The Two Vague Podcast

The Two Vague Podcast

By Ben CheknisLeisureVideo Games
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The Two Vague Podcast episodes

  • Episode 156 - PAX West 2026 Wrap-Up with Sully from Kaiju Cabal

    Zine maker and brand new friend of the pod Sully (aka Kaiju Cabal on the socials) joins the program this week for a wrap-up of Ben’s PAX West 2026 attendance shenanigans! It’s rather serendipitous that Sully keeps a list of words, loves to pick things apart, is genuinely curious, and has tons of questions about stuff. After an introduction to Sully focusing on their late-age autism diagnosis and their chosen artistic medium, they explore the stacks of Polaroid photographs and piles of tchotchkes Ben collected for each day of PAX this year. 

    ***

    00:00:20 - An introduction to Sully from the hotel studio, wet spiders, and a mom draws a line

    00:04:05 - Diagnosed as autistic, food and spoons, invitations to engage, and Andrew’s project 
    00:11:14 - Sometimes making connections takes work, curious brains, and humble PAX origins
    00:14:54 - Piles of stuff, Polaroid photographs, weirdly shaped potatoes, and pictures of dinner
    00:17:57 - Clowntown time traveling, wanting to punch someone, and going on a no-fun run
    00:21:56 - Appreciating the concept, fun allergies, Jackbox inspirations, and being whimsical
    00:25:36 - Pandemic party game popularity, required skillsets, and feeding the hippopotamus 
    00:29:30 - Let’s talk about thumb drives, taking down the RIGHT system, and a miscalculation
    00:34:18 - Ben’s audible, Blocks for Babies summary, some CPS concerns, and the Cenobites
    00:40:07 - EpiPen for fun, War of the Western Deep, the Don Bluth style, and player choices
    00:43:03 - Ether or Aether, Car Wars combat, Ben’s delayed answer, and meeting the team
    00:52:40 - Reviewing day 2 materials, misidentifying an olive, and meeting some game legends
    00:56:32 - Pinball legality, Dr. Pepper story, sailboat pinball, and niche Halloween costumes
    01:01:06 - Super Cucumber, a husband and wife duo, collaborations, and being the arbiter
    01:04:31 - The Fallout pinball machine, watching the show, the art, and testing the mechanics
    01:09:44 - That never happens, not Mannequin, the Pinball 2000 concept, and George Gomez
    01:12:52 - Intrigued by cult paraffinalia, Ladder Lad trailer impressions, and ladders on stairs
    01:17:29 - Johnson and Dan, a BYOCRT console, and teasing the best business card winner
    01:21:49 - Verb names, Sully’s description of Ty’s business card, and working-class symbols
    01:23:55 - DESOLUS, architecture and portals, a layman’s trailer critique, and angel accuracy
    01:26:59 - Flamecraft, Monster Couch’s focus, cute artisan dragons, and you had me at cats

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearances and other inquiries, contact us at [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    Clowntown from Batterystaple Games

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3680200/Clowntown/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtlgTF55-0

    Blocks for Babies by BunkSoft Interactive LLC

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2776770/Blocks_for_Babies/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVhTiO8xdXo

    War of the Western Deep by Sunsgrove Studios

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2976440/War_of_the_Western_Deep/
    https://youtu.be/fbnTH5nK6tU?si=h7KwLMPRM2hCrqIW

    Aether & Iron by Seismic Squirrel 

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1836560/Aether__Iron/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYkoQo3lJPE

    Super Cucumber by Cubicorn Games

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/522290/Super_Cucumber/
    https://youtu.be/xaHBX25uFNc?si=XJBf7EK5egZzk3Na

    The Fallout pinball machine by Stern Pinball

    https://www.sternpinball.com/game/fallout/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SquqtbOZRw

    Ladder Lad by BUCK Games and Antfood

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3871300/Ladder_Lad/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYoFajn-T00

    A Corgi’s Cozy Hike by Scalisco 

    https://scalisco.com/
    https://steamcommunity.com/app/2321250
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOugyq_-W_I

    DESOLUS by Mark J. Mayres 

    https://www.desolus.com/
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1003460/DESOLUS/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39KXUVp9U4M

    Flamecraft by Monster Couch 

    https://www.monstercouch.com/
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3201730/Flamecraft/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c74E9d4LvKo

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #PAXWest #MonsterCouch #Flamecraft #MarkMayres #DESOLUS #Scalisco #ACorgisCozyHike #BUCKGames #Antfood #LadderLad #FalloutPinball #SternPinball #SuperCucumber #CubicornGames #AretherAndIron #SesmicSquirrel #WarOfTheWesternDeep #SunsgroveStudios #BunkSoftInteractiveLLC #BlocksForBabies #Clowntown #BatterystapleGames

    1 hr 31 min
  • Episode 155 - Brew

    How’s it going, eh? Prepare yourself mentally and physically for Andrew and Ben to drop a lot of movie quotes this episode. You have been warned! After a little improvisational bit where they channel their inner Bob and Doug McKenzie, Andrew fills us in about his latest creative efforts and the recent suspension of his feud with Christopher Nolan, which he commemorated using a delivery of bark mulch to cover the former location of a rat-infested shed. Next, Ben talks about two very different games that he completed recently: Pragmata and Mixtape. When they FINALLY get into the word, they talk about the movie Strange Brew and how the story was inspired by a particular Shakespearean tragedy. To close the show, they reminisce about their former jobs at local and not-so-local coffee shops before Ben talks about playing the pumpkin spice latte-inspired game Strange Brew, developed by Electric Monk Media.

    ***

    00:00:19 - Thrown by the buddy, all the bowling alleys, 24 hrs of productivity, and funding news

    00:02:59 - The PAX octagon, Elvis Costello, finishing the anthology, and a guy has a meat hand
    00:06:48 - A suspended feud, a little slapdash, wrangling snakes, on a list, and The Odyssey
    00:09:53 - Palindromes in film, Robert Patterson, and the Christopher Nolan Feud Memorial
    00:12:52 - Helen of Troy, sleepy noise, poems, stop yelling, and Andrew’s late rat shed update
    00:18:04 - Ben finished Pragmata, pregnancy trends, and how video game electricity works 
    00:25:32 - Mixtape thoughts, internet opinions, an uninteresting trailer, and coming of age
    00:32:47 - The Artful Escape, to a lesser extent, masquerading as nostalgia, and an impression
    00:36:48 - Andrew tops off, Ben bought an electric kettle, grits, and a beer book for Andrew
    00:38:56 - False expectations, fractions of caffeination, Cheyenne cheers, and Google changes
    00:41:52 - Straight to Merriam-Webster, take that robots, and fomenting or contriving coffee
    00:43:37 - Possibly offensive to verbs, generationally appropriate songs, and the theater kids
    00:47:16 - As if, vending machine coffee, Ngram theories, amazing tees, and Strange Brew
    00:53:25 - Percent Canadian, Clif and Marty’s Talking Pondo, and Shakespearean connections
    00:59:53 - Using all the drinking water in Utah, the Claude AI incident, and meat-body bound
    01:03:16 - Enough with the steeping, brew bros, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, and Mel Blanc
    01:06:45 - The electric monk, a particular coffee place, and sometimes it’s just a mermaid
    01:09:03 - Barista stories from Cuppuccinos, all the vaccines, the MacGuffin, and reasonable 
    01:15:08 - Andrew’s thoughts on the trailer, customer service, and pumpkin spice zombies
    01:17:38 - Perpetuating your apathy, Andrew’s favorite game right now, and gamification
    01:20:55 - Rolling dice in day-to-day life, the tea tannins, final quotes, and the joy of Biscoff
    01:25:22 - More positive jazz numbers, Uncle John, and a baby CJ cuteness sign-off

    ***

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin
    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    Check out Andrew’s latest book and supplemental card deck here…

    The ADHD FAQ: Understand and Embrace Your Brain, from Diagnosis to Everyday Life - https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/62918
    ADHD Coping Skills Deck - https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/decks/69501

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    Check out friends of the pod, Talking Pondo… but specifically, the episode that Ben and Andrew appeared on where they talked about the movies Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and Strange Brew
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2030901
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2030901/episodes/19420748-strange-brew-and-rosencrantz-guildenstern-are-dead-talking-shakespeare

    For more information about Strange Brew, developed and published by Electric Monk Media…

    https://www.strangebrewthegame.com/
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3499670/Strange_Brew/
    https://youtu.be/QeRAidGynCY?si=CTeBKB9anQd7EzSC

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #TheADHDFAQ #ADHDCopingSkills #NerdEmergencies #TalkingPondo #StrangeBrew #StrangeBrewGame #ElectricMonkMedia

    1 hr 28 min
  • Episode 154 - Doom

    Faith joins Ben this week to discuss the premise of the latest book she has been writing, which involves a pandemic-era social media scrolling phenomenon. The two Gen Xers talk about her origins in an assortment of social need-based therapy disciplines, her career development and research activities, and how she is working with Microcosm Publishing to help amplify neurodiverse voices and perspectives. They wrap up the episode with an exploration of the game Ultimate Grandma Simulator, a quick chat about how games have the potential to subtly teach in addition to providing entertainment, and a couple book recommendations.

    ***

    00:00:20 - Twelve-year-old boy humor, Faith’s introduction, promises made, and promises kept

    00:04:34 - Back when we funded things, conversion, community services potpourri, and books
    00:09:46 - Connecting with Andrew, lived experience, ragtag band, and focus of the new book
    00:12:43 - Moral injury forms, betrayal, indigenous ancestral origin, and liberation psychology
    00:17:49 - Supporting community as a coping strategy, and focusing on what you can change
    00:21:04 - The Intimacy Doctor, reframing shadow work, and keeping San Antonio quietly cool
    00:26:25 - Dictionary choices, airplane fears unlocked, the 90s were amazing, and ticket costs
    00:33:09 - Echo and the Bunnymen, angry philosophers, and the nuclear war fear of the 1980s
    00:40:43 - Finding hope, piles of books & cats, and does doom get better or worse with age? 
    00:45:06 - A fond memory of critical thinking, simulating grandmothers, and avoiding vacuums 
    00:48:34 - Therapist feedback, a joke in a joke, learning from games, and a book suggestion
    00:52:44 - Fiction is lying, Ben remembers, there IS cussing, people know, and a BONUS bit

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin
    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    For more information about Faith Harper and her wonderful books (wherein she isn’t afraid to drop an f-bomb or twelve)…

    https://www.faithgharper.com/
    https://microcosmpublishing.com/

    For more information about Ultimate Grandma Simulator, developed by Circo and PlumPointTwo and published by We Don't Have A Studio… 

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3511870/Ultimate_Grandma_Simulator/
    https://youtu.be/A8fKlNNy_vM?si=ewSwZAcf8ARopOG9


    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #TheIntimacyDoctor #FaithGHarper #UltimateGrandmaSimulator #Circo #PlumPointTwo #WeDontHaveAStudio

    56 min
  • Episode 153 - Localize

    Christian from Imaginary Game Studios joins Ben for a conversation involving a very important aspect of video game promoting, advertising, and audience connections. To start it all off with a proverbial BANG, Ben talks about a couple of games that he has been playing recently, Monday Syndrome and RACCOIN, and Christian professes his undying love for Japanese coin-pusher machines. Next, the fellows discuss the recently announced DLSS 5 technology, how the “message” was received by gamers and developers, and the resulting spin from Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang. FINALLY… they explore the topic word as it relates to pop culture, Christian’s chosen line of work, censorship, various forms of art, advertising in a global economy, inducing laughter, and the unique games of SUDA51 and Grasshopper Manufacture.

    ***

    00:00:20 - Various Gabbos, Schrödinger’s coming soon, early access, and NOT Constantinople

    00:03:33 - Palpable excitement, props for an AI disclosure, and Ben didn’t enjoy his Mondays

    00:06:41 - Perk and power tradeoff, Clippy’s replacement, game design love, and coin-pushing

    00:11:39 - Better arcades in Japan, games for parents, falling pennies, and pushing marbles

    00:17:02 - Cold hard cash, towers of coins, DLSS 5 technology, and the stuff of nightmares

    00:22:23 - Addressing the wrong audience, an ill-advised CEO response, and a pair of TLDRs

    00:30:37 - Excellent timing, Christian invents a definition, unknown origin, and spot reduction

    00:35:02 - ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US, churning SIMS, and localization services

    00:39:56 - The unspoken cost, censorship, dubs and subs, and anime and manga parallels

    00:45:51 - Pixar localizations, Wuxia genre fails, missing tutorials, vigor, energy, spirits, and chi 

    00:50:59 - The biggest Dynasty Warriors fan, 1 vs.1000 soaps, and the California pizza chicken

    00:54:05 - Eating your digits, a resurrection elixir, no movement, touching birds, and sucking 

    00:56:41 - Pondering purpose, art as a product, Ben’s job and the Street Fighter name swap

    01:00:51 - Everyone’s favorite Darkstalkers character, Ben’s Dreamcast tip, and Scott Pilgrim

    01:05:00 - The games of Goichi Suda, playing a patchwork quilt, and Shadows of the Damned

    01:10:10 - Romeo is a Dead Man, growing bastards, and can game mechanics be localized?

    01:14:22 - Ben always knew, the result of heating up water, and localizing in semaphore 

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com

    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast

    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast

    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/

    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

     

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    For all of your 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!

    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

     

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/

    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot

    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot

    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/

    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com

    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot

    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin

    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot

    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

     

    Follow all the shenanigans of Imaginary Game Studios here…

    On their website: https://www.imaginarygamestudios.com/

    On their Discord: https://discord.gg/YyDD7ECtdJ

    On their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@caxtnova

    Check out the Rogue Climber trailer here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbTXcHa3is

    Rogue Climber on Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    For more information about Monday Syndrome, developed by hyesmo and published by Brightika, Inc, and Blackburne Games Studio FZ LLC...

    https://hyesmo.com/

    https://brightika.com/

    https://www.blackburnegames.com/

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3305970/Monday_Syndrome/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPOcZ0okdU

     

    For more information about RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike, developed by Doraccoon and published by Playstack

    https://www.playraccoin.com/

    https://www.playstack.com/games/raccoin/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3eRZVM6o6k

     

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #NerdEmergencie #RogueClimber #ImaginaryGameStudios #MondaySyndrome #hyesmo #BlackburneGamesStudio #Raccoin #Doraccoon #Playstack

    1 hr 19 min
  • Episode 152 - Arc

    Erik from Imaginary Game Studios joins Ben this week for, to Norah's chagrin, a math-free conversation about curved paths. After discussing a little game design philosophy as it relates to the games Ben has been playing (Stellar Wander DX and the Pragmata Sketchbook Demo), chatting about Erik’s first viewing of the 1983 movie Brainstorm, and dispensing with the miscellaneous “what have we been up to” pleasantries, they move on to the definition accompanied by a brief homophone detour. In the video games segment, they apply the Kübler-Ross model for processing grief to Ben’s experiences with the multiplayer third-person extraction shooter developed and published by Embark Studios, ARC Raiders. To close out the program, Erik asks Ben to share the life lesson he learned from the 300+ hours he invested in playing the game. 

    ***

    00:00:20 - Germ factories, the next project, cosmic horror gardening, and a dumb memory joke

    00:05:45 - Getting older, an unorthodox method for attracting bats, and stale game mechanics
    00:07:56 - Ship combat, pastry mining, lengthening, pushing buttons, and minimalist games
    00:13:28 - Getting out of hand, Ben’s thoughts on the Pragmata demo, and production costs
    00:17:57 - Crayon fingers, different big daddy, compact level design, and accidental purchase
    00:22:01 - Douglas Trumbull’s divorce from major film directing, and renting a laserdisc player
    00:28:39 - Tackling concepts in relatable ways, way too high, CQ, and not choosing favorites
    00:32:16 - It’s a sled, a math-heavy definition, stocks, Canadian energy, and the homophone
    00:40:04 - Watch-along videos, misunderstanding the premise, and lucrative retirement plans
    00:44:25 - They prefer sandwiches, SURPRISING NO ONE, copyright law, and arc versus arch
    00:48:46 - Erik’s excitement, Billy has depression, texts from Ben, and the Kübler-Ross model
    00:52:27 - Denial, anger, 65 minutes versus 300 hours, Warframe, and exploring and collecting
    00:56:27 - Erik gets Ben back on track, bargaining, industrial plumbers, and on to depression
    00:59:34 - Acceptance, Buddhism, psychological healing, the Hairpin Bandit, and matching
    01:03:04 - B.F. Skinner, public service message, back to bargaining, and session improvements
    01:06:14 - ARC Raiders life lesson, Erik’s retort, a beefy Nicolas Coppola, and nothing positive 

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at [email protected]

    -AND-
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin
    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    Please consider helping Andrew out with a pledge for or a purchase of Nerd Emergencies ...And Other Misunderstandings: A Comix Showcase of Neurodivergent Perspectives, his latest zine offering featuring the creative comic musings of dozens of neurodivergent artists and allies: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/partlyrobot/nerd-emergencies

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    Follow ALL the shenanigans of Imaginary Game Studios…

    
On their website: https://www.imaginarygamestudios.com/ 


    On their Discord: https://discord.gg/YyDD7ECtdJ 


    On their YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@caxtnova

    Check out the Rogue Climber trailer here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbTXcHa3is

    Rogue Climber on Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/

     

    For more information on Stellar Wanderer DX (developed by Dream Builder Studios and published by Leoful)...

    https://stellarwanderer.com/index.html

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401630/Stellar_Wanderer_DX/

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #NerdEmergencie #RogueClimber #ImaginaryGameStudios #StellerWandererDX #DreamBuilderStudios #Leoful #Pragmata #Capcom #ARCRaiders #EmbarkStudios 

    1 hr 9 min
  • Episode 151 - The SPECTACULAR SWAPMEAT SPECIAL

    Jamie Stormbreaker from One More Game joins Ben this week to discuss game design philosophy and the amazingly zany and fun game SWAPMEAT—a third-person shooter featuring a unique part-switching mechanic. Jamie and his team are very excited to share their full “out of early access” version of the cooperative-focused roguelite with the world on June 17th, so there is a LOT of juicy conversational MEAT to consume. As a perfectly marbled audio morsel, no additional gravy is required or encouraged.

    ***

    00:00:58 - Lawyer input, industry to independent, Saros is a seven, THAC0, and for all ten of us

    00:07:00 - Swapping origins, Steam verification, meat quote despair, and the Pounding Fathers
    00:15:19 - Beyond early access, listening to and engaging the community, and planet renaming
    00:17:51 - In-office consoles, Alpha-driven development, and building games in public view
    00:24:55 - Expectation reset, thoughts on sequels, RTS games, and playing with vs. versus
    00:32:00 - Multiplayer roguelite challenges, talking to players early, and don’t roast Jamie
    00:35:42 - Ben’s thought path, revisiting games as a dev, and balancing difficulty with empathy
    00:40:51 - How loot is distributed in SWAPMEAT to minimize competition, and playful banter
    00:43:34 - Solo play, early access perks, the definition of independent, and institutional support
    00:48:30 - Fresh ideas, end-to-end enjoyment, Indies are the innovators, and taking risks
    00:51:15 - AI concerns, no joy in average, automation, art is made by humans, and breaking art

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearances and other inquiries, contact us at [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin
    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    Please consider helping Andrew out with a pledge for Nerd Emergencies

    ...And Other Misunderstandings: A Comix Showcase of Neurodivergent Perspectives, his latest zine offering featuring the creative comic musings of dozens of neurodivergent artists and allies: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/partlyrobot/nerd-emergencies 

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    For more information on SWAPMEAT and One More Game shenanigans…

    https://www.playswapmeat.com/
    https://www.onemoregame.com/games/
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2790700/SWAPMEAT/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCKk5i2zueI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tGNHwQQljc

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #NerdEmergencies #SWAPMEAT #OneMoreGame #JamieStormbreaker

    56 min
  • Episode 150 - Vintage

    Norah is visiting Tucson this week, so she has stopped by the studio to procure some Mango affection (via bribery) and make an appearance on the podcast! They were planning on doing a different word initially, but they are keeping it in the same wheelhouse to make a distinction between the two words—often used as synonyms. After a quick introduction where Ben talks about the game review code he received for the recent port of the N64 game Glover, Norah and Ben discuss their thoughts on the differences between retro and vintage, antique and vintage collections or items, and educational techniques that aren’t keeping pace with technological advancements. To close out the show, they share their Disneyland and Disney World experiences and critique a blog post about some historical menu items served at the parks.

    ***

    00:00:20 - Hand gestures, cats with false teeth, nephews and book fairs, and Norah on-brand

    00:03:15 - A line-segment of proofreaders, balls and gloves, and refurbishing “antique” games
    00:07:08 - An unfortunate distinction, ball metamorphosis, a platformer relic, and ideas of fun
    00:10:55 - Clash of the Titans, games out of time, Norah’s surprise, and everyone’s favorite ox
    00:13:31 - Rifles in Indiana, items of high quality, wine diagrams, and hipsters or vino snobs
    00:16:25 - Sommeliers, roasty coffee, Merriam-Webster chaser, and pondering the differences
    00:20:41 - Literal organic word growth, the quality debate, art is neither, and Norah is an astute 
    00:25:52 - Coffins and ashes, collecting heirlooms, hobbies versus investments, and hipsters
    00:29:16 - Antique educational methods, vaccines (NOT leeches), other ideas, and typewriters
    00:34:04 - Vintage foods, impossible pies, Disney anecdotes, Ben’s favorite ride, and Epcot
    00:38:34 - Listing food items, an historic chili cook-off, making Norah sick, and futuristic pies
    00:42:53 - Not very pirate-ish, sea chicken sandwiches, an ill-advised pun, and unsurprising
    00:45:34 - ACTUAL vintage foods, mincemeat pie, Spam dishes, arcade cabinets, and Pong
    00:49:32 - Atari impact, do not eat the aunt, misgendered Mango, and inspired to be difficult 


    ***

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    On Microcosm Publishing: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/andrew-coltrin
    On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    For all of your PRI and 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!

    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    Please consider helping Andrew out with a pledge for Nerd Emergencies... And Other Misunderstandings: A Comix Showcase of Neurodivergent Perspectives, his latest zine offering featuring the creative comic musings of dozens of neurodivergent artists and allies: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/partlyrobot/nerd-emergencies 

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    Check out all of the vintage console game offerings (including Glover) at the Piko Interactive website: https://www.pikointeractive.com/home/PIKO-Online-Store-c33087521

    Glover (QUByte Classics) trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26WM8bODn8g


    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MicrocosmPublishing #Kickstarter #NerdEmergencies #PikoInteractive #Glover #QUByteClassics

    53 min
  • Episode 149 - Transition

    Cheyenne joins Ben this week to talk about the myriad changes they both have been going through since his last appearance on the show. After a little bit of work-centric catch-up, they switch it up by front-loading the program with the video game chat a little earlier than usual. Cheyenne has been playing Fields of Mistria, Ben has been playing HAMSTERMIND, and they both have thoughts they are eager to share about these titles. Then by way of the definition, they TRANSITION into a more philosophical and anecdote-filled discussion about life, learning, the rise of PC usage, and current communication trends before closing the show with their final thoughts. 

     

    ***

     

    00:00:20 - Big life changes, a fanfic magnum opus, and Cheyenne is a fancy-pants manager

    00:04:11 - Ben needs a stock split, reflecting upon the year, and learning about management

    00:07:14 - You can’t lead with vibes, monkey-cymbals moments, and taking accountability

    00:11:30 - Espresso shot math, branded graduated cylinders, and the donut hole paradox

    00:14:56 - Knighting ceremonies, boring frameworks, one-leg jeans, and Ben the fashionista 

    00:18:21 - Fields of Mistria, marry the pink cow, teaching humanoids to love, and bigamy-free

    00:24:41 - Florists and bakers, the combat, HAMSTERMIND, trailer impressions, and no hints

    00:33:02 - Catherine, a member of the media, using the Googles, and critiquing the definition

    00:36:24 - Boy juice, Ben’s nitpicking, gender-affirming care for everyone, and a politicization 

    00:40:54 - Particle physics, Fermilab, 20-something and clueless, and discrete dating logic

    00:45:09 - A rehash of the nouns, on the upswing, asking Jeeves, and more accessible PCs

    00:50:14 - Users getting GUI, the Y2K scare, panic fatigue, and the next communication trend

    00:54:46 - Relationship status, dating apps, removing chemistry, and making new connections

    00:58:46 - Recognizing generational patterns, engaging curiosity, and healthy feedback loops

    01:01:55 - Courtesy and friendliness, being judgmental, and pondering sociocultural shifts

    01:06:35 - College words and phrases, the favorite part of the colon, and PowerPoint PARTIES

    01:10:39 - Ben’s PowerPoint prejudice, keeping it spicy, that chipmunk song, and a new phase

     

    ***

     

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com

    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast

    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast

    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/

    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

     

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    -AND- 

    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!

    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

     

    ***

     

    References, Links, and Tags

     

    Fields of Mistria - Developed and published by NPC Studio 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ41ud74zB4

    https://www.fieldsofmistria.com/

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2142790/Fields_of_Mistria/

     

    HAMSTERMIND - Developed and published by Righteous Tree Studio

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo-iKwf79bU

    https://righteoustreestudio.com/

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3555520/HAMSTERMIND/

     

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #FieldsOfMistria #NPCStudio #HAMSTERMIND #RighteousTreeStudio

    1 hr 18 min
  • Episode 148 - Variety

    We have double the guests for you this week for a show so special that it inspired a new and spicy 2VP T-shirt design—available on Andrew’s TeePublic storefront! In the first segment, Ben sits down with a visiting “aunt of the pod,” Norah, to discuss her first impressions from playing the demo of Black Jacket on the Steam Deck. The second segment features Jakub, the associate producer of this wonderful offering from Mi’Pu’Mi Games. The hosts have a discussion about the development of the game, Jakub’s role at Mi’Pu’Mi’ Games, the importance of variety as it relates to game development, and an assortment of other ramblings. 

    ***

    Black Jacket Demo First Impressions With Norah

    00:00:20 - THE Norah is IN, preliminary thoughts on the demo, and Ben wants a larger font
    00:02:53 - A wrinkled card game, story and game mechanics, and comparing it to other games
    00:06:02 - Norah betting badly, happy to take all her money, and how Ben does introductions
    00:09:51 - Too early to do stars, real voice actors, an explanation of next segment, and thanks 

    The Announcement Trailer for Black Jacket

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC4Mtfz0YN8

    A Conversation With Jakub from Mi’Pu’Mi’ Games

    00:12:04 - Jukub introduces himself, a tradition of puns, going to PAX, and a demo experience
    00:15:02 - Black Jacket development timeline, oozing in a good way, and differences in demos
    00:19:02 - Not spoiling the boss count, Mi’Pu’Mi’s focus, and the three pillars of the business
    00:22:26 - A little James bondage, Barbara Broccoli, Jakub’s choice, and learning from variety
    00:26:56 - Fully independent, Ben’s new management buzz phrase, and ignorant Americans
    00:29:58 - A technical hiccup, radio face, the definition according to Ox Ford, and consistency
    00:33:50 - Gameplay variety, games with too much stuff, maintaining balance, and Warframe
    00:39:24 - Live-service games, barriers to entry, smorgasbords, and a Star Wars Christmas 
    00:43:18 - Variety shows in the EU, in Polish, attitudes on diversity, and similar worldly norms
    00:47:34 - Traveling to and from Vienna, driving stereotypes, and riding two-wheeled vehicles
    00:49:45 - Losing Jakub, Ben’s final thoughts, he’s back, and we covered a variety of topics

    ***

    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…

    His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
    On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
    On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
    On Substack: https://partlyrobot.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.com
    On Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobot
    And his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    To add to Partly Robot Industries’ coffers and enhance Ben’s graphic design ego, pick up a “SPICY,” episode-inspired, Two Vague Podcast T-shirt here!

    https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/90605584-two-vague-spice-blend

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    For more information on Mi’Pu’Mi Games and Black Jacket…

    https://www.mipumi.com/
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3100370/Black_Jacket/

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #MiPuMiGames #BlackJacket

    52 min
  • Episode 147 - Meow

    Mango the pod-cat, joins Ben this week to meow about his favorite word, his upcoming appearance in Andrew’s latest zine, and other assorted nonsense. Ben’s grasp of the feline language is a little rusty, but he does his best to keep up. After Mango gets bored of chatting, he provides a little ASMR-inspired purring to close out the show.

    ***

    00:00:20 - Mee Meow Meow Meowcast introduction, meow-meow me…ow, and right meow

    00:02:02 - Meow, meow, final meows, closing the show, and Mango’s ASMR outro

    ***

    Follow Two Vague on…

    Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com
    On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
    On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
    On Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/
    On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com

    For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

    -AND- 
    …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries

    ***

    References, Links, and Tags

    #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #AprilFoolsDay #Meow

    5 min

About The Two Vague Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Two Vague is a 2 player cooperative conversation program which starts with a focus word and ends on the topic of video games. Each episode contains a blend of interview questions, trivia,…