Episodes
This weekend, we are still obsessed with Prey, the Immersive Sim in Space that could. We also chat about other fine games: like Dishonored 2 and Deus Ex, and we close out with a discussion of TV shows we're not 100% sure we like—it sure is an Idle Weekend, folks! Discussed: Prey, Dishonored 2, Xcom 2, Fallout, Civilization, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Crew, Perfect Dark, Deus Ex, Alpha Centauri, Transmetropolitan, Children of Men, Space Hulk, Disney Afternoon Collection, Privateer,...
Published 05/28/17
This episode is either really early, or really late, and either way, you can place the blame entirely on Prey for being so goddamned awesome. We talk Prey, space lesbians, immersive sims in general, and, a little more about problematic media! Content warning for mentions of partner abuse in The Witcher 3, and a reference to sexual assault in Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Discussed: Prey, The Witcher 3, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, American Gods, Side Effects
Published 05/18/17
This weekend, we're talking about games that are old... but despite our approaching them with the trepidation befitting older, jankier software, they hold up like a dream. Elsewhere, we talk about difficult media (again, with a content warning for the mention of movies that depict sexual assault), and really, REALLY enjoy our weekend projects. Discussed: Alpha Centauri, The Last Express, Brutal Legend, System Shock, Tex Murphy, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Assassin's Creed, LA Noire, Persona 5,...
Published 05/08/17
This weekend, we are exploring our other selves. Our gaming selves, silly, not some Jungian archetype business. When is role-playing not even really role-playing, but... something else entirely? Discussed:Expedition: Viking, Bloodborne, Dishonored, Mass Effect, BioShock, Fallout, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Eagle's Heir, The Witcher 3, Firewatch, Gone Home, Sunless Sea, Agents of Shield, The Dialogue Box Podcast
Published 05/01/17
How much do game players know? Do they know things? Let's find out! We wade into a minor kerfuffle online about how much devs like to disclose about tech, and then, we dip into some serious territory in the weekend correspondence and projects. Please note! There is some fairly heavy talk about sexual assault and rape in movies and TV in this episode. Discussed: Horizon Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda, The Dialogue Box podcast, Idle Thumbs, Containers, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon...
Published 04/24/17
This weekend, we get good and mad about genres that just happen to be from the decade when we were kids/teens, that get stomped all over. Genres like the 3D platformer and the FMV. Why? Because some people on the internet are besmirching the good name of our dearest Banjo and/or Tex. Don't worry, we have plenty to say about newer games as well! Discussed: Yooka-Laylee, Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Psychonauts, FMV Adventure, Tex Murphy, Gabriel Knight...
Published 04/15/17
Yes, this is something of a make-up episode, since we have been tardy lately. Comically so! But that won't stop us from discussing things that we stick with, even if we don't think they're super great. Related: we appreciate that YOU stick with us, even when we aren't super great about being on schedule. Discussed: Caprica, Snake Pass, Battlestar Galactica, The Bridge (FX series), Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears, The Young Pope, Nier, Nier: Automata, The Last Express, Ashes (comic),...
Published 04/11/17
Danielle would like to apologize for the tardiness of this episode. But! There is a lot of good stuff here, as we discuss games that have made us fall in love with the format all over again. It’s an all-gaming Idle Weekend! You can find Norco: Faraway Lights (one of our Weekend Projects) here: yutsi.itch.io/norcodemo Discussed: Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nier: Automata, Afghanistan 11, Dead Space, Persona 4, Norco: Faraway Lights
Published 03/30/17
Both Rob and Danielle are playing a LOT of games: so many that there aren't even any letters in this episode. This week features a freewheeling discussion of Ghost Recon: Wildlands, genre-jumping in long-running franchises like Resident Evil and Zelda, and open-world design. We only barely mention The Witcher 3 in this one! Discussed: Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Resident Evil, Dead Space, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Kona, The Campaigns of Napoleon by David G. Chandler, They Can't...
Published 03/20/17
It's a very special Idle Weekend, because, not only is Danielle at PAX, but Rob is finishing his first week as an editor at Waypoint! We talk PAX, open-world solutions and games that deal with death in this special, blitz-edition of the show. Note: please don't yell at Danielle for her somewhat crappier-than-usual audio, her travel mic isn't as amazing as her home mic. Discussed: PAX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy VIII, Life is Strange, The Witcher 3, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The...
Published 03/11/17
Today, we are joined by Waypoint Editor in Chief, mech enthusiast and friend of the show Austin Walker, for a whopping 2+ hour idle weekend extravaganza. We talk deconstruction in games, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Wire, amongst other things. Stay tuned for a *VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* at the end of the show!
Published 03/06/17
This weekend, we welcome special guest Evan Narcisse to the show, to talk comics, games and books. We're especially interested in conflict in games and comics that *doesn't* come from cartoon bad guys, but instead, a slightly more realistic—and complex worldview. There's a lot of Archie in this one. Also! Here's the link Evan talks about when we discuss one very special episode of The Expanse Season 2:...
Published 02/27/17
This weekend, we talk about our fatal flaws in gaming: sometimes, we need to learn to just use our goddamn BFGs. In other media, we're both digging Legion, and the violent stylings of one John Wick. Discussed: Hearts of Iron IV, Doom, Dark Souls III, Alien: Isolation, Prey, terrible childhood fables, fitness, agile development, Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman '66, Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Batman v. Superman, Legion, John Wick Chapter 2
Published 02/20/17
This weekend, we get too real about aging, athleticism, and the brutal pain of stat decay, in games and in real life. But don't worry, we manage to have some fun too. And we apologize for the lower-than-usual sound quality—to make up for it, there's a post-episode mini-gush about how much we want to wear cowboy hats and watch Westerns together. Discussed: Punch Club, Pitch, Sid Meier's Pirates, Overwatch, A Normal Lost Phone, Emily is Away, Tombstone, What I Talk About When I Talk About...
Published 02/13/17
It's time to talk Batman! Well, sort of. Rob is having second thoughts about Batman: Arkham Origins, which prompts a discussion on games that give a very particular kind of feedback during play. Also, Superman Returns is an underrated movie. Discussed: Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Street Fighter V, Metal Gear Solid IV, GTR, Crazy Taxi, BioShock, BioShock 2, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, Mafia 3, Papers Please, Superman Returns, Avatar: The Last...
Published 02/06/17
Rob is protesting the unlawful executive order on travelers from Muslim countries, so I'm doing a short mailbag episode centered on self-care and giving yourself the space you need to get through the damned day. Keep Weekending, friends. Discussed: Kingdom Hearts, self-care, The Witcher 3
Published 01/29/17
Games are fun to play and all, but watching—that's where it's at. At least, for some games. This weekend, we're all about the spectator sports, from speedrunning to Hitmanning to eSporting. Discussed: StarCraft, Overwatch, League of Legends, MMA, Hitman (2016), Final Fantasy VIII, Lady Killer in a Bind, Revolutionary Girl Uetena, Far Cry 2, Neptune's Inferno James, Hidden Figures
Published 01/22/17
There's a lot of existential dread in the world right now, and I think we're all feeling it. It even seeps into our favorite escape, in the form of choice paralysis and gaming guilt. Things get REAL in this episode, about our lives, the place of games, fear of mortality and over-exertion. But don't worry, we also get to fun synth-singing, our favorite games, and our mutual love of sports in other media. Discussed: The Witcher 3, Mafia 3, Battlefield 1, Star Wars, Yowamushi Pedal, The...
Published 01/16/17
This weekend, we chatted about the worst—and best—frustrations we've experienced in games, inspired by recent explorations of the great-but-so-unpolished The Last Guardian. Control schemes, systems running beneath the hood, and talk of movies loved and hated round out our weekend projects. So watch where you point that camera, bub. Discussed: The Last Guardian, Black and White, Resident Evil, Dishonored 2, Thief, Myth, Overwatch, Harry Potter, John Wick, La La Land
Published 01/07/17
This weekend, we're talking about self-care games: what we play when we need to chill out, ease our anxieties and have a breather. So what do we like best? Catching em' all, shooting zombies, and just taking off in a beautiful car, man.
Published 12/30/16
The Weekenders are here to wish you a very merry Whatever You Celebrate! And also, to count down their most favorite games of 2016. Enjoy! Discussed: Homeworld: Deserts of Karak, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Dishonored 2, Overwatch, Hearts of Iron IV, Commander: Great War, Even The Ocean, Total War: Warhammer, Event[0], Darkest Dungeon, Mafia 3, Doom, Quadrilateral Cowboy, Banner Saga 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Twilight Struggle, Firewatch, Battlefield 1
Published 12/23/16
Danielle apologizes for making this episode more of an Idle Monday than an Idle Weekend. Even though we're late, we have an exciting episode for you, as we examine the constant reinterpretation of popular characters in our own modern mythologies. There is Star Wars talk! Star Trek talk! And we manage to not even talk about The Witcher, somehow. Warning: there are spoilers for Star Trek Beyond, if you are afraid of hearing about the (totally stupid) reveal at the end of the movie.
Published 12/20/16
It's a ridiculous holiday season, which means Danielle is doing a dip into the ol' mailbag before going on her merry way. Don't worry, Rob will be back next weekend for more adventures! A quick note: Audio quality isn't up to our usual standards this week, thanks to heavy travel. Our apologies!
Published 12/11/16
This weekend, we're talking about the pleasure and queasy terror of games that make us want to find every last drop of #content. Based on our Dishonored 2 and Mafia 3 experiences, and the horrible FOMO feelings that we carry, we need a little help.
Published 12/03/16
It's a holiday weekend! Which means we're finally getting to catch up with our beloved games, including Dishonored 2, which everyone is currently enjoying like a fine Karcannan Plantain, heaped upon a golden plate. We're also ready to feast upon a plentiful mailbag, and enjoy a bunch of smaller leftovers. Happy Dishonored Thanksgiving Weekend, everyone! The Good Bundle, discussed in the episode, is available here: https://itch.io/b/149/a-good-bundle
Published 11/25/16