Iteration 185 - Robot Angel Philosophy

 The direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_185_-_Robot_Angel_Philosophy.mp3

Send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start off this week's iteration of the show with a short discussion about actors playing actors, in a kind of recursive reality. And the amount of artfulness that it seems to take to pretend not to be competent at something you're actually good at. In games this week, Josh figured out how to recover a Minecraft save. Has more fun with villagers. Ryan watches and reviews Barbarella (1968 film). Which spawns our main topic for the episode: talking about angels who forget, and whether forgetting is necessary for forgiveness, and whether artificial intelligence should be programmed for forgiveness or forgetfulness, or both. Josh comes up with an idea for a league of drone do-gooders. And we argue about philosophy and morality.

References and Recommendations:

Barbarella (1968 Jane Fonda film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarella_%28film%29

Iteration 184 - Spirits of the Storm

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_184_-_Spirits_of_the_Storm.mp3

email us at thesimulationist@gmail.com

This is our very special Daylight Savings episode. We discuss simulating world time, and marvel at the invention of time zones. Ryan's conspiracy thought of the week: Mott's Clamato and the ancient Semitic deity of drought and Death: Mot. Josh goes on a weird tangent about how Caesars still exist in the world. This turns into a discussion on twinning cities. And that in turn turns into a conversation about the transporter from Star Trek, reincarnation, enlightenment, and the Art of War. We talk about our adventures in video games, the things we built, and the battles we fought. Ryan discovers a new cartoon called Miraculous Ladybug. Plus the remake of Evil Dead. But our main topic for the week is about how to do weather in a fantasy setting.


References and Recommendations:

Mot (deity): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot_%28god%29

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

Josh's Minecraft Creation: http://imgur.com/a/5pe4K

Miraculous Ladybug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous:_Tales_of_Ladybug_and_Cat_Noir

Evil Dead (2013 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/

Iteration 183 - Schooling Wizards (and Fighters)

The direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_183_-_Schooling_Wizards.mp3

Send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

In this iteration of the Simulationist Podcast, we gush about Wizards of the Coast's new addition to the Dungeon Master's Guild list of available IP: Ravenloft! Ryan shares some of his brainstorms for new adventures and realms set in the misted lands of Ravenloft. We talked about some cross-over ideas between The Addam's Family, Ravenloft, and Harry Potter. Another quick conversation about brain-swapping and how we would do a modern version of Frankenstein. We talk a little bit about Minecraft, its latest update, and Josh's work on villages. Ryan recounts his time playing Marvel's Avengers Alliance.

This week's main topic is about how eduction works in a fantasy D&D setting. How are schools founded, how they operate, and what they do for your player and backstory. A bit of conversation about certain technology, and how schools might foster technology and thus change your campaign world. And then we go on a tangent about Star Trek, and a bit about how education works in a modern day campaign or a futuristic fictional world.

References and Recommendations:

DM's Guild: http://www.dmsguild.com/

Mistipedia: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/wiki/Main_Page

The origins of the Academy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy

Aaron Swartz (the guy whose name I couldn't remember): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz

Iteration 182 - Simplicity and Other Game Design Topics

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_182_-_Assorted_Game_Design_Topics.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

In this iteration of the Simulationist podcast: we talk about the Academy Awards and try to convince ourselves why they are significant in our culture. Josh accuses Ryan of being a hipster. Then we talk about the DotA tournament in Shanghai that fired its announcer. Josh talks about comedy, Minecraft, and the TV shows we watched. On the topic of structuring television, telling stories forward and backward. Ryan reports on watching Deadpool. Then, prompted by Ryan recently tinkering with Hero Quest, we talk about the simplicity factor in game design, and how we add our own features and rules tweaks to role-playing games. And finally, we talk about board games, and picking a good board game for young children to play.


References and Recommendations:

The Wizard of Speed and Time (1988 film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoLhLn9hVkE

Shanghai Major Dota 2 Tournament 2016: http://wiki.teamliquid.net/dota2/Shanghai_Major/2016

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

Ye Olde Inn (HeroQuest site): http://www.yeoldeinn.com/

Board Game Geek: https://boardgamegeek.com/

Iteration 181 - Primordial Alphabet Soup

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_181_-_Primordial_Alphabet_Soup.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start by discussing the sport of boxing, and Josh gives his thoughts on his first boxing lesson. We talk about the evolutionary origins of play and sport. Then we turn to a weird tangent about drinking milk and playing sports. Then why do we eat so much of animals but so rarely ever drink animal blood? Then we talk about evolution, how it works, and what it means for making simulations. And will humans ever go extinct? Finally, Ryan rants about how people don't think enough.


References and Recommendations:

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Naismith

Vibrating Football Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJI9sFJ9RXQ

Iteration 180 - Quests for Holy Grails

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_180_-_Quests_for_Holy_Grails.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We talk a bit about seafood, then a bit about the movie Deadpool. We get a little bit excited about the upcoming Lantasy convention in Victoria. Then we talk about the games we've been playing. And Ryan watched the 1981 film Excalibur. And that becomes our main topic. We talk about the divine mandate of kings, and how that leads into grail quests.

References and Recommendations:

LANtasy: https://www.lantasy.com/

Excalibur (1981 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/

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

Iteration 179 - Minecraft as an Artistic Medium

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_179_-_Minecraft_as_an_Artistic_Medium.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

In this iteration of the podcast, we start with some talk about the designed environment of a fast food restaurant. Then we get into a small discussion about automation, and how automation works or doesn't work when it comes to game design. Then Ryan gets excited about the upcoming Deadpool movie, but worries about it being a box office flop. Then we talk a bit about our recent adventures in Minecraft. And from there we get into a long talk about art in Minecraft, and how a video game can serve as a medium for artistic expression to rival more traditional art forms like painting and sculpture. We talk about how we think art will be made in the future, like in the Star Trek universe. And how we'll consume food in the universe of Star Trek. We talk about the art of curation and criticism.

References and Recommendations:

Deadpool movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/

Robert Bateman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bateman_%28painter%29