CheckpointAFK: Recent Episodes
Beasley Media Group
CheckpointAFK is ready to be a favorite of every self-proclaimed gamer, geek, nerd! From the minds of the CheckpointXP Crew comes a podcast conversation that focuses on gaming pop culture topics near and dear to gamers like the latest season of Stranger Things, Black Mirror and all things Netflix, the best and worst TV intros of all time, or movies like Detective Pikachu or the latest Star Wars movie and giving you behind the scenes peek at CheckpointXP on the road from PAX East, E3, and Blizzcon and more.
The "final" episode of AFK talks Cyberpunk crunch and League of Legends worlds. Don't fret though. Norris, Chadd and Kali are taking their talents to Checkpoint Daily!
The third member of Lost Ringz joins us for AFK. Black Krystel duels with Norris over Xbox. Did the $7.5 Billion purchase of Zenimax/Bethesda change the tides of the console war? The crew discusses!
The AFK Crew talk all about the latest PS5 announcement stream. Is the price low enough to make XBox concerned? Is Final Fantasy still a series that sells consoles? And what new games can XBox drop that will truly contend with Sony's IPs? That and more on this episode of AFK.
The usual suspects bring in recording artist Sunzi to discuss the big Xbox news from this week. How will Sony respond and is this the boost that Microsoft needed to shift the balance of power? That and more on this week's AFK!
On this episode of AFK: Norris tries to convince Chadd to buy high fashion. We get hype over the new Madalorian season as well as John Boyega's comments against Disney. And yes, we also geek out about the Nvidia 30 Series.
Enjoy another wild episode of AFK, where we are joined by recording artist, BunnyMightGameU of Lost Rings. We go in on the Army on Twitch and if the Black Ops Cold War will REALLY represent the 80's. And we also discuss which Final Fantasy characters gave us funny feelings as teens.
Norris, Chadd and Kali each list off their top five Anime series and you'd be surprised at which ones they pick. Norris talks about how online games always get ruined and the LEC's rap video...yay or nay?
The CheckpointAFK team got really disappointed that a top Baseball Exec is moving to Activision Blizzard. The former Deputy Commissioner of the MLB, Tony Petitti, will be ActiBlizz's new head of sports and entertainment. Also, did leakers confirm the existence of a second next-gen Xbox? We talk about that and more on this installment of Checkpoint AFK!
This week, guest host and co-founder/fashion designer for the gaming clothing collection Ateyo, Rachel Feinberg joins the Checkpoint crew to discuss how there are clothes that are made to be sat in, the LEC's recent deal with Saudi Arabia Tech City NEOM. Plus, we rank ALL the controller! Prepare to be mad. Tweet at us, if you must.
Norris, Kali, and Chadd are safely back in the CheckpointXP studio (with proper social distancing). With the recent Xbox Games Showcase, they talk about how Xbox didn't really impress them much. Plus, they discuss the rumors of the Disney+ Lando series in the works.
The Checkpoint crew is joined by guest host, Cecilia D'Anastasio to discuss some of the recent accusations of sexual misconduct in esports and what actions to take to prevent them in the future. Then they open up about their history with Final Fantasy XIV and the community.
Game Director for Dead by Daylight, Mathieu Cote joins the Checkpoint crew to discuss the importance of communities in gaming, plus how to deal with toxicity online.
The Checkpoint crew is working with Gamers.Vote and discuss how there are 133 Million gamers who are eligible to vote and the importance of voting. Plus, will the Fallout series be a dud? Then the crew closes with a serious discussion about sexual misconduct in the FGC Esports circuit.
The Checkpoint crew deep dive into the failure of Mixer and why streamers were not willing to make the transition over to Facebook Gaming. After CD Project Red had released more information about the game during its Night City Wire event, the crew theorize about the game and discuss their Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay wish list.
This week, CheckpointAFK celebrates PRIDE! Kali Sloan and Chadd Callahan are joined by variety Twitch streamer, Parker Hadley (@GuacOnMySock), and esports diversity & inclusivity consultant, Amanda Stevens (@AmandaTNStevens) to discuss everything LGBTQIA and gaming.
Another week and another awesome guest host on Checkpoint AFK. This time we bring in esports writer and host Brandon Brathwaite. Norris, Kali, and WeirdBeard talk to him about how police are depicted in video games and his reactions to the Playstation 5 Keynote! And make sure you check out our special announcement from Axis Replay!
Coppers on Your Console
Police reform is at the top of everyone's mind right now. Protests against police brutality and enter their 3rd week in the US and don't look like slowing down anytime soon. So we took this opportunity to think about how Police are portrayed in video games. Are there more games where Police are a force of nature or is it more about the tough cop experience? How doe that affects how we view the police? We break it all down with Brandon Brathwaite.
PlayStation 5 Reveal
For our final topic, Brandon Brathwaite and the Checkpoint Gang breakdown their favorite announcement from the Playstation 5 Reveal event. The hour-long event contained a first look at the games coming out for the system and a look on the hardware its self. While the design seems polarizing, the games weren't as over ten launches or near launch titles got trailers. Did they outshine their Microsoft rivals or did they fall into the same traps they did about "gameplay"? We speculate on its cost and additional features the console may have and how it will perform.
On this week's Checkpoint AFK, Gaming and Esports personality, Malik Forte, joins us for a conversation about the George Floyd protests and how gaming is stepping up to support. Alongside the Checkpoint support crew of Kali Sloan and Chadd Callahan, Norris and Malik share their perspectives on how the world is changing and what it may look like post-2020.
L.A. Riots 2.0?
By being based out of Los Angeles, Malik talks to us about his experience at the George Floyd protests that shut down LA over the week. Malik recounts being on the ground when the protest turned for the worse and how it compared to other demonstrations. The crew also talks about future generations and what it will mean to them to see such massive demonstrations and discord.
Keep Politics In The Video Games
Malik and the Checkpoint crew also talk about game companies and how they've reacted to the protests. Many developers like Ubisoft and Square Enix chose to donate to Black social justice groups or vowed to increase diversity. Many like EA and the Niantic committed to both. Malik lets us know that while EA may have a sour reputation with gamers, they've stepped up when it comes to diversity. We have a great discussion on how certain companies could effectively speak to the black community. And how others took us by surprise with their commitments. We examine who did what and what the impact this could have on the gaming community.
On this week's CheckpointAFK, Erin Simon joins us to talk about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. We also discuss the Snyder Cut of Justice League and Kali makes a shocking confession.
Black Lives Matter
While it's not a gaming topic, Black Lives Matter is too important of a discussion for us not to have. Former Cheddar Esports host Erin Simon joins us to talk about the importance of the movement and what we can do to help. If you'd like to help more, please visit this website.
The Snyder Cut of Justice League
If you enjoyed the discussion about the Snyder cut of Justice League, then make sure you check out this week's episode of The Other Identity. Robbie and Ben Morse dive deep into the topic.
ERP Brothels
And yes, you heard that correctly. Kali admitted to being a long time erotic role-player and even doing so for money. You can check out the article that inspired the conversation here!
Streaming viewership numbers are out and all stream providers are celebrating, all except Mixer. Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming have increased tremendously since the crisis, but Mixer has barely seen a bump. Is it still Twitch vs Mixer? Or is it now Twitch vs YouTube vs Facebook vs Mixer?
The Checkpoint crew also discuss Dignitas' all-female Valorant team, Dignitas Female. The crew is excited to see the inclusion of women, but is this really a step in the right direction?
As E3, Tokyo Game Show, and numerous others are canceled, the Summer Game Fest has begun. First up is from the Unreal Engine 5. However, it didn't reveal any new games or showcase any actual gameplay from an actual game. The CheckpointXP crew wonder how long before we start seeing more emphasis on gameplay.
Also, the news of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 getting a remake has the team excited, but are we relying too much on nostalgia?
The Checkpoint crew discusses the first Xbox 20/20 reveal and the open claim of "gameplay" footage in the trailers. We personally didn't see much, but let us know what you thought about the Xbox 20/20 presentation.
The crew brought in CheckpointXP On Campus co-host, Jacob Brothers to discuss the new Streets of Rage 4 game and how well it captured nostalgia, but also had something to offer the new generation of gamers.
This week the Checkpoint team talks about how AMC has recently decided to ban Universal Studios' films from their theatres due to the Trolls World Tour digital release decision. Also, Valorant competitive is now available, but how will it track and rank players?
Norris, Robbie, and Kali discuss the entirety of Final Fantasy VII Remake, including the ending. Beware! This episode is FULL OF SPOILERS. So, if you haven't beaten the game yet, beat the game and then come back and listen.
Rumor has it that China plans to crack down on multiplayer video games once again after an incident involving Animal Crossing. The Checkpoint team discusses how this may impact the esports scene and video game companies, in general.
This week, the guys discuss the new Final Fantasy 7 Remake and whether it lives up to all the hype. Will this be everything fanboys and fangirls have been waiting for, or is it a nostalgic money-grab?
With the continued console wars going on between Microsoft and Sony, the team breakdown some rumors they've heard online. The biggest rumor is the price, leaked from a Canadian retailer. What should we expect by the end of the year from Sony's PlayStation 5 and is it enough to go up against Microsoft's Xbox Series X?
The Checkpoint crew enter week 2 of quarantine amid the Covid-19 crisis. Some people are dealing with better than others and they bring you a few new tips on how to cope. It's not all about video games and streaming this time. Plus, Nevada has officially approved esports betting. Is it something the world is ready for? Will it catch on amid the delay of traditional sports? The Checkpoint crew is pretty split.
As the entire world deals with the outbreak of Covid019, the CheckpointXP crew are already in full Quarantine mode. Luckily, thanks to the world of streaming that means your content doesn't stop. Each of the members suggest some games to get caught up on during this time of self isolation. Plus, they go through some of their favorite shows and movies, just in case you need a break from the gaming.
This week on CheckpointAFK the crew makes some important announcements about the next few weeks of Checkpoint XP content. Nicole joins the crew to talk about actors that everyone seems to like but for whatever reason we can't stand. The crew ends this weeks show fantasy casting some of their favorite video games if they were to be made into movies.
The entire gaming world has been lit since the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Demo dropped on the PlayStation store. It's give us a look at first hour or so of gameplay and it's looking really good. We also come up with our definitive rankings for Girl Scout Cookies. Warning: Someone has objectively BAD opinions.
This past weekend the Houston Outlaws welcomed several other teams into their home at their first ever homestand event. Robbie and Joe were there from day 1 and got to experience it all. Join them as they recount everything from terrible golf swings to triumphant victories.
Sonic the Hedgehog has opened in theaters and broken the record for the biggest box office hall of a video game movie. Dragon Quest; Your Story has released on Netflix and actually managed to surprise and impress Nate. The crew talk about the two movies, what they liked, didn't like and how they could do better.
Today on CheckpointAFK – we're discussing Disney movies and Disney characters. Which are the best? Which are the worst? And are the live action remakes really hitting the mark and why is The Black Cauldron never a part of the conversation? 1980’s Disney or bust, baby!
Square-Enix has been making games that have lightly touched on issues of gender and sexuality going all the way back to 1992 with the character Ferris in Final Fantasy V. So should we expect the Final Fantasy VII Remake to treat the Honey Bee in sequence, where the main character Cloud cross-dresses in order to save a fellow hero, to treat this scene with a degree of reverence, respect or even tact? The crew breaks it down!
The Coronavirus has one of the largest, most populated countries on Earth on lockdown so the crew takes a moment to talk about how serious the threat is. But it doesn't just stop there, the Coronavirus has caused Overwatch League to delay their homestands, canceling more than 20 games and the LPL has delayed their season opener. How bad could this get for esports? Download and find out!
As rumors of a Knights of the Republic begin to swirl, the Checkpoint crew talk about the game and what a new iteration may look like. Plus, what's left on the horizon for Star Wars fans with the Obi-Wan Disney+ Series being delayed indefinitely.
After spending the weekend in San Antonio, TX for PAX South, Robbie and Joe talk about their trip and experiences at the convention. From two failed landing attempts, a late night lyft and a weekend with the Houston Outlaws, they walk you through day by day of their ordeals and triumphs.
The internet was ablaze with rumors and speculation when word that Christian Bale was meeting with Marvel for Thor 4. What character would he be playing? Most think it's Beta Ray Bill, but what villains could he play? We also talk about Mo-Cap and how it's changed in movies and games over the years.
Netflix's the Witcher and Henry Cavill as Geralt have received near universal praise. The crew discuss the show, how it relates to the source material and what this could mean both for the future of the game franchise and the netflix show itself. Plus, did you know Henry Cavill is a huge gamer?
The Checkpoint Studio is full today as certain cast members tag in and out to talk about two of the biggest streaming shows this season. The Mandalorian and The Watchmen. They talk about the good, the bad and ugly of each and where they may go in the future, or if they even should.
It was announced recently that the Matrix 4 and John Wick 4 will both release on the same day in 2021. If you could only see one, which would it be and why? The Checkpoint guys breakdown the mythos of the Matrix and the appeal of action movies.
The Crew are joined by producers Chadd and Weirdbeard to talk about addiction in all its forms and how we label it in today's society. Does changing the way we talk about certain topics do anything to reduce or remove the stigma associated with it? Plus, the conversation goes off the rails when Norris asks the room what are some things you thought would be horrible, but once you gave it a try turned out better than expected.
Holiday's can be tough for gamers. Especially those of us who can be more introverted than others. This week on Checkpoint AFK the crew discusses some of the common gripes about being a gamer around the holidays.Nate is joined by Joe, Chadd and Norris as Robbie and Ric took their vacation early.
We've been saying it for months now, but the change is finally happening. Checkpoint AFK is almost here. We fill you in on how the podcast and the brand will be making the break into 2020, whats changing and what it means for you. Plus, Stadia has finally launched and the overall consensus isn't as groundbreaking as we had hoped.
Nate’s been hooked with WWE2k19 lately and brings his PlayStation 4 in to make Joe and Robbie create a Superstar to join his roster of wrestlers alongside Norris’. While they do this Nate recalls the first time he ever went to a live wrestling event and he and the other other guys talk wrestling in all its forms.
Something everyone has context and a passion for regardless of where you fall on the gamer scale is food. On this episode of the podcast Joe laments about how hard it is for him to eat healthy, or cook. The guys try to save Joe from an early grave by talking about some of their own dietary tips. Plus, they talk about some of their favorite meals and least places to eat.
Martin Scorcese and Francis Ford Coppala both made disparaging comments about Marvel Movies and the summer blockbuster concept. The crew explores where those comments come from and talk about what cinema is nowadays and what its place in our society is.
With a lot of recent controversies centered around beloved gaming companies in recent years, we had to ask about the relationship between gamers and developers. We talk about the difference between gaming companies and the rest of the corporate world. Plus, what can you do as a player if you want to make a difference.
The crew of Checkpoint XP have been together and creating content for nearly 15 years. For this week's episode, Norris is out on vacation and Joe is out sick, so we rope Chadd into joining us for this episode. We take a look at the state of podcasts today and how far they’ve come. Looking back at the almost 15 years of podcasting, we talk about our own experiences and even let Chadd ask us a few questions about the industry.
With the Joker movie set to release the director, known for movies like Due Date or the Hangover trilogy, says he’s given up comedy because of Woke and PC culture. Has comedy changed in recent years? Is the problem with comics, the audience the material...or is there even a problem at all? Finally, what is comedy’s place in video games? When does it work and when doesn’t it work...
The Disney+ streaming service has released a list of all the content that will be available at launch, between movies, series and original content the number sits around 850. We talk about how this measures up to other streaming services and what the future of streaming will look like if media companies keep breaking up their content into different services and platforms.
Joe and Norris spent 3 days out at the Esports Business Summit and got all kinds of interviews and content. On this episode of the podcast they talk to Michael Brooks the Executive Director for NACE, Andy Maisner the President of TV Pro Gear and Norris and Joe talk about Gears of War competitive
Ric Flair has recently trademarked ‘The Man’ and is suing Vince McMahon and the WWE, but not for the reason you’d think...Nate, Joe and Norris take a walk down their wrestling memory lane talking about everything from the Mantaur to Conspiracy Theory Victim Chris Jericho and Robbie was there too, I guess.
Video Games and Technology proliferate a majority of our life in today's society. There are a lot of people who use such things to decompress or de-stress. For the Checkpoint Crew and many others in the gaming and esports industry gaming is also work and there needs to be other ways to decompress when even games are stressful. So, the guys talk about all the non video game ways they de-stress.
Nerd Radio is a podcast about all things nerdy by James Campbell and Chuck Bean. We talk to each of them about their geeky histories and all thing nerdy.
Joining the Checkpoint XP crew for this week's podcast is a Luis “Speedy” Gonzalez from the Geek Culture Congress Podcast. We talk about everything nerdy under the son from comics and Marvel Movies to Anime and Cowboy Bebop adaptation. We also take a look back to our conversation with his co-host Joey Franchize from our opening week of the Checkpoint XP grand studio opening.
Millennials have been accused of ‘killing’ a lot of industries and said to not have any brand loyalty. We talk in depth about the spending habits of the gamers and how brand loyalty is alive and well within the geek culture. We also discuss the way our fandoms grew to influence the way we dress and how we identify with our brands.
ESPN released a short story about NBA athletes who play and love video games. We talk about how gaming and gamers are a lot more mainstream today then they have ever been. It’s not just cool to see celebrities who have an interest in gaming, now gaming itself can make you a celebrity. While someone like Ninja is the biggest name in the scene, is it possible to get bigger? Have we seen the Golden Gods of Gaming born yet?
This week on the Checkpoint XP Podcast we share our conversation with Sara Jones of the Laughing In The Dark Podcast from the Beasley XP studio grand opening week. We got to know Sara and learned about her podcast where she takes comedians to haunted locations for an interview.
The guys discuss the most recent season of Stranger Things. Everything from the best character arcs, to the new characters, where the series could go from here and where they'd like to see it go.
For Checkpoints first Gaming Society discussion we choose to play indie darling of 2018, Celeste. We talk about everything from the gameplay to the music to the story.
With the release of From Software's newest title Sekiro, some people have been calling for an easy mode to be added to the game. We debate whether something like that would harm or benefit in the long run.
Robbie and Norris have been on the road to Boston for PAX East 2019. Join them during their travels for the PAX East 2019 travelogue. The guys share their thoughts on the convention, what they got hands on with and who they talked to!
Nate had a chance to obtain a rare and powerful weapon in Fallout 76, but he would have to pay money for it. Which got us talking about the morality of spending real money in an online game.
With Captain Marvel out, the guys talk about the movie. They also go into full on tin foil hat mode. Spoilers will be told!
As the gaming industry has boomed, the number of games we have access to has grown. But do new games only compete with each other? Do older games still pose as competition? What about other media?
As we all grow up our tastes tend to change. How does it effect our love of gaming? As our time becomes more precious how do we decide to allocate the time we have? At what point does the industry have to respond?
As the Checkpoint Crew attend Frostbite 2019 and watch the exciting Smash Ultimate action, they breakdown the FGC, esports culture and what the scene needs to reach the next pinnacle.
APEX Legends has stormed onto the scene. It takes a lot of cues from other battle royal games but fine tunes and improves some features. Plus, Twitch Rivals hosts the first tournament for the game.
Fortnite continues to make waves in the gaming industry with their creativity. They recently held a 10 minute concert with DJ Marshmellow IN the game itself. Over 10 million concurrent players participates.
Thanks to the Polar Vortex shutting down most of the country we decided to talk about what games are best to play while snowed in. And then everything spirals out of control from Metal Gear Solid to Kingdom Hearts.
GIANTS software the developer behind Farming Simulator have came out and announced their plans for a new esports league. The Farming Simulator League Season Two will feature a prize pool of €250,000.
A week long battle that took over 11 months to plan led to an epic mark in EVE Online's history. We talk about how other games could possibly capture this same type of magic.
Music is a powerful tool and has long been recognized as such on it's own and in movies and television. The crew talk about it's use in video games and what makes it so powerful, giving plenty of their favorites as examples.
From the Loot Box Legislation to the Fallout 76 Garbage Bag. The Checkpoint crew look back on some of the biggest and lamest controversies of 2018 courtesy of PCGamer.com
With the holidays finally upon us the crew decided to get un the giving mood. They each exchange gifts carefully picked out for one another in what is truly a holiday miracle.
As teasers and promo posters for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie start to circulate, we are reminded how bad video game adaptations can be. The crew discuss in great detail, just how bad this is going to get before...well before it's just over.
The crew discuss in the most scientific way possible, the best and worst intros of all time. TV, Cartoon, Anime or streaming. We got them all.
The Crew discuss what a possible live action Cowboy Bebop could look like, what it would need to succeed as well as do some of their own fan casting. Will this turn out any better than Death Note or Full Metal Alchemist? Time will tell.
This past week saw the first collaboration between Riot's League of Legends and the WWE. ImaQTPie and Tyler1 led their team of WWE and NXT pros into Summoner's Rift and it was epic.
Ryan Reynolds and Pokemon is an unlikely pairing, but one that has the Checkpoint Crew a little bit excited and a little bit frightened. Could this be the first good video game movie?
A Kotaku article tackles how to eat endless shrimp and its epic. But the guys cant tame their cravings and it all descends into madness. For the full effect, come hungry!
Robbie and Norris report from Blizzcon 2018. Reactions to announcements, plus what they got to experience on the floor at Blizzcon. Meanwhile, back in the studio, Nate and Joe run down your weekend in esports.
An important moment for video game history this week as the Librarian of Congress has established fair use exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for Video games and other software. The crew discuss the importance this has for the future of gaming.Plus, a conversation with Daren Denenberg educators and lecturer at University of California Irvine.
Ubisoft COO said in a statement that "Politics are bad for business." The crew talk about the history of Assassins Creed, Far Cry and the Division, games that all have politics at their core and how this statement relates to gaming.
The crew is on their way back from visiting the Esports porgam at the campus of UC Irvine. Robbie and Norris were the first to head back home followed by Nate and Joe the following day. So each squad shares their thoughts about the campus and conversations had while out at UC Irvine.
Nate and Joe had the pleasure of attending the Esports Business Summit and talking to some of the most influential people in the esports industry today. So this week on the podcast - Nate and Joe share their thoughts about the summit as they wait for their plane in the Las Vegas airport. We also take a listen to our conversation with Eric Gonzales of Pro Esports Gaming
The rivalry between U of M and MSU goes back far and long and with Checkpoint Radio that history now encompasses esports. Listen to the after math of that epic showdown.
Spider-Man for the PS4 is already a huge success and the creative director has talked about the idea of a gaming universe. The guys talk about what that might look like and if it's even feasible in the gaming medium.
The DCEU has many problems, but the latest of which seems to be the removal of Henry Cavill as Superman. The Checkpoint crew talk about the state of the DCEU and eventually turn the discussion toward Marvel.
Since the early days of gaming pixels have been used to portray adult situations. As advancement in technology has advanced...has the gaming worlds ability to depict sex really gotten any better? Join the crew for a very adult conversation.
Miyamoto has given his opinion on the state of the gaming industry as well as Loot Boxes and Micro-transactions. The guys then argue about the potential ramifications it may hold for the future of gaming. Plus, how would it affect us as consumers?
After the tragedy that took place in Jacksonville, FL at a Madden 2019 Tournament. The Checkpoint Crew hold a conversation about the importance of community and understanding how to process and grieve with those around you.
With the Washington Post entering the scene on Twitch, could there be new a dynamic emerging between news and streaming? And what role will gaming culture play in that.
The crew discuss the recent growth and economic success of esports and gaming and it's relationship to the greater media scene. Has it come far enough or is there still room to grow for both sides?
It's no secret the crew of Checkpoint harbor some disdain for recent Square Enix games. But could the success of the Bravely series and The Octopath Traveler change their minds and Sqaure Enix's fortunes?
A Porn themed esports tournament is being put on by YouPorn later this year, the crew tries their best to look at this from all sides. They are mostly professionals.
Today on the Checkpoint Radio podcast - we're proud to offer a special presentation. Checkpoint Radio produced a 1 hour special for 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia tracking the Philly Fusion's path to the Grand Finals. Celebrate the 1st ever OWL Grand Finals with Checkpoint Radio.
With the recent release of a 15 minute short film where Nathan Fillion plays Nathan Drake, the crew has to ask why Hollywood keeps getting it wrong. Plus, Joe shares a personal story that has everyone rolling.
Over the years Bethesda has put out amazing franchises, but Elder Scrolls has achieved heights few others have. With Skyrim being such a huge success, the crew talks about what it's taken for Bethesda to get this far.