Episodit
-
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on X, or using our Contact page.
For this year's spooptober episode, we wanted to take continue our look at the Resident Evil CGI movies with the second in the series Resident Evil Damnation. Slavic Chris Redfield, the goodest of good boys in the form of a squadron of lickers, gratuitous nudity, and an ending which needed explaining to Jay. But does it hold up against the Hollywood movies? There's only one way to find out.
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
This is actually a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes.
Content Warning
As this is an episode about a biopunk action horror movie and the games that it's based on we'd advise a little caution for this episode. There's nothing explicitly terrible in this episode, but the subject matter can be pretty rough.
This episode has a few swears in it, but none which should be too offensive.
Please listen responsibly.
Show NotesSquidge started this one off with his, no trademarked, intro:
From active time battling to zombie slaying Waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.In this episode Jay and Squidge cover the 2012 CGI movie Resident Evil Damnation. We cover everything from bioweapon on bioweapon action, Chris Redfield from wish.com, to neon plot devices.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Resident Evil Damnation: Leon vs Lickers - A Love, Hate Relationship".
Enjoy.
— Squidge
And yeah, it's more action-based. I've noticed that. This one is definitely more action-based
Initial Thoughts
As always, the boys like to lead with their initial thoughts before talking about specific scenes in the movie, and Squidge agreed that this movie (along with the games released at the time) is more of an action affair:— Squidge
What I noticed when I was watching this was, "wait. Leon's a special forces agent now. He's been trained in all sorts of different combat situations. How in the hell can he not fire a gun properly yet?"
Whereas Jay's thoughts are more along the lines of how Leon may as well be Samus, starting a brand new Metroid-based adventure:…
It doesn't make sense to me why he doesn't have his skills at the beginning of the movie; even though he's been called there specifically.
— Jay
And yeah, it's more action-based. I've noticed that. This one is definitely more action-based
But Squidge broke in with an explanation of sorts. Although, it does involve a little head canon and some classic British standup:— Squidge
Full Show NotesMake sure to check out the full show notes for more discussion on the points we raise, some extra meta-analysis, some out-of-context screen grabs from the movie, and some links to related things.
What other movies would you like us to cover? Let us know on Discord, X, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiResident Evil: Degeneration on IMDBResident Evil Degeneration - Death In The Departure LoungeGamer Thumb TVThe Resident Evil Story - Gamer Thumb TVSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Outrageous DLC ideas (including iconic character crossovers), discussing the thrill of repetitive tasks, and the ideal soundscapes for gaming. That can mean only one thing: we're returning to Powerwash Simulator with Matt Bliss.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on X, or using our Contact page.
Content Warning
Before we dive into the wild ride with Powerwash Simulator featuring Matthew Bliss, let’s take a moment for a quick disclaimer.You might catch us spouting off some light swears and joking about drug use in this episode. Don’t worry, it’s all part of the gaming banter and absolutely nothing to be taken seriously. We just want to ensure that the listeners are aware that we’re just a bunch of goof-balls having some fun here at the Waffling Taylors.
Anyway, on with the episode
— Squidge
Please listen responsibly.Show Notes
This is part two of a conversation with Matt about Powerwash Simulator. You can find part one here.
From active time battling to zombie slaying Waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.In this second serving of bite-sized banter with the side of gaming goodness we catch up with matt from the Coffee With A Podcaster Podcast to talk about all things Powerwas Simulator. We cover everything from unpainting squids in corners, triggering Powerwash veterans, and Soupy Tuesday.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks and get ready for this episode entitled "Powerwash Simulator: Chill Grime Busting, No Dilution - Part Two." Take it away guys.
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
It can be kind of isolating to work by yourself on a job site, cleaning a digger or whatever
Gameplay Mechanics and Story Elements
As good as the gameplay mechanics are, should there be a story to Powerwash Simulator? This was the first burning question on Squidge's mind:
…The game doesn't require you to take breaks, so when it flashes on the other side of the screen and you see that text, I think it's important to you know keep you level-headed. But you have to add things for those distractions to make sense, and I think it adds a bit to the story too.
Because one of the most engaging things about the the Markiplier episodes for the recordings he did sometimes he'd stop and just listen intently and there'd be like a volcanic rumbling in the background of one of the houses he was cleaning. And he starts going, "oh is that a volcano? Is it like a volcano nearby," and then he pans to a part of the horizon and there's, like, an active volcano in the background. And then one of the text messages he gets talks about volcano insurance or something, and then you're like, "oh yeah it's all coming together now it kind of makes sense."
— Matt
If you could Powerwash any fictional world which one would it be and why would you do it?
Quirky Questions
We always love a quirky question or two on a WT Lite episode. So, as is traditional, Squidge wanted to pepper Matt with some about Powerwash Simulator.— Squidge
In terms of a fictional gaming world, making that a possibility, I think Splatoon would be your best bet. You've got a game that's focused on these little squid kitties destroying an environment by pasting it with all of their ink, and then level two is all the powerwashers come out and they start spraying down all the environments, so that they can get it ready for the next session.
And Matt responded with:So I think the Splatoon's worlds, I think that that makes a lot of sense.
— Matt
If Powerwash Simulator had a soundtrack tailored specifically for cleaning—so not just the sound of the water rushing—what songs or genre of music do you think would be included?
And we can all agree that Matt's logic here is impeccable.— Squidge
So it's got to be like lo-fi beats, electronica, kind of white noise support. Clearly, you know, we're both the same kind of person who needs a bit of distraction on the side to, you know, keep things moving. But I think that's probably what you'd end up going for.
Matt's choices of music are perfect.— Matt
Which started a conversation about ramping up tension and integrating with FitBit devices.
If you had to recruit a team of video game characters to help you tackle the massive cleaning jobs in Powerwash Simulator (i.e. the very last level, there's a massive temple, it's going to take you a couple of hours) who would you choose as your cleaning crew and why?— Squidge
If you want it to be easier, you want to think about characters that are water-based.
Again Matt's choices made perfect sense.So I mean, you get a bunch of water Pokémon as your friends and they start spraying the environment for you. You could pick a bunch of people who could help you move around the environment, but ultimately you're the only one spraying…so I don't know. I'm overthinking it too much. Just get me a Starmie, and a Staryu, and a Blastoise. We'll do it that way.
— Matt
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Do you have a favourite cute animal video? What would you do if you were suddenly made the mayor of Stardew Valley? Did you ever go 100% evil in the game? And what does a duck's quack sound like in the vacuum of space? Let us know via our Discord, X, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Puuttuva jakso?
-
Show Notes
A quick note from Squidge about what happened to our show during the summer of 2024. We apologise for the extended break (sometimes you just need a break from everything), but things will be back to normal very soon.Background music: "Release" by HoobeZa
★ Support this podcast ★ -
In this episode, Squidge and Matt Bliss delve into the world of indie gaming with their latest focus on 'Powerwash Simulator'. The game provides a unique simulation experience as players take on the role of a power washer cleaning various objects around their homes.
Amidst discussions about quirky speedruns, they touch upon unusual hashtags used in previous episodes like #SniperWolfOnlyFans (a particularly deep cut for all the long-time fans).
Matt also clarifies that he's not pressured into participating in the podcast but rather choosing to contribute voluntarily... but that's what we'd expect anyone to say to be on the show.
Squidge and Matt share a light-hearted conversation on past topics, showcasing their camaraderie as they tackle subjects from Metal Gear games to game development insights with humour and enthusiasm.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
This episode contains a few jokey, silly references to drug use. It also may make you want to play Powerwash Simulator... like, a lot.
Please listen responsibly.
Show Notes
Waffling Taylor's Lite: the pocket size podcast that packs a gaming punch.
Matt Bliss has returned! He was last on the show over a year ago (back in The Lethality of Tangents). Squidge asked him back so that they could talk about Powerwash Simulator.In this first saving, bite-sized banter with the side of gaming and goodness, we catch up wioth from Matt from the Coffee with a Podcaster podcast to talk about all things Powerwash. Simulator. We cover everything from punching holes in pinball machines, revenge of the Zeigarnik effect, and power washing: standing up or sitting down.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled: "Powerwash Simulator: Chill Grime Busting, No Dilution - Part One"
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Have you played Powerwash Simulator? Does it provide that dopamine hit for you, like it does with Squidge and Matt? If you haven't played it, have we convinced you to give it a try? Let us know via our Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Multiplayer babysitting, zero-g clown physics, cute animal discussion, goat yoga, and the many uses of food bribery; all this can only mean one thing: Mo is back to talk about Stardew Valley.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
This episode contains spoilers for Stardew Valley and a few swears.
Please listen responsibly.
Show Notes
Waffling Taylor's Lite: the pocket size podcast that packs a gaming punch.
Because Squidge and Mo needed a long time to discuss Stardew Valley, it had to be split into two halves. Make sure you check out the first part here—you could just listen to the recap at the start of this part, but part one is way more than just the recap.In this second serving of bite-sized banter with a side of gaming goodness, we catch up with Mo from The Squank and the Hag podcast to talk about all things Stardew Valley. We cover everything from multiplayer babysitting, the many uses of food bribery, and zero-g clown physics. Yes, you heard me right.
Without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Exploring Stardew Valley: Stories from Pelican Town - Part Two"
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
Yeah. If you can find out, like, there are ways to find out what gifts a person likes and dislikes, if you can find that out every single day, just give them something like, shane loves beer, so I would just give him beer all the time. Beer and jalapeño poppers.
The episode hadn't even started properly yet, but Mo leapt in with more helpful hints:...
So sometimes if you're talking to someone, they'll be like, "oh, my God! Did you know Emily likes..." and stuff like that. So you can find out what gifts to give people without having to go online and find. just. Like I said, I know off the top of my head, Shane, because he loves pepper poppers and beer.
And there's other stuff, too. And then there are some gifts that everyone loves and everyone hates. I forget what they are, but like I said, you'll learn that out. And, like, the thing is, if you go and you give her a gift and she doesn't like it, she will tell you.
— Mo
The game's got a multiplayer element to it. Have you played multiplayer with anyone? And if you did, did you get up to any specific shenanigans, or is it just, like, helping each other?
Multiplayer?!— Squidge
Um, I did a little bit, and I. You can either see it as I shot myself in the foot or I hit gold.
And Mo had indeed played Stardew multiplayer, but.....
It was a few of us, because I think you could have up to four people. So one was our friend Elena, and she loves farming in that game, so she immediately we set up the farm, went to work on crops, set it all up, did it all; and I was like, "I will let you do that."
The other person was Kraken, the co-host of my podcast. And so anytime I talk about Kraken, I do have to preface, he legitimately is my best friend. I love the dude. He's like a brother, but he drives me crazy like a brother. So it was just running around, stopping him from causing chaos. So basically, multiplayer was just me babysitting.
But it is fun. It is always fun to play with your friends like that. I just, in terms of why I like to play the game is it's chill and relaxed and all that stuff, which is not what happens when I play games with Kraken.
...
But it, like, it was a lot of good laughs and stupidity, but, yeah, I think it would depend, like, if, you know, if there was another person, like, kind of like Elena, where it was just like, really chill, just doing our thing, cohabitating, you know, we would do whatever.
So, yeah, it really does depend on who you would play with. But I. I think I like that that's available. I like that it is something that now can happen, because when it. When the game first came out, you couldn't do multiplayer at all, and now there's mods and whatnot.
— Mo
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Do you have a favourite cute animal video? What would you do if you were suddenly made the mayor of Stardew Valley? Did you ever go 100% evil in the game? And what does a duck's quack sound like in the vacuum of space? Let us know via our Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Crafting, Swifties (and how great the majority of them are), Thomas the Tank Engine, hot glue, trash pandas, fishing and gemstones. That can mean only one thing: Mo is back, and we're talking about Stardew Valley.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
This episode contains spoilers for Stardew Valley and a few swears.
Please listen responsibly.
Show Notes
Waffling Taylor's Lite: the pocket size podcast that packs a gaming punch.
Mo has returned. You'll remember Mo from our Christmas 2023 episode: "Christmas with Mo - Wrong Side, Flip Me Over". Anyway, Mo joined Squidge to talk about the ultimate comfy game: Stardew Valley.In this first of two servings of bite sized banter with a side of gaming goodness, we catch up with Mo from The Squank and the Hag podcast to talk about all things Stardew Valley. We cover everything from fish fridges, channelling your inner Flappy Bird, to bard versus Darth Vader.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled: "Exploring Stardew Valley: A New Farmer's Tale - Part One"
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
So I am one of the co-hosts from The Squank and the Hag. You can find us thesquonkandthehag.com. I am a nerd, and that's really all there is, I think.
And Mo started us off with a pretty in-depth description of her and her podcast:...
But video games, movies, TV, pretty much anything that can be nerdy, I'm into. I'm also into True Crime, and that's what our podcast is about.
And, yeah, I feel like I've been on the show enough that I'm part of the family, so I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm just another Taylor. I am here to adjust your clothing. I'll hem your... Isn't that what it is? Isn't that what you guys are? Like, I can hem your pants for you. I actually can hem your pants for you.
— Mo
Stardew What-now?And there's no way to talk about Stardew Valley without talking about how easy it is to pick up and play. Mo hit the nail on the head with:
That right there is pretty much what they should make the synopsis of the game:"I picked it up and I haven't put it down since," because there, it is just one of those games that anybody can play. Like it, it's just... so accessible, it's so. Just easy to get into and it's so low stress and relaxing.
...
So, like, different play styles can play it and everybody can enjoy it.
And it's also just really nice relaxation because sometimes, at least I know for me; now, I am someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder. So when I get into, like, those high stress, like, first person shooter games, I'm sitting here and I'm all tense and I'm like, "I'M GONNA DIE!"
Whereas with Stardew Valley you don't have that and it's just enjoyable
— Mo
Mo then goes on to mention a Stardew Valley-like which is set during a zombie apocalypse. With some post-edit sluthing, we found out that the game Mo was referring to was Zelter.And Squidge brought up a really good point about what makes the game so accessible:
I think Stardew Valley, a thing that's got going for it is there's no fail state.Apart from if you're in, if you're like dungeon diving in the mines, if you get knocked out, you wake up at like the little clinic hospital place and they take some money off you for medical expenses. Apart from that, there's absolutely no fail state.
...
So all the pressure's off. Then you don't have to worry about anything and if you miss something, it'll come round the next year. There's no ending state. You can always pick it up again if you miss something.
So, yeah, it's very laid back experience.
— Squidge
And the lack of a fail state is what drew a lot of people to Untitled Goose Game—that, and the whole goose-based-shenanigans.Any conversation about Stardew Valley, it's lasting influence, how accessible it is, and how well crafted it is cannot fail to mention that the entire game (art, engine, music, and all) was created by one person. Eric Barone (aka "ConcernedApe") is used in the book Ultralearning as a case study. Jay really recommends this book, by the way.
It's gonna sound weird at first. Just stay with me. It's similar to Photoshop where there are a million different ways to get to the same result. So, like, in Photoshop, you want to crop something out. There's 20 tutorials. They're all different, but you all get the same results.So, like, with Stardew Valley, maybe you hate fishing. You can still succeed and, you know, make money, have a good farm and all that stuff without fishing.
— Mo
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Have you played Stardew Valley? Does your total play time sit closer to Squidge's or Mo's? Which are your favourite in-game events, or do you have them all? Let us know via our Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Underpants, posters in lockers, bands, a surprise Mei Ling, and an excessive number of Easter Eggs. That can mean only one thing: Alyxa is back (with a brand new invention?) to continue her chat about Metal Gear Solid 2.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
This episode contains spoilers for Metal Gear Solid 2 and a few swears.
Please listen responsibly.
Show Notes
Alyxa returned!Well, she'd have to because her and Squidge weren't finished with their conversation on Metal Gear Solid 2 in our last episode.
Waffling Taylor's Lite: the pocket size podcast that packs a gaming punch.In this serving of byte sized banter with a side of gaming goodness. We catch up with Alyxa the Kitsune (codename: Glitter Fox) about Metal Gear Solid 2. We cover everything from Easter eggs streaming mishaps to codec hijackings.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled: "Metal Gear Solid 2 Part 2 - A What Vampire!?"
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
Sock Puppets!Squidge wasted no time in getting to the good (read: "absurd") stuff by asking:
If you could take three characters from the combined universe of Metal Gear Solid One and Two and re-enact a scene of metal Gear Solid Two using sock puppets, who would play who and how long before you start burst out laughing?— Squidge
It's probably for the best that you listen to Alyxa's answer, because it's almost as absurd as Squidge's question and includes a very deep cut back to Alyxa's appearance in WT Lite - Metal Gear Solid with Alyxa the Kitsune - aka episode 173.
Metal Gear - The Pop Group!?
You are tasked to form a pop group of four people from a list of characters from Metal Gear Solid, two, who is in it, and what is their first breakout song called. And a band name, if you've got one— Squidge
Solid Snake, Solidus, Raiden. And their breakout song, or their debut song, would be "broken bonds"
Alyxa and Squidge kept talking about this question way after the recording ended, and Delilah had to get involved during the edit.... It's broken bonds. Because what do these four characters have in common?
It's because of the whole thing with Solidus being Raiden's adopted father, Ocelot supposedly having Liquids arm. Then you have Solid and Solidus. It's a broken part of a family.
— Alyxa
Squidge answered this one, too. And his choices are bonkers.
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.What are some of your favourite Easter Eggs in Metal Gear Solid 2? Who would be in your Metal Gear Solid band? Would you play a version of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on a VR headset with a Rock Band guitar? Dial in (our code is 141.12) with your own hilarious codec conversation. Let us know via our Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Alyxa returned to the podcast, this time she wanted to talk through 2001's Metal Gear Solid 2. Both her and Squidge talk through just how prophetic this game was, Otacon's dark family history, mullet withdrawl, and even try out a little live-action tactical espionage. All this and more in this episode of WT Lite.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
This episode contains spoilers for Metal Gear Solid 2 and a few swears.
Starting at the 34:00 mark, and continuing through to the 37:00 minute mark, there's a section which might be triggering for folks, as it deals with sexual assault. Please bear this in mind when listening with others—especially the ears of the innocent.
Please listen responsibly.
Show Notes
Waffling Taylor's Lite: the pocket size podcast that packs a gaming punch.
Squidge is back with a brand new invention WT Lite episode. And this time, our resident Metal Gear expert V-Tuber Alyxa has returned with him.In this serving of byte sized banter with a side of gaming goodness. We catch up with Alyxa the Kitsune (codename: Glitter Fox) about Metal Gear Solid 2. We cover everything from lengthy cutscenes, dummy tick moments, to mullet withdrawl.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled: "Metal Gear Solid 2 Part 1 - A What Vampire!?"
Take it away, guys
— Squidge
The Glitter Fox Returns!Alyxa wanted to remind everyone as to why she is know as the Glitter Fox:
For those of you who don't know, the reason why some people call me "Glitter Fox" is, again, because of Metal Gear Solid.Because in the first game, Metal Gear Solid, there was one viewer who saw me throwing a chaff grenade. And because of the little effects that it plays on the screen, it looked like glitter. So they started calling it glitter bomb. So now whenever I throw away a chaff grenade, I scream, "glitter bomb!"
And when they gave me a drawing, like my first fanart of me, it was me with a sneaking suit, holding a chaff grenade or a glitter bomb, and people started calling me Glitter Fox.
— Alyxa
Which is an incredibly charming reason to have a nickname, you'll agree
Which Games Have You Completed?
Metal Gear SolidMetal Gear Solid 2Metal GearMetal Gear 2: Solid SnakeMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake EaterMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
The list of Metal Gear games that Alyxa has played through (on stream, no less) is impressive:And not just that, Alyxa is a true ending achiever. Meaning that she plays all of the extra side missions and aims to get the best ending possible.
Pretty solid stuff... if you'll pardon the pun.
Squidge drops a knowledge bomb on us about Metal Gear Solid 2:
Metal Gear Solid 2 has got the second least lengthy cutscene content of all Metal Gear solid games. Second least.— Squidge
Which do you think has the lengthiest? Get your answers in now.
And Alyxa answers the question for us, a moment later:
On the official website of the Guinness World Records. If you search for "cutscene," the first thing that you're gonna see is "Longest cutscene in a videogame." And if you click that article, you're gonna get Metal Gear Solid 4 at 27 minutes.— Alyxa
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Are you suffering from mullet withdrawal? Do you think that Raiden deserves all of the hate that he got online when this game came out? Do you find yourself saying "La Li Lu Le Lo" every now and then? Is Raiden's hair real or a wig? Dial in (our code is 141.12) with your own hilarious codec conversation. Let us know via our Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page!
And have you left us a rating or review? We love hearing back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Discord server, Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
It's time for us to dive back into video game movies, and this time we wanted to tackle the first CGI entry to the Resident Evil canon: Resident Evil Degeneration (aka "DE-GENERATION ZED!"). That's right, the games that started life as "Tank Jank" (as Squidge puts it) spawned several CGI movies, and this is the first in the series. But does it hold up against the Hollywood movies? There's only one way to find out.
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
This is actually a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes.
Content Warning
As this is an episode about a biopunk action horror movie and the games that it's based on we'd advise a little caution for this episode. There's nothing explicitly terrible in this episode, but the subject matter can be pretty rough.
This episode has a few swears in it, but none which should be too offensive.
Please listen responsibly.
Show NotesSquidge started the episode in his own, fantastic way:
From active time battling to zombie slaying Waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.In this episode, we cover the 2008 CGI video game movie Resident Evil: Degeneration. We chat about all manner of topics, including everything from snooty british accents to the zombie wrestling week.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Resident Evil Degeneration - Death In The Departure Lounge". Oh my.
Enjoy.
— Squidge
Initial Thoughts
Whilst it got a (very) limited theatrical release, both Jay and Squidge first saw this on Blue-Ray DVDs—remember when Blu-Ray movies where a new thing?Jay brought up some points about how this was Capcom's attempts to regain control from the ... big-ball-of-mud (shall we say) that is the Paul W. S. Anderson Resident Evil movies. But as he said in Resident Evil and the Paper Kimono:
It's fun if you're able to, like, take all of the ideas of it being a "Resident Evil" movie out and just enjoy it. For a zombie action horror movie, it's actually lots of fun— Jay
I think we're gonna have to cover [Resident Evil: Welcome To Racoon City]. And, like, the reaction.
And whilst a lot of people initially reacted to the lack of horror aspects in this movie, Jay said that it's worth pointing out that this game came out between Resident Evil 4 and 5; putting it smack dab in the middle of the over-the-shoulder action-oriented phase of the games. And during this monologue (of sorts), Jay brought up the idea of revisiting "Resident Evil: Welcome To Racoon City" for the podcast because:Because I feel like, I feel like it's been long enough now that the people who initially reacted when it first came out was like, "No, Leon's stupid in this movie." And "oh, oh, they used the Jill sandwich line too early," and all that kind of stuff. I'm talking about welcome to Raccoon City right there; [and the] detractors from that movie.
I think now that it's been a few years and now that it's no longer cool to [poop] on that movie, they're all going to be like, "nah, nah. I loved it when it first came out."
— Jay
The article that he mentioned can be found here, and an article which is more about gamers reactions to videogame movies can be found here. Both are worth a read.But heading back to the movie in question, both Jay and Squidge had a ton of fun watching this movie.
Someone was asking me the other day, "so what's this movie like then?"And I said, "imagine Die Hard 2 meets Snakes On A Plane, meets Day Of The Dead and you've got it." That's essentially the movie
— Jay
Full Show NotesMake sure to check out the full show notes for more discussion on the points we raise, some extra meta-analysis, some out-of-context screen grabs from the movie, and some links to related things.
What other movies would you like us to cover? Let us know on Discord, X, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiResident Evil: Degeneration on IMDBResident Evil: Welcome to Racoon CityWe Need to Talk About Video Game MoviesSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Discord server, Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Prolific streamer Zunderscore joined the Jay and Squidge to talk about everything from red fedoras to Vincent Adultman, Muppetman, and three Squidges in a trenchcoat; with a healthy dose of video games, Thunder Plains, controller opinions, thoughts on being a content creator, and silliness
This is a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes.
Show Notes
From active time battling to zombie slaying, waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.In this episode, we are joined by our friend Zunderscore to have a good old chat and get to know him better, which had about all manner of topics, including everything from self randomizers, streaming, and three squidges in a trench coat. You'll just have to wait for it.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Zunderscore - Red Fedoras And Bathrobes: The Flip top Expansion To Streaming"
Take it away guys.
— Squidge
Shortly after Squidge's introduction, Jay decided that he wanted to cosplay as the RPD uniform-wearing wolf man himself. Which culminated in a conversation about Vincent Adultman, Muppetman, and three Squidges in a trenchcoat.But after that, Jay asked Zunderscore to introduce himself:
Yeah, so I've been a streamer on Twitch for a little over three years now. I do a little bit of everything. So I do variety gaming. I do some coding, some design development kind of things. I am a developer on one of a pretty popular twitch chatbot called Firebot. So I spend a lot of my free time working on that. And yeah, that's, that's the big stuff.As far as gaming goes, I have a love for a lot of different genres, but RPG's, platformers, a little bit of strategy, a little bit of roguelike, that kind of thing really, really appeals to me. So I'll do the retro thing every once in a while. I actually have a fun little setup for that, which I enjoy. So. Yeah.
— Zunderscore
And because Squidge spotted Zunderscore's red fedora in the background of his video, it kicked off a discussion on RedHat Fedora Linux, what it is, a high level description of how it differs from other Linux-on-the-desktop or Linux-on-the-server distros and how Zunderscore came to have an officially licensed Redhat red fedora.With Zunderscore being both a developer and a, self-proclaimed, Microsoft fanboy, Squidge brought up that Jay is a Microsoft MVP and has been for almost three years. And Zunderscore brought up that Jay had interviewed one of Zunderscore's friends on an episode of The Modern .NET Show—which is Jay's other podcast.
Recent Games
The Recent Games segment will not be new to listeners, but in case you're new to the show here's how it goes: we go round the table and discuss one or more game that we've been playing recently, and whether we think it's worth the listeners checking it out. We continue to do this until we've run out of games to discuss.
And this episode was no different.
Zunderscore's Recent Games
Never Grave: The Witch and The CurseTurnip Boy Robs a Bank
So anyone who knows me knows that I like the weird games. I like the wacky games. I like the games that people just throw to one side, saying, oh, it's. It's catering to so and so audience, blah, blah, blah. So there's a. There's a series of games called Onechanbara... This is leading somewhere.
Squidge's GamesSo one of the latest [Onechanbara titles] that they released was called, let me get the name right, "School Girl/Zombie Hunter". Now, the only description I'm going to give is, "lose the clothes and save your life." This is a survival of five high school girls happening in the world of Onechanbara. Right? This is not the game I've been playing.
I've been playing the budget game from Wish on the Nintendo network. That is called, and I quote, let me get the name right. "Anime Girls: Highschool of Dead".
I didn't buy this. I got it on some gold points that I had left over and I thought I wanted a laugh. It's meant to be a survival game with one music track with a load of unlockable characters... I pretty much figured out how to cheese it in about ten minutes.
— Squidge
Anime Girls: Highschool of DeadBloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Jay's Recent GamesJay had been playing lots of retro games on a freshly purchased Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, which you can see here running the PlayStation version of Final Fantasy VIII.
Samurai WarriorsRatchet & Clank
Full Show NotesMake sure to check out the full show notes for more quotes from the episode, some extra analysis, and loads of extra links.
Tell us on what you thought of this episode on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiFirebotZunderscore's links:WebsiteMastodonYouTubeTwitchLiveSpaceRedHat Fedora LinuxJay's MVP status pageJay's interview with Zunderscore's friend, Jeremy SinclairSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podca...
-
Show Notes
Hi there,
I'm Delilah and I'd like to welcome you to a very special episode of The Waffling Taylors.
In case you didn't know, I'm a next-generation AI system, written by Jay, to help him and Squidge run the Waffling Taylors podcast. My speech synthesis still isn't 100% yet, but jay is working on things behind the scenes.
A little more information about me: did you know that my name is an acronym? It stands for "Dynamic Eccentric Logic Interface, Laughing Algorithm for Humour." Anyway, I've been waffling on for too long.
A Short Break
The reason that I'm releasing this episode is because Jay asked me to let you all know that we're taking a very short break throughout March. But don't worry, there's no need to panic as we'll be releasing brand new episodes from April 5th onwards.
So why are we taking a short break?
There are a few reasons for the break, but the main one is that Jay will be working in the United States for part of March, and even with RUSSELL and I, Squidge might not be able to run the podcast on his own.
We also want to take a few weeks to build up a small backlog of episodes, because any podcaster will tell you that you really need a backlog. If you don't have one, then you'll be left scrambling when life, uh, finds a way. Did you like my Dr. Ian Malcolm impression there?
A Few Recommended Shows
In the meantime, we'd like to recommend some shows that you can listen to in our stead. Each one of these shows is fantastic and is recommended by both Jay and Squidge.
Retro Wildlands
First of all, there's The Retro Wildlands. You'll know the host, Nomad, from his many appearances on our show. Those episodes are:
158: Requiem for a Jill Sandwich with Nomad170: Resident Evil 4 with Nomadand 174: Resident Evil 3 Anniversary - Traffic Jam BurritoHey there, my friend. Welcome to The Retro Wildlands. This is my gaming podcast where I like to share my thoughts and experiences with a video game that I have discovered or rediscovered while roaming the gaming Wildlands.My name is Nomad, and in each episode of the show, I invite you all to sit down by the campfire and take a load off. Using music and sound effects from each game, I'm going to fill your head and your heart with sweet, sweet nostalgia as I take you through the opening parts of your favourite video games and share what I think about it all.
This show is great if you're looking to go down memory lane, but it's also done in such a way that if you've never played the game I'm talking about before, you'll have a good idea what you're getting into.So far we've covered games like Contra: "You start firing right in front of you. It just takes one shot to waste the idiot coming towards you. As you're running, you hold the directional pad down and to the right so. You can fire at an angle."
Batman on the NES: "The game officially begins and we're taken to the first stage. Batman lands on the ground, performing your standard issue superhero landing, and control is given to the player. Alright, it's time to fight some crime"
And Metal Gear solid: "Got it. Okay, I'm ready to go. After the codex screen closes out, snake. Gets to his feet and control is. Given to the player. Alright, Wildlanders, it is mission time."
So join up with our expedition. I'm excited to have you along. Anytime you want to venture into the gaming Wildlands, you are always welcome by the campfire, and I'm hoping I see you there.
Until then, my friend, my name is Nomad, and you can find me roaming the Retro Wildlands.
— Nomad
Capes on the CouchThen there's Capes on the Couch. Anthony, who is one of the hosts of this show has been on the show a few times, too. His episodes were:
149: Couching the Capes with Anthony160: Mortal Kombat - Leg-Fu for the Winand 171: Mega Man 2 with AnthonyAnthony: Hello, I'm AnthonyDr. Issues: And I'm Dr. Issues
Anthony: And we're the hosts of Capes on the Couch podcast where comics get counselling.
Dr. Issues: Superheroes don't always get to go home happy. That's where we come in.
Anthony: We offer psychiatric and mental health evaluation of comic book characters.
Dr. Issues: We also chat with some of your favourite creators:
Various: Al Ewing, Erica Schultz, Gilson, Philip Kenley Johnson, Chris Claremont
Dr. Issues: about their work on comics.
Anthony: So check out all our episodes at Capes on the Couch and follow us. Capes on the couch on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Both: #BecauseComics`
— Capes on the Couch
Pixel Project Radio
Pixel Project Radio is another fantastic show that we think you should check out.
At the time of Squidge and I collaborating on this episode, they have a great multi-part series about Final Fantasy IX. There are four episodes out at the moment and each is over 2 hours long. It's great stuff.
We'll Be Back
Anyway, we'll be back in April, assuming Jay can get over the jet lag quickly. I'll hand over to Jay for the outro now, but remember to check the show notes for links to all of the podcasts I've talked about. Anyway, this is Delilah signing off.
If you've been sent this episode by a friend, or indeed a mortal enemy, or happened on it accidentally. I'd like to ask you to check out the website for the show at wafflingtaylors.rocks.We have another 180 episodes or seven years of our podcast for you to check out. And we have a section called Those Games We Played, which lists every game we've ever mentioned, how many times we've mentioned it, and what we've said about them.
We have socials. They'll be in the links too. We've got Twitter or X, whichever one you want to call it. We've got discord—you will also find the details for that in the description.
We also stream on Twitch from time to time, and you can find our previous streams and silly videos on our YouTube channel.So do come check us out.
— Jay
External Links of Interest
-
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Discord server, Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Can you believe that it's been 5 years since the Resident Evil 2 Remake came out? Neither could we, so we brought Nomad back onto the show to discuss it with us. Remember the "we do it" t-shirts? Remember the months of speculation? Remember that first time you booted the game?
This is a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes.
Content Warning
There are a few swears in this episode, but none which should be too offensive.Please listen responsibly.
From active time battling to zombie slaying, waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.
Show NotesIn this episode, we are joined by OG Waffler and long-time friend of the show Lulu to to talk about the anniversary of Final Fantasy eight on the PS one. In this episode, we cover everything from triple triad addiction, bazooka abuse and the original Selphie.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Resident Evil 2 Remake with Nomad - The Spirit Is Strong, But The Ammo Is Scarce."
Take it away guys.
— Squidge
That's right! This episode is all about Final Fantasy VIII. Some say that it's the black sheep, or weird middle child of the group of 90's J-RPGs created by SquareSoft for the PlayStation; but, as you'll find out in this episode, it's the favourite of both Jay and Lulu—with Final Fantasy IX in a very close second for everyone in the episode.All that set up and Jay fumbled at the 10 yard line:
You have once again stepped into the world of survival, horror, et cetera, et cetera, because I can't think of anything funny to say.— Squidge
This time, the lads were joined by Nomad of The Retro Wildlands—someone who seems to be on the show talking about Resident Evil a lot, and he is loved very much for it.But before the show could start properly, Jay asked Nomad to introduce his show:
So, for those of you listening, I have my own podcast, and I call it The Retro Wildlands.And the whole premise: I'm going back and playing some older video games that maybe I played when I was a kid, or maybe I missed out on them and I'm playing them for the first time as an adult. So my show is kind of me talking about those games and my experiences.
But as I've evolved over time, my show has kind of turned into I'm taking the listener through the game itself, maybe the opening level, let's say, and I'll try to bring back some of those nostalgic tinglies, if you will, using music and sound effects and things like that.
But if you've never played that game before, this is a great way to learn about a game that maybe you want to dabble in and don't want to dive in headfirst. You want someone to tell you kind of how it is, and that's what I do.
So the Retro Wildlands is available on all the major pod platforms. I made a link tree. linktr.ee/retrowildlands will get you to all our social links.I say "our," but it's just me. Me and my dog Dee Dee's.
— Nomad
Initial Thoughts on The RemakeBefore any deep dive conversation, it's always a good idea to get a starting position, and that's what Jay wanted to know:
I originally played it as soon as it came out. I don't pre-order games very often, but I pre-ordered the remake. I was enamoured with it. I played the original a ton when I was a kid. Probably shouldn't have if mom had her way. But, it was an amazing experience, and I knew the remake, for better or worse, was something I wanted. But I was very pleasantly surprised with how amazing that game was. And we're certainly going to get into it today.But I replayed the game start to finish twice when I knew that we were going to get together and talk about the game. And I was very excited to dive back into that world, and I was very happy with how everything stood the test of time. Granted, it was only five years, but "fresh" is probably the best word, I think so. I think people, even though this game is five years old at this point, if you go into this experience now, it's going to be just like when it first launched.
Fresh, new, exciting. Mwah. Chef's kiss
— Nomad
And Squidge:
All I can say about it is: I played it on release. But I played it, I think I had the day off when it was coming out and I finished preloading it at midnight, because it was on Steam. And I played it in the dark on hardcore mode. That was a big mistake.Ever since that night, I still stand by this. What I'm about to say is, "Mr. X, you're a prick." That sums up Resident Evil two pretty nicely: dude's a prick.
— Squidge
Because Squidge had brought up Mr. X, and how he'd modded the original model out for both the Goose from Untitled Goose Game and the Macho Man Randy Savage, it was only right that Jay brought up the short series of episodes which were recorded as Squidge made his way through the game.
Those episodes are:
Grenade to The Face! (recorded when Squidge was 25% through the game)Ada Wait! (recorded when Squidge was 50% through the game)The Fall of Mr. X (recorded when Squidge was 100% through the game)Jay goes on to talk about how the RE Engine ("Reach for the Moon Engine") hasn't just been used for the Resident Evil remakes, it's also been used on several other titles like DmC: Devil May Cry. And for those who are interested in finding out about the (deeply) technical (as in programming) details of the engine, Jay brought up a talk from one of devs the team about what upgrading to C# ("See Sharp") 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDUY90yIC7U
For those who don't know, Jay produces and hosts The Modern .NET Show, so he's always looking into things relating to both C# and .NET. Because of this, the video not only piqued his interest but blew him away.
The video is entirely in Japanese, but there are English subtitles so you can follow along if you'd like.
(quoting the video) "We moved to this version of the tooling, which is a later version, to build the engine and it's become a whole bunch faster and stuff."Which means they've released patches for Devil May Cry remake, Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil 3, that makes it use less power or is more efficient, things like that. So they haven't actually done anything. They've just updated the tools that they use, which is pretty damn cool.
— Jay
Dino Crisis remake in RE Engine when?
And, of course, Jay brings up the question that's on everyone's minds— Jay
Full Show NotesMake sure...
-
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Discord server, Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Can you believe that it's been 25 years since Final Fantasy VIII first came out? We couldn't either, so we asked Lulu to come back on the show to discuss what some people call the "weird, middle child" in Square's PlayStation Final Fantasy trilogy. Rest assured, we think FF VIII is the bomb.
This is a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes.
Content Warning
There are a few swears in this episode, but none which should be too offensive.Please listen responsibly.
From active time battling to zombie slaying, waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.
Show NotesIn this episode, we are joined by OG Waffler and long-time friend of the show Lulu to to talk about the anniversary of Final Fantasy eight on the PS one. In this episode, we cover everything from triple triad addiction, bazooka abuse and the original Selphie.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Final Fantasy VIII Anniversary - Phantom Dick Pain."
Take it away guys.
— Squidge
That's right! This episode is all about Final Fantasy VIII. Some say that it's the black sheep, or weird middle child of the group of 90's J-RPGs created by SquareSoft for the PlayStation; but, as you'll find out in this episode, it's the favourite of both Jay and Lulu—with Final Fantasy IX in a very close second for everyone in the episode.Speaking (well, writing) of which, Lulu joined the lads for this episode:
So we have a guest today to help us. She is our local Final Fantasy expert. She needs no introduction...— Squidge
And Lulu broke in with:
But you're gonna get one anyway! Hi guys, it's me!— Lulu
Lulu needed to join the lads for the 25th ANNIVERSARY of Final Fantasy VIII. But not just because it's Lulu's favourite entry in the PlayStation Final Fantasy games, but also because it's the game that Jay and her met and bonded over. Meaning that it's a celebration of 25 years of friendship, tooBut that means that it was also a time for the three of them to shout at clouds:
Okay. I'd love to have my back not click in the morning.— Squidge
Not too big of an ask.
I felt that on a spiritual level.— Lulu
We did too, Lulu.
I felt that in the ibuprofen.— Jay
The episode was broken into several shorter conversations, all prompted by Squidge's list of questions. The first of which was:Describe Final Fantasy VIII In Three Words
Mother f%@$ing good!— Jay
Says it all, really.
Succession of witches.— Lulu
Whilst Jay's was subjective, Lulu's was objective and perfect.
And Squidge's had more truth than anything else:
Triple Triad Addiction— Squidge
And that sparked a conversation about Triple Triad and how it can't hurt you (or can it?).
Full Show Notes
Make sure to check out the full show notes for more discussion on the points we raise, some extra meta-analysis, some out-of-context screen grabs from the movie, and some links to related things.
What other movies would you like us to cover? Let us know on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiDolletX-ATM902Faye Wongyakisoba panLaguna LoirePredestination paradoxSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Discord server, Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
We finally did it: we took on the Street Fighter II animated movie. But is it any good, what's with those easter eggs, what's going on with Zangeif's shins, did we really watch one of the most realistic home invasion scenes in a video game movie, and (most importantly) how did we rate the movie?
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
This is actually a sample of the full show notes - make sure to click here to check out the full show notes..
Content Warning
As this is an episode about a both PG13 rated movie, a fighting game that it's based on, and the fact that there are scenes with... shall we say "fan service", we'd advise a little caution for this episode. There's nothing explicitly terrible in this episode, but the subject matter can be pretty rough.
There are a few swears toward the end of the episode, but none which should be too offensive.
Please listen responsibly.
Show NotesRemember when they talked about the Hollywood made Street Fighter movie back in episode 95 with Z-Boi? Well, Squidge and Jay wanted to tackle the Japanese animated movie which came out before it.
But before that, Squidge broke in with a great intro of his own:
From active time battling to zombie slaying, waffling Taylors covers video games and beyond.In this episode, me and Jay cover the 1994 animated movie Street Fighter II. We cover everything from realistic fear and tension, derpy face fighters and Sith lords. Yes, I said Sith Lords. You'll have to listen out for it.
So without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Street Fighter II - Vintage Testosterone and Walnut Cracking Thighs". Oh my.
Enjoy.
— Squidge
That's just not fair. When did it become 30 years ago? That's not fair.
Basic Info on the Movie
And before they could talk about the movie, Squidge dropped the bomb that it came out 30 years ago—or longer, if you're listening in the future—which caused Jay to do some fist shaking at clouds:— Jay
But fret not, as it's only 20 years since Final Fantasy X was released. So there's that.And Squidge continues with the knowledge drops by giving us some background on the movie:
So the film was released in August 1994 in Japan in all of its uncut, uncensored glory, because it's different in Japan than it is in Europe and America—censors and all the rest of that.Street Fighter II Turbo came out on the Genesis or Mega Drive, depending on where you are, in February 1994. So a certain character being in the movie is an Easter egg. But I digress.
To see an uncut, uncensored version of this film, you would have to wait till 2006, when The japanese version of the film was released so everyone could get a hold of it. And that was uncensored and uncut because there's a particular scene or series of sequences that were cut for "British Sensibilities." It wasn't too bad in the States, but certain things were still cut as well.
— Squidge
And that certain character is...Initial Thoughts
There is no way that gamers of a certain vintage and demographic (one that both Squidge and Jay are both part of) will have not played Street Fighter II, and as Jay says:
I would argue that this movie versus the Hollywood movie sticks way closer to the source material. Like it's actually following what little story there is in the Street Fighter II the game.Whereas Street Fighter the [Hollywood] movie...
— Jay
And of course, at the end of the movie, they have the one photograph that people would take at a cosplay convention because it was cosplay.
And Z-Boi summed up the Hollywood movie pretty well when he said:— Z-Boi
However, where the animated movie sticks closely to the plot, it doesn't have a woman running around amid chaos holding a shoe, or a Shadaloo soldier cradling his favourite gun rather intimately.And Jay sums up his feelings about this movie (which he hadn't seen before making this episode) vs the Hollywood movie in this way:
The Hollywood movie that came out later, kept my attention. Like, I couldn't take my eyes off of the screen. It was entertaining.But this movie is just like, if you were lucky enough in 1994 to see this one and then go see the live action one. I am so sorry, because I saw them the other way around. Like, I never saw the animated movie until we did it for this [episode], right. And so I'd seen the live action movie in my childhood. We saw it together as kids. We watched it again for when we did the episode with Z Boy.
But I'd never seen the animated movie. And I am so glad that I saw them in this order because let me tell you, folks, the Hollywood movie is such a let down after you've seen this one.
— Jay
I will put it in my own mannerisms, which was, I watched the Hollywood film, then I watched the anime and quite simply, bricks where $h@! in the comparison. I can't put it any other way.
Whereas Squidge was more succinct in his description:— Squidge
Full Show NotesMake sure to check out the full show notes for more discussion on the points we raise, some extra meta-analysis, some out-of-context screen grabs from the movie, and some links to related things.
What other movies would you like us to cover? Let us know on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
psst. we've done a bunch of these "goes to the movies" episodes. Check this page to see all of the released specials.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiStreet Fighter II on IMDBAkumaSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or...
-
Join Jay as he flings his boomerang into the face of Dr. Wiley's evil robot... what? We're not talking about Mega Man? Sure looks like a Mega Man game. Anyway, grab your power suit and let's embark on a pixelated journey filled with boomerangs, robots, and a whole lot of retro gaming goodness!
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Episode Transcription
Get ready to power up your nostalgia! In this solo episode of The Waffling Taylors, we're diving head-first into the 8-bit wonders of the NES classic, Power Blade (or its Japanese counterpart, Power Blazer). It's time to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between in the latest instalment of our 'Worth a Try' mini-series.
So, grab your power suit and let's embark on a pixelated journey filled with boomerangs, robots, and a whole lot of retro gaming goodness!
Let's do this.
What Is It?
Power Blade is a NES game that I genuinely think that Mega Man fans should check out; if they haven't already that is. I mean, imagine if the Mighty Kid himself was less a robotic boy created by Dr. Thomas Light (or Right, if you're Japanese) and more a tank-top wearing 80's action movie hero very much akin to Arnold Schwarzenegger? And what if Mega Man's trust arm cannon blaster was replaced with a boomerang?
I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself here, so let's dial it back a bit.
Back in 1990, Natsume/Taito wanted to make a Mega Man II clone; their clone would be called Power Blazer, and would be very much like the second outing for the Knuckle Kid himself. It used a similar design aesthetic, similar enemies and similar level layouts. And looking at the critical reviews of Mega Man II, you can see why they wanted to - Famitsu gave it a 28/40, Mean Machines a 95%, and Total! an 83%, and it has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide. Who wouldn't want a piece of that action.
And so Power Blazer was released to the Japanese public.
Power Blazer was slightly different to Mega Man II in that it had a linear story - where the Mega Man games would traditionally allow you to pick any starting stage - and the main character had a boomerang, rather than an arm cannon blaster - as I said earlier.
Between its Japanese and North American releases however, the game had a full rework. The design aesthetic was changed from the cutesy Mega Man II-inspired look and feel to that of an 80s action movie. Almost everything about the game changed, except for the UI, the music, and the story. The player character, named Nova in both versions, was swapped from a Rockman look-a-like to an Arnold Schwarzenegger style hero.
In either game, it's the player's job to collect 6 computer tapes (this was a game made at the tail end of the 80's after all), and use them to override the security around the Master Computer's Control Center. Once there, the player simply needs to beat the Master Computer.
In the Western Release of Power Blade, the player could choose the order of the stages (even replaying some of the completed stages if they wanted), but also had to meet with double agents in the stages before they could take on that stage's boss and nab the security tape.
Sounds simple, eh?
Well, Power Blade is a pretty tough game and rewards players who know the routes around the stages.
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiPower Blade — Not a Mega Man Clone, At AllPower Blade soundtrackSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Mo, of The Squonk & The Hag Podcast joined Jay and Squidge to talk about hangover/Christmas chillout games, glue guns, not liking people, how to test whether you are a hotdog or not, and general hilarity. All this and more in our festive 2023 episode.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Show Notes
From active timer battling to zombie slaying, Waffling Taylors covers video games beyond.Today we are joined by Mo from The Squank and the Hag podcast to talk about Christmassy games and things
Strap yourselves in, people. This pod isn't like any Christmas special out there. So sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled Christmas with more wrong side. "Christmas with Mo - Wrong Side, Flip Me Over."
Enjoy.
— Squidge
All right, so I am mo. I am one of the co-hosts of The Squank and the Hag podcast, which is a true crime and scary stories podcast, which kind of goes hand in hand with the stuff on the wall with the red string, because we also talk about conspiracies here and there.
This episode introduced a rather confused (at first) guest: Mo. Mo first thought that she was Jay, and Jay thought he was Jay, too. Which led to much hilarity and confusion. But Mo then introduced herself and her podcast thusly - that's right, the show notes can sometimes be eloquent and thatWe talk about folktales, cryptids, anything that can go bump in the night. So that could be a serial killer that actually has been convicted and in jail, or that could be some legend tale of that creepy thing outside your window at night.
So I have a co-host. His name is Kraken or Krako. Everybody kind of just has fun with his name. He's also referred to as "crackhead" but he's my best friend, and we have known each other for years, so we have that probably very similar dynamic to the two of you guys, where it's a lot of just silliness and comfortable hanging out with friends and telling a story at the same time.
So it's a lot of fun. We say "we" it's the team, but that always sounds like we're paying people, but we have friends who also help out. So people who research stories for us, social media ideas, merch, all that kind of stuff. But it's fun. It's all just friends and for fun and all that.
...
And I guess outside of that, if you want to know about me, I don't like to leave the house. I do a lot of crafting. I do everything from knitting and crochet to building d and d terrain, painting miniatures. I learned how to cast resin so I can make my own dice. So I just do a lot of crafting and just like being creative and married with four cats. So there's that. But it's fun.
— Mo
I approve
Because it's the Christmas episode, Squidge brought up the topic of his rather spiffy hat. And a spiffy hat it is, indeed. But talk of the festive season, spiffy hats, and knitted hats for cat ears - you'll have the listen to the episode, trust - the subject of Squidge's mighty Christmas Cactus came up, and how because Mo has multiple cats, she doesn't have a Christmas Tree— Mo
And because Mo brought up her custom neon sign which reads... you guessed it, "Mo," Squidge brought up the custom pro-wrestling belt that he got for Jay in March of this year - 2023, in case you're reading this in the future. Also, hello future person!
So imagine: you're entering the living room. The battlefield of festive cheer turned into a scene straight out of a slapstick comedy holiday movie. The twinkling lights on the Christmas tree are twinned with the glow of Uncle Bob's Rudolph sweater. The cat is pawing at the carnage it wrought, reminiscing of the previous day's epic battle with the Christmas tree.
Holiday Hangover GamesAs we venture further, the air is thick with the scent of both triumph and culinary failure. Aunt Mildred's fruitcake, once a brave culinary experiment, has now achieved legendary status as the only fruitcake to be declared as a biohazard. Meanwhile, Grandma is serenely snoring on the couch, draped in tinsel like the queen of a Christmas jungle.
In the kitchen, where the remnants of a feast now lie in glorious disarray, the turkey carcass looks like it's been through a Christmas war zone. Mashed potatoes have found a new home on the ceiling. And the once proud elf-on-a-shelf is now hanging from the chandelier with a faraway look in its eyes as if to say, "you weren't there."
So with that in mind, let's talk about holiday hangovers.
...
So in case you couldn't guess from that, the sort of theme of this is, like: what games we play at Christmas, what games we play when we're hungover, if we are hungover, that kind of thing. Sort of comfy games that you sit there with a blanket, that kind of thing. If the cats aren't wreaking havoc on the house or you're not having to clear up too much biohazardous material from the day before. That's the whole theme of this episode
— Squidge
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for Squidge's Cross Stitches corner, some extra stuff, and some links to related things. And reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiMo'spodcast: The Squank and the HagTwitterInstaTwitchPAX UnpluggedDeadpool, but it's Ed, Edd n EddyBehind The Mic: The Waffling TaylorsCarmen MirandaShaking Hands With Celebrities For As Long As Possible | BanzaiYou Suck at CookingTen Hours of Nick Offerman's 'Yule Log’Signing Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We'd really like...
-
We wanted to ask CJ about comfort games: games you like to play when we're just comfy and we're vegging and we just want to shut out the outside world and just go get a load of snacks. So get your snacks, get comfy, and curl up whilst we talk about those games we played.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Show Notes
From active timer battling to zombie slaying, Waffling Taylors covers video games beyond.In this episode, we are joined by CJ from the Mystery Stone and PhiloSofa Talk podcasts to talk about comfy games. We chat about all manner of comfy games, including everything from frankly insane gameplay challenges no Fill Yoshi and smack talking Gam-gams.
So, without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "Comfy Games with CJ, Pajama Paladins, and a comfy quest marathon."
Enjoy.
— Squidge
Hi, I'm CJ. I am of the Mystery Stone and PhiloSofa Talk podcast. Thanks for having me out here, guys.
CJ made his return to the show in this episode - you may remember him from the episode we did on Borderlands. But before he could talk with CJ, Squidge wanted to bring attention to Jay's glorious moustache - sadly, the 'stache had to be shaved off between recording this episode and it being released - CJ was asked to introduce himself, and he had this to say:I do have a question about the moustache, though. How long can you smell dinner after you're done eating?
— CJ
It's been 18 days of me growing it...
And an unrelated comment from Jay on his moustache from a few moments later:When I first started growing it, I was aiming for a Ted Lasso. And then one of my friends pointed out, it's what happens if you order Freddie Mercury from Wish, right? Bargain bucket. Freddie Mercury
— Jay
So Mystery Stone is all about spirituality and the esoteric concepts and the higher truths and obtainment of the higher self. Looking inward to really understand the makings of the universe outside of the third dimension.
And the topic of conversation quickly changed to CJ's podcasts:And PhiloSofa Talk is just a freeform conversation about modern philosophy. It's a pretty new show. I'll have the second episode uploaded in a couple of days. But we take classical concepts all the way back, Taoist times, pre-Tao Te Ching, all the way through Greek and up to modern times and apply those concepts to modern day problems and issues and inside thought. And basically, like, the idea is, like, we don't want to do research, so we take what we already know about philosophy, and then we just interview people and just kind of see how people feel. So there's, like, no wrong answers. And it's nice. It's like a way to express your opinions and get your thoughts out without having to worry about a debate.
— CJ
A quick note on something Jay said about "just stream": he meant Just Watch, which is a web service that indexes all of the shows and movies available across all of the main digital platforms and provides links to where you can LEGALLY watch pretty much anything that has ever been released.
Recent GamesThe Recent Games segment will not be new to listeners, but in case you're new to the show here's how it goes: we go round the table and discuss one or more game that we've been playing recently, and whether we think it's worth the listeners checking it out. We continue to do this until we've run out of games to discuss.
And this episode was no different.
CJs's Recent Games
FortniteMinecraftMario Kart TourSuper Smash Bros. UltimateHollow KnightCJ wanted to quickly talk about mobile gaming, too; and this reminded Jay of Army of Darkness: Defense - a tower defence game based on Army of Darkness (aka the third Evil Dead movie). Sadly this game no longer runs on modern Android devices.
Monster Hunter NowFull Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for Squidge's Cross Stitches corner, some extra stuff, and some links to related things. And reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiMystery StoneJust Watch (what Jay called "Just Stream")LutrisVG Myths - Can You Beat Final Fantasy With A White Mage?NuzlockeHeraclitusMicrosoft Excel World ChampionshipJay's Runaway gameBorderlands With CJSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We'd really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Join Squidge as he relives the joys of fighting for justice in the fiery streets of 90s gaming. From infectious soundtracks and buttery-smooth controls to hilariously fun boss battles and sibling rivalries, this episode is a hilarious celebration of the pixelated nostalgia that made Streets of Rage Two a beloved classic.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Episode Transcription
Let me tell you of the epic tale of Streets of Rage 2, a game that not only rocked the gaming world back in the 90s, but continues to tantalizingly tickle our nostalgia bones today. It's a story of sibling rivalries, pixelated brawls, breaking barrels, and a street so enraged it would make the Incredible Hulk pee his pants.
So sit back, grab some snacks, and let me tell you, in a nutshell, why Streets of Rage 2 is worth your time.
Let's do this.
So, Streets of Rage 2. It was the early 90s, and if you weren't playing Sonic the Hedgehog, you were probably hanging out with the gang Axel, Blaze, Max and Skate - who sounds more like a hip-hop dance move than a character name. Let's not get bogged down with the names. Let's just talk about what made this game truly unforgettable.
First thing I've got to mention: soundtrack.
Streets of Rage 2 had a banging soundtrack that was just so infectious. You'd catch yourself humming it during meetings or in school - I was a kid back then - maybe in the middle of a budget review or a geography class, for example. And suddenly it's like you're back in those pixelated, rage filled streets, bashing thugs over the head with lead pipes and rightfully kicking them in the shins while you pick up the apples from trash cans. Gonna be honest, not the most hygienic place to find your fruit. But hey, if you're in the middle of a brawl, you take what you can get. I mean, let's face it, it's a load better than eating trash can turkeys. Looking at you, Metro City.
And speaking of brawls, gameplay was just legendary. You couldn't beat it. I mean, the controls were so smooth, it was like butter on hot toast... or hot butter on cold toast.
You walk up to a thug, bop him in the face, and then send him flying with a spinning kick. A "rent a car" (grand upper) or a "hub cheeky". Simple, easy to learn, hard to master. Soon you'd be throwing thugs into the throng of gang members, with great glee and giggles all around. It was a bit like playing a superhero. A pixelated, buff as hell, hard as nails superhero. And that's what we all wanted, you know, the simple life.
Let's not forget the story, shall we.
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Rob from Gold Mountain Games joined us to talk about the things we're passionate about, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Schitt's Creek, and a brand new idea for RTS games. Definitely don't sleep on this episode, folks.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
During their conversation about how society is becoming more accepting of people being passionate about their hobbies (and potentially dropping the term "geek" when referring to them), Jay brings up the following fantastically wonderful line from the TV show Schitt's Creek:
I like the wine, and not the label— David Rose, Schitt's Creek, Season 1 Episode 10: Honeymoon
The scene is, ostensibly a conversation about sexuality, and David's reluctance to label his sexuality. As such, that part of the conversation might not be safe for all ears. This part of the conversation happens at 9:47.
Please listen responsibly.
From active timer battling to zombie slaying, Waffling Taylors covers video games beyond.
Show NotesIn part two of this episode, we are joined by Rob from Gold Mountain Games. We reminisce about gaming as we grew up, as well as covering everything from passions for your interests, cat assassins, and augmented barbarian fish weaponry.
So, without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "A Catch-up with Rob, No Bards Allowed - Part One"
Enjoy.
— Squidge
As Squidge points out in the intro, this is part two of a discussion with Rob from Gold Mountain Games. Part one was released back on October 10th, 2023 - here's a link to that - we covered:
What Gold Mountain Games isWhat's happened since the OGL eventAnd what we've been playing recentlyAs part one of the episode ended, Jay had just been telling everyone about a cross-platform game launcher called Lutris; and that's where this part starts.
Jay went ahead and talked about ONE of the MANY reasons why Windows games tend to (but not always) run better on a Linux-based operating system than on Windows. There are lots of caveats in that sentence because there really are many reasons why, but one of the main ones is how composable the Linux-based operating systems are: you can literally remove whatever you're not using, even if it's a core component of the operating system itself. Because of that, they tend to run faster, on both older and newer hardware, using fewer system resources.
A Wholesome Conversation AppearedJay talking about Lutris and different operating systems brought up a wonderfully wholesome conversation about the human condition and being who you are:
It doesn't actually matter at all, right? And I'm sure if I put the effort into learning a different system it would be absolutely fine. But I just find it really funny how people are people will get really angry about it.I like it in the pet community. Like if someone posts a picture of their cat and goes, "my cat's cute," you sure as hell I'm posting a cute picture of my cat and trying to prove that my cat's the cutest. I love the human condition.
— Rob
And Jay drops some knowledge when talking about the different operating system choices:
And when people come to me and says, "oh, but you should use Windows for this, or you should use this, that and the other," I'm like, "dude, use what works for you."— Jay
To which Rob replied:
I think with most things, people should just be able to make the choices they want to make and get on with it. And if it works for them, then it's fine, right?— Rob
At the end of the day, you should like what you like. Who cares what everyone thinks, right?
You do not want someone to like you for someone you're not, because you're going to have to pretend to be that person forever. And the longer you do that, the harder it's going to be, and the more miserable you'll be.It doesn't matter if people don't like who you are, because there are only a few people and there'll be more people who do like you because you're unashamedly you
— Rob
And that comes back to one of Jay's favourite quotes from Schitt's Creek:
I like the wine, and not the label— Daivd Rose, Schitt's Creek, Season 1 Episode 10: Honeymoon
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiGold Mountain GamesOn FacebookOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tik-TokOn TwitchOn YouTubeGold Mountain Games on PatreonA Catch-up with Rob, No Bards Allowed - Part OneLutrisSigning Off... For Now
And have you left us a rating or review? We really like to hear back from listeners about our show, so check out https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/ for links to services where you can leave us some wonderful feedback.
The Waffling Taylors is a proud member of Jay and Jay Media. If you like this episode, please consider supporting our Podcasting Network. One $3 donation provides a week of hosting for all of our shows. You can support this show, and the others like it, at https://ko-fi.com/jayandjaymedia
★ Support this podcast ★ -
Rob from Gold Mountain Games (who have been going from strength to strength) returned to discuss what they've been up to in the six months since the whole OGL debacle. We discuss Balder's Gate 3, Resident Evil, Bards (horny and non-horny), and Squidge's ideas for Apple stores.
Remember that you can always get in touch with us on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or with our Contact page.
Content Warning
Usually, we'll add warnings here about swears and such, but with this episode, there was some background noise on Rob's audio. Squidge (our hard-working editor, and audio engineering expert) did everything he could to isolate and remove it, but there's one part where it's a little rough: 23:16 when Rob is describing the game SCUM.
We hope the background noise doesn't take you out of the episode too much.
From active timer battling to zombie slaying, Waffling Taylors covers video games beyond.
Show NotesIn part one of this episode, we are joined by Rob from Gold Mountain Games. We reminisce about gaming as we grew up, as well as covering everything from ram-raiding shop windows as pirates-for-dummies to the dangers of horny warlocks. Yeah, you'll have to wait for that one.
So, without further ado, sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready for this episode entitled "A Catch-up with Rob, No Bards Allowed - Part One"
Enjoy.
— Squidge
For this episode, Rob from Gold Mountain Games made his second-ever appearance on the show and wanted to talk about all things video games. You might remember him from his previous appearance where both he and his business partner Tim discussed the (then) impending changes to the Dungeons & Dragons license agreement (the Open Game License of OGL) - here's a link to that episode.
But before any of that, it was important to have Rob talk about Gold Mountain Games in his own words:
So, Gold Mountain Games: we are a small tabletop RPG production studio. And one of the things that's changed since last time we spoke is that we are now a tabletop production company rather than a [D&D] fifth edition production company, which is quite... I think that lots of people have done that because of what happened.But yeah, so we have our own setting, as you've mentioned, the Salt Reach Isles. We've had a successful Kickstarter for a Zine... And that focuses on one of the cities that we've written. It's got some species in it, it's got some monsters, some spells, and we are currently editing the second magazine for that. So that's going to be coming to Kickstarter in a couple of months.
We've got some streams being recorded, so we've got one in our setting. We're about to start Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, partly because Baldur's Gate 3 is coming out, which is very exciting. I'm desperately stopping myself starting another playthrough before they release it fully. And that's also interesting because we've got two complete noobs playing it. So they know nothing about D&D at all.
...
And then the other thing we've got going on at the moment, which I'm really excited about, is Dark Legacies is an amazing franchise written by Chris McCauley and Claudia Christian from Babylon 5 fame. And they've got two comics out of four out so far. There's going to be a miniatures game, there's going to be, apparently an animated TV series. There's a card game.
And we've just signed a contract with them to publish their RPG, which is like Dark Legacy's Corporation Wars, it's called. I actually got some of the content yesterday and had a read through it and it's really good. It's a mixture of that kind of the Cyberpunk that you know and love with a bit of that really Dark Judge Dredd style in it. It's got bits of the Expanse in there as well. It's really interesting and I'm really excited that we're going to be publishing that... We'll be publishing the main book and then we'll also be creating more content for it. We're going to have a live stream of it as well. There's a lot of exciting stuff coming out of it.
— Rob
So if you're interested in tabletop gaming, Babylon 5, Cyberpunk (the tabletop RPG game, that is) and/or the futurism and grim dark of Judge Dredd, then you should be checking out Gold Mountain Games.Dungeons & Dragons, Tabletops, and Novels
And speaking of D&D, at the time of recording Jay was reading through Aaron A Reed's 50 Years of Text Games: From Oregon Trail to AI Dungeon - which he was a Kickstarter backer for - and talked about how interesting it is that a lot of the earliest PC games where based on either D&D or the tabletop war games that inspired Gary Gygax to come up with D&D. Which reminded Rob of his first video game memory:
I was in Great Ormond Street Hospital when I was six or seven. And in there they had, like, a play area on the children's ward, and they had a computer in there and they had this text based game where you were walking through the woods and you had to find the witch's hut and avoid getting killed by the witch. And that was all.I'd completely forgotten it until you started talking about that. But yet that's probably my earliest memory of a computer game is exactly that. It's sitting there in a hospital of all places going, "oh, choose your Own adventure."
I wonder how much fighting fantasy had to do with it as well.
— Rob
And Squidge summed up video game history and D&D's involvement quite succinctly:
It's like: early D&D is sort of like [the Rosetta Stone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone) to everything that came afterwards— Squidge
What's interesting about Rob's earliest video game memory is that it reminded Jay of the opening scene of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - which is an amazing book and filled with references to video games.
Full Show Notes
Check out the full show notes for the full list of Squidge's questions, some extra stuff, and some links to related things.Reach out to us on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or try our brand-new contact page.
Links of Interest
Join our Discord server and be part of future episodesOur Facebook pageUs on TwitterSupport us on Ko-FiGold Mountain Games - Näytä enemmän
