The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Ten

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we set out to create the next entry in our growing series of Top Ten lists, and this time we turn our attention to the most epic of all genres - Open-World Video Games. And the timing is certainly appropriate - this year, games like Elden Ring, Horizon: Forbidden West, Gotham Knights, and Sonic Frontiers have consumed much of the gaming discourse, and for good reason. Open-world games give players a sense of freedom, exploration and discovery that few (if any) genres can rival. The rules of the episode are simple: we each start the discussion with our own personal top ten lists, and by way of a (supposedly) mathematically-sound process, we combine our individual lists into one definitive TJOG Top Ten List.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

07:10 - The Top Ten Best Open-World Video Games

• Introduction

1:56:35 - Closing Thoughts / Contact

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Nine

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss the latest news and game releases here at the start of November, including the incredible anticipation for God of War: Ragnarok’s release, the release date and games announcement for Playstation VR 2, rumors surrounding Hideo Kojima’s next few games, what’s next for The Witcher franchise and more. Meanwhile, Rich has finished Gotham Knights and has some harsh criticisms (but also some surprising praise) for the divisive title, and Brandon is diving back into the original Silent Hill 2 in honor of the Halloween season. Plus: we cover the latest physical media announcements, the latest releases on Game Pass and PS Plus, and more.

00:10 - Introduction

010:56 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:06:56 - Brandon's Physical Games Corner

1:14:05 - Rich’s Digital Picks (Game Pass and PS Plus)

1:34:43 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Gotham Knights (Review)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Eight

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we look back at Batman’s history in video games, from the original NES game Batman: The Video Game (1989), up through the release  of Gotham Knights this past month. To do this, we follow the dark knight through a wide array of gaming adventures, including some super-high highs and some crushingly-low lows, but most notably, we discuss the Rocksteady Games (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knights), the LEGO Batman games, the NetherRealm games (like Injustice: Gods Among Us and MK vs. DC Universe), and Batman: The Telltale Series, to name a few. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

013:52 - Batman in Video Games Retrospective

• Sunsoft Games

• Batman: The Video Game (NES, Sunsoft, 1990)

• Batman the Animated Series

• The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES, 1994/Genesis, 1995)

• Licensed Games (Comics, Animated Series & Movies)

• LEGO Batman

• Lego Batman: The Video Game (2008)

• TelltaleGames

• Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)

• NetherRealm Games

• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008)

• Batman Arkham Series

• Arkham Asylum (2009)

• The Current Era

• Gotham Knights (2022) & Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023)
  

1:19:26 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Seven

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss one of the biggest, most anticipated, and controversial game releases of the year - Gotham Knights - and give initial impressions after the first 6 hours. Is 30 FPS on consoles enough to ground this open-world action game to a halt? Will the just-announced 4-player mode make an impact post-launch? We bat-dive into the details and share some strong opinions. We also discuss Paradise Killer, the game that asks the question, “What if Ace Attorney…but with the imagination turned up to eleven”, and offer final thoughts on the recently-released and much-lauded Return to Monkey Island. PLUS: the most important new releases in physical media and on PS Plus and Game Pass, and the most interesting gaming news of the past few weeks. 

Show Notes:

00:10 - Introduction

05:08 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:28:25 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical

1:40:46 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

2:00:02 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Return to Monkey Island

3:03:41 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Six

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we create our official TJOG Top 10 List of the best stories in video games, and along the way, explore the many unique ways that storytellers weave their tales of triumph, despair, joy and redemption through the games that we love to play. We also discuss recent video game news, the latest Physical Game releases from Limited Run, Special Reserve Games. Iam8bit, Super Rare Games and PlayAsia, all of the latest announcements for October’s Xbox Games With Gold, Game Pass and Playstation Plus lineups, and the games we’ve been playing lately, including The Quarry, Live A Live and Return to Monkey Island.  

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

08:37 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:23:27 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:42:22 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Nobody Saves The World (Finished)

2:15:38 Main Topic: The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

• Chapter 1: What Makes a Great Video Game Story?

4:13:12 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Five

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we take on the challenge of discussing every big announcement from ALL FIVE of the major gaming events held this past month - Nintendo Direct, Playstation State of Play, Ubisoft Forward, the Disney and Marvel Games Showcase and the Tokyo Game Show. Together, this crazy concurrence of gaming events has been dubbed “E3 in September,” and we have a lot of opinions to share and final grades to award to each event. And as per tradition, we also discuss the latest additions to the Game Pass and PS Plus libraries for September, the newest releases in the world of limited-edition physical media, some of the games we’ve been playing recently and more.  

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

06:06 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:18:58 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:44:48 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Dying Light

2:30:20 “E3 in September” 

• Disney and Marvel Games Showcase (Marvel’s Midnight Sons, Untitled Cap/Black Panther game, etc.)

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Four

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we take a journey back to the halcyon days of Xbox Live’s Summer of Arcade, when indie games weren’t as plentiful, but you knew there were at least 4-5 titles you could count on for quality each summer. In a retrospective format, we discuss the numerous masterpiece-level games Summer of Arcade gave us, including Limbo, Braid, Castle Crashers, Shadow Complex, and so many more. We also cover some recent gaming news highlights, run down the latest in Limited Edition Physical Media, Game Pass and PS Plus releases, and share a bit of what we’ve been playing. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

08:31 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:18:20 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:33:21 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Deathloop

2:01:55 Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Retrospective 

• 2008 - Braid, Castle Crashers, etc.

3:15:40 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Three

On this mega-sized episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we celebrate one of the most classic and enjoyable video game genres - 2D Platformers - by constructing our definitive “The Joy of Gaming Top 10” list. We also discuss the recent Embracer Group acquisitions and Gamescom 2022 announcements in our gaming news segment, cover the latest releases in the worlds of Physical Media, Game Pass and PS Plus, and talk about the games we’ve been playing recently - including Cult of the Lamb, Live A Live and more. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

05:13 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup

1:45:05 - Rich’s Digital Picks

2:00:08 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Deathloop (Revisited)

2:51:10 Top 10 2D Platformers of All-Time (we create the definitive TJOG Top Ten List)

4:04:56 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Two

Narrative Adventure Games: A Brief History (from Point-and-Click to As Dusk Falls)

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss two recently-released Narrative Adventure Games - As Dusk Falls and The Quarry - and attempt to trace the origins of this relatively new genre, from its point-and-click adventure roots through to the modern day. We also discuss some recent gaming news, offer our thoughts on the best new physical media, Game Pass and PS Plus releases, and talk about the games we’ve been playing recently. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

01:26 - Recent Gaming News

• Marvel’s Midnight Suns delayed

1:08:15 - Rich’s Digital Picks

1:29:57 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Batman: Arkham Asylum (Return to Arkham edition)

2:03:40 A Brief History of Narrative Adventure Games (including The Quarry, As Dusk Falls early impressions)

3:01:12 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode One

The Top 5 Gaming Franchises of All-Time

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we take on the formidable task of choosing our Top 5 Favorite Gaming Franchises - past and present. We also discuss recent gaming news, discuss some notable new releases in our #ForeverPhysical and Rich’s Digital Picks segments, and talk about some of the games we’ve been playing recently. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

04:03 - Recent Gaming News

• Forspoken delayed

48:15 - Brandon’s #ForeverPhysical Segment

1:15:43 - Rich’s Digital Picks

1:25:47 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Revisited)

2:09:14 Top 5 Favorite Gaming Franchises 

3:16:38 Closing Thoughts