Episodes
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We’re happy to finally have Eric Peacock from The Soundtracker podcast joining us! We last talked to him years ago when we were still doing Nerds Without Pants, so it was great to catch up with him after all this time. We hope you enjoy, and please check out Soundtracker!
00:00 Introduction, George Thoroughgood
13:18 Introducing Eric Peacock and Soundtracker for new listeners
29:32 5 Questions with Eric Peacock
43:19 Eric got a PS5 and has been catching up oncurrent gen in a big way (including Alone in the Dark, God of War Ragnarok,Blue Prince, and more)
01:09:18 Unbeatable demo
01:20:19 Julian’s week outside of gaming
01:40:00 Suikoden II, an update on South of Midnight
01:52:31 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Subscribe to the free feed of Soundtracker, and check them
out on Patreon too! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1840875
Listen to Julian on A Gamer Looks At 40! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1426576/episodes/16947386
Also check out Julian on The Monarch’s Tribunal! https://youtu.be/MPvrldQRptU?si=ReVF5zHIDGgYjlib
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Unhinged. That’s probably a good way to describe this episode. Such will happen when James and JJ from RetroFits guest on the show. But things get even sillier when they get introduced to some of the more colorful members of The Stage Select staff. Enjoy!
00:00 Introduction, Nelly Furtado
13:00 RetroFits is back on the air!
22:03 Going deep on Suikoden HD Remaster
01:16:25 Space
01:44:33 South of Midnight, video game difficulty
02:11:55 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
02:22:53 Item Hoarders Anonymous
02:37:31 Justin’s short week, Star Wars Outlaws
Subscribe to RetroFits! https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroFitsShow
Listen to Julian on Games My Mom Found! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zc9e7-18727b0
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Missing episodes?
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Wow, it’s hard to believe that this is already the 50th episode of The Stage Select! It snuck up on us a bit, but we still went the extra mile for this milestone, including bringing fan favorite guest Mike Fallek back. We also had a ton to say about the Switch 2 presentation, and this episode has some surprises for you, as well! Next stop: episode 100!
00:00 Introduction, Ohio pizza
10:56 Random comic book talk out of nowhere
23:51 Ask Mike anything about Avowed
51:45 A little bit on Persona 3 Reload and Persona 4 Golden
01:11:37 Item Hoarders Anonymous
01:21:08 So, that Switch 2 Nintendo Direct sure happened…
03:26:34 Psychonauts 2
Check out Mike Fallek here: https://bigweasellilweasel.club/
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Welcome back! We’ve got some hot new games this week, such as Inzoi and Mullett Madjack, plus Justin overshares for once! We also have some of your questions, and more, so GET INTO IT. Or don’t. That was a bit aggressive, sorry.
00:00 Introduction, trash food
11:13 A talk where we have about sports
17:38 Julian’s emulation journey
26:35 Myriad Death
32:45 Justin had a weird week
50:48 Inzoi
01:22:23 Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Mullett Madjack
01:38:26 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Welcome back! After a couple low energy shows, this edition of The Stage Select feels normal. And by “normal” I mean “the kind of chaos you’ve come to expect”. We’ve got new games, updates on old games, movies, and more!
00:00 Introduction, celebrating a year of The Stage Select
11:33 Wanderstop
34:36 Closing thoughts on Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1)
48:00 Assassin’s Creed Shadows
01:18:33 Return to space
01:31:29 Julian’s day at the movies (Mickey 17, Monkey, Black Bag)
01:59:40 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Hello. It’s a pretty short (for us) show this week. Even shorter if you’re tired of hearing Julian talk about Persona 3. But it’s an episode. You can listen to it with your ears.
00:00 Introduction, WWE music, announcement
11:40 Julian beat Balatro, and you all suck at video games, Suikoden HD Remaster
30:42 Julian’s week (feel free to skip to the next bit)
52:55 Justin has turned the corner on WWE 2K25
01:31:33 Julian’s final thoughts on Persona 3 Reload, FINALLY.
Check out Justin on A Gamer Looks at 40! https://agamerlooksatforty.buzzsprout.com/1426576/episodes/16722479-ep-127-final-fantasy-7-part-9-the-birth-of-a-fandom-w-justin-hamm
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Hello again. This week we only have a few games to talk about, but we had a lot to say about them.
00:00 Introduction, remembering Michelle Trachtenberg, big announcements
29:36 Lost Records: Bloom and Rage (Tape 1)
01:12:12 WWE 2K25
02:05:07 Balatro
02:20:01 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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At last! You hear him announce our hosts each and every week, but finally, friend of the show John Gholson sits down to talk to us about…all sorts of things! You never know what you’re going to expect with The Stage Select, and this episode has everything from the woes of becoming a full-time actor, cold poutine, and Justin’s incredible restraint when it comes to the Shasta McNasty button!
00:00 Introduction, announcements
08:07 Getting to know John Gholson
30:45 What John’s been playing (Avowed, Star Trek Legends, Balatro, Vampire: The Masquerade visual novels)
01:03:55 Julian’s crazy week, remembering retail hell
01:38:33 Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
01:52:33 5 questions with John Gholson
02:10:39 The closing of Monolith
02:38:21 CQC: Comments, Questions, Concerns
Go check out Soundtracker on Patreon and support them if you
can! https://www.patreon.com/c/soundtracker/posts
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s a shorter show again this week, as life really got in the way for one of our hosts, and SOMEone can’t stop modding Skyrim! The show’s gonna be a little weird(er) for a few weeks, so please bear with us!
00:00 Introduction, announcements, big life change for Julian
21:55 EVEN MORE (but not that much) Skyrim modding, Avowed
57:38 Evaluating the Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set
01:13:02 Trails in the Sky and Falcom’s approach to development, Julian’s condemnation of Persona 3’s cast
01:39:11 An update on Julian’s Berserk journey
01:45:37 Comments, Questions, Concerns (CQC)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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I’m not gonna lie…this episode was almost a little over an hour. Thankfully, Sony had a State of Play this week, so we had plenty to talk about with that! Man, I can’t wait for some big games to drop…
00:00 When the internet goes out, obscure anime, shelving Banishers, Persona 3 Reload, Dragon Quest III HD
30:09 Justin’s Skyrim modding addiction persists
01:05:45 At least we have the Sony State of Play to talk about!
02:11:42 Comments, Questions, Concerns (CQC)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Well, we like to say that you never know what to expect each week on The Stage Select, because sometimes not even we know what to expect! This week, we mostly catch up on the games we played during the season break, and wrap up by answering some of your questions that built up while we were gone. Enjoy this very loose show!
00:00 Introduction
17:16 What Justin got up to over the break: Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, modding Skyrim
01:25:32 What Julian got up to over the break: Sexbot, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
01:51:17 Dynasty Warriors Origins, The Sims Legacy Collection, Berserk, Paradise
02:23:51 CQC: Comments, Questions, Concerns
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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SEASON PREMIERE! It’s been six weeks since Julian and Justin got together to record The Stage Select, and we thought there was no better way to kick things off than to talk about our personal top ten lists from 2024. Sure, our game of the year deliberations had us put together a communal list, but our individual ones look quite different. It’s also time to check in on the staff at The Stage Select studio to see how they’ve been getting on during the break. It’s great to be back!
00:00 Introduction, NANOMACHINES, SON, announcements
12:44 Personal Top 10s: 10-7, checking in on Abramo
01:15:46 Personal Top 10s: 6-4, thanking patrons
01:56:30 Personal Top 10s: 3-2, checking in on Richard Harden, Private Detective
02:28:00 Honorable mentions
03:10:09 Checking in on Bing Bing, God of the Loom, revealing our number 1s
A Gamer Looks at 40 is back, with their Final Fantasy VII
series: https://agamerlooksatforty.buzzsprout.com/
Please check out the new RetroFits YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroFitsShow
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Hey there, folks. Well, it was a good run, but Julian and Justin have gone their separate ways, and it's time for something new. Julian is striking out on his own with a one man show.
This surely won't be a terrible idea at all.
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Now that the dust has settled on the 2024 game of the year deliberations, Julian thought it would be fun to take a look back at the silly bits and skits that ran during the first season of The Stage Select. Consider this a kind of behind the scenes look at how some of these dumb things were created. You may start to understand the workings of Julian’s addled brain!
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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And lo, the final seal was broken, and it was time to reveal the top ten games of 2024, as decreed by The Stage Select and their special guests: Westen from Big Nerd Gaming and Xavier Kreiger! But not before we spend hours deliberating on said list!
00:00 Introduction, game of the year nominations
11:21 Beginning the cutting process
01:51:49 Cutting the final 6 games to get to a list of 10
02:59:11 Ordering the top 10, and crowning the 2024 Game of the Year
Check out Westen’s blog, Big Nerd Gaming: https://bignerdgaming.com/
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s week 2 of The Stage Select’s Game of the Year deliberations! This week, James and JJ from RetroFits return to talk about some of the dumbest categories we have this year, as well as a massive talk about the best new characters of the year!
00:00 Introduction, what happened to RetroFits
27:20 Best New Character
02:39:47 The Character That Impresses Shania Twain Much Award
03:45:01 The Owen Wilson Award
Be sure to check out RetroFits at their new channel! https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetroFitsShow
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Welcome to the first week of The Stage Select’s Game of the Year extravaganza! This week, we’re joined by friend and frequent guest Mike Fallek to go through a few categories, including one you’re not likely to see in the other video game podcasts you listen to. Enjoy!
00:00 Introduction (if you can call it that)
14:47 Best Game Not Released in 2024
01:29:26 We Played it For the Story (aka Best Porn Game)
03:04:58 Best Looking Game
Check out Mike’s new comedy project, Tents: https://linktr.ee/BigWeasel
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s the final episode of The Stage Select’s first season! It’s been a wild ride so far, so we wanted to close things out by taking a look back at the year in gaming, the status of the show, and what you can expect while we take a much-needed break, as well as next season. Enjoy, and thank you for being here!
00:00 Introduction, tires
06:51 Looking back at a catastrophic year for the video game industry
42:00 The failure of Concord, and the blame left at its feet.
55:58 Despite all the woes in the industry, it continues to be an incredible time for gaming, looking towards next gen
01:48:42 Looking forward to gaming in 2025
02:13:17 Looking at the state of The Stage Select: year one
02:37:46 What to expect between seasons, wrapping up
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Our penultimate episode of our first season has our final guest for the year, and it’s a big one! We’ve got Jeff Eckman from No One Can Know About This, Julian’s favorite podcast (and a must-listen for RPG fans). Join us as we catch up with Jeff, talk about The Game Awards, and much more!
00:00 Introduction, catching up with Jeff Eckman
18:05 The state of the TV industry, Telltale Games
39:02 Five questions
46:55 Recapping The Game Awards
01:29:19 Taking Jeff Eckman to space
01:57:38 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Marvel Rivals
02:05:22 Fields of Mystria, Closer the Distance
Check out Mike Fallek’s new project, Tents: https://linktr.ee/BigWeasel
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show,
and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Theme song lyrics:
What could this possibly be?
Seems a lot like a podcast…
Wonder what specifically?
Talkin’ bout video games,
With your hosts, you’re in good hands.
Not more of the same!
Now we’ll jump right in,
So expect the unexpected and more.
Now we’ll get groovin,’
Never know who’s gonna walk through the door!
There just might be some treasure in this chest,
Having fun with our special guests,
Time for Stage Select!
Copyright 2024 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Hey there! Justin and Julian watch The Game Awards together every year, and we decided to record ourselves. What we have here is our isolated, clean audio tracks. Executive Producer tier Patrons have access to the video version, and other Patrons got the version with the audio from The Game Awards included, but this is just us talking, with me calling out where you can sync up to the presentation on YouTube if you like.
We talk so much that it's probably fine, though, I'm not gonna lie.
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