Side Story

This week on Side Story, Sylvi and Jack delve into the spooky, scary world of New York City in Control: Resonant. They dig into the paranatural mystery, float around in the shifting gravity, and spend some time talking about the joy of a human-made multimedia bonanza in a world drowning in AI assets. This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www....

This week on Side Story, Ali takes to the stars with long time  No Man's Sky players Keith and Darcy, who welcome their newly spaceborne fellow traveler the only way they know how: by letting her sing the praises of alien languages, giving her good advice on hostile orb economies, and interrogating her on why it is she hasn't secured a freighter for herself yet. This show wouldn't be possible with...

Have you heard? The Duke died. Yeah. Yeah. Well that's the thing. The funeral's going to be a whole to-do. Everyone is going to be there, even that little pigeon who just landed in town, Marie. You haven't met her? Well you will. She plays at being grounded but have you seen how she dresses? I just know she'll be trying to get everyone to look her way. That's why I came to you: Because they should...

What was that sound in the other room? Who is gathering in the Kitchen? Wait, whose body is it we found again? And what the hell is up with the butler? Answer these questions and you'll... well, you'll be on your first step towards solving the mystery of the Incident at Galley House.  This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at  https://www.patreon.com/fri...

After telling us for months that we needed to play and talk about Kingdoms of Amalur, Jack has made good on the threat. But is it a threat? Isn't Kingdom's of Amalur a classic 'better than you think it is' game of the early 2010s? Once you look past all the legal hoopla (and the politics of 38 Studios' founder), doesn't it have a pretty unique setting and a combat system that lets you pull off, fr...

Today, Janine and Ali go to a little world of catboy couriers and witches with high standards: Go-Go Town! , a frenetic city builder that splits the difference between Animal Crossing and Anno. They discuss its myriad tasks (both hands-on and delgated), its numerous vehicles (subway, truck, skateboard,  and horse), and its many, many marble-like residents. Support us on Patreon! Chapters 00:00 Int...

It's music week on Side Story! Keith, Jack, and Sylvi kick off a conversation around music creation game  Offbeat , a game about using a toy keyboard and a bunch of input cables as a sequencer to create little jingles as a freelance musician. But of course, this is Side Story, so their conversation quickly ranges to the act of music-making writ large. Show Notes   Yamaha MU80 - Performance Demo Th...

We talk about friction a lot here on Side Story. Friction as difficulty. Friction as texture. Friction as erotics. But today, as the gem slides onto the lathe, as the clay spins around the wheel, as the brush strokes across the long arm, we talk about friction-as-friction, literally. But I mean, yes, we also talk about it as all that other stuff. Of course. Who do you think we are?  Show Notes Cha...

Gather up your ore nuggets, bind quicksave to an easy to reach button, and prepare to be killed in one hit by a level 1 mole creature because this week, Jack and Austin descend into the Khorinis mines and the magically-sealed penal colony within, delving for the first time into the renowned Gothic series via the newly released Gothic 1 Remake.  Support us on Patreon! Show Notes The Lost Art of Col...

Go check out the Special Edition 10th Anniverary Marielda Vinyl Album!  Begin. Motion. D4. Nav 3 R4; gather all. D4. D3. Nav 1 R3; Motion. D5. Nav 3 R5. Interface. Scan. Defense. D6. Nav 3 R6; Gather All. Fuck. Defense. Nav 1 D6; Tow. Nav all R1. Exit. Chapters 00:00 Marielda Vinyl Announcemnet 01:33 Intro 05:09 Today's Topic: Duskers 18:43 Introversion's Uplink 22:35 Duskers: When Things Go Bad 4...

We've all been there. You sit down and break the seal on a new pack of cards, you smell the new card smell, you deal out a starter hand of Solitaire -- and then it dawns on you: you accidentally bought evil c ards again! This keeps happening!  Today, Jack and Austin sit down to talk about evil card games and discuss Forbidden Solitaire and Black Jacket. Support us on Patreon! Featuring Jack de Qui...

Stop. Take a breath. Make the decision: Which Pokémon would you choose as your roommate. Could Voltorb help you keep the electricity bill down? Would Houndoom make you feel safe at night? Might you let Sinistcha make you its delicious Matcha Gotcha even though it is, somehow, the matcha in question?  Today, Ali and Janine take you on a tour of Pokopia, and at least one of them will reveal their an...

With spring turning into summer, Art, Jack, and Austin have found that it's time to once again drink the Potion of Liking Baseball. Well, no, it's not that broad: It's the Potion of Liking the Weird Ludic Corners of Ambiguity at the Heart of Officiating, Especially With Regard to the Use of Automated and Mechanical Tools, As in the MLB's Newly Arrived Automated Ball-Strike System. But that's unfor...

Have you heard the news? There's a new Postman in town, and a new Fairie Queen in the court. I hear the Postman keeps bringing her big palettes of wood, and she's using it to build some sort of cat tower. I hear she's sending her entourage to business school, and he's got to carry her letters of recommendation. I hear war is coming, but don't worry, we're safe here on our island court in the fog....

Somewhere between Goo and Glue and Goop, is Gloop. And that's the stuff that makes up the middling (and middle-ing) parts of many vast, open world RPGs. Flat but enjoyable-enough random encounters. Rhythmically repetitive dungeons. The Good Old Fetch Quest. The mortar holding the bricks of the castle wall together. Gloop. Support us on Patreon! The Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Real...

Happy Side Story anniversary! To celebrate our first year of the show, Austin, Janine, and Jack get together to talk about the year they've spent playing Nine Dots' RPG-meets-sim Outward (which you can watch them play by supporting us at https://friendsatthetable.cash/!) Speaking of supporting our work, the Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live!    Support us on Patreon!...

With too many games coming out recently, Austin, Sylvi, and Dre had to determine a metric to decide which ones to cover on this week's episode. What makes the most sense? Maybe 'games relevant to ongoing Friends at the Table campaigns'? Or perhaps 'games that we've teased wanting to talk about in the past'? No, absolutely not. There is only one metric: Games that look sick as shit. S how Notes Mar...

With Austin separated from his microphone because of a snowstorm, Janine and Ali (who herself had to record on a travel mic) return to chat about the rise of Devices. You know? Gadgets? Geegaws? Retro emulation handhelds? Also, we have a classic Friends at the Table "Now is not the time for this diversionary topic" followed by 30 full minutes on the diversionary topic. It's a good podcast.  Chapte...

On Sunday 15th and Monday 16th of February 2026, we're going to be hosting ICEBREAKER, a two day fundraising marathon on twitch.tv/friendsatthetable  to raise money for the Women's Foundation of Minnesota's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund! As Minnesota faces the brunt of a violent anti-immigrant crackdown, and ICE's cruelty continues to spread nationwide, we are inspired by the solidarity, community...

The winter is here and our love of warmth means that we're stuck inside, dreaming of greener pastures. Greener pastures like: "A train that you can make prettier" and "A frozen over dystopia where you are forced out into the cold to deliver pizzas and televisions." Hey, wait a minute... Show Notes Run Button's My Summer Car Let's Play   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Spatial Puzzles (Kanoodle,...

Happy 2026! We're kicking the year off (a little belatedly) with what would've been Ali's 2025 Main Story Award winning Silent Hill f. She's joined by Keith and Jack as they talk (with full spoilers) about the first new full length Silent Hill game in over a decade.  Featuring Ali Acampora ,  Keith Carberry ,  Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan   Music by Jack de Qui...

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Jack, Keith, and Austin as they discuss (the) Blue Prince, before Keith tags out for Sylvi, so that we can end the year chatting about Horses (the game and, briefly, the an...

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Dre, Art, and Keith who are bringing us Yes Nostalgia! and No Nostalgia! awards! Featuring Keith Carberry ,  Andrew Lee Swan , and  Art Martinez-Tebbel Produced by Austin W...

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Keith, Janine, and Austin who are bringing us The Best-Yet Version of a Game That Isn't What I Truly Want Award! Show Notes   Featuring  Austin Walker ,  Janine Hawkins , a...

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Sylvi and Jack, who are bringing us the Feel the Love Award. Show Notes moon: Remix RPG Adventure moon Soundtrack: Heads in the Clouds Featuring Jack de Quidt  and  Sylvi B...