Fran and Jason dive into indie hit Animal Well by Billy Basso and published by Big Mode. Jason explores the negative capability of Animal Well, while Fran examines the visual design code and gap between knowing and executing. SPOILER'S: 00:50:00~   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke

Fran and Jason review Neon White, a speed running game about angels, demons, and anime. Sorta...well at least 50% about anime!! No Sonics were harmed in the making of this episode. SPOILER'S: 1:17:30   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke

Jason and Fran dig into their adolescent selves with Halo 3: ODST! Come for the smooth jazz and rain 30 hour track, stay for the Nathan Drake cameo. Spoilers begin at 00:46:07   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

Come one and come all to Revachol. There is a book store, a hanging corpse, and, of course, a Fritte! Come for the murder, stay for the tea. Jason and Fran use their extreme detective skills to explore the outer edges of life in Disco Elysium.   CW: Rape, Sexual Assault, Police Violence, Alcoholism. Spoilers begin at 01:18:00   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

Jason and Fran plumb the depths of the Marrows in Dredge. Come for the fish, stay for the elder gods! Featuring 30% more boat bumping than previous editions!   Spoilers begin at 00:35:00   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

CW: Sexual abuse, abuse, suicide, alcoholism Fran and Jason explore the Tulpar in Mouthwashing, the indie horror hit from 2024. Welcome aboard.   Spoilers begin at 00:59:00 Credits ‘Mouthwashing’: A repugnant, tragic play that wants to hurt youhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2024/12/11/mouthwashing-story-themes-johanna-kasurinen/ Real-Time Datamoshing in Unreal Looks Mesmerizing Mouthwashing Developer's Diary #1https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2475490/view/4590944913262591479 Mouthwashing Developer's Diary #2https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2475490/view/4587567847119440903   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

Today Fran and Jason talk a walk through Wyoming with Delilah and Henry in Campo Santo's Firewatch from 2016. Don't forget to use your antlers!   Spoilers begin at 1:19:00 Credits Field Notes: How Devs Recreate Wilderness In Gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/making-of-ethan-carter-firewatch#more-243319M Firewatch: hope and heartbreak in the American wildernesshttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/01/firewatch-american-wilderness-campo-santo The Art of Firewatch           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdxQ3HlhTE8 Firewatch's Wyoming fosters a bigger, weirder adventure than I expectedhttps://www.pcgamer.com/firewatchs-wyoming-fosters-a-bigger-weirder-adventure-than-i-expected/ Why less is more when it comes to Firewatch’s beautiful treeshttps://www.pcgamer.com/why-less-is-more-when-it-comes-to-firewatchs-beautiful-trees/ Field Notes: How Devs Recreate Wilderness In Gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/making-of-ethan-carter-firewatch#more-243319M Firewatch: hope and heartbreak in the American wilderness          https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/01/firewatch-american-wilderness-campo-santo     Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

Use your items celebrates a year of recording by returning to the game that started it for them with Final Fantasy VII...REMAKE! Break down with us as we dig into the history of the remake, the character design, and the Nomura of it all! RPG history at your fingertips. Spoiler-free: 0:00-1:22 Spoilers: 1:23-end Credits Final Fantasy remakes sold separately https://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-remakes-sold-separately/1100-2679121/ Square Enix Once Promised Final Fantasy VII, VIII And IX Remakes https://www.siliconera.com/square-enix-promised-final-fantasy-vii-remake-cancelled/ FFVII Remake: Nomura interview translation [Famitsu 25/06/15] https://thelifestream.net/lifestream-projects/translations/33038/ffvii-remake-nomura-interview-translation-from-famitsu/ Final Fantasy VII Remake details: reason for multi-part release, CyberConnect2 collaboration, more https://www.gematsu.com/2015/12/final-fantasy-vii-remake-details-reason-multi-part-release-cyberconnect2-collaboration-more 10 Questions And Answers About The Final Fantasy VII Remake https://web.archive.org/web/20160420143428/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/04/11/final-fantasy-vii-remake-interview-game-informer.aspx     Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke  

Jason accuses a Snatcher of stealing Fran's body and impersonating him to access our excessive and gross podcast revenue. This time, we discuss the Kojima cult classic, Snatcher! Played on the Sega CD; we get into the details of cyberpunk, Snatcher's role in that genre, and some meta-narrative discussion of the game at large. Spoiler-Free: 0-1:04 Spoilers: 1:05-End   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art and Research by Francisco Martin Editing by Jason Weiss Theme music by William O'Rourke

CW: War, Sexual Abuse Jason and Fran talk religion, crime, and ethical perogatives when checking out INDIKA, indie masterpiece from 2024. Between bad, good, evil, sin, and virtue what is left to decide for ourselves? What does it mean to experience true nostalgia and absent fondness? What happens when we impose ourselves unto others? 0-46m Spoiler Free 46-End Spoiler Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

Fran and Jason cannot upload their data to the bunker. There is a problem with the uplink. ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR   Spoiler Free for about an hour Works Cited: https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018 Yoko Taro Predicts Metaphor Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

Fran and Jason upload their data to the Bunker talking about Nier Automata!   Spoiler Free for about an hour Works Cited: https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018 Yoko Taro Predicts Metaphor Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilled-drizzler.bsky.social Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  Follow us at: useyouritems.bsky.social ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

We, uh, played a game called Metal Gear Solid 2. Or maybe it played us, jump in to find out. CW: 9/11 at 50m 0-1:05 Spoiler Free/History 1:06-End Spoilers and verdicts Works Cited: Metal Gear Solid 2 Grand Game Plan - Kojima (ping us for a copy) The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Super Bunnyhop MGS2 video Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! https://linktr.ee/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilleddrizzler on twitter Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

Metroid Prime Remastered is a miraculous masterpiece and not enough can be said about it. We dive in to explore the history of the genre, the development, and the pacing of Tallon IV. 0-1:46 Spoiler Free/History 1:46-End Spoilers and verdicts Works Cited: DGC Ep 355: Metroid Prime Bonus Interview with Jack Mathews! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dgc-ep-355-metroid-prime-bonus-interview-with-jack-mathews/id1090136163?i=1000621631102 The rocky story of Retro Studios before Metroid Prime:https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/29/17386066/the-rocky-story-of-retro-studios-before-metroid-prime https://web.archive.org/web/20071129191427/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389 https://web.archive.org/web/20120928094007/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/29/a-space-bounty-hunter-in-texas?page=4   Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord, it's free! Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @skilleddrizzler on twitter Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

Exploring the weird, wonderful world of the Slavic JPRG Felvidek. We will drink, pray, and slash our way through 15th century Slovakia. Spoiler free for the first 60 minutes or so. Felvidek OST Felivdek on Steam Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: frantastico | Instagram | Linktree  ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

We grind and wall-ride our way through Team Reptile's Bombrush Cyber Funk--the spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio. It wasn't our favorite, but we discuss music, the potential, and graffiti. Spoiler free for the first 60 minutes or so. Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

This time we go over Frictional Games Horror masterpiece, Soma. We explore the nature of horror, the design of this popular studio, and some heavy philosophical discussions. CW: euthanasia Spoiler free for the first 50 minutes or so Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

We launch a possible new segment called Item Bags! Where we gather ideas for various ideas we have regarding the industry, genre, and freeform discussion. Less research and more chatter. Let us know what you think on our discord! Link below: Skill Up interview with Yoshi P Games Discussed: Dark Cloud (more mentioned tbh) Dragon's Dogma 2 (and 1 technically) Cyberpunk Rogue Nethack Skyrim FF1, 2, 7, 16 CoD MW2 Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke    

This week we discuss Signalis, a surprise hit for us from rose-engine, and the meaning of meat, madness, reality, love, connection, and what it means to be human. Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! Links and notes: The King in Yellow free online Signalis OST del Toro YT Video ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke

Our first guest episode featuring Dr. Dillon Ludemann discussing Toxicity in Gaming! Join us for this special sidequest in the anthropology, philosophy, and design of video games. Dr. Dillon Ludemann is a professor of anthropology with a focus on online communities at the University of South Carolina Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a scholarly, literary background to each game analysis as they piece together the why and how of our favorite games. If you'd like to support the show please join us on Discord or leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts-we've love to chat! Links and notes: https://www.thegamer.com/helldivers-2-the-least-toxic-online-game-ever-played/ perception of toxicity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOWBrY2BQs&t=0s https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/ Liu and Agur 2023: “‘After All, They Don’t Know Me’ Exploring the Psychological Mechanisms of Toxic Behavior in Online Games” Games and Culture 18(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Queen_hypothesis ---------------------------- Join the conversation on Discord Email us at: useyouritems@gmail.com Read us at: useyouritems.substack.com Chat us at: twitch.tv/useyouritems Follow Jason at: @dancingfroggame on twitter Follow Fran at: @el_frantastico on threads ---------------------------- Art by Francisco Martin Theme music by William O'Rourke