This week's episode sees the Say Reporters sharing lamentations about the raising cost of streaming and gaming subscriptions despite the offerings not really offering anything new or inventive to their value. 

From there Devon shares his experiences with 8bitdo and how his views of the company have changed and grown as they have perfected their offerings, up to and including their latest offering, a micro controller for use on the Nintendo Switch and PC. 

Sejohn then does a brief report on the latest true and dark history novel he has been spending his time with, "The Icepick Surgeon" by Sam Kean, and how its subject matter seems relevant as we try as a society to put trust in science again. 

Finally, we look at the staggering price difference between the standard and premium editions of "Mortal Kombat 1" and attempt to determine if paying an additional $50 is worth the advantage of getting to play the game proper five days early.

We kick off this episode with a discussion on SAG-AFTRA’s decision to authorize a strike again the video game studios that spirals into definitive proof that each one of the Say Reporters represent one end of the scale for video game enthusiasts. 

Then Devon’s misunderstanding of this weeks assignment is still able to bear fruit when it serves to prove that Artificial Intelligence is nowhere near replacing the creative powers of Organic Intelligence, and that is precisely why now is the best time to create the standards for managing how we allow AI to be used in our society. 

Finally we see how long we can survive as we discuss Dimension Shellshock, the new DLC for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and how we feel about the package and it’s value as a whole. 

This month’s Very Special Episode sees your host companions discussing one of their absolutely favorite topics… NOTHING! Listen as they discuss all of the other topics that could have been the focus on this episode if they hadn’t continued to hold out hope that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes would have been resolved before this recording session. Meaning they could have continued with their regularly schedule program. 

This week’s episode we discuss the deeper meanings going on behind the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and why they are trying their best to future proof these contracts to hopefully avoid a similar striking happening in the near future, 

Then Devon was able to get some hands on time with the sequel to a game he had a bit of an antagonistic relationship with, “Blasphemous 2” and his finding may surprise long time listeners of the show. 

From there Devon’s secret homework assignment is revealed to be a hands on review of the Action Force Swarm Trooper w/ Swarm Gear Set. While Devon shares the history of the toyline Sejohn shares his first impressions of the figure.

Finally we embark on a journey into the first volume of Skottie Young’s “I Hate Fairyland”  with Sejohn as our guide as Devon tells his thoughts about what he has read in this first five issues and wonders if he is strong enough to continue reading.

This week we look into the wild and wacky world of creators be they YouTube content creators who are in some hot water after questionable decisions or ones that just record their own narration over footage of various products being made. 

Then we switch our focus to creators who recreate their work in the music industry as we discuss our homework assignment this week that had Devon and Sejohn looking for their favorite examples of songs that were covered by their original artists that as listeners they prefer or that have gone on to either supplant the original to the ears of the public or have had a significant impact on popular culture.

We start the episode off with some discussion about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike and how the former is about to surpass the length of the one we experienced back in 2007 and what 100 days of the writers on strike might mean for both unions going forward. 

Then, Devon admits he only was able to read about an hour of “John Dies at the End” but how in that hour he has become hooked and intends to finish while Sejohn explains what he finds so appealing about the novel.

Next, Sejohn shares his time with the original NES build of the Japanese release of “Super Mario Bros. 2” and what that made him realize about Nintendo as a game company and the lessons he wish they would bring back from that more experimental entry into the series.

Finally, both Say Reporters share their first hand experiences with the new co-op mode of “Vampire Survivors” that is releasing to the public this coming Thursday and why this is probably the perfect time to give the game a try if you haven’t yet. 

Remember if you listened to some or all of this episode, we would love to hear from you via our email: [email protected]. Thank You!

We kick off this week’s episode discussing the Legend of Zelda Oracle games being added to Nintendo Switch Online and our complicated histories with that pair of games. 

Then we leap into our first discussion topic: The Nintendo Switch release of “Brotato” and how the reductive tones that game and similar are discussed in relationship to larger focal points in the genre could lead to a lack of innovation in the indie gaming space, while Devon also shares his experiences playing the game for the first time. 

After that we tap into the second discussion topic: Luke Combs cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 hit “Fast Car” and help to unlock the mysteries surrounding the song’s newfound success, how the singer of those lyrics can help influence its meaning, and determine whether or not at this point it might just be considered an American Standard

Finally, we briefly honor the passing of Paul Reubens and the celebration of his life that helped to brighten the pallor his passing this past week cast upon the world. 

Remember if you listened to some or all of this episode, we would love to hear from you via our email: [email protected]. Thank You!

This episode we go through the FAQs for Podcasters presented by SAG-AFTRA (https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/podcaster-faqs) and how their guidelines will be addressed and supported by our show while the strike continues. 

Then we turn our attention to the video games that released this weekend and how we ultimately felt about our time with them, before finally returning to our Say Report roots and giving each other topic assignments for next episode.  

Remember if you listened to this episode in full we would love to hear from you at [email protected]. Thank You!

In our latest Very Special Episode and just in time for the 20th Anniversary of its premiere,we present to you a reexamination of 2003’s “Gigli” 

What works, what doesn’t work, and our feelings about the film from then and now are on full display as we watch real life couple at that time and current husband and wife Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez play two contracted thugs tasked with abducting and caring for a federal prosecutor’s developmentally disabled younger brother and somehow finding love along the way… despite her being a homosexual and him being an asshole.  

Episode Artwork by Dayle Decker

Forced to find a new topic this week after Devon discovered the hideous creature lurking behind the mask that was the marketing machines of “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” your Say Reporters deliver an episode that seeks to solve the mysteries of current entertainment trends and their direct connection to the current moods of society after spending the last three years in a global pandemic.