Deep Listens

In this episode Gino and Chris "ZompiePie" -REDACTED- discuss the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. We start out with some GBCER announcements and listener feedback before pivoting to the FF TCG. Chris takes exception to the fact that the FF TCG is a trading card game while Gino delves into the specifics of what separates the FF TCG from it's clear progenitor: Magic: The Gathering. We wrap up by ranking the FF TCG among all of the Final Fantasy games.

In this Episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss Little Nightmares. We start the show with some feedback and GBCER follow up announcements. We then discuss the setting of Little Nightmares and how it's character models and framing manage to convey an overall sense of dread. We wrap up with some high-level reading of what Six's journey through The Maw might mean.

In this episode Gion, Billy, and Pete are joined by fellow endurance runners Chris "Zombiepie" -REDACTED, Anthony "Amlabella" Labella, Nickieroonie, and Personz to talk about the upcoming Giant Bomb Community Endurance Run on April 20th-22nd. Each of our participants lay out their plans or the show and some of the cool donation incentives you can donate towards! That includes one provided by this very show! The person who donates the most and includes a comment asking Deep Listens to play a specific game, will pick one of the games we play for an upcoming episode!

Check out the fundraiser here: https://Fundraise.PencilsOfPromise.org/GBCERVIII

In this episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss A Story About My Uncle. We cover how the game leads with story and then rips that story away in favor of first person platforming. We then discuss how the game's level design quickly shuttles the player from mechanic to mechanic without allowing much time for mastery. Pete then brings some literature into the picture by describing how the game's setting recalls "Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor" by Rob Nixon. Also we talk about of frog people. A lot of stuff happens in this show.

In this Episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss speed running and why it's so popular. We start out by talking about our personal experiences with speed running. We then move on to discussing what makes different kinds of speed runs entertaining to watch and how different speed runs change how we understand games. We finish up by discussing the history of speed runs and the community that has sprung up around them.

In this episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss Saints Row: the Third and all the insanity therein. We discuss the game's wild opening, rough first third, and excellent back half. We dive deep into the game's worst mission, the Ho Boat, and examine how surprisingly excellent the game's satire of militarized policing is 7 years after its release. Pete even brings some moral philosophy to the topic by examining the game through the perspective of Foucault.

In this episode, Gino, Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED-, and Jeff Rud discuss battling the Four Fiends of Final Fantasy I, the moment when the game became trivial, and the conflict with the game's final boss. We start by responding to audience feedback and ZP hurts himself with Vienna Sausages again. We then cover how much status effects warp the difficulty curve in FFI, how the airship completely changes the game, and how the class change is the highlight of the game. We finish up by placing FFI on our definitive FF rankings.

In this episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss the nutzo-wutzo spectacle that is Bayonetta. We begin by discussing the finer points of Bayonetta's stylish combat system and disect some of the glitches that allow you to tear the game apart. We then transition to one of the more on-brand Deep Listens discussions we've had in a while: Pete brings some notes on Judith Butler to dissect the depiction of gender in Bayonetta. We finish up by discussing the game's combat rating system and some the most fun, wild moments in a completely fun and wild game.

In this episode Gino sits down with game design college graduates M Palladino and Tyler Morgan to discuss their journeys through NYU's game design program and The Guild Hall. We discuss what it takes to get into a game design program, what those programs entail, and what lessons M and Tyler learned during their times in school. We then talk about the costs and job prospects facing people who opt to take this path to the game industry. We finish up with rapid-fire questions as always!

You can follow M at @GamemakerM

In this episode Gino, Billy, and Pete discuss Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. We cover the game's unique control scheme and how it manages to make rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time work for a few hours. We then discuss the game's great environments and wordless character building. We wrap up by discussing how effectively Brothers addresses loss, it's not so subtle misogyny, and how it mechanizes moving on.