Some Patches Required

Everyone said they'd never make it, but Zak and Aaron finally made it to 40. Well, the podcast did, and the number refers to episodes rather than years, but why quibble over semantics? This time around, our intrepid hosts dip their proverbial toes into the depths of depravity by chatting about Blizzard's new mobile title "Diablo Immortal," look at the sunny side of life by shin...

Two weeks can feel like an eternity in the entertainment industry, and this episode is listenable proof. Zak and Aaron are at it again, discussing monumental moves like EA's ravenous - and somewhat bewildering - quest for a merger/acquisition, the major victory won by QA workers at Raven Software, and Sony's inconsistent stance on reproductive rights. Naturally, they also spend a bit of...

As a wise and well-respected philosopher once said, "Another (every other) Friday, another episode of Some Patches Required!" That may be apocryphal, but hey; you've got to put those patches somewhere, right? This week, Zak and Aaron discuss a few of the headlines you may have seen recently, including Square Enix selling off most of its western studios to the little-known but increa...

Are you ready for something special but not especially game-related? If not, too bad! This week, Zak and Aaron are proud to welcome Stew from the Stew World Order Podcast to discuss the current state of the MCU and the multitude of directions it may go in the future. Which Future? There's no way to no... unless you listen. Maybe not even then, but hey, it's still a fun episode. Please, e...

Unlike E3, Some Patches Required is back and ready to talk about all the games you crave. Well, not exactly... or at all. Semantics aside, Zak and Aaron have curated an hour or so of interesting topics for your listening pleasure, ranging from the surprising success of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga to Activision Blizzard's most recent moves in the industry. Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach...

Get ready for an episode that's out of this world (pun very much intended), because this week Zak and Aaron are joined by Joey from the So Wizard Podcast for a discussion about the glorious mess-terpiece that is "Voyage of the Rock Aliens." What's it all about? We're not quite sure. Is it a psychosexual romp through a bizarre 80s fever dream? Absolutely. Is Joey to blame f...

Look, not every episode can be the very best (like no one ever was). But one thing is for sure: SPR will never be is false. As such, here are a few disclaimers: - Aaron sounds a little sick, because he was.* - There's a fair amount of overtalk, mostly due to Aaron's internet being dump.* - Aaron spends a good few minutes towards the end trying to adjust his mic after hitting it, all the...

This week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss the complicated, multi-faceted, and often inscrutable relationship between the length of a game and its value. They also manage to vamp for a good long while about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, so that's something. Right? Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check out edouggieart on Etsy Check out even more edouggieart on Instagram Listen to Beach G...

This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron chat with Michelle House to discuss her job as a VR/Technology Coordinator at Pure Imagination Studios, her journey in media, and the importance of valuing yourself in business. They also spend a fair amount of time discussing food poisoning and other various gastrointestinal maladies. It's fun, it's dumb, and when Michelle talks, it's rather insightf...

Welcome back, loyal listeners! Zak and Aaron went off the proverbial video game reservation again this week for a snark-filled conversation about the baffling mess that is "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi." Better yet, they brought The Godzilla Novelization Project's Daniel DiManna along for the ride! In other news, Aaron sounds like a small, feeble child this week. He begs yo...

To say that we never thought this would happen would be an understatement of the highest order. But now that it's happened, what does it mean for you and the gaming industry at large? If you don't know what we're talking about, you either didn't read the title of this episode, or you've been avoiding the news. If your case aligns with the former, you're either a die-h...

Well, gang, it finally happened:  Aaron uploaded an episode late. But, by his count, that puts them ahead of more than a few other podcasts, so we've decided to take the moral high ground on this one. In the newest installment of the SPR, Zak and Aaron welcome you to 2022 with a surplus of drama, reconsider accidentally trapping several prospective guests in a pipe, and discuss why AAA studio...

Well, everybody, its the holidays, and you know what that means! Wait, you have no idea what that means within the context of a podcast? Well, you're in good company, as Zak and Aaron decided to play this one off the cuff. In the spirit of the holiday break, our intrepid hosts decided to break with tradition and leave video games out of the equation for one episode. Instead, they have a chill...

Another year, another awards show. This time around, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about the 2021 Game Awards - a show that neither of them actually watched. Don't worry, they still did the requisite research. Their big takeaway was just how freaking cool it was that a split-screen co-op game took home the top prize, especially since those seem to be rarer than ever these days. Apart from It...

We're back, and the same as ever! Wait, is that disappointing? If it is, what we mean to say is that we're here and just as enjoyable as you've come to expect. Is that better? Worse? Marketing is hard. This week, we take a look at some of the biggest personalities in the gaming industry, from Todd Howard to Yoshi P.  to Peter Molyneux. We even sneak in a few references to Hidetaka M...

Hello, and welcome to yet another episode of Some Patches Required. Yep, we're still doing the dang thing. This week, we're proud to introduce a special guest by the name of Bruce Evans, who just so happens to be a technical artist at Blizzard. We invited Bruce to talk a bit about what exactly a technical artist does, how he got to where he is today, and to give some advice on the potent...

Consider the calendar.  Sometimes, minutes, hours, days, or (god forbid) weeks go by without updates pertaining to things you care about. For better or worse, this was not such a week. Between breaking news regarding Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft's dedication to negging players for not spending enough time in Far Cry 6, the ongoing NFT war between Steam and Epic Games, Space Pringles®, Zuck&ap...

We know that the last few episodes served as a showcase for the guest-heavy format we're looking toward, but we wouldn't judge you for missing the dulcet tones of Zak and Aaron as they agree about things and talk about KFC way too much. Well, Aaron might, but that's more of a reflection on him than you. You're great, and you have great taste in podcasts. All of that is to say t...

Are you ready for another dose of in-the-trenches insight from Doug Trein? Well, you'd better be, because this episode concludes our first collaboration with this consummate professional, multi-talented, and profoundly bassy-voiced developer/writer. This time around, we dive into the nitty-gritty of game reviews, listen to stories about the "behind the scenes" of games journalism, a...

Brace yourself: SPR is trying something new. That's right, Some Patches Required — ever a bastion of consistency — is shaking things up. This time around, Zak and Aaron invited The Godzilla Novelization Project founder (and elder brother to Aaron) Daniel DiManna to talk about "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens." Spoilers abound as these three affable chaps talk about how they...

We usually start these descriptions with an overlong, unnecessary description of our topics based on a tangentially related idea. Today, we break the mold. On this, the 20th episode of Some Patches Required (who would have guessed it would last this long?), we invited long-time friend and all-around swell gent Doug Trein to talk about his experience co-founding the indie studio Basileus and workin...

As one great Greek philosopher famously said: "Sometimes, you've got enough material in the bag to make a beautiful quilt, even if you may see it as too little." Of course, another said, "If you have no material from which to craft your art, why bother?" Then, as if sent from Olympus itself, another said, "Hey, you're just working on a podcast, and you needed to...

Before you begin this episode, Zak and Aaron invite you to revisit the treasured memories you built while playing your favorite games. Were you trying to best your father on the digital be-iced colosseum that plays host to hockey? Working night and day to stop the Reapers from destroying humanity? Perhaps doing a Bethesda thing? Now ask yourself: how much would you pay for that experience to look...

CONTENT WARNING: During the first part of this episode, the discussion references harassment, suicide, and sexual abuse. If you would like to avoid these topics, please skip to at least 20:48 . At the risk of getting a bit too real, Zak and Aaron ran into an issue while preparing/recording this episode. On one hand, we wanted to speak about the recent news regarding Activision Blizzard, which is b...

A wise podcaster once said, "Look to your games for gameplay; nothing else." Another said, "narrative is vital, no matter the experience." Neither Zak nor Aaron know where to find the ancient texts that hold the ultimate truth as to whether story is more important than mechanics or vice versa. One thing's for certain: they'll need to solve a few puzzles to come to a c...