Shhh, listen! Can you hear that song from the Titanic movie? Turns out PlayStation might be needing it. A new report from Bloomberg says Sony's upper management is focused on blockbuster games that are ‘too big to fail’. We're joined by gamer, streamer, and pancake artist @ducksindisguise to discuss what Sony's approach might mean for the future of video games.

Game announcements come first, however (like Konami's surprise sequel to GetsuFumaDen, and the new blurple Nintendo Switch Lite). Next, it's headlines time. This week, we're chatting about God of War director David Jaffe's claims that Sony is planning a "counterpunch" to Microsoft's XBox Game Pass, Epic's very expensive battle to gain market share from Steam, the remake rumors surrounding GoldenEye 007 after a trademark renewal, and Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa's admission that we may be in for an upcoming Switch shortage.

Finally, we look back at Psychonauts on the game's 16th anniversary.

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Hosts: @wrytersview, @retrogamebrews, @ducksindisguise
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
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Logo: @thewellredmage

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Red is absent this week (he's gone with Pinky and the Brain to try to take over the world), but in his place, we have Evan Arnold: podcaster extraordinaire, indie game dev, and long-time friend of Ryebread. Evan joins us to talk about the intersection between Super Mario 3D All-Stars, NFTs, and the copy of Super Mario Bros. that just sold for a record-breaking $660k price. Is artificial scarcity going to be the preferred sales tactic of the future?

But hold on to those horses, folks, cuz we've got game announcements first (like the new Pac-Man 99 battle royale for Nintendo Switch, and the massive disappointment that is Balan Wonderworld). Then it's on to the headlines, and as usual, console wars drama unfolded.  Xbox announced that PlayStation Studios title The Show 21 will be free to Xbox Game Pass subscribers on its release date, and Sony says the MLB is to blame. Next, E3 is going digital this summer, the Suez Canal boat may be to blame for the Analogue Pocket's latest delay, and PriceCharting.com revealed that the average retro video game price increased 33% from the start of the pandemic lockdowns.

Finally, we look back at Final Fantasy 6 on the game's 27th anniversary.

Check out Evan's game BeeFender on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/808450/BeeFender/

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Hosts: @retrogamebrews, @wrytersview, Evan Arnold
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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We're back! And just in time because the world of gaming news is weird, wonderful, and woeful, as usual. This week, Sony dropped the bombshell that it will be permanently closing the PlayStation stores for its PS3 and PS Vita products. Since we're growing closer to an all-streaming world with every passing day, we discuss the pros and cons of our impending digital destiny.

But first, however, we must talk game announcements (like the worst Castlevania game of all time coming to Nintendo Switch, and Limited Run Game's new DOOM collector's edition). Then it's on to the headlines. This week, we're looking at the end of the world’s biggest video game cheating ring, how Jin Sakai's voice actor says he fully agrees 'to doing butt nudity" in the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima film,  and Microsoft's possible $10 billion deal to acquire Discord.

Finally, we remember Resident Evil on the game's 25th anniversary.

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Hosts: @thewellredmage, @wrytersview, @retrogamebrews 
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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Welcome to the Story Mode: Outtake Special, Vol. 2! Blue, Red, and Ryan are taking the week off, so in place of a normal episode, we’re bringing you a mix of outtakes and discussions that didn’t make the final cut into Story Mode. 

Is it possible to beat Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels? What's the weirdest thing you used to collect? Did ANYONE see the Monster Hunter movie? We cover these hard-hitting topics and more!

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Hosts: @thewellredmage, @wrytersview, @retrogamebrews 
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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It’s a good time to be a gamer on a budget! This week, Microsoft and Sony have been dueling to win audiences over with free games.  Ryebread is out, but Donnie G is in to help us sort out the what, where, and possibly why of all the new games available to subscribers (including Undertale, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Elder Scrolls).

But first, you guessed it -- we've got game announcements (like Disco Elysium: The Final Cut coming to consoles and Monster Hunter Rise copies that were accidentally shipped weeks early). Then it's headlines time. This week, we're discussing how Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will receive a $200 million USD cash payout despite the layoffs happening at the company, how the new owner of Toys R Us plans to reopen stores in North America, how the PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch are somehow both the best-selling consoles in US history, and why Hot Wheels' new Rainbow Road-themed Mario Kart track has a crazy high price tag.

Finally, we take a look back at Journey in honor of the game's 9th anniversary.

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Hosts: @thewellredmage, @wrytersview, @donniegretro 
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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Video game exclusives are always a big (and oftentimes controversial) topic, and this week was no different. We're looking at a headline roundup of where the Big Three stand with their exclusive titles, including rumored exclusives for Nintendo's supposed Switch Pro, Microsoft's confirmation that "some" Bethesda games will be full Xbox and PC exclusive, and Sony's move to bring PlayStation exclusives to PC.

But before all that, let's not forget game announcements (like the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and the new Legally Blonde mobile game). Then it's on to the news, and we've got a full slate. First up is Pringles with their new limited-edition flavor inspired by the Moa burgers of the Halo series. Next it's GameStop's internal drama and how the changing guard intends to lead the company to e-commerce. Then the countdown is on for The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 cartoon series before it leaves Netflix. And finally, it's the end of an era as legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu hints that he may have made his last soundtrack.

Lastly, we look back at Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the game's 25th anniversary.

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Hosts: @wrytersview, @thewellredmage, @retrogamebrews
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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With several big Final Fantasy VII Remake reveals, Square Enix was the talk of the town this week. We're rounding up all the Square Enix headlines, including the new mobile games Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier and Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, PS5's upgraded version Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and the mysterious remakes taking place over at Polish studio Forever Entertainment. 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First off, we've got game announcements (like Pokémon Legends Arceus and Fortnite's new Space Gear Bundle, which includes Alien's Ellen Ripley and the Xenomorph). Then it's on to more news -- we're chatting about Nintendo's resolve to pull Mario 35th anniversary products from sale in March, the Terraria port for Google Stadia that's not cancelled after all, reports of a new Nintendo Switch model with a bigger Samsung OLED display, and how Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will no longer fit on a base PlayStation 4.

Finally, we wrap up the show with a look back at the Nintendo 3DS on the handheld's 10th anniversary.

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Hosts: @thewellredmage, @retrogamebrews, @wrytersview
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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STORY MODE PODCAST IS NOW ONE YEAR OLD! It's crazy to think of all the laughs, all the news, and all the games we've experienced over the past year. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has listened and supported our show (*insert 400 heart emojis*).

But the news stops for no one, and this week, we're discussing the Chicago lawmaker who wants to ban violent video games like Grand Theft Auto to combat carjackings. We'll also be talking about the newly announced Diablo II: Resurrected, rumors of not one, but TWO possible Silent Hill reboots, rapper Soulja Boy's second try at entering the gaming console market, new reports that Final Fantasy XVI won't sacrifice its story for action, and how Epic Games will settle Fortnite loot box lawsuits in V-Bucks (yes, really).

Finally, we'll wrap up the show with a look back at Pokémon Red/Green on the games' 25th anniversary.

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Hosts: @retrogamebrews, @wrytersview, @thewellredmage
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1; "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, performed by Paul Barton at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e01ulR5KMWI
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Nintendo's first direct of 2021 was a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, including surprise announcements for Splatoon 3, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and much more. We cover everything in the show (as well as some other things that were conspicuously missing).

But first, we'll talk game announcements (such as the upcoming Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Switch Compilation, and the Kingdom Hearts' series first appearance on PC). Then it's on to the news, like the bizarre combo that is the Pokémon Day Virtual Concert with Post Malone, the reports that Stadia executives mislead employees before the company's mass layoffs, speculations about what's next after the Nintendo Switch, and the new paper detailing how pigs are actually pretty good at video games.

Finally, we wrap up the show with a look back at The Legend of Zelda on the game's 35th anniversary.

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Hosts: @wrytersview, @thewellredmage, @retrogamebrews
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
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This week, Moon Studios' CEO and Ori game director Thomas Malher took to the gaming forum Resetera to call out the gaming industry on the practice of hyping up features that don't exist or misleading what games will offer on day one. We discuss the complications of this issue and whether a solution might exist.

But before that, as always, we've got game announcements (like the just-confirmed 2021 Call of Duty and new retro titles headed to Nintendo's Switch Online service). Then we turn to some super-sized headlines as scalpers target Pokémon 25th Anniversary McDonald's Happy Meals in order to resell the cards for 10x the price. In addition, we chat about Terraria developer Andrew Spinks confronting Google after his company's YouTube account is banned, the PlayStation 5's surprising 2020 sales numbers, and the five-part Nintendo docuseries that will premiere on the streaming service Crackle.

Finally, we wrap up the show with a look back at Final Fantasy VIII on the game's 22nd anniversary.

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Hosts: @thewellredmage, @retrogamebrews, @wrytersview
Music: "Gumption" by Russell Gordon at https://soundcloud.com/shredrussell-1
Editing: @wrytersview
Logo: @thewellredmage

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