Episodes
Tuesday Jan 15, 2013
BioShock Infinite
Tuesday Jan 15, 2013
Tuesday Jan 15, 2013
[Digital Gonzo 2013]
Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits and Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse make their first appearance on the BioShock shows here. In actual fact we actually recorded a session a week ago, but the file corrupted and not being slaves to calamity we geared up for another go.
A late addition to the cast is long-time gaming journalist Matt Lees of Videogamer.com. He was brought in to mitigate the gushing praise that dominated the first, doomed recording. The end result is a more balanced show.
The show starts with audio adaptations of YouTube videos on BioShock Infinite from myself and Matt. If you've already seen them you can jump to the relevant time-stamp.
04.00: BioShock Infinite Explained [Gonzo Planet Style]
21.00: Everything BioShock Infinite Gets Wrong
37.00: Main Show
For Part 2 If I was going to suggest people who had problems with the game listen to the first part, I'd say by the same token that those who loved it will get more out of this second installment. Of course if you're up to having your feelings on this delicate matter royally challenged you should listen to both.
Once again I'm joined by Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits, Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse and Matt Lees of Videogamer.
This show starts with a trio of audio articles on BioShock Infinite. My deeper thoughts are scattered about the podcast in a hopefully cogent fashion. Among other things we talk music, sensory memory, free will, constants and variables, plot holes, religion, and the ramifications of this title on the greater games industry.
02.04.00 Meeting Elizabeth [By Daniel Floyd]
02.15.00 Infinite Criticisms [By David Merrett]
02.21.00 Is a Better Home Awaiting? [By James Batchelor]
02.33.00 Main Show
Monday Jan 14, 2013
BioShock 2: Minerva's Den
Monday Jan 14, 2013
Monday Jan 14, 2013
[Digital Gonzo 2013]
This time we focus on the DLC for BioShock 2, a five hour standalone narrative centering around Rapture's early computer system.
The fictional technology of BioShock is woven in with real world events and people, chiefly Alan Turing and in this show we get to discuss how this is presented and what makes this a powerful, effective, personal little narrative.
I would imagine everybody has played this by now, but if not it's well worth the 800 point asking price. This show is full to the brim with spoilers over the first three games so make sure you know everything you need to going in.
My guests are once again Sharon Shaw of Do try This at Home, Mark Ord of Gaming ORDtopsy and we're joined by Chris Eason of GameBurst. You will also hear a snippet of Gary Blower from the GameBurst replay covering this game and more from Tony Atkins of Cane and Rinse on the multiplayer mode and Protector Trials.
We do of course steer clear of Columbia for one more week, but next time we're all about BioShock Infinite, and I will as always endeavour to put out the most entertaining, deep and complex podcast covering this game.
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
[Digital Gonzo 2013]
For time and pacing reasons I have separated out the BioShock 2 coverage. In the next show we talk Minerva's Den as well as the Protector Trials and Multiplayer mode, known to fans as Fall of Rapture.
In this show we discuss the main story, to which I have re-applied the working title of Sea of Dreams. Just so we all know which one we're talking about and because frankly just shoving a '2' on the end does a disservice to the game, which in several very important ways is actually better than the original. Cease your protestations and allow us to convince you over the course of this rather emotional tale, which balances the political rhetoric of the first game with a personal, poignant story of love and loss, sacrifice and inspiration. Or on the other hand, depending on how you play it, something else entirely.
This also gives us a chance to talk about it's the combat throughout the game series, something honed to perfection here. We do talk about the action in Infinite but steer clear of anything remotely resembling a spoiler to that game. Storytelling through gameplay, collectivism, parental responsibility and pressure to exceed your predecessors are all discussed.
My guests are Sharon Shaw of Do Try This At Home, Mark Ord of Gonzo Planet and for the first time as a reviewing guest on Digital Gonzo, former Digital Cowboy and current co-host of Cane and Rinse, Mr Tony Atkins.
Saturday Jan 12, 2013
BioShock
Saturday Jan 12, 2013
Saturday Jan 12, 2013
[Digital Gonzo 2013]
Strangely enough this was not a podcast series I had planned for. Right in the middle of the third act of the Mass Effect shows BioShock Infinite gets released and grabs me by the soul. I went back and started playing the 2007 original, then BioShock 2 and Minerva's Den. Mark Ord has done a fantastic video investigation on the first game for Gonzo Planet and an edited audio version of that piece forms the first act of this show.
If you've not seen it, I recommend that you do. Alternatively if you have seen it and would like a refresher or would rather listen to it in audio form then enjoy the experience of his lovely, calm, Scottish voice talking us through the game. If you've seen it already or want to skip forward the main discussion starts at the 56 minute mark.
I brought back Mark because he knows his Rapture. In fact we recorded and lost an entire two hour session last Monday. That almost never happens and can really take the wind out of your sails so the second attempt had to be even better than the first. I recruited James Batchelor and Gary Blower of GameBurst and we managed a fascinating 98 minute round-table discussion on the deeper aspects.
I pulled out all the stops with the edit to ensure you got the absolute best I could deliver. I have not left this kitchen table since 8am and it is now 8pm.
But the end result might just be the best episode of Digital Gonzo I've ever put out.
Enjoy, and I will be back shortly with three more podcasts on the incredible world of BioShock.