What’s better than breaking out a board game, rolling up some characters, or snatching up some controllers with your closest friends? Okay, maybe a lot of things, but in terms of gaming and having fun, nothing! However, those of us with established groups can often take that reality for granted, so what’s an isolated gamer to do to help plant the gaming seed and make that community grow? Join us this week as we tackle listener @AllenStucker’s question and offer an insiders-looking-out perspective on how to help a fledgling gaming community grow. Make nice-nice with the locals, gather up your games, and put on your extrovert pants as we talk gaming communities on a whole new episode of Monkey in the Cage!
Another Comic-Con has come and gone, and the Monkey in the Cage crew is WORN OUT! Even with back-up and thorough planning, tackling the awesomeness that descends on San Diego every year proved to be more challenging and rewarding than ever, and we weren’t even on the floor (legitimately)! Join us this week as we are once again joined by our favorite intern, Jared the Intern, and artist/illustrator extraordinaire Dennis Salvatier to recap all of our experiences outside of the convention center. Gas up the Batmobiles, throw back a couple of beers, and don’t let those zombies get you as we talk SDCC 2012 on a brand new episode of Monkey in the Cage!
If you’re old like us, you remember the good old days of video gaming. One console, one controller, and usually no more than two buttons and some sort of directional device… and a gun! These days, video gaming is moving in a more active and immersive direction and it seems like the manufacturers can’t get enough of gadgets. Join us this week as we discuss the changing direction of how we enjoy our video games, from the early days of Atari to the fading promise of Virtual Reality. Holster your Light Zapper, strap on your Nunchuku, and clear the room of small pets, children and breakable valuables because it’s about to action packed in here as we talk video gaming peripherals on a brand new episode of Monkey in the Cage.
Back in December of 1999, my sister gave birth to my oldest nephew. That evening at the hospital, I can almost guarantee that my brother-in-law and I had a discussion that one day, we would have a new permanent member to our gaming group. Yes, it’s true, his fate was sealed before he was even a day old. Jump ahead to a late last year, and the time had come to finally introduce him (and his siblings) to the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
On March 13th Journey is set to be released on the Playstation Network. I have been eagerly awaiting Journey since it was first announced back in 2010 and my luck and getting in to the closed beta last year only increased my want for this game. In Journey you play as what I can only assume is a desert nomad, that wanders the desert making your scarf grow bigger so you can accomplish puzzles. I know this sounds strange, but from the three levels I was able to play, it is quite fun and the art and music are absolutely beautiful.
One of the unique aspects of Journey that I was unable to experience was the multiplayer. The entire game allows for multiplayer at any point, but it is in a very limited capacity. When you encounter another player the game does not allow for communication beyond what you are able to express through your characters movements, there is no VoIP or text messages. Working together with this stranger allows both characters to move faster, jump further, and access new places of the map, but you are in no way required to have a “group” to enjoy or even complete the game.
Journey was created by thatgamecompany, one of the most unique developers working today. They also created flOw, a game where you start as a single celled organism and eat your way up the food chain, and the ever popular with the ladies, Flower. Flower is one of the few games that can just enrapture even a non-gamer. It has such simple controls and the art so beautifully done that it is hard not to stare at the screen as a trail of petals floats by.
While thatgamecompany may not make the most action packed games and many times I need to be in the mood to play one of there games, I still count anything they produce as a day one buy.
Okay, admit it. You’re just as guilty as the rest of us. When it comes to the geeky things you know and love, there isn’t anyone out there that is going to change your mind on why it influences you or why it’s important. Even if that means a little “nerd rage” from time to time, or a lot if you happen to be Matt. This week we’re talking about the proverbial Dark Side of geekdom, that evil place where your passion for something geeky almost destroys it’s awesomeness because you’re too hung up onyour own fanaticism. So, sit back and enjoy as the battle lines are drawn in this epic nerd rage debate!
Matt Fuller:@JustinSuzuki Next thing you'll be telling me is that I can only bring brand new gaming books to the table each week... 7:10 PM Jun 11, 2013
