It’s back to the future again for this week’s episode. Do Rik and Jo find themselves in an optimistic utopia, or is it another bleak vision of a broken future?
It’s the latter, of course, as today’s game is Shardlight, which begins with protagonist Amy Wellard doing an extremely dangerous job for rich men in silly outfits in exchange for the chance of vaccination against a terminal illness.
Our hosts also discuss V for Vendetta, hunky topless butchers, and whether Jagged Alliance 2 really was the reason that Rik didn’t have a girlfriend in the 90s.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for Shardlight.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy Shardlight:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/336130/Shardlight/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/shardlight
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Rik and Jo are back with Alfie Banks this week, just as he takes up a new job, his first task for which involves visiting a bakery.
From this point, things rapidly get out of hand for Alfie, although he doesn’t really seem to notice until it’s much too late.
In this episode, you can also enjoy an extremely dubious attempt at a generic ‘mob guy’ accent, Rik’s work in progress stand-up comedy routine about how estate agents aren’t that honest, and Jo invoking a family member’s baffled reaction to the film Eat Pray Love.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for A Golden Wake.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy A Golden Wake:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/307570/A_Golden_Wake/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/a_golden_wake
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
It’s time for a real estate romp in 1920s Miami this week, as Rik and Jo tackle A Golden Wake from Grundislav Games.
It’s another two-parter, in order to allow the many career twists of protagonist Alfie Banks to be discussed in detail (with spoilers).
In this first part, conversation turns to highly topical subjects that include WWF Wrestlemania on the Atari ST and Mr Crisp, the baddie in Kindergarten Cop.
Plus, there’s the (inevitable) Will Smith reference in there too, although his thoughts on the Florida coastal city circa 1997 aren’t really all that relevant either.
Back in game land, Rik and Jo follow Alfie’s adventures as he deals with hirings and firings, doors being slammed in his face, and everyone making fun of his company car.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for A Golden Wake.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy A Golden Wake:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/307570/A_Golden_Wake/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/a_golden_wake
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
In today's episode, Rik and Jo are in Twin Lakes, joining Detective Francis McQueen and Officer Patrick Dooley of the local police department’s Darkside Division.
Due to a number of factors, including our hosts’ refusal to do much research into the games they’ve wishlisted, bought, or even selected to discuss on a podcast, it’s a slightly different change of pace this week.
Like the game itself, this discussion goes off at a few different tangents, including whether Rik can remember Day of the Tentacle (not really), and if Jo liked Twin Peaks (yes) and understood it (no).
There’s also consideration of one of adventure gaming’s oldest questions: does George Stobbart ever behave like a normal human man with a job?
Plus, is it clever to put other people’s stuff in your thing? And, if so, did Rik write a story to rival Ready Player One all the way back in 1988?
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Darkside Detective.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy The Darkside Detective:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/368390/The_Darkside_Detective/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_darkside_detective
Itch: https://akuparagames.itch.io/darksidedetective
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
In the second part of their discussion (with spoilers) of Whispers of a Machine, we join Rik and Jo (as well as our hero, Vera Englund) at the start of Day 3.
We can’t say what’s happened thus far without sounding the spoiler klaxon, but hopefully you’ll have listened to the first part already. If not, it would kind of make sense to do that first.
Other than the major plot beats of the second half of the game, our hosts talk about the health and safety implications of construction work being undertaken in a functioning workspace, creepy characters who we wished had something to do with the bad things that happened (but didn’t), and boyfriends who remind you of Mr Clippy (in behaviour, rather than appearance).
Plus, as the final plot dilemmas hit, did Jo choose the bad ending again?
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for Whispers of a Machine.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy Whispers of a Machine:
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/whispers_of_a_machine
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/631570/Whispers_of_a_Machine/
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
This week, Rik and Jo are in Nordsund to investigate a series of murders in Whispers of a Machine.
It’s a two-parter this time, and in this first episode, our hosts discuss Grandma Vera, Vera Duckworth and Vera Englund, and how only one of them is a cool protagonist with an undercut and trendy jacket that attracts compliments from strangers.
Other topics discussed include bosses that sit and stare into space, crap museum exhibits, and a plant master called Rolf.
Plus Rik and Jo explore this game’s system of different personality traits, the iffiness of people who loudly self-identify as empaths, and non-ethical ways to get through a door.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for Whispers of a Machine.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy Whispers of a Machine:
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/whispers_of_a_machine
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/631570/Whispers_of_a_Machine/
Mitchell and Webb Sketch ‘Remain Indoors’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnd1jKcfBRE
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
It's the first discussion (with spoilers) of the series, as Rik and Jo take a trip to Conwell Springs with Kathy Rain.
This is a bumper episode, with our crack team of producers electing to give you the full discussion in one hit.
Our hosts talk about why they discuss the original version, not the director’s cut (short answer: the original was in the backlog) and what exactly a ‘director’s cut’ is in the world of indie gaming.
And the movie theme continues as Rik channels The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy to express incredulity that a poster from Titanic could feature in a game set in 1995.
Get ready for big spoilers in the discussion ahead, which also features nostalgia for 90s computer boot screens and The Crystal Maze. Plus, why Roffles is a really funny name for a dog.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for Kathy Rain.
Links:
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy Kathy Rain:
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/kathy_rain
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/370910/Kathy_Rain/
Director’s Cut (not discussed!):
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/kathy_rain_directors_cut
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1395030/Kathy_Rain_Directors_Cut/
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Rik and Jo are back with a new series of Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!)
Before the first episode proper, our hosts reconvene to talk about the first series, meeting Dave Gilbert, and the pre-podcast version of our discussions of indie games with spoilers.
The extensive scientific process behind the selection of games for Series 2 is also revealed, along with the full line-up of discussions ahead.
Our hosts also briefly shout out some indie games they recommend, but won’t be discussing (with spoilers) in future episodes.
Is the word ‘backlog’ too negative (and does it imply a lack of fibre in the diet)? What do you say when the creator of Unavowed asks you if you’ve played it (and you haven’t)? Fear not, Rik and Jo are here to tackle these important questions.
No spoilers for any games in this episode, although there are mild spoilers for Series 1 of this podcast (but you’ve listened to that already, right?)
Links
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/buy these indie games:
Neo Cab
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/794540/Neo_Cab/
Sagebrush
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/864100/Sagebrush/
itch: https://redactgames.itch.io/sagebrush
Tacoma
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/tacoma_game
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/343860/Tacoma/
itch: https://tacoma.itch.io/tacoma
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!) is back, slightly sooner than expected, for a very special episode.
Rik and Jo are talking all things Blackwell yet again, but this time with Mr Wadjet Eye himself, Dave Gilbert.
Dave kindly got in touch to say he’d been enjoying the first series and to offer up some time to chat.
And that chat includes topics such as 90s adventures, the early days of Wadjet Eye, and all of the games discussed (with spoilers) in previous episodes. Plus Wadjet Eye’s new game, Old Skies, which will be out very soon.
The spoiler klaxon hasn’t been wheeled out of storage for this episode: while the interview will probably make more sense if you’ve played the Blackwell series, there’s not much here that really counts as a plot spoiler.
(If you’re worried about such things, exercise caution, and/or play the games and come back later!)
Follow us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/discussionspoilers.bsky.social
Wishlist/Buy Old Skies:
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/old_skies
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1346360/Old_Skies/
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
We come to the end of the first series of Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!), as our hosts discuss rabbi-based mystery The Shivah.
It's another's Wadjet Eye adventure, with tangential links to Blackwell, first released in 2006 and updated in 2013.
Rik and Jo will be back later in the year with more spoiler-tastic discussions.
But for now, it's time to ponder the question, ‘What is the work of God, and what is the work of man?’ as we join Rabbi Russell Stone on a quest to solve the puzzle of a mysterious inheritance.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This episode features spoilers for The Shivah.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Shivah:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/252370/The_Shivah/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_shivah
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
All good things must come to an end, as Rik and Jo reluctantly part ways with the Blackwell saga.
Not before a good discussion (with spoilers) takes place though, as we deal with gym guys, TV stars, and a looming crack in the sky.
If you haven’t played these games before, then listening to this episode first would be a great way to ruin them for you.
So don’t do that – at least not by accident – it’d be like trying to take a running jump off a dumpster in the snow.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Epiphany.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Epiphany:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/236930/Blackwell_Epiphany/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_blackwell_epiphany
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
It’s another two-parter for our latest discussion, with the culmination of the Blackwell saga necessitating a half-time interlude for orange slices and tactical advice from the manager.
What are we talking about? Adventure games, of course! And in this one we visit a very cold New York, some very creepy houses, and the manager’s office of an electronic retailer.
Get ready for discussion of some shocking moments, although hopefully they won’t be too shocking to those who’ve actually played the game.
If you haven’t, then beware! Great big spoilers lie ahead.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Epiphany.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Epiphany:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/236930/Blackwell_Epiphany/
GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_blackwell_epiphany
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
In Part 2 of this discussion, we re-join Rosa and Joey as they threaten a temp agency manager with the (now defunct) power of the press and blackmail a horny music producer.
All before a final battle with an extremely powerful force, known only as ‘Gavin’.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Deception.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Deception on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/80360/Blackwell_Deception/
Buy The Blackwell Bundle on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blackwell_bundle
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
As we speed into the penultimate Blackwell game, matters are getting a little more complicated.
And by ‘more complicated’, we mean ‘longer’. In Part 1 of this discussion, Rik and Jo guide Rosa and Joey out of the Hudson River, take a trip to meet an old friend, and delve into the world of dodgy psychics.
Time to pretend that we didn’t leave university all that long ago, head to a terrible nightclub and request a track by Epileptic Fish.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Deception.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Deception on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/80360/Blackwell_Deception/
Buy The Blackwell Bundle on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blackwell_bundle
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Episode 3 of Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!) sees Rik and Jo move seamlessly onto the third game of the Blackwell series, The Blackwell Convergence.
In this game, art and business mix, with deadly consequences: a comment on the nature of capitalism, perhaps? You’ll find no discussion of such weighty topics here.
Our hosts do, however, talk through another instalment of Rosa and Joey’s spirit-saving capers, with a brief detour via the subject of Chris Klein’s character in the 1999 Alexander Payne film, Election.
Get your spare change for the Joe Gould fund ready, but proceed no further if you don’t want any spoilers, because…
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Convergence.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Convergence on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/80350/Blackwell_Convergence/
Buy The Blackwell Bundle on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blackwell_bundle
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
In today’s episode of Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!), Rik and Jo move onto the second of Wadjet Eye’s Blackwell games, Blackwell Unbound.
Apart from helping more lost spirits on their way - but this time, in the past - there’s discussion of assault with a woodwind instrument, why this game isn’t like The Wedding Singer, and a brief pitch for a spin-off title featuring Harriet Sherman.
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for Blackwell Unbound.
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy Blackwell Unbound on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/80340/Blackwell_Unbound/
Buy The Blackwell Bundle on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blackwell_bundle
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Welcome to Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!)
In today’s episode, Rik and Jo discuss The Blackwell Legacy, from Wadjet Eye Games.
Despite all the talk of clearing digital backlogs, it’s a game they’ve both played before. But they’ve never discussed it on a podcast, with spoilers… until now.
In between helping protagonists Rosa and Joey seek out lost spirits, there’s talk of annoying doctors, the merits of Gabriel Knight, and adventure gaming’s alternative to asking your friend if you can walk their dog.
Plus: which of our hosts discovered the ‘bad’ ending?
***KLAXON!*** ***SPOILER KLAXON!*** This podcast features spoilers for The Blackwell Legacy (in case that wasn’t clear).
Links:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discussiongamespoilers/
Buy The Blackwell Legacy on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/80330/The_Blackwell_Legacy/
Buy The Blackwell Bundle on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blackwell_bundle
Music for this podcast is by VOiD1 Gaming: https://www.void1gaming.com/
Welcome to Discussion: [Indie Game]: (spoilers!)
In another bonus episode, Rik and Jo again steer clear of the promised discussion (with spoilers) and instead poke through tales of their gaming pasts.
Gamers need credentials, after all, so get ready to peruse - and be impressed by - a combined CV that includes being scared by Magic Maths from Codemasters, cheating to get to the end of Wing Commander III, playing Guitar Hero 2 on medium difficulty, and being in the same room as PC Zone’s Charlie Brooker.
(Did they actually meet him? Sorry, no spoilers in the show notes!)
Links:
Magic Maths on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFE1JVs0kjY
Wing Commander III Trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAGHpDmHZpg
Message in a Bottle (Guitar Hero 2) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkvYnk6NtKw
Welcome to Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!)
In their very first episode, Rik and Jo confound their own format by not discussing a specific indie game with spoilers. Instead, the podcast’s opaque title is broken down: what do we mean by ‘spoilers’ these days? What is an ‘indie game’? And how do you have a ‘discussion?’
While our hosts’ shared gaming past involved not being very good at Sierra games in the 90s, they rediscovered their love for adventures via the indie scene in the 00s and beyond.
Unfortunately, despite the shorter length and more forgiving nature of modern indie adventures, this renewed enthusiasm seems mainly to have manifested itself in sizable digital backlogs for each of them. It’s time to tackle that pile of shame, as well as revisit some past favourites, and then discuss (with spoilers).
No spoilers in this episode, though, but we do mention that there’s a shark in Jaws. (If you haven’t seen it, sorry!)
This is Discussion: [Indie Game] (spoilers!), a new podcast series in which hosts Rik and Jo select a short, narrative-based adventure game, go away and play it, then come back to discuss all the details (with spoilers).