A Trip Down Memory Card Lane

This week, Dave and Rob are joined by special guest Damon Robson for a deep dive into  Dark Souls (2011) . A dedicated super-fan, Damon schools the brothers on the game’s rich lore while sharing why it captured his heart. The discussion moves through both the highs and lows of multiplayer experiences, touching on how community interactions can shape the punishing journey. Along the way, a gamer’s...

This week, Dave and Rob dive into revolution, both digital and real. The conversation begins with  Just Cause (2006) , an open-world game of explosive action and rebellion, before shifting to the real Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama that inspired the series’ name and premise. Along the way, they unpack how video games portray revolution, examining whether players approach rebelli...

This week, Dave and Rob take a fond look back at  Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991) , the groundbreaking strategy game that defined the 4X genre. As they retrace the history of the game and its development, they explore the origins of “explore, expand, exploit, exterminate” and debate whether players can truly succeed without mastering all four phases. Along the way, they dive into user reviews that...

This week, Dave steps onto his soapbox as he and Rob revisit the controversy surrounding the console release of  Mortal Kombat (1993) . From playground debates to national headlines, the game sparked a firestorm over violence in video games and even helped pave the way for the creation of the ESRB rating system. The brothers dive into the infamous “Mortal Monday” launch, comparing the Super Ninten...

This week, Dave and Rob look back fondly at 1997’s  Final Fantasy VII  before diving into a horror story about walking away from a PlayStation without a Memory Card. From there, they reminisce about 2002’s  Battlefield 1942 , pausing to laugh about an Amazon reviewer who claims to use it as an educational tool for their kids. The ride continues with 2004’s  Burnout 3: Takedown , where they explore...

This week, Dave and Rob kick things off by introducing themselves and the podcast before diving into a nostalgic memory of 1992’s Super Mario Kart . That memory launches a conversation about random acts of kindness in gaming and beyond. From there, another found memory brings up 1993’s Illusion of Gaia , sparking a thoughtful look at video games as an art medium. The brothers then jump forward two...