EXP Podcast #32: Wimping Out

Trying to make a game simultaneously accessible and challenging while also retaining a cogent plot is a daunting task.  Inspired by Julian "rabbit" Murdoch's piece about his son's gaming habits and a recent Gamasutra post by Leigh Alexander, we discuss the nebulous subject of challenge in games.  Using the articles to focus the discussion, we explore the necessity of challenge, different ways of testing players' skills, and how we view the evolution of game difficulty.  Such a hard topic means we need your help to do it justice, so feel free to join the discussion in the comments.Some discussion starters:- Do you see a trajectory in terms of the games' difficulties over the years?  If so, how and why have they changed?- Have you ever considered quitting a game due to its difficulty, but decided instead to fight through it?  Was this rewarding?- To what extent do players and designers share the burden of accessibility?To listen to the podcast: - Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed. - Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format. - Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.Show notes:- Run time: 27 min 04 sec- "Wimp," by Julian "rabbit" Murdoch, via Gamers With Jobs - "Can Nintendo Take 'Accessibility' too Far?" by Leigh Alexander, via Gamasutra- Music provided by Brad Sucks