Bad End

In today's episode we're joined by two special guests - game developers Greg Kythreotis of Shedworks (Sable) and Gareth Damian Martin (In Other Waters). We discuss the game development process, the act of pitching and marketing a game in a world where streaming and Steam reviews exist, the beauty and nostalgia of in-game architecture, and the secrets behind what goes into our save files. The insig...

This week, we're diving into the sandy, Jbrekkie-soundtracked expanses of Sable, along with a Hades-like called Dandy Ace, the ending of Deathloop, and some board games. Which, by the way, are becoming more like videogames with every passing day. We're also covering some viewer questions about things like Far Cry, NPCs, desert island games, Twitch income strategies, and critical reappraisals of ol...

Is there an echo in here? This week we're digging into the time loopy antics of Deathloop, and not the time loopy antics of 12 Minutes, which we discussed last week. We're also talking about the 20-year cultural cycle and whether or not it applies to games. We've also got the war re-enactment-esque Hell Let Loose, and a bit of organizational feng shui in the form of Wilmot's Warehouse. Find this e...

This week we've got our gamer plates full, but we're spending most of it airing out our grievances with 12 Minutes - a game so clunky (and occasionally desperate) that we can't help but laugh a bit at its expense. We're also talking about the brilliant Psychonauts 2, our tangled-up issues with Boyfriend Dungeon, and the spreadsheet-like antics of Humankind. Also including: Cantata, Eliza, Starbase...

Kyle's slammed with deadlines, and this week's BAD END features writer/art director/Superculture Network member Yussef Cole. We're discussing Halo Reach and the lost serenity of early Halo, as well as the so-good-it's-meh appeal of Death's Door. Then we're rambling about crit (again) with new Cyberpunk twin-stick-shooter The Ascent, and talking a bit about Odin Sphere and narrative in games.  Find...

This week's episode is all about videogames' artsy, cool, well-dressed younger sibling: creative technology. We're joined by Nicole He, one of the finest in the space today, whose works include a mind-reading Tinder-swipebot, a voice-activated game that parodies CSI "zoom and enhance" sequences, and an AI that interviewed Billie Eilish for Vogue.   We discuss the brilliance (and shortcomings) of c...

Welcome to BAD END 101! This episode, we tackle the draw-em-up metroidvania Chicory, the flailing and absurd attack animations of Nioh, and the weird (but fun) vibes of card-roguelike Griftlands.  Find us on YouTube:  Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badend BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved....

It's our 100th episode, and to celebrate, we're finally revealing our definitive top 10 games EVER. We're also discussing the last 4 years in videogame journalism/crit, and where we want things to go from here. Thanks to everyone for listening to our show, and here's to 100 more.  This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with ~~video to go along with...

Welcome to BAD END's first-ever video podcast! This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with video to go along with the sound.  This week, we're talking about the paradox of fun survival horror in Resident Evil 8, along with the potential modern appeal of a Mass Effect Remaster. Since it's a video episode, we go on a couple tangents - discussing the...

As life transitions back into the weird alien world of reality, we're dipping our toes into the post-quarantine world with New Pokemon Snap and the open fields of Nier Replicant... which we're now experiencing for a second playthrough. Maybe we're more ready for a return to normal(ish) life than we think. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to...

This week we're joined by writer and FUNLAND magazine creator Zack Kotzer to talk about the lost ethos of early gamer magazines, the amusing terribleness of Balan Wonderworld, and videogame genre-busting in Nier Replicant.  Support FUNLAND at patreon.com/funlandmag, and follow the magazine's accounts on Twitter and Instagram @FunlandMag for more updates.  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTUR...

We're joined by journalist/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about gaming's greatest power fantasy: unalienated labor. We're also discussing the glorious perfection of Final Fantasy XIV, the ecstasy of shounen in 2021, and games like Bloodborne, Before Your Eyes, Valorant, Adios, and Deliver Us The Moon. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicat...

We're back on our Normal Episode beat this week, talking about videogame core loops of all kinds - some peaceful, some way too complex for their own good, some infuriating. We're talking about Loop Hero, the new indie hotness that's taken the idle roguelike world by storm, the new demo for Monster Hunter Rise, and FFXII the Zodiac Age, an old classic we're finally playing for the first time.  BAD...

This week, we're joined by Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Cole Smith (DIIV) to talk about Thoughtseize Interviews, a new show where they interview artists and gaming personalities while playing Magic the Gathering. We talk about community-building, the value of art in an increasingly-monetized world, the crossover between music and games, taste and criticism in a pandemic, and obviously, Magi...

Today we're joined by game creator and critic Gareth Damian Martin about In Other Waters, their new sci-fi exploration game. We discuss the interplay between game criticism and game design, the game development process as seen through the eyes of an outsider, and the discipline of architecture as it applies (and doesn't apply) to videogames. We also reveal a new partnership between Gareth's public...

Now that we've been quarantined for almost a year, we're actually playing through our backlogs. We have a lot of games to talk about, including the new Steam bestseller Valheim, the weird beautiful stealth of Hitman 3, the mindless carnage of Gunfire Reborn, and more! We're also talking about videogame patents, and arguing whether or not stealth games are actually good. Join our patreon at patreon...

This week, we're joined by music label founder and musician Maxwell Allison AKA Mukqs to talk about videogame music, DIY and experimental spaces for music and games, a 2020 arcade-style game called Disc Room, and the inherent value of videogames (if there's any to be had).   BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @su...

This week, we're joined by Fanbyte contributor and The Game Awards Future Class member Natalie Flores (@heartimecia) to talk about Cyberpunk 2077's best character, an incredible 45-minute indie game called Promesa, the anime detective game AI: The Somnium Files, and maybe even a little K-pop... BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underob...

BAD END's long-awaited GOTY awards are here to conclude 2020. We're hashing out our favorite picks, recapping the trends that defined the year, and making way for the videogame landscapes yet to come.   So lean in real close, keep your voice down to a whisper, and make sure the coast is clear. 2020 is finally gone, and we've got some crap to talk.  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a ne...

The year's biggest game - Cyberpunk 2077 - is officially out, and we're doing our best to avoid crashes so that we can actually talk about it. We're also discussing recent backlash against the game's developer CDProjektRED, as well as a sweet little game about death called Spiritfarer. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. T...

This week we're joined by narrative designer, writer, and long-time friend Roy Graham. Get ready, because we're greasing up your cyberchips and dusting off our 20-barrel plasma guns to do an ADVANCE REVIEW of Cyberpunk 2077! It is satire so please dont get mad at us. We didn't actually play the game.  We're also talking about the quietly brilliant new Paper Mario game, Halo novels, Josh's ever-mou...

New consoles are out! Exciting new games are... potentially on the horizon! Joined by writer and game maker Emma Kidwell, we talk about a few recent games of interest and the inflated appeal of new videogame systems in these strange pandemic times.  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenet Special than...

This week, we're joined by videogame critic Yussef Cole to discuss the motherly horror of the new Amnesia game, the compelling aesthetic mishmash of Paradise Killer, and the upcoming (?) "event" game Cyberpunk 2077. We also delve into the declining appeal of graphical fidelity, and the gradual fall of realism in mainstream gaming. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts...

Promise yourself not to spend too much cash as we discuss Genshin Impact, the latest anime gacha craze, with producer/viral artist/streamer Yung Skrrt. We're also diving into the Mortal Kombat 11 scene, our inability to understand the appeal of "lying games," and the exhausting, lucrative world of Twitch streaming.  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites de...

Caty is off to bigger and better things, so this is her final episode. To stave off the debilitating grief, we send her off with love from our listeners and some good ol' gamer talk. We're discussing a new all-time great roguelike/dungeon runner in the form of Hades, and Spelunky 2 - the sequel to one of the former best roguelikes ever.  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of po...