Thoughts From Player One

Hello everyone! We're kicking off a new series called No Controller Necessary, a more topic focused series rather than any particular game.  These episodes don't require you to play through any game to understand what we're talking about:  Topics include: death mechanics, dramatic death in video games, plot armor, death jingles, and other death topics.  possible trigger warning for feelings about death.  

Sorry if you downloaded the wrong episode! Join us this week as we fulfill a dark promise we made to give our thoughts on the Sonic the Hedgehog Movie.  Was it a spin dash of a success or a egg flop... yeah? Please enjoy our thoughts on the Sonic The Hedgehog Movie.    Also, for the first time ever, check out our new Youtube series "We MUST Build a Zoo" where Duncan and Alex play Planet Zoo and do everything in their power to make it look somewhat okay.  

 This week we played Moe Era a new free visual novel by Comfy Company. Please join the fun as we tackle this visual novel with A LOT of ideas, some "interesting" choices, and a positive twist that left us with more questions than answers.  Topics include: Work ethic, Literature, Doki Doki Literature Club, translations, depression, and info dumps.  It was a really fun one to record 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 Circus Music:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugUiKCeT74 Teacher Conversation: Moe Era OST  Applause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dutYERW1h4w  

After weeks of Alex incessantly yelling at everyone to play Outer Wilds we finally did it! Join us as we discuss it with extensive spoilers. Talking points include: The ultimate question, going into fugue states, problem solving frustrations, and transcendent video game endings. 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   Closing music - Travelers by Andrew Prahlow from Outer Wilds OST (Sped up by 15% to match bad singing)

Join us this week as we talk about A Short Hike, a game by Adam Robinson-Yu about hiking up a mountain to get cellphone reception. It was a delightful experience clocking in at just around 2 hours, and is only a few bucks on Steam or itch.io so check it out. Talking points include: Hikers, comfort games, "Let's Gush!", and A-Tiny-Bird-Named-Claire.   Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com

This week we close out 2019 with a conversation with Josh and Micheal about the games of this decade that have changed our perspective on games or our lives.  It was so nice to talk about what shaped us as people and friends over the years.  We talked about other topics as well, favorite 2019 game, the bummer award from this decade, as well as what games you would have liked a decade ago that are out now! Hope you all enjoy this one!  Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) "Remixed" by: Duncan  License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com

Today we wrapped up the story of the brother wolves, Sean and Daniel.  We discussed the Life is Strange 2 finale and how we felt about both episode 5, and the series as a whole.  I really want to thank Dontnod for making such a wonderful experience and conversation piece for us.  Join us for discussions about the endings, David, the politics presented in the game, as well as the final opinion wrap!  Also, for the first time ever, check out our new Youtube series "We MUST Build a Zoo" where Duncan and Alex play Planet Zoo and do everything in their power to make it look somewhat okay. Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com

Join on on this very special occasion as Alex and Michael embark on their first ever episode without Duncan. Listen as they try desperately to find humor without the funny person on the show while talking about The Outer Worlds again. This time for real they discuss Groundbreaker, Roseway, and Scylla so feel free to listen along if you're at or past those three areas! Also, for the first time ever, check out our new Youtube series "We MUST Build a Zoo" where Duncan and Alex play Planet Zoo and do everything in their power to make it look somewhat okay. Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from www.shockwave-sound.com

Listen in on our thoughts on After Party! The latest game from Nightschool Studio.  Milo and Lola are best friends who have died and need to out drink Satan?! Topics include: Gods Basement, the integrity of friendship, and of course really cool demons.  Also alcohol is a topic in this episode/game just an FYI.  

This week special guest Michael joins us to discuss The Outer Worlds, the newest game from Obsidian. For this episode we only talk about events up through the end of the first world, Edgewater. If you haven't played more than that you can still listen along! Talking points include: Faceless Marauders, Directed environments, and difficult choices that probably shouldn't have been. Music Track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.shockwave-sound.com

It's the ever coveted Halloween episode right at your doorstep! Don't eat this one before dinner! This week we played Lost in Vivo and the first episode of Stories Untold, The House Abandon.  Topics: Variety in horror, the hallmarks of good horror, monsters, and good theming.  

This week we discussed Finding Paradise, a wonderful sequel to To The Moon.  It follows the two doctors traveling through a man's mind to change his memories and past, yet he wants nothing changed nothing at all.  Topics include: Memories, perceptions, privacy, and one more that I can't say because it's a spoil! I promise it's very interesting!  Intro/Outro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com

This week we took a trip on down to Alligator New York City with Pillow Fight and Smallbu's Later Alligator, a charming adventure game with an all alligator cast. Talking points include: Edutainment games, point and click adventures, the origins of the name Kidz Bop, active listening, and more. Intro/Outro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com

This week we took ourselves to Twilight Town in our continued search for the power of waking, or a person close enough to dive into the abyss for Aqua, or Roxas? We honestly don't really know. Junior Kingdom Hearts expert Jordon joins us again this week to walk through this spectacularly unsurprisingly confusing plot! Topics include: Door to Darkness, A strange rat creature, The Twilight Town crew, and really good Mickey impressions.      Intro/Outro Music: Don't Think Twice by Hikaru Utada

This week we discussed Eliza, a new Visual Novel from Zachtronics about an AI counseling service and the people who created it. We also discovered that intros are hard and closers are even harder. Talking points include: Mental Health, tech culture, human nature, responsibility, and then a lot more about mental health. Intro/Outro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com

This week we dive right back into that Life is Strange well and talk about episode 4: Faith. We discuss everything ranging from racists to religious fanatics which is actually not a huge range. Talking points include: Desertbillies, distrust of others, sentimental dreams, character motivation, and raising the cross like he raised Jesus. Intro/Outro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com

This week Thoughts from Player One returns to Kingdom Hearts 3 and actually talks about it in an attempt to start a new series and fill the void Sonic left in our hearts. In this episode we are joined by Junior Kingdom Hearts expert Jordon as we discuss the intro up though the ending of the Hercules world. Intro/Outro Music: Don't Think Twice by Hikaru Utada

Hey everyone, this week we decided to do a mid point check in for 2019 with a conversation about what games we've been playing and why!  Games include: Mario Maker 2, Outer Wilds, Carcasone, Root, Fire Emblem Three Houses, Sekiro, and Planet Coaster.  Topics include: Game design in games, making non co-op games co-op, dead parrots, board games, and fun coaster stuff! Intro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com Special Guest -  Doug Bowser 

In our final installment of the NieR: Automata episodes we discuss endings C, D, and E. Josh and Michael are back to hash out the final questions, like why in the world Josh thinks A2 was better than 9S. We also discuss other ideas from the final runs such as: Whether we are just our memories, character re-contextualization, still bad checkpointing, and whether or not someone on our podcast was secretly a cop.  Intro and Outro music from NieR Automata OST. 

This week we finally got around to playing Dream Daddy: A dad dating simulator.  Join us as we talk about the different dads, their children, and the different story telling methods this game uses to hook the player to keep dating these dads! Topics include: LGBTQ+, visual novel design, speed dad questions, and more. If you've already played Dream Daddy I recommend you skip to about 23:30 Thanks! Intro Music - Music track: High Spirits Composer: Bjorn A. Lynne (PRS) License his music from: www.Shockwave-Sound.com Dream Daddy theme -  taken from Dream Daddy game