One of Swords Podcast 019: I Want Tacos

by Dan on June 3, 2010

Would you like a chunk of the $500,000 Activision plans to give to indie game creators this year? Activision’s Senior VP/Head of Development Laird Malamed tells you what you need to know about the Independent Games Competition — not to mention how to run around the world. Plus, MW2 offers new maps and new melodies, Kat expresses her love for a program you’ve probably never heard of before, Dan sings a capella again, Transformers fans get antsy, the hot topic of used games only heats up more, we celebrate a Memorial Day job well done, and we get a phone call from the mysterious Ron of Swords.

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More info after the jump…

Co-host: Katrin Auch, light gun enthusiast, graphic designer, bassist, photographer, videographer, and inventor of Headshotmas

Special Guest: Laird Malamed, Senior VP Head of Development, Activision

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

Relevant show links:

  • All the info on the Activision Independent Games Competition (and some of my commentary as well)
  • The excellent results of the CODE Memorial Day charity drive
  • Out this week: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Pack



    • The tacos were eventually delicious.

    • Pingback: Independent Games Competition: It’s on — One Of Swords

    • NuAngel

      To comment on the caller who got your opinion on used games… Kat asks, at one point, if they had stated how much the 'online pass' would cost if you bought the game used. In the case of Mass Effect 2's “Cerberus Network” it's a whopping 1200MSPoints – $15! Makes the Gamestop used game “$5 discount” not worth it at all, since there's no way of knowing if the cerberus code in a used package has been used, and they are only one-time redeemable.

      I enjoy the point Dan made about how with things like used cars, it usually takes some extra effort, whereas this is just a direct transfer of ownership.

      One thing left out of the discussion was something I approve of is DIRECT sales discounts. Now I'm not just talking about “new” sales at a Target or a Wal-Mart, but when I order from the Activision store, or the EA store. EA, less than 3 months after Mass Effect 2 was released, put the game on sale (at least, here in the USA) through their own website at $20 off of retail (making the PC version $30 and the Xbox 360 version $40). It was, of course, a limited time offer, but I think any purchase that cuts out a middle retailer should be rewarded with the steepest discounts.
      If I had the option of going to Wal-Mart to buy Modern Warfare 2 for $60, or getting it from Activision directly for $50 – I wouldn't mind waiting the extra few days to get it at a discount (free shipping only, please, a mere $5 savings might not be enough to justify 3-5 days of waiting!).

      This wouldn't hurt retailers at all, since MANY games (not just the Call of Duty's of the world) have enough people interested in playing the game on Day 1 that they're GOING to head to the store and purchase it – and the games that don't necessarily garner day 1 sales are the types of games that you see in the store and choose to pick up, more like an impulse buy – so finding it online is less likely.

      …why am I not putting this on MY own blog for the web hits?? lol

      NuAngel

    • http://twitter.com/SamMortimer Samuel EM Hemming

      Dude its the world cup seriously the rest of the worlds involved,even like foot ball and I'm caught up in some of the batshit crazy out here. Anyway man gd show keep'um coming bossman

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

      Beats me, because it's a REALLY good point about direct-sale discounts and I'd like to bring it up on a future show.

    • mvbooth

      I have some Questions:
      Q: When I retailer has a game on sale, who gets affected by that price cut? If Wal-Mart sells RIDE for $15-$20 less than usual, is that a price drop initiated by Activision, or does Wal-Mart just decided to drop price to move some inventory?

      Q: How are sales from places like Direct2Drive handled? If there is not physical product, does the developer give D2D the digital download and still collect the usual profit margin?

      I've been discussing/arguing a lot with my wife about issues revolving around capitalism and music sales. My main point is that if you are really a “fan” you should be playing your part to invest in whoever or whatever supplies whatever you are a fan of.

      In the examples you and Kat were talking about (magazines/cars), neither the publisher or car manufacturer directly benefits from second-hand sales or consumption. BUT at some point capitalism needs checks and balances. I currently don't see any roof on how much a game can cost, unless that ceiling is put in place by competition, used sales, in-game advertising or entirely digital purchases.

      I love games and supporting the effort of good developers, but with the amount of games that come out I can't always afford to support them all by buying full-price retail. When internet costs almost $40/month, Xbox Live is $5-$7/month, games are between $40 and $80 (collector's editions).

      I guess what it boils down to is that in the long run, the hardest working and most creative/innovative company will win. If your games rock, or you have successfully marketed a new game, I will probably buy your game at full price first, and other games that look interesting might be bought used, on sale, or as platinum hits.

      When I really want a game, I make it happen. I ask for gift cards for my birthday or search the internet for the best sales & promotions. I rarely buy used because I like opening that package.

      To me, buying used is comparable to losing your virginity to a hooker. The game might still be good but it's been enjoyed way too much before.

      I'd rather support sincerity and hard work for a new product than throw my money away to pimps.

    • mvbooth

      One other thing… I was pretty pissed that people were attacking the C.O.D.E. Facebook initiative.

      In my opinion you have to be pretty stupid to allow things like tax write-offs and exposure get in the way of recognizing a company doing something worth while.

      Especially given the sacrifices made by the troops that will receive the money, lashing out at the organization because you may not like Activision is immature and counter-productive.

    • Devon

      Ok I may have pirated a game before but I don't feel bad about it because I had bought it on 360 and then I wanted to try it on PC.

    • mvbooth

      I may or may not have done something similar with the Adobe Creative Suite… just sayin…

    • Devon

      I love the Red Dead Revolver thing in Talk Radar

    • Rinedog

      I actually just got thru listening to this podcast. It seems that Laird does not understand the definition of the words North America. When I go to the contest page it says it is only open to residents of the United States. However, Laird says it is only open to North America. North America is Canada, US, and Mexico. So which is it?

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

      It's United States only, per the very first line of the official rules: “…only open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the Disctrict of Columbia.”

      If you have more questions about the official rules, please see the official rules. :)

    • Pingback: Activision doesn’t own your indie contest IP — One Of Swords

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