Downloadable Content

On this episode, we discuss the current dispute going on between the EFF and the ESA: should video games be legally allowed to be preserved and played after the companies who host these games shut down those servers, or should they forever be consigned to history in the name of anti-piracy? All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S5E10

Part 2 of our PlayStation 20th Anniversary series rolls on, with more nostalgia and fond recollections from the PS1 era. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. Ep S5E9

Just 3 weeks before the PlayStation launched in the US, a game was released for the SNES that to this day remains one of the greatest games of all time. For many, it is considered the perfect game: the perfect balance of story, characters, gameplay, and music. And we couldn't agree more. On this episode, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chrono Trigger. All music used belongs to their respectiv...

On the second episode of our yearlong celebration of 30 years of Super Mario Bros, Brian and Ron talk and reminisce over the 5 major games released over the SNES, N64 and Gamecube: Super Mario World 1 & 2, Super Mario RPG, Mario 64, and Mario Sunshine. All music used belongs to their respective games/composers/studios/developers/etc. Ep S5E7

Too often gamers associate cost of a video game to a game's length, feeling that if you pay $60 for a game, you should get a ton of play out of it. Sometimes, though, quality of a game trumps quantity, which can sometimes be an unpopular opinion. Agree or not? Ep S5E6

The result of a relationship where Sony ended up spurned and betrayed by Nintendo, the PlayStation marked Sony's entrance into the video game world. No longer was it just Nintendo and Sega fighting for gamers' dollars. And with it, Sony generated massive success. With much improved graphical capabilities over its competitors, disc-based games, and an incredible library, Sony proved it was playing...

At the 6th Penny Arcade Expo (East) in Boston, MA., it was another 3-day weekend of relentless stimulation. Developers from triple-A to indie all showed off their latest, the concerts were great, and much swag was gained. But between all the caffeine-binging and shininess of it all, some new things came to PAX: the addition of an e-sports arena and a lounge devoted entirely to cosplayers, to name...

Wyatt and Ron join Brian and they discuss the growing trend of broken video games. Games are being sold to consumers that are loaded with glitches or just outright incomplete, often requiring a myriad of patches that must be downloaded as soon as the game is popped in for the first time. How can the industry address that? All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studio...

What is it about video game developers that grind our gears? Is it the fact that many keep using the same mechanics that frequently annoy us, like not being able to pause or skip really long cut scenes? Is it tacked-on multiplayer to artificially inflate a game's length? What about DRM? On this episode, we rant about the things that developers frequently do that piss us off. All music used belongs...

It began 30 years ago, when the character known as Jumpman from Donkey Kong got his own game, and was given a brother decked in green. The Brothers Mario still are going strong three decades later, and show no signs of stopping. It's how we'll begin Season 5 of DLC, celebrating this fun franchise that'll continue all year long. Naturally, one must start at the beginning. It's the start of the ulti...

It's the season finale! We round up 2014 in video gaming, give you our thoughts on the most memorable games and events of the year, and also give you what we're looking forward to in 2015. All music belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E23

With more and more games taking advantage of the internet, online multiplayer is on the rise. However, more and more developers are deciding to put more of their resources into multiplayer experiences and as a result, devoting less time and/or dropping the single-player experience from games altogether. Does this herald the beginning of the end for single-player games? All music used belongs to th...

We take a look at the funny in this episode, examining the role of humor in video games. Is it needed? What's the purpose? What are some games that are noted for their humor? All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E21

What makes western RPGs so different from JRPGs? Why are JRPGs no longer the big console sellers they once were? Western RPGs seem to have filled the void left by JRPGs, but what is it about these genres that keep us coming back to them time and time again? All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. Ep S4E20

In light of the horrible mess that is GamerGate, we talk on this episode why, perhaps more than ever, video games need feminism. The terrible threats and vitriol spewed at critics like Anita Sarkeesian, Zoe Quinn, and others, are unacceptable, and we all must do our part, as gamers and human beings, to get rid of this idea that video games are a "guys-only" club. All music used belongs to their re...

It's just Ron and Brian as they give you the third and final Free Play episode of this season. They talk about Twitch's acquisition, what's going on in e-sports, and more. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc.  Ep S4E18

Villains of video games are often times just as memorable, if not more so, than a game's hero. They have their unique personality traits that give them a lasting impression in a gamer's memory. On this episode, we give our thoughts on gaming's greatest villains and give them some love. Brian is joined by Ben and Tanya on this episode. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/com...

It's another Free Play episode, and another set of interesting topics are up for debate--in this episode, we discuss the rampant sexism and harassment in the gaming community, the merits of physical vs. digital distribution, an indie game renaissance, and plenty more. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc. No copyright infringement is intended. Ep S4E16

It didn't go over well when it was released 20 years ago, but since then, EarthBound has become a cult classic. What's the appeal of this weird, quirky, odd, yet hilarious game? Doug joins Brian on another nostalgia-fueled episode as they discuss the Super Nintendo game that gave us Ness. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E15

Twenty years ago, Bethesda introduced us to the massively open-world RPG series known as The Elder Scrolls. From its beginnings as a PC staple to a global phenomenon available on consoles as well, millions of gamers have sunk millions of hours into each game, eager to do everything that can be done with each expansive world. We reminisce our experiences of this great series here. All music used in...

Fifteen years ago, Konami gave us their answer to Capcom's Resident Evil franchise. Rather than zombies, bio-organic weapons, and viruses, Silent Hill gave us psychological chills. Supernatural elements, satanic cults, drugs, inner demons, and Pyramid Head gave us good old-fashioned nightmare fuel. We celebrate and reminisce this classic survival horror franchise on this episode. All music belongs...

Ron and Ryan join Brian on the first of the Free Play episodes for Season 4. Even though summertime is usually the quiet period of the video gaming year, there's still plenty to talk about. What news and opinions from the gaming world have we thoughts on? Listen and find out. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. Ep S4E12

It's our annual E3 recap episode. Joined by Ron, Ben, Joshie, and Cat, we give you our take on the highlights, games, and controversies surrounding this year's event. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. Ep S4E11

What does it mean to be a "gamer"? On this episode, we take a look at the definition, and debate as to whether we should retire the term or figure out ways to give the label a more positive, all-inclusive attachment. Apologies for the drop in audio quality in the 2nd half--Skype occasionally takes issues with large panels. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/compose...

It's a love letter to platform games, a genre of games that has fallen out of favor in recent console generations as gamers prefer much more nuanced, story-driven, feature-loaded experiences. Yet it's this down-but-not-out style of game, where you grind level by level, which is largely to thank for what we play today. Ronny and Brian talk about platforming games and why they're still relevant toda...