Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast

Cody and Jon record their first episode together in 2019, and hilarity ensues.

Elliot Callighan, composer and sound designer for media and adjunct professor at DePaul University, joins Cody to discuss his new project, Unlock Audio. It’s a tool for re-framing game audio to make it developer-centric from both...

Author Blake J. Harris discusses his deep dive into the world of Oculus and Facebook, the twists and turns in the virtual reality story, and what's next for VR.

Cody and Jon go FULL GAMER and review their favorite video games played over the past year, in addition to discussing what they learned about balancing video games with real life. Plus: a look ahead at what’s to come in 2019!

Jon returns from an extended hiatus to talk about what it’s like balancing games and life now that he has not one, but TWO, kids. He and Cody also give updates on what video games...

In 2002, Dave Wishnowski quit his job and set out to make his own wrestling game. More than 15 years later, he’s still at the helm of Pro Wrestling X, one of the most ambitious...

In a special solo episode, Cody discusses his favorite games from Gen Con 2018 and offers some buying recommendations if you’re looking for the latest and greatest in strategy board games. Plus, learn a little about...

Cody and Jon recap their favorite board games of “Martin Con” 2018, the annual Memorial Day Weekend board game gathering hosted at Jon’s house in Minnesota. This year’s games include but are not limited to: Avalon,...

You know who directed your favorite films and wrote your favorite screenplays… so why don’t you know the names behind your favorite video games? On this episode, host Cody Gough interviews Patrick Hickey, Jr, author...

Cody and Jon attempt to explain F-Zero after playing it on the SNES Classic, despite not really caring at all about racing games. They also finally give an update on what’s going on in their...

Jon reviews EarthBound, one of his favorite games ever, and Cody asks: is it too late for EarthBound to find a new audience? Show Notes: The hard question gets put out there: is it too...

Is Super Metroid a perfect video game? Cody poses the question and Jon tries to come up with answers, as they review the classic Nintendo title on the SNES Classic — 24 years after it...

Can optional content determine the playability and fun factor of a video game? Cody discusses how this happened as he and Jon review Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island for the SNES Classic, arguably the...

Cody and Jon delve into the history of Nintendo’s unique collaboration with Square-Enix (Squaresoft, at the time) and review Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the SNES Classic. Show Notes: Cody and...

Cody and Jon review the run and gun game Contra III: The Alien Wars on the SNES Classic. Show Notes: Cody and Jon discuss whether the game is too difficult or they just don’t like...

Cody and Jon review Super Castlevania IV, one of many remakes of the original Castlevania, on the SNES Classic. Plus: first impressions of the board game Sid Meier’s Civilization: A New Dawn! Show Notes: Hear...

Cody and Jon review both Star Fox and Star Fox 2 on the SNES Classic, then discuss the history of the Star Fox franchise. Plus: trivia! Show Notes: Somehow, both Cody and Jon got their...

Jonathan Martin reviews the original Final Fantasy for the Nintendo Entertainment System as part of his ongoing RETROspective retro video game review series. Show Notes: Share your thoughts about this review with Jonathan Martin on...

Cody and Jon return from a 6-month hiatus to talk weddings, classic Star Trek, the Extra Life video game marathon, Super Mario Odyssey, retro gaming, and their SNES Classic plans for the future of the...

Cody gives one more quick update as the 2017 Game/Life Balance U.S. Podcast Hiatus continues. Show Notes: You can find Cody’s new podcast, the Curiosity Podcast, on iTunes or Stitcher, or add the RSS feed to any podcast player. Please...

Following a prolonged absence, Cody gives an update on the mostly-dormant state of Game/Life Balance U.S. Show Notes: No show notes. I ain’t got time for that!

This week, Cody Gough of Game/Life Balance U.S. is joined by special guests Andrew “AC” Yoshimura of Game/Life Balance Australia and Chris Ferrell of the All Things Good and Nerdy and Official GonnaGeek.com Podcasts for...

Cody reviews his experience playing The Legend of Zelda themed Real Escape Game “Defenders of the Triforce,” and Jon explains why his birthday meal at Trevail Kitchen was one of the most unique dining experiences...

Jon explains why he will never risk flying with a layover while in the company of a small child ever again, and Cody shares his weight loss success story and the secret to how he...

Jon gives a very thorough Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII review… 3 years after Cody reviewed the game on their old podcast, Unqualified Gamers. Hear how the game withstood the test of time, including Jon’s...

The collector’s edition of Final Fantasy XII has been announced, and the price is STEEP. Cody and Jon debate the value of special edition video games, then give an update on their recent game/life balance. Show...

In this EXTREMELY EVENTFUL EPISODE: Cody got engaged! Hear him retell the story of how he popped the question, then catch up with Jon and learn how he nearly died last week (like, kinda not...

Cody gives a feature-length Final Fantasy XV review. Spoiler alert: he didn’t love it. Hear Cody explain exactly why he takes issue with this game as a main entry in the series, then judge for...

Jon finally got the chance to play Overwatch, the video game that literally everyone seems to be talking about! Hear his first impressions, plus Cody’s take on strategy board games and the best ways to...

Following Cody’s recent international travels, he and Jon have a frank discussion about global politics, activism, and the billionaire class, including a conversation on why people should approach politics from the perspective of strategy gamers....

Cody and Jon talk gaming in bars and casinos and how they, as gamers, approach gambling*. Hear about gambling laws in Minnesota and Illinois, plus future plans to visit Las Vegas and where they might hope to win it big! If you think you might have a gambling addiction, then call 1-800-522-4700. The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700). The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem. Show Notes: * Cody calls Jon out when he claims that parks are indoors in Minnesota * Jon explains pull-tabs, a form of gambling available in bars in Minnesota, and shares some exciting news about his wife hitting it big just before the recording of this podcast episode * Jon shares the exciting news of how he bought a new suit, and he and Cody swap stories about men’s fashion and dressing up as adults * Cody is panicked about an upcoming trip to Switzerland, during which he has no idea how he will dress * Fun facts about the dark web, the black market for ascots, and asking kids what they drew in their pictures * Cody and Jon exchange stories about bitcoin gambling in the states of Illinois and Minnesota, respectively, and decide to plan an impromptu trip to Las Vegas next summer * Jon also goes into the specifics of “Vegas odds” – which he had earlier played on https://njnodeposit.com/ and what games have the best odds for the player (as opposed to the best odds for the house) * Cody promises to bet on 9 at a roulette table when in Vegas, but only if their ladies are dressed to the nines, and will buy everyone a cheap meal if he wins * Cody briefly discusses his hilarious Twitter commentary on Final Fantasy XV, which is ongoing and quite humorous * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody and Jon go FULL GAMER and review their favorite video games played over the past year, in addition to discussing what they learned about balancing video games with real life. Plus: a look ahead at what’s to come in 2017! Show Notes: * Cody and Jon present their favorite games of 2016 (note that they were not necessarily released in 2016, but are games they played in 2016), including: * Doom (2016 edition; Jon’s review here) * Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Cody, Jon, and a special guest review here) * The Witness (Jon reviews here) * Darkest Dungeon (Jon and Russian Jon review here) * Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (not previously reviewed) * Metal Gear Solid V (Cody reviews here) * World of Warcraft: Legion (Jon discusses here) * Gears of War 4 (Jon discusses here) * Final Fantasy XV (not yet fully reviewed) * Kentucky Route Zero (Jon reviews here) * Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (not previously reviewed) * Pokemon Go (not previously reviewed) * Lara Croft GO (Cody discusses here) * Cody and Jon discuss what they learned about themselves and how to fit video games into their adult lives over the last year, including what types of games fit best into their schedules and the best time of day to play uninterrupted (and without bothering family / roommates!) * To wrap up the episode, Cody and Jon look ahead at 2017 and discuss the results of Cody’s completely unscientific Twitter poll about which game his followers are most excited to play * Hear which game has the most hype: Resident Evil 7, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda, or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody was told by several people that he would literally die by traveling, and yet he survived. Hear him and Jon completely destroy travel naysayers, then talk about what it’s like to take kids on vacation. Show Notes: * Jon checks in on his facial hair progress: if you had to pick one, then would you say it’s better to look good or to look young? * Cody and Jon discuss the lore of spanking in the pantheon of the Game/Life Balance U.S. podcast * Life Stuff * Cody traveled to Mexico City for work, and people did not react to learning of his trip in the way he expected * Despite certain travel destinations being a “dangerous place,” Cody thinks that people should go places anyway * Jon experienced the joy of traveling on vacation to California via airplane with his nearly 3-year-old son for the first time, and his troubles didn’t occur when he thought they would * Cody discusses some of the history of Teotihuacan and explains how he ended up at an EDM festival in Mexico City with Paul Van Dyk as a headliner * In a bizarre turn of events, Cody goes full British after explaining his encounter with three blokes and a bird * Cody and Jon congratulate Doombrowski, who just released his game Suburban Scavengers on Steam Greenlight, on his Doom Ninja Podcast joining the GonnaGeek Network! * Balancing Act * Jon has been playing the latest World of Warcraft expansion, and is back to playing one of his favorite mobile games of all time * Cody gives first impressions of Final Fantasy XV and discusses a few fun mobile games he picked up when traveling, some old and some new * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon goes FULL GAMER with a Doom review (2016), discussing the first-person shooter video game developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, which he played on Steam. Show Notes: Jon is a husband and a parent of a toddler, so he has real-life responsibilities and a limited amount of time to play video games every week. He also isn’t normally a fan of first-person shooters at all, so he was surprised at how much he enjoyed playing Doom. Hear Jon’s review from the point of view of a guy who is careful with his time commitments! * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon and Cody discuss work culture during the holiday season, then talk misleading time commitments—especially as it relates to finding time to play video games. Show Notes: * Jon explains why he’s been absent from the podcast for a few weeks and how it relates to the nature of this podcast (hint: it’s related to parenting) * Life Stuff * Jon talks about being a pharmacist during the holidays, and Cody explains what corporate life is like in December * A quick tangent about the upcoming Hearthstone expansion, Mean Streets of Gagdetzan, spirals out of control and turns into something about Gambit from the X-Men and Harambe * Cody and Jon discuss how many hours per week they work and how often they like to work; then, Jon calls Cody a communist * Balancing Act * Jon explains why he can’t enjoy Gears of War 4, even though he bought it for a very specific reason: Horde Mode * Jon harshly criticizes Horde Mode and explains why they desperately need to introduce a penalty system for players dropping out * Cody plugs Suburban Scavengers, the newest game from Doombrowski, which he strongly encourages you to support on Steam Greenlight! * Cody chastises Jon for not pre-ordering Final Fantasy XV * The hosts of Game/Life Balance Australia criticized Cody and Jon for their Game/Life Balance rating system on their most recent episode, so the hosts of Game/Life Balance U.S. take the opportunity to explain and define their rating system * Cody promises upcoming reviews for Doom (2016), Gears of War 4, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, and more! * Both Cody and Jon happen to have seen Doctor Strange last week, and Jon magically guesses that The Music Box Theatre is showing Akira in Chicago next weekend * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody describes what it was like to walk from his apartment to Wrigley Field immediately following the Chicago Cubs win in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series for the first time in 108 years. Then, guest host Chris Ferrell discusses over-age drinking and how he can’t quite party like he could in college. Show Notes: * Marijuana is now legal in various forms across America, and Cody is trying to cash in * Cody introduces Chris Ferrell from the GonnaGeek Network and chastises his regular co-host Jon for blowing him off on the podcast * Several unnecessary WWE references set the stage for an amazing podcast * Life Stuff * Cody watched the Chicago Cubs win the World Series for the first time in 108 years at a bar just a mile away from Wrigley Field, and he recounts the epic tale of his pilgrimage to Wrigleyville following the big win * Chris talks about his relationship with baseball and how celebrations happen with Cody * Then, Chris talks about how he partied a little too hard, and how over-age drinking in adult life complicates the ability to party like he could in college * Plus: the value in having friends who aren’t your age * Balancing Act * Chris and Cody discuss WWE SuperCard, a ridiculous time-wasting mobile game * Cody describes the outrageous Oz: Broken Kingdom, a mobile game that probably shouldn’t exist * Cody also gives a quick update on Final Fantasy XIV, including his experience playing the final dungeon of the game * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody talks about how he found himself watching Highlander in a movie theater in Wrigleyville as the Chicago Cubs won their first pennant since 1945. Plus: Jon has his annual Halloween love fest and recommends movies and games for the season, then discusses the Nintendo Switch with Cody. Show Notes: * The Chicago Cubs are in the World Series for the first time in over 70 years! Cody explains why he found himself in Wrigleyville the night they won the pennant at Wrigley Field * Cody gives a mini-review of Highlander, which he saw at an old-timey movie theatre with Nick Offerman… and yes, that’s a thing that actually happened for some reason * Life Stuff * Jon tells a story about the TV show American Horror Story, then talks Black Mirror with Cody * Continuing with his Halloween horror theme, Jon tells a ridiculous story about a video game called The Evil Within * In terms of movies still in theaters, Jon recommends Ouija: Origin of Evil, which is a great endorsement from a horror movie buff * Cody tells a story about Penumbra, a horror movie set in Argentina that his girlfriend won’t watch with him, then explains why the movie Tremors is his backup plan * Quick plug for Until Dawn, a video game that Jon would like to play every year in October * Current News * Cody and Jon nerd out about the Nintendo Switch! And by “nerd out” we mean “Jon explains what we actually know about it, and Cody just kind of says how awesome it is several times” * Balancing Act * Because of the podcast’s new format, Cody plans on reviewing Sid Meier’s Civilization VI and Jon plans on reviewing the 2016 edition of Doom on special episodes of the podcast… but they do talk about them a bit here as well * Also, you can watch Cody play Hearthstone on a Facebook Live Video in which he explains why Wild is a million times more fun than Standard in the game * Cody also gives a quick update on Final Fantasy XIV, including commentary on a crazy amount of cut scenes near the end of the game * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Unity‘ by TheFatRat with permission * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody and Jon discuss their recent game/life balance, then Cody explains how commercial auditions and casting agencies work. He then engages Jon in a discussion on gamer stereotypes and how deeply they’ve permeated our culture. Show Notes: * Jon riffs on NPR pledge drives, and Cody makes fun of his stupid face * Cody has a stroke or something and starts screaming about perspiration and precipitation and religion * Jon disagrees with Cody’s assessment of how to tell when it’s time to start recording their podcast every week, especially regarding putting his son to bed * Balancing Act * Cody has been struggling to play Final Fantasy XIV because he burned his girlfriend out on it when he basically played nothing else for 2-3 months; how do you deal with that sort of situation? Jon provides insights from his MMORPG experience * Very briefly, Cody lauds the changes in Blizzard’s latest Hearthstone patch 6.1.3, which had made the game infinitely more playable… but then has to complain about the mobile volume issue that is preventing him from listening to podcasts, which is extremely annoying * Jon is still waking up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning to play video games, and he explains why the new Doom may be the best first-person shooter he has ever played * He also realizes that he’s been playing Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes for a full year now, and talks about how that and Mobius Final Fantasy have been his main mobile gaming “things” lately * Life Stuff * Cody explains the commercial audition and casting process and how he got his second callback in a very long time * Also this week: Cody had lunch with podcast super-fan and Doom Ninja podcast host Ryan Dombrowski * Jon and Cody discuss the “gamer stereotype” and how society has adjusted peoples’ expectations for what gamers are like in real life * Black Mirror is coming back with new episodes! Get excited! * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon and Cody debate styles and merits of facial hair, Cody gets stuck in a creative rut, and Jon has a potty training nightmare. All in one explosive episode! Show Notes: * Jon explains why he’s trying to grow a beard, and Cody explains why some people just are not allowed to grow facial hair for any reason ever * Cody describes his creative rut and discusses creative outlets with Jon * Jon used to actually be really good at singing, but apparently is not driven by the same need for a creative outlet as Cody, who is floundering like an idiot not having any clue what to do with his life * Jon tells an incredibly long but somewhat informative and entertaining story about trying to potty train his son, who is basically trolling him for kicks * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Look, let’s just call this episode like it is: Cody and Jon don’t really have anything significant to talk about, so they just improvise comedy for a while. Listen to this episode, but expect hilarity in lieu of actual content! Show Notes: * Jon brings up Harambe McHarambeface, and Cody crushes his dreams by pointing out that the story is fake and stupid * What do you drink after you get home from the gym? Cody and Jon discuss why the answer probably should not be “cookie dough” * Cody rages because sports seasons are happening, and explains that sports seasons are dumb * Welcome to Dumb * In an unexpected twist of fate, Cody introduced himself to one of his neighbors, which Jon then both admits is a big deal and then berates Cody because he says it isn’t a big deal, mostly because Jon’s a jerk and can’t make up his mind * “Sorry, what were you saying? I was busy drinking water because my life is so interesting.” * Life Stuff * Jon visited Chicago and didn’t even tell Cody he was in town, because he has no heart and they aren’t real friends * Jon goes into painstaking detail about how board games are printed, then reviews both the first and second edition of A Study in Emerald, a board game based on the award-winning short story of the same name by Neil Gaiman * Jon also explains the concept behind a board game called Codenames, which Cody actually owns and now really wants to play * Cody then tells a ridiculous story about how he both literally and figuratively found gold while digging through a neighbor’s discarded goods over Labor Day weekend * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon gives a glowing Kentucky Route Zero review and tries to help Cody understand how it’s like Twin Peaks. If you don't know what to do in the gym or you've never stepped foot in one before, it can seem like a pretty scary place. What are all the machines for? How do I do use them? Is everyone looking at me? That's why we've put together the ultimate gym guide for beginners, that covers everything from what to pack in your gym bag, right up to your very own beginner's workout. Once you've read through this guide, you'll know everything there is to know about working out in the gym and smashing your fitness goals. Show Notes: * Jon tells a story about how he used to own hermit crabs, which Cody refuses to believe * Debate on how to pronounce the word “route” in “Kentucky Route Zero” * Cody trashes L.A. Fitness, which is a garbage gym with garbage policies and nobody should ever go there, and then tells and epic (short) gym story about exercise, testosterone supplements and sleep habits * Then, Cody covers a LIVE BREAKING STORY involving live podcasting, which is hilarious and involves bad timing and his girlfriend * Full Gamer * Jon is generous in his Kentucky Route Zero review because it felt like Twin Peaks to him, and Twin Peaks is good * “It’s different from any other experience with a game—in terms of storytelling—than anything I’ve ever seen” * It’s interactive and you should play it with your girlfriend! TUNE IN TO LEARN WHY * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon returns from Las Vegas (one of his favorite travel destinations) and Cody returns from two weeks in Spain with some travel tips for listeners. Show Notes: * Jon explains what happened last week when his power went out, which abruptly ended last week’s episode * Cody and Jon discuss Jon’s guest appearance on Game/Life Gaiden, an offshoot of the Game/Life Balance brand that he co-hosted with AC of Game/Life Balance Australia * Full Gamer * It’s more like “Half Gamer,” as Cody discusses joining a Free Company in Final Fantasy XIV (which he only started playing a few months ago), but does so in a reasonably accessible way * Jon tells an amusing story about being left behind in a raid while he was watching a cut scene in Final Fantasy XIV * Cody explains why he loves the social aspect of the Free Company (FFXIV’s version of a “guild” as they’re known in other MMORPGs) and tells a similarly humorous story involving Power Rangers poses * Jon and Cody discuss the difficulty of playing online games while around significant others, and how they deal with it * Life Stuff * Despite his regrettable decision to stay at the MGM Grand, Jon claims that this was his favorite trip to Las Vegas out of all the times he’s been over the last several years * Jon discusses “fine dining” in Las Vegas and how going to nice restaurants and visiting nice swimming pools can completely change your view of the city * Someone tried to sell drugs to Jon. HEAR WHAT HAPPENED * Cody and Jon get in a fight over shrimp cocktails in “Old Las Vegas” * More Life Stuff * Cody spent a month in Spain, and if you’re curious about Spain at all, then you should check out his friend’s blog, Sunshine and Siestas, to learn all about the culture and how to travel there * Jon asks Cody about the work culture in Madrid, which is super bizarre because people have dinner really late (around 10 p.m. a lot of the time) yet still show up at work around 9 a.m. the next day in some cases * Not satisfied with just hanging out in Madrid for two weeks, Cody also discusses his favorite parts of visiting Toledo and Sevilla when in Spain (though he didn’t make it to any other countries once he arrived there) * Cody says to check out his Brian Noonan Show podcast for a more comprehensive list of travel tips from his point of view, then spends THIS podcast discussing cool things about Madrid, including their public transit system and Buen Retiro Park * Cody and Jon get in a fight over Final Fantasy XII * Cody shares his UTTERLY TERRIFYING experience at a bus station in Spain after missing a high-speed train and having to take an overnight bus instead * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our

Cody and Jon discuss the fantasy writing workshops, board games, and other geek culture they experienced at the world’s largest gaming convention: Gen Con 2016! Show Notes: * Jon and Cody discuss sharing a hotel room with 12 adult dudes, and how whiskey pouring can complicate sleep sometimes * Cody gives a high-level overview of the writing seminars offered at Gen Con 2016, some of the interesting takeaways from the authors on the panels he attended, and a little background about his writing interests and his first foray into writing a fantasy novel * Jon describes the huge difference between staying at a hotel directly connected to the Indiana Convention Center and staying at a hotel further away during Gen Con * Some of their favorite board games played at Gen Con 2016 were Eldritch Horror, Legends of Andor, and Seasons * Just as Cody and Jon start to pivot to another subject after their Gen Con 2016 talk, A GAME/LIFE BALANCE U.S. FIRST OCCURS! You won’t want to miss this UNIQUE YET CLICK-BAITY EVENT that, like an RKO, came outta nowhere! * Cody plugs BitBash, the indie video game festival that he’s going to attend yet again this year, which you can follow on his Instagram feed at Instagram.com/CodyGough * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Cody bit the bullet and started playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, his first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). He and Jon welcome special guest and FFXIV fanatic Brad to talk about the game, MMOs, and more. Show Notes: * Jon tries to trick Brad, this episode’s special guest, into thinking they’re actually going to talk about pro wrestling for an hour * Cody and Jon welcome special guest Brad to the program, since he’s been playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn since its inception and thus knows a ridiculous amount about the game and its extremely unique history * Full Gamer * Jon explains a bit about the massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) genre and typical play styles of its players * Brad explains the history of Final Fantasy XIV and why its initial release was unsuccessful, including graphical limitations and experience point caps * Learn why Square Enix decided to try to re-launch the game and how they listened to fan feedback rather than simply shut it down * Hear about the final days of the “original” release of Final Fantasy XIV, and how a cataclysmic event was coordinated with their server shutdown timeline to create an awesome in-game epic battle that served as an “ending” to the game before it was re-launched * Jon discusses his MMORPG history, including Everquest and World of Warcraft, and how it impacts his view of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, especially considering the social aspect of the games * Brad and Jon agree that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a World of Warcraft “clone” in a way, based on its carrot-on-a-stick adventure/reward system * The biggest differentiation between FFXIV and other MMORPGs from a gameplay perspective is that you can “do everything” and master multiple classes, which is not possible in many other MMOs * Why did neither Cody nor Brad enjoy World of Warcraft when they played a free trial, but they were hooked when they played a similar (to a newcomer) Final Fantasy MMO? * The story in World of Warcraft “is there if you want to engage with it as the player,” but it’s not integral, according to Jon, as opposed to the highly integrated and elaborate story in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn * Brad and Cody discuss some of the amazing puns in the game and the clear care taken to make story elements entertaining and memorable, including Metal Gear Solid references of all things * Everyone gushes about how awesome the soundtrack is, and why you should probably listen to it on YouTube * To add some balance to the conversation, Jon mentions a few features in the game that he didn’t know about until very late in the game, such as unclear quest indicators and other minor “unexplained” systems that make it more difficult to play certain classes due to the fact that it’s a more complicated game than WoW and other MMOs * Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is coming to Xbox One! Cody explains why it took so long, and when it will become available * Brad tells a hilarious story about a raid partner named Arnold Schwarzenegger whom most of the players on his server blocked at some point * Jon briefly discusses Free Companies (FFXIV) versus Guilds (WoW) and Level Sync in FFXIV, and Brad talks about how Level Sync works in later raids and dungeons * Brad talks about the most hardcore raid parties and how they literally schedule their lives around playing FFXIV raids * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more!

In this special bite-sized podcast, Cody sits down with Kim Hansen of Signl.fm to discuss her podcasting platform and share some fun stories from her background in the video game industry. Show Notes: * Cody thanks Buzzsprout for letting him use their equipment at Podcast Movement 2016 * Cody introduces Kim Hansen, CEO of Signl.fm, and she talks a bit about Signl.fm and its features (“Twitch for podcasting”) * Learn about how Signl.fm can help with podcast monetization, live streaming and listener engagement, transcription with IBM Watson, and more! * Kim also used to work for Bioware, and has some cool stories about her time working on Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 (in addition to some other cool games that weren’t necessarily ever released) * Fun fact: Mass Effect 2 had the fewest launch bugs of any Bioware property (at the time it was launched) * Kim also tells an awesome story about the Xbox achievements in the first Mass Effect game and helping gamers with strategy * Cody throws some shade at NPR for being ridiculously successful in the world of podcasting, as he learned during the week at Podcast Movement 2016 * Kim also discusses her role in developing the game Everlove: Rose, a narrative game of romance and mystery that was shockingly well-received, for a pretty entertaining reason * What was her favorite part of visiting Chicago? Tune in to find out! * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon and Cody discuss their Independence Day weekend, complete with illegal fireworks displays, The Book of Mormon, and the Guns N’ Roses “Not in This Lifetime…” tour. Plus, hear about a bizarre Anime called Belladonna of Sadness and a check-in with Summer Games Done Quick 2016. Show Notes: * Following a raucous Independence Day weekend, Jon and Cody reflect on their feelings about fireworks, which are strangely similar despite Jon being a cranky old man at this point in his life * Life Stuff * Cody saw The Book of Mormon in Chicago, and it was worth every penny * Cody also saw Guns N’ Roses perform at Soldier field on both Friday, July 1, and Sunday, July 3 * Oddities * Cody discusses Belladonna of Sadness, an obscure 1973 Anime with a highly sexual plot that he saw at the very hipster Music Box Theatre in Chicago * Jon discusses Summer Games Done Quick, a charity speedrunning marathon taking place July 3-9, 2016 * Cody will be attending Podcast Movement Chicago 2016, so keep an eye out for him! * Cody will also be co-hosting an upcoming episode of Game/Life Balance Australia, so be sure to follow that show for updates! * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Jon and Cody discuss the epic tale of the Mighty No. 9 launch, plus other Kickstarter projects they’ve backed in the past. Then, Cody launches into a tangent about the Tremors movie series, Jon talks about Father’s Day, and Cody shares some tips and tricks for booking international travel online. Show Notes: * Jon tells the sad tale of the Mighty No. 9 launch, which underwhelmed and under-delivered in more ways than thought possible * Cody shares his history backing video games on Kickstarter and why he doesn’t closely follow Kickstarter campaigns after he’s funded them (especially after the Mighty No. 9 launch going the way it did after so much hype) * Jon and Cody briefly discuss Exploding Kittens briefly, which is one of the most successful Kickstarter projects of all time * Somehow Cody gets on the topic of Tremors 5, a fifth movie in the Tremors film series that actually happened in 2015 * Cody refuses to let Jon change the subject, instead launching into a brief ranking of every Tremors film, which is relevant to roughly nobody * Life Stuff * Jon wishes himself and the hosts of Game/Life Balance Australia a Happy Father’s Day, then talks about how he ate ribs on Father’s Day like he does literally every year that he has ever recorded a podcast with Cody * In addition to patting himself on the back for being an awesome dad, Jon also tells yet another story of how his son is constantly trying to find ways of destroying himself, this time involving a hilarious habit with swimming pools * Cody saw Flight of the Conchords at Millennium Park, and literally refuses to believe that Jon has never heard of them, because that is a stupid thing for him to have never heard of * Jon received the most domestic male gift in history for Father’s Day * More Life Stuff * Cody explains his summer travel plans and what an airline means when it offers a “mystery deal,” which he actually did for the first time * The airline itinerary mystery deal Cody found on Kayak directed him to Vayama, which offered a full 100% refund if he canceled his transaction within one hour of booking his three flights… and it actually worked! * Naturally, Jon argues that Cody probably won’t get his money back, because he’s an awful person. The previous sentence can be read one of two ways, and either are probably accurate * In the end, Cody ended up booking his overseas flights on JustFly, which also had good customer service—so check it out! * Both Cody and Jon lament that they didn’t have a ton of adventures to recount on this episode, but preview an action-packed summer of podcasting coming soon * Cody tries to explain a very complicated but difficult to communicate joke between him and the hosts of Game/Life Balance Australia, which involves Costume Quest and gifting video games—leading, naturally, to another argument between him and Jon, whom he feels is just lying at this point (and please note that this sentence can also be read one of two ways) * Learn how to connect with us on the

Cody and Jon played a ton of board games at “Martin-Con” 2016 in Minneapolis, and they have a lot to say about them! Hear them delve into several board game reviews, then review X-Men: Apocalypse and talk a little Jessica Jones on Netflix. Show Notes: * Cody and Jon explain the legacy of “Martin-Con,” the annual tradition of Jon hosting their friends to play a bunch of board games, and how it has grown over the years * A serious discussion of “root brews,” involving mason jars, cans, pints, drafts, and obviously Cody not having literally any idea what he’s talking about (hear also something about blokes) * Cody pitches some ideas for growing Martin-Con in the future, regardless of how Jon feels about it * Cody attempts to open the next segment dramatically, and it goes hilarious wrong * Full Gamer * Board game reviews abound as Cody and Jon discuss several games they played! * Chaos in the Old World: Cody played this game last year, but Jon played it without him this year because he’s a jerk. It’s a good game for advanced gamers, and super fun! It’s also where Jon got his son’s former nickname * Avalon: A Werewolf-like game that Cody and Jon have played about a zillion times, which is extremely accessible to any group of people (Cody even played with his girlfriend’s family last year!) * Last Night On Earth: Jon insists that this game “can be fun,” and Cody completely disagrees. Cody compares it to Eldritch Horror in a way, which he says is a bad thing, while Jon compares it positively and claims it’s a good thing (Jon is obviously wrong) * Roll for the Galaxy: A game that Cody played and Jon didn’t, which means that of course Cody gives it an average review, since he’s super critical of every game ever in this podcast (and also probably not very good at them) * Sheriff of Nottingham: Neither Jon nor Cody actually played this game at Martin-Con, but Jon did “referee” the game and said that everyone had a ton of fun and that it’s super easy and accessible and fun * Citadels: Another game that both Cody and Jon played, it’s another really accessible game but has a deceptively deep strategy element; somehow, Cody won this game, so of course he highly recommends it for basically anyone (especially since it’s a pretty quick game) * Battlestar Galactica: The review of this game is extremely complicated, so you’ll just have to listen to hear what they have to say about it… and there is a lot to say! * Following their foray into board game reviews, Cody and Jon briefly talk X-Men: Apocalypse, which is a movie that they actually feel the same way about, both because of the flow of the film and because of the plot * Jon goes on a random tangent about Jessica Jones, which he saw about half of, and Cody briefly compares and contrasts the first season of both that and Daredevil on Netflix

Jon bares his soul in this riveting episode, featuring his first 5k (did an injury hold him back, or did he run through the burn?) and a terrifying story of parenting that a lot of parents should be able to relate to. Show Notes: * Life Stuff * Jon ran his first 5k—or did he? Hear his exciting tale of how it all went down * To “run through the burn,” or not to run through the burn? That is the everlasting question among athletes! * Joy of Parenting * Jon has a scary parenting story regarding childhood development, which is both educational and provides a rare serious side look at the hosts of Game/Life Balance U.S. (well, mostly Jon) * Cody is headed to Minneapolis for Martin Con this weekend, and really hopes that he and Jon get to stream live to Twitch.TV via Darrel TV * Cody is hype about going to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this week * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Why is there so much hate surrounding the new Ghostbusters movie, despite the fact that only one trailer has been released? Jon discusses the dark psychology of the Internet, and Cody plays devil’s advocate when it comes to maintaining the integrity of storied franchises. It’s a back-and-forth discussion you won’t want to miss! Show Notes: * Cody talks about the format of Game/Life Balance Australia, plus why they are kind of stealing their format, and also talks about fire tornadoes * Cody and Jon had a fascinating discussion over Google Hangouts regarding the new Ghostbusters film, and launch into a podcast about it with a quote from Jon * Current News * Jon argues that people online are too hyperbolic to have any meaningful discussion * Cody defends people who defend a franchise’s integrity, and how that applies to old Ghostbusters versus new Ghostbusters * Jon asserts that original works can’t “become worse” because a sequel or additional intellectual property in a series is released that is worse * Cody brings Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Indiana Jones, The Matrix, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and other storied franchises into the discussion * The overall quality of certain properties, such as Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, or Lost, can in fact lower the overall perception of something, Cody argues * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com

Budweiser wants to change its name for the summer, and Jon thinks it is utterly ridiculous. Then, learn why Cody has Star Fox Zero commitment anxiety following his triumph over The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. Plus: Jon’s big birthday was so big, he literally forgets how old he is, and Cody does a quick hit on Captain America: Civil War. Show Notes: * This summer, for a limited time, Budweiser wants to change the name of its beer to… “America” * Cody and Jon search for various things on Google, including what you get when you mix a beer with orange juice, plus the top search results for both America and Europe * Balancing Act * Cody beat The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, talks a little bit about the gameplay and how much he enjoys playing games at 60 frames per second * The first 3 dungeons in the game are great, and then the game opens up to a ridiculous amount… but then there isn’t much left in the last half of the game, at least according to Cody * He discusses how he wrestled with “wanting” to actually play the game versus just wanting to finish it, and how much his sense of accomplishment has actually prevented him from playing Star Fox Zero, which he got the day it was released * Shockingly, Jon sympathizes with Cody’s commitment anxiety over starting to play new video games, and explains that’s why he’s replaying through Final Fantasy XIII right now * Jon explains that time is a precious commodity, and Cody explains how that translates to committing to video games, movies, TV shows, or really anything else, even if it’s purely “entertainment” * Life Stuff * It was Jon’s birthday this week, and he insists that he’s so old, he literally doesn’t know how old he is * He also set up his garden and got really hype about a rototiller, further proving that Jonathan is in fact a 60-year-old man * He also set up the 3 season porch with a TV, both making the room legitimate and forcing him to explain to Cody the concept of a 3 season porch * Cody describes the smell and chill of death emanating from Trump Tower in Chicago * Jon ruins Cody’s life by telling him that Axl Rose is on Twitter, which can’t possibly be true, for the love of all that is holy * Current News * Cody saw Captain America: Civil War, and explains why it was awesome * Jon apparently is lactose intolerant, so Cody gives him a detailed quiz on milkshakes * Fun fact: strawberry milk is a thing that exists! Hear how it is definitely made and definitely not kidding about that * Learn how to connect with us on the GonnaGeek Network, syndication on WGN Plus, our YouTube channel, and more! * Podcast theme song intro/outro credit: ‘Subterranean Kamikaze‘ by Sixto Sounds,zircon, via OverClocked ReMix (http://ocremix.org) * Game/Life Balance AUS official web site: http://www.gamelifebalanceaustralia.com