Spam Spam Spam Humbug

If you've ever wondered what our dream games might look like...we'll try to tell you. Now Available on Google Play Music | Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Johnny, Dominik, Chris, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.Podcast Topic(s) The Spam Spam Spam Humbug crew take on a surprisingly challenging question: If some company could make any game you could contrive, what would that game look like? Or, failing that, pick a favourite game and describe in some detail why you like it? What sorts of games did we describe? What games did we choose as examples? Listen in to find out.In Other News Mighty No. 9 finally has a release date "set in stone" - “Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's crowdfunded spiritual successor to the Blue Bomber, Mighty No. 9, will finally launch on 24th June in Europe...Mighty No. 9 has become somewhat notorious for its many delays. Originally targeting a September 2015 release date, it was pushed back to February, then delayed once again until 'spring' 2016.” Dishonored 2 Release Date Confirmed - “Bethesda has announced Dishonored 2 will launch on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One on November 11. The world premiere of Dishonored 2's gameplay will take place during Bethesda’s 2016 E3 Showcase being held in Los Angeles, California on June 12 beginning at 7pm PST...”Games We've Been Playing WtFD - Star Wars: The Old Republic, Lili: Child of Geos, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Stories: The Path of Destinies, Everspace Linguistic - The Secret World, Savage Empire Kevin - Sylph (testing and working on the game box) Gradilla - Warframe, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HDSupport Spam Spam Spam Humbug Patreon | Buy Games at GOG | Like Ultima on Facebook | Follow the Ultima Codex on TwitterJoin the Ultima Community UDIC.org | Ultima Dragons on Facebook | Ultima Dragons on Google+ | Follow the Ultima Dragons on TwitterGet In Touch Send us an email | Leave a voice messageWhere to Find Us Online WtFD -

It seems like publishers just aren't making games for our demographic anymore. How, then, should we go about transmitting our love of gaming to the next generation? Now Available on Google Play Music | Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Johnny, Dominik, Chris, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.Podcast Topic(s) We Arent't The Market Anymore: We may have overlooked the most obvious point in this discussion…almost nobody is making games targeted to the ageing gamer anymore! And even those companies that are still doing so aren't necessarily doing so (c.f. the controversy over lore changes and writing style in Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear). So, what are ageing gamers to do? Passing Games On to the Next Generation: For most of us who have grown up with games, there's also another question that looms large: we have kids now (or many of us do, at any rate), so do we want to see our kids pick up and run with a hobby that has brought us a lot of joy? And if so, how much do we want to involve ourselves in that...and how much do we want our kids to experience the same games that we did? Always remember: If you like Spam Spam Spam Humbug, please leave us a review on iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or anywhere else you listen to us. More important than that, however, is to make sure you subscribe to the podcast. This is especially true for iTunes; the more subscriptions a podcast has, the more visible it will be in iTunes. So, even if you subscribe to us using some other, better technology (Pocket Casts, for example), consider subscribing in iTunes (or in the Podcasts app) as well. There's also the Ultima Codex Patreon. A $1 pledge will get you access to Spam Spam Spam Humbug episodes the day before they go live here on the Ultima Codex, and you'll be helping me both maintain and — with sufficient funding — expand the server infrastructure of the Codex to better deliver all the things you come looking for thereat. You can also support the site by buying computer games through GOG; the Codex is a GOG affiliate. This one is really easy; all you have to do is visit the Codex and click on the GOG banner in the sidebar before you go and buy a game at GOG. You won't pay any more for the game, but we'll get a bit of a commission on the sale. Also, if you haven't already, you should totally sign on with the Ultima Dragons group on Facebook, or with the Ultima Dragons community on Google+ . The Facebook group is easily the larger and more lively, but that just means that the Google+ one needs a few more members posting content there on a more regula

As we continue the discussion with Chlorthos Dragon, we discuss the need for parents to be able to show empathy. Also something about Forge of Virtue's Test of Love. Now Available on Google Play Music | Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topics As this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue moves through the Easter season, we've shifted the focus of episodes back to topics that relate, in some way, to the Eight Virtues (and Three Principles) of Ultima lore. Specifically, we'll be talking about the Virtue of Compassion and the Principle of Love, joined this time by Chlorthos Dragon. In this episode, we talk a bit about parenting, and in particular the need for parents to be able to show empathy to their children...which is sometimes a challenge! We also discuss the idea of self-sacrificing (agape) love, how this is exemplified in the Test of Love in Ultima 7's expansion, Forge of Virtue, and how through the practice of agape we can transform seeming tragedies into...well...something else. Something better, richer, and meaningful.Music Valoria Ships, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Ultima doesn't adequately represent all of the opposition that exists to each Virtue. Not that it handles anti-virtue badly...it just handles it incompletely. Now Available on Google Play Music | Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) As this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue moves from the Lenten season into the Easter season, we will be switching the focus of episodes back to topics that relate, in some way, to the Eight Virtues (and Three Principles) of Ultima lore. Specifically, we'll be talking about the Virtue of Compassion and the Principle of Love, joined this time by Chlorthos Dragon. In this episode, we discuss the real-world concepts of mercy and compassion, and how these are exalted as the prime examples of love. We also discuss the corporal works of mercy, actions of charity and care for others that the Catholic Church puts forth as being...well, essentially obligatory for those who profess that particular faith. The discussion also touches on how charity and works of mercy are depicted in games, including theUltima series (e.g. the old woman in Ultima 4, Ybarra in Ultima 6) and Divinity: Original Sin. We talk about poverty, and about how the Ultima series doesn't do a very thorough job of depicting anti-virtues. Not that it does a bad job with the anti-virtues it does depict...but it doesn't depict enough of them. Which gets us back to Aristotelian philosophy, and the concept of virtue as a golden mean between equal, but opposite, vices. Finally, we ask: how do we pass our values on to others, especially our children?Music Britain Positive, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Gone are the days when we could play games at whim, for what duration pleased us. How, as gamers, do we deal with changes in the gaming industry? Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Johnny, Dominik, Chris, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.New Followers & Ultima Dragons Podbean: thefinalcutmovieblog, ajstam1993, farmgamesociety Ultima Dragons on Facebook: David, Johan, Frank, Markus, Tony, Todd, Davide UDIC: Norvegicus Dragon, Truthveyor DragonPodcast Topic(s) Freemium - When Did This Become a Thing? Freemium is everywhere, especially in mobile games. Indeed, we could probably have a separate discussion on the whole freemium/mobile connection...we could have a whole discussion (or gripe session) about how the freemium aspects of Ultima Forever probably contributed to its downfall, and robbed us of not only an Ultima game, but a darn good mobile RPG as well. And then there's the fact that some of these supposedly free games are raking in millions of dollars per day...which is just baffling. Interesting tangent: a lot of freemium games ultimately use time as the way they limit how those who play for free experience or progress in the game. This is true even in MMORPGs like Star Wars: The Old Republic; free players don't get access to some gear, yes, but more importantly are held back in terms of how quickly they accrue experience and thus level up. Which, in turn, limits the rate at which they can experience the stories in the game. Now, happily, in SWTOR, it isn't terribly egregious, whereas in some mobile games it's almost agonizing...deliberately so. One of the biggest criticisms of the mobile Dungeon Keeper title was that building almost anything in the game takes a long time...an hour, in some cases, if not more. Other games, like various match-3 titles, give you so many lives/crystals/energy points as a free player, and these get burned up if you lose at a level. It says something interesting about our culture, then, that these games are able to make millions of dollars per day selling people what are essentially a means of shortcutting these (admittedly artificial) time delays. What's ultimately being monetized — to the tune, again, of millions of dollars per day in $0.99 transactions — is the impatience of people. Hey...Where's The Rest of This Game? One trend that hasn't been terribly welcome in gaming these days is the advent of DLC. Not that expansions for games are anything new; Forge of Virtue and The Silver Seed are notable examples from within the Ultima series, and those came out over twenty years ago. But modern DLC is a bit different, isn't it? Sometimes, DLC makes for a genuinely enjoyable expansion to a game; Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's two expansions — The Legend of Dead Kel and The Teeth of Naros — added some neat new story content to the game, as well as some gorgeous artwork. But sometimes, DLC is either trivial — horse armour, anyone? — or feels as though it should have been included in the base game to begin with. More recently, we've also seen Early Access

In which we take a look at the origins of the Eight Virtues of Ultima lore, and discuss the intersection of virtue and law. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) As this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue moves from the Lenten season into the Easter season, we will be switching the focus of episodes back to topics that relate, in some way, to the Eight Virtues (and Three Principles) of Ultima lore. Specifically, we'll be talking about the Virtue of Compassion and the Principle of Love, joined this time by Chlorthos Dragon. In this episode, the discussion first focuses on how Richard Garriott came up with the Three Principles that, in turn, were used to inform the Eight Virtues (hint: it involves The Wizard of Oz). We then talk about a small grab bag of things, including the relationship of virtue and law, the odd way in which the Eight Virtues always seem to be in conflict with each other, and just why some people go about following laws.Music Britain Positive, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Gone are the days when we could play games at whim, for what duration pleased us. How, as gamers, do we deal with getting older and having less time for our passtime? Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Johnny, Dominik, Chris, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.New Patrons & Shout-Outs New Patrons: Oceania Shout-Outs: The anonymous person or persons behind the @ultimadragons Twitter account.New Followers & Ultima Dragons Podbean: royalsexy, thebowdster, swelch3, shesmarts, gamingnews4u, doeclapton, imastoppa, epifreak2002, madi20, vlogdagamer, naufalcyrus Ultima Dragons on Facebook: Segun, Arnulf, Paulo, Brett, and Mike Nystul (yes, the inspiration for that Nystul)Podcast Topic(s) Let's Face It - We're Getting Older: Well, some of us are, at any rate. Though it would be nice to still be living in the days when we didn't have families, jobs, bills, and other such concerns consuming our time and energy, those days are well and truly in the past. And while we feel the impact of that transition in a lot of areas, one which we all share in common is the time we have available to devote to the passtime we all share and take joy in: gaming. It Isn't Just Us - Games Have Changed, Too: Now, at the risk of stoking controversy, let it be said that this isn't always a bad thing. As wonderful as it is to find a game that will tell you an engaging story that spans 100 hours or more...well, considering the time management issues discussed previously, sometimes it's nice that a game only wants 20 hours of your time. There's been some interesting trends afoot in the gaming industry, too. For a while there, there was sort of an overall broadening of the industry; games have really become things with widespread appeal, and the gaming industry as a whole pulls in earnings that dwarf the music and film industries combined. And at least for a time, it kind of seemed that games were being simplified and streamlined somewhat, to appeal to a broader audience overall...which some saw as coming at the expense of the enjoyment of the hardcore gamers. Even more recently, however, there's been a sort of indie game development renaissance, and we've seen several games — RPGs especially — announced and published over the last few years that have tried to appeal to those looking for a more core gaming experience. And we've also seen some features that we knew and loved from the games of yesterdecade coming back in modern games; open world is kind of a buzzword these days, for example. Where to Find Us Online WtFD - Twitter | Facebook | The Ultima Codex |

The Ultima series depicts love in a very philosophically interesting way, one which is very much in line with real-world ideals of mercy. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) As this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue moves from the Lenten season into the Easter season, we will be switching the focus of episodes back to topics that relate, in some way, to the Eight Virtues (and Three Principles) of Ultima lore. Specifically, we'll be talking about the Virtue of Compassion and the Principle of Love, joined this time by Chlorthos Dragon. In this episode, Chlorthos looks at a few examples of love that can be found in the Bible, especially in parables told by Jesus. Withstand the Fury, meanwhile, bemoans the inadequacy of the English language in describing the different forms of love that exist, and notes that the ideal of Love that Ultima espouses, especially as illustrated by its direct connection to the Virtue of Compassion, is very much in line with what in Greek philosophy would have been called agape, the highest form of love. Music Britain Positive, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

In which we wrap up the discussion with Paul and look at violence in a real-world context. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) For this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue, we continue to take the episode structure in a bit of a different direction, at least in part. This is the second episode drawn from a discussion between Withstand the Fury Dragon and an friend old friend of his, Paul, whose philosophical musings he has consistently enjoyed and respected. And rather than talk about any specific Virtue or Principle from Ultima, or its real-world equivalent, they will be tackling a range of topics that...well, you'll just have to listen. In this episode, we discuss violence — in a real-world setting, which is something Paul is not unfamiliar with in his occupation. Donald Trump also comes up for a brief mention again, as do some of the recent foreign policy initiatives undertaken by the United States. And we wrap up with a bit more discussion about video games...and how, in particular, morality-driven storytelling in western RPGs owes a significant debt to Ultima 4. Fun fact: this week is known as Holy Week in Christian religious observance; Friday is Good Friday, which for many will be a statutory holiday. In the Catholic tradition, Good Friday is also the only day of the year in which no Mass is said. That isn't to say that there aren't Catholic services on Good Friday; there are. But these are not full Mass celebrations; they are a modified service. In fact, Catholic priests are forbidden from saying the Mass on Good Friday — this is the only day of any given year where such a prohibition is imposed. Music Ethereal Void, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Stories in RPGs...what makes them good, and are they even necessary? Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanIntro Ultima VI Gates of Creation by OC ReMixCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Johnny, Chris, Dominik, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.New Followers & Ultima Dragons Podbean: T.E.N., kendal259, sharmameenakshi850, albliker, jayxthexleo Ultima Dragons Facebook Group: John, Matt, Justin, Waxakupi, Michael UDIC: Lord Matt Dragon, Daland Dragon, Diet Dew Dragon Podcast Topic(s) This week's topic is pretty much directly inspired by a recent episode of Axe of the Blood God , US Gamer's RPG-focused podcast. That podcast is headed up by Kat Bailey, one of the writers at US Gamer, and she described her inspiration for the episode thusly: I was inspired to explore RPG narrative by Undertale, which is an interesting deconstruction of the genre. I've expressed in the past that an RPG doesn't need a good story to be successful, with Darkest Dungeon and Etrian Odyssey being key examples. However, in undertaking this exploration, I've realized that a high-quality narrative can mean more to an RPG than I realized. Over the course of the episode, Steve and I explore the history of narrative in RPGs, talk about some of the different types of stories and the tools developers use to tell them, and share our favorite RPG stories. In the end, we ask the question, "Can an RPG succeed in spite of a bad story? And can a great story elevate otherwise middling mechanics?" I was honestly surprised by my answer. It was a really good — if lengthy! — episode; Kat and her co-host Steve discussed a number of different RPGs and storytelling styles. If you have time (and it is a lengthy episode, so that's not an idle opening statement), it's well worth a listen. But I thought it might be interesting to throw the same discussion topic out in front of the SSSH crew, and see what happens. What Is a Story? Now, this could be a podcast in and of itself, but for the purposes of this episode we're going to adopt (roughly) the following definition: the story of a game is its principal framing device — the reason why you (the character, not the player) are doing what you're doing in the game, and the motivation behind why you're moving from whatever the beginning of the game is to whatever its end is. Although if our past episodes are any indicator, we'll be chipping away at the boundaries of that definition pretty soon here. What Is an RPG? This too could be a podcast in and of itself, and in fact we've complained before about the fact that the definition of what is and isn't an RPG has become far too fluid over the last few years. (Seriously, WtFD has complained about that horrible Kim Kardashian iOS game being classified as an RPG on

What starts as a discussion about story and gameplay mechanics morphs into discussion of the depiction of violence in video games, and how violence might end up being depicted in VR. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic For this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue, we continue to take the episode structure in a bit of a different direction, at least in part. This is the second episode drawn from a discussion between Withstand the Fury Dragon and an friend old friend of his, Paul, whose philosophical musings he has consistently enjoyed and respected. And rather than talk about any specific Virtue or Principle from Ultima, or its real-world equivalent, they will be tackling a range of topics that...well, you'll just have to listen. In this episode, we discuss the importance of story in an RPG, citing a few examples (including Ultima and Mass Effect). Gameplay mechanics also come up for discussion...which makes the timing of this episode rather interesting, since the upcoming Spam Spam Spam Humbug episode also discusses the intersection between story and mechanics in games. Toward the end of the discussion, the subject of virtual reality (VR) is broached, and Withstand the Fury wonders at the impacts that games featuring graphic, gory violence will have on gamers who experience such things in a VR context. Will they be as able, especially as photorealism in games increases with each successive engine generation, to truly separate their actions in-game — and the horrors they behold as a result thereof — from reality? Or will we start seeing gamers developing PTSD-like symptoms? Music Ethereal Void, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Is post-secondary education all it's cracked up to be? Is STEM education the be-all and end-all of education? Why can't China make ball-point pens? Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) For this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue, we continue to take the episode structure in a bit of a different direction, at least in part. This is the third episode drawn from a discussion between Withstand the Fury Dragon and an friend old friend of his, Paul, whose philosophical musings he has consistently enjoyed and respected. And rather than talk about any specific Virtue or Principle from Ultima, or its real-world equivalent, they will be tackling a range of topics that...well, you'll just have to listen. In this episode, Paul explains his choices of social media networks, including why he finds Twitter boring. He also explains how he uses Facebook in a way that not many probably do, which is to keep in touch with people he does actually consider friends...especially those who don't live close to him. The discussion then shifts gears and focuses on the issue of post-secondary education, and on what Paul feels is an over-emphasis on STEM fields in education (at the expense of the humanities). He and Withstand the Fury agree that a healthy society ultimately requires both: if all we have on hand are engineers and scientists, we might have nice pavement and flowing pipes, but we don't really have a society per se; we just have infrastructure and technology. Society needs those things, of course, but it isn't comprised of those things; it flows out of art and literature as well, among other areas. (Withstand the Fury likens this to game design, the process of which requires the talents not only of engineers and programmers, but of artists, writers, and musicians as well.) This, of course, raises another question: should everyone go to college/university in the first place? Do we need everyone to pursue some form of post-secondary education? Do we need all our garbage collectors and coffee shop barristas to hold advanced degrees? And, does the fact that some of these roles don't necessarily require advanced degrees diminish their importance to society? Consider the average Starbucks: it's more than just a place to get a cup of coffee. It's also a social context, and even a work space for some. If all the Starbucks closed tomorrow because they could no longer find staff, what sort of impact would that have? This episodes also marks a first that will hopefully also be a last: we discuss Donald Trump, briefly. Or, rather, returning to the disucssion of STEM education and where countries put their priority in education, Withstand the Fury briefly discusses why Trump's offhand remark about forcing Apple to make iPhones in the US is stupid and misinformed; there's a number of reasons that iPhones are made in China, not the least of which is that the Chinese government has made a series of decisions over the last few decades with respect to its manufacturing industries and the types of education it encourages its citizens to pursue, which have left China in the position of being well-disposed to mass-produce consumer electronics. But, Withstand the Fury notes, those same decisions have also left China in the odd position of being able to make an

That time that three guys from BioWare helped Withstand the Fury Dragon's Beaver Scout troops design their own board games. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanIntro Ultima VI Gates of Creation by OC ReMixCo-Producers As always, a hearty thank you to our Patreon co-producers: Seth, Chris, Johnny, Dominik, Violation, Adam, Erik, Thorwan, Cody, Pascal, and Neil.New Patrons & Shout-Outs This whole episode is basically a big shout-out, but here is the official shout-out to Chris, Brad, and Jos from BioWare, and also to Ian Frazier (Tiberius Moongazer to those of us who know him as the project lead for Ultima V: Lazarus), who was instrumental in shopping Withstand the Fury's request for volunteers around BioWare's Edmonton office. And a big shout-out to the Ultima Dragons, who recently celebrated their 24th anniversary. New Followers & Ultima Dragons Podbean: juanmirr, The Chaos Zone, I dont know what im talking about, multiplemonkeyspasms, berhard140, New Perception, karenguiel, 98jgreathouse, ocioinformativo, The Lighthouse Podcast, bjhut, bcornett3v, MERCS: Overwatch, and gamer zone, movshows, awizzie, yarun3911, colorules, and rickycharlessg Ultima Dragons Facebook Group: Michael, Daniel, Jim, Paul, Steven, Barolo, Clay, Alex, Andrew, Jack, Brain, Francesco, Octavio, Petros, Andy, Armand, Andrew, Ian, Karen, Ernie, Ron, Bryan, Sam, Samuel, Umbrae, and Thomas Ultima Dragons Google+ Community: Jeff and Chris Ultima Dragons: Peaceful Dragon and Ard Ri Sidhe Dragon Podcast Topic(s) As will hopefully not come as a surprise to listeners, Withstand the Fury is — in addition to running the Ultima Codex — also quite involved with Scouts Canada, and in fact has been a member of the Scouting movement since the tender age of five (he first joined Beaver Scouts around twenty-nine years ago, and remained a member of the movement until the age of twenty-six, whereupon he aged out as a Rover Scout). Since leaving the youth membership of the Scouting movement, he has taken on a new role within it: that of a leader to the Beaver Scout group that two of his daughters are members of. He also runs a Scouting-focused podcast, which may be of interest to some of you. Scouts Canada places a lot of emphasis on youth leadership, even at the Beaver Scout level. Of course, kids between the ages of five and seven do require a lot more direct guidance from the adult leadership of the group, but where possible they are still given the opportunity to lead, which includes suggesting meeting topics and events for the group to undertake. And, indeed, the suggestion that the Beaver Scouts should design their own board game came from one of the youth. Of course, not having much idea how to teach young children the basics of game design, Withstand the Fury did the first thing that came to mind: he emailed someone who did know a thing or two about gam

A wide-ranging discussion that looks at a number of pressing issues in today's technological environment. Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanPodcast Topic(s) For this second season of Byte-Sized Virtue, we continue to take the episode structure in a bit of a different direction, at least in part. This is the second episode drawn from a discussion between Withstand the Fury Dragon and an friend old friend of his, Paul, whose philosophical musings he has consistently enjoyed and respected. And rather than talk about any specific Virtue or Principle from Ultima, or its real-world equivalent, they will be tackling a range of topics that...well, you'll just have to listen. In this episode, for example, the discussion ranges over a number of topics, including Deadpool (which Paul greatly enjoyed and which WtFD hasn't yet taken the time to see) — Paul describes this fourth wall-breaking film as a “cinematic palette cleanser” for the superhero movie genre. Some discussion of Google and their approach to DMCA claims (e.g. against YouTube videos) also ensues, which gets intermixed with a discussion of the FBI's attempt to compel Apple's assistance (under the All Writs Act) to produce a custom version of iOS that will make the iPhone of one of the San Bernadino terrorists easier for the FBI to unlock. Coincidentally, the audio for this episode was recorded on the same day that Apple issued their public statement of refusal to do so. Twitter's inauguration of its Trust & Safety Council also comes up for discussion; WtFD discusses the concept and technical considerations of shadowbanning, and also expresses some reservations that Twitter, in particular, is moving beyond policing obvious trolls and into the realm of censoring opinions. And to close, Withstand the Fury also briefly discusses Risen, the new Joseph Fiennes movie that tells the tale of a (fictional) Roman Tribune assigned to investigate a series of strange happenings that transpire during, and following, the crucifixion of an itinerant Nazarene rabbi in the city of Jerusalem. And an apology: There won't be a regular Spam Spam Spam Humbug episode this week. However, we have a fun topic to discuss next week, involving WtFD's Beaver Scout groups...and BioWare. Music Ethereal Void, from the Ultima 9 soundtrack

Spam Spam Spam Humbug reviews development on (and news about) Ultima Online that took place in 2015.Subscribe on iTunes | Subscribe on Android | Subscribe on Stitcher | Subscribe on PodbeanIntroCreation Theme, from the Ultima Online soundtrackPodcast Topic(s)Welcome back to another year of Spam Spam Spam Humbug. This year, to ring in 2016, episodes for the month of January will mostly be focused on re-capping the news pertaining to Ultima, including Ultima Online (which, at least for now, is the only game still in active development that is carrying on the Ultima namesake), various Ultima fan projects, and also different games that have been inspired by Ultima (including Shroud of the Avatar and Underworld Ascendant). This week, we will be looking at what has transpired with Ultima Online over the course of 2015.2015 in Review (14 JAN, 2015) Ultima Online: Promotional System Offline for Upgrade Tomorow - Broadsword Online Games will be making updates to the Promotional System in Ultima Online tomorrow. (5 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Valentine’s Day Gifts Inbound; Watch for Red Cupid - Broadsword Online Games will be adding some Valentine’s Day-related content to Ultima Online tomorrow. (11 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Publish 89.1 Coming to TC1 - Broadsword Online Games have released Publish 89.1 for Ultima Online on the Test Center shard. (15 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Publish 89 Additions; Housing Warehouse Temporarily Down - The Housing Warehouse in Ultima Online is down, this shortly after a housing-related change was released for Publish 89. (18 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Publish 89 Now on Izumo, and on Origin Tomorrow Morning - Broadsword Online Games have corrected the housing issue in Ultima Online’s Publish 89, and have pushed the update out to the Origin and Izumo shards. (20 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Callback Phone Support Now Offered - Broadsword Online Games will now offer phone support callbacks for Ultima Online. (23 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Publish 89 Goes Global - Publish 89 for Ultima Online will be released to all remaining shards either tonight (for European shards) or tomorrow (for North American shards). (24 FEB, 2015) Ultima Online: Time of Legends = Savage Empire, Ultima II - The Ultima Online team has put together a video diary of what they hav