Shelved Games Podcast -

We try to take our minds off the world by diving deep on the games distracting us these days. We chat about recent news: events moving online, collusion and match fixing in esports, and what’s in store for next gen. We discuss economies in games, GTA V and griefing, the addictive and strange universe of Warframe, and how Warzone finally got us into battle royales. Plus, we ask if season passes in all of our games are starting to fatigue players.Find David’s work and social links here: https://dsmilne.com/Jump into the Discord server to discuss the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

With everything being cancelled (GDC & E3 & GameStop), we had to buck the trend and un-cancel the podcast! Times are tough, so we chat about the games that are helping us get through. Animal Crossing is the zen garden we need most, Destiny makes space-chores fun, and Valve follows through and resurrects Artifact! Plus, Love Is Blind is trash we can’t help but watch and Star Trek is campy fun.Jump into the Discord server to discuss the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZStay safe and check out the World Health Organization’s page on COVID-19 here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

We’re back for our annual game of the year spectacular! We debate the biggest disappointments of the year, lament how few games any of us have time for, and count down the best titles we played in 2019. Plus, we finally ask the tough question … why didn’t they play Gwent in the Netflix Witcher series?Jump into the Discord server to discuss the best games you played this year! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZFind Megan’s work on the SteelSeries blog: https://steelseries.com/blogFind David’s work at https://dsmilne.com/Find the comprehensive Destiny lore video we reference here: https://youtu.be/9mbDXvDNqTU

*** CONTENT WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, & SUICIDE ***Skip ahead to 00:22:25 to avoid this discussion at the top of the show.On this week’s podcast, we discuss recent allegations of abuse in the games industry, along with their fallout and ongoing reporting. We dig into why it’s taken the industry so long to have it’s “MeToo” moment and what we can try to do to make our spaces safer for everyone. We dive deep on new updates to Rainbow Six Siege, the overwhelming scope of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and even how fun and addictive idle games can be. Plus, is the original Rainbow Six novel any good? Well…. it’s complicated.Jump into the Discord server to discuss the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZFind David’s work at https://dsmilne.com/This week’s sources:“Emerging from the shadow of GamerGate” by Jessica Conditt“Night In The Woods Designer Alec Holowka Dies” by Jason SchreierCheck out John’s recommendation this week, the series Dark Side of the Ring.If you need help and need to talk to someone, dial Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566In the USA, call 1-800-273-8255

E3 has come and gone, so we break down the best and most disappointing news from the biggest week in games! Is the future streaming? Does E3 even matter anymore? Can we put Keanu Reeves in everything? Find out the answer to these burning questions and more! Plus… we realize we’re old and jaded and just end up sighing a lot.Jump into the Discord server to talk about the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZFind David’s work at https://dsmilne.com/Check out this breakdown of representation from the E3 conference: “Female Representation in Videogames Isn’t Getting Any Better”Check out John’s recommendation this week, the video essay “Bringing Back What’s Stolen”

Google promises to change the way we play video games with Stadia, their new livestreaming platform. We may have reservations but Microsoft doesn’t as they promise to showcase more of XCloud in the coming months. Plus Apple gets in on the fun with a new subscription gaming service called Apple Arcade. We chat about Ted’s obsession with Apex Legends and take a weird turn when John goes deep on Magic: The Gathering.Find Ted’s work at https://www.instagram.com/railcarcreative/Jump into the Discord server to talk about the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

Will Anthem fill the loot-shooter sized hole in our hearts? This episode we discuss its rocky launch, the meteoric rise of Apex Legends, and Bowser taking over Nintendo. Our main topic this week is Activision Blizzard’s massive layoffs and the possibility of unionization within the industry. Plus, we discover a new hero in Dota 2 — the secret origins of Marxist Sven!Find the AFL-CIO’s letter to game developers here: https://kotaku.com/an-open-letter-to-game-developers-from-americas-largest-1832652654Jump into the Discord server to talk about the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

We count down our most anticipated games of 2019! What titles will surprise us and which will let us down? Plus, we have initial impressions of Anthem, an update on rapper DMX, and just what the heck is going on with Star Citizen?Find David’s work at https://dsmilne.com/Is DMX in jail? http://isdmxinjail.com/Let us know what your looking forward to in 2019! Hop onto the Discord server and share your list. https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

A quick update on the podcast and everything else Shelved Games. The next few months are going to be busy, so here’s what’s happening.Get updates about Shelved Games and everything else John is working on via Twitter: https://twitter.com/john_tabJump into the Discord server to talk about the show or just to hit up all the cool folks in the community! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

We count down the BEST games we played in 2018! What titles from this year impressed us and what did we take off the shelf from years past? Find out what made our hosts’ lists in this two-and-a-half hour episode!Find Ted’s work at https://www.instagram.com/railcarcreative/Find David’s work at https://dsmilne.com/Find Amy’s charity streams at https://www.twitch.tv/ladycommanderWant to be a part of our Game of the Year discussion? Hop onto the Discord server and send us your list of the top 5 games you played in 2018! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

PUBG is secretly still more popular than Fortnite. We were surprised too! This week, Blizzard kills Heroes of the Storm’s esports scene, Discord launches a salvo in the publisher wars, and Game Workers Unite gets its first official union. Plus, Kingdom Hearts III leaks super early and Epic Games gets sued over flossing.Haven’t donated to our Extra Life fundraising efforts? There’s still time! Donate here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/shelvedgamesWant to be a part of our Game of the Year discussion? Hop onto the Discord server and send us your list of the top 5 games you played in 2018! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

Epic Games makes a big play with a new storefront as it tries to upset Steam’s monopoly. Bethesda leaks customer data, Counter-Strike gets a battle royale, and Fortnite gets sued over stealing dance moves. Plus, we chat about the highlights from this year’s Game Awards!Haven’t donated to our Extra Life fundraising efforts? There’s still time! Donate here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/shelvedgamesHave questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZFind David’s work and the Monday Mobile Podcast here: https://dsmilne.com/

It’s the episode we recorded at 2:30 a.m. during our Extra Life marathon! Bethesda suffers a customer service blunder, Sony decides to skip E3, and the FTC decides to investigate loot boxes. Plus, what games are we playing these days and why do we subject ourselves to a 24-hour gaming marathon. (Apologies for the rough audio quality on this one.)Haven’t donated to our Extra Life fundraising efforts? There’s still time! Donate here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/shelvedgamesHave questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

A quick update on our Extra Life charity marathon along with what we’re planning for the Artifact Beta!We’ll be live-streaming our 24-hour charity marathon on our Twitch page https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames starting December 1st at 10am Pacific Time! Check out all the details on our donation page here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/shelvedgames and find a list of the current prize pool here.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

K-pop has come to video games and now we want more. The League of Legends World Championships kick off with an augmented reality K-pop performance while Riot Games faces litigation over gender discrimination. Plus we chat No Man’s Sky, the Diablo: Immortal backlash, and we dig into problematic behaviours that are normalized in “gamer culture.”Help us raise money for the BC Children’s Hospital through Extra Life! https://www.extra-life.org/participant/shelvedgames Join us for our 24-hour marathon starting December 1st streamed live at https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesFind K/DA - POP/STARS (ft Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Jaira Burns) here: https://youtu.be/UOxkGD8qRB4Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z

It’s a rowdy kitchen table version of the Shelved Games Podcast! The reveal of Diablo Immortal leads to Blizzard fans lashing out at the developer. Nintendo drops a ton of Super Smash Bros Ultimate news, Fortnite takes on Times Square, and new cheating controversies in esports. Plus, we lament our time with Rainbow Six and dig into a listener question on video game literacy.Check out the Monday Mobile Podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/mondaymobilepodcastFind Ted’s videography work here: https://www.instagram.com/railcarcreative/Find Jason Schreier’s investigative piece on Rockstar here: https://kotaku.com/inside-rockstar-games-culture-of-crunch-1829936466Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Today we interview SpicySpaceMuffin on the ups and downs of content creation! We discuss Twitch as a platform for empathy and interaction, the importance of mental health, and parenting in the age of Fortnite. Plus, how is the Call of Duty community reacting to Black Ops 4 and what does the future hold for the battle royale genre?Find Todd’s live-streams and the rest of his links on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/spicyspacemuffinHave questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

The one about Hollow Knight! It’s a short solo-hosted show, so we keep things simple. Rockstar Games is under the microscope as discussions of crunch and labour practices loom over this week’s release of Red Dead Redemption 2. Plus, Sony encounters a bug that is hard crashing PS4s and Fornite is hoping to find its next Ninja with community tournaments.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

It looks like the future of gaming might be streaming, but is there still a need for console hardware? Sony confirms it’s working on the next PlayStation, Microsoft reveals xCloud, and Telltale’s The Walking Dead gets picked up by Skybound. Plus, you’ll finally be able to change your terrible PSN name from 12 years ago.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesIf you want a cool standing desk like Ted, check out the frame he got: https://www.primecables.ca/p-355830-cab-et101-wh-primecables-electric-sit-to-stand-adjustable-desk-riser-frame-table-top-not-included-white#sku363439

A new Fortnite event doubles down on getting creators paid and getting players to spend more money. Google announces the ambitious Project Stream, Nintendo is planning a Switch upgrade, and a new Harry Potter RPG leaks. Plus, what if Mega Man had a gritty live-action movie?Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

The fallout from TellTale’s closure continues this week with rumours, horror stories, lawsuits and more. Sony buckles to pressure and enables cross-play for Fortnite and Nintendo Switch cloud saves are more complicated than they need to be. Plus, we want our Jeopardy money.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Why would the world ruin Toad like this? Massive layoffs hit Capcom Vancouver and TellTale as both studios close their doors. Sony gets on the nostalgia train and Nintendo Switch Online doesn’t care about your cloud saves. Plus, Spider-Man is a snitch.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

How do games keep getting microtransactions wrong? We bring back our favourite local game developer to chat about monetization, NBA 2K19, and how to make players feel good about spending money. Nintendo shares more details about its online service, Alan Wake is getting a TV show, and what happens when fandom turns violent. Plus, a Spider-Man proposal gone wrong!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesCheck out the Monday Mobile Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/mondaymobilepodcastCheck out the P.V.P: Pitch Circuit if you’re in Vancouver! https://www.picatic.com/PVP03-SummerFall2018

Getting back to a regular show, we recap all the major news from August and chat about the games we've been playing! Riot Games suffers controversy, the Olympics snub esports, and apparently everyone needs their own game launcher. Plus, Spider-Man is very good and PUBG is very bad! All this and more.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesTed's recommendation: SoundlyJohn's recommendation: "One of Counter-Strike’s Leading Analysts Wants You to Know Alex Jones Rules"

For our annual wrap up of the Dota 2 International, we sit down with Ursinity, co-host of the Fourth Spirit podcast! We discuss the event, podcasting and community building, and share tips on getting into Dota and how to get better. Plus, we learn about the mysterious world of K-Pop! Find the Fourth Spirit podcast here: https://fourthspirit.com/Find Fourth Spirit on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/fourthspiritCheck out their Discord: http://discord.gg/FourthFollow Fourth Spirit on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FourthSpiritFollow Sam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ursinityHave questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

In another one-on-one interview, we sit down with Skxnky, Twitch streamer and co-host of the Shenantics Podcast! We discuss the messy science of getting into podcasting and do a deep dive on the current state of Twitch as a platform. Plus, building a community is one thing, but how do you maintain it when things get tough?Find Nick's livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/skxnkyFollow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iSkankyFind the Shenantics Podcast here: https://shenantics.rocks/Check out John's guide to Vancouver for the Dota International: https://steelseries.com/blog/ti8-vancouver-travel-guide-68Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

What the heck is going on with World of Warcraft and why is everyone upset with Blizzard? Today we sit down for a one-on-one chat with Twitch streamer, voice actor, and Dungeon Master Galestrom! We discuss trying to make it on Twitch, how to grow communities, and how to avoid burnout. Plus, what makes pen and paper RPGs so much fun and how to approach collaborative storytelling. All this and more!Find Chris' livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/galestromFollow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_GalestromCheck out John's guide to Vancouver for the Dota International: https://steelseries.com/blog/ti8-vancouver-travel-guide-68Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

The latest Madden game snubs Colin Kaepernick in an odd fashion & EA quickly dials it back. Moral panic comes from parents buying coaching lessons for Fortnite, Epic won't share 30% with Google, and Valve bans a game from Steam because it's secretly mining cryptocurrency. Plus, our hosts finally become ensnared in the greatest video game of all time: DOTA 2!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Plans for the next Xbox generation leak as Microsoft shifts to a cloud-based future. EA is betting big on subscription game passes, Dutch Dota players get a peak inside their loot boxes, and even the adult entertainment industry is dunking on microtransactions.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Today we discuss games-as-service and how this has led to both constructive and toxic relationships between studios and fans. A typo in Aliens: Colonial Marines causes havoc, The Culling 2 gets shutdown after a week, and Shadow of War ditches loot boxes. Plus, criminals are laundering money through your favourite mobile games!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

We carry forward some pretty heavy debates from last week's show.... and even get into some heated disagreements! Toxic fandom, harassment campaigns, how we use language, and more. Plus, Epic sets a new revenue sharing precedent, Tencent challenges Steam, and charitable microtransactions are making waves.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesDiscussed on this week's show:"ArenaNet Firings Cast a Chilling Shadow Across the Game Industry"

Our favourite local game dev is back! We sit down for a one on one chat with David to debunk all the myths about game development and to discuss the news of the week. Studios are putting pressure on Sony to allow cross-play, Twitch cracks down on the behaviour of popular streamers, and the company behind Guild Wars 2 fires two of its employees over mounting harassment from its community.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesDiscussed on this week's show:"Popular Twitch streamers receive lengthy bans for using homophobic language, offensive jokes" "How Dark Patterns Trick You Online"

Crossplay conundrum! Sony takes flack for not allowing Fortnite accounts to be cross-compatible. As games as service become the new norm, everyone is taking a page out of Dota 2's book and begins introducing Battle Passes. The World Health Organization wants to officially create a gaming disorder classification, Valve decides that anything goes on their platform, and EA keeps having Star Wars trouble. Plus, Google looks to get into the video games business!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesArticles discussed on this week's show:"Steam's Irresponsible Hands-Off Policy Is Proof That Valve Still Hasn't Learned Its Lesson""‘Gaming disorder’ classified as a mental health condition, but is the move premature?""How Warframe built an ethical free-to-play economy"

Shelved Flicks is back! This series dissects the foulest selections of video game movie adaptations. What happens when you take Nintendo's beloved franchise and instead of recreating it, turn it into a cyberpunk dystopia? You get Super Mario Bros!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

We recount the biggest news from E3 2018! What left an impression and what flopped? What leaves us skeptical and what are we looking forward to? From EA to Sony to Ubisoft, find out what the industry has in store for the coming years. (This is mostly just marketing BS, so don't pre-order anything. Plus, most of these games won't actually come out.)Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

The Pokémon Company is coming for your wallets! The latest games in the franchise revisit the nostalgia of the original games while paving the way for what's to come. The PUBG Corporation is suing Epic over Fortnite's alleged infringement and EA hopes you forget how much they loved loot boxes last year. Plus, it's leak season! Find out all the latest game announcements before they happen at E3!Find Jason Schreier's article mentioned on todays episode here: Battlefield V Shows How The Video Game Industry Is Turning On Loot Boxes.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

With the announcement of Battlefield V, fans are outraged that a game that loosely borrows the trappings of WWII isn’t “historically accurate.” Absurd weapons and action scenes are fine, but women and people of colour are apparently a bridge too far. Boss Key studio folds after its recent troubles, Epic puts up $100 million for Fortnite’s tournaments, and No Man’s Sky is getting multiplayer 2 years later. Plus, Microsoft doubles down on accessibility with a new adaptive controller.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Splinter Cell is back, baby! Thanks to a retail listing mistake, we have news on a bunch of unannounced games. Epic and Marvel team up to add Thanos to Fortnite, Nintendo is adding cloud saves for a price, and an NRA mouthpiece keeps bringing up old arguments about the dangers of gaming. Plus, the disastrous Pokémon Go Fest is coming back this summer.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Fortnite scams are running rampant on YouTube! China throws a bunch of PUBG hackers in jail, MOBA's can't resist the lure of Battle Royale, and multiplayer finally comes to Stardew. The FTC tells console manufacturers that customers have the right to repair their hardware and we share our thoughts on the hotly anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2. Plus, getting Harry Potter lore wrong is a recipe for disaster!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Players are fed up with the latest chapter in the Harry Potter saga: Microtransactions and Magic! The Nintendo Switch has had a stellar year, Quantic Dream sues the media, and a harassment awareness campaign stumbles before it even starts. Plus, Belgium sets an incredible precedent with its decision that lootboxes are illegal!Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Call of Duty decides its tentpole games don't need a story campaign anymore. But what will players think when Black Ops 4 launches this fall? Fortnite is making boatloads of money on mobile, esports are coming to a high school near you, and PUBG is getting a massive overhaul. Plus, we're getting a movie version of The Division. Because video game movies always work. Always.Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

The oldest esport of all, high score chasing in arcades, is rocked by a decades long cheating scandal. With the King of Kong dethroned, what happens next? Also, where do we see esports heading in the next 10 years? Radical Heights enters the battle royale arena, SteamSpy gets shutdown, and esports stars won't stop behaving badly. Plus, Drake is handling all of Fortnite's PR moving forward. Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

It's our 100th episode! As Shadow of War becomes the next big game to drop microtransactions, what are players actually willing to pay for and when do things cross the line? As developers chase trends, do certain markets become oversaturated? Why can't esports personalities clean up their act? And what the heck happened to Steam Machines? Plus, why is orange juice with pulp inferior? The answers to these burning questions and more on this week's show!Have questions or topic suggestions for us? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesCheck out Holden Shearer's thread on how the Fighting Game Community cleaned up it's act: https://twitter.com/HoldenShearer/status/980404490938482688

Fortnite's community is falling into the same old traps of gatekeeping as its popularity explodes. Why is it so hard to accept that everyone plays games? The latest Twitch darling, Ninja, falls out of graces after using a slur in a freestyle rap and apparently 2016 is back with a vengeance as both Pokémon Go and No Man's Sky get massive updates. Plus, how do you keep innocuous emojis from becoming racist memes? Have questions or topic suggestions for the show? Jump into the Discord server and be a part of the conversation! https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesFind the profile on Stardew Valley's Eric Barone here: https://www.gq.com/story/stardew-valley-eric-barone-profileCheck out Ted's latest chicken dinner! https://youtu.be/5mvcf4P-ntw

Magic: The Gathering hopes to steal the card-game-crown back from Hearthstone. John discusses his thoughts on the closed beta and what challenges are ahead. There's building momentum for game developers to unionize after recent talks at the Game Developer's Conference, but will it actually happen? PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite clash as they both hit mobile devices in North America and shipping Nintendo cartridges full of drugs is a crime. Who knew?Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesFind the Desoladies discussion on women in esports here: https://www.desoladies.com/archives/category/cooldown

Fortnite has become this year's runaway success. Everyone is playing it and everyone is talking about it. Hell, Drake loves it. Should we love it too? What led to its success and where does it have left to go? Nintendo announces a new Smash Brothers game, Battlefront 2 finally sorts out its loot boxes, and Trump's meeting with the industry seems like it was a waste of time. Plus, why would someone attack their boyfriend with a katana? PUBG, of course. Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames"There's a Huge Problem with Fighting the Anti-Video Game Debate with a #Notallgames Mentality" by Chloi Rad: http://ca.ign.com/articles/2018/03/14/opinion-theres-a-huge-problem-with-fighting-the-anti-video-game-debate-with-a-notallgames-mentality"‘Fortnite’ celebrations are sweeping the sports world" by James Dator: https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2018/3/11/17106330/fortnite-sports-celebrations-bundesliga-nrl-nba-nflAnd don't forget to check out John's column on Trump and video games: http://www.capilanocourier.com/2018/03/05/trump-scapegoating-video-games-gun-violence/

The Entertainment Software Association decides to put warning labels on video games in response to concerns over loot boxes and microtransactions. But does that actually accomplish anything? Trump says he's meeting with the games industry this week to "solve" gun violence, but no one got the invite. Plus, Harry Potter is getting a new mobile game, Overwatch gets a new support hero, and Wreck it Ralph takes a dangerous trip to the internet.Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

In the wake of another shooting tragedy in the US, fingers are being pointed at violent video games as the cause. Why is this tired and consistently debunked theory such an easy fallback? And what should conversations about video game violence actually look like? Breath of the Wild wins big at the DICE awards, Assassin's Creed Origins dabbles in censorship, and someone thought a Sonic movie would be a good idea. Plus, how do you deal with other people flaming you in games? Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames

Today we interview game developer David Milne to get a more informed opinion on what happens behind the scenes in the industry. Is the traditional $60 game going the way of the dodo and will games as service rule the market? Cheaters might be driving away PUBG's audience, Valve breaks ties with a studio that reviews their own games, and Mafia 3 developer Hanger 13 is hit with layoffs. Plus, what might government crackdown on loot boxes look like?Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesJohn mentions Austin Walker's talk at NYU. Find it here: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/a34ew8/watch-waypoints-own-austin-walker-give-a-talk-on-games-and-politics Find out more about David's work here: https://www.hotheadgames.com/games/kill-shot-bravo/

Why do controversial personalities become so successful? And why don't Twitch and YouTube punish them when they step out of line? We discuss recent controversies with Dr. Disrespect, Logan Paul, Tyler1, and more. PUBG comes to smartphones in China, Red Dead 2 gets delayed again, and Nintendo is still having a stellar year. Plus, when the developer of a favourite game turns out to be a bad person, how do we reconcile that?Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134Z Find our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgamesCheck out Megan's cool promotion at SteelSeries for the month of February: https://steelseries.com/dog Find John's latest column on coming to terms with failure through Dark Souls: http://www.capilanocourier.com/2018/01/30/digital-hurdles-dark-souls/

Introducing "Shelved Flicks!" This is a series of commentary tracks to pair with the finest offerings of video game cinema. What happens when you combine the comedy stylings of Adam Sandler and the nostalgia of 80s video games? Well..... you get Pixels. We're sorry. We're sorry we did this. Please don't watch this movie.Be a part of the conversation on the Shelved Games Discord: https://discord.gg/0cnPsuJSU8De134ZFind our livestreams on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shelvedgames