The Nerdologues Present: Talking Games: Recent Episodes
Talking Games
Each week Chicago comedians Tim Dunn, Clayton Margeson, and Kellen Terrett team up with a special guest to discuss their thoughts and feelings on the world of video games, trying to add some insight in to why they love and hate the games they play, and have a little fun along the way. RSS Feed Subscribe on iTunes
Longtime listeners must have known, deep in their hearts -- for the final episode of Talking Games, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen lay bare the joys of Suikoden II. What better way to go out? Thanks everybody for listening. We appreciate you.
In the penultimate episode of this podcast, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen rank their favorite titles since this show began in 2011! Their #1 pick probably won't surprise you, but who's to say about #2-10?? Thanks so much to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring us!
It's the throwaway bit that turned into three full episodes. This week, the TG lads say goodbye forever to Talking Musicals with its final installment, a discussion of Thoroughly Modern Millie with guest Nicole Vespa! Only two episodes left, dawgs. Thanks so much to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for their continued support!
Only four episodes remain before Talking Games says goodbye. This week, our boys look ahead to the future of probably their favorite game genre. We'll cover titles like Persona, Mass Effect, Witcher, and more! Don't cry yet; we've got some discussin' to get to! Thanks so much to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for helping this show happen!
Talking Games is back, and they're covering a couple of the largest franchise releases of the past month. First, Tim recaps his experience with the newest Mass Effect title, and then Clayton digs into the experience of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Is it as awesome as people say?? Well, Clayton is a people -- see what he thinks! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring as always!
This week on Talking Games, the lads chat about the new hotness known as Horizon Zero Dawn, and Tim recounts his virtual reality experiences with a George Saunders novel. Tim and George are BFFs, if you didn't know. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring this episode!
The Nintendo Switch drops this Friday. Who's excited? Will you still be excited after listening to this episode?? Who can say! But maybe Tim, Clayton, and Kellen aren't as amped on the Switch as the rest of the world. Hmmm... Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring the show!
Between his job, his social life, and his wonderful work for Chicago Loot Drop, Mike Chuck keeps busy. That's why he enjoys games that repeat themselves -- that follow simple variations on a theme over and over. Games like Majora's Mask or Dead Rising have entertained millions for hours -- and now we're going to entertain the lot of you by talking about them for one hour! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring the show! And definitely take a look at Loot Drop's next event, building comfort kits for kids at Comer Children's Hospital.
This week, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen discuss the creepy, moody, altogether excelled Inside, the latest puzzle-platformer from studio Playdead (who brought us Limbo a couple years ago). Listen to this one in the dark. Unless you're driving or something. That's a terrible idea.
On this week's Very Special Episode, host Tim and his SO Lisa Burton dive into the game that's become their current obsession, Stardew Valley (they're even playing it while they record this episode!!). Thanks so much to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this ep and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for its continued support.
This week, the Talking Games farewell tour continues with the return of one of our classic features -- Talking Musicals! Tim, Clayton, and Kellen dissect the recent hit LA LA LAND and dive into the crushing defeat of trying to do anything creative. Fun! Thanks to our sponsor for this week's episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
On this week's Very Special Episode of Talking Games, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen share some of their favorite memories of doing the podcast. The countdown to the final episode continues! Thanks Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being around!
This week, the Talking Games boys look forward to some of their most anticipated games of 2017. From Detroit: Become Human to (hopefully!) Red Dead Redemption 2 to the Final Fantasy VII remake, we're talking about probably some of the only escapes from the misery the next year is sure to hold for you! Thanks Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
We love year-end best-of discussions! Love 'em! This week, Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and special guest John Patrick Coan bandy about their choices for game of the year. We'll discuss Overwatch, Doom, No Man's Sky, and even Pokemon Go! Two of those titles are discussed pretty derisively, though. Guess which ones! Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring this week's episode and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Once upon a time, right before Talking Games became a Nerdologues podcast, the wonderful John Sabine came by the show to talk about one of his favorite gaming franchises, Civilization. As part of our farewell tour, he's back to talk about the newest entry in the series! Thanks to the Harold Ramis Film School for sponsoring this episode, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for existing!
You guys heard of Final Fantasy XV? It's a pretty big release I guess. This week, Tim alone (no Clayton! no Kellen!) begins the Talking Games farewell tour with returning champ Aaron Amendola to discuss their experiences with the game! Thanks for kicking off our goodbyes, Aaron. You rock! Thanks also to Emporium for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for existing.
Talking Games hosts Kellen and Tim are so excited and honored to bring a totally fresh face to this podcast. Please join us in welcoming Clayton Margeson as he brings a favorite gaming franchise, Dark Souls, to the table in this Very Special Episode. Plus, marvel at Tim's new baritone voice! Thanks to the Harold Ramis Film School for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making that sponsorship happen.
Do you romanticize a life of organized crime? Even if you do, you might not like Mafia 3! This week, guest Sean Peezick joins Clayton and Kellen to discuss the new game and its many shortcomings. I guess you'll have to act out your violent urges through some other digital medium. But no matter what, we can say for sure that this episode is certainly Timless. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring us this week!
HUGE THANKS to everyone who donated to our Extra Life fundraiser on Saturday. Thanks to you, we made our $1000 goal and helped Extra Life have an incredibly successful day! On this week's Talking Games, you'll hear sporadic check-ins from throughout the day-long event, including a cavalcade of guest stars. Meet 420 Bear! Thrill to erotic games! Learn what "totally exhausted" sounds like in audio form! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this week's episode! And don't forget to go vote today.
Skyrim holds a special place in the hearts of Tim, Clayton, and Kellen -- that was the game that initially brought Kellen to Talking Games in the first place! With the recent announcement of the Skyrim Special Edition, our lads take a look back on one of their favorite games, including discussing its legacy. Also! Don't miss the Talking Games Extra Life 24-hour fundraiser this Saturday! You don't want Normy to come after you... Thanks to our sponsor for this week's episode, Cards Against Humanity via the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Last week, Nintendo dropped some pretty big news with the announcement of the Switch. We couldn't not talk about it! So we're joined by a spectrum of gamer guests -- Rob Grabowski, Jeremy Kanne, and Nicole Vespa -- to debate the Switch's merits (or lack thereof). Take bets with your friends on whether Tim, Clayton, or Kellen is interested in buying this thing, then listen to the episode to find out. Gambling's fun! Thanks so much to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring this episode. Also, it would mean a lot to us, dear listeners, if you wanted to support our Extra Life fundraiser.
It's time for another questions episode! This week, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen tackle YOUR queries, like "Should I buy a WiiU or an NX?", "Are there any good political video games?", and the everpresent "What up? What's good?" Thanks to our sponsors for this week, Basecamp, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the assist! Check out the Nerds on Patreon!
From Resident Evil to Resident Evil 2... and beyond!... this week's Talking Games is all about the survival horror genre of video games. Trapped in an abandoned building, zombies set on you from all sides... what's left to do? Listen to our podcast, ya jerks! Big thanks to Cards Against Humanity and the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you think the Nerdologues are kewl, you can check us out on Patreon!
This week, Kellen and Tim are joined by Kellen's longtime Destiny friend Rob Churchwell to cover a bunch of gaming topics Rob loves, from the TI-99 (remember those?) to Disney Infinity to board games like Imperial Assault and Splendor. Also, learn Kellen's shocking opinions on the quality of Serial season 1 vs. season 2. This week's Talking Games is sponsored by Basecamp via the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks for everything, guys! If you like the Nerdologues' shows, head over to our Patreon page, eh?
It's time for another round of questions, friends! This week, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen field more things you're dying to know, mostly about whether certain games/franchises (Pokemon Go, Street Fighter V, Destiny) are over. If you have opinions about these subjects, listen this episode! Thanks so much to our sponsors for this week's ep, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop. Check out the Nerdologues on Patreon!
MMORPGs are a thing. A big thing. A thing big enough to give them their own episode with guest Sammy Tamimi, who shares with us his passion for all things World of Warcraft, except maybe the panda expansion. That was kind of silly. Thanks so much to our sponsors for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it all happen! And hey, check out the Nerds on Patreon!
It's a news grab bag on this week's Talking Games! From Mario on the iOS to the Playstation Slim/Pro to yet another delay for The Last Guardian, hosts Tim and Kellen have you covered with the last few days of major gaming news. THEN, the two face adversity head-on when they read and discuss a truly scatching iTunes review of their show. Drama!!! Thanks so much to Basecamp for sponsoring our show, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for all the support! If you like the Nerds, check us out on Patreon, yeah?
Do you know Eric Garneau? He edits this podcast every week and also does these stupid write-ups. Well this week, you're gonna hear his voice too, as he joins Tim, Clayton, and Kellen to talk about the rise and fall of the rock music genre of video games, specifically Guitar Hero and Rock Band. How did Rock Band almost lead to Eric playing Lollapalooza? What did Clayton's home rock star setup look like? Why does Tim hate Twin Peaks so much? Both of these questions plus probably a couple more will be answered! Thanks so much to our sponsors for this week's episode, the Harold Ramis Film School at Second City, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for existing! You can find the Nerdologues' new podcast Blank Cassette, hosted by Eric, here!
It's been a joke for so long it had to happen eventually -- this week, Talking Games becomes... something different. Tim plus guests Rob Grabowski and Mike Chuck Bretzlaff spend an episode at the theater for Talking Musicals! They're going to look at the Resident Evil stage play, Biohazard: The Stage, which you can watch on YouTube if you're a brave individual! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for existing.
We love Bit Bash, duh. This week, Tim and Clayton unpack this year's festival with its project manager, Jamie Sanchez; friend of the show and Blizzard fan Alex Honnet also returns to share what he loved about it! Thanks to our sponsor for this week's episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for hooking us up! If you'd like to support the Nerdologues and see more shows like this, check out our Patreon page! That helps a ton!
No Man's Sky is the game everyone's talking about. But according to our three hosts, it super sucks. Tim, Clayton, and Kellen spend an hour dissecting this mostly irredeemable game. Hot takes abound! Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Field Notes, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being the wind beneath our wings.
Gen Con -- the San Diego Comic-Con of tabletop games -- was this past weekend, and our own Tim Dunn got to go! He'll reflect on the show (and meeting Jonathan Coulton! What a great guy!) with Clayton and Kellen plus special guest from the One Shot podcast network Kat Kuhl! Plus, make sure to listen for Patreon the Robot's glorious reapparance, and Tim gets to some hard-hitting journalism! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Jackbox Games, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it all happen! The Nerdologues are on Patreon (the website, not the robot)! If you like what we do, help us out? The One Shot network is also on Patreon and they are awesome!
We cover a lot of ground on this week's Talking Games, from essential desert island JRPGs (how many of them do you think were made by Square?) to puzzle games to engrossing game narratives and beyond. We've also got a super secret mystery guest who we'll never name! And guess what, it's Peter Kremidas! Thanks Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this week's show, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it all happen. If you're at GenCon, don't miss the Concert Against Humanity!
On last week's episode we covered the NES Classic Edition. This week we keep the nostalgia rolling with a discussion of a couple newly announced Sonic the Hedgehog games plus other franchise updates and changes! This week's episode was sponsored by Cards Against Humanity via the Chicago Podcast Coop. Make sure to check out the Concert Against Humanity if you're going to GenCon, friends! One of this show's hosts may have a tiny stake in that...
Last week, Nintendo announced a November rerelease of the classic NES system with a twist -- it comes preloaded with 30 games and nothing more! This week, Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Peter Durkin are gonna chat about what this means. Will the NES Classic Edition do well? Probably! Is it a good idea? Yeah, maybe! But what games are missing? All these questions and more will be answered. But not many more. Don't get greedy. Thanks to our sponsors for this week's episode, Jackbox Games, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it happen!
This week, guest Sarah Gorr (of the sweet new website The Cinessential) joins Tim, Clayton, and Kellen to cover a couple topics that can only be described as "epic": the Uncharted series and, of course, Pokemon Go! It's a good time. Enjoy it! Or else. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Field Notes, and thanks to the whole Chicago Podcast Coop for the hookup. If you like the Nerdologues and the shows we do, hit us up on Patreon, dig?
In honor of yesterday's holiday, and because it's a sweet topic, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen discuss games that make them think of the good old U S of A in this week's episode. Serious discussion is given to franchises like Fallout, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto, and also we talk about Ken Griffey Baseball! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop! If you enjoy what the Nerdologues do, check out our Patreon and help us do more of it!car
Once again, dear listeners, we've turned to YOU to answer hard-hitting queries about the video game industry. This episode, thrill to Tim and Clayton musing on the future of Red Dead Redemption 2, reporting their most wild video game moments committed out of boredom, and more. PLUS, in a shocking Talking Musicals update, get ready for this -- Clayton saw Hamilton, and he's ready to talk about it! This is super relevant to video games!! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it all happen. If you like what the Nerdologues do and would like to see more of it, check us out on Patreon, friend!
If you love video games, it's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year -- E3! This week Tim, Clayton, and Kellen tackle a bunch of news from the Electronic Entertainment Expo -- everything from The Fractured but Whole to Resident Evil to Zelda and beyond! PLUS, the very brief return of Patreon! Thanks to this week's sponsors, Iron Galaxy, and thanks also to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it happen! The Nerdologues are on Patreon, if you really, really, really like us!
Blizzard's Overwatch has quickly become the game on everyone's mind. This week, the Campaign podcast's John Patrick Coan joins Tim, Clayton, and Kellen to explore the game, and it's a real love-fest, friends. Is Overwatch really flawless? You'll find out what these four dudes think! Plus, we read our most earnestly negative review yet. One star! Thanks to Iron Galaxy for sponsoring today's episode, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making that all happen.
In 1999, Sega stormed(?) the video game world with the release of their Dreamcast. Except no one really talks about it any more. Let's fix that with this week's Talking Games, in which Tim, Clayton, and Kellen invite guest Shawn Bowers to chat about the System that Kind of Was. Was the Dreamcast ahead of its time or just kind of weak? Also, what's up with Leonard Nimoy's Seaman? Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Know Your Company, courtesy of the Chicago Podcast Coop! And hey, if you like this show, check out the Nerdologues' Patreon page and help us do more cool stuff?
DID YOU KNOW: War Games is not just a movie -- it's also a genre of game! This week, Tim and Clayton chat about some of their favorite examples as well as their hopes for the future (and come up with some rad ideas that aspiring game developers MUST NOT STEAL). Also, in a nostalgic throwback, the lads return to Clayton's basement to record this one! What mishaps will befall Tim?? Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being amazing. And hey, if you like the Nerdologues, check out our Patreon page!
Just yesterday Kotaku released an article about "Final Fantasy Disease," which, according to Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata, prevents both fans and Square employees from accepting any changes in a storied franchise. What do you think about that? How do you balance the desire to do something new with the long, beloved history of a popular gaming franchise? These are pretty deep questions, but the Talking Games boys are ready to tackle them -- plus Kellen talks a lot about Doom. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity -- and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for hooking it up! Hey, the Nerdologues are on Patreon! Help us make more cool stuff!
We love taking audience questions! That's because we love all of you! This week, we're answering a dozen or so sweet queries submitted by our loving listeners. Also, due to some recording issues, it kinda sounds like we sequestered Clayton in a tin kennel or something. Yeah... sounds like. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and of course thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as well! Check out the Nerdologues on Patreon if you want to help make more cool stuff like this!
Matt Young works for an app development company, and recently he was tasked with playing a diverse swath of indie games to see if he could learn anything from the experience. He's going to share his insights with our hosts today, plus talk some gaming news (Nintendo NX, anyone?), plus we once again see the return of Patreon the matronly robot, who had a rough weekend! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop! You can catch Matt Young on his fantastic podcasts Hello from the Magic Tavern and Improvised Star Trek.
Gamergate sucks, right? I mean, we all know that. But there are few apeople better qualified to talk about why than an actual professor of ethics and video games, Columbia College's Jen Ellison. This week, she looks at the history of the... movement?... and where it is now. PLUS, the loveable robot Patreon reappears, and we talk about something other than Hamilton on Talking Musicals, kind of!
Thanks Basecamp for sponsoring this episode, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop for sponsoring! If you like this show and want to see more cool stuff, the Nerdologues are on Patreon. Check us out? It's not just Clayton's hilarious character!
James T. Green and Cher Vincent are the wonderful hosts of the Open Ended podcast and also two thirds of the creators of Post Loudness, a new podcast collective that represents "audio on the fringe." Today, they talk with Tim and Clayton about a couple of distinct gaming topics. First up, we tackle deception-based party games like Secret Hitler, which James and Cher are both great at (and Tim and Clayton are not!). Then we move into a discussion about representation in video games, and OF COURSE our ever-popular Talking Musicals (Hamilton) segment returns again! Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this week's episode, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being great. If you enjoy this show and want to see more cool stuff, the Nerdologues are on Patreon now!
Talking Games is nothing if not topical, right? RIGHT? Right! This week, Tim and Kellen dive into a few of the larger news stories to come out of video game culture lately, including Ford commercials featuring the Metal Gear Solid franchise, a potentially soon launch for virtual reality sex robots, and some questionable comments on working conditions in the gaming industry from veteran Alex St. Johns. We've got opinions, and now you're gonna hear 'em! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Emporium Chicago, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being amazing. Hey, the Nerdologues are on Patreon! If you want to help us make more cool stuff, check it out?
It's the return of our monthly questions episode! This week, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen tackle queries like "What's the best game you've played with a significant other?", "What Mega Man villain power would you want?", and MANY MORE. Also, be prepared to meet Patreon, a matronly robot with a penchant for both stand-up comedy and hip hop! Today's Talking Games is sponsored by Basecamp with generous support from the Chicago Podcast Coop. Thanks, folks! Patreon (the character) has appeared on this show in part because the Nerdologues have launched a Patreon (the website) campaign! If you like this show and all the stuff we do, check it out and consider throwing in some support?
If you listen to our show and its amazing, tight introductions, you know how much we love the Chicago Podcast Coop. This week, we're stoked to welcome the cohosts of another Coop show, Roboism, to the studio to chat about a bunch of stuff, but mostly Miitomo, a weird new app thing from Nintendo. Plus, fans of Talking Musicals won't want to miss this one! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Iron Galaxy. We love ya!
Things get a little free-form this week as local improviser and great dude J. Grant Collins jumps in the studio to cover a variety of topics, like why he plays Xbox One, his thoughts on The Division, and being a Conker's Bad Fur Day champion. Songs will be sung and unsolicited opinions will be given! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop.
When we did our Questions episode a few weeks back, Kellen offhandedly said that he felt the Street Fighter franchise could just call it a day. A couple of our listeners took GREAT OFFENSE to this remark. So today, Chris Geiger, Grayson Daskawicz, and George Serad join the show to make Kellen feel bad for his remarks, maybe! Or maybe we just have an intelligent discussion about Street Fighter and the newest entry in the franchise! Who knows?! All I know is, this is Clayton's Court now. Thanks Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being beautiful!
Maybe you don't think too much of Tom Clancy video games. Maybe, as Tim pines during this episode, they're "bro games." Well, get ready, friends, because everyone on this week's Talking Games thought The Division -- the newest in the Clancy series -- is pretty rad. Listen to Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Vince Portacci dissect it here! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being so beautiful!
It's time for another batch of listener questions! This time up, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen tackle queries like "What game franchise's impact would you wipe from history?" and "Is it creepy to create characters based on your friends?" They also take a look at Resident Evil's 20-year(!) history. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Basecamp, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
It's the episode that almost wasn't! After losing a whole 40 minutes of recording to an unknown kill switch Tim tripped with his feet, the Talking Games bros (along with guests Alex Wayman and Nick DiMaso) bravely rerecorded a full episode for your enjoyment. Remember that this was done for you. This week, the guys are talking about the new, unique first-person adventure Firewatch. Is it a hit? Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring the episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for hooking up the sponsorships!
That Dragon, Cancer is an immersive adventure-style video game created by a couple to help them cope with their infant son's cancer diagnosis and eventual death. If that sounds like a downer, well, it is. This is a pretty serious episode, so for once, we keep the Wings bits to only the intro. Thanks to guest Lisa Burton for joining us in getting real this week! Thanks also to our sponsors for the episode, the Emporium Arcade Bar, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop. If you're curious, the Radiolab episode about the game Lisa mentions can be found here.
This week, guest Tim Ryder joins Tim, Clayton, and Kellen to talk about how game narrative affects the play experience -- as well as our desire to want to play games! From LA Noir to J-RPGs to Telltale Games, a wide swath of genres falls under our critical lens! THIS IS COMPELLING. (Sorry for the episode delay, BTW. There were a few tech issues. Clayton sounds like he's far away, but don't worry, he's not a ghost or anything... not yet.) Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Jackbox Games, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
I believe it was the philosopher Plato who recognized the value of a good question. Well, you're going to get a ton of those today as Tim, Clayton, and Kellen take on more queries from all of you lovely listeners. As a bonus, they also review any requested title, even if they haven't played them! Because remember, knowledge is not a requisite for forming an opinion. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Iron Galaxy, as well as the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
You ready to get retro? Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Alex Berns are! This week, they chat about important games in their younger days and how that's influenced what they seek out today. Also, they may summon the spirits of Michael Keaton, George Lucas, and Barack Obama. Who can say? Thanks to sponsors Iron Galaxy Games, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop as well!
Sean Kelley's a great guy, and Improvised Star Trek's a great show. Sean brings that greatness to bear in a wonderful discussion with hosts Tim and Kellen about the prevelance of violence in video games. Why, so often, is it the only option? What would a different sort of game look like? Did Kellen murder Clayton so he could wear his flesh as a suit? The answers to all those questions AND MORE are within. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Basecamp, and thanks of course to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Today, the Nerdologues seed the bulk of their show description to wonderful guest Kevin Treski: If you want to know more about Kevin or harass him in any way you can find him at his twitter. To sign up for Chicago Gaming Union, hit up http://bit.ly/cgusignup. For more on his non-profit, Play On Chicago, that has its own twitter account to get in touch. For more info on going to the Chicago Twitch Meet-Up on the 17th, hit up this website to RSVP and follow this twitter feed. Last but not least if you want to get into streaming games or are already streaming and want a heads up on that new Infiniscene hotness Kevin was talking about, you can read more about it here and follow their twitter here. The next time Kevin is on schedule to surface will be the Twitch Chicago Meet-Up onSunday, January 17th. Thanks Kevin! It's the Nerdologues again. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Field Notes, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop! Enjoy the show!
Guys, look, we DO have listeners! Or friends, at least! That counts for something! This week, we fill an hour taking audience-submitted questions that range from the relatively simple (When will we see the next Red Dead Redemption?) to the actually really thought-provoking (Will games ever deal with violence in an honest way? And do we want them to?). Enjoy this episode, friends -- YOU HELPED MAKE IT!!! Thanks to our sponsors for the week, Iron Galaxy Games, and huge thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop as well.
Kick off your shoes, recline your chair, and sip some nog as Tim, Clayton, and Kellen spend a liesurely episode discussing their holiday season in video games and then looking forward to 2016. Also, there are some Star Wars spoilers. You've been warned. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Thanks to companies like Telltale, narrative games have become hugely popular. This week, Tim and Clayton talk with developer Michael Block of Culture Shock Games, whose We Are Chicago anchors that genre in true stories of people growing up on Chicago's south side. Can Tim and Clayton have a sensitive conversation about race and culture? YES, of course! They'll also spoil the end of Fallout 4. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Field Notes, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
What's December without serious consideration of your favorite things of the previous 12 months? This week, Tim, Clayton, and guest Daniel Strauss discuss their favorite titles of 2015. Will yours make the cut? I don't know, why don't you host this show and then your games will be represented too? Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Emporium, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
You may not believe it, but over the course of Talking Games history, our hosts have said some disparaging things about the Disney/SquareEnix crossover franchise known as Kingdom Hearts. As it happens, fan and friend of the Nerdologues Katie Utke took some umbrage to these comments, and this week she enters Talking Games Headquarters (aka the Cards Against Humanity studio) to stand up for these games she loves so much -- especially Kingdom Hearts 2. It's Heartless and Nobodys till the cows come home! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Utter Nonsense, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
"Walking simulators" or "first-person feels" are kind of a new development in gaming, but are they games at all? Today, Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Alex Wayman discuss titles like Dear Esther and Gone Home debating THAT VERY QUESTION! Once again, Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2015/08/26/everybodys-gone-to-the-rapture-why-do-people-hate-walking-simulators/provides some nice background for this topic. Thanks to our sponsor for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, and as always thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as well!
It's time for another installment of Talking Games Takes On Current Events In The Video Game Industry (TGTOCEITVG, duh)! This week, we cover the recently uncovered blacklisting of review site Kotaku by publisher Bethesda, which has caused a pretty big to-do on the old Internets lately. Here's some helpful background reading on the issue, courtesy of Forbes! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Iron Galaxy, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
Since Fallout 4 was released last week, couples have spent time apart, Internet porn traffic has dropped dramatically, and Bethesda has cartoon dollar signs in its eyes, probably. This week, we're going to talk about the game that's on everyone's minds with guest Tom McGuane! Thanks to our sponsors for this week, MakeSpace, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
This past weekend, the boys in Talking Games raised $1650 for Extra Life, a game-based charity. This is tremendous. To do so, they had to play video games for 24 hours straight. As you might imagine, this could take a toll on one's sanity. This episode, recorded at hour 21 of the fundraiser, provides a testament to that, as Tim, Clayton, and Kellen review the previous day's games and guests and get caught in a spiral of madness centered on the game Hatoful Boyfriend. Enjoy this glimpse into a sleep-deprived, game-playing psyche! Also, thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Emporium Arcade Bar, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop too!
Y'all, Extra Life is a great cause that raises money for Children's Miracle Network hospitals through video gaming. If you're not familiar with it, you should read up! Then you can listen to this episode where Tim, Clayton, and Kellen discuss their upcoming Extra Life 24-hour gaming marathon this Saturday, where they'll be hooked up to Twitch playing games for a day straight (with special guests like the Nerdologues, Jenn & Trin, and more!). You can donate to their Extra Life campaign here and check out their Twitch stream here on Saturday starting at 8 AM. It's gonna be a really good time that also does some good, so help out! Thanks to our sponsors for today's episode, Know Your Company, and as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop. *Note: apparently this episode takes place in an alternate universe where Jeb Bush resigned from the presidential race yesterday.
At their base level, games are just a series of choices you have to make, right? So in a sense, Otherworld Theatre Company's new production, Gone Dark, is a game of sorts. You get a different show experience based on the choices you make as an audience member and the ways you interact with the production. Interested? You should be! Listen to Otherworld's Tiffany Keane and Brendan Stallings describe the show (and chat about some of their favorite games) here! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Jackbox Games, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always! And hey, if you want to be a great person, help out Talking Games' Extra Life fundraiser!
On this week's Talking Games, what starts as a discussion with guest Eleni Sauvageau about guns and fighting in video games turns into a deeper discussion about what makes up a game in general. Can one have a game if there's no direct opposition in it? Does something like Gone Home count? Deep! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Emporium Arcade Bar, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop! And once again, here's the link for the Talking Games team's Extra Life fundraiser!
Finally! We know you've been waiting for it, adoring fans, and this week you get your wish: all three show hosts return! And they're joined by two really great guests, Sandy Weisz and Andy Sabin, who're working on a really sweet-sounding game for Apple TV called Read the Room. You'll hear all about it in this episode, including discussion of a few rounds of sample play. You'll never guess which of our three hosts was high during the game. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Makespace, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always! Also, our Talking Games hosts are putting together an Extra Life fundraiser this fall. Help them reach their goal!
Last year, Alex Honnet came on our show to chat about Hearthstone, a digital TCG sensation sweeping the nation! Now it's out on iOS, and Tim sits down with guests Mike Brunlieb and Alan Linic to dig into the game once again! They'll talk class rankings, strategies, annoying opponents, and even more. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Emporium Arcade Bar, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Ah, 1994. The Lion King ruled the box office. Jeff Buckley's Grace made a generation cry. And a whole bunch of us spent hours playing Donkey Kong Country. That's the topic of this week's episode, along with a reevaluation of publisher Rare's larger catalog! Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring and to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always! And make sure to check out Bobby's upcoming webseries on NBC!
This week, Tim, Kellen, and guest Aaron Amendola from VStheUNIVERSE talk all things Destiny, including the newest expansion, The Taken King! Also, you'll get some hot Chicago pizza recs. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Jackbox Games, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop, of course!
We all agree that Metal Gear Solid V is just amazing, but what does it mean to support that game when we all know how awful Konami is? That's the topic of discussion this week, as Tim, Clayton, and Kellen wade into some deeper waters than usual. But hey, you're all smart people. You can take it. Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
Isn't it weird how pretty much everyone thinks Phantom Menaces are bad but Phantom Pains are good? Wait, is that an offensive thing to say? At any rate, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen dig into one of the most anticipated new games of the year this week, the fifth installment of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and they have really positive things to say about it! Warning: spoilers abound. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Iron Galaxy Studios, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
You know who likes Metroid a lot? Chris Chapin. You know who he's gonna chat about it with? Tim, Clayton, and Kellen! All things Samus will be discussed, and the lads also give some thought to the state of Nintendo in general, because why not? Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, as well as the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Is perfection possible, or is the attempt to attain it ultimately flawed, an impossible human pursuit we crave in folly while our time on this planet whittles away? That's not at all what we're going to talk about today, as Tim and Clayton discuss some games that they think are perfect 10s -- and some others that often receive that praise but probably don't deserve it. We've got your Portals, your Mass Effects, your Zeldas, and more! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Desktime, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
Bit Bash -- Chicago's alternative games festival -- is absolutely one of the coolest things you can do with your time this weekend, and today, organizer Jamie Sanchez joins us to let us know what we're in for! Get pumped for a good day at Threadless IQ with this festival primer! Also hear Clayton debut a stunning new talent. Thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop too!
You might have heard the expression "Everyone's a critic," but more specifically, critics are critics! This week, Tim, Clayton, and Kellen chat with the Nerdologues' Kevin Reader about the topic of gaming criticism, which veers pretty close to "ethics in games journalism," but without all the ugly sexism! Thanks to Inventables for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being a shining star in the night sky.
This week's Talking Games is NO guests, NO rules! First, Kellen, Clayton, and Tim sit down to talk about why Konami seems like a horrible place to work in a truly terrifying segment. Then they touch on a bunch of other stuff, like the indie game market today, ending with a long discussion of Destiny. Will Tim ever get a mic so he can talk while he plays?! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Emporium Arcade Bar, as well as the Chicago Podcast Coop. They know why.
Fighting game fans know that this year's Evo, a world-class fighting game championship, just wrapped a couple weeks ago. This week, Kellen, Clayton, and Tim welcome guest George Serad to chat about it and all other things fighting games! From Smash Bros. to Mortal Kombat to Clayfighter, no franchise will be spared! Special thanks to Field Notes for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being the best.
A series spanning, at current, twenty-five games has to have ups and downs, and this week, Tim, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Jon Silver are going to talk about what those are in the Assassin's Creed franchise. They'll also chat about the passing of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata last week, which is sad but, come on, we had to talk about it! Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Emporium Barcade, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop as always!
When it comes to superheroes, Batman is pretty much the coolest... but his games haven't always lived up to the character. Today, Kellen, Clayton, and guest Andy Junk sit down to chat about the many video game permutations of the Caped Crusader, along with some comics and movies! Special attention is paid to the Arkham games, of course, but we're going all the way back to the NES for this one. Also, amazingly, three knowledgeable people more or less agree that Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns is vastly overrated (which it is!). This episode is sponsored by Iron Galaxy Studios. Thanks Iron Galaxy, and thanks Chicago Podcast Coop!
Once, long ago -- I think it was late May -- Tim and Clayton dedicated an episode to answering listener questions. This week, those two plus Kellen are at it again, tackling queries like which game has the best soundtrack, what's the coolest Mega Man power-up, and are people who play games wasting their lives?? Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring this episode and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for general goodness.
If there were an honor for "the last video game podcast to talk about E3," we'd claim that proudly. After last week's live episode, we're back to the regular schedule today with special guests Sean Rose and Sammy Tamimi to dissect all the E3 news we missed a couple weeks ago. Metal Gear! Final Fantasy! More!! Thanks to Basecamp for sponsoring today's episode and, as always, thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being the very best.
Flintstones and Jetsons, British Office and American Office, Talking Games and Remake -- truly the great crossovers in media history. This week, the hosts of Remake: The Podcast join us for a LIVE EPISODE that sees us turn a classic film into a hit game and vice versa. Get ready for some Jaleel White Birdman action and collect enough points to earn your wings as we discuss It's a Wonderful Life and Sonic the Hedgehog! Remake: The Podcast is great and you can find it here! Thanks to Cards Against Humanity for sponsoring (and hosting) this meeting of the minds, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop!
For the last handful of weeks, the "What Are You Playing?" segment has been full of talk of Witcher 3. This week -- after a brief recap of E3 Day Zero news (more coming next week, guys!) -- that chat expands into a whole episode! Tim, Clayton, and Kellen get into the nitty-gritty of Witcher 3 here. See why these guys think it's a touchstone game for its genre and, probably, game of the year! Thanks to Know Your Company for sponsoring, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being lovely!
Friendship is a wonderful thing, and this week we welcome two people who love the concept - and each other - so much that they started their own podcast about it. From Friendshipping!, Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano share their love for the game franchise that sparked their initial connection, Mass Effect. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Basecamp, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for making it all happen! Support the heck out of those shows, like Friendshipping!
Video game RPGs are great, right? You might have heard us talk about them a little bit before. Today, we're trading in our computer screens for printed ones (like a Dungeonmaster Screen - get it?) as we run through a bunch of cool tabletop RPG systems with podcast host and now professional roleplayer James D'Amato. If you've ever wondered what an RPG based on Coen Brothers films might look like, THIS IS YOUR EPISODE! Thanks to the Maxistentialism Zine for the sponsorship, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being super cool!
Kellen's otherwise occupied this week, so CLASSIC Talking Games hosts Tim and Clayton take a small detour with this episode to introduce a new segment: Letters from Friends Who Don't Play Games! Lest you think this is a gimmick (which, maybe...?), they'll field some truly thoughtful questions about what constitutes a "gamer" and what makes games replayable (or makes you not want to revisit them again). Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Field Notes, and thanks as always to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being awesome! If you have a question for Tim or Clayton, you can bother them on Twitter. Also, here's that Nerdologues event Tim plugged at the end of the episode. It's not just a playtest of our new game but a launch party for the Kickstarter campaign of that game! We'd love it if you could come!
This week, Alex Honnet returns to the show to talk not about Hearthstone but a bunch of different topics, kicking off with a run-down of expected titles to debut at E3. What inspires hope? What instills dread? Then, our team covers tablet gaming (okay, so maybe there's a little Hearthstone) and talks about the possibilities of a Nintendo moving into mobile gaming. Because it would be awesome to play Pokemon on your phone, right? Thanks to this week's sponsor, Cards Against Humanity! And thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being rad!
For the first time in Talking Games history, all of our hosts find themselves no longer a part of the single life. What are three video game-loving bros but chat about this new experience? Get ready for an open discussion of healthy relationships that involve give and take from both parties and recognizing that each partner will have his or her own passions to pursue. YEAH! Big thanks to our sponsor for the episode, Basecamp! And of course, thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being awesome.
There's no doubt that former Konami vice president Hideo Kojima has one of the most recognizable names in video game development - that is, if you pay attention to people's names. He's an auteur in every sense, lending a very specific sensibility to game dynasties like Metal Gear and Silent Hill. Recently it was announced Kojima would be leaving Konami for his own pursuits, so Tim, Clayton, and Kellen take this week to chat about his contributions to the company... at least until the episode unceremoniously cuts off for the creepiest technical difficulties ever. Also includes new hot debut segment: Max's Pick of the Week! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Jackbox Games, as well as the Chicago Podcast Coop for being great.
You may have wondered whatever happened to Talking Games co-creator Tim Dunn these last few months - sure, he checked in remotely a couple times, but did he make it off his cruise alive? The answer, of course, is yes, and this week Clayton and Kellen spend the episode catching up with Tim, answering crucial questions like "What kind of games do you play on a boat" and "What console did Tim by upon getting back?" You know, the queries philosophers have pondered for centuries. Plus, get ready for a new Talking Games status quo! Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Iron Galaxy Studios, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for their support!
Have you ever played against a final boss so bad that it actually lessens your enjoyment of a game? Clayton, Kellen, and Trevor Martin sure have - and today they're going to talk about it. From Arkham Asylum to Starfox to Bioshock, some of your favorites will probably be covered, maybe! Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the support!
In the last decade or so, there's been a wave of video games that not only ask you to make choices but then remember the choices you've made. The morality engine behind games like Dragon Age and anything from Telltale is a large part of those games' appeal. Clayton, John Patrick Coan, and Brandon Shockney get into some of their favorite games that require big-impact choices here, but we're only asking you to make one choice: LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST.
If you follow video game blogs at all (and let's be real, you probably do, you nerd), the last few weeks you've probably been flooded with talk about Bloodborne, the new action RPG from Hidetaka Miyazaki. Hope you're ready for some more! Guest Jake Goldberg (aka RedPandaGamer on YouTube) joins Clayton and Kellen for a dissection of this phenomenon. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Busy Beaver Buttons, and to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the support!
This week's Talking Games tackles one of 2015's big hot button issues... evolution! Or we're just talking about Evolve, the new "asymmetrical multiplayer game" from Turtle Rock Studios. Yeah, that's the ticket. Clayton, Kellen, and guest Tommy Reahard chat about one of the year's more high-profile game releases, then get into a general discussion about the multiplayer gaming experience. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Know Your Company, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the support!
You probably know lots of people (because you're on this website, so let's be real) with long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign. This week, you'll meet a couple adventurers who've ported that idea to HeroQuest, a board game released by Milton Bradley in 1990 that aimed to simplify the more intense elements of D&D. If you never played it, it was crazy fun. Listen to Erin Kay Van Pay and Gannon Reedy talk about their party's tile-by-tile adventures here, including a touching tribute to a party member who departed in real life. Thanks to our sponsors for the episode, Cards Against Humanity, and thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the support!
Get ready to bro out over some sweet sports talk this episode with our guest Josiah Jenkins of The Remake Podcast fame. But don't get too worried... this episode focuses on the dynasty of Josiah's epic NBA 2K14 run. Plus we ask him the same question he asks his podcast guests every episode! Thanks to our sponsor for the episode, Basecamp. And thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for the support!
Dear listeners, this episode was going to be about video game violence... maybe. But Talking Games is nothing if not an organic, fresh organism designed not just for your entertainment but also for your personal growth! And when guest Alex Nichols mentioned that he recently completed 100% of the achievements in Grand Theft Auto V and felt... not totally fulfilled... about it, we had to follow up! Enjoy this discussion of beating a game to completion... and of feeding your soul! Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Field Notes! And, of course, thanks to the Chicago Podcast Coop for being the best.
Like a racist distant cousin or a really bad first date, there are always going to be video games that you just don't feel like spending more time with once you've played them a little bit. That's the topic of this week's Talking Games, which features special guest/friend/cool dude James Dugan! Each of our esteemed panelists will note a few games that, for various reasons, they just can't revisit, hurting innumerable developers' feelings in the process! Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Desktime! Sponsorships are provided via the Chicago Podcasting Coop, a really cool thing you should know about! And here's the Loot Drop event that gets plugged later in the episode.
Kellen's still gone and Seth Owens is still here, plus Clayton welcomes returning guest/girlfriend Nicole Vespa back to the show to chat about video game bad guys! From Bowser to Lavos, we might talk about your favorite! Or we might not! Tough luck, buddy!
It's a safe bet that in high school a lot of us spent countless hours sending our armies into battle against the scourges of Ivalice, right? Yeah, totally. Relive those days when Clayton talks to John Patrick Coan and Seth Owens about Final Fantasy Tactics, including a dissection of the differences between the original Playstation game and the recent rerelease War of the Lions.
Hopes and dreams are important - they sustain us, they keep us going, they give Clayton and Kellen something to talk about on this week's Talking Games, as they run down some of their most anticipated games of 2015!
This Saturday you can catch HIJINKSfest, a cool thing Clayton's doing that involves him and his Hijinks teammates doing 12 different shows in 12 hours at iO. Right now you can catch Clayton, Kellen, and Hijinks teammate Jude Tedmori producing what Clayton assures us is the nadir of Talking Games. You might even call this the Toad of episodes.
The Nerdologues love Chicago (definitely). And Chicago loves the Nerdologues (hopefully?). Today we welcome guest Kevin Treski to Talking Games to chat about a specific and cool Chicago project of his, the Chicago Gaming Union, which puts together sweet events around the city for gamers to get together. You'll hear about some of those events and a lot of other cool stuff JUST BY PUSHING PLAY.
Our buddy Rob Grabowski thought it would be fun to be on Talking Games, but he doesn't play quite as much as Clayton and Kellen do. But that didn't stop us! Here Rob details the mobile games he's been enjoying (games that get him made fun of by kids on trains); then he investigates which next-gen system he should get if he were to purchase on. And, through the magic of the Internet, we get a check-in from Tim!
Tim's on a boat, Clayton's out of town, but Kellen's still here! This week, he and guest Charley Carroll (Annoyance Theater director, one time fourth-ranked NBA 2K5 player in the world) take on a topic with some real weight - video game addiction.
Aaron Amendola is the artistic director of VStheUNIVERSE. He's also a great guy. He also has an opinion that Clayton and Kellen want to investigate: that Dragon Age: Inquisition is an amazing game. On this episode of Talking Games, hear them debates its merits and weaknesses! You know you want to!
Unfortunately, our dear friend Dougie has to sit out of this week's Pathfinder episode - his last encounter just took too much out of him (or he's on a Second City boat right now... either one). Fortunately, Grubz is joined by last week's newcomer, Mistletoe (aka Kellen Terrett) to continue his noble quest. Will Grubz and Mistletoe's worst enemy be a wicked gelatinous cube? Or could it be... themselves?
What kind of eldritch magic has fetched Tim Dunn from his time at sea to return to the podcast? The kind conjured up by dungeonmaster (Pathmaster?) Erin Thorn in this, the third episode to feature our favorite adventuring devotees of Torag, Dougie & Grubz! Plus, a new ally approaches as guest-host Kellen Terrett joins the party!
From Knights of the Old Republic to Dragon Age to Destiny, everyone seems to love the hybrid game genre of action RPGs. This week, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Sean Peezick will talk about some of their favorite examples of that genre!
Red Dead Redemption, "the Grand Theft Auto of the Wild West," made a lot of fans when it came out a few years ago. Let's talk about it! This week, Clayton, Kellen, and guest Ryan Ben also get around to games that give a sci-fi twist to the genre, including Borderlands and Fallout: New Vegas.
Kellen Terrett! Nicole Vespa! This episode is like a greatest hits of guests! Kellen assumes his role as long-term fill-in for Tim (who's On a Boat) and Nicole chats with us about games that make us want to get that 100% completion score. At the top of that discussion is our old friend Spelunky, and what would an episode be without some Final Fantasy talk?
Did you think you'd heard the last of Dougie and Grubz? You might be a crazy person! This week, dungeonmaster Erin Thorn guides Tim and Clayton's Pathrinder alter egos into a web of corruption and deceit involving crooked politicans, thieves, and Tim's home village of "Duluth."
Before any rolling of the die, Byron shares his initial impression of XBox One, Tim shares what games he plans to play on the boat, and Clayton shares the woes of losing his PC to Nicole's Spelunky obsession. No point in taking the fun out of the topic mystery, but rest assured the boys talk some Game of Thrones, survival instincts, and a bunch of other nerdy stuff.
Every once in a while, we get guests from the video game industry on the show, but Call of Duty's a first. If you're totally stoked on last week's Call of Duty: Advaned Warfare release, our interview with motion capture actress Loren Jones (one of the folks behind Ilona in the game) will make you feel good. We also chat with Loren about some of her personal favorite games!
A few months back, guest Erin Thorn joined us to talk about Pathfinder, and at the end of the episode she helped Tim and Clayton roll up some characters. In this first of a multi-episode arc, Tim and Clayton return to the world of Pathfinder as the hapless adventures Dougie and Grubz!
The 1994 SNES RPG EarthBound -- or Mother 2 in Japan -- seems like one of those crucial coming-of-age games in a lot of people's development. Yet neither Tim or Clayton had spent time with it until this episode, in which we welcome returning champion Lauren Faits (Geek Girl Chicago) to talk about why it's her favorite! Spoiler alert: one of these guys didn't really like it.
From Dead Rising to Resident Evil to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, this week, Tim, Clayton, and two guests from Chicago Loot Drop (Mike Chuck and Erik Hanson) will cover all your favorite zombie games - and some that maybe you don't like as much. And while you're listening to the show, do some reading on Chicago Loot Drop, especially their Shamblers Ball fundraiser happening next Monday at the Public House Theatre!
This week, Tim and Clayton get a new microphone, Tim wears a sleeveless shirt that you just have to imagine, AND they welcome friend Grayson Davis to the show to talk about one of his favorite gaming series, Super Smash Bros, with a focus on both classic Smash and its new 3DS release. That flows into the rare Talking Games Nintendo discussion. Do these lads see any future for the Wii U? How great is Tim's shirt? Will anyone call 405-JAW-NERD and leave feedback?
It's one of the hottest games of the moment, so it's probably time we talk about it -- Destiny takes up a large chunk of our conversation with VsTheUniverse artistic director Aaron Amendola this week. Then we turn our attention to an overview of the Final Fantasy series, focusing on some of the later games, and Aaron names a potentially controversial favorite. All this plus multiple visits from Gay Ben Franklin!
Blair Kuhlman is the mega-talented designer behind A Fitting, described as "a Kinect based art Installation that focuses on the idea of body image." It played to rave reviews at Bit Bash a few weeks ago, particularly from the Nerdologues' Kevin Reader, if you want his opinion. ANYWAY, Blair was kind enough to chat with Tim and Clayton about the growing gaming trend of emerging narrative - in other words, when a game's story develops from the gameplay itself instead of being imposed on the player via cutscenes and the like. This episode will get you thinking about storytelling and Clayton will talk about bachelor parties a little bit. For those curious, here's Blair's portfolio.
Tim has been playing Machinarium and listening to D&D-inspired audiobooks. Kellen is replaying A Link Between Worlds, demoing Smash Bros for the 3DS, and playing Crawl on Steam. Clayton is still playing Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. Tim brings the topic of "Best Tits in Gaming." Just kidding. All the boys actually discuss a burning question of late: "What is a gamer?" Moms playing iOS games? Casual Wii enthusiasts? People who watch playthroughs on YouTube? It's mostly a response to GamerGate and how the boys don't like being associated with the negativity being bandied about by "gamers" lately, but they also don't like being ashamed of something they love. Listeners will probably find a lot to relate to.
Earlier this year, we devoted most of an episode to talking about South Park: The Stick of Truth, which is a great example of a franchise game - maybe one of the best of all time. But many other games taht fit that bill are, well, pretty awful. This week, we're going to talk about a bunch of them: Star Wars. Simpsons. Ninja Turtles. Legos. Nothing you love will be spared! Also, you should totally check out guest Mike Hannemann's sweet event, the Super Nintendo Charity Challenge!
Every once in a while, dear listeners, it's fun to get nostalgic. This week, Tim, Clayton, and guest Sammy Tamimi take a serious look backwards to the things that got them into gaming way back when. From the Atari 2600 to... surprise... SNES RPGs, this episode contains some sweet SECRET ORIGINS.
If, like a lot of people, you found yourself dissappointed in the Fourth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, you might have tried a related, open-sourced game called Pathfinder. This episode, we learn all about the game from DM Erin Thorn, including its comparisons to more recent editions of D&D. Then, at the end, Tim and Clayton have their own characters rolled up. Which one's an ogre paladin? The answer may not surprise you!
It's the debate you've been waiting for since we started promoting it on Facebook last week... recorded last Friday at the Jangleheart festival in Wicker Park, friends of the podcast Kellen Terrett and Jeff Murdoch engage in a "modified Oxford-style debate" regarding the merits... or lack thereof... of Final Fantasy X. When the debate ends, only one question remains... which side will you choose??
From Knights of the Old Republic to Dragon Age to Mass Effect, there's no doubt that BioWare is one of the biggest production companies in gaming today. Here's 50 minutes of podcast where Tim, Clayton, and guest Jonah Aaron chat about their own BioWare experiences, including the developer's famed morality engines.
In a brave bout of investigative journalism, this week, Tim and Kyle Chorpening played the new smartphone game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood and explain it to a horrified Clayton. Try to keep your composure as you travel further into this heart of darkness.
Harrison George just got an iPhone, so it seemed like a good time to talk with him about some favorite mobile games. Also, get ready to hear lots about The Walking Dead, and take an unexpected detour into talking about colorblind casting in comic book movies!
Unfortunately, scheduled guest and friend Harrison George was too sick to make it on Talking Games this week. But that doesn't mean we're going to cheat you out of content, oh no. Instead, after an extra-long talk about what Tim and Clayton are currently playing (that contains a surprisingly deep talk about military history), they're going to chat about some of last weekend's Comic-Con news. It'll almost kind of feel like you could have been in San Diego!
Usually on Nerdologues podcasts, we spend an hour of so gushing about things we enjoy. This week, we're twisting that a little, as Tim, Clayton, Tim Reardon, and Jeff Murdoch talk about games that most people like but they could never get into. Get ready to feel pangs of hurt as some of your favorite franchises (Final Fantasy, Mario, Mega Man) are discussed. Also, guess how long it takes before a Suikoden reference!
Get ready for some nostalgia as Tim, Clayton, and guest Eric Schinzer look back through their lives and discuss the video games that mattered at each touchstone. From Atari to PS4, no generation well be spared, mostly! Also, you're going to hear a little bit more about Suikoden.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the return of Kellen Terrett! And with Kellen comes a dissection of Shovel Knight, a retro adventure game that's currently racking up acclaim. We'll also talk about the ideas of remakes and retro games in general, and we can't let Kellen leave without getting a bit into the E3 news he loves to discuss.
Printed CCGs are the past! This week, Tim, Clayton, and guest Alex Honnet welcome our new digital CCG overlords with a discussion of Hearthstone, the online-only WoW collectible card game currently available to eat away at your life! We also dive a bit more into the console wars, and we revisit Alex's first appearance, where he gushed about Chrono Trigger (rightfully so).
For being two things nerds love, the worlds of Star Trek and video gaming haven't crossed over with many successful results. That's something we're going to talk about today as we welcome guests Ben Vigeant and Stephen Winchell from the Star Trek podcast Space Lincoln. Ben also gets into his love of pinball, which led him to create the Chicago Pinball League. Plus, hear some surprisingly unpopular Trek opinions, as speakers on this podcast will defend both Voyager and Enterprise!
Last week, the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) dropped its usual onslaught of huge gaming announcements, and now that the dust has cleared, Tim, Clayton, and guest Daniel Strauss are going to cover it! What's the crew most looking forward to from this year's offerings? Then, Daniel resolves a conflict that reached over 500 comments on his Facebook page - which next-gen gaming system will he purchase? No bits, please.
Mario Kart 8 just came out to pretty outstanding reviews, so this seems like a great time to check in with one of that series' many fans - actress and friend Jessica Kent! Then, Tim, Clayton, and Jessica do a little D&D character generation for each other, in case you were ever wondering what kind of elf Tim would be.
On this week's Talking Games, things get bifurcated as Collectors' Edition host Sean Rose covers two of his favorite topics. First, join us for a discussion of the entire Metal Gear Solid series, from the highs of Metal Gear Solid 3 to the lows of Metal Gear Solid 4. Then, Sean airs some grievances he has with Zelda fans regarding his favorite entry in the series, Windwaker.
When Ann and Nancy Wilson sang the song "Magic Man" back in 1976, they probably weren't talking about this week's guest, but maybe they should have been. Eric Garneau makes a living because of Magic: the Gathering (in a more mundane way than you may be thinking), and he's going to talk about it with Clayton, who used to play in high school, and Tim, who didn't know what to make of the phrase "big black deck."
This week, guest Mike Johnson joins us to chat about Rare's 1994 masterpiece Donkey Kong Country, which took games about humanized, questing gorillas to a whole new level - and painted alligators in an incredibly unseemly light. Of course, the resulting spin-offs will be discussed, but I think we can all agree that the less said about Diddy Kong Racing, the better.
Get your minds out of the gutter, you geeks! This week, we're talking about hardcore vs. softcore gaming with friend Brad Statland. In other words, we're exploring the division between casual gamers ("soft") and the more dedicated among you ("hard"). Opinions will be shared, whole genres will be dissected, and diversions will be plentiful!
From iOS games to current counsels to gaming history, this episode's got it all... AND THEN SOME!! Join us and guest Yishai Weinstein for a survey of topics that cut a broad swath across the world of gaming; PLUS, see if you can figure out which member of the Nerdologues accidentally interrupts this recording!
You've got your Pokemons, you've got your Angry Birds, you've got your Zelda sequels - some of the most beloved games of all time are played on a little tiny screen you hold between your two hands. This week, Neil Jacobsen takes the guest seat to chat about it all! Plus, how many catchphrases can this episode contain? Have you thought about it?
Andy Bolduc hasn't really sat down to play a video game in over a year. But the gaming industry is a forgiving mistress, and so she's sent Tim and Clayton to bring him back to the fold. In this episode, hear our heroes attempt to play matchmaker and find Andy a title that will really suit him. Also, enjoy some sweet, sweet Red Bull plugs courtsey of our unwitting sponsor!
This one's for all you early adopters out there! This week, we chat with our old friend Kellen Terrett about playing games in their beta stages, which morphs into a conversation about game development in general, which leads us to talking about THE FUTURE. Will consoles exist in five years? This episode won't answer that question, but it will provide many others!
From Civilization to Sim City to Warcraft, the strategy genre has given the gaming world some of its most engaging, enduring, and eternal properties. We're going to spend about an hour talking about them with special guest Rachael H, who has a really cool mom!
Video games are a lot of things, but they're not funny - usually. This week, Nicole Vespa sits in to chat with us about a few games that have bucked that trend, with special attention paid to the recently released South Park: The Stick of Truth. This episode contains 100% more Crab People than usual.
Tim does it, and he's not alone. This week, we're joined by Jon Forsythe, who talks about the idea of watching games online - sometimes cutscenes, sometimes the full playing experience. What would drive a man to remove the "game" from "video games"? Find out here!
If you've ever lost a friend over a game, you should probably listen to this podcast, wherein Lauren Rapciak of Geek Girl Chicago joins us for a discussion of angry moments in gaming. The Battlestar Galactica tabletop might come up. Lauren also chats about her favorite video game of all time, Earthbound! BONUS: Get an education in a true Toronto landmark, Honest Ed's discount (?) store (??).
This week, we welcome Chicago Loot Drop's Chairman by Default Mike Chuck, who brings with him a couple different topics to cover. First up, we chat about video game movies both great and not-so-great, which ties in nicely with Loot Drop's upcoming Press Start to Drink event at the end of the month! THEN, no holds shall be barred for a discussion of Mike Chuck's favorite wrestling games! Can you smell what Talking Games is cooking?
This week, Improvised Star Trek's Crick Watson, Sean Kelley, to chat about one of our favorite game genres - the JRPG, or Japanese Role Playing Game for the uninitiated. Join us on this tour of genre classics from 8 bits and up, with special attention paid to (of course) Final Fantasy. Lear something really disturbing about Final Fantastic Tactics that you might have missed!
Byron Hatfield's Public House Theatre has been a huge boon to the Chicago comedy community, and we're stoked to have a chat with Byron this week. In true nerd fashion, though, Byron lets the dice do the talking as we roll D6s to determine our topic from a list generated by Mr. Hatfield right before the show. What do we cover? Well, we can't take all the fun out of the journey, but be ready to hear about proud achievements, major frustrations, and, appropriately, a little more D&D.
We're open to all types of games on our podcast, and this week Second City's Matt Hovde joins us to talk about those of the board, not video, variety. Enjoy our dive into the great tabletop debate of Ameritrash vs. Eurogames! Do you prefer competition or cooperation? Abstraction or realism? It's gonna get deep, guys. Also, we talk a lot about Battlestar Galactica, and what's with comedians always doing bits?
This episode, we're stoked to talk with Max Temkin, one of the co-creators of Cards Against Humanity, about the indie title Spelunky - a game Max calls the best ever made! Could that be true? Plus, learn more about story structure and hipster culture than you ever thought you would from this podcast (which is probably "zero")! Here's the Trey Parker/Matt Stone video Max talks about. It's definitely worth your time.
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Red Eye Chicago geek blogger Elliott Serrano’s shown the Nerdologues that he has a thing or two to say about Star Wars. This week he joins us to talk about his favorite games set in a galaxy far, far away. From Rebel Assault to Lego Star Wars to Force Unleashed, we cover it all - plus there’s a little bit of love for other LucasArts (RIP) properties for good measure.
Returning from the 2013 year-end episode like a champ, guest and friend Kellen Terrett runs down some of his favorite underrated games with us this week. Get ready for some hardcore nostalgia as we discover sleepover games, franchise entries that didn’t quite live up to their promise, and all the PS1 action-RPGs you can shake a stick at.
Welcome to the first episode of Talking Games under the Nerdologues podcast umbrella! To celebrate this merger, Tim and Clayton chat with founding Nerdologues members Kevin Reader and Chris Geiger (who was on this show long ago). Things get appropriately introspective as they discuss this week’s topic: how and why does one leave the world of gaming behind? Get ready for lots of talk about Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us, and Tetris. And beware: the Nerdologues studio (actually a dressing room) is a SPOILER ALERT-FREE ZONE!
It had to happen eventually! Today we cover the biggest thing in gaming in the past decade, World of Warcraft. Sam Roos (IO’s Attica, Evil) takes us through the process of being lured in, getting good, and eventually realizing it’s just not important to you anymore. Along the way we talk Counterstrike, Devil Make Cry, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and Tim describes how the wind knocked a pizza slice out of his hand.
Happy new year! We start 2014 off with a brand new guest, John Sabine (The Late 90’s, Second City) discussing Gone Home (skip 8:00 - 12:00 if you haven’t played it) and his love/addiction for Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword. Enjoy the episode; here’s the link to the game’s grammy winning soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb-jk6Ftx7o
Folks, it’s here. Episode 54, and our 2013 retrospective with our good friend Kellen Terrett. We look back at news stories, best and worst games, and things we’re looking forward to. It’s a big ‘ol dog pile of love with the exception of yelling at Tim’s “Most Anticipated Game” pick. Happy new year!
Merry any holiday you could possibly be celebrating today! Our gift to you is our first guest ever, Vince Portacci (The Late 90’s, Scoundrels) back on the podcast to discuss the Borderlands series, and how our traits and neuroses shape the characters we create in games. Enjoy this, and come back next week with our 2013 wrap up show!
Episode 52! Folks, we couldn’t get a guest in time for the recording this week, so we went without one. We switch the roles we normally have on the show, and Clayton asks deep probing questions of Tim. Enjoy!
Episode 51, mwahahaha! Today we talk with Ben Cook (IO’s Big Spoon) about D&D, the theme song we almost went with, and end up playing a game we did once before on the podcast, “Name That Game Tune”. Clayton and Ben sent me their favorite game music, and I quiz them to see who knows the most tracks, winner gets $20,000.
And that’s 50 episodes! Today we had Tim Ryder on to address some of the criticisms our last guest, Dan Strauss, made about Batman: Arkham Origins, Assassin’s Creed 3, and Tim, himself. Then we discuss Tim’s distaste for shooters and first person gaming, and end with some of his favorites from 2013.
Episode 49! Today we’re talking with Dan Strauss (The Second City, Game Bros.) about a little bit of everything. We cover Beyond: Two Souls, Clayton’s latest review, and the biggest surprises and disappointments from this year. Enjoy!
Episode 48! One of our favorites, Mike Brunlieb (Dead$$$, Sand) came back on the show to discuss the emotional impact games have on us, including those that made us cry, fear for our lives, and laugh. It’s like the very special episode of Fresh Prince where Carlton took speed, but for our podcast. WebRep currentVote noRating noWeight
Episode 47! We’re gonna have some of our favorite guests back on for the last episodes of 2013, starting with RAY GORDON! Ray discusses Arkham Origins, the best comic book games of this generation, and the Upstairs Gallery Magic The Gathering league. Yep.
Episode 46!!! Today we’re talking with Drew Kearse (IO’s Bass Mountain, Footloose) about growing up always having to be player 2, and what he’s missed not having had a console for this generation. We even dip in to sports you guys. YEAH, SPORTS!
Episode 45! Today, to celebrate Clayton’s new gig reviewing games for Honestgamers.com, we’re talking about game journalism, what we love/hate about it, and what makes a 10. Friend of the show J.T. Butler came back to join us on this journey and add his reasons for hating Alan Wake.
Zack “Save the Best for Last” Mast (IO’s Sonis) came on and talked about the best sleepover games we grew up with, back when people used to play games in the same room with each other. We talk Goldeneye, Metal Warriors, Wii Sports, all before Zack got blackout drunk. Enjoy!
Episode 43! Today we’re talking with Alex Hanpeter (Two Bunnies Eating Flowers, Hijinks) about licensed games and mostly the time we’ve wasted playing them. Ya know, like the LOST game, the 7UP game and the PRISON BREAK game. Enjoy!
Episode 42! Today we’re talking with Eric Harrington about how we’ve changed as gamers as we’ve gotten older, the inability to get in to anime, and Clayton and Eric go to town on Tim’s hair. Enjoy!
Episode 41! Today we did something kinda special. We started off with a short “In the field” segment with our guest Ben Vigeant at Headquarters Beercade. Then we come back to the studio to talk to him about all things pinball, why Tim shouldn’t give up on Ico, and the Vietnam war.
40 episodes in and today Kellen Terrett’s back to talk about Grand Theft Auto 5, my silly fundraiser to buy it, the games we recommend from this console generation, and a little peek in to gaming as a dad!
Hoo boy oh boy, episode 37! Today we’re talking with Kevin Horst (IO’s Trolley, Ben-Hur) about some of the best and worst examples of morality systems in gaming, and Clayton’s shoes make weird noises. Enjoy!