Ahh, Apple. Creators of the smartphone, pioneers of industry, the gold standard for excellence, the last bastion of inspiration in a world that's gone dull, and... an illegal monopoly? That's what a recent set of lawsuits allege - and they're gaining traction.

Between an all-out assault from Epic Games' Tim Sweeney and an 88-page treatise on illegal practices from the US Department of Justice, Apple's lawyers almost certainly have their briefcases full to the brim. But what does any of this mean for the games industry and the future of the platforms you use every day? Maybe everything.

Please, enjoy.

Editor's Note: Episode 69. Nice.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

Rejoice, RPG fans, for Dragon's Dogma 2 is finally here! The reviews are in, and the consensus is... well, complicated as hell. While critics are stoked overall, fans seem to have some grievances — and they're quite happy to share them. 

This brings Zak and Aaron to the ever-relevant topic of review bombing, or the practice of leaving droves of negative reviews on a product as a response to some real or perceived slight at the hands of its makers. The whole endeavor is a political, economic, and ethical mess, but does it ever actually work? And while we're at it, is the term "review bombing" even useful as a catch-all for several vastly different forms of feedback? There's only one way to find out.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

When you think of AAA games, does your mind fill with excitement imagining what spectacular worlds dedicated artists have crafted for you with the benefit of near-limitless resources? Or do you imagine boardrooms filled with disinterested people demanding endless compromises in pursuit of maximum profit?

This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to politely inform you that option A is likely a nice dream you once had, while option B may very well be playing out somewhere right now. With high-profile failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Ubisoft's AAAA fumble Skull and Bones simultaneously generating disastrous headlines and serving as the model for future "safe investments," there's a lot to talk about.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

At this point, trying to find a new or clever way to say that the games industry is in turmoil is a profound exercise in futility. There is no one way to "fix" the problems that seem to follow developers from studio to studio, but there's one pretty clear step in the right direction: unions.

This week, Zak and Aaron sit down with former union organizer and current Austin, TX City Council candidate Adam Powell to chat about — you guessed it — unions. How do they benefit workers? What makes them so offensive to businesses at large? Where do you start if you feel it's time to organize at your workplace? And, most relevant to us, can they help get us closer to the industry devs deserve?

Please, enjoy.

Learn more about Adam's platform and City Council campaign at AdamforAustin.com

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

If you've spent any time on the internet as of late, odds are you've stumbled across something about a new game called Palworld - otherwise known as "Pokémon with guns." Hell, with north of 19 million downloads and record-breaking player counts on Steam, it's easily set to be one of the biggest games of the year. But what is it, really?

This week, Zak and Aaron talk about the nitty-gritty of Palworld, from its borderline-plagiaristic use of Pokémon designs to its disjointed art style to its... surprisingly competent gameplay? They also try to quantify the fine line between inspiration and imitation and nail down why this particular mashup was such a runaway success.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Listen to Electric Guitar on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

Hello, everybody, and welcome to season three of Some Patches Required! Our intrepid hosts have been away for a while, but the games industry certainly didn't take a break with them, as mass layoffs, leaks, hacks, studio closures, and more dominated the headlines.

This week, Zak and Aaron tackle the messy topics of true early access and the recent boom in paid "early" access as a pre-order bonus. Long story short, one is a frequently misused tool with incredible potential and the other one is the laziest money-making scheme in recent memory. You can guess which is which.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Listen to Electric Guitar on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

Have you ever felt exhausted by the neverending onslaught of updates, microtransactions, generic mechanics, and performance issues that seem to define modern AAA games? Well, do we ever have a new title for you!

This week, Zak and Aaron discuss the myriad ways that the newly released Baldur's Gate 3 - and Larian Studios - break the mold established by the major players in the AAA game market. They even dip into some AA and all-indie examples for a healthy dose of contrast.

You'll hear them again (with a few exciting new guests) next season! In the meantime, please enjoy some exquisite music, incredible art, and a few fun, insightful podcasts.

To be continued...

Please, enjoy.


Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Listen to Electric Guitar on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to: Triple Click

Listen to: The Besties

Listen to: Play, Watch, Listen

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

The world is changing, and media is changing with it. What do you own? What does renting even mean in the era of subscription services and online storefronts? More importantly, what happens to a work of art when it's lost to time?

This week, Zak and Aaron dive into the topic of game preservation in the (Alan) wake of several high-profile games going exclusively digital and try to dissect the importance of preserving games for both entertainment and education.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

After a few unfortunate delays, Zak and Aaron are back to ask you a simple question: Do you value visual extravagance over gameplay excellence, or do you think they can work together? Moreover, is there a seat for style at the table?

Between the blocky art of BattleBit, the breathtaking but broken Jedi Survivor, and an endless supply of Aaron's useless opinions on films like Avatar, this is the episode for anyone who has ever engaged in the "gameplay vs. graphics" debate. Or, someone who just wants it to finally end.

Please, enjoy.

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram

This week, Zak and Aaron chat about what the semi-recently-announced Apple Vision Pro could mean for the VR, AR, and MR market. Will it fall flat on its face like Google Glass? Will it spur on competition like the original Oculus or HTC Vive? Or could it change the game entirely through the power of brand cachet and good marketing? Only time will tell.

As an addendum, Zak's new recording space isn't fully set up yet, so there may be a smidge of echo on his side. Meanwhile, Aaron's computer and hard drive decided to scream their mechanical lungs out during the first 10 minutes or so, even as his cat tried to break down the door. We're genuinely sorry for the audio quality in certain spots, but we're only human.

Please, enjoy.


Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out edouggieart on Etsy

Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram

Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify

Check out MosscatMarket on Etsy

Check out even more MosscatMarket on Instagram