Staying In

Up for some hot new video games action? Well tough, because we're talking about why the shooting in Titanfall 2 is so gosh darn good. Sorry to pull a fast one on you like that. We cool? Cool. There's also Assassin's Creed Origins talk too, that's kind of new, right? Regardless, it's providing us some excellent opportunities to wander around Egypt and partake in a little digital tourism, a thing we're also up to with the astonishing Yakuza 0. We were lucky enough to be joined by Dave Ryan from Link to the Cast on this episode, and he brought a wealth of knowledge and insight into the topics we covered, including how history is portrayed in games versus how history is taught in schools, plus the indie game development scene in Ireland, and specifically a great-sounding point and click adventure called The Darkside Detective from Spooky Doorway. Then there's a big old chunk of Ready Player One discourse about the book and film and how we're hoping its numerous references to all sorts of stuff in geek cultur

Games, games, and even more games: that's the general theme of this episode. There's a big discussion about Cosmic Encounter and why you probably need to play it twice to really start appreciating its galactic strategy. And when we're not ruling the universe, we're mucking about on a boat in one of our favourite RPGs: Ten Candles from Cavalry Games. We also hook up to PlayLink on the PlayStation 4, checking out Hidden Agenda from Supermassive Games in the process, which is a tense game of deception and mystery where you use your mobile phone, via the console, to choose the outcome of a scene and shape the narrative as it progresses. Plus snow. Plus Babycham. Plus exercise. It's a whopper. Sound good? Great! Check in with Sam (@MrSamTurner), Dan (@ThisDanFrost), and Kris (@DigitalStrider), all recording together, with Poppy watching on, supervising. Thanks for downloading the podcast. If you'd like to do us a big favour, we'd love it if you left us a review. Also, hey, you know those Amazon affiliate li

How did Kris's mum accidentally get involved in the Copenhagen drug scene? Could Sam figure out who "not the guy with the bolts" was? Which one of them manages to casually drop the phrase "Chekhov's Gun" into a conversation? If you'd like to know the answer to these questions, give this episode a listen. And there's some other stuff too... Like why one of us is absolutely head-over-heels in love with Hunt for the Ring from Ares Games, and how that lovely little Lord of the Rings-based board game compares with the much darker Whitehall Mystery from Fantasy Flight. And how Monikers is a great little party game. And how Dixit is ALSO a great little party game. And how Dixit might just have the edge on Monikers. Then strap in for a good long discussion on Marvel's Black Panther and why it's funny, progressive, and extraordinary. All that and more on episode 50, with Sam (@MrSamTurner) and Kris (@DigitalStrider) and occasionally Poppy, having a lovely little bit of nerd chat. Oh and since you're the bes

Should 30 year old men be allowed to say “sick” and “dope”? By the end of this podcast the lads will have convinced you that no, no they absolutely should not. But light DIY tasks and watching Hey Duggee? Oh yes, that's very much more in our wheelhouse. There's a fair bit of LEGO in this episode too. Not only is there a contender for the worst LEGO sets ever created - Final Duel II - but there's also our very divided opinions on The LEGO Batman Movie. Then it's off to the concert hall we go, discussing Dear Esther Live, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and whether you need to listen to a 30 hour lecture series - like the one by Dr. Robert Greenberg that Peter listened to - before entering the auditorium. And it's off into Victoriana-themed space with Sunless Skies, the excellent follow up to Sunless Seas, that is currently in Early Access on Steam. It's not sold as well as the last game for some reason, which is baffling, considering you get to fly about among the stars in a steam-punk train rocket! All that and mor

✓ Board Games ✓ Video Games ✓ Good Books ✓ Invasive Medical Procedures It's another textbook episode of Staying In. There's chat about a new fitness thing they're all doing (well... almost all of them), a couple of minutes where they gush about My Brother, My Brother and Me, and a couple more minutes after that where they basically just rip off My Brother, My Brother and Me's whole thing. Plus thoughts on Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust (and why it's better than Harry Potter), a big heap of bleh as we discuss the disappointing Metal Gear Survive beta, and why some very meaty games are on the horizon for us as a group, including Cosmic Encounter from Fantasy Flight, Hidden Agenda from Supermassive Games, and Ten Candles from Cavalry Games. So pop the kettle on, make yourself a brew, and settle in for another serving of the podcast where a group of pals talk about the geek stuff they love and the ***** that have been up their *****, with Sam (@MrSamTurner), Dan (@ThisDanFrost), and Kris (@DigitalStrider)

It's 2018 and we're talking about Noel's House Party A WHOLE LOT. That show was great and the board game is... well you'll find out when you listen to the podcast... cheers, Robin. We also get to grips with the Nintendo Switch, Overcooked, Snipperclips, and think about why non-gamers might find it difficult to get into video games. Being the avant-garde gamers that we are, we then go on to talk about Fortnite and how we're using our winning "hunkering" tactic (hiding in corners), and taking flight in musical exploration game InnerSpace (which is NOT the 1987 fantasy sci-fi flick). All this, plus puffins, Porgs, and why we don't get invited to the cinema anymore, with Sam (@MrSamTurner), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Kris (@DigitalStrider). Oh by the way, if you're not subscribed to us on the platform you're listening to us on right now then we'd really love it if you did. We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Mixcloud, Stitcher and basically everything else too, and we're always thankful when you lea

Pretty sure this episode is a good candidate for the "Most Gaming Chat on a Podcast" award which I just made up just then. There's Stardew Valley's farming loveliness, the chilly magic of Winter's Day in Guild Wars 2, and the serenity of painting Bushido wargaming miniatures. Then there's some very even-handed loot box chat, why PlayStation VR might just be better than Vive VR, and building and running dungeons in Boss Monster, Dungeons 3, and Dungeon Keeper. All that, plus New Year's resolutions and more discussion about milk than you'll know what to do with, from Alix (@EruditeWolf), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Greg (@GregGiddens). As noted at the end of the podcast (and in that paragraph you just read) we're joined by special guest Greg Giddens, who can be found writing at ThisIsXbox.com, plus doing all sorts of other fancy things with words, video, and audio over on GregGiddens.com. As always, a big thanks to you for downloading the podcast! If you're not already doing so then do please subscribe to

Alright, straight up, if this is the first time listening to the podcast, maybe go back and listen to another one instead, as this is a slight departure from our usual brand of talking about stuff what we like. Because this is our Christmas special and, as usual, we're doing our Secret Santa and waxing lyrical about this time of year. We discuss how we might fare at being three wise men, talk Christmas routines, weigh in on bread sauce, share presents, and reveal the greatest Christmas movie ever made (probably). All that, plus the reason why aeroplanes are not powered by farts, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner). OH YEAH and this is the part where we usually ask you to review us or visit some profile we've set up somewhere or whatever, but instead of that rot we're just going to wish you a fantastic Christmas. And if you don't celebrate Christmas, then whatever you're up to instead, we simply hope you have a great time and a wonderful end to

How do you do, fellow kids? Have you checked out Rhino Hero: Super Battle yet? Well we have and we think it’s lovely, and we tell you all about it on the latest episode. The equally lovely medieval city builder and tile-placing euro game Kingdomino gets a look-in too. If you’re after something equally breezy, then there’s also a discussion on why the cultural statements that Watch Dogs 2 attempts to make are at odds with its core gameplay, leading to a curious and jarring ludonarrative dissonance that rings false. We use the term "commedia dell'arte" at one point too, because we’re fancy like that. There’s a quick chat about why new comedy The Good Place is Michael Schur, Kristen Bell, and Ted Danson at their finest, why one of us has decided to run Twilight Imperium soon, and why Red Dessert Topping and severe eye wounds don’t really mix in darkly comic pen and paper roleplaying game Paranoia. And alright, look, it’s December, okay? I think it’s fine for us to start talking about our upcoming Secret San

Thor and Hulk and Waititi, Batman and Snyder and Capullo - some combinations just work better than others, and we talk about them at length in this episode. Because first up there's what we thought of Thor: Ragnarok (spoilers: we liked it a whole bunch), then a little bit of Goddess of Thunder chat, plus a whole bunch of spoiler-filled splurge on DC's Dark Nights: Metal comics. Also one of us is going to see Above & Beyond, which immediately spawns a chat about illegal substances FOR SOME REASON, and one of us has been saving spiders and hanging out on a porch roof. And talking about animals, what do you think they dream about? And what do you dream about? And do you remember Shadow Man? And who is Gabriel Logan? And will we answer all these questions in the space of about, oh, ten minutes? Yes. We will. All of this and more performed in front of a live studio audience of exactly one house rabbit, with Alix (@EruditeWolf), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Sam (@MrSamTurner), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and the s

If you're a fan of turn-based strategy then boy howdy are you in the right place. Because there's all kinds of tactics-based chat throughout, taking in Darkest Dungeon and the Crimson Court DLC, digital miniatures title Warbands: Bushido, and genre flagship XCOM 2. That's a lot of strategy gaming. We also delve into The Polybius Conspiracy, a creepy new podcast from Radiotopia that explores a video game that never existed... OR DID IT? There's also even more golf (it's the new Witcher 3!), scuba diving, planning a wedding, and some very serious pretending to be a nun on the run. Plus one of us exposed themselves to a bunch of strangers. Find out who as Alix (@EruditeWolf), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner) talk about nerd stuff for an hour and a bit. And like always, we could really do with your help spreading the word about the show. There are two ways you can do this: a) tell the next person you see about the show, and b) review our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you're

Bread. You love it. We love it. Some of us have been baking it. In Episode 41 you'll find out who the master bakers are and who puts the "ass" in "fougasse". If bread isn't your thing, maybe hard sci-fi is? If so, there's a breakdown of The Expanse and why the Netflix show is basically Babylon 5 for the noughties. Oddworld: Soulstorm is a big topic too, on account of our special guest knowing a thing or two about the upcoming game. It's sounding absolutely fascinating, especially for long-time fans of the series. We also talk about launching video games in today's market, which might be of interest, but if it's not don't worry, because pretty soon we also get on to talking about the fake obituary for Sean Connery one of us had to put together, plus whether or not a baby actually knows the difference between Shrek 1 and Shrek 2. And yes okay there's more golf chat in this episode and, spoilers, there's probably going to be some golf chat in the next episode too, but this time it's a three-way battle betw

Where else are you going to hear all about Jamaica: The Crew, Cheap Golf, Little Mix, and how one of the hosts got trapped in their swimming costume in a single podcast? Nowhere, that's where. Then of course there's lots of chat about devious hidden movement game Whitehall Mystery, the sheer joy of true crime (podcasts), two more forms of golf than the one previously just mentioned, and the addictive Dungeons & Dragons clicker Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms. There's also holiday plans, fun with spreadsheets, and the very special delight that is Oxenfree, as Kris (@DigitalStrider), Lisa (@Lisa7989), and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) have the lovely chat with tea that is Episode 40 of Staying In. And hey, do you like our little podcast? If you want to help us out, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you downloaded this episode. Do so and you too will be as happy and amazing as this little chap. For links to topics covered - http://stayingin.podbean.com Find us on Twitter - @Staying

It's perhaps the most exhausting episode ever, as Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Sam (@MrSamTurner), and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) strap on some wristbands, limber up, and take our places on the starting grid for lots of chat about sports. We discuss why Frubes may not be the best mid-workout drink, all the while tackling The Great King Size Chocolate Bar Conspiracy. We find out why one of us has been watching Nick Faldo sink shots at Pebble Beach while in the company of Gary Sparrow, and who's been substituting their shin pads for copies of The Guardian. We also discuss why Everybody's Golf is a Nintendo game in disguise, how Zoo Ball captures the essence of great sporting events, and how it's not actually possible to overdose on squash (the drink, not the sport). Just in-case you thought we'd lost all our nerd credentials with all this talk of sport and such, we also manage to get in a fair bit of chat about the board game and digital edition of Eight-Minute Empire, and enthuse about The Adven

From surprise engagements and having babies, to picking fantasy football squads and choosing the right shower gel, this episode of the podcast covers some of life's most important decisions. But we also can't resist talking, as usual, about the nerd stuff that has been keeping us busy recently. Dan (@ThisDanFrost) explains why Sonic Mania is the best game the SEGA mascot has been in in ages, Kris (@DigitalStrider) walks us through Playdead's Limbo spiritual sequel Inside, and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) talks about Naughty Dog's Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and why Chloe feeling more "real" is a good thing for the medium. Sam (@MrSamTurner) has been far too busy in command of a vessel for games and such. As always, a quick thank you from all of us to everyone who has left us a review so far - you honestly wouldn't believe us if we told you just how much each and every review means to us. For links to topics covered - http://stayingin.podbean.com/ Find us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StayingInPod

We've not talked about wrestling since Episode 4, so we thought it high time to return to the topic, and this time we've brought in Simon Miller (@SimonMiller316) to provide expert insight into the world of WWE. With Dan (@ThisDanFrost) in Simon's corner you've basically got the ultimate tag team for insight into SummerSlam, the business behind the brawling, and the ludicrous high prices of wrestling gear. After that, Sam (@MrSamTurner) and Kris (@DigitalStrider) talk Dunkirk and explain why you have to see it in IMAX to do it justice, then there's a slightly less solemn, but still ever-so serious bit where Peter (@XeroXeroXero) makes a heartfelt apology to a game developer. If that weren't enough, there's also ab chat, we explain why Captain Sonar should be on your radar, the board game Luchador! Mexican Wrestling Dice, a report on Memoir '44, an absolutely gigantic spider, and one utterly amazing Jewish wedding. A huge thanks to Simon for appearing on the show. If you're not already, you should definit

Kris (@DigitalStrider) and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) helm Episode 36 of Staying In, as they talk about ground-breaking walking simulators, brand new mobile games, cutting edge cinema, and farming tools from the Iron Age. We've been making our first tentative steps into Albion Online the MMO from Sandbox Interactive, finding out what remains of Edith Finch in What Remains of Edith Finch, and discovering that we are simply not good enough at games to beat Miles & Kilo. Plus lots of chat about Baby Driver, imagining what Driver Baby might look like, and examining the scarily familiar world of The Circle. Did you know we have a Steam Curator page? You do now! Did you know we have a BoardGameGeek page? This you also now know! For links to topics covered - http://stayingin.podbean.com/ Find us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StayingInPod

It's the first ever completely "in-person" recording of the podcast, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Sam (@MrSamTurner), and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) gathered round a table to speak into microphones about games we've been playing over a weekend together. We've been faffing about with a Ricoh Theta S, so we discuss the practical merits of 360 images and video, as well as how that medium might translate into a horror movie. It's not all high technology chat, as we talk about our experiences with the massive Lord of the Rings tabletop game War of the Ring, we walk through our most recent RPG tale of the fantastic Dread, and argue that Dark Stories is the best worst game. We've also been playing a lot of the Ticket to Ride app while in different parts of the UK, which we contrast with our time with Ticket to Ride Europe which we also played that weekend. As if that weren't enough, there's details of a trip to Greece, the worrying song lyrics found in Grease, Greek country line dancing, and a n

It's a matter of life and death and sheds for Sam (@MrSamTurner), and a matter of taste for Peter (@XeroXeroXero) and his Rainbow Drops, in our 34th episode. It's also a matter of fact that Kris (@DigitalStrider) thinks Wonder Woman is the best DC movie in years, and Dan (@ThisDanFrost) not wanting a Nintendo Switch after E3's game reveals should probably be a matter for the authorities. There's heated debate over the merits of the Xbox One X and gold-plated HDMI cables, before cooling off with some cucumber water... or was it a lime...? Plus one of us has gone all retro and purchased themselves a lovely new copy of Shenmue for the Dreamcast. And for anyone affected by the issues raised in our discussion of RAS Syndrome, feel free to GTFO out. Finally, a big congratulations to the winners of our Steam game competition that ran throughout June - winners have now been contacted via e-mail. For links to topics covered - http://stayingin.podbean.com/ Find us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StayingInPod

We finally get round to talking about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as a group, as Dan (@ThisDanFrost) leads a nice chat about why we enjoyed it so much and how it's a breath of fresh air. Kris (@DigitalStrider) and Peter (@XeroXeroXero) have both been playing even more Star Realms, which is impressive considering they've been sinking a load of time into two other games too: namely Onirim and Yakuza 0. We touch upon a lovely little game called Spot It!, get pleasantly disoriented by Inherent Vice, discuss the sensational TV show The Sniffer (while writing our own version, but with doggos), confuse a man from a Tesco, and delve deeper into the pub crisp mythos. Quick reminder! We have a competition we're running that finishes at the very end of July, so make sure to get your entry in quick if you're planning on doing so. For links to topics covered - http://stayingin.podbean.com/ Find us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StayingInPod