Skill Check

This is more of a random collection of stuff this week Imagine Gaming News, but lots of it. As well as all things Ubisoft and Horizon we talk this study looking at more evidence that gaming is positive for mental health. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-09-25-new-study-reveals-positive-mood-changes-during-video-game-play If you missed the study we looked at last week – it can be found here https://w...

The Sims Movie, Switch 2 Rumours, and Gaming is good for Mental Health! So. The Sims movie is becoming a thing. Which distracts us with a lot of talk of talk about Sims. Sorry about that.  (Also our mic setup is dodgy – sorry about that) What do we do with the Switch Rumours? And is the message that “gaming is good for mental health”, going mainstream?   The article about the link between gaming a...

We’re back from our summer holidays, and we have some catching up to do! Andy’s feeling a little lost and tempted by Star Wars Outlaws. We catch up on the PS5 Pro news. We look at a potential future where you could get video games on a health insurance plan. https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/deepwell-dtx-videogame-therapy-fda-clearance/ https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/video-games-in-me...

Could a game where you’re a vampire introduce you to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?  Doom and Doom 2 has returned! And so has Crash Bandicoot! We also spend far too much time arguing over what Crash does with the apples. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want to hear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @YmcaExe...

We ask, are people falling out of love with strategy games? Could we make money from old games? And funding has been found for table top gaming groups. We talk screen time A LOT in this one, particularly about gaming – but screen time in general. Some links we refer to… https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/worried-about-son-gaming-habit-experts-3020298 https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/does-scre...

We’re back after a short unexpected break! We’re playing a little catch up on gaming news, we talk in app purchases, and Life is Strange. We mention some tips from ChildNet about in game purchases. They can be found here: https://www.childnet.com/blog/how-to-avoid-in-app-purchases/ Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want to hear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Ins...

Have you come across “Gods Influencer”? Carlo Acutis, born in 1991 is to become the Catholic Church's first "millennial saint" Crash Bandicoot is finally coming to Game Pass! And there’s a new Game Boy Advance game out. We also chat Ofcom studies that look at who kids are really gaming with online. A few links are mentioned. Find the NCMU podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5...

Do we need the latest console? Considering the offering we’re given? The article we chat about can be found here - https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/22/im-sticking-ps4-will-never-buy-a-ps5-21084418/?ico=newsfeed_gaming Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want to hear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @YmcaExeter on...

Does Gaming impact Mental Health and wellbeing? At all? We talk about recent study that shows no negative (or positive) mental health impact by gaming. Read more here https://readwrite.com/study-video-games-adult-gamers-mental-health/ https://tmb.apaopen.org/pub/k8ra4n36/release/1 We also talk a bit about what a gamer looks like (according to statistics). Find the episode here: https://spotifyanch...

Fancy working for ikea within Roblox? No seriously – Check out https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-is-opening-a-new-store-on-roblox-pub8a9272d0 We also chat esports in schools, and how ALL the games were just shown this weekend. Meanwhile Andy has been playing Humanity. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Faceboo...

Lets face it. Gaming. Like almost everything else. Isn’t cheap. We have a chat about cheap (ish) ways to game, Marvels Midnight Suns free on Epic, Minecraft on Netflix, and Astrobot. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @YmcaExeter on Instagram, Twitter, or Faceboo...

Young people and mobile phones! Its something that seems to get people…. Talking. So… Lets talk about that. We also chat Call of Duty on Game Pass, Colour Dash, Dubbed Linger, and Andy finally finished Spiderman Remasted. We also go on for too long. Far too long, and theres plenty we didn’t cover. Sorry about that. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want to hear about at @YMCAExet...

Historically we’ve been a video games / mental health and wellbeing podcast. We’re going back there to chat games that focus on mental health. We also chat Marvel Rivels, Switch 2, and an update on Stop Killing Games. (More information can be found here: stopkillinggames.com) Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram,...

Stop killing Games! Lets talk about the campaign to keep games alive! We also chat gaming in airports, and Astro Bears. (With apologies to any fans of the M32 / M4 junction in Bristol) Check out https://www.stopkillinggames.com for more information!   Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out mo...

Do you ever catch yourself going back to games that stress you out? Why do we do that? On that note...we also revisit Celeste. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @YmcaExeter on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

We have a new look to the video podcast. We talk video game preservation, Fallout, and all things Sims4. We also go on a little long this week. Sorry about that. For more about video game preservation see - gamehistory.org/ Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @Ymc...

It’s the school holiday season, and Andy has found himself back in the world of Minecraft. We talk over games for parents to play with their kids over the holidays. A look at 11 reasons how Minecraft is educational: https://funtech.co.uk/latest/11-reasons-why-minecraft-is-educational-for-kid Information about “Learning Journeys” on the Xbox - https://www.purexbox.com/news/2024/04/xbox-launches-fre...

Can video games help us sleep? Yes there is screen time. But can video games help sleep in a good way? We look at ways in which Video games can form part of a healthy sleep routine. Gaming news wise we look at an increase in gaming news, esports news, and Fall Guys coming to Fortnite. And Andy gets confused during the game of the week. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohea...

We talk Gaming and Faith this week. After Becky had a conversation around Christians playing video games, we decided to try and address that question. As a gaming podcast we are biased. For more around this I’d suggest checking out resources at https://lovethynerd.com/ Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want to hear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and y...

Growing up in a world of VR, and AI is going to have its own challenges. We look at how weird it might feel for us seeing it, how normal it might feel, and how we can try and embrace what seems to be the next wave of technology Gaming news wise we chat, Apple and Epic having another fight, Playstation and education, and PS5 starts selling more than the Switch. Also. Andy feels awkward over his gam...

And… we are back… Half term was a little longer than planned due to Andy getting covid (He's so 2020). But we’re back. Gaming news wise we chat about a study looking at peer pressure leading kids to spend money on in game cosmetics. What does this tell us about how we look at our digital lives? We look at what a typical gamer looks like – according to the stats of who plays. And this weeks gam...

With Internet Safety Day Next Week, we talk staying safe in the Digital Space, both from the point of view of healthy gaming, and using the internet in general. Gaming News, we talk Fortnite coming back to iPhones, BT charging for Xbox Game Pass, and good news for Microsoft. This week game of The Week. Andy has been playing the calm yet emotionally charged puzzle platformer Gris. -- Roblox Parenta...

This week, we talk games that help get you fit, Netflix gaming, and the emotionally complex waters of Sea of Solitude. Come say hello to us or give us ideas for games you want tohear about at @YMCAExeterGames on Twitter, Facebooks, Instagram, and youtube. Find out more about YMCA Exeter on @YmcaExeter on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

It was Blue Monday this week. Is it any bluer then any other Monday? We also chat the studio, Andys beard, and Gadgetverse here in Exeter. Also – one of us is VERY excited over the Indiana Jones, This weeks Game of The Week Pikmin4. The IGN Article we mentioned can be found here: https://www.ign.com/articles/5-cosy-games-to-counteract-the-winter-blues Come say hello to us or give us ideas for game...

We’re back for 2024 – and have yet another new setup for recording. We’re also talking about Space. A new gathering in Exeter, flexible for people to bring their interests to. (Look out for Mario Kart being there) We chat AI – a subject I’m sure we’ll keep coming back to. And finally, Andy finally plays Spiderman. We also mention Beckys email - If you have any questions about Space, feel free to d...