8bit Ideas

Not yet…

pip — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:00:39 +0000

Usually today would be 8bit Friday, but I have not completed the episode yet. I’m almost there! It will be ready in time for next week.

- Pip

Episode 15: The Alphabet Show

pip — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:11 +0000

The original episode was about an hour long, and we had been talking for 30 minutes before that! I’m tweaking our winning formula once again… giving you only the best stuff!

- Pip

Episode 14: 8bit Lessons - Money

mark — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:00:12 +0000

We’re starting to do a few shoes on personal growth… The 8bit way. We’ve got Paul back on the couch with us again this week!

First up: money. Everyone uses it, but not everyone manages it the same way. Here’s what went down:

(0:47) Paul lets us know how much he’s missed us. Wow. Just, wow.
(2:05) Saving up money to buy our SNES games. $60 in the 80s-90s was a shit-ton of money, how much is that now?
(3:40) Games are actually cheaper now than they were in the 8bit era
(4:00) Paul discusses a mom ‘n’ pop game exchange store and their cheap 8bit games. And the hot people that work there.

Um… god I lagged on the rest. So I guess just listen to the show. Thanks!

-mark

Episode 13. The benefits of gaming.

pip — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:16 +0000

No guests. No frills. Just your 8bit warriors, Mark and Pip.

(0:53) Some Super Bowl banter. Or what I like to call: 2nd Thanksgiving.
(4:55) So what are the benefits of gaming? Sportsmanship. Motivation. Competitiveness.
(13:00) Games, when they teach us things, help us retain the information more efficiently. Also, to get good at any game, you have to read well.
(17:30) The 8bit characters brought us a plethora of personalities… in a very limited capacity. Today’s games have much more sophisticated graphics and sound, but the lack of these things back then meant that we had to use our imaginations to fill in what technology could tell us about these characters. And that was a good thing.
(19:15) We discuss the benefits of team sports: physical fitness, teamwork, memorization?
(23:13) Board games… we need to talk about board games more.
(24:05) Gaming helps develop a good work ethic. Or does it? (Let’s face it, some games are like crack)
(29:50) The socialization aspect of games. Or lack thereof…

- Pip

Episode 12.3 Closing Track: Mega Man 2

Episode 12 (Part III).

pip — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:00:18 +0000

Paul couldn’t make it this episode, but he manages to add his shine to the show!

Episode 12.2 Closing Track: Contra

Episode 12 (Part II).

pip — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:44 +0000

We continue on our gripe-fest:

(0:45) If a game is over-complicated, it can turn into work. Aren’t games supposed to be fun?
(4:00) Sometimes the thing that ruins gaming… is when no one wants to participate.
(5:19) It gets lonely at the top.
(11:25) Tip: play a game that “challenges” you. Whether it’s human or artificial intelligence you’re up against, make sure it’s “just hard enough.” Too easy or too hard = ruin. Fail.
(13:11) I talk about the desire for the game to be smart enough to set itself to easy/hard, etc… but I change my mind now, on the show notes. Fuck that, we should learn, as humans, our own limitations.

- Pip

Episode 12.1 Closing Track: Castlevania

Episode 12. Ruining the gaming experience (Part I).

pip — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:00:13 +0000

It’s the first in a three-part series. What a treat for you!

(1:05) Introducing our guest of the show - Davis! I say his name a lot… did I mention his name was Davis?
(2:10) With so many types of games and gamers out there, is there enough room for us all? Some think “casual gamers” ruin games for the hardcore.
(5:05) Hardcore gaming would be awesome! If it weren’t for actually living life….
(7:02) Button mashers, cheapness, doing the same technique over-and-over… is it a ruin, a developed skill, or a guilty pleasure?
(9:40) Annoying: having to buy multiple systems so that you can play online with your 360 friends, your PS3 friends, and your Wii friends. It is essentially the same game (especially 360/PS3 ports) and yet there’s no cross-console compatibility. If anyone knows that pain, it’s Davis (who owns 19 consoles)!
(13:45) Technology itself has ruined the gaming experience.
(21:00) Things that ruin the sports experience.

8bit Ideas is hitting from three of the four corners of America! Mark is in California, Pip is in Virginia, and Davis is in Texas.

- Pip

Episode 11 Closing Track: Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!

Episode 11. Snacks that are game-friendly.

pip — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:00:43 +0000

Trying the new format… and it fits!

(2:51) Tip: try to stay away from greasy snacks when gaming. You will garner much appreciation by the fellow warriors that share controllers with you.
(5:12) Are there snacks that are Wii-friendly?
(7:32) Tip: keep hydrated to stay on top of your game! Exception: beers and alcohol may impair the gaming experience! (Unless that experience includes shamelessly making an ass out of yourself)
(8:41) Cheese snacks in general…
(11:08) Tip: buy your snacks in bulk. Places like Costco will make sure that your game-fest isn’t killed because you ran out of Lipton’s Brisk Iced Tea.
On that note, have your friends bring their own shit every once in awhile and stop freeloading off of your ass!
(12:30) Word-association of snacks and games. It was fun to play on-the-air… but I have a feeling you can come up with better ones. Let us know!
(19:05) I lose Mark… and some hell breaks lose.
(21:00) Tip: go ahead, game and snack. But make sure to stop. And live your life.
(22:36) Closing out the show with a jam from the 8bit era!

- Pip

We’re growing! By shrinking?

pip — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:00:42 +0000

While this project has been tons of fun, we’re switching things up this year:

We’re going to try to stay on a single topic. Who knows? You may hear stuff that’s ACTUALLY useful now. This should lead to…
Shorter episodes. Because show-noting marathon episodes is a bitch. Plus, we figure our listeners’ ears were bleeding enough.
More frequent episodes. If we could get a weekly podcast, I would jizz. In. My pants.

Keep paying your ISP, and stay tuned. Let’s do this.

- Pip

Episode 10. The comeback.

pip — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:00:14 +0000

It’s been a good 6 months, and a lot has changed.

(2:00) Mark and I went to Vegas just before I moved. Drinking. Gambling. Avoiding death threats. What happens in Vegas… yada-yada-yada. Some things stay the same.
(6:20) Chroizo and eggs! We ate a HUGE breakfast at the Hash House A Go Go. I don’t know about that name, but they serve some big meals. Go there next time you head out!
(6:57) The social grenade: a friend you bring along, in order to be used as insurance in case a social situation goes awry. Basically, if the night goes bad, you bust his balls for being a douchebag in front of everyone. Makes for a few laughs - and no one thinks you’re the one actually fucking things up. Also known as Good Cop/Bad Cop.
(9:05) NFL playoffs: every single team I’ve picked to move on has lost. That’s pretty hard to do, I should be impressed. Right? (Better luck next year, Falcons)
(11:05) We almost let it slip through the cracks, but did you know Las Vegas is also the home of the Pinball Hall of Fame? The site shows an impressive list of games as well as directions. As well as horrible website design.
(18:36) We rant a bit on white people and paintball. Meanwhile, Paul shares his expertise as “The Jane Goodall of White People.”
(23:25) Basically stalling until Mark gets back… I try to discuss how to gamble on the NFL Playoffs just like you would March Madness. Sans visual aids. Don’t worry - I’m listening to the show right now… and I don’t get it either.
(25:38) Hey Paul, since you like whiteboards and diagrams so much, I thought you’d appreciate this. Props to Mark for showing me this site!
(29:00) Paul’s review/advertisement of Left 4 Dead.
(40:30) The Professional Fat Kid is now on Yelp!
(48:55) Quick hits on food: The Stinking Rose, Father’s Office, and Yard House.
(53:05) Quick hits on movies: The Spirit Eva Mendes, Kung Fu Panda, and Gran Turino.
(1:01:30) Twi-hards, STFU! Meanwhile, the stars of The Prestige have more work: New Wolverine and Terminator movies… what?!?!?!

Enjoy the episode. More to come in 2009, no doubt!

- Pip