Video Game Generations

With the Nintendo Switch releasing tomorrow, we combine a history lesson with this week's top ten list to bring you the ten best launch games on Nintendo consoles. They're ranked based on the one best game per console launch, so a weak launch might still rank highly if it included one stellar title. That's up late in the show. Before that, email includes feedback about last week's list of hypothetical game character cross-overs, Gravity Rush 2, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, and a preemtive Nintendo friend request for when Mario Kart releases on the Switch. News includes this week's new game releases (half of those being Switch launch titles) and the free games line-up for Xbox Gold and PlayStation Plus. In gaming updates, Addie has very little to say about what she played (Splatoon on Wii U and The Last Tinker on PS4). My pre-recorded segment includes a wrap-up for Nioh (PS4) after I managed to finish it late last week, and a spoiler-free review of the Portal-inspired first person puzzle game The Turing

Topics from email this week include Sort the Court from Ludum Dare 34, Picross 3D, Broken Age, Nintendo's current place in the console wars, and the recent absence of video games featuring Disney princesses. We have no news this week (although the Xbox Games With Gold for March were announced and I forgot to include them), but plenty of new releases to talk about. Addie's gaming time has still been very limited. She started over in The Sims Freeplay (iOS), and that's about it. My pre-recorded segment is more ongoing coverage of my time in Nioh (PS4), which is starting to throw some really tough late-game bosses at me. Inspired by last week's question about video game crossovers, this week's top ten list imagines games where an important character gets replaced by a different character from some other game, leaving that character to invade a different game, and so forth. What crossovers would you find most interesting? Steam game codes given away this week are BoneBone: Rise of the Deathlord and Insurgency. Li

We haven't been without a top ten list or a game/quiz in several weeks, but the streak is broken. Hopefully we've made up for it in the other segments, including email topics that cover last week's QotW about mid-generation console updates, the next game from Spiders, PS4 remote play using Playstation TV, and video game characters stumbling into a different game's world. Before all that, we have the usual news and new game release segments. And before that, even, listen for more codes given away for a Nioh PS4 dynamic theme and some Walking Dead games on Steam. My pre-recorded segment this week is all about Nioh (PS4). I haven't finished it, and I'm likely not even half-way through, but I cover quite a bit more than last week. We also talk more about Borderlands 2 (PS4) from The Handsome Collection, after Addie decided to try it out in split-screen co-op with her brother and me. Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Color Switch (iOS). She also talks about another tough-to-describe mobile puzzle game called Pape

This episode starts a five-week span where we'll be releasing on Thursday instead of the usual Wednesday. After Addie's volleyball season is over, we should be back to the normal schedule. After all the usual segments (including my thoughts on mid-generation console updates in response to an email, which is also our Question of the Week), I talk about what I've been playing. This includes a pre-recorded spoiler-free review of Resident Evil VII (PS4). Addie hasn't had time to play anything again this week. I count down some of the best crowdfunding/Kickstarter success stories in this week's top ten list. After that, we have codes for two more games on Steam, courtesy of Bill, which happens very near the end since the games up for grabs kind of relate to the top ten list. To wrap up, this week's ending music is the safe room song from Resident Evil 7. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

We have a plan for working around Addie's volleyball schedule. Starting next week with episode 135, we'll record one day late (Wednesday) and release on Thursday. After five weeks of this, we should be back to our usual Wednesday releases in mid-March with episode 140. So just a heads up on that. After three more Steam code give-aways, news and new releases, we have several emails from listeners to share. This includes many suggestions for family-friendly tech/geek/game podcasts, thoughts on the Nintendo Switch as it relates to the more mainstream consoles from Sony and Microsoft, a suggestion for a new top ten list for a future episode, another reaction to a prior top ten list, and thoughts on TellTale's Batman and the cult of Pokemon (disclaimer: not a real cult). In game chat, I talk a little about the split-screen co-op I played with Addie's brother Heath this weekend (Perfect Dark Zero backwards compatible on Xbox One, and Borderlands 2 from The Handsome Collection on PS4). Addie played nothing, or so sh

Two more games on Steam are given away, scavenger hunt style, in this week's episode. From the looks of things, we have Steam codes to last a long time. Then after the news, Addie helps out with this week's new game releases in a segment you might consider Alternate Facts. In email, we learn that last week's top ten list about video game abilities I wish I had in real life was a hit, and we talk a little about what influences us to buy any new game console. That's our question of the week for listeners. Write in and let us know what you look for when deciding if a brand new console is right for you. For instance, are you getting a Switch? Addie talks about Call of Duty 2 split-screen again (Xbox 360) and AdVenture Capitalist (iOS). My pre-recorded segment is a partial review of Gravity Rush 2 (PS4), or, if you prefer, my lengthy opening thoughts on what I've played so far. This week's top ten list is inspired by Pawel's list from last week's email. This time, I count down my favorite 1000 gamerscore or platin

A big topic this week is the Nintendo Switch. Addie missed the details we've been getting lately about this upcoming hybrid handheld/home console, so it's mainly me filling her in on the launch line-up, future releases to be excited about, and more. We also go over this week's new releases. Email returns in a big way, with comments and questions from new and long-time listeners alike. To answer one, we need your help. Can you suggest and recommend any other family-friendly podcasts that would be suitable for listening when kids are around, such as for a long commute? It doesn't have to be just video games. Anything tech or geeky works too. Movies? Comics? New gadgets? Let us know, and we'll share the suggestions on our next episode. In other email, it's a duo of top ten lists. Bill writes in with the top ten games he missed in 2016 but hopes to play this year. Pawel includes his top ten favorite platinum trophies earned, in an email that also includes The Last Guardian, made-up languages in games, and the odd

Free game codes return this week, with Broken Age on GOG and Eidolon on Steam. They're one-use codes, so the first listener to redeem them gets them. Let us know via email or Twitter if you redeem one or both. There are plenty more to come over the next few weeks, mostly for games on Steam. If you have an OUYA, though, let me know, because I also have a Broken Age code on OUYA you can have. There wasn't any email this week, but we have news, new releases, and a long-dormant Time Travel segment where I correct and revisit a few things from last week's huge year-end wrap-up episode. This leads into my top ten list for the week, in which I talk briefly about the games from 2016 I didn't play, but hope to in 2017. Addie's Mobile Game of the Week is Bowmasters (iOS). In two separate pre-recorded segments, I review The Fall (PS4) and Gravity Rush Remastered (PS4). The ending music this week is from Gravity Rush. It's the old town theme, from the game's first area, and it somehow reminds me of music from Ni No Kuni!

Wow. What a year! Don't believe the naysayers when they complain that 2016 was a poor year for video games. It was superb. Fantastic. Incredible. So many wonderful games came out in 2016, and in this episode, we remember many of the very best. And the less-than-best. And a ton more. First, though, it's our usual segments, including the free PlayStation plus offerings for January, and listener email. Email includes another audio recording from Christian, thoughts on how the podcast has changed since our early episodes, the games our listeners are playing, whether TV and movies should factor into understanding a game's story, whether trophies and achievements should factor into game reviews, and listerners' top games played in 2016. There's a lot to discuss here. In game updates, Addie talks about Rolling Sky (iOS), I have a pre-recorded wrap-up for VVVVVV (3DS/Vita), reviews of Battlefield 1 (PS4) and Titanfall 2 (PS4), and Bill recaps everything he played in 2016. I should have mentioned earlier that part-tim

In our last episode of 2016, most of our usual segments are absent; no news, just one new release, and no new email this week. I do have impressions of the Assassin's Creed movie, so there's that. Addie talks about Ms. Splosion Man (Xbox 360) and Escape From Adventure Island (Wii). My pre-recorded segment includes a short review of VVVVVV (3DS - also free on Vita with PlayStation Plus this month), although I haven't finished it yet. After that, I have a much longer review of Final Fantasy XV (PS4), without any story spoilers. It's yet another reason why 2016 has been a great year for games. Following that is a new top ten list, combined with a quiz for Addie. I list ten common elements from the Final Fantasy series, and Addie tries to guess what each one actually means. We wrap up with some reflection and fond memories of the year in gaming, but a more complete year-end wrap-up and 2017 look-ahead will be next week, when Bill joins us for episode 130. The ending music this week is straight outta Final Fantasy

With 2016 nearly over, we have just one more episode next week, before the start of 2017. There's still plenty of time to email us your top 3 or 5 or even a whole top 10 favorite games of 2016 list, and we'll read those on episode 130 at the beginning of January. Be sure to include a line or two about each game, so we know why they're your favorites. After this week's usual news, new releases and email segments, Heath and Hadleigh are back with a pre-recorded Mini-Gamers episode 15. It's much longer than usual. It ends with a surprisingly difficult round of 20 Questions, despite the game I thought of being pretty much their favorite game ever. After that, Addie and I talk more about JumpStart's Escape From Adventure Island (Wii), which has been nostalgic for Addie as a game she first started way back when she was new to video games. Her Mobile Game of the Week is Adventure Capitalist (iOS). We also talk a little about Super Mario Run (iOS), although neither of us play much of it. My pre-recorded segment is a

Finally, after a decade of waiting made longer by a business trip the week of its release, I played The Last Guardian (PS4). Late in the episode are my thoughts on this much-hyped, long-awaited follow-up to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Was it worth the wait? I answer this and more in my spoiler-free review. This week's assortment of listener email makes up for last week's absence of any. This includes an audio message from Christian, where he talks briefly about two games he's currently playing (Broken Age and Grim Dawn). Before that, Addie once again makes up stories about this week's new releases. We have no gaming news this week, but two download codes are given out, fill-in-the-blank style, where you can get either Wasteland 2 Director's Cut on Stream, or a couple extras for The Last Guardian on PS4, even if you don't have the game. That code is for the mini-soundtrack sampler, and a desktop theme. If you redeem either of these, be sure to let us know! My pre-recorded segment includes an update on Phoe

More news than usual this week is a result of the recently-held PSX (PlayStation Experience). It's no surprise that we couldn't attend, but we're rounding up some of the best announcements. This also includes my pre-recorded impressions of the 2016 Game Awards in a recap/wrap-up segment. This week's new releases and the December free games for PlayStation Plus round out the news. We had no email this week, but there's plenty to talk about, gaming-wise. Addie played a few missions in the campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (PS4). It seems that she's enjoying this more grown-up game, although I spend a while afterwards openly wondering whether or not she needs to wait a couple more years. In my pre-recorded segment, I have opening impressions on Suda 51's latest, a free-to-play action RPG called Let it Die (PS4). The segment also includes two reviews of shorter games I played this week, Virginia (PS4) and The Unfinished Swan (PS4/Vita). Bookending the episode, I give out an Ultraviolet digital

Getting a later start than usual for recording, we decided to skip 20 Questions. I didn't have a Top 10 list prepared either. We're here with all the other usual stuff, though, including email, where Addie and I get an excuse to reminisce about Castle Crashers (Xbox 360). Heath's segment, Mini-Gamers, returns for its fourteenth episode. I also have a pre-recorded review of Watch_Dogs 2 (PS4) late in the episode. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

IFComp 2016 has ended, so this week includes a countdown of the official top ten winners, plus listener Nikhil's IFComp wrap-up in email. We cover this week's news and new releases too, as usual. In game chat, Addie has plenty to talk about. Her Mobile Game of the Week is The Sims Freeplay (iOS), which she also talked about last week. Plus Poptropica. Plus Virginia (PS4), which she played start to finish. Plus Psychonauts (PS2 on PS4), which she only just started. We recorded early due to a scheduling conflict, so I didn't know at the time that my post-recorded review of Dishonored 2 (PS4) was going to be a twenty minute epic. Sorry about that. Or you're welcome, depending on how you feel about long reviews. Toward the end, Addie plays video game "Who Am I?" (twenty questions). After we wrap up, I thought it fitting to include a sad little song from the Dust District in Dishonored 2. Enjoy! Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

We have a lot going on in this episode. I found a safe solution for fixing loose discs in unopened PS4 cases, which I explain in detail. Then it's the usual segments of news, new releases and email. Email topics include the one-year anniversary of the Star Wars Battlefront podcast (friends and long-time listeners of Video Game Generations), the physical vs. digital future debate, Steins Gate, the recently-crowdfunded Wasteland 3, feedback about my Mafia III review, PSVR, and more. We also have a PSN code for the Playstation 4 version of Dishonored: Definitive Edition to give away. No fill-in-the-blanks show trivia this week, but we do make a game of it. We split the code into six parts, which you'll have to put together by listening to most of the episode. At least they're in order. If you piece it together and redeem it, please let us know! Addie talks about The Sims Freeplay (iOS) and Stretchmo (3DS). After that, my pre-recorded segment has very brief opening thoughts about Dishonored 2 (PS4), plus a recap

Show notes this week are a bit short. I lack the motivation to be creative today, as Election 2016 has come to a close. But while you're being depressed / surprised / confused / sad / angry / happy / scared / embarrassed / outraged / ambivalent / worried / unaffected about the results -- depending on who you are -- escape for an hour and listen to Addie and me talk about the world of video games. So just a brief rundown: Intro and off-topic. News & new releases. Listener feedback (email). Addie talks Mario Kart 7 (3DS). I review Mafia III (PS4). Top ten video game sidekicks. Republique Steam code give-away. Wrap-up, ending music, old outtake. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

On the technical side, things are back to normal this week. On the scheduling side, though, we had to record most of the podcast on Sunday, since Addie wouldn't be available at the regular time Tuesday night. Then we added email afterwards, and my game review segment. It all worked out in the end. This week features a new top ten list, where we envision non-episodic games that might actually work if released over time in multiple episodes. That's also our question of the week. Did we miss an obvious choice? Let us know what game or series you think would work well episodically. Afterwards, with a litle more time to spare, we played video game Who-Am-I (aka 20 Questions), with Addie guessing. In addition to talking about the PlayStation Plus line-up for this month and the new games releasing this week, our lone email has inspired me to move The Saboteur higher on my backlog. It ends with his rapid-fire impressions of five more IFComp 2016 entries. In my review segment, I talk about two more IFComp entries, Que

Technical difficulties made this week's episode a little rushed. We got a super late start, after finally getting things set up to record on a different computer than usual. Hopefully the audio level and quality is at least similar to normal. For many reasons, most of which weren't talked about here, it was an all around bad luck day. But it's not all bad! Episode 120 is here! We talk about new releases, the Xbox Games with Gold for November, listener email, and some news. News includes a pre-recorded segment from a few days prior, after the reveal of the Nintendo Switch, where Addie and I talk about the new console -- what's known, what isn't, and our general impressions. In another pre-recorded segment, I have initial thoughts on Blues and Bullets episode 1 (PS4) and Mafia III (PS4). I also talk a little more about Wasteland 2 (PS4) and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice (3DS). Addie and I then talk about Broken Age (PS4), which she finally finished this weekend. Following that, in a pre-recorde

You won't want to miss this week's top ten list. Addie reads through these ten great tips for surviving a zombie apocalypse, courtesy of my friend Justin on Facebook. Some day, you'll thank us! IFComp 2016 coverage continues this week, in a pre-recorded review segment that starts around the 37:25 mark. We also have a few mini-reviews for other entries from listener Nikhil, which I read during our email segment a bit earlier, at around 33:38. Other email includes game updates from our listeners, plus two new questions of the week. First, has there ever been a game or game series that you've played back-to-back for the purpose of getting ready for the release of the latest game in the series? Two, what's your favorite death sequence or death quote in a video game? Write in and let us know! In an increasingly rare on-topic moment for Addie, she talks about an educational quiz game called Kahoot! It's her Mobile Game of the Week, but apparently it can also be played online. Then in a second pre-recorded segment,