a new one. The first discussion talks about things like amateur vs. professional reviewers, buying your own games, good short games, Bioshock’s game extending sections, and where to draw the line in terms of using techniques to artificially expand the time a player spends in your game. We move from that into a discussion about new IP. Coming off our one of our past discussions about favorite series, and company mentality, we discuss the risks involved in starting a new IP, how a company goes through selecting an IP (based on some of my first-hand experiences), and Calvin throws down a whopper: Games will never be taken seriously by the general public until companies stop running franchises into the ground, and start creating new works of art instead of the next toy. CLICK THE JUMP FOR THE MUSIC! <a href="mailto:iamcrithit@gmail.com">EMAIL US!</a> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 466px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/time_money1.jpg" alt="Time is money!" width="456" height="347" />Time is money!</div> Musical Breakdown Intro <a href="http://www.soop.ca/bootie/bestofbootie2006/13%20-%20team9%20-%20The%20Money%20Song.mp3">“The Money Song” by Team 9 off Best of Bootie 2006</a> A great mashup of songs about bills. Outro <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BpTgEVHYck">“W-B-X W Boiled Extreme” by Kamiki Aya with TAKUYA</a> Opening theme from Kamen Rider W (pronounced “Kah-men Rye-dah Double”,) my current favorite TV Show. Heeeeee’s back! Direct Download RSS / XML feeds Calvin Pohlhammer joins us again this week, and we cover two sort of general gripes: 1) Amateur reviewers equate money spent with hours played and score good short games poorly, and 2) Companies [...] Critical Hit Episode 10: DOUBLE DIGITS http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12545 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12545#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:07:21 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=12545 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=12545 Video Games cured my addiction to Dungeons and Dragons. <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalHit%20s1e10.mp3">Direct Download</a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/colum/eHOX">RSS</a> / <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/criticalhitfeed.xml">XML</a> feeds <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 299px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/co-op_games-manual-jim_deacove-500-.jpg" alt="Read Me." width="289" height="400" />Read me.</div> Calvin Pohlhammer, my long time friend, joins us today for the show! Calvin was my inspiration for starting the show actually, so it’s finally come full circle.Â He brought to our halls some excellent topics!Â We cover Co-Op games vs. Cooperative game play, and where developers need to draw the line.Â We discuss the opening of the new <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/6485888/Britains-first-computer-rehab-clinic-opens.html">Broadway Lodge for Addiction in England</a>, and whether video game addiction fits among the ranks of drugs and alcohol addictions. Our not so shocking discovery in the podcast! Later this week, we have a SPECIAL THREE PART SHOW.Â We interviewed David Hellman two weeks ago, and we’re going to share the fruits of that sit down with you.Â Enjoy! <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 510px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/computer-addiction-7.jpg" alt="This kid must be playing the greenest game ever. And he's too close to the screen." width="500" height="381" />He must be playing the greenest game ever...and he's too close to the screen.</div> Musical Breakdown Intro <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbvPVoVicok">Team Teamwork- Jay-Z “No Hook” (Meeting the Owl)</a> Calvin threw this at me as a song for this week’s show.Â Â Obviously, I agreed. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79ctWZxi3I"></a> Outro <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMjpMGd2vMU">GaoGaiGar OST- Power of Desire</a> And here’s a clip of Mic Sounders the Thirteenth using the song in context <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2h35JWB4uE">Awesome.</a> Video Games cured my addiction to Dungeons and Dragons. Direct Download RSS / XML feeds Calvin Pohlhammer, my long time friend, joins us today for the show! Calvin was my inspiration for starting the show actually, so it’s finally come full [...] Critical Hit Episode 8: Our goal is to make podcasting less fun. http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11327 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11327#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:41:34 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11327 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=11327 Wave your hands in front of your Xbox 360! <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalHit%20s1e08.mp3">Direct Download</a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/colum/eHOX">RSS</a> / <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/criticalhitfeed.xml">XML</a> feeds <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 442px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/natalcake.jpg" alt="Its still a lie, sister..." width="432" height="288" /> It's still a lie, sister...</div> On this show we have a special guest, good friend Steve Crump joins us as we discuss the often misunderstood Activision CEO Bobby Kottick, Jon White’s visit to Blizzcon ‘09, and how we would design a game for Project Natal!Â Give it a listen! Also, next week we’ll have a special show that specifically focuses on Women Gamers and Designers, with two special guests in the studio, so listen for it!Â Coming up, Greg and I recorded some of our favorite “WTF” moments in games, moments that make you drop the controller for better or worse!Â Once that’s edited up, I’ll let it fly! Thanks for the mail we’ve been getting, and special thanks to Scott P. for his letter about the music episode!Â We’ll try to keep it fresh, Scott! <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 522px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/blizzconfunny.jpg" alt="I am being hyper lazy with Photoshop, and I didnt want to work that hard on this picture...I mean, look at it." width="512" height="346" />I am being hyper lazy with Photoshop, and I didn't want to work that hard on this picture...I mean, look at it.</div> Musical Breakdown Intro <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcDoZnN8ac">The Protomen – The Hounds </a> The Protomen are a great group of musicians that have written a rock opera version of Mega Man.Â Trust me, it’s awesome.Â The above song is Dr. Wily singing about turning the city against Dr. Light.Â Their new album, Act II: Father of Death, is available now!Â Check’em out! Break <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OobUV9q0aDA">Nujabes – Battlecry</a> Because I love this song, and need to finish watching this show. Outro “Robocop CPC Zone” from OC Remix <p [...] Wave your hands in front of your Xbox 360! Direct Download RSS / XML feeds On this show we have a special guest, good friend Steve Crump joins us as we discuss the often misunderstood Activision CEO Bobby Kottick, Jon White’s visit to Blizzcon [...] Post 1: Screenshot Response…thing… http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11188 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11188#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:06:20 +0000 kelpy13 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=11188 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=11188 <a href="http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq140/captaincool12/?action=view&current=screenshot_15876_thumb300.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq140/captaincool12/screenshot_15876_thumb300.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> I chose The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to evaluate. The screenshot above depicts the main character, Link, pulling the Master Sword from the Temple of Time. There are several obvious symbols present. The main one associates with Arthurian legend. A boy pulling a special sword from a stone pedestal is nothing new but there are some slight twists in the image. The surrounding and color scheme also ground the genre and the shots surreality. The first thing to note is that Link is alone. In most other myths and legends surrounding Arthur, he pulls the sword out in the presence of a crowd of knights and nobles and his mentor, Merlin. Link is on his own, forced to confront his destiny or whatever quest (I’ll avoid spoilers if there is anyone left on the planet who hasn’t played OoT) he is on. His isolation is visibly maximised by his gigantic, cathedral like surroundings towring above his tiny frame. Along the lines of architecture, the other interesting fact is the juxtuposition of more late Renissance type architecture with the medieval garb Link is dressed in. Our subconscious tells us that his surroundings should be something more medieval with spires, religious art, or at least tapestries but the shot defies expectation. Especially since the outside of the Temple is shaped much like a medieval church. Link also has pointed ears- something normally associated with elves or the fantastic. This clearly invokes the fact that the game falls within the fantasy genre. The color scheme of the screenshot as well as the supposedly marble floor also make it seem less grounded in reality. There’s no way that the stones could be that smooth or there be that much marble in a medieval church. I chose The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to evaluate. The screenshot above depicts the main character, Link, pulling the Master Sword from the Temple of Time. There are several obvious symbols present. The main one associates with Arthurian [...] Critical Bits 1: Greg and Joe sound the same. http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10997 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10997#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:04:39 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10997 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=10997 Critical Bits Minisode GET! Joe Locastro and Greg Smith wax on a little video game music talk! <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalBits%20s1e01.mp3">Download me!</a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/colum/eHOX">rss</a>/<a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/criticalhitfeed.xml">xml</a> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 493px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/joeandgreg2.jpg" alt="Whos the knuckleheads? WE ARE THE KNUCKLEHEADS!" width="483" height="334" />Who's the knuckleheads? WE ARE THE KNUCKLEHEADS!</div> With a bit of a stunted cast we have a bit of a stunted show! Â We’re all gearing up for the school year, getting our last minute kicks out of the way, so Greg and I decided to do a minisode to keep the spirit alive! Â So, welcome to Critical Bits. Greg and I have a deep passion for game music, we listen to it quite a lot. Â For this Bit we decided to share some of our favorite in-game songs and soundtracks, as well as game songs we just liked in general. Â Game music has always been integral to design in my mind, so listen in and maybe you’ll hear a song you like! Â Give that game a try! Also, here’s a link to a YouTube playlist I made with some more great game music in it. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4B237289207794BF">The most ballin’ VGM I could think of…a few months ago.</a> Let us know what you think, click the jump for a full list of songs we reference! PS: My “Shadow of the Colossus” song is called Revived Power ~ Battle With The Colossus, not Silence ~ Battle With The Colossus. Â My mistake. Â ALSO, I couldn’t get an MP3 of the original theme from Cheetahmen 2, so <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdTdsn5G8L8">here’s a link to the YouTube video</a> I reference! <p [...] Critical Bits Minisode GET! Joe Locastro and Greg Smith wax on a little video game music talk! Download me! rss/xml With a bit of a stunted cast we have a bit of a stunted show! Â We’re all gearing up for the school year, getting [...] Critical Hit Episode 4: The name of the movie was “Garden State” http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10845 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10845#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:24:49 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10845 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=10845 <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalHit%20s1e04.mp3">CRITICAL HIT is BACK AGAIN!</a> Episode 4 is LIVE! <a href="http://game.colum.edu/gpc/CH%20Podcast/CriticalHit%20s1e04.mp3">Direct Download</a> <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 512px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/hosts.jpg" alt="The Rogues Gallery" width="502" height="212" /> <dt><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/n199600004_30439108_4857.jpg" alt="Greg Smith. In his capital G Glory." width="194" height="194" />Greg Smith. In his capital "G" Glory.</div> This week we have special guest Greg Smith (sitting in for Brendan Gilbert and John Gosling) with myself (your obedient servant, Joe Locastro) and Jon White as we tackle the issues!Â We mention <a href="http://www.destructoid.com/midway-games-loses-its-name-139479.phtml">Midway Games dismantling</a>, we take shots at MMOs (and defend them!), we poke a little fun at <a href="http://www.destructoid.com/ken-levine-lost-his-girlfriend-thanks-to-legend-of-zelda-139603.phtml">Ken Levine</a> for getting his priorities mixed up and we wrap it up with a thoughtful discussion about the state of moral choices in video games!Â The week’s episode will shortly be available on iTunes music store as well, just search “Critical Hit”! <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 510px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/mmorpg.jpg" alt="BRB Bio. No wait, I got this." width="500" height="400" />"BRB Bio. No wait, I got this."</div> When talking about MMOs and their influences on the world today, we found ourselves with VOLUMES to speak about, so we’re dedicating a section in a future episode to tackling that discussion as best we can.Â But we also came up with a few fresh topics for next week!Â Look forwards to: Why you should play bad games (<a href="http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10838">which ties into my blog post</a>), and why you should play old games. <div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 312px"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/n48603769_31962287_6898.jpg" alt="The true moral choice. He chose wisely." width="302" height="373" />The true moral choice. He chose wisely.</div> This weekend I will be in Baltimore at <a href="http://www.otakon.com/default2.asp">Otakon</a>, the nation’s largest anime convention.Â I’m going to be packing an audio recorder, and if there’s a story rest assured I will get it!Â No audio-clip will escape my all encompassing deep maw of investigative journalism!Â I promise to come back with the freshness. Share the link, tell your friends! PS: Watch the Penn and Teller’s Bullsh!t episode about Video Games <a href="http://http://kotaku.com/5313559/watch-penn--tellers-video-game-bullshit-episode">here</a>!Â It’s really good, as is their usual fare, but they interview Jack Thompson (and everyone knows we love an [...] CRITICAL HIT is BACK AGAIN! Episode 4 is LIVE! Direct Download This week we have special guest Greg Smith (sitting in for Brendan Gilbert and John Gosling) with myself (your obedient servant, Joe Locastro) and Jon White as we tackle the [...] Critical Hit, IAM’s own Gaming Podcast! http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10749 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10749#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:27:41 +0000 "Viewtiful" Joe http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?p=10749 http://imamp.colum.edu/blogs/?feed=rss2&p=10749 Critical Hit: IAM’s one-and-only Gaming Podcast is LIVE Episode #2 (Recorded 7/1/09) Episode #3 (Recorded 7/7/09) <img class="alignnone" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/joemasaki/hosts.jpg" alt="" width="457" height="193" /> Once a week your hosts will bring you the best in gaming editorial, industry news and design talk with a healthy blend of humor, special guests, interviews and more! Visit this very blog weekly to download the fresh show, and soon on iTunes as well! Episode Two features special guest Anthony Sixto, who talks with us about 6 Days in Fallujah, Kodu, and our favorite features in video games. Â Episode Three introduces IAM Faculty member Andrew Hicks, who brings to the table a discussion about games as storytellers, and how they SUCK at doing so! Â Also in that episode John brings forth the question ‘Why do we have that ‘games as art’ talk? What’s the deal there?’” Enjoy! Special thanks to Jason Geistweidt, Greg Jenke, Uriel Brajas, Anthony Sixto, Mindy Faber, Terrence Hannum and Jeff Meyers for the help in producing the show!Â Contact the show at josef.locastro@loop.colum.edu , leave a comment here, and let us know what you’d like to hear!Â If you’d like to be a guest on the show, contact Joe for more information. Thanks, and tell your friends! Additional Information Music for Episode 2: <ul> <li>“Proto Culture” by Del Tha Funkee Homo Sapien ft. Khaos Unique</li> </ul> Music for Episode 3: <ul> <li>“Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmerelda</li> <li>“My Console” by Eiffel 65</li> </ul> Critical Hit: IAM’s one-and-only Gaming Podcast is LIVE Episode #2 (Recorded 7/1/09) Episode #3 (Recorded 7/7/09) Once a week your hosts will bring you the best in gaming editorial, industry news and design talk with a healthy blend of humor, [...]