Zenspath Podcast Episode 013 - EPIC Multi-Player Edition!
Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 11:56PM Welcome to the first 4-person episode of the Zenspath Podcast as well as the first one that also has a contest for a free XBLA copy of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet!
In order to get the game, you need to listen to the podcast, register on the site, and finally leave us a comment about what you thought of the show and tell us what music we used on this episode. [EDITORS NOTE: Because of the difficulty some people are having with my choice, I will be giving more clues as time goes on. This is a SNES ACCLAIM game.] Once we get a correct answer that person will get the code directly from me either via email, or we can get together on Xbox Live and exchange it that way. More games will be coming in the next few months as I can afford to do them, so please let people know so we can really get this little community going as well as what kinds of games or other give aways you would be interested in!
Now onto the show notes. We started things off with a very touchy and heated discussion about the whole Gamestop issue regarding them removing a code for a free copy of Deus Ex that Square-Enix had put into the retail PC copies of the game WITHOUT permission or even just letting Gamestop know about it before hand effectivly getting Gamestop to promote a direct competitor on their own dime. Not cool on Square-Enix, but the situation was handled poorly on Gamestops side as they played damage control when then opened and removed the codes from each game Square-Enix sold them. Eventually, after we recorded, they did issue a complete recall of the games and they have since been pulled from shelves until something can be fixed.
Other topics we covered:
* ICO/Shadow of the Colossus Collection bonus content
* Steel Battalion Heavy Armor for Kinect
* Battlefield 3 multiplayer
* New PSP in Europe with no Wi-Fi
* Resident Evil Revilations (3DS)
* Silent Hill HD Collection coming to 360 & PS3
* EA limiting physical and digital copies of Star Wars: The Old Republic
* Developers moving away from dedicated gaming systems
* PS3 price drop
* PS Vita games & Social Features shown off
* Playstation Home getting relaunched as an MMO
* New Devil May Cry
* Nintendo TGS event news and system rumors
* New Wii in Europe with no Gamecube support
* Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword releasing November 20th
* Kirby Wii coming October 24th
* Borderlands 2
* Canadian protest Valve
* Tekken coming to the 3DS and PS3
* Virtua Fighter V coming to XBLA & PSN
* Penny-Arcade making "The Decide-O-Tron"
* Minecraft wants to get some Quake on with Bethesda
And finally we get into a debate about the classic Windows game "Minesweeper". Neiko believes it to be a Strategy game, I (Jeremy) believe it is a Puzzle. What do you think? Comment below and let us know what you think!
Jeremy Powers
Editor and Host of the Zenspath Podcast
Click the link below to listen to the show, or right click and select "save as" to download the episode in a friendly little MP3 format for your very own!
Reader Comments (11)
Nice podcast. Super Metroid soundtrack is used.
Thanks for the post Rann, but sadly that is not the game the song came from. The full song plays at the end of the podcast as well.
Did you listen to the whole show? We are trying to get peoples opinion on the issue regarding if Minesweeper is a puzzle game or a strategy game. I'm still sying puzzle.
We will be covering some of the events from PAX next episode as our own AJ went as we mentioned on the current show.
Jeremy Powers
Editor and Host of the Zenspath Podcast
Very tough one! haha
I thought minesweeper is a puzzle game. :)
Thank you...I just can't see that game as a strategy game because all you are doing is randomly choosing your first pick, then working from there to solve a number puzzle.
In other topics, I picked up a new microphone stand today for the show so maybe now you wont hear every time we tap the table! Working on the last few parts to start a video version to accompany the podcast if people are interested.
Spawn!
By the way, the music is Roofs of New York City. :)
As far as Minesweeper goes, it's a strategy/puzzle. I discussed this with an actual Army minesweeper who explained that the first move is almost always random (unless the enemy did nothing to really hide the mine, then it's obviously a trap). Once a point of danger has been found, it's a slow, methodical process of weeding out mines in the area by placing actual flags next to the mines. Also, real minesweeping is co-op in the extreme. One guy sweeps, another guy uses a knife to pry up, disarm and collect the mines. As far as the puzzle aspect goes, how many puzzle games can you think of that involve random objects you have only seconds to interact with before something happens that makes you lose the game(think Tetris, then think bomb-defusal)?My info is based on my grandpa's Vietnam stories, so it may not be up to date, but that's my 2 cents.
Congrats to Rann Yong for being our first Zenspath Podcast contest winner! I will contact you in a bit to get the code for Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet for XBLA in a bit. Keep listening as this will be far from the last game we give away!
As for Joe's answer...well put! Given the time period when Minesweeper originally was released, the Vietnam stories would have been a more apt reasoning for the design. But the reason I bring up the first move being random as part of my decision is the fact that in a traditional strategy game even your first move needs to normally be planned. Where you place that first town in Civilization Revolution will vary your future plans greatly as an example.
But that being said, it does showcase the need for some games to have a mix of concepts to accurately describe them, so with that in mind, I will concede it to being a strategy/puzzle. Thanks for the comment, and I hope you keep listening to the show. We love making them and just want you all to enjoy them as well.
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I'll be in the PC, Fl area on Friday....
Are you free? I have to hit the Children's wing in the hospital there at 10am, PC time.
WIll have to see what time I get off that day. How long will you be in town? Hit me up either by email (zenspath.com@gmail.com) or on Twitter (@Zenspath) Friday.
What are you bringing for the Children's wing and at which hospital? Would love to help if you need anything for them.
Oh and Minesweeper is a puzzle!