Waypoint Radio

Episode 434 - Mother, I Would Like One Hot Wheel Please Oct 15, 2021

The WPR crew is back from their day off on Monday recharged and ready to discuss the finer points of … the best way to make a PB&J. The crew talks about their time with Back 4 Blood, the new iteration on the Left 4 Dead formula made by some of the people who created it. While it has an uneven first showing, as with most co-op games it’s often better with friends. After the break, Natalie and Cado dive into their time with Deltarune Chapter 1+2, and discuss the ways the game continues to play with themes set up in Undertale in new ways. Then, Rob is colliding into his past as a matchbox kid by checking out Hot Wheels Unleashed, an almost too brutal arcade racer that has a bizarre home decoration component? And Patrick wraps up his time with Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and finds the back half challenging in a satisfying way that the first half was not.

Discussed: Back 4 Blood 13:42, World Flipper 43:18, Deltarune 50:30, Hot Wheels Unleashed 1:04:13, Kena: Bridge of Spirits 1:25:01

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Episode 433 - Mi Father Siempre Me Dijo Oct 08, 2021

The fall game season is in full swing! Gita is on today's pod to talk all things Remedy, but first! We talk about Far Cry 6 and the Ubisoft franchise fatigue so many of us have felt at one point or another. Patrick has been checking out Metroid Dread, a good game that is limited by the conventions that the Metroid franchise introduced to games as a whole. After the break, Gita has been diving back into the world of Alan Wake Remastered, and ended up taking a tour through many other Remedy games. Then there's the Cado Destiny Minute, where they discuss the new vaulting announcement and how Destiny 2 is one of the only MMOs that gets rid of content.

Discussed: Far Cry 6 1:15, Metroid Dread 32:24, Alan Wake Remastered 56:38, Destiny 2 Vaulting 1:34:06

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Episode 432 - Agathwa Cwistie’s Hercuwule Pworot Oct 05, 2021

The SPOOKS never end! The podcast is haunted by the spirits of Waypoints past, and one particularly tenacious intern is making a surprise appearance! Natalie is back on Waypoint Radio today to talk about her Waypoint hiatus, how she was briefly in the world of e-sports, and her current job in game dev. Then the whole crew dives into the question bucket to talk buying the same game multiple times, moon trips, and favorite life hacks. Oh also Rob played a Poirot mystery game.

Discussed: Death Stranding 28:44, Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot - The First Cases 37:22, The Question Bucket 48:23

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Episode 431 - KingPoint Oct 01, 2021

WE'RE TAKING OVER! Special Guest Cameron Kunzelman was lured him onto the podcast to supposedly talk about Sable, which he reviewed for Waypoint but instead Patrick took it upon himself to take over Just King Things and rebrand it "KingPoint." Listen as the crew dives into everything Steven King, and who knows, we might even talk about a few video games.

Discussed: Sable 6:58, Unsighted 52:36, Demon's Souls 58:02, The Question Bucket 1:02:12

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Episode 430 - Life is Strange: True Colors Spoilercast Sep 28, 2021

We’ve got special guests Natalie Flores and Moises Taveras join Patrick and Cado to talk all things Life is Strange. But first, we’ve got some ranting to do about a certain film lineup that is truly cursed. After the break, we dive deep on all things Life is Strange, from the series history with queerness to our own personal head cannons. We go full spoilers for the entire franchise to contextualize the latest entry, True Colors, and ask the hard questions like “who would ever choose Ryan over Steph?”

Discussed: Mario Movie Cast 3:30, Life is Strange True Colors Spoilercast 16:58

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Episode 429 - A S.T.A.L.K.E.R. For Every Occasion Sep 24, 2021

We’ve got special guest Dia Lacina on the show today to talk about Lost Judgment, but somehow also stumble into yet another discussion of S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl. Patrick’s dipped a toe into the Guardians of the Galaxy video game, which begs the question: why? And Cado’s been playing Sable, a visually stunning platforming exploration game where you set out to try on different hats (both literally and figuratively) in a beautiful post-post-apocalypse with your trusty hover bike.

Discussed: S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl 2:24, Guardians of the Galaxy 21:08, Sable 33:43, Lost Judgment 51:22, The Question Bucket 1:23:08

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Episode 428 - Harness Your Mind Palace Sep 21, 2021

Video games! They're happening, and we're playing them. Patrick is checking out Kena: Bridge of Spirits and finds a game that's been ripped from the early aughts in everything but art style, and that might be ok? Cado has been playing Eastward and learns that maybe his taste in pacing has changed. Rob's learning everything he needs to be his most productive self with a new tech purchase. After the break, we discuss next month's project: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Which game are we playing? What mods are we using? Listen in and let us know you're thoughts!

Discussed: Kena: Bridge of Spirits 6:29, Eastward 23:35, Deltarune 44:35, Rob's Surface Pro 48:27, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 101 1:07:56, The Question Bucket 1:45:27

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Episode 427 - Canonical Zacny Sep 17, 2021

We’re all caught in it so we might as well talk about it! Deathloop has it’s hooks in the entire Waypoint Radio crew to the point that we invited on a special guest just so we could talk about it more. Moises Taveras joins Rob, Patrick, and Cado to talk about the game’s stellar mix of roguelike and immersive sim systems. After the break, Patrick shares his ending thoughts on Life is Strange: True Colors, and discusses how the franchise’s arc with supernatural powers seems to be waning, even though the general writing is getting sharper. Then Rob checks in with the opening hours of Lost Judgment, a game that bewilderingly opens on a story that feels like a 90’s after school special.

Discussed: Deathloop 17:43, Life is Strange: True Colors 1:17:17, Lost Judgment 1:34:39

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Episode 426 - Waypoints Radio Sep 14, 2021

And then there were three! Rob, Patrick, and Cado reconvene for a new sort of waypoint podcast, part games, part pop culture. With only three people left as full time staff we’re going to start splitting up game talk and putting in more discussions of the film/tv/whatever that’s been inspiring us lately, this week: Patrick and Rob give their early Deathloop impressions, as they both learn the ins and outs of the time loop, and try to decipher which proper noun is the one their trying to kill. After the break, the whole crew has been watching Ted Lasso, the different ways the show’s second season has been uneven.

Discussed: Deathloop 12:40, Eastward 38:50, Judgment 39:44, Ted Lasso 42:30

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Episode 425 - Happy Trails, Austin Sep 10, 2021

I may have rewritten this description four times at this point, because it's hard to sum up my feelings today. This is Austin’s last podcast as host of Waypoint Radio. We're all going to miss him on these podcasts, from his incisive analysis to jovial enthusiasm, he put so much of himself into Waypoint and Waypoint Radio over the last five years. And now he's moving on to greater and better things, but not without one last episode. We'll miss you Austin!

Discussed: Judgement 1:54, Patrick Key Update 15:21, World Flipper 19:09,Tales of Arise 49:55, Life is Strange: True Colors 1:08:09, OPUS: Echo of Starsong 1:23:32, Dice Legacy 1:34:04,WarioWare: Get It Together! 1:48:34, KeyWe 1:55:33, The Question Bucket 1:57:49, The Matrix Resurrections 2:32:11, Austin's Farewell 2:49:04

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Episode 424 - Hey, Have You Seen Patrick’s Keys? Sep 03, 2021

Patrick lost his keys. There’s apparently some bears paraphernalia and a beer opener on the ring. Please email gaming@vice.com if you have found some keys matching this description. Thank You.

Discussed: Pokemon Unite 11:41, Psychonauts 2 26:07, Genshin Impact 34:48, Cursed to Golf 54:28, Golf Club Wasteland 1:06:51, Question Bucket 1:21:20, Midnight Suns 1:43:19

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Episode 423 - Pot Boy Gang Aug 31, 2021

It’s been a slow week for new releases, but there’s plenty of new Elden Ring news to talk about! First, Cado walks Austin and Patrick through the new Destiny 2 announcements, and how the new structure of Destiny is shaping up after a year of continuous narrative. Austin and Patrick are excited by the implications of new Elden Ring previews, what they mean for invasions and co-op, and the possibility of rolling deep with pot boys. Then Patrick talks us through the Blasphemous 2 announcement and the interesting localization effort around the original game. After the break, Cado is feeling a lot of familiar feelings while playing No Longer Home, a narrative game that takes cues from Kentucky Route Zero and lives up to those references through it’s naturalistic dialogue system. Patrick has dove even further into the recesses of the mind in Psychonauts 2, and finds a more interesting core message after it’s perfectly adequate opening hours. Then we move on to the question bucket for more gift giving gone wrong (or sometimes very right) stories.

Discussed: Destiny 2 8:09, Tencent 25:29, Elden Ring 40:07, Blasphemous 2 53:14, No Longer Home 1:02:53, Psychonauts 2 1:15:36, Dodgeball Academia 1:28:32, Question Bucket 1:31:18

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Episode 422 - Boss Makes a Dollar, I Make a Dime, That’s Why I Frag Aliens on Company Time Aug 27, 2021

Patrick has some BREAKING NEWS to share, as the CEO of Unity has responded to complaints from employees about parts of the company working with the US military. Rob and Austin jump in to talk about labor organizing and the reasons certain strategies have fallen out of use in the US. Then the WPR crew talks through the Gamescom opening night live, but not before losing their minds at the latest Fortnite event, a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. After the break, Austin, Rob, and Cado took on some freelance work for the uhhhh … Weyland-Yutani corporation? They talk about their surprisingly good time in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, a co-op misson based third person shooter that finally fills the almost too obvious niche of “Left 4 Dead but in the Aliens universe.” Then Patrick and Austin set out to explore the universe in Jett: The Far Shore, an exploration based game with deeply interesting world building.

Discussed: Unity CEO responds 0:48, Fortnite March Through Time 41:42, Gamescom 45:22, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 1:04:06, Jett: The Far Shore 1:29:04

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Episode 421 - But Doctor, I’m Pagliacci’s [SPOILERS REDACTED]! Aug 24, 2021

Content Warning at 1:22:00 for discussion of Violence against a pregnant woman, Death, Incest, and Drugging

You ever have one of those days where nothing can go right? Well what if you had to have that day over and over again. Sound familiar? No, I’m not talking about the seminal time loop dark comedy Groundhog Day, a time loop I’d rather be stuck in than play another loop of Twelve Minutes. The whole Waypoint Radio crew played through it and boy do we have a meaty spoiler segment for you. Before that, we dipped into the Question Bucket to hear more Christmas stories, and a follow up to a question on getting into rogue likes. That was right after Rob took us through his aesthetically dense but mechanically mediocre experience with The Ascent. Austin is hopeful for the studio behind Foreclosed, a cyberpunk game that has great storytelling and visual style, but lacks a special something in it’s action sequences. Patrick and Rob took us through their mind palace as they explored Psychonauts 2, but not before we talk about Patrick’s article on Unity’s non-gaming ventures and how workers at the company feel about its military contracts.

Discussed (in actual order) : Unity 2:06, Psychonauts 2 35:35, Foreclosed 50:32, The Ascent 53:27, Twelve Minutes Spoilercast (see above for Content Warnings) 1:22:00

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Episode 420 - Cosmic Trombone Energy Aug 20, 2021

There’s some big news in this pod! We kick things off with two special announcements, then dive right into the game's we've been playing. Austin’s started the next Waypoint 101 game Super Metroid, Patrick and Cado joined him on stream so they discuss the early hours of the game. Then, Rob and Patrick discuss some of the less convincing moments in Twelve Minutes, an adventure game with some interesting time looping mechanics but questionable plot points. After the break, Austin is getting out of the country on Road 96, a game about teenagers hitchhiking out of a country during a politically turbulent moment. Austin and Cado are then learning the dark arts in Black Book, a deck builder that isn’t a roguelike for once, and has a great atmosphere and interesting mechanics around learning local folklore. Then we take another dip in the bucket for more Christmas lore, and a premonition from pods of Waypoints past.

Discussed: Super Metroid 13:56, Twelve Minutes (Light Spoilers) 21:01, Road 96 54:27, Black Book 1:16:16, The Question Bucket 1:29:19

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Episode 419 - Nonbinary Witch Scythe or Bisexual Dagger? Aug 17, 2021

Gita Jackson is on the pod today to tell Rob, Cado, and Patrick all about the different dates they've been on while delving into Boyfriend Dungeon. The crew discuss the content warning controversy around the game, how the visual novel genre has handled similar content in the past, and what “play with care” can mean for different people. After the break, Patrick checked out Axiom Verge 2, the sequel to the 2015 indie Metroidvania that leaves something to be desired. Rob is checking out Humankind, whose “Civ but not” tech trees seem to eschew the way cultures and history can build on top of each other by allowing you to jump between playing different real world civilizations depending on the era you’re in. Cado’s finished up the most recent Destiny 2 season, and feels like the Vanguard could’ve been implicated in some of the hatred towards The Fallen that the season focused on. Then in the question bucket we talk about LARPing.

Discussed: Boyfriend Dungeon 0:59, Axiom Verge 37:43, Humankind 52:30, Destiny 2 1:08:53, The Question Bucket 1:23:29

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Episode 418 - Hell Is Where the Heart Is Aug 13, 2021

It’s hot as hell in NYC this week, which is apt for this particularly hellish episode! Austin, Rob, and Cado discuss some of their recent games of Hell Let Loose, and the different ways the tactical layer can (and will) break down. Then Austin and Cado check out Jupiter Hell, an isometric ranged combat based “traditional” roguelike, which translates FPS mechanics into its tile and turned based gameplay. After the break, we enter the atomic hell of the exclusion zone in Chernobylite, where Austin and Rob are finding ways to make the zone a little more cozy. Then Austin introduces us into a whole new hell of … librarians that turn unsuspecting visitors into books? Library of Ruina’s deck building and card game mechanics may seem inscrutable at first, but at least you have a sick soundtrack to listen to while you figure them out! Then the crew takes a dip in the question bucket to learn about what Pokemon Rob is, Bread, and parents who love Christmas pranks.

Discussed: Hell Let Loose 4:14, Jupiter Hell 27:50, Chernobylite 45:47, Banners of Ruin 1:03:50, Library of Ruina 1:08:35, The Question Bucket 1:24:13

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Episode 417 - Sheets and Sonets, Mulch and Monets Aug 10, 2021

Very special guests Em and Jackson from Abnormal Mapping join Austin and Cado to discuss the hot new game that everyone’s playing: The New York Times Crossword. Thanks to Chris Remo’s new video series, everyone on the pod has been learning the nuances and tricks the NYT like to employ, from esoteric clues that appear again and again to the specific clue construction logic that allow just enough space for multiple interpretations that might still fit in the puzzle. After the break, Cado and Jackson have been checking out Splitgate, the “Halo meets Portal” multiplayer game that has recently blown up, despite it having released a few years ago. Em’s been checking out Final Fantasy XIV, and is having a better time with the new A Realm Reborn changes than either Austin or Cado did with the original content. We also dip into the question bucket to figure out “what kind of Pokemon are you?”

Discussed: The New York Times Crossword 5:33, Halo 4 29:29, Splitgate 40:22, Apex Legends 58:05, Final Fantasy XIV 1:16:57, Back 4 Blood 1:34:00, Question Bucket 1:45:15, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster 1:48:27

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Episode 416: The Assassination of Gengar by the Coward Nintendo Aug 06, 2021

Gita Jackson joins Rob and Cado today to talk about Neo The World Ends With You, a worthy successor to the original The World Ends With You, whose episodic structure and focus on character writing makes it feel like playing a CW show. After the break, Cado fills in the crew on Gengar's fall from grace as the new patch hits in Pokemon Unite. Then Rob and Gita talk infrastructure games and how roads and bridges can cause all sorts of headaches in City Skylines. Then, Cado joins the other scavengers in the Exclusion Zone in Chernobylite, and talks about how the zone looks and feels great, but the base building aspect is maybe not all the way there. Then they take a quick dip in the question bucket and talk jobs and the myriad ways management can (and will) undercut workers' ability to organize.

Discussed: Neo The World Ends With You 8:05, Pokemon Unite 47:22, City Skylines 1:02:55, Hell Let Loose 1:08:55, Chernobylite 1:10:26, The Question Bucket 1:23:26

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Episode 415: Commander Rob’s Heroes Aug 03, 2021

Austin and Cado have joined Rob in the trenches, and they’re having a hell of a time! Commander Rob is joined by a few new squaddies in Hell Let Loose, and someone messed up and let Cado get behind the wheel of a tank. After the break, Patrick is exploring his own cyberpunk hell in The Ascent, an extremely divisive top down shooter with a very slow start. Austin and Rob are scavenging a new exclusion zone in Chernobylite, Cado is doing a dance of deductions in The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, and the question bucket has all sorts of new music stories in it.

Discussed: Hell Let Loose 7:02, The Ascent 39:45, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles: 59:14, Chernobylite 1:03:52, Question Bucket 1:11:37, Death’s Door 1:53:12

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Episode 414: Commander Rob is Loose! Jul 30, 2021

It can be difficult to give game recommendations to people, but every once in a while a game lines up so purely with a person’s tastes it almost felt like it was made for them. This is the case with Hell Let Loose, a World War Two military shooter with a chain of command system that Rob described “[like] an RTS, but your units are other people.” Austin and Cado accidentally convince the rest of the crew to download Pokemon Unite, even as they complain about their less than ideal patch notes. After the break, we get a quick update from Patrick on the current situation at Activision-Blizzard. Austin has been checking out Highfleet, an extremely stylish game set in a Dieselpunk Eastern Europe. And Patrick checks back in with quick updates on Death’s Door and Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City. Then we get some clarification on Patrick’s cruel band class rejection from the Question Bucket.

Discussed: Hell Let Loose 6:24, Pokemon Unite 41:10, Activision-Blizzard Walkout 55:40, Death’s Door 1:22:17, HighFleet 1:24:46, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City 1:39:27, Question Bucket 1:44:34

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Episode 413: The Saxophone Playing Patrick That Never Was Jul 27, 2021

Austin and Cado are still playing Pokemon Unite, and do some live research into some of it's more hidden forms of microtransactions. Patrick is living his best music playing life with Ragnarock, a VR drum rhythm game with a slightly frustrating boost mechanic. After the break, Cado's been playing The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, the historical fiction entry into the Ace Attorney franchise that has only just been released outside of Japan despite the first game being six years old at this point. Austin has been checking out Chernobylite in early access, a first person exploration shooter that takes cues from games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R, but with base building akin to State of Decay. Then the crew takes a quick dip in the question bucket and discuss how to get into rogue-likes, even if the structure seems to not be your cup of tea.

Discussed: Pokemon Unite 1:28, Ragnarock 35:31, The Great Ace Attorney 58:09, Death’s Door 1:23:46, Chernobylite 1:28:56, Question Bucket 1:32:26

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Episode 412: Activision-Blizzard Jul 23, 2021

Content Warning for discussion of Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, and Suicide from 7:28 - 46:49

The video game industry has historically been a boys club. Men have often claimed video games as something women weren't interested in or weren't good at. In recent years that line of thinking has shifted towards inclusivity on the community side of things, but within the industry many of the old company structures are still in place, and still undervaluing and endangering women. This week, the state of California brought a suit against Activision-Blizzard for being "breeding ground for harassment". Austin, Patrick, and Cado discuss what the suit has alleged, the ways in which things haven't changed in the industry, and the ways individuals can help push for change.

After the break we dive back into Boomerang X, and talk about it's wild final boss. Patrick and Austin are enjoying Death's Door, even if they both thing some of the level design could use some fine tuning. And of course, Cado is playing the PokeMOBA, Pokemon Unite.

Discussed: Activision-Blizzard 7:28, Boomerang 46:49, Death's Door 1:13:29, Black Skylands 1:33:09, Ragnarok 1:35:28, Pokemon Unite 1:36:11

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Episode 411 - Nintendo, Hold That L Jul 20, 2021

Spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake: Episode: INTERmission at ~1:24:05

It’s been a very sports filled week for the Waypoint Radio crew. Basketball is good, Space Jam is bad, and Rob’s getting back behind the wheel with F1 2021, with it’s new “Longshot-eqsue” story mode: Braking Point. Patrick’s looking within in Psychonauts 2, and Austin is looking back by revisiting Dark Souls. Skyward Sword HD continues to frustrate everyone, Austin and the crew take a short detour into Colombian children’s books while discussing Cris Tales, a new “Mario RPG-like” that references many Colombian cultural touchstones. Cado has wrapped Final Fantasy VII: Episode INTERmission, and has left with more questions than answers. Then we dip into some more audiophile and food talk in the Question Bucket.

Discussed: F1 2021 10:18, Psychonauts 2 36:48, Dark Souls Remastered 52:28, Skyward Sword HD 57:31, Cris Tales 1:10:13, Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode:INTERmission 1:22:20, Spoilers for INTERmission 1:24:05, Question Bucket 1:42:43

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Episode 410 - Patrick Klepek is… Gacha Man! Jul 16, 2021

It’s not often that you hear someone describe a first party Nintendo game as “Well… it’s interesting.” But that’s one of the opening remarks Patrick has for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. Cado finished Boomerang X and Patrick said he did but, well, I’ll let him defend himself. Rob’s recent foray into the Company of Heroesfranchise has culminated in a new release, Company of Heroes 3. The question bucket gets us into a long conversation about cables, and then Valve dropped the Steam Deck.

Discussed: World Flipper 1:04, Genshin Impact 4:42, Skyward Sword HD 7:49, Boomerang X 45:02, Company of Heroes 3 1:02:48, Question Bucket 1:43:07, Steam Deck 2:13:12

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Episode 409: Welcome to Nuts.com Jul 13, 2021

It's a bit of a slow time out in video game land but don't worry, the Waypoint Radio crew are here to entertain. Between Rob's new entertainment center, Patrick's kid's birthday party excursion, and Cado's new Midi controller, they've got plenty of excuses for not playing anything new this weekend. So instead they dig into their weekends, how the Resident Evil 101 is going so far, and Rob's return to Company of Heroes. Then they dive back into the food bucket and Rob one of his favorite food websites.

Discussed: What's Good 3:59, Halloween Reboot 17:57, Lost Judgement 20:37, Resident Evil 36:07, Company of Heroes 52:10, Boomerang X 1:27:10, The Question Bucket 1:28:14

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Episode 408: The Switchcourse Jul 09, 2021

Austin, Patrick and Cado are back from a long break spent traveling and seeing family, which meant gaming on the go. They've all been playing lots of stuff on their Switches, and bumping up against some of the frustrating issues the now four year old console has. As luck would have it, Nintendo happened to announce a new Switch model this week, but it wasn't quite the hardware upgrade anyone was hoping for. Join the Waypoint Radio crew as they compare some of the games they're playing on Switch to their PC versions and break down how the "4k Switch" rumour mill might have originated.

Discussed: The Switch (OLED) 4:51, Boomerang X 36:43, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin 56:46, Dark Souls Remastered 1:10:20, Elden Ring 1:32:03, Ender Lilies 1:34:21, Mario Golf: Super Rush 1:35:24

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Episode 407: The Beef Zone Jul 02, 2021

It’s the Friday before a longish holiday for us folks here at Waypoint Radio, and you can feel that slightly manic “day before break” energy in the air. Rob, Patrick, and Cado gather round the old podcasting mics to talk Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake (those are different things), Golf, Mario Golf (different things!), Flatland, Flatland vol.2 (very different things), and take a real deep and luxuriating dive into the Question Bucket.

Discussed: Sheriff of Nottingham 23.34, Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade 29:40, Mario Golf: Super Rush 57:22, Flatland Vol. 2 1:17:46, The Question Bucket 1:22:48

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Episode 406: Dropkick that Little Mage Jun 29, 2021

Content Warning at 1:16:55 for discussion of Suicide and Harassment

The height of summer is here, and what better way to beat the heat than some video games! Rob is finding his Battle Royale sea legs by diving head first into Fortnite. Could this mean the return of a certain Battle Royale duo? After the break, Patrick is bringing color back into the world with Chicory, a paint based zelda-like where you use color to complete puzzles. Austin's been spending his time in the sun golfing with the mushroom kingdom in Mario Golf: Super Rush, but wonders if it wouldn't be a bit more fun to enjoy the results of a swing rather than running between them. Rob and Patrick return to Dark Deity to consider their favorite characters and how the game uses overpowered characters to form a smoother difficulty curve. Then Patrick and Austin discuss the real life tragedy and legacy of programer Near, and the cruelty of online harassment.

Discussed: Fortnite 11:22, Chicory 33:29, Mario Golf Super Rush 41:35, Ender Lilies 54:58, Dark Deity 1:05:37, Content Warningf for Suicide and Harassment 1:16:55

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Episode 405 - The Terrifying General Karen Jun 25, 2021

As summer temps are climbing, Austin and Patrick are beating the heat in the dank cavelike temples of Phantom Abyss, an asynchronous multiplayer puzzle platformer where each level is can only be beaten once, and the ghosts of other players lead you to their (and possibly your) demise. Austin is also checking out Scarlet Nexus, an action game with an extremely anime story that has us asking "how anime is too anime?" After the break, we get our second dose of anime with Rob who brings us Dark Deity, a Fire Emblem inspired tactics game that might benefit from being a little less like Fire Emblem. Patrick is exploring a new space of creativity that Nintendo has once again botched online support for in Game Builder Garage, and then we take a soup-dip in the Question Bucket.

Discussed : Phantom Abyss 10:52, Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance 22:24, Scarlet Nexus 37:58, Dark Deity 1:00:37, Game Builder Garage 1:13:52, Question Bucket 1:29:17

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Episode 404 - Live by the Nomura, Die by the Nomura Jun 22, 2021

After a hefty sports/politics minute (look, it was a busy weekend!), the Waypoint Radio crew is here to talk about one of their favorite things, roguelike deckbuilders. Rob is playing Roguebook, a new game designed by Richard Garfield (of Netrunner/Magic: the Gathering fame), which presents a new take on the deckbuilding genre of video games: what if all the cards? After the break, Austin, Patrick, and Cado report back on their time fighting "Chaos?" in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Austin has also been checking out Wildermyth, an RPG with proc-gen narrative told through the shifting personality traits of your characters. Then we do a quick wrap up on some of our favorite Steam Next Fest demos before entering an especially cursed Question Bucket.

Discussed: Sports 0:00, What's Good 5:51, Roguebook 22:59, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin 40:30, Wildermyth 1:00:13, Unsighted 1:12:38, Norco 1:14:33, Question Bucket 1:28:06

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Episode 403 - E3 Wrap Up: Nintendo Direct, Steam Next Fest, and More Jun 18, 2021

E3 is over! The Waypoint Radio crew is here to wrap up the best announcements from the final two days of E3, and a slew of demos they've played. First up, Austin, Cado, Patrick, and Rob do a blow by blow recap of the stellar Nintendo Direct. Cado and Patrick are excited to return to the Metroid universe with Metroid Dread, a follow up to the great Metroid Fusion. Austin and Cado share a few war stories in preparation for Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp, and everyone has thoughts on the new Breath of the Wild 2 trailer. After the break, Rob takes us on the harrowing experience of surviving a medieval siege in Siege Survival: Gloria Victis, and then Patrick and Austin take us through a demo-palooza as they check out different Steam Next Fest and Xbox Demos for upcoming games.

Discussed: Nintendo Direct 6:31, Metroid Dread 19:16, Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp 38:17, Breath of the Wild 2 47:29, Steam Next Fest 59:56, Siege Survival: Gloria Victis 1:07:57, Sable 1:14:18, Death Trash 1:24:02, They Always Run 1:27:57, Dark Deity 1:35:00, Tunic 1:41:04, Project Haven 1:45:54

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Episode 402 - E3 Day 0, 1, and 2 Wrap Up Jun 15, 2021

It's Gamer Christmas yet again, but things are very different this time around. Austin, Rob, Patrick, and Cado have all gathered in one place to celebrate the launch of Waypoint Plus, oh and to watch some E3 streams! Rob's excited for S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2, Austin and Patrick are ready for Elden Ring, and Cado is ready to continually forget to unmute his mic.

You cann find out more about Waypoint Plus at vice.com/waypointplus

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Episode 401 - A Plate Licking Society Jun 08, 2021

Ok so let’s get right to it. Austin, Patrick, and Rob have a great podcast here, lots of fun stuff like Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart, Necromunda: Hired Gun, and Overboard. It’s all great stuff, but more importantly there’s a question at the end of the podcast and they can’t stop me from weighing in because I write the descriptions. I stand with Craig. It’s ridiculous how repulsed society is to Craig’s issue. And no, using bread is not the same thing. Even ignoring people with celiac disease, the texture is extremely different and depending on what’s on the plate isn’t necessarily preferable. #imwithCraig

Discussed: Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart 09:30, Necromunda: Hired Gun 43:29, Overboard 1:11:03, Operation Tango 1:18:50, Stonefly 1:23:17, The Question Bucket 1:31:17

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Resident Evil Village Spoilercast Jun 04, 2021

Join Austin and Patrick as they dive deep on Capcom’s latest entry in their long running horror franchise. Mutant Mold! Babies! Giant Vampire Women! They cover it all and answer listener questions such as: Which of the four lords would you marry? Which Ninja Turtle would each of the four lords be? Why does Resident Evil always go buck wild in the last act?

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Bonus: The Sims 4 - Dream Home Decorator Jun 01, 2021

We have a special bonus pod for y'all this Tuesday! Join as Gita Jackson and special guest Emily Lipstein talk about the new Sims 4 game pack, Dream Home Decorator. They discuss the community's reactions to the game pack, how old TLC home renovation shows were buckwild, and the moments this new game pack lean into some of that surprise factor from that style of reality TV.

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Episode 400: Open For A Surprise May 28, 2021

We’ve got big exciting news at the top of this podcast! But I won’t spoil it here, I love a good surprise! After the announcement the Waypoint Radio crew check in on DragonQuest’s latest announcements, Austin’s hatred of the narrator from Biomutant, Rob’s action hero turn in The Evil Within 2, and the beginning of a new Sonic cycle. Patrick’s also been checking out Wild at Heart, aka: the game where someone wanted to make Pikmin but didn’t work at Nintendo so they made their own. Cado and Austin checked in on Unexplored 2, the follow up to one of Austin's favorite roguelikes, who's new mechanics hew less Rogue and more Indie RPG in an interesting way.

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Discussed: Exciting Announcement 00:00, Dragon Quest Fest 18:59, Biomutant 27:04, The Evil Within 2 1:04:20, Sonic Cycle 1:10:30, Knockout City 1:13:31, Wild at Heart 1:14:06, Unexplored 2 1:22:53, More Sonic News 1:31:16

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Episode 399: Rated "C" for Crafting May 25, 2021

Sometimes you start a project thinking it would be fun to learn a new skill. Well Gita is doing exactly that in Final Fantasy XIV, but every time she learns one crafting class she realizes that things would be more efficient if she just learned to craft everything. Patrick is finding little to like in Biomutant, and leaves us with a short preamble for Friday’s podcast. Gita is checking back in with Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, and finding the changes to be ... revolutionary. After the break, Patrick is deep in the world of dodgeball with Knockout City, a surprisingly fun game that had the weirdest launch trailer. Gita has been living life in the apocalypse in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, a game that doesn't pull any punches mechanically and philosophically. And of course, wherever there's a new Destiny 2 raid, there's Cado. He recounts his experiences revisiting the Vault of Glass, the first Destiny raid that has been remastered for Destiny 2. (Spoilers for the Vault of Glass in this segment

Discussed: Final Fantasy XIV 6:42, Biomutant 14:45, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut 30:42, Knockout City 44:39, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne 57:53, Destiny 2 Vault of Glass 1:17:31

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Episode 398 - The Julianna Experience May 21, 2021

Rob’s seen the future, and it looks a lot like the past. He’s had a hands-off preview of Deathloop, the first person assassin’s Groundhog Day game with a strong late 60’s, early 70’s Spy genre aesthetic. Austin, Patrick, and Cado come along on the ride as he describes what he’s learned about the loop, the gaps that are still missing, and what the hell The Prisoner is. After the break, Austin and Patrick are having a blast in Resident Evil Village, Cado’s stuck recreating Tom Hanks flick The Terminal in Elite Dangerous: Odyssey, and Rob is living his best life as a winemaker in Hundred Days - Winemaking Simulator.

Discussed: Deathloop 2:59, Resident Evil Village 43:24, Elite Dangerous: Odyssey 55:43, Hundred Days 1:05:08, Question Bucket 1:19:51

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Episode 397: Why the Conversation Around Palestine Has Changed May 17, 2021

On Friday, May 14th, 2021, IGN posted an article listing organizations that are providing aid to Palestinian citizens currently being harmed by Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank. What followed over the weekend was an egregious breach of editorial independence, and an outpouring of support for Palestine in the Games space that makes it clear that the industry has changed for the better in some ways. Join Austin, Patrick, Rob, Cado, Gita, and special guest Emanuel Maiberg as they discuss what happened at IGN, what's being done to the Palestinian people, and ways the conversation around Palestine has changed. After the break we go on a quick MMO minute as Gita is getting into Final Fantasy XIV and Austin checked out the Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis beta, Patrick is getting into Remnant: From the Ashes to check out it's next gen update, and Rob has finally given up on The Evil Within to start The Evil Within 2.

Discussed: Palestine 1:30, Final Fantasy XIV 1:08:48, PSO 2 New Genesis 1:22:23, Remnant From the Ashes 1:26:23, The Evil Between 2 1:34:51, Destiny 2 1:45:56

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Episode 396- A Game Full of Blocky Lads May 14, 2021

E3 is going Virtual this year and the Waypoint Radio crew is here to figure out what the hell that means. Join Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Cado as they discuss the latest from the ESA and what the nature of this year's show might be. Rob brings us news from the war against chaos, he's enjoying his time with Warhammer 3! Austin is struggling with Hood: Outlaws and Legends, the new Robin Hood based PvPvE game that looks like it should be Payday 2 : Sherwood Forest edition but falls short,and Patrick checked out ... Roblox? Cado's enjoying the new Destiny season (but what else is new?).

Discussed: E3 2021 3:33, Game Builder Garage 19:24, Warhammer 3 20:50, Resident Evil Village 31:44, Roblox 54:59, Hood: Outlaws and Legends 1:25:44, Destiny 2 Season of the Splicer 1:39:20

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Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Spoilercast May 11, 2021

Special guest Dia Lacina joins Austin, Patrick, and Cado to go full spoiler mode for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... They discuss the game’s focus on the role of the caretaker, the homages to other games, the creation of the self and of the other, and answer your burning NieR questions!

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Episode 395: Big Dimitrescu Energy May 07, 2021

Rob, Gita, Patrick and Cado are joined by special guest Matthew Gault to talk about Resident Evil VIII. They try to figure out how to pronounce Lady Dimitrescu’s name, talk about how every RE game falls apart by the second half, and which ones manage to stick to our memories despite that. After the break, Gita takes us on a tour of the new Apex Legends mode: Arenas. A 3 vs 3 round based mode that gets you right in the action and may just be the answer for people who bounced of the original battle royale mode. Then we take a length dip in the question bucket, get down to some taco etymology, and jobs we’ve had the pleasure to ollie out of.

Discussed: Resident Evil 8 1:31, RE 8 Lore Spoilers 42:36, Apex Legends: Arenas 46:43, The Question Bucket 1:08:58

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Episdoe 394: The Order 1886 Defender Has Logged ON May 04, 2021

Austin is returning to the conversation from last pod on Returnal, and enjoying the runs a bit more than Patrick did. Rob’s trying to be a jack of all trades in MLB the Show ’21, but may just end up being master of none. Cado’s savoring the last throes of cold weather by surviving the elements in Scavengers. Then the crew takes a healthy dip in the food trough, er, the Question Bucket, to talk about weird food habits and reveal Rob’s game writer origin story. Stick around after the outdo music for a special Rob and Patrick NFL Draft minute!

Discussed: Returnal 11:58, Returnal Structural Spoilers 20:00, Returnal Level Spoilers 29:54, MLB the Show ’21 52:08, Scavengers 1:11:32, The Question Bucket 1:27:56

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Episode 393: PUT VECTORMAN IN SMASH Apr 30, 2021

It’s warming up which normally means doing more outdoor activities, but since we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, each of the Waypoint Radio crew have taken up different substitutes to match their outdoor proclivities. Austin has taken to gardening in NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., Patrick is going on long walks of the same rooms over and over again in Returnal, and Cado is taking photos in New Pokemon Snap. Then they go on an extended dive into the question bucket to talk about maligned games, pizza portions, and more!

Discussed: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... 2:21, NieR Replicant ending B spoilers 9:46, Nier: Automata Spoilers 14:19, New Pokemon Snap 35:14, New Pokemon Snap first level Spoilers 50:05, Famicom Detective Club 1:09:53, Returnal 1:24:19, Rain On Your Parade 1:41:45, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion 1:44:31, The Question Bucket 1:46:51

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Episode 392: Welcome to the Festival of Emails! Apr 27, 2021

In an odd twist of fate, this year’s Oscars are actually relevant for a video game podcast (not that that’s stopped us in the past.) Rob talks us through the Academy Award winning Colette, which was made as supplemental material for Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, a VR game that didn’t get a lot of buzz. Patrick has been checking out Returnal, a roguelike third person shooter from the creators of arcade styled classics like Super Stardust HD and Resogun. After the break, Austin takes us on a gardening tour as he nears the end of his side quest grind in NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139.... Cado lost some time to Naraka: Bladepoint, a melee combat focused Battle Royale with solid combat design that works better than it sounds. Then the crew dives into the Question Bucket to learn about kettle chicken, halloween scares, and ramps. No, not those ramps!

Discussed: The Oscars 6:56, Colette 11:31, Returnal 18:57, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... 54:53, Nier Replicant spoilers 57:48, InkSlinger 1:18:35, Lake 1:26:45, Naraka Bladepoint 1:33:48, The Question Bucket 1:50:30

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Episode 391: Everyone's Favorite Mortal Kombat Character: Cole Apr 23, 2021

The time is finally here, that’s right, the release of 2021 that everyone’s been waiting for, the new Mortal Kombat movie is out and Patrick is here to let us know how many robots are in it. Unfortunately, MK’s robot score has nothing on Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., which has both robots and side quests galore. Austin and Patrick are here to spoil the decade old game. After the break, Rob’s learning to love the subtly episodic structure of Judgement, and we take another food filled dive into the Question Bucket.

Discussed: Mortal Kombat 1:48, Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139...19:30, Nier: Replicant Light Spoilers 24:32, Judgement 50:31, Judgement Spoilers 51:28, Question Bucket 1:04:01

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Episode 390 - It’s Got Good Hackerfeel Apr 20, 2021

Austin’s starting this week off strong by getting into organization. He’s finding out if he’s up to the job in Wilmot’s Warehouse, a game that swings back and forth from anxiety-inducing collection runs to calm, no limits organizing. Gita is back on the show to talk about the newest from Paradox Games, Stellaris: Nemesis. The crew discusses how add ons to 4x games can often be frustrating to get to, and how they all wished Stellaris had a bit more Crusader Kings III in its DNA. After the break, Cado puts on his best hacker voice to jack into the world of Midnight Protocol, a hacking game with diegetic controls where you type text commands to hack your way through node based maps. Then he takes some time to rock out with Unbeatable, a two-button rhythm game with a killer soundtrack and stylish visuals. Then the crew dives into the question bucket to talk about the places they’ve played games when maybe they shouldn’t have.

Discussed: Wilmot’s Warehouse 8:26, Stellaris: Nemesis 20:45, Midnight Protocol 38:29, Unbeatable 53:41, Question Bucket 1:01:21

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Episode 389 : God of War: Combat Evolved Apr 16, 2021

Join Patrick, Austin, and Cado as they discuss the poor decisions Sony’s made recently. Patrick is tempting fate by downloading the Final Fantasy XIV PS5 beta, Austin’s wondering if 34 different endings is really worth acting like an asshole in Ashwalkers [spoilers: it's not], and Cado is vibing aesthetically and mechanically with lo-fi strategy deckbuilderToverblade. Then the gang dive into the Question Bucket and reminisce about times they enjoyed meals on the road, you know, before the pandemic

Discussed: Final Fantasy XIV 6:31, Nier: Replicant 20:03, Shadow Man Remastered 24:44, Playstation Shop Closure 30:10, Sony is Remaking the Last of Us 51:52, Ashwalkers 1:08:10, Toverblade 1:28:16, Question Bucket 1:37:53

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Episode 388: Please Sir, No More Sliders Apr 13, 2021

It was inevitable. Austin fell deep into a new roguelike deck builder so of course Cado and Rob had to check it out. Trials of Fire ate up a fair amount of Austin’s Sunday with it’s engaging hex based tactical combat, with mechanics that allow for easy card recycling so it very rarely feels like you have a wasted turn. Rob continued down his crime drama hole with Judgement, but is finding some of the combat encounters a bit too repetitive. Patrick is learning to take control over his life in Say No! More, the comedy game that has a strong mid-nineties comedy game feel. Then we dive back into the Food, er, Question Bucket to find new untold terrors.

Discussed: Trials of Fire 15:49, El Shaddai 39:36, Before Your Eyes 51:05, Judgement 56:07, Say No! More 1:06:14, Question Bucket 1:18:13

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Episode 387: Lemme Pour Some Milk on Your Ice Cream Apr 09, 2021

We've got all the HOTTEST news UPFRONT in this podcast, Patrick is here to announce a game delay with a tweet, Rob is bringing the FRESHEST takes on Star Wars: Republic Commando, and Austin is catching up on the lasest season of Riverdale. After the break, Patrick breaks down Nintendo's latest twist on the "battle royale" genre, Pac-Man 99, Cado's giving Outriders a second chance, Patrick checks in with new indie game Before Your Eyes which has an interesting experimental control mechanism, and Rob's living his best crime drama life in Judgement. Then we go for a dive in the Food Bucket!

Discussed: Star Wars: Republic Commando 9:57, Riverdale 25:06, Pac-Man 99 33:26, Outriders 46:56, Aron's Adventure 55:23, Before Your Eyes 59:49, Cozy Grove 1:09:12, Judgement, Question Bucket 1:19:34

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Episode 386: Cado Season, Like Sandal Season, Is Back! Apr 06, 2021

Sometimes you go for a wrestling finisher only to be countered, and have your own finisher used on you. Such is the situation with MLB the Show ’21, a Sony developed game that went multi-platform last year, in a shocking turn of events is now available on Microsoft’s Xbox Gamepass. Join Patrick, Austin and Cado as they discuss the bizarre circumstances. Cado’s also learned that there continues to be story after the credits in Monster Hunter Rise, Austin’s learning to love the builds in Outriders, and Patrick is wishing for higher definition photos in Fantasian.

Discussed: MLB the Show '21 15:08, Monster Hunter Rise 27:22, Outriders 32:54, Apple Arcade 1:00:38, Fantasian 1:04:34, Looking for Heals 1:32:23

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Episode 385: We're Called the Muttons! Apr 02, 2021

We’ve got a real meaty episode for y’all today! Patrick has been playing NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... and learning to mind the sheep. Rob's checking out Endzone: A World Apart, which is absolutely not a game about Football. Austin's dipping back into No Man's Sky to check out the Expeditions update, which introduces a new communal and limited time challenge mode to the already expansive universe. The crew takes a dip in the question bucket, and unlock all new ways to consider the structure of a sandwich.

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Episode 384: What'd You Do To My Mech!?! Mar 30, 2021

Rob is starting white boy summer early by watching Aaron Sorkin flicks The Social Network and Steve Jobs. Monster Hunter fever continues as Cado joins the fray, he and Austin talk through just how new player friendly this game is (spoiler: it’s not!) After the break, Rob and Austin have been checking out Genesis Noir, a crime story told through the lens of the beginning of the universe. Austin grabbed his favorite wrench and got to work in Mech Mechanic Simulator, but found the flavor of that world a bit lackluster. Then we dip into the question bucket and talk about developing critical skills.

Discussed: The Sorkinverse 3:22, Monster Hunter Rise 32:52, Genesis Noir 49:31, Mech Mechanic Simulator 1:06:57, Slay the Spire 1:17:41, Question Bucket 1:21:22

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Episode 383: Arzuros-the-Pooh Mar 26, 2021

A gargantuan release hits today, and the Waypoint Radio crew is gearing up for the hunt! Join Austin, Patrick and Cado as they discuss Monster Hunter Rise, the new Switch game that introduces new movement abilities, monsters, and pals to help out on your hunts. After the break, Patrick checks in on It Takes Two, the new game from Hazelight studios, which follows their co-op formula estabilshed in Brothers and A Way Out. Then Cado and Austin do a "quick" check in with the return of the Final Fantasy XIV minute!

Discussed: Monster Hunter Rise 2:55, Resident Evil 43:53, It Takes Two 47:05, Final Fantasy XIV 1:00:38

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Episode 382: Life is Strange - Smallville Mar 23, 2021

As the gap between big releases widens, the Waypoint Radio crew find themselves filling the time by diving deep into the Snyderverse. Austin is supplementing his Snyderverse dive with a dip into Batman: Arkham Origins, the (unfairly?) maligned prequel that seems better than some of the lauded sequels to Batman: Arkham Asylum. Rob has been checking out The Evil Within since its addition to Game Pass, and is starting to regret it. Patrick actually played a new game named Cozy Grove, a life-sim that he’s gelling with due to its narrative nature and daily limits on play. Cado is still playing Bravely Default 2, though at this point he’s not even sure why. And we take another dive in the briny bath of the Question Bucket to finally learn what a pickle actually is.

Discussed: The Snyderverse 0:24, Batman: Arkham Origins 25:15, Life is Strange True Colors 37:15, Riverdale 42:20, The Evil Within 46:11, Trash the Planet 56:02, Cozy Grove 1:02:34, Bravely Default 2 1:10:51, Destiny 2 1:19:24, The Question Bucket 1:35:24

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Episode 381: The Sonic-DC Cinematic Universe Mar 19, 2021

Rob is out on vacation this week which naturally means we spend an inordinate amount of time talking about the Zach Snyder DC movies??? Then, Austin and Patrick bring us Adios, a narrative focused game where you spend time talking to your would be murderer. Austin has been checking out Mundaun, the Swiss folklore based horror game with fully pencil drawn textures which, alongside killer sound design, are used to great effect to unsettle the player. After the break, Cado checks in with Magic: Legends, the new free-to-play Diablo-like based in the Magic: the Gathering universe. Patrick has been playing Fatum Betula, a horror game that is also a love letter to PS1 era aesthetics.

Discussed: The Snyderverse 2:20, Adios 30:19, Mundaun 45:52, Magic: Legends 53:30, Fatum Betula 1:09:33, Maquette 1:38:10, Question Bucket 1:39:57

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Episode 380: This War with My Mother In Law Mar 16, 2021

Ok so here's the situation. Sometimes when you're a space noble, you fall in love. Sometimes you marry that person for love, but or political reasons, but either way your sphere of connections grows. And sometimes, being related to someone ends up being, lets say, a complication when war is declared over what's a pretty simple breakdown of communication. Austin, Rob, and Cado have been enjoying the early hours of Star Dynasties, a game that could be described as "Crusader Kings III in Space," where the focus on political intrigue and character relationships leads to some wild circumstances. Also we dive into the question bucket with some important pickle follow up info, and the most important question we've ever received about bread.

Discussed: The Evil Within 2 0:39, Slay the Spire 10:13, Star Dynasties 12:10, Question Bucket 1:07:09

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Episode 379: Welcome to the Pickle Party Mar 12, 2021

Content Warning for Minor Injury and mention of Blood ~ 59:39 - 1:00:09

After a long hiatus, our regular Friday shows are back! Rob is checking out the latest addition to Total War: Three Kingdoms, Austin and Patrick have thoughts about good structure but meh everything else of Curse of the Dead Gods, and the crew takes a lengthy swim in the question bucket, answering questions about pickles, horror games, salad dressings, and more!

Discussed: Total War: Three Kingdoms 6:03, Welcome to Waypoint 19:35, Curse of the Dead Gods 28:57, Question Bucket 45:30, Content Warning: Blood 59:39, Fantasian 1:22:56, Miniature Rooms 1:25:15

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Episode 378 - Intrusive Thought Hero Mar 09, 2021

Here we go again, once more into the breach, on and on the Waypoint Radio crew has got Loop Hero fever, and the only cure is to loop some more. Join as Austin, Gita, Cado, Patrick, and Rob share their revelations, frustrations, and explorations of this latest indy darling that has you building community as the world falls apart around you, again and again and again. After the break, Rob finally tells us about King Arthur: Knights Tale, an XCOM style game set in a grimdark Arthurian legend, Patrick has been checking out Gnosia, whose loops aren't what you would expect from, well, something called a loop, and we take a dive into the question bucket, to talk about smelly cheeses, salad dressings, things of that nature.

Discussed: Loop Hero 12:22, Maquette 42:56, King Arthur Knights Tale 58:34, Dragon Quest XI S 1:09:34, Gnosia 1:16:55, The Knick 1:28:55, Question Bucket 1:31:51

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RESET Roundtable: The Covid One: Our Year of Gaming + The Top Ten Games of the 2010s Mar 06, 2021

“RESET: The Unauthorized Guide to Video Games” is a new show on VICE TV that aims at taking a deep look at the culture and community around video games. Each episode, host Dexter Thomas is joined by a selection of Waypoint Radio hosts, Motherboard writers, and industry professionals for the RESET Roundtable, a panel discussion on that specific episode’s topics. This podcast is the full recording session from the two episodes “The Covid One: Our Year of Gaming” and “The Top Ten Games of the 2010s”

Discussed: The Covid One 3:06, Top Ten 53:12

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Episode 377 - I'm the Meanest Dog Around, Woof Woof! Mar 02, 2021

Light Spoilers for Haven at 52:46

Spoilers for Bravely Default at 1:07:49

There’s Elden Ring leaks! Pokemon Fans are Upset! Outriders is bad! We’ve got a meaty episode today, as Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Cado all gather around the warmth of new leaked Elden Ring footage to satiate their Souls needs. Then they talk about the new Pokemon announcements and the backlash to some of the footage that was shown. After the break, Austin and Patrick delve into the world of Outriders, and find the gameplay lacking and the storytelling odd. Patrick’s feeling the love while playing Haven, a game that handles relationships and sex through text better than the usual awkward sex scenes we see in video games. Rob’s been playing Art of Rally, a beautiful game with a flat geometric shape focused art style, but with enough differences in handling between cars to keep things interesting. Then Cado takes us to the world of Bravely Default II, a simple world with clear and obvious stakes, but whose mechanics are complex and interesting enough to keep him trudging through the only ok story. Then stick around for a food based question bucket!

Discussed: Elden Ring 0:18, Pokemon Direct 9:05, Outriders 30:58, Haven 40:20, Art of Rally 54:03, Bravely Default II 1:04:30, Fights in Tight Spaces 1:15:53, Little Nightmares 2 1:20:21, The Art and Making of Control 1:22:26, Question Bucket 1:29:42

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RESET Roundtable: Esports Economy + Making the Game Feb 27, 2021

“RESET: The Unauthorized Guide to Video Games” is a new show on VICE TV that aims at taking a deep look at the culture and community around video games. Each episode, host Dexter Thomas is joined by a selection of Waypoint Radio hosts, Motherboard writers, and industry professionals for the RESET Roundtable, a panel discussion on that specific episode’s topics. This podcast is the full recording session from the two first episodes, “Esports Economy” and “Making the Game.”

Discussed: Esports 2:43, Making the Game 1:10:05

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Vice News Reports: Hostile Territory: How The Army Got Trolled on Twitch Feb 24, 2021

The U.S. Army needs recruits, and they're looking to Twitch to find them. With the Army’s new e-sports team, they hope to attract young, tech-savvy enlistees by streaming video games online. But they haven’t found a fully receptive audience. And this isn’t the first time the military has slid into our gaming consoles. VICE News Correspondent Dexter Thomas Jr. digs back in military gaming history to explain how we got here.

Reporting from Dexter Thomas Jr. and Michelle R. Carney. Produced by Sophie Kazis.

VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, and Adreanna Rodriguez. Sound Design and music composition by Steve Bone and Kyle Murdock.

Our executive Producer and VP of Vice Audio is Kate Osborn. Janet Lee is Senior Production Manager for VICE Audio. Production coordination by Steph Brown. Fact Checking by Nicole Pasulka.

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Episode 376: Caught a Demo ‘bout a Week Ago Feb 23, 2021

The Waypoint Radio crew is back and better than ever! We’ve got a full house this episode, as Austin, Gita, and Cado talk about the very intriguing Project Triangle Strategy demo and how it’s trope filled story is possibly saved by strong tactical gameplay and wildly impactful narrative choices. Patrick is finally able to give his final word on Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and Rob is living la vida Babylonian in the ancient city builder Nebuchadnezzar. Austin then takes us on a wonderful journey with AI Dungeon, and Rob’s internet rebels against his Valheim opinions.

Discussed: Nintendo Direct 5:10, Project Triangle Strategy 7:00, Skyward Sword HD 39:54, BlizzCon 48:41, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury 1:00:41 , Nebuchadnezzar 1:04:02, AI Dungeon 1:11:52, Valheim 1:25:36

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RESET Roundtable: Fandom + Regulation and Moderation Feb 19, 2021

“RESET: The Unauthorized Guide to Video Games” is a new show on VICE TV that aims at taking a deep look at the culture and community around video games. Each episode, host Dexter Thomas is joined by a selection of Waypoint Radio hosts, Motherboard writers, and industry professionals for the RESET Roundtable, a panel discussion on that specific episode’s topics. This podcast is the full recording session from the two first episodes, “Fandom” and “Regulation.”

Discussed: Fandom 1:10, Regulation 58:22

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RESET Roundtable: War Games part 1 and 2 Feb 12, 2021

Content Warning for descriptions of Military Combat and Serious Injury from 31:14 - 1:25:23

“RESET: The Unauthorized Guide to Video Games” is a new show on VICE TV that aims at taking a deep look at the culture and community around video games. Each episode, host Dexter Thomas is joined by a selection of Waypoint Radio hosts, Motherboard staff, and industry professionals for the RESET Roundtable, a panel discussion on that specific episode’s topics. This podcast is the full recording session from the episodes “War Games part 1” and “War Games part 2.”

Discussed: War Games 1 2:58, War Games 2 1:15:23

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Episode 375: Take That Shit Out and Put It In a Pie Feb 09, 2021

This week, we talk Stadia and Google’s inevitable shuttering of projects, the Mass Effect remaster and what it means to play a choice heavy RPG again this far out from its original release, Cado and Austin talk about the Dark-Souls-Like-but-not-quite Nioh 2, Patrick is excited to talk about Bower’s Fury some other time, and Austin’s going ham on Steam demos.

Discussed: Stadia 8:16, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition 22:01, Nioh 2 43:40, Bower’s Fury 1:01:32, CyberShadows 1:03:47, Black Book 1:06:48, Jupiter Moons Mecha Prologue 1:13:01, Tasomachi 1:14:28, Balan Underworld 1:16:53, Rogue Book 1:23:45, 13 Sentinels 1:24:58

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RESET Roundtable: Video Game Preservation + The Fighting Game Community Feb 06, 2021

“RESET: The Unauthorized Guide to Video Games” is a new show on VICE TV that aims at taking a deep look at the culture and community around video games. Each episode, host Dexter Thomas is joined by a selection of Waypoint Radio hosts, Motherboard writers, and industry professionals for the RESET Roundtable, a panel discussion on that specific episode’s topics. This podcast is the full recording session from the two first episodes, “Preservation” and “Finish Him.”

Discussed: Preservation 4:25, Finish Him 1:28:38

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Episode 374: Diamond Paws Diamond Claws Feb 02, 2021

The GameStop situation has ... escalated since we last checked in on it. So this week we have Motherboard staff writer Edward Ongweso Jr, who's done some stellar reporting on what is actually going on behind the Redditors and the public breakdowns from hedge fund managers, to discuss who is really benefiting from this situation and consider if it's even possible for the "house" to lose. After the break, Austin checks in with the world of assassination, and has a heaping of praise fort Hitman III's Berlin level (as Cameron Kunzleman has for the site). Edward and Rob continue to find interesting political intrigue in Suzerain. Patrick is checking out the latest in the world of Mario by playing Super Mario 3d World and Bower's Fury, and finds a compelling distillation of Mario Odyssey's flaws without some of the fluff.

Discussed: GameStop Stocks 00:00, Hitman III 39:44, Suzerain 49:09, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury 56:07, The Medium 1:06:07

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The Oral History of Guitar Hero Jan 29, 2021

This week we have special guest Blake Hester to talk about the oral history of Guitar Hero now live on the site. Rob hosts as they discuss the Red Octane/Harmonix split, manufacturing plastic instruments, and more tidbits about the history of Guitar Hero that were left on the cutting room floor.

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Episode 373: Market Minute with Rob "The Rock" Zacny Jan 26, 2021

The Waypoint Radio crew has been watching in awe as a short squeeze on GameStop stock breaks historic records. Cado and Patrick are having fun being scared by a Giant Vampire Woman in the new Resident Evil VIII demo. Rob's dealing with a broken government, and also he's playing Suzerain. Austin's finding the zen in repetition with Loop Hero.

Discussed: GameStop Stocks 0:58, Resident Evil VIII Demo 13:52, Suzerain 40:39, Loop Hero 56:51, Omori 1:05:31, Cyber Shadow 1:16:17

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Episode 372: An Expert on English Heraldry Jan 22, 2021

Light Spoilers for the Hitman Franchise throughout.

It’s Hitman day! Special Guest Cameron Kunzelman joins Cado, Patrick, and Rob to talk about the latest escapades from Agent 47 as he travels the world killing the rich and famous. Cam's frustrated with all this story getting in the way of good killlin', Patrick is finding out how fun it is to throw random objects at people, and Rob's starting to see the seams of the clockwork levels and can't look away.

Discussed: Hitman 3

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Episode 371: The Bitcoin Corruption of Austin Walker Jan 15, 2021

There comes a time in every PC owner’s life where you have to make some tough decisions. Well, for the better part of the last two years, one Rob Zacny has been slowly stemming the oncoming waves of failing computer components but his PC has finally bitten the dust. That means he’s spent the last week exploring the world of Cloud Gaming, and found that landscape treacherous. Austin’s way of saying “new year, new me” is to finish off some old games, revisiting Hitman 2 and Star Wars The Old Republic to finally put those to bed. Patrick is learning the beauty of HDR with new forms of streaming games to his phone, Cado is becoming his best hacker self in EXAPUNKS, and Rob is finally in on a little known rogue like deck builder called Slay the Spire.

Discussed: Rob’s Streaming Adventures 3:12, Hitman 2 40:04, Star Wars: The Old Republic 43:00, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 56:19, Demon’s Souls 1:01:50, Persona 5 Strikers 1:03:00, Slay the Spire 1:13:04

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Episode 370: Yakisoba In A Hot Dog Bun Jan 12, 2021

Light spoilers for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim at 25:56 - 28:30

After 2021's wild first week, the Waypoint Radio now crew comes to you with a calmer vibe. First up, Gita has been checking out the new Reigns: Beyond, where instead of a monarch you are the captain of a space expedition. Patrick's been getting back in touch with his Anime side by playing 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and brings a wonderful japanese culinary treat to the crew's attention. After the break, Cado's back on some Star Wars bullshit by finally getting back to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and understanding some of the finer points of lightsaber flourishes. Then they all take a dip in the question bucket and find Rob's Poke-sona.

Discussed: Reigns:Beyond 6:29, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 17:38, 13 Sentinels Spoilers 25:56 - 28:30, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 37:52, Question Bucket 48:46

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Episode 369: The First Week of 2021 Jan 08, 2021

Austin, Patrick, and Cado start this podcast off by talking through their feelings on the events of January 6th, when white supremacists stormed the US Capitol building. After the break, Patrick is learning the limits of streaming services by playing Assassin's Creed: Valhalla on Stadia, Austin's checking in on new Monster Hunter Rise demo, and we take some time to reminisce about Flash games.

Discussed: US Current Events 1:25, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla 21:32, Detective Season 1 33:12, Monster Hunter Rise 37:37, Super Meat Boy Forever 52:03, Flash Games 57:28, Carto 1:16:31, Airborne Kingdom 1:19:57, Exapunks 1:23:48, Cyberpunk 2077 1:26:15, Politics Moment 1:32:37 - 1:33:16

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Episode 368: A Holiday Netrunner Miracle Jan 05, 2021

We’re Back! After a hopefully restful and relaxing break, Rob, Gita, and Cado are here on this most auspicious of Mondays. We avoid the Great Slack Crash of 2021 by podcasting through it and talking about our breaks and how we spent the time. Gita got back into the God of War series and began to draw connections to the works of Michael Bay, and Cado got really into the “dead” Android: Netrunner card game while looking for his cyberpunk fix, and somehow ended up playingX-Winginstead.

Discussed: God of War 5:11, Android: Netrunner 29:55, X-Wing 48:00

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Our Favorite Waypoints of 2020 Jan 01, 2021

The crew at Waypoint Radio have decided to ring in the new year with one final look back at the last one. Join Austin, Gita, Patrick, Rob, and Ricardo as they each pick a piece of media, a podcast, or what have you that stuck with them through the hell year of 2020. Happy New Year! (Stick around after the show so you can finally understand that joke from our Hot Takes episode!)

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Our Favorite Games of 2020 Dec 30, 2020

The time has finally come to put an end to 2020, and as with any end of year extravaganza on a gaming podcast, that means it's GOTY time. Join Austin, Gita, Patrick, Rob, and Ricardo as they discuss the one game they loved this year, the one that stood out over the rest, the one that challenged them to overcome, the one that brought them comfort during this hellish year, or the one that put a mirror to our reality and stood in defiance of it.

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Never Have I Ever: Gaming Edition Dec 28, 2020

Never have I ever played a game of "Never Have I Ever" like this! Listeners chimed in with their weird, amazing, and unique gaming experiences and we played never have I ever with them! Come along as Austin, Gita, Patrick, Rob, and Ricardo all share their oddest gaming experiences, from brute forcing RPGS, having parents call a game company, to being taken under the wing of an altruistic online stranger in a multiplayer game, get ready for a hilarious holiday hoopla!

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The Sorkincast Dec 25, 2020

If you're a longtime listener you'll remember that a few of the staff have a, lets say, complicated relationship with Aaron Sorkin. So in a year where he releases both a movie and a West Wing reunion special, there was a non-zero chance that we'd need to podcast about him. Join Rob and Gita as they discuss The West Wing Reunion, a special that has the cast of The West Wing slip into their old roles with ease, with writing that magnifies some of Sorkin's odd characterizations of the woman in the show. After the break, they discuss The Trial of the Chicago Seven, where Sorkin's editorial choices of what to include from this historic event and what to alter lay bare his unimaginative neoliberalism while simultaneously attempting to co-opt a moment where staunch leftists were harassed while the country watched along.

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The Games of 2020 - Part 2 Dec 23, 2020

Light Spoilers for all games discussed

Welcome back to Waypoint's Holiday Hootenanny 2020! Somehow, despite our best attempts, we ended up going so long on our year in review recording that we needed to split it into two podcasts, who'd've guessed! Join Austin, Gita, Patrick, Rob, and Cado to talk about all the games we played this year, from the biggest AAA let downs to our indie darlings.

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The Games of 2020 - Part 1 Dec 21, 2020

2020 has been a wild decade, quite possibly the longest decade of the last century. Given this, we need a bit of a refresher as we form our Game of The Year lists. Join Austin, Patrick, Rob, Gita, and Ricardo as they go month by month through 2020 and talk about all the games they've played!

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Holiday Hot Takes Dec 18, 2020

We asked you for your hottest take inducing questions and you came through! Join Austin, Patrick, Rob, Gita, and Cado as they weigh in on everything from making whisky into ice cubes to the best game in a franchise to Ham vs. Turkey, all with a 90 second timer! So grab your favorite winter drink, snuggle up under a blanket, and warm yourself by the heat of these hot takes!

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Episode 367: This is for ELVES ONLY Dec 15, 2020

Austin, Gita, and Cado are in the digital studio today to discuss "gaming's biggest night," The Game Awards. They go over their favorite announcements and discuss some of the awards, how they're chosen, and what Game Direction really means. Austin and Gita delve deep into Dragon Age: Inquisition romance options, Cado laments yet another Kingdom Hearts character making it into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the whole crew gets really excited about black-kid-riding-a-bike-and-recording-video-and-sound-and-exploring-mysterious-ruins-game Season. After the break, Austin has been exploring the local ecosystem of a mediterranean island in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, Cado's been braving blizzards and frozen caves in Unto the End, and the crew discuss their early (and possibly final) impressions of Cyberpunk 2077.

Discussed: The Game Awards 1:26, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure 39:59, Unto the End 48:12, Monster Sanctuary 58:25, Cyberpunk 2077 1:01:52

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Episode 366: The AI Has Anxiety Now Dec 11, 2020

Spoilers for The Mandalorian season 2 starting at 1:06:30

Space is the place this week as we take a trip to Mars to terraform it. Gita's our captain as we dive into sim-builder Per Aspera, where you play as an AI tasked with making Mars habitable to humans, all the while considering your place in the expansion of humankind across the universe. Patrick decided to say fuck it to his ISP and run Cyberpunk 2077 on two different streaming platforms just to feel something. After the break, the crew discusses The Mandalorian, George Lucas's deep lore, and just how hot Pedro Pascal is.

Discussed: Per Aspera 2:03, The Pathless 26:01, Cyberpunk 2077 29:03, The Star Wars Hour 1:06:53

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Episode 365: "A Better World is Possible" - Cyberpunk 2077 Dec 08, 2020

Content Warning for mention of suicide from approximately 55:56 to 57:24

One of the most "hyped" games of 2020, with highly problematic marketing, is finally hitting stores this week and Rob Zacny is here to tell us all about it. Join us as he takes Austin, Cado, and Patrick through the "cyber" "punk" future of Cyberpunk 2077. From a poor first impression to interesting side quest set in a flat world, we discuss all the details of this CDPR RPG. After the break, Cado's learns to love the grind in Demon's Souls, Patrick is enjoying freedom in The Pathless, and Austin is checking out a different kind of Souls like called Morbid: The Seven Acolytes.

Discussed: Cyberpunk 2077, Content Warning: Suicide 55:56 - 57:24, Souls Games 1:28:20, The Pathless 1:32:58, Morbid: The Seven Acolytes 1:41:39, Solasta: Crown of the Magister 1:46:42, Signs of the Sojourner 1:51:12

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Episode 364: Vice Games New Podcast Deluxe+ Dec 04, 2020

Join Austin, Patrick, and Cado for a chill time talkin' bout games. Austin and Patrick have a lengthy discussion on Immortals: Fenyx Rising, what it pulls from Breath of the Wild and how sometimes more isn't necessarily better. After the break, Patrick has finally taken the plunge into Umurangi Generation, Cado's got mixed feelings for Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and we take a quick dip in the question bucket!

Discussed: Immortals: Fenix Rising 12:09, Chronos: Before the Ashes 56:03, Umurangi Generation 1:03:11, Spider-Man: Miles Morales 1:16:45, Twin Mirror 1:22:32, Question Bucket 1:38:11

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Episode 363: PUT IN THE WHISTLE FROM ALL-STAR Nov 30, 2020

We're back from our break to talk about how the whistles from all-star really do go with everything. But first- Gita is back on the pod to talk about Empire of Sin, the new mobster tactics game from storied developers Romero Games. Then the crew talks Fuser, the DJ game from Harmonix that makes DJing fun and nearly effortless. After the break we have our now recurring Demon's Souls minute as Cado sinks deeper into the early game. Austin has been checking in with 13 Sentinels, the adventure/RTS game featuring mechs, alien robots, and time travel.

Discussed: Empire of Sin 10:32, Fuser 27:58, Demon's Souls 50:01, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim 1:22:37

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Episode 362: I'm the Potato Marshal Now! Nov 23, 2020

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the US so we’re serving up a feast of gaming for you! First up, Rob takes us along his Demon’s Souls journey through rage, bargaining, and (finally) ass kicking. Austin’s been playing Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales and feeling nostalgic about being able to be outside in NYC. After the break, we talk about Patrick’s highly controversial article on PS5’s Activities feature and discuss open world game design, Cado talks about his time in the new Destiny 2: Beyond Light raid, and Austin checks back in with Link and the gang in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Discussed: Demon’s Souls 1:09, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales 27:06, Demon’s Souls Part 2 36:20, PS5 Activities 43:36, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity 1:11:41, Destiny 2: Beyond Light 1:21:25, Phantom Brigade 1:28:04

(title reference: https://kotaku.com/the-demons-souls-troll-that-made-me-rage-quit-1691764441)

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Episode 361: Who Could Say If The Prison of Elders Was Bad? Nov 20, 2020

Austin and Patrick are on their most Waypoint of Waypoint bullshit: Demon's Souls bullshit. But this time, Rob's coming along for the ride! Join as the crew talks through the remake's aesthetic and mechanical differences to the original, and check in with Rob on his new found fandom. After the break, Rob has also been checking out the latest from Zachtronics, Mobius Front '83, a tactics game that feels sparse compared to Zachtronics games usual complexity. He's also been checking out Destiny 2, and Cado has QUESTIONS.

Discussed: PS5 2:15, Demon's Souls 16:51, Mobius Front '83 39:02, Destiny 2 59:18, IO Interactive 1:16:50

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Episode 360: Gaming Advice Dot Com Nov 17, 2020

The five star runtime continue with a special double crew pod this week! First up, Austin, Cado, and Patrick talk through Rob’s newfound Demon’s Souls appreciation, comparing other third person melee combat to Souls combat, and take a quick dip in the question bucket. In our second half, Rob is joined by special guests Emmanuel Maiberg and Matthew Gault to talk about Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War and it’s various divergences and stances on the actual Cold War.

Discussed: Question Bucket 1:21, Demon’s Souls 3:41, The Pathless 52:13, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War 1:16:06, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 2:2820

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Episode 359: Variks, The Prison Abolitionist Nov 13, 2020

We've gone and hit a five star runtime with today's podcast, and for good reason! First up, Austin, Rob, Patrick, and Cado talk all things next gen, from Rob's issues with Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, to Patrick's time with Demon's Souls on the PS5. Cado sneaks a bit of PC gaming in before that though, and talks through the great new DLC for photography game Umurangi Generation. After the break, Austin, Cado, and Gita sit down to talk about the new Destiny 2 expansion Beyond Light, their first impressions of the campaign, some of their favorite lore, the new stasis powers, and everyone's favorite fallen NPC.

Discussed: Umurangi Generation Macro 4:46, Demon Souls 10:57, Godfall 1:02:16, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla 1:14:50, Teardown 1:22:30, Hades 1:25:30, Destiny 2: Beyond Light 1:29:28

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Episode 358: Everyone Has An AC Nov 10, 2020

We've got a meaty episode for y'all today, Join Austin, Rob, Patrick, and Cado as they debrief after the election results. Then Patrick talks about his time with Bugsnax, a game with a surprisingly touching story about community alongside it's absurd and hilarious food monster catching mechanics. After the break, special guest Matthew Gault joins us to talk all things Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, from choices made about the main character's gender to how much mythology the game leans on. Also if you're seeing this on Monday, we talk about the upcoming Destiny 2 mini-event happening around 9:50 pm EST!

Discussed: Politics 0:50 Bugsnax 24:09, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla 46:43, Destiny 2 1:51:08, Yakuza: Like a Dragon 1:53:55, Ace Combat 1:56:05

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Episode 357: There's Verified and Then There's Bluechecks Nov 06, 2020

It's been a long week in the US, and the Waypoint Radio crew is ready to talk about it. Austin, Gita, Patrick, Rob, and Cado gather around for a Politics Minute about the election and beyond. Then, Rob brings us his impressions on the new series of Xbox's, Patrick and Gita have the latest on the PS5, and Austin has been playing Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Discussed: Politics Minute 4:52, Xbox Series X 37:08, Marvel's Spiderman: Miles Morales 58:19, Astro's Playground 1:18:32, Yakuza: Like a Dragon 1:54:06

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Episode 356: The Downfall of Sierra Games Nov 02, 2020

Rob welcomes special guest Duncan Fyfe to do a deep dive on how adventure game behemoth Sierra Games was brought to its from an unlikely reason. You can read Duncan’s full article on this story here: How Sierra Was Captured, Then Killed, by a Massive Accounting Fraud

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Episode 355: Big Ass Playstation Oct 30, 2020

We’ve got a stacked episode for you today! First up, Rob, Patrick, Gita, and Cado talk about the PS5 and give their impressions on the Dualsense controller. Then, Gita takes us through the new Sims 4 expansion that takes you to a mountainous getaway with hiking, onsen, and more. After the break, Austin, Rob, and special guest Matthew Gault do a deep dive on Watch Dogs: Legion, breaking down how the game’s mechanics seem to be at odds with it’s narrative goals.

Discussed: PS5 4:17, The Sims: Snowy Escape 33:12, Watch Dogs: Legion 46:37

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Episode 354: The Strangereal - Nier Connection Oct 26, 2020

Content warning for the sounds of bugs in the post pod (Halloween 3 clip)

We've got a spooky episode for y'all today! First, Rob leads the crew into the Streangreal world of Ace Combat 7 and learn that not all Ace Combat games are created equal. Patrick has been checking out the Oculus Quest 2, and Cado's been diving back into Pokemon with The Crown Tundra DLC.

Discussed: Ace Combat 7 5:57, Ace Combat 7 Spoilers 18:49, Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra 32:42, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit 44:54, Oculus Quest 2 50:38, Ghostrunner 1:20:50

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EPISODE 353: MCGOOSTA MEMORIES Oct 23, 2020

Mechanical and light story spoilers for Amnesia: Rebirth from approximately 23:45 to 27:36

We're getting into the Halloween spirit this episode! Patrick has been playing Amnesia: Rebirth, Austin, Rob, and Cado join him to do a deep dive into the game and the ways it navigates horror game tropes and its precursors. After the break we join Rob as he makes is very own city in the sky in Airborn Kingdom, Austin and Cado are exploring magical land and beating back an all consuming empire in Tenderfoot Tactics, and Patrick has a special story about a pizza place.

Discussed: Amnesia: Rebirth 3:26, Amnesia: Rebirth spoilers 23:45, Fire Emblem: The Shadowdragon and the Blade of Light 52:10, Airborn Kingdom 58:59, Tenderfoot Tactics 1:09:19, Promesa 1:17:50, Disc Room 1:20:17

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Bonus: Vice News Reports: The Bubble Oct 20, 2020

Introducing a new podcast, VICE News Reports. Episode 2: The Bubble.

We take you inside the NBA/WNBA bubble told through exclusive recordings.

To salvage their 2020 seasons amid the pandemic, the WNBA and NBA create a “bubble” where players and staff are walled off from the rest of the world. We follow two players, Monique Billings, a starting forward for the Atlanta Dream, and Udonis Haslem, captain of the Miami Heat, during their first months inside the Bubble.

New episodes of VICE News Reports drop every Thursdays. Subscribe, rate and review here: apple.co/vicenewsreports

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Episode 352: Have You Ever Met a Grad Student? Oct 19, 2020

Join Austin, Gita, and Cado as they talk about the latest season of Blaseball and the games they've played over the weekend. First up, Gita's been checking out the murder mystery game Lucifer Within Us, a game with a Phoenix Wright-esq contradiction system, but laid out in a timeline based on multiple people's testimony, and set in a futuristic religious society that has the technology to recognize that demons are real. Then, Austin and Cado go over their Genshin Impact lineups and convince Gita to probably keep playing past the bad stealth section. After the break, Cado has been checking out Tenderfoot Tactics, an open world tactics RPG where the world and nature interact with your abilities to create dynamic combat arenas. Then Gita checks in with Astrologaster and asks the stars some hard questions about comedy.

Discussed: Blaseball 5:55, Lucifer Within Us 9:26, Genshin Impact 16:05, Tenderfoot Tactics 53:50, Astrologaster 1:08:51

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Episode 351: As Loud As I Wanna Be - The Rob Zacny Story Oct 16, 2020

We’re back from our short break refreshed and with plenty of new games to talk about! First up though, the PS5 UI was released and we have some questions about the future of guides based coverage. After the break, Austin has been talking to spirits in Phasmophobia, a co-op horror game that has you and three friends trying to find proof of ghosts in various haunted locales. Patrick finally made it out of the underworld in Hades, Austin, Rob, and Cado discuss the messy choices of Star Wars: Squadrons’ casting for the Galactic Empire.

Discussed: PS5 UI 9:48, Phasmophobia 46:08, Iron Harvest 1:08:29, Star Wars Squadrons 1:14:16, Lightstream 1:31:59, Hades 1:35:11, Watch Dogs Legion 1:38:37, Xuan Yuan VII 1:47:13, From Soft Games 1:50:41

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Hades Spoilercast Oct 09, 2020

We've had a wave of Hades fever here at Waypoint Radio, so much so that we're doing a spoilercast! Supergiant Games has used their knack for evocative narrative, killer third person isometric action, and beautiful art and design in a roguelite package that has pulled everyone from our most hardcore roguelike players to people who've never touched the genre. Join Austin, Patrick, Gita, Cado, and special guest Jason Koebler as we dive deep into what makes Hades want to delve the depths of the underworld again and again. We have mechanical spoilers throughout, and story spoilers start after the break (approximately 1:22:31)

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Episode 350: Don't Believe This Podcast Title's Lies Oct 05, 2020

It's been a wild weekend so we spend more than a minute on a Politics Minute. Join Rob, Patrick, Gita, and Cado as they talk about recent events and check in on how everyone's doing. Afterward, Patrick explains the Super Mario Bros. 35 curse that precludes him from ever winning, Gita tells us about IRL Among Us, and Cado and Rob share war stories from their time in Star Wars: Squadrons.

Discussed: News 1:21, Super Mario Bros. 35 12:22, Among Us 22:35, Star Wars: Squadrons 45:11, Tell Me Why 1:01:23

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Episode 349: Games Criticism Just Got CRITIQUED Oct 02, 2020

2020 has been a wild year, so of course this is when the long meme'd Steve (from Minecraft) has finally and actually received his invitation to Smash. Join Austin, Rob, Patrick, and Cado as they discuss the news and how it broke twitter. Then, Rob's been flying through a galaxy far far away in Star Wars: Squadrons, a game that pulls it's influence from classics like Tie Fighter. After the break, Austin has a fever, and the only cure is more anime. He's been playing Genshin Impact, an action-RPG gatcha game with strong inspiration from the elemental mechanics in Breath of the Wild.

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Episode 348: They Put The Worm In Sep 25, 2020

You're hearing this on Friday, but we recorded it on wednesday, still partially recovering from Save Point 2020, so it's a weird one! Join Austin, Rob, and Cado as they talk about the new publisher and studios from ex-Blizzard employees, becoming lawyers, and more bad bosses. Also we talk about this creepy mask in the post pod.

Discussed: Ex-Blizzard Employees form new company 7:49, No Man's Sky Origins 28:55, Umurangi Generation: Macro 33:56, Dragon Dogma's Anime 42:15, Hades 42:24, Star Renegades 54:23, Risk of Rain 2 57:55, Emails 1:01:05

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Episode 347: Microsoft Buys Bethesda Sep 21, 2020

We weren't supposed to be here. After a long and amazing Save Point stream, we were all planning on snoozing our alarms and taking a well deserved rest. Turns out, Microsoft had other plans. About as close as you can get to the "Disney buys Fox" of video games, this acquisition has myriad ramifications that we discuss on this episode.

Discussed: Microsoft Buys Zenimax 1::32, Lab Zero Implosion 31:31, Hades 35:50, Co-op Shooters (they're fun!) 45:17

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Episode 346: Save Point 2020 LIVE Sep 19, 2020

Save Point 2020 is running from September 16 - September 20th, this year we're raising money for National Bail Out. Go to http://savepoint.stream for a schedule and to watch and donate!

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Episode 345: Three Turkeys and a Caveman Sep 14, 2020

Sometimes a game comes along and you think it's ideal, a perfect expression of it's component mechanisms, and that nothing more should be added. Then, as Patrick learned this week, sometimes a sequel drops and it's somehow an improvement on what seemed like a closed loop. Spelunky 2 is that game, and Austin and Patrick have been playing it! Join them as they talk through the new mechanics, their time with the original, and the possible rekindling of old rivalries. After the break, Gita and Cado have been checking out the raids in Destiny 2 and talk about the experience of raiding for the first time, Austin has another update on his Crusader Kings III dynasty and his murderous offspring, and Cado's been feeling nostalgic playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 and listening to "Superman" by Goldfinger on loop.

Discussed: Spelunky 2 3:15, Destiny 2 raids 40:11, Crusader Kings III 48:50, Star Renegades 1:16:34, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 1:35:06

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Episode 344: This Is You, Allegedly Sep 11, 2020

Perhaps you expected a shorter episode. It’s a pre-next-gen season, AAA games are slowing down. But that just means we have more time for indie games! Join as Austin, Patrick, Gita, and Cado talk about all the news surrounding next-gen consoles that dropped this week, from Xbox console pricing to the future of Digital vs Physical game sales. Then after the break, Austin has a wild story from Crusader Kings III, Gita brings us post-apocalyptic vibes from Wasteland 3, Cado and Austin have both been playing the Sherlock-consulting-detective-by-way-of-vaporwave Paradise Killer and roguelike time shifting RPG Star Renegades. Make sure to stick around to the end of the podcast for an exciting announcement!

Discussed: News 10:42, Crusader Kings III 53:32, Paradise Killer 1:21:33, Wasteland 3 1:43:44, Gordian Quest 1:57:41, Star Renegades 1:59:42, Special Announcement 2:24:24

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Episode 343: Out Damn Sauce! Sep 07, 2020

It's Labor Day here in the US, meaning that the Waypoint Crew is enjoying some well earned time off. Luckily for you dear listener, we've pre-recorded a mailbag episode for you to enjoy! Join Austin, Rob, and Cado as they dive deep into the "food rivalries and bad bosses" question bucket!

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Episode 342: Ms. Marvel's Miss-ed Opportunity Sep 04, 2020

It's a-me, a surprise Nintendo Direct! Austin, Patrick, Gita, and Cado gather this week to discuss the 35th anniversary Mario Direct that dropped early Thursday morning, filled with a variety of Mario news, from a new compilation to Mario Battle Royale. Then, Patrick and Cado have smashed back into the world of Marvel's Avengers to find that the game is secretly about Ms. Marvel more than you'd expect, and lament that it didn't go more in that direction. After the break, Gita brings us to a galaxy far far away, but not so far that you can't go there with your Sims! She has her impressions on the new Star Wars Stuff Pack in The Sims 4!

Discussed: Mario 35th Anniversary Direct 0:17, Marvel's Avengers 30:39, The Sims 4: Star Wars: Journey to Batuu 1:07:07

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Episode 341: I Love Bath Theater Aug 31, 2020

It's finally here, the day Gita, Rob, and Austin have long been anticipating: Crusader Kings III day! Come and hear the tale of intrigue, deception, and baths, then check out Gita's review. After the break, Gita taps out and Patrick joins to talk about Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, an RPG originally released in 1997, now finally coming to the west. Patrick did an interview with one of the original developers that's a touching look at a life of game development. And in-between there, we sneak in a segment on the RTS Iron Harvest, and it's throwback campaign.

Discussed: Crusader Kings III 0:41, Iron Harvest 59:51, Moon 1:06:12, Captain Tsubasa 1:31:16, Control: AWE 1:44:02, News + Emails 1:51:30

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Episode 340: Mafia Corleone Aug 28, 2020

I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life - I don't apologize - to take care of my family, and I refused to be a fool, dancing on the string held by all those bigshots. I don't apologize - that's my life - but I thought that, that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the string. Senator Corleone; Governor Corleone. Well, it wasn't enough time, Mafia. It wasn't enough time.

Discussed: Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions 6:32, Mafia: Definitive Edition 25:55. Outriders 1:03:52, Tell Me Why 1:19:47, Windbound 1:43:46, Emails 1:52:32

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Bonus: VENT from VICE UK Aug 26, 2020

Content Warning: Descriptions of Sexually Explicit Acts

Introducing VENT Documentaries from VICE UK: Young people from London, telling you the stories they care about. In this episode, Khalil grew up with homophobic parents, so he had to learn about being gay on his own. From making Sims characters have gay sex to signing up to online sexting forums, Khalil tells the sometimes hilarious, sometimes graphic and sometimes painful story of what it’s like to come into your queerness on the internet.

Subscribe to VENT Documentaries wherever you listen to podcasts:

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7FpQDTtYnVsCvztk3wmflP

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/vent-documentaries/id1501178221

Acast: play.acast.com/s/ventdocumentaries

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Episode 339 - Hot Topic Goth Batman Aug 24, 2020

Join Austin, Patrick, and Cado on this comic filled podcast. They talk the DC related announcements, the rocky Avengers beta, and do some important red-color-scheme superhero disambiguation.

Discussed: Avengers Beta 26:12, Gotham Knights 53:35, Suicide Squad 1:02:36, News 1:10:53, Emails 1:27:32

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Episode 338: Try BrefEx, the Breath Fix! Aug 21, 2020

In this whirlwind world of ours, sometimes you don't have time for a full meal. There's a million and one meal replacements out there, but what if you need to make an impression? When the stale cheerio smell of Soylent won't do, try BrefEx! The smells of a full two egg breakfast to make sure whomever smells you breath next will think "now there's a person who's the salt of the earth!" Now in new "pancake stack" flavor!

Discussed: Control: Ultimate Edition 3:39, Apple vs Epic Continues 14:37, Nintendo Indie World Stream: 22:39, Spiritfarer 28:04, Star Renegades: 45:27, Othercide 54:49, Slay the Spire 1:00:41, Emails - aka The Food Zone- 1:02:03

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Episode 337: The Eco Corner - with Rob Zacny Aug 17, 2020

Eco. Economy. Ecology. Rob Zacny has Opinions on both on this podcast! First, Austin, Rob, Patrick, and Ricardo sit down and unpack the Apple/Epic Games beef, what the stakes are, and who stands to gain from the legal battle. After the break, Rob checks in from the skies over Michigan, but first his game has to load. He's got his preview up for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a game that is ridiculously detailed, but pushes his computer in an unexpected way. Patrick has been checking out Blasphemous, one of the only 2D souls-likes he's actually checked out, and Austin is dipping back into Remnant: From the Ashes,and convincing Patrick that he needs to play it. Then the crew answers listener questions such as "how many ketchup packets should they give you at whataburger?"

Discussed: Epic Sues Apple 1:20, Microsoft Flight Simulator 39:14, Take on Helicopters 1:05:33, Blasphemous 1:14:22, Remnant: From the Ashes 1:18:07, Emails 1:25:29

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Episode 336: Graphics Go Brrrrrr Aug 14, 2020

Austin has a hypothetical for you. Say he's gonna buy an Xbox Series X. What sorta games we talkin' about here? The Waypoint Radio crew discuss recent news of next gen delays, the finer points of ancient grecian military strategy, and the next Control DLC featuring everyone's favorite gaming novelist, Alan Wake.

Discussed: Risk of Rain 2 4:36, Rogue Legacy 2 7:11, A Total War Saga: Troy 31:05, News 49:39, Control: AWE DLC 1:14:14

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Episode 335: A Leather Patch Laptop Aug 10, 2020

Welcome to T-ēmptor, VICE's new podcast where Austin Walker describes the new Tech he's buying while simultaneously enticing the rest of the staff to buy it too. This week, Gita, Rob, and Ricardo join him to take a look at the new (circa 2019) leather bound laptop that he's purchased. Also we're talking about video games, like that one about Napoleon Bonaparte's sister that's also anime (Banner of the Maid), that one about delivering mail and hitting people with sticks (Thousand Threads), a new phone game set in the Game of Thrones universe (Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows), and more!

Discussed: Horizon: Zero Dawn PC 1:32, Death Stranding PC 12:04, Laptops 23:09, Banner of the Maid 37:24, Necrobarista 50:16, Thousand Threads 1:03:33, Game of Thrones; Tale of Crows 1:15:26, Good Sudoku 1:19:06

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Episode 334: Beware the Third Beep Aug 07, 2020

We've got GAMES for y'all. Austin is back and brings us tales of internet outages and frog based edutainment. Patrick is enjoying the new party game du jour Fall Guys, and Cado has been chilling in the afterlife with Necrobarista. Keep an ear out for a false ending, because we couldn't release an episode today without talking about Spelunky 2!

Discussed: Frog Fractions Game of the Decade Edition: Hop's Iconic Cap DLC 7:47, Banners of Ruin 26:13, Fall Guys 30:49, Necrobarista 53:22, Hex 1:05:13,News 1:12:02, Spelunky 2 1:33:09

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Episode 333: A Lo-fi Cabin in the 'Burbs Aug 03, 2020

Hello Internet! Your friendly neighborhood podcast producer is back from vacation having played basically no games! Luckily, Gita has accidentally taken up the shlooter mantel and played Destiny 2, and well, let's just say the quest system is a lot! Patrick has been enjoying Carrion, and Rob has been just wrecking the competition in F1: 2020, apparently having upgraded his battle station so much he had to up the difficulty.

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Episode 332: Sports! Jul 30, 2020

Sports! They’re happening, sort-of. And that’s why we’re talking about sort-of sports games. Austin, Gita, and Rob revisit the league politics of Blaseball and secrets the baseball sportsbook simulator has been yielding. Rob’s playing F1 2020, which is less a game about Formula 1 in 2020 than it is about expectations that existed for F1 in 2019. Another game that’s revealing its secrets to Gita is Sudoku, which she’s finally learning to love via Zach Gage’s Good Sudoku. Austin is also unleashing the beast in Carrion, but thinks maybe more leashes might be a good thing for that game.

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Episode 331: Babe-ified Yoshi Jul 28, 2020

On this episode, Austin, Gita and Patrick talk about the huge Nintendo leak and the ethical quandary it represents. After the break, Gita and Austin talk delivering mail in Thousand Threads, watching cats play with yarn balls in The Sims, and rooting for the worst team in Blaseball.

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Episode 330: Halo: Fall of Reach JO Edition Jul 24, 2020

Microsoft announced a slew of games and the Waypoint Radio crew is here to talk about it! We go over the games announced, Patrick tells a college story, and we discuss the particulars of MJOLNIR armor functionality.

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Episode 329: Dooziedug Wears Pants Like *This* Jul 20, 2020

Nintendo announced a surprise direct! Get ready to kill god, cause there’s Shin Megami Tensei news! Austin, Gita, and Cado have been playing Ooblets, and have a discussion about how Ooblets would wear pants. Patrick is playing Paper Mario: The Origami King, and is starting to recognize patterns even if he's still bad at geometry. Gita takes us to the ToTALy TwiSTEd world of SINoAlice, and we learn that Yoko Taro has been trolling us the whole time.

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Episode 328: You Don't Remember Ushah? Jul 17, 2020

Austin, Cado, and Patrick gather this week to talk Paper Mario: The Origami King, what each of them looks for in an RPG, how Patrick is bad at geometry, and how the game takes a bit too long between introducing new mechanics. Austin’s been playing Lithium City, a game self described as “The Last Flash Game” with a killer look, soundtrack, and level mechanics that are gone as quickly as they arrive. Patrick has also been playing Deadly Premonition 2, and the crew talk about some of the game’s issues and an apology from the developer. Then, as always, Cado is here with the Destiny Download, ready to shout about eggs or something.

Discussed: Paper Mario: The Origami King, 8:32, Lithium City 41:09, Deadly Premonition 2 46:51, Aria Chronicle 1:11:50

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Episode 327: The Michael Jordan of Cutting Necks Jul 14, 2020

We've got special guest Matthew Gault on to talk with Austin and Patrick about Ghost of Tsushima, the samurai game from Suckerpunch. They discuss the line between authenticity and homage, the game's dated take on open worlds, and how haikus weren't a thing yet. After the break, Rob joins in to talk about a few Ubisoft games that he got hands on time with.

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The Last of Us Part II Spoilercast - Part 2 Jul 13, 2020

So, Rob may have let this podcast get away from him just a bit. What we thought would be a quick 2 hour tour of Naughty Dog’s zombie game du jour turned into a total 6 hour deep dive into the few highs and many, many lows.with Cado and special guest Maddy Meyers along for the ride, the crew discusses vague character motivations, repetitive didactic morals, and “universal" truths that are anything but.

Articles Discussed:

'The Last Of Us Part 2' Is A Game About Healing, Not Just Violence by Sam Greer

As Naughty Dog Crunches On The Last Of Us II, Developers Wonder How Much Longer This Approach Can Last by Jason Schreier

Their World by Yussef Cole

The Cisgender Voyeurism of The Last of Us Part II by Waverly

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The Last of Us Part II Spoilercast: Part 1 Jul 10, 2020

It’s one of the most talked about games of the year, a swan song for the current generation of consoles from one of the most lauded AAA developers. So of course we here at Waypoint Radio spent nearly 6 hours carefully and thoroughly dissecting why, despite almost universal acclaim, we found the game lacking in the way it presents it’s story, the narrative pitfalls it continually runs afoul of, and some of the real world parallels that didn’t sit right with us. Joining Rob, Patrick, and Cado are special guests Emanuel Maiberg from Motherboard, and Maddy Myers from Polygon, both here to finally get it all out, and put this all behind us.

Articles discussed:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/video-games/news/the-last-of-us-part-2-ellie-evolution/

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Episode 326: A Summertime Bucket Dive Jul 03, 2020

It's summer, so why don't y'all cool yourselves in the crisp waters of our question bucket! We dive deep for questions, stay deep for answers, and come back to the surface with some truly cursed knowledge. We talk about the Chicago Bulls, donuts, PR, and more!

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Episode 325: Is There Golf on Mars? Jun 29, 2020

Spoilers for one of the endings of Signs of the Sojourner from approximately 50:18 to 54:25

Do you hear that? That noise in the distance? That’s the Pokémon Hype Train, and conductor Cado is bringing it into the station! He goes over the recent announcement of the PokéMOBA Pokémon Unite and his time in Pokémon Cafe Mix, a very cute mobile puzzle game with some less than stellar signposting around it's microtransactions. Rob has been playing Desperados 3, a real time isometric stealth game that doesn't quite scratch his stealth game itch. Austin is checking out Signs of the Sojourner, a narrative focused game that's a new twist on the "roguelike deckbuilder" whose mechanics are emotionally brutal (in the best way). And finally, Patrick has been playing Mr. Driller DrillLand, a switch port of the gamecube game that never made it state-side.

Discussed: Pokémon Unite 12:19, Pokémon Cafe Mix 20:24, Golf on Mars 30:29, Desperados 3 32:42, Signs of the Sojourner 43:14, Cyberpunk 2077 1:04:29, The Last of Us Part II 1:17:21, Mr. Driller DrillLand 1:23:12, CrossCode 1:27:23

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Episode 324: Abuse and Harassment in the Video Game Industry Jun 26, 2020

Content Warning: Discussion around recent abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault allegations from approximately 14:33 - 53:15. Specific reference to abuse within families from 46:28 - 48:29

Over the past several days a still increasing number of victims in the video game industry, from streamers and influencers to developers, have spoken out about their abusers. We discuss how this current wave of allegations came about, the systemic issues that enable abuse, and the hope for a safer future. After the break we catch up with Patrick, who's back from paternity leave with stories of playing games not for content, imagine that!

Discussed: Video Game Industry Abuse 14:33, Gears Tactics 57:56, Divinity Original Sin 2 1:02:26, Hades 1:14:52, Humankind 1:23:05

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Episode 323 - What if the Pope Went to the Met Gala? Jun 23, 2020

It's Announcement Season in the world of video games! Austin took a deep dive into the Steam Game Festival over the weekend and played a bunch of game demos, including the absolutely wild sounding Paradise Killer, a first person mystery game with outrageous characters and killer music. Then both he and Rob talk about dipping a toe back in to Greedfall to find the water is not fine, it's kinda putrid honestly. Gita has relaxing with the calming and meditative Among Trees, going to a place few of us have been in the last couple of months. Then Cado fills us in on the latest Pokémon and Super Smash Bros news!

Discussed: The Last of Us Part II 5:41, Iron Harvest 11:21, Chaos Galaxy 17:19, Paradise Killer 22:48, She Dreams of Elsewhere 30:43, Space Crew 31:51, Greedfall 33:17, Among Trees 1:15:52, Pokemon Presents 1:25:02, Super Smash Bros Ultimate ARMS fighter announcement 1:32:06

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Episode 322: The Unified Traveler-Egg Theory Jun 19, 2020

Cado is back so OBVIOUSLY we’ve got to talk Destiny and its new season, but first: special guest Emanuel Maiberg is joining the crew and tells us how Call of Duty: Warzone has become a new place for him to relax and socialize. Gita has been playing Hades and is enjoying how that game delivers narrative in a roguelike setting. After the break we enter the Chill Zone. Emanuel has been chilling out with SnowRunner, a game where you get an increasingly large series of trucks stuck in mud and snow. Austin's finding zen in the art of ship deconstruction with Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and Cado is seeking bliss by becoming a Hanafuda master in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics.

Discussed: Warzone 3:12, Hades 18:12, SnowRunner 34:40, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics 1:00:38, Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals 1:06:09

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Episode 321: E3 at the Crystal Palace Jun 16, 2020

Come one and all to see the latest curiosities and wonders of the electronic entertainment industry. While back in the Industrial Age we would have had to gather in exhibition halls to see the latest ludological wares, now we can watch things like the PC Gamer Show and the Future of Games show from the comfort of our own homes. What tickles our nostalgic fancy, and what offends our aesthetic sense? The answer won't surprise you!

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Episode 320 - Faux3 - PS5 and "The Last of Us Part II" Jun 12, 2020

Spoilers for the ending of The Last of Us (Part 1) at approximately 2:23:56 - 2:30:25

We have a truly five star runtime today! Special guest Patrick Klepek joins Austin, Gita, Rob, and Cado to go over the PS5 reveal event, discussing each game shown, picking our favorites, and firing Patrick for besmirching an Arkane game. After the break, Rob and Patrick lead Austin and Cado through their time with The Last of Us II, a game who’s repeated use of extreme violence seems to amount to little by the end of its runtime.

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Episode 319: The Disney-Nolan Cinematic Universe Jun 08, 2020

Gita and Cado spent their weekends streaming to raise money for various bail and mutual aid funds, and talk about that experience and how important mutual aid is. Austin has started playing a secret game that Rob is really excited for him to check out, something about victorian cops and wolves? After the break, Cado and Austin re-cap Destiny’s lackluster first “live event” and the general vibe of where Destiny is in it's "it's fine, it's bad, it's good again!" cycle. Austin is playing Xenoblade Chronicles and enjoying the through lines between its lore and mechanics, and Gita has finally dipped her toe into Valorant and is enjoying the new Spike Rush mode.

Discussed: Golfing With Your Friends 2:36, Austin's Secret Game 16:29, Destiny 2 48:15, Xenoblade Chronicles 1:00:04, Valorant 1:10:53

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Episode 318: BAW GAWD THAT'S LU BU'S MUSIC! Jun 05, 2020

As protests continue, Austin, Rob, and Cado discuss the ever growing demand for the defunding and abolition of police. In games news Rob had some hands on time with Total War Saga: Troy, a game that eschews the mythological trappings that surround the Trojan War to mixed results. Austin and Cado are back at it again in Valorant, and discuss the changes made for launch and having to learn new agents due to the influx of new players. Cado's been spending time in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, and has found the tutorials and assists particularly well done. Rob's checking out Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within and finds its reexamination of the Wayne family a compelling story that few other Batman properties have touched on.

Austin's first Valorant ace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoOfgyPWit4

Discussed: Total War Saga: Troy 21:06, Valorant 39:22, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics 39:22, Batman: The Enemy Within 1:28:06, Xenoblade Chronicals 1:32:21

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Waypoints 46: June 1, 2020 Jun 01, 2020

Rob, Cado, and Gita sit down to talk about the past week’s protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police and the myth of there being a “correct way” to protest. After the break, Gita and Rob discuss the two different versions of Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill A Mockingbird that they attended way back when theater was still a thing, and how the different casts dramatically change the reading of Sorkin’s script.

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Episode 317: That Child Has Three Mortgages May 29, 2020

We're back at it again talking about Umurangi Generation this week. Gita is taking her first foray into it, and Cado and Austin have "finished" the game but are both far from done with it. Gita is also undertaking a staggering project in The Sims 4, and then we answer a food question.

Discussed: Umurangi Generation 2:57, Totem 23:40, Sludge Life 28:08, The Sims 4 33:45, Question Bucket 44:42

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Episode 316: Woohoo and The City May 22, 2020

Spoilers for Umurangi Generation from aprox. 1:06:27 to 1:15:13

The Sims has a new expansion coming out and our resident Sims expert Gita is on the case. She teaches Austin and Ricardo a special lesson on Sims sexual activity (woohoo isn't sex!) and lays out all the new info on the Eco Lifestyle Expansion, which introduces the first "antagonist" to the Sims 4 in the form of pollution. After the break, Austin and Ricardo have been playing Umurangi Generation, a new photography game from an indigenous creator that has a great vibe Jet Set Radio inspired aesthetic and a strong emotive core.

Discussed: The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Expansion 1:36, Boral Tales 29:01, Umurangi Generation 42:08, If Found 1:21:33, Pirates Outlaws 1:24:29

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Episode 315: If I Were Sheev I Would Simply Join The Jedi May 18, 2020

Austin, Gita, Ricardo, and Rob gather around their mics this week to talk about video games, but first! What is the nature of Sheev Palpatine's desires? Is becoming Emperor of the Galaxy enough? What drives him once he reaches this goal? Austin has been having some Star Wars thoughts that we gotta work through. Gita spent time being on streams and thinking about the boom of new, inexperienced streamers breaking onto the scene and what experimentation they might bring with them. After the break, Cado's been playing Tonight We Riot, the leftist beat-em-up game about liberating your fellow workers and fighting back against corporations with some really great group dynamics, and Boreal Tale, a mystery-horror-adventure game with an enhanced PS1-era aesthetic and a VHS magical realism narrative. Rob is revisiting Alien Isolation and realizing that hiding from the alien isn't always the right call, sometimes you just gotta walk right past it.

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Episode 314: You Ever Have a Bad Heir? May 15, 2020

Rob and Gita both had hands on time with Crusader Kings III, a game about kings, crusades, and offing your heirs so you don't have to play the one with a 5 intrigue stat. They take Austin and Cado through the new game and how this one might be the perfect one for the Crusader Kings-curious to finally hop on. Then after the break, they dive back into the question bucket and discuss sequels that should've been made. If you have a question for us, send them in to gaming[at]vice.com with Question in the subject line.

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Episode 313: What if He Wants To Take His Head/Off? May 12, 2020

We’re welcoming Gita back on the podcast this week so she can help Austin, Ricardo, and Rob answer YOUR questions! We’re diving deep and taking questions from when we still had a website up to things after social distancing happen. If you want to ask us a question, be it long or short, serious or funny, you can send them all to gaming@vice.com

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Episode 312: Do You Believe in the Spoonage? May 08, 2020

The Next Gen is here and it... looks a lot like the last gen. Austin, Cado, and Rob discuss the recent Xbox Series X presentation, with plenty of trailers and not a ton of gameplay. Then, Austin takes us on a wild ride through Troubleshooters, an SRPG made by korean developers that has a maximalist approach to mechanics that matches its larger than life anime story and characters.

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Episode 311: Green Is the Color of Your Energy May 04, 2020

As we get further and further into quarantine, more and more digital events are being held to replace the ones made impossible by social distancing. One such event was this past weekend's INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, where real life racers gathered to race, simulation style, in their favorite sport. One of the many differences between iRacing and real life Indycar is the danger factor, which has led to some wild drama as drivers take each other out and break the agreed upon structure that comes with taking a virtual race seriously. Rob regales us with the details and we discuss the ramifications of drivers breaking this unspoken contract, Austin takes another dip into the West Virginian wasteland in Fallout 76, and Cado is learning some hard truths in Valorant.

Videos referenced: The Full INDYCAR race, The Pagenaud POV

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Episode 310: Set the Death Ray to Stun May 01, 2020

We’ve got a game packed week because Austin went on a bit wild this week with new games! First up, Rob and Austin discuss Cloudpunk, a new cyberpunk adventure game with a cool aesthetic and interesting world building but more than a few writing pitfalls. Cado’s now on the XCOM Chimera Squad train, but he’s trying his best to not kill anyone, which is harder than you’d think in a game about cops. Austin is disappointed with the Streets of Rage 4 soundtrack, and it’s having an adverse effect on his time with a game he’s otherwise enjoying.

Discussed: Cloudpunk 3:27, XCOM: Chimera Squad 36:35, Gears Tactics 53:43, Horizon's Gate 1:08:38, Gundam VS Maxiboost ON 1:18:46, Streets of Rage 4 1:21:03, The Flower Collectors 1:31:27

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Final Fantasy VII Remake Spoilercast Apr 27, 2020

Spoiler Warning for Final Fantasy VII Remake and original Final Fantasy VII

It's finally time. Or it's happening again? What is time? This isn't just a question about the hours and days blending together while we are all in a pandemic, but also questions we attempt to answer about Final Fantasy VII Remake. Austin, Cado, Patrick, and special guest Matthew Gault gather once more to discuss the differences between the original and Remake, that wild ending, and how you pronounce "Cait Sith"

Discussed: Final Fantasy VII Remake

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Episode 309: I Could Eat A Peanut Apr 24, 2020

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peanut?

I shall wear the thousand credit shields, and walk upon B long.

I have heard the Chrysalids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding cityward on the bus

Combing the white hair of the muton blown back

When Jett blows the smoke white and Omen's black.

We have lingered in the garage over by B

By venom-girls wreathed with poison red and green

Till teammate voices wake us, and we drown.

Discussed: XCOM Chimera Squad 3:34, Valorant 1:29:08, Question Bucket 1:41:11, Animal Crossing New Horizons 1:49:01

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Episode 308: Make That Cat Pope! Apr 21, 2020

Content Warning for discussion of Suicide at approximately 1:10:05

Rob and Austin have finally been freed from their shackles and are allowed to legally talk about Gears Tactics, which reveals just how much XCOM: Enemy Unknown owed to the Gears franchise in it’s design. Gita has been spreading religion in Civilization VI, and Austin has been playing two very different FPS games in Receiver 2 and Valorant.

Gears Tactics 11:52, Civilization VI 37:02, Receiver 2 56:30, Valorant 1:20:29, Question Bucket 1:29:24, Animal Crossing New Horizon 1:59:35

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Episode 307: Baby, Now That's Podcasting! Apr 17, 2020

This week, Gita is back to chat Animal Crossing New Horizons and The Sims 4, Rob wishes he could talk about tactics but that's illegal, Austin has been delighted by tactical exploration RPG Horizon's Gate, and Cado's been relaxing to the chill meditative vibes of In Other Waters.

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Bonus: The Distance - Live Action Role Playing Apr 14, 2020

Hey y'all, Cado here with a new bonus podcast from the Vice Audio team! The Distance features short, first-person stories from all over the world about how the pandemic is changing the way we live. You can check out more episodes here : The Distance

German LARP enthusiast Gerrit Reininghaus and his friends imagine fictional worlds where we don’t live in isolation.

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Episode 306: The Pietro Experience! Apr 13, 2020

Cado and Austin are playing the Stalk Market in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with more sophisticated and elaborate tools coming out each day to help you maximize profits. Rob's household is getting into Animal Crossing as well, but one super-smart dog has things to say about that. Rob is finally into the new Control DLC which he's likened to a "webisode" set in The Oldest House. The crew then talks about the recent rumors about a Resident Evil 4 remake, and how the term "remake" can carry many different conotations. Then we answer a few listener questions! If you'd like to ask us a question send an email to gaming@vice.com.

Discussed: Animal Crossing New Horizons: 2:35, Final Fantasy VII Remake 17:45, Control 32:48, RE4 Remake Rumors 41:46, Question Bucket 57:35

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Episode 305: KKSliderLIVEATSTUBBS_RIP.mp3 Apr 10, 2020

We’ve got a whopper for y’all today! It’s been a minute since we’ve had a politics minute so we have a uhhh…50 minute segment where we talk about American politics? But don’t worry, because we somehow manage to also talk about Animal Crossing, Control, Final Fantasy VII, Treachery In Beatdown City, Sourdough Starters, and how great it would be to be a cat!

Discussed: Politics 1:09, Animal Crossing 51:23, Animal Crossing “Spoilers” 52:37, Control, Control and The Foundation spoilers 1:06:38 - 1:13:36, Final Fantasy VII Remake 1:20:07, Treachery in Beatdown City 1:28:00, Jet Lancer 1:34:08, Frostpunk 1:37:41, Question Bucket 1:47:29

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Episode 304: Final Fantasy VII Over 1/3 RE:Make Apr 06, 2020

Early spoilers starting at approximately 1:00:28

Content Warning for discussion of transphobia, homophobia, sexual assault, and sexual coercion starting at approximately 1:13:21

There are few games, few RPGs, as well known as Final Fantasy 7. For all of the popularity the Final Fantasy franchise had amongst RPG fans, it was 7 that broke through to a wide audience worldwide. So of course the announcement of a remake of this classic game caused a lot of excitement and worry. Would it live up to the original? Should this even be attempted? Join Austin, Patrick, Cado, and special guest Matthew Gault from Motherboard as they discuss Final Fantasy VII Remake, the new battle system, the structural changes made from the original, how the story fits into a modern context. We also answer listener questions!

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BGRW: Emma. (2020) Apr 03, 2020

Exactly one year ago today, Rob and Austin released their Be Good and Rewatch It episode on the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. By sheer coincidence, with two of the regular Waypoint Radio crew out of commission, we decided today to record a podcast on this year's Emma. Join Austin, Rob, Cado, and special guest Natalie Watson as we discuss the film's stellar sets and cinematography, the excellent soundtrack, and the varying adaptation decisions that both land and miss in spectacular fashion. Stick around after the outro for Rob and Natalie's baking corner!

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Episode 303: The Rob's Kitchen Index Mar 30, 2020

In a times of peril and great strife, we look to one man’s cooking habits as a sign post of our society. Is his starter healthy? Is his dough rising? How many loafs has he made this week? Rob regales us with a cooking update as Cado curses everyone with a disturbing cooking video. Patrick then takes us through the visually stunning but mechanically lacking Resident Evil 3 remake, who’s area design and ammo distribution defangs it’s horror elements. Rob is replaying Control, but not the new DLC, because much like two of the powers he missed in his first playthrough, he missed the fact that he had a new skip ahead save file for his move from Xbox to PC. We also discuss the recent rumors about a Mario-paloza coming to the Switch, and Patrick takes us through the confounding ending of Ori of the Will of the Wisps. Stay safe everyone.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons 16:32

Resident Evil 3 25:21

Control 56:52

Vampyr 59:29

Gordian Quest 1:08:05

Deep Sky Derelicts 1:10:23

The Room VR 1:14:05

Ori and the Will of the Wisps 1:21:49

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Episode 302: Nook Makes A Dollar, I Make A Dime Mar 27, 2020

You asked and we answered, welcome to our Animal Crossing: New Horizons deep dive! You sent in a ton of questions about Animal Crossing, from questions of about our favorite villagers to the tension NookMiles introduce to Animal Crossing’s slow life pace. But first, we go over the contents of Nintendo’s surprise Mini-Direct, from Xenoblade Chronicles, to XCOM 2 on Switch, to upcoming Animal Crossing events!

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Episode 301: Two Old Men Arguing About Quake 2 Mar 23, 2020

It’s finally happened. After decades of waiting, Valve has finally released another Half-Life game, but no, it isn’t the fabled Half-Life 3. Half-Life Alyx dropped today, and Patrick has the goods for us. Special guest Emanuel Maiberg from Motherboard joins the crew to talk about Half-Life’s legacy, Alyx’s strengths, and whether or not Half-Life is just… a slightly better Quake 2? Then Rob shares his hatred for the Marauder from Doom Eternal, Austin and Cado go over their first days of rapid expansion in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and we dunk on Gamestop for it’s shitty retail practices.

Discussed: Half-Life: Alyx 3:42, Doom Eternal 51:18, Animal Crossing: New Horizons 1:18:53, Gamestop 1:39:50

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Episode 300: You Call It Synergy, I Call It A Good Time Mar 20, 2020

Hey everyone, Cado here. Since this is our 300th(!) episode I just wanted to give my thanks to everyone who’s been listening, whether you're a longtime fan or if this is your first episode, thanks for hanging with us. If you’ve been here for a while, thanks for coming along on this journey with us. Getting to make this podcast week in and week out for the past almost two years, and listening as a fan for the two years before that, has been such an amazing experience. I love working on Waypoint Radio because of this amazing space it fills, a games podcast that is sometimes serious, often hilarious, and always authentic. One where you can have a room full of queer people of color and it isn’t a special episode, it’s just Monday. One where we take the time to give each topic its full due, even if we end up with some five star runtimes. So thanks, for supporting us, for welcoming and allowing my voice on the podcast, and most of all for listening. Here’s to 300 more!

Discussed: Thanks for Listening 00:00, Doom Eternal 21:24, Stellaris 1:05:32, Dialect 1:47:03, Frostpunk: Last Autumn 1:51:24, Mysterium 1:55:35

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Episode 299: But Doctor, I Am Pietro! Mar 17, 2020

It's finally time, one of the most anticipated events of 2020 is finally here: Animal Crossing: New Horizons embargo day! Gita wrote a review for the site, and Austin, Patrick, and Cado are here to ask the important questions, like "Who are your neighbors? Where is Kapp'n? Who died and left that gravestone?" We also talk about out new social distancing hobbies, the games we're playing before Animal Crossing hits, and even take a quick dip in the question bucket!

Discussed: The Quarantine Zone 00:00, Animal Crossing: New Horizons 16:23, Archero 51:34, Roundguard 56:15, Movies in the time of Covid-19 1:00:17, State of Decay 2 1:11:41, A Monster's Expedition 1:17:12, The Question Bucket 1:20:04

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Episode 298: Welcome to Work From Home Mar 13, 2020

Hello Internet! The Waypoint Radio crew is back to talk about Video Games, but first we process the last tumultuous week in current events and politics. No, You didn't dream it, Sarah Palin was on The Masked Singer, and she did rap Baby Got Back. After the break, Patrick and Austin have been playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps, kicking off a slew of new releases coming out for the next month. Rob is checking out Frostpunk's The Last Autumn dlc, which fundamentally changes the game by setting it before the winter came. Cado is checking out the new Destiny 2 Season where the Cabal are doing their best impression of Gundam's Zeon forces by dropping a space station onto the Last City. Austin's been enjoying his time in the "gulag" in Call of Duty: Warzone, a one on one section of their new 150 player squad based battle royale. Stay safe everyone!

Discussed: Politics and Current Events (including COVID-19 talk) 00:00, Ori and the Will of the Wisps 43:49, Call of Duty: Warzone 1:08:05, Frostpunk: The Last Autumn 1:18:08, Destiny 2: Season of the Worthy 1:31:21, Roundguard 1:39:41, World Flipper 1:45:40

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A Quick Update Mar 10, 2020

Hey everyone, just a quick update regarding Monday's episode. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming on Friday!

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Episode 297: People Be Containin' Multitudes Mar 06, 2020

Content Warning for discussion of suicide from approximately 1:00:47 to 1:02:40

So, we’ve survived Super Tuesday here in the states, but with breaking political news breaking just as we hit record, we’ve got a pretty lengthy ten minute politics minute upfront (see below for specific timestamps!) But don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty of games to talk about after the break! Patrick and Cado checked out the Final Fantasy VII Remake demo, and found that they're enjoying the new action based combat, Rob has been playing Yes, Your Grace, a game where you play a King answering the please of his citizens, with an interesting setup but some questionable handling of some heavy themes. Then, Austin and Cado discuss Murder by Numbers, a new picross game that wears it's Phoenix Wright influence on its sleeve (in a good way!) They're both also playing Grandblue Fantasy Versus, the new anime-fighter from Arc System Works, and Cado has mixed feelings about maining three cat bros and their large tree wife.

Discussed: Politics 00:00, Final Fantasy VII Remake Demo 25:09, Yes, Your Grace 50:51, Spoilers for Yes, Your Grace 59:59 - 1:02:40, Ash of Gods Redemption 1:14:20, Murder by Numbers 1:21:17, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment 1:30:56, Journey to the Savage Planet 1:31:47, The Last of Us HBO 1:34:33, Granblue Fantasy Versus 1:38:15, Granblue Fantasy 1:46:58

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Episode 296: RIP to Patrick But I'm Different Mar 02, 2020

This pod is TOO POWERFUL! We’ve got a full house today, with Super Tuesday around the corner we’ve got a lot of nervous energy to work through, so lets play some games! Patrick is still digging through the world of Dreams and Cado explains Destiny’s latest balance controversy. After the break, Austin talks about taking his first steps into Granblue Fantasy, Rob is having a healthy helping of strategy games with Death Crown and Circle Empires, and Gita is visiting everyone’s favorite anime school in Fire Emblem: Three Houses new Ashen Wolves DLC. There's also a TON of other content in this 5 star runtime pod, including our collective incredulousness at Rob's recording situation.

Discussed: Politics 2:33, Dreams 9:30, Destiny 2 13:56, Valorant 24:12, GDC Canceled 30:34, GeForce Now 43:52, Granblue Fantasy 54:45, Death Crown 1:18:47, World of Horror 1:23:12, Circle Empires 1:30:01, Corruption 2029 1:42:21, Fire Emblem: Three Houses Ashen Wolves DLC 1:49:12, Stellaris 2:09:38, Dwarf Fortress 2:12:57, Total War: Three Kingdoms 2:14:01, Politics round 2 2:25:22, The Rob Situation 2:39:25

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Episode 295: Why Is This Hotdog Doing That?!? Feb 28, 2020

Rob made a trip all the way to NYC just for this week's episode! No, he didn't record with us in house, but he did get to see an early look at Baldur's Gate 3, the next isometric RPG from Larian Studios. He's excited by the game's apparent freedom in combat, where physics, spell effects, and a bit of creativity can go a long way. After the break, Patrick has been checking out the weird parts of Dreams, where Mickey can kill Goku and the food can look good enough to eat.

Discussed: Baldur's Gate 3 1:25, Dreams 33:22, Candyman trailer reaction 1:11:38 (Content Warning for the sounds of horror movie violence from 1:14:34 - 1:17:05)

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Outer Wilds Spoilercast Feb 24, 2020

Outer Wilds came out in 2019, at a time when politics in the US were at their most divisive. And yet, this game managed to be full of hope, and tell a story about community, crisis, and coming to terms with finality. A game where you explore a clockwork solar system might not seem like the best structure to deliver a narrative, but the folks at Mobius Digital managed to make a world that feels alive and full of history, even as it dies time and time again. Join Austin, Patrick, and Cado as they discuss their time exploring the solar system, having existential crises, and finding hope in the future. Stick around after the outro for some game news and a politics corner!

Discussed: Outer Wilds 00:00, Games News 1:55:05, Politics Talk 2:05:45

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Episode 294: Tom Nook's Timeshare Feb 21, 2020

Grab your shovels and pack your bags because it’s (almost) time for Animal Crossing! Nintendo has dropped a new 25 minute(!) long direct detailing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Austin, Gita, and Cado are extremely excited to have a chill time on Nook's island. But first, the crew takes a quick trip to the Politics Corner to talk about the recent, absolutely bonkers Democratic debate. Cado played Wide Ocean, Big Jacket during the debate to help him calm down, a delightful game Patrick reviewed last week before he came down with the flu. Austin, Cado, and Patrick have also been checking out Corruption 2029, the not-as-flavorful follow up to 2018's Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden.

Discussed: Politics 3:04, Wide Ocean Big Jacket 13:24, Corruption 2029 24:14, Animal Crossing Direct 42:13, Covet Fashion 1:22:11, Destiny 1:24:25, No Man's Sky 1:25:17

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Bonus: The Sims 20th Anniversary Feb 17, 2020

Over the past twenty years, The Sims has done its best to keep up with a rapidly changing world, and to be more inclusive in terms of what kind of people you can play as. From the first game's notorious same-sex kiss at E3 that lead to the game including same-sex romance in 2000 to The Sims 4's trans-masc icon Morgyn Embers, the franchise has always tried for a maximalist approach to play, including in customizing your character. Gita sat down to interview The Sims 4's executive producer and general manager, Lyndsay Pearson, and talked all about that, and also about their favorite conspiracy theories regarding the disappeared Bella Goth.

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Episode 293: The Dragon Age Coffee Shop AU Feb 14, 2020

Waypoint Radio is back with an all Brooklyn pod! Austin, Cado, and Gita shoot the shit about the games they're playing (lots of indie games), the primary (which is going to last forever), and which Dragon Age: Inquisition characters would work in a coffee shop. Cado's enjoying taking photos in Tales From Off Peak City, Austin gives us an MMO Minute FFXIV update, and Gita is de-stressing with... Darkest Dungeon? Stick around after the outro for an extended politics minute!

Discussed: Coffee Talk 6:25, Cook Serve Delicious 3 28:53, Tales From Off Peak City 44:29, Darkest Dungeon 52:31, Daemon X Machina 1:02:36, Final Fantasy XIV 1:04:01, Roadwardens 1:15:13, No Man's Sky 1:18:00

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Lore Reasons: Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind Feb 10, 2020

Like Xehanort and his various vessels standing atop pillars of rock, the Lore Reasons crew has reconvened to talk about the latest entry into the expansive Kingdom Hearts mythos. The structure of the new Re Mind DLC left most of the crew cold, even if some moments and combat sections were legitimately joyous. None of them played Limit Cut, but we do a live watch of the secret endings! So come join us for one last dive and remember: May your heart be your guiding key!

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Episode 292: Sometimes I Don't Have The Force Juice Feb 07, 2020

It's been a long year (read: week) but we've made it through! Patrick has been playing Outer Wilds, and Austin isn't letting him get away with not talking about it on the podcast. Rob is finally becoming one with The Force in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and the crew gets into an EU hole. After the break, Austin and Cado are checking out the new season of Apex Legends, and getting really excited about the train.

Discussed: Outer Wilds 13:30, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 24:03, Apex Legends 43:40, ScourgeBringer 59:28, Kunai 1:04:06

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Waypoints 45: Uncut Gems Feb 03, 2020

If there's one thing the internet at large has said about Uncut Gems, it's that it's extremely anxiety inducing. People have posted their heart rates from fitbits showing the wild spikes, people talk about needing something to calm them down in order to get through it. Like much of the internet, it's easy to think this is mostly hyperbole, but after experiencing it first hand, we at Waypoint Radio can confirm they weren't joking. What really makes Uncut Gems special isn't just its expertly crafted, frenetic, and at times claustrophobic movie making, but also the critique of capitalism and all its influence on the people stuck within it. Join the Waypoint Radio crew as they discuss different readings of its message, the meta-textual casting, and which scenes made them the most anxious.

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Waypoints 44: The Democratic Primaries Jan 31, 2020

Pre-Iowa Caucuses, the Waypoints crew considers where their allegiances lie in this Democratic Primary. They spend a slightly surprising amount of time discussing places where they find themselves adjacent to the Yang Gang, and Rob dreams of leading the Legions of Builders and Destroyers. But then the conversation shifts to Warren, Sanders, how the different candidates construe this political moment and its causes, and whose prescriptions seem capable of rising to it.

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Episode 291: They Probably Just Took My Bones Jan 27, 2020

The wait is finally over, Kentucky Route Zero is complete, and Austin, Patrick, and Cado are enthralled by its magical-realist setting, simple and beautiful imagery, and critique of capitalism through the lens of working class people.The crew digs into the game's seven year long release and their personal histories with the game. After the break, Cado and Patrick have played the Kingdom Hearts III Re: Mind DLC, and of course are still confused as to what the hell is going on. We may have to invite a certain Keyblade Master back for a future episode of Lore Reasons! Cado then takes us through Temtem, the totally-not-Pokémon game that has a lot of good ideas that should totally make their way back to Pokémon, and Patrick shouts out his new favorite Super Mario Maker 2 creator.

Discussed: Dental Stuff (Skip to next segment if you want to avoid) 2:11, Kentucky Route Zero 9:36, Kingdom Hearts III Re: Mind 1:01:14, Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS. Maxiboost ON 1:16:46, Temtem 1:20:01, Super Mario Maker 2 1:34:57

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Episode 290: A New York Toilet (feat. Gita Jackson) Jan 24, 2020

We're happy to have new Tech desk hire Gita Jackson joining us for her first Waypoint Radio! She's already hard at work on The Sims beat and comes to chat about the tiny house expansion to The Sims 4, Modelland, and Vanderpump Rules. Rob is chomping at the bit to talk about Total War: Three Kingdoms' new expansion, The Mandate of Heaven, and how it might give a new player a better sense of what to watch in a Total War game than the original campaign. Patrick has dipped his toes in FE: Tokyo Mirage Sessions Encore, and was instantly met with one of the hardest decisions in gaming. He's also playing Outer Wilds, which he totally didn't mean to talk much about, but what do you expect when you utter Austin Walker's activation phrase?

Discussed: The Sims 4 3:49, Kingdom Hearts Project Xehanort 35:39, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct 46:44, FE: Three Houses DLC 53:28, Kentucky Route Zero 54:59, Total War Three Kingdoms: Mandate of Heaven 1:01:40, Tokyo Mirage Sessions 1:20:41, Outer Wilds 1:23:06, Question Bucket 1:27:38

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Bonus: Disco Elysium Spoilercast Jan 20, 2020

Disco Elysium, by and large, came out of nowhere for a lot of people, including us. A powerful story about the fallout of a failed political revolution and the people left in the rubble, portrayed through the lens of an alcoholic who’s just woken up from a bender so powerful it’s legitimately caused amnesia. And while a lot of games claim to embrace the idea of choice, few grant the player with the shocking granularity offered by Disco Elysium.

It’s also a hard game to talk about without really digging into what happens—because a lot happens. Disco Elysium might take place in a small location, relative to a lot of video games, but it’s utterly dense. It does not require more. Austin and I managed to tiptoe around a bunch of stuff on Waypoint Radio, but with both of us having recently finished the game, it seemed like a good idea to sit down and talk through the whole damn experience.

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Waypoints 43: Hamilton and Knives Out Jan 17, 2020

Spoilers for Knives Out starting at ~ 1:02:17

Rob was gifted a ticket to watch 2015's breakout musical Hamilton, and left with many questions. Austin and Cado join him to discuss the legacy and fandom around Hamilton, and how each of them has had different trajectories with the musical. After the break, the crew gets into a spoiler filled discussion of Rian Johnson's Knives Out, how it toes the line between upholding and shifting genre conventions, and how expertly weaved this story of privilege and racism was told in the frame of a murder mystery.

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Episode 289: Who's That Rob-émon? Jan 13, 2020

Spoilers for Batman: Arkham Knight at ~36:40

Somewhere, deep in each of our hearts, there's the fundamental truth to our inner-selves that takes the shape of a Pokémon. Lucky for us, we again have easy access to an official personality test that will reveal this form to us. We plumb the depths of Rob's soul with the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX intro, and finally answer who Rob's poké-sona is. We also talk about the games we've been playing, some news stories, and how barren the beginning of 2020 feels compared to last year. Stick around after the outro for some NFL talk (R.I.P. Ravens).

Discussed: AGDQ 2:53, Pokémon Direct 8:03, Rob's true self 13:32, Unannounced Batman Game 29:37, E3 38:54, Total War: Three Kingdoms 44:38, Dropmix 52:19, Star Wars the Old Republic 1:06:58, Final Fantasy XII 1:15:26, Final Fantasy XIV 1:25:04, Q1 Release Schedule 1:36:45

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Waypoints 42: A Star Wars Holiday Special Jan 10, 2020

The Waypoint Radio crew spent their holidays feastin' on Star Wars content and now they can't not talk about it! First, we discuss The Rise of Skywalker, and the ups and many many downs that movie had for each of us. After the break, we talk about The Mandalorian, and why Star Wars might work best in a serialized format. Also we talk about Patrick's twitter feed for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Discussed: The Rise of Skywalker 24:33, The Mandalorian 1:07:28

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Episode 288: Who's Gonna Buy Property in Gotham? Jan 06, 2020

Happy New Decade! The Waypoint Radio crew is back at it, starting this new year with a new energy, and that energy is chaos. Austin and Patrick both took their holiday break to dive into Disco Elysium, and share some of their favorite fashion tips. Cado finished Control after bouncing off of Destiny's new season, and then got back to the new season to find out, hey, it's actually good! Rob played a game from last gen, and everyone watched a bunch of tv and movies so expect a Waypoints or something soon!

Discussed: Disco Elysium 3:14, Destiny 2 29:13, Control 32:24, Batman: Arkham Asylum 42:46, Witcher 1:05:36, Super Mario Maker 2 1:08:57, Final Fantasy XIV 1:13:34, CATS 1:34:19

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Our Favorite Waypoints of the Decade Featuring Natalie Watson Jan 03, 2020

Happy New Year! As 2020 gets started, we're looking back at our favorite TV, music, and movies of the last decade. Natalie Watson joins the Waypoint Radio crew and manages to will a new Kingdom Hearts III trailer into existence through sheer force of will.

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Our Favorite Game of The Decade, Featuring Natalie Watson Dec 31, 2019

The last decade has been a wild one, so it's only fitting that we get some chaotic energy back onto the podcast to talk about it. Ex-Resident Keyblade Master Natalie Watson is back to talk about everyone's favorite games of the decade. The catch? Patrick says we're only allowed to talk for 10 minutes each! The runtime might not be 5 stars, but the takes definitely are.

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Our Favorite Immersive Sim of the Decade Featuring Danielle Riendeau Dec 30, 2019

We're back on our bullshit, again! If there was one other genre (aside from Soulsbornes) that we had to talk about here at Waypoint Radio, it is of course the Immersive Sim. An we would be remiss if didn't bring back Danielle to talk about the best Immersive Sims of the last decade! Join Austin, Cado, Danielle, Patrick, and Rob as they drill down into genre definitions, defining moments, and the future of the genre.

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Our Favorite Dark Souls of the Decade Dec 27, 2019

It wouldn't be a year that ends in r without the Waypoint Radio crew talking about the latest game by one of their favorite developers, From Soft. Just one thing, given our tendency for 5 star runtimes Patrick has imposed a rule: we only have 30 minutes to hash out which Souls like is our favorite of the decade! Join in as Austin, Patrick, Cado, and Rob discuss the highs and lows of FromSoft's games, and finally find out why Austin likes Dark Souls 2.

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Our Favorite Games of the Year 2019 - Part 2 Dec 26, 2019

FIWe're back to continue our recap of the best and worst of 2019. We recorded this episode well before any of us had even a twinkle of a list in our eyes. By this point you've probably read our personal lists, so here's a time capsule back to when we were just figuring things out. Just know that this 5 star runtime was brought to you by us being fully on our bullshit, and maybe drinking a little beer.

Discussed: Life is Strange 2 8:21, Total War: Three Kingdoms 10:14, FI 2019 29:24, Fire Emblem: Three Houses 47:39, Control 1:03:10, Daemon X Machina 1:23:22, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep 1:44:02, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1:47:03, Indivisible 1:52:05, The Outer Worlds1:57:37, The Outer Worlds Spoilers 1:58:45, Death Stranding 2:10:20, Pokemon Sword and Shield 2:18:50, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2:21:00, Phoenix Point 2:33:10, Mechwarrior 5 2:35:01

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Our Favorite Games of 2019 - Part 1 Dec 25, 2019

2019, the year that felt as long as a decade. The Waypoint Radio crew is getting ready to drop their individual Game of the Year lists, but first, they have to remember what even came out this year. Join Austin, Cado, Patrick and Rob as they go over the years best games the most disappointing releases. We talked about games so long, we had to make it two podcasts!

Discussed: Resident Evil 2 5:06, Outer Wilds 16:47, Kingdom Hearts III 33:06, Anthem 36:58, Greedfall 45:40, The Waypoint Tech Corner 51:42, Sekirio: Shadows Die Twice 1:01:25, Metro Exodus 1:19:, Ace Combat 7 1:23:09, Apex Legends 1:24:00, Slay the Spire 1:27:47, Eliza 1:28:56, Telling Lies 1:45:29

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Death Stranding Spoilercast Featuring Heather Alexandra Dec 24, 2019

If Hideo Kojima needed two hours at the end of Death Stranding to explain the game through cutscenes, what chance do poor old Rob and Heather Alexandra, visiting from Kotaku, have to unpack the game's layers of strange brilliance, tacky sensibilities, and clunky self-importance? No chance at all, but that doesn't stop them from trying to work through their reactions to the game and many of the moments they were keeping under wraps to avoid spoilers. Now, in this spoiler cast, they are ready to run amok like a Beached Thing emerging from the Chiral ooze.

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Episode 287: Holiday Hot Takes Dec 20, 2019

We're kicking of our end of year podcasts with a new format! We asked for your questions that could be answered in 90 seconds or less, and you delivered! Listen in as Austin, Cado, Patrick, and Rob answer everything from favorite holiday drinks, to best indie game of the decade, to a lightning round mark of mastery makeup exam, all in under two minutes! Happy Holidays!

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Episode 286: The Turducken of Podcasts Dec 16, 2019

The holiday season is fast approaching, and so today we have a grab bag of a joint Waypoint Radio/Waypoints episode! Rob starts us off with a detailed description of his delicious looking deep dish pizza, and his kinda sad looking but still delicious NYC style one. Patrick has a an addendum to our GOTY podcasts with late entry A Short Hike, a delightful game he might describe as "Animal Crossing, but you don't do anything that you would normally do in Animal Crossing." We go over the winners and announcements from The Game Awards. Austin presents us with the MMO Minute before Rob has to get something off his chest about The Mandalorian.

Discussed: A Short Hike 23:14, Devotion 46:22, The Game Awards part 1 1:04:55, The MMO Minute presented by Austin Walker 1:19:38, The Game Awards part 2 1:23:47, The Mandalorian 1:46:21, The Clone Wars 1:55:30

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Episode 285: All Keighley's Day Dec 13, 2019

It's the day before The Game Awards. Or, rather, it's the day before the game awards as I'm writing this. You're reading this the day after The Game Awards, which means this is our The Game Awards podcast with predictions and discussion that we recorded before the awards happen! Were we right about Green Day? Did our favorite games win any awards? Well only you know the answer to that. You and well, us in the future from now. Oh also Austin can finally talk about Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries. Rob and Cado ask him about his time at the wheel of a BattleMech while Patrick takes a nap.

Discussed: Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries 3:50, The Game Awards 1:02:10

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Episode 284: Bioshock Colon Dec 09, 2019

We're deep into GOTY season, so we've been hitting the podcast recordings hard. Listen in as we casually drop references for podcasts that won't release for another three weeks, discuss the new Master Sword item that totally changes Super Mario Maker 2, and take a quick dip in the question bucket to bathe in the glory that is Waluigi.

Discussed: Super Mario Maker 2 2:04, Life is Strange 2 29:20, Final Fantasy XIV 32:54, New Bioshock Game 43:09, Question Bucket 1:04:49

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Interview with Shams Jorjani from Paradox Dec 06, 2019

Rob Zacny interviews Paradox Chief Business Development Officer, Shams Jorjani. He's the last of Paradox's old corporate leadership, and has seen the company through a variety of high and low moments, helping to put out fires when needed, most notably during the acquisition of White Wolf when it was under scrutiny for their mishandling of queer history in a Vampire: The Masquerade source book. They also discuss worker compensation and mobility at Paradox, the focus on long term growth over quarterly profits, and why he's stuck it out at the same place for so long.

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Episode 283: Lasagna in a Burrito Dec 02, 2019

The Waypoint crew is (mostly) back from break, and gearing up for the end of the year. Cado "finished" Pokemon Sword, and found the campaign's focus underwhelming, even if structurally this might be the most immersive Pokemon game to date. Patrick is excited about the new Mario Maker 2 update that was suddenly announced Monday, even if he wishes Nintendo had been more forthright about their roadmap for that game. Austin has some killer Final Fantasy XIV music to shout out, and then takes the crew on a casual lap of the question bucket.

Discussed: Pokemon Sword 10:46, Super Mario Maker 2 20:44, Spelunky 2 27:02, Souls Franchise 42:01, The Outer Worlds 47:33, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 1:03:10, Streaming Services that aren't Stadia 1:26:12

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Episode 282: Her Name Was Mara Jade And She Was SICK Nov 28, 2019

We're on break but that doesn't mean the #content needs to stop! Cado is playing Pokemon Sword and questioning the sentience of Pokemon when they're in The Box (spoiler: they remember everything). Patrick finished Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and the crew takes a dive into the Star Wars canon, old and new. Rob has been playing the board game Gloomhaven, or rather, a version of it with... let's call it a house rule. After the break we dive deep into the Question Bucket to talk about who keeps it real the most (Rob, probably), cooking Turkey (why bother?), and how much Austin cares about Shenmue 3.

Discussed: Pokemon Sword and Shield 4:47, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 21:47, Resident Evil 2 52:38, Gloomhaven 54:16, Question Bucket part 1- 1:01:55, Half Life: Alyx 1:27:45, Question Bucket part 2- 1:42:35

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A Very Special Mecha Monday Nov 25, 2019

It’s Monday, and you know what that means. 'MECHS! We have a special BattleTech double episode for y’all today. First up, Rob sat down with Harebrained Scheme's Mitch Gitelman to talk about BattleTech lore and the ins and outs of trying to run an inclusive and diverse games company. After the break, Austin and Rob chat about Heavy Metal, the new BattleTech expansion that adds new 'Mech specific abilities, weapons, crew events, and more.

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Episode 281: Interview with Manveer Heir and Rashad Redic from Brass Lion Nov 22, 2019

It's been two years but he's finally back. Manveer Heir, who came on Waypoint Radio in 2017 to talk about his time working on Mass Effect: Andromeda, has returned to the podcast studio with Rashad Redic, an industry veteran whose worked on games such as Fallout 3 and Skyrim. Together they make up two thirds of Brass Lion, a new entertainment studio with goal to tell the stories of underrepresented and marginalized groups in their own voices, from their own perspective. Austin sat down to chat with them about their first game, Corner Wolves, their experiences in the industry, building a new startup, and the best hip-hop artists of all time.

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Episode 280: The Kirkland Option Nov 18, 2019

Spoilers for Afterparty from approximately 1:12:08 ~ 1:25:24

It's fall, time for sweaters, hot chocolate, and anime. Austin and Cado went to AnimeNYC, and they're back to report from the anime front lines. Patrick has been playing the new anime console, Google Stadia, and feels that the tech is more interesting than the experience. After the break, Rob takes us to hell in Afterparty, from the developers behind Oxenfree. Then Cado wraps back around to more anime with Pokemon Sword and Shield, when he explains what an EV is, and says the words "Egg Move." The crew takes a quick detour into a mini Waypoints episode to close it out. Stick around after the outro for Football Takes!

Discussed: My Hero One's Justice 2 6:26, One Punch Man: Hero Nobody Knows 8:02, Google Stadia 12:46, Afterparty 57:38, Spoilers for Afterparty 1:12:08, Pokemon Sword and Shield 1:25:24, Waypoints - 2:03:25

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Episode 279: Resist the Urge to Esports Nov 15, 2019

We hear people like extra long pods for the weekend, so we’ve delivered! Austin and Patrick take us on their journey to reconnect with the Force in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Does a Lightsaber give off heat? Is this finally the game that Star Wars fans have been waiting for? After the break, Rob guides us to the front lines of Unity of Command 2, a strategy game that managed to improve on the perfection of it's prequel. Patrick can't talk Stadia yet, so he takes us through the wild Stadia AMA, where an employee actually said "I will personally deliver this to your house." We run down the announcements for XO19, including Dontnod's new game Tell Me Why, which will have a trans protagonist. And Cado talks through #gamefreaklied, and the many different reasons the outlash to Pokemon Sword and Shield have been so vitriolic.

Discussed: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 6:21, Unity of Command 2 1:03:12, Guildlings 1:22:27, Takeshi and Hiroshi 1:25:45, Stadia 1:28:44, XO19 1:35:49, Pokemon Sword and Shield 2:13:14

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Episode 278: That Carburetor is for REAL ONES ONLY Nov 12, 2019

Spoilers for Kingdom Hearts III from approximately 1:14:22 to 1:15:10

We’re in the eye of the storm, we've had one weekend of relative quiet before another crop of new games drop. For now though, Austin is living his best deliveryman life in Death Stranding. Rob is feeling cold on Need for Speed Heat, a racing game with less than stellar racing but a plot so wild he’s gotta to see it through. Patrick is feeling the burn with Ring Fit Adventure, especially in his deltoids (those overhead presses are no joke!) Cado is catching up by playing … Nier: Automata, a game he should’ve finished two years ago, and Outer Wilds, a game he wished he’d picked up sooner, and both games that will make you feel sad.

Discussed: Ring Fit Adventure 4:48, Need for Speed Heat 17:02, Death Stranding 46:50, Nier: Automata 1:08:48, Outer Wilds 1:15:10, The Outer Worlds 1:21:40, Pokemon Sword and Shield 1:28:20, Stadia 1:34:41, Radio Commander 1:40:01

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Waypoints 41: The Gang Solves Capitalism Nov 08, 2019

Waypoints returns as Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Cado discuss their need for more time off in light of an interesting analysis by the People's Policy Project. Why do US workers do so much more work every year than most of their peers? Looking beyond vacation time and holidays, what emerges is a series of socio-economic problems that too few people can get help for, from retirement to sick leave to family leave. And why do companies, who are so often worried about productivity, ignore studies that show working less hours in a week leads to more productivity? After the break, the gang tries to figure out what to make of Kamala Harris' proposed 10-hour school day. Is the right solution for the wrong problem? Does this proposal lean too heavily on private funding? And might some of the solutions we spoke to in the first half of the podcast target the root of this problem, rather than the symptom?

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Episode 277: A Guy Named Tuna Nov 04, 2019

The fall games season is still chugging along, but this week we're caught in a zone between embargo zones. Patrick is using this time to get fit with Ring Fit Adventure, the new Pilates exercise game from Nintendo. Austin is still on that Final Fantasy XIV grind, and has an ...appetizing story about a certain three headed dog, while Cado took a small FFXIV break to catch up on Nier: Automata. After the break, the crew dives back into The Outer Worlds and the ways the TTRPG origins of the genre have evolved and changed. Austin dipped into S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, and met some guy named Tuna.

Discussed: Ring Fit Adventure 15:05, Final Fantasy XIV 33:07, Nier: Automata 52:06, The Outer Worlds 56:24, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat 1:21:01, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 1:29:42, Blizzcon 1:47:45

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Episode 276: We Answer Your Questions About Death Stranding Nov 01, 2019

The Embargo Zone has been cleared (partially). We can finally talk about Death Stranding, the first game from Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima's new studio. And to do it, we have Motherboard's own Emanuel Maiberg and Matthew Gault joining us. Austin and Cado have questions, and Rob, Patrick, Emanuel, and Matt have... some answers? There's BTs, BBs, Likes on Ladders, and a plethora of stories of Rob fucking up. We dive deep into the mechanics of the game before getting into early game spoilers at the 36 minute mark. After the break (around 1:20:05) we answer your questions on Death Stranding!

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Episode 275: It's Lore Dump Time, Baby! Oct 28, 2019

It's finally happened. Austin Walker has finally finished Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Which means he's only got 100 quests to go before getting to the first expansion! Rob, Austin, and Patrick have all dove into The Outer Worlds, and they get deep into spoiler territory for the first area in the game, it's various choices, and how they play out in the long run. After the break we have on Motherboards Emanuel Maiberg to discuss the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the spectacle it presents, and the forever war. Then we check in with Luigi's Mansion 3, a game about acquiring large amounts of wealth for no particular reason.

Discussed: Super Mario Maker 2 0:33, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn 7:36, The Outer Worlds 15:44, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1:09:03, Luigi's Mansion 3 2:25:47

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Episode 274: What If Redbox Was A Pawn Shop Oct 25, 2019

The walls of the Embargo Zone are starting to crumble. Rob is back from Paradox Con and he's got some great stories to tell. No, not about Paradox games, but about... an anti-socialist game in a Berlin museum? Then, Austin and Rob have both been playing The Outer Wil... Worlds, the new fallout-like from Obsidian games. We then discuss the recent slew of delays, making spring 2020 suddenly an extremely crowded time. Cado and Austin drop by the MMOzone to talk about the crystals in Final Fantasy XIV, and the "shortcuts" you can take to get to the Waking Sands.

Discussed: Paradox Con 1:09, The Outer Worlds 14:53, The Last of Us 2 Delay 1:18:25, Crusader Kings III 1:30:14, MMO minute 1:41:04, Death Stranding 1:50:21, A Bewitching Revolution 1:51:22, Sea Salt 1:55:26

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On Being an Entertainer and Mana Systems: An Interview with Paradox's Johan Anderson Oct 24, 2019

Rob went to Paradox Con and was able to snag an interview with Johan Anderson, Creative Director at Paradox Development Studio. They talk about the company's IPO, failed game systems, his creative goals, and his long career making grand strategy games.

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Episode 273: Kickle Juice Oct 21, 2019

The Embargo Zone continues, but luckily our question bucket overfloweth! First up, we touch on the letter from a handful of congress people to Blizzard, and the new kerfuffle regarding Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore in Japan. Austin and Cado take a MMOment to talk about their time in Final Fantasy XIV this past weekend, and Patrick has played more Valfaris. Then we take another dip into the question bucket, which it turns out was full of kickle juice. We take a break in the middle of all that to dunk on Michael Pachter and the ESA.

Discussed: Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE Encore 7:51, Watchmen 13:52, Final Fantasy XIV 21:29, Valfaris 43:39, Question Bucket 46:47, Michael Pachter 1:10:15, Question Bucket 2 1:18:05

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Episode 272: Deep Dive Into The Question Bucket Oct 18, 2019

We’ve got a real bucket-full of questions from our listeners this week, but first! Austin has been playing more Card of Darkness, and is starting to see stacks everywhere he goes. Cado dipped back into Life is Strange 2, and found a surprising look at the complex backgrounds that make up Latinidad. Patrick has been running his mind through the gravity-bending Manifold Garden. Then, we answer your questions, from pizza preferences to fantasy archetypes, we'll answer 'em all!

Discussed: Card of Darkness 10:16, Life is Strange 2 16:45, Manifold Garden 26:10, Luigi's Mansion 3 36:00, Question Bucket 46:22

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Episode 271: The Embargo Zone Oct 15, 2019

You have now entered THE EMBARGO ZONE. Most of the crew is playing new things they can't talk about yet, so we spend some time talking about The Mangler, a movie about a ... laundry folding machine? That's possessed by demon energy? Luckily, Austin played a game out of embargo, Disco Elysium, a CRPG with interesting mechanics but a fuzzy point of view. Patrick has been playing more Valfaris, the Metal album art inspired Contra-like, and Cado is still playing Indivisible, where he's made a new friend with a badass pirate. Then we have our MMO Minutes as Cado and his team of community Raiders have finished the new Destiny 2 Raid, and Austin has unlocked his new job as a Bard in Final Fantasy XIV.

Discussed: Disco Elysium 28:55, Divinity Fallen Heros 1:11:58, Valfaris 1:13:51, Indivisible 1:20:48, Destiny 2 Shadowkeep 1:29:22, Final Fantasy XIV 1:30:52

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Episode 270: Blizzard and the Hong Kong Protests Oct 11, 2019

We're finally at the end of this long ass week. Rob is back from vacation to talk through his Ghost Recon: Breakpoint review, and the general reaction to that game. Austin checks back in with Final Fantasy XIV and the grind to the DLC. After the break, Cado and Austin have been checking out the tactical John Wick Hex, while Patrick has been fighting a fever in bed while playing Grindstone. Then we have a lengthy news section going over the PS5 announcement and Blizzard's response to the recent slew of Hong Kong protests from Hearthstone players.

Discussed: Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1:22 , Final Fantasy XIV 14:31 , John Wick Hex 26:52 , Grindstone 38:47 , Warsaw 41:22 , Playstation 5 52:10 , Blizzard's reaction to the Hong Kong Protests 1:02:46

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Episode 269: Canonical Honk Oct 07, 2019

The fall games season continues, server issues and all. Now that Austin has a bunch of free time, he's been seriously considering getting into that MMO that everyone's talking about... Final Fantasy XIV. Patrick tried out this other game you may have heard of, Destiny 2, and was immediately confused by the new player onboarding. Cado has been playing Indivisible alongside leveling for the new Destiny raid, a new "metroidvania-ish" "jrpg" with a really neat combat system and solid writing. Patrick's data-cap situation is getting out of hand, luckily the "iron maiden cover turned contra" game Valfaris wasn't too big of a download.

Discussed: Final Fantasy XIV, Destiny 2: New Light, Indivisible, Valfaris, Pilgrims, Apple Arcade Games, Data-caps, Untitled Goose Game

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Episode 268: Be Good and Be Good At It Oct 04, 2019

The Waypoint Radio crew is staying in the spooky spirit this week, as Cado reports back from the Moon (still haunted) in Destiny 2: Shadowkeep. Austin was going to try to join him, but he got spooked by the lack of clarity in Destiny's UI. Danielle brings us the horror of the gig economy in Neo Cab. Rob was both spooker and spookee in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, a game with problematic story, but extremely compelling mechanics. And Patrick regales us with the horrors of ISP data caps!

At the end of the podcast, we talk about a few big changes to the Waypoint Radio crew. Danielle is bidding farewell to her time at Vice, and Austin is stepping back from his editorial role. Austin will continue to host Waypoint Radio, but Danielle will be moving on to bigger and better things. We'll miss you, Danielle!

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Episode 267: Do Panthers Sneak Up On Things? Sep 30, 2019

September is over and that means it’s time to get SPOOKY. The crew checks back in on Untitled Goose Game to ask the hard questions: does revolution ever really end?Rob’s getting into the spirit by playing Ghost Recon: Breakpoint as the Panther, which apparently is the stealth class if you weren’t aware. Austin is getting spooked by the terrors of urban planning in Mini-Motorway, and Patrick is having a surprisingly un-spooky time with the Switch Lite. Stick around after the outro for the weekly NFL check-in.

Discussed: Untitled Goose Game, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Apple Arcade, What The Golf, Mini Motorway, Switch Lite, Close Combat: The Bloody First, Football

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Episode 266: Rob Zacny's Private Beach Season Sep 27, 2019

As the fall game’s deluge rages on, Rob Zacny’s got his sights set on the beach, and totally not at all on that one player that ruined a perfectly good race in GRID. Austin is exploring new biomes and getting loot in Cube World, a game that most people figured would never come out, but Austin always believed. Patrick’s been running out of gas in the post-apocalyptic Overland, and Cado is just waiting for Shadowkeep to finally drop.

Discussed: Cube World, GRID, Overland, The Last of Us Part 2, Destiny 2:Shadowkeep, Link's Awakening

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Episode 265: The Nuances of EDM Sep 23, 2019

Fall is finally here. The leaves are changing. There's a chill in the air. And the games harvest is plentiful. So plentiful, that Austin went back and played ... a racing game from 1990? He's got a contract out, can you help him understand the physics in F-Zero? Cado and Patrick then comisserate over the best god damn golf game of all time, Kirby's Dreamcourse. After the break, Patrick and Austin talk about the nuanced differences between EDM and pop music. Also Sayonara Wild Hearts. Austin talks about some game that has a goose in it, and Patrick takes us through his journey with Apple Arcade.

Discussed: F-Zero, Super Mario Maker 2, Kirby's Dreamcourse, Link's Awakening, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Untitled Goose Game, Apple Arcade, Destiny 2, Google Play Pass

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Waypoints 40: Mindhunter, Arrival, and Antonio Brown Sep 19, 2019

Content Warning for discussion of Sexual Assault from approximately 1:52:00 - 2:07:00

On this week's Waypoints, Austin watched all of Netflix's Mindhunter while he was on vacation and couldn't wait to talk about it with the rest of the crew. It's a look at the FBI during the late 70's, before the term "serial killer" existed, and how some of that methodology was invented. Rob brings us Arrival, Denis Villeneuve's 2016 movie about aliens landing on earth and language, communication, and trauma. Danielle visited Halloween Horror Nights and brings us the scoop on the design and craft of the various haunted houses. After the break, Austin, Patrick, and Rob discuss last week's NFL news, including a segment on Antonio Brown's sexual assault allegations.

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Episode 264 - Would You Care for a Delicious Krummets? Sep 16, 2019

Sometimes, despite all your best efforts, you fail. This week, Rob has the misfortune of sharing with us the sad tale of the Krummetses. A humble bread/pastry (breastry? Pastread?) born of misunderstandings and faulty equipment. Luckily, Patrick has had a little more luck with The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, one of the weirder 2D Zelda games, finally dropping on Switch this week. Austin and Cado have been playing (surprise surprise) two new roguelike deckbuilders, Meteorfall: Krumit's Tale and Sign of the Sojourner, and Rob is still finding new surprises in Control. We regret to inform you: Cado will not be acquiring a destiny shirt this year.

Discussed: Link's Awakening, Control, Meteorfall: Krumit's Tale, Sign of the Sojourner, Borderlands III, Mutazione, Kind Words, Destiny 2

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Episode 263: What if We Could Monetize the Rotten Vale Sep 13, 2019

It's fall, and even if the weather doesn't know it, the games industry sure does. Austin takes a quick dip out from his vacation to join us on this episode and talk about mechs, as he's spent some of his vacation playing Daemon X Machina. Rob and Patrick have also been playing Greedfall, a game about colonizing an island. Cado has been playing Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, a game about colonizing an island. Then after the break we dive into the latest Pewdiepie scandal, the new Death Stranding trailer, and that wild Nintendo Fit Ring thing. Also Control still slaps.

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Episode 262: Rated E for Alcohol Reference Sep 09, 2019

Mild Kingdom Heart III spoilers from two minutes in through to 7 minutes in.

We've got some BREAKING NEWS on this pod, there's a NEW KINGDOM HEARTS III DLC TRAILER OUT! Listen in as Danielle, Patrick, and Cado react live to the new trailer while Rob pours himself some 15 year old scotch. He then regales us with tales of his new enormous speakers as he gently swirls the drink in his hand, ice lightly clinking against the cold glass. Danielle brings us tales from the woods of Blair Witch, and how great the dog is, while Cado's dealing with the cold in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Patrick is nearing the end of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and realizing how cordoned off the endgame is for the different houses. Then we take a dip in the question bucket, before Rob and Patrick spend 20 minutes talking about sports.

Discussed: Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind, Blair Witch, Iceborne, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Control

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Episode 261: Taco Bell, The Deadly Premonition of Fast Food Sep 06, 2019

So, Rob somehow got the keys to Nintendo. The Nintendo Direct this week is evidence of that, and we do a pretty extensive overview of all the wild new things this Rob Zacny led Nintendo is getting up to. Patrick and Danielle give us a history of Deadly Premonition and how good/bad it is. Motherboard's own Emanuel Maiberg joins us to give us his thoughts on the Star Wars Jedi Knight competitive scene, as well as thoughts on Gears 5. Cado spends probably too much time defending Taco Bell.

Discussed: Nintendo Direct, Deadly Premonition, Return of the Obra Dinn, Assassin's Creed, Pokemon, Doom 64, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, SNES on Nintendo Switch Online, Gears 5, Blair Witch

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Waypoints 39: Beyonce's Husband Sep 02, 2019

It's Madden season! Which means it's time for Patrick, Rob, and Austin to confront pro football and all its ugly contradictions and compromises. First, they're as shocked as anyone by the "in his prime" retirement of star quarterback Andrew Luck. But should they be? What does Luck's decision reveal about changing attitudes among football players toward the game they play? There's a class element to it as well, but that's even more salient with the crass partnership between Jay-Z and the NFL. The gang discuss how Jay-Z has helped the league "move on" from its embarrassing standoff with allegedly blackballed quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and why it's a move that makes all the sense in the world for billionaire like Jay-Z. Making somewhat less sense is the long fight Antonio Brown waged on behalf of a beloved helmet. It was an odd hill to die on but on the other hand, how important are helmets really to keeping players safe? Finally, Rob and Patrick spent the summer mesmerized by the Chicago Bears' unprecedented search for a new place-kicker.

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Episode 260: Sexual Harassment in the Games Industry Aug 30, 2019

Content Warning for discussions of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault - segment ends 27 minutes in.

In the past week, we've seen a slew of survivors of sexual assault and harassment in the games industry take to social media to speak about their traumas. As this wave of accusations began, Motherboard's Lauren Kaori Gurley spoke with three of the survivors. She's joined by Danielle, Rob, Patrick, and Cado as they discuss sexual harassment in the workplace and the power dynamics that surround it.

After the break, Danielle brings us the aptly seasonal Knights and Bikes, with a touch of nostalgia for times past and summer's end. Rob, Patrick, and Cado are playing Control, or is the game playing them? Then Patrick and Cado talk about the Pinball Roguelike Creature in the Well, and just how imprecise the Switch's analog sticks feel all of a sudden. Then we take a quick dip in the question bucket, and pour one out for all our lost save files.

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Episode 259: Happy Dedusday Aug 26, 2019

Three major embargoes dropped today, so we're gonna dive straight in! Rob brings us his thoughts on Control, and how it's wild lore is integrated in a satisfying way, much more satisfying than Destiny, a game he hasn't played since 2017, that has totally stayed the same since then and not at all delivered on any of it's lore. [/s] Then Austin talks about the parts ofAstral Chainthat he can talk about, which apparently don't include some of his favorite missions because embargoes can be weird! Patrick checks back in with Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. Cado played some Destiny, but you probably already knew that.

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Episode 258: Tree Branch + Rock = Full Stick Aug 23, 2019

Content warning for discussion of assisted suicide from approximately 1:20:00 - 1:24:00

The fall is almost upon us, and you know what that means! That's right, it's American Football season, and that means we're gonna try and guess the names of the recently revealed XFL teams based only on their team logos! Then we check in on Patrick as he tries to unravel the mysteries of evolution in Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. What is the difference between a branch and a stick? Patrick doesn't know, and neither do we. After the break, Austin checks back in with the surprising world of Remnant: From the Ashes, which has some well written narrative moments that he wasn't expecting. Then Cado tells us about the intriguing but frustrating Oninaki, which has an intense narrative setup, but doesn't ever feel good to actually play. Then we get lost in the woods with Danielle as she explores the new Blair Witch game. There is a dog, and you can pet it!

Discussed: XFL, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, Remenant: From the Ashes, Astral Chain, Oninaki, Blair Witch

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Erica, Spoilers, and Brands: Interview with Austin Wintory Aug 21, 2019

We have a special bonus episode of Waypoint Radio, Austin and Patrick are joined by award winning composer Austin Wintory to talk about his next project, the FMV game Erica. They also discuss horror movie music tropes, the difference between scoring movies and scoring games, and some of Austin Wintory's favorite brands.

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Episode 257: Don't Google Gorefist Aug 19, 2019

There's a well known joke where you describe something in reference to Dark Souls. Hell, we've done plenty of that on this very podcast. But rarely are those games actually Souls-likes, and even rarer are the ones we enjoy. So imagine our surprise when the "Dark Souls but with Guns" game Remnant: From the Ashes landed with both Austin and Cado, so much so that our descriptions of the game basically sold Patrick on playing it! The Waypoint Radio crew discusses Remnant, Fire Emblem (is it hard enough?), Age of Wonders: Planetfall, and more on this episode of Waypoint Radio!

Discussed: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, Vanquish, Age of Wonders: Planetfall, Remnant: From the Ashes, Nintendo Indie World stream, Session, Stadia, Idris Elba

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Episode 256: Waypoint Does What Twittdon't Aug 16, 2019

Summer is ending. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and the games, oh boy, the games are coming. August isn't even over and we're already seeing the waves of fall releases starting to crop up, so we've got an episode jam packed with new games. From positive notes on Zachtronics' Eliza tomixed feelings on the Sega Genesis Mini, the deluge has begun!

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Episode 255: The Conversation Gets Lively Aug 12, 2019

There are many components to a perfect tea time. The choice of tea itself is of upmost importance, of course, but its presentation and preparation is just as critical. Then, there is the discussion. What's a perfect tea time if not a lively conversation over a shared refreshment? The Waypoint Radio crew share their favorite discussion topics this episode, the way to get those support ranks up. So how about giant robots? What does it mean to live well? What is a sauce? What's good with game design? Yes, we've basically all been playing too much Fire Emblem. We talk about a few other games too though, don't worry, we won't tank this tea time!

Discussed: Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, Anodyne 2, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, System Shock 2, Oxygen Not Included, Griftlands, EVO 2019

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Episode 254: Bodega Burrata Aug 09, 2019

With Cado out on vacation and Austin back from one, it's only right for Waypoint Radio to spend this week traveling to new worlds. Danielle takes us to the world of Anodyne 2, the follow up to one of her favorite games of all time. Austin launches to space in Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, the Privateer-esque follow up to the 2015 space sim. And Rob and Patrick have moved permanently into the dorms at Garreg Mach Monastery in the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Plus, the crew weighs in on the recent games journalist doxxing and what this might mean for the future of the ESA.

Discussed: The ESA, E3, Anondyne 2, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, Star Wars: Outer Rim, Die Hard: The Board Game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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Episode 253: MCDONALDS IS PDRESIDENT Aug 05, 2019

ty Given the length of most games, it can sometimes be hard to parse their politics or meaning even from a few hours of play. Endgame twists can paint the entire narrative of a game in a different light, strengthening core themes at best, and undermining them at worst. So it's natural to wonder where a narrative might go even if it's opening hours seem to hammer home a specific point of view. We discuss how this feels in The Outer Worlds, making new friends in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and just what is up with the Clancyverse on this episode of Waypoint Radio.

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Waypoints 38: Neon Genesis Evangelion 25-26 and End of Evangelion Aug 01, 2019

Content Warning: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Sexual Violence, Descriptions of Gore, all applied towards minors.

We've finally done it. The Waypoint Radio crew has watched all of Neon Genesis Evangelion's original run and the End of Evangelion Movie. Through its highs and lows, from contemplative pacing to stylish action, from it's interesting lore to its mishandling of its themes, we've seen it all. It's a long one folks, so strap in, and best of luck.

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Episode 252: Bigger Text Than Before Jul 29, 2019

This week on Waypoint Radio we're getting political. Patrick, Cado, and Austin are all playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and we get into who picked the right house. Who's to say whether a monarchy or a ruling class is better? Rob's got some ideas that seem to be backed by historical knowledge, but Cado thinks it's Sophie's choice, honestly. We also discuss the messy tutorialization: why does it explain a combat mechanic during downtime? What's with all of these unexplained mechanics? Why do they turn off the enemy's attack range after the first mission? Then Austin and Cado talk about the games and panels they saw as last weekend's Game Devs of Color Expo. Come for the surreal RPGs, stay for the rubber fish controler. Rob's computer then breaks so the rest of the crew discuss the wild story of how Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 was translated by fans over the span of 20 years.

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Episode 251: Super Secret Anime Club (NO NARCS ALLOWED) Jul 26, 2019

It's anime day here at Waypoint Radio, as Austin is here to lead Patrick and Cado through his time with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. We then dive into the Joy Con Drift situation and Switch Model Number discourse. Patrick is playing super quick Mario Maker levels and checking out (the totally anime) Wolfenstein Youngblood, and we try our best to find Evangelion Mac n Cheese. Does it exist? (if it does please send to @a_cado_appears on twitter!)

Discussed: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Joy Con drift, Super Mario Maker 2, Nowhere Prophet, Griftlands, Wolfenstein Youngblood,

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Waypoints 37: Neon Genesis Evangelion Episodes 22-24 Jul 25, 2019

Content Warning for this episode: discussion of suicide throughout.

Evangelion is a messy series. For all the craft and care put into the characters and arcs in the first half of the show, which was uneven in it's treatment of women even then, the back end has higher peaks and even lower valleys. And while lore dumps and twists are being deployed it's Evangelion's female characters that end up with the brunt of the low points. For as shocking as the reveal is that Rei was a series of clones all along, tied to it is the unfortunate flattening of Ritsuko's character, to a woman motivated solely by her relationship to a man. We see this same story played out with her mother, and this repeated cycle implies some greater hidden truth to the actions these characters have taken. Instead of allowing these characters to have a sense of agency they're locked into repeating the same mistakes, because "that's just how women are." We discuss this uneven treatment, the overly dramatic lore dumps, and that shower scene in this episode of Waypoints.

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Episode 250: Rise and Shine Gamers, Lets Make That Bread Jul 22, 2019

It's a hot one as Rob, Danielle, and Cado are doing their best to cope. Rob's apartment is starting to ferment, Danielle's breaking legs, and Cado has been hiding at the movies but they've also made time for games. Danielle and Rob have both spent more time with Night Call and how you build a good mystery, while Cado is increasingly frustrated by the worldbuilding of Nowhere Prophet. Rob, meanwhile, tried to learn Coimbra, a complicated Euro-style boardgame, while slowly overheating.

Discussed: Night Call, Nowhere Prophet, Fireball Island, Coimbra

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Episode 249: The Yoshi Problem Jul 19, 2019

With Austin still away on vacation, Patrick, Rob, and Cado decided to dive in to the question bucket and fish out the weirdest questions we've been sent. Little did we know that we'd be faced with questions that shake the very foundations of our beliefs. We question the nature of order and chaos, the ethics of jumping off of a Yoshi to save yourself, and wonder out loud what ever happened to Need for Speed? And finally, we enter into that eternal debate, one that's been asked and answered for as long as podcasts existed: Knife or Bat?

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Waypoints 36: Neon Genesis Evangelion Episodes 20-21 Jul 18, 2019

Content Warning: Discussion of suicide from around 1:48:00 through 1:52:00 and 1:59:00 through 2:04:00

Neon Genesis Evangelion is often touted as a "thinking person's anime." Despite it's unevenness, it does tend to stay away from a monster of the week narrative and will often devote entire episodes to the mental states of it's main characters. What sometimes gets conflated with this fact is that all of this deep introspection lands or has narrative weight every single time it happens. At its best the show weaves plot and themes effortlessly, but sometimes just asking existential questions isn't enough to hand wave the ways characters have acted or been treated throughout the show. Can an existential line of questioning feel earned even if it ignores previous character growth? Does it cheapen earlier plot points when thematic elements begin overpower literal narrative? We tackle these questions and more as we discuss Episodes 20-21 on this week's Waypoints.

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Episode 248: What If They Were ALL Donnel? Jul 15, 2019

There's a certain feeling that seems specific to modern Fire Emblem games, a sense of pride when you go into battle with your carefully leveled squad. You've come to know these characters intimately, watched their relationships with each other mature, and come to think of them as family. However, amongst the expansive cast of characters in Fire Emblem: Awakening, one particular character sticks out for having a great arc, and that's Donnel.

A farm boy wearing a pot on his head, he starts out so weak most people might ditch him for some of the game's heartier characters. The people that stick with him though get to watch their good good farm boy grow up to be an absolute killing machine. His arc becomes the best example of the way you come to feel pride for these characters, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, is doubling down on this feeling with its totally new structure. We discuss the new Fire Emblem game, the noir narrative game Night Call, and new deckbuilding roguelike Nowhere Prophet on this episode of Waypoint Radio.

Discussed: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Night Call, Steamworld Quest, Super Mario Maker 2, Nowhere Prophet

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Episode 247: The First Annual Video Game Draft Jul 12, 2019

Do you remember when we said “wouldn’t it be cool if game franchises got traded every year?” Well, two community members (@RevRyeBread and @regresssion) decided to write a short fantasy draft game that we’re gonna play! Tune in as Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Cado choose their platforms and vie to fill out their rosters with the best gaming franchises. There’s drama, tension, and lots of dubious math! Stick around after the game as Austin and Cado do a nearly frame by frame breakdown of the new Gundam Battle: GUNPLA WARFARE trailer.

Played: bit.ly/videogamedraft

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Waypoints 35: Neon Genesis Evangelion 14-19 Jul 11, 2019

We've returned this week revitalized by a new batch of episodes that, it turns out, we actually liked! The Waypoint Radio crew discusses the existential and physical horror of episodes 14-19 and ask, what is an Eva? Is it just a big Human? Is Gendo the original Wife guy? Why does their teacher just keep talking about the Second Impact? What are the Dead Sea Scrolls, and who is the Human Instrumentality Council? We discuss all this and more on this episode of Waypoints!

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Episode 246: The Great Chili-Dog Debate Jul 08, 2019

It was a long weekend and that means we were all staring at our phones: Which is alright, because it turns out those have games on them now. Cado briefs us on the Capcom card game Teppen, the, uh, DOTA Autochess DOTA Underlords, and Austin is terrified of what an upcoming Gundam-builidng gacha game will do to his credit score. Back on consoles and PC, Patrick is disappointed by Sea of Solitude, while Rob offers high praise for F1 2019 and dire warning about Total War: Three Kingdoms: Do not pursue Lu Bu.

Discussed: Teppen, DOTA Underlords, Sea of Solitude, F1 2019, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Lucah: Born of a Dream

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Waypoints 34: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Episodes 8-13 Jul 03, 2019

Content Warning: discussion of the sexualization of children, sexual violence, and child pornography.

There is a long running trope of fan service in anime, where by characters (almost always women) are sexualized by the "camera" for the enjoyment of the (largely male) audience. Often it's deployed in irrespective of whatever plot point is happening at that moment, purely to titillate. Evangelion is no exception, however, it complicates it's own usage by attempting to explore the burgeoning sexuality of it's teenaged characters. But there's a notable difference between sexualizing characters for the viewer and characters having sexual thoughts. We discuss the messy way that episodes 8-13 deal with these issues and more on this week's Waypoints.

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Episode 245: A Mario-Sized Shoe Jul 01, 2019

The crew is at the top of their game in this episode about, um, NBA free agency, James Dolan's band, how FFXIV broke Austin, and the latest season of Riverdale. But also there are video games! We talk about them too! We talk about Mario Maker 2, and have some question about that boot that Mario uses (but Patrick doesn't). Rob talks about F1 2019 and its interesting but too-sparse narrative, before getting sidetracked by describing the plot of Draft Day. Cado's great too. Anyway, that's life under capitalism!

Discussed: FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, Super Mario Maker 2, F1 2019, Hardcore Mecha

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Episode 244: Dashiell Hammett You A Real One, or A Question of Jedi Jurisdiction Jun 28, 2019

We've got a long one today (partially to make up for Monday's short episode? Who could say!?) Danielle starts us off with her impressions of The Sinking City, Frogwares' new detective game set in a Lovecraftian flooded town. She and Austin discuss the game's racial politics and how they shift the lens through which Lovecraft wrote his original works, while Rob draws a through line from this game to the works of Dashiell Hammet. Then Patrick stares at a wall and groans about the existence of Mario Maker 2, a game he claims is canceled because "Dan Ryckert still exists." He then goes on to admit that he's become that which he hates and has actually made a level in the new game, and he liked it. We check back in on Rob's campaign in Steel Division 2 before Cado whisks us to the magical world of Wizards Unite, which turns out to look a lot like the world of Pokemon Go, which looks a lot like Brooklyn. Stick around to the end to hear us live react to what has to be one of the wildest commercials any of us have ever seen.

Discussed: The Sinking City, Mario Maker 2, Steel Division 2, Wizards Unite, Hardcore Mecha

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Waypoints 33: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Episodes 1-7 Jun 27, 2019

Neon Genesis Evangelion is finally streaming, and with it comes our long promised rewatch of the series. On this episode we discuss the first seven episodes, from the different translations, to it's cinematic story-telling, from it's use of sexist anime tropes, to the deep exploration of its character's psyches. Danielle, Rob, and Patrick give their first time impressions while Cado and Austin shoot knowing glances back and forth. It's a long one, so strap in!

Episodes Discussed: 1: Angel Attack, 2: Unfamiliar Ceiling, 3: The Silent Phone, 4: Rain, After Running Away, 5: Rei, Beyond the Heart, 6: Showdown in Tokyo-3, 7: The Works Of Man

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Episode 243: Summer Blues Jun 24, 2019

Ah summer. A time for beaches, BBQs, and new game announcements... but not a whole ton of new games. Austin spent a weekend deep in TTRPG land, so it's up to Rob and Cado to talk about the games that have come out this week. We're fully into the summer lull, but Cado decided to take a vacation to the frigid new region in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's beta. Rob's back from vacation, and he brought a few billion friends with him as he dives into the new single player campaign for They Are Billions. They also takes us through the early hours of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which may lean too heavily on it's roots, and the campaign of Steel Division 2, which feels different enough from the first game that Rob is questioning whether it's interesting or exasperating.

Discussed: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, They Are Billions, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Steel Division 2.

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Episode 242: Jet Lag Radio Future Jun 21, 2019

We had so many E3 questions we decided to split our recording on Tuesday into two podcasts so we could do a real deep dive into what you wanted to know about this year's show. We dig into how inspiration can take many forms in game development, games that have purposefully tackled political issues in the past, our personal histories with E3, and what the future of the expo might hold. Patrick checks back in with more info on Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, and shares a few anecdotes from his interview with the developers. Austin googles what Fall Guys is, and digs into the political readings of being able to recruit literally anyone in Watch Dogs: Legion.

Discussed: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Mafia III, Watch Dogs 2, Spec Ops: The Line, Fall Guys, Watch Dogs: Legion, Blair Witch

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Rebuild of Waypoints 10: Neon Genesis Evangelion Jun 20, 2019

With the Netflix release of Neon Genesis Evangelion around the corner, we're rereleasing our conversation on the landmark series' first two episodes from Waypoints 10. The team examines the first two episodes, with Rob, Patrick, and Danielle giving their first ever impressions of the series, struck by it's narrative structure and striking visuals. Then Austin leads them through a discussion of the show's predecessors, it's troubled production, and complicated readings. We will be back next week with a new episode of Waypoints discussing more episodes!

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Episode 241: Jet Lag Radio Jun 18, 2019

With E3 2019 behind us, the crew at Waypoint Radio turn their attention to what really matters: The games we played going to and coming from E3 2019. We dig into Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Ft. The Legend of Zelda, SteamWorld Quest, Slay the Spire, BattleTech: Urban Warfare and more! Plus, we begin to answer your questions about E3... but you'll have to tune in later in the week for the REAL deep dive into ol' Question Bucket.

Games Discussed: PiXXL Cube, Dicey Dungeons, Slay the Spire, SteamWorld Quest, Cadence of Hyrule, Breath of the Wild, BattleTech: Urban Warfare, Atral Chain, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Daemon X Machina

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E3 2019 Day 3: Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Control, and more! Jun 15, 2019

Twas the night after E3

And all through the house

Not a producer was stirring

No clicks of a mouse.

The mics had been packed

In the pelican with care,

But podding must happen

Even if Cado's not there

Rob saw some Vampires

That filled him with dread

While Natalie had images

Of Gooigi in her head

Austin saw Link

in his little green cap

And Patrick was a Shark

that mostly attacked

And now E3 is over

It’s been quite a sight!

Merry Gamer Christmas to all,

And to all a good night.

Discussed: Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, Luigi’s Mansion 3, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Marvels Ultimate Alliance 3, Maneater, E3, Control, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Cyberpunk 2077, Blair Witch, Monster Hunter: World Iceborne

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E3 2019: Day 2 Final Fantasy VII, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Dying Light 2, and more Jun 13, 2019

We're nearly at the finish line. Day two of E3 2019 is in the books, and so is our podcast. Join Austin, Patrick, Cado, and Rob as they discuss how Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (aka Star Souls??) is actually rad, why we still don't know what to make of Marvel's Avengers even after watching someone play it, and more! Those more things include hands-on with Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and impressions of Dying Light 2, Age of Empires II, Outer Worlds, and Psychonauts 2.

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E3 2019 Day 1: Nintendo Direct, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, and Cyberpunk 2077 Jun 12, 2019

We have finally left the negative zone—E3 has officially started. Join Patrick, Cado, Austin, Rob, and The Joyous Gamer herself, Natalie, for a VERY LONG discussion about our first stay at the show. We start with Nintendo’s E3 announcements, including the surprise reveal of a sequel to Breath of the Wild, and what it means for Zelda’s role in the series. From there, a bunch of heavy hitters: Cyberpunk 2077, DOOM Eternal, Empire of Sin, Vampire Bloodlines 2, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Borderlands 3, and so much more.

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E3 2019 Day 0: Ubisoft & Square Enix Jun 11, 2019

With just about all of the major conferences behind us, E3 2019 is now in full swing. Join the Waypoint Radio crew as they describe their hands on experiences with Ubisofts' Watch Dogs Legion and Roller Champions, plus their thoughts on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Marvel's Avengers, and everything else from the Square-Enix's big event. What else was there at Square Enix's big event? Who could say. I'm writing this description at 2:14 AM, and you'll have to join us on this audio journey to find out.

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E3 2019 Day -1: Microsoft & Bethesda Jun 11, 2019

Microsoft and Bethesda brought a ton to show during their press conferences last night. But no story felt more important (in the broad view) than Microsoft's continued support of Xbox Game Pass, the company's subscription based service. With the announcement of the company's new service featuring a catalog of games especially curated for the PC, Game Pass has become a hard-to-deny value. In our second E3 2019 episode of Waypoint Radio, we dig deep into the service, plus chat about Cyberpunk 2077, Outer Worlds, Doom: Eternal, Keanu Reeves, and so much more.

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E3 2019 Day -2: Merry Gamer Christmas Eve Jun 09, 2019

It's Gamer Christmas Eve as Austin, Patrick, Cado, and Rob talk about the big E3 news that's already broken before E3 has even begun. The gang discuss the Google Stadia announcement and how it could transform game development and economics. They also dig into Destiny 2's upcoming expansion, Shadowkeep, and whether this is the kind of story and atmosphere that Destiny is capable of evoking. Other big changes are coming to Destiny as well, so the crew discusses the game's upcoming transition to free-to-play and what that could mean for the game's direction. Finally, there's leaks! Or are they spoilers? Can you spoil a game announcement, and should anyone care? Maybe not, and yet undeniably, at least a couple of us do.

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Waypoints 32: Let Them Eat Jun 05, 2019

Rob may be back from vacation but he's definitely not all there on this loopy Waypoints. Patrick has gone back to Gareth Edwards' 2014 Godzilla and found an underappreciated gem whose perceived flaws may have resulted in an inferior sequel. Danielle can buy the giant monsters, but not the depiction of affordable family housing in San Francisco. Rob has the giggles, but maybe that's just because Bon Appetit's Youtube series are so funny.

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Episode 240: E3 Predictions 2019 Jun 03, 2019

Dread it, run from it, E3 still arrives. Despite quickly deleting any email referencing the “electronic entertainment expo” in our inboxes, apparently that won’t stop gaming’s biggest event from happening, so we might as well yell into a microphone about it. Austin, Cado, and Patrick use the press conference schedule for next week to talk about expectations, rumors, and surprises set for next week. And yes, we spend a lot of time wondering about the new From Software game. We also touch on a few games we’ve been playing, including Gato Roboto, Slay the Spire, and a VR game where you’re, uh, a kayak assassin? Seriously.

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Episode 239: Double Break Pod May 31, 2019

As time marches inexorably on, the seasons change, and so we must change with them. In the spirit of growth that the summer brings, we are joined by Joel Fowler, Waypoint's former publisher, on his final day at VICE, to say good bye and talk about how awesome Bitterblack Isle from Dragon's Dogma is. Austin's been exploring space and time in Outer Wilds, while Danielle and Patrick have both been exploring space and death in Void Bastards. Cado updates us on the world of Pokémon (turns out it's full of shirts and sleep apps). We talk Mario Maker, Call of Duty, Death Stranding, and take two breaks. This episode is huge honestly, it's almost as if companies are getting a bunch of news out in anticipation of something!

Discussed: Outer Wilds, Void Bastards, Mario Maker 2, This 'Mario Maker' Level Has Been Played 2.6 Million Times and Never Beaten, The Speedrunner Who Wasn’t: How a Community Dealt with an Elaborate Cheater,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Pokémon Shirts, Pokémon Sleep, Death Stranding, Draugan, Oculus Quest, Virtual Virtual Reality, Hollow Knight, Mobile Suit Gundam, Life is Strange 2: Episode 3, KIDS, Ape Out

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Episode 238: Please, Go To The Dentist May 24, 2019

Austin is out this week due to a Dental Procedure, which leaves Patrick, Rob, Cado, and Danielle to come to terms with their own oral hygiene. Does anyone go to the dentist enough? How long is too long between visits? Excuse me did Rob just say the word "decade?" The crew then shift to the lighter topic of horror games; Danielle has been playing the sea based Layers of Fear 2 and Patrick brings us the space station thriller Observation. Rob learns the horrors of "accidentally" declaring yourself emperor in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and Cado scratched his deck building game itch with the beta for Nowhere Prophet. We round out the horror show as we discuss Dante Douglas's new piece on Brigitte's riot police skin in Overwatch and the myriad problems that come with it.

Discussed: Total War: Three Kingdoms (and Rob's review), Layers of Fear 2, Observation, Team Sonic Racing, Nowhere Prophet, Stop Turning Overwatch Characters Into Cops

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Waypoints 31: And Now Our Watch Has Ended May 23, 2019

This episode contains spoilers for all of Game of Thrones!

So. Game of Thrones is finally over. Through ups and downs, good seasons and bad, it seemed like the entire world was watching. And when something has that much attention, even the smallest change gets noticed. This week on Waypoints, Austin brings us an article on how the final seasons of Game of Thrones shifted storytelling styles, and we discuss how those changes manifested in a season that has a lot of people scratching their heads if they're not outright disappointed. He's also brought an article asking what happens to website traffic when a cultural phenomenon ends, and why so many sites, regardless of focus, ran articles on Game of Thrones. Rob then brings us an amazing interview with Magic Johnson on why he spectacularly quit his job with the Lakers, and the crew discusses why he can just up and do that.

Discussed: The Real Reason Fans Hate the Last Season of Game of Thrones, What Time Does the Game of Thrones Traffic End?, Magic Johnson says Lakers GM was 'backstabbing', Home Movies

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Episode 237: Metrology Prime May 20, 2019

Austin returns from the world of “Los Angeles” to...not talk about any of the video games he played—well, except one! He’s joined by Rob, Cado, and Patrick to wonder why more people aren’t playing the new and excellent season of Life Is Strange, what to make of Microsoft and Sony partnering on cloud gaming, an update on Rob’s conquests in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and Patrick with some first impressions of the latest game from the developers of Stories Untold, a game where players, more or less, become the HAL 9000.

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Episode 236: So, Let Me Tell You About Homestuck May 17, 2019

Motherboard’s Emanuel “I Should Honestly Get Paid For My Viral Tweets” Maiberg joins Patrick, Cado, and Rob us for a wide-ranging episode of Waypoint Radio, in which we discuss our uncanny ability to never hear about Homestuck despite being extremely online, the best way to tell a debt collector to screw off, what Patrick has to fear from Super Mario Maker 2, and the games that we’ve been playing, including Rage 2, Project Hospital, A Plague Tale: Innocence, and Total War: Three Kingdoms.

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Waypoints 30: Teens and Memes May 16, 2019

This week, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick welcome Motherboard's Jason Koebler discuss the strange and somewhat hard-to-credit tale of a young teenage boy who was lured into the alt-right via online communities, and how his mother helped him escape. It touches on the nature of online radicalization, the way young white kids can recast themselves as a persecuted class, and how that process can be stopped. Then, Danielle explains the wonder that is the Jason X plot, and Rob has read an essay on how the most common tools for teaching and learning may also be some of the worst.

Discussed: What Happened After My 13 Year Old Son Joined the Alt-Right, Jason X, Why Books Don't Work

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Episode 235: TR3-VR Appreciation Zone May 13, 2019

Spoiler Warning for Detective Pikachu from around 39 minutes to 43 minutes in.

With Austin away, it’s time to whip this long podcast into shape by, uh, spending two hours with Rob, Patrick, and Cado discussing the disappointing Rage 2 and the questionable ethics of spoiling Final Fantasy VII in 2019? Naturally. In the strategy corner, Rob explains his best attempts to destroy an empire in Imperator: Rome, while Cado updates us on why Destiny Is Good Again, and Patrick explains the “charm” of A Plague Tale: Innocence, a game where you use rats to eat your enemies alive. OH. ALSO. DETECTIVE. PIKACHU.

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Episode 234: Happy Trails, Natalie May 10, 2019

It’s not true until you record a podcast about it, but yes: Natalie is leaving Waypoint. To send her off, we decided to, uh, talk about the latest Ghost Recon game for an hour?? After “doing our jobs” in which we “talk about video games,” the question bucket is opened for Austin, Natalie, Rob, Danielle, Cado, and Patrick, in which they answer everything from “What character, real or fictional, should become a keyblade master?” to “What boat are you?” Goodbye, Natalie. You’ll be missed.

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A Few Announcements From the Team May 06, 2019

The Waypoint Radio crew have a few announcements! Read more about the website changes here: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3k3b9k/waypoint-is-joining-the-new-vicecom

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Bonus: Sekiro Spoilercast May 03, 2019

It’s been a little more than a month since the release of the latest FromSoft game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Given how often we reference Souls games already, are you REALLY surprised we dedicated a few hours to a full-on spoilercast with Austin, Patrick, Cado, and Joel? At this point, nearly everyone (good luck Patrick!) has finished the game, which gives us a chance to reflect on the journey, and where Sekiro fits in FromSoftware’s catalog.

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Waypoints 29: You'll Dream of Teeth and Nothing Else May 02, 2019

Spoilers for Avengers: Endgame throughout, and for Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 at 1 hour and 52 minutes in.

When Austin and Rob weren’t looking, Patrick, Natalie, and Cado pulled off their own time time heist, smuggling themselves into the podcast room to spend nearly three hours talking about the epic conclusion to Marvel’s Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame. And because we couldn’t help ourselves, we also had to discuss the latest Game of Thrones episode, “The Long Night.” Oh, and beware: the night is dark (too dark, honestly!) and full of spoilers!!!

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Episode 233: Riot Games and Organized Labor Apr 29, 2019

Today's podcast starts off course and then, somehow, takes an even more unexpected turn. Natalie brings us a live update fresh from her 6:30 AM showing of Avengers: Endgame and last week's Tribeca Film Festival Death Stranding panel. Rob whisks us way to the ancient world with Imperator: Rome. Then Austin and Patrick pause the podcast so that they can report a breaking story: the news that employees at Riot Games are threatening to walk out in protest of recently reported policies at the League of Legends developer. With that handled, the podcast returns for discussion of organized labor, classic gaming guilds, and, of course, everyone's favorite soda.

Discussed: Avengers: Endgame (No Spoilers, don't worry), Hideo Kojima, Norman Reedus, Death Stranding, Imperator: Rome, Riot Games, League of Legends

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Episode 232: Gays Dawn Apr 26, 2019

Everything is interconnected, really.Frasier. St. Elsewhere. Friends. The Apocalyptic zombie-infested wasteland ofDays Gone. Wait, really? Maybe. We spend a solid hour of Waypoint Radio talking about Sony Bend’s first big game, on which many large hopes and dreams were hung, but the finished product just doesn’t deliver. Elsewhere (but not St. Elsewhere), we touch on the missed marks of Katana Zero, the delightful puzzling of Boxboy + Boxgirl, and some campy workplace hell in Yuppie Psycho. Then we go in on Mortal Kombat 11, which holds up the Kombat name in many ways—with a delightfully wacky story and characters, a wild time-traveling ending for Jax—and disappoints in some others, with the casting of famed TERF Ronda Rousey and rumors of unsound labor practices at the studio.

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Waypoints 28: Breaking Kayfabe and Broken Policies Apr 25, 2019

Content Warning for discussion of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, homicide, and death

Sometimes a new TV show launches and everyone likes it and wants to talk about it. Sometimes, it's even launched by your own company! This week we've been riveted by VICELAND's Dark Side of the Ring, a documentary series that revisits some of the more sobering, troubling stories in the history of pro wrestling. Sometimes they're stories about what happens in the ring, sometimes they're about what happens well outside of it, but we're fascinated by the ways that the performance of pro wrestling ends up impacting on the personal realities of its participants. We also end up talking about this review of George Packer's Richard Holbrooke bio, and what it reveals about centrist foreign policy, or the lack of it.

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Save Point 2019: Interview with Trans Lifeline's Executive Director, Elena Rose Vera Apr 22, 2019

Next week, we're launching Save Point 2019: a marathon gaming stream to benefit the Trans Lifeline. We interviewed Trans Lifeline's Executive Director, Elena Rose Vera, as she detail's the organization's mission and struggles. All donations to Save Point 2019 will be going directly to Trans Lifeline. Find out more: https://bit.ly/2Xz3xHM

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Episode 231: Into Free ~Dangan~ Apr 19, 2019

Even though Austin and Natalie have been playing a bunch of Dragon’s Dogma, Patrick and Cado somehow restrain them from spending an entire episode talking about a game from 2012 and also discuss the early details Sony revealed about the PlayStation 5, the rise of GamerGate politicians, the addition of Persona 5’s Joker to Smash, names.com, and more.

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Waypoints 27: Double Shirt Score Apr 18, 2019

The gang finally discusses Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its themes around race, class, values, and the weight of heroism. Does the movie lean on humor to the point of detracting from important character arcs? Does it miss an opportunity with Uncle Aaron's character? Is Jake Johnson's Peter B. Parker akin to the treatment the character received in Insomniac's Spider-Man for PS4? Next, Austin's been getting irate about this story of what happened when the IRS launched a special initiative to pursue payments from wealthy people who were wrongly exploiting loopholes in the tax code, and how those efforts were sabotaged. Finally, the gang is not sure what to make of Bernie Sanders' appearance on a Fox News town hall, but find some things worth discussing about the effort.

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Bonus: Dark Side of the Ring Apr 17, 2019

Waypoint's Austin Walker sits down with Evan Husney, producer and co-creator of Dark Side of the Ring, VICELAND's new docu-series that digs into the human stories behind six tragedies of wrestling history. Evan previously worked with Waypoint on documentaries like our behind-the-scenes look at Superhypercube and our Waypoint Presents episode on Magic: The Gathering. Today, he talks to Austin about the inspiration and process behind the new show, and the remarkable response it's received so far.

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Episode 230: Special Guest: Open Mike Eagle Apr 15, 2019

On today’s episode of Waypoint Radio, we are joined by rapper Open Mike Eagle, fresh off his tour with fellow-musician and nerd Sammus. Austin, Natalie, and Cado catch up with Mike about his latest ventures in television, including his new show, “The New Negros,” which premieres this Friday, April 19th, 11PM ET, on Comedy Central. We talk everything from wrestling, being online, and Dark Souls, to things like burnout and Overwatch. Mike even gives us his hot take on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

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Episode 229: He Was A Sk8r Bird, She Said C U L8r Bird Apr 12, 2019

Lots of games have things in common with one another, but it’s not typically because they all share a mixture of themes related to colonialism and racism. And yet, that’s what happened with the XCOM-meets-Indiana Jones tactics game Pathway, the Lovecraft (but without ignoring the racism) adventure game The Sunken City, and the game about raising a cute bird that’s actually about destroying your oppressors, Falcon Age. Somehow, in all of this, we also manage to record live reactions to the new Star Wars trailer. It’s been a week.

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Waypoints 26: It's All About The Game (And How You Play It) Apr 11, 2019

It's another episode of Waypoints where we find ourselves considering the strange expectations and position of a star athlete at different points in their career. First, we talk about the tell-all article at The Bleacher Report on the falling out between prodigiously talented Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his former coach, Mike McCarthy. Then, we have to ask ourselves, "Is Magic Johnson living the dream?" Finally, Austin discusses Kofi Kingston's WWE title belt, and its many meanings.

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Lore Reasons: Season One Finale Apr 08, 2019

This podcast contains spoilers for Kingdom Hearts III

At the start of this weird project, we asked a simple question: Why do you love Kingdom Hearts? Hundreds of you wrote in with answers that ranged from the humorous (it’s fun to watch Mickey run around with a key sword) to the serious (it was part of understanding their own identity). As we close out this season of Lore Reasons, we wanted to revisit those letters, answer a bunch of questions you sent in, and contemplate the future of Lore Reasons. No, we haven’t announced our next target of confusion, but maybe you can help?

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Episode 228: Discourse X Easy Mode Apr 05, 2019

We've returned from our trip to Boston only to find an olympic swimming pool filled with discourse waiting for us. So, what else could we do but dive right in? Rob, Austin, and Patrick try to untangle their own feelings on difficulty and accessiblity in games, pushing at the boundaries of those terms until they find something that feels more representative and less reductive than the shorthand we've all been using in this conversation. They also bring more stories from the PAX East show floor, including more games about resisting Nazis, saving the earth, and... fighting in giant robots.

Discussed: Sekiro, Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Civilization, Thrustmaster Racing Wheel & Pedals, Through the Darkest of Times, We Are The Caretakers, Man of Medan, Rad, Hardcore Mecha, What the Golf, El Hijo, Photographs

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Waypoints 25: The Triple Double Apr 04, 2019

What do a women's college basketball star, the prison abolition movement, and The Occupation all have in common? Uhhhhh... it's Thursday, and they're all topics on Waypoints! First, Danielle was both fascinated and repelled by this profile of Oregon basketball star Sabrina Ionescu, whose sheer willpower, toughness, and intelligence have made her an all-time great in college basketball. But in focusing on Ionescu's drive and compulsion to greatness, do we also end up celebrating bad stereotypes about the nature of achievement and excellence? Next, Patrick has been listening to the second season of the Justice in America podcast, and in its finale is struck by the radical ways we can, and should, reimagine our systems of criminal justice. Finally, the gang are taking a closer look at White Paper Games' The Occupation, and trying to figure out if it has a political perspective, or if its mixed metaphors only give it the appearance of political meaning.

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Live from PAX East 2019: Waypoint Radio and Lore Reasons: Mark of Mastery Apr 01, 2019

Join Austin, Natalie, Patrick, Rob, Cado, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and one of several time traveling incarnations of some guy named Xehanort for an in-person edition of Waypoint Radio! In addition to talking about the games they played at PAX East, everyone who participated in our Kingdom Hearts season of Lore Reasons will be subjected to a live Mark of Mastery exam, forced to reckon with the way-too-many hours they’ve spent trying to understand the mythology driving Square Enix’s mashup series. There is absolutely no way this can go wrong.

Discussed: Struggling, Falcon Age, Night Shift, Warsaw, Divinity: Fallen Heroes, Phantom Brigade

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Revenge of the Big Dogs Mar 28, 2019

It’s a disjointed week at Waypoint, with most of the crew headed to Boston for PAX East, but Austin, Natalie, Patrick, Rob, and Cado still found time to sit around some microphones and yap about the games we’ve been playing. Mostly, we’re still slowly but surely stabbing and shinobi’ing our way through Sekiro, but Rob checked in with Battlefield’s take on battle royale, and several of us have been exploring the post-apocalypse of Generation Zero. We also toss some serious skepticism at Google's ambitious streaming project, Stadia.

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Lore Reasons: Kingdom Hearts III Spoilercast Mar 26, 2019

You’ve been patient, and it’s finally here. A little over two months since the conclusion of Tetsuya Nomura’s Dark Seeker trilogy, Lore Reasons tackles Kingdom Hearts III. (Naturally, it took us nearly three hours.) Austin, Patrick, and Cado join our resident loremaster, Natalie, as we pilot our Gummi Ship through a bunch of narratively useless Disney worlds en route to one hell of an ending. And that secret movie? THE SECRET MOVIE? It’s all here. Let’s ride.

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Waypoints 24: We Develop Our Points (DEVELOP OUR POINTS!) Mar 22, 2019

It's time for Austin, Natalie, Patrick, and Rob to return to the secret origins of Waypoints: a chance to talk about animated TV shows. This week finds the gang catching up on The Dragon Prince at great length, and wrestling with some of their misgiving's about the morality the show is beginning to articulate, and the plot arcs that are unfolding at a breakneck pace. But first, they return to Rooster Teeth's GenLOCK, to discuss the end of its first season, and what the show has revealed itself to be about. Are they just cool robots, or something more?

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Bonus: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Mar 21, 2019

Sekrio: Shadows Die Twice is out tomorrow but Austin, Natalie, and Patrick couldn't wait another second to talk about it! They talk about how the game's mechanics differ from previous FromSoft titles, how the game's focus on "posture" breaking combat changes the feeling of play, how the changes may impact its reception, and, uh, some really big chickens.

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A Nice Toast with Jam Mar 18, 2019

It’s Monday and we have so very many games to talk about. After a brief recap of our weekends, which included hours of unboxing videos, racing wheel setups, F1, grappling, and EMT service, we get into it. We’re playing the definitely-political Division 2, the charming but maybe-politically-confused The Occupation, the wildly creative Hynospace Outlaw, and the brilliant puzzler Baba is You. Strap in for a long one today!

Discussed: The Division 2, The Occupation, Hypnospace Outlaw, Baba is You

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Lore Reasons: Kingdom Hearts Philosophy Edition Mar 15, 2019

Seven weeks ago, we at Waypoint set out on a journey to untangle the lore of Kingdom Hearts. Partially, this was for our listeners who trust our expertise in all matters of the heart, but in honesty, it was mostly for ourselves. We, perhaps like you, had been plagued by questions about the Disney-Square collaboration. These were not novel questions, we know, and to series diehards they were simple: Why do so many people have the letter X in their names. Who was Xehanort, and what did it men to be norted? What's up with Mickey Mouse's shirt situation? How many different ways can you write out the sound "key"? What's more powerful, friendship or darkness? We learned, of course, that many of these questions were deeply connected. Especially the one about Mickey's naked chest.

What we didn't anticipate, though, were all of the complex questions that went beyond lore and into the realm of philosophical inquiry: If there are bodies, souls, and hearts, where does the person reside? If some people are drawn inexplicably to the darkness, does that relate some terrible truth about their eternal character? Should we think of the unfractured world (before the First Keyblade War) as an uncorrupted, Rousseauian state of nature or as a violent, Hobbesian land of unrepressed violence? And speaking of repression, what the hell is up with memories?

These are big questions, and we could not answer them alone. That is why Waypoint's intrepid lore master, Natalie Watson, and I followed the example of Sora and sought allies for this difficult journey. Which is why, joining us today are Waypoint columnist Cameron Kunzelman and games academic Michael Lutz, the co-hosts of Game Studies Study Buddies over on the Ranged Touch. Together, we dive into all of these questions and more. Though we left with even more questions to answer, the experience brought us clarity and provoked entirely new modes of understanding. We hope it does the same for you, and if you'd like to dig deeper on any of these topics, a good starting place is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Discussed: The Aura (Benjamin), Neoplatonism, Forms (Platonic and Aristotelian), Existentialism, Identity (Code Switching, Gender Theory, Queer Studies), Dialectics, Ontological Pluralism, Panpsychism, Kingdom Hearts

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Waypoints: That Whole Tyre Scenario Mar 14, 2019

Wait, what is FORMULA 1 RACING doing on a Waypoint podcast? Well thanks to a slow night for Danielle's EMS work, she fell head-over-heels in love with Netflix's new Drive to Survive series. Listen to Danielle and Natalie get caught up in the drama of tire changes and team budgets in the most lavish motorsport in the world, while Rob tries not to hog the microphone or get everyone to sign up for F1 TV. Meanwhile, the gang has been trying to figure out their exact level of dread for a Biden presidential campaign, with help from Jamelle Bouie's column on "The Trouble with Biden". And oh, there is trouble.

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Episode 225: You Ever Feel Like an Orb? Mar 11, 2019

Join Austin, Natalie, Patrick and Danielle for a whirlwind tour of the games we’re playing, in mechs (Left Alive, Titanfall 2), in space (Objects in Space), and in… demon funtimes (Devil May Cry 5). We’re all anxiously awaiting Sekiro in different ways, really.

Discussed: Left Alive, Devil May Cry 5, Objects in Space, Titanfall 2

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Waypoints: The Three Genres: Home, Comedy, Anime Mar 07, 2019

Last week we were reminded of Troop-Cop, who was so troubled by protestors calling police fascists that he had no choice but to club the shit out of them, all in the service of a tacky clothing brand. It dovetailed well with an interesting graphic essay from Nate Powell on paramilitary aesthetics and their increasing popularity among reactionaries in the United States. Then, Danielle's been digging into the latest issue of Heterotopias, where she encountered an essay from María Bonete Escoto on the "slow violence" of environmental destruction portrayed in the Dishonored series. Patrick was delighted by the second episode of Netfllix's Losers series, while Austin has an inside line on some illicit Gundam action.

Discussed: About Face by Nate Powell, Losers, Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS Team

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Natalie Spent Two Hours Playing 'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' Mar 06, 2019

Waypoint doesn’t usually cover games ahead of release. Usually. But y’all know we have a real soft spot for the Souls games, and Natalie couldn’t resist spending a few hours of FromSoftware’s latest, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, at a recent press event. Austin and Patrick hopped on to grill Natalie about why she spent so much time trying to kill a dang fish, what makes Sekiro so distinctly different from previous Soulslikes in in ways beyond just combat and storytelling, and more.

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Episode 224: Smells Like Sea Spirit Mar 04, 2019

Austin returns to the podcast after a few weeks of thinking about mechs, and finding rest and relaxation by staying up until the wee hours of the morning while—well, thinking about mechs. He’s joined by Patrick, Cado, Rob, and Natalie to revisit Kingdom Hearts III as everyone nears the ending (no spoilers!), while also touching on Daemon X Machina, Betrayal Legacy, Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee, the medical world’s recent decision to inflate Patrick’s stomach, and the THQ Nordic/8Chan fiasco from last week. Oh, and for some godforsaken reason, we spend a long time talking about Joe Wright's Pan movie from 2015.

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Episode 223: Pokemon Lets Glasgow Mar 02, 2019

We have some serious Friday energy on Waypoint Radio today, with another check-in on Metro Exodus, a rousing update on how good that gamefeel is in Trials HD, and Cado's experiences with a stylish new action game in Ape Out. Then we get serious about Pokémon, specifically the Pokémon Sword and Shield announcement. We discuss the starters in great detail, perhaps startling detail, and then take a quick dip in the question bucket to kick off the weekend.

Discussed: Metro Exodus, Trials Rising, Ape Out, Pokémon Sword and Shield.

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Waypoints 21: Beep Feb 28, 2019

It's metrics versus the voice of the people today on Waypoints. Patrick just wanted to know which movies are worth seeing, but he's shocked by how much Rotten Tomatoes has become a front for the most asinine battles in the culture war. Meanwhile, Rob has been listening to Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast, particularly his series on the French Revolution. It's a good telling of an incredibly complicated story, but does the framework of a story about revolutions, with protagonists and tragic heroes, have an inherently conservative bent? Finally, Danielle is fascinated by the strange ritual of the NFL Combine, and the weird ways it attempts to use physical measurements to predict future performance.

Discussed: 'Captain Marvel' Review Bombers Have Dropped Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating to Lowest in MCU', Revolutions Podcast: The Three Estates, 'I went through the NFL Combine. These were the most awkward parts.'

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Episode 222: Natalie Knows What Boats Are Feb 25, 2019

We’re sailing into new territories on Waypoint Radio 222, with Captain Natalie at the helm, and Rob, Patrick, and Danielle along for a wild ride of mixed metaphors and new game scuttlebutt. Admiral Rob has a non-digital game to regale us about in Empire of the Sun. Commander Patrick has plenty of Anthem thoughts and notions on the Trials franchise, while First Mate Danielle has stories about Trials Rising and a very effective horror game in Devotion. Finally, Captain Natalie has a truly harrowing and exciting tale for us all in her Apex Legends segment.

Discussed: Empire of the Sun, Anthem, Trials Rising, Devotion, Apex Legends

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Episode 221: Clear Everything, We Need to Talk 'Anthem' Feb 22, 2019

Austin's been on vacation this week, which by Austin's standards means he's been playing Anthem and needs to talk about it. Well, so have Patrick and Cado, so we decided it made the most sense to just sit down and work out our thoughts on BioWare's Iron Man + Destiny game.

Discussed: Anthem

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Waypoints 20: Not As Advertised Feb 21, 2019

It's a hell of a way to run a government on Waypoints this week. Join Rob, Patrick, and Natalie as they discuss a number of eye-opening investigative reports that have left them stunned lately. First, Patrick has been mesmerized by the saga of how local and state government in Wisconsin gave electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn one of the most lopsided deals in US history. It's a story told at the highest level by an article in Bloomberg Businessweek and at the ground level by a dramatic episode of Reply All that shows how a community tore itself apart for the distant promise of a factory. Next, Rob and Natalie have been reading ProPublica's haunting report on the USS Fitzgerald collision. How does one of the most advanced ships, with the best equipment, in one of the most prestigious fleets in the US Navy, end up falling victim to such a routine and preventable accident? There's no one clear answer, but a lot of contributing factors that add up to a portrait of a navy rotting away from the inside.

Discussed: Inside Wisconsin’s Disastrous $4.5 Billion Deal With Foxconn, The Inside Story of an American Warship Doomed by Its Own Navy

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Lore Reasons: Waypoint "Explains" Kingdom Hearts (Part 4 of ?) Feb 18, 2019

Kingdom Hearts III may be out, but look, we’re still working our way through a game from 2012, okay? Welcome back to Lore Reasons, our multipart deep dive into the story and larger mythology driving Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts series. We are not experts, but through the power of friendship (and ice cream), we can try. On today’s episode, we finally catch up to the modern timeline, as we make sense of Dream Drop Distance. We’ll be back in a few weeks with more episodes, including talking about Kingdom Hearts III. Stay tuned.

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Episode 220: A Tale of Two Companies Feb 16, 2019

During a week in which Activision unceremoniously laid off 800 people while simultaneously bragging about record revenue, we find ourselves confused and angry, yet quietly optimistic about the possibility of change. We also explain how economics works. Why pay for a college textbook? You’ve got us! Elsewhere, Patrick, Natalie, Cado, and Rob talk excitedly about the big announcements at Nintendo Direct—Mario Maker 2! Link’s Awakening! Tetris 99! Rune Factory 4!—and wildly speculate about Hollow Knight’s just-announced sequel. Also, is Metro: Exodus any good? Why can’t you put the language into Russian? Questions.

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Waypoints 19: WTF is Glitter and What Is It IN???? Feb 14, 2019

Join host Natalie (aka Ronatalie Zacson), along with Danielle and Patrick for an especially animated episode of Waypoints, wherein we discuss glitter (the substance), Russian Doll (the TV series), and the AAF (the football league). First, we tackle Caity Weaver’s phenomenal investigation for the New York Times into glitter, discussing the shockingly secret industry. Then we talk about the dark, hilarious, off-kilter vibes of Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler’s Russian Doll, about a woman who keeps dying and repeating a particularly weird section of her life. Finally, we help Patrick decide on a team to root for in the AAF, a new football league with the potential to be a developmental league for the NFL. Many logos are considered.(edited)

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Episode 219: Always Drop in Skulltown Feb 11, 2019

We’ve got a two parter on our hands this week—a two parter with a whole lot of time travel. First, Austin, Cado, Natalie, and Patrick sit down to talk Apex Legends, the latest from Titanfall creators Respawn Entertainment. Almost the whole team has been dropping into the Outlands, and it seems like we can't get enough. Then, after the break, Rob taps in for Patrick to talk Sunless Skies, the sequel to Failbetter Games's Sunless Sea. This game's got space trains, zombies, and demons, and it all takes place in...hell?? Next, Cado and Austin give their first thoughts on The Division 2 beta, a game that has in their marketing tiptoed around the politics they use as environmental decor.

Discussed: Apex Legends, Sunless Skies, The Division 2 Beta

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Lore Reasons: Waypoint "Explains" Kingdom Hearts (Part 3 of ?) Feb 09, 2019

Welcome back to Lore Reasons: Kingdom Hearts, our dizzying exploration of Disney and Square-Enix's massive RPG crossover. When we first began to explore Sora's journey through the many worlds of Kingdom Hearts, our memories were fresh from watching cutscene compilations and explainer videos and our bodies were powered by the strength of overpriced beer. But now, weeks later, we have no memories, no beer, and, uh, nobodies. Fuck.

Join us as we respond to some very helpful corrections and then move through three whole games on this week's episode: 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts 2, and Re:coded. We learn more about Organization XIII, the many residents of Sora's heart, the digital world, and, uh... let me ask Natalie, our intrepid Lore Master really quick...

Okay. She says "And Riku was there." So, that.

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Waypoints 18: The Talented Mr. Mallory Feb 07, 2019

On this week's Waypoints, Danielle, Patrick, Austin, and Rob have been completely taken in by the story of a charismatic grifter. Ian Parker's "A Suspense Novelist's Trail of Deceptions" unravels the long, and weird story of thriller writer Dan Mallory's history of audacious and bizarre deceit in the London and New York publishing industries, and the even stranger way that his peers and colleagues have handled that history. Later, the gang discuss Ron Howard's Solo and the "Star Wars stories" that we really want. Everybody hates robocalls.

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Episode 218: Crime and Punishment and Propaganda Feb 05, 2019

So, listen, we recorded this while Respawn Entertainment--creators of Titanfall and Titanfall 2--were teasing there soon to be released battle royale Apex Legends. So blame that on the loose control that Austin keeps on today's episode of Waypoint Radio, which ranges in topic from yesterday's "Big Game" to M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening. I know what you're thinking. Yes, we do have another podcast explicitly for that topic. Oh, well. Sometimes it goes like that.

We do eventually get to video games, though! Hear Austin and Patrick describe what we're enjoying (and not) about successor-to-Advance-Wars WarGroove, Natalie give her Kingdom Hearts 3 update, and Rob introduce us to another detective board game called Chronicle of Crimes. And yes, eventually, Austin does talk about how great Titanfall 2 is, and shares his hopes for Apex Legends while he's at it.

Discussed: The Happening, Super Bowl LIII, Apex Legends, Titanfall 2, WarGroove, Kingdom Hearts 3, Chronicle of Crimes

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Lore Reasons: Waypoint "Explains" Kingdom Hearts (Part 2 of ?) Feb 01, 2019

This wasn’t supposed to become a series. This wasn’t supposed to take more than a few hours. And yet, here we are. Lore Reasons, Waypoint’s multi-part investigation into Kingdom Hearts, continues ever forward, with Patrick, Natalie, Austin, and Cado steering their gummi ship towards the nearest sea salt ice cream shop in search of answers. We can’t guarantee you will learn anything about Kingdom Hearts, but we can guarantee we talk about it. A lot. On this episode, we cover Kingdom Hearts and Chain of Memories.

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Waypoints 17: Fyre Walk With Me Feb 01, 2019

We hope you'll join Patrick, Danielle, Natalie, Austin, and Rob on their astonishing journey through the tragicomic new Fyre Festival documentary from Netflix. Every time they think they've covered everything, Natalie remembers some fresh horror. Meanwhile, Patrick is intrigued by the notion that Bad NFL Officiating Is Good, Actually. Finally, Austin has mixed feelings about GenLOCK, the new military mech series from Rooster Teeth, produced by and starring Michael B. Jordan along with an unbelievably strong cast. Perhaps Austin is just being too picky about his preferred thematic devices, however, because Rob and Patrick are all amazement.

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Episode 217: Please Check Your Credit Card Statements Jan 29, 2019

After spending nearly two hours listening to Waypoint try to dissect the lore of Kingdom Hearts, you might be wondering “OK, but is the new one any fun to play?” Patrick and Natalie have spent some hours with Kingdom Hearts III, and are joined by Austin, Danielle, and Cado to dissect the latest Square/Disney crossover.

But Kingdom Hearts 3 isn't the only thing the Waypoint staff's been playing recently. While Danielle thoughtfully explores the zombie-infested police station of Resident Evil 2, Austin has been pulled deep into its belly, his mind obsessed with the too-perfect structure of its hallways, puzzles, and boss fights.Thankfully, Cado is there to save him with the power of mechs, as the two explore the messy but fun Anthem demo. The crew also has thoughts on Life is Strange 2's latest episode, Metro Exodus' sudden Epic Games PC exclusivity, and, uh, Natalie's bank account.

Discussed: Kingdom Hearts 3, Anthem, Resident Evil 2, Life is Strange 2, Dating Apps, Sandwiches

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Lore Reasons: Waypoint Explains Kingdom Hearts (Part 1 of ?) Jan 29, 2019

A few weeks back, Patrick joked we should take the lore of Kingdom Hearts seriously, and record a podcast about it. Natalie also took Patrick’s dare seriously, and Austin couldn’t resist coming along for the ride. The result is Lore Reasons, a podcast series meant to be a one-off experiment that’s suddenly become own monster of its own. In the first episode, we attempt to talk through the entire Kingdom Hearts timeline, but over the course of nearly two hours, only make it past Birth By Sleep and the opening of Kingdom Hearts. Buckle up, folks.

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Episode 216: Resident Evil 2.5 RE: Never Forget Ya Herb Jan 25, 2019

Last week, Waypoint Radio's special guest Adam Conover made a request: Make the Friday podcast longer. Well, we're not saying this is our new policy, but for Adam and everyone else desperate for more listening material, we hope this giant-sized, nearly three hour long episode provides adequate accompaniment on your journey through the weekend. Where are we going? So many places. Travel with us to a pair of post-apocalyptic futures; to a police station where zombie men in hats kick down doors; to the final days of the Roman empire; to a world of fighter jets, politics, and dog JPEGs. And, of course, to Portia. What's Portia? As you'll find out soon enough, I'm not sure anyone knows...

Discussed: Resident Evil 2, At the Gates, My Time at Portia, Ace Combat 7, Far Cry New Dawn, Metro Exodus, Warhammer 40,000: Gladius-Tyranids, Serenity, Weezer, Eco

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Waypoints 16: 'Roma' and Origins of the Opioid Epidemic Jan 24, 2019

We go from artistic highs to moral lows on this episode of Waypoints! Rob, Danielle, and Natalie have been watching Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, his sweeping-yet-intimate historical drama produced for Netflix. The gang is savoring the fim's beauty, technique, and sensitivity as well as some terrific performances from cast. At the other extreme, Rob has been reading about new information that's come to light about how Oxycontin was marketed, and what Purdue Pharma executives knew about its role in the escalating opioid epidemic, and all the people that enabled their recklessness.

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Episode 215: Adam Ruins Waypoint Radio Jan 18, 2019

We have a very special guest on Waypoint Radio 215: Adam Conover from Adam Ruins Everything came through to chat about games, comedy, and Nintendo nostalgia! Join Adam—and usual co-hosts Danielle, Austin, and Natalie for a more freeform Friday podcast that tackles such questions as finding work-life balance among many tiring projects, asking "why, Nintendo?" and dipping into "true" Monopoly rules.

Discussed: Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Metroid, Monopoly, Adam Ruins Everything, Humans Who Make Games

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Waypoints 15: Tidying Up and Rural Stagnation Jan 18, 2019

We need to get organized on this episode Waypoints, which means it's time to get advice from Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and learn all about both the KonMari method, and issues people have taken with the organization expert and her new reality show. Does she really hate books and mementos, or is that just a misunderstanding of what Kondo is trying to get people to do? Then, Rob has been reading an eye-opening article about the forces that have been preying upon and devastating rural communities for the last 30 years. It's a useful corrective to a lot of simplified narratives of rural stagnation that have been used to excuse bad actors and official indifference.

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Waypoint 101: Mark of the Ninja Jan 16, 2019

In our latest Waypoint 101, Austin, Rob, Patrick and myself dissect the design ethos and over-the-top Ninjitsu stylings of Klei Entertainment's 2012 stealth platformer Mark of the Ninja. We talk about it's strengths—particularly it's very parsable design and complex puzzle-room approach to stealth, it's weaknesses, and it's story and style, and then dip into the question bucket to consider whether this Mark has aged particularly well, or is showing up a little long in the tooth or slow on the draw.

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Episode 214: The Control Room Jan 14, 2019

With Lobby 1 in the rearview mirror, team Waypoint heads to a brand new space to podcast: the control room! That's right, friends, we now podcast with a dizzying variety of screens and buttons around us to dazzle the mind and stimulate the imagination. This week, Patrick is playing New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Natalie and Danielle are into a very cute adventure-platformer with... deep state conspiracy theories... Pikuniku, and a bunch of us have fun AGDQ stories. Natalie also has a bunch of Kingdom Hearts opinions to share, and there is a nice, deep dive into the question bucket.

Discussed: New Super Mario bros U. Deluxe, Pikuniku, Prey: Mooncrash, Bloodborne, Kaizo Mario, AGDQ, Kingdom Hearts(

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Episode 213: Pointless Stuff I Want The Horses to Do Jan 11, 2019

What does open world mean, anyway? Austin, Rob, and Patrick use Patty's recent story about Red Dead Redemption 2's world and systems feeling largely meaningless as a launching pad to work out their larger feelings on open world games, from what we ask and demand of them to where they should go in the future.

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Waypoints 14: What Does Salt Do To Food? Jan 10, 2019

Austin and Rob haven't slept, because Rob decided to clean his apartment at midnight Austin stayed up watching the entirety of Amazon's new series from Sam Esmail: Homecoming, starring Julia Roberts. What does this postmodern corporate horror story have to say about life and work, and how does it differ from Esmail's celebrated USA show, Mr. Robot? Does it suffer from using the "War on Terror" as a backdrop without interrogating it? Meanwhile, the gang has also been watching Nailed It on Netflix, which features plenty of horror shows of its own. Watching amateur bakers come to grips with complicated recipes, Patrick is reminded of his own culinary journey so far.

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Episode 212: It's Time For Some Doink Theory Jan 07, 2019

This past Sunday was the Waypoint Winter Classic, aka the meeting of Austin's Philadelphia "Big Dick Dick" Eagles and Patrick/Rob's Chicago "Did Jon Gruden Really Give up Khalil Mack?" Bears. The Eagles won, and the Bears lost...by a field goal. At the last second. And the ball hit the upright, then the crossbar. Doink. Double doink. Sigh. The group spends the first part of the podcast on a long football tangent, before turning to video games or whatever.

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Waypoints 13: A Look Back at 2018 Jan 03, 2019

It’s 2019, but we’re still looking back at 2018. We launched a super cool new podcast last year, Waypoints, that gave us an opportunity to discuss the slices of culture—politics, writing, theater, anime—that we were already obsessing about in private conversation. Some of our discussions were only about a single episode of a show or podcast, so it only seemed right to circle back and revisit some of the works that stuck with us, and how our feelings shifted. For this episode, that means digging even deeper into the classic TV show Twin Peaks and The City, a podcast about a garbage heap in Chicago, one that hides much darker problems.

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Bonus: Funny Moments and Gacha Games Jan 02, 2019

EDIT 12PM EDT: So, I found a few more clips that I've inserted, including one of Natalie playing a long section of Undertale after the Core, so if you want to avoid spoilers (or just getting really emotional) for Undertale stop listening after the gacha games segment!

Hey y'all, Cado here! I've collected some of the funniest moments from our recording sessions for our 2018 end of year content. I usually start a backup recording way in advanced as we're getting warmed up and ready to go, and a lot of the time some hilarious shit goes down.After the ad break Natalie and Austin discuss which gacha game Austin should play! Happy New Year!

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: A Look at 2019 Dec 31, 2018

Time marches forward, as do video games. It used to be the case that video games went quiet after the holiday shopping period, but no more. Games like Resident Evil 2, Anthem, and Kingdom Hearts III are coming in the opening weeks and months of the new year, so it seemed like a good time for Austin, Patrick, and Rob to scroll through a likely inaccurate list of games coming in 2019 and speculate on what we’ll be playing in the future. Finally, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown can get its time in the sun.

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Our Favorites Games of 2018: Rob and Patrick's Chicago Bears Pro Bowl Snubs Dec 28, 2018

Rob and Patrick deserve a medal for hopping on a podcast by themselves and talking about video games instead of the NFL North champion Chicago Bears the entire time. Somehow, though, they assembled a list of 10 video games they played this year, and walked through what impressed them the most. There’s anime. There’s war. There’s smug vampires. There’s mountain climbing. Heck, we even talk about a bunch of games that didn’t make our lists. Oh, and we did talk about the Bears.

Discussed: Celeste, Battletech, God of War, Vampyr, Spider Man, Tetris-Effect, Dead Cells, Monster Hunter World, Hollow Knight, Northgard, Frostpunk, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Astro Bot, Mutant Year Zero, Foriza Horizon 4, Valkyria Chonicles 4, Amored Brigade

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Into the Breach Dec 27, 2018

In 2018, one game stood clear above the rest—at least for me. That is Subset Games tactical mech puzzler Into the Breach, a brilliant game of strategy, perfect information, and bleak narrative coherence. I wasn't the only one impressed by Subset's work: joining me to talk about how beautifully designed ITB is are Austin, Cado, and Natalie, all of whom had the game on their top ten list this year. We discuss the game's context in 2018, its subtleties of design, and our biggest triumphs (and heartbreaks) with the game's difficult-but-parsable action.

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Austin and Natalie Don't Know How to Shut Up Dec 26, 2018

God. We. So... So here's the thing. We. Hrm. Incredibly deep breath.

When we first discussed doing this new end of year format, one of the things we liked about the focus on podcast discussions was that they would be a tight, focused way to critically dig into our favorites while still keeping the discursive flexibility of conversation between friends. The plan was for each of these to be between 30 minutes and an hour long, regardless of if we were doing an episode on a single game or one on our respective top 10 lists.

Natalie and I went for nearly three hours. Look.

On the plus side: This means that we had ample time to dive into everything we wanted to talk about but didn't have the chance to yet this year. We talk Red Dead Redemption 2, the critical apparatus of the game's industry, and the terrible power of polish. We talk anime gacha games and the pull of comfort play. We talk about giant robots, queer bodies, and utopian ontologies. And, uh, we spent the final 45 minutes or so of the podcast going deep into Undertale spoiler territory.

I guess what I'm saying is: Thank you for your patience. And enjoy?

Discussed: Into the Breach, BattleTech, Monster Hunter: World, Hollow Knight, Hitman 2, Minit, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Sea of Thieves, No Man's Sky: NEXT, Heaven Will Be Mine, Picross 2, Ashen, Frozen Synapse 2, Slay the Spire, Valkyria Chronicles 4, Tetris Effect, Dead Cells, Undertale, Bloodborne, Danmachi Memoria Freize, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4, Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Minecraft, Unexplored, Celeste

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Sea of Thieves Dec 25, 2018

Don't you just the feeling of the sand beneath your feet and that lovely music made by the jingle of gold doubloons in your pockets? The roll of a great ship under your boots, and the sound of your crew's heels a-clicking as they dance a reel on the topdeck? But the call of the Sea of Thieves is unrelenting and like those skeleton crews of pirates long dead, your fate is a peripatetic existence to rival that of clever Odysseus. You'll long to point your toes for home, but you'd best stay en pointe because you never know when you'll have cross swords with another pirate or struggle against the tentacles of giant kraken. How could someone, hearing all of this, just kick back and say there's "not enough to do", or that Sea of Thieves was more a proof of concept than a full game? Let this crew of salty sea dogs, featuring Natalie, Austin, and Rob, discuss their unexpected love for Sea of Thieves with the Pirate Queen herself, Danika Harrod, in whose honor this episode description was composed.

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Danielle and Cado Are On Their Bullshit Dec 24, 2018

Spoilers abound, including spoilers for Undertale and Deltarune! You've been warned!

In today's 2018 wrap-up extravaganza, I had the pleasure of chatting with Cado about our personal top ten lists. We had plenty of solid overlap: Into the Breach, Life is Strange 2 (Episode 1), and Donut County all made appearances on both of our picks, as well as two games we each need to play (Dandara and The Return of Obra Dinn).

Plus, we had fun being extremely on our respective bullshit, with my obsession for immersive sims and weird puzzle games/platformers and Cado's affinity for fighting games and Destiny. It's an all-out love fest for the games that made 2018 a little bit better.

Discussed: Into the Breach, Life is Strange 2 (episode 1), Donut County, Destiny 2: Forsaken, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, All Our Asias, Dandara, Iconoclasts, Deltarune, Return of the Obra Dinn, BattleTech, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Monster Hunter: World, Hollow Knight, Prey: Mooncrash, Hitman 2, Minit, Assemblance: Oversight, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Mario Tennis Aces, Sea of Thieves, No Man's Sky: NEXT

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Episode 211: The Games Keep Coming and They Don't Stop Coming Dec 21, 2018

The end of the year is nearly here—but it ain’t here yet. Even though we’ve basically figured out our game of the year lists and recorded dozens of hours of podcasts looking back on 2018, we managed to sneak in ooooooooone last podcast with Austin, Natalie, Patrick, Rob, and Danielle to talk about a bunch of games (Battlefield V! Gris! Below!) and take a few of your questions.

Discussed: Battlefield V, Gris, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Below

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Hollow Knight Dec 20, 2018

Yes, Hollow Knight was released in 2017. No, Waypoint doesn’t care. It wasn’t until Hollow Knight arrived on Switch earlier this year that Patrick, Austin, and Natalie fell head over insect heels (do insects have heels?) for a game that captured our attention and imagination. Is it any surprise, given the way games like Dark Souls were invoked when talking about Hollow Knight? But the Dark Souls comparison, while apt and important, sells a terrific and ambitious game short, and that’s where this conversation comes in, a chance to spend a long time remembering our terrifying adventures in the deepnest, a deep love for the respectful stag, and so much more.

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: BattleTech Dec 19, 2018

Austin, Cado, and Rob nerd out over their shared love of BattleTech. With a discussion grounded in their own individual relationships and background to the franchise, the three MechWarriors revisit past glories, great moments, and consider the game's evolution over the course of the year.

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Life is Strange 2: Episode 1 Dec 18, 2018

Few could have predicted a game about angsty teenagers would not only be good, but arguably an all-time classic. But lots of people, including lots at Waypoint, fell in love with Max Caulfield and Chloe Price during the first season of Life Is Strange. (In our canon, they kissed.) Life is Strange’s second season shifts the focus from Max and Chloe, reframing its themes of isolation and identity around an immigrant family in Seattle caught up in some serious shit. Only the first episode has been released, alongside an emotional prequel called The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, but it’s already captured the imaginations of Patrick, Cado, and Danielle.

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Our Favorite Games of 2018: Monster Hunter World Dec 17, 2018

Nobody at Waypoint was a Monster Hunter fan before Capcom dropped Monster Hunter: World at the start of this year, but for a feverish few weeks in January, everyone was hunting Anjanaths like our lives depended on it. January was a long time ago, but it didn’t take long for Austin, Natalie, and Patrick to remember how the long-running series finally clicked for them. We remember what worked—the nightmarish sense of scale, how weapons became critical to player identity, the deep satisfaction from connecting a well-timed hit—and what left us wanting—the endless grind, the unexplained systems, the uncomfortable colonization themes—and hoping Capcom finds way to address them in the game’s inevitable sequel.

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Episode 210: Please Don't Clone This Podcast Dec 14, 2018

The concept of game cloning is about as old as games themselves, but there's new, tricky territory to cover here in 2018. Inspired by a few tweets and a GI.biz article profiling Voodoo—the mobile publisher behind Hole.io, a game that sure takes "inspiration" from indie darling Donut County—we discussed the situation this week on Waypoint Radio. Join Patrick, Natalie, Rob, and Danielle as they look at the complications that separate genre and mechanical inspiration, the ethics of farming game ideas with a big checkbook, and the fear that this could have a chilling effect on the spirit of sharing and creativity in the indie space.

Discussed: Hole.io, Donut County, Threes, 2048.

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Waypoints 12: He a Herb Dec 13, 2018

The Waypoint gang has to work through their complicated feelings about the Slate Political Gabfest and, in particular, the worldview they bring to their work as expressed by their recent episodes on the passing of George H.W. Bush and the assault allegations against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Is there a point where centrist punditry literally becomes one with parodies about it? Is the technical language of expertise more about gatekeeping and limiting political imagination than about describing and explaining the world around us? Finally, in our second segment, Rob has been watching the latest season of Hard Knocks and finds a fascinating portrait of a doomed coaching regime planning for a future that will have no room for it. Austin explains what a Herb is. Both topics center on Hue Jackson and the waning days of his tenure at the NFL's worst team.

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Episode 209: December Isn't Safe Dec 10, 2018

December is a big month for a lot of reasons. It’s only a few weeks until we get a few days off, and reset for the new year. The Chicago Bears are playing meaningful football for the first time in nearly a decade. And we’re also feverishly trying to play as many video games as possible, so we can figure out what our game of the year lists are. The problem? A bunch of last-minute games we didn't expect to like so much are forcing Austin, Rob, Natalie, Patrick, and Cado to throw up their hands and totally rethink their list. Who will be sacrificed in pursuit of a pure top 10 list?

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Episode 208: The Game Awards Dec 07, 2018

On Monday we made our predictions: At this year's Game Awards, we'd finally see the new Avengers game, we'd get a 15-30 second trailer for a new Dragon Age game with Solas voice over, and we'd probably be more bored than entertained by the proceedings. Were we right? Well... Not exactly, yup, and, shockingly, not at all, in that order.

Austin, Natalie, Rob, and Patrick talk through the highlights of the show (the Sonicfox, Dead Cells, and Celeste wins; a new Obsidian RPG; Persona 5's Joker joining Smash Ultimate) and the occasional missteps (skipping through some key awards, the failure of the "big 3" to announce anything collaborative despite being on stage together). Plus, Austin offers up some early Ashen impressions, the crew debates the likely outcome of 2Milly's lawsuit against Epic Games, and, uh, Natalie has some thoughts about the Dread Wolf

Discussed: Fortnite, Epic Games Store, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Far Cry New Dawn, Hades, The Outer Worlds, Ashen, Dragon Age, That Egg Fuck Solas, The Pathless, Psychonauts 2, Smash Bros. Ultimate, SonicFox, Celeste

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Waypoints 11: Don Zacny Dec 06, 2018

On a slightly out-of-control episode of Waypoints, Rob has been watching Ordeal by Innocence and enjoying a fresh take on a classic mystery genre: Which posh asshole is murdering other rich dirtbags on an English country estate? Meanwhile, Patrick is working through his feelings about a new parenting trend: Parents who eat lunch at school with their kids. And finally, Austin has everyone listen to the latest season of More Perfect, a Radiolab podcast about the US Constitution. Dismay gives way to anger as we discuss the understanding of law, politics, and power that informs the podcast, and why it feels like such a poor answer to this moment in American political life.

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Episode 207: Keighleys Eve Dec 03, 2018

As the days pass on and the weather gets colder (then warmer, then colder again), we're finally leaving beyond the rush of big AAA fall games. Sure, we still found time to chat about new releases like Just Cause 4, BattleTech: Flashpoint, and (more) Darksiders 3, but under this bright December sun, our focus has shifted: Today, we talk about video game industry news and rumors.

Will we see Dragon Age at the Game Awards? What does Sony's absence from E3 mean for their third party partners? How would you make your dream Avengers game? And hey, what the hell is Obsidian Studios working on? Listen in for our thoughts!

Discussed: Just Cause 4, Darksiders 3, THQ Nordic, Carmegeddon, Get in the Car Loser, BattleTech: Flashpoint, Broken Reality, Dropsy, Hypnospace Outlaw, Hitman 2, The Avengers, Dragon Age, Immersive Sims

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Bonus: Interview with Ark from NYXL Nov 30, 2018

Join Danielle as she interviews Ark from New York Excelsior, our local Overwatch League team! NYXL is in town this weekend to meet fans and play a few exhibition games, and ArK stopped by Lobby 1 to chat about his experiences visiting NYC, his past in Nursing, and how that ties in to being a Mercy main. You can find ArK @Arkyjun on twitter, and the rest of the New York Excelsior team @NYXL.

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Episode 206: A Pirate Pin-Up Nov 30, 2018

Content warning: discussion of bodies (especially women's bodies) and ideal beauty, and references to stalking and sexual assault in 80s movies.

When you look at Soulcalibur's Ivy Valentine, plenty of things may come to mind. She's a tall, dominating (in many senses) fighting game character with an exaggerated pin-up figure and a whip, and she's the subject of Kotaku editor Maddy Myers evolving feelings in a recent piece entitled The Inexplicable Sexiness Of Ivy Valentine. In this episode of Waypoint Radio, Danielle, Patrick and Rob gather to talk about the piece, sexualized ladies in games, depictions of desirable bodies in games and movies, and what it means to reclaim a character for your own, whether they were intended for your demographic or not.

Then we take a dip into the question bucket and ponder the need to "go back!" to previous iconic locations in games.

Discussed: Soul Calibur series, Dishonored, Say Anything, Blade Runner

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Waypoints 10: Burgers, Mechs, and Fighting in the Age of Loneliness Nov 29, 2018

This week, Austin introduces the gang to Evangelion with the first two episodes, and places the series' in the broader context of mecha anime the preceded it. Why is Evangelion so much more explicitly horrifying than most Gundam shows, despite sharing their anti-war politics? And how about that penguin, huh? Danielle has also been watching SB Nation's video series on the history of MMA, "Fighting in the Age of Loneliness" from Jon Bois and Chapo Trap House's Felix Biederman. An often riveting history of sports and martial arts, the series also attempts to put them in context of the political and cultural currents that flowed around them, to more mixed success. But first, Rob has been fascinated by the story of a tiny little burger joint that was destroyed by a rave review... only to learn just before recording that a far more familiar and ugly story of abuse was lurking under the surface the whole time.

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Be Good and Rewatch It- The First Purge Nov 28, 2018

The First Purge is about the first purge, but it’s not actually the first Purge movie. It’s the fourth Purge movie, but set during the first purge in the Purge universe. Still following? No matter, Be Good and Rewatch It is here to help. Writer/director James DeMonaco, who helmed the past three movies, only worked on the script for The First Purge, with Gerard McMurray (Burning Sands) stepping in—a refreshing shift the franchise has badly needed. As we close out our discussion of the Purge series, Austin, Patrick, Rob, Danielle, and Natalie gather to break down a franchise that surprised, delighted, and disappointed us.

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Episode 205: "Ra" as in "Rad" Nov 27, 2018

CW: Discussion of Self Harm, Homophobia, and Transphobia during discussion of "The Missing" at 57-58 minutes in, to around 1:18:00 (time varies with ads, When you hear Patrick start talking about staying home instead of going out bowling you can skip 22 minutes and you will skip this entire section)

It was a long weekend in the US, so the Waypoint Crew has come back with plenty of games to chew on. Patrick has the less-than-thrilling Darksiders III, FromSoft's new VR game Déraciné, and Swery's queer-themed platformer The Missing to discuss, as does Austin. Austin finally beat Battletech, but he's certainly not done with the game. And Danielle has a delightful Frog Detective game and some hands-on time in Hitman 2 to bring to the table.

Plus, there's a lot of chatter regarding "sticky" games and smooth ones you won't want to miss, unless you're about to hit your lunch break.

Discussed: Darksiders III, Déraciné, The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game, Battletech, The Missing, Hitman 2, Golf Peaks

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Waypoints 09: The Sleeping King Doesn't Honor Small Requests Nov 22, 2018

This week's Waypoints has us returning to horror from a new angle. First, we consider the domestic horror of Channel Zero: The Dream Door and what it has to say about the baggage we all carry, and how the past's survival tactics can become deadly as they follow us through life. Then we take a look at The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, which reimagines a famously bigoted Lovecraft story through the eyes of a young black man. How do the horrors that tormented Lovecraft—the vast indifference of creation, the limits of science and reason—change when they're juxtaposed against the daily life of a Harlem hustler and the pervasive cruelty of the society he inhabits?

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Bonus- Motherboard Presents: Cyber Nov 21, 2018

In this bonus episode Austin Walker interviews Ben Makuch, host of Motherboard's new podcast "Cyber", about cyber security, why we always seem caught off guard by each new cyber threat, and what responsibilities large companies like Facebook have in keeping people safe on the internet, followed by the first full episode of "Cyber."

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Episode 204: If Only You Could Talk to the Ghouls Nov 19, 2018

What, if anything, does a sequel owe its predecessors? While didn't realize it at the time, that's the question we chewed on during this nearly two-hour long episode of Waypoint Radio. Some games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, try to satisfy long time fan and newcomer alike. Others, like Fallout 76, eject much of what made the series what it was in favor of new experimentation. Which one of these tactics is right? Or is the truth... somewhere in the middle?

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Episode 203: Natalie and The Fields of Despair Nov 16, 2018

This week's Waypoint Radio is about the anxieties surrounding commercial art and the way they can often overshadow art's cultural value, and how the latter often has more to do with personal meaning and artistic goals than performance in "the marketplace". Our first point of entry to this topic comes via an article by Liz Ryerson, over at the New and Improved Deorbital, called "There Are Not 'Too Many Games': What The Indiepocalypse Panic Ignores". Then we look at a gorgeous personal essay over at Unwinnable by Amanda Hudgins, "The Kentucky State Fair", which ends up providing a way of considering one way of practicing what Ryerson is alluding to. More importantly, it's a story about the place you come from, and the ways you work and experiences can be a gulf between you and the people that you care about.

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Waypoints 08: Music and Legacies Nov 15, 2018

For this week, we have an unusually music-centered episode as the gang welcomes Noisey's Colin Joyce to talk about Lil Peep's posthumous Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2. What does it imply about the what Peep's creative direction might have been, and do the circumstances, assumptions, and compromises around its production complicate its place in Peep's body of work? And then Rob has been listening to Let England Shake as the world observes the centennial of the end of World War I. What does PJ Harvey's Great War-themed album tell us about the nature of the war's remembrance, and how it ties into the self-conception of the British Empire and Commonwealth? And if Harvey's album suggests the insularity and self-deception that was shaken by the horrors and scope of the First World War, is she entirely in on the joke?

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Be Good and Rewatch It- The Purge: Election Year Nov 15, 2018

Most horror franchises don’t survive the transition to a sequel, let alone a third movie. We were pleasantly surprised by the action-y, Punisher-esque turn of The Purge: Anarchy, but there were enough red flags to have us deeply concerned about where The Purge would go with its third entry, Election Year, a movie centered around protecting a bizarre Hillary Clinton stand-in, who promises to save the country, from her political opponents. Austin, Patrick, Danielle, Natalie, and Rob dive gathered around to dive into Election Year, and hope for better things from the final entry, The First Purge. (Spoiler: That one’s a much better movie.)

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Episode 202: Pikachu Noir Nov 12, 2018

The holidays are upon us, which means new video games are dropping fast and furious. That makes it the perfect time to spend a long time talking about...Vampyr? Rob spent the weekend with one of Patrick's favorites from earlier this year, much to his delight. In an episode that was supposed to be "short," Rob and Patrick join Austin to spend nearly two hours also discussing Tetris Effect, how every human being is actually connected, The Gardens Between, the many ways to creatively kill in Hitman 2, and what it's like to cheer for a good football team after years of despair. Oh, and we react to the absolutely wild Detective Pikachu trailer in real-time.

Discussed: Vampyr, Tetris Effect, Skin Deep, Hitman 2, Detective Pikachu, Syndicate, Payday 2

(I left in the team's entire live reaction to the Detective Pikachu trailer so if you'd like to watch along just hit play on the trailer when Patrick does his countdown! - Cado)

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Episode 201: All I Make Is Buckets Nov 09, 2018

With the 200th episode of Waypoint Radio behind us, we turn back to our roots: The Question Bucket. Join Austin, Rob, Natalie, and Patrick as they answer your questions about all of the most important topics: Being disappointed by your favorite series. How to grit your teeth and send your creative work into the uncaring void of the internet. Peanut Butter.

We promised you that Sim City article from Ian Bogost, but we couldn't find it.

Discussed: Peanut Butter, Europa Universalis IV, Victoria II, Sim City, Real Lives 2019, Spent, Red Dead Redemption 2, Bridge, Dance Dance Revolution, Picross, Solitaire, Spelunky, Binding of Issac, Dark Souls, Hearthstone, Netrunner, Legend of the Five Rings, Magic: The Gathering, Slay the Spire, XCOM 2, Subterfuge, Battlefield, F.E.A.R, Destiny, Diablo Immortal, Paper Mario Franchise, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Galak-Z Variant S, Fantasy Life, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, The Heir to the Empire Trilogy, Total War: Medieval, Harry Potter series

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Waypoints 07- Yah Yah Yah Yah Nov 08, 2018

This week, Rob has convinced Austin to watch one of his favorite screwball comedies, My Man Godfrey. This may been a poor choice! (Or the best choice - Cado)

But the main focus in this episode is politics! You want election takes? We got 'em! But first, we need to explore some of the context and history of this political moment by taking a look at McKay Coppins' profile of Newt Gingrich and the brand of politics and the anxieties he represents.

Discussed: The Man Who Broke Politics (article at The Atlantic), 2018 election results, My Man Godfrey (Criterion Collection)

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Episode 200: Let Me Tell You About My Mother Nov 05, 2018

Episode 200 of Waypoint Radio is here! And we worked hard to ensure that it is the quintessential episode. No special guests or new segments or live bands, no, this puppy is stuffed to the brim with the games we've been playing. Austin and Rob have both Red Dead Redemption 2 updates and a sort of Subterfuge post-mortem. Danielle has further thoughts on Call of Cthulhu and a very fun, very 90s-tastic racing game in Grip: Combat Racing. Natalie has her hands full with Dark Souls and Red Dead. And Austin has an extra-special robot game to share with all you replicants out there.

Discussed: Subterfuge, Red Dead Redemption 2, Grip: Combat Racing, Dark Souls, Call of Cthulhu, Inhuman Conditions: A Game of Cops and Robots

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Episode 199: The True Horror of Lovecraft Nov 02, 2018

Content warning for discussion of racism in horror games and movies, and a mention of rape in horror movies at 1:10:00-1:11:00.

H.P. Lovecraft, the author so well-known for his works of horror, his writings on monsters and madness and cosmic horror, was a radically, horrifically racist person, even for his time. So, how do we deal with that, when his influence is all over the horror genre, indirectly through popular tropes and immediately, in games inspired directly from his work, like this week’s Call of Cthulhu? Why are these tropes so enduring, and where do they come from? And how to we wrestle with works that we may enjoy, even if they come from this lineage? Danielle, Natalie, Rob, and Patrick sit down to discuss the new game, cosmic horror tropes, and Lovecraft’s influence in games.

Discussed: Call of Cthulhu, Bloodborne, works of H.P. Lovecraft.

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Waypoint 101 - Red Dead Redemption Part 2 Nov 01, 2018

In the second (and final) part of our Red Dead Redemption playthrough for Waypoint 101, we—ugh—survive the extremely long Mexico section of the game, and revisit the still-memorable finale and epilogue. Red Dead Redemption is a game that's aged weirdly in the eight years since its release, as Austin, Patrick, Natalie, and Rob discover over the nearly two hours spent picking apart the game's conclusion. Some things work, a lot of things don't, and much has changed since 2010. We also sneak in some talk about Undead Nightmare, the game's celebrated horror expansion.

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Waypoints 06: Happy Halloween, Ya Monsters Oct 31, 2018

We have a monster-sized episode this week, as we've all been extremely on our bullshit. Rob was stunned by Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman, a powerful family tragedy set in Northern Ireland in the 1980s. Patrick's troubled by the swiftly evolving dystopia typified by this Planet Money episode on China's experiment in giving citizens "social credit scores". Danielle has been thinking about sexuality and kink as explored in Clive Barker's Hellbound: Hellraiser 2. And Natalie has been watching Laid-Back Campand thinking about the ways it depicts the relationship between self and nature, and how it relates to the historically troubled concept of the sublime. And then [CW: Arachnaphobia] there is an outtake from a conversation from our first attempt at starting the show, in which Natalie talks about various bugs invading her home, urban legends around rats and toilets, and lots and lots of spiders.

Discussed: Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman, Planet Money, Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, Laid -back Camp

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Episode 198: We Finally Played Red Dead Redemption 2 Oct 29, 2018

This week on Waypoint Radio: Austin and Rob are still living Subterfuge, Danielle is getting in to the Halloween spirit with some spooky indie horror games, and just about everyone is finally playing Red Dead Redemption 2. The team then dips into the question bucket to discuss the impulse to monetize or professionalize our hobbies, Danielle and Patrick make a quick and dirty list of their top 5 platformers, and we return to the Dishcourse to ask "What makes a good sandwich, contents or bread?"

Discussed: Subterfuge, Stay, Paratopic, Red Dead Redemption 2, Mega Man 2, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Banjo Kazooie, Mark of the Ninja, Super Meat Boy, Braid

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Episode 197: Rob and Austin Play Subterfuge While We Record a Podcast Oct 26, 2018

During our charity stream last week, Austin and Rob were sucked into participating a game of Subterfuge, a "simple" mobile strategy game built on alliances, betrayal, and taking over your life. It’s even invaded our podcast. Despite this, Patrick, Austin, Rob, Danielle, and Natalie found a way to discuss Fallout 76’s beta, Black Ops 4, Return of the Obra Dinn, Call of Cthulhu, Soul Calibur 6, and Unexplored. We’ll have thoughts on Red Dead Redemption 2 next week, as we only got access to the game a day before it came out.

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Maybe Titled Rewatch Podcast - The Purge: Anarchy (2014) Oct 25, 2018

Patrick, Austin, Danielle, Natalie, and Rob gather to discuss the second film in The Purge series, The Purge: Anarchy, as part of a deep dive into the entire series. Warning: Spoilers abound. Warning: Rob is upset about how people employ tactics. Warning: This movie needed more Michael K. Williams.

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Episode 196: OK, About That OTHER Rockstar Article Oct 24, 2018

On this episode of Waypoint Radio: Austin, Natalie, Patrick, and Rob sit down to discuss the new article by Jason Schreier on Rockstar's crunch culture. They dive deep on what the new info out of Rockstar says about working conditions there, worker's rights in the gaming industry as a whole, and how they hope this new conversation can help bolster real change across the industry.

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Waypoints 05 - Please Loop, Haunt, and Subscribe Oct 17, 2018

It's Wednesday and that means Waypoints, where the site's staff and friends will bring something to share with each other and with you: a TV show, art exhibit, movie, album, or other thing from the universe of pop culture. to discuss, dissect, and enjoy.

This week, Patrick brings us an article that delves into Instagram's harassment problem, Rob revisits 'Looper' to find something less hard sci-fi, more crime movie, and Danielle is getting into the fall spirit by watching 'Haunting of Hill House,' a beautiful blend of very scary horror and family drama.

Discussed: Instagram Has a Massive Harassment Problem by Taylor Lorenz, Looper (Rian Johnson, 2012), Haunting of Hill House' (Netflix)

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Episode 195 : OK, About That Rockstar Article Oct 15, 2018

Content Warning: short discussion on statue genitalia from 45:30 - 46:40

It's Waypoint Radio 195! Or something very much like it! Danielle, Patrick, and Rob are excited about video games! Rob's been playing Oxenfree, Danielle is still playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Patrick has discovered the future of gaming with Astro Bot, and it's virtual reality (or "VR" for short). But before they get into that, the gang just has to read this one Vulture article about the making of Red Dead Redemption 2 and offer a few measured observations. Are 100-hour work weeks good? Should writers offer some context and address some of the criticism faced by the high-profile creators they covers?

We also get ready for our streaming marathon for The Florence Project and interview Development & Research Director Amalia Luxardo about the organization's work on the immigrant detention crisis.

Discussed: Astro Bot, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Oxenfree

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Episode 194: Lucy Lawless Appreciation Moment Oct 12, 2018

On Waypoint Radio 194, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick talk about games where a major character was enough to pull them through some questionable gameplay. We start in on Assassin's Creed Odyssey giving Danielle some serious Xena: Warrior Princess vibes, talk through some good horror games that maybe ran a little long (like Soma and Alien: Isolation), and discuss Rob's time with the Gabriel Knight series. We have a horror corner, a Lucy Lawless Appreciation Moment AND a bonus dad corner this week, and a brief (and funky) dip into the question bucket to round things out.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Soma, Mass Effect, Dragon Age Origins, Assassin's Creed Origins, Alien: Isolation, Everyone's Gone to the Rapture, Gabriel Knight series, Thimbleweed Park, Deadly Premonition, D4, Remedy games, Alan Wake, Frozen Synapse 2, Xena: Warrior Princess.

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Waypoint 101 - Red Dead Redemption Part 1 Oct 11, 2018

Content Warning for discussion of sexual violence and racist language, and spoilers for the first half of Red Dead Redemption

With Red Dead Redemption 2 right around the corner, the Waypoint crew: Natalie, Patrick, Rob, Austin, and Danielle (with Cado on production!) saddled up to revisit the first open-world game in the series, 2010's Red Dead Redemption. Here in our first episode of a two-part podcast, we played up until protagonist John Marston's journey to Mexico, and friends, what a journey it is.

We dive deep into one of Rockstar's least subtle intros, into the finicky mechanics, the one-note characters, the beautiful skyboxes and moments that work—as well as the elements that just plain don't.

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Waypoints 04 - The Wastelands Oct 10, 2018

Content Warnings: Pregnancy-related body horror, harm to children.

It's Wednesday and that means Waypoints, where the site's staff and friends will bring something to share with each other and with you: a TV show, art exhibit, movie, album, or other thing from the universe of pop culture. to discuss, dissect, and enjoy.

It's been a week! Perhaps in preparation for such a week, Rob's been going back to Alan Furst's Night Soldiers series and vicariously taking part in the clandestine warfare of spies in 1930s Europe. Patrick's been reading about Mark Zuckerberg's reckoning with his monster, and the possibility that Zuck may still be surprised by who the real monster might prove to be. Danielle has very mixed feeling about A Quiet Place and the ways it combines horror-movie logic gaps with upsetting gender politics. Meanwhile, Austin has journeyed back to a residential black neighborhood in 1990s Chicago, which finds itself a dumping ground for the detritus of "urban renewal", and a system that doesn't really know what to do with bad actors.

Discussed: Alan Furst novels, Evan Osnos' Zuckerberg profile, A Quiet Place, The Citypodcast

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Episode 193: New York Odyssey Oct 08, 2018

This week on Waypoint Radio: Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Natalie discuss Rob's recent reverie in Forza Horizon 4, Natalie had her dessert first in Super Mario Party, Danielle is catching up with Kassandra in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Austin has a surprising amount to say about Xbox Game Pass.

Discussed: Forza Horizon 4, Super Mario Party, Paper Mario series, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Life is Strange 2, Kentucky Route 0, Oxenfree, Xbox Game Pass

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Episode 192: Hella Good Dialogue Oct 05, 2018

Spoiler Warning for Life is Strange Season One.

It is not easy to write good, believable teen characters in any work of fiction, and that certainly goes for games. On Waypoint Radio 192, Danielle, Natalie, and Patrick talk about games that do teen writing and teen characters well—inspired by this week’s release of Life is Strange 2 (episode 1), and the series that each of us has an affinity for. We talk about LIS and its approach to dialogue, teen media that works, the shows and books we loved as real actual teens, and the dearth of AAA games that attempt realistic teen dialogue (with one notable exception!). Then we take to the question bucket and imagine immersive sims based on our lives, and Patrick gets an excellent dad corner moment.

Discussed: Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange, Gone Home, Night in the Woods, the X-Files, Daria, Twilight, Harry Potter, Gossip Girl, The Hunger Games, Donut County, The Last of Us: Left Behind

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Untitled Waypoint Rewatch Podcast - The Purge (2013) Oct 04, 2018

Waypoint is in the midst of launching several new podcasts, including this Currently Untitled Waypoint Rewatch Podcast That You Should Definitely Help Us Name, where we pick a movie or TV series to watch, dissect, and closely read. Given we’re launching this podcast series in October, it only made sense to start with a genre near and dear to host Patrick Klepek's heart: horror!

To that end, we’re rewatching the entirety of The Purge series, a four-part series about a world where for one night per year, all crime is legal. It’s a goofy, over-the-top premise, but one that’s treated with more seriousness and sincerity than most genre fare, largely because it refuses to avoid the obvious class and racial tensions that would arise from such an event.

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Waypoints 03 - Unreal Reality Oct 04, 2018

This week, we've been trying to figure out what we make of Maniac, Netflix's reality-bending satire from True Detective Season 1 director Cary Joji Fukunaga, starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill (plus a generous supply of superb New York character actors. We see you, Arkady Ivanovich). Danielle has been to Kink Haüs, a show combining dance, music, and performance art to explore different themes around queer identity. Rob has been immersed in the Matt Fraction / David Aja Hawkeye series from 2012-13, and the ways it plays with various structural aspects of comics to achieve something wholly unexpected. Finally, Patrick has been getting spooky as he listens to the Halloween Unmasked podcast, in which film critic Amy Nicholson explores the background and context behind John Carpenter's classic horror movie, Halloween.

Content Warnings: Discussions of racial violence, homophobia, mental health, and self-harm.

Discussed: Maniac, Kink Haüsby Gunnar Montana, Hawkeyeby Matt Fraction / David Aja et al., Halloween Unmasked

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Episode 191: Assassin Big Oct 01, 2018

C/W: discussion of bestiality and homophobia at 1:36:50 - 1:38:15

This week on Waypoint Radio: Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick sit down to discuss the sheep studying mechanics (among others) in Red Dead Redemption 2, how the first episode of Life is Strange 2 finds a new narrative flavor, just how annoying Socrates really is in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, and top it all off with a shout out to the Queerness and Games Conference.

Discussed: Red Dead Redemption 2, Life is Strange 2, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Queerness and Games Conference

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Episode 190: Sword Dad Sep 28, 2018

On Waypoint Radio 190, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick look at the image of the game developer. Spurred on by a recent Eurogamer piece examining early 80s EA advertising for "software artists," and the infamous 2008 New Yorker profile of Cliff Bleszinski, and the image of creatives in our field through the years.

Discussed: Seeing farther: the advert that changed the games industry (https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-09-16-seeing-farther-the-advert-that-changed-the-games-industry) The Grammar of Fun (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/11/03/the-grammar-of-fun), Halt and Catch Fire, SuperStore, Parks and Recreation

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Waypoints 02: The Factory of Sadness Sep 26, 2018

Welcome to a brand-new Waypoint podcast! In Waypoints, the staff and friends will bring something to share: be it a TV show, art exhibit, movie, or other thing from the universe to discuss, dissect, and enjoy. On episode 2, Austin is listening to Serial Season 3, Rob watched Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru, Danielle got into the fall spirit early with a trip to Halloween Horror Nights, and Patrick has a lot to say about sports fandom.

Where you can find this stuff: Serial Season 3: anywhere you listen to podcasts. Ikiru: available for rent or purchase from Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes or as a part of the Criterion Collection, Halloween Horror Nights: https://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/, Hopelessly Devoted: http://www.nfl.com/labs/sidelines/hopelessly-devoted/hopelessly-devoted.html

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Episode 189: Telltale Games and a Radical Rethinking of the Games Industry Sep 24, 2018

Content Warning: During our discussion of labor practices at games studios, the previews for Red Dead Redemption 2 come up and reference is made to a line about horse genitalia from the Kotaku preview piece. Skip minutes 52-54 if you'd like to avoid that, and stop the podcast as Austin begins doing the outro (1:11:22).

On today's Waypoint Radio, Austin, Natalie, Patrick, and Rob discuss the recent sudden closure of Telltale Games, how crunch culture causes a cycle of burnout that is physically unsustainable, and how unions and radical cultural change might be the only way forward. Then they talk about the games they've been playing over the past week, and how Rob totally didn't stab his friend in the back.

Discussed: Telltale Games closure, The Walking Dead: The Final Season, crunch, games unionization, Red Dead Redemption 2, Forza Horizon 4, Heat Signature, The Messenger, Undertale, War of the Ring

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Episode 188: The Internet Ruins Everything, Including Our Sweet Boy, Toad Sep 21, 2018

Content Warning: We begin with the Trump/Toad Discourse

Today, Danielle, Natalie, Patrick, and Rob sit down to talk about the ways in which fandoms interpret works. Why is it that we can find the "horny" in just about any piece of media? When is it inconsequential fun, and when--as in the case of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie--is the question of a character's sexuality something worth taking a little more seriously. Plus, we take a quick dip in the bucket to discuss a piece of lore from Quantum Break.

Discussed: Toad, Mario Franchise, Twin Peaks, Sesame Street, Harry Potter, Quantum Break

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Waypoints 01: Spiritual Awakenings and Moral Renewals Sep 19, 2018

Welcome to a brand new Waypoint podcast! In Waypoints, the staff and friends will bring something to share: be it a TV show, art exhibit, movie, or other thing from the universe to discuss, dissect, and enjoy. On episode 1, Rob has things to say about fascist propaganda, Natalie has entered Twin Peaks for the first time, Austin has things to say about The Dragon Prince, and Patrick has the Nic Cage new horror classic Mandy.

Where you can find this stuff: The Art of Influence Exhibit: Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Twin Peaks: Netflix or Hulu. The Dragon Prince: Netflix. Mandy: iTunes, most VOD services.

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Episode 187: Super Mario's Posse Sep 17, 2018

On Waypoint Radio 187, Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick discuss the epic troll Nintendo pulled on Animal Crossing fans in its recent Nintendo Direct. Really, we talk through all of the announcements from the presenttaion, including Luigi's ghostly form, Switch ports, and that big Animal Crossing on Switch reveal. Then we talk about games we've been playing, including the masque of Red Death, The Messenger, Frozen Synapse, and more. And, of course, there's a dip in the question bucket and some fun announcements!

Discussed: Nintendo Direct on 9/13, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion 3, New Super Mario Bros 3 Deluxe, The Masque of Red Death, The Messenger, Frozen Synapse 2

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Episode 186: Deep Lore Sep 14, 2018

Danielle, Cado, Natalie and Rob sit down to talk lore in games, when it's done well, when it's done poorly, and just why it's so hard to get right. We start with Destiny, a franchise that has radically changed just how it handles lore, and go deep into design that encourages intriguing, rather than eye-rolling detail about a game's world and characters.

Discussed: Destiny, Destiny 2, Bloodborne, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Hollow Knight, Mass Effect, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, System Shock 2, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, BioShock, Prey, Dishonored, Spider-Man, Conservative radio pundits.

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Guest Pod: Queerly Beloved Episode 01 - The Past Lovers Sep 13, 2018

Hey everyone, Austin here! As you may have heard, our sister site Broadly has launched a new podcast called Queerly Beloved all about LGBTQ communities, chosen families, and love--romantic and otherwise. To help them kick it off on the right foot, we wanted to share the first episode with you directly. Give it a listen, and if you like it, make sure to subscribe (and hey, leave a review telling them we sent you!)

Catch y'all tomorrow with a regular Friday ep of Waypoint Radio!

---

Queerly Beloved is a new podcast series from Broadly. Co-hosted by Broadly editor Sarah Burke and Fran Tirado of the popular queer podcast Food 4 Thot, it’s a multifaceted portrait of LGBTQ chosen family—the people who help us figure out who we are and inspire us to live as our most authentic selves.

When Kelli, a self-identified butch dyke, fell deeply in love with dominating cabaret dancer Heather, she already knew she would soon lose her to cancer. But she had no idea that Heather would leave her a list of all her ex-lovers that would turn out to be exactly the queer community she needed while mourning.

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Bonus Pod: Queerly Beloved Sep 12, 2018

We have a little something special for Waypoint listeners today: an interview with Sarah Burke, co-host of our sister site Broadly's new podcast, Queerly Beloved. Queerly Beloved is a multifaceted portrait of LGBTQ chosen family—the people who help us figure out who we are and inspire us to live as our most authentic selves. Waypoint's own Danielle chats with Sarah about the new show, on creating media for queer folks by queer folks, and avoiding pitfalls in queer media. You can listen to the podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/queerly-beloved/id1435920470?mt=2

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Episode 185: That Sequence Rough Sep 10, 2018

On episode 185 of Waypoint Radio, the full team—Austin, Natalie, Cado, Patrick, Rob, and Danielle—talk about the many games they've been playing and discussing. There's some football. There's Call of Duty Black Ops 4. There's a whole lot of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. There's even some serious Valkeryia Chronicles IV chatter. And then, there are some fabulous Waypoints.

Discussed: The Bears/Packers NFL game on 9/9/18, Marvel's Spider-Man, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Valkeryia Chronicles IV, Call of Duty Black Ops 4, Planet Money Podcast, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Exhibit: Into the Light by James Turrell, The Twilight Zone episode: The Lonely, The Giant Robot Series That's a Civics Lesson in Disguise (article on VRV), The Great British Bake Off, Destiny.

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Waypoint Article Read and Discussion: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Sep 10, 2018

Rob and Waypoint Freelancer Dia Lacina get together to discuss Dia's review of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, titled 'Shadow of the Tomb Raider' Tries, but Fails, to Tackle Its Own Colonialism. Dia reads her review, which goes in on the ways in which the game seems to want to contend with the negative elements of the colonialist power fantasy at the heart of the franchise, but lacks substance in so many elements. Then she and Rob buckle down for an in-depth, spoiler-inclusive discussion of the game and it's mixed messages.

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Episode 184: The Puddle in the Bucket Sep 07, 2018

Content warning for some ableist language.

Danielle, Natalie, Rob, and Patrick settle in for an in-depth discussion of "puddlegate"—the kerfuffle that occurred when some gamers thought the new Spider-Man game on PS4 had downgraded visuals compared to its E3 showing. We talk about tech fetishism, elitism, and entitlement, alongside social media frenzies and the media's role in it all. Then, we hit the question bucket and sign off for the weekend.

Discussed: Marvel's Spider-Man, PC gaming, Detroit:Become Human, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Yakuza, The Witcher 3, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Bad Company 2, Red Faction 2, Dead Cells.

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Waypoint Article Read and Discussion: Spider-Man Sep 05, 2018

Austin and Patrick get together to read and discuss Patrick's review of Spider-Man, out this week. Patrick reads his piece, where he praises the game's excellent swinging mechanics, surprisingly nuanced story, and overall world, while throwing some shade at its boring side-quest design.

Discussed: Spider-Man, Batman: Arkham Asylum

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Episode 183: Live from PAX West 2018 Sep 04, 2018

Patrick, Austin, and Danielle hold court live from their panel at PAX West 2018, with a fierce discussion of Gundam, a not-great-seeming game called the Quiet Man, better games like Spelunky 2 and Get in the Car, Loser, thoughts on Streets of Rage 4 with Jeff Gerstmann, and a LIVE question bucket session.

Discussed: Get in the Car, Loser! The Quiet Man, Spelunky 2, Gris, Windjammers 2, Streets of Rage 4, Gundam

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Waypoint 101: Shadowrun: Dragonfall Aug 31, 2018

Content warning for abuse, starting at 1:07:18 in the episode.

Welcome to the shadows, in Waypoint's deep dive on Shadowrun: Dragonfall. Austin, Rob, and Joel dig into the game's aesthetics, politics, characters and scenarios of this cyberpunk RPG.

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Episode 182: Jacksonville Aug 27, 2018

Content warning for discussion of gun violence.

On Episode 182, Patrick, Austin, and Danielle discuss the shooting this weekend in Jacksonville, Fla, where a gunman opened fire at a Madden tournament. We talk about gun violence in America and the increasingly infuriating political landscape surrounding it, then break for a discussion of games and Waypoints for the week.

Discussed: the shooting in Jacksonville on 8/26, Call of Duty, Mobile Suit Gundam: 0080 War in the Pocket, Almost Human, Goldeneye 007, Guacamelee 2, Heaven Will Be Mine, Bad North, The Myth of John McCain (Splinter article), Citations Needed episode 47, Larry King Tries to Voice Sonic the Hedgehog (video), Streets of Rage 4.

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Episode 181: Tactical Parking Lot Aug 24, 2018

In episode 181 of Waypoint Radio, we get very excited about good game tutorials. Danielle, Rob, and Patrick discuss what makes a good tutorial and in-game learning experience, with special attention paid to games they're into right now: Bad North, Dead Cells, and F1 2018. Then they look at some historic examples and take a dip in the question bucket. Note: episode contains a content warning for discussion of Nazi imagery in games.

The King's Bird, Bad North, Dead Cells, F1 2018, Valkeryia Chronicles, Phantom Doctrine, NHL 17, Madden, NCAA Football, the game of football, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, PUBG, Zelda: skyward sword, warioware, Brothers in Arms, GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, STALKER, NOLF, Wolfenstein, Hearts of Iron IV.

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Bonus Pod: Sekiro Hands-On Impressions, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Gamescom News, and More! Aug 23, 2018

Happy Thursday... and happy BONUS podcast day, too! Yesterday on Twitch, we revived the old "VICE Gaming's New Podcast" format to to talk about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Fromsoft's upcoming ninja-action game), which Austin got about an hour of hands-on time with a couple of weeks ago. But that wasn't our only conversation: We also dig into the announcement of the Dark Pictures Anthology, a new series of short horror games by the creators of Until Dawn, the new Daemon X Machina trailer, and other Gamescom news. We also outline our desire for our futures: To live in an RV, play games on the road, and record podcasts and streams from diners. Please, help us make that dream come true.

As a heads up: This is cleaned up Twitch audio, not our traditional podcast setup. Which means that: 1. There's some more background noise. 2. You'll also hear the audio of the game trailers we're commenting on. This happens a few times, so hopefully it isn't too distracting!

Games Discussed: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Man of Medan (The Dark Pictures Anthology), Daemon X Machina, Cyberpunk 2077, Devil May Cry 5

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Episode 180: The Wimpiest Gamer Aug 20, 2018

Content warning for discussion of transphobic language from approximately 38:38 to 41:33.

On episode 180 of Waypoint Radio, Danielle talks about her real-life fighting game, Austin falls down a tactics hole, Rob and Austin are both living out cold-war woes in Phantom Doctrine, and Patrick has become a true Dead Cells Connoisseur. Then, we dip into the question bucket and close out on waypoints from the worlds of film, TV, comics, and other podcasts.

Discussed: grappling, Telltale's The Walking Dead season 4, Phantom Doctrine, Valkyria Chronicles 4 (demo), Mech Corps, Frozen Synapse 2, Frozen Cortex, F1 2018, Dead Cells, console wars and "edgy" marketing, FlameCon, Slow Burn podcast, Nightmare on Elm Street part 2, The Americans.

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Waypoint Article Read and Discussion: Thorin Aug 17, 2018

Patrick reads his recent article, One of Counter-Strike’s Leading Analysts Wants You to Know Alex Jones Rules, before joining Rob to discuss what drew him to reporting on this particular esports analyst, the ongoing professionalization of esports broadcasting, and the harsh reaction to the piece from certain segments of the esports community. Towards the end, they talk about how publishing this piece resulted in a bunch of old photos from Patrick’s college days surfacing, photos with offensive captions that Patrick regrets writing.

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Episode 179: Obsession Session Aug 17, 2018

In Episode 179 of Waypoint Radio, Rob, Patrick, and Danielle discuss the games that we may have gotten a little *too* obsessed with. Rob regales everyone with his sim-racing and Max Payne Antics, Danielle has over 600 hours in Into the Breach, and Patrick has had his share of super-hard platformers to stream to the world. Then we dip in the question bucket and bid the weekend hello.

Discussed: GT Legends, GTR 2, RACE 07, Into the Breach, Spelunky, Max Payne 2, Unity of Command, Killer7, Lost, Destiny, Star Wars, Doom books, Prey

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Episode 178: I'm Talking About His Presence Aug 13, 2018

Content warning for discussion of misogyny in film towards the end of the episode.

On Waypoint Radio today, Patrick, Natalie, Rob and Danielle do a little show and tell on the games they've been digging into lately, including We Happy Few, The Final Station, Rome 2's latest expansion and Breath of the Wild. There's also a SECRET SURPRISE anime game from Natalie, and a whole bunch of excellent Waypoints,

We Happy Few, Sir, You Are Being Hunted, The Final Station, Rome 2: Rise of the republic, Breath of the Wild, Hollow Knight, Is it Wrong to Pick Up a Girl in a Dungeon, Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, The Exorcist (TV series), Gaslight, The Philadelphia Story, Mamma Mia, The Aviator

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Episode 177: Difficult Questions Aug 10, 2018

Content warning for discussion of abuse.

In this transmission from Waypoint Radio, Natalie, Rob, Patrick, and Danielle discuss depictions of abuse in video games: starting with the recent Captain Spirit. They discuss the problems with "redemption arcs" in popular fiction and two major examples in The Witcher series, as well as pop culture characters and real-life figures who contended with abuse in their lives.

Discussed: The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, The Witcher 3, The Witcher series, The Return of the Jedi, The Last Jedi, Lolita.

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Episode 176: New York Rob Aug 06, 2018

We're visited by New York Rob, aka Rob Zacny, to tell his tales of the city. Joining him are Natalie, Austin, and Danielle, all of whom have excellent games and Waypoints to share from the weekend, including Hollow Knight, WarioWare Gold, Dead Cells, and Evo 2018.

Discussed: Hollow Knight, WarioWare Gold, Dead Cells, Evo 2018, The New Museum, My Fair Lady.

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Episode 175: Hideo Kojima's Indoctrination Theory Aug 03, 2018

On today's episode of Waypoint Radio, Rob, Patrick, Austin and Danielle gather to discuss games that attempt the herculean task of ending a series on a satisfying note. There are many threes today: The Banner Sage 3, Mass Effect 3, Dark Souls 3, and more, and, of course, a discussion that encompasses fan labor.

Discussed: Banner Saga 3, Mass Effect 3, Dark Souls 3, BioShock, The Witcher 3, Animorphs, The Walking Dead (Telltale), Metal Gear Solid V, Sherlock Holmes, Half Life, The Leftovers, Herotodus, Fast Lane, Nightmare on Elm Street

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Episode 174: Waypoint League Jul 30, 2018

It's a New York crew episode today, as Austin, Natalie, Cado and Danielle huddle up in Lobby 1 to share our weekend adventures. Natalie and Cado went to the Overwatch League Finals, while Danielle and Austin hung out in space—on the many planets of No Man's Sky and it's big Next update. Then we talk Waypoints and make our way to the end of Monday afternoon!

Discussed: Overwatch League, No Man's Sky NEXT, Mission Impossible: Fallout, GLOW season 2, Destiny 2

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Episode 173: Burnout Ain't Paradise Jul 27, 2018

It's a whole new panel of Waypointers today, as Natalie Watson, Cado, Rob, and Danielle discuss games where difficulty made them make the ultimate decision: do we git gud, or git outta here? Then we dive in to a very meaty question from the bucket concerning work/life balance, school, career, and burnout.

Discussed: Bloodborne, Hollow Knight, Xcom 2, Xcom: War of the chosen, Salt and Sanctuary, Stardew Valley, Into the Breach, Warhammer: Total War 2, Battletech, Destiny, labor in the games industry, mental health and burnout.

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Episode 172: Head in the Clouds Jul 23, 2018

We're deep into our games of choice this week, as the summer swims along. Austin is deep into the clouds of No Man's Sky, Danielle is having a lot of fun with sound effects and new characters in Sonic Mania Plus. Rob is attending to his many wargaming duties. And Patrick, who had a tweet go viral in a rough way this weekend, sought solace in in Hollow Knight.

Discussed: No Man's Sky Next, Sonic Mania Plus, Twitter trolls, Hollow Knight, Fields of Despair, Paths of Glory, Twilight Struggle, King of Dragon Pass, Octopath Traveler, The Guns of August, Horror movies, Farscape, 0-8th MS Team, Sorry to Bother You, bad corporate movie theater drinks, The Rain, Dark, My Hero Academia,

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Episode 171: No Man's Guy Jul 20, 2018

In today's Waypoint Radio, we talk about our extensive interview with Sean Murray of Hellop Games (the creators of No Man's Sky), about the game, PR and hype, its politics, and the controversy that the team dealt with at launch.

Discussed: No Man's Sky, Space Jam on the Sega Saturn, Dream Daddy, Joe Bernstein's piece 'Alt-Right Troll To Father Killer: The Unraveling Of Lane Davis'

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Episode 170: Captain Toad's Wild Ride Jul 16, 2018

On today's Waypoint Radio, the crew of Austin, Danielle, Patrick and Rob is all here to discuss our Switch adventures with Octopath Traveler, Hollow Knight and Captain Toad, and the impressive RTS stylings of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak. Then we take a dip in the question bucket and head home on Waypoints.

Discussed: Octopath Traveler, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Hollow Knight, Sonic Mania, The Endless, Game Developers of Color Expo games: The Last Stop, Solace State, Becker Derby, Zarvot, Omino, Margin Call, Shadowrun: Dragonfall.

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Episode 169: Goose-ifer Jul 14, 2018

On today's Waypoint Radio, Austin, Patrick and Rob chat about recent news in the world and the world of games, including the Mueller investigation, goings on at ArenaNet, and the Reddit kerfuffle at KotakuInAction. We also talk about the Ancestors: Legacy developers and one amazing typo in the code of Aliens: Colonial Marines.

Discussed: KotakuInAction, ArenaNet, Galak-Z: Variant S, Ancestors Legacy, Aliens: Colonial Marines

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Episode 168: ArenaNet Jul 09, 2018

On Today's Waypoint Radio, we start out talking about games like Six Ages and Prey: Mooncrash, along with the true cinematic gem Skybound. But soon enough, we work our way towards the topic of last week's incident at ArenaNet, where two developers were fired for their comments on Twitter, and what that means (and could mean) in the current fraught state of the industry.

Discussed: Skybound, Hollow Knight, Prey: Mooncrash, Six Ages, Labor in the game industry, ArenaNet, PK Dick's Electric Dreams, Rian Johnson and The Last Jedi, Billions

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Bonus Pod: Super Hot Mic Mornings Jul 06, 2018

With much of the Waypoint crew out today, we have an extra special bonus episode of Waypoint Radio for you! We've compiled some of the best bits of Hot Mic Mornings: our new morning talk show where we discuss everything from snackfoods to Animorphs to... laptop stories, and wrapped it up for a holiday podcast episode. We'll be back Monday for your regularly scheduled Waypoint Radio!

Discussed: sauces, Disney Afternoon cartoons, Animorphs novels, Joel Fowler's musical education, Lays snack foods, laptops, Donkey Kong, and much, much more.

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Episode 167: No Collusion, No Kahlúa Jul 02, 2018

Rob and Danielle are off for the holiday weekend, and they've left Austin and Patrick behind to suffer in this bug-hot heatwave. Yet these insects who suffer in this muggy clime find cool solace in the melancholic ruins of Hollow Knight's abandoned bug kingdom, and in a quiet moment they turn to the dusty scrolls cataloging victors of contests long past in order to scrabble together some soothing conversation of more temperate times. Won't you join, and listen? Or does the heat not yet reach your bones? Heh heh heh HEH heh....

Oh, um, sorry. What I meant to say was, Austin and Patrick talk about Hollow Knight, the E3 Game Critic Awards, and answer a question about important media experiences sparking familial connections.

Games Discussed: Hollow Knight, Resident Evil 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Anthem, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel's Spider-Man, Wargroove, Witchmarsh, Fortnite, Tetris Effect, Dreams, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

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Waypoint 101: Mad Max Jun 29, 2018

On this late-but-great edition of Waypoint 101, Austin and Rob are joined by regular Waypoint freelancers Cameron Kunzelman and Dante Douglas for a deep dive on Mad Max, Avalanche's 2015 open world game based on the post-apocalyptic, car-crazed world. They dig into the game's world, characters (including... character names) and politics, with a healthy dose of Waypoint forum discussion. Please note that there is a content warning for a brief discussion of violence and misogynistic content in the game.

Discussed: Mad Max, Mad Max: Fury Road

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Episode 166: Sick of Civility Jun 25, 2018

It's June, and the world is falling apart, but the games are good (mostly), and we all have new and ongoing games to chat about. Austin is playing Mario Tennis: Aces and Danielle held back completely from using a "Love" joke on the podcast. He also played the unfortunate New Gundam Breaker. Rob checks in with Manhattan Project and Ancestor’s Legacy. Patrick is deep into Vampyr lore and enjoying some Hollow Knight on Switch. Danielle has kind words for OnRush, Prey, and the very latest from DontNod, Captain Spirit. Then, we have a lot to say about a rather heavy bucket question about politics in games.

Discussed: Captain Spirit, Hollow Knight, Manhattan Project, Ancestor’s Legacy, New Gundam Breaker, OnRush, Prey: Mooncrash, Vampyr, The Division, Mario Tennis Aces, politics in AAA games.

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Episode 165: Giving It 100% Jun 22, 2018

Today on Waypoint Radio, we talk about completionism—playing games so much, you do EVERYTHING there is to do. Or find every single item or story bit. Or just generally... complete the whole thing. Stick around as well for a quick promo for Science Solved It—Motherboard's podcast about wild science stories.

Discussed: Into the Breach, Vampyr, Mass Effect, The Witcher series, Prey, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Tekken, Bloodborne, Dark Souls, Nier

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Episode 164: E3 and the Cosmic Horror Mooncrash Jun 18, 2018

Team Waypoint survived E3! Well, mostly. Austin is sick, but that doesn't stop us from casting a pod about several games we saw at E3—and a few we've been playing since. We check in on Spiderman, an entirely seperate Cthulu detective game from the one discussed during the show, Mario Tennis: Aces, and Prey: Mooncrash!

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E3 2018 Day 3: StarLink, Pokemon Let's Go, and More Rage 2 Jun 15, 2018

Finally, E3 is over... But before we left the show floor for the final time, we got together to discuss our last day in LA (and video games).

Discussed: The Plague Tale: Innocence, Pokemon Let's Go, StarLink, Rage 2, Reggie, Greedfall

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E3 2018 Day 2: The Last of Us 2, Metro Exodus, Dying Light 2 Jun 14, 2018

We got together to discuss our exciting day two (or... five) of E3, including highlights from The Last of Us Part II, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Call of Duty, Dying Light 2, and way, way more!

Discussed: Dying Light 2, Galak-Z Variant S, Zone of the Enders Mars, Resident Evil 2, Rage 2, Metro Exodus, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, Captain Spirit (Life is strange), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Last of Us Part II, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Donut County, Wattam, Outer Wilds, Yakuza Kiwami 2

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E3 2018 Day 1: Anthem, Cyberpunk 2077, and LA Rob Jun 13, 2018

On the first official day of E3 we saw many, many games. Among them, Anthem, Cyberpunk 2077, Ooblets, Ori and the Will the Wisp, Battlefield V, and many, many more. We were also blessed by the appearance of one LA Rob, a man so badass we had to mention him in the podcast title.

Discussed: Kids, Ooblets, Knights and Bikes, Super Meat Boy Forever, Ori and the Will o The Wisp, Anthem, The Sinking City, Battlefield V, Destiny 2, Control, Ghosts of Tsushima, Cyberpunk 2077

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E3 Day 1: Nintendo and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Jun 12, 2018

Austin and Patrick recall their VICE Gaming's new podcast days and talk Nintendo Direct and their look at the new Fromsoft Samurai Soulslike, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Discussed: Daemon Ex Machina, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fire Emblem: The Three Houses, Fortnight, Chance the Rapper, A bunch of indies, Overcooked 2, Killer Queen Black, Hollow Knight, Octopath Traveler, The World Ends with You, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

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E3 2018 Day 0: Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Sony's Press Events Jun 12, 2018

Patrick, Rob, Austin and Danielle gather after a rousing day of press events and appointments to talk about Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Sony's big press events. We go in on labor issues and Beyond Good and Evil 2, romance in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, THAT KISS in The Last of Us 2, the excitement over the Resident Evil 2 reveal, and hopes and fears about Death Stranding. Plus much, much more.

Discussed: Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Kingdom Hearts 3, The Division 2, The Crew 2, Beyond Good and Evil 2, Sable, Sinking City, Night Call, Overkill's The Walking Dead, Hitman 2, Sega games on PC, The Last of Us 2, Watch Dogs (series), Ghosts of Tsushima, Control, Resident Evil 2, Death Stranding, Marvel's Spiderman.

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E3 2018 Day -1: Microsoft and Bethesda's Press Events Jun 11, 2018

We put on a monster pod tonight, with our impressions from the Xbox, Bethesda, and Devolver press events. We talk about Halo Infinite, Doom Eternal, Gears 5, Fallout 76, Prey (of course), and much, much more!

Discussed: Halo Infinite, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Fallout 76, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Crackdown 3, Metro: Exodus, Kingdom Hearts 3, Forza Horizon 4, The Division 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Session, Devil May Cry 5, Cuphead, Jump Force, Dying Light 2, Just Cause 4, Gears of War 5, Cyberpunk 2077, Rage 2, Doom Eternal, Prey, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Starfield

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E3 2018 Day -2: EA PLay (Anthem, Battlefield V, Sea of Solitude) Jun 10, 2018

On our first day of E3—or day negative two—we discuss EA's press event. We talk Anthem, Battlefield V, Sea of Solitude, and much more, as well as general E3 plans and wackiness. We'll be podcasting each day from E3, so stay tuned!

Discussed: Anthem, Battlefield V, Star Wars Battlefront 2, Unraveled Two, Sea of Solitude, Command and Conquer

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Episode 163: E3 Stands For... Jun 08, 2018

In our pre-E3 extravaganza, Austin, Rob, Ptarick and Danielle discuss hopes and fears for E3, one of the biggest, loudest expos for games each year. They discuss nightmare scenarios, dream games, and the hilarity that ensues when this many people crowd a convention center with too many games!

Discussed: Metal Wolf Chaos, Prey, Bloodborne, Front Mission 5, our E3 hopes and fears

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Waypoint Article Read and Discussion: Agony Review Jun 06, 2018

Please note, this podcast carries a content warning for discussion of sexual violence and brutal misogyny.

Patrick reads his review titled 'Agony,' a Game About Dehumanizing Women, Isn't Just Bad, It's Toxic, and he and Rob discuss the game. They detail the many ways in which the game isn't just poorly designed—a sort of first-person trip through hell—it also has real problems with women.

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Episode 162: Red Dead Faction Jun 04, 2018

Austin, Danielle, Patrick and Rob discuss such monuments of game culture as Space Asshole, the structure of We Happy Few, the new expansion for Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock, and the Vampiric era of London.

Discussed: We Happy Few, Fallout 4, Vampyr, Battlestar Galactica Deadlock: Broken Alliance, Remember Me, BioShock Flotilla Framed Collection, Yuku’s Island Express, Red Faction Guerilla, Game Night, O70 Shake, I,Tonya.

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Episode 161: Labor Pains Jun 01, 2018

Danielle, Austin, Rob, and Patrick tackle the heavily fraught issue of the game industry's talent exodus, where terrible labor practices have frustrated many talented developers and caused them to look elsewhere for their careers. They talk contract vs. full-time positions, pay, harassment issues, and the myths that keep young workers coming to the industry, despite a lack of protections.

Discussed: Simon Parkin's piece on Gamasutra titled The Great Video Game Exodus, the resources page on game workers unite: https://www.gameworkersunite.org/resources

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Episode 160: State of The Decayed Union May 29, 2018

Patrick returns from a week of “vacation” where he made appearances on video game podcasts to ask for advice on how to get rid of the squirrels in his attic. Elsewhere, Austin and Rob could not disagree more on State of Decay 2, Austin gives us his impressions on Days Gone and other games from his recent trip to LA, and Patrick praises Capcom’s approach to re-visiting old, difficult games in the latest Mega Man collection.

Discussed: PUBG, Fortnight, Vacation Simulator, Firewall Zero Hour, Days Gone, State of Decay 2, STALKER, Mega Man Collection, Skyrim, squirrels (not a movie, just the rodent), The Terror (AMC series), Wizard of Legend

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Episode 159: I, Android May 25, 2018

In a sci-fi extravaganza, Austin, Rob, and Danielle discuss a host of questions around androids, AI, robots, and other forms of intelligence. We talk games, movies, and novels that tackle these with grace (and those that do it less so) and dip into some good, heavy question bucket offerings.

Discussed: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Neuromancer, Person of Interest, Moon, Destiny 2, Player of Games (novel), Mass Effect, Asimov's Foundation series, Ascentury (playable at ascentury.net), Soma (with spoilers!)Mass Effect 3 ending (spoilers for the series!), Farscape, Babylon 5, Stellaris, works of China Mieville

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Episode 158: Rabbit Holes May 21, 2018

In a meaty 2-hour-long Waypoint Radio, Rob, Austin and Danielle get down to business talking about E3 Judges Week, slightly broken games that we love (like State of Decay 2 and STALKER), and the ARG Danielle fell all the way down last week.

Discussed: Dreams, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Kingdom Hearts 3, STALKER, Battletech, State of Decay 2, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Asemblance: Oversight, Michal Clayton, Jessica Jones Season Two, Sky Rogue

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Episode 157: Sonic's Little Legs May 18, 2018

On today's Waypoint Radio, Danielle and Rob talk about games that really capture the essence of activities they love. We've got grappling, swimming, and... flying up for grabs. Then they take some question bucket time and waypoints to close out the show. Note: we had some audio issues on Danielle's end this week, please bear with us!

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Episode 156: Coffee Rage 2 May 14, 2018

On today's Waypoint Radio, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick continue some of the impassioned beverage discussion from last week, concerning coffee and water (this time, it's really about coffee), Rage 2's existence, and the disappointment of Total War: Britannia. We take a nice dip into the question bucket after that and close on some Waypoints!

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Episode 155: Top Ten (Or Twenty) May 11, 2018

Austin, Rob, and Danielle get together to discuss their personal top ten lists: their favorite games of all time, and look for trends and outliers. In the process, you'll understand that these are, without a shadow of a doubt, the most Austin, Rob, and Danielle lists you'll ever hear about. Thanks to Skyridge on the Waypoint forums for the thread that inspired the topic!

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Episode 154: Coffee, Tea, Ennui May 07, 2018

Today, Austin, Rob, Patrick and Danielle discuss a very serious matter, brought on by a reader's related query: coffee or water. Oh, they talk about other things too, including Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Battletech, the TV show Barry, and much more. But the core question remains.

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Episode 153: Donkey Humpf May 04, 2018

With all the hyper-focussed pods we've been casting lately, we decided to go ahead and have a good, old-fashioned, Monday-style Waypoint Radio episode (on a Friday) and talk about what we've been playing. Austin, Patrick and Danielle chat about Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Monster Prom, Into the Breach, Swords of Ditto, Far Cry 5 and much more!

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Bonus Pod: God of War Spoilercast May 02, 2018

Austin and Patrick dive deep into the furthest reaches of God of War, for a whopping spoilercast. There are questions asked and answered, observations about Norse mythology, and... not very many dad jokes. As this is a full spoilercast, beware: there are *many* spoilers ahead!

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Waypoint 101: Fortnite May 01, 2018

After a full fortnight of Fortnite, the Waypoint crew (Patrick, Danika, Austin, Rob and Danielle) discuss their adventures on the battlefield. The Battle Royale genre may just be getting started, and so are we.

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Waypoint Article Read and Discussion: Battletech Review Apr 27, 2018

After read of the piece, Austin and Rob discuss Rob's review of Battletech: a grueling, fast-paced tactics game based on the classic franchise. Just remember one thing: this game is all about attrition.

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Waypoint Article Read: Frostpunk Review & Discussion Apr 26, 2018

Join Waypoint Senior Editor Rob Zacny and Editor-in-Chief Austin Walker as they discuss Rob's review of Frostpunk, a post-apocalyptic city builder from 11-Bit Studios, makers of This War of Mine. Rob reads his piece, which interrogates the mechanics and politics of the icy, complex game, and how it reminds him, in surprising ways, of his own history.

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Bonus Pod: A Conversation with BattleTech Composer Jon Everist Apr 25, 2018

You may have noticed that we've been digging BattleTech around here. Between Rob Zacny's review earlier today and last Friday's livestream, giant robots have very clearly been very much on our minds. You'll be able to hear more of my thoughts on the game on Friday's episode of Waypoint Radio, which features Rob Zacny and I doing a huge deep dive into the game. Suffice to say, I love it.

Which is why I jumped at the chance to chat with the game's composer, Jon Everist, and to exclusively feature the above behind-the-scenes look at his process for composing and recording the game's incredible score. In the past, the games of the BattleTech universe (titles like MechAssault and MechWarrior 2) relied on wailing metal guitars to sell a the fantasy of the mech piloting. But in BattleTech, Everist offers a breadth of musical language to communicate a sense of triumph, hardship, and adventure. The game sounds sparse in some moments, with analog synths and distorted strings providing nearly-ambient backing to your life as a mercenary. And in other moments, when the galactic politicking comes to a hard point, the orchestra swells to support the weight of the moment.

When you're done listening, go read Rob's review right here, check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes video here, and check out the soundtrack over at Jon Everist's Bandcamp or on Spotify.

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Episode 152: Avoid the Dud Apr 23, 2018

After a massive 4/20 stream involving Spy Party, Battletech, and building various Nintendo Labo projects, Austin, Patrick and Danielle have plenty to talk about. But there's much more than that on this cast, which includes thoughts on Swords of Ditto, David Cage's latest controversy, and... 60s board games.

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Episode 151: Hit by the Hype Train Apr 20, 2018

With Austin at a work event, Danielle, Patrick and Rob discuss their own uneasy relationships with hype—say, around a game as big as the new God of War—and how they navigate the joys and sorrows of buzz around big games.

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Episode 150: The God of War Minit Apr 16, 2018

Austin, Patrick and Danielle got together to discuss the hulking behemoth of the moment: God of War. They stay away from spoilers, but get at the games themes, combat and sheer size. Then they chat up the Zelda-with-a-twist antics of Minit and get some quality question bucket time.

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Episode 149: No Man's Ad Buy Apr 13, 2018

Danielle, Patrick, Rob, and Austin gather to discuss the topic of game marketers occasionally telling a more interesting story than the game that's being sold. They touch on Far Cry 5, Dead Island, No Man's Sky, Bioshock Infinite and more, with a dash of stories about raves in empty Toys R' Us stores for flavor.

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Waypoint Article Read: God of War Review & Discussion Apr 12, 2018

Waypoint’s Patrick Klepek gives us his review of Sony’s latest entry in the long, bloody God of War series. Watch as he unpacks how a story about Kratos, a violent man who doesn’t deserve redemption, tries to reconcile his past.

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Bonus Pod: Gordon Hayward at PAX East 2018 Apr 11, 2018

During PAX East 2018, Waypoint's own Joel and Rob sat down with Celtics forward Gordon Hayward: himself a competitive League of Legends player—to talk about esports, basketball, and using games as a healthy, competitive outlet while injured.

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Episode 148: Live From PAX East 2018 Apr 09, 2018

Austin, Rob, Danika, and Patrick led a rousing discussion from the Waypoint Radio Live panel this PAX East, with talk of all the games from the show floor - including Phantom Doctrine and Due Process. They also ate some mysterious food, including the mythical McGoosta!

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Waypoint Article Read: 'MLB The Show 18' Dreams of Escape from Politics, And Damn, It's Tempting Apr 05, 2018

Rob Zacny tackles MLB The Show 18 and then talks to Austin about sports, politics, religion, and every other damn thing.

Read along right here: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/gym5yy/mlb-the-show-18-dreams-of-escape-from-politics-and-damn-its-tempting

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Episode 147: 1970s Crimeboy Love Apr 03, 2018

Heads up: We get into spoiler territory for A Way Out from around 20:35 until 36:00.

Everyone on the panel has finished A Way Out so it's time for some final thoughts on the game overall before we dive into a spoiler-rich discussion of the last act and different endings. The gang also digs into the Fortnite phenomenon, as Patrick unpacks the degree to which the game has taken over teenage and young adult culture. Speaking of feeling out of touch with the culture, why do streamers keep using that slur? Judging from the quality of the almost-daily public apologies we're getting, a lot of them still seem shaky on why they shouldn't.

Here's Patrick's piece on Fortnite's tremendous popularity in schools: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/59j9pk/teachers-and-parents-share-stories-from-inside-the-fortnite-phenomenon

Here's the Twitter thread Austin mentioned about how the FGC took steps to reform some attitudes and behaviors: https://twitter.com/HoldenShearer/status/980404490938482688

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Episode 146: Making Your Own Fun Is Fun Mar 30, 2018

Danielle, Austin, Rob and Patrick have been playing a whole bunch of games lately that are more fun to, well, make our own fun in. Like Sea of Thieves, and A Way Out—but also, in streaming Far Cry 5, Bloodborne, and Into the Breach. We talk improv, role play, and all the ways we like to make our own fun in games, and then, read a slew of listener stories about the way they play.

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Waypoint Article Read: Far Cry 5 Review Mar 28, 2018

Austin reads his review of Far Cry 5 and discusses the game with host Rob Zacny. New changes to the structure are welcomed, but Far Cry 5, Austin says, has no confidence and no heart.

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Episode 145: The Poop Goes to Hope County Mar 26, 2018

Austin, Patrick, Rob and Danielle gather around the proverbial campfire to discuss Far Cry 5, a game that does very little with its political ambitions (and fire mechanics), A Way Out, a prison break game that is a little broken, and more tales from Sea of Thieves. Then, we all get into endorsements (which we still need a more original term for.)

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Episode 144: Waypoint's Guns and Games Week Mar 23, 2018

Danielle, Austin, Rob and Patrick took some time today to discuss their week of writing stories about the relationship between guns and games. We interviewed game developers who never shoot in games, an academic who studies the relationship between games and violence (and lack of strong correlation), and wrote and edited critical pieces on games as cultural objects, customizable trophies, and much, much more. We also discuss Canadian pizza, because, of course we do.

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Episode 143: Celebrity Pirate Adventures Mar 21, 2018

Finally, Austin and Danika have a chance to process Drake’s recent takeover of Twitch, while Danielle and Patrick scratch their heads. We talk through our early hours with the surprisingly delightful Sea of Thieves, and introduce a new segment at the end: recommendations from the group. You’ve been, uh, warned.

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Bonus Pod: We Know Games Don't Cause Real-Life Violence, But Why? Mar 19, 2018

As people who play games, we often take the notion that games don’t correlate to real-life violence for granted. But what’s the science behind that statement? How did we get there? To learn more, I spoke with Villanova University professor of psychology Patrick Markey, co-author of the 2017 book Mortal Kombat: Why the War on Violent Video Games Is Wrong.

Like most of the country, all of us at Waypoint spent the last month processing the horror of yet another school shooting, while simultaneously admiring the bravery of the student survivors from Parkland, Florida rising up, demanding change, and pushing back.

In the lead up to this weekend’s March for Our Lives event, Waypoint is publishing a series of stories this week about gaming’s relationship with guns. To be clear, we’re not suggesting playing games, even violent games, causes real-life violence, but as Austin said in a piece earlier from today, “that doesn’t mean that the way guns and violence are portrayed in our favorite hobby cannot test our consciousness or that we cannot be critical of their depiction.”

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Episode 142: Geoffrey Giraffe Sleeps With the Fishes Mar 16, 2018

Austin, Patrick, Rob and Danielle discuss the sad news that is the end of Toys R Us, the store that has always held a special place in our gaming childhoods. We also discuss recent news about Luigi's bulge. It's a very special Friday episode of Waypoint Radio!

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Waypoint 101: Metro 2033 Mar 14, 2018

Sci-fi, Tarkovsky, gender politics, World War II, STALKER, centrism, subs vs. dubs... this Metro 2033-focused episode of Waypoint 101 has it all! Join Austin, Danielle, and Rob for a in-depth and wide-ranging discussion of 4A Games' 2010 adaptation of Sergei Glukhovsky's 2005 post-apocalyptic novel.

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Episode 141: Live, Die, Breach, Repeat Mar 12, 2018

Austin, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick are all about playing mecha tactics game Into the Breach lately, though some have caught the bug worse than others. Austin talks Far Cry 5, Patrick also played Florence, and Rob is all about the low-fi beauty of Command Ops 2. Then, we take a nice, refreshing dive into the question bucket.

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Episode 140: Top 10 Toilets in Video Games Mar 09, 2018

Waypoint published a piece this week about a professor who’s cataloged more than 2,000 soda machines in video games, which got Danielle, Rob, and Patrick thinking about the different ways games choose to represent the most innocuous parts of real-life. It’s always handy to have an excuse to get very nostalgic about flushing toilets in Duke Nukem 3D.

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Episode 139: Call Me By Arkane Mar 05, 2018

Austin, Danika, Patrick and Danielle recount their stories of weekend triumphs, fending off creatures in Hunt: Showdown, wrecking Anjanaths and dragons in Monster Hunter, playing BioShock again and eagerly awaiting Prey DLC. There's also some solid reality show talk and a shred of good advice (we hope!) for new writers.

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Episode 138: I Love It, But I Hate it, But I love it. Mar 02, 2018

Patrick, Austin and Danielle ponder games that have crossed the thin red line from beloved to hated, and how to define where that line actually gets drawn, after all. It's a slightly quicker, but still meaty pod for a stormy Friday!

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Waypoint 101: Black Panther Feb 28, 2018

Austin, Rob, Patrick and Danielle dig into the politics, performances, and problems of Marvel's latest film, Black Panther. During our spoiler-filled discussion, we cover everything from the disrobing of Michael B. Jordan to the frustrating (centrist?) answers the movie offers in response to some of its big questions. Wakanda forever? Wakanda forever.

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'Into the Breach' Turns Mech Combat Into a Tactical Dance Feb 27, 2018

The follow up to 'FTL' isn't the game you might have expected. But it's still a must play. Listen to Austin Walker read his review of the latest from Subset Games, and be sure to stick around for the conversation he and host Rob Zacny have afterwards!

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Episode 137: Her Fit Was Fire Feb 26, 2018

It's an especially monday Monday, but that didn't stop Patrick, Austin, and Danielle from discussing their latest adventures. Patrick's playing Moss, a very cute VR game about the adventures of a mouse named Quill. Austin is all about Into the Breach, a mecha strategy game from the FTL developers. And Danielle is all about Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, but with a few disclaimers (like the fact that Austin did contract work on it). Then they dip into a serious, forward-looking question bucket.

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Episode 136: Will The Real Neocon Please Stand Up? Feb 23, 2018

Most games let you be a “good” person because that’s just how things usually go, but what if more games pushed players outside moral and ethical comfort zones? This week, Rob wrote about how games can uncomfortably reflect who we are as people, which Rob, Patrick, Austin, and Danielle used to more broadly discuss why games don’t ask more from players.

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Episode 135: We Haven't Covered 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance.' Let's Talk About Why Feb 16, 2018

Kingdom Come: Deliverance, an open world medieval RPG set during the Holy Roman Empire, launched earlier this week, and it's already an enormous hit. Waypoint hasn't covered the game yet, partially because we've struggled over how to over a game whose creative director has both publicly and forcefully supported GamerGate and made highly questionable statements about the game's "historical" accuracy regarding representing people of color. Maybe we shouldn't cover it all? On the podcast, Austin, Patrick, and Danielle decided it was time to have a public conversation about all this.

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Episode 134: It's Mediocre, I Like It A Lot Feb 12, 2018

It's a rousing pod today as Austin, Rob, Patrick and Danielle talk about Monster Hunter, "theatrical" minigolf, Dynasty Warriors 9, Civilization 6, All our Asias, and the PS1 aesthetic, and enjoy a refreshing dip in the question bucket.

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Bonus Pod: Austin's NYU Game Center Guest Lecture Feb 12, 2018

Things have been rough lately. The last couple of years have made it incredibly clear that aspects of American culture that many convinced themselves were latent or diminished were only lurking quietly in the background. We've also seen new forces mobilized, driven by fear and nihilism, to dehumanize others—especially those in the margins.

So, uh, where do video games fit into this?

Well, that's the question I was asked by the NYU Game Center, who invited me to give a guest lecture titled "Making and Playing Games in a Time of Political Struggle."

Thanks again for the NYU Game Center for hosting me, Frank Lantz for the post-talk interview, and to everyone who came out, asked questions, and offered their support and interest!

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Episode 133: I Love it, I Love it Feb 09, 2018

Austin, Danika, Patrick and Danielle discuss a whole slew of interconnected stream celebrity issues, first, looking at Twitch and Mixer's new rules. We also look into the curious cases of Dr DisRespect and Logan Paul.

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Episode 132: Fiver Bro and Yakuza Dads Feb 05, 2018

In today's episode of Waypoint Radio, Danika, Austin, Patrick and Danielle discuss Superbowl antics, Monster Hunter, and the excellent pixellated platformers we're playing—including Celeste and Dandara, a Metroid-y Soulslike—before shifting over to Yakuza chat. There will be dads, and especially dads in white pants.

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Episode 131: The Subtle Plotting of Turok Evolution Feb 02, 2018

A lot of video game villains are cartoonish and over-the-top, but as Danika Harrod argued in a piece on Waypoint this week, sometimes games go too far in trying to make the point that evil people are evil. Danielle, Rob, and myself huddled around some microphones to use Danika’s piece as a launching pad for a broader discussion about how games use villains, prompting us to discuss everything from BioShock Infinite to Resident Evil: Code Veronica.

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Waypoint 101: Zombi Jan 31, 2018

In our latest Waypoint 101 excursion, Patrick, Rob, and Austin tackle the grim London of Zombi. Originally ZombiU, an early Wii U game later adapted to other platforms, the game impressed the panel with its tension, early digital video aesthetic, and fresh, high-stakes take on surviving one of video games' most tired settings: the zombie apocalypse.

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Episode 130: Morality 'n Monster (Hunters) Jan 30, 2018

Monster Hunter: World is a very good game, but as Austin pointed out in his review last week, it’s a game that “offers intricate environments, lively creatures, kinetic combat... and a dash of colonialist fantasy." Austin, Patrick, and Rob talk about what to do with complicated (and often contradictory) feelings regarding a video game you’re enjoying, while checking in on Rob’s attempts to survive the zombie hordes in the strategy game We Are Billions.

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Battling the Beasts of 'Monster Hunter: World' Feels Dynamic and Desperate Jan 26, 2018

This new world offers intricate environments, lively creatures, kinetic combat... and a dash of colonialist fantasy. Waypoint's Austin Walker shares his thoughts. You can read (and watch!) the full review at https://tinyurl.com/waypointmonhun

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Episode 129: Detroit: Become Sun King Jan 22, 2018

On Waypoint's day off last week, a series of investigations into Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream broke out of France, outlining allegations of a deeply toxic studio culture. (There are good write-ups on both Kotaku and Eurogamer.) Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick consider this means for one of 2018's more high-profile games, and what we're supposed to with this information when eventually playing Detroit: Become Human. Elsewhere, we discuss our time with The Red Strings Club, Celeste, and They Are Billions.

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Episode 128: MoHun Is Only For Big Boys Jan 19, 2018

With Monster Hunter: World on the horizon, it seemed like the perfect time to discuss the reasons why some games—or game series—have proven tough for us to wrap our heads around. Sometimes, it’s design. Other times, it’s the community around the game. Austin, Danielle, and Patrick hopped on microphones to use Monster Hunter as a starting point for this larger question, which dragged in everything from Dark Souls to Darkest Dungeon. (The embargo is up on World next week. Stay tuned for more!).

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Episode 127: The Long Game Jan 12, 2018

We had a special treat this week at Waypoint HQ, with the whole team in town for meetings, streams, and this very podcast. So Patrick, Austin, Rob and Danielle talked about “forever” games, thanks to two pieces Patrick wrote this week, on a Mario Maker Creator who has spent close to 2000 hours playing his almost-impossible creation, and on a Die Hard Desert Golf fan who found the elusive ending to his favorite game. We chat about our very own “forever” games, from the endless appeal of immersive sims to the promise of near-infinite space in No Man’s Sky, and Patrick gets a very special surprise at the end!

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Episode 126: The Anime Hour Jan 09, 2018

Waypoint loves video games, which is why Austin, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick spend the first 20 minutes of this podcast talking about The Thing and the 80s anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Of course. Later, we discuss the defense-oriented brawler Way of the Passive Fist, re-visiting Breath of the Wild and Horizon: Zero Dawn through DLC, the good boys of Yakuza 0, and more.

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Episode 125: Knee-Deep in the Mythos Jan 05, 2018

With a few different Waypoint editors taking some time off this week, Danielle and Patrick are joined by one of our more regular writers, Cameron Kunzelman, to break down my piece arguing Assassin’s Creed should ditch its sci-fi trappings. Somehow, we end up talking about the Hellraiser movie that takes place in space, a bizarre D&D campaign called Spelljammers, and why we get hung up on the notion of “it’s good for a video game.”

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Episode 124: Happy New Year! (feat: QB [question bucket]) Jan 02, 2018

2018 is here! At least, it should be. This podcast description was written in 2017, so if something happens between now and then, apologies. Maybe it was the alien alloys? In any case, before everyone returns to the office and begins formulating another year of hot takes, Austin, Rob, and Patrick returned to The Question Bucket. Yes, we still have questions from more than a year ago. No, we didn't get to all of them. Sorry.

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Holiday Pod #5: The Video Games We're Most Looking Forward to in 2018 Dec 29, 2017

There are so many games we've yet to finish from 2017, but in a few days, 2018 will be here. Though we've spent much of this week taking stock of the year that was, now's a chance to think about what we'll be playing and talking about in the months ahead. Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick looked through the calendar and came up with four games we'll be hot taking in 2018. (Yes, we're aware one of the games we discussed, Psychonauts 2, has already been delayed out of 2018. Oops.)

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Holiday Pod: #4 Gaming's Most Controversial Trend in 2017: Loot Boxes Dec 28, 2017

Everyone knows video games have to make money somehow, but the question over how games make money became one of the central arguments in 2017, as various big name publishers brought one of the most popular ways to monetize mobile and free-to-play games—loot boxes—into the mainstream. Now, governments around the world are looking into whether loot boxes should stick around. Austin, Rob, and Patrick got together to break down the past, present, and future of loot boxes.

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Holiday Pod #3: Games That Only Appeared on Our GOTY List, Not Anyone Else's Dec 27, 2017

Because there were so many games to love in 2017, there was a pretty good chance our individual top 10 lists were going to include games no one else featured. In an effort to give every possible game its due, Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick decided to huddle around some microphones and propose and champion a game that came exclusively from one of our own lists.

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Holiday Pod #2: Gaming and Politics Went Hand-in-Hand in 2017 Dec 26, 2017

One of the big reasons Waypoint exists was to create a space where it was not only accepted to talk about games and politics, but encouraged. That we stumbled into a year where politics dominated every conversation, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, only underscored our point. To take a closer look at the intersection of gaming and politics in 2017, Austin, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick gathered around their microphones.

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Holiday Pod #1: Games That Narrowly Missed Our GOTY Lists Dec 25, 2017

There's no reason a game of the year list can't be filled with 15 or 20 games, but by constraining the list to only 10 games, you're forced into making interesting decisions about what you truly valued in the past year. Of course, that means leaving some games behind, especially in 2017! For today's podcast, Austin, Danielle, Rob, and myself picked one game that didn't make the list, and made the case for why it's great.

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Episode 123: Someone Explain To Me The Alien Alloys Before I F'ing Explode Dec 22, 2017

In-between preparing for next week's holiday break and organizing our game of the year lists, the Waypoint staff has been unable to shake this weird story from The New York Times that, seriously and soberly, suggests aliens are, uh, real?? With the rest of the Fake News mainstream media ignoring this extremely important story, it was time for Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick to weigh in. Also, machine elves. MACHINE ELVES.

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Episode 122: Gravity Rush 2 Really Did Come Out This Year Dec 19, 2017

There are only a few more days before the Waypoint staff has to finalize their game of the year lists, which means everyone is hurrying through various games, trying to figure out if there's a game they missed (or forgot about). This prompts myself, Austin, Rob, and Danielle to talk about everything from the subtle genius of Resident Evil 7, characters being jerks in Night in the Woods, the bad opening hours of Gravity Rush 2, and more.

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Episode 121: Star Wars: The Last Hot Take Dec 15, 2017

Few movie franchises inspire as many hot takes as Star Wars, and with the latest film dropping, you can already feel the Internet shaking. There are zero The Last Jedi spoilers in this podcast, but the movie's release prompted Patrick, Danielle, and Austin to consider why people so compelled to deliver their opinions ASAP, how hot takes relate to spoiler culture, and more.

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Episode 120: More Like Ready Player None!@!!!!! Dec 12, 2017

A new trailer for Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Ready Player One dropped this weekend, which prompts Austin, myself, and Rob into a longer discussion about Ready Player One as a work, the kinds of films Spielberg is making these days, and more. We also dig into the new desert map in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and why Rob is playing so much Dead Rising 3.

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Episode 119: Bunghole Drip Dec 09, 2017

Earlier this week, the popular crowdfunding service Patreon announced some controversial changes to the way it handles processing payments, and basically nobody's happy about it? To wrap our heads around the rocky future of media and react to 2017's Keighleys, CNET editor editor at large (and frequent guest of Giant Bomb's Beastcast podcast) Jeff Bakalar joined Patrick, Rob, and Austin. We also spend way too much time speculating about a 30 second teaser for FromSoftware's new game.

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Episode 118: Game of the Year 2008 Dec 05, 2017

Austin is playing the extremely long and anime Xenoblade Chronicles X. Danielle is finishing up Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Patrick is working his way through the back half of The Evil Within 2. Rob? Rob's playing Dead Space. If you're wondering why Rob's game of the year list sounds like it came distinctly from 2008, you have your answer. Elsewhere, we turn to the mailbag to discuss conflicts between established games writers and YouTube culture, what genres we've had to leave behind as we got older, and more.

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Episode 117: AKA The Trap Trebek Dec 01, 2017

In this episode of Waypoint Radio Live, we're joined by none other than Scott Rogowsky from trivia app sensation, HQ.

Austin and Danika talk to Scott about his beginnings in stand-up comedy, the transient bliss of HQ, grappling with new found fame, what exactly counts as cheating (no googling!), and the development of the HQ community.

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Watching History Fade Away in 'Call of Duty: WWII' Nov 30, 2017

Waypoint Senior Editor Rob Zacny reads his latest, which tackles Call of Duty: World War II, a game that sends the series back to its roots, and casts a modern warfare gaze on a past that suddenly seems mythic. Find the full article at: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/pa37bn/watching-history-fade-away-in-call-of-duty-wwii

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Episode 116: ZombiUGottaPlayThisGame Nov 28, 2017

Though the holidays can be stressful, time off from work means there's way more time for games! So, there's that. Danika, Austin, Rob, and Patrick reconvened after Thanksgiving to discuss what everyone played over the brief break, ranging from Battle Chef Brigade to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to ZombiU (yes, ZombiU!) to Yakuza 0. Because Patrick didn't play any games, however, he was forced to express my ongoing anxiety about having purchased a robot cleaner. Rob didn't make Patrick feel any better.

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Wolfenstein: The New Order (Part 2) Nov 23, 2017

First up, an apology. Though we’ve tried to find a way to make Waypoint 101 run on a schedule, the bandwidth of Waypoint’s staff makes that really tough. That said, we’re happy to present this three-hour (!!!) podcast in which myself, Danielle, Austin, and Rob talk through the second half of Wolfenstein: The New Order and make sense of the sequel, The New Colossus. We tried to keep things short, but managed to talk for nearly four hours, anyway.

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Episode 115: A Mailbag Turducken Nov 20, 2017

Video games have been especially busy lately, which means we’ve only had time for one or two questions at the end of most podcasts. With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up for many, including everyone at Waypoint, we figured it was a good time to get our hands dirty in The Question Bucket. This helps explain why Danielle, Rob, and myself went on an extremely long tangent about garage culture, and how people lose their minds after moving to the suburbs. We talk about video games sometimes, too.

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Episode 114: Make Star Wars Weird Again Nov 17, 2017

A new Star Wars video game launched this week, but Battlefront II isn’t on our minds right now. Instead, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick used the launch of Electronic Arts’ loot box simulator to look back at their individual histories with Star Wars video games. If you want to hear about Danielle’s special “flight pants” while playing Shadows of the Empire, or how Dark Forces forced Patrick to understand how computers work, this is the podcast for you.

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The New 'Need for Speed' Sees a Future Where Loot Boxes Are in Control Nov 15, 2017

Austin has recorded a bonus podcast for those of you who don't have time to swing by the site to read his latest article, "The New 'Need for Speed' Sees a Future Where Loot Boxes Are in Control." You can find that story (and many others) at waypoint.vice.com, and read it here: https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/9kqvzp/the-new-need-for-speed-sees-a-future-where-loot-boxes-are-in-control

We'll be back as usual this Friday with more Waypoint Radio! Enjoy!

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Episode 113: Comrades, He Does Not Know Anime Nov 14, 2017

Because it’s 2017, it’s impossible to go a day without something big, which is why Patrick, Austin, Danika, and Rob spend a big chunk of the podcast discussing why some people end up harassing developers when they’re upset about a game. Later, Danika discusses her time with Horizon: Zero Dawn’s big DLC, The Frozen Wilds, Rob relays the confusion of entering the world of 4K with the Xbox One X, and Austin accidentally becomes a speedrunner.

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Episode 112 Adam Ruins Dark Souls Nov 10, 2017

We welcome special guest Adam Conover from Adam Ruins Everything for a chat about Dark souls, fairness in games, and how much fun it is to ruin common misconceptions. We also talk seriously about comedy, Louis C.K., and sexual harassment.

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Episode 111: Make a Wish (For A Podcast) Nov 07, 2017

With half the team missing or wounded, Austin and Rob have to conduct an after-hours stealth podcast. Austin's been playing some Need for Speed: Payback and the Longshot narrative campaign from Madden 18, while Rob is really surprised by how much War of the Chosen turned him around on X-COM 2.

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Waypoint Radio Episode 110: Mighty Souls Nov 03, 2017

11-time UFC Flyweight champion (and prolific game streamer) Demetrious Johnson joins Danielle and Austin today for a chat about Battlegrounds, fighting games, and MMA. “Mighty Mouse” came prepared, with plenty to say about streaming platforms, esports casting, and the business of putting on a good show.

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Waypoint 101: Blade Runner 2049 Spoilercast Nov 01, 2017

In an epic spoilercast that lasts almost—but not quite—as long as the film itself, Austin, Rob, and Danielle dig deep into the world of Blade Runner 2049. There are no holds barred here, as they go into the cinematography, politics, race and gender issues and deeply individual reads of the movie, along with a little dose of everyone’s history with the series.

So strap into your spinner (or, uh, audio device) and prepare for a long, spoiler-y journey into Los Angeles, 2049.

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109: The Greatest Time to be a Gamer Oct 30, 2017

This morning, Sony held an event in Paris to make a bunch of surprising (and not-so-surprising) announcements about video games. While we won't be able to play most of them until next year, there was plenty to talk about, especially when it came to some "interesting" trailers for The Last of Us Part II and Detroit: Become Human. Austin, Patrick, and Danielle talk through Sony's news before touching on how much fun we've having with Super Mario Odyssey.

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Episode 108: Intro (feat. Video Games) Oct 27, 2017

Between Super Mario Odyssey, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and Assassin’s Creed: Origins, it’s one of the biggest weeks for video games in a long time. What connects all three of them is that once you start a new game, they have to introduce themselves. Patrick, Danielle, and Austin use the powerfully dark introduction from Wolfenstein II, the botched introduction from Assassin’s Creed: Origins, and the trope-y introduction from Super Mario Odyssey as a launching pad for a larger discussion about each game, and what it means to design a video game's first impression.

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Review: Super Mario Odyssey is a Fever Dream of Creativity and Pure Joy Oct 26, 2017

272 moons later, I've "beaten" Super Mario Odyssey, but it feels like I've only scratched the surface of Mario's latest, a breathlessly creative adventure equal parts surprising and bewildering—in a good way.

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Episode 107: What Happened To NeoGaf Oct 23, 2017

Over the weekend, allegations of sexual misconduct by the owner of the popular gaming forum NeoGAF surfaced. Patrick spent the weekend looking into the story,which turned into a lengthy examination about the last 48 hours at NeoGAF, including comments from NeoGAF's owner, the woman who raised the original allegations, and the moderators who helped run the site. Austin, Danielle, and Patrick have complicated feelings about NeoGAF, so a podcast seemed the best way to work them out.

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Episode 106: Urban White Oct 20, 2017

Earlier this week EA shut down Visceral Studios, leaving many to wonder about the future of linear, AAA single player games. It’s a complex topic, which is why we’re grateful that we got to sit down and talk about it with Manveer Heir, a 12 year veteran of the industry who worked on games including Mass Effect 3, Andromeda, and Wolfenstein (2009). We also dig into issues of representation, toxic work cultures, harassment, and talk about how to make the games industry a better place. We’re optimistic, we swear—it’s just gonna be a lot of work!

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Episode 105: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghoke Oct 17, 2017

Following a weekend where an ex-Naughty Dog employee alleged they were sexual harassed, Austin, Danika, Rob, and myself took stock of the various (and often inappropriate) ways different actors responded to the situation. Elsewhere, we discussed a bizarre but extremely good trivia app called HQ, and after telling a great joke, I shared some initial impressions of South Park: The Fractured But Whole, a game that's likely to be disappointing, even to South Park fans.

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Episode 104: Is the Immersive Sim Dead? Oct 13, 2017

We’re trying something different with the Friday episodes of Waypoint Radio. One, Danielle is the host! Two, the discussion is framed around a single topic. That doesn’t mean we won’t talk about games we’ve been playing (or big news), but generally, this is the new format. In the future, we’ll be announcing topics in advance, so you can weigh in with questions. On today’s episode, the future of the immersive sim genre (aka Deus Ex, Dishonored, Prey) is explored by Danielle, Rob, Austin, and Patrick.

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Episode 103: Children Are Not Whales Oct 10, 2017

Though the beta for Star Wars: Battlefront II just started, it's only added fuel to the fire for a conversation that's dominated the last few weeks of games: loot boxes. Rob, Danielle, and myself weigh in on whether some players are being overdramatic, or if the industry is overreaching in a way that'll quickly backfire. In The Question Bucket, we mull over how boring it can be to play a "bad" character in a video game, the ongoing debate over whether you can like a game when its creators are shitty, and more.

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Wolfenstein: The New Order (Part 1) Oct 07, 2017

It's taken too long, but the second installment in Waypoint 101, where we revisit old games and have a community discussion about them, is here. Austin, Rob, Danielle, and Patrick have played through the first six chapters of Wolfenstein: The New Order, in anticipation of the game's sequel, The New Colossus, arriving later this month. (And also because the real world is, weirdly, full of Nazis again?) There are abundant spoilers, obviously, as we discuss how The New Order was perceived when it arrived in 2014, catching most by surprise, and how 2017's political context has changed perceptions of the game. We'll be back with a second, final episode in two weeks.

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Episode 102: R.I.P. A.I.M. Oct 07, 2017

If you're the kind of person who gets a nostalgia hit listening to the sign-on sound from old AIM clients—yes, the one where the door opens—you're going to enjoy our long conversation about the recent announcement AIM will shut down later this year. Austin, Rob, and Patrick discuss the awkward teenage crushes that played out over the messaging service, before using BuzzFeed's recent piece about the origins of the alt-right website Breitbart as a means of re-examining GamerGate, three years after it all started. (Since this podcast was recorded, the VICE employee mentioned in BuzzFeed's story has been fired. Also, Austin's Internet magically turned back on.)

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Episode 101: All Hail the Algorithm Oct 02, 2017

If games are the furthest thing from your mind right now, no one could blame you. It's why Austin, Danielle, Rob, and Patrick couldn't start Waypoint Radio without reflecting on the (still unfolding) events in Las Vegas, where a mass shooter killed at least 58 people and wounded 500 others on Sunday night. There aren't words for a moment like this, but we try to find them. Elsewhere, we discuss Golf Story, Forza Motorsport 7, Danielle's love of a visual novel about gay baseball players, and answer a Question Bucket email about games based on our favorite albums.

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Episode 100: What if Suddenly the Ground Was Gone? Sep 29, 2017

Does it really count as the 100th episode when we publish two episodes a week? Is that cheating? Whatever, we’re going with it. Danielle, Danika, Austin, Rob, and Patrick all jumped on microphones today to discuss the nuances of the unreleased film Skybound, a movie where (wait for it) the ground disappears, for an uncomfortably long time. After that, we reminisce about Vice Gaming’s New Podcast, before opening up The Question Bucket.

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Episode 99: www.centrism.nfl Sep 25, 2017

With Danielle still on vacation, Rob, Austin, and Patrick huddled together for a quiet, easy episode of the podcast, where Austin would tell us about the surprisingly smart sci-fi Hitman-like game, Echo, and Rob would update on his terrible drinking habits. Instead, both happened, and a question about how to effectively protest took us down a long and winding road about the politics of golf courses, Trump's tweets about the NFL, the exploitation of black athletes, and more. It's a doozy.

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Episode 98: PlayerUnknown's Rob Zacny Sep 25, 2017

We discuss the odd threat against Epic Games about PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds vs Fortnite, the crappy humor of South Park, and more.

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Episode 97: A Town Hall With My Liver Sep 18, 2017

With Austin back from vacation, he joins Patrick and Rob to discuss his experience accidentally playing a fog game of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds with a complete stranger, resulting in Austin chasing down another player, ala Jason Voorhees. Elsewhere, Rob recounts this weekend's botched attempt to play a board game, thanks to a woeful misreading of a bottle's label, and what motivated Patrick to murder an entire bar in Dishonored 2: Death of the Outsider.

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Episode 96: The Legend of Asher Mir Sep 15, 2017

With Austin and Danielle both on vacation, the ol’ Waypoint Radio microphones are only pointed at Patrick and Rob today. Fortunately, there’s plenty to talk about, as we work through our feelings on the campaign in Destiny 2, and whether Bungie should seriously consider ditching a “campaign” for Destiny 3, or whatever they call the next one. Elsewhere, we gush over the new Dishonored 2 add-on, Death of the Outsider, and answer a reader question about the best kinds of games to play when you don’t have much time to game.

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Episode 95: So, PewDiePie Said the N-Word Sep 11, 2017

It's a full crew on Waypoint Radio today, with Austin, Patrick, Danielle, and Rob huddling around a microphone to discuss our thoughts on the weekend's big, crappy event: while streaming PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, the most popular YouTube personality, PewDiePie, used the N-word. Heads up: Several times during the whole podcast, Austin says the word in full.

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Episode 94: The Ol' Bahama Mama Sep 08, 2017

It seems like Destiny 2 is the game Bungie had originally promised with Destiny in 2014, but hey, better late than never, right? The state of Destiny is slightly more complicated than that, of course, and to break down our initial reactions, Austin, Rob, and Patrick are joined by Giant Bomb’s Abby Russell. There’s also some discussion of a place called “Buffalo Wild Wings.” (Some people recommend you get the honey BBQ wings there.) (Also, there are some mild Destiny 2 story spoilers, but they are vague.)

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Episode 93: A Baka Situation Sep 06, 2017

Welcome to episode 93, recorded live from Seattle during PAX West 2017! Danika, Austin, Danielle, and Patrick recount their donuts and grievances, chat about cool games from the PAX show floor, and attend to not one, but TWO question buckets straight from the audience. Forgive us, father, for we are about to sin.

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Episode 92 - Swift Strats Aug 29, 2017

Austin and Patrick hold down the fort with discussion of two strategy games: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Xcom 2's new content. Then, there's a beautiful dive into the question bucket with an unpacking of our previous takes on Taylor Swift's new single.

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Episode 91: The Orange Casket Aug 25, 2017

You know it's a good episode when, right out of the gate, we're talking about pop singles, the political platforms of the pop singers behind them, and questions about why Carly Rae Jepsen isn't more popular. Elsewhere, Austin and Patrick have been playing Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (it's good), and Rob and Danielle join us for a long discussion about how Valve's handled the non-existence of Half-Life 3, in the wake of a Half-Life 2: Episode Three synopsis emerging from a former Valve writer.

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Episode 90: Skeletons Don't Need Hearts. (Or Do They?) Aug 22, 2017

As the fall gaming season approaches, and games like Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and Destiny 2 loom, we take a deep breath and talk about...No Man's Sky. Look, there's a new update out, and Austin needs to get some things off his chest. Elsewhere, Patrick's finished Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Has Some Thoughts on Puzzles (Danielle is halfway done), and Rob recounts a losing battle in Warhammer.

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Episode 89: Friday Night Cyberpunk Aug 18, 2017

Austin is out on a Summer Friday, so Patrick, Rob, and Danielle get down to business to talk about good August games. They touch on Madden's very Friday Night Lights-esque story mode, new content (including ghost trolls!) for Total War: Warhammer, and the pleasures of Uncharted: Lost Legacy as well as the very dark cyberpunk of Observer. Then, they take a dive into the question bucket and get ready for the weekend.

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Big Announcements: New Waypoint 101 and... A TV SHOW? Aug 16, 2017

Not a full episode today, just a couple of quick announcements: 1. Waypoint 101 is coming back and (unsurprisingly?) we're going to be diving headfirst into Wolfenstein: The New Order over the next month or so! 2. Waypoint is going to be on your television. Seriously. Tonight at 9PM ET—and every Wednesday night for the next eight weeks—tune into Disney XD to watch Waypoint Presents, a documentary series that takes you into some of the most interesting stories in the world of gaming. Spread the word about both, and as always, hit us up on Twitter @waypoint!

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Episode 88: Agents of (Sonic) Mania Aug 14, 2017

Austin, Patrick, and Danielle gather to discuss their weekends: starting with the new patch for No Man's Sky and the tragic events in Charlottesville this weekend. Then, they pivot to some lighter fare: the first few hours of Volition's open world in Agents of Mayhem and Danielle's newfound case of Sonic Mania.

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Episode 87: Goodbye Natalie Aug 11, 2017

Austin and Patrick are off getting jersed and on assignment, so Danielle, Rob, and intern Natalie held court—on Natalie's final day as our intern. We chat about PUBG, TitanFall 2, and Tacoma, before dipping into the bucket for a serious dip.

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Episode 86: Nick Robinson Aug 07, 2017

Polygon video producer Nick Robinson was suspended last Friday, “pending a thorough Vox Media inquiry” regarding allegations of serial sexual harassment. You might not be surprised we Have Some Thoughts. Patrick, Austin, Danielle, and Rob used this moment to discuss the confusing world of power dynamics in the social media age, what it’s like to have a favorite creator accused of something grotesque, and why we should avoid demanding “receipts” from people who come forward with stories of harassment. Elsewhere, we celebrate our recent chicken dinner in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Danielle gushes over Atomic Blonde, and Rob tells us why Battle Brothers is giving him pause.

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Episode 85: Magical Legos Aug 04, 2017

We talk Titanfall, Prey, Battlegrounds and Magic Legos on Waypoint Radio

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Episode 84: Not Every Daddy Is A Dream Jul 31, 2017

In a throwback to VICE Gaming's New Podcast, aka the old version of Waypoint Radio, it's just Patrick and Austin on the podcast today. After running through the major games coming out this month, starting with Tacoma later this week, Patrick confesses to having my heart broken in Dream Daddy, which leads to a discussion about how we should judge content cut from a game. In The Question Bucket forces us to examine why people, like Austin, are wrong about Super Mario Sunshine.

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Episode 83: Sword of Trumpocles Jul 28, 2017

Apologies in advance to all residents of Los Angeles who are fans of the city they live in, but the opening moments of this podcast are not kind. As it turns out, Austin has some thoughts on cities, yours included. Elsewhere, Austin discusses his opening hours with the latest from Epic Games, Fortnite, Rob catches us up on his time with Darkest Dungeon, Patrick reminisces about getting everyone killed in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Danielle tells us what #ResistJam is all about.

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Episode 82: Pump-Action Patrick Jul 24, 2017

Today's podcast begins on a somber note, as we say goodbye to Waypoint's UK editor, Mike Diver. Mike was, unfortunately, let go as part of a recent VICE internal reorganization, but Waypoint wouldn't exist without all the hard work he's put in over the years. We wish Mike nothing but the best. Elsewhere, Patrick shares his confusion and joy over the the new dad-focused visual novel, Dream Daddy, while Rob, Danielle, and Austin discuss their hours with the newest game from Supergiant, Pyre.

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Episode 81: Mustard vs. Ketchup vs. Mayo Jul 21, 2017

As Rob Zacny's Subterfuge campaign finally comes to an end, we discover what depths a group of humans will go to stab one another in the back. Elsewhere, Rob, Austin, and Patrick discuss our hours with the fun (but limited) Destiny 2 beta, and what it doesn't tell us about the finished game. Things get heated towards the end, when a debate over mustard, ketchup, and mayo breaks out, with Danielle "Susan Collins" Riendeau casting a decisive vote.

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Episode 80: The Spirit of Marvel Jul 17, 2017

With Austin busy being a "boss" who has "responsibilities," it's left to Danielle, Patrick, and Rob to discuss the latest developments in the game that's slowly killing Rob's life, Subterfuge, before we talk about some of the events at EVO 2017 this weekend, including the way Capcom's botched rolling out its surefire hit, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Elsewhere, Patrick continues to wonder why so many people are obsessed with Kingdom Hearts, and discuss some early hours with Splatoon 2.

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Episode 79: GOOP Presents: Boost Juice Jul 16, 2017

It's like the saying goes: if there's a long running wrestling franchise with deep customization options that leads to people making deformed Kirbys, Austin will be there. Patrick, Danielle, and and Rob are there to help him through this, as we discuss Edmund McMillen's new platformer, The End is Nigh, and Rob's latest scheming in Subterfuge.

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Episode 78: The War on Game Criticism (Part 15) Jul 10, 2017

Over the weekend, popular YouTube creator VideoGameDunkey, known for his funny and biting videos about games, published a 9-minute critique about games criticism. Dunkey pointed his criticism at huge websites like IGN and Kotaku, lamenting review scores, the race to be first, a disconnect between a website's voice and an individual reviewer's opinion, and more. This prompted a lengthy discussion between Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Danielle, before we touched upon Rob's revenge fantasies in Subterfuge and Danielle's time with Hollow Knight.

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Episode 77: Tootin' With Putin Jul 07, 2017

Though gaming might not be moving at the same pace as earlier in the year, there's plenty to talk about. After Austin and Patrick provide an update on our (lack of) chicken dinner in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, he discusses his time with the updated Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, while Patrick laments his inability to jump properly in the Crash Bandicoot remaster. Plus, Rob reveals the fascinating subtlety of pitching in MLB The Show 17, and Danielle updates us on Breath of the Wild's DLC.

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Waypoint 101: Binary Domain [Part 02] Jul 03, 2017

Welcome to the second episode of Waypoint 101, our semi-regular podcast where we, as a group, play through an older game, something we've always wanted to get around to or something worth another visit. Our first series has tackled Sega's Binary Domain, an underrated sci-fi shooter with a story that takes some surprisingly dark turns. We talked about the game's first three chapter last month, and we've returned to discuss the game's conclusion. Join Patrick, Austin, and Rob as we discuss our favorite topic: sad robots.

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Episode 76: Breath of the Battlegrounds Jul 01, 2017

Austin, Patrick and Danielle convene to talk about new Breath of the Wild DLC, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and high-level play in the games we just can't quit. Then, they take a dip in the question bucket and get ready for the weekend.

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Episode 75: Dude, Where's Rob's Car? Jun 26, 2017

After a few days off, Patrick has returned to Waypoint Radio with Rob and Austin. (Danielle is taking some well-earned rest.) Naturally, the conversation turns to "accidental" fraud, the secret motivations to play golf, and, eventually, video games. We muse over Forza Motorsport 7's 100GB download, games reinventing themselves after release, and more.

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Episode 74 - Purloin Your Pokemon Jun 23, 2017

Rob, Austin, and Danielle sat down to take on indie horror games, the many incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, and... imaginary Pokemon. Then, we take a question bucket inquiry from long ago—all the way back in December 2016.

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Episode 73 - Devils Don’t Need No Advocates Jun 19, 2017

Austin and Patrick are out recovering from E3, so Rob and myself were joined by our excellent summer intern, Natalie Watson to dissect the most memorable aspects of E3 2017. We touched on the difficult politics of The Last Night and Far Cry 5, the excitement and energy of Ubisoft and Bethesda’s press events, and the most off-the-rails parts of the Coliseum, and we took a nice dip into the question bucket.

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Waypoint @E3 2017 - The Last Day Jun 17, 2017

We made it to the final night of E3, and we all survived! Join Patrick, Danika, Rob, and Austin for a discussion of Nintendo, our interview with Reggie Fils-Aime and the company’s treatment of fan work, Monster Hunter, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, and much, much more.

We did it, folks! We made it through Waypoint’s very first E3, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

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Waypoint @E3 2017 - Day Two, Which Is Also Day Five Jun 17, 2017

For day two (or five?) of E3—ok, let’s just call it Wednesday night—Austin, Danika, Rob, and Patrick sat down to talk about all the games they saw, played, or got pitched on during a wild and woolly day on the show floor. They take on the wild scale of Beyond Good and Evil 2, the difficulties of The Last Night, the sheer iciness of Frostpunk, and much, much more.

Also, there is a mysterious Red Door. It’s scary.

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Waypoint @ E3 2017 - Fullbright's Steve Gaynor Goes to the Moon Jun 14, 2017

Danika welcomes Steve Gaynor of Fullbright—the studio behind Gone Home and the upcoming Tacoma—onto the show to talk E3 excitement, fans, and setting games in space.

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Waypoint @ E3 2017 - Sony In the Dark Jun 14, 2017

Austin and Patrick discuss their adventures in Sony's E3 booth, with talk of Knack, Detroit: Become Human, Spider-Man, and much more.

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