This episode has some white noise during it, so please don’t listen to it wearing headphones. The mic that was used is dying, so I purchased a new mic which will be used for Episode 626.
Til then, the news includes:
Let us know what you think.
This week we’ve refrained from beating baby seals to do a gaming podcast. Whatever that means, we’re busting through some great community feedback, cranking through the history of Boulder Dash, mashing through the game history on G.O.D – Gathering of Developers while hitting up the game news of the week:
This weeks question of the week, what world environment would you like to see your favorite game sequel take place in?
Apparently Konami just realized Harmonix, MTV Networks and Viacom have made some game called Rock Band and want to take legal action. Konami has created some Japanese games involving karaoke called Karaoke Revolution. Why take legal action now?
Probably because Konami is working towards Rock Revolution, a title which puts together drums, vocals and guitar. How odd, don’t we have a game called Rock Band which has done that for awhile now? It’s much easier to be competitive in the market if you can squeeze your opponent out of the market by telling them you hold a patent on the entire concept…which you let slide for a year.
It seems a bit convenient to force a lawsuit, now, after Rock Band is proven successful and before you launch your own “clone.”
Its suit claims that Rock Band violates a series of US Patents registered in 2002 and 2003 relating to “simulated musical instruments” and “musical rhythm-matching game.” (gamespot)
Although the developers of Rock Band should have gone through some patents on the topic prior to make it (or maybe they did?), it seems a bit out of place to patent such a generic concept. As far as I know, Musical Chairs is also a musical rhythm-matching game but nobody put up any stink when Konami filed a patent for the same concept…
This weeks gaming podcast covers a bunch of crazy content, we’re putting out the question, are collectors editions games going a bit too far? Also, a look back at UniRacers, before Rockstar North was known as Rockstar and history on the gameboy and its portable madness.
In the news:
Of course, we’re always looking for more user comments and questions. If you’ve got a few minutes rate us in iTunes and digg the podcast. Last week to enter into the Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords give away.
