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Bad End

English, Gaming, 1 season, 134 episodes, 1 day, 6 hours, 35 minutes
About
BAD END is a videogame podcast brought to you by videogame critics and videogame makers. Each episode we talk about what we've been playing, and then dive in on a specific game, new or old.
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Palworld, Prince of Persia, Killer7

This is the episode where we talk about Drip in videogames. What is it? Does the flavor of the week game Palworld have it? How do we find it? See what the 6-hour discord convo was all about! Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
2/2/20241 hour, 3 minutes, 20 seconds
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GOTYS 2023

You know, sometimes goty awards are better from a bit of a distance. We cover some fresh categories for the year including "Most Video Game Videogame," "Fastest time to skeleton," "Openest world," "Least Scrutable Game," and of course our classic "Oh Yeah, That Came Out??" We also decide on an ACTUAL goty, obviously.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/19/20241 hour, 24 minutes, 35 seconds
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Lethal Company, Cocoon, 13 Sentinels, Silent Hill 2, Astrea

Keeping it chill with some warm-to-spiced takes as we ramp up for the GOTY roasts that are sure to come. Starting with the asymmetrical hijinks of Lethal Company, the somewhat unsatisfying puzzles of otherwise-vibey-as-hell Cocoon, and 13 Sentinels, which I immediately regret having missed a couple years ago.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/1/20231 hour, 26 minutes, 33 seconds
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Super Mario Wonder, Alan Wake 2, Balatro, Steam Deck

Bad end is back and I guess we decided to wear our curmudgeon hats today because we're tossing wet blankets on two more of the most hyped games of the year: Alan Wake 2 and Super Mario Bros Wonder. Honestly, we really do like these games. We're simply giving a voice to those stray dissatisfactions rattling in the back of your brain.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
11/10/20231 hour, 11 minutes, 55 seconds
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Starfield, Lorcana, F-Zero 99

Starfield is out, and there's nothing to worry about folks, because this one doesn't pose any sort of threat to our already stacked GOTY lists. We talk about Bethesda's latest IP, in addition to Disney's new card game Lorcana and the flash-released F-Zero battle royale, F-Zero 99. Also: Armored Core 6, Unity drama, Subway Surfers, Densha De Go, and ThaBeast721's Beating Every N64 Game Challenge.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/26/20231 hour, 23 minutes, 34 seconds
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Armored Core 6

Kyle's back from Gamescom, and we're discussing both the biggest game conference of the year, and apparently one of the most exciting games of the year in the form of Armored Core 6. It's a good one, folks, and we've got a lot to say about the elegance of old-school game design, the excess of open worlds, and where we might possibly go from here. Also, the fan favorite TIPZ segment makes an appearance.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/7/20231 hour, 39 minutes, 9 seconds
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Baldur's Gate 3

We thought the auto-goty massive RPG of the year came out a couple months ago. Looks like we may have been wrong! Special guest Reid McCarter joins us to talk about Baldur's Gate 3 - the latest installment in the legendary series that manages to feels bigger, richer, and more important than any of us could have envisioned. It's spoiler free, so feel free to dive right in even as we hash out some of our biggest thematic and contextual takeaways.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
8/10/20231 hour, 29 minutes, 58 seconds
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Dave the Diver, Halls of Torment

Get into the loop and strap yourself in, gamer, because we're talking about Dave the Diver and Halls of Torment - two new flavors of the month that are just begging to be played over and over again.  Also: Diablo 4 and the challenges of games-as-goods vs games-as-services / AAA games aping indie aesthetics and philosophy to surprising success / The spiritual return of Flash games.Check out our merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
7/20/20231 hour, 7 minutes, 30 seconds
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Diablo 4, Battlebit Remastered

Video games are so fricking back. This week, we're talking Diablo IV and Battlebit Remastered, which hail the ongoing comeback of our beloved medium. We think. Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
6/22/20231 hour, 16 seconds
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Tears of the Kingdom

You know why we're here. We're tossing out new ideas, angles, themes, and insights about the hot game of 2023 and the sequel to the first game BAD END ever discussed in depth: Tears of the Kingdom! Stick around after the ending song for a mini solo-cast Josh recorded while Kyle had to step out. A few other topics discussed: - TotK as exploration of the "Permaweird" state of society in 2023 - FROMsoftian focus on deities and the sacred, as well as subversions of tradition that come with pushing against those expectations - unpacking the strange tendencies toward malice in TotK's design and balance - FOMO effect that makes you feel like youre missing out even as youre playing the gameCheck out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
5/17/20231 hour, 52 minutes, 49 seconds
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The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Pineapple on Pizza

We're talking about two free games, one delightful and the other... well... a conversation-starter at the very least. Also: A Hat in Time, the Mario movie, and Boneraiser Minions.Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
4/13/20231 hour, 7 minutes, 18 seconds
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Resident Evil 4, Tears of the Kingdom, Have a Nice Death

We've seen the new Zelda trailers and are hyped for the possibilities. Not so keen on a Resident Evil remake being the big seller once again this year, though. But maybe perma-deja vu's not so bad? Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
3/30/202356 minutes, 48 seconds
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The Last of Us, Pizza Tower, Hi-Fi Rush, Atomic Heart

We're back. Together again. Same Bad End you know and love, but now one of us has a kid. We talk about the ~year it's been since Kyle's been on the show, the meteoric rise of video games / slow decay of gaming, and the inherent limits of rhythm action set in 4/4. And also a game called Pizza Tower.Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/17/20231 hour, 7 minutes, 38 seconds
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2022 GOTYs, Part 2

BAD END's end of the year special continues. We're joined by listeners to talk about the games, trends, and battle passes that kept us going this very rough, suspiciously quiet year.Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/22/20221 hour, 1 minute, 31 seconds
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2022 GOTYs, Part I

It's been a minute but BAD END is BACK for our end of the year special! Kyle's still on admin leave, so we're joined by listeners to talk about the games, trends, and anime that kept us going this year. We'll be back with part 2 in two weeks!Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
12/8/20221 hour, 22 minutes, 58 seconds
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Every Zelda game, Escape Academy, Until You Fall, feat. Jacob Geller

We're joined by video essayist Jacob Geller and editor/Superculture homie Zack Kotzer to discuss the strange impulse to dub every Zelda the "darkest ever," with other thoughts on VR, The Stanley Parable, Not for Broadcast, videogame aesthetics, and escape rooms.Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
8/4/20221 hour, 37 minutes, 11 seconds
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Stray, OoT TAS Showcase, film + games, ft. JJ Bersch

The cat game is very pretty and cute but not quite everything we wanted. But still cool! Also: Film and its many connections with games. We're talking Annapurna, movie tie-ins, product placement, and Oscars-themed listener questions. Featuring special guest JJ Bersch, researcher at Blank Check Podcast.Support us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
7/21/20221 hour, 34 minutes, 5 seconds
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Neon White, Rogue Legacy 2, Ark Survival Evolved, ft. Blake Hester

Game Informer's Blake Hester joins us as we discuss the clean speed of Neon White, nostalgia for games we missed out on, pleasurable rehashing via Rogue Legacy 2, and rock punching games.Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
6/24/20221 hour, 35 minutes, 38 seconds
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V Rising, Naruto, Ranking of Kings, ft. Toussaint Egan

We're back from a hiatus and joined by Polygon's Toussaint Egan to discuss the miserable state of game design via the new hot Steam hit V Rising, the recursive present and "cancelled" future, and a bunch of different anime series, including beloved classics such as Naruto and My Dress-Up Darling. Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
6/10/20222 hours, 3 minutes, 32 seconds
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Elden Ring

Elden Ring has been out for a minute, and we spend the entirety of this episode digesting it. From conversations about the baroque inspirations behind its arc, to discourse around accessibility, to a few surprising turns in the game's George R. R. Martin-tinged localization, we dive deep into what's likely to become one of our top games of 2022.Find this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FakabW9msZ0Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/10/20222 hours, 26 minutes, 54 seconds
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Vampire Survivors, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Sifu

Let's be real, the first banger of the year (until Elden Ring) is/was Vampire Survivors, despite being a 3-dollar dodge-em-up that feels like a bastard child that could've come straight out of the Facebook ad-driven mobile shovelware camp. And yet, here we are in BAD END 112, praising it as one of the best games of the episode. Also included: the Eldritch Papers Please-ian plant identification simulator Strange Horticulture, and the lightly satisfying, heavily cringey brawler Sifu.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cU14MxP1huQSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
2/24/20221 hour, 27 minutes, 15 seconds
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Ultrakill, Ender Lilies, SOMA, Legion TD 2

Happy 2022 Gamers! It might be low season, but we're playing through some backlog games and some Steam top sellers to deliver you prime video game content. On the slate we've got the apparent GOAT contender SOMA (which we've just gotten around to), a latecomer for goty 2021 consideration in Ultrakill, the weeby moving wallpaper-esque Ender Lilies, and hardcore WC3 mod throwback Legion TD 2. We also discuss the prevailing perception of "quality" in games and how that interferes with good criticism, as well as important questions like: why doesnt steam have incognito mode yet??Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cU14MxP1huQSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/27/20221 hour, 42 minutes, 38 seconds
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Game Of The Year Awards 2021

It's a wrap on yet another year, and what better way to wrap 2021 than by gathering with friends and breaking down the many games and trends that kept us going this year? Sure there weren't many real Greats to speak of, but we looped through time and commiserated with online friends and saw glimpses of a couple genres at their best. So grab a glass'a 'nog, pull up a chair by the fire, and shoot the breeze about some good old videogames.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GJkFRGSBu14Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/16/20212 hours, 40 minutes, 26 seconds
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Arcane, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Crab Game

This week on BAD END, we're diving into Riot's new animated series Arcane, which feels like videogame nerd fanservice (not the sexual kind) as an act of benevolence. We're also talking about Forza Horizon 5's magnetic, often overwhelming extroversion, and the half-baked tactical/arcade crossover that is Halo Infinite Multiplayer (prepared for the flak on this one). Then we're laughing at clips of Crab Game, which is an honestly-pretty-funny meme game based on the popular TV show Squid Game.Find this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTMgiMaf0i4Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
11/18/20211 hour, 32 minutes, 22 seconds
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Metroid Dread, Inscryption, Shadowbringers, AoE4, Back 4 Blood

BAD END is back talking about videogames, and with about a month since our last time discussing things we played, we got a lot to cover! This week, we tear into Metroid Dread (despite digging it quite a bit). Not a bad game, but it loses a bit of Metroid's soul in exchange for some great action sequences. We're also discussing the 4th wall-breaking first-person card game Inscryption, Age of Empires 4, and Back 4 Blood - which is basically Left 4 Dead with crafting and leveling. Then listen to Josh gush about Final Fantasy XIV for like 15 minutes. If you can handle it. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SHADOWBRINGERS! TIMESTAMPS SO YOU CAN SKIP:56:35 - SPOILERS START1:00:57 SPOILERS ENDFind this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTMgiMaf0i4Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
11/4/20211 hour, 49 minutes, 6 seconds
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Developing Sable and Citizen Sleeper, ft. Greg Kythreotis and Gareth Damian Martin

In today's episode we're joined by two special guests - game developers Greg Kythreotis of Shedworks (Sable) and Gareth Damian Martin (In Other Waters). We discuss the game development process, the act of pitching and marketing a game in a world where streaming and Steam reviews exist, the beauty and nostalgia of in-game architecture, and the secrets behind what goes into our save files. The insights may shock you. Download Sable:https://store.steampowered.com/app/757310/Sable/Download In Other Waters: https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/In_Other_Waters/Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
10/21/20211 hour, 38 minutes, 26 seconds
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Sable, Cruis'n Blast, Dandy Ace, Gloomhaven

This week, we're diving into the sandy, Jbrekkie-soundtracked expanses of Sable, along with a Hades-like called Dandy Ace, the ending of Deathloop, and some board games. Which, by the way, are becoming more like videogames with every passing day. We're also covering some viewer questions about things like Far Cry, NPCs, desert island games, Twitch income strategies, and critical reappraisals of older games.Apologies for the scuffed first 20 minutes of the show, by the way! Kyle forgot to hit record so we were rolling without typical quality for a tad.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZFpMm-MCS84Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
10/7/20211 hour, 27 minutes, 6 seconds
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Deathloop, Hell Let Loose, Splitgate

Is there an echo in here? This week we're digging into the time loopy antics of Deathloop, and not the time loopy antics of 12 Minutes, which we discussed last week. We're also talking about the 20-year cultural cycle and whether or not it applies to games. We've also got the war re-enactment-esque Hell Let Loose, and a bit of organizational feng shui in the form of Wilmot's Warehouse.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K474EZFSjNMSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/23/20211 hour, 36 minutes, 29 seconds
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12 Minutes, Psychonauts 2, Humankind, Boyfriend Dungeon, Starbase

This week we've got our gamer plates full, but we're spending most of it airing out our grievances with 12 Minutes - a game so clunky (and occasionally desperate) that we can't help but laugh a bit at its expense. We're also talking about the brilliant Psychonauts 2, our tangled-up issues with Boyfriend Dungeon, and the spreadsheet-like antics of Humankind. Also including: Cantata, Eliza, Starbase.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/31uBzdZYaEwSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/2/20211 hour, 21 minutes, 51 seconds
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Death's Door, The Ascent, Halo Master Chief Collection

Kyle's slammed with deadlines, and this week's BAD END features writer/art director/Superculture Network member Yussef Cole. We're discussing Halo Reach and the lost serenity of early Halo, as well as the so-good-it's-meh appeal of Death's Door. Then we're rambling about crit (again) with new Cyberpunk twin-stick-shooter The Ascent, and talking a bit about Odin Sphere and narrative in games. Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J6Yc6bBxsZESupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
8/12/20211 hour, 32 minutes, 4 seconds
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Creative technology, Before Your Eyes, feat. Nicole He

This week's episode is all about videogames' artsy, cool, well-dressed younger sibling: creative technology. We're joined by Nicole He, one of the finest in the space today, whose works include a mind-reading Tinder-swipebot, a voice-activated game that parodies CSI "zoom and enhance" sequences, and an AI that interviewed Billie Eilish for Vogue.  We discuss the brilliance (and shortcomings) of creative technology, the surprisingly wide gap between creative technology and gaming, and the difficulty of making art in a medium that comes pre-packaged with tons of social and political ramifications.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sI1--0RG8boSee Nicole's work: https://nicole.pizza/Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
7/29/20211 hour, 28 minutes, 57 seconds
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Griftlands, Chicory, Nioh

Welcome to BAD END 101! This episode, we tackle the draw-em-up metroidvania Chicory, the flailing and absurd attack animations of Nioh, and the weird (but fun) vibes of card-roguelike Griftlands. Find us on YouTube: Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
7/15/20211 hour, 20 minutes, 19 seconds
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100th Episode Special! Our top 10 games ever, the last 4 years in games, and the future

It's our 100th episode, and to celebrate, we're finally revealing our definitive top 10 games EVER. We're also discussing the last 4 years in videogame journalism/crit, and where we want things to go from here. Thanks to everyone for listening to our show, and here's to 100 more. This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with ~~video to go along with the sound. Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfO8P_s9iwkmWf9LB4LiGTgSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
7/1/20212 hours, 23 minutes, 6 seconds
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Resident Evil: Village, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Dragon Quest, Bloodborne

Welcome to BAD END's first-ever video podcast! This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with video to go along with the sound. This week, we're talking about the paradox of fun survival horror in Resident Evil 8, along with the potential modern appeal of a Mass Effect Remaster. Since it's a video episode, we go on a couple tangents - discussing the merits of a new Dragon Quest, the bizarre genius of Bloodborne, Fortnite Dances, and, uh, tennis?Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KyzbSGZnkSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
5/27/20211 hour, 26 minutes, 57 seconds
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Pokemon Snap, Nier Replicant

As life transitions back into the weird alien world of reality, we're dipping our toes into the post-quarantine world with New Pokemon Snap and the open fields of Nier Replicant... which we're now experiencing for a second playthrough. Maybe we're more ready for a return to normal(ish) life than we think.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
5/13/20211 hour, 7 minutes, 52 seconds
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Nier Replicant, Balan Wonderworld, FUNLAND, ft. Zack Kotzer

This week we're joined by writer and FUNLAND magazine creator Zack Kotzer to talk about the lost ethos of early gamer magazines, the amusing terribleness of Balan Wonderworld, and videogame genre-busting in Nier Replicant. Support FUNLAND at patreon.com/funlandmag, and follow the magazine's accounts on Twitter and Instagram @FunlandMag for more updates. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
4/29/20211 hour, 48 minutes, 46 seconds
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Before Your Eyes, Adios, FFXIV, Feat. Bijan Stephen

We're joined by journalist/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about gaming's greatest power fantasy: unalienated labor. We're also discussing the glorious perfection of Final Fantasy XIV, the ecstasy of shounen in 2021, and games like Bloodborne, Before Your Eyes, Valorant, Adios, and Deliver Us The Moon.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
4/15/20211 hour, 50 minutes, 33 seconds
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Loop Hero, Monster Hunter Rise, FFXII The Zodiac Age, FFVIIR

We're back on our Normal Episode beat this week, talking about videogame core loops of all kinds - some peaceful, some way too complex for their own good, some infuriating. We're talking about Loop Hero, the new indie hotness that's taken the idle roguelike world by storm, the new demo for Monster Hunter Rise, and FFXII the Zodiac Age, an old classic we're finally playing for the first time. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:55 - Final Fantasy XII24:00 - FFVIIR39:37 - Monster Hunter Rise51:54 - Loop Hero1:12:50 - Listener questionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
4/1/20211 hour, 49 minutes, 39 seconds
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MTG, feat. DIIV's Cole Smith and Storefront Church's Lukas Frank

This week, we're joined by Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Cole Smith (DIIV) to talk about Thoughtseize Interviews, a new show where they interview artists and gaming personalities while playing Magic the Gathering. We talk about community-building, the value of art in an increasingly-monetized world, the crossover between music and games, taste and criticism in a pandemic, and obviously, Magic The Gathering. Follow Thoughtseize Interviews on Twitter @ThoughtSeize and watch the show on Twitch and YouTube. New episodes stream every Monday at 5pm EST - support the show by subscribing or buying merch.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/18/20211 hour, 46 minutes, 22 seconds
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In Other Waters, ft. Gareth Damian Martin

Today we're joined by game creator and critic Gareth Damian Martin about In Other Waters, their new sci-fi exploration game. We discuss the interplay between game criticism and game design, the game development process as seen through the eyes of an outsider, and the discipline of architecture as it applies (and doesn't apply) to videogames. We also reveal a new partnership between Gareth's publication Heterotopias and SUPERCULTURE Network!BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
2/25/20211 hour, 28 minutes, 49 seconds
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Valheim, Hitman 3, Gunfire Reborn, One Step From Eden

Now that we've been quarantined for almost a year, we're actually playing through our backlogs. We have a lot of games to talk about, including the new Steam bestseller Valheim, the weird beautiful stealth of Hitman 3, the mindless carnage of Gunfire Reborn, and more! We're also talking about videogame patents, and arguing whether or not stealth games are actually good. Join our patreon at patreon.com/badend if you wanna join us in our Tactics Ogre playthrough.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
2/11/20211 hour, 26 minutes, 20 seconds
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Disc Room, Hades, Cyberpunk 2077, ft. Mukqs

This week, we're joined by music label founder and musician Maxwell Allison AKA Mukqs to talk about videogame music, DIY and experimental spaces for music and games, a 2020 arcade-style game called Disc Room, and the inherent value of videogames (if there's any to be had).  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/28/20211 hour, 43 minutes, 32 seconds
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AI: The Somnium Files, Promesa, Cyberpunk 2077, ft. Natalie Flores

This week, we're joined by Fanbyte contributor and The Game Awards Future Class member Natalie Flores (@heartimecia) to talk about Cyberpunk 2077's best character, an incredible 45-minute indie game called Promesa, the anime detective game AI: The Somnium Files, and maybe even a little K-pop...BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:14 - Spiritfarer18:37 - Paper Mario Origami King30:44 - Oxygen Not Included41:48 - Cyberpunk 2077Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/14/20211 hour, 22 minutes, 8 seconds
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Game Of The Year Awards 2020

BAD END's long-awaited GOTY awards are here to conclude 2020. We're hashing out our favorite picks, recapping the trends that defined the year, and making way for the videogame landscapes yet to come.  So lean in real close, keep your voice down to a whisper, and make sure the coast is clear. 2020 is finally gone, and we've got some crap to talk. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:28 - What did we learn from "The Ideal Gaming Year?" 20:50 - Superlatives1:28:15 - Our personal picks2:00:34 - Official BAD END pick, wrap-upIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/31/20202 hours, 10 minutes, 29 seconds
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Cyberpunk 2077 (REAL review), Spiritfarer, Oxygen Not Included

The year's biggest game - Cyberpunk 2077 - is officially out, and we're doing our best to avoid crashes so that we can actually talk about it. We're also discussing recent backlash against the game's developer CDProjektRED, as well as a sweet little game about death called Spiritfarer.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:14 - Spiritfarer18:37 - Paper Mario Origami King30:44 - Oxygen Not Included41:48 - Cyberpunk 2077Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/17/20201 hour, 55 minutes, 20 seconds
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Cyberpunk 2077 Pre-Review, Paper Mario Origami King, Aim Lab, feat. Roy Graham

This week we're joined by narrative designer, writer, and long-time friend Roy Graham. Get ready, because we're greasing up your cyberchips and dusting off our 20-barrel plasma guns to do an ADVANCE REVIEW of Cyberpunk 2077! It is satire so please dont get mad at us. We didn't actually play the game.  We're also talking about the quietly brilliant new Paper Mario game, Halo novels, Josh's ever-mounting skills in Aim Lab, and of course... card games.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
12/3/20201 hour, 43 minutes, 5 seconds
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Teardown, Ghostrunner, Phasmophobia, new consoles, feat. Emma Kidwell

New consoles are out! Exciting new games are... potentially on the horizon! Joined by writer and game maker Emma Kidwell, we talk about a few recent games of interest and the inflated appeal of new videogame systems in these strange pandemic times. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
11/19/20201 hour, 25 minutes, 1 second
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Amnesia Rebirth, Paradise Killer, Cyberpunk 2077, feat. Yussef Cole

This week, we're joined by videogame critic Yussef Cole to discuss the motherly horror of the new Amnesia game, the compelling aesthetic mishmash of Paradise Killer, and the upcoming (?) "event" game Cyberpunk 2077. We also delve into the declining appeal of graphical fidelity, and the gradual fall of realism in mainstream gaming.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
10/29/20201 hour, 46 minutes, 45 seconds
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Genshin Impact, Hades, Mortal Kombat 11, ft. Yung Skrrt

Promise yourself not to spend too much cash as we discuss Genshin Impact, the latest anime gacha craze, with producer/viral artist/streamer Yung Skrrt. We're also diving into the Mortal Kombat 11 scene, our inability to understand the appeal of "lying games," and the exhausting, lucrative world of Twitch streaming. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
10/15/20201 hour, 17 minutes, 29 seconds
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Caty's last episode. Hades, Spelunky 2

Caty is off to bigger and better things, so this is her final episode. To stave off the debilitating grief, we send her off with love from our listeners and some good ol' gamer talk. We're discussing a new all-time great roguelike/dungeon runner in the form of Hades, and Spelunky 2 - the sequel to one of the former best roguelikes ever. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
10/1/20201 hour, 36 minutes, 34 seconds
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Among Us, 13 Sentinels, Superliminal, Due Process, A Monster's Expedition

Another week of quarantine, another multiplayer meme game to stave off debilitating loneliness. This week it's the social deception game Among Us, but we're also playing a VN/RTS with beautiful art, a tactical shooter that everyone seems really good at, and a puzzle game that might just be better than Portal (insert incredulous gasp here). BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/17/20201 hour, 49 minutes, 44 seconds
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Moon, Crusader Kings 3, Red Dead Redemption, ft. Matt Margini

This week, we're joined by Matt Margini, author of a new Boss Fight Book about Rockstar Games' now-classic Red Dead Redemption. We discuss the overwhelming complexity of Crusader Kings 3, the ahead-of-its-time '90s RPG moon, and the legacy of RDR. Read an excerpt of the book at Kotaku and pick it up at Boss Fight Books. It's also available digitally.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
9/3/20201 hour, 38 minutes, 26 seconds
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Fall Guys, Valorant, Anime, CoD Warzone

We usually play the Small Games but this week we have been playin' pretty much nothing but the Big Games. We talk about the new "casual battle royale" of Fall Guys and whether that's a self-contradicting concept. We talk about the tonal disconnect of online multiplayer shooters like CoD Warzone. We talk about the match structure and beautiful styling of Valorant. And we talk about the "shounen ecstasy" that Josh experiences when watching anime like My Hero Academia, Hunter X Hunter, Demon Slayer, and Gurren Lagann (among others).BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 
8/20/20201 hour, 31 minutes, 30 seconds
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Blaseball, Valorant, Halo Infinite

Between following an internet league sport, getting yelled at by teens for not aiming well, and sticking aliens with plasma grenades, it feels like we're going back to high school in episode 79 of BAD END podcast. We talk about the imaginative fandom that drives Blaseball, the beautifully-designed meathead shooting in Valorant, and the merry-go-round of controversy surrounding the new Halo game. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
8/6/20201 hour, 34 minutes, 4 seconds
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Ghost of Tsushima, Necrobarista (ft. Matt Kim and Emma Kidwell)

Ghost of Tsushima is out, and we're joined by Matt Kim (IGN) and Emma Kidwell (Gamasutra) to talk about the game ~~as Asian Americans~~. Join us as we wrestle with ideas on representation, intersectionality, appropriation, and Asian-American identity, all while answering the most important question: is the game fun and/or worth 60 bucks?We're also discussing Necrobarista, a new visual novel.2:42 - Ghost of Tsushima from a 'gamer' review angle20:00 - Ghost of Tsushima from our own perspectives1:07:51 - NecrobaristaBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
7/23/20201 hour, 23 minutes, 20 seconds
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TLOUII (spoiler-free), Summer gaming, Twitch streaming, CoD Warzone

We're not gonna lie, we spent a chunk of this episode talking about TLOU2 again. But it's spoiler-free! And on top of that, we're answering listener questions about summer gaming and talking about a bunch of other miscellaneous quarantine gaming stuff. So sit back, put a lil paper umbrella into your can of Monster Energy Drink (not a BAD END sponsor), and enjoy Bad End 77.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
7/9/20201 hour, 33 minutes, 16 seconds
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The Last of Us Part II (ft. Emma Kidwell)

After a one-episode hiatus, we're joined by friend of the show Emma Kidwell in a full-length episode where we ONLY discuss The Last of Us Part II. Sprinkled in there we've also got some discussion of single player AAA's role in 2020, diversity, new consoles, and ~~stuff that's going on~~ in the world today. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
6/25/20201 hour, 51 minutes, 44 seconds
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Umurangi Generation, Twitch Streaming, Call of Duty Warzone (ft. Bijan Stephen)

We're joined by critic/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about streaming on Twitch, the trials of the videogame press, battle royale games, and the future of games criticism. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
5/28/20201 hour, 52 minutes
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Streets of Rage 4, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, CoD, Reader Mail

Hope you're all doing well during lockdown, cuz we're trying to find games to keep us entertained that aren't CoD or ACNH. This week, Caty played a bit of the (still mostly embargoed) Xenoblade Chronicles remaster, while Josh tried out the new Streets of Rage joint. Then we dig through a pile of listener questions, diving into games vs film, annoying discourses of the last couple years, new consoles, comfy sneakers, and more. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend10:50 - Streets of Rage 416:37 - Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition21:45 - Worst videogame discourses25:00 - PS5 vs Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch41:20 - Sites/podcasts/etc that got us into gaming 45:35 - Videogames vs film51:30 - Quarantine gaming habits52:58 - Videogame dads, tirade about TLOU58:26 - Comfy and stylish shoes1:06:06 - ACNH and others as new cultural touchstones post-c*vid1:09:30 - What series or game would you erase from history or revive?1:14:20 - Do you look up TiPZ before going into a new game?Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
5/14/20201 hour, 27 minutes
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Tabletop Simulator, Anno 1800, FFVII Remake

Take a break from taking a break and join us as we discuss all the biggest games of the season. We're taking a deeper dive into FF7 Remake from a FF7 newcomer's perspective, Call of Duty Warzone, more ACNH, board games, and Anno 1800, which is way better than the screenshots would ever have you believe. We're also answering listener questions about gaming in the time of c*rona, Animal Crossing's appeal over time, and the BAD END spoiler philosophy.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:55 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake51:54 - Call of Duty Warzone1:05:40 - Board Games and Tabletop Simulator53:38 - Anno 18001:17:43 - Listener questions: ACNH, quarantine gaming, spoiler philosophyIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
4/30/20201 hour, 46 minutes, 38 seconds
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Final Fantasy VII Remake, ACNH, Horizon's Gate (ft. Austin Walker)

We break quarantine to hang out with Austin Walker (Waypoint Radio, Friends at the Table) and discuss some of the biggest games of the month - Final Fantasy VII Remake, which captures at least some of the magic of the original, and Animal Crossing New Horizons, which has been softening our brains into mush for almost a month now. We wrap up with some discussion of an indie RPG called Horizon's Gate, the PS5, and  videogame journalism as an institution.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:59 - Why are so many videogame journalists into wrestling?13:50 - FFVII Remake1:00:19 - Animal Crossing New Horizons1:23:10 - Will the next generation of videogame console tech bring a significant creative leap?1:34:53 - Horizon's Gate1:38:40 - Waypoint, Kill Screen, and videogame journalismIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
4/16/20202 hours, 9 minutes, 13 seconds
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Animal Crossing New Horizons Quarantine Special

We are on lockdown and we are obsessed with Animal Crossing, just like you are (perhaps). Here's us talking about it for an hour and a half. We try to keep the spoilers to a minimum, and do our best to give you a little warning when we're gonna drop the names of objects and functions we've acquired. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
4/2/20201 hour, 26 minutes, 12 seconds
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Animal Crossing New Horizons, Call of Duty Warzone, Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Take a load off from your days of isolation and come hang with the BAD END crew as we talk about the new Call of Duty, Ori, and CoD. We're also delving into the specifics of taste and our perspective on videogame crit.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:22 - Death Crown7:23 - Animal Crossing New Horizons30:27 - Criticizing our criticism / regarding Bad End's taste56:40 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps1:12:25 - Call of Duty WarzoneIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/19/20201 hour, 27 minutes, 20 seconds
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PAX East, Moonlighter, Hollow Knight, Scourgebringer, Noita

One of us went to PAX East, one of us is playing a game under embargo, and one of us played a bunch of beloved games that are no longer protected by the sheen of newness. We discuss the Metroidvania frustrations of Hollow Knight, the woes of min-maxing in Noita, and Animal Crossing's influence.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend6:28 - PAX East17:56 - Hollow Knight36:52 - Noita53:15 - Scourgebringer57:07 - Moonlighter1:06:32 - Listener questionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/5/20201 hour, 25 minutes, 41 seconds
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Dragonball Z Kakarot, Scourgebringer, Slay the Spire, Ori, TiPZ

With one co-host gone this week, the remaining two end up shooting the breeze for like 2 hours straight in this one. We discuss the new Dragonball Z game, we rag on Ori and the Blind Forest, we talk about Slay The Spire and the concept of "perfunctory" game mechanics, and we answer a very, very long list of listener questions. We've also got a fun ~~NEW~~ section lined up for y'all, so stick around in the second half for that. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend2:24 - Ori and the Blind Forest15:31 - Scourgebringer and games that feel "perfunctory"23:29 - Slay the Spire36:34 - DBZ Kakarot45:13 - TiPZ1:00:37 - QuestionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SeihoBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
2/13/20201 hour, 36 minutes, 46 seconds
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Kentucky Route Zero, Legends of Runeterra, The Beach, puzzle boxes

dramatic voice Wherein lies the magic of videogames? Is it in the understated brilliance of Kentucky Route Zero? Is it in the schoolyard fantasies of Magic: The Gathering brought to digital life? Is it on The Beach being snatched up by the beak of a seagull? Or is it somewhere else? Join us on BAD END 67 as we attempt to find the answer in an unlikely place.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend1:15 - The Beach6:40 - Magic: The Gathering17:57 - Legends of Runeterra33:40 - Outer Wilds37:08 - Kentucky Route Zero56:11 - Puzzle boxes and the magic of videogamesIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by Seiho
1/30/20201 hour, 22 minutes, 31 seconds
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FFVII, Quadrilateral Cowboy, The Witcher 3, AGDQ, influence in videogames

A thought: maybe "influential" is not a net positive when assessing a game's quality! We talk about the idea while discussing AGDQ and digging through our backlogs. Kyle enjoys The Witcher 3 despite living in a post-Disco Elysium world, Caty is surprised at how well FFVII holds up, and Josh finally gets to unleash his inner hacker with Quadrilateral Cowboy.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend10:30 - AGDQ 202019:55 - Quadrilateral Cowboy28:48 - CODWWII33:19 - FFVII38:35 - The Witcher 348:14 - Influence and games criticismIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by Seiho
1/16/20201 hour, 33 minutes, 57 seconds
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Games of the Decade, ft. Ben Pack

To wrap up the decade, we're joined by Ben Pack of Giant Bomb and talking about our favorite games of the 2010s. Listen for  our thoughts on some all-time heavy hitters like Dark Souls, The Witcher 3, Mass Effect 2, Breath of the Wild, and more.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:38 - Mass Effect 213:07 - Titanfall 218:23 - NaissanceE21:10 - Wolfenstein: The New Order25:24 - Vanquish / Bayonetta30:00 - Return of the Obra Dinn40:15 - Spelunky44:20 - Dead Cells48:05 - League of Legends, Dota 2, Splatoon 2, PUBG57:37 - Mario Maker, Mario Odyssey, Mario Galaxy 21:05:10 - The Last of Us, Uncharted 41:10:32 - The Witcher 31:17:55 - Rocket League1:21:29 - INSIDE, Journey1:22:28 - Zeldas1:25:37 - Undertale1:28:40 - Thirty Flights of Loving, Blendo1:31:26 - Dark SoulsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
12/27/20191 hour, 53 minutes, 32 seconds
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Game Of The Year Awards 2019

It's the end of the year, and we're celebrating with our annual awards ceremony that includes crowd favorite "Oh Yeah, That Came Out" and "Dope, But Not For Me." We also discuss our top picks of the year. We don't really spoil specific plot points in this episode, but we sometimes discuss *things certain games do* that might be considered spoilers to some. Still, if we're gonna talk specific plot points, we'll let you know. Oh, and don't read the timestamps below if you don't want to spoil this year's categories!BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:54 - "Probably Shoulda Played That!" 6:21 - "Oh Yeah, That Came Out!"14:28 - "Game People Told You Was Good That Wasn't That Good"24:39 - Big Moment Award 34:34 - "Dope, But Not My Thing"40:00 - "Beautifully Braindead Bastard"43:46 - "Most Flawed Masterpiece"47:06 - "Games I Confused For One Another This Year"48:20 - "LTFD Award For Letdown In Games"54:33 - "Most Indie BS"1:01:44 - The Jerky Award1:02:18 - "Critic Bubble Award For Game That Did Numbers Without People Noticing"1:03:50 - GAMES OF THE YEARIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by Seiho
12/19/20191 hour, 52 minutes, 26 seconds
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The Decade in Tim Rogers, ft. Tim Rogers

You might know Tim Rogers as any number of things: a pioneer of "New Videogame Journalism," a prolific game developer, a video personality, an industry consultant, a friend of Suda51, Mr. Rogers' relative, a CPA. He is all of those things, and that's why he's uniquely qualified to talk about all of the videogame-related things that happened this decade. And the non-videogame related things. Like why rich people are all sick, and why Coke Zero exists.Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend11:55 - Tim works on Shadows of the Damned in Japan20:33 - Tim runs a 5-minute mile, Tim is in a band, Tim goes to E3 201023:12 - Tim goes to the Bay Area to "do something good" and meets Cliffy B while experiencing The Industry34:00 - Tim meets a twentysomething "guru" in the workplace50:28 - Tim makes a game and breaks down the american dream1:07:30 - Tim moves to New York to something "shrilly idiotic"1:20:43 - Tim on haters1:28:39 - Tim gets a dog1:43:20 - Tim wants to chill for the next 10 years. And cut the memes, kids.Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
12/12/20191 hour, 52 minutes, 14 seconds
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The Decade in Indie, ft. Emily Rose

Indie games have come a long way from their roots as a way to spite Roger Ebert (kidding!), and we've teamed up with rebind.io founder Emily Rose (@caravanmalice) to discuss the decade in indie, from "AA" hits to powerful "micro-indies." We explore the impact of influencers, the birth/death/resurrection of indie game journalism, the importance of platform, the "indie game" image problem - and talk about what's next.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underexplored. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by Seiho
12/5/20191 hour, 26 minutes, 22 seconds
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Pokemon Sword & Shield, Death Stranding, Half-Life: Alyx

A new Pokemon game is out, so we're asking the question that everyone asks when a new Pokemon game comes out: Is it the Pokemon game I've always dreamed about? We also discuss the weird lack of hype surrounding Half-Life: Alyx, which when you think about it, should be the most hyped game of the  decade. Finally, we wrap our conversation on Death Stranding with since we kinda zoomed through that thing.Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend8:56 - Death Stranding26:22 - Half-Life: Alyx38:36 - Pokemon Sword & ShieldIntro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
11/28/20191 hour, 3 minutes, 32 seconds
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Death Stranding, Blizzcon, Air, Land & Sea, Remembering Apple Arcade

It's here. The new Kojima game. Death Stranding. Secure your cargo straps, crack open your Monster Energies, slap that blood bag, and come along as we delve deep into this ~generational phenomenon~ of a game. Then we've got a grab bag - the new Hearthstone game mode and how terrible we are for playing it, some snazzy new board games, Guitar Hero vs. Real Guitar, and the rapid downfall of Apple Arcade.Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend1:17 - Death Stranding41:06 - Air, Land & Sea46:56 - CardLine51:25 - Blizzcon, Hearthstone Battlegrounds58:12 - Playin' some guitar, differences between real activities and activities in games1:14:45 - Remember Apple Arcade?Intro/Outro music is TABOO by SeihoBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
11/14/20191 hour, 25 minutes, 24 seconds
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Disco Elysium, Outer Worlds, Modern Warfare, Qube 2

Outer Worlds. Modern Warfare. Disco Elysium. It's Big Game season, folks, and this week we've got some of the heaviest hitters of the year. Listen to us talk about why Disco Elysium is awesome, why Outer Worlds is the videogame equivalent of a limp pool noodle, and why Modern Warfare is at least a 7.5. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend1:45 - Outer Worlds25:00 - Qube 235:53 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare49:25 - Disco ElysiumIntro/Outro music is TABOO by SeihoBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
10/31/20191 hour, 25 minutes, 7 seconds
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Hearthstone controversy, food vs. videogame crit with Soleil Ho, MTG:A, What the Golf

This week, BAD END is joined by a special guest - San Francisco Chronicle food critic Soleil Ho (@hooleil). As a fellow gamer, Soleil talks to us about the parallels between food and videogame consumption and criticism, her love for Harvest Moon, and the importance of evaluating games and food in their social contexts. After that, we discuss the international controversy surrounding Hearthsone, and a potential new chapter for "gamer activism." Finally, we talk about MTG:A, What the Golf, Bleak Sword, and WACCA - a frontrunner for rhythm game of the year. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 2:08 - Food, videogames, taste, subjectivity, and political objects 20:28 - Soleil's gaming history, Harvest Moon, Breath of the Wild  27:25 - Food "fandom" vs. gaming fandom 37:43 - Hearthstone and the Hong Kong controversy, thinking about games politically 59:54 - Magic The Gathering Arena1:04:37 - What the Golf?1:09:06 - Bleak Sword 1:16:15 - WACCA (year's best rhythm game?) Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
10/17/20191 hour, 29 minutes, 3 seconds
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Untitled Goose Game, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Destiny, Bloodstained, Eliza, What the Golf

Usually we have a few games to play between episodes of BAD END, but this week we had more than 50 thrust upon us with the launch of Apple Arcade. We talk about some of the highlights, like the rhythmless rhythm game Sayonara Wild Hearts and the hilarious What the Golf. We're also talkin' Goose Game, Bloodstained, Apex, and Destiny. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 1:10 - Backlogs, what's up with those? 6:24 - Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 14:37 - Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, new Apex Legends map 30:55 - Untitled Goose Game 49:35 - Eliza 58:09 - Hot Lava 1:00:44 - Exit the Gungeon 1:05:35 - Overland 1:09:30 - Void Bastards 1:13:25 - Sayonara Wild Hearts 1:22:02 - What the Golf 1:29:22 - Jenny Leclue Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
10/3/20191 hour, 40 minutes, 41 seconds
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Gears 5, Overland, Borderlands 3, Creature in the Well, PAX, Apple Arcade

So there’s a bunch of new games coming out and we’re doing our best to play them all, but sometimes you don’t have time to tack a Borderlands 3 onto your massive game log. That being said, we’re playing the crap out of Overland, Creature in the Well, and Gears 5 (sorta). We also talk about Apple Arcade, Disco Elysium hype, board game store ecosystems, PAX-as-gamer-Phish, and more. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 0:55 - PAX and the Nerd Ecosystem 21:00 - Gears 5 30:54 - Borderlands 3, nof*p, and Hype-as-product 44:46 - Creature in the Well 56:57 - Overland 1:10:45 - Disco Elysium 1:15:47 - Apple Arcade Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
9/19/20191 hour, 26 minutes, 19 seconds
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Control, Telling Lies, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

It's Bad End 55, and this episode we're talking about Control, the new game from Remedy that's incredible - but with a few caveats we can't quite get over. Then we discuss Telling Lies, that new FMV joint from Sam Barlow (Her Story) - a game whose main character might be a little too good at acting pissed off. Finally, Caty goes deep on Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. Y'know, the game where you play as apes trying to evolve into humans. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 2:02 - Control 36:55 - Telling Lies 59:35 - Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey 1:12:04 - Wilmot's Warehouse Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
9/5/20191 hour, 16 minutes, 5 seconds
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Dragon Quest Builders 2, Project Winter, MTG. ft. Cameron Kunzelman

This week, we're joined by videogame critic/journalist Cameron Kunzelman of Vice Games, Paste, and Kotaku (among many others). We pick apart Dragon Quest Builders 2 and the still-beating heart of crafting games, the 8-person multiplayer game Project Winter, and the lizard-brain capitalist appeal of card games. From there, we take a deep dive into cloud gaming and the future of online digital storefronts. Find Cameron on Twitter @ckunzelman. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 2:18 - What's up with freelance game journalism, Cameron? 7:38 - PUBG 9:53 - Project Winter 12:53 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 27:30 - Hearthstone, MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh, Keyforge and the Soul of CCGs 47:00 - Talking to normal people about videogames, the schism between "hardcore" and everything else, the potential of cloud gaming 1:18:15 - The new age of gaming platforms Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
8/22/20191 hour, 28 minutes, 34 seconds
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Feat. Mike Rugnetta: Fire Emblem Three Houses, Oxygen Not Included, Ooblets controversy

WHAT is UP everyone it's Bad End podcast episode 53, this time featuring the academically-minded internet personality Mike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta on Twitter). You might know him from PBS Idea Channel, Reasonably Sound, or as a producer behind the Longreads Podcast and CrashCourse. We talk about the new Fire Emblem game, tabletop gaming as artistic medium, the Ooblets controversy, and whether videogames have the power to expose us to new viewpoints. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 7:41 - Outer Wilds and the appeal of the "time loop" trend in games 22:08 - Tabletop gaming 41:21 - Forza 4 Horizon 50:15 - Fire Emblem: Three Houses 57:22 - Oxygen Not Included 1:07:53 - The Ooblets Controversy 1:40:20 - Can a videogame introduce you to new ways of thinking? Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
8/8/20191 hour, 56 minutes, 10 seconds
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Bad End 52: Wolfenstein Youngblood, Mario Maker 2, Teamfight Tactics

Bad End 52. We've got that new Wolfenstein: Youngblood joint, where you play co-op as BJ's daughters to kill nazis in the 80s. Then we're talking Mario Maker 2 and the joys of playing through a theoretically-infinite number of new Mario levels (even if it doesn't work out that way in practice.) Finally, we're meditating more on Teamfight Tactics, which we got hooked on this week. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 6:39 - Wolfenstein: Youngblood 32:27 - Mario Maker 2 51:50 - Teamfight Tactics Intro/Outro music is TABOO by SEIHO
7/25/20191 hour, 15 minutes, 34 seconds
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Bad End 51, Feat. Luke Winkie: Teamfight Tactics, Void Bastards, Surviving Mars, Apex Legends

Now wise and grizzled in the aftermath of our 50th episode, BAD END is back, and this time we're joined by intrepid reporter Luke Winkie (@luke_winkie on Twitter) to talk about Autochess games, The Metroidvania Discourse, Apex Legends, and whether or not it's a good idea to colonize mars. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 12:25 - Void Bastards, and ~the genre discourse 29:28 - Surviving Mars 36:14 - Blackjack, roulette, pool, snooker 50:12 - Apex Legends Season 2 1:01:50 - The Hearthstone Minute 1:07:55 - Teamfight Tactics, Dota Underlords, Dota Auto Chess 1:25:23 - On videogame piracy Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
7/12/20191 hour, 35 minutes, 36 seconds
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Bad End 50th Episode Extravaganza: Void Bastards, Videogame Journalism, 50 listener questions

It's BAD END's 50th episode, and for this episode we're doing something special: thanks to our listeners, we've got 50 questions and we're answering EVERY SINGLE ONE. Join us as we discuss our most extreme gaming moments, the seedy underbelly of games journalism, the rise and "fall" of indie games, fast food, anime, and the story of how this lil' ol' podcast got started. Thanks so much to everyone who sent in questions - let's do 50 more. No timestamps this episode folks - 50 questions is a lot LOL. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST Also sorry for mentioning Void Bastards when we dont talk about it that much in this ep. SEO stuff, you know.
6/27/20192 hours, 27 minutes, 11 seconds
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Bad End 49: E3 2019, Cyberpunk 2077, New Zelda, Animal Crossing, Outer Wilds, Observation

It's Gamer's Time. E3. 2019. We're talking about all the highlights of the show floor, and giving you all the scoop on the seedy underbelly of Gaming's Biggest Show. New Zelda, Cyberpunk 2077 release date, new Pokemon, Animal Crossing New Horizons, Xbox Game Pass for PC - we've got it all. Then, after the break, we discuss two of our newest frontrunners for GOTY: Observation, and Outer Wilds. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 1:47 - What E3 is actually like 13:03 - Xbox Game Pass for PC 23:50 - Zelda, Cyberpunk 2077 29:36 - Animal Crossing New Horizons 34:15 - Pokemon Sword/Shield 39:00 - Nintendo of America's weird Treehouse people 50:11 - Observation, Stories Untold 1:06:18 - Outer Wilds Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
6/13/20191 hour, 34 minutes, 47 seconds
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Bad End 48: Katana Zero, Steamworld Quest, Oculus Quest, Phantom: Covert Ops, Playdate

We're back as a trio, and this week we're serving up the latest in gaming drama: a new little handheld console called Playdate that lit the indie community on fire this past week. We're also talking about Oculus Quest, which is awesome, Katana Zero, which is dope, and Steamworld Quest, which... meh. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 12:38 - Phantom: Covert Ops 14:44 - Oculus Quest 24:38 - Steamworld Quest 37:06 - Katana Zero 48:57 - Playdate Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
5/30/20191 hour, 28 minutes, 49 seconds
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Bad End 47: Men's Time

Caty is out for the week, and last time this happened, we recorded an episode of the show called "BOYS TIME." But we've grown up a lot since then. We're no longer the immature whippersnappers we were in that ep. So now, it's MEN'S TIME - we're talking about the things "gamer men" love. Buckle up, whip out the Ray-Bans, fire up the oldies radio, and join us. 4:15 - The little free time we have 12:00 - Seein' what the kids are up to 19:07 - A space for gamer men? 27:15 - Gear 34:52 - Kyle's new receiver 36:46 - Talking about The Industry 41:00 - ?Esports? 45:05 - Protecting our kids 47:15 - Takin' stock Intro music is TABOO by Seiho Outro is a thing Kyle made
5/16/201959 minutes, 22 seconds
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Bad End 46: Risk of Rain 2, Ape Out, Anno 1800, crunch and content

Hi everyone, Bad End Podcast has coined a new term called "Jerky Games" and you heard it here first. Where in the episode, though? When we're talking about the chill city building vibes of Anno 1800? When we're talking about Roguelikes and Risk of Rain 2? Or when we have a conversation about style vs. substance in Ape Out? Listen and find out. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 1:50 - The anti-critical backlash 6:56 - Anno 1800 17:57 - Mortal Kombat 11 27:53 - Ape Out 39:45 - Risk of Rain 2 46:46 - Meditations on the toxic content ecosystem Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
5/2/20191 hour, 16 minutes, 54 seconds
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Bad End 45, ft. Abby Russell: REGGIESODE, Ghost Giant, Falcon Age, Sekiro Difficulty

This week, we're joined by Abby Russell of Giantbomb.com (@ybbaaabby) to pour one out for the Gamer King, Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime, who retired earlier this week. We're also talking about difficulty in Sekiro, expectations vs reality in VR games, and the weird cults of personality surrounding videogame execs in 2019. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 5:53 - Ghost Giant 8:00 - Falcon Age 15:27 - Sekiro and the #difficulty discourse 29:28 - Remembering Reggie Fils-Aime Music is TABOO by SEIHO
4/18/201955 minutes, 49 seconds
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Bad End 44: Sekiro, Baba Is You, GDC

Sit down, crack open a beer or non-alcoholic beverage of your choice, and talk games with the Bad End crew, baby. This week, we're discussing the new From Software game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the way it converges its precise, challenging gameplay with art and Cool Ninja Shit. We've also got the puzzler Baba Is You, and a recap of what we learned at GDC. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 4:00 - GDC Recap, Samurai Gunn 2 13:43 - Do people play games for the design? 22:59 - Baba Is You 34:09 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Music is TABOO by SEIHO
4/4/20191 hour, 9 minutes, 29 seconds
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Bad End 43, Ft. Emma Kidwell: GDC, Google Stadia, Totem Teller, Sloppy Forgeries

BAD END is live from Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA! We're joined by a special guest - game developer/journalist/personality Emma Kidwell - to talk about Google Stadia game streaming, GDC buzz, and upcoming titles like DOOM Eternal, Totem Teller, Sloppy Forgeries, Consume Me, and more. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
3/21/201930 minutes, 35 seconds
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Bad End 42: Devotion, Apex Legends, Trials Rising

Two weeks have passed since BAD END 41, and much has happened. Josh has continued his descent into Apex Legends obsession. Devotion, a Taiwanese horror game, became the hottest sensation on Twitch and was promptly "cancelled" for including a satirical asset that flared up some geopolitical conflict. Sad, since it might be the best walking simulator ever made. We launched a Patreon, which you should totally check out. Oh yeah, and Trials Rising came out. Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend 4:00 - Apex Legends 14:11 - Devotion, new videogame storytelling methods, review bombing 51:52 - Trials Rising Music is TABOO by Seiho
3/7/20191 hour, 11 minutes, 1 second
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Bad End 41: Apex Legends, Kingdom Hearts 3, Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Squad up and join us on this week's BAD END for the new Battle Royale that's sweeping the nation: Apex Legends! We talk about the game's gunfeel, online play, the rapid proliferation of Apex culture, and meme appeal. Then we discuss Kingdom Hearts 3, which, for Josh at least, was a bit of a disappointment. To end things, we've got reader mail about next-generation gamers and the potential death of single-player games. 7:30 - Apex Legends 50:36 - Kingdom Hearts 3 1:10:55 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 1:17:55 - Single player games are over (?) Intro/Outro music is TABOO by SEIHO
2/21/20191 hour, 43 minutes, 49 seconds
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Bad End 40: Kingdom Hearts 3, Obra Dinn, Getting Older, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Anthem

Josh is gallivanting in Japan so Caty and Kyle take the time to finally talk about videogames for adults, like Fortnite. Caty is playing hella Kingdom Hearts 3, Kyle is finally playing the game he gave the GOTY to, and they both reflect on getting older. Rounding out the podcast, they discuss "surprise" releases in games and music, and look at EA's new game Apex Legends along with the needs-to-be-a-hit Anthem. 5:45 - Kingdom Hearts 3 17:17 - Gamer Merch 22:12 - Dark Souls 23:57 - Resident Evil 2 26:59 - Return of the Obra Dinn 28:06 - Begin Obra Dinn Spoilers 30:16 - End Obra Dinn Spoilers 32:49 - More Kingdom Hearts 3 34:33 - "We're getting older" 36:37 - Fortnite 49:00 - Apex Legends 57:21 - Anthem 1:11:12 - "Surprise" Game/Album Releases Music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
2/7/20191 hour, 20 minutes, 37 seconds
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Bad End 39, ft. An Actual High Schooler: Super Smash Bros, Fortnite, LoL, teen gaming habits

As "mature" gamers, we miss out on a lot of big gaming trends. In order to correct that, we've recruited Josh's little brother to talk with us about what today's teens are into. We discuss the future of single-player games, esports, speedrunning, high school gaming cliques, and the elephant in the room: Fortnite. 0:44 - High School Gamers 17:31 - Single player games and the next-gen gamer 22:35 - League of Legends 31:25 - Where kids find out about games 34:12 - Fortnite 45:00 - Speedruns 57:25 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/24/20191 hour, 5 minutes, 29 seconds
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Bad End 38: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sunset Overdrive, Obra Dinn, Lumines, Superstar BTS, Books

Happy New Year everyone. Bad End is back. This week, we're talking about Smash Bros and the continual out-of-touchness of fighting games. We're talking about Sunset Overdrive and one of the most obnoxious aesthetics to ever show its face in a videogame. We're talking about books, and comparing readtimes with playtimes. Listen, share, and give us some input! [email protected], @badendpodcast on twitter. 4:30 - Obra Dinn 9:00 - Sunset Overdrive 17:05 - Leaked PS4 player counts 26:20 - Tetris, Lumines Remastered, Love Nikki, Superstar BTS 37:50 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 50:27 - Reading books, "Might as Well" syndrome, and the pitfalls of videogame systems creation Music is "TABOO" by SEIHO
1/10/20191 hour, 18 minutes, 32 seconds
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Bad End 37: GOTY AWARDS 2018

It's Bad End's game of the year awards 2018 edition!!! We're talking about our favorite games of the year, with a Bad End Twist. Our GOTY categories include: Oh That Came Out?, Bad End Award For Wokeness In Games, Best Game We Couldn't Get Into, Best DtF, and more. Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
12/13/20182 hours, 6 minutes, 3 seconds
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Bad End 36: Artifact, Tetris Effect, Tinder, Red Dead Redemption, Thronebreaker

It's cuffing season, so on this episode of Bad End we're talking about perhaps the greatest card game ever made - Tinder! Then we discuss another trading card game that just came out called "Artifact," and RDR2 and a new Tetris game.......... [dear future people who date Josh. If you've come here by means of extremely thorough online stalking, please bring this up with Josh and he will explain in full] 2:00 - Artifact 22:13 - Thronebreaker 27:17 - Tetris Effect 38:40 - Tinder and other dating apps 56:08 - Red Dead Redemption 2 Intro/outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is Connected (Yours Forever)from Tetris Effect Original Soundtrack
11/29/20181 hour, 35 minutes, 28 seconds
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Bad End 35: Red Dead Redemption 2, Return of the Obra Dinn

THE COWBOY GAME CAME OUT. We talk Red Dead Redemption 2, our love/hate relationship with open world games, Lucas Pope's new game Return of the Obra Dinn, and a little more (Kyle sneaks in Maple Story 2 talk). Music is TABOO by Seiho
11/1/20181 hour, 8 minutes, 33 seconds
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Bad End 34: Forza Horizon 4, Maple Story 2, BLOPS4

Well here we are, playing videogames and talking about them again. This week, Josh is out due to being busy, but we do some #cartalk about Forza Horizon 4, then we talk about the Maple Story 2 grind, and then that new big boy on the block: CODBLOPS4. Hell yeah sequels. Start - Forza Horizon 4 18:20 - Maplestory 2 23:18 - BLOPS4 42:10 - Reader mail Music is TABOO by Seiho
10/18/201859 minutes, 7 seconds
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Bad End 33: When the gamer hunger subsides, or, Everything we do is for teens, or, Fortnite

There's a lot of games coming out this month, but you know what? Sometimes... even we gamers lose that spark in our hearts that tells us we MUST GAME 24/7. We burn out. We cruise along. We play one game on-and-off for months at a time. We stare slack-jawed at our Steam backlogs wondering if we ever enjoyed games at all. We worry that our love for games is dead. This is an episode dedicated to that feeling. Music is "TABOO" by Seiho
10/4/20181 hour, 17 minutes, 34 seconds
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Bad End 32, Feat. Dan Solberg: Fortnite, Nier Automata, Dragon Quest XI, DED LED

Remember when we thought games could be art? BAD END remembers. This episode, we're hanging out with Dan Solberg, who recently finished putting together DED LED - a free zine/compilation of articles from the now-defunct website called "Kill Screen" that we all used to write for. We also talk about Fortnite, gamers, Dragon Quest, and Nier. Check out DED LED here: https://dedled.itch.io/dedled 6:48 - Nier: Automata 16:00 - Fortnite, WoW, and lasting virtual worlds 42:23 - Dragon Quest XI 49:43 - DED LED, Kill Screen's legacy Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
9/20/20181 hour, 52 minutes, 3 seconds
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Bad End 31, ft. Tim Rogers: Dragon Quest XI, Donut County, Bioshock, Internet Comments

Videogame maker and critic Tim Rogers (@108) is here, so naturally this is the longest episode of BAD END to date... and folks, tim rogers voice IT's LONG. We talk about Dragon Quest 11, Donut County, God of War, videogame criticism, dealing with internet comments and Bioshock. 1:11 - Tim Rogers' Wikipedia Page and "New Games Journalism" 17:20 - God of War and The Perfect Videogame Length 25:00 - Donut County 30:14 - Dragon Quest XI 47:15 - On Internet Commenters 1:01:00 - On Videogame Review Systems 1:18:25 - Bioshock Infinite 1:28:35 - The Last of Us 1:35:42 - The Art of Videogame Translation 1:59:35 - Getting Ahead of The Commenters Music is "Taboo" by Seiho
9/6/20182 hours, 17 minutes, 54 seconds
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Bad End 30: MTG Arena, Dead Cells, we solve gamergate, On Enthusiasts, ASMR Corner

This week, in the process of discussing Magic The Gathering: Arena, we solved gamergate sorta!!! We also talk about Dead Cells and the ESSENCE of platformfeel, then we got a couple special sections as we rag on enthusiasts, and then finally, run a couple ASMRs through your sweet headphone cans. Buckle up your Clarks Desert Boots, put on your Sennheisers or Audio Technicas, and get ready for Bad End 30! 2:49 - MTG Arena (in which we solve gamergate) 26:39 - Dead Cells and the essence of the 2d platformer 38:24 - Getting mad about PC and enthusiast culture 52:20 - ASMR corner Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
8/23/201858 minutes, 5 seconds
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Bad End 29: No Man's Sky, Mothergunship, OWL Finals, Holedown, Metal Gear, The Dark Knight

It's BAD END 29 and this one is a frickin banger yall, we got special guest and film/games critic extraordinaire Astrid Budgor to talk about shooter games, indie games, and Christopher Nolan films with us. We also talk about how crappy Crafting has become as a thing you do in games, and discuss 'gamer humor' in its many iterations. Lots of funny in-jokes about gamer stuff in here so don't miss it!! 3:54 - Mothergunship 14:06 - Holedown 27:40 - No Man's Sky NEXT 40:25 - Metal Gear Solid 1, 2 48:10 - OWL Finals 59:25 - Reader Mail: The value of games 1:07:16 - Reader Mail: The Dark Knight (Chris Nolan hate train) 1:14:36 - Reader Mail: Why does crafting suck? Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
8/2/20181 hour, 28 minutes, 19 seconds
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BAD END 28: Fern Flower, Prey, Sonic Mania Plus, Overwatch League Playoffs,

Summer is actually boring as hell so far games-wise, but luckily we've got special guest Nicole (@sweetpotatoes) Carpenter to talk us through the upcoming Overwatch League Playoffs. Listen for some utterly captivating chatter about esports, energy drinks, mobile gaming, frames per second, and affiliate marketing. 4:20 - Fern Flower 19:00 - Prey 34:29 - Sonic Mania Plus 47:08 - Overwatch League Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
7/12/20181 hour, 23 minutes, 17 seconds
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Bad End 27: Mario Tennis Aces, Yoku's Island Express, Cultist Simulator, Reader Mail

WE ARE BACK brahs!! This episode, we're talking about hella games, dude! Grab your surfboard and chill with us as we slip slide into conversation about Yoku's island express and the use of genre in games, then some discussion of Mario Tennis Aces, which is very much a tennis game that feels good to play. Then we talk about Cultist Simulator and ~~diversity in games, thanks to some good-vibe reader mail. 7:30 - Yoku's Island Express 37:55 - Mario Tennis Aces 53:00 - Cultist Simulator 1:07:53 - Reader Mail - Diversity in Games Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
6/28/20181 hour, 34 minutes, 2 seconds
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Bad End 26: House Flipper, Detroit: Become Human, Fortnite, The Witcher 3

In this episode, we make the crucial mistake of asking: "Why do we play videogames?" It's clearly not for competent social commentary, as Detroit: Become Human shows us. It's not necessarily for compelling experiences, as House Flipper shows us. And it might not necessarily be to choose-our-own adventures, as The Witcher 3 shows us. Join us in BAD END 26 as we wrestle with (and ultimately fail to) come to terms with all these questions and more. 2:30 - House Flipper 16:35 - Detroit: Become Human 42:35 - Fortnite / PUBG reader mail 57:37 - The Witcher 3 reader mail Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
5/31/20181 hour, 13 minutes, 51 seconds
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Bad End 25: State of Decay 2, Frostpunk, God of War, MapleStory 2

New week, new idols to burn to the ground. Josh thinks strategy games are for egomaniacs, Caty trash talks the Walking Dead, and Kyle criticizes the original Star Wars films. We also got some reader mail and took the opportunity to criticize nerd culture, which is proving to be one of our favorite hobbies. 1:34 - Frostpunk (do strategy games suck?) 14:30 - State of Decay 2 (actually surprisingly good?) 27:27 - Quick God of War rant (the ending sucks) 31:55 - Maple Story 2 34:58 - Battlefront 2 43:48 - Rage 2 46:19 - Paratopic 50:55 - Reader mail: Frustrations with pop culture Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
5/17/20181 hour, 7 minutes, 40 seconds
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Bad End 24: God of War, Spy Party, Halo 3 Online

To be honest with y'all, this episode might as well be the God of War special. But it goes places! We talk taste, criticism, AAA gamerdom, and (thanks to a dope bit of reader mail)the futile hunt for Gamer Legitimacy. 8:09 - God of War 55:30 - Spy Party 1:06:09 - Halo 3 Online 1:12:59 - Reader Mail Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
5/3/20181 hour, 28 minutes, 9 seconds
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Bad End 23: Sea of Thieves, PUBG's New Map, and Ninja as model Twitch citizen (?)

Upon learning that Kyle has never heard of Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, arguably THE most popular gamer of our time, we had to grill him about it. But that's not until the second half - before that, we discuss Sea of Thieves and ~monetization, as well as the lasting appeal of PUBG in the BR zeitgeist. Final note: If you're a streamer listening to this... don't do racial slurs on stream anymore lol 6:03 - Sea of Thieves 25:00 - PUBG's new map 53:10 - Kyle doesn't know who Ninja is??? Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
4/5/20181 hour, 44 minutes, 18 seconds
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Bad End Tinysode: Chillin' at the GDC

We were at the Game Developers Conference(at least Kyle and Caty were), so we grabbed a mic and talked with friends for a few minutes. Come hang out and meet some cool cats while we talk games, conference vibes, and social anxiety. Featuring @juliemuncy23, @ChelleEhrhardt, @metallicaisrad, @AndMoser. Music: TABOO by SEIHO
3/27/201811 minutes, 21 seconds
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Bad End 22: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Slay the Spire, One Hour One Life, Into the Breach

Alright folks Caty's back and we're ready to be serious games critics again. This week we're talking about the new Jason Rohrer joint, that one game written by Games Twitter, and the card dungeon crawler thing that just came out. Let us know if you have any input on the title too - our agent is telling us we should try to be more SEO friendly. 6:36 - One Hour One Life 22:20 - Where the Water Tastes Like Wine 36:10 - Slay the Spire 48:25 - Into the Breach 1:02:24 - Kyle's Mobile Corner Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
3/8/20181 hour, 9 minutes, 36 seconds
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Bad End 21: Boys Time

Caty's gone, so Kyle and Josh went back to basics and had some good old fashioned BOYS TIME!! So whip out your slightly-loose-fitting jeans, tighten up that bowtie, take a sip of that IPA, curl that moustache, and let's have some MAN FUN! 6:17 - Cultist Simulator 12:48 - Subnautica 23:02 - Pillars of Eternity 31:15 - Dragonball FighterZ 34:31 - The Things Us Gamer Boys Like Music: "Classic Man" - Jidenna ft, Roman GianArthur
2/22/20181 hour, 12 minutes, 25 seconds
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Bad End 20: Good Art Is Difficult, ft. Yussef Cole

Caty, Josh, and Kyle team up with games critic Yussef Cole to talk about Cuphead, difficulty in games, LABOR, and not one, not two, but THREE games about climbing a mountain. 3:47 - Cuphead 10:25 - Celeste 39:55 - Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy 53:40 - On outsourcing and the global game development industry Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
2/8/20181 hour, 36 minutes, 46 seconds
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Bad End 19: Red Dead Redemption 2 [Advance Review]

So for some reason, we got our hands on an advance copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 and we're reviewing it this episode! Very cool game. We also discuss Celeste and AGDQ, so come get in on this early #discourse and learn more about one of the biggest releases of the YEAR. 7:38 - AGDQ 2018 21:18 - Celeste sidebar 34:28 - REVIEW: RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A PARODY REVIEW AND WE DID NOT ACTUALLY PLAY RDR 2 PLEASE DONT SUE US ROCKSTAR
1/25/20181 hour, 1 minute, 6 seconds
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Bad End 18: A Gaming Wish for 2018

The gamers have stopped being heinous for a moment, so for this episode, we look to the future and assess the state of gaming in 2018. With Renowned Games Reporter Matt Kim in tow, we discuss what's "On Tap" (as we say in the biz) for the industry in the coming year. 4:35 - Doki Doki Literature Club 11:14 - Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy 22:00 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 39:35 - I am Setsuna 41:14 - Nier: Automata 47:15 - Gorgoa 52:39 - 2018 Predictions: PUBG 57:22 - 2018 Predictions: Videogame journalism pessimism 1:09:18 - 2018 Predictions: Nintendo's challenges, Lootboxes 1:19:01 - 2018 Predictions: The PUBG of 2018 1:22:20 - 2018 Predictions: RIP 3DS 1:27:10 - Kyle is dumb 1:31:23 - A Gamer's Wish for 2018 Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
1/11/20181 hour, 36 minutes, 49 seconds
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Bad End 17: Game of the Year Awards

This ain't your little brother's GOTY special, so sit back and enjoy a fine recap of the pretty damn not-bad Gaming Year that was 2017. Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho
12/21/20171 hour, 28 minutes, 41 seconds
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Bad End 16: Controversy of the Year Awards

Whatever happens this episode, it's been a true pleasure to podcast to such fine listeners. In this sixteenth BAD END installment, we talk Animal Crossing, Destiny 2, and tying up loose ends at the end of the year. Then, for the second half, we hunker down and rate the controversies of the year. So buckle the hell up folk's. 4:00 - Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp 21:12 - Caty's year-end marathon, Kyle's Steam Sale purchases 34:00 - Mario Odyssey post-credits 39:10 - Controversies of the year 41:18 - ME:A 46:32 - HZD 54:18 - pdp 59:09 - Hellblade Permadeath 1:07:55 - EA Battlefront stuff again 1:33:30 - Destiny 2, FINALLY ADDRESSING OUR EMAILER Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
11/30/20171 hour, 51 minutes, 50 seconds
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Bad End 15: #gambling

Mario. Wolfenstein. Pokemon. Destiny. Star Wars. We're real gamers, and we're here to h*ckin' prove it! Join us as we discuss whether these games are actually good, and then listen to us laugh about people who think buying loot crates is gambling. 2:44 - Super Mario Odyssey 30:10 - Destiny 2 35:43 - Magikarp Jump 43:20 - Wolfenstein 2 The New Colossus 1:00:26 - EA WENT AND DID THAT!!! #gambling Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
11/16/20171 hour, 37 minutes, 20 seconds
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Bad End 14.5: HYPEISODE

IT'S VIDEO GAME TIME KIDS. Josh is headed out of town for a couple weeks and BAD END will be out until mid-November, but we wanted to devote some time to talk over our hype on the Fall deluge of games, from Wolfenstein to Mario to Assassin's Creed. Also, don't forget to vote on Twitter (@badendpodcast) to determine who gets to give the official BAD END review score for each of these games! 0:41 - Super Mario Odyssey 7:48 - Assassin's Creed Origins 18:45 - Wolfenstein: The New Colossus Music: Super Mario World - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix) Zelda Lost Woods (Trap Remix)
10/26/201733 minutes, 34 seconds
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Bad End 14: Death and the apocalypse, but with great gamefeel

Kyle's still out honeymooning, but we have special guest and GQ writer Joshua Rivera (@jmrivera02) to talk real smart about games, god help us. We've been playing visual novels and some sub-2-hour games, so dive into some stuff that you can get through pretty quickly. Then, in our discussion of The Discourse Of The Week, we talk loot boxes and the "death" of single-player games. 1:42 - Doki Doki Literature Club 9:43 - A Mortician's Tale 16:34 - Forza, Gran Turismo 33:28 - Universal Paperclips 37:44 - Loot box controversy and the end of single player games Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
10/19/20171 hour, 8 minutes, 30 seconds
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Bad End 13: Getting Hitched With Nintendo Switch

Kyle is getting married this week, so we've got a two-person episode! With a special letter from Kyle to guide us along our journey, we discuss Cuphead, as well as a bunch of games for the Nintendo Switch (which we still love). 3:19 - Cuphead 9:32 - Picross S 14:40 - Golf Story 22:50 - Assassin's Creed Origins 28:03 - A Wedding Toast for Kyle Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
10/5/201741 minutes, 24 seconds
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Bad End 12: Heated Gaming Moments

"Heated gaming moments." We all have 'em from time to time! Let's talk about them, and uncover new ways to not be racist a**holes on the internet. 2:19 - Destiny 2 12:29 - Mario and Rabbids, and singing the praises of the Switch 20:50 - Danganronpa V3 27:52 - Zelda: Breath of the Wild 40:30 - Fav DLCs, Witcher 3 45:46 - Heated Gaming Moments Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
9/21/20171 hour, 16 minutes, 54 seconds
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Bad End 11: Bad End is Great, But It Has Some Flaws. 8/10

Are you good at games? Does it matter? Do you actually care what I think about a game? Why are you even here? In Bad End 11, we get to the bottom of criticism, skill, and journalism, revealing the seedy underbelly of videogames in the process. We also talk about extremely geeky shit like Morrowind Online and a Mount & Blade mod, as well as new games like Absolver and Destiny 2. 4:10 Napoleonic Wars (Mount & Blade mod) 8:05 Counter-strike Source and internet cafes 11:00 Morrowind Online 19:10 Absolver 26:28 Destiny 2 38:52 Skill, journalism, and games criticism Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
9/7/20171 hour, 19 minutes
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Bad End 10: Sonic and Uncharted might be Good Again

It's BAD END 10. We talk Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which Caty reviewed for US Gamer dot net. We talk Hellblade, a great game with a bad name. We talk about how Sonic Mania might maybe redeem some of Sonic's annoying aspects. Then we talk about what's going on in the world of 'electronic sports', which two of us know close to nothing about. 3:22 - Uncharted: The Lost Legacy 11:50 - Sonic Mania 26:26 - Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice 45:23 - Hearthstone, Brand New, and Terrace House 53:20 - League of Legends and bathroom breaks 1:00:10 - Boba Stories 1:04:57 - Avatar: The Last Airbender 1:08:35 - Kyle goes off Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
8/24/20171 hour, 12 minutes, 7 seconds
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Bad End 9: Talkin' Walkin'

God we hope you feel strongly about walking simulators cuz we GO IN on them this episode, specifically in the context of The Fullbright Company's new joint TACOMA. Is the genre outdated? Is Tacoma successful? Why do these people keep using that font? Listen to find out (hell yeah clicky content) Thanks to our special guest Emma Kidwell - you can check out her games by looking up emmkid on itch. 2:50 - Tacoma 13:00 - Spoilers start (they're not that intense of spoilers imo, we're not super explicit about them) 21:34 - Kyle's first critique 30:42 - Diversity in Tacoma 47:47 - Kyle's second critique 49:58 - On "Walking Simulator" as a genre Intro/Outro: "TABOO" by Seiho
8/10/20171 hour, 19 minutes, 22 seconds
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Bad End 8: PUBG ACTUALLY SUCKS??? JOURNALISM IS DEAD???

Holy crap ok so we're back and there's a lot to talk about. This episode we straight-up talk for two hours: about games (ofc), the disintegration of "indie," games media, online content, zone-out games, videogames as shareable works, and a bunch of other stuff that I can't even think of off the top of my head. START - PUBG 13:26 - Splatoon 2 24:44 - Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, FFXIV 28:10 - Albion Online 36:00 - Mobile stuff (Kami 2, Ballz, Slidey) 43:20 - Pyre 50:44 - Supergiant and "Indie" 1:13:29 - Persona 5 and shareability 1:21:15 - The role of videogame journalism in 2017 Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Email: badendpod at gmail dot com Twitter: @badendpodcast
7/27/20171 hour, 48 minutes, 36 seconds
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Bad End 7: The SNES Classic Makes Caty Feel Like A Fncking Baby

BAD END is out of the E3 tornado and back on its Everyday Videogaming bullshit. Listen for existential dread, hollow pugilism, and mass-produced nostalgia. 2:29 - Everything (the videogame) 11:48 - Arms 24:56 - Hollow Knight 27:44 - Wolfenstein: The New Order 33:36 - The Witcher 3 36:50 - Monument Valley 2 (Shouts out to moms) 43:57 - The Super Nintendo CLASSIC Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
6/30/20171 hour, 12 minutes, 58 seconds
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Bad End 6: E3 Special

Happy E3 everyone! We celebrate the event by recapping each press conference... and you can bet your sweet Skyrim remasters we're bringing the takes. 1:11 - EA 6:45 - Microsoft 21:55 - Bethesda 27:41 - PC games 38:37 - Ubisoft 53:07 - Sony 1:01:23 - Nintendo 1:08:18 - RIP Indies, E3 Wrap-up Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
6/16/20171 hour, 27 minutes, 9 seconds
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Bad End 5: The Last of Us is the Five Guys of Videogames

In BAD END 5, we team up with illustrious videogame and film writer Zach Budgor (@hastapura)to discuss some of today's biggest questions in gaming. Could PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS hail a new age of auteurism in videogames? Is The Last of Us Overhyped? Could Kyle's taste in burgers possibly be as bad as his Tweets from the BAD END account? (Follow us btw, @badendpodcast) 2:00 - PUBG (Playerunknown's Battlegrounds) 21:40 - Kingdom Hearts Triple D 28:56 - Arc Symphony 39:05 - The Last of Us 1:00:37 - Our Burger War Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
5/25/20171 hour, 16 minutes, 10 seconds
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Bad End 4: Kyle Meets Hideo Kojima

Yes, it's true. While he was out last week, our very own Kyle met the legendary MGS luminary Hideo Kojima. In BAD END 4, we discuss that, along with Stardew Valley, Mario Kart 8, Heroes of the Storm, and "Indie Games" as a concept. 3:40 Stardew Valley 11:35 Mr. Kojima 22:30 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 44:26 Heroes of the Storm 54:45 What is indie? Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
5/11/20171 hour, 23 minutes, 29 seconds
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Episode 3: Maybe Videogames Need Stories idk

BAD END 3 culminates in a conundrum: Are stories in videogames good, or bad? In pursuit of answering this extremely worthwhile question, we discuss games like Edith Finch, Drawn to Death, Gravity Rush 2, and Puyo Puyo Tetris. Starring special guest @ReidMcCarter. 4:10 What Remains of Edith Finch 17:47 Blackout 24:36 Hidden Folks 26:18 Drawn to Death 31:20 Gravity Rush 2 38:21 Little Nightmares 41:57 Puyo Puyo Tetris 50:50 Are stories good or bad in games? Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
4/27/20171 hour, 38 minutes, 32 seconds
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Episode 2: There Are No Good Sonic games

Hey whats up its another episode of BAD END. This week: Hearthstone, Rivals of Aether, Nier: Automata, more Zelda, Persona 5, and freakin... Sonic the Hedgehog. UGH 2:47 - Hearthstone 15:27 - Breath of the Wild 26:18 - Rivals of Aether 34:52 - Persona 5 45:13 - VR3 49:27 - Sonic is bad Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
4/13/20171 hour, 11 minutes, 51 seconds
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Episode 1: Twilight Princess is the Best Zelda

We're live with the first episode of BAD END! Join us as we talk about the Nintendo Switch, Nier: Automata, Shovel Knight, and of course, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Intro/Outro music is TABOO by Seiho. Break music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST
3/30/20171 hour, 8 minutes, 15 seconds