Colette & Matt Have Entered the Chat

The United Kingdom has blocked Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard in a major regulatory swing, citing unfair competition in the cloud gaming market. Microsoft will appeal of course, but what actually happens if one country blocks a multi-national merger? We discuss the differences between what we (as gamers) want to happen, vs. what should happen. Also, the jaw-dropping photorealism of U...

When Netflix first entered the games biz, many in the industry scoffed. But their partnership strategies and platform-agnostic mobile approach has shown promise. Now the news of a former Halo developer joining Netflix to create a new AAA IP has us thinking: A cross-platform, live service game on PC and consoles that's "free" to play with a Netflix login could be a massive hit — if the game is grea...

We all remember the video games near and dear to our nostalgic hearts. But what about the ephemeral, random boxes we picked up at the local video store when we had nothing else to play? If music and screenshots of these weird games bring back a flood of memories, you're in good company. We recount the strangest and most interesting '90s games forgotten by time, why the industry moved away from wei...

The DREDGE demo caught our eye a few months back, and the full release has got its hooks (lol) in us in a serious way. We discuss how elegant, mysterious, and mechanically perfect this special game is, and why it hits all the right notes for two players with different tastes. Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@gmail.com Join our Discord community: ...

It's time to discuss the controversy that has divided our great nation for far too long: Should Link's stick break after you whack it too much? On the heels of fresh gameplay for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom , miniature artist and Pro Gamer Dad™ Sky Burkson returns to Chat about how Nintendo has leaned hard into the physics sandbox of its open-world sequel, and whether that's what fan...

When "Minesweeper" and "Solitaire" were first bundled with Microsoft's Windows operating system in the early '90s, they introduced millions of people to PC gaming, many of whom had never used a mouse before. "Minesweeper" in particular became a favorite addiction of many Microsoft programmers, including Bill Gates. Kyle Orland, senior gaming editor at Ars Technica, has written an upcoming book abo...

By day, Linda Guillory is an engineer at Texas Instruments. By night (and really, all hours!), she holds two Guinness World Records: "Largest collection of LCD video game systems," and "largest collection of playable gaming systems." In all, she has more than 3,000 and counting, and her collection has been covered by games media and collector trades around the world. Linda joins us for a really fu...

Living in a foreign country is often cited as the best way to learn a new language. While we can't always do that, what if we could live there...virtually?  We chat about some upcoming wholesome games, including one that drops you in Tokyo for an immersive language experience. Plus, the continued joys of Kirby, returning to "Eastward," and our early impressions of the highly anticipated "Sea of St...

We recap the big announcements, fresh demos, and interesting teasers that caught our attention during Nintendo's massive February Direct, including the shadow drop of Metroid Prime Remastered and brand new footage of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . We also dive into some of the Game Boy Advance classics offered in the new online upgrade, and share excitement for the upcoming Chrono-inspired RPG Sea...

** THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE NINTENDO'S LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS ** The news was easy to miss: Activision Blizzard has settled with the SEC for $35 million, and admitted to no wrongdoing in its sexual discrimination and harassment lawsuits. So, is this the end of the story? Will anything change at the company or in the gaming industry as a whole? We discuss our disappointments and optimism. Als...

The action-adventure rhythm game Hi-Fi Rush from Tango Gameworks shadow dropped this week, and has taken the game-o-sphere by storm. Colette shares her glowing first impressions of this very special title. Meanwhile, Matt has embarked on his new PowerWash Simulator career in the flawed but still very satisfying Switch port. Also: The Dead Space remake delivers in a world where other spiritual succ...

We've noticed an increasing number of chill, minimalist "building" games emerge over the last few years, from Dorfromantik to Garden Galaxy, so we thought it was time to explore the rise of these "cozy builders." We trace their lineage back to the city games of yore, why they've split into a new subgenre, the difference between a "toy" and a "game," and the pure creative dopamine hits you get when...

This week we discuss the premiere of HBO's The Last of Us TV series, and how the maturation of video game narrative over the last 40 years (as well as the craft of prestige TV adaptation) has brought us to this moment. Also, Colette's book Enter the Meta is OFFICIALLY released. Get it wherever you get books! https://amzn.to/3HbAaox Plus, the sheer joy of wanton kaiju destruction and the legacy of...

Speed running Super Mario Bros. is a straightforward endeavor. Whoever saves the princess fastest gets the record. But what about open-ended sims, where you set your own goals? This week, we were so mesmerized by Stardew Valley speedrunners on GDQ that we had to invite them on the show. Lee (@atwentysomethingloser) and Lisa (@lichatton) are Stardew-obsessed Twitch streamers who have dissected the...

It's time to look back on a year of play and discuss the games that brought us the most joy in 2022, and then yell about them! Which titles will take the crown as The Chat's Games of the Year? Only one way to find out. Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@gmail.com Join our Discord community:  https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Follow and subscribe to Col...

We're staying as cozy as possible and  carving out some post-holiday game time with some old classics and new favorites. We discuss what you've been playing, and the games at the top of our queue during this (hopefully) quiet time. Colette's playing: Old-ass PS2 games like Fatal Frame Matt's playing: Sail Forth and Sky: Children of the Light Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on t...

Epic Games settled an FTC investigation alleging it had violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting too much data on minors and tricking them into unintended purchases. Epic has not admitted to wrongdoing, but will pay a whopping $520 million to put the case to bed. So, what does this mean for the future of a games industry that has its sights set on live service ga...

'Tis the season for video game announcements, trailers, and shadow drops, and nobody brought the heat like Geoff Keighley and The Game Awards. Even if you don't care about the awards themselves, you can't deny the news that broke  during the show. We take a look back at the trailers that piqued our interest, and the reveals our community is most looking forward to. Email us with what you're playin...

The long-awaited space horror spiritual successor to Dead  Space is... bad? Editorial and fan reviews alike have criticized the new release for performance issues and lackluster gameplay. But how much envelope pushing does a franchise really need if fans just want moar Dead Space in their lives? Plus, the  20-year-old free colony simulator Dwarf Fortress finally has...graphics? The game is out now...

Colette has a delightful new Steam demo to share, and Matt would like to talk to you about our Lord and Savior: Tech Trees. Plus, what YOU are playing on this fine post-Thanksgiving week. We also discuss the problems with modern social media and how we might make the Internet a better place for communities and fandoms. Colette's playing: Garden Galaxy (Demo) Matt's playing: Graveyard Keeper Email...

We dive into the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet hype (with help from our community), and explore the fine line between franchise innovation and video game comfort food. We also catch up on the Early Access roadblocks of Coral Island , what's the deal with A Little to the Left , and the polygonal pet sim hellscape that is: Wobbledogs. Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  Ha...

The New York Times has been a gaming company for decades, yet most crossword and puzzle fans don't consider themselves "gamers." This conversation shifted a bit when the Times purchased Internet sensation Wordle in January. Jeff Petriello is a producer at NY Times Games, a digital media vet, and game design professor at New York University. He joins us to discuss how bundling games into subscripti...

Nintendo shared a wholesome lineup of fresh indie games this week, so we pluck out our most anticipated, along with some recently released games we're jazzed to try. Colette's playing: Coral Island Matt's playing: Rogue Legacy 2 Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@gmail.com Join our Discord community:  https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Follow and subscr...

This week's episode is mostly about Target's home décor section, but we also squeeze in some discussion about ... video games! We cover what you've been playing, the fine line between goals and grind, and the sublime joys of automation. Colette's playing: Potion Permit & Coral Island Matt's playing: Factorio on Switch Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredThe...

The new Final Fantasy XVI trailer looks real pretty, but is it enough to get you excited about the next installment? We discuss the franchise's hits and misses, and where 16 might fit in the hallowed pantheon. Plus, a new study from the National Institute of Health finds that kids who game have more brain poppin'. We discuss whether that's causation or correlation, and why studies on video games a...