Novel Gaming!

You ever just buy games and not play them? Us too! Join us as we tackle some of our backlog with a friendly challenge! Tune in around 23:40 to hear the parameters and games that made our shortlist. Before then, hear about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comics Series (IDW) 'The M...

It's been an on-podcast journey of several years, but we've finally arrived at the epic conclusion of the Infinity Cycle! We're talking all about 'Infinity Kings' by Adam Silvera. Discussion begins ~30:00. And of course, before we get into all that, we check in on some things we've been playing and watching. Playing: Pokemon Sword (Switch) Pokemon Trading Card Game (Switch)...

We played The Archipelago, a short 2022 tea-making game developed and published by Never Done Games, a two-person studio that makes the kinds of games that have never been done! Discussion begins around 28:00. But of course, before we exchange tea recipes, we catch up on some things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: Childhood favorite picture books 'Can't Spell...

We read 'Fireheart Tiger' by Aliette de Bodard! Conversation around this short, sapphic fantasy begins ~18:25. Before that, we check in on the things we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing: Pokémon Emerald (GBA) Pokémon Conquest (DS) Slay the Princess (Steam) Watching: Planet of the Apes Movie Series Arrival (2016 Film) Thinking About: 2024 Summer Olympics Find us on Twit...

You ever just need some direction or advice? Well, do we have some video game characters for you! Listen is as we discuss mentors in video games. Conversation begins ~24:05. And before we get into it, we check in on the things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: DeadEndia Series by Hamish Steele 'How to Keep House While Drowning' by KC Davis 'Lagoon&#3...

Vicki's back again, and this time for a book club episode! So you know that means: we've got a complicated, slippery, and confounding scifi tale to dissect. Listen to us unravel and do our best to understand Jeff VanderMeer's 'Dead Astronauts'. Discussion begins ~30:35. And of course, before we get into all that, we check in on some things we've been playing and watching. P...

Since the dawn of home console video games (and technically even before that), there have been tie-in, licensed property, and cross-promotional video games based on your favorite movies, TV shows, comics, and more. Some are great, and some are... not. We share some of our favorites and not-so-favorites. But before that, we touch on stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Readin...

We've got another book club! This month we read 2019's 'Gods of Jade and Shadow' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Before all that, we catch up on some of the stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Book discussion begins around 25:15. Playing: Pokémon Y (3DS) Final Fantasy VII (PS5) Watching: Kung Fu Panda Movie Series (Dreamworks) Imaginary (Blumhouse Productions &...

Wake up, Comrade! Find your pants and solve this murder case with Doug and Katie. They played Disco Elysium, the 2019 detective role playing game. Conversation starts around 15:00. Before then, there's talk about what they've been reading and watching lately. Reading '60 Songs That Explain the '90s' by Rob Harvilla 'The Honeys' by Ryan La Sala Watching Sonic the Hedgeho...

It's a book club episode, and this month we read 'Ogres' by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a book about a world where humans are oppressed by ogres and revolution may be right around the corner. But of course, before we get into all that, we catch up on some of the stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Book discussion begins at ~31:00. Playing: Penny Larceny: Gig Economy Sup...

This game has EVERYTHING: skateboarding, RPG battles, cooking, dancing, romance, a bear mascot-led cult, a queer weightlifting auntie with librarian suitors, and a whole lot of family drama. We're talking about 2023's Thirsty Suitors from Outerloop Games. But before we break down all the exes, friends, and grade school boyfriends, we break down what we've been reading, watching, and th...

Travel to Montana with Doug and Katie as they talk about the 2023 fantasy western horror book 'Lone Women' by Victor LaValle (discussion starts around 16:15). Before then, hear about the things they've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Playing Portal (Steam) Guacamelee! (PS Vita) Watching Polite Society (movie) We Are Lady Parts (Peacock and Channel 4) Skins (Hulu and E4) Thi...

Help Wanted: Someone with a good ear for details and vast video game knowledge. Successful candidate should be able to discern clues, make informed guesses, and doesn't mind being occasionally wrong. Interested applicants should tune in, specifically around the 30:27 mark. Before then, be prepared to hear about what Vicki, Doug, and Katie have been reading, listening, and thinking about. Readi...

It's a sequel! Remember 'Lavender House'? We're talking about the sequel, 'The Bell in the Fog', the second book in Lev A.C. Rosen's Andy Mills private eye series. Discussion begins at 25:00. And of course, we check in on some stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5) Super Mario RPG Remake (Switch) Fortnite Festival (PC) Watching: Quiz Lady (film, Hulu...

Vicki's here! And the end of 2023 is just around the corner, which means it's time to highlight some of our favorite books, video games, and other media from this past year. But of course, before we do that, we check in on some things we've been playing, reading, and thinking about. Playing Hades (Switch) Cult of the Lamb (Steam) Tchia (PS5) Venba (Steam) Isle of Swaps Demo (Steam) Rea...

Join Doug and Katie as they talk about the 2021 epic fantasy book 'The Jasmine Throne' by Tasha Suri (discussion starts around 17:40). Before then, there's conversation around the things they've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing Batman: Arkham Asylum (Steam) Suika (Switch) Watching DoigSwift (Twitch) November Nintendo Indie World Showcase (YouTube) Thinking...

Fighting, jumping and... dating monsters?! Sign us up! Join Doug and Katie as they discuss the 2023 metroidvania and dating sim, Romancelvania. Conversation starts around 18:30. Before then they check in on what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading 'Pageboy' by Elliot Page 'The Jasmine Throne' by Tasha Siri Watching Survivor UK (BBC One) The Challenge (MT...

It's a Glitterjaw bonus crossover! We chat spoiler-free first impressions of Insomniac's brand new Marvel's Spider-Man 2 with Derek from Walloping Websnappers! We talk about the gameplay and enhanced PS5 haptics, our favorite suits for Miles and Peter, the community-minded “friendly neighborhood” of it all, and of course all the queers. Check out Walloping Websnappers and other Glitter...

We dusted off our English degrees for this book club episode, because we're both reading 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin for the very first time, and there is a LOT to dig into. Discussion starts around 16:50. But first, we check in on what we've been playing and watching. Playing Baldur's Gate III (PS5) Unpacking (PS5) Watching Dirty Laundry (Dropout) Godzilla...

We're doing a fantasy video game club episode! Doug and Katie got witchy and built their own divination decks in the 2023 game The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood. Game conversation starts around 28:45, and heavy spoilers begin around 54:00. Before we get into all of that, we check in on all of the media we've been engaging with lately. Reading: 'Black Sun' & 'Fevered Star' by...

Deals with the devil, magic, and queer & trans pirates! The young adult fantasy novel 'The Wicked Bargain' by Gabe Cole Novoa is filled with that and more! Join Katie and Doug as they discuss the book (starts around 21:55) and the things they've been playing and watching. Playing The Teal Mask / Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC (Switch) Sea of Stars (PS5) Marvel's Midnight Suns...

Doug and Katie do their first ever gaming draft! They create teams of video game characters who fight and teams of characters who f***. Who would would you draft? Conversation starts around 21:10. Before then, they check in on what they've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading 'I'm Glad My Mom Died' by Jennette McCurd 'Counterfeit' by Kirstin Chen Watch...

A queer, gender-bent Arthurian legend full of swords, spears, and sorcery? Sounds pretty great to us! We're talking about 'Spear' by Nicola Griffith. Conversation starts around 14:35. Before that, we chat about the things we've been playing, watching, or thinking about lately. Playing Dredge (PS5) Pokemon Unite (Switch) Pokemon Scarlet (Switch) Watching Dimension 20: The Unsleeping...

Guess who's back for a special anniversary episooode! That's right, Vicki's back with Katie & Doug to play our own version of the Newlywed Game! ...er, the Old Friends Game? In any case, we're super good at it, so enjoy! Of course, before we prove our extreme synchronicity, we catch up on some things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading: 'The Severe...

Knock, knock. Who's there? Probably just some debris, right? Find out by listening to our conversation about 'The Scourge Between Stars' by Ness Brown. Conversation starts around 19:58. Before that, we chat about the things we've been playing, watching, or thinking about lately. Playing Fairune Collection (Switch) Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Switch) Watching My Adventures Wi...