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Posts related to video games (console and computer).

In That Order

In That Order

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LA-LI-LU-LE-LAND OF THE FREE: On this fourth of July, our hosts celebrate American independence by reflecting on the properties that really got them thinking about the American identity––specifically, the Metal Gear Solid series and Andor.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Happy 4th of July! Don’t use fireworks, please.
(03:30) Metal Gear Solid–the most patriotic video game?
(13:00) September 11 and the new model of American patriotism
(17:42) How the Metal Gear Solid games probed American values
(23:35) Andor and America
(27:25) How did Hideo Kojima tap into the American ethos?
(00:00) Outro – Final Fantasy and Magic: the Gathering
(00:00) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

  • “Metal Gear Solid Main Theme” by Harry Gregson-Williams (from the soundtrack to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty)
Episodic Episodes

Episodic Episodes

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WEEK IN GEEK: This week, Andrew watches Poker Face on Peacock and finds a surprisingly compelling heir to Columbo, while D. Bethel dives back into the North Sea to find terrors unknown in the Siren’s Rest DLC for the game Still Wakes the Deep.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Kurtzman and Orci
(03:21) Andrew’s WiG: Poker Face
(13:52) D.’s WiG: Siren’s Rest DLC
(26:02) Outro – Star Trek Adventures RPG and Heroes Con
(31:34) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Arias In Embers” (21 June 2019): Where Andrew first plays Star Trek Adventures.
  • “States of Play” (30 August 2019): Where Andrew first discusses playing Oxygen Not Included.
  • “The Beef Sleeps” (13 December 2024): Where D. Bethel discusses Still Wakes the Deep.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

The Lake Effect

The Lake Effect

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THE LAST CRUSADE: With the completion of Indiana Jones & The Great Circle now in his rearview, D. Bethel shares some final thoughts on what ended up being a surprisingly enjoyable and innovated game.

CHANGING THE GAME: Andrew dives deep into new TTRPG ventures with the extremely referential but fun Outgunned Adventure and finds a lot to like in Daggerheart, the new RPG system from Critical Role.

TOPICS:
(0:00:00) Intro – Final thoughts on Indiana Jones & The Great Circle
(0:09:36) Andrew plays Outgunned Adventure
(0:15:09) Andrew checks out Critical Role’s Daggerheart
(1:01:45) Outro – The intersection of Star Trek and Cheers
(1:04:00) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Open Awesome License” (13 January 2023): Where Andrew walks us through the Wizard of the Coast’s strange decision to change its approach to its Open Game License.
  • “Sausageria” (29 December 2023): Where D. Bethel names the most recent Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny, as his “Thing of the Year: 2023.”

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FEATURED MUSIC:

Turn on the Window

Turn on the Window

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RIDICULOUS REMAKES: D. Bethel goes off on “live action” remakes of beloved animated movies––Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon––that genuinely seem unnecessary.

DOCTOR WHO: With the first half of season 2 (series 15) of Doctor Who done, our hosts talk about what it’s doing differently from the previous season before zooming in specifically on the most recent unsettling and surprisingly profound episode, “Lucky Day.”

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – What are they doing with these “live action” remakes anyway?
(05:11) Doctor Who, season 2 (series 15) episode: “Lucky Day”
(36:32) Outro – D. finally heard the Wilhelm Scream in Indiana Jones & The Great Circle
(37:32) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Nerd Intervention” (28 June 2024): Where our hosts reflect on the previous season of Doctor Who.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

Theme Song Detectives

Theme Song Detectives

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It’s been nearly a month with lots of things happening, under our hosts’ control and not, but they check back in this week with some overview of life stuff as well as nerdy and geeky stuff.

WEEKS IN GEEK: Andrew finds a lot to like in the recent MCU-Disney+ show, Daredevil: Born Again, continuing the series from its run on Netflix. He also returns to survival gaming with Far From Home’s Forever Skies. D. Bethel dips into new old sci-fi with the well-regarded series, The Expanse, but has been occupying his gaming time with Machinegames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN: The show wraps with a short remembrance of Jean Marsh, an incredibly expressive actress whose career ran decades. Our hosts, of course, remember her fondly for her dips into Doctor Who across the years (she even used to be married to the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee) as well as her turn as the unforgettable villain, Queen Bavmorda, in Willow.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Where we’ve been
(02:06) D. Bethel’s Mister Rogersification
(05:25) Andrew’s WiG #1: Daredevil: Born Again
(13:44) Andrew’s WiG #2: Forever Skies
(24:03) D.’S WiG #1: The Expanse
(28:51) D.’s WiG #2: Indiana Jones & the Great Circle
(42:03) Outro – RIP Jean Marsh
(46:07) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “A Warm Heat” (23 June 2017): Where D. Bethel discusses the Machinegames’ reboot, Wolfenstein: The New Order.
  • “Whatever We Bring, We Bring It” (13 October 2017): Where D. Bethel discusses his time playing Machinegames’ Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
  • “It’s Always a Game” (08 February 2019): Where Andrew relates his experience with the survival game, Subnautica.
  • “Earl British” (25 September 2020): Where our hosts discuss Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda Softworks.
  • “Bear is Watching” (21 May 2021): Where Andrew plays the Subnautica sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero.
  • “The Soundness” (01 September 2023): Where Green Hell becomes Andrew’s survival game of choice.
  • “Nomanski” (24 November 2023): Survival goes to space as Andrew and D. Bethel discuss No Man’s Sky.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

Dot Nyet

Dot Nyet

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WEEK IN GEEK: Andrew finishes up Cobra Kai, while D. Bethel finds a wonderful world to explore in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

BRAVE NEW CAPTAIN: D. Bethel rounds out the episode discussing his (mostly spoiler-free) thoughts of Captain America: Brave New World. On the whole, he liked it!

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – February’s over, suddenly!
(01:45) Andrew’s WiG: The end of Cobra Kai
(31:51) D. Bethel’s WiG: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
(45:20) Outro – D.’s thoughts of Captain America: Brave New World (mild spoilers)
(52:21) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Too Many Johnnies” (5 February 2021): Where our hosts have their first big sit-down conversation about Cobra Kai.
  • “Full Frasier” (16 September 2022): Where Andrew discusses the fifth season of Cobra Kai.
  • “New Machine, New Problems” (29 November 2024): Where Andrew shares his thoughts on the first part of Cobra Kai, season 6.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

Deep Discount

Deep Discount

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WEEK IN GEEK: It’s a new year and––guess what?––our hosts are still geeks that have weeks; with that in mind, our hosts share the open-world character action games that have been occupying their time lately: Andrew dives into the conspiracy of Assassin’s Creed: Origins while D. Bethel uses the force in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Teacher talk.
(02:48) Andrew’s Week in Geek: Assassin’s Creed: Origins
(14:39) D.’s Week in Geek: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
(27:01) D.’s Extra Week in Geek: Starting Agatha All Along
(35:08) Outro – D. Bethel’s actual “Thing of 2024”: Godzilla Minus One Minus Color
(37:24) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Reverent Irreverence” (17 May 2019): Where D. Bethel shares his time with Assassin’s Creed: Origins.
  • “The Full Kyrun” (2 February 2024): Where D. Bethel discusses the surprisingly affective experience of watching Godzilla Minus One Minus Color.
  • “Rogue Staple” (8 November 2024): Where Andrew walks through his thoughts of Agatha All Along.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

The Beef Sleeps

The Beef Sleeps

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WEEK IN GEEK: This week, Andrew talks about the finale to the DC/WB show, Superman & Lois, and how it holds up not only as a finale for the show but as a finale for the entire DC/WB run of shows. D. Bethel, on the other hand, spends some time (digitally) in the North Sea on the very Scottish experiential horror game, Still Wakes the Deep.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Andrew ate too much beef
(02:27) Superman & Lois series finale
(24:17) Still Wakes the Deep in all its Scottishness
(40:07) Outro – Recasting Characters in the Alan Wake universe
(45:00) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Chekhov’s Mud Pit” (19 August 2022): Where our hosts talk about the cultural respect found in the most recent Predator film, Prey.

RELEVANT LINKS:

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FEATURED MUSIC:

New Machine, New Problems

New Machine, New Problems

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TOM HANKSGIVING: Andrew bought a new Mac, so he decides to play No Man’s Sky while D. Bethel is Tom Hanksful for the delightful retro-stylings of the indie RPG, Beyond Galaxyland.

GRIPESGIVING: With all the thanks out of the way, our hosts decide to complete the holiday by complaining about things. Andrew is mad at the new season of Cobra Kai while D. Bethel becomes irrationally furious with the new Wicked movie.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro: It’s American Thanksgiving
(03:34) Andrew buys a Mac Mini and plays No Man’s Sky
(17:59) D. Bethel loves Beyond Galaxyland
(25:19) Outro: Gripesgiving #1 – Cobra Kai season 6 is interminable
(28:27) Gripesgiving #2 – the 3-hour Wicked adaptation is only PART ONE?!
(32:13) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Chekhov’s Honk” (22 January 2021): Where our hosts discuss The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part 2, and The Karate Kid Part 3, briefly.
  • “Too Many Johnnies” (5 February 2021): Where our hosts dive into Cobra Kai.
  • “Nomanski” (24 November 2023): Where our hosts talk about No Man’s Sky.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

The Colon Matters

The Colon Matters

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NEWS CRUISE: Our hosts recap a lot of the nerdy and geeky news of the last week or so, including Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, new Dungeons & Dragons, DLC crossovers, and a Doctor Who spinoff?!?

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Both hosts are to blame
(02:22) Star Trek news
(08:50) Dungeons & Dragons news
(16:41) Crossover DLC announcements from Dave the Diver, Balatro, and Dead By Daylight
(26:38) Doctor Who spinoff mini-series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, starts production
(35:09) Outro – Andrew’s Gravity Falls update
(38:53) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Chasing Chickens” (17 July 2020): Where D. shares his adventures into Gravity Falls.
  • “Day of the Diver” (05 January 2024): Where our hosts have a conversation about Dave the Diver.
  • “The 2-Body Solution” (29 March 2024): Where D. Bethel obsesses over Balatro.
  • “Nerd Intervention” (28 June 2024): Where the hosts discuss the finale to the most recent season/series of Doctor Who.
  • “Blanketcast” (09 August 2024): Where Andrew begins his adventure into Gravity Falls.

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