Nora Blake & Molly Rhinebeck

Journal Updated

Leisure EN ↓ 69 episodes

Journal Updated is a monthly game club podcast with a focus on exploring the design of choice within the medium. Join Nora and Molly every month as they dig into a game through a holistic lens, discuss its use of narrative agency, and answer emails from listeners!

Author

Nora Blake & Molly Rhinebeck

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

www.abnormalmapping.com

Latest episode

Jun 12, 2026

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Episodes

Journal Updated 44: Tacoma 02.01.2024

Happy New Year everybody! We're back with a new episode recorded way earlier than usual! Nora had to make time for her seven Baldur's Gate 3 playthroughs, you see. Anyway, we played Tacoma! Hop on board as we talk space stations, AI, lesbians, and more!

Journal Updated 43: Resident Evil 4 01.12.2023

Hello again! We're back with another classic of gaming. It's Resident Evil 4! One of the most beloved and recognized games ever. But is it as good as everybody has said it is for 18 years? Well, yeah. Yeah, it's pretty fucking cool.

Journal Updated 42: Starfield 05.10.2023

Hello again! We're back with a new journal! This month, we played Bethesda's recent hit(?) Starfield! Join us as we talk about space, cowboys, space cowboys, Alien, mind control, pirates, space pirates, Barrett, another Barrett, and the secret meaning at the center of reality! Also, some jrpgs.

Journal Updated 41: Diablo IV, Destiny 2, & Armored Core 6 07.09.2023

Welcome back! It's been a hell of a summer this year, and we're here to talk about some games! We didn't end up getting into Ghost Trick, but we figured we would check in with some of our pet live service games for a change. We talk Diablo, a little bit about Destiny 2's Season of the Deep, and more!

Journal Updated 40: Castlevania Lords of Shadow 03.07.2023

Remember when they killed Castlevania the first time before they killed Castlevania again? This is a little tale from that short era… Next Month: Ghost Trick

Journal Updated 39: Half-Life 01.06.2023

Hello, Gordon! This month, we dove headfirst into Half-Life, a good old fashioned PC shooter from Valve. Yes, Valve used to make games! Come along and hear all about the trials and tribulations of Dr. Gordon Freeman and his crowbar!

Journal Updated 38: Metal Gear Solid 02.05.2023

We're back again on another top secret op. This month, it's all cardboard boxes and dying foxes with Metal Gear Solid. Turns out? One of the greats. Who could have known!

Journal Updated 37: Return of the Obra Dinn 03.04.2023

Ahoy! We're back again with an episode about Return of the Obra Dinn, one of the coolest games we've played for the show! Not only that, but we're also joined by Jackson of the fair seas of Abnormal Mapping! Together we solved the mystery of the Obra DInn, which was a blast. Hope you enjoy!

Journal Updated 36: Prince of Persia (1992) 08.03.2023

We’re back, this time a week late due to COVID! Everyone is okay now, but man that thing sucks ass. Anyway, we…didn’t have the fun time with Prince of Persia that I was hoping we would. Luckily, we’ve both been plying plenty of other games too!

Journal Updated 35: Pentiment 02.02.2023

We’re back, and joined again by Em of Abnormal Mapping! We talk shop about murder, peasants, peasant murder, nobles, noble murder, God, the annals of history, and more! This game was an absolute delight, and has instantly joined the list of my all time favorite games. What a time.

Journal Updated 34: Fallout: New Vegas Add-ons 05.01.2023

We're back! This month we played the 4 story add-ons for Fallout New Vegas: Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, & Lonesome Road. Some were bad, some were mid, some were even delightful! Pretty good encapsulation of Fallout as a whole, really. Join us as we bring our Fallout expedition to a close. Kind of. You'll see next month.

Journal Updated 33: Fallout: New Vegas 04.12.2022

Welcome back to Journal Updated! This month we played Fallout: New Vegas, a renowned video game in the “RPG” genre. It’s pretty cool, though obviously it can’t hold up to over a decade of praise. That really is the worst thing to do to a game you like. Also on the docket: Harvestella! Pokemon! The Outer Worlds?

Journal Updated 32: Dead Space 31.10.2022

We're back, this time with special guest Autumn to talk about the 2008 smash hit Dead Space! Dark hallways, guys that run at you, and more boxes than you can shake an armored boot at await you in this horror action shoot em off. But is it good? Well mostly. Happy Halloween! Music: Anachronist by Kevin MacLeod Next month: Fallout: New Vegas After that: Fallout: New Vegas DLC

Journal Updated 31: Sekiro 05.10.2022

After a brief delay due to some booster shenanigans, we return to talk about 2019's smash hit, Sekiro! We also talk about Fortnite, Dungeons & Dragons, XCOM, and LOTS of monkeys.

Journal Updated 30: Hypnospace Outlaw 03.09.2022

Welcome back! This month we’re joined by Abnormal Mapping’s own Em to talk about Hypnospace Outlaw! It’s an charming little ting. Pretty cute stuff. We also talk about Fate, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, half the Castlevania franchise, & more!

Journal Updated 29: Dragon Age: Inquisition 01.08.2022

We're back with our last Bioware title ever! Turns out they made a pretty fun game this time. This is the highest we've ever been on Bioware, and likely the highest we ever will be. That doesn't mean there aren't problems...in fact, bigger game means bigger problems. Very glad to be done with this series, and studio.

Journal Updated 28: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed I & II 04.07.2022

Welcome back to another Journal Updated! We’re joined by Jackson to discuss to discuss the fascinating bridge between Star Wars and its prequels: The Force Unleashed! Pitched as the newest big budget addition to the Star Wars canon, these two games and their iconic protagonists were mostly reviled for various reasons. Nora has a good time and is attacked. You should defend her in the comments!

Journal Updated 27: Prey 01.06.2022

It is time to update your journals once again as we cover Prey, the 2017 Arkane game. Is it any good? The answer may surprise and shock you!

Journal Updated 26: Dragon Age 2 08.05.2022

We're back! A week late due to a bout of sickness, we come to you with a discussion of Dragon Age 2! It's alright. Better than the first one, for sure. But you expected that. In a world of fake problems, which one will you make up a guy to address and get mad at?

Journal Updated 25: Marathon 01.04.2022

Welcome back! This month, we ship out on the UESC Marathon as we play Bungie's 1994 hit, Marathon! Well, we did our best. The game is pretty unforgiving, and that's at its most forgiving. It's got great vibes, though!

Journal Updated 24: Sleeping Dogs 01.03.2022

Welcome back! This month we played a decent number of games, because Nora started downloading everything on the game pass menu. We also talk about Sleeping Dogs! It's a video game. Join us next month when we take you back to the past! Hopefully not to play any shitty games that suck ass, though.

Journal Updated 23: Dragon Age: Origins 01.02.2022

Welcome back! We’re going back to the old Bioware well this year as we begin our journey through the Dragon Age setting! This is maybe the worst game we’ve played for the show so far. But that doesn’t mean we don’t make a banger podcast!

Journal Updated 22: Portal 02.01.2022

Welcome back! This month we played a tiny little game to ring in the new year! It's Portal! It's just good. We spent more time talking about other game though, because Dungeon Encounters is just that good. Go play it!

Journal Updated 21: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 04.12.2021

Wake up, we're here. Why are you shaking? Are you okay? Stand up... there you go. You were dreaming. Welcome back to Journal Updated! This month we tuck into a winter treat: Skyrim! We had a pretty good time up in the great white north, despite Todd's best efforts to break our saves halfway through. What can you say about Skyrim? It's a decade old, it's a hugely influential thing. It's fucking fun...

Journal Updated 20: Until Dawn 01.11.2021

We're back with some wintertime spookiness! This month we played Until Dawn, a horror adventure game from Supermassive Games! It's got monsters, it's got teens, it's got choices, it's got racism. Basically all the ingredients for a horror movie, but this one you push buttons! This would have been a way better 2 hour movie.

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