dotzip

By dotzipLeisure Video Games Games

dotzip episodes

May 26, 2025Kim Asks a Bad Faith Question in Phoenix Springs
Welcome to season 2!
Today we're talking about Phoenix Springs by Calligram Studio! A game about asking the right questions and following a guide.
Play Phoenix Springs on Steam! Check out the guide on Calligram Studio's website!
Discussed in the episode:
Ligne claire on Wikipedia
Mystery and Melancholy of a Street, 1914 - Giorgio de Chirico on WikiArt
Phoenix Springs has a secret to tell you by Katie and Catburger on YouTube
This Point and Click Adventure Plays With Your Mind by Matt J. Wilson on YouTube
Phoenix Springs - Walkthrough on Calligram Studio's website
Isle of the Dead, 1883 - by Arnold Böcklin on WikiArt
Fred Durst on Wikipedia
Is Every Game REALLY Political? by No Pun Included on YouTube

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Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
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Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(00:00) - 1 podcast, 1 game, 3 hosts = INNOCENT!
(00:54) - This one's been a long time coming
(02:44) - What is Phoenix Springs
(03:43) - The artstyle
(07:54) - The game is confusing<3
(09:09) - WELCOME TO SEASON TWO
(10:14) - Making the literal figurative
(14:18) - Hallmarks of the genre
(19:56) - Kim asks a bad faith question
(25:17) - Kim asks a good faith question
(30:33) - The directing, sound design, and voice acting is great
(34:39) - Talking about the story | Spoilers
(01:00:47) - The thoughts begin | Spoilers
(01:12:59) - Big Takeaways
(01:13:01) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:16:32) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(01:20:16) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:24:55) - Guys the PAINTING and the ISLAND
(01:25:08) - Thank you for the first year of the podcast!!!!!!!!!!!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 29 min
May 19, 2025Experiencing Life in Everything with Madison Karrh!
Today we're joined by Madison Karrh, developer of Birth, to talk about Everything by David OReilly! A game about being everything and meaning nothing.
Play Everything on Steam and Playstation! Check out David OReilly's other work on his (very good, imo) website!
Discussed in the episode:
Garage: Bad Dream Adventure on Steam
Everything: The Alan Watts Talks on the Alan Watts Electronic University store
Daniels Unpack the Everything Bagel of Influences Behind Everything Everywhere All at Once by Chris Lee for Vulture
Fountain (Duchamp) on Wikipedia
Additional links:
Journey into indie game development | Unity Tales: Madison Karrh on YouTube

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Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(00:00) - Snacks' "Thing Vendetta"
(01:19) - Welcome Madison Karrh to the show!
(03:02) - What is Everything?
(06:11) - Alan Watts
(21:30) - Thoughts
(23:59) - It's lifelike
(30:16) - Discussing the design | Spoilers
(35:45) - The ending parts of the game | Spoilers
(43:14) - Big Takeaways
(43:23) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(47:19) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(54:55) - Madison's Big Takeaway
(55:59) - Madison's Little Takeaway
(56:55) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:01:39) - Thank you Madison!!!!
(01:02:42) - It's been a year!!!!!
(01:11:36) - Thank you for listening!!!!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 14 min
May 12, 2025Digging Deep in ReFind Self: The Personality Test Game with Eric from Short Game Long Talk!
Today we're talking about ReFind Self: The Personality Test Gameby Lizardry! A game about making choices and smoking a cigarette to look cool for 14 seconds!
Play the game on Steam, Switch, or mobile!
Check out Eric’s linktree, and Short Game Long Talk’s linktree! And listen to AJ’s guest spot about 10 Dead Doves RIGHT NOW over on their feed!

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Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(00:00) - Sync Talk 2025
(01:36) - Check out Short Game Long Talk!
(04:47) - What is ReFind Self?
(11:01) - Your choices only impact so much
(19:11) - The Heart meter
(20:36) - Don't spoil yourself!
(22:04) - The framing device | Spoilers
(26:27) - What's this game about? | Spoilers
(29:53) - What choices stood out | Spoilers
(54:11) - Intent | Spoilers
(59:42) - Some other decisions | Spoilers
(01:05:46) - Our personalities
(01:09:22) - The ending | Spoilers
(01:19:38) - Big Takeaways
(01:19:46) - Eric's Big Takeaway
(01:21:11) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:27:37) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:31:39) - That's the episode!
(01:32:00) - Check out Eric's work in the show notes!
(01:34:41) - We're online too :)
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 38 min
May 05, 2025Optimizing Ourselves Out of Our Humanity in Universal Paperclips
Today we're talking about Universal Paperclips by Frank Lantz! A game about making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips and making paperclips an
Play the game for free in your browser! Check out Frank Lantz's other work on his website!
Discussed in the episode:
What happens when our computers get smarter than we are? by Nick Bostrom for TED on YouTube
Additional links:
The Way the World Ends: Not with a Bang But a Paperclip by Adam Rogers for Wired
Against Design by Frank Lantz on Game Design Advance

---
Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(02:44) - What is Universal Paperclips
(05:52) - Play this in your browser for the love of god
(13:40) - We all love a game that looks like poison
(17:41) - Where the game ends up
(23:39) - What is the game saying?
(34:24) - Big Takeaways
(34:50) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(38:09) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(43:55) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(49:53) - Fuck AI, jump on a mushroom
★ Support this podcast ★
54 min
April 28, 2025Choosing Your Ending in Bad End Theater
Today we're talking about Bad End Theater by NomnomNami! A game about making choices and accepting Tragedy!
Buy the game on itch.io or Steam! Check out NomnomNami's other work on itch.io or their website!

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Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(00:00) - Dump era
(00:58) - AJ, and Kim are here!
(01:58) - What is Bad End Theater?
(08:01) - Choice in video games
(18:58) - Spoiler time
(30:35) - Big Takeaways
(30:44) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(33:46) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(39:05) - Kim's AJ impression
★ Support this podcast ★
43 min
April 14, 2025Exploring the Galaxy in Pale Dot with Scout and Robin
Today we're talking about Pale Dot by Devin Nelson! A game about leaving the comforts of home and coming back to the comforts of home with the knowledge of parallel dimensions!
Buy the game digitally on itch.io or physically by late-pledging on Kickstarter! Check out Devin's other work on itch.io and bandcamp!
Check out Robin posting on Bluesky, writing on Inverse, and talking on Girl Mode!
Check out Scout posting on Bluesky, talking on Paws & and Clause, and flexing on her portfolio!

Discussed in the episode
Scout's daily sketch of our Dustlings on Bluesky
Additional links
Pale Dot is inspired by games like Dream Askew by Avery Alder and Fall of Magic by Ross Cowman

---
Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(00:00) - A couple addendums!
(01:42) - Shoutout to switch-3-bean-poop [in search of a sponsor]
(02:44) - Welcome to dotclip: the premiere show about putting your hair up
(03:25) - Welcome Robin and Scout!
(04:26) - What is Pale Dot?
(10:26) - Previous experience with No Dice, No Masters games
(12:04) - Exploring the galaxy
(24:41) - A little bit of friction
(29:30) - Frey's feelings
(33:58) - Our playthrough
(01:18:06) - Big Takeaways
(01:18:14) - Scout's Big Takeaway
(01:18:49) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:21:10) - Robin's Big Takeaway
(01:22:34) - Buy Pale Dot!
(01:22:46) - Thank you Scout and Robin!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 27 min
April 07, 2025Jumping in Pseudoregalia
Today we're talking about Pseudoregalia by rittz! A game about running, jumping, and pants!
This game was suggested by Autumn! Thanks Autumn! You can suggest a game on our website!
Buy the game on Steam! Check out rittz's other work on itch.io!
Discussed in the episode
Electrokinetic on Steam
Pseudoregalia: when dreams become never ending nightmares by Janmark118 (the video is good! nice overview of the entire game)
Additional links
Pseudoregalia OST by potatoTeto, pluswplus, and still crisp

---
Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:
(01:31) - You know jumps?
(03:07) - What is Pseudoregalia?
(05:44) - Thanks Autumn for the rec!
(06:20) - Talkin' mechanics
(13:35) - Talkin' about tutorials (and lack thereof)
(15:48) - This is a single developer game
(18:01) - We have to talk about it
(21:17) - Spoilers?!
(24:42) - The storybeat | Spoilers
(29:03) - It's experiential | Spoilers
(31:10) - Big Takeaways
(31:12) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(33:40) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(38:30) - It's video games
★ Support this podcast ★
42 min
March 31, 2025Deconstructing in Interstate 35
Today we're talking about Interstate 35 by Radiant Array Games! A game about the world around you being destroyed in seconds and a nuclear post-apocalypse!
Buy the game on Steam! Check out Radiant Array's other work on their website!
Discussed in the episode
Interstate 35 (Original Game Soundtrack) | Josie Brechner on Bandcamp
This thread from Cara Ellison on Bluesky

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Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
---
Timecodes:
(00:00) - The Ultimate Gamer
(02:21) - Let's-a podcast!
(03:44) - What is Interstate 35?
(16:35) - Let's-a go to spoilers
(17:02) - Hey jeez | Spoilers
(17:56) - Chronologically | Spoilers
(38:49) - So religion... | Spoilers
(48:23) - CW: Suicide | Spoilers
(51:41) - Destruction of self | Spoilers
(54:51) - A tiny pivot | Spoilers
(58:06) - Hey who's Marta... | Spoilers
(01:01:48) - Big Takeaways
(01:01:58) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(01:06:21) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:08:46) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:15:10) - That's another zip!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 18 min
March 24, 2025Finding Humanity in Tacoma
Today we're talking about Tacoma by Fullbright Studios! A game about piecing together the past *in the future*.
Buy the game on Steam, Xbox, or Playstation! Check out Fullbright's other work on their website!
---
Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
---
Timecodes:
(00:00) - Kim's big sleepy day
(00:59) - Shoutout to ii for the rec!
(03:08) - What is Tacoma?
(08:02) - Blanket warning for Gone Home spoilers
(08:23) - Comparing to Gone Home
(16:13) - Great game for nosy people
(22:11) - Being upsold | Spoilers
(25:55) - The worldbuilding | Spoilers
(36:20) - The final reveal | Spoilers
(38:24) - Shoutout to One Vein | Spoilers
(41:38) - The state of the world | Spoilers
(44:16) - Specific moments | Spoilers
(50:21) - The AI of it all | Spoilers
(55:15) - Big Takeaways
(55:36) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:01:22) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(01:05:07) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:08:41) - Punch up!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 13 min
March 17, 2025Waking Up in Known Mysteries
Today we're talking about Known Mysteries by Kara Stone! A game about people helping people and surrealist art movements in the face of fascistic systems.
Play Known Mysteries for free on solarserver.games! Check out Kara Stones' other work on her website!

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Discussed in the episode
Known Mysteries is a lo-fi climate fable that runs off a solar-powered server on its developer's balcony by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell for Rock Paper Shotgun
Additional links
The quest for the solar-powered gaming console by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell for TechRadar
---
Visit our website!
Support the show on Kofi!
Follow us on Twitch!
Follow the show on Bluesky!
Check out The Worst Garbage Online!
---
Art by Tara Crawford
Theme music by _amaranthine
Additional sounds by Boqeh
Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
---
Timecodes:
(00:00) - Philadelphia AJ is here and he's ready to punch
(06:15) - What is Known Mysteries?
(10:52) - The visual aesthetics
(16:43) - Kim has a question
(17:26) - Oh right, the main thrust of the game
(21:28) - The Solar Server
(23:47) - Welcome to Spoilers
(24:21) - Chapter 1 | Spoilers
(34:28) - Chapter 2 | Spoilers
(51:32) - Chapter 3 | Spoilers
(01:02:40) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(01:05:08) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:07:06) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:14:15) - Really good video game
(01:14:54) - Organize!!!
★ Support this podcast ★
1 hr 18 min

About dotzip

From the publisher's feed

A show about big games in small packages! Join AJ, Kim, Robin, and Chase every week to talk about short video games, indie tabletop games, and maybe other stuff!