Video Game Generations

We start out, as always, with a bit of off-topic warm-up talk, mostly about Addie's efforts to choose an instrument to learn in band. In my pre-recorded game update, I have initial thoughts on the Rare Replay collection (Xbox One), and a wrap-up for Alien: Isolation (PS4) after finishing the main game on Hard.

Listener Pawel writes in to talk about The Witcher III and the Fallout series this week, and then it's feedback from Jon of the One Track Gamers podcast to answer prior Questions of the Week and very generously provide us with a fun audio quiz. This was a late-day addition to the show schedule, so we decided to also go ahead with a second quiz. It's one I had prepared for Addie about movie and TV characters that have appeared in games.

This week's feature segment is mostly me talking about my hopes and fears for Nintendo's next console, codenamed the NX. Several listeners have already weighed in with their opinions, so now it's my turn to predict what Nintendo should and shouldn't do.

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Everybody's playing Scribblenauts Unlimited. Well, the kids are, at least. This comes up twice in this week's episode: once in Heath's Mini-Gamers segment and again in a discussion with Addie. They also played one of this month's free PlayStation Plus games, Sound Shapes (PS4). In my pre-recorded segments, it's my initial impressions of Odin Sphere (PS2) and Alien: Isolation (PS4).

I also have final wrap-ups for three games I finished. These are The Guardian Legend (NES), No More Heroes (PS3), and Suikoden (PS1). Add to that a short discussion about Splatoon (WiiU) and Lego Jurassic World (Xbox 360), and it's one game-filled episode.

This episode's new Question of the Week comes from listener email. What game do you think would be fun to practice for a speed-run? We also have news, listener email, and a quiz where Addie tries to guess video game characters based on a series of clues.

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We're back to our usual hour-ish episode length this week, still with plenty on the agenda. In news, we talk briefly about a couple of new releases, plus the free PlayStation Plus line-up for August. In listener email, prior weeks' questions are answered and long-time listener Jason sends in another quiz. We do that late in the episode, with Addie naming game trophy titles and me attempting to guess the game it's from and what a player must do to earn the trophy.

Game talk in my pre-recorded segment includes The Guardian Legend (NES, which I've only been playing once in a while) and No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise (PS3, which I finished, but may revisit to earn more trophies). This week's trio of end-theme tunes are taken from The Guardian Legend (MIDI arrangements).

Another trio: Questions of the Week! Write in with your thoughts and answers to one or more of these, so we can read and discuss on an upcoming episode. (1) What single-player game would benefit from a co-op mode? How would co-op change and improve the experience? (2) What are the toughest or just plain ridiculous trophies or achievements you've seen in a game? Impossible to earn? Fifty hours of grinding? Completely random? (3) What are your thoughts on Nintendo's next console, code-named the "NX"? What do you think it will be? What should it be? Are you even interested in a new Nintendo home console?

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Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

This episode features links galore, including a list of my current favorite podcasts. It's an all-around over-sized episode, with several listener emails answering prior Questions of the Week (and posing new ones as well). News is light, but includes next month's free Xbox Games with Gold lineup.

In Heath's third episode of Mini-Gamers, we talk about the new Adam Sandler movie Pixels, and about Playstation game Entwined. My own pre-recorded segments include a review of Rule of Rose (PS2), my opening thoughts on No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise (PS3), and brief spoiler-free thoughts on Life is Strange: Episode 4 (PS4). We also have a fun quote-related quiz late in the show, this time provided by a long-time listener, which Addie presents and I guess.

Questions of the Week include the following, if you can't think of any reason to write in otherwise. Have an answer? Let us know!

1. A game you'd welcome an aftermath-explanation game, but not a sequel.
2. A game with horrible controls that might have been great otherwise.
3. A game where some story-based mechanic detracts from actual gameplay.

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Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

"Don't make me say it again. I'm a Cleaner."

So says Garcian Smith in the main review topic this week, Killer 7 (PS2). As an M-Rated game that's certainly not for kids, it's relegated to my pre-recorded segment (which also includes updates on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS) and Fallout Shelter).

We have plenty of email this week, too, which includes some answers to the listener questions of prior weeks. One listener's thought-provoking question about "Groundhog Day" types of plots in games (and in movies/TV) prompts a lengthy discussion and becomes our new question of the week for other listeners. Are there any games you've played where repeating the same period of time over and over is part of the plot, aside from the ones we already mentioned?

In this episode, Addie presents me with a new quiz. She describes a series of ten games based on their cover art, challenging me to figure out what game she's talking about. There are hints involved where needed, and listeners can play along. I also challenge Addie (and listeners) with a riddle that plagued me for years as a kid: what common English word contains the letters "UFA" in that order, no other letters between them, somewhere at the beginning, middle, or end of a word? Names, products, and obscure phrases don't count. Hint: The word is common enough that it's even said somewhere in this episode.

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Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

It's an episode one year in the making! In addition to most of our usual segments, we look back at our first year of podcasting (flashback clips included). In a disappointing twist, none of our long-time listeners wrote in for this episode. It's never too early to email questions and feedback for our next episode, though. This week, we have two QotW's for listeners: what are your favorite quotes from video games, and do you have suggestions on things we should add, change, remove, or bring back as we continue into our show's second year?

In our What We're Playing segment, Addie has nothing, but I give a wrap-up on Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) after finishing it recently. I also have more thoughts on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS) and Fallout Shelter (iOS). Heath's "Mini-Gamers" segment returns for a second mini-episode, where we talk briefly about eight different games. This includes opening thoughts on Lego Jurassic World (Xbox 360) and his wrap-up on Splatoon (WiiU) after finishing the story levels.

In another cruel twist of fate, other obligations meant that despite all my planning and note-taking prior to the episode, we weren't able to start recording until around 9:30 PM Tuesday night. It was after 11:00 PM when we finished, and a very-tired Addie could barely keep her eyes open, let alone participate to the extent that would have been fitting our anniversary episode. I've had a "talk" with the responsible party, stressing the point that we do this podcast every Tuesday, and the earlier the better. During the school year, this would have meant delaying the episode or missing it entirely.

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Game discussion this week includes my opening thoughts on Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4) in a pre-recorded segment, and we compare our ongoing experiences with Fallout Shelter (iOS). Addie's only other notable mention is triva game QuizUp (iOS), but I have a variety of 3DS games to talk about in another pre-recorded segment. These include Pushmo, Gunman Clive, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D.

We read our one listener email for this week, and list off July's free games for subscribers of Xbox Gold and Playstation Plus (which we totally forgot to do last week). The show ends in a quiz of Addie's making, which challenges me (and you as a listener) to guess game titles based on brief clues or plot points.

Next week is our one-year anniversary episode, so if you want to write in for that, please send email by Monday so we can have everything ready for Tuesday's recording. Exactly what we're going to include in the show is still a work in progress.

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

This week, we talk about Splatoon (WiiU). We're joined for that by the "Mini-Gamers" Heath and Hadleigh. In my post-recorded stuff, it's mainly about The Witcher III: Wild Hunt (PS4), where I wrap it up and give my (possibly) final thoughts on this epic RPG -- at least until its story-content DLC is released. There's a bit more, too, with Addie talking a little about Dance Dance Revolution Universe (Xbox 360) and my update on my brief time spent with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS).

This episode also has the distinction of being the last time we'll do Video Game Twenty Questions. Heavy editing keeps it interesting, but half of the audio was cut just to keep the game moving forward. I haven't entirely given up on the concept of games or quizzes -- I think they're fun, when they work -- but it needs more thought.

I'm a fan of sticking to a routine, but this week's episode arrives one day early because of scheduling conflicts. We recorded most of it on Sunday (rather than Tuesday) and then my solo game talk segments were done later. It's also one of our shortest episodes (sorry).

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Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

In the first half of this week's episode, we talk about our favorite announcements from this year's E3. Bill is here to share his thoughts on some of the highlights. We discuss XBox One backwards compatibility, Fallout 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, The Last Guardian, Dishonored 2, possible SKU revisions for XB1 and PS4, and more.

In What We're Playing, we talk about Fallout Shelter (iOS), which then makes a second appearance in my pre-recorded segment. I also have a Witcher 3 (PS4) update in that same segment. Afterwards, Bill and I talk about a game we both feel is underrated, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (Xbox 360). Bill also talks about another mobile game called Rebuild (Android), which is similar in concept to Fallout Shelter, except that it's set in a zombie apocalypse instead of a nuclear one. Addie talks briefly about her latest trophy hunting efforts in LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4), and then Bill wraps it up with quick thoughts on the original Shadow Warrior (PC) and Super Meat Boy (PC).

This episode also marks the beginning of a new mini-podcast, featuring Addie's seven-year-old brother Heath. I wanted to call it the Heath-Cast, but he decided to go with Mini-Gamers. Games discussed include Robot Wants Kitty (iOS), Battle Block Theater (Xbox 360), Max and the Curse of Brotherhood (PS4), and Race the Sun (PS4).

Next week, a business trip means we can't record at our usual time on Tuesday night. My plan is to record the main show early -- possibly as early as Sunday afternoon -- and then post-record my own What We're Playing segment to include during the final edit. Worst case scenario is that we have to skip the episode, but we'll see.

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Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com

E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is in full swing this week, and this oversized episode focuses heavily on seven of the biggest E3 press conferences. These pre-recorded recaps are laced into the episode between other segments, such as this week's listener email. If you're interested in the latest announcements from Bethesda, EA, Microsoft, Sony, Square Enix, Ubisoft or Nintendo, you've come to the right podcast.

My pre-recorded weekly gameplay update is short this week. I talk briefly about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4), The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS), and Suikoden (PS1 on Playstation TV). I also wrap up my final thoughts on Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. (3DS), which I finally finished. Addie's trophy-hunting efforts result in a recap of the latest LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4) trophies she's earned.

Don't forget to write in for our next episode and let us know your favorite news and announcements from this year's E3. We'll read and discuss those, and give our own thoughts on some of our favorites of the show.

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.vggpodcast.com