WARNING: If it wasn't clear already, this will spoil the story of Metro video game series!

My good friend WereTiger and I both recently finished Metro: Exodus, after replaying the Redux versions of Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light beforehand. We're both big fans of the series and go in depth about the core story points, what we did and didn't like about the original games and the new partially open-world instalment, where we think the fiction could go from here and also our general thoughts on this unique type of game and the stories they tell.

The episode on Eastern Bloc game developers I reference several times: https://anchor.fm/geekbravado/episodes/Episode-46-Mar--27--2019---Eastern-Bloc-Game-Makers-e3ikuh/a-acbhfq

GVMERS documentaries on the Metro series and 4A Games: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX_ojm9zPq7jU3gcaH9DogEK2EPVDjbl

Intro and outro music are selections from the Metro: Exodus menu theme, Premonition by Oleksii Omelchuk.

Crackdown 3 finally released recently on the Xbox One, PC and on Xbox Game Pass. This new iteration was announced near the Xbox One launch and has had a very long and troubled development, with multiple developer changes and huge, repeated delays. Now that it's out, it's getting pretty mixed reviews. WereTiger and I have been playing a lot of it in co-op and despite some of its rough technical and design edges, we've been having a blast. I give a bunch of my impressions of the game and how I don't think it's worth it at full price but on a discount or especially with Game Pass, it's great, dumb fun.

PAX East 2019 has come and gone and even though it was only my second PAX (after South from this year, which I have other episodes on), it was an experience unique both for myself and probably for many others. I had the privilege of not only going with a huge contingent of incredible community members from theSHED but I also got an Exhibitor badge by helping theSHED work the booth for our partners at Overtone. I talked to a ton of new, amazing indie developers as part of my new Developer Relations Envoy role and met so many good friends in person. It was a weekend unlike any other and truly a first couple of PAX experiences unlike any other and that I'll never forget. I talk about that and why what so many thought of as work for me, didn't feel like it at all.

My library of photos taken from the weekend: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yPVcd2iP97f3SoLa9

Another gallery with photos from myself and other members of theSHED: https://www.theshedteam.com/theshedcommunity/communities/theshedhub/albums/1585-paxeast2019

Have just finished Metro: Exodus, I got to thinking about the many games over the years that hardcore players fondly remember and that were made in former Soviet states. Games from these developers are very distinctive, both technically and in their design and this is often reflective of the harsh conditions and upbringings they endured under both Communist rule and the transition from that. I talk about some of these more famous developers and how their unique experiences also make for some very unique art.

Noclip documentary on CD Projekt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNZkTk5gLuo

GVMERS documentaries on the Metro series and 4A Games: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVX_ojm9zPq7jU3gcaH9DogEK2EPVDjbl

I officially turned 40 the day I recorded this podcast. Many people make a big deal out of these milestone birthdays and I suppose I am too since I'm recording a podcast about it. Truthfully though, I've always thought that your age is just a number and it's how you feel and your mindset that truly determines your age. I ramble for a while about that.

Yesterday, Google entered the game distribution ring by announcing Stadia, a new all-streaming based gaming service. It aims to differentiate itself by utilizing new technologies and Google's goliath-like cloud computing presence. Many have been extolling the virtues of an all-cloud based gaming service, of which there are many. However, I don't think Google has yet revealed a solution for the myriad problems that such a service still offers, especially in an age of dying Net Neutrality and greedy ISPs. I talk about these.

My lady friend and I had Formula 1: Drive to Survive come up in Netflix recommendations and as both of us like cars and I had a new 4K OLED TV to break in, we checked it out. Aside from being an audio-visual jaw dropper, it's overall a pretty well made documentary series that gave me a new perspective on Formula 1, especially the motivations of the teams who don't generally reside at the top and who don't have the most money. I'm not going to start watching Formula 1 on the regular or anything but I appreciate it a lot more now, even though there was probably a bit of inflated drama at times. I give my impressions of it and why I think it's worth checking out.

A rumour came out of left field today that Sony might be buying Take-Two Interactive Software, parent company of 2K Games and more importantly, Rockstar Games. At time of recording, the rumour had been said to be likely inaccurate but nonetheless, I thought it would be fun to talk about the potential of a world where Sony owns all the Take-Two properties but especially, Grand Theft Auto. Many are already hand wringing that this means all of their properties will forever be imprisoned in the PlayStation walled garden but I actually think this is a very different move in response to something Sony didn't see coming.

Valve recently pulled a disgusting game a out rape from Steam before release, after a large scale condemnation. The problem is, it had been listed for some time prior to this and has many people talking about their wildly inconsistent (and poorly stated) policy on curation. While I agree with their decision to pull this game, their policies (or lack thereof), could lead to some dangerous slippery slopes. I discuss what Valve not only needs to do to rectify this but also how their famously unique corporate culture may be a major contributor to this issue.

The Hoeg Law video referenced in the episode: https://youtu.be/KVbFGrw5CkY

A scandal has rocked Canadian politics this week, involving a very large and powerful engineering company in the country, a bribery scandal and alleged political interference from the top echelons of our federal government. This is far from the first scandal involving this company and given trends so far, probably won't be the last. I talk about how while I understand the reasoning behind the government wanting to potentially give this company a pass the rest of us wouldn't get, I also think a company like this might only learn if it's allowed to fail, even if that comes with some pain.