RPGFan's Random Encounter

We certainly promised you guys a big end of the year episode, and by God did we ever deliver. The crew starts by sitting down for an in-depth discussion of 2011. From Dragon Age 2 to Skyrim, the podcast gang analyzes the major releases and trends in the genre (and industry) we all love. In the second segment, Rob, John, Kyle and Dave talk about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, one of the first big R...

We certainly promised you guys a big end of the year episode, and by God did we ever deliver. The crew starts by sitting down for an in-depth discussion of 2011. From Dragon Age 2 to Skyrim, the podcast gang analyzes the major releases and trends in the genre (and industry) we all love. In the second segment, Rob, John, Kyle and Dave talk about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, one of the first big R...

We certainly promised you guys a big end of the year episode, and by God did we ever deliver. The crew starts by sitting down for an in-depth discussion of 2011. From Dragon Age 2 to Skyrim, the podcast gang analyzes the major releases and trends in the genre (and industry) we all love. In the second segment, Rob, John, Kyle and Dave talk about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, one of the first big R...

Our trip through the frozen lands of Skyrim comes to a close with a few final thoughts on Bethesda's epic. But the latest Elder Scrolls title wasn't the only big game to come out in November. Nintendo decided to throw the Wii a going away party in the best possible way with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. However, that's not all, weary traveler. Rob and Stephen were recently blessed with the D...

Guys! Guys! Skyrim is here! The Bethesda epic we've all been waiting for has finally arrived and the editors of RPGFan are here to share their opinions on the game. Tales of werewolves, assassinations and lots of dragons abound in this weeks episode of Random Encounter! Stay tuned after the show for an interview with Cesar Bittar and Katie Hallahan of Phoenix Online Studios on their upcoming game...

With the horror that is Dark Souls behind them, the editors of RPGFan enjoy a return to some sort of normalcy as John talks The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Kim and Derek riff on Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny, as Rob sinks his teeth into... more Dark Souls, and Stephen wraps us up with this week's RPG news. Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Stephen Meyerink, Kimberley Wallace an...

Asking how many deaths it takes to beat Dark Souls is like asking how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. But with the last bonfires well behind them, the editors of RPGFan regain their humanity (and their sanity) and discuss this behemoth of an action/horror RPG. Join us in jolly co-operation as we go over the ins and outs of what makes FROM Software's latest foray into pai...

Need a break from the constant terror that is Dark Souls? Then have a seat at our bonfire as John recounts his time with Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Kim discusses the recently released Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and the rest of the crew whets their appetites for more Dark Souls. Stay tuned after the show for an interview on Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny with Adam Fitch, Localization Editor at Na...

Seems like everyone is talking about the JRPG Xenoblade and wondering whether or not we'll see it on domestic shores. Well, the crew of Random Encounter decided to focus on this heavily anticipated title, and reached the consensus that, yeah, it is a pretty big deal. Following an in depth analysis of the title, Derek brings the podcast home with the week's crazy news, including an Old Republic rel...

Funny noises abound in this weeks episode of Random Encounter! Rob, John and Stephen join up to discuss the zombie filled Dead Island, demon infested SMT: Devil Survivor Overclocked, complexity and replayability in games, as well as the latest news in the world of RPGs. Stay tuned after the show for an interview with Darren Korb, composer of the Bastion soundtrack! Featuring: Robert Steinman, John...

The editors of RPGFan.com assemble once again to discuss the latest and greatest in the world of RPGs. Why does Zack think Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the next Metal Gear Solid game? What's keeping Rob from enjoying indie darling Bastion? Also, listen after the show for a special interview with Tobyn Manthorpe, one of the developers of Emissary of War!        Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCa...

Stephen is back from Montreal where he had the chance to play the highly anticipated Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and has decided to grace our lesser, non-augmented selves with details of the trip. Does the cyber renaissance FPS/RPG deliver the goods? Can Stephen do an awesome Adam Jensen impression? Listen up and find out on this weeks edition of Random Encounter! Featuring: Robert Steinman, John M...

On this nostalgia-laden edition of Random Encounter the editors of RPGFan sit down to discuss a game that made them the RPG fans they are today: Phantasy Star IV. Listen as Rob, John, Stephen and Derek explain why exactly Phantasy Star IV ranks as one of the best JRPGs of all time.        NOTE: This episode contains heavy spoilers for the Phantasy Star series.        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Jo...

With our party down to three brave warriors once more, can the editors of RPGFan brave this dungeon-filled episode? Rob, John and Stephen gather round the podcast fire to discuss Dungeon Siege III, Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale and more on this week's episode of Random Encounter!        Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll and Stephen Meyerink

They came. They saw. They conquered. And now the editors of RPGFan are here to tell you about the most exciting RPGs at E3 2011! Final Fantasy XIII-2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and more.        Featuring: Robert Steinman, John McCarroll, Kimberley Wallace, Liz Maas and Derek Heemsbergen

Kyle and Stephen join Rob for an in-depth look at The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings on this weeks episode of Random Encounter. Has one of this year's biggest RPGs lived up to the hype? (Spoilers: Yes!)        NOTE: This podcast may contain some mild spoilers for The Witcher 2. If you have not played the game or aren't very far in, listen at your own risk!        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen...

Join the editors of RPGFan for a special roundtable on female characters in video games on this week's episode of Random Encounter. Our editors share some of their favorite female characters, what sets those characters above the rest, and what they hope to see from developers in the future. Be sure to check out our "Best (and Worst) Female RPG Characters" feature and share your opinions on the mes...

This week's episode of Random Encounter is filled with talk about... RPGs?! What will they think of next? Kim starts of the show with a timely discussion of Mass Effect, John brings the mumorpuger love with RIFT, and Rob finishes The Witcher just in time for Kyle's preview of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Is one of this year's sexiest, swankiest RPGs enough to appease our resident hater? Find...

An amazing episode of Random Encounter has been lost to the ether that is the internet thanks to technical difficulties, solar flares, or perhaps intervention by the Heartless. Rather than attempt to recreate the magic, the crew decides to focus on topics associated with the games they've been playing. John complains that RPGs are too long and Kim talks about the resurrection and continuation of f...

Time for an extra-long edition of RPGFan's Random Encounter! The usual party of RPGFan editors is joined by Kyle E. Miller for a discussion of the recently released Dragon Age 2 before moving on to talk about Heavy Rain (and its sequel?!), Dissidia [duodecim] 012 and Pokemon Black and White. Zack brings us impressions of action RPGs Bastion and Dungeon Siege 3 before wrapping up with the week's ne...

It's an episode of classic games and big releases on this weeks Random Encounter! Stephen talks about The Silver Lining and the recent King's Quest III Remake before John assesses a bevy of recent PSOne Classic titles, all leading up to a discussion of some of the biggest games in Q1 2011 (Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, Radiant Historia, Dragon Age II).        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Joh...

Join our intrepid adventurers in this weeks Dragon Age II Edition of Random Encounter! Rob, Stephen and Zack sit down to discuss the recently released Dragon Age II demo. What do we think of the new graphical style? How does the faster combat feel? Does Zack's cultural ineptitude know no bounds? All this and more on the Random Encounter!        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyerink and Zach...

Rob, Stephen, John and Zack sit down for another exciting Random Encounter! This week our adventurers discuss Stacking and Dragon Age: Origins before Zack and Stephen start talking about Deus Ex... yes, that Deus Ex. Rob talks about Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Demon's Souls before we get into the veritable plethora of news from the past month.        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen Meyeri...

We're back with the regular party and ready for another Random Encounter! Rob, John, Stephen and Zack sit down and discuss Lord of Arcana, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Dragon Age: Origins, The World Ends With You, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix, and more, as well as the latest news from Square Enix's First Production Department Premier event.        Featuring: Robert Steinman, Stephen...

A quintet of RPGFan editors present... a soundtrack spectactular! With John and Zack away for the week, Pat, Dennis and Derek join Rob and Stephen for a lengthy discussion on their favorite RPG sountracks. Sure, they talk about games as well (and boy do they talk about a lot of them), but haven't you always wanted to learn about obscure soundtrack terminology? Games Discussed: Back to the Future:...