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In this episode of Wargaming Recon, host Jonathan J. Reinhart welcomes co-host Peter Bryant to discuss the exciting launch of the Golden Fez Awards, a new gaming award dedicated to honoring the legacy of their late friend, James Carpio. The duo delves into the origins of the awards, explaining the motivation for creating a platform that celebrates the creativity and innovation within the gaming community. Peter shares heartfelt stories about James, underscoring his significant contributions to the gaming world and the wide-reaching friendships he fostered.
The conversation navigates through the detailed process of establishing the awards, from brainstorming ideas to finalizing categories. Peter explains the significance of having multiple collaborators in this venture, highlighting the importance of community and shared passion in the gaming world. They outline the unique criteria for submissions, which will primarily recognize indie games, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity for smaller creators. Jonathan and Peter also discuss the challenges and learnings that came with organizing the awards in such a short timeframe, while deciding what these awards should represent in order to honor James’s memory.
Listeners are introduced to the whimsically named awards categories, such as the “Holy Hand Grenade Award” for Best New Game Mechanic and the “Velvet Smooth Award” for Best Design and Production. Peter elaborates on the criteria and the careful consideration that went into not only the names but the awards themselves, aiming to make them both meaningful and fun. The duo stresses the importance of staying true to James’s spirit, indicating that future iterations of the awards may take on new forms and categories as they evolve.
As they continue their deep dive, Peter shares intriguing anecdotes regarding outreach efforts, such as connecting with popular gaming blogs to generate interest and submissions, as well as partnering with TotalCon to unveil the awards during their upcoming event. This partnership ties back to their emotional connection to the con, serving as a fitting tribute to James, who often sought solace and excitement within its community.
Towards the end, Jonathan and Peter candidly address the logistics of the awards ceremony, discussing what winners will receive, the technology they plan to utilize for streaming, and the excitement around the upcoming live event. Throughout their dialogue, they highlight the profound camaraderie within the gaming community, emphasizing how conventions like TotalCon foster lifelong friendships and creative collaborations.
In closing, Jonathan reminds listeners to stay connected with their gaming adventures while cherishing the memories and stories of friends and loved ones that continue to inspire their journeys. The episode encapsulates a blend of laughter, nostalgia, and the unwavering spirit of creativity that defines the gaming world, inviting all to celebrate, create, and keep on gaming.
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Credits
Our theme song is “Downtown” by Matthew Ebel. The podcast logo was created by Peter Bryant. Audio editing was done by Jonathan J. Reinhart. Show notes for this episode were written by Jonathan J. Reinhart.
This recording is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 license.
Disclosure
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Wargaming Recon pays tribute to Andrew, a cherished listener whose invaluable support inspired the show’s name. Let us observe a collective moment of silence to honor Andrew’s memory.
We deeply mourn the loss of Adrian, a longstanding co-host of Wargaming Recon. Please join us in a moment of silence as we remember Adrian’s contributions and the impact he had on the show.
