The Experience Points Podcast
A weekly video game podcast from the co-writers of ExperiencePoints.net

2017 was such a buck wild year for games, there's no way we could cover all of our top picks in a single podcast. Luckily, we had the chance to dig into all the delicious leftovers and highlight more of the year's outstanding games!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_458_-_2017_Leftovers.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:47pm PDT

One of the best years in gaming is coming to a close. Seriously. Throw a dart at a pile of 2017 games and you're likely to hit an absolute classic. Polygon even called 2017 "the best year in games since 2007," and that brought us The Orange BoxBioShockSuper Mario GalaxyRockband, and Mass Effect - and it's true. In other words, it was really difficult to cull down our favorite games to just three each.

Enjoy this week's podcast (we sure did). And hey. Let us know your 2017 GOTY!

 

 

Show Notes:


Run Time: 52 mins 50 sec
Intro and Outro music by Brad Sucks
Additional music from each game's respective trailers

 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_457_-_2017_Games_of_the_Year.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:52pm PDT

It's that time of year: the time where we gather together to celebrate the wonderful absurdity that is the video game industry.  2017 has been an outstanding year for games, but which game will win the coveted title of The Gamey-est  Game of the year?  Bust out the liquor and eggnog and listen in to find out.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_456_-_2017_Gameys.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:58pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we review the much-lauded Nier: Automata, a game that hides far more in its rusty, goofy-looking robots than you might expect. Love it or hate it, this is a one-of-a-kind game, so this is a debrief I've been eager to release. Give it a listen! When you're done, definitely look up the soundtrack - it's pretty great.

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 64 mins 38 sec

- Music from the Nier Automata OST

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_455_-_Nier_Automata_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:26pm PDT

Download this podcast and open the file. Surprise! You have a 1 in 4000 chance of winning a special version in which our voices are played at 3x speed. Most of you will get an episode in which we take a look at the recent loot box discussions and monetization plans in high profile games. Sorry to disappoint those looking for a Chipmunks version of the podcast.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_454_-_Loot_Box_Lunacy.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

It's that time of the year where friends and families gather around an offensively large portion of food and give thanks. This time, Scott and I are joining the festivities by serving up some of the things we're thankful for in games. From esports money to in-game settings, here are some of the underappreciated life-changers we're glad to have in our gaming habitat.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_453_-_Giving_Thanks.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:08pm PDT

Put on your travelling cap, it's time to take an Odyssey with Mario to save Princess Peach from a bad Tinder date. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the much-anticipated Mario Odyssey. Join us while we discuss the dark origins of this particular tale. If you listen to this whole episode, you get a Moon.

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 39 mins 08 sec
- Music from Super Mario Odyssey

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_452_-_Mario_Odyssey_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:06pm PDT

Ah, Paris: city of Zombies, ninjas, and procedurally generated adventures. This week, we talk about Sony's showing at Paris Games Week. There was a surprising amount of brand new stuff, so we dig through the announcements and maybe even commit a bit of light blasphemy by comparing Spelunky to the bible.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_451_-_Paris_Games_Week.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:17pm PDT

Scott and I have weaved our way through a barrage of bullets, over fields of violent vegetables, and through terrifying trainyards to bring you this week's EXP Podcast. At least, Cuphead is here and we've drunk down all (or most) of what the game has to offer. What makes this game so special? How difficult is Cuphead really? And did the conversation around its challenging nature tarnish our anticipation for this cartoon-era-inspired gem? All this and more on this week's episode!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_450_-_Cuphead_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:55pm PDT

Hope in our magic wagon and mind the drive imps: it's time for a full debrief on Pyre! We touched on it a few episodes back, but now that we've both finished, it's time to talk about the weird intersection of arcade sports, turn based strategy, and dating simulators that is Pyre.

Direct download: Ep_449_-_Pyre_debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:10pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we have reports from Destiny 2's first raid, our thoughts on the upcoming slate of Nintendo games as well as the company's bizarre approach to streaming, and a conversation about Red Dead Redemption 2. Will "Juan" Marston make an appearance? I sure hope so. All this and more, so give it a listen!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_448_-_Too_Cool_To_Be_True.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:02pm PDT

Forget about the carnage taking place within the slowly shrinking blue circle; this week we're talking about a vicious battle taking place outside of Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. Ok, maybe it's actually more of a slap fight, but even so it's still entertaining. Epic has decided to release its own Battle Royale mode in their game Fortnite, but Blue Hole (publishers of PUBG) don't like the fact that their engine vendor seems to be directly lifting their playbook. I think the only way to resolve this is to drop them both onto and island and let them battle for supremacy.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_447_-_Epic_PUBG_Drama.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:35pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we wrestle with the dark underbelly of online gaming - its own players. With toxicity causing trouble in Overwatch, Steam's failure to address racist community groups, Campo Santo striking back against PewDiePie, the topic is on our mind. Even Bungie is reeling from a piece of armor that looks uncomfortably similar to a white supremacist logo. How should developers and publishers police their own communities? Should they? 

This is a touchy subject this week folks, so we're sending our positive thoughts your way. Keep up the good fight!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_447_-_Players_Behaving_Badly.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:23pm PDT

Jorge and I have been hard at work. Jorge has been fulfilling his destiny to become the best-dressed guardian in the universe while I've been practicing my 360 tomahawk jams. This week we do a check in on two of our most anticipated games of 2017: Destiny 2 and Pyre.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_445_-_Destiny_2_and_Pyre.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

In space, no one can hear you scream against unsafe working conditions and unethical labor contracts with faceless multinational corporations. This week on the podcast, we put on our space pants and drift into Tacoma. What does this short little follow-up to Gone Home have to say about AI, humanity, and the corporatocratic future? Join us and find out!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_444_-_Tacoma_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:10pm PDT

This week we take a journey to the north and debrief on Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. This game was flying beneath our radar, but we couldn't be happier that we made the time to play it. Do yourself a favor: grab some headphones, carve out a few hours, and thank your lucky stars that you don't live under the constant threat of being stalked by Fenrir.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_443_-_Hellblade_debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:03pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we pay a visit to Titanfall 2 and wonder where everyone went. Was it the dull brown of the landscape that cleared the room? Would this game be more popular if it had brighter colors, cooler names, or banana rockets? The answer is clearly yes.

 

Everything is better with banana rockets.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_442_-_Titanfall_2_and_Mecha_Boredom.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:48pm PDT

Sometimes, you play a game once and then bounce off, never to return.  Other times you see the potential, but are put off by a weird mechanic.  And sometimes you're just too damn lazy to leave the house and interact with other human beings.  This week, we discuss some games we're considering returning to.  Some of them we've finished, others we originally gave up on.  We also invent a new Pokemon Go mechanic that would be as dangerous as it would be entertaining.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_441_-_Returning.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

The endless war between Mayonnaise and Ketchup continues in this EXP Podcast debrief on Splatoon 2. After we get into a heated discussion about condiments, we weigh in on the splatfest design, Nintendo's trouble relationship with online support, and the elements of Splatoon 2 that make this game so damn special.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_440_-_Splatoon_2_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:54pm PDT

Summertime means relaxing on an island.  After murdering the 99 other people on that island of course.  This week we dive out of a plane and into Player Unknown's Battlegrounds.  Along the way we learn about abbreviations, Twitch drama, and that there's a high correlation between a game having someone's name in the title and its quality. 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_439_-_PUBG.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:57pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we put on our space helmets and meet up in the Tower to discuss the Destiny 2 beta. How do the new classes feel? Is this a significant departure from the first Destiny? How money hours will we spend farming motes of light? Who knows!

Show Notes:
* Music from Destiny 2
* Run time: 43 mins 15 secs

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_438_-_Destiny_2_Beta_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:35am PDT

Strap on your bowcaster and fire up your T-16s folks: it's time to get immersed in the world of Star Wars.  Disney is looking to bring a "100 percent immersive" Star Wars experience to us Earthlings, so Jorge and I decided it would be a good idea to brainstorm what the future has in store for us.  Video games have dealt with the challenging concept of immersion for a long time, so we discuss some of the potential benefits and challenges of trying to stage an entire Star Wars live-action experience.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_437_-_SW_immersion.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

The last few months have been a whirlwind of good times with my Tokyo buds. I've laughed, I've cried, I've told my cat to shut up. Now, at long last, I've finally finished Persona 5. While it'll be awhile before Scott graduates Shujin Academy, it's time we dive into the hotly anticipated entry in the long-running Persona franchise. How do the characters stand out compared to Persona 4? Is this game more approachable? Which confident should you romance?

All this and more in another EXP Podcast!

 

Show Notes:

- Music from the Persona 5 Official Soundtrack
- Runtime: 43 mins 23 sec

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_436_-_Persona_5_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:53pm PDT

Ah how time flies when you're desperately battling against its passage!  We're halfway through 2017, so we decided to take stock of some topics that have been bubbling under the surface or were overlooked.  VR, Player Unknown's Battlegrounds, eSports labor strikes and more await you.  Quick: listen while you still have your whole life ahead of you.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_435_-_mid_year_check_in.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:49pm PDT

In Nintendo's infinite wisdom, the NES Classic has been discontinued. But never fear lovers of nostalgia! The hardware distribution experts at Nintendo have announced the SNES Classic, another retro-gaming option that you can pre-order now regret not pre-ordering within the first 30 minutes of its sale.

Join us as we discuss the great games on the mini-console, and the great games mysteriously absent. Want to participate? Send us an email with your own favorite SNES games!

Show Notes:

 

- Music by Brad Sucks

- Runtime: 44 mins 35 sec

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_434_-_A_Classic_Conversation.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:30pm PDT

It's time once again for our annual E3 debrief! This year we have some father-son drama, some good ol' fashioned pirate swashbuckling, hardware announcements, and so much more. Did we mention Mario? We've got some Mario too. Join us in the discussion and let us know your favorite games out of E3!

Show Notes:

- Music by Brad Sucks

- Runtime: 66 mins 50 sec

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_433_-_E3_2017_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:18pm PDT

We finally did it!  Ganon is banished, Hyrule is peaceful(ish), and we can go back to pursuing our true passion: equine science.  Or maybe we'll finally open up our hearty durian farm.  Then again, our shield surfing skills could use some work if we hope to make the olympics this year.  In any case, we've finally finished Breath of the Wild and it's time to talk about the big picture.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_432_-_BotW_debrief_5.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:25pm PDT

Our march through Hyrule continues.  In this penultimate debrief, we find some mysterious glowing animals, play a round of golf, and visit the Rito and and Gorons.  Jorge laments the cruel blood moon and Scott pours one out for Andre, the giant horse.  Next up: Calamity Ganon and beyond!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_431_-_BotW_debrief_4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:08pm PDT

Overwatch is one year old! Come celebrate by checking in on the state of the game and remembering those other year-old games that none of us can remember.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_430_-_Overwatch_Anniversary_Party.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:49pm PDT

This week we take a break to read the video game news and learn of many mysterious disappearances.  Alan Wake has vanished, Red Dead Redemption 2 is no where to be found, and Destiny 2 is no where to be found on Steam, and Peter Parker is apparently hiding under the pseudonym "Nathan Drake."  Time to get to the bottom of all this.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_429_-_News_roundup.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:16pm PDT

The further adventure of Scott and Jorge in Hyrule continues! This week on the podcast, we take on cursed dragons, question the logic of putting children into seats of power, and discuss the social habits of the bad-ass Gerudo warriors. 


You know, the most tragic thing about What Remains of Edith Finch is that all the tragedy could have been avoided with a competent architect and a proper building inspection.  Structural issues aside, there are still plenty of things to talk about in Giant Sparrow's latest narrative-driven game.  Strap in: it's one where we discuss the very nature of the medium itself.  Plus there's some Wendigo talk in there too.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_427_-_Edith_Finch.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we journey to find the dark soul, deep in the Ringed City. It's the last time we delve into a Dark Souls game. What does this foray hold besides numerous deaths? Where will the adventure lead us? What will we do if it leads us to Midir?

 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_426_-_Dark_Souls_3_The_Ringed_City_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:57pm PDT

You won't find more stalwart defenders of video games as an artistic medium than Jorge and me, but even we have our moments of feeling self conscious.  How does one describe the plot of Metal Gear Solid or talk about the hour the spent trying to shape a virtual brow line without feeling just a tad embarrassed?  This week we revisit the concept of game shame, recount sick burns from loved ones, and try to rationally justify our relationship with Tom Nook.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_425_-_Embarassing_Games.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:59pm PDT

eek, bringing you a riveting discussion of big ol' horses, the Hylian Real Estate market, and Zoran biology. We've also got some serious questions about Link's moral fiber and tardy appearance in Hyrule.

 

Runtime: 51 mins 

Music: "On Horse (Day)" and "Champion Mipha's Theme" from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Official Soundtrack


Microsoft revealed some more information on their Xbox One refresh, project Scorpio.  This kind of mid-cycle upgrade is still a new thing in the console space, so we use the new information as a starting point to check in on the PlayStation 4 Pro, the state of 4K and HDR, and the current console exclusives.  Additionally, we almost talk ourselves into buying a Game Boy camera and printer.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_423_-_Scorpio.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

The gaming industry has suffered another loss, this time in the form of (in)famous peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz. What have we gained from their past creations? And what have we now lost, that is, besides controllers seemingly made from rubbish found at some estate sale? All this and more in this week's episode!

 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_422_-_Going_Mad_Catz.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:28pm PDT

Nothing like waking up from a century-long nap to get you in the mood for wandering the wilderness.  What's that?  You're hungry?  Well don't you worry; we've got enough strange mushrooms and fiery peppers to keep you fueled up and ready to survive even the fiercest blizzard.  Here, take this sword.  Don't get too attached to it though; it'll break if you sneeze too hard.

Yes, it's time for part 1 of what will likely be a periodic, multi-episode debrief on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_421_-_BotW_pt_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:49pm PDT

Greetings from Mount Olympus, where I preside with the other Bloodborne Platinum Trophy owners over the casuals down on the muck you call Earth. This week on the EXP Podcast, I deign to speak with Scott about trophies and the place of achievements in gaming culture today. You may give it a listen, but take care, lest my seraphim-like voice shatter your feeble mind.

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 34 mins 12 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_420_-_The_Trophy_Case.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:30pm PDT

Sharpen up your kusarigama and pack plenty of salt: we're talking about Nioh.  This week we get into our podcast stance and apply all our ki in an attempt to understand the game's numerous complex mechanics.  But mostly we just talk about evil yokai and pancakes.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_419_-_Nioh_debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:08pm PDT

The Nintendo Switch is out and playable for those not living in Atlantis, a radio tower, or some combination of the two. This week on the EXP Podcast, we check-in on the public reaction and look ahead at some coming games. 

 

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 29 mins 28 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

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Direct download: EXP_Podcast_418_-_The_Nintendo_Switch_Sitch.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:22pm PDT

You know that old abandoned house in your neighborhood?  Well it's probably just a sad, empty echo of happier times that no one is particularly interested in revisiting.  Then again, it might be an elaborate shell; an ornate elevator to a secret underground bunker where (at this very moment) Valve is hard at work designing the new...thing...that will consume all our lives.  Erik Wolpaw's departure and the end of Steam Greenlight are simply signs that even more resources are needed for the wonderful, terrifying creation that has yet to be released.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_417_-_The_Valve_Veil.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:18pm PDT

This week we are inspired by a Waypoint article arguing that Nioh proves that Dark Souls has created a genre. If so, what does that genre include and what should we call it? Does it bring any value to games to classify genres like this? These are important questions, but not half as important as this one: What ever happened to the Bro-Shooter?

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_416_-_Dark_Souls_and_Genre_Defining_Games.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:14pm PDT

What are you running from, Mario?  A horde of rabid koopas?  The long arm of the law?  The unyielding, existential terror of modern existence?  Whatever it is, he sure likes running.  This week, we do a very rare mobile game debrief and talk about Super Mario Run.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_415_-_Mario_Run_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:37pm PDT

You've waited nearly a decade, and we made you wait a little longer, but finally our debrief for The Last Guardian has arrived. How does the game measure up against Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, two of our favourite games of all time? Was it worth the wait? And more importantly, did we see Trico poop? All this and more on this week's episode!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_412_-_The_Last_Guardian_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:02pm PDT

We're almost a month in to 2017.  We'll ask the question we always ask at this time: How are your New Year's resolutions doing?  Hopefully most of them revolved around "playing video games" because there are quite a few exciting things in store for this year.  In this week's show, we take a look at what the rest of the year has in store for us.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_413_-_Year_ahead_2017.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:00am PDT

The Nintendo Switch got its full reveal last week in what I think we can all agree was a very strange press conference. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I discuss the many revelations, from the hardware tucked away inside those tiny controllers to the bizarre real-world version of Mario.

Direct download: EXP__Podcast_412_-_Nintendo_Switch_Conference_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:56pm PDT

Did you see that?  Probably nothing.  It's late and you haven't slept for a while.  That shadow wasn't really moving, inching towards you slowly, but with intent.  Oh what's this?  Someone has rummaged around in your pantry and eaten all your jellied eels.  Who would do such a thing.  You consider this puzzle for a few peaceful moments and then look up to find your view filled by a rapidly approaching barrel of flammable whale oil.  As your apartment burns around you, you hear a whisper "This week, it's a Dishonored 2 debrief."  Two figures with cruel, cold blades jump out the window and you realize that your wallet is gone.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_411_-_Dishonored_2_debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:50pm PDT

2016 is over at long last. Before we ready ourselves for the cold nuclear winter ahead of us, let's take a look back at the notable games that didn't make out 2016 Game of the Year list. They might not have topped our personal charts, but all of these are games are worth your attention for one reason or another.

 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 36 mins 55 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_410_-_2016_Game_of_the_Year_Leftovers.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:40pm PDT