Achievement Oriented

In an extra-long, year-ending episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Ben's VR Christmas gift (0:15), before welcoming Ringer colleagues Justin Charity and Matt James for a roundtable debate about the best games of 2017, which they share via four personal top 10 lists and an overall combined ranking (5:05). Then they bring on indie designer Jason Roberts to explain how he conceived of and created the new hand-drawn narrative puzzle game 'Gorogoa' (61:35). And finally they wrap up with an in-depth exploration of the highs and the lows of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and the future of the Lucasfilm franchise (88:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their opinions about porgs and cute creatures in 'Star Wars' and imagine an alternate history in which BioWare adapts 'Game of Thrones' instead of 'Star Wars' (0:15). Then they bring on three writers to discuss four games whose content keeps changing, talking to Polygon's Charlie Hall about 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' coming to consoles and 'Star Citizen' going to court (8:45), Kotaku's Zack Zwiezen about the new Doomsday Heist in 'GTA Online' (41:50), and Geek.com's Jordan Minor about 'Breath of the Wild' DLC (59:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the scare-reducing "safe mode" in the new Xbox port of sci-fi horror game 'Soma' (0:15) then welcome colleagues Justin Charity and Victor Luckerson to talk about Nintendo's dramatic 2017 turnaround, 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2,' and the future of the Switch (8:05). Lastly Ben and Jason bring on Representative Chris Lee of the Hawaii House of Representatives to explain his plans to win the political battle against exploitative loot boxes (42:20).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the microtransaction controversy sweeping the industry and talk to the influential Reddit poster who helped start the backlash against 'Battlefront II' (8:40).They then bring on ESPN esports reporter Jacob Wolf to preview the advent of the innovative Overwatch League and address the questions that Blizzard still has to answer about 'Overwatch' as an esport and the big-buy-in league's long-term viability (39:40).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion soundtrack your holiday travel with their first-ever mailbag episode, answering listener questions about the best and worst trends and games of 2017, the games they most regret missing, open-world design vs. linear levels and single-player vs. multiplayer, how Triple-A games can cut costs, the balance between new IP and sequels, the latest esports and streaming developments, how to introduce kids to video games, the greatest gaming eras, fallen franchises and genres that are due for revivals, trophy hunting, Switch ports, and much more.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the recent releases of several high-profile Switch ports, what their success means for the system's future, and what might have been for the PlayStation Vita (0:57). Then they review the highlights and lowlights of the multiplayer modes and single-player campaign of 'Star Wars: Battlefront II' and lament the game's heavy-handed use of microtransactions and loot boxes (6:15). Lastly, they bring on 'Battlefront' writer Walt Williams to talk about the special thrills and unique challenges of creating characters and stories inside the 'Star Wars' universe (26:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether 'Assassin's Creed: Origins' innovates enough on the franchise's familiar formula to bring them back to the fold (0:15), then welcome Polygon senior reporter Samit Sarkar for a conversation about the benefits and shortcomings of the Xbox One X, the 4K and HDR difference, why the console's presence in the market makes for such a difficult purchasing decision, and what the Xbox One X signifies for the future of console releases and mid-generation hardware updates (15:15).

In an intimate bonus episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's concussion (0:15) and Ben's binge with three newly released games: back-to-basics big-budget shooter 'Call of Duty: WW II' (6:12), 'The Frozen Wilds' (the first downloadable content for game of the year candidate 'Horizon Zero Dawn') (24:23), and throwback Xbox/PC platformer 'Super Lucky's Tale' (33:24).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion briefly discuss the latest trailer for 'The Last of Us Part II' (1:00) then bring on Kotaku news editor and 'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels' author Jason Schreier for a wide-ranging discussion about 'Super Mario Odyssey' and Nintendo's stellar 2017 (9:00); the fall of Visceral Games and the cancellation of another high-profile 'Star Wars' game (27:00); the proliferation of loot boxes and microtransactions; whether loot boxes constitute gambling' and the cyclical nature of the video game industry (41:25); and the crowded release calendar and 'South Park: The Fractured But Whole' (54:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion mark the pod's first anniversary by discussing a quartet of recent releases. First, Ben and Jason examine what makes 'Super Mario Odyssey' amazing and why the Switch is owning 2017 (1:00). Then they talk to 'Achievement Oriented' producer Kyle Crichton about 'Middle Earth: Shadow of War' (21:42), before welcoming in colleague Justin Charity to recount his impressions of 'Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus' and explain why the game's story takes on added depth in the current political climate (35:25). Lastly, Ben talks to 'Darkwood' developer Gustaw Stachaszewski about why he made a horror game despite being scared of horror games, how he channeled his real-life fears into the game, and why he decided to give the game away on torrent sites (56:10).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the beginning of the grueling/exciting torrent of fall releases and what they anticipate will be a successful gaming holiday season (0:55), then bring on comedian Nick Wiger to discuss his experience with 'Stardew Valley,' the secret to the game's addictiveness and longevity, and its recent Switch port (9:32). Lastly, Ben talks to Martin Emborg, the game director and art director of newly released PC/PS4 stealth game 'Echo,' about the game's innovative, adaptive AI; the influence of 'Hitman'; and the video game acting debut of Rose Leslie (38:20).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk about Ben's video game bachelor party, how 'GoldenEye 007' has aged, and ultra-precise esports competitors (1:45). Then they bring on Mike Stauffer of 'NBA 2K' developer Visual Concepts to ask how he manages rosters and develops player ratings for the game, how he incorporates (or ignores) feedback from NBA players and fans, and how advanced stats have made the ratings more sophisticated (8:50). Lastly, they welcome Ringer colleague Zach Kram to discuss his retrospective article on the 20th anniversary of the cult classic 'Backyard Baseball' series and the games' development and decline (31:58). Article Link: https://www.theringer.com/features/2017/10/10/16451300/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's ever-changing real-life look and how his hairstyles affect his character-creation strategy (1:40), then share their impressions of the new Windows and Xbox run-and-gun game 'Cuphead' (7:30). Next, they bring on brothers and 'Cuphead' co-creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer to explain how they conceived and perfected the game's eye-catching art while delivering difficulty without frustration, and to discuss the benefits and burdens of hype, the game's speedrunning potential, and their newfound financial prospects and future plans (14:25). Lastly, Ben and Jason wrap up with a few words about Ben's upcoming wedding and video game-themed bachelor party (47:50).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reminisce about 'Red Dead Redemption' and react to the trailer for 'Red Dead Redemption 2' (1:10). Then they bring on their colleague Victor Luckerson to recap his all-day marathon with the newly released SNES Classic, weigh in on which 16-bit classics have held up the best, and forecast the future of retro gaming (7:10). Lastly, Ben and Jason bring on Kotaku's Stacie Ponder to discuss how the notorious (and recently rereleased) 'Night Trap' holds up 25 years later, her love-fear relationship with horror games, and the endless porting and remaking of 'Resident Evil' (27:35).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reflect on why video game makers are hesitant to talk about the development process publicly (0:15). Then they talk to one who isn't: Walt Williams, who's worked on 'BioShock,' 'Spec Ops: The Line,' and 'Star Wars Battlefront II,' among many other games, and joins the podcast to discuss how game-writing works (20:35), the perils of crunch (25:20), the pitfall of player choice (38:42), how to make morality interesting in interactive games (43:15), and his new book, 'Significant Zero: Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games.'

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's inaugural experience as a video game writer on 'NBA 2K18' (1:05). Then they talk to 'NBA 2K18' director Chris Papierniak about the difference between game direction and film direction, how to handle the development of a game that can't be delayed, how to channel NBA drama into an E-rated game, and the expanding scope of sports games (17:33).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's return to the new and (possibly) improved 'No Man's Sky' (0:55), then bring on colleague Justin Charity to talk about celebrity streamer PewDiePie's latest offense, indie developer Campo Santo's response, the uncertain symbiosis between streamers and publishers, and why gamers get toxic online (5:55). Then they bring on NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory systems engineer Molly Bittner to discuss her work on NASA's Cassini and Europa Clipper missions, what it's like to talk to a spacecraft, how she finds time to play games while working at NASA, and her thoughts on 'Hellblade' as well as 'Destiny 2,' 'Mass Effect,' 'Kerbal Space Program,' and other space-based games (22:40). Lastly, Ben and Jason welcome The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to reflect on the 30th anniversary of the release of the original 'Metroid,' share his impressions of the newly released 'Metroid: Samus Returns,' and explain why 'Metroid' might be gaming's greatest space series (53:13).

For their 50th episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion welcome Kotaku news editor Jason Schreier to discuss the industry trends and revelations inside his new book ('Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made') and their early impressions of 'Destiny 2' (2:50). Then they bring on Sophia Park and Penelope Evans, the cocreators of 'Localhost' and 'Arc Symphony,' to talk about how they provoke emotional reactions in players, how they build games in Twine, and the economics of indie development (51:10).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their impressions of 'Undertale,' 'Sonic Mania,' and 'Uncharted: The Lost Legacy' (0:45), then interview 'Uncharted' writer and Naughty Dog veteran Josh Scherr about the game's breakneck development, Naughty Dog's winning formula for 'Uncharted' ideas, and how he feels about working on sequels versus new series (16:30). Lastly, Ben and The Ringer's Alison Herman talk to Jesse Cox and Michele Morrow, cocreators and executive producers of the new esports sitcom, 'Good Game' (48:05).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to stuntwomen and voice actors Maggie Macdonald and America Young about their work in video games including 'Halo 5,' the 'Dead Space,' 'Uncharted,' and 'Saints Row' series, and the newly released 'Agents of Mayhem,' as well as how working in video games compares to big-budget movies, the advancement of video-game motion-capture technology, the most challenging stunts they've had to perform, and fighting while looking like Lara Croft (1:30). Then Ben and Jason bring on Kyle "Beef" Bautista, general manager of compLexity Gaming, to discuss his team's involvement in a new TBS 'Dota 2' documentary, attempting to qualify for The International 2017, the economics of esports, managing interpersonal issues and turnover on team rosters, and the future of esports statistical analysis, coaching, and corporate partnerships (55:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion banter about 'No Man's Sky' updates, mundane objects that look great in games, and Ben's plans for a video game bachelor party (1:20), then bring on their colleague Alison Herman to discuss the summer hit 'Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator,' a Steam game that subverts the tropes of traditional dating sims (8:40). Finally, Ben and Jason talk to Giant Bomb founding member and video producer Vinny Caravella about the origins of the site and how it anticipated trends in podcasting, streaming, and video that media members are still wrestling with today (32:24).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the addition of a free-for-all deathmatch mode to team-based shooter 'Overwatch' (1:05), then bring on makeup artist Ada Trinh to discuss her work with Blizzard, Riot, and esports athletes; why gamers need help in the complexion department; and why it matters that competitive gamers look good (7:00). Then they talk to ESPN senior baseball writer (and Paste Magazine board-game reviewer) Keith Law about his gaming past, the current golden age of tabletop gaming, why tabletop games are making up an ever-larger share of the "gaming" category on Kickstarter, the parallels and differences between board games and video games, how designers have developed tabletop adaptations of video games, and which board games he thinks gamers should try (26:04).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether makers of future consoles will feel pressure to support portability to keep pace with the Switch (2:37), then talk about Ben's impressions of 'Tacoma,' the new game from The Fullbright Company (makers of 'Gone Home'), and the temporarily game-breaking bug that prevented Jason from playing it (7:19). Then they bring on professional fantasy sports player Al Zeidenfeld to discuss how he started streaming 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds,' why the game has become such a phenomenon, the best and worst tactics that players employ, a community controversy, and what's in store for the game's future (28:42).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Greg Kasavin, creative director and lead writer of indie developer Supergiant Games, about the company's new game, 'Pyre,' its surprising shoutout from Arby's, the apocalyptic settings of Supergiant's games, how 'Pyre' is different from their previous works, 'Bastion' and 'Transistor,' whether 'Pyre' has potential as an esport (and the pitfalls of online multiplayer), why the company wants to stay small, how he uses music to aid his work, and how his past experience serving as editor-in-chief of Gamespot is still helping him make games (2:14). Then they bring on Greg's colleague Darren Korb, Supergiant's audio director, to discuss his process for composing the soundtracks for all of the company's games, how he branched out into new genres and instruments for 'Pyre,' the secret to making a video game soundtrack that stands on its own, how to account for the player's actions when making music for games, how to write songs that repeat but never get annoying, and more (43:53).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh, Jason Concepcion, and Justin Charity discuss their impressions of 'Splatoon 2' and the 'Destiny 2' beta (4:00). Then, Ben and Jason bring on Kai and Gramz, two members of 'Grand Theft Auto' data-mining group Team Guru, to talk about their years-long hunt for 'GTA' Easter eggs, what motivates them to keep up their quest, the tools of their trade, their successful hunt for in-game aliens, and their real-life, long-distance romance that was kindled in 'GTA' and recently led to marriage (26:40).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss some of the challenges facing competitive 'Overwatch' in Season 5, including depleted rankings and a misaligned rewards system (0:39). Then they bring on their colleagues Matt James and Micah Peters to talk to 'Castlevania' executive producer Adi Shankar about the new Netflix series, 'Spider-Man: 'Homecoming,' Shankar's creative process, and the secrets to making a good video game adaptation (7:14). Lastly, Ben and Jason talk to writer Jacob Oller about the success of Summer Games Done Quick, why Oller likens the event to the Olympics, and why speedrunning is so fascinating (44:02).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion first talk to William Collis, cofounder of Gamer Sensei, an esports startup that matches players with coaches who tutor them on how not to be bad at games (2:14). Then they welcome colleague Claire McNear to celebrate the first birthday of 'Pokémon Go,' discuss how the game has evolved, and explore the depths of Claire's determination to "catch them all" (26:44). Lastly, they bring on economist Ernie Tedeschi to critique the controversial claim that games have gotten so good that they're keeping young players unemployed (43:55).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion briefly discuss Nintendo's SNES Classic (1:12), and then are joined by their colleague (and fellow 'Rocket League' enthusiast) Rob Harvilla for a conversation with Psyonix Studios' Corey Davis, the design director for 'Rocket League,' about the game's origins (3:23), the secret to its satisfying gameplay and controls (9:28), its advantages and rapid rise to prominence as an esport (14:23), its pursuit of cross-platform play (25:15), and what's in store for its future as its second anniversary approaches (31:26). Then Ben and Jason bring on another colleague, Kate Knibbs, to mark the release of the remastered 'Crash Bandicoot' trilogy by recounting childhood memories of the series (40:40).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their impressions of Nintendo's new Switch brawler, 'Arms' (1:10), the pros and cons of motion controls and the Pro Controller (2:42), and the game's esports future (7:50). Then they bring on Kotaku's Nathan Grayson to talk about E3 impressions (9:15), why it's so difficult to do video game sex scenes (and why the ones in 'The Witcher' succeed) (14:19), why more powerful hardware hasn't shortened long loading times (35:30), why loot boxes are bad, and 'Overwatch' (47:20).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Compete's Eric Van Allen about Nintendo's surprising new esports acumen with 'Splatoon 2,' 'Arms,' and 'Pokkén Tournament' (2:07), esports franchising and the future of competitive 'Overwatch' and 'League of Legends' (4:33), the difficulty of producing a comprehensible esports broadcast (9:09), the high ceiling of 'Rocket League' (13:27), esports on college campuses (16:50), and esports in VR (20:00). Then they bring on Richard Knol, the lone developer of planet-size sailing simulator 'Sailaway' (24:30), to explain how he accurately modeled Earth's oceans with real-time (26:19), real-world weather (28:10), how he's trying to satisfy sailing experts without making his sim inaccessible (36:05), and why water is such a challenge for game-makers (33:34).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion digest the week's biggest news and announcements out of E3, discussing the notable trends, highlights—including Nintendo, Ubisoft, co-op and multiplayer, pirates, and long-awaited sequels and reboots—and lowlights like Xbox One X, the developments they're still skeptical about, and the evolution of their own video game greed.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Kotaku news editor Jason Schreier about why developers divulge details about troubled projects to reporters (2:55), Schreier's exposé of the problems plaguing Bioware's development of the disappointing 'Mass Effect: Andromeda' (8:28), the downsides of the gaming industry's reliance on Metacritic (29:25), how game engines such as EA's Frostbite can both help and hinder development (40:29), the potential for (and obstacles blocking) a fully fledged "Netflix for games" (44:15), the dubious appeal of backward compatibility (47:44), and what to look forward to (and how to stay sane) during E3 (51:10).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk about the Switch as a mobile experience (2:20) and Ben's impressions of 'The Walking Dead: A New Frontier' (4:30), and 'Rime' (9:33). Then they listen to an excerpt from Ben's conversation with 'Rime' creative director Raúl Rubio (18:08). Lastly, they talk to longtime video game casting/performance director Tom Keegan about his experience casting actors for series such as 'Battlefield,' 'Call of Duty,' and 'Wolfenstein' (31:19), whether it makes sense for game studios to cast famous film actors (42:50), how motion capture has changed the acting and casting process (54:16), and which actors he thinks should play prominent roles in upcoming movie adaptations of video games (55:56).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion speak to director Doug Liman about the influence of video games on his movies 'Swingers,' 'The Bourne Identity,' and 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2:44), the narrative differences between video games and movies (8:57), how to tell stories in VR (13:38), and his latest projects, 'The Wall' and 'Invisible' (16:17). Then they bring on college football star and NFL first-round draft pick Jonathan Allen to talk about his taste in video games (24:21), his plans to build a gaming PC (25:40), how he fits gaming into his football schedule (28:09), and his two big complaints about games (37:17). Lastly, they ask Ars Technica senior gaming editor Kyle Orland about a court case involving Valve and Blizzard that will decide who owns the rights to the mega-popular 'Dota' series (39:44).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion pine for VR rigs and talk to their colleague Justin Charity about Arkane Studios' first-person shooter, 'Prey' (4:20), how the pace of a playthrough affects the player's impressions (6:05), and whether a disappointing ending can spoil a game (11:05). Then they ask Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah E. Needleman about covering the gaming industry from a business perspective (16:28), the future of e-sports (25:25), and the major trends she's tracking (30:23). Lastly, they bring on 'Destiny' glitcher "Dj" to discuss his two-year journey to Atheon's throne room in the Vault of Glass (32:59), what inspires him to explore beyond the boundaries of games (34:23), and what he's looking forward to in 'Destiny 2' (45:48).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to colleague Justin Charity about how he's made up for lost time after an extended hiatus from gaming (2:10), his recent article on streaming culture (8:46), his second (!) playthrough of the lengthy RPG 'Persona 5,' (19:30), and his first impressions of the newly released 'Prey.' (21:47). Then, Ben and Justin talk to Stephen McArthur the "Video Game Lawyer" about the legality of fan-made games (26:55), how video game developers protect their copyrights (33:17), how legal practices that specialize in video games have proliferated (43:35), and his own experience of trying to balance school and pro gaming in the early years of e-sports (46:34). Lastly, Jason shares his thoughts on the first-person horror game 'Outlast 2.' (54:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion speak to game designer and Funomena cofounder Robin Hunicke at the Tribeca Games Festival about the challenges and possibilities of developing VR games, the potential for more realistic portrayals of love and sex in video games (5:17), and how VR compares to previous technological leaps (19:18). Then, they bring on Mike "Typo" Bassett to talk about how the 'Super Smash Bros. Melee' community modifies controllers to gain advantages in the game (27:00), his work for high-level 'Smash' competitors (42:27), and the legality and future of controller modification (48:36). Lastly, they plug the podcast's new Facebook group and discuss the future of peripheral-based rhythm games (54:54).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion interview the head writer for Blizzard's 'Overwatch,' Michael Chu (3:31). They discuss the challenges of implementing elements of story to a multiplayer game (5:20). Chu explains how the 'Overwatch' team handled heading up such a large and diverse cast of characters (11:26). Later, after viewing a 'Halo 5' trailer (25:47), they talk with 343 Industries studio head of transmedia and entertainment Kiki Wolfkill about Master Chief (29:03), how to evolve a 'Halo' game (30:48), keeping up with the game's diverse audience (36:47), and wrestling with an overarching story line for future 'Halo' games (41:04).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Giant Sparrow creative director Ian Dallas about his new first-person exploration game, 'What Remains of Edith Finch’ (3:38), the melding of moviemaking and video games (5:28), the centrality of story (7:39), and the ways in which 'Edith Finch' experiments with storytelling and interactivity (16:00). Then they bring on Kotaku video editor Chris Person to discuss his popular, long-running 'Highlight Reel' YouTube series (33:35), what makes a good video game highlight (35:55), and which games have been the best fodder for videos (44:48). Lastly, Ben and Jason list some of their most-anticipated titles for the rest of 2017 (50:25).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion banter about Ben finally losing his 'Overwatch' virginity (1:43), 'Star Wars: Battlefront II' (3:12), and the SNES Classic (4:13). Then, they welcome writer Tony Palumbi to discuss his new book 'Blood Plagues and Endless Raids: A Hundred Million Lives in the World of Warcraft' and the innovations, relationships, and legacies of 'WoW' (4:57). Lastly, they bring on one-man developer Rob Weaver to talk about his new YouTube and Steam Early Access sensation 'Ultimate Epic Battle Simulator' and the secret to rendering 100,000 AI characters on screen simultaneously (41:44).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk about Jason's new Nintendo Switch and belated 'Breath of the Wild' impressions, then bring on the creator of the YouTube channel 'LowSpecGamer' to talk about how he gets modern games to run on low-end systems and what he's learned about game design from stripping Triple-A software down to its absolute minimum settings (0:30). Lastly, they talk to New York Magazine senior editor Max Read about the addictiveness of the collectible card game 'Hearthstone,' the financial investment required to compete, and Blizzard's attempts to keep the game fresh, before closing with a question from Twitter (31:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion report the results of a survey designed to reveal their gaming motivations, then bring on their colleague Justin Charity to discuss his spoiler-free impressions of newly released Atlus RPG 'Persona 5' and Square Enix action RPG 'Nier: Automata' (1:00). Lastly, Ben, Jason, and Justin talk to Kotaku features editor Chris Kohler about the hallmarks of Japanese games, the end of auteur developers, the convergence of Japanese and North American game-design philosophies, and his book, 'Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life' (21:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion banter about Jason's move, convoluted 'Kingdom Hearts' titles, and what they want from 'Destiny 2,' then talk to Minnesota Twins pitcher Trevor May about how injury rehab impacts his gaming, his attempts to turn other athletes on to Twitch streaming, the parallels between esports and traditional sports, and whether he worries about a backlash from fans or his team because of his hobbies (7:00). Then they bring on NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney to talk about how he fits games around his race schedule, whether games can capture (and prepare drivers for) the exhilaration of real racing, his favorite video game vehicles, his surprising 'Star Wars' movie preference, and his opinion of podracing (29:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion have a spoiler-free discussion about their impressions of the perplexing 'Mass Effect: Andromeda,' Bioware's brain drain, and the ways in which recent releases have raised the bar for big-budget games (0:45). Then they bring on authors and psychologists Patrick Markey and Christopher Ferguson to talk about their research into the effects of violent video games and their new book, 'Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong' (23:25).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to writer Reid McCarter and lecturer in video game studies Hugo Montembeault about the dark side of Ubisoft's 'Ghost Recon Wildlands,' realism in shooters, and big-budget games' ongoing struggle to depict real-world problems in fictional form (0:30). Then they bring on 'Super Smash Bros. Melee' analyst Daniel Lee and 'League of Legends' analyst Jeffrey Liang for a primer on the metagame and the past, present, and future of eSports stats (28:15).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Compete writer Maddy Myers about experimenting with supplements that promise gaming benefits, covering competitive gaming's growing pains, and gender imbalance in eSports (0:30). Then they bring on Dr. Caitlin McGee to discuss treating eSports injuries, the benefits of proper posture and ergonomic equipment, and how teams are trying to prolong careers (34:15).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion bring on Kotaku news editor (and author of the forthcoming book 'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels') Jason Schreier to discuss reviewing great games (1:00), how 'Breath of the Wild' departs from and improves upon previous 'Zelda' installments (8:30), what lessons developers can take from the game's open-ended structure (34:00), and the Switch's post-launch outlook (40:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion have a spoiler-free chat about the newly released PS4 exclusive 'Horizon Zero Dawn,' discussing its obvious influences, how it tweaks the open-world formula, and whether games have gotten too long (1:00). Then they bring on Kotaku editor Luke Plunkett to talk about his aborted attempt to play 'Resident Evil 7' and try to pinpoint what combination of in-game mechanics and hangups inside their own psyches makes some video games so scary (24:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion briefly consider the future of TV video game adaptations, reacting to comments by 'Castlevania' producer Adi Shankar and 'The Expanse' co-author Ty Franck (3:30). Then they bring on longtime Giant Bomb video producer Drew Scanlon to discuss having a GIF of his face go viral and how long his fleeting internet notoriety will last (9:30). Lastly, they talk to Kotaku staff writer Heather Alexandra about glitching, speedrunning, and the creative ways in which players navigate games (25:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Jordan Thompson, lead software engineer for the latest Google Doodle game, about building games for a massive search-engine audience with unique control constraints and compatibility concerns (0:15). Then they bring on Ubisoft creative director Jason VandenBerghe to discuss the innovative combat system at the center of newly released fighting game 'For Honor,' why sword-fighting is so tough to translate to video games, and how he created the concept of Vikings versus Samurai (19:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss PS4 Pro envy and 'Resident Evil 7' (0:40) and talk to The Guardian's games editor Keith Stuart about the continued sales success of 'Grand Theft Auto V,' the perpetual repackaging of old titles, and the worst US presidents in video games (6:08). Lastly, they talk to Polygon's Owen Good about the latest bad news for NBA Live, why so many sports games are going extinct, and the NBA's plans to partner with Take-Two to launch an official 'NBA 2K' esports league (26:05).