Unconsoleable

Graaaaaaaaaphs

Welcome to Anna being partially drunk during this recording and Jessica well on her way there! Cut us a break though; have you seen the US election? It's amazing we're sober EVER.

Shockingly, Jessica played more than one game this week! Anna did as well, including attempting That Dragon, Cancer now that it's on mobile.

Search ads have also come to the App Store and we look at one developer’s experiences so far, including the possible problems and pitfalls. Also, Square Enix is taking a stand on premium games and there are some Nintendo LULZ too.

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you want us to play games with you while drunk (but we’ll probably say no ;-p)

Stuff we mentioned:

• Wellington Vineyards
• Spawn on Me
• Rent-a-Center
• Jessica plays Tomb Raider
• Burly Men at Sea (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Shadow Bug Rush (iOS & Android)
• Alto's Adventure (iOS & Android)
• That Dragon, Cancer (iOS & Steam)
• Donate to childhood cancer (Jessica goofed, but St. Jude is awesome)
• Maximum Car (iOS & Android)
• Wordlings (iOS only)
• Spryfox
• App Store search ads are here
• One developer's search ad experience so far
• User acquisition
• Square Enix wants premium games to be a pillar of their business
• Shareef Jackson's #GamingLooksGood
• Shareef's episodes (29 and 59)
• Hilarious Nintendo article

Huskies are also dismayed by idiots on the internet

Jessica is still in the thrall of Shadow Bug Rush, but both of us did play a bunch of other games this week. And some were even good!

Anna gushes about a game she never thought she would enjoy while both she and Jessica are not 100% sold on a dog sledding game that has too much management for our liking. And what game did Jessica reject after 5 minutes while Anna fell in love with it? You’ll have to listen to find out!

There’s also talk of a sushi game that sadly doesn’t involve eating sushi, some high quality ridicule of dumb people on the Internet, and much more!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you’ve made a dog ownership simulator, because we want to play it :-p

Stuff we mentioned:

• Anna's 2nd Remeshed column
• Shadow Bug Rush
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Redditor is confused about Game Center
• Game Center is gone, sort of
• Nitrome
• Magic Mansion (iOS & Android)
• Burly Men at Sea (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Brain & Brain
• Doggins (iOS & Android)
• Dog Sled Saga (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Guild of Dungeoneering (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Shooty Skies (iOS & Android)
• Sushi GO (iOS only)
• Letterpress (iOS only)
• Our 100th episode
• Isoland (iOS only)
• Excite Bear (iOS & Android)
• Jake's announcement
• Ubisoft acquires Ketchapp
• Business Insider profile of Ketchapp
• Ubisoft's super casual new game
• Jenn Sandercock
• aglimpse: friends (iOS & Android)
• Brian's sticker pack
• Brian's second sticker pack
• Rich Stevens' cat pack
• Rich Stevens' pumpkin sticker pack
• Truth, Truth, Lie

The best kind of spoon

This week, we finally had the space and time to talk about what we’re playing! Except Jessica seems to have played just one game. But no matter, one game is all you need if it’s the right one.

Meanwhile Anna isn’t sure if any of the games she played are the right one for her. She did enjoy eating people, however, while difficult controls in other game gave her the sads.

And both your hosts played a game that in some ways had a rocky start on the App Store, but is that the fault of the developer or the players?

That’s not all! We also had time for a bit of news and a recent piece launched us into the perennial discussion on the evils of some free-to-play games and what might be done about them.

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you too share our love for baby spoons :-)

Stuff we mentioned:

• HTC Vive
• Palmer Luckey is funding Donald Trump's meme factory
• Palmer's TIME magazine cover
• Oculus
• What is shitposting?
• Buy a guilt-free Oculus
• Megan Fox
• Hot Tin Roof
• Alt-right i.e. white supremacists
• Out Magazine heavily criticized for Milo profile
• Taco Illuminati episode
• Shadow Bug Rush
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Land Sliders (iOS & Android)
• Sling Kong (iOS & Android)
• Enyo (iOS & Android)
• Enyo's first week
• Card Crawl (iOS & Android)
• You Must Build a Boat (iOS & Android)
• Whitaker Trebella
• Piloteer (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Submerged (iOS only)
• Uncharted 4
• Boon Cotter
• Slither.io (iOS, Android & browser)
• Tiltagon (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Pirahn.io (browser; iOS & Android coming soon)
• Supercell buys a stake in Frogmind
• Badland (iOS & Android)
• Badland 2 (iOS & Android)
• A Player's Manifesto
• Skinner Boxes
• Buy some baby spoons

There's always that one jackass

A real, actual Mario game is finally coming to mobile and we are EXCITED. But not everyone shares our glee.

We talk about the hand-wringing over how a quasi-premium game will be received on the platform, and answer concerns about whether mobile gamers care about games period. We have a few choice words to offer on this topic.

All this ties into the larger issue of whether premium games are dead on mobile (spoiler alert: NO). We talk about how crappy this narrative is, plus how Amazon’s move away from mobile games isn't necessarily a valid example of premium games’ struggles.

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you know anyone at Nintendo Enthusiast cause we'd like to give them a wedgie :-p

Stuff we mentioned:

• Submerged (iOS only)
• Deus Ex GO (iOS & Android)
• Shadow Bug Rush
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Muro Studios on Twitter
• SMG Studios on Twitter
• Rare Sloth on Twitter
• Matt Hall
• Notch
• The smaller iPad Pro
• Apple Pencil
• Anna's first column for Remeshed
• Mario game announced for mobile
• Miyamoto presents at the Apple keynote
• Miitomo (iOS & Android)
• Fire Emblem & Animal Crossing delayed
• Canabalt (iOS, Android & Steam)
• PocketGamer.biz worries about Mario's success
• Snakebird (iOS & Android)
• Gamesindustry.biz also worries about Mario
• Nintendo Enthusiast's condescending article  
• Betteridge's Law of headlines
• Triple Town (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Words With Friends (iOS & Android)
• Crossy Road dinosaur update
• Miyamoto demoes playing Super Mario Run
• Stickers in iMessage for iOS 10
• iMessage game Truth Truth Lie (iOS only)
• Barry Meade's episode
• Jake and Saam's episode
• Amazon pivots away from mobile
• Til Morning's Light (iOS, Amazon AppStore for Android)
• Amazon Game Studios
• Randy's episode
• Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Mediocre
• Henrik from Mediocre

We really like gifs, ok?

This episode rules! That’s because we have with us Francois Alliot, creator of one of our latest obsessions and yours, Reigns.

Sometimes we rule for many years and sometimes we die quickly, but we’re always having a great time playing this immensely innovative game.

Francois tells us about what he’s learned in his remarkably short time making games, answers all our burning questions about the game, and tell us some EXCLUSIVE NEWS!

So, remember not to go into the arsenic room and please enjoy this episode!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you know how to trick the devil!

Stuff we mentioned:

• Commodore 64
• Jenn Sandercock's episode
• Drawn to Kill (iPad only)
• Devolver Digital
• Fork Parker
• Crashlands (iOS, Android & Steam)
• 80 Days (iOS & Steam)
• Brexit
• King Rabbit (iOS only)
• Tinder (iOS & Android)
• Reigns' artist Mieko Murakami
• Monument Valley (iOS & Android)
• Ustwo
• Giant isopods

You can blame Jessica for the quality of this particular gif

All our dungeons are getting looted (or is it lootied?) on this episode as we welcome Jake Sawyer and Saam Pahlavan of Taco Illuminati, makers of the adorable and fun Looty Dungeon.

The fellas tell us about how they got into making a mobile game, what they learned releasing their first title on the platform, and much, much more including, yes, some very interesting poop data ;-p

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Annatoo), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you have a scientific use for Jake and Saam’s poop data :)

Stuff we mentioned:

• Looty Dungeon (iOS only)
• Torchy’s Tacos in Austin
• Taco Illuminiati t-shirts
• Job Simulator
• 50 character limit imposed on app names
• Yeti Pie (iOS only)
• Luke Muscat's episode
• Ryan Cash's episode
• Alto's Adventure (iOS & Android)
• Reigns (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Devolver Digital
• Canabalt (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Roguelikes
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Crashlands (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Butterscotch Shenanigans
• Tiny Tower (iOS & Android)
• Faily Brakes (iOS & Android)
• Leap Day (iOS & Android)
• Pokemon GO (iOS & Android)
• Does Not Commute (iOS & Android)
• Rooster Teeth Expo
• Disco Zoo (iOS & Android)
• SpellTower (iOS & Android)
• Lara Croft GO (iOS & Android)
• Battleheart Legacy (iOS & Android)
• Vainglory (iOS & Android)
• Downwell (iOS, Android & Steam)

Alas, we only wish our hair were that perfectly shiny

In yet another episode in between guests, we have so many games to talk about. So we spend almost the entire episode doing just that!

From a hilarious and charming game by a former guest that you might not know exists, to the new GO game from Square Enix, to a new mobile Zelda-esque game that gave us some trouble with the controls, but that we still sort of loved, we run the gamut.

Jessica also has some adventures with an archery game that might be a bit problematic, Anna makes a foray into social engineering (in a game only, we promise!) and much more!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Annatoo), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if think you qualify for the very elite, very exclusive, angry 1% club ;-p

Stuff we mentioned:

• The Men of Unconsoleable
• Taco Illuminati
• Looty Dungeon (iOS only)
• Ron Gilbert's episode
• Scurvy Scallywags (iOS & Android)
• You Must Build a Boat (iOS & Android)
• Reigns (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Crashlands (iOS, Android & Steam)
• François Aillot
• Legend of the Skyfish (iOS only)
• Til Morning's Light (iOS only)
• QTE (quick time events)
• Revolution 60
• Jenna Hoffstein
• LIMBO (iOS & Android)
• Drawn to Kill (iPad only)
• Tiny Archers (iOS & Android)
• Are You Afraid of the Dark?
• Tanya DePass
• Medieval POC Tumblr
• Spryfox episode
• Triple Town (iOS, Android & Steam)
• Deus Ex GO (iOS & Android)
• Hitman GO (iOS, Androi, Steam & PS4)
• Lara Croft GO (iOS & Android)
• Shadow Bug (iOS only)
• Mr. Robot (iOS & Android)
• Screenshot from Mr. Robot w/SQL server
• Lifeline (iOS & Android)
• 24
• Proteus
• Gone Home
• Firewatch
• Dear Esther
• Lost Within (iOS only)
• Hidden object games
• Pokemon GO Ars Technica piece
• Business Insider's more sober take

Me too, Skinny Bear. Me too. Screenshot from @OneSavvySiren

We’re kicking off a new century of Unconsoleable with guests who make games that are definitely not our enemies. Quite the opposite in fact. If you know anything, you know that Spryfox means quality, polish, unique mechanics, and a boatload of charm.  

Andrew Fray and Pat Kemp are two Spryfoxes and they’re here this week to talk with us about evil (some might say) puzzle games, non-evil free to play, how their development process works, and much more!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Annatoo), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if agree that Spryfox games need more foxes ;-p

Stuff we mentioned:

• Alphabear (iOS & Android)
• Steambirds Alliance
• Bushido Bear (iOS & Android)
• Andrew's GDC talk about remote working at Spryfox
• Don't Starve Together
• Snakebird (iOS & Android)
• Puzzlepops! (iOS only)
• Furdemption (iOS only)
• Rare Sloth
• King Rabbit (iOS only)
• Quell Zen (iOS & Android)
• Shooty Skies (iOS & Android)
• Mr. Jump (iOS only)
• Clash Royale (iOS & Android)
• Pokemon GO (iOS & Android)
• Triple Town (iOS & Android)
• Brent Kobayashi
• Daniel Cook
• David Edery
• Verby Noun on Twitter
• #Alphabear tweets

IT’S OUR 100TH EPISODE, AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Now that that’s out of the way, what can you expect on this super, hugely exciting milestone episode? We reminisce about the journey we’ve been on, answer some listener questions, and divulge some behind-the-scenes secrets!

But there’s TONS MORE and we don’t want to spoil any of the surprises in store. So just sit back and strap in for a wild ride you won’t soon forget!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Annatoo), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you want to suggest an amount of episodes we should make beyond 100. But we’ll just ignore you :-p

This episode is sponsored by Fracture. Photos printed on glass. Tell them we sent you using this link and selecting "Unconsoleable" to get 10% off your first order.

Stuff we mentioned:

• Moises
• ESN.fm
• Ken Wong's episode
• Totally Uncool
• Diablo
• Seb Burnett's episode
• Episode 42 - Laserdisc Porn
• Barry Meade's episode
• Our 1 year anniversary episode
• Andy Sum
• Tetris Party
• Mini NES
• Mini Sega
• Game Gear
• Base Wars
• Duck Hunt
• Georgia Dow's episode
• Disruption
• The iMore Show
• Grant Roberts' episode
• Matt Hall's episodes (Ep. 14, Ep. 21, Ep. 43 & Ep. 52)
• Steve Lubitz's episodes (Ep. 23, Ep. 33, Ep. 45 & Ep. 57)
• Shareef Jackson's episodes (Ep. 29 & Ep. 59)
• Spawn On Me
• Operation Cubicle
• Gaming Looks Good
• Pancake (iOS & Android)
• Burger (iOS & Android)
• Karyl Gilbertson's episode
• Painted Sky Studios
• Lifeline (iOS & Android)
• Mars Jokela's episode
• Liftoff Labs
• Galaxy Golf
• Sling Kong (iOS & Android)
• Prune (iOS & Android)
• Joel McDonald's episode
• Yasmine & Russell's episode
• PocketCasts (iOS & Android)
• Material podcast
• Joe Macirowski's episodes (Ep. 60, Ep. 77 & Ep.94)
• Unconsoleable Episode 2
• Unconsoleable Episode 18
• Luke Muscat's episode
• Prettygreat
• Land Sliders (iOS & Android)
• Slide the Shakes (iOS & Android)
• Matt Ditton's episode
• Neven Mrgan's episode
• The Men of Unconsoleable
• Ghostbusters on the NES
• Ghostbusters misspelled screen
• Enric Jorda's episode

The talented and wonderful Jenn Sandercock

We haven’t had an Aussie on the show for far too long, so we fix that in this episode by welcoming the awesome and talented Jenn Sandercock.

Jenn loves innovative gameplay mechanics, games that give you hugs, and yes, cookies. If she ever acquires a Notch house, we have secured an invite to the cookie room :-D

We found out all about how Jenn came to be in games and what keeps her here, what she would change about the industry if she could, and of course what mobile games she likes (we may have some recommendations for her :-)) All this and so much more, so listen up!

Please rate and review us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (and follow Jessica and Anna too), like us on Facebook, buy our merch, and email us if you want to make a game especially for us!

Stuff we mentioned:

• Jenn's mobile game
• Thimbleweed Park
• Escape the room games
• Indie Game Festival at GDC
• Threes (iOS, Android & in the browser)
• Viridi (iOS & Android)
• Neko Atsume (iOS & Android)
• Sierra games
• Swift Playground
• LA Noire
• Lara Croft GO (iOS & Android)
• GDC Conference Associate program
• Global Game Jam
• Bonza (iOS & Android)
• Bag It (iOS & Android)
• Twofold Inc (iOS & Android)
• Love You to Bits (iOS only)
• Zero Escape games
• Andy Sum
• Are developers responsible to players?
• Emily Greer
• Ben from Mighty Games
• Thimbleweed Park podcast