<p>Special episode this week. There’s no news we care to talk about, so we’re answering mailbag questions. Note that I’ve paraphrased the questions in the show notes because I don’t want to transcribe the originals.</p>
<p>Hosts: <a href="http://www.errantsignal.com/blog/">Chris</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt">Josh</a>, <a href="http://www.chocolatehammer.org/">Rutskarn</a> and <a href="http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/" title="DUH">Shamus</a>.</p>
<p>Show notes:</p>
<p><span id="more-20588"></span><strong>1:00 What’s everyone playing?</strong></p>
<p>Chris is playing <a href="http://www.roguelegacy.com/">Rogue Legacy</a>, Animal Crossing, and <a href="http://www.civilization5.com/bravenewworld/">Civilization V: Brave New World</a>.</p>
<p>Rutskarn is writing for <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pyrodactyl/unrest-an-unconventional-rpg-set-in-ancient-india">Unrest</a> and playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEwNkSQAWtE">Sleeping Dogs</a>. He’s also looking for a job making words for a living.</p>
<p>Shamus has been playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJVlfFj9uI">Titan Attacks</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKkIYQc55ZE">Ultratron</a> from indie developer <a href="http://www.puppygames.net/">Puppygames</a>. Also programming.</p>
<p>Josh is playing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DUCA8wK9Ls">Metro: Last Light</a>.</p>
<p><strong>20:00 What is you opinion of game design colleges?</strong></p>
<p><strong>38:00 Why are games so obsessed with using “ruins” as gameplay space?</strong></p>
<p><em>There was a sub-question directed at me, which we forgot about. So I’ll answer it here in the show notes. The question was, “Why do you like Spiderman?”</em></p>
<p>I fell in love with Spiderman because he was the first superhero that felt real or relatable to me. Batman was a millionaire playboy. Superman was a handsome invincible saint from another planet. Wonder Woman was a warrior princess of the Amazons. Thor was a Norse God.</p>
<p>But Spiderman was a “regular” guy and when he took off the mask he had regular guy problems. He wasn’t rich, or famous, or popular. He had to buy his groceries and take out the garbage just like everyone else.</p>
<p><strong>47:00 What do you think about “benign deaths” in videogames like BioShock, Prey, RAGE, and Borderlands?</strong></p>
