State of the Arc Podcast

Bioshock is considered one of the best games of all time. It has a connection with philosophy, art, and psychology that many believe is in line with great cinema. Naturally, this is a perfect fit for our podcast. In this episode, we learn about the developers who made Bioshock, including Ken Levine, Paul Hellquist, Bill Gardener, and others. the work is based in part on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. Enjoy!

Timecodes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Endings (3:24) 3. Born From a Wish (46:02) 4. Thoughts on Jacob's Ladder (1:14:05) 5. Patreon questions and responses (1:25:53)

Timecodes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Maria is dead again? (0:44) 3. Gravestones (1:47) 4. Final confrontation with Eddie (4:00) 5. Lakeview Hotel (17:25) 6. Watching the video tape (29:24) 7. Final encounter with Angela (54:53) 8. Final confrontation with Pyramid Head (1:02:04) 9. Final encounter with Mary/Maria (1:12:44)

Just want to add that my remarks about there being precisely 23 pistons in the room where Angela relives her trauma may not be correct. Upon closer inspection, though it is admittedly hard to see, there may actually be 24, making them symmetrical in the room. Either way, they could still represent the number of times she was violated. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Exploring/Messages on the walls (2:28) 3. "Tis doubt which leadeth thee to Purgatory" (6:53) 4. Another encounter with Eddie (15:10) 5. Rambling: Pyramid Head images--meaning of gluttonous pig, seductress, and oppressor--which characters are real and which are not, etc. (23:10) 6. Maria is alive? (32:26) 7. Angela's trauma (44:51) 8. What the monsters of Silent Hill 2 represent (52:15)

We are delving deeper into the mysteries of this game. We meet Eddie, learn Laura's name, and then meet Maria. Maria is absolutely fascinating. She has the face of Cameron Diaz but the clothes of Christina Aguilera, so I mean right there you've got a whole episode worth to talk bout. Since Ave Maria means Hail Mary in Latin, I thought it was apt. Thanks for watching! Remember to click "like" and leave a comment, too! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Angela (0:42) 3.Pyramid Head (8:02) 4. Maria (22:28) 5. Eddie and Laura (37:19) 6. The Hospital (47:15) 7. Reunion With Maria(1:02:35)

This is the final episode of our Undertale analysis. We're covering the differences in the genocide route and various endings.

Timecodes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. James in the bathroom (0:43) 3. Angela (23:15) 4. First enemy (35:02) 5. Scariest moment in the game (53:01) 6. Eddie (1:08:34)

We talk about the development history of the classic game Silent Hill 2. It was made by Hiroyuki Owaku, Masahiro Ito, Masahi Tsuboyama, Sato Takayoshi, and Akirayama Oka. Of course, there were many who had a hand in making this game, but these are the notable devs who we will be referencing in this episode. To make a game like this, one has to: 1) be seriously messed up on the inside, 2) have enough sanity to know how messed up you are; yet still function reasonably well in the real world, 3) want to show the entire world how screwed up you are on the inside, 4) know that deep down inside, everyone else is just as messed up as you are. Hats off to those who made this amazing masterpiece.

TJtheEmperor joins us again to analyze the very ending of Xenosaga. We are also joined by Keith, who has some great insights and real-world connections. The game is over, and we are finally getting some answers. However, we also got a ton more questions. So the question-to-answer ratio is still very unfavorable. From Proto Merkabah to KOS MOS getting her angel wings, we get to experience the ending of this amazing experience. Thanks for joining us! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Proto Merkabah (2:54) 3. Fight With Albedo (35:09) 4. It's Gonna Blow! (54:07)

The Japanese version of Xenosaga differs greatly from the American version at precisely this point in the game. There is some very unsettling imagery used in the Japanese version that was passed over in the American version. Once we get to the Song of Nephilim, we begin to understand Albedo in a way that somehow leaves us with more questions than answers. Classic Takahashi. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Gnosis Attack (1:21) 3. Momo and Albedo (27:27) 4. Shion and Jr. Go to Song of Nephilim (54:35) 5. Virgil Returns (1:19:10)