Wardcast

It’s a powdery fresh Wardcast as Dylan, Nelson, and Alex discuss the ever-changing gaming landscape. We got acquisitions galore as Red Ventures steps in to acquire CNET Media and all its associated brands while Microsoft makes a big play by purchasing Bethesda parent Zenimax Media for a whopping $7.5 billion. All the while, the next gen of consoles hangs heavy on the horizon, as we discuss the ris...

This week on the Wardcast, Dylan and Nelson are joined by Abby Russell, content producer at Giant Bomb! The duo talks to Abby about her work at the site, including the balancing act of being an informer, entertainer, and a (sometimes) critic of games, as well as understanding the parasocial relationship between herself and the audience. We also tackle the big questions: is the state of Virginia te...

For the inaugural PAX Online, we join together with our friends and colleagues to talk about acquiring funding for your indie game! Joining Dylan for this discussion is Finji’s Bekah Saltsman, Kickstarter’s Anya Combs, Kowloon Nights’ Callum Underwood, and Devolver Digital’s Nigel Lowrie! The gang discusses everything about funding partners, including what to have prepared for your preliminary mee...

It’s a two man show this episode as Dylan and Nelson sit down to talk about a handful of games, coincidentally all starring the same voice actors. We follow up with Nelson’s foreshadowing last episode about how he might not like Marvel’s Avengers, only to discover that he, in fact, does not like Marvel’s Avengers! And Dylan finally played The Last of Us and leads us through a discussion on how the...

Our third and final attempt at catching up has us discussing games, games, games! It’s a whirlwind tour of all sorts of games — web games, AAA games, and… weird, corrupted fan games? We also double up on two entries in two different franchises, as we jump between Hell and a world of assassination. It’s all this and more in our quarantine catch-up! Games include Blaseball, Mario Royale, Doom, Doom...

We continue to catch up on the endless Summer of Games™! We find out that the gamers are unwell, as they deal with a Nintendo leak of gigantic proportions, debating dedicated hardware versus emulation, and melting down over Halo Infinite’s alleged graphical “downgrade.” Also to contend with this episode: Pokémon teeth, an upsetting amount of Star Wars, MCU-ified M.O.D.O.K., and, unfortunately, mor...

We collect virtually for the first time since the pandemic started to record our longest podcast to date, and for good reason: in lieu of E3 happening this year, we instead have to contend with an eternal summer of announcements. And in the final quarter of this episode, we discuss the ongoing allegations of abuse in the industry — content warning for discussions of sexual abuse and sexual assault...

Josh Boykin — founder of gaming community Intelligame — joins the show to talk about the intersectionality of games and society. Josh discusses the unique way he streams games for the site, balancing gameplay with thoughtful discussions with the chat, as well as the different lenses we use to critically discuss games — commercial, technical, artistic, social, and more. Meanwhile, The Last of Us Pa...

Emma Kinema, organizer for CODE-CWA and co-founder of Game Workers Unite, joins Dylan for a wide-ranging discussion on organizing workplaces in games, tech, and beyond. We talk about organizing in light of COVID-19, finding where workers draw power, the importance of solidarity, and challenging the old wives’ tales used to suppress worker wages. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at w...

Recorded before we got the inevitable news of E3 2020’s cancellation, we hunker down to discuss the impacts the coronavirus has had on the gaming world and beyond. We also chat about Georgian caped crusaders, a wonderful kickstarter that recently happened, the end of our devil’s hunt, and a one-of-a-kind console prototype that sold for a little less than expected. Games include Halo: The Master Ch...

We crack open the Wardcast time capsule to bring you an episode postdated January 25th, 2020, that had us conducting a then-punctual discussion about the Oscars, games, and the gaming news of the preceding months that occurred while we were otherwise preoccupied. We (hopefully) close the book on Death Stranding, take a look at Half-Life: Alyx, try to figure out what happened at The Game Awards, di...

An impromptu addition to our schedule at PAX East has Dylan moderating a panel about publishing and crowdfunding with several friends from the industry. Joining Dylan back in the Bobcat Theatre are Finji CEO Bekah Saltsman, Kickstarter’s Director of Games Anya Combs, Lay Waste Games’ Co-Owner Jon Ritter, and Soft Serve Games’ Chris Wulf. We discuss the dos and don’ts about getting outside help to...

We deploy a parachute full of pants to land squarely in the Bobcat Theatre to celebrate the tenth Hidden Gems panel! Joining Dylan for this momentous occasion is producer Felix Kramer, community developer Jenny Windom, and League of Heels announcer Pat Baer. Listen in as we uncover the secrets and surprises from PAX East 2020, and follow along with the panel slides here. From the panel description...

For our third year at PAX South, we’ve brought together some Hidden Gems veterans to retake the stage at the Cactus Theatre. Joining Dylan Ilvento are compatriots Harris Foster, Rami Ismail, Anya Combs, and Victoria Caña. Follow along with the panel slides here. From the panel description: Welcome to PAX, a virtual cornucopia of games and wonderment! If you’re looking for secrets and surprises fro...

As part of MAGFest’s Music and Gaming Education Symposium, Dylan invited Anya Combs and Sam Eng for a discussion about the trials and tribulations of working in the game industry. We talk about how we got started in the industry, difficult patches we’ve hit, and how we’ve grown from those experiences. Feel free to follow along with the panel slides. From the panel description: Discussions about ‘b...

It’s the start of a fresh new year, and that means there’s only one thing to do! That’s right, it’s time to go In. To. The. MAG. We’re poding at MAG for a special one-night-only event. Dylan and Nelson are joined by Video Game Book Club host Michael Macasiano, here to talk about trading morals for superpowers, eclectic arcade games, and videogamesareawful.com. Games include Heave Ho, Circumnavigat...

2019 — what a year. A year of ups, a year of downs, but most importantly, a year of new friendships. Before we close the book on this year and this decade, we wanted to ask our guests from the past twelve months if they wanted to come on to talk about the games that meant the most to them. Thanks to Ruthie Edwards, Harris Foster, Sarah Elmaleh, Dante Douglas, and Ben Wander for sharing their favor...

This is it: we’ve bickered and bartered our way through the upper bracket, with only Untitled Goose Game coming out unscathed, but once more through the gauntlet we must stride to determine… The Honorables! Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We’ve gone to bat for the games we felt the strongest towards in Best Games Played. Some secured their place in our vaulted list, but some, unfortunately, did not make it. You may think that would be the end of their story, but you’d be wrong. Some games will have a second chance at redemption, here in The Honorables, our double elimination honorable mentions bracket! Join us as we reexamine games...

It all comes down to this: four people enter a room with gleams in their eyes and hopes in their heart, only for it to be stricken away — it’s time once again for the Best Games Played! As in previous years, we ask all the hosts to bring up to ten games that meant the most to them. They don’t have to have been released in the past twelve months because, hey, sometimes you don’t have the chance to...

Our road trip is coming to an end. As we come into the final stretch, we do a little mop up on some gaming we’ve yet to mention. Namely: some platform fighting, some emotive Tetris, some info about how GGPO rollback works, some time on a derelict ship, and more! Games include Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tetris Effect, Return of the Obra Dinn, Brawl Stars, Grindstone, Guildlings, Oceanhorn 2: Knigh...

We take a break from our Best Games Played discussions to take a brief voyage to the City of Brotherly Love, where PAX Unplugged resides! Dylan and Alex are joined by Victoria Caña and Adriel Wilson to showcase a lovely selection of tabletop experiences from the convention. You can follow along with the panel slides here. From the panel description: The Schuylkill and the Delaware run thick with d...

We’re just straight vibin’ over here, while Nelson runs down the games that struck his fancy this year. Listen in as we explore some of the sexiest experiences this year, from visual novels to racing games to punk rock apocalypses. Games include The Arcana, Forza Horizon 4, Oxenfree, Sunset Overdrive, Apex Legends, Devil May Cry 5, Afterparty, and Dragon Ball FighterZ. Got a question for the show?...

Another week, another part of the Road to BGP gets assembled. This time, it’s Joe’s turn to regale us with his chosen list. But first, a brief mention of a dishonorable mention followed by tales of wartorn kingdoms, evil light gun games, yet another soulsborne discussion, and the current state of Mario Party. Games include Mordhau, Fire Emblem: Heroes, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Duck Seaso...

For the second week of the Road to BGP, Dylan steps up to plate to take a swing at the games that meant the most to him. He talks about games with a lot of heart, a lot of spirit, and some that may have been misunderstood. Games include Deltarune Chapter 1, Hypnospace Outlaw, Mario Royale, Sayonara Wild Hearts, What the Golf?, Untitled Goose Game, Fallout 76, Super Mario Maker 2, Minesweeper, You...