Bundle Buddies

We round out the second season of Bundle Buddies by reflecting on our favorite games and episodes, discussing  the best way to raise babies to be gamers, and musing on the future of the podcast. WE LOVE YOU, LISTENERS! See you in the next season!  -- Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show.  

This week, Eric and a Covid-stricken Alex are joined by Malheurt, a drag queen finding the sublime in twitter jokes and fantasy tropes. They talk Pokémon, the ethics of looking up how to beat games on the internet, the majestic difficulty of Heroes of Might and Magic, and so much more.   Here's what we played through this week: NIGHT OF THE CONSUMERS, by Germ Food Blast Rush, by Bipedal Dog Rusty Lake Hotel, by Rusty Lake Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show.

Alex and Matt talk anime, the tragic beauty of owning dogs, and Steel Magnolias before diving deep into the must-play 20 Minutes Till Dawn, which you should definitely buy instead of avocado toast. The ethical gamer holds court. Matt has opinions about Metroid: Dread. Alex takes a detour from Xenosaga into arguably stranger territory. Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show.

We welcome back 2nd time Bundleliber (Bundle Buddy) Andrew Heywood to the podcast! He and Eric have an in depth discussion on 2018 turn based strategy game Into The Breach. They touch on why JRPG's just don't cut the mustard nomo, chess puzzles, and loads of other things! Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show  

This week, we explore the utopian potential of Broderbund's edutainment classic Zoombinis. Here's to our Beloved Little Guys! To learn more about the game's design process, check out this article, written by two of the game's developers: Zoombinis and the Art of Mathematical Play Our cause is once again any abortion fund. We've donated: if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show.    

We have Joe Anderson and Tom Harrison, hosts of the hilarious Anime Sickos podcast, on to discuss all of the most important topics, including how terrible South Dakota is, how F-Zero GX isn't actually a racing game, and why Dragon Quest VI is better than Apex Legends. The pair also schools us on the true objective of their new favorite game, 20 Minutes Till Dawn. You don't want to miss this one, folks.  Here's what we played: Skuiggle, by MOKKA Macbat 64, by Siactro Quiet as a Stone, by Distant Lantern and Richard Whitelock Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show.

We sit down with prolific indie game champion Andrew, AKA Pizza Pranks, the creator and curator behind the video game bundle zine Indiepocalypse. We talk Sesame Street video games, what's missing with charity bundles, and games as the mid-step between activity and art before diving into his process for putting the zine together every month, using the fourth issue as an example. Our cause is once again any abortion fund! However, this week we are donating to National Network of Abortion Funds Collective Power Fund. It will redistribute direct abortion funding to 28 member abortion funds across more than 20 states and is concentrated in the South and Midwest, where it's often hardest to get an abortion. The Collective Power Fund supports: Cost of an abortion Transportation to a clinic Childcare Lodging Abortion doula support All dollars raised will be redirected to local abortion funds on the frontlines of abortion access. We've donated to them, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show

This week, we have artist, educator, parent, and justice-seeker Alisha Maynoush Mernick on the podcast. She regales us about a recent series of unfortunate events with a freemium mobile game, sings the praises of some little-known app called "Tik-Tok", and updates us on gaming as a parent. She also absolutely ROASTS Alex in Eric's stead.  Here's what we played this week: Catlandia: Crisis at Fort Pawprint, by Polar Tabby DON'T WAKE THE NIGHT, by Brujería At Werk Soft Underbelly, by atelier✦zorra Our cause this week is Plan C. Plan C is an information campaign, started by a small but mighty team of veteran public health advocates, researchers, social justice activists and digital strategists. Plan C transforms access to abortion in the US by normalizing the self-directed option of abortion pills by mail. Check out their website for more information about this extremely pressing cause. We've donated to Plan C -- we encourage you to do the same. If you let us know, we will shout you out on a future episode.

This week the buddies are joined by the delightful Sebastian Quack. Sebastian is a founding member of the Invisible Playground network, co-director of Trust in Play, the European School of Urban Game design, and co-organizer of Drift Club. Since 2021, Sebastian has also directed Now Play This, a Festival of Experimental Game Design in London. We talk the potential of games as a medium, blurring immersion, and finding the edges of reality via high-tech and low-tech means.  Here's what we checked out this week: Akuto: Showdown, by Hut 90 The Search, by Jason Godbey Animal Lover, by Trainwreck Studios Once again, this weeks cause is ANY Abortion fund in the united states. Donate to one, send us proof. We'll shout you out. Check out twitter for more details.

We lost him to civilization:    This was a crazy one, folks. Here's what we're reviewing:  Buck Up And Drive!., by Fabio Fantes Welcome to Elk, by Triple Topping The Wratch's Den, by PUNKCAKE Délicieux Once again our cause is any abortion fund in the United States. Donate what you can and we will shout you out in a future episode.

Armand from Just a Hobby Games reached out to us with a purpose: to educate our dumb asses about the wonderful world of indie RPGs. Okay, he was much more polite about it, but we know our place. A creator and aficionado, he gives us a crash course and all of the amazing things going on outside of the D&D Megaplex, notably the incredible Powered by the Apocalypse system. Eric is hungover and full of Tommy's chili. Alex has no excuse whatsoever. It's a fun episode! This week's lineup: WATER'S FINE by owch Quest of Graal DX by pixel-boy Infini by Barnacue This week's cause is once again ANY Abortion fund in the United States. Donate to one, send us proof, and we'll shout you out in a future episode.  

It's a SOLO ERIC ADVENTURE! He's got on previous guest and very good guy Greg Karber as they delve into the mind bending multiverse of MURDER MYSTERY'S! They chat about Greg's burgeoning career as a Mystery author (www.gtkmysteries.com), his game Murdle and A.I. applications in the genre! Our cause this week is the Missouri Abortion Fund (MoAF) The games played... Home - A Unique Horror Adventure by @bancyco Murder at the Cat Show by @ShonteWrites 2000:1: A Space Felony by @NIPresents

Our guest this week is Natalie Clayton, the designer and developer behind bundle classic Can Androids Pray, and some other awesome experimental games worth checking out. They also write for  a little website called PC Gamer and have a lot of interesting things to say about the craft of video game making. We talk mechs, white-whale peripherals, and how joining a cult seems like a bad idea. But mostly, we talk about mechs, because mechs are extremely cool and we all want one. Can anyone help us get a Bundle Buddies mech? Here's what we played this week: Zepball Deluxe, by blainekyle Sagebrush, by Redact Games Out for Delivery, by Yuxan Gao This week's cause is once again ANY Abortion fund in the United States. Donate to one, send us proof, and we'll shout you out in a future episode.

We are joined by Jackbox Games writer/director, improv comedian, and one-time jug band member Brooke Breit for a conversation about everything you need to do to make playing video games important professional research. We discuss her humble beginnings, cheating at Track & Field for the NES and getting lost in Myst, to what it's like to watch your idea blossom into an actual, real Jaxbox Party Pack game. Also: is Cuphead an effective way to teach your child about persistence? Do we still love talking about Inscryption? Is there a "there, there" to There is No Game? ANSWERS IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE! Kind of. Mostly it's just goofs.  This week's VICTIMS: Stophat, by Problematicar J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars, by CBESoftware RESPITE 2.0, by Modus Interactive Our cause this week is, again, any pro-abortion charity fighting the good fight during this historically bogus juncture. Send us proof of a donation, and we will shout you out in a future episode.

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for a Bundle Buddies black-tie, gala event: the 200th game episode! That's right -- we've played through a whopping 200 games from the bundles, and we are celebrating in style. We're joined on the red carpet by producer Matt, who for some reason decided to record this episode in VR. Remember: we will be your dancin' hall, baby. Here's what we played to commemorate the milestone: They Bleed Pixels, by Spooky Squid Games Backbone, by Raw Fury Baba is You, by Hempuli These are harrowing times. Do your part by donating to any pro-choice charity, send us proof, and we will shout you out on a future episode.

We have an awesome pair of guests on the show this week. Katy Conroy is a Los Angeles-based comedian, writer, and stylist, and Camille Campbell is a screenwriter, also based in LA. If their names seem somehow *familiar* it's because they also happen to be Alex and Eric's better-halves. That's right folks -- we are talking that Camille and that Katy! We are entering the sacred realm of vow-taking and sacrament-making and really testing the meddle of these relationships this week on Bundle Buddies. We manage to keep things more chatty than spatty on an episode that truly takes a walk down the proverbial aisle. Katy describes the sultry and fantasy-realizing side of The Sims, Camille tries her best to guess what "Slappers Only" is, and the crew provides a scathing review of the 2011 film The Lincoln Lawyer. Turns out it doesn't hold up! If you've ever wondered what it's like to be married to either of the bundle buddies -- and who hasn't! -- you've come to the right place! Here are the games we played this week: 1,000 Heads Among the Trees, by Aaron Oldenburg Augma II Arc I, by Kamigigana GourMelee, by Anthony Tesija Our cause this week is NARAL Pro-Choice America. NARAL Pro-Choice America fights to protect and expand reproductive freedom for *every* body. If you donate to any pro-choice organization and send us proof, we will give you a shout-out on the show

We have established Bundleieber Kate O'Conner on the podcast this week, and it's like an absolute delight. Or it is an absolute delight. We talk about the difference between similes and metaphors, baby games like Dragon Quest XI, and Eric finally learns what a companion is. The gang gets deep into Elden Ring, too -- bimbo builds, the game's cryptic lore, and what its ascension as a cultural oddity has in common with Final Fantasy VII's.  Here's this week's completely randomized lineup of bundle games:  Inverness Nights, by kitsubasa Future Unfolding, by Spaces of Play NOISE1, by ChevyRay Our cause this week is The LA Food Bank. Their mission is to mobilize resources to fight hunger in the Los Angeles area. Read more about them on their website and please, consider donating to this fantastic cause!

Brian Rodriguez-McGovern, or the notorious BRM, is on for a RECORD-BREAKING fourth time. He's the "winningest BB in Bundle Buddies history," but "a hard guest to please," so we ask any game developers out there to take his vitriol with a boulder of salt. Eric gets to the bottom of whether or not anyone is a true gamer with a mind-melting Buzzfeed-style quiz, we get into the weeds on Earthworm Jim, and Matt struggles to remember the name of a certain Jazz Jackrabbit. Terrible gamer-themed parodies of Killers chart-toppers abound, but all in good fun, we promise! Here's this week's lineup:  Destruction Rocks, by eleanorjmorel Crescent Loom, by Olive An American Werewolf in LA, by PlayMedusa This week, our cause is Ktown for All. Ktown for All is a volunteer-led grassroots organization serving Koreatown's homeless community members through direct aid and political advocacy. Their goal is to make Koreatown a more inclusive and vibrant community by working with and advocating for our homeless neighbors. Homelessness in Koreatown and Los Angeles more broadly is a crisis. They seek to ameliorate the suffering it causes in their neighborhood and advocate for policies that respect the rights, dignity, and needs of the unhoused.

We dip our little piggies (toes) deeper into the Bundle for Ukraine with Matt & Alex's old chum Donovan Lampa. We talk College Days, Ninja Turtles, High School Ska Bands, Counter Strike and (of course) Magic the Gathering arena. Hypnagogia 無限の夢 Boundless Dreams by sodaraptor Wandersong by banov ZeroRanger by system_erasure Our cause this week is, once again the Hoosier Abortion Fund Fund-a-Thon, which kicked off on April 1st. All-Options is looking to raise $35k for this crucial cause, so let's do what we can to help them get there. More information about how to contribute and participate is available at the campaign webpage. 

Here's the thing: this episode is, like, very interesting. We have been working on the way we express ourselves, and, the way I see it, we're doing, um, a very good job. It is as though we are getting very good at this, indeed. We play through some games from The Bundle for Ukraine with producer Matt. We focus a little bit too much on our language. Eric asks some Q's. Everyone provides some A's. Alex tallies up every time someone says like and, in the edit, Matt tries to hold him accountable but finds the enterprise just a smidge too pedantic.  Here's what we played this week: SkateBIRD, by glassbottommeg GunHouse, by NecroSoft (thank you for putting the bundle together!) Promesa, by Julian Palacios   Our cause this week is, once again the Hoosier Abortion Fund Fund-a-Thon, which kicked off on April 1st. All-Options is looking to raise $35k for this crucial cause, so let's do what we can to help them get there. More information about how to contribute and participate is available at the campaign webpage. 

We have a very special one coming at you today, folks. The truly delightful Jess Marchbank joins us from the All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center to tackle a set of bundle games. You might recognize this important foundation as a cause from a previous episode: we donated to them way back on Episode #11. We thought it would be lovely to have someone from All-Options on the podcast, and lo and behold, some 54 episodes later, Jess met us at the Bundle Buddies HQ. And how lucky were we! We discuss classic games of old like The Hunt for the Wumpus, the "good Gap cologne", audiobook narration, and so much more.  We also take a moment to discuss the important work All-Options is doing, as well as the Hoosier Abortion Fund Fund-a-Thon, which kicks off in a few days, on April 1st. All-Options is looking to raise $35k for this crucial cause, so let's do what we can to help them get there. More information about how to contribute and participate is available at the campaign webpage.  It's also worth mentioning that Jess isn't just a rock star who devotes her life to an important cause -- she's also a talented voice actor who lends her sonorous pipes to audiobooks, video games, and more. Here's what we played this week: Orison of Mercury, by dualhammers Jabberwocky, by python-b5 Four Sided Fantasy, by Serenity Forge

We're hamming it up with the wonderful Nate Sherman today on Bundle Buddies. We talk the amoral violence of superheroes, cool parents, and Blitzball on an episode that may or may not have been intercepted by the NSA. Plus: Nate makes Alex envious by bringing up Xenogears and Chrono Cross (but Alex keeps his cool), we explore the evolution of grinding in RPGs, and much, much more! Here's what we played: Gun Rounds, by Blabberf Skeletris, by Ghast Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You, by Osmotic Studios Our cause this week is BlackLivesMatter-Los Angeles, the original chapter of the global movement built to challenge state-sanctioned violence against Black people and to vision and build a just and free society. Since 2013, BLM organizers have been doing work to disrupt systems of oppression and work vision and build the kind of world in which we want to live..  Their work includes non-violent direct action, policy work, movement building, strengthing alliances, community self care, and creative engagement. 

Eric invites the boys over for our first official book club. We're drinking wine, eating gluten free cookies, and playing his first book club selection: Ocean Software's 1991 "classic" (?) Hook. The sleepover antics don't stop there: Eric asks Alex and Matt questions, promptly yells at them, makes everything wonder why we're playing this god-forsaken game based on a Robin Williams movie from 1991, and in the end nearly (almost. not really.) has a cathartic moment.  Also: Elden Ring! The Peterpaniverse! Buying games as children! And some real honest-to-goodness conversation about game design. Wouldn't you know it, we walk away appreciating the artistry of our lovely Itch.io developers and their access to game development tools and resources. On that note: our cause this week is The Bundle for Ukraine, on Itch.io. If you haven't purchased it yet, what are you waiting for? Support an important cause during a dire time, play games alongside the podcast, and receive an absolute treasure trove of incredible indie gems. All proceeds from this bundle will be split between the following charities: International Medical Corps provides medical assistance in the region. They have very low fundraising overhead (1% of income), with 89% of donations going to medical aid and 10% to administration.  Voices of Children, a Ukrainian organization that helps children cope with the horrors of war, PTSD, readjusting to school, and getting back to being kids. They have also been doing a lot of grassroots impromptu work during the war, such as helping set up shelters. Our hope is that this war will be over soon, and they can begin the work of healing these kids' hearts.   

It's an emergency bundle update! The itch.io Bundle for Ukraine A bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games (makers of Gunhouse) with content from 733 creators. So many games! A Short Hike, Baba Is You, Celeste, Hidden Folks, Super Hexagon, TowerFall Ascension, Bleed 2, Death and Taxes, Golf Peaks, KIDS, Old Man's Journey, Tenderfoot Tactics, Ynglet, SO MANY MORE! As of posting they shattered the goal of $2 million dollars and are now shooting for $4 million! All funds go to International Medical Corps & Voices of Children. Go support a very worthwhile cause and get so many amazing indie games! https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine

What if you could mod a book? How will penguins claim real estate in the aftermath of the impending climate apocalypse? Can you adopt a pet drone in Cyberpunk? And so what if you can't?! Isn't it the imagination of the player, the deliberate suspension of disbelief, that matters more than anything in roleplaying games?! We are tackling the big questions this week with the one and only Jonah Cooper. You might remember her first appearance, where she helped the buddies achieve their first triple-triple play. This time, she joins the two-timers club (that's what we're calling it, right?), returning to the show to play through a trio of fresh bundle games. WILL the coveted triple-triple be achieved again? FIND OUT IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE! This week's games: Serre, by insertdisc5 A Normal Lost Phone, by Dear Villagers Penguins Arena, by Frogames Our cause this week is the Montrose Center in Houston, Texas. The Montrose Center empowers our community—primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and their families—to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We envision a healthier society marked by permanent, positive changes in attitudes and behaviors toward the LGBTQ communities, and the ability of all LGBTQ individuals to realize their fullest potential. Check out their website and twitter for more information and to make a donation.   

A very special and exciting episode with Dyala and Holly, designer and "fart director" (respectfully), from Echodog games, the studio behind Signs of the Sojourner, a game we covered way back on Episode One! Sixty episodes later, Eric admits he may have been a bit brash in his early-days-of-the-podcast opinion making,  the crew gets deep about the creative process, and a new distinction -- the "pizza game" -- is coined.    Here are the games we played this week: Demon Truck, by Triger Mountain Marchland, by glitchirs FutureGrind, by Milkbag Games Our cause this week is the Los Angeles Food Bank. Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. Check out their website to make a donation.

Alex takes the week off and producer Matt joins Eric for our second rodeo with the pod's FIRST GUEST  -- Brian Biancardi! We talk the beauty of Pilot Wings, our VR future, product placement in snowboarding games, and so much more. This week's games:  Volo Airsport, by Ramjet Anvil Drake, by Gawain Ball Buster, by Joseph Quested Our cause this week is the LGBT Center of Los Angeles. Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Check out their website for more information.

The buddies come together to kick off the first iteration of a new series, Bundles Buddies Book Club, where we play through classic games that are important to us. In this episode, we struggle to complete the task we assigned ourselves, but nonetheless come out the other side with a plan. Also: Eric's new mustache, plans for ANOTHER series, and what Fight Club got wrong. Our cause this week is the Pilipino Workers Center. Founded in 1997, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) is a non-profit that organizes the low-wage Pilipino community in Southern California to demand better living and working conditions. Check out their website and twitter for more information.

We are joined by none other than Daniel Mullins, the mastermind behind last year's mind-bending Inscryption, a game that wormed its way into our collective subconscious by subverting the medium and freaking us out (in a good way.) Clearly, we can't stop talking about this game, so we take full advantage of our time with Daniel, picking his brain about his iterative game design process, the importance of playtesting, and whether or not he actually murdered someone and buried the body in a forest for the Inscryption ARG. Also: Keanu's empty chair at the Game Awards, the possibility of balloon porn, and looking to The Orange Box for inspiration. You don't want to miss this one. This week's games: OneShot, by futurecat Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist, by Crows Crows Crows The Night Journey, by Game Innovation Lab This week's cause is the Maximum Impact Fund from GiveWell. Givewell uses their latest research to grant the funds to the recommended charity (or charities) where they believe they'll do the most good. More information at their website.

In a bit of a departure, the buddies dive into the strange and fascinating world of Slovak games from the late 80s, plumbing the strange depths of behind-the-Iron-Curtain digital experimentation. They plot murders, get murdered, and learn more about obscure Alexander Dumas books than they bargained for. Also: Beer Hunt, bonding with your dad through Final Fantasy XIV, and the labor of gaming.  This Week's Games: Fuksoft (1987, Sybilasoft) La Dame de Monsoreau (1987, IKO a RGSoft) Perfect Murder (1987, Ultrasoft) Pepsi Cola (1987, Miami-Soft) Super Discus (1987, Sibylasoft) The Stig 4 (1987, Antok Software) Agent 99 (1988, Alkoholsoft) Perfect Murder 2: Bukapao (1988, Ultrasoft) Satochin (1988, Sybilasoft) Kewin 2 (1989, Kamasoft) Playable English Localizations of Slovak Digital Games From the Late 80s Period (ROMs and Emulator) More Information on Slovak Game History Slovak Design Museum This week's cause is The Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC). The LAFPC works to ensure food is healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable for all. Check out their website and Twitter for more information.  

This episode of Bundle Buddies has the fellas talking to comedian, streamer, and podcaster JPC, a gamer whose hobby once made him miss church because it made him physically ill. He's played 70 games over the course of the last year (or so),  and shares a few of the gems he's unearthed along his journey. Goldeneye control schemes, not caring about being yelled at in Overwatch, and the similarities between hosting a Twitch stream and running a coffee shop in a college town -- this episode is full of goofs, opinions, and honest-to-goodness practical advice.  Check out JPC's podcasts, Hey Riddle Riddle and Billbuds, and join him on Twitch. This week's game's: Kids by Playables Knights of the Card Table by Ponywolf Hero Hours Contract by Steve O'Gorman Our cause this week is The Chicago Teachers Union Foundation (CTUF). The CTUF is the philanthropic arm of the Chicago Teachers Union whose mission is to develop networks that advance education for students, advocate for teachers, and resource under-served communities through student scholarships, professional development, and grant making. Check out their website.

The buddies are back, this time with the hilarious and talented Dylan McKeever, whose work as a comedian, writer, artist, musician, and video maker demands your immediate attention. Check out her website for links to all of her work. On this episode, the crew talks about the disaster that was ClayFighter 2: Judgment Clay, Alex's infatuation with Megaera from Hades, drilling holes in imported game cartridges, and so much more. And in case you're wondering: yes, Eric makes some progress with his dog's breakfast of a PC purchase. Here are this week's games: What Comes After Hidden Folks Can Androids Pray: Red Our cause this week is Trans Lifeline. Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community support and resources we need to survive and thrive. They envision a world where trans people have the connection, economic security, and care everyone needs and deserves – free of prisons and police. Check out their website and twitter, and consider making a donation to this important cause. If you do, we'll shout you out on a future episode!

Brian Rodriguez-McGovern returns for a third ride on the Bundle Buddies wagon, and as he says -- and he's pretty sure this is a reference everyone knows and loves -- who does three better than him? The guys touch on video games based on fast food mascots, a plan to start rooming together, and the cursed Brian McSwishmas.  This week, the crew plays Cloud Gardens, Celeste, and Jotun: Valhalla Edition. The cause this week is Chinatown Community for Equitable Development (CCED). CCED was founded in March 2012 through the support of community activists, residents, business owners, workers, and youth in Chinatown.  The organization formed in the wake of the campaign to stop Wal-Mart from moving into Chinatown. Today, CCED works with residents to build a Chinatown with affordable housing, good jobs, a green environment, open recreational spaces, and quality education for all. Check out their website and their twitter.

We end the producer Matt trifecta with another all-over-the-place chat, touching on gaming chairs, couch buddies, and the pros and cons of playing video games (according to 3rd graders.) Eric also continues to wonder why he spent so much money on a gaming PC that doesn't work.    This week, we play Solas 128, Proteus, and Slice and Dice. Our cause this week is Ktown for All. Ktown for All is a volunteer-led grassroots organization serving Koreatown's homeless community members through direct aid and political advocacy. If you donate and let us know, we will shout you out on a future episode!

An episode about one very special game that still manages to cover a wide variety of topics, from the state of the podcast, to video game addiction, to immersion. It's all wrapped, of course, around Daniel Mullens captivating new opus, Inscryption, which it turns out is very hard to talk about without revealing something important. We try our best, but then we give up. There are spoilers ahead, travelers, so tread carefully (they start at 45:12)! We are once again joined by our new producer Matthew Hadick, who regales us, once again, with a story of how he won a Donkey Konga tournament at a suburban Game Crazy sometime in the mid-2000s.  This episode is brought to you by Trans Lifeline. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Check out their website and Twitter, @TransLifeline, to learn more and donate.

Hello Bundle Buddies listeners! We're back, and for our first episode of Season 2, we're joined by our new producer Matt Hadick for a free-ranging conversation about a whole bunch of video games we think you should check out this holiday season. It's a doozy of an episode -- and no, we don't cover any new bundle games, so we're not making any progress on that front.  Our cause this week is The Downtown Women's Center of Los Angeles. The Downtown Women's Center (DWC) envisions a Los Angeles with every woman housed and on a path to personal stability. Its mission is to end homelessness for women in greater Los Angeles through housing, wellness, employment, and advocacy. Check out https://downtownwomenscenter.org/ or @dwcweb on twitter to learn more and donate. As always, we've donated to them, if you donate and send proof to bundlebuddiespodcast@gmail.com we will shout you out on the show

It's the last ep of S1 of Bundle Buddies! We've got the wonderful Sadie Lancrete (@sadieposting) on the podcast to send us off right! Our cause this week is A Room Of Ones Own, a Queer & Trans-owned bookstore in Madison, WI. This week we played Changeling, Octodad, and Curse of the Crescent Isle DX We will see you again soon for S2!!!

It's almost the end of S1! This week we dip into the Summertime Selects Bundle from the fine folks at itch.io. We played A Hand With Many Fingers, Mixolumia, and Sundered. Our Cause is The COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network LA. We've donated, and if you donated and send us proof we will shout you out on the show!

Our guest this week is serial creative Sean Rose (@JabroniSean)  Our cause this week is Mermaids. We've donated. Send us proof you did too and we will shout you out on the show!   This week we played PALACE OF WOE, Death? Preposterous! - A Non-violent RPG, Guitar Fretter.

This week we welcome Matt Glanville to the Podcast! He's a game developer based in the UK, he made the game Switch N' Shoot which we played as part of the bundle (and loved) Our cause is the National Food Service. We've donated. If you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show! This week we played Magic Trick, Sheep Dreams Are Made of This, The Adventures of Elena Temple: Definitive Edition.

RETURNING Guestst Joe Garber & Erik Blood join us in this weeks ep! We play Lenna's Inception,  Orion Trail, and Corio. Our Cause is SHOUT YOUR ABORTION

Ali Abid (@AlisAccount) on the podcast this week! We played Space Mayhem, Cube Rampage, Shutter Stroll. Our cause is The Chicago Community Bond Fund. We've donated, if you donate and send us proof we will shout you out on the show!

It's a dang PODCAST REUNION! This week we have on Tim Dunn, Clayton Margeson & Kellen Terrett from the dearly departed podcast Talking Games with Tim, Clayton, and Kellen. It's a fun one! We played Alfal's Grove, Orbis - Throw them all!, Purple Noise Echo. Our cause is the ACLU! Donate and send us proof and we will shout you out on the show!

Our guest this week is the actress and comedian Erin Kay Van Pay (@ek_vp)! We play I'm Bored, Let's Explore (Ruins), soundStrider, FORGET THE BRAKES! Our cause is Alexandria House.

This week we've got on special guest Grayson Davis!

We've got Waleed Mansour (@MrWaleedMansour) with us this week! He's an actor, comedian, and illustrator (available for commission) based in Los Angeles. This week we played Flux, starseed pilgrim, Chook & Sosig: Walk the Plank. Our cause this week is Room to Read.

It's Daniel Mullins (@dmullinsgames) on the podcast! He's a game designer who created Pony Island & The Hex, and his upcoming game INSCRYPTION. We played The Hex as part of the bundle and can confirm it rules. After this ep we can also confirm that he rules! This week we played Bazookrash,  BAKED:MAGIC, Hello Charlotte EP2: Requiem Aeternam Deo. Our Cause is the Maximum Impact Fund from GiveWell.

We've got Greg Karber( @gregkarber) on the podcast along with our pal (and past guest) Mike Klasek (@emklasek) and most importantly NO ALEX.  Greg is a writer/director and game designer! A good old pal of Eric's! AND it turns out a very good podcast guest. This week we play....The World Begins with You, Switch N Shoot, Seduce Me: The Complete Story. This week we're continuing to highlight that twitter thread of Black Trans gofundmes. Go donate to one (or more!) and send us proof and we'll shout you out on the show. 

Our guest is Jeff Murdoch (@jsmurd) He is a Second City Mainstage alumni and one half of the comedy duo “Seriously Unprepared." He's now based in LA working as an actor, podcaster, and just a good dude. You can hear him on the Monster of the week podcast "Mystery County Monster Hunters Club" We play.... "RISK SYSTEM, Asteroid Quest! (Classic) and Depth of Extinction. This week we're highlighting a twitter thread of Black Trans gofundmes. Go donate to one (or more!) and send us proof and we'll shout you out on the show

OK! Back after a one week UNPLANNED BREAK. Sorry about that! Our guest is July Diaz (@julydiaz). He's an improviser, podcaster, and comedian based in Los Angeles. You can hear his work on various Earwolf Podcasts as well as on his own "Inside Video Games and Gaming Podcast." We play Test Tube Titans, Shipwreck, Factory Hiro. Our cause is Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate.org/)

Our guest this week is a RETURNER. Please join us in welcoming Rahcael Ferguson back to the podcast! She's an LA based Musician, artist, educator and activist. Check her out on Instagram (@therachaelf) and also her band Pink Lotion (pinklotion.bandcamp.com). We play... Pet the Pup at the Party, Circa Infinity, Interactive Portraits: Trans People in Japan. Our cause this week is Rain City Rock Camp (raincityrockcamp.org)