Last weekend, Milwaukee Wisconsin played host to the annual Midwest Gaming Classic… and the worst April Blizzard in history.  We discuss the convention, it’s panels, personalities, vendors, and more.

Show Notes

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* Okami HD

* Subsurface Circular

* Collecting Tools of the Trade

* VGCollectaholic gives his tips and tools for Marker removal

* What’s News:

* Larian Studio’s CRPG Divinity II: Original Sin heads to consoles

* Sony Playstation 5 rumors run rampant, what do we think?

* The closing of Toys R Us prompts a return of KayBee Toys?

* Dishonored “King of Kong” Billy Mitchell promises proof that he didn’t cheat

* Main Event:

* VGCollectaholic went back to his home state of Wisconsin for the Midwest Gaming Classic – his first ever video game con.  We discuss the trip, the panels, the personalities, the vendor floor, the snow, and more.

* David Crane (Pitfall)

* Garry Kitchen (Keystone Kapers)

* Brian Collin (Rampage)

* Jeffrey Lee (Q*Bert)

* John St. John (Duke Nukem)

* Ben Heck

* Ken Horowitz (Sega-16.com)

* … and more!

With the World Video Game Hall of Fame set to induct its 2018 class, we take a look at the mark each of  the current Hall of Fame members made on the industry.  Then, we examine the 2018 nominees and reveal our Hall of Fame Ballots.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb J. Ross (@CalebJRoss) and VGCollectaholic (@VGCollectaholic) recap their recent game pickups

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* What Remains of Edith Finch

* The Stanley Parable

* Okami HD

* Collecting Tools of the Trade (a NEW segment!)

* VGCollectaholic gives his tips and tools for Sticker removal

* What’s News:

* The Internet Archive preserves your favorite LCD handhelds online

* iam8bit releasing a $375 Inside collector’s edition… with a sex doll?!?

* Main Event:

* The Strong National Museum of Play’s World Video Game Hall of Fame gets set to induct its 2018 class.  We explore the HOF’s current 16-game set of inductees and then turn our attention to the 2018 nominations… and ask who should get the call to the Hall?

We sit down for a conversation with Giant Sparrow’s Ian Dallas – creative director of the 2017 hit What Remains of Edith Finch and 2014’s The Unfinished Swan. This episode of Masters of Unlocking follows a bit of a different structure than our normal episodes – we kick things off with our interview with Ian and, afterwards, Caleb & Scott dive into an in-depth discussion of our thoughts about the interview and the game itself.

WARNING – the interview and following discussion contain SPOILERS about the game.

Show Notes

* A Conversation with “What Remains of Edith Finch” creative director Ian Dallas

* Thoughts on Storytelling

* Edith Finch’s origins as a scuba-diving simulator

* Why “What Remains of Edith Finch” is best told via the video game medium

* The books in the house and why they were chosen

* The thinking behind gameplay mechanics

* What’s next for Giant Sparrow?

 

* Caleb & Scott discuss their thoughts on “What Remains of Edith Finch“

Author & professor Ian Bogost theorized that video games, as a medium, are poor conduits for storytelling and that games are better without stories. Do Caleb & Scott agree?

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb J. Ross (@CalebJRoss) and VGCollectaholic (@VGCollectaholic) recap their recent game pickups

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what games we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* What’s News:

* ESRB unveils its new “In-Game Purchases” label – is it a half-measure?

* Playstation Plus dropping PS3 and Vita from monthly free video game giveaway

* Judge bans teenager from playing “violent video games”

* Main Event:

* Professor Ian Bogost thinks Video Games as a medium are better without stories… is he right?

* Read his article in The Atlantic here

Caleb & Scott dive into a new report by social site Qutee about what video gamers think about gaming in 2018.  They examine the results of the report and ask whether it actually tells us anything scientific about gamers or the game industry.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* What’s News:

* Google rumored to be creating a new game console?

* Hawaii introduces new Loot Crate legistlation

* Did Nintendo download a ROM and sell it to us?  If so, is it legal?

* Assassin’s Creed: Origins’ new “Discovery Tour” mode goes live

* Using IFTTT to find free video game deals online

* Valve pulls a developer from Steam for reviewing its own games

* In the discussion, we mention a Harvard Business School article, “Fake It Till You Make It”… read the full article here

* Main Event:

* Social site Qutee releases a “study” on what video gamers think about gaming in 2018… we discuss the findings and our thoughts.

* Read the full report here

The rumor mill is running wild about Microsoft buying EA, Valve, or PUBG.  We look at why those don’t make sense and propose three new contenders for who we think House Xbox SHOULD acquire.

Show Notes

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* What’s News:

* Toys R Us closing 20% of its stores – we reminisce about TRU and Kay*Bee Toys

* I spent 453 hours in Fallout 4 and all I got was this stinking inner peace

* A truly unique piece of Zelda: Breath of the Wild art

* Mario Kart coming to a smartphone near you

* Red Dead Redemption 2 delayed

* Nintendo Switch’s online service finally gets a date

* Father of Playstation stepping down as Sony’s CEO

* Main Event:

* Rumors abound about a potential looming video game publisher acquisition by Microsoft.  We look at the rumored names – EA, Valve, and PUBG Corp – and then ask who SHOULD Microsoft acquire?  Turns out… it’s not one of those three.

No shortage of news this week as we discuss the Overwatch League debut, CES video game announcements, Nintendo unveiling cardboard Legos, and a business look at the YouTube demonetization drama.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* What’s News:

* Twitch paid Blizzard $90M for the rights to the Overwatch League; is that an insane price?

* You probably love video games… but can you LOOOOVE video games?

* Switch console sales in Japan have gone to Ludicrous Speed

* Nintendo Labo… perhaps you’ve heard of it?

* Controllers Galore!  We discuss some awesome game controller announcements from CES

* Main Event:

* We discuss YouTube’s recent controversial decision to demonetize small channels – do the perspectives of a content creator and a video industry insider clash?

This week the global electronics industry descends on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  These days, the show is dominated by televisions, the Internet of Things, and 5G smart toasters, but it wasn’t always so… in this episode of Masters of Unlocking, we take a look back at the rich history of video gaming at CES.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups

* VGCollectaholic adds a new complete game set to his collection

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* 2018 Gaming Goals

* We discuss our gaming-related goals for 2018

* What’s News:

* Flog Gets Sacked

* How Wolfenstein II’s Hero Draws on his Jewish Heritage for Strength

* Platinum Games get Delisted from Online Marketplaces

* Microsoft Officially Kills Kinect Adapter

* World Health Organization (WHO) to Recognize “Gaming Disorder” as a Mental Health Condition in 2018

* Mad Catz – Back from the Dead

* Main Event:

* We look back on the history of the Consumer Electronics Show and the many gaming introductions it brought us

It’s that time of year – Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and Final Fantasy’s birthday.  Want to feel old?  The Final Fantasy franchise turns 30 years old this month. We discuss some of our memories from the landmark franchise.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups, including Soedesco indy games and Playstation VR rarities.

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Nintendo Switch

* Geometry Wars Evolved

* Playstation VR fun with friends

* What’s News:

* Can a horror game still be scary without the threat of death? – Soma’s new “Safe Mode”

* We explore why fandom often devolves into arguments over “what is the RIGHT way to be a fan?”

* What was the one exciting tidbit to come out of 2017 Playstation Experience event?

* Do you have a Launch Model Playstation 3? If so, you can score up to $65 in Sony’s “Other OS” settlement

* We have a gaming console generations discussion spurred by gamers freaking out over a PS2 classics bug on PS4 store

* Main Event:

* The Final Fantasy franchise turns 30 years old this month.  We discuss what the franchise meant to our own personal histories with gaming.

 

Take a timeout from your crazy family conversations this holiday season and gather ’round for some great family-friendly couch co-op games!  We list our recommendations for best local multiplayer games to play with gamers and non-gamers.

Show Notes

* Gaming Archaeology:

* Caleb and VGCollectaholic recap their recent game pickups, including a Neo Geo AES system, flash carts, improved Switch Pro Controller, and more.

* Epic Set List:

* Discussion of what we’ve been playing recently & our spoiler-free thoughts

* South Park: Fractured But Whole, Rime, Ittle Dew 2+, & more.

* 2017 Game Awards Recap and Thoughts

* What’s News:

* Free Sony Playstation VR In-Home Trial

* MegaMan X Goes Next Gen

* Demon’s Souls Servers Set to Go to Hell

* Resident Evil on SNES?!?

* EA Thinks Physical Media is Here to Stay… For Now

* Assassin’s Creed Correctly Predicts Hidden Chamber in the Great Pyramid

 

* Announcing the winner of the Masters of Unlocking free video game giveaway contest

* Main Event:

* Turn your family’s holiday gathering into a video gaming delight with our highly recommended current-gen couch co-op favorites!

 

(The awesome background image for this episode’s banner is by Haruningster on Deviantart.)