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In an interview with Phil Spencer says that he's not interested in fighting a console war with Sony and Nintendo "...while Amazon and Google are focusing on how to get gaming to 7 billion people around the world.” He goes on to say that other "traditional gaming companies" simply don't have the cloud infrastructure to compete in the coming decade.In other news:Jedi Fallen Order is Selling Way Better Than EA Had HopedCastlevania Season 3 is Coming Out Next MonthGet 3 Months of Geforce Now Free, then Pay $5 a Month for the Next YearDan Houser Leaves Rockstar GamesWonderful 101s is Getting an HD Remaster on Kickstarter!Thousands of Old Flash Games Have Been Saved What We're PlayingColby: Stardew Valley, Hard West, Breath of the WildCliff: My Time at Portia, Link’s AwakeningDylan: Divinity 2 QuestionsDA VINSTER: Open-ended question, but what are your gaming goals for this year? Play more? Finish games more? Try out genres you don't normally play?McWhopper: With Wonderful 101 reaching all its Kickstarter goals, what other games do you guys see taking this route and pulling in the same crowd and funding?Turndwn4wut: What’s your favorite video game Easter egg?Mister Polite: What is your new favorite podcast? I've been digging Daily Dad.JoeColeslaw: Have you ever played a game to take a break from another game, only to leave it to fade away? What is your play style now, compared when the first episode of this show started?Princess_Megan: What is your favorite video game soundtrack and song from a video game? They don't have to be from the same game.The End of Time: Melancholy Music from Chrono Trigger World of Ruin: Melancholy Music from Final Fantasy VI Austin Wintory's Entire Discography Ben Prunty's Chill Playlist Doom (2016) Soundtrack Red Dead Redemption 2 Soundtrack Kim Cruz: What 8bit/16bit era games should get a modern era remake?Hans Addleman: What is your favorite breakfast eatery?Cheap/Free GamesPlaystation PlusBioShock: The Collection (available 2/4-3/3)The Sims 4 (available 2/4-3/3)Firewall Zero Hour (available 2/4-3/3)Game PassFinal Fantasy XV (February 6)Wolfenstein: Youngblood (February 6)Death Squared (February 13)Epic Game StoreCarcassonneTicket...

February is a little bit busier than January, but we are still in a bit of a video game drought!February 4 - Zombie Army 4: Dead War PS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 6 - Knights & Bikes (Switch)February 11 - Yakuza 5 Remastered (PS4)February 14 - Darksiders Genesis (PS4, Xbox One, Switch)February 14 - Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)February 14 - Dreams (PS4)February 18 - Hunt: Showdown (PS4)February 20 - Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late Switch (PS4)February 25 - Two Point Hospital (PS4, Switch, Xbox One)February 25 - Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)February 25 - Conan Chop Chop (PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS4)February 28 - Metro Redux Nintendo (Switch)

In perhaps the strangest news we've ever had, Atari is going to build a bunch of hotels that provide a “...unique lodging experience combining the iconic brand with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination”. No word yet if every room will have it's own Atari 2600.In other news:Torchlight Frontiers gets a name change (and a bunch of other changes too)Don’t let Square Enix cancel your FF7 pre-orderThere are strong rumors about a KOTOR remakeToss a Coin to The Witcher on SpotifyGet your refund for your Mac or Linux copy of Rocket League nowSometimes All It Takes to Win a Pokemon Tournament is to EnterI guess you don’t have to worry about violating the civil rights of trolls in games anymoreWhat We're PlayingColby: Stardew Valley, Super Lucky’s TaleCliff: My Time at Portia, Stardew Valley (which has sold more than 10 million

Apparently game design at Ubisoft is influenced by the "editorial team" a group of designers based in Paris that guides the direction of Ubisoft games. And Ubisoft doesn't think they have been doing a very good job based on the sales of Breakpoint and The Division 2.Other News: There are now 83 games you can play in Project xCloudHunt Showdown is coming to PS4 and getting cross play with XboxSave some money and get your own routerSeven of the ten best selling games of the decade were Call of DutyHorizon: Zero Dawn might be coming to PCYou're Going to need an invite to play Halo: Combat EvolvedWhat We're PlayingColby: StardewCliff: My Time at Portia, Efootball Pro Evo SoccerDylan: Disco Elysium, The WitcherQuestionsVinny: What is your most controversial video games/video games related opinions?Cpt Insano6: Why hasn't Adam been on the podcast in months?Princess_Megan: What was the best weapon you've ever used in a video game? What's your favorite fighting class: warrior, mage, or rogue, and why?JoeColeslaw: What would be the ultimate way to premier a game, product, announcement? What works, what is too played out? Examples: shadow drop, tweet, (mass social media post) take out a tv ad Superbowl/Championship game, tease a special stream.John Tysinger aka Krawdad: What game or games have you played for super long hours but never finished? For me, it would be every Final Fantasy.Vicky: What's a genre of games that you've always wanted to get into but it's just not for you? (For me its strategy games)Cheap/Free GamesEpic's weekly free games will continue through 2020Epic is putting up the cash needed to supply another 52 free games on the Epic Store this year. At the time of writing, platformer Horace is on offer for free. On the 23rd, the freebie will swap to puzzle game The Bridge.Every Half Life Game is Free Until April 1Half-Life, Half-Life 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode One and TwoPandemic Express Has Gone F2Phttps://store.steampowered.com/app/939510/Pandemic_Express__Zombie_Escape/ Game Pass for PCGrisA Plague Tale: InnocenceScourgeBringerSea SaltChildren of Morta (already out)Game Pass for XboxChildren of Morta (already out)January 23A Plague Tale: Innocence IndivisibleJanuary 30Sea SaltFishing Sim World: Pro Tour

Sony has announced they won't be attending E3 this year even though they are releasing new hardware, instead choosing to participate "...in hundreds of consumer events across the globe", whatever that means.Other video game news: There won't be any Xbox exclusives this year, but does that really matter?Video games save livesTo quote "A Christmas Story" you might shoot your eye out with this new arcade gameHave you ever wanted to play your OG GameBoy games on your 4k TV?Pokemon Sword & Shield are getting new content this yearThe Australian wildfires are getting help from game devsQuestionsVinny: What do you think of the idea of "fanboying"? Of course, there are always assholes who will taint the image of it but is it necessarily bad to be a "fanboy"? Would you call yourself a fanboy of one company over another (whether that be Microsoft and Sony) or fanboying developers? For some reason, it seems there is a negative stigma associated with fanboying one company over another, but if you're a fanboy of a developer like Naughty Dog, Respawn, etc it's not as bad?Turndwn4wut: If you suddenly realized characters in video games were sentient beings, which game would you regret having played?Princess Megan: What is your video game completion goal this year?Mister Polite: With a winter storm happening right now, what is your go-to winter drink? Alcoholic and non-alcoholic.JoeColeslaw: What do you look for in a brand new IP from a trusted company? How do you feel about some recent new IP games in the last year?Cheap/Free GamesGame PassFrostpunk (PC/Xbox)FTL (PC)Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (Xbox)Tekken 7 (Jan 16 - Xbox)Epic Game StoreHoraceHumble BundleSweet Farm Bundle

It's GOTY time! We talk about our favorite Xbox, PS4, Switch and PC games, along with our favorite game not from 2019 and, of course, our favorite game from this year!GOTYOur game of the year voting probably works a bit different than other media outlets you follow. For instance, Xbox GOTY doesn't mean it's an Xbox exclusive, just that we played it on the Xbox. That's actually worked out pretty well the past three years, but this year we played...very few...PlayStation games.Xbox GOTYCliff: Outer WildsDylan: Gears… I guessColby: Crackdown 3PS4 GOTYCliff: Concrete GenieDylan: Death StrandingColby: The Last of Us?Switch GOTYCliff: Gris (HM: SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition)Dylan: PokemonColby: Katana Zero (HM: Link's Awakening )PC GOTYCliff: Disco ElysiumDylan: Hunt: Showdown?Colby: To the Moon? GOTY Not from 2019Cliff: Night in the WoodsDylan: Total War Warhammer 2Colby: Tacoma (HM: Turing Test, Minit, Yoku’s Island Express)Under the RadarColby: World War Z Overall GOTYCliff: Disco ElysiumDylan: Pokemon?Colby: Outer Wilds (HM: Goose Game)Other Video Game NewsAlienware Shows Off a Switch Like PC at CES Arcade1Up Announces a Bunch of New Arcade Cabinets Can’t Decide Between a PC and Console? Why not both?Rise of the Skywalker Changes The Star Wars (Video Game) Universe Rumors Are Swirling Around a New Switch in 2020 We Need One of Our Listeners in England to Send Us Some Stamps QuestionsVinny: What do you predict your 2020 GOTY will be?JoeColeslaw: What makes a game of the year... to you?! And you? And yeah, you're cool I guess, you too.Does the marketing bull have a lot to do with it? Easier availability? *cough* *cough* Game Pass! Does the online play really matter to you guys anymore? Another extremely awesome podcast I listen to had a similar question with a book-report type prompt, but I’ll keep it simple for you kind folk, is it well-rounded being the perfect middle of an elaborate Venn diagram with gameplay, story, soundtrack, immersion, atmosphere, sound, and message? Or is it solely on your personal experience and attachment as the player? With everyone so limited on their game time, some more than others, does the overall time to beat really have its effect on you?Cheap/Free GamesGame Pass:Grand Theft Auto 5Twitch Prime:DandaraAnarcuteKingdom: New LandsA Normal Lost PhoneSplasher

I think that might actually have been the first time I've typed 2020 for something I'm actually currently working on! The game release schedule for January is mostly DLC and remasters, but there might be a few hidden gems in there as well!Monster Hunter World: Iceborne DLC [PC] – January 9DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment [PS4] (US) – January 23 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition [PS4, Switch] – January 23Kingdom Hearts 3: Re Mind DLC [PS4] – January 23Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD [Switch] – January 23The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners [PC] – January 23Journey to the Savage Planet [PC, PS4, XBOX] – January 28Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire [PS4, XBOX] – January 28Warcraft III: Reforged [PC] - January 28

I'll be honest, there was so little news that I almost thought about making some up. But we played a ton of games, so we talked about those instead!Other News: Want to Use a PS4 Controller on Your PC?Get a Small Free Indie Game Every Day This Year WWE2K20 Just Can't Catch a BreakWhat We Are Playing Colby: No Man's Sky, Rage 2, Pan Pan, Katana Zero, Ghost Recon: BreakpointCliff: Control, Untitled Goose Game, Disco Elysium, Pillars of EternityDylan: Total War Warhammer 2, Star Wars Battlefront 2QuestionsVinny: Most and least anticipated game from 2020?Cpt Insano6: With WWE 2K20 having so many bug issues, can you remember a game that had so many issues it was essentially rendered unplayable?Megan: We answer this very important question. Cody Greenwood: First game you plan to play in the new year??JoeColeslaw: If mascot characters old and new would have a new years resolution... what would they be? (Nothing like, kill less)TrnDwn4Wut: If you were to wake up as a toy what would your line/lines be when your button is pushedCheap/Free GamesEpic Game StoreDarksidersDarksiders IISteepPlaystation PlusUncharted: The Nathan Drake CollectionGoat SimulatorStadiaThumperRise of the Tomb RaiderTwitch PrimeEnter the GungeonApe OutWitcheyeGato RobotoHeave HoSupport this podcast

Watching what games are getting played on Twitch year over year gives us a really interesting look into not only what is popular, but what is popular again. Not to be all Buzzfeed, but you'll never guess what game TRIPLED it's the number of hours it was streamed on Twitch this year vs. last year.Other Video Game News:What to do if you are buying someone a video game system (for Christmas 2020)Telltale is back and making some changesGoogle Stadia makes their first third party acquisitionNetflix's Witcher series is having some off screen impactThe devs behind Ori are making an ARPGMovie studios are patching movies like they were video gamesQuestionsVinny: If you were an avid ESports watcher, what game that doesn't currently exist in the ESports field would you like to see? Can be funny, serious, etc.Joe Cole Jr: What game, in your opinion... is a gift that keeps on giving? Always something new to be discovered, or updating to promote the life of the game? What game would you like to gift to someone?Justin Salas: I see this question a lot on Reddit, If you are trying to get someone into gaming, a new friend or maybe boyfriend or girlfriend, what is a good game to start with? I said Dark Souls.Cody Greenwood: Sorry if this has been asked before but what games have you put the most hours into? Both multiplayer/online and single player/story games?Kim Cruz: Is nightmare before christmas a xmas movie or a halloween movie?Donald Good: What fictional holiday character would you like to play as in a sweet VR game? Drop off presents as Santa? Steal children as Krampus or be the Easter bunny or Tooth fairy any holiday magical being. It would be a action adventure game and yall design the mission.Mister Polite: What video game would adapt well for television?Cheap/Free GamesGames with GoldStyx: Shards of Darkness ($19.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 31 on Xbox OneBatman: The Telltale Series ($14.99 ERP): Available January 16 to February 15 on Xbox OneTekken 6 ($14.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 15 on Xbox One & Xbox 360LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy($14.99 ERP): Available January 16 to 31 on Xbox One & Xbox 36012 Days of Epic Game Store: https://www.epicgames.com/Humble Jingle Jam: https://www.humblebundle.com/yogscast/yogscast-jingle-jam-2019

The Game Awards were last week and we're talking about them this week. See who won, who lost, what new games were announced and (maybe most importantly) what Xbox Scarlett news was announced!Other Video Game NewsSony has a new button thingy that you can add to your DualShockBorderlands 3 has launched on Stadia...kindaYou can also play Stadia on your regular non-Stadia Chromecast Ultra nowThe Huddle...Games We Are PlayingDylan: Mutant Year ZeroCliff: Rage 2QuestionsVinny: Do you think Xbox will launch with Project XCloud and/or Project Lockheart? What are the benefits/drawbacks if they do?Kim Cruz: Since RedBox is getting rid of their gaming rental service, and as far as I know only gamefly also do game rentals, how come psn, xbx, or launcher like steam, doesn't implement rental services? I know gamepass is almost like them, but the evolution of it is them letting you rent out triple A newly release game so why not?JoeColeslaw: What are you hoping will be under your tree next week?Turndwn4wut: What’s the real world equivalent of hearing boss music in a video game?Mister Polite: What is your favorite gift to give during a white elephant gift exchange?Princess_Megan: Which video game character would you most like to see coming down your chimney Christmas eve?Cheap/Free GamesGame PassThe Witcher 3Pillars of EternityUntitled Goose GameLife is Strange Episode 5Epic is Giving Away A Game Every DayPlaystation NowHorizon Zero DawnUncharted Lost LegacyOvercooked 2 Small BitesGet Apple Arcade for $50 a year and save $10