interviews?

[Cloven-Fruit-Games]

You should considering doing interviews, or in your case more akin to a random conversation with game industry people.

[Meg]

Not on the radar right now.  Not saying we never will, but it doesn't really fit in with our mission currently.

The other big piece is just in recording.  We don't record over skype currently and aren't set up for it and that's the way to do interviews.  Just the logistics would be tough- we currently stop during recording and save fairly frequently and that would throw off recording over skype as well.

But it's not impossible.  Why do you think we should do them?

[Cloven-Fruit-Games]

Why do you think we should do them?

I like your outlook on gaming in general. I think your honesty in a conversational setting with professionals would be more interesting then most interviews.

[Josh]

The reason not to do interviews is double sided.

On one side we have the "good" game designers.  If we have Luke Crane or Fred Hicks, what can they say that they have not already said on other podcasts?

On the other side we have the "bad" designers. 

Us: What is your excuse for the lousy game you made?
Them: I don't think is was bad
Us: Oh it was.
Them: (hands over ears)LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA I CANT HEAR YOU LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

If a lousy game designer comes on they would feel compelled to defend their crappy game.  So you get to hear us tear apart some idiot.  As amusing as that would be it would not be dignified for the interviewee. 

[MilwaukeeJoe]

Then how do you explain people getting interviewed by Stephen Colbert?

(Maybe it works for him because he's Colbert and people expect that out of him.)

[Cloven-Fruit-Games]

Josh, that is why you are a jackass.
If, durring siad interviews, you held the swearing and name calling to a lower occurence rate; then you could say:

"I think this game was bad becuase...   What were yoiu trying to accomplish with that aspect of the game?"

Than they might answer, without the childish slapping of hands over ears with chanting to make the bad man go away.

You might even frist start with any aspect of the game you thought was good.

[Josh]

Then how do you explain people getting interviewed by Stephen Colbert?

(Maybe it works for him because he's Colbert and people expect that out of him.)

Colbert has the "jester" effect, he is a comedy program.

Josh, that is why you are a jackass.
If, durring siad interviews, you held the swearing and name calling to a lower occurence rate; then you could say:

"I think this game was bad becuase...   What were yoiu trying to accomplish with that aspect of the game?"

Than they might answer, without the childish slapping of hands over ears with chanting to make the bad man go away.

You might even frist start with any aspect of the game you thought was good.

Let me preface this by saying, I have talked to a number of these companies.  As I mentioned on the GenCon episode Robin Laws stood out for having a good response.  Ultimately these programs would not be interesting, unless we made it interesting.  And I don't want to do that.

[MilwaukeeJoe]

Colbert has the "jester" effect, he is a comedy program.

Yeah, while your show has a great amount of humor... I wouldn't call you a jester, really.

[Cloven-Fruit-Games]

Let me preface this by saying, I have talked to a number of these companies.  As I mentioned on the GenCon episode Robin Laws stood out for having a good response.

I have spoken to a great deal of them as well. I am sure I could get you a dozen people, willing to put up with your abuse and even give it back you in an interview.
________________________________

Ultimately these programs would not be interesting, unless we made it interesting.  And I don't want to do that.

Well, I am not sure what you consider interesting. I however do not consider your attempt at witty banter to be interesting.

I listen to the show because you make valid points on gaming and the game industry.

I think approaching the industry people with that frankness and insight would be much more interesting then the most interviews.

When you tell the person that created game B, and won awards for such, that his game is not a good game, followed by point by point actual analysis, that would be interesting to see what that person has to say. Even more interesting if you point out the good aspects in there as well.
Then the conversation does not become one sided “oh gezz, you like me, cool”, or just hostile.

[Josh]

Let me preface this by saying, I have talked to a number of these companies.  As I mentioned on the GenCon episode Robin Laws stood out for having a good response.

I have spoken to a great deal of them as well. I am sure I could get you a dozen people, willing to put up with your abuse and even give it back you in an interview.

Maybe.  But most game designers are not very interesting. 

And lets say that they are willing to put up with it.  How entertaining is it to see someone get beat down and take it like a man? 
Lets say they fight back.  And we make them look like prancing retards.  Funny yes, but not respectable.

Ultimately these programs would not be interesting, unless we made it interesting.  And I don't want to do that.

Well, I am not sure what you consider interesting. I however do not consider your attempt at witty banter to be interesting.

I listen to the show because you make valid points on gaming and the game industry.

That is the part I am talking about.

I think approaching the industry people with that frankness and insight would be much more interesting then the most interviews.

We are working on some kind of feedback, behind the scenes.  We will see how this goes. 

[Robert Bohl]

But it's not impossible.  Why do you think we should do them?

For the enlightenment of your audience, and not AT ALL for personal reasons of my own. NOT AT ALL.

[Josh]

I just listened to atomic array on CthulhuTech today and I think the guys schwanked asking followup questions to Matt Grau.

Ire, building.

[Cam_Banks]

Maybe.  But most game designers are not very interesting.

There's no reason to put any of them on a pedestal. I wouldn't say most of them aren't interesting, though. Heck, I'm amazingly interesting. Just ask Zeke. I have a funny accent and everything.

And lets say that they are willing to put up with it.  How entertaining is it to see someone get beat down and take it like a man? 
Lets say they fight back.  And we make them look like prancing retards.  Funny yes, but not respectable.

The key element in that statement is "entertaining." If your aim is to entertain, rather than inform, then no, it'd be pretty ridiculous to actually talk to game designers and tell them how much their game sucks. On the other hand, if you are genuinely interested in asking them why they write games the way they do, what their influences are, how they think, what their expectations of gameplay are, and so forth, then I think there's a lot of information in there for your audience.

Cheers,
Cam

[Josh]

The key element in that statement is "entertaining." If your aim is to entertain, rather than inform, then no, it'd be pretty ridiculous to actually talk to game designers and tell them how much their game sucks. On the other hand, if you are genuinely interested in asking them why they write games the way they do, what their influences are, how they think, what their expectations of gameplay are, and so forth, then I think there's a lot of information in there for your audience.

You have a bit of a misunderstanding there.

The show must be both entertaining AND informative. 

[Cam_Banks]

You have a bit of a misunderstanding there.

The show must be both entertaining AND informative.

Then you occasionally work at cross-purposes.

Cheers,
Cam

[Josh]

You have a bit of a misunderstanding there.

The show must be both entertaining AND informative.

Then you occasionally work at cross-purposes.

Cheers,
Cam

Have you ever worked on any sort of creative endeavor?  You have a whole swath of requirements for any project. 

Cross purposes does not describe the situation accurately.

[Cam_Banks]

Have you ever worked on any sort of creative endeavor?  You have a whole swath of requirements for any project. 

Cross purposes does not describe the situation accurately.

Okay. How about, sometimes when you try to be entertaining, you fail to be informative.

Cheers,
Cam

[Josh]

Have you ever worked on any sort of creative endeavor?  You have a whole swath of requirements for any project. 

Cross purposes does not describe the situation accurately.

Okay. How about, sometimes when you try to be entertaining, you fail to be informative.

I knew that already, But I am glad that I helped you to understand it.

And if you are trying to passive aggressively refer to the BSG review, we did not just cut it short because of the entertainment there were a number of factors.   Which due to the vagaries of the English language could still be called entertainment.  People do not want to hear a bitch session, and we did not want to go through the game.  It is a waste of time both ours and the listeners to go through that game for any length.  I'm thankful we came up with something to do.  We started by writing a 5 minute show and then added stuff to it.  Absolutely no information that we intended to put out was cut.  And that's that.

[Cam_Banks]

I knew that already, But I am glad that I helped you to understand it.

You're welcome.

And if you are trying to passive aggressively refer to the BSG review

Nope. I thought I made my own position about that clear with you three at the very beginning, and I don't harbor any resentment toward you for not liking it. However, it has been made fairly clear by several listeners that your reviews could do with more supporting analysis, and I think that by trying to be funny or shocking you don't leave yourself any time for that.

Cheers,
Cam

[Robert Bohl]

I thought you guys weren't going to do reviews any longer.