Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you’ll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.
In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category, we invent awards for the videogames we played in 2014 - yes 2014 - from the serious to the stupid, from sex robots to sociopathy. Can you guess which titles won the ‘ Ubiest Ubiboo ’ and ' Decrease in real-life stalking ' awards? This show was recorded in February 2016. Music Velveteen Skies by Carosone
In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category, we invent awards for the videogames we played in 2013 - yes 2013 - from the serious to the stupid. Can you guess which title won 'It's a condition!' ? This show was recorded in February 2015. Music is 80/90 Pieces by destinazione_altrove
In this show we discuss playing The Last of Us with a parent (who watches it as if it were a film) and whether the game, and its story, are deserving of the praise heaped upon them. There are spoilers for the game and the film 28 Weeks Later. Brother in the Land The Floating World
Roboticist and educator Dr. Julie Carpenter tells us about her research with bomb disposal experts, how society might have to change as robots become more advanced and even what happens when a robot powers down in front of a small child. Recorded late August 2014. Julie's website Festo seagull drone: http://youtu.be/9YGLZXEwRVc Festo kangaroo: http://youtu.be/_4luJ0ZSqy8 Music is Open by Com Truise...
In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category show, we invent awards for the games we played in 2012 - yes 2012 - from the serious to the stupid. Can you guess which title won Wub Wub? Music is Don't Go (RumbleStep Mix) by CDK Gootecks speaks to disabled gamer Broly
Dr.Tom Stafford is a lecturer in psychology and cognitive science at the University of Sheffield. He explains why the way you practice affects how good you get at something - and he's got 850,000 people to back him up. Axon game: http://axon.wellcomeapps.com/ Github: https://github.com/tomstafford/axongame Tom's blog: http://www.tomstafford.staff.shef.ac.uk/?p=221 Tom on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomstafford...
We discuss Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA and how games should portray governments in the future. Some spoilers about locations and plot devices.
We're taking submissions for the 3rd annual Insert Category awards from HatchetJob.com. Invent an award for a game released in 2012. Music from Incompetech.com
We discuss Bioshock Infinite & touch on topics such as racism in the early 20th century, meaningful choices in games & how we're being asked to pay for unfinished stories. M: Paradise is Lost A: Mauerhuhn
We discuss Sleeping Dogs, Ni no Kuni and Rumble in the Dungeon. The first part of the show is about AI, cloud computing and human resources. Skip to about 9m15s for the start of Sleeping Dogs. Rumble in the Dungeon rules PDF Music is Crazy Drunk (feat. FORENSIC/4nsic) Spaztits Mix by Phi-ode...
Far Cry 3 has been praised from the highest mountain to the darkest jungle glade. But is the game more prey than predator? Music: Amanita Muscaria by Jeris
We speak to Johnnie Excel, competitive eater and StarCraft 2 player, about competitive eating's culture, tactics, future and more. Johnnie's YouTube channel CNN article on Kobayashi arrest S: Put Your Hands Up (Dubstep Version) A: Chandubaba...
We talk about Dust: An Elysian Tail, find out what it's like to go game shopping in Yongsan (South Korea's Akihabara) and find out if Crysis is more pavement than playground. Music is Nadeya (Club Mix) by Destinazione Altrove, used a sample from Nadeya from Mentorrecords featuring Afroganic.
For our alternative 2011 'GOTY' show, we asked listeners to make up awards and choose games to win them. That way, games win awards that reflect how you felt about them, not how the industry decides to categorise them. The show has one bit of swearing, but it's a heck of a doozy. Background music: http://incompetech.com/ Outro: Candy in the Sun by Koortwah .
In this super-short film review, you'll hear about Brazilian films Elite Squad and Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. Music is Ice and Chilli by _ghost .
We discuss co-op game mechanics, segue into paid unlocks and invent (possibly) the worst game in the world. Music is 'Cuss The Sky' by Camburn.
Is Predator 2 a cultural artifact? Are the Saints really needed in Saints Row 3? Is X-Com still good? Does nostalgia drive game purchases? What's it like gaming on a projector? Kara Leung interview Box Shot AKA Smuggler's Cramp E.S. Posthumus [Post-show, a transgender listener sent the following links] Gender & presentation in Saints Row 2 How videogames helped me go from boy to girl...
Universal Head produces summaries of boardgame rules. We speak to him about how he got into gaming, how he does his summaries and what he thinks of videogames and tombstones. Universal Head's blog & summaries HatchetJob Earth Reborn video Music is 'Hero' by Jemes...
Matt Magnone really likes claw machines (or crane games as they're called in the UK); you know the ones, all cuddly toys and robotic arms. We spoke to him about his claw machine experiences, insight and tips and tricks. Tips of the claw machine . Music is 'Give it up' by Carosone . Show's RSS....
We speak to Staats, part of the HJ crew, about his move to South Korea; his first impressions, thoughts and insights. Korean Sunshine Policy . Music: We Are Free ft. Snowflake , by Zep Hurme.
We discuss Deus Ex Human Revolution in the context of emergent gameplay & resource management. We also touch on whether Disgaea 4 could be a casual game. The 'spoilerific' video. Deadly Creatures game Music: Sick by DoKashiteru.
You create the categories, you pick the winners. In our second-annual game awards - aka Insert Category aka UGGA - we read out your submissions for notable games of 2010. Can you guess which won 'Best use of a sandwich?' Music: Recommender by Dokashiteru / Parks on Fire (California Burning mix) by DJ Rkod / Pulse (George Ellinas Mix) by George Ellinas / Vacuuux 1 by DJ Adori / Scott Waves to April's Salty Grace (Dance Mix) by J Lang / Emergence Drum N Bass Remix (Rough Mix) by I Am The Stev / Re...
We’re taking entries for our 2010 ‘personal best’ gaming awards: you create a category, you choose a winner. Let's have awards which give us time to reflect on a game, not just ones which happen in December and praise AAA titles released in November. Let's have awards with personalised categories that we create, not just 'best action game' stuff that's only good for PR. Music: Kevin MacLeod...
In this short, solo, book review you'll hear about The Badge by Jack Webb. It's a 1958 book about the Los Angeles Police Department, its people and cases. Think of it as the real LA Noire. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
We discuss LA Noire, Terraria and get involved in a sci-fi dilemma with The Witcher 2. I'd class the show as spoiler free. Explanation at the start. Watch the LA Noire review on YouTube LA Noire-section music: Dances and Dames, Night on the Docks - Sax, Walking Along, Backed Vibes Clean. All by Kevin McLeod . End music is Pushin' Daises by Jeris ....
In this short, solo, book review you'll hear about Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City. A story about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, a talented architect and a ruthless serial killer. The Devil in the White City (Wikipedia)
We imagine the different ways and materials through which videogame powers and characters' abilities can be represented. We also have a spoiler-free discussion on what it felt like to play Portal 2 compared to Portal. Music is 'I Will Rise Above The World' by Zapac. Edward Tufte Russian gangsters and tattoos Battle High: San Bruno, Xbox indie game Loss aversion (I think this is the cognitive bias Danjo referred to) Caustic...
In this extremely short, solo show, you'll hear a brief review of Paul Chadwick's comic book 'Concrete: Depths'. Touching and thought provoking, Chadwick's work about a man trapped in a concrete body is worth checking out. Paul Chadwick's website
In our discussion of Dragon Age 2, we cover subjects such as dialogue and emotional intent, whether RPGs are just job simulators and how every character in the game is constantly horny. There is a mild, thematic, spoiler about a side quest. We talk about the issues it raises rather than what the quest entails or how it ends. Music is Eye Magic Mix by Lasswell Tweet
