80-Bit Podsmash

Penguin & Termite continue in the series where we take a deep dive in discussing specific video game consoles. This week, it's all about the Microsoft Xbox. We discuss the hardware, accessories, history, impact, and a definitive list of games for the console. The Xbox brings with it - the return of the West to video game console manufacturing. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - Sup...

2020 is *finally* over! With lots of things looking up for the New Year, we take the time to reflect on 80 Bit Podsmash over the last year. We have our superlatives for DLC, we celebrate the year in gaming by discussing the industry in 2020 and finally, we look at some numbers and statistics regarding Penguin & Termite's trophies, 80 Bit Podsmash episode downloads and more! Happy New Year! Discord...

The years 2000 and 2001 introduced a whole new generation of consoles, but what happened to PC gaming at the time? We continue our walkthrough the curated list of the best video games of all times, while we offer our perspective of the games themselves as well as the industry! Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - Super Secret Tune http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Penguin & Termite would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Holidays! 2020 is *finally* coming to an end... We reflect on the cultural staples of Christmas, and discuss what things would make great video games! This is more of a long form DLC discussion... We kick back, let loose and celebrate with you! Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - 12 Days of ChristNES http://oz...

Penguin & Termite continue to celebrate all things gaming with a discussion about the annual Game Awards show! Geoff Keighly has single handedly built the most recognized, prestigious awards show and we dive into all of it. How did it start? What are the categories? How do the winners get chosen? All this and more... Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Musi...

The new consoles are among us, but people who want are fighting bot software that can buy the entire stock before the page loads. This scalping infuriates a lot of gamers, but are they doing anything wrong? What is scalping, is it ethical? We discuss... Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommo...

With the arrival of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S, we take a look back at the previous generations' launch titles. We discuss what makes a good launch title and if they are important in the long term of the generation. Are we happy with the launch titles for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S? Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Almost everybody in America celebrates Thanksgiving by watching Football! With this past time, we deep dive into the sports game genre. We talk about the history of sports games, why this genre lends itself to video games, as well as its influence on the video game industry. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - Lingonsalt h...

With the release of CyberPunk 2077 supposing to be this week, Penguin & Termite continue our Developer Profile series by covering the CyberPunk 2077 developer, CD Projekt Red. They are a wonderful Polish development studio that is known for their amazing GOTY 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. We talk about their history, pedigree of software and discuss future expectations. Discord: https://discord....

Penguin & Termite muse over the last generation. It's been seven amazing years of gaming, and we offer our highlights, low points, and industry trends and changes. Finally, we end with our hopeful anticipation of the next generation. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-n...

Penguin & Termite discuss video game bosses and encounters! How are they an integral part of video game design? They aren't just tent poles in a video game, they often tell their own stories within the encounter and involve lots of different mechanics. We discuss this and more..... Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://o...

Penguin & Termite are taken over once again by Halloween! We "celebrate" the holiday by continuing our Monster Smash series, focusing on monsters in video games. This year we tackle Ghosts. How do video games represent Ghosts? Are Ghosts compelling in video games? What is a Ghost game? All this and more... Music: The Guillotine Factory - Assembly Line http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3...

Penguin & Termite discuss video game endings! We dive deep into how various video games end and compare them to other forms of storytelling medium. Do video games have an advantage over other media? What are the pitfalls to video game endings? We discuss all this and more.... Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.n...

Penguin & Termite talk about the thing in and around video game storytelling, the lore! We discuss how lore can either augment or distract from video games. We also run down good and bad examples of video game lore. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Twitch: https://twitch.tv./80bitpodsmash Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Penguin & Termite kick off October 2020 with a discussion of all things Resident Evil! We discuss the influence and impact this franchise has had on the gaming industry as well as our favorite entries. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Penguin & Termite explore the phenomenon in video games where player's will hoard, or not, their items throughout the game. The intention is to use them in difficult situations, but the paradox is that there is never a difficult enough situation to use em. So, the player ends the game with all their high value consumables. What causes this? Is this based on game design or related to personality tr...

Termite & Penguin get real with Tim Owens, the owner/operator of @reclaimarcade! This is a great discussion about opening the most authentic video game arcade we've seen, amidst the unique situation COVID had put us all in. We get the deep dive of the history and vision of this revolutionary arcade idea. This is not one to skip!   Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt   Music: Ozzed - Nestereo http:...

Penguin & Termite discuss comedy in video games. We talk about how it's used in video games as well as how does this type of storytelling affect the game design and other aspects of video games. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Penguin & Termite discovered a curated list of the best video games of all time. We continue to explore this list, run through it, and offer our feedback. Some of our favorite video games of all time happened during 1998 and 1999. Come join in on the fun! Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

With Marvel's Avengers launching this week on all major consoles and PC, Penguin & Termite discuss Superheros and video games! What makes a great Superhero video game and why are there so many bad ones? Do Superheros lend themselves to good video game adaptations!? Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/...

Penguin & Termite revisit a discussion about video game trophy and achievement systems. What's a good trophy list look like for a game? What kinds of trophy lists are frustrating? How does this affect our approach to a video game or decisions about what to play? Do they even matter? Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/lice...

Penguin & Termite discuss character design. We address different aspects of character design as well as why we have so many iconic video game characters. How does video game design affect video game character creation? https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichelSabbagh/20150825/252065/Out_of_Character_how_to_design_good_game_characters.php Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My...

Penguin & Termite take a deep dive in discussing the Sega Dreamcast. We discuss the hardware, history, impact, and a definitive list of games for the console. The Dreamcast is unique in that this was the swan song of Sega hardware as the very last console manufactured by the major Nintendo competitor! Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creat...

Inspired by the exhaustive list of accessibility options in The Last of Us Part 2, Penguin & Termite discuss the notion of accessibility in video games. We discuss the differing viewpoints of difficulty being part of the artistic vision and if that's affected by accessibility options. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/li...

Penguin & Termite take a deep dive through the Microsoft XBox Series X Games Showcase from 07/23/2020. We run through all the games shown, talk about Microsoft's strategy and explore what next gen looks like in light of this. Discord: https://discord.gg/t5hEgKt Music: Ozzed - It's Not My Ship http://ozzed.net http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/