Too often gamers associate cost of a video game to a game's length, feeling that if you pay $60 for a game, you should get a ton of play out of it. Sometimes, though, quality of a game trumps quantity, which can sometimes be an unpopular opinion. Agree or not? Ep S5E6
The result of a relationship where Sony ended up spurned and betrayed by Nintendo, the PlayStation marked Sony's entrance into the video game world. No longer was it just Nintendo and Sega fighting for gamers' dollars. And with it, Sony generated massive success. With much improved graphical capabilities over its competitors, disc-based games, and an incredible library, Sony proved it was playing for keeps. On the first of a multi-part series, we go down memory lane again, celebrating the 20th a...
At the 6th Penny Arcade Expo (East) in Boston, MA., it was another 3-day weekend of relentless stimulation. Developers from triple-A to indie all showed off their latest, the concerts were great, and much swag was gained. But between all the caffeine-binging and shininess of it all, some new things came to PAX: the addition of an e-sports arena and a lounge devoted entirely to cosplayers, to name a couple of things. On this episode, the five of us recap our own personal sights, sounds, and exper...
Wyatt and Ron join Brian and they discuss the growing trend of broken video games. Games are being sold to consumers that are loaded with glitches or just outright incomplete, often requiring a myriad of patches that must be downloaded as soon as the game is popped in for the first time. How can the industry address that? All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S5E3
What is it about video game developers that grind our gears? Is it the fact that many keep using the same mechanics that frequently annoy us, like not being able to pause or skip really long cut scenes? Is it tacked-on multiplayer to artificially inflate a game's length? What about DRM? On this episode, we rant about the things that developers frequently do that piss us off. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S5E2...
It began 30 years ago, when the character known as Jumpman from Donkey Kong got his own game, and was given a brother decked in green. The Brothers Mario still are going strong three decades later, and show no signs of stopping. It's how we'll begin Season 5 of DLC, celebrating this fun franchise that'll continue all year long. Naturally, one must start at the beginning. It's the start of the ultimate nostalgia trip for many of us. Let's go down the warp pipe. All music belongs to their respecti...
It's the season finale! We round up 2014 in video gaming, give you our thoughts on the most memorable games and events of the year, and also give you what we're looking forward to in 2015. All music belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E23
With more and more games taking advantage of the internet, online multiplayer is on the rise. However, more and more developers are deciding to put more of their resources into multiplayer experiences and as a result, devoting less time and/or dropping the single-player experience from games altogether. Does this herald the beginning of the end for single-player games? All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. No copyright infringement is intended. Ep S4E...
We take a look at the funny in this episode, examining the role of humor in video games. Is it needed? What's the purpose? What are some games that are noted for their humor? All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E21
What makes western RPGs so different from JRPGs? Why are JRPGs no longer the big console sellers they once were? Western RPGs seem to have filled the void left by JRPGs, but what is it about these genres that keep us coming back to them time and time again? All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. Ep S4E20
In light of the horrible mess that is GamerGate, we talk on this episode why, perhaps more than ever, video games need feminism. The terrible threats and vitriol spewed at critics like Anita Sarkeesian, Zoe Quinn, and others, are unacceptable, and we all must do our part, as gamers and human beings, to get rid of this idea that video games are a "guys-only" club. All music used belongs to their respective games/composers/developers/studios/etc. Ep S4E19...
It's just Ron and Brian as they give you the third and final Free Play episode of this season. They talk about Twitch's acquisition, what's going on in e-sports, and more. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S4E18
Villains of video games are often times just as memorable, if not more so, than a game's hero. They have their unique personality traits that give them a lasting impression in a gamer's memory. On this episode, we give our thoughts on gaming's greatest villains and give them some love. Brian is joined by Ben and Tanya on this episode. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S4E17
It's another Free Play episode, and another set of interesting topics are up for debate--in this episode, we discuss the rampant sexism and harassment in the gaming community, the merits of physical vs. digital distribution, an indie game renaissance, and plenty more. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. No copyright infringement is intended. Ep S4E16
It didn't go over well when it was released 20 years ago, but since then, EarthBound has become a cult classic. What's the appeal of this weird, quirky, odd, yet hilarious game? Doug joins Brian on another nostalgia-fueled episode as they discuss the Super Nintendo game that gave us Ness. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E15
Twenty years ago, Bethesda introduced us to the massively open-world RPG series known as The Elder Scrolls. From its beginnings as a PC staple to a global phenomenon available on consoles as well, millions of gamers have sunk millions of hours into each game, eager to do everything that can be done with each expansive world. We reminisce our experiences of this great series here. All music used in this episode belongs to Jeremy Soule, composer of the Elder Scrolls games. The cover of "The Dragon...
Fifteen years ago, Konami gave us their answer to Capcom's Resident Evil franchise. Rather than zombies, bio-organic weapons, and viruses, Silent Hill gave us psychological chills. Supernatural elements, satanic cults, drugs, inner demons, and Pyramid Head gave us good old-fashioned nightmare fuel. We celebrate and reminisce this classic survival horror franchise on this episode. All music belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E13...
Ron and Ryan join Brian on the first of the Free Play episodes for Season 4. Even though summertime is usually the quiet period of the video gaming year, there's still plenty to talk about. What news and opinions from the gaming world have we thoughts on? Listen and find out. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. Ep S4E12
It's our annual E3 recap episode. Joined by Ron, Ben, Joshie, and Cat, we give you our take on the highlights, games, and controversies surrounding this year's event. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E11
What does it mean to be a "gamer"? On this episode, we take a look at the definition, and debate as to whether we should retire the term or figure out ways to give the label a more positive, all-inclusive attachment. Apologies for the drop in audio quality in the 2nd half--Skype occasionally takes issues with large panels. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. Ep S4E10
It's a love letter to platform games, a genre of games that has fallen out of favor in recent console generations as gamers prefer much more nuanced, story-driven, feature-loaded experiences. Yet it's this down-but-not-out style of game, where you grind level by level, which is largely to thank for what we play today. Ronny and Brian talk about platforming games and why they're still relevant today. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E9...
In 1989, Nintendo was enjoying wide-ranging success. A new challenger appeared that year in the US, and shortly after, a blue hedgehog sought to do battle with a mustachioed plumber. So began the console wars of the 1990s. While Nintendo eventually won the war, the Sega Genesis left a profound mark on video gaming. Brian and Shanna look back at the Genesis with fond nostalgia on this episode of DLC. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E8...
It's our annual PAX East recap episode! We bring to you our experiences from the 3-day gaming convention, from the games we played, panels we saw, concerts we experienced, and more. Listen to our stories from a fun-filled weekend. We're joined by Doug from AnimeCons TV, Wyatt and Jon from Sprites And Dice, also appearing once again are Ben and Shanna. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/inc. Ep S4E7...
In 1989, Nintendo launched a product that would change the face of handheld gaming forever. While the Game Boy wasn't the first handheld device to play games, it was the first to receive massive critical acclaim and appeal. Even now, 25 years later, Nintendo is still the runaway leader in the handheld market. On this episode, we look back at some of our greatest (and worst) memories of the original gray brick. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep ...
Video games, like any art, have to undergo some growing pains. In an effort to try to gain legitimacy and mainstream recognition and not be seen as simply a kid's toy, some games may take on the look and feel of Hollywood-style movies. Others argue that video games should not try to be something else, but instead should stand on its own merits. Agree or disagree? We give our thoughts on this episode. All music used belongs to their games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S4E5...
Joshie joins DLC for the first time this season, and brings with him his two cents on the currently-being-developed Steam Machines. With Valve wanting to get in on the console and PC market, we talk about the devices themselves and speculate on how successful we think Valve might be. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers. Ep S4E4
In light of the recent announcement of Irrational Games shutting down, the reaction has ranged from wishing Ken Levine well to Rage Quitting everything. Yet, he's certainly not the first big-name developer who's left behind their AAA franchises to pursue making other games (usually indie). What effects on the video game industry does this have when such talent leave behind their blockbuster franchises to pursue other creative interests? That's what we aim to discuss here. All music belongs to th...
In the 40+ years since the first video game console, these devices have gone from a living room accessory to multi-functional, all-in-one machines capable of doing far more than simply play video games. We take a look at the evolution of video game consoles and wonder just how far we can go. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc. Ep S4E2
We begin Season 4 of Downloadable Content with a glimpse into the 8th Generation: the newly-launched PS4 and Xbox One. How are they faring little more than 2 months after their release? Now that the honeymoon is over, what games are we looking forward to in order to justify those expensive toys? And what is up with Nintendo and its floundering Wii U? All music used belongs to their respective games/composers/studios/developers/etc. Ep S4E1...
It's the Series 3 outtake reel: what you're about to hear are some outtakes from this season of DLC, moments that got cut from finished episodes, and in some cases, left in the finished episode and re-lived here because they're just too funny. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended. Ep S3EB
