Arcade Couch

Blizzards have managed to step in it ahead of BlizzCon this year after banning a Hearthstone player for declaring support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Dylan and Ashley discuss what Blizzard can do to fix the situation if Blizzard is in their right to ban the player and what potential outcome we could have.

Also on the show:

NVIDIA RTX Tech Blows Dylan Away at PAX

Call of Duty Gets a Battle Pass

John Wick Hex Review

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Hello

00:20 - It's Episode 50!

00:55 - PAX AUS 2019 Housekeeping

07:25 - Minecraft RTX Experience At PAX

THE NEWS

17:25 - Modern Warfare Will Use Battle Passes

24:30 - Pokemon Gets Exclusive Gigantamax Variants

33:10 - Fortnite Chapter 2 Breaks The Internet

43:40 - All Riot's League of Legends Announcements

WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

57:40 - Concrete Genie Is Great, Go Read Dylan's Review

58:40 - John Wick Hex Review

MAIN TOPIC

01:09:35 - Blizzard Bans Hearthstone Player

OUTRO

01:27:55 - Wrap-Up

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Resources:

Kotaku

'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Will Have Free Maps, No Loots Boxes'

'Here's What's New In Fornite's Chapter 2'

'League of Legends Creators Also Making An Animated Series, Card Game, Fighting Game and Shooter'

'Pokemon Sword and Shield Gigantamax Variants Are Getting Weirder'

Vice

'Blizzard Cancels Overwatch Launch Event Amid China Censorship Controversy'

'Gamers Are Organizing a Mass Protest at Blizzard's BlizzCon'

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

As Twitchcon was on last week Dylan began thinking about the growing popularity of the Content Creator and Twitch Celebrity and the relationship they have with their fanbase. He discusses with Ash and Ciaran what they think of that relationship and also discusses what they think the next-gen of consoles will need to do to keep up with the streaming future.

Also on the show:

Jedi: Fallen Order's Latest Trailer

Oculus Quest New Features

Troy Baker Drama with Gearbox

Sherlock Holmes Developer Frogware Speaks Out Against Focus Home Interactive

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:08 - Hello

01:00 - On The Show This Week

01:25 - Housekeeping: PAX 2019

THE NEWS

09:25 - Oculus Link Cable Coming 2020

16:40 - Hand-Tracking Coming To Quest

23:25 - Medal of Honour: Above and Beyond Announced

29:15 - Sherlock Holmes Developer Frogware Accuses Focus Home Interactive of Bad Company Policy

38:25 - Troy Baker Drama With Gearbox Continues

48:30 - Logitech Acquires Streamlabs

52:30 - Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, New Trailer

WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

59:50 - Untitled Goose Game Review

01:08:45 - Grindstone Review

MAIN TOPIC

01:12:55 - Twitchcon & Pokimaine's Pizza Party

01:24:30 - Should People Use Their Real Names More?

01:29:00 - The Dangers of Content Creator Fan Bases

01:39:00 - What Do The Next-Gen Consoles Need To Do To Improve Streaming?

OUTRO

01:47:05 - Wrap-Up

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Reviews:

Untitled Goose Game

Resources:

GameIndustry.Biz

'I Waited In Line For Two Hours To Have Pizza With Pokimane'

'Logitech Acquires Streamlabs For At Least $89m'

'Why Did Borderlands 3 Re-Cast Troy Baker's Role?'

Kotaku

'Sherlock Holmes Developers Accuse Publisher of Delisting Their Games, Not Returning Code'

VR Focus

'Hands-On With Oculus Link: Is This The End For Oculus Rift?'

'Oculus Quest's Hand Tracking Could Be Its New Killer Feature'

Youtube

'Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond Official Announcement Trailer'

'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - Cal's Mission Trailer'

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

After over a year of radio silence, Naughty Dog headlined the latest State of Play with a fresh look at The Last of Us Part II and announced a release date for early next. Hear Ashley and Ciaran go over everything in the State of Play and question why Xbox scheduled an Inside Xbox on the same day.

Also on the show:

Google make their Play to compete with Apple Arcade

Australian games set to be preserved

Game companies set to do their part for the environment

Hosts:

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Resources:

ABC News

“Australian esports criminal investigation reveals video game industry is ripe for corruption”

Explosion Network

“Australian Video Games to be collected and preserved by NFSA”

GamesIndustry.Biz

“Google announces Play Pass subscription service”

Kotaku

“Video Game Companies Vow Action On Climate Change, But Critics Say They Need To Do More”

“Victoria Police Investigating More Match Fixing, Organised Crime Links To Aussie Overwatch Team”

“Google Play Pass Might Be Fundamentally Flawed”

Youtube

“State of Play | 24th September 2019”

”All-New Inside Xbox. ft. The Outer Worlds, Project xCloud and More”

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

INTRO

00:10 - Who's This On The Couch?

01:19 - On The Show This Week

THE NEWS

01:31 - Google makes a Play to compete with Apple Arcade

09:38 - Overwatch Contenders league brought into e-sports corruption story

18:10 - NFSA to star preserving Aussie Video Games

25:03 - Gaming Companies promise action on Climate Change

WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

32:50 - Mario Kart Tour

38:01 - Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta

MAIN TOPIC

35:58 - Inside Xbox

51:17 - State of Play

OUTRO

1:13:06 - Wrap Up

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-c...

Web: http://bit.ly/ArcadeCouchWeb

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2PSvACR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2OWbu5f

Casts: https://pca.st/yERE

Stitcher: http://bit.ly/ACStitcher

PlayerFM: http://bit.ly/FMArcadeCouch

Support Us: http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

Arcade Couch is the Explosion Network’s premiere video games podcast featuring discussions on the latest releases, tech, industry news and more, available every Saturday at 6 AM AEST

Through carnage and loot, Ash and Ciaran discuss what their time has been like so far in the wasteland and beyond in Borderlands 3. Is it living up to the hype?!

Also on the show:

Untitled Goose Game Impressions

Apple Arcade Launch Is Impressive

Sirfetch'd Is A Boss

Bioware Writer Opens Studio In Melbourne

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Honk

THE NEWS

01:10 - Ash Ketchum Does Us Proud

05:30 - Sirfetch'd Pokemon Revealed

11:40 - Ring-Fit Adventure Announced

21:10 - Bioware's Former Writer Opens Studio In AUS

30:25 - New Arkham Game Being Teased?

35:00 - E3 Revamp Plans Are Interesting

WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

48:40 - Untitled Goose Game Impressions

54:45 - Apple Arcade Thoughts: The Service, What The Golf? Sayonara Wild Hearts

MAIN TOPIC

01:14:25 - Borderlands 3 Impressions

OUTRO

01:39:50 - Wrap-Up

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Resources:

Gamasuta

’Proposed E3 Revamp Could Turn Expo Into Fan, Media and Influencer Festival’ GameIndustry.Biz

’Nintendo’s New Fitness Game Is Ring Fit Adventure’

Kotaku

’Bioware’s Former Lead Writer Is Starting An Australian Studio’

’The Internet Reacts To Sirfetch’d, Pokemon Sword’s New Farfetch’d Evolution’

Nintendo Life

’Pokemon Loser Ash Ketchum’s Lifelong Dream Has Come True’

PlayStation Lifestyle

’Is Roger Craig Smith Teasing A New Batman: Arkham Game?’

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

Apple Arcade has had its launch date revealed along with a bunch of different games and details, so Dylan goes over them with Ciaran and Ashley. Who's the most excited for this service? Probably the only person with an Apple device.

Also on the show:

Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer Announced

Celeste's Final DLC Is Hard

Gears 5 Impressions

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Hello

00:40 - This Week On The Show

THE NEWS

00:55 - Gamestop Is Closing 180-200 Stores

12:20 - Life is Strange 2 Being Removed For 2-Weeks From AUS Platforms

19:20 - Sledgehammer Games Opens Studio In Melbourne

23:50 - Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer On The Way

29:40 - Celeste Developer Releases 'Farewell' DLC And Re-Launches Studio

35:10 - A KFC Game Is Coming, 'I Love You Colonel Sanders'

WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

41:05 - Ciaran's Gears 5 Impressions

45:55 - Are We Using The Same Voice Actors Too Much?

MAIN TOPIC

58:10 - Apple Arcade Reveals Launch Date

01:07:05 - List of Launch Games

OUTRO

01:31:20 - Wrap-Up

01:32:52 - The Bit

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Resources:

AusGamers

’Cyberpunk 2077 Multiplayer Confirmed’

Explosion Network

’Apple Arcade Price And Launch Date For Australia Revealed’

’Celeste Free Final Chapter Out September 9th As Studio Re-Launches’

’Life Is Strange 2 Will Be Removed From Australian Store Fronts For Two Weeks’

GamesIndustry.Biz

’GameStop To Close 180-200 “Underperforming” Stores Globally This Year”

’Sledgehammer Games Is Opening A Studio In Australia’

Game Informer

’KFC Is Making A Game Where You Can Date Colonel Sanders - No, This Isn’t A Joke’

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

Someone has swooped in to purchase the Telltale Games name and some of its IP, and it's being mostly celebrated online. Why does the games industry, more than any other, celebrate brand names over the people working on the products?

Also on the show:

Heaps of Cyberpunk 2077 News

PAX AUS 2019 Indie Showcase Winners

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Impressions

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Hello

01:24 - This Week On The Show

THE NEWS

01:45 - Untitled Goose Game Release Date

06:10 - What Is Up With This NBA2K 'My Team' Trailer

11:40 - Cyberpunk 2077 Cut-Scenes Will Now Be in First-Person

19:10 - No Longer Gender Options In Cyberpunk 2077

28:50 - 15 Mins Of New Cyberpunk 2077

34:50 - Telltale Games Is Being Brought Back

47:40 - Melbourne Opening Large Esports Venue

57:25 - PAX AUS Indie Showcase Winners 2019

WHAT WE’VE BEEN PLAYING

01:13:50 - Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Impressions

OUTRO

01:35:10 - Wrap-Up

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Resources:

Explosion Network

’Honk! Untitled Goose Game Is Releasing This September’

’PAX Australia Indie Showcase 2019’

IGN

’Cyberpunk 2077: Almost All Cutscenes Will Be In First-Person Perspective’

’Cybperpunk 2077 Dev Explains Why There’s No Character Gender Option Anymore’

Kotaku

’Two People Who Didn’t Work At Telltale Games Say They’re Bringing Back Telltale Games’

Press-Start

’Melbourne Is Getting The Largest Games & Esports Space In The Southern Hemisphere’

Youtube

’NBA 2K20: MyTEAM’

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

The September 2019 Nintendo Direct was too much to contain! So much reveals, release dates and information that Ashley and Dylan need to give it a bonus episode of Arcade Couch. Both of them go over the big stuff like Overwatch for Switch, Return of Obra Dinn, the Xenoblade Definitive Edition, new Pokemon reveals and much more.

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

Spurred by a discussion of Ciaran (hey, Ciaran!) having an Overwatch break, Dylan discusses his League of Legends addiction and why he breaks away from anything that feels like it’s becoming an addiction.

Also on the show:

Overwatch Coming To Switch?

Game Informer Lay Offs

Remedy’s Control & Alan Wake

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Ciaran Marchant: https://twitter.com/YaboyRingo

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:00:10 - Hello

00:00:30 - Drugs Talk

00:02:05 - This Week On The Show

THE NEWS

00:02:45 - Overwatch Seems To Be Coming To The Switch

00:09:30 - Game Informer and Gamestop Lay Offs

00:23:20 - South Australia Gets Gaming Fund

00:31:00 - Gears 5 Is Doing The Free Tattoo's Thing

00:39:30 - Mixer Announces Creator Program

00:47:30 - Victorian Police Arrests Over Esports Fixing

00:52:50 - Aladdin and Lion King Remasters

MAIN TOPIC//WHAT WE'VE BEEN PLAYING

58:50 - Catching Up With Ciaran: Overwatch Break & Dylan's History With Game Addiction

01:16:55 - Control Review

01:20:50 - Dylan's Started Alan Wake

01:23:40 - Never Give Up Is Rage Inducing

OUTRO

01:28:10 - Wrap-Up

Resources:

AusGamers

’Overwatch on Nintendo Switch Potentially Confirmed By An Accessory’

Bleeding Cool

’Mixer Announces New Creator Program With Xbox Game Pass’

GameIndustry.Biz

’Game Informer Lays Off “Many” Staff’

Gamasutra

’Australian Police Make Arrests As Part of Investigation Into Esports Match Fixing’

Kotaku

’Aladdin And The Lion King Are Getting Remastered’

’South Australia Announces $300,000 Fund For Video Games’

Press-Start

’A Massive Free Gears 5 Event Is Coming To Melbourne’

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

This week it's nothing but announcements and trailers as Dylan and Ash go everything shown during the Indie Direct from Nintendo, the Inside Xbox show and the big one, Opening Night Live from Gamescom hosted by Geoff Keighley.

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Hello

00:35 - This Week, It's Just Gamescom Week Stuff

THE NEWS

00:50 - Stadia Direct

03:00 - Indie Direct

38:40 - Inside Xbox

46:15 - Opening Night Live Show Thoughts

49:10 - Eveyrthing Announced & Shown During Opening Night Live

01:17:50 - Death Stranding & Hideo Kojima's Celebrity Status

OUTRO

01:31:50 - Wrap-Up

Resources:

Kotaku

’Everything Announced At Gamescom’s Opening Night Live’

’Nintendo Switch Is Getting A Ton Of New Indie Games (Including Ori And The Blind Forest)’

MajorNelson.com

’Inside Xbox Gamescom News Recap’

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion

We're getting Galarian Region versions of Pokémon with Pokémon Sword and Shield and they're, of course, cuties -- which Dylan, Ash and Cherie rank. We also have our first look at Team Yell!

Also on the show:

DayZ Banned In Australia

THQ Nordic Acquires & Announces More Stuff

Loot Crate Files For Bankruptcy

Hosts:

Dylan Blight: https://twitter.com/vivaladil

Ashley Hobley: https://twitter.com/ashleyhobley

Cherie Henriques: https://twitter.com/Cheriacorno

Episode Timecodes

INTRO

00:10 - Hello

00:42 - Merch Plug

01:25 - Video Version Plug

02:25 - This Week On The Show

THE NEWS

03:15 - Loot Crate Files For Bankruptcy

12:25 - Minecraft Cancels Update

17:20 - G2A Drama Continues

26:40 - DayZ Banned In Australia

40:20 - Drugs In Games Debate

50:50 - THQ Nordic Gets A Bunch More Studios

MAIN TOPIC

01:00:30 - Pokemon Trailer Reveals New Cuties

01:13:25 - Team Yell Thoughts

01:19:10 - Pokemon Event Is Cute In Yokohama

OUTRO

01:23:35 - Wrap-Up

01:24:30 - Ad Read

Resources:

GameIndustry.Biz

’Subautica Dev Demands G2A Pays $300,000 To Cover Lost Chargebacks’

Gizmodo

’Loot Crate Files For Bankruptcy And Lays Off Workers But Promises To Ship Remaining Boxes’

IGN

’Pokemon Fans Are Obsessed With Top Hat Weezing, Gene Simmons Zigzagoon’

Kotaku

’DayZ Has Been Refused Classification’

’DayZ Is Getting Changed Worldwide Because of Australia’

’In Photos: 2,000 Dancing Pikachus (And Their Fans) Take Over Yokohama, Japan’

’Long-Promised Minecraft Graphical Overhaul Is Cancelled’

Twitter

@Wario64

Arcade Couch Credits:

Music by: Dylan Blight

Art by: Cherie Henriques

All Episodes:

https://explosionnetwork.com/arcade-couch/

Support Us:

http://www.ko-fi.com/explosion