Gametalk

Episode 163 Summer is just around the corner, and that means "E3" season is here! While E3 may be gone, the Summer Games Fest lives as its spiritual successor; and Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have games to show as well. In today's episode, we discuss last week's PlayStation State of Play and make predictions for the upcoming Nintendo, Microsoft, and Summer Games Fest showcases! As always, we...

Episode 162 Game design is challenging, doubly so when designing a game for both casual and competitive play. Today, we discuss games that balance both competitive and casual play, our experiences with competitive games, and how we think the player bases of these games impact design decisions. We also give our thoughts on the newly released Hellblade II, and what its release could mean for Microso...

Episode 161 As we get older, retro games are something we grow increasingly fond of. But is it entirely due to nostalgia, or do retro games still have merits when compared to modern releases? Today, we discuss our love of retro games, and what goes into collecting and playing older titles. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (TerraTech, Hades). This episode was recorded in May 2024...

Episode 160 Developing a full game solo is a herculean feat of engineering and artistry. Today, we discuss notable games that were developed by one person and what goes into creating a game alone. We also talk about the newly released Animal Well at length, in both spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (V Rising, Animal Well). This episode wa...

Episode 159 In a one-two punch of terrible first party news, today we discuss both the baffling choice by Sony to require a PSN account on PC to play Helldivers II and the heartbreakingly infuriating decision Microsoft made to close four of its first party studios. In the wake of workforce reductions and studios shuttering, we observe the landscape of the present Xbox ecosystem - and it is not a p...

Episode 158 Fallout is out now on Amazon Prime Video, and it's a bonafide hit! Today, we talk about the show in spoiler-free and spoiler-filled contexts, and discuss how the success of the show could impact Bethesda's plans. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, RimWorld, Dave the Diver). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music fr...

Episode 157 Ahmed and Connor have returned from Italy, and travel is on their minds. Today, we discuss video game settings that are inspired by real-life locations and talk about games that capture a sense of wanderlust. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Slay The Spire, Monster Hunter World, Lil Gator Game). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSou...

Episode 156 When a game series is around for a while, eventually the identity of the series will begin to mean different things to different people. Today, we discuss games that divide fanbases and what the merits of each series pre and post divide are. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter World, Minecraft, Ultros). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty fr...

Episode 155 Video games have produced countless iconic and memorable characters over the decades. Today, we reflect on what makes a character iconic, and which ones we think stand the test of time. We also review the results of the recently conducted BAFTA poll naming the top 20 most iconic gaming characters of all time. We end the show by shouting out a couple of our favorite games (Stardew Valle...

Episode 154 Mike has returned from PAX East, and he has many stories to tell! Today, we talk to Mike about some of the new games he played, the developers he spoke to, and the events he attended. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Sea of Thieves, Dragon's Dogma 2). This episode was recorded in April 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet...

Episode 153 As game development takes longer and costs more, remakes and remasters of older titles have become commonplace. Today, we talk about some of our favorite remakes and remasters, how the industry handles these games, and whether or not certain game remakes are warranted. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Rise of the Rōnin, Sea of Thieves, Disco Elysium). This episode...

Episode 152 The specs for the PlayStation 5 Pro have leaked, and they paint a picture of high resolutions and framerates via Sony's proprietary upscaling solution, PSSR. But do we need a PlayStation 5 Pro? Today, we discuss the Pro specs and the technology behind them, and talk about historical mid-gen refreshes and they impact they have. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Helld...

Episode 151 In today's somewhat somber episode, we take a step back and reflect on the Rooster Teeth shutdown and the death of the legendary Akira Toriyama. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Balatro, Infinite Craft, Persona 3 Reload). This episode was recorded in March 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord...

Episode 150 As long as the games industry has been around, various moral panics have cropped up around certain games and sparked public outcry. Games like Grand Theft Auto, Mass Effect, and more have drawn unwarranted suspicion for their controversial content. Today, we talk about games that have stirred controversy over the years and why those opinions are almost always misguided. As always, we c...

Episode 149 Sony has laid off around 900 PlayStation employees, or roughly 10% of their workforce. This is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending bombardment of workforce reductions in triple-A game studios. Industry experts have long-warned of the unsustainability of the triple-A games space, and it seems as though the bubble is in the midst of bursting. Today, we discuss the PlayStation lay...

Episode 148 Helldivers 2 has come out and conquered the gaming world - with its frenetic (and hilarious) co-op action, the game has gone viral and its popularity continues to climb. In today's episode, we discuss the game and why it works so well, and what its successful launch could mean for Sony's future first party plans. As always, we conclude by talking about the games we're playing (Remnant...

Episode 147 After a week of frenzy and anticipation, Microsoft finally comes forward with their plans for the future of Xbox - and while their brief announcement threw cold water on the ongoing discussion, this week we talk about what Phil and co. said (and didn't say), and analyze Xbox's position going forward. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Red Dead Redemption 2, Tale of T...

Episode 146 Ahead of a major business announcement next week, we discuss the rumors surrounding Microsoft's potentially historic third party strategy, and what that could mean for the Xbox brand as well as the impact around the wider industry. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Sea of Thieves, Persona 3 Reload, Warframe, Fortnite). This episode was recorded in February 2024. Roy...

Episode 145 In today's episode, we predict the shape of the games industry in 2024. Early signs are showing a scramble for maximum profits, with studios resorting to layoffs, consolidation, and AI to reach their goals. Conversely, we predict a strong year for VR and Nintendo, as they pursue their financial ambitions in more palatable ways. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (The...

Episode 144 In today's episode, we talk about Palworld! As always, we end with the games we're playing (The Finals). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Palworld Impressions 9:52 - Palword Reception and Development/Design 16:14 - Our Experiences Wi...

Episode 143 In today's episode, we give our impressions on the Meta Quest 3, discuss the overall VR landscape, and talk about where the games industry is at with respect to VR adoption. As always, we end with the games we're playing (The Light Brigade, Asgard's Wrath 2, Vampire Survivors, Nintendo 64 games). This episode was recorded in January 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or...

Episode 142 In today's episode, we discuss the ransomware attack on Insomniac and the resulting industry details and future Insomniac project timelines that were leaked. As part of the leak, we also talk about sales figures for Sony's 1st party games in the PS4 and PS5 era, and what those numbers mean for Sony's present position in the industry. As always, we end with the games we're playing (God...

Episode 141 In today's episode, we determine Gametalk's game of the year for 2023! As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (In A Dark Cave, Lethal Company). This episode was recorded in December 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Check out Connor's new game here! https://proudmomgames.itch.io/in-a-dark-cave Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord -...

Episode 140 In today's episode, we pit consoles throughout the ages against each other to see what comes out on top as Gametalk's favorite console! As always, we end with the games we're playing (Pikmin 4, PowerWash Simulator, Diablo IV). This episode was recorded in July 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZC...

Episode 139 In today's episode, we discuss The Game Awards 2023! As always, we end with the games we're playing (Analogue Pocket GameBoy games, Super Mario RPG, PlayStation Portal). This episode was recorded in December 2023. Royalty free music from BenSound. Questions or comments? Tweet @PodcastGametalk Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn Timestamps: 0:00 - Game Awards 2023 Critiques 17...