Wardcast

Make sure no cops listen to this episode, cause we talk about some illicit game emulation.

We also perform some Fresh Prince jiu jitsu and ponder on which Sega game best encapsulates the culture of this decade.

In other news: news! We discuss the departure of “Lucky” Palmer Luckey from Facebook; the announcement of Destiny 2; the not so great Inc. article, “It’s Official: Too Many Video Games Really Can Make You Stop Looking for Work and Move In With Your Parents”; and the bankruptcy of peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz.

With that last news item, we reminisce about old controller tech as well as talk about our tolerances for horror and thrill-seeking.

Games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Jet Set Radio Future, Gun Valkyrie, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, and Super Mario Run.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

We’re back from PAX East, having escaped the cold weather and flight delays, and we make sure to cover any missed games from PAX East’s final day.

From bugs in MLB to Mass Effect: Andromeda, we discuss how newsworthy topics are more about showing your allegiances nowadays than engaging in discourse.

Will digs into some delicious RetroPie, and he and Dylan both contend with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the suspension of disbelief needed for the Sheikah-branded iPad. Will brings up art styles he would have preferred to see in Zelda’s latest release, and Dylan suggests some old proposals.

Dylan also asks Will about the future plans of RVA Game Jams.

Games include Catrap, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Fire Emblem Heroes, Pyre, Flinthook, Sonic Mania, and Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

Taking their nightly break from the festivities at PAX East, Dylan is joined in their PAX HQ by Nick Nundahl and Joe Wetmore of Instant Replay Live along with their colleague and fellow YouTuber Luke Porr.

The gents talk about the amazing response to the Hidden Gems PAX panel, the hidden gems of Seeso, and driving in the greater Boston area.

We also discuss the Penny Arcade Mega Corp and the question of when to follow your creative whims, and all the while, Joe professes his love for Dylan’s friend, Kenny.

Games include Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Bobby Throne Saves the World, Desert of Danger, Buck, The Darwin Project, Flinthook, Dead Cells, Splody, Tooth and Tail, and Ylands.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

From their panel at PAX East, Dan, Alex, Mason, and Dylan return to talk about all of the latest, greatest undiscovered games and experiences they found on the show floor.

From the panel description:

PAX East is filled with games from wall to wall, and it’s nigh impossible to see everything. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the unique, the eclectic, and the unknown. Each of our panelists will choose a single game from off the beaten path and use their collective knowledge of game development, user experience design, and virtual reality development to highlight, analyze, and discuss surprises on the show floor you may have otherwise missed.

Games include Obduction, The American Dream, I Expect You to Die, Think of the Children, Russian Subway Dogs, The Gardens Between, The Italianeer, Bobby Throne Saves The World, Dunk Lords, and Semblance.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

Dylan is joined by his Playthrough roadie Wendy Rivera, where they talk about their time at Playthrough as well as what games they’ve been playing. Wendy has been steadfast in her dedication to her farm in Stardew Valley, and Dylan has dabbled with VVVVVV and Night in the Woods. He’s also finished Telltale’s Batman and discusses some spoilers.

They also unbox the latest Zelda live on the air while talking about whether or not to get a Switch as well as a smidge of pre-PAX planning.

Games include Stardew Valley, VVVVVV, Batman: The Telltale Series, and Night in the Woods.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

In our second panel from the Playthrough Game Convention, Dylan is joined on the stage by a multitude of indie devs to talk about their projects and the process of development.

This panel’s guests include Nathan Shumaker from Analog Data, Adam Agro from Solanimus, Sam Kushner from Perfect Square Studios, Dorothy Phoenix from Cloudy Heaven Games, Victor Slaughter from Vandal Entertainment Studios, and Matt Key and Chris Barone from Defcon Games.

From the panel description:

Multiple indie devs come together to tell you the good, the bad, and the buggy. Laugh with us as we listen to them talk about ancient game development secrets and tell dev tales that have scarred them for life.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

Dylan ascends the main stage of the Playthrough Game Convention for a panel with its creators — Tim Howell, Chris Howell, and John “Duffy” Duthie — to discuss the show.

From the panel description:

Come join the organizers of Playthrough as they discuss what goes into making the show and where they want to take it in the future. Ask them questions and watch them be amazed that anyone cares about the back end of the event.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

This ain’t New Donk City; this is Gothtown, USA, baby!

Down here, we’re only talking about the hottest Halo 2 maps, the most embarrassing Internet usernames, and the most mythical video game easter eggs shared in hushed tones over elementary school lunches.

There’s more talk to be had about Fire Emblem Heroes and smartphone games in general, leading Will to tell us how he once racked up a five-figure phone bill.

But the big talk this week is about Steam Direct, Valve’s upcoming replacement for Steam Greenlight, and how this will affect independent developers and what other consumer-facing considerations they should be focusing on.

Games include Fire Emblem Heroes, Mini Metro, Terra Battle, Tanks of Freedom, and Super Mario Run.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

It’s a musical episode this week, as Dylan and Will talk music in game dev and sample some memorable tracks from games past, from The Sims to Dear Esther to Super Mario Land. We also forget how to pronounce Bosca Ceoil.

Will tries out Pico 8 for himself after Sam’s recommendation last episode, so he talks about making games and playing games on the fantasy console.

We also discuss what an Apocalypse Now game might look like, take a Pootie Tang joke a little too far, and determine that neither Andrew Lloyd Webber nor Henry David Thoreau designed Fallingwater.

Games include The Last of Us: Remastered, Fire Emblem Heroes, Hug Arena, Matchy Matchy, and Super Mario Land.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!

It’s getting hot and heavy on the show, just in time for episode sixty nine.

Mason, Alex, and Dan will be taking a break in order to tackle their final semester at the Brandcenter. In their stead, Dylan is joined by the awesome duo of Sam Loeschen and Will Blanton.

The guys talk about the ridiculousness of startup and tech culture, the games they made at Global Game Jam 2017, Kingdom Hearts 8 ½ × 11 (or whatever it’s called), good ol’ Dust2, and Witcher 3’s disappointing depiction of women.

Games include Counter Strike: Global Offensive, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Overwatch, and Dark Souls.

Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at [email protected]!