The Nextlander Podcast - podcast cover

The Nextlander Podcast

The Nextlander Podcastaudioboom.com
Longtime friends and games media colleagues Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro share their combined decades of knowledge, expertise, and passion for games with weekly discussions about what they're playing, what's happening in the industry, and whatever else they're up to.

Episodes

133: The Other Dr. Dré

In this second week of 2024: The Finals, Among Us in Vampire Survivors, more Sea of Stars, Xbox maybe going multiplatform, layoffs at Twitch and Unity, another excuse to say "Switch 2," wrestlers acting badly, Twin Peaks merch we didn't know we wanted, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution...

Jan 11, 20242 hr 55 minEp. 133

132: Finding a Pea While Eating Poop

We've got plenty to catch up on in our first podcast of 2024 (not a real year), from holiday gaming with small children to basement cleaning strategies, some Game Awards highlights, the wild world of competitive NES Tetris, predictions for the Internet of 2034, and a bunch more! A great explainer about the Tetris story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJ5UuknsHU Brendan Sinclair's 2023 roundup: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tearing-up-the-pea-patch-this-year-in-business Advertise on The Nextlan...

Jan 04, 20242 hr 15 minEp. 132

131: Game of the Year 2023, Part 2

It's our last podcast of 2023, and thus our last chance to celebrate many of our favs with some chill 'n friendly debate about categories like best storytelling, best remake, and most anticipated, plus our highly personalized list of top 10 games of the year! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if...

Dec 28, 20234 hr 15 minEp. 131

130: Game of the Year 2023, Part 1

Can it be? Have we (almost) reached the end of this year? Is it finally time to talk about some of our favorite 2023 games, including the best looking game, the coolest gameplay hooks, the best game to play with friends, and the best FMV or point-and-click games to play if you want to be a cool person? Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to ...

Dec 21, 20233 hr 57 minEp. 130

129: Suddenly, Klepek

With Brad and Alex unexpectedly out Patrick Klepek answers the call to chat about Fortnite and the kids, the end of E3, and The Game Awards! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening. (00:00:09) Intro (00:00:30) Patrick Klepek is here! (00:01:53...

Dec 14, 20232 hr 34 minEp. 129

128: Hardcore Matinee

Well, now we definitely officially know what Grand Theft Auto VI looks like, so we dig into that trailer this week, as well as Harmonix's proper Fortnite debut, the early hours of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, earnings trouble at Bungie, and other stuff! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skip...

Dec 07, 20232 hr 6 minEp. 128

127: The Doom Runs

It's almost December, so it's time to take stock of the games we're currently catching up on, as well as the ones on our backlogs (with a break to talk about Steamworld Build), plus news of the day like details on Rockstar's long cancelled Agent, Game Awards announcement predictions, Unity's closure of Weta Digital, and some other stuff! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than...

Nov 30, 20232 hr 15 minEp. 127

126: Prove Your Stifmeister

As we roll into the Thanksgiving holiday, we dish up some piping hot discussion about our very timely experiences with Cyberpunk 2077, "beating" Vampire Survivors, 25 years of Half-Life (and other greatest hits of 1998), a questionable second Flashback, the long and storied American Pie franchise, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version du...

Nov 23, 20232 hr 42 minEp. 126

125: Activate Your Dog

The year's end looms, so it's time to look over the Game Awards nominees, then gaze longingly at the OLED Steam Deck, then catch up on games like Thirsty Suitors, more Alan Wake II, and Risk of Rain Returns, then discuss a young man's first platinum, then more! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution ...

Nov 16, 20232 hr 2 minEp. 125

124: Serious Sam's Existential Crisis

This podcast contains discussion of topics such as: the new Like a Dragon Gaiden, The Invincible, Jusant, The Talos Principle II, Grand Theft Auto 6, Mass Effect 5, the live-action Zelda movie, and fish. A lot of fish. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thank...

Nov 09, 20232 hr 28 minEp. 124

123: Thumpin' and Rumpin'

We're pretty busy having our minds blown by Alan Wake II this week, but we also find time for a mini-Spider-spoilercast, news like the layoffs at Bungie, Atari's purchase of Digital Eclipse, updates on Remedy's other projects, Xbox's lockout of third-party accessories, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. P...

Nov 02, 20232 hr 8 minEp. 123

122: Pull That Frown Further Down!

On the show this week, we dig into the fifth? sixth? Super Mario Bros. game (y'know, Wonder), discuss the later parts of Spider-Man 2, cover news like the Animal Crossing-ish island builder in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and the first look at the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, think of ways to make video game consoles worse, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the...

Oct 26, 20232 hr 2 minEp. 122

121: Mahden Mahvel

Spider-Man 2 is here, and hey, it's extremely good! That's pretty much all we played this week, but also the Microsoft/Activision deal closed (and Bobby Kotick is on the way out), the other shoe has dropped for Bandcamp as it leaves Epic, one whole Wii U sold in September, we're awash in skincare tips, and more! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon versi...

Oct 19, 20233 hr 33 minEp. 121

120: Mark N. Execute

This week we ended up doing an impromptu dive into the past/present/future of Assassin's Creed in the wake of Mirage's release, talked (?) at length (??) about a new Robocop game (???), dabbled with Payday 3, considered the new PS5 design's place in the pantheon of PlayStations, pondered an AI Guitar hero and Disney's Electronic Arts, and more! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions oth...

Oct 12, 20232 hr 24 minEp. 120

119: The Drivatar Classic

We're in it now, with games releasing fast and furious, and this week we get wrapped up in Cocoon, hit the track in the new Forza Motorsport, and head to Baghdad in Assassin's Creed Mirage. Also: Jim Ryan's Sony exit, mass layoffs at Epic, the end of 3DS and Wii U online, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions...

Oct 05, 20232 hr 59 minEp. 119

118: Jatz Hands

This week we've all finished Mortal Kombat 1 and it's time for a mini-spoilercast! Also, Brad played the impressive looking Alan Wake 2, Alex played the Remedy-esque El Paso, Elsewhere, Vinny's way into Chants of Sennaar, Unity has (kind of) cleaned up its mess, and more! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please u...

Sep 28, 20232 hr 12 minEp. 118

117: Sausalito Sunburn

Well, you know, probably not much happened while we were away, it'll just be a nice casual chat this week about the biggest leak of Xbox business operations maybe ever, Unity's ongoing destruction of its business model, a deep lore dive on the release of Mortal Kombat 1, the excellence of F-Zero 99, and maybe some other stuff?? Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:10) Intro (00:07:42) They are still broadcasting radio (00:21:29) Mortal Ko...

Sep 21, 20233 hr 46 minEp. 117

Special Ep: Never Been a Better Podcast 003: Like a Sippy Cup?

We're taking a pause on the regular show this week to bring you another banger from the Patreon archive, in which Abby Russell and Austin Walker join us to talk about pottery, Legally Blonde, and scrambled porn. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! IMAGES Abby's pottery: one , two Austin's Halloween image CHAPTERS (00:01:10) Intro (00:02:16) The fine art of pottery (00:11:06) When is the Giant Beast reunion? (00:13:42) Halloween around the world (00:14:5...

Sep 14, 20231 hr 16 min

116: Needs to Be Played

This here is a podcast about our further adventures in Starfield, Trine the Fifth, Shadow Gambit, the abrupt closure of Volition, the looming SAG-AFTRA video game industry strike, Charles Martinet's uncertain ambassadorship, and a bunch of other stuff. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipp...

Sep 07, 20232 hr 59 minEp. 116

115: Oxygen Is the New Stamina

Yep, this is the one where we talk about Starfield for like 90 minutes. It's a pretty big game! The Making of Karateka is also just great, Armored Core VI has inspired some mech fever, PlayStation Plus is getting a big price increase, Baldur's Gate 3 isn't getting splitscreen on the series S, and more. Podcast! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon versi...

Aug 31, 20233 hr 32 minEp. 115

114: Mario Emeritus

Games! Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Like a Dragon Gaiden, Persona 5 Tactica and the Persona 3 remake, the new Madden, Fort Solis, and more. News! The Xbox 360 Marketplace closure, remakes of 7th Guest, Star Wars: Dark Forces, and ray-traced Half-Life 2, the PlayStation Portal, and Charles Martinet's retirement. That's a lot of podcast! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-f...

Aug 24, 20232 hr 16 minEp. 114

113: User Reported for Gamerpic

This week, somehow we're all spending a lot of time with 2023's hottest game, Vampire Survivors (except together this time!?), Baldur's Gate 3 with friends is a high old time, the identity of the $2 billion Embracer partnership has been revealed, Bungie names a new Zavala, and plenty of other stuff! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dy...

Aug 17, 20232 hr 7 minEp. 113

112: Top-Ten Skeleton

It was hard to resist the dark urge to keep playing Baldur's Gate 3 long enough to go on this podcast and talk about Baldur's Gate 3, but we pulled it off, plus WrestleQuest, a long-overdue Red Dead Redemption rerelease, Final Fantasy XVI sales numbers, EVO impressions and a Killer Instinct blast from the past, and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Pat...

Aug 10, 20232 hr 8 minEp. 112

111: The Jedi Experience

Author Jordan Minor joins us this week to talk about charting the last 45 years of video game history in his new book Video Game of the Year, plus a bunch of other stuff including Disney Illusion Island, Venba, Telltale's new Expanse game, the case of the missing Transformers games, and finally (finally!!) some concrete details about the next Nintendo console. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate...

Aug 03, 20232 hr 8 minEp. 111

110: Family-Appropriate Innuendo

It's a new podcast! about video games! and those video games include! Remnant II, Pikmin 4, The Banished Vault, Oxenfree 2, and Viewfinder, plus the news! about Tencent buying most of Techland, Ubisoft cancelling the Immortals sequel, and, uh, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart running on a Steam Deck? Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dy...

Jul 27, 20232 hrEp. 110

109: Some Definition of "Some"

You could just go play Viewfinder right now instead of listening to us tell you to go play Viewfinder... but you could also listen on for chatter about Exoprimal, Oxenfree 2, new Switch hunger, Blizzard putting their damn games on Steam, the end (?) of "Xbox Live," and more. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Plea...

Jul 20, 20232 hr 46 minEp. 109

108: WHAT'S ON THE TAPES??

Friend of the show Danny O'Dwyer joins us this week to talk about Noclip's new archival video project, the tricky nature of publishing old footage, and a bunch of other production reminiscing. Also, the budget F.E.A.R. action of Trepang2, Microsoft's victory over the FTC, Digital Eclipse's new interactive documentary, and more! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-f...

Jul 13, 20233 hr 42 minEp. 108

Special Ep: Never Been a Better Podcast 002: Balls Deep in the Space Elevator

We're out on break this week, so in lieu of our normal weekly show, we're back with another very special bonus episode, the original description of which was: We're joined by Abby Russell and Jeff Bakalar to talk all sorts of vehicles, space elevators, and the current status of Moonstruck. Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) We're on vacation (00:01:00) Intro (00:02:35) Introducing the folks (though some info might already be out of ...

Jul 05, 20231 hr 26 min

107: Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch

The All-Elite Wrestling game is finally out and Alex has spent a bunch of time with it, Sludge Life 2 has oozed onto the scene, we're still playing Diablo and Final Fantasy, a ton of juicy details have emerged from the Microsoft/Activision FTC hearings, and Nintendo has pledged the unthinkable: carrying your online account over to their next console. Sounds like a video game podcast to me! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: So...

Jun 29, 20232 hr 37 minEp. 107

106: There Were Fire Flowers Talking!

There's a new Final Fantasy out! They're making a new 2D Super Mario Bros.! Super Mario RPG is getting a remake! Someone cranked up the WarioWare machine again! Things are happening! Video games are happening! Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Gumball.fm , or support us on Patreon ! CHAPTERS (00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for li...

Jun 22, 20232 hr 50 minEp. 106