GamerNode: Columns - vs. Node #1: Playing in the Sandbox

vs. Node #1: Playing in the Sandbox

Eddie & Christos get their shovels and pails, and dive into a discussion of sandbox gaming.

In the very first episode of vs. Node, Eddie Inzauto and Christos Reid talk about swine flu's videogame debut, a flash game that outraged religious groups across the globe, homosexuality in gaming, and this show's headline topic, sandbox games.

00:00 - Welcome!
00:44 - What vs. Node is all about.
01:29 - News
02:00 - Swine Fighter
02:30 - Faith Fighter
06:04 - Six Days in Fallujah canceled.
09:33 - Homosexuality non-existent in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
11:13 - Other gay rights issues.
13:15 - What we've been playing.
13:46 - Christos: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
14:44 - Eddie: The Dark Spire
17:16 - What makes a sandbox?
19:05 - Wikipedia definition of sandbox videogame.
20:26 - Storyline in sandbox games.
21:13 - Freedom to play and explore at one's own pace.
24:11 - Spore's universe.
25:11 - Crafted experience vs. open-ended play.
26:43 - Mass Effect a sandbox?
28:53 - Side tasks need to be engaging.
30:56 - Open-world freedom with guided portions is best.
32:21 - Fable II discussion.
35:56 - Is Braid a sandbox game?
40:15 - Subsequent play-throughs in Braid vs. Halo 3.
41:30 - Burnout Paradise lacks sandbox elements.
44:15 - Final thoughts and wrap-up.

Introductory music "1st & 2nd Floors" taken from the soundtrack to Atlus's The Dark Spire, 2008, 2009. "Victory Fanfare" taken from the soundtrack to Square Enix's Final Fantasy X, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, 2001.

For a direct link to the podcast feed, click here.

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