Hopped-up Gaming: East

I'm not late, you're late! It's just Ben and Tim against the hordes of unclean bugs and facist robots this week, as Ben does his best Helldivers 2 recruitment pitch. Tim also waxes nostalgic for a game that both has and hasn't happened yet as the guys discuss their hopes and dreams for FFFVII Rebirth when it launches next week. Beer Discussed: Crafty Radler, from Pumphouse Martock IPA, from Schoolhouse Feral Fox, Wild Ale w/Apricot, from Two Crows Galaxy IPA, Propeller

This week on the podcast, Matt tests the gang's video game trivia knowledge in order to find out once and for all who are the REAL GAMERS, and who are the NORMIES. Come listen to find out how Ben, Tim, and Dylan fare in this earth shattering challenge!

Whew, we're done with that Game of the Year stuff for at least... another year? Yeah, that makes sense!  Come join Ben, Tim, and Matt as they get back into the groove of things with some regular old talking about video games and beer! There's some Baldur's Gate 3, some Alan Wake 2, and there's even a card games or two!  

It's time to order the list. Wish us luck. Beer Featured: Ain't nobody got time for that! It's GOTY season!

It's time to gather the best games of 2023, and ruthlessly judge them. Beer Featured: Ain't nobody got time for that! It's GOTY season!

December is Game of the Year homework month! In an effort to try and mix up our GOTY formula a bit, we're addressing an issue we've been feeling with the process, which is that we never actually get to talk about the games on the GOTY double header, we're too busy arguing with each other and plotting coups (and getting drunk). So to help fix that, we're spotlighting 2 games each week in December, giving us time to just chill and shoot the breeze about some of our favourite games of the year, without the pressure of trying to force a vote before one of us passes out at our desks or run the risk of going so long that we cant post the episode on Spotify (yes, its possible, we've done it). This week, the games on the docket are Baldur's Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom... or maybe Doctor Who... or Magic The Gathering? Tune in and find out what we thought, and why we think they were something special this year.

A podcast is never late, nor is it early, it arrives precisely when the editor remembers to upload it!" December is Game of the Year homework month! In an effort to try and mix up our GOTY formula a bit, we're addressing an issue we've been feeling with the process, which is that we never actually get to talk about the games on the GOTY double header, we're too busy arguing with each other and plotting coups (and getting drunk). So to help fix that, we're spotlighting 2 games each week in December, giving us time to just chill and shoot the breeze about some of our favourite games of the year, without the pressure of trying to force a vote before one of us passes out at our desks or run the risk of going so long that we cant post the episode on Spotify (yes, its possible, we've done it). This week, the games on the docket are Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Lies of P. Tune in and find out what we thought, and why we think they were something special this year.

December is Game of the Year homework month! In an effort to try and mix up our GOTY formula a bit, we're addressing an issue we've been feeling with the process, which is that we never actually get to talk about the games on the GOTY double header, we're too busy arguing with each other and plotting coups (and getting drunk). So to help fix that, we're spotlighting 2 games each week in December, giving us time to just chill and shoot the breeze about some of our favourite games of the year, without the pressure of trying to force a vote before one of us passes out at our desks or run the risk of going so long that we cant post the episode on Spotify (yes, its possible, we've done it). This week, the games on the docket are Dave The Diver and RoboCop: Rogue City. Tune in and find out what we thought, and why we think they were something special this year.

"A podcast is never late, nor is it early, it arrives precisely when the editor remembers to upload it!" December is Game of the Year homework month! In an effort to try and mix up our GOTY formula a bit, we're addressing an issue we've been feeling with the process, which is that we never actually get to talk about the games on the GOTY double header, we're too busy arguing with each other and plotting coups (and getting drunk). So to help fix that, we're spotlighting 2 games each week in December, giving us time to just chill and shoot the breeze about some of our favourite games of the year, without the pressure of trying to force a vote before one of us passes out at our desks or run the risk of going so long that we cant post the episode on Spotify (yes, its possible, we've done it). This week, the games on the docket are Cocoon and Chants of Sennaar. Tune in and find out what we thought, and why we think they were something special this year.  

The gang has clearly learned nothing from last week, because they left Ben and Tim unsupervised, AGAIN. At this point they really can't be held responsible for what happens.   Beer Discussed: Biere De Garde - Boxing Rock Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout - Muskoka Brewing Leviathan Triple IPA - Propeller Brewing Co

Someone left Ben and Tim unsupervised around the mics again, and wouldn't you know it those scamps have gone and recorded a podcast episode. They also somehow managed a conversational leap from the Game Awards to signing a pact to watch two of the saddest movies on the planet together. They're still not sure how that happened exactly so you'll just have to listen and find out so you can tell them over at bit.ly/hoppedupdiscord! Beer This Week: Galaxy - Propeller Brewing Co. (GEE WHAT A SHOCKER, TIM) Lindemans Raspberry/Cherry Lambics

Ben finally snapped and kidnapped all of his friends and forced them to play Baldur's Gate 3 with him. He's not a total monster though, he allowed them to take a break... and then forced them to use that break to record this week's podcast episode! They all told him they had a real fun time though so I'm sure it's fine.

Now officially graduated from Slasher School, the gang collectively takes a beat to put their feet up and shoot the breeze with a Regular Show about all of the things they've been playing. Evan finally puts Starfield to bed, Ben and Tim talk Star Trek games both new and old, and the whole gang has gone to a deep dark place with Alan Wake 2.   Featured Beer: Space Puffin - Banished Brewing Tim's IPA - Big Spruce

In the blood curdling final session of Slasher School, Tim serves up a double header of Wes Craven meta-slashers with New Nightmare and Scream. It's a mind bending ride that's full of ups and downs and unexpected twists, including a surprise appearance from... Chad Kreuger?  You may need to see it to believe it, so go ahed and hop on into our discord at bit.ly/hoppedupdiscord, we have such sights to show you! Match of the Batch Theme: "What's Wes Cravin'?"

Classes are back in session as Professor Tim serves up another killer selection of required viewings, this time it's Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives followed by Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. Will Ben, Dylan, and Evan survive another session of Slasher School? You'll have to tune in to find out! For next week, Slasher School goes meta! Our homework for the final episode will be a Wes Craven double header, Wes Craven's New Nightmare, and Scream!

Professor Tim takes the gang to Slasher School and teaches the gang what makes slasher movies tick and why he likes them so much. On the syllabus this week, Halloween (1978) and Friday the 13th, two of the most seminal flicks to the genre. We're also doing special Match of the Batch contests for each Slasher School, this week's prompt was "Behind the Mask". If you wanna follow along, next week's readings are A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives! 

Now that our vacation in Silent Hill is over, the gang gets back together for a good old fashioned Regular Show (TM) and shoots the breeze about what they've been playing and watching over last month or so. We also have surprise guest appear just in time for Tim to tell us what dastardly plans he has for us this month. Topics Discussed (roughly in order of appearance): Ahsoka Talk To Me Gen V Mortal Kombat 1 Cocoon Chants of Sennaar Blasphemous 2 Lies of P Sea of Stars Starfield Goodbye Volcano High Alan Wake

Our journey through Silent Hill 2 ends this week, as we have finally run out of holes/graves/sideways hallways to jump down. Join Evan, Tim, and Ben as they comiserate, gush over, and speculate on the stunning conclusion to this 2001 classic and how Bloober Team might adapt it in the upcoming remake.

The gang are hunkered down in the dirtiest hospital around and shepherding their terminally stupid patient into a spooky... afterlife? Purgatory? Mental breakdown? All of the above? Evan gathers Ben and Tim around the microphones for Part 2 into our book club of Silent Hill 2!

Spooky season starts a little early for the HUGE Crew, as Evan leads the gang in a seance to commune with the long dead game of Silent Hill 2! Tim has played it before, but its a whole new nightmare for Ben, who's visiting the town of Silent Hill for the first time. Does the game hold up? Will our heroes be forever lost in a dense, render-obscuring fog? Crank up your radios and watch out for static as our guided tour of perhaps the most haunted town in video games begins!