We talk about Summer Game Fest, the changing Games media landscape, and talk about some recent games we’ve been playing.

Show Notes:

Nobody Should Play Splitgate 2:

• Nice Hat, Loser - Aftermath

Fuck the British:

• How Relooted, A Game About Reclaiming African Artifacts From Western Museums, Ended Up Being Shown By A White Guy At Summer Game Fest - Aftermath

Big Games Media is probably dead, unless it’s IGN:

• Giant Bomb goes independent | The Verge
• Polygon sold to GameRant owner Valnet | The Verge
• rip polygon
• Can You Build a Community Around Video Game Guides? - Remap
  • Big Friendly Guide

Games We Played

• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
• Final Fantasy 14 (did you know it has an award winning free trial up until level 70?)
  • XIV on Mac

Chapters:

• (02:05) - Summer Game Fest 2025

We talk about a bad book, then take a trip to Puerto Rico to talk about the new Bad Bunny album but really just use it as a vehicle to talk about modern colonization.

Show Notes:

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

• Storygraph
• Sadiq’s Review of Heavenly Tyrant

Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

• BAD BUNNY - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Short Film)
• BAD BUNNY - BAILE INoLVIDABLE (Video Oficial) | DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
• BAD BUNNY - PIToRRO DE COCO (Video Oficial) | DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
• Unpacking Bad Bunny's personal and political 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS'
• Fabiola Méndez: Tiny Desk Concert
• El Laberinto del Coco: Tiny Desk x globalFEST
• Genius
• Official Website
• Data Vampires: Going Hyperscale (Episode 1) - Tech Won’t Save Us
• Coquí - Wikipedia
• Radio Menea

Chapters:

• (00:02) - Cristian takes an L

We do our year end wrap up, and talk about the best Music and Games of 2024.

Show Notes:

Albums of the Year 2024

Sadiq’s Albums of the Year

• Charli xcx - BRAT
• Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
• Khruangbin - A LA SALA
• Baby Rose & BADBADNOTGOOD - Slow Burn
• Shaboozey - Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
• Elkka - Prism of Pleasure
• GloRilla - GLORIOUS
• BigXthaPlug - TAKE CARE
• Kendrick Lamar - GNX
• Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes

Cristian’s Albums of the Year 2024

• JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
• Tyler the Creator - CHROMAKOPIA
• Denzel Curry - KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH
• Logic - Ultra 85 (I know do not judge me)
• Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
• NxWorries - Why Lawd?

Performance of the Year

• Doechii: Tiny Desk Concert

IDK if we have albums we’re looking forward too but

• Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures

Games of the Year 2024

Sadiq’s Games of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Cristian’s Games of the Year

• Starfield: Shattered Space
• Destiny 2: The Final Shape
• Cyberpunk 2.0
• Black Ops 6
• Tears of the Kingdom

Postscript: Neither Dave Chapelles or SexyReds politicial views are endorsed by either of us, to make it super clear.

• (01:36) - Albums of The Year

We talk briefly about the Game Awards, then we discuss Kendrick Lamar’s GNX.

Show Notes:

Twitter Fingers Turn To Trigger Fingers

• Drake alleges UMG falsely inflated Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' | AP News

Other Links

• It's Getting Harder to Deny that Payola 2.0 Is Alive and Well in The Music Streaming Era | Headphonesty
• SpotifyPanel

Info Links

• Genius
• Wikipedia
• YouTube Playlist
• Apple Music
• Spotify

Track Listing

1. Wacced Out Murals
2. Squabble Up
3. Luther (with ​SZA)
4. Man at the Garden
5. Hey Now (featuring ​Dody6)
6. Reincarnated
7. TV Off (featuring ​Lefty Gunplay)
8. Dodger Blue (featuring ​Wallie the Sensei, ​Siete7x, ​Roddy Ricch)
9. Peekaboo (featuring ​AzHike)
10. Heart Pt. 6
11. GNX (featuring ​Hitta J3, ​YoungThreat, ​Peysoh)
12. Gloria (with SZA)

Talking Points

• MUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD
• How Kendrick was in the Studio Making this New Album (GNX)
• WTF is a GNX?

Chapters:

• (00:01) - A Brief Game Awards Sidebar

We talk about Star Wars Outlaws, King of The Mischievous South Vol. 2, and Journalists leaving their jobs to go full time Youtuber.

Show Notes: 

Tumblr & WordPress:

• Tumblr migrates more than 500 million blogs to WordPress | Ars Technica
• WordPress Discover

Star Wars Outlaws:

• Buy Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on PC & More | Ubisoft Store
• Star Wars Outlaws review: a perfectly ok bit of star war | Rock Paper Shotgun
• Game Launchers (Epic Games and Ubisoft)
• Sadiq’s Andor review
• Episode 00 – Welcome to Ctrl, Alt, Access

Denzel Curry - King of The Mischievous South Vol. 2

• King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2
• Slurpgods
• That Mexican OT - Johnny Dang (feat. Paul Wall & Drodi) (Official Music Video)
• That Mexican OT - Wikipedia

Doechii

• Alligator Bites Never Heal - Album by Doechii | Spotify
• NISSAN ALTIMA | Swamp Session

Becca Farsace

• Why I left The Verge

Better Offline:

• Better Offline | iHeart
• Tech Won’t Save Us

Chapters:

• 0:00:04 - Tumblr Switching to WordPress
• 00:06:30 - Star Wars Outlaws
• 00:26:55 - The Music Hour
• 00:39:32 - Becca Farsace Leaving The Verge

• (00:04) - Tumblr Switching to WordPress

We talk about Destiny 2: The final Shape, and we 4 weeks after the fact talk about Summer Game Fest 2024.

Show Notes:

Destiny 2 The Final Shape:

• Bungie got their W - My Impressions/Review of Final Shape
• The Final Shape’s campaign makes good on Bungie’s ‘raid-lite’ promise - Polygon

Sony State of Play May 2024

• Every big announcement from PlayStation's new State of Play

Summer Game Fest:

• Microsoft reveals first disc-less Xbox Series X | Ars Technica
• Xbox Games Showcase 2024: Every Announcement and Reveal
• Every big announcement and trailer from Ubisoft Forward 2024
• Everything announced at Nintendo Direct June 2024
• Day of the Devs 2024: Everything Announced - IGN

Chapters:

• (03:00) - Destiny 2: The Final Shape
• (28:33) - Summer Game Fest 2024

• (03:00) - Destiny 2: The Final Shape

We talk about Drake versus Kendrick…and that’s really it we ran out of time for anything else.

Content Warning: Sexual Assault Mentions, talk of predatory behavior.

Show Notes:

Drake vs. Kendrick:

• First Person Shooter (Drake and J.Cole)
• Like That (Kendrick)
• 7 Minute Drill (J.Cole, deleted and apologized)
• Pushups (Drake)
• Taylor Made Freestyle (Drake and AI 2Pac)
• euphoria (Kendrick)
• 6:16 in LA (Kendrick)
• Family Matters (Drake)
• meet the grahams (Kendrick)
• Not Like Us (Kendrick)
• BBL Drizzy (Metro Boomin, instrumental)
• The Heart Part 6 (Drake)
• This battle wasn't even close... -> FD Signifier on the Beef

Microsoft Fuckups:

• Microsoft are shutting down the studios that made Prey, Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush | Rock Paper Shotgun
• Microsoft exec calls for "smaller", "prestige" games the day after closing Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango | Rock Paper Shotgun
• Big Video Game Publishers Like Microsoft Are Paving Their Own Path To Irrelevance - Aftermath
• Microsoft And Sony Have Lost The Plot - Aftermath
• The Answer Doesn't Have To Be Less - Aftermath
• "There's no one size fits all to it for us." Xbox President Sarah Bond quizzed on why Hi-Fi Rush developer was closed | Windows Central
• (00:01) - Drake versus Kendrick
• (01:03:40) - Microsoft Shutting Down Studios

• (00:01) - Drake versus Kendrick

Non-Profits, Destiny 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and the Spring 2024 Anime Season.

Show Notes:

Mastodon new 501c3:

• Mastodon forms new U.S. non-profit

Destiny 2 Weapon Sunsetting being Un-sunset (Risen?):

• Bungie is un-sunsetting your old weapons in Destiny 2: The Final Shape - Polygon
• This Week In Destiny - 04/25/2024 | Bungie.net

Horizon Forbidden West

• packetcat's review of the game

Anime Pickup Spring 2024:

 Actually Gay:

• Watch Tadaima, Okaeri - Crunchyroll
  • The Unofficial Guide To The Omegaverse - Basic Explanation - Wattpad
    • Omegaverse - Wikipedia
• Whisper Me a Love Song - HIDIVE
• Watch The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio - Crunchyroll

Classic Trope Shit:

• Watch THE NEW GATE - Crunchyroll
• Watch Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included - Crunchyroll
• Watch Unnamed Memory - Crunchyroll
• Watch A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics - Crunchyroll
• Watch As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World - Crunchyroll
• Watch Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers - Crunchyroll

We don’t do this shit in 2024:

• Watch An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride - Crunchyroll
• Watch NIJIYON ANIMATION - Crunchyroll

Pretty Great:

• Watch Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again - Crunchyroll
• Watch Train to the End of the World - Crunchyroll
  • オリジナルTVアニメーション『終末トレインどこへいく？』ノンクレジットオープニング｜中島怜「GA-TAN GO-TON」【TVアニメは好評放送中！】
• Watch KONOSUBA -God's blessing on this wonderful world! - Crunchyroll
• Watch Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF - Crunchyroll
• Watch Kaiju No. 8 - Crunchyroll
• The Dangers in My Heart - HIDIVE

 Shows I honestly haven’t started:

• Watch Tonari no Yokai-san - Crunchyroll
• Watch HIGHSPEED Étoile - Crunchyroll
• Watch The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases - Crunchyroll
• Watch Mysterious Disappearances - Crunchyroll
• Watch Astro Note - Crunchyroll
• Watch I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability - Crunchyroll
• Watch Vampire Dormitory - Crunchyroll
• Watch Gods' Games We Play - Crunchyroll
• Watch WIND BREAKER - Crunchyroll
• Watch BARTENDER Glass of God - Crunchyroll
• Watch Re:Monster - Crunchyroll

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Mastodon Non-Profit
• (03:49) - Destiny 2 Un-sunsetting
• (16:22) - Horizon Forbidden West
• (18:31) - Anime Pickup Spring 2024

• (00:00) - Mastodon Non-Profit

Beyonce, the Winter 2024 Anime Season, and life's most important question: Why does Phil Spencer keep opening his mouth?

Show Notes:

We don’t need to talk about it but Suzume is now on Netflix so everyone should watch it:

• https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1776263617974841453

Cowboy Carter:

• COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé
• Lyrics for Beyoncé’s New Album ‘COWBOY CARTER’ | Genius
• Cowboy Carter: This Ain’t Country — Switched On Pop
• Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter Album Review | Pitchfork

Winter 2024 Anime Wrapup:

• Dropped:
  • Watch Delusional Monthly Magazine - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Sasaki and Peeps - Crunchyroll
  • Watch The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids -A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero's Party- - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Classroom of the Elite - Crunchyroll
  • Watch The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic - Crunchyroll
  • Watch The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash - Crunchyroll
  • Watch 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Fluffy Paradise - Crunchyroll
• Kept:
  • Watch A Sign of Affection - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Mr. Villain's Day Off - Crunchyroll
  • Delicious in Dungeon - Netflix
  • Watch The Unwanted Undead Adventurer - Crunchyroll
  • Watch The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil - Crunchyroll
  • Watch 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Solo Leveling - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki - Crunchyroll
  • Watch Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss But I'm Not the Demon Lord - Crunchyroll

Why does Phil Spencer keep opening his mouth:

• Phil Spencer wants Epic Games Store and others on Xbox consoles - Polygon
• A handheld Xbox is the dream, says Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer - Polygon
• Some Publishers Reportedly Not Sure Why They Should Keep Supporting Xbox
• EXCLUSIVE: Xbox President Sarah Bond has set up a new team dedicated to game preservation and forward compatibility | Windows Central

Chapters:

• (00:00) - New Chapter
• (01:06) - Cowboy Carter
• (25:29) - Winter 2024 Anime Wrapup
• (38:00) - Why does Phil Spencer keep opening his mouth?

• (00:00) - New Chapter

Classic Rap Albums, Microtransactions, Games Reviews, and we go shopping for a gaming PC.

Show Notes:

Madvillainy 20th anniversary:

• Searching for Tomorrow: The Story of Madlib and DOOM's Madvillainy
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20240203032745/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9478-searching-for-tomorrow-the-story-of-madlib-and-dooms-madvillainy/ -> Archive.org link in case Conde Nast does a Conde Nast

Dragon Dogma 2:

• Four Thoughts on Dragon's Dogma - Remap
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 has surprise microtransactions, and players are angry - Polygon
• Dragon's Dogma 2 - PS5/Xbox Series X/S and PC - Digital Foundry Tech Review

Anti-Cheat Conversation:

• Apex Legends finals postponed after suffering unprecedented hack
• Microsoft quietly added an anti-cheat game feature to Windows 10 - The Verge
  • WHY WAS THIS REMOVED, WHY IS ANTI-CHEAT ALL THIRD PARTY?

packetcat’s video game corner:

• Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Music corner:

• Future & Metro Boomin - WE DON’T TRUST YOU
• Four Tet - Three
• Sofia Kourtesis - Madres
• Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood
• ScHoolboy Q - BLUE LIPS
• Matt Champion - Mika’s Laundry
• Knxwledge

packetcat’s book corner:

• Translation State by Ann Leckie
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
• The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

Chapters:

• (00:56) - Madvillainy 20th Anniversary
• (12:27) - Dragon's Dogma 2
• (25:38) - Anti-Cheat Conversation
• (37:11) - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
• (43:28) - Music Recommendations
• (57:25) - Book Corner

• (00:56) - Madvillainy 20th Anniversary