EXP Podcast #765: Pokemon, Prices, and Putting up With ItA blurry tree here and little upsell there can't be so bad, can it? But what happens when these little annoyances build into something that truly irritates people into action? This week we have ugly Pokemon and triple-digit game prices are top of mind as we talk about some recent dust-ups in both the fan and financial circles. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/35590700
EXP Podcast #764: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth & Dragon Age: Veilguard DebriefThis week on the podcast we share a lot of mixed feelings about two of last year's biggest RPGs. What compels us to finish games like these? Who knows!? Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/35397670
EXP Podcast #763: Secret Level DebriefWhat with the hectic holiday season and all the game of the year madness, we were so busy talking about games that we didn't have time to talk about games-adjacent things like Secret Level. The streaming anthology series takes direct inspiration from some very well known (and not so well known) games, so we sat down to debrief on what makes a good short-form cross-media game story. Honestly, we're still having nightmares about the Pac-Man episode. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/35158145
EXP Podcast #762: Switch 2 Announce DebriefThe Switch 2 announcement is here and it made a splash, but it's one of those tiny little splashes you see at the Olympics. Classic Nintendo, no notes. Join us this week as we discuss, dissect, and have a laugh with the Switch 2 announce trailer. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34914810
EXP Podcast #761: The Year Ahead 2025It's the beginning of the year and it's nothing but endless possibilities stretching out before us! This week we continue our tradition of looking at this year's scheduled (and perhaps not so scheduled) releases and call out what we're most looking forward to. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34814725
EXP Podcast #760: 2024 LeftoversThis week to take one last look backwards at 2024 and some of the amazing games that didn't quite make out Top 3. Happy near year everyone! Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34723320
EXP Podcast #759: 2024 Game of the YearWe've made it around the sun once more and we have a handful of great games to prove it. But which games will be our favorite of year? And will Jorge and I maintain our drift compatibility and choose the same game as our GOTY? All this, along with more Balatro pro tips, in this week's show. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34636410
EXP Podcast #758: The 2024 Gamey AwardsThe most prestigious video game award show is back, celebrating once again not just the greatest bummers and mood lifters, but also the best Waifus/Husbandus, the most elegant games, and of course the gameyest. The 2024 Gameys are here! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34567745
EXP Podcast #757: Story Time with Shawn LaydenThanks to the recent 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation launch, there's been plenty of retrospectives about the system and the era it ushered in. This week, we dig into Eurogamer's extended interview with Former Sony CEO Shawn Layden. Layden's tenure at Sony spanned the pre-PlayStation era all the way through the PS4 and he offers some candid thoughts about the state of the industry, development costs, and why he may be the last of the console warriors. Plus, he floats the concept of triple-A development being akin to building a massive cathedral and now I'm obsessed with the image of a stained-glass Dual Shock. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/34342235
EXP Podcast #756: This Is My Favorite Xbox on the CitadelAccording to Microsoft you probably have an Xbox in your pocket. So what's an Xbox again? This week on the podcast we chat Microsoft news and venture into the future... of television with the Mass Effect TV series. Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33952657
EXP Podcast #755: Time to Face the MusicLeave it to Nintendo: we turn our backs for just a couple of weeks and they exponentially increase their wackiness. Well I can officially tell this to our favorite baffling company: Chill out, we're awake and we have ready access to the Internet! Your clock and your music app is very cute, but shouldn't you be working on a new console or something? Wake me up once you're ready to tell me what the Super Mario Odyssey team has been working on. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33893292
EXP Podcast #754: Silent HyruleSick kids are on the mend so it's back to the gaming mines for us. This week on the show, we fight our way through fog to bring you debriefs on the Silent Hill 2 Remake, Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Balatro mobile, and the Plucky Squire! Show notes: Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33753872
EXP Podcast #753: The PlayStation Paperclip and other Weird NewsI can't believe we missed out on the most important PlayStation Pro news when we talked about it a couple weeks ago. Yes, your long nightmare of dealing with disorganized lose paper is over: Sony has created a solution and it only costs $1000. But hurry: there's only 12,300 in existence, so act quickly or else you'll have to go crawling back to Clippy. We dig into this as well as more stories on Professor Layton, Microsoft R&D, and Nintendo's secret police this week. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33348287
EXP Podcast #752: Astro Bot and UFO 50 DebriefThis week on the podcast, we discuss two of the most charming love-letters to video games of all time, both of which are not just loaded with nostalgia, but also amazing games (or games-in-games) all on their own! Show notes: - Music from the and the /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33246287
EXP Podcast #751: PlayStation 5 Pro and ConThe PlayStation 5 Pro was formally announced and I have to say that my favorite part by far was listening to the calming timbre of Mark Cerny's voice as he explained highly technical things in a way that made me feel like I could understand it. His sonorous, professorial presentation was perhaps the only thing that could have calmed my jangled nerves after seeing that $700 price point. This week, we discuss the announcement and what we think it means for the PlayStation landscape. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/33066782
EXP Podcast #750: Concord ConfusionAs the saying goes: "Grand opening, grand closing." This week we recap the baffling Concord situation and what it means as part of the broader game landscape. Along the way we check in on some other games, ranging from Flock, to Black Myth: Wukong, and Deadlock as part of a late summer check in. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32963542
EXP Podcast #749: Gamescom 2024 DebriefWe're off to Germany this week to discuss some of the exciting - and not-so-exciting - news coming out of Gamescom 2024. News, Molyneuxs, and more, oh my! Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32725777
EXP Podcast #748: The End of Game InformerThis week on the EXP Podcast we say goodbye to a games industry institution. We also briefly discuss Fortnite, cultural conglomeration, and gambling! Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32622687
EXP Podcast #747: Looking at Lorelei and the Laser EyesThis week we do a summer check in on some of the games we've been playing. Strangely, they're all some form of retro-inspired RPG/adventure style games. There's the Commodore 64-era inspired Skald: Against the Black Priory. There's the Super NES era Super Mario RPG remake. And there's the PS1-aesthetic adventure game homage, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Lorelei was of particular interest, as it inspired us to lean into the artistic approach and go back to pen and paper as a way to solve puzzles and remember information. It's a good sign when a game inspires a notebook full of glyphs and half-crazed riddles. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32570197
EXP Podcast #746 - Hard PassTime and money is at a premium, are we spending it on Game Pass, in-game purchases, or another caramel macchiato? This week on the podcast, we explore some news about digital games and purchases. Show Notes: - , , and - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32316677
EXP Podcast #745: Spicy Art TakesThe only thing hotter than this summer's weather is this collection of spicy takes. This week, we use Polygon's collection of provocative opinions as a jumping off point to revisit some of the fundamental arguments that started us down this wacky path. Will we ever figure out what art is and do video games qualify? Maybe the real art is the fun we've had arguing along the way. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/32223602
EXP Podcast #744: Steam Deck Charts and MoreJust in time for the Steam Summer Sale, Valve has dropped three lists of the most popular games played on the Steam Deck. These lists are updated in real time and reflect some trends in the industry. This week on the show, we run down the lists and share some of our favorite games on the Steam Deck - including a remaster of a classic: Riven. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31975467
EXP Podcast #743: Miyazaki and the Family ErdtreeIt's Elden Ring and The Shadow of the Erdtree time and with it comes the predictable discussion about difficulty in games. I guess it makes sense that a game about making looping runs through a punishing world gets people fired up, but I still think it's hilarious that people seem to be surprised at how hard these games continue to be. And thanks to a new interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki, we can be certain that this difficulty is not only intentional, but also pursued out of respect to players. This week, we dissect some of his comments and consider the long-term legacy of his design sensibilities. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31953182
EXP Podcast #742: Nintendo Direct June 2024The definitely NOT E3 window of events is over with one more big set of announcements. This week on the podcast, we discuss some exciting games coming to the Nintendo Switch - THIS YEAR! Show Notes: - Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31833917
EXP Podcast #741: Summer Game Fest 2024Now that the great collapse of the E3 ecosystem is well and truly complete, we're beginning to see saplings spring from the ashes. And it's not just a few; Summer Game Fest and the numerous other publisher-specific, indie, PC, and various thematic conferences have quickly formed a forest and are spreading the video game news over the wind like a dense cloud of pollen. This week we take our antihistamines and dive into some of the many game announcements we've seen over the past couple weeks. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31767741
EXP Podcast #740: State of Big Budget PlayThis week on the EXP Podcast, in between Sony's announcements and Xbox's big news, we discuss the state of big budget first-party exclusives and what the future of publishing massively expensive games might look like. Show notes: "" by Oli Welsh via Polygon Music by /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31675217
EXP Podcast #739: Animal Well DebriefI've always lived in areas with municipal water systems, so wells are a bit of a foreign concept. But now that I've played Animal Well, I'm basically an expert. I was surprised by the number of hidden eggs and platforming puzzles, but I guess that's just the miracle of underground waterways. This week we debrief after seeing the credits, but most definitely not all the secrets, hidden in Animal Well! /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31525297
EXP Podcast #738: Cults, Bullet Hells, and MoreThis week on the EXP Podcast, we record live from our sick bed to discuss recent industry news before getting into some games we've been playing - including Balatro, Children of the Sun, and Minishoot Adventures! Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31238757
EXP Podcast #737: The Fallout TV Series DebriefWar never changes - the streaming television war, that is! This week we do a deep dive on the new Fallout series. Who knew the post-nuclear wasteland would have so many cameos in it? And are those the jingle of spurs I hear? Looks like The Man with No Name has become The Man with No Nose. /episode/index/show/experiencepoints/id/31008993
EXP Podcast #736: Goodbye to the Wii UThe 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
