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Latest Episodes:

Fuck, Marry, Kill: Mass Effect Party Member Edition May 14, 2021

Show notes

In honor of Mass Effect's Legendary Edition, we're talking about party members this week. We kick things off with a segment on our first party member experiences, then get into a discussion on the best and worst party members of video game history. Finally, we round out the episode with a segment we're calling Fuck, Marry.....Chill, in which we determine who lives and who dies of the Mass Effect party members.

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It Takes a Resident Evil Village May 07, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking villages—from Resident Evil Village to the best villages in video game history. First, Kotaku's own Ian Walker joins us to tell us about his experience playing RE8 (and of course we ask him about the Big Lady). Then, we define what we consider to be a village and discuss our own favorite video game villages. And finally, we finish with an Imaginarium segment and make our own goddamned village.

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No Game Lives Forever Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking about dead video games (or as Nathan likes to put it, "the ephemerality of video games"). First, we kick things off with an In The Headlines segment to discuss Resident Evil's timed demos, Sony almost getting rid of PS3 and Vita stores, and more. Then we have a discussion on how updates and expansions keep game worlds feeling alive but also get rid of some content forever, to our despair. And finally, we interview Matrix Online archivist Vesuveus.

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Old Dirty Backlogs Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking about video game backlogs. Yes, those guilt-tripping, nagging, I'll-get-to-you-but-not-actually list of games in your hard drive. First, we kick things off by defining what we mean exactly by "backlog," and discussing what we have in them. Then, we get into how the concept of a video game backlog feels so backward when video games are something that is meant for pure enjoyment. And finally, we each officially delete (gasp!) and banish a video game from our own personal backlogs.

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The Splitscreen Quest for Epic Loot, With Diablo Creators Erich Schaefer and David Brevik Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking loot boxes. First, we kick things off with a conversation with Diablo game designers Erich Schaefer and David Brevik who discuss how their loot boxes came to be. Then, the gang discusses their hot takes about loot boxes, and finally, Fahey makes us a very special loot box.

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How Memes Helped Make Video Games Mainstream Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking memes and their unique history with video games with special guest and meme librarian Amanda Brennan. After a deep dive into meme history, Fahey quizzes us on our video game meme knowledge, followed by a conversation about Resident Evil's big lady.

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Service Games Killed The Single-Player Star Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking about games as a service: what is considered a live service game? And how did they come to be? First, we'll dive into the history of service games (as Ash suddenly remembers to feed her dying Neopets). Then we discuss our service games of choice, and round out the episode talking about the service games that are in the headlines lately.

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The Splitscreen Snacktaku Special, Not Sponsored By G Fuel Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

It's a snacky Snacktaku special this week as we dig into our favorite in-game snacks and road-test G Fuel to see what all the hype is about. (Spoiler alert: WE GET IT. WE GET IT NOW.) Plus, special guest Dan Goubert of The Empty Bowl podcast and of Cerealously joins us for a discussion on the history of gaming snacks.

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NFTs? No, Fuck That Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

This week we're talking monetization—from the money-grabbing features in video games to, of course, those freakin' NFTs. First, we talk about the history of popular ways that video games have, and continue to glean money from people. Then, we're joined by Kotaku senior editor Luke Plunkett to talk all things NFTs—what they are, how they've impacted the gaming world, and why they indisputably suck. And finally, we finish off the episode with a discussion on the recent developments of video game monetization.

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Covid-19, One Year Later Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

This week we're reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic by talking about the games that got us through it. Then, we do a good ol' AFQs (Ask Fahey Questions) segment, followed by an interview with James Vaughan, creator of Plague Inc.

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