Silicon Vets Gaming

NOTE: Unfortunately, we had some connection issues that led to a lot of audio drop outs. I think the conversation was great so we're sharing it none the less, but we apologize for the audio and we will implement a better recording solution for next time. We're back! Slumming with us for this special occasion is Nick from Literate Gamer to discuss the insane acquisitions of Bungie by Sony and Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft and what it might mean for the gaming community. We also discuss the launch of the Steam Deck, and last but not least dive into the controversy surrounding From Software's magnum opus, Elden Ring. Is it bad-ass, broken, or a little of both? Listen to find out. Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

It's all about the shooters in this gaming-centric episode of Silicon Vets! Trevor and Kenny discuss Halo's triumphant return, Battlefield's identity crisis, and Ghost Recon's Frontline dilemma. Lots of nitty-gritty on IPs, strategy, and fierce competition, so buckle up for an extra rant filled episode! Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

Trevor and Kenny return to bemoan the current state of PC hardware prices. Why is everything out of stock? Why are prices so insane? Should you buy a pre-built gaming PC? And most importantly, will this nightmare ever end and prices get better? Who knows, but we talk about it anyways. Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

Valve's surprised the world with the newly announced Steam Deck. Trevor's stoked while Kenny's unconvinced. Also, Assassin's Creed is going MMO? And with Sony acquiring a well-respected PC port studio, does this mean we can anticipate more Sony IPs on PC? Lots of news to cover and discussion to be had as online, live-service games continue to be the darling of major publishers. Yell at Trevor: Trevor C. (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

Back from the abyss, Kenny and Trevor dive into games and their first-impressions. Trying to figure out why some pull you into their world so strongly that you forget about time while others just can't seem to stick the landing no matter what, the guys discuss some of the games that maybe failed to put their best foot forward, and how sometimes they're worth the wait. Trevor C. (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

NOTE: Apologies in advance for some of the annoying background audio. Still trying to figure the whole audio thing out. Kenny and Trevor dive into the most infamous games of this past generation. We talk about what we liked, what we didn't, and what we think happened to a game that seemed on track to be a masterpiece but ended up feeling like a misfire.

Silicon Vets: Rebooted #01 - Do consoles need generations? The traditional console business model calls for a new machine and architecture every 6-8 years. But has the game changed? Does legacy support limit new gaming experiences? Join Trevor and Kenny as they discuss the advantages and drawbacks to the console gaming generation, PCs, and the march of technology in gaming in a laid back, conversational environment. Thoughts? Feedback? Get in touch with Trevor here: https://twitter.com/OptimumSlinky (@OptimumSlinky) Notes: The Road to PS5 (Mark Cerny Talk): https://youtu.be/ph8LyNIT9sg Xbox Virtualization: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-xbox-one-x-back-compat-how-does-it-actually-work Sony Still Believes in Generations: https://gamasutra.com/view/news/366599/We_believe_in_generations_PlayStation_argues_crossgen_games_risk_stifling_innovation.php

Zach and Trevor dive into the latest leaks on the PS5 and Xbox GPUs, and give a recap of their picks for the best of 2019 games and hardware. Digital Foundry Experiment: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2019-teraflop-face-off-current-gen-vs-next-gen

Zach and Trevor unpack the shocking reveal of the Xbox Series X this week at the Game Awards, and what the shape and rumored specs could mean for the next console generation.

We're back! Trevor and Zach sit down to discuss Jedi: Fallen Order, Halo's masterful return to PC with Reach, the future of Anthem, and give a quick and dirty guide on how to build a gaming PC in December 2019.

Zach and Trevor discuss the the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare beta and game dynamics, as well as the controversy surrounding Sony's exclusive deal with Activision. Also discussed is cross-play and its benefits and drawbacks, as well the upcoming Video Games News & Entertainment Network and the future of streaming.

Zach and Trevor dive into the recent Iron Crown event controversy with Apex Legends, 2K's shamelessly aggressive micro-transaction model and advertising, the challenge of game ratings and monetization in a rapidly changing industry, and the solid Remnant: From The Ashes by Gunfire Games.

Zach, Trevor and special guest Derrick, discuss developer death threats, community toxicity, and sketchy publisher tactics in the latest episode of the Silicon Vets Gaming podcast.

Guitar Hero. Tony Hawk. Call of Duty. Assassin's Creed. For almost a decade, every major publisher released a title in this iconic franchises annually. But as we move forward as an industry, we're seeing more and more games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six: Siege embrace a single client, and then support it over multiple years with content updates. Even Assassin's Creed achieved its greatest success after taking a year break. All of this begs the question: Is the annualized IP dying, or is it already dead? Join Trevor and Zach for a down-and-dirty discussion on annualized IPs and the their future.

Zach and Trevor show you the money and dive into business models in gaming in 2019. How do you balance long-term development and support of major gaming titles in an industry resistant to price increases while development go nowhere but up? How do you keep players engaged (and paying) without making them feel devalued as customers? Zach and Trevor weigh in on games, money, and the future of gaming for Episode 6.

For Episode 5, Trevor and Zach return to discuss the dilemma of game streaming with Google Stadia, the real-life comeback story of Final Fantasy XIV, and the lessons other games like Anthem should learn from Final Fantasy's "A Realm Reborn" approach.

Trevor dives into the bizarre, lukewarm tech press response to AMD's Navi cards, and why it makes no sense.

Trevor rambles on AMD's Navi GPU price cuts, and why the Epic Game Store is neither evil nor anti-consumer, and pretty much stuck between a rock and hard place.

Welcome back for Episode 2! Zach and Trevor dive into the next-gen console tech rumors for Project Scarlett and PlayStation 5, break down what's real, what's marketing fluff, and go over what you can expect as far as transition as we move from one gaming generation to the next.

For the inaugural episode, Trevor and Zach give their thoughts on E3 2019, breakdown their highlights from the show, and dive into some of the context behind this year's presentations.