Podcasts about 2d sonic

Al, Codey, and Micah talk about their favourite farming and cottagecore games of 2024. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:37: What Have We Been Up To 00:22:18: Rules Explanation 00:26:13: Update Of The Year 00:42:17: Early Access Of The Year 00:52:11: Game Of The Year Nominations 01:46:31: Debate 02:01:59: Winner Discussion 02:10:47: Outro Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers and welcome to the sixth annual harvest season (0:00:35) Al: game of the year episode. (0:00:37) Al: My name is Al. (0:00:38) Codey: And my name is Cody. (0:00:40) Micah: And I’m Micah. (0:00:41) Al: And we’re here today to talk about Cottagecore games. (0:00:44) Codey: Ooh. (0:00:45) Micah: Yay. (0:00:48) Codey: Make it, it’s a woo, not yay. (0:00:49) Micah: Yeah, wooh. (0:00:53) Al: All right. This is. Spicy, we, as mentioned, this is going to be our game of the year episode (0:00:54) Micah: I’m trying to add a little spice to it, you know, spice it up a little bit. (0:01:04) Al: for this year. Why all that? This is the sixth one. I don’t know how to deal with that. (0:01:10) Micah: Yeah, I can’t believe it’s it’s been that long you said I didn’t even register (0:01:15) Micah: I saw the list of the the previous ones you said six just now and it hit me like a truck (0:01:20) Al: We’ve changed things up this year a little bit compared to previous years. (0:01:21) Codey: Yeah you said it and I was like no way. This is wild. (0:01:30) Al: I’m not going to go into that just now, but just bear in mind listeners, there are some (0:01:34) Al: slight changes. (0:01:37) Al: Before that, Micah, what have you been up to? (0:01:38) Micah: Aww, I’ve been playing a lot of Jeragon Quest 3, HD2D, which I might talk a little bit about the Greenhouse episode. (0:01:50) Al: I love how you say might like we’ve not just recorded it. (0:01:50) Micah: Might, maybe, you’ll have to tune into the Greenhouse episode to find out. (0:01:56) Codey: You could cut it. (0:01:57) Codey: You could cut it out. (0:01:58) Micah: Great. (0:01:58) Al: No, it’s fine. It’s fine. I love when we like we break through the barrier and like stop (0:02:04) Codey: Oh, yeah. (0:02:04) Al: pretending like we record the greenhouse later. (0:02:06) Micah: that is primarily what I’ve been playing when I have the time to play games. Cody and I were (0:02:09) Codey: You’re right, you’re right. (0:02:17) Micah: just talking before we started recording about just being busy and not being able to play a (0:02:22) Micah: whole lot of games this year. So it’s always nice doing a game of the year recording because it (0:02:27) Micah: gives me an excuse to kind of revisit and catch up on things and have a an allotted time to play (0:02:34) Micah: games, but other than that, it’s been Drangle. (0:02:36) Micah: Quest 3. And I have also been shiny hunting a lot more in (0:02:41) Micah: Pokemon, but in older Pokemon games, I’ve been kind of (0:02:44) Micah: revisiting and kind of I don’t know what the term is, like (0:02:53) Micah: realigning myself with what I loved about Pokemon, and not so (0:02:56) Micah: much the how what modern Pokemon has become, I guess. And there’s (0:03:03) Micah: been a lot of like interesting I found in the (0:03:07) Micah: the kind of like deeper level in community, there’s a lot (0:03:12) Micah: of like really interesting new things that people have found (0:03:15) Micah: or like, you know, different hunts that people have set up (0:03:20) Micah: like one of the things that I’m working on right now is shiny (0:03:22) Micah: hunting, Kanto starters in the original gen one virtual console (0:03:27) Micah: games, which is something that you can do, but you have to do (0:03:27) Al: Oh, why? Why? (0:03:29) Micah: it by like, trading them over to a gen two virtual console game (0:03:33) Micah: to see or if you (0:03:37) Micah: have a totally legal copy of the virtual console games, (0:03:42) Micah: there’s a patch that you can apply that will just show you (0:03:44) Micah: if it’s shiny or not, which is very cool. (0:03:47) Micah: But there’s been a lot of like really neat little things like (0:03:49) Micah: that that I’ve been kind of experiencing and re-linking (0:03:56) Codey: You’re you’re getting back to your roots now. What’s your current hunt? (0:03:57) Micah: myself with and yeah, yep. (0:04:02) Micah: I think there’s been a lot of, well, yeah, that Gen 1 hunt is (0:04:05) Micah: my current hunt. (0:04:06) Micah: Uh, I’m doing all four of this stuff. (0:04:10) Micah: So like the three Kanto original Kanto starters and the Pikachu in the (0:04:15) Micah: games that they originate in, um, which is, has been a little bit complicated (0:04:22) Micah: to set up, uh, but it has been pretty enjoyable, like learning how things, (0:04:28) Micah: uh, work and how, how to, you know, like set things up properly. (0:04:33) Micah: Uh, it’s just been, I don’t know. (0:04:36) Micah: Interesting. (0:04:37) Micah: And I think there’s been a lot over the years that has like kind of had me (0:04:44) Micah: disconnect from Pokemon and in specific ways that like, kind of, like you said, (0:04:51) Micah: you know, coming back to my roots has kind of retaught me what it is that I (0:04:56) Micah: love so much about creature collecting and, you know, these core games and (0:05:02) Micah: stuff like that, this of course has nothing to do with the fact that, uh, (0:05:07) Micah: you know, earlier this year, they shut down the three S, uh, internet (0:05:12) Micah: capabilities and that may be possibly in the future. (0:05:15) Micah: Pokemon bank is going to shut down and that I am anxious about the (0:05:19) Micah: possibility of losing, you know, and I’m not rushing to, you know, it has (0:05:24) Micah: nothing to do with the fact that I’m like prepping for the quote unquote (0:05:24) Codey: Yeah. (0:05:28) Micah: end of the world when it comes to, but yeah. (0:05:32) Al: Prepping for something they haven’t even announced is going to happen yet. (0:05:35) Micah: Yes. (0:05:36) Codey: But it’s going to happen, though. (0:05:36) Micah: You know, that’s the glory of anxiety. (0:05:41) Al: Well, yeah, fair. (0:05:44) Codey: You can’t choose what you get worried about. (0:05:45) Micah: Yep. (0:05:46) Micah: Yep. (0:05:46) Codey: You just– yep. (0:05:47) Micah: And then you just over prepare for it. (0:05:48) Micah: And everyone’s like, why did you do that? (0:05:49) Micah: And I’m like, I don’t know. (0:05:50) Micah: I just felt like it was a good idea. (0:05:52) Al: There is no why there only is. (0:05:54) Micah: Yep. (0:05:55) Micah: That’s right. (0:05:56) Codey: Yep, I did that. I’ve been doing a PhD. I don’t know if you all know about that. So, I mean, I’ve just had like, this is like conference season. And then I’ve also had a lot of review requests lately. So journals have been like, hey, there’s a paper that you’re really like is within your like niche. Can you review this? Since you’re a subject matter expert? (0:05:56) Micah: So that’s primarily what I’ve been doing. (0:05:59) Al: Cody, what have you been up to? (0:06:26) Codey: And I’ve learned that I’m bad at saying no. So I am about to finish that. Like, literally after this, I have to write something for a nomination. And then I have to finish a review. And then I will finally be free of my obligations. And then I can actually focus on just my, my PhD. Yeah, lots of insect identification. Lots of that. And then (0:06:52) Codey: recently started playing, uh, Pokemon Pocket. (0:06:56) Codey: And, uh, I, during that Venusaur event that happened, um, I got three (0:07:03) Codey: of the promo Venusaur, but I did not get any of the Jigglypuff or the (0:07:06) Codey: Hunter and I am really salty about that. (0:07:08) Micah: Oh no. (0:07:10) Codey: Like I literally opened my game. (0:07:13) Codey: I was like, Oh, I need to do those. (0:07:14) Codey: Cause I thought today was the last day, like through like 11 59 tonight, (0:07:19) Codey: but it was yesterday, so rip. (0:07:21) Al: Yeah, this is the problem Cody, you need to be doing this this event all through the event, (0:07:26) Al: otherwise it’s going to because I did, I kid you not, 38 packs of that event. 38 packs I opened (0:07:32) Codey: That means, that means you won 38 of the, okay, with no Venusaur. (0:07:36) Al: with no Venusaur. Yes, correct. With no Venusaur in 38 packs. The last three packs that I could (0:07:44) Micah: That is unbelievable. (0:07:49) Al: could have opened in the game because of the timer. (0:07:51) Al: Without paying gold, the last three packs, all Venus are. (0:07:56) Codey: They turned up the Venus or the Venus or knob. I mean, maybe (0:08:00) Codey: that’s where they opened the cannon. Um, maybe that’s where (0:08:07) Codey: that’s my issue because I did start doing it near the end. And (0:08:11) Al: I don’t, yeah, I don’t think, I don’t think, I think it’s just cause like there were loads (0:08:12) Codey: so they, there was like all Venus or it’s just like (0:08:18) Al: of people I know who couldn’t get any Grinninja and kept getting Venus or instead. So I don’t (0:08:22) Al: think it’s, I don’t think it’s quite that simple, but yeah, if you want it like 41 is what I got, (0:08:27) Al: 41 packs is why I opened and that, and I needed to get, you know, 39 to get one of each. (0:08:30) Codey: Wow. (0:08:30) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:08:34) Al: So like, yeah, you can’t, you can’t half-heartedly do these events. If you want everything, (0:08:38) Al: You got to go all in. And the good thing is that like one. (0:08:41) Al: Once you’ve done the first couple of days, if you do all of the, like, use all of the (0:08:46) Al: hourglasses in the first couple of days, like just kind of like do everything as quickly (0:08:50) Al: as you can, then the most you can do a day is two because of the 12 hour timer. So it (0:08:56) Al: makes it really quick and easy after the first couple of days. I guess the problem. Well, (0:08:59) Codey: I mean my I’m not a try-hard though (0:09:03) Al: I think you’re always going to be disappointed in pocket if that’s the case, then. (0:09:06) Codey: I’m just I’m just always gonna be disappointed in myself. Let’s be honest. That’s never gonna not (0:09:10) Micah: I got the inverse of that initial I eventually did get to Venus or which was I was happy (0:09:22) Micah: with that because that’s you know, the max that you can put in a deck is two of a card. (0:09:26) Micah: But it took a very, very long time and I got an endless amount of Haunter like just a ridiculous (0:09:33) Micah: amount of Haunter to the point that I thought it was like something either was wrong or (0:09:34) Al: Yeah. (0:09:38) Micah: Or I was like, it’s been. (0:09:40) Al: Opening the wrong packs or something. (0:09:40) Micah: Having a trick played on me or something. (0:09:42) Micah: Yeah. (0:09:42) Micah: Like something was going wrong because it was just, it was just (0:09:46) Micah: Haunter all the time and I w I went to my, my work team and I was like, (0:09:51) Micah: Hey, is anybody else just pulling Haunter and everyone was like, no, (0:09:56) Micah: I got all of them already. (0:09:57) Micah: I figured, you know, whatever. (0:09:58) Micah: And I’m like, what is wrong with my game? (0:10:00) Al: Yeah, I got 13 Hunter and 11 Jigglypuff. (0:10:00) Micah: I’m like hard resetting and (0:10:04) Codey: Well, why don’t you save them for me, please, because I need it. (0:10:05) Micah: incredible. (0:10:09) Micah: - Yeah. (0:10:10) Micah: - There’s no shortage of, no shortage of Haunters for you when the trading happens. (0:10:11) Al: We’ll see what trading ends up being like, but yeah, got your name on it. (0:10:19) Micah: - Al, what have you been playing? (0:10:26) Al: Because I’m recording so many, I’m literally recording the live. (0:10:30) Al: So I am specifically going to talk about one game that I haven’t talked about on the other episodes so that I don’t get confused about things. (0:10:46) Al: So this is not all I’ve been up to. This is just what you’re getting this episode. I have played Sonic Shadow Generations, Sonic X, or to be specific, I’ve played Shadow Generations. (0:11:00) Al: I wasn’t playing Sonic Generations because I did enjoy it when I played it the first time, but I don’t have time to be replaying games. Come on, that’s not my life anymore. (0:11:08) Al: So I bought the game to play Shadow Generations. And let me tell you, I still do not like 3D Sonic games, even when it’s Shadow you’re playing as instead. (0:11:21) Micah: Okay, so is it is it sonic generations just with like added? Oh (0:11:28) Al: So, think of it like Bowser’s Fury with Mario. (0:11:31) Al: Did you play that? (0:11:32) Micah: Sure, yeah (0:11:33) Al: It’s exactly the same as that. (0:11:35) Al: You open up the game and it shows you the two things side by side, and you either choose (0:11:38) Al: Sonic Generations or you choose Shadow Generations, and they are different games. (0:11:40) Micah: » I see. (0:11:41) Micah: » Okay. (0:11:45) Al: It’s not like you’re playing Sonic Generations, but with Shadow, no. (0:11:48) Al: It’s a different story. (0:11:49) Al: It’s your different character, and it’s different levels, and he has different powers. (0:11:55) Al: It’s completely different. (0:11:56) Micah: And a motorcycle and swears I mean he has a gun and (0:11:58) Al: » Yeah, exactly, exactly. (0:12:01) Al: So, I keep trying to like 3D Sonic games, (0:12:04) Al: and I think part of the problem is I did enjoy Sonic Generations, (0:12:08) Al: which did have some 3D levels, (0:12:10) Al: and I don’t know whether maybe I should play Sonic Generations to check, (0:12:14) Al: but I’m not going to. (0:12:16) Al: But I wonder whether I liked that despite the 3D levels, (0:12:20) Al: and I just mostly enjoyed the 2D levels, (0:12:22) Al: or whether I actually enjoyed the 3D levels in that game. (0:12:25) Al: I can’t remember. (0:12:26) Codey: Well, the more important question is are you gonna see the movie or when are you gonna see the movie? (0:12:28) Al: Oh, yeah, I’ve already got tickets. (0:12:33) Codey: Okay (0:12:34) Al: Let me check when I’ve got them booked for. (0:12:36) Al: So I have them booked for the Saturday because I’m, yeah, I couldn’t do the Friday because (0:12:41) Al: Rona’s out to a concert, but yeah, I’ve got tickets booked for the Saturday. (0:12:42) Codey: Mm hmm. So there’s some showings on Thursday for me where I’m at, but I that’s also my partner’s (0:12:52) Codey: Christmas holiday party. So and we always go to like a fancy place and they pay for everything. (0:12:56) Codey: So I’m going to get a bunch. I’m going to slam free food in my face, but I’ll probably like really. (0:12:59) Micah: The dream. (0:13:02) Al: You’re gonna eat as much food as you can as quickly as possible and then go to see Sonic? (0:13:06) Codey: Uh, I don’t know if that’s going to work, but I will probably see Sonic on Friday. If not the (0:13:13) Codey: after when it’s like cheap, cheap, cheap. Um, because. (0:13:14) Al: hmm I see I don’t care about the price because I have the like season pass (0:13:20) Codey: Oh, what? Wait, what? (0:13:21) Micah: there’s a there’s a season pass to the theater (0:13:23) Al: you guys don’t have that yeah I i I paid 135 pounds and I can go to the (0:13:26) Micah: at least not that i’m aware of (0:13:31) Al: cinema as many times as I want it for a year for the whole year yeah (0:13:34) Micah: - What? (0:13:35) Codey: - What? (0:13:36) Micah: I’ve never heard of this. (0:13:38) Micah: What is your like, big name, like theater, like cinema? (0:13:42) Al: So we have, we have two bigs, we have two. (0:13:44) Al: big cinema chains. One is called ODEON and one is called Cine World. And both of them, (0:13:49) Micah: Okay, neither of those (0:13:51) Al: but yeah. Well, so I think, is ODEON I think is owned by MGM maybe? I don’t know. They’re (0:14:00) Al: both owned by big US brands, but they kept a specific name. No, maybe it’s not. Oh, sorry. (0:14:07) Al: It’s AMC, the audience owned by MGM and do not own actual cinemas. (0:14:10) Micah: - Okay, AMC, I do know. (0:14:15) Al: There is a filmmaker. Let’s see what. (0:14:17) Micah: They make the movie. (0:14:20) Codey: Literally all that they offer to us is $15 a year gets you like points and you don’t have to pay fees for if you buy tickets online and that’s pretty much it. (0:14:36) Micah: Okay. So I do see, I’m looking now, cause this is mind blowing, so I didn’t know this (0:14:39) Codey: It is yeah. (0:14:40) Micah: concept existed. Uh, we have Marcus theaters has a, it’s $10 a month and you get one movie (0:14:47) Codey: - Oh. (0:14:49) Micah: credit per month, which means you just get a, a single movie ticket. Yeah. I mean, you’re (0:14:51) Al: What’s the point, then? (0:14:56) Micah: kind of, I mean, if you’re seeing one movie a month, you’re probably not really, I guess (0:15:03) Micah: Maybe you’re saving a little bit (0:15:06) Micah: I mean (0:15:06) Al: Yeah. Yeah, whereas I, I see like easily for like, I’m easily seeing one. (0:15:14) Micah: Okay, so there’s there is also unused credits rollover so like if you miss a month you say there’s nothing right (0:15:20) Al: Yeah but that’s still, unless that’s cheaper than a cinema ticket, there’s no point. (0:15:22) Micah: You’re still paying for the month (0:15:26) Micah: Which I think it is I think it’s $10 a month (0:15:29) Micah: I don’t know what what like a movie ticket is there but here in the (0:15:34) Micah: Great (0:15:36) Micah: I think we’re in the ballpark of at minimum like 16 to 20 dollars for a movie ticket (0:15:41) Al: Oh my word. For 20, I’d be expecting at least IMAX. That’s wild. (0:15:42) Codey: - Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. (0:15:43) Micah: So you are saving some but you’re also (0:15:50) Micah: No, you’re talking standard you’re talking getting your chairs kicked (0:15:54) Al: Oh no. So yeah, so that’s just because you said that. That’s the same company that is (0:15:56) Codey: Yeah, so regal which is a cinema place in some parts of the United States has (0:16:08) Al: world technically it’s cine world owns regal not the other (0:16:11) Al: for this one but yeah they’re the so they’re the same same company (0:16:12) Codey: Ok. (0:16:14) Codey: But you said you pay what? $100? (0:16:16) Al: I paid 135 pounds for the year so what does that work out at 135 (0:16:19) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:16:21) Codey: That is $170 US dollars. (0:16:24) Al: uh it’s (0:16:24) Codey: We can get… (0:16:26) Micah: Just I just looked at what you’re (0:16:28) Al: yeah so that’s that’s 14 dollars uh 14 dollars a month or 11 (0:16:32) Codey: Mm-hmm Regal unlimited pricing for the base tier that only has access to 148 theaters (0:16:39) Codey: So 100% not you’re not gonna get it where you are like where most people are going to be (0:16:46) Codey: is (0:16:49) Codey: $260 a year (0:16:50) Al: for the cheapest. (0:16:52) Codey: For the cheapest and that’s about $22 a month you get unlimited tickets (0:16:52) Micah: Mm-hmm (0:16:53) Al: Oh, my word. (0:16:58) Codey: It says tickets, but I’m assuming it’s just like you get a ticket. It’s not that’s probably it’s probably purpose (0:17:01) Micah: Right, I would imagine, yeah. (0:17:03) Al: Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it is. (0:17:03) Codey: and (0:17:05) Codey: Then you get 10% off concessions, which is nothing (0:17:08) Al: Yeah. Yeah, we get that as well. We get that as well, which is is is totally just a way to get you to buy more of the cinema, which I obviously do because I’m a sucker and I know that I’m a sucker. (0:17:09) Micah: Yeah, that’s pretty much nothing. (0:17:15) Micah: Now, (0:17:20) Micah: the next question is because our ticket prices (0:17:23) Micah: are so much higher than yours, (0:17:24) Micah: are your concession prices as high as ours are? (0:17:27) Al: I mean, so okay. (0:17:27) Micah: ‘cause we can, I mean, a small popcorn is $5, maybe. (0:17:31) Micah: And a small soda or small beverage is probably also like $5. (0:17:31) Codey: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. (0:17:36) Al: So I feel like they’re not too bad. (0:17:38) Al: So if I go, I can go into my app just now, because the good thing about (0:17:41) Al: the cinema that I have, that I go to now, which is like fantastically like 10 (0:17:45) Al: minutes drive from my house, which is, is amazing, um, which is, you know, for (0:17:50) Al: city people might seem weird, but like, yeah, I don’t have things 10 (0:17:54) Al: minutes away from my house. (0:17:56) Al: Uh, if I look, I can get, so you said a small popcorn, $5. (0:18:02) Al: Let’s see for us. (0:18:03) Al: uh yeah a regular popcorn would be five (0:18:07) Al: um but they do like deals that make them cheaper (0:18:10) Codey: they used to do that. They don’t do that anymore. I remember you could get like a meal deal. I don’t (0:18:16) Codey: think they do that anymore. (0:18:17) Al: - Yeah, so like me and Rona went to see Wicked (0:18:19) Al: and I never get run into the cinema. (0:18:21) Al: Like that’s the first time she’s been to the cinema since. (0:18:24) Al: Oh, what was that other musical? (0:18:26) Al: The one about the kid who kills himself. (0:18:28) Codey: You have to be more specific. (0:18:28) Micah: Holy moly. Yeah, there’s oh (0:18:29) Codey: You have to be more specific. (0:18:32) Al: Dear Evan Hansen. (0:18:33) Al: There we go, dear Evan Hansen. (0:18:33) Codey: Oh yeah. (0:18:34) Al: So that was the last film she saw in the cinema (0:18:38) Al: before Wicked. (0:18:39) Al: So that’s kind of, was that like two and a half years ago (0:18:41) Al: or something like that? (0:18:42) Al: So she doesn’t come out to the cinema very often (0:18:45) Al: just because she just doesn’t like going out in the evening. (0:18:47) Al: Which is fair, we went to see Wicked and we bought, we got two hot dogs, a large portion (0:18:57) Al: of tater tots and one large slushie and that was 17 pounds, so it’s not cheap, but for (0:19:08) Al: me that felt not terrible. (0:19:09) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:19:11) Micah: Yeah, we we really don’t get that much it’s I mean it’s it’s kind of the like the the the (0:19:12) Codey: Yeah, that’s a lot for that amount of money. (0:19:14) Codey: Yeah, I-M-O. (0:19:22) Micah: common concept of going to the theaters and eating anything is that you’ve kind of like (0:19:27) Micah: just bring your like sneak your own stuff in yeah. (0:19:29) Codey: You sneak. You sneak your own. Yeah, 100%. (0:19:31) Al: Oh, yeah, yeah. And I, to be fair, I do that a lot. I don’t often buy stuff from the cinema, (0:19:36) Al: right? We were doing that because it was a special occasion type thing, like let’s go. (0:19:37) Micah: Which like (0:19:40) Al: We went to IMAX because I have to pay more to go to IMAX. I don’t, it doesn’t include (0:19:44) Al: IMAX in the, in the bundle. I think I have to pay five, five pounds to upgrade a ticket (0:19:48) Al: to IMAX, which I feel is not too bad. But it’s not something I do every week, obviously. (0:19:53) Al: So we went to IMAX and we paid like stupid amounts for her ticket. And then we, we got (0:20:00) Al: their spindle of feed didn’t. (0:20:02) Al: And we just like made an evening of it. (0:20:03) Al: So it was fun. (0:20:06) Codey: All of this to say, I’m really excited for Sonic 3. (0:20:09) Codey: And I didn’t realize that Shadow is voiced by Keanu Reeves. (0:20:15) Al: Yeah. Wild. Wild that they have Keanu Reeves’ shadow and Idris Elba’s knuckles. It’s like, (0:20:18) Codey: Wild. (0:20:20) Codey: And Idris Elba. (0:20:23) Al: what a combination. Amazing. What other famous massive actors can they get playing furries. (0:20:26) Micah: That’s incredible (0:20:28) Micah: You (0:20:30) Micah: You (0:20:35) Codey: - I guess whose tails? (0:20:37) Al: Oh, I don’t know (0:20:39) Codey: I’m gonna Google it. (0:20:40) Codey: We could probably move on and fuck this. (0:20:42) Micah: Uh, I am also seeing the Sonic movie, but it’s, I’m not like a huge Sonic fan. (0:20:48) Micah: I like Sonic, but I’m not like, you know, mega fan or anything, but my like best friend (0:20:54) Micah: is absolutely obsessed. (0:20:56) Micah: So as part of our like Christmas get together, we’re going to see the, the Sonic three, um, (0:21:05) Micah: that like opening weekend, which is like, not don’t typically go to the theater that (0:21:09) Micah: often anymore. (0:21:12) Micah: So I’m kind of excited because it’s very rare. (0:21:14) Codey: Yeah (0:21:16) Micah: This is the first time I’ll be at the theater, I think, all year. (0:21:19) Codey: Tails is uh, Colleen O’Shaughnessy (0:21:20) Micah: Yeah, I don’t know what that is either. (0:21:22) Al: Don’t know who that is. (0:21:24) Codey: I don’t she sees she’s a voice actor. Uh, looks like that’s what it is (0:21:27) Al: Right, okay. So the only actual voice actor. (0:21:28) Micah: Okay. (0:21:30) Micah: I have seen the two previous Sonic movies, though, and they’re really good. (0:21:30) Codey: Yeah (0:21:31) Al: Because of course Ben Schwartz is Sonic as well. (0:21:34) Codey: Yeah, I’m just (0:21:39) Codey: I love those movies so much so good (0:21:39) Micah: They did a really good job of them. (0:21:42) Micah: Great. (0:21:42) Micah: Mm-hmm. (0:21:42) Micah: Mm-hmm. (0:21:42) Al: Yeah, I think they’re exactly what we need from Sonic films. (0:21:47) Al: And I think if you did this, what they’ve done with Sonic films, if you did it with anything else, (0:21:51) Al: it wouldn’t work the same. It works because of what it is, and nobody takes it too seriously. (0:21:58) Al: So yeah, I don’t like 3D Sonic games. That’s a shame. Maybe I should stop trying. I do still (0:22:06) Al: like 2D Sonic games, so hopefully they make another one of those. But yeah, that’s what I’ve been up to. (0:22:12) Codey: - Woo. (0:22:13) Al: Whoo! (0:22:19) Al: All right, so we are gonna go into our… No, let me just… Right, I’ll explain what’s happening (0:22:27) Al: first before I try and do a funny segue. So I’ve changed things up a little bit this year (0:22:35) Al: because there have been so many questions about early access games and updates and what counts (0:22:41) Al: for game of the year. So I decided. (0:22:43) Al: To make it simpler going forward, we’re going to have three awards now. (0:22:47) Al: Okay, we’re going to have update of the year, which is for any game that has (0:22:52) Al: previously released out of early outside of early access and now has a content update. (0:22:58) Al: We’re going to have early access, which is for games that are in early access. (0:23:02) Al: And then we’re going to have game of the year, which is for any game that has (0:23:05) Al: released their first non early access version. Does that make does that is that clear? (0:23:08) Codey: » Sounds good. (0:23:10) Codey: » Yep. (0:23:11) Al: See you next time. (0:23:12) Micah: Yes, I guess a great system (0:23:12) Al: Excellent, we’ll see, we’ve never tried it like this before, we’ll see whether it’s good or not. (0:23:14) Codey: Yep. (0:23:20) Al: So that this game, this episode isn’t three times as long as the previous ones, we’re going (0:23:27) Al: to do the nominations a little bit differently for update and early access. So for game of the (0:23:32) Al: year we’re going to do the same as we always have, except one slight change, which I’ll get to that (0:23:36) Al: in a minute, in round robining our nominations and then we’ll decide from. (0:23:42) Al: What we’ve done, which should be the winner for update and early access, we’ve just got a list (0:23:48) Al: of all the ones that came out that we could think of because there’s less than 10 of each. (0:23:54) Al: So it’s a nice list to just list them all and then we can debate. The one other thing is, (0:24:00) Al: because of the debacle last year of Carl Island not winning, I have been forced into, (0:24:06) Codey: - Got scammed. (0:24:11) Al: I would suggest to do. (0:24:12) Codey: - No one is forcing you. (0:24:12) Al: I was suggested by Johnny and I thought it was a good idea that when we, I sent (0:24:18) Codey: - It’s a good suggestion. (0:24:19) Al: out a Google farm to the other people who have been on the podcast this year, I think this year, (0:24:24) Al: I don’t know, some people who have been on the podcast, I sent them a form so they can input (0:24:29) Al: as well. So we’re going to also read their feedback on what they think should win the awards. (0:24:35) Al: And maybe that will, maybe that will stop the co-hosts complaining after (0:24:40) Codey: Nope nope (0:24:40) Al: - Sure. (0:24:42) Micah: I am convinced that the reason that Cody and I are both on this episode with you is because (0:24:42) Al: - I don’t know. (laughing) (0:24:46) Codey: You can uh you can dream out (0:24:56) Micah: this is the equivalent of the Coral Island committee jumping me in a back alley for my (0:25:03) Al: Oh yeah, because it was Kevin last year, wasn’t it, is that right, because Cody had played (0:25:05) Micah: game of the year 2023. Yes. Yeah. (0:25:12) Micah: It was, and it mostly was, yeah, it mostly was down to that. Kevin and I hadn’t played it. (0:25:13) Al: Carl Island (0:25:14) Al: Exactly, exactly. (0:25:18) Codey: Yeah, and you were like, oh, I really think it should be and we were all screaming at our podcast players. (0:25:19) Al: Because I think all three of you, you and Johnny and Bev all, all said that you would (0:25:27) Codey: Yeah. Yeah. 100%. (0:25:33) Al: be playing for Carl Island. (0:25:34) Micah: This is this is my formal apology to (0:25:38) Micah: everyone. [laughs] (0:25:39) Codey: You’re no you’re allowed to have like you provided your input with the knowledge that you had and I’m here to make sure that you do it the right way this time. (0:25:47) Al: This is why we have the farm. (0:25:50) Al: It’s so that we can see people, we can see the other co-hosts opinions (0:25:50) Micah: - Under, (0:25:53) Al: before we make a bad decision and then still make a bad decision. (0:25:56) Codey: And we can still make, yeah, we can still make that decision. (0:26:00) Al: No, I’m excited for this one. (0:26:01) Al: We’ll see, we’ll see how it goes. (0:26:02) Al: I’ve seen, I’ve seen the feedback from the other hosts. (0:26:05) Al: So I’m, I’m, I’m interested to see what your guys’s are. (0:26:07) Al: We’ll get to that in a minute. (0:26:10) Al: And I’m in it. (0:26:10) Al: Goodness me, probably like two hours, we’ll see. (0:26:14) Al: We’re going to start off with update of the year. (0:26:18) Al: And so I’ll just, I’ll read through the nominations for that this year. (0:26:21) Al: Uh, and hopefully I’ve not missed anymore. (0:26:23) Al: Cause apparently I list missed three off the list. (0:26:25) Al: When I sent the form to the other costs, we have Stardew Valley, 1.6, Carl Island, 1.1 (0:26:34) Al: Moonstone Island, cooking update, Disney, Dreamlight Valley, a rift in time, which yes, (0:26:39) Al: was this year, the whole thing we released it this year, which is crazy. (0:26:43) Al: I thought some of it had released last year, but. (0:26:45) Al: but uh (0:26:47) Al: farm skies of Azoria, Dave the Diver DLCs, those would be Godzilla and I can’t remember (0:26:54) Al: the other one. Yeah what was oh um oh Dredge Dredge uh Terranil Vita Nova and Wildflowers (0:26:55) Micah: whatever the non Godzilla one is, (0:26:57) Micah: ‘cause the Godzilla one is the only one I made it. (0:26:59) Codey: Yeah, I was gonna say it was a dredge. (0:26:59) Micah: Oh, sure, sure, sure, yeah, yeah. (0:27:05) Al: Magical Creatures. Yeah yeah because Kevin decided not to put anything in the farm until (0:27:15) Al: literally, what, five hours before we start? (0:27:18) Al: I’m not sure, and was the only person to mention wildflowers, I had completely forgotten the (0:27:24) Al: wildflowers had an update this year. Anyway. (0:27:28) Micah: You know, I looked at the show notes last night, too, and did not see that on there. (0:27:32) Micah: So that makes complete sense. (0:27:34) Al: Yeah. So, um, I’ll just go through our other hosts opinions and what should win, and then (0:27:39) Al: we can discuss what we think as well. Uh, so we have one person says, Dave, the diver, (0:27:47) Al: we have, uh, two people saying stardew outright, uh, one person adding stardew as one of their (0:27:55) Al: three that they decided, uh, but not like the ultimate, what they think should win. (0:28:01) Al: one for wildflowers. (0:28:04) Al: one for terra nell, vita nova, and then one for disney dreamlight valley. (0:28:09) Al: I feel like I need to read johnny’s out, because it’s just, this is a weird year for best update. (0:28:16) Al: carl island 1.1, a great update no doubt, it added everything carl island and yours were asking for, (0:28:20) Al: but to reward this with update of the year feels wrong, it should have been 1.0 but it wasn’t. (0:28:25) Al: stargie 1.6 added more to a great game and the updates are good, but also just stop, (0:28:30) Al: it’s okay for stargie to be done, i’m ready for it. (0:28:33) Micah: Which is funny maybe I’m wrong and in assuming this but I feel like that’s a wild take from Johnny is that. (0:28:40) Codey: No, I think he’s he would be a proponent of like, let like, like, stop the nostalgia machine from cranking. Yeah, I think that’s also Yeah. (0:28:46) Al: I think he’s worried for concerned apes mental health. (0:28:48) Micah: Okay, okay (0:28:49) Micah: for concern days (0:28:51) Micah: Yeah, I mean after that interview where he was kind of like, uh, I could just keep going forever. I don’t know (0:29:00) Al: I think that leaves Disney Dreamlight Valley is the one that stands at his best update that (0:29:03) Al: continues to add to a great game bringing in memorable characters in a way that continues (0:29:07) Al: to surprise and delight. So that looks what I can see that looks like two stardew votes, (0:29:13) Al: One Wildflowers, one Drusney Dreamlet Valley, and one Davey. (0:29:16) Al: The Diver. What do you guys think? (0:29:19) Codey: Um, so I, so I mean, some of these, I didn’t play. So like, I didn’t play moonstone island. Uh, I (0:29:23) Al: Fair. That list is just going to get longer as we go through the episode. (0:29:28) Codey: right. I feel like it’s true. I feel like Fay Farm Skye’s Zozoria when we were talking about it on (0:29:33) Codey: the pod, it did not fix the issues that people wanted in the first one. So I think in my opinion, (0:29:35) Al: No (0:29:38) Codey: we can just strike that off. Um, I think the same about Taranell. I don’t think that that added (0:29:39) Al: I agree. Yeah (0:29:43) Codey: anything really. Um, and I honestly like, honestly, like, (0:29:46) Al: R.I.P. Kevin’s option. (0:29:49) Codey: I will just like double retweet Johnny’s thing because I agree. Like my go-to was (0:29:59) Codey: Coral Island 1.1. Um, I really loved it, but it did basically add like, one of the reasons I loved (0:30:05) Codey: it is because it added the rest of the story, but that should have been in the initial game. (0:30:06) Al: Mm hmm. Yeah. (0:30:10) Codey: Like why, like you can’t have an update, just be like, oh, adding the things that we didn’t (0:30:17) Codey: I had originally, but finished again. (0:30:20) Codey: So I don’t want to go with that. (0:30:22) Al: I would, I would agree with that. (0:30:23) Al: Any objections, Micah, to those three being struck off. (0:30:26) Micah: I think Coral Island is an incredible game, and I think it should win. (0:30:32) Al: Have you played it yet? (0:30:34) Micah: So okay, I have not, but this is where I’m at with Coral Island, because if you recall on the (0:30:40) Micah: previous Game of the Year episode, the reason that I said that I didn’t get it yet was because I was (0:30:44) Micah: waiting for the Switch version, which we all kind of know how that went. So I did eventually just (0:30:48) Al: Awkward. You. (0:30:53) Micah: kind of buckle and get it on the steam deck so I do have (0:30:56) Al: Yeah, nice. (0:30:56) Micah: it now to play on the steam deck haven’t had a chance to (0:30:59) Micah: play it yet but I am excited to play it especially after (0:31:02) Micah: hearing uh how much 1.1 kind of made it a 1.0 I guess um but (0:31:06) Codey: Yeah. (0:31:10) Micah: there’s just you know II’ve been I’ve yeah I don’t know I’ll (0:31:15) Micah: get I’ll get into that more later but I have not played it (0:31:17) Micah: yet. (0:31:18) Codey: Okay. And then yeah, Stardew is the same, like, I agree with Johnny, like, let it, let it lie. (0:31:24) Codey: And so for what I’ve played. (0:31:25) Al: I’m not, just for the record, I’m not, I’m not striking stardew off the list. (0:31:28) Codey: Correct. Did not strike Stardew off the list. This is just my opinion. (0:31:30) Al: I’m not, yeah, I don’t care what you’re saying. I’m not doing it. (0:31:32) Al: I’m not letting that happen right now. Right. We’ll get to that. (0:31:37) Codey: My top one would be Disney, Journey Valley. They really did add a lot of really good characters. (0:31:42) Codey: I didn’t play specifically the Rift in Time, like the paid deals, because that’s the paid one. (0:31:46) Codey: Um. (0:31:48) Codey: But I saw all the stuff from it and I know that it added like a considerable amount to the game and added to the story and I would like to play it when it becomes free. Fingers crossed that that ever happens. (0:32:00) Al: Is it not included in Game Pass? (0:32:02) Codey: Um, yeah. (0:32:06) Codey: No, you have to pay, you have to buy the DLC in Game Pass. (0:32:08) Al: Oh, weird. (0:32:10) Al: I think for, right, that’s interesting, because the whole point of Apple Arcade is everything (0:32:10) Micah: - I think it’s the same way with Apple Arcade, (0:32:17) Al: is free and you never have to pay for anything, but anyway, well, okay, yes, but you don’t (0:32:20) Codey: You have to pay for Apple Arcade. (0:32:22) Micah: Yeah, yeah (0:32:23) Al: have to pay for anything else. (0:32:24) Al: Like it removes in-app purchases from every game and stuff like that. (0:32:26) Al: I think, for the purposes of argument, we will crown it for a game. (0:32:30) Al: I feel like nobody is arguing for Moonstone Island, is that correct? (0:32:34) Codey: Well then it’s gotta, if it’s just gonna be for a game, (0:32:36) Codey: then it’s gotta be Coral Island, right? (0:32:38) Codey: No, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. (0:32:40) Micah: - I agree, definitely, Coral Island. (0:32:43) Codey: Yeah, so that’s my two cents. (0:32:50) Micah: I have not played enough of Moonstone Island to be able to confidently to even touch the cooking update, so I don’t think that I could justify it. (0:32:58) Al: Yeah, I don’t think I think cooking is a fun thing to add and it did add a few more (0:33:04) Al: spirits, but I don’t feel like it added enough to be like (0:33:08) Al: Major like I don’t think it stands aside stardew 1.6 and all of the stuff that Disney dream life alley added (0:33:17) Micah: Uh I still have yet to play Dave the Diver. I’ve heard great things about it. Uh it just (0:33:21) Al: At all. Come on, maker. (0:33:25) Micah: it just there’s something about it that just you know just hasn’t like clicked with me yet. (0:33:31) Micah: It hasn’t hooked me. That’s not I didn’t mean that as a pun but uh but I will say the Godzilla update (0:33:32) Al: you need to start it, that’s why. You need to just play it. (0:33:39) Micah: got me enticed me a little bit because I I do love my Kaiju but uh I I want to play it and I’ve (0:33:47) Micah: heard nothing but good things about it. My boss is like in love with it and sings its praise all (0:33:50) Al: David Diver is a fantastic game. The Godzilla DLC in particular is so silly. I love it so (0:33:51) Micah: the time but um (0:34:00) Al: much, right? Like any game where you like find Godzilla in a cave underwater and then (0:34:07) Al: you end the story by literally controlling Godzilla has my vote. (0:34:12) Codey: Oh, so you’re, is that your vote then? (0:34:12) Micah: That sounds awesome. That sounds incredible, honestly. (0:34:17) Al: What was that Cody? Well, I mean, it’s, it would definitely be on the shortlist. (0:34:18) Codey: I said, is that your vote then? (0:34:24) Codey: Okay. (0:34:25) Al: I’m not saying it’s definitely my favorite, but I feel like it’s, I could be convinced of that. (0:34:30) Codey: Okay. (0:34:32) Micah: uh as far as the rest of them I think you know looking at the the two current feels like top (0:34:40) Micah: contenders being disney dreamlight valley and stardew I like cody have played disney dreamlight (0:34:48) Micah: valley base not the the paid dlc portion of it yet um and I did really really enjoy it (0:34:56) Micah: uh I just the the cost to get to (0:35:02) Micah: you know we kind of talked about this when I was on previously right around what disney (0:35:06) Micah: dreamlight valley came out um that I was under the impression that it was cheaper than it was (0:35:13) Micah: or that there was a they were doing a uh like a like a um uh like a free to play version of it (0:35:21) Micah: when it had originally started to come out but you know I feel like the price of disney dreamlight (0:35:26) Micah: valley has just felt bigger and bigger over the the years (0:35:32) Micah: and that’s that’s great if the amount of content is there and it’s a very like pretty game it seems (0:35:38) Micah: like there is plenty of content there um but it’s a really like pitting that against stardew which (0:35:47) Micah: you know I know stardew has been around for so long it is it’s it just keeps going I do agree (0:35:54) Micah: it is okay for stardew to be done again I i love the game but it is okay concerned you can focus (0:36:02) Micah: here now it’s okay you can work on other things it’s all right but the the 1.6 update for stardew (0:36:09) Micah: is so massive for free content that like it’s hard for me to pit it against you know something that (0:36:20) Micah: the total cost of it is like what are we you know pushing a hundred dollars at this point (0:36:27) Micah: with in-app currency and all this stuff. I don’t know. Again, (0:36:32) Micah: I really, really like Disney Dreamlight Valley and I’m looking forward to playing more of it. (0:36:38) Micah: I love that they have kept it up. The community for it seems great, but yeah, it’s just such a (0:36:46) Micah: hard comparison because it’s like massive franchise, massive brand, costs a lot of money. (0:36:54) Micah: They’re still keeping it up and doing a great job with it versus one guy making stuff for free (0:36:58) Codey: - Yeah, I get that. (0:37:02) Micah: and I’m like, you know, I don’t know. It’s hard. If I personally had to put it on something, (0:37:08) Micah: I would put it on Stardew, but I would not be opposed to Disney Dreamlight Valley yet, (0:37:12) Codey: I mean, you do have to put it we have to we’re here to put it on (0:37:17) Micah: which is very hard for me to try. But yeah, that would be my nomination. I think would be Stardew 1.6. (0:37:23) Al: I feel like we’re probably we’re striking wildflowers off right? I think I don’t think (0:37:30) Codey: Sorry, Kevin. (0:37:30) Micah: Sorry Kevin (0:37:32) Al: even he was seriously suggesting it because I think yeah I yeah so so he says wildflowers (0:37:34) Codey: Yeah, the first thing in his thing is stardew. (0:37:36) Micah: Just more the representation, you know (0:37:41) Al: because it hasn’t won anything yet and it’s amazing and wildflowers but in reality but (0:37:45) Micah: It’s got to get the wildflowers representation in this understandable (0:37:48) Al: in reality Terranell is the only update I’ve played is great so he hasn’t even played wildflowers (0:37:54) Al: I think I understand why he would want wildflowers to win something because he thinks it probably (0:37:59) Al: should have won game of the year last year but yeah I think as an update it I don’t think (0:38:06) Al: it compares to stardew 1.6 or to all of the updates that Disney Dreamland valued so we’re (0:38:12) Al: down to 3 stardew 1.6 Disney Dreamland Valley and the day of the diving (0:38:19) Codey: I think from what Micah said, I’ve moved over to Stardew. (0:38:24) Codey: I didn’t play it, but I know literally dozens of people who have. (0:38:31) Codey: And yeah, I think the amount of effort that this solo human keeps pumping into this game (0:38:37) Codey: that is so beloved by the communities, it deserves it. (0:38:42) Codey: - Bye. (0:38:43) Al: - Say that with more passion. (0:38:45) Micah: But, you know, that’s in the context of like how much effort and how much content there (0:38:47) Al: Yeah. (0:38:53) Micah: is in something like the Disney Dreamlight Valley DLC, like I think it’s just the greater (0:39:00) Micah: context of the amount of effort and money that is put into one versus the other, I suppose. (0:39:05) Al: I think I would also say that as much stuff as there is in the Disney Dreamland Valley (0:39:12) Al: updates over the last year, the fact of the matter is the day that Stardew 1.6 came on, (0:39:18) Codey: Yeah. (0:39:18) Al: it became like the fifth highest consecutive players on Steam for like a week. That is (0:39:23) Micah: Mm hmm. Which is (0:39:25) Al: a wild amount of control that that game still has over. (0:39:31) Micah: Yeah, that’s, I mean, remarkable for a game as old as it is to be able to update and hit (0:39:38) Micah: that milestone is incredible. (0:39:41) Micah: It’s just, you don’t see that with really anything aside from like me, you know, multiplayer (0:39:45) Al: Yeah, and legitimately, like, I can’t find the chart, but it’s all time peak was miles (0:39:47) Micah: online games or something like it’s, it’s impressive. (0:40:00) Al: lower than that. And then the update came out and then suddenly it was high up. So it’s (0:40:08) Al: all time peak takes a 56 place, place at 56. But I think on the week that it was out, it (0:40:15) Al: was top five. I think I can’t remember because we don’t have obviously the historical, historical (0:40:17) Micah: Mm-hmm, sure. (0:40:21) Al: data for that. But like, yeah, abs and that was, you know, I think it’s previous peak (0:40:26) Al: was something like 50,000 or something. So it like quadrupled its highest consecutive (0:40:32) Al: players for an eight year old game. That’s that’s mad. And I also got me to the point (0:40:38) Micah: Yeah, it’s pretty remarkable. (0:40:43) Al: of perfecting the game. (0:40:45) Al: Like I had never gotten close to that, and with 1.6, I put so much time into it because (0:40:51) Al: of all of the different things that it had and all the different additions it had. (0:40:56) Micah: Mm-Hmm (0:40:57) Al: I got to the point where I was like, Oh, I can, I can complete this game. (0:41:01) Al: You know, it’s like I created a new save, a brand new save, because I hadn’t really (0:41:01) Micah: Mm-Hmm (0:41:06) Al: played it on my steam deck. (0:41:07) Al: I had done it originally on, on switch and so I brought a brand new save and I sunk (0:41:14) Al: a hundred hours into it. (0:41:15) Al: So we’re giving it to Stardew, Stardew 1.6 update of the year with honorable mentions (0:41:20) Micah: Yeah. I think so. (0:41:30) Al: for Disney Dreamlight Valley and Dave the Diver, specifically the Godzilla one. (0:41:33) Codey: Godzilla. (0:41:34) Micah: I am floored. (0:41:36) Al: The dredge one is fun and has more content on it, but the Godzilla one was the one that (0:41:41) Codey: You’re floored. (0:41:43) Micah: I’m floored that Coral Island did not. (0:41:45) Micah: Going into this, I prepared, reading the list, I prepared that I was just going to fold to (0:41:50) Micah: Coral Island the second that you both defended it, but. (0:41:52) Al: No, I think everybody’s opinion is the same about Coral Island, is that 1.1 should have (0:41:58) Al: been 1.0. This is obviously what matters to them, but if they had waited until the 1.1 update to (0:41:59) Micah: Mm-hmm (0:42:06) Al: release 1.0, I reckon it would have been Game of the Year this year. For us, obviously not, (0:42:10) Micah: Mm-hmm. Yep (0:42:10) Codey: Yeah, yep, for everything. (0:42:14) Al: for the Game Awards. All right, next we have Early Access Game of the Year. (0:42:20) Al: So our nominations for this. (0:42:22) Al: A new leaf memories chill town for lands fields of mystery garden life cozy simulator go go down like your frontier of life and land and over magic. (0:42:36) Al: And the opinions from other hosts are one that I think we can probably discount over magic because it sounds magical. I think this person. I think this person has not played any early access games this year. (0:42:46) Codey: With the shrug emoji? (0:42:50) Al: Uh, we have to vote. (0:42:52) Al: I think the early access game of the year should be demos. (0:42:58) Al: Honestly, everything that’s come out in early access has been a disappointment. (0:43:02) Al: It’s become the vehicle for a game with a single cool concept to release, get bits of hype, and then proceed to deliver something exceptionally mid. (0:43:10) Al: Meanwhile, there has been a resurgence of demos, games trying to win your business by offering a slice. (0:43:14) Al: These games are the ones that have brought me joy this year. (0:43:18) Al: this year, death to early access, long-lived demos. (0:43:22) Al: So that’s two votes for Fields of Mystery and one for demos. (0:43:27) Al: There’s not any specific demo, just demos in general. (0:43:34) Al: For me, it’s Fields of Mystery. (0:43:36) Al: I think Fields of Mystery is a fantastic start for the game. (0:43:40) Al: I think it does. (0:43:42) Al: What I really hate about Early Access is when it’s like, here’s the game, but it’s buggy. (0:43:49) Al: I much prefer how Fields of Mystery have done it and how (0:43:52) Al: like Ooblets did it and Carl Island did it, which is here is a very solid base for the game. It feels (0:43:59) Al: like it’s a complete game and you just hit roadblocks along the way. I think that’s a really good way (0:44:03) Al: of doing it. I do kind of agree with Johnny and that this can be a problem in many cases. It’s (0:44:08) Al: sometimes hard to go back to games when you’ve started with early access, but I do think that (0:44:13) Al: means most people probably just shouldn’t play early access games, but you know, what can you do? (0:44:20) Al: I also enjoyed Gogotown. (0:44:22) Al: I am not sure if this is a good one, but I feel like they have a lot more work to do to make a fully formed game. (0:44:28) Al: It also released in AWP, it didn’t feel buggy sort of aspect and you had the core bones of the game there, but there’s no real narrative there and it kind of felt a little bit like it fell off quite quickly. (0:44:42) Al: So that’s why I would vote for Fields of Mistreer. (0:44:44) Al: Hmph. (0:44:44) Codey: Uh, I didn’t play any of these and, um, I kind of agree with Johnny, but also (0:44:51) Codey: like, basically early access is just a way to almost like crowdfund something. (0:44:56) Codey: So you’re like pitching your, your base ideas to an audience and then they (0:45:02) Codey: give you money to like, make it what you want it to be like to develop it. (0:45:07) Codey: Cause they’re, they believe in what you’re doing. (0:45:09) Codey: Uh, so like I see the value of early access, but I also. (0:45:14) Codey: I, I think that it’s often like abused in that it’s just, like you said, like (0:45:21) Codey: release the buggy version or release like a small version to like, generate (0:45:26) Codey: hype or something. (0:45:28) Codey: Um, so yeah, I’m, I mean, I, I am willing to just like pass or defer my (0:45:35) Codey: judgment to y’all, like whatever y’all decide, cause I just personally, unless (0:45:39) Codey: there’s this super big argument for any one particular thing, and we want to (0:45:43) Codey: thing and we want to discuss. (0:45:46) Micah: Well, that might make things easy because I also not voting for fields of mystery. (0:45:52) Codey: Yay, fields of mystery. (0:45:53) Micah: Yeah, I, I do, I agree with what a lot of what Al said that, you know, the, the core (0:46:05) Micah: of the game is so solid. (0:46:08) Micah: It’s also just, you know, it does feel so, so heavily based in like stardew core. (0:46:16) Micah: Or that like, you know, I think that can be seen as a negative sometimes now where like, (0:46:22) Micah: you know, it’s just, it started with a coat of paint or like, it started with like a different (0:46:28) Micah: slightly different feature or whatever. (0:46:30) Micah: But I think there’s enough things that stand out in fields of mystery to separate it. (0:46:36) Micah: Like, I don’t know, just quest progression and I just feel like the, I mean, personally, (0:46:47) Micah: I like the pixel, the pixel art is beautiful. (0:46:49) Micah: The, the character portraits are fantastic. (0:46:53) Micah: They’re done in that kind of like 90s Bishoujo, like anime style, like, like magical girl, (0:47:01) Micah: kind of like Sailor Moon era anime. (0:47:03) Micah: And I, it, it just also, you know, everybody in the game is, is beautiful, which I think, (0:47:12) Micah: you know, Cody had the issue with Coral Island, but you know, like (0:47:16) Codey: Yeah. (0:47:16) Micah: just like one, somewhat like normal person, you know, would be cool to see but, but, but yeah, I mean, everyone is very, very nice to look a

This week, we catch up with one of the most influential video game music composers of all time, Chris Huelsbeck! Chris takes us back to his early days with the Commodore 64 and Amiga, his groundbreaking work on classic games like Turrican, The Great Giana Sisters, and R-Type, and his innovative techniques that pushed the boundaries of game audio.   Recorded live at Retromessa in Norway. Contents: 00:00 - The Week's Retro News Stories  43:04 - Chris Huelsbeck Panel Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show: Bitmap Books - https://www.bitmapbooks.com Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs Get 3 months of ExpressVPN for FREE: https://expressvpn.com/retro We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you'd like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://theretrohour.com/support/ https://www.patreon.com/retrohour Get your Retro Hour merchandise: https://bit.ly/33OWBKd Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8 Website: http://theretrohour.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour Show notes: Sonic Ultra Saturn: Fan-made 2D Sonic game: https://tinyurl.com/45dufpkt C64 Games on YouTube: Transmitting games at 30 bits per second: https://tinyurl.com/ysxs7cpx PS2 Gold Mine: Rare game drops in value: https://tinyurl.com/2xxzjexy Jason Bradbury Film: Retro gamers vs AI: https://tinyurl.com/5n98b649 Spelunky C64: Official port for the Commodore 64: https://tinyurl.com/ysbxx52y

Sonic the Hedgehog is still a gaming superstar, but his games appeal to different audiences. Some prefer his classic 2-D excursions; others like his more free-roaming adventures. And yet, the complaints are rife for either approach: "2-D Sonic can't do anything new/3-D Sonic misses the point!" Are these naysayers being unreasonable...or might they have a point? Might they be noticing...a certain inconvenient truth?Visit lostnostalgia.com for more retro news and reviews.Thanks to Decktonic for the intro/outro tune

SuperPod Saga NEEDS TO GO FAST! This week Aaron is joined by Thrak of “The 3DO Experience” and Raphael of “The Geeky Dad Podcast!” as they discuss every 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game!  Thrak: https://twitter.com/3dopodcast Raphael: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegeekydadpodcast More SuperPod Saga: https://www.superpodsaga.com/ Support the show on Patreon for only $2 or $4 a month and get some cool goodies! https://www.patreon.com/superpodsaga Bones Coffee has some of the best flavors of coffee that I've ever tasted. Do me a FLAVOR and check some out! Click the link below and use one-time code "SUPERPODSAGA" at checkout to get 20% off of your order! https://www.bonescoffee.com/?rfsn=7344707.323bd7 Liquid I.V. - Ready to shop better hydration, use my special link https://zen.ai/aarontommysuperpodsaga to save 20% off anything you order 00:00 - Intro and Guest Intro  03:18 - Topic of the Day and Discord Q&A 15:30 - Sonic the Hedgehog 23:18 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 32:47 - Sonic CD 39:24 - Sonic Chaos 40:59 - Sonic 3 & Knuckles 48:25 - Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble 49:17 - Knuckles' Chaotix 54:47 - Sonic Blast 55:59 - Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure 57:57 - Patron shout-out and ad break 01:08:57 - Sonic Advance 1, 2, and 3 01:17:08 - Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure 01:22:09 - Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and Episode II 01:29:47 - Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal and Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice 01:32:19 - Sonic Mania and Sonic Superstars 01:09:36 - Wrappin' it all up and Outro

Al and Codey talk about some ideas they have for new cottagecore games Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:05:04: What Have We Been Up To 00:13:29: News 00:27:56: Cottagecore Game Ideas 01:12:59: Outro Links Turnip Boy Robs a Bank on Steam Turnip Boy Robs a Bank on Switch Cult of the Lamb “Sins of the Flesh” Update Meetlight Alpha Info Chill Town Beta Info Rusty’s Retirement Mac Confirmation Immortal Life on Steam Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers, and welcome to another episode of The Harvest Season. My name is Al, (0:00:38) Codey: And my name is Cody. (0:00:39) Al: and we are here today to talk about cartridge core games. (0:00:46) Al: Cody, it’s been so long. It’s been a whole week since we talked. (0:00:51) Codey: A whole week, yeah. And this was a surprise. I didn’t realize I was gonna be on. I was like, (0:00:58) Al: I don’t think we need to talk about the fact that who is on this podcast has changed three different times. (0:00:59) Codey: oh man, I’m not recording for a while. And now, now I… (0:01:08) Codey: I mean, it’s just, yeah, I guess it’s just the fact of my travel plans got messed up. I was supposed to be home right now. (0:01:20) Codey: But for those in the United States, you will know that there is a huge winter storm happening back to back to back. There’s much weather. (0:01:28) Al: There is weather. Weather is happening. January weather. (0:01:30) Codey: There’s so much weather. And I was like, not… my flights got canceled like three times and I was just like, ah. (0:01:38) Codey: No, I’m just gonna stop. I’m just gonna stop trying to go home now. Which ended up working out because the whole… one of the whole reasons I was trying to go was because my grandma was supposed to have shoulder surgery and I was gonna like help out. (0:01:50) Codey: But then literally the day before I left, I was supposed to leave. That got scheduled to February and it was like not when I was gonna be there. So it works out because I can now make sure that I’m there for that. (0:02:02) Codey: But it just was frustrating because I was supposed to be on vacation. (0:02:08) Codey: But such is life and… yeah. (0:02:12) Codey: How is weather where you are? (0:02:14) Al: Yeah, it’s cold, but it’s not too cold. (0:02:20) Codey: Oh man, it heckin’… it heckin’ whimdy here. (0:02:20) Al: It’s just kind of standard winter cold for here. (0:02:26) Al: Yeah, I mean, it’s all, I mean, I’m coastal, so it’s always windy here, right? (0:02:30) Al: But which I think is part of the reason why it feels colder. (0:02:30) Codey: Ma’am. (0:02:35) Al: Because it’s like, it’s only minus one Celsius here, which is… (0:02:39) Codey: It’s like 30. (0:02:40) Al: - Yeah, almost exactly, but the wind, (0:02:44) Al: the wind gets you. (0:02:45) Codey: I have a european roommate. I know how to do these conversions. (0:02:51) Al: There are a few I know off the top of my head. (0:02:53) Al: That should have been one, because of course, (0:02:55) Codey: It’s fine. (0:02:56) Al: I knew that we should have been one, (0:02:59) Al: but for some reason, my brain, not worky. (0:03:04) Al: So. (0:03:04) Codey: Oh, I also did want to mention, uh, listeners, if you have any interest in listening to (0:03:12) Codey: an episode about, uh, the best version number systems. I was talking to my partner about it the other day and he like mentioned this very specific version number system and I was like, (0:03:28) Codey: Oh my gosh, we could make a whole episode out of it. (0:03:31) Al: Well, of course we could. It doesn’t mean we need to. (0:03:34) Al: Presumably it was SemVer he was talking about, semantic questioning. (0:03:34) Codey: But yeah, he was talking about some bear. So yeah, uh, listeners, if you want to hear about that. (0:03:37) Al: Yeah. (0:03:41) Al: The problem is that SemVer only really makes sense for things with interfaces, (0:03:48) Al: which, you know, user facing software is not, and people use it for that. (0:03:51) Al: But then it doesn’t really map in the exact same way. (0:03:53) Al: So you’re like, well, at what point are we going to do this? (0:03:56) Al: Because the whole point of that is that you only change a major version number when there’s something backwards incompatible. (0:04:01) Al: It doesn’t make any sense when you’re not an interface. (0:04:02) Codey: Well, that’s why we need to devise a cottage ver. Cottage semver. (0:04:05) Al: Are we doing it? (0:04:08) Al: Are we doing it or we just or we just don’t? (0:04:11) Codey: Caught semver. (0:04:12) Al: Well, I mean, I’ve already done it, right? (0:04:14) Al: I’ve said you just have two numbers, one when you’re adding new stuff, (0:04:17) Al: one when you’re adding when you’re fixing bugs. (0:04:19) Al: That’s it done. You don’t need any more. (0:04:20) Codey: Like one for content one for patch (0:04:22) Al: Don’t. Yeah, that’s all you need. (0:04:24) Al: You don’t need any more. Two numbers. (0:04:25) Codey: Okay, but we could definitely get into this in an episode (0:04:27) Al: No, that’s it. That’s it. We’re done. (0:04:30) Codey: listeners if you really want to You [laughing] (0:04:31) Al: Transcripts for this podcast are (0:04:34) Al: available in the show notes and on the website five minutes in. (0:04:38) Al: So, you know, as useful as that is this episode, we’re going to talk about some ideas that we’ve had for what we want people to make Cottagecore games off. (0:04:48) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:04:48) Al: So and then we’re going to argue about them, maybe. (0:04:52) Al: I don’t know. We’ll see. (0:04:54) Al: We so before that, we’ve got a bunch of news. (0:04:59) Al: I’m then first of all by. (0:05:01) Al: Not for bob, wording segways. (0:05:03) Codey: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. (0:05:05) Al: But first of all, Cody, what have you been up to? (0:05:08) Codey: I have been (0:05:12) Codey: Playing I’m still playing coral island (0:05:15) Codey: Still enjoying that but I was also am also playing Palia And so I was playing a lot of coral island because I was home and had my Xbox and I could play it And I knew that when I went on vacation (0:05:27) Codey: Hot I wasn’t gonna be able to play it because I don’t bring my Xbox on vacation (0:05:33) Codey: I am bringing my switch and so I was like, oh I can play so much Palia on my vacation But now vacation is kind of stalled, but I don’t know I’m still probably gonna be playing a decent amount of Palia here in the next few weeks But I’ve also been reading a lot of books. So I (0:05:52) Codey: Got into The Poppy War series by RF Kwang. I picked up some Joe Abercrombie books. These are all fantasy books I’m really trying to like pull out the fantasy (0:06:04) Codey: listeners here like come at me with your book recommendations because I freaking love them and then I (0:06:10) Codey: Finally caved and bought the second book in the fourth wing series iron flame (0:06:15) Codey: Because I read fourth wing. It was okay, but I do (0:06:24) Codey: So But there’s like a 40-week wait for my library and I found one (0:06:31) Codey: for pretty cheap, so I finally (0:06:33) Codey: just caved and bought that. So I have a giant stack of books that were for vacation. (0:06:39) Codey: So now I just have a giant stack of books waiting for when I can read them. (0:06:44) Codey: But yeah, so listeners hit me with those fantasy, fantasy wrecks on on the slack. I do love some fantasy books. (0:06:52) Al: Well, well, here’s a fun thing. (0:06:54) Al: I bet you weren’t expecting me to have some actual stuff on books. (0:06:57) Al: I don’t have not been reading, don’t worry. (0:06:59) Al: But you mentioned Iron Flame and I was like, oh, that is the book that I bought (0:07:04) Al: my sister for Christmas. So there you go. (0:07:05) Codey: Oh, yeah, there you go. (0:07:07) Al: Because it was on her wish list. (0:07:10) Codey: I mean, you might know some of the books. (0:07:12) Codey: So my partner, I’m in his apartment right now, and he has a book that was called like, (0:07:17) Codey: let me just find the picture of it, but it was really stupid. (0:07:19) Codey: And then he has another one here. (0:07:21) Codey: This is his bedside reading. (0:07:23) Codey: The Linux programming interface. (0:07:26) Al: Oh my word, what an arid. (0:07:29) Codey: Oh, and domain design. (0:07:31) Codey: But there was this one that was so funny. (0:07:36) Codey: It was… (0:07:39) Codey: Oh, I also yesterday had, I’m in New York City, (0:07:42) Codey: and I had a milkshake that had a whole ass piece of cake on top. (0:07:46) Codey: It was so goofy. (0:07:48) Codey: Made sense why it was $15. (0:07:50) Codey: Okay, the book is called Data Design for Mere Mortals. (0:07:54) Codey: Database Design for Mere Mortals. (0:07:56) Codey: So stupid. (0:07:57) Codey: Anyway, that seems like the kind of books that you would read out. (0:07:58) Al: Well, sure, in theory, like when I was in uni, I had to read a whole bunch of books like that, but I didn’t. I bought them and then I sold them. It’s just not like I don’t, (0:08:07) Codey: Okay, okay, that’s fair (0:08:13) Al: I’m not going to learn by reading paper about how these things, it’s just, it’s not how it works for me. (0:08:16) Codey: Mm-hmm. That’s fair. Yeah. Well, he said that he was going to be selling the database design from your mortals book. That wasn’t great. So don’t get that if you are a programmer. (0:08:26) Al: Well, you have reminded me just before I go on to what I’ve done, I was reminded of, (0:08:28) Codey: What about you, Al? What have you been up to? (0:08:34) Al: so you mentioned Coral Island, I had some feedback from John, listener of the podcast, (0:08:36) Codey: - Yeah. (0:08:40) Al: my brother-in-law, who we had been mentioning about the weirdness of how Coral Island kind of stops at some point, and he wanted to point out that not of the missing giant seems okay, it would be weird if they decided to add that later and had to shoehorn it in, but also I don’t think you need to resolve every single storyline, (0:08:50) Codey: Okay, yeah (0:09:10) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:09:14) Codey: Yeah. (0:09:14) Al: which I think is a fair point. What I replied to him was, “Yeah, that’s fair. I think I’m just a bit more miffed about it because of the bug with the quest.” That in and of itself (0:09:24) Codey: Yeah. (0:09:26) Al: was quite annoying. So that’s a fair point. I take that on board. Not all storylines need to be 100% resolved. That is totally fair. (0:09:36) Codey: Mm-hmm. True. Well, okay, and now what have you been playing? (0:09:40) Al: So basically just Pokémon. There is a game I’m meant to be playing for the podcast, but we delayed that episode because I’m really bad sometimes at playing games. So it got to Friday and I’m like “I’ve played 15 minutes of this game, can we delay this episode?” (0:09:56) Al: I’ve not been playing that, I have been playing Pokemon, because the epilogue came out this week, so I’ve played that. (0:10:04) Codey: Is that sword in Scarlet the Violet? (0:10:06) Al: Yes, yeah, so it’s the kind of extra random bit of story at the end after the two DLCs. (0:10:08) Codey: OK. (0:10:14) Al: So yeah, I enjoyed it, it’s not a huge thing, if you’re paying attention, it’ll take you like an hour and a half, two hours. If you’re zooming through (0:10:24) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:10:26) Codey: Hmm. (0:10:26) Al: it, you can get it done in like 40 minutes. But it was a fun little extra thing. So I’ve played that on both games. And now I’ve done my regular thing of remembering that my Pokemon living decks with all the forms, I’ve not completed all of the forms. So I’m doing some more of that. And I’m currently getting really annoyed trying to find an aqua Aldi and Taurus, (0:10:28) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:10:52) Al: they’re such a small… what’s the word… (0:10:56) Codey: drop rate? Yeah. (0:10:56) Al: Spawn rate. Yeah. So anyway, that’s fun. I enjoy it. Whatever. (0:11:03) Al: And then also I have watched… so I did my regular one month of Netflix to watch everything that’s on it. (0:11:11) Codey: Okay, yep (0:11:12) Al: And so I’ve watched a bunch of things. I’ve watched Wednesday and I watched One Piece, the live action One Piece. (0:11:19) Al: And I watched the new season of Sonic Prime and there’s a couple other things I want to watch as well. (0:11:25) Al: So yeah, I’ve been in. (0:11:26) Al: Consuming a lot of that of stuff that’s come out in the last year or two. (0:11:28) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:11:31) Al: And but I haven’t watched it because I didn’t have Netflix at the time. (0:11:34) Codey: Cool. Uh, yeah, I really liked Wednesday, um… (0:11:39) Codey: I didn’t… I’m not… I didn’t… I haven’t watched One Piece, and part of me wants to not watch the live-action because then what if I then want to get into the anime? (0:11:45) Al: What about it? (0:11:49) Codey: You know… (0:11:51) Codey: That’s a commitment. (0:11:51) Al: Well, yeah, but my point is like, I don’t… (0:11:56) Al: Oh, you mean, what if watching the live action makes you want to watch the anime? (0:11:59) Codey: Yes. (0:12:00) Al: I don’t think it will. (0:12:03) Al: And equally, I think that from what I can gather, the live action first series of the live action covers like the first 500 episodes or something insane of the anime. (0:12:12) Codey: Oh, yeah. (0:12:15) Al: Just there’s so much, like, you know what animes are like, right? (0:12:20) Al: They pad things out so much and there’s so many filler episodes. (0:12:23) Al: I might be a little bit exaggerating with 500, but certainly it was like, it was a lot of the episodes it covers with the first 10 episodes of the live action. (0:12:33) Al: So if they keep going with that, which they’ve said they’re doing a second season so far, (0:12:37) Al: it’s Netflix, so you never know. (0:12:40) Al: I suspect they would catch up pretty quickly. (0:12:44) Al: So. (0:12:45) Al: Yeah. I enjoyed it. I thought it was good fun. (0:12:49) Al: It is not at all what I expected it to be. (0:12:51) Al: I don’t know why I expected it to be, but I didn’t expect it to be Pirates. (0:12:54) Al: I didn’t know it was about… It’s about pirates. (0:12:56) Codey: You didn’t know one piece was a wildfire. (0:12:56) Al: Did you know One Piece is about pirates? (0:13:00) Al: Why would I know it was about pirates? (0:13:02) Al: I’ve never watched or read any One Piece. (0:13:04) Al: Why would I know it’s about pirates? (0:13:04) Codey: Okay, I mean I just I’ve not watched or seen any I’ve just I just have a roommate that really likes anime. (0:13:14) Al: Yeah, I have never had a conversation about One Piece that isn’t just “Oh, you’re going to watch One Piece? (0:13:21) Al: Haha, no, it’s very long.” (0:13:22) Codey: Okay, okay. Yeah, no, it’s about pirates. (0:13:28) Codey: Yeah, cool. (0:13:28) Al: So I enjoyed that. (0:13:30) Al: Shall we talk about some news? (0:13:34) Al: Turn it boy, Rob’s a bank. (0:13:36) Al: I don’t know when they announced that when this game was coming out, (0:13:39) Al: because apparently it’s coming out on Thursday. (0:13:43) Codey: - Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, the day after this comes out, right? (0:13:44) Al: No, yeah, Thursday. (0:13:46) Al: So, yes, yes. (0:13:49) Al: So I don’t know when they announced that, but apparently they did. (0:13:53) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:13:53) Al: And I’ve pre-ordered it on Switch. (0:13:57) Al: So there we go. (0:13:58) Codey: You excited? (0:13:59) Al: Oh, yeah, loved the first game. (0:14:00) Codey: You excited to rob a bank? (0:14:01) Al: It was fantastic. (0:14:03) Al: Absolutely. (0:14:03) Al: And I mean, the first game wasn’t really cottage core and it wasn’t really farming. (0:14:08) Al: You farm like you grow plants to use as a sword, (0:14:13) Al: which is about as far as the farming goes, and it’s very much not cottage core. (0:14:18) Al: But I enjoyed it nonetheless. (0:14:19) Al: This game, even less cottage core. (0:14:22) Al: I suspect because you’re robbing a bank. (0:14:26) Al: So yeah. (0:14:28) Al: I don’t know, playing fast and loose with the term “cottage core” here. (0:14:29) Codey: Well, you still gotta cover it, ‘cause you still gotta cover it, because we gotta know. (0:14:34) Al: Absolutely. Of course. Of course. (0:14:35) Codey: We need the deets, so. (0:14:39) Al: So there we go. That’s a thing. (0:14:40) Codey: Very exciting. (0:14:42) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:14:44) Codey: No. (0:14:45) Codey: No. (0:14:45) Al: Did you play the first? Well, the first is currently on sale on Steam. 66% off. (0:14:52) Codey: That’s crazy. Is it part of the communism? No, capitalism. (0:14:57) Al: Yeah, yeah, I saw someone. (0:14:58) Al: Post it like, “Oh, it’s capitalism sale, isn’t that just all sales?” (0:15:04) Codey: Yeah. (0:15:04) Al: Capitalism and Economy Fest, that’s what it’s called. (0:15:06) Codey: Yep. (0:15:08) Codey: Which will be done by the time the podcast comes out. (0:15:10) Codey: Sorry, y’all. (0:15:12) Codey: But I saw Parkasaurus was on it. (0:15:14) Codey: I was like, ooh. (0:15:15) Al: Park gazares. It looks like it’s also- (0:15:16) Codey: But… (0:15:18) Codey: Well, I have very little money in the world. (0:15:23) Codey: Especially because I just had to reschedule something. (0:15:26) Codey: I like… (0:15:27) Al: Turn it by. (0:15:28) Codey: Turn it boy. (0:15:30) Codey: like, uh, make planning my flights like so (0:15:34) Codey: many months in advance, so you, so it’s super, super cheap, but I am now having to reschedule to like less than a month and now I’m, I’m grumpy, but it’s fine. Turn it boy. Whoo. (0:15:36) Al: Mm. (0:15:41) Al: Stress. (0:15:46) Al: Pelt of the Lamb are releasing their Sins of the Flesh update. (0:15:54) Al: So we’re going to be nice and careful with this, (0:15:57) Al: because this is generally a family-friendly podcast. (0:16:00) Codey: Well it’s like in Pokemon when you breed, when you have eggs, because they are eggs. (0:16:01) Al: There is procreation now coming to the game. (0:16:05) Al: And, um… (0:16:06) Al: Yeah, exactly. (0:16:11) Al: Or in The Sims, where the babies happen. (0:16:14) Codey: Yeah you just, you just adopt them. (0:16:18) Codey: This is fine. (0:16:20) Codey: Yeah so you can now have that, they have this like nudity which is really cute because they they have just like a little leaf, which I thought was… (0:16:30) Codey: super cute. They have new progression systems, so some of your followers can be kind of beefier, I guess, and there’s more benefits for them. (0:16:44) Codey: One benefit in particular that I thought you were going to like, Al, is the improved automation. (0:16:49) Codey: So there’s now a janitor station and storage structures that you can build, and it allows helps so that your followers can take better care of themselves. (0:16:57) Codey: so that when you come back you’re not coming back to… (0:17:00) Codey: chaos. There’s a new gun that helps you fight heretics. You can build… I don’t remember what it was called but it’s like a… I think it’s the tailor and that allows your followers to have better fashion. And then my favorite part was on the Twitter link which will be linked in the show notes about this. (0:17:26) Codey: the Among Us Twitter responded with finally. (0:17:30) Al: Yeah, that’s just asking for them to be asked why they don’t have (0:17:31) Codey: It’s just like, why? (0:17:41) Codey: Like why, why Among Us doesn’t have nudity? (0:17:45) Codey: Okay. Are they people? (0:17:45) Al: Anyway, I noticed something funny. They have a URL shortener, their own URL shortener called cult.link. I just thought it was fun. (0:18:00) Codey: Very cute. I still really want to play this game, and I still haven’t played it yet. (0:18:06) Codey: So, have we done a second harvest on it? (0:18:10) Al: “Yes, I want to say that was me,” he says, searching. (0:18:14) Codey: Okay. (0:18:17) Codey: He says with a question mark at the end. (0:18:18) Al: Yeah, yeah, we did. Me and Bev did a second harvest on it. (0:18:22) Codey: Okay, well maybe I maybe I need (0:18:24) Al: And I think it was Kevin and Kelly who did the first. (0:18:26) Codey: Kelly. (0:18:30) Codey: Well, maybe I need to do, maybe me and Johnny will do the sins of the flesh update. (0:18:38) Al: Well, why not? I think we’re like, we’re very soon going to have our fifth episode on Stardew Valley, so. (0:18:40) Codey: Yeah. (0:18:44) Codey: Yeah. (0:18:46) Codey: It happens. (0:18:46) Codey: So, because I do really want to work with you. (0:18:49) Al: Fair enough. Meatlight, which still hate the name, they have delayed their alpha, which was meant to be coming out at the end of the year. (0:18:59) Al: It’s now coming summer 2024, with apparently the beta coming a month later. I highly doubt there’s going to be a month. (0:19:02) Codey: That’s what they said, but yeah, I also have some doubts. (0:19:08) Al: Between the alpha and the beta, that is not going to happen. But we’ll see. So that’s on Kickstarter. (0:19:19) Al: If you’re an alpha or a beta backer, you’ll get the information. (0:19:24) Codey: They also said that they’re going to reduce the amount of updates that they try and post because they want to be able to focus on development. (0:19:31) Codey: So they’re only planning to release updates every three months. (0:19:35) Codey: And they do have in this update that they have on Kickstarter right now, they have some information about new music, some information about one of the villages, some screenshots of a new room of a romance character, etc. (0:19:48) Codey: So stuff to look at to look forward to the alpha when it comes out in the summer. (0:19:56) Al: Chill Town have released their beta. (0:19:58) Al: So again, if you’re a Kickstarter of the beta level, which I’m not. (0:20:04) Al: I just did the base one because I know I’ve got too many games to play as it is. (0:20:08) Al: I don’t need to be adding on alphas and betas to that. (0:20:12) Al: Check your Kickstarter email. (0:20:13) Al: They’ll have sent you. (0:20:18) Codey: And they’re moving along. (0:20:21) Codey: They’re having a lot of stuff come out for it, which is really cool. (0:20:27) Codey: So I also hadn’t seen this game before, I don’t think. (0:20:29) Codey: And it looks very Animal Crossing. (0:20:33) Codey: But they have some wilderness that you can explore. (0:20:36) Codey: So you can choose a different type of island to go explore and just get ready. (0:20:39) Codey: resources from which is really cool and then they also added new flowers and fencing and stuff like that so it looks like they’re really active in development so good for them. (0:20:48) Al: Yup, yup, yup, yup. (0:20:49) Codey: Mm hmm. Yes. (0:20:50) Al: I’m looking forward to it. (0:20:51) Al: I think it’s an exciting game. (0:20:54) Al: One specifically for Cody, Rusty’s retirement is coming, confirmed, coming to Mac now. (0:21:00) Al: Wait, is this good or is this bad? (0:21:02) Codey: It’s good, because I wanted to play this. (0:21:03) Al: OK, right, but it’s bad because it’ll always be on your computer now. (0:21:08) Codey: That’s fine. (0:21:10) Codey: That’s fine. (0:21:11) Codey: I’ll just turn it on. I’ll just turn on the focus mode. (0:21:15) Al: OK. (0:21:16) Al: I mean, that requires like. (0:21:18) Al: Like discipline, which I’m not going to say you don’t have, that would be harsh. (0:21:22) Codey: Well, I don’t right now, but… (0:21:25) Al: But we’re very similar and I don’t have that discipline. (0:21:30) Al: So. (0:21:30) Codey: We are very similar. (0:21:32) Codey: You’re not wrong. However, I think by the time this comes out, I will have my medication. (0:21:38) Al: It’s, well, laddie dah, sorry for some. (0:21:42) Al: It’s one of these things, this is one of these things I was talking to my therapist about. (0:21:47) Al: She was like, “Oh, do you ever do these things, like positive reinforcement things?” (0:21:51) Al: And I’m like, I’m just, my brain knows I’m tricking it, right? (0:21:55) Codey: Yeah. Oh, yeah. (0:21:56) Al: It doesn’t care. (0:21:57) Al: It’s like, I can just, it’s like, oh, if I do this thing, I get a snack and it can go, (0:22:01) Al: I can just have the snack, right? (0:22:03) Codey: I can just do that. Yeah. (0:22:04) Al: I don’t, I can’t trick myself. (0:22:08) Al: I don’t know how this works. (0:22:09) Codey: Yeah, I try and like, like, they’re like, oh, just like, schedule it and impose, impose a deadline on yourself. (0:22:10) Al: So yeah. (0:22:16) Codey: And I’m like, well, yeah, but I know that I can just move the deadline so it doesn’t do anything for me. (0:22:18) Al: It’s a fake deadline! (0:22:25) Codey: And I’m hoping that when I get some type of ADHD meds, we’ll see what I get, I don’t know what they’re going to offer me, but hopefully I’ll have some built-in focus ability developed at that point. (0:22:38) Al: Look, I’m not, the deadline thing is funny, right? (0:22:41) Al: Because I’m not going to lie. (0:22:42) Codey: Uh huh. (0:22:43) Al: If you look at the the main episodes of the podcast and you look at the greenhouse (0:22:48) Al: episodes of the podcast, you could very much see the deadlines help. (0:22:52) Codey: Yeah, they do. (0:22:53) Al: Because every single episode of this podcast has come out on the day it’s meant to come out. (0:22:57) Codey: See, but that’s, that’s like, that’s a deadline that has another human, like other people. (0:23:01) Al: Yeah, no, that’s my point. (0:23:02) Al: That’s my point. Exactly. (0:23:04) Al: Like, I have a strict schedule and it works. (0:23:06) Al: it actually has done it. (0:23:08) Al: And there are some times that the episode has only come out because I say that there’s going to be an episode every Wednesday, right? (0:23:13) Codey: Exactly. (0:23:14) Al: There have been weeks where that might not have happened. (0:23:18) Codey: Yeah. (0:23:19) Al: And then you look at the greenhouse and it’s like, oh, there was nothing in April or May. (0:23:23) Al: And then there were six in June. (0:23:28) Codey: Yeah, but… (0:23:28) Al: Because it’s like, all I say about that one is, roughly two a month. (0:23:32) Codey: Yeah. (0:23:32) Al: And let me tell you, you got two a month last year, just not every. (0:23:36) Codey: Roughly. (0:23:38) Al: Every month you got an average, an average of two a month. (0:23:40) Codey: Over time. (0:23:43) Codey: Over time, you got the quantity, but they just did not release twice a month. (0:23:48) Al: There was no regularity to that. (0:23:51) Codey: Whatever people appreciate it. (0:23:52) Al: Thank you, my patrons. (0:23:55) Codey: They’d probably, I mean, TBH, the patrons probably appreciate the waiting for us to have things that we’re excited to talk about versus forcing content that we might not necessarily be as excited to talk about, so yeah. (0:24:03) Al: Well, that’s true. (0:24:06) Al: That’s true. (0:24:08) Al: Yeah. (0:24:10) Al: How many more Sonic episodes will we do? (0:24:13) Codey: Many. (0:24:13) Al: I don’t know. (0:24:16) Al: Immortal life. (0:24:18) Al: By the way, I enjoyed the Sonic Prime. (0:24:20) Al: Sonic Prime was good. (0:24:22) Al: Kevin said, “I’ve heard that it’s bad.” (0:24:25) Al: And no, I don’t think it is. (0:24:27) Al: I think it’s good. (0:24:28) Al: It is a self-contained three series arc, (0:24:31) Al: a very specific story and I think. (0:24:33) Al: It’s a really, it’s basically like multiversal Sonic, and I think it’s really fun. (0:24:38) Al: So if you’ve ever wanted to see three, four different kinds of Amy all fighting together, (0:24:44) Al: go watch Sonic Prime. (0:24:46) Codey: Mmm, okay. (0:24:46) Al: Really good. (0:24:47) Al: Immortal life. (0:24:51) Al: Join a flourishing settlement in an idyllic valley and seek a peaceful life as you search for a way to restore your recently destroyed (0:25:03) Al: Taoist clan. (0:25:05) Al: Farm, rebuild, make friends, explore and train. (0:25:08) Al: Will you find your way to immortality in this earthly paradise? (0:25:11) Al: I don’t know, will I? (0:25:14) Al: Good question. (0:25:15) Al: So I don’t think we’ve covered this game yet, despite the fact that it’s been in early access for quite a while, nearly a year. (0:25:18) Codey: - Mm-hmm. (0:25:24) Codey: And the fact that it’s coming out pretty soon. (0:25:24) Al: But yes, the 1.0 is now coming out on the 18th of January, which is the day after this episode comes out. (0:25:32) Codey: Mm-hmm (0:25:33) Al: Now we were talking about it. (0:25:35) Codey: Mm-hmm (0:25:35) Al: There we go. (0:25:36) Al: It… (0:25:38) Codey: Yeah, I mean I I like the look of it. Um (0:25:42) Codey: It the graphics kind of give me uh, okami vibes (0:25:46) Codey: Um, which I really like okami. It’s just kind of like the (0:25:50) Codey: brush stroke um look to it in the (0:25:54) Codey: Not not all of the graphics but like a lot of the background stuff looks like it was brushed on (0:26:00) Codey: um, which is really pretty (0:26:03) Codey: Uh, it to me like it looks like a stardew clone set in china (0:26:07) Codey: Um that includes some type of magical abilities to (0:26:11) Codey: Help you with farming and and the mines and stuff like that. It looks like there was some combat based magic system (0:26:14) Al: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that’s pretty fair. The stardew clone with magic set in China sounds pretty, pretty fair from what I can see, which is like, it’s one of these things where had this come out five years ago, would I be playing it? Probably like, I don’t think I’m going to spend the time to play this game because it’s like, I’m not seeing anything that really hooks me and says you must play this now. The crops look really nice. (0:26:40) Codey: Mm-hmm. Yeah, they do. I was gonna say the the crops themselves look pretty unique and pretty nice. (0:26:49) Codey: Um, yeah, I mean I’m in the same boat as you. I have too many games and too little money and too little time. So something has to have some uh a hook that’s really different and jumps out and and snags me to to make me play it. So, um, but looks cool and is gonna come out, so. (0:27:11) Codey: Yeah, check it out. (0:27:12) Al: Yeah, if it looks, if it sounds good to you, go get it. (0:27:16) Codey: Immortal life. What is it available? (0:27:18) Al: Immortal life. It is on Steam, just for Windows, as far as I can see. (0:27:26) Al: And it is coming to PS4 and Switch, but I don’t see anything about when it’s actually coming. (0:27:35) Al: It looks like they announced initially that it was coming out on PS4 and Switch, (0:27:41) Al: And then didn’t. (0:27:42) Al: See anything else about it, so maybe it’ll come out on switch. (0:27:46) Al: Maybe it won’t. (0:27:47) Al: We’ll see. (0:27:48) Al: But as of now, we only know about the Steam version releasing on the 18th of January. (0:27:48) Codey: - Okay. (0:27:52) Codey: - Woo. (0:27:53) Codey: Ooh. (0:27:53) Al: Woo, that’s the news. (0:27:57) Al: So we’re going to talk about Cottagecore game ideas is how I’m describing it. (0:28:03) Al: And basically, I mean, OK, this all comes down to I watched a show which we’re going to talk about soon, and I thought this would be fun as a Cottagecore game. (0:28:12) Al: I went, hey, let me see if I can talk about that. (0:28:15) Al: So we’ll get to that. (0:28:17) Al: But I thought there might be other ideas that we might have about games that people could make and you could take it and go make it. (0:28:26) Codey: Yeah, so devs, if you’re listening, and if you’ve been like, “Man, I don’t know what to make, but I want to make something,” get your notebooks ready, because we’re going to throw some golden nuggets out into the world. (0:28:27) Al: And there we go. (0:28:44) Al: Yeah, first of all, we’re going to chat a little bit about what Cody thinks. (0:28:52) Codey: I just thought that to have–okay, okay, come on. (0:28:54) Al: “The top three things that a cottagecore game needs”. (0:29:00) Codey: I thought that if we were going to have this type of conversation where we’re talking about here are some ideas for Cottagecore games, we should probably have some type of preliminary discussion about what we think a Cottagecore game is, because if we’re going to say, “Then don’t come at me,” just because you didn’t write your comments. (0:29:11) Al: I think that’s totally fair. (0:29:14) Al: I’m sorry, did I say something that was negative? (0:29:20) Al: I just said that these are what Cody thinks a God’s Code game needs, (0:29:23) Al: and we’re going to talk about them. (0:29:24) Codey: It’s a just it’s a discussion (0:29:25) Al: That’s all I said. (0:29:26) Al: Where’s the negative? (0:29:27) Al: And what I said, Cody? (0:29:28) Al: Always assuming the worst here. (0:29:30) Codey: It me (0:29:32) Al: What? (0:29:32) Al: Assuming the worst or the worst? (0:29:34) Codey: Yes, same same in both and yes (0:29:40) Codey: So I sat down for a super long one minute and thought about (0:29:48) Codey: Thought about like for me like what is a requirement for something to be a cottagecore game (0:29:54) Codey: and the three things that I (0:29:57) Codey: Kind of circled around is it has to have cozy vibes so it doesn’t have to have cozy vibes in every aspect of the game, but just at least in some part there has to be like a (0:30:08) Codey: Kind of an area that has a lot of plants a lot of green (0:30:11) Codey: It has to be a fairly low stakes games. Like you’re not you’re not out here like saving the world. It’s not an action game (0:30:20) Codey: It’s just about living your life like if you were in if you had a cottage and you were living (0:30:24) Codey: in a cottage. So cozy vibes and then there has to be some aspects of growing or creating things. (0:30:32) Codey: So whether that is like actually farming or like building things like if you’re mining resources and then building something from it and then there also is generally some aspect of collecting and exploring. So collecting could be something like fishing or farm or bug catching or (0:30:54) Codey: like fossils you know that kind of thing or just exploring. So you have an area a large geographic area and you explore it you explore the mines you explore the undersea area but yeah so those were those were kind of like what I fell on as something that every cottagecore game needs or the ones that we’ve discussed, like what they generally have. (0:31:24) Codey: So come at me, what do you disagree with here? (0:31:27) Al: I didn’t say I disagreed with anything. (0:31:32) Al: And now I’m going to disagree with it. (0:31:32) Codey: Heck yeah. (0:31:34) Al: So I think this is pretty fair. (0:31:39) Al: Part of me wants to say that the growing, creating things is an optional one. (0:31:44) Codey: Okay. (0:31:45) Al: Pretty common. (0:31:46) Al: Like I’m not saying it doesn’t have, like most of them, like 90% of them would have it. (0:31:50) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:31:51) Al: But I don’t think I would say that that would be a requirement. (0:31:54) Codey: Okay. (0:31:55) Al: I think you could totally have a cozy game. (0:31:57) Al: That is focused entirely around collecting things, and have no growing or crafting or anything like that. (0:32:08) Codey: Well, so growing could also be like building I also see that as building (0:32:14) Al: OK, well, if you’re going to change what words mean, then sure. (0:32:16) Codey: Okay, I’m not changing what words mean I’m just like that’s it’s it’s like (0:32:23) Codey: Hmm cuz I would save it like bear and breakfast (0:32:26) Al: For listeners, Cody has now changed the sentence to some aspect of growing/creating/building things. (0:32:34) Al: That building was not there before. (0:32:36) Codey: No, no. So I mean, this is good because you’re helping me like become with, come up with a better just definition. We’re creating this definition together, but no. So like that was part of that is like what I thought by creating. Like I thought of like in Minecraft when you’re creating like a, when you build stuff with the crafting table. Um, but that is part of like building things. So like in Baron breakfast, for example, you don’t really grow anything but you do build (0:33:06) Codey: um you collect resources and you build like the furniture that then goes into your your hotels or your inns or your whatever you want to call them um so like that I think that that is a big part of it and even if you have some type of collection game so i’m thinking of like a game where literally all you do is go out and collect resources or collect insects or collect fish or whatever you generally like then would probably come back and build a terrarium for them or build (0:33:15) Al: Yeah, that’s fair. (0:33:33) Al: Oh yeah, generally, generally, yeah. I think it’s more just a case of like, I could absolutely, (0:33:39) Al: this is not about like, oh this game doesn’t have it, but I could totally foresee a collection-based game that is purely collection-based. And like, well no, if it’s cosy. Right? Like, I think, (0:33:44) Codey: Well then would it not be cottage court, it would just be a creature collector. (0:33:52) Codey: Okay. So it has to have two of these things. (0:33:57) Al: so if we talk like, for example, I don’t consider Pokemon generally to be Cottagecore, right? (0:33:58) Codey: Mm-mm. (0:34:02) Codey: Yeah. (0:34:03) Al: But that’s because it doesn’t have that vibe. It is, it’s about, you know, animal fights, (0:34:08) Codey: Yeah. (0:34:11) Al: right? That’s not cosy. If Pokemon didn’t have the battles, I would probably argue that many of them would be Cottagecore. And some of them have some growing aspects to them, but it’s very limited, and they haven’t done that for quite a while. So yeah. But I think most would, and I And I think that it can often– (0:34:16) Codey: Yeah. (0:34:33) Al: improve the game if they do have that. (0:34:36) Al: Because as is always common with games, you have your primary gameplay loop, (0:34:41) Al: which is doing a thing, and then you have your secondary gameplay loop, (0:34:46) Al: which uses the primary gameplay loop to do something else longer over time. (0:34:52) Al: And if you don’t have that, you don’t have your longer-term thing, (0:34:56) Al: then you get bored of the game pretty quickly. (0:34:59) Al: Um… (0:34:59) Codey: I’d say there’s also usually like a design aspect so like so you said there’s like the primary gameplay loop and then there’s the secondary one but you could do I’m one of those people where I just do those gameplay loops period end of story but a lot of games will usually also have some aspect of you can design things so like you can decorate your house or you can decorate your characters or you can decorate like all this different stuff and I think (0:35:03) Al: What do you mean by that? (0:35:29) Codey: that is also another thing at least the ability to decorate or (0:35:33) Al: Yeah, I mean, these are generally just different primary gameplay loops. (0:35:37) Codey: oh okay (0:35:38) Al: A game can have multiple of them. (0:35:39) Al: It doesn’t have to be like, there is, it doesn’t have to just be like, here’s the one thing you do, which then, as you do it lots, it unlocks other things, which then does this other thing. (0:35:49) Al: Like, it doesn’t have to be all completely interconnected. (0:35:51) Al: They can be different strands and different related things. (0:35:52) Codey: Got it. (0:35:57) Al: All right, cool. (0:35:59) Al: So let’s talk, I want to talk about my first one first, which is the one that I, (0:36:03) Al: I watched the show and I went, I want this as a game and that is Pokemon Concierge. (0:36:06) Codey: Okay. (0:36:08) Al: I want a Pokemon Concierge game. (0:36:12) Al: So for those who haven’t watched the show, (0:36:15) Al: very minor spoilers for Pokemon Concierge, but let’s be honest, (0:36:19) Al: it’s very hard to spoil that because the enjoyment of that is in watching it. (0:36:23) Al: It is about someone who escapes their life, (0:36:27) Al: their nine to five standard life to go to an island and help. (0:36:33) Al: Work at a Pokemon hotel. (0:36:35) Codey: Mm-hmm. Like a resort? (0:36:36) Al: Sounds like a cottagecore game already, doesn’t it? (0:36:40) Al: So I want that. (0:36:42) Al: Like, obviously, you could go in so many different ways with this. (0:36:47) Al: You could be in the case of the show, it’s obviously just like a worker (0:36:52) Al: and it could be just that. (0:36:53) Al: You could be a worker at the hotel doing what needs to be done. (0:36:56) Al: Or you could have it where you’re running (0:36:59) Al: hotel kind of, you know, more “better than breakfast” style. (0:37:03) Al: But it’s that, but also with Pokémon. (0:37:08) Al: I want a Pokémon cartridge core game. (0:37:10) Al: And this, I think, would work really well. (0:37:10) Codey: So I think like I like the idea of like you’re saying that you could be a worker or you could be the person running it. (0:37:13) Al: Yeah, here we go. (0:37:26) Codey: This makes me think of like the Sims where you can flip between people. (0:37:28) Al: Mm-hmm. Mmm. Ooh, yes, yes. (0:37:32) Codey: And I think that would be so cool. We’re like, if you wanted you could just you could just go be the I’m trying to think of the the Vaporeon that’s helping in the laundry. (0:37:46) Codey: And there could be like a laundry minigame that like helps you clean the sheets or something. (0:37:46) Al: I hadn’t, hadn’t even considered being the Pokemon. (0:37:52) Codey: Oh yeah, like like flipping between them. (0:37:56) Al: Hmm. (0:37:58) Codey: And I mean, maybe like you have to build up your friendship level with these Pokemon before they’ll let you be them. (0:38:06) Codey: be them? I don’t know. I don’t know. But um… (0:38:08) Al: That’s a very weird sentence, but I know what you mean. (0:38:10) Codey: Before you can inhabit their body and and control everything. (0:38:16) Al: That’s worse. (0:38:18) Al: Stop it. (0:38:20) Codey: But no, I think that would be really fun like having it where you can build your relationships with these pokemon and then you can maybe like help them with their duties. (0:38:30) Codey: So then there could be like a minigame that is laundry. A minigame that is fold the towels or make the bed, or clean the, the wall. (0:38:40) Codey: whatever, um, make the food for the, with the, gosh, what, what Pokemon would be in the kitchen? (0:38:49) Codey: A Mr. Mime? I don’t know. (0:38:50) Al: Al Kremi. (0:38:52) Codey: Well yeah, but, so like there’s, there’d be Alcrummy, there’d be, yeah. (0:38:55) Al: Thank you. (0:38:58) Codey: There’d be, there’d probably be a, a Vanillux. (0:38:58) Al: Come on, Cody. (0:39:00) Codey: Some of these don’t have hands though, like how are they going to be doing? (0:39:03) Al: But Al Kremi has hands. Come on, have you not watched the anime? (0:39:05) Codey: Okay, okay. (0:39:08) Codey: Uh, no. (0:39:10) Al: The new anime series has a lot of focus. (0:39:10) Codey: Okay. I have not. But yeah, so it would be cute to, to be able to kind of flip between the different quote unquote characters, um, and be able to kind of inhabit all aspects of running a little resort. (0:39:32) Al: Yeah, I like the addition of minigames, because that’s very much in the spirit of Pokémon side games, right? Like they quite often have lots of minigames in them, (0:39:44) Al: and also I like the idea of playing as the Pokémon. You could either do it as you’re playing just as a Pokémon, or you’re playing both as humans and as Pokémon. (0:39:53) Al: Like there’s lots of room to come up with other creative ideas within this, I think. (0:40:00) Codey: Also, in the show, are the guests of the hotel people, or are they Pokemon? (0:40:06) Al: I think they’re prime. I think I think they’re both I’m madly Pokemon (0:40:10) Codey: Because I could see like, okay, because I could see like, kind of like Baren Breakfast, (0:40:16) Codey: where some people want rooms that have more of X, and some people have rooms that have more and more Y. (0:40:24) Codey: Like, have it where you have a room that’s great for fire type Pokemon. (0:40:30) Codey: And you have a room that’s great for grass type, and like you have these rooms, or you can quickly redecorate a room to be in the style of a different Pokemon typing, (0:40:42) Codey: and you’d get like a bonus for matching those. (0:40:47) Al: Yeah, yeah, I think I would. So I think in this game, I think it would make most sense for all of the guests to be Pokemon. I think thematically that would make most sense. And also then you’re not having to create human characters that you would actually ever care about. And you have like a built in, here are a thousand Pokemon that we can use. (0:41:12) Codey: what if and what if you have it you fill a polka decks with your guests and and you can also if your room is so great and your guests say you get an IV sore coming and you give it a room that it just loves what if it evolves while it’s there, because it’s so happy. Wouldn’t that be so? (0:41:18) Al: There you go. It’s a Pokemon game. Perfect. (0:41:39) Al: What? What? Yes. This is perfect. Right, Pokemon, you can have this idea. There you go. Make a… It’d be hilarious if they ended up coming out with it, like, on Pokemon Day they announce it and it’s like, “We had the idea, seconds technically, I guess, because you’ve been developing this for a couple years now.” (0:41:42) Codey: So cute. (0:41:44) Codey: Yep. (0:41:44) Codey: Yep. (0:41:44) Codey: Yeah. Yep. (0:42:03) Codey: Watch it like comes out tomorrow. (0:42:05) Codey: And… I don’t know. That’d be funny. (0:42:08) Al: I don’t think it would come out tomorrow. (0:42:10) Al: I think if it’s going to come out, it’s being announced on Pokemon Day, right? (0:42:13) Al: No, no new Pokemon things are being announced in January. (0:42:15) Codey: That’s true. No, no, you right. You right. They have they have a day set for it. That would be really fun, though. (0:42:16) Al: But that’s not happening. (0:42:22) Codey: Though I would want this to be a more fully fleshed out game. I’d be really sad if this was like a mobile game that was bare bones. (0:42:31) Al: Yeah, I think it could work well as a both game. (0:42:36) Al: Like, you’d have to have the… (0:42:38) Al: I think you’d want the interface to be slightly different between them. (0:42:41) Al: But I think you could have it as both mobile and Switch. (0:42:41) Codey: I would want Switch. (0:42:45) Al: All right, tell me about one that you have. (0:42:47) Codey: Yeah, so I thought about games that I haven’t seen that I would like, and dived dove, dove really deep into my own life about what parts of my life are not represented in a video game that other people might also enjoy. (0:43:11) Codey: So, the first suggestion that I had was a game where you run a wildlife rehabilitation center. (0:43:19) Codey: So I have always wanted to run like a wolf sanctuary or something like that, like ever since I was a kid. (0:43:26) Codey: I don’t think I want to do that anymore, but I do really enjoy wildlife rehabilitation and I have been volunteering at a wildlife rehab for about three years now. (0:43:36) Codey: So if we, it would be really cool to make it a game where you could learn about wildlife rehabilitation, and then maybe (0:43:44) Codey: also like, some of the proceeds of the game could go to local wildlife rehabs. Because some of the stuff that they need, it’s it’s not that expensive, or it’s like, like literally dog, dog food, or cat food, or whatever. So but we also make really specific formulas anyway, so that’d be part of the game. But so it would be kind of like a business simulator or like (0:44:07) Codey: roller coaster tycoon, like that type of like management game. (0:44:10) Codey: Um… (0:44:11) Codey: Which… (0:44:13) Codey: I’m trying to think of that way. (0:44:15) Codey: Like, do we call those Cottagecore games? (0:44:17) Codey: Or do we call them something else? (0:44:19) Codey: Yeah. (0:44:20) Al: what management games. I think some of them can be. (0:44:21) Codey: Okay. (0:44:23) Codey: I think this could be, because it could be really cozy. (0:44:25) Codey: You could make it… (0:44:27) Codey: You could make it really cozy, especially if you have, like, (0:44:29) Codey: aspects where you play with the animals and stuff, which you can. (0:44:31) Codey: Um… (0:44:33) Codey: So, you could also have really exotic animals. (0:44:35) Codey: So, clearly, you know, (0:44:37) Codey: in my neck of the woods, we only have… (0:44:39) Codey: we only have (0:44:41) Codey: a lot of the native animals like squirrels, rabbits, turtles, some songbirds, things like that that come in, but in this type of game you don’t have to do that. You could have like zebras or lions or tigers or pandas or like all of these different things that come in with some form of injury or illness and then you have to to heal them. And then you could also build enclosures. (0:45:11) Codey: You would prepare all of the meals, you’d clean after them. (0:45:15) Codey: So that is just kind of everyday stuff that you do at the Wildlife Center. (0:45:20) Codey: The idea of a wildlife rehab is that you receive the animals. (0:45:26) Codey: People find an animal in the wild that is either injured or ill in some way. (0:45:31) Codey: You receive them and they need to be rehabbed so that they can be released. (0:45:37) Codey: The whole point is always for them to be released. (0:45:41) Codey: A lot of these animals you don’t want to play with. (0:45:44) Codey: You don’t want them to get used to being held and cared for by people. (0:45:50) Codey: A lot of the animals we actually don’t really interact with a ton. (0:45:54) Codey: We put them in a container, like a little cage for them, and then we give them a bunch of food. (0:46:00) Codey: We’ll take them out once or twice a day for medication depending on the severity of their injuries. (0:46:07) Codey: But there are some that are unreleasable because of, you know, if they have. (0:46:11) Codey: An injury that is too difficult for them to be able to be released. (0:46:15) Codey: Those are the types of animals that we do keep as ambassador or education animals. (0:46:19) Codey: And we’ll take those animals to shows or fairs or just different events to educate people about wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation and the importance of maintaining areas for wildlife. (0:46:33) Codey: So those animals you could play with, you could have little mini games where you play with them. (0:46:41) Codey: Build enrichment with them, kind of design their cages a little bit more spiffy because it’s a place that they’re staying for their life. (0:46:51) Codey: I think the only thing about this type of game is that it could be maybe too macabre or too gory because we do have a lot of animals that come in that are kind of beyond healing. (0:47:08) Codey: And in those situations, we usually just hear– (0:47:11) Codey: you mainly euthanize them, which is better than the alternative of them being stuck outside and just slowly passing. (0:47:20) Codey: So I don’t know if maybe there could be some form of in-game currency that’s about the fact that you’ve done some form of kindness for that animal, (0:47:31) Codey: made it so that their last– (0:47:33) Codey: or if we do try and heal them, but their illness or injury was too severe and they end up having they end up (0:47:41) Codey: Anyways, the effort was there, like there was an attempt made, you know? (0:47:47) Codey: And so I don’t know if there could be like some type of incentive system for that where it’s like you get these points that could then maybe like be used to try and heal an animal later. (0:47:58) Codey: I don’t know. (0:47:59) Codey: I’m trying to think of like how to gamify that aspect of it because it is sad, but it’s also a fact of it. (0:48:07) Codey: Like it’s just, it’s, that’s what happens. (0:48:10) Al: Yeah, I think it’s it’s interesting. I’m thinking of how to make this different from just like a standard zoo tycoon game. And like, because obviously it’s not the same thing. I’m not trying to say it is the same thing, but in terms of like gameplay, how it would be different, (0:48:10) Codey: Um… (0:48:11) Codey: Yeah, I don’t know. Do you have any thoughts about any of that? (0:48:28) Codey: Right. (0:48:31) Al: because a lot of that is very similar. Not saying that’s a bad thing. I mean, that’s that’s fine. (0:48:36) Al: Um. (0:48:37) Codey: I think the biggest thing, the biggest difference is a lot of like, so the wildlife center I

Al and Jonnie talk about Spirittea Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:00: What Have We Been Up To 00:12:14: News 00:36:07: Spirittea 01:09:46: Outro Links Littlelands Publisher Lily Leapers Speedrun Slime Rancher 2 Update One Lonely Outpost Update Moonstone Island Update Spirittea Future Updates Coral Island PS5 Keys Delay Loddlenaut Charity Donations Above Snakes on GoG Little Known Galaxy Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Al And we are here today to talk about cottagecore games Welcome Johnny, how you doing? (0:00:44) Jonnie: Whoo! (0:00:46) Jonnie: I am tired. I have been moving countries, and it’s a lot. I would not recommend doing it that frequently. (0:00:57) Jonnie: I mean, depends which country you’re currently in. (0:00:58) Al: or ever really. That’s true, that’s very true. (0:01:10) Al: Cool. We, so I get the transcripts are available in the show notes on the website as usual. (0:01:18) Al: We in this episode, we’re going to talk about Spirit Tea, a new game that has just come out spirit tea spirit tea who knows (0:01:28) Al: we may we may yet find out we have concluded that we’re probably going to call it spirit tea even though both of us in our heads have called it spirit tea (0:01:40) Jonnie: I mean, Spirit Tea just rolls off the tongue better, but Spirit Tea is, I guess, what the game is? (0:01:46) Al: Yeah. (0:01:46) Al: Well, yeah, yeah, we’ll get to that. (0:01:53) Al: We’ll get to that. (0:01:54) Al: So we’re going to talk about spiritity. (0:01:56) Al: Obviously, we’ve got some news. (0:01:58) Al: We’ve got lots of exciting news. (0:02:00) Al: But first of all, Johnny, what have you been up to? (0:02:04) Jonnie: What have I been up to? Well, I haven’t had a ton of time to game because moving countries takes a lot of time and gaming is a thing that’s very easy to to give up when you’ve got priorities like finding a home. But there was the Nindies showcase last week and there was a few games that kind of came out off the back of that. There’s been some really good indie games that have been released recently and so I’ve kind of been trying a few. I tried Backpack Hero. (0:02:10) Al: Shocking. (0:02:11) Al: Hmm. (0:02:34) Jonnie: Which is okay. Don’t love it yet. I feel like the onboarding experience has not been great. And so I bounced off that quickly because I just don’t have brain space to kind of figure stuff out that’s not obvious. It could be really good. I like the system. The system feels very similar to Slay the Spire. (0:03:01) Jonnie: But instead of a deck of cards… (0:03:04) Jonnie: …to a building a backpack of stuff and the location of stuff in the backpack matters. (0:03:08) Jonnie: Which is cool. (0:03:10) Al: yeah to me it just looked like an organizational game and I wasn’t I wasn’t really like oh yeah this this really grabs me but I can you know I guess each to their own (0:03:10) Jonnie: Umm… (0:03:20) Jonnie: Yeah, I would say if anyone out there enjoyed Slay the Spire, then I think this is worth looking at, because the combat is very… (0:03:28) Jonnie: I mean, they basically just copy and pasted Slay the Spire combat, so… (0:03:32) Jonnie: Yeah, people who know that will be into it, but the thing that I have been playing that has grabbed me is Cacun. (0:03:42) Jonnie: So Cacun is like an indie puzzle game, I guess I would describe it as. (0:03:51) Jonnie: For me, the most amazing thing about this game is you just start playing, there is no, like, (0:03:57) Jonnie: thing that appears on the screen that says “Press this button to do this thing”, so there’s no tutorial, (0:04:03) Jonnie: there’s no onboarding experience. The onboarding is that the game is really, really, really well designed, (0:04:08) Jonnie: and it’s just super intuitive what to do at any point in time, even though some of the stuff that you do is pretty brain-breaking. It’s amazing. It’s like, the first… (0:04:21) Jonnie: you know, like, maybe half an hour of it, and it has been an incredible half hour of gameplay. (0:04:27) Al: interesting I haven’t haven’t played I haven’t really seen any footage of it either but I did see that it’s up for a game award um so I guess it can’t be can’t be too bad (0:04:37) Jonnie: It is not too bad. In fact, I would hesitate to say it is very very good. (0:04:41) Jonnie: And I think even if it’s not the sort of thing that you know you’re super interested in, (0:04:49) Jonnie: I think there’s something in the way this game starts and onboards you that more games, (0:04:57) Jonnie: maybe even one that we’re going to talk about later today, really need to take a lesson from. (0:05:04) Al: That’s the thing we keep harping on on this podcast is you’re onboarding, your tutorial really matters and you can do good ones, you can do bad ones. I think it’s very hard to do a really well-designed game so you don’t have to explain anything to people, but I do think that sometimes people over it. (0:05:20) Jonnie: I totally agree, right? Because to me, this is a relatively simple game in terms of how you play it. (0:05:27) Jonnie: You know, in terms of the buttons you need to press on those sorts of things. (0:05:30) Jonnie: So they could get very clean with their onboarding experience. (0:05:36) Jonnie: But this is the sort of thing that should be held out there. (0:05:38) Jonnie: It’s like every game is aspiring to onboard its players in a way that’s as seamless as Cocoon. (0:05:44) Jonnie: And it’s kind of one of those ambitions that most games won’t be able to achieve, (0:05:49) Jonnie: but should still be holding out there of the sun. (0:05:50) Jonnie: This is what best looks like. (0:05:54) Al: I can’t tell you how many games I’ve fallen off of within the first half an hour, because it’s just so hard to get into games sometimes, and you just end up going like, “I just can’t be bothered learning something new. Let me go play Stardew again.” (0:06:08) Jonnie: Yep. I bet that’s the thing, right? That first half hour of your game is the most important. (0:06:13) Jonnie: Because that’s when people decide if they want to keep playing it or not. (0:06:16) Jonnie: And it’s it’s weird. Like you’ve got to make sure it’s the most fun. (0:06:19) Jonnie: And it’s it’s the biggest downfall when you play a game and you’re like, (0:06:21) Jonnie: “I’m sure there’s something fun here, but I just can’t be bothered finding it.” (0:06:25) Al: Yeah, and I guess the thing about not to go down too much a deep rabbit hole, but thinking back to Stardew. Stardew didn’t go like, “Oh, grab this tool and hit this button.” No, it says, (0:06:39) Al: “Grow some turnips,” and you have to figure out what that means. It says, “Meet some villagers,” (0:06:43) Al: and you have to figure out what that means. There’s little bits and pieces, but there’s not that kind of, “Oh, as you say, this button does that, this button does that,” right? You just (0:06:53) Jonnie: You figure it out, yeah. (0:06:55) Jonnie: So other than that, I’ve still been snapping up a storm. (0:06:58) Jonnie: Continuing to hit Infinite every season. (0:07:01) Jonnie: Did another Infinite Conquest, so I now have the Rock Avatar with the Cool Border. (0:07:08) Jonnie: And I still really, really like that game. It’s really good. (0:07:11) Jonnie: Have you been snapping at all, Al? (0:07:13) Al: I picked the game back up again yesterday, after probably like a month and a half. I’m really bad at like, you know, I struggle to kind of just go through periods of time to actually do it every day. Because I guess the thing about Snap is that it’s hard to do just like, “Oh, I’ll just play for half an hour here and then do it again in two weeks,” (0:07:34) Al: right? Because you’ve got to keep up. You don’t, like, it’s not like it’s not fun, but if you want to actually do stuff, you’ve got to keep up to date with things. (0:07:43) Al: Especially if you want to do any of the season passes, right? You’ve got to say, “Right, (0:07:46) Al: I’m going to play this month.” You know, not necessarily every day, not necessarily all the time, but I’m going to be playing at least every couple of days for this month (0:07:56) Jonnie: yeah absolutely that’s what I’ve been up to what have you been up to (0:08:01) Al: So I go back into Fall Guys again. I was always enjoying that game, especially because Craig likes to watch me play it, so that’s good fun. I go back into Coral Island just as Spirit Tea was coming out, Coral Island decided to release their 1.0 and what can I say, I really like Coral Island. I feel like Coral Island has hit that point where, for me, it’s just (0:08:31) Al: me. It is at least as good as Stardew Valley, if not better. Obviously, it’s trying to be that. It’s trying to do all of the things in the same way that Stardew was trying to be Harvest Moon, but it’s trying to do it in different ways as well. I think it’s got to the point where it’s doing enough different things that you feel like you’re not just playing just Stardew with a different skin. It also just happens to look really nice as well. (0:08:58) Jonnie: That sounds kind of amazing. I feel like Coral Island is creeping further and further up my list of games I need to try. (0:09:05) Al: Yeah, definitely. I think if people like farming sims and you want to try - if you like Stardew Valley but you’re like “maybe let’s try something different” it is a really good one to try. (0:09:20) Al: It does things really well. Everything is nice. The characters - it’s the first one a long time that I felt like I actually care about some of the characters and I’m trying to figure out which one I want to romance because there’s so many good ones and that sort of stuff and like there’s a mystery in the game that (0:09:35) Al: actually feels like it makes sense and you want to learn more about it rather than just like, “Oh, there’s a dark secret.” No, that’s, you know, it’s trying to be interesting and it’s succeeding and there’s extra bits and pieces as well on top of your standard farming sim, right? So it’s not just Stardew Valley with a different skin. I’m really enjoying it. And I started playing Sonic Frontiers and I’m probably going to stop playing for of Sonic Frontiers. (0:10:02) Al: I’d like okay (0:10:05) Al: I know you don’t like Sonic games, that’s fine, no one’s gonna try and make you, but my prob- (0:10:06) Jonnie: What? That’s never an opinion I’ve expressed. (0:10:11) Al: Not at all, never, definitely not. The problem is, right, I really, really like 2D Sonic games, (0:10:24) Al: right? I really enjoy them, but I’ve never enjoyed a 3D Sonic game. Well, I guess at an exception of generations which married. (0:10:35) Al: So I just really, I just really struggle with every single one. So it’s like, I mean, there are some things that it does really well. (0:11:05) Al: I like how it looks and I like a lot of the ideas that they’ve done. (0:11:09) Al: But my word, just the momentum is terrible and the controls are not great, just it’s not I’m not enjoying. (0:11:16) Jonnie: Yeah, it’s a shame when games have like sort of that thing that they do really well and then they keep trying to make You know, it’s kind of like they keep trying to make a fetch happen, right? (0:11:27) Jonnie: And it’s just like maybe Sonic’s are just stick to what it knows which is apparently 2d side-scrolling games like those are the ones that people seem to generally like a lot more And I don’t know why they keep trying to make three games happen (0:11:40) Al: Yeah, yeah, it’s a difficult one. I mean I guess some people must like (0:11:48) Jonnie: Uh, no, Sonic fans are just like beaten down and they keep buying it in the hopes that it will be good. (0:11:53) Al: Yeah, yeah. You’re getting at me here. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know, man. Should we go get some news? Little Lands finally has a publisher and is apparently coming (0:11:56) Jonnie: And it never is, but equally they never learn the lesson. (0:12:23) Al: mid 2024. I guess you would describe this as like a farming sim with the aesthetics of Zelda, what’s it called? Sleepy game, game where he’s asleep. Zelda, the dream of a fish. (0:12:32) Jonnie: I’ve been trying to think of the name for like the last… yeah um… Link’s Awakening, there we go. (0:12:38) Jonnie: Spoilers for a 30-year-old game. (0:12:39) Al: Link’s Awakening, that’s it. Zelda’s in the dreams of the fish. It’s funny. Look, I’m sorry. If you’ve not played that game, it’s not that big a spoiler. (0:12:54) Jonnie: I mean, the title almost gives away that ending. (0:12:58) Al: Yeah. So that’s how I would describe this game. Is that fair? Cool. (0:13:04) Jonnie: Yep. I mean, it has that aesthetic, like it looks like a fun world to run around and explore, (0:13:13) Jonnie: but I don’t get a strong sense of like, does this game actually look fun to play or not? (0:13:20) Jonnie: I don’t know, I just don’t know that I have seen enough of the gameplay to really get a strong sense of is there anything beyond just looking like Link’s Awakening? (0:13:27) Al: Yeah, that’s fair. Yeah, that’s fair. It does look a lot more kind of explorationy than I had initially thought when they, you know, because I’ve been following this since they first posted screenshots. And back then it was very much like, “Oh, this is like a life sim.” And now it’s very much like, explore a world brimming with secrets. Like it’s more than a life sim. (0:13:54) Jonnie: Yeah, from this trailer that they’ve put out, like 90% of it seems to be focused on exploration, rather than life sim. (0:14:07) Jonnie: I do not get strong life sim vibes from what they’re currently showing. (0:14:10) Al: No. It’ll be interesting to see what it actually ends up like, but I guess games can change quite a bit as you go through them, so we’ll keep an eye on it. (0:14:22) Jonnie: Yeah, I love the aesthetic. I was a big fan of how Link’s Awakening looked and had a really good time playing that, so it’s at least interesting to me. (0:14:32) Al: Yeah, I really, just as a side note, I really like what they did with the remake of Link’s Awakening. I think it was such a good balance of being the same but also being different that a lot of remakes miss, I thought. (0:14:46) Jonnie: Yeah, me too. I think anytime when you see a remake and they put the faithful remake label around it, you’re just like, “I don’t know that that’s going to be good.” (0:14:56) Jonnie: I want to see a remake that takes some lessons from how game development has matured, and I feel like Link’s Awakening is a perfect example of doing exactly that. (0:15:09) Jonnie: Also, if you want to see some wild stuff, watch Link’s Awakening speedruns. (0:15:16) Jonnie: do some crazy things in that game. (0:15:16) Al: Oh no. Speedruns just in general just stress me out with the crazy things that people do. (0:15:23) Al: Like have you seen Fall Guy speedruns? (0:15:27) Al: Oh my words. Oh my word. You need to go and Google the Lily Leapers speedrun. I’ll think a link in the show notes but there’s a Lily Leapers speedrun is absolutely insane. (0:15:28) Jonnie: No, but now I really want to do that, because I bet those are amazing. I think… yeah, the- (0:15:45) Al: like I don’t know how. (0:15:46) Al: They manage to do what they do. (0:15:49) Al: It’s just wild like this thing that normally takes like a minute and a half to do. (0:15:54) Al: They did in like 18 seconds. (0:15:56) Jonnie: incredible. is there a speedrun of the what’s the level that I hated or when it first when the game first came out there’s like that mountain that you’re running up and there’s the the goo that’s rising with you fall mountain yeah oh yeah slime climb slime climb that song yeah I want to see someone do that in a way that’s super broken so bet they can just like bounce off all the obstacles (0:16:06) Al: Oh yeah, Fall Mountain. (0:16:08) Al: Oh, Slame Claim is the one where the goo comes out. (0:16:20) Al: 26 seconds. They’re like, you know, jumping on. I do, there’s a few things. Oh, they’ve got, (0:16:28) Al: it’s a specific slime climb with like, specific obstacles that allow you to like, jump on things. (0:16:36) Al: Oh, that’s wild. And then they hit themselves over with the big yetis. Oh, that’s crazy. (0:16:41) Jonnie: I love the big eaters. (0:16:41) Al: Everything has to go, I know, everything has to go right for this exact speed run. (0:16:43) Jonnie: Those are the best speedruns where there’s that little bit of like, you know, there’s the skill and there’s that little bit of RNG and built into it as well. (0:16:56) Al: I got I’ve got to the point now where I can do slime climb every time. I never die on it now, (0:17:01) Al: but I’m not like, you know, 26 seconds fast. (0:17:05) Al: Speaking of slime, slime rancher 2, the rain or slime update 0.3 is out now. Can I just, I just, (0:17:17) Al: this I know I harp on about version numbers, right? But it’s slime rancher 2 version 0.3. (0:17:24) Al: Why are we doing this? (0:17:26) Al: Why, why, why? Just why, why? (0:17:30) Jonnie: No, I’m with you, like, it’s silly. (0:17:34) Jonnie: We need some standardisation. (0:17:37) Jonnie: One, one, I think this is why this looks right, where it’s like, (0:17:41) Jonnie: just make things clearer, right? If all games did things the same way, (0:17:45) Jonnie: what they’re trying to communicate would actually be clear. (0:17:48) Jonnie: But because everyone’s just made up random numbers, it’s not clear what this means. (0:17:53) Jonnie: So don’t even put the numbers with it, just say we are still in beta and we don’t have like interior patch notes. (0:18:00) Al: Well, this is a thing because everybody seems to name their updates as well. (0:18:03) Al: This is the “Come Rain or Slime” update. (0:18:05) Al: You don’t need to give it a number as well. (0:18:07) Jonnie: Yes, exactly, exactly. (0:18:08) Al: Like, obviously, behind the scenes, (0:18:10) Jonnie: I’m with you on this one now. (0:18:11) Al: it needs to have a number because of all the updates, blah, blah, blah, blah. (0:18:14) Al: I don’t care. That’s fine. (0:18:15) Al: Put it in, but you don’t have to call it that, right? (0:18:18) Al: Like, it literally at the top says “Come Rain or Slime, patch 0.3.0 notes.” (0:18:24) Al: You don’t need to do that. (0:18:25) Al: Just go with it. (0:18:28) Al: Also, right, minor. (0:18:30) Al: Minor major gripe, so they call this a major update, right? (0:18:35) Al: In my world, a three digit version number, a major update is the first version. (0:18:41) Al: The first number, not the second of the second number is minor. (0:18:43) Al: And the third number is patch, right? (0:18:45) Al: Get with it. We have a standard for this already. (0:18:48) Al: Semantic versioning. (0:18:49) Al: Game designers need to get back on semantic versioning. (0:18:51) Al: It is good. It works. Go with it. (0:18:54) Jonnie: I co-slime this rant. (0:18:56) Jonnie: What is the “Come Rain” or slime update actually about? (0:19:00) Jonnie: I feel like Slime Rancher is one of those things that I am. (0:19:02) Al: Oh, I don’t know. There’s weather. There’s weather in it. (0:19:06) Al: I just… (0:19:08) Jonnie: So I’m gathering that neither of us are at least Slime Rancher people, and there’s an update, and there’s stuff in it, and maybe if you like Slime Rancher you probably know, and if you don’t, it’s still not 1.0, so maybe just chill. (0:19:09) Al: So there’s new slimes and there’s a new weather system, (0:19:22) Al: and that’s about it. But also when I say new slimes, what I mean is new slimes that were in in the first game. (0:19:30) Jonnie: Oh great, so we’re back to- okay. I feel like the more I hear the less I’m interested in Slime Ranch and I was already not in a great place to be interested in Slime Ranch. (0:19:34) Al: I just… (0:19:38) Al: I have the first version of Slime Rancher on my Switch, but I haven’t played it yet. (0:19:44) Al: I like the look of the game. It looks nice, and I love all the slimes with their derpy faces on them. (0:19:52) Al: But it’s a lot to make. (0:19:57) Jonnie: Yep, yep, there’s just a lot of good that’s out there, right, and this is this is just one that for whatever reason for us is clearly not hitting. (0:20:06) Al: we go next? One lonely outpost. They have a new update. It’s not a massive update, so I don’t normally talk about small updates like this, but they have included one feature that every game needs to have. You need to have this. They have toggled running, so you don’t have to hold down the run button. You press the run button and now you’re running, and then you press it to stop running. Every game needs to have this. Please and thank you. (0:20:28) Jonnie: I thought you were talking about the fact that Roast Carrot no longer has a special effect. (0:20:32) Jonnie: But no, you’re right. The… (0:20:36) Al: What does that mean? (0:20:38) Jonnie: You just got like… (0:20:38) Al: What is the special effect that it no longer has? (0:20:42) Al: Ugh. (0:20:44) Jonnie: You’re totally right. The run being an option, or like a toggleable thing… toggleable? (0:20:54) Jonnie: Rather than holding down a button is nice. (0:20:56) Al: a toggle because I mean we’ll get on to we’ll get on to yeah the the the art style does seem still really weird compared to the initial ones they did but anyway that’s beside the point I was especially we’ll get back we’ll get on to spirit tea later but I was especially annoyed and having to hold down one button and spirit tea because it’s like such a slow movement anyway and it’s I’m so fed up. (0:21:00) Jonnie: But this game still weirds me out. I don’t know. (0:21:26) Al: Why do we have running and walking? Just give me the fastest speed that you’re willing to give me, just give me that. I don’t need anything else. I don’t need to go slow. Nobody cares. Make me go fast. (0:21:36) Jonnie: I totally agree. It feels like one of those things that’s built-in as an option, but the option doesn’t mean anything because, like, is there a benefit to walking? (0:21:46) Jonnie: No. Okay, so I will just run all of the time, which means I just have to hold down this button all of the time, which is stupid. (0:21:51) Jonnie: So like, the one thing one lonely-out-personnel needs to do is remove walking. Because why would you walk? (0:21:56) Al: Yeah, yeah. There’s a lot of other updates in this as well. We’re not going to go through them. We’ll have the link in the show notes if you want to see all those updates. Moonstone Island is coming to Switch in Spring 2024. This was one of the things that was announced in the Nindies update. (0:22:18) Jonnie: Yeah, cool. (0:22:20) Jonnie: I feel like I’ve forgotten which one Moonstone Island is in this slew of absurd games that are coming out. (0:22:27) Al: Yeah, so this one is the Creature Collection one on our series of floating sky islands. (0:22:36) Jonnie: that’s right and this is the one where that has like quite strong RPG elements from the looks of it and it just feels like every time I see this one they’ve got another thing that’s kind of like in at the moment because it’s got the card based combat now and it kind of feels like word salad of like all of the pop (0:22:52) Al: It’s like they got a tom bowler full of different things that you can describe your game as and they pulled out 10 of them. (0:23:04) Jonnie: yep yep I mean cool that it’s coming to switch I don’t know this one’s particularly high on my you know anticipation bliss (0:23:13) Al: I really like the look of it, and I think I do want to play it at some point, but yeah, (0:23:17) Al: I don’t know when. Because the problem is, right, with every game you’ve got to play, (0:23:21) Al: you’ve got to demote a different game. Like, you can’t play every game. So, it’s like, (0:23:26) Al: which game is this going to take the place of? I don’t know. Just now, I’m just going to play (0:23:32) Jonnie: That sounds amazing. I’m not mad about that. (0:23:36) Jonnie: They also have a patch for Moonstar Island. (0:23:40) Jonnie: I don’t know if there’s anything exciting in the patch notes, but they have… (0:23:42) Al: Oh yeah. There’s one thing exciting, and that’s… no. No, that wasn’t what I was going to say. (0:23:47) Jonnie: Is that they have difficulty for fishing? (0:23:51) Jonnie: I just like the idea that fishing is often… (0:23:59) Jonnie: you know, as fishing month that we did sort of show. (0:24:02) Jonnie: It’s quite divisive in terms of what people like or don’t like, or you know, the stardew valley fishing, right? (0:24:07) Jonnie: Some people really like the challenge, some people really hate it. (0:24:10) Jonnie: And so I think having the ability to scale your difficulty for that one in particular because it’s often one of the few more dexterity or skill-based things in cottagecore games I think is a really good accessibility. (0:24:24) Al: Yeah, yeah, I don’t I don’t disagree. (0:24:26) Al: That’s a good a good point. (0:24:28) Al: Now, the thing that I was really excited about is they’ve added a new gardening tool, the Boomerang. (0:24:35) Al: Who expected the Boomerang to be a gardening tool? (0:24:37) Jonnie: So wait, how do you farm using a boomerang, Al? (0:24:41) Jonnie: I really want to hate that, but I actually think that’s kind of amazing. (0:24:42) Al: So it’s for it’s for cutting down crops. (0:24:49) Jonnie: As a way of doing the, you know, “Hey, your scythe or whatever can extend in a distance.” (0:24:55) Jonnie: Actually just throw a boomerang and it will just cut them all down. (0:24:59) Jonnie: That’s a cool idea. (0:24:59) Al: Yeah. It’s great, isn’t it? I feel like maybe I feel like I need to make a joke about you being in Australia now and now liking a boomerang thing. That’s about as far as I’ve gotten with that. (0:25:09) Jonnie: Yes, I feel like you do. Go. (0:25:12) Jonnie: Listeners, make up your own joke and then present our set-up. (0:25:20) Al: My problem is that I quite often have like good ideas for jokes, but I’ve never good on the execution of them, so I just like bring up the idea I have, and then sometimes people chuckle at it and I go “Comedy!” (0:25:36) Jonnie: I mean, look, if you get a laugh, right, that’s all you need. (0:25:43) Al: It’s deconstruction of jokes, right? (0:25:45) Al: That’s what it is. (0:25:46) Jonnie: Yep, I’m just serving you the idea of a joke, not the actual joke itself. (0:25:53) Al: Still better than a lot of comedians. (0:25:57) Jonnie: I’m now just imagining a comedy club where it’s just people talking about their ideas for jokes, and like, no actual jokes. (0:26:02) Al: It’s like a, well, I’m thinking of more like an AA meeting for people who like just can’t stop thinking about ideas for jokes, but they can’t actually make them into jokes. (0:26:03) Jonnie: Like, I feel like it’s maybe just an improv workshop. (0:26:23) Al: This morning I had three ideas for jokes, but I couldn’t fully farm them. (0:26:24) Jonnie: Who’s yours? (0:26:32) Al: Oh, I mean, isn’t that basically just sketch shows, right? (0:26:34) Jonnie: No, I think sketch shows are ideas for jokes that are then badly executed. (0:26:35) Al: Sketch shows are just ideas for jokes. (0:26:44) Al: This is a boomerang. So, Spirit Tea have detailed their upcoming stuff. It’s not really a roadmap. (0:26:50) Jonnie: Alright-ish. (0:27:03) Al: It’s not as fully functioning and concrete as that, but there’s a list of things that want to change, including some bugs and stuff. (0:27:14) Al: So I’ve got a list of that in the show notes. (0:27:17) Al: There’s nothing particularly I think we need to bring up, (0:27:22) Jonnie: No, it’s all relatively… It’s very bug focused, I would say. (0:27:22) Al: but good that they’re looking into it. (0:27:25) Al: Yes, yeah, yeah. (0:27:30) Al: What’s next? Sorry, half asleep. (0:27:32) Jonnie: What or not? (0:27:32) Al: Coral Island. (0:27:34) Jonnie: What? (0:27:34) Al: No, Coral Island. (0:27:36) Jonnie: Oh yeah, we have a Carlisle other one. Sorry, I skipped that. I skipped that. (0:27:38) Al: I missed one. Come on. (0:27:41) Al: Carl Island. There are PS5 keys. (0:27:44) Al: Apparently, there was an issue getting the PS5 keys for backers on Kickstarter, so too bad. I guess you’ll get it, son. I guess we’re in the quick fire around here, so we’ve got Laudenot as well. They’ve said they’re going to donate to charity for each sale. So that’s good. Yes. And above (0:28:04) Jonnie: That’s great, and I love saying “lot or not”. “Lot or not”. It’s a very fun mouthfeel. (0:28:14) Al: snakes are now available on GOG. So if you wanted that. Now you might say, “Oh, just another sale.” Well, the good thing about GOG compared to other games shops is that they are DRM free. So you can now get the game without (0:28:35) Jonnie: And it’s always weird to see a Steam store page about advertising that you’re available for sale on another platform. (0:28:40) Al: That’s a good point, I hadn’t even noticed that. (0:28:47) Al: And finally there’s a new game that’s been announced called Little Known Galaxy. I’ll just read out the little blurb for this one. Join Space Alliance as a new captain in training and work with your crew to solve the mysteries of an ancient relic found on the grey planet. (0:29:05) Al: Little Known Galaxy is a cosy single player RPG space adventure full of friendly characters exploration, crafting, and farming. (0:29:14) Jonnie: So, this one confused me because it had similar vibes to another game that we’ve talked about on the show that I can’t remember the name of, where I think you’re like a delivery person in space. (0:29:26) Al: Oh yes, Starstruck Vagabond. (0:29:26) Jonnie: That’s the one. Yes, I couldn’t think of the name of it. (0:29:34) Jonnie: So it just feels like space is now the new thing for Cozy Games. (0:29:40) Jonnie: also it is the final frontier (0:29:40) Al: is the final frontier. There’s some stuff that takes away the fumes and deals with it. (0:29:44) Jonnie: also this person is building a fireplace in their spaceship and I don’t know how I feel about that (0:29:55) Al: Magic. Wow. Science. I think the thing about space games is that I suspect they’re really hard to do well, but there’s also a lot of potential in them if you… (0:29:56) Jonnie: okay uh… I mean it looks cool (0:30:11) Jonnie: Yeah, I mean like one of the things I am liking from what I’m seeing in the trailer for Little Known Galaxy is like rather than having seasons you just have different planets is the impression that the game is giving off, right? (0:30:25) Jonnie: Because presumably you won’t have seasons on your spaceship because you can entirely regulate the temperature and everything in there but then if you go to, you know, an ice planet or whatever you could get more varied sort of places. (0:30:41) Jonnie: where you’re doing stuff which seems kind of… (0:30:44) Al: Yeah. I feel like I suspect… I wonder whether… I mean, I’m just watching this trailer for the first time, but I wonder whether you make your ship bigger or whether it’s always the same size and you just kind of get new things to fill it with. Because there are different bits that look smaller and bigger, but maybe they’re just different parts. (0:31:06) Jonnie: Yeah, it’s kind of hard to tell. It seemed like there was sort of one main zone that they showed in the trailer where all of your automation and buildings and stuff are going, so I could see that being a space that you expand over time. (0:31:21) Jonnie: You know, it’s one of the cool things about spaceships is you can presumably just add more to it, add more space, so… (0:31:30) Al: I like the look of this. I think I like the art. (0:31:32) Jonnie: I also really like to look at this. (0:31:36) Jonnie: When I saw that it was a new game, I was a little bit like, “Really? Do we need another thing that’s doing this thing?” (0:31:43) Jonnie: And then watching the trailer, I was like, “Actually, I think I’m kind of into this. The art style’s really… it’s good without being too much the same as a Stardew Valley. (0:31:54) Jonnie: It’s definitely inspired by, but it does have its own distinct visual style. (0:31:59) Jonnie: And I think the trailer does a really good job of showing off the sorts of different places that you’ll be going in the course of this game. (0:32:06) Jonnie: And it’s very vibrant, right? It looks quite good. (0:32:10) Jonnie: And the shot that they show of the main zone looks kind of like a lot of automation-y sort of stuff, which is appealing. (0:32:18) Al: think what I really like about the art style is it feels like it’s in this sort of same style as Asnes or a Game Boy or Game Boy Advance game and that sort of thing but it doesn’t feel dated like it feels like the graphics are like if we were doing that now right like they feel a lot you know they’re higher fidelity sprites and stuff like that so it feels like I mean I still like Stardew and I I still like what it does, but… (0:32:48) Al: The sprites sometimes feel a little bit dated in them, which I know is kind of the point, (0:32:55) Al: but I like how this is doing the same feeling of that, but with modern sprites, if that makes sense. (0:33:02) Jonnie: It totally does. I think that’s a really good description of what it is. It feels like, you know, this is inspired by that statue art style, but it’s kept up with modern times where Star Trek is a little bit more of a callback to the past and it’s been replicated so many times now, it like feels tired, right? (0:33:20) Jonnie: If you see that exact style replicated in another game, you kind of just, ugh, like, it’s fine, but it’s not like a great art style that absolutely needs to be copied 100%. (0:33:31) Jonnie: like this feels like it’s (0:33:32) Jonnie: doing a modern take on that which you know also makes sense because it’s a space game so you know a more up-to-date art style definitely makes sense. (0:33:46) Al: I think it’s going to be interesting to see what they do because I suspect travel will take time and that’s why there’s lots of things to do on the ship and that’s where, you know, (0:33:55) Al: between travelling, between planets to do your RPG part of it is where you do your farming and your crafting and kind of keeping up with things and that gives you stuff to do while still having that sort of vaguely realistic travel aspect of things. (0:34:12) Jonnie: Yeah, I suspect you’re right and one of the things that I’ve seen in the in a trailer that kind of is appealing is In the center of what looks like some of the crops is a fan rather than a sprinkler and The reason that makes me excited is they just haven’t said like okay So just grow crops on your ship and it’s just traditional farming mechanics in space like no idea what the fan is doing or what purpose it serves but it just at least to me is saying hey we are we have (0:34:42) Jonnie: about what it is that we are doing in our own location and it’s not just a direct copy and paste of the mechanics you’ve seen in every other game but space I have no idea but that’s just yeah (0:34:52) Al: What are those doing? That’s interesting. Yeah, there’s lots of other bits and pieces like there’s clearly a bit that is where you’re generating water. There’s some different looking trees. You’ve got a little robot that’s been going around. There’s some interesting looking chests. There’s greenhouses within this area as well, which presumably means that you can set greenhouses to like specific temperates stuff like that (0:35:22) Jonnie: Yeah, the whole thing just looks really well thought out, so I’m excited to learn more about this. (0:35:28) Al: Yeah, yeah, it definitely doesn’t feel like farming is kind of bolted on. It feels like they’ve thought a lot about that, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes. (0:35:35) Al: All right. (0:35:35) Jonnie: And they don’t have anything in terms of release date do they? Sorry, just… (0:35:37) Al: Uh, that’s a good question. They’ve said coming soon. (0:35:39) Jonnie: I haven’t s- (0:35:44) Jonnie: So, coming soon, so stay tuned to future episodes for more updates, ‘cause I will have them when they come. (0:35:52) Al: Yep. And they’ve said they’re coming on Windows and Mac. So Cody will be happy. Just check their website to see if there’s anything. They don’t have a website. Right. Moving on then. That’s the news. (0:36:04) Jonnie: Woo-hoo! (0:36:05) Al: So we’re going to talk about Spirit Tea. So I guess quick intro. So this is a game. (0:36:17) Al: They describe it as stardew crossed with spirited away. And. (0:36:22) Al: The the overall idea is you are you’ve moved into a town as you do. You’re always moving somewhere and you have you drink some special tea called the spirit tea. And this allows you to see spirits that are caught in your world and the spirits basically tell you that you have to run the bathhouse, the old bathhouse, which is a spirit bathhouse, which for some reason you can see the the spirits in the bathhouse but we’ll get to that. (0:36:52) Al: So that’s the game, you’re running this bathhouse, the spirits come in and you make sure that they’re happy in the bathhouse. (0:37:00) Al: And that’s how you make the money. (0:37:02) Al: And there’s lots of other things around expanding things and blah blah blah blah blah. (0:37:07) Al: But that’s kind of like the main, it’s not farming game, it is our bathhouse running. (0:37:15) Jonnie: I was wondering, because this was announced a long time ago I feel, right? (0:37:20) Jonnie: Was this one of the first games that was sort of like talked about from a news perspective on the harvest season? Because it’s one of the first ones I sort of was- when I went to play it I was like “Man, I remember this being announced years ago!” So I was just curious if this was- if you remember if this was one of the first games that was sort of talked about from a news perspective. (0:37:42) Al: I do not remember, but I am currently searching because I have everything so I can search. (0:37:48) Al: The first time we talked about it was in June 2022. (0:37:54) Jonnie: What? My timeline is totally messed up, then. (0:37:56) Al: Covid broke us all. (0:37:58) Jonnie: Right. (0:38:00) Al: Sorry. (0:38:02) Al: Sorry. (0:38:02) Jonnie: Anyway, now that I’ve taken this totally off track… (0:38:06) Jonnie: Before we talk too much about the detail of the game, where are you at? (0:38:14) Jonnie: Are you thumbs up, thumbs in the middle, thumbs to be determined? (0:38:19) Al: So, I think this is a really - so there are some issues with this game, obviously, every game has some bugs and some issues, blah, blah, blah - but I think overall, I think this is a really nice game if it catches you. (0:38:35) Al: Now, I don’t think it’s the sort of thing that’s going to grab me, like Stardew Valley did, like Coral Island did, like Summer in Mara did, like some other games have. (0:38:49) Al: But I don’t think that’s a - I mean, ignoring, like we’ll talk about the onboarding because obviously we have some stuff to talk about that. (0:38:58) Al: But I think other than that, I don’t think there’s like a fundamental “this is why I’m not jiving with this game as much as I normally would.” (0:39:07) Al: I don’t know whether it’s, you know, maybe I’m being unfair to it because I’m playing Coral Island just now as well and that’s kind of where I’m, you know, my brain is wanting me to go so maybe that’s part of it. (0:39:19) Al: And I’m just going, “Oh, I just want to be playing ‘Coddle Island’ just now.” (0:39:21) Al: But, yeah, there’s something about the gameplay loop of the bathhouse that I’m not finding hugely satisfying. (0:39:30) Al: But I wouldn’t be surprised if that was our personal preference thing rather than a game design issue. (0:39:38) Jonnie: Yeah it does because I think I feel fairly similarly to you, but not in a- sometimes you play a game and you’re really just ready to go like thumbs down. I don’t think there’s much, (0:39:49) Jonnie: you know, good about this game and I wouldn’t recommend it, but that’s not where I’m at with Spirity. I just don’t feel like it’s a game for me, but I can totally see there being people that are like “no this is absolutely the game for me” and I really enjoy it, so I think I’m right there (0:40:06) Al: Yeah, I think because it has that repetitive nature, which is enjoyable for these games, (0:40:16) Al: but it also has it where you’ve got your upgrades for your bathhouse, so you’re slowly expanding things, so it still manages to have that lit that a lot of farming games have that’s quite satisfying. (0:40:27) Al: It also has a slight exploration thing in that you are constantly having to find new spirits, (0:40:34) Al: and there’s it’s (0:40:36) Al: kind of puzzle-y but not really difficult puzzles right but you get like a little bit like oh here’s a thing here’s a hint towards how you do and then you go to a place that the hint tells you to basically and then you find a spirit and and that that kind of is another different aspect to it that I think could lead to slightly longer term i’m enjoying this because i’m you know slowly building up the list of spirits that i’ve found that also then adds more complexity to the bath path hosted in and of itself. (0:41:05) Jonnie: Yeah, and one of the things I wonder is the nature of the game and being, you know, running a bathhouse and running the bathhouse requires effort and consistent effort, I guess at least in the early game. (0:41:21) Jonnie: I wonder if part of the reason it’s not grabbing me is because it didn’t feel like there’s a lot of choice, you know. (0:41:28) Jonnie: Where you talked about Stardew fairly earlier, where they, you know, you don’t have to do anything but ostensibly you’re picked up the game. (0:41:35) Jonnie: Because you want to run a farm. And the thing is to grow some parsnips, right? And that doesn’t take your full day to do, you just plant them and water them and then you can work out what else you want to do with the day. (0:41:49) Jonnie: But it felt like I was very locked into, right, spend my full day at the bathhouse, running the bathhouse. (0:41:56) Al: Yeah, that’s that’s very fair. Yeah, because that’s that’s one of the things that as you say, certainly many of us on this podcast have really loved about games like Stardew. And I think Coral Island is the same where there’s so much variation in different things you can do. And there’s very little you need to do. And I really like that. But yeah, what is this is like, you have to run the bathrooms, like that’s the game. It’s a it’s a one. It’s a one, you know, I wrote down on the I always on the show notes, I always write down the list of mechanics that we’re going to talk about. And there’s there’s three things there. One of which is the bathhouse. One of which is spirit view, which we’ll talk about later, because that’s that’s that’s where you’re finding the other spirits, right? So it’s like a different thing to the bathhouse. And then I put lol fishing, because for some reason, this game has fishing and I’ve not even tried it because I’m not I’m not doing that. I don’t I don’t want to play fishing, please. And thank you. And I think that’s basically it, right? (0:42:56) Al: - There isn’t another mechanic. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, like simple games can work really well. And I know a lot of people’s problems with Stardew Valley is I don’t know what to do this too much. And this doesn’t have that issue. It is here is the thing, go and do this thing. But certainly that’s we are not those people, we love Stardew and other games like it because of the choice (0:43:22) Jonnie: Yeah, because I think my sort of takeaway with the bathhouse is like, “Oh, this is cool,” and maybe we should talk a little more in detail about sort of what the bathhouse is, but my feeling was probably more that, like, in a game with more optionality, I would have gone away and found some other way to make money so I could skip through a few of the things that I didn’t love about how I thought the bathhouse was set up, right? So I could buy some of those early upgrades through another means, but that doesn’t really (0:43:50) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that’s totally fair. (0:43:54) Al: Yeah, let’s talk about the bathhouse mechanics then. (0:43:56) Al: So the idea is you have these spirits, (0:44:01) Al: and they come in various different forms, (0:44:05) Al: and you start off with two of them, (0:44:07) Al: and then you add them on, and blah, blah, blah. (0:44:09) Al: The idea is you have, (0:44:11) Al: so there’s a few different things you need to do in the bathhouse. (0:44:13) Al: First of all is you need to have towels. (0:44:15) Al: So you need to get clean towels, clean and dry towels, (0:44:18) Al: and then you put them at the front. (0:44:20) Al: The spirit will then grab a towel, (0:44:21) Al: and you can then take that spirit to a place in the bathhouse. (0:44:25) Al: And you have, you start out with one bath, (0:44:27) Al: and you can slowly add more baths. (0:44:29) Al: And your job is to decide on places for the spirits to go where they have preferences on who they’re sitting next to, (0:44:39) Al: and you have to make sure that you can lay it out in an efficient way to have the most number of spirits in there as possible, therefore making the most money. (0:44:50) Al: On top of that, you have to then obviously keep washing and drying the towels, (0:44:54) Al: and you have to keep the fire in the basement lit for both heating the water and drying the towels. (0:45:02) Al: Is that a fair description of the mechanics of this? (0:45:04) Jonnie: Yeah, I think so. There’s not too much to be like, so when you’re chopping the log to fuel the fire or washing the towels, it’s usually just like a, you know, hold A to complete the activity sort of minigames, there’s nothing particularly, you know, there’s no additional aspect to those, you’re kind of just completing the task. (0:45:29) Al: Yes, the challenge in the Bathhouse is not any of the minigames it’s in. It’s an organisational game. (0:45:38) Al: You have to figure out the way to be most efficient to make the most money and to not make your spirits upset. (0:45:46) Jonnie: Yes, and one of the things they do tell you very early on is that it will require trial and error to work out what your spirits do and don’t like, and they kind of guide you that the two spirits you start with don’t like to sit next to each other, which I think is kind of handy because you kind of know to start separating them. (0:46:08) Jonnie: And then one of the things I think I found is that, because I was just lining up, you red spirits on the left and blue spirits on the right, or… I think they’re red. (0:46:16) Jonnie: red and blue. And then I think I got too many red spirits all in a line and the ones in the middle started to get less happy. (0:46:23) Jonnie: So there was clearly some like, you know, it’s not just who do you like sitting next to games, but there’s some bigger context clues going on. (0:46:30) Jonnie: Bye. (0:46:32) Al: Yeah. Yeah. So I think that’s probably the main thrust of why I’m not a huge fan is like in my repetitive mechanical nature of a cottagecore game, I’m personally not looking for puzzles. (0:46:59) Al: Right? (0:47:00) Al: Like, I don’t… (0:47:02) Al: This is why I like farming so much. It’s like, this is what you do and if you do the same thing every time it will work the same way and you don’t have to like, you know, (0:47:11) Al: your seed tells you when it likes to be and you know that it needs water. Right? These things are very clear. I like to know how this works. I like to have the clear rules and I’m not a huge fan of kind of trying to figure these things out. That’s definitely a me thing. I can imagine, like, lots of people love puzzle games so I suspect if you love (0:47:32) Al: puzzle games and you love puzzle games, that might be where this game is leading to. That might be the kind of person that’s looking to this game. (0:47:40) Jonnie: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense and I think I’m probably more similar to you, because one of the things I was kind of looking for was like which of these spirits should I prioritize, right? (0:47:52) Jonnie: Like red spirits may be easier to keep happy but provide this money and blue spirits are, you know, more valuable but maybe they’re harder to keep happy or, you know, what’s the balance so I can make a choice, right? (0:48:06) Jonnie: I want the puzzle when I play a life-some game. I want the puzzle to be in (0:48:10) Jonnie: making the choice. Do I want to buy the crop that grows in four days and is less profitable, (0:48:15) Jonnie: or do I want the one that grows in 20 days but has a much wider profit margin, (0:48:20) Jonnie: or do I want the thing that recurs over the course of the month? Those sorts of decisions are easier because the outcome is deterministic and the pace that these games move at, (0:48:31) Jonnie: you kind of need that, right? Because if you got to the end of summer and you found that you’ve made all of the wrong choices based on what you want to do and now you have to wait, you know, (0:48:40) Jonnie: time before you get back to summer to be able to do those things again, that would be very frustrating. And that’s where I think some of my lack of enjoyment came from when I was playing, (0:48:50) Jonnie: is just the outcomes of what I was doing wasn’t particular. (0:48:56) Al: Um, Johnny, are you racially profiling the spirits? (0:49:00) Al: I mean, it is an interesting thing, right? Because one of the things that they tell you, (0:49:00) Jonnie: Ah, yes. (0:49:06) Jonnie: And this will be my last episode on THS. (0:49:08) Jonnie: I look forward to being cancelled. (0:49:15) Al: your lovely floating cat on a donut, I think, whatever, one of the things he tells you is that (0:49:25) Al: You don’t have to ex– (0:49:26) Al: Except any of the spirits, right? If a spirit comes in and grabs a towel, you can take the towel and put it back at the door and the spirit will go away. Which, I mean, is obviously an important part of the puzzle aspect of things, otherwise you’re like, you could get in a situation where you can’t solve anything, and sometimes the solution is telling this one to go away. (0:49:46) Al: But just when you make them, like, essentially dead people, it becomes a little bit awkward in terms of like, I’m just gonna tell you to- (0:49:56) Al: go away now please, don’t come. I don’t want you. Because it’s like, especially one of the things that he says about turning them away is like, he says something along the lines of, if you think they’ll like, you know, cause problems or there’s some- like, I can’t remember the exact word, but like basically have a negative effect on your bath house. (0:50:14) Al: So it’s like you’re being a bouncer in the bath house, right? Which just seems a little bit- I don’t know. (0:50:21) Jonnie: Yeah, it feels very uncomfortable, and this one seems like, “I would never want to do that.” (0:50:27) Jonnie: The whole point of the game of running a bathhouse is meant to be like, (0:50:30) Jonnie: “I want the spirits to come and use my bathhouse,” and I get the puzzle aspect of being like, (0:50:35) Jonnie: “Oh, you might want to turn this one away, because you’ve got nowhere for them to go,” (0:50:38) Jonnie: but that’s just not a feel-good moment, right? (0:50:41) Jonnie: It’s… (0:50:42) Al: social anxiety the game but I mean this is the thing we just we keep that all the points that we’re bringing up are very much like yeah this is not for me but I can absolutely see why people would like that right like what makes any particular aspect of life more or less real you know something that is legitimate for a game and just you know just because we are not a huge fan of that doesn’t mean that someone else will- (0:50:43) Jonnie: Right? (0:51:12) Jonnie: Yeah, and just on the bathhouse and sort of I think what I Wasn’t grabbed by immediately is the was when you take over the bathhouse It’s obviously very run down you’ve only got one pool as I’ll mentioned and it’s kind of dirty or Sort of cluttered everywhere and it’s yeah seems clearly designed to that’s what you’re supposed to level up and make the bathhouse look nice and there was something that sort of was (0:51:42) Jonnie: Kind of like of my brain that was kind of like but this is where I want to just kind of come in Having earned a bit of money doing something else and just get a few upgrades. So at least it looks Visually appealing because the starting bathhouse does not grab me Which I had a real problem with (0:51:54) Al: Yeah. (0:51:56) Al: There’s like tree roots everywhere. (0:52:00) Al: There’s dirt and dust and I just want to clean it up. (0:52:04) Al: Let me do that. Yeah. (0:52:06) Jonnie: Yeah, even if it was like, you know, it started a little bit worse than what they presented and one of the things you do at the start is just like, tidy it a little bit. (0:52:14) Jonnie: I think that would have helped me cross a hurdle, but it just looked so messy and I was like, no no, my character would just tidy this place up for like, a week before we even let anybody out. (0:52:23) Al: Yeah, because you don’t - this is the th

In episode 122 of the Retro Gaming Dads Podcast, Phil and Barry take a look back at the UK games chart in November 1993. As well as the latest titles coming to your favourite console subscription services. SEGA drop a surprise announcement for a 2D Sonic title, although it's not quite what people were expecting. Then finally we talk about Microsoft's move to block unauthorised Xbox peripherals. ---------- Full show notes are available at ⁠https://www.retrogamingdads.co.uk/⁠ Support the podcast at ⁠https://www.retroages.co.uk/support/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/retrogamingdads/message

In this episode the cast reacts to the new voice of Mario, Sonic Superstars release and debate the best 2D Sonic game ever made. Learn how you can support the show: http://spawncastnetwork.com

We're back for Episode 110! In this episode Cody and Eric catch up on the news +  Battle Of The Systems: Marathon (Mac) vs Star Wars: Dark Forces (PC) We are doing news for the first monthly episode and then "catching up" later in the month.   Episode Guide ---------------- 9:56 - Quick Questions 26:09 - Patreon Song 30:20 - Tea Time With Tim - PU +2 54:46 - News 1:44:07 - Battle Of The Systems: Marathon vs Star Wars: Dark Forces   News -     (Tim) - You Can Now Play A Bunch Of New ZX Spectrum Games Made Entirely By Kids!  The Primary 6 pupils of Bearsden Primary have been working on these games all year. They have designed and animated their characters; coded their games; designed and tested their levels and created a loading screen.  We really hope you enjoy our creations and we'd love to hear your feedback!  The games are available on “Dougie mcg” Itch.io website, he is the teacher that has been running the class at the school.  https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/06/you-can-now-play-a-bunch-of-new-zx-spectrum-games-made-entirely-by-kids  https://dougie9mcg.itch.io/zx-spectrum-games-by-bearsden-primary-2023  (Eric) - Neo Geo USB Wireless (2.4Ghz) controller pre-order - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9BZR395/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_74TPJNGGBP8P69MZEX3P?linkCode=ml1&tag=misteraddons-20&th=1  (Cody) myst on Atari  https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/07/myst-is-getting-an-unofficial-port-for-the-atari-2600  (Tim) - Hamster Corp has announced that Namco's influential arcade racer Pole Position will be heading to the Nintendo Switch & PS4 on July 6th as part of Arcade Archives.  https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/06/namcos-influential-arcade-racer-pole-position-comes-to-nintendo-switch-and-ps4-next-month  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFs1Xc82Q0U  (Eric) Til The Gods Devour Us – Pico-8 micro-strategy game with tower defense and board game-inspired elements - https://www.reddit.com/r/pico8/comments/14mzhzm/til_the_gods_devour_us_a_pico8_microstrategy/  (Cody) https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/07/a-massive-collection-of-lost-gaming-history-is-getting-preserved  (Eric) - Dodonpachi Shirt - https://www.etsy.com/listing/908058958/dodonpachi-unisex-t-shirt-cave-stg-shmup?ref=share_v4_lx  (Cody) https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/07/bitmap-bureaus-final-vendetta-is-coming-to-neo-geo  (Tim) - Big Nintendo Direct June news! - New 2D side scroller Super Mario Bros. Wonder.  Classic Mario side-scrolling gameplay is turned on its head with the addition of Wonder Flowers! These game-changing items trigger spectacular moments you have to see to believe. Witness pipes coming alive, wreak havoc as a giant spiky ball, and see even more unexpected events called Wonder Effects.  https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Super-Mario-Bros-Wonder-2404150.html#Gallery  (Eric) - PC Engine – The Box Art Collection - https://retroarcadia.blog/2023/07/05/book-review-pc-engine-the-box-art-collection/  (Cody) Homebrew Games Summer Showcase Homebrew Games Summer Showcase 2023  (Tim) - Also on the Switch, PS4, PS5, XBox latest of a line of new Sonic games, Sonic Superstars where you adventure through the mystical Northstar Islands in this all-new take on classic 2D Sonic high-speed action platforming. Play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose and harness all-new Emerald powers to move and attack in dynamic new ways. Due late 2023  https://sonicsuperstars.com/?lang=uk  (Eric) - Amiga 500 Maxi Confirmed? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXWmbEU7lYg  (Cody) So this is about to drop! https://stoneagegamer.com/7800-gamedrive.html  (Tim) For all the Ultimate 1541 and Ultimate 64 owners out there. New firmware has been released by Gideon. Now you can update your devices to v3.10j. Various improvements, too many to list as this is the first update since 3.10a in 2021 according to the release notes so if you have one, you will want to get this installed (I did

In today's episode, we discuss Xbox Gamepass and Console price increase, a new 2D Sonic game is announced, a new 2D Mario game is announced, Starfield was originally going to be a PS5 exclusive, and our least favorite gaming genre.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Listen to our episodes live on Kick! https://kick.com/2brothersgamingListen to our episodes live on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@2BrothersGamingPodcast-df5wyHere is Ashton's (armoury987) personal Twitch Channel https://www.twitch.tv/armoury987Here is Ryland's (Quixs) personal Twitch Channel https://twitch.tv/QuiixxssHere is Ashton's (armoury987) personal Kick Account https://kick.com/armoury987Here is Ryland's (Quixs) personal Kick Account https://Kick.com/QuixsHere is Ashton's (armoury987) personal YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@armoury987Here is Ryland's (Quixs) personal YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@QuixsHere is our merch on RedBubble 2BrothersGaming.redbubble.comMusic: Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/2brothersgaming/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week is full of exciting gaming news, a judge grants a restraining order on Microsoft for the Activision deal, Xbox comments if Activision could make a Halo game, Illumination CEO shoots down rumors of a Zelda movie, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection is announced, Sega announces a Sonic Central Event, Final Fantasy XVI ratings are out, and a new 2D Sonic game is announced.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Join our discord to chat with ushttps://discord.gg/Nv9S5Spd6gListen to our episodes live on Twitch!https://www.twitch.tv/3terriblegamersListen to us live on YouTube! https://youtube.com/channel/UCCtH8Pw8oFg-2_LKqwSqxGAHere is Ashton's (armoury987) personal Twitch Account https://www.twitch.tv/armoury987Here is Ashton's (armoury987) personal Kick Account https://kick.com/armoury987Here is Ashton's (armoury987) personal YouTube Account https://www.youtube.com/@armoury987Consider becoming a patronhttp://patreon.com/3terriblegamers- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Amazon Affiliate Links: (We make a small commission from purchases using these links with no additional cost to you)SystemsNintendo Switch OLED white joy-con https://amzn.to/3wC8l2YGamesNBA 2K23 Standard Edition Nintendo Switch https://amzn.to/3QW3oucCall of Duty Modern Warfare II https://amzn.to/3Ljl1C9God of War Ragnarok https://amzn.to/3SbFmLTMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope https://amzn.to/3DxOnuLSplatoon 3 https://amzn.to/3QKVYZKBayonetta 3 https://amzn.to/3dq23gIPokemon Scarlet https://amzn.to/3QR3VwoPokemon Violet https://amzn.to/3qRFKTXNeed For Speed Unbound  https://amzn.to/3Vyt5UkGotham Knights https://amzn.to/3t2Iu1YSonic Frontiers https://amzn.to/3WNE397Nintendo Switch Sports https://amzn.to/3GtHzzxHogwarts Legacy https://amzn.to/3FGgDuzFire Emblem Engage https://amzn.to/3vZLY6USpongebob Squarepants Cosmic Shake https://amzn.to/3CKLUfaDead Space Remake https://amzn.to/3CNruSHKirby's Return To DreamLand Deluxe https://amzn.to/3lcxqPqTears Of The Kingdom https://amzn.to/3HN5bOBResident Evil 4: Standard Edition https://amzn.to/3nfDVBLMetroid Prime Remastered https://amzn.to/3z7Ob1NJoy-Con SticksGulikit Hall Effect Joy-Con No Drift Sticks https://amzn.to/3Ws1KCgJoy-Con ControllersPastel Pink/Pastel Yellow https://amzn.to/3J5emeJPastel Purple/Pastel Green https://amzn.to/3oYJjur- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Check out our sports podcast anchor.fm/2terriblesportsPodcast(s) Merch: 3TerribleGamers's shopNintendo Live Event Link: ninten.do/6016gyrX2Switch OLED Bundle for $380 https://www.ebay.com/itm/195464780174?_trkparms=5079:5000006401Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/3-terrible-gamers/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Ep. 569, Matt and I discuss Gen-Z being the dominant anime generation, Michael Shannon expressing dissatisfaction with multiverse movies, the passing of comic legend John Romita Sr., and more!  Full Topics: Gen-Z is the dominant anime generation, with 69% of respondents watching anime, followed by Millennials at 57%, Gen-X at 40%, and Baby Boomers at 23%. The Xbox Series S - 1TB in Carbon Black has been announced, offering more storage and a sleek design, with quick resume, fast load times, and gameplay up to 120 FPS. Sega announced Sonic Superstars, a new 2D Sonic game with a classic vibe, featuring Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy as playable characters in four-player co-op. Gotham Knights has been canceled after a single season on The CW, joining a list of other canceled CW dramas including Walker: Independence, The Winchesters, Kung Fu reboot, and Two Sentence Horror Stories. Superman and Lois got renewed for another season but on a reduced budget. Kevin Smith plans to review the Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn criticized the repetitive nature and lack of innovation in superhero movies, calling for a wider range of genres and more emotional depth. Gunn complained about having to say "no" to people and rejected projects in an interview, raising questions about his suitability as a leader in the industry. Controversy surrounds the costume of "Superman: Legacy" as James Gunn evades commitment to the iconic trunks, leaving fans disappointed. Actor Michael Shannon expressed dissatisfaction with multiverse movies, comparing them to playing with action figures. Renowned artist John Romita Sr., known for defining the look of Spider-Man and Marvel Comics, has passed away at 93. FOLLOW/SUPPORT MATT: @madnerdotcom (Instagram) @madner (Facebook) As always, we appreciate your constructive Feedback, Suggestions, and Questions. You can also leave us an audio question on SpeakPipe. Thank you for the continued love and support! Enjoy the show. Daniel Podcast Awards 2019 || Games & Hobbies (Winner) Podcast Awards 2017 - 2018, 2020 - 2022 || Games & Hobbies (Nominated) Official Site FOLLOW US: - Twitter | @ReasonsImBroke and @TRIBPod - Instagram- Pinterest- Tumblr - Discord Lounge - YouTube Channel SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Stitcher / iHeartRadio / TuneIn / Overcast SUPPORT THE POD: Getting $1's worth of entertainment and information each month? Support us on Patreon or visit our TeePublic storefront! SPREAD THE WORD: If you're enjoying the show, please head over to iTunes and leave us a rating and a review! Each one helps new Brokettes discover the podcast. Contribute to the Hero Initiative to offer assistance to comic creators facing difficulties. Show your support for the AFSP's efforts by donating to the Autumn Snyder Tribute Fund. CREDITS: Opening/Closing Jingles - Alex Scott Show Logo By - Opanaldiova

Tanya and Jonathan talk about Whoopi Goldberg coming out as a Gamer™, Sonic and Prince of Persia's return to their 2D roots, and the rebirth of Cart Life: The Game About how Things Are Bad. Guests Zoey Handley talks about writing for Destructoid for about half a decade, and James Interactive talks about the Friday The 13th-inspired Screaming Savage Blood Death, working with Edmund McMillen, and RV Youtubers. Time Codes: 0:00:00 - Flatulence and Prayer0:02:54 - Whoopi Goldberg: The Last of the Strong Mac People0:08:33 - Zoey Handley Interview: Writing & Videogames, It's All You Need0:33:02 - Summer Games Fest: The Big Announcements (for Jonathan)0:36:30 - Prince of Persia: Back to 2D0:41:44 - Cart Life: It's Coming Back0:42:28 - James Interactive Interview: Talking to Enbies About RV YouTubers1:23:49 - Wrap Up/Plugs1:25:18 - I Can't Wait to See Your Bottom Our Guests on Twitter: Zoey: https://twitter.com/adzuken James: https://twitter.com/jamesid Daniel (our show's producer) on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/d-booth-sanford Support the show on Patreon? https://www.patreon.com/ttwav

Ein Snipe der Extraklasse fand am Donnerstag statt: Während wir gemütlich Sonic Lost World an der Wii U streamten, wurde glatt ein neues 2D-Sonic angekündigt! Sonic Superstars ist seitdem Thema Nummer 1 in der Sonic-Community, doch wir haben noch mehr im Gepäck: Sonic Origins bekommt kurz vor dem Release wieder merkwürdige Presse, es gibt neues zu Knuckles auf Paramount+ und natürlich dürfen weder Sonic Forces Mobile, noch die Comics zu kurz kommen! Zu guter Letzt sprechen wir dann über die Story von Sonic Lost World im Zuge unserer großen Diskussionsreihe zum Spiel! Zeitstempel: (0:00) Intro (0:40) Stream-Recap (7:33) Sonic Superstars (54:30) News-Rückblick (1:18:24) Sonic Lost World Feedback + Story (1:55:55) Outro Livestreams jeden Donnerstag um 20 Uhr auf Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/ruki185 Kontakt: gottapodcast@gmail.com Hier geht's zu unserem Discord-Server: https://discord.gg/KEAmvmKVPF Hinterlasst uns gerne einen Kommentar mit Feedback, Fragen und/oder Kritik! Das könnt ihr unter anderem im Newsbeitrag auf SpinDash.de bzw. auf dem Discord-Server tun. Auf Social Media sind wir natürlich auch vertreten: Sowohl auf Instagram (@gottapodcast), als auch auf Twitter (@spindash_de) und Facebook (GottaPodCast) oder aber einfach unter dem Hashtag #GottaPodCast! Auch über eine positive Bewertung freuen wir uns immer! Die Weblinks zum Nachlesen gibt's im Newsbeitrag auf spindash.de

Het is een traditie binnen gaming dat wanneer de meteorologische zomer begint het aantal releases daalt, maar de aankondingen als een hittegolf over je heenkomen. Voorheen was dit het geval met de E3 beurs, maar aangezien die er niet meer is, stapt Game Awards organisator Geoff Keighley graag in die schoenen met zijn Summer Game Fest. Een digitaal evenement die uit meerdere showcases bestaat, bijvoorbeeld van indie uitgever Devolver Digital, maar begint met een grote eigen show van twee uur. Daarin zagen we de terugkeer van Prince of Persia, een nieuwe 2D Sonic game, gameplay van Mortal Kombat 1 en kregen we releasedata van o.a. Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Lies of P en Witchfire. Uiteraard is er nog heel veel meer en alle hoogtepunten hoor je in deze aflevering! Heb je een vraag voor de show? Mail naar podcast@gamergeeks.nl

Gotta go fast, sure. But AGAIN?! The blue blur returns in what's widely considered the most important 2D Sonic adventure. We already know Swaim's onboard, but will Ganz grant sahnic entry onto the vaunted Celestial Hard Drive? Start spinning up your impossibly-jointed helicopter tails, because we're going in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's up nerds, geeks and gamers alike!? We're back with a bang for our 5th episode of the NSquared podcast! We've got some great listener q and a, as well as heavy game based episode for ya! So sit down, relax and enjoy the show! Thank you for listening, if you're new, leave a awesome rating and review and don't forget to subscribe! It's free! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nick-castro1/support

On today's IGN The Fix: Games, Sonic's retro remastered collection, Sonic Origins will be released on Sonic's birthday, June 23, 2022. Sonic Origins is a collection of several 2D Sonic games released on Genesis including Sonic The Hedgehog 1, 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD. All games will be digitally remastered for current platforms. Sonic Origins' release date and editions were announced earlier today and fans aren't happy with the amount of locked-off DLC, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge will bring back voice actors from the classic 1987 animated TV series when it's released this Summer. PlayStation has released an app allowing users who own Windows 10 or 11 computers to update the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. Previously, owners of the controller needed a PS5 console to receive firmware updates.

Twitter: @slimcognitomode Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/slimcognitoentertainment Music by Natsu Fuji Twitter: @neofujimuzik Articles SONIC ORIGINS “WON'T BE RUNNING OFF EMULATION,” MORE CLASSIC SONIC GAMES MAY BE REMASTERED https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/06/exclusive-sonic-origins-wont-be-running-off-emulation-more-classic-sonic-games-may-be-remastered/ The Friday the 13th game was set for an Among Us-style mode before lawsuit blocked development https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-06-26-friday-the-13th-game-was-set-for-an-among-us-style-mode-before-lawsuit-blocked-development Ghost of Tsushima Expansion Could Be Launching This Year https://gameluster.com/ghost-of-tsushima-expansion-could-be-launching-this-year/ Nintendo Makes Revisiting Classic Metroid Games A Huge Hassle https://kotaku.com/nintendo-makes-revisiting-classic-metroid-games-a-huge-1847166081 Bloodborne was the most played game on PC thanks to PS Now, possible remaster coming soon https://game-debate.com/news/30862/bloodborne-was-the-most-played-game-on-pc-thanks-to-ps-now-possible-remaster-coming-soon Latest Marvel's Avengers update has a PS5 bug that displays usernames and IP addresses https://www.techspot.com/news/90159-latest-marvel-avengers-update-has-ps5-bug-displays.html --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Andrea and Greg talk about how devs, gamers, and everyone else have to re-learn how to talk to each other. Time Stamps - 00:03:15 - Housekeeping PAX is next week! Guild Wars event Friday morning, KFGShowcase Friday at 4:30, Inter-Site Championship Saturday at 9! kindafunny.com/events The Roper Report - 00:05:22 - Respawn CEO Vince Zampella on the Apex/Reddit Explosion 00:19:56 - “Are developers really supposed to just roll over and take it from some of the more vitriolic members of the gaming community?” - The Virtual Boy 00:26:15 - Shawn Layden on Insomniac Purchase 00:32:02 - Shawn on PS4 Exclusives on PC 00:33:30 - Hotline Miami was in Australia for a hot sec 00:34:23 - 2D Sonic and Mario Go to the Olympics 00:36:14 - Out today 00:39:06 - Imran Khan 00:40:31 - WHCF & PM Reader mail - 00:42:45 - “When are we going to see Nintendo reciprocate?” - instagram.com/wondercreme Please Follow 00:44:26 - “I recently got an oculus quest and was a bit disappointed by how much better it is from a technical standpoint than my PSVR headset…” - Parker Petrov 00:50:36 - Squad Up: Zack - PS4 - SONofTHOMP8264 00:51:35 - You‘re Wrong Tomorrow’s Hosts: Greg & Whitta

Welcome back to Pursuing Pixels.  This week, we get maniacal with the most recent 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game (and perhaps the best one to date?).  DJ also hits the ramps in Trials: Fusion, while Kevin and Randy tackle a couple of new releases from indie-publishing giants Devolver Digital & Nicalis) in Gato Roboto and Crystal Crisis, respectively.  Games Discussed:Sonic Mania: Plus - 00:01:48Trials: Fusion -00:30:37Crystal Crisis -00:44:30Gato Roboto -00:59:11Next week's game - 01:10:25  Thanks for listening.  If you'd like to find us elsewhere on the internet, you can find us at:www.twitch.tv/pursuingpixelswww.twitter.com/pursuingpixelswww.instagram.com/pursuingpixels RSS Feed:  https://feed.podbean.com/pursuingpixels/feed.xml

ViPER is excited for Sonic Mania Plus just as much as he was for the original release, even if the enthusiasm isn't shared! Join him for talk, trivia and a freshly tested topicality!

As part of RadioSEGA's WinterFest 2017, The SEGA Lounge opens its doors to Baircave, Ben Briggs and James Landino, three of the talented people behind "Sonic Mania Remixed", a remix album focused on the music of the most recent 2D Sonic outing. OSC, Twinny and ViPER also join in on the action at some point and we do some giveawya, including the big one following our donation drive for Special Effect. Get "Sonic Mania Remixed" from Bandcamp: https://tnywvs.bandcamp.com/album/sonic-mania-remixed. You can also stream it on all major platforms.

Well, it finally happened! The Sonic Episode that John's been hoping that would happen for the entirety of our three-year run has finally come to pass, riding in on the coattails of the recently released Sonic Mania. Join us for a two-hour discussion of not only the latest 2D Sonic hontness but a ton of extra Sonic lore as well. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll go by real fast. Eh? Eh?

«Sonic Mania» macht alles richtig. Bereits beim Startbildschirm freuen sich Mega Drive Nostalgiker - und wenn das Spiel startet, geht der Nostalgie-Flash weiter! Denn Ihr spielt einen leicht modifizierten ersten Level des Erstlings für das Sega Mega Drive. Sonic lässt sich wunderbar steuern, die teils nervig platzierten Gegner fallen heute jedoch noch etwas mehr auf als früher - der Nerv- und Unfairfaktor ist also auch vorhanden. Dennoch: Die Handhabung ist sehr gut, das Schwungverhalten ideal. Die Levels sind äusserst abwechslungsreich und die Remixe bekannter Levels sehr gelungen - besonders gefällt mir, dass sehr viele Bosse auf Euch warten. Einige sind mitunter nervig, insgesamt übertrumpfen jedoch die guten Bossfights. Auch die musikalische Kulisse macht Laune, Oldschool-Feeling das Euch nach vorne treibt. Parallax-Scrolling war auf dem Mega Drive der Hit, auch hier wird dieser Grafikeffekt schön eingesetzt, es macht Freude die Levels zu erkunden - denn diese sind sehr vielseitig - viele Wege führen zum Ziel. Auch der günstige Preis ist ein klares Plus und es gibt sogar einen Co-op-Modus. Alles in allem ist Sonic da, wo er hingehört - auf einem guten Jump’n’Run-Level - mit einigen bekannten Macken, vielen abwechslungsreichen Levels (12 Zonen à zwei Levels)- und knuffigem Gegnerdesign sowie einer tadellosen Steuerung. (raf)

Gotta go fast! This episode we're talking about Sonic Mania, the first Sonic the Hedgehog game in years to recapture the feeling of the original 2D Sonic games. We discuss our history as Sonic fans,...

You sit down, strap yourself in, and wait for the feels. You turn a knob until the bass integrated into the back of the seat starts to thrum and buzz. "Ah, I can feel that for sure," you say aloud to no one. Your mouth turns down at the side, half a frown, as you look through your options. The hosts said they recorded this a while ago, but you think they might have been too kind. On the screen: A collection of lost games for an 8-bit console. A new video game system called the "Xbox One X." A... new... 2D Sonic the Hedgehog. Suddenly the thrum is not just in your back, but everywhere. The hum unbearable, you swat at your gamer harness, but the five point lock holds you strong. The hum is everything, everywhere. "What year is this?!" you scream out into the night street, before it all goes black. Discussed: UFO 50, Tacoma, Steve Gaynor's stupid websites, Xbox One X, Xbox One X box (1), Subsurface Circular, StarCraft Remastered, buying a house with the money you saved by not buying avocados and instead saving 20% on flowers you millennial idiot, sugar-free shit-inducing gummy bears, stuff moms hate, tactical gamer chair, Sonic Mania, Sonic depression, deformable terrain, Myth, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pyre, UI polish, game spectator views, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Salty Bet, MUGEN, Deceit (Steam game), Bungie, Battle.net, Japanese video games Sponsored by: Squarespace one-stop website creator with the offer code THUMBS, ProFlowers flower delivery with the offer code THUMBS

“Wow, Nathan’s not even here and he’s ruining the podcast.” This week, the Hey Poor Podcast forgets that videogames exist and turns into a streaming TV review show. Again. Join I “I Could Go For A Ko-Taco” Coleman and forgotten fan favorite Anthony “That Clip Of Those Wrestlers Yelling ‘He’s Fat’” Spivey as they discuss the good, bad, and ugly of trans-media adaptations, from Amazon’s excellent new Tick series to Netflix’s accursed Death Note film. We do manage to sneak in some videogame talk, though – including why Sonic Mania might be the best 2D Sonic game, how Half Life 3’s story got leaked and what makes it so terrible, the terrifying implications of Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle’s “unexpected story content,” and some actual on-air… Read More... The post Hey Poor Podcast Episode 113: Investigative Nude Mod Journalism appeared first on Hey Poor Player.

2D Sonic is back and better than ever with Sonic Mania, and we give our full impressions of the game as well as dive into what critics are saying about Sega's mascot's return to form as well as news about Metroid, Pokemon, and a little game called Minecraft. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to Bits, the podcast made for gamers by gamers. First up are a few announcements including some new gameplay mechanics for the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey and our thoughts on a brand new Indie game subscription service called Jump. Then we discuss the ins and outs of how Sega is using their new 2D Sonic game Sonic Mania as a way to determine overall interest in 2D titles moving forward as well as the reveal of Mario Kart VR for the arcade. Then finally we discuss what we've been playing where I give the lowdown on the indie horror game Detention and Madcap hits the open world once again with the game Dragon's Dogma. All that and much much more await you within!

Half of 2017 has past so you know what that means... our game of the half-year nominations. Also on this episode, Platinum teases Bayonetta and Wonderful 101 on the Switch via Twitter, Nintendo announces a year worth of DLC for Splatoon 2, first DLC character for ARMS releases next week for free, Sega may be making more 2D Sonic games if fan reaction to Sonic Mania is big enough and much more. So join us for Episode 79 of Rated G for Gamers and thanks for being such good fans.

On a special edition of the Broken Clock Gamescast, Adam and Joe recap their day spent at a Pinball and Game Room Expo. The guys talk about a long 7 hour day playing nothing but Pinball machines, and arcade games. They talk about the event, as well as the games, and both came away with a new appreciation for pinball. There was also some news to talk about this week, including new info on Splatoon 2, a new Dynasty Warriors spinoff, and the future of 2D Sonic games. All of this plus another Lightning Round/Not Lightning Round, on this weeks Broken Clock Gamescast. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @brokenclockpods, and give a like and subscribe on you podcast service of choice.

This episode of the Gamecast, we have Blizzard teasing Doomfist as the next playable character in Overwatch!  SEGA talks about how Sonic Mania will shape the future of 2D Sonic for years to come.  EA is ripping off Activision again with Anthem being a 10 year cycle of development and support.  Billions of counterfeit Pokemon plushes were seized in Korea, and the crew goes over Flipaggedon 2017 with GameStop’s most recent promotion.  #overwatch #sonic #anthem #pokemon #gamestop

I’m joined by Chris Machell to cover some top drawer jammers from the Sonic the Hedgehog games of the 1990s! With the enduring popularity of the original 2D Sonic titles in the world of retro gaming, it’s easy to take their soundtracks for granted, so we’ve picked out some superlative individual tracks – including classics and deeper cuts – to demonstrate the scope of what is among Sega’s most important contributions to the world of VGM!

I'm joined by Chris Machell to cover some top drawer jammers from the Sonic the Hedgehog games of the 1990s! With the enduring popularity of the original 2D Sonic titles in the world of retro gaming, it's easy to take their soundtracks for granted, so we've picked out some superlative individual tracks – including classics and deeper cuts – to demonstrate the scope of what is among Sega's most important contributions to the world of VGM!

Tales From The Orbis Aetherum s2e22: Rough Shape Lucia Wolfe and Reynam Altair have finally rescued Rhea Wilhelm, but escaping Valterra is just the beginning. SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/orbis-aetherum/s2e22 YouTube playlist: http://bit.ly/tftoa-playlist Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/axelhander Orbis Aetherum on the web: http://OrbisAetherum.com | https://twitter.com/orbisaetherum | http://orbisaetherum.tumblr.com This week's shoutout: The upcoming 2D Sonic game, Sonic Mania, published by Sega and developed by Christian Whitehead, aka The Taxman. I have a tip jar! Completely optional, but if interested: https://www.patreon.com/ChaseFaro

Gavin is joined by Connla to discuss the Sonic the Hedgehog games. Part 1 deals with the bulk of the more classic 2D Sonic games, we’ll be looking at difficult transition to 3D games in Part 2. (Note this podcast was recorded last year)

With David catching the PAX flu and Sam away in NYC John and Garnett tackle a massive show with the aid of Gamasutra's Christian Nutt. In a wide ranging Whatcha Been Playin they get into Osmos, Torchlight, Need for Speed Shift, Motorstorm Arctic Edge, Soul Calibur Broken Destiny, Batman Arkham Asylum, and more. The second segment keeps up the pace beginning with a recap of the August NPD sales stats hot off the presses and afterward including Apple calling out the DS and PSP for a handheld console war, the announcement of a new 2D Sonic headed our way in 2010, and Left 4 Dead 2 Boycotters changing their minds after a trip to Valve.

With David catching the PAX flu and Sam away in NYC John and Garnett tackle a massive show with the aid of Gamasutra's Christian Nutt. In a wide ranging Whatcha Been Playin they get into Osmos, Torchlight, Need for Speed Shift, Motorstorm Arctic Edge, Soul Calibur Broken Destiny, Batman Arkham Asylum, and more. The second segment keeps up the pace beginning with a recap of the August NPD sales stats hot off the presses and afterward including Apple calling out the DS and PSP for a handheld console war, the announcement of a new 2D Sonic headed our way in 2010, and Left 4 Dead 2 Boycotters changing their minds after a trip to Valve.