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Technical difficulties made this week's episode a little rushed. We got a super late
start, after finally getting things set up to record on a different computer than
usual. Hopefully the audio level and quality is at least similar to normal.
For many reasons, most of which weren't talked about here, it was an all around
bad luck day.
But it's not all bad! Episode 120 is here! We talk about new releases, the Xbox
Games with Gold for November, listener email, and some news. News includes a
pre-recorded segment from a few days prior, after the reveal of the Nintendo
Switch, where Addie and I talk about the new console -- what's known, what isn't,
and our general impressions.
In another pre-recorded segment, I have initial thoughts on Blues and Bullets
episode 1 (PS4) and Mafia III (PS4). I also talk a little more about Wasteland 2
(PS4) and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice (3DS). Addie and I then
talk about Broken Age (PS4), which she finally finished this weekend. Following
that, in a pre-recorded review segment that starts around the 42:30 mark, I have
reviews of two more IFComp 2016 entries.
To wrap up the show, I've included several more tunes from the latest
Phoenix Wright. Due to many factors, we don't have a quiz or a new top
ten list this week.
Mentioned in this episode:
You've probably already seen the Nintendo Switch reveal video on
YouTube
IFComp 2016 entry Sigil Reader (Field) can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Color the Truth can be played
online
Episode 120 is also available as an MP3 here.
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You won't want to miss this week's top ten list. Addie reads through these
ten great tips for surviving a zombie apocalypse, courtesy of my friend Justin
on Facebook. Some day, you'll thank us!
IFComp 2016 coverage continues this week, in a pre-recorded review segment that
starts around the 37:25 mark. We also have a few mini-reviews for other entries
from listener Nikhil, which I read during our email segment a bit earlier, at
around 33:38. Other email includes game updates from our listeners, plus two
new questions of the week. First, has there ever been a game or game series
that you've played back-to-back for the purpose of getting ready for the release
of the latest game in the series? Two, what's your favorite death sequence or
death quote in a video game? Write in and let us know!
In an increasingly rare on-topic moment for Addie, she talks about an educational
quiz game called Kahoot! It's her Mobile Game of the Week, but apparently it can
also be played online. Then in a second pre-recorded segment, I have a short
review of Gears of War 4 (Xbox One), which is a great start to a new Gears
trilogy. Oh, and with Halloween just around the corner, we once again plug our
own Halloween-themed interactive fiction, Hallowmoor and A Trick-or-Treat
Adventure, which you'll find linked below the show notes for this episode.
Mentioned in this episode:
IFComp 2016 entry The Shoe Dept. can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Stuff and Nonsense can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry A Time of Tungsten can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry The Skull Embroidery cannot be played
online
My Halloween-themed game is
Hallowmoor
Addie's is
A Trick-or-Treat Adventure
SNL can teach you how to
eliminate debt
Here's what the real Sid Meier
looks like
Addie likes Kahoot! Here's their
Twitter
Episode 119 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week, Addie throws honesty out the proverbial window in pretty much every
segment of the podcast. She seemed to enjoy herself, and it kept her talking,
but don't get too excited when she announces the release of Portal 3.
After a Steam code give-away for Suda51's The Silver Case (fill in the blanks by
solving simple show-related trivia questions), we do news, new releases, and email.
Email includes Jason's response to last week's question about mobile game genres
we need to see more of, and Pawel writes in with hands-on pre-launch impressions
of PlayStation VR.
In gaming chat, we talk more about Stacking (Xbox 360) and Wasteland 2 (PS4).
My pre-recorded segment breaks records when it comes to the longest pre-recorded
segment ever. It starts at around 27:04 and runs until almost the end, a whopping
forty-eight and a half minutes. Half of my three-day weekend was spent playing and
reviewing Interactive Fiction Competition games, so that makes up the entirety of
this oversized segment. In total, there are six reviews, or seven if you count the
joke game about toilets. Since it ran so long, I didn't bother preparing a quiz or
a new top ten list. Maybe next week.
Mentioned in this episode:
IFComp 2016 entry 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry The Little Lifeform That Could can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Steam and Sacrilege can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry 500 Apocalypses can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Detectiveland can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Night House can be played
online
Episode 118 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Unlike last year and the year before, I actually made time to play some of the
entries in the annual Interactive Fiction Competition, which is going on now.
This pre-recorded segment starts with a few thoughts about interactive
fiction in general and the competition in particular, at around the 36:27 mark.
Hopefully I'll be able to include more IFComp reviews as the competition continues.
In a later segment, I have ongoing thoughts on Wasteland 2 (PS4). Addie's gaming
time was limited over the past week, but she played a lot of Disney Crossy Road.
Early in the episode, after some off-topic updates, we give out the final two codes
for free copies of Retro City Rampage DX -- one for Playstation and one for Steam.
Like last week, the codes have a few blanks to fill in by answering a few simple
show-related trivia questions. Most of them are easy to get just by looking at our
prior show notes. If you're the lucky listener to redeem either of these codes, please
write in or message us on Twitter so we know.
After news, which includes this week's new releases and the free Playstation and
Xbox game line-ups for October, we have quite a bit of listener email. You too can
write in and have your email read and discussed on the show. Let us know what you're
playing, give us your opinion about some recent happening in the world of video
games, or answer one of our prior Questions of the Week. This episode, we ask two
new questions. First, has there ever been a game where your opinion changed, for
better or worse, based on the opinions of other people after the fact? Second,
what kinds of games do you most like to see on mobile platforms (phones and tablets)?
Is there anything you feel is underrepresented on mobile? One of our long-time
listeners has embarked on a journey to create interesting mobile games, and he's
looking for opinions.
Closing out the episode this week is a new top ten list. This time, I'm counting
down the most interesting games that were food and beverage product tie-ins. This
includes fast food. Any theory on what will take the top spot?
Mentioned in this episode:
IFComp 2016 entry Cactus Blue Motel can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry All I Do Is Dream can be played
online
IFComp 2016 entry Black Rock City can be played
online
PlayStation Plus October 2016
free games
Xbox Games With Gold October 2016
free games
Episode 117 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Free game codes return this week, with a give-away for Retro City Rampage DX on Steam
(PC/Mac/Linux/MS-DOS) and PlayStation (PS4/PS3/PSP/Vita). It's just one of each this
week. Will you be the lucky listener to solve the puzzle, fill in the blanks, and
redeem one of the codes? If not, we're giving away two more codes the same way next
week, so be sure to listen!
We talk a little about the annual Interactive Fiction Competition, which is just
around the corner. These text-based adventure games are always free and range in
quality from great to abysmal, and there's a possibility I may review or discuss
some of them during the competition. After that, Addie reads this week's new game
releases with her own commentary. Then our one listener email for the week is full
of content, including an answer to last week's QotW about games with mismatched
elements.
We have no quiz or top ten list this time, but game chat is abundant. My pre-recorded
segments include a wrap-up on Recore (Xbox One), short spoiler-free reviews of Gone
Home (PS4) and Bound (PS4), a quick update on Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of
Justice (3DS), and opening thoughts on God Eater Resurrection (PS4) and Wasteland 2:
Director's Cut (PS4). Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Smash Bandits (iOS). Following
that, we talk about the two other games she's playing. Those are Alice: Madness
Returns (Xbox 360) and Stacking (Xbox 360).
Mentioned in this episode:
More upcoming PS4 and Vita games at
Limited Run Games
The 2016 Interactive Fiction Competition is
about to begin
Check out Pawel's review/guide of
Oceanhorn
Episode 116 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Occasional guest-host Bill joins us this week for an oversized episode
full of game discussions. We relegate most of this to a post-recorded
segment that appears late in the show, although it's as long as the
main show, so that happens about halfway through the episode. That
starts with a new top 10, courtesy of Bill, where he lists out the ways
Xbox One has recently gotten a proverbial leg up on the Playstation 4.
This leads into a general discussion about the Sony vs. Microsoft console
war (sorry Nintendo; you're not even involved). After this, Bill catches
up on several months of gaming, with some talk about Wofenstein: The New
Order and The Old Blood, the previous Wolfenstein on Xbox 360, The Banner
Saga, Zombi (the PS4 version of ZombiU), Gone Home, To the Moon, Middle Earth:
Shadow of Mordor, The Order 1886, The Last of Us Remastered, Life is Strange,
The Cave, Costume Quest 1 and 2, Broken Age, and Remember Me.
Our usual segments before that include this week's new game releases,
listener email, and a new Question of the Week. Write in and let us know
if you've ever played a game that had some element or aspect that just
didn't fit. Music that didn't match the tone of the story? Some gameplay
hook that just didn't even need to be there? We'll talk about that on a
future episode.
Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Hay Day (iOS). In my pre-recorded segment,
I have a wrap-up for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4), opening thoughts on
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice (3DS), and my impressions so
far of Recore (Xbox One). We also have a review of Roguelands (PC) courtesy
of listener Christian. If you'd like to record a short two or three minute
review of a game you've recently played, send it to us in .MP3 format (or
whatever) for use in future episodes!
The music at the end includes a few tunes from this latest Phoenix Wright
game.
Mentioned in this episode:
All about adventure game Skulls of the Toltecs at
Wikipedia
Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Hay Day, on
iTunes
Episode 115 is also available as an MP3 here.
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News for this week includes the PlayStation 4 Pro, the release of PS4 firmware
version 4.0, and the announcement of mobile game Super Mario Run. After a long
list of this week's new releases (which is made even longer by a tangent
discussion about Black Friday), we read this week's one and only listener
email. It's about Fallout 4 and Skyrim mods not coming to PS4 after all,
and a bit about earning trophies or achievements in games.
My pre-recorded segment is a review of point-and-click adventure Deja Vu II
(GameBoy Color), and a partial review of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4). I
haven't quite finished this latest Deus Ex, but felt it was time to give
more than just surface-level impressions. With luck, I'll wrap it up for
next week with some final thoughts.
Addie and I then talk about the recently-released Ghostbusters game again
(PS4), and Addie talks briefly about Roblox (PC) and Splatoon (WiiU). This
leads into a new top ten list. This week, I count down my favorite
point-and-click adventure games, with a few obligatory honorable mentions.
This week's ending music is a selection of tunes from Deja Vu II.
Mentioned in this episode:
All about classic PC/GBC adventure game Deja Vu II at
Wikipedia
Episode 114 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Featured this week are a podcast-related new top ten list,
a challenging round of video game "Who Am I?", and a bit of monologue
about retro game collecting. First, though, it's the usual segments:
news, new releases, and email. News this week includes the free games
line-up for September, for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Gold subscribers,
which we just missed last week due to recording a few days early.
My pre-recorded segment includes more brief thoughts on Deus Ex: Mankind
Divided (PS4), which I'll still be playing a week or two more. Also, I
finished Deja Vu (GameBoy Color on Retron5) and Prince of Persia: The
Forgotten Sands (PSP on PlayStation TV), so I have reviews for both.
Addie's first Mobile Game of the Week for her new iPad is Tiny Tower
(iOS). Apparently it's pretty great.
This week's ending music is a selection of tunes from retro classic
point-and-click adventure game Deja Vu.
Mentioned in this episode:
All about classic NES/GBC/PC adventure game Deja Vu at
Wikipedia
September 2016 PlayStation Plus line-up at
PlayStation Blog
September 2016 Xbox Games with Gold line-up at
Major Nelson's Blog
Episode 113 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Despite recording this episode earlier than usual, we have plenty to
talk about. For Addie, it's more Roblox (PC), more Minecraft (PS4), and
her Mobile Game of the Week, Word Trace (iOS). My pre-recorded segment
is a No Man's Sky wrap-up (PS4) and a review of classic 8-bit action
adventure game Xexyz (NES). In a second segment, post-recorded and added
to the episode afterwards, I have opening thoughts on three more games I
started playing. These are Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4), Prince of Persia:
The Forgotten Sands (PSP), and Deja Vu (NES).
Eight-year-old Heath, Addie's younger brother, is also back with a new episode
of Mini-Gamers. It's episode 13, and as usual, he goes from game to game
quickly. Unless I missed one, this includes Tennis in the Face, Headlander,
Seralim, Minecraft, Bakugan Battle Trainer, and Armikrog.
In off-topic or tagentially-related discussions, Addie is amazed that people
can actually build a PC, I discovered a few DOS 3.5" disk-based games in some
old boxes for my collection, I explain Hatsune Miku to Addie, and she recaps
the plot of her favorite commercial. Also, a new top-ten list this week is
about all the ways that games are easier now than they used to be.
The ending music is a selection of tunes from Xexyz. For such a great game,
the music is less memorable and more repetitive than many other NES classics.
Still, it seemed appropriate after reviewing the game.
Mentioned in this episode:
All about NES game Xexyz at
Wikipedia
Episode 112 is also available as an MP3 here.
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More off-topic stuff than usual opens this episode of the
Video Game Generations Podcast. Part of that is due to Addie's well-intentioned
question about my favorite books, which I answer thoroughly; not too thoroughly,
though, because I can think of a dozen more favorites I didn't even mention.
After Addie reads the news and new releases, we have plenty of listener email
to read and discuss. This includes questions about kids and their attraction
to games based on movies and other non-game IP, a Playstation humble bundle,
the games our listeners are playing, and answers to last week's QotW about
which thing would be more welcomed: reviews or impressions of games outside
my comfort zone (fighting, sports, racing, etc.) or more retro game coverage.
Our new Question of the Week comes from email as well. As a gamer, how do you
keep from getting sore and uncomfortable while playing? Do you have a tip to
share? Or is it just a matter of getting up to stretch frequently?
My pre-recorded segment is a final wrap-up on Suikoden II (PS1), and my
continued impressions of No Man's Sky (PS4). Addie talks about two games.
These are Best Fiends (iOS) and NoNo Islands from Illusion Labs (iOS),
the latter of which is her Mobile Game of the Week.
We ran out of time to include my latest top ten list, so we'll try to
do that next week. Oh, and if you listen after the music, you might want
to check back next week to find out whether or not Addie wins the
donut bet.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Capcom Playstation
Humble Bundle
Hyperion by Dan Simmons at
Amazon.com
A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge at
Amazon.com
Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance at
Amazon.com
Episode 111 is also available as an MP3 here.
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We have no quiz or top ten list this week, but in its place early in the show,
it's the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine awards! It's a brief off-topic bit where
I name DS9's most deserving characters in several categories: most changed,
most annoying, most useless, and best acting. Guess which character gets the
coveted Wallace Shawn award.
Then we have news, new releases, and email. Christian's android-based mobile
game AsteroidDefense has been released. Pawel keeps it brief this week with
his thoughts on Murdered: Soul Suspect and Shutshimi. Finally, good friend
Bill (who needs to return as a guest host again) answers our recent QotW
about favorite Double Fine / Tim Schafer games.
Game talk begins with my pre-recorded segment, in which I have very favorable
opening thoughts on No Man's Sky (PS4). Next week, I hope to dive deeper into
a discussion on the game's systems and what I'd like to see improved. After
that, Addie and I talk about Stacking (Xbox 360) and Ghostbusters (2016/PS4).
It's always nice when Addie has more to say about recently played games, but
back-to-school could mean that her time will become even more limited.
In a half-formed, open-ended Question of the Week, I'm looking for opinions
about what would be a better choice for the podcast: getting back into more
retro games for review and discussion (NES, SNES, Genesis), or sometimes
leaving my comfort zone and trying out games in genres that usually don't
appeal to me (sports, racing, fighting, strategy, and multiplayer-only).
Write in and let us know your thoughts on the matter, or for any gaming
related reason. Email makes up an important part of the show.
Mentioned in this episode:
My space exploration browser-based epic
StarLock
It's no longer playable, but here are some
screenshots
An article about Myst-like one-man creation The Eys of Ara at
IGN
Check out listener Christian's Asteroid Defense game for
Android
Episode 110 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Did you know that a limited edition of Unravel for PS4 and Xbox One was recently released
in small quantities as a BestBuy exclusive? I managed to get one, only to find out that
the box only contains the Yarny figure. It doesn't actually come with the game, which they
provide separately as a download code. We already have it digitally, and due to a mix-up
in the process, I ended up with two codes. Both are given out in this episode, but as of
posting this, the first one is already redeemed. If you're quick, and if you want Unravel
on PS4, listen for the second code a short ways into this episode.
After news and new releases, it's our Fall Games Preview segment. It's that time again,
when many big new games are scheduled for release in the last few months of the year.
At the end, I share my top five most anticipated games coming out this year. Write in
and let us know yours! Then, our solitary email this week is a great, thorough answer
to last week's QotW about your favorite Double Fine games.
In game talk, Addie talks briefly about the multiplayer mini-games in Luigi's Mansion:
Dark Moon (3DS) and Stretchmo (3DS). My pre-recorded segment wraps up Resident Evil 5
(PS4) after playing the two extra story missions. I also finished Lichdom: Battlemage
(PS4), which I review in the same segment.
To end the show, this week's top ten list, inspired by Resident Evil, is my favorite
zombie-themed games. This includes a few obligatory honorable mentions. So enjoy,
and we'll see you next week!
Episode 109 is also available as an MP3 here.
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With Addie away on vacation this week, we recorded most of this episode Saturday afternoon.
There wasn't much news at the time, but we do cover this month's free Playstation Plus games
and the new games releasing this week. Email includes an answer to our recent QotW about
games that surprised you, plus a final decision (maybe?) on the "honorable mentions" debate.
Addie started playing two games, so her "what we're playing" contribution is opening thoughts
on Double Fine's Headlander (PS4) and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS). I have a brief bit to
say about Mighty No. 9 (PS4), and a pre-recorded segment that includes an update on my ongoing
year-long play-through of Suikoden II (PS1 on PSTV) and a review of Resident Evil 5 (PS4).
Instead of a new top ten list, Addie takes my video game console quiz. Play along and find out
how well you know the makers and decades of launch for twenty consoles of prior generations.
Our Question of the Week, devised by Addie, is to let us know your favorite Double Fine game.
That's very specific, I know, but it was a spur of the moment choice.
Mentioned in this episode:
A console timeline up to the
7th Generation
Comprehensive console history
with photos
August 2016 Free Games With Playstation Plus at the
Playstation Blog
Episode 108 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Early in this week's episode, we try something new. Recently, Addie has been a little
too quiet at the start, so I decided to get her involved with a mini-quiz, where she
must think of games that feature a certain detail or subject of my choosing. This may
be a returning segment, since it seemed to help this week.
Before we read this week's email, news includes next month's free Xbox Games
With Gold and the new games releasing this week. My pre-recorded segments are
about my initial impressions of Resident Evil 5 (PS4), plus reviews of three games
I finished -- Christopher Brookmyre's Bedlam (PS4), Broken Sword 5 Episode 2 (Vita),
and Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma (Vita/PSTV). Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is
Little Alchemy (iOS).
A new top ten list this week is about games from this console generation that seem
very underrated. As for last week's QotW about games that surprised you, we're
carrying that forward another week, since our next episode will be recorded three
days earlier than usual. It'll release next Wednesday, though, as usual. If there's
a game you didn't expect to like, but your tried it and liked it after all, write
in and let us know.
This week's ending music comes from Bedlam, one of the games reviewed in this episode.
It's only a small sample of the awesome music in this unique first-person shooter.
Mentioned in this episode:
A collection of articles about
Firewatch
A collection of Nintendo NX rumors at
IGN
August 2016 Free Games With Gold at
Major Nelson's Blog
Episode 107 is also available as an MP3 here.
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After news and new releases, this week's listener email provides us with several topics.
These include Pokemon Go, Firewatch, an ongoing discussion about top ten lists,
more great short games to finish in one or two sittings, the NES Classic Edition,
underrated games, and responses to last week's QOTW about handheld vs. mobile
gaming.
After my brief opening thoughts on Christopher Brookmyre's Bedlam (PS4) -- the game,
not the book -- and a brief update on where I am in Zero Time Dilemma (Vita), I have
a pre-recorded review of The Technomancer (PS4). I think it's destined to be another
underrated gem. Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Circle (iOS), from Ketch App.
Following that, Addie talks a bit about her ongoing efforts to collect all the ties
in Octodad: Dadliest Catch (PS4). This leads into her list of the top five plot holes
in Octodad. Once we wrap that up, Heath returns with Mini-Gamers Episode 12 where he
talks more about Octodad, Yasai Ninja (PS4), and Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS). He also
insists on doing a "guess the game character" quiz, proving he's a much better guesser
than I am, apparently.
Our Question of the Week for listeners is about games that surprised you. This doesn't
have to be just underrated games you enjoyed. Maybe it's a well-liked game that didn't
seem as if it'd be your kind of thing, yet you played it anyway and ended up really
enjoying it. If you have such a story to share, write in and let us know!
Mentioned in this episode:
You know who makes awesome, underrated games?
Spiders!
Nintendo made the NES. What happens next may
shock you!
Episode 106 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week's lone email gives me a chance to talk about the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
series again. Also, Addie isn't sure whether Avatar is a kid with magical wind powers,
or tall blue aliens. We get that sorted out, though.
First up in game chat is my pre-recorded segment, which includes opening thoughts on
Mega Man Legends (PS1), The Technomancer (PS4), Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma (Vita),
and spoiler-free thoughts in a sort-of review of Playdead's Inside (Xbox One). Addie's
Mobile Game of the Week is Pokemon Go (iOS), of course, because it's everybody's Mobile
Game of the Week it seems. The two of us spend some time talking about that, with Addie
explaining how it works.
In a feature this week, I present my list of favorite games that can be finished in one
or two sittings, prompted by last week's question from a listener. It's a long list, so
it doesn't fall under the "top-10" umbrella, but hopefully it'll provide a few good
suggestions for different kinds of games on different platforms, if you're looking for
something short but substantial.
Our Question of the Week to listeners is a little open-ended. What are your thoughts
on mobile gaming (phones, tablets) versus handheld gaming (Vita, 3DS)? Is handheld
gaming on the way out as mobile gaming rises, or can both continue to survive? Do you
play on Vita, PSP, Gameboy, DS/3DS, or do you stick to your iPhone and Andriod when on
the go? Let us know your thoughts, so we can continue the discussion.
Mentioned in this episode:
Average game completion times at
HowLongToBeat.com
Episode 105 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Listener email is a big focus of this week's episode, with questions about shorter vs. longer
games and speedrunning games. Also included are comments about my habit of including honorable
mentions in my Top 10 lists, watching stuff on YouTube, Sony's E3 press conference, System
Shock on Kickstarter, a listener's favorite open world games following on my lists from last
week, the trouble with Darksiders, challenging puzzles in The Talos Principle, and more. Our
Question of the Week also comes from email. Write in to let us know if you've ever just
gotten bored playing an otherwise good game. Maybe some hundred-hour epic grabbed you at
first, but you lost interest entirely, before finishing?
Game talk is mostly my pre-recorded review of last year's open world Mad Max (PS4). Addie's
latest Mobile Game of the Week is Mahjong Adventure (iOS). Neither of us played much else
since the last episode.
In honor of Mad Max, though, this week's Top 14 (including the honorable mentions in the
list, per Pawel's suggestion) is all about Max. Listen to find out my Top 14 all-time
Max's. Maxes? Plural of Max. Whatever. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds. And of course,
the episode starts as always with a little off-topic warm-up, followed by news -- this
week's new game releases, and the PlayStation Plus line-up for July.
Mentioned in this episode:
Summer
Games Done Quick
LDShadowLady's channel on
YouTube
July 2016 Free PS+ games announced at PlayStation
Blog
A remake of the original System Shock is up on
Kickstarter
Episode 104 is also available as an MP3 here.
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We're light on news this week, but there are plenty of new game releases for
Addie to describe incorrectly. With so many coming out this week, though, she
opted to skip a few and just defer to me instead. Xbox Games With Gold for
July have been announced, so we list those too. In email, Bill writes in
after a long absence to talk about our one hundredth episode, and to provide
his list of all-time top-ten favorite games — a standing invitation for
all listeners. Without a new Question of the Week this episode, we're sticking
to last week's question. Top-tens are fun, so email us to suggest a category or
topic for a future top-ten list!
Speaking of that, my featured top-ten this week is not one, not two, but three
lists of my top ten favorite open worlds in games. These are (1) the top ten
open world and semi-open world games set in a real-world location, (2) the top
ten semi-open world games in a fictional setting, and (3) the top ten open world
games in a fictional setting. That's a pre-recorded segment late in the show.
Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Disney Crossy Road (iOS). It was a busy weekend
for her, so that's all she played, other than more Clash of Clans (iOS). In my
pre-recorded segment, I include brief updates on a few games I'm playing, plus a
review of Playstation classic Echo Night (PS1 on Vita). I also discovered that the
Vita allows for complete per-game controller remapping. Playstation TV has more
limited remapping options, but on Vita I was able to map Echo Night controls to
work just like modern dual-stick first-person games.
The ending music this week includes a few short tracks from Echo Night.
Mentioned in this episode:
July 2016 Xbox Games With Gold announced at Major Nelson's
Blog
Episode 103 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week's feature is a new top-10 list of favorite female protagonists in video games.
There's also a bit of discussion about future top-10 list ideas. Our Question of the Week
for listeners is to suggest topics that would make interesting top-10 lists.
Before that, in my pre-recorded segments, I review Mirror's Edge: Catalyst (PS4) and
Submerged (PS4). Also included are my opening thoughts on Mad Max (PS4), Akiba's Trip:
Undead & Undressed (Vita), Echo Night (PS1), and State of Decay: Year One Survival
Edition (Xbox One). Addie's Mobile Game of the Week was a surprise to me. It's Clash of
Clans (iOS), which has really captured her interest lately. She also briefly talks about
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) and My Sims Party (Wii).
I guess these notes are backwards, but before all that, it's news, new releases, and
email. We're also happy to report that all three game prize bundles from episode 100 have
been received by the winners. We're thinking of doing more give-aways in the future,
but on a smaller scale. Nothing definite has been decided or planned, so nothing to
announce just yet.
Mentioned in this episode:
An article about the return of Phantom Dust at
IGN
Thread about the PS4 Neo release on
Reddit
Episode 102 is also available as an MP3 here.
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News from E3 press conferences makes this another oversized episode. In two pre-recorded
segements, I recap each of the five big publisher conferences. Later, it's a top 10 list
of the most exciting game reveals and demos from E3. But we aren't done yet. Next week,
we'll have more news in an E3 wrap-up, including your emails about what you liked most
or what disappointed you about E3 this year. That's our Question of the Week.
In email this week, we hear from a new listener for the first time, there's a bit of
happy-dancing from the winner of our Xbox game bundle give-away, another top 10 favorite
games list, E3 reactions, one listener is playing DS games 999 and the Phoenix Wright
series, and we get opposing views about whether or not The Witcher 3 is an
unquestionably better game than Fallout 4. We also take a Vita game name quiz late
in the show, which also comes to us via email.
Addie did very little gaming since last week, but I have a shorter-than-usual pre-recorded
segment about what I'm playing. This includes a wrap-up on Republique (PS4), opening
thoughts on Mirror's Edge: Catalyst (PS4), and brief mentions of other games I started,
including Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (PS1) and Broken Sword 5 Episode 2 (Vita).
Mentioned in this episode:
A game bundle winner did the
Dance of Joy
The start of a Fallout 4 No-Guns run on
YouTube
Play board games, online, for free, at
Board Game Arena
Episode 101 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week, we choose the winners in our big game bundle give-away! We'd announce
the names of the lucky listeners here, but Addie decided it should be a surprise.
You'll have to listen to get the results. Boxes will ship out today, to the winners.
It's a normal episode for the most part. We have tons of email this week,
plus news and new releases for Addie to speculate on plots. It turns out, most of
the new releases this week feature robots of some sort, according to Addie. Some
actually do! In our two feature segments, we talk about our hopes for E3 (which is
just a few days away), and our top 10 games of all time. This includes answers
from several listeners as well, although it turns out it's difficult to choose
just ten, or choose just one in a series, or even to put them in a
specific order.
Addie talks briefly about what she's playing: Mario Kart 7 (3DS), Plants vs. Zombies
(Nook), Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (Xbox One), and Mr. Jump (iOS). In my
pre-recorded segment, I talk about Fallout 4: Automatron (PS4), Crimson Shroud (3DS),
Republique (PS4), plus a review of Adam's Venture: Origins (PS4).
The after-music ending bit this week is pretty long. Let's just call it... an
interesting bit of time travel. Now, we're almost ready to take our vacation, ride
some roller coasters, and zip down some water slides, so until next week, enjoy!
Episode 100 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Only a few days remain for entering our upcoming game bundle give-away. Next week is
our 100th episode, so part of our discussion this week is a small bit of planning for
that. We also talk about summer plans and vacations in our opening off-topic segment.
After news, the free PlayStation Plus games list for June, and Addie guessing the plots
of this week's new game releases, we have a few listener emails. This includes Fallout 4
and Witcher 3 talk, an answer to last week's QotW about kids playing or seeing M-rated
games, and a suggestion that Addie's Antics are a good thing! Late in the episode, I
give honorable mentions to a bunch of great games that didn't quite make my all-time
top-10 list. The actual top-10 is planned as a feature for next week.
My pre-recorded segment is mostly a review of the new Doom (aka Doom 2016 or
Doom 4 - PS4). Then it's Addie's turn. Her Mobile Game of the Week is Two Dots (iOS).
She also talks about games played with her step-brother Nathan -- Dark Souls 3 (Xbox One)
and Halo: The Master Chief Collection multiplayer (Xbox One). I guess this ties back
into last week's QotW, but it sounds like she didn't get too far in either one. She
also played Roblox Wheel of Fortune (PC?), but that sounds self-explanatory.
We have two Questions of the Week for our 100th episode. First, do you have any hopes
for E3 this year? The big video game convention is fast approaching, and we're going
to talk next week about what we'd like to see announced or covered. Also, what are
your all-time favorite games ever? Do any from my "not quite the top 10" list this
week make the cut for you? Write in and let us know!
Episode 99 is also available as an MP3 here.
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News this week includes the good (new game releases and announcements) and the bad
(a studio closes, and is Nintendo doomed?) Xbox Games With Gold have been announced
for June 2016, so we go over those. In email, we meet our youngest, newest listener
(congrats to Pawel and his wife on baby Bruno), plus thoughts on the latest Fallout 4
DLC, Uncharted 4, and general podcast feedback.
In our question of the week, inspired by thoughts on last week's discussion about
whether or not it's okay to let kids play or watch M-rated or even certain T-rated
games, we want to know your thoughts and advice. To what extent -- and age -- should
kids be kept away from violence and mature themes in video games? Now's your chance
to share parenting advice, or if not a parent, at least your opinion on the subject.
Addie's "mo-bile" game of the week is another from Ketch App: a game called Twist (iOS).
She also fills me in on Google mini-games, including her recent favorite, Zerg Rush. In
my pre- and post-recorded segments, I review Uncharted 4 (PS4) and Albedo: Eyes From
Outer Space (PS4), after finishing them both (platinum trophies, too). They're two
very different games, but guess which one I liked more? Don't worry; I stay clear
of spoilers.
Mentioned in this episode:
We're giving away game bundles. See the
Official Rules.
Episode 98 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Our final two code words for the upcoming game bundle give-away are in this
week's episode. If you want to win a bunch of video games, listen for the
code words, and check out the official rules at
http://www.vggpodcast.com/contest100/rules.html. Speaking of free games,
if you're the lucky listener who redeems a code I read out this week for
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris on PS4, email us so I can give you
its season pass DLC code also!
This episode is a little on the shorter side, since we had no listener feedback
to read in this week's email segment. We do have news and new game releases,
an aside about when kids begin to understand the difference between video games
and reality, and a new kind of quiz for Addie late in the show. It would have
been even shorter, but Heath was ready for another episode of Mini-Gamers, the
podcast within the podcast, where he talks briefly about the games he's been
playing: Broken Age (PS4), Super Smash Bros. (3DS), Ratchet & Clank (PS4),
Pokemon Rumble World (3DS), and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4).
Addie describes her plan to build a theme park in Minecraft, and she introduces
a new segment of her own creation, called "Addie's Mobile Game of the Week."
Her pick this week is Cooking Fever (iOS), which she's very much enjoying.
In my pre-recorded segment, I have a wrap-up for Severed (Vita), an update on
Suikoden II and Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space (PS1 and PS4, respectively), and
my initial thoughts on Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4). I'm pretty far in UC4,
but haven't quite finished it, and wasn't ready for a more detailed review. But
don't worry. Even when I do, I'll keep it spoiler-free.
This week's ending music is Drake's theme from Uncharted 4. Enjoy!
Episode 97 is also available as an MP3 here.
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Topics this week include the common problem of new PS4 games arriving with discs
rattling around loose in their cases (and a possible fix, if you're brave enough
to try it), recently-announced release dates for a few upcoming games, yet another
rumor about Nintendo's NX, this week's new game releases, brainstorming on how
the actual winner selection process will work for our upcoming give-away,
and more.
For our listener question (QotW), we want to know your favorite game reboots,
or games in which they decided to drop the number and subtitle (ex: the new Hitman
is just "Hitman", Tomb Raider came back as just "Tomb Raider", and Doom 4 is really
just "Doom"). Next week or on a future episode, I hope to put together a top-ten
list of reboots.
In email this week, it's an answer to our recent QotW about games with difficulty
spikes that made you give up, excitement for Uncharted 4, a possible solution to
the mystery of how I ended up with Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare on PS4,
and a reminder that our youngest listener is almost here (congrats again to
Pawel and wife).
Addie has been playing KetchApp's mobile game Stack this week (iOS). Tiles move
quickly across the top of a tile stack, and you have to tap in time to stack
that tile. If it wasn't lined up perfectly, the excess is lost, and the top of
the stack becomes that much smaller for the next tile. Addie enjoys it. In my
pre-recorded segments, I have opening thoughts (doubling, most likely, as my
closing thoughts) on the single-player component of Battleborn (PS4), an update
on Severed (Vita), initial thoughts on Albedo: Eyes from Outer Space (PS4), and
reviews of Alienation (PS4) and The Park (PS4).
To wrap up, Addie takes my Portal 2 Trivia quiz. I ask ten multiple-choice questions
about the game to test her knowledge about one of her all-time favorites.
Two more contest code words are given this episode. Next week is the final week for
code words, after which the give-away opens up for entries. If you want a chance
at winning a big bundle of Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo games, check out the
official rules: http://www.vggpodcast.com/contest100/rules.html
Mentioned in this episode:
How to re-seat loose PS4 discs
without opening the case
The developer of Superhot
shares a city
with listener Pawel.
Episode 96 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week, Addie learns about military time (aka 24-hour clock notation), and we both
discover that we're not quite sure what curling is (as a sport). Other topics include
the delay of Zelda for WiiU and NX, the next Call of Duty, the bright side of the
almost-certain-to-happen PlayStation NEO, and the ridiculousness (and difficulty) of
having to set up an EA Origin account just to play a certain PS4 game online.
In other news, we have the list of free PlayStation Plus games for May, and Addie
tries to guess the plots of this week's new game releases. In email, it's Ratchet
& Clank, Freedom Wars, Severed, Life is Strange, and another answer to last
week's QotW about late-game boss battles that were impossible to beat. Oh, and the
drinking mini-game from Watch_Dogs. Supposedly Ubisoft did patch it to make it
easier, but those of us who got the trophy before that will always remember
the frustrating nightmare that it entailed.
In give-away news, our sixth pair of contest code words are given in this episode.
Also, the final three Steam game keys are given (SpeedRunners, DiveKick, and Kingdom
Rush). Some of the Steam codes from the last couple of weeks may not have been used,
so please let us know if you redeem these or any prior ones. They're single-use codes,
meaning the first listener to use them is the lucky winner.
My pre-recorded segment is a wrap-up on the Ratchet & Clank reboot (PS4), and
my opening impressions of Severed (PS Vita). Addie also talks about Costume Quest 2
(PS4), which she finally finished, and a little about Plants vs. Zombies: Garden
Warfare (PS4/XBO).
Rather than trivia or a quiz or a guessing game this week, I present my top ten
list of hacking mini-games that have appeared in video games. This is followed (as
usual) with a few honorable mentions that didn't make the list. Oh, and this week's
Question of the Week (QotW) is about the PlayStation NEO (formerly known as the PS4K
or PS4.5 -- eventually to be known as whatever non-Matrix name Sony chooses, kind of
like they did with Morpheus/PSVR -- but I digress). There are ways to see this in a
positive light, but we're curious about what you think.
Mentioned in this episode:
PlayStation Plus free games for May 2016 at the
PlayStation Blog
Episode 95 is also available as an MP3 here.
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A storm came through our area right as we were starting this episode, so this week's
show includes plenty of unexpected sound effects. It's okay for the most part, but
expect a few instances of background noise, including a constant barrage of hail
during a couple early segments. We've been pretty lucky up until now with bad weather
while recording, but it had to happen sooner or later.
This week, we give out two new code words for our Episode 100 Game Bundle Give-Away.
See the official rules using the link below. Also, it's the second to last week for
our Steam code give-away. If you have a Steam account, try out those codes before
any other listener, since they'll only work for one account.
In news, we go over the just-announced Xbox Games With Gold line-up for May, followed
by new game releases for this week. Late in that list, the noisy weather prompts us
to speed through them a little faster, but before that, Addie makes a guess at what
she thinks each game is about. After recording, Nintendo announced that the "NX" won't
be launching until March 2017, which would have been a great news topic, but we'll have
to include that on the next episode, a week late.
After listener email, I include less noisy pre-recorded segments: my wrap-up on Dark
Souls III (PS4), my impressions of the Final Fantasy XV Platinum Demo (PS4), and my
opening thoughts on the new Ratchet and Clank game (PS4) in a partial review. We
followed this with one round of video game "Who Am I?", but this was cut from the
show partly because of the noisy weather, and partly because it went on for way too
long with Addie entirely stumped until I finally gave her a few completely obvious
clues. Next week, we might try a more traditional trivia-based quiz.
Mentioned in this episode:
Video Game Generations is now on
Google Play Music
An article about Suda51's next game, Let It Die, on
IGN
Here are the official rules for our upcoming game
give-away
More info about May 2016 free Games With Gold at the
Xbox Wire
Episode 94 is also available as an MP3 here.
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This week's topic-filled episode starts with our usual off-topic
updates, a brief time travel segment, and a pseudo-rant about
how long it takes for developers to produce and ship out physical
rewards on successful Kickstarter campaigns after the game has
aleady been done and out for weeks or months. We also talk a little
more about our upcoming big game bundle give-aways, with some added
brainstorming on future contests to keep the free stuff going. On
that note, two more STEAM keys are given out this week, for
Steamworld Dig and Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition.
They're one-use codes, so the first listener to use either or both
will be the lucky winner. Write in and let us know if that's you!
After news, we talk about the new games releasing this week. It also
felt like a good time to talk about release dates for many of the
biggest games scheduled for the weeks and months ahead. This gets
fairly foggy later in the year, so we'll do it again when more release
dates for this year's most anticipated games have been announced.
This week, my pre-recorded segment is all about Dark Souls III (PS4).
After that, Addie talks a little about Slither.io (PC, iOS), a free
multiplayer "snake" game she enjoys and recommends.
In listener email, we hear from a long-time listener for the very
first time. Our recent QotW about your favorite music gets plenty
of responses this week too. Other listener topics include top picks
for past PlayStation Plus games (in response to an email from last week),
one listener's experiences creating his first game, and the merits of
our quizzes and tangents.
Speaking of quizzes, video game "What Am I?" returns this week but
proves that we're a little rusty at it now. We also have a new Question
of the Week for listeners. Write in and let us know what game was just
too difficult for you to finish. Did you get stuck at the last boss in
some game you otherwise enjoyed? Was the last level a frustrating
nightmare, so you just gave up? We'll read those responses -- and
whatever else you want to share regarding past topics or nearly
any game-related topic -- on the next episode.
Mentioned in this episode:
A page collecting some of my earliest
TRS-80/CoCo Games
PlayStation NEO (aka 4.5, aka 4K) is all but
confirmed
Have you heard of the hip-hop musical
Hamilton?
An online game of Snakes at
Slither.io
Episode 93 is also available as an MP3 here.
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We've pretty much established the rules for our upcoming game bundle
give-away now. Even though the official rules page isn't ready yet,
you can get the details early in this week's episode. Hopefully by
next week, that page will be up. Basically, listen for two code
words in each episode from 90 through 97, then send one email
containing all the code words and a couple other pieces of
important information (including your shipping address) before
episode 100. The deadline is Sunday, June 5th, at 11:59 PM CST,
but you can't enter until after episode 97, when the final codes
are given. You'll also let us know which bundle you'd like to
win, and that's pretty much it. Only one entry per household.
This week's free STEAM game codes are for The Fall and System Shock 2.
Since we weren't notified whether or not last week's Wizardry codes
were claimed, those are given out again just in case. They're one-use
codes, so the first listener to redeem them on STEAM wins them.
After that, it's news and new game releases, followed by email. We have
plenty of listener feedback this week, covering topics like Star Wars
Battlefront, last week's QotW about your favorite kinds of music,
favorite games from PlayStation Plus, are video game easter eggs
still "a thing" for gamers who don't celebrate Easter (blame Addie
for that tangent), and the best ways to play all past Legend of Zelda
games.
First up for "what we're playing" is my pre-recorded wrap-up for Tom
Clancy's The Division (PS4) and my review (spoiler-free... I think) of
Quantum Break (Xbox One), which, spoiler, I absolutely loved. Then,
Addie talks about what she's playing. That's Portal again (PC), and
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (Xbox One... I think).
On episode 100, we'll be giving away:
An
Xbox Game Bundle
And a
Nintendo Game Bundle
And a
PlayStation Game Bundle
Mentioned in this episode:
Hundreds of great video game remixes at
Overclocked Remix
The page on ELO's concept album Time on
Wikipedia
Upcoming WiiU free-to-play game
Lost Reavers
Episode 92 is also available as an MP3 here.
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We're still brainstorming about our 100th episode game give-away this week.
The current plan is to offer three prize bundles of around thirteen games
each -- one for various PlayStation platforms, one for Wii and 3DS, and
the last for Xbox 360. Listeners would send in codes after episode 99
(maybe sooner, since ten episodes of code words may be too many), and
indicate which of the three prize packs you'd like to win. We still have
thinking and planning to do, but hopefully we'll have official rules nailed
down soon, complete with photos of the prize packs.
We're also giving out game keys redeemable on STEAM. Listen for two keys given
out in this episode, for Wizardry 6 & 7, and Wizardry 8. These come courtesy
of friend and occassional co-host Bill. We have several more to give away in the
coming weeks. They're one-use codes, so first person to use them gets them.
In game discussion, Addie talks a little about Knight Squad (Xbox One),
Day of the Tentacle Remastered (PS4), and a free set of online games at
Roblox (PC). Mini-Gamers returns this week for its tenth episode, where
seven-year-old Heath talks about what he's playing, including Hyrule Warriors
Legends (3DS), Witch and Hero 2 (3DS), and Deadly Tower of Monsters (PS4).
In two additonal pre-recorded segments, I talk briefly about a few games I've
played just a little, followed by my own wrap-up on Day of the Tentacle
Remastered (PS4). Also included, finally, is my review of Tom Clancy's The
Division (PS4). I haven't quite finished it, and I haven't tried any multiplayer
or dark zone stuff yet, but I should wrap that up in the next week or so.
This episode's Question of the Week comes from listener email. Let's talk about
music; any kind of music. What do you listen to? Do you have any musical
recommendations? Favorite songs and favorite bands? Write in and let us know!
Speaking of music, this week's ending music comes from the Day of the Tentacle
soundtrack, rather than our usual original MIDI tunes.
Mentioned in this episode:
Day of the Tentacle soundtrack is on
YouTube
A short Day of the Tentacle Remastered
documentary
Addie played a bunch of games at a site called
Roblox
These are your free PlayStation Plus games for
April 2016
Details on the PS4 system update 3.50 at the PlayStation
Blog
Episode 91 is also available as an MP3 here.
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