"Fun" and Games Podcast

Now that most gaming platforms are connected to the internet by default, it's easier for upcoming titles to run betas, server stress tests, and allow other forms of early access. What responsibility, if any, does the general gaming public have to developers (and each other) when the curtain is lifted before the release date? Matt & Geoff discuss.

Side Quests is back and so is host Hans Martin Jr! He is a podcaster, movie critic, and he's gonna take you for a ride! The game he is talking about today is Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes by Capcom. You can find this episode's host on twitter or on his podcast The Real Movie Critic Vs. The Cine-Guy!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is streamer, indie game enthusiast and fluent Simlish speaker, WirelessRiot! The game she is talking about today is The Sims 4 by EA! You can find this episode's host on twitter and you can see her stream on Twitch!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, streamer, writer, producer and maverick hunter Scott White! The game he is talking about today is Mega Man X by Capcom. You can find this episode's host on twitter, listen to his podcast, or watch him on Twitch!

Nowadays there's so many ways to replay old and new favorite retro video games on modern tech. However, not every remaster, port, remake or update is made equal. Matt & Geoff discuss some of the pitfalls and triumphs in how these modern revisits play out.

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, streamer and man of action, Derek Van Dyke! The game he is talking about today is Yakuza 0 by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega! You can find this episode's host on twitter, listen to his podcast, or watch him on Twitch!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is writer and Big Sister, Mae Catt! The game she is talking about today is BioShock 2 by 2K Games! You can also find this episode's host on twitter!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is Senior PR Specialist, video game nerd and traveler, Bryden Keks! The game he is talking about today is Journey by thatgamecompany! You can find this episode's host on twitter and and his work with Evolve PR here!

Grant Kirkhope, composer for some of Rare's most notable titles as well as recent great soundtracks like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, joins Matt & Geoff to discuss his history with gaming, the evolution of video game music, and the surreal experience of artistic longevity. You can find this episode's guest on twitter here

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is filmmaker, comic artist, one half of Team Manticore and explorer of the wasteland, Robert Silver! The game he is talking about today is the original Fallout by Interplay Entertainment! You can find this episode's host on twitter and you can find his art and creations here!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is writer, comic artist, one half of Team Manticore and explorer of Wonderland, Rowyn Golde! The game she is talking about today is Alice: Madness Returns by American McGee! You can find this episode's host on twitter and you can find her art and creations here!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, youtuber and hero of Pop Star, Jacob McCourt! The game he is talking about today is Kirby Super Star by HAL Laboratory! You can find this episode's host on twitter, listen to his podcast, or watch him on YouTube!

Francesca Carletto-Leon, Game designer, educator, and community manager, joins Matt & Geoff to discuss the development of Contigo's StarCrossed, melding narrative with gameplay, and the impact of games big and small. You can find this episode's guest on twitter here Learn more about Code Coven here

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, Tik Toker and battle royale combatant, Nate Brandt. The game they are talking about today is Fortnite by Epic Games and People Can Fly! You can find this episode's host on twitter or listen to them on The Video Game Robot Show!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, producer and adventurous investigator, Abu Zafar. The game he is talking about today is Night in the Woods by Infinite Fall! You can find this episode's host on twitter or listen to his podcasts on the Lore Party Podcast Network!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is streamer and Kremling ass kicker, Xeno The game he is talking about today is Donkey Kong Country by RARE! You can find this episode's host on twitter or see him stream on Twitch!

Katey, one of the Community Managers at Harmonix, joins Matt & Geoff to discuss the many ways the music and gaming community can intersect and a shared love of both rhythm games, and Kingdom Hearts. You can find Katey on Twitter here!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, writer, actor and Spartan, Case Aiken! The game he is talking about today is Halo: Combat Evolved by Bungie! You can find this episode's host on twitter or on any of his podcasts on CertainPOV.com.

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, movie critic, and defender of earth realm, Hans Martin Jr! The game he is talking about today is Mortal Kombat II by the now defunct Midway Games and created by Ed Boon & John Tobias. You can find this episode's host on twitter or on his podcast The Real Movie Critic Vs. The Cine-Guy!

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, musician, and painting adventurer, Bret Eagleston! The game he is talking about today is The Unfinished Swan by Giant Sparrow! You can find this episode's host on twitter or his podcast Let's Retwatch!

Manny Perez, one of the fantastic Community Managers at Bethesda, joins Matt & Geoff to discuss his history with gaming, the joys and challenges of fostering communities in the industry, and the managing of memes.

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is podcaster, writer, crafter and sky pirate, MJ Bradley-Lestrange. The game she is chatting about today is Sega's (more specifically Overworks') Skies of Arcadia. You can find this episode's host on twitter or all of her podcasts at CertainPOV.com.

Side Quests is back and this episode's host is one half of the "Fun" and Games duo, actor, voice over artist, and luchador Geoff Moonen. The game he is chatting about today is DrinkBox Studios' Guacamelee! 2. You can find this episode's host on twitter or on his website!

Welcome to the premiere and pilot episode of "Fun" and Games' new short form series Side Quests! In this new series a different host will deep dive on a game they love and why they love it on each episode. This episode's host is one half of the "Fun" and Games duo, podcaster extraordinaire, and interim director, Matt aka Stormageddon. The game he is chatting about today is Remedy Games' Control You can find this episode's host on twitter or check out the majority of his podcasts here!

So many classic games start with a "Name Entry" screen. Whether it's just the file name, the main character, the whole party or beyond; Seeing the names we choose weaved into the game is part of the fun. Matt & Geoff discuss what place custom names have in games today and some of their favorites from the past.

Matt and Geoff are both big fans of the Netflix Castlevania series. In this episode they discuss why it works as a video game adaptation, what they enjoy about it, and what they hope for its future. Spoiler warnings for the first three seasons.

In the latter half of the 20th century, no matter the medium, if you wanted to set your fiction in a distinctly "Future" time, setting it in the 21st century did the trick. But now, we're twenty years into this so-called future and we're past when a lot of our favorite games are set. Matt & Geoff see what they got right, if anything.

It's probably been at least twenty years since video games were seen only as violent and gory. But it's amazing how many different games, genres and experiences can be had and shared without any violent or aggressive action. Matt and Geoff discuss why they work and some of their favorites

James Johnston, director and designer of the upcoming "Pixel Puzzle Makeout League" (PC/Switch), joins Matt & Geoff to discuss the game, the process, being an indie developer, and his history with gaming. Find out more about PPML at picross.love

Video games can tell a wide variety of narratives and immerse us in deep experiences. Let's not ruin this with a lot of talk, all right? Matt and Geoff discuss the silent protagonist; and how they allow us to connect with a game's world without saying a word.

Not every great game is built from scratch. Mods on an existing game can create a whole new property, or even game experience. Matt & Geoff discuss some notable mods that became their own thing, and the benefits of publicly accessible game engines and dev tools.

What separates a fan creator from a professional? Probably profit. Matt and Geoff discuss some of the fan creators that have gone on to various professional careers in games.

Welcome to 2020! Well, it's been three weeks and an episode since the year started, but Matt and Geoff are here to share their gaming resolutions for the year.

Special Guest Host: Case Aiken! Geoff & Case discuss their experiences at this year's MagFest in National Harbor, MD.

With both 2019 and the 2010s coming to a close, Matt and Geoff look back on a few trends in gaming they noticed over the last decade. They also try to narrow down their choices for Game of the Year and Game of the Decade.

Video Games would be much shorter if there wasn't so much... stuff to do. Side quests can provide a diversion in tone, a deeper understanding of a game's world, an upgrade to the main play experience and so much more. Matt and Geoff share their thoughts on side quests and some of their favorite diversions from the main storyline.

Happy Holiday Shopping Season! Matt & Geoff share some of what they're thankful for in the medium of gaming. Whether little items, big experiences, great memories or just what they love about the community, there's a lot. Neither were able to mention every last thing, but Thank YOU for listening. First part of the episode is our quick Pokémon Sword review. Found 3:46 - 19:29

Pokémon was first released in February 1996. Since then, It has become a series, a franchise, and a trans-media phenomenon. With the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield today (as of episode release) Matt & Geoff discuss the main series' staying power and some of their favorites from over twenty years of catching and battling.

A big part of immersion in video games that can often be taken for granted is the controls. Not just a matter of the physical buttons and joysticks (or lack thereof) but the immediacy and feedback we receive when we use them. As we look to future innovations in player/controller relations, Matt & Geoff talk about some of their favorite control tweaks; some ubiquitous, some obscure.

Chances are, at some point, you've had to watch someone else play video games. Usually because you're waiting for your turn. However, thanks to streaming platforms, there's so many ways to voluntarily watch a game being played. Why do we choose to enjoy playing vicariously? Matt & Geoff share their thoughts and favorite watching experiences.

What starts as a discussion about "Untitled Goose Game" and shorter game experiences becomes a larger conversation. One about the joys in simple aspects of interacting with gameplay or narrative that can be combined to make the complete experience. Whether it's the exhilaration in jumping, or the payoff of honking at just the right moment.

Our first ever live episode recording! Matt & Geoff discuss the community aspect of video game collections. Whether it's keeping up with throwback consoles and compilations, procuring and preserving original hardware, or keeping everything digital only; A key part of preserving gaming history is gamers and their collections.

Not every game is chosen to have a sequel, but video game franchises aren't made by one game alone. It's the second release that can really establish an identity for what defines the future of the series. Or it can veer off wildly and (maybe) come back around later. Matt & Geoff discuss some of their favorite second games in franchises. They also run into difficulty with defining a "second" game in long-running franchises that don't seem to keep track of their numbered releases.

Putting a recognizable and marketable face on your company can do wonders. Game consoles, developers and franchises have had countless mascots help build brand identity and sell product. Sometimes they're catch on and sometimes they're Bubsy. Matt & Geoff discuss some of their memories of the faces that have selling us video games since the early days of Pac-Man.

Memes are the ideas, phrases and images we imitate, duplicate, and propagate. Gaming culture is teeming with such memes. Matt & Geoff discuss what defines a meme and some of their favorites.

"Metroidvania" is a clumsy term, but it's the best we've got. A term based on two of its biggest examples, free-roaming exploration-based Action-adventure games are a mouthful, but a lot of fun. With plenty of shining examples past, present, and future. Matt & Geoff share their thoughts on one of their favorite types of game.

The Final Fantasy Series has been going strong since its debut in 1987. From mainline sequels, spin-offs, and even unrelated series branded as Final Fantasy to sell them better, It seems there's often something new. And with all the re-releases there's often something old as well. Matt & Geoff discuss their highs and lows as fans of the franchise.

There are more ways than ever to bring small, obscure or forgotten games into your home. Between limited print runs, aftermarket releases, and tiny scale models of consoles, your options seem pretty varied. But what gets forgotten? How do we properly value these releases? Matt & Geoff spend the first eleven minutes talking about E3, then discuss.

Historically, Video Game Movie adaptations have not performed well. The recently released "Detective Pikachu" doesn't exactly break that streak, but Matt & Geoff both liked it. They discuss why they felt it worked as an adaptation and where we can go from here. WARNING: Contains spoilers.

When you get stuck in a game, where do you find your answers? Matt & Geoff reminisce about some of their favorite physical strategy guides and discuss why they can no longer function in today's gaming landscape, and the potential reach of their legacy.