The Two Vague Podcast

By Ben Cheknis

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, storytellin... more

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FAQs about The Two Vague Podcast:

How many episodes does The Two Vague Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 124 episodes available.

The Two Vague Podcast episodes:

November 09, 2024 Episode 122 - Ninja
Andrew joins Ben this week to talk about something which thanks to pop culture is turtle adjacent and thanks to an obscure martial arts publication is also peach adjacent… weird eh? They catch up on what has been going on in their lives—lots of writing for each! Andrew has been working on his ADHD focused book, and Ben has been playing Edge of Sanity for game review material on Substack. They explore an assortment of topics before moving to video games including the following: the Insane Clown Posse, the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, household appliances, motorcycles, the movie You Only Live Twice, G.I. Joe toys and comics, the Community episode “G.I. Jeff,” The Tick, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja (Hero) Turtles franchise. In closing, Ben and Andrew talk about some of their favorite ninja themed arcade games and the PC games they would play in their youth.
***
00:00:21 - The intersection of life stuff and writing stuff, lots of stickers, and a fleet of snails
00:03:44 - Andrew’s “Attention Dragons” mini-zine, a new Ko-Fi page, and shuttering Patreon
00:06:33 - Taxes, staying out of Etsy jail, a flu fighter, the plural of ninja, and asking a Juggalo
00:09:33 - Learning on a bus, the quintessential alcoholic clown movie, and the 2VP Substack
00:12:05 - H.P. Lovecraft, separating art and artist, the Cthulhu-verse, and “The Cats of Ulthar"
00:16:18 - Ben’s preliminary thoughts on Edge of Sanity, the madness meter, and Xenophobe

Check out Ben’s full review of Edge of Sanity on Substack!
https://substack.com/home/post/p-150996029
Check out Andrew’s reference to the song “Night Boat to Cairo” by Madness!
https://youtu.be/lLLL1KxpYMA?si=b5eoHuDOmllJKNeP
00:19:20 - It literally means spy, food processors, motorcycle names, and You Only Live Twice
00:22:46 - From blenders to Snake Eyes, comic loopholes, and “PORKCHOP SANDWICHES!!!”
00:26:50 - Complicated personalities, the government issue Jeff episode, and the original Joes
00:29:12 - A surrounding hedge, straight outta Birnam Wood, ninja parody, and TMNT or TMHT
00:35:41 - Adventures with Chicago weapon vendors, finality of death, and parodying parodies
00:36:57 - Cheap 80s and 90s newsprint, cashing in on trends, arcade remakes, and The Tick
00:39:07 - Bitch or ninja, czars in government, subreddits, Ninja Mind Control, and fruit theft
00:42:52 - Memorable ninja arcade games, 28 quarters, Arcade Archives, and Mystic Warriors
00:45:32 - Telling stories in shortened arcade experiences, and Andrew briefly checks out
00:48:20 - Sinistar’s backstory, board games, and Andrew ponders if he likes “story” games
00:50:30 - His name was Richard Garriott, remembering Tabula Rasa, and Ultima with Andrew’s
00:53:02 - Games of the college days, Ben remembers Strider, and a Vancouver microbrewery
00:56:00 - Strange beers, brewing, the flavor of the day, juice pouch problems, and apologies
00:58:05 - Andrew remembering the Juggalo lore and Ben remembering a Patton Oswalt bit
***
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 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://substack.com/@twovaguepodcast
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
Episode 122 Show Notes - https://substack.com/home/post/p-151404155
The Edge of Sanity Linktree page - https://linktr.ee/Edge_Of_Sanity
Vixa Games - https://vixagames.com/
Daedalic Entertainment - https://www.daedalic.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersOfThreads #Substack #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #EdgeOfSanity #VixaGames #PositiveVibes
...more
1h
October 16, 2024 Episode 121 - A PAX West 2024 Retrospective and Deathbound Review
Ben is flying solo again this week. After managing technical and medical difficulties, he’s champing at the bit and excited to talk about his PAX West 2024 Exhibit Hall experiences! But first, Ben has an abbreviated review of Deathbound; for the full review of this game check out our Substack page! Any feedback would be appreciated! Then Ben dives right in and shares his favorite games and booths at the show this year. If any of these games sound interesting to you, please follow the links in the show notes, like, wishlist, subscribe… do ALL the things!
***
00:00:20 - Intro, explanation, apology, and CHECK OUT OUR SUBSTACK!
00:02:02 - Ben’s Deathbound thoughts
00:04:26 - 3 UPs: amazing music, great graphics for an indy, and the unique combat system
00:05:30 - 3 DOWNS: issues with targeting, perspective shift bug, and too few essences at first
You can read Ben’s full Deathbound review “It’s Inspired by… Don’t Call it a Soulslike - A Review of Deathbound on PS5” on Substack here… https://substack.com/home/post/p-149861815
00:08:43 - PAX West 2024
Day 1
00:09:05 - Ysbryd Games - https://www.ysbryd.net/
00:09:24 - Love Eternal - https://loveeternalgame.com/
00:10:33 - Everdeep Aurora - https://www.everdeepaurora.com/
00:11:40 - ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist - http://www.endermagnolia.com/en/
00:13:39 - Anshar Publishing - https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/AnsharPublishing
00:13:48 - Coridden - https://www.coridden.com/
00:14:32 - Bytebond - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1952690/Bytebond/
00:15:49 - Rugrats: Adventure in Gameland - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2633950/Rugrats_Adventures_in_Gameland/
00:16:33 - Railgun Games - https://www.railgungames.com/
00:17:01 - Virtual World Centers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BattleTech_Centers
00:17:32 - Red Planet - Training Video https://youtu.be/DIPMK4L_Qv4?si=ho3Wj0xcJ2rRt9TF
00:17:51 - Deathland Drifters - https://www.youtube.com/@railgungamesdev
00:18:37 - A Corgi’s Cozy Hike - https://scalisco.com/pages/a-corgis-cozy-hike
00:19:09 - Ukiyo Studios - https://www.ukiyostudios.com/
00:19:12 - Nine Sols - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1809540/Nine_Sols/
00:19:20 - Infinity Bullets - https://infinitybullets.com/
00:20:37 - Pacific Drive - https://www.pacificdrivegame.com/
00:21:20 - Heartworm - https://heartwormgame.com/
00:22:37 - The Mortuary Assistant - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295920/The_Mortuary_Assistant/
00:23:12 - Section 13 - https://oceandrive.studio/blackout-protocol/
00:24:51 - The Behemoth Games - https://www.thebehemoth.com/
00:25:51 - Path of Exile 2 - https://pathofexile2.com/
Day 2
00:27:19 - DORONKO WANKO - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2512840/DORONKO_WANKO/
00:29:09 - Pizza Bandit - https://www.jofsoft.com/
00:30:00 - Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch - https://www.interabangent.com/
00:31:11 - Optillusion - https://www.optillusion.games/
00:31:28 - While Waiting - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2449160/While_Waiting/
00:31:50 - Pick Me, Pick Me - https://www.pickmepickme.ai/
00:33:08 - PLAYISM - https://playism.com/en/
00:33:21 - Nitro Express - https://playism.com/en/game/nitro-express/
00:33:43 - Homura Hime - https://playism.com/en/game/homura-hime/
00:34:09 - Outrider Mako - https://playism.com/en/game/outrider-mako/
00:34:26 - Metal Bringer - https://playism.com/en/game/metal-bringer/
00:34:45 - HARUKA: Beyond the Stars - https://playism.com/en/game/haruka-beyond-the-stars/
00:35:25 - Million Depth - https://playism.com/en/game/millionｰdepth/
Day 3
00:35:58 - Shroom Siege - https://www.upsidedownbird.com/shroom-siege
00:37:07 - Exercise Your Demons - https://www.vyersoft.com/eyd
00:38:15 - MythWalker - https://mythwalker.com/
00:43:38 - Highway Police Simulator - https://highwaypolicegame.com/
00:46:51 - Fish Game - https://www.fish.game/
00:48:14 - Kriegsfront Tactics - https://www.togeproductions.com/project/kriegsfront-tactics/
00:49:10 - Alterium Shift - https://alteriumshift.com/
Day 4
00:51:01 - ANTONBLAST - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887400/ANTONBLAST/
00:53:09 - Honeycomb: The World Beyond - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1510440/Honeycomb_The_World_Beyond/
00:54:22 - Winter Burrow - https://www.pinecreekgames.com/
00:56:27 - Rogue Climber - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/
Other Things
00:58:00 - Bateman Labs - https://batemanlabs.com/
00:58:28 - Dragon Roast Coffee - https://dragonroast.coffee/
00:58:58 - Small Rice Studios’ new game Roast - https://www.roast-game.com/
00:59:53 - PAX West 2025 Plans
***
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://substack.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries email us at [email protected]
For all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
References, Links, and Tags
For more information about Deathbound and the developer Trialforge Studio…
https://deathbound-game.com
http://www.trialforgestudio.com/en/
Check out Small Rice Studios’ YouTube page…
https://www.youtube.com/@smallricestudios6703/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #TateMultimedia #Deathbound #TrialforgeStudio #PAXWest_2024 #PAXWest2024
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1h 1min
September 28, 2024 Episode 120 - The Last Clip Show?
Prepare yourself for the conversational snips of the previous thirty episodes… a potpourri of what may be our final clip show for a while. Over the last 3 years we’ve obviously refined a few things. Ben is starting to get right into the show when he’s in charge of recording; a side effect of this is that warmups are no longer as much of “a thing” for us anymore. Ben has also worked diligently on reducing the necessary recording time for special guests, so these days we are also cutting far fewer segments due to time. However, we reserve the right to revisit the clip show concept in the future, but they will no longer occur on 30 episode intervals as they have in the past. And now… on to the scraps!
***
00:00:21 - Why?
00:01:47 - Ep 92 Logic clip introduction
00:02:23 - Unity fee restructuring, SAG striking, Andrew’s support, and supporting indies
00:09:19 - Ep 95 Animate clip introduction
00:10:23 - Martin’s opinions about Unity, showing support by being vocal, and StarVaders
00:13:23 - Ben asks Martin about controller support on the Mac and development challenges
00:17:07 - The benefits of being a part of the Unity developer community and 3rd party tools
00:20:33 - Effective game QA testing, using Discord, and how game engines lock down code
00:25:14 - The pros and cons of making your own game engine, and Starbucks’ in Sweden
00:26:58 - Ep 96 Robot clip introduction
00:27:38 - Differences in salts, nobody wants goiters, PRINGLES® slogans, and “Hi Julius!”
00:31:38 - Let them breathe, smells like potato water, hearing Idaho, and eating them in stacks
00:34:01 - ASMR, salt favored, the most expensive salt, condiment reminder, and library garlic
00:38:41 - PRINGLES® freshness dates foreign and domestic, ASMR+, and a bathroom break
00:43:51 - Ep 98 Ink clip introduction
00:44:19 - Sensory adventure triggers another sensory adventure, and an animatronic callback
00:48:06 - Ep 100 Review clip introduction
00:48:41 - Drop dead, postmortem, rail sharing, trains falling down, and high altitude littering
00:54:47 - Ep 102 Narative clip introduction
00:55:28 - Andrew loves all things Richard Ayoade, his first, and 0118 999 88199 9119 725... 3
01:00:54 - The “Critical Film Studies” episode of a Community, and it’s just a television show
01:03:09 - Ep 103 Rhythm clip introduction
01:04:00 - Some tech talk, definitions of art, “but also that elephant…,” and walking on the flag
01:07:48 - Heather Cassils’ performance art, and Star’s experience at Purchase College
01:11:01 - Exploring what you want to learn in community college, and don’t not be happy
01:13:24 - Decoy show start, a dress rehearsal for a podcast, and short term memory screens
01:16:15 - The WiiU, The Wonderful 101, Veiwtiful Joe, and an extreme button mashing pro tip
01:19:11 - Ep 104 Lukas Eggan Interview clip introduction
01:19:50 - Discussing Alan Wake 2, Quantum Break, and a choice for the current generation
01:22:23 - Bethesda needs a win, collecting priorities, changing it in post, and LAN Parties
01:26:24 - Lukas’ noticeable change in sound quality, our cats, and Ben’s pre-show coffee
01:28:10 - Ep 106 April Fools / Turbo Tax Game Review clip introduction
01:28:59 - Agendas, sensitivity readings, the moral “high ground,” and conspiracy theories
01:32:16 - Splitting hairs of the definition, trying to explain things, and being empathetic
01:35:49 - Ep 107 Trend clip introduction
01:36:48 - A documentary about coinage, Norah’s traffic commentary, and interview feedback
01:39:32 - Actively being a passenger, Norah reveals Alaska plans, and ambient sounds
01:43:17 - Ep 109 Beat clip introduction
01:44:13 - AI responding to AI generated content, where we get our news, and the FTC ruling
01:46:41 - Twenty year old cat FRAPs, old politicians, and refusing to work with people
01:50:33 - Printed infographics, teach yourself with the internet, and positive attitudes
01:53:58 - Ben starts showcasing his writings on Substack, and closing the show
***
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://substack.com/@twovaguepodcast
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
...more
1h 57min
September 14, 2024 Episode 119 - Witch Spring R Review and PAX West 2024 Interviews
This week we have an AMAZING episode for you! We received another PS5 review code compliments of the fabulously kind PR ninja Robert, but before Ben spills the entire cup of tea on his time KIWIWALKS’ latest remaster of the original WitchSpring game, he recounts his 7 days of experiences in Seattle when he wasn’t busy at PAX West 2024 proper. After the review, Ben shares his LIVE (at the time) “Podcast in a Bag” interviews from the Arch Building of the Seattle Convention Center. The first one is with The Behemoth’s co-founder, artist and game designer Dan Paladin; he “sits down” with Ben to talk about his game design inspirations and of course, his favorite word. Next, JOFSOFT’s Aron Koh, the Executive Producer of the upcoming genre bending game Pizza Bandit, speaks to Ben about the circuitous route they took in their development of the game, as well as the importance of pivoting and iterating when developing for a general gaming audience.
***
00:00:21 - On this episode… two interviews, a game review, and Ben’s non-PAX Seattle stuff
00:01:41 - In Seattle, corned beef and cabbage, the story turns sour, and a mixed blessing
00:05:27 - The What’s Good Games party, Polaroid cameras, and dinner with Christian and Erik
00:07:25 - New friends in your 50s, Ben starts a Seattle walk, and selfie museum shenanigans
00:09:49 - Repopulating the planet, the Space Needle, and thanks to Nancy for the photos
00:11:03 - A fancy sandwich, more waking, a putting the bow on the trip with delicious Thai
00:13:16 - Witch versus evil pope, same story with different perspectives, and Suyoung Jang
00:16:14 - Building at your atelier, managing difficulty, a fat bird, and the experience system
00:19:42 - Increasing your other levels with training mini-games and bonus percentages
00:22:01 - 3 ups: well balanced, superior audiovisuals, and smart map zoom view and usage
00:23:30 - 3 downs: pet capture tutorial, inconsistent mission arrow, and blacksmith mini game
00:25:59 - Ben recommends playing, wants to see more witch stories, and closes the review
00:27:45 - The interviews, a quick disclaimer on the audio quality, crowd noise, and hot mics
00:30:23 - The seldom used a cappella Podcast in a Bag theme song!
00:30:35 - The co-founder of The Behemoth, Dan Paladin; words = ladle and cheeseborough
00:44:42 - The executive producer of JOFSOFT’s “Pizza Bandit,” Aron Koh;
00:51:44 - Aron’s words are pivot and iterate, the difference between the two, and WISHLIST!
00:53:13 - Ben shares what is in store for you on future episodes of the Two Vague Podcast
***
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
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
For more information on WitchSpring R from KIWIWALKS…
https://witchspringr.com/en/
For more information on The Behemoth’s amazing games…
https://www.thebehemoth.com/
For more information on JOFSOFT’s freshman release Pizza Bandit…
https://www.jofsoft.com/
WISHLIST Pizza Bandit on Steam HERE…
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2475010/Pizza_Bandit/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #witchspring #witchspringr #kiwiwalks #DanPaladin #TheBehemoth #AronKoh #JOVSOFT #PizzaBandit

...more
54min
August 30, 2024 Episode 118 - The Imaginary Game Studios Interview Episode
In this special pre-PAX West 2024 edition of the Two Vague Podcast… does Ben have a couple of imaginary guests, the titular “Drop Dead Fred” perhaps? Nope! He’s got something far more engaging than a Phoebe Cates movie up his sleeve. Christian and Erik from Imaginary Game Studios join Ben to talk about their experiences in the AAA gaming space and their latest project Rogue Climber! It’s an episode that is guaranteed to be more exciting and interesting than driving a desert bus from Las Vegas to Tucson, Arizona.
Ben’s interview with Christian
00:00:20 - Introducing Imaginary Game Studios founder and Meticulous game creator Christian
00:02:46 - Correction, the game Ben played at the Local H concert was Battle Arena Toshinden
00:04:25 - Finding the fun, exorcising the design demons, mixing inspiration, and rage climbers
00:07:52 - The indie game flavor of the month, Steam genre tag problems, and the Cybertruck
00:11:55 - Ben’s arcade memories, Christian’s time in Japanese arcades, and a Dreamcast tip
00:14:53 - Getting Over it with Bennett Foddy, Penn & Teller’s Desert Bus, and Airplane Mode
00:17:54 - Capsule hotels, themed stuff in Japan, Studio Ghibli stores, and back to Desert Bus
00:21:25 - Cozy rage, Christian’s experiences in the AAA space, and speculating on the cause
00:24:40 - Cutting Peter Dinklage’s Ghost, and stratification of creatives, leaders, and execs
00:27:27 - The Imaginary Game Studios game jam, YouTube content creation, and the news
00:28:32 - Favorite word - imagination
Ben’s interview with Erik
00:30:19 - Introducing 2VP to Erik, focus required, a lifeline for Meticulous, and the first to play
00:33:07 - Meeting Christian at EA, working at Blizzard on Diablo 3, and a heroine killing spoiler
00:36:38 - The perils of stories “under wraps,” crafting meaningful stories, and is it censorship?
00:39:19 - The easiest thing to change, creating a simulacra, incorporating feedback, and DEI
00:42:55 - Everyone is NOT a narrative expert, the creative process, and remembering Anthem
00:45:08 - Getting to the fun questions, Counter-Strike bunnyhopping, and a Venn diagram
00:48:34 - Correction, only review copies of Penn & Teller's Smoke and Mirrors were made
00:51:11 - Favorite word - a tie between scofflaw and bindlestiff
Erik’s interview with Ben
00:52:50 - Where did you come up with the word concept?
00:54:44 - Tell me about your dad, what would his favorite word be, and connecting with Norah
00:57:54 - Ben gets a little personal about his relationship with his father
00:59:42 - What story about your father do you think had the biggest impact on you?
01:00:40 - Erik talks about his experiences writing for a Sports Illustrated subsidiary
01:02:19 - Andrew and Erik are in the same boat, the 23 year gap, and the booth babe sash
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
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
Follow all the shenanigans Imaginary Game Studios is up to…
On their website: https://www.imaginarygamestudios.com/
On their Discord: https://discord.gg/YyDD7ECtdJ
On their YouTube channel - they post all sorts of stuff from gaming news, to gaming podcasts, to game jams, to the occasional cooking video: https://www.youtube.com/@caxtnova
Imaginary Game Studios GAMES on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/ <—- WISHLIST ME NOW!!!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2175790/Meticulous/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #ImaginaryGameStudios #CaxtNova
...more
1h 4min
August 22, 2024 Episode 117 - Play
Norah and Ben are excitedly hosting the pod this week. The topic word is one that most people associate with childhood, but the benefits for adults are well documented by psychologists. Ben talks about what he is playing (Wife Quest and Stellar Blade) and Norah talks about the weather before they get in to the meat and potatoes of the discussion and start playing with their fictitious food. Why are adults reluctant to use the word play in their day to day lives? Are hobbies a form of play? What was the origin of the Sony PlayStation? Our hosts explore these questions and more!

00:00:21 - Fan thanks, OnlyFans, Tucson weather, the monsoons, and Norah’s hall of records
00:04:15 - Playing baseball, fat bottom games, the nature of addiction, and not Wife Swap
00:06:45 - Norah hates reality… television, Ben explains Wife Quest, and the ABBA connection
00:09:47 - Ben recommends for a dose of nostalgia, chibi-ish style, and on to Stellar Blade
00:13:16 - The “back in my day” card, DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and why robot women?
00:17:06 - Ben likes strange stories, finding your girlfriend in a dumpster, and just Flemming
00:19:29 - Reading all the verbs and nouns, Norah’s “hot take,” and mostly recreational
00:23:55 - The origin, leaping for joy, usage in print, and other phrases containing play
00:25:46 - Plays-on-words, Ben doesn’t like golf, and burning tangerine segments at the stake
00:30:03 - Imagination, mailing snails, one class short, masters of play, building with LEGOs
00:34:27 - The stigma of playing, Ben challenges, throwing arrows and TikToks, and humor
00:37:26 - Creativity throughout life, playing funky music, and Richard Melville Hall scores
00:40:40 - The story of Play-Doh, coal residue, scent libraries, and the Doctor Drill N Fill toy
00:44:10 - A Hasbro patent, used by Homer Simpson, and the Psychology Today definition
00:47:25 - Two ways of doing puzzles and having fun, maths, and the benefits for adults
00:50:12 - After a quick pee break, a connection to Nintendo, and some CES shenanigans
00:53:31 - Developing hardware out spite, a PlayStation at a concert, and Local H’s big song
00:57:08 - You can do that outside, final thoughts, and an association to creating and learning

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
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
...more
1h 1min
August 13, 2024 Episode 116 - Ellipsis
Andrew joins Ben this week to talk about a particular piece of punctuation that isn’t a dinkus! People have strong opinions about when and where the ellipsis should and shouldn’t be used, so our hosts decided to investigate… for SCIENCE! Along the way they discovered a number of new words to share (including dinkus)! Fortunately there won’t be a vocabulary quiz at the end of the show, but there will be an exploration of the use of the ellipsis in the text and dialog of comics, manga, and video games. Finally, they close the show with a couple of odd questions from Ben and some of their soon to be famous tangential discussion nonsense.
00:00:21 - Unrefrigerated, getting a Whirlpool, Kevin Meaney, and no refrigerator magnets?!
00:02:56 - Ben throws some crazy, cabinet positions, still a general, and getting over… again
00:04:53 - Birthday time travel, trust the process, meeting on Threads, and Judy Blume books
00:08:04 - Best social media wingman, and “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai…” references
00:10:00 - Ben wants to compare arcade attendant notes with streamer AdventurerJessica
00:11:47 - Visual migraines, multifactorial, “the matchy color fun game,” and accomplishment
00:14:16 - Breaking up chapters, text message teaser, a very wordy hybrid, and linguistics
00:16:45 - Greek origins, graphs, two dollar words in 1800s, and the MLA format for writing
00:20:00 - Andrew thinks it’s judgmental, prescriptive versus descriptive grammar, and ain’t
00:22:31 - Interesting trends in language development, dialect coaches, and Ohio is derpy
00:24:51 - Generation Alpha’s meme inspired phrases, Florida man, and ellipsis use in texting
00:28:03 - Unspoken anger, punctuation usage confusion, the Mongolian ellipsis, and math
00:30:52 - Folding, nobody else cares, picking up styles, and guides for technical writing
00:35:10 - Vocabulary words of the episode: aposiopesis, cæsura, and “elision or deletion”
00:37:40 - Andrew goes off on Shakespeare, the days of Solid Snake, and fancy Breakout
00:39:46 - “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” conversations, and Zero Wing’s bad translations
00:42:07 - Pac-Man eating punctuation, more frequent in Japanese media, and pauses
00:44:12 - Widening the gap, interpreting the worst, and problems deciphering body language
00:48:29 - Andrew hopes he’s getting paid, the movie rights, and Ben Mezrich’s strategy
00:50:32 - Who would play you in a movie about your life, and does the face include ears?
00:52:34 - Tenet, Andrew’s nemesis, Inception, and Ben threatens to buy Andrew a BluRay
00:54:10 - Final thoughts, to confuse and annoy, that’s it, and a hero named “The Ellipsis”
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 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/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
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
Threads/IG Shout Outs for Liz, Kaja, and Jessica… (please be on the podcast)!
https://instagram.com/liz_lapoint AND check out her GenXcellent Substack!
https://instagram.com/booksbyblackley
https://instagram.com/adventurerjessica
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic
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1h
August 02, 2024 Episode 115 - News
Lukas Eggen from gameonmedia.net is back in the virtual studio with Ben to do a proper show on a subject that he, as a seasoned journalist, is incredibly qualified to talk about. Before getting into “the news,” they talk about a few articles that Lukas has been working on for his new publication "Game On!" Then they discuss how the journalism landscape has changed with the advent of digital media and what games they have been playing recently. Following the definition, Ben and Lukas move on to their thoughts on the pitfalls of news delivery, maintaining journalistic integrity, the potential impact of AI in journalism, and navigating “tough” interviews. Finally, Ben closes the show with his obligatory goofiness and some puppet centric trivia.
00:00:20 - Hot Las Vegas, being thankful for AC, gameonmedia.net, and podcast coaching
00:03:56 - Modules, Jennifer Hale, SkillsHub, the joys of podcasting, and Ben says…
00:06:40 - Breaking news, Lukas’ focuses on journalism, and from Evo to AI in gaming
00:09:17 - Old school reporting, how news stories have changed, and digital versus printed
00:12:51 - What Lukas has been playing: Animal Crossing, Child of Light, and Marvel Snap
00:14:46 - Ben has been playing Wife Quest since TEVI, and he is pleasantly surprised
00:17:15 - miHoYo’s “Zenless Zone Zero,” “pay to win” popularity, and live service games
00:20:17 - The vision of kids today, wives snapping necks, and the definition and origin
00:23:54 - Editorial, perspective, integrity, things presented as news, and bias game news
00:27:06 - Content creators, “us older people,” the evolution of cable news, and complicity
00:29:57 - IGN buyouts, where the silicon grows, AI in journalism, and the Gannett connection
00:34:30 - Connecting with authors, investing in AI development, and what AI can’t do
00:37:35 - Expressions, connecting coincidentally, and the potential for analyzing big data
00:40:05 - Nudity for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the optics of interviewing Phil Spencer
00:43:36 - Esports World Cup controversy, asking the tough questions, and getting denied
00:46:51 - Everyone has a price, the word association question, and supporting journalists
00:49:50 - Ben brings the goofy, The Great Space Coaster trivia, and no Gary Gnu news
00:52:01 - Balancing the tone, and Billy Basso draws inspiration from “Indy Game: The Movie”
00:55:23 - Lukas thanks his supporters, there is a me, and closing the show with an invitation
00:57:57 - Open to Threads sponsorship, meeting cool people, and Andrew’s TeePublic promo
For all things Lukas Eggen check out…
https://www.gameonmedia.net/
-AND-
https://linktr.ee/LukasEggen
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
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
SkillsHub for Actors
https://acting.skillshub.life/
Wife Quest by Pippin Games
https://www.pippingames.com/wife-quest
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #LukasEggen #GameOnMedia #GameOn #SkillsHubforActors #SkillsHub #JenniferHale #PippinGames #WifeQuest
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1h 1min
July 22, 2024 Episode 114 - Ben's Review of TEVI
This week, Ben is joined by long time fan and “aunt of the pod” Norah for a game review episode. After a BIG thank you to a PR ninja and some miscellaneous chatter about the origin of the “bunny girl” archetype, Ben dives right in to his assessment of the platform / bullet hell shooter mashup, TEVI! Stay tuned after the show for the latest 2VP tee shirt advertisement, brought to you by Partly Robot Industries.
00:00:21 - Traffic on the 1’s and 7’s, a year of Norah, Alaska, and a smoked salmon monsoon
00:02:41 - Ben’s PAX West 2024 plans, Bust-A-Move, and giving thanks to Robert… a PR Ninja
00:05:21 - PSN certification delays, Norah’s thoughts on aesthetics, and video game romances
00:09:26 - Norah is like the squirrel, and developing relationships with fictional characters
00:14:03 - Cutscene spectacles, being desensitized by the media, and a bunny wants to fit in
00:17:50 - “Metroidvania” / “bullet hell” mashup, Rabi-Ribi’s story, and the Playboy connection
00:20:19 - Try to be unbiased, reading for the articles, and from the perspective of a Boomer
00:23:04 - The mistreatment of people, power dynamics, and articles by well known authors
00:26:25 - Back to the bunny, Norah learns a new word, and looking for hidden objects
00:28:53 - The would of Az, an interesting use for a belt, and angel and demon shot mechanics
00:31:28 - The anime segments of TEVI, Ben cancels his scoring math, and Norah buying PS5
00:33:06 - Ben starts his 3 ups with a platform genera comparison and ends with cool graphics
00:35:38 - Starting with a mini-down, too many sigils, missing the sweet spot, and a big map
00:39:40 - Norah asks about skipping things, Ben’s playing strategy, and linear storylines
00:43:01 - Generational perceptions of game length, and DO check out TEVI for a nostalgic trip
00:46:23 - Another PR ninja shoutout, what Norah is wearing, and Andrew’s TeePublic ad
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
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
TEVI Review
*** A big thank you to Robert Lashley… PR Ninja from Team Critical Hit for the review key! ***
Developed by CreSpirit, GemaYue, Ein Lee
Published by CreSpirit, Neverland Entertainment for PC version
And PM Studios Inc. for the PS5 and Switch version
3 UPs
- TEVI is a masterfully crafted platform game with a significant number of exploration opportunities and gameplay depth.
- Tevi and supporting characters are highly customizable through the use of sigils to match your style of play.
- TEVI looks, sounds, and plays like a “best in class” retro 4th (16-bit) or 5th (32-bit) generation console platform game.
3 DOWNs
- The voice acting is not in English; however, there are English subtitles.
- The pool of sigils which grows throughout the game (up to a grand total of 250 possible) and their varying point values can make it very time consuming when creating your customized character build.
- The map of Az’s explorable areas was too far too vast and confusing to figure out where you wanted to go with ease. This goes for the story as well. At times I was disoriented or lost within each.
DO BUY and PLAY if…
You love retro style platform games; this game has lots of gameplay depth for a low cost!
References, Links, and Tags
For more information on CreSpirit’s latest game “TEVI” (now available on : Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S)…
https://www.tevi.games/en
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #TEVI #CreSpirit #PMStudiosInc
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49min
July 09, 2024 Episode 113 - Vague
Andrew joins Ben for 2VP’s “leather” anniversary and a chat about things AND stuff! Andrew has been writing, playing with baby CJ, and preparing for a stand-up comedy show. Ben has been playing games, but instead of following the typical show segment order, he decides to call an audible. They take the scenic route on their way to talking about the games “Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key” from developer Gust and “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” from developer Shift Up. Topics discussed include: amateur stand-up comedy writing, the origin of the name of the show, the baby schema theory, Funko collectables, the manga of Osamu Tezuka, and an AI generated art deep dive / debate.
00:00:21 - Mango’s cute vocals, 3 years of vague, Andrew’s retirement, and LtHTT the musical
00:03:07 - Time traveling, GMT or UTC, timezones in India, and Gandhi’s fake quote about hate
00:07:02 - Andrew’s joke writing process, spoken word Bohemian Rhapsody, and bring it back
00:09:34 - Star Trek actor rap battle, Ben’s laniard check silliness, and developing improv skills
00:13:14 - Tig Notaro’s piano bit, the extra sauce, adaptive humor, and Ben’s show flipflop
00:16:13 - The definition of that word, vague activities degrees, and staying in the vagus nerve
00:19:53 - Zippy the Pinhead, Chuck Norris’ second coming, and the ethologist Konrad Lorenz
00:24:00 - Chibi style and cuteness, Astro Boy, Princess Knight, and the vague duality of Kevin
00:28:19 - Ben’s next time at Texas Roadhouse, Andrew’s old hustle, and mentioning merch
00:33:22 - Soda ingredients, the Father’s Day edition of “The Buzz,” and advertising budgets
00:36:25 - Andrew’s description and a AI generated composition, and the giant swan Kaiju
00:40:07 - The changing job landscape for commercial artists and detecting AI generated art
00:43:42 - Give Clippy some work, carbon footprints, being human, and Ben really means food
00:47:14 - Humans learning art, shots fired, Ben likes a Smashmouth song, and photography
00:49:57 - The joys of day jobs, anti-AI scrubbing tactics, resume hacks, and the number three
00:55:01 - Ben’s choice, a game about doing chores, and petting all the animals in the JRPG
00:58:13 - Changing the percentage, a strange choice of robot design, and broken arms
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 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/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
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
Time travel to Andrew’s comedy set at the Helium Comedy Club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23IW96eVf0Y
The official Atelier Ryza 3 site
https://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/ryza3/
For all of your exposed “side-boob” needs, the official “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” site
https://nikke-en.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #KoeiTecmoAmerica #AtelierRyza3 #ShiftUp #GoddessOfVictoryNIKKE
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1h 2min

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The podcast currently has 124 episodes available.