The Experience Points Podcast

A weekly video game podcast from the co-writers of ExperiencePoints.net

EXP Podcast #736: Goodbye to the Wii U 04/14/2024

EXP Podcast #736: Goodbye to the Wii U The Wii U, one of the worst selling consoles of all time, is finally shutting down its servers and turning off the lights. Today on the podcast we poor one out for a console ahead of its time, a messy, imperfect, but maybe a little prescient attempt by Nintendo to transform the gaming landscape. Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30816008

EXP Podcast #735: Princess Peach: Showtime!, Balatro, and Red XIII's Moonwalk 04/08/2024

EXP Podcast #735: Princess Peach: Showtime!, Balatro, and Red XIII's Moonwalk I meant to publish the show earlier, but I thought I could squeeze in a few more hands of Balatro. 48 hours later, I realize two things: that was a mistake and I'm now starving to death. This week, we dip into Balatro, make our stage debut with Princess Peach: Showtime!, and evaluate Red XIII's surreal attempt at acting like a human. Now, just a few more hands and then I swear I'll go to sleep. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30724628

EXP Podcast #734: Call of Cheech Weedzone 03/31/2024

EXP Podcast #734: Call of Cheech Weedzone Everyone's favorite lovable stoners are coming to Call of Duty, about 50 years too late to be culturally relevant. This week on the podcast, we try to draw a line between interesting and relevant in-game partnerships and the pup-culture goop that is Content with a capital "C". Don't puff, puff, pass on this one! Show Notes: - "," by Patrick (H) Willems via YouTube - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30612118

EXP Podcast #733: 2024 Journey Debrief 03/23/2024

EXP Podcast #733: 2024 Journey Debrief It's finally Spring again around these parts, which means it's time for one of our favorite annual rituals: the yearly Journey playthrough! For whatever reason, Jorge and I both had cautionary tales of resource scarcity and environmental collapse on the brain (I blame Barrett and the rest of Avalanche) and it just goes to show that you can still get something new out of a game every time you play it. Twelve years on and we're still finding new treasures in the desert. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30508643

EXP Podcast #732: Final Fantasy Rules 03/16/2024

EXP Podcast #732: Final Fantasy Rules We discuss why Final Fantasy VIII is actually awesome, how the remake is changing the legacy of the franchise, and what's up with the best (and worst) Final Fantasy games. Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks - "," via Polygon /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30397598

EXP Podcast #731: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth First Impressions 03/09/2024

EXP Podcast #731: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth First Impressions Reports of us rejoining the lifestream have been greatly exaggerated. We're back after being under the weather, but we return having played a bunch of new games. We have Helldivers, Donkey Kong, and more, including 2024 gamiest-game contender Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. While we're only a few hours into what will undoubtedly be an enormous game, there is plenty to talk and speculate about. Grab a comfy cushion to soften this rickety old bench and join us! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30298878

EXP Podcast #730: Xbox Updates 02/19/2024

EXP Podcast #730: Xbox Updates Last week the internet was buzzing with Xbox speculations that was quickly deflated by corporate-speech-laden "podcast" from Phil Spencer and his team at Xbox. Yes, some Microsoft games are coming to other consoles, but is that it? What does this, and could this have meant? Join us and Mr. Businessman to discuss the future of Xbox. Show Notes: * Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/30011588

EXP Podcast #729: Death Stranding 2 & Sony's State of Play 02/10/2024

EXP Podcast #729: Death Stranding 2 & Sony's State of Play We are back this week catching up on Sony's latest State of Play, which featured not one but TWO Hideo Kojima announcements. 2024 really is starting strong! Join as we discuss Judas, Sonic, and Kojima's amazing fashion-sense. Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29883643

EXP Podcast #728 - It's a Pal, Pa,l Pal, Palworld 01/27/2024

EXP Podcast #728 - It's a Pal, Pa,l Pal, Palworld Watch out, that pikachu is driving a tank and it looks disgruntled! But perhaps not as disgruntled as Nintendo and the Pokemon Company's lawyers must be right about now. Yes, it's time to talk about Palworld. Part catching monsters and putting them in your pocket, part hitting trees and crafting gear, and all the rage on the Internet - Palworld has clearly tapped into something that both Pokemon and survival game fans have been searching for! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29671418

EXP Podcast #727 - The Year Ahead 2024 01/20/2024

EXP Podcast #727 - The Year Ahead 2024 It feels like we just caught our breath from the game release whirlwind of 2023, but there's no time to delay. 2024 is here and it's bringing a pretty unique list of games with it. This week, we talk about some of our most anticipated games and make some predictions about the unknown unknowns lurking out there. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29571448

EXP Podcast #726: 2023 Game of the Year Leftovers 01/12/2024

EXP Podcast #726: 2023 Game of the Year Leftovers Our is out, but before we leave 2023 behind we need to spotlight some of the great games that almost made our lists. It was a fantastic year for games, so be sure to try some of these games soon before you move on to the hot new thing! Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29456148

EXP Podcast #725: 2023 Game of Year 01/03/2024

EXP Podcast #725: 2023 Game of Year We made it! 2023 is over, which means it's time to talk about our top games of the year. Every year we challenge ourselves to embrace brevity and pick our top three. 2023's landslide of great games made this an even more fun challenge than usual, as did the ongoing meta game of trying to predict if our picks will overlap. Next week we'll talk about some of the other great games that we didn't get to highlight, but for now, join us for the brightest of all the shining stars. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29331728

EXP Podcast #724: The 2023 Gamey Awards 12/29/2023

EXP Podcast #724: The 2023 Gamey Awards The most prestigious and important video game awards ceremony is back again. From the best doofus', to awards in elegance, to the best waifu/husbandu, we are once again celebrating the end of the year with the Gamey Awards! Show Notes: Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29268173

EXP Podcast #723: Alan Wake II Debrief 12/23/2023

EXP Podcast #723: Alan Wake II Debrief Just in time for the end of the year, we reach the end of another story: Alan Wake II! This week we debrief on a game created by and for humanities nerds. Nothing like contemplating the death of the author while rocking out to Norse mythology inspired heavy metal! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29210373

EXP Podcast #722: Florida Men 12/09/2023

EXP Podcast #722: Florida Men We're head to Vice City, where the sun is shining, drugs are plentiful, and you might get eaten by an alligator. Also, we retroactively predict the Game Awards winners. Show Notes: Intro from the Outro by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/29001283

EXP Podcast #721: Nostalgia for Sale 12/02/2023

EXP Podcast #721: Nostalgia for Sale This week we emerge from our holiday haze and talk about the ways in which some large publishers are trying to foster a fuzzy feeling by appealing to a sense "the good old days" of established games and franchises. This kind of packaged nostalgia is clearly popular; just ask the people paying actual currency to play the original version of World of Warcraft. But what does it mean that we're drawn to these time capsules and does it mean we're headed toward a looping cycle where we reset franchises once every seven to ten years? If so, then I can't wait for my Cow Clicker remake. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28893928

EXP Podcast #720: The Legend of Zelda Movie Magic 11/18/2023

EXP Podcast #720: The Legend of Zelda Movie Magic Do you feel that tingle of excitement? No, not that weird green dude. It's Nintendo's latest announcement that Legend of Zelda is getting a big screen adaptation and it's... live action!? This week on the podcast, we foretell both the bright and dark future this announcement portends. Also, what storyline should the Zelda movie focus on? Who knows, they're all weird! Show Notes: - - - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28697878

EXP Podcast #719: Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and 2 much 2 play! 11/10/2023

EXP Podcast #719: Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and 2 much 2 play! 2023's absolute deluge of games continues this week and we hanging on for dear life! This week we web sling our way around Spider-Man 2, piece together the mystery of Alan Wake 2, welcome a special end-credit guest in Lies of P, and conclude our trip in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28590968

EXP Podcasty #718: Super Mario Bros. Wonder Debrief 10/28/2023

EXP Podcasty #718: Super Mario Bros. Wonder Debrief We also knew all the mushrooms would catch up to Mario. This week on the podcast, we take a wonder seed trip into Super Mario Bros. Wonder! Show Notes: Intro from the Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28447658

EXP Podcast #717: Chants of Sennaar, Cocoon, and more! 10/21/2023

EXP Podcast #717: Chants of Sennaar, Cocoon, and more! This week we talk about a game all about language and a game completely devoid of the written word! Chants of Sennaar and Cocoon are in the rotation this week and both games have impressed us. While they're quite different, both of them drop you right into a world without much explicit hand holding, so we have a good time unpacking the various mysteries contained within. Plus: a little extra Lies of P and Sea of Stars analysis as we continue to dig in to those games! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28381361

EXP Podcast #716: Clouds & Sheep 10/14/2023

EXP Podcast #716: Clouds & Sheep This week on the podcast, we leap into Sony's cloud gaming news and marvel at the lengths Baldur's Gate 3 players will go for the perfect run. Show Notes: - Music by By Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28313945

EXP Podcast #715: Switch 2 Scuttlebutt 10/05/2023

EXP Podcast #715: Switch 2 Scuttlebutt Rumors abound this week as we all collectively start to piece together clues about the Switch's successor. I'm going to out on a limb and say that there will be a Mario game and a convoluted friend request system - maybe together?! On top of that, Jorge and I do some strategizing about how to introduce turn-based RPGs to the next generation. Suffice to say it's a high pressure situation. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28231706

EXP Podcast #714: Unity, Games Pricing, and DLC 09/30/2023

EXP Podcast #714: Unity, Games Pricing, and DLC It's a debacle at Unity, some surprising DLC news, the high cost of games, and a step into the closet with Hideo Kojima! Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28184270

EXP Podcast #713: Xbox Leaks and Gaming Grab Bag 09/22/2023

EXP Podcast #713: Xbox Leaks and Gaming Grab Bag Even after a busy spring and summer, video games refuse to take a break and just chill. There's just so much to play and it can get distracting. Maybe that's what happened over there at Microsoft - someone was so distracted trying to master their mech in Armored Core that they forgot to properly secure all the links in their public court filings. This week it's a gaming grab bag and a rare look at what goes on in the Xbox team's internal pitch meetings. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/28111121

EXP Podcast #712: Raising the Bar 09/02/2023

EXP Podcast #712: Raising the Bar This week on the EXP Podcast, we ask whether great games like Baldur's Gate 3 or Tears of the Kingdom should raise the standards for what we expect out of games or if doing so sets the bar too high. Show Notes: Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27929619

EXP Podcast #711: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Debrief 08/26/2023

EXP Podcast #711: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Debrief After several months of traversing the gloom, scarfing down endura carrots, and harvesting dragon scales, both Jorge and I have seen credits in Tears of the Kingdom. I won't even pretend to say we've "finished" it, as there are more korok seeds in this game than there are grains of sand of beach. Regardless, we do a deep dive on both the late game mechanics as well as the time-bending plot. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27854784

EXP Podcast #710: Pikmin 4, Dave the Diver, and Baldur's Gate 3 08/19/2023

EXP Podcast #710: Pikmin 4, Dave the Diver, and Baldur's Gate 3 Mer-people, a strange dog (?), and more on this week's games discussion! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27797283

EXP Podcast #709: Gaming Subscription Silliness 08/11/2023

EXP Podcast #709: Gaming Subscription Silliness Pop quiz: do you know the various subscription tiers for your game platforms? And more importantly: do you know which ones you're automatically being charged for every month? Well here's a hint: it's not Xbox Live Gold, that one's riding off into the sunset. This week, we play that exact game and quiz each other about what each major console platform is pitching and which ones we've bought into. Let's just say things get convoluted fast. On the bright side, we rediscover some members of our Nintendo family and also give Sony some free naming ideas! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27719211

EXP Podcast #708: Memorable Endings 07/20/2023

EXP Podcast #708: Memorable Endings This week on the EXP Podcast, we revisit some of video games' best, and worst, endings - from the multicolored conclusion to Mass Effect 3 (and Elding Ring) to the touching conclusion to some great narrative games like Life is Strange. Show Notes: - "," from Kotaku and Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27523740

EXP Podcast #707: Tears of the Kingdom and Nintendo News Catchup 07/15/2023

EXP Podcast #707: Tears of the Kingdom and Nintendo News Catchup Hello! Remove that gloom effect, because we're back from the depths after a few weeks. Well it's not really the depths, it's just that Jorge and his family acquired a new little korok and were doing some much needed bonding. We ease back in by catching up on what's been going on in Hyrule and what's been going on over at Nintendo. Apparently Mario is getting bigger than ever. And I truly mean elephant-sized. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/27471609

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