In our first ever 'Side Note', we discuss a number of video games that were directly affected by 9/11 and the Iraq War, titles that were delayed, altered, or cancelled in response to the events.
Show Notes
About Games of Note
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
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Contact Us:Email: gamesofnotepodcast@gmail.com
Games of Note: #4 - Dear Esther (2012)
In this episode, we dive into Dear Esther, the pioneering 2008 Half-Life 2 mod turned 2012 standalone title, often hailed as the first “walking simulator.” Forgoing combat, puzzles, and win-loss mechanics, it invites players on a solitary, poetic stroll across a mist-shrouded Hebridean island, exploring themes of loss and bereavement.
We discuss its roots in thechineseroom’s early research mods, unpack the debates over its legitimacy as a “game,” and celebrate how its success reshaped the indie scene and proved games could be profound, emotionally driven art.
Show Notes
About Games of Note
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
Follow us:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS
Contact Us:Email: gamesofnotepodcast@gmail.com
We discuss how FarmVille became one of the most iconic and widely played social games of all time, introducing timer-based mechanics, shared worlds, and cooperative play to the masses.
Reaching 300 million total players and over $1 billion in revenue, it peaked at 35 million daily users in March 2010, marking the rise of “appointment gaming” and drawing in a casual audience far beyond the traditional core gamer demographic, we chat about Farmville's rise & fall.
Show Notes
About Games of Note
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
Follow us:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS
Contact Us:Email: gamesofnotepodcast@gmail.com
Games of Note: #2 - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Released on March 20, 1997, initially for the PlayStation and later for the Sega Saturn, this game, despite only selling 700,000 copies in the US and Japan, became a sleeper hit and cult classic, often topping “greatest games of all time” lists thanks to its clever design solutions and its role as the blueprint for future Castlevania titles (Igavanias) and the wider Metroidvania boom in indie games.
About Games of Note
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
Follow us:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS
Contact Us:Email: gamesofnotepodcast@gmail.com
In our first episode, Will and Wayne dive into Shenmue — Yu Suzuki's overly ambitious Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment RPG, released for the SEGA Dreamcast in 1999 (Japan).
Shenmue was a groundbreaking title that redefined RPGs and adventure games with innovative mechanics like a dynamic day-night cycle and fully scheduled NPCs. However, its unprecedented production budget brought sky-high expectations that it didn't unfortunately meet. We explore the game's origins, mechanics, and lasting legacy.
P.S - Some background audio made its way into the recording — we're still fine-tuning our setup, so apologies for any unexpected sounds that came through!
Show Notes
About Games of Note
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
Follow us:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS
Contact Us:Email: gamesofnotepodcast@gmail.com
Welcome to the Games of Note podcast!
This is just an introductory episode where we briefly discuss the purpose of the podcast, our backgrounds and what games/genres we dig (and a few we don't).
Games of Note is a video game podcast hosted by game designer Will Luton & biz dev consultant Wayne Emanuel, where we discuss not if a game is good or bad, but the impact it had on the culture and business of video games.
You can find all of our episodes below:
Podcast Directory | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
We're always eager to hear your thoughts on this episode or the podcast in general. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us through any of the following channels:
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