To finish out today’s installment of our seven part interview series “Text Tree” we’ve got an interview with MTV Multiplayer blog Editor Stephen Totilo (seen above pulverizing/being pulverized by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em). The interview touches on a few specifically pertinent aspects of games coverage and Stephen sums up why podcasts are king (even though they have yet to become truly monetized) in an era of “But I want my information noooooow, Daddy!”

(GEEK): As MTV Multiplayer’s head writer and a guest on a variety of well known gaming podcasts, could you explain why you think podcasting is an important approach for games coverage, and more specifically, games journalism?

You picked a good week to ask this question, as the purchase by UGO of 1UP has put fans of some of the most popular gaming media podcasts in deep distress. What I think podcasts do so well is provide voice and allow nuance. The voice point is obvious, but the nuance one might be a little less so. Gaming media, like a lot of media, thrives on the short and the quick. Any reporter who strives to present an article that has some depth and length to it faces the challenge of getting their readers to engage in those pieces in full. That’s hard online, which is where most gaming media exists these days. People have a tendency to skim or to be satisfied with a snappy headline and intro paragraph. I’ve found that those same readerrs have a greater tolerance for long podcasts. They’ll listen to someone talk about a game or interview for 10 minutes via a podcast but may not have the patience or time to consume the 1,000-word or 4,000-word story that would have been needed to present the same volume of information. Get people listening to your podcast and you’ll get them listening to a lot more of the details in a way that more easily fits into their lives.

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It’s no surprise to longtime readers of Geekadelphia that we’re big fans of podcasting, and more specifically, the various multimedia that have emerged online over the past decade or so. Over the last two months, I’ve been speaking with a number of different game writers from all forms of media, asking a variety of questions regarding the role that new forms of content delivery are affecting the way we cover games and — maybe more importantly in the light of the recent UGO/EGM/1up debacle — the changing business models employed by game writing publications going forward.

In mid-December, John Davison (Co-Founder/President of WhatTheyPlay.com, ex-EGM EIC/Ed. Dir.) was the first to answer a few questions on subjects ranging from the creation of the now defunct stable of podcasts at 1up to how publications should be adapting from an economic standpoint now and in the future. This will be the inaugural post of seven separate interviews, but in true Geekadelphia slipshod fashion, I’ll post the first two today (the other featuring
MTV Multiplayer blog Editor Stephen Totilo) so that we can finish in a timely fashion next Friday. I hope you enjoy and by all means, get involved in the comments.

(As an aside: I’d like to thank all the writers who took time out of their schedules to answer my questions thoughtfully and thoroughly — Thank You! )

(GEEK): I think it’s safe to say that you oversaw the creation of a lot of the multimedia that 1UP has been producing (i.e. podcasting, a weekly show, video features)? Could you explain why you think that’s an important approach for journalistic coverage?

At the time, the goal in establishing the video and audio shows on 1UP was all about establishing the personalities that we had on the staff. This was true of the individual blogs, too. There was a lot of competition in the gaming media space, and given that we were building the 1UP Network a few years behind some of our competitors, we wanted to really differentiate ourselves. Rather than simply be “just another” reviews/previews/news site, we wanted the audience and the staff to come together as one community, and for people to feel like they really knew the staff. The 1UP Show, and 1UP Yours in particular were a big part of establishing a “voice” for 1UP, and they were very effective ways of introducing people to the Network and drawing them into our other content. In a lot of ways, you can think of them as part of a broader editorial marketing initiative.

(GEEK): When you worked at Ziff-Davis, you witnessed not only several key editorial members leave but also the dissolution of a few print publications. It could be said that the cutbacks we’ve seen budget-wise in games journalism are symptomatic of changing business models, due to the internet, that are effecting journalism on the whole. In that regard, do you believe Ziff-Davis or, maybe more importantly, all publishing houses in the games journalism industry are adequately adapting to changing business models?

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That’s right, fellow geeks. January 17th happens to be Ben Franklin’s birthday, and we’re helping throw one serious party down at National Mechanics. With over 50 people confirmed for the celebration so far, this is sure to be one stellar bash for history’s biggest geek. Ben Franklin invented a lot of stuff (the wheel, electricity, the internet) and established a lot of firsts here in Philadelphia. It’s only appropriate that we honor his birthday…With drinks!

Head on over to National Mechanics at 9PM and indulge in some Ben Franklin inspired drink specials.

Lots of fun things will be going on, including Ben Franklin inspired cupcakes from Dana and Katie @ Open Source Cupcakes, haiku teacups from Philadelphia’s tea queen, Alexis Siemons, and some fun giveaways and raffles from your pals here at Geekadelphia. DJ John Gills will be on the scene, spinning some beats through the night.

However, Ben isn’t alone in this birthday celebration. The 17th also happens to be the birthday of Far McKon, Philadelphia’s favorite hacker. Make sure you give him some hugs and high fives on his special day.

Come on out and celebrate! You can RSVP over on the Facebook, or just show up. RSVPing makes us happy though, because it lets us know how many of you are coming out, and allows us some serious bragging rights.

Interested in participating in the party? Want to sponsor a giveaway? Contact us and let us know!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben Franklin’s B’Day @ National Mechanics
January 17th, 2009: Drink Specials @ 9PM

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

Remember the climatic scene in Aliens, where Ripley battles the final Alien queen using that giant robot? It always makes me think of that late 90′s cartoon show… the name escapes me at the moment… where people flew around in those exoskeleton robots? A serious high five to whoever remembers that for me.

Anyhow,Artist Monty Gog created this great custom print of Ripley fighting the alien queen during the aforementioned climax of Aliens, which is also my personal favorite in the Alien film series.

Word on the street, is Garrett from Filmadelphia’s favorite is Alien vs. Predator: Requiem. We won’t judge.

Take a look at the high rez image.

Ripley vs. Queen via Super Punch

Every single person who at least tossed a cursory glace at 2008′s election campaign knows this poster.

It’s likely the first image people remember when they think of Obama, because it was reproduced in so many different ways…ways that are traditionally reserved for rock bands and underground art.  This piece virtually spurred a micro-renaissance in political art, inspiring a completely separate and extremely valuable community of creative minds, unlocking the support of many that wouldn’t have cared otherwise.

On the day of Obama’s Inaguration, the National Portrait Gallery (operated by the Smithsonian) will display the original mixed media piece.  I find this to be such an amazing feat, considering Fairey’s roots wheat-pasting and stencil-spraying OBEY Andre the Giant images all over Los Angeles 20 years ago.  It’s even more remarkable that the Portrait Gallery normally only displays Presidential portraits at the end of their term.  Now, I wouldn’t know this for sure, but it seems like something that would be unprecedented… And that is really awesome.  Good work, Shep!

via OMGPosters
Original Article on USA Today

Hooray!

We’d like to send a big thank you over to the Philadelphia Weekly and Steven Wells for this excellent cover story on the geek scene in Philly. In his article Scene But Not Nerd, Wells talks to a lot of our friends, including Alex Hillman over at Indy Hall, and gives a wealth of shout-outs. Dana at Open Source Cupcakes, Geoff DiMasi at P’unk Ave and Junto, and more. There’s even a little blip from me in there. w00t.

I’d go on and on about the article, but really, you need to read it yourself. Go pick up the Philly Weekly, and for those of you out of the Philly area, you can read the entire article online on the Philadelphia Weekly’s website.

Scene But Not Nerd @ PW.com
www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/18129/cover-story

Head over to Pixel Creations’ Etsy page to check out these wonderful looking Chrono Trigger magnets! You’ll get all seven characters for $20.

Chrono Trigger was easily the best game released on the Super Nintendo, and hands down one of the greatest games ever made. I’m thrilled that you can pick it up for the Nintendo DS, and that Playstation 2 users can always grab a copy of Final Fantasy Chronicles, but can we PLEASE get it on the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console? Seriously, I’m dying to play this on my television again.

Anyhow. Check out Robo and the rest of the gang after the jump.

Chrono Trigger Magnets via Etsy

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A friend of mine sent me this link to toplessrobot.com which talked about the merchandising of the film adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen. It would include, of all things,  lunchboxes. A link to the site selling these items showed that pretty much nothing is off limits — everything from Dr. Manhattan hats to “Who Watches The Watchmen?” keychains. I am pretty sure this is not winning over Alan Moore to support this film in any way.

Thanks to Andrew for the heads up!

Watchmen will be released March 6th.

(Via toplessrobot.com and bigbadtoystore.com)

“EGM folding feels vaguely like my childhood home being sold.”, read one Twitter post this morning. “My first exposure to games journalism — shit, journalism altogether — was EGM. I can’t believe its gone.”, read another. These statements echo those held by me, blogger/writer/freelance journalist Ben Gilbert, implicitly. Yesterday afternoon, after the majority of the blogosphere had signed off for the day and some of us (ahem) were eating dinner, 1UP.com announced via their website that, “UGO Entertainment and parent Hearst Corporation have acquired 1UP and its associated sites GameVideos.com, MyCheats.com, and GameTab.com.” While the piece posted on their site outlines the aquisition as if it were a blessing, they fail to mention the massive fallout surrounding it: nearly 20-year-old Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine is no more and over 30 employees were fired (including a gaggle of game writing veterans, like Shane Bettenhausen and James “Milkman” Mielke).

1UP.com Site Director Sam Kennedy spoke to MTV Multiplayer, regarding the stable of audio and video podcasts that have become 1UP’s raison d’etre over the past few years, last night, ““We’re going to try and maintain a lot of the audio and video going forward. Will we have as many shows as we have in the past? Probably not, but we have – we’ve had – a lot of ideas for future shows and we’re pretty excited about what we’ll do in the future.” And so while I’ll miss listening to the assorted personalities I’ve come to know as well as (and sometimes better than) my own friends and I’ll miss receiving my EGM in the mail each month, it’s with a heavy heart that Geekadelphia.com and myself wish those affected by the recent “acquisition” (death sentence) the best of luck in all their future endeavors. You will be missed.

(Image courtesy of Shawn Elliott)

I can’t wait for the new Street Fighter movie, The Legend of Chun-Li. And we all know Ben is definitely amped about the release. The trailer raised a lot of questions, and thankfully, the officially movie poster answers them.

1. Yes, there are guns in the Street Fighter videogame. You just never saw them. Ryu and Ken used them to shoot those fireballs. Silly.

2. Also, it is absolutely physically possible to jump-kick AND jump-punch someone, in the face, at the same time. Don’t let the impossibility of the feat fool you.

3. Chris Klein is, in fact, still alive.

To be perfectly honest, I am actually excited to see Neal McDonough as M. Bison. Seriously. He was fantastic in Flags of Our Fathers, Traitor, and the HBO series Band of Brothers. At least the Street Fighter film series seems to be staying true to having a decent actor play Bison. Remember Raul Julia? Sure, the first Street Fighter film may not have been his crowning achievement, but he was certainly a fantastic actor.

February can’t come soon enough. Midnight viewing, anyone?

Street Fighter Poster via I Watch Stuff

Wow! I recently came across Will Quilt For Games, an unbelievable Etsy seller who makes handmade, quilted gaming pillows.

I put some of my favorites of hers in a gallery below. Have a look, and check out her shop. I’ll definitely be ordering one or two once the holidays die down. And yes, even though Christmas and New Year’s are done and over with, I’m still saying that. So many awesome sales, so little money.

Will Quilt For Games @ Etsy

Yeah, I’m with Alice on this one. I definitely hate watches, but this Asteroids watch is fantastic. I remember adoring those old school Nintendo Game & Watches, when they were eventually put on actual watches, despite how utterly awful they were. Everyone wanted one!

Anyhow, in the event this thing ever gets in stores, you better believe I’m buying one of these.

Asteroids Watch (With Video) via Wonderland