EXP Podcast #530: The Live Game Long View

The Gears crew launches the war on micro-transactions

It wasn't so long ago that we were seriously questioning the future of the single player game.  "All those multiplayer live games are taking our precious single player games!" we wailed.  Fast forward  a couple years and single player, predominantly story-based games are thriving on both the indie and big publisher sides of spectrum.  But, as Daniel Friedman points out, games like Anthem, Destiny, and Apex Legends are struggling to keep the pace and find the space needed to compete against the Fortnite juggernaut.  Take a break from grinding through your battle pass and take a listen!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 34 min 04 sec
- "No Gear Packs, no season pass for Gears 5," by Owen S. Good, via Polygon
- "Single-player games might be safer bets than live games in 2019," by Daniel Friedman, via Polygon
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #529: E3 2019 Debrief

I'd be spooked too!

The yearly gaming extravaganza of E3 has come and gone! But was it really that extravagant? With EA, Activision, Sony, and Microsoft all absent from the show floor, we had a lot more space to sit on couches and think about the handful of 2019 games that we're excited to see. Join and let us know what games you were excited by (or disappointed by) from E3 this year!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 53 min 51 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #528: A Swarm of Games

I told you to take that cheese out of your pocket.

This week we make use of the calm before the E3 storm to check in on some of the games we've been playing.  Space-faring AI, paper craft dinosaurs, samurais, t-blocks, and a whole shit ton of rats all make an appearance.  It's been a pleasantly surprising year so far and we're not even halfway done.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 45 min 25 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #527: Playdate Debate

You had me at "crank"

The hottest next-gen console is here. It's small, yellow, and has a crank.

This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss the strange little gaming console called the Playdate, a tinny little console that will launch with 12 games by some indie gaming luminaries. It's a boutique item for a niche audience, but is it right for us? And would we really want to shell out $150 just to get one?

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 37 min 50 sec
- "The dangers of in-game data collection," by Patrick Stafford via Polygon
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #526: Data Deep Dive

Now here's a guy who gets data.

Your favorite game is more than likely watching and reporting on everything you do, but is that a problem?  I guess it depends on how much of a pro you are when it comes to pulling off 360 no-scopes and how strongly you feel about being identified as someone who likes to "do the Dew."  This week we explore the murky world of data mining and in-game telemetry.  It's a largely invisible part of our games that has quietly become ubiquitous, so Jorge and I try to confuse our algorithm overlords by shining a light on them.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 37 min 50 sec
- "The dangers of in-game data collection," by Patrick Stafford via Polygon
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #525: Final Fantasy VII Debrief Part 2

Time to hit that buffet!

It's time to win big $$$ at the Golden Saucer this week folks! This week on the EXP Podcast, we continue our ongoing debrief of Final Fantasy VI, catching up with heroes as they flee Midgar in pursuit of Sephiroth. If you're playing along, this episode ends once we wrap up all the events at the coolest casino in video games.

If you missed our first debrief, you can catch up here. On the next Final Fantasy VII debrief, we say goodbye... to ar... well, you know.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 51 min 58 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #524: Analyzing the Sonic Index

Sonic's reaction to the Index's price.

This week we dig into two recent news stories: The Valve Index VR system and the Sonic movie.  While I'm a bit skeptical of each one in isolation, I just realized that combining the two would be a transcendent experience.  Or one that might make you violently ill.  I guess those things aren't mutually exclusive...

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

- Runtime: 42 min 01 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks