Gametalk

Episode 176 Concord, the latest GAAS multiplayer offering from PlayStation, has crashed and burned. Today, we discuss this historic failure from multiple angles: What does this failure mean for Firewalk Studios? How should Sony shift their first party strategy? Can Concord potentially return one day? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Super Mario Eclipse, Black Myth: Wukong, Tactical Breach Wizards). This episode was recorded in September 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Analyzing Concord's Failure and Sony's First Party Strategy 33:20 - Anticipating Astro Bot 39:28 - Super Mario Eclipse 48:09 - Black Myth: Wukong 59:37 - Tactical Breach Wizards

Episode 175 The Nintendo 64 is one of the consoles we grew up on, and as such we have a lot of love for that weird little machine. Today, we each go through our top 5 Nintendo 64 games and share anecdotes from our respective childhoods. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Abiotic Factor). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Nintendo 64 Preamble 7:01 - Donkey Kong 64 13:06 - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 17:45 - Diddy Kong Racing 22:04 - Super Mario 64 31:20 - Mario Kart 64 37:22 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 46:11 - Pokémon Stadium 52:05 - Star Fox 64 57:11 - Banjo Tooie 1:06:24 - Paper Mario 1:13:23 - Beetle Adventure Racing 1:16:08 - Honorable Mentions 1:23:42 - Banjo Kazooie 1:30:29 - Ocarina of Time Deep Dive 1:42:25 - Turok 2: Seeds of Evil 1:47:20 - Abiotic Factor

Episode 174 "Gaming isn't fun anymore" - this is a phrase uttered frequently by lapsed or more casual gamers. Today, we delve into what this sentiment means and discuss whether or not it rings true. We then plunge into a lengthy, thorough debate about the quality (or lack thereof) of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Slay The Spire, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Dissecting "Why Gaming Isn't Fun Anymore" 12:56 - How Nostalgia and Community Color Public Opinion 24:43 - Ocarina of Time vs Breath of the Wild and Learning to Love Games Again 29:29 - Slay The Spire 40:23 - Revisiting Tears of the Kingdom

Episode 173 Streaming has become one of the dominant forms of games content consumption, and as such has become a significant part of our lives. Today, we talk about the streamers we watch and dive into the challenges of streaming and content creation. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Slay The Spire, Warframe). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Streams and Streamers 16:12 - Northernlion, Dan Gheesling, and Other Streamers We Watch 32:14 - Mike's Perspective as a Streamer and Content Creation 46:54 - Trailers for Monster Hunter and Dragon Ball 49:10 - Slay The Spire and the PlayStation Portal 57:34 - Warframe

Episode 172 It has been over two years since Sony purchased Bungie for 3.6 billion dollars in an effort to bolster its live-service efforts, and the results have been...less than stellar. Now in the wake of mass layoffs, we take stock of where Bungie is as a studio and discuss why their crown jewel, Destiny, has lost much of its luster. We also discuss Bungie's now-uncertain future, and how Marathon may hold the key to their survival. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (A Plumber For All Seasons, Linkito, Super Mario Odyssey). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Bungie Downsizing and The Current State of Destiny 7:58 - The Acquisition 13:20 - Marathon and Sony's Ill-Advised Pivot 20:26 - Bungie and Destiny's Uncertain Future 33:14 - Bungie's New Splinter Studio and Bloated AAA Dev Times 38:52 - A Plumber For All Seasons 42:55 - Linkito 48:26 - Revisiting Super Mario Odyssey

Episode 171 As of July 29, 2024, the Xbox 360 marketplace has shut down, marking the end of a historic run in the console space. Now at the end of the 360 marketplace's near-twenty year run, we look back fondly on our memories of the 360 and discuss some of the games that shaped our teenage years. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (No Man's Sky, Cataclismo, Mario Tennis). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - 360 Memories, Offline Consoles, Xbox Live 24:10 - Graphics, Kinect, 360 Hardware, Game Shoutouts 43:21 - No Man's Sky 46:09 - Cataclismo 49:18 - Mario Tennis 56:43 - The Controller Debate

Episode 170 Though not our platform of choice, mobile gaming is far and away the largest sector of the games industry. Today, we discuss the current state of mobile gaming, the economics of mobile games in contrast to the rest of the industry, and the future of gaming on mobile devices. As always we conclude with the games we're playing (EA Sports College Football 25, No Man's Sky, Slay The Spire, FIFA 22). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Mobile Gaming in 2024 and AAA Games on iPhone 20:28 - The Economics of Mobile Gaming vs The Rest of the Industry 32:04 - Microtransaction Practices Popularized By Mobile 45:20 - Netflix and Mobile Games 53:37 - Skibidi Tangent 57:11 - EA Sports College Football 25 1:08:04 - No Man's Sky 1:10:28 - Slay The Spire 1:16:10 - FIFA 22 1:19:51 - PICO-8 Fantasy Console

Episode 169 Microsoft has announced a slew of changes for Xbox Game Pass, including a price increase and changes to their day-one offerings. In today's episode, we do a deep dive into Xbox Game Pass and its value, and discuss Microsoft's ever-evolving strategy for the service. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Elden Ring, Teardown). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Gamepass Deep Dive and Price Increase Analysis 25:03 - Lack of PC Parity for Gamepass Games and the Future of Gamepass 36:10 - Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree 45:12 - Teardown 47:00 - Game Development and Learning to Draw

Episode 168 With the year (somehow) already over halfway over, we reflect back on the big games of 2024 and talk about what excites us in the latter half of the year. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Myst, Noita, Elden Ring). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok Timestamps: 0:00 - Notable Games of 2024 So Far 18:55 - 2024 Casualties 23:40 - Looking Ahead to the Rest of 2024 36:32 - Myst 43:57 - Noita 50:04 - Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree

Episode 167 Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree is finally out, and once again developer From Software shows everyone that they are in a league of their own. Today we discuss the masterful DLC - we talk spoiler-free impressions, our characters' journeys to the DLC, and spoilers up to where we currently are in the game. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (X4: Foundations). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Shadow of the Erdtree Initial Impressions (Spoiler-Free) 6:39 - Journey to the Shadow Realm 17:02 - Controversy Surrounding the DLC 23:40 - Shadow of the Erdtree Discussion (SPOILERS) 54:11 - X4: Foundations 58:25 - Testing FSR 3.1

Episode 166 Summer games season comes to a strong close with Nintendo's (presumably) last Switch-centric Nintendo Direct - and they certainly close things out on a high note. From Zelda to Metroid to Mario & Luigi to Dragon Quest, there seems to be something for just about everyone in this packed games showcase. In today's episode, we discuss all the games shown at the Nintendo Direct. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Linkito, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak). This episode was recorded in June 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok Timestamps: 0:00 - Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Nintendo World Championships NES Edition, Fairy Tail 2, Fantasia Neo Dimension 6:22 - Nintendo Switch Sports Basketball, Neo Memories in Orbit, Disney Illusion Island, Hello Kitty Island Adventure 11:45 - Looney Tunes Wacky World of Sports, Among Us, Farmagia, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD 21:24 - Dragon Quest III HD 2D, Funko Fusion 30:57 - Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, The New Denpa Men, Metal Slug Attack Reloaded, Darkest Dungeon II 39:02 - Nintendo Switch Online Update, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Super Mario Party Jamboree 45:01 - The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Just Dance 2025, Lego Horizon Adventures, Stray 51:17 - Tales of the Shire, Ace Attourney Investigations Collection, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven 55:52 - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Final Nintendo Direct Thoughts 1:04:13 - Linkito and Next Fest June 2024 Games 1:08:52 - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Shadow of the Erdtree Hype

Episode 165 June is always a festive month for games announcements, and this year is no different. Today, we discuss Summer Games Fest 2024 and Ubisoft Forward, and offer our impressions on all the games shown. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Civilization VI, Monster Hunter Rise). This episode was recorded in June 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - LEGO Horizon Adventures, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, Cuffbust, No More Room In Hell 2 8:53 - Civilization VII 15:07 - DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO 21:03 - Batman: Arkham Shadow, Monster Hunter Wilds, Metaphor: ReFantazio 29:47 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind, Phantom Blade Zero, The Fist Descendant, Slitterhead, Skate 36:09 - Dune: Awakening, Cairn, Wanderstop, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Palworld 47:33 - Neva, Black Myth: Wukong, Killer Bean, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and Final SGF Thoughts 55:41 - Star Wars Outlaws, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, Assassin's Creed Shadows 1:04:11 - Everything Else at Ubisoft Forward 1:13:52 - Civilization VI 1:20:58 - Monster Hunter Rise

Episode 164 In the midst of the summer games frenzy, Xbox delivers what could be their most impressive showcase ever. Today, we discuss this historic Xbox showcase and all of the games that were shown. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Enshrouded, Alan Wake 2: Night Springs). This episode was recorded in June 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Overall Impressions of The Xbox Showcase 3:46 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Doom: The Dark Ages 12:52 - State of Decay 3, Dragon Age: The The Veilguard 23:09 - Starfield: Shattered Space, Fallout 76: Skyline Valley, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 30:20 - South of Midnight, World of Warcraft: The War Within 35:02 - Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Sea of Thieves, Flintock: The Siege of Dawn, Age of Mythology: Retold 40:07 - Perfect Dark, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, Fable 48:13 - Fragpunk, Winter Burrow, Mixtape, Microsoft Flight Simulator 52:25 - Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle 59:41 - Mecha Break, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Avowed, Atomfall, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl 1:05:26 - Gears of War: E-Day and Final Thoughts on Xbox 1:11:24 - Enshrouded 1:16:19 - Alan Wake 2: Night Springs

Episode 163 Summer is just around the corner, and that means "E3" season is here! While E3 may be gone, the Summer Games Fest lives as its spiritual successor; and Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have games to show as well. In today's episode, we discuss last week's PlayStation State of Play and make predictions for the upcoming Nintendo, Microsoft, and Summer Games Fest showcases! As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter Rise, Assassin's Creed III, Destiny 2). This episode was recorded in June 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Concord First Gameplay Trailer 6:27 - God of War Ragnarok PC and FSR 3.1 12:46 - Discussing State of Play Games 28:26 - Monster Hunter Wilds First Gameplay Trailer 36:31 - Astro Bot Announced 45:43 - Xbox Showcase Predictions 56:37 - Nintendo Showcase Predictions 1:04:19 - Summer Games Fest 2024 Predictions 1:13:13 - Monster Hunter Rise 1:18:47 - Assassin's Creed III 1:29:04 - Destiny 2

Episode 162 Game design is challenging, doubly so when designing a game for both casual and competitive play. Today, we discuss games that balance both competitive and casual play, our experiences with competitive games, and how we think the player bases of these games impact design decisions. We also give our thoughts on the newly released Hellblade II, and what its release could mean for Microsoft and Ninja Theory. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Competitive vs Casual Game Design 18:09 - Balancing PVE and PVP 23:13 - Our Experiences With Competitive Gaming 29:58 - Speedrunning 34:05 - Balancing High-Level and Low-Level Play 41:44 - Senua's Saga: Hellblade II 1:09:27 - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 1:23:43 - Assassin's Creed Odyssey 1:36:02 - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Episode 161 As we get older, retro games are something we grow increasingly fond of. But is it entirely due to nostalgia, or do retro games still have merits when compared to modern releases? Today, we discuss our love of retro games, and what goes into collecting and playing older titles. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (TerraTech, Hades). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Retro Gaming 16:46 - Retro Artstyles 25:49 - Retro Hardware, Collecting Games, and Emulation 31:59 - Preservation Issues with Modern Games 37:03 - Retro Games and Things Modern Games Lack 55:26 - TerraTech 1:01:00 - Hades

Episode 160 Developing a full game solo is a herculean feat of engineering and artistry. Today, we discuss notable games that were developed by one person and what goes into creating a game alone. We also talk about the newly released Animal Well at length, in both spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (V Rising, Animal Well). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Games Developed By One Person 22:32 - Marketing Small Games and Animal Well Pre-release Talk 29:40 - V Rising 33:53 - Animal Well Spoiler-free Impressions 50:11 - SPOILERS - Animal Well Deep Dive 1:16:50 - Concluding Thoughts on Animal Well (Light Spoilers)

Episode 159 In a one-two punch of terrible first party news, today we discuss both the baffling choice by Sony to require a PSN account on PC to play Helldivers II and the heartbreakingly infuriating decision Microsoft made to close four of its first party studios. In the wake of workforce reductions and studios shuttering, we observe the landscape of the present Xbox ecosystem - and it is not a pretty picture. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Dave the Diver, Sea of Thieves, Songs of Syx). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok Timestamps: 0:00 - Sony and the Helldivers II PC Situation 21:24 - Tangent on Nintendo's Success and Helldivers Controversy Aftermath 25:06 - Microsoft Studio Closures and Future Outlook 45:35 - Xbox Leadership on Studio Closures 52:39 - Dave the Diver 58:14 - Sea of Thieves 1:02:21 - Songs of Syx 1:06:15 - Briefly Discussing Hades II, Stellar Blade, Monster Hunter World, and Fallout 4

Episode 158 Fallout is out now on Amazon Prime Video, and it's a bonafide hit! Today, we talk about the show in spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts, and discuss how the success of the show could impact Bethesda's plans. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, RimWorld, Dave the Diver). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram or Twitter, or @gametalk on TikTok Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Fallout Impressions (Spoiler-Free) 20:08 - Our History With Fallout Games 23:44 - Bethesda in a Post-Fallout Show World 32:30 - SPOILERS - Our Thoughts on Fallout Season 1 1:03:09 - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne 1:08:29 - RimWorld 1:16:38 - Dave the Diver

Episode 157 Ahmed and Connor have returned from Italy, and travel is on their minds. Today, we discuss video game settings that are inspired by real-life locations and talk about games that capture a sense of wanderlust. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Slay The Spire, Monster Hunter World, Lil Gator Game). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Visiting Real Locations Depicted in Games 15:43 - Popular Locations Adapted in Games 26:46 - Assassin's Creed and Historical Locations 30:28 - Ahmed and Connor's Italy Anecdote 34:17 - Uncharted and Wanderlust / Idealized Places 42:15 - Sucker Punch and Other Sony Studios Tangent 49:58 - Slay The Spire 56:55 - Monster Hunter World 1:02:22 - Lil Gator Game

Episode 156 When a game series is around for a while, eventually the identity of the series will begin to mean different things to different people. Today, we discuss games that divide fanbases and what the merits of each series pre and post divide are. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter World, Minecraft, Ultros). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Pre vs Post Breath of the Wild Zelda 8:41 - Portable vs Mainline Monster Hunter 13:11 - The Split Fanbase Between The Last of Us Part I and II 17:30 - Old vs New Fortnite 23:41 - Smash Melee vs Smash Ultimate and Fighting Games 30:56 - Pre vs Post Elden Ring Soulslike Games 35:40 - Distinct Final Fantasy Fanbases and Other Split Fanbases 42:28 - Monster Hunter World 54:17 - Minecraft 1:02:25 - Ultros

Episode 155 Video games have produced countless iconic and memorable characters over the decades. Today, we reflect on what makes a character iconic, and which ones we think stand the test of time. We also review the results of the recently conducted BAFTA poll naming the top 20 most iconic gaming characters of all time. We end the show by shouting out a couple of our favorite games (Stardew Valley, Mass Effect Trilogy). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Some of Our Most Iconic Gaming Characters 13:14 - Discussing the BAFTA List of Most Iconic Characters 41:12 - Discussing Notable Omissions / Final Thoughts on Iconic Characters 45:13 - Stardew Valley 51:04 - Mass Effect Trilogy

Episode 154 Mike has returned from PAX East, and he has many stories to tell! Today, we talk to Mike about some of the new games he played, the developers he spoke to, and the events he attended. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Sea of Thieves, Dragon's Dogma 2). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Mike's PAX East Adventure 22:51 - PAX Tekken 8 Tournament and The Fighting Game Community 34:30 - PAX Final Thoughts and The Gaming Community 48:58 - Sea of Thieves 57:00 - Dragon's Dogma 2

Episode 153 As game development takes longer and costs more, remakes and remasters of older titles have become commonplace. Today, we talk about some of our favorite remakes and remasters, how the industry handles these games, and whether or not certain game remakes are warranted. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Rise of the Rōnin, Sea of Thieves, Disco Elysium). This episode was recorded in March 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram or Twitter, or @gametalk on TikTok Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Thoughts on Remasters and Remakes 9:23 - Notable Nintendo Remasters and Remakes 16:17 - Notable PlayStation Remasters and Remakes 21:08 - Our Favorite and Least Favorite Remakes 29:18 - Remakes That Don't Need to Exist 32:33 - Final Fantasy VII and PC Game Remakes 37:16 - Halo Master Chief Collection, Monster Hunter, and Other Notable Remakes 45:44 - Rise of the Rōnin 1:05:33 - Sea of Thieves 1:24:44 - Disco Elysium

Episode 152 The specs for the PlayStation 5 Pro have leaked, and they paint a picture of high resolutions and framerates via Sony's proprietary upscaling solution, PSSR. But do we need a PlayStation 5 Pro? Today, we discuss the Pro specs and the technology behind them, and talk about historical mid-gen refreshes and they impact they have. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Helldivers 2, Balatro, Baldur's Gate 3). This episode was recorded in March 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - The PS5 Pro Specs and PSSR 12:27 - 8K and Upscaling Tech 29:32 - Historical and Modern Pro Consoles 51:07 - Helldivers 2 53:06 - Balatro 1:00:19 - Baldur's Gate 3

Episode 151 In today's somewhat somber episode, we take a step back and reflect on the Rooster Teeth shutdown and the death of the legendary Akira Toriyama. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Balatro, Infinite Craft, Persona 3 Reload). This episode was recorded in March 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Reflecting on Rooster Teeth's Shutdown 27:14 - Processing Toriyama's Death 44:45 - Balatro 1:02:21 - Infinite Craft 1:05:15 - Persona 3 Reload

Episode 150 As long as the games industry has been around, various moral panics have cropped up around certain games and sparked public outcry. Games like Grand Theft Auto, Mass Effect, and more have drawn unwarranted suspicion for their controversial content. Today, we talk about games that have stirred controversy over the years and why those opinions are almost always misguided. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Resident Evil 2 Remake, Human Fall Flat, Timberborn). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Examples of Games that Caused a 'Moral Panic' 22:45 - Growing Up with Parents That Don't Understand Games 41:05 - Controversial Material in Games and How The Kids and Parents Handle It 52:35 - Resident Evil 2 (Remake) 58:48 - Human Fall Flat 1:01:53 - Timberborn

Episode 149 Sony has laid off around 900 PlayStation employees, or roughly 10% of their workforce. This is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending bombardment of workforce reductions in triple-A game studios. Industry experts have long-warned of the unsustainability of the triple-A games space, and it seems as though the bubble is in the midst of bursting. Today, we discuss the PlayStation layoffs and what they portend for the triple-A games industry as we know it. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Persona 3 Reload, A Little to the Left, Helldivers 2). This episode was recorded in February 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - PlayStation Layoffs 15:09 - Triple-A Fallout and Ballooning Budgets 22:47 - Yearning For Old PlayStation 28:03 - Sacrifices for Sustainable AAA Games 41:25 - Industry-Wide Layoffs and AAA Limitations 49:45 - Persona 3 Reload 53:53 - A Little to the Left 56:56 - Helldivers 2

Episode 148 Helldivers 2 has come out and conquered the gaming world - with its frenetic (and hilarious) co-op action, the game has gone viral and its popularity continues to climb. In today's episode, we discuss the game and why it works so well, and what its successful launch could mean for Sony's future first party plans. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Remnant 2). This episode was recorded in February 2024. The music in this episode is from Helldivers 2 (created by Arrowhead Game Studios) and is owned by Sony, and was composed and produced by Wilbert Roget, II. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Helldivers 2 Impressions 11:52 - Discussing Helldivers 2 Gameplay and Design 28:00 - The Future of Helldivers 2 34:28 - Sony's Strategy and Helldivers' Success 48:48 - PlayStation VR Tangent and Evolving 1st Party Strategy 56:02 - Final Thoughts on Helldivers 2 and Upcoming Games 1:01:45 - Remnant 2

Episode 147 After a week of frenzy and anticipation, Microsoft finally comes forward with their plans for the future of Xbox - and while their brief announcement threw cold water on the ongoing discussion, this week we talk about what Phil and co. said (and didn't say), and analyze Xbox's position going forward. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Red Dead Redemption 2, Tale of Two Wastelands, Persona 3 Reload). This episode was recorded in February 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Microsoft Porting Four Games to Other Consoles 8:36 - Microsoft, PlayStation, and Nintendo's Long Term Monetization Strategy 12:56 - Activision Blizzard Games On Gamepass 16:47 - Layoffs and Sustainability 23:30 - Xbox Teasing Next Gen and PlayStation Strategy 29:25 - Final Thoughts on the Announcement 32:50 - Red Dead Redemption 2 40:55 - Tale of Two Wastelands 42:07 - Persona 3 Reload

Episode 146 Ahead of a major business announcement next week, we discuss the rumors surrounding Microsoft's potentially historic third party strategy, and what that could mean for the Xbox brand as well as the impact around the wider industry. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Sea of Thieves, Persona 3 Reload, Warframe, Fortnite). This episode was recorded in February 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Microsoft Potentially Going Third Party 15:38 - The Future of Xbox Hardware and Gamepass 24:45 - Valve Console Discussion 33:33 - The Hypothetical Xbox Software Future 48:19 - Sea of Thieves 50:49 - Persona 3 Reload 1:08:09 - Warframe 1:11:12 - Fortnite

Episode 145 In today's episode, we predict the shape of the games industry in 2024. Early signs are showing a scramble for maximum profits, with studios resorting to layoffs, consolidation, and AI to reach their goals. Conversely, we predict a strong year for VR and Nintendo, as they pursue their financial ambitions in more palatable ways. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (The Quarry, Half-Life: Alyx, Volcanoids, NomaiVR). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Live Service Reckoning and Layoffs 18:16 - Continuing Consolidation 27:05 - Nintendo Switch 2 Speculation 40:11 - Game of the Year 2024 43:20 - AI In Games 1:00:43 - VR and 1st Party Predictions 1:13:40 - The Quarry 1:18:27 - Half-Life: Alyx 1:23:00 - Volcanoids 1:28:19 - NomaiVR

Episode 144 In today's episode, we talk about Palworld! As always, we end with the games we're playing (The Finals). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Palworld Impressions 9:52 - Palword Reception and Development/Design 16:14 - Our Experiences With Palworld 23:15 - Palworld vs Pokémon 40:00 - Palworld's Weird Tone 46:50 - Palworld's Future 51:14 - Yakuza/Like a Dragon Tangent 55:13 - Palword Final Thoughts and Pokémon Mod 1:01:48 - The Finals

Episode 143 In today's episode, we give our impressions on the Meta Quest 3, discuss the overall VR landscape, and talk about where the games industry is at with respect to VR adoption. As always, we end with the games we're playing (The Light Brigade, Asgard's Wrath 2, Vampire Survivors, Nintendo 64 games). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Meta Quest 3 Overview and Other Modern VR Hardware 38:37 - Modern VR Games and The State of the VR Industry 1:02:31 - The Ideal VR Headset and VR Mods 1:20:10 - The Light Brigade 1:24:35 - Asgard's Wrath 2 1:34:12 - Vampire Survivors 1:40:27 - Nintendo 64 Games

Episode 142 In today's episode, we discuss the ransomware attack on Insomniac and the resulting industry details and future Insomniac project timelines that were leaked. As part of the leak, we also talk about sales figures for Sony's 1st party games in the PS4 and PS5 era, and what those numbers mean for Sony's present position in the industry. As always, we end with the games we're playing (God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro on The Insomniac Attack and Leak 3:17 - Leaked Wolverine Footage 6:15 - Insomniac's Next 10 Years of Games 37:02 - Spider-Man, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn Sales and Discussion 43:30 - Uncharted 4 Sales and Future Discussion 48:18 - The Last of Us Sales and Discussion 51:41 - Gran Turismo Sport, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, Bloodborne Sales and Discussion 56:43 - Days Gone, Ratchet and Clank Sales and Discussion 1:01:48 - God of War 3 Remastered, LittleBigPlanet 3, Detroit: Become Human Sales and Discussion 1:05:51 - Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, inFamous: Second Son, Driveclub, Death Stranding, Until Dawwn Sales and Discussion 1:10:55 - Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, Demon's Souls Remake, Sackboy: A Big Adventure Sales and Discussion 1:15:39 - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, MLB The Show, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, Returnal, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, Death Stranding Director's Cut Sales and Discussion 1:18:41 - PlayStation on PC Sales 1:31:49 - Sony's Reaction to Microsoft Buying Activision 1:38:43 - Sony's Ballooning Game Costs 1:46:44 - God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla

Episode 141 In today's episode, we determine Gametalk's game of the year for 2023! As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (In A Dark Cave, Lethal Company). This episode was recorded in December 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Check out Connor's new game here! https://proudmomgames.itch.io/in-a-dark-cave Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Tears of the Kingdom / Cocoon 5:55 - Armored Core 6 / Super Mario Wonder 19:00 - Alan Wake 2 / Spider-Man 2 25:14 - Diablo IV / Pikmin 4 41:12 - Hi-Fi Rush / Starfield 50:58 - Street Fighter / Hogwarts Legacy 54:47 - Shadows of Doubt / Dave the Diver 58:20 - Baldur's Gate 3 / Wo Long Fallen Dynasty 1:02:59 - Quarterfinals 1:08:20 - Semifinals 1:19:54 - Finals - Gametalk's Game of the Year 2023 1:46:23 - In A Dark Cave 1:54:09 - Lethal Company

Episode 140 In today's episode, we pit consoles throughout the ages against each other to see what comes out on top as Gametalk's favorite console! As always, we end with the games we're playing (Pikmin 4, PowerWash Simulator, Diablo IV). This episode was recorded in July 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Round 1 20:15 - Round 2 54:53 - Quarterfinals 1:03:14 - Semifinals 1:11:10 - Finals 1:30:11 - Pikmin 4 1:41:54 - PowerWash Simulator 1:44:20 - Diablo IV

Episode 139 In today's episode, we discuss The Game Awards 2023! As always, we end with the games we're playing (Analogue Pocket GameBoy games, Super Mario RPG, PlayStation Portal). This episode was recorded in December 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Game Awards 2023 Critiques 17:52 - Game Awards 2023 Winners 35:35 - Game Awards 2023 Announcements 1:05:17 - Analogue Pocket 1:17:07 - Super Mario RPG 1:23:00 - PlayStation Portal

Episode 138 In today's episode, we analyze the nominees for The Game Awards 2023 and give our predictions! As always, we end with the games we're playing (Dota 2, Alan Wake 2, Pokémon Emerald, Party Animals). This episode was recorded in November 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro Banter and Reveal Predictions 3:26 - Predicting The Winners for Various Categories 1:02:59 - Predicting The Game Award's Game of the Year 2023 1:14:48 - Dota 2 and The Best eSports Award 1:22:06 - Alan Wake 2 1:32:03 - Pokémon Emerald 1:37:38 - Party Animals 1:39:11 - Closing Banter

Episode 137 In today's episode, we pit controllers throughout the ages against each other in a tournament-style bracket to crown Gametalk's all-time favorite controller. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Sonic Frontiers, Assassin's Creed Mirage). This episode was recorded in October 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Round 1 58:18 - Round 2 1:11:59 - Quarterfinals 1:20:53 - Semifinals 1:24:28 - Finals 1:34:18 - Sonic Frontiers 1:36:18 - Assassin's Creed Mirage 1:47:04 - Parting Conversation

Episode 136 In today's episode, we talk about October's two biggest releases: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder! As always we conclude with games that we're playing (Cities: Skylines II, Diablo IV). This episode was recorded in October 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Introductory Reflections 2:25 - Thoughts on Spider-Man 2 43:27 - Thoughts on Super Mario Bros. Wonder 1:15:07 - Life Musings and Inital Cities: Skylines II Impressions 1:21:27 - Diablo IV Season 2

Episode 135 In today's episode, we talk about our favorite bossfights (among several other tangents), and excitedly anticipate Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Wonder. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Cocoon, Forza Motorsport, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim). This episode was recorded in October 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Upcoming Games, BandCamp, and Microsoft/Activision 4:36 - Spider-Man 2 Reviews and Reflecting on the Batman Arkham Games 6:56 - Opinions On Bossfights, Challenging Bossfights vs Spectacle Bossfights 16:16 - Metal Gear, Zelda, God of War, Armored Core, QTEs, Ace Combat, Star Fox, Pikmin 27:34 - FromSoft Bosses, Bethesda Bosses, Megaman, Hollow Knight 30:09 - Optional Bosses, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Destiny, Deep Rock Galactic, Monster Hunter 37:32 - Surprise Bossfights, Spider-Man 2 Preview, Devil May Cry, Shadow of the Colossus, Roguelikes, Final Shoutouts 49:53 - Cocoon 54:05 - Forza Motorsport 56:29 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 58:37 - Anticipating Spider-Man 2 1:01:08 - Resolution Discussion 1:04:35 - Anticipating Super Mario Wonder

Episode 134 In today's episode, we talk about video game redemption stories. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Cyberpunk 2077, Pokémon FireRed). This episode was recorded in October 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Hello Games / No Man's Sky Redemption 12:21 - CD Projekt RED / Cyberpunk 2077 Redemption 21:23 - Games With Gradual Downfalls 32:27 - Final Fantasy XIV 35:29 - Games That Got Better With Age 46:49 - Cyberpunk 2077 1:02:14 - Update on Ahmed's PC 1:04:17 - Pokémon FireRed

Episode 133 In today's episode, we talk about the long anticipated Starfield! We also discuss Unity's (terrible) new business practices. This episode was recorded in September 2023. The music in this episode was composed by Inon Zur and is from Starfield (2023) published by Bethesda Softworks. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Starfield Deep Dive 57:48 - Tangent Discussing PlayStation and Other Games 1:04:40 - Unity's Terrible New Policies 1:12:30 - Starfield DLSS and FSR 1:20:17 - Starfield Final Thoughts

Episode 132 In today's episode, we talk about Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon! As always, we end with the games we're playing ("Better Than Adventure" Minecraft). This episode was recorded in September 2023. The music in this episode was composed by Kota Hoshino and Takashi Onodera, and belongs to ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. /©FromSoftware, Inc. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Armored Core VI Deep Dive 1:04:43 - One Piece Live Action Tangent 1:08:46 - Better Than Adventure Minecraft

Episode 131 In today's episode, we talk about the FTC Microsoft leaks. We also briefly discuss the Nintendo Direct and State of Play. As always, we end by talking about what we're playing (Dave the Diver, The Quarry). This episode was recorded in September 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Microsoft's Desire to Purchase Nintendo and Valve 11:02 - Next Gen Xbox Rumors and Cloud Discussion 15:47 - GamePass Leaks and GTA Tangent 21:12 - Xbox Mid-Gen Refresh and Streaming Discussion 30:39 - Discs and Game Preservation 40:39 - Mid-Gen Xbox Controller 43:46 - Bethesda Leaks 47:24 - Nintendo Direct September 2023 52:00 - State of Play September 2023 56:39 - Dave the Diver 58:35 - Ahmed's New CPU 1:02:46 - The Quarry

Episode 130 In today's episode, we talk about Baldur's Gate 3. This episode was recorded in August 2023. Music is composed by Borislav Slavov and is from Baldur's Gate 3, and is owned by Larian Studios. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Overall Thoughts 15:43 - Our Characters and Party 23:13 - How We Tackled 'The Grove' in Act I and Other Stories 31:51 - Performance on PC 36:23 - Critical Acclaim and Final Thoughts 43:03 - Anticipation for Upcoming 2023 Games

Episode 129 In today's episode, we talk about Summer Games Fest 2023 and major announcements from PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox. We then talk about the completion of the Activision deal and what it could mean for the industry, and discuss some of the leaks that dropped around the deal and what insights they provide into the AAA space. As always, we end the show with what we're playing (Pikmin 1 + 2, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Diablo IV, Dredge, Starship Troopers: Extermination, Redout 2). This episode was recorded in July 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Sony Summer 2023 12:19 - Nintendo Summer 2023 20:53 - Xbox Summer 2023 32:35 - The Activision Deal and its Ramifications 41:12 - AAA Game Budget Debate 53:20 - Microsoft Leaks and Gamepass 1:03:03 - Pikmin 1 + 2 1:07:15 - Pikmin 3 Deluxe 1:09:36 - Diablo IV 1:18:42 - Dredge 1:21:25 - Starship Troopers: Extermination 1:23:30 - Redout 2

Episode 128 We're back from our multi-month hiatus! Today, we discuss our (relatively spoiler-free) thoughts on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This episode was recorded in May 2023. All music in this episode was created and is owned by Nintendo. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Episode 127 In today's episode, we revisit older episodes where we discuss The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as we anticipate its release. At the end, we discuss the latest trailer and our final feelings as we come up to the release date. This episode was recorded in May 2023, three days before the release of the game. All music in this episode was created and is owned by Nintendo. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 00:30 - ToTK Clip #1 (E3 2021 Recap) 13:18 - ToTK Clip #2 (Switch Surprises and eShop Shutdowns) 15:23 - ToTK Clip #3 (Rockstar Ransacked and the Spectacular Steam Deck) 23:36 - ToTK Clip #4 (Chasing New Horizons - The State of Gaming in Early 2023) 28:51 - Final Thoughts

Episode 126 In today's episode, we talk about play times and our most played games. As always, we end the show with what we're playing (Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Medieval MC, Roboquest). This episode was recorded in March 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Our Most Played Games 29:01 - Our Ideal Play Times 49:19 - Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty 1:04:34 - Medieval MC 1:08:47 - Roboquest