Roguelike Radio podcast

[Krice]

I could take it 20 minutes, but there was something in this one: if a roguelike is too simple or accessible, it's not a roguelike. I think Dwarf Fortress stands as an adamant monument of ridiculous complexity and inaccessible user interface which makes it such a popular game even among people who don't play roguelikes.

[guest509]

I try not to use DF as an example of anything, besides showing a total outlier.

[Darren Grey]

It's a representation of how people will group around extremes. If roguelikes were republicans then Dwarf Fortress is the Tea Party. Also it shows the value of standing out - Dwarf Fortress in unlike anything else in so many ways. One problem I find with a lot of streamlined roguelikes is they have nothing that stands out about them.

[guest509]

Very well put. DF is the hardest of hardcore. There's a certain distinction in being able to deal with it. Add to that very compelling game play for those willing to put in the effort and BAM, instant hit.

I feel the same way about Nethack. People that try to make a cut down version, perhaps something that doesn't need spoilers, and you get something entirely different. Go too far and you get a vanilla product.

[Vanguard]

Nah, DF is actually a really easy game.  The learning curve is a nightmare, but once you get past that it's trivial.

[guest509]

Easy as in it's hard to lose? That's expected from an open ended simulation.

If learning to play it were trivial then it wouldn't be popular. That's what we are getting at here. Sometimes being ridiculously complex and hard to fathom up front is great. It's a dopamine thing. Learning to play is a reward in and of itself and if you have compelling gameplay on top of that then great!

[kraflab]

Personally I didn't feel there was any learning curve in df.  If you can read english the interface gives you everything you need.

[getter77]

Heh, so I guess to pull off a gambling Roguelike appealing to current Western fads. you'd need to somehow wrangle it to deal with Bitcoins instead of redeemable medals?

[Krice]

Personally I didn't feel there was any learning curve in df.

I know. I could not learn how to play it. And computer games are not new to me.

[guest509]

Krice I think he was joking. I laughed.

[Eben]

Heh, so I guess to pull off a gambling Roguelike appealing to current Western fads. you'd need to somehow wrangle it to deal with Bitcoins instead of redeemable medals?

either that or WoW gold

[Nymphaea]

Heh, so I guess to pull off a gambling Roguelike appealing to current Western fads. you'd need to somehow wrangle it to deal with Bitcoins instead of redeemable medals?

either that or WoW gold

Even better, hook it up to steam and allow gambling inventory items (watches as people start gambling hats)

[Eudoxus]

An interview with Don Worth, the creator of Beneath Apple Manor (the pre-rogue roguelike), would be really interesting.  I have no idea how difficult it would be to get him on the show, but I figured it couldn't hurt to suggest it.

[Darren Grey]

Sorry the gap folks, got a new ep out now:

http://www.roguelikeradio.com/2013/05/episode-71-hunger-clock.html

We had another ep a couple of weeks ago but the recording screwed up so it was lost 

[Z]

Was it about ASCII? Any plans to re-record?