The Level

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Games & Hobbies
**The Level**

The Level is a podcast for people who love video games. It’s a weekly roundtable hosted by friends and industry outsiders Kole Ross, Ben Merkel, Dennis Furia, David Moneysmith, and Jala Prendes. Every Friday, we discuss video game news, the games we’ve been playing, and listener mail.

Latest Episodes:

64: End With the Fun in Mind Jun 06, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, and David talk about the Batman: Arkham Knight delay, Dead Island: Epidemic, and Among the Sleep.

The Brief:

Batman: Arkham Knight delayed to 2015.
Watch_Dogs sells really well.

The Grind:

Ben: Bioshock. Titanfall.
David: Dead Island: Epidemic. Wildstar.
Kole: J.S. Joust. Rocksmith 2014. Among the Sleep.

63: Snapchat My Junk May 30, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, and David welcome Dennis back, talk about potential uses for Oculus Rift and livestock, then ask "What's the deal with pinball?"

The Brief

Half Life 3 possibly in development maybe.
New use for Oculus Rift: Second Livestock.
The PS4 is already profitable for Sony.
Steam In-Home Streaming is available now.

The Grind

Dennis: Star Wars Pinball: Heroes Within. Velocity Ultra.
Ben: Dead Space 2. Alpha Protocol.
David: Fistful of Frags.
Kole: Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3. Rocksmith 2014. Waxworks.

Bonus Round

Dead Space 2 spoiler sesh.###The Brief
Half Life 3 possibly in development maybe.
New use for Oculus Rift: Second Livestock.
The PS4 is already profitable for Sony.
Steam In-Home Streaming is available now.

The Grind

Dennis: Star Wars Pinball: Heroes Within. Velocity Ultra.
Ben: Dead Space 2. Alpha Protocol.
David: Fistful of Frags.
Kole: Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3. Rocksmith 2014. Waxworks.

Bonus Round

Dead Space 2 spoiler sesh.

62: #DAWG May 23, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, and David talk about YouTube possibly buying Twitch, Dead Space 2 (about three years too late), and we ask you about your mobile remake wish list.

The Brief:

Is YouTube buying Twitch?
"Sunless Sea" is on Steam Greenlight.
Mario Dies on the Cover

Multiplayer

What's on your mobile remake wishlist?

The Grind

Ben: Dead Space 2.
David: Fallen London. Fistful of Frags.
Kole: Alpha Protocol.

61: Slide the Slide, Pump the Pump May 16, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, and David talk about Microsoft's Kinect announcement, WildStar, and we ask you about your favorite arcade games.

The Brief:

Xbox One loses the Kinect.
Harmonix complains about Xbox One.
Watch_Dogs resolution

Multiplayer:

Favorite arcade games?

The Grind

Ben: Dead Space 2.
David: WildStar.
Kole: Trials: Frontier. Breakbeat Alley. Rocksmith 2014.

60: High Contact Tai Chi May 09, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Dennis, and David talk about the new PS Vita's crappier screen, we ask you about the state of the next gen, and then we talk a lot about Sportsfriends.

The Brief:

Kentucky Route Zero Episode III released.
PS Vita Slim announced for North America.
Left 4 Dead Arcade is apparently a thing.

Multiplayer:

Have you bought a next gen console?

The Grind:

Sportsfriends
Dennis: Rocksmith 2014. Dark Souls II.
Kole: Rocksmith 2014. Dark Souls II.
David: Fallen London. Lone Survivor: Director's Cut.

Links of Note:

59: Loose Roms May 02, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, Dennis, and David talk about whether or not games need a stadium, Elder Scrolls Online, and we ask you if E3 is still relevant.

The Brief

Call of Duty is an X-Games event now.
A literal video games stadium.
PS4 system update has neat things.
Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot listed on Steam Greenlight.

Multiplayer

Is E3 still relevant?

The Grind:

Dennis: Retro/Grade. Everyday shooter.
Ben: 2048.
Kole: Flappy Golf. Hitman Go. Hearthstone. Rocksmith.
David: Elder Scrolls Online. Fallen London. Max Payne 3.

Links of Note:

58: Barely Legal Pad Apr 18, 2014

Show notes

Kole Ross, Ben Merkel, Dennis Furia, and David Moneysmith talk about Rocksmith 2014, The Elder Scrolls: Online, and we ask you about your favorite mini-games.

The Brief

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth announced.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 confirmed to still exist.
Homeworld will be in 4k.
Darth Maul game was in development, cancelled.

Multiplayer

Favorite or least favorite mini games?

The Grind

Kole: Rocksmith 2014.
Dennis: Poker Night at the Inventory 2. Stealth, Inc.
David: Elder Scrolls Online.
Ben: NOTHING!

57: Prisoners On Fire Off the Shoulder of Orion Apr 11, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, Dennis, and David talk about a bunch of Smash Brothers stuff, do a Free-Play multiplayer, and then dive into Monument Valley.

The Brief

Goat Simulator gets multiplayer mode.
Smash Bros. for "Fun" or for "Glory".
Smash Bros. has Mega Man.
DO GAMES CAUSE VIOLENCE?

Multiplayer

FREE PLAY
Beta bugs?
Real life skills?

The Grind

Ben: The Last of Us. Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Kole: Monument Valley. Viscera Cleanup Detail. FTL: Advanced Edition.
David: Occulus Rift. Fallen London.
Dennis: Tearaway. The Plan.

Links of Note:

The Briefs

56: #KOLO Think About It Apr 04, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, Dennis, and David talk about the GAME_JAM fiasco, we ask you what sequels most improved on their prequels, and then we actually talk about video games for once.

The Brief:

Spring news drought.
Occulus death threats.
"Game_Jam" explodes.
Batman: Arkham Origins gets Mr. Freeze DLC.

Multiplayer

Most improved sequels?

The Grind

Ben: The Last of Us.
Kole: Proteus. Flappy Golf. Sometimes You Die. Thomas Was Alone.
Dennis: Super Meat Boy. Dark Souls II.
David: Mercenary Kings. Ingress.

54: Short Sword Shortage Mar 21, 2014

Show notes

Kole, Ben, Dennis, and David talk about how the Last of Us is becoming more of a movie, we ask you about your favorite game adaptations, and then talk about South Park: The Stick of Truth.

This episode was recorded live and in person, so please excuse the wonky levels.

The Brief:

Zynga knows everything about you.
The Last of Us to become more of a movie.
Walmart does game trades now.

Multiplayer:

Best game adaptation, and vice versa?

The Grind:

Ben: South Park: The Stick of Truth. Ibb and Obb.
David: Hawken. Tomb Raider.
Dennis: Tomb Raider. Dark Souls II.
Kole: Dark Souls II. Walking Dead S02E02.

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