Ed Fries Interview with Matt Barton of Matt Chat

Below is the transcript of an interview I did with Ed Fries. If you prefer to watch the videos, click the link below, which is a playlist that will take you through all of them. Otherwise, scroll down for the transcription!

If you want someone to transcribe your videos, shoot Max Shelton an email at writingmax at gmail dot com.

Matt:  All right folks.  I’m here with the legendary Ed Fries.  The former Vice President of game publishing at Microsoft.  He’s basically the guy who gave the thumbs up or down to the Xbox titles, and played a huge role in creating the Xbox.  Does that sound about right? (laughs).

Ed: (Laughs)  The older I get the more legendary I get. I noticed that. (laughs)

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Surveillance on Spy Games

Duke-TogoAs you probably know, Retro Magazine is the coolest magazine in the world for folks interested in retrogaming. If you’re not already subscribed to it, I may have to come over to your place and slap you with a fish. For the next issue, I’ve been tapped by the editors to put to put together a feature article on spy games. Spy games? What the heck does Matt know about spy games? Sadly, not a lot! However, I’ve been giving myself a crash course in the genre and trying to get to know these characters:

  • Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
  • Gabriel Logan (Syphon Filter)
  • James Bond (GoldenEye N64)
  • Michael Thorton (Alpha Protocol)
  • Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell)

Sadly, I only recognized one name from this list: Bond, James Bond! Thankfully, I have played all the way through GoldenEye, albeit on my DS rather than the N64 (though I’m pretty sure I own it for both). I’ve always been a James Bond fan–I grew up watching Roger Moore-era Bond movies that we rented from the local VHS place. The fact that the VCR came in a cool suitcase seemed appropriate for watching a secret agent movie!

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Matt’s Podcast for February: Rambling on Adventure Games

I’ve played more adventure games over the years than any other genre, so when Mike Kennedy and Brandon Justice of Retro magazine tapped me for a feature article on them–it wasn’t “yes,” it was “hellz, yeah!” In this podcast, I talk more about the generation gap as well as the cultural gap between and among gamers these days, then get into the history and future of the adventure game.

Download the Matt Chat for February.

 

Gameplay the Movie now Available on Vimeo!

Hi, all. If you’ve been watching Matt Chat for awhile, you know that I’ve been working on a movie about the history of the videogames industry. It features HD interviews with John Romero (Doom), David Crane (Pitfall), Todd Howard (Fallout 3), Don Daglow (Utopia), Steve Meretzky (Planetfall), and John Smedley–just to name a few. It also has professional animation and a rocking soundtrack.

Gameplay: The Story of the Videogame Revolution – Trailer from Gravitas Ventures on Vimeo.

It’s now $4.99 to rent or $12.99 to own on Vimeo on Demand. Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Matt Chat 262: Robert Woodhead on Wizardry and the Apple II

Robert Woodhead, co-designer of the Wizardry series, returns for one last segment to talk about the later days of his time at Sir-Tech. We also talk about his efforts at copy protection, the Mac, hacking the Apple II, and why he didn’t like the 1541 (Commodore’s disk drive). We wrap up with a discussion of David W. Bradley and Robert’s thoughts on making a new Wizardry game.

Download the mp4 here.

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Matt Chat 259: David Shelley and Laura Bowen on Seven Dragon Saga

The Gold Box games are making a comeback–at least, if David Shelley, Laura Bowen, and other SSI veterans have their way. Their company, TSI, will soon be launching a Kickstarter to fund their “Seven Dragon Saga,” a martial arts themed CRPG with good ol’ turn-based combat.

In this interview, Dave and Laura discuss and answer questions about the game. I end by quizzing these masters on their own games (thanks to a trivia card I found in my Pools of Darkness box!)

Download the mp4 here.

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