The Elf and Dwarf

No, Ady did not go into labor.  But she did spend all day at her mother-in-laws for a baby shower, one at which the Gnome got a TON of new (and needed) stuff.  So we’re hoping to get Episode 32 recorded and in the can Tuesday night after Bones (though I think Ady forget she wants to watch Reaper that night too).

Okay so that’s not all we have this week.  First the Hunter Pair go through the news wire and gab about some of the more interesting stories to come down the pipeline.  Kodath reports in on the new voice chat for WoW that’s finally implemented.  Back to gaming talk we go over how MMO’s and Table Top gaming seem to be converging again, but with MMO’s seeming to be winning in the conversion.  Some email reactions round out the show.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [77:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (887)

http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/10/04/is-blizzard-exploiting-wow-players/

 The case is made in a new paper that MMO’s exploit their players by failing to provide real entertainment but instead by stringing them along with very carefully planned rewards, often not relevant to what the player wants but what the player percieves they need.  For example you “grind” through 10 levels from 30 to 40 in WoW, not because you are actually enjoying playing those levels but becuase there is a planned prize (Mount for example) waiting for you at the end of the grind.

 And you PAY for the priveledge of this grind.  The case made in the original article (go back a few links through WoW Insider) is that this is not only exploitive but borderline unethical.  The initial author makes the case that a game should be fun at all turns and that the carefully planned rewards should be part of that fun.  Instead MMO makers learn the thresholds people have for monotony and tedium and provide just enough incentive to start the next “grind”.

With all the talk about changing XP for the 0-60 game in WoW or the talk in other MMO’s about “grind levels” I’m forced to wonder if perhaps there might be something to this.

 What do you think?

The new season of TV is on us!  Touching base on all the new TV in the Sci Fi and Fantasy genres that we plan to watch we make some predictions on what to expect this season, at least from our point of view.  We also defended our “bashing” of Eragon, and took a new look at laws about violent video games thanks to some listener emails.  Kodath makes his return to the show with a new regular news segment about goings on in WoW

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [77:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (917)

News bits:  A director has been found for the JLA movie, Californian’s can now buy any video game at any age, WoW shuts down erotic role play guild.  Topic of the week:  How do you tell your friends and family you’re geek?  Do you establish the level of acceptance first?  How do you feel about being outed?  Oh, and in email we respond to a letter about games to books/movies.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [68:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (902)

If you don’t follow the Wife Aggro Podcast you should hop over there and give a look.  Sethanon and Ragemore (as in ‘whine less, rage more’) have invited Rorlins to sit in a few times to talk about various gaming issues.  It’s a very well done show and worth checking out.  Especially if they invite Rorlins back again.

http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/09/17/blizzard-disbands-extreme-erotic-roleplaying-guild/

 Yep an extreme erotic RP guild got nailed.  Apparently Blizzard is NOT okay with people using their game to particpate in, and encourage what would be illegal actions in the real worlds in their game world.

Harkens a bit to the various slash fic and similar “mature” fanfic circulating which was recently purged from Live Journal.

Narnia, Potter, Eragon, The Golden Compass and more are the focus of our discussion on movies gone to film.  The Elf and Dwarf go through what they liked about the books and what they liked about the movies and how they liked them as pairs.  If you have a question or comment drop us a line at theelfanddwarf@yahoo.com.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [80:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (874)

So what are the best changes from books to movies?  Already we know that Dragons of Autumn Flame is headed to the “big screen” (well if you have a home theater), and we’re itching to pour some kudos on Stardust for making a “grown up” fantasy movie.  But what else has transitioned, in the sci fi/ fantasy genre’s from the paperback to the box office?  What’s your favorite?  What’d you hate?

We’re back on the virtual airwaves bringing you our review of the second largest fantasy and science fiction convention.  We’ve got the inside scoop straight from the actors on new TV shows coming up and fan favorites returning.  This is the first episode with our new content format and we’re just happy to be back at it.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [68:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (905)