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We close out the spookiest of all holidays with the unusual tale of how a fun 80s arcade shooter came to be! That was before it killed someone, played a role in a homicide case, and found itself in the middle of multiple conspiracy theories!

Halloween season has officially started so this week we get our hands dirty with Rockstar’s found footage murder simulator… classic? From its controversial portrayal of a deranged man forced into the seedy underground world of snuff film creation to its divisive launch, ensuing bans, and connection to a heinous real-life crime! We cover it all! Not to mention provide a nuanced discussion of using violence as a form of artistic expression and social commentary! Hooray!

It’s our most boob-filled discussion to date as we dissect the development and release of one of the biggest box office hits to ever be based on a classic video game! A blunder filled with interesting casting choices, over the top wire work, cute snow dogs, and an eccentric soundtrack to boot.

Come join the crew in watching the 2001 action-adventure blockbuster hit starring Angelina Jolie! And trust us when I say that you won’t want to take on this task alone… because this film sucks! Weak characterization, sloppy editing, and poor cinematography are only the start of this dud. But don’t worry, our audio track is here to spice things up and save you from utter chaos! Then you’ll have all the context ya need for when we dig into its full production on the next episode. Stay tuned!

We got a fresh batch of weird little stories for the pod this week as we discuss the tangled web of digital music licensing, interactive cures to fight real world disease, and what happens when a public wedding proposal inside of a popular video game goes awry.

And we’re back with our deep dive through the Valve timeline! This week we take a step into the realm of virtual reality as well as explore the mega company’s most recent success following the release of their SteamDeck handheld series!

Today we dig into Valve Software’s big foray into not only developing their in house operating system, but also their very own home hardware. Everything from the Steam Link, to the Steam Controller, to the Steam Machine and everything in between!

What do you get when you combine a brand new retro-style system, a botched crowdfunding campaign, and a bunch of tricksters? Why you get the Coleco Chameleon of course! The cartridge based home console that never was, from a team now only known for their deceptive attempt to fool a demographic who was all well too informed to fall for it.

Ten years ago, the popularity and drama of the silly little mobile app Flappy Bird was inescapable. On this episode we investigate its suspicious origins, controversies, bizarre release and unrelease, the ensuing wave of copycats, as well as find out what happens when a creator is tormented by his very own invention.

It’s a good ol’ fashioned reality show nightmare this week as we dig into the time America’s favorite soft drink sponsored a gaming television program full of popular faces and yet, production failed so hard that it never even made it to air!