RetroforceGO! Episode 91: Platformers

Comment with Facebook

Comment with Dtoid

VIDEO.DESTRUCTOID | JAPANATOR | TOMOPOP

Destructoid is obsessive about gaming news.

front page

top stories

reviews

features

shows

contribute

ps3

360

wii

pc

psp

ds

iphone

Home #RetroforceGO!

3:30 PM on 05.30.2009 | Topher Cantler

19 comments

RetroforceGO! Episode 91: Platformers photo

#RetroforceGO!

Happy ~~Friday~~ Saturday, listeners! Allow me first to apologize for the lateness of the show this week. Despite Geraldo Beedog's shocking accusations of scandal, the truth of the matter is that there was simply a bit of trouble uploading the file yesterday, and it really isn't any more interesting than that. But without further ado, highlights:

Colette's on a plane! For real!
What is a platformer?
Let's argue about it!
Pancakes. Don't make me do it.
Chad gives us a lesson in ergonomics
Double jump!

As always, you can subscribe to us on iTunes to get the show early, or you can check it out right here. We'll catch you again next week, hopefully on time.

Continue reading: More RetroforceGO! stories

RetroforceGO! Episode 100
57 comments

RetroforceGO! records episode 100 tonight: Retroforce
164 comments

RetroforceGO! ep 99: The Wizard DVD Audio commentary
37 comments

RetroforceGO! records episode 99 tonight: The Wizard
75 comments

19 comments | showing # 1 to 19

Geraldo Beedog

I am watching you, sir.

Xhumation

So i just got a call telling me that I have to show up for work in an hour and do overtime on a saturday night.

I'm glad I'm gonna have retroforce with me for that.

gatorsax2010

I was so lost without my Friday Retroforce. Glad it's finally up :)

Isay Isay

What of the popsicles? Have we located more popsicles yet?

SpAM CAN

For those who care: I am making The RetroforceGO! RPG Game. Redundant word is deliberate, please send me your ideas and contributions!

perri

Woo!

protomark

i want a geraldo beedog shirt.

parsleyboots

The discussion about the definition of "platform game" reminded me that I once saw a newspaper article during the 16-bit era in which a clueless journalist defined "platform game" as a game that represented the hardware platform for which it was developed. So Mario was the SNES's platform game, and Sonic the Mega Drive's. Which has its own logic, I guess.

SadCheese

@protomark

Ditto

Snacks n Candy

Chad, Psychonauts gives you a double jump. The game is 80% "Oh crap, how do I make this jump?" It's got less exploring than the Banjo-Kazooie games, too. It's a platformer. You goof. >:C

Speaking of which, yeah, they need to make a real Banjo-Threeie. Totally agree.

Zagieman

Here is my theory on "left to right":

When programming a game, it is conventional to use a co-ordinate system when printing the sprites and this starts on the left hand side of the screen at zero. I know when I start off programing something, I give the initial test co-ordinate something like 10 so that it starts on the left hand side. Naturally you want to run to the other side of the screen when the sprite is printed, this way being to the right. From there it just stuck.

Chronic Logic

I really dont' get double jump. I mean, how the fuck does that work? What are they jumping off of? Now if they farted so hard that they elevated themselves higher, that I can understand.

garison

Really great episode guys :) I love platformers so freaking much.

Stridechicken

Hmmm, the discussion about yoshi sacrifice made me think about this picture:
http://pixelatedgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/05thumb.jpg
It really pulls at your heart-strings. Loved the episode, especially the fact that there seem to be more criteria for what constitutes a platformer than there are actual games...

CypherVR

ummm, the podcast isn't working >_>

CypherVR

I AM ERROR

Infinitys End

OMG I can't believe DeadMovieStar isn't flipping out because Dyson forgot the name of the NES game, MetalStorm... I don't believe Metal Storm is a platformer. It's got way more in common than Contra. So, action-platformer, sure.

Fletcher

After listening to this episode and the Muppets show episode I mean uh secret show... I have decided that Topher and Chad need to form a movie/tv review podcast.

hpv

The whole left-to-right thing is based on a universal (or near enough as to make no matter) psychological phenomenon of people perceiving movement to the right as going away from home, as into something new and unexplored, and moving toward the left as returning home to the known and familiar.

It's been employed widely in all visual art mediums for a long, long time. That's the reason for side scrollers to favor this direction, whether the designers are knowingly employing it or just copying that convention from other games where it was consciously implemented to achieve that effect.

Click connect and comment instantly!

get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
contribute a news tip
suggest a feature
be a guest editor

support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?

keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meetup+play online

seriously

about Destructoid
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap

our network

Tomopop
Japanator
Despingation?

Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006

New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

see all

Military Madness: Nectaris

Kevin Butler "Moves" from the Future

EA SPORTS MMA

Plain Sight

River City Soccer Hooligans

Just Cause 2 - Tuk Tuk Stunts

Just Cause 2 - Launch

3D Dot Game Heroes: Ekans Confirmed

Ten Minute Taste: 3D Dot Game Heroes

WarioWare D.I.Y. Tutorial Video 2

Try our new video site: vToid.com

see all

Final Fantasy XIII
by Jim Sterling

Pokemon HeartGold / SoulSilver

Calling

Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing

God of War III

Mega Man 10

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Review Recap: February 2010

Toy Soldiers

see all

Cute chaotic robot ninja explody fun with Plain Sight
by Hamza CTZ Aziz

Need for Speed World: Race

A mindbending with Poto & Cabenga

Pocket Creatures

Easy Piano

inXile's Hunted

Resident Evil : Zombie Infection (iPhone)

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Frobot

SOCOM 4

see all

What will be the last game you ever play?
by Dexter345

Call for entries

New posts

Expand all

New to the c-blogs? Read the survival guide
- The Dtoid Army is 60382 strong -

see all

The joys of being a videogame reviewer

Gather around old man Niero: Destructoid turns four

The most immature thing we've ever done: The Name Game

Get me results: How to solve the JRPG Grind

Only idiots blame the 360 for FF XIII's problems

Four years of Destructoid: A collection of wacky memories

Off-Brand Games: Fighter's History

tips@destructoid.com
	Nick Chester Editor-in-Chief		Niero Founder, El Jefe
	Jim Sterling Reviews Editor		Hamza Aziz Community Manager
	Dale North News Editor		Rey Gutierrez Destructoid Video EIC
	Anthony Burch Features Editor		Brad Nicholson Managing Editor
	Tom Fronczak		Colette Bennett
	Ashley Davis		Ben Perlee
	Conrad Zimmerman		Chad Concelmo
	Jonathan Holmes		Jonathan Ross
	Brad Rice		Jordan Devore
	Joseph Leray		Matthew Razak
	Josh Tolentino		Samit Sarkar
	Hollie Bennett		Daniel Lingen
	Mikey Turvey	Adam Dork Joe Burling
		Adam Dork Joe Burling