The Instance: Deep Dives for Gamers

We have a quick update on the Blizzard front up top, but the rest of the show today is all about New World. It hit this week, we've all played a bunch, and we have takes. Some of them are even HOT takes. :) Is it good? Will it have lasting power? How did it perform in its launch window? We have a lot of these answers and more so tune in!

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Scott Garrett and Joce have been seeing a lot of chatter in our circles about difficulty settings in games, hard modes, casual players, and more. Got us to thinking about what the current games-space looks like these days when it comes to game difficulty, and how devs get more players in, and block some players out. Lots to talk about, plus emails and more!

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Our topic this week deals with video games with a narrative, and why we seem to be swinging back to story after a love affair with games as services. Join Scott, Joce, and Garrett!

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From the ESRB, to big blue warning screens before you launch your games, to making sure you're not driving while catching Pokemon. Today we talk about the modern gaming version of 'content warnings'. Do they work? If so, how, and why? Do we need them? And aren't there better ways to do this in an interactive medium? Join Scott, Joce and Garrett for a deep dive. Plus your emails and more.

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GOOD NEWS! Jocelyn is our new permanent co-host and we are pretty stoked about it! Today we do a deep dive topic on why we keep buying the same games over and over when they get enhanced, remastered, or resurrected. And why is Mass Effect Legendary a good example, and Warcraft III Reforged such a terrible example. Your thoughts too, plus your emails!

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Joined by Jocelyn for a deep dive into the world of Elder Scrolls Online. Is it a game you should play? What kind of player does it attract? We dig down and find out! Your emails too!

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We have one more in us for this mess, and then the real work begins on trying to do our part to make the world a better place. Garrett Scott and Patrick on this one. Yeah, we know, more dude talk. But for all the shows we've done in the last week about this, this one needed to happen for the main show crew.

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Scott and his guest Jules Scott sit down and have a discussion about more of this Blizz fallout, but more specifically, the need for female voices in the discussion, and how even our best intentions are sometimes just a little off target. We hope you’ll listen and be part of the discussion.

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The state of CA is suing Blizzard and Activision and for good reason. Join Scott and guest host Jon as they help make sense of all of it. Plus, our deep look into why Final Fantasy 14 seems to be having such a moment right now in the hearts of MMO players. Your emails and more!

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WoW on a handheld? The Steam Deck says, SURE! The big (possibly not real) WoW internal memo leak and what it means, and what we can learn about it. FF14 is getting its own cook book. The Lich King is back with his own board game. Our big discussion this week: Amazon Studios upcoming MMO, "New World". What it is, what we want it to be, what we know, and what we can expect from it. Joined today with guest-host Alex! Emails and more!

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