This week Sam sits down with Jordyn and Victoria to talk about queer characters and games that we love. Recorded on Valentine's Day.

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Fire Emblem Engage
Warlords Battlecry III
Age of Empires
Devour
Avatar Generations

What We're Reading
Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee

What We're Drinking
Ace Cider
Selkie Tea
Death by Chocolate Stout
Water, water flavored water

This week Sam sits down and talks with TreaAndrea Russworm (Professor of Fun, USC) and Cicero Holmes (Podcaster, Game Player, and still the Bruce Wayne of Brookago) about the definition and examples of Black games (and tangentially the wizard game that must not be named).

What We're Playing
God of War Ragnorok
God of War (2018)
Marvel Snap
Fire Emblem Engage
Mars Base
I am Future
Fabledom
SteamWorld Build

This week we talk about the 2023 game releases that we are most excited for!

What We're Playing
God of War Ragnorok
Pokemon Violet
Spiderman: Miles Morales
Kynseed
Len's Island*
Grounded
Crusader Kings 3
Core Keeper
Avatar Legends
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading
Babel by RF Kuang
Spare by Prince Harry
Comics: Turf Wars, Ruins of the Empire, Patterns in Time

What We're Drinking
Whiskey Ginger
Strawberry Lemonade
Tropical Beer Hug, Imperial IPA

This week we talk about our top 5 games of 2022. Looking forward at all of the new releases of 2023.

What We're Playing:
Dying Light 2
Tiny Tina's Wonderland
Pokemon Violet
Marvel Midnight Suns*
Beacon Pines*
Dragon Quest Treasure*
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel's Ballad*
Marvel Snap
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

What We're Drinking:
Newtopia: Chai Me a River
Sneaky Sneaky

This week we are talking about things that you might pick up for folks on your Winter Holidays gift list (or anytime really).

What We're Playing:
Dying Light 2
Strange Horticulture
The Devil in Me
Pokemon Violet
Harvestella*
Marvel Snap
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

What We're Drinking:
Stone Imperial Stout
A bootleg Sneaky Sneaky

Links of Note:
Selections from Jordyn's List:
Candles: https://cantripcandles.com/collections
Coffee Calendar: https://beanbox.com/coffee-gifts/coffee-advent-calendar Avatar Giftbox: https://thenickbox.com/pages/avatar-the-last-airbender-box
Custom Keycaps: https://nerdylittlesecrets.bigcartel.com/product/korok-botw-keycap

This week we are talking about what we are playing with Dr. TreaAndrea Russworm (USC Cinematic Arts) about what we've been playing lately.
What We're Playing:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Lonesome Village*
Harvestella*
Mario v Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
For the King
Deep Rock Galactic
Strange Horticultue
Against the Storm
GTA V Online
Spiritfarer
Tacoma
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
The Cold War by Odd Arne Westad
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

What We're Drinking:
Stone Hazy IPA
Golden State Radical Guava Cider
Fog Land Washington Riesling

Links of Note:
[History Channel] The Toys That America Built: The Birth of Video Games

This week we are talking about our experience playing Stray from BlueTwelve Studio.

What We're Playing:
Tower of Fantasy
Stardew Valley
Extraction
Stray*
Sea of Thieves
This War of Mine
Framed
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

What We're Drinking:
Lemonade
Iced Coffee
Temblor Brewing Co. Raspberry Creamsicle

This week we are talking about the games that we are looking forward to the most as we wind up the summer game releases.

What We're Playing:
Framed
Extraction
Stray
Dinkum
Time on Frog Island*
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Cities Skylines
Catan
Minecraft Dungeons
Back4Blood
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston
The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

What We're Drinking:
Mother Earth Brewing Co - Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale
Tropical Abomination

Our Most Anticipated List:

Two Point Campus https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649080/Two_Point_Campus
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright https://store.steampowered.com/app/1839510/RPG_Time_The_Legend_of_Wright
Saint's Row https://www.deepsilver.com/en/games/saints-row
Disney Dreamlight Valley https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401590/Disney_Dreamlight_Valley
Cult of the Lamb https://store.steampowered.com/app/1313140/Cult_of_the_Lamb South of the Circle https://store.steampowered.com/app/1811040/South_of_the_Circle
Soul Hackers 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1777620/Soul_Hackers_2
Lord of the Rings: Gollum https://store.steampowered.com/app/1265780/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Gollum
Cursed Golf https://store.steampowered.com/app/1726120/Cursed_to_Golf
IMMORTALITY https://store.steampowered.com/app/1350200/IMMORTALITY

This week we are chatting with Stephanie Jones (incoming Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University) about Final Fantasy XIV, community building, and the Black Girls of Eorzea (BGE) project that she is working on with Sam.

If you would like to try Final Fantasy XIV an unlimited, free trial is available at https://freetrial.finalfantasyxiv.com/na.

What We're Playing:
Final Fantasy XIV
Fall Guys
Core Keeper
Deep Rock Galactic
Cities: Skylines
Game of Thrones (Digital Edition)
We Were Here Forever
Arcade Spirits 2*
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
Crooked Kingdom
Amari and the Night Brothers

What We're Drinking:
Oat milk Espresso
Tropical Abomination
Nude Peach Peaches and Cream Milkshake IPA
Fruit Punch Powerade

This week we are talking about Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Nintendo Switch). We've been so excited for the post-apocalyptic puffball, how did it fare?

What We're Playing:
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Frostpunk
Valheim
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
For the King
Unlock!
My Time at Sandrock*
Arcade Spirits 2
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

What We're Drinking:
Southern Peach Lemonade
Eagle Brewery Banana Bread Beer
Sneaky Sneaky