Podtoid

Well, here we are. Two and a half years ago, I got the crazy idea to bring back Podtoid after Steven Hansen left us to go join the Red Army. It would be a lot of work and I wasn't even sure it would be good or not. But I got Chris Moyse, Dan Roemer, and Occams to sign on, helping me revive the show nearly two years ago to the day. The first show wasn't so hot, but we got better, added Charlotte to the cast, and figured out a way to create some truly wonderful episodes in the weeks and months that followed. As much as I've enjoyed the past two years, all good things must come to an end and today, this version of Podtoid takes its last bow before exiting stage right. On the show, the whole crew is here to look back at the great things from 2020 and some of the not-so-great things as well. We talk games, movies, books, and more as we say goodbye to this godforsaken year. Also, Moyse's Simpsons knowledge is put to the test with a trivia quiz. All that and more, on Podtoid Episode 470.

It is the first new episode of Podtoid for the month, and throughout 2020, that has meant opening the mailbag and answering your questions. In the past, we've got a handful of interesting inquiries, enough to make the Goddamn Mail a featured segment in the back-half of the show. But this week, the community came through with so many great questions that we had to super-size this episode of Podtoid to answer as many as we could. Want to know our thoughts on games from 2020, what we'll do when COVID is over, licensed titles, and more? Then sit back and chillax all cool with Podtoid Episode 469.

With so many popular video game franchises staying true to course, it's refreshing to see when a publisher lets a developer go wild with their ideas. The Yakuza series is long known for its brawler gameplay, but in Like a Dragon, it shifts things up with an RPG formula that really works well for the series. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Chris, CJ, Dan, and Occams gather around the proverbial fire to talk Yakuza, Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, the Game Award nominations, and IOI's 007 game. All that, plus a comedy of errors for one street racer, on Podtoid Episode 468.

With game prices going up in the new generation of consoles, it makes more sense than ever before to check out the various gaming subscription services available. Both Sony and Microsoft have their own, and no matter which one you choose, you're bound to find some games you'll love. That's one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Dan, and Occams come together to talk game subscriptions, Microsoft studio acquisitions, Streets of Rage 4, renting movies on demand, and the Xbox Series S. All that, plus fast food isn't worth going to jail for, on Podtoid Episode 467.

We're on the cusp of a new generation of consoles, and Ubisoft has three(!) massive open-world games coming over the span of just a few weeks. And while the environments the developers there create just keep getting better, the same can't be said about the faces of the people who populate these places. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Dan, and Charlotte come together to talk Watch Dogs: Legion, Bugsnax, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, PS5 storage space, and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. All that, plus adorable White House dogs, on Podtoid Episode 466.

There are many great autumn traditions we celebrate in this country. Pumpkin-spiced everything, Thanksgiving, radio stations playing Christmas music way too damn early, and new "Treehouse of Horror" episodes on The Simpsons. Are they are good as they used to be? Nah, but they're still usually better than the rest of the season. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Occams, and Charlotte talk TV, No More Heroes, Duolingo, Silent Hill, and Cruel Jaws. All that, plus we answer some listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 465.

We're just weeks away from a new console generation and with it will come more beautifully imagined and realized worlds that will only be possible with better hardware. But as we've seen over the past few years, our current consoles are still powering some of the most jaw-dropping titles ever created. The PlayStation 4 in particular has been killing it with gorgeous games like The Last of Us: Part II, God of War, and Ghost of Tsushima, the latter of which just might be the most beautiful game found on the hardware. That's just one of the topics of conversation for this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, and Charlotte are on hand to talk open-world games, Just Dance, Street Fighter V, stupid ads in sports games, and measuring consoles in cats. All that, plus a huge announcement about a streaming deal, on Podtoid Episode 464.

It's no secret that Marvel's Avengers isn't in the best of places right now. Yes, it sold big in September, enough to top Super Mario 3D All-Stars as the month's top title on the NPD charts, but it's struggling, and with new consoles and several massive titles on the horizon, things are not going to get easier for Crystal Dynamics. But just because it's down now doesn't mean it's out. As we've seen with Fallout 76, developers can pull their games back from the brink. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Occams, and Dan chat about Marvel's Avengers, Ring Fit Adventure, Dragon Quest Tact, and Spooky Encounters. All that, plus you shouldn't rap about real crimes, on Podtoid Episode 463.

The latest Mortal Kombat 11 update launching in November is being called "Ultimate," but is it really the final version of this game? I guess if it's not, at least Mileena is finally being added so people on Twitter can shut up about her. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Dan, Charlotte, and Chris come together to talk John Rambo, FIFA 21, Watch Dogs 2, the Monster Hunter movie, Resident Evil reboot, beaches full of drugs, and home baking. All that, plus Michelle Rodriguez's leather pants, on Podtoid Episode 462.

Is the song "Monster Mash" about a song called "Monster Mash" or a dance called "Monster Mash?" Or is it both? Or does it not matter because this is the type of argument you should only have if you're high? That's one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Dan, and Occams come together to talk Genshin Impact, Super Mario 35, Inframan, granny getaway drivers, and Mafia: Definitive Edition. All that, plus we answer your listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 461.

While Podtoid is and will always be a podcast about gaming, sometimes the crew just likes to chat about movies. And when it's only Chris, Occams, and CJ on the show, you can be sure those movies will be from the '80s. On this week's show, the boys talk about the rise and fall of Cannon Films, horror flicks, Spellbreak, and the big Bethesda purchase. All that, plus pumpkin spice flavors where they don't belong, on Podtoid Episode 460.

Have you ever forgot how to play a video game? That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Occams, Dan, and Charlotte talk forgetting games, WWE Battlegrounds, Final Fantasy X, 13 Sentinels, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, and the PlayStation 5 date and price reveal. All that, plus even the trees are out to get you in Australia, on Podtoid Episode 459.

CJ, Chris, Occams, and Charlotte are on hand to talk about skateboarding memories, Oxenfree, Super Punch Patrol, the Xbox Series S, and Microsoft's lack of significant launch titles. All that, plus just because you play a doctor in movies doesn't mean you are one, on Podtoid Episode 458.

We may still be waiting for next-gen console news, but we do know there is still so much to talk about with the industry and on this episode of Podtoid, CJ, Chris, Dan, and Charlotte get to chatting about Marvel's Avengers, Moon, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and speaking German. All that, plus we answer your questions, on Podtoid Episode 457.

Batgirl has come to save Gotham! Oh, also Robin, Red Hood, and Nightwing. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Chris, Dan, CJ, and Occams are here to talk superhero games, The Batman, delicious snowfall, Bury Me, My Love, 13 Sentinels, and Fast & Furious: Crossroads. All that, plus CJ fails basic high school Spanish, in Podtoid Episode 456.

I imagine one of the most entertaining parts of building an epic video game is building up the world players will be exploring. There are many different ways to do this, and in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you can find a lot of information about the inhabitants of this world the old-fashioned way: in a book. You can find out about the history of the land, as well as some saucier little details you might not expect. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Dan, Occams, and CJ talk Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, IKEA furniture, Epic's lawsuits, Galaxy of Terror, and the Xbox Series X launch. All that, plus you shouldn't point a gun at your dick, on Podtoid Episode 455.

Years of rumors about what Rocksteady was working on came to an end last week with the reveal it was working on a Suicide Squad title. With the David Ayer film tainting the property for many people who'd never heard of it before, can Rocksteady be the studio to repair their image? If the Arkham series is any indication, yes they are.  That's just one of the topics covered on this episode of Podtoid. Occams, Charlotte, Dan, Chris, and CJ are on hand to talk Rocksteady, Fall Guys, how it's too damn hot, Lego NES, Street Fighter V, and more. All that, plus you need to stop feeding your friends to bears, on Podtoid Episode 454.

There's no getting around it: Grounded is a hit. More than a million people have downloaded the game that is definitely-not-but-totally-is Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and according to Podtoid's Dan Roemer, it's one damn-fine survival game. That's just one of the topics covered in this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Occams, CJ, Dan, and Chris break down why we need more playable spiders in games, dangerous toys for kids, Atelier Ryza, The Thing, Thing, the Rambo film saga. All that, plus we answer listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 453.

Could leaks like the Nintendo asset dump and the gargantuan The Last of Us: Part II leak have a negative ripple effect for the people who work in and around the gaming industry? That's just one of the topics discussed on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, and Occams are on hand to talk asset leaks, Ghost of Tsushima, Void Terrarium, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, and our favorite titles from last week's Xbox Games Showcase. All that, plus the idea that games starring women don't sell is BS, on Podtoid Episode 452.

At the first Ubisoft Forward streaming event, Podtoid was left disappointed with the complete lack of Beyond Good & Evil 2. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. On the show, Occams, Charlotte, Chris, and CJ talk Ubisoft, Knights & Bikes, Warhammer, theme park screams, and the difficulty facing Microsoft with its Xbox naming conventions. All that, plus CJ has had it with free-to-play mobile RPGs, on Podtoid Episode 451.

It's easy to be dismissive of the Grand Theft Auto franchise because it's the biggest fish in the pond and has been for quite some time. And as we prepare to take our adventures in San Andreas to the next generation, let's not forget one of the reasons why these games, particularly GTAV, are as beloved as they are: the stories they tell are actually quite good. That's one of the topics CJ, Charlotte, Occams, and Chris cover on this episode of Podtoid. In addition to GTA, the crew recounts their favorite movie shootouts, the appeal of British sitcoms, Riki-Oh, next-gen game pricing, and movie musicals. All that, plus mac and cheese dispensers, on Podtoid Episode 450.

In this episode, CJ, Dan, Charlotte, and Chris talk Deadly Premonition, Danganronpa, Cyberpunk 2077, Top of the Pops circa-1989, and the ridiculous ways virtual reality renders our movements. All that, plus Charlotte details two great games you probably already own from the itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality, on Podtoid Episode 449.

Pokémon Sword & Shield are still of the two most divisive games to release over the past year. A lot of what it did right it did very right, such as new Pokémon designs and the scale of the adventure players were sent on. But everything it did wrong still hasn't improved, even with multiple updates and paid DLC. That's just one of the topics of conversation on tap in this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Dan, Charlotte, Chris, and Occams sound off on Pokémon, point-and-click adventure games, kangaroo people, SpongeBob SquarePants, bad demos, and more. All that, plus sex dolls in soap operas, on Podtoid Episode 448.

There were many highlights during the PlayStation Future of Gaming presentation last week, but two of the games that really stuck out to the Podtoid crew were Resident Evil Village and Bugsnax. And while the two games couldn't be more different, when you think about it, isn't the idea of foods that are actually bugs far more frightening than any stupid werewolf we'll fight in the next RE game? That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. The team comes together to look back at their favorite announcements from the showcase, the trailers that didn't do anything for them, and what Xbox will need to do with its upcoming show. All that plus Command & Conquer and glory holes are both making a comeback on Podtoid Episode 447.

Porting an Xbox One/PS4 game to Switch is like trying to rock a rhyme that's right on time. It's tricky. There are plenty of studios that specialize in the process and some ports are downright amazing, but most players know no matter the pedigree of the team handling the project, concessions will be made. Some are small and barely noticeable. Others, like with Outer Worlds, are right out in the open. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Dan, Chris, CJ, and Occams come together to talk about Outer Worlds on Switch, Grand Theft Auto V, Fallout 76, and Maneater. All that, plus we answer listener questions, Chris introduces us to the amazing Undercover Cop mode from Kane & Lynch 2, and CJ butchers the word "foliage," on Podtoid Episode 446.

There have been a lot of fan petitions and outcries over the past several years, but none have been more annoying and apparently successful as the #ReleasetheSnyderCut campaign. After months of sporadic trending on Twitter, Warner Bros. finally caved and agreed to release all four hours of it on HBO Max. That's just one of the topics covered in this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Dan, Occams, and Chris also touch on Mafia II: Definitive Edition, the Switch port of Bloodstained, Chopping Mall, and packs of wolves. All that, plus we fantasize about Jason Momoa and Chris Hemsworth, on Podtoid Episode 445.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is coming back and the world is better for it. That's just one of the topics covered in this episode of Podtoid. On the show, CJ, Charlotte, Occams, Chris, and Dan talk the Hawk as well as Elder Scrolls: Blades, Detroit: Become Human, Huntdown, how to properly spend your COVID-19 checks, and Chuck Norris kicking ass. All that, plus dick masks, on Podtoid Episode 444.

One of the biggest pieces of news last week was the reveal of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, a new DLC expansion of the original game that will continue its story and introduce Robocop to the franchise. Not exactly a first-choice character when it comes to the fighting game genre, Alex Murphy should fit right in with a cast that has no shortage of guns at their disposal. From Jax to Joker, these fighters are so well-armed they make Stryker from Mortal Kombat 3 look like Paul Blart: Mall Cop. That's just one of the topics of choice on this episode of Podtoid. Occams, Chris, Charlotte, and CJ talk about MK, Holmes and Yoyo, Yakuza 5, Celebrity Watch Party, Dr. Pimple Popper, and Satan's Toybox. All that, plus one unfortunate fart, on Podtoid Episode 443.

Is May too early to be talking about Game of the Year? Not if you've played Streets of Rage 4. The brawler is getting rave reviews all over the internet, including on this week's episode of Podtoid. On the show, Charlotte, Dan, Occams, CJ, and Chris talk SoR4, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Policenauts, cross-dressing martial artists, bidets, and more. All that, plus we're answering your listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 442.

Despite being called a "single-player," there are actually many one-player games out there that are just more fun when two or more people get in on the action. Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident, for instance, was a hell of a lot more entertaining when I got a few friends over to speed run the hidden object games. That's one of the topics discussed on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Occams, CJ, and Chris come together once more to talk Sakura Wars, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Telling Lies, '80s movies you should watch, PAX West, and taking your pets outdoors. All that, plus the ridiculous things Hollywood thought you could do with a computer, on Podtoid Episode 441.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is finally here and my gosh did they make a lot of changes to the story. That's one of the topics of conversation on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Dan, Charlotte, and Occams come together to overcome the COVID-blues as they talk PlayStation 5, Murder by Numbers, new characters in Animal Crossing, the ESRB, and more. All that, plus a special guest appearance from Dan's dog, in Podtoid Episode 440.

The Podtoid team is stuck inside this week, going through old games, new games, and hidden gems of movies. While Charlotte visits the world of Kingdom Hearts, Dan is exploring the streets of Raccoon City once more in Resident Evil 3 as Occams discovers an '80s Hong Kong film he's never seen before. Plus, Chris really wants everyone to pay attention to Bright Memory. All that, plus sex tape play-by-play and we answer your listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 439.

The world has been such a dark place as of late that it was nice to see something as nice and wholesome as a Nintendo Direct last week. It's a great way to take your mind off the troubles at hand and focus on all the games you'll be spending your "corona check" on this Spring. That's just one of the topics on hand for this new episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Dan, Occams, and Charlotte gather round to talk about Good Job!, Doom Eternal, El Capitan, Disney+, weed farms, safe sex practices, and pee napkins. All that, plus Dan sends a shiver down our spines as he recounts his encounter with Jeff in Half-Life Alyx, on Podtoid Episode 438.

Fun fact: did you know this is the longest wait we've seen in the west between the launch of a console and the debut of a new entry in the Animal Crossing franchise? It's true. Most of the other core games in the series hit their respective consoles within two years. With New Horizons, it's taken more than three years to finally show up. But you know what? It's worth the wait. That's just one of the topics on hand for this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Dan, Chris, and Occams discuss it, Yakuza 4, the 100gb download that is Call of Duty Warzone, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and the coronavirus. All that, plus we name our favorite franchises that debuted in the sixth generation of consoles, on Podtoid Episode 437. 

Is Final Fantasy VII Remake for long-time fans or those who'll be experiencing the world for the very first time? That's one of the topics on this PlayStation-centric episode of Podtoid. On the show, CJ, Dan, Charlotte, Occams, and Chris talk Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, toilet paper rushes, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series, and the PlayStation 2. All that, plus one shitty fire, on Podtoid Episode 436.

Another Monday, another all-new episode of Podtoid. On this week's show, the gang's all here to talk Project G.G., Deadly Premonition, anus potatoes, Batman Returns, Bloodstained, and our go-to dishes at Chinese buffets. All that, plus Yakuza 3 and listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 435.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games ever made and it's just one of the topics covered in this episode of Podtoid. I'm joined by Charlotte, Chris, and Occams as we talk about it, Animal Crossing troubles, Siege, steel drum music, sucking toes, speedrunning, and Dick Tracy. All that, plus a new installment of Crap Criminals, on Podtoid Episode 434.

Sonic the Hedgehog is, dare we say...good? In fact, it may be the best video game adaptation to date. That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Occams, and Dan talk about hostess bars in Yakuza 2 Kiwami, Journey to the Savage Planet, clown porn, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, and if the PlayStation 5 is worth $500. Then stick around after the show for an all-new Spoilsport covering Sonic the Hedgehog. All that, plus Charlotte says the word 'fluffer,' on Podtoid Episode 433.

With the EVO 2020 line-up announced, Mortal Kombat 11 will have to sit this year out. But could that be for the better? That's just one of the topics CJ, Chris, Dan, and Charlotte talk about on this episode of Podtoid. In addition to the MK snub, the crew touches on Tales from the Borderlands, Code Shifter, and the shift in tone for Rainbow Six: Siege. All that, plus how not to give a fake name to cops, on Podtoid Episode 432.

On Sunday the world came together to watch the biggest game of the year and the Podtoid crew couldn't give any less of a shit about who beat who or who choked in the 4th. Instead, on this week's episode, CJ, Chris, Dan, Occams, and Charlotte talk Yakuza Kiwami, Fallout 76, Coffee Talk, Animal Crossing consoles, and more. All that, plus the team answers listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 431.

Broken video games are a sad part of this industry. Whether the developer has hundreds of people on staff or so few you can count them all on one hand, too often we see games in no shape to be played by the public hitting store shelves anyway. For those who buy these broken games, the question becomes how long do you stick with it before moving onto something else. That's just one of the topics covered on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Dan, Chris, and Occams talk broken games, Mortal Kombat movies, emotional support animals, Temtem, theme songs, and classic British cartoons. All that, plus some crap criminals, on Podtoid Episode 430.

One of the best franchises to emerge from the Wii/DS era was Trauma Center, Atlus's surgery sim franchise that featured strong writing, incredible characters, crushing difficulty, and clever use of motion and touch controls. A total of five games in the series were released between 2005 and 2010, but the series was only ever popular in North America, with the final two games, Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 and the brilliant Trauma Team, never making it over to Europe. The franchise is just one of the topics of discussion on today's Podtoid. Chris, CJ, Charlotte, Dan, and Occams are on hand to talk surgery bombs, delayed games, at what age we'll all be miserable, Chad Lowe flicks, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. All that, plus a Souls-like on iOS, on Podtoid Episode 429.

After a nice winter break, the Podtoid team is back with a fresh episode for 2020. CJ, Chris, Dan, Charlotte, and Occams are on hand to talk Alien: Isolation, Yakuza 0, expansion passes for Pokémon Sword & Shield, next-gen consoles, and surefire ways to get the winning lottery numbers. All that, plus Occams introduces the team to Chick tracts, on Podtoid Episode 428.

Podtoid is still on hiatus but this week, CJ and Occams are coming together to talk about the biggest movie of December 2019. No, not Cats, they're here talking about everything Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This episode of Podtoid is one big spoiler for the movie, so make sure you see it first before giving it a listen.

In just a few week's time, 2019 will be one of the history books, specifically in any chapters title "Well That Was a Crap Year." 2020 is on the horizon and before we get to an election year, and I mean the important election where you vote with your wallet for either Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, the Podtoid team wanted to take a moment to look back what from 2019 they loved. All that, plus Resident Evil 3 is coming and The Game Awards needed some better reveals, on Podtoid Episode 427.

I felt very old this past week when I read the original PlayStation turned 25. My how time flies when you're playing Irritating Stick. For many people, the OG PSOne represented their first foray into gaming and it holds a special place in the hearts of millions. That includes the Podtoid crew who this week talks about the PlayStation, Final Fantasy XV, terrible parent gamers, Horizon Zero Dawn, Krampus, where egg nog comes from, why people in marketing should have paid more attention in History 101. All that, plus we answer listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 426.

The entire internet may be talking about Baby Yoda, but there is something else on Disney+ people should be paying attention to. It has crazy doctors, talking moose heads, freakish gnomes, and a hallway of heads. I'm of course talking about Return to Oz, which is by all accounts a children's movie. On this episode of Podtoid, the crew talks Oz, the blissful Mutazione, Sindel's return to Mortal Kombat, and getting around on foot in Death Stranding. Plus, they share their favorite Christmas song's for the season and Zach Morris is evil, on Podtoid Episode 425.

Podtoid is back with an all-new episode and this week Dan and CJ are wrapping up their discussion of Pokémon Sword and Shield by diving into the post-game, online play, all the cute new creatures, and whether or not Hop is worth the effort to stan. Plus, Occams shares another great bad movie from the '90s you can watch on YouTube now and the whole crew talks about The Game Awards and Half-Life: Alyx. All that, plus your parents had sex and Satan, on Podtoid 424.

In this episode of Podtoid, CJ, Chris, Charlotte, and Occams talk Pokémon, Professor Layton, Xbox, LGBTQ presence, Jodie Foster pretending to like men, Sonic the Hedgehog the movie, and the new Terminator game. Plus, we have a very special edition of Spoilsport where CJ and Charlotte spoil the hell out of Parasite from Bong Joon-ho, the director of Snowpiercer and The Host. All that and more on Podtoid 423.

After an absence last week due to illness, Podtoid is back with an all-new show where we talk about Death Stranding without spoiling it, dive into the world of Outer Worlds, and dream about Capcom finally releasing Deep Down. Also, we got answers to listener questions that include lawnmower games and epic sword fights in terrible movies. All that, plus gender reveal parties need to stop, on Podtoid Episode 422.

Podtoid is back with an all-new episode and this week, the team is all here to talk Fallout 1st, Luigi's Mansion 3, zombie flicks, the best candy at Halloween and if Swery has maybe pulled one too many times from the Twin Peaks well. All that and more on Podtoid Episode 421.