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On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
On Second Thought with Mike & Matt episodes
- Shell Shocked - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 68
After more than a decade of knowing each other, Mike and Matt finally meet in person! Matt returns from his New England adventure with stories of beautiful fall foliage, Acadia National Park, questionable fashion choices, and lobster rolls that apparently require a second mortgage.
$43 for a lobster roll? That's one way to spend your money!
Once Matt finishes recounting his travels (and Mike finishes questioning his financial decisions), the conversation turns to Steam Next Fest, the upcoming GTA VI release, outrageous PlayStation 5 Pro prices, and whether the next generation of consoles will be even more expensive.
The guys also reflect on their time with The Big Walk, share what they've been playing, and explore the increasingly complicated relationship between AI, game development, and emulation. Throw in some retro nostalgia, childhood toys, and the usual assortment of tangents, and you've got another episode of On Second Thought.
Games we’ve been playing:
Mike: Erlik, Wirehawk, Warhammer Survivors
Matt: Enshrouded, ROG Ally gaming
Gaming News:
PlayStation 6 Memory cost alone is close to $700 USD per unit
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-6s-memory-costs-alone-exceed-680-per-console-its-claimed/Jailbroken PS5s Can Now Emulate PS2 Games Using Physical Discs
https://kotaku.com/jailbroken-ps5s-can-now-emulate-ps2-games-using-physical-discs-2000743781Xbox Forms Labs Group for Vibe-Coded Game Ports
https://www.digitalfoundry.net/news/2026/10/xbox-forms-labs-group-for-vibe-coded-game-portsHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction arrives February 2027
https://playitagain.gg/he-man-and-the-masters-of-the-universe-dragon-pearl-of-destruction-arrives-february-2027/Contact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - Mike
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 38 min - Retro World Order - Episode Four
Monday started off like any other day, but then Chase reached out and said, "Me and Larry on an episode? The current state of gaming is making us go back to the golden age!" Los and I decided the only responsible thing to do was to make it happen. Welcome to Episode Four of Retro World Order. Mike is joined by Chase and Larry from Geeks Gone Raw. As for Los, well, yeah, sometimes the best-laid plans of mice and men go awry. Who said Mike wasn't well-read!
The crew talks about revisiting older games on everything from original Xbox 360 hardware to the Steam Deck, Android phones, and modern retro handhelds. Oh, you want more? How about Steam Input, emulation, game preservation, DroidDeck vs. GameNative, and the realization that Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games are somehow becoming "retro."
There's also plenty of discussion about why older games continue to pull us back, whether nostalgia is really responsible, and why today's AAA gaming landscape sometimes makes looking backward even more appealing.
In This Episode- 00:00 - Welcome to Episode Four
- 01:34 - F.E.A.R. 2, Steam Deck, and Steam Input
- 09:52 - Revisiting forgotten Xbox 360 games
- 15:06 - What counts as retro and why we're going back
- 24:25 - Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition
- 28:15 - Retro gaming and emulation on Android phones
- 35:58 - DroidDeck vs. GameNative
- 49:22 - Blur, Split/Second, licensing, and game preservation
- 55:15 - Xbox, PlayStation, and the state of modern AAA gaming
- 1:06:09 - GTA and the future of single-player games
- 1:06:42 - Single-player recommendations
- 1:11:51 - Agent 64: Spies Never Die
Single Player Recommendations- Larry: Heavenly Sword - Ninja Theory's PlayStation 3 action game starring Nariko. Larry thinks it's still worth going back and experiencing.
- Chase: Fallout: New Vegas - Chase's pick for an older single-player game that remains easy to get your hands on and still delivers a great experience.
- Mike: Singularity - Raven Software's 2010 shooter and a longtime favorite of Mike's. Now the question is whether it holds up as well as he remembers.
- Larry's Bonus Pick: Dark Sector - Digital Extremes' Xbox 360-era action game, remembered for its distinctive glaive weapon and its connection to the studio that would later create Warframe.
Links & Resources- Geeks Gone Raw
- Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition
- DroidDeck
- GameNative
- DroidDeck on the Retroid Pocket Nova
- XenDroid
- Agent 64: Spies Never Die
FeaturingMike - Retro World Order / Play It Again
Chase - Geeks Gone RawLarry - Geeks Gone RawLos couldn't join us for Episode 4, despite being assigned show-note homework in his absence.
1 hr 13 min - Angry Fist - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 67
Welcome to Mattober! Our annual fall celebration is off to an exciting start.
Matt and his co-worker went to the 50th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals Car Show to show off his buddy's truck, while Mike and his wife went out on the town to see Morrissey at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
For the month of September, Mike has been hard at work on his website, and he's now ready to have people stop by and take a look. If you're interested in handhelds, emulation, shmups, and other assorted oddities, go check it out at PlayItAgain.gg or, if you prefer, bookmark MyLilDumbSite.com.
As a gamer does in the fall (or autumn), we discuss the annual Steam Autumn Sale. Lots of good bargains to be had, for sure. Mike even prepared a Shmup Hunter post for those looking to add some overlooked shmups to their libraries.
And finally... did you watch Mike Tomlin's Minecraft reveal? Yes, that Mike Tomlin. The former NFL head coach apparently has a 12-year-old Minecraft city, and naturally, we need to talk about it.
Mike Tomlin's 12-Year Minecraft City — PC Gamer
Games we’ve been playing:
Mike: Castlevania Belmont's Curse, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — RemasteredMatt: Big Walk, Crimson Desert, Valheim 1.0Gaming News:
Xbox Disc to Digital is now out for everyone
https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-disc-to-digital-convert-ownership-releaseFinally we hear something from Naughty Dog
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/naughty-dog-is-working-on-two-new-the-last-of-us-projects/Gears of War E-Day Reviews
https://www.metacritic.com/game/gears-of-war-e-day/Star Wars Galactic Reviews
https://www.metacritic.com/game/star-wars-galactic-racer/Contact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - Mike
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 36 min - Hot Tequila - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 66
September is moving along at a precipitous clip. The weather is changing in the Northeast while Matt is still sweltering in the Midwest. Soon enough, it will be the cozy season, albeit maybe sooner than we like.
Mike has been head down, working secretly on his website. Details are scarce, anticipation is tepid amongst the masses, but Mike is brimming with pride and excitement to get this thing off the ground. Details will be revealed soon enough, but the first handheld to be featured will be the Retroid Pocket Nova.
There was a ton of gaming news with BlizzCon and various Nintendo Directs happening recently. We decided to focus on games releasing within the next few years rather than spend a ton of time on Diablo V or Starcraft.How much is Steam Frame? Did the price meet your expectations? We think it’s way too much money, but so is everything these days. We foresee the VR/Steam diehards buying this, but we’re unsure if it will do big numbers like the Steam Deck or the Steam Machine. Not that either of those is doing Switch 2-like numbers, but you get the point.Games for Matt to add to his Steam Wishlist:How to FishDumb Ways to BuildBeaterCoreHow to Grow Your SausageNormal Golf GameGames we’ve been playing:
Mike: Blood Dungeon, Pickle Pete, Funguys Swarm, MegabonkMatt: Solar Punk, Big Walk, Crimson Desert, Valheim 1.0Gaming News:
Zelda Ocarina of Timehttps://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/the-legend-of-zelda-40th-anniversary-celebration-revealed-in-new-nintendo-direct-presentation/Nintendo Direct
https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/nintendo-direct-reveals-metroid-ravenous-kirby-and-the-world-beyond-and-more-games-for-nintendo-switch-2-and-nintendo-switch/PlayStation walks away from Kojima, Xbox steps in
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/09/09/xbox-and-kojima-productions-expand-partnership-to-publish-physint/Rumor: Day 1 GamePass games going away next year
https://www.ign.com/articles/will-microsoft-kill-day-1-launches-via-game-pass-after-word-leaks-of-potential-changes-xbox-says-it-has-nothing-to-announce-todayWolverine didn’t get great reviews
https://www.polygon.com/marvels-wolverine-review-roundup/Is Marathon on life support?
https://www.bungie.net/7/en/News/Article/nightfallrefreshandsymbiosisContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 28 min - Watermelons - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 65
Welcome to September! Is there no better way to kick off the month than with another installment of On Second Thought! This is a special episode as our budget allowed us to have Matt out on assignment this week. While it might sound like he is tuning in from his usual confines, don’t be fooled, Matt is actually broadcasting from a kayak. The locals call him “Stride” because he is known for his fast, fluid paddling technique. Just don’t let the man around any anchors. And don’t worry, Matt is friendly to all wildlife, he feeds the fish and creates natural habitats on any body of water he traverses. He also has a penchant for watermelons.
Come to find out, Matt is so hyped for GTA VI that he is going to pre-order his digital license any day now. But the man can’t be arsed (yes, that is British slang) to watch a Netflix trailer for his most anticipated game. Matt continues to be an enigma that transcends time and space.What caught our attention at Gamescom you ask? How about these gems: Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, Lego Skylines, The Witcher 3 Remastered (yet again), Songs of the Past DLC, No Law, Exodus, Zoopunk, Crimson Desert Enhanced, Metro 2039, and Fable.Games we’ve been playing:
Mike: Blood Dungeon, Ravenswatch, Pickle Pete, more 360 EmulationMatt: Solar Punk, Big Walk, Crimson DesertGaming News:
How Xbox disc-to-digital works in practicehttps://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/heres-how-xbox-disc-to-digital-works-in-practice-with-videoSony and Microsoft request dismissal of consumer lawsuits over tariff refunds
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-and-microsoft-request-dismissal-of-consumer-lawsuits-over-tariff-refundsMario Kart 8 Deluxe gets a surprise Switch 2 update, bringing eight-player split-screen to the evergreen racing game
https://www.eurogamer.net/mario-kart-8-switch-2-update-eight-player-split-screen-nintendoAsus X20 can now be pre-ordered without the bundle
https://www.asus.com/us/news/rog-xbox-ally-x20-is-now-available-for-pre-order/Xbox to implement time limits on cloud gaming
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/03/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-cloud-limits.htmlContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 25 min - Retro World Order - Episode Three
Episode three of Retro World Order is here for your listening pleasure! Not disclosed in this installment is how many new handheld systems Mike now owns. Be a good, faithful listener and heed the warning of red flags when you see them. Send him help as he may be held captive in his basement by sentient game consoles.
Onto the show! This week, Mike and Los discuss what they’ve been up to in the world of retro gaming and high tech handhelds. The conversations range fairly widely! As you can probably tell…
Links and Info Discussed
- Games they’ve been playing
- Los’ continued honeymoon phase with the AYN Thor and Cocoon 3.0
- How AI is muddying the waters of new emulators
- Marvel Tokon and how it’s too pretty to play
- Other games purchased exclusively for their unique art styles (see games below)
- Move over, Brotato! Pickle Pete is the new vegetable in bullet town!
- Sony and their BS they decided to pull this week
- XBOX and their amazing timing with ‘Disc to Digital,’ kicking Sony in the crotch while they’re down
- Mike’s choice for Handheld of the Week - Retroid Pocket Nova
- AND our very first RETRO COMMUNITY CLUB GAME! More info below.
Games discussed in this episode, give or take a few: Various XBOX OG and 360 games, Blur, Marvel Tokon, Octopath Traveler I & II, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator, PICKLE PETE, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and more!
SO what are you waiting for?! Stop reading this and go listen to the show!
RETRO COMMUNITY CLUB GAME:
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - 1997 - PlayStation
This is the first installment of the Retro Community Club! This is a game that either Mike or Los recommends and we make it a point to check it out and play it. Love it, hate it, finish it, play for 15 minutes and delete it, whatever! Next episode, we’ll discuss what we thought and then choose another game for the next time.
This is a great opportunity to call upon the glorious community here! I know, I know, there are thousands of you and it would be impossible to hear from you all. But don’t let that stop you! So if you want to partake and play along with us, then go find your dark and brooding trench coat, grab your favorite weapon, and let’s go hunt some vampires!
This is a game that neither Mike nor Los have ever played! So it should be fun. If you played it along with us, or if you have any thoughts about it, be sure to get in contact and we’ll share your thoughts on the show with ours!
How to contact, you ask? Well there are a few ways!
- Right here! Commenting on this post would be the easiest way to do it.
- If you feel like too many eyes are watching, you can also email! - [email protected]
1 hr 40 min - Fall in Line - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 64
Topics:
- The farm got hit hard with Storm damage, cleaned up with the right tools
- Bad travel luck lately
- Seen any good leaks lately?
- How many more years are you willing to work to get extra days off to play GTAVI?
https://apnews.com/article/army-reenlistment-bonus-grand-theft-auto-gta-c24b25e09ca401773d081cc1bb21202b- Any hype for Gamescom?
Gaming News:
Price and release date for 25th Anniversary Xbox released
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-price-and-release-date-for-the-green-x25-limited-edition-xbox-series-x-and-controller-have-been-leaked/Mayhem Collection DLC for Lego Batman out on September 18
https://www.ign.com/articles/lego-batman-mayhem-dlc-trailer-gamescomGhost of Yōtei Complete Edition Comes to PS5 October 1
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/12/ghost-of-yotei-complete-edition-comes-to-ps5-october-1/You can now stream PS Plus games to Steam Deck without owning a PS5 - and without buying a PS Portal
https://www.eurogamer.net/steam-deck-ps5-streaming-app-asobiRetro Handheld News:Kickstarter for Beyond the NEShttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/syncoplay/beyond-the-nesContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 25 min - The Positivity Hour - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 63
Topics:
- Nothing but positivity
- Gears of War E-Day
- Beast of Reincarnation
- Ayn Thor bliss
Gaming News:
Grand Theft Auto VI Is Getting An 'Extended Look' On Netflix August 27
https://gameinformer.com/2026/08/06/grand-theft-auto-vi-is-getting-an-extended-look-on-netflix-august-27Xbox’s ‘disc to digital’ feature could be coming as soon as this month, according to leaked documenthttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xboxs-disc-to-digital-feature-could-be-coming-as-soon-as-this-month-according-to-leaked-document/Microsoft Reportedly Working to Bring Xbox 360 Games to PC and Project Helixhttps://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-reportedly-working-to-bring-xbox-360-games-to-pc-and-project-helixBeamNG.drive gets its biggest update yethttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/beamngdrive-steams-finest-car-pancake-maker-gets-its-biggest-update-yet-with-overhauled-graphics-fresh-rally-stages-and-a-sporty-new-coupeRetro Handheld News:GamerCard® - Grab & Go Raspberry Pi® Gaming
https://www.grantsinclair.com/gamercardThe Namco Museum Museum | Every Game, Every Collection, Every Port! [REVISED & EXPANDED!]https://youtu.be/8n1Ecf6cXjE?si=iVmu1YMqtULrPrXKInvestigating Pinball's Surprising American Comebackhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjCchQAo_mkContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 21 min - Numbers - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 62
Topics:
- Heard the most vile video game question, thus have to share with everyone else
- Numbers
Gaming News:
An update from Bethesda
https://bethesda.net/en/article/7wrffyXajE4BmCLJVpOkcN/a-note-from-bethesda-game-studiosSteamdeck sales drop after price hikes
https://www.thegamer.com/steam-deck-sales-drop-80-percent/Asus confirms X20 OLED will be sold without AR glasses bundle
https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-confirms-standalone-oled-xbox-ally-x20-is-comingXbox Backwards Compatibility on PC
https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-announces-xbox-backward-compatibility-on-pc-with-new-features-and-achievementsRetro Handheld News:Anbernic announces RG SPhttps://anbernic.com/blogs/news/anbernic-rg-sp-first-lookContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 27 min - Turn Around - On Second Thought with Mike & Matt - Ep. 61
Topics:
- Funny story with my sister and doctor and me
- Fishing shenanigans
- Steam sale
Gaming News:
Sony has their Xbox 2013 moment and announces the phasing out of discs as of 2028
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/Closing of Vita and PS3 stores
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/Xbox layoffs and spinning off studios
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/06/resetting-xbox/Obsidian to work on a new Fallout game
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-obsidian-to-work-on-fallout-title-as-unannounced-projects-cancelledContact On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
If you'd like to contact the show, relevant links are below!
- Twitter - OSTWMM
- Email - [email protected]
- Discord - OnSecondThought
- BlueSky - @CapnMikeM
- Twitter - @DeviousMrMatt
1 hr 35 min
About On Second Thought with Mike & Matt
From the publisher's feed
On Second Thought: a variable cornucopia of laughs about video games, sports, our struggles, and more. Featuring former hosts of such past shows as Bad Fodder Figures, Gamers In Beta, and The40 Cast.
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