NOTE: Unfortunately, we had some connection issues that led to a lot of audio drop outs. I think the conversation was great so we're sharing it none the less, but we apologize for the audio and we will implement a better recording solution for next time.

We're back! Slumming with us for this special occasion is Nick from Literate Gamer to discuss the insane acquisitions of Bungie by Sony and Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft and what it might mean for the gaming community. We also discuss the launch of the Steam Deck, and last but not least dive into the controversy surrounding From Software's magnum opus, Elden Ring. Is it bad-ass, broken, or a little of both? Listen to find out.

Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

It's all about the shooters in this gaming-centric episode of Silicon Vets! Trevor and Kenny discuss Halo's triumphant return, Battlefield's identity crisis, and Ghost Recon's Frontline dilemma. Lots of nitty-gritty on IPs, strategy, and fierce competition, so buckle up for an extra rant filled episode!

Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

Trevor and Kenny return to bemoan the current state of PC hardware prices. Why is everything out of stock? Why are prices so insane? Should you buy a pre-built gaming PC? And most importantly, will this nightmare ever end and prices get better? Who knows, but we talk about it anyways.

Yell at Trevor: Trevor (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

Yell at Kenny: Ken (@FSF150) / Twitter

Valve's surprised the world with the newly announced Steam Deck. Trevor's stoked while Kenny's unconvinced. Also, Assassin's Creed is going MMO? And with Sony acquiring a well-respected PC port studio, does this mean we can anticipate more Sony IPs on PC? Lots of news to cover and discussion to be had as online, live-service games continue to be the darling of major publishers.

Yell at Trevor: Trevor C. (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

Back from the abyss, Kenny and Trevor dive into games and their first-impressions. Trying to figure out why some pull you into their world so strongly that you forget about time while others just can't seem to stick the landing no matter what, the guys discuss some of the games that maybe failed to put their best foot forward, and how sometimes they're worth the wait.

Trevor C. (@OptimumSlinky) / Twitter

NOTE: Apologies in advance for some of the annoying background audio. Still trying to figure the whole audio thing out.

Kenny and Trevor dive into the most infamous games of this past generation. We talk about what we liked, what we didn't, and what we think happened to a game that seemed on track to be a masterpiece but ended up feeling like a misfire.

Silicon Vets: Rebooted

#01 - Do consoles need generations?

The traditional console business model calls for a new machine and architecture every 6-8 years. But has the game changed? Does legacy support limit new gaming experiences? Join Trevor and Kenny as they discuss the advantages and drawbacks to the console gaming generation, PCs, and the march of technology in gaming in a laid back, conversational environment.

Thoughts? Feedback? Get in touch with Trevor here: https://twitter.com/OptimumSlinky (@OptimumSlinky)

Notes:

The Road to PS5 (Mark Cerny Talk): https://youtu.be/ph8LyNIT9sg 

Xbox Virtualization: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-xbox-one-x-back-compat-how-does-it-actually-work

Sony Still Believes in Generations: https://gamasutra.com/view/news/366599/We_believe_in_generations_PlayStation_argues_crossgen_games_risk_stifling_innovation.php

Zach and Trevor dive into the latest leaks on the PS5 and Xbox GPUs, and give a recap of their picks for the best of 2019 games and hardware. 

Digital Foundry Experiment: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2019-teraflop-face-off-current-gen-vs-next-gen

Zach and Trevor unpack the shocking reveal of the Xbox Series X this week at the Game Awards, and what the shape and rumored specs could mean for the next console generation.

We're back! Trevor and Zach sit down to discuss Jedi: Fallen Order, Halo's masterful return to PC with Reach, the future of Anthem, and give a quick and dirty guide on how to build a gaming PC in December 2019.