The WhaleCast https://thatshelf.com/whalecast/ Film, Games, TV, Podcasts, Videos, Reviews, Interviews, Toronto Thu, 08 Sep 2016 15:21:05 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3 Dork Shelf introduces the WhaleCast, our new gaming and culture podcast featuring Dork Shelf Games Editor Eric Weiss and independent game developer Jon Remedios. DorkShelf.com yes DorkShelf.com will@dorkshelf.com will@dorkshelf.com (DorkShelf.com) Dork Shelf Limited 2014 Film, Games, TV, Podcasts, Videos, Reviews, Interviews, Toronto The WhaleCast https://thatshelf.com/wp-content/uploads//powerpress/DS-LOGO-AVATAR.png https://thatshelf.com/whalecast/ TV-MA Toronto Weekly 152712211 The WhaleCast Episode 48: Miguel Sternberg https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-48-miguel-sternberg/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-48-miguel-sternberg/#respond Thu, 08 Sep 2016 15:20:14 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=74438 Spooky Squid's Miguel Sternberg discusses Russian Subway Dogs and the challenges of Kickstarter.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 48: Miguel Sternberg appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-48-miguel-sternberg/feed/ 0 Spooky Squid's Miguel Sternberg discusses Russian Subway Dogs and the challenges of Kickstarter.

Eric sits down with Spooky Squid's Miguel Sternberg to discuss Russian Subway Dogs, the based-on-a-true-story arcade bark-em-up that is currently up on Kickstarter. They talk about the game, the state of pixel art, and the challenges of Kickstarter, as well as the strange history of animals being tried as people.

This week's intro music comes from the Russian Subway Dogs soundtrack by Peter Chapman (AKA Coins). Be sure to check out the trailer below if you want to know more about the game.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 48 (56:25)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Russian Subway Dogs Theme" by Coins
* 1:00 - The true story of Russian Subway Dogs
* 8:30 - Strange stories about humans living with animals
* 18:15 - The joys of Russian propaganda
* 22:00 - The challenges of Kickstarter
* 32:00 - How do you keep an audience engaged?
* 35:45 - Guest dogs
* 39:50 - Platform selection and the uncertainties of Steam
* 46:45 - The state of pixel art
* 52:45 - Miguel's Dork Shelf
* 55:45 - Outro - “Russian Subway Dogs Theme" by Coins

]]> Eric Weiss yes 56:25 74438 The WhaleCast Episode 47: Benjamin Rivers https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-47-benjamin-rivers/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-47-benjamin-rivers/#respond Sat, 27 Aug 2016 14:01:44 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=73991 Eric sits down with Toronto game developer Benjamin Rivers to discuss the new sci-fi romance adventure Alone With You.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 47: Benjamin Rivers appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-47-benjamin-rivers/feed/ 0 Eric sits down with Toronto game developer Benjamin Rivers to discuss the new sci-fi romance adventure Alone With You.

Eric sits down with Toronto game developer Benjamin Rivers to discuss Alone With You, the new sci-fi romance adventure now available for the PS Vita and the PS4. They talk about the game, the development process, and the challenges of making a mature dating simulator for adults, as well as Home, the rapid demise of Konami, and the benefits of nachos.

The intro music comes from the Alone With You soundtrack by Ivor Stines. The full soundtrack is available via Band Camp.

(Music is (c) 2016 Ivor Stines / Mixed In My Head Studios)

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 47 (57:49)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Special Evenings" by Ivor Stines
* :40 - Doritos sickness and nachos
* 2:45 - Alone With You and the journey from Home
* 6:00 - Making a romance game for adults with holograms
* 17:00 - Building a sci-fi world and the importance of research
* 23:00 - Alone With You vs The Martian and the benefits of teamwork
* 25:45 - A humane AI
* 35:20 - Gameplay transitions
* 38:00 - The development process and the challenges of managing a team
* 46:00 - Trophies
* 50:00 - Speed Round (Konami, horror, VR, and Resident Evil)
* 56:55 - Outro - “Special Evenings" by Ivor Stines

]]> Eric Weiss yes 57:49 73991 The WhaleCast Episode 46 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-46/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-46/#respond Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:33:15 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=68420 Eric and Peter Counter discuss Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, and the Pokemon GO phenomenon.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 46 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-46/feed/ 0 Eric and Peter Counter discuss Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, and the Pokemon GO phenomenon.

Dork Shelf writer Peter Counter joins Eric to talk about Ghostbusters (both the terrible video game and the much better movie) and the world-conquering phenomenon that is Pokemon GO. They also discuss the sublime Uncharted 4 and Netflix's excellent new series Stranger Things.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 46 (1:01:51)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* :40 - Pokemon GO
* 11:50 - Ghostbusters (The movie)
* 14:20 - Ghostbusters (The game)
* 23:45 - Uncharted 4
* 40:20 - Stranger Things
* 1:01:10 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 1:01:51 68420 The WhaleCast Episode 45 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-45/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-45/#respond Tue, 05 Jul 2016 19:31:16 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=67527 Eric and Jon discuss Gone Home, Resident Evil 7: Beginning Hour, and the fragmented games journalism landscape.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 45 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-45/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon discuss Gone Home, Resident Evil 7: Beginning Hour, and the fragmented games journalism landscape.

Jon Remedios (SSMP) returns to the WhaleCast and joins Eric to talk about Gone Home and Beginning Hour, the new demo for Resident Evil 7 (check out our two-part play through here and here). They also discuss Jon's complete lack of journalistic integrity and the fragmented nature of game culture and games journalism after learning of a conflict of interest in the Counter Strike: Global Offensive YouTube gambling community.

All that, plus Independence Day: Resurgence and the influence of Dungeons & Dragons in Vin Diesel's The Last Witch Hunter.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 45 (48:15)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* :30 - Independence Day: Resurgence 
* 4:30 - Gone Home
* 14:45 - Resident Evil 7: Beginning Hour
* 23:00 - VRTO digression
* 25:10 - The YouTube/Counter Strike gamling controversy
* 30:00 - Jon Remedios has no journalistic integrity
* 35:00 - The fragmented journalistic landscape
* 42:45 - The Last Witch Hunter
* 47:30 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 48:15 67527 The WhaleCast Episode 44: Navid Khonsari https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-44-navid-khonsari/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-44-navid-khonsari/#respond Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:03:15 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=66720 The Director of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday discusses the challenges of documentary game making.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 44: Navid Khonsari appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-44-navid-khonsari/feed/ 0 The Director of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday discusses the challenges of documentary game making.

On this week's Whalecast, Eric is joined by Navid Khonsari, the Director of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, the new game from iNK Stories set during the 1979 Revolution in Iran. Eric and Navid discuss the challenges of making a video game that documents a specific era and the gameplay decisions that encourage players to engage with history. They also talk about the game's re-release for iOS, as well as the reception of the game in North America and in Iran and how incorporating personal elements helps humanize the story.

1979 Revolution: Black Friday is currently available for Mac and Windows and launches today for iOS. You can read our review of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday to find out more.

 

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 44 (47:04)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* 1:35 - Balancing history and fiction
* 10:45 - Making history entertaining
* 15:45 - The personal aspect of 1979 Revolution and humanizing Iran for a western audience
* 24:25 - The iOS re-release
* 29:20 - Responses to 1979 Revolution
* 34:40 - The games that influenced Black Friday
* 36:30 - Moral choices, the pressure to take sides, and Canadian neutrality
* 42:40 - The future of historical games
* 46:25 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 47:04 66720 The WhaleCast Episode 43 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-43/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-43/#respond Wed, 04 May 2016 15:17:44 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=64799 Talking The Witness, 1979 Revolution, and what it's like to watch Game of Thrones now that the show is ahead of the books.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 43 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-43/feed/ 0 Talking The Witness, 1979 Revolution, and what it's like to watch Game of Thrones now that the show is ahead of the books.

Eric sits down with Dork Shelf Editor-in-Chief Will Perkins to discuss the season premiere of Game of Thrones and what it's like to watch and the show now that it's moved ahead of the books (skip to 14:30 to avoid minor spoilers). Then they get into games and talk about Subnautica, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, Starcraft 2, and Warbits, while Eric goes on a long overdue rant about the weaker aspects of The Witness.

They also get into their favorite podcasts to remind you that you should really be listening to Play Dead.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 43 (53:29)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* 0:40 - The season premiere of Game of Thrones
* 14:30 - Starcraft 2 (skip to here to avoid Game of Thrones spoilers)
* 17:55 - Subnautica
* 22:10 - 1979 Revolution: Black Friday
* 31:55 - Eric complains about The Witness
* 42:30 - Warbits
* 47:15 - What podcasts are you listening to?
* 49:35 - Listen to Play Dead!
* 52:52 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 53:29 64799 The WhaleCast Episode 42 – Elias Toufexis and Dylan Taylor https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-42-elias-toufexis-and-dylan-taylor/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-42-elias-toufexis-and-dylan-taylor/#respond Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:33:27 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=61798 Eric sits down with the stars of Far Cry Primal to discuss the art of performance capture in video games.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 42 – Elias Toufexis and Dylan Taylor appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-42-elias-toufexis-and-dylan-taylor/feed/ 0 Eric sits down with the stars of Far Cry Primal to discuss the art of performance capture in video games.

Eric sits down with Elias Toufexis (Takkar) and Dylan Taylor (Urki), the stars of Ubisoft's recently released Far Cry Primal to talk about the game and the evolving role of actors within the industry. They also discuss the art of performance capture and the challenges of bringing a character to life in a completely foreign language.

All that, plus we find out what's on Adam Jensen's Dork Shelf and learn about Taylor's unexpected dream role in a video game.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 42 (52:34)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* 0:40 - Elias Toufexis, Dylan Taylor, and Far Cry Primal
* 51:40 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 52:34 61798 The WhaleCast Episode 41 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-41/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-41/#respond Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:31:23 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=60581 Eric and Jon discuss Street Fighter V, Deadpool, and Invisible, Inc. on the latest episode of the WhaleCast.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 41 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-41/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon discuss Street Fighter V, Deadpool, and Invisible, Inc. on the latest episode of the WhaleCast.

Eric and Jon (SSMP) talk about Street Fighter V and Invisible, Inc. before jumping on the bandwagon with a brief conversation about Deadpool. They also debate the ethics of Steam refunds and try to come up with a way to make the system better for consumers and developers like Campo Santo.

All that, plus Eric recaps his first full viewing of Titanic, twenty years after it was cool.

You can read Eric's review of Street Fighter V over here.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 41 (1:02:15)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* 0:40 - Eric sees Titanic for the first time
* 4:55 - Shadow Hunters Interlude
* 6:25 - Street Fighter V
* 24:00 - Invisible, Inc.
* 39:45 - Firewatch, Campo Santo, and the ethics of Steam refunds
* 50:55 - Deadpool
* 1:01:38 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 1:02:15 60581 The WhaleCast Episode 40 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-40/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-40/#respond Fri, 12 Feb 2016 16:37:45 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=59841 Eric and Jon battle audio issues to discuss Oxenfree, Planet of the Eyes, Lumberyard, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 40 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-40/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon battle audio issues to discuss Oxenfree, Planet of the Eyes, Lumberyard, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Eric and Jon (SSMP) battle through some unfortunate audio issues* to talk about Oxenfree and Planet of the Eyes. They also discuss the potential impact of Amazon's Lumberyard game engine and Eric's newfound appreciation for fan fiction after watching Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

You can read Eric's review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies over here.

*Yes, we are aware of the obnoxious clicking sound, for which we can only apologize profusely. There was an issue with the cable while we were recording and we didn't spot it until after we had finished. We've cleaned it up as best we can, but there's only so much we could do without destroying the entire conversation. We talked about some cool stuff so we've decided to post the podcast anyway, but we'll totally understand if you decide to give this episode a pass. We apologize again for the inconvenience, and we'll do our best to make sure that it doesn't happen in the future.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 40 (49:18)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:35 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* 1:10 - Topographical maps of Nebraska
* 2:30 - Oxenfree
* 20:45 - Rocket League interlude
* 21:50 - Planet of the Eyes
* 29:30 - Amazon's Lumberyard
* 40:00 - Fan Fiction and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
* 48:35 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 49:18 59841 The WhaleCast Episode 39 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-39/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-39/#respond Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:01:01 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=59081 Eric and Jon discuss Bloodborne, The Witness, That Dragon, Cancer, and the Scream TV show during an action-packed episode of The WhaleCast.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 39 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-39/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon discuss Bloodborne, The Witness, That Dragon, Cancer, and the Scream TV show during an action-packed episode of The WhaleCast.

Jon (SSMP) mocks Eric's attempts to play Bloodborne before getting into a much more serious discussion about That Dragon, Cancer. They also discuss The Witness, Jon Blow's piss jar, and EA's decision to ditch E3 before closing with a conversation about the Scream TV show and hate-watching Shadow Hunters: The Mortal Instruments.

You can read Eric's review of That Dragon, Cancer over here.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 39 (1:02:57)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "El Mariachi" by Skywhale
* :40 - Step Up follow up
* 3:45 - Eric plays Bloodborne
* 17:55 - That Dragon, Cancer
* 38:00 - The Witness and Jon Blow's piss jar
* 43:45 - EA skips E3
* 46:30 - The surprisingly excellent Scream TV show
* 56:45 - A hot minute with the terrible Shadow Hunters: The Mortal Instruments
* 1:02:15 - Outro - “Shadow" by Skywhale

]]> Eric Weiss yes 1:02:57 59081 The WhaleCast Episode 38 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-38/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-38/#respond Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:24:13 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=58242 Eric and Jon dive into the sublime Step Up franchise and talk ethics in eSports.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 38 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-38/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon dive into the sublime Step Up franchise and talk ethics in eSports.

Eric and Jon (SSMP) kick off the new year with talk of Virtual Reality and their extreme love of the Step Up movies. They also discuss ethics in eSports after Activision's recent purchase of Major League Gaming.

 

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 38 (47:37)

Listen: 

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Church" by Big Boi
* :40 - Candles
* 2:00 - Movies are the new games
* 2:50 - The Step Up movies are fucking awesome

* 17:40 - CES, the Oculus Rift, and Virtual Reality

* 31:40 - Activision buys MLG and ethics in eSports
* 47:15 - Outro - “The Way You Move" by Big Boi feat. Sleepy Brown

]]> Eric Weiss yes 47:37 58242 The WhaleCast Episode 37 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-37/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-37/#respond Wed, 18 Nov 2015 16:51:33 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=55786 Eric and Jon discuss Fallout 4 and Final Fantasy VI on the latest episode of the WhaleCast.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 37 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-37/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon discuss Fallout 4 and Final Fantasy VI on the latest episode of the WhaleCast. Eric and Jon (SSMP) talk about Fallout and Fallout 4 as mandated by the Internet. They also discuss Final Fantasy VI and the evolution of RPGs that try to show you everything instead of letting you discover and use your imagination.

All that, plus the futuristic merits of Missy Elliott's sublime new music video on the latest episode of the WhaleCast.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 36 (54:07)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel
* :40 - Missy Elliott's Where They From
* 2:55 - Eric gets a Super Nintendo
* 4:20 - Final Fantasy VI and comedy in JRPGs

* 11:45 - Wordplay, Sam Barlow, and games show too much

* 20:14 - Jon falls in love with Fallout 4

* 34:30 - Eric is ambivalent about Fallout 1 
* 37:20 - Character growth, story, and gameplay flavor in RPGs
* 45:00 - In praise of less cluttered inventory systems
* 4:20 - How do people find meaning in video games?
* 53:34 - Outro - “Pressure" by Billy Joel

]]> Eric Weiss yes 54:07 55786 The WhaleCast Episode 36 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-36/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-36/#respond Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:04:47 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=54774 Jon Remedios is back! This week, Eric and Jon reunite to discuss Cibele and Circa Infinity.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 36 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-36/feed/ 0 Jon Remedios is back! This week, Eric and Jon reunite to discuss Cibele and Circa Infinity. Jon Remedios (SSMP) is back! After four months apart, Eric and Jon have emerged from their respective drunken fogs to reunite and discuss Nina Freeman's new game Cibele. They also talk about Circa Infinity and the language tools we use to find meaning video games.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 36 (53:39)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Without Me" by Eminem
* :40 - Where you been, Jon?
* 3:25 - Cibele
* 7:35 - General impressions and structure

* 11:45 - The uncomfortable voyeurism of seeing something private

* 20:40 - What's the deal with Ichi?

* 31:00 - The social depth of online games
* 36:00 - Her Story, Cibele, and creator-driven games
* 40:40 - Circa Infinity and meaning as expressed in games
* 46:20 - How do people find meaning in video games?
* 53:24 - Outro - “Business" by Eminem

]]> Eric Weiss yes 53:59 54774 The WhaleCast Episode 35: Keram Malicki-Sanchez and Virtual Reality https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-35-keram-malicki-sanchez-and-virtual-reality/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-35-keram-malicki-sanchez-and-virtual-reality/#respond Wed, 21 Oct 2015 16:25:24 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=53400 Eric sits down with VRTO organizer Keram Malicki-Sanchez to discuss all things related to virtual reality.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 35: Keram Malicki-Sanchez and Virtual Reality appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-35-keram-malicki-sanchez-and-virtual-reality/feed/ 0 Eric sits down with VRTO organizer Keram Malicki-Sanchez to discuss all things related to virtual reality. Eric sits down with Keram Malicki-Sanchez, the organizer of VRTO and the founder of IndieGameReviewer.com and the recent FIVARS Festival of International Virtual and Augment Reality Stories. They discuss the art and business of virtual reality and the ways that independent artists are experimenting with an entirely new creative medium.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 35 (36:06)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "End of Line" by Daft Punk
* :35 - The business of VR
* 5:50 - VR is a new creative medium, not a mere evolution of games or film
* 16:40 - How are indie developers experimenting with VR?
* 26:10 - Anybody can create for VR
* 29:10 - Emotional spaces in virtual reality
* 35:36 - Outro - “Derezzed" by Daft Punk

]]> Eric Weiss yes 36:06 53400 The WhaleCast Episode 34 – Fate Tectonics https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-34-fate-tectonics/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-34-fate-tectonics/#respond Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:54:40 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=51925 Eric sits down with the team at Golden Gear Games to discuss indie development and Fate Tectonics.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 34 – Fate Tectonics appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-34-fate-tectonics/feed/ 0 Eric sits down with the team at Golden Gear Games to discuss indie development and Fate Tectonics. Eric sits down with Andrew Traviss, Alex Bethke, and Rosemary Brennan of Golden Gear Games to talk about Fate Tectonics, the new tile-based puzzle game that's two parts creation and one part gleeful destruction. They discuss the design process, the financial pressures of independent development, and the things you learn about your own game at conventions. All that, plus the proper technique for naming video game achievements.

The music this week comes from the Fate Tectonics soundtrack by Robby Duguay. The album is available here. "Henry" refers to Henry Faber of Bento Miso.

Download: The WhaleCast Episode 34 (46:57)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Rebuild (Chaos)" by Robby Duguay
* :55 - What is Fate Tectonics?
* 5:10 - Learning from your own game at conventions
* 11:45 - The benefits of working in a creative environment
* 15:20 - The financial challenges of indie development
* 23:15 - Making your game more accessible
* 30:30 - How does a mechanic change when you add story and character?
* 37:40 - What games influenced Fate Tectonics?
* 42:30 - The proper technique for naming achievements
* 46:12 - Outro - “Mountains (Chaos)" by Robby Duguay

]]> Eric Weiss yes 46:57 51925 The WhaleCast Episode 33 – The Hannibal Finale https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-33-the-hannibal-finale/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-33-the-hannibal-finale/#respond Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:30:56 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=51037 Dork Shelf's resident Hannibal expert Peter Counter joins Eric to discuss the Hannibal finale and everything that made it great.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 33 – The Hannibal Finale appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-33-the-hannibal-finale/feed/ 0 51037 The WhaleCast Episode 32 – Knight and Damsel Edition https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-32-knight-and-damsel-edition/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-32-knight-and-damsel-edition/#respond Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:33:31 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=50638 Eric and MK Ultra Creative Director Mathew Kumar discuss the studio's new game Knight and Damsel.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 32 – Knight and Damsel Edition appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-32-knight-and-damsel-edition/feed/ 0 Eric and MK Ultra Creative Director Mathew Kumar discuss the studio's new game Knight and Damsel. Eric sits down with MK Ultra Creative Director (and Loose Cannons co-host) Mathew Kumar to talk about the studio's first game Knight and Damsel. They discuss the game's history and what it's like to develop for OUYA. They also touch on Kumar's transition from game reporter to game developer and the unexpected challenges of design.

Knight and Damsel is currently available for the OUYA and the PC via Steam, Humble, and itch.io for $9.99, with a 20% discount to $7.99 for the first two weeks of release. This week's intro and outro music comes from the Knight and Damsel soundtrack by Maggie McLean, which is also available on Steam for $3.99.


Download: The WhaleCast Episode 32 (33:33)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "Knight and Damsel" by Maggie McLean
* :38 - All things Ouya, MK Ultra, and Knight and Damsel
* 33:00 - Outro - “Fantasmal Forest - Spooky Save" by Maggie McLean

]]> Eric Weiss yes 33:33 50638 The WhaleCast Episode 31 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-31/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-31/#respond Thu, 06 Aug 2015 13:53:40 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=50048 Eric and Dork Shelf writer Peter Counter discuss Hannibal, Rocket League, Invisible Inc., and Tembo the Badass Elephant.

The post The WhaleCast Episode 31 appeared first on That Shelf.

]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-31/feed/ 0 Eric and Dork Shelf writer Peter Counter discuss Hannibal, Rocket League, Invisible Inc., and Tembo the Badass Elephant. Eric and Dork Shelf writer Peter Counter geek out over Hannibal and try to make peace with the show's impending demise. They also talk about about some video games, including Game of the Year contenders Rocket League and Invisible Inc. They conclude with a discussion of Tembo the Badass Elephant, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the pitfalls of misremembered nostalgia.


Download: The WhaleCast Episode 31 (50:56)

Listen:

Subscribe on iTunes: The WhaleCast

Programme:

* 0:00 - Intro - "I Am a God" by Kanye West
* :30 - The genius and the ego of Kanye West
* 2:00 - Hannibal, the books vs. the show
* 7:00 - Being Hannibal Lecter
* 18:45 - Does Hannibal get renewed?
* 23:15 - Invisible Inc.
* 28:30 - Rocket League is one of the best damn games of the year
* 33:40 - Tembo the Badass Elephant does Sonic better than Sonic
* 41:00 - What do people want from retro games?
* 50:34 - Outro - “I Am a God" by Kanye West

]]> Eric Weiss yes 50:56 50048 The WhaleCast Episode 30: N++ Edition https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-30-n-edition/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-30-n-edition/#respond Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:02:04 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=49446 Eric and sits down with Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns of Metanet Software to talk about N++, the fast-paced puzzle platformer about a Ninja that explodes while navigating a minimalist sci-fi world.

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]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-30-n-edition/feed/ 0 Eric and sits down with Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns of Metanet Software to talk about N++, the fast-paced puzzle platformer about a Ninja that explodes while navigating a minimalist sci-fi world. Eric and sits down with Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns of Metanet Software to talk about <cite>N++</cite>, the fast-paced puzzle platformer about a Ninja that explodes while navigating a minimalist sci-fi world. Eric Weiss yes 59:31 49446 The WhaleCast Episode 29 https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-29/ https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-29/#respond Tue, 14 Jul 2015 17:48:19 +0000 https://thatshelf.com/?p=48791 Eric and Jon reflect on the unique career and accomplishments of Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

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]]> https://thatshelf.com/the-whalecast-episode-29/feed/ 0 Eric and Jon reflect on the unique career and accomplishments of Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. Eric and Jon (SSMP) reflect on the many accomplishments of the sadly departed Satoru Iwata and consider the many traits that made the Nintendo President such a beloved figure. They put off any discussion about games until next week because anything else just wouldn't have been appropriate. Eric Weiss yes 28:06 48791