Friday Flash Fiction: "Don't Be a Dick"

That maxim is today known as Wheaton's Law, but of course, back in 1989, he was still busy playing Wesley Crusher on TV.

Read "Don't Be a Dick" at 512 Words or Fewer

SnoutCast #123: Adventures in Playtesting

E-mail: it's not just for playing chess any more!


[ Download mp3 - 25 MB ]

00:58 - "critical"
02:25 - new for WarTron: lots of remote playtesting
04:04 - why DeeAnn answers Game e-mails now
05:55 - the entertainment value of playtesting transcripts
07:13 - Jasper is the silent partner in this podcast
10:46 - making lemonade (and e-mail-able puzzles)
13:40 - an honest self-assessment
16:54 - a worst-case Puzzled Pint GC meeting
18:37 - a spoiler-free playtesting anecdote
20:40 - "...but ironically..."
23:59 - when NOT thinking like GC is a good thing
26:51 - The End

Tell us we're wrong on the Internet! E-mail podcast@snout.org or post a comment at snout.org/podcast .

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "I Feel Fantastic" by Jonathan Coulton

[ Subscribe to SnoutCast / iTunes link ]

  

Friday Flash Fiction: "At Close Range"

It's a story!

(SLAP)

It's a puzzle!

(SLAP)

A story, a puzzle--

(SLAP)

It's a story AND a puzzle!

Read "At Close Range" at 512 Words or Fewer

SnoutCast #122: WARTRON Listener Mail

You've got questions. We've got answers. Sort of.


[ Download mp3 - 26 MB ]

00:58 - "active"
01:44 - Question #1 re: demand for weekend-long Games
02:53 - For WarTron: 40 teams registered (35 actual applicants)...
06:50 - ...28 teams completed application, 24 accepted (1 declined), 23 playing.
08:59 - Answer #1: current demand seems to be mid-30-ish teams
11:30 - Question #2 (more of a comment) re: cool Portland locations
13:09 - Answer #2: SETTING EXPECTATIONS
17:21 - Mmm... Food...
19:05 - other things are just as important as puzzles to The Game
21:56 - a hypothetical situation
25:49 - maybe GC cares more about theme than players do?
28:10 - The End

Tell us we're wrong on the Internet! E-mail podcast@snout.org or post a comment at snout.org/podcast .

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "The Future Soon" by Jonathan Coulton

[ Subscribe to SnoutCast / iTunes link ]

  

Friday Flash Fiction: "Midnight Radio"

Say, have you seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch? It's a pretty good show with great music. (Also, trivia: John Cameron Mitchell once played an evil nerd on an episode of MacGyver. That still blows my mind.)

Read "Midnight Radio" at 512 Words or Fewer

SnoutCast #121: The Art of the Possible

In which we discuss how constraints cultivate our creativity. (Your mileage may vary.)


[ Download mp3 - 26 MB ]

00:59 - "feasible"
01:49 - in which Curtis got some 'splainin' to do
03:06 - the WarTron budget
09:22 - counting calories in Hogwarts Game
12:35 - creativity: clues vs. locations
16:24 - in defense of deadlines
18:54 - hooray for GC Retreat
22:01 - the changing style of Snout Games
25:22 - follow @WarTronGC on Twitter
27:40 - The End

Tell us we're wrong on the Internet! E-mail podcast@snout.org or post a comment at snout.org/podcast .

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Shop Vac" by Jonathan Coulton

[ Subscribe to SnoutCast / iTunes link ]

 

Friday Flash Fiction: "Get Your Ass to Mars"

In honor of:

• Ray "Martian Chronicles" Bradbury, who passed away this week;
• Father's Day, which happens next Sunday; and
• the original Total Recall (which may have less to do with the Philip K. Dick story than the upcoming remake, but nonetheless manifests a ridiculous charm all its own).

For the record, my father is still alive, and we have both been to the Grand Canyon. Together, even!

Read "Get Your Ass to Mars" at 512 Words or Fewer

SnoutCast #120: FORSAN ET HAEC OLIM MEMINISSE IUVABIT

The title of this week's show is an ancient Roman saying I first learned in high school. Roughly translated, it means: "Someday we'll look back on this and laugh." Which is pretty much how I felt immediately following WarTron Application Day...


[ Download mp3 - 22 MB ]

00:58 - "Solomonian"
01:49 - So, about the WarTron Game application process...
05:47 - it's kind of a funny story
09:25 - I DISAGREE
11:46 - a brief diversion to Carpathia
12:59 - on accepting more than 20 teams
20:36 - cold hard facts
23:47 - The End

Tell us we're wrong on the Internet! E-mail podcast@snout.org or post a comment at snout.org/podcast .

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "You Ruined Everything" by Jonathan Coulton

[ Subscribe to SnoutCast / iTunes link ]

 

Friday Flash Fiction: "Sacrifice"

As I mentioned on Twitter, this week's story (so-called) is a cliché sandwich, garnished with tropes, and served with a side of stereotypes. But I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Read "Sacrifice" at 512 Words or Fewer