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

It's late December and you know what that means: it's Gamey season!  There are many contenders, but only a select few will contend for the illustrious title of being the Gamey-est game of 2018.  But don't worry, there are plenty of other categories to go around.  Husbandos, gear grinders, roommates and more are all up for grabs!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_508_-_2018_Gameys.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00pm PDT

Geoff Keighley hosted his annual Game Awards show again this year, which is half awards show and half massive promotional event. Not only has the show gotten more lavish since its inception, but more publishers are using the platform to make huge announcements.

Today on the EXP Podcast, we go over some of the more exciting game trailers and updates from the show. Journey with us to the far reaches of space to the depths of Hades.

 
 

Show Notes:

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_507_-_The_Game_Awards_2018_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:25pm PDT

There's never been a better time for people that love cards but lack table space.  With the release of Artifact, Valve is wading into the collectible card game market and retrofitting some of the traditional economic models onto their own marketplace.  This week we do a survey of the landscape and weigh the pros and cons of converting our retirement funds into rare foil cards. 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_506_-_Playing_Our_Cards.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:16pm PDT

Fallout 76 released a couple weeks ago and fans are, well, not happy with it. News came out today that Bethesda can't even bag the game right. Today on the EXP Podcast, we discuss some of the failures of the latest Fallout and how the game could be victim to its own franchise history. 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 33m 19s

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_505_-_All_Out_on_Fallout.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:31pm PDT

It's Thanksgiving time here in the states, so we're doing a bit of a theme episode this week. Food, football, and feuding with the family: Thanksgiving carries with it many unique traditions. But what is the gaming equivalent to arguing about the gold standard with that one weird uncle you see once a year? This week, we kick off the holiday season with some of our favorite (and least favorite) seasonal rituals.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_504_-_Thanksgiving_Analogies.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:12am PDT

If there's one thing that takes longer than downloading Red Dead Redemption 2, it's playing it. With all this time spent playing Red Dead, it's hard not to notice how the game marks its own passage of time. The sun rises and sets, animals rot, and townsfolk walk around town on some personal errand.

How does the passage of time make a game feel more real? And how do some games convey the passage of time better than others? All of this and more in this week's episode!

Show Notes:

Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_503_-_Game_Time.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:32pm PDT

Between the recent news from Blizzcon and the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Direct, it seems like everyone is itching for a fight.  Blizzard has been doing some damage control after dunking on its own fans while Nintendo is pre-apologizing for the existence of DLC.  And of course, Professor Layton is still nowhere to be seen.  This week, we recap a few of the big news announcements and welcome our new mobile-only, pro-wrestling Pokemon overlords.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_502_-_Smashing_Blizzard.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:09pm PDT

We pack our saddlebags and head out West this week to finally talk about Red Dead Redemption 2. This is a long game, so while the full debrief has to wait, today we'll share our first impressions, give some tips on hogtying insolent strangers, and accidentally kick a dog.

Since you're undoubtedly playing the game yourself, let us know your early thoughts by shooting us an email!

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 41m

- Music from the Red Dead Redemption 2 Official Soundtrack

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_501_-_Red_Dead_Redemption_2_First_Impressions.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:57pm PDT

We've been at this old podcasting game for nigh on a decade now.  We've seen a lot of comings and goings over the years, so this week we do a little retrospective on some of the standout trends that have changed the medium over the past ten years.  Somewhere, our Farmville plots are overgrown and our Xbox 360 HD DVD drives are gathering dust, but our progress bars and eSports careers are growing by the day.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_500_-_Ten_Years_of_Trends.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we swing back into some games we've been playing. From the tall buildings of New York to the deep breaches of space-time, we take you on a journey of some recent hits and hidden gems. On our list today: Spider-Man, The Messenger, Into the Breach and the oddly named The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories.

 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 38m 57s

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_498_-_Spiders_Messengers_and_Breaches.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:08pm PDT

Brace your routers: another generation of streaming game services is careening across the web and towards your wallet. This week, we talk about Project xCloud, along with efforts from Google, Ubisoft, and others to make a push for delivering games on demand. Will this be the beginning of the end for the single-game purchase or are our intertubes too clogged up to meet our demands? Listen in for a chance to hear what two people who are in no way networking experts think.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_498_-_Serious_Streaming.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Just look at the Sony Classic, a miniaturized version of the iconic PlayStation that's so small it has to be legally marked as a choking hazard. Which is perfect, because if there's one thing Sony wants us to shove down our throats, it's their back-catalogue of amazing games. This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss the games we think deserve a place on this system.

Oh, and we also come up with a concept for the mini that would have been WAY better than this thing.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_497_-_The_Sony_Classic.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:44pm PDT

Late last week, Telltale announced it was closing down the studio.  It's never easy seeing so many people lose their jobs and some of the revelations about the questionable work environment make it even worse.  The fact remains that Telltale had a huge influence on the adventure game genre as well as the larger game industry, so we're taking this week to look back on the company's run and recognize the company's impact.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_496_-_Telltale_Troubles.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:31pm PDT

Shocking revelations from Nintendo this past week with the news that Princess Peach is, in fact, a mushroom-person who is merely granted a human form using the powers of her royal crown. This week on the podcast, we discuss the latest news from Nintendo.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_495_-_Peachette_Direct.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:13pm PDT

It's September, which means it's back to school and back to games!  This week to do a check in on three current games we've been playing: Marvel's Spiderman, Donut County, and Into the Breach.  Now that I look at it, I find the variety between those games extremely cool.  Hopefully I can use this bounty to redirect my urge to binge on donuts into an urge to binge on games.  My waistline will thank me.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_494_-_Donut_Man.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:15pm PDT

Fishing? Who needs it. Crafting? No thanks. Alchemy? That's someone else's job.

This week on the EXP Podcast, we're discussing all the wonderfully crafted game systems we just never seem to care about. From skinning animals to make larger wallets to harvesting herbs to brew all kinds of potions. With so much to do, how could we possibly do all of it? 

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_493_-_Hard_Pass.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:50pm PDT

I used to be worried about gene splicing, but then Motion Twin synthesized a hybrid of Dark Souls, Spelunky, Castlevania, along with a generous helping of their own secret sauce. Now I'm fully onboard with our wonderful future of procedural, rogue-like, side-scrolling combat exploration games. This week, we talk about Dead Cells!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_492_-_Dead_Cells_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Admit it. You hate Luigi.

Even if you don't, we can all agree the younger Mario brother is the "green sheep" in the family. Inspired by Polygon's recent history of Luigi's unfortunate status in gaming, we discuss our feelings towards loser characters - from Luigi to Link.

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 31m

- "When Did Luigi Become Nintendo's Punching Bag," via Polygon

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_491_-_Everyone_Hates_Luigi.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:26pm PDT

The future is here! Again. For at least the third time this year. It's like the future doesn't want to leave us alone. This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss the MagicLeap, a new pair of Alternate Reality goggles that promise to change the way we see the world - and the way we play in it.

 

Show notes:

- Runtime: 33m
- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_490_-_Technophilia.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:45pm PDT

We've always suspected that Nintendo has sold millions of hardware and software units, but what if I told you they made mii-lions?  Well now you can check for yourself!  Nintendo has taken their investor relations site to the next level and opened the books on all (well, almost all; RIP Virtual Boy) their console platforms.  This week we dive in and compare the golden geese with the goose eggs!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_489_-_Nintendo_Numbers.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:41pm PDT

When automated robots and talking Amazon devices take over the world and subject us to all kinds of dehumanizing experiments in the name of creating a half-man half-robot demigod, will we think back to video games as the harbinger of the end days?

This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss all of the little things (and sometimes big things) we let our games handle - for better or worse.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 37m 21s

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_488_-_Automation_Station.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:16pm PDT

Have you noticed things getting dark around here?  Why are people swearing all the time?  When did you start wearing eyeliner?  Looks like we've just entered the gritty dimension.  This week after a particularly grim and brooding Comic Con, we talk about the various times when game franchises have taken a turn for the dramatic.  Remember when the Prince of Persia got really into nu metal?  You know you do.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast__487_-_Grit_cycle.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

This just in! Hackers have broken into the mega-city of Inkopolis and illegally modified their Splattershot weapons to fire ludicrous volumes of ink! And just went we thought Nintendo had built an impenetrable squid-city.

This week on the EXP Podcast, we dive into the reasons for and ramifications of the sudden increase of Splatoon 2 hackers. Will this tarnish the Switch or is Nintendo capable of weathing this storm... Tune in and join the discussion!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_486_-_Hacking_Inkopolis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:55pm PDT

The word is out: people are surprisingly obsessed with virtual trucking. How do we know this? Thanks to an inadvertent leak, Valve exposed data that gave us an unprecedented look at the player counts of games distributed via Steam. The hole has since been patched, but the data we have is fascinating and can be analyzed for a long time to come. This week we take a look at some of the surprises and get quantitative when it comes to figuring out what the damn kids are playing these days.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_485_-_Steam_Census.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:48pm PDT

This week on the show, we discuss some of the recent games we've been playing, which includes some of the best games of 2018 so far. Journey with us to Jurassic World Evolution where we care and nurture dinosaurs, to the land of the Nintendo Switch where we play such games as CelesteWest of Loathing, and the soon-to-be-released Octopath Traveler. We also spend a bit of time with Minit, a game where your play sessions are only 60 seconds long.

It's a big batch of games this week. Join us!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_484_-_Dinosaurs_Switch_Games_and_More.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:34pm PDT

This week, we talk about the evolution and possible dissolution of a once massive empire: GameStop.  With news that they are pivoting to selling comics as well as quietly shopping around for a potential buyout, we review our past and current relationship with this divisive institution.  And of course, we give some sage advice about the difference between fighting a swarm of bees and fighting a single enormous gorilla.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_483_-_GameStop.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:09pm PDT

Mo-cap make-out sessions from The Last of Us II, a glimpse at Halo Infinite, minor nuclear radiation from Fallout 76, and a whole lot of Smash. This week on the EXP Podcast, Scott and I go over all the biggest announcements, trailers, and teases from E3 2018. Give it a listen and sign our petition for adding Farkus as a canonical character to the Gears of War franchise.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_482_-_E3_2018_Debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:27pm PDT

E3 is in full swing and we are up to our eyeballs in press conferences and teaser trailers. We'll be back next week with a full E3 debrief. This week: we make a future Pokepredictions about our favorite pocket sized monsters. What with the steady stream of Pokemon-related news, we talk about the evolution of the franchise and what we're looking for in the upcoming games.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_481_-_Pokefuture.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Sometimes you just dig your heels. You draw a line in the sand. You find a hill and dammit, you're going to die on it! This week, we talk about the games we wrote off but then subsequently rediscovered. It might have been pride, stubbornness, or an honest mistake, but something caused us to reconsider our once iron-clad opinions.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_480_-_Revisiting_write_offs.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

We have journeyed the highest peak in midgard and battled the fiercest emissaries of Odin himself to bring you this week's episode. Today on the EXP Podcast, we review God of War

When you and your son are ready, turn up the volume and listen close to the full debrief, spoilers and all.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_479_-_God_of_War_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:23pm PDT

With the closure of Boss Key games, it looks like the once famous/infamous  "bad-boy" of video games Cliff Bleszinski is taking some time off the stage. This week on the EXP Podcast, we ponder the strange phenomenon of video game developer celebrity and the shifting cultural figureheads of our gaming landscape. I also make an egregious misrepresentation of The Roots - sorry about that.

 

Show Notes:

- "Bleszinski’s fall and the perilous fame game" by Colin Campbell via Polygon

- Runtime: 36 mins 10 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_478_-_The_Famous_and_Forgotten.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:00pm PDT

Quick: tell me everything you know about cryptocurrency and the buying and selling of video games! Joke's on you: while you've been struggling to put together an explanation that is simultaneously cogent without making you sound like a snake oil salesman, I've mined all those precious digital coins you covet so much. I'm off to buy all the sweetest games. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll sell them to you. Yes; this week we're talking about a trifecta of topics we have only a vague grasp on: blockchain, cryptocurrency, and the used games market. Join us in trying to figure out this exhausting new world!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_477_-_Blockchains_and_Buybacks.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Well they finally did it: Nintendo has blocked the doorway to online play with a guy in a Waluigi hat stationed in front to collect your hard earned money. Buying your way in isn't outrageously expensive (especially compared to club Sony and the Microsoft discotheque), but will it be worth it? This week, we dive in to the announcement and dissect what we'll see once we get past the velvet rope.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_476_-_Switch_Online.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

I declare Parley! Which I think means you have to stop what you're doing and listen to this episode. This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss the unspoken rule of Parley in Sea of Thieves that is making the waters a little more sailor-friendly.

 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 46 mins 22 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_475_-_Rules_of_Parley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:48pm PDT

After years of asking "Are we there yet?" everyone's favorite dad has pulled the metaphorical car over and dumped us into the mythical Norse wilderness. That's right, this week we talk about our first impressions of God of War. Grab your axe, grow out your beard, and brush up on your fatherly wisdom!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_474_-_GoW_first_impressions.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

The yearly "beefcake" parade of video game protagonists is in full swing. In just two days, we get to become as Gods and rip arms off Viking deities. But are the power fantasies God of War provides really all that satisfying? How complex and interesting are the power fantasies video games provide and what other kinds of power can we find in games?

 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 35 mins 20 sec

-  "Games Need More Power Fantasies Beyond Beefy Dudes with Big Guns" by Cameron Kunzelman via Waypoint

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_473_-_Power_Hungry.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:28pm PDT

Overwatch's latest event is out, so it's time to see what those crafty omnics are up to. It seems like they've been taking some tips from zombies. Additionally, perennial husbando candidate Jeff Kaplan shared some thoughts about Overwatch's story and extended cast. What is the best way to have a canonical story in a multiplayer game? Is Mercy correct when she tells us that heroes can never die? What would happen if Hanzo just disappeared? All this and more in this week's show!

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_472_-_Overwatch_Retribution.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:40pm PDT

This week on the EXP Podcast, we set sail on the Sea of Thieves! Bounty, plunder, adventure, and swashbuckling abound. But is there really enough to sink our scurvy-ridden teeth into? And if these waters are shallow, what treasure awaits the Sea of Thieves players when the crew at Rare give it the update it deserves? All this, and more, as we monkey around per usual.

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 40 mins 37 sec

- Music from the Sea of Thieves OST

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_471_-_Sea_of_Thieves_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:17pm PDT

This week we're on the run from the law and the only thing that can save us is meticulously choreographed quicktime events. It's our in-depth debrief on A Way Out. We cover everything from virtual Connect Four to Mexican geography, so grab this crude file and start chiseling through this cell wall.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_470_-_A_Way_Out_debrief.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:06pm PDT

Everything old is new again! This week on the EXP Podcast, we talk about some of the old classics we've been playing, from the Journey anniversary celebration to some high-heel-action in Bayonetta

 

Music from Bayonetta and Journey OST.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_469_-_Remaster_Blasters.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:22am PDT

Looking for the hottest scoops on the 100% confirmed characters in the upcoming Smash Bros. for Switch? Well then you've come to the right place. After watching the latest Nintendo Direct, we can conclusively say that we'll be enjoying a Solaire vs. Professor Layton death match come fall. Join us as we recap the big announcements and provide some insightful analysis on the rest of the Nintendo news.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_468_-_Smashing_direct.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:04pm PDT

In a time where in-game purchases, DLC, and loot boxes are everywhere, does warning consumers about gaming monetization provide much value? The ESRB thinks so! This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss why the ESRB wants to make some labelling changes and what types of notifications we'd like to see on our games.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_367_-_Rated_P_for_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:36pm PDT

You can save it and you can waste it. You can spend it and you can save it. You can kill it and you can cherish it. Once it's gone though, there's no getting it back. That's right, this episode is about the time! Stinging after a particularly brutal time-related defeat in Monster Hunter World, Scott takes stock of his life choices while Jorge yearns for the cheesy early days of Destiny.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_466_-_Fighting_Father_Time.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

Our blades are sharp and our bellies are full with cat food. You know what that means? It's time to go a-huntin'! This week on the EXP Podcast, we dive deeper into Monster Hunter World and review some of the game's more complex offerings.

 

Show Notes:

 

- Runtime: 45 mins 06 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_465_-_Monster_Hunter_World_Debrief.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:09pm PDT

Valentine's day is here, so stop stuffing your face with chocolates and throw away those flowers: it's time to play some video games with your main squeeze.  But what type of co-op game will help you make a love connection and what type will leave you brokenhearted?  This week, we do our best to ensure Cupid's arrow flies true.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_464_-_Cupid_coop.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

The first three signs of the video game apocalypse have arrived. "And so it will be, that false peace, false heroes, and falses hats herald the end of days." This week on the EXP Podcast, we discuss this year's ill portents and what could possibly be inside Toad's head? And more importantly, is it edible?

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_463_-_The_Toad_Revelations.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:28pm PDT

2018 is still getting ramped up when it comes to video games, but that just gives us a chance to play some games we missed from previous years. Of course, there's also the huge, feathery lizard in the room: Monster Hunter World! We've both spent some initial time with it and have some thoughts on everything from its menus to its culinary cats.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_462_-_New_Year_New_Monster.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00am PDT

We are back from a one-week break, where we busied ourselves by constructing a massive functional Jaeger mecha out of cardboard. Then we come back to Nintendo's big announcement stealing our thunder! This week on the EXP Podcast, we chat about liquid snake, paper cuts, shitty kids toys, and a whole lot of Nintendo news.

 

 

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 39 mins 32 sec

- Music by Brad Sucks

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_461_-_In_the_Labo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:17pm PDT

It's not every day when you see a new genre emerge. Kart racing, fighting games, and now perhaps battle royal? This week we start off with a visit to our favorite vaguely post-apocalyptic eastern-European island and eventually travel to the limits of how we categorize some of our favorite types of games.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_460_-_A_genre_is_born.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:29pm PDT

It's time to put the old behind us! 2017 was a great year for games, but who's to say 2018 won't be even better. With God of WarWattam, and maybe even Red Dead Redemption around the corner, there are a ton of games to look forward to. This week, we count down our most anticipated games of the new year.

Direct download: EXP_Podcast_459_-_The_Year_Ahead_2018.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:43pm PDT