The only constant is change.
It may be cliche, but it’s the way things are, and the Way of the Game is no exception. Lots of things have changed, and we think it’s all for the best.
First off, we’d like to give our thanks to Joe the Writer as he closes up GameLocus.net. It was Joe who invited me and Jonathan to contribute to his video game site. Little did he know the extent to which we’d take the idea and run with it, producing a weekly podcast that far exceeded what he asked us to produce. He could have pulled the reins, but instead he just decided to let us go, and that’s why we’re where we are today.
Joe was the spark that got us working on Way of the Game, and we wanted to see his vision for Game Locus succeed. However, he realized that fulfilling that vision was going to take more than he had in him right now, and other projects were more important. So it’s a bittersweet development. Joe’s project is no more, but that’s only going to give him the time and energy to pursue other things, like his writing (he was called “the Writer” for a reason). Everything that was under the Game Locus feed is now going to the Way of the Game. Instead of the Way of the Game being a spoke on the wheel, now it’s the hub. Also, Joe intends to occasionally contribute to the site, so he still could pop up here from time to time.
However, that’s not the only change we’re making. In a long overdue development, we’ve hooked Way of the Game up with Spooky Outhouse Productions. It’s an obvious move on our part. They know us. We know them. It’s partly because of them that I decided to give podcasting a try. Part of that move also involved moving our forums, which were gathering dust, to the very active and fun Spooky Outhouse forums.
In case you’re reading this on a podcatcher and not on the site itself, we’ve also done a complete remodel of our website. Gone are all vestiges of our ill-named birth. It looks a lot better now, and there’s still a little remodeling to do.
Lastly, I have to give Jonathan credit for all the changes. He’s the one who’s been diving into code, finding out where the files go, looking up themes for the website, negotiating with Spooky Outhouse, and doing all the infrastructure work, in addition to doing his share of the podcast. I’ve been doing what I’ve always been doing: maintaining output, editing out “uhhhs” and putting in sound effects. So if you like what’s been going on (I know I do), he’s the one to thank.
As for the content of the podcast itself, I hope episodes 21 and 22 give you an idea of where I think we’re going. There’s always room for us to talk about the games we’ve been playing and the latest in gaming news, but there’s more to games than just that. Games are having an effect on culture and society. It’s worthy of a close-up examination. You’re not going to get that from the nightly news. You’re not going to get it from NPR, though they’ve done some great stuff. Podcasts are a great medium in which to delve into these topics and discuss their pros and cons.
To quote our podfather, that’s the Way of the Game.
-Alex