Scrollies: Recent Episodes
SqatCobblr, TeamRatnado
Join Ratnado & Sqat, from https://twitch.tv/teamratnado & https://twitch.tv/sqatcobblr respectively, as they discuss aspects of gaming culture and share recommendations based on these topics. Accompanied by many guests in their quest, it's a good time not a long time.
Welcome back to our first ever guest CinnaMANToast. In today's episode he joins Ratnado & SqatCobblr in breaking down what second-person gaming is, from a perspective to a social experience its all too real yet difficult to fully grasp. Delving into the childhood playthroughs of friends and family to the modern streaming scene, the second-person accompanyment is alive and well!
As a special treat, CinnaWOMAN's answers of living with CinnaMAN's gaming antics are shared.
Happy 2 years of Scrollies!! The extended hiatus has ended and SqatCobblr & TeamRatnado are back once more to cover the newly released Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This game, taking place in the Arkhamverse, is a touchy subject for our hosts. Being fans of the previous Batman: Arkham entries they had high expectations for this new title. Through genre swapping and distasteful narrative choices it is not looking like its here to save the day. Our hosts discuss this and more in their long awaited return episode!
The Ranter Supreme joins the Scrollies Sqadnado. It's Prokyonlotor! He usually finds himself dealing with nostalgists of retro games. But today he, Sqat, and Rat discuss games they liked for a time only to ultimately turn on them due to decisions made by the developers late in their progression. They cap this off with games they did not expect to enjoy nearly as much as they ended up doing so.
WARNING: IF YOU HEAR YOUR FAVORITE GAME BEING DISCUSSED HERE, WE PROBABLY HATE IT...
For a brief moment in gaming's time, the proliferation of demo discs were the way many people who had previously restricted access to seeing what games were like before buying came to try out and see new games they never would have. Ratnado and SqatCobblr review their favorite types of game demos, how they've received them, and what influence demos have had on them.
Check out SqatCobblr on his streams and check out his Let's Plays and if you're into Final Fantasy XIV Online, check out Ratnado's Twitch stream (where he promises more games are coming, soon™)
TeamRatnado and SqatCobblr combine to form up the Scrollies Sqadnado and chat about their favorite consoles. Listeners will note that they definitely have a running theme through their choices. SqatCobblr objects to one of Ratnado's choices, but they are able to finish out a top five list in only one episode (a small miracle).
Check out TeamRatnado on Twitch where he plays Final Fantasy XIV Online (and sometimes and other games) and SqatCobblr on YouTube for Let's Plays and other DK-inspired fun!
Recorded LIVE at Ratcon 2023!
The Scrollies Sqadnado are joined by many fellow streamers this episode! Together they discuss their experience playing games for the first time while live on their platforms. The benefits of experiencing a game in this manner is shared as well as the unique challenges it presents. Ways in which both the audience and streamer can view the game through this new lens and more are presented.
Be sure to give the guests from this episode a follow!
Samsonite_D
Shraxa
CodeSynth
RelientKFan
Pluviophilian
FruityHelghast419
the_dreaded_dm
dmwife26
crash_and_the_bois
mooncatgab
Consoles having streaming options, the simplicity of phone IRL streaming, and many other factors have made it hassle-free to get into the hobby. While the Scrollies Sqadnado has mainly entered the scene by playing video games on Twitch with bare essentials, there are so many ways to deck out a stream from the hardware you use and the software you use.
In this episode, the duo talk about how to get started easy with a stream setup, some of the pitfalls they've run into, and what they enjoy most about setting up their stream.
Make sure to check out SqatCobblr and TeamRatnado fore more content on their streams!
In a time before convenient, simple game fronts, gamers may forget or may have missed the time when pre-ordering a video game could mean the different between day one play and having to wait for weeks. However, with the rise of reviewers and downloading games on day of release, it makes much less sense to put money down a game that may launch broken.
Ratnado and SqatCobblr discuss their experiences with some of their pre-orders, some of the blunders they've witnessed, and some of the pre-orders that turned out well for them.
Metroid Dread was a long awaited game for mamy, but SqatCobblr only became a Metroid fan several years before it released and Ratnado was never very interested in the genre until streaming. Now that they have both played this game, Ratnado and Sqat talk its many great additions to the classic formula as well as things they wished the game focused a bit more on. All in all they enjoyed it quite a bit and there are many future playthroughs of Dread to tide them over until the next release.
The meme is dead. RelientKFan is a Breath of the Wild completer.
Joining the Scrollies Sqadnado, he shares his very fresh first impression of the game as well as his overall reaction to it. SqatCobblr and Ratnado discuss their view of the game and how its changed over the years, their desired improvements in a sequel and where it stands within the Zelda series at large. Ultimately these 3 players hope for improvements and new additions in future Zeldas... though in which aspects they may differ.
Watch RelientKFan & SqatCobblr react to the 2021 E3 trailer for Tears of the Kingdom.
Before game systems could handle large, free open exploring, video game developers used other formats to get the player from one area to the next. Hub worlds in video games serve as a place of rest, skill and equipment checks, and as quick portals to new levels and new places to explore. However, the landscape of gaming has changed since the heyday of hub worlds in video games, but they are being used in new ways to accommodate players.
Check out SqatCobblr on Twitch and YouTube and TeamRatnado as they do their thing. Likewise, make sure to say hello to LordTreborian on his stream!
Ratnado and SqatCobblr both use their computers every day for gaming, streaming, and editing. For this week's episode, the Scrollies Sqadnado discusses their past with computers and what got them to start using PCs more as they've aged. SqatCobblr talks about his PC building strategy and the two share the specifications of some of the parts they use.
Look out for hints on how to start upgrading your PC if it has been awhile or you are unfamiliar with PC building on your own. Also make sure to check out the TeamRatnado and SqatCobblr streams for more content!
For over two decades, LucasArts were the guardians of peace and justice in Star Wars game development. Before the dark times... before Electronic Arts.
This week the Scrollies Sqadnado tackle the state of 2010s Star Wars games under Disney and Electronic Arts. There is lots to say about what we got as well as the potenial squandered away by having only one developer. However both of the hosts are fans of Jedi: Fallen Order and have played at least some Battlefront I & II. With Jedi: Survivor just around the corner take a look back with us on these entries in Star Wars gaming.
The Scrollies Sqadnado are talking video game movies. Highlighting some favorites, some bad ones, and some that land anywhere in the middle. They discuss how entering into the viewing experience may require some previous knowledge of the source material, as well as why games can be tricky as a medium to adapt. Let's-a go!
Check out Ratnado's reaction to the Super Mario Bros. Voice Cast Announcement - Part 1 Part 2
As one of the best-selling and longest-lived consoles in the entire run of video game consoles, Sony's PlayStation 2 reigned long and well. In this episode, the Scrollsonite Squadress talks about the games that inspired, and ultimately lead them to where they are today.
Make sure to follow Samsonite_D and Zimress everywhere and keep up with Scrollies!
At long last the Composers Top 5 has come to a close.
Ratnado and SqatCobblr highlight Michiru Yamane of Castlevania fame & Masayoshi Soken who's notable contributions to Final Fantasy XIV have played to Ratnado for 1000+ hours. These Composers may be last discussed but are undoubtedly just as appreciated as the rsst by the Scrollies Sqadnado!
Many RPG tables use official adventure books to lead their players through a story, but there are many out there who prefer to create their own settings with their own characters. Not every setting fits every player or story, and as such, UltraJohnic talks with Ratnado about one of their biggest passions.
Discussing sources for ideas, how they gain inspiration, and the process they use to make the worlds their players live in feel balanced and fun. The two geek out about some of the experiences they've had, a new method Johnic uses to get a lot of the heavy lifting in his world building done.
Check out UltraJohnic at Twitch and also on his Etsy store where he is selling digital art!
Pre-stream friend of Ratnado stops by the Scrollies studio to talk about what being a gamer and a parent is like. They discuss how their relationship with games have changed over the years, what they seek to get from a good gaming experience, and the struggles and unique experience of being a gamer who has to care for small lives of their own. Zack shares some of the best experiences he's had playing games with his children, and how he is still able to commit time to some of his favorite experiences and try new games.
From the humble beginnings of her Atomic Purple Game Boy, Mooncatgab has lead a life filled with Pokemon. She has seen the rise of the series and shared the love of catching Pocket Monsters with her siblings. She guests on Scrollies to talk about her experience and love for the series and also discusses aspects of it that she hasn't loved as much.
Ratnado and Sqat share their experiences with the series, and then set up MooncatGab for an impromptu challenge against a well-known Pokemon trainer. Make sure to listen to the whole episode and catch the fight with the Turtwig-wielding challenger in a no-holds-barred competition. Make sure to stick around for the post-credits treat.
When a classic game reaches its Golden Years, the original players look back fondly and state "I want to play you old game, but I no longer own old system I played you on." Quite the predicament, but in some cases this is easily overcome. We live in an age of remakes and remasters of those old games for players new and old to experience them again!
This time Ratnado and SqatCobblr are talking remakes and remasters. They differentiate the two and cover some notable ones in recent memory. They also take the time to highlight some from two of their favorite franchises, Final Fantasy & Metroid. Lastly they point out some of the ones that really disappointed them due to lack of care or a failure to understand the spirit of the original.
The 89ers had their moment last week, now it's the #96gang time to shine!
Joining the Scrollies Sqadnado is yet another HUGE Discord representative, DidiBash! She's here to talk about one of her all time favorite series, Tomb Raider. Lara Croft has always been among Didi's go-to video game heroines and she shares why that is and the unique appeal of the games in the grander Action Adventure genre.
Following that up a new favorite, Fortnite, is covered by Didi & Sqat as well as Ratnado who's played it for years now. Hammers, paid skins, future release wishes, and so much more is gone over in much detail.
Get Garfed, Eggy.
The late 90s and early 2000s were dominated by an era of extreme sports, music, and culture. One of the biggest phenomenon in gaming was the surge in skateboarding games mainly defined by the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise. From design choices in the actual games to the music choices influenced and defined a generation, which SqatCobblr, Ratnado, and MaineTater_89 reminisce about and talk about.
Check out MaineTater_89 on Twitch as he streams his way through Pokemon, chess, and soon, a Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 playthrough!
Also, find TeamRatnado and SqatCobblr to see other projects!
Thank you all for listening to Scrollies for a whole year! We truly appreciate every one of you that have taken the time to tune in.
To celebrate we are answering questions asked by Scrollies listeners. These were submitted anonymously, privately, or publicly in The Rat's Nest & H.U.G.E. Discord servers.
Dungeons & Dragons is the most well-known tabletop RPG, and in recent years has become extremely popular in the mainstream culture. Recently, Wizards of the Coast, owners of the Dungeons & Dragons IP, has been in news cycles for leaks of contracts that would change the community surrounding D&D.
In this episode, the Scrollies Sqadnado gives a concise entry point into what is happening within the community and how efforts to change Wizards of the Coast's direction through public discourse, boycotts, and rallying behind prominent creators in the space has lead to a rarely-seen reversal of anti-consumer practices.
Game Launchers have become more prevalent than ever. This greatly frustrates Ratnado, who just wants to play his games without hassle. SqatCobblr, however sees Launchers as a way to occasionally get a few free games.
They cover the big ones like Steam and Epic Games Launcher. As well as publisher specific ones like the Rockstar Games Launcher, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.NET, and Origin (RIP).
Together they reflect on a simpler time when games would boot "quickly" off disc and the digital distribution was a controversial and rigid method of purchasing titles of the time.
Since the early 2010s, the board gaming industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Sqat's friend, Ryan, stops by the Scrollies studio to talk about this trend, some of the games they like to play, how to get into board games, and even about Ryan's upcoming game, Check, Please!
The Scrollies Sqadnado gets one step closer to running this bit out of use! Rat and Sqat share their fourth picks. Ratnado talks about the stylish Shoji Meguro and his work on the Persona series, Shin Megami Tensei, and other Atlus games such as Catherine and Trauma Center. Meanwhile, in true Sqat fashion, Sqat talks about Grant Kirkhope and his varied soundtrack iconic from the N64 ages to now, including discussing the Project Dream SNES canceled game with Kirkhope's soundtrack that would be repurposed for Banjo Kazooie!
Check out Ratnado's playlist on Spotify with some great Shoji Meguro songs, as well!
At the onset of a new year full of many games releases, the Scrollies Sqadnado takes a moment to look back on some favorites from 2022. Then proceeding into unknown waters, Sqat and Ratnado name titles that are set to come out in Q1 & Q2 of 2023. Among the games mentioned are some sequels to games they have enjoyed before and a couple completely original properties. Only time will tell if these are winners or stinkers.
Welcome to 2023!
To start the year right, SqatCobblr & Ratnado have brought back Scrollies first ever guest CinnaMANToast! This time they are covering the other side of the coin: singleplayer games.
To cover the vast variety that singleplayer offers would be absurd. In this case these fellas stick to what they know best. They offer insight and recommend some of their favorite experiences.
In the tradition of being basic, the Scrollies Sqadnado listens to the clips that extern the_audio and eggycarton have prepared and react to the memories of podcasts past while thinking about podcasts yet to be recorded. They review various clips throughout the years from funny moments with guests, some of their embarrassing moments, and the ones that made them glad they spent so much time on this project.
SqatCobblr and Ratnado love the convience that modern handhelds provide. But in a world where the major companies have all but given up on this side of their hardware who will fill the void? Apparently Valve & the Chinese.
Sqat and Ratnado show off their favorite modern handheld devices for the purposes of playing their PC library and emulating the classics. The Steam Deck and Retroid line are among those mentioned.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Scrollies Sqadnado!
Oh ya here's that SqatTube link.
Tis the season for vengeance!
It's once again time to highlight an Arkham game, this one being seasonally appropriate. Batman: Arkham Origins is a spin-off/prequel to the mainline Trilogy. Even so it has stuck around over the years as one of Sqat's faves to play for the holiday vibes and atmosphere. Ratnado and he talk about the distinctions or lack therof between this game and the others.
Sqat also briefly talks about the newly released "Shadows" trailer for the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game. That trailer was unveiled after this episode's recording so Ratnado and Sqat did not have the opportunity to discuss it.
An Episode of firsts! The Scrollies Sqadnado is joined by first-time guest FoxyEvey and second-time robot guest UltraJohnic in Scrollies' first ever duo guested episode to talk about Final Fantasy VII!
With the upcoming release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Ratnado forces a Final Fantasy VII-themed episode . Check out UltraJohnic on Twitch and maybe you'll even see FoxyEvey's comments as he mods the stream.
Also, check out SqatCobblr's new Discord the Humble Union of Gaming Enthusiasts (HUGE) to get updates on his new goings on!
From its cringy beginnings to its big budget present, voice acting has no doubt come a long way in video games.
Joining to discuss is Zak, host of SaveDataTeam! Go watch their Twitch & Youtube channels.
Together these gents share early voice acting memories and track how it gained more legitimacy and craft over the decades. In response to hardware improvements and pushing narrative boundaries the current state of voice acting is well regarded and full of talented performers! Additionally Sqat, Ratnado, and Zak highlight their favorite game studios with a focus on this and specific actors whom they have admired.
Donkey Kong Country 3, released 26 years ago TODAY (in North America) is celebrated in this episode!
To highlight the additions this game introduced to the series the Scrollies Sqadnado welcomes Kleeben_Splurknurch to share his impressions and how perhaps the very identity of the game resolves around its acquired taste. Sqat, Ratnado, and Kleeben go over their own feelings towards the final game in the DKC Trilogy. They showcase the QOL inclusions such as an explorable overworld and saving improvements. The music and its stark difference in tone is also discussed. And of course the polarizing character of Kiddy Kong is given a second look.
Is this game better than its legacy would lead you to believe?
Check out Samsonite_D discovering an Super Mario 64 easter egg while saving at Wrinkly Kong.
The Scrollies Sqadnado is back with their next set of Composers. Two very distinct choices even though Ratnado thought they would be the same person. Kenji Yamamoto, most famous for contributions to the Metroid series. And Jeremy Soule, who specializes in the Western fantasy genre. Additionally these hosts learn to Be-caw and fus ro dah!
Check out the sample CD for Metroid Prime.
After being sucked into another dimension where blast processing traps all who do not pay tribute to Sega, Sqat and Rat find Plaidman86 trapped as well for not completing his 30 streams of Sonic. From the 16-bit War era, to the struggle to make a good 3D Sonic game, these three gamers talk about everything Plaidman can get them to in regards to the Blue Blur.
Happy Halloween 2022! In this episode, the Scrollies Sqadnado talk about their upcoming projects: such as the Cutevember III lineup & Sqat's new YouTube Channel. They reflect on Scrollies, and talk about the types of things that inspire them. As well, they discuss much about their favorite traditions and the things they have created over the year in regards to the Twitch community.
You asked for it, here it be. Another Spoopies!
Thanks to Empyrette310 & RelientKFan for their submissions. Email your own experiences to scrolliespodcast@gmail.com
This episode the Scrollies Sqadnado cover the mysterious disappearance of objects that were once physically there and then suddenly were not!! This unexplainable phenomena happens to everyone at some point or another. Where did they go? Did these objects hold some kind of sentience or were other supernatural factors at play? Hard to say, but what's undeniably true is the uneasiness it brings about in those who witness it.
Tune in on Halloween night at midnight (12AM MST) for a special episode release!
As Halloween draws near the Scrollies Sqadnado take a moment to share those times when a kids game or otherwise non scary time is suddenly infused with nightmare fuel. From monsters that were designed a bit too unsettling to the very nature of cutting edge gameplay bringing about a fear of the unknown, the scaries are aplenty in the games of the past.
Additionally Scrollies has it's first sponser! Contact Garfbusters for all your garfield enoucnters this holiday season.
In the spirit of Halloween and spoopy season, Rat and Sqat talk about zombies! The favored enemy of too many games to count in the 2010s brought forth a variety of the best games and inspired a decade.
The Dark Knight exudes gothic Halloween energy, and Batman is just so cool. Rocksteady Studios created an enduring, moody, and most of all fun series of games that inspired SqatCobblr and Ratnado then and they still have a lot to say now. They talk about their experiences with the series, what they liked, and even get into spoilies.
"You shouldn't have done that."
RAT Drowned & SlendrCobblr have jumped fully into this spooky month with a discussion around Horror ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) based on video games. They share the ones that have stuck with them over the years and what makes them unique among the more popular series. Additionally the share their all-time favorite creepypasta of this variety.
Spooky games player, fiancé, catt tamer: Glasses Guy is many things and this week the Scrollies Sqadnado sit down with the man himself to discuss horror games. They discuss some of their experiences with horror games, the current state of the genre, and of course they make definitions and spit hot takes with reckless abandon!
The Scrollies Sqad are networked in to the UltraJohnic AI to discuss the rose-tinted glasses that are gaming nostalgia. Retro titles are often seen as inaccessible to many modern day gamers because of their age and rough edges but to those that grew up with these, they are a window into a simpler time. Along with touching on the modern throwbacks made by devs with their own nostalgia for a bygone era, SqatCobblr, Ratnado, and UltraJohnic reflect on how they view many of their childhood favorites today and what its like to grow up with a game and see it span so many of the commonplace features seen today.
Licensed games have changed from their inception. Originally seen as a way to promote a business or as an ensemble piece in a media advertising push, licensed games have always been questionable for their quality. EggyCarton, an avid player of awful licensed games joins the Sqad to talk about why he enjoys them.
Sqat has a vision of a being. That being is Icy James, the roguish inquisitive that Sqat will bring into James' first game of Dungeons & Dragons 5E. Ratnado tries to shake off the rust and help guide him through the process as he prepares to head to three days of non-stop Dungeons & Dragons at Salt Lake City's convention FanX.
In an era of unmitigated capitalism, gamers are targeted on all fronts with merchandise. From clothing to figures and more, the boys talk about the different types of merch they've chosen to purchase or have been unable to purchase in the past.
If you like peanut butter and you like chocolate, you'd naturally like a peanut butter and chocolate crossover, right?! Gaming crossovers are nothing new but their increased presence in recent years leads Ratnado and SqatCobblr to talk over what makes them unique in bringing two or more worlds of characters into one.
They talk some of their favorite inclusions in Super Smash Bros as well as Fortnite. They cover game series that only exist due to the fact they combine popular properties together. And they share some cameos of characters in other games and at what point that becomes more than just a mere cameo.
As the foremost player of Kaizo hacks in the Scrollies Sqadnado realm, the boys sit down for another chance to talk with CodeSynth on a brief history of the genre, its allure, and about the overall direction of game difficulty in the culture today. Check him out on his Twitch stream to see the man in action!
Games with Survival Modes provide almost as many good stories as they do quick deaths. SqatCobblr and Ratnado talk about their history playing Minecraft and the other survival-based games over the years. They examine some examples of sorta-survival based adventure games and discuss whether those would fall under the same umbrella.
Join The Rat's Nest Minecraft Survival Server!
And Check out Ratnado and McButcher's botched mutiny on Captain Cobblr and Teodoffa's sole Twitch clip as of this episode's release.
MEMO:
Make sure this one only goes up on the Premium Podcast Feed and not the regular one. Here's what to put in the description:
Hello again $crollie$ $qad!!! As you are our wealthiest listeners we have yet another daily-released exclusive episode here for you. This one continues off Episode 18 where Sqat and Ratnado covered free-to-play games. Now they discuss that other type of content you have to pay for despite this time already buying the game.
DLC has changed a lot from its early days of expansion packs and bonus campaigns. The cosmetics and pre-order bonuses of today didn't come out of nowhere, but rather crept into the mainstream after public outcries turned to complacency. Sqat and Ratnado recount their early experiences paying for DLC in the later years of the 7th generation of consoles. They also share how in more recent years the amount and type of content offered has changed.
Ratnado and SqatCobblr discovered a mutual interest! The wide range of topics from ghosts to cryptids to scary local lore, the Scrollies Sqadnado is doing this special offshoot from Scrollies to delve into the depths of listener stories, personal experiences, and to share their favorite creepy stories and legends from around the world.
SqatCobblr and Ratnado own hundreds of games and dozens of consoles between them. But what happens when that just isn't enough? Whether due to age or convenience, older game systems are being ushered to the retirement home leaving their games in a limbo of unplayability. Are there other methods one can use to enjoy these experiences? Perhaps so if you're a piratecat.gif.
Both SqatCobblr and Ratnado have some experience here and share some of those as well as some recommendations for ones that run like a well-oiled machine.
For those government officials listening: both of these upstanding citizens are good boys and have never visited bad websites in their entire lives.
THANKS FOR GETTING US TO 1,000 DOWNLOADS!!! A SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE IS COMING SOON!!!!
Ratnado and SqatCobblr are console gamers by trade and controllers are their tool of choice (except for keyboard and mouse sometimes). But controllers are versatile and can be used for basically any game with a little remapping, right?? Mayhaps so. Nonetheless these two have their preferences. They highlight some controllers they consider underrated and even overrated, as well as their most favorite to use on the regular.
Check out our Instagram to see all the controllers that Ratnado (and Sqat eventually) owns.
Kingdom Hearts is a long-running franchise that is notorious for its lore complexity. SqatCobblr has picked up much about the series through osmosis from being around people who love the series while Rat sits just outside the franchise doors catching peaks of Final Fantasy characters. Friend of the podcast, Shraxa, as a seasoned veteran of the series stops by the Scrollies studio to give the Squad KH boot camp, followed up by a quiz on KH lore!
Twitch streamer, artist, Bug and Morty's owner: AbbyArtFox wears many a hat. She stops by the Scrollies studios to talk about her first experiences with seeing video games on Playstation 1 and her love for many of the modern games that use beautiful art direction, colors, and styles. Sqat and Rat talk about some of the wow moments they've had with video games. As a true artist, AbbyArtFox shares her love of all things sentimental and heartfelt in video games. Make sure to check her out on her Twitch stream and also check out her Etsy!
Ratnado gets a birthday greeting from none other than Solid Snake himself!! Ratnado & Sqat proceed to never acknowledge this happening and instead talk about two legendary video game music composers: David Wise and Nobuo Uematsu!
Ratnado & SqatCobblr often find themselves listening to video game music in their daily lives. Predictably among their most listened a couple names show up often. David Wise and Nobuo Uematsu of Donkey Kong Country and Final Fantasy fame respectively.
What differentiated these two men from their contemporaries. Where did they draw their inspirations from? Can one game be considered their magnum opus? Do Ratnado and SqatCobblr have favorite tracks of theirs? That last one can be answered with two Spotify playlists!
Check out Ratnado's Experience of Uematsu & SqatCobblr's Monke Music.
TeamRatnado and SqatCobblr plays lots of video games from the retro days. As time has moved on, the original creators of popular franchises like Metroid and Mega Man may have moved on from their creations and companies but still long to create something in the same vein for creative purposes or to please an existing fanbase. But what differentiates a spiritual successor from a ripoff? Sqat and Rat tackle this question in this episode.
To some a fun pasttime, to others a blight on modern gaming: Free-to-Play games. The microtransaction-infused grindfests that had humble beginnings in mobile games. Ratnado and SqatCobblr discuss the upsides and downsides they present. They share their experience with hit early 2010s app games. Covering some of the more egregious examples and proposing how to improve the model for those that wish to spend a few extra bucks.
Check out Esquire's Robinhood referral link for free stonks
In this very special episode of Scrollies, Ratnado finds himself without SqatCobblr due to the barrelgram running on empty due to inflation on time travel juice. Regardless, the show must go on! Plaidman86 guests in this episode to talk about his memories of video game magazines. From Nintendo Power to Electronic Gaming Monthly, video game magazines were for many years the best way to get exclusive and hot information on the production of your favorite games, cheat codes, and rankings of the current games out. Which ones do they remember? What made video game magazines so entertaining? In this episode, Rat and Plaid find out!
Telltale games was a uniquely 2010s phenomenon. While the studio had been around for longer, the studio rose to the highest heights before collapsing in on itself. In this episode, SqatCobblr and Ratnado discuss with friend of the podcast SheriffMcLawdog what draws people to Telltale games, why Sheriff enjoys playing them on stream, and what strengths and weaknesses the genre of game had.
For Ratnado, RPGS are just an every day thing. However, the hype of the massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) was at its peak during his teenage years. In a show of good will, SqatCobblr subjects himself to hearing Rat talk about all of the times he had in the game, discussing how the game was not like other MMOs of the time, what lead to its downfall, and some of the stories he got to live through that he still remembers two decades later.
BONUS EPISODE: With the memories of Ratcon 2022 slowly fading, Ratnado and SqatCobblr take a moment to share their favorite moments of that legendary meetup. They cover their favorite rides ridden, theme park experiences had, food eaten, and fun times streamed.
They also look forward to the potential of Ratcon 2023 being a bigger and better event than the first! They share their hopes and desires for that very likely successor.
For Ratcon is no longer just a real life meme but a living dream!
Tetsuya Nomura.
To some, a visionary responsible for crafting their childhood favorites. To others, a hack who's storytelling is trite and allegedly promotes the zipper industry.
Ratnado has some strong feelings on Nomura's main works. Joining him as a guest is longtime Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy fan, Samsonite_D. These two discuss their experiences playing these series, whether Nomura's involvement benefitted them or not, and how they understand the core demographics of these two series to differ.
Meanwhile SqatCobblr tries to avoid discussing these matters after the backlash received for his Kingdom Hearts III stream.
Recorded LIVE at Ratcon 2022!
Ratnado & SqatCobblr have frequently referenced the Metal Gear Solid games on Scrollies, but this episode they dive into the entire mainline series with fellow fan crash and the bois. They attempt to narrow down which game would have "best" ended the series. They share their experiences playing through the series, some to completion more than others. Disagreements are had, passions run high; it's just like one of my Japanese animes!
Once upon a time, video games were seen as yet another way to advertise a big upcoming film or television project. Throughout the past few decades, however, video games have improved and audience's tastes have, too. In the past decade, video games are rarely directly based off and related to film counterparts. Luckily, these game tie-ins provided great meme material mine for Scrollies down the road.
The Scrollies podcast invites the Catt on to talk Zelda! Chunkycatt shares her past with the franchise. As a gamer who has seen Zelda in its many forms, she talks about her unique experiences playing Zelda, the gang looks ahead to talk about what the future holds and what they wish to see in Breath of the Wild 2, should it ever be released. Chunkycatt brings in her usual hot (but sometimes infuriating) takes to Scrollies!
What makes a game character a favorite? Is it their depth? The degree you relate to them? A connection to your childhood? In Sqat and Ratnado's case maybe all three but mostly the last one.
Join them as they each list their Top 5 favorite characters of gaming and a little bit of why that is. There are basically no surprises here.
Check out Shraxa listing all the "Snakes" she's learned of through osmosis and Plaidman86 overcome by nostalgia for Blast Processing.
Is it possible to enjoy a game, yet not enjoy streaming it? Ratnado and Sqat attempt to answer this and more in this episode all about games they've streamed and those that left an impression, good or bad. Their favorite streaming experiences may surprise you.
Check out Rat blowing himself up off a ledge and Sqat cursing his victory with an EZPZ.
BONUS EPISODE: As news of E3 2022's cancellation spreads far and wide, Ratnado and Sqat use the opportunity to plug their own event, Ratcon 2022. They discuss the history of how the meme became real life. What the schedule includes while in sunny Orlando, Florida. As well as the important guests and contributors making appearances throughout.
Additionally, Sqat discloses what the ill-fated follow-up to Metroid May would have included as this originally posed a scheduling conflict in the early stages of making Ratcon a reality.
The Rat and the Cobblr return once again. This week, the pair discuss what makes something retro. While Sqat feels that there are very clear rules that can be used to tell what is and isn't retro, Ratnado is unsure of what exactly makes something retro: aesthetic, age, technological relevance. Springing from a discussion in a Twitch chat, the two work through what feels right and different eras of gaming.
The roguelike is a term that is used liberally in gaming marketing, but to people, like the_audio who play them, terms like "roguelike" and "roguelite" can mean entirely different things. Ratnado shares some of the games that he's played that are considered to be roguelikes while Sqat who hasn't played any of them also learns about the genre and shares experiences he's had while making frenemies in line for movies.
"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"
Ratnado has learned of the impending 3DS & Wii U eShop closure. He and Sqat discuss Nintendo's inconsistent past of providing retro games on their systems. Playstation's and Xbox's legacy support are also talked about with their own pros & cons. Examples are given of games that have been or are at risk of being lost to time for these same reasons. To end things off Sqat and Ratnado give recommendations of eShop titles to nab before it's too late.
Is this our most pessimistic episode yet?
What would a conversation on Multiplayer be without multiple hosts? Joining the Scrollies Podcast as its first ever guest is Roger of CinnaMANToast. Bringing his own experience multiplayer gaming with squad shooters among others, CinnaMANToast accompanies Ratnado & SqatCobblr as they dive deep into what makes it a unique experience. They discuss the MMO, Co-op, Competitive, and the significance of multiplayer-only games rising in popularity.
In this episode, SqatCobblr and Ratnado talk about the craze that is taking over pop culture: Dungeons & Dragons. Forever-Dungeon Master Ratnado talks about his decade of playing, some of his favorite moments in D&D, and what makes a good time for players. The duo talk about Sqat's own tabletop RPG experience before talking about what type of character Sqat would want to play.
Ratnado cuts Sqat some slack and dives into the wide world of mascot platformers including the Super Mario, Sonic, and Donkey Kong franchises. He draws from his wealth of knowledge of these franchises before moving into discussing what he enjoyed most about Donkey Kong games. Ratnado asks for clarification on his questions regarding Donkey Kong lore.
RPGs are to TeamRatnado as platformers are to SqatCobblr. With a term so overused when applied to games, what is an RPG at its core? Do some games qualify that you wouldn't expect? We try to find out by giving some outlandish examples. Additionally we discuss why typical RPG elements might become cumbersome and how some series are abandoning them while others openly embrace them.
Welcome to Scrollies! The hot new podcast from Twitch streamers TeamRatnado and SqatCobblr. This pilot episode we discuss 2D platformers. Our own history with them, the benefits and limitations of the genre, how the early 3D era affected the direction these games went, and the resurgence of them in the last decade.