The PALGN Podcast, Episode 47

PALGN Feature | The people behind Good Game and whether we're in a golden age of gaming.

In this episode of the PALGN Podcast, we speak to Janet Carr (Syd), Series Producer of Good Game on ABC2, and Jeremy Ray (Junglist), Presenter of Good Game. As the creators of one of the most interesting mainstream television shows on gaming, they're quite unique - if you haven't already checked out their show, their weekly episodes are available online through the ABC or via vodcast on iTunes. In our discussion, we cover the challenges with reviews, the role of journalism in games coverage, and how the show came about. Did you know that the pilot episode was filmed for less than $1,000?

For a slight change in pace, we also delve into a little more of a detailed discussion about whether or not we're entering, exiting, in, or out of a golden age of gaming. What makes this especially interesting is, in a first for our podcast, Tristan, Daniel, and Evan revolt against Skype and decide to do things up close and personal.

And, don't forget that our eGames competition continues to run this week - tune in for your chance to win a double pass for a full day at the expo. If you're one of the winners, we'll be in contact shortly to explain how to claim your prize.

Given the length of this week's episode, Game Ed 101 will make a return next week, alongside our next episode of Know Your Roots.

This week's outro remix is Super Street Fighter II 'CammysLondonDrizzle' by McVaffe and distributed by OverClocked ReMix (www.ocremix.org). For the full bitrate version, why not head over to OverClocked ReMix and download it?

Remember, if you don't want to miss any of our weekly podcasts, make sure to subscribe via your favourite podcasting service, whether it be Apple iTunes, Creative ZenCast, or a GPL alternative such as Juice.

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12 Comments

benspyda

3 years ago

Hey, I like in this podcast how you mentioned kongregate. It's a good site if you're looking for casual free games. I actually have made a few games for that site and it has become quite profitable for me. You can win like weekly & monthly cash prizes so its quite encouraging for casual game designers.

It was quite cool that the producer of good game is a hardcore gamer and that she produced some really serious other shows on abc. I think good game is a great show and they should keep it up.

Qbert

3 years ago

Nice podcast, I really enjoyed the chat with the Good Game guys. It was a really interesting interview, although I think that you knew that Evan, seeings as it seemed like you didn't want it to end!

For me the golden age of gaming would be late SNES through to around Perfect Dark just before 64 died, but that's looking through the rose tinted glasses of being a kid. Honestly though, I personally don't believe that it exists, because ever since I've been gaming there have always been a but load of great games around. Some years may have been slower than others, but I can't remember a truely great or truly sucky time. Although, it does depend on what your definition of golden age is.

Tristan

3 years ago

On reflection, I think that we may be moving away from companies behind games being the centre of attention, and towards individuals like Kojima and Molyneux taking the spotlight, partly because of a change in the way that people(consumers) identify themselves with products. Brand used to be the main driver behind whether a person chose to buy into a product. Times have changed though and brand loyalty is no longer the driving force behind sales. Instead community's built around individual products, cause driven product association etc. are more important.

This change in focus may therefore have more to do with marketing than theories of the auteur, or games coming out with a strict vision etc.

AllSchoolGamer

3 years ago

Well done guys...Good Game is 1 of 3 shows i watch on the telly and I was overjoyed at the interveiw and how good it was. Thank You!

But as for the goldenage of gaming I think we have passed it because not much new is coming out...even with the example of portal that was released on the orange box with 4 other "sure-to-sell" games so they could take a chance with it...it all seems to me now to make games that will sell more then innovation...i mean people refer to bioshock as innovation in gaming but ultimatly its another first person shooter.
I think the last real innovation in gaming ends with the psx...after 3d it all seemed to became about refinement and more about profit.

Evan

3 years ago

@benspyda: Kongregate is awesome - all the addictiveness of a gamertag with all the accessibility of Flash. Scary stuff, really.

@Qbert: I don't know that any time's really been 'sucky', I just think that some times have been more 'interesting' than others. I personally believe that we've just entered a renaissance, as such - I feel like most of the PS2 / Xbox generation was one space marine shooter / crappy JRPG after another ...

@Tristan: Do you think that's because designers have become the new brand, or do you think it's because designers make the games they're comfortable making, which makes the designer largely indistinguishable from the game in most gamers' eyes?

@AllSchoolGamer: Thanks!

Bioshock most definitely is 'just another FPS', but what makes it interesting to me is the attempt at subtext - the story doesn't quite beat you over the head with the point, at least not until the last third of the game. Instead, it's an excellent example of the 'show, don't tell' rule of storytelling. Very few games are able to do that - even Halo, one of the most 'cinematic' games out there, still has the subtlety of a Vin Diesel film. It's that attempt to do something a little more professionally / maturely (in a delivery, not content sense) that really highlights why I think we've moved into a new approach to game design. The fact that it did well will also hopefully make other studios sit up and take notice - most of the more 'experimental' stuff doesn't sell, so between BioShock and Braid, maybe we'll finally see some changes.