Use Your Items!

By useyouritems

A podcast about video games, design, and what they mean to us. Supported by our blog useyouritems.substack.com... more

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FAQs about Use Your Items!:

How many episodes does Use Your Items! have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.

Use Your Items! episodes:

December 30, 2024 ENDING [A]: Nier Automata
Fran and Jason upload their data to the Bunker talking about Nier Automata!

Spoiler Free for about an hour
Works Cited:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018
Yoko Taro Predicts Metaphor
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
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Join the conversation on Discord, it's free!
https://linktr.ee/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social
Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree
Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social
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Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 31min
December 02, 2024 This is a Box; not a retrospective of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
We, uh, played a game called Metal Gear Solid 2. Or maybe it played us, jump in to find out.
CW: 9/11 at 50m
0-1:05 Spoiler Free/History
1:06-End Spoilers and verdicts
Works Cited:
Metal Gear Solid 2 Grand Game Plan - Kojima (ping us for a copy)
The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Super Bunnyhop MGS2 video
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord, it's free!
https://linktr.ee/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @skilleddrizzler on twitter
Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 33min
November 04, 2024 The Gang Goes Scanning Again - Metroid Prime Remastered
Metroid Prime Remastered is a miraculous masterpiece and not enough can be said about it. We dive in to explore the history of the genre, the development, and the pacing of Tallon IV.
0-1:46 Spoiler Free/History
1:46-End Spoilers and verdicts
Works Cited:
DGC Ep 355: Metroid Prime Bonus Interview with Jack Mathews! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dgc-ep-355-metroid-prime-bonus-interview-with-jack-mathews/id1090136163?i=1000621631102
The rocky story of Retro Studios before Metroid Prime:
https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/29/17386066/the-rocky-story-of-retro-studios-before-metroid-prime
https://web.archive.org/web/20071129191427/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389
https://web.archive.org/web/20120928094007/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/29/a-space-bounty-hunter-in-texas?page=4

Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord, it's free!
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @skilleddrizzler on twitter
Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 49min
July 29, 2024 Porridge is a tool and so is Pavol - Felvidek
Exploring the weird, wonderful world of the Slavic JPRG Felvidek. We will drink, pray, and slash our way through 15th century Slovakia.
Spoiler free for the first 60 minutes or so.
Felvidek OST
Felivdek on Steam
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
1h 27min
July 01, 2024 Can You Dig It? Bombrush Cyber Funk and the Power of the Grind
We grind and wall-ride our way through Team Reptile's Bombrush Cyber Funk--the spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio. It wasn't our favorite, but we discuss music, the potential, and graffiti.
Spoiler free for the first 60 minutes or so.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 1min
June 05, 2024 Is This Real Life or Is This Structure Gel: On Soma
This time we go over Frictional Games Horror masterpiece, Soma. We explore the nature of horror, the design of this popular studio, and some heavy philosophical discussions.
CW: euthanasia
Spoiler free for the first 50 minutes or so
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
1h 52min
May 23, 2024 Item Bag Found - Fantasy RPGs
We launch a possible new segment called Item Bags! Where we gather ideas for various ideas we have regarding the industry, genre, and freeform discussion. Less research and more chatter. Let us know what you think on our discord! Link below:
Skill Up interview with Yoshi P
Games Discussed:
Dark Cloud (more mentioned tbh)
Dragon's Dogma 2 (and 1 technically)
Cyberpunk
Rogue
Nethack
Skyrim
FF1, 2, 7, 16
CoD MW2
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke

...more
1h 28min
May 10, 2024 The Shadows Lengthen in Carcosa; Signalis, Madness, and Love
This week we discuss Signalis, a surprise hit for us from rose-engine, and the meaning of meat, madness, reality, love, connection, and what it means to be human.
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
Links and notes:
The King in Yellow free online
Signalis OST
del Toro YT Video
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 58min
April 26, 2024 Sidequest: Toxicity in Gaming!
Our first guest episode featuring Dr. Dillon Ludemann discussing Toxicity in Gaming! Join us for this special sidequest in the anthropology, philosophy, and design of video games.
Dr. Dillon Ludemann is a professor of anthropology with a focus on online communities at the University of South Carolina
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
Links and notes:
https://www.thegamer.com/helldivers-2-the-least-toxic-online-game-ever-played/ perception of toxicity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOWBrY2BQs&t=0s
https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/
Liu and Agur 2023: “‘After All, They Don’t Know Me’ Exploring the Psychological Mechanisms of Toxic Behavior in Online Games” Games and Culture 18(5)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Queen_hypothesis
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
3h 8min
April 12, 2024 Just Breathe, You Can Do This; Climbing Celeste Mountain
Episode 9 discussing Maddy Makes Games hit Celeste. We touch on accessibility, friendship, anxiety, depression, and overcoming goals.
TW/CW: Anxiety, Depression, Drinking, Gender Dysphoria, etc.
0-1hrish non-spoiler
Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat!
----------------------------
Join the conversation on Discord
Email us at: [email protected]
Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com
Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems
Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter
Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads
----------------------------
Art by Francisco Martin
Theme music by William O'Rourke
...more
2h 32min

FAQs about Use Your Items!:

How many episodes does Use Your Items! have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.