[Episode 7] Unnecessarily Newfangled Anatomies

[Voodoo]

http://image.colonyofgamers.com/imcast.png

Do new games necessarily need innovative approaches to be fun? We try our best to answer that ever present question. Along the way, topics such as Anatomy Physics, how female and gay characters are treated in games and the role of sex in making a game successful are brought to the table. This podcast's cast are Adam [Grifter], Bryan [Smoof], Eric [Ravenlock], Jacob [MagGnome], Robert [Trebor] and Clayton [Voodoo].

Immortal Machines presents... Unnecessarily Newfangled Anatomies (http://www.immortalmachines.com/public/podcast/Immortal_Machines_Podcast_Unnecessarily_Newfangled _Anatomies.mp3)

iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=301414682) | Zune (zune://www.immortalmachines.com/public/podcast/immortal_machines_podcast.xml) | RSS (http://www.immortalmachines.com/public/podcast/immortal_machines_podcast.xml)

[Ravenlock]

Show Note: As mentioned in the intro, here is a link to the "English Language Portal" for BrettSpielWelt, the board game hosting site: click (http://www.brettspielwelt.de/?nation=en)!

You can see a list of games they have over here (http://www.brettspielwelt.de/Spiele/?nation=en), and BoardGameGeek has a primer (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/4239) and a list of volunteer tutors (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/3662). (Those last 2 links cribbed from Wikipedia and I can't check 'em at the office, so no yelling if they don't work.)

All of that sounds pretty daunting - and I won't lie, it is - but it's a great way to play some VERY good board games for free if you can get through the interface. As I mentioned, the Gamers With Jobs community has a lot of people who play actively every weekend, and they'd also be happy to help you out. :)

[Ravenlock]

Also, a correction: in the episode I incorrectly referred to a comic book as the source material for the breast-tacular 2000 PC game "Heavy Metal: FAKK". It was actually based on an animated film, which itself borrowed the name of a science fiction magazine (Heavy Metal) but took its plot from a graphic novel (which is where I got the comic book idea) "The Melting Pot", written by Kevin Eastman and starring a female lead based on his wife, nude model and B-movie actress Julie Strain.

My point stands - it wasn't the game's fault, she was that ridiculous looking in the source material as well. ;)

[Worldcrafter]

Great episode guys! It seems like a lot of games that try to really innovate end up being well respected, but not a lot of fun to play. I agree the ones that succeed later are the games than refine that new idea into fun gameplay.
Breakdown => Mirror's Edge
Lemmings + Pontifex => World of Goo
Kill.Switch => Gears of War
Outcast => Well, I'm not sure, but I do love Outcast

I'd also say, anytime you notice breast physics, they're poorly done. If they were well done, they would add to the natural motion and weight of the character, and you couldn't pick them out from the other motion. Instead, you get Jello Jigglers. Of course, that fits right along side guys with tree trunks for arms and guns the size of a small car.

What's the music sample that gets played right after the episode number? It's familiar, but I can't place it.

[Ravenlock]

Great episode guys! It seems like a lot of games that try to really innovate end up being well respected, but not a lot of fun to play. I agree the ones that succeed later are the games than refine that new idea into fun gameplay.
Breakdown => Mirror's Edge
Lemmings + Pontifex => World of Goo
Kill.Switch => Gears of War
Outcast => Well, I'm not sure, but I do love Outcast

That's an excellent point. I really only picked up on the Lemmings connections there, but Kill.Switch was absolutely a prototypical version of what would become Gears of War's gameplay style. I never played Breakdown, so I can't comment on that, but now I kinda want to.

Outcast was a hell of a game. I would love to see a sequel, literal or spiritual. The blend of adventure gaming and competent 3rd person combat combined with a really unique setting to make that game very different from any other experiences that were available at the time. It doesn't get nearly enough love.

[Worldcrafter]

Breakdown is a fun game with rough edges. It's a cool idea, and I remember getting pretty far into the story before extreme difficultly turned me away. It's main innovation was doing its best to make you feel like more than a floating camera while keeping the view fixed to first person. It also featured hand to hand combat as your primary defense, and the gunplay that was there was downplayed.

Outcast was a graphical powerhouse when it was first released. I couldn't believe the water effects when I first saw them. Between the engaging combat, the expansive landscapes, and the varied settings, it was a real pleasure exploring that world.

I think I just convinced myself to replay Breakdown and Outcast again. :)

[Libuke]

I never played kill switch but the first game I can remember with a cover system similar to gears (I haven't played much gears though so I may be wrong) is Winback way back on the N64.

[Worldcrafter]

I do remember Winback, but I think its cover system was closer to what Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid 2 used. Kill.Switch's cover system and blind fire was very close to what Gears of War used, it just wasn't much fun to play.

[KillerMcDead]

I wouldn't really say Breakdown -> Mirrors Edge. The only real thing they share is the first person viewpoint. I'd say it goes alot more Breakdown -> Riddick.

I can see maybe a bit of a connection with the fact that Mirror's Edge downplayed the gunfire a bit, but is was actually useful in Mirrors Edge, maybe the lack of a health bar?

I don't know, the connection is so lose it might as well be ignored.