Iteration 217 - Succession and Transition of Power

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also here: https://archive.org/download/thesimulationist/Iteration217-SuccessionAndTransitionOfPower.mp3

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Esquimalt to get a new TV studio space, so the entertainment industry in Victoria is expanding! We talk a bit about the return of the Necromancer class into Diablo, and about how we think a company decides which content to monetize, and which content to make free. Ryan achieves all the achievements for Samhain in the Secret World. Zoey reviews Alice and Wonderland, with a little help from her dad. And for our main topic, well we just couldn't resist the US election, so we try to put a storytelling slant on it. We talk about voting systems like the electoral college. We talk about how power is gained, held, and maintained in our fantasy realms.

References and Recommendations:

Tres Laughin with Josh TreLeaven: https://treslaffin.blogspot.com

Made You Look Media: https://vimeo.com/madeyoulookmedia

Iteration 213 - Do Not Temporally Resuscitate

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and also here (mirrored): http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_213_-_Do_Not_Temporally_Resuscitate.mp3

Go here: https://archive.org/details/thesimulationist for an archive of some recent iterations.

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In this iteration, we talk about Disney's Pinocchio, time travel, and various video games. Josh plays Minecraft, Code Name, and Forbidden Island. Ryan watches Pinocchio with Zoey, and Canadian horror flick The Drownsman.

References and Recommendations:

Interactivity Board Game Cafe Victoria: http://www.ibgcafe.com/

Roll for Initiative: http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Pinocchio (1940 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032910/

Legends of Tomorrow (TV series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4532368/

The Flash (TV series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3107288/

The Drownsman (2014 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3450134/

Iteration 206 - Being Poisoned Sucks

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We talk about whether and why the film Kung Fu Panda was a better representation of Chinese culture than some Chinese-made films. Then Ryan brings us a conspiracy notion questioning how we know whether the little details haven't been altered. From inventing a fictional baseball player and inserting him or her into history, to inventing an entire new historical sport. We share our adventures in simulations this week: Josh watches Event Horizon and plays Dwarf Fortress. Ryan gets food poisoning and is inspired to talk about poison in role-playing games and stories.

References and Recommendations:

Kung Fu Panda (2008 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441773/

Kung Fu Panda Should Have Been Made in China (2008 article): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/11/AR2008071103281.html

Event Horizon (1997 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119081/

Iteration 204 - Flavours of Evil

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This week we're excited about Starbound, a new video game we found out about from Kickstarter. We talk about microfiction as it appears in commercials. And we talk about education, conspiracy theories, and ideology. Josh plays D&D at roll for initiative, and reviews Stranger Things. Ryan finally gets started on the Game of Thrones television series, and he absolutely loves it. Ryan and Zoey review The Secret Life of Pets. And for our main topic, we talk about flavours of evil, different kinds of villains and degrees of villainy.

References and Recommendations:

Starbound (video game): http://playstarbound.com/

Roll for Initiative (local face-to-face gaming event): http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Stranger Things (television series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

Game of Thrones (television series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/

The Secret Life of Pets (2016 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709768/

Iteration 191 - The Moral of the Demon Car

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We start with some talk about some of the toys we used to have when we were kids, including the Crash Test Dummies. Then we talk about a long-awaited porting of Magic the Gathering's monsters to a D&D format. Ryan finally saw Jurassic World, and brings us his thoughts on it, as well as his daughter Zoey's thoughts. And for our main topic, we talk about The Car, a 1983 horror movie. We talk about how horror movies have their own sense of morality, and what happens when they break those morals, and whether as writers we should or shouldn't. And the importance of backstory or just explaining what's going on.


References and Recommendations:

Crash Test Dummies (toys): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Crash_Dummies

Starcom (1987 toys and TV show): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcom:_The_U.S._Space_Force

Roll for Initiative (local game convening): http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Free Comic Book Day: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Greater Victoria Public Library (also participating in Free Comic Book Day): https://gvpl.ca/

The Car (1977 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075809/

Iteration 190 - The Question of Harm to Animals in Simulations

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Reptilian creatures from space are coming to earth to take our jobs! We talk about our adventures in simulations, the video games we played, the movies we watched, and the random thoughts we had about the Flintstones. For our main topic this week, Ryan brings us his review of Murder at the Zoo, specifically a scene in which a lion fights a cougar. And we get to pondering about the ethics of enjoying fights and suffering, and whether it makes a difference if it's simulated or real.

References and Recommendations:

The Secret World (MMORPG): http://www.thesecretworld.com/

Roll for Initiative Victoria: http://www.rollforinitiative.ca/

Murders in the Zoo (1933 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024360/

Sharktopus vs Whalewolf (2015 film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharktopus_vs._Whalewolf

Iteration 175 - Braving Tradition

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We start by making excuses for why we're not doing more actual writing. In Minecraft, Josh builds a map house, and Ryan gets lost in the Nether. And Ryan watched, and reviews, Brave the 2012 film. For our main topic, we talk about the use and breaking of tradition. In a meta sense, in terms of breaking movie tropes, as well as in an internal sense, by the main character breaking with tradition. Plus a weird tangent in the middle in which we determine whether Ryan would stay as the Beast if he was magically transformed into it.

References and Recommendations: 

Brave (2012 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217209/

Iteration 172 - Flirting with the Dark Side of the Force

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This episode does not contain spoilers for Star Wars Episode VII. But before we get to the topic of Star Wars, we talk about The Martian. We talk about the movie Kick-Ass, and get into an argument about Ryan's parenting style. For our main topic, we discuss the mantras of the Jedi and the Sith, and whether or not the Sith is actually the better philosophy than the Jedi.

References and Recommendations:

The Martian (2015 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/

Kick-Ass (2010 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250777/

Iteration 168 - The Infinite Palette of Character Creation

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In this episode: we brainstorm some chalk ideas for Minecraft, enthuse about the shows we've watched, and the games we played. We talk about the kinds of computer code that is going to bring about the Singularity. Ryan likes Pacific Rim (2013 film). And for our main topic, character creation and the infinite palette, we talk about extremely non-standard characters, defining the limits of what counts as a character.


References and Recommendations:

Vikes Improv. https://www.facebook.com/VikesImprov/

Pacific Rim (2013 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/

Tri-Stat Role-playing system: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-Stat_dX

Iteration 154 - Rules of Storytelling

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We start with a philosophical-mythological discussion on the nature of time itself. Josh and Ryan talk about all the adventures they've been having in Minecraft and various other games. For our main topic, we talk about Pixar's rules of storytelling.

References and Recommendations:

Epic Games Victoria: http://www.epicgamesvic.com/

Hometech Games Plus: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hometech-Games-Plus/355714717872155


The Rules of Storytelling According to Pixar: 
http://io9.com/5916970/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar

Iteration 149 - To Perfection and Beyond - The Post-Endgame

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In this iteration of the podcast, we talk about what we've been up to in games, and then about elusive perfection, and whether game designers should build in achievable perfection into their games, or whether they should always force a choice, even to the bitter end.

References and Recommendations:

Roll for Initiative Victoria D&D event (correction: this event is July 25):
http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/roll-for-initiative-tickets-17189714900

The Tolkein Professor:
http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/the-hobbit/

Iteration 146 - Hapless Heroes - Neither Brains nor Brawn

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In this iteration of the Simulationist, fifty episodes of Game of Thrones, and 100 episodes of My Little Pony. Our main topic, which we eventually get to, is about heroes who rely on things other than brains or brawn. Are there any heroes who win without either wits or ability? Can those kinds of characters be interesting, or are they uncompelling?



References and Recommendations:

Retarded Policeman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yioJQFrqMXM

Wil Wheaton's Titansgrave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8HbkYV5ZaY

The Martian: http://www.andyweirauthor.com/

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/

Spin (2005 Canadian film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP59tQf_njc

Iteration 145 - The Buccaneers of Esquimalt

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In this iteration of the Simulationist Podcast: we remember Christopher Lee, talk about Spider-Man, Minecraft, and Game of Thrones.

References and Recommendations:

The Stupids (film) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117768/

Iteration 143 - The Codification Conundrum

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In this iteration of the show, Josh and Ryan ask the question whether or not codes of conduct are really necessary. We cover real-life codes, like the Comics Code Authority, and fantasy codes, like the paladin's. All the way to the Ten Commandments and Hammurabi's Code. The Dungeons & Dragons alignment system as a code in itself.

Josh and Ryan come up with Hat World, a comic book universe in which all superpowers are granted by hats.

The Helm: http://www.thehelmcomic.com/

Omlevex: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omlevex

Iteration 138 - Superstitions

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Ryan gushes some more about the upcoming Avengers movie. We examine some of the mechanics of Spider-Man. Ryan relates his experience with guilt as a motivating factor for our heroes in video games, with regard to The Secret World video game. And for a main topic, we talk about superstitions, their origins, and how they can be used in a magical setting.


References and Recommendations:

The Secret World: http://www.thesecretworld.com/
The Stanley Parable: http://www.stanleyparable.com/
Cicadas and Prime Numbers: http://io9.com/5895840/why-do-cicadas-know-prime-numbers
Weasel Hunting Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGs6oEGxJM

Iteration 137 - Layered Histories

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In this episode: Leave Batman's nipples alone! Ryan has a trippy dream about Giant Elk. Poetry as simulationism. Minecraft! Your friendly neighbourhood Fish-Man. And our main topic is about creating history for your fictional world, and all about layering it with multiple periods from history.

The Secret World: http://www.thesecretworld.com/

Roll for Initiative: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/roll-for-initiative-tickets-16539305508?aff=erelexporg

Subscribe to us on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-simulationist-podcast/id589774076

Tweet at Josh on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Spaceboot1

Like us on Facebook and chat with other listeners:
http://facebook.com/thesimulationist

Discuss the Simulationist and other topics on reddit!
http://reddit.com/r/thesimulationist
http://reddit.com/r/podcasts
http://reddit.com/r/dnd

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Spaceboot1

Iteration 125 - The Brute

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Iteration 125 recorded on 1-25! Josh and Ryan talk about their alphabets. The curious case of the spelling of Nyarlathotep, and how books used to be made, and how a Cthulhian conspiracy could be at work. Josh watches CBC's Schitt's Creek. Ryan runs into a bunch of bugs in his heavily modded Minecraft. And for our main topic, we tackle the idea of the brutish archetype in D&D and fiction and other games.


References and Recommendations:

Nyarlathotep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyarlathotep
Big Bird's Alphabet Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvhKZHAP8U
Q on CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/q/
Standard Action: https://www.youtube.com/user/Phasefirefilms

Iteration 116 - Finding One's Courage

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In this iteration of the podcast:
We start this week's conversation off with knife dancing. Ryan creates the most Canadian Dwarf Fortress mods ever. Josh makes a move to become the richest person on his Minecraft server. And for our main topic, we talk about courage, the kind possessed by lions, and other kinds.

Iteration 109 - The Don't Care Bears

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In this episode:
Josh talks about Terra Firma Craft and some other Minecraft mods. Ryan brings us his disappointing adventures in Care-a-lot, and how we would have made it better. We get all philosophical on what it really means to "care". And do the Care Bears provide answers that are just too easy? Are all our games and stories too easy? Can we make them more harder, more ambiguous, and more realistic? Do we really want realistic endings and solutions to fictional problems, or do we look to fiction to imagine a world that has solutions so we can actualize ourselves? And we uncover the Shame Bears in Ryan's brain.

Iteration 106 - The Circle of Antagony

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A short discussion about the new D&D Monster Manual, the Paladin's warhorse, and teamwork and team-helping abilities in role-playing games. The Sims-ulationist! Josh played an hour of the Sims 4, and reports back in this podcast. And Josh goes to Interactivity again. Ryan plays around with Tri-Stat stats for Bender and Robo-Cop http://tristat.wikispaces.com/

Ryan discovers a monster he's been working on turns out to be an internet fetish. Sparkling mummies. What is closer to the wellspring of life? Josh says bacteria. Ryan says wolves. Ryan delves the bottom of the ocean for ideas for Cthulhoid monstrosities. If Cabin in the Woods
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259521/ were a board game or a role-playing game, which characters/monsters are player characters?
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15987/arkham-horror

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/553/chez-geek .

So we have protagonists and antagonists, what about retagonists? Josh and Ryan tangentially touch on Eastern religion. We think prequels need to start using negative numbers, like Order of the Stick http://www.giantitp.com/Comics.html . Playing as monsters. Non-standard goals for players--what if the players just want their characters to get drunk and have as much fun as possible? http://www.bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/ .