Chase and Tim and special guest Walter discuss the recent local Madden 12 Tournament in Bakersfield, the direction of gaming “Online Passes”, the proposed Oklahoma tax on violent video games, how gaming has become integrated with our culture, new and recent releases to look out for including Gotham City Imposters and whether or not we will see another game like Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
Topic 1) Madden Bowl 12
* Local Gaming Tournament on January 28th
* Sponsors: Mitsubishi Electric, Urners, Gamestor, KRAB
* 1st place: Choice of cash, 42” TV (Mike)
* 2nd place: whatever 1st doesn’t pick (Ashton)
* 3rd place: $100 Gamestor gift card (Alex Perez)
* BeGTV did video for the event.
* Video to come: interviews, game footage, gameplay
* Local tournaments are a great thing for gamers. Allows gamers of common interests to come together. Builds a stronger gaming community and gamers have a chance to gauge their skill level and learn.
* Interviews with the sponsors.
Topic 2) EA’s Online Pass (and online passes in general)
* In the video game industry, an online pass is a form of digital rights management for video games with online functionality. Online passes are commonly in the form of a single-use serial code found in a game’s manual (or in leaflets).
* A player must pay an additioonline pass feature
* Makes renting the game very difficult if no trial period (ie Battlefield 3).
* Publishers who utilizes this system?
* THQ
* Warner Bros. Interactinal fee in order to activate the online features for a used copy of the game makes it almost impractical to trade it in because some stores may be unwilling to buy back games that utilize the ve Entertainment
* Ubisoft
* Punishes fans who are trying to save money
* Market it by including exclusive online content, but is this just to legitimize an unethical practice?
* Starting to add “Online Pass” only content to games? ie Knights of Amular?
* Hurting online trade in store profits only hurts fans, but will it also hurt publishers if these stores go away?
Topic 3) Tax Violent Video Games?
Last week we discussed how California is paying $950K in a failed suit against games.
* Now, State Representative Will Fourkiller in Oklahoma wants to tax Violent Video games saying they induce obesity and bullying.
* From Music, Movies to TV, Food and now Games. People always want to blame something else for their lack of self control or parenting.
* He’s introduced HB 2696, which would place an excise tax of 1 percent on violent games that carry an ESRB software rating of Teen, Mature, or Adult Only.
* ESRB is board based on standards no like the movie industry which is not being taxed.
* Fourkiller claims a tax will increase parents awareness towards their kids activities with games.
* Now people who hurt people are using it as legal defense:
* Video games do not teach you how to make Molotov cocktails. hitting “b” is not the same as going to walmart buying supplies driving to the location and throwing the weapon.
* More and more people play video games… including the crazy ones.
* Remind you of all the lawsuits against rock music? Crazy is crazy, regardless people!!
Topic 4 ) Gaming and Culture
* Smithsonian Video Game Exhibition* Video Games Live* 100 year old gamer uses Nintendo DS
Topic 5) Some releases to look out for
* Feb 3rd – Prev mentioned NeverDead
* Feb 7th – Prev mentioned Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
* Feb 7th – Prev mentioned The Darkness 2
* Feb 7th (PC) 8th (Xbox,PS3) Gotham City Impostors
* Feb 21st Syndicate - new take on an old game
Topic 6) Will we see another successful Rock Band/Guitar Hero type game?
* February 2011. Activision announced that it has abandoned ongoing development of planned Guitar Hero titles
* Continue to develop Rock Band and Dance Central and support their downloadable content for the immediate future
* Market suffers due to music licensing
* Consumers during economic slowdown not buying expensive instrument sets
More Information
bleedingedgegaming.com
facebook.com/bleedingedgegaming
@BeGaming
Bleeding Edge Gaming #Podcast is posted – Local Game Tourneys and EA Online Pass tinyurl.com/7ctebw3Enjoy
— NetCast Studio (@NetCastStudio) February 7, 2012
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