The Joystiq Show - 004: The Toys of Summer

by Jonathan Downin on Jul 22nd 2011 4:00PM

It's summer, and that means a wasteland of retail releases, but never fear, there are plenty of great smaller titles on the way. XBLA has turned the Summer drought into a veritable smorgasbord of great downloadable releases, and the indie scene is looking to bring their goods as well.

Twisted Pixel delivered Ms. Splosion Man last week, and Richard talks with Twisted Pixel's Frank Wilson about the follow-up to 2009's XBLA hit. Indie games are also getting their due with an interview about the Indie Games Summer Uprising on XBL. Supergiant Games's freshman effort and Summer of Arcade 2011 opener, Bastion, gets an audio review from Ludwig and a review roundtable featuring MTV Games's Russ Frushtick.

Part 1 (1:27) - Twisted Pixel interview

Part 2 (10:56) - XBLA Indie Games Summer Uprising interview

Part 3 (30:58) - Bastion audio review and roundtable

Thanks to Chris for the hot new Joystiq Show artwork.

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Host: Richard Mitchell (@S enseiRAM)
Guests: Frank Wilson, Dave Voyles (@DaveVoyles), Kris Steele (@kriswd40), Russ Frushtick (@RussFrushtick)
Producer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily)
Production Coordinator: Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM)
Music: Trash80 and Broke For Free.

See the full guest list, and stream the show, after the break.

Host
Richard Mitchell - Contributing Editor, Joystiq.com

Twisted Pixel interview
Richard Mitchell - Contributing Editor, Joystiq.com
Frank Wilson - CTO, Twisted Pixel

Xbox Live Indie Games Summer Uprising interview
Richard Mitchell - Contributing Editor, Joystiq.com
Justin McElroy - Managing Editor, Joystiq.com
Dave Voyles - Co-Coordinator, Indie Games Summer Uprising
Kris Steele - Co-Coordinator, Indie Games Summer Uprising

Bastion audio review
Ludwig Kietzmann - Senior Editor, Joystiq.com

Bastion review roundtable
Richard Mitchell - Contributing Editor, Joystiq.com
Ludwig Kietzmann - Senior Editor, Joystiq.com
Alexander - Contributing Editor, Joystiq.com
Russ Frushtick - Games Editor, MTV News

Tags: Bastion, indie-games, joystiq-podcast, joystiq-show, podcasts, splosion-man, twisted-pixel

Reader Comments (72)

Ohhhh, it's a joystick. Because you guys are joystiq

Worst episode yet. The heart and humor of this show has died.

@zooot No way you could have listened to all of it yet.

@Coldin Did.

@zooot You should stop listening to it at 10x speed, it would help your enjoyment immensely.

@zooot

O RLY?

https://img.skitch.com/20110722-frcau9dmqw4egp1kmiu7b7xknm.jpg

@zooot

Pwnd.

@chrisgrant Awesome! LMAO =)

@zooot
Bitch be trollin'

@zooot It sure has. Luckily, I have this weeks Giantbomb's podcast to listen. Now, that's great entertainment.

Damn, that looks like a solid show. Thanks again.

Bring back the xbox fancast. Why can't there be 2 podcasts?

@byaboy this my god this

@ApexOneder

In short, as explained previously, because podcasts take a lot of time to produce and they don't make us a single penny. After 4+ years of doing the same thing every week, we all wanted to try something new.

@chrisgrant Oh, so it's all about money. You greedy SOB

@chrisgrant

I'm sorry but you have no right to say that. The podcasts augment your revenue through advertising scheme by giving your site a sense of community. You could also say that "comments don't make us a single penny," but that to would also be wrong. Without the sense of community readers whether they comment or not are probably at least enjoy lurking which without would make the site seem like a ghost town giving readers no reason to want to read your site. By the way I'm not going to even get into the fact that the podcast is essentially an advertisement for Joystiq in hopes that one day new listeners will become readers and in turn give you some sweet ad monies. Now you don't seem like the kind of person that plans that far ahead. So what can you do? If you don't feel comfortable leaving your ad revenue only bubble, you can sell time in each show selling ads. Not that I'm a fan of them but Revision 3 seems to make money exclusively from that model. Or you could go a Rooster Teeth route and have Sponsored members that pay 20 dollars a year for some special content. While it may fragment their audience, it seems to have been highly lucrative for them. So please stop saying you don't make any money from this, because it is either not true or it is very easy to remedy.

- Sean
p.s. Sorry for the awful spelling, syntax and grammar. I should probably stop commenting from my phone.

@chrisgrant I would've paid for the old podcasts....

@Tegolin

No you wouldn't. At least, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't. There are only a handful of successful subscription based podcasts, and most of them have far more popular shorter "free" versions available (mostly to stay on itunes' podcast page).

I love the old podcast, but I listen to podcasts because they're free entertainment that's relevant to my interests.

To Chris Grant's (Editor in Chief, Joystiq.com) point- is The Joystiq Show supposed to make you a single penny? It seems to me like there is a great deal more effort being put in to the production of The Joystiq Show than was ever put in to The Joystiq Podcast, but I still can't see any benefit beyond personal satisfaction from the switch.

You're still making $0 off of the podcast, only now it takes more effort and gets less praise.

@chrisgrant
I think I'll buy what your saying in that these podcast don't make any of its contributors a whole lot a mulla. I think that's what make podcast so great in that most contributors are there to give there heart and soul to the show because it is something they are truly interested in.

I have yet to find a response to your fanbase response of the new format. I really would like to know what it is your going for with your new direction. I will be blunt in that I'm done listening to the show if continues in its current form. Not to say that it is not a good format for some but for me the reason I listened to the show was for experienced gamer insight. I loved hearing your opinions on what game was amazing, surprised you, or the games we hate. The experience you have taken away was the informal, friendly, laugh out load party to a pomp and circumstance march through game bureaucracy.

I feel that you the contributors are finding these podcast more interesting as Journalist, and as intellectual gamist, and to that I give you props and wish you best of luck.

The only thing I miss from the old show is the humerus and whimsical discussion of news and current events. I like the roundtables and I think the interviews are a welcome addition. I still miss hearing the informal discussion about news and things, but it's not a deal breaker for me.

@Onomah I agree, even a short podcast/episode/part (10-30minutes) of the (old) cast talking about this weeks news/games would make a huge difference.

This new show is great but it's clearly nothing like the old one. I miss the banter.

@tidu

I really like that idea, I wonder if they would consider a short newscast. It might be hard though, I don't know 30 minutes is long enough to get a good momentum going though.

I mistakenly said that the 2009 Summer of Arcade was the first one. It was actually the second. I am forever shamed.

Skynet started to act up towards the end of the Summer Uprising interview.

@Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus

We're fixing that up. Should be an updated file in a few minutes.

@RichardMitchell That was actually my mic going crazy. It's odd because I can never hear it as it is happening, but everyone else can. If I use a professional studio mic, or a crappy headset mic the result is the same and at random. I think it started once I switched motherboards.

I'll give it a listen....but I still say I hate this new style....smh

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

im not the biggest fan of the new style but they seem to be listening to peoples comments other than "the sux".....so i believe this will evolve into something awesome really soon...So far this episode is pretty good!

@TheC0A7S

Thanks!

Looking forward to hear the Bastion round table.

My Friday's just aren't the same anymore. It's great that you guy's are getting all of these industry talents but I have to agree that we all miss the humor. I have an idea for Chris, Justin and Ludwig. You guy's should do a podcast where you can be just riffin' or talking about what you all have been playing etc. It wouldn't even have to be weekly. Just hearing the three of you goofing off like the old days would be great! Call it The Power Of Three Podcast!

@handgunVShelicopter

They have done one-of shows in the passed that are more light-hearted, funnily enough called "just riffin"

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/joystiq-podcast-just-riffin-001
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/joystiq-podcast-just-riffin-002

Hey guys, a little constructive criticism from a longtime listener. Hope you don't take this as insulting, because I really like the show.

I loves me some NPR style narrative, and that's obviously where you're taking a lot of the inspiration for the new format. But for some reason I've been skipping past the developer interviews out of boredom, where I can listen to a sleepy NRP show all day long.

I really tried to figure out why, and I think it's because you all aren't really trying to investigate anything or make a larger point... or not enough anyway.

Mostly your interviews boil down to "we're going to let this guy talk a bunch about this thing that he made"... but there's no conflict or counterpoint past that. It's just a guy trying to sell something, and I wanted that I'd just read press releases.

Again, great work so far; I hope it continues to grow and evolve into something really great.

@An Unnamed Mob

That's a good idea. Now we just need a controversial subject...

@RichardMitchell

Here's some freebee topics:

There's a lot of conflict in the indie games space about what it's "supposed" to be. Also they're scraping up against small casual games, and fighting that definition. Interview people with wildly different points of views on the subject, and pose their questions against eachother.

Also an investigation of exactly why some critical sucesses bomb, and where and how they fail. I bet if you interviewed people in business vs. the devs vs. suppliers, vs consumers, etc. you'd get different and opposing views to pit against eachother.

@RichardMitchell

Online pass man, my god online pass!

Or day 1 DLC, embargos & PR machines, price vs length, the shifting value proposition, the mobile movement.

@An Unnamed Mob

Or which Final Fantasy game is the best, all with cosplayers.

@An Unnamed Mob

Maybe if the guys want to do something different they can come up with subjects to discuss and have most of the podcast dedicated to specific discussion between buddies rather than interviews that seem like PR.

That's still different from What're you Playin? -> News -> Listener Email

@Altairio

those are all really good topics!

I think the issue that most listeners have with the podcast consists of two things:

1) It is far different from what they've grown to know and understand, in that it doesn't have the snarky attitude and casual conversation that the previous ones had

2) It takes a bit more of a serious approach on industry events, which contrasts sharply with the tone of the site, which is again, a bit more snarky and casual towards the news.

It doesn't mean that one way is right or wrong, or that the other style is better, it's just different.

I haven't had a chance to listen to this episode yet, but I find these topics wildly more interesting than the last 3, last week was the worst topic wise because I simply don't have much interest in localization.

SO BORING! I had to fst-fwd throughout the podcast. It's super vanilla, with dull morgue conversations.

"Silly bitch" was the highlight, and a reminder of how awesome the Joystiq podcast used to be.

Funny and interesting don't have to be mutually exclusive, and sounding dull isn't a shortcut to sounding smart. You can fool the rubes, but anyone with a real understanding of what constitutes intelligence can see through this shit with both eyes closed.

@(Unverified)

And here I was, thinking I had everyone fooled. Back to the drawing board, I guess.

@(Unverified) I think this is a really great point. I loved the joystiq podcast because it was really funny and entertaining as well as informative.

Soo, Im assuming that Richard is the new host of the Joystiq Podcast?

..If so, X3F's plans of a Hostile Takeover on Joystiq worked :D

@killer rin

It only took four years :)

@RichardMitchell
Yeah but you left a man behind. Where the eff is Hinkle?

@killer rin

I am glad Hinkle is choosing not to touch this parade of embarrassment with a 10 foot poll. Shows good judgement.

@PhalicFemale

If you want to hear Dave, you can find him here:

http://www.sidequesting.com/2011/07/the-sidequest-episode-313-a-dave-magnet/

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The Joystiq Show - 004: The Toys of Summer

Reader Comments (72)

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:10PM Mikey XBL gamertag Sgt Mikey 516 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:10PM zooot said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:14PM Coldin said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:26PM zooot said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:35PM JustinMcElroy said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:37PM chrisgrant said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:42PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:49PM Shimmy said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:53PM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:36PM DiscoStick J81 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:12PM Assmar said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:16PM byaboy said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:12PM ApexOneder said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:16PM chrisgrant said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:38PM DiscoStick J81 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 7:15PM Cobra4455 said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 10:18PM Tegolin said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 11:13PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Jul 26th 2011 9:48PM stupidshowkiller said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:26PM Onomah said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:41PM tidu said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:02PM Onomah said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:42PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:43PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:02PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:14PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:48PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:55PM TheC0A7S said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:03PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 4:59PM bergen wine said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:45PM handgunVShelicopter said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:57PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 5:53PM An Unnamed Mob said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:12PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:27PM An Unnamed Mob said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 10:33PM Altairio said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 6:23PM Korova Pamplona said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 6:26PM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 25th 2011 4:05AM An Unnamed Mob said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:06PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:25PM Xcrucio said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 6:34PM DiscoStick J81 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 9:26PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:13PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 24th 2011 8:19PM npurdam said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:12PM killer rin said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 11:14PM RichardMitchell said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2011 12:37AM PhalicFemale said

Posted: Jul 24th 2011 10:16PM Korova Pamplona said

Posted: Jul 26th 2011 8:52PM Ellimem said

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