Kotaku Splitscreen

This week we're talking survival games, from Oregon Trail to Valheim. First, we go on a journey through the history of survival video games. Then, we talk about the sh*t that annoys us most about survival games (spoiler: it's the actual sh*t). And finally, Nathan and special guest video game journalist John Walker convince Ash why she should to start playing Valheim.

This week we're talking video game movies starting with one of the most infamous, of course, 1993's Super Mario Bros. Then, special guest journalist/comedian Brock Wilbur takes us through the weird-but-real history of infamous movie producer Uwe Boll, most known for video game movies like Alone in the Dark, Postal, and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. And finally, we wrap with a discussion of how, miraculously, video game movies seem to be improving.

This week we're tearing into our bosses—video game bosses of course. First, we kick things off by reviewing a few boss origin stories. Then, we discuss the best and worst video game bosses in great detail. And finally, we grill our former boss (and special guest), the one and only Stephen Totilo.

We're talking video game romances this week on Kotaku Splitscreen. First, Ashley fulfills her life-long dream of discussing the best and worst of BioWare romances. Then, the team collaborates on their dream dating sim. (It's a bit unconventional.) And finally, we're joined by game designer and Twitch streamer Nina Freeman (twitch.tv/ninamarie), designer of Cibele—a game about love, sex, and the internet. Listen to hear Nina and Fahey discuss some of their gaming romances from years past.

We had to do it. How could we not talk about GameStop this week? First, Ash leads us down memory lane by getting all of us to reminisce about our most salient times at the good ol' gaming store. Then, we discuss our own experiences of working in brick and mortar gaming stores, from GameStop to FYE (anyone remember FYE??). And finally, we're joined by Kotaku staff writer Ethan Gach about his reporting on the GameStop Wallstreet fiasco.

This week we're talking about licensed games. That's right, we're looking at your Star Wars, James Bond, and all those Disney games. First, Nathan regales us with the story of one particularly bad licensed game that led to the video game crash of '83. Then, Fahey leads us through the history of licensed video games from the beginning to the present day. And finally, Ash walks us through which licensed games are in the headlines these days.

Yes, it's true. We're talking about presidents this week on Splitscreen. (How topical!) First, Fahey stumps Ash and Nathan on a presidential quiz (that spans both video game and real-life presidents). Spoiler alert: we know nothing about presidents. Then, we talk about the best and worst video game presidents. And finally, we wrap with a discussion on video game governance.

This week we dive into the weird world of video game twists, and spoiler alert: there WILL be spoilers. First Ash leads us in a discussion on the controversy of spoilers in the gaming world. Then, Nathan takes us through a speed run on the history of the MGS2 twist. And finally, Fahey quizzes us on the most memorable video game twists via bullet points.

Happy New Year! This week on Splitscreen we're sharing our 2021 gaming resolutions, discussing our most anticipated (or hoped-for) games of the year, and our gaming predictions.

For our first episode of the new and rebooted Splitscreen we’re discussing...wait for it...reboots! Join us as we chat about the difference between a reboot and a remaster, argue about which of our favorite reboots is the best, and Nathan holds us all hostage as he obsesses over the 2012 remake of the Atari hit SpyHunter.

Happy Holidays, Splitscreeners! This week, to be somewhat on theme with the time of year, we're talking all things ice levels. First Fahey kicks us off by talking about the (supposed) very first ice level to show up in a video game, then we discuss our very favorite and our most-hated ice levels in video games. Finally, we wrap up with an interview with Derek Yu, creator of Spelunky, to talk to him about what gives with the ice levels!

This week we're talking about the disaster that is video game award shows. To kick things off, Nathan runs us through the brief (and odd) history of video game award shows. Then, despite ourselves, we present the very first Splitscreen Awards. And finally, we finish with a crosstalk segment in which we continue to dive into why video game awards are meaningless.

Yes, we caved. There's no way we couldn't talk about Cyberpunk 2077 this week, and who better to talk with us about it than Kotaku's editor-at-large Riley MacLeod? First, we jump straight to the junk of Cyberpunk's character creator with a segment called That's a Good-Looking Penis. Then, Nathan and Riley answer Fahey and Ash's questions about the nature of the much-hyped game. And finally, we round out the episode was some interesting cybertalk.

This week we're exploring the nature of hype. Is it actually that helpful? When does it help vs. harm? First, Nathan guides us through video game hype history. Then, Ashley takes us through a new segment called Whyberpunk 2077, in which we talk about about the machinery of hype for games and how it may or may not be effective. Finally, Fahey walks us through instances of hype gone wrong.

Many dads enter...the same amount of dads leave feeling a little bit worse about their performance as fathers. In this special Thanksgiving edition of Kotaku's Splitscreen, we enter The Fatherdome! Listen in as we discuss the best found families in video games and what gaming is like within each of our own, real, meatier familial units. And brace yourself as we definitively rank who the best and worst video game dads are in: The Fatherdome!

We're diving into sequels this week—and what makes something a sequel vs. a remake, remaster, or reboot? First, Ash gets everyone's hot takes on sequels (Assassin's Creed anyone?), then Fahey has us imagine a world in which Pong was the only video game ever made. Finally, Nathan leads us through a conversation on the changing nature of sequels in the gaming world.

This week we're diving into the topic of TIME. First, Fahey leads us in an exploration of the games that utilize time manipulation mechanics. Then, Nathan walks us through the history of the video game holiday season madness. And finally Ash closes us out with a crosstalk segment on the video games that do, and do not, respect our time.

As we get closer to the launch of the new Xbox and PlayStation consoles, this week’s Splitscreen dives into the topic of generations. Listen as we each explain our favorite console generation. We’ll ask our resident console expert Mike Fahey all our burning questions about the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Finally, we’ll get into a lively discussion about what to expect for the next generation of consoles, or if they’ll be consoles in the future at all.

This week, Splitscreen gets spooky discussing our fears, phobias, and things that are just plain creepy. We wonder: what happens when you lock Sam Fisher, Crash Bandicoot, Gordon Freeman, Zelda, and more in a cabin in the woods? And finally, we talk about what makes a video game Halloween event truly special in this All Hallow’s Eve edition of Splitscreen.

We're getting into the weeds of character creators this week. Fahey leads us in a bulleted conversation about the most and least important feature choices, Ash asks the team about the character creations we're most proud of, and lastly Nathan gets into the latest character creator drama in the headlines.