The Checkpoint

Cj and his good friend, Samuel Tolbert discuss layoffs shaking the gaming industry.

Topics include:

• Important unionization efforts by Microsoft studios.
• What went wrong for the company
• What gamers and consumers should know

Read Sam’s writing here: https://campaign-mode.ghost.io/

Follow Sam:

@samueltolbert.bsky.social

Follow Cj

@cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Read Cj’s writing here:

https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Music Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

The Checkpoint returns after a weeklong break! Cj is joined by his good friend, Justin, as the two talk about the raising costs of hardware and their own experiences of upgrading tech.

Topics Covered:

• The FOMO and anxiety that leads to panic buying a console
• The loss of curiosity and conversation in the gaming space
• How our choice of hardware shapes these conversations

Socials:

Justin: @roboplato.bsky.social

Cj: @cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Read Cj’s writing:

https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Music :

Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Links:

https://linktr.ee/thecheckpointpod

Cj is joined by his friend Justin Grandfield to talk Sony's all-digital plans and PS3 store shutdowns.

Topics include:

• Great PS3 games
• Cool emulation projects
• Accessibility in gaming

Follow Justin:

Bluesky: @rorenado.bsky.social

Writing: https://muckrack.com/justin-grandfield-1/portfolio

Read Cj's writing: https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Music Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Cj is joined by his good friend, Tom Johnson to talk sports-related misery.

Topics include:

• Reminiscing about old podcasts
• 9/11
• The Mets! All about da Mets! Mets!

Follow Tom:

Twitter: @thattomjohnson

Bluesky: @tomjohnson.bsky.social

Sidequesting: https://www.sidequesting.com/author/thattomjohnson/

Read Cj's writing: https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Music Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Cj and Cody talk about a lot of games after a very long break (sorry).

Topics include:

• Games we reviewed
• How good the new Assassin's Creed remake is
• How hard it is to podcast

Read Cj's writing: https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCheckpointPodYT

Music Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Cj and Matty are back for a shorter (if you think 90 minutes is short) podcast.

Topics include:

• Marathon’s impressive start to Season 2
• The cycle of playing things for content and the constant stream of negativity online.
• Destiny 2, if you can believe it

Socials:

Mattty: @questlog.bsky.social

Cj: @cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Read Cj’s writing:

https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Read Matty’s writing:

https://medium.com/@QuestLog

Music :

Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Links:

https://linktr.ee/thecheckpointpod

"Yours, until the last flame dies and all words have been spoken." —Shin Malphur to you, as you journey forth into the unknown

https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/he-sees

https://www.ishtar-collective.net/cards/ghost-fragment-the-golden-age

https://medium.com/quest-log/lettinggo-2f899c60dbaa

https://linktr.ee/thecheckpointpod

Guardian

Song by C Paul Johnson, MARTIN O’DONNELL, and Michael Salvatori

The Checkpoint returns! Cj is joined by his good friend, Justin, as the two talk about their shared love of FPS games and other genres.

Topics Covered:

• How important a good setup is when it comes to gaming
• Why curiosity is so vital to the larger conversation
• Why we tend to stick to certain game genres

Socials:

Justin: @roboplato.bsky.social

Cj: @cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Read Cj’s writing:

https://medium.com/@salcedo.cj

Music :

Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Links:

https://linktr.ee/thecheckpointpod

Cody returns as he and Cj talk all about how little time they have to play games or read books. Cj talks a lot of Star Wars as Cody actually shares some interesting and insightful commentary on the latest games he’s playing.

Follow Cody on X: @TiredObsidian

Read his writing: The Tired Obsidian

Check out his family's gaming content: HHC Gaming

Follow Cj on Bluesky: @cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Intro/Outro music:

Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music

Cj is joined by his friend John and the two dig into some Star Wars talk (as Cj does every week) and discuss their various fandoms. There are also plenty of references to games, Shane Black movies and rap music. Stick around for this very eventful 12th episode!

Follow Cj on Bluesky: @cynicalceezy.bsky.social

Follow John on Bluesky:@johnnybegoode.bsky.social

Follow John's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/themilkmanadventures

Find the podcast on other services here: https://media.rss.com/thecheckpointpod/feed.xml

Intro/Outro music: Ballad of Aether - Synthwave/Synthpop - Royalty Free Music