Forbes Overworld: Recent Episodes
Forbes on PodcastOne
Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes dig into the curious and intellectual aspects of video games and the medium's impact on the world. Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss the week's relevant video game news and new releases.
Paul and Erik discuss the long journey Hello Games has taken from the launch of No Man's Sky in 2016 to the big 'Next' update that launched this week.
Erik and Paul talk about the state of Fortnite: Battle Royale as the game crosses the $1 billion mark and tries to stake out a place in the esports business.
Matt and Satchell talk to cofounder & co-owner of the Yetee Glen Oneil. They discuss the emerging Speed Running gaming phenomenon, the Games Done Quick event, and the future of this growing gaming community.
Erik and Paul talk about the current console generation: Why investors are spooked about the Nintendo Switch, and why a more competitive Xbox One would be good for PlayStation gamers, too.
Paul and Erik talk about the huge one-time live event in Fortnite this past weekend and what it could mean for the upcoming season.
Matt talks to founder Javier Gimenez of Moonlighter about the influence and addictive gaming experience of Moonlighter. Listen to this in depth look at the development of this debut game from Digital Sun Games.
Erik and Paul talk about Destiny 2's upcoming expansion, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield 5, and what to expect from this year's biggest shooters.
Erik & Paul discuss how you can play Fortnite across multiple platforms and how Sony isn't playing nice!
The spectacle that is E3 has come and gone, and Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes take some time to talk about their main takeaways, from the fervor behind Fortnite, to Nintendo's dipping stock, to the oddities of Sony's press conference.
Erik Kain and Paul Tassi go over all the big E3 press conferences and discuss the best games and most cringe-worthy presentations from the show.
Matt and Satchell speak with Michael Pachter, a video game, social media, digital media and electronics analyst with Wedbush Securities about the video-game trade show conference E3 and whether or not the conference is relevant. Then, @37:00, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about E3 as well, but their focus is more on the biggest games coming out this June.
Matt and Satchell speak with Tristan Donovan, author of 'It's All A Game' and writer of the current chapter of the 'Business Wars' podcast about the intense rivalry between Nintendo and Sony -- which we hear all about. Also @ 28:50 Erik and Paul discuss the 'Battlefield 5' reveal and why it's drummed up controversy online.
Today Satchell Drakes speaks with Forrest Lee, the award-winning producer and long-standing editor behind hundreds of gaming media’s most influential videos to discuss storytelling amongst the gaming enthusiast press and its uniquely dominant role in the gaming industry.
Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez ponder the surprisingly difficult question of how they actually decide on what games to buy and play. Reviews, friend recommendations, online algorithms? And, @33:09, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about the crazy success of Fortnite's 4th season and how other game companies like Bungie need to start taking note.
Hear Matt speak with Delane Parnell, CEO of PlayVS, an official esports league for 20,000 high schools. Students can play esports for a state championship like other sports and be recognized by their state association. Plus, at 30:50, Erik and Paul talk about the fate of the loot boxes trend.
Ever think you’re spending too much time climbing the ladder in League of Legends or too much money on gold in Clash of Clans? Could those feelings ever reach a point of addiction? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez learn more about the science of addiction in relation to gaming and its effects on the brain with Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College’s Department of Psychology. Also, @39:27, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about the state of Destiny 2 in light of the new Warmind DLC announcement.
Cosplay has become more than a fan’s way of expressing their love for a character. As a celebrated, full-time cosplayer and seamstress with a background in theatrical design, Heidi O'Ferrall has worked with the likes of Nintendo and travels across the country to judge and display cosplay for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Despite its undeniable place in gaming, not many people realize how thriving it is. In this episode hear Satchell and Heidi discuss how the space has grown and where it’s headed.
Often overlooked and taken for granted, sound design in video games plays a powerful role. Hear Matt and Satchell speak with Carlye Nyte, sound designer at Camouflage. Also, @42:51 Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss their first impressions of the incredible, new PS4 exclusive, God of War.
A collaboration between four friends, Minit is a monochromatic top-down adventure game where you drop dead every 60 seconds. The team behind the title deftly uses what could be a grating gimmick as a way to create an infectious blend of speedrunning and environmental puzzle solving. Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes speak with Jan Willem Nijman, ‘Minit’ co-creator and cofounder of indie studio Vlambeer, about its origins as a game jam project, the game development community in the Netherlands and the state of the indie marketplace in 2018. Also, @42:57 Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about ‘Ready Player One’ and how it is able to succeed as a film.
Matt and Satchell talk about the level of comportment gamers need to uphold - particularly once they have mass followings and the backing of brands. At 35:24, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain kick 'Far Cry 5' around again - this time after they've had a week to play it.
As it stands, gaming news coverage, gameplay and analysis occupy the highest rank of viewership, retention, minutes watched and revenue earned on YouTube and similar viewing platforms. But what’s the situation with livestreaming? With Amazon’s acquisition of lead video streaming service Twitch alongside the advent of eSports occupying the broadcasting space, what are the challenges and unique characteristics of a streamer versus your average video producer? How does an audience react to live content rather than pre-recorded? Satchell Drakes sits down with verified Twitch streamer Dion Anderson with a viewership of over 9,000,000 to discuss the ins and outs of being a full time streamer.
Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes talk community and multiplayer games. What role do you play? How do you interact with other players? Is your play style at all reflected in your real life? We'll also hear from Dmitri Williams, USC associate professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, who studies online communities, about his take on gaming foes and friends. And, @43:36, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss the gaming phenomenon that is Fortnite: Battle Royale and what an upcoming mobile release could mean for the game.
Blockchain! A topic so trendy, companies haphazardly pepper it into press releases in order to jack up stock prices! Video games are, of course, not immune to the crypto fever. And in fact, there’s a lot in common between the two. Matt Perez and Forbes Contributor Dave Thier talk about the different segments linking the blockchain and gaming, from the new ventures incorporating coins into their economies, to the potential of digital marketplaces selling games in Bitcoin, to crypto’s immediate impact on the GPU marketplace. What are the future implications of marrying games and cryptocurrency aside from unbearable arguments over whether it’s a bubble or not? Also on the podcast, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss the unsurprising announcement of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Fortnite Vs. PUBG. PlayStation Vs. Xbox. Mario Vs. Sonic. Why do fans fight tooth and nail over their preferred variation on a genre? Good question, hypothetical inquisitor! Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about gaming’s fevered feuds between fans and their own experiences in the fray. Also, Tiffany Barnett White, an associate professor of business administration at the University of Illinois, sheds some light on how advertising and businesses influence these competitive battles and why in the world fans live and die with these products.
With so much of gaming living as zeroes and ones on servers, the idea of losing history in a blink of an idea is a devastating reality. The topic of preservation is an ongoing discussion in the industry, and one of the best defenses may be writing those experiences down on paper. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss the issues of preservation in the gaming industry and the few yet great works of nonfiction helping to track its history. They also talk to Gabe Durham, the founder and editor of Boss Fight Books. Each entry in the series focuses on a single game from the perspective of a new author, often mixing history, criticism and personal anecdotes. Also on the podcast, (@40:09) Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about the mysterious lack of Marvel video games in the wake of Black Panther’s success.
Hear Matt and Satchell fess up to the amount of precious time spent playing the games. But, perhaps their self-conscious guilt is misplaced? Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D., director of the Media Psychology Research Center, puts the binge-absorption of media into perspective. Plus @37:08, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain discuss why Hollywood can't seem to make a good video game movie.
Jirard Khalil stars in a dating sim with a few of his partners on YouTube. Each week, Khalil uploads videos reviewing games he's 100% completed. Nearly 1 million fans subscribe to his channel, and a few showed their appreciation by designing Asagao Academy, where players can potentially meet and date him. Fandom in gaming is a bit different than other mediums, so Matt Perez and fellow-Asagao Academy star Satchell Drakes talk to Khalil about YouTube fame, gaming communities online and the lowered barrier between creators and fans in the industry. Also on the show, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain discuss the on-going debate on whether or not the $60 price-tag for games should increase with inflation.
Allowing a player to make a binary decision and then punishing them with a slew of unintended consequences is a cornerstone of video games. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss how they approach morality choices in games and talk to Dr. Casper Harteveld, an assistant professor of game design at Northeastern University, about using decision-making in games to both teach and expand the teaching of societal issues as well as use crowd-sourced player data to infer conclusions about human behavior. Also on the show, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain discuss EA's plans for 2018 and the importance of pushing back BioWare's new game 'Anthem' to next year.
The mobile hit Reigns tasks you with making binary decisions by swiping left and swiping right, not unlike the dating app Tinder. Which begs the question: aren't dating apps basically just mobile games? Satchell Drakes and I speak with Moira Weigel -- author of Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating and a Harvard scholar -- about the implications of gamifying dating apps and the history of relationships and games. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss Microsoft's upcoming exclusive Sea of Thieves as well as the news that Xbox Games Pass will now include Xbox One exclusives.
Attempts to bring gaming stories to the silver screen historically fall flat. Assassin’s Creed, WarCraft, Tomb Raider, Max Payne – the list goes on and on. But maybe that’s because gaming as a medium isn’t as similar to film as we think, and maybe it’s more similar to others. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss the commonalities between video games and literature, and why adaptations like The Witcher and Metro 2033 translate more effectively. The two also speak with the creators behind Kentucky Route Zero, a meditative magic surrealist game focused on telling disparate stories on a rundown trek of highway that takes influence from stage plays. Also @34:58, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about virtual reality in 2018 and beyond, and why it may not go mainstream for years to come.
Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes chat with Tommy Refenes, 'Super Meat Boy' game designer and co-founder of Team Meat, on the sweat that goes into making games, the pressure to please the audience and the problems with pricing games. Then, @52:00, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about why Destiny 2 fans are enraged -- again.
Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes talk about their favorite video games of the past year plus which ones have the most evocative atmosphere. Then, they speak with Lee Petty, an art director at Double Fine productions, about his priorities and approach to creating environments in games. After, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi make their bold predictions for video games 2018 (@46:31).
What do architecture and level design have in common? Turns out, a whole lot - like: atmosphere, a specific world view and the ability to inspire. Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes speak with Jose Sanchez, an assistant professor of Architecture at USC and also a game designer and programmer at Plethora Project, to talk about the intersection of building and game structure.
From reddit to YouTube to Forbes, people have opinions, particularly for video games. But with so many voices and the echo chambers emblematic of online communities, is it at all useful for designers and the industry as a whole? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about the cycle of hype and fan backlash around video games, their own experiences as critics on YouTube and the positives and negatives of online gaming communities. The two also speak with James Portnow, a game designer and writer for the popular YouTube channel, Extra Credits, about the disconnect between popular viewpoints from fans and critics as well as the realities of game development.
The rising citizen involvement in political and social movements became a topic of conversation in 2017, so how do video games play into the conversations being had? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss games like 1979 Revolution: Black Friday and This War of Mine to see how games can portray a persuasive message and explore timely topics. They also talk to Games for Change President Susanna Pollack about the variety of ways video games can both inspire people and educate students. Also on the podcast, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi look ahead to 2018 and pinpoint the biggest releases on the horizon.
It's that time of the year again, when everyone makes lists of the top games of the year. 2017 provided a plethora of releases, but certainly most haven't played every single title released this year, and how do you even characterize what constitutes the "best" in a given year? Can we judge lasting impact and influence only a month after launch? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez instead look back a decade to the year 2007 to see what games endured the test of time and decide what deserves the title of Game of 2007 ten years after the fact. Games discussed include Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Halo 3, BioShock, Portal and Naruto: Rise of a Ninja. Plus, @53:11, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi try to predict the winners of this year's Game Awards. How wrong could they be?
Like the subgenres of music and film, the gaming world features small yet dedicated communities around certain mechanics, histories and ideals. But whats it like to navigate these waters as a designer?Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss staunch communities both inside and outside gaming and talk to Leighton Gray, the co-creator and co-writer of the 2017 hit 'Dream Daddy': A Dad Dating Simulator and Kevin Cole, the creator of the roguelike adventure Haque.Also on the show, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss the latest loot box controversy -- this time surrounding Destiny 2. (@47:45)
Role-playing games like Mass Effect and Dungeons and Dragons ask players to immerse themselves into a character and make decisions based on their unique motivations. But can games be used to challenge us and hold up a mirror to ourselves?Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss both the challenges and opportunities of exploring identity in games and talk role-playing in pen-and-paper, tabletop games with Dave Ewalt, a contributor editor at Forbes and author of the book, Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It.Also on the episode, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk the best games of 2017 which absolutely, 100%, most definitely should include Bubsy. (@43:13)
Undertale. Stardew Valley. Hotline Miami. All are games that seized the gaming spotlight when released into the world and games made by one or two developers without star power. Entrepreneurship may not be the first thought that comes to mind when talking about video games, but it's one of the best fields for that type of thinking. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss the indie game scene and the opportunities present for those willing to grind out a game. They also talk to Mike Wilson, the cofounder of publishing studio Devolver Digital and Good Shepherd Entertainment. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk the latest gaming controversy: intrusive loot boxes in Star Wars Battlefront II and the response from gamers, EA and Disney. (@ 0:46:40)
What's the secret to comedy in video games? That's not the set-up to a joke, it's an actual question. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez discuss the difficulties of translating comedy to an interactive medium and speak with William Pugh, the game designer behind The Stanley Parable and Accounting, as well as a GDC speaker on the subject. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about 'Call of Duty: World War 2' and why it's already such a resounding success @ 38:04.
What if instead of watching a film to start a new course in high school, you played a video game? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about the role video games can play in education and talk to Jared Bauer of the popular YouTube channel, Wisecrack, which offers up a comedic and accessible analysis of literature, film, television and video games. Also on the episode, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain talk 'Super Mario Odyssey' and how Nintendo is dominating 2017 one great release at a time.
Games tend to go big: Storming the beaches of Normandy, slicing up Orcs on the battlefields of Middle-earth, recruiting a fellowship of galactic civilizations to defend Earth from ancient genocidal machines. So what makes quietly sneaking from one end of a room to the other such a thrill? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez dissect the science behind the appeal of stealth games with Dmitri Williams, an associate professor of communications at USC, as well as independent game designer Mike Bithell. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk the return of Assassin's Creed, which brought with it welcome changes for the long-running franchise. Podcast hosts:@Satchel Drakes@Matt Ryan Perez@PaulTassi@erik kain
Games tend to go big: Storming the beaches of Normandy, slicing up Orcs on the battlefields of Middle-earth, recruiting a fellowship of galactic civilizations to defend Earth from ancient genocidal machines. So what makes quietly sneaking from one end of a room to the other such a thrill? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez dissect the science behind the appeal of stealth games with Dmitri Williams, an associate professor of communications at USC, as well as independent game designer Mike Bithell. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk the return of Assassin's Creed, which brought with it welcome changes for the long-running franchise. Podcast hosts:@Satchel Drakes@Matt Ryan Perez@PaulTassi@erik kain
What qualifies a video game for graduation to spectator event? Maybe the feeling of infinite hopelessness and misery one feels after losing a match -- just like a traditional sport! Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez explore the question and talk to esports attorney Ryan Morrison about the tens of millions of dollars being invested in Blizzard's risky new play for an esports league with its popular yet competitively unproven first-person shooter, Overwatch. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss what works and what doesn't in 'Middle-earth: Shadow of War.'Podcast URL: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/forbes-overworld/id1286923850?mt=2Podcast hastag: #OverworldHost handle:@SatchellDrakes@MattRyanPerez@PaulTassi@erikkain
Star Wars. Twin Peaks. Will & Grace. Nostalgia is a booming trend from entertainment to politics. But is that such a good thing? Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about Sonic Mania, the successful throwback to the good old days of a down-on-his-luck blue hedgehog and speak with Dr. Tim Wildschut, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southampton, to better understand our wistful affection of the past. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi discuss loot boxes, the hot new trend in video game revenue and whether it's something gamers should worry about.
No, not Survivor: The Interactive Game. The TV show. A phenomenon upon its debut in 2000, Survivor remains a fixture 17 years later due to the imaginative innovations its players bring to the game each season. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk with former player and current podcaster Rob Cesternino about the evolution of the show and how it relates to an enigmatic game design technique known as emergent gameplay. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk 2017's biggest sensation, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, a game about sprinting across a field for 15 minutes before a guy in a bush shoots you.
Rustin Cohle must be a fan of games, because more often than not, time is a flat circle in these digital worlds -- infinite, repetitive, unchanging. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about the polarizing nature of finite schedules and calendars in games as many criticize the frustrations that time limitations bring, while others find them enticing compared to their otherwise slacker lifestyles (read: Matt).
Rustin Cohle must be a fan of games, because more often than not, time is a flat circle in these digital worlds -- infinite, repetitive, unchanging. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about the polarizing nature of finite schedules and calendars in games as many criticize the frustrations that time limitations bring, while others find them enticing compared to their otherwise slacker lifestyles (read: Matt).
Rustin Cohle must be a fan of games, because more often than not, time is a flat circle in these digital worlds -- infinite, repetitive, unchanging. Satchell Drakes and Matt Perez talk about the polarizing nature of finite schedules and calendars in games as many criticize the frustrations that time limitations bring, while others find them enticing compared to their otherwise slacker lifestyles (read: Matt).
Like everyone else, Satchell and Matt love lightening their wallets during PC game sales yet never end up finishing or even playing their treasure trove of acquisitions. The two discuss the reasons for the phenomenon and speak with Randy Frost, a professor of psychology at Smith College, about hoarding and compulsion. Also, Erik Kain and Paul Tassi talk about the Xbox One X's chance to breakout this holiday season in the face of powerhouse Nintendo Switch.
Would the tens of millions of people playing fantasy sports also enjoy "Fire Emblem"? In the first episode of "Overworld" podcast, Matt Perez and Satchell Drakes compare fantasy football and "RuPauls Drag Race" fantasy leagues with turn-based strategy games and talk to Mohawk Games Soren Johnson about getting into the complex game genre. Also, Paul Tassi and Erik Kain weigh in on the newly released "Destiny 2."