Video Game Generations

We kick off our first episode of the year with an appropriate and timely new question of the week. What are your gaming resolutions for 2016? We discuss ours. Write in and let us know yours!

After news of Assassin's Creed and Watch_Dogs rumors, plus the free PlayStation plus games lineup for January, we read listener email. This includes more 2016 predictions in response to last week's QOTW, plus Pawel's top ten games of 2015. A little later, wedged between my two pre-recorded segments, I talk a little more about the scarcity of December's Nintendo-published action game Devil's Third, and the odd lack of PlayStation TV support for the second half of Broken Sword 5 on Vita.

In those pre-recorded segments, I start with a wrap-up for Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU). After those closing thoughts, I review Pneuma: Breath of Life (Xbox One). It's a short but cool first-person puzzle game similar in style to Portal and The Talos Principle. I also talk a little about my slow progress in Suikoden II (PS1 on PSTV), and my opening thoughts on Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox One). What an awesome game.

My plan to quiz Addie about Vita game subtitles is cut short when she surprises me with a quiz of her own. Listen for that near the end of the episode and try to guess along.

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With our year-end wrap-up, we bring you our biggest episode ever. This certainly isn't normal. Next week should see the return of our usual "about one hour" episodes, not this "more than two hours" beast of a show that took forever to edit and post. This was mostly due to combining our 2015 wrap-up with our 2016 predictions and game hype, plus the inevitable extra-long discussions that result from having my friend Bill sit in as a third chair host.

Starting with our usual off-topic segment, Addie talks about her gaming-related Christmas gifts. Then Bill and I briefly discuss a book we both read recently -- Ernest Cline's follow-up to Ready Player One, called Armada. Before we get to our usual segments, we revisit our 2015 predictions to gauge how well each of us were able to see into the future of 2015. On the whole, fairly well as it turns out.

After news and listener email (which includes the first round of gaming predictions for 2016), we talk about what we're playing. I skipped myself this time, since it has mostly been Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU), which I hope to wrap up and talk about next week. For Addie, it's Lego Dimensions (PS4), which was a Christmas present for all three of them; speaking of which, Heath and Hadleigh include their Mini-Gamers Episode 8 this week, with what they're playing plus their own 2015 top ten lists.

Game discussion with Bill starts next, but spills over into several later segments. This includes more back-and-forth regarding Fallout 4 (PS4), a recap of my earlier disappointment over initially getting the bad ending in The Witcher III (PS4), Bill's thoughts on what makes good and bad achievements and trophies, and more. We also talk about our most anticipated games expected to release in 2016, plus our favorites from this year.

We wrap up the show with our 2016 gaming predictions. We'll look back at them a year from now, to see how well we did. If you want to add your own predictions to ours and those from this week's listener email, just write in! We'll read your predictions and emails next week.

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

Our spoiler-free thoughts on Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens start this episode's intro off-topic bit, followed by Rubik's Cube talk and Addie's speculation about the presents waiting for her to open on Christmas. We also talk more about our plans for next week's year-end episode, where we'll list our favorite games of 2015, tally the results of our 2015 predictions, and look ahead to 2016 with new predictions. Our Question of the Week is all about your gaming predictions for 2016. Write in and let us know, so we can include them in next week's show.

Addie talks a little about the three games she's been playing over the past week, in our What We're Playing segment. Those are Mario Kart (Wii), Castle Crashers (Xbox One), and Minecraft (the iOS version, oddly enough). In my pre-recorded segment, I wrap up my thoughts on Paranormal Pursuit (PS3) and KillZone: Mercenary (Vita on PSTV). I also talk a little more about Suikoden II (PS1 on PSTV), and basic impressions of a few other games I tried over the past week, including Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (PS1), Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (PS3), and JamesTown+ (PS4).

I also have an update and a variety of tips to offer regarding Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU) to conclude the pre-recorded segment. After that, I quiz Addie about video games that were December releases, since a quiz specifically about Christmas-themed games just never came together.

Several after-show bits are also included, which wraps up with a message from us all. I think Hadleigh is a little bit confused about how holidays work, but it's the thought that counts!

Have feedback? Write to us at
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Find links and show notes at
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With 2015 coming to a close soon, we have a special end-of-year episode planned, probably in two weeks. The plan is to have our occassional third chair host Bill join us to talk about our favorite games of 2015, our prediction results for this year, what we're looking forward to in 2016, and our predictions for next year. In anticipation for next week's episode, where our Question of the Week is going to invite listeners to submit your own 2016 gaming predictions (anything from wild speculation to the safe bets), go ahead and start sending those in. We'll collect them now, to read on that episode in two weeks.

Anyway, the off-topic lead-up to news, email, and game discussion in this episode is a little longer than usual. Somehow, we get sidetracked talking about video game collecting and my collection in particular. Then in listener email, we read answers to recent Questions of the Week. In fact, this week's new question comes from the same email. What are the most memorable character names you've encountered in a video game? We share ours (although Addie has no opinion on the matter), but write in to let us know yours!

But that's not all. The same listener provided us with an element-themed quiz for this week, where we guess the real game title from the fake in ten sets featuring earth, air, fire, and water. We make our choices and compare the results toward the end of the episode.

In the middle, for What We're Playing, Addie talks some about math puzzle game Power Lines (PC). In my pre-recorded segment, I talk more about KillZone: Mercenary (Vita/PSTV), Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU), and the Alawar-developed point-and-click adventure game Paranormal Pursuit: The Gifted One (PS3).

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

In news this week, we talk about the 2015 Game Awards nominees and winners, and several game announcements that happened as part of the PlayStation Experience (PSX). In listener email, we read another answer to our recent Question of the Week, the merits of Fallout 4 versus The Witcher 3, PSX thoughts and questions, and a new Question of the Week. This week, we want to know if you've ever played a game that seemed like a perfect experience. What does that mean to you? No bugs? Challenging but fair? Continuous progression? If you have an example, write in and let us know!

Addie has two games to talk about this week. One is Akinator the Genie (iOS), which pits you against an AI in a game of twenty questions. The other, Sneak King (Xbox and Xbox 360), challenges you to present food stealthily to unsuspecting victims... er... recipients. This was one of three advertising games commissioned by Burger King™ around a decade ago, and it's surprisingly... well... interesting, if nothing else.

My pre-recorded segments start with a wrap-up on Fallout 4 (PS4) in which I give final thoughts and tips for earning some of the game's many trophies. I also have opening thoughts on the new RPG Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU), and on another game that's been out for a couple years, Killzone: Mercenary (Vita/PSTV).

The episode wraps up with a new quiz. It's round-two for gaming lingo, with Addie trying to define and explain ten more video game terms. In total, it's a longer-than usual episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

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

Addie's back and ready to quiz me in two rounds of video game character "Who Am I" this week. First, though, we have news (this month's free PlayStation and Xbox games, if you subscribe to their premium memberships), listener email and comments, and our usual What We're Playing segment.

For Addie, that's more Plants vs. Zombies (Nook version) and Minecraft (PS4 version), plus a newfound interest in Mario Kart. She has a few tips for the Wii version. In my pre-recorded segment, I talk a little about Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3/Vita) before starting in with an update on Fallout 4 (PS4), which may now (tentatively) be my favorite game ever, replacing prior favorite Fallout 3. I also revisit Fallout sequel predictions covered in an episode earlier this year, to find out how much of the game lines up with what I and other listeners hoped and expected.

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

It was bound to happen sooner or later, but Addie was too sick to record this episode. She's here for a brief, raspy-voiced hello at the start, after which it becomes a solo effort. A big portion of this episode is listener email. This includes more answers to our recent Questions of the Week, Bill's updated thoughts about the DualShock 4 controller (as a new PS4 owner), more feedback about Fallout 4, another set of possible questions for a future quiz, a new Star Wars Battlefront podcast hosted by friends of the show at TyeDyeSheepFilms, a question about The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, an observation about the skill system in The Witcher 3, and a brand new Question of the Week.

In my pre-recorded segments, I give a review of Dead Nation (Vita version -- also available on PS3 and PS4), and later, my ongoing thoughts about Fallout 4 (PS4), which includes a quick primer on just what the Fallout series is all about.

If you have an answer for this week's Question of the Week, write in and let us know. If you had to choose just one game on one console, what would the game/console be, and why? Since Addie was absent, she'll be able to answer next week as well, when we hopefully return to our usual dual-host format.

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

A tired daughter (it's after bedtime). A busy dad (too much work). An excited friend (owner of a brand new PS4). That's the line-up for this week's episode of Video Game Generations, when Bill joins us to talk about his initial impressions of the Playstation 4 (as a long-time Xbox 360 user).

Early in the show, I talk about some recent additions to my video game collection, and a little about the high prices of rare NES cartridges. Bill and I talk about The Walking Dead and his recent interest in graphic novels and comics like the Fables series. In news, we talk about the new Xbox One dashboard and backwards compatibility, plus a reminder that Black Friday deals are just around the corner.

In our What We're Playing segment, Addie talks about Minecraft (PS4). We also share more opinions about The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS), which we tried again recently. After my pre-recorded segment (a wrap-up on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair for Vita), Bill talks briefly about several games he finished since his last appearance on the podcast, including Thief (Xbox 360), Homefront (Xbox 360), Spec Ops: The Line (Xbox 360), Lara Croft Go (Mobile), and The Wolf Among Us (Xbox 360). Following that, we have a lengthy discussion about Fallout 4 (PS4). We talk about what we like and what we don't, what's changed since Fallout 3 and New Vegas, and various concerns about the game sent in by friend and long-time listener Pawel. We're still both relatively early in the game, so I'll probably have more to say in pre-recorded segments on future episodes.

Bill makes an exit before the episode is over, so Addie is left alone to guess the answer in this week's game of "Who Am I?" We have no new listener Question of the Week, but feel free to answer any of the prior weeks' questions, or just write in with anything you think would be interesting for us to read and discuss on the show.

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

To make up for last week's absent pre-recorded segment, I go completely overboard this time with what might be the longest monologue in recorded history. It's mostly a wrap-up and review of Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4), although it starts with a quick update on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita). Addie is excited to talk about Gravity Rush (Vita), which she's been playing over the past week. This is sandwiched between news and email at the start (where our friend Jon of the One Track Gamers podcast writes in to answer last week's question for listeners) and a quiz at the end (where, being unprepared again, we play another game of "Who Am I?").

In news, we talk about Xbox One backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games, which goes live for everybody later this week. Also, last week's Question of the Week carries over once more. Write in and let us know if you've ever been so wrapped up in a game that it almost felt like you were still playing, even when you weren't!

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

For the first time in a long time, I have no pre-recorded segment this week. This is where I traditionally talk about the games I'm playing, usually in excessive detail (although I try to stay spoiler-free). My gaming time was more limited this week, but Addie comes to the rescue to talk about several games she's been playing. These include Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery (Vita), Doki Doki Universe (Vita), Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (PS3), and Machinarium (Vita). We also have a new episode of Mini-Gamers featuring twins Heath and Hadleigh, with some back-and-forth about Rabbids Rumble (3DS), Ben 10 Galactic Racing (DS), Ultratron (PS4), Kingdom Hearts 3D (3DS), Kingdom Hearts 352/8 Days (DS), and more.

Before that, it's listener email. Addie and I take turns reading this week's feedback regarding prior weeks' questions (most anticipated games, the voice actors' union, and more). This also includes a few game recommendations, and the inspiration for this week's QOTW. Have you ever been so wrapped up in a game that it somehow spilled over into real life? One listener gives us a great example, and then we discuss our own. Write in and let us know if you've ever -- even for just a moment -- let some aspect of a game you've been playing slip through into real life.

Without a quiz prepared this week, we take the lazy road and play a game of "Who Am I?" It's a little like Twenty Questions with yes/no answers, but without the limit. Addie tries to guess what video game character I am, near the end of this episode.

Have feedback? Write to us at
[email protected]

Find links and show notes at
http://www.vggpodcast.com