April 27th 2012 3:19 pm PT

Show 437: Ken Levine and more

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)

Co-host : e (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)

Co-host : lollip0p (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)

Guests:

Interview: Ken Levine, Irrational Games (30:10 - 55:05)

Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:
http://majornelson.com/category/marketplace/demo/ http://majornelson.com/2012/04/20/trials-evolution-breaks-xbox-live-arcade-sales-record/ Ken Levine Irrational Games http://www.bioshockinfinite.com/ http://blog.bioware.com/2012/04/25/operation-exorcist/ Skylanders for CPC: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180869111334#ht_500wt_1413 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Sedan S350 on Bing Autos

Show Details: 

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Duration (approx): 01:29:30

File Size (approx): 41.06 MB

Format: MP3

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Comments? Questions? Email me

  • Anonymous

    GMTA Major.

    I had prepared a long response on the G+ Hangout in response to another commenter, and I guess I didn’t post it.  Nor did I send an e-mail on it looking through my sent items.

    But after you were done with the show, I wondered about doing a show on the Inside Xbox set, specifically where you folks do the Kinect videos.  Since you already have the camera equipment setup there.  The only thing you’d need is the boom mic from the Inside Xbox LIVE green screen.

    It’d give more consistent audio, as well as much better video.

    • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

      Thanks for the comment. The Inside Xbox set is not designed for live shows. We don’t have the ability to do live switching which is what is required. Glad you enjoyed Ken. I could have gone on another hour with him – he’s a great guy.

      • Anonymous

        He definitely came across as one.  I realize most of your interviews are marketing pieces, but it’d be great if you could do more “human interest” interviews.  Kind of an “Inside the Gamer’s Studio” type deal.  Maybe start off once a month.Fair enough, though my intentions were more along the lines of a recorded session.  If I remember correctly, the Inside Xbox LIVE/Kinect studio has a couch and a chair or loveseat (or it did at one time), If you just have one camera, just use the camera angle used to shoot the couch, and use a boom mic or wireless mics to record the conversations.The G+ Hangouts are cool, but they’re extremely unorganized.  Even though you attempted to follow a normal show schedule, because everyone was all over the place, it didn’t seem like they were all on the same page.  The G+ Hangouts would be better if everyone had a HD 1080p video camera, noise cancelling mic, and an earphone so they could hear the conversation and reduce feedback, but some people insist on not doing that.  Especially the latter. The podcasts, come across as much better organized and much more fluid, so far the G+ Hangouts have seemed to suffer from complete chaos, in every respect.  Not for lack of trying, but it’s just how things go I suppose.Also, regarding the G+ Hangout last time, for me Stepto was the first one to return after the blackout.  Is it possible that maybe he became the person controlling the Hangout from that point, or is that not how it works?Don’t get me wrong about the G+ Hangouts.  They’re fun and much more spontaneous, not to mention we get to offer direct feedback live.  However, they don’t do much as a replacement for the podcast, in my opinion.  Plus, there is no way to introduce interviews into the show, where with a recorded session you could.  Granted some would still be audio only since they’re phone interviews.Sorry for the long comment.  I’m sure my thoughts are fascinating to read, but like I said, I had a long comment prepared after the last Hangout and at the time for whatever reason didn’t post it.  You can probably see why now. :D Cheers.

  • Anonymous

    Does anyone have any idea if the ME2 DLC should come back on sale?

    • Anonymous

      Likely when the ME3 DLC goes on sale they’ll do some kind of BioWare sale.  They used to happen at certain times of the year, but it seems like they happen more and more often.  I would assume you’ll see a sale this Summer, and or Holiday season.

      • Anonymous

        Thanks! I’ll be hoping for this summer… do you know of any way I could track this on major nelson’s blog? Would a special like that be published on the “marketplace” section?

  • http://twitter.com/masterchief0514 aaron

    when will the walking dead game have all 5 chapters out?

    • Anonymous

      All five episodes are scheduled for release in 2012, so I would assume Episode 5 will be released in November or early December.

    • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

      The press release said it would conclude by summer 2012. I’m guessing they’re going to release one per month. April, May, June, July, August. Five months, five episodes.

  • Josh Martin

    Hey can you do a show of just you and e? I’ve been asking for the past 5 weeks :(

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=785779443 Zack Stein

      Why?

      • Josh Martin

        Because i used to rember back in like 07 when it was just E and Larry, they used to be able to talk about anything and it was good, maybe your right adinnieken but i just want one to show to see if the vibe is still there

    • Anonymous

      I’m pretty sure they had one this year and it was the most boring and short show you could ask for.  It felt like neither Larry nor Eric had anything to say add to the conversation.  What’s nice about having multiple people, is they offer different perspectives on gaming, especially within Microsoft. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=785779443 Zack Stein

    See how easy that was? Very good show. Great interview. Smooth like butter. Back in the saddle. Now, time for a request from The Obvious Desk: Have you begun your search around the building for a fourth? I dig E, and Laura is sweet. But you need that Stepto energy to balance it out. Major is high energy, but a massive dynamic is missing. Just thoughts from a fan, no harsh critiques here.

    • http://twitter.com/Amolain 夢を見られた・・・⠠⠁⠍⠁⠝⠙⠁ :)

      Feels like such an age ago that Larry did episodes all on his lonesome… Can’t believe I’ve been listening that long.

    • Anonymous

      Someone who can talk a little bit about what they do.  It gets a bit tiring sometimes to hear how you folks can’t talk about something.  If you can’t talk about something you don’t need to bother even mentioning it.  You’re just needlessly teasing.

      • Anonymous

        It’d be nice if someone actually said some game they played was a pile of garbage instead of pretending every game is great.

        • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

          If you have listened to the show for any length of time, you know that we don’t mention games we don’t prefer.

          • Anonymous

            Yes, I’ve been listening since it was just you – I meant for a theoretical new person.

          • NA A

            And that is also a disservice to your listeners. You’d get more respect if you give honest opinions about games you don’t like.

    • Anonymous

      Is being “sweet” enough for the show though?  Merely squeaking the word “Awesome!” now and again doesn’t seem much of a contribution. And Larry does Name The Game really before anyone says otherwise.

      (Cue the Internet White Knights now…..)

      As for Stepto, he was ok at first but did harp on about his dog too much (without being funny, it really didn’t need an audio message from him after the poor thing died), “my wife Rochelle”, micro celebs like Wil Wheaton, or going on about “performing” at Wootstock. That book of enforcement shtick got old very quickly.

      • http://twitter.com/Seerrrgio Master Chief

        Totally Agree.

      • Anonymous

        I don’t understand what you expect out of this podcast.

        To me, the podcast is about insight and information, not entertainment.  Any entertainment gleaned from the podcast is because of the clash of personalities between Larry and everyone else, the occasional stories they share, or the interviews.

        The only way to gain greater insight and more information is if you have more people who can share their perspectives, and feed off of each other in conversation.  That to me makes a show interesting and worth listening to.

        What aren’t you getting out of the podcast that you would get if the podcast didn’t include Laura?  Neither Laura nor Stepto took away from the show, the only added to it.  So, again I’m curious as to what not having additional people would bring to the show?

    • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

      We’ll add a fourth when it feels right. As I’ve said to others that email me…I can’t find a fourth, the fourth has to find us. Once we have someone that just clicks with the rest of us, the decision will be easy. We all want to add another voice and we will when the right person comes along.

      • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

        I prefer a three voice limit. Podcasts that have larger groups sound too busy. There’s a reason the classic talk radio format is two hosts and a newsperson.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1317827507 David Hodgson

    this might be a stupid question but what happened to the rest of the show?

  • NA A

    Major, you have a bad habit of finishing people sentences for them. Let Ken speak. 

  • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

    Kudos to lollip0p for mentioning Wordament upgrading to Xbox Live. That game is quick and fun. Perfect for mobile gaming. So addicting. Here’s hoping Words By Post gets upgraded to Xbox Live too.

  • Zachariah Callaway

    Sorry didn’t mean to post.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Hristos-Stylianou/100002627966410 Hristos Stylianou

    major nelson what happened to technical side of the shows. i remember your interviews with saint rows developers talking about resolution and texture fixing etc. i miss the old geeky/tech savy shows.

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