Gametalk

Episode 162

Game design is challenging, doubly so when designing a game for both casual and competitive play. Today, we discuss games that balance both competitive and casual play, our experiences with competitive games, and how we think the player bases of these games impact design decisions. We also give our thoughts on the newly released Hellblade II, and what its release could mean for Microsoft and Ninja Theory. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Competitive vs Casual Game Design

18:09 - Balancing PVE and PVP

23:13 - Our Experiences With Competitive Gaming

29:58 - Speedrunning

34:05 - Balancing High-Level and Low-Level Play

41:44 - Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

1:09:27 - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

1:23:43 - Assassin's Creed Odyssey

1:36:02 - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Episode 161

As we get older, retro games are something we grow increasingly fond of. But is it entirely due to nostalgia, or do retro games still have merits when compared to modern releases? Today, we discuss our love of retro games, and what goes into collecting and playing older titles. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (TerraTech, Hades). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Retro Gaming

16:46 - Retro Artstyles

25:49 - Retro Hardware, Collecting Games, and Emulation

31:59 - Preservation Issues with Modern Games

37:03 - Retro Games and Things Modern Games Lack

55:26 - TerraTech

1:01:00 - Hades

Episode 160

Developing a full game solo is a herculean feat of engineering and artistry. Today, we discuss notable games that were developed by one person and what goes into creating a game alone. We also talk about the newly released Animal Well at length, in both spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (V Rising, Animal Well). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Games Developed By One Person

22:32 - Marketing Small Games and Animal Well Pre-release Talk

29:40 - V Rising

33:53 - Animal Well Spoiler-free Impressions

50:11 - SPOILERS - Animal Well Deep Dive

1:16:50 - Concluding Thoughts on Animal Well (Light Spoilers)

Episode 159

In a one-two punch of terrible first party news, today we discuss both the baffling choice by Sony to require a PSN account on PC to play Helldivers II and the heartbreakingly infuriating decision Microsoft made to close four of its first party studios. In the wake of workforce reductions and studios shuttering, we observe the landscape of the present Xbox ecosystem - and it is not a pretty picture. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Dave the Diver, Sea of Thieves, Songs of Syx). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok

Timestamps:

0:00 - Sony and the Helldivers II PC Situation

21:24 - Tangent on Nintendo's Success and Helldivers Controversy Aftermath

25:06 - Microsoft Studio Closures and Future Outlook

45:35 - Xbox Leadership on Studio Closures

52:39 - Dave the Diver

58:14 - Sea of Thieves

1:02:21 - Songs of Syx

1:06:15 - Briefly Discussing Hades II, Stellar Blade, Monster Hunter World, and Fallout 4

Episode 158

Fallout is out now on Amazon Prime Video, and it's a bonafide hit! Today, we talk about the show in spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts, and discuss how the success of the show could impact Bethesda's plans. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, RimWorld, Dave the Diver). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram or Twitter, or @gametalk on TikTok

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Fallout Impressions (Spoiler-Free)

20:08 - Our History With Fallout Games

23:44 - Bethesda in a Post-Fallout Show World

32:30 - SPOILERS - Our Thoughts on Fallout Season 1

1:03:09 - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

1:08:29 - RimWorld

1:16:38 - Dave the Diver

Episode 157

Ahmed and Connor have returned from Italy, and travel is on their minds. Today, we discuss video game settings that are inspired by real-life locations and talk about games that capture a sense of wanderlust. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Slay The Spire, Monster Hunter World, Lil Gator Game). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Visiting Real Locations Depicted in Games

15:43 - Popular Locations Adapted in Games

26:46 - Assassin's Creed and Historical Locations

30:28 - Ahmed and Connor's Italy Anecdote

34:17 - Uncharted and Wanderlust / Idealized Places

42:15 - Sucker Punch and Other Sony Studios Tangent

49:58 - Slay The Spire

56:55 - Monster Hunter World

1:02:22 - Lil Gator Game

Episode 156

When a game series is around for a while, eventually the identity of the series will begin to mean different things to different people. Today, we discuss games that divide fanbases and what the merits of each series pre and post divide are. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter World, Minecraft, Ultros). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Pre vs Post Breath of the Wild Zelda

8:41 - Portable vs Mainline Monster Hunter

13:11 - The Split Fanbase Between The Last of Us Part I and II

17:30 - Old vs New Fortnite

23:41 - Smash Melee vs Smash Ultimate and Fighting Games

30:56 - Pre vs Post Elden Ring Soulslike Games

35:40 - Distinct Final Fantasy Fanbases and Other Split Fanbases

42:28 - Monster Hunter World

54:17 - Minecraft

1:02:25 - Ultros

Episode 155

Video games have produced countless iconic and memorable characters over the decades. Today, we reflect on what makes a character iconic, and which ones we think stand the test of time. We also review the results of the recently conducted BAFTA poll naming the top 20 most iconic gaming characters of all time. We end the show by shouting out a couple of our favorite games (Stardew Valley, Mass Effect Trilogy). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Some of Our Most Iconic Gaming Characters

13:14 - Discussing the BAFTA List of Most Iconic Characters

41:12 - Discussing Notable Omissions / Final Thoughts on Iconic Characters

45:13 - Stardew Valley

51:04 - Mass Effect Trilogy

Episode 154

Mike has returned from PAX East, and he has many stories to tell! Today, we talk to Mike about some of the new games he played, the developers he spoke to, and the events he attended. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Sea of Thieves, Dragon's Dogma 2). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Mike's PAX East Adventure

22:51 - PAX Tekken 8 Tournament and The Fighting Game Community

34:30 - PAX Final Thoughts and The Gaming Community

48:58 - Sea of Thieves

57:00 - Dragon's Dogma 2

Episode 153

As game development takes longer and costs more, remakes and remasters of older titles have become commonplace. Today, we talk about some of our favorite remakes and remasters, how the industry handles these games, and whether or not certain game remakes are warranted. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Rise of the Rōnin, Sea of Thieves, Disco Elysium). This episode was recorded in March 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Reach out to @PodcastGametalk on Instagram or Twitter, or @gametalk on TikTok

Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:

0:00 - Thoughts on Remasters and Remakes

9:23 - Notable Nintendo Remasters and Remakes

16:17 - Notable PlayStation Remasters and Remakes

21:08 - Our Favorite and Least Favorite Remakes

29:18 - Remakes That Don't Need to Exist

32:33 - Final Fantasy VII and PC Game Remakes

37:16 - Halo Master Chief Collection, Monster Hunter, and Other Notable Remakes

45:44 - Rise of the Rōnin

1:05:33 - Sea of Thieves

1:24:44 - Disco Elysium