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Arcade Castle: A Gaming Podcast

Welcome! You've reached the home of the Arcade Castle Podcast, a podcast that looks a little at video games, a little at board games, and those things that got a little bit of both. While most podcasts tend to look at the latest and greatest, we have opted for a far darker path through the sprawling realms of digital and analog games. For lying between the two genres is a pile of games few dare to play, games that often defy categorization. Bizarre chimeric creations and licensed games abound here. Found in thrift stores and online, studying these games will be a global effort a countries across the planet send these objects to the Arcade Castle for examination. Why do we do this? To determine how well these board games capture the essence of their parent franchise. To see how the strategies, gameplay, game mechanics, player challenges, and player roles are translated from the digital realm of video games to the analog base of the board game. Can we learn anything about design and gameplay by comparing how a single franchise is represented in two different mediums? Can one inform the other? That, and who doesn't love board games and video games?
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Arcade Castle: A Gaming Podcast
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Now displaying: 2016
Arcade Castle: Episode 03 - Age of Mythology: The Board Game 0
Aug 2, 2016

During the sweltering summer days of July, Arcade Castle tried to escape the heat and humidity by escaping to the...identical climes of the Mediterranean. Failing to escape the weather, they decided to find out which ancient civilization of the old world was the dominant superpower and, since Arcade Castle has as of yet to finish their time machine, tried to determine the answer with a board game. Age of Mythology: The Board Game is an adaptation of the Real Time Strategy video game of the same name. Players choose between the Egyptians, Norse, and Greek civilizations to do exciting things like Explore! Trade! And Gather!

 As players amass resources they can choose to militarize their civilization or become an economic powerhouse. Does this game reward players for turning their civilization into a trade hub? Or, does it reward them for become a military force to be reckoned with?

In Episode 3, Arcade Castle examines the first of many attempts by developers to capture a Real Time Strategy video game in a board game. With computers handing many of the multi-tasking details of a typical Real Time Strategy skirmish between players, can this board game handle translating these fine details into game rules and mechanics? How does Age of Mythology solve the problem that faces all Real Time Strategy board games: How can you create a board game to imitate the 'real time' nature of the video game genre? 

Episode Outline:


00:00-05:00: Podcast Updates and Show News.


05:00-17:00: Discussing Real Time Strategy Video Games, the history of the genre, as well as some of the foundational mechanics that typify the genre.


17:00-30:00: Examining the components, rules, and gameplay of the Age of Mythology: The Board Game.


30:00-50:00: Comparing Age of Mythology to the Real Time Strategy genre at large. How does it compare? Discussing our final thoughts on the board game as well as potential fixes for some of the issues we encountered during gameplay.


50:00-66:00: Breakdown Discussion: Is it possible to accurately create a 'Real Time Strategy' board game? What would one have to do to capture the frenzy and multitasking the genre embodies?

 

If, after listening to the podcast, you desire more, you can find us at: www.arcadecastle.com

Additionally, you can find us on Itunes (and a number of podcast services), Twitter, Facebook, BoardGameGeek, and you can contact us at: contactarcadecastle@gmail.com

Also, if you like the new theme song, check out Tony Robot! https://www.facebook.com/louisvilletonyrobot/

 

Arcade Castle: Episode 2 - SimCity The Card Game 0
Apr 30, 2016

On this rainy day in April, The Arcade Castle decided to distract themselves from the boredom and woes

 that only come from being stuck inside during rainy weather. Searching through the archives they come across a game that reminds them of their youth; halcyon days filled with designing cities, relaxing music, and bulldozing schools and libraries to get a higher population count.

However, as they open the game and begin reading the extensive tome that acts as the rulebook to playing this game, will Arcade Castle be overjoyed, or underwhelmed, by this mid-90s card game by Mayfair Games and Maxis Games? Can the budding city of ArcadeCastleopolis survive disaster?!

In this (slightly delayed) episode, Arcade Castle examines SimCity The Card Game. In stores from 1994 to 1995, this CCG saw several starter sets and trading card packs. But can this game live up to players' expectations? Does this card game successfully capture the strategy and gameplay from the video game series?

 

Episode Outline: 

00:00-15:00: Discussion about the SIM franchise and how SimCity as a videogame works. Once Upon a Powerup: The Story of Will Wright and the Simulated City.

15:00-35:00: Examination of the rules and gameplay of SimCity: The Card Game.

35:00-52:00: Comparing SimCity: The Card Game to the SimCity franchise. How do both games function? What core gameplay mechanics and strategies drive each in turn? What expectations do videogamers bring to the table when playing SimCity: The Card Game? Does this card game meet those expectations?

52:00-64:00: Breakdown Discussion: How faithful should a licensee be when they are adapting a videogame into a board game or card game? Can you truly adapt a video game from digital into analog?

 

If, after listening to the podcast, you desire more, you can find us at: www.arcadecastle.com

Additionally, you can find us on Itunes (and a number of podcast services), Twitter, Facebook, BoardGameGeek, and you can contact us at: contactarcadecastle@gmail.com

Also, if you like the new theme song, check out Tony Robot! https://www.facebook.com/louisvilletonyrobot/

Arcade Castle: Episode 01 - The Quest For The Rings 0
Mar 1, 2016

On this leap day in the year 2016, a podcast was borne from the ether and unleashed unto the world. From the untamed lands twixt the wartorn realms of board games and video games, two intrepid explorers examine long-forgotten artifacts. Housed within a crumbling structure, the Arcade Castle is the only place these misbegotten games and antiquities can call home. But can these explorers survive the trials and tribulations these games will call upon them or, will they go mad trying?


In this debut episode, the Arcade Castle podcast takes a look at The Quest For The Rings, a game from the Master Strategy Series on the Odyssey II from 1981. Can an atari-era game hold up to today's gaming demands? Will the master strategy series live up to its name?

If, after listening to the podcast, you desire more, you can find us at: www.arcadecastle.com

Additionally, you can find us on Itunes (and a number of podcast services), Twitter, Facebook, BoardGameGeek, and you can contact us at: contactarcadecastle@gmail.com

Also, if you like the new theme song, check out Tony Robot! https://www.facebook.com/louisvilletonyrobot/

Episode Outline:

00:00-15:00: Introduction to the podcast, including why we want to do a podcast and our reasons behind it.

15:00-34:00: History of the game and gameplay overview

34:00-54:00: An in-depth examination of the guiding principles that define the game's strategy

54:00-74:00: In our first breakdown discussion we tackle the issue of the implementation of SMART technology and Apps into boardgames. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 

 

 

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