PolyCast Episode 65: "Slippery Slope"

[DanQ]

Where it begins is not necessarily so clear cut. The sixty-fifth episode of PolyCast, an official podcast of Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS), is now netcasting. "Slippery Slope" features regular co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Makahlua and Imran Siddiqui with returning guest co-hosts Rich "Provost Harrison" Harrison and David Troy "Wittlich" Burns, and first-time guest co-host Tom "dojoboy" Herring.

PolyCast is a bi-weekly audio production in an ongoing effort to give the Civ community an interactive voice on game strategy. A nominee in the "Best Produced" and "Gaming" categories of the 2008 Podcast Awards, sibling show ModCast focuses on Civ modding and RevCast focuses on Civilization: Revolution.

To date, ACS is the only known community on the Web to produce its own Civ podcasts.

[DanQ]

Summary of Topics

- 01m10s | News (1 of 3)
Extended discussion on immediate and greater implications of designing for free as argued by Civilization IV designer Soren Johnson.
- 23m11s | News (2 of 3)
A "March Mayhem" for game developers where CivIV's developer took on Halo's (related article).
- 32m53s | News (3 of 3)
The for sale sign is up on Rise of Nations developer Big Huge Games (related article #1/2/3).

- Intro/Outro | Miscellaneous
The unorothodox questions one co-host answered to win a free month of an optional subscription service, another pointing out something they did recently that is newsworthy, and return participation possibilities.

[xmen510]

Great episode.

Time for another Top 10 List by DanQ. DanQ's Top 10 Game Developers

[DanQ]

Great episode.

, and , at the same time.

This is an atypical episode for us. It has been four months since we covered one let alone multiple News topics , but moreover this is about computer gaming in general with some Civ-specific or related elements. The last time we approached show content in this manner was Episode 25, more than a year-and-a-half ago.

Time for another Top 10 List by DanQ.

-- I may be the only regular panelist happy about this request though.

DanQ's Top 10 Game Developers

Hmmm... could that include one or more now defunct studios?

[xmen510]

I didn' really specify living or dead developers, so go nuts and enjoy yourself!

One of the things that makes the different Podcasts that you guys do so great is the Interaction between the Hosts and with the Guests. So many are just dry and dull. You guys make it fun and enjoyable to listen too, even if at times you don't really care about the current topic being covered. No matter what, the shows are always enjoyable.

One complaint however, though this is directed at Revcast:

It is too short!

Other than that you guys get (for all shows):

out of 10

There is always room for improvement after all. I wouldn't want you to get complacent now!

[Cartimandua]

One complaint however, though this is directed at Revcast:

It is too short!

Other than that you guys get (for all shows):

out of 10

There is always room for improvement after all. I wouldn't want you to get complacent now!

Ha ha! Thanks! I think RevCast is only 15 minutes because we were afraid the public would get tired of hearing from me if it was any longer

[xmen510]

No one would ever get tired of listening to Cartimandua! If they do, send them over to me and I'll fix them up but good!

[Supr49er]

... This is an atypical episode for us. ...

True, but it was interesting.

However, my download must have been flawed because I thought I heard Imran saying that he actually played Civ.

[DanQ]

I didn' really specify living or dead developers, so go nuts and enjoy yourself!

Just checking.

One of the things that makes the different Podcasts that you guys do so great is the Interaction between the Hosts and with the Guests. So many are just dry and dull.

Thank you kindly. We share the sentiment.

You guys make it fun and enjoyable to listen too, even if at times you don't really care about the current topic being covered. No matter what, the shows are always enjoyable.

(I also at the "even if at times" part.)

One complaint however, though this is directed at Revcast:

It is too short!

To expand on that a little bit while on the subject of RevCast, you believe its frequency (monthly) would be sufficient so long as episodes were longer? How long would you prefer to see them -- as long as a standard PolyCast or ModCast episode, or somewhere in between perhaps?

Other than that you guys get (for all shows):

out of 10

There is always room for improvement after all. I wouldn't want you to get complacent now!

[DanQ]

True, but it was interesting.

I'm glad that it comes across as interesting in playback as it did during recording. This episode is undoubtedly of a more serious nature than our usual fare.

However, my download must have been flawed because I thought I heard Imran saying that he actually played Civ.

-- do not adjust your audio player for it played the file correctly.

[xmen510]

To expand on that a little bit while on the subject of RevCast, you believe its frequency (monthly) would be sufficient so long as episodes were longer? How long would you prefer to see them -- as long as a standard PolyCast or ModCast episode, or somewhere in between perhaps?

A little longer would be nice. Closer to the half-hour mark. Some of the topics they cover are nice, but just don't seem to get quite enough attention. The frequency is great for all the casts, though if the show became longer and you needed to draw out the time between, that is understandable.

[Imran Siddiqui]

However, my download must have been flawed because I thought I heard Imran saying that he actually played Civ.

I don't what you were listening to

[MMC]

In your talk about MMOs and the like, I happened to notice that you didn't mention EVE-Online's semi-unique payment model. You can pay to play a number of ways:

• Buy a regular subscription (like many other MMOs)
• Buy a timecard (a code you enter on the website to add 1, 3, 6, or 12 months to your subscription)
• Buy a 'PLEX' (Pilot's Licence EXtension - like a 1 month timecard, but is a tradeable in-game item)

Timecards can be converted to PLEXes in-game. They are not automatically applied to your account. Thus instead of extending your own subscription, you can choose to sell the PLEX for in-game currency (InterStellar Kredits - ISK). I believe the current going-rate is around 750m ISK, which is about 10-15 mins (or less) of income for many of the top players.

If Civ5 was made as an MMO, then a system where you could, say, use your production powerhouse of a Civ to produce units, which you could then sell to another civ and use the gold to buy your next month's subscription, might be an interesting way of 'paying' people for playing.

[DanQ]

In your talk about MMOs and the like, I happened to notice that you didn't mention EVE-Online's semi-unique payment model.

Yes, we didn't go into detail or even mention that model. Our discussion was not exhaustive nor was it intended to be; by by your describing it here, it extends our dialogue on designing for "free".