Category: Kids Games

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Episode 70 – Topic Grab Bag

Episode 70 – Topic Grab Bag

With PAX East and GDC butting up right against each other, coming across a guest was just about impossible. Even the triumphant return of Steve Haske had to call in from GDC. To solve this, we decided to pick some things to talk about that wouldn’t make an entire episode.

Steve talks about what he is anticipating at GDC. He is planning an interview with Suda 51 about his new game, Killer is Dead. As well as Keiji Inafune about his new Ninja Gaiden spin off, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. CD Project Red is in line for the Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

Rich is a big fan of board games, including the impenetrably long and complicated ones. One such game is a 3+ hour adventure in economics called Age of Steam. He talks about a different type of power fantasy, the struggle of social and economic position. A game element not commonly explored by folks who are worried about the possible influence on people.

Finally, Matt is SO excited about the new Ducktales remake! He also talks about how the confluence of marketing, preorders, and embargos have created a unique and consumer-unfriendly economy. An economy that, unfortunately, gamers and fans have been enthusiastically supporting. With the latest Sim City controversy, it seems gamers and journalists are seeing firsthand the destructive nature of an uninformed customer base.

Featuring tracks from Bud Melvin.

Correction: Matt seems to have a tendency to create game studios in his head. The Ducktales game was indeed entirely developed by Capcom.

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Game Industry Gaming Consoles Kids Games Retro Gaming Video Games

Spoilerific Ep 1 – Bioshock Infinite

Burial at sea episode 2

Spoilerific will be a monthly show released on the last Wednesday of the month where Matt invites a guest to talk about what they loved, hated, admired, and to generally dig deeper into our favorite games. This episode I talk with A Jumps B Shoot’s Social Media Manager, Jarrett Civelli, about tears, happiness, sadness, longing, and obscenely beautiful sceneries as we spoil the shit out of Bioshock Infinite. Play the game first, we implore you.

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Gaming Consoles Kids Games PS4 Games Video Games

Episode 62 – Hiding in Shadows

Real Ninja

Stealth design is more prevalent than it used to be—even more typical action titles seem to have at least a level devoted to hiding in the shadows. Where then does that leave a core stealth experience? How can it stand out from the crowd?

Klei’s Mark of the Ninja tweaks that paradigm by throwing it into only two dimensions. Speaking with creative lead Nels Anderson, AJBS discusses how the design of this indie hit works in 2D through visualizations of sound, precision movement et al, as well as Nels’ own influences and the philosophy of sneaking in general.

Switching gears, there is also some conversation over the difference between a game that’s “fun” versus one that’s “engaging”—naturally the conversation steers towards Dark Souls, and, interestingly, Megaman X. Enjoy!

Featuring tracks by Danimal Cannon from the album Roots

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Games Gaming Consoles Kids Games PS4 Games RPG Games Video Games

Episode 56 – Transgaming

street fighter x tekken poison

There are people in this world who aren’t comfortable the way they were born. Their attitudes and habits suggest that perhaps a woman can feel like a man, or visa versa. Transgendered people all over the world have lived through a lot. Torment, confusion, a staggeringly high suicide rate, and a society that would prefer to forget they exist.

Gaming has offered a world that can accept anybody, even those who feel unacceptable. As our guest, Morgan McCormick of TransLabyrinth, states that game worlds are crazy and it can seem that a person changing gender is certainly not the strangest thing that can happen. Games can then provide a safe and fun place for not only play to happen but perhaps, a introspection on who that person is and jump into the shoes of someone a different gender than they are. It can be a tool of self discovery as well as a way to blow off some steam.

But game communities are not the most empathetic group in the world, nor do game publishers and developers seem to pay any mind to the existence of transgendered people. Their presence in the game world is minimal and it’s time to change that.

Featuring music by Monodeer from the album Noise.bmp EP

On a side note – A big thank you to everyone in the subreddits r/transgender and r/transgamers for helping me navigate this complex and sensitive issue.

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Game Industry Gaming Consoles Kids Games Video Games

Episode 77 – The $325,000 Console

Gaming Console

The new A Jumps B Shoots studio is up! Sorry about how long this took. We recorded an episode about the new console generation before E3. Our intention was to release our thoughts both pre and post E3 however, the move of the studio proved to be quite an undertaking (it included the rest of my belongings as well). However, this episode still represents our thoughts about the upcoming generation of consoles. Let us know what you think!

Update: Microsoft has dropped their DRM and 24 hour internet check in! Maybe they are listening.

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Game Industry Game Reviews Games Kids Games Retro Gaming

Spoilerific Ep 2 – Red Dead Redemption

Red dead redemption for ps4

Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar Game’s love letter to the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone and American tales of Robert Ford framed as their signature open world. This episode I am joined by Tayo from the Dangerous Kids podcast to take this game piece by piece and analyse what we love and hate about one of our favorite games. From the beautiful scenery, to the nutjob characters, to the surprisingly engaging story, there is a lot of love about saddling a horse and taking a ride through this unique world. This may go without saying but: spoilers abound!