Video Game Generations

We kick off our first episode of the year with an appropriate and timely new question of the week. What are your gaming resolutions for 2016? We discuss ours. Write in and let us know yours! After news of Assassin's Creed and Watch_Dogs rumors, plus the free PlayStation plus games lineup for January, we read listener email. This includes more 2016 predictions in response to last week's QOTW, plus Pawel's top ten games of 2015. A little later, wedged between my two pre-recorded segments, I talk a little more about the scarcity of December's Nintendo-published action game Devil's Third, and the odd lack of PlayStation TV support for the second half of Broken Sword 5 on Vita. In those pre-recorded segments, I start with a wrap-up for Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU). After those closing thoughts, I review Pneuma: Breath of Life (Xbox One). It's a short but cool first-person puzzle game similar in style to Portal and The Talos Principle. I also talk a little about my slow progress in Suikoden II (PS1 on PSTV), and m

With our year-end wrap-up, we bring you our biggest episode ever. This certainly isn't normal. Next week should see the return of our usual "about one hour" episodes, not this "more than two hours" beast of a show that took forever to edit and post. This was mostly due to combining our 2015 wrap-up with our 2016 predictions and game hype, plus the inevitable extra-long discussions that result from having my friend Bill sit in as a third chair host. Starting with our usual off-topic segment, Addie talks about her gaming-related Christmas gifts. Then Bill and I briefly discuss a book we both read recently -- Ernest Cline's follow-up to Ready Player One, called Armada. Before we get to our usual segments, we revisit our 2015 predictions to gauge how well each of us were able to see into the future of 2015. On the whole, fairly well as it turns out. After news and listener email (which includes the first round of gaming predictions for 2016), we talk about what we're playing. I skipped myself this time, since it

Our spoiler-free thoughts on Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens start this episode's intro off-topic bit, followed by Rubik's Cube talk and Addie's speculation about the presents waiting for her to open on Christmas. We also talk more about our plans for next week's year-end episode, where we'll list our favorite games of 2015, tally the results of our 2015 predictions, and look ahead to 2016 with new predictions. Our Question of the Week is all about your gaming predictions for 2016. Write in and let us know, so we can include them in next week's show. Addie talks a little about the three games she's been playing over the past week, in our What We're Playing segment. Those are Mario Kart (Wii), Castle Crashers (Xbox One), and Minecraft (the iOS version, oddly enough). In my pre-recorded segment, I wrap up my thoughts on Paranormal Pursuit (PS3) and KillZone: Mercenary (Vita on PSTV). I also talk a little more about Suikoden II (PS1 on PSTV), and basic impressions of a few other games I tried over the p

With 2015 coming to a close soon, we have a special end-of-year episode planned, probably in two weeks. The plan is to have our occassional third chair host Bill join us to talk about our favorite games of 2015, our prediction results for this year, what we're looking forward to in 2016, and our predictions for next year. In anticipation for next week's episode, where our Question of the Week is going to invite listeners to submit your own 2016 gaming predictions (anything from wild speculation to the safe bets), go ahead and start sending those in. We'll collect them now, to read on that episode in two weeks. Anyway, the off-topic lead-up to news, email, and game discussion in this episode is a little longer than usual. Somehow, we get sidetracked talking about video game collecting and my collection in particular. Then in listener email, we read answers to recent Questions of the Week. In fact, this week's new question comes from the same email. What are the most memorable character names you've encountered

In news this week, we talk about the 2015 Game Awards nominees and winners, and several game announcements that happened as part of the PlayStation Experience (PSX). In listener email, we read another answer to our recent Question of the Week, the merits of Fallout 4 versus The Witcher 3, PSX thoughts and questions, and a new Question of the Week. This week, we want to know if you've ever played a game that seemed like a perfect experience. What does that mean to you? No bugs? Challenging but fair? Continuous progression? If you have an example, write in and let us know! Addie has two games to talk about this week. One is Akinator the Genie (iOS), which pits you against an AI in a game of twenty questions. The other, Sneak King (Xbox and Xbox 360), challenges you to present food stealthily to unsuspecting victims... er... recipients. This was one of three advertising games commissioned by Burger King™ around a decade ago, and it's surprisingly... well... interesting, if nothing else. My pre-recorded seg

Addie's back and ready to quiz me in two rounds of video game character "Who Am I" this week. First, though, we have news (this month's free PlayStation and Xbox games, if you subscribe to their premium memberships), listener email and comments, and our usual What We're Playing segment. For Addie, that's more Plants vs. Zombies (Nook version) and Minecraft (PS4 version), plus a newfound interest in Mario Kart. She has a few tips for the Wii version. In my pre-recorded segment, I talk a little about Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3/Vita) before starting in with an update on Fallout 4 (PS4), which may now (tentatively) be my favorite game ever, replacing prior favorite Fallout 3. I also revisit Fallout sequel predictions covered in an episode earlier this year, to find out how much of the game lines up with what I and other listeners hoped and expected. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

It was bound to happen sooner or later, but Addie was too sick to record this episode. She's here for a brief, raspy-voiced hello at the start, after which it becomes a solo effort. A big portion of this episode is listener email. This includes more answers to our recent Questions of the Week, Bill's updated thoughts about the DualShock 4 controller (as a new PS4 owner), more feedback about Fallout 4, another set of possible questions for a future quiz, a new Star Wars Battlefront podcast hosted by friends of the show at TyeDyeSheepFilms, a question about The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, an observation about the skill system in The Witcher 3, and a brand new Question of the Week. In my pre-recorded segments, I give a review of Dead Nation (Vita version -- also available on PS3 and PS4), and later, my ongoing thoughts about Fallout 4 (PS4), which includes a quick primer on just what the Fallout series is all about. If you have an answer for this week's Question of the Week, write in and let us know. If y

A tired daughter (it's after bedtime). A busy dad (too much work). An excited friend (owner of a brand new PS4). That's the line-up for this week's episode of Video Game Generations, when Bill joins us to talk about his initial impressions of the Playstation 4 (as a long-time Xbox 360 user). Early in the show, I talk about some recent additions to my video game collection, and a little about the high prices of rare NES cartridges. Bill and I talk about The Walking Dead and his recent interest in graphic novels and comics like the Fables series. In news, we talk about the new Xbox One dashboard and backwards compatibility, plus a reminder that Black Friday deals are just around the corner. In our What We're Playing segment, Addie talks about Minecraft (PS4). We also share more opinions about The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS), which we tried again recently. After my pre-recorded segment (a wrap-up on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair for Vita), Bill talks briefly about several games he finished since his

To make up for last week's absent pre-recorded segment, I go completely overboard this time with what might be the longest monologue in recorded history. It's mostly a wrap-up and review of Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4), although it starts with a quick update on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita). Addie is excited to talk about Gravity Rush (Vita), which she's been playing over the past week. This is sandwiched between news and email at the start (where our friend Jon of the One Track Gamers podcast writes in to answer last week's question for listeners) and a quiz at the end (where, being unprepared again, we play another game of "Who Am I?"). In news, we talk about Xbox One backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games, which goes live for everybody later this week. Also, last week's Question of the Week carries over once more. Write in and let us know if you've ever been so wrapped up in a game that it almost felt like you were still playing, even when you weren't! Have feedback? Write to us at podcast

For the first time in a long time, I have no pre-recorded segment this week. This is where I traditionally talk about the games I'm playing, usually in excessive detail (although I try to stay spoiler-free). My gaming time was more limited this week, but Addie comes to the rescue to talk about several games she's been playing. These include Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery (Vita), Doki Doki Universe (Vita), Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (PS3), and Machinarium (Vita). We also have a new episode of Mini-Gamers featuring twins Heath and Hadleigh, with some back-and-forth about Rabbids Rumble (3DS), Ben 10 Galactic Racing (DS), Ultratron (PS4), Kingdom Hearts 3D (3DS), Kingdom Hearts 352/8 Days (DS), and more. Before that, it's listener email. Addie and I take turns reading this week's feedback regarding prior weeks' questions (most anticipated games, the voice actors' union, and more). This also includes a few game recommendations, and the inspiration for this week's QOTW. Have you ever been so wrapped up in a gam

Halloween is almost here, and to celebrate, how about playing a browser-based text adventure game I wrote a couple of years ago? It's called Hallowmoor, and can be found at the link below. Listener email makes up a big part of this week's episode. This includes another recommendation for a great turn-based strategy game, answers to prior questions of the week, a recommendation for the Nintendo Quest documentary, questions about the best tools and tutorials for game development, and our most anticipated upcoming games. We also have a new quiz this week, in which Addie tries to define various game-related terms. In my pre-recorded segments, I have a brief update on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita), wrap-ups for Life is Strange: Episode 5 (PS4) and The Talos Principle (PS4), and my opening thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4). Addie hopes to play more this week, but didn't have anything to discuss this time around. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at ht

Several listeners wrote in this week to answer our last two Questions of the Week. They also suggest new segments we might try on future episodes, so we're giving it all some thought. One includes an idea for a future quiz, which we might have done this week except that Addie came prepared with a "back-of-the-box challenge" for me. We do that late in the episode. News gets sidetracked when I start explaining the potential voice actors' strike to Addie. This also makes the foundation for our new Question of the Week. Basically, what's your take on the requests (demands?) from their union (SAG-AFTRA) as part of their contract negotiations with publishers/developers? Does all of it seem fair, or are they valuing their own contributions above the hard work that so many others provide in game development? Heath's Mini-Gamers segment returns after a long break with Episode 6. This includes his rapid-fire thoughts on Yoshi's Woolly World (WiiU), Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash (3DS), and more. Addie also has her own opening th

This week sees the one-time return of a previously-abandoned segment, after we fail to have a quiz prepared. Before that, it's news, listener feedback, and a new Question of the Week. If you had to live in the game world of the last game you played, would you survive? Would it be a nightmare? Just how doomed would you be? Addie had no games to talk about this week, but in my pre-recorded segments I have a wrap-up for Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4), an update on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita), and a review of Lords of the Fallen (PS4), which I played through to completion over my extended holiday weekend. This week's ending music is from the theme to Lords of the Fallen, which you can also find on YouTube at the link below. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

It's time again for another episode of Videogame Generations. This week, after a little news (which includes the October free games lineup for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Games With Gold) and listener email, we turn our attention to what we're playing. For Addie, it's mostly Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360), but she also tried a new board game-like mode in the updated version of Castle Crashers (Xbox One). My pre-recorded segments include opening thoughts on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (Vita), a wrap-up on Resident Evil Remake HD (PS4), and quite a bit of detail on the gameplay in Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4), which I'm very much enjoying. This week's quiz challenges Addie (and listeners) to guess the console family that's home to each of twenty games of a series; Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation? As for a Question of the Week for listeners, we're sticking with what we asked last week. Is there a well-known landmark kind of game that you've just never played? Write in and let us know what major or historically impo

Not featured in this week's episode are the October 2015 free Games with Gold and Playstation Plus offerings. I forgot to look them up, but we'll do that next time. The PS Plus games weren't announced until after we recorded, I think, so I at least deserve a pass for those. What is featured includes a little news, lots of listener email answering prior weeks' questions, and a new quiz. This time, Addie must guess "Game or Game Studio" with a bonus point possible for each of the twenty questions. In game chat, we talk a little more about Super Mario Maker (WiiU), and Addie has been playing a lot of Plants vs. Zombies on her Nook. In my two separate pre-recorded segments, I have a wrap-up for Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (Vita), a review of inFamous: First Light (PS4), and lengthy opening thoughts on Resident Evil HD (PS4). This game also inspires our Question of the Week. Is there a well-known landmark kind of game that you've just never played? Resident Evil was a big one missing from my gaming history, b

Our feature this week is all about the games releasing in the final few months of 2015. Afterwards, we talk a little about which ones we're most excited for. Write in and let us know what game you're most looking forward to in the remainder of 2015, and why. Before all of that, one listener wants to know our opinions on limited edition consoles. That's also our second Question of the Week for listeners. Write in and let us know how you feel about limited edition consoles. Do you own one? Do you collect them? If you don't have an opinion on any of these things, just write in with feedback about anything else we've discussed, or start a new topic. No quiz this week, but we have plenty of game talk. Addie is still preparing for a Minecraft battle against a friend, plus she gives her initial impressions of Max and the Curse of Brotherhood (Xbox One). It was released several months ago, and younger brother Heath has played it quite a bit, but it was a first for Addie. In my pre-recorded segment, I have a spoiler-f

This week's episode is a little on the shorter side at just over fifty minutes. We didn't have a news segment this week, and our only real tangent topic was about how to properly pronounce .GIF. We did get one response to last week's listener question -- tell us about your most recent gaming marathon -- so we're opting to leave that out there for one more week in case other listeners would like to write in about it. Late in the episode, Addie and I take the Ultimate PlayStation Quiz. I think we would have done much better given a little more time to read, think, and discuss the possible answers. Before that, in our What We're Playing segment, we have initial thoughts on the new WiiU exclusive Super Mario Maker. My impressions are from watching Addie's younger brother Heath try it out briefly. Oh, and speaking of Heath, he may be back next week with a new episode of Mini-Gamers, but that's also absent this week. Addie also has a story to tell about her own weekend gaming marathon, where she and a friend are bu

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS4) dominates this week's pre-recorded review segment. I still have many hours yet to play, but my opening thoughts are highly favorable. Before this, I give a brief wrap-up on Adventures of Pip (PS4) after earning all its trophies, and my brief opening thoughts on DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (PlayStation Vita). Addie talks a bit about A World of Keflings (Xbox 360), and together we wrap up discussion on Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (PS4), after finishing it this past weekend. Before all that, we have listener email and some news, which includes an ongoing sale of games on the PlayStation Network and a few recent game announcements. Later, Addie tries to guess "cartoon character or video game developer" in this week's quiz. We're also looking for answers to this week's listener question. Is there a game you had fun binge-playing? For instance, some weekend gaming marathon or day-and-night play of some game over a holiday break or while sick at home? Email us

We don't have much news this week, but there is plenty to talk about in our listener email segment: the critical reception of Alien: Isolation and Thief; the merits of Deadly Premonition; the possible staying power of Fallout Shelter; cartoons. And that's all from the same email! In my pre-recorded segment, I talk briefly about Adventures of Pip (PS4) and Suikoden II (PS1). Then, after a post-game wrap-up for Grabbed by the Ghoulies (Rare Replay, Xbox One), I give a spoiler-free review of recent cinematic horror game Until Dawn (PS4). Basically, it's pretty awesome. We end the show with a quiz, but this time it's one we found online. It's touted as being for "true gamers" but turns out to be... well, just listen and you'll see. Suffice it to say that the quiz's author was having a little bit of fun with the concept, perhaps making a point as to how silly it is that some gamers mistake their opinions as facts. Have feedback? Write to us at podcast@vggpodcast.com Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodca

It's a guest-filled episode this week, with returning guest Bill here with us to chat about several game topics. Mini-Gamers, Heath's mini-podcast, also makes a return for its fifth episode, with his friend Timothy sitting in to talk about games they've been playing together. Bill's daughter Natalie also visits the show briefly, to talk about her current favorite games. After talking about next month's free PlayStation Plus and Xbox Games with Gold, we read listener email. This prompts discussions about Fallout Shelter, Dishonored, the Nintendo NX patent rumor, and more. Our Question of the Week also comes from this week's email: What is your favorite Nintendo game or game series? We also have plenty to talk about in our "What We're Playing" segments. For Bill, that's South Park: The Stick of Truth (Xbox 360). For Natalie, Relic Run (iOS) and Layton Brothers Mystery Room (iOS). For Addie, LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS4) and Power Lines (PC). For Heath, it's Scribblenauts Unlimited (3DS), 2006 FIFA World Cup (Xbox 360