Dropped Frames

We're joined by Warren Spector and Greg LoPiccolo to chat about their new multiplayer immersive sim: Thick as Thieves! After that we ask Cohh how he can split up a family of kittens before getting into our discussions of The Game Awards and our thoughts on Path of Exile 2 (so far)! 0:00 - Intro1:22 - Interview with Warren Spector and the Thick as Thieves devs26:00 - What's an immersive sim?48:10 - Interview over56:50 - Stream together1:05:00 - The Twitch Mobile app still sucks1:08:00 - The Game Awards... Controversies?1:16:00 - Astro Bot wins GOTY at TGA1:18:40 - Wukong devs criticize TGA1:21:00 - NFT cats1:25:10 - Real cats1:28:00 - Bungie hires fans to save money1:34:30 - Publisher won't commit to a 2025 schedule until GTA6 announces1:37:50 - Path of Exile 22:00:05 - Box opening2:23:00 - Dropped Frames GOTY vote2:25:50 - Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 2:27:40 - Zeke plays a ton of games2:44:50 - Metaphor: ReFantazio2:48:20 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a crazy week for game releases! JP has been deep into Path of Exile 2, luckily we've brought in a ringer with GassyMexican to give us the lowdown on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Marvel Rivals! 0:00 - Intro2:20 - The week of games2:50 - AI emotes9:00 - Merged chat22:40 - More people watch games than play games30:50 - OTK Winter's Game Expo36:00 - PC Gaming Most Wanted37:05 - The Streamer Awards42:30 - Fortnite Ballistic49:40 - Moonlighter 252:45 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle1:30:25 - Marvel Rivals2:09:30 - Twitter take of the week2:12:45 - Path of Exile 22:50:30 - Our TGA plans2:56:45 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're only 5 days until gaming nirvana: Path of Exile 2 launches into Early Access and Zizaran is here to check our hype levels (and his). The Witcher 4 is full steam ahead, Musk ruins everything, Balatro sales skyrocket, Marvel Rivals surprises with more characters, Cohh's time with STALKER 2 and more! 0:00 - Intro1:09 - The abyss2:20 - The Dark Souls of Wikis11:00 - Path of Exile 2 hype check1:21:40 - Hardcore World of Warcraft1:29:10 - Shoutouts for Zizaran1:32:00 - Wyoming1:43:00 - The Witcher 4 production in full-swing1:46:00 - Baldur's Gate 3 gets a major update1:49:10 - Musk trying to ruin everything1:51:40 - Balatro surges 1:56:00 - Squirrel Girl2:04:30 - Avowed2:17:10 - Kai Cenat reclaims world record2:26:55 - STALKER 22:40:10 - Our GOTY categories!2:50:00 - Manhunt2:55:10 - Use Your Words 22:56:05 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should DLC and Remakes be considered for games of the year? That's the topic of discussion this week as we go over all the nominations of The Game Awards that were announced this week! Then we go through our final thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the jankiness (affectionate) of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 and more!  0:00 - Intro1:09 - Conspiracies5:10 - The Game Award Nominations1:55:00 - Dragon Age Veilguard2:35:00 - STALKER 22:45:00 - Ratshaker2:50:00 - Cottage Simulator3:01:10 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitch has created a new tag category to separate politics and "sensitive social issues," but what are the unintended consequences? How will this be enforced? In other news Playstation has shut down Concord developers: Firewalk Studios and recent acquisition Neon Koi. How can an industry learn from flops when everything gets destroyed after one failure? Nintendo launches the more Nintendo thing ever: Nintendo Music. Ubisoft is late to the grift with a new NFT game. Path of Exile 2 gets delayed a few weeks and our review of Dragon Age: Veilguard and Metaphor: ReFantazio! 0:00 - Intro  1:20 - POLITICS 4:10 - Going Camping 10:10 - Youtube streaming 13:50 - Twitch fumbles again 22:30 - Playstation shuts down Concord dev Firewalk and Neon Koi 31:20 - Destiny Rising 33:30 - Nintendo Music 37:40 - League of Legends Worlds 42:50 - Monster Hunter Wilds Beta 1:01:50 - Ubisoft's NFT game 1:07:00 - Path of Exile 2 delayed 3 weeks 1:14:40 - Phasmophobia sells over 20 million copies 1:15:25 - Exodus lore videos with Matthew McConaughey 1:18:00 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard 2:18:35 - Metaphor 2:51:50 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cohh has returned just in time to purchase the new $90 Brontosaurus mount in World of Warcraft! The creators of the horse armor are rolling in their graves (they're fine.) On the other side of the pond, Ubisoft is going through it with Assassin's Creed Shadows which could spell doom for the mega company if it fails. 6v6 returning to Overwatch, Netflix closes its game studio before revealing any game. a large discussion on ear shapes and Call of Duty, excitement for Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon Age Veilgard and so much more! 0:00 - Intro1:20 - A very special episode10:40 - Casa Bonita15:50 - New puppy17:05 - Blizzard releases a $90 mount for WoW37:35 - Ubisoft changes Assassin's Creed plans42:30 - 6v6 returns to Overwatch48:35 - No new Prince of Persia52:30 - Netflix closes game studio58:50 - No Man's Sky launches a new Expedition1:03:10 - Call of Duty Black Ops 61:05:30 - Ear shapes1:20:30 - Monster Hunter Wilds open beta1:29:50 - Dragon Age Veilguard1:42:50 - Dragon Age Inquisition spoilers1:43:40 - Spoilers over1:48:00 - Batman Arkham Shadows1:50:30 - Alan Wake 2: The Lake House1:59:10 - Metaphors2:13:00 - A Quiet Place2:27:00 - Finishing Satisfactory2:28:40 - Starting Factorio2:34:30 - Towerborne2:35:00 - Eternal Strands2:38:50 - Neva2:50:00 - While We Wait Here2:52:48 - Silent Hill 22:58:30 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're joined by Jesse Cox this week to chat about spooky season, how to be a gracious podcast guest & vehicular marriage. CitizenCon also happened this weekend with all new gameplay footage of Squadron 42 and a roadmap that they will for sure keep. NetEase takes on Destiny and more Marvel, Ben Starr is in everything, we gush about Metaphor and much more! 0:00 - Intro1:20 - When is Halloween?4:00 - Podcast guests7:30 - Tiktok trends11:50 - Arnold Palmer's D***12:40 - League of Legends Worlds14:30 - Star Citizen still hasn't released41:20 - Subnautica 2 annouced49:20 - Alan Wake 2: The Lake House53:50 - Cronos: The New Dawn1:02:00 - Rule 34 cars1:09:50 - Mistfall Hunters1:14:20 - FBC Firebreak1:18:20 - Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO sells a lot1:23:00 - Spider-Man 2 coming to PC1:24:40 - Hades 2 gets a big update1:29:00 - Song lyrics1:32:00 - Claire Obscura: Expedition 33 reveals voice cast1:38:00 - Space Marine 2 sells a ton1:42:00 - Final Fantasy franchise sales1:50:20 - Destiny Rising1:53:50 - Marvel Mystic Mayhem1:56:50 - Factorio: Space Age2:00:00 - Steam Next Fest2:26:10 - Hordes of Hunger2:40:10 - Metaphor Refantazio continues3:03:50 - Neva3:07:25 - Beyond Galaxyland3:10:25 - Romancing Saga3:13:00 - The Penguin3:16:40 - Agatha All Along3:21:15 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're joined by Bruce Greene this week to chat about the megaton announcement this week: The Nintendo Alarmo! But also GOTY candidates Metaphor Re:Fantazio, Silent Hill 2 as well as a long discussion on the horror genre and more TCG Shop Simulator! 0:00 - Intro4:00 - Love your pets5:30 - Pokemon hacks9:05 - Red Dead Redemption 1 coming to Steam19:50 - Metaphor Re:Fantazio sells 1 million copies in 1 day21:00 - Dragon Ball: SPARKING Zero hitting top 10 on Steam25:50 - Zeke's origin story31:30 - Alien Isolation getting a sequel35:00 - Horror54:10 - Halo going Unreal 51:02:20 - The Halo TV show...1:08:20 - The Nintendo Alarmo1:12:00 - Dream mapping1:19:00 - Sunderfolk developed by ex-Blizzard devs1:31:00 - Like a Dragon the TV show1:40:00 - Roblox is a cesspool1:48:00 - One Piece going on hiatus1:52:20 - Metaphor Re:Fantazio2:15:00 - Silent Hill 22:29:10 - TCG Shop Simulator addiction2:33:00 - The Game of Thrones auction2:49:20 - Diablo 4 Vessels of Hatred2:53:40 - Grunn2:59:40 - Timberborn3:01:20 - Starship Troopers Extermination 3:09:50 - ShoutoutsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The spooky season kicks off with Nintendo taking down major emulation platforms. The team dives into exciting upcoming game releases, including Diablo 4's expansion and Metaphor Re:Fantazio. They share their TwitchCon insights, including Ironmouse breaking subscription records. The conversation shifts to controversies surrounding Ubisoft and the evolving landscape of gaming culture. Listeners are treated to fun anecdotes about card shop adventures and the dynamics of trading card games, all while reflecting on the impact of nostalgia in gaming.

In this discussion, gaming icon Gothalion and indie developer Rami Ismail dive into relatable fears like flying and Nintendo’s legal pursuits. They share insights on the studio shakeup with Concord’s game director resignation and examine Square Enix's disappointing sales for Final Fantasy titles. The duo critiques AI’s role in gaming development and celebrates the buzz around the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, exploring both anticipated releases and the evolving relationship between creators and their communities.