The Rumble Pack » The Rumble Reader

Episode 215: Beat the Crockledile

ThePack — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:11:04 +0000

Anthropomorphic horror is unleashed! This week, Kaz plays Sonic Generations and the guys ponder what exactly the name of that damn crocodile was. Afterwards, he recounts his tale of the hacked Xbox account, full of international intrigue and chimney sweep accents. Justin experiences the barkest of days in Solatorobo and Tom collects every goddamned Riddler trophy in Arkham City. Speaking of which, tons of bat-spoilers at the end of the show, so have your finger on the pause button if you’re not quite done with that one yet. Plus, a tour of the booger factory, non-commital bro-jobs, more Kirby, grandmotherly gaming, our favorite hipster Zelda and drooling ears.

Relevant Links:

Gamespite on “The Laputa Effect”

The Rumble Reader Episode 11: Scalia Shakalaka

ThePack — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:33:54 +0000

It takes a very special Supreme Court ruling to bring back our long dormant Reader, but Justin, Kaz and special law master Jeff Kramer are up to the task. Tune in to hear about Scalia beat-downs, Alito’s special Genesis 3D and Thomas’ crazy ramblings. Guaranteed to give you a “laughing episode” or two.

Relevant Links:

SCOTUSblog’s Analysis

The New York Times’ Take on Justice Yuks

We Also Have a “Duty” Now, Apparently

The Rumble Reader Episode 10: MOH Is Me

Nicolo — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 23:38:04 +0000

The wait is over – episode 10 of The Rumble Reader is here! Join Nick and Justin as they tackle NY Times writer Chris Suellentrop’s “War Games,” and discuss the impact of the current best-selling genre, militaristic first-person shooters. Can EA’s Medal of Honor reboot deliver on the unpublished promises of Konami’s Six Days in Fallujah? And if fake battlefields weren’t enough, they also take a look at Gamasutra writer Chris Morris’ take on the latest round of the EA-Activision war of words. Strap on your body armor and get those grenades ready – the Reader is going to war!

The Rumble Reader Episode 9: Scottaholics Anonymous

Nicolo — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:15:38 +0000

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” releases nationally in theaters today, potentially turning the underground graphic novel series into a money-making franchise. But while the flashy fights and spirited cast may put butts in seats, it’s the heart at the center of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s work that will keep people talking. This week, Justin and Nick tackle the entire story, looking at it specifically through the gamer’s perspective. They discuss their favorite moments, the recent game tie-in and why Edgar Wright was the right man to direct the film adaptation. It’s time to level up and discover the power of love.

Relevant Links:

“Spaced” on Hulu

UGO’s SP Video Game References List

Boing Boing’s Yakuza 3 Review (from the Yakuza perspective)

The Rumble Reader Episode 8: The Games They Are a-Changin’

ThePack — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:01:50 +0000

The guys have praised Tom Bissell’s “Extra Lives” in past episodes both for his insightful critique of gaming narratives and his witty, poignant writing. This week, Bissell joins Kaz and Justin to talk about how games like Far Cry 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV suggest that something is going on in the medium, and why what we play truly matters.

The Rumble Reader Episode 7: Strangers on a Raid

Justin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:44:10 +0000

After Blizzard’s “Real ID” fiasco, Nick and Justin wouldn’t dream of asking you to give up your Rumble handle, but they can’t help wondering how a more open community might work. Luckily, a Gamasutra analysis serves as a worthy devil’s advocate. The guys also discuss 1up’s tribute to the ROM hacking underground and fan translations. Those English patches for old Super Famicom games are definitely appreciated, but how can future projects survive in a post-DRM era?

Relevant Links:

Kris Graft’s “Why Was Blizzard’s ‘Real ID’ Such an Issue?”

Bob Mackey’s “Found in Translation”

Tom Bissell’s “The Grammar of Fun”

The Rumble Reader Episode 6: What Would Yamauchi Do?

Justin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:59:28 +0000

Though some gamers may not want to admit it, everyone loves Nintendo. As Justin, Nick and Tony point out, that’s never been more apparent, as both the company’s E3 press conference and new handheld generated lots of positive buzz a couple weeks ago. In this week’s reading assignment, “Nintendo Magic,” Japanese journalist Osamu Inoue examines how Nintendo reclaimed the industry spotlight, and how Satoru Iwata’s management style helped facilitate an internal shift.

Relevant Links:

“Iwata Asks” Interviews

The Rumble Reader Episode 5: God of Snore

Nicolo — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:10:58 +0000

Heroes like Kratos and Marcus Fenix have garnered a lot of attention in recent years, but this week, Justin and Nick chat with Christian Nutt, Gamasutra’s Features Director, about why he thinks these guys are just empty cranky-pants. Instead, the guys salute* games like Heavy Rain and Mother 3 that emphasize character depth and humanity. Nutt discusses how solid writing can go a long way towards creating a more believable, fleshed-out world. Perhaps we’ll see a shift at E3, just as long as the marketing muscle doesn’t get in the way.

*Also, their shorts, of course.

Relevant Links:

Christian Nutt’s “Characters. the Building Blocks of Your Reality”

The Rumble Reader Episode 4: Yippie Kai Yai What?

Nicolo — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:19:37 +0000

In an industry that often demands too much from its creators, we may need more than sheriff to keep everyone in line. As Justin and Nick explore the wilderness of Red Dead Redemption, an essay from above the 49th Parallel forces them to think about fair trade and that particular game’s stressful development. However, the crunch-time blues can work both ways, as they see in a blog entry from Raven’s Manveer Heir. In the second half of the show, Justin and Nick explore a 1up feature that asks why there aren’t more interactive Westerns. Should we heed the author’s Mad Dog decree?

Relevant Links:

Nels Anderson’s “Do We Need Fair Trade Games?”

Manveer Heir’s “Reflections of a Five Year Vet”

John Constantine’s “Manifest Destiny”

Your Next Reading Assignment: Nintendo Magic

The Rumble Reader Episode 3: The Wrong Place at the Wright Time

Nicolo — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:20:28 +0000

As gamers mature, so must the industry. That’s the general theme for this week’s Reader, which has Justin and Nick pondering how developers can cater to broader audiences without abandoning the core gamer. They first look at a recent opinion piece from GamePro’s John Davison, in which the industry veteran suggests that “more content” doesn’t necessarily mean “better game.” In the second half of the show, Justin and Nick talk about the challenges of localizing the Ace Attorney series. Who knew that such a ridiculous game could work as a sly satire, too? Not Americans, apparently.

Relevant Links:

John Davison’s’ “Too Big and Too Hard”

Fintan Monaghan’s “Phoenix Wright’s Objection”

The first details on Best Buy’s @Gamer

The Rumble Reader Episode 2: Shamitsu

Nicolo — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:26:57 +0000

In the second installment of the Reader, Nick and Justin tackle the “mystical” world of Japanese game journalism. The 40/40 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker score in Weekly Famitsu recently stirred up controversy, but the guys delve into what that magazine used to stand for. They also shed light on Xbox Live Indie Games through a developer blog on 4 Color Rebellion. Lastly, GameFan is once again sitting in magazine racks across the country, but the guys are still trying to figure out why. (No copy editing makes Justin angry.)

Relevant Links:

Brian Sowers’ “Inside the Indie Game Development Cycle”

Kevin Gifford’s “The Way Cross Reviews Work”

Nintendo Magic – a future Reader selection

The Rumble Reader Episode 1: Press Start

Nicolo — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:38:39 +0000

Welcome, one and all, to the first installment of our new podcast. This biweekly spin-off will discuss the latest material from all of our favorite gaming blogs, books, magazines…maybe even fan fiction (or not). Many of us here read about games almost as often as we play them, and the Reader will allow us to address interesting topics in a more intimate setting. This show will definitely evolve over the next few weeks, but listener feedback is crucial. We’ll be paying close attention to iTunes reviews and comments, so please let us know what you think!

This week, Justin and Nick delve into a recent article from Leigh Alexander that addresses GDC’s social gaming buzz. Farmville is definitely a phenomenon, but can it possibly take down console gaming? They also delve into the “lost” issue of EGM, supposedly just prior to the digital magazine’s launch. The presentation is pretty slick, but the guys still have a few reservations.

Relevant Links:

Leigh Alexander’s “The News of Console Gaming’s Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated”

EGM’s Lost Issue