GameCritics.com Podcast Episode 68: Rayman Origins, X-Men Destiny, games writing for free

Hi Brad,

I'm French and, like most French peoples, I hate French films ! Also didn't like Rayman so some French people are behind you !

On top of my head I can already think of 2 games that are made by a French designer which Brad liked: Heavy Rain and Fahrenheit. Anyway, whatever :)

Hey guys.

#1 - LOL... Thanks for saying so.

#2 - You busted me. ^_^

B

so, there's that also.

Really liked the back and forth about writing on this one, whenever real life experinecs gets into the convo, I feel like the whole place really crackles.

Wanted to mention the origin of Rayman had to do with it being easier to animate a character without limbs. And since the first game had to port to the Jaguar, it's kind of a miracle Rayman has made it so far, really!

(btw, I liked the Great Escape on the N64, thought it was a fine 3D platformer- for the time)

Another great podcast chaps! I can always rely on at least one objective view on games that gain universal praise, in this case Rayman Origins. It's so refreshing to hear valid criticism for the game from Brad and Chi, and not just constant gushing and novelty which is all you ever hear anywhere else (and I mean that in regard to other sites; not Richard and Mike, whom both make good cases for it being a good game).

I only finished listening to the podcast today and haven't really been following Twitter (where he may have already spoke of this), but even so I found it amusing that Brad stated he has pre-ordered Mass Effect 3, despite heavy reservations. I'd like to know if the inclusion of a well-known and -- more specifically -- large breasted female being announced as an "interactive" NPC has done anything to sway your decision regarding your pre-order? I think BioWare have lost any semblance of respect from me on an intellectual level now, and I was -- and am -- already annoyed with the unjustified praise the games get, so pre-order was never an option for me anyway. So glad I stuck by that attitude, especially when I saw her "unveiling". ;p

Also, I don't want to imagine a podcast without Tim. It just won't be the same... and I know for a fact when he leaves the gap between his last podcast and the new one will be like 3 months or something. =[

since i was this engineer mentioned and Chi seems not only to mix movies up:
I did not get paid for an internship in a company i later worked for. That is pretty uncommon here at all! For an HTL engineer. Other thing might be the FH engineer (consider him a second tier eng.) who maybe gets hired when doing some research work for a company.
I got paid as an untrained, still going into an engineering school dude with no experience at all. Without much practical use for any company doing real engineering. It's more of an trial month to have seen at least once actual working conditions and do some minor work. Usually hardly more sophisticated than a Mc-job. They are not training their future employees. You just can't in two single months, which you have to do in you summer holiday, when your trainee is afterwards sitting in school for at least two years.

It's not like writing, were you have to have a talent with words, putting thoughts in order and probably quoting correctly (cough). Training this might last forever since writing is a thing not only done for your job but pretty much in every written discussuion. Adn the principle is hardly different in spoken word.
I learned in my previous company a certain software program. Place me in front of the exact same software again and i would not know shit anymore and would have to accustom myself some days again until memory would be refreshed.
So within a month you can't learn shit and especially you can't learn stuff which stays in your mind for years. No way.

After i graduate and start to work i'm still not officially an engineer in the austrian meaning of the word. That happens after three years. But i get paid until then too.
And that is were Brad originally wrote something for pro freelancing, that they should work for free and money will follow. Which is just not true. And what sounded a lot different in the podacast. No matter how good you are there is no market for it. Engineering pays for the exact same incompetent work-in-progress unprofessional. They have do, since competent people don't climb off trees and just appear.

Ripping my plea to not work for free out of context also seems inappropriate since i also said that working for free is fine if you do it for a non profit site....

There was no moral high ground since i also said that the economy allows writers to be exploited. That's reality. Morality is not that they suck at making a stand and i laugh at them or be embararessed for them, but that they better do something else if they want to get paid instead of this fantasy Brad described as mentioned above. ("improve to the point at which they can call themselves a competent professional and start looking for a paycheck.")

Actual comment to the podcast:
I don't like Rayman. Never had and after Meat Boy probably hardly will ever like any other 2d platformer.

French movies are fine very often.

In your previous comment, you said that companies will pay for training and internships are also paid. No where did you say that you didn't get for an internship so apologies if I didn't get it right, but it wasn't really taking anything out of context. I didn't think it was a stretch to say that you were opposed to the idea of an unpaid internship.

So it sounds like we agree on the whole "reality" part as I said on the podcast.

However, I'm not sure why you disagree with Brad's point. Its a pretty fundamental thing that GC proves out with several of our alumni writers who used GC as a stepping stone to bulk up their porfolios and get a paid job writing about games.

I have no qualms about writing for free. I like GameCritics, and I enjoy reviewing games, so really, what more do I need?

I did get paid, but it was not for a company or in an area i later worked for as you guessed.
but whatever
I seem to suck at explaining it.

If it's for a company.
For me company doesn't mean some fan-site or other non profit organizations were honorary work is necessary.

Something like that is even law here.
As soon as you do something, anything, more than just watch and listen to explanations of your supervisor, it is work that has to be paid. Unpaid trial days are allowed if you do really nothing else than observe, get a school experience.

But this seems to be unusual as the 'internship' wiki says. Interns seem only to be here coequal to regular workers.

i think we do.

I'm not sure if it's disagreement or if i am not getting what his point in the article is.
but whatever

Hello i just wanted to let you guys know i love this podcast i recently found your site .. and its really good i have been listening to all the older ones too ..so can you guys make more please haha .. gj keep up the great podcasts!!!

Glad you enjoy the show -- we plan to keep making them, but it's going to be a little strange without Tim around for sure.