iGame Radio

Omaha explains why she isn’t going to Macworld/iWorld this year to cover the Mac/iOS gaming scene…and may not again in the future.

I made a hard decision not to go to Macworld/iWorld this year. Much of it is about working to transition iGame Radio into something better for this year, and I’ve got a lot of work to do this month. Going to Macworld will cut into that.

But unfortunately much of it has to do with my feeling that Macworld really isn’t a place for me to go to cover gaming anymore. In years past, back when Apple still was the centerpiece to the show, there was a giant gaming hub at Macworld. Even despite the fact that Apple really doesn’t support Mac gaming much at all, there were those internal at Apple and many external (developers and publishers) who did.

But over the years, even before Apple left, that hub began to die. After Apple announced it would no longer be showing at Macworld, that pretty much meant the death knell to any kind of gaming hub. For a year or two there was still a central location where many developers and publishers of Mac and iOS games would situate their booths, but even that became less important as many had booths elsewhere in the show or, more likely, didn’t even show up.

Last year I felt, as a journalist, that there was really not much to see. There were a few iOS game developers that had small booths at the Appalooza section, but that was it. No tracks. I tried to get a meetup together and few showed up. This year I counted two game companies in the list (both iOS). I just don’t think that Macworld is a place for covering Mac/iOS gaming anymore.

There are two other important events for me that are happening the same weekend in my area. If I were covering GDC, for example, it would be a no-brainer. But because I feel like I’m not going to be getting much out of Macworld for iGame Radio, if at all, I’d really rather just stay put this year.

Maybe next year…if there isn’t anything else going on. To see my friends.

I’ve been running iGame Radio, believe it or not, for seven years. In Intarweb terms, that’s almost a lifetime. Considering that I obtained my first email address in 1987, it doesn’t seem that long to me, but still (and yes, you may get off my lawn, n00b).

In all that time, the core of iGame Radio has been podcasting, from its days when I still did live Internet radio broadcasts (ah, those days!). Over the recent years, though, I’ve become more and more disillusioned and unhappy with working with iGame Radio. I ask myself, why? I love games. I love writing about games. I love gaming on Macs, iPhones, and iPads. I love talking to developers and publishers about their games. I love talking to gamers about what makes gaming fun. So, what’s my problem?
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Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about the hardware announced at the October Apple Event and the Steam Black Screen of Doom. Plus, much more!

What’s inside this episode:

• Host Omaha Sternberg and co-host Rob Benson talk about the week’s news in Mac and iOS gaming. First, this week’s Apple Event. Tim Cook waxed on about how great the Apple Retail stores are. No really, he did. Oh, and Phil was allowed to show off new hardware, too. Omaha and Rob talk about whether the new 13 inch Macbook Pro is worth buying to game with, if the 2012 iMac will be this year’s Apple gaming machine, and what impact the new iPad Mini and surprise 4th gen iPad announcement will have on the mobile gaming market. Also, they speculate about the next major iPad announcement…the iPad Pro. Key phrase of the day: “A little bit of Steve Jobs in every one.”
• Valve made every Mac gamer’s life by bringing Steam to the Mac. But what good does it do if you can’t ever see anything? Omaha brings up the Steam Black Screen of Doom. Much talked about on forums, and yet nothing seems to be done about it yet. Valve, you listening?
• GOG.com brought their platform to the Mac this month. Now you too can buy Mac versions of The Witcher 2 and Populus from the same site!
• Plus, much more than you every thought possible!

Music Notes:

• Digital Droo produced our theme music here at iGame Radio.

Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about Apple’s new restrictions on 3rd party apps, a publicity stunt gone wrong, and EVE Online’s new expansion, Retribution. Plus, much more!

• Host Omaha Sternberg and co-host Rob Benson talk about the week’s news in Mac and iOS gaming. First, Reverb Publishing really wanted the votes for its Endless Space strategy game to be greenlit onto Steam. But its method for getting those votes backfired. Omaha and Rob talk about what went down, why it didn’t technically violate Steam’s terms of service for Greenlight, and why it was a bad idea anyway.
• Apple updated their ToS at the beginning of October, and included a clause that puts restrictions on 3rd-party apps that promote other apps. Omaha and Rob talk about what the clause will actually mean and further info discovered that may soften the blow. Also, is this just going to come down like all of Apple’s other decisions?
• EVE Online recently announced their 18th free expansion, Retribution. Consistent with the name, Retribution is intended to make sure there are consequences for player decisions…whatever they may be. Omaha and Rob talk about what is in store and the deeper question of the uniqueness of the EVE Online design itself.
• Plus, much more!

Music Notes:

• Digital Droo produced our theme music here at iGame Radio.

Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about three big name games that have come to the Mac. Also, despite the rumors, Valve really is NOT for sale. Plus, much more!
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Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about Omaha’s trip to PAX Prime 2012. This is part 1…stay tuned for part 2 next week!
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Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about Valve, Valve, and more Valve; some Gamescom announcements for the Mac; and Rob’s app addiction. Plus, much more!
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After 6 weeks of vigorous competition, the winner of the iPhoneAppCafe App Idol contest has finally been revealed. Eric Egong won the grand prize with his idea for Boom!erang against some stiff competition. Eric wins a prize of $1,000, courtesy of us at iGame Radio, and gets his app developed by leading development company Locassa as well as continued mentoring from the App Idol judging panel and exposure on iPhoneAppCafe, iGame Radio, iPhone Life Magazine, and numerous other partner sites.
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Hosts Omaha Sternberg and Rob Benson talk about the Runic Games’ copyright infringement claim against EGLS, Valve’s Steam Greenlight, and Penny Arcade’s Kickstarter campaign. Plus, much more!
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