1Upsmanship

On a very special 1Upsmanship, Adam and Swaim introduce the shipheads to Tyler Maitland, indie dev extraordinaire and recent winner of the Rogue Games Game Jam for his project SeaFrog. Hey kids, let's learn about how games are made!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open wide for a fresh 1Up, baybeh! What starts as a deep dive into the latest installment in the Borderlands franchise ends up becoming a wide-ranging debate on the state of the modern looter-shooter, not to mention an object lesson in how to fight about video games then make up. Hooray emotional growth!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam and Mike address a classic indie darling and it answers only in the form of weird time-bending platform mechanics and a story that's either about a breakup or nuclear holocaust. Did the boys dig Braid? Smash that play button and you'll be one step closer to that forbidden knowledge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backlog Episode! Adam and Michael turn a stupid shooting game into a shockingly deep conversation, as they are wont to do. It's kind of crazy. Topics include Call of Duty, propaganda in narrative, free speech versus empathy, verisimilitude and historical obligation, and zombie mode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh out of their ripperdoc's basement, Mike and Adam turned around and stumbled right back in for a second snip. They felt their anger levels about the terrible launch of this game could use some cyber-reduction, and maybe a fresh pair of Kiroshi optics might help them evaluate the game in it's "finished" state . So they played the whole thing. Again. But did they enjoy their latest trip to Night City or are they blue-pilling Keanu's Silverhand back into irrelevant oblivion? Or...are they just gonna do a bunch more Matrix jokes? Hey we're not the Oracle, we just tell you what you need to hear. Follow the white rabbit and listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aloy's pushing her way ever-deeper into what we're pretty sure is a tiny-sized representation of the contiguous United States, and we're right along for the ride! Michael and Adam welcome long-time friend Jason Pargin back to the show to discuss the follow-up they've been explicitly waiting for ever since Zero Dawn dropped. Did the promise they sensed from this franchise pay out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our heroes explore an empty and definitely scary house in the woods only to discover one of the most compelling love stories in video game history!! Joined by returning and celebrated guest Vanessa Guererro, the gang bonds over the depth, storytelling, and nostalgia in this little indie classic. It got real y'all. There's even some open-mouthed crying and a plan to dye each others hair that was... unfortunately cut for time. But it happened. Trust us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast explores desired curated experiences in videogames and the importance of incorporating accessible game mechanics. They discuss the concept of contextual glory kills and the fun competitive nature of time-sensitive challenges. They also explore unique game mechanics in Elden Ring and the significance of twist endings in video games. The hosts touch on the perception of game length and cost-effectiveness.

It's the Citizen Kane of cover-based first-person shooters with robust multiplayer and vehicles! Adam and Mike take on the original Halo, and trace its impact through Destiny and all the way to Destiny 2, if you can believe it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Mae Fish, an individual who considers Animal Crossing a complete game, discusses its popularity. The hosts talk about the lack of narrative closure but express enjoyment in decorating their island and helping neighbors. They discuss the guilt of playing and compare it to similar games. They explore the fantasy and simplicity of the game and analyze relationships and boundaries within it. They also discuss whether to keep or delete the game.