Thoughts From Player One

We've got a slightly different episode for you this time around. Duncan is out, so resident plant fact expert Michael is taking up the reins to talk at length with Alex about Divinity Original Sin 2, a game they played over 400 combined co-op hours in. Afterwards they chat briefly about Baldurs Gate 3, the new game by Larian Studios. Talking points include: RPG mechanic implementation, Companion Tier Lists, Co-op narrative games, and all the ice you can slip on.   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com   Cooking Fact Track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FJQ4cYu_1Q   Royal Flourish: https://freesound.org/people/dominictreis/sounds/384849/

Join us for another of our "world famous" Halloween episodes as we discuss Fran Bow, the 2015 adventure game by KillMonday Games. Talking points include: Skeletons with top hats, childhood traumas, standard horror tropes, and wild guesses at what was actually going on in the story. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R Email: thoughtsfromplayerone@gmail.com   Plant Facts Track: Too Cool For School by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com/ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com/ Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ Intro Music: Fran Bow OST - This is the Forest 

This week we talked about the latest and greatest from Super Giant Games.  Hades is a unique take on both rogue-likes and Greek mythology that swept us away with it's massive array of well voice acted dialogue snappy fun action, and so much charm.  Talking points include:  Making rouge-like stories work, a floating Gorgon head (you know the one), familial ties and relationships (as gods), rouge-like post game, and a relevant plant fact to wrap it all up!  Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Plant Facts Track: Too Cool For School by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/

This week we dive back in for the final chapter of the Tell Me Why trilogy by DONTNOD. Talking points include: poorly timed achievement popups, gamifying emotional distress, a lot of impressions of Sam, realistic drinking animations, and not whether or not DONTNOD really committed to talking about the issues they bring up. We also continue with another fascinating plant fact by Michael! Also, as an editors note for those who listen to the end, I want to be clear that we understand the quote "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country" was JFK and not FDR and was never in a Fireside Chat, but sometimes you just get caught up in the bit and you don't know where you end up.   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com   Plant Facts Track: Too Cool For School by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0) https

This week we get into part two of DONTNOD's new title Tell Me Why.  Talking points include: distribution of content, killer openings, unhelpful memories, unbearably tense document scenes, and Call of Duty Stuffed Men! This episode had some interesting discussions around what we picked and why so be sure to check those out. Stay tuned at the end for another dive into our new segment, Plant facts with Michael! Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com   Plant Facts Track: Too Cool For School by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/

This week we took on a HUGE project for our four year anniversary.  We made a tier list of EVERY GAME WE'VE EVER PLAYED.  If you prefer a video version where you can see the list as it goes along check out the YouTube video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-InYv3lj1dI.  This episode was a long one but we had a ton of fun discussing each game we've ever played.  Thanks again for anyone who's supported us now and throughout the years! We really love these games and this Podcast.     Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R  

Join us once again as we dive back into that crisp DONTNOD pool for a look at Chapter 1 of their new Series: Tell Me Why. Talking points include: Wet children, the actual capital of Alaska, court ordered separation, trans representation in games, and the DONTNOD model of game. Stay tuned at the end for another dive into our new segment, Plant facts with Michael!   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com   Plant Facts Track: Too Cool For School by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-ND 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/

Finally! The UNDERTALE episode has arrived! We had our two favorite guests on to play Duncan's favorite game.  We had a ton of fun discussing this and got into some in depth and fun conversations about it.  This episode does not contain a summary of the game or story so be warned.  Topics include:  theming, the comedy styles, streaming syndromes, what is Determination, and the variety of endings the game had to offer.     Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R Josh's Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/jokogames

This episode we took on sequels! What we look for in a good sequel, and what can and does go wrong.  Topics include: sequels vs. franchises, our favorite sequels, what makes a quality sequel, sequel creep, retcon, and evolving game sequels / franchises! Stick around for our end goofs about Sephiroths extremely large katakana  Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R  

We finally wrap up talking about Final Fantasy 7 Remake and discuss it's pacing, boss fights, politics, and third act twist. Special guest Josh joins us once again. Be sure to catch his stream at twitch.tv/jokogames.   Twitter: @thoughtsfromp1 Twitch: Twitch.tv/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne Email: Thoughtsfromplayerone@gmail.com Facebook: Thoughts from Player One Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R   Intro/Outro Music: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com

Join us this week as we discuss Virginia, the 2016 game by Variable State. Talking points include - Cinematography in games, character tropes, using score to set the tone, and your actual accurate chances of marrying a president if you live in Virginia. Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R

Join Duncan, Alex, and friend of the show Josh, as they finally get back to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. This time we're discussing chapters 8 - 12 so feel free to listen along if you're past there. As a special treat, one of us has even volunteered to dislike Aerith to keep the discussion interesting! Talking points include: Robot arms, wild tonal shifts, that one awful sewer level minigame, death counts, and so much discussion about pacing. Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R

This week we played Tacoma, a sci-fi game about investigating a space station with a special technology that allows you to view and hear the crews final moments.   Topics include: polygonal connections, voyeurism, walking simulators, Gone Home, personal AI interaction, and space bungalows.    Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R  

This week we discuss watching others play games. We wanted to go deeper into other realms like watching friends play games in the past vs now or streaming but there was just way too much to talk about! Topic list / timestamps below!  5:30 Community Interaction and what we consume 13:45 How we feel about the games before and after we play them 22:00 Games built around lets players i.e horror games 30:00 How our views have changed on this content during our podcasting 35:30 Why are Let's Plays a sleep aid for us? 43:40 Duncan's History with Lets Plays 49:00 Do you copy personalities? 55:45 Knowing a personality 1:00:00 The BIG SECRET! Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R  

Join us this week with our special guest Eliana from Story Singer Presents to take a look at WZOGI's Little Red Lie.  "A contemporary adventure game about debt, family, and the truth about honesty."  If you haven't played the game we did a quick story summary to catch you up to speed! Topics Include: family finances, breaking the 4th wall, current / future economic realities, and "narrative satisfaction".  Eliana's Twitter: https://twitter.com/StorysingPrsnts  Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R Other music used from the Youtube Library. 

Join us this week as we open the pages to Black Book: Prologue! A peek into the haunting and mysterious world of Slavic mythos! You play as a young sorceress traveling across the rural countryside as you aid commonfolk and battle evil forces, using a card-based combat system. Topics include: Mending culture into games, mixing rouge like and story game elements, and making the world an important part of your mechanics.   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R Other music used from the Youtube Library. 

This week in No Controller Necessary our new topic series we talk about Nostalgia and it's effects on the games we used to and currently play.  We tried a new style of intro that I'd appreciate if you checked out and gave us feedback on. Topics Include: 3-D Platforms, Remasters, Music, and a little bit of things we're nostalgic for.   If you have any thoughts on Nostalgia in games feel free to let us know in our new Discord! https://discord.gg/b6Uq9M    Opening Music Track: Ocarina of Time OST Opening  Closing Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com  

Join us this week as we tackle the first third of the long awaited Final Fantasy 7 Remake! We only played/discussed the first 7 chapters so you don't need to have played beyond that to listen. Topics include: History with FF7, Childhood connections, Remakes in  general, Jessie's mom's pizza, and Eco terrorism. Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Discord: https://discord.gg/69JNc4R

We've emerged from our no-game Chrysalis into one of the best games we've played for this podcast.  Please join us as we discuss Giant Sparrow's What Remains of Edith Finch. It's a master class in walking sims and a beautiful short treat to enjoy.  Topics include, family, death, speculation of the various characters, and how badly we want to live in this house! Discord  https://discord.gg/69JNc4R Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoughtsFromPlayerOne/ Twitter https://twitter.com/thoughtsfromp1 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thoughtsfromplayerone Be sure to check out our new Youtube series "We Must Build a Zoo"   Opening Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com  

After 3+ years of recording we've finally reached the 100 episode (counting series that we didn't number) milestone! As a celebration we decided to release the lost 32 episodes. These are old tapes that Ducan found physically hidden away in his closet from way back when we either first started this podcast or were children, it's not totally clear. So listen along as we very briefly discuss 32 different games in one episode! On a totaly unrelated note this will now mean that every episode going forward will now be numbered and our next episode will be 101.