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Ep 260 “The CottageCore AR-15” – National Gun Violence Awareness Month (Bullet Poof Bulletins) Celebrating the launch of eco-fiction anti-gun novella Bullet Poof and National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Avis Kalfsbeek brings back beloved Kitty O'Compost with the Bullet Poof Bulletins. Tonight on the Spoke-Easy stage, Kitty O'Compost deconstructs a truly bizarre update from the suburban backyard horticultural circuit. This bulletin satirizes an absolute logistical stir on Magnolia Lane, where a resident attempted a social experiment by bringing a highly customized rifle platform—the CottageCore AR-15—to a neighborhood garden club meeting. Refinished in matte sage green with hand-painted floral engravings and a custom tweed shoulder strap, the weapon was placed right next to heirloom tomato seedlings in an effort to launder an industry of fear by wrapping it in a cozy Pinterest aesthetic. Inspired by the grounding, collaborative themes of Bullet Poof, this episode laughs at this astonishing piece of self-delusion and reminds us that true safety is found when we stop investing in the profit of pain and start building relaxed community connection. Resources: Bullet Poof is a hopeful eco-fiction novella about what happens when ordinary people refuse to accept the gun status quo. Get the book: https://www.aviskalfsbeek.com/bullet-poof National Gun Violence Awareness Month: www.wearorange.org Theme Music: "Turn the Steel" and punk intros produced by Avis Kalfsbeek (via ElevenLabs). Music Credits & Support: Buy LPs and music downloads directly from the bands' websites, or from platforms like Bandcamp where artists retain the majority of your purchase. This project is inspired by decades of punk ethos, raw energy, and the brilliant musicians who shaped the movement. The sonic landscape of this series was informed and inspired by: The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Rites of Spring, The Buzzcocks, Minor Threat, The Clash, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, The Dead Kennedys, The Ramones, Jawbreaker, Fugazi, Rise Against, The Damned, The Stooges, Bad Brains, Bikini Kill, The Lawrence Arms, Husker Du, Pennywise, The Adicts, The Exploited, Descendents, Stiff Little Fingers, Crass, The Germs, Dropkick Murphys, Operation Ivy, Against Me!, Green Day, Blink-182, The Hives, Sleater-Kinney, The Violent Femmes, The Network, The Jam, The Gaslight Anthem, No Use For A Name, and The Interrupters.
A witch and her adopted daughter run away to the woods to build their home – or adopt it, because Thornwood House is more than just a place to live. It is a sentient home carrying the grief of its past resident. THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE is a cozy fantasy that is the definition of Cottage Core.
Kevin and Liam talk about Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:12:55: What Have We Been Up To 00:42:49: Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma 02:06:40: Outro Links Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma on Steam Garden Guardian on Steam Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/
In this episode, I'm sharing a coaching conversation with Stefanie—a woman who already knew what she loved in her home, but couldn't quite figure out how to bring it to life. She was drawn to cottage-style and Polish granny chic interiors. She had the inspiration saved. She had the vision in her mind. She could even articulate the feeling she wanted her home to have. But her reality didn't match it. She had been in her home for about a year, and instead of feeling settled and expressive, she felt stuck in neutral. Not wrong… just not her. And like so many women, she found herself collecting more and more inspiration—Pinterest boards, saved images, ideas for color, wallpaper, texture—but nothing was actually changing in her space. If you've ever felt like your home is full of ideas but nothing is actually happening, you're not alone. What Stefanie was struggling with: She wasn't sure where to start in her home Her space didn't reflect her personality yet She kept collecting inspiration but couldn't translate it into action She had ideas, but felt stuck in neutral She couldn't see how to connect the dots across her rooms This is such a common place to be—especially when you already have good taste and a strong sense of what you like. The problem isn't lack of ideas. It's not knowing how to turn those ideas into a cohesive direction for your actual home. What shifted in the conversation: During our coaching call, we worked through how her style could actually show up in real life—not just in inspiration images. Instead of trying to “start from scratch,” we focused on: identifying patterns in what she was already drawn to clarifying how her style could show up consistently across rooms simplifying her decision-making so she wasn't overwhelmed by options helping her see her home as a connected whole, not separate unfinished rooms The breakthrough wasn't about adding more ideas—it was about finally making sense of the ones she already had. The bigger takeaway: So many of us don't actually need more inspiration. We need clarity. Because inspiration without direction just turns into overwhelm. And overwhelm often turns into inaction—which is exactly what keeps homes feeling unfinished and disconnected. If you've been collecting ideas for your home but nothing is changing, this episode will help you see what might actually be missing. // Links mentioned in show: // Become a Design Bestie by joining the newsletter: https://bit.ly/designbestie Email: hello@figandfarmathome.com Website: https://figandfarmathome.com Join The Collective (monthly membership): https://www.figandfarmathome.com/thecollective Book a Decorating SOS Coaching Call: https://www.figandfarmathome.com/decorating-sos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figandfarm/ FREE Facebook Community: https://www.bit.ly/design101group
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.I read 32 books in Q1 2026—and I'm breaking down the cozy mysteries, thrillers, romances, and standout 5-star reads you need on your radar.In this episode, I'm sharing my honest reading recap from the first quarter of the year, including what worked, what didn't, and the books I'm still thinking about. From bingeing cozy mysteries in Puerto Rico to discovering new favorite romances and thrillers, this is your inside look at what's worth adding to your TBR.
Join my online school for eBay sellers here. Get my BOLO books (eBook format) hereGet my BOLO books (printed format) hereContact me for a store review Suzanne@SuzanneAWells.com Follow me on FacebookJoin my private Facebook group here.Find me on YouTube here.Visit my website here.Email your comments, feedback, and constructive criticism to me at Suzanne@SuzanneAWells.com
In this episode I give a spoiler free review of Glasshouse (2021) drama/sci-fi/thriller directed by Kelsey Egan. I also discuss the ideas and themes behind the term “Cottagecore Horror”, as it applies to the sub genre of “folk horror”.
Lobbyen har offisielt laget 200 EPISODER!! Iben og Mar Valo mimrer tilbake til gylne øyeblikk ved å høre gjennom et godt utvalg av klipp samlet av Iben og Melinda. Hva skjer når en gjeng skeive settes sammen, blir venner, og skal lage radio? Tull og tøys og faenskap selvsagt! Men også utømmelig kreativitet og uoppløselige vennskapsbånd
Most movies treat mental health like a plot twist—something dramatic, visible, and easily explained. But real depression and anxiety don't work that way, and filmmaker Olivia Nash is determined to flip the script and show a more realistic portrayal. In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with the actor, writer, and director of the indie film “Hi.” to tease out what it really means to portray mental health authentically on screen. The conversation goes beyond the film itself, diving into the realities of mental health in Hollywood, how Nash fostered open conversations on set, and what it takes to center people over productivity in an industry that rarely slows down. Why You Should Listen Discover how Nash's personal experience with depression and anxiety changed her storytelling — and why that matters for audiences Hear how Hollywood's most common mental health tropes can do real harm, even when intentions are good Understand why functioning, successful people are often the most misunderstood when it comes to mental health Understand why authentic representation in pop culture can be life-changing for viewers If you're tired of seeing mental health reduced to stereotypes, or you've ever been told you “can't be depressed” because you're functioning, this episode offers a refreshing, validating perspective you won't want to miss.“Mental health isn't a plot twist—it's just part of who people are.”~Olivia Nash, Hollywood Actor and Director Olivia Nash is a multifaceted creative professional with extensive experience in acting,producing, directing, and production design. Based in Austin, TX, she has worked on awide array of projects across film, television, theater, commercials, music video, andowns the film production company, Fox Adrift Productions. Her versatility and passionfor storytelling shine through her collaborations with esteemed production companieslike Taylor Butler Productions, Fox Adrift Productions, Reed Street Films, David BittnerProductions, and Skeptical Optimist Productions. As a Producer/Director, Olivia has helmed projects such as Toby (won for Best FemaleDirector at Palm Beach Shorts, Best Dramedy at Georgia Shorts Film Festival, and BestNarrative Short Film at Austin Under The Stars), Hi., and El Delirio. Her expertise inProduction Design is evident in works like The Gold Lament, Goodwill, Constellation,and The Last Pedal. In the commercial space, she has served as Art Director for HHSTraining Videos. She has also brought her creative vision to music videos, includingCobblestone Streets and Unknown to You. Olivia's acting credits span leading roles in films such as Hickory, Hi., Meteor, and FGAas well as theater performances in productions like The Taming of the Shrew,Cinderella, and Booby Trap where she won best supporting actress. Her training inon-camera workshops, musical theater, and dance further complements her on-screenand stage presence. With a distinctive aesthetic and expertise in styles like Boho Decor, Dystopian, CottageCore, Bloom Core, Dark Academia, and Fantasy, Olivia is skilled at crafting immersiveand evocative worlds. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to adapt to diversecreative challenges compliments her mission to bring to life stories that relate to thehuman condition, while allowing us to escape into a world of beauty. Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 burgers, 2 guys, 1 mePatreon https://patreon.com/boysloveboyslove for BL and Idol reactions and DiscordBOYS LOVE BOYS LOVEHosts: Adam and RJProducer: Nova EntertainmentEditor: Nicki NillaMusic: 'Happy Electro Swing' by Studio Le Bus SZP3HLKMXYCNYXFZ Instagram: https://instagram.com/boyslove.boysloveTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@boyslove.boysloveTHE AMPLIVERSE https://theampliverse.comInquiries: pr@theampliverse.com Tip and Support: https://ko-fi.com/theampliverseInstagram: http://Instagram.com/theampliverse Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theampliverse.bsky.social
Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin team up to discuss and dissect the Season 1 finale of Canadian hockey romance ‘Heated Rivalry.' (00:00) Intro(4:10) Heated Rivalry's placement on the list of best shows of 2025(9:00) How the cottage changed Shane and Ilya's relationship(22:09) The delight of a happy ending(29:10) Shane's questionable choices for cottage meals(37:00) Shane's glistening eyeballs(48:35) Mal's horny questions for Jo about Season 1 Email us! prestigetv@spotify.com Subscribe to the Ringer TV YouTube channel for full episodes of The Prestige TV Podcast and so much more! Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory RubinProducer: Devon BaroldiAdditional Production Support: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Click here to watch this episode as a video! The Ladies of Llangollen, Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, were Regency-era Irish women who ran off to Northern Wales to live their cottagecore lesbian domestic dream. To discuss their adventurous youth and middle-aged Hobbit eras is superstar history podcaster and content creator Katie Charlwood from Who Did What Now! Learn more about Katie and Who Did What Now! Here is the image of the notoriously private Ladies that one of their guests secretly drew of them, their pets, and their library (as discussed in the episode). — Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency! — Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout — Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping) — Support Vulgar History on Patreon — Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Da steht er vor der Tür, der liebe Herbst – und bringt ihr eins mit: einen neuen Core. Schade, dass er nicht danach gefragt hat. Aber die Notizen liegen da und werden vorgetragen. Platz frei, Whimsigoth, Cottagecore, frazzled English woman und Dark Academia! Hier kommt … was Neues! – Ebenfalls bereit für etwas Neues wäre er ja. Der Dating-Summer ist vorbei und hatte alles, aber keine schönen Dates. Dabei fing doch alles so enemies-to-lovers-mäßig an. Aber heute gibt es erstmal die ganze Geschichte.Schreibt doch mal wieder: hallo@zsvpodcast.deUnseren Instagram-Account findet ihr hier: https://www.instagram.com/zsvpodcastUnd hier geht's direkt zu TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zumscheiternverurteiltZur ZSV-Playlist geht HIER lang. +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte: LINK +++
On this week's episode of the Massively OP Podcast, Bree and Justin talk about Tarisland's execution order, Guild Wars 2's beachfront housing, Elder Scrolls Online's tendency to fly under the radar, a possible Neverwinter classic server, and Palia's ranching aspirations. It's the Massively OP Podcast, an action-packed hour of news, tales, opinions, and gamer emails! And remember, if you'd like to send in your question to the show, use this link. Show notes: Intro Adventures in MMOs: WoW, LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, Palia News: Tarisland gets the boot (and Skyforge is officially gone) News: Palia's gonna let you be a rancher, boy howdy News: Check out Guild Wars 2's beach homestead News: Is Elder Scrolls Online overlooked? News: Could Neverwinter get a classic server? Outro Other info: Podcast theme: "Fortune's Favor" from Guild Wars 2 Your show hosts: Justin and Bree Listen to Massively OP Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, Amazon, and Spotify Follow Massively Overpowered: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch If you're having problems seeing or using the web player, please check your flashblock or scriptblock setting.
Al and Kev go through a list of 22 farming games Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:11: What Have We Been Up To 00:12:37: Game News 00:43:58: New Games 00:48:23: The 22 Best Steam Farming Games of all Time 01:33:28: Outro Links Whimside Herdling Ritual of Raven Abyss: New Dawn Star Birds Len’s Island “1.1” Update Disney Dreamlight Valley “Emotional Rescue” Update Overthrown “Coastal” Update Starsand Island Trailer Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition Infinity Nikki x Stardew Valley We Harvest Shadows Neverway The 22 Best Steam Farming Games of All Time Contact 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. (0:00:36) Kev: My name is Kevin and Al, you drop the ball, you miss the chance. (0:00:41) Kev: The way we should have started this week was, “Why is podcasting so hard?” (0:00:46) Al: Oh, disaster. Maybe we need to start that again. (0:00:49) Kev: Oh dear. (0:00:55) Kev: Yeah, it’s probably harder for Sakurai to make Kirby out. (0:00:59) Al: It’s true, though. But it’s not. It’s not true. It’s not hard. (0:01:06) Kev: AirRiders isn’t a podcast, probably. (0:01:06) Al: Yeah, yeah, that is true. Probably. Yeah, so we are here, as I said. (0:01:08) Kev: Well, that was a great direct. (0:01:16) Al: We’re gonna talk about Cuchco Games. Lots of Cuchco Games, because we have a list to talk about. (0:01:18) Kev: Yeah. (0:01:23) Al: There’s a list. Did I find this list? I found this list, didn’t I? This is a list on cozy game reviews (0:01:26) Kev: Yes, you did. (0:01:31) Al: of the 22 best Steam farming games of all time. Brackets updated for 2025. (0:01:38) Kev: What an apropos subject after last week’s episode. (0:01:44) Al: So we’re going to talk about that. (0:01:46) Al: Next we’re going to go through it and see if we agree because not only has it got them all listed, it says what they’re all best for. They’ve all got a specific thing that the writer thinks that they’re best for. (0:01:56) Kev: Which is a good move, um, well, you know, we’ll get to the list. We’ll get to the list. I like the list content (0:02:00) Al: It gives us something to talk about, so we’ll see how we go. (0:02:08) Al: Before that, we’ve got quite a lot of news. We’ll get into that soon, but first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:02:14) Kev: Oh, this is I’ve been thinking about this it’s been the hardest part for me to think about this week because I’ve been busy and not (0:02:22) Kev: a lot of the usuals (0:02:26) Kev: Let’s see here at battle can’t Sonic event finish, so I’m still playing but it’s it’s whatever (0:02:32) Kev: Pokemon unite is good (0:02:36) Kev: We had the world championships just last weekend, so we had announcements there (0:02:41) Kev: That was fun. I don’t even remember who it is now, but (0:02:45) Kev: Oh gosh, what is it? Oh, no, I have to look up the list (0:02:48) Kev: I don’t remember but I mean I’ve been playing it’s good the latte both lattes are out now (0:02:54) Kev: They’re pretty fun (0:02:55) Kev: Especially when you can actually play with someone and you can use them both because they so specifically designed to work with each other (0:03:03) Kev: So that’s pretty cool (0:03:07) Kev: But (0:03:08) Kev: Yeah, you know unite still play. It’s wild (0:03:12) Kev: We’re almost at a hundred playable Pokemon in the game (0:03:14) Kev: That’s wild to think (0:03:17) Kev: That’s like what almost 10% of the the techs (0:03:23) Kev: But but yeah, it’s been good. Oh gosh, I cannot (0:03:28) Kev: I don’t remember (0:03:32) Kev: Sorry, I was trying to Google it was stalled for talking but either way I’m playing unite it’s been good (0:03:39) Kev: Let’s see other than that, um, yeah, just a lot of the same as usual stuff. I’ve been playing (0:03:44) Kev: I picked up a new show now that I finished monk (0:03:48) Kev: Have you ever heard of dr. Quinn medicine woman now (0:03:54) Kev: Okay, so it is a show from the 90s it is (0:04:02) Kev: How should I put this frontier (0:04:05) Kev: Style American setting kind of like little house (0:04:06) Al: Okay, yeah. (0:04:09) Kev: But it’s a little more a little less saccharine (0:04:12) Kev: It is the titular character. (0:04:14) Kev: It is a female doctor, Dr. Quinn, which is, you know, given in that timeframe and setting, leads to a very different dynamic, right? (0:04:28) Kev: So yeah, it’s been enjoyable. I think it’s a little more “real” than, say, Little House or some of the other more… (0:04:42) Kev: Uh, I should… (0:04:45) Kev: It doesn’t paint over some of these details, so you know I’ve just been here enjoying a show about a (0:04:52) Kev: Trying to find a home and community (0:04:55) Kev: Despite the backdrop of a society where misogyny (0:05:00) Kev: bigotry racism et cetera are pretty strong, you know, I (0:05:06) Kev: Don’t know if that resonates with anyone, but you know (0:05:08) Al: Not at all, not at all. (0:05:11) Kev: So it’s been good (0:05:13) Kev: It is from the 90’s. (0:05:14) Kev: So it looks a little dated, um, and, and you can still feel the 90’s like hairstyles permeating the show though. (0:05:22) Kev: Um, but, uh, but, uh, but yeah, it’s been fun. (0:05:25) Kev: That’s Dr. (0:05:26) Kev: Quinn, medicine woman. (0:05:27) Kev: Like I said, just something to fill the, the show hole. (0:05:29) Kev: Um, but yeah, that’s, that’s, that’s roughly what I’ve been up to. (0:05:33) Kev: It’s been busy week. (0:05:34) Kev: I made it, I made like a two day, one day gone the next day back work trip this week. (0:05:39) Kev: That was wild. (0:05:40) Al: What have I been up to? (0:05:40) Kev: Um, yeah, so I’m tired. (0:05:42) Kev: What about you? (0:05:45) Al: I’m still playing Donkey Kong Bonanza, so it’s a long game. (0:05:50) Kev: All right (0:05:56) Kev: Yeah, it’s a lot of bananas to find (0:05:58) Al: It is a lot of bananas, yeah, I’ve put like maybe like 10 hours into it or something so (0:06:04) Al: far and I saw that there was a new world record put up today, so I went out to look at it (0:06:10) Al: and what I’ve done in that like 10 hours they did in 50 minutes, like oh goodness me, so (0:06:17) Al: I think I’ve got quite a lot of the game left to go because the world record is over four (0:06:21) Al: hours, so I’m maybe a quarter of the way through but that doesn’t feel right, but I don’t know. (0:06:29) Al: I did say, I think I said true endings, maybe that’s getting all the bananas, so maybe I’ve (0:06:33) Al: got, maybe I’m halfway, I might be about halfway through, we’ll see. (0:06:34) Kev: Hmm (0:06:37) Kev: Hmm have you done that art mode at all the the sculpting mode or whatever? (0:06:41) Al: I have not, no, I’ve not. (0:06:43) Kev: Okay, I’ve seen people do some crazy nonsense in them. That’s pretty cool (0:06:46) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah, I’m enjoying that, we’ll see how long that takes me, but this (0:06:57) Al: week I’ll probably be starting Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar, so who knows, how bizarre, so (0:07:02) Kev: How bizarre, how bizarre. (0:07:06) Al: I guess we’ll see a mate put down Donkey Kong for a bit. (0:07:10) Al: I think that’s pretty much it gaming wise. (0:07:17) Al: I’ve been catching up on a bunch of shows that I missed when I was on holiday, so I’ve (0:07:22) Al: just finished Sandman and it was good. (0:07:25) Kev: Oh, how was it? (0:07:28) Kev: Was it just weird? (0:07:30) Al: It was good if you can ignore the fact that it’s no gaming, then it’s good. (0:07:30) Kev: Okay. (0:07:34) Kev: Well, I feel like, you know, I feel like, in this day and age, (0:07:40) Kev: people get pretty good at that, if you just ignore the, you know, monster at the top. (0:07:42) Al: Well, yeah. Mm. So, yeah, no, that was good. And I think I’m going to watch Wednesday this (0:07:56) Al: week. So, yeah. (0:07:58) Kev: Oh, yeah, that’s all right. Okay. You know what you I assume you watch season one (0:08:05) Kev: Did you watch any Adams family prior to Wednesday (0:08:10) Kev: Okay, cuz I’m cuz I I’m a big fan of the animals family. Um, so I’m I had not watched Wednesday. So I’m curious how (0:08:17) Kev: That you know how it compares to the other relations, but alright (0:08:22) Kev: I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts. Anyways (0:08:26) Al: Yeah, I think that’s about it for me. (0:08:29) Al: Oh, no, I started on. (0:08:30) Al: So I’ve been watching through my mentions a couple of times. (0:08:33) Al: I’ve been watching through all the James Bond films. (0:08:35) Al: So I’m now on the Daniel Craig films. (0:08:37) Al: So on the home stretch nearly there. (0:08:40) Kev: Okay, okay, how is there any overall trends like they’re (0:08:44) Al: Hmm. So I don’t think there is like an upward or downward (0:08:46) Kev: Like better worse (0:08:51) Al: trend. They have like a good one followed by multiple terrible (0:08:53) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:08:55) Al: ones. I will say that one thing I’ve noticed watching them all (0:08:57) Kev: Yeah (0:09:01) Al: like we started in November. So we watched them all in the last (0:09:02) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:09:05) Al: nine months basically. One thing I’ve noticed is that they’re (0:09:06) Kev: Yeah (0:09:08) Al: all basically the same film. (0:09:10) Kev: Yeah (0:09:13) Kev: Now we’re talking oh (0:09:14) Al: So I mean, if you like that, then that’s good. I did get to the (0:09:17) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I mean (0:09:21) Al: point where we hit the, what’s his name? I’m so bad with the (0:09:29) Al: actor’s name sometimes. The Piers Brosnan ones. So we hit (0:09:32) Kev: » Yeah. (0:09:33) Al: 95 with GoldenEye. And I was like, oh, fantastic. We’re (0:09:34) Kev: » Yeah. (0:09:36) Al: finally, we’re finally getting out of the, you know, maybe we’ll (0:09:39) Al: get some bad baddie other than the USSR. And then I’m pretty (0:09:43) Kev: Yeah, yeah they do. (0:09:43) Al: pretty sure they go back in time. (0:09:44) Al: to make the USSR the baddie again. (0:09:49) Al: And then in the end, I would just watch Casino Royale and there’s a little bit (0:09:53) Al: where, where M goes, Oh, I wish we were, I wish we were back in the cold war. (0:09:57) Kev: Yeah, yeah, man, that’s that’s good stuff. Obviously, you and I is Nintendo, Pokemon, MCU fans, we can we can handle a whole lot of the same thing done over and over. But that’s that’s that’s fascinating. (0:09:59) Al: They really do miss that easy baddie. (0:10:05) Al: So yeah. (0:10:18) Al: - Yeah. (0:10:22) Al: I guess it’s different when you’re seeing the same thing (0:10:24) Al: every three years rather than every week. (0:10:27) Kev: Yeah, you know, that’s a good point. That’s a good point. But still, I mean, hey, you’re still trucking, you didn’t cause you to, to give up or die. So it’s because there’s at least something there. (0:10:38) Al: Yeah. Yeah, nearly there, nearly there, definitely. I’ve watched all the Daniel Craig ones as (0:10:44) Al: well, so I can’t officially say that I’ve watched every James Bond film. I just haven’t (0:10:48) Kev: Yeah (0:10:50) Al: watched these ones in a while, so. And Rona hasn’t seen the newest one, so. (0:10:51) Kev: Right, right (0:10:54) Kev: Okay, there you go. Hey congrats (0:10:57) Kev: Good stuff. Oh, I found the unite Pokemon. It’s sorry (0:11:04) Kev: Okay (0:11:05) Kev: We are getting Empoleon which sure starters always a safe choice. We are getting Vaporeon (0:11:13) Kev: Which means that the only Eevee evolutions we didn’t have were the original three. So we (0:11:18) Kev: Are now getting them that’s now confirming two other ones down the line (0:11:23) Kev: But most interestingly we are getting Delmise the (0:11:29) Kev: Living seaweed on an anchor. I’m excited about that. I like the freak pics. Delmise is a good freak pic (0:11:38) Al: Fun. Yeah. I look forward to seeing how Dalmay’s, you know, moves. (0:11:39) Kev: Yeah (0:11:43) Kev: Yeah, I’m just gonna flow it’s all just gonna flow (0:11:49) Kev: But yeah, oh well drags it drags itself (0:11:50) Al: You never know, should be something more interesting. (0:11:54) Al: Yeah, you just hear this scraping sound. (0:12:00) Kev: Oh, that’d be incredible. Oh my gosh (0:12:02) Al: Especially, I presume there’s no in-game chat, like audio chat in Unite. (0:12:08) Kev: Yeah, there is. There is a voice, yeah. (0:12:10) Al: Well there is, does it have, has it got, what’s it called, where you’re like, (0:12:15) Al: it changes depending on how close to the character you are. (0:12:18) Kev: Oh, proximity? No, it does not have proximity as far as I know. (0:12:19) Al: » Yeah. (0:12:20) Al: » That’d be brilliant. (0:12:21) Al: So if you could hear, like, the scraping come closer to you, that’d be brilliant. (0:12:22) Kev: The scraping. (0:12:28) Al: Feels like it’s something out of a horror film. (0:12:31) Kev: That’s incredible. Oh, I love dumb eyes. Oh, that’d be great. (0:12:38) Al: All right, should we get into some news? (0:12:41) Kev: Oh, you mean a lot of news. So much news. (0:12:43) Al: So, yeah, we have some games that have released (0:12:49) Al: that I completely missed when I was doing my catch-up (0:12:52) Al: of all the news in the break. (0:12:57) Al: So we’re just gonna quickly go through those. (0:12:59) Al: First up, we have Whimside, Whimside or Whimside. (0:13:03) Al: I don’t know how they want it to be said, (0:13:04) Al: but it’s one of those. (0:13:04) Kev: Yeah (0:13:06) Al: So that is out now. (0:13:08) Al: So a hoo to windside. (0:13:08) Kev: That’s (0:13:10) Kev: That’s the desk that’s your rusty like Pokemon collector (0:13:16) Al: Correct, yes. (0:13:17) Al: It’s a creature collector, the game that sits at the bottom of your screen, and fits easily (0:13:18) Kev: Which (0:13:22) Al: into your routine. (0:13:23) Kev: It looks kind of in-depth I don’t want to use it as a you know thing on the side (0:13:28) Kev: But I am kind of interested to just play get (0:13:32) Al: Yeah. It has 194 reviews so far, very positive 85%. So that’s good. (0:13:39) Kev: some look some of those were also just pokemon there was just a squirtle in in that trailer (0:13:46) Al: Well Squirtle is just a blue turtle, so come on. Next we have Herdling, they are also out now, (0:13:49) Kev: it is you’re not wrong yeah that’s true (0:13:56) Al: came out on the 21st of August, that one wasn’t one that I missed because it’s only just out. (0:13:56) Kev: they nope that just came out that’s (0:14:01) Al: So that is the you’re gathering a herd of mysterious creatures on a stirring and beautiful (0:14:07) Al: journey into the mountains. And this is published by Panic, they’re… (0:14:08) Kev: It’s Journey, the game Journey, but cows. (0:14:16) Al: the Untitled Goose Game people and also the… (0:14:22) Kev: Wow, that looks nothing like a criminal ghost game. A publisher? Okay, okay. (0:14:25) Al: No, well they’re just the publisher, they didn’t they didn’t write the game, but they’ve (0:14:33) Al: Panic are also the they’ve turned into a publisher as well. But they’re also the, and I’m just trying (0:14:41) Al: to remember the name of it. Nope, nope. (0:14:42) Kev: one game give me a hint is it stray oh oh my goodness wow these guys are heroes (0:14:47) Al: In our game the Playdate, the console, they also did the console. (0:14:54) Kev: hurdling exclusive to the play date or with the tool exclusive to the play date where you use the (0:15:00) Kev: crank to herd the cows uh oh okay yeah so these guys are (0:15:01) Al: Oh, they did fire watch as well. (0:15:12) Kev: gonna publish weird things that’s cool good for them i’m actually more interested in hurdling now (0:15:20) Kev: now that I have this I mean not that the publisher just the developer or whatever you know but uh (0:15:22) Al: Yeah, I (0:15:26) Al: Yeah, but I mean a publisher tells you something especially when they’ve only published like 10 games or something so (0:15:32) Al: It’s not like they’re throwing them out there. They’re taking anything that comes (0:15:36) Al: unlike some other games publishers (0:15:38) Kev: But (0:15:39) Al: But yeah, I mean it looks much more kind of fire watchy than it does anything else in terms of it’s because obviously fire watch is (0:15:44) Kev: Yeah (0:15:46) Al: much more (0:15:47) Al: straight and serious and (0:15:49) Kev: Yeah (0:15:50) Al: and they look. (0:15:52) Al: kind of meditative, almost. (0:15:53) Kev: Yeah (0:15:55) Kev: Yeah, it’s not yeah, that’s a good way of describing it right very Zen sort of thing (0:16:00) Kev: Just walking with some cows up a mountain (0:16:00) Al: Hmm. Big haticos. (0:16:05) Kev: The character even wears red like the journey (0:16:08) Kev: Character with the scar. It’s fine. Journey is a good game (0:16:14) Al: Next we have a ritual of Raven, which is also out now. (0:16:20) Al: So this is an isometric, story-based farming game. (0:16:26) Kev: cards, lots of cards, everywhere. I don’t understand the mechanics. Do you farm (0:16:34) Kev: with cards? It kind of looked like that. (0:16:38) Al: Yeah, I think so. I think you use the cards to create spells because you’re awake (0:16:43) Kev: okay right let’s see enchant constructs to help grow herbs and ingredients to help you complete (0:16:49) Kev: your book of shadows using the mystical deck of cards you’ll be able to enchant constructs to (0:16:54) Kev: plows plow sow seeds water and harvest them for you collect all 22 constructs and create thriving (0:17:01) Kev: herb garden um so yeah looks like you do use the cards to make stuff to farm that’s kind of (0:17:08) Al: Yeah. Yup, so that’s out now. Next, we have Abyss New Dawn. This is out in early access now. (0:17:17) Al: I think they had a delay. Are these the ones that delayed the game? They were meant to come (0:17:24) Al: out and then they were like, “Oh no, we’ve got an issue.” There we go. This is the one. Abyss (0:17:26) Kev: Did I lose the button, too? (0:17:31) Al: New Dawn release may be delayed by a few days. During Steam’s review process, our latest build (0:17:36) Al: was rejected due to a technical issue of three achievements. (0:17:38) Al: We’ve already fixed or submitted the build for approval. Steam usually takes three to (0:17:43) Al: five days for the review, so the release date may be delayed until August 25th. It was not. (0:17:48) Al: It ended up releasing Friday 22nd, so I don’t think it was delayed at all, but they thought it might be. (0:17:49) Kev: Yeah, um, so this, first of all, I hate. (0:18:02) Al: Oh yes, this is a warm village above a deadly abyss below. Will you farm in peace or dive in? (0:18:10) Kev: Okay, so first of all, I hate that name, like good heavens what an awful name, just like, it’s just so generic, it doesn’t tell you anything, um… (0:18:14) Al: Yes, also it feels like it’s the second in a series. This is the sequel to Abyss. It’s (0:18:24) Al: Abyss New Dawn. But I don’t think that’s the case. It is not the case. (0:18:25) Kev: yeah yeah okay this is gonna sound kind of weird this this game doesn’t look (0:18:34) Kev: like it was AI generated but it looks like the concept was generated concept (0:18:40) Kev: because it feels like it has so much going on like all these hallmarks you’ve (0:18:44) Kev: got Animal Crossing as characters you got farming you got fishing (0:18:49) Kev: customization and then the abyss the abyss is actually just dinosaurs it’s (0:18:54) Kev: It’s just a dinosaur world. (0:18:55) Kev: I don’t know. It looks well made. It’s a tough market out here. (0:19:04) Kev: That’s all. (0:19:04) Al: Yeah, I’m not seeing anything make me want to play this. (0:19:06) Kev: No, as much as I love dinosaurs, I’d rather play paleopine. (0:19:13) Kev: I would, I’m not trying to entertain them. (0:19:16) Al: Yeah, do you want to fight dinosaurs or do you want to tame them? That’s the question. (0:19:21) Kev: Also, so they have the Animal Crossing decorate your house because, of course. (0:19:25) Kev: The one question I don’t see, and I think this is a big problem a lot of games have, (0:19:30) Kev: can you actually use the furniture? Can you sit in the couch or lying in the bed? (0:19:36) Kev: Because that kills me when you can’t, and a lot of games do it. But anyways, yeah. (0:19:43) Kev: Bismuthon, that’s early access. I probably won’t play it. Bite Slime, that’s in the video. (0:19:55) Kev: Not fight slimes or anything, just fight slime singular. Or the general concept of slime, I guess. (0:20:05) Al: Yeah, yeah, I don’t I’m not excited to to play this let’s put it that way (0:20:11) Kev: I’m not either (0:20:14) Al: All right moving on to something I am excited to play (0:20:17) Kev: Okay, okay, I tried (0:20:18) Al: Starbirds (0:20:20) Kev: Okay, let’s see here. So I tried looking at this. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Remember this one now. Yeah. Yeah (0:20:21) Al: Starbirds (0:20:24) Al: So so starbirds have announced that the their early access is releasing on the 4th of September. So just to (0:20:33) Al: So, remind people. (0:20:35) Al: This is the game made by the people who did Dorph Romantic, and it is based on the YouTube channel Kurtzkazat in a nutshell. (0:20:49) Al: They do science-based videos, very interesting videos, all very meticulously researched and stuff. (0:20:56) Al: And this is in their art style, and it is an asteroid-based building and resource management game. (0:21:03) Kev: yeah that yeah it’s it’s um it’s a lot those are a lot of words but the good the game the game looks (0:21:08) Al: You know Dorph Romantic, right? You know the game. You don’t know Dorph romantic. You would (0:21:10) Kev: good I don’t want to like I don’t actually no no hold on (0:21:16) Al: you definitely recognize it if you clicked on it. Click through to the developer on Steam (0:21:20) Al: and click on Dorph romantic. It’s a really record. It’s kind of it’s got the like tiles (0:21:25) Al: like the hexagon tiles and it’s it’s like a building puzzle game. Yeah, it’s pretty (0:21:31) Kev: That is that is just settlers of Katon the game (0:21:37) Al: it, it, it, it pretty much. (0:21:38) Al: Um, but it’s single player, I think, um, it’s got 15,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews. (0:21:40) Kev: Sure sure (0:21:46) Al: It’s a very big game, they’re romantic. (0:21:47) Kev: Oh, I’m sure okay, is it good to have you played it? (0:21:53) Al: I haven’t played it, but I mean, there’s overwhelmingly positive on the Rivens team. (0:21:58) Kev: That’s true well (0:21:59) Al: So like people like it. (0:22:01) Kev: I guess so that’s true (0:22:02) Al: It’s not, I’m not, I’m not the biggest management game guy. (0:22:06) Kev: Yeah, that is true (0:22:08) Kev: So I’m also okay for starboard. So it is very heavy on the management. You have networks of cables and roads and flow (0:22:16) Kev: But I think the art style is very charming (0:22:19) Kev: very cartoony (0:22:20) Al: What I like about it as well is it’s very small scale. (0:22:24) Al: So I think one of my issues with management games is, (0:22:27) Al: here’s an infinite canvas, make something. (0:22:31) Kev: Yeah. Mine it. (0:22:31) Al: And you’re like, but maybe I don’t want to. (0:22:33) Al: And what this does is it goes, here’s a mini asteroid. (0:22:36) Al: Mine it. (0:22:37) Al: And then those all connect together eventually. (0:22:40) Al: And so it does create this bigger thing, (0:22:41) Al: but it’s like much smaller scale at the start. (0:22:44) Kev: Very piecewise. Yeah. Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Yeah, I think that’s cool too. Very (0:22:44) Al: I like, yeah. (0:22:51) Kev: Like discrete as in with the E at the end (0:22:56) Kev: Discrete units of (0:22:59) Kev: Resource management and then you connect them all together for a bigger network. I like it. That’s a fun idea (0:23:06) Kev: Also your birds I (0:23:08) Kev: Like I like to parrot a toucan. I don’t know what bird that is. Looks like it has a toucan beak but parrot (0:23:14) Kev: So I’m not sure I like that bird (0:23:16) Al: Alrighty, so that yeah, that’s 4th of September that comes out, Starbirds. (0:23:21) Kev: That’s sooner than it should be. Oh, where did all this go? Jeez (0:23:28) Al: Yeah, that’s two weeks away, less than two weeks away. (0:23:30) Al: That’s a week and a half away. (0:23:30) Al: That’ll be a week away when this game episode comes out. (0:23:32) Al: Alrighty, next we have Lens Island. (0:23:36) Al: They’ve released their 1.1 update. (0:23:38) Al: That is out now. (0:23:40) Al: That includes, it is the community feedback update. (0:23:42) Al: update. It brings a bunch of changes such as free (0:23:46) Al: camera orbiting. Okay, junk loading settings and performance (0:23:51) Al: boost, you can change how far away you can see things, which (0:23:54) Al: is really cool. If you’ve got like, a really good computer, (0:23:57) Al: you can see islands miles away in the distance. I really like (0:24:00) Al: that because yeah, that’s really nice. Increased performance of (0:24:05) Al: spending farms always good. A sorting button for storage items (0:24:09) Al: should have been there in 1.0. Edit constructions with new move (0:24:13) Al: button. The move button should have been 1.0. When Earth was (0:24:16) Al: this was one of the things I complained about in the in my (0:24:16) Kev: Yup. (0:24:18) Al: review of it. Why on earth? Why on earth did I have to delete (0:24:20) Kev: Yup. (0:24:21) Al: something and recreate it? So silly. You did at least when you (0:24:22) Kev: Yup. (0:24:25) Al: recycled something, you got all the materials back. So you (0:24:26) Kev: Right, right, right. (0:24:27) Al: didn’t waste anything. But it’s just still such an annoying (0:24:30) Kev: Yeah, I agree. Like, I feel like almost every game that has you, you know, building constructs or buildings or whatever should have this feature. (0:24:38) Kev: And a lot of them don’t. A lot of, I don’t know why. (0:24:42) Al: Yeah, another thing that should have been in there is the crop status UI, so if you hover over a crop, you can see whether it’s ready to harvest or not, which is good. (0:24:52) Kev: That seems important. (0:24:53) Al: Yeah, yeah, I found it later on. So after the podcast, I read that I found out that you can craft a scythe, and if you use the site that only gets rid of things that are harvestable, but before that, you just have to guess. (0:25:05) Kev: Oh, that’s good. That’s good. Good good (0:25:12) Al: So you can create a new companion, the black bear, so you can get an animal black bear companion. (0:25:18) Kev: Now this I like just because I like bears in general good good for you. He added a bear (0:25:24) Al: Yeah, yeah, I think I’m probably gonna stick with my dog. I like my dog, but (0:25:26) Kev: Can you pet the bear? (0:25:30) Kev: Yeah (0:25:31) Al: There’s tempting (0:25:35) Kev: I’m tempted. I don’t play this game. But if I did I’d get a bear (0:25:39) Al: Haha, I (0:25:42) Al: Haven’t played it for a few weeks (0:25:43) Al: But I will hopefully get back into it at some point the problem is this is the one that I have to play on my (0:25:48) Al: computer with my mouse and keyboard, so you know and (0:25:53) Al: Next we have Disney Dream. (0:25:54) Al: I’m just going to say a new episode. (0:25:56) Kev: What property is it today or this time? (0:26:01) Al: This is the emotional rescue update. (0:26:04) Al: Let’s see. (0:26:06) Al: Joy and sadness. (0:26:08) Al: You’ve got, so there we go. (0:26:10) Al: We’ve got inside out, that’s what it’s called. (0:26:11) Kev: Inside out as in joy and sadness TM, but the capital letters (0:26:19) Kev: That (0:26:21) Kev: How should I put this like this is a (0:26:25) Kev: complete nonsensical like (0:26:28) Kev: There’s no logic in this world because it’s just whatever cartoons (0:26:33) Kev: but it (0:26:34) Kev: But despite that, I don’t know it feels weird that you can hang out with you know (0:26:40) Kev: and psychological constructs. (0:26:41) Kev: You win. You know, the rest of the guys are actual lions or dogs or people. (0:26:48) Kev: But, whatever. I liked Inside Out. I didn’t see Inside Out, too. (0:26:53) Kev: Inside Out, first one, was a good movie. (0:26:55) Al: I enjoy, I think Inside Out 2 was just as good if not better than Inside Out 1. (0:27:00) Kev: Ooh! Ooh! That’s interesting. I’ll have to check that out. (0:27:03) Al: It’s very good. I think that so many sequels, I understand why people get frustrated with them, (0:27:09) Al: but I think Inside Out was not, I mean, whether it was a cash grab or not, I don’t care, right? (0:27:15) Al: Like it doesn’t feel like a cash grab, it feels like a continuation of the story in good and better (0:27:15) Kev: Yeah (0:27:20) Kev: Sure, I mean (0:27:22) Al: ways, right? Like it’s, it takes the concept. (0:27:23) Kev: Yeah (0:27:25) Al: And it goes further with it in a way that can completely break you. (0:27:27) Kev: Yeah (0:27:30) Kev: Sure sure, I mean, yeah, okay, it’s not (0:27:34) Kev: It’s difficult but being a cash grab and being an excellent sequel are not mutually exclusive (0:27:40) Al: Exactly. (0:27:41) Kev: Um, just very, very rare, but, but it is, it, it’s theoretically. (0:27:45) Kev: Possible. So sure. Um, okay. I, I have one question from the sequel. (0:27:50) Kev: Okay. So you remember in the first movie, you, sometimes you see the, (0:27:55) Kev: the minds of other people, the parents or whatever, (0:27:57) Kev: and they have the five emotions. (0:27:58) Al: Yes. No. Explain why they weren’t there with the main character who I can’t remember the (0:27:59) Kev: Do they explain why all these other emotions weren’t there? No. (0:28:05) Kev: Darn it. Darn it. (0:28:11) Al: name of, but not why the new ones wouldn’t be in Riley, that’s the name, yeah, but why (0:28:13) Kev: Riley. (0:28:16) Kev: Yeah. Darn it. That’s fine. That’s fine. Yeah. I mean, I mean, I mean, (0:28:16) Al: they wouldn’t be in the other ones. No, they don’t explain that. No, they do explain why (0:28:21) Kev: it makes sense that you get new emotions as you get older. (0:28:23) Al: why they’re not in Riley. (0:28:25) Kev: You get, you know, more nuanced. It’s totally makes sense. (0:28:28) Al: Yeah, the metaphors are both fun and painful. (0:28:35) Kev: Now you say, is it painful? Cause it’s too real. (0:28:38) Kev: Is that what it is? Oh, yeah. (0:28:42) Kev: Oh, yeah. (0:28:42) Al: a little bit yeah you’re a big anxiety boy aren’t you yeah yeah then then then yeah (0:28:45) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, yeah. (0:28:52) Al: watch it but but watch it on an emotionally stable day (0:28:52) Kev: Oh, oh, so it can be so that was so the rest of your day can be emotionally unstable. (0:28:58) Al: or you know semi-emotionally stable (0:29:08) Al: no I think I think it’s one of those ones where it will break you but in a healing way (0:29:12) Kev: Sure, sure. (0:29:13) Al: you know like therapy you know you go into therapy and sometimes you come out crying (0:29:14) Kev: Yeah, no, I get that. (0:29:16) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:29:18) Al: but also you feel better in some ways as well it’s kind of like that (0:29:22) Kev: Yeah, I get that. (0:29:22) Kev: Yeah, no, I know what you mean. (0:29:24) Kev: I mean, like, like the first one, the shocker. (0:29:26) Al: not that watching watching films obviously important to note watching films is not a (0:29:30) Al: suitable alternative to therapy do therapy please and thank you (0:29:34) Kev: Yeah, that’s that’s a good thing to do that (0:29:36) Al: if you can if you can afford it if you can’t talk to your friends (0:29:38) Kev: You go go or (0:29:42) Kev: Okay, yeah, here’s my my PSA helpful hint for the day (0:29:46) Kev: I always always recommend because therapy can be very expensive, right? (0:29:52) Kev: Especially on the states where we have to deal with you know medical insurance and yada yada (0:29:57) Kev: If you find that to be a challenge go seek out your nearest University (0:30:02) Kev: They may have a clinic with students. (0:30:04) Kev: They may have a clinic with students in training to be full psychologist/counsellors, which is usually generally affordable. (0:30:06) Al: Hmm. (0:30:10) Kev: Or they can make it affordable. (0:30:13) Kev: And it’s pretty okay because they still are supervised by actual, you know, fully certified therapists and whatnot. (0:30:20) Kev: So, yeah, go look at your local university. (0:30:24) Kev: Anyway, so that’s Disney Dreamlight Valley! (0:30:30) Al: - Yes, that’s Disney Dreamland Valley, go to therapy. (0:30:37) Al: Next, we have Overthrown, (0:30:39) Al: they have released a coastal update. (0:30:42) Kev: Okay. (0:30:42) Al: So that includes some coastal related things. (0:30:45) Kev: Okay, so I saw that and my first question was what is overthrown? I did not remember this game at all. (0:30:50) Al: This is the one where you can like pick up the sawmill (0:30:54) Al: and throw it at trees and it’ll turn the trees (0:30:56) Al: into planks of wood, stuff like that. (0:30:58) Kev: Yeah, which is (0:30:59) Al: It’s like the. (0:31:02) Kev: The very it’s very cool concept to be honest I saw it (0:31:07) Al: and you can also in their ritual run. (0:31:08) Kev: Yeah, you are not running across water and everything (0:31:13) Kev: And it’s multiple. It’s it’s chaotic and and boy that that main character (0:31:18) Kev: They’re the default design or whatever that is a breath of the wild outfit. That is blue link blue (0:31:24) Al: Yeah, fair. (0:31:27) Kev: But but it’s fine (0:31:28) Kev: What a wild goofy game (0:31:30) Kev: What a novel idea to pick up the sawmill and chop down the whole forest by running with it (0:31:37) Kev: We’re throwing buildings at the invaders that’s good stuff. I like that. That’s fun (0:31:43) Kev: Coastal I like coastal stuff you can throw pirate ship now (0:31:46) Al: All right, next we have Starsand Island have released a trailer for the game. (0:31:54) Al: Have you watched it yet, Kevin? (0:31:56) Kev: let me see which one is this no this is not the hold on there’s a lot of games (0:32:03) Kev: trying to merge one this isn’t the allegory allegory game (0:32:08) Kev: yeah no we’ll get to that later oh gosh I missed this one I was going through (0:32:15) Kev: the doc and it’s this one actually let me see here live reaction okay those are (0:32:20) Kev: pretty graphics hate the name of course goes without saying oh that’s anime that (0:32:25) Kev: That is some anime. (0:32:27) Kev: Uhm, okay, a lot of customization, farming, cat, ooh, is that an arcade? Actual arcade? (0:32:34) Kev: Why is it always snake? They always be, “Oh, you’re right, on a deer there’s some pandas, and a bamboo raft, so we can go build your aquarium.” (0:32:45) Kev: Oh, I kind of remember, yeah, I remember this, build the house, 3D spirit favor house, yeah, yeah, yeah, water slide into the ocean. (0:32:53) Kev: There’s a lot of stuff. (0:32:56) Kev: Yeah, build your 3D Animal Crossing Spiritfare pool party house. (0:33:03) Kev: Okay, that’s… (0:33:05) Al: I feel like this game is either going to be another Stardew Valley like a big really popular (0:33:12) Al: really good farming game or it’s Sugardew Island again and I can’t tell which like I (0:33:14) Kev: Yeah, there is a metal ground, you don’t think so? I kind of, I mean, I mean, you have reason (0:33:19) Al: don’t think there’s going to be a middle here I don’t know for this game like there are (0:33:25) Al: many games in the middle ground I don’t think this one can be in the middle ground it’s (0:33:29) Al: one or the other like it might be that this game is entirely fake I’m still not convinced (0:33:37) Kev: to believe that there’s a guy playing guitar with ostriches and sheep, there’s backup dancers. (0:33:43) Kev: That’s… (0:33:46) Kev: I like that. I don’t know if it’s real. (0:33:48) Al: you can get a boat with a water slide (0:33:48) Kev: But… (0:33:50) Kev: Into the ocean. (0:33:53) Al: for some reason. I’m so confused about the boat. Where’s the boat? (0:33:54) Kev: Yeah. (0:33:59) Al: Like, am I riding the boat somewhere? Because I can customize the boat, (0:34:03) Kev: Yeah, it makes you think like it’s your main base, but they show you a room. Yeah, you (0:34:03) Al: right? But it’s not. You’ve got a farm. (0:34:10) Al: So what is this? Why is this boat? Is it from traveling places or is it just a (0:34:13) Al: second home? Why was I going down the slide in (0:34:15) Kev: Probably (0:34:17) Al: might feel soon. (0:34:19) Al: So many questions. (0:34:20) Kev: There’s a lot of questions what why are you writing a legendary Pokemon not the ostrich the deer one (0:34:26) Al: And an ostrich. (0:34:29) Al: Yeah, I know I saw the deal, but the ostrich definitely looks (0:34:32) Al: fine. I would ride an ostrich. That sounds fun. (0:34:33) Kev: I (0:34:34) Al: Also, there’s a baby chick on the ostriches head for some reason. (0:34:37) Kev: It does something, you know us oh, yeah, there are there is chick. Oh, I think you customize the ostrich (0:34:44) Kev: I see one the flower too. I don’t know (0:34:46) Al: There’s a snake minigame where instead of a snake, you’re a capybara. (0:34:50) Kev: Which is I don’t like that concept I (0:34:54) Kev: Don’t like yeah, no or rather the the cap of the air gets longer. No, I don’t get that (0:34:54) Al: Of a long capybara. (0:35:03) Al: Oh, you’re fine with a long capybara just as long as it stays the same length. (0:35:04) Kev: You (0:35:06) Kev: Yes, I don’t I don’t like yes, it’s the increase here that’s making me uncomfortable but (0:35:06) Al: Is that what you’re saying? (0:35:13) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:35:15) Kev: It’s a wild game. I (0:35:18) Kev: Don’t know (0:35:20) Kev: it looks real enough, but (0:35:24) Kev: You can put a carousel in the middle of your boat (0:35:28) Kev: It’s wild. I (0:35:30) Kev: I don’t know what what is the point of all I like. (0:35:33) Kev: What is the impetus here? Why do you write ostriches? I don’t get it. (0:35:37) Al: You get round fast, obviously. Come on. (0:35:39) Kev: Yeah, you know, apparently writing ostriches is incredibly dangerous in real life. (0:35:45) Al: Well yeah, obviously. They’re terrifying birds. (0:35:46) Kev: Yeah, yeah, but like, yeah, they are. (0:35:52) Kev: I like them, though. Anyways, I mean, it it has caught my attention (0:35:57) Kev: just because it’s it’s I don’t know what to make of it. (0:36:03) Kev: It hasn’t it hasn’t put me off. (0:36:06) Kev: So good for you, Star Santa, even with the name, you’ve you’ve caught my attention (0:36:11) Kev: to a degree, Star Santa Island. (0:36:13) Al: I also worry that there might just be too much in this game, that’s always a problem (0:36:17) Al: with these games. (0:36:18) Kev: You know, it feels like that’s kind of a recurring theme these days. (0:36:23) Kev: Like they’re just do stardew, but bigger or add more and bloat and bloat and oh, (0:36:34) Al: Well, we’ll see. We will keep you posted on this game. (0:36:38) Kev: We’re obligated to. (0:36:42) Al: Next, we have Harvest Moon Home Sweet Home Special Edition. (0:36:47) Al: So this is the console version of this game for Switch and PS5. (0:36:53) Al: We now have a price. It is $40 and it’s up for pre-order now coming out Q4. (0:37:00) Kev: It’s… we all know what it is. It’s the harvest moon. The Natsume… (0:37:10) Kev: Well, I’m not gonna get it, I’ll be honest. (0:37:13) Al: That’s fair. I will say, I still think this is actively a good game. My big question is, (0:37:22) Al: is there going to be an update coming to the mobile version that gives us the stuff that (0:37:26) Kev: Hmm (0:37:28) Al: this version has, like the hover bike and stuff like that? (0:37:31) Kev: I I wouldn’t rule it out. Not something has been surprising us lately. So maybe actually it’s more than 0% chance (0:37:34) Al: Yep, I never expected an update for this game. (0:37:43) Al: On the console to give us controller support, for example, never expected that and we got (0:37:48) Al: it. So maybe, maybe, but it’s weird that they’ve not done anything about it, like told us anything (0:37:55) Al: about it yet. (0:37:58) Kev: Well, it’s better than scong than in the communication. (0:38:02) Al: Next we have in what is both surprising and not surprising crossovers, like was this on (0:38:09) Kev: I (0:38:12) Al: your bingo guard of crossovers? (0:38:13) Kev: Well, no because (0:38:14) Al: No, but if you said, if you told me this was going to happen, I would say, okay, sure, (0:38:19) Al: I can see that. (0:38:21) Al: And that is Infinity Nicki cross Stardew Valley. (0:38:21) Kev: I. Okay, so to begin with, I was not familiar with Infinity Nicky. So that was my first (0:38:31) Kev: response. What is Infinity Nicky? I watched a I watched the trailer. I watched a gameplay (0:38:32) Al: This is the dressing up game, isn’t it? (0:38:39) Kev: trailer. I still don’t understand what this game is. Yeah, but it’s also gotcha. (0:38:42) Al: I’m pretty sure this is the, uh, yes, it’s the dress up game. (0:38:47) Al: So the whole point it’s, yes, it’s a gacha great dressing up game. (0:38:51) Al: So the collaboration is in Infinity Nikki. (0:38:54) Kev: very anime. Yeah. (0:38:57) Al: It’s not in Stardew Valley. (0:38:59) Al: Um, but I don’t think we know for certain, I’ve not, I didn’t notice (0:39:03) Al: anything in the trailer that gave us an indication as to what it was, but (0:39:05) Al: I’m guessing it’s Stardew inspired outfits in Infinity. (0:39:10) Kev: I thought that 3D… still pixelated, but 3D Junimo was in the game. (0:39:17) Al: Yeah, I think that’s just, this is the trailer. I don’t think that actually is going to… (0:39:20) Kev: Are you sure? Mmm… (0:39:23) Kev: I don’t know. I kind of feel like it is. It felt very… (0:39:26) Kev: That was a very detailed model for just a trailer, in my opinion. (0:39:31) Kev: There’s creatures for, to some extent, in this game. I don’t know what they do. (0:39:36) Kev: But… yeah, I don’t know. (0:39:40) Kev: But regardless, like… (0:39:44) Kev: It’s… (0:39:45) Kev: First of all, it’s… (0:39:47) Kev: It’s so many other Stardew crossovers. (0:39:49) Kev: Like, it’s, you know, 2D pixelated, indie developer, whatever, right? (0:39:54) Kev: Like, it’s kind of on the same realm as Stardew. (0:39:58) Kev: Uh, Infinity Nicky is a very high-fidelity, 3D anime, mohoyo-looking game. (0:40:09) Kev: And so it’s wild to see. (0:40:10) Kev: We started getting upgraded, like just visually, you know, up to that level. (0:40:17) Al: Oh, here’s interesting. So, apparently, Infiniti Nikkei is getting updated to have (0:40:23) Al: homes. Apparently, he didn’t have homes before. And farming. (0:40:27) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s correct. I do I did see that (0:40:32) Al: So, that’s interesting. (0:40:34) Kev: And well, there’s your there’s your Avenue (0:40:36) Kev: What what a get for this infinity Nikki go for the big one and I’ll start it to introduce your new home (0:40:44) Kev: Farming update with it (0:40:47) Kev: Yeah, this this whole thing is wild apparently so the internet thought so too (0:40:52) Al: Yes, so just to clarify, I think this article is mostly clickbait, but I wanted to just (0:40:58) Kev: Yeah, I agree (0:41:00) Al: have a quick chat about it. So this is a random article on a random site. Stardew Valley creator (0:41:05) Al: defends free Infinity Nikki crossover after backlash as he genuinely thought the players (0:41:11) Al: would like it. So I don’t think he’s actually responding to complaints about the fact that (0:41:17) Al: this exists. The quote comes from a tweet where he says there have (0:41:22) Al: been a few collaborations between Stardew Valley and other games over the years. To (0:41:27) Al: be clear, I never received any money from these collabs. I’ve only done them because (0:41:31) Al: I was a fan of the other games or because I genuinely thought the players would like (0:41:34) Al: it. That is not like the headline definitely makes it sound like he’s specifically talking (0:41:40) Al: about this collab. And he and he’s like making it makes it sound like it’s going, Oh, I’m (0:41:44) Al: really sad. People don’t like it. I genuinely thought the players would like it. Like that (0:41:48) Al: doesn’t seem to be the case. And if you look in the YouTube comments for this video, like (0:41:52) Al: it is mostly positive and or mostly just like shock in general, right? (0:41:56) Kev: Uh (0:41:58) Kev: I I don’t know because the (0:42:01) Kev: concern they tweeted is uh (0:42:03) Kev: Just a couple days ago, um right around the time of the trailer dropping (0:42:08) Kev: So I think he might be obviously he’s getting (0:42:11) Kev: He has a lot of people that follow him and send him comments and stuff. So (0:42:16) Kev: he I suspect there was a (0:42:19) Kev: Maybe not a large but you know how these things are a vocal minority of people (0:42:24) Kev: Who complained about this because (0:42:26) Kev: I can see the logic right concerned a star do we that’s a success right he’s (0:42:32) Kev: already getting success from stardew and now he’s collabing with the gotcha game (0:42:37) Kev: which is probably making insane boatloads of money because gotcha games (0:42:41) Kev: that’s what they do so oh look at that and see now he’s collaborating with big (0:42:42) Al: Yeah. Yeah, so well, so yeah, so my I suspect it was a small number of people who are like, oh, (0:42:54) Al: I can’t believe he’s doing this, he must just be getting a bunch of money. And so he’s like, (0:42:57) Al: no, no, I’m not getting money. And that’s all he really cared about doing, right? That’s because (0:43:00) Kev: Yeah, sure, sure, sure. (0:43:01) Al: that’s really all he said is, I don’t get money from the collabs, play it or don’t, I don’t care. (0:43:02) Kev: Yeah. (0:43:06) Kev: Yeah, pretty much. (0:43:06) Al: Right? Like, I think these are fun. And that’s basically what he’s saying, which is a fair thing (0:43:11) Al: to… to point out. I just… (0:43:12) Al: feel like this then article just takes it as like this stupid over the top forced to apologize (0:43:20) Al: because it you know it’s just like oh my word gonna know and then of course I’m playing into (0:43:20) Kev: yeah yep and then and then QS I think the 3d dream was part of it I’m still (0:43:24) Al: that by talking about it. I’m still not sure what this collab actually is as well but it (0:43:34) Kev: I’m standing by that (0:43:35) Al: we’ll see. Well I think it’ll just be inspired designs but we will see. (0:43:40) Kev: yeah I don’t know how should I put this it’s wild to me that started concerned (0:43:48) Kev: I knew what this game was from what I’ve seen. (0:43:50) Kev: in other interviews he seems a little out of touch with the gamesphere but here we are (0:43:54) Al: Yeah, maybe. All right, to finish off the news, we have two new games to talk about, (0:44:03) Al: and I don’t know why, but this is apparently horror time. One of them is called We Harvest (0:44:10) Al: Shadows, a single-player first-person farming horror allegory, (0:44:14) Al: become a recluse, build up your farm, and survive the lonely nights. (0:44:18) Kev: Yeah, this is what I said was the allegory game, um, yeah, um, this is, this is just straight (0:44:21) Al: All right. Okay. There we go. (0:44:26) Kev: horror. (0:44:27) Kev: There is no cozy here. (0:44:29) Kev: Um, it’s full 3D, first person, spooky lighting, you know, uh, run down shack you’re living (0:44:38) Kev: in. (0:44:39) Kev: You are leading a lamb to a sacrifice, it looks like, I don’t like that. (0:44:45) Kev: Um, okay. (0:44:48) Kev: I hate about, um, not just games, but like, I hate when anything describes itself as an (0:44:56) Kev: allegory or allegory, excuse me, um, uh, because like, that kind of defeats the point. (0:44:58) Al: Yeah. (0:45:04) Kev: You know, you should be able to figure it out. (0:45:04) Al: Yeah. Also, an allegory to what, right? Like, you can’t just say that. (0:45:06) Kev: And the worst part, exactly, right? (0:45:09) Kev: Exactly. (0:45:10) Kev: If you’re gonna tell me, okay, what is it for? (0:45:13) Kev: Tell me. (0:45:14) Kev: Right? (0:45:15) Kev: If you’re going to be, you know, maybe you’re inspired off. (0:45:18) Kev: Something or give me a general idea. (0:45:20) Kev: I guess I can get it, but, but you’re just okay. (0:45:25) Kev: Why were you telling me you’re, you mean something? (0:45:28) Kev: That’s like, this game has thoughts. (0:45:31) Kev: This game has emotions. (0:45:32) Kev: Okay, good for you. (0:45:34) Kev: I would hope your game does, but yeah, it’s very bizarre. (0:45:37) Al: Yeah, what am I meant to do with this information? Right? Bizarre. (0:45:44) Al: Oh my word, those creatures are horrifying. Sorry, (0:45:44) Kev: But anyways, the game itself… (0:45:46) Al: I was just watching the end of the trailer and just got jump scared from that horrible creature. (0:45:48) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that said, I was about to say that exactly, the it is very just straight horror, those are Resident Evil-esque looking creatures at the end of that trailer. (0:46:00) Kev: Um, and you got a shotgun, and I don’t know what you’re supposed to survive, and you’re still farming somehow, apparently. (0:46:08) Kev: Um, yeah, I’m generally not a big horror, like straight horror. (0:46:10) Al: Obviously. I mean, why not? (0:46:18) Kev: Um, at least game-wise, um, so I don’t know if I’ll be checking that out, but it’s a little more refreshing than, than, you know, what is this, Star Sand Island baby? (0:46:31) Kev: A bit, it’s New Dawns, but definitely more exciting than that. (0:46:32) Al: And the other one, which I’m not 100% sure whether we have or haven’t talked about this (0:46:41) Al: one, because like some things are ringing bells. (0:46:42) Kev: We have I or I am like positive or do we talk about just on discords? (0:46:44) Al: We have talked about this, right? (0:46:48) Al: It’s not, it’s, this is the thing I can tell, it’s, it’s on, it’s not, it wasn’t on my list (0:46:49) Kev: I can’t remember because it was on a direct (0:46:54) Al: of games that are upcoming. (0:46:56) Al: So I either didn’t talk about it or I forgot to put on the list, but anyway, we’re talking (0:47:02) Al: about it. (0:47:03) Al: That’s never a way. (0:47:04) Al: The interesting thing about this one is the pixel artist is the one who did Celeste. (0:47:09) Al: So that’s exciting. (0:47:10) Kev: - Yeah, so that’s good work already. (0:47:12) Al: After quitting her dead end job, Fiona starts over on a farm and becomes the immortal hero (0:47:17) Al: of a dead God. (0:47:18) Al: Make friends, fight through horrors and pay your debt in this nightmarish life sim RPG. (0:47:24) Al: This is giving Cult of the Lamb. (0:47:26) Kev: yep it’s it’s still stardew-esque because you have a town and you’re interacting with characters and (0:47:33) Kev: possibly romancing but genuine horror there are some
Stassi is deep in the English countryside, living out her Jane Austen dreams—but with a side of Taco Bell delivery. Joined by Auntie Al and C-O-Lo, she's juggling parenting, sightseeing, and a few very unexpected roommates (think bats, spiders, and sheep). From winding Cotswold roads and magical villages to pig-in-a-blanket surprises and Amazon packages arriving faster than in L.A., this trip has been anything but ordinary. Along the way, Stassi shares their favorite Cotswold towns, explains why graveyards are secretly joyful, and keeps it real about how social media makes the countryside look picture-perfect—when in reality, it's crowded, messy, and still completely magical.Thanks for supporting our sponsors:Progressive: Visit Progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance.Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/STASSI for an exclusive offer of 20% offyour first order.Hiya: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal go to hiyahealth.com/STASSI.Audible: Your first great love story is free when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at Audible.com/Stassi Ro: Go to RO.CO/STASSI for your free insurance check.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We have a silly, as per tradition following a spookysode (ignore the fact that we did one five weeks ago), and this time we get off the rails designing our own gnome community. We make lots of characters, have loads of notable characteristics (looking at you, Perky), and have entirely too much fun creating the world that is Malachite Reach. Support the showSimply CaptivatingCheck it out on Patreon.com/wbahpodcast for only $5 wbahpodcast.com_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Want to help support the Podcast? Consider becoming a Patron!www.patreon.com/wbahpodcastAdvertise with us!Just shoot us an email over to wbahpodcast@gmail.comSnag yourself some WBAH Merch!teespring.com/stores/wbah-podcast-store_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-Come Do Yoga With Macy:patreon.com/macyaniseyogaCharm by Charlye MichelleAncestor Oil and Fire Scrying Sessionscharmbycharlye.comPlay The Sims With Charlyetwitch.tv/charlye_withawhyTwitter @charlyewithawhyOur Video EditorEldrich Kitchenm.youtube.com/channel/UC_CwBrVMhqezVz_fog716Ow_-_-_-_-_-...
Al and Kev talk about their favourite games this year so far Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:04:23: What Have We Been Up To 00:25:31: Game News 00:43:48: Story Of Seasons X Royal Zoological Society of Scotland 00:47:59: Mid-year Check-in 01:18:11: Outro Links Moonlight in Garland 1.0 Release Above Snakes Console Release Out and About Release Coral Island 1.2 Update Sugardew Island Dog Aether Wizard Life “Announcement” Trailer Fields of Mistria Merch Collection Story of Seasons x Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Contact 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. (0:00:36) Kev: My name is Kevin. (0:00:38) Al: And we are here today to talk about cottagecore games. (0:00:41) Kev: Wooo! (0:00:43) Al: I’m back from my holiday. Hello. (0:00:45) Kev: You… from the Isle of Men… (0:00:49) Kev: I don’t know where you were. (0:00:49) Al: All the men. Yeah, I know that’s where I was. I love man, as usual. Yes, I’m back. (0:00:51) Kev: I don’t know where you were. (0:00:54) Kev: Okay. (0:00:56) Kev: Yeah. (0:00:58) Kev: The opposite of No Man’s Sky. (0:01:00) Al: Almanska, yeah. I’m melting because I got home and it’s apparently 25 degrees and that’s too hot for me. (0:01:01) Kev: Heh. Heh heh. (0:01:10) Kev: So, look, the people, you know a lot of Americans, (0:01:15) Kev: and we love to give you a hard time (0:01:16) Kev: because those are nothing numbers for us, (0:01:19) Kev: but I will say, you know, (0:01:20) Kev: I think something a lot of Americans easily overlook (0:01:24) Kev: is you’re pretty far up north. (0:01:26) Al: Mm hmm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m further north. I’m further (0:01:26) Kev: Well, like latitude-wise, right? (0:01:28) Kev: Like you’re Canada north, which gets frosty. (0:01:32) Al: north than all America except that last (0:01:33) Kev: Yeah. (0:01:36) Kev: Yeah, so, you know, that’s fair, (0:01:39) Kev: But, but we’re still going to. (0:01:40) Kev: I’m laughing, you know. (laughs) (0:01:41) Al: Well, also, it’s interesting because like every time that someone like from a warmer (0:01:47) Al: place moves to the UK and then the experience, the UK summer, they’re like, oh, people weren’t (0:01:53) Al: just talking nonsense. It is, it’s different. And it’s hard to explain. I don’t know why, (0:01:59) Al: but it is just, it is, I don’t know. Like I don’t know, because I’ve never lived in (0:02:03) Kev: Wha- (0:02:04) Al: a hotter place. But all I will say is that lots of people who have lived in really hot (0:02:09) Al: places come to the UK (0:02:11) Al: and say that the heat is different. (0:02:13) Kev: Huh, I mmm. I don’t know I mean well (0:02:16) Kev: I will say this right like one thing you guys aren’t built for warmer temperatures generally speaking not like (0:02:23) Kev: Alright, so you know down here in the American South for instance, right? (0:02:27) Kev: We have air conditioning so you know you can go in a building and escape the heat (0:02:32) Kev: And that’s not always the case over there in there (0:02:33) Al: Yeah, my office is currently warmer than outside. So, but also I am ginger, so definitely not built (0:02:37) Kev: Yeah, there you go see so say yeah (0:02:43) Al: for heat. Yeah, yeah, I use factor 50 sun cream. All right. This episode we’re going to do, (0:02:44) Kev: Here’s biologically sensitive to pretty much everything (0:02:58) Al: uh, I think, I think Cody and Kevin insinuated that this episode would be the tales of the (0:03:03) Al: shower episode is not, that’s going to be in a couple of weeks, just because we’re having some (0:03:07) Al: scheduling things and, uh, you know, want to make sure we’ve, uh, the game has been played properly (0:03:13) Al: before it is covered. So that will be in a couple of weeks. Um, this week we’re going to talk about, (0:03:19) Al: we’re going to do a major check-in, see how we’re feeling about games for the year. Um, this is (0:03:24) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:03:24) Al: obviously not our game of the year episode that will be in five months, no, four months, four (0:03:30) Kev: Pudby (0:03:32) Al: More months! (0:03:33) Kev: That’s not I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that (0:03:34) Al: That’s how time works, apparently. (0:03:41) Al: It’s halfway through August, and that means it’s four and a half months to the end of the year. (0:03:44) Kev: That’s not true (0:03:46) Al: It also means it’s nearly my birthday, but anyway. (0:03:50) Kev: Well, so get the two-third year check-in (0:03:54) Al: We are going to… We’re just calling… I said mid, not half. I said mid-years, (0:03:59) Al: Yeah, so we’re gonna talk about what we would talk about again. (0:04:04) Al: And what we think might be in the running for Game of the Year this year. (0:04:08) Al: We’ll see. I’ll be interested to see whether we’re right or not. (0:04:12) Kev: All right, I’m first question have I played enough games to come up with three? (0:04:18) Al: Ah, who cares? Before that, we’ve got a bunch of news. But first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:04:26) Kev: Oh (0:04:27) Kev: Okay, so (0:04:30) Kev: Okay, where should I start? Okay, you know, I’ll start with this (0:04:32) Kev: Okay, the battle cats mobile game with the funny you are our art in the cats. They’re goofy looking (0:04:39) Kev: I’ve discussed it on the show before (0:04:42) Kev: So that’s a game I go on and off and generally something draws me back to it and (0:04:50) Kev: The what is the number one crossover to draw me to any game out (0:04:54) Al: Oh wow, oh goodness. Number one. We had this exact same conversation a month and a half ago, (0:04:58) Kev: Number one (0:05:04) Al: and I can’t remember what the answer was, and I feel like I overthought it, (0:05:04) Kev: Probably (0:05:07) Al: just like I’m overthinking it just now. (0:05:09) Kev: You are I don’t know what but (0:05:12) Kev: It was probably the same because it’s crosses over the law. There you go (0:05:13) Al: Probably. Sonic. Ah, yay, I got it right this time. (0:05:19) Kev: Sanic in in in in the battle cats (0:05:22) Al: Sonic’s in Battlecat! (0:05:24) Kev: Yeah, it’s actually I forgot to bring it up last week (0:05:26) Kev: It was - it started two weeks ago from recording and today I think is the last day. Sorry listeners too late for you (0:05:33) Kev: He’s not but neither is (0:05:37) Kev: Hatsune Miku or (0:05:39) Kev: Street fighter, but they’re in there (0:05:40) Al: I don’t know. If somebody told me that Hatsune Miku is a cat, I would believe it. (0:05:48) Kev: you know, um, you know what, that’s fair. That’s fair. Um, here, let me, uh, as, as we do, I’ll, yeah, I’ll do the, the slack thread. (0:05:57) Kev: Um, uh, let me, I’m going to show you the art, um, because, so how these crossovers and battle cats usually work is, uh, there’ll be a banner of four characters, um, from the actual property crossover, whatever. (0:06:12) Kev: Um, uh, and, and so, yeah, the four. (0:06:18) Kev: Characters, um, and they went with the, the obvious ones, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow, the Hedgehog, because of course the poster children. (0:06:27) Kev: Um, but what’s fun is, uh, they’ll also introduce a series of cats, uh, as in the battle cats TM, um, that look like, or cause play as the other characters. (0:06:40) Kev: Um, and they’re quite goofy looking. (0:06:42) Kev: Um, I don’t. (0:06:42) Al: Why is there such a height disparity there? (0:06:48) Kev: I don’t know. That’s a good question. I don’t, I, that particular image, oh no, that, that particular image, I think it’s just, uh, just the, the framing, like it’s front to back. (0:06:49) Al: Like, shadow is meant to be… (0:06:56) Al: Well, no, I think, sure, for the actual sonic and shadow on the right-hand side, (0:07:02) Al: but on the left-hand side, the sonic cat is clearly like three times the height of shadow cat. (0:07:04) Kev: okay yeah oh yeah yeah okay so there’s a sonic cat that looks like shadow like (0:07:12) Kev: the regular cat like shadow cat but then you can evolve him and he turns into (0:07:16) Kev: this taller cat I don’t know why because it’s the battle cats they love to do (0:07:18) Al: Oh. Oh, so you’ll be able to get both of them as as tall or (0:07:19) Kev: weird things that’s why that’s your answer it looks like a twinkie with a (0:07:23) Kev: sonic cat yeah I’ve only seen Sonic’s evolution so I don’t know if the other (0:07:31) Kev: cats can evolve in tall forms or (0:07:34) Kev: weird forms but Sonic Cat does get weird he turns tall like a Twinkie but (0:07:40) Kev: yeah so yeah it’s I will say Battle Cats is pretty good with their collabs (0:07:46) Kev: because of course you get the characters but you also get stages which come with (0:07:52) Kev: full Sonic soundtracks there’s like four special stages that you can do on a (0:07:56) Kev: repeat in different missions and so it’s been a lot of fun the Sonic cast are (0:08:02) Kev: Actually quite quite good (0:08:04) Kev: The actual characters I pulled I got Sonic (0:08:08) Kev: So I’m happy. I got one at least (0:08:11) Kev: Calvin pulled tails, I believe but sadly we didn’t get the others (0:08:17) Kev: But what is nice these collabs will frequently come back (0:08:21) Kev: Well, maybe not frequently, but but they come back on some regularity. It is to be expected (0:08:26) Kev: So I’ll be saving up for the next time Sonic swings around but it’s it’s been good fun (0:08:32) Kev: I’m getting better and I do (0:08:34) Kev: Enjoy the game battle cats not just the the polls really got your whatever so it’s been nice to get back into the end (0:08:40) Kev: So yeah Sonic and the battle cats. It’s been a lot of fun. Oh, you know what there was an intro video (0:08:44) Kev: Let me find the intro video. Hold on. I’ll put it in you can watch it later (0:08:48) Kev: But but they did a little animation. It was good (0:08:52) Kev: So yeah aside from that, um, oh, you know what I finished monk the the detective show monk (0:09:01) Kev: It’s it’s good. I (0:09:04) Kev: Yeah, eight seasons so I kind of crushed it cuz I don’t know I’ve been binge watching but it’s like the regular show (0:09:10) Kev: I’ll watch when I get home or whatever (0:09:13) Al: Oh, it’s it’s old. I mean, I said it’s old. I mean, not super old, but like 20 years old. (0:09:16) Kev: Sorry, what was that? Oh (0:09:19) Kev: Yeah, yeah, well, that’s a thing they actually did I after I finish I have to watch (0:09:26) Kev: the (0:09:27) Kev: Sorry, I have to see (0:09:29) Kev: There’s a movie they’d made a movie in 2023 50 (0:09:34) Kev: years or so after the end (0:09:36) Kev: and I can’t wait to check that out (0:09:40) Kev: they have all the original actors they (0:09:43) Kev: look quite old but it’s still enjoyable (0:09:45) Kev: but yeah anyways my great series the (0:09:49) Kev: main actor Tony Shalab he’s he is such a (0:09:53) Kev: good actor like his performances are (0:09:55) Kev: just incredible easy recommend for (0:09:58) Kev: anyone but yeah the later seasons were (0:10:01) Kev: really good season sevens really good (0:10:04) Kev: it feels like they knew the end was (0:10:07) Kev: coming so they did a lot of stuff to (0:10:10) Kev: celebrate the series if you will so yeah (0:10:13) Kev: good good stuff was good (0:10:15) Kev: um let’s see other than that nothing (0:10:20) Kev: honestly not that much it’s been crazy (0:10:23) Kev: at work but thankfully I finally finished (0:10:24) Kev: this huge project and so I’ll finally be (0:10:26) Kev: able to partake in other things again (0:10:28) Kev: these upcoming oh wait wait one more (0:10:31) Kev: thing how could I tear a nail after my (0:10:34) Kev: last week I played the update their nail (0:10:36) Al: Oh yes. Nice. It’s just more of the same. (0:10:37) Kev: um it’s yeah turn out a good game still (0:10:40) Kev: good game the core still the same the (0:10:43) Kev: new levels the new line yes and no like (0:10:47) Kev: the center of the general purpose but (0:10:49) Kev: they introduce a lot of new mechanics (0:10:50) Kev: and and different kind of ways to solve (0:10:54) Kev: the puzzle I’ve been enjoying it of (0:10:56) Kev: course but let them fun thing they did (0:10:58) Kev: they’ll add new objectives even to the (0:11:00) Kev: old stages so let’s say I had a hundred (0:11:04) Kev: four all those areas I had a hundred (0:11:05) Kev: percent are not only like seventy five (0:11:08) Kev: percent because they had a new objective (0:11:10) Kev: so gives you a good reason to go back (0:11:12) Kev: and then try the old levels and have fun (0:11:13) Kev: with them again since it’s like a (0:11:16) Kev: procedurally generated level it’s you (0:11:18) Kev: know it’s fun every time so yeah a (0:11:20) Kev: tear in L it’s good all right out what (0:11:24) Al: Hmm. Not a huge amount because I’ve been on holiday and going on holiday with kids means (0:11:33) Al: not having a holiday. So I’ve not had a huge amount of time to do much, but I have started (0:11:36) Kev: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. (0:11:42) Al: playing Donkey Kong, Bonanza. I’m only like an hour or so in. I mean, I’ve got a good (0:11:47) Kev: okay (0:11:48) Al: idea of how the game plays, but I’m not like super. (0:11:50) Kev: yeah (0:11:54) Al: Super far through it. I got through the tutorial level and I’m kind of like half the way through (0:11:55) Kev: why (0:11:58) Al: the next set of levels. Yeah, mostly, mostly. I am very frustrated with the camera. It is (0:11:59) Kev: okay I’ve heard that game is good like really really good (0:12:05) Kev: mostly (0:12:13) Al: fine when you’re out in the open, but as soon as you get into any like tunnel or like go (0:12:20) Al: underground. It’s super not fun. (0:12:24) Al: a great camera for that. And I think the most frustrating thing is there was a section (0:12:28) Al: in the tutorial where the camera worked really well for underground. It like kind of zoomed (0:12:33) Al: out and you could see through the ground and it was like a really nice way. But it’s I’ve (0:12:37) Al: not seen it again do that since then. And I don’t know why they don’t use that camera (0:12:41) Al: when you’re underground because like you just end up like going up against the wall and (0:12:43) Kev: Hm. (0:12:47) Al: it gets really confused. And it’s really hard to see anything. And considering it’s a game (0:12:54) Al: where you’re like smashing everything up and you’re encouraged to make tunnels through (0:12:57) Al: the ground. I don’t know why they didn’t put more effort into that camera. Not that I can (0:13:00) Kev: is there an option for that i’m gonna guess no because it’s a nintendo game (0:13:04) Al: see. Yeah, not that I can see. There’s a decent amount of controller options, but nothing (0:13:07) Kev: nintendo doesn’t believe in options heck sometimes (0:13:15) Al: for changing how the camera works other than inverted camera. (0:13:19) Kev: do you remember in was it no sword and shield they hid the audio options on an item (0:13:27) Kev: you had to talk to an NPC to get it (0:13:28) Al: Oh yeah, that was a certain field. That was bizarre. And it wasn’t even the first area. (0:13:30) Kev: no it was like motor stoke yeah I’m (0:13:35) Al: You had to get up to Motorstoke, I think. Which is like a third of the way through the game. (0:13:40) Kev: pretty sure so that was there’s a couple (0:13:42) Kev: yeah you had to pass the wilder that’s (0:13:45) Al: You couldn’t change the volume settings until you were a third. It’s just bizarre. (0:13:48) Kev: crazy yeah yeah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (0:13:50) Al: And then you have to buy it. Yeah, that was a stupid decision. (0:13:56) Al: Like a lot of times with games, I’m like, OK. (0:13:58) Al: Sure, I don’t like that, but maybe that’s stupid, right? (0:14:02) Kev: Oh my gosh, yes, oh. (0:14:02) Al: That’s just that is literally an accessibility option, right? (0:14:05) Al: Like, come on. (0:14:06) Kev: Yep. (0:14:07) Kev: Oh my gosh, you know, I hate them, but I also love, because I just love trash fires. (0:14:16) Kev: I love bad stupid decisions like that. (0:14:19) Kev: Battle Cats actually has one. It’s like the single flaw in the entire game, because the game is very well made in my opinion. (0:14:25) Kev: And it’s a very minor, like very niche thing, but there’s, as you can imagine, (0:14:32) Kev: They have like a gallery or whatever, right? Go through the menu and, you know, go through the characters, see their stats, yada, yada. (0:14:39) Kev: Well, they have an enemy guide too, same thing, but the enemy guide is just a straight horizontal list. (0:14:48) Kev: There’s no pages, you can’t filter, you can’t search, you just have to go left to right through an entire (0:14:55) Kev: huge roster of enemies. It’s almost the worst. (0:15:00) Kev: Anyways options are good (0:15:02) Kev: Forgive people options people (0:15:04) Kev: Do good things (0:15:05) Al: So yeah, I think that’s, that’s about it. I mean, I’ve been watching through the Sandman (0:15:11) Al: show, but I’m not really talking about that because, you know, Neil Gaiman, awkward. So (0:15:15) Kev: Sand man, I wait. What is that? I don’t know what that is (0:15:18) Al: Sandman who’s a DC character at TCC, that one, but it’s the Netflix adapted it into (0:15:21) Kev: Oh, it is that one okay, okay (0:15:26) Al: a show. And they did the first season a couple of years ago, and then the whole Neil Gaiman (0:15:32) Al: and stuff, you know, because he was the one that wrote down, man. (0:15:34) Kev: Uh, yeah. (0:15:35) Al: And they were like, oh, oh, but they did manage to get the second season done without him. (0:15:44) Kev: Well, guess what, anything you do probably gives someone awful money. (0:15:44) Al: He’s almost certainly getting money for it, but whatever. (0:15:53) Al: Yes, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. It doesn’t make me feel better. (0:15:58) Al: Yeah, so I have been watching that and I’ve mostly been managing to ignore him. (0:16:06) Al: And focus on the show and it’s good. I like it. I enjoy the show. (0:16:08) Kev: sure sure that’s cool yeah it’s wild to me the the the you know years between seasons structure (0:16:18) Kev: that netflix does um I don’t know I just I find it crazy like I was at wednesday the wednesday show (0:16:25) Kev: that was a three-year gap and it was only eight episodes I think the new season that’s insane to (0:16:26) Al: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. (0:16:33) Kev: me you remember when shows I say this someone watching monk you’d get like (0:16:38) Kev: ish episodes of season every year isn’t that great 20 to 26 (0:16:42) Al: Well, you want to have a conversation? No, I don’t like that. (0:16:48) Kev: what what (0:16:48) Al: So, right, OK, so there’s two parts to this. One, do I wish the shows that I like released (0:16:52) Kev: okay (0:16:55) Al: yearly? Probably, if they could keep the quality up, yes. But do I wish that all series were (0:16:58) Kev: yeah okay (0:17:02) Al: still 20 episodes? Absolutely not. Why would I want 20 episodes when half of them are boring? (0:17:09) Al: right, give me the eight episodes that are good, don’t give me the more that (0:17:12) Al: you don’t care about, give me what you think you want, not something that is enforced by (0:17:17) Al: studios because they need year-round episodes, like we don’t need to do that anymore and I don’t (0:17:23) Kev: Mmm, I mean (0:17:23) Al: care for it. It’s like how it’s like, oh you know, like do you complain about the fact that episodes (0:17:32) Al: aren’t always, you know, was it 48 minutes long anymore because they don’t all have to fit into (0:17:36) Al: the exact same advert blocks. Now, (0:17:39) Kev: Mm-hmm. I (0:17:42) Kev: May kind of do (0:17:42) Al: you can take that too far, Netflix with your two and a half hour season finale of Stranger Things (0:17:48) Al: season four last time. That was too far, but other than that, I mean that doesn’t, you can have (0:17:48) Kev: Yes, yes (0:17:53) Kev: Exactly (0:17:58) Al: a middle thing which is not in the extremes there. I like when episodes aren’t like necessarily (0:18:02) Al: consistent because they want to fit in what they want to fit in, that they feel fits their artistic (0:18:07) Al: expression. I like that. (0:18:08) Kev: yeah okay sure I guess okay you know here’s the call here’s the here’s the qualifier right (0:18:13) Al: Do you really miss clip episodes? (0:18:18) Kev: is it good right which is a dumb thing because that’s the question right because let’s all right (0:18:19) Al: Yes, of course. (0:18:23) Kev: let’s yeah you can look at examples on both ends of the spectrum right um look at uh look at cora (0:18:30) Kev: right that that show could have used some more episodes for sure um that that first season needed (0:18:33) Al: possibly. I mean maybe they didn’t have anything else they wanted to put in it, right? Like… (0:18:38) Kev: at least a couple more episodes at first (0:18:41) Al: Yeah, I guess my point is not like, oh, I wish we didn’t have more episodes, right? I’m not saying (0:18:48) Al: that. Like, if there’s good stuff, I want to see it. But I don’t agree with the, oh, wasn’t it (0:18:53) Al: great when every show had 20 to 22 episodes and they were all the exact same length and they (0:18:59) Al: happened. No, I don’t. I don’t long for those days. I don’t. (0:19:02) Kev: Don’t know I got a monk. It’s been pretty good the whole time. I guess it did depends (0:19:04) Al: But I just, it’s just when you, when you got the like episode, that was the clip episode, (0:19:11) Al: because they had to put out an episode and they didn’t care. They didn’t want anything. (0:19:13) Kev: Monk did not do that actually crazy, but you sure yeah, yeah, but but okay. Yes, that’s just (0:19:16) Al: Sure. But most shows did almost every show did. And some of them did it better than others, (0:19:21) Kev: Yes, yes (0:19:22) Al: but you always, every time it happened, you rolled your eyes and went, Oh, here we go. (0:19:24) Kev: Yeah, okay, you know what you’re right (0:19:26) Al: And you watched it anyway, because maybe there was something that was actually going to progress the (0:19:29) Al: story. You don’t know. It might be fully clips or it might actually do something. (0:19:31) Kev: Sure (0:19:33) Kev: Eh, I guess (0:19:34) Al: But I mean, I think the, I think the, as you say, the complication is it depends on the show. (0:19:42) Al: It depends on what they’re doing. And I don’t think it’s, it’s obviously not the case that (0:19:47) Al: creators get to do what they want all the time. Obviously I’m not, I’m not suggesting that is, (0:19:48) Kev: Okay, okay, yeah, yeah, that’s (0:19:53) Al: but I think having more freedom for that, I think is a good thing in general. And. (0:19:59) Kev: Sure, you know, okay fine. I don’t need every show to (0:20:03) Kev: How should I put this? Okay? I don’t it’s not that I want every show to be 26 episodes every year or whatever (0:20:10) Kev: but when I look at (0:20:11) Al: The numbers just getting higher and higher (0:20:13) Kev: when I look at (0:20:16) Kev: Though the Wednesday series (0:20:18) Kev: Right episodes in three years that that seems like you know that it seems cheap for lack of a better word, right? (0:20:20) Al: So, I think, well, I mean, you say that cheap, like you pay for the subscription for Netflix (0:20:32) Al: when you want to get the stuff and you watch it and then you stop subscribing, right? I (0:20:34) Kev: Sure, sure. Yeah. Yeah (0:20:36) Al: think of those sorts of shows as in the same way that people complain about them because (0:20:41) Al: they’re structured like films, I think of them in that sort of way as well, right? Three (0:20:46) Kev: That that is true (0:20:47) Al: years, three years between a film and its sequels. (0:20:50) Al: Not an unusual amount of time, and eight episodes is longer than a film would be. (0:20:51) Kev: That is very true that that’s what that’s what I’m (0:20:56) Kev: You’re right, that’s that’s what I’m not thinking here because that that is more common nowadays (0:21:00) Kev: Isn’t it where a season of a show is really just an extra-long movie like the Marvel Studios shows? (0:21:06) Kev: You’re you’re right about that (0:21:10) Kev: Yeah, that’s a good point touche (0:21:12) Al: I mean Marvel have a problem with sequels in general just now, right? Like when was the last, (0:21:16) Kev: Ah (0:21:18) Al: you know, in we got three Iron Mans and I think it was eight years or something like that and (0:21:26) Kev: Yeah (0:21:26) Al: it’s now been what four years since Shang-Chi and we haven’t even got a second yet. (0:21:30) Kev: Yeah (0:21:31) Al: Like there is a real problem they have with sequels just in general which is a whole other (0:21:34) Al: conversation and is probably part of the reason that they’re not getting big box office numbers (0:21:35) Kev: Yeah (0:21:41) Al: because most. (0:21:42) Al: There are big numbers. (0:21:43) Al: We’re always the third in a series, you know, Iron Man one didn’t make a billion. (0:21:46) Kev: Mmm, that’s a good point. (0:21:48) Al: Iron Man three did make a billion. (0:21:52) Al: Just saying also, you know, it’s things like, you know, the Marvels being called the Marvels (0:21:52) Kev: Uh, yeah. (0:21:57) Al: rather than Captain Marvel two probably would have made more money if it had done that. (0:21:58) Kev: Yeah… (0:22:01) Al: Now, there are obviously other issues with that in terms of misogyny, but that was still (0:22:04) Al: there when the first film came out and it made a billion. (0:22:05) Kev: Yeah… (0:22:06) Kev: Yeah, exactly! (0:22:07) Kev: Right, right? (0:22:07) Al: Why did the mark? (0:22:08) Al: Why did Captain Marvel make a billion and the Marvels didn’t? (0:22:11) Al: And then there’s all this other complications. (0:22:12) Al: Well, nobody has any money anymore and COVID killed everything until blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. (0:22:17) Al: But Deadpool and Wolverine made a billion. (0:22:19) Al: That was the third in the series as well, right? (0:22:22) Al: Like they clearly can make lots of money. (0:22:24) Al: They’re just not doing what they used to do, which made them lots of money. (0:22:28) Al: They make a film and it doesn’t make a lot of money. (0:22:30) Al: And they go, Oh, well, well, let’s not make a second. (0:22:31) Al: But the whole point was your first ones never make a lot of money. (0:22:34) Al: It’s the second and third that make the money. (0:22:36) Al: And also which third film in the MCU made the least money, Thor. (0:22:42) Al: Or three. Why was that? (0:22:43) Al: Cos Thor 2 was bad. (0:22:44) Kev: It was really bad is it is it hmm (0:22:47) Al: Coincidence? (0:22:49) Kev: Have we are I’m thinking got you know on our discords and slacks have we argued which of the worst Marvel films (0:22:55) Kev: I feel like that that needs to happen. Oh (0:22:56) Al: I mean, it’s I mean, it’s Star of the Dark World, right? (0:22:59) Kev: I mean I (0:23:02) Kev: Okay, I don’t want to turn but it’s probably a rise probably dark world. Yeah, I’m struggling to think (0:23:06) Al: Eternals, I’m not trying, I’m not trying to say Eternals was one of the best, but it’s not the worst, not at all. (0:23:10) Kev: It’s not as bad as dark world. Yeah, I believe a dark world (0:23:12) Al: Absolutely not. There is, I don’t think there is an MCU film that is as bad as those. (0:23:18) Kev: Yeah, that was rough. Oh I miss (0:23:22) Al: Like, I mean, try and explain this plot of that film. (0:23:29) Kev: Yeah, yeah, no there’s (0:23:30) Al: Thor’s girlfriend gets injected with something, and he has to get it out of her, (0:23:32) Kev: And they and he used to fight dark elves (0:23:34) Al: and also his mum dies, maybe, I think. (0:23:38) Kev: Did she did I don’t know why but oh god (0:23:41) Al: You can know everything about that film, just from the bit where they go back in time (0:23:46) Al: and endgame to it. That is the only bit about that film that matters. (0:23:47) Kev: They were yeah, yeah, they really didn’t see good. Oh, yeah (0:23:50) Al: It tells you everything. (0:23:53) Al: In fact, there’s more, there’s more character progression and more heart in that scene when (0:23:58) Al: he goes back than there is in the entire film. You know, when he meets his mom and he’s sad (0:24:02) Kev: There is (0:24:03) Al: because he knows she’s about to die, you know, that is more than the entire film has. (0:24:05) Kev: Yeah, you’re you’re right I did enjoy that what 15 minute bit (0:24:10) Al: And then, and then he calls for his, then he calls from y’all near and it comes for him and he’s (0:24:14) Al: so happy. He says, I’m still worthy. (0:24:18) Kev: You’re right, that was better than the entire movie. You’re right. I (0:24:23) Al: I mean, I don’t know how they, how did they make that film so long when there’s so little that happens? (0:24:29) Kev: Don’t I don’t know. I just whatever well, I will say this Kat Dennings (0:24:31) Al: Anyway, you would, you would, you would have to have a, you’d have to have a, well, yeah, (0:24:36) Al: okay, true. I mean, that’s fair. She does improve any film. But you’d have to have a really good (0:24:38) Kev: Yeah, yeah, that’s correct (0:24:44) Al: argument to convince me that that’s not the worst film. I don’t think anything even comes close. (0:24:47) Kev: Yeah, okay, you know what fair fair. I’m gonna yeah fair. I haven’t seen fantastic for (0:24:53) Al: Anyway, what was my point? Yeah. Yeah. I was watching The Sandman and then I’m probably (0:24:58) Kev: Sandman (0:25:00) Al: going to watch Weddings day after that. Cause that’s, I need to, I need to watch that next (0:25:02) Kev: Cool I like the Adams family (0:25:03) Al: season. And then where else have we got Strange, Strange New Worlds, Star Trek. That’s coming out (0:25:09) Al: just now. Need to watch that as well. Name a Star Trek that doesn’t fit that description. (0:25:10) Kev: Oh (0:25:12) Kev: Is that the one with the hot guy I don’t remember (0:25:18) Kev: Oh (0:25:21) Kev: That’s a good point, but that’s a good point (0:25:22) Al: Anyway, that’s what we’ve been up to. Maybe I’ll have more to talk about Bonanza when (0:25:32) Kev: No, we did it (0:25:34) Al: next time we’ll see. All right. We’re going to talk about some, (0:25:36) Kev: Get to the end (0:25:38) Kev: I’m saying get to the end. There’s there’s good things in that game. Mm-hmm (0:25:40) Al: I don’t think I’ll do that in a week. I have heard that the story is good, but I’ve not got (0:25:47) Al: to any point that actually matters with the story yet. Yeah. Let’s talk about some. (0:25:52) Al: Game news. First up, Moonlight in Garland, which Kevin’s probably going, Oh, I can’t remember what (0:25:59) Al: that game is. I don’t recognize that name. Well, it’s coming out of early access on the 27th of (0:26:00) Kev: CORRECT! (0:26:06) Al: August. I mean, it’s pretty much it’s. (0:26:12) Kev: Ha ha ha use the mad libs the cottagecore game mad laser you just yeah (0:26:19) Kev: There I’m looking (0:26:22) Al: Seems like it’s less farming, more community building, and it’s like a kind of town slash (0:26:29) Kev: Yeah (0:26:32) Kev: Yeah, this has a very specific (0:26:32) Al: city rather than village. (0:26:38) Kev: Aesthetic to like mid-2000s. I don’t know a (0:26:42) Al: Yeah, I was thinking Polly Pocket, but like the characters from Polly Pocket rather than the (0:26:45) Kev: Pocket Polly like it’s weird. Um (0:26:50) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah exactly the characters right that’s exactly I’m talking (0:26:51) Al: action. Yeah, it’s funny that we both had the same thought that that shows you where it’s at. (0:26:57) Kev: Yeah, that’s so (0:26:59) Kev: Wait, is this the one where you can do crime? No, that might be a different one. We live in the city (0:27:02) Al: No, that’s not this one. That’s not this one. No crime in this one. (0:27:08) Kev: Gosh good old cottagecore. We’re in too deep. Oh, we’re in too deep (0:27:15) Kev: All right (0:27:17) Kev: Wait, so what was the actual news here? Are we at one point a release? Okay, August 27th (0:27:22) Al: Yes, 27th of August. Next, “Above Snakes have announced their console releases coming on the 4th of September.” So that is Switch, Xbox. (0:27:30) Kev: I’m kind of surprised they’re doing console’s release was that do we cover again I I don’t (0:27:35) Al: That was a Kickstarter stretch thing. (0:27:37) Kev: even remember did we come (0:27:39) Al: I don’t know if we did a proper one on it. We had our episode where we talked about the cultural… (0:27:46) Kev: Yeah, yeah, Nami on that, yeah, yeah, I remember that. (0:27:48) Al: I don’t want to say appropriation, the cultural questions around it. (0:27:52) Al: Shall we see? (0:27:52) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I do remember that. (0:27:54) Al: I don’t know if we actually covered that. (0:27:55) Kev: But, well, you know what? (0:27:58) Kev: Hats off to them if that was a goal (0:28:01) Kev: and they’re actually doing it, right? (0:28:02) Kev: Because even games that do release from Kickstarter (0:28:05) Kev: don’t always get to the console port when they promise it. (0:28:08) Al: Absolutely. Yeah, I should probably play at some point. I do have it. I own it on Steam (0:28:19) Al: because I backed it because it came out on that period of time where I was backing basically (0:28:24) Kev: everything before you (0:28:25) Al: every vaguely cottage core Kickstarter. I’m better now. I have not backed a farming game (0:28:33) Al: on Kickstarter since Autonomica. (0:28:38) Al: I went back in April. Yeah. I have backed two Kickstarters back then, but since then, (0:28:39) Kev: So your time on rehab was successful. (0:28:41) Kev: Good, good for you. (0:28:47) Al: but neither of them have been farming. (0:28:49) Kev: Nah, look at you, progress. (0:28:53) Kev: Well, hey, that’s September 4th. (0:28:56) Kev: Oh, I don’t like how close that is. (0:28:58) Kev: How’s it going so fast now? (0:29:00) Al: I don’t know. Time. (0:29:04) Kev: Time. (0:29:07) Al: Next we have Out and About. They managed to release this time successfully. This was the (0:29:10) Kev: Your comment. (0:29:15) Kev: This time. (0:29:19) Al: one where last week they tried to release, but they accidentally, or they realized they (0:29:23) Al: hadn’t clicked the access button, which put it into review, and then it took several days (0:29:24) Kev: They deleted the button. (0:29:30) Al: so now they have actually released their early access. Congratulations to Out and About. (0:29:34) Kev: good for them they did it I don’t know the game looks fine I guess it’s walking (0:29:45) Kev: through a forest looking (0:29:48) Al: Yeah, it’s doing something different. It’s not just like, it’s not farming, it’s foraging, (0:29:52) Al: and the idea is you’re exploring, and it’s another picture-taking one as well, but (0:29:58) Al: you’re foraging for things. It’s cute. (0:30:00) Kev: Yeah, it is. It’s, uh, it’s like, uh, what is it? Uh, the, the, the, the, the hike game. Um, I forget, it kind of reminds me of that, but a little more involved. (0:30:10) Al: Oh, a short hike. Yeah. It’s much more, you know, it’s 3D, third person view. No. Yeah. (0:30:12) Kev: Yeah. It’s the one. Yeah. But you know, you’re actually foraging. (0:30:16) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. It looks like an extension of that. Not necessarily better extension, but just, you know, kind of in that vein of ideas of just going through the woods and looking at stuff. (0:30:28) Al: I’m also comparing it to Alba in my head because it was kind of similar where you’re (0:30:35) Kev: Yeah, yeah that too yeah, um yeah, okay. Well hey good good for them. They found the button finally (0:30:44) Al: Congratulations. Next we have Coral Island have announced that their 1.2 update is out. (0:30:51) Kev: Okay, why why is there someone in a dinosaur suit? (0:30:56) Al: Why not? What a silly question! I’m guessing that’s one of the spooky costumes, cause. (0:30:58) Kev: How good (0:31:00) Kev: You know, that’s a good counterpoint, okay (0:31:06) Al: So the things that are coming in this update, multiplayer, they’ve revamped their romance (0:31:11) Al: progression, adding more hearts. You can get up to a heart event, sorry, you can get up (0:31:15) Al: to 15 hearts now with heart events. So 11 to 15 are after marriage, like the stargy (0:31:22) Al: ones added in like 1.4 or something, I forget. (0:31:27) Al: But they’ve also added spooky costumes, okay? (0:31:35) Al: Like, this is one of those ones that feels weird that this feels like (0:31:40) Al: something they wanted to do for 1.0 and just didn’t, but. (0:31:43) Kev: yeah that’s it that is very much what it feels like Mitch drew I guess good for (0:31:49) Kev: them that a gate got here like yeah I am NOT gonna fault them for that because (0:31:54) Kev: it’s a game dev is hard I don’t know if you know that out oh oh I like you I’m (0:32:00) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s fair. (0:32:02) Kev: looking I’m sorry I’m looking for the video some of the costumes the the NPC’s (0:32:06) Kev: rather pretty good there’s like a tinker the good chicken a Tinkerbell costume I (0:32:09) Kev: like that that’s good (0:32:11) Al: Yeah, there does seem to be a lot of care taken on these costumes. They’re not, they’re not just like generic things. Each person has like a unique costume and they’re all very interesting. The twins have almost the same costume, which is fun, but they’re not quite. They’re slightly different, which is based on, you know, their personality. (0:32:32) Kev: That’s fun to, yeah, that’s, yeah, I like that, that’s, that’s good, yeah, um, dressing (0:32:37) Kev: up your NPCs. (0:32:38) Kev: You know what, I take it that the dinosaur costume is a good idea. (0:32:41) Al: I’m trying to find them. So I’ve asked you motivates us that I found their spooky festival section of the video. I’m guessing that’s where you saw it. Well, I see someone as a panda. (0:32:48) Kev: Yeah, there’s near the start (0:32:51) Kev: All the twins. Oh (0:32:51) Al: I was near the start of the video. (0:32:54) Kev: Yeah, it’s near the start all that. I’m looking at the twin costumes. Those are good. Actually (0:32:59) Kev: They might be the best costumes (0:33:01) Kev: It’s a I don’t know. There’s like little blueberry monsters. I don’t know how to describe it better (0:33:09) Kev: That’s cool. What is that guy there? (0:33:10) Al: It’s definitely you have to see. (0:33:12) Kev: Yeah, there’s a guy in a black turtle. What is that is that supposed to be a costume that doesn’t look that’s just a (0:33:18) Kev: Guy in a sweatshirt and jeans. I don’t get that (0:33:22) Al: And yeah, OK, I don’t know what his I don’t know what Pablo’s costume is he trying to be Steve Jobs or something? (0:33:30) Kev: I guess with Shane. I don’t know. I don’t know (0:33:33) Al: I don’t know. (0:33:37) Al: Where’s this dinosaur costume you’re talking about? (0:33:38) Kev: Yo (0:33:40) Kev: Okay, okay, let me let me find it it’s in the video it was near the very start (0:33:45) Al: Oh, I’ve got it, I’ve got it, I’ve got it. Yeah, that’s, that’ll be a spooky costume, (0:33:47) Kev: You found it great (0:33:49) Kev: Yeah, it probably is I like it. It’s dumb. I like it what? (0:33:49) Al: because it’s pumpkins and lights around them. (0:33:55) Al: There are some silly costumes you can use as your player as well in the game that I’ve (0:33:59) Al: put on before. I can’t remember what I was dressed up as, but they, it’s not just like, (0:34:05) Al: they have a decent amount of player customization already. (0:34:08) Kev: Yeah, yeah. There’s also a collab with Fungi Swarm. (0:34:09) Al: Uh, yeah, that’s their game. (0:34:15) Al: Our other game, isn’t it? Um, uh, what, there’s, uh, redeemable items. Okay. (0:34:17) Kev: Yeah, it is. Which, yeah, but I think… (0:34:24) Kev: There’s a antler dog guy. I don’t know what that is, but, uh… (0:34:27) Al: Uh, a mythical pet outfit. (0:34:31) Kev: I don’t know what… I don’t… Okay, I don’t know what this creature is. (0:34:34) Al: “Razzi” or “Razzdi” (0:34:37) Kev: whereas the it’s an off. (0:34:41) Kev: It’s a blue reindeer dog. (0:34:42) Kev: I don’t know what else to describe it. (0:34:44) Al: Well, speaking of dogs, (0:34:45) Kev: Uhhh… (0:34:47) Kev: You! Ooh, good transition, tell me. (0:34:48) Al: for some reason we’re talking about Sugadoo Island again, (0:34:51) Kev: W-w-why?! (0:34:51) Al: this game. (0:34:53) Al: ‘Cause, dog, they’ve released a code (0:34:57) Al: that you can redeem in the game and it gives you dog. (0:35:01) Kev: But okay spotted dog, that’s (0:35:04) Al: If it’s anything like everything else in this game, (0:35:07) Al: you won’t be able to name it. (0:35:08) Al: It won’t do anything other than just follow you around (0:35:11) Al: like a blind rat, I don’t know. (0:35:14) Kev: I’m not sure how well blind rec could follow you but they do that is true you’ll fly like (0:35:15) Al: It’s not really turned on for metaphors just now. (0:35:22) Al: They have a good sense of smell. (0:35:28) Kev: a dog I have a dog they do follow you yeah that is true its name is spotted dog that’s (0:35:32) Al: Yeah, but with personality, I doubt this one a lot. (0:35:41) Kev: That’s it. (0:35:41) Al: That would, I mean I’d be surprised if it wasn’t just dog. (0:35:44) Kev: Yeah. (0:35:48) Al: Next we have Aether Wizard Life have released a what they’re calling their first announcement (0:35:56) Al: trailer but I’m confused because this game was announced multiple years ago so I don’t (0:35:57) Kev: Okay (0:36:00) Al: know how this is an announcement trailer. (0:36:01) Kev: And (0:36:02) Kev: It’s only for backers, which I don’t know you probably want to make that available. Oh, there is. Oh, okay. Let me see. Oh (0:36:06) Al: There’s a link to the actual video as well. (0:36:11) Kev: Yeah, there is. Okay. Yeah, that’s all right. I was like at the Kickstarter page (0:36:15) Kev: First of all, I don’t like this name at all. I don’t know if we covered this game, but I don’t like that at all (0:36:18) Al: No. (0:36:23) Al: This is, I don’t know if we’ve seen gameplay before. (0:36:26) Al: This is the first time seeing some of this stuff. (0:36:29) Al: The building of your house is basically (0:36:32) Al: exactly the same as the Spiritfarer building, (0:36:36) Kev: Yup! (0:36:37) Al: which I’m not complaining about because that is good. (0:36:39) Al: I like that. (0:36:40) Al: More of that, please. (0:36:40) Kev: Yeah, that modularity, it’s good. Build your castle. (0:36:44) Al: There are some, shall we say, thirsty characters (0:36:48) Kev: Oh, geez. Good. That guy, I mean, that one guy alone, he’s the worst offender. It’s the first one they show you, too. (0:36:59) Al: There’s yep, it’s uh, you’re gonna this is this is a weed game apparently (0:37:00) Kev: Good heavens. (0:37:06) Kev: Oh my gosh, that… Oh, shit. You know what? Fine. Lean into it. Just full thirst into it and just do it. (0:37:16) Kev: If you’re going to do it, go all in. (0:37:16) Al: Every game has to have a hook, I just don’t think that that is a unique hook. (0:37:22) Kev: True? That’s true. It probably worked for some people, not me, but… (0:37:27) Al: You’re definitely not you. Not you. Have you got to the other characters yet? (0:37:32) Kev: Yeah, I see the other characters like they’re (0:37:36) Kev: Is it this is hmm, this is a problem when everyone does it like everyone loses their (0:37:42) Kev: You know, it’s it’s it’s tough to stick out in the crowd, right? Like these just look generic (0:37:46) Kev: I don’t know the guy who looks like he’s dressing up like an elf (0:37:50) Kev: I don’t know and then why are there two in silhouettes? Why do you have to silhouette those characters? I feel like you shouldn’t (0:37:56) Al: for our secret. We’re going to tell you later. I don’t just like the character designs. The (0:37:58) Kev: Okay (0:38:01) Kev: There’s a girl with the ponytail of the sword (0:38:03) Al: character design’s okay. What I do find a bit weird is not the character designs and not your (0:38:11) Al: playable character design. They’re both fine. What’s weird is them both together in the same (0:38:17) Al: game. They look like very different designs. They look like they’re from different games. (0:38:20) Kev: They do (0:38:22) Kev: Right because yeah, cuz we’re looking at the (0:38:27) Kev: The oh (0:38:29) Kev: Yeah, yeah, you’re right. You’re right. Absolutely cuz these NPCs, you know very (0:38:34) Kev: Detailed sort of designs and and whatnot and you’re a little in the generic side (0:38:35) Al: much more detailed. (0:38:38) Al: I don’t dislike the playable characters design, it just feels, I think it looks bad purely (0:38:40) Kev: You’re right, I agree with it (0:38:44) Kev: Yeah (0:38:48) Al: because of how the other one. (0:38:52) Kev: you’re right it doesn’t you know what the problem is I as far as i’ve seen there’s no like (0:38:57) Kev: portrait art for your character right because yeah yeah yeah because it’s it’s a very different (0:38:59) Al: That’s what it is, it’s the portrait art of course I’m just yeah I’m looking at a bit of one of them in game and yeah they look, they look much more similar to your characters but the portrait art is so much more detail. (0:39:11) Kev: art style as as portrait arts are so frequently done but there’s not one for your your character (0:39:18) Kev: And so I don’t know it’s just I see I get what you’re saying. Absolutely (0:39:22) Kev: Um (0:39:24) Kev: But I mean even in the in-game art style like it’s there’s still a little more detail than your character (0:39:31) Kev: Because like your characters is (0:39:32) Al: It’s the face, there’s no nose. (0:39:33) Kev: Yeah, ooh, that’s a good point, right? There’s no facial features. It’s just like the eyes and the smile (0:39:39) Kev: That’s it on your the player character. You’re right. You’re super right (0:39:42) Al: Anyway, the interesting thing about this, I guess, is the magic stuff, and it does look quite detailed. (0:39:48) Al: So maybe that could be interesting. (0:39:50) Al: And then there’s some combat. (0:39:52) Kev: yeah there’s a lot of stuff going on here there’s an owl with the flower on its head and (0:39:58) Kev: I don’t even know what’s going on with these like skill trees or I don’t know there’s a lot going on here (0:40:03) Al: I think, I think they’re for like making new spells, possibly. (0:40:07) Kev: yeah honestly (0:40:08) Al: Look, I’m gonna, I’m gonna probably play it because I did back on Kickstarter, (0:40:12) Al: like the idiot that I was, but. (0:40:14) Kev: the the magic stuff I think is the bigger draw here that looks pretty interesting slash well done (0:40:19) Al: Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. (0:40:21) Kev: There’s combat (0:40:22) Kev: Magical creatures that looks fun (0:40:26) Kev: It’s wild the data will NPCs just they don’t even live up to that it’s crazy (0:40:33) Al: Next, fields of mystery, I have announced a merch collection. (0:40:37) Al: So, you know, go get your fields of mystery on merch, I guess. (0:40:40) Kev: is it good merch let’s see i’m looking (0:40:45) Al: So they they have a they have they have a pin. (0:40:47) Kev: oh goodness what is that the first the first one is the oh yeah yeah the first one they show you is (0:40:53) Al: They have a pin that you tilt and it changes between (0:40:58) Al: more clothes and fewer clothes. (0:41:00) Kev: Yeah, it’s it’s (0:41:03) Kev: Presumably it’s I don’t know the characters, but that’s datable guy and yet (0:41:07) Kev: You know you tilt it and it’s and now he’s shirtless cuz good heavens (0:41:11) Al: That’s the entire marriage. That’s all the marriage. That’s everything. (0:41:12) Kev: Oh (0:41:14) Kev: My god, it’s all that. I’m not good in the laundry. It’s just (0:41:20) Al: It’s just like the pen from Friends, which Joey had, and you click it, and the women’s clothes (0:41:27) Al: come off, right? Like, what is this? Why is this your only piece of marriage? And it’s two characters. (0:41:28) Kev: Yeah! laughs (0:41:37) Kev: Yes, too! laughs (0:41:38) Al: Two characters, one male, one female. (0:41:41) Kev: Oh, that’s incredible! laughs (0:41:41) Al: What a weird decision. (0:41:47) Kev: Oh, and… (0:41:48) Al: I need to go what I need to go read the comments. (0:41:49) Kev: Beholds in… it’s… why I need to understand how… because… (0:41:55) Al: Oh, people, people like this. (0:41:58) Kev: Oh, the first one’s “Lily, Take My Money.” Oh my goodness, these… oh! (0:42:05) Kev: This is why we’re in this cottagecore world, brain rot, dateable nonsense. (0:42:12) Kev: It’s your fault, commenters. (0:42:15) Kev: And what kills me is Fields of Mystery has that kind of 90s anime art style vibe. (0:42:23) Kev: You could play off that, right, for your merch, but no, we get to… (0:42:28) Kev: Two pins that take off the character’s clothes! (0:42:34) Al: odd decision it’s like they sit down and they go right okay we’re gonna make some merch what’s our (0:42:38) Al: first merch gonna be a poster no no not a poster like a t-shirt no not a t-shirt a pin yeah we (0:42:40) Kev: Apparently according to the commenters. (0:42:47) Al: could do a pin but what if it was a pin where they undress them I just I don’t I don’t (0:42:54) Kev: Ohh, look, alright, look, I mean, I mean, I tried to be delicate, I have kids gloves when I talk about these subjects, but look, this commenter here said it’s straight, it’s the fields of gooning. (0:43:15) Kev: Ohh, good heavens. Worst part is, it looks like it’s gonna be a huge success, so. (0:43:21) Al: Oh probably, probably. I just like what you I can’t imagine. It just it would feels like it would be even if you want it. It feels like embarrassing to own. (0:43:31) Kev: Well… (0:43:33) Al: And the whole point of pins is to show them off, right? (0:43:36) Kev: Yeah? laughs (0:43:38) Kev: You just make sure to always show it off at one angle and never ever move it to the other angle. laughs (0:43:49) Al: All right moving on to a very interesting story, a story of seasons. (0:43:54) Kev: - Yeah, okay, from the worst story to the best. (0:43:59) Al: It’s a little bit of shame we don’t have Cody on to talk about this but let’s go with it anyway. (0:44:04) Al: So story of seasons and well Marvelous, the company that makes, well they’re the European (0:44:12) Al: company that ports and not ports, they translate and publish the story of season games. (0:44:20) Al: I just know that Marvelous is the Japanese version of the company as well, (0:44:24) Al: they are the same company now aren’t they, I think. Anyway it doesn’t matter, (0:44:27) Al: anyway story of seasons company, the European part of it have made a partnership, they started in 2020, (0:44:36) Al: they
Kev and Codey round up all the recent news Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:49: What Have We Been Up To 00:23:52: Game Releases 00:51:09: Game Updates 01:00:01: New Games 01:16:21: Outro Links Research Story 1.0 Little Witch in the Woods 1.0 Slime Rancher 2 1.0 Grimshire Early Access Hotel Galactic Early Access Hotel Galactic Apology Out and About Release Date Out and About Release Delay Ages of Cataria Early Access Release Go-go Town Switch Space Sprouts Update 1 Terra Nil Heatwave Update Snacko 1.1 Update Everdream Valley Family Time DLC Firefly Village Honogurashi No Niwa Galactic Getaway Development Issues Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Kev: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Kevin. I’m not alone today. I (0:00:38) Codey: Oooooh though people be clamorin’ for solo Kev time. (0:00:47) Kev: Like how I push the envelope every time I’m you know, I total line but oh (0:00:53) Codey: I’m gonna be real with you. (0:00:55) Codey: I have not listened to the most recent episode. (0:00:58) Codey: I think I’m still finishing up the Tiny Garden episode. (0:01:01) Kev: That’s okay, that’s fine. That’s fine. I (0:01:04) Codey: So I still have a couple episodes to go, (0:01:06) Codey: but I just know that you rock it every time. (0:01:13) Kev: Am (0:01:14) Kev: Getting an hour plus solo recording. I do that’s mmm. I don’t know if that’s good or bad (0:01:17) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:01:20) Kev: That just so that just shows I’m very well versed in talking to myself (0:01:25) Kev: possibly too much (0:01:27) Codey: - Nah, you got, you’re good at it. (0:01:30) Codey: It’s all good. (0:01:31) Kev: Ah, yeah, okay. Well, hi everyone again. I’m Kevin (0:01:36) Codey: - Yeah, you are and I’m not Kevin, I’m Cody. (0:01:37) Kev: Yeah (0:01:39) Kev: And there you go. There we go (0:01:41) Kev: certifiably not Kevin (0:01:43) Codey: - Yeah. (0:01:43) Kev: And we are here to talk today to talk about cottagecore games. Whoo (0:01:48) Codey: - Oh woo, ow, ow, ow. (0:01:50) Kev: Now you dear listener may be wondering why cottagecore and not more deep diving into the Lord of (0:01:56) Codey: Yeah, we really set we set y’all up for, uh, for some, some shire stuff. But alas, we (0:02:00) Kev: And well (0:02:04) Kev: The month of the Shire (0:02:08) Codey: are here, not for the shire. (0:02:10) Kev: The fake out oh, but you know, you know what I’m gonna add something to the what I’ve been up to (0:02:18) Codey: Oh, okay, cool. (0:02:22) Kev: Okay (0:02:24) Kev: But yeah, we’re all over and we’re here to talk about news because news is built up (0:02:28) Kev: We are spoiler alert (0:02:32) Kev: We’re working on the Shire episode, whatever the tale of the Shire episode, but we needed a weak buffer (0:02:36) Kev: And so Cody and I said alright, we’ll just do some news because there’s plenty of news to talk about with the build-up. So (0:02:40) Codey: Yeah. It sure has been a hot minute. (0:02:45) Kev: Yep (0:02:47) Kev: Okay, so yeah news catch up and we’ll get to that as we do (0:02:50) Kev: But before that Cody tell me what has been going on over over there in Cody World (0:02:56) Codey: to think of it. So I think, uh, during those episodes recording with Johnny, I had not yet (0:03:03) Codey: gone to beetle school. So since that time I went to beetle school, you guys, and I had some, (0:03:11) Codey: it was really fun. Uh, I was up in the Chiricahua’s in Arizona, which is not like my first thought. (0:03:16) Codey: I was like, Oh God, Arizona, not looking forward to this super hot. I don’t do hot. Uh, the Chiricahua’s (0:03:21) Codey: were. Lovely. Um, I want to say it never got above like 70 (0:03:26) Codey: degrees. It was like around 70 degrees, but we could go down (0:03:26) Kev: Ooh, that’s lovely! (0:03:31) Codey: into the desert. And so we went into the desert like at night a (0:03:34) Codey: couple times and we got to see some, some tarantulas and some (0:03:38) Codey: rattlesnakes. And so like we got to, to adventure. We also went (0:03:43) Codey: up higher where it was almost like 11,000 feet elevation, um, (0:03:48) Codey: in the Chiricahuas. And it was, it was actually very cold up (0:03:50) Codey: there. I was like, I should have brought a jacket. Yeah. (0:03:52) Kev: Yeah, yeah, it’s the elevation right cuz Atlanta’s similar where we’re you know down South deep, Georgia (0:03:57) Kev: But what’s its mountain eats high evolution into elevation so it can still get chilly (0:04:01) Codey: Yeah. So that was really fun. I learned a lot about Beatles and I feel a lot more confident now. (0:04:06) Kev: So and and you did you graduate are you certified are you do you have a license to be a beetle now? (0:04:13) Codey: You know, it’s funny because when I went to fly school last summer, they gave me a little certificate. (0:04:18) Kev: Yeah (0:04:21) Codey: We did not get a certificate for Beatles. So I, all I have, all I have is the memories. (0:04:23) Kev: Oh, oh no the Beatles got a step up their game (0:04:31) Codey: Uh, the one thing that is beneficial about this is so fly school was more of an international thing. (0:04:36) Codey: There were like maybe six or seven of us that were from the US, but most of the students were from, um, all over the world. (0:04:43) Codey: But so it is unlikely for me to run into the people that I met from fly school at the conferences that I go to because I mostly just go to United States conferences. (0:04:52) Codey: But all, almost all the beetle people, except for like two people, uh, there was a Canadian and a New Zealander. Um, they were all. (0:05:01) Codey: Uh, citizens of America. And so I will be seeing most of them at the conference that I’m going to in November. Very stoked about that. (0:05:09) Codey: Um, cause you make these connections and then, you know, I, it’s like, Oh man, when am I ever going to see that? (0:05:15) Codey: That really cool Italian from, from fly school or whatever. Um, but yeah, I will see most of these people again. (0:05:16) Kev: - Yeah. (0:05:18) Kev: Yeah. (laughs) (0:05:22) Codey: And it’s just great to start building those connections. Um, so I did that. (0:05:27) Codey: that. (0:05:31) Codey: I have also been playing, I’m still playing honey Grove. (0:05:35) Codey: Um, I have unlocked a new explorer B so I’m now at five, but I think there’s six. (0:05:44) Codey: And I’m just like playing it a little bit at a time. (0:05:47) Codey: I’m working on my specimens as per usual so I will graduate or I will defend in the in December now I have had to. (0:05:54) Kev: Okay, these are real specimens. We switched to not the honeygrove specimens (0:05:56) Codey: Correct. We’ve switched to real life. (0:06:01) Codey: Yeah, into the real world. (0:06:04) Codey: So yeah, working on that, I had almost the entire time we were (0:06:08) Codey: kind of on our little break and we were doing the Lord of the (0:06:11) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:12) Codey: Rings stuff. I actually had people that helped me. So I (0:06:13) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:15) Kev: No. (0:06:16) Codey: wasn’t doing everything by myself, which was amazing. Yeah, (0:06:18) Kev: You had cronies. (0:06:20) Codey: we called him my henchmen. And so I had henchmen and they did (0:06:21) Kev: Yeah, there you go, that’s correct. (0:06:25) Codey: an amazing job and they learned so much and I’m so proud of (0:06:28) Codey: them. But I am like almost back to being solo now and I (0:06:31) Codey: am stressing but I got it. I’ve got this but I had to push back (0:06:36) Codey: my defense just because of how much work so I will be defending (0:06:40) Codey: in December now fingers crossed and then actually like graduating (0:06:45) Codey: and like walking for my doctorate in the spring, which (0:06:46) Kev: Oh, snap. (0:06:48) Codey: I don’t super care about it being like so far out. (0:06:52) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:52) Codey: It’s actually better for a lot of my family members that want (0:06:55) Codey: to come and watch me walk because yeah, so they don’t have (0:06:57) Kev: To plan, yeah. (0:06:58) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:06:59) Codey: to come when it’s like. (0:07:01) Codey: Possibly snowy. (0:07:03) Codey: There’ve been times when my mom wanted to come visit or I wanted to go visit (0:07:06) Codey: home and it like during the June, um, sorry, December, um, January timeframe. (0:07:12) Kev: Yeah. (0:07:13) Codey: Then it just doesn’t work. (0:07:14) Kev: Yeah. (0:07:15) Codey: So it’s better for it to be. (0:07:16) Kev: Yeah. (0:07:16) Kev: I mean, yeah, it’s wild how people who don’t live in snowy areas just absolutely get bodied (0:07:26) Codey: Well, but even even that that I mean even just irrespective of that there is the fact that like (0:07:26) Kev: by snow. (0:07:32) Codey: We will have entire like planes shut down like people will try and travel like the last time I tried to go there (0:07:36) Kev: Oh, that… mmm… that is true. (0:07:41) Codey: I (0:07:42) Codey: Well, what’s the last time? (0:07:43) Codey: I don’t know (0:07:44) Codey: I tried to go home and I was gonna be home for like two and a half weeks and then I ended up having to cut (0:07:48) Codey: It short because my flight got delayed and then I finally got on the plane (0:07:52) Codey: Like it got delayed by like two days and then I finally got (0:07:54) Kev: No, my god, oh my goodness, oh (0:07:56) Codey: Yeah, and then I finally got on the plane. I was on the plane and then there were they had mechanical issues (0:08:00) Codey: And then finally when they can’t mechanical issues (0:08:01) Kev: No (0:08:03) Codey: Cleared up there was that flight was supposed to go to Chicago O’Hare and then O’Hare was getting like three feet of snow (0:08:10) Codey: So they were like, you know, you guys can sit tight (0:08:13) Codey: But we are basically being told to wait and I was just like nope screw it. I just left (0:08:16) Kev: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah (0:08:20) Codey: like (0:08:22) Codey: No (0:08:23) Codey: But yeah, so that kind of stuff happens (0:08:24) Kev: Apologies to Aislinn for triggering her (0:08:26) Codey: especially (0:08:30) Codey: Yeah, it’s I mean, yeah, she knows all about it and (0:08:34) Codey: Yeah going even just like going to Arizona and my stuff got canceled a million times. So (0:08:40) Codey: It’s just a hard time out there right now for sure (0:08:44) Codey: But then my last update is I’m playing Tales of the Shire (0:08:50) Kev: Did you- did you- did you- did- how far are you? (0:08:53) Codey: Um, I don’t… (0:08:56) Codey: Are you playing it too? (0:08:57) Kev: No, I’m not. I’m just curious. (0:08:58) Codey: Oh, okay. (0:08:59) Kev: I- did you have, you know, ballpark estimate? 50%? (0:09:02) Codey: No, no, no, not anywhere near that. (0:09:03) Kev: Okay. (0:09:04) Codey: I’m still in the same… (0:09:05) Kev: There you go. (0:09:06) Codey: I’m still in the first, like… (0:09:08) Codey: I think you start in summer. (0:09:10) Kev: Okay. (0:09:10) Codey: And I’m still in summer. (0:09:11) Kev: Mmm, ahh. (0:09:12) Codey: Um, but I feel like I’m getting… (0:09:18) Codey: I’m, like, going at a good clip. (0:09:19) Codey: I just was gone for a long time. (0:09:22) Codey: And then now that I’m back, (0:09:23) Codey: I’ve been so busy with, like, getting caught up with work. (0:09:24) Kev: Yeah. (0:09:26) Codey: Visiting and stuff, and so, yeah. (0:09:27) Kev: Ahh, alright, alright. (0:09:29) Codey: Uh, well, so that’s what I’ve been up to. (0:09:30) Kev: Well, uh… (0:09:31) Codey: What have you been up to, Kev? (0:09:32) Kev: Well, I was just gonna say, I’m waiting to hear when you finally defeat Sauron, um, Tails of the Shire, but, uh… (0:09:38) Kev: But, hahaha, but, uh… (0:09:40) Codey: That is, that is interesting. (0:09:42) Codey: I’m at the point, um, I don’t know if… (0:09:44) Codey: So this is not a spoiler. (0:09:45) Codey: I don’t know if “Tales of the Shire” is before or after. (0:09:49) Codey: So, um, yeah, I’m not entirely sure. (0:09:53) Codey: It is unclear to me at this, at this stage. (0:09:56) Kev: What if you invite Sauron to tea and you don’t even know it? (0:09:56) Codey: I… (0:09:59) Kev: It could happen. (0:10:00) Codey: You know what? (0:10:01) Codey: It could happen. (0:10:07) Kev: That’s good stuff. (0:10:09) Kev: Okay, well, this past week I’ve been slammed by work. (0:10:13) Kev: I did the coming of the office on, (0:10:15) Kev: I have to come into the office on Saturday yesterday (0:10:18) Kev: ‘cause it’s that bad. (0:10:20) Kev: But other than that, the week before wasn’t as bad. (0:10:26) Kev: There was actually an office party dinner thing (0:10:30) Kev: where I tried to karaoke for the first time. (0:10:32) Codey: Ooh, did you like, did you enjoy it? (0:10:34) Kev: Oh yeah, so, okay. (0:10:36) Kev: I mean, first of all, I am into music, period. (0:10:39) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:10:41) Kev: I am the one, first one on and last one off, (0:10:44) Kev: generally the dance floor. (0:10:46) Kev: Now, this wasn’t a dance floor, (0:10:48) Kev: even though I was moving a bit. (0:10:50) Kev: But, I mean, as evidenced by here, this endeavor, (0:10:54) Kev: I have no problem scre- (0:10:56) Kev: screaming things into a microphone so karaoke was to fit like a glove (0:11:01) Kev: um I I did many songs I don’t remember all of it I know I did um at first they (0:11:09) Kev: did like a curated list cuz they want to stay professionally yada yada but by the (0:11:14) Kev: end of it we’re just doing whatever I know I did the mean canto Columbia mean (0:11:19) Kev: canto from the Disney movie in canto I sung in Spanish build me up buttercup (0:11:22) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:11:26) Kev: there um oh my girl by the temptations that was a good one so on and so forth (0:11:33) Kev: anyways I did karaoke stay tuned will that show up on a solo ops or maybe I (0:11:38) Codey: Ooh, like you would do karaoke on a solo episode. (0:11:43) Kev: cannot be stopped you do will I have a new theme song written for the heart (0:11:48) Kev: season maybe yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah (0:11:50) Codey: I might, you know what, if ever we’re going to record again, I might have to, you know, I’m sick. (0:11:56) Kev: I mean will yeah oh my gosh I’ll should do one of those patreon goals you know (0:11:58) Codey: I want to hear the karaoke. (0:12:04) Codey: That would, you know what, that would be fun, having a greenhouse of karaoke. (0:12:08) Codey: I’m going to put that on there. I have green, oh my gosh, yeah, I have three greenhouses with (0:12:16) Kev: yeah we need to get that we got it we got (0:12:19) Codey: Kev on a sticky note on my laptop and it’s the Sonic 3 movie, Bluey and now karaoke. (0:12:26) Kev: all those are all excellent topics I love blue so I don’t watch blue in a (0:12:27) Codey: I know. (0:12:30) Kev: minute I’m not seeing all the way to something we’ll get there um okay but (0:12:36) Kev: yes karaoke so I carry okie on unabashedly and and yeah um okay game (0:12:44) Kev: stuff though um okay oh okay DK bonanza came out I do not have a switch to my (0:12:50) Kev: brother does I do not so I’ve not played it but (0:12:56) Kev: I do play Tetris 99 and they do events every now and then they’re the kind of (0:12:58) Codey: - Okay, yep. (0:13:03) Kev: always under the radar but I pick up on them because I’m a fiend for Tetris (0:13:07) Kev: DK Bonanza had an event where they put you know a special skin on the Tetris (0:13:12) Kev: screen the blocks and and they play music from the game and so on and so (0:13:17) Kev: forth it was great it’s fantastic music was stellar absolutely stellar so much (0:13:24) Kev: So that like a day or two after. (0:13:26) Kev: I was like, man, I want more of that DK Bonanza music in my veins. (0:13:30) Kev: So I loaded up on the done, you know, YouTube or whatever. (0:13:34) Kev: And then I saw spoilers. (0:13:35) Kev: I didn’t think I could ever see spoilers for a Donkey Kong game, but musical spoilers. (0:13:42) Kev: Which is wild that one, there were spoilers in the Donkey Kong game, but there are. (0:13:47) Kev: And two, that I was spoiled by the soundtrack. (0:13:49) Codey: by this soundtrack done dirty (0:13:53) Kev: so I uh you know (0:13:56) Kev: I haven’t played it but I will say that’s one of the greatest games ever (0:14:00) Kev: from what I’ve seen that will happen (0:14:03) Kev: oh goodness but um so yeah the DK bonanza it’s already good thumbs up from (0:14:10) Kev: you without playing it oh okay oh you know here’s another getting on game (0:14:16) Kev: thing and hey hey here we go people I’m still keeping it in theme I have been (0:14:21) Kev: watching Rings of Power on the Prime Video. (0:14:23) Codey: Ooooh. (0:14:26) Kev: Umm, that’s the Lord of the Rings the prequel series question mark? (0:14:29) Codey: Yeah, it’s it’s a prequel series. (0:14:30) Kev: I g- (0:14:32) Kev: Yeah, it is. I mean like, you know, it’s big open world of Tolkien lore, whatever, but- (0:14:38) Kev: But yes, it happens before the Lord of the Rings. (0:14:40) Kev: Umm… (0:14:41) Kev: I- I- Are you familiar with this at all, Cody? (0:14:44) Codey: unfortunately. Unfortunately, I wish I could get those hours back. No, so it is beautiful. (0:14:47) Kev: Oh, you are. (0:14:48) Kev: Th- That’s unfortunately you are. (0:14:56) Kev: That is all right. Oh no, uh-huh (0:15:00) Codey: It’s beautiful, but they only got rights to like some of the content. And so they just had to like, (0:15:08) Codey: make stuff up, and I hate it. Um. (0:15:09) Kev: Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard I (0:15:15) Codey: So without getting too, like, too nerdy, but this is still going to be fairly nerdy. And I could be (0:15:23) Codey: wrong, but this is kind of how I remember it. So Galadriel’s brothers were like fighting. They were (0:15:32) Codey: trying to get revenge on, I think Sauron, because he killed someone who was related to them in the (0:15:38) Codey: war of the, like, when they were trying to fight over the Silmarils. And so they basically like, killed. (0:15:44) Codey: They ended up, like, almost killing each other because they were just so, like, embroiled in this (0:15:47) Kev: - Yeah. (0:15:49) Codey: drama. And Galadriel, like, is known in the Silmarillion to have been like, I don’t want to (0:15:56) Codey: take part of my brother’s war, or my brother’s wars, or whatever. And then the Rings of Power (0:15:58) Kev: Okay, yeah (0:16:02) Codey: is all her taking part in her brother’s wars. And I’m like, no! So that was right away. I was like, (0:16:04) Kev: It is (0:16:08) Kev: Oh (0:16:12) Codey: Oh, I’m grumpy because she was. (0:16:13) Kev: That’s incredible (0:16:14) Codey: She was supposed to be like, not caring. (0:16:18) Codey: And she was just like, well, screw you guys. (0:16:20) Codey: I’m going to go live in the woods and. (0:16:21) Kev: I’m going to go in sight more war. Oh (0:16:24) Codey: Yeah, exactly. (0:16:25) Codey: And so, but I get they had to do things differently and like. (0:16:28) Kev: That’s that’s amazing (0:16:30) Kev: So I guess I have the privilege of being a normie like I have watched Florida the Rings in the Hobbit (0:16:34) Codey: Yeah. (0:16:35) Kev: But I’m I’m not deep in there. It’s it’s it’s I’ve struggled for it just to stick with me (0:16:40) Codey: Well, and there’s just like so much like, who is so wrong? (0:16:43) Kev: Yeah (0:16:45) Kev: Yes (0:16:45) Codey: Are we all Sauron? (0:16:48) Codey: Like, there’s a Sauron in all of us. (0:16:48) Kev: Maybe that maybe if we believe it (0:16:50) Codey: And I like the whole time and I’m just like, okay, I’m, I’m done with this. (0:16:54) Codey: Like, I, uh, (0:16:58) Kev: He does (0:17:00) Kev: That is probably (0:17:02) Kev: like one of the most (0:17:04) Kev: entertaining but in a bad kind of way like he’s very (0:17:08) Kev: Over the top almost like I mean not not ridiculously so but compared to the the movies, right? (0:17:13) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:17:14) Kev: Sauron is a you know more of a force. He’s not a guy right? (0:17:17) Kev: He’s he is the giant eyeball in the sky and this overwhelming presence and here he’s he compared to that (0:17:23) Kev: He feels like a mustache twirling, you know, ooh spooky bit (0:17:26) Codey: Yeah, yeah. (0:17:29) Kev: But that’s it. I mean I’ve been enjoying it. I don’t know all the lore (0:17:32) Kev: I point to the screen when I know a thing but then that’s it (0:17:36) Kev: It’s the productions. Well done. It’s good production better production than the Hobbit (0:17:40) Codey: Yeah, it’s gorgeous. (0:17:41) Codey: It is beautiful and like, but I, (0:17:44) Codey: so I don’t think I’ve watched past the first season. (0:17:46) Codey: I don’t know how much there is. (0:17:48) Kev: There’s three two and they’re working on (0:17:51) Codey: Okay, I didn’t watch past the first one (0:17:53) Codey: because I just, I need to like take off my snooty hat, (0:17:58) Kev: - Yeah. (0:17:59) Codey: you know, and just let things be different and stuff. (0:18:02) Codey: and I just have yet to… (0:18:05) Codey: get the balls to do that, I guess, I don’t know. (0:18:08) Kev: Yeah, it’s hmm. I will I will say again. I say this as a very (0:18:14) Kev: novice casual Lord of the Rings enjoyer (0:18:16) Kev: I feel like they’re really trying hard to tie it to the Lord of the Rings. Yeah, you know the movies right because like (0:18:20) Codey: Yeah, but they’re like literally not supposed to. (0:18:24) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I know because there’s the the hobbits. They’re not even called hobbits (0:18:28) Kev: I forget anyways there are two hobbits and it’s very clearly trying to evoke Sam and Frodo even though they’re not and but no (0:18:37) Kev: Whatever (0:18:38) Kev: It’s fine. I’m enjoying it. Whatever. There you go (0:18:38) Codey: Yep, wasn’t my favorite. It’s I it is enjoyable, especially I think if you have not seen. Yeah, (0:18:45) Kev: The less you know the less, you know with the little tuning star (0:18:47) Codey: the last you know. But like what before it was coming up, I was like, so because I knew it was (0:18:52) Codey: coming. So I read that I was like, I’m gonna read the Silmarillion and then I can have like a little (0:18:53) Kev: Yeah (0:18:56) Codey: bit of idea and I really just shouldn’t have because it ruined it for me. Yep. (0:18:59) Kev: You know too much (0:19:01) Kev: You’re you’re into deep (0:19:03) Kev: Yeah, but I mean it’s it’s fine like it it’s it’s there are worse things to watch (0:19:08) Codey: Yeah, and I know, no, no, dude, that third one, this is me trying not to yell right now. (0:19:09) Kev: Arguably some of the Hobbit movies. Mm-hmm. That third one’s rough. I’m just sorry (0:19:20) Codey: That third one is rough for people because they don’t watch the extended edition. (0:19:25) Kev: Yeah (0:19:27) Codey: You got to watch all of it. (0:19:28) Kev: Okay, you know what that’s probably fair just that’s oh (0:19:31) Codey: There’s so much that’s like cut out that makes it seem like not then you’re like, (0:19:34) Kev: I believe it (0:19:37) Codey: why is he why is this (0:19:38) Codey: so (0:19:39) Kev: You (0:19:40) Kev: That is correct. That is my reaction to many things in that movie is someone who’s not seen the extended cut (0:19:46) Codey: You gotta see the extended come if you if you believe if you think the Hobbit movies are bad come come (0:19:47) Kev: Okay (0:19:51) Codey: We’ll go watch if you and you haven’t seen the extended and you haven’t seen the extended editions (0:19:52) Kev: Go listen to the episode (0:19:56) Codey: Go watch them and then come back to me (0:19:59) Kev: Okay, we have a greenhouse episode on the hobbit I have not listened to it to be fair (0:20:02) Codey: We do (0:20:06) Codey: We do we had fun with those for sure (0:20:07) Kev: But I will (0:20:08) Kev: Yeah, I bet (0:20:10) Codey: When we were recording them, we were like, I don’t know if I was gonna cut half of this or not (0:20:14) Kev: As Al pointed out those greenhouse discussions sparked more discussion in the slack than any other episode of anything (0:20:16) Codey: You (0:20:19) Codey: Yeah, maybe we just need to be let loose (0:20:29) Kev: Okay, um, but yeah, okay now they all right one more thing um for me um the big one (0:20:36) Kev: Uh, Drumroll, please unicorn overla- (0:20:38) Kev: Oh Lord, credits hit today baby! (0:20:41) Codey: Ooh! (0:20:43) Kev: Ooh, um, so I did, like, everything, to be fair, right? (0:20:43) Codey: How many hours is that? (0:20:48) Kev: ‘Cause they’re- they’re very clear, like, here’s the main missions, here’s a bunch of side missions, and you don’t- they’re optional. (0:20:54) Kev: Uh, I did it all, I clocked in at about 110 hours, I think it was. (0:21:00) Kev: Um, and yeah- (0:21:04) Kev: So, I mean, overall thumbs up, my comments are still- (0:21:07) Kev: It’s a– (0:21:08) Kev: Consistent game, I’ll say that. (0:21:10) Kev: Like it’s– (0:21:12) Kev: It’s the strategy gameplay. The story is nothing to write home about. It’s straightforward fantasy (0:21:21) Kev: armies and whatnot. (0:21:23) Kev: Political royalty, yada, yada. (0:21:26) Kev: So it’s enjoyable. It’s comfort food for me. So I enjoy it. Like it’s quality. Don’t get me wrong. (0:21:29) Codey: Yeah. (0:21:32) Kev: It’s not bad, but it just hits the spot for me. (0:21:36) Kev: My biggest complaint and this is gonna sound weird cuz I (0:21:39) Kev: Just said I clocked in 110 hours (0:21:41) Kev: it’s it’s not enough they’re missing and and (0:21:48) Kev: Specifically the end I think I mentioned this on a previous episode, but (0:21:52) Kev: As it came out the developers ran out of money towards the end and you can feel it you can feel it (0:22:00) Kev: So the like I said, there’s main missions, right? And as you beat them, you know (0:22:04) Kev: You’ll not you progress towards the final mission in the (0:22:09) Kev: ultimate main mission you unlock you get one new character a new class that you’ve never had before (0:22:16) Codey: Okay. (0:22:17) Kev: Which in you know these kind of strategy games, that’s a big deal like you don’t get any time to use your new toy basically (0:22:23) Codey: Mm hmm. (0:22:24) Codey: Yeah. (0:22:24) Kev: Congrats, you finally got the last character go beat the game (0:22:29) Kev: Now that’s it there is a little post game epilogue that I can do and whatnot (0:22:35) Kev: And it is still overall very big. It has a lot of (0:22:39) Kev: Variations and and just little things. There’s a couple of different endings you can do (0:22:45) Kev: There’s relationships and and and support conversations that are fun (0:22:52) Kev: But but yeah overall it’s great (0:22:56) Kev: one of the (0:22:58) Kev: Interesting things to get the true the best ending you have to get hitched you have to find a partner (0:23:02) Codey: Mmm. Boo. (0:23:04) Kev: Which is yeah (0:23:07) Kev: Yeah, they try to play it up in the (0:23:08) Kev: it’s it’s a little it’s a little forced a little you know shoehorned in but but (0:23:15) Kev: whatever I still I still have a lot of fun I’m very happy I want more I want (0:23:21) Kev: unicorn overlord 2 now please but yeah just thumbs up overall and that game (0:23:28) Kev: frequently goes on sale so if you have any interest in strategy you know fantasy (0:23:33) Kev: stuff go for it it’s good but okay and hey I hit credits on the game that (0:23:38) Kev: been often for me and at least not lately so yeah all right okay so that’s (0:23:43) Kev: uh that’s that’s stuff we’ve been up to whoo all right let’s get into news (0:23:50) Kev: there’s a lot of it all right we’re gonna start off with the game about Cody (0:23:56) Kev: research story in honor of her almost getting done so they came out with 1.0 (0:24:02) Kev: that is out now I don’t know when it would July it’s been (0:24:09) Kev: for a while more than now yep exactly (0:24:10) Codey: Well, yeah news catch-up episode everybody (0:24:15) Codey: Yeah, so this uh, this adds the epilogue the conclusion some end credits, you know proposals and marriage (0:24:22) Codey: One thing that I super enjoy about this is they have 10 marriage candidates and the proposals can either be player (0:24:29) Codey: initiated or NPC initiated (0:24:32) Kev: Oh, that’s… Oh my gosh! Has that been done before? (0:24:34) Codey: So I (0:24:37) Kev: Oh… (0:24:37) Codey: I don’t know, but I kind of like that where you’re. (0:24:40) Codey: Spend in time with an NPC and then suddenly you just hit a cut scene and they’re proposing to you like I think that’s awesome. (0:24:49) Kev: pretty good that’s pretty like you know obviously well documented lamenting of (0:24:54) Kev: the relationship mechanic or whatever but if you’re gonna do it put in some (0:24:57) Codey: Right. (0:24:59) Kev: effort do something new that’s good I like that that’s good (0:25:01) Codey: Yeah. (0:25:03) Codey: Definitely like that. (0:25:05) Codey: Give more to say about that. (0:25:07) Kev: no just with two things one that makes you think of unicorn oh Lord at one one (0:25:12) Kev: quick shout out just I remembered to get the true ending you have to have your (0:25:16) Kev: Which I think this is actually kind of a thumbs (0:25:19) Kev: up for me. You have to have whoever your selected partner is in your party for the final fight to get the true ending, which I think is kind of nice. (0:25:28) Kev: But yeah, no, just overall, I think that’s great. Having the other person initiate it, that’s great. (0:25:34) Kev: Yeah, no, I’m still kind of on the fence of it being included in the game at all, but here we are, and they did work, so I’ll give them props for that. (0:25:45) Codey: Um, yeah, so that was cool. (0:25:47) Codey: They also had some quality of life adjustments. (0:25:50) Codey: Um, so that brings the game to its 1.0, which is great. (0:25:53) Codey: And the current price is 1399. (0:25:55) Codey: They had it on sale for 60% off, I believe, um, for a hot minute. (0:26:00) Codey: But I think by the time this comes out, it’s already gone. (0:26:03) Codey: So, um, yeah, so, but that’s fine. (0:26:04) Kev: store. Yeah, it’s really not. And that’s, that’s fine. Yeah, the kind I almost feel bad that (0:26:07) Codey: 1399 is nothing. (0:26:08) Codey: Um, on August 28th, they’re going to increase it to 1499. (0:26:15) Codey: Just still feel nothing. (0:26:17) Codey: So you guys. (0:26:21) Kev: they said we, we are not charging, we’re not making money, they, they do deserve that money. (0:26:26) Codey: Yeah, so that was cool. (0:26:26) Kev: So good for them. (0:26:30) Codey: And then the final thing, they had a couple hints (0:26:34) Codey: of what they’re working on next. (0:26:35) Codey: And they are going to do Mac ports and Linux ports. (0:26:41) Codey: But Mac– ooh, very excited about that. (0:26:43) Kev: - Yeah, woo! (0:26:48) Codey: I just never touch my PC anymore. (0:26:50) Kev: laughs I… (0:26:52) Codey: So we’re going to move it up. (0:26:54) Codey: We’re supposed to move it up here this week. (0:26:56) Codey: Um, but I’m also like very busy right now. (0:26:59) Codey: So there’s no way I’m going to play it soon, but. (0:27:02) Kev: Yeah, I have never owned an Apple product. No, that’s not true. I had an iPad or iPod. (0:27:08) Codey: iPod. (0:27:08) Kev: Yeah, that’s an iPod, yes. Back in the day, like the Mini, the Nano, whatever. That’s it. (0:27:14) Kev: But hey, good for you people. Man, those romancibles, they are pretty people. (0:27:18) Codey: - Yeah. (0:27:23) Codey: That’s pretty, yeah. (0:27:25) Codey: They, yeah. (0:27:26) Kev: Sparkles all over. Somebody has birds in there. Good for them. (0:27:30) Codey: Yep. (0:27:32) Kev: All right. Yeah, good for your research story. I do think it is worth celebrating any of these games (0:27:39) Kev: because we’ve seen them in the docket so long, hit 1.0. So good for you. Yeah, (0:27:44) Kev: and it feels like a 1.0 release. Speaking of 1.0s, a little witch in the woods. (0:27:53) Kev: September 4th, they’re dropping the 1.0. And yeah, let’s hear it. (0:28:02) Kev: Okay, right now it’s $16. That is comparable to the other ones. Oh man, these people, (0:28:11) Kev: like, I feel weird saying it. I just feel bad for these devs who work so hard. (0:28:15) Kev: They could probably go up to $19.99. I’m just saying. No one’s gonna weep over the extra (0:28:17) Codey: Yeah, like that’s not going to be that’s not going to break the bank. (0:28:21) Kev: five bucks. I’m just saying. No, it’s not. They deserve a 20. I’m just saying. Anyways, (0:28:30) Kev: So yeah, it’s dropped (0:28:32) Kev: September 4th, it’s you know, all sorts of new features new areas the villager the village with new villagers stories (0:28:41) Kev: quality of life, etc, etc (0:28:44) Kev: so yeah, that’s (0:28:46) Kev: Yeah, good for them. That’ll be you know more less than a month when this drops (0:28:54) Kev: So yeah, I’m looking forward to that. Yeah, I don’t know how do we (0:29:00) Kev: I’m just thinking, how do I feel about the- (0:29:02) Kev: It does look very cute. I like the art style a lot. Will I play this? I don’t know, maybe. (0:29:06) Codey: Yeah, I’m, I don’t know how I feel bad, but I’m, I’m, I’m done with witches, man. I’ve. (0:29:12) Kev: It it has been used exhaustively in this space hasn’t it? (0:29:19) Kev: Yeah (0:29:20) Kev: But but hey (0:29:23) Kev: Well, let’s say here wait one second. Well, you know what? Let’s uh, oh gosh (0:29:30) Kev: No, never mind. Okay. Okay. Um, alright, let’s talk about (0:29:34) Kev: another release coming out (0:29:36) Kev: Slime Rancher 2 September 23rd that is another 1.0. It’s (0:29:42) Kev: Coming out on (0:29:44) Kev: Everything pretty much nuts. Not true steam epic games PS. I can’t believe the epic game store still running (0:29:50) Codey: Yep. Yep. (0:29:50) Kev: PS 5 and Xbox series x slash x s whatever that whatever the current letter is not switch not switch - (0:29:59) Kev: but (0:30:01) Kev: Yeah, it’s coming out. It looks (0:30:04) Kev: Chaotic and fun. It’s it’s weird. We don’t talk about first-person shooters on this on this show much (0:30:10) Kev: But yeah, here we go with you (0:30:12) Kev: Vacuum up or launch the slimes (0:30:15) Kev: Yeah, I don’t know the well. I didn’t play the first one. I will probably not play. There’s nothing wrong with it (0:30:21) Kev: I’m just busy (0:30:22) Codey: Yeah, not not super for me either. But I know some people (0:30:26) Codey: are really excited about it. So very happy for them that it is (0:30:28) Kev: Yeah, no it (0:30:30) Codey: coming out in a month and a half. (0:30:32) Kev: It looks like a quality game. I will say that so good for you so I’m rancher to have people (0:30:38) Kev: Alright, now let’s keep rolling. (0:30:43) Kev: Ok, we’re backing off from the releases. (0:30:46) Kev: Let’s go now to our bread and butter on the show, Early Access and Betas. (0:30:52) Kev: Early Access for the game called Grimshire. (0:30:58) Kev: It is officially out now. (0:31:02) Kev: Let’s see here. (0:31:04) Kev: Here, you wrote some notes, take it away Cody. (0:31:06) Codey: - Yeah, so I wrote some notes (0:31:08) Codey: because I hadn’t really heard about this game (0:31:10) Codey: and I was like, what, this is Grimshire? (0:31:14) Codey: But this is a cozy game podcast, (0:31:16) Codey: like Cottagecore game podcast, what? (0:31:18) Codey: And so I went and looked at it and it is, it’s cute. (0:31:22) Codey: It reminds me, like the character models (0:31:25) Codey: remind me a lot of Redwall. (0:31:28) Codey: Did you ever read the Redwall books? (0:31:30) Kev: Yeah yo, so yeah, this is Redwall is like one of my favorite fantasy variants. (0:31:37) Kev: I don’t know how to describe that, but like, because anytime you, the critter, it’s like anthropomorphic critters and little animals. (0:31:44) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:31:45) Kev: I’m, I’m down like 10, I’m not going to lie. (0:31:50) Kev: That’s kind of what got me into magic. (0:31:52) Kev: They released a set called bloom burrow, which was Redwall s magic cards. (0:31:52) Codey: [LAUGHS] Yeah. (0:31:57) Kev: and it kind of caught my eye. (0:32:00) Kev: So yes, I love Redwall very much. (0:32:02) Codey: Yeah, so it reminds me of that and then, um, I kind of read more about it. (0:32:07) Codey: They said, quote, we’ve been working on this cozy but grim little world for the past three (0:32:11) Codey: years. (0:32:12) Codey: And I was like, cozy but grim? (0:32:16) Codey: Like how can something be cozy and grim at the same time? (0:32:20) Codey: But I have also been recently watching Little House on the Prairie. (0:32:24) Kev: Oh! Oh! That is, how should I put this? One of the Soria family staples. We’ve watched the series at least four times in the entirety! (0:32:27) Codey: Did you ever watch that show? (0:32:33) Codey: Okay. (0:32:38) Codey: Okay cool. (0:32:39) Codey: Yeah, so I would also describe that as cozy but grim. (0:32:44) Kev: Every episode of Tragedy, you can’t. (0:32:46) Codey: Every single episode. (0:32:48) Codey: And I was like texting Jeff cause I was watching them and I would just text him suddenly and (0:32:53) Codey: be like, she got a pet raccoon and then they thought the raccoon had rabies. (0:32:56) Kev: Oh, no, that episode! (0:32:59) Codey: And then he was like literally about to shoot the dog. (0:33:02) Codey: And the raccoon also bit Laura. (0:33:04) Codey: So if the dog got rabies, she was going to have rabies and then it was. (0:33:08) Codey: And I’m just like, I’m like sobbing, just tears streaming down my face. (0:33:12) Kev: The raccoon ups that one’s intense. Oh my gosh (0:33:12) Codey: And he was just, that was intense. (0:33:15) Codey: This is first season, like so many things happened in the first season. (0:33:19) Codey: And I’m like, Oh yeah, I would have described that also as cozy, but grim. (0:33:23) Kev: Yeah (0:33:23) Codey: So I get it. (0:33:26) Kev: Yeah (0:33:27) Kev: But yeah, and I mean if you watch the trailer for Grimshire here like yeah, it’s it’s pretty grim like towards the end (0:33:34) Kev: You see like the story is about (0:33:37) Codey: plague (0:33:37) Kev: Some survival stuff. There is a pyre. There’s a funeral pyre (0:33:39) Codey: Yeah (0:33:41) Codey: Yeah, cuz there’s plague there’s plague in the area so which is also a little house of the food (0:33:42) Kev: And people wondering if they’re gonna die (0:33:45) Kev: Yeah (0:33:48) Kev: More than multiple (0:33:49) Codey: More than one. Oh, no (0:33:51) Codey: Well, yeah (0:33:52) Codey: I guess cuz there I just they just had a typhus outbreak in this one and it didn’t make I know one of them (0:33:54) Kev: Yeah (0:33:57) Codey: Makes the sister go blind anyway (0:34:01) Codey: So they said quote in early access you can play throughout year one (0:34:04) Codey: but your file will be stuck on winter 28th once you get there. (0:34:07) Codey: The day keeps repeating after you go to bed, (0:34:09) Codey: and we will be adding more content and story in the future. (0:34:11) Codey: So just a heads up, if this is something (0:34:13) Codey: that you were going to think about doing, (0:34:16) Codey: then you’re not going to be able to go further than that. (0:34:20) Codey: And they also said that their old demo save files (0:34:24) Codey: won’t carry over into the full game. (0:34:27) Codey: So if there are any new demo– (0:34:32) Codey: if you restart a new demo now in the early access, (0:34:37) Codey: that will be compatible with the full game. (0:34:39) Codey: But if you’ve played the demo before, (0:34:43) Codey: you will have to start over. (0:34:45) Codey: Just a heads up. (0:34:46) Kev: That’s kind of a bummer (0:34:48) Codey: I get that it happens sometimes, though. (0:34:49) Kev: Yeah, I get it too. I’m just saying like yeah, you know (0:34:52) Kev: I I’m interested in this game because it’s got the red wall thing that the dark angle (0:34:57) Kev: I mean, I’m intrigued but uh, but I probably will wait till I know when you know, I can keep a save or whatever (0:35:02) Codey: Yep, and so they also say that they’re going to add more stuff as they head to 1.0. (0:35:04) Kev: Yeah (0:35:10) Codey: This is actually a common theme of a lot of what we’re talking about today. (0:35:15) Codey: They are going to add more, and they have a little bit of a roadmap, but there are no (0:35:19) Codey: dates on that roadmap. (0:35:21) Codey: So just letting you know what’s coming up, but they don’t have any expected like, “Oh, (0:35:28) Codey: we’re expecting this to be done at this time and this to be done at this time,” which is (0:35:30) Kev: Yeah, yeah, that that’s fine (0:35:31) Codey: It’s probably realistic. (0:35:32) Codey: Uhm, just feels a little. (0:35:36) Kev: Okay, well hey you I’m I’m definitely have my eye on Grimshire though all things said maybe not right now, but oh, but yeah (0:35:45) Kev: Okay (0:35:46) Kev: Let’s see what else next up another early access (0:35:50) Kev: Hotel galactic (0:35:53) Kev: Early oh my gosh $35. That’s kind of a it’s premium. That’s some premium pricing (0:35:56) Codey: I know, right? (0:36:00) Codey: Well, and there was drama associated with it. (0:36:00) Kev: Oh (0:36:05) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:36:06) Codey: So they released the early access on July 24. (0:36:12) Codey: And in that initial post, they said (0:36:14) Codey: that in the weeks following the release, (0:36:17) Codey: they wanted feedback. (0:36:20) Codey: Again, they had a projected roadmap, (0:36:23) Codey: but I didn’t have dates on it. (0:36:24) Codey: Literally two days later. (0:36:26) Codey: They posed another thing on Steam that’s basically like oops. (0:36:30) Codey: We’re sorry for the state of the game. (0:36:33) Codey: Um, and they say, quote, our rundown hotel has not yet been restored to its future. (0:36:38) Codey: Glory. (0:36:38) Codey: We are fully aware of that. (0:36:40) Codey: And we sincerely apologize that our early access build did not (0:36:44) Codey: meet all of your expectations. (0:36:46) Codey: We made a mistake and we take full responsibility. (0:36:49) Codey: Um, as part of like this, that’s end quote, as part of this, uh, mistake, (0:36:54) Codey: quote unquote (0:36:56) Codey: They are adding compensation strategies so they’re going to find a way to compensate people who have already paid for this early access. (0:37:04) Codey: Kevin, how do you feel about that? (0:37:06) Kev: Oh, okay. Um, all right. First off, I’m gonna take one step back here. First of all, what is the game cuz let’s write that that’s gonna I think that illustrates expectations. It’s a clearly studio Ghibli specifically spirited away inspired game of how should I put this spirit favor esque of the, you know, the side view with the the rooms that you hop around that you’re building up a hotel that then and so yeah, you’re kind of (0:37:10) Codey: - Mm-hmm, right, so… (0:37:36) Kev: expanding the hotel, maintaining guests, etc, etc. We’ve talked about it before I just I just can’t remember anyway, so that’s the game. And so now, okay, before any drama $35 feels like a decent chunk of change for this game, considering spirit fair is noticeably not $35. Um, so you know, the expected prices set expectations, right? That’s like the number one thing in in gaming, (0:38:06) Kev: marketing, whatever. (0:38:09) Kev: So, you know, dropping $35 on the city, it better be good. Now, early when I play an early access, or, you know, I hear about it, I expect things to be buggy, right? That’s kind of a big part of the point, right? betas and play testing all that good stuff. So how bad was this? I can’t even imagine how bad this was to demand or (0:38:36) Kev: to elicit an apology. (0:38:38) Codey: Yeah, I think that that’s like my biggest issue and why I like pulled this question out because (0:38:44) Codey: if I am playing something that’s in early access I’m (0:38:47) Codey: expecting bugs like even if it’s game-breaking bugs like even if it is (0:38:51) Codey: something like they put this out two days later if there was if there were (0:38:57) Codey: bugs that made the game unplayable and it was then like two weeks later and they (0:39:02) Codey: hadn’t responded yeah compensate them like unless you had a friggin family (0:39:08) Codey: and you didn’t have any way to be working on the game at that time but (0:39:11) Codey: literally two days after full release I think that’s par for the course for a (0:39:17) Codey: game that is as ambitious as this game so personally I’d be like like if I were (0:39:25) Codey: one of the people who kick-started it or whatever I’d be like no no don’t worry (0:39:28) Codey: about reimbursing me just like take your time keep doing what you’re doing like (0:39:32) Codey: here’s more feedback and give feedback because they literally won’t need (0:39:36) Kev: Sure, sure. Well, okay. I think there’s two things one. There’s a compensation. I don’t think then it’s gonna be necessarily monetarily (0:39:43) Kev: That could just be you know in game item status, whatever something a bonus of some kind (0:39:50) Kev: That’s what I expect (0:39:53) Kev: But (0:39:54) Kev: But yeah, I like I agree with you (0:39:58) Kev: Like I don’t know maybe it’s just this developer. Maybe they’re just very sensitive about the (0:40:04) Kev: the responses, it could be, I don’t know, or. (0:40:06) Kev: Maybe it was just that bad. (0:40:09) Kev: I don’t know where this lands. (0:40:10) Codey: Okay, so they have, they do have some of the things, they explain what some of the bugs (0:40:16) Codey: were that were coming up. And I mean, some of them are like, you know, game like breaking (0:40:23) Codey: down or requests being blocked, cooking recipes not working, in game time, freezing stuff (0:40:29) Codey: like that. But my favorite too, was that the workers are refusing to perform tasks. And (0:40:33) Kev: Yeah, yeah, no, yeah, yeah, like, I mean, all right, you know what, I think that the (0:40:37) Codey: You know what? (0:40:38) Codey: Good for them. (0:40:40) Codey: Let them unionize. (0:40:40) Codey: Like that is a bug that if that was happening, I would cackle. (0:40:46) Codey: I would be laughing so hard and I would message them and be like, (0:40:48) Codey: Hey, this is happening. (0:40:50) Codey: But like, I mean, what are you going to do? (0:40:58) Kev: The only problem is, I’m going to go back to the $35 price point for early. (0:41:01) Codey: - Okay, yeah. (0:41:03) Kev: If that was their full release price point, sure, whatever, for early access, I don’t know, $15, maybe? That’s kind of high still, but, that’s, I mean it’s tough, you need money to keep it going, but I don’t know. (0:41:19) Kev: Ooh, that’s rough though. (0:41:20) Codey: So the other the other bug that I loved was that guests were stuck in an endless sleep loop. (0:41:30) Kev: I like that. (0:41:30) Codey: And you know what, same. I feel like sometimes in my life I there’s just a bug happening and I’m just stuck endlessly sleeping. (0:41:40) Kev: That’s not that’s that’s a feature not a bug (0:41:40) Codey: So I get it. Sometimes it just be that way. (0:41:50) Codey: Yeah, so those are the two things that I thought were hilarious other I mean like I get if (0:41:56) Kev: Yum (0:41:56) Codey: there’s like other things happening but that much outrage to come out in the 48 hours post (0:41:58) Kev: Yum (0:42:03) Kev: Well, you know here here’s another thing is (0:42:07) Kev: What if what is what about the knot game break (0:42:10) Kev: breaking part like what if it’s, you know, has just not fun, you know, like, sure. (0:42:14) Codey: but that’s again something that is going to be improved upon I mean I played lens islands (0:42:19) Codey: first one and like it was I saw where they were going with it but it was definitely like pretty (0:42:24) Codey: basic and they have improved it so much and it seems so fun now like oh sorry not seems it is (0:42:30) Codey: so fun now. But yeah, I just (0:42:30) Kev: Yeah (0:42:35) Kev: Yeah, like I said, I think the only real issue the mistake was the $35 price point (0:42:42) Kev: That’s all that’s that’s something to go back to right because I how much did you pay for for the other ones? (0:42:48) Kev: It wasn’t $35 (0:42:50) Codey: - No, probably not, yeah. (0:42:51) Kev: Yeah, right (0:42:53) Codey: I don’t even remember it was so long ago. (0:42:55) Kev: Yeah, but but anyways (0:42:59) Kev: Well, I’ll give him this (0:43:01) Kev: They they came out and said something right that’s good (0:43:04) Kev: So all right, that’s hotel galactic. I’ll keep keep an eye out to see if they fix that hotel (0:43:14) Kev: Okay, um, all right here next up and (0:43:20) Kev: Purred the a few sentences into Al’s notes. It is early access is confirmed. Oh (0:43:27) Kev: Oh, oh wait, no, not out yet. (0:43:29) Kev: It will be a, sorry. (0:43:30) Codey: No, no, no, no. (0:43:31) Kev: Dates, they’re weird. (0:43:32) Kev: It is out, when people are listening to this, it will be out. (0:43:35) Kev: It is already out now when we’re recording, ‘cause, wait, no? (0:43:39) Kev: Oh my go- oh my go- I’m misreading that, you’re right! (0:43:40) Codey: Okay, so let me let me do this. (0:43:41) Kev: Oh my gosh. (0:43:42) Codey: So Al wrote early access releasing. (0:43:43) Kev: Oh my goodness. (0:43:46) Codey: Well, out now maybe and then there’s another bullet not actually out yet, but was meant to be out 7th of August, but they clicked the wrong button on release. (0:43:54) Kev: Oh my go- (0:43:58) Codey: So, it’s fine. (0:44:02) Codey: This is their quote. I love this for them. (0:44:04) Codey: I mean, it’s probably very stressful for them, but I think this is hilarious. (0:44:08) Codey: Quote, “We are heartbroken to say this, but we can’t release today. We literally cannot press the button. It’s gone.” (0:44:16) Codey: The game is ready to go. Everything was prepared, but since this is our first release ever, we forgot to tick the early access checkbox on the Steam backend until this morning. (0:44:26) Codey: and once that is ticked, Steam automatically put our Steam page into (0:44:30) Codey: review mode, which is a normal process on their end, but for us it couldn’t have come at a worse (0:44:35) Codey: time. This has caused the release button to disappear and we cannot click it. (0:44:41) Kev: Aaaah! Hah! (0:44:42) Codey: Oh dude, but that is like such like beer like I could see that being like bureaucracy stuff like (0:44:47) Codey: that’s not how are you supposed to know how are you supposed to know to click that check box or (0:44:53) Codey: what if they started the game before that checkbox was there and then it just like was like well they (0:44:57) Codey: didn’t click it I don’t know it (0:45:00) Kev: But (0:45:00) Codey: good for that like they’ll figure it out it’s it’s only been three days there (0:45:02) Kev: Yeah, that that’s good (0:45:06) Codey: is not an update yet let me just double-check that this is true but (0:45:11) Kev: I’ve (0:45:14) Kev: I’ve just got to say I love (0:45:18) Kev: Game big news stories that come from pushin
W3r d4s l3s3n k4nn, 1st k31n Boom3r. Was spürst Du von 100 Tagen Merz? Katherina Reiche. Todesfalle Brokkoli-Sandwich. Und: Söder-Quiz, Grilldunst-Quiz, Bahn-Quiz. In brokkolifreier Sommerlaune präsentieren Paul und Hajo Schumacher aus dem Schöneberger Hinterhofstudio die frische Wochenschau. Unsere Themen: Toblerone fürs Weiße Haus. Der verblüffend genaue Trübsal-Index. Achtung Gender-Feinde, Gen Z attackiert unsere schöne Sprache mit Brat Summer, Aubergine und Cottage-Core. Hurra, endlich Sauerteig-Eltern. Stadtrat von Salzwedel stimmt demokratisch gegen Demokratieförderung, oder: das Poppersche Toleranzparadox. Warum Petunia, der häßlichste Hund der Welt, freundlich sein sollte. Schon wieder Verschwörung: Klopapier-Lobby torpediert Bidet. Die bärtige Kuckuckshummel ist zurück. Wann kommt die Frischkäsepreisbremse? Kasseler Waschbären werden sterilisiert. Berlin feiert Gerichtsentscheid - Party All Night Long. Verursachen Park-Skater unzulässigen Lärm? Katzentreppen in Amsterdam. Plus Grilltipp: Vorher Plastik vom Knoblauch-Baguette entfernen. Folge 968. Shownotes:MuMaPoCa auf Instagram folgenPodcast Elefantenrunde mit Frank Stauss und HajoUnsere Lieblingsfolgen für den Sommer: 961: Volkskrankheit: Die ewige Bewerteritis 963: Der Wurmkisten-Guru: Kompostforscher Franz Rösl965: BrudiSista: Immer Ärger mit den Geschwistern967: Warum wärst Du fast im Knast gelandet, Atze Schröder?Workshop mit Suse im Oktober 2025Waldcoaching im Herbst – stärken, was dich stark macht, Kloster Schwanberg, UnterfrankenPauls Band: Udo Butter und das TeamBücher:Suse SchumacherDie Psychologie des Waldes, Kailash Verlag, 2024Michael Meisheit + Hajo SchumacherLügen haben schnelle Beine – Laufende Ermittlungen, Band 2, Droemer, 2025.Nur der Tod ist schneller – Laufende Ermittlungen, Kriminalroman, Band 1, Droemer, 2024.Kathrin Hinrichs + Hajo SchumacherBuch: "Ich frage für einen Freund..." Das Sex-ABC für Spaß in den besten JahrenKostenlose Meditationen für mehr Freundlichkeit (Metta) und Gelassenheit unter suseschumacher.de Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Gardening with Joey & Holly radio show Podcast/Garden talk radio show (heard across the country)
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Al and Kev talk about whether or not farming game remakes are worth it. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:08: What Have We Been Up To 00:38:42: Game Updates 00:58:01: New Games 01:11:11: Farming Game Remakes 01:51:29: Outro Links Research Story 1.0 Tiny Garden Switch Info Go-go Town “Tourist Trap” Update APICO Physical Edition Farming Simulator 16-bit Limited Edition Romestead Contact 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. (0:00:34) Kev: My name is Kevin (0:00:36) Al: And we’re here today to talk about Cottagecore games. (0:00:39) Kev: You woo supposedly the word on the street is it says on the box (0:00:46) Al: Does it? (0:00:47) Kev: That’s odd, yeah, it does it what does the websites I’m assuming it does (0:00:51) Al: I don’t know. This is a good question. What does it say on the website? (0:00:54) Kev: You know, we’ve never done (0:00:55) Al: It says farming. It says a podcast about farming simulators. (0:00:58) Kev: Well, there you go, I guess we were lying somewhere, you know one of these days (0:01:00) Al: Yeah, classic. (0:01:04) Kev: Not days we should do in April fools and switch it up (0:01:07) Kev: Or we talk about I don’t know something else. I guess we kind of do that sometimes but you know something really different (0:01:12) Al: Something, something else. (0:01:14) Kev: Yeah (0:01:16) Kev: We talk about gotcha games, I mean I already do but you know all in oh (0:01:23) Kev: Yeah (0:01:24) Al: Hello. We are going to talk this episode about, I want to have a discussion about remakes. (0:01:25) Kev: Hello listener (0:01:34) Kev: We don’t oh (0:01:34) Al: Specifically remakes of farming games. (0:01:38) Kev: Oh, that’s well hmm. I mean it’s still in the neighborhood like there’s stuff to be discussed for sure (0:01:47) Al: Well, that’s why we’re doing it. (0:01:51) Al: I don’t tend to have topics that I don’t think I’ll have much discussion. (0:01:55) Kev: That is died and I believe that’s factually not true (0:02:00) Al: Wow, how dare, how dare you, how very dare you. (0:02:04) Kev: Oh (0:02:06) Al: Before that, we have a bunch of news, but first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:02:13) Kev: Okay, let’s see here when I wrote things down (0:02:16) Kev: Okay, Marvel snap. Okay, I should have talked about this earlier because it ended this week, but I mean all snap goes (0:02:22) Kev: It’s good the the new Fantastic Four (0:02:27) Kev: Season with cards based off the movies coming up (0:02:30) Kev: They’re just doing a whole new season like first step family (0:02:34) Kev: First steps whatever but but that’s coming so you know and that looks good (0:02:38) Kev: But I didn’t talk about maximum voltage overdrive or whatever that thing was called (0:02:45) Kev: You played snap outs been a minute. Did you play maximum voltage? (0:02:49) Kev: Do you remember that mode at all? (0:02:50) Al: I think it was around when I was playing, but I don’t think I played it. (0:02:54) Kev: Uh-huh (0:02:56) Al: I did the Deadpool Diner and I did. (0:02:59) Kev: Yeah (0:03:00) Al: There was one other one that I did, but I don’t think I did maximum. (0:03:02) Kev: Okay, so (0:03:04) Kev: So yeah, every once in a while snap introduces these like alternate modes with different rules or different words or whatever (0:03:12) Kev: And so one that they’ve done is called maximum voltage (0:03:16) Kev: and previously maximum voltage was a three-turn game instead of six turns and (0:03:20) Kev: They would give you a random amount like two to four energy every turn like extra so it was you know (0:03:27) Kev: Not just the one two three four (0:03:29) Kev: So you had you could play cards quickly and you had to do on three turns (0:03:34) Kev: It’s a it’s a different pace a game. It’s fun even shorter. I liked it (0:03:41) Kev: Well this past week or two they did maximum voltage overdrive or overcharge whatever’s over something (0:03:50) Kev: Where it was a four-turn game (0:03:53) Kev: The same rules of okay, you get random two to four energy every turn (0:03:59) Kev: on top of what you already have (0:04:02) Kev: But they (0:04:04) Kev: Also filled your deck out with like was it eight or twelve extra random cards in your deck (0:04:10) Kev: Those extra cards had lower costs and higher power (0:04:15) Kev: So it was it was a wild ride because it was a lot of like kind of RNG really right what you get (0:04:22) Kev: It’s hard to build around like, you know real strategy around it (0:04:26) Kev: and you know, I (0:04:28) Kev: I enjoyed it enough. It was fine enough. You know a lot of people don’t like RNG sort of (0:04:34) Kev: modes or strategy so you know I don’t think as popular as other ones but at (0:04:40) Kev: least they tried something right like I always did they say hey try it and then (0:04:43) Kev: we’ll see how it goes but the bigger fiasco was the rewards because when they (0:04:52) Kev: have these side missions they’ll give you usually like a sort of bonus currency (0:04:56) Kev: or side currency or whatever specific for that mode with a shop or reward tier (0:05:01) Kev: or something like that. (0:05:04) Kev: In this case they gave you a shop, you could earn let’s just call them vault points or whatever they were called. (0:05:08) Kev: And so there was a new card in the shop. (0:05:12) Kev: Kid Omega, I don’t know who that character is but they had a decent enough ability. (0:05:16) Kev: But regardless, so yeah, it was a new card and very cool and all. (0:05:24) Kev: But here’s the thing, for the first time ever in one of these side modes, you could not earn the card for free. (0:05:32) Kev: Um… (0:05:34) Kev: Well, I guess you technically could, but… (0:05:36) Kev: So how it works is every eight hours you get a set of three missions, and you get X number of points for it, right? (0:05:44) Kev: Well, people did the math. (0:05:46) Kev: If you did all the missions, every single set of three for every eight hours for the entire duration of the thing, (0:05:52) Kev: you would still have to win 500 games, I think it was, to earn enough points to earn the new card. (0:05:57) Al: That is so many games. (0:06:04) Kev: But… (0:06:04) Al: I don’t think I’ve ever won 500 games combined in the, like, what, combined what, six months (0:06:06) Kev: Yeah, totally. (0:06:14) Kev: I mean, I might be there with you. (0:06:18) Kev: But yeah, so that was wild. (0:06:24) Kev: And a lot of people were up in arms about it, as you can imagine, and I think understandably so. (0:06:30) Kev: Also, because Marvel Snap, traditionally, has been… (0:06:34) Kev: Play-ish where or at least you if you played enough you could get a decent pool of cards or you could get work (0:06:40) Kev: You know the new cards they were releasing if you kept up you could (0:06:45) Kev: You could you could play for free (0:06:48) Kev: the boat the money was either spent on generally speaking on (0:06:55) Kev: Cosmetics, you know variants and bundles (0:06:57) Kev: I guess the season passed you could unlock a new card and that’s ten bucks a month and like that (0:07:02) Kev: But they would drop for free later (0:07:04) Kev: So you didn’t have to do it. But anyways (0:07:08) Kev: Point is that a lot of players feel like the the snap devs are kind of leaning a little more into (0:07:15) Kev: You know pay to win or pay to get the new cards (0:07:19) Kev: So that was a big (0:07:20) Kev: Yeah, big big bit a little bit of fiasco (0:07:25) Kev: and (0:07:26) Kev: Yeah, it’s over now. We went to another mode called sanctum showdown, which is but it’s much slower paced modes fun (0:07:35) Kev: They’re playing it safe. No crazy (0:07:38) Kev: Expensive card or whatever but (0:07:40) Kev: It’s interesting to see (0:07:43) Kev: kind of a shame that they you know, they’re a little money hungry, but (0:07:48) Kev: Cuz though otherwise the game I think is in still in a decent shape (0:07:52) Kev: They’ve released so many cards like I think it’s almost in a state of we can play whatever you want more or less (0:07:59) Kev: But yeah, I mean I’m still playing it. I’m still enjoying it. I did not get the kiddo-megan card (0:08:05) Kev: You know, it’s wild. I saw somebody with that card on day one (0:08:08) Kev: Which means they must have put a lot of money or gold or whatever. Yeah, there’s always an I found the whale. Oh (0:08:08) Al: Hmm there’s always one. There’s always one. Yeah (0:08:16) Kev: Speaking of not having money or wanting money (0:08:20) Kev: Yes, let’s talk about unicorn overlord. So I reached the end of what’s called best stories. That’s the beast land (0:08:30) Kev: Campaign area there’s basically like five countries in the game or whatever and each one is kind of (0:08:34) Kev: Its own little chapter if you will write its own little story and arc and so I reached the end of the best stories chapter (0:08:41) Kev: Which is fine and all the villain was a rat man a rat where rat I guess. I don’t I don’t know how to describe it (0:08:50) Kev: You know, I’ll show you a picture (0:08:52) Kev: but (0:08:53) Kev: And so I enjoyed it. It was a fun chapter. I think the Beast people were cool, but what is funny and (0:09:00) Kev: I can feel it. I learned about this (0:09:04) Kev: When I went online because it felt something felt like it was changing the writing in unicorn overlord who was pretty alright (0:09:12) Kev: Up until around now because they really just kind of did not give the the rat man’s name (0:09:19) Kev: His name was Elgore and he kind of had an interesting story (0:09:23) Kev: The rats were generally oppressed people and he wanted to rise up and then you know, he became a general (0:09:29) Kev: So it’s kind of an interesting story and there was some evil the evil bad guy team (0:09:34) Kev: We’re doing experiments on him yada yada (0:09:38) Kev: But it was really really rushed. And so I kind of looked into it and it turns out (0:09:45) Kev: That oh (0:09:47) Kev: Hold on one second now (0:09:49) Kev: my mic (0:09:51) Kev: Sorry, there we go. Sorry. My mic had a hiccup and I think we’re good now while checking (0:09:57) Kev: double-checking (0:09:58) Al: Sounds fine to me. (0:09:59) Kev: Yes, okay. I lost a few seconds of the recording, but okay. I’m okay (0:10:03) Kev: I don’t know, at least the– (0:10:03) Al: It’s fine now. (0:10:05) Al: Zoom is pretty good at like starting out. (0:10:05) Kev: Yeah, all right (0:10:09) Kev: Well, anyways, so I looked up that why it started feel rushed and turns out that the unicorn (0:10:15) Kev: Overlord development ran out of money and basically the director producer they started funding it out of their own pocket (0:10:22) Kev: so apparently this last (0:10:25) Kev: quarter or so of the the game is gonna feel very rushed and (0:10:30) Kev: There’s no time for story anymore. Which is sad but (0:10:34) Kev: That said the game is still (0:10:38) Kev: Entertaining. I like it. It’s fun. Yeah, like unicorn overlord to two thumbs up from me (0:10:45) Kev: Let’s see (0:10:47) Kev: So yeah, so that’s good. Um, oh, okay follow up from last week (0:10:50) Kev: So we spent a little time having a fun little chat about magic the gathering and capitalism and the $1,000 (0:10:58) Al: Like 20 minutes. (0:10:59) Kev: pack of set of four packs (0:11:02) Kev: and it was all started as you may recall because (0:11:04) Kev: I was looking at the, or you know, the Final Fantasy set of Magic the Gathering cards came out, (0:11:12) Kev: and I did not want to buy them because I didn’t want to spend them, or spend the money for them. (0:11:17) Kev: Well, this week I bought the Final Fantasy card set from Magic the Gathering, virtually, virtually, there’s my caveat, haha. (0:11:26) Kev: Uh, no, I did not spend money, but… yeah, haha, virtual versions of my cardboard. (0:11:27) Al: Oh, wait, that’s that’s even that’s even all right. (0:11:30) Al: I was going to say that’s even worse if you bought digital cards. (0:11:35) Kev: No, no money spent. So I’ve been, I’ve played Magic the Gathering Arena, though that’s the online client. I fired it up to get in there and try. (0:11:43) Al: Good game. I’ve not played in a long time, but when I was playing, I was doing a lot of arenas. (0:11:49) Kev: Alright, it’s good. It feels comparable, I think, to, you know, Pokemon TCG live. (0:11:54) Al: Oh, I think it’s way better. (0:11:56) Al: I think it’s way, way better. (0:11:57) Al: I think the I mean, it’s been a while since I played it. (0:12:00) Al: But in my experience, the app was much less slow in menus and the effects were much better. (0:12:05) Kev: Yeah. (0:12:08) Kev: I agree with that. It is much, much more polished, right, overall. A little fancier. And you’re right, a little less laggy. (0:12:17) Kev: But, yeah, but I mean, the point is, it serves as a decent online, you know, substitute for the paper game. (0:12:26) Kev: So I got some, yeah, Final Fantasy cards there and played a little, doing a choco bow deck. (0:12:33) Kev: I’m really upset (0:12:35) Kev: Those cards are really good, art-wise and gameplay-wise (0:12:42) Kev: They have, because I mentioned I was playing Final Fantasy, the proper FFTCG (0:12:49) Kev: That game doesn’t have equipment cards (0:12:51) Kev: Magic the Gathering does, so Magic the Gathering can include iconic items and weapons (0:12:57) Kev: Like the Buster Sword, or a cup of instant noodles from Final Fantasy XV (0:13:04) Kev: So I’m more…a little… (0:13:05) Kev: I’m jealous that Magic did it so well. (0:13:07) Kev: Whoever…the people working on the Final Fantasy set, they really love Final Fantasy. (0:13:13) Kev: They have Souplex the Train as a card. (0:13:17) Kev: People who know FF5 understand that reference. (0:13:25) Kev: But yeah, I mean, I try to… (0:13:27) Kev: I’m still thinking about it. I’m looking at it. (0:13:31) Kev: The card’s proper. I’m not gonna buy it yet. (0:13:35) Kev: Oh, it’s been…I’ve been craving it. It’s a siren song. (0:13:38) Kev: So I had to…you know…I had to at least do it virtually to enjoy it a little. (0:13:46) Kev: But I digress. That’s what I’ve been up to this week. (0:13:50) Kev: What about you, Al? What’s going on? (0:13:52) Al: Well, let’s see, what have I been up to? (0:13:56) Al: Shock surprise. (0:13:58) Al: I have been playing some Mario Kart World up. (0:14:00) Kev: Yeah, you’re going for it, man. Getting all those knockouts here. I’ve seen your progress. (0:14:04) Al: Yes, so update on that. (0:14:07) Al: I have done all of the Grand Prix’s 150, three stars and all of the knockout (0:14:13) Al: all of the knockout tours, 150, three stars. (0:14:19) Al: and I have done enough in free. (0:14:22) Al: Rome to unlock mirror mode. (0:14:25) Kev: Okay. (0:14:27) Al: And I have unlocked all of the costumes. (0:14:30) Kev: Oh, you’re- you’ve done it all almost pretty much at this point. (0:14:33) Al: I am still missing three characters. (0:14:36) Kev: Wait, wha- oh. How d- uh- uh-huh. (0:14:38) Al: But that’s because they are the Kamek characters, (0:14:43) Al: so you have to be on a specific course (0:14:47) Al: and someone use the Kamek behind you on that specific course. (0:14:50) Kev: Uh, okay, I did notice that I got some kamiks and I think I got kamiks characters out of that. (0:14:53) Al: There’s a chance that you get one that character, so. (0:15:00) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:15:01) Al: So I’ve got most of them, but I’m still missing three of them. (0:15:04) Al: And it’s like they are dreadful to try and force like the bet. (0:15:08) Kev: Yeah, who are they? (0:15:10) Al: How who am I missing? (0:15:12) Al: Let me check my spreadsheet. (0:15:14) Al: I am missing Rocky, wrench. (0:15:18) Al: Peepa and Swoop. (0:15:20) Kev: Oof, oof, oh man, I like swoop. (0:15:21) Al: I have the rest of them. (0:15:22) Al: So that’s I have that’s 15 out of 18 characters unlocked (0:15:26) Al: and 103 out of 103 costumes unlocked. (0:15:31) Al: So, yeah, and I’ve got all the vehicles as well. (0:15:36) Al: All 40 of them. (0:15:37) Al: So I am going to I’m definitely going to do. (0:15:40) Al: I’m definitely going to start doing mirror modes. (0:15:42) Al: I really want to restart all the mirror modes (0:15:45) Al: before I get too much muscle memory for specific courses. (0:15:46) Kev: Yeah. (0:15:49) Kev: Mmm. (0:15:50) Al: Right, because that that’s when it becomes really hard. (0:15:52) Kev: Yeah, you’re right. (0:15:53) Kev: That’s an excellent point. (0:15:53) Al: But I’d love I’d love to three star mirror mode (0:15:56) Al: because I’ve never restarted every mirror mode in a Mario cart. (0:16:00) Kev: I mean you’re like there, you’re wide as well, right? You’ve gone the 90%? (0:16:06) Al: Yeah, it’s I guess the thing is it’s just about like time now, right? (0:16:10) Kev: Uh-huh. (0:16:10) Al: Like we’ve got two and a bit weeks until Donkey Kong comes out. (0:16:15) Al: That’s basically my deadline, right? (0:16:15) Kev: I was about to say, that’s the deadline, right? (0:16:17) Al: Like if it’s if I’ve not done it by (0:16:20) Al: Donkey Kong coming out, it’s probably never happening. (0:16:23) Kev: Yeah, well, maybe they’ll release some DLC, but I understand what you generally say. (0:16:28) Al: Yeah, but at that point, I don’t I think at that point I’ll play the DLC, (0:16:31) Al: but I don’t think I’ll go back and try and do the other mirror modes. (0:16:31) Kev: Yeah, it’ll be out of your system, I get it. (0:16:34) Al: Right. (0:16:36) Al: So we’ll see. We’ll see how I feel. (0:16:38) Al: But I’m going to I’m going to at least try and see how far I get. (0:16:42) Al: But obviously it’s quite few and, you know, I can see I should be able to do them. (0:16:47) Al: Right. Because I’ve done one hundred and fifty. (0:16:49) Al: I should be able to do mirror mode. (0:16:50) Al: I don’t think I’m in use to them enough that I will cause problems. (0:16:53) Al: Although maybe there’s a couple of courses that are recreations of previous ones, (0:16:58) Al: like the Mario Bros circuit, which is just like the continuation from the one (0:17:00) Kev: Yeah (0:17:03) Al: and since the sna is- (0:17:06) Al: right? That one might be trouble because I suspect I’ll have muscle memory for that course (0:17:06) Kev: Yeah (0:17:12) Kev: Sure sure (0:17:12) Al: but we’ll see, we’ll see. I’m gonna try and we’ll see how I go (0:17:17) Al: and I think that’s all I was considering. So have you done much free roam? (0:17:22) Kev: Not too much myself now (0:17:25) Al: So you’ve got the P switches, you’ve got peach medallions and you’ve got the question mark blocks. (0:17:27) Kev: Yeah (0:17:29) Kev: Yeah (0:17:32) Al: the only one that’s actually like shown on the map. (0:17:36) Al: The P switches where each course has a certain number of P switches and it shows you how (0:17:38) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:17:40) Al: many you’ve got. So I’m considering doing the P switches, but there’s no way I’m going (0:17:47) Al: to look for all of the peach medallions and all not not P switches sorry the question mark blocks. (0:17:52) Al: It’s not the P switches the question mark blocks. There’s no way I’m going for the piece all the (0:17:56) Al: P switches and all the peach medallions. I’ll probably do some more just playing around in (0:18:00) Al: free roam and if I see some I will do some, but I’m not going to go out my way to get (0:18:04) Al: every day because it’s like (0:18:06) Al: 300 P switches or something it’s mad how many there are I’m not going to do (0:18:08) Kev: Yeah, you don’t want to collect all the Koroks? (0:18:12) Al: all of them definitely not but I can see myself doing all the question mark (0:18:17) Al: blocks just because they’re like clearly like there’s six on this course six on (0:18:22) Al: this course six on this course I could see myself doing that but I’m not I’m (0:18:28) Al: not going all in on that at this point right like we will see (0:18:31) Kev: man. I gotta say the free roam is a little disappointing from what I’ve experienced and (0:18:39) Kev: seen. I was really hoping for, for lack of a better word, secrets, right? Little nooks (0:18:47) Kev: and crannies you could explore that, you know, you wouldn’t experience on a race or whatever, (0:18:52) Al: - Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:18:53) Kev: right? Like in, you know, shooting for the stars, like even a handful of courses not in any of the (0:19:01) Kev: pre-write, you know, unofficially labeled, like you enter a cave and all of a sudden (0:19:06) Kev: there’s this little racetrack down there. Stuff like that, but anyways, yeah, there’s not much (0:19:12) Kev: going on other than unlocking mirror mode, I guess, on free roam. Although I do like the (0:19:20) Kev: Princess Peach Castle, the window easter egg, that’s fun. (0:19:23) Al: Yeah, yeah, it’s I will agree that I think free roam is a little bit of a disappointment, but yeah, I am still very much having fun. (0:19:35) Al: And I will definitely be playing this with people in person a lot. (0:19:40) Kev: I’m sure. I mean, it’s Mario Kart. It’s built for that. (0:19:41) Al: No, it’s 100% worth. (0:19:44) Al: Yeah, it’s 100% worth it, especially as, you know, it was what, like 30 quid in the bundle, right? (0:19:49) Kev: Yep. (0:19:50) Kev: Exactly. (0:19:50) Al: Like it was very much worth that. (0:19:53) Al: And just, it is, I still stand by it’s the most fun to control the, with the new physics reactions. Like I feel like all the other ones will feel quite stiff going back to them. (0:20:04) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don’t think (0:20:10) Kev: Yeah, I yeah, I don’t think a lot of people are gonna push back on that it does feel very good to control (0:20:16) Kev: I agree (0:20:19) Kev: Yeah, it’s it’s I mean it’s Mario Kart right like it’s still gonna be good (0:20:22) Kev: It’s a but it is funny though that you know insert the the Simpsons sheep gif when Donkey Kong bonanza comes out (0:20:28) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely. That is going to be like a couple of weeks of just (0:20:34) Kev: Yeah (0:20:37) Al: like that’s the only thing I’m playing. Yeah. And we, has the direct been since we recorded (0:20:39) Kev: It looks so good, I only more (0:20:44) Al: our last episode? I can’t remember. Super fun. I’m so excited for this. I think it’s (0:20:44) Kev: I I can’t remember. We haven’t talked about it either way, but that’s uh (0:20:51) Kev: that’s a (0:20:52) Kev: good looking direct (0:20:53) Al: really, yeah, I think they, that was a great direct because it shows (0:20:58) Al: it kind of confirmed a bunch of the stuff we already knew while also giving us enough (0:21:03) Al: to be like, oh, there’s more. Right. And, and I think it’s really, I think it’s really (0:21:09) Al: good looking. Like I love the different effects that you get in transforming into other animals (0:21:16) Al: and also having Pauline basically be like a parrot on your shoulder. Right. It’s really (0:21:22) Kev: yep it’s it’s so good I i love the online reaction that we the internet gave of like you (0:21:23) Al: fun. (0:21:30) Kev: know the trifecta of uh was it ralph and vanellope uh sully and boo and now we’ve got dk and pauline (0:21:38) Kev: you know big guy and then little girl um it’s it’s fun (0:21:38) Al: Look, it works, right? Like why, why break it? Why try and fix it if it’s not broken, (0:21:47) Kev: Exactly. It’s great. Um, yeah, I’m I’m very pumped. Uh, (0:21:52) Kev: for uh uh the the game or general, I guess. Um, it’s I’m a (0:21:59) Kev: little disappointed that we don’t get the animal buddies (0:22:02) Kev: per se. I mean, I know Rambi’s in there and and it’s kind of (0:22:06) Kev: in there, but you know, it’s it’s the functions been replaced (0:22:09) Kev: by your transformations and the transformations are cool. I (0:22:12) Kev: won’t lie. Um but uh I don’t know. I’m a guy who likes Rambi. (0:22:17) Al: Well, look, I don’t have any real history with the previous DK games other than trying them and not enjoying them. (0:22:23) Al: So I don’t particularly mind. (0:22:27) Al: I’m not a lower muncher. (0:22:30) Kev: Sure, I mean, it’s not even like lore stuff because that’s uh, that’s just uh, you know, I guess mechanics or (0:22:38) Kev: Gameplay traditions, whatever. But if you want to talk about lore, I mean we can get trying to you know (0:22:43) Kev: We can try figure out why on earth (0:22:48) Kev: Does how is Pauline hanging out a DK? How does that timeline work? (0:22:52) Al: Well, I think everything lines up if you just ignore the original DK game. I don’t think (0:22:59) Al: anything else is a problem. I think it’s only that. And I think that this ties in so much (0:23:00) Kev: Yeah. Which… (0:23:05) Al: better to Odyssey, because why would Pauline be the mayor of a city that’s named after (0:23:11) Al: her kidnapper? But she would be the mayor of a city that’s named after her hero. (0:23:12) Kev: Yeah, I like the way you think there that’s a good point, yeah, but and also like this (0:23:28) Kev: is even more so than Odyssey cuz I mean Paulina was in there was you know, she’s first time (0:23:32) Kev: back in forever or whatever but she’s you know, she has a starring role finally, that’s (0:23:40) Al: Yeah, my I also I have another theory that it might be time (0:23:47) Kev: All right, oh well there you are now we’re talking let’s get into that Zelda split timeline (0:23:55) Al: Well, I don’t even think it needs to be a split timeline, right? (0:23:58) Al: Like, if something happens and she gets shot forward and then she goes back in time after this, (0:24:04) Kev: Oh, I like it. I like. (0:24:05) Al: you know, she could still go through the whole thing, because the thing is, right, (0:24:09) Al: Pauline in Donkey Kong, that’s not this Donkey Kong, that’s Cranky Kong. (0:24:14) Kev: that is cranky kong who does exist yeah oh I like that that’s clever yeah there you go all right I like it (0:24:15) Al: So, you know, she’s obviously from the past. (0:24:22) Al: Or, or, here’s another suggestion. (0:24:25) Al: If Donkey Kong, if Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong are both Donkey Kong, then maybe Pauline. (0:24:32) Al: This could be a different Pauline. Maybe this is Pauline’s daughter. (0:24:35) Kev: You know, I mean, that’s well established, right? Bowser Jr. looks just like Bowser when he’s a baby, I guess, so you know. (0:24:45) Al: Pauline Jr. (0:24:46) Kev: Pauline Jr. could be! (0:24:49) Kev: Although, okay, you know what? You know what? I’ll even point the bat at the stands here. (0:24:54) Kev: I bet we get little Pauline here as a character in Mario Kart World War 2. (0:24:58) Al: I hope so. I do hope there is some stuff coming, so I saw someone note that some of the characters (0:25:06) Al: have lots of costumes, and some of them have almost none. In fact, some of them have none. (0:25:11) Al: And the interesting thing is, one of the characters that has almost none is Donkey Kong. He only (0:25:12) Kev: Yeah. (0:25:16) Al: has one costume. Just before a Donkey Kong game comes out, suspicious. So are we interested (0:25:17) Kev: It is very strange considering, you know, he’s… (0:25:21) Kev: Uh-oh, uh-oh! (0:25:28) Al: in a Mario Kart World update coming with some Donkey Kong costumes to encourage you (0:25:34) Kev: I mean (0:25:36) Al: to be interested in the new game? Maybe. Yeah. And we obviously have all the baby characters, (0:25:37) Kev: If if it feels like the most obvious dough in the world, right, um, so yeah (0:25:46) Al: so would we get a young Pauline, as well as the babies that we’ve got of the other characters? (0:25:48) Kev: I like it (0:25:51) Kev: How cute (0:25:51) Al: We don’t have Pauline at all. Oh no, we do have Pauline. But also Pauline only has one (0:25:53) Kev: We do it, Paul (0:25:58) Kev: Like a generic racer costume, so there you go (0:25:58) Al: costume. So, you know, the two of them, both in an upcoming game. You know, I will be very (0:26:05) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah (0:26:09) Al: disappointed if there’s not. But this makes you wonder what else could be related to things, (0:26:11) Kev: I you know that’s I don’t think you’re being unreasonable (0:26:16) Al: right? Birdo only has two costumes, so that’s an interesting one. Could there be a Birdo (0:26:22) Al: thing coming up? Who knows? Lakitu only has two costumes, and there is an update to… (0:26:28) Al: Why can’t I remember the name? Goodness me. Mario Party. Which Lakitu obviously has a (0:26:34) Kev: Which Mario what okay? (0:26:40) Al: big part in Mario Party. Maybe I’m stretching at this point. Who knows? But we’ll see. I’m (0:26:41) Kev: Yeah (0:26:48) Kev: We we will see I think that’s the end that’s all we can kind of say really um (0:26:54) Al: I’m sure we can say much more, but let’s not. (0:26:56) Kev: Well, well, okay, yeah, you know, I will say this like each his legs still make me very uncomfortable. I (0:26:59) Al: Fair, very fair. (0:27:03) Kev: Don’t like it (0:27:05) Kev: Get in the car. Don’t look at those freak. Yeah, no, no, I don’t like it. That’s (0:27:08) Al: Don’t put him on a bike. (0:27:15) Al: He should be in the cloud cart. (0:27:19) Al: That’s the only one he’s allowed to be in. (0:27:20) Kev: Yeah, you really or you know, I don’t care I (0:27:23) Al: No, I’m just saying. (0:27:26) Kev: Look, I don’t care if it’s like (0:27:29) Kev: Horrendous I don’t care if it’s horrendous like animation clipping just (0:27:35) Kev: Just stick the the dang (0:27:36) Al: The cloud around every cart you put them in. (0:27:40) Kev: Yeah, yeah, when he’s the bike it’s just clipping right to the cloud (0:27:45) Kev: Okay, you make it it’s worth it (0:27:50) Al: All right, so that’s my car. (0:27:52) Al: I’ve also I don’t want to talk too much about this, but I do want to mention it. (0:27:58) Al: I’ve opened Lens Island again and started playing that. (0:28:02) Al: So for context, I originally backed on. (0:28:06) Al: Kickstarter and I started playing it when it first came out, but it had no controller (0:28:11) Al: support and basically was horrible to use on the steam deck. (0:28:16) Al: So I have started playing it again, and it is less horrible to play on the steam deck. (0:28:24) Kev: But that’s always the bar we want less horrible (0:28:25) Al: And I think that’s as far as I’m going to go on this comp on it just now. (0:28:33) Al: I will probably go into it a lot more in the next. (0:28:36) Al: episode, probably, but no promises. (0:28:38) Kev: Okay, fine. Okay. (0:28:43) Al: So that is a thing that is currently happening that I am not going to give any opinions on right now. (0:28:52) Al: But finally, we are recording this on Saturday, the 28th of June. (0:28:57) Al: I have just finished the first day of Pokémon Go Fest 2025 Global. (0:29:01) Kev: Oh, is that what’s going on? Okay. (0:29:03) Al: That’s what’s today. (0:29:04) Al: Yeah. So, uh, I had. (0:29:06) Al: Fun. I got a few hours where I was allowed to remove my (0:29:14) Al: responsibilities from children and just go play Pokemon in Edinburgh. (0:29:17) Al: And yeah, I got a good amount of stuff done and I enjoyed that. (0:29:20) Kev: Cool. What is going on? What are they releasing? (0:29:24) Al: This is the Crowned in Shield form Zacian and Zamazenta. (0:29:30) Kev: Wait they weren’t in there already that’s weird, but okay (0:29:32) Al: No, they had the base forms, but not this Crowned in Shield form. (0:29:37) Al: Uh, because they’ve got to release them separately to make the most money, right? (0:29:42) Kev: - Oh, yeah, yeah. (0:29:46) Al: But yeah, so, uh, yeah, I think they did this one a lot better than the previous (0:29:52) Al: other forms, because with Curum and with, uh, oh, what’s the other one? (0:29:59) Kev: Uh, uh, uh, Nick Asma. (0:30:03) Al: Nick Rosma, thank you. (0:30:05) Al: with both of them. (0:30:06) Al: You have a certain amount of energy you need to get to fuse them, but if you separate (0:30:15) Al: them, you have to use the same amount of energy again to fuse them again. (0:30:21) Al: It’s like a thousand-fuse energy, or whatever they call it. (0:30:25) Al: I can’t remember and I don’t care. (0:30:26) Kev: Yeah, that’s correct (0:30:29) Al: Once you fuse them, you use up that thousand, but you get like a hundred per raid that you (0:30:33) Al: do. (0:30:34) Al: raids to get enough defuse once (0:30:35) Kev: Okay (0:30:36) Al: set of them. And then if you’re like, “Oh, I fused the wrong one”, and you unfuse it, (0:30:37) Kev: Yeah, oh (0:30:42) Al: you then have to do another 10 raids to do it. But of course, those raids were only available (0:30:45) Kev: It sounds like a lot (0:30:48) Al: for one weekend. They’ve never been available again, so you can’t get the energy anymore. (0:30:55) Al: It’s dreadful! (0:30:56) Kev: That sounds like a lot. (0:30:58) Al: Well, the good thing is that Zamasenta and Zacian, once you turn it into crown form, (0:31:04) Al: If you revere its form, you can… (0:31:06) Al: you can then do it again without using any energy. (0:31:09) Kev: Sure, okay. Okay, I mean, that’s that’s definitely nice. I just, man, I just got to say I didn’t go that long at all. But hearing how like, because I think Megas were kind of the first one where you had, you know, special mega energy or whatever. Like, it’s, oh, it doesn’t sound great. Just the oddest. (0:31:33) Al: The the Megas actually I think is a lot better than it was when it first launched. (0:31:38) Al: So like you you can get one free mega for each of your mega Pokemon once a week. (0:31:45) Al: So once you’ve done the initial one, every week, you can do it once for free. (0:31:49) Al: You only have to pay more energy after the first one (0:31:53) Al: if you want to do it faster than that. (0:31:55) Al: And as you get up the power, like once you can level up the mega and once you get (0:32:00) Al: Mega level 3. It matters. (0:32:04) Al: How much it costs so like every if you were to do it every single day, you wouldn’t be using a huge amount of energy so it’s it’s not it’s it’s much better than it was initially launched and I get why you know it is a bit frustrating that you still have to use it energy at all but it’s a lot less annoying you also get energy if you walk with them as a buddy and stuff like that so you know it’s it’s fine it’s fine it’s these fusing ones that are the most annoying because it’s like. (0:32:33) Al: I know have my necrosimas and my cutums fused and I can never unfuse them because I would never be able to fuse them again right like it’s just that’s it if you chose the wrong one tough and it’s really annoying because one of them I did choose the wrong one and but there’s nothing I can do about that I’m stuffed and that’s just what I have to live with. (0:32:40) Kev: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. (0:32:46) Kev: Oh, no! (0:32:50) Kev: Ugh. (0:32:52) Kev: Oh, that’s rough. That’s rough, buddy. (0:32:53) Al: Still. Yeah, that is life but yeah so there’s actions Amazon to was done much better and I got shiny. (0:33:03) Al: And I got my energy and I’ve I’ve powered them up so nice powerful Pokemon looking looking great my shiny shield was it shield form kind of what it’s called and they have new adventure effects so. (0:33:04) Kev: Yeah! (0:33:10) Kev: Yeah, that’s the game! (0:33:18) Kev: That’s cool, that’s good. (0:33:19) Al: There we go. (0:33:22) Al: And they can also be used because they’re when they’re in that form they can be used at power spots, which normally only dynamics Pokemon can be used a pair of spots, but of course you can’t you can’t. (0:33:33) Al: And they can also be used in Dynamax session and Amazon to but when they’re in that form you can use them a pair of spots so that’s fun. (0:33:44) Al: So yeah, I probably do a little bit tomorrow as well because it was Amazon to things action tomorrow, but which is a bit annoying, but if you got the ticket for go fest you do get enough energy to do one of one of the dogs, so I do have enough to do as action, but I probably want to get enough to do another one. (0:34:02) Kev: Sure. Well, I am glad that you’re enjoying it. (0:34:03) Al: Continuing to enjoy Pokemon go despite everything. (0:34:07) Kev: I don’t… (0:34:11) Kev: This, well, that’s kind of, uh, I mean, that’s just a blanket save these days. (0:34:20) Al: They keep trying to ruin the game, but I still somehow enjoy it. (0:34:24) Al: All right, let’s talk about some game use a woo. (0:34:31) Kev: Oh, wait, wait, back up. (0:34:32) Kev: I’m sorry, I just– (0:34:33) Kev: I don’t know why you just clicked something in my mind. (0:34:34) Kev: I forgot. (0:34:35) Kev: I want to follow up my Magic the Gathering thing. (0:34:39) Kev: So as I look, you know, I was dipping my toe in the MTG pool. (0:34:44) Kev: Guess what’s the next secret layer? (0:34:45) Al: I don’t know. (0:34:46) Kev: You know me. (0:34:48) Al: Ah, ah, ah, pressure, um, unicorn over the light! (0:34:53) Kev: Haha, oh, oh, that’d be so (0:34:54) Al: No, ah, no, um, let’s see, so Kevin, something Kevin would like. (0:34:59) Al: Well, it’s not going to be like anything Nintendo. (0:35:02) Kev: No, no it’s just very funny hearing that. (0:35:04) Al: Wait, is it? (0:35:06) Al: No. (0:35:08) Kev: I didn’t intend, I didn’t intend, life log Nintendo Pass. (0:35:09) Al: Well. (0:35:12) Kev: You don’t like Nintendo things, um, but it won’t, uh, MTG, I gotta say, it wouldn’t be (0:35:15) Al: I mean, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that’s the opposite of what I thought, Kevin. (0:35:19) Kev: in there. (0:35:20) Kev: Yeah, okay. (0:35:21) Kev: Yeah, okay, yes, yeah, I know what you’re saying, but the way it came in my ears, it’s (0:35:21) Al: What I thought was, oh yeah, it could be, you know, you like Nintendo stuff. (0:35:25) Al: And I was like, oh no, but they’re not going to do something with Nintendo. (0:35:27) Al: That was my point. (0:35:30) Kev: It’s not too funny. (0:35:31) Al: Trying to accuse me. (0:35:32) Al: Accuse me of not thinking you like Nintendo stuff. (0:35:34) Al: Ah, no, I’ve not got anything. (0:35:39) Al: Nothing’s coming. (0:35:40) Kev: Ow! The lowest hanging fruit! Gotta go fast! (0:35:44) Al: Oh, Sonic. (0:35:45) Al: What? They’re doing Sonic, Magic the Gathering? (0:35:47) Kev: They’re doing- okay. (0:35:49) Kev: Yeah! Dude, they already did SpongeBob! Who cares? (0:35:53) Al: What? This is what one out all these cards look so good. (0:35:54) Kev: Oh, you missed that! SpongeBob’s in magic! Oh, yeah! (0:36:02) Kev: Don’t they? (0:36:03) Al: Oh, no. Oh, no. (0:36:04) Kev: They look- that’s- that’s the exact reaction. (0:36:10) Al: I don’t want this. Well, no, I do want this. (0:36:14) Kev: And you- and- oh, my- like, Shadow- (0:36:15) Al: I managed to not even look at the Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings ones somehow. (0:36:18) Kev: Oh- oh, yeah. (0:36:20) Kev: Shadow looks busted. It’s insane. (0:36:24) Kev: They’re no big the cats, so point against them for that. No cream, either. (0:36:28) Kev: But overall, it’s- it’s in their- (0:36:31) Kev: Ugh, Sonic’s ability, ‘cause you know, when they have an ability, they have a little, like, name for it. (0:36:36) Kev: It- it’s literally “Gotta go fast.” (0:36:38) Kev: You know “Gotta go fast” isn’t even from the games. (0:36:40) Kev: It’s just from the, uh, the- the dub intro of an anime. [Laughter] (0:36:45) Al: Yeah, I’m not particularly surprised. (0:36:48) Kev: Oh, yeah, Sonic’s going to magic. (0:36:50) Kev: It’s- ugh. I don’t like it. I’m- I’m- I’m- oh, dear. I’m cooked, as the children would say. (0:36:58) Kev: You know, Unicorn Overlord, it- wild as it- it’s not in Magic the Gathering, but in- they have one of those- (0:37:04) Kev: What is it? I think it’s, like, the Overlord edition. You know, one of the big fancy collector’s editions. (0:37:08) Kev: There’s actually a whole (0:37:10) Kev: building card game inside that it’s wild (0:37:16) Kev: Yeah, card games are my vice. They’re my legal addiction. Sonic’s coming to magic (0:37:16) Al: And will this be coming and will this be coming to arenas? (0:37:28) Kev: uh good question I don’t know arena is very weird because arena has (0:37:39) Kev: arena is kind of its own environment it has exclusive arena cards it has its own formats (0:37:45) Kev: and i’ll tell you the the bad ones we’re getting a spider-man set in a few months (0:37:51) Kev: that the spider-man set cards are coming to arena but not with spider-man full (0:37:58) Kev: they’re going to replace them with whatever generic magic card characters or whatever (0:38:02) Al: What? What does that even mean then? (0:38:05) Kev: it means they didn’t get the license to use it digitally (0:38:07) Al: What would be the point in adding the cards then, if they’re not the cards? (0:38:11) Al: So they’re gonna have like the same effects, but not use any names for Spider-Man. (0:38:14) Kev: yeah yeah you you get yeah you get pied or arachnid avatar I don’t know (0:38:18) Al: That’s so stupid. (0:38:20) Al: Just don’t do it. (0:38:28) Kev: uh good old magic together I i joined just this year what a good time to get into this game (0:38:36) Al: Update, I have downloaded Magi the Gathering Eraser. (0:38:39) Kev: yeah oh we gotta play some games um all right let’s go to non sonic base oh or is there (0:38:44) Al: Yes, yeah, news, game news. No, no, no, no, there’s obviously not. Research story have (0:38:47) Kev: is there sonic base news maybe not yet one day it’s inevitable (0:38:56) Al: announced that their 1.0 is coming the 21st of July, so it has been a long time coming. (0:39:00) Kev: Okay (0:39:02) Al: Let’s see, when did this first come into Early Access? February 2023 was when this launched (0:39:04) Kev: Yes, oh wait research, so I don’t know I heard something else okay that that is exciting (0:39:11) Al: in early access. (0:39:12) Kev: Research work takes forever to ask Cody. That’s why the 1.0. It’s it’s forever (0:39:14) Al: So, maybe we need to get our second harvest on this after the 1.0 is out. (0:39:18) Kev: It’s the equivalent of getting their PhD congratulations research story (0:39:23) Kev: I’m sure Cody isn’t triggered by this at all (0:39:31) Kev: Okay, so wait we got let’s see what is the date on the oh July 21st there (0:39:38) Kev: It is but it’s available on the on a beta branch. That’s weird. What do you mean? (0:39:43) Kev: 1.0 will be available in beta before one point (0:39:45) Al: No, no, that’s so. So that’s before launch, you’ll be able to play the beta. (0:39:48) Kev: Yeah, I know that that’s very weird to me like (0:39:52) Al: Well, OK, I see what you mean. I see what you mean. I see what you mean. So (0:39:57) Al: it’s not actually that uncommon in software development where you go, this is our beta for (0:40:05) Al: 1.0 or 1.1 or whatever. That is not that uncommon, actually. I think it’s less common in games, (0:40:07) Kev: Sure. Yeah. Sure. And I mean, like, you know, public betas and test servers, (0:40:12) Al: But it’s definitely something that you see quite a lot. (0:40:18) Kev: like they’re common and I’m not saying it’s unheard of, but I don’t know. (0:40:21) Kev: It just feels weird, especially in game dev, like the 1.0 is the big fitting, right? (0:40:25) Kev: So, uh, I don’t know, but whatever, um, but hey. (0:40:28) Al: You still have to pop the game you can’t just play it’s not just anybody can play it like it’s public (0:40:33) Kev: Yeah. (0:40:34) Al: But public for people who have paid for the game, right? (0:40:37) Kev: That’s true. Good point. (0:40:40) Kev: All right. But hey, it’s here. (0:40:42) Al: Tiny garden the content the (0:40:45) Al: Featured game of last week’s episode have released a statement regarding the Nintendo switch version (0:40:52) Kev: I didn’t think I’d ever hear a statement from Tiny Garden. (0:40:56) Al: This is this is great. I’m just (0:40:58) Al: going to read some of the statement because I don’t think I can really (0:41:01) Al: summarize it better than they have done. “We wanted to clarify some questions (0:41:06) Al: that have arisen regarding the Nintendo Switch version of Tiny Garden. We have (0:41:09) Al: been vague and perhaps not communicated with you as well as we could have, for (0:41:14) Al: which we apologize. We did not want to cause you unnecessary concern or bore (0:41:18) Al: you with technical details. The truth is that the Switch version of Tiny Garden (0:41:23) Al: will be ported by an external company. As we are such a small team it was very (0:41:28) Al: hard for us to do everything in-house. The problem here is we’ve not yet found a (0:41:32) Al: company that can port the game with the polish and quality that we feel (0:41:35) Al: comfortable with. Both our publishers Super Rare Games and us want to deliver (0:41:40) Al: the best possible version of Tiny Garden on Switch. However, we did not (0:41:43) Al: anticipate that this porting would be so complicated.” Hey, I could have told you. (0:41:48) Al: We’ve seen this before. (0:41:50) Kev: What are you talking about? (0:41:52) Kev: It’s katrossi katronfi, it’s fuckies! (0:41:56) Al: And then they go into details about complaining. (0:41:58) Al: About their game engine and that’s the reason. (0:42:02) Al: Sure, fine. (0:42:05) Al: It’s funny because it’s like, oh no, we didn’t know it would be complicated to bring it to a (0:42:10) Al: console. Like what did you expect? Like these things are always complicated. (0:42:14) Kev: Well, yeah, I mean anything game dev is complicated pretty much anything dev software dev is always complicated (0:42:19) Al: Yeah, exactly. (0:42:21) Kev: Well, look here. Here’s your free advice tiny garden people call biting studio (0:42:27) Kev: Those are the guys who make cassette beasts that except beasts is on Godot. They brought it to switch (0:42:32) Kev: It’s awesome on switch. There you go (0:42:33) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s the thing. I suspect if you do it in Unity or Unreal, I suspect (0:42:42) Al: it is slightly easier because they are obviously like larger companies use them and so therefore (0:42:51) Kev: They’re established. (0:42:53) Al: need the console support to be as good as it can be, right? Because otherwise there (0:43:00) Al: There would be big problems because Godot is. (0:43:04) Al: open source and therefore more likely to be used by smaller teams, and they are less likely to be focusing on consoles at all more likely to be focusing on just PC because that is the easiest for. (0:43:18) Kev: Uh-huh (0:43:18) Al: I mean, it’s just the easiest to develop for full stop right because there’s no gatekeeper right like that has has been the case for a long, long time. (0:43:20) Kev: Yeah, I mean yes, yes, that’s correct (0:43:26) Kev: And probably will always be the case because just the nature of the beast so yeah (0:43:28) Al: Exactly. (0:43:29) Al: Exactly. (0:43:30) Al: Exactly. (0:43:31) Al: So there’s, they’re probably simplifying. (0:43:33) Al: Things in what they’re saying, you know, these things happen. (0:43:40) Al: I would like to clarify again, please, if you’re backing a game on Kickstarter, if you (0:43:47) Al: want it for console, don’t back it on Kickstarter, right? (0:43:50) Al: Like just, just like it’s the console is always like, it is when the Kickstarter happens normally, (0:43:59) Al: the way that it is happened is there is a working version of the game. (0:44:03) Al: It may not be final. (0:44:04) Al: It may not have all the content, but they have a game and it can run on PC. (0:44:08) Al: There will be nothing running on console at that point. (0:44:11) Al: And it’s very likely, unless they are a team that have ported to console before, it’s very (0:44:16) Al: likely that they have no idea what they’re doing with consoles at all, right? (0:44:20) Kev: Yep. (0:44:21) Al: And this, this isn’t meant to be harsh on them. (0:44:24) Al: This is just a fact that if you have, if you’re not a console developer, you do not know how (0:44:29) Al: complicated it is. (0:44:30) Al: I am not a games developer, right? (0:44:33) Al: I’m a web developer. (0:44:34) Al: And even in web development, there are things that if you don’t know how it works, it is (0:44:38) Al: so much more complicated than you realize. (0:44:42) Al: And there are just certain things that are more awkward. (0:44:45) Al: And if you haven’t started development on it, you don’t know how complicated it is. (0:44:49) Al: And it is likely not going to be done until the game is finished. (0:44:52) Al: That’s the other thing, right? (0:44:55) Al: Even Stardew Valley still doesn’t get updates out day and date on console, right? (0:45:00) Kev: Yeah. (0:45:01) Al: and stardew valley (0:45:03) Al: is one of the biggest indie games, full stop. (0:45:06) Kev: Yeah. (0:45:07) Al: It’s not like he’s only on his own anyway. He has a team that he works with, he worked with (0:45:12) Kev: Nice. (0:45:12) Al: porting companies before, he has done many different things, and even he can’t do it. (0:45:20) Al: It takes so much work, even big companies struggle with that. (0:45:26) Al: It is rare for a game to come out at the same time on PC and console unless you are one of (0:45:31) Al: of the biggest games and they will. (0:45:34) Al: Completely different teams working on the PC version, working on the switch version, working on the PlayStation version Xbox is different because they’re like the Microsoft of well, pretty much Microsoft have done so much work and I, you know, I’m the first to jump on Microsoft a bad bandwagon, but Microsoft have done so much work to make putting games to Xbox so incredibly easy it’s not. It’s still not just as simple as click a button. It does. (0:45:36) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:45:41) Kev: Yeah (0:45:44) Kev: They are a PC (0:46:03) Al: It does it, but it is so much easier than any other console. If you have an existing PC game, especially if you’re using the tools that Microsoft give to make the game on PC. (0:46:07) Kev: Sure. Yeah. Well, I mean, guess. Hi. Hey, I’m still holding out for mighty number nine (0:46:15) Al: All that being said, all that being said, never back a Kickstarter for a switch game. Just don’t do it, right? (0:46:25) Kev: on the 3DS. Uh, but. (0:46:31) Al: I have, I have, when I, when I bought my steam. (0:46:33) Al: Dick, it was so good because it meant that I could go through and like change (0:46:37) Al: all of my kickstarters to use to steam codes instead of switch get codes. (0:46:41) Kev: Mmm, yeah, at least (0:46:41) Al: And you get the game a year before, right? (0:46:44) Al: It’s just every, every, every single one is there’s none of them. (0:46:49) Al: Not a single game that I have backed on Kickstarter has released (0:46:53) Al: on switch at the same time as steam. (0:46:54) Kev: year you’re not wrong not at all ah well you know what though in this (0:47:03) Kev: particular case there’s an easy way to fix this you know what you don’t even (0:47:07) Kev: have to release on the switch tiny garden just so you know what we’re (0:47:11) Kev: canceling it we’re investing everything into the playdate port and we’re all in (0:47:12) Al: Honestly, a Playdate port would probably be quicker, because it would have to lose features, (0:47:17) Kev: we’re good all is forgiven (0:47:24) Al: right? It’s not going to be the same, the graphics are simpler, like honestly, if they started now (0:47:31) Al: from scratch, they could probably get a Playdate version out before they could port their version (0:47:34) Kev: Well, well there you go, Tiny Guard. The path is there. (0:47:34) Al: to Switch. I’m not joking. They would of course get a fraction of the sales, right? There are (0:47:42) Al: Playdates. Yes, it does. I love the Playdate, it’s so good. I just wish I played it more. (0:47:44) Kev: the dozens look I mean I might join the dozens I’ll say that (0:48:00) Kev: Yeah (0:48:05) Al: As far as I can see, the only number I’ve seen on Playdate sales was in May of last year, (0:48:10) Al: They said 70,000 have been sold (0:48:12) Al: But that was one year into it, and we’re now a year later, so who knows
Al and Kevin talk about Tiny Garden Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:25: Anti Relationship Drama Rant 00:05:34: Actual Intro 00:06:56: What Has Kevin Been Up To 00:16:46: Anti Capitalist Rant 00:30:31: What Has Al Been Up To 00:42:44: Game News 01:03:41: Tiny Garden 01:18:27: Outro Links Len’s Island 1.0 Update Sun Haven 2.5 Update Moonstone Island “Evolutions” Update Disney Dreamlight Valley “Mysteries of Skull Rock” Update Snacko 1.0.1 Update Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time “Roguelike” Update Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home coming to Steam/Consoles Contact 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. (0:00:34) Al: My name is Al. (0:00:35) Kev: My name is Kevin last I’ve been told (0:00:37) Al: And we’re here, and we’re here today to talk about Cottagecore Games. (0:00:42) Kev: Cottage core games whoo (0:00:45) Al: Oh, (0:00:48) Al: oh, we are here. (0:00:51) Al: We’re going to talk about when we are here, I’m alive. (0:00:54) Kev: No (0:00:54) Al: So if I sound tired, this episode is because I’ve had a very busy Saturday. (0:00:58) Al: We were meant to record on Sunday, (0:01:00) Al: to schedule a meeting with me on a Sunday instead. (0:01:04) Al: So I’m doing that. It’s not a work thing. (0:01:06) Al: Don’t worry, I’m not doing work at the weekend. (0:01:08) Al: But it wasn’t really a meeting I could get out of. (0:01:11) Al: So we rescheduled to Saturday, the day that I have all of the family stuff. (0:01:15) Al: So much stuff, way too much stuff. (0:01:15) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:01:17) Al: So I am here and I’m alive. (0:01:18) Kev: Now he’s getting his performance review from his family tomorrow, that’s the me (0:01:26) Al: I saw I saw a TikTok of a couple who do like weekly. (0:01:30) Al: Weekly Relationship Review and people like people got so annoyed about it and I’m like, I don’t understand why you’re annoyed about this. (0:01:38) Al: It’s not they’re not like judging each other and giving each other a right, a raise. (0:01:44) Al: They’re they’re discussing the things that they’re they’ve done and they’re discussing what they’ve got coming up this week and they’re seeing if there’s anything they need to plan and talk about. (0:01:44) Kev: - Yeah. (0:01:52) Al: This is a very good thing to do. (0:01:54) Al: And I think a lot I think the world will be a lot a better place if a lot more people who were in relationships did. (0:02:00) Al: This but I know most people who are in relationships don’t even want to be in those relationships. (0:02:02) Kev: - Yeah. (0:02:05) Al: Miserable people, measurable people who just want to mock somebody and I think the world would be a better place without those relationships. (0:02:15) Al: So but but hey, I actually love my wife. (0:02:16) Kev: Ohhh, goodness. (0:02:18) Al: So sue me. (0:02:22) Kev: I’ll come out guns blazing this episode, um… (0:02:25) Al: I just I get so annoyed with the boomer joke of like all my ball and chain. (0:02:30) Al: My wife is like, OK, like leave them then. (0:02:32) Kev: Yeah, it (0:02:37) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:02:37) Al: I just I show and why are you staying there? (0:02:40) Al: I mean, this is why your kids are terrible people, because you they don’t know what a family looks like, because you’re just going to hate your your partner and resent them for it and then take it out on your children. (0:02:53) Kev: Yeah, it’s it’s fascinating. Well, I mean obviously one the you know that attitude mentality has somewhat shifted to a degree (0:03:04) Kev: but it’s fascinating just (0:03:06) Kev: To you know, there’s been studies done and whatever I’ve read some stuff like because you know back in the day (0:03:12) Kev: You your dating pool was limited to pretty much whoever was in the neighborhood, right? (0:03:14) Al: Hmm. Yeah, yeah. Least objection will prepare us on my street. (0:03:19) Kev: Right (0:03:21) Kev: Yep, right, so you know (0:03:23) Kev: That kind of environment leads to the ball and chain mentality, right? (0:03:29) Kev: But you know current day and age with the online and the you know, generally easier ish travel (0:03:39) Kev: Obviously that’s no longer the case (0:03:42) Al: Also, you can be single, right? Like, I’m not saying it’s easy, right? Like, as someone who has (0:03:45) Kev: You can’t sure (0:03:48) Kev: Yeah (0:03:49) Al: basically never been single, right? Like, I got married when I was 22, like, I, you know, (0:03:51) Kev: Uh-huh (0:03:56) Al: been with, well, first got together with my wife when I was 16, right? So, like, I am not a single (0:04:02) Al: person. I have very rarely been a single person, but you can do that. That’s the thing you can do. (0:04:08) Kev: You, you can. Yeah. (0:04:09) Al: Like, if you hate someone, you don’t have to- (0:04:11) Kev: You can. (0:04:12) Al: you don’t have to spend your time with them! You can just not, and you can have friends instead. (0:04:14) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. (0:04:16) Al: And I suspect, if there were more people who didn’t stay in loveless marriages, (0:04:21) Al: then maybe being single would be less terrible as well, because there would be more single people. (0:04:24) Kev: Yeah, yeah, well again, you know the culture back then very different right like marriage was (0:04:25) Al: Crazy idea. (0:04:32) Al: Yeah, but it’s not a solved problem. There are still a lot of miserable people, (0:04:35) Kev: It is not you’re right you’re (0:04:36) Al: and there’s a lot of people who think that marriage is just one of the things you have to do. (0:04:40) Kev: Yeah, you know you’re right that pressure is absolutely still there um yeah (0:04:46) Al: Quite often external to the person who’s being pressured into it, I suspect. (0:04:49) Kev: Absolutely absolutely (0:04:55) Al: Friendships are important, and we need to have friendships and not assume that the only (0:04:59) Al: relationship that matters is a romantic one. There we go, I’m done. (0:05:02) Al: One name. (0:05:02) Kev: Okay, well, you know, yes, these are true. You’re saying things that are true and not particularly objectionable, but you know, you’re, you’re arguing against the hundreds of years of weird cultural nonsense so yeah, yeah, so. (0:05:17) Al: Well, there is that. (0:05:20) Al: Listeners, listeners object to it. (0:05:22) Al: I want to see your arguments for why everyone should get married. (0:05:26) Al: I will vehemently disagree with them because they’re stupid, (0:05:27) Al: and you probably don’t believe them. (0:05:29) Al: But give me them anyway. (0:05:30) Al: It’ll be fun to have an argument. (0:05:32) Kev: That’s what we do on this show. We argue against. (0:05:35) Al: We’re going to talk about Tiny Garden this episode. (0:05:37) Al: So this is the… (0:05:37) Kev: I thought we were here to delve into culturally in a relationship mechanics. (0:05:43) Al: It’s a relationship episode. (0:05:45) Al: Kevin, tell me about like. (0:05:47) Al: Tell me about your relationships, and no don’t I don’t I don’t think I don’t think the pod needs to hear them (0:05:49) Kev: Oh, yeah, I mean, that’s it. Well, romantic ones, that’s easy. They don’t exist. Otherwise, well, that’s, that’s, yeah, okay. (0:06:03) Kev: Okay, moving on, um. (0:06:04) Al: I don’t think I don’t think the podcast needs to hear your therapy. (0:06:08) Kev: Yeah, no, that that is little of my therapist is for him. Okay, I love my family but good heavens I can’t live with them can’t live without them sort of deal. (0:06:19) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:19) Al: Can’t live with them, have to live with them. (0:06:21) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:22) Al: We are going to talk about Tiny Garden. (0:06:24) Al: It is the Polly Pocket farming game. (0:06:26) Kev: Yep. (0:06:28) Al: Kevin has not played it, he thought about playing it and never did. (0:06:31) Al: I have played it a little bit. (0:06:34) Al: And so it’s going to be a reasonably… (0:06:36) Al: Kevin watched some videos. (0:06:37) Al: You watched some videos, right? (0:06:38) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I mean it’s not like it’s a particularly in-depth game, right like yeah, so even (0:06:43) Al: No, no, let’s start. (0:06:44) Al: Well, let’s save that. (0:06:45) Al: Save that for the, save that for the, save it for the pod. (0:06:46) Kev: Okay. All right. Well, okay (0:06:48) Al: We’re already in the pod. (0:06:49) Al: Save it for the appropriate section, Kevin. (0:06:52) Al: Before that, we have a bunch of news. (0:06:54) Al: This has been a reasonably busy Newsweek. (0:06:56) Al: But first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:06:59) Kev: Okay, not a lot of work as I tend to do because I’m I don’t know work (0:07:07) Kev: but (0:07:08) Kev: aside from that, let’s see here um okay you know i’m gonna take a brief second to (0:07:14) Kev: talk about zone the zone zero my segment for nobody but me um so the 2.0 update came out (0:07:16) Al: Go for it. (0:07:20) Kev: I didn’t have internet when it did but I have internet again i’ve caught up i’ve done the 2.0 (0:07:25) Kev: stuff and you know it’s added a lot of stuff that anyone who plays the game might be interested but (0:07:31) Kev: for people who don’t it did i’d be talking nonsense the the big thing I think is interesting (0:07:36) Kev: is kind of the tonal shift. (0:07:38) Kev: So Zenless Zone Zero, the 1.0, the chapter 1, whatever, the first year of the game, (0:07:46) Kev: it was the aesthetic, the tone of it was very, it’s going to sound very like 2000, like (0:07:55) Kev: OTS, you know, that decade specifically. (0:07:59) Kev: People have flip phones and they’re still like CRTs and stuff like that. (0:08:04) Kev: And it’s very sci-fi heavy. (0:08:08) Kev: The main characters are hackers. (0:08:11) Kev: And there’s these like monsters that spawn out of fake matter called the ether or whatever. (0:08:19) Kev: Anyways, the point is it’s very sci-fi heavy. (0:08:21) Kev: That’s the tone and not like super futurama or Jetsons futuristic sci-fi, just like current, (0:08:30) Kev: you know, more current day looking tech. (0:08:34) Kev: But that’s the tone. (0:08:35) Kev: I’m just comparing it to like Genshin is much more fantasy based. (0:08:38) Kev: I’m just painting the picture because they shifted the tone in 2.0, the protagonists join a temple of monks like you know like, sort of a, gosh I wish I had the proper names, (0:09:05) Kev: But you know the stereotypical like (0:09:08) Kev: Temple out in the mountains where monks are trading wonder martial arts and mysticism and that sort of thing (0:09:15) Kev: And so that’s that’s kind of the direction they’re going with (0:09:20) Kev: There’s a new like city area that you’re spending your time in. It’s very much based off (0:09:26) Kev: that kind of (0:09:28) Kev: Not so rural Japan China, but like out in the mountains sort of area (0:09:34) Kev: So it’s a very different feeling from the (0:09:38) Kev: Bay City, which is very like (0:09:42) Kev: Metropolitan lots of big buildings and skyscrapers and whatever that that one feels more like I don’t know Beijing (0:09:49) Kev: I guess you know very modern type China and this one is a more this new area. This new tone is much more traditional (0:09:57) Kev: Chinese (0:09:59) Kev: And you know, it’s it’s it’s fun. I’ll nothing’s nearly wrong (0:10:03) Kev: It’s just I don’t feel so different because the whole first year of the game (0:10:07) Kev: your your tacker person. (0:10:08) Kev: and you you you do hacker things and now you’re training to be a mystic very very odd to me at least but but but anyways regardless the game is still fun I’m still playing it yada yada so that’s that let’s see what else Pokemon unite all Kremie came out all Kremie is great it’s a supporter it does all the things you’d want it to do it it decorates and heals your team it’s unite it creates (0:10:28) Al: - Ah, nice. (0:10:30) Al: - Ow, creamy. (0:10:38) Kev: it’s a giant cake and stands on top of it and it just spreads globs of healing whipped cream to all your teammates I like all Kremie it’s very fun I mean I like all Kremie the Pokemon period and it’s great and unite so yay all Kremie um let’s see other than that uh oh you know I’m gonna take a second here to talk about card games okay so (0:11:08) Kev: you probably don’t keep up with magic the gathering years have you heard anything about magic the gathering recently mm-hmm okay okay okay yeah yeah yeah (0:11:12) Al: I used to play a lot of magic when I worked in an office because there was a magic (0:11:19) Al: league there, but I’ve not kept up basically since 2019. I’m aware that there’s been a lot of (0:11:28) Al: crossover sets recently. There was a Doctor Who one, I believe, A Lord of the Rings one, (0:11:32) Al: a Final Fantasy one, so I’m aware that they’re doing a lot of crossovers just now and there are (0:11:38) Al: many opinions about that shall we see. (0:11:38) Kev: y’all (0:11:40) Kev: there are many opinions. So the Final Fantasy one came out a week ago, I think, the Final (0:11:42) Al: Right, yeah. (0:11:46) Kev: Fantasy crossover set. And this one is a particularly contentious set for two reasons. One, it is (0:11:55) Kev: what they call a standard set, meaning that it is in the card pool. In previous crossovers (0:12:03) Kev: sets, they would kind of, you know, they wouldn’t be standard legal or tournament legal or whatever, (0:12:08) Kev: You know, they’d be kind of more for funs easy. (0:12:08) Al: Oh, interesting. Okay. (0:12:10) Kev: Or, you know, just for between friends or whatever, right? (0:12:12) Kev: This one is in, in your face, like in the card pool. (0:12:17) Kev: And a lot of people aren’t happy about it because there’s the (0:12:19) Kev: crossovers have been so prevalent lately. (0:12:22) Kev: Um, but you know, that that’s, that’s one discussion. (0:12:26) Kev: The other issue that isn’t less of opinions and more just like out cry (0:12:32) Kev: outrage, um, is the insane pricing. (0:12:37) Kev: uh… because magic the gathering has gone through the roof (0:12:40) Kev: in terms of cost (0:12:41) Kev: uh… (0:12:43) Kev: so okay you know here out for comparison (0:12:46) Kev: uh… any other game pokemon yugioh (0:12:49) Kev: work on a whatever (0:12:51) Kev: a pre-constructed deck they go out to the store and buy off the shelf (0:12:55) Kev: can be let’s say fifteen dollars on average us_d (0:12:57) Al: Mm-hmm, yep, yep. (0:12:58) Kev: okay (0:12:59) Kev: uh… it is what it is just maybe (0:13:00) Al: Science, science fair, science fair. (0:13:02) Kev: yeah right it’s it’s it’s fine (0:13:04) Kev: you know dig to get you started to a product that you can actually start (0:13:08) Kev: start playing the game, right? (0:13:10) Kev: In Magic the Gathering, so they come out with commander decks, you know, there’s different formats and command is the popular one (0:13:18) Kev: That’s that’s their primary like pre-constructed deck thing that comes out (0:13:25) Kev: Right now they came out or it was just last year they had updated the MSRP to be about you believe (0:13:32) Kev: $45 (0:13:34) Al: Oh, for a… because a commander’s 40 cards, is that right? Oh, a hundred, right? Okay, sorry. (0:13:35) Kev: USD (0:13:40) Kev: To be fair it is it is a bigger deck right, but it’s in my opinions (0:13:42) Al: My bad. A hundred cards for for $45, that’s wild. (0:13:46) Kev: You know (0:13:47) Kev: It’s pricey. It’s it’s very pricey, right? (0:13:51) Kev: I’m just you know, I think that illustrates the scale of like how much magic costs now, right? Okay (0:13:57) Kev: Final fantasy set because they know final fantasy is popular people (0:14:02) Kev: They know a Hasbro Hasbro is the the current owner of the magic franchise and makes these pricing decisions (0:14:10) Kev: They know people are gonna be excited. They marked up the MSRP for the Final Fantasy set (0:14:19) Kev: The a (0:14:21) Kev: Commander pre-con for Final Fantasy is I believe 70 USD MSRP (0:14:28) Kev: I’d say that because a lot of (0:14:30) Kev: You know, it’s a lot of local card games and shops that will run carry these products (0:14:36) Kev: they will mark up their products anyways even if there is an MSR (0:14:40) Kev: so you know these things are going through the roof like over $100 and (0:14:45) Kev: whatnot and so it’s insanity and that’s not even the premium they came out with (0:14:51) Kev: these premium versions of these decks where like the everything’s foil or (0:14:54) Kev: whatever those are 125 MSRP I think something ridiculous so so obviously you (0:15:04) Al: Hmm. Yeah. (0:15:08) Kev: You know, they are just… (0:15:10) Kev: They are just robbing the customers blind, and obviously people aren’t happy, but they are still selling like hotcakes because I don’t know, that’s the magic of players I guess. (0:15:20) Kev: As I’ve been on record, I have dabbled in magic, but I’m not very keen on those prices, so I don’t pick up a lot. (0:15:28) Kev: But, I do like Final Fantasy, and here’s the kicker, right, if the cards suck, that’d be easier just to not play, but a lot of the cards are good looking, or they look fun to play or whatever. (0:15:40) Kev: So, the temptation is there. (0:15:42) Kev: So, what I did is instead of buying any Final Fantasy stuff for magic, I went back to the actual Final Fantasy trading card game, which I need to remind people actually exists. (0:15:54) Kev: It’s still going, it’s still coming out with stuff. (0:15:56) Kev: So yeah, I did a game night with some friends, and we played out of not wanting to spend money, we dusted off some Final Fantasy decks, and that’s it. (0:16:10) Kev: That was fun. And man, the Final Fantasy TCG, it’s pretty good. (0:16:14) Kev: I like the rhythm of the game, it’s not insane or busted right now. (0:16:18) Kev: And the cards, it’s a very weird thing, but the card stock, they’re very thick and durable, it’s not a flimsy paper cardboard thing. (0:16:26) Kev: It’s very nice, it feels almost plastic-y. (0:16:30) Kev: But anyways, yeah, I picked up and played some Final Fantasy TCG, that’s fun stuff, just because magic’s insane. (0:16:40) Kev: I’m not gonna do that again right now. (0:16:42) Kev: But that that’s that’s all I’ve been going on not not too terribly much. What about you l what you’ve been up to? (0:16:46) Al: Well I want to go on an anti-capitalist rant first. So your comments about them, you know, (0:16:49) Kev: I mean as we do (0:16:56) Al: marking up the stuff, it reminds me of a thing I’ve been annoyed about recently, where people (0:17:04) Al: will go “oh everything’s expensive” and then other people go “oh that’s just supply and demand” (0:17:09) Al: as if supply and demand is like some inherent law of physics that means that (0:17:16) Al: the price is out of our hands. The demand is high therefore the price must be high. (0:17:23) Al: Yeah that’s not how that works. It’s not like the price is determined by, you know, (0:17:29) Al: what a seller wants to sell for it and what a buyer wants to buy for it and meeting somewhere (0:17:32) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:17:34) Kev: Right. (0:17:36) Al: where, you know, if they try and put it too high then people won’t buy it blah blah blah etc etc. (0:17:40) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:17:41) Al: And supply and demand just says that as demand, as supply increases… (0:17:47) Al: and demand decreases, no, is that what I said? There’s a point in the middle where they meet (0:17:53) Al: and you’ve got like a ideal price, if you will, based on the amount of supply and the amount of (0:17:53) Kev: Yes (0:17:57) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:17:59) Al: demand. And all really supply and demand means is that if there’s a high demand and a low supply, (0:18:05) Al: they can charge basically whatever they want, right? Like that is how it’s not like the price (0:18:12) Al: has to be sold for a certain point, right? Like they just go, we know people are (0:18:16) Al: going to buy it, therefore supply and demand says we can charge more, and we’ll get more money. (0:18:22) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:18:23) Al: Right? Like that is just how it works. And I just, it gets really frustrating when people are like, (0:18:27) Al: “Oh, it’s just supply and demand.” As if, “Oh, don’t look at me. I’m not the one deciding the (0:18:32) Al: price. Supply and demand is deciding the price.” What are you talking about? That’s not how this (0:18:38) Al: works, right? Like we decide prices, and if people think it’s too high, and they don’t buy it like (0:18:45) Al: you have done. (0:18:46) Al: enough people did what you were doing, they would have to decrease the price to sell (0:18:48) Kev: Yeah. Well. (0:18:50) Al: it. (0:18:51) Al: But of course, we are willing to spend the money. (0:18:54) Al: Enough people are willing to spend the money that they can just sell it for whatever they (0:18:58) Al: want and people will keep going up. (0:19:01) Al: You know, it’s like how, it’s the reason the Mario Kart world is $80. (0:19:07) Al: It’s because they know people will buy it and supply and demand for the record makes (0:19:11) Al: no sense in our digital economy, right? (0:19:15) Al: like there is no there is no (0:19:15) Kev: Yeah, and it is. (0:19:16) Al: it’s infinite supply so theoretically supply and demand should say that if (0:19:21) Al: there’s infinite supply there should be a very very low price it just like that (0:19:26) Kev: Yeah well, well, yeah (0:19:28) Al: is but no that’s not how it actually works because that’s the price is based (0:19:33) Al: on what people are actually willing to pay but that’s if you if you took purely (0:19:35) Kev: Yes, yeah (0:19:38) Al: supply and demand and nothing else and said this is what this means digital (0:19:42) Al: games should be free. (0:19:43) Kev: Well, that’s it. Well, here’s the thing, right? Okay, as I’m sure you can, I’ve only took like two economics class. I do a little economics though, but here’s the thing, right? Supply into it. That is, what is supply? You want to dive into that? That’s what determines supply. Now we’re getting into something, right? (0:19:58) Al: All right, yeah, okay, fair enough. Fair enough. I guess like the supply for a digital game (0:20:06) Al: is the number of consoles that are, right? Like you’re not going to… (0:20:08) Kev: Yeah, or, or, right, it’s, yeah, and, and in terms of the price. (0:20:13) Kev: Right, like the, you know, that, what did you see in economics? (0:20:16) Kev: You see the, you see like a graph, right? (0:20:19) Kev: Which is like, I guess number of units and number of, uh, and the price or whatever. (0:20:23) Kev: And so you’re right. (0:20:24) Kev: Um, it, uh, it gets weird digitally, but what determines that graph? (0:20:30) Al: That’s my point. That’s my point is there’s so, there’s so many things that break down. (0:20:31) Kev: Where does, yeah. (0:20:33) Al: It’s not in an, in a, in a, I love the, have you ever had the physics joke, um, which is, uh, Oh, two seconds. (0:20:43) Al: Let me double check so I don’t end up saying it. (0:20:46) Kev: Is it, I mean, I know a couple physics joke as an engineer, nerd, major, degree holder. (0:20:53) Al: So, there was the physics joke, right, where there’s a farmer whose chicken wouldn’t lay (0:20:59) Kev: Uh-huh, yep. (0:20:59) Al: any eggs. And to solve the problem, he hires a physicist. And the physicist says, “Oh, (0:21:06) Al: I’ve come up with a solution, but my solution requires a spherical chicken in a vacuum.” (0:21:08) Kev: Uh-huh. (0:21:12) Al: And the point of that joke is that so many things in physics are theoretical and only (0:21:17) Kev: Yeah, yeah. (0:21:19) Al: work in a very specific set of scenarios. (0:21:23) Al: And you can’t then necessarily say, “This happens here, therefore that happens in (0:21:28) Al: the real world as well.” (0:21:29) Al: And I feel like a lot of economics of that is that as well. (0:21:32) Al: It’s like in this perfect ideal economic world where these 10 things all exist, then this (0:21:36) Kev: Yeah (0:21:39) Kev: No (0:21:39) Al: will happen. (0:21:40) Al: And it’s like, but that’s not how the world works. (0:21:42) Al: And digital games is a perfect example of how that just completely falls on us. (0:21:46) Al: It falls over, right? (0:21:47) Al: Like, because it just, it doesn’t make any sense. (0:21:49) Al: What is supply when you’re talking about a digital thing? (0:21:52) Al: It’s not a thing. (0:21:53) Al: Right? (0:21:54) Al: It doesn’t make any sense. (0:21:54) Kev: Yeah, and and I’m really we yeah, you know we can get down to it really if (0:22:02) Kev: This would be a more interesting conversation if you know, we were looking at just supply factors like okay (0:22:09) Kev: How do you distribute, you know, what are the competition yada yada, whatever, right? (0:22:13) Kev: But we all know the truth in the current day and age late-stage capitalism, whatever you want to call it (0:22:19) Kev: there is a significant portion of that price being determined by (0:22:24) Kev: The shareholders the see the executives. They just want a whole lot of money (0:22:30) Kev: the day (0:22:32) Kev: That’s that’s what it all boils down to oh (0:22:34) Al: Yeah, yeah. (0:22:36) Kev: Man, man. Okay, you know, all right since we’re on this (0:22:40) Kev: The absurdity of economics and and prices I’ll go back. I’ll go right back to magic (0:22:46) Kev: Are you familiar with magic 30? (0:22:48) Al: I am not. Is it a version of Magic where you have 30 cards? (0:22:52) Kev: No (0:22:52) Al: Ah, good guess though, right? (0:22:55) Kev: Yeah, oh that mmm, you know, I actually I think standards 40 so you’re not far off that that would be fun, but um, okay (0:23:05) Kev: Okay, here it is so this was a couple years ago (0:23:11) Kev: Magic the Gathering (0:23:14) Kev: Whatever Hasbro was to the coast whatever they released a project called magic 30 or it’s the med the 30th anniversary edition set (0:23:23) Al: - Ah, okay, yep. (0:23:25) Kev: Okay, this was this was a 2022 that the year was okay (0:23:30) Kev: and so (0:23:32) Kev: it’s it’s probably the most absurd like magic product ever released because (0:23:40) Kev: each box (0:23:41) Kev: This product contained 15 booster packs and these booster packs the cards inside them were like, oh, you know (0:23:48) Kev: Very classic original magic cards or whatever with original art (0:23:53) Kev: So much so that (0:23:55) Kev: It was so faithful to the original stuff that because magic rotates and has you know form different formats (0:24:01) Kev: They actually said okay. None of these cards are actually going to be playable (0:24:06) Kev: They’re just not gonna be legal in anything. It is basically just fake real fake cards that we’re printing. We’re collecting I guess (0:24:16) Kev: Okay (0:24:18) Kev: How how much would you pay for a box of (0:24:23) Kev: 15 packs of fake cards. (0:24:24) Kev: Real fake cards, Al. (0:24:26) Al: I mean it depends what it is, right? Like, so let’s create a scenario where this is Pokémon, (0:24:32) Al: right? It’s essentially just like a collector’s deck that you can never use in tournaments. (0:24:36) Al: I’m not going to use it in tournaments, it doesn’t really affect how much I would pay for it, right? (0:24:40) Al: Like I’m a sucker who will pay stupid amounts of money for collector’s things, (0:24:45) Al: so probably way too much money. I think if we’re… So if we’re just talking a deck, (0:24:48) Kev: Okay, give me (0:24:51) Al: so we’re talking… How many… Was that a 40 pack, a standard set? (0:24:52) Kev: Yeah (0:24:54) Kev: It was 15 packs is what it was here. Yep. No, no (0:24:57) Al: Oh, 15 packs. Oh, it’s not even a deck, right? OK. So let’s go with… (0:25:06) Al: I feel like in the world where this is Pokémon, maybe I’m paying like £5 a pack, (0:25:08) Kev: You know what hope (0:25:14) Al: because that’s more… I think it’s like £3 a pack just now in the UK, (0:25:18) Al: so we’re maybe talking like £75. And that would feel like… That would maybe feel like a lot, (0:25:22) Kev: Okay. (0:25:24) Al: and I’d be like oh I don’t know how (0:25:27) Kev: Okay. (0:25:28) Kev: So let’s see, five pounds, I’ll just forget. (0:25:30) Kev: Okay, that’s about six, seven USD. (0:25:32) Kev: Okay, sure. (0:25:34) Kev: So times 15, that’s, what is that? (0:25:36) Kev: 50 plus 25, that’s 75. (0:25:38) Kev: Okay, so that’s 75 pounds, (0:25:40) Kev: which yeah, about 100 USD maybe. (0:25:42) Kev: Okay, okay, I see what you’re saying, right? (0:25:45) Al: But like, that’s not “I’m definitely going to buy that.” (0:25:47) Al: That’s “Ooh, that feels like a lot. (0:25:50) Kev: Yeah, sure, sure, sure. (0:25:50) Al: Maybe I would buy it if it was something I really wanted.” (0:25:52) Kev: Right. (0:25:53) Kev: Yeah, okay, that’s the crazy price. (0:25:55) Kev: And then that’s good, okay. (0:25:57) Kev: Yeah, okay, I understand. (0:25:58) Kev: You know what, I can see that. (0:26:01) Kev: Yeah, you know what? (0:26:02) Kev: I could agree with that price, right? (0:26:04) Kev: For the hardcore collector who really wants the thing. (0:26:07) Kev: Yeah, you know what, I could say that. (0:26:09) Kev: All right, now, what if I told you the price (0:26:12) Kev: of this magic product was 10 times what you just told me? (0:26:16) Al: What? Ten times. So what? A thousand? A thousand dollars. That is… (0:26:20) Kev: 10 times. (0:26:22) Kev: USD. Yup, 999 technically. laughs (0:26:28) Al: I mean, OK, right. So we laugh at that, but Pokemon basically did that, right? With their… (0:26:33) Al: They had a collector’s box, limited edition, and it was several hundred dollars. I can’t even remember (0:26:40) Kev: - Sure, wasn’t four digits. (0:26:41) Al: it was. But like, I mean, that was more than that was, I wasn’t four digits, it was. (0:26:46) Al: Three digits, but I feel like it was not far off it, and it did include, it did include, (0:26:50) Al: like, you know, very nice dice and card sleeves and stuff like that. I can’t remember how (0:26:54) Kev: oh yes you know if you get a nice uh is it like the charizard premium collection is that the one (0:26:55) Al: much it was. Do you know the box I’m talking about? No, no, no, I’m talking about there (0:27:00) Kev: you’re talking or is it a different one oh oh the the one yes the really nice one that they (0:27:02) Al: was like an. Yes, the like all black one, I can’t remember what it was called. (0:27:06) Kev: did in a direct yes yes I remember that yes yeah yeah to be fair like didn’t that have like a full (0:27:13) Kev: set of cards or whatever like it wasn’t just packs even right like it was like designed as a game (0:27:19) Kev: almost right that you could play with someone um oh gosh the (0:27:21) Al: Yes. Yes. Oh, there we go. It’s the class. I think it’s the classic box set. Yes, it (0:27:25) Kev: classic yeah black something like that I can’t remember um (0:27:30) Al: was a full set. You could play a full game and it looks like it’s brand new here. It’s (0:27:32) Kev: yeah yeah yeah pokum (0:27:35) Al: £400. So quite a lot. So that’s maybe what? $500. And we’re talking and presumably the (0:27:37) Kev: yep yeah yeah yeah okay (0:27:45) Al: packs were just the packs. There wasn’t anything else with them. (0:27:50) Kev: Yeah, okay. I’m looking on Pokemon Center. It says 400 USD, I think (0:27:52) Al: Yeah. Okay. And it was like recreations of the original cards and it was like full on (0:27:55) Kev: But regardless at least it was a full dang set. They could play with you know people, right? (0:28:02) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:28:03) Al: nostalgia, but it was a full set. You could sit down with just this box and play an entire (0:28:09) Kev: Yeah, you could play different games and stuff right at least it’s that right this was literally (0:28:15) Kev: MT the MTG 3 was literally 15 packs. That’s all it was (0:28:19) Al: That’s wild, so we’re talking more than twice the price of this, (0:28:24) Al: and it doesn’t include any of the extra stuff. It’s just 50. (0:28:24) Kev: Yep (0:28:26) Kev: Nope not even I mean, I mean maybe you could make a deck it wouldn’t work probably but you know like (0:28:33) Kev: You can’t you can’t play you can’t open this and play again with friends. I don’t think unless you’re just making up (0:28:34) Al: And this box is insanely expensive, this Pokémon one. (0:28:41) Kev: Yeah, yeah it is (0:28:42) Al: You know, for what it is, of course it’s sold out, because everything Pokémon sells out. (0:28:46) Al: But yeah, wow, that’s mad. (0:28:48) Kev: Yeah, I know yeah, that’s yep, that’s wild um oh wow actually I’m looking online you can buy (0:28:56) Kev: There’s one here on TZG player for like 250 is that right huh anyways, but still yeah (0:29:02) Al: Still, still too much money. (0:29:04) Kev: Yeah, no, that’s a lot. Don’t get me wrong, but I just (0:29:07) Al: And that’s a quarter of the price of 15 packs of this magic one. Mad. That’s, that is wild. (0:29:09) Kev: Yeah (0:29:12) Kev: Magic 30th (0:29:14) Kev: Good times (0:29:15) Al: All right. Are we done with the anti-capitalist rants? Capitalism is bad. We hate it. (0:29:16) Kev: so yeah (0:29:17) Kev: So (0:29:20) Kev: We’re done (0:29:22) Al: Don’t, don’t abuse supplying to man to rip people off just because you can. (0:29:24) Kev: Hasbro is bad (0:29:28) Kev: I will say this (0:29:30) Kev: So about Magic 30th (0:29:34) Kev: They were going to have a limited run or whatever (0:29:38) Kev: Oh, there’s going to be X number of boxes produced or whatever (0:29:42) Kev: And so, you know, it was a big deal (0:29:44) Kev: Okay, we’re launching the sale on this time on the website, yada yada (0:29:48) Kev: We got down the sale, I think, after like an hour (0:29:52) Kev: There was no explicit reason given (0:29:54) Kev: But most people assume they didn’t sell a thing (0:29:58) Kev: That’s what I’m thinking (0:30:00) Kev: Or what most people think (0:30:02) Al: That’s crazy. (0:30:02) Kev: Anyways, there you go (0:30:03) Al: It’s a thousand it’s a thousand pounds as well. (0:30:04) Kev: Your fun anecdote in Magic history (0:30:06) Al: I’m looking at it on on the UK site, it’s a thousand pounds. (0:30:06) Kev: Yup, yup (0:30:10) Kev: Oh, goodness (0:30:11) Al: Each display worthy box includes 15 card for 15 card booster packs. (0:30:16) Al: Oh, wait, it’s not 15 packs, it’s four packs. (0:30:18) Kev: Oh, I misread that, it’s four p- (0:30:22) Kev: Oh, yeah (0:30:23) Al: It’s 60, it’s 60 cards. (0:30:24) Kev: 60 cards, oh my gosh (0:30:26) Kev: Oh, that’s incredible (0:30:29) Al: That is so stupid. (0:30:30) Kev: Tell me about your week out (0:30:32) Al: Uh, but I’ve been playing Mario Kart, that’s that’s all I’ve been playing. (0:30:38) Kev: Man (0:30:40) Kev: So you talked about it, I talked about it (0:30:44) Kev: I don’t know if we stressed how good Knockout Tour is (0:30:46) Kev: That’s a good mode. (0:30:47) Al: Yeah, so I’ve been, when we last talked about it, I had not played the knockout tour by that point. (0:30:54) Al: I was going through the Grumprees, three-starring them. I finished the Grumprees, they’re all (0:30:59) Al: three-starred, and I am halfway through the knockout tours, three-starring them. Yeah, (0:31:04) Al: I really like them. I will say, it is a bit frustrating when you go through, because it’s (0:31:10) Al: eight gates, you have to go through with the last one being, that’s your final position unless you (0:31:15) Al: you get an octave before. (0:31:17) Al: And so to get three star in a knockout tour, you have to come first in every single gate, (0:31:24) Al: which is a lot of work. (0:31:27) Al: And I’ve been a couple of times where I’ve gone, yeah, there’s a couple of times where (0:31:31) Al: I have gone, like, it takes a while to get through the first gate, but after you got (0:31:35) Al: the first gate, you can quite often get a lot of gates, right? (0:31:38) Kev: Yeah (0:31:38) Al: There’s one knockout tour that I’m struggling on just now where I sometimes get knocked (0:31:42) Al: out of the third gate, which is very frustrating, but most of them, it’s like, if you get past (0:31:47) Al: that first gate, unless you mock up, you probably can do it reasonably easy, but getting past (0:31:52) Al: that first gate can be difficult. (0:31:55) Al: There’s been multiple times where I’ve gotten first on the first seven gates, and then coming (0:32:00) Al: forth. (0:32:01) Al: And it is so frustrating because like in a grand prix, if you could, I know, but in like (0:32:02) Kev: I mean that’s Mario Kart. Winning is losing. (0:32:06) Al: a grand prix, if you come, if you come first, first, first, fourth, you would get one star, (0:32:12) Al: go you’d win and get a one star. (0:32:14) Al: is if you come first, first, first, first, first, first, (0:32:17) Al: you come fourth. So it’s like, like, I understand that. That’s the point of the race. It just (0:32:24) Kev: - Yep. (0:32:24) Al: makes it really, and it like, it doesn’t really matter because I’m going to play it until I get (0:32:27) Al: three stars, right? But it’s just a little bit frustrating to be like, I was first every time (0:32:32) Al: and then I got knocked. I got hit by just too many shells and now I’m done. What I do really like is, (0:32:38) Kev: Yep (0:32:39) Al: I don’t know if there’s no rubber banding, but there definitely seems to be less rubber banding (0:32:43) Kev: Well that I mean, I think that’s kind of the (0:32:43) Al: in the knockout tour. (0:32:48) Kev: Why it works so well because you’re gonna have less people that you can’t rubber band if there’s only you know (0:32:53) Kev: Now half the contestants or whatever. All right, like instead of rubber band (0:32:55) Al: Well, it’s not, it’s not, yeah, I mean, right from the start though, like if you get out (0:32:59) Al: ahead of the pack really early, you can make a really big lead, which is important to be (0:33:06) Al: able to actually, you know, because you’re going to get hit, right? You can’t keep getting (0:33:09) Kev: Mm hmm. We’re right, right. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. (0:33:10) Al: in horns to not get hit by blue, blue shells, and you can’t get enough stuff. As soon as (0:33:16) Al: someone has like three red shells, you’re dead, right? You can’t protect from that unless (0:33:21) Al: you like get hit by the second one just before you go through another. (0:33:25) Al: So you’re going to get hit, and so you need that good distance to make sure that you (0:33:29) Kev: Yep. Yep. (0:33:35) Kev: Yeah. Mm hmm. (0:33:36) Al: have enough time. But on the other hand, it means that if someone gets ahead quickly, (0:33:40) Kev: Yep. (0:33:41) Al: it’s really hard to catch up with them. (0:33:43) Kev: It is. Um. (0:33:45) Al: Whereas in our Grand Prix, you can like hang back for like two laps and then just smoke everyone. (0:33:50) Kev: I think Bullet Bill or Golden Shroom. (0:33:51) Al: You can’t do that. You cannot do that in a knockout tour. (0:33:54) Kev: Yeah. Yep. Absolutely. (0:33:56) Al: But it’s fun. I’m enjoying it. I’m definitely enjoying it. (0:33:58) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. (0:34:00) Al: It definitely feels like what they wanted to do with the Grand Prix, but they didn’t. (0:34:03) Kev: Mm hmm. Yeah. (0:34:03) Al: And so I’m more frustrated now that the Grand Prix have these weird in-between bits. (0:34:09) Kev: That’s the thing. They’re not even in between bits. They’re just part of the race. (0:34:13) Al: Yeah. Yeah. (0:34:13) Kev: Like, that’s the weird part, right? Like, they told us they’re in between, but it’s not. (0:34:17) Kev: Um, that’s the weird part. (0:34:18) Al: It just means that the first lap on your next one is on the previous course. (0:34:25) Al: And then the second lap is like half the previous course and half the new course. (0:34:29) Al: And then you get one lap on the course. It’s just such a weird setup. (0:34:32) Kev: Yeah, and it’s it’s not there’s nothing inherently wrong with it especially since they designed this whole island it makes sense right but it’s still boggles my mind that they didn’t include the classic grand prive you know three laps around a track. (0:34:46) Al: Yeah, that’s the thing. That’s the thing. Anyway, but whatever. I’m still really loving the game. (0:34:48) Kev: Um, yeah. (0:34:50) Kev: Yeah. (0:34:53) Al: It is good fun. I like a lot of the changes they made. It feels, well, that’s the thing. (0:34:54) Kev: Yeah, it’s good it’s it’s Mario Kart shocker. (0:34:58) Al: It feels good because I don’t, there’s not a huge number of kart racers that feel good to race for (0:35:02) Al: me. And that’s a really important thing about Mario Kart. And they’ve, they’ve, they’ve, they (0:35:03) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:35:06) Kev: Yep, that is true (0:35:09) Al: hit it out of the park with that. Like all the changes they made make it feel smoother and feel (0:35:14) Al: nicer, like, you know, what I was talking to you about, like, when (0:35:16) Kev: Yeah (0:35:16) Al: you get hit by cars and stuff like that, it just all feels more fun. (0:35:18) Kev: Yeah (0:35:19) Kev: You’re right (0:35:21) Kev: You’re right. Yeah, I agree. It is it like just (0:35:25) Kev: Mechanically does feel more fluid because you’re right like in the old days when you got hit that was just like a hard stop (0:35:30) Al: Yeah, spin around three times and come to a halt. (0:35:31) Kev: Here you kind of tumble forward a little (0:35:34) Kev: Yeah (0:35:36) Kev: Yeah, I agree. Um, I mean, yeah overall like I agree. It’s it’s it’s good (0:35:42) Kev: I wish we I think it just needs more (0:35:46) Kev: We don’t actually it has a battle mime in try that but we need the three lap (0:35:52) Kev: Classy Grand Prix and we need more to actually do with free range. The free range is kind of nothing right now (0:36:00) Al: Yeah, it’ll be interesting to see if they add more in the future. (0:36:00) Kev: Like you (0:36:02) Kev: Yeah (0:36:03) Al: I don’t know. (0:36:04) Al: We’ll see. (0:36:04) Al: I’m not, I’m not, I’m not like, Oh, they must do it. (0:36:05) Kev: And I (0:36:07) Al: Or it would be a bad game. (0:36:08) Al: Like if it never changes again, I don’t think it’s not worth the money, (0:36:09) Kev: Yeah, oh yeah for sure oh (0:36:12) Al: but I would also like more please. (0:36:13) Kev: Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it’s (0:36:16) Kev: not a bad game. I need to stress that just, there’s, there’s just potential, you can feel it, (0:36:21) Kev: but you can feel what you can do, right? Like, can you imagine a, you know, I feel like there should (0:36:27) Kev: be modes that use the free range, like, sort of like tag, basically, right? Or, or, you know, (0:36:32) Al: Mmm, yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:36:34) Kev: something like that, something to chase, chase a rabbit or whatever, stuff like that, to give you (0:36:39) Kev: an excuse to run around the island, not just on the tracks. And, you know, that’s kind of what they (0:36:42) Al: Do you know what I hope they do? I really hope that they charged as much as they charged for (0:36:43) Kev: want. You tell. (0:36:48) Al: this game because they intend on not doing paid DLC but what they would do in paid DLC they’re (0:36:56) Al: adding industry updates. That would be really nice and it’s like yeah because then they get (0:36:59) Kev: that would be nice (0:37:01) Kev: I can see it going either way (0:37:03) Al: more money overall if they do that than if they charge less money and then charge the DLC because (0:37:07) Al: not everyone’s going to buy the DLC. But it (0:37:12) Al: would I think it would lead a lot of people to be less frustrated because I think if they add (0:37:17) Al: if they do a DLC and they charge for it people are gonna be like even more money you want even (0:37:18) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:37:21) Kev: Yeah. (0:37:22) Al: more of my money and I think that would be not great and if they added more as free updates I (0:37:27) Kev: Yeah. (0:37:28) Al: think people would go oh okay uh there’ll be people who like this should have been in the beginning (0:37:30) Kev: What? (0:37:33) Al: but I think those people are stupid and that’s not how games work anymore deal with it it’s like (0:37:35) Kev: Yeah. (0:37:38) Kev: Yeah! (0:37:39) Al: it’s like the people who, it’s like the people who talk about (0:37:42) Al: er, so it’s one thing talking about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and saying this is how the (0:37:46) Kev: Yeah, the game should have worked (0:37:46) Al: games always should have been, right? Like I’m putting that to the side. I’m not, I’m not talking (0:37:50) Al: about those, but I’ve seen people, I have heard people say this is what Breath of the Wild should (0:37:55) Al: have been with the Switch 2 update. And I’m like, no, it’s not. That is, that is an eight year old (0:37:58) Kev: what those people aren’t saying (0:38:02) Al: game. You cannot possibly believe that you think this game should have looked like this eight years (0:38:08) Al: ago. When this game came out, people adored how it (0:38:12) Al: looked amazing. The Switch, it still does. Even if you don’t have the update, it still (0:38:14) Kev: It still does shock her. (0:38:18) Al: looks amazing. It just looks even better if you have the update. It’s absolutely bizarre (0:38:22) Kev: Yeah, eggs (0:38:24) Al: that people are like, “This sort of shows.” But shut up. That is not how this works. That (0:38:28) Kev: Sheets oh (0:38:30) Al: is not how this works. (0:38:30) Kev: That’s insanity (0:38:33) Kev: Well, you know, okay on the topic on the topic of the DLC is it’s interesting because I think if they and I do think they’re (0:38:42) Kev: Gonna support the game because as you said, that’s just how (0:38:45) Kev: Games are now. Um, I think there there has to be free (0:38:52) Kev: because you know (0:38:53) Kev: He they’ve they’ve kind of put them corner themselves because in previous Mario Kart’s DLC is very or you know (0:39:00) Kev: It’s obvious what you do. You add more tricks, right? Here’s your next cup. Here’s you know, daddy out of here’s (0:39:05) Kev: Four cups buy them for ten bucks or whatever here. You can’t do that at least not had a (0:39:10) Kev: that easily right because you (0:39:13) Kev: They’re not gonna jam a new section of the island and gate it off with the DLC (0:39:14) Al: Oh, yeah, good point. (0:39:17) Al: That’s a good point. (0:39:19) Al: We’re going to need another island or the island get expanded or something like that. (0:39:19) Kev: right, so (0:39:22) Kev: Yeah, so (0:39:25) Kev: There’s I think there’s a couple I think there’s a couple things one (0:39:25) Al: Hmm. (0:39:28) Kev: I think we’re gonna see free modes like we’re talking about right like I don’t know what but they’re gonna I think they’re (0:39:31) Al: Yeah. (0:39:32) Kev: Gonna use more of the island because they have the island that would that’s obvious use more use it more, right? (0:39:37) Kev: There might be you know, maybe they will introduce three lap mode and then they can sell DLC tracks (0:39:43) Kev: Just you know your classic. Okay, here’s four tracks (0:39:44) Al: Yeah, so you know what, you’ve made me come to the conclusion. (0:39:49) Al: I think what’s going to happen is there will be those feature updates will be free (0:39:52) Kev: You (0:39:55) Al: and then new tracks will probably be paid. (0:39:55) Kev: Yeah (0:39:58) Al: I suspect that’s what’s going to happen. (0:39:58) Kev: That’s that is what I also suspect I do think yeah, yep, that’s (0:40:01) Al: That is a good point. (0:40:03) Al: Because then they can charge for like a whole other island, right? (0:40:07) Kev: Yep or just tracks if they want to do you know if they go back to three laps, but yeah or just another island yeah (0:40:09) Al: I can’t see. I can’t. I can’t see. (0:40:14) Al: I’m doing that going like the whole point is this America world also here are some (0:40:18) Al: tracks you can only do in if you if you choose them in the menu. (0:40:20) Kev: Yeah, that’s a good point. I guess (0:40:23) Al: Like that feels weird and you go into free room in free room free room and you (0:40:27) Al: choose which island you want to free room on or there’s a bridge between the two (0:40:29) Kev: Yeah (0:40:31) Al: islands or something like that. (0:40:33) Kev: Okay, the bridge might work yeah, but you raise a good point it could be a whole new island I I can see that (0:40:38) Kev: But but overall like yeah, I think we’re in agreement. There’s gonna be some sort of features modes (0:40:43) Kev: Whatever they’re gonna end those are gonna be free. Absolutely (0:40:46) Al: Also, let us free Rome on Rainbow Road, please, and thank you. (0:40:49) Kev: That it (0:40:51) Kev: I (0:40:52) Al: Maybe Rainbow Road is the bridge. (0:40:55) Kev: Hear people talk about that because of course, but there’s a part where you’re literally crashing there (0:40:58) Al: Yeah, I know. (0:41:03) Kev: How you gonna free-rope that (0:41:05) Al: But, I mean, if you fall off, you go back. (0:41:09) Kev: You just okay, all right (0:41:09) Al: You have to go back to the start of it. (0:41:10) Al: There you go. (0:41:12) Al: I can see why it would be annoying, and I know why they haven’t done it, but that doesn’t (0:41:15) Kev: Yeah, okay (0:41:15) Al: mean I don’t want to do it. (0:41:18) Kev: You know (0:41:20) Kev: On the rainbow road like on this in this one (0:41:23) Kev: I there’s points where I think it’s the absolute best rainbow road they’ve ever done and there’s points where it’s the worst one (0:41:32) Kev: Like I think the lot of it is great. It’s fantastic. It’s it’s a it’s a real spectacle this one (0:41:38) Kev: But then there’s points where you’re not actually on the rainbow road. There’s bits where you dip on water and other weird stuff (0:41:45) Kev: I don’t like that, but but that just me (0:41:48) Al: I haven’t done it enough to have a full opinion because I actually got (0:41:53) Al: that Grand Prix I got in on my second try. I got three stars. So I was like, “Oh, oh well.” (0:41:58) Kev: No dang, look at you hotshot. (0:42:01) Al: So it’s the only one. Other ones took me many, many, many more tries. But yeah, (0:42:05) Al: that one I was like, “Oh my word, I just got it in the second try. That’s wild.” (0:42:09) Kev: Nice. (0:42:10) Al: Because I actually, the first time I did it, I got 1-1-4-1. And so I was like, “Oh no, (0:42:15) Kev: Oh, dang. (0:42:17) Al: If I get– I think I can– (0:42:18) Al: do this, and then I managed to get it the second time. (0:42:20) Al: It was very satisfying, but– (0:42:21) Al: So I need to go back and do it some more. (0:42:23) Al: I don’t think I’ll be getting a second time in the– (0:42:26) Al: is there a knockout tour with Rainbow Road? (0:42:28) Kev: I don’t remember off the I don’t think there is now I’m guessing there isn’t (0:42:32) Al: Yeah, OK. (0:42:34) Al: So I’ll need to go back and try it, just– (0:42:37) Al: either with the Grand Prix or just on its own. (0:42:38) Kev: Yeah, I guess nothing else from your week you want to talk about (0:42:39) Al: All right, should we talk about some “Cottagecore” games? (0:42:43) Al: 40 minutes in. (0:42:45) Al: We’ve got some news. (0:42:47) Al: So first of all, Lens Island. (0:42:48) Al: 1.0 is now out, I believe, I think you talked about it with Cody in the last episode, so we (0:42:52) Kev: We did (0:42:53) Al: don’t need to go over much, but it’s now out! Huzzah! They also di
Al and Kev talk about the Wholesome Direct Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:53: Feedback 00:03:18: What Have We Been Up To 00:30:35: Snacko 1.0 00:32:46: Wholesome Direct 01:04:25: Outro Links Snacko 1.0 Wholesome Direct Wholesome Games Contact 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. (0:00:34) Al: My name is Al. (0:00:36) Kev: I’m Kevin. We’re back baby. This is the first episode back, right? (0:00:38) Al: They said they said we couldn’t do it, Kevin. (0:00:41) Al: They said we couldn’t do it. (0:00:43) Al: We said we couldn’t go on a break and come back because no one goes on a break (0:00:46) Kev: The they being you, I think primarily. (0:00:48) Al: and then comes back. (0:00:52) Al: No, everyone. (0:00:53) Al: Nobody believed in me. (0:00:57) Al: But here we are. (0:00:58) Al: back and here we are here today to talk (0:01:00) Al: about so many Cottagecore games like so many that I think some might just be that’s a game (0:01:03) Kev: Oh, a lot like they double. (0:01:06) Kev: It in the last five minutes. (0:01:13) Al: moving on we’ll see we’ll see we are we are here today to talk about the Wholesome Direct (0:01:14) Kev: Yeah, probably a lot of them we’re talking about the wholesome direct everyone (0:01:23) Al: specifically and a bunch of stuff in that not everything because it was an hour long and (0:01:30) Al: talked about everything in an hour long presentation we would probably be here all day and it’s already (0:01:37) Al: half eight at night that’s that’s also that’s also true so we’re going to talk about that we (0:01:37) Kev: and we don’t have enough to talk about it (0:01:40) Kev: ‘cause we don’t care about all of them. (0:01:46) Al: do have one piece of news that I want to cover before that and before that we’re going to talk (0:01:53) Al: about what we’ve been up to but first of all Kevin we’ve got feedback this is being sent in by Katie (0:01:56) Kev: Oh! (0:02:00) Al: of the show I have been listening to the podcast for some time now and it’s a highlight of my week (0:02:02) Kev: Uh-oh. (0:02:06) Al: not last two weeks so sorry I really enjoy hearing your honest and sometimes brutal opinions on games (0:02:06) Kev: When did we ruin it for her? (0:02:14) Al: and I especially enjoy how positive and how much energy Kev has on his solo episodes keep up the (0:02:21) Al: amazing work. There we go Kevin. You got a shout out. (0:02:23) Kev: Okay, I’m going, I’m trying to refrain from, you know, being sarcastic or whatever, putting myself down. But thank you very much. Sincerely, that means a lot. I have a lot of practice talking to myself. I think that’s what it is in my head space. Now, I just put a mic in front of it. (0:02:38) Al: I feel like the brutal opinions on games has to be talking about Shugadu Island, right? (0:02:54) Kev: Oh, I feel like there’s a number of episodes we could point to, including the ones we like. (0:02:58) Al: That is the particularly bad one. Well anyway, thank you Katie for the feedback. If you too (0:03:00) Kev: Yeah. (0:03:05) Al: want to send feedback you can do it on the website harvestseason.club (0:03:08) Al: There’s a feedback from there. Come send us more and you’ll get a mention on the podcast. (0:03:12) Kev: Yeah, all right. (0:03:15) Kev: You’d like right now, yay. (0:03:16) Kev: Thank you, Katie. (0:03:17) Kev: I very much appreciate it. (0:03:19) Al: Next Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:03:22) Kev: Boy, what do I– (0:03:23) Kev: Well, my internet has been out for a week, (0:03:27) Kev: so let’s start with that. (0:03:28) Al: That’s unfortunate. (0:03:29) Kev: Yep, it’s been a headache. (0:03:33) Kev: But here I am using not working internet. (0:03:40) Kev: But that’s kind of– (0:03:42) Kev: affected a lot of my gameplay, because so I didn’t realize just how many of my games are like online only. (0:03:48) Kev: Or have to connect to servers or whatever, like Zendless on Zero has a 2.0 update. I haven’t played that. Marvel Snap, (0:03:55) Kev: I don’t get that many games in this week. My phone’s dying, so it can’t– for whatever reason Snap just crashes on it now. (0:04:01) Kev: So I have to pretty much play on PC these days. (0:04:05) Kev: But Unite is gone, so on and so forth. (0:04:09) Kev: The one game I have been playing though (0:04:12) Kev: Unicorn Overlord, are you familiar with that, Al? (0:04:14) Al: I am. I’m a photo. (0:04:16) Kev: Okay, oh man, it’s… (0:04:20) Kev: So I picked it up on sale, it was like 30 USD, which is pretty cheap for a game of this size. (0:04:24) Kev: Um, it’s for people unfamiliar, it’s a strategy, real-time game. (0:04:32) Kev: I like Fire Emblem, but real-time. (0:04:34) Kev: And Good Heavens, this game does all the things I like in that game. (0:04:40) Kev: Um, okay. (0:04:42) Kev: So, have you ever played a Fire Emblem, Al? (0:04:44) Al: No. (0:04:44) Kev: Okay, but I assume you’re familiar with the concept of super-trust, right? (0:04:47) Al: Yeah. (0:04:48) Al: Yeah. (0:04:48) Kev: Yeah, okay. So, like I said, that’s correct. (0:04:51) Al: They’ve all got swords, that’s what I’m aware of. (0:04:54) Kev: And Unicorn Overlord also has swords. (0:04:56) Kev: Actually, Unicorn Overlord has a lot of Fire Emblem stuff. (0:05:00) Kev: It’s very much like an homage/love letter to a lot of strategy games, Fire Emblem included. (0:05:06) Kev: So, it has a lot of the elements borrowed from that. (0:05:10) Kev: that are like likely it feels (0:05:12) Kev: less like trying to knock them off and more become the wash / love letter anyway (0:05:19) Kev: so unlike Fire Emblem which is grid based this is not grid based it’s real (0:05:24) Kev: time you just send your units point A to point B and they’ll travel as close to (0:05:29) Kev: straight line as they can also they in Fire Emblem each character is a single (0:05:36) Kev: unit in this game you assemble teams of up to five characters in one unit with (0:05:42) Kev: front row and a back row so all of a sudden the complexity is through the (0:05:46) Kev: roof and it’s really enjoyable in my opinion right you got tanks in front (0:05:50) Kev: archers in the back so on and so forth and each character you can load them out (0:05:58) Kev: with different equipment skills and stuff and Fire Emblem is like every (0:06:02) Kev: character gets like two or three items that do almost just that’s basically but (0:06:07) Kev: in this one you can you can change their move sets so there’s (0:06:12) Kev: it like layers and layers and layers of complexity which is (0:06:15) Kev: really, really good. Yeah, I really, really like this game. (0:06:20) Kev: I’m at 60 hours so far. Yeah, good. No internet. So just (0:06:26) Kev: crushing it. But it is. It’s the arts really nice. Very, very (0:06:31) Kev: pretty. But but oh, great, great stuff. Um, yeah, that’s that’s (0:06:38) Kev: kind of the big thing I’ve been up to. (0:06:42) Kev: All right, Al, what about you? (0:06:44) Kev: Tell me– tell the poor pleb about the switch, too. (0:06:46) Al: The Switch 2, what? What are you talking about? Yes, yes, I’ve got the Switch 2 and I’ve been (0:06:52) Al: playing Mario Kart World. I haven’t had a huge amount of time on it yet. As we are talking, (0:06:58) Al: I have been… I was away. I was not at home when the Switch 2 came out on Thursday, and (0:07:06) Al: it was delivered to my home. I didn’t get back till Saturday evening, and so that’s (0:07:11) Al: about 24 hours ago as of now. So, yeah, I’ve not had a huge amount of time. (0:07:16) Al: Especially as obviously I had to set it up, and you know, I have kids and a life, and (0:07:20) Al: I can’t just always play the game. But I have put in a couple hours into it, both myself (0:07:27) Al: and me and my son playing it together, and it’s fun. I enjoy it. What I will say is that (0:07:35) Al: I love a lot of the… It’s a lot more reactive in terms of like, your character does a lot (0:07:44) Al: more while playing, which makes it feel (0:07:46) Al: a lot more real, right? Like there are more reactions to things. And, uh, so it’s really (0:07:54) Al: hard to explain, but there’s just lots of little things that they do that make it feel real. Um, (0:08:00) Al: the animations are all more detailed. Uh, when you, when you hit a car, you don’t now just like (0:08:07) Al: stop in the same way that you do when hit by, uh, uh, you know, a weapon you like get knocked to (0:08:15) Al: the side and you can actually (0:08:17) Al: there was one today where I was like hit it in such a way that I actually just ended up going up on two wheels (0:08:24) Al: and continuing to move. (0:08:26) Kev: What? (0:08:28) Al: Yeah, exactly. So there’s just lots of little things like that. (0:08:30) Al: It’s you don’t, whereas in Mario Kart 8, if you hit a vehicle, no matter how you hit it, (0:08:37) Al: you would just, you would just stop. (0:08:37) Kev: You do the somersault, you know, or whatever, yeah, uh-huh, yeah. (0:08:38) Al: Yeah, exactly. You’d just do the standard. (0:08:40) Al: I’ve been hit by something I have now stopped, whereas that’s not necessary. (0:08:44) Al: If you hit it, like, straight on, you will slow down. (0:08:46) Al: And, you know, spin off to the side. (0:08:49) Al: But if you hit it in certain ways, you can actually just keep going. (0:08:52) Al: It just depends on exactly how you hit it, which makes it a lot more fun, I think. (0:08:59) Al: And, you know, different weapons do different things depending (0:09:03) Al: on where they hit you and how they hit you and stuff like that. (0:09:06) Al: Which it is, it is, it’s really interesting. (0:09:06) Kev: Really, that’s fascinating. (0:09:10) Al: And it just, yeah, just the animations, like, you feel like the character moves (0:09:16) Al: the vehicle. It doesn’t just feel like you are one car, one model, stuff like that. (0:09:20) Kev: Wow, that’s the power of the Switch 2. (0:09:26) Al: Or is it the power of, like, 10 years of developing the next Mario Kart game? (0:09:31) Kev: No, no, this wasn’t possible on the Switch 1. (0:09:34) Kev: Impossible, absolutely. (0:09:38) Al: And I also like how, so one of the things about this game is obviously you’re just choosing (0:09:44) Al: a car rather than like choosing the body. (0:09:46) Al: The wheels and what’s it called, parachute. (0:09:49) Kev: Right. (0:09:53) Al: I quite like that because there’s less for you to have to think about. (0:09:57) Al: But what I do like is that each of the carts looks slightly different depending on the character. (0:10:04) Kev: Wow, that’s impressive. (0:10:06) Al: It’s not just like the base cart, the Mario cart, that if you’re Mario it’s red with the M on it. (0:10:10) Al: If you’re Luigi it’s green with the L on it. (0:10:14) Al: if you’re the cow, it’s grey with the cow. (0:10:16) Al: They put a lot of attention to detail in this game, a lot of effort. (0:10:18) Kev: - That’s all. (0:10:28) Kev: Wow, that’s impressive genuinely, like wow, that’s attention to detail. (0:10:38) Al: It’s really fun. Some things are going to take some getting used to like the controls are (0:10:44) Al: are obviously slightly different. (0:10:46) Al: The thing that’s knocking me off a lot is in eight and before, if you wanted to hold (0:10:54) Al: like a shell or banana behind you, you would have to hold down the fire button. Whereas now (0:10:58) Kev: Mm-hmm. Yeah. (0:11:02) Al: that happens by default. So as soon as you have it in the priority slot, it is behind you. (0:11:06) Kev: Okay, huh, I think. Okay. Sure, sure. I feel like at least one (0:11:09) Al: And then if you press it and hold it, it will just fire it. So I have spent a lot of time (0:11:17) Al: things because I was trying to have them behind me. But that’s just how you get used to it. (0:11:21) Al: And eventually you’ll stop doing that. But yeah. (0:11:25) Kev: other Mario Kart did that. But it’s not as common at the very (0:11:30) Al: possibly. Well, that’s the thing. Like, do I remember how things before 8 actually worked? (0:11:30) Kev: least, or regardless, it’s been what 10 years with our hard part (0:11:34) Kev: eight. (0:11:36) Kev: That’s how - that’s how video game historians - yeah, yeah. Now that’s fair. That’s how (0:11:39) Al: No, I do not. I’m not an idea. I don’t go back and play old Mario Kart all the time, right? (0:11:46) Al: That’s not my life. (0:11:50) Kev: video game historians chronicle things in the BMK8 era or the AMK8 era. But that’s (0:12:00) Kev: good stuff. Okay, how does - how does the free driving world… (0:12:04) Al: I haven’t done any of that yet. I’ve just been playing Grand Prix. I will say… (0:12:08) Kev: Mmm. Well, I mean, but you - you have between the phrases now, right? Like, that’s - you feel a (0:12:14) Al: So yeah, so I think no, is how I’ll say it. It is not like what I think Free Run will be at all. (0:12:15) Kev: taste of it. (0:12:26) Al: You’re not really driving between the courses. How it is, is yes you are driving, like you start (0:12:32) Al: Start on the finish line of the previous course. (0:12:35) Al: And then the first lap is to the starting line of the next course. (0:12:42) Al: And then this, and then you’ve got the second and third laps are on the course. (0:12:46) Al: It depends on what course it is. (0:12:47) Al: Like some of them are shorter, like baby park, and you actually have like then (0:12:51) Al: multiple laps around it, or a lot of them aren’t just like a single loop that you (0:12:56) Al: do a certain number of times. (0:12:57) Al: A lot of them are like the ones where you, you just have one long course that (0:13:01) Al: you do different sections of. (0:13:03) Al: It just depends on what it is. (0:13:05) Al: I am, I don’t really like it. (0:13:09) Al: I personally would just prefer the standard you’ve got your three courses (0:13:13) Al: and you do your three laps or however many laps. (0:13:16) Kev: » Sure, sure. (0:13:16) Al: Um, the driving between it just feels kind of tacked on and it almost feels (0:13:22) Al: like they wanted the open world thing. (0:13:24) Al: And sure, fine. (0:13:25) Al: I don’t, I I’ve not tried it yet, but I, I can imagine it’d be interesting. (0:13:30) Al: Um, but the all you must drive between the courses, the bit that is (0:13:35) Al: between the courses feels pretty either feels pretty generic and boring, or just (0:13:40) Al: feels like the previous course that you just finished and you’re like, I don’t (0:13:44) Al: understand why I’m still doing this course when I’m on the next course. (0:13:49) Al: And it doesn’t, the other, the other thing that I found a bit weird was it (0:13:52) Al: doesn’t start straight away. (0:13:55) Al: Like once you hit the finish line, you go into like, Oh, here’s the rankings. (0:13:59) Al: And then you have to start it again. (0:14:01) Al: And then because you’re starting again, you’re starting on the finish (0:14:04) Al: and it just feels like that’s a weird jarring thing. (0:14:08) Al: It’s like, Oh, you finished that race. (0:14:10) Al: Now let’s start the next race on this point. (0:14:13) Al: Like where you just finished, like it just, it feels like an idea that someone (0:14:17) Al: had, and then they went, yeah, let’s do that. (0:14:20) Al: But they never really did anything with it. (0:14:22) Al: And it almost would have felt more realistic or more interesting. (0:14:28) Al: If it just, the race hadn’t stopped at any point, or maybe if it, if you have. (0:14:35) Al: You have to wait for everyone else to get there, like, if you just like stayed in (0:14:40) Al: position at that point, and waited for everyone to catch up, but the fact that (0:14:41) Kev: Yeah, in that way, kind of– (0:14:46) Al: it goes like, Oh, now we’re going to like cut to this other screen, like they do in (0:14:50) Al: previous Mario carts, where you show the rankings, it almost defeats the purpose (0:14:54) Al: of then, then driving between the two courses. (0:14:57) Kev: Yeah, that’s so weird to me because, yeah, that doesn’t from the way it was described, like, that would have been, you know, what I would have thought, right? Like, you there, you know, you hit the finish line and then you just keep driving and maybe ranking is on the side or something. (0:14:57) Al: It’s like, well, what happened, what happened in that time? (0:15:00) Al: Because now I’m back on the finish line. (0:15:16) Al: 100% why I expected. And I guess the reason they don’t do that is they want everyone to catch up (0:15:19) Kev: That’s wild. (0:15:21) Al: so that you’re all starting at the same time for the next race. Sure, fine. But I feel like you (0:15:25) Kev: But, okay. (0:15:27) Kev: Yeah, but what’s the point? Like, that’s baffling to me. (0:15:28) Al: could have done that transition better, right? I don’t– I understand why they want something (0:15:34) Kev: Um… (0:15:37) Al: like this. It feels like it’s another mode, and I feel like they should have kept Grand Prix (0:15:41) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:15:44) Al: as it was. And then this was like (0:15:45) Kev: Yeah. (0:15:47) Al: a new type of tour. A grand tour instead of a grand prix. I’m not saying this is bad, (0:15:48) Kev: Yeah, that’s what they should have done. Absolutely. Yeah, exactly. There you go. (0:15:56) Al: I’m saying I don’t like that this is instead of what we had before. (0:16:00) Kev: Right, right. I get that. Yeah, from what you’re describing, it doesn’t… (0:16:05) Kev: Yeah, it sounds like they fumbled that execution just a little bit. (0:16:09) Kev: And if you’re not here completely removing the standard Grand Prix for that, like, that’s a problem. That’s rough. (0:16:14) Al: Exactly. (0:16:16) Al: Exactly. (0:16:17) Al: Exactly. (0:16:17) Kev: Well, we’ll see. Like, I mean, I… I mean, I personally think we’re going to get DLCs that are just going to be standard Grand Prix-type modes. (0:16:19) Al: We will see. (0:16:30) Al: Interesting. I can’t see them not doing DLC for this. For two reasons, one, they did two sets of DLC for the previous game, and two… (0:16:31) Kev: Because… (0:16:35) Kev: Right, exactly, right? (0:16:40) Kev: Mm-hmm. And DLC for the remastered version of the game, that DLC. Yeah. (0:16:46) Al: Well, yeah, that was the second one. But anyway, secondly, it doesn’t feel like there’s enough races, because you have, like, eight. (0:16:56) Al: And it doesn’t feel like (0:17:00) Al: enough to me. I’m not regretting buying the game, especially because I got it in (0:17:01) Kev: Not anymore (0:17:05) Kev: Yeah (0:17:06) Al: the bundle, right? But I totally get why people are like, Oh, that feels like a lot (0:17:10) Al: of money for eight, eight grand prix. Especially when like, the preview, like, I don’t, I’m (0:17:18) Al: not expecting it necessarily will be free DLC. And obviously people complain about that, (0:17:23) Al: right? They’re like, Oh, you’re charging us $80 and then you’re also charging us more (0:17:24) Kev: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Sure. Yeah, yeah, that’s what I suspect too. (0:17:27) Al: courses. But I can (0:17:30) Al: see the DLC being reasonably cheap, and it’s just like $10 or whatever, right? (0:17:36) Al: But it just, yeah, eight just feels, eight isn’t even as many as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had. Eight (0:17:42) Al: Deluxe had 10. And so eight had eight, of course. Mario Kart 8 had eight courses, and then they (0:17:44) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:17:48) Kev: Yeah (0:17:51) Al: added on eight grumpries, sorry, and then they added on two, I think, for DLC initially. And then that (0:17:56) Kev: - DLC, that’s correct. (0:17:57) Kev: - Yeah. (0:17:57) Al: That was all bundled together as Mario Kart 8 delivered. (0:18:00) Al: So Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had 10 and then they doubled in the other DLC, yeah. (0:18:00) Kev: - And then they doubled the number. (0:18:05) Al: So it just feels a little bit meh that we’re not even, we’ve not even got as many races as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. (0:18:12) Kev: Yeah. Yeah, that’s fair, right? Like it’s, I think the pain point is just this, the way you’ve described how they fumbled their new Grand Prix version, right? Because like I could, I could live with eight cups or whatever, if it was the standard Grand Prix that, you know, you could just do ad nauseam like, you know, other Mario karts and it’d be fine. (0:18:12) Al: And then this is more expensive. (0:18:15) Al: None of that, none of that feels good. (0:18:43) Kev: But if you’re replacing that and given something that feels a little worse or a little awkward, yeah, it’s going to be rough. (0:18:51) Al: And let me get and let me point out the courses are really good. (0:18:55) Kev: Sure. Yeah. Are there any, any new ones you’re fond of that you’ve seen so far? (0:18:57) Al: And like. (0:19:02) Al: The the one I particularly like, obviously, I’ve not done them all. (0:19:06) Al: And I’ve not done them all yet, but the one that I’m particularly (0:19:10) Al: enjoying is the Donkey Kong one, I can’t remember what it’s called. (0:19:12) Kev: hmm is uh I don’t know which one because there’s obviously been a handful or if it’s a new one but uh okay (0:19:18) Al: Yeah, let me check. (0:19:20) Al: I think it’s a new one. (0:19:21) Al: And that I think is really fun. (0:19:25) Kev: oh yeah they saw they showed that one in the trailer first yeah that one looked cool (0:19:32) Al: You’re essentially it’s one of the ones that’s not like laps. (0:19:35) Al: It’s one specific course and you end at the end. (0:19:39) Al: And what I really like it is you’re essentially going through a Donkey Kong level, right? (0:19:44) Al: Like you’re going up this course and then at the end at the top is a robotic Donkey (0:19:46) Kev: Really? That’s cool. (0:19:51) Al: Kong, throwing barrels down at you. (0:19:53) Kev: Oh, that’s so cool. (0:19:55) Al: So I really like that and there’s like lots of stuff to avoid and there’s bouncy pads (0:20:01) Al: and stuff like that. (0:20:03) Kev: That’s so cool (0:20:06) Kev: And I can’t wait to check that out (0:20:08) Kev: But I mean, obviously we’re nitpicking but still Mario Kart, right? Like it’s still the overall good (0:20:12) Al: Yeah, I don’t regret it. I obviously want the bundle, but if I paid full price for this, (0:20:18) Al: I still wouldn’t be regretting it. It is still really good fun and it’s still going to sell (0:20:20) Kev: Yeah, yeah. Oh, absolutely. And cow is playable. Yep. Wait, really? That’s hilarious. That’s incredible. (0:20:22) Al: like bonkers. But yeah, I mean, and Caro is one of the best characters to actually play (0:20:30) Al: as. It’s one of the meta characters. It is, yeah. So yeah, I’m enjoying it. I get why (0:20:37) Kev: Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure. Mm-hmm. Well, that’ll be– that’s awesome. (0:20:42) Al: people might be frustrated with it and I haven’t tried everything in it yet, so I guess (0:20:47) Al: we’ll see. (0:20:50) Kev: Can’t wait to hear more people. I haven’t heard much about it, (0:20:54) Kev: but I’m obviously interested in the free roam mode or whatever. But good stuff. (0:21:04) Kev: How was vacation world not– how was touching grass? (0:21:07) Al: Yeah, I wasn’t really on holiday. I was still working. In fact, I was working more than (0:21:12) Kev: Oh, were you? (0:21:13) Al: I normally do. I was just doing it in a different place. But I didn’t have my kids, so it was (0:21:15) Kev: Oh, that was me this week, too. (0:21:21) Al: relaxing in some way. No, I had fun. It was a little bit frustrating on the Thursday at (0:21:21) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:21:27) Al: the end to be like, “Everyone’s getting their Switch too, and mine’s at home. I just can’t (0:21:30) Al: get it.” But it was only two days. It was only two days, yeah. But it wasn’t even (0:21:30) Kev: mmm your squid word and patrick and sponger outside (0:21:37) Al: like it feels worse than the people who just weren’t getting it, I feel, right? Because (0:21:42) Kev: yeah yeah yeah yeah (0:21:42) Al: you’re like, “Oh yeah, that’s annoying, and I don’t have it, and I feel like I’m missing (0:21:46) Al: out.” But I was like, “I have paid money, and I have had one delivered to me. It’s just (0:21:51) Kev: I shouldn’t be missing out (0:21:52) Al: I am not where it is.” (0:21:55) Kev: oh there yeah I can see that that’s funny yeah obviously I haven’t gotten my (0:22:00) Kev: i’ll probably have or well not mine i’m getting one for calvin next week is a little late birthday (0:22:05) Kev: present um so i’ll be able to join the ranks of people driving his cow and talking about it (0:22:16) Kev: 24 racers that’s insane (0:22:16) Al: um it is and it does it does mean that you like especially the there’s a lot of kind of I think (0:22:24) Al: they might need to do some rebalancing in terms of how things work especially like the rubber (0:22:28) Al: banding and stuff like that because like if you don’t if you if you don’t get up to first place (0:22:30) Kev: Oh, yeah (0:22:33) Al: quickly you’re probably not going to stay there uh um the the middle just feels absolutely insane (0:22:36) Kev: Oh, that’s good. Oh, that’s good stuff. I (0:22:41) Al: just now. So, yeah. (0:22:43) Kev: Can’t you know back in back in the old days there are eight racers (0:22:55) Kev: It’s crazy to think like there are some chunks with that many characters (0:22:59) Al: You have to have two whole pages to view everyone. (0:23:00) Kev: in a race (0:23:03) Kev: The rankings, oh my goodness. Oh, that’s incredible. Oh (0:23:10) Kev: Good time (0:23:12) Al: The other thing I’ve tried out on my Switch 2 is Pokemon Violet, and let me tell you, (0:23:18) Al: obviously if you didn’t like the game before, you’re not going to like the game suddenly (0:23:20) Kev: Right, it doesn’t fix a lot of the core design issues, but yeah. (0:23:21) Al: now that it’s running at a decent speed. (0:23:24) Al: Exactly, it’s still the same game, but my word is incredible. (0:23:29) Al: If you like the game, it is an incredible upgrade, just so good. (0:23:36) Kev: - Mm-hmm, but yeah, yeah, I’ll sit. (0:23:41) Al: It drives me insane whenever I see anyone talking about this and people will reply and (0:23:45) Al: be like, “Oh, it’s $500 to get the game how it should have been.” (0:23:49) Al: I don’t shut up. (0:23:50) Al: I don’t care. (0:23:51) Al: It doesn’t matter. (0:23:52) Al: Yeah, you don’t like it. (0:23:53) Al: Don’t play it. (0:23:54) Al: Don’t buy this. (0:23:55) Al: Shut up, right? (0:23:56) Al: Let me enjoy the fact that this game now runs incredibly. (0:23:59) Al: And you know what I’m most excited for with this is how well I think the new game’s going (0:24:05) Al: to run. (0:24:06) Al: Because there’s no way it will run worse than this, right? (0:24:10) Kev: Well, well. (0:24:10) Al: Because well, no, no, no, let me, let me, let me. (0:24:13) Al: So my point is, right, like it is a clearly a much more small and focused world, right? (0:24:19) Al: And one of the big issues of this game was the fact that the world is like all loaded (0:24:23) Al: at once. (0:24:24) Kev: Oh, oh you’re talking about ZA. I thought you meant yeah. Okay. Oh no. Yeah. Yes (0:24:25) Al: Yeah, yeah. Oh, no, I’m not even thinking about that. (0:24:29) Al: just now. Not even thinking about that just now. (0:24:30) Kev: Yeah, ZA is gonna be great. Yeah. Sure sure sure. Yeah, that’s fine (0:24:34) Al: And so if this game runs this well, like surely that game will run just as well. And (0:24:40) Al: it’s going to be so good. And I think it looks, it looks better, right? Like a lot of the (0:24:45) Al: thing about this game is that it just looks bland and meh. And yeah, the character models (0:24:46) Kev: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. (0:24:51) Al: don’t look amazing in the new game, but I don’t really care about that, right? Like everything (0:24:55) Al: else in my opinion looks a lot nicer, kind of like the, you know, the (0:24:59) Al: bright colours in the night. I think the night time in particular is going to look really good in that game, especially on (0:25:04) Kev: I agree. Yeah, that is nice, right? Because, like, okay, obviously, we all know I’m unknown, (0:25:12) Kev: Scarlet Violet, Disparage or Dissenter, whatever you want to call it, right? I’m critical. (0:25:16) Al: For fair reasons, I’ve like, I’ve not, I’ve never, I’ve never said that your reasons are not the totally fair reasons. (0:25:18) Kev: Just a little bit critical. Like you said, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, like, you know, there’s a lot of design choices. (0:25:30) Kev: Design Choices. (0:25:32) Kev: I don’t like other people who I like. (0:25:34) Kev: It’s not fixing those issues, but like I think just how poorly it ran. (0:25:44) Kev: You know that like I’m an Nintendo fan. (0:25:46) Kev: I’m a Pokemon fan. (0:25:48) Kev: I don’t care about technical stuff, generally speaking, right? (0:25:52) Kev: But like it was just so bad that even even someone like me, it felt embarrassing. (0:25:58) Kev: Like it was rough. (0:26:00) Kev: So it’s nice to have at least that improved. (0:26:01) Al: No one, no one defends it. Right? Like with, with other, with other games, like Legends, (0:26:08) Al: like some of us are like, actually, I like how it looks, right? Like I, you know, I don’t, (0:26:10) Kev: Yeah (0:26:12) Al: I think that a lot of that is down to taste, but with, with the performance issues in this (0:26:14) Kev: Sure (0:26:17) Al: game, it was just embarrassing. Nobody justified it. And if anybody even tried to, you’d be (0:26:19) Kev: It would nope, yeah, yeah (0:26:22) Al: like, come on, like let’s be real here. You can like the game and still admit how terrible (0:26:28) Al: the performances. Whereas now, it’s just… (0:26:29) Kev: Yep (0:26:33) Kev: Yeah, it’s crazy I’ve seen clips online it’s wild the difference (0:26:38) Kev: I genuinely did. (0:26:42) Kev: I did not think it would upgrade that much. (0:26:44) Al: Yeah. And that’s handheld as well, not even docked. In handheld, it feels incredible. (0:26:47) Kev: That’s crazy. (0:26:52) Kev: Important question. (0:26:55) Kev: Have you tried the raids? (0:26:57) Kev: Because that was the… (0:26:57) Al: I have not. Yeah, I’m not convinced it’s going to make a massive difference to raids, because (0:26:59) Kev: Okay, ‘cause that’s… (0:27:00) Kev: I mean, it’s great the world runs right now, (0:27:02) Kev: but the raids, like… (0:27:05) Kev: Oh. (0:27:08) Al: I think a lot of the issue with raids was the internet communication. But I don’t tend (0:27:12) Kev: Yeah, probably, but I was curious it’s like (0:27:17) Al: to do raids a huge amount. I do them when there’s a seven star out, if possible. If (0:27:20) Kev: Yeah (0:27:21) Al: possible I do them as a solo build, so I don’t have to deal with other people. (0:27:23) Kev: Mm-hmm, I yeah. No, that’s fair (0:27:28) Kev: But yeah, that’s uh (0:27:30) Kev: Because if raids were good like I genuinely might be tempted (0:27:35) Kev: Consider another playthrough to give it a second chance on switch do but anyways, not that I’ll have one for a while, but (0:27:42) Al: Well, we’ll see, we’ll see. (0:27:42) Kev: Anyways, that’s good stuff (0:27:46) Kev: that (0:27:47) Kev: that’s nice and (0:27:49) Kev: Yeah, good on you Pokemon team for putting the effort to make that happen (0:27:54) Al: Yeah, I clearly, like, I wonder whether they’d been working on this before the game came (0:28:00) Al: out or whether this is in reaction to the game coming out and being terrible. Because (0:28:04) Kev: Yeah. (0:28:05) Al: they did tell us, like, oh, we hear you and we understand. And the question is, was that (0:28:11) Al: the point where they go, oh, we can’t just, like, let this go. Like, this is something (0:28:16) Al: we actually need to deal with. And then, obviously, they’ve gone, like, decision made. Do we try (0:28:21) Al: Try it our best to make it work as well on the switch, or do we just… (0:28:24) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:28:24) Al: take all of the nonsense that we’re going to get for the next two and a half years, (0:28:28) Al: and then throw it all on the switch too, and hope that we gain back the positives for that. (0:28:35) Al: I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case, right? That is a decent… That timeline works, (0:28:38) Kev: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. (0:28:43) Al: that’s more than two years. I could absolutely see that they hadn’t even considered this (0:28:45) Kev: Mm hmm. (0:28:48) Al: until the reception was so bad, and then they’ve gone, “You know what? We do need to deal with (0:28:52) Kev: Yeah, also (0:28:52) Al: this and they had a small team dealing (0:28:54) Al: with that for the last couple of years. (0:28:56) Kev: Sure, I’ll I’ll you know, I’ll say that they probably (0:29:02) Kev: Whenever they found out switch to upgrades we’re gonna have which I imagined was relatively early, you know, I (0:29:08) Kev: Imagine they were planning one for scarlet violent (0:29:10) Kev: I don’t see a version where they weren’t gonna do that (0:29:12) Kev: What I don’t think is I don’t think they were gonna put in the effort they did for this because that I think was reactionary (0:29:20) Kev: Because I think they wanted to (0:29:22) Kev: You know try to clean up their act if you know if it had come out (0:29:27) Kev: Not as good or you know if the original game might come out better (0:29:32) Kev: I don’t think it would have been this huge of a jump because they probably just (0:29:32) Al: Well, yeah, yeah. I mean, because it wouldn’t be better. I don’t know. Yeah. I do feel like (0:29:37) Kev: You know, then yeah. Well, yeah. Well, that’s true, but they wouldn’t put the effort, you know what I mean (0:29:43) Al: I do think a lot of this is like, we need to make sure people actually buy our next (0:29:47) Al: game. Let’s show them that we can actually make a good game or a smooth enough. Okay. (0:29:47) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:29:52) Kev: Yeah (0:29:53) Al: A well performing game. And, and I think that’s probably has done a lot to improve people’s (0:29:59) Kev: Yeah (0:30:00) Al: view on things, right? (0:30:02) Kev: Yeah (0:30:02) Al: People who were, you were probably worried about the next game, right? (0:30:05) Kev: Yeah, well hey, you know like I make all the jokes about you know, we could the you know, then Gen 10 could fail (0:30:12) Kev: or you know or whatever, you know, but (0:30:15) Kev: But maybe this is actually a sign that they’re actually trying to (0:30:19) Kev: They’re gonna try to double down or you know (0:30:23) Kev: put in the effort to make sure it really comes out. (0:30:25) Kev: Um yeah but okay good stuff that’s that’s really nice to know the power of the switch too. (0:30:33) Al: it’s good fun. All right, we have one piece of news I want to talk about before we just (0:30:40) Al: go through the wholesome direct stuff that we want to talk about. Snacko, Snacko decided (0:30:42) Kev: All right, what is it? (0:30:43) Kev: What is it? (0:30:46) Kev: That’s the cat game. (0:30:46) Al: that just after we released our last episode two weeks ago, they decided they were going (0:30:54) Al: going to release their 1.0, just shadow drop it. (0:30:56) Kev: That’s correct. That’s how this works in this gig, podcast world. Things happen as soon as (0:31:07) Kev: you take a break. That’s good. (0:31:08) Al: And I’m not even joking. This was a legitimate shadow drop. Like I saw the Steam news about (0:31:16) Al: Snacko 1.0 and I’m like, hold up, wait a minute. Did I miss something? And then I looked through (0:31:19) Kev: Tempting you. (0:31:21) Al: everything and nope, I did not miss anything. This was just surprise. Here you go. Here’s (0:31:27) Al: the new, here’s 1.0. So there we go. Snacko 1.0. It’s probably finally time for me to (0:31:35) Kev: Probably. I’m just looking at it, it looks nice. Yeah, that’s a, they’re little like pixely, (0:31:45) Kev: 2D, 3D thing, it looks nice, and the cat’s very cute. Yeah, good for you, Snaggo. You made it to (0:31:52) Kev: 1.0, like, that’s always a genuine cause for celebration, assuming it’s a real 1.0, (0:31:58) Kev: and not one of those 1.0s, yeah, it’s kind of 1.0, but not really, because we still have a whole (0:32:02) Kev: a whole bunch of other stuff that didn’t make it in yet. (0:32:04) Al: Yeah, I think they’ve got more updates coming, but it feels like it looks like it’s extra stuff. (0:32:09) Al: But having said that, I haven’t played through it, so I don’t know. (0:32:11) Kev: Yeah. (0:32:12) Kev: Sure, sure, yeah, yeah, I know. (0:32:14) Kev: But I’m just saying, we all know those games out there (0:32:17) Kev: that at 1.0 really should not have been at 1.0. (0:32:18) Al: Yep. Yep, yep, yep, yep, we do, we do. (0:32:23) Kev: But– but– yeah. (0:32:24) Al: It doesn’t feel, from what I know about the game and the developers, (0:32:28) Al: it doesn’t feel like something they would do. (0:32:30) Al: I don’t feel like they would just go, “Here we go.” (0:32:30) Kev: Yeah, from what– yeah, like, I also agree. (0:32:34) Kev: - Yeah, I agree. (0:32:35) Kev: Very cute game, always has been cute, still cute. (0:32:40) Kev: I might be interested in, oh, there’s a demo. (0:32:42) Kev: I might, I’ll download that demo at the very least. (0:32:44) Kev: Good for you, Snacko. (0:32:46) Al: All right, let’s talk about the Wholesome Direct then. (0:32:49) Kev: Okay, okay. (0:32:51) Kev: Before we get into, because obviously we got our list, (0:32:54) Kev: I want to comment on the presentation, (0:32:56) Kev: ‘cause man, an hour straight of wholesome and cozy, (0:33:03) Kev: Oh, it’s a little it’s. (0:33:05) Kev: A little much and you know, obviously that’s the nature of the beast, but you know, I’m just look, I don’t know how big wholesome games their operation is right and and and they’re they’re trying right like they highlight so many streamers or you know, content creators or whatever and oh good for you, you know, little spotlight on these guys, but you know, maybe, maybe just just put a little more into that, right? (0:33:06) Al: - Yeah. (0:33:32) Kev: Every, I can’t just, I’m not. (0:33:35) Kev: I’m not blaming any one streamer because they, but they all just happened to have the same, you know, just palette color palette swap backgrounds of a shelf with plushies and some plants. (0:33:46) Al: Yeah, yeah, I definitely found that as well. The other thing that I found was like everybody (0:33:50) Al: talks in this calm voice. Yeah, exactly. It’s like cosy games, right? First of all, it’s (0:33:54) Kev: - ASMR? (0:33:55) Kev: - Yup. (0:34:00) Al: not cosy games. It’s wholesome direct, right? The whole point was it’s like we want a place (0:34:03) Kev: - Yeah, huh? (0:34:05) Al: to show a bunch of games that are not just shooting zombies, right? And that is a totally (0:34:10) Kev: Yeah, yeah. (0:34:11) Al: fair thing and that’s why I like it and it doesn’t that doesn’t (0:34:14) Kev: Yeah. (0:34:16) Al: have to mean calm and quiet and trying to send you to sleep which is I definitely felt like it was I don’t know whether it’s always been like this and I’m just getting annoyed with it or whether it’s getting more like this but yeah I was absolutely the same every streamer was the exact same voice and background and I also think that there was a little bit weird and like having a different streamer to introduce every single game felt a bit weird (0:34:33) Kev: » Yeah. (0:34:46) Al: in the every time there was a streamer on they were like here’s my name here’s my channel here’s what I do and it was all the same as well it’s like oh we do everything cozy and you’re like oh my word like yes you are just the exact same as all the other ones we’ve just seen like I don’t it was yeah I agree I’m glad you felt the same because it was just too much for me (0:34:52) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. And again, and yeah, and again, I’m not blaming any individual (0:35:09) Kev: streamer because I’m sure they got their prompt and they do their thing and that’s why. But (0:35:13) Kev: when, you know, the wholesome gang people, when they were putting, cutting, pasting all (0:35:16) Kev: this together, somebody should have said, you know what, this might be a little much. (0:35:20) Al: You get, it’s the same, it’s the same with everything, right? Like it’s when, when you (0:35:23) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. (0:35:24) Al: watch a Nintendo direct and you have the two hosts who make the same terrible jokes after (0:35:30) Al: every single game, you get annoyed about that. And when you have the Xbox showcase and like (0:35:35) Al: half of them are shooting zombies in the face, it’s the same thing again. It’s just like, (0:35:38) Kev: - Mm-hmm. (0:35:39) Al: why are all these games the same? And, and why is the presentation so long? And so like, (0:35:46) Al: I think maybe we need to spread these things out a little bit more in the year, right? Like (0:35:51) Al: June, for releasing game information, do we really need to? (0:35:55) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:35:59) Kev: Yeah, I agree or or you know what I’m trying to look up a year (0:36:06) Al: It’s 2025. (0:36:08) Kev: Yeah, not our year I’m I’m trying to look to the the highest (0:36:13) Kev: The high bar of video game presentations at 2014. That’s what it was the Nintendo (0:36:20) Kev: 2014 e3 presentation. That’s the one where we had a (0:36:25) Kev: and Reggie fighting (0:36:27) Kev: With their DBZ fight with the amiibo humor that that one (0:36:27) Al: Mm hmm. Yeah. (0:36:32) Kev: Obviously not every company is gonna be able to produce goofy bits like that or whatever (0:36:36) Kev: But you know that the point is they tried right? They they put a little a little effort into the presentation (0:36:44) Kev: And so, you know, it’d be nice right? What’s crazy to me is some of these bits were like the streamers introducing game (0:36:49) Kev: Didn’t even mention the game (0:36:51) Kev: They just said he was a world premiere (0:36:52) Al: yeah yeah well there is that I i don’t know I also think like the live ones are really (0:36:55) Kev: But anyways, I digress (0:36:59) Al: annoying as well right did you watch the friday’s summer game fest it was just really it was really (0:37:01) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:37:03) Kev: No, I haven’t watched any other I’ve just seen the the bids oh (0:37:08) Al: awkward I didn’t like it and like there’s something about jeff keeley that like i’m not saying he (0:37:10) Kev: Yeah (0:37:14) Al: doesn’t like games i’m sure he does i’m sure he does like games but the way he presents himself (0:37:20) Al: is corporate students. (0:37:21) Kev: Uh-huh, yep, that’s correct. (0:37:22) Al: And I can’t take him seriously and it’s like when there was a point where he was like oh (0:37:29) Al: something some game was shown and he was like wow looks great and he moved on to the next thing (0:37:34) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. I think that’s kind of underlying the point, right? You want to get somebody (0:37:35) Al: and I’m like you did not sound sincere there, what are you on about? (0:37:43) Kev: who’s sincere about the presentation or whatever is being presented, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. (0:37:46) Al: Which Reggie did well. That was his thing. Like, he was a corporate guy and we all knew that, (0:37:52) Al: and we all knew that he would probably sell us if he could. But you also got that he cared, (0:37:55) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. (0:37:58) Al: and I don’t know whether that was real or not, but you definitely believed that he cared. (0:38:04) Kev: I mean, I think he cared, but maybe that’s just part of the whole thing he did. I don’t (0:38:09) Kev: know, but he, like the important thing is he made us believe he cared, right? He could (0:38:13) Kev: talk about his games. Like it sounded like someone who played the game or knew of the (0:38:17) Kev: game to whatever degree. And yeah, you’re right. Like that’s what we need. We just need (0:38:23) Kev: people who know, who care, who are sincere. Like they’ll, even if it’s, you know, just (0:38:29) Kev: some of a blurb, you can feel that, right? So the point to one. (0:38:34) Kev: Well, long story short, wild. I forget what the new one is. Wildflowers people call me. (0:38:40) Kev: I’ll do the blurb for your next one. I’ll do it. All right. Let’s get into it. (0:38:42) Al: Alright, let’s talk about some games then. I don’t know if you’ve got anything else that (0:38:49) Al: you want to talk about other than the stuff that’s in this list, because I think, but (0:38:52) Kev: OK, there’s– here, let me see if I can find a– (0:38:53) Al: I think this is all the Cottagecore related stuff in my list. Let’s go, let’s go with (0:39:01) Kev: just go to– I’ll be looking up another list. (0:39:04) Al: it. So we started off with Story of Seasons Grand Bazaar. No new real information, but (0:39:10) Al: There was a new trailer with some. (0:39:12) Al: Uh, bits and pieces and, uh, I’m going to be honest. (0:39:15) Al: I’m really excited about this game. (0:39:16) Al: I think I’m, I’ve, I never played the original obviously. (0:39:19) Al: Um, and it does things a bit differently. (0:39:20) Kev: Yeah, it looks it looks good. I’ll say that. It looks like it has that, you know, Nintendo (0:39:21) Al: Um, so I’m excited to play it. (0:39:32) Kev: C.Lo quality story of seasons quality that they do. It looks good. I’ll say that. Yeah. (0:39:32) Al: Next one that I wanted to talk about was gourdlets together. So it’s a new gourdlets game. It’s (0:39:44) Al: a multiplayer gourdlets game. Which I feel like is a fun thing to add into a gourdlets (0:39:50) Al: game. I guess the question is, does this feel like it should have been a separate game or (0:39:55) Al: should it have been an update to gourdlets? I don’t know, but it is what it is. I guess (0:39:57) Kev: another mode. I don’t either. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s true. Well, I could have seen that even (0:40:02) Al: it’s cheap. It feels a bit selfish to ask for anything more. (0:40:16) Kev: more paid DLC by that point with the difference. But yeah, I guess so. I don’t know. It’s not (0:40:22) Kev: appealing to me, like, I don’t know, I’m just not feeling it, but it’s cool. (0:40:27) Kev: It’s cool to see them, you know, wanting to do this. (0:40:30) Al: Yeah, it also feels, I think it feels much, it looks like it’s much more character-based (0:40:36) Al: rather than obviously the girdlets was design-based, like management style, whereas this, I think, (0:40:43) Al: looks like you’re controlling a character because it’s the multiplayer aspect. So I’m (0:40:49) Al: thinking that might vibe with me more than the previous one. (0:40:52) Kev: Yeah. No, I can see that. That’s fair. (0:40:56) Al: we got something that you’ll be interested in, Luma Island, the (0:41:00) Kev: Well, you know what I do like pirates you’re right about that (0:41:06) Al: Well you played. Did you not play Luma Island? Am I misremembering? (0:41:06) Kev: It looks I didn’t play them island. No, that wasn’t me (0:41:10) Al: Oh, I know Johnny did, but I thought you had done as well. Oh well. (0:41:13) Kev: No, I don’t think no that was me but I do like pirates (0:41:15) Al: Well the Luma Island pirate update is coming out on the 20th of June. So we had, (0:41:19) Al: we already knew about the pirate update, but now we know that it’s coming out next week. (0:41:26) Kev: you go. It’s pretty looking, I guess. I like pirates, I don’t know. Okay, like, you know, (0:41:32) Al: We got a new trailer for tales of the shire as well. (0:41:38) Kev: in the past week, I actually watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And like, dang, man, (0:41:44) Kev: what a what a legacy you have to live up to. Okay, first off, did we have a date? Because (0:41:54) Kev: We finally got a date. (0:41:55) Al: We did. We did have a date when when they delayed it from March, they gave us a date of that point. So yeah, this is this is still what we were expecting. (0:41:56) Kev: I’m kidding. Okay. Okay. Well, that’s soon. It looks kind of like where it was at. I don’t (0:42:07) Kev: know what to say. I’m pretty sure the game is clear what it’s going to be. And as I watched (0:42:16) Kev: The Lord of the Rings and looking at this trailer, I’m thinking, “I don’t know if this (0:42:21) Kev: is the one for me. I’m not the one who wants to live in a hobbit. I want to hang out with (0:42:26) Kev: you.” That’s what I want to do in Middle Earth. (0:42:28) Al: Yeah. I’m a bit the same. I just, I don’t know what it is about this game that’s not (0:42:36) Al: grabbing me because A Lord of the Rings, Shire based culture game should be something that (0:42:42) Al: I would love, but I just, I don’t know. There’s just, it’s not grabbed me in anything other (0:42:48) Al: than the concept since it was announced. (0:42:48) Kev: yeah yeah that’s the hard part right is the concept gonna be better than the game maybe (0:42:57) Kev: uh that’s that’s you know that’s tough it like I said it’s when you put the lord of the rings (0:43:03) Kev: name on the box you have made things so much harder for yourself because that’s a lot of (0:43:08) Kev: expectations on now um but we’ll see maybe when it comes on it’s actually incredible I don’t know (0:43:16) Kev: Gandalf looked very kawaii, I’ll give him that. (0:43:18) Kev: They give us little ubu Gandalf. (0:43:21) Al: “I think it’s the character models that really confuse me. It’s not that I hate how they look, (0:43:27) Kev: Yeah, they do feel a little weird. (0:43:28) Al: I just… I don’t know. It’s so hard to explain.” (0:43:33) Kev: Yeah, no, I know exactly what you mean. (0:43:35) Kev: It’s something– it’s just a little je ne sais quoi. (0:43:40) Kev: I agree. (0:43:42) Al: Not normally used in a positive frame, not a negative frame, but fair enough. (0:43:42) Kev: But yeah. (0:43:49) Kev: But we’ll see. (0:43:50) Kev: It’s coming out soon. (0:43:51) Kev: And maybe it’ll surprise us still. (0:43:56) Al: Next, we had a new game, Linked Banner of the Spark. Build a bright new world alongside (0:44:01) Kev: oh my goodness this game (0:44:05) Al: a band of rescued robot buddies in this colourful action RPG, battle waves of enemies in solo (0:44:10) Al: or co-op, then return home and use your parts to craft a thriving town, assemble your crew, (0:44:15) Al: and grow stronger with each new adventure. I mean, this is basically like robot cult (0:44:19) Al: of the lamb, right? Go out and get stuff, and then save some creatures, and then come (0:44:24) Al: back and build a town. (0:44:27) Al: Kotlin did it really well, so if it implements it well, I think this could be really good. (0:44:32) Kev: It looks so good to me. (0:44:34) Kev: Like, oh man, ‘cause I’ve never called credit (0:44:40) Kev: within the trailer show. (0:44:41) Kev: There’s still like some gardening (0:44:42) Kev: or something like that, I think. (0:44:43) Al: There’s definitely farming, I’m seeing a farming plot. (0:44:43) Kev: But either, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:44:47) Al: It doesn’t look like it’s a big thing, it looks like it’s relatively small, but it is (0:44:53) Kev: But like, it does it great. (0:44:56) Kev: ‘Cause you have that and you have, you know, (0:44:57) Kev: you’re throwing robots in there. (0:44:58) Kev: Well, you know, that can be a different number of ways, (0:45:01) Kev: but the robot portion of it. (0:45:02) Kev: It looks sick, like you have a lot of knife hands like there’s some that look kind of threatening or genuinely actiony. (0:45:09) Kev: Um, there’s robot fish. That’s kind of fun. Um, I’m excited about this one. This one is high up on my list. It looks great. Um, the gameplay looks like what I want to the world’s colorful. I can’t wait. I’m so excited for this one. (0:45:26) Al: Yeah, I agree. Looks really fun. (0:45:28) Kev: All right, what’s next that’s not linked and thusly not as high on my list. (0:45:32) Kev: Oh well that blew up in my face because I forgot no this one is high up on my list too. (0:45:32) Al: Milano Milano’s odd collection or job collection. (0:45:43) Al: This one is, I think, PlayStation style is what they’re going. (0:45:48) Al: They’re calling it PlayStation one style. (0:45:48) Kev: Is (0:45:53) Al: It’s. (0:45:55) Kev: You okay, you g
How Wellness Content Fuels ConspiraciesWhat starts as a search for natural living or homegrown veggies can slowly become something else entirely.In this episode, we follow the personal story of Kavisha Pillay, a digital ethics expert who unexpectedly found herself pulled into the “tradwife” aesthetic while simply exploring homesteading and wellness content online. We explore how seemingly wholesome spaces—like DIY cleaning tutorials and sourdough baking videos—can become subtle entry points into conspiratorial thinking, anti-feminism, and radical ideologies.Helping us unpack the cultural context is Catherine Rottenberg, professor of sociology and author of The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism, who explains why traditional gender roles are resurging online—and why they're more complicated than they appear.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the OO hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That's the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
Cottagecore first started appearing online around 2017, but it wasn't until the lockdowns of 2020 that it really took off. As more people grew tired of city life, social media, and the constant buzz of technology, they started dreaming of simpler, slower days. Vogue France even calls cottagecore the "new art of living." It's about a longing for the past — for a time when people baked their own bread, sewed their own clothes, and life felt slower and softer. Cottagecore taps into the broader “slow living” movement, which encourages people to reconnect with nature and tradition instead of speeding up with the modern world. n under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why do people say that black cats bring bad luck? What are the dirtiest objects in your home? Why do we get travel sick? A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
During the pandemic, it seemed like the internet, and specifically TikTok, was coughing up one fringe aesthetic after the next: Cottagecore! Trad Cath Coquette! Old Money! Coastal Grandmother! And of course, our personal fave, Dark Academia. We even did a whole episode on it, as part of a larger examinatin of post-pandemic aesthetics. Fast forward to today, and the churn of social media-born aesthetics seems to have slowed somewhat, leaving behind a landscape that feels more fragmented and difficult to parse. So we've brought back our guest for that episode — style writer, trend forecaster, and bonafide Cool Girl Biz Sherbert — to give us a lay of the sartorial land. Along with continuing to co-host the influential fashion and culture podcast Nymphet Alumni, and writing for places like The Face and AnOther Magazine, Biz recently launched a new publication called American Style on Substack (subscribe!), which she says is about “what people are really wearing and why.”If you're a CUJO subscriber, you already got a little taste via our Coachella collab with American Style a couple weeks ago. Either way, you're in for a treat: Biz joins us to talk about American Style's origin story and what's she's learned from documenting what young people are wearing out in the real world, at places ranging from a Deftones concert in Atlanta, to Disney World in Orlando, to a rave in North London. We also get into the state of countercultural and subcultural fashion in 2025; why men and boys seem, for the first time in a long time, to be leading the style conversation; the role that festivals like Coachella play in the wider image-making ecosystem; and the strange staying power of the festival cowgirl.Subscribe to American Style and follow Biz on Instagram (fka @marcfisherquotes). Listen to Nymphet Alumni on your pod platform of choice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theculturejournalist.substack.com/subscribe
Soyons honnêtes : on rêve tous, parfois, de tout plaquer pour aller élever des poules dans une chaumière et faire des tartes aux pommes dans une cuisine baignée de lumière… Eh bien, c'est exactement ce que le cottagecore propose. Un retour fantasmé à la nature, au calme, à une vie douce et poétique, loin du bruit des villes et du stress numérique. Né sur internet mais boosté par le confinement, ce courant mêle esthétique champêtre, nostalgie des temps simples et rejet du mode de vie moderne. Et il cartonne : plus de 16 milliards de vues sur TikTok. Le style cottagecore, c'est un peu comme vivre dans une carte postale bucolique… sans forcément quitter son salon. Mais alors, pourquoi cette fascination soudaine pour la vie à la campagne ? En quoi cette tendance est-elle aussi politique qu'esthétique ? Peut-on vraiment vivre le rêve cottagecore en plein centre-ville ? Ecoutez la suite de cet épisode de "Maintenant vous savez" Un podcast Bababam Originals, écrit et réalisé par Laura Taouchanov. À écouter ensuite : Qu'est-ce que le Liking Gap qui peut saboter nos nouvelles relations ? Qu'est-ce que la paranoïa de la productivité, qui bouleverse le monde du travail ? Règle des 5 secondes : peut-on consommer un aliment tombé par terre ? Retrouvez tous les épisodes de "Maintenant vous savez". Suivez Bababam sur Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 75: Meredith reads a few cottage-y horror stories, sent in by real people. In our cottagecore era. Except with, like, ghosts.
Codey talks to Al about Bug and Seek Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:00: What Have We Been Up To 00:06:21: Game News 00:27:44: Bug And Seek 01:05:05: Outro Links Len’s Island 1.0 Release To Pixelia Release Of Life and Land 1.0 Release Palia on PS5 and Xbox Palia Elderwood Expansion Everafter Falls 2.0 Update Lou’s Lagoon Kickstarter Autonomica Kickstarter Contact 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, (0:00:36) Codey: my name is Cody that’s a new thing I’m just gonna keep doing that forever now (0:00:38) Al: and we’re here today to talk about Cottagecore games. (0:00:49) Al: I’m gonna start not referencing it, and then maybe it’ll stop. I don’t know, we’ll see. (0:00:52) Codey: no it’s on my mind every time ah and it matches I have a new tattoo that has (0:00:55) Al: You’re like a dog with a bone. (0:01:00) Al: Yes. (0:01:02) Codey: six wolves. So it’s classic. Yep. (0:01:06) Codey: Bug game, bug game. Mm hmm. Yep. (0:01:07) Al: All right, Coneys here, because we’re going to talk about Bug and Seek. (0:01:13) Al: The first of multiple bug games, undecided as to how many. We have two currently scheduled. (0:01:20) Codey: Well, and then we decided that a third, a third one that is scheduled tentatively is bug adjacent. (0:01:21) Al: We’ll see. (0:01:30) Codey: So two. Yeah, stay tuned. (0:01:32) Al: Yeah, sure. Maybe. We’ll see. We’re going to talk about Bug and Seek. Oh, well, I say (0:01:36) Codey: Yeah. Yeah, you didn’t. Yeah, you didn’t play it. (0:01:42) Al: we. Cody’s going to talk about Bug and Seek. I’ve not played the game. Although for a rare (0:01:48) Codey: Wow. (0:01:49) Al: occasion, I also don’t own it. So yay me. I managed to not buy a game. So before that, (0:01:58) Al: We’ve got a bunch of news. (0:01:59) Al: It’s been a busy week, lots of news. (0:02:02) Al: But first of all, Cody, what have you been up to? (0:02:04) Codey: I have been playing bug and seek clearly, um, but I know, um, but I also am still playing (0:02:13) Codey: Fortnite. So my new roommate, um, asked if I had Fortnite on my Xbox and I was like, (0:02:19) Codey: Nope, we can get it. And then we just play it pretty regularly. Now I play probably like (0:02:24) Codey: four or five games a day, but it’s, it’s like fast because it loads in fast. And then I just (0:02:29) Codey: die a couple of times and then I’m like, okay, I’m done. So it’s probably only like 40 minutes of (0:02:30) Al: It’s fast because you’re bad at it, that’s what you just said. (0:02:32) Codey: of Fortnite a day. (0:02:35) Codey: Uh, sometimes sometimes I get up to like, I’ve only gotten one Vic Roy, which for the kids is a victory royal, um, where you win, but I am frequently in the top 10. (0:02:53) Codey: So, I think I just get really nervous when I’m in the top 10, so I’m playing that. Uh, and then I also had a big meeting with my advisors where I basically met with them and was like, hey. (0:03:04) Codey: Here’s what I have so far. Here’s what I still have to do. May I please graduate in the fall? And they said, yes. So I am on track to graduate. (0:03:16) Codey: So I’m also working on a lot of specimens and going to be hiring a tech here soon. Very exciting. (0:03:22) Al: Cool. (0:03:23) Codey: What about you? What have you been up to? (0:03:26) Al: What have I been up to? (0:03:27) Al: I have been playing around with my new recording app on my desktop. (0:03:32) Al: No, that’s what I was doing right now when I was definitely listening to you. (0:03:34) Codey: Oh wow. (0:03:37) Al: I have been playing Tiny Garden. (0:03:41) Codey: Okay. (0:03:42) Codey: This is the Polly pocket game. (0:03:42) Al: This is this is the Polly Pocket farming game. (0:03:45) Codey: Okay. (0:03:45) Al: Yeah, so I have been I have been playing that. (0:03:49) Al: And maybe I’ll talk about that in the future. (0:03:52) Al: This is a game. (0:03:55) Al: I always find the balance hard because it’s like, do I do I talk about the game (0:04:00) Al: just now or do I wait until because obviously I’m doing an episode on this. (0:04:03) Al: Right. I’ve played a game. (0:04:04) Codey: Right. Right. Yeah. (0:04:04) Al: I’m doing an episode on it. It’s free content. (0:04:08) Al: So, yeah, I don’t I I think it’s interesting. (0:04:10) Codey: No, it’s a game. (0:04:12) Codey: Okay. (0:04:13) Al: I will have things to say about it. (0:04:14) Codey: Oh. (0:04:15) Al: That is probably a good way to put it. (0:04:17) Al: I will have things to say about it. (0:04:21) Al: I’ve also kind of been. (0:04:22) Al: playing more cassette beasts but I’m still struggling to get into it so I (0:04:29) Al: don’t know I’ve kind of taken a break and gone to Tiny Garden and maybe I’ll (0:04:33) Al: maybe I’ll go back maybe I won’t I don’t know there’s just there’s something I (0:04:37) Al: don’t I really struggle with the like the UX of it I struggle to care about it (0:04:40) Codey: Mm-hmm (0:04:44) Codey: Yep (0:04:44) Al: and I struggle to yeah it’s just that it’s really not grabbing me it’s really (0:04:49) Codey: Yeah, I (0:04:50) Codey: Mean, I’m right there with you when I tried to play it on Xbox for a bit (0:04:54) Codey: I may be played for like an hour and I was just like yeah, I don’t I don’t have to do this (0:05:00) Codey: And it just doesn’t it doesn’t do it for me. So I put it down and then (0:05:08) Codey: Um, I don’t think I’m in a big bag. (0:05:10) Codey: Um, unfortunately, though I do, I do have an update. (0:05:12) Al: Yeah, yeah (0:05:15) Codey: Uh, I don’t know if you’re done yet. (0:05:17) Al: Yeah, yeah (0:05:18) Codey: Okay. (0:05:18) Codey: Uh, I have an update on, cause I always complained about Disney (0:05:22) Codey: Dreamlight Valley’s lag time and how it takes forever to load. (0:05:26) Codey: And, um, so my partner moved in recently and he has a Xbox series X. (0:05:33) Codey: So he has, I was playing on an Xbox one, which is ancient at this point. (0:05:38) Codey: Um, and that’s why it was lagging. (0:05:40) Codey: The update is it loads way faster on the Series X, um, and doesn’t have as, as many as much like issues it seems. (0:05:50) Codey: But I also, I played it, I logged on. (0:05:52) Codey: I was like, Oh wow, this is a lot faster. (0:05:54) Codey: And then I was like, and I’m bored. (0:05:55) Codey: So, um, but yeah, I mean, so if you update your stuff and you, um, are thinking about like wondering if that would be worth it, I think it is to take a, take a crack at that game. (0:06:10) Codey: If you haven’t played it for a while, I think my issue is I played it like a month ago, maybe. (0:06:13) Codey: So it’s still, there’s still not enough new to grab me. (0:06:19) Codey: So, yeah. (0:06:20) Al: Fair enough. All right well let’s talk about some news. First up we have Lens Island have (0:06:27) Al: finally announced their 1.0 is releasing on the 19th of June. (0:06:33) Codey: whoo, super excited about this. (0:06:37) Al: This game Cody has been in early access since November 2021. (0:06:38) Codey: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. (0:06:42) Codey: And I’ve had it and I played it and I really enjoyed it. (0:06:45) Codey: But I was like, you know what? (0:06:47) Codey: I’m going to wait to dedicate all of my time to this game for when it’s in 1.0. (0:06:51) Codey: So I am about ready to slam some more time into this game, (0:06:57) Codey: especially because it was it is something I can play on my Mac. (0:07:00) Codey: So, rest in pepperonis. (0:07:00) Al: That’s good. (0:07:03) Al: That’s good. (0:07:03) Codey: I am productivity. (0:07:06) Al: I also own it because I have a problem with Kickstarter. (0:07:12) Al: I haven’t played it because I’m sure I’ve told this story before, but I enjoy telling (0:07:16) Al: it. (0:07:16) Codey: OK. (0:07:17) Al: It didn’t have any controller support when I first launched it on my Steam deck and I (0:07:18) Codey: Yep. (0:07:20) Al: was like, hmm, no, I’m not going to do that. (0:07:24) Codey: I like the– (0:07:24) Al: There are some games I will play like a game that I’ll be talking about in the future. (0:07:30) Al: It does make it less fun to play and with a game like Lens Island, I feel like it would (0:07:37) Al: be just murder to try and play that game without controller support on a Steam deck. (0:07:41) Codey: Yeah, I could see that for sure (0:07:45) Al: I hope to play this when it comes out, when did I say June, 19th of June? (0:07:51) Codey: Yep (0:07:52) Al: That’s a bad time for it to come out because that is two weeks after the Switch 2 comes (0:07:55) Codey: Yeah, ooh won’t want (0:07:58) Al: out. (0:08:00) Al: The question is, will I be over Mario Kart World by then or not? (0:08:06) Codey: Mm hmm. (0:08:07) Al: We’ll see. (0:08:08) Al: It is before Donkey Kong Bonanza, so that’s good, but Bonanza, yeah, Bonanza. (0:08:13) Codey: Yeah, is it really been banana banana, but oh my gosh, okay, that’s cute. (0:08:19) Al: Have you not paid attention to any of that? (0:08:21) Codey: Um, you know, I did. (0:08:24) Codey: Uh, I just care so little that it just back vacated my brain matter pretty fast. (0:08:25) Al: Yeah, fair. (0:08:31) Codey: So I only just started playing my own switch again because of bugging. (0:08:36) Codey: And seek, but then also, um, now that my partner lives here, we want to try (0:08:41) Codey: and beat the Zelda games because we both have the issue of ADHD slash just (0:08:48) Codey: like disinterest after playing a game for a certain amount of time. (0:08:51) Al: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Interesting. Maybe, maybe. (0:08:51) Codey: But if it is an activity that we are doing together, perhaps we can make it through. (0:08:59) Codey: So we will see if that, if that is the success, that is the blueprint we’ll find out. (0:09:05) Al: That’s very interesting. Well, we look forward to hearing about that in the future. (0:09:10) Al: Next, we have 2Pixellia have announced that they’re releasing on the first of May. (0:09:14) Codey: Okay. That’s all I have for that. (0:09:17) Al: Alrighty. (0:09:19) Al: This is this is the the life sim, (0:09:24) Al: which like includes crime. (0:09:28) Codey: Yeah, it had a lot of, I remember the trailers and stuff like having so many, (0:09:32) Codey: it’s so detailed in the different things that you can do in the game, (0:09:34) Al: Yeah. (0:09:36) Codey: which is great. Love that for people who aren’t me. (0:09:39) Al: Yeah, that is my I think that’s my worry is that it ends up being too much. (0:09:44) Al: I did kickstart this one, so I will have this when it launches. (0:09:49) Al: As I say, I have an issue, but (0:09:51) Codey: But maybe maybe it’s not an issue. Maybe maybe we find out. Yeah (0:09:54) Al: I don’t know. We’ll see. (0:09:55) Al: We’ll see. We’ll see. (0:09:57) Al: Because I guess the thing about the thing about Stardew is that I like how it has (0:10:02) Al: options but I also like how it doesn’t have options. (0:10:04) Al: And that’s so contradictory, but you understand what I mean there, right? (0:10:10) Al: Like, yeah, you can focus on farming or you can focus on ranching or you can (0:10:13) Al: focus on mining or you can focus on… (0:10:16) Al: That’s it. (0:10:19) Al: Well, there’s other things like focusing on relationships and stuff like that. (0:10:22) Al: But realistically, if you don’t really know what to do, you farm. (0:10:25) Codey: I think that’s where my issue would be as well. (0:10:26) Al: Whereas here it’s like, what do you do if you don’t know what to do? (0:10:29) Al: And I don’t know. (0:10:30) Al: I worry I’m going to end up in decision. (0:10:34) Al: We’ll find out, not for Cody, Cody’s not even going to try it, big assumption there. (0:10:46) Codey: No, I will listen to the podcast episode though and be like, oh, that’s very interesting I (0:10:52) Al: May is busy, no, no, I meant big assumption that there’s going to be a podcast episode (0:10:52) Codey: Listen I listen to most episodes. Oh (0:10:57) Al: on it, no promises, I promise nothing. (0:10:58) Codey: Yeah, yeah for sure (0:11:02) Al: And Cody can’t promise this one. (0:11:04) Al: Because they are not playing the game. (0:11:06) Al: You don’t get to promise when you’re not playing. (0:11:06) Codey: - Nope, you’re right. (0:11:09) Al: Next, we have of life and land who have announced that their 1.0 is (0:11:13) Al: releasing on the 8th, 16th of May. (0:11:16) Codey: Okay, yep. This is the game that I want to play, but it’s Windows only, which makes (0:11:22) Al: Yes. Sad. (0:11:24) Codey: me sad. Though now that I have… do I want? No. Redacted. I do not want to put my desktop (0:11:34) Codey: in my office where I work all the time because then it will become a multi-use space and (0:11:39) Codey: I don’t want that. Nope. Still didn’t get the Steam Deck. (0:11:41) Al: Still not still not got the steam deck then. (0:11:46) Codey: And I don’t think I will because I’ve made it clear that I have other things I need to (0:11:50) Codey: pay off before I get a Steam Deck. I just didn’t know. I didn’t know at the time if my (0:11:59) Codey: partner was going to get a Steam Deck because he seemed like he was also interested in it. (0:12:02) Codey: But yeah. No Steam Deck yet. Yep. And he just sent me a photo of more wood. (0:12:04) Al: Instead he spent that money on wood. (0:12:10) Al: More wood! I look forward to finding out if that wood ever turns into a table or (0:12:15) Al: whether it just ends up living in a pile. (0:12:18) Codey: No, I think it’s going to be a table. He’s also thinking about because he just got some really (0:12:23) Codey: nice walnut and cherry, which is really pretty spendy wood. And he was talking about going and (0:12:29) Codey: buying pine from Home Depot and making a mock up of the table so that he could practice. (0:12:34) Al: Because yeah, because this this definitely doesn’t sound like a hyper focus that will be gone in two weeks (0:12:40) Al: Definitely not (0:12:41) Codey: Yeah, this is his special flavor of ADHD. (0:12:48) Codey: Um, well, it, yeah, I’m not gonna, no, you’re just, you are setting reasonable expectations (0:12:52) Al: Look, I’m not saying it’s going to go wrong. (0:12:53) Al: I’m not saying that. (0:12:54) Al: I’m just saying I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t. (0:13:00) Codey: and I appreciate it, but he’s, he’s spent a lot of money. So (0:13:04) Al: Palia have announced two things. (0:13:09) Al: They have announced that they’re releasing on the PS5 and the Xbox Series X and S, (0:13:16) Al: and they’re announcing that they’re at the same time, on the same day, the 13th of May, (0:13:22) Al: announcing an expansion called Elderwood. (0:13:26) Codey: And it looks awesome. I really like the colors of that the new expansion has. It’s very like (0:13:33) Codey: mystical, wood elf-y, like purple, purples and pinks. Very enjoyable. And just like the different (0:13:44) Codey: materials and like decor and stuff that are in that one looks good too. Seems like it’s a good (0:13:50) Codey: time to jump back in to Palia. And if I remember correctly, this is free to play, right? (0:13:55) Al: Yeah, it is. (0:13:56) Codey: Yeah. So maybe I will put it on because it is. It was fun. And Johnny and I had a whale of a time (0:13:59) Al: It’s a good looking game. (0:14:00) Al: It looks really nice. (0:14:06) Codey: shooting deer. So in hunting together, there’s also a pretty fun bug hunting mechanic. (0:14:14) Codey: So there’s a lot that can be done for sure. I’m trying to mentally decide. Yeah, I’m trying to (0:14:21) Codey: decide if I I guess it’s not a question of am I going to play this? It’s a question of am I going (0:14:26) Codey: continue playing it on my switch or do I just want to scrub and like make a whole new? (0:14:33) Codey: Oh, that’s another thing I could investigate. It could, it might. I’ll have to look at that. (0:14:39) Al: Yes. (0:14:40) Al: It looks like it does have cross-save. (0:14:42) Codey: But now I have to remember my password. That’s not likely. (0:14:47) Al: Just make sure. (0:14:48) Al: Yeah. (0:14:49) Al: Well, I mean, that’s a problem. (0:14:50) Codey: That is a me problem. Well, and it’s because I was using the same. (0:14:53) Al: You don’t have a password manager. (0:14:54) Codey: I do, but it’s like. (0:14:56) Codey: On other things, and I might not have done it on that. (0:15:02) Al: Okay, that’s definitely a you problem then. (0:15:03) Codey: I might not have. (0:15:05) Codey: Yeah, exactly. (0:15:07) Al: Oh dear. (0:15:08) Codey: Yep. (0:15:09) Codey: This is why I used to use the same password for everything so that I would (0:15:12) Codey: never forget, but then I was told that that’s a bad thing to do. (0:15:16) Codey: So I stopped doing that. (0:15:19) Al: I don’t know what to say. (0:15:23) Al: All right. (0:15:25) Al: Yes, that’s the 13th of me. (0:15:26) Codey: Mm hmm. (0:15:28) Al: Maybe you should play on your Xbox. (0:15:30) Codey: I think that’s what I’m thinking of is just, just restarting a whole new (0:15:33) Codey: thing on my Xbox, if it’s not fast, if it’s, if it’s, if it takes more than (0:15:38) Codey: five minutes to figure out my, my login, I’m probably just going to (0:15:42) Codey: create a whole new thing. (0:15:43) Codey: I wasn’t super far into it and it’s honestly been so far since I’ve (0:15:48) Codey: played it that I could, I could use a refresher. (0:15:50) Al: That is a fair point. Sometimes jumping into an existing save can be a problem. (0:15:56) Codey: Yes, when I don’t remember and I need all the tool tips again. (0:15:59) Al: Yes. Next, we have Ever After Falls have announced their 2.0 release. (0:16:04) Al: It is out now. It includes new items, new quests, new decorations, and a bunch of quality of life. (0:16:12) Codey: And I think the coolest new item is a fishbowl, and it specifically says small fishbowl that (0:16:19) Codey: displays a single fish. No matter the marital status of the fish. (0:16:22) Al: A single fish, no matter the size, obviously. (0:16:29) Al: Oh, I didn’t even think about that. Does it mean one individual fish, or does it mean… (0:16:35) Codey: A non-married fish. What if the fish is, what if you put a married fish into the fishbowl? (0:16:40) Al: They get as a divorce (0:16:40) Codey: Does that en- know? (0:16:42) Codey: An- annulment, nullify, divorced, annul, marriage annulled, rip. (0:16:50) Al: You can also do a Shroom terrarium, produces Shroom. (0:16:53) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:16:55) Codey: I think that was cool. (0:16:56) Codey: Like I know people who have those like life, um, vivariums. (0:17:02) Codey: So it’s, it doesn’t, they don’t have like anything in it except for plants. (0:17:06) Codey: And it just is growing plants and it seems nice. (0:17:12) Codey: I don’t have any of those though, that I would for- (0:17:13) Al: It seems like a small update for 2- (0:17:17) Codey: Yeah, I agreed. (0:17:18) Codey: Um, that’s why the thing that I pulled out was just that there’s a fishbowl. (0:17:22) Al: I mean, I mean, do what you want. (0:17:26) Codey: Everything else was- (0:17:28) Al: Do what you want with your updates with that. (0:17:31) Al: I’m not angry at that one like I am with some version numbers. (0:17:36) Al: I just feel like, you know, if we look at the the 1.2 version update, (0:17:44) Al: it feels kind of similar sized and then it’s a jump to 2.0. (0:17:46) Codey: Yeah, what’s the logic behind this being a full number? (0:17:48) Al: like what’s different here is very small. (0:17:52) Al: Just expectation-wise, I think that people would expect more for that. (0:17:58) Codey: I don’t know. (0:18:05) Al: Next we have two kickstarters have launched. (0:18:08) Al: The first is Lou’s Lagoon. (0:18:11) Al: This has hit its goal of 10,000 euros with 28 days to go, so I think they’re fine. (0:18:21) Al: This is the game where (0:18:23) Al: I think it’s a delivery game. (0:18:26) Al: You’ve got a seaplane that you use for delivery. (0:18:26) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:18:31) Al: It looks like it could be fun. (0:18:35) Al: I’m not champing at the bit to kickstart it to be like, (0:18:39) Al: “I must play this game.” (0:18:40) Al: When it comes out, maybe I’ll be interested in it. (0:18:44) Codey: And they haven’t showed, so they’re stretch goals that they have, it’s like they show you the next stretch goal, but then they don’t show you the one after that. (0:18:54) Codey: It’s like a big old mystery. So they basically have, well, it looks like it looks like something’s there, but it is, it is vague enough, I agree. (0:18:56) Al: - Mm-hmm. That just means they haven’t decided. (0:19:02) Al: Yes. Yes, it does. (0:19:07) Codey: But yeah, the first stretch goal is, the first goal was 10,000 euros and the next one’s 50. (0:19:14) Codey: And that adds photo mode, which I’m assuming photo mode just means you can take photos. (0:19:22) Al: Yeah, yeah, it’ll be one of those like, oh, you can take selfies and put stickers on it. (0:19:25) Codey: Yeah, it would be nice to be able to see the other stretch goals, because if it was just this stretch goal, I personally wouldn’t, that wouldn’t inspire me to help them get further in the, in their goals. (0:19:40) Al: Yeah, I’m never convinced that stretch goals actually do much like I don’t I don’t do you (0:19:41) Codey: As though the dog… (0:19:47) Al: ever look at a kickstart and go I don’t think I’m going to kickstart it and then you look (0:19:50) Al: at the stretch goals and go no I’m definitely going to back it now like I think the only (0:19:54) Codey: Well– well, what if one of the next one’s is platforms? (0:19:54) Al: one really that changes people’s mind is platforms. (0:19:59) Al: Well sure yeah yeah yeah that’s what that’s fair but I also don’t think you should do (0:20:04) Codey: And I just can’t– you can’t see it. (0:20:06) Codey: You can’t– oh, true. (0:20:08) Al: stretch goals as a platform, as a stretch goal. (0:20:10) Al: I think that is something that can get people to back it, but I also think that that is going (0:20:16) Al: to bite you. You know, it’s going to be a problem. I think that you should not promise these things, (0:20:18) Codey: Mm hmm. That’s fair. (0:20:21) Al: but that is just what I’ve seen from so many Kickstarters, is that is where problems come, (0:20:27) Al: is when you promise a platform as a stretch goal. You’ve never tried it. I think I can’t remember (0:20:34) Al: who it was. There was some some Kickstarter I was looking at this week where they said that they (0:20:38) Al: weren’t promising switch to because (0:20:40) Al: they didn’t have a dev kit and they couldn’t promise that. (0:20:42) Al: And I’m like, that’s the right way to do these things. (0:20:44) Codey: Mm-hmm (0:20:44) Al: If you’ve never used it before, don’t promise it. (0:20:47) Al: And hopefully it’ll come at some point. (0:20:49) Al: You can say later on, you can switch to this platform. (0:20:53) Al: If you want, you can switch your key to that one. (0:20:54) Al: That’d be fine. (0:20:55) Al: Like that works quite well. (0:20:57) Al: Although the problem with switching from Steam to Switch is that Nintendo charge (0:21:02) Al: for keys, whereas Steam, you can just create as many keys as you want. (0:21:07) Al: It’s like something like $7 per key that Nintendo charge (0:21:10) Al: for people. So it’s actually more expensive for them to sell you Switch with a key than (0:21:18) Al: the other way, than with Steam. Whereas if they just buy it, sell it through the store, (0:21:21) Al: it’s I believe the same percentage cut. Fun fact. (0:21:29) Codey: some insider baseballs. (0:21:34) Al: uh yeah so yeah I think as part of my trying to kick start fewer games I don’t think i’m going to (0:21:39) Al: kick start this one um maybe i’ll play it when it comes out we’ll see I cannot (0:21:42) Codey: Can you hear the dogs squeaking? (0:21:46) Codey: Okay, good. You’ll hear it if you end up using the recording. You will. Let me go yell a dog really quick before we do the last one. (0:21:56) Codey: Okay. (0:21:59) Al: And finally, we have Autonomica, which is the game that was farm folks that was then taken over (0:22:08) Al: by a different team when the original team couldn’t fulfill the game. And then they decided to make a (0:22:13) Al: different game and had the same name on it. And then they changed the name and now they’ve (0:22:17) Al: launched another Kickstarter for this game because the team that took over the project never got like (0:22:23) Al: they’ve said they didn’t get any of the money from the original Kickstarter. However, one good thing (0:22:29) Al: I’ve said that anyone who backed the original Kickstarter will get a key for the new game. So (0:22:33) Al: they’re honoring that even though they didn’t get that money, which is good, which is nice. (0:22:39) Al: Anyway, that’s that game. I think some people who backed the original game aren’t happy because (0:22:42) Al: it’s a very different game now. If you look at like the videos of farm folks and it’s very much (0:22:44) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:22:49) Al: cozy cam farming life sim, whereas this is like very in your face automated automation game. (0:22:57) Al: Also, there are ghosts that you have. (0:22:59) Al: go and fight. So it feels very different, but you can’t get them, you can’t hold them (0:23:07) Al: to the promises of a different team, right? Like that’s not how these things work. So I think it’s (0:23:13) Al: interesting that they ever decided to publicly be like we are taking over this project and rather (0:23:20) Al: they’d just be like here’s our new game, but maybe there’s an advantage to that in terms of you get (0:23:27) Al: the the name credit from the (0:23:29) Al: previous game that people had backed. I don’t know. Anyway, (0:23:32) Al: it’s out now it has hit its goal. It had a huge goal. They (0:23:36) Codey: Yeah. (0:23:36) Al: had $170,000 goal and they have absolutely smashed that they’re (0:23:41) Codey: Yep. (0:23:42) Codey: And they show their stretch goals or they they show you can at least tell what the next next step is. (0:23:50) Codey: So at three hundred thousand, which they’re going to hit probably in maybe half hour, depending on how fast this goes. (0:23:56) Al: Yes, they might be before we finish recording because they’re 297,000 just now. (0:24:01) Codey: Yeah. (0:24:02) Codey: Yeah. (0:24:04) Codey: is aquaponic farming. (0:24:06) Codey: just super cool and the next thing you can’t really see i’m assuming it’s going to say (0:24:09) Codey: construction drones but it does say drones and it’s it’s like cton drones um I mean and then if (0:24:11) Al: It does look like that, yeah (0:24:19) Codey: you keep looking it it looks very that would make sense because it looks very factorial to me (0:24:24) Al: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, I mean, it’s like somebody went, I’ll like automation and farming (0:24:32) Al: games. Let’s add all of the possible automation into this farming game. And I also just like (0:24:35) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:24:36) Al: one of the things I love about this is like the characters have ragdoll physics. So if (0:24:39) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:24:40) Al: you’ve run in, run into, you know, one of your lines that you’ve set up, you fall over (0:24:45) Al: and it just I like, I like how ridiculous it is. And also how I want to create this massive (0:24:51) Al: farming empire. (0:24:54) Al: It’s taking that sort of thing to the, you know, one of the most weird end states you (0:25:04) Al: could logical end points here, right? (0:25:07) Al: Because you’ve got the cosy end of the farming genre, and then you’ve got whatever this is. (0:25:14) Codey: Yeah, this game looks amazing. (0:25:18) Codey: I’m still scrolling through their game highlights and stuff. (0:25:22) Codey: And it’s all– (0:25:23) Codey: this is an intense game. (0:25:25) Codey: There’s a lot going on here. (0:25:26) Al: Look at how big you can build the buildings. (0:25:29) Codey: Yeah, they basically have Avril Lavigne in here as someone. (0:25:32) Al: I don’t get it. (0:25:33) Codey: You don’t know Avril Lavigne? (0:25:35) Al: No, I know Avril Lavigne. I don’t get the reference. (0:25:38) Codey: There’s relationships and NPCs. (0:25:41) Codey: Everyone has a blah, blah, blah. (0:25:43) Codey: one of the NPCs is named. (0:25:44) Codey: Avril, and she’s definitely a punk woman. (0:25:49) Al: Oh, I see. OK, yeah, I guess so. I mean, she doesn’t really look like Avril Lavigne though. (0:25:54) Codey: But she is a punk woman named Avril. (0:25:58) Codey: That’s all that is needed. (0:25:58) Al: Yeah, OK, sure. I’m not saying she’s not inspired by that, (0:26:01) Al: but I wouldn’t look at that and go, “That’s Avril Lavigne,” if she wasn’t called Avril. (0:26:02) Codey: Ooh. (0:26:06) Codey: Oh, but there’s, if you scroll down a little bit more, there’s a long haired, (0:26:10) Codey: tattooed guitarist guy that is going to. (0:26:14) Codey: Be who I try and date 100%. (0:26:17) Codey: Okay. (0:26:18) Codey: I’m going to stop this. (0:26:19) Codey: I am going to play this game when it comes out, but I am not in the place to back it. (0:26:24) Codey: Al, have you backed it? (0:26:25) Al: Well, as you know, I am trying to reduce the number of games that I back on Kickstarter, (0:26:31) Al: and I announced this on the harvest season slack that I was going to be doing this. (0:26:37) Al: I was going to stop backing farming games, and then this came out two days later, and yeah. (0:26:39) Codey: Yeah, yep. Yeah, you backed it. Okay, but this like, this game is specifically like this isn’t you this game is for you. It’s like if it’s like if I promised that and then a bug game came out. I’m like, well, dang it, you know. (0:26:46) Al: Look, OK, right. I’m gonna… (0:26:51) Al: Exactly, exactly. (0:26:56) Al: Exactly. (0:26:59) Al: Come on, we just gotta, you know, give me some slack. (0:27:04) Codey: Yep, I’m, I’m right there with you, dude. Like I, I get it. I understand. (0:27:10) Codey: Well, I, I look forward to playing it. Yeah, I look forward to playing it with you. (0:27:10) Al: Uh, yeah, I’m excited for this game. (0:27:15) Al: Looks like they’re planning for this to come out next year, October 2020. (0:27:20) Codey: Love that because I will have money at that point or we won’t have an economy anymore and the world will be in shambles (0:27:28) Codey: so (0:27:28) Al: Yeah, oh, that’s the news. (0:27:29) Codey: Either I will be able to afford this game or no one will be playing this game (0:27:37) Codey: Yay the world (0:27:42) Codey: Oh (0:27:45) Al: We are now going to talk about bug and seek, which is the first of our bug series of indeterminate (0:27:53) Al: length. (0:27:54) Al: It’s probably two, two is probably the length. (0:27:57) Al: So I have not played. (0:27:59) Al: So Corey, tell me about bug and C. (0:28:02) Codey: bug and seek. So this game we I like found it in an Instagram post and I was like wait why haven’t (0:28:08) Codey: we be talking about this game? Wait this game’s already out. Why haven’t we been talking about (0:28:11) Codey: this game? Um so please it was fine um so it is $15 on Steam um it is available as for both Mac (0:28:12) Al: Yes, I remember that because you were like, here’s a game and you’re like, it’s already (0:28:15) Al: out. (0:28:16) Al: And I’m like, wow, sorry for not knowing all of the games. (0:28:28) Codey: and windows. I am playing it on Switch so (0:28:32) Codey: it’s definitely at least on Switch. I know that’s also a mobile option. There are two DLCs. One is (0:28:37) Codey: isopods, which like think of like roly polies or pill bugs, sow bugs. What do you call these things? (0:28:46) Al: Oh, yes. We call them, um, uh, what are they, a Woodlice. That’s what we call them. (0:28:52) Codey: Oh, Woodlouse, yeah. (0:28:53) Codey: Well, that is technically what they are, so. (0:28:56) Al: Oh, is that their, that their, well, obviously their official name is probably something in Latin, (0:29:01) Al: but I guess that would be their most official English term. Interesting. (0:29:02) Codey: Right, but the category is like, (0:29:05) Codey: Woodlouse is basically their thing, yeah. (0:29:08) Codey: But everyone, and then isopods is just because they are (0:29:11) Codey: in the class isopoda, I don’t know. (0:29:15) Codey: They’re in a group of organisms that is, (0:29:17) Codey: the group is collectively known as isopoda. (0:29:22) Codey: So yeah, depending on where you’re from, (0:29:23) Codey: there are all kinds of different names. (0:29:25) Codey: So there was one that added a whole new thing, (0:29:27) Codey: like a whole bunch of those, which is awesome (0:29:29) Codey: because they are fast becoming some of, (0:29:32) Codey: some really big pets options here. (0:29:36) Codey: ‘Cause you can, there are different species (0:29:38) Codey: that have different colors. (0:29:41) Codey: So there’s like zebra isopods, (0:29:42) Codey: which are a little black and white striped. (0:29:46) Codey: There’s rubber ducky isopods, (0:29:47) Codey: which are all like this darker color, (0:29:50) Codey: but then just the front part of their. (0:29:52) Codey: Exoskeleton has this almost like a orange color, so it’s like a bill. (0:29:59) Codey: Yeah, so that’s makes sense that they had that and then weevils there’s a weevils DLC and that makes sense because weevils are some of our not some of they are the most diverse animal on the entire planet so. (0:30:12) Al: And that’s not the Pokemon Weaver. (0:30:15) Codey: Not the Pokemon we vial these are I call them snoot beetles so. (0:30:23) Codey: So they are Beatles in the family curcullion today and they have super long rostra or rostrums. (0:30:34) Codey: Which is just their their snout basically they’re like an anteater but a bug they just got this really long snoot. (0:30:43) Codey: And they usually have their antenna either at the end of the snoot or like buried in their snoot there’s like a little concavity that they kind of like tuck it into it’s really cute. (0:30:52) Codey: And they come in all kinds of sizes all kinds of cute colors so makes sense that they would be in this game as a DLC. (0:31:01) Codey: I bought this on I bought the bundle that included the DLC and the main game on my switch because I wanted to be able to play in bed and then the first quality of life update has been pushed to mobile and PC but has not yet been pushed on switch and it adds just some basic quality of life stuff. (0:31:19) Codey: that would be beneficial to have and I am excited. (0:31:22) Codey: For them to put it on switch whenever, whenever I’m assuming it’s (0:31:25) Codey: Nintendo’s fault because Nintendo was very particular about these things. (0:31:29) Codey: Um, yeah, so the story of this game is quote in bug and seek. (0:31:35) Codey: You’ve just bought an abandoned insectarium or bug zoo in bug Berg. (0:31:42) Codey: Once the lifeblood of the town and its economy, someone stole all of (0:31:46) Codey: the bugs in the dead of night. (0:31:48) Codey: Now it’s up to you to catch and sell bugs that make jokes. (0:31:52) Codey: Fulfill requests from the local shops and reestablish the (0:31:56) Codey: insectarium as a town icon. (0:31:58) Codey: Become a master bug hunter as you level up your bug catching skills and relax. (0:32:03) Codey: There are no wrong choices, no energy levels to worry about and plenty of (0:32:07) Codey: time to complete the quests and the jobs. (0:32:09) Al: I have a question. I don’t think you will. “How does someone steal all the bugs?” (0:32:10) Codey: I have an answer. (0:32:17) Codey: So I do have an answer. (0:32:19) Al: Oh no! (0:32:19) Codey: Um, so it’s basically like (0:32:22) Codey: so this is a live insect zoo base. It’s not like a dead museum. Um, so someone just coming, (0:32:30) Codey: imagine if someone broke into a zoo and stole all of the animals. It’s kind of very similar, (0:32:34) Codey: but it’s a lot easier because they’re so small. Um, it’s easier to grab them and steal them. Um, (0:32:41) Codey: so yeah, someone did that. I think they also stole a bunch of the tanks as well. Um, I mean, (0:32:48) Codey: So I run an insect zoo in real life for my university. (0:32:52) Codey: And I think it would probably take one person with a dolly, maybe 15 minutes to steal the mall. (0:33:00) Al: Right, OK, yeah, sure, but like stealing, OK, fine, stealing them for OK, so it’s just (0:33:05) Al: stealing them from a zoo. (0:33:07) Al: I understand. (0:33:08) Al: I thought it was stealing all of the bugs from the whole town and I’m like, that doesn’t (0:33:08) Codey: Yeah. (0:33:11) Al: feel like it’s possible. (0:33:12) Codey: Oh, no, it’s from the museum or the insect zoo. Yeah. (0:33:13) Al: OK, that makes that makes more sense. (0:33:18) Codey: And this, this kind of stuff actually happens not even just with (0:33:22) Codey: living in sex but also with specimens there in I want to say Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there was a huge heist that someone stole a bunch of specimens and it was like up to 50, no way more than $50,000, it was a lot of money, a lot of monies worth of specimens, and they’ve never found them. (0:33:43) Codey: So, this is something that can happen, especially if you have like really old stuff, collectors will want to buy it. (0:33:52) Codey: of the case here, like they say that the previous, uh, insectarium owner had a lot of really rare (0:33:59) Codey: things there. Um, and so maybe the person wanted to make money off of selling them. Uh, I mean, (0:34:07) Codey: in my, in our insect zoo that we have, we have tarantulas and a couple of them are like 13 years (0:34:13) Codey: old and they’re pretty, they’re pretty big. And they, I mean, they live to be 30, so she’s still (0:34:17) Codey: got a lot of life in her. Um, but to buy one that size after having it, (0:34:23) Codey: growing and stuff is probably like 500 bucks. Yeah. So. (0:34:26) Al: ethical questions as to whether or not you should be able to own living things, but that’s a whole (0:34:36) Codey: - Yeah. (0:34:37) Al: different debate. We are not a morality podcast. We have opinions on morals. Trans rights matter, (0:34:39) Codey: - Correct. (0:34:43) Codey: - We do, but we do not debate them. (0:34:45) Al: and I’m very annoyed about the situation in the UK just now, but you know. (0:34:52) Codey: Yeah, I don’t think I can point to a single place and be happy about its (0:34:56) Codey: situation, maybe New Zealand, but I, that’s also just because I’m probably (0:34:56) Al: Yeah, they have some issues currently with that. Well, they’ve had issues for a long time (0:35:00) Codey: ignorant of what might be happening there. (0:35:09) Al: with indigenous people and, you know. Sorry, a little bit of a detour there. So yes, (0:35:12) Codey: - Yeah, yep. (0:35:18) Codey: Nope. (0:35:20) Al: we have opinions about things, but we’re not a morality podcast in and of itself. (0:35:23) Codey: But as I am an entomologist, (0:35:26) Codey: I have opinions on the realism of bugs in games. (0:35:30) Al: Tell me, tell me how realistic is this creature collector based on bugs? (0:35:36) Codey: I love it it’s so good there have been so when you initially when you’re coming up to catch a (0:35:41) Codey: bug you like shake a tree or whatever and then a little bug outline like flies around and the (0:35:47) Codey: outlines are spectacular it’s not like oh there’s an outline for a butterfly and it’s going to be (0:35:53) Codey: the same generic outline for a butterfly no matter what um like think of like animal crossing or (0:35:57) Codey: whatever where it’s just kind of a shadow and you don’t it has like different sizes but other than (0:36:04) Codey: that you don’t really know what’s going on no each (0:36:06) Codey: of these bugs has their own outline. (0:36:09) Codey: Um, and before I even catch something I can, as an entomologist, (0:36:14) Codey: I can tell what it is pretty much. (0:36:16) Codey: Um, so for example, the first time I caught it to banded, which they don’t say (0:36:21) Codey: that they say house fly or sorry, horse fly, cause it is a horse fly. (0:36:24) Codey: I was like, oh my gosh, this is definitely a to banded. (0:36:27) Codey: Um, and then I caught it and yeah, it’s a horse fly. (0:36:30) Codey: Um, so the outlines are great. (0:36:32) Codey: the graphics are great, the (0:36:36) Codey: little quips that the bugs have, like they all have their (0:36:39) Codey: own little like jokes and then little blurbs under them once (0:36:43) Codey: you start filling out the journal, I don’t think it has a (0:36:47) Codey: real like a specific name, but there’s like a journal that you (0:36:49) Codey: start filling out those it’s all true, factual knowledge. And (0:36:57) Codey: I’m, I’m in love with it. The the little blurbs have made me (0:37:00) Codey: cackle and I actually have six that I wrote down that were my (0:37:03) Codey: favorite out of 220 bugs. (0:37:06) Codey: Okay, there there are but here are the six here my top six (0:37:10) Codey: little blurbs. So far, I haven’t caught everything. The blue (0:37:14) Codey: banded B said, I’m blue and from Australia, but no one gave me a (0:37:21) Codey: cartoon. (0:37:22) Al: Australia. I’m not sure who that’s meant to be referencing. (0:37:27) Codey: Bluey. (0:37:28) Al: Oh, blue. Oh my word, I’m just… Oh, goodness. (0:37:34) Codey: So it’s a blue-banded piece, I blew in for my- (0:37:34) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, I can’t think of anything that has (0:37:36) Codey: Australia. I just- I giggled. But bluey. Black garden ants. So (0:37:40) Al: a cartoon that’s blue and it’s from Australia. I can only think of Sonic and he’s not Australian. (0:37:45) Al: Yeah, blue, of course. Classic. (0:37:51) Codey: this is not as pop culture reference. This is- this is just (0:37:54) Codey: real. The black garden ant says I have my own pet, an aphid. And (0:38:00) Codey: it’s because they farm aphids. And it’s so cool that they (0:38:04) Codey: I’m not included though. (0:38:06) Codey: Basically these ants will like farm aphids and they’ll protect them and they’ll feed them (0:38:11) Codey: like little bits of food that they want and then the aphid will like spit out little honeydew (0:38:17) Codey: just like this sugary snack out of it’s not like it’s out of its back so like the top of its back (0:38:19) Al: Mm-hmm. (0:38:25) Codey: there’s just these little things it like secretes this stuff and then the it’s like sweat yeah and (0:38:28) Al: Oh no, like sweat. (0:38:32) Codey: And then the ants drink it, and they love it. (0:38:34) Codey: And so they just keep– (0:38:34) Al: Oh, I don’t like that. (0:38:36) Codey: This is cute that the Black Garden Ant’s little blurb is about its relationship with an aphid. (0:38:42) Codey: The blueberry bee says, “Eat a blueberry, thank a bee,” which is true. (0:38:46) Codey: If you have eaten a blueberry, you have a bee to thank for. (0:38:50) Codey: They are, thank for it. (0:38:52) Codey: They are the pollinators. (0:38:55) Codey: The brown Argus, which is a butterfly, said, “Be a good chap and fetch my ant butler for me.” (0:39:03) Codey: And this made me laugh because they… (0:39:06) Codey: So this is a butterfly, but as a caterpillar, they secrete something that makes the ants want to take them into their nest and then take care of them. (0:39:18) Codey: And then they basically live in the ant colony and just make the ants do their bidding and then they grow. (0:39:27) Codey: And it’s just, it’s hilarious that butterflies do this. (0:39:32) Codey: Carpenter Ant, call me a termite and I’ll blow this place down. (0:39:36) Codey: This is so aggressive because it’s not a termite, it’s a Carpenter Ant, but people call them termites all the time. (0:39:44) Codey: And then the last one, have you seen Breaking Bad now? (0:39:48) Al: I have not, but I’m aware of it and some, I would understand some reference. (0:39:52) Codey: Some of the references. (0:39:54) Codey: Okay, so this is the tarantula hawk wasp and the blurb is I am the wasp who knocks. (0:40:02) Codey: And I’m sure I’m sure people who have watched Breaking Bad are laughing (0:40:02) Al: Yeah, I don’t get that (0:40:06) Al: Probably I’m sure they are (0:40:06) Codey: their ass off right now. So the Tarantula Hawk wasp is the (0:40:12) Codey: state insect of New Mexico. New Mexico is where Breaking Bad was (0:40:18) Codey: wrong. And in one of the episodes, because about this (0:40:23) Codey: chemistry teacher who becomes a meth dealer. And he just becomes (0:40:28) Codey: this like he goes from being a pretty much the dad for Malcolm (0:40:31) Codey: in the middle because that’s who that it was the same actor, just (0:40:34) Codey: like an irregular dad. (0:40:36) Codey: to becoming this, like, hardened drug overlord guy. (0:40:40) Codey: And at one point, someone close to him finds out that this is, (0:40:44) Codey: and they’re just so worried that someone’s going to come knocking in the night and come and kill them. (0:40:51) Codey: And he’s just like, “No one’s going to come. I am the one that go places and make people scared. I am the one who knocks.” (0:41:01) Codey: And it’s just like, whoa, this moment when like someone close to him who (0:41:06) Codey: has continued to see him as this, like dad down the street guy, uh, finds (0:41:11) Codey: out how horrifying he is. (0:41:13) Codey: Um, so yeah, tarantula hospital, Hawk wasp. (0:41:16) Codey: I am the wasp who knocks. (0:41:18) Codey: It’s also a scary wasp. (0:41:20) Codey: They will not, um, really go for people, but they literally (0:41:26) Codey: kill and eat tarantulas. (0:41:29) Codey: So yeah, they are pretty scary. (0:41:30) Al: Oh, OK. Hence the name. (0:41:33) Codey: So the bug realism and the little blurbs, 10 out of 10. (0:41:36) Codey: Um, I’m still enjoying them. (0:41:37) Codey: Every time I read a new one, uh, I love that they are either attached to the (0:41:44) Codey: biology of the animal or its name, or they add it to like pop culture or something. (0:41:49) Codey: Like it’s not just a random thing that they say. (0:41:53) Codey: I remember some of the animal crossing ones, me being like, ha, that (0:41:57) Codey: doesn’t make any sense at all, but not the case here. (0:42:00) Al: That’s high praise. (0:42:01) Codey: So 10 out of 10. (0:42:04) Codey: Bye, praise. (0:42:07) Codey: The graphics and the music of this game are pretty simple but they’re good. (0:42:12) Codey: I turned the music off because I always do but I did play it with it on for a while. (0:42:18) Codey: You don’t really need the sound for anything like accessibility wise. (0:42:22) Codey: It’s pretty much just pleasant music in the background. (0:42:26) Codey: And the graphics, I mean it’s the kind of Stardew-esque animation. (0:42:32) Al: Yeah, pretty standard kind of pixel arty, I mean it looks nice from screenshots obviously (0:42:37) Codey: Yeah, it feels the same. (0:42:41) Al: I’ve not played it, how does that feel when you’re playing it? It’s I guess it’s lower (0:42:47) Al: fidelity than Stardew, I think it’s much more kind of I guess snes maybe level sort of graphics. (0:42:53) Codey: Yeah, yeah, which I mean, when it’s too cluttered, I don’t always like that. (0:43:00) Codey: So I really like how simplistic these things are. (0:43:05) Codey: But I mean, things change over the time period. (0:43:09) Codey: So like, you start in summer, but then in the fall, a bunch of the leaves are suddenly (0:43:15) Codey: on the ground. (0:43:16) Codey: So there’s leaf piles for you to rummage through. (0:43:19) Codey: I just hit winter so I haven’t figured out if there’s anything else but to leave (0:43:23) Codey: piles are still there there are still insects in the winter. There’s also like different areas (0:43:28) Codey: that I’ll talk about later like the desert for example is still going to have things so (0:43:35) Codey: things will change like as the time goes on physically in the game but I mean they just (0:43:43) Codey: highlight what needs to be highlighted which is the the bugs so I’m here for it. (0:43:46) Al: Yeah it’s interesting because I guess that’s the the quite dramatic thing is you notice (0:43:53) Al: like everything is pretty low fidelity except the images of the insects and they’re still very (0:44:00) Al: clearly pixel art right like you can see the individual pixels but they are much more detailed (0:44:05) Al: than anything else you can see on this game other than I guess the text and a few of the buttons and (0:44:07) Codey: Yep (0:44:12) Al: and stuff like that. But like the people, the houses, the trees, the bushes, the leaf (0:44:16) Al: tools, they’re all very low fidelity, which is nice, but they’re very detailed bug images. (0:44:24) Codey: Mm-hmm. Yup. And I appreciate that. (0:44:30) Codey: Um, so the mechanics of the game, it’s a pretty simple gameplay loop. It’s all right. (0:44:34) Codey: I feel like there could be a little bit more complexity to it, but I am not. (0:44:40) Codey: Uh, I can’t honestly point out how it could be more difficult, um, or how it could be different. (0:44:46) Codey: I think the biggest thing is you pretty much just fall into this catch bugs, cell bugs, um, loop. (0:44:54) Codey: It doesn’t really change much. Um, I think it might be nice to have like, maybe some traps you could set and you could place them in different areas. (0:45:06) Codey: Maybe that would change some things, um, and keep it a little, a little different. But for the most part, I just am doing a circuit every day. (0:45:16) Codey: Um, and changing it up because sometimes there are things, um, in different spots. So I’ll get to that. So catch bugs is the first part. (0:45:26) Codey: There’s 220 insects that are based on real insects, which is great. Um, they range from common to legendary and they’re found in, um, the areas and the seasons where they would be in the real world. (0:45:38) Codey: So, um, if it’s something that is attracted to man-made structures, it will be in the like picnic tables and the trash cans and whatever. (0:45:46) Codey: If it is, um, something that would be with flowers, it will be on flowers, you know, that kind of thing instead of just finding them. (0:45:56) Codey: Um, you can find them in trees, flowers, grass, logs, under rocks, on man-made objects. There’s also a cave. Um, and you can look under there, but they’re never just kind of like in the overworld. They’re always like, you always have to. (0:46:08) Al: Hmm, they’re not like flying around like you would see in Animal Crossing. (0:46:12) Codey: Yeah, no, you, you have to encounter an object and like interact with the object, um, to be able to see them. And each object, you can interact with them. (0:46:26) Codey: Um, and so, you know, if you are trying to find something that, you know, comes out at night and is in trees, maybe wait to touch your trees all the nighttime. (0:46:38) Codey: Um, yeah, but that’s pretty simple. I mean, you just walk around and you can, you have two net well, two buttons that correspond to nets. (0:46:48) Codey: It’s like right bumper makes you swipe your net to net to the right and left bumper is swipes your net to the. (0:46:56) Codey: So there’s no up or down, it’s just left and right. Um, (0:46:56) Al: Mm hmm. Okay. So is it quite easy, then, if you if you press the one in the right direction, you’ve got (0:47:04) Codey: yeah, there isn’t, they don’t get diff more difficult to catch. It’s just that as you increase your expertise and become a master bug catcher, you are just able to encounter more rare things, but they are always the same speed. (0:47:24) Codey: The same whatever, um, which I also kind of like, honestly. (0:47:29) Al: It’s good to know having to like chase after something like you do an animal crossing or the annoying thing where you’re like you don’t quite hit it in the right angle and therefore you miss it sort of. (0:47:34) Codey: Yeah, no. (0:47:40) Codey: Yeah, no, none of that. It’s always in the left, right? Like, um, orientation and you just have to make sure. And even then, if you like swipe, but then you move a little bit. (0:47:50) Codey: If you’ve like, if you swipe and you see that you missed you, sometimes you have a little bit of time. (0:47:54) Codey: to like move down a smidge for it to catch the thing after you&rs
Al and Kevin talk about the updates to Mika and the Witch's Mountain Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:49: What Have We Been Up To 00:14:16: Game News 00:32:36: New Games 00:42:00: Mika Updates 01:01:52: Outro Links Loose Leaf Development Stopped Tiny Garden Roadmap Tiny Garden Supporters DLC Outbound Alpha Out Now Dinkum 1.0 Release Date Monsterpatch Switch Stretch Goal Arclands Character Creator Dave The Diver “Ichiban’s Holiday” DLC Peggy’s Farm on Steam Peggy’s Farm on Kickstarter Neverway on Steam Cottonville on Steam Cottonville on Kickstarter Contact 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. (0:00:35) Al: My name is Al, and we are here today to talk about Cottagecore games, and maybe the switch (0:00:36) Kev: and my name is Kevin. (0:00:42) Al: to… (0:00:44) Kev: Whoo! (0:00:47) Kev: All Cottagecore games will be switched to exclusives (0:00:50) Al: Uh, we are going to talk this episode about Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, the updates, (0:00:50) Kev: now forever. (0:00:51) Kev: That’s what the direct told me. (0:01:04) Kev: Again! (0:01:04) Al: because there have been three updates since we talked about it last, although two of those (0:01:10) Al: updates we’re probably not going to talk about because there’s not much in them. (0:01:13) Al: There’s like one mini game, too many games, and some quality of life improvements. (0:01:14) Kev: Well, I did the churro races. I will talk about it. (0:01:20) Al: You can talk about the churro races. (0:01:22) Al: I did not do the churro races. (0:01:24) Al: I did the dungeons in the third update. (0:01:26) Kev: There you go. (0:01:28) Al: So that’s what we’ve got. (0:01:29) Al: So we’re going to talk about that. (0:01:30) Kev: Okay. (0:01:31) Al: Before that, we have a lot of news because a lot has happened recently. (0:01:34) Kev: Did you hear that? (0:01:35) Al: And that’s even after all the news that you covered in the last episode, Kevin, (0:01:38) Kev: Yeah. (0:01:39) Al: about the Switch 2 games. (0:01:42) Al: Just all the news. (0:01:43) Al: It’s busy, busy time, and we’re not even in June yet. (0:01:44) Kev: It is a beefy one. Yeah. (0:01:48) Kev: All right. Let’s, well, let’s not get into it. Yeah, let’s get into that. (0:01:48) Al: So, yeah. (0:01:50) Al: But first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:01:54) Kev: Okay. Obviously Mika, we’ll get to that. Marvel Snap, I play. It’s the what if season. (0:02:00) Kev: What if, what if there weren’t a lot of players and there’s a lot of bots because there’s a lot of bots right now. (0:02:06) Kev: Marvel Snaps is still a good place. I like it. Or I like it. Maybe not a good place. (0:02:14) Kev: I like it. (0:02:16) Kev: They’re, they’re trying to make some changes because it is no, it is still a treadmill that you can’t get off, but they’re trying to make some changes to make it a little easier. (0:02:26) Kev: They’re going to start. (0:02:26) Al: Or you can get off. The problem is if you get off, you’re unlikely to get back on again. (0:02:30) Kev: Yeah, then, then there’s that. (0:02:32) Kev: But, you know, we get the, I say the what if season, like the actual show, what if they’re trying to focus on that. We get the strange Supreme, the bad one, they get the infinity Ultron. (0:02:44) Kev: Captain Carter is the season pass card because of course she is. So yeah, fun stuff. But, but yeah, that’s, it’s, it’s Marvel Snap. It is what it is. (0:02:54) Kev: Other than that, the other Marvel game I play, Marvel Rivals, we welcome to the Hellfire Gala. (0:03:02) Kev: The new season just started just yesterday as a recording. We got Emma Frost as the never ending arms race to make Hodges. (0:03:14) Kev: She’s fun to play, though. She is a tank, actually, and she comes with two modes. There is her standard psychic attacking mode where she attacks people with her brain and then she can create a little shield and whatnot, or as Emma Frost does, she can switch into her diamond mode where she goes completely melee and will actually pick up people slam them on the ground. (0:03:40) Kev: slam them on the ground she will kick them into the wall (0:03:44) Kev: that she gets reduced damage and so on um it’s a lot of fun marble rivals very fun we got we got (0:03:50) Kev: venom twerk and we’re in a good place I saw that I thought it was a mod and then the game was like (0:03:51) Al: Yeah, I I don’t know what to say (0:03:58) Kev: oh that’s not a mod oh good times what about you al what’s been up with you (0:04:05) Al: mostly Mika. I was obviously playing the dungeons, and we’ll talk about whether I enjoyed that or not. Spoiler alert, I did. (0:04:13) Al: But I also have tried cassette beasts again. (0:04:18) Kev: Ah, ah, that’s a good one. (0:04:21) Kev: I need to get, I’m intending to fire it up again this week (0:04:26) Kev: ‘cause we just got an update. (0:04:27) Kev: So there’s more things for me to do and that’s exciting. (0:04:27) Al: Yeah. I am struggling, Kevin. (0:04:33) Kev: Ah, no, but where’s the struggle? (0:04:35) Kev: Where’s the pain points? (0:04:36) Al: I, OK, so I’ve just finished the tutorial, so I’m hoping that I now get there, right? (0:04:43) Al: Because the tutorial is reasonable, it took me like an hour and a half to get through the tutorial. (0:04:46) Kev: Trying to remember what is the tutorial, like, or what do you consider the tutorial? (0:04:48) Al: So you like go off, you go off to like look at a path that’s been destroyed. And when you get there, (0:04:53) Kev: Uh-huh. (0:04:54) Al: there’s like a building and then when you get into the building there’s an archangel. (0:04:57) Al: And you have to fight the archangel. (0:04:58) Kev: Ah, okay. (0:04:59) Al: So you like, you go along a path and you have some battles and you get blah blah blah blah. (0:04:59) Kev: Okay. (0:05:02) Kev: Sure. (0:05:03) Kev: Sure, sure. (0:05:04) Al: And then you get back to the town and you discuss what just happened and then it’s like, (0:05:07) Al: oh, tutorial’s done. (0:05:09) Al: You’re like, okay, wow, goodness, that was a long tutorial. (0:05:12) Al: But like many tutorials, I feel like it kind of interrupts gameplay a lot to tell you things (0:05:18) Al: and to do certain things and I don’t find that particularly fun. (0:05:24) Al: So I’m hoping that things go a bit smoother from here. (0:05:27) Kev: Okay, um, it’s been a while since I’ve played the tutorial so I can’t speak to that but I (0:05:34) Kev: Hope I hope you you sink into it because after the tutorial it’s it’s kind they just really let you loose (0:05:43) Kev: Right, like it’s a I mean, obviously you’ve heard us talk about it. It’s it’s one big it’s it’s all one map really (0:05:50) Kev: so you can get out there and kind of explore there’ll be hindrances and and you know stuff you have to (0:05:57) Kev: progress but (0:05:59) Kev: But it will ramp up quickly the amount of stuff you can do (0:06:02) Al: Yeah, there’s I mean, there’s there’s a few things I think I don’t know whether it’s just (0:06:08) Al: because of how like different they are to Pokemon battles, but I’m also feeling a little (0:06:13) Al: bit weird about the battles. (0:06:15) Al: Like I feel weirdly restricted in them. (0:06:19) Al: Like I feel my level is too low and it’s like after I’ve done one wild battle, like not (0:06:26) Al: even another trainer battle, I feel like at that point I need to be able to rest. (0:06:28) Kev: » Yeah. (0:06:33) Al: It costs materials to rest when you’re not like in the town and that feels a little bit (0:06:39) Al: weird. (0:06:40) Al: Like it feels like it’s trying to be a survival game, but I don’t think I want it to be a (0:06:43) Al: survival game, right? (0:06:46) Al: Like I don’t, I don’t know, there’s just lots of little things that are a bit frustrating (0:06:52) Al: to me. (0:06:53) Al: And I don’t know whether that’s because they’re just different and I’m not used to how this (0:06:56) Al: is thinking about this type of game or whether it’s just that I don’t enjoy that. (0:07:02) Al: We’ll see. (0:07:04) Al: I’m not giving up on it yet, but we’ll see. (0:07:05) Kev: okay I I will offer this piece of advice the game is it it’s enough say (0:07:13) Kev: honestly more defensive or you have to play a lot more defensively than you do (0:07:15) Al: Mm-hmm, mhmm, it’s huge. (0:07:18) Kev: in in Pokemon the the damage is a lot bigger yeah though though the walls that (0:07:25) Kev: you know a lot of the monsters can generate walls or whatever you’re gonna (0:07:30) Kev: want to use those because they can take two to three hits for like a (0:07:35) Kev: quarter of your health and in this game that is a good bargain yeah yeah (0:07:36) Al: And I think part of the problem is that we all know that I’m not the biggest battling (0:07:44) Al: fan in Pokémon, like I like collecting, and I worry that maybe this is just too battle (0:07:49) Al: focused for me. (0:07:50) Kev: it might be because it is it’s not as brain did I would say as Pokemon like (0:07:57) Kev: you know after 20 years in a week we know the deal in Pokemon it requires a (0:08:03) Kev: a little more attention. (0:08:06) Kev: So, I can understand what you’re saying there. (0:08:14) Al: I also, I’m going to, I’m going to, Johnny’s going to be so sad when he hears this, I also (0:08:19) Al: think that there’s a lot, you know, there’s a lot of kind of puzzles and stuff to progress (0:08:26) Al: on the map, right? Like you have to find like a switch that will do a thing that lets you (0:08:28) Kev: Right. (0:08:30) Al: progress to another bit. And I don’t know, I’m not, I think, I think the thing is that (0:08:35) Al: what I’m looking for in a Creature Collector is collecting creatures, and this game feels (0:08:42) Al: like an X-ray. (0:08:44) Al: An exploration game with survival and battles that also you happen to collect creatures in, you know. (0:08:54) Kev: Think the emphasis is a little stronger than that on creature collecting (0:09:00) Kev: But I do agree that there is a lot of emphasis on the exploration and the puzzle solving and all that (0:09:08) Kev: Right, so if you know, that’s not your bag then yeah that that’s gonna be difficult (0:09:09) Al: Yeah, we’ll see. I mean, well, it’s not that I don’t like puzzles, right? (0:09:13) Al: Like, I love puzzles in some games. (0:09:15) Al: I just don’t know if I want it in this game. (0:09:17) Kev: Uh-huh, yeah (0:09:17) Al: That’s the thing. (0:09:18) Al: Like, I don’t know if that’s what I’m looking for here, but we’ll see. (0:09:22) Al: I’m going to I’m going to push forward for a little bit longer. (0:09:24) Al: I think now that I’m out of the tutorial, I need to give it more time after that. (0:09:28) Kev: All right, well. (0:09:28) Al: But I will just we’ll see the last thing that I don’t like about it. (0:09:34) Al: And this is definitely something I don’t like. (0:09:35) Al: I don’t like the menus. The menus are terrible. (0:09:38) Al: them (0:09:38) Kev: I have to look at the menus, it’s been a while. (0:09:39) Al: I just I feel like I feel like it’s really hard to explain why I don’t like these menus (0:09:46) Al: but there’s just something about them that feels they feel incomplete they feel it’s not that (0:09:52) Al: they’re buggy but I just feel like i’m confused at what i’m looking at if that makes sense like (0:09:58) Al: everything kind of blends together and there’s a bunch of words and a bunch of stuff and i’m never (0:10:04) Al: quite sure what’s a button and i’m never quite sure where i’m meant to be doing things and i (0:10:10) Al: have no connection to any of the creatures yet and so that doesn’t help me so I look and i’ve got (0:10:15) Al: like here’s a list of creatures I don’t care about them you know like it’s (0:10:19) Kev: Yeah, you know that one’s (0:10:24) Kev: That’s gonna be tough because I I do think they do not (0:10:31) Kev: They don’t emphasize that connection with the creatures like like they do it they feel very much more (0:10:38) Kev: either I mean there’s some designs I like or whatever right, but (0:10:42) Kev: There’s no feeling of the partner Pokemon right of the the other starter. Yeah (0:10:45) Al: Yeah. Yeah. And I think that’s in a design of how it is, right? Because you’re not actually (0:10:50) Al: collecting creatures. You’re collecting designs of creatures, essentially, right? Like, because (0:10:56) Al: of the way that you’re catching, you’re like recording them, you’re essentially creating (0:11:00) Al: an echo of what this creature is, and then you transform into that. Like, you physically (0:11:02) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That’s very true. (0:11:06) Al: can’t create a connection with this creature because it doesn’t exist. And it’s definitely (0:11:15) Al: the designs of the creatures are fun. I like a lot of them, you know, they’re cute, they’re (0:11:18) Kev: - Sure, sure. (0:11:20) Al: fun ideas and they have, you know, like they’re, I think what I like about it is that they tie (0:11:26) Al: their moves into the theme a lot as well. Like the dude who is a traffic cone has a (0:11:35) Al: move that uses traffic cones, right? Like that sort of idea. I think that’s fun. And (0:11:36) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:11:40) Al: I think it’s really good. And a lot of effort has gone into those designs, into the thought (0:11:44) Al: of what these should be. (0:11:45) Al: Be feel like as well as look like, I just really don’t like the UI. (0:11:48) Kev: Yeah. I honestly cannot speak to that because it’s been so long. I don’t remember, but you know, (0:11:50) Al: I really don’t like the UI. (0:11:59) Kev: you know, that might be fair. (0:12:02) Al: and I just yeah and that and combined with like why when I sit down why when I sit down at a fire (0:12:08) Al: to rest the fire exists is there I don’t get to rest and heal my part heal heal up until I also (0:12:18) Al: use some more wood like the fire’s already there why do I need to use up more wood and it’s so much (0:12:19) Kev: Ha ha ha ha! (0:12:24) Al: wood you have to use up and I suspect it’s one of these things where you get more and more and (0:12:28) Al: you know 10 hours into the game you probably have far too (0:12:32) Al: much and it doesn’t matter. But like I’m really early in the game and I’m weak and I’m not super (0:12:36) Kev: Yeah, yeah no (0:12:37) Al: strong and I’m not experienced at how this game works and I have to pay 10 wood to rest to heal (0:12:42) Kev: Yeah, yeah, no I I don’t um (0:12:43) Al: up. That’s just bizarre. Why do I have to pay to heal? What is this America? (0:12:51) Kev: I do recall that that early on the game is pretty brutal (0:12:55) Kev: Um, there is a lot of going back and healing there’s uh, there’s a building or two not just in town (0:13:01) Kev: There’s a separate building. I’ll have to look it up (0:13:04) Kev: where you can go to rest. (0:13:06) Kev: That’s close to the early area, but that is a valid complaint. (0:13:12) Kev: It is pretty challenging early on compared to, say, Pokémon. (0:13:16) Kev: You’re not dealing with level 2 Pidgeys and Rattatas or whatever. (0:13:18) Al: Yeah, yeah, so we’ll see we’ll see how it continues. (0:13:20) Kev: They’re throwing you into full-on fights. (0:13:23) Kev: Yeah. (0:13:25) Kev: Alright. (0:13:26) Al: I’m definitely going to give it some more time, but I’m not enamored by it yet. (0:13:27) Kev: Well, I’ll be. (0:13:33) Al: Sorry, Kevin. (0:13:34) Al: Sorry, Johnny. (0:13:36) Kev: You just have to hear the good tracks, just you wait. (0:13:37) Al: Oh, do I have to turn on the sound goodness, of course. (0:13:43) Kev: You don’t… (0:13:44) Kev: Yes! (0:13:45) Kev: You have to turn on the sound. (0:13:46) Al: Kevin, I don’t play games with the sound on. (0:13:48) Al: I know, I know I get that, but like, that’s not going to make it or break it for me. (0:13:49) Kev: This one you do. (0:13:50) Kev: It’s literally called cassette beat. (0:13:57) Al: I’m not going to go, oh, I don’t like how the game plays. (0:14:00) Al: I don’t like how the menus look. (0:14:01) Al: I don’t like the battles, but the music is great, so I’m going to put in 50 hours into (0:14:06) Al: this game. (0:14:07) Al: That’s not going to happen. (0:14:07) Kev: Oh, maybe, maybe. (laughs) (0:14:09) Al: Come on. (0:14:10) Al: The gameplay has to stand by itself. (0:14:13) Al: Anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to. (0:14:16) Al: Shall we talk about some news? (0:14:19) Kev: I guess. (0:14:19) Al: So we’ll start off with the sad news. (0:14:24) Al: Loose Leaf. (0:14:25) Kev: This is wild. (0:14:26) Al: This is interesting. I have many thoughts about this, but let’s just talk about this initially. So Loose Leaf, a T-Witch simulator. This is a Kitfox game. They have said that it’s now indefinitely on hold. (0:14:39) Al: They have said, “After years of trying, we haven’t solved the important problems with its design. We don’t see a great way to continue right now that would make a good game anytime soon.” (0:14:48) Al: So we will not be moving forward. (0:14:51) Al: And I have thoughts because that is good that they’ve decided, “Oh, this isn’t a good game. Therefore, we’re not going to finish this game and release it and sell a bad game.” That’s good. (0:15:04) Al: But what I will say is, why are you deciding this after you’ve announced that this game exists? (0:15:12) Al: That feels like a… Like, if you weren’t sure, when you announced this game, if you weren’t sure that you… (0:15:18) Al: …had a game that might be good, why did you announce it in the first place and go, “Hey, here’s a game that we’re making. Oh, never mind. It’s not a good game.” (0:15:32) Al: That’s a weird… Like, it feels like the initial development of, like, “Can we make a good game or not?” Like, you start with that. You start with, “Is this going to be a fun, core game?” (0:15:43) Al: And you go, “Yes, it is. Okay, great. Let’s announce it.” Not, “Let’s announce this game and then…” (0:15:48) Al: …decide if it is a game or not. Like, that’s such a weird way to make that decision. (0:15:54) Kev: Yeah, like, yeah, and, and, uh, like, I don’t, uh, what are the, uh, what are the problems (0:16:09) Kev: that they couldn’t solve, right? (0:16:11) Kev: Like, I want to know. (0:16:12) Al: Yeah, I’m very interested in that. I don’t know because it’s hard, like, it’s probably (0:16:18) Al: very like specific stuff. So it’s hard to know without being detailed in the game. But (0:16:26) Kev: Yeah (0:16:28) Al: yeah, weird, weird decision. Like the gate when they announced the game in the first (0:16:31) Kev: When do they announce this do we know (0:16:37) Kev: Yeah, let’s see I’m kind of scrolling down (0:16:43) Kev: Introducing December 7th of 23 (0:16:46) Al: Yeah, so a bit over a year ago. (0:16:50) Kev: Yeah, um, huh, I just I don’t know (0:16:56) Kev: It’s and you don’t see this happen very often. That’s what makes this interesting right like (0:17:02) Kev: This was it was this wasn’t crowdfunded was I hope not (0:17:07) Kev: But and they’re saying indefinitely on hold which is again a weird way (0:17:14) Kev: It just feels odd, you know what okay because big triple-a companies do they do this all the time right projects get put on hold (0:17:21) Al: Absolutely, yeah, they just do it privately. (0:17:21) Kev: canceled, right (0:17:23) Kev: Yeah, they just do it privately right but (0:17:26) Kev: It’s a small team. I mean, that’s what seven people (0:17:30) Kev: Like that, you know that that’s a bit. That’s kind of everything if you’re not doing a game (0:17:34) Al: Yeah, but no, I think Indies do this as well, we just like, because you don’t know whether (0:17:41) Al: a game is going to work until you have a base of it. And the thing is that you build out (0:17:47) Al: your proof of concept game, and you go, is this fun enough? And then you go, yes, it (0:17:53) Al: is. OK, we’re going to continue and we’re going to build the game. We’re going to make (0:17:56) Al: it look good. We’re going to make it run well. We’re going to add in all this story and all (0:18:00) Al: the characters and blah blah blah blah but (0:18:04) Al: in this case they did that after that I just yeah I don’t understand what happened here (0:18:11) Kev: - Yeah, and I mean, we won’t, yeah. (0:18:11) Al: this because you don’t see this with indies either like you don’t see people announcing (0:18:15) Al: games that they then decide aren’t fun right like and the thing is that there are so many (0:18:22) Al: games I think that people make that aren’t fun why is this the one that doesn’t get made (0:18:26) Kev: Yeah. Yeah, that’s the challenge, right? Like we’re not going to know the whole story. It would be nice to know if they broke it down, right? Like if they went into a video and said, here’s this thing that we can’t get to work, or we just didn’t like it, couldn’t agree. But it’s kind of a question mark. But I mean, overall, though, as weird as it feels, I commend them instead of dragging this along for whatever, you know, not 15 years in development. (0:18:50) Al: Yeah, yeah, that’s fair. (0:18:57) Al: Yeah, that’s totally fair. (0:18:58) Kev: So, but there you go. (0:19:01) Al: On a more positive note, we have Tiny Garden, which came out (0:19:05) Al: last week, have announced their roadmap. First of all, they (0:19:10) Al: already have supporters DLC pack, which gives you some skins (0:19:18) Al: and stick. (0:19:20) Al: It’s just a little bit extra if you want to give them a little bit extra and get some (0:19:30) Kev: That’s, that’s just affordable. (0:19:40) Kev: Yeah, very, uh, it’s a cute game, I’ll say that, like, you know, little Polly Pocket (0:19:46) Al: more skins. (0:19:47) Al: you go. That’s what you can do. (0:19:54) Kev: garden house decorating, oh, that’s very cute. (0:19:59) Al: Yes, I’m excited to play it, but they’ve also announced there’s another update coming (0:20:03) Al: soon in the summer, I think they’re saying, because it’s called the summer breeze content (0:20:07) Kev: - Yeah. (0:20:10) Kev: Yeah, which I’m good for that. (0:20:13) Kev: I’m already working on the next thing. (0:20:15) Al: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Outbound, as expected, Kevin, (0:20:21) Al: their announcement for Outbound was the date for their alpha release. (0:20:24) Kev: Docker. (laughs) (0:20:26) Al: The most the least exciting thing in the world, (0:20:29) Al: because I’m not playing an alpha of your game. Sorry. (0:20:33) Kev: Yeah, we all know how I feel. I mean early access alpha’s all it’s all like I’m not I’m not I’m no offense (0:20:39) Kev: Like it’s important good for you. I hope people do play but I can’t bring myself. I got I got stuff to do (0:20:48) Al: Anyway, that’s out on the 14th, which is in the past as you’re listening to this (0:20:51) Al: episode, so. (0:20:52) Kev: But, that is a concrete step towards a game, and that’s always good, and outbounds a fun little concept, so I appreciate that. (0:20:54) Al: It is, absolutely. (0:21:01) Kev: Have your whole camp on your vehicle. (0:21:03) Al: I just love, yeah, they’ve got one of the images of a ridiculous build, and I just love (0:21:11) Al: the idea of just making this stupid house on top of this camper van. This is so stupid, (0:21:14) Kev: Yeah, yeah, it’s great I love it (0:21:18) Al: I love it so much. Without that, I would not be interested in this game, but when they (0:21:23) Kev: Yeah (0:21:23) Al: add that in, I’m like, yes, I am so in for this. (0:21:26) Kev: Oh man, so, you know, we’re cheering you on outbound just not playing your alpha. Sorry (0:21:34) Al: I’m not playing your alpha, name of the episode. (0:21:42) Al: Speaking of early access, Dinkum have announced that their 1.0 is coming out, (0:21:48) Al: so they were in early access for two years, I think. (0:21:51) Kev: Yeah. (0:21:52) Al: Oh, nearly two years and eight months. (0:21:55) Kev: Oh, that’s, that’s a beefy one, but they’re here! They’re making it, that’s great. (0:21:57) Al: It is, yeah, 23rd of April, their 1.0 will release, and this is the (0:22:05) Al: Australian Outback farming game. (0:22:08) Kev: Yeah, it’s mine minecraft, but you’re australia basically I say minecraft (0:22:13) Al: Yeah. Yeah. (0:22:14) Kev: You know it’s it’s a lot of different survival (0:22:17) Kev: Type gates a lot of things um I (0:22:20) Kev: Like the australia concept because we see kangaroos we see (0:22:25) Kev: Emus we see a shark (0:22:28) Kev: That you’re fighting with (0:22:31) Kev: axes and pickaxes and a glowing mushroom gator (0:22:35) Kev: So the australia idea is cool. I don’t know how (0:22:38) Kev: I feel the character designs they’re little I don’t know if it’s not my cup of tea but overall like I think it’s a cool idea I am tempted. (0:22:48) Al: Yeah, it’s on my maybe list, like if I didn’t have anything else that I was wanting to play, (0:22:53) Al: I would be totally up for playing this, but I’m not sure what I’m going to not play in (0:22:57) Al: order to play this instead, that’s my problem. (0:22:59) Kev: Yeah, that’s fair. (0:23:02) Al: Next we have Monster Patch, they’ve hit their switch, stretch goal, so it’s coming to switch. (0:23:08) Kev: Yeah, on the opposite end of the spectrum, this guy’s succeeding too hard. (0:23:08) Al: Oh my, yes. (0:23:18) Al: He’s also hit the next one as well, which is for fossils. (0:23:22) Al: So there’s going to be a fossil system. (0:23:24) Kev: Yeah. Oh my gosh, where are we out 20 fossils? (0:23:27) Al: We’re nearly at 250,000, and what’s the next one then, because there’s a 250,000 one is (0:23:33) Al: the treasure system. (0:23:34) Kev: Okay, I (0:23:36) Al: And then the one after that is the game corner. (0:23:38) Kev: The gay. Oh, yeah now we’re talking (0:23:43) Kev: But I will say I hope this you know the one other (0:23:48) Kev: Asterisk is I hope and all this doesn’t bloat development where it takes like five years (0:23:53) Al: There is that there is that that is always a worry there was something else I was looking at (0:23:59) Al: What was it? Oh, it was the new chibi game where they were talking about (0:24:03) Al: The extra stuff that they’ve unlocked and like this means that this that they will take extra time and I’m like just I don’t (0:24:10) Al: Add your extra stuff like either just do it or (0:24:15) Al: Add it in as future updates right like let me play the game like cuz I don’t care about fossils in your game in (0:24:19) Kev: - Yeah. (0:24:23) Kev: I don’t either. (0:24:23) Al: Mustard patch. I would rather get the game earlier than not have fossils personally (0:24:27) Kev: Yeah, yeah. (0:24:29) Kev: You know what, they should, (0:24:32) Kev: Kickstarter games should do this, right? (0:24:34) Kev: You know, all of them have their, you know, (0:24:36) Kev: little ladder of stretch goals or whatever, right? (0:24:41) Kev: Next to them, put the plus X number of months (0:24:44) Al: But the thing is, right, they want people to buy because they get more money that way, (0:24:44) Kev: years of development time. (0:24:50) Al: right? (0:24:50) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:51) Al: Like that’s more more guaranteed people buying the game because in the upfront, right? (0:24:52) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:53) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:54) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:55) Al: Like that is what they want. (0:24:56) Al: So they’re never going to do that. (0:24:57) Kev: Yeah, no. (0:24:58) Kev: Or, or, okay, more realistically. (0:25:02) Kev: Make a, like… (0:25:04) Kev: Right now, Sean Young should look this, let’s say, okay. (0:25:08) Kev: Battle Tower is gonna be the base game, Fossil System will be an update later, and label that. (0:25:14) Kev: I think that would be nice, to say, okay, this is what I want for the base game. (0:25:14) Al: » Yeah, that would be, yeah. (0:25:18) Kev: This will come (0:25:19) Kev: after, because I want this game to come out. (0:25:21) Kev: That would be nice. (0:25:24) Al: So yeah, who knows when Monster Badge is actually going to come out, but I’m looking forward to it when it does. (0:25:34) Al: Next we have ArtClans, which is an upcoming game. They’ve announced that they’ve released their character creator app. (0:25:42) Al: So you can go and create a character for the game beforehand. I think this is a fun little thing. (0:25:49) Kev: It is, um, one, uh, yeah, that, that, that is a fun little, not, not even demo, but just a way to (0:25:55) Kev: interact and get the name out there. That’s a fun little thing. Um, what, what is the game? (0:26:02) Kev: That’s what you remember. Let’s see. Hold on. You’re wizards. You’re, you’re a wizard. Um, (0:26:07) Kev: but, uh, that is fun. You know, little, little website games you can play to hype up for the game. (0:26:13) Al: Oh, they have bald as an option. (0:26:15) Al: I love it when they have bald as an option. (0:26:15) Kev: Oh, now we’re talking. (0:26:18) Al: Give me give me your bald. (0:26:19) Kev: Let’s see. Um, that’s good stuff. Oh, man. (0:26:24) Al: Sorry, I’m making my character now. (0:26:28) Al: Let’s get rid of the get rid of the facial hair. (0:26:30) Al: I don’t want earrings. (0:26:31) Al: Thank you. I’ll take some glasses. (0:26:33) Al: There we go. I’ve got me my character. (0:26:34) Kev: There you go, we have Allen Arkland, yay, Allen. (0:26:36) Al: Love it. (0:26:41) Al: Nice. Our owl lands. (0:26:43) Al: Continue. Oh, there’s more stuff to do. You can do backgrounds. Different backgrounds. (0:26:48) Kev: Oh yeah, I make the- do the whole thing. (0:26:50) Al: Export. There we go. I’ll send this to you, Kevin, and then I’ll put it in the show now. (0:26:54) Kev: Oh, I can’t- oh, well now I gotta make my own too. (0:26:58) Kev: Oh, this will be- we can post these on the Slack. (0:27:00) Kev: This is your bonus content for you Patreon people. (0:27:02) Al: Excellent! We love it. (0:27:05) Kev: There we go, okay, I’ve downloaded. (0:27:09) Kev: There we go, we’re now in Arkland. (0:27:11) Kev: See? Look how good this marketing is. (0:27:13) Kev: We’re doing it live on the show. laughs (0:27:15) Al: I like the designs of this as well. It’s a fun little thing and I feel like I could get something (0:27:18) Kev: Yeah, it’s fun. (0:27:21) Al: pretty close to what I actually- (0:27:24) Kev: Yeah, oh, that’s- yeah, yours is good, I like yours. (0:27:27) Kev: Alright, here we go, I’m doing the thread spoilers for this week. laughs (0:27:30) Kev: Live. Um… (0:27:32) Al: all right do I need to post it in the thread as well okay yeah cool that makes makes sense (0:27:34) Kev: That’s what I’m doing. (0:27:38) Kev: Look at you, I see that Arklords has me infinitely more interested in this little game because I created my character. laughs (0:27:45) Al: absolutely and it’s much better than telling you to go and play an alpha (0:27:49) Kev: Yeah, it really is. laughs (0:27:53) Al: there we go I posted mine in the spoilers thread as well (0:27:54) Kev: Yeah, I’m doing it right now too. (0:27:58) Al: this is what you get if you’re in the slack oh nice I like (0:28:00) Kev: Yeah, there we go, look at us. Yeah, I like- I like yours, I like the red eyebrows, that’s good. (0:28:05) Kev: Yeah, these are good, these are really good. I like that. (0:28:08) Kev: You can’t tell though the little full finger sprite apart, but the character portraits pretty good. (0:28:14) Al: Yes, that is going to be a problem with this game, because I think, yeah, there wasn’t (0:28:18) Kev: Gotta get the hat to see how it’s bald, it’s the only way you can do it. (0:28:23) Al: an option to not wear a hat. (0:28:24) Kev: I’m sure in the full game there will be, ‘cause… (0:28:28) Kev: Otherwise, well, I don’t know, maybe not, whatever, but that’s fun. Look at that, live on the episode, making our characters for Arklands. (0:28:36) Al: Fun times. Right, moving on. What we got next? Dave the Diver. Ichiban’s holiday DLC is out now. (0:28:38) Kev: Good for you, Arklands. What do we have in these? Oh, no. (0:28:46) Al: The reason we’re talking about this again is because, oh boy, so all the previous DLCs, (0:28:48) Kev: The feel-bad story of the year. (0:28:54) Al: I think, have been limited time. So this one is also limited time, but it is a paid DLC as well. (0:29:01) Al: So you can’t just go, oh fine, I’ll just add it to my inventory and play it later, (0:29:06) Al: with the previous DLCs. It costs money, which I’m not against. It’s costing money, right? Like, (0:29:10) Kev: - Okay. (0:29:12) Kev: - Yeah. (0:29:12) Al: it’s a bit annoying that there have been so many DLCs that are free and now it’s a paid one, but (0:29:18) Al: you know what? Fine. It’s stuff. I’m happy to pay for stuff. But why do I have to buy it in the next (0:29:24) Kev: Am I still gonna get this it’s very likely but I’m not happy (0:29:29) Al: Yeah, not happy about it. Of course, I’m gonna buy it (0:29:31) Kev: Yeah, it’s (0:29:34) Kev: I’m I’m I feel more upset about this price than the switch (0:29:40) Kev: Because the limited time scarcity Mario (0:29:44) Kev: Nintendo’s gonna come destroy your copy of Mario 3d all-stars feeling. It’s not great. It’s not a great feeling (0:29:50) Al: - Yeah, yeah. (0:29:51) Kev: But here we are what can be done (0:29:53) Al: Have you looked at trying to buy (0:29:54) Al: a physical copy of that now on eBay? (0:29:55) Kev: You (0:29:57) Al: They’re so expensive. (0:29:57) Kev: I’m not I bet they are shocker. Good. That’s what happens when you create this dumb artificial scarcity BS (0:30:07) Kev: But and it kills me because the GLC looks fantastic (0:30:14) Kev: like they you know, they’re putting all the minigames and all the effort the (0:30:21) Kev: Strolling the you know, like oh man (0:30:25) Kev: It kills me kills me (0:30:27) Kev: But here we are. I don’t like I wonder if that’s a (0:30:32) Kev: No, because they said they’ve done limited time before which I don’t get to begin with but here we are (0:30:37) Kev: How much is the deals? I didn’t even see the price (0:30:40) Al: It is six pounds, so probably $10. (0:30:45) Kev: still not happy. It’s probably worth that price. It is a lot of content. It looks more (0:30:50) Al: Yeah, I’m not saying it’s not worth the price. (0:30:51) Kev: substantial than the other ones. Yeah. Probably. Yeah. Yeah, that was not a lot. (0:30:54) Al: I think it probably is worth the price for what you get, and I think they probably should (0:30:59) Al: have charged for the other DLCs as well. (0:31:03) Al: I would say the Godzilla one, make it two quid, right? (0:31:07) Al: It’s not worth 10 quid, but I think it’s important, blah, blah, blah, blah, for people to say (0:31:13) Al: that these things are worth something. (0:31:15) Al: It’s the same Nintendo argument, right? (0:31:17) Al: The limited time is the problem. (0:31:20) Al: If you can’t play this game, then you’ve got to pay for it now. (0:31:23) Kev: now (0:31:26) Al: And that is not good. (0:31:27) Kev: now now now (0:31:28) Al: That’s bad. (0:31:29) Kev: now though (0:31:31) Al: Bizarre. (0:31:32) Kev: money (0:31:32) Al: Bizarre decision. (0:31:33) Kev: ceo wants money now (0:31:35) Al: And I don’t even think it’s like, obviously, I think the Mario 3D All-Stars (0:31:40) Al: was stupid as well, but it’s not even the same as that because I can still go and (0:31:41) Kev: yes (0:31:44) Al: buy a physical copy of the game if I want. (0:31:46) Al: And even if I can’t… (0:31:50) Al: Those are just ports. They’re just games that you could play on something else if (0:31:54) Al: you wanted to, right? Like, I’m not saying that’s good. I still think it’s bad, but it (0:31:58) Al: doesn’t even… This seems worse than that, because this is content that you couldn’t (0:32:04) Al: get in any other way. You can’t buy it secondhand, and you couldn’t be at it for another previous (0:32:09) Al: thing. This is… If you don’t buy it in the next six months, you can never get this. Ever. (0:32:16) Kev: I’m gonna make a fortune when I sell all my switches loaded with Dave the Diver with the Ichiban DLC. (0:32:21) Al: Oh dear. Anyway, so that’s that. That’s out now. I’m gonna play at some point, but yeah I’m gonna (0:32:25) Kev: Just you watch. To the moon, baby! (0:32:34) Al: grump about it. Right, we also have some new games. First up we have Peggy’s Farm, which describes (0:32:42) Al: itself as “combine the crowsy crafting of a farming sim with the satisfying physics of a pachinko (0:32:49) Al: game. (0:32:50) Kev: Pachinko game. Yeah. Oh (0:32:51) Al: I don’t know what a pachinko game is. (0:32:54) Kev: Okay, so it’s a pachinko game is (0:32:58) Kev: How should I put this? (0:33:00) Kev: Okay, it’s like pinball but without the flippers (0:33:02) Kev: So you just shoot your initial like one ball and it kind of bounces around and hits things (0:33:04) Al: Oh, it’s that thing with all the nails in, and the balls go down, and where they land (0:33:09) Kev: Yes (0:33:11) Kev: Yes that exactly (0:33:12) Al: is where they land. I understand. What a weird combination of things. Why are you doing this? (0:33:13) Kev: That’s the correct. That’s pachinko (0:33:16) Kev: Right popular in Japan for gambling (0:33:20) Kev: You (0:33:21) Al: Why is this a thing? (0:33:22) Al: This is a weird game. (0:33:25) Kev: Are you not enthralled by the concept of combining a cozy stardew like with pachinko (0:33:33) Al: No (0:33:34) Kev: It’s what we’ve needed (0:33:38) Al: Look maybe someone’s excited about this, but I (0:33:40) Kev: I know Konami’s thrilled. They said they love pachinko (0:33:44) Al: Am I I don’t understand why (0:33:49) Al: Is a bizarre game it feels like it feels like those like marriage games (0:33:50) Kev: It is very very weird (0:33:54) Al: it’s like (0:33:56) Al: the the the cunt the (0:33:58) Al: The it’s just different images depending on which version of this marriage game you do right you (0:34:03) Al: So many different ways and it’s like it’s not really it’s not a (0:34:08) Al: Farming game right? It’s a pachinko game that happens to have images that are based on farming (0:34:14) Kev: Yeah, well, I mean no thought is the thing because when you hit the the the pull the crops when you launch the ball (0:34:22) Kev: It actually causes them to grow or whatever. It’s very weird (0:34:26) Al: Yeah, I don’t… I’m all right, thanks. I’m gonna pass. It sounds like something that (0:34:29) Kev: I don’t know either. Yeah, not for us, but (0:34:38) Al: would be an interesting idea, but I don’t know why I would ever actually want to play it as a game. (0:34:43) Al: You know, it’s like you’re sitting in a brainstorming session and you’re like, “Oh, (0:34:46) Al: right, what else can we do farming games with?” “Oh, how about pajinco?” And you go, (0:34:51) Al: “That sounds fun!” And then you start making the game and you go, “Actually, that’s not fun.” (0:34:57) Al: It was just a fun idea. (0:35:03) Al: Like Loose Leaf, a T-Witch simulator. (0:35:03) Kev: This… I was about to say, this is what loops leave. They couldn’t nail down the pajinko macales. [Laughter] (0:35:12) Kev: Ah, yeah. Ah, yeah. Oh, good time. (0:35:20) Al: “Clear out space and collect materials with your pinball cannon. (0:35:23) Al: Watering your plants. (0:35:24) Al: Use your cannon for that. Taking care of animals. (0:35:27) Al: Your cannon does that too. (0:35:29) Al: Your fluffy friends love to bounce around that cannonball.” (0:35:32) Kev: Oh, they love it. (0:35:34) Al: No, anyway, the Kickstarter is coming soon. (0:35:40) Kev: Best of luck. I would be- I will be intrigued to see if this, you know, makes it. That- that’ll be- (0:35:41) Al: Good luck, yeah. (0:35:47) Kev: It’s- it’s interesting. I will say that. (0:35:50) Al: And, well, it’s interesting for about two minutes and then it’s no longer interesting. (0:35:57) Al: On the other hand, we have Neverway. (0:36:00) Kev: Oh yeah, oh now this this one. Yeah, okay. Oh, yeah (0:36:03) Al: This one, yeah, here we go, here we go. (0:36:06) Al: “After quitting her dead end job, Fiona starts over on a farm and becomes (0:36:10) Al: the immortal herald of a dead God. Make friends fight through horrors and pay (0:36:18) Al: your debt in this night bearish life soon. (0:36:20) Al: I’m guessing you’re like going to try and bring the God back to (0:36:21) Kev: Okay, well, okay before anything well, I have one question just a fundamental conceptual question (0:36:27) Kev: Why do if the God is dead? Why does he need a herald? (0:36:32) Kev: Even the dead ones (0:36:36) Kev: Okay, is that it sure okay. Yeah, that makes sense. All right. Okay that that was okay now go ahead (0:36:42) Al: So, pixel art is made by the pixel artist from Celeste. (0:36:48) Kev: you okay oh oh oh shoot have we should oh okay I actually just need two messages to kelly then (0:36:54) Al: I think this is super fun. I love the idea of it. It looks great. I’ve always liked the (0:37:04) Al: idea of a kind of horror style farming game, but none of them have ever really, I guess (0:37:08) Kev: Yep. Hit that balance. (0:37:11) Al: other than Cult of the Lamb, I guess, none of them have really grabbed me in any way. (0:37:15) Kev: Yeah, but yeah, sure. (0:37:18) Al: But yeah, even Cult of the Lamb, it was still cutesy horror, right? Like it wasn’t really (0:37:21) Kev: Yeah. And it was. (0:37:22) Al: horror. And this few. (0:37:24) Al: More horror and I’m excited to see what happens because the other one that was that rogue light one, and I can’t remember what it was pumpkin panic. That’s what it was. And that was just terrifying and I never want to play that thing again. (0:37:32) Kev: Yeah (0:37:38) Al: This feels like something I could actually play properly and it’s an RPG as well. That sounds fun addition to it. Like, I think this looks great. And I think people overall look really excited for it. (0:37:45) Kev: yeah (0:37:51) Kev: I don’t blame them because this feels (0:37:54) Kev: it I would call this a stardew like but (0:37:56) Al: Mm-hmm. (0:37:57) Kev: you know the the horror is it’s a very thick layer of horror and and very (0:38:03) Kev: well-implemented it’s not just staple on like uh… (0:38:06) Kev: this is top the bottom scary stardew uh… and it looks it looks great looks (0:38:12) Kev: fantastic uh… (0:38:15) Kev: you have your crops your farming your you’re even decorating your place (0:38:20) Kev: and you’re talking to people in relationships and all that good stuff (0:38:23) Kev: but there’s there’s a lot of or there’s scary things in this trailer (0:38:28) Kev: uh… (0:38:29) Kev: yeah this looks fantastic we don’t have any t (0:38:32) Kev: each is on anything house (0:38:34) Kev: uh… (0:38:36) Kev: but uh… (0:38:37) Kev: uh… you can lie to people yeah (0:38:40) Kev: uh… (0:38:42) Kev: uh… (0:38:43) Kev: Yeah, or date, yep, so it is dating relationship. (0:38:45) Kev: Um, yeah, I cannot, uh, I can’t wait for this one. It just looks great. (0:38:51) Kev: Um, yeah, oh gosh, yeah, oh, this is mature, mature. Wow. (0:38:56) Kev: Okay, yeah, we did get, not good for work or violence and mature content. (0:39:04) Kev: I can’t wait, this is great. Um, this is one of the most exciting games in a while. (0:39:10) Al: All right, next we have Cottonville, which feels like the complete opposite of Neverway. (0:39:17) Al: Create farm and style in Cottonville, a cosy dress-it-up game with farming and sim mechanics. (0:39:25) Al: This is so sweet, it’s giving me cavities. (0:39:30) Kev: It’s, it’s, it’s very Facebook game, dress up, internet, cutesy. (0:39:38) Kev: It’s a lot of things. (0:39:40) Kev: Um, like, I’m sure this is great for some people. (0:39:45) Kev: There’s a market I’m sure, but okay. (0:39:48) Kev: I have one huge complaint. (0:39:50) Kev: The characters are always standing facing you. (0:39:53) Kev: It’s unnerving. (0:39:54) Kev: I don’t like it. (0:39:54) Al: their eyes move in the direction you’re moving very slightly. (0:39:55) Kev: I don’t like it. (0:39:58) Kev: Yeah. (0:40:02) Al: Yeah, it’s cute. (0:40:05) Al: I don’t know if it’s for me, but I don’t know for certain that it’s not for me. (0:40:10) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:40:10) Al: I could see myself trying it. (0:40:12) Kev: It’s I don’t think it’s for me like I know I don’t the dress-up thing doesn’t have my appeal (0:40:19) Kev: But I’m sure it’s for someone (0:40:23) Kev: But but yeah, that’s cotton milk, it’s okay. It’s going on the Kickstarter. I think (0:40:28) Al: Yes. The Kickstarter, I think, is live already, if that’s what I said. (0:40:32) Kev: All right, there you go (0:40:34) Al: Yeah, Kickstarter is live now. (0:40:35) Kev: Best of luck (0:40:36) Al: It is not doing well, but we’ll see how things go. (0:40:42) Kev: Well, that’s because the harvest season had yet to report on it. We’re gonna change the game for them (0:40:42) Al: It’s. (0:40:48) Al: It’s a thousand euros of its ten thousand euro goal, so. (0:40:53) Kev: Influencers (0:40:54) Al: It’s gonna, it might get there, it’s going to take a while. (0:40:58) Al: got a bunch of stretch goals, that’s optimistic. (0:41:01) Kev: Oh yeah it is, oh yeah that’s off, ooh, best, oh. (0:41:07) Al: Never put up your stretch goals until you’ve hit your target, because it’s embarrassing. (0:41:12) Al: It’s really embarrassing if you have stretch goals and you never hit your target, right? (0:41:14) Kev: Oh, yeah. (0:41:15) Al: Come on, come on. (0:41:16) Kev: Yeah, unless you’re Sean Young, I guess. (0:41:19) Al: I don’t think you put up the stretch goals until they hit the target, (0:41:22) Kev: Did he? Oh. (0:41:22) Al: but it’s just that it only took five minutes, you know? (0:41:29) Al: I do think, however, I feel like it will probably get made even with the Kickstarter (0:41:35) Al: doesn’t, because the Kickstarter is so low that it feels like something, (0:41:38) Kev: Mm-hmm a test thing. Yeah, maybe (0:41:39) Al: like they don’t actually need the money, and it’s more like a marketing thing. (0:41:45) Al: Who knows? We’ll see, we’ll see. (0:41:49) Al: And that’s all the news. (0:41:52) Kev: Whoo, we did it! We defeated the news, finally. No new games ever again. (0:41:58) Al: All right, we’re going to talk about Mika and the Witches Mountain and the updates. (0:41:59) Kev: Free. Free at last. (0:42:05) Al: So just a quick summary of what this game is, if you haven’t listened to our previous (0:42:08) Al: episode, it will be linked in the show notes. Go listen to that, because we’re going to, (0:42:13) Al: we’re not going to, I mean, okay, we’re still going to talk about how much we love this (0:42:15) Al: game, right? Because I don’t know about you, Kevin, but like I’ve, I’ve still, I still (0:42:16) Kev: Yeah, I love the game. I finished the game, finally! (0:42:20) Al: love it. I still love this game. But a quick summary of it, just in case you refuse to (0:42:27) Al: listen to that episode. (0:42:28) Al: It is a witch broom riding package delivery game with Wind Waker graphics. (0:42:34) Kev: very niche, but very good, we promise you. (0:42:40) Al: It is very fun. (0:42:41) Al: We talk loads about how much we love the core game in the first episode on it, but (0:42:47) Al: we don’t want to do that here because it will just, we’ll just, we’ll just spend (0:42:51) Al: hours talking about how good it is. (0:42:53) Al: We’re not going to do that. (0:42:54) Kev: Yeah, assume it is good. It’s it’s good. It’s still Wind Waker and Kiki delivery service and good things (0:43:02) Al: So I’m going to talk quickly about the three updates and what they include in them. (0:43:08) Al: And then we can talk about what we’ve actually done and what we think about that. (0:43:12) Al: And if it’s changed our view on the game at all. (0:43:14) Al: So the first update is the churros and cats update. (0:43:18) Al: So this adds the churro express minigame, (0:43:20) Al: which Kevin, I believe you’ve played. Do you want to talk about that just now? (0:43:20) Kev: Yeah, I did (0:43:23) Kev: Yeah, okay. So it’s it’s so right. The game is heavy about the the broom riding, right? Well now (0:43:31) Kev: Logical step. Okay now do it fast. Here’s your racetracks go they give you like seven courses, I believe (0:43:37) Kev: And you can complete them all but they give you a time goal, you know (0:43:40) Kev: I try if you hit the time goals, then you can get different rewards. You could get a special outfit a (0:43:46) Kev: separate charm I (0:43:50) Kev: Took me maybe an hour to clear them all (0:43:54) Kev: the first (0:43:55) Kev: Four or five are not terribly hard. They’re easy. I won pretty much one shot them (0:44:01) Kev: Some of the later ones get a little more challenging took me a few do overs to get them (0:44:06) Kev: overall, I enjoyed it (0:44:09) Kev: the (0:44:10) Kev: Because so it’s like an air a lot of them are air based tracks, right because you’re on a broom, of course (0:44:15) Kev: They have these like churro rings giant churro rings that you fly through to (0:44:20) Kev: Get speed boosts and and and reset the timer or whatever the the churro aesthetic is cute. I like it’s funny (0:44:27) Kev: I like churros a lot (0:44:28) Al: Yeah, it’s cute. (0:44:29) Kev: but (0:44:30) Kev: But yeah overall like no complaints. I enjoyed it. It was a very natural like yeah, of course (0:44:37) Kev: They’re gonna do that and it worked (0:44:40) Kev: Yeah, the outfit you get for it is completing. It’s cute too. So there you go that there’s my thoughts (0:44:44) Al: So I have one complaint and it’s not specifically about the turo race, but it’s about the updates (0:44:47) Kev: Okay (0:44:50) Kev: You (0:44:51) Al: in general. This just feels like the time to talk about it. There’s no indication as to how to do (0:44:58) Al: this in game. If you open the game and you had completed the game before any of the updates, (0:44:59) Kev: Oh, okay (0:45:07) Al: as I had I done, you open it up and it’s like, “Oh, hey!” and you’re like, “Hey, what am I?” (0:45:14) Al: “What am I doing here?” “What have I got to do?” “You tell me this stuff?” “What is it?” (0:45:20) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:45:22) Al: And it goes, “What do you mean?” “What do you mean? What do I mean? Where&rsquo
Our first guest from Italy, Valeria aka "The Lady and the Bow" on social media, joins me! I had stumbled across Valeria's account on Threads, where she mentioned she loved The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit. That's usually enough for me. I popped over to her Instagram account and found beautiful and inspired photography, cool looks, and I knew I had to follow for more. After really enjoying her content, I asked her to be a guest, and here she is! We have a wide ranging conversation that goes across a number of topics. We talk about Cottagecore and what draws her to that style and look. Valeria talks about color theory and how she chooses the outfits she wears. Plus, the ins and outs of taking this kind of photography. Valeria tells us the backstory of why and how she got interested in creating this style of content, and what motivates her to continue doing what she does. We talk about her progression, and her inclusion of fairytales and myths into her work and posts. We also talk about the work she creates that you can purchase at The Cottagecore Den. You can find Valeria at: https://beacons.ai/theladyandthebow https://www.instagram.com/theladyandthebow/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theladyandthebow https://www.threads.net/@theladyandthebow You can find The Cottagecore Den at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecottagecoreden/ https://www.instagram.com/thecottagecoreden/
Kev goes through the news of the week Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:31: What Has Kevin Been Up To 00:04:26: Game News 00:31:13: Outro Links Rusty’s Retirement x Vampire Survivor Monsterpatch Kickstarter Rune Factory: Guardians of Azume Delay Artisan Story EA SoS: Grand Bazaar on Switch 2 rpgsite hands on for SoS: Grand Bazaar Oppidum Release Date Chronomon EA Release Date Tales of the Shire Gameplay Video Honeymancer Mac Support Mineko’s Night Market Soundtrack Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Kev: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Kevin and with me today is Kevin (0:00:38) Kev: But in Spanish (0:00:40) Kev: No, come on. Come me us. Yes. Yeah (0:00:44) Kev: Hello everyone, it is a solo Kevin episode again. I’m just one of those (0:00:50) Kev: weeks slash weekends where a (0:00:54) Kev: bunch of schedules played a little bit of hot potato and well (0:00:58) Kev: in case of emergency. (0:01:00) Kev: break out the solo kevin episode. (0:01:30) Kev: he was right on in. (0:01:32) Kev: well actually before that (0:01:34) Kev: stuff i’ve been up to (0:01:36) Kev: nothing terribly interesting (0:01:38) Kev: busy work week (0:01:40) Kev: allergies are bad out here (0:01:42) Kev: the pollen has been bad (0:01:44) Kev: but we got ray (0:01:46) Kev: and i’m thankful for that (0:01:48) Kev: but in terms of fun stuff (0:01:52) Kev: playing some marvel rivals (0:01:54) Kev: the new season is coming out in a couple of days (0:01:56) Kev: we’re getting emma frost (0:01:58) Kev: to hold X-Men Hellfire Galath. (0:02:00) Kev: I’m going to go back to the last themed season. (0:02:02) Kev: That’ll be fun. (0:02:04) Kev: And yeah, I’m just racing, scrambling to get the final missions to get the last costumes and unlocks from the current season pass or whatever. (0:02:13) Kev: But so that’s been fun. Nothing terribly new, but still a very solid game. (0:02:20) Kev: Let’s see, Marvel Snap also in my rotation. (0:02:24) Kev: Fun game. A new season just started. (0:02:28) Kev: the cards good (0:02:30) Kev: Actually, I haven’t bought the season new season fast. I can’t talk about Captain Carter (0:02:34) Kev: It’s a what-if themed season for people who are familiar with the Marvel Disney Plus series. What if? (0:02:44) Kev: And so I haven’t played with Captain Carter, but the the other card injuries thus far Goliath he’s been pretty good (0:02:50) Kev: But yeah (0:02:51) Kev: One interesting thing about Marvel snap is that I see a lot more bots right now (0:02:57) Kev: and it’s not just because of a new season although that’s also common. (0:03:01) Kev: It just really feels like the player base has kind of tapered off a bit. (0:03:08) Kev: Which works in my favorites and easier on the ranked ladder. (0:03:13) Kev: But that’s just interesting. (0:03:16) Kev: I get it. It’s a game that demands a lot of your time because it’s just constantly pumping out new things every single week. (0:03:24) Kev: So it’s just a treadmill and it can be exhausting a lot to keep up with. (0:03:30) Kev: But here I am. I kept up with it. I still like it. (0:03:34) Kev: So yeah, that’s good stuff. Marvel Snap. (0:03:39) Kev: Other than that, nothing terribly interesting. I picked up some Minecraft because sometimes I just get niche for the Minecraft movies. (0:03:48) Kev: Is it related to the movie news? Maybe. It’s the subconscious, the name thing, I guess. (0:03:54) Kev: I don’t know, but I don’t know. I just like firing it up starting a farm and little, you know, settlement. (0:04:00) Kev: That’s always fun. (0:04:03) Kev: But yeah, that’s what I’ve been up to, more or less. Nothing terribly interesting. (0:04:09) Kev: Oh, and Mario Odyssey, like Kingdom, that’s working on Rainbow Road radio stuff. (0:04:16) Kev: Let’s keep an eye out for that. It’s a good game and I like water levels, Waterworld, so yay. (0:04:23) Kev: Okay, yeah, but that about sums it up. (0:04:25) Kev: So now let’s actually dive into Cottage Core game news. (0:04:30) Kev: Oh, I don’t know if you guys heard me, that was my cat, my teddy, he’s chilling out back there. (0:04:35) Kev: He probably wants some food. I’ll feed you in a little, buddy. (0:04:40) Kev: But after the news, let’s see here. (0:04:44) Kev: First up, oh, we’re starting with the showstopper, I see. (0:04:49) Kev: “Rusty’s retirement cross vampire survivors.” (0:04:55) Kev: You’ve gotta love an April Fools joke that, oh wait, no, this is real, actually. (0:05:01) Kev: Because it’s so wild and ridiculous, I adore that sort of April Fools joke/news drop. (0:05:08) Kev: That’s how we got Yakuza like a dragon, if I recall correctly. (0:05:14) Kev: But yeah, April 1st, they announced a crossover. (0:05:18) Kev: Specifically, vampire survivors coming into Rusty’s retirement, which is hilarious, really. (0:05:24) Kev: So vampire survivors is the “bullet heaven” game where you’re just… (0:05:30) Kev: power up and power up, and just shooting waves and waves of enemies and whatnot, horror/vampire/Castlevania (0:05:39) Kev: themed, and they’ve done a handful of crossovers, including with actual Castlevania, so no surprise (0:05:46) Kev: from vampire survivors, they’ve done very well. (0:05:50) Kev: But somehow, the guys over there at, what is it, Ponkle, I believe the studio is called? (0:05:57) Kev: They heard of Rusty, and they reached out to… (0:06:01) Kev: Rusty’s retirement, and we have a new skin pack/map, what would call you, of Rusty’s retirement, where the (0:06:13) Kev: titular character… (0:06:15) Kev: What was their name? Po. Oh, there we go. Po, what if they retired? And so now they’re just farming up a storm. (0:06:22) Kev: And (0:06:25) Kev: Yeah, it’s it’s fun. They introduced a new mechanic (0:06:29) Kev: Where you grow (0:06:31) Kev: To keep away bats from stealing your crops, which is fun, right? (0:06:35) Kev: It’s still a relaxed, you know laid-back game, but now you just have this new little flavor (0:06:46) Kev: uh… elements so I i like that that’s very cute (0:06:49) Kev: uh… overall like that the graphics look great (0:06:53) Kev: uh… (0:06:55) Kev: uh… (0:06:56) Kev: the trailer itself is is pretty (0:06:59) Kev: pretty great uh… (0:07:03) Kev: yeah the the skins look great and and (0:07:05) Kev: you know what this one is tempting me to to download it because this is such a (0:07:10) Kev: fun crossover (0:07:11) Kev: uh… well I guess we do it I don’t know (0:07:14) Kev: uh… (0:07:16) Kev: yeah good (0:07:17) Kev: good on you both vampire survivors and rusty’s retirement (0:07:21) Kev: people (0:07:22) Kev: and uh… props to wife (0:07:25) Kev: apologize with uh… morris I believe is the fellas name of the rusty retirement (0:07:29) Kev: dev (0:07:29) Kev: uh… he is a dead now yeah (0:07:32) Kev: congrats (0:07:33) Kev: uh… adorable little kid it’s it’s all there on the the steam post uh… go (0:07:37) Kev: check out the baby pictures they’re very cute (0:07:42) Kev: uh… and uh… there are more (0:07:44) Kev: Crossovers to come, which is exciting. (0:07:47) Kev: Will it I have no idea with the you know, these kind of indie games you never know (0:07:52) Kev: Will be other indie game. So we get (0:07:56) Kev: retirement (0:07:57) Kev: Necro dancer mid proper. Yeah, that’s what is right. Yeah, the Nick grow dancer Nick grow retirement, whatever you want to call it (0:08:05) Kev: Possibly we get shovel knight retired. Maybe (0:08:10) Kev: Will we get David actually David ever feels very likely? (0:08:15) Kev: You know very (0:08:16) Kev: Exciting who knows it feels like anything is possible with this so (0:08:20) Kev: Definitely keeping my eyes (0:08:23) Kev: Peeled my you know looking up for more (0:08:26) Kev: News on these crossovers today all sound very fun (0:08:32) Kev: Okay, so yeah, let’s see here next up we have (0:08:37) Kev: monster patch (0:08:39) Kev: So yeah last time we talked to it. I mean it was already funded with we talked about it (0:08:45) Kev: But (0:08:46) Kev: They have passed the 150,000 USD mark and we they have revealed the Nintendo switch stretch goal (0:08:57) Kev: And so let’s see here that is exciting we they reached a goal for a museum (0:09:04) Kev: That the structure you can unlock and you can donate the monsters (0:09:09) Kev: and read interesting facts (0:09:12) Kev: That is pretty cool (0:09:16) Kev: They’ll probably be a special collection that’s interesting right because you always have the Pokedex in these monster claking games (0:09:22) Kev: But an actual museum dedicated to that that’s fun (0:09:27) Kev: Let’s see here (0:09:29) Kev: But yes, Nintendo switch was at two hundred thousand dollars (0:09:35) Kev: Let’s see where they are currently they’re at 182. They already passed the battle tower (0:09:40) Kev: Stretch goal, so yeah that switch support is very likely (0:09:46) Kev: Yeah, so (0:09:48) Kev: Probably keep an eye out. We’ll have a something’s release. I don’t know (0:09:54) Kev: But I’m if it’s I’m definitely getting if it’s going to switch so keep an eye out I (0:10:00) Kev: certainly am I mean we’ll hear about it because this thing’s just (0:10:04) Kev: Blasting through these stretch goals and and you know the way kickstarters work (0:10:08) Kev: The the the biggest pushes are at the start and at the end so whenever this thing (0:10:13) Kev: Which is the end which is in two weeks, roughly (0:10:16) Kev: I will get another big blast, so I wonder how far we’ll actually go (0:10:22) Kev: Yeah, so good on you monster pets and senior Sean young. I believe it is doing good. Yeah, that’s the guy’s name all right (0:10:30) Kev: Let’s see here next up (0:10:32) Kev: Room Factory Guardians of Azuma the new room factory game with dance the power of dance (0:10:39) Kev: It’s it’s just a new flavor room factory (0:10:42) Kev: They have announced that they are moving the release date from (0:10:46) Kev: May 30th to June 5th. Why? Well because there’s a Switch 2 coming out on June 5th, and that makes a lot of sense. (0:10:53) Kev: That’s only a week and a week, you know, as I’m playing this release of the two versions, or multiple versions. (0:10:59) Kev: The Switch 2 version with the other ones. So yeah, only a week difference. I don’t think anyone’s going to mind to play on their Switch 2 if you’re getting it. (0:11:08) Kev: Okay, let’s see here. Next up… (0:11:16) Kev: Reverse of Delay. It’s an out now, I guess I would call it. Artisan Story. (0:11:24) Kev: So for this game, I don’t know if we’ve talked about it, but you play as an artisan blacksmith type character. (0:11:34) Kev: It’s that sort of 2D HD octopath look. A lot of minigames for crafting different weapons and tools. (0:11:43) Kev: Um… I was… some… (0:11:46) Kev: emphasis on combat it looks like to make use of all the blades and weapons you’re (0:11:51) Kev: making with different combat styles which actually looks pretty fun. I quite (0:11:55) Kev: like the look of this game. It’s got a pixel look that’s a little simplified (0:12:03) Kev: maybe but against the 2D HD thing where they’re out in a 3D space and it looks (0:12:09) Kev: like some of the weapon styles could be even fun maybe a little different from (0:12:12) Kev: your standard cottagecore fare, so that’ll be cool. (0:12:17) Kev: There’s plenty of characters and what not to talk to. (0:12:19) Kev: Is there romance? I don’t know. (0:12:21) Kev: Maybe. (0:12:23) Kev: We’ll see. (0:12:25) Kev: Anyways, the primary news story is that Early Access is out now. (0:12:32) Kev: They are aiming to be in Early Access for a year. (0:12:40) Kev: There’s a whole post on Steam. (0:12:43) Kev: I’ll just read the quick little blurb about explaining why it’s Early Access. (0:12:47) Kev: We’re bringing this vision to life with your help. (0:12:51) Kev: By launching Early Access, we aim to refine gameplay mechanics, (0:12:55) Kev: expand crafting possibilities, and ensure that every aspect of the world (0:12:59) Kev: from farming to monster taming feels truly rewarding. (0:13:02) Kev: Your feedback will shape the future of the game, (0:13:04) Kev: helping us create the best artisan experience possible. (0:13:07) Kev: If you have the idea of crafting farming (0:13:09) Kev: and raising dungeon monsters, join us on this journey. (0:13:11) Kev: Be the first to experience new features. (0:13:13) Kev: Share your thoughts and help us build something truly special. (0:13:17) Kev: So yeah, it is currently just out on Steam. (0:13:20) Kev: It is $20. (0:13:22) Kev: There is a free demo you can download. (0:13:24) Kev: But Early Access is $20. (0:13:26) Kev: They mentioned the price could change, (0:13:28) Kev: especially when the full release comes and whatnot. (0:13:33) Kev: They list the whole slew of features currently available in Early Access. (0:13:42) Kev: Early Access makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. (0:13:45) Kev: or, you know, the– (0:13:46) Kev: developers, I’ve– oh, I forgot to mention, yeah, the monster taming thing. That’s an interesting aspect. (0:13:53) Kev: It looks a little passive, like you take care of your monsters, and they generate materials for you, kind of like (0:14:00) Kev: Moonstone Island, similar to that game, but fun touch nonetheless. (0:14:06) Kev: Am I getting the early access, infinously? No, I’m not an early access guy, but (0:14:13) Kev: It’s a good it is out. That is a good first step, right? (0:14:16) Kev: So hopefully we’ll see if we’ll release within a year like they’re aiming to and (0:14:21) Kev: Yeah, check it out. If you are interested that is artisan story. Oh, oh one more important note (0:14:27) Kev: The blank story naming scheme is yeah. I’m that that’s it. I’m drawing another line in the sand (0:14:33) Kev: There’s a lot of lines around me, but come on. Come on. Let’s put a little more effort into the title at least a (0:14:41) Kev: Subtitle something give give throw me a bone people we can do better than this (0:14:47) Kev: The game looks pretty good (0:14:51) Kev: Okay (0:14:54) Kev: Speaking of things that look pretty good and this one (0:14:57) Kev: Yeah, it’s story of seasons. Let’s talk about Grand Bazaar (0:15:01) Kev: We got the switch to version confirmed during the direct. It’ll be $10 more on switch to (0:15:09) Kev: We they let’s see RPG site net. I was able to get a like preview copy and then post all (0:15:16) Kev: Thing about it (0:15:19) Kev: It looks it has you know, this standard (0:15:25) Kev: Story of seasons fair, you know all your villagers the romance the farming all the good the animals all the good stuff (0:15:34) Kev: It does have some of the earth would say more modern innovations from the series like you can grow plants in all seasons (0:15:42) Kev: Some specifically from pioneers of all of town (0:15:47) Kev: Raise buffalo beekeeping mushrooms and flowers (0:15:51) Kev: And perhaps the most interesting bit is that there is no shipping bin in this game (0:15:58) Kev: Only the weekly bazaar similar to mannequins night market (0:16:04) Kev: Yeah, that is an interesting mechanic is just fun as mannequins I don’t know but (0:16:10) Kev: That’s interesting because you don’t have your daily, you know shipping bin revenue. You gotta wait every week (0:16:17) Kev: But yeah, I mean overall it’s a story of seasons game, right? So (0:16:21) Kev: You know the the the (0:16:24) Kev: Title the pedigree is there and I’m sure it will be a quality game nonetheless (0:16:29) Kev: So, yeah, that’s uh, that’s good stuff (0:16:35) Kev: Let’s see here (0:16:44) Kev: I don’t know, oh I apologize, no I was just looking, there is uh, Fogoo.com also had um, (0:16:52) Kev: thoughts on the game, but you will post the link um, uh, on all sorts, you know, the kind (0:16:58) Kev: of comp of the trailer and had everything. (0:17:01) Kev: Um, but uh, but yeah, there’s also some interviews with the director talking about the game for (0:17:08) Kev: the, again this is a remake um, of Grand Bazaar. (0:17:12) Kev: So it looks pretty good. (0:17:14) Kev: Overall, though, like all the stuff they’re integrating, all the new things. (0:17:18) Kev: OK. (0:17:21) Kev: Let’s see here. (0:17:24) Kev: Next up, we have– oh gosh, I still don’t know how to say this. (0:17:29) Kev: Opidum? (0:17:29) Kev: Opidum? (0:17:31) Kev: Opidum, perhaps, even. (0:17:34) Kev: This is the three– we’ve talked about it before. (0:17:39) Kev: It’s a 3D– I’m just going to say it looks like Breath of the Wild. (0:17:44) Kev: Oh, Minecraft– more Minecraft-y Breath of the Wild, because you’re out there building settlements (0:17:52) Kev: and whatnot. (0:17:53) Kev: Looks combat-heavy. (0:17:54) Kev: The character– the player character kind of looks like Link, at least the one they’re (0:17:59) Kev: using. (0:18:00) Kev: I don’t know if it’s customizable or not. (0:18:03) Kev: But yeah, that– they have– excuse me. (0:18:10) Kev: They are release– release date. (0:18:12) Kev: That’s the big news. (0:18:14) Kev: But that is very close. (0:18:15) Kev: That’s what– at the time you guys are listening, about two weeks, I would say, ish? (0:18:22) Kev: Yeah. (0:18:23) Kev: Oh, there it is, character creation. (0:18:25) Kev: Yep. (0:18:26) Kev: OK. (0:18:27) Kev: You don’t have to be faux-link. (0:18:28) Kev: You can be your own thing. (0:18:29) Kev: Yeah. (0:18:30) Kev: They announced this release date. (0:18:33) Kev: They got a trailer. (0:18:35) Kev: It is co-op. (0:18:36) Kev: You can have up to three friends playing with you. (0:18:39) Kev: Adaptive storytelling. (0:18:40) Kev: That’s an interesting buzzword or cue. (0:18:44) Kev: I think if I were to guess, that’s just like Breath of the Wild, where you can do stories if you want to, you know, do certain temples and learn certain stories. (0:18:53) Kev: Or you can just ignore it. (0:18:55) Kev: But regardless, you can experience yourself April 23rd. (0:19:01) Kev: That is coming very soon. I think I was just on Steam for now. (0:19:06) Kev: But yeah, look forward to that. (0:19:10) Kev: Um, okay, here’s… (0:19:14) Kev: Uh, this is an interesting one because it’s… (0:19:19) Kev: A… (0:19:22) Kev: E-A, um… (0:19:26) Kev: Okay, well, let’s get into it. (0:19:27) Kev: So, Chronomon was going to launch full, you know, full 1.0, (0:19:32) Kev: but they have pivoted to making it to an early access launch. (0:19:36) Kev: Um, this will be on May 8th, 2025, just about a month away. (0:19:41) Kev: Um… (0:19:44) Kev: It is interesting because they do go into the details why they decided to move this. (0:19:48) Kev: Um, they’re pivoting to because they want to show their commitment to working on it more. (0:20:02) Kev: And, of course, as usual, they’ll take feedback and refine things and whatnot. (0:20:12) Kev: They are planning, again, for about a year for early access. (0:20:26) Kev: And, uh, the- the one nice, uh… (0:20:36) Kev: the full main campaign is fully playable you’re right because they they were more (0:20:46) Kev: or less playing a full release so they they’re pretty much the full campaign (0:20:49) Kev: there so that that is nice I will say that right having early access game (0:20:52) Kev: with an actual finish point that’s good and of course a lot of the features of (0:21:00) Kev: this is again this is chronomond it’s a 2d pixel mod (0:21:06) Kev: taming and farming all the bells and whistles of both of those genres it’s (0:21:14) Kev: pretty cute I like the the dungeon design some of them are a little more (0:21:18) Kev: urban your modern looking than just a cave which I think is a little (0:21:22) Kev: refreshing they have a deep suite of RPG elements and customizations for your (0:21:28) Kev: monsters and skills and everything battles are in the overworld which is a (0:21:32) Kev: This is a nice little touch, not a separate Pokemon screen. (0:21:36) Kev: It does look robust, I will say, for an early access. (0:21:40) Kev: Again, that is May 8th when it’s coming out, and yeah, hopefully within a year they’ll have a full 1.0. (0:21:49) Kev: I’ll definitely be interested in seeing what that looks like. (0:21:53) Kev: Okay, let’s see here, next up we have a game that is also an early access. (0:22:05) Kev: honey man through the (0:22:06) Kev: bear witch game (0:22:08) Kev: they have a big update (0:22:10) Kev: announcing mac support (0:22:12) Kev: which is great (0:22:14) Kev: I know a lot of mac people (0:22:16) Kev: I never used a mac I’m not one of them (0:22:18) Kev: but hey now you guys can enjoy the (0:22:26) Kev: But yeah, that’s that’s a big one. But of course that comes the whole slew of (0:22:30) Kev: Additions changes balances, etc. You can check out the link for all that but (0:22:37) Kev: That is good. And that is out. I believe yes (0:22:41) Kev: Then only a week after early access good on them (0:22:47) Kev: Let’s see here. Oh (0:22:50) Kev: Goodness. I can’t believe almost skip to the story tales of the shire. Um, so they released (0:22:56) Kev: a a very in-depth a (0:23:02) Kev: Very in-depth (0:23:05) Kev: Game or look at the game (0:23:08) Kev: How long is this thing? Um (0:23:10) Kev: Ten minutes long which is fairly decent (0:23:13) Kev: Um, it’s it’s not just looking at the game or but talking to the devs and the and whatnot or how their (0:23:20) Kev: inspiration I like him about whatnot (0:23:22) Kev: And I’ll be honest. I think this is a (0:23:26) Kev: very good trailer. It’s probably got me the most excited about the game out of anything I’ve seen. (0:23:34) Kev: I think they put a lot of emphasis on how they keep going back, not just to the source material, (0:23:44) Kev: but actually looking at Tokien’s inspirations, how he wrote The Hobbit, the Middle-earth and what. (0:23:56) Kev: A lot of the trailer discusses the “conflict” because in so many games you need some sort of (0:24:07) Kev: conflict or issue to resolve. And so they go back to one of the main themes from All Middle-earth, (0:24:15) Kev: which is Tokien’s issues with urbanization and modernization. As I mentioned, he bemoaned the (0:24:24) Kev: urbanization of his (0:24:26) Kev: childhood home and what not (0:24:28) Kev: trees and forests he was so fond of becoming modern and urbanized (0:24:34) Kev: and so we were seeing that reflected in this game with certain characters pushing for more modernization (0:24:40) Kev: and other characters standing against it trying to maintain the shire as it is (0:24:48) Kev: and so yeah they go into a lot of detail over that (0:24:54) Kev: uh… it’s it’s it’s fast (0:24:56) Kev: how much they researched on the right they reached out to actual artisans and (0:25:00) Kev: blacksmiths how would things look like and and again not just the the actual (0:25:06) Kev: middle you know middle earthworks but the these stories are inspirations (0:25:14) Kev: behind them I think that’s a that shows a lot of dedication and yeah the the (0:25:20) Kev: actual gameplay in the this trailer looks pretty good I think I think (0:25:26) Kev: it kind of shows off its identity finally because that was I think (0:25:30) Kev: something that was kind of lacking right like was this gonna be some sort of you (0:25:34) Kev: know weird Lord of the Rings skin on Animal Crossing and whatnot right and I (0:25:40) Kev: mean to be sure right like they’re still aiming for the cozy very clearly and (0:25:44) Kev: explicitly there’s the farming and the the fishing and and and crafting and (0:25:49) Kev: all those standard hallmarks you know interacting with the town but you can (0:25:54) Kev: You (0:25:56) Kev: Can Really See how it’s all coming together here all right like they mentioned the the sense of community is important not just as a gameplay mechanic (0:26:03) Kev: But like thematically for the the the Shire the the the setting they’re trying to create here (0:26:11) Kev: So yeah, you’re gonna have relationships with (0:26:15) Kev: Not so romantic relationships, but it’s just like you know friendships and and relationships with characters (0:26:22) Kev: Well, you know, all dead-named characters and whatnot. (0:26:26) Kev: Who influenced the story, um, so yeah, it looks pretty good. (0:26:30) Kev: I’m, uh, I’m actually pretty interested in this now. (0:26:34) Kev: Um, I really suggest you guys check out the, uh, the link and take a look at the (0:26:40) Kev: video, um, because it is, uh, I think it looks quite, this video is quite nice. (0:26:47) Kev: Um, yeah, so that is again, tales of the Shire. (0:26:50) Kev: Um, I don’t think we still have a, um, excuse me, (0:26:56) Kev: a date or anything for it. (0:26:58) Kev: Um, oh, oh, I’m wrong. (0:26:59) Kev: July 29th, uh, release date. (0:27:02) Kev: Um, so the couple of months, uh, all right. (0:27:06) Kev: Uh, looking forward to it. (0:27:07) Kev: Um, that sounds pretty specific. (0:27:10) Kev: So I, and from the, where the video, the game looks like in the videos, I believe (0:27:16) Kev: that date, um, so yeah, let’s keep an eye out for, uh, tales of the Shire. (0:27:22) Kev: Good stuff. (0:27:24) Kev: Um (0:27:26) Kev: and lastly but certainly not leastly we have Maneko’s night market out in the (0:27:32) Kev: news again let us not forget that it was that last year’s game of the year or is (0:27:38) Kev: that the year before I know the year but yes the year before 2023 yes harvest (0:27:44) Kev: season’s game of the year 2023 no one can stop me they’ve released the soundtrack (0:27:54) Kev: It’s 20 bucks. (0:27:56) Kev: It’s on Steam, I think it’s on Spotify in other locations as well. (0:28:00) Kev: Um, that is, I don’t know if we harped on that to cover the game. (0:28:04) Kev: But the game has a banger soundtrack. (0:28:08) Kev: Um, it goes the whole gamut of emotions. (0:28:12) Kev: You have very, like, relaxed, nature-y music. (0:28:16) Kev: You have very joyous, happy music. (0:28:20) Kev: A lot more melancholy or reflectful tunes. (0:28:26) Kev: A lot of, you know, bits and pieces of kind of Japanese-style music kind of influence and whatnot, (0:28:34) Kev: given the setting of the game and whatnot, kind of. (0:28:38) Kev: It fits. (0:28:40) Kev: Um, so yeah, I cannot recommend enough that you check out the soundtrack, right? (0:28:46) Kev: That’s one thing about me, I’m a big soundtrack guy, like, maybe not by the soundtracks, (0:28:50) Kev: but I’ll look up soundtracks online and listen to them and whatnot. (0:28:54) Kev: Because games, quality games have a good time. (0:28:56) Kev: I love good music, y’know? And so, another game I can put into that library rotation, I’m always down for that. (0:29:02) Kev: Um, so yeah, go out there, buy it, support Mineko’s Night Market, Harvest Season 2023, Game of the Year, because it’s a good one. (0:29:10) Kev: laughs I’ve gotta go back and finish it. (0:29:14) Kev: Um, and, y’know, maybe I will. Maybe that’s… I’ve been itching for something, and I feel like that could be it! (0:29:20) Kev: That could be it! (0:29:22) Kev: Um… (0:29:24) Kev: Ugh, okay. (0:29:26) Kev: Um, but, uh, but yeah, that’s, uh, that’s kind of it. (0:29:31) Kev: That’s the news. (0:29:32) Kev: Um, let me be covered a little fast since it’s just me, but, uh, but it was (0:29:36) Kev: still a beefy gamut of stories there. (0:29:40) Kev: Um, I’m, I’ve got to say, like, just looking down this list, it’s a (0:29:45) Kev: healthy diversity of games, right? (0:29:47) Kev: Like, yeah, you know, we’ve been us being at this for so long, right? (0:29:53) Kev: We’ve seen trends come (0:29:56) Kev: and go and what not right so many stardew clones and so on and whatnot but (0:30:00) Kev: I like I look at this this variety here right we got the big names we got you (0:30:05) Kev: know tales of the shire with its IP we’ve got story of seasons and rune (0:30:10) Kev: factory and then we have more indie stuff everything from classic Pokemon (0:30:15) Kev: monster patch the very rusty retirement whatever you want to call that rusty (0:30:21) Kev: or whatever that the genre was. Rusty likes, yeah. (0:30:26) Kev: Right, kind of this background game we’ve got. (0:30:30) Kev: You’ve got Opadum, Full 3D, Breath of the Wild, (0:30:34) Kev: and more traditional 2D, Chronomon, (0:30:36) Kev: and In Between, and the artisan story. (0:30:41) Kev: Yeah, that’s pretty exciting. (0:30:45) Kev: All these new stories, pretty, again, (0:30:47) Kev: kind of like last week, they’re pretty feel good. (0:30:51) Kev: Or was it the week before? (0:30:52) Kev: Regardless what glass study did (0:30:56) Kev: It’s exciting. I think we’re in a good place right now with cottagecore games in world (0:31:02) Kev: Nothing really bumming me out in these new stories (0:31:04) Kev: So that’s that’s awesome, and I could use less bumming out these days. I think we all could (0:31:13) Kev: But yeah that that’ll do it for me for the this again shorter solo episode (0:31:20) Kev: I did try to stretch it out, but yeah, I’m just a one-man show (0:31:26) Kev: Teddy left, so I couldn’t have a meal more, but (0:31:29) Kev: But yeah, I did what I could anyways well. Thanks for listening folks (0:31:37) Kev: Thanks for joining me you know tune in next week for other stuffs (0:31:45) Kev: You can find me at Koopa prez on blue sky at the art of squares don’t see some my artwork. I’m (0:31:54) Kev: Find me over at Rainbow Road. (0:31:56) Kev: Check that out. Listen to the thoughts. Be hyped for the MooMoo cow being very playable in Mario Kart. (0:32:26) Kev: and listen to me tear up Matt Kirby air writers if once you’re done listening to (0:32:31) Kev: all that you can find more harvest season stuff by following Al at the (0:32:35) Kev: Scott bot or Mastodon on Scott and blue sky sorry at the Scott bot on Mastodon (0:32:42) Kev: Scott and on blue sky you know creator the show he’s got stuff he posts things (0:32:48) Kev: cottage core things it’s also on tumblr at THS pod and blue sky at THS (0:32:56) Kev: pod for all the news and to re-tweets social media engagements all that good (0:33:02) Kev: stuff or you can just if you want to simplify everything just go to harvest (0:33:06) Kev: season club per day listen to the era all the episodes we got provide (0:33:11) Kev: feedback give us links or no other way no we provide the links you give us (0:33:16) Kev: feedback yeah yeah do that harvest season dot club or you can head down to (0:33:22) Kev: patreon.com/thspod where you can (0:33:26) Kev: become a patron to this wonderful show (0:33:28) Kev: and join us over at our slack where we (0:33:32) Kev: have deep cuts content stuff posted (0:33:35) Kev: during recordings I didn’t do that right (0:33:38) Kev: now but it’s been a thing it’s been a (0:33:40) Kev: trend or and you also get the bonus of (0:33:46) Kev: the greenhouse episodes the non cottage (0:33:49) Kev: core focused uh guess what there’s gonna (0:33:52) Kev: be one on switch to directly I mean you (0:33:56) Kev: know gallon I covered one on the the (0:33:58) Kev: switch the switch whatever switch to the (0:34:03) Kev: other one the switch one previous that (0:34:06) Kev: but now we got there’s that switch to (0:34:08) Kev: direct was beef you guys there was a lot (0:34:09) Kev: so tune in um listen listen to me cry (0:34:13) Kev: about Kirby air writers because it’s (0:34:15) Kev: it’s all I need in my eye it’s all I (0:34:17) Kev: need and I yeah that’s all I need okay (0:34:24) Kev: that’s enough of my rambling everyone (0:34:27) Kev: bearing with me thank you for joining me (0:34:28) Kev: on this this little episode here thank (0:34:31) Kev: you out for having me on I guess thank (0:34:35) Kev: you me for doing it being my co-host and (0:34:39) Kev: we’ll see you guys next week and until (0:34:42) Kev: then of course have a good artist (0:34:46) Theme Tune: The harvest season is created by Al McKinlay, with support from our patrons, including our (0:34:56) Theme Tune: pro farmers, Kevin, Stuart and Alisa. (0:34:59) Theme Tune: Our art is done by Micah the Brave, and our music is done by Nick Burgess. (0:35:04) Theme Tune: Feel free to visit our website, harvestseason.club, for show notes and links to things we discussed (0:35:10) Theme Tune: in this episode. (0:35:20) Kev: I don’t know three two one clap I guess because it’s only me it says the solar (0:35:28) Kev: recording oh there we go hacking up great way to start this um oh god let’s (0:35:34) Kev: uh let’s just dive on in shall we all right
Welcome to the first episode of Season 2, where we explore the enchanting Cottage Core trend that celebrates simplicity, nature, and slow living. In this Cottage Core Fashion episode, we dive deep into how to embrace the dreamy, nature-inspired aesthetic this fall, and how to style this trend that perfectly blends rustic charm with vintage vibes. We talk about the perfect Cottage Core runway trends, featuring floral dresses, cozy knits, and countryside-inspired accessories. We'll also uncover the cultural roots behind Cottage Core, its rise on Instagram and TikTok, and why this whimsical aesthetic is ideal for expressing your inner romantic.Tune in for a complete guide to embracing Cottage Core Queenies!Follow our socials for more behind the scenes snippetsTIKTOK: @wearefashionablylateeInstagram: @wearefashionablylatee0:00 Intro8:15 What is Cottage Core Fashion?10:22 Cottage Core Style15:40 History of Cottage Core30:00 Cottage Core Couture33:40 Outro
Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.Ready to escape to a cozy spring setting? In this episode of What to Read Next, we're diving into cottagecore romance books that feel like a warm hug. Think flower farms, pancake houses, charming libraries, and seaside bakeries—all wrapped in sweet, soft romance. Whether you're dreaming of countryside escapes or you're just craving a low-stakes love story, these books will transport you into charming small towns filled with blooming flowers and heartfelt moments.Timestamps:[00:00] Intro & What Is Cottagecore Romance[00:40] Book 1: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laura Gilmore[02:55] Book 2: The Cozy Croissant Café by Jane Linfoot[04:05] Book 3: The Flower Farm by Rachel Lucas[05:00] Book 4: The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains[06:00] Tangent: The Bookish Community in Puerto Rico (and Bookstore Recs!)[08:00] Book 5: Tanglewood Flower Shop by Lilac Mills[09:20] How to Share Your Cottagecore Favorites & Final ThoughtsBooks Mentioned in This Episode:The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laura Gilmore https://amzn.to/3Xwu0afThe Cozy Croissant Café by Jane Linfoot https://amzn.to/4bwUpe6The Flower Farm by Rachel Lucas https://amzn.to/43uxKgiThe Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains https://amzn.to/43ztBrkTanglewood Flower Shop by Lilac Mills https://amzn.to/43uzQNcLinks & Resources:
Kevin and Aislinn talk about Wanderstop, the new game from the creator of The Stanley Parable Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:23: What Have We Been Up To 00:11:58: Game News 00:29:07: New Games 00:31:44: Wanderstop 01:15:33: Outro Links Pixelshire Release Date Honeymancer Early Access Release Date Space Sprouts Release Date Dave the Diver “Ichiban’s Holiday” DLC Another Harvest Moon G-Mode Game Cattle Country Optional Combat Funguys Swarm Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Kevin: Hello farmers, and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Kevin (0:00:34) Aislinn: And my name is Aislinn. (0:00:35) Kevin: And we are here to talk about cottagecore games supposedly that’s a little box. It’s whoo (0:00:40) Aislinn: Woo! (0:00:42) Kevin: I forget about that. Well, I always try to be a bit of a smart alec and adding nonsense there, but whoo (0:00:49) Kevin: Although I’m although I don’t know how much I like wooing at this game. I’m very hesitant about whoo (0:00:50) Aislinn: Woo! It’s cute, I like it. (0:00:56) Aislinn: That’s true, that’s true, you make a good point. (0:00:57) Kevin: I’m kidding. I love I love (0:00:58) Aislinn: Spoilers! (0:01:00) Kevin: We’re here to talk about wander stop the tea shop game by the I forget the actual dead team name the Stanley parable people (0:01:09) Kevin: Brace yourself because anyone who’s familiar Stanley parable knows that means things (0:01:16) Aislinn: I wholeheartedly agree. (0:01:17) Kevin: But (0:01:18) Kevin: Okay, but before we get to those things let’s talk about other things (0:01:23) Kevin: Aisling what’s what’s up? What’s been going on tell me about your sky high life? (0:01:26) Aislinn: Um, I think you already know what’s been going on. (0:01:30) Kevin: You (0:01:31) Aislinn: We’ve been very busy with work and when not working, (0:01:36) Aislinn: I’ve been very busy trying to make as much progress as humanly possible in Wandershop. (0:01:42) Kevin: Yeah (0:01:42) Aislinn: And when I’m not doing that, then I’m doing the usual like dailies on my phone of like (0:01:48) Aislinn: Pokémon Sleep, TCG Pocket. I’m hard into Neko Atsume right now. (0:01:50) Kevin: Uh-huh (0:01:52) Kevin: Okay (0:01:56) Aislinn: It’s just the original, and I want to try and get everything in Neko Atsume as much as possible. (0:01:57) Kevin: Okay, wait, what is that one do tell the name escapes me (0:02:03) Aislinn: It’s a cat collecting game. It’s a cat collecting mobile game, (0:02:07) Aislinn: and it’s literally just cat collection, and it’s so cute. It’s so cute. And there’s a new Neko Atsume (0:02:08) Kevin: oh yes okay i’m familiar with this one yes it is (0:02:14) Aislinn: that came out somewhat recently, so I’m like, I’m not gonna play that until I finish the original. (0:02:20) Aislinn: So that’s what I’ve been doing. And then if I’m not doing any of those, (0:02:22) Kevin: Sure. (0:02:25) Aislinn: that I’m doing a lot of wedding planning. (0:02:26) Aislinn: So that’s pretty much what I’ve been up to, yeah. (0:02:27) Kevin: Ahhh! (0:02:29) Kevin: Has that been on the show? Wait, has that been discussed on the show at all? (0:02:32) Kevin: I don’t, I don’t know if it… (0:02:32) Aislinn: No, it has not been discussed in the show, so. (0:02:34) Kevin: Ahh, okay, how far are we? What’s, uh, what’s our target date here? (0:02:39) Aislinn: Our tar- actually, I have not announced to, like, everyone the target date. (0:02:43) Kevin: Oh! (0:02:45) Aislinn: I’ve been keeping that, like, more on a personal note, but I can tell you June. (0:02:47) Kevin: Okay, well you got a range? (0:02:49) Kevin: Sure. (0:02:50) Kevin: Okay. Okay. Well, sure. Sure. Sure. Yeah. (0:02:52) Aislinn: Yeah, so we’re almost there. (0:02:52) Kevin: Yes. That’s correct. That’s correct. Very, um, very, very, uh, impressive dedicated you to to playing your wedding during the, the, the Go Fest this year, or whatever the thing’s called. (0:02:56) Aislinn: Yeah. (0:02:57) Aislinn: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:03:00) Aislinn: Literally, we’re not quite there yet. (0:03:06) Aislinn: It’s, yeah, no, each month that progresses closer and closer. (0:03:08) Kevin: Yes. That’s correct. That’s correct. Very, um, very, very, uh, impressive dedicated you to, to playing your wedding during the, the, the, the Go Fest this year, or whatever the thing’s called. (0:03:09) Aislinn: I’m like more and more just panic, panic, panic. (0:03:22) Aislinn: Well, that wasn’t that wasn’t in the works (0:03:22) Kevin: The, um, all right, but, uh, good stuff. Okay. So let’s see here. Okay. Just, just a side note on that. Have you, uh, I’d play a different kind of cat collecting game. Have you ever heard of the battle cats? (0:03:25) Aislinn: That wasn’t that wasn’t supposed to happen, but it just happened to happen and I was like well (0:03:29) Aislinn: We’re gonna see what happens with that (0:03:46) Aislinn: Um, no, what is that? I’m looking that up right now. (0:03:46) Kevin: Oh, I think I’ve talked to that on the show, but, um, (0:03:52) Kevin: you know, I’m going to tag you an image on the slack. I’m creating the, the live slack thread of me. (0:03:58) Aislinn: Wait, this looks so cute. (0:04:04) Kevin: What are you, you googled it. (0:04:04) Aislinn: I’m looking at it right now. (0:04:05) Aislinn: Yeah, of course I googled it. (0:04:08) Kevin: Okay. Because I was going to show all, but did you see the freaky ones yet? Um, yes, those are legs. Did you see the one with the buff one? That’s the last four legs. (0:04:10) Aislinn: Oh, those are legs. (0:04:19) Aislinn: I have not seen that yet. (0:04:22) Kevin: Yes. They’re kind of cute, but also terrifying. Like it’s, it’s a very cheek cheeky, like comical tone. Um, yeah. Yeah. There you go. There’s good old fish cat. And those are just the basics, right? Like this, it’s a gotcha game. (0:04:30) Aislinn: It’s a it’s a good aesthetic. I like, oh, I found the buff one. I found the buff one. (0:04:40) Kevin: So, and it’s, I think 10 years old now and they actually get a lot of crossovers. They’ve crossed over, they cross over like Hatsune Miku every six years. Um, Street Fighter was one. (0:04:50) Aislinn: Ooh. (0:04:54) Kevin: Um, Konosuba, I think lots of animes. I don’t know. Um, but it’s yeah. And on the best part, the best part about their crossover is you get both ways. You get Hatsune Miku as a playable character and then you get a cat that looks like Hatsune Miku. (0:05:00) Aislinn: You got me with Miku, that’s it. That’s the end-all for me. Miku or boss? That’s it. (0:05:13) Aislinn: Oh my god. That is wonderful. (0:05:14) Kevin: Here, I’ll see if I can find it. Um, I play that one on and off. My brother is a big, um, is a big, uh, (0:05:22) Kevin: battle cats fan more than ISO. Um, uh, but, uh, yeah, it’s, it’s a great one there. I posted a pic. You want to see it. Um, there’s your Hatsune Miku cat. Um, they literally just used the standard cat and put the costume on it. It’s, it’s hilarious. Oh, one of my favorite ones. They did Evangelion. (0:05:34) Aislinn: Oh my god! It’s so cute! It’s so good! (0:05:40) Aislinn: That’s wonderful! (0:05:46) Aislinn: Ooh, that’s sick. That’s really cool. (0:05:50) Kevin: That was a good one, that was a good one. (0:05:54) Kevin: Anyways, so anything else, I’m sorry? (0:05:55) Aislinn: Well, I will be checking out this game. (0:05:58) Aislinn: I will be checking out this game. (0:05:58) Kevin: Oh, it’s free, be warned. (0:06:02) Aislinn: Oh, perfect! That’s all I need. Free is for me. That’s it. (0:06:04) Kevin: There you go. (0:06:04) Aislinn: um that’s pretty much been it I guess actually one one little thing that I can kind of announce (0:06:06) Kevin: Aw, sick, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Battle Cats. (0:06:08) Kevin: It’s pretty fun. (0:06:10) Kevin: Anything else you’ve been up to? (0:06:19) Aislinn: and we’re really really hoping the best so like you know how I kept saying for today like oh i (0:06:21) Kevin: Yes, to be fair, you’re always busy so that wasn’t out of the ordinary. (0:06:23) Aislinn: have i’m busy earlier in the day and that’s we’re recording at 9 p.m eastern um yeah but it’s more (0:06:33) Aislinn: fun news so hope (0:06:34) Aislinn: we will have a new kitty or two in the household here so that’s what we were doing earlier today so i’m like I i’ve been holding that like i’ve been withholding that just for like a I wanted to get your genuine reaction like first reaction to it so (0:06:42) Kevin: Oh, oh hot off the press (0:06:54) Kevin: Oh (0:06:55) Aislinn: pause cast exclusive (0:06:57) Kevin: Podcast exclusive you heard it first here. Oh, that’s okay. Okay. You said possibly multiple. Well, yeah (0:07:05) Aislinn: yeah we’re just waiting on what I i’m not saying too much just because there’s a lot of logistics which I can tell you about later there’s a lot of logistics that we’re currently figuring out but it should hopefully work out tomorrow question mark. (0:07:11) Kevin: Sure (0:07:14) Kevin: Okay (0:07:15) Kevin: Yeah as (0:07:18) Kevin: You know, well, that’s that’s exciting. I can’t wait to hear and see them and so on but but that’s good (0:07:22) Aislinn: yeah. (0:07:24) Kevin: There should be logistics involved unlike us who a guy just kind of said. Hey, you want a free cat and handed us two kittens? (0:07:26) Aislinn: absolutely. (0:07:33) Kevin: Okay, oh they they are very love yes (0:07:33) Aislinn: but they are loved and that’s all that (0:07:34) Aislinn: matters but otherwise that’s it no not by any means (0:07:40) Kevin: Yeah that and let’s be honest cats are not the hardest to take care of (0:07:44) Kevin: You know that the hard part is cat. No, no such thing as catproofing but bracing for the uncommon storm, but (0:07:52) Aislinn: Yeah, we are definitely bracing here. (0:07:54) Kevin: Oh (0:07:55) Kevin: That’s exciting. I can’t wait to hear more. Um, congratulations. Very very excited about that (0:07:57) Aislinn: Yeah! Thank you! (0:08:00) Aislinn: What about for you? (0:08:01) Kevin: Okay, um (0:08:02) Kevin: so I will (0:08:02) Aislinn: I like your just Chicago man. (0:08:04) Kevin: Yeah, so I I don’t know if I mentioned it on this show, but I started a new job (0:08:12) Kevin: About a month and a half ago started February (0:08:15) Kevin: and (0:08:18) Kevin: I’m hit the ground running. They sent me to a trade show to man a booth (0:08:22) Kevin: and that was (0:08:24) Kevin: I was there all week this past week (0:08:26) Kevin: my feet are dead (0:08:28) Kevin: I’m ready to be chopped off (0:08:30) Kevin: not my first time in Chicago (0:08:32) Kevin: I actually went to that same event (0:08:34) Kevin: two years ago but (0:08:36) Kevin: as an attendee, not an exhibitor (0:08:38) Kevin: so yeah (0:08:38) Aislinn: Uh-huh. (0:08:40) Kevin: my role is partially sales now (0:08:42) Kevin: so I actually have to go up (0:08:44) Kevin: and pitch and talk to people and so on (0:08:46) Kevin: and so forth and try to get leads (0:08:48) Kevin: so that was (0:08:50) Kevin: busy, excited, it was good work (0:08:52) Kevin: Um, yeah. (0:08:52) Aislinn: Yeah. (0:08:54) Kevin: Um, I, I, I learned a lot trial by fire, absolutely, but good times. (0:08:58) Kevin: Um, and, and there was other enjoy it. (0:09:00) Kevin: Well, it was, it was like 90% work, but there were some nice dinners. (0:09:05) Kevin: One night we hit a piano bar. (0:09:07) Kevin: That was quite fun. (0:09:08) Aislinn: Ooooh, that’s really cool. (0:09:09) Kevin: Uh, it wasn’t, it wasn’t even, it wasn’t a super classy one. (0:09:12) Kevin: Um, it was very more bar than piano, if that makes sense. (0:09:15) Kevin: But you had the guy up there playing the songs and, and, and you can make requests (0:09:19) Kevin: and there was enough space to dance, which I did. (0:09:21) Kevin: I am a dancing machine. (0:09:22) Aislinn: Bye! (0:09:22) Kevin: fun fact. (0:09:24) Kevin: so yeah so which after a full day of standing and exhibiting wasn’t the best (0:09:30) Kevin: idea of my I pre bled my feet for the next day but but so worth it yeah yeah (0:09:34) Aislinn: Eh, it’s all in good fun. It’s all in good fun! (0:09:37) Kevin: um yeah that was uh that was fun I tried the deep dish that was good weather (0:09:44) Kevin: weather was insane it was it was snowing when I landed and like the next day we (0:09:50) Kevin: We hit 70 degrees and then two days later it hailed. (0:09:50) Aislinn: Oh, my. (0:09:54) Aislinn: Oh, my. (0:09:54) Kevin: It was a roller coaster. (0:09:56) Aislinn: Oh, my. (0:09:56) Kevin: Oh, a life first. I had a hailstone land directly into my mouth. (0:10:02) Kevin: As I said, was that hail and the duke just right in there? (0:10:06) Aislinn: Why do I feel like that’s like such a you thing? (0:10:10) Aislinn: That feels like such a you thing. (0:10:10) Kevin: Yeah, that’s… that’s correct. (0:10:12) Kevin: That is 100% correct. (0:10:16) Aislinn: I’ve never heard that before. That’s amazing. (0:10:18) Kevin: Yeah. (0:10:20) Kevin: Yup. (0:10:20) Aislinn: So it sounds like you had a great time in Chicago. (0:10:24) Kevin: Yeah, it was a lot of work, but it was a legendary time. (0:10:28) Kevin: We’ll be back in two years. Next year there’s a different trade. (0:10:30) Kevin: So actually here, right here in Atlanta, home turf. (0:10:34) Kevin: So at least I don’t have to do the major travel bit, but I’m sure it will be just as busy. (0:10:40) Kevin: But yes, good times were had, success was had by kind of me. (0:10:46) Kevin: Baby salesmen on his training wheels did little salesmen. (0:10:46) Aislinn: I’m sure you did great. (0:10:52) Kevin: Aside from that, obviously (0:10:54) Kevin: not a lot of time for games. I snuck in a few of the regulars. Marvel, Snap, Rivals, Unite, here and there on different occasions and so on. (0:11:00) Kevin: That’s all fine and all. (0:11:04) Kevin: Wander Stop, like you said, trying to squeeze in as much time humanly possible. (0:11:08) Kevin: And not even just because I want to play for the show, because I just want to play more Wander Stop. (0:11:08) Aislinn: No, me too I feel that, which we’ll definitely get into. (0:11:16) Kevin: And also, for the Mario-verse over there on the other show of Rainbow Road Radio, (0:11:22) Kevin: I play (0:11:24) Kevin: I did the same Kingdom. That’s not the little Mexican (0:11:27) Kevin: Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey good times (0:11:30) Aislinn: Oh, sick. (0:11:31) Kevin: Yes, good. I love you mate. It’s all a replay (0:11:35) Kevin: But super enjoyable. I’m Mexican. What can I say? I’m super biased. They did I did Mario, Mexico (0:11:38) Aislinn: that game in general was just fantastic so i’m glad to hear that too that that section is like (0:11:40) Kevin: I have no complaints. They got him into sombrero (0:11:45) Kevin: It is yeah like (0:11:47) Kevin: What can I say what? (0:11:48) Aislinn: enjoyable for you (0:11:49) Kevin: She’s shocking this revisit to Super Mario Odyssey. Yeah, I’ve determined. It’s a good game (0:11:57) Kevin: Alright. (0:11:58) Kevin: Speaking of good games, I say that with an asterisk, or you have no idea. (0:12:02) Kevin: laughs Let’s talk about some game news. laughs Let’s talk about some announcements and such. (0:12:05) Aislinn: yeah (0:12:07) Kevin: Alright, take us away Ace with our first one. (0:12:09) Aislinn: all right so in game news the first game that I am looking at is pixel shire that’s going to be (0:12:16) Aislinn: releasing on the 8th of may and from what i’m looking at on the steam page it says that it is (0:12:22) Aislinn: an adventure farming sim 2d single player game from the developer capibits and it it really does (0:12:30) Aislinn: seem like a adventure farming sim 2d single player 2d single player game it also has notes about unique (0:12:37) Aislinn: RPG sandbox. (0:12:38) Aislinn: Which mixes Lifesim elements with town building, exploration, and combat. (0:12:46) Aislinn: And you can trade, you can do all the things that are normally in most farming sim games. (0:12:53) Kevin: that’s correct (0:12:55) Kevin: uh… I would (0:12:55) Aislinn: But it looks really cute! (0:12:56) Kevin: okay cs the first of all okay up (0:12:59) Kevin: the name I would imply it’s to be pixel art and it is cute (0:13:02) Kevin: uh… it is a a bit more chibi ask or or eight-bit than say uh… (0:13:05) Aislinn: Yeah. (0:13:08) Kevin: uh… stardew valley (0:13:09) Aislinn: It’s more round. (0:13:09) Kevin: uh… so you know (0:13:11) Kevin: uh… it’s a it’s different flavor (0:13:13) Kevin: uh… but there are some actually notable elements I think in here that (0:13:16) Kevin: they were talking about on first of all like you mentioned (0:13:18) Kevin: uh… sandbox as in (0:13:20) Kevin: I would say Animal Crossing New Leaf or Minecraft. (0:13:23) Aislinn: Yeah. Yeah, I think that’s really, really cool. (0:13:24) Kevin: I would say Animal Crossing New Leaf or Minecraft. (0:13:32) Aislinn: Yeah. Mm-hmm. (0:13:53) Kevin: I would say Animal Crossing New Leaf or Minecraft. (0:13:53) Aislinn: Oh, I didn’t realize that about this game too! That’s awesome! (0:14:08) Aislinn: I agree. Yeah, I like the art style. I like the kind of, I guess you could say animal (0:14:14) Aislinn: crossing aspect, but more so, more generally, the sandbox aspect of being able to, as it (0:14:20) Aislinn: says, re-sculpt the world through terraforming. I think that’s really, really cool. And honestly, (0:14:23) Kevin: Yeah, yeah, they they emphasize on the yeah, yeah, so. (0:14:25) Aislinn: any game that has animals that you can raise to, they are so cute in this game. I love (0:14:31) Aislinn: it. So, but it looks, it looks great. Like as someone, as someone has been in a stance (0:14:36) Aislinn: of like being overwhelmed constantly by (0:14:38) Aislinn: farming games. This is this is a farming game. I know. This (0:14:40) Kevin: Welcome, welcome to the show, Eastland. (0:14:45) Aislinn: is one farming game that actually does peak more (0:14:47) Aislinn: interest versus other farming games. So yeah, big props to (0:14:48) Kevin: Yeah. (0:14:51) Aislinn: them. Looks really, really cool. (0:14:53) Kevin: I have not facepalmed the one watching the trailer. (0:14:56) Kevin: So good on you. (0:14:58) Kevin: That’s a thumbs up. (0:15:00) Kevin: No, and you know what? (0:15:02) Kevin: I’m, I may jinx it, but I didn’t see any romance in there. (0:15:06) Aislinn: I’m sure there’s romance. There’s no way there’s not. There’s no way there’s not. (0:15:06) Kevin: Free free from the shackles. (0:15:08) Kevin: No, well, either way. (0:15:13) Kevin: Oh, oh, okay. (0:15:15) Kevin: Wait, hold on one second. (0:15:16) Kevin: I just want to say, okay, sorry about that. (0:15:16) Aislinn: Yeah. (0:15:18) Kevin: The jaws theme played as my puppy entered the room. (0:15:21) Aislinn: Oh, no. (0:15:21) Kevin: Um… [laughs] (0:15:23) Kevin: Um… [laughs] (0:15:25) Kevin: Okay. Alright, what’s up next? Do tell me. (0:15:28) Aislinn: All right, so the next game that I’m looking at here is Honeymancer, and it’s coming soon to Early Access. (0:15:36) Aislinn: It’s currently on March 27th. (0:15:38) Aislinn: So, yeah, or actually, yeah, that’s what it seems to look like. March 27th, Early Access, coming soon, and also another Pixel 2D-looking situation, but this is more so the tags are Indie, RPG, Pixel Graphics, Tower Defense 2D, and it looks like this is not really a farming game at all. (0:16:01) Aislinn: And when I first looked at it with the just because of the art style alone, I was like, oh, it’s another far (0:16:06) Aislinn: I’m again, I’m like, oh, wait, no, it’s not. Wait, that’s really cool. And it’s got bees and we love bees here. So (0:16:09) Kevin: Yeah (0:16:12) Kevin: Yeah, all right, so there’s a few few things going on here right first of all the premise of bear wizard (0:16:19) Kevin: That’s pretty strong already right you’re you’re setting its own bear witch excuse me (0:16:25) Kevin: You have a one you’re shooting things in combat (0:16:28) Kevin: You’re fighting off robots invading the forest with other cute neighbor animals (0:16:33) Aislinn: which the robots look so cute by the way I just again the art style I’m just like gosh I love (0:16:35) Kevin: They do (0:16:38) Aislinn: this art style it’s so cute I’m such a sucker for good art styles yeah they do it’s so cute (0:16:40) Kevin: I (0:16:41) Kevin: Yup, it is a it is a very strong art style. Absolutely. I’m again 2d pixel, but it’s a very strong one (0:16:47) Kevin: I like how even the trees kind of look like beehives. It’s a very cute little touch (0:16:53) Kevin: yep (0:16:54) Kevin: there looks like there’s (0:16:57) Kevin: Management of some kind you’re growing flowers for bees making potions. So, you know, there’s elements of cottagecore stuff (0:17:03) Kevin: But it’s not your standard you have grandpa’s farm or whatever on which is fun (0:17:09) Kevin: Special shoutouts to the as they describe it the bee dog. There’s a large bumblebee flying you around. It’s more bee than dog (0:17:17) Kevin: we the the big question which (0:17:20) Kevin: You know, we’ll have to wait is where does it land on the Cody scale of acceptability? (0:17:25) Aislinn: I know, we’ll have to stay tuned to find out, right? (0:17:28) Kevin: Is it is it is it Cheeba fight is it cartoonified enough? (0:17:34) Kevin: But I mean, it’s a pretty big bee. So I think she’s gonna be on (0:17:36) Aislinn: It is a very big B. (0:17:39) Kevin: Bigger than you. So I think I think she’s gonna be on board with this one (0:17:40) Aislinn: It really is. (0:17:44) Kevin: But there are other non giant bees that you are helping raise. So that’s fun (0:17:49) Kevin: You know, it’s hard to tell how deep they’re going into it and unexpected to be (0:17:53) Kevin: You know for on be sim but but it looks good enough. It goes into the bear honey (0:17:59) Aislinn: Yeah, no, it looks it looks really cute. It’s hard to get much information based off of just (0:17:59) Kevin: So yeah (0:18:03) Aislinn: the Steam page, but like it looks generally really cute. We’ll see you soon in early access. (0:18:04) Kevin: Yeah (0:18:06) Kevin: Yeah (0:18:09) Aislinn: If this is your type of gameplay, I think it’s worth checking out because it just the (0:18:09) Kevin: March 27th (0:18:13) Kevin: Yeah (0:18:13) Aislinn: colors alone are like really pretty too. Yeah, I love that. Uh-huh. Yeah, they feel very anime. (0:18:15) Kevin: The colors are very well done (0:18:16) Kevin: I like the expressions on the characters and the little portraits when they’re speaking they get exaggerated in cartoonish. That’s that’s (0:18:24) Kevin: Yeah. Yeah, it’s it’s fantastic (0:18:26) Kevin: I’m right because I think that’s probably a big criticism (0:18:30) Kevin: You have a lot of these cottage cores like the this character portraits are somewhat muted a lot of times (0:18:35) Kevin: I would say this one’s going for the anime eyes and everything (0:18:39) Aislinn: Yeah, I like it. I really do like it (0:18:39) Kevin: It’s great. I have one big criticism against it though (0:18:45) Kevin: And it’s nothing the game itself done, but unfortunately the title of honeymancer actually (0:18:45) Aislinn: Oh, okay (0:18:52) Kevin: I think it’s honey wizard has already been claimed by Winnie the Pooh in the Lorkana (0:18:57) Kevin: Card game have you okay? I posted it in the thread if you’ll take a look Aislin (0:19:01) Aislinn: Let me see. (0:19:02) Kevin: Lorkana the Disney TCG came out with a card called Winnie the Pooh honey wizard and (0:19:03) Aislinn: Oh my gosh, I’ve never, (0:19:07) Aislinn: I’ve never seen Winnie the Pooh look so magical. (0:19:09) Kevin: It’s pretty amazing. It’s (0:19:12) Kevin: Possibly the best card. They’ve ever come out with and so (0:19:15) Kevin: you know you do a lot of great things honeyman sir, but (0:19:16) Aislinn: Was that a pun? (0:19:20) Kevin: You got a tall tall bar or tall bear. I guess to cross to overcome there (0:19:24) Aislinn: What was that a pun though? Is that possibly you get it the pun because you said possibly possibly (0:19:28) Kevin: Do what oh (0:19:31) Kevin: Yes, yes (0:19:35) Kevin: Okay, I guess all right there all right beautiful (0:19:37) Aislinn: We got it we got we got there one way or another we got there (0:19:39) Kevin: I like this shot of the raccoon screaming in the trailer just eyes fisheyes in different directions with full vertical mouth. It’s great (0:19:52) Kevin: Yeah, all right (0:19:55) Kevin: What a speaking of moods. What do we actually I do have a mood. I don’t know what’s next. What’s next? (0:19:58) Aislinn: The next game is the next game is Space Sprouts, an exploration puzzle physics simulation 2D (0:20:01) Kevin: No, it’s (0:20:09) Aislinn: game are the tags, and it does primarily look like it’s a puzzle game where you bend the (0:20:17) Aislinn: rule of physics, experiment with unusual gadgets, and toss everything around. (0:20:23) Aislinn: I think out of the three games that we discussed so far, I think this game feels mostly up (0:20:28) Aislinn: because I’m always down for a good puzzle game, and the fact that there is physics in this too (0:20:31) Kevin: Uh huh. Yeah, in a good way. Yeah, that that that is a very specific alliterative title (0:20:33) Aislinn: really also intrigues me. It looks like it also kind of infuriates me, but I’m kind of, (0:20:38) Aislinn: oh perfect, cozy cosmic chaos feels like the perfect description for this game. (0:20:47) Kevin: and it works. Right, so space is the key thing right here, right? We’re not we’re managing (0:20:52) Kevin: a space station. And so you’re going to have gravity physics and light bending and all (0:20:56) Kevin: sorts of nonsense. There’s all in the trailer, you see the water floating around, you have (0:21:01) Kevin: a push it or whatever. So expect space shenanigans. Um, that sounds kind of cute. Like a very muted (0:21:09) Kevin: storybook looking design for these characters. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, it is a very nice looking (0:21:12) Aislinn: Yeah, I like the colors. (0:21:15) Aislinn: I’m all about the colors of all of these games so far. (0:21:18) Aislinn: All of these games look really, really nice. (0:21:21) Kevin: game. Demo out now if you are curious and full release date in just a little over a (0:21:28) Kevin: for a week on March 31st. (0:21:30) Aislinn: Almost there! (0:21:32) Kevin: Yup, so, uh, good on you space sprouts. (0:21:35) Kevin: Um, yeah, I’m sure some people hint, hint on the show. (0:21:39) Kevin: Might like, I don’t, I, I have no idea who, but I feel like somebody (0:21:42) Aislinn: I mean, I like it, I’m interested in it. (0:21:43) Kevin: on the show will want to play. (0:21:48) Kevin: Well, oh, there we, okay. (0:21:49) Kevin: That’s one down. (0:21:50) Kevin: Let’s, let’s get another, we’ll, we’ll, we’ll see. (0:21:53) Aislinn: I might be infuriated, I don’t know, but I’m also like, it’s a good type of infuriating (0:21:57) Kevin: Well, yeah, and that’s fine. (0:21:57) Aislinn: and that’s what this game looks like, so I’m into it. (0:22:01) Kevin: I’ve had the bad period on the show many, many times, possibly more than not. (0:22:07) Aislinn: It’d really be that way. (0:22:11) Kevin: All right, next up. (0:22:12) Kevin: Ooh, this is a good one. (0:22:14) Aislinn: You take the floor. (0:22:14) Kevin: I think they’d announced it. (0:22:16) Kevin: Yeah, I think they announced it during the game awards or no. (0:22:20) Kevin: Was that the jungle DLC? (0:22:21) Kevin: I feel like this was announced at some point, but if not, we got a full, (0:22:25) Kevin: uh, a more proper breakdown of Dave, the diver DLC can’t. (0:22:31) Kevin: Stop won’t stop. (0:22:32) Kevin: I mean, I mean, they’re made by the maple story desk, so they have (0:22:35) Kevin: the money to actually never stop. (0:22:37) Aislinn: Just keep going. (0:22:37) Kevin: Um, yeah, basically. (0:22:41) Kevin: Um, and so it is a, not that it is the second, um, crossover DLC this time (0:22:46) Kevin: with the like a dragon series, AKA previously known as the Yakuza series. (0:22:51) Kevin: Um, you are teaming up with itchy bond, um, and doing all sorts of shenanigans. (0:22:57) Kevin: Are you familiar with like a dragon at all? (0:22:59) Aislinn: I am like not I’ve never played the games, but like I am familiar and I remember when I heard about this (0:23:05) Aislinn: Because I heard about this like a while ago. I don’t remember how long it was long ago. It was but I was like, what? (0:23:10) Kevin: Yeah (0:23:10) Aislinn: I was like, how did the two these two worlds collide? I need to know how these two worlds collided. This is so cool (0:23:15) Kevin: Well (0:23:19) Kevin: It is and at the same time that feels appropriate for both franchises how on earth did this happen (0:23:25) Kevin: Um, I have never played one myself, but I am also familiar very familiar with the series (0:23:30) Kevin: so introduced we have (0:23:33) Kevin: Included in all these features. We have a genuine 2d beat ’em up side scroller where you can play as Ichiban and (0:23:41) Kevin: Cobra yeah, I think it plays Cobra Wow Oh Cobra’s playable. I didn’t catch that. That’s so cool (0:23:47) Kevin: There is a karaoke minigame because if nothing else what if that was included how could this be called like a dragon? (0:23:56) Kevin: We have let’s see what else here (0:23:59) Kevin: We’ve got we got several characters from the like a dragon series as staff members for your restaurant. It’s fun (0:24:07) Aislinn: I like that there seems to be the karaoke minigame. I feel like that fear feels very, like, Yakuza-esque. (0:24:08) Kevin: Ah, junk. (0:24:11) Kevin: Yeah. (0:24:15) Kevin: Oh, yeah, it is. (0:24:17) Kevin: Um, yeah, that land that launches, uh, April 10th, not terribly far away, about two weeks away. (0:24:26) Kevin: Um, so there, there will probably be a return to David diver sometime in the future. (0:24:32) Kevin: Uh, because I’m playing this. (0:24:34) Kevin: Absolutely. (0:24:36) Kevin: Um, that looks great. (0:24:36) Aislinn: It looks great, it really does look great. (0:24:40) Kevin: So I keep an eye out and then the jungle DLC is still being worked on and coming in the future. (0:24:45) Kevin: So again, can’t stop, won’t stop. (0:24:49) Kevin: Um, Dave keeps diving and doing everyone’s work. (0:24:52) Kevin: Um, all right, let’s see next up. (0:24:55) Kevin: Another series that has not yet stopped as of now. (0:24:58) Kevin: Uh, we’ve got story of seasons or I guess this one is like harvest moon proper because it’s, it’s in Japanese as of now, um, a harvest moon G mode game. (0:25:10) Kevin: Um, it, it is a port of a phone game from, what was it like 2008, I think on the harvest moon series. (0:25:16) Aislinn: Yes, it says 2008 on the Steam page, and yeah, it’s a port coming to Steam, but… (0:25:21) Kevin: Yup. (0:25:22) Kevin: Yup. (0:25:23) Kevin: So it’s a early mobile farming game and you know, that’s, that’s cool. (0:25:27) Kevin: You can see it, you can feel it kind of GBA S graphics, um, which is fun and cute. (0:25:34) Kevin: Um, you know, too bad it’s all in Japanese. (0:25:36) Aislinn: I, you know, cause I’ve been telling myself for the past like couple weeks, like I really (0:25:36) Kevin: So, this one I won’t be playing, probably. (0:25:45) Aislinn: should actively get back into learning Japanese. Cause I was learning Japanese at one point (0:25:50) Aislinn: when I was in like first grade and then I fell off cause I was a stubborn kid, long (0:25:54) Kevin: Hmm. Okay. (laughs) (0:25:55) Aislinn: story short, but like, I don’t know. Maybe if I get back into actually learning properly, (0:26:00) Aislinn: maybe I’ll pick up this game. It looks cute, but I don’t know anything about it because (0:26:02) Kevin: yeah it does (0:26:06) Kevin: yeah we can’t read a thing on it we just (0:26:10) Kevin: it’s all I can do is point and says that looks like a harvest moon game for a (0:26:14) Aislinn: I was like, “That’s a cow! That’s chicken! That’s all I’ve got!” (0:26:14) Kevin: phone (0:26:18) Kevin: there are anime pretty people that you can probably romance (0:26:22) Kevin: yeah uh… (0:26:24) Kevin: but uh… (0:26:26) Kevin: yeah uh… releasing on steam do we have a date for that (0:26:29) Kevin: And it’s coming soon. Yeah. (0:26:30) Aislinn: As of now, we do not have a date, but regardless, if you are interested in this and you can (0:26:33) Kevin: But yeah, we, yeah. (0:26:36) Aislinn: read Japanese, even if you can’t read Japanese and you are interested in it, it is coming soon! (0:26:41) Kevin: Oh man, go back to those early 2000s when you have the fan translation from GameFacts. (0:26:47) Kevin: Good times. (0:26:50) Kevin: But but yeah, you know, one thing to note, this is a second port that they’ve done in the series, (0:26:55) Kevin: which is interesting to me, suggesting that the first one was successful enough to warrant it. (0:27:00) Aislinn: I guess so. (0:27:01) Kevin: That’s pretty cool. (0:27:02) Aislinn: I’m glad. (0:27:02) Kevin: Yeah, I know nothing either. I should’ve picked up Japanese. I’m too big of a weeb not to. (0:27:03) Aislinn: I’m glad for the people that do care about this. (0:27:05) Aislinn: I know nothing about it, but I am happy for those that care about it. (0:27:12) Kevin: I mean, I know some Japanese words. I want to make them echo the journey one day, but in due time I guess. (0:27:20) Kevin: Alright, let’s see here. Next up we’ve got info on cattle country. Yes, not Kent County. Country bigger than that. (0:27:30) Kevin: We have got (0:27:33) Kevin: They say so what interesting thing (0:27:37) Kevin: The thing probably the biggest note is, you know, they’re talking about some features and whatnot, but combat is totally optional (0:27:44) Kevin: Which is kind of wild to see in these games right cuz (0:27:48) Kevin: You know most cottagecore games following the stardew template (0:27:53) Kevin: How you know have some kind of? (0:27:56) Kevin: combat stuck in there, right (0:27:58) Kevin: And it’s you know, just because it’s optional. It’s not bad here. I’m looking that you got bows and arrows (0:28:02) Kevin: And guns and all sorts of stuff (0:28:05) Kevin: But the fact that it’s optional and they’re advertising that that’s uh, that’s pretty fun (0:28:10) Aislinn: I think it’s great yeah I i don’t know why that would put that would it’s a great it’s (0:28:15) Aislinn: it’s a great thing honestly like I have nothing else to say besides like this is something that (0:28:19) Aislinn: is a great feature because if you want to do it you can do it if you don’t want to (0:28:22) Aislinn: you just ignore it’s a win-win (0:28:24) Kevin: Yup. Yup. This is another game where it looks like you can partner up with some of your neighbors or villagers and whatnot, so that’s, that’s fun. (0:28:32) Kevin: There’s, yeah, I think we’ve talked about it before, but there’s, if you look at the trailer, there’s square dancing. They’re playing a nice Western medley song. (0:28:40) Kevin: Um, you’re, it’s very, how, it’s, it’s HANU. Um, that’s what it is. We got state coaches, we got trains, all the good stuff. (0:28:40) Aislinn: Very, it’s definitely very howdy partner. (0:28:52) Kevin: Um, they’re good at ge– (0:28:54) Kevin: Hey, howdy, hey, get your snake in your boot and keep an eye out for cattle count–country. (0:28:57) Aislinn: I mean, there’s even a character named Bandit, so take that as you will. (0:29:00) Kevin: Um, again, I don’t– (0:29:02) Kevin: Yeah, there you go! Eyes required. (0:29:07) Kevin: Alright, next up, a new game, we’ve got, uh, okay. (0:29:10) Kevin: So I started looking at this, and, you know, pre-recording, you know, going over, preparing, whatnot. (0:29:15) Kevin: And I stopped because I just kept saying, “What is this?” I needed to– (0:29:20) Kevin: to put some of that energy into the recording. (0:29:24) Kevin: We are looking at a game called “Fungi’s Swarm.” (0:29:24) Aislinn: It’s so silly. (0:29:28) Kevin: Um, so, you know, G-U-Y-S, “Sworn.” (0:29:32) Kevin: Um, it is a bullet hell game. (0:29:36) Kevin: Um, it is their first dev, uh, like, dev blog. (0:29:41) Kevin: Um, and they are showing it’s– (0:29:44) Kevin: Kinda what the whole thing, right? It is a cartoony, survivor bullet hell, where you become a fungi, (0:29:49) Kevin: wield forest-crafted weapons and unleash bonkers powers against the fire killer. (0:29:54) Kevin: So you there’s a lot going on here. There’s a mushroom guy running around. There’s pumpkin vegetable monsters and bears and like vegetables. I don’t an apple bear and an apple. (0:30:08) Aislinn: There’s a there’s an easter egg for from Coral Island of a waterfowl and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen (0:30:14) Kevin: What I didn’t see that’s incredible. That’s incredible. (0:30:20) Kevin: incredible you’re running around is your little fungus guy with (0:30:24) Kevin: giant watermelon acts like the waterman slice is bigger than you are (0:30:27) Kevin: it’s enormous there’s a great blaster gun thing you’ve got the powers like oh (0:30:34) Kevin: oh yeah that’s uh this is some good stuff there’s what is going on with this (0:30:40) Kevin: apple teeny it’s a half-eaten apple with a warm a very buff warm popping out of (0:30:45) Kevin: it you know there’s runs it’s oh it’s colorful it’s wacky it’s cartoony it’s (0:30:54) Kevin: magnificent I don’t what are these little for sanctuary pals you got like (0:30:58) Kevin: buzz balls with fruit stems there’s all block (0:31:00) Aislinn: I have no, not a single clue, but it looks like, it looks cute and fun, cozy and fun. (0:31:08) Kevin: yep yep (0:31:08) Aislinn: It looks like it’s a good balance of that, I feel like. (0:31:11) Aislinn: I feel like it does somehow fit into the Cottagecore game. (0:31:14) Aislinn: It just, it just somehow does fit, yes it is like a bullet hell game, but it still feels, (0:31:20) Aislinn: it feels like it’s going to be accessible enough to fall into the category of Cottagecore. (0:31:20) Kevin: Oh, yeah for sure. Um, it’s certainly caught my eye (0:31:27) Kevin: Obviously, we’re gonna be a ways off from this bad boy coming out, but I’m definitely keeping my out that is again fun guys swarm (0:31:35) Kevin: They’re good on you a lot of good news stories this week. Nothing. Nothing. Give me any heartache or anything (0:31:38) Aislinn: Honestly, yeah. (0:31:42) Kevin: That’s exciting stuff. Oh (0:31:45) Kevin: All right, and with that let’s talk about some let’s move on to something else exciting. Let’s talk about (0:31:50) Aislinn: Yeah. Oh my gosh. (0:31:50) Kevin: Wonder stuff, huh? (0:31:53) Kevin: Okay, so again, this is the tea shop simulator created by the Stanley parable dev team (0:32:01) Kevin: If you haven’t played Stanley parable (0:32:04) Kevin: You might want to pause go listen because I think we need to talk about it because that’s important for context (0:32:09) Kevin: and (0:32:10) Kevin: So important that acelin has actually played Stanley parable prior to the gay wonder stuff in preparation (0:32:17) Kevin: So let’s hear some thoughts (0:32:17) Aislinn: I did. Yeah, so I, yeah, once I found out that this game was being created by the people (0:32:25) Aislinn: that made Stanley Parable, I very much was like, I’ve always wanted to play Stanley Parable, (0:32:31) Aislinn: but I put that way up on my, I moved that way up for my backlog, because I knew and (0:32:35) Kevin: Uh-huh (0:32:37) Aislinn: I’ve heard great things about this game, which I think everyone knows about. If you haven’t (0:32:41) Aislinn: played the game, you still know the premise of the game and what the game is all about. (0:32:43) Kevin: John (0:32:44) Kevin: Yep for for (0:32:45) Aislinn: And I was very curious to check it out. (0:32:46) Kevin: Yeah for clarity. I have not played it myself, but as you said, I am very familiar (0:32:50) Kevin: I know all the secrets. I don’t feel free to let out whatever you want. Um, you just listener assume we’re spoiling whatever. Okay, it’s (0:32:53) Aislinn: Yeah, I played as many, spoiler warning for Stanley Parable, a very long time. (0:32:59) Kevin: Yes game that’s been out how long now (0:33:04) Aislinn: But the thing is, before I played Stanley Parable, I knew it was a strange game or a (0:33:08) Aislinn: very interesting game that a lot of people liked, but I didn’t know what the premise (0:33:11) Aislinn: of the game was. (0:33:12) Aislinn: So I went in pretty blind and it was an experience for sure. (0:33:17) Aislinn: It took me a while to get into because I was like, “What is happening?” (0:33:21) Kevin: Ha ha ha ha! (0:33:23) Aislinn: As I continued, I was like, “Okay, I’m starting to get it. (0:33:26) Aislinn: I’m starting to understand.” (0:33:27) Aislinn: And it was a very, very fun and fascinating and silly game. (0:33:33) Aislinn: And I did pretty much almost all of the endings except the ones like the, what was it, like (0:33:40) Aislinn: the baby one with like the dog and like the, you have to like stand up. (0:33:42) Kevin: Yeah, that’s correct. (0:33:44) Aislinn: You know that one, that one ending, we have to like be in the game for like three hours (0:33:47) Aislinn: or something. (0:33:49) Aislinn: I refused to do that one. (0:33:49) Kevin: Yeah, that’s correct. (0:33:50) Aislinn: I just watched it on YouTube. (0:33:51) Aislinn: I was like, “There’s no way I’m doing this.” (0:33:54) Aislinn: But just like that absurdity and like that confusion, I’m just like, “Yeah, no. (0:33:59) Aislinn: Okay. (0:33:59) Aislinn: I understand why people like this game now. (0:34:01) Aislinn: Like I have not experienced this in a game in a very, very, very long time.” (0:34:05) Aislinn: And it just took twists and turns and I was like, “Huh.” (0:34:09) Aislinn: And I was happy that I got to experience that before playing this game. (0:34:13) Aislinn: Cause I was curious if they were going to do things in this game that also (0:34:16) Aislinn: kind of caught me off guard and surprised me and that definitely did happen. (0:34:18) Kevin: All right, yep. (0:34:23) Aislinn: As a general notice, we’re not going to spoil like main plots of the game. (0:34:30) Aislinn: We may talk about a little bit of hint towards a little couple of things here (0:34:33) Aislinn: and there, but we’ll try our best to not spoil the game because both of us are (0:34:37) Aislinn: just about at the same point in the story and we both kind of share the sentiment (0:34:40) Aislinn: that we want y’all to check out the game and experience the not absurdity, but (0:34:47) Aislinn: just like the twists and turns of the game that also surprised me. (0:34:49) Kevin: Yep. (0:34:53) Aislinn: I was playing Wanderstop as I continued into it. (0:34:55) Kevin: Uh-huh. (0:34:56) Aislinn: Like it took me a while to get into Stanley Parable. (0:34:57) Aislinn: It took me a while to get into Wanderstop. (0:34:59) Aislinn: And as I continue, I was like start, I felt the same feeling that I felt when I (0:34:59) Kevin: Yeah. (0:35:03) Aislinn: was playing Wanderstop versus when I was playing Stanley Parable, but in just (0:35:04) Kevin: So. (0:35:07) Kevin: Mm-hmm. (0:35:08) Kevin: Right. (0:35:09) Kevin: Okay, so. (0:35:11) Kevin: Again, if someone who- so, that’s all great. (0:35:13) Kevin: And I appreciate you played it, ‘cause at least one of us can speak to it, but, um… (0:35:15) Aislinn: Well, you know about it too, you know. (0:35:19) Kevin: And so. (0:35:21) Kevin: Like. (0:35:22) Kevin: Maybe I don’t fully have heard everything, but the tone of Stanley Parable is almost… (0:35:29) Kevin: It’s very absurdist, very- almost adversarial in times, right? (0:35:32) Kevin: Like the narrator is constantly fighting against you, or you’re being sent down roads that are unpleasant, or so on and so forth, right? (0:35:39) Kevin: Like, it’s an enjoyable experience and a lot of fun, don’t get me, like, clearly, but… (0:35:45) Kevin: It is a very different vibe from a Cottagecore game, right? (0:35:49) Aislinn: Yes, very much so. (0:35:49) Kevin: So, when you- (0:35:51) Kevin: Right? (0:35:52) Kevin: And so when you hear they’re doing this- a tea shop simil- and they’re, you know, outright saying it’s gonna be a cozy game, like… (0:36:00) Kevin: What am I- what am I gonna do? I’m- I’m on guard, like, you’re the Stanley Parable people. (0:36:02) Aislinn: I know! (0:36:04) Kevin: I don’t believe a word you say, I am- (0:36:06) Aislinn: It literally says on the Steam page, “From the creator of the Stanley Parable.” (0:36:11) Aislinn: It’s the first line! (0:36:11) Kevin: Yep, so. (0:36:12) Kevin: Yup. (0:36:13) Kevin: So, I’m, you know, I’m coming into Wanderstop armed with a knife, just ready to fight back whatever this game’s- (0:36:19) Kevin: he’s gonna throw at me, right? (0:36:21) Kevin: Um… (0:36:22) Kevin: And, um… (0:36:24) Kevin: Well, I mean, shocker, it’s not the Stanley Parable, right? Like, some things carry over, like, it’s quality-quality writing. (0:36:31) Kevin: Excellent writing throughout, absolutely. (0:36:33) Kevin: There are some twists and turns, but it’s- it’s not in the insane, zany Stanley Parable way, it’s- it’s all, you know, in a narrative structure that- that fits it and whatnot. (0:36:46) Kevin: Um… (0:36:47) Kevin: I can confirm. (0:36:49) Kevin: I would call this a cozy game, but it’s a cozy game that sometimes pulls out a knife on you because sometimes I’m not ready for it. (0:36:54) Aislinn: Yes. (0:36:59) Aislinn: Yes. (0:37:00) Aislinn: Yes. (0:37:02) Kevin: I’ll get to that in a second, but the point being, there’s no secret endings, there’s no crazy insane tasks. (0:37:13) Kevin: And I tried, like one of the first things I did, like when you start the game you can run back into the force. I ran into the force like ten times. (0:37:19) Kevin: I was expecting something and nothing happened. I looked it up and there’s nothing, no insane hidden things like Stanley Parable, right? (0:37:30) Kevin: There’s some stuff, but nothing just completely insane. (0:37:36) Kevin: So yeah, it’s wild to see that they’re actually playing it straight. We’re getting a “cozy game”. (0:37:44) Kevin: So with that in mind, let’s talk about the premise, because I say (0:37:49) Kevin: “cozy” but there’s a big asterisk here because it is possibly one of the most “uncozy” openings to any game ever. (0:37:52) Aislinn: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. (0:37:57) Aislinn: But I loved it. I genuinely loved it. (0:37:57) Kevin: And yes, yep. So this is, and you’re not an avatar, you’re not a Stanley, a blankly avatar more or less, you are playing a character named Alta. (0:38:09) Kevin: She is a fighter, a warrior, goes into tournaments. The story starts with her description of her wanting to be the best. (0:38:18) Kevin: she’s undefeated for like three. (0:38:19) Kevin: and she just totally off her game so what does she do she seeks out help she (0:38:21) Aislinn: Very, very long time, but yeah. (0:38:45) Kevin: He seeks out Master Winters, a legendary warrior. (0:38:49) Kevin: Who she thinks can help her get a groove back. (0:38:52) Kevin: So, Alta runs through the forest, but then at some point, her body starts to fail her. (0:38:59) Kevin: She collapses, and she wakes up in this clearing in the forest, in front of a tea shop called “Wanderstup”. (0:39:06) Kevin: She meets the proprietor, a man named Boro, who is a fantastic… (0:39:10) Aislinn: Oh, he’s wonderful. I love him. (0:39:13) Kevin: He is the complete, I would say foil, like opposite foil to Alta. (0:39:16) Aislinn: Yeah. (0:39:17) Kevin: She is the most chills (0:39:19) Kevin: Zen just goes with the flow kind of guy. He’s happy. Good luck. He always cracking jokes and whatnot. Um (0:39:24) Aislinn: So sweet (0:39:26) Kevin: He’s a wonderful man. Um, he is the one who rescued Alta (0:39:30) Kevin: explains where she is and (0:39:33) Kevin: and basically suggests for her to take a break because (0:39:38) Kevin: One of the first thing she does is try to pick her her sword and she can’t (0:39:41) Kevin: Why meanwhile borrow can pick it up. No problem. And it’s just something (0:39:46) Kevin: Something going on with Arthur. She can’t fight. She can’t… (0:39:49) Kevin: She can’t lift her. (0:39:50) Kevin: if you run back into the forest like I did you just collapse and are sent back to the clearing so (0:39:54) Aislinn: I did too for context. I also did the same thing as you, because I was like, I just need to know. (0:39:57) Kevin: Yeah (0:39:59) Kevin: Yeah, it’s though it would be that (0:40:00) Aislinn: Especially again, coming off of Stanley Parable, I was like, I just need to know. (0:40:02) Kevin: it (0:40:04) Kevin: It would be the most Stanley peril thing in the world right the run out you get it ending (0:40:08) Kevin: like absolutely, so (0:40:10) Kevin: So yeah, so that um so with you know after repeated attempts if you do or you just give up (0:40:17) Kevin: Boro suggests to Ulta to just stay there (0:40:20) Kevin: and the tea shop to help out to try to rest and recover (0:40:23) Kevin: because she’s clearly suffering from over exhaustion. (0:40:27) Kevin: And and so that and already at this very 10 minute initial premise, (0:40:33) Kevin: the game is is is going at me like directly targeting me bullseye because. (0:40:39) Kevin: So, OK, you are a hard worker. (0:40:42) Kevin: You probably relate to this. (0:40:44) Kevin: I think a lot of people from our generation, how we were raised, like, (0:40:48) Kevin: you know, we a lot of people, (0:40:50) Kevin: we’re raising the very drive, like driven generation, right? (0:40:54) Kevin: Work hard, work hard, succeed, go to the next thing, right? (0:40:56) Aislinn: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. (0:40:57) Kevin: Be the top, be first in class, right? (0:40:59) Kevin: And and I personally like my I was in the warrior, (0:41:02) Kevin: but like I graduated salutatorian in high school. (0:41:05) Kevin: Like my academic pursuits were like everything to me. (0:41:08) Aislinn: Mm-hmm. (0:41:10) Kevin: So I can relate to that very much so. (0:41:13) Kevin: And then there comes a point when life just punches you in the face (0:41:17) Kevin: And you, you know, you just, you’re, you’re knocked out a few. (0:41:20) Kevin: Notches. So I get this and I’m already very not comfortable with how personal this story has gotten. (0:41:26) Aislinn: Yeah, yeah, I really felt the anger that Alta was feeling in the beginning, not to the fullest extent, because I’m just generally not a very like angry person. But like, what, like the underlying emotions of that anger, I genuinely felt because I definitely also feel that in the sense that as a person that considers myself very hardworking as well, to be working so hard, and then to be knocked down like that, it really, really, really sucks. I get that. (0:41:34) Kevin: Yeah. Right. (0:41:54) Kevin: Yep (0:41:56) Aislinn: I definitely really felt for her right off the bat. Like immediately, I was like, Oh, this is one of those games. Oh, no, my heart. I was like, Oh, no, they really did. (0:42:00) Kevin: Yeah (0:42:04) Kevin: Yup (0:42:10) Kevin: Yup, yup. Yup. They have set the stage (0:42:15) Kevin: and and and again in right there in contrast with Boro a wonderful truly cozy character and then also the most (0:42:24) Kevin: I have possibly seen in a cottage core game (0:42:28) Kevin: But (0:42:30) Kevin: Like for me that one of the bits that really resonated is just running through the forest right getting back up going back (0:42:36) Kevin: Like I relate to that very much so to to maybe not on well (0:42:42) Kevin: Okay, I’ll say someone on the healthy levels, but or it’s let’s say it’s affected me right like I’ve definitely (0:42:47) Aislinn: We all go through it. We’re human. We all go through it. (0:42:48) Kevin: Right, right. Yeah (0:42:51) Kevin: Um, and so being forced to stop. (0:42:54) Kevin: That out of your control, that’s something I wouldn’t handle. (0:42:57) Kevin: Well, I&am
Hey friend! A few years ago when the world shut down, Cottagecore took the decorating world by storm. Cottagecore is a decorating style, yes, but it's more of a lifestyle defined by the idea of slowing down and living more sustainably with a big nod toward nostalgia. Though the foundation of what defines Cottagecore hasn't changed, some of the nuances have. In today's episode I'm reacquainting you with the fundamentals of Cottagecore and what you can expect in the style as it has evolved over time. I also share 10 ways you can bring Cottagecore into your home if you're wanting to try the style...it's a fun one!!! How to hang wallpaper: https://www.figandfarmathome.com/post/ready-to-try-wallpaper FREE plant guide: https://bit.ly/ffhomeplants // Links mentioned in show: // Email: hello@figandfarmathome.com Website: https://figandfarmathome.com Join The Collective (monthly membership): https://www.figandfarmathome.com/thecollective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figandfarm/ FREE Facebook Community: https://www.bit.ly/design101group Book a Decorating SOS Coaching Call: https://www.figandfarmathome.com/decorating-sos Happy styling! dani
Welcome to the Okay But Did You Know? Podcast Pedantic Book Club! Quarterly we'll sit and talk about a book that is either a retelling of a classic tale or one that has been adapted into a tv series or film. This quarter we read Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. Did you know Little Thieves is a Goose Girl retelling?Join our Book Club and get access to exclusive content on PatreonFollow us on InstagramFollow us on Tiktok
Today I welcome Liz Parker back to the show to talk about Cottagecore Movies. I really needed a break from the world, so I wanted to do an episode that felt like a warm hug. This also came just in time for Liz's upcoming book, THE OTHER MARCH SISTERS, which she co-wrote with Linda Epstein and Ally Malinenko, from the point of view of the other March sisters in LITTLE WOMEN. It comes out February 25th, and you can preorder it now in my Bookshop. All show notes and links available on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com
Haley Weidenbaum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Everhem, a custom window treatment brand simplifying the design process. After a decade as an interior designer in Los Angeles, Haley noticed a recurring pain point: window treatments were costly, inconsistent, and error-prone.In 2018, she and her husband Adam self-funded Everhem to offer an easy online solution for consumers and interior designers. Today, Everhem is a multi-million-dollar business with a less than 1% mistake rate, serving top designers and A-list clients like Amber Valetta, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Nacho + Blanca Figueras.Everhem has thrived beyond the pandemic boom, blending trend insights with exceptional craftsmanship, with every order still hand-sewn in Los Angeles. Haley's expertise in design and entrepreneurship offers invaluable lessons for building customer-first businesses.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:46] Intro[01:05] Understanding niche product offerings[01:37] Recognizing customer pain points[04:48] Building a brand from scratch[05:35] Hiring for sustainable growth[07:04] Turning ideas into execution[07:51] Creating a seamless user experience[10:38] Partnering with designers and influencers[14:03] Episode sponsors: StoreTester and Intelligems[17:13] Finding product-market fit organically[18:52] Standing out with craftsmanship[21:56] Balancing trade and consumer needs[23:28] Launching products from feedback[25:15] Streamlining the customer journeyResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeWhere warmth meets sophistication. everhem.com/ Follow Haley Weidenbaum linkedin.com/in/haley-weidenbaum-85974b12 Book a demo today at intelligems.io/ Done-for-you conversion rate optimization service storetester.com/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!
In this episode, join me to explore the fascinating origins of the Cottagecore aesthetic! Come with me to connect the dots between the historical past and the modern-day Cottagecore movement, touching on the rise of floral prints, country living, and Laura Ashley's iconic designs. Whether you're a fan of vintage style or curious about history's influence on today's trends, this episode uncovers the hidden stories behind a timeless aesthetic, by tracing its roots back to 18th-century France, where it was popularised by none other than Marie Antoinette, to exploring the history of aprons as both functional and fashionable garments in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tune in for a whimsical, historical exploration of fashion, culture, and the allure of the simple life. Join the Behind The Seams family to support the podcast and access bonus content: www.patreon.com/silhouettespodcast Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone. Follow the podcast on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates
Codey and Kev catch up on all the recent news Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:06: Feedback 00:08:21: What Have We Been Up To 00:43:30: Game Releases 00:57:44: Game Updates 01:06:41: New Games 01:28:43: Outro Links Harvest Hills Release Chill Town Development Update Dragon Shelter Trailer Steamworld Build Physical Release Echoes of the Plum Grove Digital Art Book Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home “Controller and Cloud Save” Update Research Story “Shimmering” Update Go-go Town Roadmap Terra Nil “Heatwave” Update Cattle Country Litchi Town Cinnabunny Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Codey: Hello, farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Cody. (0:00:36) Kev: My name is Kevin, and we are back in the sad woodbeam. (0:00:40) Codey: Welcome to a new year. This is actually, this is actually being recorded in the new year. (0:00:41) Kev: Wow. (0:00:44) Kev: Oh yeah. (0:00:46) Kev: The first one. (0:00:49) Kev: Yeah. (0:00:50) Kev: Unlike the last one, which is recorded before a lot of the ones before that, which is wild. (0:00:55) Codey: Yeah, I just, I just finished. (0:00:57) Kev: Oh, wildflowers got a sequel, prequel, and I wouldn’t say it. (0:01:04) Codey: Yeah. So I guess so. Okay. So this episode is about a news catch up, (0:01:09) Codey: but we do want to hear Kev. (0:01:10) Kev: Yup. (0:01:14) Codey: I want to hear. So there’s a couple of things that we have to, (0:01:17) Codey: we have to talk about first, uh, all, but yeah, (0:01:19) Kev: I saw the note (0:01:22) Codey: I’ll put any feedback on game of the year. (0:01:24) Codey: So do you have any feedback on Rusty’s retirement winning game of the year? (0:01:28) Kev: Oh, so like, I’ll tell you what, my feedback is that this is just the, the, the (0:01:36) Kev: revenge of the, the coral island debacle of the previous year. (0:01:40) Kev: That’s what this is. (0:01:41) Codey: No, who would you have well you probably would have had wildflowers win, right? (0:01:41) Kev: Um, me, no, I mean, well, okay. (0:01:49) Kev: Some deep inside baseball, right? (0:01:51) Kev: Like this is, we’ve been talking a little bit on how to structure this (0:01:54) Kev: game the year, because it’s challenging, right? (0:01:57) Kev: with so many games that come out, right? (0:01:58) Kev: And we cover, you know, at most 52 games in a year, and obviously we’re not going to bring 52 games in a year. (0:02:06) Codey: Right (0:02:06) Kev: And furthermore, they’re probably not all going to be games that came out that year. (0:02:12) Kev: So that is a lot of games that we don’t play and consider and, you know, we might be missing things, right? (0:02:22) Kev: So like Wildflowers, we missed it the year it came out. (0:02:26) Kev: came out, so I didn’t put it in. (0:02:28) Kev: It wasn’t in the running for Game of the Year, so I think that we should maybe try (0:02:34) Kev: to aim for next year is like, we already started doing the categories or whatever kind of, (0:02:41) Kev: so I think there should be one for actually 2020, whatever, four, five, whatever, and then (0:02:47) Kev: one that we covered on the show that year, you know what I mean? (0:02:50) Kev: That’s probably how we should structure that, but either way, I mean, yeah, either way, (0:02:55) Kev: But a lot of thought was just not going to be my vote because we didn’t cover it last time. (0:02:58) Kev: I would have gone with Mika of course, but I get it. (0:03:00) Codey: Okay. (0:03:02) Codey: That was me, I was gonna say maybe Mika. (0:03:06) Kev: I will say I haven’t played Rusty’s retirement in myself. (0:03:10) Kev: Like I said, I don’t like the concept of something playing on your screen as you’re doing other stuff. (0:03:20) Kev: I’m the total opposite end of the spectrum from that. It doesn’t tell me at all. (0:03:26) Kev: Um, but I’m sure it’s fine. (0:03:27) Kev: Like what, what I, you know, (0:03:28) Kev: what I want to talk about, it’s great and, and what, right. (0:03:31) Kev: Um, and furthermore, like, uh, I think it was my, I don’t know, brought it up like (0:03:36) Kev: that, you know, it’s breaking more new ground than say Mika’s because Mika, you (0:03:42) Kev: know, there’s no doubt that Mika is definitely standing on the shoulders of (0:03:46) Kev: giants leaning on a Wind Waker aesthetic and the studio Ghibli and all that. (0:03:52) Kev: Um, so, you know, I can appreciate that. (0:03:54) Kev: Um, so, you know, Mika would have been my vote. (0:03:57) Kev: But I don’t know. (0:03:58) Kev: I’m fine with my sister’s time. I’m not complaining. I do like the rule but um but uh but yeah um yeah that’s that’s my only real thought um like yeah it’s fine not my vote but again for two-fold reasons and and I get why you guys picked it so I’m not complaining too much. (0:04:00) Codey: Mm hmm. Okay, yeah. (0:04:13) Codey: Hmm. Yeah, those of us with ADHD, it just tickles that itch for sure. (0:04:24) Codey: Okay, so the second question would be wild society. How are you? How do you? What are your thoughts? (0:04:30) Kev: So, obviously I’m hyped, right, because Studio Drydock has done fantastic work, kind of across the board, right, not just, except maybe the art style, which, you know, I’m not going to defend it per se, but the story they wrote, the mechanics, how they came about it, even their promotion, how they interact with the community. (0:05:00) Kev: Um, just call it stuff across the board, right? (0:05:04) Kev: Um, obviously I’m biased, you know, I’m going to go dove into wildflowers because of Ray and yada, yada, but, um, and bother is a lot of fun and whatnot, but, um, like the fact that we’re getting a sequel, one, that’s great, right, or people, I guess. (0:05:20) Kev: Um, and what’s exciting is that it’s not going to probably be a, you know, one-to-one sequel. We’re not on a farm now. We’re running a hotel bed and breakfast thing. (0:05:30) Kev: I don’t know if you remember, so, you know, I’m interested to see what we’re going to do. I’ll probably put, we had a lot of emphasis on the social interactions and whatnot, but, um, you know, that was, I think, one of the strong suits from wildflowers, like the community of that little island and people interacting and whatnot. (0:05:48) Kev: So, you know, focusing more on that, I think it’s going to be fun. (0:05:52) Kev: Um, I do wonder how the magic will fit into everything because, you know, you use the magic. (0:06:00) Kev: For farming, but here we’re just hosting key parties, question mark. So what are we, you know, what spiking drinks with potions was a feature in wildflowers. (0:06:08) Codey: - Yeah. (0:06:14) Kev: So, um, oh yeah, you’re right. There was like a seance thing. Yeah, right. There you go. That’ll be interesting. Um, but yeah, um, I mean, yeah, of course. (0:06:14) Codey: - Didn’t they have in wilds? (0:06:16) Codey: Didn’t you have a seance in the trailer for wild society? (0:06:28) Kev: Yeah, of course, I’m super excited for it. (0:06:32) Kev: I believe they already confirmed there will be returning characters, which is interesting because they think it’s going to be a fairly large time gap. (0:06:38) Kev: But there are characters who could show up. I can already name two or three of them. (0:06:44) Kev: So it’ll be fun to see them show up. (0:06:50) Kev: This is generally somewhat bad form, but I’m pretty sure the voice in the trailer was Valerie Rose Lohman. (0:06:56) Kev: So I’m sure she’s going to get a character in there. I feel like she has to, right? She has to. (0:06:59) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:07:02) Kev: So, you know, but we’ll see. I don’t know. (0:07:06) Kev: All in all, obviously, I’m very excited. It’s fun. (0:07:10) Kev: Yeah, well, John, my eyes are peeled and I’ll be day one buyer, of course. (0:07:14) Kev: I’m so open. (0:07:15) Codey: Well, and I will say that after everything that you’ve talked about the game and looking (0:07:22) Codey: at wild society, well, maybe we’ll be doing a second harvest of wildflowers this year (0:07:31) Codey: because I want to play it. (0:07:31) Kev: Oh, oh, oh, like, you know, obviously my hyperbolic cartoonish adoration of the game is great now, but like it is still a very solid game. (0:07:44) Kev: Like I cannot recommend enough. (0:07:45) Kev: Like it is up there with the, you know, the top Stardew clones or farming is whatever. (0:07:52) Kev: Um, it’s solid. (0:07:54) Codey: Yeah, yeah, no, it looks great. (0:07:54) Kev: Um, you know, cause you could just pass the, the style, I don’t play many once. (0:08:01) Kev: But hey, that’s good. That’s good. (0:08:02) Codey: So, okay, so, yeah, the, as I’ve already mentioned, today, the topic is news catch up, so we have (0:08:11) Codey: a lot of news to get through, but next section is the what have we been up to section. (0:08:19) Codey: And here’s the final question for Kev. (0:08:22) Codey: - Kev, you have to– (0:08:24) Codey: - I just remember you saying, “oh yeah, I got a puppy,” (0:08:26) Codey: and I’m like, “ah, I need details!” (0:08:28) Codey: And this is the first time we’ve been on a pod together, so… (0:08:30) Kev: Mm-hmm. Okay (0:08:30) Codey: I just remember you saying, “oh yeah, I got a puppy,” (0:08:32) Codey: and I’m like, “ah, I need details!” (0:08:36) Codey: And this is the first time we’ve been on a pod together, so… (0:08:38) Codey: together, so. (0:08:39) Kev: So yeah, um (0:08:42) Kev: Some recording I don’t I don’t remember where or what was the like where the harvest season (0:08:51) Kev: Time-wise where I was when I recorded near puppy (0:08:54) Kev: But okay, so I I feel like I did so, you know (0:09:00) Kev: Here’s show time if you go listen to if you listen to the the Rainbow Road radio the neutral show (0:09:02) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:09:06) Kev: I do with our friend now, it’s so are you things? (0:09:07) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:09:09) Kev: You you could he hear the puppy saga in real life in real time because I’ve given up updates (0:09:14) Kev: But anyways, so, okay, I’m gonna give context for people who might not know I imagine most folks might know (0:09:21) Kev: Things I brought it up here and there but okay. So first of all (0:09:26) Kev: two years ago (0:09:29) Kev: October (0:09:30) Kev: 29th, I know that I know the date it’s weird, but I I have a reference point but we lost our first dog passed away two (0:09:38) Kev: Years ago on October 29th heard (0:09:42) Kev: Whatever do you know it’s new year, whatever (0:09:45) Kev: His name was though though he we had him for 18 years same age as my brother (0:09:50) Kev: toy poodle (0:09:52) Kev: obviously left the big (0:09:54) Kev: hole in the family and all that (0:09:57) Kev: and so (0:09:58) Kev: Uh, but for the first while we were. (0:10:00) Kev: We’d been petless, right? (0:10:01) Kev: Um, uh, Kiyo about a year later, a little, it was actually around the (0:10:06) Kev: same time around November of 2023. (0:10:09) Kev: Well, we got two kitties, um, Daisy and Teddy, and they were very small kittens. (0:10:15) Kev: And they were just a couple, like three, maybe four weeks old when we got them. (0:10:19) Kev: Um, and so that was my first time having cats and, and, and they were fun and, and, (0:10:24) Kev: and all the weird and wonderful and really weird things that cats are. (0:10:30) Kev: But, um, you know, but they’re relatively chill compared to dogs, right? (0:10:33) Kev: They’re a little more low home maintenance. (0:10:36) Kev: Um, uh, anyway, so Q this past year on by like, did you no one realized? (0:10:43) Kev: Well, I was the first one to realize it on the same date, October 29th of 2024. (0:10:48) Kev: Two years to the day after though, though. (0:10:50) Kev: Um, I was given lucky as an early birthday gift. (0:10:54) Kev: Um, so he was a toy poodle, much like the, um, the other was a (0:10:59) Kev: blonde, light brown color. (0:11:01) Kev: is like red cinnamon type of fur color. (0:11:05) Kev: Um, he was two months old, I think when we got him, he was still a really little guy, all in all. (0:11:13) Kev: Um, so yeah, um, we got him, uh, took probably a week or two to pick the name and settled on Lucky. (0:11:20) Kev: That is his name. (0:11:21) Kev: Um, and he has been a handful, like, so Dodo was the chillest guy. (0:11:30) Kev: He was smart. (0:11:31) Kev: He was chill. (0:11:32) Kev: Like he, he, he putty trained himself. (0:11:35) Kev: It was wild. (0:11:37) Kev: Um, uh, and whatnot. (0:11:39) Kev: Um, and, and he was just chill. (0:11:41) Kev: He just loved hanging out in cuddling and whatever. (0:11:43) Kev: Lucky is your stereotypical, you know, or would you think of the dog like puppy storm? (0:11:50) Kev: Like he’s chewing everything, biting everything. (0:11:53) Kev: He’s running. (0:11:54) Kev: He’s very friendly. (0:11:55) Kev: He’s very social. (0:11:56) Kev: He loves meeting people. (0:11:57) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:11:57) Kev: Sometimes to Marsha Grin because if he ever gets up (0:12:00) Kev: the leash or will run up to other people and so you know but but yeah he (0:12:08) Kev: that he’s been here we set up the Christmas decorations he’s been chewing (0:12:12) Kev: on them so it’s been a handful I mean it’s obviously still very puppy and so (0:12:17) Kev: learning but he is a joy a bundle of joy he’s probably double means maybe even (0:12:24) Kev: triple not triple but at least double in size I’m sure since we got him but he is (0:12:30) Kev: a toy poodle so he’s still gonna be a little guy on all but but yeah he’s part (0:12:37) Kev: of the home now he’s obviously a lot of attention a lot of work now the cats are (0:12:43) Kev: interesting he gets along with one her name is David Daisy she’s pretty chill (0:12:48) Kev: with him usually but sometimes he’ll try to knit and you know nip play with her (0:12:53) Kev: like a dog would replay fighting or whatever and so she did she doesn’t like (0:12:56) Kev: that, obviously, because even though they’re a year old, they’re like, (0:13:00) Kev: he’s already bigger than both of them. (0:13:02) Kev: Um, and then Teddy, uh, I feel so bad cause poor Teddy, he is our sweetheart. (0:13:08) Kev: He is only, he lives up to his name of Teddy. (0:13:10) Kev: He’s a Teddy bear. (0:13:11) Kev: He’s, he’s, he’s sweet and calm and chill, but he’s so skittish and nervous. (0:13:18) Kev: Like he still freaks out over lucky. (0:13:21) Kev: He’s not used to him on like, not even like I’d say 50% like he’ll, he’ll hiss (0:13:28) Kev: and, you know, and do all this stuff. (0:13:30) Kev: keep his distance and obviously Lucky’s just a puppy he just wants to like run up and play (0:13:34) Kev: at him he’s not he’s never you know Lucky doesn’t have a mean boat in his body or anything um (0:13:41) Kev: but he’s just uh had he just not dealing well with the new so yeah um no that’s unfortunate (0:13:46) Codey: Yeah. I’m sure there’ll be best of friends because that’s how it always goes right like (0:13:52) Kev: yeah yeah yeah I imagine it certainly takes time right like obviously like I said never (0:13:57) Kev: had cats before, so I’ve always never had cats and dogs together before. (0:14:00) Kev: And obviously I did some research on that, and yeah, it looks like it can vary, like I said, (0:14:06) Kev: Daisy and Lucky can get along pretty well. But yeah, I’m sure Teddy will just kind of give it (0:14:13) Kev: time. He’s a very giddish sort of fella that’s the only thing about him. But yeah, that is Lucky. (0:14:23) Kev: Hold on. Let me send you a picture. I’m talking about it, but I didn’t even send you a picture. (0:14:26) Codey: I was going to say, please post one in the Slack, so that yeah, if y’all want to see (0:14:28) Kev: Sure, hold on, Lumi. (0:14:30) Kev: Okay, yeah, there you go, there’s your Patreon Slack exclusive. (0:14:36) Kev: Yeah, I’ll have to dig and find them. (0:14:38) Codey: baby toy poodle pics, and I am all for it. (0:14:46) Kev: I’ll try to find some earlier ones when he was real little cuz he was real like, (0:14:50) Kev: he could barely poke out of the grass standing a little. (0:14:54) Codey: Um… (0:14:54) Kev: But he’s a good bit bigger, but he still acts very much like a mate. (0:15:01) Codey: Yeah. That doesn’t go away for a while. Stella’s finally, can you stop? She’s also all up in my (0:15:03) Kev: Yeah. (0:15:08) Codey: business right now. Um, she, uh, only just started getting out of some of her puppyish like (0:15:09) Kev: Speaking of which, yeah. (0:15:18) Codey: behaviors, like, um, Aussies, both healers and shepherds will like bite at ankles, um, (0:15:27) Codey: to like try and herd you. She’s finally- (0:15:32) Codey: to me, she only ever did it to me, which is stupid. My partner would like be like, “get mommy, get mommy” and like she would come up and get my ankles and I would be like, “are you serious?” (0:15:36) Kev: Hmm (0:15:49) Kev: Yeah, oh my gosh, that’s the thing with (0:15:53) Codey: Look at the little lint. Oh, he’s- (0:15:56) Kev: Yeah, though the one on the left aside posted the picture on slack (0:15:59) Kev: He slackers can look at it now or you probably already have but um on the left side (0:16:04) Kev: Yeah, that’s close to when we got him. (0:16:06) Codey: Mm-hmm. Yeah. (0:16:06) Kev: He’s tiny. You can see him next to the leaves like for comparison and then to the right. That’s a more recent picture (0:16:11) Kev: That’s him with Daisy. Um, like I said, he’s bigger now (0:16:15) Kev: but (0:16:16) Kev: But yeah, the biting the biting’s insane cuz honestly though they never did the biting (0:16:21) Kev: But we hear he’s just nipping at everything (0:16:25) Kev: I you know, I have some facial hair. So he it’s not heavy facial hair, but he likes to nibble on it (0:16:31) Codey: It doesn’t, yeah, yep. (0:16:34) Kev: I just, you know, just nip, nip, nip. (0:16:36) Kev: at it. Um, but that’s, yeah, that’s the lucky saga. Um, good, (0:16:41) Kev: you know, good, uh, obviously good times. A lot of work every (0:16:44) Kev: day. Everyone is yelling, because he’s running around (0:16:49) Kev: causing chaos, but we still love him. And, and he, he’s a pretty (0:16:53) Kev: good boy. Like I said, he’s not aggressive or anything like that. (0:16:57) Kev: You know, he’s, he likes to bite because he’s playful or whatever, (0:17:00) Kev: but, um, yeah, he’s a puppy. Yeah. Um, yeah. (0:17:00) Codey: he’s a puppy that’s just puppy behavior classic puppy behavior (0:17:06) Kev: So that is the lucky saga. Um, well, you know, I’ll do it, you (0:17:10) Kev: know, as I look forward to Mark Phillips or whatever, I’ll, I’ll (0:17:14) Kev: bring up news if things happen. Um, but, uh, but yeah. Um, so (0:17:21) Kev: there you go. There, there you go overseas and folks, there, (0:17:23) Kev: there’s your catch up. Um, okay. So aside from that more recent (0:17:24) Codey: What else have you been up to? (0:17:30) Kev: times, um, I talked about it like when we record cause they’d (0:17:36) Kev: just come out. Like I think when, uh, when Al, I think I did (0:17:40) Kev: the episode of Al Marvel Rivals has been on the big ones, the (0:17:42) Codey: Yeah (0:17:43) Kev: Overwatch clone with Marvel stuff. Um, like. Yeah. Yeah. (0:17:46) Codey: That was really fun to listen to because (0:17:50) Codey: You like basically mentioned it and I was like, oh thank goodness that I don’t like games like this (0:17:57) Codey: Because then I don’t have to play it and then you were like, oh no, no (0:17:57) Kev: Yeah. Yeah, the funny thing, the funny thing is we were just talking and just shooting (0:18:00) Codey: Like it’s not what you think he was like, oh no, no, I have to play it (0:18:10) Kev: the breeze before we started recording that episode and I was talking about rivals and (0:18:14) Kev: he mentioned because like the camera thing was like the big thing and he mentioned that (0:18:16) Codey: Yeah! (0:18:18) Kev: and that’s when I was like, I’m going to button this right now so I can save this for the (0:18:22) Kev: show to drop the reveal on. (0:18:25) Codey: Oh, that’s so funny. (0:18:27) Kev: Oh, yeah, I am as best as I can. So there is a weird thing about like being multi-platform (0:18:27) Codey: So yeah, you’re still enjoying it. (0:18:37) Kev: or whatever. So Calvin likes it too, right? So he plays on our PlayStation. I play on (0:18:38) Codey: - Mm-hmm, okay. (0:18:43) Kev: a laptop that I have just so we can both play it or whatever at the same time. And the kicker (0:18:52) Kev: on being PC is I’m not a PC gamer, generally speaking. I can’t do the– (0:18:57) Kev: a mouse and keyboard and all that stuff, right? So I hook up a controller and I play that (0:19:03) Kev: way but I get bodied because there are those insane mouse and keyboard super aiming people. (0:19:11) Kev: And it’s also like you can tell the population skews younger because of course it’s free to (0:19:18) Kev: play so all the teenagers and kids and it’s Marvel, right? They’re hopping on. So they (0:19:23) Kev: They get a lot more practice time than say I do. (0:19:27) Kev: I get bodied. I’m trying my best. I try to focus or whatever, but it can be rough. (0:19:34) Kev: It can be a bit bumpy at times. I won’t lie, but yeah, it’s good stuff. (0:19:40) Kev: And we actually on the end of the first, they call it season zero, whatever the first battle pass, yada, yada. (0:19:48) Kev: So then there’s new content probably in the next week or two coming out, including the Fantastic Four. (0:19:56) Kev: And so, yeah. (0:19:57) Kev: Good, more exciting stuff to look forward to. (0:20:01) Kev: I’m always down for that. (0:20:03) Kev: But yeah, Marvel Rival continues to be a joy in the curse at times. (0:20:07) Kev: But but that that is it is what it is. (0:20:12) Codey: - Are you still playing Spider-Man? (0:20:13) Kev: Let’s see. (0:20:14) Kev: Um, so I play not Spider-Man is hard. (0:20:18) Kev: I’m not going to lie. (0:20:19) Kev: Spider-Man is really hard to play (0:20:19) Codey: Okay. (0:20:21) Kev: because he plays just like the PlayStation Spider-Man games. (0:20:24) Codey: Yeah. (0:20:25) Kev: but in this context, it’s real. (0:20:28) Kev: I struggle with him, and in fact, when I see Spider-Man players, I’m scared, because I know I’m a good player. (0:20:35) Kev: But, let’s see, my go-tos, I think after all this time, like, did you watch Spider-Verse, the first one into the Spider-Verse? (0:20:45) Codey: - Yes. (0:20:46) Kev: Okay, so Penny Parker, the anime one with the robot, the anime Spider-Verse, she’s in this game. (0:20:50) Codey: - Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:20:52) Kev: Um, yeah, she’s a little older, she’s more like, I think college age, I think. (0:20:57) Kev: It’s just, but she still has a robot. (0:20:59) Kev: I play her, she’s fun. (0:21:01) Kev: Um, she’s, she sets up like a little tower that shoots out spider robots and (0:21:05) Kev: mines and stuff, and so you kind of, you’re, you kind of set up an area where (0:21:09) Kev: you defend, um, that’s what she’s good at. (0:21:11) Kev: Um, so she’s my go-to tank, um, for healer, Jeff the Landshark, I don’t know. (0:21:17) Kev: Have you ever seen Jeff Landshark? (0:21:18) Codey: No. (0:21:19) Kev: Um, he, he, oh my gosh. (0:21:22) Kev: Okay. (0:21:22) Kev: So just hold on, let me send you a picture. (0:21:22) Codey: Okay, you’re fine. You could just say like, I’m sure that everyone, every listener probably knows what you’re talking about. So. (0:21:27) Kev: No, you see, here’s the thing. (0:21:31) Kev: No, here’s the thing, Jeff the Landshark in one of the freaks, (0:21:35) Kev: the deep butt pics that no one on Earth knows. (0:21:36) Codey: Oh, okay. (0:21:38) Kev: [LAUGH] Yeah, but Jeff the Landshark, okay, he’s basically a puppy, (0:21:44) Kev: but he’s a shark with legs, he doesn’t talk or anything. (0:21:49) Kev: And he just swims around and or like he can do the shark thing with the fin sick and (0:21:55) Kev: with the fin sick and now I can move around he heals people (0:21:57) Kev: and he shoots ice balls and all sorts of stuff (0:22:00) Kev: he’s fairly straight forward but he’s pretty satisfying (0:22:04) Kev: so he’s my go to healer (0:22:06) Codey: a puppy. But he’s a shark. Okay. (0:22:07) Kev: he acts like a puppy he does all the (0:22:10) Kev: yes he’s a shark yeah (0:22:14) Kev: yeah so he’s my go to healer he’s (0:22:17) Kev: yeah and like I said one of the cool things about rival is they weren’t (0:22:21) Kev: afraid to get some really deep cuts weirdo pics (0:22:24) Kev: Um, like Jeff, uh, (0:22:28) Kev: what is this that I do? (0:22:29) Kev: Alright, there we go. (0:22:31) Kev: Okay. Uh, sorry. (0:22:32) Kev: Um, so that’s my go-to healer just because he is pretty easy to use and he’s adorable. (0:22:38) Codey: Okay, he definitely looks like a puppy. (0:22:39) Kev: Um, he is just a puppy, but he’s all shark with legs. (0:22:46) Kev: Um, like, it’s a weird description, but that is exactly what it is. (0:22:50) Kev: Um, and then for my damage person, I picked Squirrel Girl. (0:22:54) Kev: She has squirrels, she shoots acorns with a sl- (0:22:57) Kev: she’s oh you don’t know squirrel girl ah okay again okay no you know what no (0:22:58) Codey: Squirrel girl dude I don’t know much of Marvel I yeah okay (0:23:07) Kev: again squirrel girl is a pretty deep but so her pull power is she can communicate (0:23:13) Kev: with squirrels like she you know she’s athletic or whatever but her superpower (0:23:20) Kev: is she can communicate with squirrels and so she will you know send armies of (0:23:24) Kev: squirrels on people and so on and so forth. (0:23:27) Kev: Um, she is an incredible character, something of a joke character, but also (0:23:33) Kev: played for like straight, incredible, like, like in her first issue, she goes (0:23:39) Kev: up against Dr. (0:23:40) Kev: Doom and takes him down with an army of squirrels. (0:23:42) Kev: Um, and, and just, she’s the best, like funny character, um, and she (0:23:49) Kev: dresses up kind of like a squirrel. (0:23:50) Kev: Um, and she has one on her shoulder at all times. (0:23:54) Kev: Um, but yeah, she, her name, in fact. (0:23:54) Codey: Okay, okay. (0:23:57) Kev: The moniker she’s often used is The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. (0:24:00) Kev: Again, just because she’s so, like, hyperbolic, um, goofy, um… (0:24:06) Codey: I mean, if a squirrel is trying to come at you, they’re going to get you from working (0:24:10) Codey: at the Wildlife Center, like I used to have this one squirrel that would sit on my shoulder. (0:24:11) Kev: Yeah? (0:24:11) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:16) Kev: Yeah. (0:24:17) Codey: But if he decided that he wanted to run all over and like suddenly be on my back and then (0:24:23) Codey: and suddenly be on my leg. (0:24:24) Codey: like he they they can do some crazy things oh you sent me a picture of her okay (0:24:28) Kev: Oh, yeah. (0:24:30) Kev: Yep. (0:24:32) Kev: Um, yeah, so she’s great. (0:24:34) Kev: People who know her love her. (0:24:35) Kev: She is, she is a, he is adored. (0:24:38) Kev: Like I said, she’s obviously low-tiered. (0:24:40) Kev: She doesn’t get pushed, like, some, but, um, but she, she’s great. (0:24:44) Kev: Um, so yeah, that’s, that’s Squirrel Girl. (0:24:46) Kev: That’s Marvel Rivals, and those are my three. (0:24:48) Kev: That’s my wacky crew. (0:24:49) Kev: Um, let’s see, aside from Rivals, uh, so I picked up a game, uh, just a couple days ago. (0:24:57) Kev: It’s called Armored Core. (0:24:58) Kev: Are you familiar with this? (0:25:00) Codey: No. (0:25:00) Kev: Okay. (0:25:00) Kev: Uh, are you familiar with, from software? (0:25:02) Codey: No. (0:25:03) Kev: Okay. (0:25:04) Kev: The Elden Ring, people. (0:25:06) Codey: Okay, okay. (0:25:06) Kev: Okay. (0:25:07) Kev: So. (0:25:08) Codey: So you don’t, you like pain. (0:25:10) Codey: You like… (0:25:11) Kev: Yes. (0:25:12) Kev: Yes, I do. (0:25:12) Codey: Okay, okay. (0:25:13) Kev: Okay. (0:25:14) Kev: So you’re familiar with Elden Ring? (0:25:15) Kev: Of course everyone is, right? (0:25:16) Codey: Yeah. (0:25:16) Kev: ‘Cause it’s the biggest game that year, whatever. (0:25:18) Kev: Okay, what if I told you the Elden Ring people said, “What if we, okay, now we wanna do a game, but it’s all robots and mecha?” (0:25:25) Kev: that in that case (0:25:27) Kev: gives you armored core (0:25:30) Kev: so it is a (0:25:32) Kev: it is the same level of polish (0:25:34) Kev: a very like grounded (0:25:36) Kev: you know realistic-ish visual style and whatnot (0:25:40) Kev: the challenge (0:25:42) Kev: I don’t think it’s as hard as Elden Ring (0:25:44) Kev: because Elden Ring is hard (0:25:46) Kev: it’s really hard (0:25:48) Kev: but armored core it’s a different flavor (0:25:50) Kev: because you (0:25:52) Kev: you know you’re controlling a robe alright (0:25:54) Kev: so you switch out parts you can (0:25:57) Kev: think you’re whatnot (0:25:59) Kev: and that’s a big part of the puzzle (0:26:01) Kev: like when you’re given (0:26:03) Kev: a new boss or whatever (0:26:05) Kev: they’ll heavily like hint hint (0:26:07) Kev: use this kind of robot (0:26:09) Kev: because if you’re not (0:26:11) Kev: you’re gonna be in trouble right like (0:26:13) Kev: Pokemon type advantages basically (0:26:15) Kev: so (0:26:17) Kev: there’s a lot of love and attention to detail (0:26:19) Kev: being a robot game you can (0:26:21) Kev: paint your robot however you want (0:26:23) Kev: and I’ll spend a lot of time doing that (0:26:25) Kev: Um, and, and, and. (0:26:28) Kev: It’s very fun. (0:26:29) Kev: Um, like I said, I don’t think anywhere near as hard as Elden Ring, but, uh, still satisfyingly challenging. (0:26:35) Kev: Um, it controls like how I’d want to, the robots will fly, they’ll dash, they’ll, you, you held two weapons. (0:26:41) Kev: You can have double guns or a melee weapon and a gun and missiles, all the, all the good stuff. (0:26:47) Kev: It is, it is very straightforward Mecha. (0:26:50) Kev: Um, so if you’re a fan of that, uh, you know, that’s definitely a thumbs up. (0:26:55) Kev: Okay. (0:26:56) Kev: Uh, that’s a lot from me. (0:26:57) Kev: But now, Cody, tell me, what have you been? (0:26:58) Codey: I have been, um, so I’ve still been playing like, uh, pocket and go, um, go, I am burned (0:27:14) Codey: by because, uh, the shiny work party hat weren’t bull was in, um, in the like new year’s challenge (0:27:26) Codey: or whatever. (0:27:28) Codey: And I still have it, like I’ve been playing every time that there’s an event where you can get this worm bowl and I still have it, like I’ve been playing every time that there’s an event where you can get this worm bowl and I still have it. (0:27:36) Kev: Oh no. (0:27:40) Codey: And I still have it, like I’ve been playing every time that there’s an event where you can get this worm bowl and I still have it, like I’ve been playing every time that there’s an event where you can get this worm bowl. (0:27:54) Codey: I’ve been playing every time that there’s an event where you can get this worm bowl. (0:27:58) Codey: And last year I was so mad about it that I got it tattooed onto my body because I was (0:28:05) Codey: like, if I cannot have a shiny party hat worm bowl in the game, I’m going to have one (0:28:12) Codey: as a tattoo. (0:28:14) Codey: And I’ve had plenty of friends be like, oh, I have one. (0:28:17) Codey: I can trade it to you. (0:28:18) Codey: And I’m like, no, no, no, no, no, I need I’m not going to have any traded until I’ve (0:28:22) Kev: do they not know the story of captain cody in the white wormhole (0:28:24) Codey: caught one on my own. (0:28:28) Codey: and the in the worm bowl. Yeah. Moby worm bowl basically. (0:28:32) Kev: actually I don’t think it’s white it’s like purple but anyways um (0:28:38) Codey: Um yeah, so yeah, it is my white whale. Um still didn’t get (0:28:43) Codey: it. I got to shiny Jigglypuff and I refused to click on the (0:28:47) Kev: Mmm! (0:28:49) Codey: hoot hoot. Um and yeah, but no worm bowl. So that game is now (0:28:56) Codey: dead to me until the next time. (0:28:58) Codey: that there is an event that I care about. (0:28:58) Kev: that’s cruel but no it’ll be back like oh that it so I’m not a fan of go it’s (0:29:04) Codey: I know (0:29:08) Kev: when it came out especially I was not an area that was conducive to it and so in (0:29:14) Kev: my whole lifestyle I’m still not the most conducive to it um excuse me um but (0:29:20) Kev: I do think that the party hats are probably like one of the best things to (0:29:24) Kev: come out of that game, especially if you put it on a ridiculous. (0:29:28) Kev: Those Pokemon like weren’t pull that that’s solid. (0:29:29) Codey: Yeah. (0:29:31) Kev: Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:29:31) Codey: Because the party hat’s almost too big for him. (0:29:35) Codey: It’s clearly about to fall off. (0:29:39) Codey: Yeah, so that has also started a thing. (0:29:42) Codey: I’m going to be meeting with my artist, again, probably (0:29:45) Codey: during spring break. (0:29:47) Codey: They’re going to be back in town. (0:29:48) Codey: And they’re going to add three more bug-type Pokemon (0:29:53) Codey: with party hats on. (0:29:54) Kev: I was about to say a warble tattoo every year until she catches it (0:29:55) Codey: No, no, we have, um, I think we have a Snome, um, with, with the, a party hat on each of (0:30:04) Kev: Oh, no, no, no, no, oh, that’s good. (0:30:07) Codey: its little bumpies, um, and then I want a Shedinja, but I want, um, it, it to be like (0:30:17) Codey: a ghost. (0:30:18) Codey: Um, no, so it’s a ghost, so it’s a ghost Pokemon, but like, I want it to be like ethereal, look (0:30:18) Kev: Okay, is it not already more ghosts than it? (0:30:25) Codey: game. (0:30:25) Kev: Materiel, alright. (0:30:26) Codey: Like I don’t just want it to look like it looks in the game. (0:30:28) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:30:30) Codey: And then I want the party hat to also be ethereal. (0:30:32) Codey: And then the last is, uh, not Sizzlepede, Sizzlepede, um, because it’s so grumpy and (0:30:42) Kev: mmm (0:30:42) Codey: I want it to have a black party hat. (0:30:46) Codey: I need my, my emo phase, yeah, my emo phase that was not a phase needs to be somewhere. (0:30:48) Kev: Oscar the grouch at the party. Oh, that’s that’s it (0:30:55) Codey: They’re presented. (0:30:57) Kev: So (0:30:58) Kev: Oh man, these man pokemon like so many solid bug pokemon. These are all solid picks of course. Um (0:31:05) Kev: she didn’t (0:31:06) Kev: it was like (0:31:08) Kev: And how many years been what 20 years since ruby and sapphire it’s still (0:31:12) Kev: my mind how they came up with that concept first you didn’t Joe and like (0:31:14) Codey: I just love it. As an entomologist, like every time I see a cicada shed, I’m just (0:31:16) Kev: you have to have the extra pokeball oh my it’s so good (0:31:26) Kev: yeah oh my gosh and it’s so good right like and (0:31:27) Codey: like, it’s its own thing. It’s a one hit point. Love it. (0:31:42) Kev: like you know obviously coming from Japan right like the whole cicada thing (0:31:46) Kev: schedules like that’s the bug collecting that’s a way bigger there um it’s genius (0:31:51) Kev: so good man bug Pokemon are so cool yeah I like hair across I like a lice upon (0:31:54) Codey: Correct. Send a scourge. (0:31:59) Kev: I like um like the other one and not that sizzle feed the other no no um not (0:32:13) Kev: no the big one Scolipede Scolipede that’s the one been five yeah that’s a good one (0:32:14) Codey: Oh. I think people know by now that I’m going to talk about bugs at some point in every (0:32:18) Kev: big old purple huge train bug oh I love it welcome to the bug appreciate Pokemon (0:32:24) Kev: appreciation podcast (0:32:31) Kev: that’s fine with that (0:32:34) Codey: pod. Yeah, so I’ve been playing that or I guess I’m not going to be playing that for (0:32:40) Codey: a while. Um, I’ve been playing Slay the Spire. So (0:32:44) Kev: Okay, have you- have you in fact slayed the spire? (0:32:45) Codey: Jeff, I have slayed the spire during the daily climbs. So have (0:32:53) Codey: you ever played this game? Okay. Yeah, so it’s like a card and (0:32:54) Kev: I have not but I am familiar with it’s the cards, right? (0:33:00) Codey: you’re going up a tower and slaying things. And there’s four (0:33:03) Codey: different types of characters that you can play, but one of (0:33:05) Codey: them is unlocked at first. But they have this thing called the (0:33:08) Codey: daily climb every day, which is like a random, like, version of (0:33:12) Codey: the game, but with modifiers. (0:33:14) Codey: So it’s like, Oh, you get this character, but every time you add a card to your deck, (0:33:20) Codey: it adds two more copies of that card and you can’t, you can no longer upgrade your cards (0:33:27) Codey: and you’re cursed, like, so it’s, they just like add all this stuff to it. (0:33:31) Codey: And so it’s kind of like a more difficult version and you have to change your gameplay. (0:33:36) Codey: So I have slayed the spire in the daily climbs, but that doesn’t count for achievements. (0:33:40) Kev: Yeah. (0:33:44) Codey: And I cannot for the life of me, beat this game without a daily climb. (0:33:52) Kev: mmm wow oh well hey I know that I know that feeling and then discuss it because ever present (0:33:54) Codey: So my partner has had to do it for me. (0:34:02) Kev: but i’m i’m still belatruing I actually just unlocked the final difficulty just yesterday (0:34:04) Codey: -Oh, yeah. (0:34:08) Codey: Yeah. (0:34:08) Kev: um so i’m i’m there but um I i get it i’m i’m trying to climb my own spire verbally (0:34:16) Codey: Yeah, I’ve, I’ve not quite gotten to Bellatro yet, but that’s because I’ve, I recognize (0:34:22) Codey: based on my love of Slay the Spire that Bellatro would take over my life. So. (0:34:25) Kev: That is correct that I look I look at sleigh as fire and I can see it’s it’s one-to-one (0:34:32) Codey: Yep. (0:34:32) Kev: It’s just a different flavor, but it’s the same concept your cards, and you’re you’re doing your runs with cards (0:34:36) Codey: Yeah. (0:34:40) Kev: Yeah (0:34:41) Kev: That’s good. Good stuff (0:34:44) Codey: - Yep. (0:34:46) Codey: And then I’m still playing Honeygrove, (0:34:48) Codey: still really liked that game. (0:34:51) Codey: Still play it every day, multiple times a day. (0:34:54) Codey: And also I have now begun the final year of my PhD. (0:35:01) Codey: I’m gonna be a bug doctor soon. (0:35:04) Kev: Oh, well, congrats. Okay, congrats. So, uh, not for a second, cause I thought you were talking about Honeygrove, but, um, but, um, uh, okay, so, so I have a friend who’s also been PhDing for a long time now, he’s had unfortunate professors and issues, so it’s dragged on for a long time. (0:35:14) Codey: Oh, yeah, sorry. Switch. (0:35:32) Kev: Um, now you say this. (0:35:34) Kev: Are you like, you know for a fact, that like, it is gonna be this year? (0:35:39) Codey: Okay, well, yeah, so basically, like, I, I set it at this year for this to be like the (0:35:40) Kev: I, I said, I don’t mean to sound threatening, but… (0:35:44) Kev: Uh, don’t re– (0:35:46) Kev: Look, oh– (0:35:53) Codey: last, like, possible time for my timeline. (0:35:59) Codey: Um, I mean, theoretically, like, stuff happens, but I do not have any more field work. (0:36:06) Codey: All I have to do is finish writing one of my chapters. (0:36:09) Codey: I’ve already published one of them in a journal and so that will just literally get like stapled into my dissertation as one of my chapters and I don’t have to look at that again. (0:36:19) Codey: This other chapter that I’m about to publish will be the same thing. So it’ll just be two chapters that my committee can’t say anything about because they’re already published. (0:36:26) Kev: Hmm, yeah, I look at that that’s the way to do it (0:36:29) Codey: So they’ll basically just be like, they’ll just be like, oh, yep, you did that. (0:36:35) Codey: like yep I did um so they’ll only have to (0:36:39) Codey: they can talk about um and it’s just can I get the stuff done in the time that I have and the (0:36:46) Codey: answer is yes um I will try and defend in the summer but um that’s I actually didn’t ever plan (0:36:55) Codey: to defend in the summer but I might be able to um but we’ll see I mean I don’t have to um I have (0:37:05) Codey: guaranteed funding for the rest of the year. (0:37:08) Kev: Oh, that’s great. (0:37:09) Kev: Well, oh, that that’s huge relief then. (0:37:09) Codey: Yeah, PhDs man, they’re great. Well, I guess PhDs in the life sciences, that’s the standard is that you get paid and you get tuition remissions so you don’t have to pay your tuition. (0:37:10) Kev: All right. (0:37:11) Kev: Well, Hey, congrats on that. (0:37:26) Kev: you know like yeah yeah for sure oh absolutely because I have a friend who I don’t think that (0:37:26) Codey: I have health insurance, like all of that stuff. So it’s not true everywhere. (0:37:36) Kev: is the case for him sadly um man like such nonsense like the way to get there the the road to it like (0:37:36) Codey: Yeah. (0:37:46) Kev: I you know I have my undergraduate degree right so like I it it boggles my mind because you know (0:37:54) Kev: up so pretty much up. (0:37:56) Kev: undergraduate it’s very clear like okay here your classes do them all satisfy (0:38:00) Kev: the requirements you get your thing right but once you go past especially the (0:38:06) Kev: PhD it’s it’s all just so nebulous question your checklist is question or (0:38:12) Kev: question your requirements are satisfied when the your professors say they are oh (0:38:20) Codey: Yeah. It’s basically like choose your own adventure. It’s like, undergrads degrees are (0:38:20) Kev: it’s why I don’t I don’t know how yeah man (0:38:26) Kev: I guess (0:38:31) Codey: basically like, okay, here is the proper formula, here you go, you need to have this done this done (0:38:38) Codey: this done, etc, etc. And then for a graduate degree, they’re basically like, here are some (0:38:44) Codey: courses that you need done, but you’ll get these done in the first two years of your degree. (0:38:50) Codey: It’s kind of a big old shrug. It depends on your funding. It depends on your advisors. It depends (0:38:55) Codey: on whatever. And if you have bad advisors, like you said your friend has had, they can keep you (0:39:00) Kev: Yeah. Oh. (0:39:03) Codey: forever. Like one of my friends, one of my friends, her advisor like would not let her defend even (0:39:11) Codey: though she was done, like she’s she was long done, because the advisor could just pay her (0:39:17) Codey: less money than having to like get a post. (0:39:20) Codey: I’m going to go to the postdoc. To do all that work. Yep. (0:39:21) Kev: right right like that’s one that’s one aspect that’s one aspect of it that just seems so grimy (0:39:28) Kev: like there’s clearly an element of very cheap labor for your advisory professors right like (0:39:37) Kev: I mean not yours specifically but like the the system is set up where that can be exploited (0:39:42) Kev: very easily and wow it’s oh academia oh oh (0:39:50) Codey: Yeah, I’m blessed in that, like with the advisors that I have, (0:39:51) Kev: uh-huh (0:39:54) Codey: the advisor that I have now, (0:39:56) Codey: like he doesn’t really do that kind of stuff, (0:39:58) Kev: Mm-hmm. (0:39:58) Codey: but a lot of advisors do, they’ll just be like, (0:40:00) Codey: okay, well, I’m paying for your stuff. (0:40:02) Codey: And because of that, like you also have to help me (0:40:05) Codey: with these other projects. (0:40:06) Codey: So at this one point in the year, (0:40:09) Codey: so you have to drop everything (0:40:11) Codey: and like do this research with me, (0:40:12) Codey: even though it’s not gonna be in your dissertation. (0:40:16) Kev: It is to some degree a hostage situation, isn’t it? (0:40:17) Codey: like. (0:40:20) Codey: Kind of, yeah, and then it’s worse if you’re an international student because (0:40:22) Kev: Haha, that’s uh, huh. (0:40:26) Kev: Oh, oh that sounds terrifying, oh gosh. (0:40:26) Codey: then you have like less protections and yeah. Which is why some of us, some universities (0:40:34) Codey: have unionized and we at my university just recently submitted our letter to the Dean, (0:40:43) Codey: Dean, President, President of the university that we intend to unionize, so thank yous. (0:40:48) Kev: Hey, good for you. That’s great. (0:40:50) Codey: I think he’s crossed there because last time they did this, they threatened people. So (0:40:57) Kev: Oh, oh, fuck. (0:40:57) Codey: they can’t do that. They’re not, that’s illegal, but they did it last time and it didn’t, (0:41:02) Kev: Well, well, I don’t know if you know about strikes in the U.S. (0:41:03) Codey: but we’ll see. Yeah. Oh yeah, we’re gonna, we’re gonna have to do it possibly. (0:41:12) Codey: Hopefully they’ll, they’ll work in good faith and we won’t have to, but we’ll see. (0:41:16) Kev: Oh (0:41:18) Codey: So maybe, maybe. (0:41:20) Codey: Sometime in this year, uh, my, what have I been up to will be striking (0:41:25) Kev: Well, but you know (0:41:27) Codey: because yeah. (0:41:29) Kev: Over on Rainbow Road radio friend. I do a mutual friend Alex. He’s also striking last month. So (0:41:36) Codey: Oh my gosh, we’re just, we’re just rebels. (0:41:38) Kev: Hit him up for some for some tips (0:41:41) Kev: I guess (0:41:43) Kev: Oh (0:41:45) Kev: Oh. (0:41:46) Kev: Oh, labor, academia, good, good times. (0:41:52) Codey: 10 out of 10 would not (0:41:52) Kev: Welcome to the harvest season, where we talk about cozy games. (0:41:56) Kev: Ss, ss, ss, ss, ss, ss, ss, ss, ss. (0:41:57) Codey: We talk about so I mean that’s the joke right is that we play these games where we can live in fantasy worlds where we (0:42:04) Codey: can have a house and (0:42:06) Codey: Afford a house and a and a like all this (0:42:12) Kev: Where’s the unionizing update to research story? (0:42:12) Codey: Because that’s uh, not not reality (0:42:19) Codey: Oh my gosh (0:42:22) Codey: I would love to have a union (0:42:25) Codey: Like storyline in any game like where you just strike that would be (0:42:32) Codey: Amazing. I don’t know how you would incorporate that (0:42:34) Kev: Oh, I mean, like, alright, I’ll give you the relatively low-hanging easy path, the Jojo (0:42:42) Codey: Yeah. Okay, yeah, yeah, I could see that. (0:42:43) Kev: route in Stardew, right, like, yeah, I mean, you got, there’s other people working for (0:42:51) Kev: Jojo already, so, you know, there’s, oh, oh no, I like this, this Spandfic I’m writing, (0:42:58) Kev: oh no, no. (0:42:58) Codey: oh no don’t don’t say this out loud he might listen and then haunted chocolatier will be even (0:43:04) Codey: more delayed because he’ll be like hey wait a minute that’s a great idea (0:43:10) Kev: Unless the ghosts in the Chocolatier, you mean, nice. (0:43:14) Codey: maybe he adds it into that game and stuff uh so yeah that is what we’ve been up to (0:43:18) Kev: Hmm. (0:43:21) Kev: Well, that’s a lot. Happy new- (0:43:23) Kev: Look guys, it’s a new year. There’s been a lot going on. (0:43:25) Codey: It is. It is. We’re. (0:43:28) Codey: We’re here for it. OK, so first we have some game releases. (0:43:34) Codey: So the first one in the list is Harvest Hills. (0:43:39) Codey: So this game released on the 15th of January and or will release. (0:43:46) Codey: Sorry, that’s the future. (0:43:50) Codey: Quote, thanks to the feedback from two major demo updates, (0:43:53) Codey: I’ve been able to fine tune game mechanics and make the experience even better. (0:43:57) Codey: The full game now features… (0:43:58) Codey: …an updated system for growing vegetables and fruits… (0:44:01) Codey: …an improved fertilizing system… (0:44:03) Codey: …a refined leveling system… (0:44:05) Codey: …a brand new product selling system… (0:44:07) Codey: …and more crops, vegetables… (0:44:09) Codey: …vegetables, fruit trees, livestock and homemade product machines. (0:44:15) Codey: My only comment about this is I looked at it and I need more information about those beehives. (0:44:23) Codey: They look… (0:44:23) Kev: - So. (0:44:24) Codey: They look legit. (0:44:26) Codey: Like those look like the standard Langstra Thives. (0:44:28) Codey: And we always paint them each frame or not each frame each body of the hive is always colored in really ridiculous colors and they did that. (0:44:40) Kev: Is that done intentionally or is that done just for giggles? (0:44:46) Codey: I don’t remember so I know that we paint them because you want there to you don’t want the heat like if it’s hot out you don’t want the heat of outside to like cook the hive. (0:44:59) Kev: Oh, oh. Yeah. Sure, sure. (0:44:59) Codey: So you always want it to be light colors but yeah on top of it being like colors I mean you can just have it be fun colors. (0:45:09) Codey: Sometimes you can like make it a color per hot like a certain color per hive or whatever but we always just painted them fun colors so I need. (0:45:18) Kev: Wow. So I’m, I’m looking at the trailer and stuff like my, okay. (0:45:24) Kev: It is more management style, like zoo tycoon, you know, (0:45:29) Kev: floating cam sort of thing, as opposed to starting where you can fill in the (0:45:32) Kev: character, but there’s a character who follows your like air where you click. (0:45:35) Kev: And he runs over there and then does the activity, which are kind of fun. (0:45:38) Kev: I think the coolest thing about here is the visual style. (0:45:41) Kev: Cause it’s almost like origami paper, like three heavy polygonal. (0:45:46) Kev: Um, so I’m like the cows almost look like (0:45:46) Codey: - Mm-hmm, yeah. (0:45:48) Kev: they’re made of origami or a box or something, um, which is charming. Um, so hey, but hey, good, (0:45:56) Kev: yeah, it looks decent enough. Um, I like those cows and you go pretty beehives. That is surprising. (0:46:02) Kev: We don’t have those before, but, um, there you go. January 15th, experience it yourself, (0:46:04) Codey: I like those cows. (0:46:06) Kev: the world of box shaped cows and fun colors. (0:46:13) Codey: So next on our list is Chill Town. (0:46:16) Codey: Um, they have a new announcement on Steam. (0:46:20) Codey: Um, and the gist of it is this just that the project slowed down because of money (0:46:25) Codey: issues, um, and they’re pretty transparent in there about what they are and where (0:46:30) Codey: the money is going and all of that, except for they can’t like mention (0:46:35) Codey: specifics because of confidentiality agreements, but, um, if you’re curious, (0:46:41) Codey: I recommend going and looking at that. (0:46:43) Codey: The biggest thing out of it, other than the fact that it was delayed, is, or is being slowed down, is that the 1.0, they expect it to come out this year, and that when the 1.0 comes out, it will have a museum system, it will have additional quest lines, different seasons and festivals, and clearly bug fixes and gameplay improvements from what is on the early access. (0:47:11) Kev: Uh, all right, so well, I mean, hey, first of all, props to like game development is so hard, right? (0:47:17) Kev: It’s such a brutal space to be quite frank. So yeah, condolences. But they they’re being, um, very, uh, (0:47:23) Kev: Up front and clear about it. Um, so, you know off to them and best of luck, like hopefully they are still on track, right? (0:47:31) Kev: this is one of the parts of early access as much as I uh, (0:47:36)
In this episode, The Booty Blood Boys™ are joined by a very special guest, fan, and friend of the show, The Shadowy One! The Bud Blasé Boyz™ learn how The Shadowy One became a fan of their silly lo-fi and low culture podcast. They discuss the New York City metal scene vibes and community and whether either has been affected by the closure of St. Vitus. They explore the generational divide between the sincerity of older metal fans and musicians versus the self-aware irony of younger metal fans and musicians. They also analyze the dark world of fascist cottagecore and tradwife cultures. All of this and much, much more!
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
Send us a textIn this episode, I chat with Ova Ceren about her highly popular social media channels excusemyreading, her upcoming debut novel, and reading.Ova Ceren is a creative spirit nestled in the heart of Cambridge, sharing the magic of books, reading, and cottagecore. With a passion for cozy living, Ova has cultivated a unique space on Instagram and TikTok that radiates positivity and the simple joys of everyday life, delving deeper into the art of living beautifully and mindfully amidst the chaos of the modern world.Her platform is a picturesque collage of bookshelves, interior décor, whimsical garden escapes, and literary journeys.Ova cherishes her bond with followers, creating a community with shared stories and cozy moments. She's also a writer, currently working on her debut novel, crafting worlds that resonate with the things she enjoys sharing most.Ova Ceren InstagramOva Ceren TikTokOva CerenDeath at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book, Kate Atkinson Assistant to the Villain, Hannah Nicole Maehrer Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt VonnegutSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links
Send us a textDee and Carol talked about using cottagecore gardening ideas in your flower and vegetable gardens and some of their favorite books on cottagecore style gardens. Plus, they went off on a few tangents, as happens.For all the details, some pictures, and more links, check out our free newsletter. Links!A definition of cottagecore from Country LivingA list of cottage garden flowers from Family HandymanOn the Bookshelf:Life in a Cottage Garden by Carol Klein (Amazon link)The Cottage Garden by Claus Dalby (Amazon link)Dirt: The Story of this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas treeandLego's new Botanical kits: pretty in pink, “floral arrangement," and Botanical GardenVideos on iOS18 that Dee has been watchingLost Lady of Garden Writing Helen Snow Wilson GoddardCarol's dissolving mushroom on InstagramOur Affiliates (Linking to them to make a purchase earns us a small commission):Botanical InterestsFarmers DefenseEtsyTerritorial SeedsTrue Leaf Market Eden BrosNature Hills Nursery Book and Amazon links are also affiliate links.Email us anytime at TheGardenangelists@gmail.com For more info on Carol visit her website. Visit her blog May Dreams Gardens. For more info on Dee, visit her website. Visit her blog Red Dirt Ramblings.Support the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.
Do gay people attract poltergeists? It's episode 355 and Em is taking us to a haunted U.K. theme park, Alton Towers, that just might be tied to a cottage-core lesbian couple. Take us to the haunted gift shop! Then Christine re-visits the Amityville Horror House to deep dive into the true crime and murder sides of the case. And, weigh in: do you need an Excel spreadsheet to have fun? ...and that's why we drink!
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