Bad End

Latest Episodes:

Creative technology, Before Your Eyes, feat. Nicole He Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

This week's episode is all about videogames' artsy, cool, well-dressed younger sibling: creative technology. We're joined by Nicole He, one of the finest in the space today, whose works include a mind-reading Tinder-swipebot, a voice-activated game that parodies CSI "zoom and enhance" sequences, and an AI that interviewed Billie Eilish for Vogue.

We discuss the brilliance (and shortcomings) of creative technology, the surprisingly wide gap between creative technology and gaming, and the difficulty of making art in a medium that comes pre-packaged with tons of social and political ramifications.

Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sI1--0RG8bo

See Nicole's work: https://nicole.pizza/

Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badend

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.com
Follow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideo
Support us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badend

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Griftlands, Chicory, Nioh Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to BAD END 101! This episode, we tackle the draw-em-up metroidvania Chicory, the flailing and absurd attack animations of Nioh, and the weird (but fun) vibes of card-roguelike Griftlands.

Find us on YouTube:

Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badend

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

100th Episode Special! Our top 10 games ever, the last 4 years in games, and the future Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

It's our 100th episode, and to celebrate, we're finally revealing our definitive top 10 games EVER. We're also discussing the last 4 years in videogame journalism/crit, and where we want things to go from here. Thanks to everyone for listening to our show, and here's to 100 more.

This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with ~~video to go along with the sound.

Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfO8P_s9iwkmWf9LB4LiGTg

Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badend

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Resident Evil: Village, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Dragon Quest, Bloodborne May 27, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to BAD END's first-ever video podcast! This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with video to go along with the sound.

This week, we're talking about the paradox of fun survival horror in Resident Evil 8, along with the potential modern appeal of a Mass Effect Remaster. Since it's a video episode, we go on a couple tangents - discussing the merits of a new Dragon Quest, the bizarre genius of Bloodborne, Fortnite Dances, and, uh, tennis?

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KyzbSGZnk

Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badend

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Pokemon Snap, Nier Replicant May 13, 2021

Show notes

As life transitions back into the weird alien world of reality, we're dipping our toes into the post-quarantine world with New Pokemon Snap and the open fields of Nier Replicant... which we're now experiencing for a second playthrough. Maybe we're more ready for a return to normal(ish) life than we think.

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Nier Replicant, Balan Wonderworld, FUNLAND, ft. Zack Kotzer Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

This week we're joined by writer and FUNLAND magazine creator Zack Kotzer to talk about the lost ethos of early gamer magazines, the amusing terribleness of Balan Wonderworld, and videogame genre-busting in Nier Replicant.

Support FUNLAND at patreon.com/funlandmag, and follow the magazine's accounts on Twitter and Instagram @FunlandMag for more updates.

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Before Your Eyes, Adios, FFXIV, Feat. Bijan Stephen Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

We're joined by journalist/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about gaming's greatest power fantasy: unalienated labor. We're also discussing the glorious perfection of Final Fantasy XIV, the ecstasy of shounen in 2021, and games like Bloodborne, Before Your Eyes, Valorant, Adios, and Deliver Us The Moon.

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Loop Hero, Monster Hunter Rise, FFXII The Zodiac Age, FFVIIR Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

We're back on our Normal Episode beat this week, talking about videogame core loops of all kinds - some peaceful, some way too complex for their own good, some infuriating. We're talking about Loop Hero, the new indie hotness that's taken the idle roguelike world by storm, the new demo for Monster Hunter Rise, and FFXII the Zodiac Age, an old classic we're finally playing for the first time.

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

3:55 - Final Fantasy XII

24:00 - FFVIIR

39:37 - Monster Hunter Rise

51:54 - Loop Hero

1:12:50 - Listener questions

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

MTG, feat. DIIV's Cole Smith and Storefront Church's Lukas Frank Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

This week, we're joined by Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Cole Smith (DIIV) to talk about Thoughtseize Interviews, a new show where they interview artists and gaming personalities while playing Magic the Gathering. We talk about community-building, the value of art in an increasingly-monetized world, the crossover between music and games, taste and criticism in a pandemic, and obviously, Magic The Gathering.

Follow Thoughtseize Interviews on Twitter @ThoughtSeize and watch the show on Twitch and YouTube. New episodes stream every Monday at 5pm EST - support the show by subscribing or buying merch.

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

In Other Waters, ft. Gareth Damian Martin Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Today we're joined by game creator and critic Gareth Damian Martin about In Other Waters, their new sci-fi exploration game. We discuss the interplay between game criticism and game design, the game development process as seen through the eyes of an outsider, and the discipline of architecture as it applies (and doesn't apply) to videogames. We also reveal a new partnership between Gareth's publication Heterotopias and SUPERCULTURE Network!

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet

Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO