Welcome to Episode 277

We kick off with thinking how we will ensure the people of the future will still be able to enjoy the Podcast after the end of all humanity, and how close we are to s*it hitting the fan.

We discuss Rams dreams of being a bouncer and which long running online games.

We eventually get onto games with Ram playing a rouge lite city builder in Against the storm, a very deep game with an angry queen and not to rams taste

We also discuss football player intelligence, games workshop causing confusion and amazon prime day fails

Notes

The best brand of fans in the world

Our podcast dedicated to dear leader

Amazingly, Ultima Online is still going

Spiritual successor to Ultima Online, Shroud of the Avatar

The scariest of the online games - Eve

Everyday words you may use from Hebrew

Watch out for Miss Minutes invading your funeral

Like the sound of a rouge lite city builder, Against the Storm may be your cup of tea

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on November 6th 2025, at 18:30 GMT either on YouTube or Twitch

Welcome to Episode 276

Still recovering from the 24-hour live stream, Skazz and Ram review the games they played that night (day?), including some new and some old, and give their thoughts on them.

First up is Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead sharing some of the same developers. A fun zombie game, but with some bizarre multiplayer lobby system choices and issues with public players and bots once again carrying the team.

Next up was Full Metal Furies, a game we've played in a previous 24-hour stream, this time as a threesome. A very funny game with great art style and action combat, sadly it was during this game we had our first man down as Zaber had to bow out with suspected food poisoning.

After Zaber's departure, we gave a little indie game called Content Warning a go. We got to experience the fantasy life of successful content creators by delving into the depths of an underworld to film strange creatures. Skazz had issues with multiple Rams and creatures spawning where they weren't supposed to be, along with captcha iron maidens.

We then returned to an old favourite with Green Hell, trying out the multiplayer story mode for the first time. We went hunting for very specific plants, honoured Gavin's spear, and Skazz got up close and personal with lots of snakes.

Back to another classic 24-hour games night game with Golf It. Unfortunately, it was Ram's turn to turn green and head for the bathroom, as the many hours sat in front of a screen and eye strain caught up with him.

We finished up the night with a now-traditional flight in MS Flight Simulator, this time flying in a business jet from Norwich to Dublin. Zaber returned just in time to experience one of Ram's attempts to land.

Notes

Left 4 Dead style Zombie shooter with a stupid lobby system in Back 4 Blood

Great fun action game in Full Metal Furies

Live the short life of scary content creators in Content Warning

Die of snake bites multiple times in Green Hell

Hit little balls round complex course in Golf It!

Another successful flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on October 9th 2025, at 18:30 GMT++1

Still one of the best space survival games, Empyrion Galactic survival

If you want to make a film, make a film, don't create a game instead like the Callisto protocol

Walk round a lot of boring brown rooms and corridors and try to escape in Outlast

Possibly one of the worst name games of recent times, Genesis Alpha One

Looks like the next James Bond film will be set in Great Yarmouth

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast live steam on the 25th September 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1.

Welcome to Episode 274, and what will eventually be the greatest podcast know to humanity

Skazz kick us off by talking about a Drag x Drive, a game that Nintendo have recently allow games to play for free for 24hrs. It might show a return for motion controllers. Taking advantage of two mouse like controllers of the switch 2. along with intuitive and fun game play, we discuss the lobby system and how people are not given the game a chance

Ram has been breaking into houses in a very unlucky neighborhood in Thief Simulator, A simple game about taking thing that are not yours and selling them.

We also discuss esports including classic such as StarCraft 2 and Dota, along with some more modern examples, we also talk about the movement stop killing games

Notes

A sports game taking advantage of the Switch 2 unique controllers with Drag X Drive

For those who don't know a Basketball court layout, Wikipedia to the rescue

An Nintendo attempt at an E-sport that failed, Arms

And there more successful hit: Smash Bros

The classic E-sports StarCraft 2 and Dota

And a more modern example with Valorant

Have a look here to the see the most popular esports game

Time to make developers Stop Killing Games

Live the life of a Whitton child in Thief Simulator

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast live steam on the 28th Auguest 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1.

Welcome to Episode 273

In this episode, we explore the idea of replacing Skazz with an AI and dive into the UK's new age verification laws, discussing why they're both misguided and poorly conceived. We also examine Steam's recent

decision to remove certain games from its platform due to pressure from payment processors.On the gaming front, Skazz has picked up the expansion pass for Splatoon 3, which features two DLC packs: "Inkopolis" and "Side Order." Focusing primarily on Side Order, Skazz first recaps the base game's story mode and explains how it effectively trains players in core mechanics before transitioning to the expansion content. Side Order introduces a roguelite mode to the game, though Skazz reveals how Heroes of Hammerwatch may have spoiled the experience for him.

Meanwhile, Ram has been manufacturing sedans in the car factory simulator Production Line. He's been optimizing his factory assembly line and researching new features for his car models while trying to grasp various business concepts, things are not going according to plan.

Notes

We're not saying you could use this tool to bypass picture verification... but we're not not saying it either:

One of the most misguided pieces of government legislation:

The concerning trend of game removals on Steam:

A roguelite mode in Splatoon? The Side Order expansion delivers:

Optimize your car factory and research heated seats before the competition in Production Line:

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast live steam on the 14th Auguest 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1.

Welcome to Episode 272

We're still hear, and still haven't faded

We kick off with Skazz revealing the mad griding he's been doing in order to unlock upgrades on Heros of Hammerwatch, we discuss the game further talking about the levels and upgrades available for the Heros

Ram has been playing a game that was gifted to him by Skazz; Sid Meyer Beyond Earth, the spiritual successor to the incredibly popular Alpha Centauri. Despite the poor reputation, Ram has been having a good time with it. He discusses the mechanics and game play and some of his major annoyances of the game, mainly the UI

We also discuss Skazz spying on Ram, Selling out and Rams Villain origin story

Notes

Our theory on the watcher was correct

The failed spiritual success to alpha centauri, Sid Meier's Beyond earth

It was actually Civilization 4, not 3 that was Ram's first Civ experience

And here is the fantastic title music

The longest game of Civ2

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 31st July 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 271

We start off this episode with Skazz once again throwing Ram off his game, which leads us into discussing how the Anthropic AI Claude did when it was put in charge of running a shop. Including ordering tungsten cubes and trying to perform in person delivery's

Skazz talks about one his children recent birthday and their growing PS2 game collection, along Skazz himself discussing how hes trying to reduce his games list. He's also picked up another version of Control to complete, we muse on the possibility of completing the game without using the launch/shield power (aka the power of concrete). Skazz also make a prediction for his game of the year

TheSuffolkRam has returned to a late PS1 era game called Sheep, lemming inspired, you have top guide a herd of daft sheep through dangers to get them back to the alien home planet. Ram assumed it as a Japanese game bases on the insanity of it all, but is shocked by it being British made

We have a debate of our preferred MGS games with a divide over MSG2 and MSG3, we both agree however MGS4 was bad and why David Hayter is the only voice actor for solid snake. We also discuss other Hideo Kojima games including Death Stranding and his upcoming horror game OD

Notes

See how well an AI does running a shop

Concrete flinging fun in Control

Despite all the hallmarks saying otherwise, British made herding game Sheep

Which is better MGS2 or MGS3?

Upcoming horror game from Hideo Kojima OD

Infected with nanomachines? make use of ambrosia

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 17th July 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 270

We kickoff with Skazz expertly trolling Ram before discussing Skazz's ID troubles ram shock over an emptying Highstreet.

Ram shares his simple fix for what he considered S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's biggest problem, the voice acting, this leading to a deep dive on voice acting's crucial role in game immersion and how poor performances can instantly ruin the experience. We explore related complaints about cut-off dialogue in games and Skazz's struggles with reading in-game maps, plus Ram's sister's level design theory.

We discuss Remedy's recently released FBC: Firebreak alongside other Remedy titles including the Max Payne remake, and dive into fan theories about Control. The conversation touches on Steam demos making a comeback and how our opinions of Steam have evolved over time.

Finally, we explore the unique concept of being a building contractor for Control's Oldest House and debate why concrete is superior to guns in supernatural situations.

Notes

Remedy new game set in the Control universe (or the broader Remedy universe) FBC Firebreak

The last FPS game remedy were involved in: CrossfireX

Live our your fantasy of being a doggo in Sheepherds

Epic have been forced to remove Dark and Darker

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 3rd July 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 269

We begin with Skazz providing updates from our previous episode discussions, including how to acquire Kane & Lynch, which leads into a conversation about Games for Windows Live and the equally problematic Windows Store.

Moving on to games, Ram has treated himself to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and is returning to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. He provides a brief history of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, including how ambitious it was and discusses many of the features that had to be cut during development. He then talks about the new game, highlighting the enjoyable combat and atmosphere that is somewhat undermined by the voice acting.

Notes

A launcher so bad it it blames itself for unrelated problems: Game for Windows Live

Apple brief development of a car with Project Titan

Inspiration for S.T.A.L.K.E.R the classic Sci-fi novel Roadside Picnic

And a film also inspired by the book: Stalker

Step back into the zone with S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 19th June 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 268

Ram discusses his recent pig acquisitions and shares insights into breeding and managing pedigree animals.

Moving on to gaming, Ram has been driving around in a beat-up vehicle trying to navigates and collect resources in a mysterious zone in Pacific Drive. He talks about the zone's dangers, from strange creatures to bizarre storms, praising the game's extensive difficulty options and the compelling stories it generates, though he wishes he had access to a bed for rest.

Skazz has been revisiting a cooperative cover shooter from the late 2000s during genre heyday: Kane and Lynch: Dead Men. While the game received unfavourable reviews upon release, Skazz takes a fresh look to reassess the storyline, gunplay, and single-player AI companion to determine whether those critical views were justified.

We also discuss our plans to misuse satellite technology to torment the general public with our podcast.

Notes

Explore a weird and dangerous zone in a clapped out car in Pacific drive

A 'Classic' Co-op third person cover shooter in Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 5th June 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 267

Skazz tell his woes of removing processors from motherboards and nearly breaking his PC, but has now successfully managed to upgrade his machine. we also learn about Ram 'Methods' of repairing PC.

Ram gives us an update of Nicktopia, and how it has completely failed as par normal. He tells tales of taming space cows, devote vegetarians, a lack of antibiotics and not balancing survival skills. He also discuss what he's learnt with his new version.

We also discuss how Ram would fair if put in charge in a survival situation, including the worrying way he defaults to building Gulags and farming vegetarians. We do determine realistically he'll likely end up as a resource.

We also discuss Skazz's future career as a PCSO, why Ram would be the best bond villain, how many people Batman has 'killed', and a side track into who developing GTA6

Notes

Still trying to survive the planet in Stranded: Alien Dawn

When ram becomes a dictator, he has been doing some revision

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 22nd May 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 266 – now featuring blurst of music!

We kick off by discussing the remaster of Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Reminiscing about the original, with Ram admitting he never quite finished the main quest, while Skazz bemoans his vampirism issues, a glitch fixable only through paid DLC. we also discuss the power of console commands and share thoughts on other Bethesda titles.Ram then talks about his new gaming PC.

Although he can’t recall all the specs, and has issue with the overcooling RGB fans. But it at least has an abundance of USB ports. We then take a nostalgic look at The Animals of Farthing Wood. For those in the UK who grew up in the ’90s, this classic prepared us for Game of Thrones, and Skazz does still insists that badgers do not exist.

Ram brings back the great empire of Nicktopia with his current gaming obsession, Stranded: Alien Dawn. In this survival game, he talks about managing a group of survivors on an alien planet. Finding a way to balance farming, researching, base building, tower defense and staring at plants and animal

We also discuss: USB-powered milking machines, the debate over turning off excessive RGB lighting, the merits of weekly episode releases versus binge-watching and a bird-watching detective.

Notes

The remaster of Elder Scrolls Oblivion

Watch nerds braking down over Patrick Stewart in Oblivion

Stranded on a planet, are you doomed? Depends if Ram is in charge in Stranded: Alien Dawn

In the UK, Children of the 90s were prepared for GoT, as they grew up on Animal of Farthing Wood

A Murder mystery set in the White House with Netflix The Residence

We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 8th May 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 265Yes, despite what Ram says at the start, it is episode 265Ram continual his descent into being middle aged by trying out some train related games and not having a lot of success, the first is a non-relaxing puzzle game Station to Station which does not gel for him. Next up he Suffers a tutorial bug in railway Empire creating a rage quit, finally picks up something more familiar with Train Station Renovation, cleaning and tidy old train stations and rather worryingly sanding railsWe then move onto discussing the upcoming release of the switch 2, and the costs of gaming in general, including how the pricing is not as bad as it seems. We also discuss the dangers of DLC NotesAnnoying puzzle game Station to StationHopefully you wont get plague by a tutorial bug in Railway Empirebring stations back to life in Train Station RenovationWill you fall to temptation with the new Switch 2We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 24th April 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 264We return to Hardspace: Shipbreaker, as Skazz has been enjoying a copy gifted to him by Ram, he discuss some of the issue with controller support issues, how much we enjoy chill games and being accidentally incinerated.Skazz then talk about playing through a fan remake of classic game Link Awakening, playing the "DX HD" version, he talks about suffering from scrolling trauma and Nintendo remakeWe then finish off looking at current game night game, Heroes of Hammerwatch, a fantastic top down 2d rouge lite, where you have to advancing through level in a tower whilst being heavily taxed by the town your trying to saveWe also discuss ram becoming middle aged in spirit by visiting a garden centre, getting into 'fancy' coffee and being traumatised by croissantsNotesEnjoy fancy coffee in an Bodum French PressStill cutting them ships in Hardspace: ShipbreakerFan remake of classic legend of Zelda game, Links Awakening XD HDIn comparisons to the Nintendo version of the aboveA game Skazz hates, Heroes of Hammerwatch We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on 10th April 2025, at 18:30 GMT+1

Welcome to Episode 263Skazz talks about his experience with the new entry in the Monster Hunter series, Wilds, sadly hes not too keen, he talks about how the series has changed from it early days, and how it has become easier and easier with each iteration. Along with some removal of good features from the previous entry in series. including how they fixed the multiplayer mode from Rise, only to have now broken it again. He also talks about some strange graphic glitches and how the beta the game was better in some way and spoiled the game.Ram has been floating in zero-g in Hardspace: Shipbreaker, a game about dismantling space ships and earning money to pay of a massive debt, much like real life. He talks about the mechanics, burning yourself in a furnace accidentally, and the dangers of grappling and using a cutting laser near fuel tanks

We also have a brief discussion about YouTube euphemisms NotesRobot soon to be 'powered' by AI to catch lion fishNot Skazz's Monster Hunter: Monster Hunter WildsLive the life of a salvage worker in Hardspace ShipbreakerWe look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on March 27th 2025, at 18:30 GMT

Welcome to Episode 262In this episode we talk about Skazz excitement for the new Monster Hunter game, he does have some concerns if this game will be for him.Ram then talks about A Game About Digging a Hole, A cheap little game where you, unsurprisingly, dig a hole.We discuss the recent news of Gene Hackman death, we prove how well the podcast is recoreded, Ram use in a survival situation, Stubborn dogs and people complaining about cheap games NotesThe sad death of one of the great actor Gene HackmanA series that ram does not like, Pride and PrejudiceAnd the almost certainly superior version made better by adding zombiesSimon Pegg recreating an iconic scene from Shaun of the DeadNo prize guessing what you do in A Game About Digging a HoleA classic British personality Fred DibnahAnd the mine he decided to build When it comes what easy vs impossible XKCD says it bestWe look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on March 13th 2025, at 18:30 GMT

Welcome to Episode 261A Skazz solo episode as Ram has lost his voice to a virus, and even more amazingly, Skazz is in a positive mindsetDiscussion this episode is all about fan support and modding games long after they've been released.First up, he focuses on final fantasy 7 discussing the mod manager 7th Heaven and the script to install it on a steam deck; 7th Deck. He looks at how the some of the mod improve things even adding in full voiced dialog!Skazz then moves onto discuss the original monster hunter and some mods that allow you to play online with friends again with only a little bit of tweaking and letting you re-live the good old PS2 daysNotesThe Classic Final Fantasy 7A non-destructive mod manage 7th HeavenPlus a script to install it on steam deck 7th DeckThe original Monster HunterPlay Monster Hunter 1 online with a new server Skazz request for a fan patch: ChromehoundsWe look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on Febuaray 27th 2025, at 18:30 GMT

https://numbermatics.com/n/260/Welcome to Episode 260We start this episode finding out why 260 is a special number and discussing what mathematicians are good for Skazz has been playing the next part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, we talk how they've fleshed out the story dramatically, expanding NPC back grounds increasing the game length, we ask if this is a good thing and how the game is somewhat janky in placesRam has been playing a puzzle games based around info-graphics, Metrico+, despite the premise it surprisingly fun, it leads onto some discuss about how to make an art style that resistant to aging, and how we attach a monetary value to games. which pushing onto difficulties in game designNotesYou to can find out whats special about the number 260Apparently they have been dangerous mathematiciansWhen is a game too long? Skazz is finding out in FF7 RebirthInfo-graphics meets puzzle in Metrico+Back to the future town has been featured in lot of filmsHow to fix the Atari ET gameAnd the Atari ET source codeWe look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on Febuaray 13th 2025, at 18:30 GMT

Welcome to episode 259We kick this episode discussing missing the classic sodium vapor street lamp and other random lighting technologies, we also look back at how we both kinda enjoyed lock down and some hobbies picked upSkazz then talks about his replay Cyberpunk 2077, apparently Ram had also agreed to play this as first game of 2025 of which he has no memorySkazz discusses the replay value, the major changes they made since we last played and how hes enjoying a different experience playing a female V.Ram reminisces his preferred method of assassination: getting the target to take themselves out. We talk about some of the memorable moments in the game, along with some of the bugs we did encounteredWE also discuss Rams Doggo hurting itself (She's all fine now)NotesThe place where it dark for large chunks of they year is Longyearbyen in NorwayThe classic street light Sodium-VaporRevisiting a favorite RPG Cyberpunk 2077The amazing voice actor for Female V, Cherami LeighWe look forward to seeing you all in the new year on January 30th 2025, at 18:30 GMT

Welcome to episode 258We kickoff by discussing how where going to make a name for ourselves in 2025 and if Ram can be extradited We then move onto games, Ram's been playing Far Cry 6, we have a brief talk about the series and its spin offs before talking about this game mechanics including finding stuff on the maps, ammo tyeps anti frustration features, cockfighting and Ubisoft being UbisoftWe also look at Steam year in review and discuss possible horse ownershipNotesStory's about what life is like in North Koreahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLRPDzs3bRQ&ab_channel=InsiderJust a Tank filling up with at Tesco, nothing to see herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLQiUe3HMRs&ab_channel=TankNutDaveRetake your country from Gus Fring in Far Cry 6https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/far-cry/far-cry-6We look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on January 16th 2025, at 18:30 GMT