Diecast 316: Stumble Mouth
Channel: Paul Spooner
Date: 2020-09-14

Listen to all the Diecast episodes with Shamus Young in here: https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysid...

Show Notes:
00:00 Shamus' computer is fine again
07:05 Into the Breach
08:44 Blender is more fun than gaming
16:04 Never Updating Again
16:37 Banished
24:09 Web-browser integration nonsense
30:06 Mailbag: My Sloppy Diction
31:55 Mailbag: Where Have All the Cursors Gone?
36:04 Screensavers I guess?
39:43 Mailbag: Remster Problems
49:27 Mailbag: Sam Hogan
52:39 Mailbag: The Spec Ops of other Genres
58:32 What even are we talking about? Who is in charge here?
1:04:23 ortuO

My Sloppy Diction (Homophone disambiguation)
Hello Die Castians,

  I was listening to Die Cast #312 in podcast form and you said about a game that wasn’t Phantasy Star Online 2: “It was clear that they didn’t spend a lot of money making this (offal | awful)”

  So which was it?

Fugu

Where Have All the Cursors Gone?
Dear Diecast,

Hope you're doing well! In recent years, I can't think of a single AAA game that has a custom mouse cursor for the menus (i.e. the main menu and inventory screen). They pour all these millions to make these games, yet they can't spare the short timeit would take to make a custom mouse cursor? What gives?

One of my favourite features in old games was the custom mouse cursors they had - the lightsaber in the Jedi Knight games, the different hands in WarCraft, based on the race you were playing... I even remember a mediocre Diablo clone where your cursor was a fairy, who was an actual character! She talked to you, and even served as your light source in dungeons!

Keep Being Awesome,

Lino

Remaster Problems
Dear Diecast,

I am growing increasingly frustrated by remasters/ports/remakes of older games. I'm a bit of a stickler for getting somewhat of an original experience and a lot of these efforts tend to be compromised in some way. Dark Souls Remastered has changed lighting, Halo Anniversary  has graphical glitches, Batman: Return to Arkham has weird textures, the list goes on. And that's not even getting into completely botched titles like Warcraft 3 Reforged and Silent Hill HD. So how much does this bother you guys if at all? What's your personal "purity" threshold. I suppose a relevant question for Shamus would be how much could a Mass Effect 1 remaster be changed until it's not worth the purchase anymore.

Thanks,

Kaden (or Kaidan if you'd prefer)

Sam Hogan
Dear DieCastles,

Both of you have been working on procgen projects dealing with 3D spaces, so perhaps you will find this helpful. My son & I have recently found a YouTuber who seems to have similar interests to yours, particularly in regards to game design. Sam Hogan has made a game with infinite levels, a Minecraft clone in 24 hours, & most recently a Minecraft clone without the blocks, all using procgen in Unity. His channel seems to be gaining traction, & since his interests align with yours, I thought that you should at least be aware of his existence. I hope that this message finds you both well.

Regards,

Zeta Kai

P.S.: For full disclosure, I will note that I am (probably) not Sam Hogan, & I am (definitely) not affiliated with him, other than (usually) liking his content (mostly).


The Spec Ops of other Genres

Deer Diecast!

I finally got around to playing through Spec Ops: The Line. (Better late than never I guess)

Obviously the game's main achievement is it's complete subversion/dissection/criticism of the military "bro" shooter genre of games.

What other genre of games do you think could use a similarly scathing and ruthless deconstruction?
Maybe JRPGs? Showing that sending a bunch of emotional teens to save the world isn't the best for their well being?

Thanks for reading and keep on casting die!

Jolt