Iteration 217 - Succession and Transition of Power

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

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

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 160 - Fighting While Wounded

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We talk about new TV starting up for the fall, including DC's Gotham, and we ask whether Bruce Wayne counts as a "main character". Josh plays Minecraft and Dungeons & Dragons at Roll for Initiative. Ryan reviews Dune, the movie. And Son of Batman. Ryan also reviews the new animated film Son of Batman. And for our main topic: what do you do with your hero when they're wounded? Do they fight on? Do they limp?

References and Recommendations:

Roll for Initiative: http://rollforinitiative.ca

IF Con: http://ifconvictoria.com/Welcome.html

Dune (1984 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087182/

Son of Batman (2014 animated film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3139072/

Josh's Other Podcast: http://soundcloud.com/spaceboatone

Iteration 153 - World-Shattering Planet-Building

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We start with a talk about Jon Stewart finishing off the Daily Show, and what it means for an icon to quit or retire. We discuss Hollowfaust: the City of Necromancers. Plus, our adventures in Minecraft, and Josh's adventures in Dungeons & Dragons, which our listeners can join at Roll for Initiative Victoria. And for our main topic, we talk about world building and taking inspiration from one medium to another, translating between very different worlds with very different rules. Which leads us into a rather odd conversation about an otherworldly invasion of sanity-defying beasts.

References and Recommendations:

Roll for Initiative role-playing event: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/roll-for-initiative-tickets-17639853276

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

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send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com


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 144 - Stinging Nettle Vampire Hunting

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send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start the podcast with a bit of talk about tunneling and artificial islands. We talk about television finales, prompted by the recent season finale of Community. We talk about pilots, and the need for punchlines. We talk a bit about Age of Ultron, and romance in movies, namely the romance between Bruce Banner and Black Widow.

References and Recommendations:

Lookwell (TV pilot) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBQ3HbB0c8Y

Medicine Man (film starring Sean Connery) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104839/

Vampire Hunter D (film) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Hunter_D

Iteration 140 - Failures of Diplomacy

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This week in the Simulationist: failing on diplomacy. How do you fail to do diplomacy, and what happens when you do?

References and Recommendations:

Other Space (television series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4561950/

Cynical Walrus: https://www.facebook.com/cynicalwalrus