Games Industry Podcast Season 2 - Ep 20
 

A new face enters the R18 ratings debacle, and we take an in-depth look at game modding.

Recorded: April 15th 2010

Episode 20: Get it on iTunes now!

In This Episode:

• The new face in the R18+ games rating sits on the fence.
• Modding the great games - what's the go?

Direct Link:

Download here (30M mp3 - Right Click, Save As - PC)


Notes from Father and Ashlann

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Regards,

Ashlann & Father

Hi Guys,

I just finished listening to this episode where i'll comment here and there on a few points from your discussion.

When both of you were speaking about the "Japanese **** Play" game. Where Stefaan was discussing the cultural tendencies of a society, particularly his Belgium one. The Japanese have a Bondage tradition called "Kinbaku" that literally means "the beauty of tight bindings". Where the western erotic side of bondage is mostly immobilization. In Japan its to gain pleasure from the intricate patterns and strain of the ropes. (making sure to avoid injury)

Wikipedia has a entry for this which i won't link to due to some erotic images.

Later on during this podcast you mention about a game journalist having an email sent to his boss from a game publisher wanting a favorable review. (you did mention someone was sacked, i think?)

In certain game journalism be it in magazines or online the game publishers pay a lot for advertising. Where in some not so ethical cases the game publisher will send an email like the one you cited. Where if the game review site or magazine doesn't comply. They lose out on advertising revenue that would have otherwise supported them. Game journalists are at times notorius of committing incest with game publishers. Going on all paid expenses trips to showcase a game or at an expo like E3. The game site gets free copies of the game to review, etc...

Towards the end of the podcast Ashlann you ask if gamers would pay extra to get into a closed beta. (around a $200 US price point)

Well if game publishers created a VIP section for preferred treatment during a closed beta. Similar to amusement park fast track access instead of waiting in lines. Including other incentives, be it a game T-Shirt, discount coupon of the game title when it retails, exclusive DLC. Than as that sort of package deal many gamers may be apt to pay greater amounts of dollars to get in. (similar to paying for a Collectors Edition of a game title)

Otherwise a game publisher will sabotage their efforts if they're seeking a large pool of closed beta players / testers to pay to get in. I know when i played the closed beta of the original "Everquest" back in the year 1999. SOE asked us to pay $5 to cover the costs of the game CD-Rom and the shipping & handling. That's no biggie.

Now to play catch-up with episodes 21 & 22. :D

Hi Guys,

Here's a little follow-up from BitMob on the dark side of game journalism.

No More Previews dated June 2nd.

Probably the most unbiased consumer review organizations would be "Consumer Reports". But, wait a minute they don't cover the games industry. However their strict purist rules of: no advertising, no free products to review, no free paid trips to attend makes them the Paragon model.



Hopefully in the years to come where off-shoot groups like the "ECA" (Entertainment Consumer Association) will pursue something similar to "Consumer Reports" but for Gamers. The only thing Consumer Reports and the ECA have in common is to protect consumers and to set U.S. national policy initiatives.

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PS: This would be an interesting main topic for the podcast. (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) :)

Thanks Atrayo, I'll keep it handy as a topic for sure. Next cast we'll cover whatever news comes out of E3 so that in itself is preview madness on which this topic can certainly be applied.