"Fun" and Games Podcast

What starts as a discussion about "Untitled Goose Game" and shorter game experiences becomes a larger conversation. One about the joys in simple aspects of interacting with gameplay or narrative that can be combined to make the complete experience. Whether it's the exhilaration in jumping, or the payoff of honking at just the right moment.

Our first ever live episode recording! Matt & Geoff discuss the community aspect of video game collections. Whether it's keeping up with throwback consoles and compilations, procuring and preserving original hardware, or keeping everything digital only; A key part of preserving gaming history is gamers and their collections.

Not every game is chosen to have a sequel, but video game franchises aren't made by one game alone. It's the second release that can really establish an identity for what defines the future of the series. Or it can veer off wildly and (maybe) come back around later. Matt & Geoff discuss some of their favorite second games in franchises. They also run into difficulty with defining a "second" game in long-running franchises that don't seem to keep track of their numbered releases.

Putting a recognizable and marketable face on your company can do wonders. Game consoles, developers and franchises have had countless mascots help build brand identity and sell product. Sometimes they're catch on and sometimes they're Bubsy. Matt & Geoff discuss some of their memories of the faces that have selling us video games since the early days of Pac-Man.

Memes are the ideas, phrases and images we imitate, duplicate, and propagate. Gaming culture is teeming with such memes. Matt & Geoff discuss what defines a meme and some of their favorites.

"Metroidvania" is a clumsy term, but it's the best we've got. A term based on two of its biggest examples, free-roaming exploration-based Action-adventure games are a mouthful, but a lot of fun. With plenty of shining examples past, present, and future. Matt & Geoff share their thoughts on one of their favorite types of game.

The Final Fantasy Series has been going strong since its debut in 1987. From mainline sequels, spin-offs, and even unrelated series branded as Final Fantasy to sell them better, It seems there's often something new. And with all the re-releases there's often something old as well. Matt & Geoff discuss their highs and lows as fans of the franchise.

There are more ways than ever to bring small, obscure or forgotten games into your home. Between limited print runs, aftermarket releases, and tiny scale models of consoles, your options seem pretty varied. But what gets forgotten? How do we properly value these releases? Matt & Geoff spend the first eleven minutes talking about E3, then discuss.

Historically, Video Game Movie adaptations have not performed well. The recently released "Detective Pikachu" doesn't exactly break that streak, but Matt & Geoff both liked it. They discuss why they felt it worked as an adaptation and where we can go from here. WARNING: Contains spoilers.

When you get stuck in a game, where do you find your answers? Matt & Geoff reminisce about some of their favorite physical strategy guides and discuss why they can no longer function in today's gaming landscape, and the potential reach of their legacy.