In light of Summer Game Fest, we dive into conventions and gaming events, IRL and virtual. What we've been to and where we'd like to see events go in the future. How have gaming conventions changed over time, and how does the audience affect the programming?

• 0:00 - What we're playing: Dragon Quest III, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Zac); Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto V, The Sims 1 (Bryan); Dave the Diver, Steamworld Dig, The Sims 4 (Xan).
• 21:18 - Our personal experience with conventions: E3, anime & music conventions, game reselling conventions, Tokyo Game Show.
• 32:51 - The prototypical "gaming convention": E3. Its beginnings as a tradeshow for retailers, to press conferences that broke news to the public, to its influence on more social events. Experience at D.I.C.E., IndieCade.
• 40:08 - Bigger publishers doing their own virtual shows to replace their E3 press conferences, and now SGF trying to round them up again. Where do indie developers fit in?
• 47:27 - The social function of conventions: hanging out with friends, meeting like-minded gamers with similar interests. Community! How that purpose got lost, and how do we get it back?
• 55:13 - Virtual events, live-streamed showcases: a replacement for conventions in some ways but not others. SGF, Wholesome Direct, Nintendo Direct, Sony State of Play, etc.
• 1:02:08 - Retro computer/gaming conventions, serving gamers as they age. Celebration of gaming culture & history rather than products.
• 1:15:37 - SoCal Gaming Expo and panels we want at cons.
• 1:20:17 - Xan's request for remote events and playable demos at home, like Steam Next Fest. AbleGamers Gala. Online events for accessbility as well as a platform for indie devs.

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins

Our first mini-episode! Bryan and Xan get together to talk about our current games and how we choose what to play in the age of subscription services.

• 0:00 - Fun Dip and retro candy. When was blue raspberry invented?
• 03:22 - Bryan's current games: Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil Remake.
• 05:36 - Video game "Hall of Fame," Nintendo's original Zelda hotline.
• 13:45 - Xan's casual games, and the hypnosis of Balatro.
• 20:27 - What's an ideal customer for a subscription service? PS+, Game Pass. How to get your money's worth.
• 30:06 - Fallout TV show/game zeitgeist and our predictions for Bethesda.

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins

We're talking everything graphics in games! What's the purpose of a game's graphics, and which do we like most? We analyze the technological leaps, art styles, and gameplay experiences only possible due to certain types of visuals. Guest co-host, our good friend Andy!

• 0:00 - Our first guest! Welcome Andy, AKA @Dractactics. How Zac and Andy know each other, their early shared games. Halo, Morrowind, Mass Effect. The Bethesda/BioWare Venn diagram.
• 11:40 - Graphics, the "video" in video game. What's the current value of visuals in games? The earliest graphics: teletype, oscilloscope, ASCII.
• 19:30 - Drawing a parallel between game graphics and other art forms, like film or fine art. The interplay between realism/representational art and more creative graphical styles.
• 31:07 - When graphics were the appeal of arcade games, then home console technology outpaced arcades in late 90s/early 00s. PS2 being a sweet spot "Goldilocks" of just the right amount of graphical power. Mister Mosquito, Katamari Damacy.
• 40:43 - Graphics allowing storytelling and worldbuilding. Closing the gap between creator intent and player experience. Uncharted, Grand Theft Auto, The Last of Us.
• 48:26 - The uncanny valley: making characters that feel real, or missing the mark. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Detroit: Become Human.
• 54:02 - Graphics in games of various budgets. Console vs. handheld, AAA vs. indie. Wider variety starting in the Xbox 360 era. Similar phenomenon in film/TV. The hand-drawn art style in Cuphead.
• 1:02:37 - Gaming experiences only available with graphics: Spatial puzzle games like Portal, Viewfinder, Superliminal. Sports games. Virtual "traveling" or exploring physical spaces: Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Subnautica, Uncharted, DOOM & DOOM "VFR."
• 1:13:00 - Next developments in graphics: raytracing, reflections, lighting. The smaller generational leaps of today compared to yesteryear. Cyberpunk 2077. FFVII Remake vs. Rebirth. Alan Wake 2.
• 1:26:34 - When graphical limitations work in favor of game design or innovation. Superman 64 (sarcasm). The fog in Silent Hill. Jumping Flash.
• 1:35:27 - Lofi art styles. Silent Hill 3. Shadow of the Colossus. Penny's Big Breakaway. Return of the Obra Dinn.
• 1:41:04 - What do WE value in graphics? Love for PS1 coziness and modern graphics alike. Go hug a game developer!
  

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Andy - @DracTactics on Twitch

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins