Virtual Homework

Dana and Sam look in awe as Trapt the Band and Trapt the Video Game fight to the death in front of a Wendy's.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Not Fans of Nu Metal

0:08 - New Theme Song

0:24 - A Headstrong Intro

1:37 - Trapt Overview and Preface

4:09 - Gameplay Overview

13:09 - Tragic Backstories for Trapt's NPCs

15:49 - Is Trapt Fun?

21:35 - Trapt's Endgame

28:27 - Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time Update

31:03 - Spreading WoW Misinformation

31:35 - Cyberpunk Launch Issues Part II

39:25 - Tropicana vs Cyberpunk

41:51 - Twitch's New ToS

55:29 - Outro

How many podcast hosts does it take to explain how to play Advance Wars? Probably more than two.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Shameful Images Lead To Ashamed Parents

0:12 - A Geneva-less Intro

0:49 - Theme Song

1:05 - Advance War(s) Overview

3:11 - Dana's Initial Thoughts

7:45 - Tutorials and Campaigns

15:28 - Initial and Updated Reviews for Advance Wars

17:45 - Context for Gaming Matters

23:54 - Mario and Sonic 2020 Follow-Up

26:19 - Nintendo's Response to Etikons

29:40 - Cyberpunk 2077 Release Thoughts

34:59 - Game Awards Thoughts

39:39 - Dream Minecraft Speedrun Drama

47:37 - Trapt in 2020

52:44 - Partiboi69 on Twitch

55:10 - Aliens Exist

58:41 - Game Awards Part 2

59:35 - Streamers and Pokémon Cards

1:03:05 - Twitch DMCA and Content Guidelines Updates

1:10:08 - Outro

This week on the podcast, Dana and Sam disagree on literally everything!

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Bowls of Chocolate Milk

0:13 - Theme Song

0:29 - A Star Studded Intro

1:45 - Minesweeper Update

3:03 - Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Overview

4:57 - Gameplay Overview/Plot Overview

9:09 - Luigi's Problem

10:20 - What Happened to Sonic?

12:03 - Mini-Game Reviews

15:49 - Dana's Sad Switch News

18:26 - Different Types of Mini-Games

22:34 - A Gleaming Change Of Pace (Final Thoughts)

26:40 - Splatoon Tournament Controversy

33:43 - A Debate on Scalping

48:30 - Twitch DMCA Update

48:57 - Sad Rap Twitter

51:55 - Blind Playthroughs On Twitch

55:00 - DMCA Plugin News

58:07 - Outro

Sam discusses his recent decision to stop streaming while Dana ponders the true meaning of the 2.5th Dimension.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Spicing Up The Bachelor

0:35 - Theme Song

0:51 - A Blindsided Intro

1:18 - Picante Stream Hiatus

4:06 - Unravel Follow-Up + Unravel 2

8:30 - Klonoa - Door to Phantomile and 2.5D Platformers

15:11 - Plot Overview

16:09 - Music Review

17:29 - Manual in Older Games

20:20 - Similarities to Other Games

22:45 - Final Thoughts

27:23 - 2.5D And PS1 Convo Continued

32:46 - Stadia Saga Dana Edition

37:25 - Minesweeper Talk

39:10 - Nintendocalypse

41:00 - Bachelor 2 Electric Boogaloo

43:05 - Pokemane Cards

44:37 - Bass Pro Santa and Black Friday

49:05 - WoW Shadowlands Review

53:50 - Dana's Ham Problem

58:25 - Outro

Sam roleplays as a lawyer and Dana roleplays as a man with terrible gaming opinions on this week's episode of Virtual Homework Podcast. Sam miiight be the person who writes these intros and miiight not remember the title of this video game.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - ViperCast

1:03 - Theme Song

1:20 - A Legless Intro

3:20 - 30th Episode Celebration/EA Origin DunkCast

6:22 - Unravel Overview and Thoughts

16:10 - Plot Overview

18:30 - PC Port Issues

22:25 - Halo 3 Mods

25:45 - Twitch DMCA Continues

26:40 - Buying Twitch Affiliate Fiasco

36:16 - Twitch Rivals Drama

42:30 - Nintendo Lawyer Talk

47:21 - Twin Galaxies Update

49:42 - Outro

Ikaruga? More like Ik-AROOOOOOOOGA! *jaw drops tongue rolls out* Hummina hummina hummina bazooooooooing! *eyes pop out* WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF *tongue bursts out of the mouth uncontrollably leaking face and everything in reach*.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - A Threatening Intro

1:10 - Giraffe Town (Space Giraffe) Follow-Up

4:03 - Ikaruga Overview

6:49 - Gameplay Overview

8:39 - Ikaruga History

13:16 - Sam's Baseball Analogy

15:45 - Ikaruga History Continued

17:58 - Theme Song

18:13 - Xbox Series X and PS5 Releases

20:11 - Google Stadia First Look/Review

29:50 - Sam's Google Play Music Rant

33:30 - Sam's Fiverr Addiction

37:37 - Mr. Ponzi's Pokemon Collection

41:49 - Anime Update

44:34 - Of Course Another DMCA Update

58:00 - Discord Partner Controversy

1:05:08 - Outro

Dana continues his anti-giraffe stance. Sam discusses the most important gaming-related event of the century.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Extreme Punk'd

0:49 - Theme Song

1:06 - No Intro Just Giraffe Town

2:38 - Why Giraffe Town/Giraffe Town Gameplay Overview

12:49 - Why Was Giraffe Town Made?

16:42 - Gaming Political Policy

20:25 - Vanilla Origins

22:10 - Hollow Knight Follow-Up

25:33 - Pokemon Heart Gold / Soul Silver Remake?

29:39 - Twitch DMCA Saga Continues

34:06 - The Problem With Dana

37:14 - Breakfast Food Talk

40:30 - A Strange Week

42:05 - Theme Song/Outro

In this episode of Virtual Homework, Dana and Sam open their conversation with a deep dive into the world of Hollow Knight and the Metroidvania genre as a whole. Listen in as our hosts discuss what to expect from Hollow Knight in terms of playtime (for both the regular campaign and a completionist), what they like and don’t like about the game, why many refer to it as “2D Dark Souls”, and the pros and cons of the death system.

In the latter half, Dana and Sam go on to share their thoughts on Runescape and the evolution of MMOs, DMCA takedowns on Twitch and the Billy Mitchell case, the difference between board games and tabletop games, the continued delay of Cyberpunk and games they’re looking forward to in the near future, and what's hip in the world of YTMND.

Key Highlights

• [06:39] A primer on Hollow Knight and the Metroidvania genre

• [16:00] Comparing Hollow Knight to Dark Souls and Kaizo games

• [17:10] Hollow Knight’s plot and debating the death and recovery system

• [28:44] Who is this game for?

• [34:44] Would Sam recommend Hollow Knight?

• [36:28] Dana talks about his experience with Runescape’s Trailblazer League

• [46:29] Thoughts on MMOs in general

• [48:37] The issue of DMCA strikes on Twitch

• [56:48] Cyberpunk’s delay and defining RPGs

• [1:05:00] Discussing tabletop games

• [1:09:26] YTMND and the early days of the internet

Memorable Quotes:

“People call Hollow Knight ‘2D Dark Souls’ because you’re trying to get from the save point to where you need to go without dying, which is a pain due to its unforgiving death system.” ~Dana

“Hollow Knight is definitely a game where progress feels good because you literally start only with the ability to jump and use your sword.” ~Sam

“What I love so much about Hollow Knight is that you find out more about the story as you progress. It just throws you into it. You’re just an adventurer looking for guts and glory, but then you uncover things about the world and you’re drawn in along with the character.” ~Dana

“When a game I don’t like gets 9/10 on Metacritic, I know that it’s just me and not the game.” ~Sam

“Regardless of everything else Hollow Knight has to offer, if you’re into video game art at all, this one is amazing. This is honestly the most beautiful game I’ve ever seen.” ~Sam

“YouTube completely ruined other video streaming sites in the mid-2000s.” ~Sam

Do we continue to dunk on the Mother series? Tune in to find out!

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - Theme Song

0:17 - An Aggressive Intro

1:02 - Podcasts Are Under Attack

2:58 - Mother 3 Overview

5:17 - Mother 3 Plot (Minor Spoilers Ahead)

9:40 - Localization Efforts

11:38 - The GBA Is Pretty Cool

12:30 - Improvements Over Earthbound

24:00 - Final Mother Series Thoughts

29:34 - AOC Among Us Stream

32:05 - Twitch DMCA Controversy

46:20 - Chipotle Controversy

51:15 - Streamers Advertising Games

1:00:00 - Violence In Video Games

1:06:10 - Outro

Tech issues won't stop us from rocketing towards the conversational gutter.

Virtual Homework is a podcast where the hosts (Dana and Sam) alternate each week to force the other to play a game of their choosing. We then talk about the game and use that conversation to talk about other aspects of life. Hilarity Ensues!

Timestamps:

0:00 - A Brick Squad Intro

1:34 - Theme Song

2:20 - Sam Beat Earthbound

5:45 - Titanic: Adventure Out of Time Overview

12:35 - The Struggles To Get This To Run

15:50 - Gameplay Overview

20:10 - Sam's Music Choices

21:10 - Is This Game Spooky?

23:33 - Seriously, the Struggles To Get This To Run

25:53 - NPCs and Titanic Facts

28:45 - Big Dogs

32:49 - We Just Lost 20 Minutes Of Footage

34:18 - A Bread-Making Epidemic

39:26 - An Intervention Live On Air

41:03 - Movies Overseas

47:45 - Business Taken Care Of

50:11 - Logan Paul's Pokemon Escapades