The Dive Down

Latest Episodes:

Episode 381: The Odyssey & Christopher Nolan Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, Jason returns to talk about The Odyssey, the latest international blockbuster from the visionary mind of Christopher Nolan.

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Timestamps:
0:01 - Kilgore is back
6:28 - This week's episode
7:58 - Jason played... Magic? (and Stan did, too)
17:23 - Our Odyssey begins
22:10 - Our history with Nolan
30:24 - How we saw it
42:50 - IMAX and locking in
50:45 - The actual film
1:07:50 - The performances
1:18:40 - Our favorite scenes - SPOILERS HERE
1:20:54 - SPOILERS OVER - where does Nolan go from here?
1:24:28 - Our Nolan tier lists
1:29:51 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

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Episode 380: Live from Night City Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, Dave and Shane talk about their sordid adventures in Cyberpunk, while Stan tries to save what's left of the western United States in Horizon Forbidden West.

Also Stan discovers and beats an apparently important indie game called Bastion. And Shane relives his high school years in Rock Star's Bully. We wrap with some public comments about fatherhood (and unclehood).

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Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane got caught having fun while old
6:18 - Dave's AI band name quiz
17:18 - The cold open is too warm
18:20 - Old Business: Shane dodged AI convo
20:21 - We decided to check out Cyberpunk 2077
38:14 - New Business: Stan is playing a lot of Horizon Forbidden West
47:07 - Stan beat Bastion
50:28 - Shane is playing Bully
55:20 - Public Comments: Dad memories
1:05:36 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

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Episode 379: Aipocalypse Now Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, we share a couple of our deepest spiritual awakenings, then rant for a while about our weird feelings on AI and LLMs. Then we manage to keep the mood lively with public comments about MTG's Universes Beyond.

We're not glazing AI. Don't be mad at us.

Timestamps:
0:23 — Dudes Rock
4:40 — Space Rocks
7:48 — Intro: We Had a Terrible Idea to Talk About AI
13:40 — A Little Background on Us
20:05 — Stuff We Hear About Every Day
24:17 — The Misgivings Begin
31:42 — New Kinds of Learning
34:42 — The Misgivings Continue
35:02 — Is AI the Source of Existential Enshittification?
42:33 — The Dunning Kruger Machine
48:52 — Thoughts on Future Work
50:05 — Could Some Good Outcomes Make It Worth It?
52:14 — Some Things We Actually Do
59:24 — Dreams of the Apocalypse
1:06:23 — Public Comment from The Stalk

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Episode 378: Widow's Baycklog Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, Stan wears a sports vest to religitate some of his favorite 2026 movies, Shane arrives with notes, Dave discovers chiral matter, and the boys watch Widow's Bay.

Timestamps:
0:01 - The devil on Shane's shoulder
6:36 - This week's episode, sort of
9:43 - Old business: Shane watched Send Help
18:46 - Shane also watched The Furious
22:50 - Shane ALSO finished Resident Evil 4 Remake
28:46 - Dave plays PS5
33:29 - New business: Widow's Bay
55:54 - Public comment: Our guilty pleasures
1:06:20 - Wrapping up

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

Support The Dive Down

Episode 377: Thinkin' I'm Back: John Wick & PS5 Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, we're covering another cinema blind spot. Dave has never seen John Wick, so Shane came all the way from Ohio to make him watch it. Stan watched too.

Then we tell Dave what to play on his new PS5. Turns out he's really into some lewd stuff!

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane's crabby, and there's a bird
8:11 - This week's show - John Wick
10:38 - Our history with the Wick
16:08 - Dave's first watch
26:10 - Getting into Wick
36:40 - Why did this movie hit?
42:35 - Tying a bow on Wick
46:28 - Dave got a PS5 Pro
1:06:35 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Episode 376: First Half Performance Review(s) Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Well you did it. You've made it through another half a year. But... we have some things we need to talk about. Like all this amazing media we've enjoyed in 2026! Tune in for our favorites of our favorites from movies, games, music, TV and a few other things.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane gets fired
2:27 - We're Mad Men
7:30 - This weeks episode: a first half review
9:35 - Oldish business: Takes on the Steam Machine
20:54 - New business: The best movies of the first half of the year
36:50 - The best music
54:05 - The best games
1:05:03 - The best TV
1:13:42 - Public comment: Games that surprised us
1:19:00 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Episode 375: Metaphor Your Consideration Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

As promised, we welcome Jason, aka Kilgore Trout, to the podcast to spend far too long talking to Shane about one of the best games of 2024: Metaphor: ReFantazio. We get into the mechanics, the gameplay, the writing, the themes, and even spend some time talking about our favorite fast food meals. Contemporary? Kinda. Thorough? Definitely.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - CamelStan
4:21 - Who is this guy?
6:10 - This week's episode
13:37 - So what is Metaphor: ReFantazio?
18:04 - How does this compare to Persona?
32:24 - How we played it
35:09 - Plot takes
38:50 - The Archetype system
44:50 - The combat
53:39 - Friendships
1:01:40 - Writing good
1:03:40 - Using guides and managing your calendar
1:11:30 - Politics & religion
1:25:28 - Grief
1:30:31 - What a twist!
1:34:00 - Quick topics
1:43:24 - Where this game ranks in our RPGs, and comparisons to other RPGs
1:50:08 - Public comments: Our favorite fast food meals
1:52:10 - SPOILER ZONE BEGINS
1:59:46 - What's next?
2:01:42 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
TenSquare3's amazing Metaphor guide: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox-series-x/409958-metaphor-refantazio/faqs/81526/introduction
Buy Metaphor for PS5: https://amzn.to/4g2nQZJ
Buy Metaphor for XBOX: https://amzn.to/4gEacMv

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

Support The Dive Down

Episode 374: Multiple Player Games Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

On this week's show, we reflect on a lifetime of playing video games with strangers. What do the Univeristy of Illinois, Xbox Live, and quarter munchers have in common? They brought people together.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Stan with a huge tease
5:21 - Stan's irresponsible purchase
10:45 - This week's episode - the multiplayer games of our history
17:46 - Our defining multiplayer experiences
39:15 - The multiplayer games of now
51:36 - Public comment: Some of our formative experiences
1:01:31 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Episode 373: How Many Games Is Too Many? Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

So many announcements and trailers came out of Summer Games Fest, but which reveals had the boys most excited? We talk about Wolverine, Bad Magpie, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and much more!

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Pokémon Caboodle
7:37 - This week's episode
9:03 - Old Business: Mina the Hollower
14:34 - Shane finished Metaphor
16:07 - The Steam Deck might be dead
20:41 - Dave's watching One Piece
22:21 - The Horn Dogs are back
24:12 - New Business: So many games!
26:24 - Marvel's Wolverine
28:59 - God of War Laufey
31:04 - Control Resonant
33:11 - Ace Combat 8
35:00 - Fable
38:50 - Bad Magpie
40:25 - Halo: Campaign Evolved
43:08 - Gears of War: E-Day
45:27 - Final Fantasy VII Revelation/Stellar Blade: Blood Rain
47:54 - Guild Wars 3/Gundam Rogue Orbit
50:35 - Stranger than Heaven/Gen Atlas
52:34 - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
53:53 - The Nintendo Direct
1:00:39 - Some quick hits
1:03:26 - What we are most hyped about
1:05:10 - Public comments: Our favorite international media
1:16:05 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Episode 372: The Fugitive Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode, the boys discuss the 1993 action thriller, The Fugitive. Starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, who were invited to be on the show but declined our offer.

We also take a minute to talk about Mina the Hollower, and our favorite board games.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - We attempt to talk about The Fugitive (1993)
47:38 - Mina The Hollower
57:27 - Public comments: Our favorite board games

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

Support The Dive Down

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