Podcasts about spirittea

We are redoing this episode with better quality. Before we jump into one of our childhood games we talk about some pretty sweet indie titles like FTL and Spirittea. Let us know what some of your favorite indie games are and we might play them. Also, let us know what your favorite Kirby abilities are. You can do that in the apple podcast reviews or our discord which we have a link to below! DISCORD LINK BELOW!!! JOIN THE FUN!!!!! https://discord.gg/Yp6tTwaawt

Au programme de cet épisode avec Elodie, Mathieu et Fred :Du jeu vidéo avec SpiritteaDe la musique avec Le but du je de DavidEncore de la musique avec Mayhem de Lady GagaMais aussi de la lecture, des séries, de la musique et même une chaine youtube

Al and Micah talk about Natsu-Mon 20th Century Summer Kid Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:30: What Have We Been Up To 00:12:54: Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home 00:29:22: Game News 00:54:46: Natsu Mon 01:41:16: Outro Links Tales of the Shire Delay Fantasy Life i on Steam The Garden Path “Co-op” Update Spirittea “Phantom Friends” Update Sugardew Island Patch Paleo Pines Roadmap Echoes of the Plum Grove Roadmap 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) Micah: My name is Micah. (0:00:37) Al: and we are here today to talk about cartridge core games. (0:00:41) Micah: Yippee. (0:00:45) Al: Welcome back, Micah. It’s actually not been that long. It’s only been about two months. (0:00:47) Micah: Thanks. No, it really hasn’t. (0:00:50) Micah: Yeah, which is wild because it feels like it’s been. (0:00:54) Micah: A lot like the last two months has felt like an entire year, so. (0:00:58) Al: Yeah, the last month specifically. (0:01:00) Al: Uh, but we don’t need to talk about that. (0:01:02) Micah: Yeah, yeah, no, no, no, yeah, of course. (0:01:06) Micah: I it’s funny because I was like, why has it felt so in that moment just now? (0:01:10) Micah: I was like, why does it feel like it’s been so long? (0:01:12) Micah: And then it clicked. So yeah, we don’t need to discuss. (0:01:14) Al: Mm, I wonder, uh, sometimes, uh, yes. (0:01:21) Al: Uh, and we still, we still don’t have any news on the story of seasons for this year, (0:01:27) Al: which I’m still expecting something. (0:01:30) Al: It’s been a very long time, but, uh, who knows. (0:01:30) Micah: Yeah. I’m too, I hear you. I’m expecting to. Yep, it’s bound to happen. It’s only a matter of time. (0:01:35) Al: I’m just waiting for that announcement and then we’ll be like, right. (0:01:37) Al: This is when we’re scheduling it in. (0:01:42) Al: Well, yeah, we have Micah here this episode because we are (0:01:46) Al: finally going to talk about Natsumon 20th century summer kid. (0:01:50) Micah: - Yay. (0:01:50) Al: We have pride a few times to actually record, uh, and things keep changing, (0:01:53) Micah: We did. (0:01:55) Al: but we finally got there. (0:01:56) Al: They didn’t shadow drop a story of seasons and we have to (0:01:59) Al: record about that instead. (0:02:00) Al: I’ve only had one case where I’ve noticed some news drop while I’ve been recording, (0:02:01) Micah: Could you imagine that it was, (0:02:04) Micah: now was when we got the story of season news? (0:02:15) Al: mainly because I’m not tend to be looking at the places where news comes in to see these things, (0:02:20) Micah: - Sure. (0:02:21) Al: but yeah, it’s never know one of these days. So we’re going to talk about that. We’ve obviously (0:02:28) Al: got the regular news. (0:02:31) Al: But first of all, maker, what have you been up to? (0:02:34) Micah: Oh, just busy. (0:02:37) Micah: Just got a lot going on. (0:02:39) Micah: I have been as far as games, though, I’ve been playing some (0:02:45) Micah: monster hunter wilds beta in preparation for that (0:02:50) Micah: at the point that we’re recording. (0:02:50) Al: and still not out yet. (0:02:52) Micah: It is going to be out next week. It’s about a week. (0:02:57) Micah: So I’m excited for that. (0:03:00) Micah: I’m also, you know, at that point in my life (0:03:04) Micah: a little bit anxious about a release for a game that I’m very excited about, (0:03:08) Micah: because then that means that I have to figure out time to play it (0:03:15) Micah: and also worry about how hyper fixated I’m going to become with it (0:03:20) Micah: and what that’s going to do to all of the other responsibilities in my life. (0:03:24) Micah: But I’m very excited for it. (0:03:28) Micah: I’ve also been playing Pokemon, I’ve been doing more shiny hunting. (0:03:32) Al: Are you still on your gen? Is it gen 2s? That’s what you were doing, I think, last time. (0:03:34) Micah: I was doing I was doing Gen three last time I was talking about it. Yeah. (0:03:40) Micah: I am doing that. (0:03:42) Micah: So I have some friends in a community that do like full odds shiny hunting, (0:03:48) Micah: which. Which adds an extra level of challenge. (0:03:54) Micah: And I almost kind of find it like a little bit more relaxing (0:03:56) Al: Sadness. (0:04:00) Micah: relaxing because it’s like it’s it you (0:04:01) Al: Interesting. (0:04:04) Micah: you settle in for it you know like it’s something that you’re doing while (0:04:08) Micah: you’re doing other stuff or while you’re like talking to people or while you’re (0:04:10) Micah: watching something because you know that it’s gonna take a long time so it’s just (0:04:14) Micah: like you kind of settle in and do your do your encounters do your resets do (0:04:19) Micah: whatever it is and don’t don’t really think about it until you know three (0:04:25) Micah: months later when you finally get the shine (0:04:26) Al: I just find that I get bored when I do it. I tried Shaiman in BDSP and I did… I can’t (0:04:32) Micah: Mm-hmm (0:04:34) Micah: Yeah, yeah Yeah, that tends to be what happens and that’s a very normal and I respect you for that (0:04:35) Al: even remember what I got to like 2000 or something. I just got bored of doing it every day and so I (0:04:41) Al: just stopped. (0:04:49) Al: I don’t think anybody has ever called me normal, but thank you. (0:04:55) Micah: But I have a I have some friends that do they they do these you know challenges throughout the year (0:05:01) Micah: They’ll have like a like this last week was (0:05:04) Micah: Shiny alpha week and it was everybody hunts in for alpha Pokemon and legends Arceus or (0:05:13) Micah: February was unknown challenge month. So (0:05:17) Micah: It was you know (0:05:19) Micah: You shiny hunt for an unknown and then whatever letter unknown you get then you have to shiny hunt something that starts with that letter (0:05:26) Micah: So like if I get it an unknown M then I can go hunt like Magnemite or something, you know (0:05:32) Micah: So yeah, there’s just (0:05:34) Micah: like fun little challenges and things to do when I’ve got, you know, if I’m like rendering (0:05:40) Micah: something or I’m watching something or in a meeting and kind of listening, but also just like (0:05:48) Micah: need something, you know, it’s just a little background thing I can do every once in a while. (0:05:54) Al: Fair enough. (0:05:55) Micah: I have downloaded a Rude factory pixel cross and I have not played it yet. So I mean, it just came (0:06:00) Al: Nice. (0:06:02) Al: Well, I mean, it only came out yesterday, so that’s fair. (0:06:04) Micah: out. Yeah. But I got to download it and I’m ready to try it. I’m excited about the potential new, (0:06:12) Micah: you know, like the positive changes to it from the story of seasons version. (0:06:20) Al: Yeah, I’m very intrigued. I’ve done a little bit of it. This is one of the games that I’ve (0:06:25) Al: played today, maybe like half an hour or so. So I’ve got a few, you know, the standard (0:06:32) Al: tutorial puzzles and a few of the ones that actually make you think. And so I’ve not (0:06:37) Al: got to any of the extra stuff like the customisation that’s in this one. But I did read on Fogu (0:06:45) Al: on there, posted about it, and it looks like it is just kind of. (0:06:50) Al: background customisation. It doesn’t seem to actually affect anything, which is what (0:06:54) Al: I expected, but a little bit more detailed and interesting than the story of Seasons (0:06:55) Micah: Yeah, yeah. (0:07:01) Al: 1. And I’m intrigued and excited to try one of the boss levels that they have. Have you (0:07:06) Micah: Oh yeah, I’m interested in that. No, I haven’t. I haven’t seen anything about it. I actually didn’t know that there were any improvements to the story of season model of it until you had mentioned it when we were talking about it on the game of the year episode. (0:07:08) Al: not seen the boss level stuff? (0:07:16) Al: Mm hmm. Yeah. (0:07:24) Micah: So I’m excited to try any of it because I haven’t seen any of it yet. (0:07:28) Al: Yeah, so I guess the big things for you would be there’s colour puzzles and the boss ones (0:07:35) Al: are timed and if you do something wrong, which, come on, who does something wrong? You’re (0:07:44) Al: just doing it too fast. It takes time off, the timer. So the timed, they have to do it (0:07:45) Micah: Okay, gotcha. (0:07:52) Al: within a certain amount of time, because obviously, technically, they’re all timed, right? You (0:07:55) Al: can see how long it is. And it’s always fun in the first few ones. (0:07:56) Micah: Right. Yep. (0:07:58) Al: to see like, Oh, can I get this one done in 10 seconds? Or can I (0:08:03) Al: get this one done in five seconds? I think I have one in (0:08:05) Al: eight or something like that. That’s the fastest one I have (0:08:08) Al: this game. But yeah, making you do it within a certain amount of (0:08:13) Al: time is an interesting different way of doing it. They do have (0:08:16) Al: two play styles. So you can skip that part of it if you want to. (0:08:21) Al: But yeah, it’s interesting. The boss stuff. Yeah. (0:08:22) Micah: Skip the the oh the bus skip the boss stuff I see okay. Yeah, I really liked them (0:08:32) Micah: Shoot I can’t remember the name of it. It was (0:08:36) Micah: Picto quest that’s what it was (0:08:39) Micah: and that was the (0:08:41) Micah: Nonogram game on the switch that and probably on PC. I don’t know but I played it on the switch and it was (0:08:47) Micah: very light RPG style of nonogram (0:08:52) Micah: like it had a little bit, you know, it was just like (0:08:54) Micah: You’re going across a map and then you challenge a goblin or whatever and then it’s just like a 10 by 10 puzzle or something (0:09:02) Micah: And then you would get upgrades if you did certain things. So they had like some there were a couple that were like, oh, it’s a boss (0:09:08) Micah: Thing, you know like a boss puzzle and I really loved that idea. It just was so (0:09:15) Micah: Bare-bones, I think such a like early idea, you know, like fresh and early idea that (0:09:22) Micah: There wasn’t a whole lot to it. So, um, I I kind of hope that there are maybe more (0:09:30) Micah: Like use cases of that like that kind of, you know adding quests and stuff to it because that adds an extra level of (0:09:38) Micah: Interest that I would I would really enjoy (0:09:41) Al: Yeah, yeah, I’m not far enough into to see whether that is there or not. One thing I (0:09:45) Al: did find interesting is that the puzzles are laid out like a map. So it’s not, it’s not (0:09:50) Al: just like you play this one, then you play the next one. It’s like, these are the ones (0:09:53) Al: you can do. And to unlock others, you have to to beat ones in specific positions, which (0:09:58) Micah: Oh, interesting. (0:09:59) Al: I thought was an interesting way of doing it. So it’s not the I think as you go further (0:10:04) Al: out, the difficulty does increase, but it’s not just like, constant, I think I saw some (0:10:08) Al: that were further away from the middle that were not hard. (0:10:12) Al: They were slightly easier, that sort of thing. (0:10:15) Al: So, yeah, interesting. See how that continues. (0:10:15) Micah: sure. Cool. Yeah. Yeah. I’m excited to try it. I’ve also been playing a Hello Kitty Island (0:10:24) Micah: adventure. Of course. Yes. Yeah. I played some on the mobile. I played some on Apple (0:10:26) Al: - Good, good, good. (0:10:26) Al: Are you on the switch for you? (0:10:30) Al: You twice, what are your thoughts? (0:10:33) Al: All right, yeah. (0:10:33) Micah: Arcade when it came out. Yeah. And yes. One hundred percent. And I’m glad that I waited (0:10:35) Al: You did the same thing as me. (0:10:36) Al: You went, “This is a fun game. (0:10:38) Al: I want a controller.” (0:10:45) Micah: much better experience on the switch, like with a controller. Becky has been absolutely (0:10:52) Micah: enamored with it. It’s her primary game that she plays now. And we did some of the multiplayer (0:11:00) Micah: together. So that was an interesting experience. It was fun just like, you know, wandering (0:11:07) Micah: around together and like doing things. There wasn’t a whole. There’s not like a whole lot (0:11:10) Micah: you can do multiplayer wise, but yeah, it’s it’s it’s great. (0:11:15) Micah: It’s such a good. I don’t know. I really I really like it. I’ve been enjoying it. And then I played (0:11:21) Micah: a little bit of vowed, but I have played a lot yet. I don’t know if you have touched it. (0:11:26) Al: I’m aware of it because I listen to a lot of different gaming podcasts and videos and (0:11:33) Al: stuff like that. (0:11:34) Al: So I’m aware of it. (0:11:35) Micah: Yeah. I like Obsidian, who’s the developer. They did Fallout New Vegas and they’ve done a lot of like (0:11:35) Al: I don’t think it’s my thing, but I can see why people like it and it sounds interesting. (0:11:47) Micah: older RPGs and stuff like that. I’m a big Elder Scrolls fan, so there’s some level of like (0:11:56) Micah: hoping that it is in some way close to Elder Scrolls, given that it’s, you know, (0:12:02) Micah: a team that has experience with Bethesda. (0:12:05) Micah: And it’s fantasy and, you know, first person and all that. (0:12:09) Micah: I really like it so far, but it’s it’s not open world. (0:12:12) Micah: It’s very, you know, like it’s it’s sectioned off, (0:12:16) Micah: which I think makes sense for the game. (0:12:18) Micah: But it’s, you know, it’s on Game Pass. (0:12:21) Micah: So you can’t really can’t really complain, you know, (0:12:27) Micah: they’re paying for. (0:12:27) Al: I mean, when is when has that ever stopped gamers before? (0:12:30) Micah: Oh, 100 percent. (0:12:34) Micah: But yeah, it’s. (0:12:35) Micah: I can’t I can’t really see myself having like bought it if it wasn’t available on game pass when it when it launched, you know, so yeah, what about you other than pixel crust? (0:12:42) Al: Yeah, that is fair. (0:12:48) Al: Yeah, well, not a huge amount this this week. I think the big thing, though, which obviously I need to talk about to you, Micah, is Harvest Moon Homes, Sweet Home. I have hit credits in Harvest Moon Homes, Sweet Home. (0:12:56) Micah: Oh, that’s big. (0:13:03) Al: Yeah, it’s the (0:13:04) Micah: Are you ready to do that all over again when it comes down on the switch or whatever? (0:13:08) Al: I will not. (0:13:12) Al: Let’s not even try and pretend that, unless there’s some way to transfer my save over, (0:13:16) Micah: Oh, that’s big. (0:13:18) Al: I’m not doing the early game again. I had a couple of thoughts that I thought might be (0:13:23) Al: quite interesting. I presume you didn’t continue playing it after our episode. No. (0:13:26) Micah: I have not played really much of anything from it. (0:13:29) Al: So I think the things, a few things I found interesting having now completed the game, (0:13:35) Al: although I’m in that annoying bit where I’m like, do I finish all these achievements or not? Because (0:13:40) Al: I have all bar. (0:13:42) Al: Let’s just let me just I’ve got it up here. (0:13:44) Al: Let me just double check achievements. (0:13:46) Micah: Now are these like in-game achievements or is it like Apple arcade achievements or whatever? (0:13:51) Al: It’s it’s it’s it’s Apple Game Center. (0:13:54) Micah: Yeah, oh yeah, sorry game center, yeah (0:13:54) Al: It’s not arcade because it’s made for, but yeah, it’s game center. (0:13:58) Al: So I have 48 of 68 achievements. (0:14:03) Micah: Holy smokes (0:14:04) Al: And I think about 10 of those ones I don’t have are just like shipping 50 of (0:14:12) Al: one specific crop. (0:14:14) Al: So I’m at the point where I’m like, I’ve basically got 10 left to do. (0:14:19) Al: But they’re things like (0:14:22) Al: completing the crops encyclopedia, completing the fish encyclopedia. (0:14:26) Al: I have not once fished in this game. (0:14:30) Al: So I’m like, I don’t know if I want to do those, but it feels like I’m so close. (0:14:34) Al: But it also no. (0:14:37) Al: So, yeah, let’s see. (0:14:40) Al: That is my, here’s my, I was in. (0:14:42) Al: Interesting thing. So I finished chapter 10. That is the final chapter and only 2% (0:14:48) Al: of players have earned this achievement, according to Apple, 2% have completed. (0:14:52) Micah: That’s incredible, you know, there’s something really interesting about this to me that (0:14:59) Micah: What was the game before home sweet home? Was it one world? (0:15:02) Al: No, one world was before that, the one before that, it was winds of anthos. (0:15:03) Micah: No one world was the one before that. Oh (0:15:09) Micah: Wins of Anthos, that’s right. And you know, it’s funny because I very distinctly remember you saying I am (0:15:17) Micah: Returning this or trading it in or whatever, you know, like as soon as I get the opportunity to (0:15:20) Al: Yeah. Yeah. (0:15:22) Micah: And here we are you have hit credits on home sweet home, which is (0:15:27) Al: Well, can I just point out, I think both of us hit credits in one world. (0:15:31) Micah: Yes, we did, yeah (0:15:32) Al: And because, I think, mainly because we were fascinated as to where it was going to end up, (0:15:38) Al: I will say that’s not why I finished this game. It’s not because I was like, “Oh, (0:15:42) Al: I really need to know what happens with this story.” The story is basically non-existent, (0:15:46) Al: right? Like it’s basically just you’re, you’re, you’re making this. (0:15:50) Al: This town more, more, that’s it. Like you’re, you’re making people happy and you’re, you’re (0:15:54) Micah: More and more (0:15:58) Al: doing things and that’s it. Um, what I found really interesting that, you know, the area (0:16:03) Al: that was like left of your farm that looked like it was a gated off area that you could (0:16:07) Al: access later on in the game. You never unlock that. That’s not, that’s not a thing. Is that (0:16:09) Micah: Oh, yeah. (0:16:15) Al: meant to come in an update or something? It’s even called, it called Alba Park. (0:16:20) Micah: - You know, I don’t know. (0:16:20) Al: And, and there’s a gate there. Why can I not go that way? I’ve completed. (0:16:27) Micah: It’s gotta, it has to be, right? (0:16:29) Micah: Well, let me ask you this. (0:16:31) Micah: Have they updated it at all since? (0:16:34) Al: Just the just the one update that came out like what a week after we recorded our last episode, which added the controller support and the well ads cloud save but the cloud says broken still. (0:16:40) Micah: Okay, that was the only one. (0:16:47) Micah: Okay, great. (0:16:48) Al: That’s the only update that I’m aware of happening. (0:16:51) Micah: ‘Cause I distinctly remember, too, that there was, (0:16:58) Micah: it looked like there were going to be spaces (0:17:01) Micah: or like placeholders for other languages, for text. (0:17:05) Al: Oh, yeah (0:17:07) Micah: And I remember thinking, oh, this is probably gonna come (0:17:10) Micah: in an update, but if they never added that either, (0:17:14) Micah: there must be a bunch of things that were just like, (0:17:17) Micah: We’ll add this in an update at a later date. (0:17:21) Micah: And maybe now it’s either they just are no longer touching it or (0:17:27) Micah: it is uh they’re just saving all those updates for the console release maybe? (0:17:32) Al: So this is where I break your brain yet again, Micah, and tell you that it has only been six (0:17:37) Al: months since this game I came out. It was August. (0:17:38) Micah: What oh (0:17:42) Micah: Yeah, that’s right (0:17:43) Micah: I remember this you did this to me on the game of the year episode two and I like (0:17:48) Micah: That blows my mind that that it’s only been that long. It feels like this game was two years ago (0:17:54) Al: So I don’t know, yeah, it doesn’t feel weird for there to be like, if we got an update (0:17:57) Micah: And that’s not just because of the last month isn’t it (0:18:08) Al: in a month, I wouldn’t be surprised that would be like, roughly about the time from the release (0:18:12) Al: to the last update. I don’t know. I don’t know if I actually believe this is coming (0:18:16) Al: to console. I feel like we would have heard something by now, right? (0:18:17) Micah: Yeah (0:18:22) Micah: Yeah, I think so too I I think I think if (0:18:26) Micah: They announce a new (0:18:29) Micah: Heart of harvest moon game that is not this I think it’s officially dead at that point, right? (0:18:35) Al: Mm hmm. No, no. (0:18:35) Micah: Like there’s no way that they’re going back to it. They are putting all of their resources into whatever (0:18:42) Micah: The new thing is if that’s the case. So either we’re (0:18:47) Micah: we’ll get something from them sometime soon, but it will either be this coming to consoles or (0:18:55) Micah: Something new and then it’s just confirmation at that point that this is completely dead in the water (0:19:01) Al: Yeah, I just I’m fascinated by this area that that doesn’t exist like I was fully expecting to unlock it at some point and it and it hasn’t. (0:19:07) Micah: This is extremely interesting (0:19:11) Al: The other couple of things I find interesting so you do so we’d complained about how it felt like you should be able to, you know, set a bunch of actions and get them to like water these 10 plants in a row. (0:19:23) Al: It feels like that’s what the interface was built for, but that didn’t seem to be an example of that. You do unlock that later on, but you have to like progress this. (0:19:31) Al: But the disadvantage of that over your standard up upgrading your watering can and now you can do like 20 at once instead you have to like individually press on all 20 and then it doesn’t manually the disadvantage of that is it still takes the same amount of time in game to water even when you have the highest level watering. (0:19:32) Micah: Oh, okay. (0:19:56) Micah: - Oh. (0:19:57) Al: So, because it’s just doing them all individually. (0:19:59) Micah: Oh. (laughs) (0:20:01) Al: Right? You don’t have to manually let go that one and now that one, you can like swipe (0:20:05) Al: over them and go like, want you to do all these or in the case of the controller, you (0:20:09) Al: can just press and drag, but it takes so long. Whereas in other farming games, you upgrade (0:20:15) Al: the watering can and you hold it down and then you’ve watered it all immediately rather (0:20:19) Al: than having to wait for your character to like go and individually water all of these (0:20:23) Al: 20 things. Such a weird decision. (0:20:28) Al: The other one is the, I unlocked sprinklers. (0:20:31) Al: And boy are the sprinklers weird in this game. (0:20:35) Al: First of all, you only unlock the top level of sprinkler after you’ve finished the game, (0:20:41) Al: which is the only one worth doing. (0:20:43) Al: Because your first level of sprinkler is just your four spots, top, bottom, left, right. (0:20:49) Micah: Yeah. (0:20:49) Al: Never do them. They are never worth it. (0:20:52) Micah: Oh. (0:20:52) Al: And your second level of sprinkler is three by three, so you get eight spaces. (0:20:59) Al: Okay, but you’ll do (0:21:01) Al: not unlock that until I think it’s chapter 7 of 10. And by that point, you probably don’t need it. (0:21:07) Al: Like, you’ve probably got most of what you need. And then at the end of the game, (0:21:08) Micah: - You just passed the point of, yeah. (0:21:12) Al: you finally unlock the one that’s five by five. But the problem is, it doesn’t fit in the plots (0:21:18) Al: properly. So the bottom plot is six by five. So you put it in there, and you’ve got one line of (0:21:24) Al: five that doesn’t get watered by it. And you can’t and you can’t put the sprinklers outside of it. (0:21:31) Al: You either have 24 fed by one sprinkler and then five manual, or 24 by one sprinkler and (0:21:39) Al: four by another sprinkler. It’s like, I’m not going to do a whole other because those are expensive. (0:21:45) Al: You have like, I think it’s 12 different gems, including diamonds, which you can only get in (0:21:49) Al: the bottom level of mine. I’m not going to waste all of those gems for four watered spaces. (0:21:56) Micah: Well, yeah (0:21:57) Al: And then you’ve got the other ones are… I know. (0:21:58) Micah: What a weird oversight (0:22:01) Al: The other plots that you unlock are something by four, not by five. (0:22:10) Al: So you’re just you’re wasting time. So I have one, which is eight by five. (0:22:14) Al: And I’ve got two watering cans on that. Sorry, two sprinklers on that. (0:22:19) Al: So they’re using up two spaces, which by the way, feels a lot more of space in this game (0:22:23) Al: than it does in any other farming game, because you’ve got such restricted space to use. (0:22:29) Al: I’m like, if it was late. (0:22:31) Al: out differently, it would almost all be covered by one sprinkler. (0:22:36) Al: It’s just such a weird decision. I don’t understand why they’ve made these decisions. (0:22:37) Micah: Hey, yeah, that’s really strange (0:22:41) Micah: And it it makes me wonder if it was like, I don’t know (0:22:45) Micah: I can’t even really think of a scenario for why that would be the kid like maybe they (0:22:50) Micah: Just missed it or like they thought that maybe it was like automated (0:22:55) Micah: You know (0:22:57) Micah: Calculations or something and it was just wrong for that. I don’t know (0:23:01) Micah: It’s it just feels like it would be something that someone would catch and be like, oh (0:23:05) Micah: We either have to like (0:23:07) Micah: Change the size of this plot a little bit or change the, you know, the ratio of spaces that this sprinkler covers, I don’t know, it’s odd. (0:23:17) Al: I think it would have been better to be like a sprinkler covers a row and then when you unlock (0:23:27) Al: the higher ones they cover more rows. So it would mean that you could have like one that would cover (0:23:33) Al: four rows and that would mean you could have one sprinkler for a section and you put it at the side (0:23:38) Al: so it doesn’t use up a crop space because crop spaces are so limited here and it would feel just (0:23:43) Al: much less frustrating in terms of the numbers. They’ve just taken (0:23:47) Al: a sprinkler in a normal farming game and put it into this game that is not done in (0:23:52) Al: a normal way because they’ve thought about it completely differently. (0:23:54) Micah: - Yeah, that’s very odd. (0:23:57) Al: The final thing I have to say is that I don’t know what we did we talk about the soil health (0:24:03) Al: in our episode. I can’t remember if we did. I don’t think we did because I don’t think (0:24:05) Micah: Hmm, I don’t remember I don’t think we did (0:24:09) Al: I don’t think we’d either of us had come across that. So soil health degrades in the get in this (0:24:15) Al: this game, which is (0:24:16) Micah: Okay. I don’t know that I even witnessed that on my, in my own. (0:24:17) Al: very much like a realism wins over fun part of this game. (0:24:24) Al: Yeah, so it does happen. (0:24:26) Al: You just probably aren’t noticing it because you don’t get told about it until (0:24:30) Al: you unlock a better fertilizer maker later on. (0:24:30) Micah: Oh, okay. (0:24:34) Al: And then they’re like, oh, your soil health. (0:24:37) Al: If you click on this fertilizer maker, you can see your soil health. (0:24:40) Al: You’re like, oh, everything is sad. (0:24:44) Al: And so you basically have to, after a– (0:24:47) Al: after a harvest of things, you have to let it sit for a bunch of days. (0:24:51) Al: And when I say a bunch of days, I mean, it feels like it’s like half a month. (0:24:54) Al: You have to let it sit for to go back to its full soil health. (0:24:58) Al: Or you can use some compost to speed it up, (0:25:01) Al: but the compost is like really awkward to craft or cost 2,500 per compost. (0:25:08) Al: It is so expensive. (0:25:10) Al: And so you spend the time rotating which plots you’re actually using for crops (0:25:16) Al: and not actually (0:25:18) Al: do anything about it, and it’s not actually doing what you want to do, and this is very much like, I understand you’re going for realism here, because that is what happens in real life, you have to rotate your crops, you have to rotate your soil, blah blah blah blah blah, but I’m not doing this for realism, right, like, it makes… (0:25:32) Micah: Yeah, if there’s I mean, I respect to the to some degree, (0:25:41) Micah: the the idea of making the the mechanics feel like they work (0:25:48) Micah: realistically the way that it would in the real world. But (0:25:50) Micah: like, if nothing else in the game really feels like it is (0:25:54) Micah: adhering very strictly to realism, then you know, I don’t (0:25:59) Micah: know that that’s really, I’m not really. (0:26:03) Micah: For realistic mechanics and I’m playing a harvest moon or like a story of seasons game, you know, like I don’t know. (0:26:10) Al: It’s always a balance for these things, where that very much is on the “no, I don’t want this” part of (0:26:12) Micah: Right. (0:26:17) Al: the thing. Oh, there’s one thing I just remembered. Horses, right? Neither of us have gotten far enough (0:26:23) Al: to buy a horse in the last episode. You can buy horses, you cannot ride the horses around the town. (0:26:24) Micah: Oh. Okay. What is the point? What do you do with them? Okay. Okay. All right. Again, maybe (0:26:34) Al: You can ride it around the paddock, but that’s it. Why would you do that? For fun, that’s it. (0:26:40) Al: That’s literally the only purpose. Why would you bother doing that? I have no idea. No idea. (0:26:46) Micah: something that was intended to be added and the future of it. Just never. (0:26:50) Al: But why can you… I don’t understand how you can ride it in one area and not in another area. (0:26:56) Al: It just has a wall, and you can’t go through it. Why? (0:27:02) Micah: It’s fascinating. I I don’t know him. Maybe there’s just some like maybe they couldn’t (0:27:10) Micah: get the pathing right or something and they just were like I will fix this later. I don’t know. (0:27:15) Micah: There’s there’s a lot in that game that feels to me like we’ll fix it later. (0:27:18) Al: Oh, that’s it, actually. So you know the press on the map and it will automatically go there. (0:27:25) Micah: Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. So that’s either okay. (0:27:26) Al: I bet that doesn’t work with horses. That’ll be why you can’t do it. (0:27:33) Micah: We’ll fix it later or we can’t figure it. We can’t figure it out. So we’re just (0:27:38) Micah: not going to include it at all. One of the two. (0:27:39) Al: Yeah. Bizarre. Bizarre decision. But there we are. It was good enough for me to finish apparently. (0:27:50) Al: And I guess tune in next time to see whether I will continue trying to finish the achievements. (0:27:57) Micah: I wish you the best of luck, Godspeed. (0:28:02) Al: I’m definitely going to do the 50 of each crop one because that I’m nearly done with that. (0:28:07) Al: I literally have everything growing for that. Like in a week in game, that woman will be done. (0:28:14) Micah: Yeah. Well, I wish you the best of luck. (0:28:16) Al: But I don’t. (0:28:20) Micah: It currently I just was out of curiosity. (0:28:22) Micah: I wanted to see on the Google Play Store. (0:28:24) Micah: It currently has a three point two out of five, which is. (0:28:27) Al: that feels fair yeah I would say that feels fair (0:28:28) Micah: A thousand reviews. (0:28:31) Micah: Yeah, I kind of feel like maybe that is accurate. (0:28:35) Micah: Oh, it says it was updated on December 10th. (0:28:38) Al: yeah that was that update it dropped like two days after we recorded that was the one with the (0:28:40) Micah: Oh, was it? (0:28:43) Micah: - Oh. (0:28:44) Micah: - Got it, got it, got it. Okay. Yeah. Hmm. Yeah, interesting. I guess we’ll see what happens. (0:28:45) Al: cloud save and the controller support which is the only reason i’m playing the game because of (0:28:51) Al: controller support I couldn’t keep playing it on the touch screen but the controller support is (0:28:55) Al: It’s actually pretty good. (0:28:57) Al: Well, there we go. (0:29:01) Al: I rushed this week to make sure I’d finished so I could talk to you about it, because I (0:29:05) Al: was like, I’m so close, I must finish before I talk to Micah. (0:29:09) Al: So there we go. (0:29:10) Micah: I’m impressed that you completed it and I’m proud of you and (0:29:10) Al: Hit credits in that game. (0:29:14) Al: Well, yeah, it’s better than, it’s better than Sugardew Valley, Sugardew Island, sorry. (0:29:15) Micah: I hope that it was worth it. (0:29:19) Micah: It wasn’t intended to sound as meat as it did. (0:29:27) Al: Well, the problem is, it’s like five bits into the game news. (0:29:28) Micah: Is that a, is that a segue? Is that a, (0:29:31) Micah: I can’t tell if that was an intentional segue or not. (0:29:37) Al: So let’s just go through the, let’s talk about some news. (0:29:39) Micah: Okay. All right. (0:29:42) Al: Tales of the Shire has been delayed again. (0:29:45) Micah: Yeah. (0:29:46) Al: Can I just say, please stop putting a date on your game, right? (0:29:49) Micah: Yeah. At this point, at this point, just like wait until you are close enough (0:29:49) Al: Just stop it. (0:29:54) Micah: that you can say, Hey, it’s coming in a couple of weeks, you know? (0:29:59) Micah: Cause that’s always like a kind of a fun surprise too. (0:30:02) Micah: When something has a sudden release date like that, uh, I, yeah. (0:30:08) Al: Yes, it is murder for organizing a podcast about games but yes, I will agree I can see why people would find that fun. Yeah. (0:30:13) Micah: - True, yeah. (0:30:16) Al: It’s now coming out on the 29th of July. So, well, maybe we’ll see. That’s what they’re currently saying, but we’re on our third release date so far so let’s see what happens. (0:30:26) Micah: Yeah, I was looking at some of the, you know, against my better judgment, some of the discourse (0:30:35) Micah: under this post, just to see what, how people felt about it. Because my initial reaction whenever (0:30:40) Micah: there’s a delay like this is, okay, that’s, you know, if you need more time, take the time, (0:30:46) Micah: work on it, perfect it, whatever. And that was, I feel like maybe a good 40 to 50% of the sentiment (0:30:55) Micah: and the other. (0:30:56) Micah: 50 to 60% was in the kind of camp of worry that because this is the second time that they’ve delayed it that if things maybe are not going great development wise but I feel like. (0:31:11) Al: Yeah, I never understand that because it’s like, no, people are just being overly optimistic about (0:31:17) Al: these things. As someone who works in, not in game development, but in software development, (0:31:18) Micah: Mm-hmm (0:31:21) Micah: Yeah, oh, yeah (0:31:21) Al: that happens all the time, right? People will be like, oh, this is when it needs to happen. (0:31:26) Al: And then other people will be like, it’s not going to happen by then, but it gets set as the date (0:31:31) Al: anyway. And then the day comes around and it hasn’t happened. And it’s like, you can’t make (0:31:35) Al: it happen, right? Like, there’s only a certain amount you can actually do. And adding more people (0:31:40) Al: belong does not actually improve. (0:31:41) Al: And sometimes it just takes more time. (0:31:44) Al: Like I could, I find this, you know, with, with, with Pokemon every time, right? (0:31:49) Al: Where people are like, Oh, they just need to add more people. (0:31:52) Al: Adding more people does not speed up development times. (0:31:54) Micah: - Mm-hmm. (0:31:55) Al: Adding more people quite often slows things down. (0:31:58) Al: It’s not worth it. (0:31:59) Al: Right. (0:32:00) Al: And sometimes you just need the time. (0:32:02) Al: I just, you can clearly see this as a fight between marketing and development. (0:32:07) Al: Um, I don’t think, I don’t think it’s a sign of like serious (0:32:08) Micah: 100%. I don’t think so either. I think people’s gut reaction is to look at, you know, other games (0:32:18) Micah: that have gone into development hell and have never made them their way out. And that’s the (0:32:24) Micah: concern. And I, you know, I, it seemed, especially for the people that were kind of that had this (0:32:31) Micah: sentiment or it’s coming from a place of like concern because they’re excited for the game, (0:32:36) Micah: You know I’m like (0:32:39) Micah: concern because they want it to be really good which is like better than you know just saying like well I don’t you know this game’s doomed or whatever you know I’m just like not really just being a doomer about it just to be a doomer but I do think from my personal experiences with stuff like this too I do think that if they were looking at something that does (0:33:08) Micah: close to like a development hell they would probably not put a second release date on it it probably would be something along the lines of we need a little bit more time to work on it and we’ll update you in the future and then at that point we probably would hear maybe a couple things and then nothing ever again but because they are putting a release date on it it makes me think that you know maybe there’s if it hits a if we get another delay after this then yeah I think it’s time to be a little bit (0:33:38) Micah: concerned about it you know it I think because they have a release date that if they missed a second release date or a third release date now if they miss it then there’s gonna be you know it’s there’s a lot more stake in that which like you know kind of contradicts what we’re saying about like just don’t put a release date on it but (0:34:00) Al: I guess the problem is those are two different things. We’re talking about just in general, (0:34:04) Al: don’t give a release date unless you actually know when it’s coming out. I guess it’s difficult (0:34:10) Al: when you’ve given a release date and now you’re like, oh, we don’t know now that I get worries (0:34:16) Al: people. And so I get why they kind of have to do that now because otherwise people are going to (0:34:20) Al: start, as you say, assuming the worst. But I’ve said it so many times, I do not think people (0:34:30) Al: put a release date on it until you are at most a month away. Give us a year, sure, (0:34:37) Al: because when people go, oh, we need some more time, it’s going to be next year. People are (0:34:41) Al: generally fine with that, especially if you’re near the end of the year, they expect that that’s (0:34:44) Al: going to happen. And then when you’re like, oh, I’m pretty confident, then you can say, oh, (0:34:50) Al: it will happen in the second half or the quarter three or whatever. But don’t give us a date until (0:34:54) Micah: Yeah, yep, definitely. (0:34:56) Al: you know it’s if you wouldn’t release it today don’t get (0:35:00) Al: as a date because it’s not gonna happen and like there are so few companies that do that (0:35:00) Micah: Right. (0:35:06) Al: they give you a date and it comes out on that date and you know one of the big ones is pokemon (0:35:12) Al: and it doesn’t always work out well for them right they give you a date six months out and (0:35:14) Micah: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think Nintendo stuff in (0:35:17) Al: they release on that date and then it’s not a great game i’m so excited to see what happens (0:35:21) Micah: Yeah, yep (0:35:23) Micah: Gosh (0:35:25) Micah: You know Pokemon days next week. So I guess we’ll see what happens with (0:35:31) Micah: with (0:35:32) Micah: You know it when they’ve got a little bit more time to cook it. We’ll see what happens (0:35:36) Al: Well, there’s a big assumption there that they actually have taken more time, (0:35:40) Al: because we don’t actually know when the when development started on this game. (0:35:40) Micah: Yeah, that’s true. You’re right. (0:35:44) Micah: You know, and this, this applies to Tales of the Shire too, I think, but, but also for Pokemon. (0:35:49) Micah: We’re also, something to take into account is that we’re in the midst of the, of a, um, generation (0:35:58) Micah: jump where like, you know, maybe that’s not necessarily the case as much for Tales of the (0:36:03) Micah: Shire, but I could see it being a possibility where they know that a large user base for cozy (0:36:11) Micah: games like this is on the switch. (0:36:14) Micah: Or on handheld, maybe like the Steam Deck or something like that. (0:36:20) Micah: And if they’re taking time because they know a little bit more about like maybe, I don’t (0:36:28) Micah: know, a release window for Switch 2 or they’re trying to, you know, co-develop a Switch and (0:36:31) Al: Well, that’s an interesting point. (0:36:37) Micah: Switch 2 version so that they can release it on both, you know, some of that stuff tends (0:36:42) Micah: to throw a wrench in the (0:36:44) Micah: things that is kind of like not expected. (0:36:48) Al: For most games, I would say there’s no way that that is part of this delay, but I feel like (0:36:57) Al: I could see them have it like I could see that if they are I could see they could already have (0:37:02) Al: a switch to dev kit because we know that some developers do that has been leaked. There are (0:37:04) Micah: - Mm-hmm, yep. (0:37:06) Al: developers that have it. Indies almost certainly won’t have it like there might be maybe some a (0:37:12) Al: couple of big indies like maybe silk song for example is maybe that team cherry that’s what (0:37:18) Al: isn’t it maybe they have one I could maybe see for example concerned ape having one (0:37:26) Al: I could see these developers having one and so maybe that’s part of it that is a big possibility (0:37:34) Al: I would say for most people it wouldn’t be the case but I could I could see Nintendo (0:37:38) Micah: Oh, yeah, 100 percent. (0:37:39) Al: I could see Nintendo going yeah no the the people that are developing a cozy game (0:37:44) Al: about Lord of the Rings, yeah, let’s make sure that they are ready for this. (0:37:46) Micah: Yeah, it’s the token property and it’s the what a workshop like that’s there’s a lot this. (0:37:48) Al: Yeah. (0:37:56) Micah: They’re not, you know, small money. So, but, you know, and if it is that they’re taking time to, to be able to have that ready for in the event of, you know, switch to or whatever they’re working on that. (0:38:12) Micah: get and that gives them the opportunity to make sure that it’s (0:38:16) Micah: a steam deck verified and stuff like that, that really (0:38:20) Micah: improves that experience for their core audience, I think. I (0:38:25) Micah: mean, they, you know, there’s always going to be people who (0:38:27) Micah: are playing on PC or PS5 or Xbox or whatever, but cozy games, I (0:38:34) Micah: think it’s pretty safe to say the, the, you know, the core of (0:38:40) Micah: the audience is, is playing either on the switch or handled (0:38:44) Micah: to some degree so. (0:38:46) Micah: Um, I could see that being a, again, we won’t know until it’s, till we see something (0:38:55) Micah: come of it. (0:38:56) Micah: Maybe there’s, uh, you know, things coincide, like we can kind of piece together, but yeah, (0:39:03) Micah: I guess we’ll see. (0:39:04) Micah: We’ll see what happens when July 29th rolls around. (0:39:08) Al: Yeah, I mean you never know we might I would say we don’t necessarily have to wait till then because if it is our switch to thing (0:39:08) Micah: I’m very excited for it though. (0:39:15) Al: There will 100% be some games announced in April (0:39:18) Micah: Oh, sure, yeah. (0:39:20) Al: They’ll be like, you know (0:39:22) Al: Stardew Valley is going to be a switch to version that does this or whatever and maybe this will be one of them (0:39:29) Al: Who knows? I’m not saying this will definitely happen. You’ve not heard it here first. We’re not saying (0:39:35) Al: The Tales of the Shire is going to be switched to… (0:39:38) Al: but I could see it happening and I’m excited for A-1. (0:39:44) Micah: - Yeah, me too. (0:39:45) Micah: I’m also excited just for this game in general. (0:39:47) Micah: I’m very excited for this game. (0:39:50) Al: Next we have, okay, I think it’s just meant to be fantasy. (0:39:55) Al: Is it Fantasy Life I? (0:39:56) Al: Is that how you’re meant to say these games? (0:39:58) Al: Because I know this is a series of games, (0:40:00) Al: but I don’t know if it’s just Fantasy Life I. (0:40:02) Micah: This is the first one that has I in the title. So I yeah, this is this is a new experience (0:40:06) Al: Oh, is it really? (0:40:08) Al: Amazing. (0:40:09) Al: Okay, perfect. (0:40:11) Al: No notes. (0:40:12) Al: Fantasy Life I, the girl who steals time, (0:40:15) Al: we have a release date for this. (0:40:18) Al: So it’s coming on the 21st of. (0:40:20) Al: May and also it’s now coming to Steam and PlayStation and Xbox. (0:40:26) Al: So it was previously meant to just be on Switch and I believe it was a 3DS game. (0:40:32) Al: The previous one. (0:40:33) Micah: it was they also had a mobile game that did not do too great um you know they did the the uh (0:40:36) Al: Oh, surprise, surprise. (0:40:42) Micah: classic level five maneuver of just kind of abandoning it once it you know didn’t really (0:40:49) Micah: take off the way they’d hoped it did so uh it is no longer functional as a as a mobile game so uh (0:40:54) Al: Well, this is only this, if you ignore the mobile game, this is only the second game (0:41:01) Micah: Yes. Yeah. There was a. (0:41:04) Micah: Like a the way that it released in Japan was it was fantasy life and they did fantasy life link which added extra stuff to it. So it was like, you know, a definitive version of it and then we got the West got the like full release of it. (0:41:20) Micah: So there’s some like kind of weird stuff with it, you know, but yeah, this is ultimately just the second one. (0:41:28) Micah: One of the best games on the 3DS in my opinion. (0:41:33) Micah: It’s a fantastic game. (0:41:34) Al: And this, I did not realize that this was the Yokai and Professor Leighton people. (0:41:40) Micah: It is. (0:41:41) Al: So there you go. (0:41:42) Micah: Yep. Level five big fan level five. (0:41:42) Al: Now we know. (0:41:44) Micah: I’m a little bit apprehensive about anything that they’re doing from this point on because they have been very deep in the generative A.I. (0:41:55) Al: Ow. (0:41:57) Micah: You know, they did like a they recently showed off their. (0:42:03) Micah: I guess spiritual successor to Yokai Watch, which is something hotel. I can’t remember some haunted hotel property and pretty much the entire trailer was like generative A.I. (0:42:14) Al: Is that holy hardware man? (0:42:15) Micah: So I am. Yes, that’s it. That is it. (0:42:19) Micah: So I’m hoping that because this was prior to their big like this game existed prior to their big like push into generative A.I. that like hopefully it doesn’t, you know. (0:42:33) Micah: I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see. I have a very strong love hate relationship with level five at this point. (0:42:38) Micah: So I’m very excited and also nervous about this because I love fantasy life. (0:42:47) Micah: It’s such a good game on the 3DS, but hopefully it’s good. (0:42:51) Al: Yeah, it looks interesting. I like the graphics and everything, (0:42:57) Al: and I’m excited to try it out when it releases in May. (0:43:00) Micah: It’s got cross play - which is (0:43:03) Al: Yes, across everything. Multiplayer across play. Very cool. (0:43:04) Micah: Always excited for cross play (0:43:08) Micah: Monster hunter is doing that. I’m very hopeful that this is the future of (0:43:15) Micah: Multiplayer in general that everybody’s gonna be doing cross play (0:43:18) Al: Yes, I can understand when you’ve got a competitive game, you don’t want keyboard and mouse players (0:43:26) Al: playing with controller players, but the problem with that argument is always, well, you can (0:43:32) Al: be a controller player on a PC. (0:43:36) Al: And so you can’t restrict that. (0:43:39) Al: So why restrict the other things? (0:43:41) Al: I do think if they do something like that, I like when they do options. (0:43:46) Al: You can either be just with people on… (0:43:48) Al: your system, or you can be with anyone. (0:43:51) Al: And in this case, it doesn’t really matter because it’s just co-op, right? (0:43:54) Al: It does not a competitive, you know, every millisecond counts type of game anyway. (0:44:00) Micah: Yeah jock i’m actually shy about that I guess because it’s not a like normal thing these days (0:44:01) Al: It also has two-player local co-op. (0:44:11) Al: No, it’s cool. (0:44:12) Micah: so that’s pretty neat (0:44:14) Al: And next we have the garden path have released their co-op update. (0:44:20) Al: So you can probably guess what that brings to the game. (0:44:24) Micah: Would you say that it’s co-op? (0:44:26) Al: Yes. (0:44:29) Al: Interestingly, so if you actually look in the patch notes, (0:44:32) Al: the first update is players can now hold hands in multiplayer (0:44:36) Al: by selecting the emote in the emote selector. (0:44:38) Al: like her. I love how they’ve put in the effort to allow you to hold (0:44:41) Al: hands. There you go. I haven’t played this game. That’s all (0:44:42) Micah: I love that. (0:44:50) Micah: - Yeah, I haven’t either, so it looks interesting. (0:44:56) Micah: I mean, I really like the art style and stuff. (0:44:59) Micah: I just, yeah, it hasn’t been on my radar enough. (0:45:02) Al: Well, a game that has been on our radar, but probably not as much as we originally thought it might, is Spirit Tea. (0:45:10) Al: They have released their Phantom Friends update, which brings you can now have Spirits as Pets, which is a fun little addition. (0:45:19) Al: I think if you’re enjoying that game, this will be a nice little addition to that. (0:45:24) Micah: It looks very cute (0:45:25) Al: Also, as always with the Spirit Tea update, there’s new Spirits and Quests as well. (0:45:26) Micah: It’s a cat spirit (0:45:31) Al: Bye. (0:45:32) Al: Oh yes, Sugardew Island. (0:45:35) Al: So I would. (0:45:36) Micah: - We made it. (0:45:37) Micah: - We got, we got there. (0:45:39) Al: Goodness me, I wouldn’t normally bring up an update this small for a game, (0:45:45) Al: especially a game like Sugardew Island, which I don’t think should exist. (0:45:49) Al: But they have updated a few things that I complained about in my last episode (0:45:55) Al: when I reviewed it, so I felt like I should bring those up because if those (0:46:00) Al: specific things and not (0:46:02) Al: everything else that I said about the game with the reasons that you’re not playing it, (0:46:05) Al: then maybe you will now. So selling items in the shop no longer requires energy. Hurray. Fantastic. (0:46:13) Al: Just what we want. And you can now craft energy bars so you don’t have to go and just buy them. (0:46:19) Al: You can craft them, which is good because that was a weird decision not to allow you to eat (0:46:24) Al: anything you grow. But as I say in my show notes here, it is still not. (0:46:32) Al: A good game. So there we go. (0:46:35) Micah: I- I’m so curious, I’m just so cu- oh there’s a demo so I guess I don’t need to be that curious. (0:46:43) Al: Yes, the demo is out now. If you want to try it, feel free. (0:46:43) Micah: I can just try it. (0:46:47) Micah: I- I feel like I have to, it’s just so fascinating to me and how like anti-SugarDew Island you are makes me want to try it. (0:46:56) Al: This is the thing, I don’t like being negative about games. (0:47:02) Al: And I was talking in the Slack to some of the patrons and I was like, I don’t think (0:47:06) Al: I’ve ever been this negative about the game that I’ve covered on the podcast. (0:47:11) Al: And it’s like, every example that people brought up about a game I was negative about, it was, (0:47:15) Al: I don’t like this, but it’s not for me. (0:47:19) Al: Other people will. (0:47:20) Al: I understand it. (0:47:21) Al: It’s like, I did not like my time at Porsche, but that was because I really didn’t like (0:47:24) Al: how the crafting worked. (0:47:26) Al: If we’re ignoring all of the Switch issues with that game. (0:47:30) Al: You know, and all the, like, the Harvest Moon’s… (0:47:33

This drink makes you see ghosts, no big deal. Once again at the mercy of the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, our hosts have been tasked with playing the life-sim management game by solo developer Cheesemaster Games. Conceived by Dan Beckerton and brought to life through the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign, this pixel-art title sees the protagonist move to the country and get roped into running a bath house for forgotten spirits. The premise definitely feels like it would fit nicely in a Studio Ghibli film and the developer acknowledges drawing inspiration from classic spirit-focused anime and manga. Will the game prove as timeless as those stories? With just one hour to make a decision, will it captivate our hosts and encourage them to keep playing when the mandated time is up? Join Tom and Chris as they spill the tea on their first impression! What do you think? Let us know! Hit us up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tc1h1d Or on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@tc1h1d Drop us an email at tc.1h1d(at)outlook[dot]com Follow us on Goodpods @1h1d Check out our fancy site: https://quitthebuild.com/1h1d Watch the video: https://bit.ly/1H1DYT Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)

Kev and Jonnie talk about all the latest news Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:07: What Have We Been Up To 00:07:08: Game Releases 00:15:57: Game Updates 00:26:23: News Games 00:41:40: Outro Links Horticular Release Go-Go Town Early Access Southfield Early Access Sun Haven “1.4” Update Loddlenauth “Loddlepedia” Update Song of the Prairie “0.9” Update Spirittea “Hook, Line & Spirit” Update Littlelands Gameplay Sneak Peek Star Birds Among The Wild Hotel Galactic Super Farming Boy Everholm Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:31) Kev: so (0:00:32) Kev: stop me if you’ve heard this one before (0:00:34) Kev: a uh… (0:00:36) Kev: scottish guy gets sick so he (0:00:38) Kev: calls up a mexican guy who lives in america (0:00:43) Kev: and that mexican guy calls a new zealander who lives in australia (0:00:48) Kev: and uh… (0:00:49) Kev: and what happens next is actually a podcast that you’re about to hear (0:00:54) Kev: hello farmers welcome to the harvest season (0:00:58) Kev: where we talk about supposedly, about Cottagecore games. (0:01:02) Kev: I’m Kevin, a villain for an owl who is a bit on the sick side, and with me today is… (0:01:08) Jonnie: I’m Johnny, uh, I’m here, I’m, am I sick? Does being hungover count as being sick? Whatever, (0:01:14) Jonnie: it’s the same thing. But I’m here. It definitely does not. (0:01:16) Kev: It doesn’t feel good, I’ll tell you that much. Well actually, I mean, I can’t, I could not tell you, actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been, like, hungover to that degree of feeling sick in the morning. (0:01:28) Kev: Um, I’m a square, I’m a loser. (0:01:29) Jonnie: don’t get old that’s all I can say don’t get old (0:01:34) Kev: Oh, that’s happening regardless! (0:01:36) Jonnie: Ah. (0:01:38) Kev: And you know what’s happening regardless? I was talking about the news because we are having another news-centric episode today. (0:01:46) Kev: As uh, you know, last week we had wholesome summer games, whatever extra, there were like 20 game shows in total I hear. (0:01:56) Kev: But there was more news that leaked through or whatever, I don’t know, we’re gonna talk about it, because there’s plenty to talk about. (0:02:04) Kev: Um, other, uh, yeah, but before we get into that, Johnny, what have you been up to over there and Johnny? (0:02:14) Jonnie: So I’ve been playing a little bit of Starstruck Vagabond, that new game, and, you know, like, (0:02:20) Jonnie: it’s a bit of a weird one, it’s taking a bit of time to get into, but I like what I’m seeing (0:02:24) Jonnie: of that so far, and I’ve been playing a lot of RuneScape, and that game is, I don’t know, (0:02:30) Jonnie: I talk about it all the time. (0:02:32) Jonnie: I’m just sucked in, it’s like, that game takes over your life, in a bad way, but also a really (0:02:37) Jonnie: good way. (0:02:38) Jonnie: I don’t know, yeah, it’s, I’m having a lot of fun with it. (0:02:38) Kev: Hehe, I was about to say that sounds like a good way to me. (0:02:44) Jonnie: At the moment. (0:02:44) Jonnie: Which is, it’s really nice to go back and play a game that you’re nostalgic for, that’s (0:02:47) Jonnie: had a lot of time and effort put in, and is good. (0:02:52) Jonnie: So yeah, I’m having a lot of fun kind of going back and having a bit of a fun nostalgia cake (0:02:55) Jonnie: in RuneScape. (0:02:56) Kev: Right, right. I mean, yeah, good. It’s it’s comfort gaming right everyone’s got some sort of comfort gaming (0:03:00) Jonnie: Absolutely. (0:03:02) Jonnie: Yeah. (0:03:03) Kev: All right (0:03:03) Jonnie: What about you, Kev? (0:03:06) Kev: Speaking of well actually no, it’s probably the opposite of comfort game. You have my Street Fighter 6 where I (0:03:12) Kev: Get my butt handed to me continuously and repeatedly. I’m not am I good at fighting games, but (0:03:20) Kev: But I enjoy them nonetheless (0:03:23) Kev: Street Fighter 6 is in a great place. We got the (0:03:26) Kev: DLC character recently and a (0:03:29) Kev: Season 2 of DLC also announced and they’re very exciting characters (0:03:34) Kev: They’re guest characters from King of Fighters. I’m sure most people listening this don’t understand that at all. You know, that’s fine (0:03:42) Kev: Bye. (0:03:43) Jonnie: I heard, and correct me if I’m wrong, but is this the first time that Street Fighter (0:03:46) Jonnie: is doing the whole guest character thing? (0:03:50) Jonnie: Is that right? (0:03:52) Kev: As far as I know, yes, actually. (0:03:56) Kev: So they do (0:03:58) Kev: some guest-ish things, especially with their own (0:04:02) Kev: their own franchise, Capcom. So you can sometimes get costumes referencing other series or whatever, right? (0:04:10) Kev: Like you can get Ryu in Monster Hunter Armored or what have you. (0:04:16) Kev: But yes, this is I believe the first time an actual proper character. (0:04:22) Kev: From outside Street Fighter has joined. (0:04:25) Kev: And although to be fair, (0:04:28) Kev: like they are (0:04:31) Kev: the King of Fighters series is not that different tonally from Street Fighter or aesthetically. (0:04:38) Kev: Right, like (0:04:40) Kev: you could say for Americans who know this reference, like you could say Street Fighter’s New York City and (0:04:46) Kev: King of Fighters is New Jersey just across the river. You just took a bus to get there. (0:04:52) Kev: So yeah, it’s also not the first time these two franchises have crossed over. They’ve had (0:04:59) Kev: crossover games in the past, but (0:05:02) Kev: yeah, it’s exciting stuff. Terry Bogard, people might know him from Smash, he’s got the red hat. (0:05:10) Kev: I’m excited for him in the game. (0:05:13) Kev: But yeah, that will be later though. In the meantime, I have been fighting though and getting beat up a lot. (0:05:22) Kev: In stuff I haven’t been beat up a lot. (0:05:26) Kev: Disney’s speed storm continues to exist. (0:05:31) Kev: They came out with the Inside Out season, because Inside Out 2 came out, I guess. (0:05:37) Kev: It’s fine, I like Inside Out enough, the characters are fine. (0:05:43) Kev: One interesting thing, for whatever reason, (0:05:47) Kev: they have stopped doing voices for every character. (0:05:50) Kev: Now they only pick a tour. (0:05:52) Kev: I’m also surprised that Disney would be okay with it. (0:05:56) Kev: I don’t know if that’s because they’re not doing well financially, don’t want to hire (0:06:00) Kev: people, or maybe they’re just being greedy and just don’t want to put the costs out for (0:06:04) Kev: all the characters to be voiced. (0:06:06) Kev: But it’s really odd because that game’s been out for a year and all the characters have (0:06:10) Kev: been voiced up to this point but now they’re breaking that and it is a bit jarring. (0:06:14) Jonnie: It’s an odd choice to make. (0:06:15) Kev: Yeah. (0:06:16) Kev: Very. (0:06:17) Kev: Um, yeah, I’m also kind of surprised Disney would be okay with it. (0:06:22) Kev: Um, because, you know, I assume Disney is very strict about their control and whatever. (0:06:28) Kev: You know, did you know that Disney Speedstorm is made by Gameloft, the same company that makes Dreamlight Valley? (0:06:35) Kev: Yeah, it’s wild, um, because, you know, very different games, but I guess they’re doing the Disney part justice, except for the voice thing. (0:06:47) Kev: thing. But yeah, that’s a… (0:06:52) Kev: Sure, fun fact for the day. Other than that, a lot of my usual stuff, Marvel (0:06:57) Kev: Snap, I continue to be trapped and can never escape. Some card games and so on (0:07:03) Kev: and so forth. But yeah, that’s the most interesting stuff. Now with that said, (0:07:11) Kev: let’s get into other interesting stuff in terms of news. All right, so we’re kind (0:07:22) Kev: of got it broken up here per OWL. We’re gonna start off with game releases with (0:07:28) Kev: launch dates and whatnot. We are going to start off with Horticular. Let me see. (0:07:33) Kev: What is Horticular? I don’t remember off the top of my head. (0:07:36) Jonnie: So Horticula is kind of like, to me the aesthetic feels very like rollercoaster tycoon, where (0:07:43) Jonnie: you’re like building out a garden in that sort of, that sort of style, so it’s, it’s (0:07:49) Jonnie: slightly bigger in scale and you’re, you’re placing things on a grid, yeah it’s, I really (0:07:57) Jonnie: like the vibe of this game and it’s coming out going into 1.0 on July 11th which is pretty (0:08:03) Jonnie: soon and pretty exciting! (0:08:04) Kev: Yeah, there you go. (0:08:06) Kev: I do appreciate when the dates are close, you know. (0:08:10) Kev: Yeah, Johnny pretty much nailed it. (0:08:12) Kev: Pixel art. (0:08:14) Kev: There’s a lot going on here. (0:08:16) Kev: There is indeed looks like actually some sort of story. (0:08:20) Kev: Yeah, there is a complete story actually. (0:08:22) Kev: There’s different modes. (0:08:24) Kev: There’s sandbox creative mode. (0:08:26) Kev: There’s peaceful and story-less mode. (0:08:30) Kev: Oh, controller support will be out. (0:08:32) Kev: They have Twitch integration. (0:08:34) Kev: I don’t know. (0:08:36) Kev: They can name or put their names for creatures and stuff like that. (0:08:40) Kev: That’s always cute. I appreciate Twitch support like that. (0:08:44) Kev: And mod support. (0:08:46) Kev: This is a solid 1.0. This is very well rounded. (0:08:49) Kev: Good for you, Horticular. Thumbs up for you. (0:08:54) Kev: That is July 11th. (0:08:56) Kev: Next up, we have Gogotown with an early access date. (0:09:02) Kev: So that’s not 1.0, that’s not a- (0:09:04) Kev: Game release, ow. (0:09:06) Kev: Um, that is June- Oh wow, June 18th. That is like… (0:09:10) Kev: The day of- (0:09:12) Kev: It’ll be out by the time people listen to this podcast. (0:09:15) Kev: Go go town, we’ll be out in early access. (0:09:18) Kev: Um, for people who don’t remember. (0:09:18) Jonnie: and go go play it like I’m yeah I’m just like I’m sorry I’m sorry to interrupt here but I’m (0:09:20) Kev: Yeah! (0:09:23) Jonnie: so forget excited about go go town like I’m not I don’t like early accesses for most games I don’t (0:09:29) Jonnie: care I just want to play some go go town god damn tell the people about this game if they’ve forgotten (0:09:32) Kev: Yup, yup. So, it’s amazing how the first impressions, or at least for me it wasn’t that great, but it has turned around. (0:09:34) Jonnie: because it’s so good (0:09:44) Kev: So for people who don’t remember, this is a Animal Crossing-like clone, whatever you want to call it, (0:09:48) Kev: but they put a lot of emphasis on customization and town building and just generally a lot more features like riding vehicles and all sorts of different customization things. (0:10:02) Kev: They put out a map with time zones and the launch times for each time zone, that’s pretty funny. (0:10:08) Kev: But they’ve also put out a roadmap of the upcoming development. (0:10:16) Kev: So, it’ll launch with all your customization and terraforming, unlockable buildings, machines, upgrades, a skill tree basically. (0:10:26) Kev: You can do automation, single player, and multiplayer will be… (0:10:32) Kev: or will be at launch of Early Access and it’ll be localized in 10 languages. That’s pretty dang good. (0:10:42) Kev: Then in July they’ll have a big update where they’ll actually introduce more vehicles and more modes of transportation. (0:10:52) Kev: Later in September they’ll get a crossover with something, I have no idea what. (0:10:56) Kev: I actually don’t, that’s not me being quite, everything’s blocked out and I don’t know what. (0:11:00) Kev: I don’t know what. (0:11:00) Kev: And then later in November. (0:11:00) Jonnie: The update’s really great. We’ve done the update, but they’ve like, redacted all of the exciting bits. (0:11:07) Jonnie: It’s a very funny way of doing an update like this. I’m a big fan. (0:11:10) Kev: There’s a guy in a suit, that’s the only picture I don’t recognize him, so eh. (0:11:16) Kev: And then in November, an update called “Industrial Don” which I assume means more automation or more mechanical customizations. (0:11:28) Kev: But they don’t have any actual details. (0:11:30) Kev: So yeah, that is… (0:11:34) Kev: That’s Gogotan Early Access (0:11:36) Kev: I’m also looking forward to this one (0:11:38) Kev: I… you know, I’m infamously not big on one Early Access (0:11:42) Kev: so I don’t know if I’ll pick it up yet (0:11:44) Kev: but I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled on you guys who are playing it (0:11:50) Kev: because it looks… (0:11:52) Jonnie: Yeah, a few interesting things that I picked from the update. So they’ve got a number of features (0:11:54) Kev: Yep, go for it (0:11:58) Jonnie: that aren’t yet scheduled but are on their radar. So kind of things that they’re exploring. And (0:12:03) Jonnie: probably the one that stands out the most is that a player house is on that list. So that’s one of (0:12:08) Jonnie: the things that I was expecting to have. And it’s interesting that it’s not even on their roadmap, (0:12:13) Jonnie: which kind of indicates that I guess the focus of the game is going to be a lot more on creating (0:12:17) Jonnie: your town rather than Animal Crossing which has traditionally been your house and (0:12:23) Jonnie: terraforming kind of changed that a little bit with with New Horizons so that was just an interesting little little tidbit (0:12:26) Kev: right (0:12:28) Kev: Huh, yeah, you’re right. It is that is interesting right because (0:12:32) Kev: Animal crossing likes usually prioritize the you know personal stuff first, but yeah, this looks more town (0:12:39) Kev: focused and (0:12:40) Kev: Your bone house that is interesting, huh? (0:12:45) Kev: Yeah, okay, that’s that is neat um I’m (0:12:48) Kev: That said I’m expecting there will be a lot of town customization then probably much more so than Animal Crossing (0:12:56) Kev: That’s their focus, so that’s cool, and we get the chainsaws. You know so that’s the important thing (0:13:04) Kev: Speaking of chaotic games (0:13:07) Kev: Next up we have an early access date for Southfield (0:13:12) Kev: The wibbly-wobbly as they self-describe themselves physics based farming game where you play as a gumdrop character (0:13:19) Kev: That will be dropping on June 24th very shortly (0:13:24) Kev: After this podcast like almost a week (0:13:26) Kev: after this ish after this podcast drops (0:13:28) Kev: That’s that’s a good game the trailer (0:13:33) Kev: looks good very excited for that (0:13:37) Kev: yeah Southfield another one I that is (0:13:42) Kev: probably definitely worthwhile in early (0:13:44) Kev: access is their demos anything to show (0:13:46) Kev: because they had a you know the worst (0:13:49) Kev: part of the demos that you couldn’t save (0:13:50) Kev: but now I’m assuming it’s going to be (0:13:52) Kev: similar but you can save and so they (0:13:54) Kev: That makes it way better already. (0:13:56) Kev: Umm… (0:13:57) Jonnie: Yeah, it’s just a stupid good month for games, right? (0:13:58) Kev: It ridiculously sucks. (0:14:00) Jonnie: Like Horticular, Gogotown, Southfield all look amazing. (0:14:07) Jonnie: And I think what I like most about this sort of lineup (0:14:10) Jonnie: of three games is they’re all very distinct, right? (0:14:13) Jonnie: Like obviously all of them have elements (0:14:15) Jonnie: that are callbacks to other things, but the, like, (0:14:18) Jonnie: this is to me an amazing series of games that move away (0:14:22) Jonnie: from like the Stardew clones and those sorts of things. (0:14:27) Jonnie: All of these games feel like they’ve got a distinct look. (0:14:29) Jonnie: You know, we didn’t talk about it with Gogotown, (0:14:31) Jonnie: but like their aesthetic reminds me very much of like, (0:14:36) Jonnie: I kind of like Saturday morning cartoons almost, (0:14:41) Jonnie: is kind of how I described their vibe. (0:14:43) Jonnie: And it’s not something that a lot of games are doing. (0:14:46) Jonnie: You know, like I just, (0:14:47) Jonnie: I think this is a great lineup of games (0:14:50) Jonnie: for sort of cottage core and exploring and pushing (0:14:53) Jonnie: in different directions. (0:14:55) Jonnie: Like, I just think between the three of the… (0:14:57) Jonnie: three games we’ve just talked about, there’s got to be something in here for just about (0:15:04) Kev: Oh absolutely, I totally agree right, and it’s like it’s not just now but I think it’s very indicative of where we are in the whole cottage core space, right, because Stardew 1.0 came out in 2016 and I would pretty definitely say that was the start of the cottage core boom, right, where it really became a big genre, not just a very niche thing with like two or three games. (0:15:28) Kev: And for a good while, it was very Stardew cloning, right. (0:15:34) Kev: But you’re right, all three of these are off the beaten path so to speak, and different flavors like you said that different people can enjoy. (0:15:46) Kev: So that is really exciting to see, just in general where the cottage core games are and whatnot. (0:15:55) Kev: So yeah, a great observation there. Alright then, let’s see here, now we are going to get into some updates for games, the first- (0:16:04) Kev: being Sun Haven. The 1.4 update is out now. This is the last update to come out before the Switch release. (0:16:16) Kev: Let’s see here, it includes a new region, the Brinestone Deeps. You can have a kid now, full controller support, yay! Some increased translations and localizations for Mac. (0:16:34) Kev: Several relationship stuff. Oh, sewers, you can go to the sewers. Yeah. (0:16:40) Jonnie: And they say that they’ve got a black market launching, (0:16:43) Jonnie: which sounds kind of cool. (0:16:45) Jonnie: Like, so for me, like, there’s a, (0:16:47) Jonnie: it looks like they’re continuing to add a ton (0:16:49) Jonnie: of awesome stuff to Sun Haven and Sun Haven’s being like, (0:16:54) Jonnie: it’s perennially like on my list of games (0:16:56) Jonnie: I really want to play, (0:16:57) Jonnie: but also it looks like a huge time investment (0:17:00) Jonnie: ‘cause it just looks so big that I find it very hard (0:17:00) Kev: Yeah (0:17:05) Jonnie: to like commit to and like every time I see these updates (0:17:08) Jonnie: and what they’re adding, I’m like, man, (0:17:11) Jonnie: it’s interesting and cool. (0:17:13) Jonnie: Like, I like everything that Sun Haven is doing. (0:17:18) Jonnie: I’m just very nervous about starting it (0:17:20) Jonnie: ‘cause it seems like such a deep hole to get into. (0:17:20) Kev: It right absolutely um yeah oh my gosh I’m just looking at like the cars in the (0:17:28) Kev: mount you can have there’s some wild stuff in your holy moly (0:17:31) Jonnie: Yeah, it’s a nuts, nuts game. (0:17:32) Kev: um yeah um so with this again all that stuff we discussed was free updates to (0:17:40) Kev: the to the game but included there will also be dropping nine DLC packs which are (0:17:47) Kev: They’re all cosmetics, furniture. (0:17:51) Kev: Pets, mounts, clothing, so on and so forth. (0:17:55) Kev: A lot of them look pretty nice, I will say. (0:17:58) Kev: You can ride a rocking horse. (0:18:00) Kev: That’s pretty fun. (0:18:01) Kev: But yeah, I invite everyone to check out the Steam page. (0:18:09) Kev: Oh, I guess we should’ve… I forgot! Whoops! (0:18:13) Kev: As always, we have the transcripts on the website, end links, all this stuff. (0:18:18) Kev: There you go, Al. Don’t get mad at me anymore. (0:18:21) Kev: But yeah, there’s, wow, I’m just going down the list. (0:18:27) Kev: This is a very beefy update for Sunhaven, so… (0:18:31) Kev: You’re right, this is intimidating. (0:18:35) Kev: But yeah, again, that is already out now. (0:18:41) Kev: Let’s see, next up, very close to being out. (0:18:46) Kev: Lottle knot the the lottle pedia update. Oh (0:18:50) Kev: It is lotto lotto what is a lot of pedia (0:18:56) Kev: Let’s see here (0:18:58) Kev: All the lotto evolutions and (0:19:01) Kev: Silhouettes for you. Yeah, okay the lotto pedia tracks all the lotto evolutions you found and show silhouettes for ones (0:19:08) Kev: You’ve yet to discover (0:19:10) Kev: displays information on abilities for each lotto evolution and the diet required to turn a baby lotto into that form (0:19:19) Kev: This is yeah, this should (0:19:20) Kev: Have been in the game already probably any time you’re doing a monster collector, right? (0:19:27) Kev: also, I didn’t (0:19:31) Kev: Skins already out. I did I missed that completely. I have got to get this game. I really wanted I might be getting this today (0:19:41) Kev: I (0:19:43) Kev: completely missed that but (0:19:45) Kev: Yeah, no, that’s that’s surprising that they had a whole monster collecting thing and no (0:19:51) Kev: Encyclopedia pokedex whatever (0:19:54) Kev: I’m glad they finally got it or it’s coming out relatively soon June 27th (0:20:00) Kev: This only on Steam it looks like (0:20:12) Kev: It’s on Steam at least, okay? (0:20:14) Kev: But yeah, I’ll be looking more at that for myself in a little, but anyways. (0:20:20) Kev: Now let’s talk about something that’s almost 1.0 out. Song of the Prairie. (0:20:27) Kev: We are at the 0.9 update. Well, it’s going, it’s been announced. (0:20:34) Kev: That update will be dropping on. (0:20:38) Kev: Oh, it’s out now. Okay. All right. Yeah, that’s already out now. (0:20:42) Kev: They have added Steam achievements. Seven new languages. Leveled six tools. That, that sounds big. That’s past five. (0:20:52) Kev: They’ve optimized a lot of visual things it looks like. (0:21:00) Kev: Fixing some bugs. (0:21:04) Kev: They have (0:21:06) Kev: recreated the character creation function. Okay, it took me a second there. (0:21:10) Kev: so they rework. (0:21:12) Kev: there is a blast update before the full addition, they are talking about it. (0:21:22) Jonnie: It looks like it, but they didn’t explicitly state that so that there’s still time, right? (0:21:24) Kev: that is true. (0:21:26) Kev: we could. (0:21:27) Jonnie: They might, they might throw it a couple more. You could get a 0.9.1 (0:21:28) Kev: they do say they are going to launch a game test campaign for the coming of full edition. (0:21:34) Kev: what does that mean? (0:21:36) Kev: it means that they are going to launch a game test campaign. (0:21:40) Kev: pain for the coming of void- (0:21:42) Kev: that mean a game test campaign a game test campaign for the coming of full (0:21:47) Kev: edition I don’t know what that means okay but but there you go that is again (0:21:54) Kev: song of the prairie 0.9 update let’s see and next up we have spirit tea not that (0:22:03) Kev: pokemon but the game spirit tea I know I feel like I’ve made this joke before but (0:22:07) Kev: That’s okay. (0:22:10) Kev: We have – (0:22:12) Kev: No, you’re not catching a Pokémon, but you are catching fish because it’s the hook, line, and spirit update. (0:22:18) Kev: They added fishing. (0:22:22) Jonnie: And we love fishing, don’t we kids? (0:22:22) Kev: Okay. (0:22:26) Kev: Some? Yes. Yes, we do. (0:22:28) Kev: I’m looking here just at the – (0:22:32) Kev: It does look like they put effort in. It’s not just Animal Crossing. (0:22:36) Kev: There’s a silhouette of a fish and you’re pulling closer to you. (0:22:42) Kev: That actually looks fairly well done. (0:22:44) Kev: I don’t know how fun it is, but just visually it does stand out from other fishing mini games or systems or whatever. (0:22:54) Kev: Alongside fishing, there is sorts of other quality of life and bug fixes. (0:23:04) Kev: You can toggle how dark it is at night. That’s a good one. (0:23:08) Kev: added a streamer mode to hide away details about you in smo- (0:23:12) Kev: obeys quest- I don’t know what that means but that- okay. (0:23:14) Kev: That’s good. I- oh, oh, oh. (0:23:18) Kev: Um, some bugs and all sorts of things. (0:23:22) Kev: Um, yeah, that is- (0:23:24) Kev: Oh, is that already on? I can’t remember. (0:23:28) Kev: Uh, yes, that is out now. (0:23:28) Jonnie: Yeah, spare cheese already out. (0:23:30) Kev: Uh, again, hookline spirit for spirity. (0:23:32) Kev: Okay, um, and next up we have- (0:23:38) Kev: Let’s see a bunch of sort of new games coming out (0:23:42) Kev: And a sneak peek here first up we’re going to talk about Little Lands (0:23:46) Kev: Little Lands is… they did a thing with IGN (0:23:52) Kev: Okay, so it… sorry I’m looking at the video because I didn’t have a chance to look at it before (0:23:59) Kev: All these characters are cute, they’re very Link’s Awakening-esque, the aesthetic that’s kind of the vibe I feel (0:24:07) Kev: An isometric… (0:24:07) Jonnie: Yeah, it’s it feels very it’s that that TV style that they did for links, but the remake of Link’s Awakening, right? (0:24:14) Kev: Yes, exactly. Yes, that’s a number for yes. That’s the one in general (0:24:16) Jonnie: Yeah, which is it’s interesting, right? Because I think a lot of people didn’t (0:24:21) Jonnie: Like that aesthetic for reasons that I don’t fully understand because like I quite like it (0:24:25) Jonnie: Like I think it’s distinct and for the sort of game that it looks like this is I think that style works (0:24:32) Jonnie: Very well, like it does a good job of kind of making it clear where you can and can’t (0:24:37) Jonnie: Also making the world look full (0:24:39) Kev: Yep. (0:24:40) Jonnie: And like little ants looks kind of exciting to me, you know where it’s like even if it’s just a little bit of like (0:24:49) Jonnie: Heavily inspired by Link’s Awakening sort of adventure-ish, you know dialed up farming elements (0:24:58) Jonnie: 3d camera (0:25:00) Jonnie: Even like watching the video that you almost get like a little bit of like pokemon vibes not in that it’s catching stuff (0:25:07) Jonnie: You know, it seems like you are young kid going out on an adventure (0:25:11) Jonnie: And now i’m just thinking about like a pokemon game with these aesthetics, which I think I’d be really into (0:25:16) Kev: Yeah, absolutely. I totally see what you mean. (0:25:18) Kev: Especially like, they show this lake where they’re fishing with a bridge that feels very Pokemon. (0:25:24) Kev: But I know it does have that feeling of a kid just wandering around this landscape and whatnot. (0:25:32) Kev: I do get that feeling, right? (0:25:34) Kev: There is a good bit dash of Zelda inspirations in here. (0:25:37) Kev: You have a sword, you’re swinging at some enemies. (0:25:40) Kev: But also a lot of other fun, cutie stuff. (0:25:43) Kev: they have a fishing rod but you can use the fishing rod in (0:25:46) Kev: bushes and and all sorts of things. The environments are very, very pretty, I gotta say. It’s (0:25:53) Kev: all in the same style, right? It’s not like super high fidelity graphics or whatever, (0:25:57) Kev: but it’s very detailed. There’s a lot of plants and lush backgrounds and stuff like that. (0:26:02) Kev: Yeah, I’m a big fan of this. That is very cute. Do we have any ETA on? No, it’s to be (0:26:12) Kev: announced you can wishlist it. (0:26:16) Kev: Okay so just be- I really encourage people to check this one out, it’s a very very good looking game in my opinion. (0:26:26) Kev: Okay, next up we have the announcement of Starbirds! (0:26:34) Jonnie: Starbirds looks so cool. So, Starbirds is from the Dorforomantic devs. Did you play Dorforomantic, kid? (0:26:42) Kev: No, what is that, do tell. (0:26:44) Jonnie: So, Dorforomantic is the cozy tile-placement city builder game, so (0:26:52) Jonnie: if you’ve ever played (0:26:55) Jonnie: Carcassonne, where you’re kind of like trying to match things on tiles as you sort of place them, (0:27:00) Kev: Uh-huh. (0:27:00) Jonnie: that’s what you’re doing in Dorforomantic. It’s just like a great, like, (0:27:04) Jonnie: if you just want a game that’s just pure vibes, like, there’s no real goal. (0:27:08) Jonnie: It’s just putting cards down until you run out and kind of, like, building out a large city or a (0:27:14) Jonnie: bunch of small cities and some forests and, like, it’s a great, like, simple little game. (0:27:21) Jonnie: I would highly recommend everyone go and play. I’m a big fan of Dorforomantic. And to Starbirds, it seems in a similar-ish (0:27:29) Jonnie: vibe, so they described Starbirds as a cozy base building and resource management. (0:27:34) Jonnie: Game. And so it looks like you’re kind of, like, building bases on relatively small planets, (0:27:41) Jonnie: which just looks very cool. I love the aesthetic that they’re going for that they show in this game. The planet style looks cool. (0:27:47) Jonnie: I love the idea of, like, cozy base building, you know. (0:27:51) Jonnie: The resource management side, it will depend how heavy that is, but from what they’re showing, like, (0:27:56) Jonnie: it doesn’t look like it’s, you know, gonna be an insane resource management thing. (0:28:00) Jonnie: it’s probably I’m guessing it’s probably just you’ve got to have a thing to collect resources. (0:28:04) Jonnie: And it will do that over time. And then that would just enable you to go to more surrounding (0:28:08) Jonnie: planets. So I’m very excited for this one. I think it’s 2025 is all I’ve said in terms of (0:28:14) Jonnie: the release date. Yeah, I think this looks very cool. Very excited for this one. (0:28:19) Kev: Yeah, I agree. This might be odd comparison, but looking at the Resource Management, it’s (0:28:30) Kev: a very cutesy, chill version of No Man’s Sky, what it feels like to me, because you’re placing (0:28:38) Kev: solar panels and cables and connecting things. And it looks like you can transport stuff (0:28:43) Kev: between your planets. Oh, this looks good. I really enjoy this sort of resource management. (0:28:49) Kev: I’m very on board for this. That is against Starbirds coming. No, it’s next year. We gotta (0:28:55) Kev: wait a while. But that’s okay, because there are too many games right now anyways. Okay. (0:29:05) Kev: Next up, we have a gi… Wait, is this R.D.? Early Access R.D.? Sorry, I’m just reading (0:29:13) Kev: this. Next up, we have a game called Among the Wild. Look, I… (0:29:18) Jonnie: Also known as cozy power. (0:29:19) Kev: I was about to say that. Look, there’s no getting around it. We got us a Power World (0:29:26) Kev: clone. Somehow, we already have one. It is a lot cozier. It doesn’t wear its, you know, (0:29:35) Kev: shoot Pokemon on its sleeve like that. But a lot of similar, like, its first person perspective. (0:29:43) Kev: You’re running around similar environments. You do. There are weapons. You… (0:29:49) Kev: You can have an axe and cane and there’s like a spear. It… Yeah, Cozy. Cozy Power World (0:29:57) Kev: pretty much knocks it out of the park, right? Like, there’s a llama there. It does. (0:30:00) Jonnie: But this looks AMAZING. (0:30:02) Jonnie: Like, that, like, while it’s, while it’s technically, uh, like, you could call it a Power Clone, (0:30:08) Jonnie: this has clearly been in development for a long time, like, with what they’re showing. (0:30:12) Jonnie: It looks incredible. (0:30:15) Jonnie: Like all of the, all of the, the, the Pokémon, I’m just gonna call them Pokémon ‘cause that’s (0:30:19) Kev: Yeah (0:30:19) Jonnie: basically what they are, they look, they look amazing, they’re so, like, derpy, most of (0:30:24) Jonnie: the ones that they’re showing, they’re just, like, very funny and, like, all, like, a little (0:30:25) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:30:28) Jonnie: bit too fluffy, which I love. (0:30:30) Jonnie: Like this whole game just looks stupid. (0:30:32) Jonnie: I love it. (0:30:33) Jonnie: I’m so excited for this. (0:30:33) Kev: Yeah, this (0:30:35) Kev: Look that black duck looking guy that is just actually a Dragon Quest monster. It’s called the platypunk (0:30:42) Kev: It looks just like (0:30:42) Jonnie: - Yeah, yeah, it very much is. (0:30:45) Kev: It’s the platypunk (0:30:47) Kev: I like their little (0:30:49) Kev: What are the Star Wars things? Porgs? Yeah, that’s what they’re called. The little main guy looks like a Porg kind of. Yeah, they’re all very round and derpy looking, these critters. There’s a Rock guy. I don’t know why, but you can throw a Slime guy at another of these Pokemon. I don’t know what’s going on here. But I will say it does look visually like the detail is much more there than Power World. Right? Like (0:31:19) Kev: Power World was nice enough, right? It was fine. But it was very samey at times, right? Like there’s a lot more details here, like in the towns or even just the gardens and stuff like that. So yeah, that is, that is very that that is what was announced release dates to be announced. (0:31:39) Kev: Um… (0:31:40) Jonnie: Yeah, they’re taking signups for their Alpha at the moment, so this one’s, realistically, (0:31:46) Kev: yeah probably and with I mean clearly they’ve got ambition here right um so yeah I i wouldn’t (0:31:53) Kev: be surprised by that um all right next uh we have oh my god okay like cozy’s overdone but (0:32:04) Kev: next on the list is the studio ghibli inspired i’m no stop it you stop it people because (0:32:16) Kev: blurb just so people can see hotel galactic is a cozy home like they’re starting off with cozy (0:32:23) Kev: is a cozy management game inspired by studio ghibli’s classic pictures build the tourist (0:32:28) Kev: destination of your dreams oversee and unite your staff to forge a quirky family and make (0:32:34) Kev: friends as you explore this wholesomely nostalgic world oh my god like oh (0:32:42) Kev: I get people love Studio Ghibli, but c’mon people! (0:32:48) Kev: And it’s always the cutscenes, they always start with the cutscenes just to make sure that you know (0:32:52) Kev: Look at all the Studio Ghibli, and boy, wow, a lot of this is just legally distinct Studio Ghibli scenes (0:33:00) Kev: Um, the actual game, um, so I’m looking at it now, it’s, it, how do I describe this? (0:33:10) Kev: Because I, what’s funny is I, mmhmm, yep, yeah, yeah (0:33:10) Jonnie: So to me it looks like you’re you’re building a hotel like from a side profile, right? (0:33:15) Jonnie: So I I what it gave me a similar vibe to is kind of like how you build your ship in. Oh (0:33:23) Kev: spirit fair (0:33:23) Jonnie: My god spirit Ferrer, thank you. Yes, like that it was it was almost that sort of vibe (0:33:25) Kev: yep yep yep excellent (0:33:28) Kev: yep that that’s an excellent comparison uh… (0:33:31) Kev: yeah because it’s it’s it’s that’s or or terry of people know that right where (0:33:35) Kev: you can see on side the rooms (0:33:38) Kev: all at once uh… yeah that that’s pretty much uh… what it’s going for (0:33:42) Kev: uh… (0:33:43) Kev: again that is hotel galactic i (0:33:48) Kev: I like the concept I do like the concept but just uh… (0:33:53) Kev: the stuff has been over the (0:33:54) Jonnie: My initial reaction was exactly the same as yours of like we don’t need more studio Ghibli and then as I was watching it (0:33:59) Jonnie: I was like, but this one seems pretty good. Like I would probably play this game. So so maybe we do maybe we do (0:34:04) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I mean but it’s the aesthetic right because like the I’m excited by the concept and the gameplay, but just (0:34:14) Kev: um (0:34:16) Kev: Just everyone going after ghibli is (0:34:20) Kev: I say that but like, you know, manek. I’m just waiting for you or not maneko amika (0:34:27) Kev: Um, so, you know (0:34:29) Kev: um (0:34:30) Kev: Yeah, but uh digress (0:34:33) Kev: anyways… (0:34:34) Kev: we have… oh my gosh these names… (0:34:36) Jonnie: Oh, sorry, before we jump on, Hotel Galactic has kick-started launching in July. (0:34:40) Jonnie: So if there’s something you’re interested in, keep your eyes peeled. (0:34:43) Kev: oh thank you that’s that’s a good call um I’m I’m I probably won’t I’m bad at (0:34:49) Kev: kickstarters but I encourage other people too but there you go next up I (0:34:57) Kev: look I’m surprised this name has not already been done but here we are we (0:35:03) Kev: have super farming boy and that is a super farming boy like I just looking at (0:35:13) Kev: here it’s a little guy who’s flying around and he’s farming while he flies (0:35:18) Kev: what Oh chain reactions and combos what okay quirky creatures there’s a lot (0:35:25) Kev: going on with this game it’s (0:35:27) Jonnie: yeah so it seems to be more action adventure like it’s farming as the basis for action (0:35:35) Jonnie: adventure like they don’t even use the word cozy in the description of their game so (0:35:39) Kev: yep (0:35:39) Jonnie: I don’t even know when we’re talking about it because I thought that was how we defined you (0:35:42) Jonnie: just do a search for cozy and that’s uh but no it seems like it’s using farming as the basis for (0:35:47) Jonnie: like a combat uh action adventure i’m trying to think of like exactly what it reminds me of (0:35:56) Jonnie: but I can’t quite place it. (0:35:58) Kev: So, I like visually it’s, this is gonna sound weird, but it reminds me of the Amazing World of Gumball, the main characters. (0:36:09) Jonnie: Yeah. Yeah. No, it does. I see. I see what you’re saying. (0:36:12) Kev: Or Cuphead, that’s another comparison maybe, obviously not the hand-drawn 2D animation, but it’s a similar sort of style. (0:36:21) Kev: It’s very, very cartoony. Everything has eyes, you know what, I take that back. (0:36:25) Kev: Like some of the like the house has eyes and moves around that feels (0:36:28) Kev: very cuphead esk yeah so it is colorful it is different I will say that right (0:36:35) Kev: because it like he’s harvesting crops but it’s very dynamic because there’s (0:36:41) Kev: patterns and like he pulls one out other ones pop out in a chain and it’s (0:36:48) Kev: interesting and there is sort of like enemies that you have to deal with and (0:36:54) Kev: and you have to work your way through the upgrades to rescue. (0:36:58) Kev: I am interested in this. It’s different. It’s very different from a lot of other farming games. I will say. (0:37:12) Kev: Yeah, that is a super farming game. We again just announced that we’ll be doing an early access- Wait, oh! Is that- Oh! Demo’s already out! You can get a demo right now! How nice. (0:37:24) Kev: But no release date, I don’t think. (0:37:28) Kev: Or a tentative release date. (0:37:30) Kev: But yeah, there you go. Check out Super Farming Boy. Props to them for getting to that name first. I’m surprised no one else did. (0:37:40) Kev: Alright, next up we have Everhome. Oh goodness. They’re not saying it, but this is more- (0:37:58) Kev: Ghibli plot. I’m just reading the description here. (0:38:02) Kev: Lily was spirited away to a mysterious island as her memories fade. Everyone seems to know her and her quest for her missing sister. It’s time to establish a homestead, meet your friendly Everfolks, then learn their secrets and solve the mystery of Everhome. (0:38:18) Kev: So, we have an isometric looking game. You’re managing chickens. You’re farming. (0:38:28) Kev: It’s one of those things where it looks like where you plant one thing but you go like 10 crops or whatever. There’s a forest that you wander through with some sort of combat magic spells or something. There’s a lot of fiery sparks going on. (0:38:46) Kev: It is a- I think the aesthetic is kind of nice. Just the isometric view. But they’re planning a release for 2024. Ooh, a demo is already out. (0:38:58) Kev: That is nice. Yeah, do you have any thoughts on this one, Johnny? Everhome? (0:39:04) Jonnie: not really like i’m still just like not I can’t quite see enough of this to like I don’t know (0:39:10) Jonnie: like it’s not doing anything that I haven’t seen elsewhere and like everything about it looks good (0:39:17) Jonnie: but in the context of all of the games that we’ve talked about today like i’m not sure (0:39:21) Jonnie: that this one has anything that feels that distinct about it so i’m just struggling (0:39:26) Kev: Yeah, no, that’s very fair, right? Like, I agree. I think it looks nice, but it, like you said, doesn’t have anything really sticking out, or, uh, just, you know, uh, making it, differentiating it from all the other ones. (0:39:39) Kev: It’s kind of the opposite of Super Farming Boy, in that sense, right? Where Super Farming Boy is wild, and, and very clearly what that game’s going for, but, um, but, uh, but yeah, there you go. (0:39:53) Kev: That was ever home again. There’s demo for that one as well (0:39:56) Kev: And I think we actually got through all the news. Do you have any other comments or concerns, Johnny or news items I made? (0:40:03) Kev: I think we actually got through all the news. Do you have any other comments or concerns, Johnny or news items I made? (0:40:13) Jonnie: I think it’s just like a ton of exciting stuff coming up, right? So like, um, I think the next (0:40:19) Jonnie: few months if you’re listening to a show like this, like, look around because there’s a lot (0:40:24) Jonnie: of good stuff coming out or there’s cool demos, like, so just try some of the stuff out, like, (0:40:28) Jonnie: you know, um, and let us know what you’re thinking about, like, whatever it is that you’re playing, (0:40:33) Jonnie: because we’re now kind of getting to the phase where there’s so much, um, that’s distinct that (0:40:38) Jonnie: there’s going to be some really good games that we can’t cover on the show, you know, like there’s (0:40:42) Jonnie: There’s plenty of games that we haven’t covered. (0:40:44) Jonnie: You know, I think about a game like Sun Haven, but fundamentally, right? (0:40:48) Jonnie: Like if you like Stardew and, you know, all of the other clones. (0:40:52) Jonnie: Like Sun Haven is another one of those, right? (0:40:54) Jonnie: You don’t need us covering it to tell you that. (0:40:56) Jonnie: But I think there’ll be some games that we will really wish that we were able to get to on the show that we may not be able to. (0:41:01) Jonnie: So just love to hear from you guys. (0:41:03) Jonnie: If you’re playing anything that you’re like, wow, this is amazing. (0:41:06) Jonnie: Like this worked out really well. (0:41:07) Jonnie: Like that sort of feedback can help us know what’s worth covering because there’s a lot coming out. (0:41:12) Kev: Yeah absolutely um it’s it’s fantastic right because like I (0:41:20) Kev: you know obviously we’ve we’re biased covering these games and listening into the show and (0:41:26) Kev: whatever but like there’s a lot of studio ghibli a lot of cozy or whatever but the ones that stand (0:41:31) Kev: out um they’re very very exciting right go-go town we got south field wattle knots lots of good stuff (0:41:39) Kev: Um, uh, but yeah, there you go. (0:41:42) Kev: with that, uh, I think we can, uh, we can call it an episode. (0:41:47) Kev: We got through the news. (0:41:48) Kev: Um, uh, if you, uh, Johnny, where could people find you on the internet if you want to be found? (0:41:56) Jonnie: uh no I don’t think I do want to be found uh as always like I i just like you know suggest (0:42:02) Jonnie: if you can um going to patreon.com/thpspod um support the show get access to the slack (0:42:10) Jonnie: come and talk to us about what what uh cozy games you’re playing um and how you’re enjoying them so (0:42:16) Jonnie: it’s a great way to engage you know like with everyone on the show and we’re mostly just in (0:42:17) Kev: Yes right and like you know obviously we we’re only one show week right and so we (0:42:19) Jonnie: and they’re talking nonsense about what if we… (0:42:28) Kev: can only cover X many games in a year right but talking about it on the slack (0:42:34) Kev: would probably incentivize or incur not incentivize encourage us to to pick up a (0:42:39) Kev: certain one more right like we’ve had people discuss games on there or bring (0:42:44) Kev: to our attention stuff, but anyways. (0:42:47) Kev: Um, yeah, there you go, that’s the, uh, also you get access to the Greenhouse, um, Al’s uh, uh, our premium, uh, podcast about stuff that’s not farming Cottagecore games, um, uh, Al and Cody did one on other games that were nuts that went covered last week, um, but, uh, uh, you can find me @koopaprize on Twitter if you wanna see my personal account, you can find me @koopaprize2 if you wanna see some of my art, or, you can find me @koopaprize2 if you wanna see some of my art. (0:43:17) Kev: You can find me @rainbowroadradio, a podcast I do with our mutual friend Alex, um, that’s @rainbowmariopod on Twitter, or @rainbowroadradio on most other places, uh, we talk about Mario games, uh, we just recorded an episode about Mario and Luigi, partners in times, uh, where Mario and Luigi team up with their baby selves, um, which, yeah, it’s as weird as it sounds, um, okay. (0:43:44) Kev: I’m just thinking about like, you know, thinking about (0:43:47) Kev: that concept now. That’d be really weird to carry your own baby self around. (0:43:52) Kev: But yeah, go find out how the Mario Bros handled that. (0:43:56) Kev: Anyways, you can find Al at the Scottbot on Twitter or mastodon.scot. (0:44:04) Kev: You can find the podcast at THSPod or harvestseason.club, our website, where we have all our links. (0:44:12) Kev: We have the transcripts. You can provide feedback. (0:44:14) Kev: Uh, you hit up the Patreon, as Johnny mentioned. (0:44:17) Kev: Patreon.com/thspod for all that good stuff. (0:44:20) Kev: Um, uh, thank you, Johnny, for being on. (0:44:24) Kev: Thank you, Al, for having me on. (0:44:26) Kev: And until next time, dear listeners, have a good harvest! (0:44:29) Theme Tune: The harvest season is created by Al McKinlay, with support from our patrons, including our (0:44:40) Theme Tune: pro farmers, Kevin, Stuart and Alisa. (0:44:44) Theme Tune: Our art is done by Micah the Brave, and our music is done by Nick Burgess. (0:44:48) Theme Tune: Feel free to visit our website, harvestseason.club, for show notes and links to things we discussed (0:44:54) Theme Tune: in this episode. (0:45:05) Kev: Alright there we go, I did it. (0:45:08) Kev: You can go die now, hahaha. (0:45:08) Jonnie: So I realised, when I went to go have a bomb, I obviously muted myself on Zoom, but my local recording, and it’s not that far, so I’m like “I need to warn Al.” (0:45:13) Kev: Yup, aww it’s sick, there’s, well there’s, we don’t have a greenhouse but we have that (0:45:22) Jonnie: After the auticular bit… (0:45:28) Kev: for patria, hahahaha. (0:45:30) Jonnie: Gross.

Al and Kev go through their favourite marriage candidates in farming games Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:03:03: What Have We Been Up To 00:17:52: News 00:31:39: Marriage Candidates 01:05:25: Outro Links Tchia on Switch Sunnyside Release Spirittea “Helping Hands” Update Snacko Character Customisation My Time at Sandrock Cross Platform Multiplayer Stardew Valley 1.6.4 Monsterpatch Screenshot Moonstone Island Switch Tease Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. (0:00:34) Al: My name is Al. (0:00:37) Al: And we are here today to talk about cottagecore games. (0:00:43) Al: Transcripts are available as always in the show notes and on the website. (0:00:47) Al: Kevin, welcome back. (0:00:49) Al: How are you doing? (0:00:54) Al: Yes, it has. (0:00:55) Al: You were last on the pixel cross. (0:01:05) Al: Yeah, I’ll be honest, I haven’t played it since that episode. (0:01:11) Al: But I think that’s mainly because I don’t– (0:01:16) Al: well, it’s partly that. (0:01:17) Al: But I also think that the Switch is not the best way for me to play games like that. (0:01:23) Al: I think if I had it on my phone– (0:01:28) Al: no, it’s not even just that it’s like if I had it on my phone, (0:01:30) Al: I would do it a lot more. (0:01:31) Al: The problem is I don’t want to close the game that’s open on my switch to open that up. (0:01:35) Al: Well, yeah, they say that but it doesn’t ever work on the PS5, at least in my experience. (0:02:05) Al: In my experience, I’ve never managed to get it to actually work. (0:02:10) Al: But what do I know? I feel like it would be simple, but I don’t know. I’m not a games console developer. Oh yeah, it’s just software. I do software. It’s just that, right? It’s easy. (0:02:16) Kev: All game dev is simple, don’t you know? (0:02:23) Kev: It’s just copy-paste. (0:02:26) Al: Cool. So we are going to talk this episode about our favorite marriage candidates across different Kojkokou games. (0:02:32) Kev: Oh yeah, time for some deep lore, time for people to learn about us, or tags. (0:02:35) Al: Yeah, yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how many of Kevin’s are from wildflowers. (0:02:45) Kev: the answer just wildflowers (0:02:46) Al: Or will we actually learn some new information? (0:02:51) Al: So we’re going to talk about… (0:02:55) Al: Yeah, it’s just Wesley three times, right? (0:03:01) Al: So we’ve got, before that, we’ve got some news. (0:03:05) Al: What have you been up to? (0:03:06) Kev: Ohhh, what have I been up to? (0:03:10) Kev: Cassette Beasts, Cassette Beasts, you already know this, you listen to Rainbow Road audio. (0:03:14) Kev: Cassette Beasts! (0:03:14) Al: I haven’t listened to this week, still. (0:03:16) Kev: Um… (0:03:18) Kev: Oh, okay. Yeah, oh yeah, that’s true, but, um… (0:03:20) Kev: Uh, so Cassette Beasts, the… (0:03:24) Kev: Poet Monster Catching Not Pokemon Game. (0:03:28) Kev: Uh, I forget the name of the developer, but, uh, I have it on Switch. (0:03:38) Kev: cheap it’s good I don’t even know where to begin it’s just the presentation is immaculate because they put a lot of emphasis on their style a lot of 80s 90s influence you know as the titular presets were popular then right the music is fantastic the mechanics are there’s (0:04:08) Kev: substantial maybe a little confusing or overwhelming at times just because but that’s probably just because Pokemon has so long dominated the market slash my life right it’s hard to readjust but in general the game is pretty snappy and quick it feels a lot more dynamic than say Pokemon or I think most other monster catchers the designs are fun the the (0:04:39) Kev: interesting yeah I like I don’t I could go on into a whole episode about this I might it’s somebody else who’s a fan but I wonder I can hear him screaming from Australia right now but yeah cassette piece is just a plus plus stellar, stellar stuff, um, I uh, (0:04:51) Al: I wonder who that could be. (0:05:08) Kev: I’ll give you what I’m at near the end, I think from where where my quests are and my levels and whatnot (0:05:15) Kev: I’m in the last stretch of the game (0:05:19) Kev: It is (0:05:21) Kev: The Antagonists are interesting. It’s not just the Team Rocket ripoff. It’s a some otherworldly beings actually rather odd (0:05:33) Kev: And one thing about the game right there’s a partner system where you always (0:05:38) Kev: Have two players on the field by default on your side (0:05:42) Kev: And so there’s a handful of different characters you can pick as your partner (0:05:48) Kev: One of the last characters you unlock is named Barkley. They are just a dog who can transform into monsters (0:05:55) Kev: They have headphones, yeah (0:05:57) Kev: So Barkley is great. Um, but yeah, that’s that’s cassette beasts great grain great game (0:06:05) Kev: Aside from that I have been (0:06:08) Kev: flying since I picked up my 3DS for the termination of the online services, just to make sure some stuff was squared away. (0:06:17) Kev: I’ve fired up Weapon Shop Delmase. (0:06:24) Al: as you do. It’s an interesting combination of French and English there. (0:06:32) Kev: It’s made by a Japanese developer, so you know, that’s some good, good stuff. (0:06:36) Kev: Um… (0:06:38) Kev: It is a small, it is part of the what’s called the Guild collection (0:06:44) Kev: Compilation of different small smaller sized video games on the 3ds (0:06:50) Kev: by different developers and (0:06:54) Kev: Game directors and stuff like that (0:06:57) Kev: I’ve heard described as like a game jam But the people making them or you know established studios and developers so they are all (0:07:05) Kev: Polished games and whatnot (0:07:08) Kev: You play a weapon shop as the you know name wouldn’t fly you are in charge of a weapon shop where you have to forge weapons for various characters and heroes from your archetypal (0:07:22) Kev: RPG classic fantasy characters (0:07:25) Kev: there’s a (0:07:28) Kev: French knight who’s over the top and full bravado. There’s a (0:07:32) Kev: samurai Reserve in old-fashioned. There’s a Grand Mahalo swinging axes (0:07:38) Kev: and t. It’s a comedy game. So much to the point that it has an actual sitcom style laugh track. It is it is a fun little game. It’s it’s very laid back in space. The forging part of it is just a little rhythm mini game and the adventures that the characters have. You kind of read about them in the background. There’s like this little social media feed that you follow their updates and stuff like that. (0:08:09) Kev: Very, very cute. Very fun. It’s published by Level 5. The Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch Company. And they’re very good at making things very whimsical and cartoony and fun. And this game very much follows in that way. (0:08:24) Kev: But but yeah, that’s that’s mostly what I’ve been up to those two games. What about you, Al? Let’s go. (0:08:30) Al: Fair enough. Can you guess? Can you guess what I’ve been playing? (0:08:34) Kev: is it a stardew valley how many have you been marrying (0:08:37) Al: It’s Stardew Valley. I’m still, I’m still playing it. (0:08:41) Kev: are you marrying people left and right for this episode (0:08:45) Al: Oh, no. No, no, no. This play through has certainly not changed my opinions on (0:08:51) Kev: Yeah, yeah, uh, what, where are you? (0:08:52) Al: on any particular candidate. (0:08:55) Kev: What have you discovered or what’s how far into. (0:09:00) Al: All right. Well, so I have progressed quite a bit since the last episode, because I think it’s two episodes ago. And when I did that episode, it was like an early episode. And this is like a late recording episode. So it’s been like nearly three weeks. And I haven’t stopped playing that entire time. I keep trying to do other things and then I go, but I could be playing Stardew instead. Yeah. So I think last time I had just finished. (0:09:22) Kev: Exactly, but they’re not stardew, right? So why would you? (0:09:30) Al: I finished the Georgia stuff. So I had just finished buying all the standard Georgia stuff and Kelly shouted at me for that. Since then, I have done all of the other upgrades. So I’ve got the movie theater. I’ve given Palma House. I’ve given the shortcuts. I don’t know if you’ve done the show. (0:09:56) Kev: Uhh, I think I wanted to, I bet. (0:10:02) Al: So I’ve got them, I unlocked and finished Ginger Island. (0:10:06) Al: That’s all done. (0:10:07) Al: So I’m now just using it as a massive ancient fruit farm. (0:10:10) Kev: You finished it, wow. (0:10:12) Al: Yeah, yeah, no, I’ve done all that. (0:10:13) Al: So I’m just using it now as a massive ancient fruit farm. (0:10:17) Al: So I have, I think, 250 ancient fruit plants growing there, (0:10:23) Al: which so, yeah, so like every week I’m making, oh, let’s see. (0:10:30) Al: Uh, yeah, like. (0:10:31) Kev: You’re making JoJo levels of money. (0:10:32) Al: I’m making like 600,000 a week, I think, um, including I have, uh, every four days I make a hundred thousand from honey, uh, because did you know that (0:10:46) Al: fairy rose honey is worth a lot of money? (0:10:50) Al: And so I have a large section of ginger Island devoted entirely to be houses (0:10:55) Al: with fairy roses growing there. (0:10:58) Al: And yeah, every four days I make a hundred thousand from. (0:10:58) Kev: All right. (0:11:02) Kev: Dang, that’s– you got this down to a T. (0:11:02) Al: I have built three of the four obelisks now, so I just got the final one to do, (0:11:10) Al: which I should probably do after my next harvest. (0:11:13) Al: And I’ve bought the return scepter. (0:11:16) Al: So that is the first time I’ve bought the return scepter. (0:11:20) Kev: What is the return set to? (0:11:20) Al: It is very pleasing. (0:11:22) Al: Oh, have you not seen this? (0:11:23) Al: So that’s one that Crobus sells it. (0:11:27) Al: And it’s a tool that, I mean, it’s basically just a totem, right? (0:11:30) Al: So it lets you get home. (0:11:32) Al: But it’s like a portable obelisk or a multi-use totem. (0:11:38) Al: So yeah, you use it wherever you are and you get sent straight to your front door. (0:11:45) Al: So that has changed things significantly. (0:11:49) Al: Yeah, I mean, I’ve done most of the things. (0:11:52) Al: So I’m at now, what is it, 60% of the achievements on Steam. (0:11:59) Al: basically the only things I have left to do are, obviously. (0:12:02) Al: I’ve got one more obelisk to do, I’ve got the golden clock to get, (0:12:05) Al: which will take me quite a while because obviously it’s 10 million. (0:12:08) Al: That’s a lot of money. It’ll take me a couple of years to build up that. (0:12:10) Kev: But the turtle, though, that- (0:12:13) Al: Well, yeah, I could probably get that in a week if I wanted at this point. (0:12:20) Al: And then the only things I’ve got left to do are, there’s a few crafting recipes I haven’t used once. And I have basically not done any cooking. (0:12:30) Al: And I… (0:12:32) Al: I need… I have a lot of villagers that I have almost no hearts with. (0:12:36) Al: So if I want to get to completion, those are the things I need to do. (0:12:42) Al: The cooking and the friendship levels. (0:12:44) Al: Apparently, to get completion, you have to have cooked everything once (0:12:48) Al: and you have to have everyone at max hearts. (0:12:54) Kev: That sounds like you got the hard part stuck. (0:12:57) Al: I don’t know, I feel like that’s the hard bit. (0:13:00) Al: constantly going around and giving people (0:13:02) Al: gifts and just oh I don’t know like I well it’s just it’s so much work and it’s like you can only give them two gifts a week and I have figured out that everybody except Penny and Leia everyone except them like Jade the the gem and I’ve been hoarding a lot of Jade because I don’t know if you know this but in the desert, the desert trader. (0:13:04) Kev: Interacting with people, ugh. (0:13:30) Al: Um… (0:13:32) Al: will trade you a staircase if you give them a jade and so I’ve been I’ve got like a lot of crystalariums creating jade so that I can just take a hundred jade to the desert and get a hundred staircases and just like speed run my way down Skull Cavern to get some iridium. (0:13:51) Al: And they only take two days to do a jade so every two days I get another like 20 jade or something so I have just got like a hundred jade on me at all time to just give to anyone. (0:14:02) Al: Nobody whenever I see them but the problem is I just like doing that consistently is the annoying bit so I don’t know if I will ever if I will try and get to completion or not I haven’t decided because that bit in and of itself that and the cooking in and of itself it’s a lot of work. (0:14:21) Al: Like there’s there’s a few bits and pieces like I haven’t shipped everything yet there’s a few things I haven’t shipped but that’s like maybe 15 things I haven’t shipped right That’s probably pretty easy to do. (0:14:32) Al: That won’t take me long, like, you know, that would take me a season probably at best because you can grow anything on Ginger Island at any point. (0:14:38) Kev: Peasant crops (0:14:50) Al: And I now have the point, and now I can buy anything from Pierre at any point. (0:14:54) Al: So I can just go and buy the stuff and grow it and ship it if I care, but I’ve not decided of a care amount. (0:15:02) Al: you know so I don’t know I’m just going just now I suspect I will fall off before I get to that point like that’s a lot of work to get to that point I’m in year four now yeah I can’t it’s yeah there’s a there’s I’ve done a lot what’s my playtime on Steam let’s see my playtime so bear in mind this is my entire Steam playtime but obviously I only (0:15:32) Al: started playing on Steam when the 1.6 update come out. Is that a month ago now? (0:15:36) Al: Is that a month ago? About a month ago. That’s 124 hours. So, yeah. (0:15:46) Kev: I honestly I thought it would be longer like I was I was making 300 (0:15:49) Al: Wow, thanks. Let me check when the date was. March 19th. It’s not quite been a month. It’s not been a month yet. (0:16:02) Al: Uh. One, two, three, four. It’s not even been four. It’s four weeks on, four weeks on Tuesday. Um, so 124 by four. That’s 30, 30, 31 hours a week. I’m doing a full-time job here. Yeah. Oh man. If you could print, if you could print money from stard yard, (0:16:02) Kev: Well, there you go. See? Plenty of time to do the comp- (0:16:20) Kev: Yeah, but which one’s more pro- well, maybe not profitable. It’s satisfying, at least. (0:16:27) Kev: Which one’s the real job? (0:16:30) Al: be a millionaire. (0:16:32) Al: I have, I’m at, I’m over, what am I at now? I’m over 10 million. Yeah. 10 million total I’ve made. Um, I just. We’ll get to that foreshadowing. So I don’t think, I don’t think when I record the next episode that I’ll still be playing it, I think I’ll be in another break, but yeah, it’s, it’s been fun. I have enjoyed, I’ve enjoyed this play through. I I would highly recommend anybody who’s played… (0:16:40) Kev: That’s what’s in the .64 update. (0:17:02) Al: Stardew before to go over with a Jojo run, I do think it’s fun, a fun way to do things. (0:17:07) Kev: Nothing like crushing the local small businesses always a good time (0:17:07) Al: Yeah. (0:17:08) Al: Look, look, none of the businesses shut down and Jojo gives some jobs, like I don’t see the problem here, you know? (0:17:16) Kev: Yeah, yeah, well you’re not wrong long! (0:17:21) Al: And plus, let’s not pretend like Stardew is an anti-capitalist game, I have sold… (0:17:26) Al: I’ve made 10 million G’s, I am a capitalist. (0:17:28) Kev: Heh heh heh heh. (0:17:32) Al: If anyone is a capitalist, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was making more money than Jojo now. (0:17:36) Kev: I’m the captain of industry. (0:17:38) Al: Plus, if you don’t do the Jojo route, you can’t buy the auto petters, you have to go through Skull Cavern to get them, and that’s not fun. (0:17:47) Al: So. (0:17:49) Al: Great. (0:17:51) Al: That’s what I’ve been playing. (0:17:52) Al: Should we talk about some news? (0:17:56) Al: Alright, Chia, which is the game… (0:18:01) Kev: See ya! (0:18:02) Al: Based on New Caledonia, they have announced that they’re releasing a Switch version on the 27th of June, so if you’re waiting for the Switch version of this game, there you go. (0:18:14) Al: 27th of June. (0:18:19) Kev: Well, I forget, every time I see the trailer for that game, that is a game with a lot of stuff. (0:18:24) Al: Yes, I still haven’t played it but it’s definitely on my ‘maybe play at some point’ list because it does look like it would be good fun. (0:18:36) Al: Yeah, what’s better? (0:18:42) Al: Sunnyside have announced that they’re releasing on the 24th of May on Steam and on PlayStation and Xbox on the 10th of June. (0:18:51) Al: They just said, it’s really annoying, they said, “Steam on the 24th of May and (0:18:54) Al: consoles on 10th of July” and I was like, “What do you mean by consoles?” (0:18:57) Al: And I had to look through their video and pause on the back last thing to see that there is no switch, no switch is coming. (0:19:04) Al: They have confirmed in their replies on Twitter that it is not going to switch but there you go. (0:19:11) Kev: Of course, the Switch isn’t a real console, that’s for babies. (0:19:16) Al: Yeah, there we go. (0:19:30) Al: I don’t know what to say. (0:19:36) Al: I have a pizza planet top. (0:19:37) Al: I’m fat. (0:19:37) Al: I’m thinking, yeah, I’m wearing a pizza planet top right now. (0:19:42) Al: Yeah. (0:19:44) Al: I bought it when we, I bought it when we went to Disney and Los Angeles when I was there in February. (0:19:51) Al: I thought so. (0:19:52) Al: I thought so. (0:19:52) Al: I was like, I’m going to have to buy something. (0:19:54) Al: Let’s see what we’ve got. (0:19:54) Al: And I saw a pizza. (0:19:55) Al: And the best thing about it is it doesn’t say Disney or Toy Story on it at all. (0:20:01) Al: It’s entirely like it’s an in-universe thing. (0:20:02) Al: It’s just pizza planet. (0:20:03) Al: So those who know know and those who don’t know, yeah, I thought so. (0:20:04) Kev: Oh man, that’s the best! (0:20:06) Kev: Yeah. (0:20:08) Kev: That doesn’t have the stench of corporate brand. Just as strong. (0:20:12) Kev: But, uh… (0:20:13) Al: I mean, it is for a pizza place. (0:20:14) Kev: Yeah. (0:20:15) Al: So, you know, real ones know. (0:20:16) Kev: But, real ones. (0:20:25) Al: Spirity have announced that their Helping Hands update is out now. (0:20:31) Al: It looks like the big thing is you get more hints towards how you you’re doing things if you’re stuck so you can ask one young who is the floating cats better on a donut that goes around with you. (0:20:46) Kev: it hints are great. Actually, one of the things about cassette beasts that I really love, (0:20:46) Al: If you’re stuck, you can ask him for hints. (0:20:56) Kev: they call it rumors, where random townspeople will give you information on where to look for (0:21:04) Kev: different objectives, including monsters that you have not captured. (0:21:11) Al: nice. I would like that in Pokemon games because this is the thing the number of times that I just have to go to Serebii to figure out where this Pokemon is is dreadful. (0:21:22) Kev: Yup, I am always fervently of the belief that you should never have to. (0:21:36) Al: Stardew does that well, I mean, like it’s quicker to go to the internet for a lot of things but the secret notes and the lost books tell you literally everything about that game. (0:21:49) Al: Like the number of times I go “oh what about this thing?” and I search and it’s like “well it was in this lost book” and you’re like “oh don’t tell me I need to reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!” (0:21:56) Kev: Alright, that’s a whole different discussion. (0:21:57) Al: Yeah, no kidding, no kidding. (0:22:06) Al: The books they’ve added in the 1.6 update in Stardew as well is quite fun, I don’t know if you’ve seen that but they give you like extra powers and stuff like that, they’re good for you. (0:22:17) Al: Bum-ba-dum-ba-dum, where are we? We are at, yeah, Spirity, you know you’ve not played Spirity have you? It was me and Johnny who did the episode. All right, cool. I don’t think this is dragging me into playing the game again, I will say. (0:22:36) Al: Bunch of extra quality for life improvements as well but I’m not going to go over them just now because they’re pretty specific to if you’ve played the game. I don’t think any of these are going to be like “oh I must play that game now” now that they’ve removed Pooh Bird near the players house that led to nowhere. Like that was the one thing that was stopping me playing that game. All right, what’s next? We’ve got Snacko. Snacko have added in their newest update. (0:23:07) Al: I’m not going to talk about version. (0:23:08) Kev: Yeah, yeah, that, uh, did long time coming and. (0:23:09) Al: In their latest update, they have added character customization, which is good. (0:23:14) Al: And we like character customization. (0:23:16) Al: This is good, good job. (0:23:19) Al: We like it. (0:23:25) Al: So if you want, if you want a pink cat with a neon yellow tail and two differently colored eyes, then you can do that. (0:23:32) Kev: That sounds rad actually oh, yeah now you’re a real gamer (0:23:36) Al: That’s the word I couldn’t remember. (0:23:41) Al: I was like, I knew it was something I couldn’t remember what it was. (0:23:54) Al: They’ve also reaffirmed that they are planning on getting 1.0 out this year. They’ve said late this year, so if I were to bet, I would be betting it’s next year, but I’m not (0:24:06) Kev: Well, I mean, they’re at 0.9.2, so, you know, how many more could there be? (0:24:10) Al: Yeah, but they started at like 0.8.3 or something, right? (0:24:18) Al: Kevin, what are you doing? (0:24:19) Al: I said I wasn’t gonna talk about the version numbers. (0:24:21) Al: Stop it. (0:24:22) Al: My time at Sandrock have announced that they’re bringing cross-platform multiplayer to the game this summer. (0:24:22) Kev: Oh, that’s good. (0:24:31) Kev: Okay, but no general that is good across the platform should be the double for everything right or the a goal for everyone (0:24:44) Al: Yeah, I’m still not playing the game. (0:24:48) Al: But a game I am playing, Stardew Valley, concerned David has announced that there is a 1.6.4 is coming out soon. (0:24:53) Kev: What version number, Al? (0:24:58) Kev: The fourth 1.6 update. (0:25:03) Al: The fifth one actually, I think. (0:25:06) Al: The numbers always start at zero, counting starts at zero, Kevin. (0:25:11) Al: And yes, there’s a new update coming. (0:25:14) Al: Uh, I wouldn’t normally mention this, but it does say there is adding some new, a few goodies as well as bug fixes. (0:25:23) Al: So it’s not just bug fixes. (0:25:24) Al: There is some other stuff coming. (0:25:26) Al: No hints. (0:25:28) Al: Well, no, no hints are hints. (0:25:30) Al: Yes, there are hints, uh, a new fishing thing and some new mining related. (0:25:36) Kev: Oh, a new fishing thing, is it gonna be, is it making it good? (0:25:41) Kev: Is that the update? (0:25:42) Al: I’ve caught all the fish by the way that’s done those legendary fish were quite a quite a struggle but I got them (0:25:45) Kev: Oh, man, oh, man. (0:25:56) Kev: Yeah, but I am curious what it is though, but there you go Just you thought you were out, but he’s concerned. It’s about to reel you back in right away (0:26:08) Al: I thought the point was I wasn’t out yet. (0:26:10) Kev: Well you said you might be out, but you’re you’re definitely not gonna (0:26:16) Al: Speaking of not being out, or being it, Monster Patch, which is the new monster collector from Sean Young, who made Littlewood, he has posted a new screenshot of the playable trainers (0:26:33) Al: for the game. And yet again, for some reason, this screenshot also includes the dead dude. So I really want to know what the deal is with this dead dude, because this is, (0:26:43) Al: I think, the third screenshot we’ve had with this guy just lying on the street dead in a pool of blood. (0:26:50) Al: » Yeah. (0:26:50) Kev: What if it’s not in the game and it’s just in all the promo or screenshots? (0:26:57) Kev: That or my arm (0:26:59) Kev: That and breakfast has this running joke where in all their patch notes. They have some mention of a character named Gus He’s a possum wielding a knife the state of him having the knife or not (0:27:11) Kev: It’s not in the game, but just (0:27:14) Kev: But anyways moons not moon star (0:27:18) Kev: Monster patch (0:27:22) Al: It’s a cool selection of playable characters. It makes it sound like it’s not customization, (0:27:26) Al: which I think I’m fine with. I don’t think every game needs to have character customization. (0:27:30) Kev: - Yeah. (0:27:34) Al: I think you need to make a decision about whether the game should have or not, and it sounds more like that you are playing that specific character rather than playing as yourself. In that sort of situation it makes sense not to have card to customization, right? (0:27:52) Al: It’s weird for RPGs where you’re like, “Oh, hey, here’s this person.” (0:27:56) Al: And it’s like, “Oh, I’m going to make this person me.” (0:27:59) Al: And it’s like, “No, no, the point is, it’s their story, not yours.” (0:28:02) Kev: Right right one interesting thing he says each trainer has a unique passive ability (0:28:10) Kev: drastically influence your playstyle that that is I think that’s actually pretty cool (0:28:14) Kev: um I don’t know what those abilities are exactly the hard mode it’s it’s the the guy with the rainbow mohawk you know the devil or (0:28:16) Al: That just means I’m gonna have to play this game 12 times, right? (0:28:26) Al: Yeah, or the one with the devil horns, maybe. (0:28:32) Al: Yeah, yeah, no, I’m I loved everything I’ve seen about this game, but I look forward to playing it. (0:28:42) Kev: Unlike the guy with the bandana, his eyes are not open. (0:28:46) Al: Or, you know, the guy in the pool of blood. (0:28:55) Al: His eyes are doing nothing. (0:28:57) Al: Finally, Moonstone Island. (0:29:01) Al: Don’t get excited. (0:29:02) Al: This isn’t a huge thing, but Moonstone Island have reminded us that it’s spring. (0:29:07) Al: It is currently spring, and that’s important because they said the Switch version was coming out in spring, 2024. (0:29:12) Kev: “Oh, is that why you’re bringing this up? I was very confused! Hahaha!” (0:29:16) Al: Spring 2024 is when the Switch version comes out, so, the game could come out on Switch anytime between now and they say June 24th. (0:29:17) Kev: “Okay.” (0:29:20) Kev: “Okay.” (0:29:28) Kev: You there you go (0:29:30) Al: Which is the definition of Spring that they use. (0:29:32) Kev: Now there you go until they have to reach for that southern hemisphere spring (0:29:40) Al: Mm. Kevin, your opinion on everything getting fish bow, fish bow. (0:29:45) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:29:47) Kev: Yeah, oh yeah. Um, it’s pretty good at first and I heard about like a boy then I saw it. No, they look pretty good (0:29:54) Kev: The only one I’m really hoping for I (0:29:57) Kev: Hope they put (0:29:58) Kev: a whole fish bow inside a fish bow if they do that that’s it, that’s the deal it’s genius, you can’t compete (0:30:01) Al: I want them to do so what was that I can’t remember the name of it but the one that was like just a tree trunk and it’s like spinning round I want them to do that but like scale it prop scale it properly so he’s sticking out the fishbowl and spinning around inside the fish ball. (0:30:16) Kev: oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah oh gosh, log something yeah, log something yeah, that’d be a good one [Laughter] (0:30:28) Kev: Whoa, that’s good. That’s strong. I like that. That’s good. That’s good thinking out. Oh, man. I’m down for that (0:30:34) Al: Like there’s so much fun things they could do with this. (0:30:37) Kev: Yes, they could um, oh man, oh (0:30:42) Kev: Gotta give a little diver suits to the fire ones so they don’t die in the water (0:30:46) Al: Oh, I just noted that that one is the the tree trunk one is in the original tweet. (0:30:51) Kev: oh (0:30:51) Al: And it is it’s not it is to scale, but it’s quite small, but he is sticking out the fishbowl. (0:30:54) Kev: Yeah, yep, oh well, you know yeah, I did but gotta make a little (0:30:58) Al: So. (0:31:03) Al: Yeah, it’s still good. (0:31:05) Al: Still sticking out. (0:31:06) Al: Don’t worry. (0:31:07) Al: Cool. (0:31:09) Kev: there’s what now I’m just remembering moon style there’s one that’s just like a teardrop that with the face just just put the fishbowl with just that the like face just have him in there okay news (0:31:09) Al: That’s all the news. (0:31:11) Al: Oh. (0:31:22) Al: Yeah… News is finished. That is it. The news has newsed. (0:31:31) Kev: news ever until next week all right Al (0:31:34) Al: It has newsed. Hmm. Can you tell I’m tired? (0:31:40) Al: We’re going to talk about marriage candidates. So we have played between us a lot of farming games, (0:31:48) Al: of which many of them have romance. (0:31:49) Kev: have yep I’d known complainer of romance let’s see which ones I like (0:31:52) Al: And yeah, well, this is the thing, so like, I think, I mean, just to make it clear, I think we’re probably both on the same page with this, is that I don’t think that either of us dislikes the concept of romance in games full stop, but that a lot of games put it in because they feel like they need to, not because they want to, and then they don’t put in the effort into it and the character. (0:32:10) Kev: of course right right (0:32:22) Al: Characters feel flat, their dialogue feels shallow and you don’t feel like you’re actually a character in this game trying to woo this person, you feel like you’re trying to check. (0:32:35) Kev: Rigs exactly absolutely right looking at you (0:32:39) Kev: What’s what’s the one that’s not Stardew Valley though? No, no the other one the the one the names like it (0:32:42) Al: Fae Farm. Not Fae Farm, the other one. Oh, Sugardew Island. Yes! (0:32:47) Kev: with Sugardew yeah (0:32:52) Kev: Fred those waters carefully sugardew (0:32:56) Kev: But but yeah absolutely oh, you know what surprise cassette piece has romance in it (0:33:02) Kev: You can romance one of the partners if you’d like (0:33:06) Kev: Which caught me by surprise? (0:33:08) Kev: price. (0:33:10) Al: So, we’re gonna talk about what marriage candidates we have liked the most in these games. (0:33:16) Al: I have a list of three. (0:33:17) Al: I don’t know what you have, because I can’t see your list. (0:33:18) Kev: I have… I have four. (0:33:22) Al: You have four. (0:33:23) Al: Okay. (0:33:24) Al: Well, you’ll need to start then, but before we get into that… (0:33:27) Al: I guess… (0:33:28) Al: What? (0:33:28) Kev: Well, well, I was about to say I well I have three and one that you know, that’s a thing (0:33:29) Al: Sorry. (0:33:35) Kev: But we’ll get to that. Okay, let’s this let’s do the stardew one. I assume you have a stardew one (0:33:42) Kev: Okay, so that right. This is our starting point the the OG (0:33:46) Kev: What? (0:33:48) Kev: Who’s your stardew pick out? (0:33:50) Al: Well you’ve got to start because you’ve got four, otherwise you’ll do two in a row. (0:33:51) Kev: Okay, okay fine. All right. I went with Leia Leia I don’t know. (0:33:57) Al: Okay, Lea Lea doesn’t matter, we don’t have voice acting, it can be whatever you want. Lea Lea, (0:33:57) Kev: I never know how to pronounce your name. (0:33:59) Kev: Yeah. (0:34:02) Kev: Yeah. (0:34:03) Al: that’s fine. Was Lea your first marriage candidate and starred you? Okay, what drew you to her? (0:34:03) Kev: All right. (0:34:04) Kev: There you go. (0:34:05) Kev: Um. (0:34:08) Kev: So. (0:34:10) Kev: Yes. (0:34:12) Kev: Yes. (0:34:14) Kev: All right. (0:34:16) Kev: You know, like. (0:34:18) Kev: Wow. (0:34:19) Kev: It’s. (0:34:20) Kev: I feel like this is very illuminating. (0:34:24) Kev: She’s the only nice one it feels like. (0:34:24) Al: Oh no. Oh, interesting. Yeah, no, I guess she is, she is right, because like, (0:34:28) Kev: Right? (0:34:30) Al: you first meet her and she’s like, “Oh, you’re from the city, what’s it like there?” (0:34:34) Al: You know, whereas so many others are not, they’re not interested or downright mean in some cases. (0:34:39) Kev: Yep, yep (0:34:43) Kev: So, okay. Well, all right, let’s be cool. Let’s back up a second My fish pic was gonna be robbing but then the game was it all know she’s married and whatnot. I’m fine (0:34:52) Al: So you find the other the other red head then. (0:34:55) Kev: I can’t remember the second was (0:34:58) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I don’t remember the second one was but there was somebody also married I can’t remember (0:35:07) Kev: But then out of the actual eligible ones (0:35:09) Kev: I was gunning for Hailey, I recall it first But then, not only did she shoot me down at the Spring Dance But she taught me down hard, she was like “Ewwwwww” (0:35:18) Al: she she does that is like that is if if that’s your first example of stardew like 12 days in and hilly just goes oh you’re like oh my wow he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he (0:35:29) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I’m just I just kind of throw my hands up like well (0:35:40) Kev: People and then I properly met Leia and and it’s like, you know, I’m fine. You’re you’re the only decent tree on treating me decent (0:35:51) Kev: That is by and large the only thing I needed (0:35:57) Kev: That said I do like (0:35:59) Kev: Her whole art thing. I think being an artist is a cool thing. I (0:36:06) Al: I’m not sure what her sculpture is meant to be, though. (0:36:08) Kev: Did nope I don’t either and I’ve been told her that (0:36:13) Al: It’s certainly something. (0:36:15) Kev: It’s abstract Al all right (0:36:19) Al: You’re not wrong. (0:36:20) Al: It is definitely abstract. (0:36:22) Kev: What about you out who won you over you won over (0:36:24) Al: Yeah, okay. (0:36:29) Al: I think I’ve talked about this before, but my first and still favourite marriage candidate… (0:36:29) Kev: » At gunpoint, perhaps. (0:36:30) Kev: » [LAUGH] (0:36:36) Al: that inspired you is Hailey. (0:36:38) Kev: She’ll like it when she said “ew.” (0:36:40) Al: The reason why is the exact reason that you were absolutely… (0:36:46) Al: It’s the exact same reason that you decided to stop trying with her. (0:36:50) Al: I was very insulted when you first meet her, and she goes, “She’s just so dismissed above you, and then she’s mean to you.” (0:36:59) Al: And it’s like, there’s an amazing moment when you walk up to her and she’s like, “Oh, you (0:37:06) Al: got in the latest catalogue of some magazine, because dirty, muddy boots are really in fashion just now.” (0:37:10) Kev: Yeah. (0:37:10) Kev: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. (0:37:15) Al: And you’re like, “Whoa! (0:37:16) Al: Oh, what! (0:37:17) Al: What was that?” (0:37:21) Al: You’re just like, “I love a challenge, right? (0:37:24) Al: It’s a game. (0:37:25) Al: The whole point of games is to be challenged.” (0:37:28) Al: And so I was like, “Oh, this is a person who really doesn’t like me, doesn’t like (0:37:36) Al: the idea of me, and I know that I can win her around, and I just need to figure out why.” (0:37:43) Al: And actually, I found that her story progression from that to falling in love with you is actually really sweet because she realises that she doesn’t need to care, she starts off so superficial and ends up realizing that. (0:37:48) Kev: - Yeah. (0:38:06) Al: But love is much deeper than that and I thought that was really nice and that’s why I think she has the most progression of any character that I’ve… (0:38:12) Kev: It is. So, I would agree, you know, I’ve read stuff on the Wiki and stuff, and I did see several of her scenes, because I still talk to Hayley Plenty and had friendship events with her and whatnot. And I agree, I think, not even just Stardew, I think in almost any game with romance, that’s probably one of the biggest character arcs/growth of a character I’ve seen, which is pretty (0:38:42) Kev: cool. Um, yeah, no, no, I get it. Um, uh, and like I said, I went for her first, right? (0:38:49) Kev: Blondes, like, yeah, let’s be honest. Um, but, uh, you know, it is interesting to me. (0:38:56) Kev: This is very revealing about how or why we play games in general, right? Like you appreciated the challenge and absolutely I get that, right? Both in terms of a game or, or, you know, (0:39:09) Kev: a thing with relationships. (0:39:12) Kev: I like the fantasy escapism of games, and I get enough failures in the real world! (0:39:14) Al: Yeah, I’m not sure I would want that in real life. Right? Like, you know. (0:39:21) Al: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. (0:39:28) Al: Well, and that’s an interesting thing, right? Like, I wonder how much of that is, and that sounds pretty accurate, right? Because, like, I first played Stardew when I was already married for, like, 2016. I’d been married for three years at that point, you know? So I was, like, I, you know, wasn’t experiencing that in real life. So it’s not like I would be, like, it would be reminding me of experiences in life that I didn’t want to think about, (0:39:32) Kev: Yeah? Sure. (0:39:42) Kev: Okay. (0:39:52) Kev: Yeah, yeah, oh man, oh (0:39:59) Al: it was very different to that. And I certainly, you know, I didn’t have to, it’s not like I didn’t have to work to make Rona fall in love with me. Of course I did, like, these things are always work, but it’s not the same thing. She didn’t, she was always a nice person. She, you know, (0:40:05) Kev: Yeah (0:40:13) Kev: Your drought your dowry was enough (0:40:14) Al: didn’t first… Yeah, exactly, exactly. No, she, no, no, she, you know, she’s always been a nice person. And so it’s not… I think that’s interesting. Yeah. (0:40:29) Kev: It is because You know that I think this is actually really important context because i’m on the (0:40:35) Kev: Polar ops end of the spectrum like for people who haven’t fought on from things I’ve said over these i’m gonna i’m just laying it all out for you people like I (0:40:44) Kev: have never had (0:40:46) Kev: Not only a relationship i’ve never been able to get a date. Let’s i’ll be honest here like (0:40:53) Kev: Look at me people like ugh (0:40:55) Kev: um, so my (0:40:56) Al: You’re not an audio podcast, Kevin! (0:40:57) Kev: experience flesh (0:41:01) Kev: Well, I’m being open here! You wanted a relationship! (0:41:03) Al: Look at me. (0:41:05) Kev: This is it man! This is the heart of it! (0:41:07) Al: I wasn’t expecting a therapy session, but here we go. (0:41:11) Kev: Well, now you guess what! This is why romance is a thing! (0:41:13) Al: Oh, dear. (0:41:17) Kev: Like I said, escapism and fantasy! (0:41:18) Al: Oh, dear. (0:41:20) Kev: Well, let’s get it going today! (0:41:24) Kev: Alright! (0:41:29) Al: » Listeners, if you wanna date Kevin, message in, we’ll get it started. (0:41:35) Kev: So if you do, you gotta compete with some other ones! (0:41:39) Kev: Because, before Leia, (0:41:43) Kev: many moons ago for an even younger Kevin. (0:41:47) Kev: I was in middle school, actually. (0:41:50) Kev: I had interest in girls at that point, but I wasn’t dating, per se. (0:41:54) Kev: I was too young for that, for the family and whatnot. (0:41:58) Kev: But I played a game called Harvest Moon, A Wonderful Life. (0:42:01) Kev: And it is there where I first met my first ever sweetheart of ever! (0:42:05) Kev: Any kind, virtual or not. (0:42:07) Kev: Celia/Cecilia in the remake. (0:42:11) Kev: She was one of three candidates. (0:42:16) Kev: There was… she is… (0:42:19) Kev: So there was the other two that I didn’t select. (0:42:21) Kev: Her name was Nami. (0:42:23) Kev: She’s the kinda tough girl. (0:42:26) Kev: More distant to Luke kinda girl. (0:42:30) Kev: There was Muffy. (0:42:35) Kev: Or Molly in the remake. (0:42:37) Kev: She was the barkeep. (0:42:40) Kev: And Molly was nice enough. (0:42:43) Kev: But again, Celia/Cecilia, she’s very sweet. (0:42:47) Kev: She works on a farm, right? (0:42:49) Kev: So she gets what you’re doing. (0:42:51) Kev: She’s very down-to-earth and sweet. (0:42:54) Kev: And really just a sweetheart. (0:42:56) Kev: And I think that’s what won me over. (0:42:58) Kev: She’s also just mechanically like the easiest to win over. (0:43:02) Kev: Um, because again, she works in a farm so she likes crops and stuff like that her gifts are easiest to get to and you probably encountered her more going to the farm to purchase supplies and whatnot but she obviously has a special place in my heart for being the the very first yeah and in the remake she’s pretty much the same thing still still wonderful person and what’s cool is when you marry her like her helping around the farm and stuff feels very natural right? (0:43:35) Kev: I think that’s a fun little element because you know sometimes your person you marry or whatever they’ll help out but you can tell you know they’re trying they get a gold star for trying right but nah she she knows what she’s doing on the farm and I think that’s pretty cool yeah all right what about you who’s (0:43:51) Al: Fair enough. (0:43:55) Al: So my number two, um, is, uh, uh, study of seasons, tree of towns. (0:44:02) Al: We have Iluca. (0:44:04) Al: Um, Iluca is, uh, one of, uh, the, um, identical twins in, if you’ve, if anybody has played the game, uh, the, um, I can’t remember. (0:44:16) Kev: Oh, oh yeah, okay. (0:44:17) Kev: She’s a winner. (0:44:18) Kev: I just Googled her up. (0:44:19) Kev: I like that. (0:44:20) Kev: All right. (0:44:21) Al: Remember, I can’t remember the name of the town because it’s been a couple of days. (0:44:26) Al: Um, there’s, uh, there’s like three try towns and the one that she’s from is like a kind of Islander style, like Pacific Islander style village. (0:44:36) Kev: Paros, oh wait, carousel. Oh, is that the name? I’m looking at the wiki here (0:44:43) Kev: Sorry, no, that’s a cafe name. Sorry. Oh (0:44:46) Al: Yeah, no, no, it’s Lulu Coco. So the interesting thing about this is so you unlock the three towns as you go. So you start off with one of them, which is like the Western US style one, and then you unlock the one that is like based on a Japanese town. And then you unlock this one, (0:44:48) Kev: Lulu Coco (0:45:00) Kev: Yeah frontier sure (0:45:08) Al: which is more kind of Pacific Islander type thing. And so if you start off this game and you (0:45:16) Al: look for your marriage candidate, you are not going to find Aluka or her sister Saluka. (0:45:21) Al: and you (0:45:22) Kev: That is a cool little (0:45:24) Kev: Little twist right because I think especially storage seasons they they very much trained you like you know You got to start looking right away, but having all these characters locked (0:45:32) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, because you want it, because it’s a lot of work, right? You got to start early. And, you know, it’s not that there was nobody else in that game that I thought would be an interesting marriage candidate, but there was no one that was like, “Oh, this is the person I must woo.” And then you unlock this third town and you’re like, “Oh, no, (0:45:37) Kev: Right yep (0:45:53) Kev: Yeah (0:45:56) Al: this is it. This is the person.” And the interesting thing is they have, obviously they are identical Oh, twins, they look- (0:46:02) Al: Almost identical, the only difference is physically are they wear different coloured clothes and they tend to have different facial expressions, but that’s because their characters are very different, their personalities are very different. (0:46:18) Al: And as you get to know them, you find that out very quickly. (0:46:23) Kev: I I take it she’s a (0:46:32) Al: uh no so it’s it’s more well no not really so it’s more like Seleucah is more um how would I describe it uh she’s kind of more kind of like sleepy I guess kind of like not she just kind of (0:46:46) Kev: Yeah. (0:46:49) Kev: Okay, she goes through life at her own pace and sometimes does nothing, per the wiki. (0:46:49) Al: takes things as she yeah yeah exactly exactly oh does that what the wiki says yeah no I think I think Iluka is much more strong-willed and has a lot more. (0:46:56) Kev: Yeah. [laughs] (0:47:02) Al: I’ll use the same words as the wiki, I guess, if that’s what you’re reading out. (0:47:13) Kev: He’s somewhat strong-willed and also has a cheerful personality. (0:47:22) Al: So yeah, I think that’s a really fun thing to do, is to have identical twins who have quite different personalities. (0:47:30) Kev: Yeah, no that that is pretty cool um that is I like that that’s very good um and also purple hair thumbs up for that (0:47:39) Al: Yeah, it’s funny that they both have purple hair, because that implies that either it is a genetic thing, in which case I’m intrigued there, or they both decided to get their hair dyed the same color. (0:47:52) Kev: Ah, yeah, both are very interesting implications. (0:47:52) Al: That seems odd to me, especially as they’re so similar in lots of other ways. (0:47:59) Al: So, yeah. (0:48:01) Al: So yeah, that’s my second one. (0:48:04) Kev: All right. (0:48:06) Kev: My third one. (0:48:07) Kev: So as much as I was not a fan of the romance in this game, (0:48:14) Kev: being present at all, really. (0:48:16) Kev: And the characters, I think, in general, were a bit flat. (0:48:22) Kev: Sarah from Moonstone Island. (0:48:26) Kev: So she is the town’s blacksmith. (0:48:31) Kev: And I think her personality stands out from a lot of other characters. (0:48:37) Kev: Not in just Moonstone Island, but across the board in these College Corps games as a character, (0:48:44) Kev: especially a female that you can romance and whatnot, right? (0:48:48) Kev: He is very, very like bubbly. (0:48:52) Kev: He is very very like bubbly and cheerful. (0:48:54) Kev: She will not necessarily go after you, she will not ask you out on dates per se, but she will openly flirt with you and what not. (0:49:04) Kev: Yeah, right from the start, yep. (0:49:04) Al: like, right from the start as well. Like, she’s so, so fast into that. You’re like, “Whoa! Calm down!” (0:49:08) Kev: Yup. (0:49:10) Kev: And so, yeah, I do think that stands out, and again, the fact is, yes. (0:49:22) Kev: But, you know, someone who gives you attention like that, I think is pretty cool. (0:49:28) Kev: And she is fun, right, because as a blacksmith, right, like not the traditional role that one might expect, and that’s kind of her story as well, like how she likes working with the medals and being tough and stuff. (0:49:42) Kev: So that is, I don’t know, I think she’s pretty cool. (0:49:44) Al: Yeah (0:49:48) Kev: She’s fun, yeah. (0:49:49) Al: Also pink hair (0:49:52) Kev: And then after… yeah, I mean, yeah, I will not, I will, I could go down a list and all their care could fall under that, but yeah, even aside from that, post, when they did the marriage update, they added more dialogue and stuff like that, so you get to experience more of her life at home and fun it is. (0:49:56) Al: Which apparently is a thing that you like so good to know (0:50:22) Kev: She loves soup, that’s, I don’t know why it’s a running thing, she loves soup. But yeah, again, that is Pharah from Moonstone Island. (0:50:29) Kev: Alright, what is numero tress for you, Al? (0:50:34) Al: My third one is a new one from Coral Island, and that is Lily. And my reason is, I think (0:50:37) Kev: Of course. (0:50:43) Al: I’m not aware of another programmer in a farming game, like a character in a farming game that is a programmer, and therefore, not that I’m aware of. I will talk, I’ll talk. (0:50:52) Kev: Wasn’t somebody in Stardew does…programming? (0:50:58) Kev: It’s–I think it’s–I’m gonna look it up. (0:51:00) Kev: Okay, you talk while I look this up, heh heh heh. (0:51:04) Al: And so, there’s just something really nice. I mean, I felt like, I mean, people are gonna say, (0:51:08) Al: “Oh, you married yourself in that game.” Like, I mean, essentially, yeah, right? Like, it’s nice to see kind of that represented. You found it. See, yeah, okay, fine. I’ve never, and this is actually, (0:51:18) Kev: Sebastian, from Stardew, is a programmer. (0:51:23) Kev: But it’s Sebastian. (0:51:26) Al: I realized like 10 minutes ago that I think we need to do another episode with people who my actually romance male characters. (0:51:34) Al: Because I think we’ve made a very clear preference in this episode. (0:51:34) Kev: Well, he- look. (0:51:38) Al: Well, I know you’ll probably have one coming up, but other than that, (0:51:43) Al: other than that, it’s quite female heavy. (0:51:44) Kev: You’re not wrong. (0:51:46) Kev: Yep, you’re not wrong, you’re not wrong. (0:51:48) Kev: It would be fun to get a reverse of this, right? (0:51:52) Kev: We’ll reach out to some people. (0:51:53) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely. (0:51:54) Kev: That would be fun. (0:51:57) Al: But I think that it’s fun to see that, right? (0:52:01) Al: and not only is she a programmer. (0:52:04) Al: But she works from home, she has our own home office, so like she spends most of her time in her house, and so that kind of makes it a bit different to track. (0:52:15) Al: Most of the time when these characters are like “oh I need to go find where they are”, (0:52:18) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah (0:52:18) Al: literally you’re like “oh she’s at home” of course she’s at home she’s working or when she’s finished she’s relaxing she’s at home, right? (0:52:25) Kev: That’s cool (0:52:25) Al: And I think that I thought that was quite interesting and yeah yeah there we go, that’s (0:52:30) Kev: Right, yeah because So many of these characters are like or not even just the romance balloons Right, like everyone goes to the town bar because that’s the gathering point or whatever, right? (0:52:41) Kev: And then one goes to the festival. So having someone who’s much more (0:52:42) Al: Yeah. Intraverse. (0:52:48) Kev: Traverted yeah, that would be the word, right? (0:52:50) Kev: Yeah, I think that is pretty cool representation like you can kind of see that in some characters, but they don’t really act it out (0:52:58) Al: No, and they tend to be, they tend to be say like Clint, for example, in Stardew, who’s like more introverted, but you dislike him because of how he actually deals with that. (0:53:05) Kev: Yes! (0:53:08) Al: Whereas with Lily, it’s like she’s introverted and doesn’t tend to spend time with other people, but it’s not because she’s a terrible person and doesn’t know how to deal with people. (0:53:16) Al: She just prefers not to, you know, there’s a massive difference. (0:53:20) Kev: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Oh man, we should do the the anti the hate list (0:53:25) Al: I will say this, my one problem with Lily is that as with most characters in Carl Island, (0:53:25) Kev: episode at some point just thinking of clint there. Um, all right. Oh that oh (0:53:38) Al: when you marry them, they lose all their personality and they do nothing. And I really hope they’re going to fix that at some point, because it’s just such a depressing thing to remove everything from that person. You know, in Stardew, they go and still have a life after you’ve married them and they have their own little area in your head. (0:53:52) Kev: Yeah… (0:53:55) Al: And then, you know, like I was finding this because I married Emily in this one. (0:53:56) Kev: Yep. (0:54:00) Kev: Yep. (0:54:05) Al: And you, you wake up, you go talk to her and she says what she’s going to do for the day. (0:54:08) Al: Or she’s outside telling you what she’s just done, you know? (0:54:12) Al: Whereas you go up, you wake up in Coral Island, I go talk to Lily and she’s like, good morning. (0:54:17) Al: And then that’s it literally says nothing else and just stands in the bedroom the entire day.<

Al and Bev talk about Spells and Secrets. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:03:22: What Have We Been Up To 00:24:23: News 01:01:28: Spells And Secrets 01:39:16: Outro Links Everafter Falls Info Update Moonglow Bay PS/NS Release Fae Farm 2.2.0 Update Sun Haven Upcoming Updates ConcernedApe on Twitter Everdream Valley “Multiplayer” Update Roots of Pacha Upcoming Updates Spirittea 1.6.5 Update Sugardew Island FAQs Creatures of Ava Wholesome Direct Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers, and welcome to another episode of The Harvest Season. My name is Al, (0:00:37) Bev: And my name is Bev. (0:00:39) Al: and we are here today to talk about cottagecore games. Well, okay, well, we are going to talk about cottagecore games, but there’s also going to be one game, which is not a cottagecore game, (0:00:49) Al: that we’re going to talk about. I’m not really sure why we’re covering this game, but we’re going to cover spells and secrets. We’re not going to talk about it just now, because… (0:00:51) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:00:58) Bev: Whoo! (0:01:00) Al: I’m going to leave the fun review for the end. But yeah, we’re going to talk about that game, (0:01:03) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:01:07) Bev: Yes. (0:01:07) Al: the non-transphobic wizard game. (0:01:09) Bev: Indeed. (0:01:11) Bev: It’s not that hard. (0:01:14) Al: Also, apparently, the non-holocaust denial one as well. (0:01:17) Bev: Oh my goodness. (0:01:19) Bev: Don’t even get me. (0:01:21) Bev: It just truly, it’s unfathomable how it could possibly get worse, (0:01:21) Al: It just gets worse and worse. (0:01:25) Bev: but here we are. (0:01:27) Bev: She just continues to die on this hill. (0:01:29) Bev: The hill just gets higher and higher. (0:01:31) Al: All right, excellent. Well, transcripts for this podcast are available in the show notes and on the website. As I said, we’re going to talk about spells and secrets. Before that, (0:01:33) Bev: and higher. (0:01:47) Al: we have quite a lot of news this week. I feel like we’ve entered a period of news, because last week there was a lot of news, and then this week there’s a lot of news. So I guess we’ll see whether that that continues or not, but I’m not complaining. (0:01:59) Bev: Well, it is March, so I feel like this is, (0:02:03) Bev: like it’s cottagecore season. (0:02:06) Bev: So I think it’s just spring, it’s just that time. (0:02:08) Al: Sure. (0:02:13) Al: Well, here’s a question for you. (0:02:15) Al: Maybe this explains it. (0:02:17) Al: GDC is next week. (0:02:21) Bev: Wait, what did you see? (0:02:21) Al: So the Game Developer Conference is a big, big indie games conference. (0:02:26) Bev: Oh, is that supposed to be E3 or something else? (0:02:30) Al: No, no, no, no, no, it’s a big– (0:02:32) Al: It’s mostly, it’s more indie than E3. (0:02:35) Bev: Interesting. (0:02:35) Al: Although E3 is dead, but yeah, it’s a bit, it’s a big thing, like I think it kind of got big when (0:02:42) Al: like Minecraft was around, like there was a lot of stuff around GDC with Minecraft and yeah, it tends to be more, (0:02:51) Al: more indie games than, than big ones. (0:02:55) Bev: Okay, and we know cottagecore is very indie mm-hmm [laughing] (0:02:58) Al: Oh yes. (0:03:02) Al: So yeah, I suspect that might be why it’s so busy just now because everyone’s getting all the news out just before GDZ. (0:03:13) Al: Yeah, cool. So maybe there’ll be lots of news for next week as well. We’ll see. (0:03:19) Al: So before the news, however, Bev, what have you been up to? (0:03:26) Bev: I have been, I mean, I’ve been spells and secrets, I’ve been playing Pokemon Emerald because I am, I am trying to do a ribbon challenge through Colosseum, which is fun and has its challenges. (0:03:46) Bev: I have, I mean, fun, I would, I would say fun. (0:03:48) Al: Yeah, do you mean actual fun or like fun? (0:03:56) Bev: I’ve been playing Pokemon Emerald for a while since I’ve played these games so it’s, it’s enjoyable to get back into them. (0:04:01) Bev: I also have a fancy new Game Boy Advance that has a like lit up screen and like little buttons and stuff. (0:04:08) Bev: So I spent more than I would like to share, getting a custom like upgraded or a custom like modern one. (0:04:17) Bev: So playing on that’s very, what’s, what’s the word? (0:04:23) Bev: Words are hard today. (0:04:23) Al: Nice. (0:04:24) Bev: Very nice. (0:04:25) Bev: There you go. (0:04:26) Bev: That’s okay. (0:04:26) Al: It’s not a word that works for many things. (0:04:27) Bev: Uh huh. (0:04:28) Bev: It is. (0:04:28) Al: It tends to not be a great word to use, (0:04:29) Bev: Mm hmm. (0:04:30) Bev: Mm hmm. (0:04:31) Al: but I think it’s a nice experience. (0:04:31) Bev: And I’m traveling for work starting tomorrow and traveling with a Game Boy Advance is so much nicer because it’s so much smaller than the seam neck or in this one. (0:04:33) Al: I think that’s a good way to use that word is when you’re talking about it. (0:04:51) Bev: So looking forward to shaving off some weight for my. (0:04:56) Bev: travels tomorrow. (0:04:56) Al: Fair enough. Cool. (0:04:59) Bev: Oh, and Twisted One New Land as, as well, which we’ve discussed last time. (0:05:02) Al: Oh, that was that weird, that weird, like an anime Disney, not really Disney, kind of Disney. (0:05:10) Bev: It’s so good anime pretty boy villains. (0:05:14) Bev: Yes. (0:05:15) Bev: That’s uh huh. (0:05:17) Al: Yeah, I know. Okay. I say kind of Disney. I don’t mean like not official. I mean, like It’s Disney, but (0:05:17) Bev: It is Disney. (0:05:18) Bev: It’s Disney Japan. (0:05:19) Bev: Uh huh. (0:05:27) Al: not really Disney characters. (0:05:29) Bev: » Not mainstreamed. (0:05:30) Al: Although I guess technically they are Disney characters, because it’s a Disney game. (0:05:32) Bev: » They are, exactly. (0:05:33) Al: But it’s just like, it’s all, look, it’s weird, right? (0:05:36) Al: I’m not sure which is weirder, right? (0:05:38) Al: But I can tell you that the two weirdest things that Disney have ever done are this and Kingdom Hearts. (0:05:45) Al: And I don’t know which is weirder. (0:05:47) Bev: I think that’s up to for debate. I yeah, but yeah, they’re based off of real characters and it’s like descendants. So there’s I some of them are and some of them are just modeled after them with like their ideals. Because in the game they are their story is twisted to make them (0:05:51) Al: Yeah. (0:05:57) Al: Sure. (0:05:58) Al: Although they’re meant to be descendants of the characters. (0:06:13) Al: Whoa. (0:06:17) Bev: as the protagonist instead of the antagonist. So the main character like gets to see like flashbacks to like a different like a you like alternate universe where it’s the villains we know. And this like main character like you as a player is like what’s happening here? This is not how the story goes if London goes. So I don’t know there’s there’s some there’s some lore in there which I appreciate, it’s fun. (0:06:44) Al: I’ll be totally honest with you. I wasn’t expecting no lore in this game, right? Like if, if there’s anything I was expecting, it was lower. I will say however, that every time you talk to me about this game, it seems weirder, but I’m never any closer to trying (0:06:53) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:07:02) Bev: That’s valid. (0:07:04) Bev: I will say, I wouldn’t necessarily, like, (0:07:08) Bev: be unsurprised that there’s lore, (0:07:10) Bev: because Disney Lorkana, the trading card game, (0:07:12) Bev: has, like, very little lore in comparison for a trading card game, (0:07:17) Bev: and I’m a bit upset about that, (0:07:19) Bev: considering there’s so much they could be doing with that, (0:07:22) Bev: because it’s essentially like a multiverse of characters that they’re introducing with the trading card game. (0:07:27) Bev: But I digress. (0:07:28) Al: I don’t know if I want to touch this so (0:07:32) Bev: Lorkana. (0:07:34) Bev: Because it’s dangerous. (0:07:36) Al: Well, I just, I’ve like, oh goodness, here we go. (0:07:40) Al: I haven’t, haven’t heard of it. (0:07:41) Al: It sounds like more nonsense. (0:07:45) Bev: Oh, you haven’t heard of it. (0:07:46) Al: No, a Disney treat. (0:07:47) Bev: GG. (0:07:48) Bev: So Disney has its own. (0:07:49) Bev: Yes. (0:07:50) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:07:51) Bev: And actually, this is this. (0:07:53) Bev: They just launched a new one with Star Wars, as well. (0:07:56) Al: Yeah, I heard about that. (0:07:56) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:07:57) Al: I heard about the the Star Wars one and went. (0:07:58) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:08:00) Al: Yeah, I’m not getting into that. (0:08:01) Bev: Yeah, I’m not getting into that one, but… (0:08:04) Bev: Lorkana is… (0:08:06) Bev: I’ve really enjoyed it. (0:08:08) Bev: If you’re a Disney fan, I think it’s pretty easy to get into the arts really good, unsurprisingly, (0:08:15) Bev: and they’re having a lot of fun. (0:08:17) Bev: This is a game that I’ve worked with, creating “dream born” characters, so you can have, like, a “Belly Inventor” or “Cinderella of the Night” dressed up as a night. (0:08:26) Bev: So they’re introducing characters you know, but in different storylines, or different arcs that they could be theoretically experiencing. (0:08:37) Bev: And it’s meant to be very approachable, like Pokémon is the Pokémon TCG. (0:08:47) Bev: I’ve gotten my partner to play with it to get into it, and I will not complain if I can get them into a TCG, so I’m having a lot of fun roping them into those. (0:09:00) Al: Okay. I just, I mean, I definitely do not need more trading card games. (0:09:01) Bev: Uh-huh. But… (0:09:05) Bev: You don’t, it’s expensive, it’s dangerous, I don’t, it’s fine, don’t. I’ll do you, and then we can play. Eventually, whenever I see you. (0:09:14) Al: I… well, this is the thing. I think, I think… yeah, well, I presume there’s no app for this. It’s just… well, for sure. For sure they will have one, though. (0:09:17) Bev: Not yet. I’m assuming they will be, but there isn’t, and they’re now announcing they haven’t announced that they will have one, but we’ll see. (0:09:27) Bev: I know, it’s just a matter of time. (0:09:29) Al: Whether it’s like recreating everything, or whether it’s, you know, like a Marvel Snap type thing, a more streamlined version or whatever, but… (0:09:33) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:09:35) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:09:38) Al: See, this is the problem is I’m more likely to buy these things when (0:09:44) Al: people… like, when I… the one thing I miss about working in an office was that we had a magic tournament in one of the offices, and it was good fun, especially as we had, like, we did a… (0:09:57) Al: what’s the word? Where you have, like, a certain number of packs, and you pass the packs around. (0:10:03) Bev: Oh draft? Ah so good. (0:10:04) Al: What’s that called? A draft. We had a draft, and you couldn’t buy more cards, so it was, like, (0:10:10) Al: basically a fixed cost buy-in for each season. (0:10:14) Al: Yeah, exactly, exactly. It was just a new set. We did a draft all at the same time and, you know, the tournament that we had basically lasted as long as that set lasted and it was good fun. (0:10:16) Bev: Yeah those were always my favorite events because it was very straightforward and you didn’t really need to come in with anything prior to that. (0:10:34) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:10:36) Al: I mean, it wasn’t fun enough to mean that I would go back and work in an office. I’m not doing that again, but it was good fun. (0:10:36) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:10:44) Al: Whereas now I’m just like, “Oh, yeah, I’ll buy 100 pounds worth of Pokémon cards.” And then I’m like, “Great, I got my Pokémon cards. Look at how shiny they are.” (0:10:52) Bev: uh-huh (0:10:55) Al: So I go on and off. I just bought a whole bunch of the 151 expansion, which there’s a lot of nice cards there, but I spent way too much money on that. (0:11:02) Bev: Okay, I know I’m (0:11:07) Al: And now I’m like, “Okay, I’ve spent enough money. I’m going to stop now and then probably in 18 months I’ll do the same again.” (0:11:11) Bev: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes, I’m trying very hard not to buy any Pokemon cards because I don’t need to collect any more. And with Lorkana, I decided I will collect the first two sets and that’s it. And then Ursula cards and maybe like Ursula adjacent cards. Yeah. (0:11:14) Al: And for another set. (0:11:26) Al: Yeah, I think I would be more likely to complete sets if they were smaller, like the 25th anniversary set for Pokémon, I completed that one, and the two Halloween ones, I’ve done both of them, because they’re all reasonably small. (0:11:42) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:11:43) Bev: Right. (0:11:44) Bev: And then like 50 of them are secret rares or something ridiculous like that. (0:11:49) Al: But this one is like 270 cards. (0:11:52) Al: Yeah, exactly! (0:11:56) Al: Exactly, and it’s like if you don’t get them, they cost like 100 quid each, it’s not worth it. (0:11:57) Bev: Yeah. (0:11:58) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:11:59) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:11:59) Bev: - Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. (0:12:02) Al: I think I had a look, I think the trading card app I have is quite nice in that you click on a set and it tells you the market value of the whole set if you were just to buy them all as singles, and I’m just loading it up because it is ridiculous, it’s always ridiculous. So the market value for… (0:12:14) Bev: Oh wow, okay. (0:12:17) Bev: And it’s ridiculous. (0:12:18) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:12:26) Al: And I don’t want to tell you how much money I spent on it, but it’s more than that. Let’s put it that way. So yeah, basically I’ve got all the cheap cards and I don’t have the expensive cards, and it’s like that’s not fun. (0:12:42) Bev: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. (0:12:51) Bev: Yeah, that’s why I stopped collecting it. (0:12:54) Bev: ‘Cause I think middle, or a couple sets in Descent of Moon, (0:12:58) Bev: and they just kept increasing the number of secret rare, (0:13:00) Bev: so I was just like, this is not sustainable. (0:13:03) Bev: It’s just no longer fun trying to actually collect a set, (0:13:07) Bev: and that’s one of my biggest grapes with the new Star Wars one. (0:13:11) Al: Uh-huh (0:13:12) Bev: They’ve done it even worse, unfortunately. (0:13:14) Al: Yeah (0:13:17) Bev: Have you looked into that at all, or? (0:13:20) Bev: So they have secret rares of each and every card, (0:13:28) Bev: and the likelihood of pulling one of those cards, (0:13:31) Bev: I think it’s like one out of 20 booster boxes. (0:13:36) Al: that what whatever it is whatever it is like as soon as as soon as the chance is like more than one in five booster boxes like that there’s just no point at that point right like (0:13:37) Bev: Or something crazy, it might be 12, I don’t know. (0:13:40) Bev: It’s like a really high number of boxes. (0:13:42) Bev: It’s ridiculous. (0:13:46) Bev: Yeah. (0:13:49) Bev: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yep. (0:13:52) Bev: And I was happy with Lorkana, ‘cause the first two sets, (0:13:54) Bev: it only had 12 secret rares, (0:13:56) Bev: and I was like, this is reasonable. (0:13:59) Bev: And I’m not gonna try to collect it, (0:14:01) Bev: ‘cause Elsa, I think currently is like 800 for your market, (0:14:06) Bev: but that’s the most expensive card right now. (0:14:09) Bev: But then with the third set that they released this month, (0:14:12) Bev: they doubled the number of secret rares. (0:14:14) Bev: I’m like, please stop. (0:14:16) Al: I just want, yeah, I just, I just want, I only want the full art cards, right? (0:14:16) Bev: I don’t like this trend. (0:14:19) Bev: I was happy with 12. (laughs) (0:14:26) Al: Cause they’re the best ones, right? (0:14:27) Bev: Yeah. (0:14:28) Al: So how about we just get rid of all the other cards and we just do the secret rares, right? (0:14:34) Al: Like, cause this is the thing, like I’m not doing it to have rare cards. (0:14:38) Al: I’m not doing it to sell cards. (0:14:38) Bev: Mm-hm. (0:14:39) Al: I’m doing it to have the cards. (0:14:41) Al: Cause I love how they look and I love going, look at my lovely cards. (0:14:42) Bev: Mm-hm. (0:14:44) Bev: Mm-hm, they’re pretty. (0:14:45) Al: And now I’m like, I got. (0:14:46) Al: How many have I got? (0:14:47) Al: I have. (0:14:50) Al: I have four secret rares of. (0:14:52) Bev: nice. Okay. Like, it’s like 20. It’s like at least 25. (0:14:54) Al: Of how many? (0:14:57) Al: It’s it’s no one always is way more than that for this set. (0:15:01) Al: So 207 minus 165, 42. (0:15:07) Al: So I have four of 42 secret rares. (0:15:09) Bev: My goodness (0:15:12) Bev: And then you have Star Wars that’s like 200 (0:15:15) Al: And you’re just like, it’s just not even worth it. (0:15:16) Bev: It’s not it’s not it doesn’t make it enjoyable (0:15:17) Al: It’s not worth it. (0:15:18) Al: Nope. (0:15:20) Bev: So at this point, they’re just marketing your people to play the actual TCG, which maybe is where they’re getting all their money (0:15:26) Bev: but you could easily keep the collectors in if you didn’t make it so unreasonable to collect [laughs] (0:15:32) Al: Yeah, well this is the thing right if I could spend like so there’s what like three sets a year something like that (0:15:40) Bev: uh for pokemon yeah because it’s every three months or so well that’s about four um depending on how they line at least the last time I looked into it was both (0:15:49) Al: Yeah, so (0:15:52) Al: So if I mean if I if I could legitimately spend like 100 to 150 pounds each set and get the entire collection I would probably do that. I would feel bad about myself because that’s a lot of money on random bits of paper, right? (0:15:57) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:16:00) Bev: Yeah. (0:16:03) Al: I’m not trying to say it’s not but but 600 pounds (0:16:03) Bev: But it’s better. (0:16:04) Bev: It’s reasonable. (0:16:07) Bev: No. (0:16:07) Al: It’s it’s not even possible to do one set a year. Never mind all of them (0:16:09) Bev: Yeah. (0:16:10) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:16:12) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:16:14) Al: Anyway, right that’s enough complaining about trading card games. I love and hate them (0:16:19) Bev: Same. (0:16:19) Al: And that is how it is (0:16:22) Bev: Yes, indeed. (0:16:24) Al: I I have been oh, is that you don’t? (0:16:24) Bev: But, uh. (0:16:28) Bev: » I, yes, I was just about to ask you what you’ve been playing. (0:16:31) Bev: Around the same wavelength. (0:16:32) Al: I have also been playing Spells and Secrets, but other than that, I have played and finished the new Mario vs Donkey Kong game, which was very fun. I hadn’t played the original, but this was very fun. I 100%ed it, and it definitely was worth the money. It was good fun. Lots of fun challenges. The physics is a little bit weird when you’ve just been playing a normal Mario 2D platformer, but after a while you get used to it, and it’s fine. (0:16:35) Bev: Mm-hm. (0:16:58) Bev: Aha. (0:17:01) Bev: Okay, okay. (0:17:02) Al: It’s not that it’s bad physics, it’s just different, and you’re like, “This isn’t how Mario moves. Why are you doing this?” But it was okay. I got used to that, and I had good fun. There was only one level that I actively hated, and it was just the worst level. I hated it so much. The rest were good. And yeah, completed that. (0:17:05) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:17:18) Bev: Hmm (0:17:21) Bev: That’s pretty good only one level I feel like it’s pretty good for like a platformer [laughs] (0:17:24) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah. There were a few that, you know, made me put my switch down for a couple (0:17:32) Al: hours and come back to it in the evening sort of thing, but there was only one that I was like, “This is just a bad level, and I hate it.” So yeah, I finished that, and then I got back into playing Luigi’s Mansion 3, because I’d started that last year, and I hadn’t really got very far and put it down. And I was like, “You know what? I’m going to try it again. If I don’t get into it this time, I’m done. I’m going to sell it. Move on.” And I did get back into it. So I have an interesting relationship with this game. (0:17:34) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:18:01) Al: I don’t dislike it. (0:18:02) Al: But I don’t love it. (0:18:05) Al: I like the puzzles. (0:18:07) Al: I think the puzzles are fun. (0:18:09) Al: I think the setting is obviously very fun and there’s lots of kind of very, very good creativity in the designs of a lot of the bosses and that sort of stuff and all the levels are very fun. (0:18:20) Al: I hate the controls. (0:18:23) Al: It is just really confusing 3D controls because the whole point of it is you’re in a 3D world and you’re aiming in (0:18:28) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:18:32) Al: two dimensions but like two axes. And I just feel like the controls are very confusing in some cases. It’s like you press one button to aim, and then suddenly you have to use a different stick to finish the aiming. And it’s like one of the buttons that you press to aim is on the same side as the stick. There’s not another way you can use that. I’m trying to, like, contort my hand into a way (0:19:03) Al: that I can actually do this. So that’s not great. I don’t feel like the controls are great. (0:19:05) Bev: Uh-huh (0:19:08) Al: Some of it I don’t think is possible to fix. Like, some of it is just, “Oh, (0:19:13) Al: it’s just going to be awkward trying to aim in a 3D environment full stop.” Right? That’s life. (0:19:20) Al: But some of it I feel, like, could be fixed. And yeah, it’s not great. But it’s not enough (0:19:26) Bev: I could see that. (0:19:28) Al: to make me not want to play the game. So that… (0:19:31) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:19:34) Bev: Okay, I can understand that. (0:19:36) Bev: I, that’s, that is one of my games that I have to, (0:19:39) Bev: that’s in my backlog to finish. (0:19:41) Bev: I think I have it on, it’s on Switch, right? (0:19:45) Bev: Okay, I think I, I might have it on Switch. (0:19:49) Bev: I originally had it on GameCube, but as a child, (0:19:53) Bev: I was too scared of the ghost. (0:19:56) Bev: I never finished it for that reason and then when I came to switch I think the same thing like when I am playing it I am enjoying it but it’s like hard to get into if I’m not if it’s not already like on my screen. (0:20:13) Al: Yeah, so I hope I get it finished before Stardew 1.6 comes out on Tuesday, (0:20:17) Al: because otherwise it’ll probably be another couple of months before I get back into it, (0:20:20) Al: because I’ll be playing Stardew, and then Princess Peach comes out on Friday. (0:20:25) Al: Too many games. But that’s fine. (0:20:26) Bev: Mm, always too many. (0:20:30) Al: Yeah. Lastly, I have been doing some Animal Crossing LEGO. So I bought all of the Animal crossing lego sets and for the podcast, obviously, you know. (0:20:44) Al: We’ll talk about them in a future episode, probably, but I guess so far I’ve built two of them and I’ve started a third one. And I mean, I will say I’m not sure they are the best value for money in terms of pieces. They are quite small sets for the amount of money that they cost. I suspect that’s, you (0:21:10) Bev: it sounds about right (0:21:13) Al: know, the general tax, right? Yeah, I mean, it’s not, I mean, (0:21:15) Bev: and it could also be like geared towards like a younger age group (0:21:23) Bev: I mean that’s what it looks like to me like the style looks very simplistic (0:21:23) Al: it would be Duplo if they were doing that, you know. I think the style is fun. I think, I think they’re nice well put together sets and I am enjoying building them. I just feel like (0:21:39) Bev: Yeah. (0:21:41) Bev: Yeah. (0:21:42) Bev: Oh my goodness $75 for 535 Legos. (0:21:45) Bev: Yeah, that’s Mm-hmm. (0:21:45) Al: - Exactly, like they’re not cheap, but. (0:21:48) Bev: No like 75 like, you know 10 20 years ago would have bought me the full Hogwarts castle. (0:21:58) Bev: So yeah, this is it’s a different time I guess but still that’s that’s a lot. (0:22:01) Al: Well, I need I do know there’s some like there’s someone has like a list of all of them and their price per piece. So I need to I need to check compared to the other sets. (0:22:08) Bev: Oh, wow. Okay. (0:22:09) Bev: Oh. (0:22:14) Al: But oh, this one’s just a calculator that’s I can do a count. I can do a divide by I’m not. (0:22:23) Al: So apparently. Did it. (0:22:24) Bev: But have someone else do it for you, though. (0:22:26) Bev: Like. (0:22:31) Al: So I was that I was 80 right for 500. (0:22:36) Al: Which is so it’s 16 cents per piece. And it looks like the so someone posted two years ago, (0:22:45) Al: average price per piece for various themes. Star Wars is at 10. Minecraft is at nine. (0:22:51) Al: Marvel’s at 10. Harry Potter’s at nine. Classic is at six. City is at 12. So it is expensive. (0:22:58) Bev: Mm-hmm it’s more niche not that the others aren’t niche but it doesn’t yeah especially after 2020 [coughing] (0:23:01) Al: It is more niche. It doesn’t need to be nice, right? Like I think Animal Crossing is is big. (0:23:09) Al: Like it’s not as. Yeah, it’s not as big as the four those four that I mentioned, right? Obviously. (0:23:16) Al: But I still feel like like 16 cents per piece. That’s nearly double. (0:23:22) Al: Minecraft, right? It’s not. I just it feels not great. So I would. (0:23:31) Al: Not recommend necessarily people buy it unless you have a lot of money to buy on these things. (0:23:38) Al: Like it was perfect timing for me because I had saved up enough for the new switch. (0:23:42) Bev: Ooh… (0:23:43) Al: And then the rumors are, oh, the new switch is delayed till next year. And I went, oh, (0:23:47) Al: what am I going to do with this money then? Because I can I can definitely save in a year in a year’s time. I can save up again for that switch. Right. That’s not difficult. (0:23:50) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:23:52) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:23:55) Al: So I was like, well, let’s buy this animal crossing Lego that’s just coming out then. (0:24:00) Bev: Mm-hmm. That’s how they get you, Al. Uh-huh. Yep. Mm-hmm. They knew. They knew people were saving and they would be upset about the delay and would spend the money. Yes. (0:24:01) Al: That is how they get you. That’s exactly why they did it. They were like, we cannot release a switch and Animal Crossing Lego at the same time. So we will. Yeah. So there we go. (0:24:19) Al: You got my money both times. Congratulations, Nintendo. Shall we talk about some news? (0:24:27) Al: Ever After Falls have announced that they know when the game is releasing. (0:24:31) Al: I will quote “We have finally settled on the release date, which will be later this year. (0:24:40) Al: The additional console versions have pushed back the release date (0:24:44) Al: another couple of months. We are planning a simultaneous launch across all platforms.” (0:24:52) Al: I do apologize for yet again to any backers disappointed by this further delay. (0:24:57) Al: The additional time does allow me the time I need to work on some additional content for the game. (0:25:02) Al: Ever After Falls will be launching this summer on all Steam platforms, (0:25:07) Al: Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Xbox, (0:25:12) Bev: this is not really well written later this year and then this summer like say it’s this summer (0:25:16) Al: It’s not. So yeah, so probably September. That’s my current assumption. (0:25:26) Bev: also an announcement about a maybe announcement um it’s not even an announcement an announcement it’s some announcement that we’ve made a decision but we’re not sharing so it’s (0:25:36) Al: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We’ve made a decision, but we’re not telling you, but it’s this year, (0:25:42) Al: but also it’s summer. It’s like just slowly narrowing it down. I was expecting, if they had another paragraph, they would accidentally tell us the date. (0:25:49) Bev: Right, right. (0:25:51) Bev: Like I could see, I could see the need for this, (0:25:54) Bev: but why is this on Steam and not on, (0:25:57) Bev: was this a Kickstarter? (0:25:58) Al: It was a Kickstarter. (0:26:00) Bev: So this, like I reckon, like, (0:26:02) Bev: especially after discovering spells and secrets behind a Kickstarter wall, (0:26:07) Bev: like a project update after the last time we talked, (0:26:13) Bev: but I appreciate them. (0:26:15) Bev: Being transparent and sharing it publicly, but it’s also just not any information, really. (0:26:22) Al: Yeah. Yeah, that’s fair. I do. It is a good question, though. Like, why have they not put it up on the Kickstarter as well? Because that does certainly feel like, well, this is me just checking because I don’t because I did back them. Of course I did. I back them all because I am a sucker. I don’t remember seeing it on Kickstarter. No, they did not. (0:26:32) Bev: Oh, they didn’t! (0:26:38) Bev: Okay. (0:26:40) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:26:42) Bev: You gotta do it. (0:26:45) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:26:46) Bev: It sounds like they didn’t. (0:26:49) Al: they haven’t posted on Kickstarter. (0:26:49) Bev: Like, this is their backer update, but they decided to just post it on Steam instead. (0:26:56) Al: Yeah, I mean, maybe they just forgot, and they’ll do it next week when they remember. (0:26:59) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:27:00) Al: I don’t know, but… (0:27:00) Bev: Or have a separate one with more info (0:27:02) Bev: For the backers, who knows ‘Cause summer’s not that far away now Like, we’re middle of March (0:27:08) Al: Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, it was meant to come out two years ago. So we’ll see what happens. (0:27:14) Bev: Okay Mmhmm (0:27:16) Al: March 2022 was their initial date on the Kickstarter. So, you know, two and a half years wouldn’t be ridiculous for some of these. I’m pretty sure this is just one person working on it other than the porting the porting. (0:27:31) Bev: mm-hmm yeah and that’s fine like well it you and I I think agree we’ll wait as long as we need to to make it good um and I don’t know I just an update about a maybe about a decision (0:27:48) Al: Yeah, an announcement about an announcement, but not an announcement. An announcement about a theoretical announcement. At some point in the future, maybe. (0:27:54) Bev: uh-huh yes there we go a theoretical and maybe someday (0:28:02) Al: Why are GTA VI and Tears of the Kingdom both trending on Twitter? Who knows. I can’t see (0:28:02) Bev: mm-hmm (0:28:05) Bev: uh-oh why have they I can’t I mean would it be like DLC or anything like that (0:28:16) Al: No, it’s not DLC. I can’t see anything. (0:28:18) Bev: okay okay (0:28:22) Al: Moonglow Bay have announced that their PlayStation and Switch versions will be releasing on the 11th of April alongside the Picture Perfect update. This update will include new content and features such as decorating your home garden, a new story quest line to solve an ancient mystery, (0:28:44) Al: Camera mode and (0:28:44) Bev: I love how just sitting on benches always ends up into an update or sitting on chairs. (0:28:57) Bev: It’s just a thing that people want apparently. (0:28:59) Bev: I don’t quite understand it, but yes. (0:28:59) Al: for some reason. Who knows? (0:29:04) Al: Fafarm 2.2, their spring update, which is the next of their free updates. It’s not the next of their paid updates. This is going to be releasing on the tomorrow, if you’re listening to this on release day, Thursday the 21st of March. We don’t have much information about that. They say that patch notes (0:29:24) Bev: Okay. Oh. Oh, bye. Yes. I got excited. I wanted to read about it. (0:29:29) Al: early next week, so they’ll be probably out by now. By the time you’re listening. Not by now, (0:29:36) Al: Bev, not you, everyone else. That’s fine, we need some news for next episode as well. (0:29:47) Al: Speaking of updates, Sunhaven has two upcoming updates. We can’t wait to show you what’s coming in our two biggest updates planned for this year, they said. The 1.4 includes some new. (0:29:59) Al: And they have been posting about them on Twitter. (0:30:00) Bev: Mm-hmm, one of them looks like um what’s that one character from Breath of the Wild? (0:30:11) Al: Oh yeah, what’s the the thing? Yeah, I know. (0:30:15) Bev: Uh-huh, what I do like that’s my favorite I think um (0:30:21) Bev: race, race in Breath of the Wild so I’m I guess I’m here for it. (0:30:28) Bev: Oh, goodness, I like how the topped. (0:30:29) Al: the Zora, the Zora and prints, prints, prints something. (0:30:30) Bev: Yes, there we go. The top comment is this is my type, Godspeed. (0:30:39) Bev: Is it starts with an N or is it an A? (0:30:46) Al: Side on, there we go. (0:30:46) Bev: Sidon! (0:30:50) Bev: I do like Sidon. (0:30:50) Al: Googling a fish person’s name from a random game that’s not a game we cover on the podcast, excellent. (0:30:56) Al: Prince side on, yeah, you’re right, (0:30:58) Bev: It does! (0:31:00) Bev: I forget if I have something or not. I might be on my wishlist but (0:31:04) Bev: um… (0:31:06) Bev: I don’t know if this will bring me into the game necessarily but (0:31:08) Al: You don’t want to date fake prince item. (0:31:12) Bev: I mean I would love to date [laughing] (0:31:13) Al: Carish, the adventurous shark amare who has a heart of gold and a love for many different kinds of sushi. (0:31:21) Al: That’s weird. (0:31:22) Bev: Oh my goodness, another, this is gonna make you look to us in Wonderland so much. (0:31:22) Al: That’s weird. (0:31:23) Al: Why make your fish person eat fish? (0:31:30) Bev: So the character that’s based off of Ursula has two sidekicks that are the eels. (0:31:36) Bev: The eels whose favorite food is takoyaki. (0:31:42) Bev: [Crying] Uh huh. (0:31:52) Al: So I just checked. I do have Sunhaven. I have not played it. But I do have it. This is the problem with backing everything that shows up on Kickstarter, is that I never have the (0:31:52) Bev: Okay. (0:32:00) Bev: Indeed. (0:32:02) Bev: This is why I’ve tried to slow down my Kickstarter backing. (0:32:08) Bev: I was like a super backer for a couple years. (0:32:10) Bev: I was like I need to stop this. (0:32:10) Al: Yeah. I don’t think I’ve done many this year. I think I’ve only done one this year, so far. (0:32:18) Bev: Okay. (0:32:19) Al: And for some reason, that one was Sugardew Valley. No, Sugardew Island. (0:32:26) Bev: Well, there’s Everdream Valley and… (0:32:33) Al: And Stardew Valley. Speaking of Stardew Valley, Stardew 1.6 comes out in the past, when you’re (0:32:40) Bev: Wait, is it the 16th? Is it today? That work work hard? Okay, okay. I’m not ready. I’m gonna be on travel. I don’t know. If it’s residual stress, I guess. Well, good luck. (0:32:41) Al: the episode. The update will be out. (0:32:46) Al: No, it’s the 19th. It’s Tuesday. It’s Tuesday. Don’t worry. Don’t worry. We’ve still got a couple days. (0:32:54) Al: I’m not ready either. You’re not even doing the episode on it. Why are you stressed? (0:33:00) Al: I have four days to play this game before I have an opinion on it. (0:33:10) Al: Each day before the update, ConcernedApe has been posting one non-spoilery patch note. (0:33:16) Al: For example, “Fixed bug where it was faster to harvest left to right than right to left.” (0:33:24) Al: And he clarifies the update will make them both equally fast, not equally slow. (0:33:29) Al: “Extended the area of effect of downward facing melee attacks.” (0:33:34) Al: That’s very specific. (0:33:36) Al: reduced the amount of time you need to push against the… (0:33:40) Al: pet before they start shaking and then let you pass through them… (0:33:44) Al: down from 1.5 seconds to 0.75 seconds. (0:33:47) Bev: That’s a 50% decrease. (0:33:48) Al: I know, but it’s one and a half seconds. It’s not exactly long. (0:33:49) Bev: It’s needed. (0:33:51) Bev: It’s needed. (0:33:54) Al: Spouses now have a seven-day honeymoon period after marriage, (0:33:56) Al: which prevents them from laying in bed all day due to being upset. (0:34:02) Al: And jellies, pickles, wines and juices are now coloured based on the ingredient item. (0:34:08) Bev: I will say that’s a nice quality. Yes, because… (0:34:10) Al: And that feels like something that probably didn’t take him a lot of time to do. (0:34:14) Bev: No, no, probably not. (0:34:16) Al: It’s like, yep, we’re gonna change the colour of… (0:34:18) Al: I mean, probably the biggest thing was making all of the sprites, you know. (0:34:22) Bev: right mm-hmm mm-hmm I do like the little banners that he’s created for each of these little updates it’s very cute uh-huh uh-huh (0:34:24) Al: But anyway… (0:34:30) Al: They’re getting more and more intense, right? (0:34:32) Al: The first one, the first one was really just a screenshot of a text in his editor. (0:34:36) Al: editor and then by this one we’ve got like (0:34:40) Al: a gradient background, we’ve got the images of the actual differences, we’ve got some foliage poking in on the corners and some dramatic lines at the top and bottom of the- (0:34:51) Bev: That our fading is different from the previous one, so yeah, more and more elaborately. (0:34:51) Al: yeah. (0:34:52) Al: Well, yeah, I was going to say it’s the procrastination. (0:34:55) Bev: This is just like the descent into madness or procrastination. (0:35:01) Al: The game is done, he’s just writing up the release notes and boy, he does not want to I’ll be relating up the release notes. (0:35:07) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:35:10) Al: Amazing. (0:35:10) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:35:11) Bev: - So good. (0:35:12) Al: Anyway. (0:35:13) Bev: Everything about this game, (0:35:14) Bev: which is why you have Ever Dream Valley and Chigudu Island. (0:35:16) Al: Why? (0:35:18) Al: Speaking of Everdream Valley! (0:35:20) Al: The multiplayer update is out now. (0:35:21) Bev: Oh my goodness. (0:35:24) Al: That’s all I’m saying. I don’t… (0:35:26) Al: I don’t… (0:35:26) Bev: Even the font, the font, I can’t. (0:35:30) Al: Roots of Patcha! (0:35:32) Al: I’ve given us some information on there. (0:35:34) Al: Upcoming 1.2 and 1.3 updates. (0:35:40) Al: 1.2 update brings the Xbox release plus kids. (0:35:46) Al: Patcheons love their kids and so do we, (0:35:48) Al: so we wanted to make sure having them felt like a meaningful addition to the experience. (0:35:52) Al: As before, you’ll be able to have two children. (0:35:56) Al: All right, Chyna. (0:35:56) Bev: As before as before to what? (0:35:58) Al: But… (0:35:58) Al: I don’t know. (0:36:00) Al: But once you build a school… (0:36:00) Bev: Are they referring to something? (0:36:02) Al: But once you build a school, (0:36:04) Al: you can send your toddler to school and they’ll grow into a child. (0:36:06) Bev: Oh, they got a school! (0:36:10) Al: You’ll have a set of dialogues and schedules to interact with you and the clan. (0:36:14) Al: With your gentle guidance, they’ll start to have their own interests. (0:36:20) Bev: I think I see a little child play with a pet and that is rather cute, I will say. (0:36:24) Al: Speaking of pets, that is another thing they’re adding into this. (0:36:26) Bev: Oh, sorry. (0:36:29) Al: Animals have helped humanity throughout - don’t say sorry, it was perfect. (0:36:33) Al: Animals have helped humanity throughout time and soon our pets will as well. (0:36:36) Al: You’ll be able to assign them to gather things for you. (0:36:38) Al: A cave lion might bring back meat, while a bunny might bring back produce. (0:36:44) Al: I love the idea of like a lion just going out and just killing an animal for you and dragging the corpse to you. (0:36:50) Al: And then a bunny’s gone out and like grabbed some eggs. (0:36:56) Bev: And then you just have the child just watching this awful terrifying lion come back with this bloody morsel. (0:37:03) Bev: Yes, just so cute. (0:37:05) Bev: Such a good bonding experience. (0:37:07) Al: Dragging the corpse along the ground. (0:37:08) Bev: Uh-huh. (0:37:10) Bev: I love it. (0:37:11) Bev: I’m here for it. (0:37:13) Al: They’ve also added some more locations for your unions that you can choose between. (0:37:20) Al: With so many beautiful places near the land, (0:37:22) Al: you’ll be able to select a location that powerfully fits you and your new partner. (0:37:26) Bev: Oh, that’s nice. I like that. (0:37:28) Al: Plus a bunch of other stuff. (0:37:29) Al: They’ve updated the phishing UI they’ve done a new early watering system before you do the (0:37:40) Bev: I think I’m seeing a trend here where a lot of the Stardew spin-offs, if you want to call them that, are updating frantically in this time period and I wonder why. (0:37:56) Al: because they’re all going to be playing Stardew, so they don’t want to be, they want to have their updates out before that. They’re 1.3 update, obviously the information is much less in this, (0:38:01) Bev: Well, they want to cash in on the hype, but that’s one. (0:38:10) Al: there’s lots of things to come there, including some more romanceable characters, some non-romanceable characters, new biomes, a new cave system, tent sleeping, new festivals, animals, plants, (0:38:25) Al: a new line. (0:38:26) Al: fishing minigame hangout spots new cut scenes quests and minigame so I feel like we’re getting close to when I actually play this game (0:38:41) Bev: I have it and I think I picked it up to play for the Game of the Year episode I did not sit in on and then immediately put it down. So I will get back into it because it was one of the ones that I enjoyed playing for the very very short while that I was lying in. (0:39:00) Al: There we go, Bev, I put us down for the second time. (0:39:02) Bev: Oh beautiful. Good. Now I have now I have to go back into it. (0:39:10) Al: Spirity 1.6.5 update is out now. (0:39:16) Bev: Oh well, 1.6.5, okay. (0:39:16) Al: My word up, get better. (0:39:21) Al: Normally I would ignore updates like this, (0:39:22) Al: ‘cause it’s like, oh, that’s just bugs, right? (0:39:24) Al: No, it’s not. (0:39:25) Al: It adds ducks. (0:39:26) Al: Ducks are now in the game. (0:39:30) Al: You’ll now be able to have cute algae eating ducks in your bath house. (0:39:35) Al: That’s ducks that eat algae, not algae that eats ducks. (0:39:38) Bev: I want Alte eating ducks now that you say it. (0:39:44) Al: that would be a very different game. Honestly, it sounds like something out of Elden Ring. (0:39:46) Bev: It would be. (0:39:46) Bev: I mean, it is spirity like they could. (0:39:52) Bev: It does. It truly does. (0:39:54) Al: Like just this amorphous algae that creeps along the ground and over walls and then finds you in the dark. (0:40:00) Bev: mm-hmm I feel like ducks deserve a 1.7 update but this the fact that they’re going into three digits and means I think they’re gonna have a 2.0 and it’s gonna be big I guess (0:40:14) Al: No, it’s obviously not going to be. (0:40:16) Bev: then why go to point five I don’t get it (0:40:18) Al: I just, I don’t know, I don’t know, because the last update that they talked about was 1.5.8. (0:40:25) Bev: Oh, goodness. What? (0:40:26) Al: What happened to all the, what happened to 1.6.0, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3 and 1.6.4? (0:40:30) Bev: » Those are bugs. (0:40:33) Al: What happened to them and why? There’s no information about them whatsoever. Nothing. (0:40:36) Bev: » They were bugs, bugs. (0:40:43) Al: Not at all. This is a major update listed in Steam. It was a major update, why is it 1.6.5? (0:40:51) Al: The one before 1.5.8, by the way, 1.5.3. But then the one before that was 1.5.2. (0:40:58) Bev: explain the first okay interesting I want this naming mechanism explained (0:41:00) Al: Also, the first version of the game, 1.3 point something, I can’t even remember what it was. (0:41:14) Al: This version also adds a new vendor and new seasonal mechanics in the bath house. (0:41:20) Al: Not just bath, in the bath house. Just in a bath. (0:41:20) Bev: beautiful Ooh, ooh-hoo. (0:41:24) Al: Woo! (0:41:27) Al: Sugar Dew Island, right? Let’s get back into this game. (0:41:31) Bev: Yes. (0:41:32) Al: So, they have published a bunch of FAQs. (0:41:35) Al: I don’t know if you were able to see these FAQs, because is it backers only? (0:41:39) Al: It doesn’t say backers only, so it looks like you should be able to read it. (0:41:43) Al: So, there’s a number of… (0:41:44) Al: Q’s and A’s that I want to highlight. (0:41:50) Al: So, first of all, they said, “Is the launch schedule realistic? (0:41:55) Al: It seems a little ambitious for an expected release later this year, (0:41:58) Al: after just over a year of production.” (0:42:00) Al: And their answer is, “Yes, it is realistic.” (0:42:03) Al: Okay, great. Thank you. (0:42:05) Al: I’m now convinced. (0:42:07) Al: I mean, the long answer is not any better than that. (0:42:09) Al: It says, “Yes, it is realistic as we’ve already made good progress in development.” (0:42:14) Al: Okay, fine. (0:42:16) Al: They then say, “Depending on how many more stretch goals are reached, (0:42:18) Al: the plan/release date could still change.” (0:42:20) Al: Which I feel like is an interesting way of doing this. (0:42:24) Al: It’s like, “Hey, if more of you buy the game, it will take longer to release.” (0:42:30) Al: That doesn’t feel like what you want to say to people. (0:42:30) Bev: - Yeah. (0:42:33) Bev: No, ‘cause I would argue that, excuse me, (0:42:36) Bev: stretch goals are part of the launch schedule. (0:42:39) Bev: So I would almost do it the opposite way if like, if you don’t get as many stretch goals then launch it earlier, but. (0:42:45) Al: Either that or make them as like post 1.0 right like your your base goal should be a fully featured game that gives you everything that makes sense as a game and if you don’t get any of the stretch goals it still feels like a complete game. The stretch goals should then be updates released after that if you can’t get it in the original timeline. Exactly, exactly, exactly. It’s the same issue I have with carl island in there 1.0 like (0:42:56) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:43:00) Bev: Right (0:43:05) Bev: Mm-hmm like there’s they’re stretching you don’t have to have it right now [laughs] (0:43:15) Al: you got to decide like your game can’t feel incomplete stardew valley never felt incomplete it felt like a complete game with its 1.0 and everything else after that has felt like extra content that we’re excited for not oh yes now it actually feels like a game which is what i’m going to feel like with 1.1 in carl island (0:43:18) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:43:35) Bev: yeah I guess so maybe oh I still haven’t come back into it fully we need to do a competition and that will bring me into it (0:43:42) Al: we do we do we do the other one I want to highlight is so question what about romance answer the feature is not currently planned yay success we finally might get a game of romance except except literally yesterday they posted on the Twitter asking how important is romance in a game to you they’re almost We’re certainly going to add romance. (0:43:54) Bev: You’re fine. (0:44:12) Al: So, we will see what happens, but I’m not excited about it. (0:44:19) Al: I’m going to add romance. (0:44:20) Al: I think it’s going to be really bad because it’s going to be bad because it is not… (0:44:23) Al: So, the way that they are forming this game is not as a character-based, story-driven game, (0:44:30) Al: I don’t think, and therefore I don’t think that romance will work well. (0:44:32) Bev: Hmm (0:44:35) Bev: No (0:44:37) Al: So we will see what happens, but I’m not excited about it. (0:44:39) Bev: Mm-hmm. I like how your comment essentially with this this (0:44:44) Bev: Comment is the top one and I just liked it. So there you go. Now you have the most likes in this post [laughter] (0:44:53) Al: However, one thing I am excited about, how will the time work in the game and how will save work? (0:45:00) Al: Our game is turn-based. (0:45:02) Al: You have as much time as you want per day as there is no timer in the game. (0:45:06) Al: The only rule is that you can only open the store once a day. (0:45:09) Al: There are three sections of the day. (0:45:11) Al: When you start the day, it’s in the morning. (0:45:13) Al: When you open the store, it’s noon, and when you close the store, it’s in the evening. (0:45:17) Al: You can save your game manually in the house, but when you end the day, we also save automatically. (0:45:21) Al: So there’s two things here. (0:45:22) Al: the save. Let’s get the save. (0:45:24) Al: I know that these things don’t like to be, allow you to save whatever you want, so you can like, save, scam a bunch of stuff, fine, whatever. I like however that is giving you the option to save in the house, so you can at least you don’t have to do that thing of “oh well I need to finish the day” and then you get to the end of the day and like “oh I’ll just do a little bit more” and you end up in that non-sleeping cycle. (0:45:45) Al: So, fine, good enough. (0:45:49) Al: But this idea of not having (0:45:53) Al: a timer on your day and you can spend as much time in the day as you want. (0:45:58) Al: I am very intrigued by this and now I have gone from I’m not excited about this game (0:46:03) Bev: Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Dude, I feel like we talked about this last time. It was about Sugadu, (0:46:04) Al: to I will I need to play this game and see how this works. (0:46:13) Bev: right? It wasn’t the nukazan. Okay, I’m having like deja vu and I’m wondering like, (0:46:14) Al: Well, they only announced this information this week, so I don’t think we have. (0:46:21) Bev: what did we talk about? Okay, maybe that’s it. Okay, um, yes, I am very interested in a turn base because that I feel like feels even more cozy and that you don’t (0:46:21) Al: We did talk about it in the Slack. (0:46:33) Bev: have that that stress that’s associated with the time of like needing to run back to your house before you drop dead um well not drop dead but you know whatever um uh-huh truly um I appreciate the games where they don’t um they’ll like slap your wrist for for running out of time uh because it’s just no one no one enjoys that no one likes being in the middle (0:46:44) Al: I know what you mean. (0:46:46) Al: It may as well be dead. (0:47:03) Bev: of a task. And then like, all of a sudden realized like, oh, (0:47:06) Bev: it’s past like 1am. And now I’m, I can’t finish my task because I ran out of time. (0:47:12) Al: Yeah. So I’m going to assume that it still has an energy mechanic, because they have to have some way of you not just infinitely doing something, right? Well, except that Animal Crossing still isn’t infinite, because your timer is just your real-life timer. It has a timer for your day. (0:47:22) Bev: Mm-hmm (0:47:28) Bev: Mm-hmm or just do it infinitely like Animal Crossing you do that a polya for the most part you do that (0:47:42) Bev: Well, Al, like, then that- that every game has a real-life Tiber. (0:47:47) Al: OK, sure. I think it’s different, but that’s fine. We’ll move on from that. But I suspect it will have an energy mechanic and that will be the limiting factor on each day, which I think is fine. And I think it’s good because I guess the problem, and I hadn’t really thought about this until this was brought up, but I think it’s very… (0:47:56) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:48:01) Bev: Mm. (0:48:03) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:48:17) Al: very odd to have two limitations on you for one thing, which is essentially how long you’re going to spend in the day. And that problem of, “Oh, no, it’s the end of the day. I wasn’t paying attention to the time.” That’s because you’ve got two things to pay attention to. (0:48:22) Bev: Mm-hmm. (0:48:32) Bev: Mmhmm, mmhmm, mmhmm, mmhmm, mmhmm, mmhmm, mmhmm. (0:48:35) Al: You’re paying attention to the time and you’re also paying attention to your energy, your stamina. And it’s hard to keep a track of those things as well as play the game at the the same time, right? (0:48:45) Al: Thank you. (0:48:47) Al:

Whoa! It's gamer chat and tons of food crimes! C'mon, jump in!Check it out!Explicit language on this one."Snowdin Shopkeep Theme (Remix)" (Toni Leys - via GameChops - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_fA6Pptogw)Find the show on iTunes, Google Play Podcasts, Spotify, and Simplecast.fmFind the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6QoHk8iEsVGTpd2qdTlH-gFollow us @CharacterRev on Twitter and find us on Facebook!We're on Instagram @characterrevealDom is @brothadom on bluesky, tweets, tumbles and generally on the netSteph is @captainsteph on Twitter, @hella_steph on Instagram, and @thesnowqueer on TumblrEric is @TindiLosi on some places on the internet as a wholeFind everything at: https://linktr.ee/characterreveal

Jake and Cameron sit down with the Dan Beckerton, creator of Spirittea, for a follow up interview!Support Dan on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/cheesemaster_prBuy Spirittea on SteamSign up for the Digital Deluxe Edition of the podcast on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/preordercast?fan_landing=true►  Join our Discord Server!     https://discord.gg/rgmEEUrB2m►  The Pre-Order Cast GG App  https://ggapp.io/preordercast/lists/most-anticipated-games-of-2023-LWclmE0B►  Show Twitter  https://twitter.com/preordercast►  Jake's Twitter  https://twitter.com/jacob_chipdip18►  Cameron's Twitter   https://twitter.com/masssgeneric

It's rainy season on the west coast of Canada, so get cozy with the Gameaholic Podcast as the boys dive into the cozy life simulator Spirittea. This game resembles classics like Stardew Valley but adds a very "Spirited Away" twist. Luke and Colin talk through the amazing storyline, sounds and some of their favourite parts of this life sim. Regardless of if you've played this game, are on the fence about it, or haven't heard about it before, this is an episode you do not want to miss

Medverkande denna gång är: Fredrik, Vickan och Mattias.Nu blir det lite mer djupdykande i spel, film/tv och nöjesvärlden överlag! Detta tas upp i dagens avsnitt! Mycket nöje!Veckans innehåll:We are back baby! Denna vecka lyfter vi mängder av saker vi spelat och sett, och det hela inkluderar även "Månadens spelsläpp" samt "Folkets GOTY". Det senare en riktigt intressant lista, som ni kan se här nedanför!Sett till nyheter däremot, lyfter vi allt från Goda Omen säsong 3, Xbox Developers Direct, The Last of Us Part II problematik, James McCaffrey och grafikkort för att nämna några saker.Spel/konsoler som tas upp:Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown,Orten was the case,Greedland,Fashion Dreamer,SpiritTea,The Last of Us Part II: Remastered,GTA 2,Call of Duty: Vanguard, Control,Film/TV som tas upp:Wonka,In the Land of Saints and Sinners,Delicious in Dungeon,Akuma-Kun,Övrigt som tas upp:Flamecraft,Drakborgen,FOLKETS VAL - Topp fem spel enligt er!Baldur's Gate 3Hogwarts Legacy och Alan Wake IISuper Mario Bros. WonderStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomTack alla som röstade - och tack till alla er som lyssnar! Stor kram!Kom med i vår Discord här! - Nördliv på iTunes – Nördliv på Spotify

Al, Kevin, and Micah go through the games of the year and crown their winner for 2023. Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:42: What Have We Been Up To 00:27:56: 2023 Releases 00:34:54: Previous Winners 00:36:30: Our Nominations 01:53:00: GOTY Debate 02:08:06: Decision 02:15:50: Outro Games Mentioned Games released this year Above Snakes Before the green moon Everdream valley Fae Farm Farming Simulator 23 Flutter Away Garden Buddies Garden In Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos Hello Kitty: Island Adventure Homestead Arcana Innchanted Lego Fortnite Loddlenaut Mineko's Night Market Moonstone Island My Time at SAndrock Paleo Pines Roots of Pacha Rune Factory 3 Special Season: A Letter to the Future Silent Hope Smushi Come Home Spells and Secrets Spirittea Sprout Valley Steamworld Build Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Sun Down Tchia Terra Nil Wildmender EA released in a previous year, 1.0 this year Ikonei Island Moondrop Sun Haven Coral island DDV EA released this year Cornucopia Fabledom Moonlight in Garland One Lonely Outpost Research Factory Song of the Prairie Snacko Previous Winners 2019: Doraemon SoS 2020: Summer in Mara 2021: Spiritfarer 2022: Ooblets Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers and welcome to another episode of The Harvest Season. My name is Al. (0:00:39) Micah: I’m waiting, I’m waiting for you. (0:00:41) Kevin: Oh, I was waiting for you, too. I’m Micah. (0:00:44) Al: And we are here today to confuse you a lot. (0:00:46) Micah: And I’m Kev. (0:00:48) Kevin: There we go. (0:00:52) Al: It says, “We’re to talk about cottage core games.” (0:00:52) Kevin: Well, I mean, that goes without saying. (0:00:56) Al: Whoo! (0:00:57) Kevin: Whoo-hoo! (0:00:57) Al: Just, just in case people don’t know who they are, the names were the wrong way around there. (0:01:03) Al: So you know, they’re good luck. (0:01:06) Al: This is the fun episode of the year where I get two people on and we argue about which (0:01:14) Al: is the best game. (0:01:16) Al: And most of the time we come to a conclusion where we’re all accepting that that is our combined game of the year. (0:01:22) Kevin: Not this year. I refuse already. (0:01:26) Al: We will see where this year goes. (0:01:29) Al: But oh boy, oh boy, do I have some opinions. (0:01:34) Al: We’ll get to that when we get to that. (0:01:37) Al: Obviously transcripts are available for the episode and the show in general in the show notes and on the website. (0:01:44) Al: The game of the year stuff, Micah, what have you been up to? (0:01:46) Micah: I have been playing Dragon Quest Monsters 3 and I have also been playing Starfield quite a bit. (0:01:48) Al: Shock, shock harder. (0:01:52) Kevin: Good stuff. How many slimes are on your teeth? (0:01:59) Al: Interesting. What do you think? (0:02:01) Micah: I… (0:02:03) Micah: Okay. (0:02:04) Kevin: This, this is the response I hear every time I ask about it. (0:02:08) Micah: I very much understand two things. (0:02:14) Micah: I am a fan. (0:02:17) Micah: I am a fan of Bethesda game design and have been for many years. (0:02:22) Micah: So there is a level of comfort that comes with it. (0:02:27) Micah: I also understand that it is kind of dated game design. (0:02:33) Micah: And it all sort of feels the same as far as Bethesda goes. (0:02:40) Micah: But because I like that, I appreciate it. (0:02:44) Kevin: Yeah, no, that makes sense. I’m a Tetris fan, and Tetris hasn’t changed once in the 40 years it’s been out. (0:02:52) Al: That’s not true! That’s not true, Kevin. (0:02:54) Kevin: Yeah, I know that’s not true. (0:02:56) Al: We know, you know, you know that Tetris has changed. (0:02:58) Al: It has improved. It has moved with the times. (0:02:59) Kevin: Yeah, it is. (0:03:01) Micah: Tetris Effect is one of the greatest Tetris games of all time. Tetris 99. I would say, (0:03:04) Al: Exactly. Exactly. (0:03:06) Micah: I would actually argue that Tetris has done more changing than most franchises do. It’s kind of impressive. I don’t know, it’s kids. It can be cozy, right? Tetris can be a cozy (0:03:14) Kevin: You’re right, especially one we’re a fan of in particular. (0:03:19) Al: You don’t come, we don’t come for Tetris here, Kevin. (0:03:22) Kevin: I mean, we could. (0:03:28) Kevin: We could argue which one’s the best shaped piece. (0:03:31) Al: They also have their scam game that Cody’s playing. (0:03:31) Micah: Their scam game? No. (0:03:34) Kevin: Ah, well. (0:03:35) Al: Oh, have you not heard this, Micah? She’s playing a game that, like, you get points and then apparently once you hit a million or two million points you can win a free cruise, (0:03:45) Al: and I’m convinced it’s a scam. I’m waiting for the day that she gets to the right number of points and then, like, we never hear from her again because she’s, like, shipped off to have our organs harvested or something. (0:03:45) Micah: What? That does sound kinda scary. (0:03:49) Kevin: It does. (0:03:57) Micah: Dear God, all because of Tetris. (0:04:03) Kevin: Well, at least she had fun getting there. (0:04:05) Al: Anyway, so Starfield. (0:04:06) Kevin: That sounds like the game of the year to me. (0:04:10) Al: So what you’re saying is, if you like Starfield, you’ll like Starfield. (0:04:13) Al: That’s what you’re saying. (0:04:14) Micah: Yeah, if you like Bethesda games, Bethesda RPGs, (0:04:20) Micah: then you’ll probably like Starfield. (0:04:22) Micah: I think that there’s a lot of really neat things that they do with the. (0:04:27) Micah: Like space travel portions of it, there’s there’s a lot of really cool the like ship combat, space combat and stuff like that is very, very interesting. (0:04:37) Micah: It’s fun and the more that you kind of get comfortable with the how things function in the world, the you know, the more comfy of a game it is to. (0:04:49) Kevin: Okay, serious question. Have you played No Man’s Sky? (0:04:52) Micah: I have. (0:04:53) Kevin: to that (0:04:55) Micah: It is like if no man’s sky. (0:04:57) Micah: I had way more polished and was much more fleshed out and had much more like story elements to it. (0:05:09) Micah: I think that like primarily my enjoyment of Bethesda games comes from their writing. (0:05:17) Micah: And because there are just as an example, there’s a quest that I stumbled on by… (0:05:27) Micah: killing a space pirate and when I looked in his inventory there was a note and when I read the note that it unlocked this huge side quest that was like hours long. (0:05:40) Micah: Which is like I could have very easily missed that. (0:05:44) Micah: And I love that there’s such depth to like how stories play, like side stories even play out in Bethesda games like that. (0:05:57) Micah: So many times in Elder Scrolls games and things, you know, I’ll just stumble onto a cave and there’s a really deep story that’s written into this group that moved into this cave or whatever and it’s something that you could very easily miss. (0:06:16) Micah: It really makes me appreciate how much effort they put into writing things that people could never play in their, you know… (0:06:27) Micah: They’ll play through the game but there’s plenty of that in Starfield. (0:06:36) Al: Yeah, I think that’s fair. I’ve have enjoyed seeing a lot of the stuff online about all the kind of like side stuff, which has been for me, probably more fun than actually playing the game would be. So like, I totally get if you enjoy the game, then it makes it so much more fun, right? Because you’re finding all these things and just kind of stumble across this. But yeah, for me, it’s like, yeah, I enjoy watching someone post about it online or post a video or something like that. I think I know the side story you’re talking about, because that’s that’s the one that most people tend to go to. (0:06:42) Micah: Mm hmm. Yeah. (0:06:48) Kevin: Yeah. (0:07:12) Micah: Yeah, it’s a pretty important one because it, especially early on it, it gives you access to things that you would not have otherwise, that are pretty important. (0:07:22) Al: Yeah, you just confirmed it’s the one I’m thinking of. (0:07:28) Al: OK, well, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. That’s the important thing. That’s what we play games for. (0:07:30) Kevin: Yeah, well, we, we actually could do greenhouse. (0:07:32) Micah: And you know, I could talk about Dragon Quest monsters endlessly, but I’ll save everybody’s. (0:07:37) Micah: I’ll save everyone’s ears for… (0:07:40) Kevin: I didn’t all gladly listen to Dragon Quest talk for. (0:07:42) Al: Let’s discuss that later. (0:07:44) Micah: Yeah, I think that’s probably what I’m gonna be hanging on to that for is the the later (0:07:52) Al: Awesome. Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:07:55) Kevin: So it’s been a hot mince I’ve been on I think and the biggest life update for people who haven’t heard I have kittens now (0:08:05) Micah: kittens? No. When you okay, when you say kittens, obviously plural, how many are we talking here? (0:08:06) Kevin: Have I not showing you the mic oh I will text you a picture right now (0:08:11) Kevin: Yes (0:08:15) Kevin: We’re talking too so We started off with one (0:08:20) Kevin: So we’re looking for a new place to move into and at one of the places we’ve kittens they were giving (0:08:25) Kevin: away and so we took one home and then after some discussions we said you know what I bet this kitten could use a companion so we went back and got one got one of her brothers and so we now went from no kittens to two kittens pretty much out of the blue their names are teddy and daisy (0:08:52) Kevin: They are about seven, eight weeks. (0:08:55) Kevin: They are about eight weeks old. (0:08:57) Kevin: This is my first time owning cats. I’ve had a dog before, but never cats. (0:09:02) Kevin: It’s been enjoyable there. (0:09:04) Kevin: Fun, energetic, Daisy in particular is a little gremlin who loves to run around. (0:09:08) Kevin: Teddy, the brother, he’s a lot more chill. (0:09:11) Kevin: He is, yeah, I’m loving them so far. I love animals, right? (0:09:15) Kevin: And they were so little when we got them. (0:09:17) Kevin: They were only like four weeks old when we got them. (0:09:20) Kevin: So they were really little. They were like tripled in size. (0:09:23) Kevin: I took them to the vet for the first time. (0:09:25) Kevin: Yesterday, and aren’t they precious I I will have to find of us an alpix so he can post it with the show (0:09:26) Micah: Oh my god. (0:09:33) Micah: Who who’s the which one is the white and gray one? (0:09:37) Kevin: That’s Daisy (0:09:38) Micah: That’s Daisy. (0:09:39) Kevin: Mm-hmm and then (0:09:40) Micah: Daisy looks very much like my brother’s cat, zero, who is 18 years old. (0:09:43) Kevin: Oh really, huh Wow Wow, that’s strong (0:09:48) Micah: But the like identical like pattern and facial structure and. (0:09:51) Kevin: Yeah, yeah, Teddy’s really cute. He’s got a tuxedo (0:09:55) Kevin: pattern. He’s got gray fur, but like little white paws and, um, and Daisy’s black or black gray spots. Yeah, they’re adorable. Um, so yeah, they can be a handful at times as I’m sure cat owners know they can get all over the place. (0:10:10) Kevin: But, um, but I’ve been enjoying. Um, so, uh, yeah, that’s the big thing really. But, uh, (0:10:16) Kevin: other than that, probably the biggest things I’ve been playing lately. Um, I’ve really been getting through Tears of the Kingdom finally. I’ve pretty much (0:10:25) Kevin: at the finish line I’ve done all the big quests I’m just kind of going around hitting up all the shrines and filling out the map and so on and so forth but I could go take on Ganon anytime. That game is phenomenal it’s great I mean I don’t have to go in-depth about it I’m sure everyone knows how good it is right right but yeah very good game I yeah not much I probably could add and then the The other one is a… (0:10:42) Al: Speaking of games that have secrets. (0:10:55) Kevin: Street Fighter 6 (0:10:58) Kevin: So I am a fighting game fan. I am bad at them, but I love them (0:11:03) Micah: Hey, me too. (0:11:04) Kevin: I picked it up. Yeah, yeah, you got right. I’ve only played two weeks (0:11:07) Micah: On both fronts. (0:11:10) Kevin: Have you picked up Street Fighter 6? (0:11:11) Micah: I have not. (0:11:12) Kevin: Micah, okay (0:11:12) Micah: I have some friends that I have watched play. (0:11:14) Kevin: Okay (0:11:18) Micah: And I have some friends that are extremely good at Street Fighter. (0:11:23) Kevin: Yeah, yeah good. Oh man, hats off to them. (0:11:24) Micah: So I’ve seen some, you know, stuff that I’ve seen gameplay that I don’t fully understand because it’s too… (0:11:33) Micah: high level for my small brain to comprehend, but… (0:11:40) Kevin: That’s fine, I’m playing it and it happens to me. (0:11:45) Kevin: So yeah, the two big things, I mean Street Fighter, right? (0:11:47) Kevin: It’s the iconic series, (0:11:48) Kevin: so I’m sure people know what it’s all about, it’s fighting. (0:11:51) Kevin: But the two big things that it brings, (0:11:54) Kevin: the first is called modern controls. (0:11:57) Kevin: They have a new control scheme (0:12:02) Kevin: that simplifies basically playing the game. (0:12:05) Kevin: So traditionally you’d have to do a motion on your control stick and a button and all sorts of crazy combinations to get moves out. (0:12:15) Kevin: But they simplified it, (0:12:16) Kevin: where you can get moves out with just the press of a button. (0:12:20) Kevin: It’s very beginner friendly. (0:12:23) Kevin: Because of the convenience of that, (0:12:25) Kevin: they balanced it by reducing the strength of the moves and things like that. (0:12:32) Kevin: I think it’s great. (0:12:33) Kevin: I don’t play it much myself, I like the classic stuff, (0:12:36) Kevin: but it’s fun to see people use it and be able to play, (0:12:41) Kevin: get in without having to worry about not being able to do the moves. (0:12:44) Kevin: I say that as someone who is not always able to do the moves. (0:12:50) Kevin: And the second big thing that they have is called world tour mode. (0:12:53) Kevin: Have you guys heard of this at all? (0:12:56) Kevin: Yeah, oh man. (0:12:58) Kevin: So World Tour Mode is their single player campaign. (0:13:02) Kevin: The real kicker is that it’s a create a character mode. (0:13:08) Kevin: So you create your own fighter, but they’re sliders to your physical attributes. (0:13:16) Kevin: So you can be as tall, skinny, short, whatever you want. (0:13:19) Kevin: You can make monstrosity looking characters and it will affect your gameplay. (0:13:24) Kevin: If you have long arms, you will be able to punch farther or whatever. (0:13:29) Kevin: It’s pretty fun making your own character. (0:13:32) Kevin: I love it. You can hang out with the cast, which are filled with fun dumb moments. (0:13:46) Kevin: You can text all the street fighters. It’s really funny. (0:13:48) Micah: I am a big fan of a really ridiculous character. (0:13:48) Kevin: It’s so good. It’s probably the most ridiculous one. Just today I saw somebody look like a spaghetti with arms. (0:14:02) Kevin: It’s so good. There’s an online mode where you can bring your creative characters. You can have your freak matches. It’s great. (0:14:10) Kevin: Everything about that game is fantastic. The presentation, the music, the online play works great. I rarely have any bad connections for matches. (0:14:22) Kevin: I’m the character I picked up. Her name is Manon. She is a French supermodel. (0:14:32) Kevin: She is also a judo wrestler. She throws all of that in her move. She does struts, she does pirouettes, and she’ll grow you around. (0:14:40) Kevin: She’s very fun to play. That’s what I’ve been up to. (0:14:44) Kevin: Alright, Senor Al, what about you? (0:14:48) Al: Not a huge amount. It’s been a weird week, but I’ve been playing a bit of a Highland song. So for Micah, probably, who isn’t aware, it’s a platforming game based in the Scottish Highlands, and part of it is rhythm based. And it’s absolutely gorgeous. It has great music. The story is really good, and I don’t play games with the sound on, but I… (0:15:18) Al: can’t play this game with the sound off. Like, it’s just even outside of the rhythm, but it’s just so good. Yeah. Like, a Highland song. And it’s fantastic. So, okay, yeah, (0:15:30) Kevin: Okay, what are the rhythm portions like, because I know it was the Scottish game, but I don’t know what it’s like. (0:15:36) Al: okay. That’s a fair question. That’s a fair question. So, to preamble to that, the idea is that you’ve got all these mountains, and you’re climbing over them, and you’re trying (0:15:48) Al: to get to specific points. And there are places in the game where, as you are walking, (0:15:54) Al: it will tell you to press B to run. And then as you’re running across a terrain, there are things in the way, and the rhythm bit is you have to press it in time to the music to keep going and jump over the rhythm. (0:16:08) Kevin: Okay, that’s fascinating. Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rhythm platformer in the (0:16:19) Micah: This is beautiful. (0:16:20) Al: Right. Right. And the best thing is, so when you’re standing on, when you’re standing on a hill in the game and you can see all of the hills around you, all of those hills are hills you can go to in the game. (0:16:32) Kevin: Oh wow, that’s nice. (0:16:34) Micah: Wow. Yeah, this is a really pretty game. I’ve never heard of this. (0:16:38) Al: Yeah, it’s really I’m loving it. It’s great. Yeah, yeah, I came out a couple weeks ago. (0:16:39) Micah: Is it new? (0:16:44) Al: But it’s fantastic. And all the Scottish accents are legitimate. So no terrible Shrek voices. (0:16:50) Kevin: But, I mean, come on, don’t you want at least one Shrek in there? (0:16:52) Al: No, no, no. Definitely not. Never, never, never. Shrek is fine in Shrek. Not outside. (0:16:56) Micah: No, that was a very immediate no. (0:17:00) Micah: No, no, no, no, no, no. (0:17:00) Kevin: Ah, fair enough. (0:17:06) Al: We have enough fake Scottish. (0:17:08) Al: Voices in the world, there are very few things where we actually get proper Scottish voices. (0:17:13) Al: So it’s nice to actually hear some. (0:17:14) Kevin: Fair enough. (0:17:15) Kevin: Is David Tennant in it? (0:17:17) Al: I don’t think so, no. (0:17:18) Kevin: the- I’m sorry. That’s a missed (0:17:21) Al: His voice, there was something, I can’t remember what it was I was watching the other day and I was like, “Oh, that’s David Tennant.” Like I always, anytime I hear him doing his normal voice, (0:17:29) Al: it’s like such a distinctive voice for me that I’m like, “Oh.” It’s like, (0:17:33) Al: Every so often, somebody learns that David Tennant is Scrooge McDuck. (0:17:38) Al: And they’re like, “What? How’s David Tennant?” I’m like, “How could you not tell? His voice is just so distinctly his voice.” (0:17:39) Kevin: Yeah, yeah. (0:17:40) Kevin: - That’s… (0:17:47) Kevin: I, I didn’t know, I mean, I, I watched, I’m a big fan of the reboot of DuckTales, but I didn’t know it was David Tennant till a little bit in. (0:17:48) Al: Maybe that’s a Scottish thing, I don’t know. (0:17:57) Kevin: Um, and I didn’t realize he was Scottish. (0:17:59) Kevin: That’s, it’s really funny. (0:18:00) Al: Yeah, he’s not putting on a voice. He’s slightly emphasizing it, but that’s basically just his voice. (0:18:04) Kevin: Yeah, sure. (0:18:06) Al: Yeah, don’t do that again, Kevin. (0:18:06) Kevin: I like how he says “Gad-age” in the first episode. (0:18:09) Kevin: I always remember that one. (0:18:13) Kevin: That’s how he says it. (0:18:17) Al: So yeah, I’ve mostly been playing that and also been playing Pokemon because of the Flubbebe outbreaks, as I said, in the show notes. (0:18:27) Micah: Oh, that’s right (0:18:30) Al: baby baby. (0:18:31) Micah: Forgot that was going on. I forget it’s uh, well baby now and then (0:18:39) Kevin: Milsory in the (0:18:42) Al: So it’s current Flababy in Poldea. It is… no, it is not. It is Litwick in Kitakami. (0:18:48) Kevin: 3 in Kitikami. (0:18:52) Micah: Mmm. Yeah, because milsry is not in the game. (0:18:53) Al: Milcery isn’t in the game yet. Milcery will be in the Blueberry Academy when it comes out. So that’s why it’s not Milcery yet. It’s because it’s in the new region in the DLC. I think it’s just called the Blueberry Academy. Yeah. (0:19:01) Kevin: I haven’t gotten the DLC yet. (0:19:05) Micah: So just the new region, do we know what the new region is called? (0:19:07) Micah: Other than just, it’s the Blueberry Academy, is it just Blueberry Academy? (0:19:10) Kevin: That’s it. (0:19:11) Kevin: Yeah, it’s like an- it’s a- yeah, it’s part of- it’s Unovan territory, I guess, I know, (0:19:16) Kevin: but it’s like an artificial island sort of thing. (0:19:20) Al: Yeah, they call it like the. (0:19:21) Kevin: Terrarium. (0:19:24) Kevin: Yeah. (0:19:26) Micah: means I almost fear honest I mean it’s the like vibe that I got from it when I yeah we’ll see it’s always we’ll see (0:19:26) Kevin: Yeah. (0:19:28) Al: Yeah, it is pretty much, hopefully less evil, but we’ll see. (0:19:29) Kevin: now. (0:19:31) Kevin: Yeah, [LAUGH] I might get the DLC finally, the trit look. (0:19:40) Al: Oh, they are calling it the ceranium. (0:19:42) Al: They are calling it. (0:19:44) Micah: I was just recently finishing up my Pokedex, my like living decks in Violet in preparation for the DLC, but (0:19:57) Micah: there’s a lot of just figuring out how to who I knew who had the other Sinnoh starters, because you only get the like one egg. (0:20:11) Micah: And it’s dependent on, I guess, dependent on what starter you picked for. (0:20:15) Micah: For scarlet or violet. (0:20:16) Al: I think it was, or maybe it was random, I can’t- (0:20:20) Micah: I feel like it was, yeah, it seemed like from trying to track down where I would find a Piplup, it was, it was through like deduction power, the power of deduction (0:20:34) Micah: through who had what starter from the, from Paldea. (0:20:38) Micah: So I don’t know if that’s actually the case or not, but that’s, that’s how I managed to figure out who had. (0:20:44) Al: Yeah, I could probably find out if I cared enough. (0:20:52) Al: I mean, I still like, I don’t, I’m still enjoying it and I’m really looking forward to the new DLC, but Kevin, you don’t need to play it. (0:21:00) Al: You can just not. (0:21:02) Micah: It’s true. It’s true. I will say that I felt. (0:21:02) Kevin: Look, I’m– (0:21:09) Micah: I think we talked about this the last time I was on, actually. (0:21:10) Al: We did. (0:21:12) Al: We had a whole greenhouse episode about it. (0:21:14) Micah: I finally finished the DLC, the first DLC, because that was the right. (0:21:18) Al: Oh, yes. (0:21:19) Al: Yes. (0:21:19) Al: Cause you hadn’t finished it when we did the greenhouse. (0:21:21) Micah: And that is like rare for me, because I I go (0:21:25) Micah: pretty hard into Pokemon stuff when it launches for the first time. (0:21:28) Micah: So to not do that is kind of a new. (0:21:32) Micah: New and weird thing for me, but I finally finished it and I did enjoy it, but I did feel that it was a very, I don’t know, I just, I’ve, I’m still feeling like I’ve kind of become disillusioned with modern Pokemon to some degree, but. (0:21:49) Kevin: I mean and okay like to not I’m you know, I (0:21:54) Kevin: Notoriously nag on the game, but to pull the veil down a little to be you the more genuine here. I (0:22:00) Kevin: Do think the trailer for the upcoming one part looks good. I’m a bit excited for what I see (0:22:07) Kevin: the only part that (0:22:08) Al: Careful. (0:22:10) Kevin: Yeah, I know the only part that really irritates me is the flying thing how it’s locked behind the DLC because (0:22:18) Al: Yeah, I agree (0:22:19) Kevin: It’s just with knowing how the development cycle works and the timing of everything. It feels very intentional. They put bad flying (0:22:28) Al: Well, here’s the thing, I don’t care if it’s like, “Oh, we couldn’t get it done in time for release,” right? (0:22:34) Al: You still don’t have to lock it behind the DLC. (0:22:34) Kevin: Right. Exactly. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yeah. Okay. But. (0:22:36) Al: They have updates. (0:22:37) Al: Every game has updates when there’s DLCs. (0:22:40) Al: So you absolutely don’t need to. (0:22:41) Al: It’s absolutely a very specific choice to lock that quality of life feature behind a purchase and that is bad and we should absolutely call that out. (0:22:49) Al: It’s not going to stop me buying the game though. (0:22:52) Micah: Yeah, I’m kind of in the same position. (0:22:56) Micah: I think there’s a lot of stuff that could just generally as far as the development cycle goes could have been changed for the better. (0:23:10) Micah: I had mentioned a little bit the like one time I’ve been on Twitter in the last like month after they talked about the they released. (0:23:22) Micah: It’s the new trailer this last week, I think. (0:23:24) Al: Yeah. (0:23:25) Micah: And they showed off the the like Pokemon control mode. (0:23:30) Micah: I forgot what they call it, but you can control the sync mode where you can control the Pokemon and run around as the Pokemon. (0:23:32) Al: Oh, yes, yeah, synchronize. Yeah. (0:23:32) Kevin: The sync mode thing. (0:23:40) Micah: And it seemingly has not much of a like use case other than you can battle Pokemon, but you just run around as a Pokemon. (0:23:50) Micah: And that to me, it. (0:23:52) Micah: Immediately, like I’d think back to when the games first came out and how much like disgruntledness there was with certain elements of the design that the games design, like how you couldn’t go into any of the houses. (0:24:09) Micah: But then they, you know, when they clipped out of bounds, then they found that there were like half designed internal locations like you could have gone into. (0:24:20) Micah: but it was very clear that they ran. (0:24:22) Micah: Out of time in the development cycle, just couldn’t, uh, so there are things like that where like I, it makes me feel like sync mode. (0:24:29) Micah: It was something that they just ran out of time on. (0:24:32) Al: So that’s possible, but I also think it could be along the lines of, like, let’s go Pikachu and Eevee to Legends, where we saw a clear direction they were moving. (0:24:43) Al: And it’s not necessarily, like, I don’t think anyone would say that the catching in Let’s Go was the way it was because they didn’t have enough time to do what they ended up doing in Legends, but it was more like a kind of moving in that kind of direction. (0:24:57) Al: And we see this with a lot of things in Pokémon where they do that, where it’s like, it’s It’s just a, it’s a. (0:25:02) Al: You’re prerequisite and the kind of like the game, it’s not like here’s a game, let’s build a game. Here’s another game. Let’s build another game, right? Like they’re constantly doing all these different things in these different games and having these different ideas. And that’s true. (0:25:04) Kevin: Yeah, baby steps. (0:25:16) Kevin: These I don’t think these are mutually exclusive either like (0:25:16) Micah: I think that I think that that I agree with that that makes sense. (0:25:22) Micah: But I do feel like there is a level of like (0:25:26) Micah: half baked development process for some of these things. (0:25:30) Micah: And I I am willing to, you know, give (0:25:30) Kevin: Oh, oh, they’re deaf at least. (0:25:34) Micah: well, for like like you said, for let’s go. (0:25:37) Micah: I think the the catch feature for let’s go was meant to more mimic Pokemon. (0:25:41) Micah: Go like it was very clearly there, like (0:25:46) Micah: the motion point between the main games and Pokemon go so that. (0:25:51) Micah: You know, catching style was intended to feel like I mean, it does feel like especially the motion control portion feels like Pokemon go. (0:25:52) Al: I mean, kind of, kind of, but I also like, with then we got only a few years later, legends, (0:26:05) Al: like it feels like it was what they kind of wanted to move towards and they were trying different things and this is what they ended up with. I don’t think it was just like, oh, (0:26:15) Al: let’s just make Pokemon go in a main series game. Like, I think it was, you know, they (0:26:22) Al: had a game which was legends where you were actually running around and literally just throwing Pokeballs at Pokemon, right? But, look, it’s not, yeah, I mean, it does show a flaw in how they developed their games and that these were almost certainly developed in parallel and therefore you can’t know what’s going to be popular and what’s going to end up working really well before you do it the next one. Yeah, I don’t disagree with you. (0:26:30) Kevin: And then they said, “Let’s go backwards at the next game.” (0:26:52) Al: I want that again. But anyway, we don’t need to keep talking about Pokemon. Let’s move on, shall we? This happens every couple of months we end up on another Scarlet and Violet delve. It did, it did. It did, but, you know, I need to save some of my Pokemon talk for a different podcast. Anyway, it’s, wow. Wow. (0:27:03) Kevin: But the trailer just came out. It was… it was gonna- (0:27:16) Kevin: We’re doing a worst games of the year pocket. (0:27:22) Al: Anyway, that’s what we’ve been up to. And I’m glad that we got a good half an hour out of that because there is no news because this is recorded out of time. Because I don’t know about you guys, but I did not want to record this on, you know, Hogman A. So we’re recording it a few weeks early. (0:27:46) Kevin: Where’s your dedication out? (0:27:49) Micah: What do you have things to do geez [laughs] (0:27:52) Al: So yes, yes, I do. So we are here to discuss our favourite games of the year and hopefully come to a conclusion on what the podcast’s game of the year is. So begins the part of the podcast where I read a bunch of words. So I am going to go down all of the games that were released this year. And at what point does this become ridiculous? I don’t know is this the most (0:28:22) Al: games we’ve had released in a year since we started the podcast? (0:28:24) Al: Yes, it absolutely is. (0:28:24) Kevin: Probably. (0:28:26) Al: Absolutely insane. (0:28:27) Al: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, nine. (0:28:29) Kevin: More than three, I’ll tell you that. (0:28:31) Kevin: I didn’t know Homestead Arcana- (0:28:32) Al: So 30, 30, 30 games, (0:28:36) Al: 31, 30, 35 games, and then one, two, three, four, five, six, seven released (0:28:42) Al: into Early Access. So was that 42, 42 games in this list? (0:28:47) Al: So this is the first list is the list of (0:28:50) Al: that were released. (0:28:52) Al: Not into early access and they previously weren’t in early access. (0:28:56) Al: This is brand new games this year. (0:28:58) Al: Brand new games not early access. (0:29:00) Al: I don’t know why I overcomplicated this, but here this is what we’re doing. (0:29:04) Al: So this is Above Snakes, Before the Green Moon, Everdream Valley, Fae Farm, Farming Simulator 23, Flutter Away, Garden Buddies, Garden Inn, Harvest Moon, The Winds of Anthos, Homestead Arcana, Enchanted, Loddle Knot, (0:29:20) Al: Maneko’s Night Market. (0:29:22) Al: And this is me just double-taking. (0:29:48) Micah: Now if you thought that was it. (0:29:52) Kevin: I’m gonna feel bad when one of the real games of the year is in here and the ones that I didn’t play. (0:29:52) Al: Well, this is part of the problem. (0:30:00) Al: So next we have five games that were released in 1.0 this year and early access a previous year. (0:30:07) Al: OK, so they were already out, but they came to their 1.0. (0:30:11) Al: They left early access this year. (0:30:13) Al: That’s a better way of describing it. (0:30:14) Al: These games left early access this year. (0:30:16) Al: And we have Icone Island, Mindrop, Sunhaven, Coral– (0:30:22) Al: Island, and Disney Dreamlight Valley. (0:30:24) Al: And then we have the list of seven games that came into early access this year. (0:30:28) Al: And that is Cornucopia, Fabledom, Moonlight in Garland, One Lonely Outpost, (0:30:35) Al: Research Story, Song of the Prairie, and Snacko. (0:30:39) Al: Hey, Micah, is this the first time you’re learning that Snacko’s in early access? (0:30:42) Al: Or did you know that already? (0:30:43) Micah: Uh, no, yesterday when I opened Notion was the first time I learned this neck wasn’t really (0:30:50) Al: Well, surprise! (0:30:52) Al: in early access now. (0:30:55) Micah: I have I’ve played the betas or the alphas, sorry. (0:31:01) Micah: And I have decided that I don’t want to do much more with the game until it (0:31:10) Micah: they get a full release because I love it. (0:31:13) Micah: love it so far and I don’t want to overdo it. (0:31:16) Kevin: Yep, don’t burn yourself out on it. I know somebody who was a big fan of Hades, but they only played in the Early Access and they burned themselves out. (0:31:23) Micah: I don’t think I could burn myself out on it really as much as it’s just that like, I don’t want to miss out like because I backed it. And I want to, I don’t know, experience the full experience I’ve experienced so much of it at this point. (0:31:38) Al: I think that’s fair. I got to the same point with Coral Island last year where I was like, (0:31:43) Al: “And now I’m going to put it down into 1.0.” But I mean, that was like 40 hours or 50 hours or something like that. It was more than I play a lot of games, you know? And I didn’t feel like playing that much ruined the experience for me when I came to the final version, because I’ve put in more than… I’m up to 100 hours now in that game. So I think it depends on the game. (0:31:55) Micah: Mm-hmm. (0:32:07) Al: Uhh. (0:32:07) Al: Ah. (0:32:08) Al: But that is a fair point. (0:32:11) Al: I have not decided what I’m going to do with Snacko. (0:32:14) Al: I’ve not decided yet. (0:32:16) Kevin: Why did nobody tell me homestead arcana came out? I would have played it, I missed that. (0:32:21) Al: Kevin! (0:32:23) Kevin: I’ve been here. (0:32:24) Micah: Have I got news for you. (0:32:29) Al: Kevin, you literally, we literally have a shared list of all of these games and when they coming out, you can look at it all the time and I’m constantly updating it just to let you know that is a thing. (0:32:31) Kevin: Well, hey. (0:32:42) Kevin: You assume I read these even when we’re recording. (0:32:43) Al: Nope, I don’t assume that at all, but I will complain about it. (0:32:49) Al: So any thoughts before we get into listing our favorite games, any thoughts on the list as a whole? (0:32:56) Al: Here we go. (0:32:56) Kevin: Umm… (0:32:57) Kevin: Ugh… (0:32:58) Micah: It’s a good list (0:32:59) Kevin: It’s a very good list. It’s too good. (0:33:01) Micah: It’s a strong list that I (0:33:06) Micah: when I opened this this document and looked at it I was a (0:33:11) Micah: Surprised that so many games had come out this year and be a little bit (0:33:17) Micah: Concerned about how few of these games I actually played (0:33:20) Kevin: Exactly! (0:33:22) Kevin: Alright, time to strike out all the ones none of us have played. (0:33:26) Al: Yeah, no, that’s fair. And I think it is interesting, right? Because like, I’ve now been tracking these games. I think I have all of the farming games that have released ever now in my list. (0:33:36) Al: And so that’s 47 this year. Last year, there were 24. In 2021, there were 15. In 2020, (0:33:46) Al: there were nine. In 2019, there were 13. And then we’ve got like, between 2016 and 2018, (0:33:54) Al: were 16. (0:33:56) Al: So that’s like a three-year span, and they were the same number as they were in 2021. (0:34:03) Al: And then 2010 to 2015, there were 12 of them, half of which were just farming simulator, (0:34:10) Kevin: Yeah. (0:34:10) Al: and the other half were just harvest moon. (0:34:13) Al: That’s not true. (0:34:16) Al: There were three harvest moons, two rune factories in one story of seasons, and an animal crossing. (0:34:21) Al: So the rest were farming simulator. (0:34:23) Al: And then the five years before that, there were 17. (0:34:26) Al: It is wild that Stardew Valley is eight years old in February, just saying. (0:34:36) Kevin: Yup, thanks Stardew Valley. (0:34:43) Kevin: You changed the whole landscape of the genre of gaming, thanks. (0:34:50) Kevin: I thought it was older, to be honest. (0:34:53) Al: No, 2016. (0:34:56) Al: Right. (0:34:56) Al: Well, I mean, shall we get right into it then? (0:34:59) Al: Let’s go for one each around, what should we do around the table? (0:35:04) Al: One each. (0:35:04) Kevin: All right. (0:35:05) Al: And we can tell, say what the game is and tell me why you’ve got it in the list. (0:35:12) Al: And we’re not doing, no, it’s a terrible game. (0:35:15) Al: So Micah, would you like to go with your first one? (0:35:18) Micah: Uhhh… Can I go with my wildcard first? (0:35:20) Al: You can, you can go in whatever order you want. (0:35:22) Al: If you want to leave your strongest for last, go for it. (0:35:25) Al: if you want to start with your strong. (0:35:26) Al: Go for it if you want to do your crazy one first, do what you want. (0:35:29) Micah: I’m going to get my wild card out of the way because I know that it’s not going to go very far so. (0:35:31) Al: Let’s go for it. (0:35:34) Al: Never assume these things, you have no idea what’s going to happen. (0:35:37) Micah: OK, that’s true. You’re right. My my. (0:35:37) Kevin: I, I, yep, I. (0:35:39) Al: Oh wait, before we get into that, let me just quickly. (0:35:45) Al: I want to go through what we have had as our games of the year in the past. (0:35:51) Al: Last year, Ooblets won. (0:35:54) Al: 2022, Ooblets won. (0:35:57) Al: But it did. (0:35:58) Al: 2021 was Spiritfarer. (0:36:01) Al: 2020 was Summer in Mara. (0:36:04) Al: And 2019 was the Raymon Story of Seasons. (0:36:07) Kevin: Wildflower was robbed. (0:36:09) Micah: What year was Wildflowers? (0:36:11) Kevin: I don’t I (0:36:11) Micah: Oh. I mean. (0:36:11) Al: Yeah, Wildflowers last year. (0:36:13) Micah: Ooblitz though. (0:36:16) Al: None of the three of us had played it. (0:36:18) Al: And Kevin, you hadn’t played it by that point either. (0:36:20) Al: So… (0:36:21) Micah: Also- Also Ooblitz is- (0:36:21) Kevin: That is correct. (0:36:26) Al: Ooblets was the only… (0:36:27) Al: Well, you hadn’t played Ooblets, but me and Bev had. (0:36:30) Micah: Yes. (0:36:31) Al: And you had a wild card last year as well. (0:36:33) Al: So what’s your wild card this year? (0:36:35) Micah: What was my wildcard last year? (0:36:37) Al: Shinshan Summer Vacation. (0:36:38) Micah: Oh, I mean, that is actually I still stand by that. (0:36:44) Al: Look, I’m not saying it’s a bat, I’m just saying. (0:36:46) Al: Like it was a little bit out of life field, (0:36:47) Al: neither of us had heard of that game before you brought it up. (0:36:50) Micah: Well, let me tell you about my wildcard for this year, which I guarantee you have heard of. (0:36:55) Micah: There is absolutely no scenario where you have not heard of this game. (0:37:00) Micah: Are you ready? (0:37:02) Kevin: Is it the princess game? (0:37:03) Micah: It is Fortnite. (0:37:07) Al: OK, why? (0:37:08) Al: OK, so you– wait, no, no, right. (0:37:10) Al: OK, so, Micah, you’re telling me that over the past three days, (0:37:12) Micah: Uh-huh. Yeah. (0:37:16) Micah: Yes. (0:37:17) Al: you have played this game enough to consider it one of your favourite games of the year? (0:37:20) Micah: I would say that there’s a reason that it’s a wild card. (0:37:27) Micah: And I would say that it is probably the reason that it’s in my list is not because I would (0:37:33) Micah: personally consider it one of my favorite games of the year. (0:37:36) Micah: But I think that it is a very important bridge (0:37:42) Micah: for the wider Fortnite audience, which is massive, into the world of farming sims. (0:37:50) Al: Well, we will have talked about it in a previous episode, so. (0:37:50) Kevin: And hey, if we let them win… (0:37:52) Micah: For anybody that is confused by this and doesn’t understand why Fortnite is part of this conversation, (0:37:59) Micah: they just released… (0:38:02) Micah: Yes, the Fortnite, the LEGO Fortnite mode has been released as of three days ago. So… (0:38:10) Al: And for some reason, it’s basically Minecraft, but with more farming. It’s wild! (0:38:10) Kevin: Minecraft for tonight. (0:38:12) Micah: Yes, and also as Legos, and it’s in Fortnite. (0:38:15) Kevin: Yeah. (0:38:18) Micah: I don’t really know if there’s aside from skins and characters, there’s not. (0:38:21) Kevin: Wait, is it actually Lego brand? Lego? What? Holy moly. (0:38:24) Al: It is, it is. (0:38:25) Micah: Yes, it’s actually Lego brand. (0:38:28) Micah: And it’s you are just building Lego, (0:38:30) Micah: like a Lego like homestead basically of a village in the wild. (0:38:36) Kevin: That’s… (0:38:37) Micah: It’s essentially a survival, it’s more of a survival game than it is like (0:38:42) Kevin: Mm-hmm. (0:38:42) Micah: a farming sim. (0:38:43) Micah: So it’s more like you gotta eat and you gotta, there is, (0:38:44) Kevin: It’s all Minecraft. (0:38:44) Al: Yeah, but there does seem to be a decent amount of farming in it. (0:38:49) Micah: there is a decent amount of farming in it. (0:38:51) Micah: And I’ll say that I have played quite a bit of it because the team that I work with has been very into it. (0:38:59) Micah: So, and prior to that coming out, we had all been playing Ark, (0:39:06) Al: » Okay. Yeah. (0:39:06) Micah: the dinosaur survival game. (0:39:09) Micah: So we had a server that we were playing that on. (0:39:11) Micah: So when a new survive. (0:39:12) Micah: Survival type game released and it’s Fortnite and it’s free and it’s Lego then we were like, okay, well, let’s play this instead so we have been playing quite a bit of it and it’s I was a little bit shocked at how good of an experience it is because it’s it it’s just odd because it’s got other than the skins and the characters there’s and I guess the the game that it that you access it from there’s nothing related to Fortnite really it’s super obvious. (0:39:19) Al: suck (0:39:44) Al: No. Well, I think your character is in the beginning based on the main, the base Fortnite playable character, right? Yeah. It’s not Fortnite. It’s not Fortnite at all. So a couple of things I found interesting about this. So first of all, it made me realize that Fortnite is not just Fortnite anymore, right? Like Fortnite was just a battle royale, but that is just one of eight different game modes, right? Absolutely wild to me. (0:39:52) Micah: Yes. Yeah. So aside from the characters, I mean, it’s it’s really there’s not a lot of no, it’s not a (0:40:06) Kevin: Oh, it hasn’t been for a while. (0:40:08) Micah: Yeah. Right. (0:40:14) Al: That’s the point now. And second of all, not only is this, it’s like, it’s not just Fortnite, but Lego. It’s Fortnite, but Lego, if they made it Minecraft, but with more farming. (0:40:30) Al: And I am just, it’s just so fascinating. So I haven’t played a huge amount of it. I’ve downloaded it and I’ve started playing it and I’ve kind of done the first couple of things. And it’s not really grabbing me. I don’t think I’m going to spend a huge amount of time on it, but I think (0:40:44) Al: so. Minecraft, when we covered Minecraft on the podcast, it was, it was a bit of a stretch, (0:40:48) Al: right? There is farming, but it’s very limited. It’s like, it was four crops or something. There might be more now. Minecraft has done a lot since then, but it felt like a bit of a stretch. (0:40:58) Micah: Yeah, there is a significant differences between, you know, yeah, there’s quite a bit to do in Fortnite now, or in Minecraft, I mean. (0:41:05) Al: Yeah, but this feels like a legit farming game, but it’s not cottagecore. It’s survival farming game. (0:41:06) Kevin: Minecraft has not stopped growing, they do annual updates. (0:41:16) Micah: Mm hmm. (0:41:19) Micah: Yeah, so I guess it kind of it also is a little bit of like how you play it. (0:41:24) Micah: So like, granted, there is a survival aspect that needs to be taken care of. (0:41:29) Micah: But depending on who you’re playing with or the the you know, (0:41:32) Micah: there is a like peaceful mode that you can do similar to what Minecraft had, (0:41:36) Al: That’s a good point. (0:41:36) Micah: where it’s not really you don’t have to play the survival mode. (0:41:40) Micah: You can play it just for the sake of like, you know, (0:41:43) Micah: the kind of like sandbox aspect of it. (0:41:46) Micah: Where you’re building stuff and doing whatever you want. (0:41:46) Kevin: farming and whatnot. (0:41:48) Micah: Yeah. (0:41:49) Micah: But, you know, like with my group, I’m not as big into the survival aspects of it. (0:41:54) Micah: Like I don’t particularly care about, you know, min maxing food and water and so on and so forth. (0:42:01) Micah: I’m more into the like building and designing and, you know, farming and that stuff. (0:42:07) Micah: So I kind of take on that role while everybody else takes on the survival portion of it. (0:42:14) Micah: So there are different ways. (0:42:16) Micah: Is to be able to play it that make it a little bit more of like a comfortable experience. (0:42:22) Micah: I mean, I literally built a cottage, so I don’t know, you know. (0:42:25) Al: Yeah, that’s, I think that’s totally fair. I guess my point of what I was saying was, (0:42:26) Kevin: Nice. Well, there you go. (0:42:31) Al: was like, I think this is much more legitimate as a farming game than Minecraft was when, (0:42:38) Al: when we covered it. So I think it’s, it’s totally fair to count this as a farming game. (0:42:39) Micah: Right. (0:42:40) Kevin: Yeah. (0:42:42) Al: So maybe I should add it into the list as Lego Fortnite. Um, but here’s a question for you. Does this make Fortnite the most downloaded farming game ever? (0:42:44) Kevin: Oh, there you go. (0:42:54) Micah: That’s why I I’ve included it because I think it is important touchstone in the history of farming games where it (0:42:54) Kevin: Absolutely. (0:43:05) Micah: There’s a possibility I can see a world in which people who play this (0:43:10) Micah: Enjoy it enjoy the like farming aspects of it want more of that and branch out into other farming type games (0:43:17) Micah: because there is such a broad audience for fortnight that (0:43:21) Micah: You know and it’s there’s such a broad (0:43:24) Micah: Audience for Lego - that there is a good (0:43:30) Micah: Possibility that it creates more farming game fans, which I’m all for (0:43:35) Al: I’ve added it into the list and also I need to add one more that I forgot, which was Hello Kitty Island Adventure. (0:43:42) Kevin: Oh, yeah, well (0:43:42) Micah: I did see that that was missing from the list and I didn’t know if that was intentional or not so it just… (0:43:46) Al: Oh, you should have brought it up. Come on. (0:43:46) Kevin: Glaring a bit omission this entire show is a sham (0:43:51) Al: Look, look, we’re now up to 49 games, right? I’m sorry, I can’t keep track of the ball. (0:43:56) Kevin: It’s quick Somebody find one more quick Um one well, you know though what we have to do is we have to let fortnite win (0:44:03) Kevin: So we can get that sponsorship money. Welcome to the harvest season of fortnite podcast (0:44:06) Micah: - It’s true. (0:44:09) Micah: Of Fortnite, but I never, I just did not ever foresee (0:44:15) Micah: there being a scenario where in the farming game of the year discussion or just in general on a harvest season episode that I would be bringing up Fortnite in a like semi-serious way. (0:44:26) Kevin: Yeah, one thing I will I haven’t played Fortnite ever, but from what I understand, every time they bring in these new distinct modes or gameplay elements, it’s always very polished and good quality. (0:44:44) Kevin: Like they brought in Spider-Man swinging and Attack on Titan, so I’m not surprised that this is high quality and that’s a lot of money being thrown at this Lego money, Fortnite money. (0:44:57) Al: Alright, well, you’re probably right, it’s probably not going to win, but it’s there, (0:45:02) Al: it’s in the list, not many games get into the list. So, there we go. No, into the list of the two, there’s only nine. It’s only nine. Alright, Kevin, what’s your first? (0:45:06) Kevin: Nope just 48 others. Oh (0:45:10) Kevin: Our list, okay (0:45:15) Kevin: My first one I’m going to go with (0:45:19) Kevin: Manekos night market a shocker to everyone the game I’ve been pining for for how many years now. Oh (0:45:27) Kevin: gosh (0:45:28) Al: Like five, like maybe six. (0:45:31) Kevin: Yeah, I don’t know something like (0:45:32) Al: I think it was six years ago it was first. (0:45:33) Kevin: well (0:45:36) Kevin: Yeah, I think it’s I’ve the fact that I waited that long and still was happy with what came out I think is a testament to how good the game is (0:45:48) Kevin: Obviously, I haven’t played all these other games and it probably not even the ones on your guys list but I (0:45:54) Kevin: Out of the ones I see here. I probably I would argue it has the most personality and charm (0:46:02) Kevin: the art, the sort of craft book art. (0:46:06) Kevin: It has gone very, very enjoyable. (0:46:10) Kevin: I haven’t beaten it myself, right? (0:46:12) Kevin: It loses some points because it came out with a handful of bugs and rough edges. (0:46:18) Kevin: But it’s still a game that makes me smile every time. (0:46:24) Kevin: So yeah, I gotta give a shout out to Maneko because I think it actually did deliver. (0:46:30) Kevin: Um, obviously, you know, it’s not the scale of tears that– (0:46:36) Kevin: Kingdom waiting six years for that or whatever, but for the get what it set out to be from all the trailers and whatnot, I think it delivered. It’s very cute, which I appreciate now. I have cats myself. Yeah. (0:46:48) Al: Yeah, totally fair, and it is still the wallpaper on my phone and has been for like seven months, (0:46:57) Kevin: Yeah, there you go. Also actually one thing I (0:47:01) Kevin: Yeah, that’s the good stuff (0:47:04) Kevin: one thing I do want to add (0:47:06) Kevin: Go on as we talked about in the episode. We talked about it. Um, the (0:47:11) Kevin: titular night market part of it is very fun (0:47:15) Kevin: Auctioning going into little bid war with customers to sell who and make profits and whatnot (0:47:20) Kevin: I don’t think a lot of these other games are focused on that like making money (0:47:26) Kevin: So that was (0:47:27) Kevin: a refreshing angle approaching the whole cottagecore thing. (0:47:32) Kevin: And again, just very fun points for that. (0:47:36) Al: Awesome. (0:47:36) Micah: Uh, I, are, are we just for the sake of the structure? (0:47:43) Micah: Are we just going through our picks and then discussing them or are we? (0:47:48) Al: If you have more to talk about that game just now, then feel free. (0:47:53) Al: We don’t need to discuss whether it’s the winner yet or not. (0:47:55) Micah: Sure, uh, oh (0:47:55) Al: And don’t say whether it’s on your list yet or not. (0:47:56) Kevin: Yeah. (0:47:58) Al: We’ll get to that. (0:47:59) Micah: Okay, I (0:48:00) Kevin: Alright. (0:48:03) Kevin: Michael, what’s next on your list? (0:48:03) Al: Right, we don’t want to look, Micah, we have a collapsed list for the suspense. (0:48:05) Micah: Didn’t didn’t say one way or another (0:48:05) Kevin: I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Ow, ow. (0:48:11) Al: We’re keeping the suspense, even if it might really be obvious now. (0:48:12) Micah: Okay, you’re right you’re right you’re right (0:48:14) Kevin: Alright. (0:48:16) Micah: It’s not though cuz I’m changing it at the moment I’m typing no, I’m just kidding [laughing] (0:48:18) Al: All right. I’ll go with my wild card. No, no, come on. I’m going with my wild card, (0:48:24) Kevin: Alright, ow. (0:48:26) Kevin

In dieser Folge sprechen Christina und Florian über Spirittea, Rollerdrome, Lunacid und ihr Spielejahr 2023.

Volvimos!! Refe nos cuenta un poco la historia de #halflife, Roy nos dice que no compremos juegos de #onepunchman y a Frodo no le entendí de que trataba #earthlock Unite a nuestro grupo de Facebook: AFKGamingPodcast  Unite a nuestro Discord: https://discord.gg/Z2McTXX Nuestro canal de Youtube: LINK Encontranos en nuestras redes sociales! RoyMust4ng : Twitch.tv + Twitter Refe: Twitch.tv + Facebook Frodo: Facebook

Von der Optik her erinnert Spirittea mit seinem Pixellook an Spiele wie Stardew Valley und man kommt auch hier neu in ein asiatisches Dörfchen und kann zum Beispiel auch eine Beziehung zu den Dorfbewohnern aufbauen, da enden die Parallelen aber auch schon, denn wir bewirtschaften diesmal keine Farm, sondern ein altes Badhaus, das von Geistern besucht wird. Ja richtig, im Dorf wimmelt es von verirrten Geistern, die nur wir sehen können, wenn wir unseren speziellen Tee trinken. Dementsprechend ist unsere Aufgabe, die Geister zu beruhigen und sie fortan im alten Badhaus baden und entspannen zu lassen. Dieses müssen wir nicht nur wieder aufbauen, indem wir sauber machen oder neue Bereiche freikaufen, wir müssen auch das Tagesgeschäft managen, indem wir Handtücher waschen, trocknen und wieder zum Eingang bringen, die Ofen anfeuern und natürlich die einzelnen Geisterarten im Wasser platzieren. Dabei sollten wir darauf achten, neben wem sie sitzen, denn manche mögen sich nicht so gerne und dann gibt es weniger Geld. Letztendlich besteht das Spiel aus den beiden Teilen, Geister in der Stadt zu finden, indem wir mit den Bewohnern reden und eben das Bad zu managen, das kann für den ein oder anderen zu repetitiv werden, ich persönlich mochte diese Mischung.

Apparently, q-tips are not supposed to clean your ears. Thats our Top Tip of the Week!   Lee is stuck in Diablo IV but we're in no danger of becoming a Diablo IV podcast! Kyle is sailing away in FAR: Changing Tides, because it seems he is now the new gamer player. Oh how the turn tables.    Season 10 is here for Sea of Thieves and comes with guilds and private servers! This is exciting as you can now sail the seas without being hunted down by 10 year olds. But how does progression work? Are we limited? Rare have been pretty light on details.  No More Robots, the makers of SpiritTea, have shared exactly how good Game Pass is for the industry. And he even shares some exciting stats about how good it is.    Baldur's Gate 3 shares stats as well, and it turns out that people have played about 81,000 years of the game! Thats slightly insane. And only 400 people have completed Honour Mode, with 150,000 people starting it. The biggest game of the year for sure!  And what the heck are hall effect thumb sticks?? We break this down for you, so you're not as confused as we were. You're welcome.    Our game award voting is now live, and you get to have your say! Because we're the only awards show you should be listening to. So, hop on over to our fantastic voting form and nominate your Games of 2023.    To all our dedicated fans - thank you for helping The XboxCast grow. Please continue to rate, share, and interact with us on the socials. We appreciate every one of you.   -- For previous episodes, all our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐  

In case you missed our telepathic broadcast, episode 226 is here! It's a fine time to savor how life unfolds in ACNH, Stardew, and SpiritTea. T'is also the season for "Macy's Day" parade chat, and booping the smooze in a cute new boardgame.   --- Join our Patreon! https://patreon.com/thepocketpod Don't forget to follow us and subscribe to PocketPod in all the places! Twitter: @ThePocketPod Instagram: @ThePocketPod Threads: @ThePocketPod Facebook: /ThePocketPod/ Mastodon: @thepocketpod Twitch: /thepocketpod Youtube: /ThePocketPod Apple Podcasts  |  Google Play  |  Stitcher  |  Amazon  |  Podbean  |  Spotify  |  iHeartRadio  |  Player.fm  |  RSS

Julstämning finnes i den junta som denna veckan gör plats i släden för ännu ett nytt avsnitt. Där gör vi tomten en tjänst och kollar vad som står på årets önskelistor, vi gissar oss också blå över GTA VI-trailern och talar oss varma för vikten av god ton. Samt vikten av god fysik kring kulorna i grenen. Anton har plockat fram spelens snuttefilt för att mäkta med samtidigt som Angelica letar efter det där lilla extra i nysläppta SteamWorld Build. Elisabeth har å andra sidan jagat ligg innan världens slut i Doomsday Paradise medan Susanne i sin tur har axlat rollen som lagom lat badhusföreståndare i det estetiskt omdebatterade Spirittea. Sugen på att vara med på Speljuntans glimrande slädfärd? Det finns plats för er alla under fällen, bara att hoppa in på speljuntan.se så är du med!  Spel som nämns i avsnittet: Grand Theft Auto VI, Baldur's Gate 3, Roblox, Fortnite, Counter-Strike, Overwatch, Dredge, SteamWorld Build, Doomsday Paradise, Spirittea, Stardew Valley, Earthbound Tidskoder: (01:00) Personliga frågan (03:50) Spelnyheter (38:08) Reklam (38:54) Starfield

Dreitausenddreihundertunddreiunddreißig Folgen von Insert Moin, Eurem fast täglichsten Spielepodcast der Welt - es ist uns eine Ehre! Manu, Micha, Anne und Michi begrüßen Euch zu diesem Anlass zu viert und stoßen nicht nur untereinander mit einem Gläschen an. *Träne wegwisch* Ein Fest gibt es auch inhaltlich abzufeiern. Wir besprechen Stellaris Nexus, Last Train Home, En Garde, Spirittea, Trepang 2, die FOMO auf Reisen und, warum Michi plötzlich doch kein Steam-Deck-OLED-Besitzer mehr ist – spannend! In den News gehen wir der Frage nach, wieso und ob jemals Microsofts Game Pass auf Playstation oder Switch erscheinen sollte und im Mailbag lüften wir tief vergrabene Geheimnisse. Es ist durch und durch für Spannung gesorgt und wir wünschen wie immer viel Vergnügen! Auf die nächsten 3333!

This week on #TheNerdChat: - Instead of Xbox Tax, is there a Starfield Tax? - Does Xbox suffer from a "not my kind of game" problem? - Remnant 2 is on Game Pass?? - DaddyDWALLY is playing Bloodborne - Video games New episodes of The Nerd Chat: An Xbox Podcast are livestreamed on Thursdays and uploaded on Fridays. Learn more at www.nerdchatmedia.com Follow @thenerdchat on various social media sites. #seeyouonline 0:00 Hello and welcome to the show 3:15 DaddyDWALLY calls out BigBox: The Elite Series 2 and Xbox Controller is superior to the Dual Sense 3:55 Shoutouts: BigBox says that Xbox suffers from "that's not my type of game" problem 14:10 XbacongamN calls our BigBox on his Dodge RAM hatred 16:55 News #1: The Starfield Tax 34:50 Addressing Bethesda responding to negative reviews 43:10 News #2: Spirittea and the positive effects of a Game Pass deal 49:50 Ains from Seasoned Gaming joins us and claims he plays PSVR 2-3 times a week... 51:25 News #3: PC Compact mode is coming to Xbox PC app 56:45 News #4: Killer Instinct 10 year anniversary and Remnant 2 is out on Game Pass! 01:00:55 News #5: Halo Championship Series mech drop 01:03:00 What have we been playing or watching? 01:18:45 The best food we had this week 01:25:25 Closing and end of show #xbox #xboxtax #eliteseries2 #dualsense #starfield #starfieldtax #spirittea #gamepass #pc #killerinstict #remnant2 #hcs #bloodborne #cultofthelamb #mw3 #halo #persona5tactica #playstation #podcast

It's announced this week that the Amico has launched, just not as a console but as an Android app. Will the necessity of needing two devices, one to serve as the Amico and the other to serve as a controller prove too difficult for this "family friendly" system? And why after saying that games would cost $8 or less is an attempt to charge $15 for the games being made? Do we think the real console will ever see the light of day? We discuss all this and more on a holiday edition of the longest running video game podcast, Orange Lounge Radio!   Also in the news:   * Spirittea Social Media Comments * Rockstar Requests Cancelled Game Blog Post Removal * Michonne from Walking Dead Almost in Mortal Kombat 1 * Pop Up Ads in Assassin's Creed   All this and more on the show where EVERY gamer has a voice-- Orange Lounge Radio! LIVE on the VOG Network, Sunday nights at 6 Pacific, 9 Eastern www.vognetwork.com Twitter: @olr Mailbag: participate (at) orangeloungeradio dot com  

Anton and Al return with more Nintendo Switch news.This Means Warp, Risk of Rain Returns,ASTLIBRA Revision,Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution,On Your Tail,Howl,The Star Named EOS,Backpack Hero,Blade Chimera, A Highland Song,Moonstone Island, Death Trick: Double Blind,Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition,Planet of Lana,Enjoy the Diner,Heavenly Bodies,The Gecko Gods,Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist , Urban Myth Dissolution Centre,Braid: Anniversary Edition,Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered ,Super Mario RPG ,INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road,FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time,Flashback 2 ,Splatoon 3, The Legend of Zelda film ,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom , Golden Joystick Awards 2023,Ender Lilies ,Spirittea ,Game of the Year at The Game AwardsSupport the show

00:00 - Who is Mike Rose? What is Spirittea? 00:38 - Mike Rose's controversial statements. 01:33 - Mike Rose's apology. 01:52 - Paying for overall coverage is good! 03:28 - Paying for positive reviews is bad! 04:23 - Coverage does not mean review. 05:47 - The biases money can create. 07:13 - Did Mike Rose meant to critique the industry as a whole? 08:27 - GamerGate comparisons. 09:13 - Different interpretations of Mike Rose's Tweets. 10:22 - The perception of sponsorships has changed. 11:55 - Communication is key! (get it?) 12:54 - 20 videos is not "0 coverage". 13:52 - The falability of language. ✔Twitch Channel ~ https://www.twitch.tv/DarkViperAU ✔Main Channel ~ https://www.youtube.com/@DarkViperAU ✔Rambles Podcast ~ https://www.youtube.com/@ViperRambles ✔Livestreams Channel ~ https://www.youtube.com/@DarkViperAULivestreams ✔Clips Channel ~ https://www.youtube.com/@DarkViperAUClips ✔Merch ~ https://darkviperau-merch.myspreadshop.com/ ✔My Discord ~ https://discord.gg/darkviperau ✔DarkviperAU Subreddit ~ https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkViperAU ✔YouTube Membership ~ https://www.youtube.com/darkviperau/join ✔Patreon ~ https://www.patreon.com/DarkViperAU ✔Twitter ~ https://www.twitter.com/DarkViperAU ✔Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/DarkViperAU/ ✔TikTok ~ https://www.tiktok.com/@darkviperau ✔GTA 5 Speedrun Discord ~ https://discord.com/invite/zQt8wZg ✔Business Email ~ darkviperau@mgmtexe.com

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

I denne uge snakker vi indie-spil og flødeboller, øh, jeg mener spilpriser! Det er nemlig ved at være The Game Awards-sæson, og de nominerede er netop blev annonceret. Hvem bliver mon årets flødebolle? Der har også været indie world showcase, som havde lidt flere højdepunkter denne gang, ikke mindst nogle længe ventede hits! Hør om det, men også om Life Sim-spillet Spirittea, samt en række korte overskrifter, der blandt andet handler om Hogwarts Legacy Switch Gameplay.

The announcement of a live-action Zelda movie inspired us to return to the ever-giving well of videogame movie and TV adaptations - specifically five that don't have a whole lot to do with their source material. We'll then explore Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and Spirittea, hcelebrate the long-overdue official announcement of Grand Theft Auto VI, and hear about the Spider-Verse characters you think deserve their own games. Question of the Week: Which triforce of actors would you cast as Link, Zelda, and Ganon? Break song is Maniac Mansion by Jane Siberry and Lou Natale.

As one of our members valiantly fights off the spider scourge, the remaining representatives of The Indie Council rule on which of Steam's Next Fest demos were the best in show. We also break down the best ways to help out your favorite indie titles in these volatile times. Follow everyone at: https://twitter.com/itsMikeTown https://twitter.com/Gameonysus https://twitter.com/kimchica25 https://twitter.com/Indie_Informer https://twitter.com/IndieCouncil_ Links for further reading and playing: Spirittea: https://store.steampowered.com/app/19... The Indie Horror Showcase: https://store.steampowered.com/publis... Another Crab's Treasure: https://store.steampowered.com/app/18... American Arcadia: https://store.steampowered.com/app/12... Claw Machine Sim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/24... Wild Country: https://store.steampowered.com/app/15... Go Mecha Ball: https://store.steampowered.com/app/20... Lucky Hero: https://store.steampowered.com/app/24... Kristala: https://store.steampowered.com/app/12... Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom: https://store.steampowered.com/app/20... Honked: a clown noir: https://store.steampowered.com/app/26... Laika: Aged Through Blood: https://store.steampowered.com/app/17... Slay the Princess: https://store.steampowered.com/app/19... Bramble: The Mountain King: https://store.steampowered.com/app/16... COCOON: https://store.steampowered.com/app/14... Lake: Season's Greetings: https://store.steampowered.com/app/24... Moonstone Island: https://store.steampowered.com/app/16... The Magnus Archives: https://jonathan-sims.com/magnus/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jenny-windom/message

Bev and Codey talk about Capybara Spa Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:04: What Have We Been Up To 00:06:41: News 00:47:59: Capybara Spa 01:06:28: Outro Links Everdream Valley Flutter Away Parkasaurus DLC Lightyear Frontier Mossfield Origins Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara Garden Galaxy Update Steamworld Build Mineko’s Night Market Spirittea Sprout Valley 33 Immortals The Palace on a Hill Capybara Spa Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript [00:00.000 –> 00:35.000] Hello, farmers, and welcome to another episode of The Harvest Season. [00:35.000 –> 00:36.000] My name is Cody. [00:36.000 –> 00:37.000] And my name is Bev. [00:37.000 –> 00:41.000] And we’re here today to talk about Cottagecore games. [00:41.000 –> 00:43.000] Woo! [00:43.000 –> 00:45.000] Capybara games. [00:45.000 –> 00:46.000] And spas. [00:46.000 –> 00:47.000] And spas. [00:47.000 –> 00:50.000] There’s actually another Capybara game in the news. It’s crazy. [00:50.000 –> 00:52.000] Capybaras are on the rise. [00:52.000 –> 00:54.000] They are. [00:54.000 –> 00:58.000] As always, transcripts are available in the show notes and on the website. [00:58.000 –> 01:03.000] And, as we’ve already mentioned, we are talking today about the game Capybara Spa. [01:03.000 –> 01:06.000] Which has been on our list for a long time. [01:06.000 –> 01:13.000] It’s just kind of like a small, cute little game made by Cozy Beat Games, who also made Lemon Cake. [01:13.000 –> 01:15.000] Which is very fun. [01:15.000 –> 01:22.000] But before we dive into spas for Capybaras, we have some news. [01:22.000 –> 01:24.000] Actually, a decent amount of news. [01:24.000 –> 01:25.000] Thanks, Al. [01:25.000 –> 01:27.000] No, I’m kidding. [01:27.000 –> 01:30.000] Wait, are we doing what we’re put up to first? [01:30.000 –> 01:35.000] But before we get to the news… [01:35.000 –> 01:37.000] It’s early, farmers. [01:37.000 –> 01:38.000] Farmers, give us a break. [01:38.000 –> 01:40.000] We have some coffee. [01:40.000 –> 01:46.000] I actually considered having it be part of the intro where I’m like, [01:46.000 –> 01:50.000] Good morning, farmers. [01:50.000 –> 01:55.000] That could be after the credits. [01:55.000 –> 01:57.000] It’s true. [01:57.000 –> 02:05.000] Yeah, go to the end of the credits for me, for my goofiness. [02:05.000 –> 02:09.000] Yeah, what are the events? [02:09.000 –> 02:13.000] I love how in the show notes you just have work, work, work, work. [02:13.000 –> 02:15.000] And so I put work, work, work, work as well. [02:15.000 –> 02:18.000] Because I feel like that’s all I’ve been up to. [02:18.000 –> 02:23.000] I have a huge conference next week and stressing out about that. [02:23.000 –> 02:27.000] But I guess what I’m trying to not think about work and trying to [02:27.000 –> 02:31.000] de-stress, I’ve surprisingly have gone back into Clash of Clans for [02:31.000 –> 02:32.000] whatever reason. [02:32.000 –> 02:33.000] I don’t know why. [02:33.000 –> 02:34.000] Wow. [02:34.000 –> 02:36.000] But I’m all in. [02:36.000 –> 02:40.000] I feel like I’ve been building up my town hall. [02:40.000 –> 02:42.000] I got up to a town hall 10. [02:42.000 –> 02:43.000] Now I have a second all to count. [02:43.000 –> 02:45.000] I don’t know why. [02:45.000 –> 02:49.000] So I’ve been doing a lot of that. [02:49.000 –> 02:54.000] I’m occasionally playing, what am I playing? [02:54.000 –> 02:55.000] Oh, goodness. [02:55.000 –> 02:58.000] The one, Cora Island, that one. [02:58.000 –> 02:59.000] Oh, yeah. [02:59.000 –> 03:00.000] Uh-huh. [03:00.000 –> 03:03.000] And I also got Fire Emblem engaged last weekend. [03:03.000 –> 03:09.000] So I’ve been also trying to put some time in a minute a day or so, as [03:09.000 –> 03:11.000] I do in that. [03:11.000 –> 03:12.000] Yeah. [03:12.000 –> 03:14.000] How about you? [03:14.000 –> 03:17.000] Work, work, work, work, work. [03:18.000 –> 03:24.000] So I am about to do my comprehensive exam, which is basically in my [03:24.000 –> 03:27.000] university, it’s different at every university, but at my university in my [03:27.000 –> 03:31.000] department, it’s basically where I stand in front of my committee of five [03:31.000 –> 03:35.000] people and say, this is what I want to do my research on. [03:35.000 –> 03:39.000] And it’s funny because it’s like, here are two, excuse me, here are two [03:39.000 –> 03:43.000] chapters that I’ve already finished. [03:43.000 –> 03:47.000] So you can’t tell me I can’t do that because I already did it. [03:47.000 –> 03:52.000] And then here are two chapters that I have made that I have an idea of [03:52.000 –> 03:53.000] what I’m going to do. [03:53.000 –> 03:56.000] One of them is in progress, so I think if anything, they would just be [03:56.000 –> 04:00.000] like change how you’re asking the questions. [04:00.000 –> 04:03.000] And then the other one is kind of like this offshoot from that. [04:03.000 –> 04:07.000] And so basically the question is like, is that enough? [04:07.000 –> 04:11.000] This is the exam where they are like, wow, look at all the things you’re [04:11.000 –> 04:15.000] doing, but it’s not enough for PhD. [04:15.000 –> 04:22.000] And then you have a chance to like add to it and redo it later. [04:22.000 –> 04:26.000] Or they could just be like, you good, looks great. [04:26.000 –> 04:28.000] Like get her done, you know? [04:28.000 –> 04:30.000] So we’ll see. [04:30.000 –> 04:33.000] But that’s in like a week and a half. [04:33.000 –> 04:37.000] So that’s exciting question mark. [04:37.000 –> 04:42.000] But like after that, I don’t have anything until my defense, which will [04:42.000 –> 04:46.000] be in like October of 2025. [04:46.000 –> 04:52.000] So I literally would just be collecting my insects, identifying them, [04:52.000 –> 04:56.000] going to conferences, writing my papers, like all of that, like getting [04:56.000 –> 05:02.000] all of that stuff done, likely doing any extra chapters that come along [05:02.000 –> 05:07.000] because every single time I collect field work data, I like. [05:07.000 –> 05:11.000] Well, I talked to my, I talked to like my collaborator and my advisor [05:11.000 –> 05:13.000] and I’m like, Oh wow, I found this cool thing. [05:13.000 –> 05:14.000] And they’re like, let’s write a paper about it. [05:14.000 –> 05:17.000] And I’m like, no, please. [05:17.000 –> 05:19.000] So yeah, I’ve been doing that. [05:19.000 –> 05:24.000] I haven’t really been playing games, but I’ve been in like that nostalgic, [05:24.000 –> 05:29.000] like rewatch movie series that you’ve watched a billion times. [05:29.000 –> 05:33.000] I’ve been reading a lot of books lately. [05:33.000 –> 05:39.000] So that’s, that’s kind of my, Oh, I did, I did download like Tetris on my phone. [05:39.000 –> 05:43.000] There’s this Tetris app that you can get on your phone and you earn like [05:43.000 –> 05:49.000] these VIP points and if you get 4 million VIP points, which is like ridiculous. [05:49.000 –> 05:54.000] But if you get 4 million VIP points, you get an eight day cruise to Alaska. [05:54.000 –> 05:55.000] Amazing. [05:55.000 –> 05:56.000] You can like turn them in. [05:56.000 –> 05:58.000] Like you can turn in all these points for like legit things. [05:58.000 –> 06:05.000] Like if you live in, if you live in that one place where people gamble, Vegas. [06:05.000 –> 06:07.000] That one place. [06:07.000 –> 06:12.000] There’s like, you can get like a free night in MGM or, you know, [06:12.000 –> 06:16.000] with a very small amount of points, you can get 15% off your thing [06:16.000 –> 06:17.000] and you don’t ever have to pay. [06:17.000 –> 06:20.000] You just like watch the dumb ads in between a Tetris game. [06:20.000 –> 06:21.000] But like, I don’t care. [06:21.000 –> 06:24.000] I just put my phone down and play with my dog and then I’m like, Oh, cool. [06:24.000 –> 06:25.000] The ad’s done. [06:25.000 –> 06:27.000] Yeah, yeah, exactly. [06:27.000 –> 06:29.000] I’ve been joined with a cat. [06:29.000 –> 06:33.000] So if you hear any purring, that’s her. [06:33.000 –> 06:35.000] I just thought you were purring. [06:35.000 –> 06:36.000] No. [06:36.000 –> 06:37.000] Yes. [06:37.000 –> 06:38.000] Yes. [06:38.000 –> 06:40.000] No, I’m also a cat. [06:40.000 –> 06:41.000] I have it. [06:41.000 –> 06:42.000] I have it. [06:42.000 –> 06:47.000] OK, so we can get into the news. [06:47.000 –> 06:49.000] OK, so first bit of news here. [06:49.000 –> 06:56.000] Everdream Valley is going to release on the switch on June 23rd. [06:57.000 –> 06:58.000] I’m trying to think. [06:58.000 –> 07:02.000] I think that by the time this is out, it’ll be it’ll be up. [07:02.000 –> 07:04.000] You can you can play the game. [07:04.000 –> 07:05.000] You can do the time. [07:05.000 –> 07:07.000] The time is real. [07:07.000 –> 07:08.000] Yes. [07:09.000 –> 07:10.000] This looks super cute. [07:10.000 –> 07:12.000] It’s like a little farming. [07:12.000 –> 07:17.000] I mean, it says like that farming is its main one of its main things. [07:17.000 –> 07:19.000] But you’re like a small child. [07:19.000 –> 07:25.000] The look of the child makes me think that you like is abandoned on this island. [07:25.000 –> 07:29.000] And I’m like, why is he the one doing all of this stuff? [07:29.000 –> 07:33.000] But I feel like this gives me like someone more like vibes. [07:33.000 –> 07:34.000] Uh huh. [07:34.000 –> 07:35.000] OK. [07:35.000 –> 07:40.000] Like just a small child living by herself on a island, taking care of her a little. [07:40.000 –> 07:41.000] Oh, yeah. [07:41.000 –> 07:42.000] That’s what it feels like. [07:42.000 –> 07:44.000] I’m just like, what? [07:44.000 –> 07:45.000] Get it like find parents. [07:45.000 –> 07:47.000] What are you doing? [07:47.000 –> 07:50.000] What an industrious child, though. [07:50.000 –> 07:55.000] Um, I watched the trailer and the beekeeping looks great. [07:55.000 –> 08:05.000] And by that, I mean, it showed it showed the like a really big close up of the hives and it just had bees all over the screen. [08:05.000 –> 08:09.000] Like I was like, yeah, that’s how it feels. [08:09.000 –> 08:13.000] And you collect bugs, which is always fun. [08:13.000 –> 08:14.000] I’m in. [08:14.000 –> 08:17.000] I feel like the name is a little unfortunate. [08:17.000 –> 08:24.000] Like if they came up with this name like two to three years ago and then Dreamlight Valley came out. [08:24.000 –> 08:27.000] Yeah, that’s true. [08:27.000 –> 08:31.000] Also, ever dream valley makes me think that he’s like in a coma. [08:31.000 –> 08:32.000] Oh, my goodness. [08:32.000 –> 08:34.000] And this is all a hallucination. [08:34.000 –> 08:35.000] Yes, that’s exactly what’s happening. [08:35.000 –> 08:36.000] It does. [08:36.000 –> 08:38.000] It should end. [08:38.000 –> 08:41.000] You beat the game and zoom out. [08:41.000 –> 08:43.000] He’s not actually doing like child like labor. [08:43.000 –> 08:44.000] Oh, my gosh. [08:44.000 –> 08:46.000] I mean, better. [08:46.000 –> 08:47.000] No, no, not better. [08:47.000 –> 08:48.000] Not better. [08:48.000 –> 08:51.000] Um, God, we are unhinged. [08:51.000 –> 08:56.000] Okay, so that is ever dream valley coming to switch on the 23rd of June. [08:56.000 –> 08:57.000] The next one is flutter away. [08:57.000 –> 09:00.000] This is capybara game number two. [09:00.000 –> 09:06.000] Yes, capybara game number one will always forever in our hearts be capybara spa. [09:06.000 –> 09:23.000] Um, but flutter away is quote pulled this from the steam enjoy the serenity of the Amazon rainforest and this cozy short nature exploration game as a butterfly researcher on a five day camping trip explored nearby tracks take photos me animal friends and journal journal [09:23.000 –> 09:36.000] the discoveries found along the way, and quote, if you eagle eyed eagle eared listeners could hear me pause after a butterfly research. [09:36.000 –> 09:42.000] As I like was like, I know I saw this on the which McCall at the wholesome game. [09:43.000 –> 09:53.000] And I was like, I need to be a researcher in my virtual life, as well as well I’m not research IRL but I need. [09:53.000 –> 10:06.000] So I’m here for it. But like, it looked so cool because like you put a stick out that I’m assuming has some kind of like thing that attracts butterflies on it and like nectar or something. [10:06.000 –> 10:13.000] And then you have to like pull it really really slowly towards you if you pull it too fast and they’re like what the heck and they like fly away. [10:13.000 –> 10:21.000] But you’re basically like what from the trailer it looked like you’re trying to figure out like the diversity of butterflies in this area. [10:21.000 –> 10:26.000] And you and you have a capybara friend. [10:27.000 –> 10:28.000] Okay. [10:28.000 –> 10:46.000] I’m speaking of capybaras I just remember this. I saw a video yesterday that said that capybaras can swim five kilometers an hour underwater, like, they literally just like walk along the bottom of me or whatever and they just like kick off and zoom by you it’s Holy Holy [10:46.000 –> 10:57.000] Hekaru. They are very, very fast little sprightly things that are very fast little rodents, or big rodents, big rodents, biggest rodents Yes, correct. [10:57.000 –> 11:09.000] Um, I don’t think that they’re going to be swimming in this game but flutter away releases on steam and switch on the third of August, maybe they will be flying in this game. [11:09.000 –> 11:12.000] Man flutter away on switch. [11:12.000 –> 11:15.000] Ow. [11:15.000 –> 11:22.000] Let me cover the motherling game. Um, are we just going to cover like all the research like games. [11:22.000 –> 11:34.000] I feel like we’re obligated. I feel like we are, and I’m not not upset about that. I’m not either, um, a research game that I don’t feel obligated transitions on point. [11:34.000 –> 11:40.000] Parkasaurus prehistoric wonders DLC. So I think we’ve already covered Parkasaurus on the pod. [11:40.000 –> 11:55.000] So this is just a DLC and it’s out now and it just gives you 10 new animals and the animals are the American lion mammoth saber tooth mega theorem, Eastern Puma giant capybara Oh my gosh, I didn’t even goodness. [11:55.000 –> 11:57.000] They’re everywhere. [11:57.000 –> 12:01.000] Year of copy bar. [12:01.000 –> 12:04.000] Name, that’s gonna be the title of the year. [12:04.000 –> 12:07.000] Yes. [12:07.000 –> 12:16.000] Uh, short faced bear dodo direwolf and dwarf pronghorn. So they looked really dumb. [12:16.000 –> 12:21.000] I mean, not like the game did not make them dumb. [12:21.000 –> 12:24.000] They’re just dumb. [12:24.000 –> 12:31.000] As the owner of two chickens I feel like I can very much say confidently this is a dumb bird. [12:31.000 –> 12:33.000] Yeah. [12:33.000 –> 12:39.000] So yeah, if you have Parkasaurus or if you’ve been wanting a dodo and Parkasaurus. [12:39.000 –> 12:44.000] And that’s why you haven’t played it. Do it now. Good. [12:44.000 –> 12:47.000] Okay, light your frontier. [12:47.000 –> 12:55.000] Um, I, I like. Okay, I guess let’s just let’s take a look under the hood. [12:55.000 –> 12:57.000] Cody. [12:57.000 –> 13:00.000] I don’t remember games. [13:01.000 –> 13:05.000] I’m gonna record this podcast and I’m out. [13:05.000 –> 13:11.000] All that knowledge is gone. So every time there’s a news article about a game. [13:11.000 –> 13:24.000] I like the night before or right before whatever I put like these little blurbs of what they are and for this one last night I wrote Ark survival evolved but you have mech suits. [13:24.000 –> 13:29.000] I don’t really know that you’re doing your homework, because I am not. [13:29.000 –> 13:37.000] I just like to know what I’m talking about, but, um, I can’t, I’m not good at riffing I feel like when I riff and like I go rogue. [13:37.000 –> 13:45.000] I don’t know. I’m just at the stage of like, I don’t care anymore. I’m just flying by the seat of my pants. [13:45.000 –> 13:49.000] The listeners love you anyway so. [13:49.000 –> 13:56.000] Whereas my anxiety is like they will hate you. [13:56.000 –> 14:05.000] So yeah, that was my note for light your frontiers Ark survival, but you have mech suits because that’s what it looks like he’s like mech suits. [14:05.000 –> 14:10.000] And they have updated the release window for this game and it’s coming early 2024. [14:10.000 –> 14:22.000] I’m like, intrigue I kind of don’t like the first person like aspect of it and it’s weird to do so in a forum but yeah, this also gives me a slime rancher like but like steampunk vibes. [14:22.000 –> 14:32.000] And that’s also a game that I want to play so who knows maybe I will. It’s just so interesting that like, because you can use the suits to like farm instead of him remember. [14:32.000 –> 14:46.000] So it’s like, yeah, it feels like fulfills people’s Gundam desire. Exactly like I want to like have a cottagecore like vibe, but I want to shoot water out of my gun. [14:46.000 –> 14:59.000] And then if you, I don’t know if this happens in this game or not but if you if you’re watering your plants and you have your water gun. And then a baddie is coming for your crops, you can go. [14:59.000 –> 15:02.000] And then switch to your regular gun. [15:02.000 –> 15:04.000] And then you go. [15:04.000 –> 15:07.000] That’s what happens in the comic ops. [15:07.000 –> 15:11.000] Which is a stress. Well, with that sound effect. Oh my god. [15:11.000 –> 15:20.000] Well, no, but okay good. Your, your water is also your weapon. I thought it was original. [15:20.000 –> 15:29.000] The sound effect was supposed to be the water gun going back in the, in the arm and then the real gun coming out. Beautiful. I love it. It was so good. [15:29.000 –> 15:32.000] Thanks. [15:32.000 –> 15:36.000] Next up we have Mossfield origins. [15:36.000 –> 15:49.000] So quote. This is a small cozy community builder where all buildings are based on the same foundation. Take your time build a sustainable community for your residents, sustainable community for your residents in this relaxing game with no time pressure [15:49.000 –> 15:51.000] or external forces. [15:51.000 –> 15:57.000] Yeah, upgrade foundations via tech tree to redefine and refactor your space. [15:57.000 –> 16:07.000] Um, let me tell you, that’s the end quote. Let me tell you, so as someone with ADHD I need time pressure. [16:07.000 –> 16:22.000] Or else nothing’s getting done. I know I maybe that’s something we’ll talk about where we actually get into the game but yeah, I also feel that, but also at the same time, I, it’s like, like I want it but also I don’t because stress. [16:22.000 –> 16:34.000] Yeah, but I guess it depends on how they like roll it out like if it’s like starting like yes there is time pressure but I’m not stressed out about it. So, yeah, gotta do it right. [16:34.000 –> 16:37.000] It looks really cute. [16:37.000 –> 16:45.000] The animation style looks really interesting and I really like I don’t really like the sepia tones. [16:46.000 –> 16:52.000] Okay, cool. Mm hmm. Like it’s very other like worldly and. [16:52.000 –> 16:55.000] That’s true. Yeah, yeah, sorry. [16:55.000 –> 17:02.000] Are you like on like a different planet like you’re kind of looks like you’re wearing a space suit, space suit. [17:02.000 –> 17:06.000] I’m assuming that’s why it’s like a weird like different environment. [17:06.000 –> 17:09.000] It’s just a different atmosphere, I don’t know. [17:09.000 –> 17:18.000] But I can, I feel like I could probably get into this like I’m not in a very creative space right now so I don’t want to have to figure out where to put buildings. [17:18.000 –> 17:22.000] I’m very anti like creativity in my game right now. Yeah. [17:22.000 –> 17:29.000] So I could see me not wanting to play that but at the same time, I also enjoy like city building so we’ll see. Yeah. [17:29.000 –> 17:34.000] Yeah, we’ll see. I, that’ll be a you game. [17:35.000 –> 17:42.000] So the roadmap and the release date are quote unquote coming soon. Love that, love that for us. [17:42.000 –> 17:49.000] But we’ll get more information right now. One blurb from their, gosh, what is this their blog. [17:49.000 –> 17:54.000] All events Mossfield Origins, I think this is a blog. [17:54.000 –> 18:01.000] Quote one of the artistic goals of Mossfield Origins is to reflect a healthier relationship that’s possible between humans and the world we live on. [18:01.000 –> 18:06.000] Worlds. Oh, worlds. Okay, confirmed. Yikes. Okay. [18:06.000 –> 18:12.000] We live on depicting a more sustainable approach to life and our habitation. [18:12.000 –> 18:23.000] So, um, yeah, I think it. The vibe is right but I need, I need someone telling me what to do. Yeah, or else isn’t it she not getting done so. [18:23.000 –> 18:29.000] Hopefully they have a really good quest system because that. Oh, if they have achievements. Yeah, yeah, exactly. [18:29.000 –> 18:37.000] Then you have goals. Like if it’s just like go in there and like mine Minecraft and like no, no, no thank you. [18:37.000 –> 18:47.000] Every time I play Minecraft, I literally do the exact same thing and that is go down to the, well, it used to be go down to level 11 but now there’s negative levels. [18:47.000 –> 18:57.000] Oh no. So I go down to like negative 40 or something like that and I just make a strip mine and put everything in, in chests. [18:57.000 –> 19:02.000] And so they organize chests. They are organized. [19:02.000 –> 19:07.000] So everyone that’s playing with me because like I play on these, these like community servers when I do. [19:07.000 –> 19:19.000] And so that they, they can be like, oh wow look a chest that has four stacks of diamonds. Cool. And I’m just like down there with my diamond pickaxe. Just doing that. [19:19.000 –> 19:23.000] That’s all I want to do. [19:23.000 –> 19:24.000] Okay. [19:24.000 –> 19:30.000] Next, Koa and the five pirates of Mara. Speaking of Summer and Mara. [19:30.000 –> 19:35.000] I wrote that this looks like a cute slash fun puzzle platformer. [19:35.000 –> 19:48.000] I’m excited. Is that what quite. Yeah, I think that it’s by Chibi. So same world as Summer Mara is in the same universe, but they, I guess, are deciding to branch out a little bit and they’re, I don’t know, type of game, I guess. [19:48.000 –> 19:57.000] So it is definitely a like 3d platformer and it just looks so cute and like getting to play as like Koa. [19:57.000 –> 20:05.000] I will just love and I do. It’s been so long since I’ve done a platformer because I feel like I got like tired of Mario for whatever reason. [20:05.000 –> 20:13.000] So maybe this will like get me back into like wanting to do platformers because it is so cute. It looks so bright. It just looks really good. [20:13.000 –> 20:21.000] I’m excited. And I did pack it. So excited just to get it. Well, good for you because it releases on July 27. [20:21.000 –> 20:31.000] So that is when it will be available to you. Beautiful. Super awesome. Speaking, I’m going to take a small sign here. Speaking of platformers, have you played Hollow Knight? [20:31.000 –> 20:40.000] Yes. Oh, so good. I have not like, I feel like finished the story or like I’m probably like 75% of the way through. [20:40.000 –> 20:48.000] But I also like get through like various like kind of like Stardew where I’m like, OK, I kind of want to get back into this. Let me start playing it again. [20:48.000 –> 20:55.000] But yes, love, love, love Hollow Knight. When I saw the trailer for Koa, I was like, oh, it’s a platformer. [20:55.000 –> 21:02.000] And then I like had a little bit of like anxiety and I was like, I’m not ready. [21:02.000 –> 21:06.000] If it’s Hollow Knight, then definitely not ready. I don’t think it’s going to be like Hollow Knight. [21:06.000 –> 21:12.000] I don’t know. I’m just too scared of platformers in general. [21:12.000 –> 21:17.000] Hollow Knight got me and I didn’t even get that far. It gets so hard real quick. [21:18.000 –> 21:28.000] I mean, I guess I’ve I’ve beat the game, but like my partner has done like the path of pain and literally a thing. [21:28.000 –> 21:34.000] And it’s just like it’s throwing all of the bad and all of the difficulty at you. [21:34.000 –> 21:39.000] And I’m like, I’m not doing that. It just sounds like stress. I watched like people stream that. [21:40.000 –> 21:47.000] I’m like, I’m not here for that. Like, I want it so I can like 100 percent the game or 120 percent it or whatever. [21:47.000 –> 21:52.000] But also, I’m never going to beat it. And it’s so frustrating. So no, thank you. [21:52.000 –> 22:00.000] Yep. That small aside, I’m trying to think of a nope, there’s no transition. [22:00.000 –> 22:07.000] Garden Galaxy, Garden Galaxy. [22:07.000 –> 22:16.000] Yeah, you don’t do that in this game. So, quote, discover, collect and organize to create your own unique garden in this relaxing idol slash creative sandbox. [22:16.000 –> 22:20.000] And I wrote, I have no idea how to describe this game. [22:20.000 –> 22:26.000] Yeah, it gives me like match madness vibes, like those matching games. [22:26.000 –> 22:32.000] But it’s not that at all. It’s like, I mean, I guess you do kind of like put you like match. [22:32.000 –> 22:37.000] It looks like there’s something there’s like this container that you can put things into. [22:37.000 –> 22:44.000] And then it pops out a randomly generated other things. Yeah, I don’t quite understand whatever that pot is. [22:44.000 –> 22:49.000] No, but it gives me like like city builder. Yeah. Vibes just in a garden sense. [22:49.000 –> 22:56.000] And I feel like I remember playing a phone game like this. That was also an idol game for just growing flowers. [22:56.000 –> 23:02.000] And it has like the same art style and like cubes, like sections, I guess. I don’t know. [23:02.000 –> 23:11.000] But like I said, I’m very anti-creative right now. And if you don’t tell me where to put things, I’m not going to put anything. [23:11.000 –> 23:16.000] Yeah, but this is like if you really enjoy being creative and like, yeah, exactly. [23:16.000 –> 23:24.000] Like if your favorite thing about Animal Crossing New Horizons was designing your island, you’re going to love this game. [23:24.000 –> 23:31.000] Because it’s just like it’s just that it’s just that and terraforming your your own galaxy. [23:31.000 –> 23:36.000] You’re playing God in this galaxy and just building. It looks it looks really cute. [23:36.000 –> 23:41.000] I’m not going to lie, but it’s just not like this is something that I would watch someone else play. [23:41.000 –> 23:48.000] Yeah. And maybe maybe at some point when I’m not feeling so tired and so anti-creativity, I will get into this. [23:48.000 –> 23:54.000] Bev, when you’re when? I’m hoping there will be a time when I’m not tired. [23:54.000 –> 23:59.000] Yeah, no, same. So we’ll see. That’s I just have been like joking about that myself. [23:59.000 –> 24:06.000] But like, you know, when I have free time. [24:06.000 –> 24:14.000] When I’m in the not so distant future, when this is all done in October 2025. [24:14.000 –> 24:19.000] Yeah. Yes. Catch me in January 2026. [24:19.000 –> 24:25.000] Yeah. So basically this there’s a summer update to this game coming out in June. [24:25.000 –> 24:29.000] This game’s already out, so you can already play it right now. [24:29.000 –> 24:36.000] But there’s a summer update and one of the new sets like they literally just put here the preview of one of the new sets. [24:36.000 –> 24:41.000] And it’s like a little island, kind of like a beachy. [24:41.000 –> 24:48.000] I guess it’s more like a deserted island theme now that I’m looking at it because it’s got like it’s got like a message in a bottle. [24:48.000 –> 24:55.000] Oh, wow. And like palm trees and stuff. So if you already have a game, new stuff is a coming. [24:55.000 –> 25:00.000] If you do not have that game, but this sounds intriguing, new stuff will be coming soon. [25:00.000 –> 25:07.000] So dive in now. The next game is we’re getting there. [25:07.000 –> 25:13.000] Y’all steamworld build such a weird name quote in steamworld build. [25:13.000 –> 25:18.000] You must escape a dying planet by building a mining town to dig up vital long lost technology. [25:18.000 –> 25:25.000] Meet the ever growing needs of your citizens, trade resources and defend your mine from the creatures that lurk below. [25:25.000 –> 25:31.000] End quote. That is giving Factorio vibes. It is. [25:31.000 –> 25:37.000] Actually, I don’t know. It’s the one where like you crash land on a planet. [25:37.000 –> 25:47.000] I think it’s Factorio because you crash on a planet and you’re just like mining the crap out of the planet to build your your thing back up. [25:47.000 –> 25:53.000] Eventually, these like creatures come at you and you’re just like, kill them. [25:53.000 –> 25:56.000] Oh, my goodness. Yeah, it’s Factorio. [25:56.000 –> 26:00.000] But yeah, it’s giving that. But the trailer. Did you watch the trailer? [26:00.000 –> 26:07.000] I have not, but I’ve I’ve heard about this game of seed. I think we talked about it on a like previous game or game previous episode. [26:07.000 –> 26:18.000] And I am excited by it. Like, I like the premise and like I enjoy mining and this is essentially what you’re doing. [26:18.000 –> 26:23.000] So I think I would enjoy this. And this also sounds like you’re like Minecraft like life. [26:24.000 –> 26:26.000] Until you can’t anymore. [26:26.000 –> 26:34.000] Like the gameplay trailer makes it look almost like like city skylines, like you have a city that you’re managing. [26:34.000 –> 26:43.000] And then there’s also like, I guess this might be minecarts that I’m looking at in this thing, but it looks like there’s like roller coasters. [26:43.000 –> 26:46.000] So it’s like a little roller coaster tycoon. Oh, my gosh, I forgot. [26:46.000 –> 26:59.000] If you go to 24 is for you and for anyone, if you go to 24 seconds into the trailer, there’s a there’s a what is that called? [26:59.000 –> 27:04.000] A drive through theater. A drive in. [27:04.000 –> 27:15.000] And there’s like these it’s all rusty in the image on the screen just looks like a robot is like about to have a showdown in the middle of the town in front of the tavern. [27:15.000 –> 27:19.000] And like he’s got his hand on his gun and his other guys, but like all you can see is the robot’s face. [27:19.000 –> 27:23.000] That’s just like what it’s evoking. But yes, drive in theater. [27:23.000 –> 27:38.000] So like this game just has a lot. But like to me, if I was the person trying to escape the dying planet partway through this, I would be like, maybe I don’t want just leave the planet. [27:38.000 –> 27:44.000] I mean, do we want to look at the beauty of that of that drive in theater and the roller coasters? [27:44.000 –> 27:51.000] Maybe we just fix up the planet that we have. Anyway, it looks really cute. [27:51.000 –> 27:57.000] I’m excited. And the news is that there’s a new trailer. [27:57.000 –> 28:04.000] That’s the news. So I definitely watch the trailer. It’s really cute, especially 24 seconds in. [28:04.000 –> 28:10.000] Tell me, listeners, what you think is happening in that movie at that drive in. [28:10.000 –> 28:13.000] It’s definitely a Western. OK, because it feels like a Western. [28:13.000 –> 28:17.000] It’s definitely a Western with the hot and the squidty eyes. And the squidty eyes. [28:17.000 –> 28:23.000] OK, next, Menechos Night Market. [28:23.000 –> 28:28.000] That’s me trying to be really, really excited, but also not too loud. [28:28.000 –> 28:35.000] I don’t want to blow out the speaker. So Menechos Night Market, this game, I did not have to look up because I know what I’m talking about. [28:35.000 –> 28:42.000] Exactly. The news here is that it is coming to Game Pass on its release. [28:42.000 –> 28:48.000] And of course, its release is September 26th, which is like the release for a billion games. [28:48.000 –> 28:52.000] There’s like four games that we cover that are all coming out on this day. [28:52.000 –> 29:01.000] Too many games. Pick another day. I mean, they can pick another day because whatever day Menechos Night Market comes out on is going to get our attention. [29:01.000 –> 29:06.000] True. Very true. So all the other games need to step off September 26th. [29:06.000 –> 29:10.000] Yeah, I feel like I need a Game Pass, but also I know I’m just going to buy this game. [29:10.000 –> 29:20.000] So, yeah, I mean, this is good news. Like if there if if you have been thinking about Menechos Night Market and every time you hear us talking about it, you’re like, oh, my gosh, I want a game. [29:20.000 –> 29:23.000] And you have Game Pass. That means you don’t have to buy it, right? [29:23.000 –> 29:30.000] Like you don’t have to put the money down because it’ll be on the for freezies, quote unquote. [29:30.000 –> 29:35.000] I think you have to pay for a Game Pass every month. Yeah, like ten dollars a month or something like that. [29:35.000 –> 29:45.000] So it’s not terrible. It’s only ten dollars. Which is why I was like, maybe I get it for Dreamlight Ballet because I want to play this game, but I don’t want to pay twenty five dollars for a free to play game. [29:45.000 –> 29:50.000] But also, I’m still paying whatever. It’s another subscription. [29:50.000 –> 29:53.000] Nope, don’t need it. OK, don’t need it. Exactly. [29:53.000 –> 30:02.000] If there’s like a specific game that I want to try, but don’t want to commit to, like I suppose Dreamlight Ballet, then I suppose it might be worth it for only like like a month. [30:02.000 –> 30:09.000] Like I definitely would pay more than ten dollars per an entire month if I bought a game. [30:09.000 –> 30:14.000] But whatever. Well, Bev, a great time, a great time to try Game Pass would be in September. [30:14.000 –> 30:25.000] Exactly. Because then you could try you could like if you do it early September, then you could play Dreamlight Ballet until Moneko’s Night Market came out and then swap over. [30:25.000 –> 30:31.000] Love that. That’s good planning, too. Maybe I will do that. [30:31.000 –> 30:36.000] Because I can plan for ten dollars in September. Right. Right. Yeah. [30:36.000 –> 30:42.000] I can do that. I also think that farming simulators on Game Pass. Oh, no. [30:42.000 –> 30:49.000] And I need to be playing that. Spoiler alert for future episodes. [30:49.000 –> 30:56.000] Spirit tea. Just going to transition very poorly. [30:56.000 –> 31:05.000] Spirit tea. So this is a quote from Al. Beta slash alpha slash meh. [31:05.000 –> 31:13.000] Out on Wednesday. So I believe that that means that it’s like Wednesday, like the day after the podcast comes out or the day of that. [31:13.000 –> 31:21.000] That’s unclear, Al. You put dates in the show notes. Wow. We’re just coming out all over the place because he then wrote might include all content. [31:21.000 –> 31:34.000] All content might not. Who even knows? And then I tried to click on the link and I sassily wrote would love to be able to read the update, but it’s only viewable by backers, Al. [31:34.000 –> 31:42.000] And that was where I was going to leave it. But y’all, he actually I didn’t like tag him or anything. He just looked at my notes and then he left. [31:42.000 –> 31:51.000] Yeah, he saw. Yeah. So he commented on that. What did he say? Not sure why I’m being blamed for this. Yeah. [31:51.000 –> 32:03.000] And then he took screenshots. Just copy paste the whole thing in here next time, Al. I mean, no, I wanted to give him crap. And then he ruined it. [32:03.000 –> 32:12.000] You still gave him crap. And then he gave you crap back. Yeah, it’s true. We do be ribbing each other. You’re like poking fun at each other. [32:12.000 –> 32:21.000] So, yeah, he said, let’s see, this says because this is I didn’t look at this last night. It wasn’t available to me. [32:21.000 –> 32:28.000] The developer says I’ve just finished a few of the crucial items and now we’re pretty much ready to start the public beta. [32:28.000 –> 32:36.000] Oh, I was about to say what is a public beta? And wouldn’t you know it? The next sentence. What is the public beta? Thank you. [32:36.000 –> 32:43.000] It’s essentially a chance to play the game early. I believe the beta will contain only the first two seasons of your first year in the town. [32:43.000 –> 32:50.000] However, there’s been talk of potential access to the full game as well. How do you not know? How do you? Yeah. [32:50.000 –> 32:54.000] So maybe it is. It’s not like the plan. [32:54.000 –> 32:58.000] I believe maybe maybe they just don’t have a lot of confidence. [32:58.000 –> 33:05.000] I also I also start with like I I think before things that I know for a fact, so it might just be like a confidence thing. [33:05.000 –> 33:13.000] So I hope that they will know what the beta contains and will maybe just plan to change it later with full access. [33:13.000 –> 33:19.000] I don’t know. Maybe it’ll be like a surprise, like a special surprise of like, oh, you get more. [33:19.000 –> 33:25.000] And you get a full game and you get a full game. [33:25.000 –> 33:31.000] Sorry, I’m tired. Yeah. And then there’s a secret. [33:31.000 –> 33:37.000] The next the next two paragraphs end up saying, oh, and please keep this to yourself. [33:37.000 –> 33:42.000] So I’m not going to say that. But Spirit Tea is done. So this is what they say. [33:42.000 –> 33:47.000] Anyways, the game is done, but the polishing isn’t done. So, yeah. [33:47.000 –> 33:52.000] Well, the secret is that, nope, that they’re announcing the beta for something else. [33:52.000 –> 33:56.000] That’s a secret. That’s for something else. Oh, is it? I can’t read. [33:56.000 –> 34:01.000] It’s too early. A secret. OK, I don’t know who that was. [34:01.000 –> 34:06.000] I just assumed it was the same person. No, I think they’re talking about two games here. [34:06.000 –> 34:11.000] Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That’s that’s not clear at all. [34:11.000 –> 34:14.000] This dev needs to make that clear. This is a new game we’re talking about. [34:14.000 –> 34:21.000] This is also it’s just so unclear. I mean, like Dan, Dan, Dan. [34:21.000 –> 34:28.000] Thank you for staying for like communicating to people and like having these, you know, semi regular updates. [34:28.000 –> 34:32.000] But also, this is not clear. No, Dan’s probably also overworked. [34:32.000 –> 34:36.000] They’re probably submit this up, like in the middle of the night, like, oh, it’s out. [34:36.000 –> 34:41.000] OK, I’m done. Good night. Oh, my gosh. Dan is about to have a new baby. [34:41.000 –> 34:44.000] Oh, yeah. That’s why Dan is so tired. That makes sense. [34:44.000 –> 34:48.000] All is forgiven, Dan. Enjoy your baby. [34:48.000 –> 34:54.000] We will enjoy the game whenever she is 1.0, not this public beta. [34:54.000 –> 34:59.000] I’m super excited. OK, cool. [34:59.000 –> 35:04.000] Next. Only three more. OK, Spirit Tea. [35:04.000 –> 35:08.000] No, I already did that. Sprout Valley. [35:08.000 –> 35:11.000] It’s another Kickstarter, so valid. Oh, my gosh. [35:11.000 –> 35:18.000] OK. Oh, what? My laptop or my computer was doing some weird things. [35:18.000 –> 35:25.000] Sprout Valley, quote, a simple casual game. What a simple. [35:25.000 –> 35:28.000] A simple casual game about harvesting and gathering resources. That’s legit. [35:28.000 –> 35:33.000] Like that is what they that’s what the Kickstarter says. [35:33.000 –> 35:37.000] Oh, we’ve talked about this because it’s what the 1.0 is out now. [35:37.000 –> 35:44.000] And then Al says, although not sure what this means, because apparently it is releasing in July and this version is 1.0 of the demo. [35:44.000 –> 35:51.000] Or I’m very confused. And by I’m I mean, Al is very confused, but I’m also very confused. [35:51.000 –> 36:00.000] 1.0, but like still in beta. So like still then it’s not 1.0 Bev. [36:01.000 –> 36:06.000] I don’t know. I could see them be like, this is 1.0 and we expect to have bugs. [36:06.000 –> 36:11.000] So 1.6 will be actually the full release. I don’t know. I don’t understand. [36:11.000 –> 36:18.000] They need a standard. The industry needs to standardize this whole process because it’s ridiculous. [36:18.000 –> 36:24.000] It looks like it. So you can play this on itch.io. [36:24.000 –> 36:29.000] But they have a Switch version in the process. They just have to get it approved by Nintendo, [36:29.000 –> 36:34.000] which a shout out to Elle from Apico. [36:34.000 –> 36:39.000] I now have kind of an insider’s view into like how this stuff happens. [36:39.000 –> 36:51.000] Awesome. And they can they can take a long time and then slap you with the ESRB rating because you have meat in your game. [36:53.000 –> 36:55.000] Because you have meat in your game? [36:55.000 –> 37:00.000] Oh my gosh. So Apico, they have meat. Well, it’s Apicola. [37:00.000 –> 37:03.000] It was mead because you’re making mead. Yeah. [37:03.000 –> 37:08.000] And they didn’t call it mead. I think they did at first. Oh, maybe they didn’t. [37:08.000 –> 37:13.000] I don’t remember. But it was it’s very clearly you’re brewing. [37:13.000 –> 37:20.000] You put honey into a brewing thing. And then if you don’t understand the brewing process of me, then maybe don’t. [37:20.000 –> 37:23.000] But the ESRB was like you are gratified. [37:23.000 –> 37:31.000] You’re like showing alcohol in a positive light because you get these like powers from drinking this alcohol. [37:31.000 –> 37:38.000] And so they like slapped him with a mature rating. Apico, Apico with a mature rating. Ridiculous. [37:38.000 –> 37:42.000] So, yeah, that’s that’s just I don’t think that was Nintendo. That was the ESRB. [37:42.000 –> 37:48.000] So like Sprout or not. Yeah. Sprout Valley. Take your time getting the Switch version out. We get it. [37:49.000 –> 37:56.000] We get it. Also, did you hear? OK, sorry. Future versions of Sprout Valley to come on the Apico train. [37:56.000 –> 38:03.000] Did you hear that there was a bug that was because of me? What? No. [38:03.000 –> 38:11.000] It like made people’s game crash. Just like your existence in the game was just like so magical. [38:11.000 –> 38:14.000] There was something. Gosh, I don’t even remember. [38:14.000 –> 38:19.000] I so I was like talking to Elle. I’m going to pull up my my chat with Elle. [38:19.000 –> 38:28.000] He just one day reached out to me and he was like, I need you to know that you’ve caused me such a headache on Switch because there’s a crash that happens only after people speak to you. [38:31.000 –> 38:37.000] It was called like the Cody crash or the solitary bee crash, but he called it the Cody crash and I retweeted it. [38:37.000 –> 38:42.000] I was like, where do I put on my CV that my bee knowledge crashed a video game? [38:46.000 –> 38:55.000] In your fun notes, more information about me that’s not relevant to my experience, but it’s fun to know. [38:55.000 –> 39:01.000] The knowledge in my brain about bees makes people’s games crash. OK. Amazing. [39:01.000 –> 39:05.000] That definitely should go on your CV, please. Oh, we’ve had so many side notes. [39:05.000 –> 39:09.000] I mean, that’s an accomplishment all by itself. The fact that you’re in a bee game, just saying. [39:09.000 –> 39:15.000] Yeah, that was that was a weird a weird what a crazy random happenstance. [39:15.000 –> 39:21.000] I’m pretty sure it has to do with this podcast because like Elle listened to this podcast and met me from from here. [39:21.000 –> 39:26.000] And then he asked me for like a knowledge. [39:26.000 –> 39:30.000] Yeah, bee knowledge. I was going to say advice and I was like, that was what it was. [39:30.000 –> 39:40.000] It was like bee knowledge. And then at near the end of like me giving him bee knowledge, like once a month or whatever it was, like very, very infrequently. [39:40.000 –> 39:45.000] He was just like, oh, also, I’m putting you in the game. And I was like, what? Love it. [39:45.000 –> 39:52.000] Love it. OK. That needs to go to your CV. I feel like if I could say I’m the co-founder of a Quage team, I feel like you need it. [39:53.000 –> 39:58.000] But you’re you’re in a bee game. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, for sure. [39:58.000 –> 40:08.000] OK. Oh, what am I? I am messing things up on this. OK. 33 Immortals. [40:08.000 –> 40:14.000] So my here’s my quote here. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. [40:14.000 –> 40:22.000] And then I quote 33 Immortals. Yeah. 33 Immortals is a co-op action roguelike for 33 players. [40:22.000 –> 40:26.000] Pick up Thunder Lotus. Yeah. Yeah. Spiritfarer. [40:26.000 –> 40:33.000] Yeah. The people who made Spiritfarer. Pick up and raid, cooperate to survive hordes of monsters and rise above the Almighty. [40:33.000 –> 40:37.000] Yeah. So this is made by Thunder Lotus is the people who made Spiritfarer. [40:37.000 –> 40:42.000] Al, this link is not helpful. I need to know what this game is. [40:42.000 –> 40:51.000] I think it’s like newly announced. So it’s it makes sense that the link is not helpful because that’s all there is. [40:51.000 –> 40:59.000] And oh, oh, it kind of looks like like to me, it looks like Diablo, maybe. [40:59.000 –> 41:05.000] I don’t know. I’m getting like Hades vibes as well. OK, I’ve not played Hades, so it’s so good. [41:05.000 –> 41:11.000] But yeah, I mean, you don’t have to have 33 people, but you can. [41:11.000 –> 41:16.000] That sounds amazing. And I kind of want the chaos of 33 people. [41:16.000 –> 41:21.000] It’s going to remind me of my World of Warcraft 40 man days. [41:21.000 –> 41:26.000] The horror of trying to keep all those chickens in a row. [41:26.000 –> 41:34.000] Uh huh. But yeah, you you can you like dungeon crawl and you are like fighting things. [41:34.000 –> 41:39.000] And this is like an MMO without actually being an MMO. It looks really good. [41:39.000 –> 41:44.000] Yeah, it looks really good. And of course, Spiritfarer people. So Spiritfarer and like the art. [41:44.000 –> 41:51.000] We know the animations like fantastic. We know the art’s fantastic. So I’m very excited to hear about this. [41:51.000 –> 41:59.000] Yeah. And I just hope it’s kind of like a monster hunter, like like waiting room where you could just join random groups. [41:59.000 –> 42:09.000] Yeah, I don’t know. 33 players

Season 2 Episode 23 | Cozy Games! Let's talk cozy games, upcoming, already out, some for the spooky season and more! Links for this episode Follow MawTater! (We love her!): https://www.twitch.tv/mawtater Games Mentioned Disney Dreamlight Valley: https://disneydreamlightvalley.com/ Animal Crossing: New Horizons: https://www.animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/ Hokko Life: https://hokko.life/ Tiny Glade: https://pouncelight.games/tiny-glade/ Fae Farm: https://faefarm.com/en/ Haunted Chocolatier: https://www.hauntedchocolatier.net/ Way To The Woods: https://www.waytothewoodsgame.com/ Spirittea: https://spiritteagame.com/ Puffpals Island Skies: https://fluffnest.games/ The Little Witch in the Woods: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1594940/Little_Witch_in_the_Woods/ Unpacking: https://www.unpackinggame.com/ Coffee Talk: https://www.togeproductions.com/project/coffee-talk/ Cozy Grove: https://cozygrovegame.com/ Night in the Woods: http://www.nightinthewoods.com/ Creaks: https://amanita-design.net/games/creaks.html Mineko's Night Market: https://minekosmarket.com/ Distant Bloom: https://embertrail.com/distant-bloom Podcast's Links Balanced Pixels is a podcast where three friends from different walks of life share their love of video games, and how they manage to fit all those pixels into their busy schedules. Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/balancedpixels/⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BalancedPixels⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BalancedPixels⁠⁠ Hosts' Links Skullie Face: ⁠⁠https://skullieface-shop.fourthwall.com/ Grestiodoss: ⁠⁠https://www.grestiodoss.com/⁠⁠ Trizzle Plays: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Trizzle.Plays

This episode is a look ahead to all the amazing indie games that we can look forward to in 2023. Sure, sure, there'll be postponements – but here at Gaming In The Wild, we stay optimistic!  On the list: Colossal Cave, Season: A Letter To The Future, Birth, Terra Nil, Tchia, Hyper Light Breaker, Nine Sols, Venba, Planet of Lana, Schim, Dredge, Lorelei & The Laser Eyes, Spirittea, Highwater, Naiad, Thirsty Suitors, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Sea of Stars, Harold Halibut, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Open Roads, Animal Well, Complex Sky, Death Trash. Shout out to Zap, Gordon and Lawal for joining the show's Patreon recently! Come join us in the cosy podcats supporter Discord, and get nine patron-only bonus episodes, and more fun stuff: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.  Also, feel free to say hi on social media and tell me what I should be playing! :) Find the links at: http://gaminginthewild.com.  And as always, thanks for listening!

Al, Codey, and Jonnie talk about the games coming in 2023 Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:04:39: What Have We Been Playing 00:14:31: News 00:20:18: 2023 Games 00:21:29: List Of Games 00:30:14: What We Are Excited About 00:56:28: Outro Links Bear and Breakfast Update Turnip Boy on PS Research Story EA Date Aka Update 2023 Games List: One Lonely Outpost Roots of Pacha SoS: A Wonderful Life HM: The Winds of Anthos Rune Factory 3 Special Mineko’s Night Market Snacko Mika and the Witch’s Mountain Terra Nil Above Snakes Cornucopia Lightyear Frontier Fae Farm Cloudscape Sprout Valley Dragon Acres Kloa: Child of the Forest Petadachi Wanderlost Everafter Falls Sun Haven Arclands Critter Crops Little Witch in the Woods Ova Magica Elusive People Moonhaven Wholesome - Out and About Super Zoo Story Pixelshire Moonstone Island A Last Song Distant Bloom Spirittea Loddlenaut Codey on Twitter Contact Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/

Al and Codey talk about APICO Timings [00:00:00] Theme Tune [00:00:32] Intro [00:07:34] What Have We Been Playing [00:11:24] News [00:26:28] APICO [01:06:04] Outro Links Wholesome Direct Dragon Quest Builders on Mobile Turnip Boy on Mobile Rune Factory 5 Possibly coming to Steam Spirittea Inof Spirittea new trailer My Time at Sandrock Atomicrops DLC on consoles Let’s Build a Zoo DLC Autonots vs Pirate Bots APICO on Steam APICO on Twitter APICO Website Bee Death Metal and APICO soundtrack by Mothense Codey on Twitter Contact Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/THSPod Al on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/

EA looks to expand it's EAmpire, Norman Reedus is lucky he's mates with the boss and The Last of Us Remake may be coming sooner than we think. #ThisWeekInVideogames #DeathStranding2 #TheLastofUsRemake--V Rising impressions: https://youtu.be/-J3X3r2jDwACheck out Spirittea on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1931010/Spirittea/--Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is through my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skillupyt--Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: https://steelseries.pbj2.net/c/2446303/1266556/2390--Edited by Austin @ausomehd--Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkillUpYT?lang=en (@skillupyt)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en--Sources: • EA Merger: https://puck.news/brian-roberts-one-that-got-away/?fbclid=IwAR1ptN2gX0EwIXBPHbbdnrZWjbQY3ygRAgym9CNF8ff-KV8Alku7pju5zwc • https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-is-reportedly-pursuing-acquisition-and-merger-options-with-a-number-of-potential-suitors• EA Fifa: https://kotaku.com/ea-layoffs-fifa-22-ea-sports-fc-microtransactions-profi-1848945221• Raven: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/23/activision-blizzard-union-raven/• Battlefield 64: https://www.gamesradar.com/au/battlefield-2042-update-cuts-breakthrough-multiplayer-back-down-to-64-players/• Babylon' Fall: https://hanging-garden.babylonsfall.com/news/pages/626279050ba11838708658• Death Stranding 2: https://www.leoedit.com/culture/norman-reedus-on-the-end-of-an-era/ • https://twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/status/1527895435213668352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1527895435213668352%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eurogamer.net%2Fkojima-publicly-responds-to-norman-reedus-claims-death-stranding-2-is-in-development• Last of us Remake 2022: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-last-of-us-ps5-remake-is-reportedly-likely-to-be-released-in-2022/• Sony multiplatform: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonys-ceo-says-bungie-acquisition-marks-a-major-step-forward-in-becoming-more-multiplatform/Marvel: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-turned-marvel-down-leading-to-spider-man-on-ps4-exec-reveals/

✩ Video Version ✩ ► https://youtu.be/1nqH8Ttl394SOCIAL LINKS --------------------------------------------------- ✩ Derek ✩ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperDerekRPGs ►Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/SuperDerekRPGs ✩ Baku ✩ ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BakusanJRPG ►Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/BakusanJRPG UPCOMING RELEASES --------------------------------------------------- ►05/21/2022 The Use of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StAqjQVTaX0►05/24/2022 Touken Ranbu Warriors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TCNudUv6A►06/02/2022 TOKYO: The Tower of Perpetuity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYg2eMZknjIGAME ANNOUNCEMENTS --------------------------------------------------- ►06/23/2022 The Caligula Effect 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFT5p6LdcwA►2022 Spirittea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srBxPobP0So►09/15/2022 Fairy Fencer F Refrain Chord (Japan)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAqxGs_r9xM►Q2 2022 Project TriTrihttps://www.project-tritri.comEXTERNAL LINKS --------------------------------------------------- ►Hisuian Snow Episode 1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thhRi11aTI8►Gundam Game Fest 2022 https://www.twitch.tv/bandainamcous https://www.youtube.com/c/BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica ►SaGa Series May livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cPfO04rbls►Leo Edit interview with Norman Reedus https://www.leoedit.com/culture/norman-reedus-on-the-end-of-an-era/►Kojima tweet to Reedushttps://twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/status/1527895435213668352?s=20&t=m_PpqOeg5wIZniMfVDgfjgTIMESTAMPS---------------------------------------------------0:00:00 Intro0:01:14 Welcome back to HitPoint!0:03:07 Responding to Viewer Feedback0:05:22 Voicemail: The End of Ownership?0:10:10 The Forgotten Promise of Digital GamesUpdates to Past Releases0:13:34 IB Remake added English0:15:05 On Horror RPGsUpcoming Releases This Week0:17:35 The Use of Life0:18:29 Trailer Reaction 0:18:57 Audio Fixed0:20:10 Touken Ranbu Warriors0:22:02 Trailer Review0:24:40 TOKOYO: The Tower of Perpetuity0:26:43 Trailer ReviewUpcoming Games News0:28:59 One Piece Odyssey Update0:29:22 Rant: Turn Based VS Action RPG Mass Appeal0:31:21 Screen Shot Review0:35:10 The Caligula Effect 2 PC port0:37:18 A Plea to Atlus0:38:45 Trailer Review0:45:50 A Wild Trails Discussion Appears0:44:16 Spirittea (Spirit tea)0:46:03 Trailer Review0:47:47 Unexpected Dance Party0:48:10 Fairy Fencer F Refrain Chord0:49:58 Trailer Review0:51:10 A Brief Compile Heart History LessonHeadline Discussion0:54:10 Project TriTri to Revive the Golden Age?0:55:35 Veterans Involved0:57:00 Pitch Document Review1:00:00 Dissecting everything1:02:25 What Actually Made 90s RPGs Great?1:04:50 Guess the *real* Title!1:06:20 Composing the HitPoint guess1:11:20 Send your guess!1:14:15 Baku's "Live Service" Fears1:15:00 Hype ResponsiblyAnime News1:16:20 Hisuian Snow Ep 1 out nowIndustry News1:16:55 Trails to Nintendo Switch?1:17:55 He's Got (Trails in the) Sky Hopes!1:20:40 Vita Games should Come to Switch1:23:45 Public Vs Private Company Strategies1:24:43 Gundam Game Fest 2022 1:25:40 ...Falcom IS public though. Oops!1:26:45 SaGa Series Stream on 05/31/20221:31:40 Norman Reedus is Leaking1:34:03 Root on the Wacky1:34:55 Woops! 1:35:40 FF7 25th Anniversary Event in June1:39:00 What's Baku Doing?1:40:10 Raid Train for charity hits $35K1:41:48 What's Derek Doing?Responding to SuperChats1:42:30 Will Derek Finish Dragon Quest?1:44:05 Pdragy graduated! Congrats! 1:45:45 More Thoughts on How 90s RPGs Were Better1:48:55 Helping Baku Highlight Notes for Derek1:50:46 Closing Thoughts1:51:36 Outro#ProjectTriTri #TrinityTrigger

In the first episode of our Game Maker series, we talk to solo developer Dan Beckerton, the founder of Cheesemaker Games and creator of Fables of Talumos and the upcoming Spirittea. ►► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!  ►  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-8xvYGhQQRgp7Ic02yciA►► Cameron's most anticipated games list  ►  https://ggapp.io/homehttps://ggapp.io...►►Cameron's GG App Account  ►   https://ggapp.io/Rocksback/►►Join our Discord Server!   ►   https://discord.gg/SfqDu5T5►►Jake's Twitter ► https://twitter.com/jacob_chipdip18►►Cameron's Twitter ►  https://twitter.com/masssgeneric