This week we talk about the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign. Caution: SPOILERS ABOUND!

What We're Playing
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Luma Island
Longvinter
Balatro
Stardew Valley
FO76
Phasmophobia

What We're Reading
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
The Hooligans of Kandahar by Joesph Kassabian

What We're Drinking
Quinta de Infantado Ruby Port
Diet Pepsi, the elixir of the gods

This week we talk about gifts we are giving and getting this gift giving season (or any time of year).

What We're Playing
Last Time I Saw You*
Inscryption
Nobody Saves the World
Lies of P
Metaphor: ReFantazio

What We're Reading
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

What We're Drinking
Stone Imperial Seasonal Stout
Coffee and sadness

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

This week we talk about the Call of Duty series in some critical, yet random, ways.

What We're Playing
Balatro
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Fallout 76
Wingspan
Papers Please
Bayonetta
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
Metaphor: ReFantazio

What We're Reading
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
From Dissertation to Book by William Germano

What We're Drinking
Mountain Dew
Sparkling Ice + Caffeine, Strawberry Citrus

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

This week we talk about short games and the purpose they serve for us as individuals.

What We're Playing
Balatro
Castaway
Critter Cove*
Spiritfarer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Fallout 76
Lies of P
PlateUp
Still Wakes the Deep

What We're Reading
Starter Villain by John Scalzii
Star Wars: Thrawn Treason by Timothy Zahn

What We're Drinking
Sapporo
Uncle Nearest and Fever Tree Ginger Ale
Water

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

We're back from hiatus and we've survived the first half of 2024.

What We're Playing
Balatro
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Deep Rock Galactic
Fallout 76
Fields of Mistria
FFVII Reunion
Hues and Cues (board game)
Lies of P
Piles (card game)
PlateUp
Still Wakes the Deep
Very, Very Valet

What We're Reading
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope
Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendency by Timothy Zahn
Avatar, the Last Airbender: The Reckoning of Roku by Randy Ribay

What We're Drinking
Pineapple Monster Ultra and Sparkling Water
Orange Juice
Uncle Nearest on the rocks

*Code received for streaming and review purposes

This week we talk about the games that we are most looking forward to in 2024...maybe.

What We're Playing
Ship of Fools
Disney Speedstorm
Board Games (Sherlock Holmes, Avatar: Crosswords of Destiny, RISK: Medieval Europe)
Return from Core*
PalWorld

What We're Reading
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Star Wars Thrawn

What We're Drinking
Pineapple Monster Ultra
Sprite
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
*Code received for streaming and review purposes

This week we are talking about our favorite games of 2023 as we look forward to 2024.

What We're Playing
Dead by Daylight
Baldur's Gate 3
Palia
Born of Bread*
Bilkin's Folly*
Call of Duty*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Avatar Comics
The Legacy of Yangchen by F.C. Yee
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

What We're Drinking
Modern Times Coffee Roasty Stout
Grapefruit Radler

This week we are talking about living our best (or worst) lives among the stars in Starfield.

What We're Playing
Starfield
Inscryption
Baldur's Gate 3
Moving Out 2,
Persona 5 Royal
Illiterati
Call of Duty
Fae Farm*
Tiny Witch*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
In Every Generation A Slayer is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
From Blood and Ash 1 and 2 by Jennifer Armentrout
Air Awakens 1-3 by Elise Kova

What We're Drinking
Sprite
Samuel Smith's Chocolate Stout
Grapefruit Radler

This week we are talking about the cozy aesthetic and how your faves can be problematic.


What We're Playing
Sims 4* (with Horse Ranch DLC)
Pikmin 4
Palia
Venba*
Atelier Marie
Persona 5
Tears of the Kingdom
Dicey Dungeons
Railway Empires 2
7 Wonders Duel
Diablo 4
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes


What We're Reading
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
Avatar Legends Republic City Expansion
The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner
In Every Generation A Slayer is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz


What We're Drinking
Cherry Limeade
Two Towns Ciderhouse- Strawberry Lemonade
Chocolate Malt

This week we are talking about the games that have had the biggest impact on our lives.

What We're Playing
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Diablo IV
Jedi: Survivor
Minecraft
Fallout 76
Sanake.io
Crime O'Clock*
Noob: The Factionless*
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life*
*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

What We're Drinking
Water
Imperial Stout
Rootbeer Float

This week Sam and Jordyn and joined by material artist Christian Vasquez and environment artist Leah Augustine to talk about working in the games industry as artists.

Links of note:
Chris Vasquez (he/him)
https://www.artstation.com/chrisnvasquez
Leah Augustine (she/her)
https://www.artstation.com/leahaugustine

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Travelers Rest
Valorant
Deceive Inc*
PUBG
Resident Evil 4 Remake

*Code Received for streaming and review purposes

What We're Reading
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The Complete Making of Indiana Jones by J.W. Rinzler & Laurent Bouzereau
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

What We're Drinking
Ace Pear Cider
Strawberry and Cream Dr. Pepper and Whiskey
Negroni
Black House Modern Times Coffee Stout

This week Jordyn and Victoria get the opportunity to interview her about games and her history working in and around games.

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Dredge
Stardew Valley
Dinkum
Golf Club Wasteland
Return of the Obra Dinn
Wasteland 3

What We're Reading
Babel by R.F. Kuang

What We're Drinking
Ace Pineapple Cider
Sprite
Modern Times Coconut Stout
Water, lots of water

This week Sam and Jordyn sit down with Amanda Gardner from The Deep End Games to talk about their upcoming game (March 7, 2023!), Romancelvania.

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Pokemon Violet
Fire Emblem Engage
Octopath Traveler II
Destiny 2: Lightfall*
Majora's Mask

What We're Reading
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

What We're Drinking
Black Cherry Sparkling Water
Stone Imperial Stout
Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon

This week Sam sits down with Jordyn and Victoria to talk about queer characters and games that we love. Recorded on Valentine's Day.

What We're Playing
Potionomics
Fire Emblem Engage
Warlords Battlecry III
Age of Empires
Devour
Avatar Generations

What We're Reading
Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee

What We're Drinking
Ace Cider
Selkie Tea
Death by Chocolate Stout
Water, water flavored water

This week Sam sits down and talks with TreaAndrea Russworm (Professor of Fun, USC) and Cicero Holmes (Podcaster, Game Player, and still the Bruce Wayne of Brookago) about the definition and examples of Black games (and tangentially the wizard game that must not be named).

What We're Playing
God of War Ragnorok
God of War (2018)
Marvel Snap
Fire Emblem Engage
Mars Base
I am Future
Fabledom
SteamWorld Build

This week we talk about the 2023 game releases that we are most excited for!

What We're Playing
God of War Ragnorok
Pokemon Violet
Spiderman: Miles Morales
Kynseed
Len's Island*
Grounded
Crusader Kings 3
Core Keeper
Avatar Legends
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading
Babel by RF Kuang
Spare by Prince Harry
Comics: Turf Wars, Ruins of the Empire, Patterns in Time

What We're Drinking
Whiskey Ginger
Strawberry Lemonade
Tropical Beer Hug, Imperial IPA

This week we talk about our top 5 games of 2022. Looking forward at all of the new releases of 2023.

What We're Playing:
Dying Light 2
Tiny Tina's Wonderland
Pokemon Violet
Marvel Midnight Suns*
Beacon Pines*
Dragon Quest Treasure*
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel's Ballad*
Marvel Snap
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

What We're Drinking:
Newtopia: Chai Me a River
Sneaky Sneaky

This week we are talking about things that you might pick up for folks on your Winter Holidays gift list (or anytime really).

What We're Playing:
Dying Light 2
Strange Horticulture
The Devil in Me
Pokemon Violet
Harvestella*
Marvel Snap
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

What We're Drinking:
Stone Imperial Stout
A bootleg Sneaky Sneaky

Links of Note:
Selections from Jordyn's List:
Candles: https://cantripcandles.com/collections
Coffee Calendar: https://beanbox.com/coffee-gifts/coffee-advent-calendar Avatar Giftbox: https://thenickbox.com/pages/avatar-the-last-airbender-box
Custom Keycaps: https://nerdylittlesecrets.bigcartel.com/product/korok-botw-keycap

This week we are talking about what we are playing with Dr. TreaAndrea Russworm (USC Cinematic Arts) about what we've been playing lately.
What We're Playing:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Lonesome Village*
Harvestella*
Mario v Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
For the King
Deep Rock Galactic
Strange Horticultue
Against the Storm
GTA V Online
Spiritfarer
Tacoma
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
The Cold War by Odd Arne Westad
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

What We're Drinking:
Stone Hazy IPA
Golden State Radical Guava Cider
Fog Land Washington Riesling

Links of Note:
[History Channel] The Toys That America Built: The Birth of Video Games

This week we are talking about our experience playing Stray from BlueTwelve Studio.

What We're Playing:
Tower of Fantasy
Stardew Valley
Extraction
Stray*
Sea of Thieves
This War of Mine
Framed
*Code was received for streaming and review purposes.

What We're Reading:
The Dawn of Yangchen by FC Yee
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

What We're Drinking:
Lemonade
Iced Coffee
Temblor Brewing Co. Raspberry Creamsicle