John, Derek, and Jeff talk about the handheld market and whether Microsoft or Sony's handheld strategies can carve much space for themselves. Discussion gets UNUSUALLY heated. But not before a far-too-long aside about Final Fantasy 14, as is tradition. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the communit…

We're joined by writer and comedian Mike Drucker for our first show after the big charity bash to talk about our relationships with gaming as an art form when everything seems to be crumbling around us. But first... Tetris. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusi…

The long-anticipated remake of Dragon Quest III is finally here. It's one of the most important games ever made, but how does a new round of polish and some slight additional story content help this game hold up to modern standards? John and Derek discuss the importance of the original game and who this remake is probably best suited for. This game…

FIRST: Derek vamps alone for a few minutes while waiting for their friends to love them enough to join the call. THEN: Talk about videos games, Netflix shuttering their AAA game development studio only two years into their project, and we catch back up on the Bandai Namco story we didn't make time for last week. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9…

It's an extra chaotic show as the crew talks about the weird deeply-entrenched spiteful attitudes many still have towards Konami even as they seem to be on the upswing. We also wanted to talk about Bandai Namco except oops we got distracted. This is a news show. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join th…

Marvel vs Capcom is back, and John and Derek are here to talk about the lasting impact of the collaboration between these two industry titans. Marvel vs Capcom 2 is a pillar of the fighting game community, but does this collection hold worth for more than just diehards and sweaties? (Editor's note: Derek is an ex-sweaty) This game was reviewed on P…

Derek, John, and Finn discuss Capcom's loving remaster of a divisive but special game: the original Dead Rising. It's a (mostly) much better take on a game that very much wasn't for everyone. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Capcom for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTU…

John, Derek, Jeff, and Brit talk about their favorite games from the recent State of Play and the first day of Tokyo Game Show. Derek also drinks too much gin. Go figure. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk ne…

We're joined by the wonderful Persephiroth to skip any semblance of news and instead bullshit about queer and feminist takes on Final Fantasy characters. That's it. That's the whole show. It RULES. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for al…

Finn and Justin are riding high with Playstation's smash hit and GOTY contender, the simply-named "Astro Bot". Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk nerdy - https://t.co/5cjbEy1SCF…

Finn and Derek go over every game they saw, played, and otherwise took note of on the show floor and behind closed doors at PAX West 2024 in Seattle. From Monster Hunter to Dragon Quest to Infinity Nikki to indies galore, we've got the scoop on a ton of games you should be paying attention to. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time …

The gang discusses everything wrong with the PS5 Pro, the ways PC gaming isn't the magic alternative, and cheer on the entire staff of publisher Annapurna Interactive for walking out over failed negotiations. Hot labor fall, babyyyyyy. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a c…

We're joined by friend of the show Veerender Jubbal to discuss Concord's shelf life being lower than most produce, as well as go over some of our favorite games and experiences at PAX West 2024. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all k…

The Mana series is finally back with its first brand-new entry in nearly 20 years. John is joined by Derek and Finn to discuss this hotly-anticipated Action RPG, what this new game could mean for the Mana franchise, and what it might say about the future of Square Enix. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to S…

A relatively light episode, the crew discusses some of our favorite reveals of the last week and bubble with excitement about the upcoming PAX West. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk nerdy - https://t.co/5cj…

Despite being a Final Fantasy megafan and growing up steeped in Disney films, Derek has managed to avoid Kingdom Hearts their entire life. That has finally changed with the release of the franchise on Steam. Now, having completed Kingdom Hearts 1 Final Mix, Derek is here to tell us what it feels like coming into this monolithic franchise with fresh…

In an update to one of this year's most depressing stories, South Korean publisher Krafton has saved Tango Gameworks and nearly half of the developer's former staff after being shuttered by Microsoft. We also try to talk Gamescom predictions but, uh, it's just Gamescom y'all. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/offici…

We're joined once again by Austin Lee Matthews for an episode full of japery, Brit admits to being almost banned from Overwatch (the reason will shock you), and a discussion about Warner Bros licensing out their IP to other gaming studios somehow turns into us talking about The Simpsons (famously not a WB property). Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights …

Our primary story this week is the frankly unforgivable massive round of layoffs at Bungie, the second in less than 12 months, after the release of a highly successful expansion to one of the biggest games of all time, while Pete Parsons swims in a pool full of golden coins. Enough said. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twit…

Derek and Finn sing the praises of Capcom's latest release, the incredibly experimental Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Why more people aren't playing it we don't know, because it's like if Nintendo bought Clover Studios and let them make whatever they wanted. Kunitsu-Gami? More like Kunitsu-GOTY. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provide…

Bethesda Game Studios and the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard unionize in partnership with the CWA, and the actor's guild SAG-AFTRA authorizes a strike in the gaming industry over lack of protections against AI. Can you smell that? In the air? It smells like another Hot Labor Summer. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitc…

John and Derek discuss a recent email from a Microsoft employee about the company's failure to commit to its DEI practices, and how all corporate DEI initiatives are in placative at best. "The master's tools will not dismantle the master's house." But let's be real, this is going up Monday, y'all probably have a million political podcasts to check …

We return after a multi-week break to laugh at John's misfortune, laugh at Derek's adventures in Kingdom Hearts, and mull over the recently announced (and possibly inevitable) changes to Xbox Game Pass. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space f…

We're joined by Cam Hawkins to talk about that absolute banger of a Nintendo Direct. You've got to give it to 'em, Nintendo knows how to put on a show. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk nerdy -…

We're joined by journalist and friend of the show Sarah LeBoeuf to talk about Summer Game Fest as both an event for journalists and a presentation, as well as the game showcase that may have saved Xbox. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, pro…

In the space right before a bunch of big reveal shows (including the now-concluded Summer Game Fest and Xbox Games Showcase) the crew talks about some of their fondest memories of E3s past and eventually gets sidetracked talking about the upcoming charity event. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/offici…

We're joined by frequent friend of the show Josh Fagundes aka Anoriand to talk about the State of Play presentation from Playstation only hours before, kicking off the summer reveal season. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space …

We're joined by HuggableHipster to talk about the upcoming storm of gaming presentations and reveals, and stake claim on our predictions and our wildest hopes. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk…

We're joined by Sam Tolbert to discuss the week's disastrous run of news from Xbox, centered around the closing of studios like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. We put the news in the context of Microsoft's decade-long struggle to manage development teams and publish software. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time -…

We're joined this week by Kotaku's Alyssa Mercante to recap the timeline of the recent escalation of harassment against marginalized people who work in the gaming industry, dismantle the bad faith arguments and justifications by those harassing, and generally grapple with the state of Being Online These Days. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday …

We discuss some creative ways games like Fortnite have tried to resolve toxicity and player discomfort in online multiplayer games, and the need for the work to continue. Also, we think up the best and worst combinations of branding exercises that our tortured minds can spit out. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time …

We're joined by Mat Piscatella to revisit the goofs and gags of the olden days and talk about the changing trends of the industry that everyone needs to get comfortable with. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds o…

Derek and Jeff have seen the light and they're here to explain why Dragon's Dogma 2 may (or may not, I guess) be the game for you. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Capcom for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/…

Finn's on his own today to talk about Pepper Grinder, a lovely, kinetic, frenetic little action platformer that drills (get it) into your skull and refuses to leave. This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Devolver Digital for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALL…

We're joined by voice actor Austin Lee Matthews in an episode that quickly goes off the rails from a traditional interview show into an hour and a half show of good natured goofing and gagging. It's no news this week, only vibes. As dudes are wont to say, "we needed this". Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitc…

We're joined this week by award-winning journalist and former cast member Reb Valentine to talk about some big recent RPGs, highlight our favorite indie titles we saw at GDC and PAX East, and last but not least some gosh-danged MEDIA UNIONS. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the commu…

We talk about the sudden drastic increase in harassment and threats against women, people of color, and queer folks who work in the gaming space (including one of the cast and at least one personal friend). Plus, freelance journalist Ryan Easby talks about how many people misunderstand the hustle it takes to work in media. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY …

Brit is joined by Derek and Justin to talk about the game everyone is playing, the hit game of the summer, the only thing your teens are talking about: Balatro. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Playstack for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at…

Finn is here to talk about the breakout new RPG The Thaumaturge, developed in Poland and set in a dark urban-horror-fantasy take on Warsaw. How does this game compare to its CRPG inspirations and its modern contemporaries? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to 11 Bit Studios for providing us the …

We quickly and immediately shut down giving any oxygen to the harassment campaign against narrative and DEI consultation in gaming, move on to talk about the tricky grey area around emulation in the wake of Yuzu and Citra shutting down, then get caught off guard live by the death of acclaimed artist and creator Akira Toriyama. Catch SDGC Live ACTUA…

We're joined by regular friend of the show Josh aka Anoriand to discuss the uncertain state of games releases and the health of industry after this quickly-coming March. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of fol…

John and Derek sift through this remastered collection of the original PS1 Tomb Raider trilogy and discuss what value these games hold to the current zeitgeist. It's a worthy endeavor to keep these iconic pieces of gaming history accessible and available, but for who? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. …

John, Derek, and Justin discuss the timeline of rumors and reports that eventually led to one of the most toxic fanbases in gaming losing every ounce of sanity they had left. No, Xbox is not dead. Everybody take a breath. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a c…

Better late than never, it's our 2023 Game of the Year show! Every member of the cast ends up appearing to talk about their favorite games of 2023, as well as runners up and honorable mentions. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected sp…

We're joined by former cast member and award-winning journalist Reb Valentine to talk about the biggest stories of the games industry in 2023. Unfortunately the mass layoffs, which have only intensified this January, have proven to be THE defining story of the last year. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.…

Capcom is back with another Ace Attorney collection, featuring new remastered versions of the fourth, fifth, and sixth entries in the main series. John and Derek break down the strengths and weaknesses of the collection, as well as who exactly it's for (spoiler warning, probably NOT for people who skipped the original Phoenix Wright trilogy). This …

Xbox's Developer Direct feels like a breath of fresh air for the way it celebrates the people who actually make our games. Also, we talk about what Microsoft's strategy should be for releasing the games they publish on Nintendo and Sony platforms. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the…

We try to talk about the fun stuff for as long as possible before diving into a grab bag of AI related news topics that have come to the forefront in the last week, including two separate stories where an AI tech company might have earned the wrath of Nintendo. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officia…

Prince of Persia is back with a surprise 2D metroidvania style, and our boys CJ and Finn have both put hands on it. Is this out-of-left-field franchise revival the right direction for the series, or just a refreshing early entry in publisher Ubisoft's 2024 lineup? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Than…

We kick off the new year with long-time former cast member Gabe, all the way from Brazil, for the first time in years! It's all good vibes this week as we talk about the games we missed in a stacked 2023, and some predictions for the coming year. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the …