Tag: Conglomeration
James L. Sutter Podcast
In this episode, we talk with James L. Sutter, one of the original creators of Pathfinder and the Creative Director in charge of launching Starfinder. He was also the Executive Editor in charge of the Pathfinder novels and has written two fantasy novels—Death’s Heretic and The Redemption Engine. He will be the Gaming Guest of Honor at Conglomeration 2018 which begins on March 30th.
Highlights:
- Introduction
- James’ New Novel
- James L. Sutter’s Work (Starfinder, Pathfinder, Comics, Video Games, Novels)
- Iconic Pathfinder Characters
- Being a GM
- Numenera/Planescape/Monte Cook Games
- The Creation of Starfinder
- Mysteries in Starfinder
- Working in the Game Industry
- Writing for a Living
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- Conglomeration 2018
You can learn more about James L. Sutter on his Website and you can follow him on Twitter.
The Crew:
- Jonathan Meadows
- Brandon K Aten
The Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:54 — 50.0MB)
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Episode 11 – Gamer Law Podcast
Episode 11 – Gamer Law Podcast
In this episode, we talk with Christie Ballenger, JoAnne Sweeny, and Lars Smith of the Gamer Law Podcast, a local podcast that discusses the intersection between games and law. With topics like the legality of modding and license agreements, the crew of this podcast are off to a great start. All three work in the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.
Highlights:
- Introductions: JoAnne Sweeny, Christie Ballenger, Lars Smith
- The bizarreness of Law faculty
- The Genesis of the Gamer Law Podcast
- Copyright & Games
- Preferences of Games; PC v. Consoles
- The Sorority Girls Dressup Game
- Topics on the Gamer Law Podcast
- EULAs – End User License Agreements; What do they really mean?
- Selling your soul in contracts; what happens when you own a soul?
- Development Hell; what happens when a game takes so long to come out? Duke Nukem, anyone?
- Bungie and the changes to Halo as the development changed
- What games is everyone is playing?
- The order of the Elder Scrolls
- How to better make a sandwich?
- The Parade of Horribles and the complete lack of responsiveness; specifically, to Mike
- Mass Effect, Dragon Age
- Baldur’s Gate and the controversy of Transgender NPCs; Sand in vaginas
- Sexuality & Romance in RPGs; Making out with alien chicks; Ed Greenwood on Forgotten Realms sexuality
- Edwin the Evil Wizard
- Legal questions around normative communities and government intervention
- Social acceptance for gamers
- Contraband & violation of copyright law
- Women in coding & programming; Clippy & the feedback from women in that character’s development
- Gamergate, political correctness, and the Gamer Law Podcast’s next episode
- Tabletop gaming, Slur Your Role, etc.
- A return to Sorority Girls Dressup; Undertale
- Good Ole Games, Steam for Planescape
- Shadow of Mordor; Tolkien and the Hobbit Movies
- Coding
- Smite & Grimdawn
- Vanderpump Rules
- Who’s the funniest?
The Gamer Law Podcast can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and LibSyn.
The Crew:
- Mike Pfaff
Intro / Outro music is The White of Noon by STRFKR, graciously provided with permission by Polyvinyl Records.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:33 — 54.5MB)
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ConGlomeration: Louisville’s Grassroots Gaming Convention
Spring has sprung, and with it, the usual sights and sounds we are used to in the Ohio valley—Derby hoopla, allergies, and people cruising Bardstown Road just to be seen. But for Louisville gamers, spring means the sound of rolling dice, smells of tasty junk food, and dreams of worlds to be conquered or lost. April marks the start of gaming convention season with the homegrown fan convention: ConGlomeration. A descendant of the late, great RiverCon, Conglomeration has entertained local gamers with an exciting mix of games, engaging panels, and an entertaining dealer’s room/artist alley for over a decade.
There were tons of games to play at the con, including RPG and board games. D6 or Die came down from Indiana to revel would be rebels with sessions of civil war in a galaxy far far away: West End Games’ version of Star Wars. Cthulhu games were the next favorite, including the campy fun of the Star Trek/Cthulhu mashup that I personally ran. All the board games were supplied by local gaming club Louisville Boardgamers who have always assisted ConGlomeration with their gaming needs.
The panels were well attended this year, starting with the lovely Jenna Busch, who you might have seen on Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop web show. Jenna gave some thrilling personal tales during her panels while also engaging the audience on sensitive topics like Gamergate. Our intern Amber was fascinated by the “Girls in Fandom” panel, which discussed the often overlooked role of women in the culture. I agreed with Amber that women are often more fanatical, especially with attention to detail and authenticity in cosplay. Other panels ranged from fun to educational including “How to pitch your story” on the writers’ track and “Rules to being a great DM” for gamers.
The dealer’s room was full of everything a gamer needed to get their hobby fix—boxes of books, dozens of dice, tabletop miniatures, art, handcrafted jewelry and plenty more. The vendors were knowledgeable and friendly, including our favorite sponsors Heroes Comics and Gaming and Role of the Die. ConGlomeration goers experienced little bit of gamer heaven to whet their appetite for the coming season. The convention has ended, the con suite has closed, but the memories of playing there will live forever.
For a longer discussion about ConGlomeration, listen to our latest podcast!
Episode 10 – ConGlomeration
Episode 10 – ConGlomeration
In this episode, we say farewell to our intern, Amber, and reflect on her time working with Nerd Louisville. Then, Matt and Amber discuss their time at the ConGlomeration Science Fiction & Fantasy convention here in Louisville.
Matt will have an article out soon with more details about the convention and his time there.
Highlights:
- Amber gives us a recap of her internship; her favorite moments and struggles
- Matt & Amber take over the podcast
- Thanks to Rogue Cthulhu for sharing floor space
- Amber participated as a “redshirt” in some RPGs
- Recap of the HP Lovecraft lecture and the Whisperers in Darkness Cthulhu movie
- A Cthulhu / Star Trek mashup game and shoutout to “Spock” and “Kirk”
- Some celebrities at ConGlomeration, including Jenna Busch – girls in fandom, etc.
- Amber watched the live podcast she can’t remember (pretty sure it’s All Games Considered)
- Rogue One trailer and women in Star Wars, Superman v. Batman being crappy except for Wonder Woman
- Cosplay at ConGlomeration and lunch with the Storm Troopers
- Amber’s foxtail and the dealer’s hall
- Shoutout to our sponsors at the convention: Role of the Die and Heroes, Comics & Gaming
- Amber’s favorite moments and nerding out
- Improvements ConGlomeration could make for next year
- Panels and artwork; The Masquerade
- Tight budgets at conventions
- Sign off
The Crew:
- Mike Pfaff
- Amber Robinson
- Matt McCloud
Intro / Outro music is The White of Noon by STRFKR, graciously provided with permission by Polyvinyl Records.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:31 — 14.2MB)
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Episode 7 – Louisville Arcade Expo & Cosplay
Episode 7 – Louisville Arcade Expo & Cosplay
Note: we’ve recently updated our iTunes feed. If you subscribe to the podcast using iTunes, please find us in the iTunes Store and re-subscribe. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience!
In Episode 7 – Louisville Arcade Expo & Cosplay of the Nerd Louisville podcast, we visit the Louisville Arcade Expo 2016, talk with attendee, David Buschermohle, who regularly attends the convention with his pinball group, Rogue League (soon to be Louisville Pinball League). We plan to have a proper Louisville Pinball episode on the Nerd Louisville podcast soon. If you’re interested in the next league, check out the Louisville Pinball website. They play at Zanzabar on Preston on Friday nights when the league is happening.
We also talk with Jenna Rae (aka Goldberry Cosplay) of Louisville Costumed Performers about cos-play and how her group and others are working with local charities.
Finally, we speak with Cindy Thomas of ConGlomeration and discuss the cos-play track that will be at ConGlomeration, including contests, a ball, and more.
The crew:
- Mike Pfaff
- Matt McCloud
We recorded this episode in the hallway of the Ramada Hotel Plaza.
Intro / Outro music is The White of Noon by STRFKR, graciously provided with permission by Polyvinyl Records.
Highlights:
- David Buschermohle discusses his local Pinball league
- Arcade Expo’s old school atmosphere, the lights and sounds
- Circuit play arcade tournaments
- David’s childhood visiting Bashford Manor Mall and playing at Alladin’s Castle
- David’s work at Ft. Knox and discovering Attack of Mars pinball at the local mini-mall
- Rogue League becoming Louisville Pinball League next season
- Cosplay with local player Goldberry
- Making your own costumes, where to find base pieces and materials
- Louisville Ghost Busters, Kentucky Heroes, and cosplaying to raise money for charities like Kosair Children’s Hospital
- Cosplaying at conventions, deep fandoms and detail in cosplay
- Staged photoshoots, play acting, and theatrical rivalry
- Sharing costumes and props, growing the cosplay community
- 411 on the ConGlomeration cosplay contest and masquerade with Cindy Thomas
- Sourcing materials, costuming panels like “Money-saving costuming tips”
- Programming and competition vs. attending the con in costume
- Nerd Louisville staff panels at ConGlomeration
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:25 — 37.0MB)
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Episode 5 – Gaming at ConGlomeration
Note: we’ve recently updated our iTunes feed. If you subscribe to the podcast using iTunes, please find us in the iTunes Store and re-subscribe. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience!
We discuss the recent “blizzard” and what gaming we’ve been doing, especially our new Slur Your Role events. Jake Lovell and Derek Reese from the ConGlomeration gaming track talk gaming at Conglomeration and tell us a bit about what ConGlomeration has to offer, how to volunteer to run games, ConGlomeration’s guests of honor – notably, Jenna Busch, founder of Legion of Leia – and more. To finish things off, Matt teases us about a possible new gaming store opening in March and Nick at Book & Music Exchange gives us the lowdown on a new boardgame group that meet on Mondays at Kaiju. Big shoutout to Role of the Die, our newest sponsor and sponsor of ConGlomeration.
ConGlomeration is Friday, April 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM – Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 2:00 PM (EDT) in Louisville, KY. Find out more information at: www.conglomeration.info
The crew:
Intro/outro graciously provided by Exacta Cube, Louisville (@gigasturtz).
Highlights:
- We discuss the non-blizzard.
- We talk about games we’ve been playing.
- Recap of Slur Your Role at Kaiju and what we’d like to do to improve.
- Derek and Reese discuss the gaming track at ConGlomeration
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:02 — 38.5MB)
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