SnoutCast #201: Ana Roeszler

Kicking off our year of interviews with women who make puzzle games is Ana Roeszler, one of the co-founders of Puzzled Pint and a core GC member for WarTron PDX!

Show length: 26:39
File size: 25.6MB   [Download mp3]

What Else?

• Game Control Summit 2014: get ideas on how to run your own puzzle game!
• Learn about more events from Puzzle Hunt Calendar

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Tom Cruise Crazy" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #186: WARTRON Coast to Coast! (Part 2 of 2)

The info-packed, extra-long second half of our interview with Sarah Leadbeater from WarTron Boston Game Control! (LISTEN TO PART ONE)

[ Download mp3 - 30 MB ]

01:29 - (and now, the conclusion)
32:18 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Skullcrusher Mountain" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #185: WARTRON Coast to Coast! (Part 1 of 2)

At long last, we get to talk about WarTron with our Boston-area counterpart, Sarah Leadbeater! Enjoy our behind-the-scenes banter, and tune in next week for the second half of this conversation. (LISTEN TO PART TWO)

[ Download mp3 - 28 MB ]

00:59 - "serialized"
29:57 - The End

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

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

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SnoutCast #179: Teckmologiez

We're very forward-thinking here at SnoutCast. Well, at least one of us is. More or less. It's okay.

[ Download mp3 - 23 MB ]

00:59 - "technological"
02:57 - times change; cf. Shinteki Aquarius Remix
04:23 - what is a Luddite, anyway?
06:31 - wardriving was totally a thing
09:23 - using mobile SSH apps for WarTron's BUGME interface
13:47 - tracking teams with Google Latitude in 2011, vs. custom GPS hardware in 2001
18:05 - augmented reality: Yelp, Ingress, Halting State, Google Glass, etc.
22:22 - IN CONCLUSION
24:16 - The End

In other news: The Doubleclicks continue to be awesome.

http://youtu.be/s4Rjy5yW1gQ

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

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

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SnoutCast #178: Listener Mail Potpourri

This week, we respond to your feedback from the last few weeks. Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks!

CORRECTION (ADD 16 Jul 2013): commenter Nathan Curtis is NOT Nathan Fung who helped us playtest WarTron.

[ Download mp3 - 23 MB ]

00:58 - "sympathetic"
01:47 - Nathan links to many online hunts
03:15 - Chris in England discovers overnight puzzle hunts in the Czech Republic
07:03 - Nathan knows a lot about BAPHLs
09:37 - a lively discussion about Game application puzzles
11:09 - yes, Nathan, we'll talk about both WARTRONs Real Soon Now :)
14:21 - James asks about removing motor vehicles in the middle of a Game
20:39 - our cat Jasper is very interested in The Famine Game!
24:11 - The End

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

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

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Friday Flash Fiction: "Where the Shadows Run From Themselves"

Read "Where the Shadows Run From Themselves" at 512 Words or Fewer

This week's story was tangentially inspired by the upcoming WARTRON: BOSTON Game. You may see some thematic similarities to an earlier 512, "Rhymes with Pork." And the title, of course, comes from this:


http://youtu.be/rvnWuOjJDh4

I am also glad to know I'm not the only person who struggles with which words to capitalize in a title.

SnoutCast #162: How to Captain a Starship

A quick debrief of our recent first missions aboard Starship Artemis, the multiplayer "bridge simulator" computer game!

[ Download mp3 - 23 MB ]

00:58 - "federated"
02:02 - in which Curtis goes Kobayashi Maru
04:32 - and DeeAnn must do research on the Internet
09:13 - "How does this relate to puzzle hunts?"
13:15 - PROTIP: use technology that works!
16:39 - on going above and beyond the call of duty
19:10 - upcoming events: International Tabletop Day (March 30th), Puzzled Pint (April 9th), WarTron: Boston (June 29-30).
22:03 - also, DeeAnn has opinions about TV shows
24:14 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Chiron Beta Prime" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #161: Spring is Here, Almost

In which the seasons change, and puzzle hunters' fancy turns to... well, actually, they alter not a whit; they continue to want MOAR PUZZELS.

[ Download mp3 - 27 MB ]

00:00 - Polish language teaser (wait for it...)
01:01 - "vernal"
03:02 - The Maze of Games Kickstarter
06:54 - Puzzled Pint, March, 2013: Jeopardy!
15:47 - WarTron Boston applicants
27:10 - translated from the Polish
28:34 - The End

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

Polish text-to-speech from Google Translate

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

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SnoutCast #138: Gamer Profile - Corby Anderson

This week, an extended conversation with Corby Anderson, late of WarTron Game Control!

[ Download mp3 - 42 MB ]

00:00 - teaser: "every single show...type type type"
01:25 - "wordy"
02:22 - reminiscing about JoCo Cruise Crazy 2
04:07 - whence thy interest in puzzles, and hunts thereof, kind sir?
08:03 - Corby's first Game experience: Genome
10:22 - what type of puzzle event do you prefer?
13:02 - Corby's day job
14:45 - "Excel always wins."
18:03 - WarTron Bit Builder backstory (minor puzzle spoilers)
24:21 - playing Games vs. being on GC
28:48 - yeah, yeah, we're planning a JCCC3 puzzle hunt
32:05 - everybody loves source control software
39:52 - thumbs up for Samsara
43:04 - (Corby has never been to Cinetopia)
45:24 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Baby Got Back" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #137: Resonance

Happy 25th anniversary, Star Trek: The Next Generation!

[ Download mp3 - 26 MB ]

00:59 - "24th-century"
01:36 - only one of us is a Trekkie
02:47 - we are old people
05:06 - a guy named Kirk
07:23 - what is the military?
09:33 - "slash"
10:55 - obligatory puzzle hunt mention
12:10 - Evil Dead: The Musical!
16:03 - comedy shibboleths (e.g., "I'm on a boat!")
19:17 - the only Muppet Show bit DeeAnn liked
20:26 - a show called Grimm
22:58 - "I'm talking to the wrong crowd."
26:32 - upcoming events: The Hunt for Odin's Horse; BANG 33 online; more at Puzzle Hunt Calendar
28:00 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Chiron Beta Prime" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #134: The Doubleclicks

A conversation with @TheDoubleclicks, Angela and Aubrey--as seen in WarTron! [Get their music from Bandcamp]

[ Download mp3 - 25 MB ]

00:59 - "nerdy"
02:07 - will we ever stop talking about WarTron?
04:16 - sister act
05:28 - earlier: a band named Charisma
08:56 - "Deadlines are good!"
11:04 - creating the "Imposter" song
16:30 - all about the Ladies of Ragnarok tour
22:27 - you can go to Puzzled Pint if you finish writing your erotica song
26:29 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Tom Cruise Crazy" by Jonathan Coulton; excerpts from "Imposter" by The Doubleclicks

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SnoutCast #132: The Road to WARTRON

By listener request: the biggest things that changed in WarTron because of the Dry Run! (This will be our last super-sized episode for a while, we promise.)

[ Download mp3 - 40 MB ]

00:59 - "adjustable"
01:18 - WarTron spoilers ahoy!
05:56 - why a Dry Run?
07:22 - changed: 16 out of 35 puzzles (esp. that one puzzle)
12:52 - added: this other puzzle
14:50 - changed: starting route order
21:55 - added: more story pieces overall
26:10 - changed: clue/location matching
29:57 - changed: yet another puzzle (rollback)
33:07 - added: more iconic Portland landmarks
36:03 - integration testing is good!
41:38 - The End

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

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

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SnoutCast #131: WARTRON the Hard Way

This week, by listener request: an extra-long episode discussing behind-the-scenes ups and downs of WarTron GC! (Just to be clear, the request was for "a peek behind the curtain," not the extra length.)

[ Download mp3 - 51 MB ]

00:59 - "collaborative"
02:26 - MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING
06:32 - goal tracking
07:20 - On Inconvenient Selfishness
12:07 - poly-ticks?
16:20 - On Our Amazing Overachieving Volunteers
21:45 - over-communication is almost enough documentation
25:47 - On How Debug Code Saved the Finale
28:28 - last-minute changes at Keller Fountain and the Canby Ferry
39:57 - things we learned the hard way
46:16 - script shooting success!
50:01 - MOAR EVENTZ: Puzzle Hunt Calendar, BBSB's Ravenchase travelog, BANG 33 Rerun
52:24 - The End

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

Music: instrumentals from "Code Monkey" and "Skullcrusher Mountain" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #130: After WARTRON

A quick debriefing of the most recent Snout Game!

[ Download mp3 - 21 MB ]

00:59 - "high-resolution"
01:42 - on the goodness of WarTron
04:08 - comparative fuckupedness
06:27 - the show must go on... and be fun!
10:52 - join the Facebook group (if you're on Facebook)
11:14 - the proposed Boston re-cast in 2013
14:52 - making puzzles... together!
16:13 - for example, the Madonna Beads
20:03 - meanwhile, on the east coast...
21:38 - 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

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SnoutCast #128: Countdown to WARTRON

But why would you just go a read a boring old plain text file, when you could listen to the two of us prattle on for nearly half an hour?

[ Download mp3 - 25 MB ]

01:00 - "anticipated"
03:48 - the basics (for any puzzle hunt-ish event)
05:50 - WARTRON computer requirements
12:00 - food stuffs
26:22 - 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 "Tom Cruise Crazy" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #127: "Have to" vs. "Get to"

Why should you RUN MORE GAMES? Because it's fun!

[ Download mp3 - 25 MB ]

00:58 - "resourceful"
03:08 - a pep talk for ourselves
06:30 - setting expectations for WarTron
10:01 - the puzzliness of puzzles
15:20 - the needs of the many...
18:18 - once again, the "meat necklace" from FoBiK
20:40 - it's parties all the way down!
26:54 - 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 "Baby Got Back" by Jonathan Coulton

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SnoutCast #124: Three Things

Show notes? You want me to write up show notes when we're prepping for a live-fire Dry Run in just four days? Well, okay.


[ Download mp3 - 23 MB ]

00:58 - "contingent"
01:51 - backstory
05:53 - "few" vs. "several" vs. "many" vs...
10:01 - philosophy and Hogwarts
14:36 - weddings gone wrong
16:53 - yeah, the oak and the reed, that's the ticket
20:20 - mmm... doughnuts...
24:36 - 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 "Re: Your Brains" by Jonathan Coulton

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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

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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