Video Game Generations

News this week includes the good (new game releases and announcements) and the bad (a studio closes, and is Nintendo doomed?) Xbox Games With Gold have been announced for June 2016, so we go over those. In email, we meet our youngest, newest listener (congrats to Pawel and his wife on baby Bruno), plus thoughts on the latest Fallout 4 DLC, Uncharted 4, and general podcast feedback.

In our question of the week, inspired by thoughts on last week's discussion about whether or not it's okay to let kids play or watch M-rated or even certain T-rated games, we want to know your thoughts and advice. To what extent -- and age -- should kids be kept away from violence and mature themes in video games? Now's your chance to share parenting advice, or if not a parent, at least your opinion on the subject.

Addie's "mo-bile" game of the week is another from Ketch App: a game called Twist (iOS). She also fills me in on Google mini-games, including her recent favorite, Zerg Rush. In my pre- and post-recorded segments, I review Uncharted 4 (PS4) and Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space (PS4), after finishing them both (platinum trophies, too). They're two very different games, but guess which one I liked more? Don't worry; I stay clear of spoilers.

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Our final two code words for the upcoming game bundle give-away are in this week's episode. If you want to win a bunch of video games, listen for the code words, and check out the official rules at http://www.vggpodcast.com/contest100/rules.html. Speaking of free games, if you're the lucky listener who redeems a code I read out this week for Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris on PS4, email us so I can give you its season pass DLC code also!

This episode is a little on the shorter side, since we had no listener feedback to read in this week's email segment. We do have news and new game releases, an aside about when kids begin to understand the difference between video games and reality, and a new kind of quiz for Addie late in the show. It would have been even shorter, but Heath was ready for another episode of Mini-Gamers, the podcast within the podcast, where he talks briefly about the games he's been playing: Broken Age (PS4), Super Smash Bros. (3DS), Ratchet & Clank (PS4), Pokemon Rumble World (3DS), and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4).

Addie describes her plan to build a theme park in Minecraft, and she introduces a new segment of her own creation, called "Addie's Mobile Game of the Week." Her pick this week is Cooking Fever (iOS), which she's very much enjoying. In my pre-recorded segment, I have a wrap-up for Severed (Vita), an update on Suikoden II and Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space (PS1 and PS4, respectively), and my initial thoughts on Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4). I'm pretty far in UC4, but haven't quite finished it, and wasn't ready for a more detailed review. But don't worry. Even when I do, I'll keep it spoiler-free.

This week's ending music is Drake's theme from Uncharted 4. Enjoy!

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Topics this week include the common problem of new PS4 games arriving with discs rattling around loose in their cases (and a possible fix, if you're brave enough to try it), recently-announced release dates for a few upcoming games, yet another rumor about Nintendo's NX, this week's new game releases, brainstorming on how the actual winner selection process will work for our upcoming give-away, and more.

For our listener question (QotW), we want to know your favorite game reboots, or games in which they decided to drop the number and subtitle (ex: the new Hitman is just "Hitman", Tomb Raider came back as just "Tomb Raider", and Doom 4 is really just "Doom"). Next week or on a future episode, I hope to put together a top-ten list of reboots.

In email this week, it's an answer to our recent QotW about games with difficulty spikes that made you give up, excitement for Uncharted 4, a possible solution to the mystery of how I ended up with Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare on PS4, and a reminder that our youngest listener is almost here (congrats again to Pawel and wife).

Addie has been playing KetchApp's mobile game Stack this week (iOS). Tiles move quickly across the top of a tile stack, and you have to tap in time to stack that tile. If it wasn't lined up perfectly, the excess is lost, and the top of the stack becomes that much smaller for the next tile. Addie enjoys it. In my pre-recorded segments, I have opening thoughts (doubling, most likely, as my closing thoughts) on the single-player component of Battleborn (PS4), an update on Severed (Vita), initial thoughts on Albedo: Eyes from Outer Space (PS4), and reviews of Alienation (PS4) and The Park (PS4).

To wrap up, Addie takes my Portal 2 Trivia quiz. I ask ten multiple-choice questions about the game to test her knowledge about one of her all-time favorites.

Two more contest code words are given this episode. Next week is the final week for code words, after which the give-away opens up for entries. If you want a chance at winning a big bundle of Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo games, check out the official rules: http://www.vggpodcast.com/contest100/rules.html

Have feedback? Write to us at
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Find links and show notes at
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This week, Addie learns about military time (aka 24-hour clock notation), and we both discover that we're not quite sure what curling is (as a sport). Other topics include the delay of Zelda for WiiU and NX, the next Call of Duty, the bright side of the almost-certain-to-happen PlayStation NEO, and the ridiculousness (and difficulty) of having to set up an EA Origin account just to play a certain PS4 game online.

In other news, we have the list of free PlayStation Plus games for May, and Addie tries to guess the plots of this week's new game releases. In email, it's Ratchet & Clank, Freedom Wars, Severed, Life is Strange, and another answer to last week's QotW about late-game boss battles that were impossible to beat. Oh, and the drinking mini-game from Watch_Dogs. Supposedly Ubisoft did patch it to make it easier, but those of us who got the trophy before that will always remember the frustrating nightmare that it entailed.

In give-away news, our sixth pair of contest code words are given in this episode. Also, the final three Steam game keys are given (SpeedRunners, DiveKick, and Kingdom Rush). Some of the Steam codes from the last couple of weeks may not have been used, so please let us know if you redeem these or any prior ones. They're single-use codes, meaning the first listener to use them is the lucky winner.

My pre-recorded segment is a wrap-up on the Ratchet & Clank reboot (PS4), and my opening impressions of Severed (PS Vita). Addie also talks about Costume Quest 2 (PS4), which she finally finished, and a little about Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4/XBO).

Rather than trivia or a quiz or a guessing game this week, I present my top ten list of hacking mini-games that have appeared in video games. This is followed (as usual) with a few honorable mentions that didn't make the list. Oh, and this week's Question of the Week (QotW) is about the PlayStation NEO (formerly known as the PS4K or PS4.5 -- eventually to be known as whatever non-Matrix name Sony chooses, kind of like they did with Morpheus/PSVR -- but I digress). There are ways to see this in a positive light, but we're curious about what you think.

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A storm came through our area right as we were starting this episode, so this week's show includes plenty of unexpected sound effects. It's okay for the most part, but expect a few instances of background noise, including a constant barrage of hail during a couple early segments. We've been pretty lucky up until now with bad weather while recording, but it had to happen sooner or later.

This week, we give out two new code words for our Episode 100 Game Bundle Give-Away. Also, it's the second to last week for our Steam code give-away. If you have a Steam account, try out those codes before any other listener, since they'll only work for one account.

In news, we go over the just-announced Xbox Games With Gold line-up for May, followed by new game releases for this week. Late in that list, the noisy weather prompts us to speed through them a little faster, but before that, Addie makes a guess at what she thinks each game is about. After recording, Nintendo announced that the "NX" won't be launching until March 2017, which would have been a great news topic, but we'll have to include that on the next episode, a week late.

After listener email, I include less noisy pre-recorded segments: my wrap-up on Dark Souls III (PS4), my impressions of the Final Fantasy XV Platinum Demo (PS4), and my opening thoughts on the new Ratchet and Clank game (PS4) in a partial review. We followed this with one round of video game "Who Am I?", but this was cut from the show partly because of the noisy weather, and partly because it went on for way too long with Addie entirely stumped until I finally gave her a few completely obvious clues. Next week, we might try a more traditional trivia-based quiz.

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This week's topic-filled episode starts with our usual off-topic updates, a brief time travel segment, and a pseudo-rant about how long it takes for developers to produce and ship out physical rewards on successful Kickstarter campaigns after the game has aleady been done and out for weeks or months. We also talk a little more about our upcoming big game bundle give-aways, with some added brainstorming on future contests to keep the free stuff going. On that note, two more STEAM keys are given out this week, for Steamworld Dig and Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition. They're one-use codes, so the first listener to use either or both will be the lucky winner. Write in and let us know if that's you!

After news, we talk about the new games releasing this week. It also felt like a good time to talk about release dates for many of the biggest games scheduled for the weeks and months ahead. This gets fairly foggy later in the year, so we'll do it again when more release dates for this year's most anticipated games have been announced.

This week, my pre-recorded segment is all about Dark Souls III (PS4). After that, Addie talks a little about Slither.io (PC, iOS), a free multiplayer "snake" game she enjoys and recommends.

In listener email, we hear from a long-time listener for the very first time. Our recent QotW about your favorite music gets plenty of responses this week too. Other listener topics include top picks for past PlayStation Plus games (in response to an email from last week), one listener's experiences creating his first game, and the merits of our quizzes and tangents.

Speaking of quizzes, video game "What Am I?" returns this week but proves that we're a little rusty at it now. We also have a new Question of the Week for listeners. Write in and let us know what game was just too difficult for you to finish. Did you get stuck at the last boss in some game you otherwise enjoyed? Was the last level a frustrating nightmare, so you just gave up? We'll read those responses -- and whatever else you want to share regarding past topics or nearly any game-related topic -- on the next episode.

Have feedback? Write to us at
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Find links and show notes at
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We've pretty much established the rules for our upcoming game bundle give-away now. Even though the official rules page isn't ready yet, you can get the details early in this week's episode. Hopefully by next week, that page will be up. Basically, listen for two code words in each episode from 90 through 97, then send one email containing all the code words and a couple other pieces of important information (including your shipping address) before episode 100. The deadline is Sunday, June 5th, at 11:59 PM CST, but you can't enter until after episode 97, when the final codes are given. You'll also let us know which bundle you'd like to win, and that's pretty much it. Only one entry per household.

This week's free STEAM game codes are for The Fall and System Shock 2. Since we weren't notified whether or not last week's Wizardry codes were claimed, those are given out again just in case. They're one-use codes, so the first listener to redeem them on STEAM wins them.

After that, it's news and new game releases, followed by email. We have plenty of listener feedback this week, covering topics like Star Wars Battlefront, last week's QotW about your favorite kinds of music, favorite games from PlayStation Plus, are video game easter eggs still "a thing" for gamers who don't celebrate Easter (blame Addie for that tangent), and the best ways to play all past Legend of Zelda games.

First up for "what we're playing" is my pre-recorded wrap-up for Tom Clancy's The Division (PS4) and my review (spoiler-free... I think) of Quantum Break (Xbox One), which, spoiler, I absolutely loved. Then, Addie talks about what she's playing. That's Portal again (PC), and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (Xbox One... I think).

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We're still brainstorming about our 100th episode game give-away this week. The current plan is to offer three prize bundles of around thirteen games each -- one for various PlayStation platforms, one for Wii and 3DS, and the last for Xbox 360. Listeners would send in codes after episode 99 (maybe sooner, since ten episodes of code words may be too many), and indicate which of the three prize packs you'd like to win. We still have thinking and planning to do, but hopefully we'll have official rules nailed down soon, complete with photos of the prize packs.

We're also giving out game keys redeemable on STEAM. Listen for two keys given out in this episode, for Wizardry 6 & 7, and Wizardry 8. These come courtesy of friend and occassional co-host Bill. We have several more to give away in the coming weeks. They're one-use codes, so first person to use them gets them.

In game discussion, Addie talks a little about Knight Squad (Xbox One), Day of the Tentacle Remastered (PS4), and a free set of online games at Roblox (PC). Mini-Gamers returns this week for its tenth episode, where seven-year-old Heath talks about what he's playing, including Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS), Witch and Hero 2 (3DS), and Deadly Tower of Monsters (PS4).

In two additonal pre-recorded segments, I talk briefly about a few games I've played just a little, followed by my own wrap-up on Day of the Tentacle Remastered (PS4). Also included, finally, is my review of Tom Clancy's The Division (PS4). I haven't quite finished it, and I haven't tried any multiplayer or dark zone stuff yet, but I should wrap that up in the next week or so.

This episode's Question of the Week comes from listener email. Let's talk about music; any kind of music. What do you listen to? Do you have any musical recommendations? Favorite songs and favorite bands? Write in and let us know! Speaking of music, this week's ending music comes from the Day of the Tentacle soundtrack, rather than our usual original MIDI tunes.

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This week, we find out that Addie tried out a few M-rated games without anybody knowing. These include Call of Duty and/or Halo and/or Just Cause. It seems like she survived, though, and she finds it more amusing than I do. In my pre-recorded segments, I have a wrap-up for Salt and Sanctuary (PS4), followed by more brief thoughts on Tom Clancy's The Division (PS4). I also give a partial review of Day of the Tentacle Remastered (PS4), after making a good amount of progress in the game since starting it last week.

Early in the episode, we talk about an idea we've been brewing. With our 100th episode coming up in early June, we might do some kind of video game give-away. Maybe multiple games to multiple listeners. We aren't certain it'll happen at all, but we do give two separate code words in this episode, which would be collected and entered into the contest just before episode 100, just in case. Addie really wants to have the contest to reward loyal listeners, but I worry about the many problems such a contest might present. Maybe by next week, we'll make a decision.

In news, we talk about the free Xbox Games With Gold for April, plus many of the new game releases for this week. In listener email, we talk about our favorite games featuring VR as a story element, Day of the Tentacle and other adventure games, and the recent Fallout 4 Automatron DLC.

Have feedback? Write to us at
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Addie just got back from a week-long vacation, and boy are her arms tired. Wait, how does that go? She just flew in? Anyway, this Super Sleepycast starts out with our usual segments: news, new releases, and email. PSVR and the rumored Playstation 4.5 are topics of discussion, although it's mainly just me responding to long-time friend of the show Pawel while Addie tries not to doze off.

In my pre-recorded segment, I talk briefly about what I'm playing (PS1 game Suikoden II and Tom Clancy's The Division on PS4), and give opening thoughts on Day of the Tentacle Remastered (PS4). Then I have lengthy opening thoughts and a partial review of Salt and Sanctuary (PS4), which I've been obsessed with for the past several days.

Addie was too tired to participate in this week's top ten list (VR as portrayed in books, movies, and TV), but she insisted on playing a game of Video Game "What Am I?" She was pretty much too tired for that also, but we gave it a shot. We have no new Question of the Week, but write in anyway. Suggest a topic, share your thoughts on a prior topic, or just say hello.

Have feedback? Write to us at
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Find links and show notes at
http://www.vggpodcast.com