One of Swords Podcast 008: Mad Libs Life

by Dan on March 18, 2010

When the going gets weird, the weird join the military — at least for a few days. Unfortunately those few days took place directly before the recording of this podcast, which covers the freshly announced MW2 DLC, the latest from the CODE front, Final Fantasy fanboys, Vince and Jason’s deal with CAA, 3D HDTV, Tony Hawk’s unauthorized leak, the link between Coca-Cola and Guitar Hero, and how you can challenge Dan to a music game showdown next weekend. Best of all, we’ve got a face-to-face interview with Infinity Ward’s Robert “fourzerotwo” Bowling to talk about just who we blame for that “Stimulus Package” name!

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More info after the jump…

Co-host: Hugh Sterbakov, screenwriter, comic creator, and Emmy-nominated writer/toy wrangler for Robot Chicken

Special Guest: Robert “fourzerotwo” Bowling, creative strategist, Infinity Ward

Soundtrack: Yameen – available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and all online music stores

Relevant show links:

  • The USS John C. Stennis
  • C.O.D.E., the Call of Duty Endowment
  • Major Nelson’s podcast #353 featuring Robert Bowling’s MW2 Stimulus Package announcement
  • Jason West and Vince Zampella’s CAA deal
  • PAX East 2010

    • And last but not least, Hugh’s gamertag:

    Sorry my mic’s a little hot.

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      Regarding the Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions GamePro thing, two juicy teases from Chris Maker from Marvel Interactive: http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600831854 and http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600867374

      Teasing bastard. :)

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      Regarding the Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions GamePro thing, two juicy teases from Chris Maker from Marvel Interactive: http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600831854 and http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600867374

      Teasing bastard. :)

    • Robin

      Dan, as much as I respect your views, I feel that you're completely missing the point when you say “if you feel the content is too expensive, don't buy it.” The reason people are annoyed is that they feel IW is overcharging for the DLC. Of course they aren't forced to buy it, but they want the maps and $15 isn't cheap. I believe the price point is a bit excessive for 5 maps; it should be 800 points max. But hey, what are you gonna do? Obviously Activision is going to milk the cash cow as much as possible. ;)

    • Ryan

      I agree Robin, 800 has been the standard. It's really not that surprising their trying to milk their fans. What worries me more is if this is successful at this price, other developers will probably follow suit…

      Breaking down the price based on Dan's comment on being happy with the content that ships: $60 gets you three game modes :

      single player campaign – 1/3
      multiplayer – 1/3
      spec ops – 1/3

      That's $20 for multiplayer which includes 16 maps = $1.25 per map.

      …so a map pack that includes 5 maps should cost $6.25. I'd say that the two remakes should be less.

      Anyways.. made me think… I really could care less about single player campaign, I played the first couple levels and never finished it. It would be great if I could just buy the multiplayer mode for $20 and then each map pack that comes out after.

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      I understand the aspect of “I don't want to pay $15, I want to pay $10″ — totally valid. I don't mean to ignore that point. But the answer to “hey what are you gonna do” should not be “complain vigorously in forums and blog comments” because, well, that won't actually change the situation. I know people have to blow off steam, but beyond that, I don't think it serves any purpose. At the end of the blustery day, you're still faced with a core price/value call, and I guess I skipped right to that as soon as I heard the price announcement.

      I had a monster reply and I deleted it. Everybody just dodged a bullet. :)

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      Regarding the Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions GamePro thing, two juicy teases from Chris Baker from Marvel Interactive: http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600831854 and http://twitter.com/cbake76/status/10600867374

      Teasing bastard. :)

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      I guess that's good math if you value each of those three portions the same. You've suggested the time you play single player would lessen its value, to the point where you might even skip it if you had the option; does that mean single player is still $20 of value, or is multiplayer more like $40 of the value to you? And in that case, wouldn't the value of those maps raise beyond $1.25 per map?

      Just devil's advocate here.

    • http://twitter.com/Freiteez Allen Freitas

      I thought my iPhone was going crazy at 25mins. Heard iPhone noises in the background haha. Awesome podcast! I saw screenshots somewhere of Tony hawk 2 running on the iPhone. Hope it will run as well as street fighter IV does. When can we race you,Dan, and Hugh on Blur!? ;)

    • http://twitter.com/Freiteez Allen Freitas

      Holy crap, at the end of the podcast you talk about bunnyears(been to that site a few times) and never knew why you picked “bunnyears”. I now know you were one of the characters I would pick/play against on NBA Hangtime for N64. Me and my cousin loved doing the “code” for the bunnyears guy. Who knew over 10 years later I'd meet and buy a Mac from the guy I used on NBA Hangtime? haha wow, I have to take out the N64 and play that now :)

    • http://www.cheapcheapgeek.com/ Karl

      Dan and Hugh, the problem with map packs (and this isn't limited to CoD) is that it isn't simply a matter of “keeping up with Joneses”. Most of the popular modes, Team Deathmatch for example, require you to have the newest DLC. People keep playing MW2 for the multiplayer. So people who want to play keep playing the game are basically forced to pay up or play the less popular modes. People were forced to do this for MW1 at $10. Now they're being forced to do it at $15. Like I said, this isn't limited to CoD but a $10 toll is easier to swallow since it's the unfortunate norm then a $15 toll.

    • http://www.cheapcheapgeek.com/ Karl

      I think you guys missed the point of the West and Zampella CAA announcement. This isn't for them to go Hollywood or shop their IPs. CAA will negotiate on their behalf to get them the best deal possible at a new publisher or with venture capitalists. They went down this road before with EA and obviously they didn't get the terms they wanted when they set up Infinity Ward. They might be good at running a game studio but they probably realize they aren't experts on negotiating a deal.

      This is like when Letterman left NBC. CAA went around until they got him a show and production deal that he was happy with. They'll do the same thing for West and Zampella but in the video game world.

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      That's a really good point. I think it's clear from our discussion that we were trying to figure out what role CAA would play for them, and you've just explained it to both of us. :)

    • http://www.cheapcheapgeek.com/talk-is-cheap-blog/2010/3/19/what-if-map-packs-were-sponsored.html Karl

      Just an idea that might make both players and publishers happy.
      http://www.cheapcheapgeek.com/talk-is-cheap-blo…

    • LOL

      Yeah, I bet Huge PLEASES you! zing!

    • Hugh

      I made all my points in regard to pricing in the podcast, but I'll throw my hat in here and say that I'm the kind of guy who is really only interested in the single-player mode. I get my ass kicked six ways from Sunday (the Sabbath, dammit!) in multiplayer before I can figure out which way I'm facing.

      I'd like to see some single-player DLC too. And then we can argue about the price of that. Too.

    • Hugh

      Soon as Dan schedules that, I'm in.

    • Hugh

      Thanks for that, Karl. I was completely unaware that you actually had to buy the pack to play certain modes. If that's the case, that does make the situation much, much worse– no matter what the price, frankly.

      That said, you pretty much HAVE to buy the packs for World of WarCraft, AND you pay subscription costs, so it's not like MW2 is blazing any new trails that warrant cries of outrage.

      My theory is still the same, though, I was just putting the onus (love that word) on the social aspect. Either way, a serious player HAS to buy the pack.

    • Hugh

      Not sure if I agree completely, Karl. CAA's involvement likely has to do with some promises of packaging, probably creating an IP both as a film and a videogame with their major talent attached. But that stuff comes when you have a powerful IP. From that perspective, they're really just servicing their other clients and reeling in the IF guys with promises of tinsel.

      The role you just described can be done just as easily and for half the price by an entertainment lawyer. My lawyer has done much, much, much better for me in terms of strengthening deals than my agents, who are better at setting meetings and introducing me to folks.

    • http://oneofswords.com/ Dan (OneOfSwords)

      A serious player WANTS to buy the pack.

      I mean that. If you're really into MW2, you're going to buy the DLC because you want more MW2 content, and the price is the second thing you think about. For an analogy, when Van Halen releases a new record, I'm buying it. I'd preorder it now if I could. If the new CD costs a bit more than previous CDs or even other CDs from other rock bands, I'm still buying it — it's Van Halen. I am interested in the experience that the CD will bring me, even at a premium price, based on what I know about that band and what I've gotten from them in the past. And obviously I want to support the artists that make the things that make me happy. I want to buy that CD and say “thanks, please keep on doing what you're doing, because I enjoy it.” Following and supporting that band is important to me. It does not offend me that Warner Bros. gets a chunk of that money; I'm still supporting the artist who made the music.

      Will I buy that new CD at ANY price? No, of course — we all have limits. But we're not talking about a $40 CD or a $40 map pack or something truly outrageous. We're talking about a $15 map pack compared to $10 packs from other games…which may or may not have a big or active enough community to even make that $10 purchase worthwhile.

      So…are the “serious players who HAVE to buy the pack” the ones complaining the loudest? I suspect not. I think the people who are really into the MW2 community and have been looking forward to this content are saying “Huh, $15…kinda wished it was $10, but five new maps sounds good.”

      Oh my god…what if it's WORTH $15? We won't know for another week or so.

    • pka4lif

      Dan,

      I gotta be honest with you. The “If you don't like the price don't buy it” attitude is why people are so…i guess i would say antagonistic, against Activision to begin with. To hear it come from you, a devout defender of gamers is….well, a surprise.

      I agree that the majority of the responses people give on the internet and forums is reduced to vulgarity and brevity in lieu of intelligent dialogue; but, what gamers are saying is we dont feel like there is good value here. I myself would snatch it up in a heart beat at $5 and feel all the better about my original $60 purchase; but, instead have considered selling the game now since a significant portion of the community will be fragmented between the haves (dlc) and the have nots. Why even keep the game then? How does Activision benefit then?

      I know that Activision is a business first and must generate profits in order to be a successful business and reward shareholders for their investments; but, this type of perceived overcharging will lead people to consider the competition. (Why not sell my Modern Warfare, then spend that $15 or so extra to buy a different title like EA's Bad Company which I've heard will have free DLC?) It sounds to me like they are focused only on the short term results and easy cash flow by squeezing the dedicated and hard core gamer, who will feel like he missed out without this,for every nickel they can. Gamers will remember this when the next version comes out. (Not all; but some like me will.)

      Finally, Thank you so much for the podcast. I have been a fan of yours for quite some time and I thank you for continuing to entertain in your particular style. Also, thank you for having Hugh on. He rocks and should be on much more often…like every week!

      Best,
      Dave

    • http://twitter.com/Paranerd Paranerd

      I just listened to this podcast yesterday. I'm also a bit concerned about the $15 price point, as the previous CoD 4 map pack was four maps for $10. I haven't played Modern Warfare 2 as much lately, and now that they raised the price on this DLC I don't think I will purchase it. I just hope $15 DLC packs don't become the standard with other games. Also, considering that there will be a second map pack coming out later this year, that could potentially be another $15.

    • mumbles74

      It is likely that at some point in the future there will be a Game of The Year edition. The trade value of the MW games seem to hold their value so just hang tight and get the maps “free” further down the line.

      Oh one for Hugh…Did you know that in Scotland people called Hugh are frequently referred to as “Shug” or “Shuggie”. If you want a military style title how does Seaman Shuggie grab you? Not in a comfortable place I will wager.

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    • Hugh

      Hey, guys.

      I actually don't have MW2 myself. My brother in law was laid off from EA (those bastards) and blew all of his points to buy me their whole recent line-up. I've been playing Mass Effect 2 (loved it), Dragon Age (don't get the hype) and Dante's Inferno (meh). I've also been really buys, so not much gaming at all. Point being, I'm looking at the calendar at this point and kinda holding out for that MW2 GOY edition myself. Someone brought it to my place one night and I played a bunch of levels and got some achievements (if you happen to notice them on my gamer card), but I really haven't had the time to get deep into it.

      That said, I'm reviewing all of the comments above, and when you step back from the fact that 800 points is standard and realize you're debating the per-map price that's half the price of a coke at a movie theater, suddenly it seems like it's not worth the calories you're burning to type your complaints about. I understand the principal and the slippery slope thing, but… you get my point.

      Mumbles, I did NOT know the Hugh creatures in Scotland are called “Shug.” Any idea why? Yeah, that's not a comfortable place to be grabbed, but like I say, I'm married and I'll take any legal grabbings I can. A tug is a tug, bud.

      There are so few Hughs in America. We have an incredibly talented writer named Hugh Davidson on Robot Chicken once in a while and it is SO weird to hear the name thrown around when it's not referring to me. I can't imagine what it's like to be a Mike or a Dave.

      Don't kill Independent George!

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