Episode 169

Microsoft has announced a slew of changes for Xbox Game Pass, including a price increase and changes to their day-one offerings. In today's episode, we do a deep dive into Xbox Game Pass and its value, and discuss Microsoft's ever-evolving strategy for the service. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Elden Ring, Teardown). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Gamepass Deep Dive and Price Increase Analysis
25:03 - Lack of PC Parity for Gamepass Games and the Future of Gamepass
36:10 - Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
45:12 - Teardown
47:00 - Game Development and Learning to Draw

The Game Pass Gambit

Episode 170

Though not our platform of choice, mobile gaming is far and away the largest sector of the games industry. Today, we discuss the current state of mobile gaming, the economics of mobile games in contrast to the rest of the industry, and the future of gaming on mobile devices. As always we conclude with the games we're playing (EA Sports College Football 25, No Man's Sky, Slay The Spire, FIFA 22). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Mobile Gaming in 2024 and AAA Games on iPhone
20:28 - The Economics of Mobile Gaming vs The Rest of the Industry
32:04 - Microtransaction Practices Popularized By Mobile
45:20 - Netflix and Mobile Games
53:37 - Skibidi Tangent
57:11 - EA Sports College Football 25
1:08:04 - No Man's Sky 
1:10:28 - Slay The Spire
1:16:10 - FIFA 22
1:19:51 - PICO-8 Fantasy Console

Mobile Markets and Media

Episode 171

As of July 29, 2024, the Xbox 360 marketplace has shut down, marking the end of a historic run in the console space. Now at the end of the 360 marketplace's near-twenty year run, we look back fondly on our memories of the 360 and discuss some of the games that shaped our teenage years. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (No Man's Sky, Cataclismo, Mario Tennis). This episode was recorded in July 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - 360 Memories, Offline Consoles, Xbox Live
24:10 - Graphics, Kinect, 360 Hardware, Game Shoutouts
43:21 - No Man's Sky
46:09 - Cataclismo
49:18 - Mario Tennis
56:43 - The Controller Debate

Goodbye to the Groundbreaking 360

Episode 172

It has been over two years since Sony purchased Bungie for 3.6 billion dollars in an effort to bolster its live-service efforts, and the results have been...less than stellar. Now in the wake of mass layoffs, we take stock of where Bungie is as a studio and discuss why their crown jewel, Destiny, has lost much of its luster. We also discuss Bungie's now-uncertain future, and how Marathon may hold the key to their survival. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (A Plumber For All Seasons, Linkito, Super Mario Odyssey). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Bungie Downsizing and The Current State of Destiny
7:58 - The Acquisition
13:20 - Marathon and Sony's Ill-Advised Pivot
20:26 - Bungie and Destiny's Uncertain Future
33:14 - Bungie's New Splinter Studio and Bloated AAA Dev Times
38:52 - A Plumber For All Seasons
42:55 - Linkito
48:26 - Revisiting Super Mario Odyssey

Bungie Bungled

Episode 173

Streaming has become one of the dominant forms of games content consumption, and as such has become a significant part of our lives. Today, we talk about the streamers we watch and dive into the challenges of streaming and content creation. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Slay The Spire, Warframe). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Streams and Streamers
16:12 - Northernlion, Dan Gheesling, and Other Streamers We Watch
32:14 - Mike's Perspective as a Streamer and Content Creation
46:54 - Trailers for Monster Hunter and Dragon Ball
49:10 - Slay The Spire and the PlayStation Portal
57:34 - Warframe

Streamer Starpower and Content Creation

Episode 174

"Gaming isn't fun anymore" - this is a phrase uttered frequently by lapsed or more casual gamers. Today, we delve into what this sentiment means and discuss whether or not it rings true. We then plunge into a lengthy, thorough debate about the quality (or lack thereof) of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Slay The Spire, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Dissecting "Why Gaming Isn't Fun Anymore"
12:56 - How Nostalgia and Community Color Public Opinion
24:43 - Ocarina of Time vs Breath of the Wild and Learning to Love Games Again
29:29 - Slay The Spire
40:23 - Revisiting Tears of the Kingdom

"Why Gaming Isn't Fun Anymore"

Episode 175

The Nintendo 64 is one of the consoles we grew up on, and as such we have a lot of love for that weird little machine. Today, we each go through our top 5 Nintendo 64 games and share anecdotes from our respective childhoods. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Abiotic Factor). This episode was recorded in August 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Questions or comments? Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Nintendo 64 Preamble
7:01 - Donkey Kong 64
13:06 - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
17:45 - Diddy Kong Racing
22:04 - Super Mario 64
31:20 - Mario Kart 64
37:22 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
46:11 - Pokémon Stadium
52:05 - Star Fox 64
57:11 - Banjo Tooie
1:06:24 - Paper Mario
1:13:23 - Beetle Adventure Racing
1:16:08 - Honorable Mentions
1:23:42 - Banjo Kazooie
1:30:29 - Ocarina of Time Deep Dive
1:42:25 - Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
1:47:20 - Abiotic Factor

Our Top 5 Nintendo 64 Titles

Episode 176
Concord, the latest GAAS multiplayer offering from PlayStation, has crashed and burned. Today, we discuss this historic failure from multiple angles: What does this failure mean for Firewalk Studios? How should Sony shift their first party strategy? Can Concord potentially return one day? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Super Mario Eclipse, Black Myth: Wukong, Tactical Breach Wizards). This episode was recorded in September 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Analyzing Concord's Failure and Sony's First Party Strategy
33:20 - Anticipating Astro Bot
39:28 - Super Mario Eclipse
48:09 - Black Myth: Wukong
59:37 - Tactical Breach Wizards

The Concord Catastrophe

Episode 177
The PS5 Pro has finally been revealed and it costs...$700?? Today, we dive deep into the (extremely) steep asking price for Sony's newest console and discuss the technology powering the console, and offer our opinions on whether the value proposition is worth it for most consumers. In contrast to the somewhat tepid reaction to the PS5 Pro, we also talk at length about PlayStation's newest critical darling, Astro Bot. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Astro Bot, Satisfactory, Deadlock). This episode was recorded in September 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Analyzing The PS5 Pro Specs and Price
17:15 - Performance vs Fidelity
26:31 - 8K Support and PSVR2 With PSSR
32:48 - Mark Cerny, Speculating Future Hardware Pricing, and PSSR
43:34 - The GTA VI Factor, Lack of Competition, $700??
53:13 - Astro Bot
1:15:12 - Satisfactory
1:26:06 - Deadlock

The Perplexing PS5 Pro And The Amazing Astro Bot

Episode 178
With the announcement of the Nintendo Switch successor seemingly imminent, tantalizing rumors are cropping up, each more outlandish than the last. Will the next Switch support DLSS? Will it be called the Switch 2? Does it have two screens?? After we dissect the latest whispers, we speculate on the console's price...and land on a somewhat suprisingly high number. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Satisfactory). This episode was recorded in September 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

Check us out on YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter at @PodcastGametalk
Or chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Timestamps:
0:00 - Switch Successor Rumors
10:37 - Speculating on Switch 2 Games
18:06 - DLSS, Screen, JoyCons, and Other Feature Predictions
29:27 - Switch 2 Cost Predictions
43:36 - The Imminent Reveal and Final Predictions for The Next Switch
50:37 - Satisfactory

Switch Successor Speculation

Gametalk is a podcast discussing games and the gaming industry. New episodes are uploaded Wednesdays on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast services.

The Game Pass Gambit

Gametalk

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