Spitball Sessions

Luke and Josh go under the sea to discuss whether Subnautica is the greatest survival-horror game of all time. Does isolation make a game scary? Or is it the sounds, the sights and the JUMP SCARES.

Josh and Luke Gush over Animal Crossing, one of the best timed game releases ever. Luke talks about museum curation, Josh rants about menu controls, and they both declare their love for Isabelle. Sit back, relax, and spend some hours on the island. catch some bugs, pick some fruit, and fish up some ancient terrors […]

In this special episode, the guys recount their adventures, experiences, and takeaways from the Granite Game Summit. They discuss all the hot, new board games such as Azul, Wingspan, Passtally, Root and Twilight Struggle. Well, some of them are new. We apologize for the amount of time it took to get this up. Like many […]

Syncing paws? a paw sink? what is this game? Seriously, what is this game? Josh and Luke discuss Cinco Paus, an interesting micro roguelike, a experiment in experimentation within an information-rare environment. to make things even harder, this game is in a language we do not understand. Withholding information from your players is usually an […]

Josh and Luke jump into the unusual experience of Duskers. in this podcast they discuss the various mechanics that make this game unique and interesting. They cover incentives to advance gameplay, and the various kinds of horror, and what kind of horror this game makes use of. Jam Sessions are more game-focused episodes with a […]

To those about to rock, have we got a podcast for you! In this episode Josh discusses the story and design behind the Spitball Studios’ first game – That’s the Name of My Band. Find out what inspired the game, how Josh took the design and course of testing and some of his takeaways about […]

On this episode, the guys discuss the pyreflies of Monster Hunter World as well as their feelings about some of the new changes in the Iceborne expansion pack. Are the pyreflies a useful addition or needless visual noise? Is Monster Hunter World the best of the series or the worst? Does Luke have T-Rex arms? […]

The guys are finally back from their long cold hiatus with a new series, and they start the series with a long cold game about Vikings – Bad North Jotunn Edition! What is it? How is it? And what do the guys think about minimalism in a game like this? Spitball Jam Sessions are shorter, […]

We are starting the year with 100% more CONTENT! And to kick it off, Luke has reviewed a game or two. for some reason. but i’s good, he talks about monster hunter. Monster hunter is good, right? RIGHT?

It’s been a crazy year for the Spitball Sessions crew, and that means that unfortunately we haven’t had a chance to do much for the site. But we still wanted to get together to do our Game of the Year awards for 2019. I’d like to apologize to any fans for the site going dormant […]

Another year gone, and there are some amazing games that came out in the past 12 months! This award spectacular includes personal goals, including “that’s the name of my band, and several topics, including “Best Atmosphere,” “Game I most wish I had Played”, “Super Strategy”, “Best interpretation of a tabletop”, “best RPG”, and more! This […]

In which Luke talks in earnest about updates, colors, and updates breaking colors! the shoot-em-up is the closest to complete, if not simplest, thing I have made so far. let’s see if I complete it! Josh’s Question: What game did you both fail really bad at, and still love?

This week, it’s all about the games and if you can pitch them, as the Spitball crew proves that they’re the best in the world at what they do – discussing how one small problem interferes with the production of a good wresting game, and how to fix it. So say your prayers and take […]

In this episode, the guys return to form with a discussion about the unique characteristics of Bioshock’s Big Daddy and designing “passively aggressive” enemies.  They discuss how to drive  motives for many games. Then they get over Bennett Foddy’s masterful bit of trolling, with another bite at discussing difficulty in games.

The guys over at Spitball Sessions return after a short intermission to talk turkey. Talking “open world” turkey, and what makes a good or bad open world game. In the process, they talk social politics and similar stuff. A bit later they talk about scope and scale, and how they affect open world gameplay. They […]

Josh and Luke discuss the reboots, remakes, and the overall nostalgia trips that games and movies have been working through.  They discuss good and bad reboots and remakes, and talk about how to use good nostalgia in games. Afterwards, the guys discuss Paradox’s grand strategy games, Civ VI, and the new game Rogue Empire.

Josh and Luke explore the idea of a roguelike that gets harder the more that you play it. Then in the Mouthwash, the guys discuss games that break suspension of disbelief.

The gang’s all here! Well, in the Mouthwash they are. This episode begins with a deep discussion about racing in the future, or future racing games. In the Mouthwash, Luke’s wife Amy and the one-time sound guy Trevor join Josh and Luke in the fun of JRPG Games, Everyone has their opinion, and no one […]

The boys discuss games about Presidental Elections, and how they could be made more interesting.  Are games like Campaign Manager just wish fulfillment for political wonks?  Does the nature of America’s election map mean that a game is already somewhat pre-determined?  What would Walt Disney’s chances of becoming president be today? Then, in the Mouthwash, […]

The end of the year is here!  And with it comes our Game of the Year awards Spittakeular! Thrills, spills, chills, and lots of awards – Best Early Access game – Least Deserving game – Best Moment and our personal Top 5’s and unified Top 3 Games of the Year! Trevor returns!

Josh and Luke talk about designing games for people with sensory disabilities.  Can games really demonstrate the experience of living without sight or hearing?  Can games be made better for people with those problems. Then, in a controversial Mouthwash, they discuss visual novels.  Are they worth playing?  Should people be offended by them?  Why IS […]

Josh and Luke discuss the Steam platform, and their frustrations with where it’s gone over its lifespans. Is Early Access a no-win situation for both gamers and developers?  Has DLC finally jumped the shEArk?  Are Steam Reviews actually helpful, or do they just make Josh mad (yes to both).  Do the guys actually like ANYTHING? […]

This time Luke and Josh get lost in the woods while discussing Road Not Taken and how to make a game that teaches you how to play as you play it, without it feeling heavy-handed. Then in a raucous Mouthwash, they  talk about the coming of Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead – a roguelikr survival game, […]

Quick step into the podcast with real moxie, where the boys discuss the past, present, and possible future of the fan-beloved convention ofquicktime events.  Dragon’s Lair, Shenmue, Resident Evil 4.  Three games enter…  FOUR leaves. Then, the boys dive deep on roguelikes.  Where to start, where to go…  What is a roguelike anyway?  Josh has […]

In this episode, inspired by an interview wih Peter Olotka, Josh and Luke discuss contra-design (not to be confused with Contra design): creating designs by intentionally going in the opposite direction. Then, in the Mouthwash, they talk about the misnomer that is Metroivanias.  Josh hates the term.  Luke wonders whether there’s room for growth or […]