Skill Check

Skill Check

Download on the App Store

Skill Check episodes

  • 33 - Stardew Valley, Old Mans Journey, and a talk about the weather.

    Welcome to Episode 33 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Wellbeing from YMCA Exeter.

    This week we get distracted by the weather a little bit (We're so british) 

    Gaming wise, we talk Stardew Valley, and Old Mans Journey. 

    We get excited about the rumoured idea of Microsoft Game Pass coming to the Nintendo Switch.  We wonder if the future is more "free games", and look forward to Resident Evil on Netflix. 

    32 min
  • 32 - Mass Effect Legendary Edition, video games helping mental health, and more "Free Games"?

    Welcome to Episode 32 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Wellbeing from YMCA Exeter.

    This week, Zac's looking forward to playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and we wonder if the Gaming Industry has got used to working during a pandemic. 

    We talk a new season of Destiny 2, finding peace in Stardew Valley, and creeping around Resident Evil Village. (Resident Evil, for the record, is NOT as peaceful as Stardew Valley). We have a little chat about scary games, and why some of it might be a little scary - and just saying "no thank you" when needed. 

    Gaming news, Nintendo are still doing sooo well, it seems they cant make enough Switch consoles right now. Is this gaming and pandemic, or Nintendo being that good at family friendly consoles every now and then?

    It looks like Ubisoft are going to do more free to play games. 

    And finally we talk Readers Digest, and how they are also looking at the link between gaming and Mental health.

    Also sorry about the audio quality in this one!

    32 min
  • 31 - XBox, Profit, and Resident Evil

    Welcome to Episode 31 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Wellbeing from YMCA Exeter.

    This week, Gaming wise we're looking at the calming effect of Stardew Valley, and the tense horror of Resident Evil Biohazard. 

    Gaming news, we take some time to look at the Epic v Apple court case, and some of what we're learning from this. (Such as how Microsoft DONT make a profit from XBox - And What price do we pay for privacy anyway? - Facebook?) Read Forbes.com for more information.

    And Nintendo... Well Nintendo are doing well. It seems in everything. 

    32 min
  • 30 - Comfort Games, The Super League and Video Games, and Microsoft meet Nintendo?

    Welcome to Episode 30 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Wellbeing from YMCA Exeter.

    This week, Andy shares how he's ended up broken, and exploring comfort gaming as a result. 

    We also look at the world of football, what The Super League news was all about, and how it relates to video games. (Check this out for more depth)

    And those rumours about Nintendo and Microsoft doing something? We let ourselves get excited about them. (NintendoLife have pictures)

    30 min
  • 29 - A Video Games News and Rumour Digest

    Welcome to Episode 29 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Wellbeing from YMCA Exeter.

    We're having a look a video game news and rumours from around the internet, asking if video games should be on the school curriculum, the amount of money in video games, and future of video games, and the rumour about Microsoft and Nintendo doing a..."thing". 

    Also - sorry. This one is quite long. 

    If you'd like any further information on what we've discussed please see the below links:

    • That Microsoft / Nintendo rumor - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/04/rumour_is_something_going_on_between_microsoft_and_nintendo
    • The amount of money involved in video games and the Epic Store - https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/epic-games-store-exclusives-apple-lawsuit/
    • What is E3 - https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/e3-2021
    • Is Gaming the future of the virtual world? - http://www.businessworld.in/article/Why-Is-Gaming-Emerging-As-The-Future-Of-The-Virtual-World-/12-04-2021-386262/
    • Gaming on the school curriculum - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/children-survey-gaming-school-curriculum-b929163.html
    • Animal Crossing, and its impact on future Nintendo games - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/04/nintendos_president_discusses_animal_crossing_new_horizons_impact_on_future_game_development
    • 45 min
    • 28 - Video Game Tourism

      Welcome to Episode 28 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Life from YMCA Exeter.

      This week - we take a trip around the world.  To Rome, Egypt, London, and San Francisco.

      We also take a moment to wonder what VR means for us, why would we go to London if we just need to put on a pair of glasses and the computer will take us there?

      Games that we look at this week include

      • Assassin's Creed Origins - Egypt
      • Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - Rome
      • The Witcher 3
      • Watch Dogs 2 - San Francesco
      • Spiderman - New York City
      • Grand Theft Auto Series
      • Abzu
      • 39 min
      • 27 - Saving Money and Gaming

        Welcome to Episode 27 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Life from YMCA Exeter.

        This week - all about saving and managing money! 

        A few apps that are good to mention - but please do your own research into this companies as it is your money! 

        • Monzo - https://monzo.com/
        • Plumb https://withplum.com/
        • Chip https://www.getchip.uk/
        • Other things to look out for include...

          • Free Play Weekends
          • Humble Bundle - https://www.humblebundle.com/
          • CDKeys https://www.cdkeys.com/
          • Subscription models - Such as Gamepass / Stadia 
          • Freegame Fridays - drop us a message if you want an invite to our Facebook group
          • One question to remember when considering buying (particularly) higher priced games...

            ...can you manage to wait? 

            (As the price might go down... also checks to see if you really want it!)

            38 min
          • 26 - Games Played, Game News, and Games we have our eyes on.

            Welcome to Episode 26 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Life from YMCA Exeter.

            A mash up of things this week, including:

            • Doctor Who The Lonely Assassins
            • Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
            • Black Legend.
            • Overcooked. 
            • And lots and lots of talk about Marvel - Sorry about that. 

               

              ...

              With Lockdown back, can we also recommend these episodes for your listening pleasure

              Games that bring Joy

              Games to play during Lockdown

              36 min
            • 25 - Doom Scroll, And other things to do on your phone

              Welcome to Episode 24 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Life from YMCA Exeter.

              You know that thing we all do on our phones? The aimless scroll through terrible piece of news followed by terrible piece of news? We look at some alternatives, which range from reading / listening to books, planning our days, to playing snake and catching pokemon. 

              ...

              With Lockdown back, can we also recommend these episodes for your listening pleasure

              Games that bring Joy

              Games to play during Lockdown

              32 min
            • 24 - The Non-Violent Video Game Collection

              Welcome to Episode 24 of Skill Check. A podcast about Gaming and Life from YMCA Exeter.

              This week we're looking at a collection of Non-Violent Video Games found at nvgotd.tumblr.com, I'd suggest clicking that link and seeing the wide range of gaming that doesn't include violence.

              They are also found on Twitter. 

              ...

              With Lockdown back, can we also recommend these episodes for your listening pleasure

              Games that bring Joy

              Games to play during Lockdown

              29 min

            About Skill Check

            From the publisher's feed

            The positive gaming podcast from YMCA Exeter. Talking all things that are positive around video games.