The Game Under Podcast

In this episode of the Game Under Podcast, Tom and Phil explore a wide range of topics, from video games and vegan fast food to philosophical critiques of Ayn Rand's work. They begin with light-hearted banter about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Death Stranding, and technical issues with PC hardware, before transitioning into a discussion of Halloween's cultural adoption in Australia and the quality of the Rebel Whopper. The conversation then shifts to Bioshock, particularly its narrative and thematic parallels with Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. The hosts dissect the game's plot, highlighting its commentary on manipulation, free will, and utopian collapse, while noting how it mirrors rather than critiques Rand's objectivist philosophy.

The second half of the episode delves deeply into a critical analysis of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Tom and Phil argue that Rand's writing is ideologically inconsistent, poorly constructed, and often undermines its own philosophical premises. They critique the portrayal of capitalism, altruism, and individualism in her novels, suggesting that her characters lack depth and her narratives fail to convincingly support her objectivist ideals. The hosts also reflect on the broader cultural impact of Rand's work, libertarianism, and the contradictions within both. Despite their harsh criticism, they acknowledge Rand's honesty as a writer and recommend Anthem or The Romantic Manifesto as more concise and entertaining introductions to her ideas. The episode concludes with a humorous wrap-up and a teaser for future discussions on politically charged video games.

In this episode of The Game Under Podcast, hosts Phil Fogg and Tom Towers dive into a wide-ranging and humorous discussion that spans video games, philosophy, history, and vegan cuisine. They begin with a satirical take on historical figures like Tokyo Rose and Typhoid Mary, segueing into a critique of Stephen Hicks' philosophical work, particularly his criticisms of postmodernism and Objectivism. The conversation then shifts to Nintendo's mobile game Mario Kart Tour, which Tom criticizes for its awkward controls and monetization model. They also discuss the broader state of mobile gaming, lamenting the popularity of games like Roblox and Subway Surfers among children, and reflecting on how these experiences compare to more traditional gaming and even physical toys like LEGO.

The second half of the episode focuses on Phil's impressions of Judgment, a spin-off from the Yakuza series, which he praises for its engaging story, familiar setting, and solid—though simplified—combat. Tom shares detailed updates on his new PC build, explaining his choices for components like the CPU, GPU, and cooling system, with a humorous emphasis on the inclusion of a magnetic screwdriver. The hosts also touch on the evolution of vegan food, particularly plant-based meat alternatives, and reminisce about favorite restaurants. They close with a discussion of the game Sky and its new controller support on iOS, as well as a nostalgic look at past Game of the Year titles, ultimately awarding Urban Chaos: Riot Response their retroactive 2006 Game of the Year. The episode blends deep dives with light-hearted banter, showcasing the duo's eclectic interests and chemistry.

Introduction 0:01:28 Australia's Favourite Music Podcast 0:02:11 Tom's Article about Comersurealism 0:08:21 Sports Talk

Trademark Banter0:09:27 The State of GameStop (EBGames), and Game Informer 0:16:25 Hyper Magazine

Final Impressions0:21:29 Tom's Final Impressions of That Gaming Company's, Sky. 0:21:55 RECORD SCRATCH Deadly Premonition 2 Announced 0:26:25 Back to Tom's Final Impressions of That Gaming Company's, Sky. 0:36:40 Spoilers Start Here

Short Gaming Commentary 0:44:24 Apple Arcade: Will Towers Take a Bite of the Apple? 0:45:39 Call of Duty Black Ops II and Call of Duty WW2

Tom's PC Build0:49:51 Towers is Building a Tower of Power

Commentary 1:06:18 How the Current Generation of Systems and Games Compares to Prior Generations

Tom Towers and Phil Fogg discuss video game and related topics on Australia's longest running video game podcast.

Tom plays That Game Company's newest release, Sky, while Phil talks about playing the rare japan-only N64 game Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Conversation also dips into Walt Williams book about his time at 2K working on Bioshock, Mafia II and Spec Ops: The Line.

Tom Towers and Phil Fogg talk about their Best Game of All Time (spoiler alert it's neither Yakuza or Killzone). Tom also give his final thoughts on Minerva's Den and The Protector Files, which at least one of was ground-breaking DLC at the time of release, and the work of many creators who went on to form Fullbright, makers of Gone Home and Tacoma. Tom then reviews Metal Gear Solid !

We also go over Dr. Mario World, Shakedown Hawaii, the Nintendo Switch Lite, the C-64 Mini and Red Dead Redemption 2 before getting to what has become our ghost ship, a full review of Ueda's The Last Guardian.

Please enjoy Episode 111 of the Game Under Podcast.

Introduction 0:00:12 Technical Difficulties

Trademark Banter 0:01:42 Computer Games 0:01:50 Indie Round-Up

First and Final Impressions 0:06:44 Tom Talks Tacoma Part I 0:07:45 Phil Speaks on Spyro Trilogy 0:10:15 Phil on Red Dead Redemption II

Gameunder.net Content 0:15:01 Some Article or Whatever 0:15:47 Big News from E3 0:16:39 TurboGrafx 16 Mini (PC Engine Mini) Revealed 0:18:10 21st Century Free Speech Article on Gameunder.net & Story About WW2 Clay 0:21:08 "All Thoughts are Arguments"

Tom's Story 0:21:34 The Good Samaritan

Final Impressions 0:32:15 Yakuza 4 0:48:00 *Mild Spoilers*

Final Impressions 1:15:50 Tacoma Part II

Stuff You Should Know 1:30:40 Tissue Elevator Explained 1:33:15 Walt Williams Book: Significant Zero 1:35:15 Cultural Divide - Thank You For Your Service 1:38:03 Telltale is Dead

Tom Towers and Phil Fogg try out their new audio equipment -- what could possibly go wrong?

Trademark Banter ensues as well as a brief discussion of Tetris 99.

Before and after a round of Trademark Banter Tom Towers and Phil Fogg have a YakuzaKillzone Minute, talk about last week's gaming news and then close out the show in typical Towers Style.

We've recently upgraded Tom's recording equipment, but you will notice from time to time Phil's mic lets down the show. A new mic is on it's way for use before the next episode.

In anticipation of the upcoming release of Devil May Cry 5, Tom Towers and Aaron Mullin discuss their first impressions of Devil May Cry 5 as well as a full review of Devil May Cry 2.

Tom and Phil are joined by their Irish freelancer Aarny ot discuss Devil May Cry, Enter the Gundeon, impressions from the last ten years and the gaming news of the day, along with a sprinkling of Trademark Banter.