SGJ Podcast #10: Infinite Spaces and Small Worlds

By | Published 04/24/2013 at 12:36 PM
It All Started Here...

It All Started Here…

No, seriously. ;) This week Jim and I sit down with Iikka Keranen and Rich Carlson of Digital Eel games (who first met while working on Daikatana, no lie), the folks who created the Infinite Space series of Starflight-like roguelikes Strange Adventures in Infinite Space and Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space.  They have a Kickstater underway for their third game in the series, Infinite Space 3: Sea of Stars, so we thought we’d bring ‘em on and grill them with deep, probing questions about the game. Ultimately, we went all over the place, but we had a fun time, and we hope you will too.

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As always, we invite you to leave your comments below and in the forums, and you can find the show notes below. Thanks as always for listening, and have an awesome day!

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SGJ Podcast #09: Chasing Dots and Games

By | Published 04/17/2013 at 8:12 PM
Explosions in Freespace 2!

You Magnificent Son of A Bitch…

Welcome to episode #09 of the Space Game junkie Podcast! In this episode, Jim and I bring on Gamers With Jobs CEO Shawn “Certis” Andrich to discuss if space games are just “chasing a dot”, as he called them previous. In a surprise — to me at least, and pleasantly so — the discussion evolves and turns into an intervention where we discuss how space action games have become kinda samey in terms of lack of space, lack of place and so on to help Shawn find some new games. It was a fun, spirited discussion. :)

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We talked about a looooooot of games, and you can find links to all of them below in the show notes. We hope you enjoy the show, and invite you to comment here or on the forum, as well as use our RSS or iTunes feeds to subscribe to us. Thanks for listening, and have a great day! :)

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More Various Rules of Engagement Images

By | Published 04/09/2013 at 4:01 PM
This is the stuff...

This is the stuff…

Hey y’all, remember that Q&A with Thomas Carbone & Maurice Molyneaux I did a while back? Well, shortly thereafter, Maurice was nice enough to send me a couple more images for me to share from Rules of Engagement’s inception. Sadly they got lost in the shuffle of sickness and busyness, but thankfully Maurice was kind enough to remind me that he sent them a short while ago, so I figured I’d put ‘em up for everyone’s please. Please, after the cut, enjoy more images from Maurice and Omnitrend as well as his explanation as to what they are, and thanks!

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SGJ Podcast #01: Graphics vs. UI vs. Gameplay! FIGHT!

By | Published 02/27/2013 at 11:01 AM
More Chit Chat

More Chit Chat

Hello, and welcome to episode 01 of the SGJ Podcast. Join Jim from the Bad Movie Podcast and me as we try to adapt something of a format in order to have some more focus and structure! ;) We talk about some news, some games we’re playing, and our topic for this week, which games that are still worth playing even though their graphics and UI are on the archaic side. We also look at the opposite side of the coin, games that have held up well over the years.

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We also have an iTunes page now, as well as our RSS feed! Yay! Thank you for listening, and please find our show notes under the cut. :) Also, since I’m still pretty new to this podcasting thing (it’s old hat to Jim, thankfully), please don’t hesitate to give me constructive criticism on how I can improve my performance either in the comments below or in the forum. :) Hope the length is okay with y’all, but again, new to this stuff, still trying to be efficient. ;) Thanks again! :)

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Universe/Rules of Engagement Q&A with Thomas Carbone & Maurice Molyneaux

By | Published 02/18/2013 at 12:30 PM

Universe 3 Title CardA little while back, on one of my Let’s Play Rules of Engagement 2 videos, the video received a comment from one of the gentlemen behind the game, Maurice Molyneaux. Maurice worked on both Rules of Engagement games, so we got to talking on YouTube and through email. I eventually asked if he’d like to do a Q&A, and he said he would, but he’d also like to get the game’s lead programmer, Thomas Carbone, on board as well.

Well, you can imagine my delight when I finally got to sit down and talk to both Thomas and Maurice about both the Universe games and the Rules of Engagement games that they both worked on at Omnitrend. Below is the audio recording of that interview, at around an hour in length, and I hope y’all enjoy it. :)

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Now, below the cut, Maurice provided a bunch of art from his days at Omnitrend, which I’m including in a gallery as more behind the scenes stuff that I hope y’all will enjoy. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy both the interview and the artwork. :)

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Happy 50th Birthday Space Games: A Look at How Far We’ve Come

By | Published 03/30/2012 at 10:21 AM
SpaceWar! In Action

50 Years Ago, Spacewar! Was Born!

I recently realized that Spacewar! was first released in 1962, fifty years ago. In looking at the game’s Wikipedia entry, the first operational version of the game was released in February, while the version we’ve come to know and love was released in April. Therefore, I’d say now is good enough a time as any to say happy 50th birthday to space gaming, and to look back at how far we’ve come since the very beginning…

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Remember The Fat Man?

By | Published 02/13/2012 at 10:46 AM
Wing One CD Cover

Music by Which Memories Were Made. :)

Back in the day, if you were a fan of video games and video game music, there was one name that told you that a game’s music would be great: The Fat Man (also known as George Alistair Sanger). The Fat Man did music for dozens upon dozens of classic games, both spacey and non-spacey. This includes:

  • Wing Commander I and II
  • Rules of Engagement
  • Master of Orion
  • Master of Magic
  • The 7th Guest and 11th Hour
  • US Navy Fighters
  • Castles and Castles II

And many more (you can see a partial list here). I bring this up because not only was I just made aware of his website, but apparently he also has an album entitled “Wing One: Music from Wing Commander”, which is just AWESOME, and I wanted to make y’all aware of it. If y’all liked the music of Wing Commander and the memories its music brings back, check it out. I can’t link to it since it’s embedded, but it’s on the main page if you scroll down a bit. Enjoy!

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Space Games I’m Thankful For

By | Published 11/23/2011 at 6:33 PM
Spaceship...Autumn...Thanksgiving...get it...?

This picture made me think of a spaceship Thanksgiving, okay?!

 

Tomorrow here in the States is our yearly Thanksgiving holiday, where we give thanks for the special people in our lives and the events that improved our year. While I’m thankful for many things – a wonderful girlfriend, amazing friends, gainful employment, and of course this blog – I thought I’d discuss which space games I’m most thankful for, and why.

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The Best and Worst Space Game Manuals…That I Know of ;)

By | Published 10/24/2011 at 5:46 AM
Read the Freaking Manual!

Sage Wisdom of the Ages...

Ahhh manuals. One of the few joys I miss about buying most computer games in boxes is the smell of a new manual. Good manuals were perfect for reading on the can or in bed when you’re about to go to sleep, or in between class or lunch breaks. Bad manuals, on the other hand, leave you ill-prepared for what the game would throw at you.

I still have many of my old computer game manuals, and I went through all of them to choose the best and worst of them, as well as those that were pretty decent and rise above average. Bear in mind, these are only the manuals of the games I’ve owned or played, so while I’ve missed some — like the amazing Megatraveller manuals — this list will cover those manuals I’m familiar with. Now, let’s get to it, shall we (Sorry for the blurriness of the manual pics)?

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