Brainy Gamer

This massive edition of the show features a Gamers Confab segment with Mitch Krpata (Boston Phoenix, et al); Nels Anderson (Klei Entertainment); and Brad Gallaway (GameCritics.com). We discuss a slew of games we've played recently, and we successfully persuade Mitch to stop hating LittleBigPlanet. Well, maybe not.

Segment 2 features a roundtable conversation with Patrick Klepek (EGMi), Matthew Burns (Shadegrown Games), and Chris Dahlen (Kill Screen) recorded at GDC. We chat about our favorite sessions at the conference and trade a few stories. Did you know Patrick covered his first GDC at the age of 14, accompanied by his father?

Segment 3 features a short chat with Sean Duncan, also recorded at GDC. Sean is a professor in the School of Education and the Interactive Media Studies program at Miami University

I hope you enjoy the show, and thanks for listening!

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast RSS feed here.

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Show links:

• Mitch Krpata's Insult Swordfighting
• Nels Anderson's Above 49
• Brad Gallaway at GameCritics.com
• Patrick Klepek at EGMi
• Matthew Burns' Shadegrown Games
• Chris Dahlen's Kill Screen Magazine
• Sean Duncan's website

Games discussed in this episode:

• Gods Eater Burst
• Yakuza 4
• Ilomilo
• Monster Tale
• Metro 2033
• Bit.Trip.Flux
• Cysis 2
• Dragon Age 2
• Okami
• Nitrone Games
• Dead Space 2
• Battlestar Galactica board game

This is part 1 of my GDC '11 audio diary. For more information on this project, read my previous post.

I hope you enjoy the show, and thanks for listening.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now"button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

More audio diaries on the way!

This episode is all about music in games. I'm joined by guests Dan Bruno (Harmonix, Cruise Elroy) and Kirk Hamilton (Gamer Melodico, Joystiq), two excellent game writers who are also talented musicians.

We each play a collection of clips from our favorite pieces of game music, and we discuss why they serve the games they're written for so effectively. You'll hear everything from chiptunes to orchestral scores. If you can, listen to the show with headphones to catch all the details in the music we play.

I hope you enjoy the show, and thanks for listening!

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Show links:

• Gamer Melodico
• Cruise Elroy
• Kirk Hamilton's home page
• Dan Bruno's home page
• Phoenix Wright: Maya Fey's Theme (played by Kirk)
• Orisinal
• Bob-omb Battlefield Theme (played by Dan)

This show is the final in a 3-part series called Gatherings of the Tribe in which I talk to a variety of people about the big events that bring gamers together throughout the year: GDC, PAX, E3, etc.

This episode features my conversation with game developers Matthew Burns (Shadegrown Games), Nels Anderson (Hothead Games), and David Carlton (Playdom).

We discuss a variety of topics, including why developers attend PAX and GDC; why developers keep secrets; and why developers enjoy "spreading their cognitive genetic material."

Hope you enjoy the show, and thanks for listening.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Show links:

• Shadegrown Games
• IndieGames article on Shadegrown Games
• Magical Wasteland
• Playdom
• Malvasia Bianca
• Hothead Games
• Above 49

This show is the 2nd in a 3-part series called Gatherings of the Tribe in which I talk to a variety of people about the big events that bring gamers together throughout the year: GDC, PAX, E3, etc.

This episode features my conversation with critic bloggers Kirk Hamilton (Gamer Melodico) and Rob LeFebvre (Games Are Evil, The Portable Gamer).

Stay tuned for Part 3, which will feature three indie developers offering their perspectives on these big events.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Show links:

• Gamer Melodico
• Games Are Evil
• 148 Apps
• Kirk Hamilton on Twitter
• Rob LeFebvre on Twitter

This edition of the show begins a 3-part series called Gatherings of the Tribe in which I talk to a variety of people about the big events that bring gamers together throughout the year: GDC, PAX, E3, Comic-Con, Gameloop, Games Learning & Society...the list goes on and on. 

This episode features my conversation with veteran game journalists Gus Mastrapa (Wired.com, et al) and Chris Dahlen (Kill Screen Magazine, et al).

Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3, which will feature critics and developers offering their takes on these big events. Those segments will appear in the coming week.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Show links:

• Gus Mastrapa at Wired.com
• Gus Mastrapa on Twitter
• Kill Screen Magazine
• Chris Dahlen's Save the Robot blog
• Chris Dahlen on Twitter

This edition of the show features an interview with Tom Bissell, author of the new book Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter. We discuss why Tom wrote the book; why Mirror's Edge is a better game than you think; why we ought to cut game designers some slack; and many other topics. 

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

I hope you enjoy the show.

After a Shakespeare-induced hiatus, the Brainy Gamer podcast is back!

This edition of the show features two interesting conversations. In the first segment I chat with Jamin Brophy-Warren and Chris Dahlen, co-creators of Kill Screen. We discuss their new magazine, writing about games, Roger Ebert's 4-star review of The Phantom Menace, and many other topics.

In Segment 2 I talk with indie designer Jason Rohrer (Sleep is Death, Passage) about his work, his involvement in the art game movement, and the importance of simplicity. 

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Download the podcast directly here.

Show links:

• Kill Screen Magazine
• Jason Rohrer's website
• Sleep is Death

This edition of the Brainy Gamer Podcast features a holiday extravaganza of Gamers Confab goodness: a 4-volume confection featuring a gaggle of bloggers, journalists, and designers all discussing our favorite games of 2009.

This final segment includes Matthew Gallant from The Quixotic Engineer; Alex Raymond from The Border House; and Denis Farr from Gay Gamer and Vorpal Bunny Ranch. (Guests pictured on right.)

• Download the podcast directly here.


• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.


• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

Show links:

• The Border House
• Alex Raymond's While !Finished
• Denis Farr's Vorpal Bunny Ranch
• Denis Farr at Gay Gamer
• Matthew Gallant's Quixotic Engineer
• Norwegian Wood (game)

Clicking on the links below will ruin the surprise, but if you feel you must...

• Alex's favorite game of '09
• Denis' favorite game of '09
• Matthew's favorite game of '09
• My favorite game of '09

This edition of the Brainy Gamer Podcast features a holiday extravaganza of Gamers Confab goodness: a 4-volume confection featuring a gaggle of bloggers, journalists, and designers all discussing our favorite games of 2009.

Part 3 includes writer Tom Bissell, whose work has appeared in Harper's Magazine and The New Yorker; Manveer Heir, lead designer at Raven Software and author of the Design Rampage blog; and Mitch Krpata, who reviews games for The Phoenix and Paste Magazine and writes the Insult Swordfighting blog. (Guests pictured on right.)

Segment 4 will arrive in a couple of days. I hope you enjoy!

• Download the podcast directly here.


• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.


• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow "Listen Now" button on the right.

Show links:

• Tom Bissell at Crispy Gamer
• Manveer Heir's Design Rampage
• Mitch Krpata's Insult Swordfighting

Clicking on the links below will ruin the surprise, but if you feel you must...

• Tom's favorite game of '09
• Manveer's favorite game of '09
• Mitch's favorite game of '09

This edition of the Brainy Gamer Podcast features a holiday extravaganza of Gamers Confab goodness: a 4-volume confection featuring a gaggle of bloggers, journalists, and designers all discussing our favorite games of 2009.

Part 2 includes Leigh Alexander, news director at Gamasutra; Corvus Elrod from Zakelro Studio; and Nels Anderson from Hothead Games and his blog Above 49. (Guests pictured on right.)

Segments 3 and 4 will arrive in the coming days. I hope you enjoy!

• Download the podcast directly here.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow"Listen Now" button on the right.

This edition of the Brainy Gamer Podcast features a holiday extravaganza of Gamers Confab goodness: a 4-volume confection featuring a gaggle of bloggers, journalists, and designers all discussing our favorite games of 2009.

Part 1 includes Steve Gaynor of 2K Marin and the Fullbright blog; Kirk Battle (aka L.B. Jeffries) of Banana Pepper Martinis and PopMatters; and Chris Dahlen of the Onion A.V. Club and Edge Online. (Guests pictured on right)

Segments 2-4 will arrive in the coming days. I hope you enjoy!

• Download the podcast directly here.

• Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here.
• Subscribe to the podcast feed here.

• Listen to any episode of the podcast directly from this page by clicking the yellow"Listen Now" button on the right.