You raise your head from fitful sleep – you’ve been dozing at your desk again. On the computer is a half completed Reddit post: “TIL the kid from Inside is actually a simulation run by an employee of the Abstergo Corporation from Assassin’s Creed.”
Other games discussed: Overwatch, Volume, Hyper Light Drifter, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Doom
What Mirror’s Edge Should Have Learned from Burnout
Nathan slides recklessly down the muddy embankment firing RPGs at hordes of nameless Euro-military types. “Hey I just met you,” he bellows at Elena over the explosive rattle of gun fire. “This is crazy!” Elena responds as she backflips onto a jet ski while filming the whole scene through her camcorder. “Well, here’s my number.” Nate tosses a live grenade with his digits sprayed on at a group of baddies running off with the treasure. “Call it a perfect 10 maybe”: Every game publication on Earth.
Guest this week: Joe Russ – Creator of the upcoming adventure game Jenny LeClue
Other games discussed: Inside
Further Reading:
Stephen King and George RR Martin
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Multiplayer
You find yourself down to your very last sliver of health. The enemy looms before you, readying itself to deliver the final blow. As you grimace and prepare to meet your doom, the monster drops its weapon and whips out a mirror instead. “Look within to find the most *dangerous* monster in this world,” it croons. You frantically navigate over to and initiate the menu option: “Self-awareness” – It is super effective.
Also discussed: Kill Screen Festival 2016
Further Reading:
The Desert Half – Rebecca Worby
Blood Meridian – Cormac McCarthy
Serenely, you meander through the bright, effervescent world of The Witness. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue dotted with the occasional brush stroked cloud. The problems and struggles of the real world fade away as you solve cereal box puzzles in quick succession until… “wtf? Why isn’t this one working? What did I do wrong? Do I need to rethink this whole segment? I tried it 50 different times and it still doesn’t work! ARRGHHH…”
Other games discussed: The Division, Puzzles and Monsters, Firewatch, The Talos Principle
Further Reading:
Michelle Ehrhardt’s KillScreen article about The Division and 9/11
Run the Jewels “Close Your Eyes And Count To Fuck”
Enemy fire peppers the hull from all directions. “our Love Shields are down to 33%, Captain!” shouts the first mate from below decks. I jump on the rudder and swing wildly to starboard. All of a sudden fisticuffs cloud my vision and the first ma- “wait, who made you the captain?”
“Well, I’m better at steering”
“Arguably guns are more important”
We explode into a thousand starbursts of cosmic love, tinged with the sourness of a married couple’s bickering.
Other games discussed: Fallout 4, Bloodborne, Splatoon
Yussef’s blog post about Fallout 4’s ahistorical framing of racism
The Fallout 3 house inspired by Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains”
You type frantically at the keys, searching for the right keywords. “Damnit, their SEO is garbage,” you mutter frantically to yourself. Cheap office lights hum and then pop intermittently. Finally, you find it: “Tavit and Yussef’s Video Game Hour” On the screen Yussef absentmindedly toys with his hair, wait or is that Tavit? It’s in your notes somewhere…
Other games discussed: Splatoon, Rocket League
Jade draws her green patent leather jacket close around her shoulders as the sun sets over the sleepy Hillys island community. Over from Mammago’s garage she hears the comical bellow of a rhino with a, frankly, questionable Jamaican accent. She lifts up her camera and turns it around, framing herself perfectly with the setting sun just over her shoulder. “This is gonna be a bitchin’ selfie.”
Other games discussed: Destiny, Batman: Arkham Knight
Show Notes:
Paul McCartney doing… something for Destiny
A Fire Upon the Deep, by Verner Vinge
Tevis Thompson on Destiny and Desert Golfing
Angela Burnes walks over to the stereo and pulls a vinyl from its sleeve. “Two5Six Conference Discussion,” it reads. She pops it on the platter and lowers the needle: *record scratch sound effect* *record erupts in flames* “Guess we’re not covering Two5Six this episode then,” Angela mutters to herself before heading to the elevator.
Other games discussed: Sunset, Bayonetta, GTAV, Xenoblade Chronicles, Witcher 3
Maxine Caulfield slams her locker door shut. Another rough day being a gifted teen at Blackwell Academy. Scrawled across her locker in black Sharpie, someone has written “Go Fuck Your Selfie.” Max sighs. “Who even comes up with this stuff?” she wonders.
Other games discussed: Bloodborne, Dungeons and Dragons
The wind picks up as Phileas Fogg boards a giant robotic palanquin. You, trusty Passepartout, hand him his luggage. When he beckons, you simply shake your head and turn to face the garrulous Turkish automata. Over your shoulder you call: “You’d regret it if you stayed. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but definitely in 80 Days!”
Other games discussed: Ori and the Blind Forest, Xenoblade Chronicles, Monster Hunter 4, Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker