Overthinking Games

Spoiled About Spoilers Can the fervent cry of “no spoilers!” go too far? Is it when our desire for novelty and discovery outweighs our desire for communal experience? Or is the individual experience of discovery a sacred journey that no spoilers should ever infringe upon? Maybe it’s somewhere in the middle…

That’s our topic this week, along with an unusually lengthy and animated conversation about benevolent cult leaders and C.S. Lewis’ venture into science fiction.

Leave us a review, and send us an email of your take on “spoiler culture”! [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Special guest Josh, @TheGamersDrink, joins the crew to deep dive into Detroit: Become Human!

This episode is full of spoilers! If you haven’t played it yet, listen to insert time stamp, stop, play the game, then come back and join us for our dissection of this awesome game.

What DOES it mean to be human?

Share your reaction, thoughts, and hot takes of Detroit: Become Human to the email below!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Hard to believe, but a year ago (at the time of recording…not the date of this episode’s release) Dempsey, Seth and Katie embarked on a podcast adventure… To be real with you, Dempsey wanted to talk about Detroit: Become Human ahead of our special guest spoiler-ful episode, but Katie wouldn’t let him, because fresh takes are the best takes.

So, instead, the team reflects on a year of podcasting, and what might come in the future.

Leave us a review, and send us an email of what you’d like to see from us in the future! [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Time Well-Wasted?

Have you ever sat down to play a game and been hit with a case of the “I shoulds”? I SHOULD spend my free time in a more “productive” way, I SHOULD play a different game and clear my backlog, etc. etc.?

What makes it time well-invested vs. time wasted? When is it time well-wasted? Who gets to decide the value? Join Seth, Katie and Dempsey as they try to figure it all out on this week’s episode!

Leave us a review, and send us an email with your thoughts on today’s topic!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Side Mechanics & Mini-Games

Whether it’s Gwent from “The Witcher,” the hacking game in “Bioshock,” or the myriad of fishing minigames across so many genres, games are seldom only made up of their primary mechanic. What makes for a fun, meaningful side mechanic?

When is it just fluff? That’s what we try to figure out in this week’s episode!

Leave us a review, and send us an email, we’d love to hear your thoughts about your favorite minigames and side mechanics! [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Subversion

If a souls-like is not dressed like a souls-like, is it even a souls-like? “Another Crab’s Treasure” begs that question and is the jumping off point for our discussion of subversion in video games and media!

Leave us a review, and send us an email, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

[email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Tend and Befriend vs. Fight or Flight

In this episode, we explore the topic of stress responses, framed in an article by Brie Code, previously a lead programmer for Ubisoft Montreal and now the head of True Luv Media, where she looks at the different responses people have to games, depending on their natural stress response.

Find the article here: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/slouching-toward-relevant-video-games

Do you notice your stress response? Does it impact which games you enjoy the most? Send us an email with your thoughts!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

What can video games do that board games, tabletop games or other physical games can’t? What makes for a good video game and/or board game crossover?

Also, Seth and Katie 100% thought this was going to be an episode about digital games vs. physical disks or cartridges, but Dempsey had more interesting questions, as per usual!

What’s a board game you’d love to see adapted for video games, or the other way around?

Send us an email with your thoughts!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

Potions: A Curious Tale

Renee Gittins of Stumbling Cat Studio joins Seth and Katie to discuss her new game, Potions: A Curious Tale, global folklore, and the nigh universal experience of imposter syndrome.

Send us an email with your thoughts!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses

The Long and Short of Game Length

How do you decide what’s the best bang for your video game buck? Does the length of a game make a difference in your decision-making process? What are some of the things short games can accomplish that longer games can’t, and vice versa? Join the crew this week as we overthink game duration!

Would you rather play a shorter or longer game?

Send us an email with your thoughts!  [email protected]

Find us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik Tok

Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses