Archive for June, 2010
EXP Podcast #84: Dropping in on ODST
“Alright Browncoats: we break atmo in five minutes and we’ve got a whole mess of ruttin’ hostiles lining up to meet us. Get your fancy pants and grab your guns, we don’t want to disappoint our hosts. Stick together, make your shots count and everything will be shiny…”
Oh, sorry everybody. I think I’m getting my sci-fi universes mixed up. But if you’ve played Halo 3: ODST, you probably understand. This week, Jorge and I discuss this unique entry in the Halo franchise. Part expansion pack, part sequel, and part spin-off, ODST is an interesting beast. We discuss everything from the mission structure, the gameplay, and the storytelling approach. As always, feel free to drop into the comments with your thoughts.
Some discussion starters:
The Dervish House by Ian McDonald
Istanbul, the Queen of Cities, the bridge between east and west, in 2027 freshly-accepted into the European Union and now awash with new money and new technology. Nanotech is the future, tiny machines which can power amazing toys, keep you healthy, dig out that cancer and, whether you want them to or not, rewire your brain.
A suicide bomber destroys an Istanbul tram, but only the bomber dies. The explosion forms a crucible around which the lives of the inhabitants of an old dervish house intertwine: a boy detective with a weak heart and a robot monkey sidekick, a Greek economist burying his head in the wreckage of the past, and an art gallery owner and her trader boyfriend with the ultimate get-rich-quick scheme. For this is an important week for Turkey, as corporations fall, new technology emerges, religious visions occur and vital football games are played.
The Dervish House
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Sale: Shatter Only $2.50 on Steam
The IGF-nominated Shatter is selling for only $2.50 (75% the original price of $10) at Steam for the next twenty-hours or so. A former PSN exclusive, the Steam version includes support for leaderboards and achievements, plus PC-exclusive game modes like Time Attack and the brand-new Endless Mode.
PS3 vs. Xbox 360: Backbreaker’s Sale Ranks
Quick Brew Info:
Cannes Lions: Serious Games Blending Monopoly & Google Maps Wins Gold
