Colette & Matt Have Entered the Chat

Silent Hill MANIA has befallen us, and Colette brings everyone up to speed on what was announced this week, the fandom's reaction, and why it matters. We also discuss Colette's forthcoming YA novel, Enter the Meta , which is now available for pre-order! Use the links below to purchase. And the merits of a pocket space MMO for the rest of us. Colette's playing: HYPE ABOUT SILENT HILL Matt's playing...

The Meta Quest Pro VR headset is here. It's lighter, and has more precise hand tracking, but a lower resolution, refresh rate, and battery life, and it's being marketed to creative professionals at a whopping $1,500. So who is this for? And will it move the needle on VR?  We discuss the fractured VR audience, and why the Pro's specs and price tag may not line up for VR's biggest evangelists. Plus,...

We URGENTLY react to the world premiere footage from the Super Mario Bros. animated movie, and discuss the commercial and cultural stakes for Nintendo as they approach next year's release. Also, what makes fishing and crafting good in certain games, while tedious in others? We also stand before the deluge of demos from Steam Next Fest, and share our picks and potentials. Colette's playing: Dredge...

We lament the demise of cloud gaming service Google Stadia, and speculate on what it might portend for the future of game streaming. Plus, we cover what our community has been playing, and gape in awe at a music licensing miracle. Colette's playing: 20 Minutes Till Dawn & Metal Hellsinger Matt's playing: Mythic Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@gm...

This week we discuss what it takes to re-wire your home for a grown-up PC gaming lifestyle, the massive leaks of GTA VI and Diablo IV ,  and the strange machinations of Disney's $30 Early Access game that will one day be free to play? We also shine a spotlight on an up-and-coming indie developer called "Nintendo." Colette's playing: Disney Dreamlight Valley Matt's playing: Splatoon 3 Email us with...

This week has more game news than you can swing a dead cat at, so we run down the highlights from Nintendo's September Direct, Sony's State of Play, and peek across the ocean at what's poppin' at the Tokyo Game Show. Plus, the infinite charm of Cursed to Golf , the winners of our Discord giveaway, the near-future of the VR market, and why doesn't Disney make more AAA console games these days? Cole...

Have you heard of Fortnite ? It is a popular video game that is sweeping the nation. Matt shares his thoughts about diving in for the first time ever, while Colette wraps up her Vampire Survivors obsession to focus on  ... golf? Also, what's up with the Thai entertainment industry? (A question that no one has ever asked until this moment.) We cover Free-to-Play FOMO, and should Queen Elizabeth II...

Would you take your Steam Deck on a cruise ship? Your answer to this question is better than any horoscope. Also, Sony's investment in mobile MMOs and live service games leads us to a conversation about how platforms and ecosystems are so important in bringing "Muggles" (i.e. non-traditional gamers) into games — specifically, how the persistent worlds of our own Animal Crossing islands kinda becam...

We run down the teasers, announcements, updates, and surprises from Gamescom 2022, conduct our court-mandated Vampire Survivors check-in, and share some fresh gems we've been playing. Also, the lessons of being a "fast follower" in the games and tech industries. Colette's playing: PlateUp! and Onsen Master Matt's playing: Empires of the Undergrowth Email us with what you're playing and we'll read...

The depth and complexity of a game has nothing do with with its control scheme, graphical fidelity, or writing, as our continued obsession with Vampire Survivors proves. We spin the wheel and pick the 5 winners of our Vampire Survivors giveaway! Listen here or check the Discord to see if you've won! Also, the beauty of ASCII animation, how online communities allow games to indulge in mechanical co...

Vampire Survivors , the indie darling that's sweeping the nation, only uses one stick. But its strategic complexity is a miles-deep "just one more run" rabbit hole, and Colette may never climb out. Speaking of hopeless addictions, Matt has returned to Sea of Thieves for its Season 7 Captaincy Update, and is also checking out Monster Sanctuary , which is a Poké-like Metroidvania with Final Fantasy-...

The world NEEDS a cross-platform, free-to-play, ranked, competitive mahjong game with unlockable cosmetics that make rainbows shoot out of your tiles...and WE will be the ones to make it. We also discuss the joys of late comedic actor Meshach Taylor (of Mannequin and Designing Women fame) and eventually get around to discussing actual video games, which include whether 13 Sentinels is an Evangelio...

Is Stray , the most-wishlisted game in Steam history, living up to the hype? Colette shares her first impressions on both the Steam Deck and her PC. Also, Matt finally finished 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim , and there is a LOT (of non-spoilers) to talk about! Also: Does a "game" need mechanics to be ... well, a game? Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@g...

We are offline this week for overlapping vacations but in the meantime, we wanted to introduce you to another fantastic podcast in the HyperX family called Nice Games Club , where three game devs talk about the industry! We're excited to have Ellen Burns-Johnson, Mark LaCroix, and Stephen McGregor on the show for a roundtable discussion, but in the meantime, we're sharing episode 249 of their show...

You asked for it, and we have delivered. Volume 2 of our hidden gems series is here. And while Colette is on vacation this week, guest co-host Sky Burkson has a treasure trove of under-the-radar beauties like ... Elden Ring, and ... Mario Kart 8. Games discussed in this episode: Lunch Lady Lumione Wattam Everhood Teabat! Dodgeball Academia TOEM Ninjin: Clash of Carrots Vampire Survivors Cyber Hook...

If you're in the mood for a game that's off the beaten path, we have a treasure trove of hidden gems from our community and our personal list of favorites. From tear-jerkers to potion crafting to dancing poop emojis, this episode has it all. 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 Foll...

Like many of us in the late '90s and early '00s, Ryan Schutter was obsessed with real-time strategy games like Warcraft , Command & Conquer , and StarCraft . When StarCraft II was on the horizon, he bought a beta key from Craigslist, and his life would never be the same again. He made custom maps for the game, including complex event scripting. As game streaming matured and SC2 became a competitiv...

Colette got a STEAM DECK! She shares her first impressions and what she's been playing on it. We also discuss the beat-em-up joy of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. 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 Colette: https://twitter.com/colettebennett https://www.twitch.t...

Summer Games Fest, Sony State of Play, Xbox + Bethesda, Wholesome Games Direct, and MUCH more. We pluck out our most hyped game announcements, some interesting gems, and the biggest reveals of the "Not E3" season. Plus, we discuss your reactions to the summer game lists and what you're currently playing. Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show!  HaveEnteredTheChat@gmail.com...

Colette has gone hard on Diablo Immortal, both as a player and in covering its business model, which has made headlines this week for its loot boxy mechanics and exorbitant end-game price tag. But if you get 40-100 hours out of a grindy game you love for free, is it really a problem? This week we discuss the ethics of the Free-to-Play business model, and the nuances that make some free games  fant...

Somehow, Colette doesn't know who beloved children's singer Raffi is, but we'll do the show anyway. This week, mobile/PC hybrid Diablo Immortal is upon us, so Colette shares her first impressions. We also discuss the legacy of the Baldur's Gate series and how long is too long to wait for Baldur's Gate 3 to be completed. Also, Matt paid 71 cents for a video game. Was it worth it? Choice paralysis,...

Destructoid alum Dan "Husky" Lingen joins us this week to go deep on media theory, the evolution of Internet communities, and of course...video games! He recently joined Xbox as the Game Creator Community Director, where he works with developers to empower their online fans. He's also worked at EA, Twitch, and Ubisoft, and explains how covering video games in the mid-2000s positioned him to realiz...

Stuart Duncan is the dad of an autistic son, and he's also autistic himself. So when he learned that autistic Minecraft players were being bullied on popular servers, he set out to create a safe and inclusive virtual space for the autism community. The moment he announced it, parents lined up in droves, hoping their kids could join. Today, the server has 15,000 members, and Stuart has quit his job...

Music  instantly transports us to familiar and emotional places — even those made of pixels. When you spend 60-100 hours in a virtual world, its sounds can deeply affect you.  This week, we share the game soundtracks that changed us, and remain with us long after the credits rolled. We also explore the rich online (and IRL) culture of VGM covers and remixes, and why getting new towels is so much f...

Why is the Chrono Cross re-release port so bad? Because God is dead, that's why. Also, have you heard of Roblox? It's popular with YOUTHS. This week we discuss how our gaming lifestyles have evolved — especially in the context of a work-from-home pandemic — and share what you (and we) are playing this week. Colette's playing: Kirby & Ghostwire: Tokyo Matt's playing: Dorfromantik & 13 Sentinels: Ae...