Wardcast

With 2020 solidly in the rearview, we embrace 2021 and everything that comes with it: Hollywood cannibals, bean dads, Alex’s addiction to segues, and our yearly discussion about The Game Awards. But that’s not all! We also take the time to discuss the One-Winged Angel coming to Smash, the rebirth of Lucasfilm Games, and the Cyberpunk 2077 saga of labor issues, problematic representation, and unstable software. Games include Monster Hunter Rise, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Cyberpunk 2077, and Doom Eternal. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

After a long and arduous year, we’ve finally made it to Best Games Played! We simplified and streamlined to make our end-of-the-year recording responsibilities a little simpler, and as such, we still got some games to discuss before we get to the final countdown: talking PlayStation 5 ownership and a new world of haptic feedback, who will be the Lord of the Sweetieflies on Snaktooth Island, one final update to Blaseball, and so much more. So join us for the final journey of 2020 as we sojourn through our Best Games Played awards and sail into 2021! Games include Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Bugsnax, Blaseball, Ghost of Tsushima, Astro’s Playroom, Forza Horizon 4, Phasmophobia, Superliminal, Star Wars: Squadrons, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Demon’s Souls, Ring Fit Adventure, Titanfall 2, Deep Rock Galactic, and The Last of Us Part II. Awards include Greatest Debates, Warmest Neighborhood, Oddest Ball, Best Game Show, Boldest Myth, Best Archive, Best Playground

With two Smashers down and four left to go for the seemingly final DLC pack of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Dylan, Alex, and Nelson gather together to debate and discuss who will be lucky enough to ascend to such vaunted a station. Theories abound: maybe another Microsoft representative, maybe a yet-to-be-fully-acknowledged Nintendo rival, or maybe someone from the company’s retro past? Who’s to say! We consider the realistic, the reaching, and the ramshackle possibilities on this, our second round of the Smash Ultimate Prediction Pool. Games include The Wonderful 101: Remastered. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

As we roll through the sleepy days of autumn, the games industry continues to keep us on our toes. First up, we have multiple video game movies to contend with, with the release of the first full Monster Hunter trailer and the first photos of Tom Holland as Nathan Drake. But autumn means one other thing: that’s right, it’s spooky season! So we contend with games both scary and macabre as we ponder the nature of consciousness in SOMA, fend off Mr. X in Resident Evil 2, investigate a murder in Paradise Killers, and explore the afterlife in I Am Dead. And once we’re done spooking ourselves through games, there are other horrors to contend with: Facebook’s total absorption of Oculus, lackluster Mario Royale successors, Steve losing his meat, content creators paying license fees to play games, and the American election. Games include SOMA, Resident Evil 2, Genshin Impact, Paradise Killer, I Am Dead, Disc Room, Star Wars Squadrons, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Mario Bros. 35, Soviet Jump Game, Super Smash Bros.

Wedding bells are ringing out on the Wardcast, as two of our hosts prepare for holy matrimony, but before they can spend life eternal with their significant others, they have to take their vows: Do you, Alex, take this Breath of the Wild gacha game, in good rolls and in bad, to be a decent enough successor to the seminal Zelda game? To valiantly defend Super Mario 64 even though it may not be the best entry in 3D All-Stars, and to always find Project Winter to be vastly superior to Among Us? And do you, Nelson, promise to always ensure that we have a five-stack in Valorant, whether in competitive or unranked? To always find Zagreus in Hades drop-dead sexy, and to find Final Fantasy VII Remake a frustratingly lacking game, as long as it is sold on shelves? Games include Genshin Impact, Valorant, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Hades, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Among Us, Project Winter, and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at conta

It’s a powdery fresh Wardcast as Dylan, Nelson, and Alex discuss the ever-changing gaming landscape. We got acquisitions galore as Red Ventures steps in to acquire CNET Media and all its associated brands while Microsoft makes a big play by purchasing Bethesda parent Zenimax Media for a whopping $7.5 billion. All the while, the next gen of consoles hangs heavy on the horizon, as we discuss the rise of the prosumers, question the point of 4K, and wonder who the heck is buying a console this holiday, anyways? Games include The Sims 4, Wide Ocean Big Jacket, Night in the Woods, Boku no Natsuyasumi, Disco Elysium, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

This week on the Wardcast, Dylan and Nelson are joined by Abby Russell, content producer at Giant Bomb! The duo talks to Abby about her work at the site, including the balancing act of being an informer, entertainer, and a (sometimes) critic of games, as well as understanding the parasocial relationship between herself and the audience. We also tackle the big questions: is the state of Virginia technically in “the South”? And who are video games’ hottest characters? Games include The Sims 4, Fortnite, Titanfall 2, and Marvel’s Avengers. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

For the inaugural PAX Online, we join together with our friends and colleagues to talk about acquiring funding for your indie game! Joining Dylan for this discussion is Finji’s Bekah Saltsman, Kickstarter’s Anya Combs, Kowloon Nights’ Callum Underwood, and Devolver Digital’s Nigel Lowrie! The gang discusses everything about funding partners, including what to have prepared for your preliminary meeting with a potential partner, what your expectations should be for your first collaboration, and more! From the panel description: Finding funding for your game’s development can sometimes feel like a forbidden art — discussed only in hushed tones in hidden rooms. We’re here to demystify that search and equip you with the knowledge and preparation needed to approach a financial stakeholder — whether it’s a publisher, a crowdfunding platform, a funding collective, or some alternate partnership. Listen in on this discussion between publishers, crowdfunding representatives, and other industry professionals about the in

It’s a two man show this episode as Dylan and Nelson sit down to talk about a handful of games, coincidentally all starring the same voice actors. We follow up with Nelson’s foreshadowing last episode about how he might not like Marvel’s Avengers, only to discover that he, in fact, does not like Marvel’s Avengers! And Dylan finally played The Last of Us and leads us through a discussion on how the game holds up seven years on, especially in comparison with the release of Part II. Games include Marvel’s Avengers, The Last of Us Remastered, Fall Guys, and The Last of Us Part II. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Our third and final attempt at catching up has us discussing games, games, games! It’s a whirlwind tour of all sorts of games — web games, AAA games, and… weird, corrupted fan games? We also double up on two entries in two different franchises, as we jump between Hell and a world of assassination. It’s all this and more in our quarantine catch-up! Games include Blaseball, Mario Royale, Doom, Doom Eternal, Hitman, Hitman 2, Valorant, Pottergame, and Marvel’s Avengers. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We continue to catch up on the endless Summer of Games™! We find out that the gamers are unwell, as they deal with a Nintendo leak of gigantic proportions, debating dedicated hardware versus emulation, and melting down over Halo Infinite’s alleged graphical “downgrade.” Also to contend with this episode: Pokémon teeth, an upsetting amount of Star Wars, MCU-ified M.O.D.O.K., and, unfortunately, more misconduct in the games industry — content warning for sexism, racism, and abuse — this time at Ubisoft. Games include Apex Legends, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Devolverland Expo, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Phantasy Star Online 2. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We collect virtually for the first time since the pandemic started to record our longest podcast to date, and for good reason: in lieu of E3 happening this year, we instead have to contend with an eternal summer of announcements. And in the final quarter of this episode, we discuss the ongoing allegations of abuse in the industry — content warning for discussions of sexual abuse and sexual assault — along with the failure of the industry to protect victims and oust abusers. Games include Tabletop Simulator, Just One, Wits & Wagers, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, Dépanneur Nocturne, Knuckles’ Chaotix, Spellbreak, Hitman, and Hitman 2. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Josh Boykin — founder of gaming community Intelligame — joins the show to talk about the intersectionality of games and society. Josh discusses the unique way he streams games for the site, balancing gameplay with thoughtful discussions with the chat, as well as the different lenses we use to critically discuss games — commercial, technical, artistic, social, and more. Meanwhile, The Last of Us Part II release is making waves about storytelling in AAA — we reexamine the struggles of ludonarrative dissonance and its less spoken off compliments ludonarrative resonance and ludonarrative harmony and how gaming’s attempt to escape this constraint is reflective of society striving for something better. And we cap things off with last month’s Wholesome Direct and Josh’s role in bringing the showcase to life! Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Emma Kinema, organizer for CODE-CWA and co-founder of Game Workers Unite, joins Dylan for a wide-ranging discussion on organizing workplaces in games, tech, and beyond. We talk about organizing in light of COVID-19, finding where workers draw power, the importance of solidarity, and challenging the old wives’ tales used to suppress worker wages. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

Recorded before we got the inevitable news of E3 2020’s cancellation, we hunker down to discuss the impacts the coronavirus has had on the gaming world and beyond. We also chat about Georgian caped crusaders, a wonderful kickstarter that recently happened, the end of our devil’s hunt, and a one-of-a-kind console prototype that sold for a little less than expected. Games include Halo: The Master Chief Collection, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cave Story+, Labyrinth, and Soko Loco Express. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

We crack open the Wardcast time capsule to bring you an episode postdated January 25th, 2020, that had us conducting a then-punctual discussion about the Oscars, games, and the gaming news of the preceding months that occurred while we were otherwise preoccupied. We (hopefully) close the book on Death Stranding, take a look at Half-Life: Alyx, try to figure out what happened at The Game Awards, discover some hot ‘sclusies on C-SPAN, and discuss the onslaught of a new console generation. Games include Death Stranding, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

An impromptu addition to our schedule at PAX East has Dylan moderating a panel about publishing and crowdfunding with several friends from the industry. Joining Dylan back in the Bobcat Theatre are Finji CEO Bekah Saltsman, Kickstarter’s Director of Games Anya Combs, Lay Waste Games’ Co-Owner Jon Ritter, and Soft Serve Games’ Chris Wulf. We discuss the dos and don’ts about getting outside help to make your game, including how to approach publishers, what you should have prepared when you’re asking for funding, and some tips for running a successful Kickstarter. We also get a surprise game industry announcement near the end of the panel. From the panel description: Are you thinking about making a game in the next year? Have you already made a game and simply don’t know what to do next? Crowdfunding and [p]ublishing can be a great [way] to get your game out there, but the process does not begin when you launch a campaign or approach a publisher. There is work to be done before, during, and after to ensure you g

We deploy a parachute full of pants to land squarely in the Bobcat Theatre to celebrate the tenth Hidden Gems panel! Joining Dylan for this momentous occasion is producer Felix Kramer, community developer Jenny Windom, and League of Heels announcer Pat Baer. Listen in as we uncover the secrets and surprises from PAX East 2020, and follow along with the panel slides here. From the panel description: As the cold winter winds blow outside, you venture indoors to warm yourself at PAX’s hearth. Inside, you find a treasure trove of games ready to be played, but there are so many to see, where do you start? That’s where we step in: if you’re looking for secrets and surprises from the show floor, there’s no better place to hear about them than at Hidden Gems! Join us as we gather folks from across the games industry to showcase games and experiences that you won’t want to miss. Games include Sludge Life, Kana Quest, Ambition: A Minuet of Power, Mini Maker, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Floppy Knights, Overpass, She Dream

For our third year at PAX South, we’ve brought together some Hidden Gems veterans to retake the stage at the Cactus Theatre. Joining Dylan Ilvento are compatriots Harris Foster, Rami Ismail, Anya Combs, and Victoria Caña. Follow along with the panel slides here. From the panel description: Welcome to PAX, a virtual cornucopia of games and wonderment! If you’re looking for secrets and surprises from the show floor, there’s no better place to hear about them than at Hidden Gems! Join us as we explore all PAX has to offer and select for you a handful of curated pieces that you’ll want to check out while you’re here. Games include Garden Story, Bill Hates Video Games, Calico, The Artful Escape, Infernax, Speaking Simulator, All Hams on Deck, From Rust, Fire Tower, Foregone, Magequit, Boyfriend Dungeon, and Just Shapes and Beats. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!

As part of MAGFest’s Music and Gaming Education Symposium, Dylan invited Anya Combs and Sam Eng for a discussion about the trials and tribulations of working in the game industry. We talk about how we got started in the industry, difficult patches we’ve hit, and how we’ve grown from those experiences. Feel free to follow along with the panel slides. From the panel description: Discussions about ‘breaking into’ the games industry are well worn territory. There’s plenty of information out there already about networking, upskilling, and other common topics. But let’s say you’re already doing all of that and you’re still finding it hard getting your big break. What do you do when the going gets tough? Join us for a roundtable discussion with members from the games industry to talk about how they tackled personal challenges on their journeys to get where they are today. Got a question for the show? Join us on Discord at ward-games.com/discord or email us at contact@ward-games.com!