"fun" And Games Podcast

The nature of producing new media is the act of adapting already existing ideas. But video games have had a long history of licensed games, and more directly adapting worlds characters and stories. Matt & Geoff discuss the highs and lows and what can make a good licensed video game. Also, current events.

Whether they go by badges, trophies, medals, stamps or achievements, the past decade of gaming has been filled with system-wide quantifiable "goals". When save game files can already display 100%, and there are countless other ways to reward playing the game, do these unlockable achievements matter? Matt & Geoff wonder if the trophies themselves are the problem.

One of the great joys of video games is what can be hidden, waiting to be unearthed. It could be a cleverly concealed reference, or just an unexpected shift in a game's proceedings. Matt and Geoff discuss what defines an Easter Egg and some of their favorite finds.

Continuing the talk about multiplayer games, Matt & Geoff share their memories, experiences, and thoughts on the original online game platform: The Personal Computer. Nobody calls it a Personal Computer anymore, but that's progress for you.

Many would argue some of the best gaming experiences aren't made alone. Since the dawn of video games, there has been room for more than one gamer at a time. But before you could plug your console into the wifi, that meant crowding on the couch. Matt & Geoff share some of their observations, analysis and stories of local console multiplayer.

Many adult gamers first childhood game was very likely a 2-D platformer. The Genre has had its ups and downs over the decades, but has never been truly dormant.  Matt & Geoff discuss where the genre has been, why it endures and possibly where it can go.

Since there was disk space for it, music has had a place in gaming. Sometimes the music is the gameplay and you end up with a Rhythm game or one of its many hyphenated off-shoots. Matt & Geoff share their thoughts on those games that connect the beats to the buttons.

When it comes to game immersion, it's not just the design or the world building, but the device you use to interact with the game. Matt & Geoff touch on some of the design evolutions and missteps that have occurred. And why do we keep shoehorning motion control?

Since 2010, Games Done Quick has been a bi-annual video game charity event publicly showcasing speedrunning. Which is exactly what it sounds like. Matt and Geoff explore the notion of "Fun" in shaving seconds off a completion time and doing it in front of an online community. View the current GDQ or just find out more about the event at: https://gamesdonequick.com/

Another E3 has come and gone. Matt and Geoff wonder if the current incarnation is its best form. Why do we need to push and preview so forcefully? How best can we go about it? DISCLAIMER: Matt and Geoff do like games other than Nintendo games.

How many times do you have to buy Sonic 2 before enough is enough? What's the best version? Does Why bother buying legacy collections and HD remakes? Why bother making them? Who really benefits? Matt and Geoff try to figure it out. With added art gallery and sound test*

When keeping up with the Joneses seems like the only way to have a gaming experience sometimes! Between patches, server closings and lack of single-player, Matt and Geoff share experiences and observations on times and places when a game's experience is gone and it's not the player's fault.

When does a console "die"? Can it truly die? Have the signs of life changed from generation to generation? Matt and Geoff discuss.

An episode several months in the making! Matt and Geoff share their thoughts on the possibilities, market place and gaming experiences of the Nintendo Switch both a month before and month after its release. 

Matt & Geoff introduce themselves and offer a brief look into their Video Gaming history. Matt & Geoff briefly touch on their strong feelings for the medium of video games and their hopes to provide perspective on the medium as it stands alone and in comparison to other modern digital media.