Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for video games. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In our flagship FFIX episode Chris @zombiepie -REDACTED- and Gino are joined by the Deep Listens co-hosts Billy and Pete to discuss the first disc of FFIX. Billy lists some very specific issues with FFIX's active time battle system, ZP lays into Tetra Master, and Pete hates on the twee aesthetic as Gino stews in the corner while trying to keep everyone on board. We discuss everything from the slow opening to the somber scenes at the end of Burmecia. Hopefully the non-Gino portions of the cast get more on board once we get to disc 2... they have to, right? Right? Please?
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for video games. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this episode we are joined once again by John Krisch to discuss Furi, a recently-released, brutally-difficult, action game. We discuss the game's skillful blending of various twitch gaming styles and it's well beautiful level and character designs. After praising the game's aesthetics, Gino launches several complaints about the modern school of "hard but fair" game design. Billy and John take turns defending the game's difficulty against Gino's passionate disdain and Pete's precise critiques. We finish up our discussion by focusing in on the game's story and its use of multiple endings.
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for video games. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
What the fuck even is that?
In the grand Final-e of our Final Fantasy VII discussion Gino and Chris @zombiepie -REDACTED- close the book on FFVII. We discuss the end of the game's story from the underwater Mako reactor to the game's final cutscene. We also dive deep into a bunch of the game's side quests including the chocobo racing minigame, the Ancient Forest, and the Battle Square. We also cover the utter destruction of the game's combat system that is Knights of the Round, Quad Magic, and Mime. Near the end of the show ZP has some special shout-outs for some of the minigame design team members. We finish up by arduously determining which of the two FF game's we've played is the best FF game ever and which is the worst. Who wins: FFVII or FFVIII? Yuffie or Selphie? Buster swords or gunblades?
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this episode of Deep Listens we discuss Inside and it's potential capitalist, mutualist, and surrealist undertones. We quickly cover the game's mechanics before delving into the game's minimalist storytelling and how it conveys so many potential messages through art and mechanical design. And boy, do we have a lot to say about the game's ending...
Wait, if Sephiroth is here, who the fuck were all of those other Sephiroths? Is Sephiroth a name or a title? Like if you're a really good Jenova baby, do you get promoted to Sephiroth?
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for video games. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this fever vision of an episode, Chris @zombiepie -REDACTED- and Gino discuss most of disc 2 of Final Fantasy VII. ZP rants about the disc's terrible opening levels, nonsensical story, and obscure side-content. Gino tries in vain to provide some larger context. In the end, no one is entirely satisfied. But then again, this is Final Fantasy VII. Enjoy a podcast full of nitpicks, awe, and disappointment. We explicitly discuss the ice levels, the Northern Cave, Snowboarding, Cloud's moment of doubt, the hunt for huge materia, Cloud's mental recovery, and Zack.
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
I mean, just look at this frickin' guy!
This week we locked Billy in a bunker for his own safety to avoid prolonged exposure to the fun and addictive Overwatch. John Krisch fills in the empty chair and joins our regular hosts to discuss Overwatch's characters, game modes, and "story". After covering the ways Overwach tweaks typical multiplayer FPS conventions, we discuss whether the game's diverse cast skews towards focus-tested pandering or "authentic" representation (like most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle). We finish up by discussing the game's monetization scheme and Gino rants about his disdain for Reaper ult plays of the game.
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this episode of Deep Listens, we are joined by video game composer and mix master @2mello to discuss his work and his views on music. We discuss how Mello became a composer for indie games, what his creative process has looked like for each of his projects, and how his role on each of his projects evolved over time. Then Mello discusses how he actually produced or found the sounds he used for the soundtrack of Read Only Memories. We eventually pivot to Mello's much beloved remix alums. Billy and Gino dive deep into some of their favorite albums, Chrono Jigga and Nastlevania with the maestro himself. We finish up some advice from Mello to aspiring composers and a round of rapid fire questions.
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this episode of Deep Listens we are joined by special guest and Firewatch apologist, Jim Oliver in order to talk about Firewatch. Throughout the show Pete throws a ton of shade at Firewatch's story and takes issue with several of the narrative swings in the game. Billy gushes about his appreciation for Firewatch's more grounded narrative. And Gino attempts to split the difference between Pete's hatred and Billy's enthusiasm. This episode is chalk full of Firewatch spoilers so look forward to some of the most in-depth Firewatch discussion around!
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
In this episode we recount some of the events of Gino's nerdy bachelor party. We discuss playing games in a car on a road trip and what types of games make for great road trip games. Billy talks a lot of shit about Final Fantasy IX, despite barely playing the game. We also talk about barcades, vape clouds, and proper gaming etiquette. We close the podcast up with stories of mini-golf chicanery and mid-flight heroism.
Deep Listens is a gaming podcast series I'm recording with a few of my friends. Every two weeks we pick and play a new game and then discuss it from a literary, philosophical, and game design perspective. Its kind of like a book club for videogames. We try to dig as deep as we can on an individual game every episode so check it out!
PARCOUR IS A MARTIAL ART!
In part one of our discussion of Mirror's Edge, we talk about the game's mechanics, soundtrack, and artistic design. We cover how the game controls, how much we enjoyed the game's rooftop runs, and how much we disliked the game's combat. We also delve into our issues with some of the mechanics in the game's later levels.
In part two of our Mirror's Edge discussion we spoil the heck out of the story and dig into the game's larger themes. Pete poses a question about the game's genre and steers us down a lane of comparisons which includes Sonic the Hedgehog and Prince of Persia. Gino claims that Mirror's Edge might be the most 2008 game ever. And Billy breaks down some of the features that didn't make the game's final cut.
FYI, our next game will be Firewatch, so look forward to that!
Log in to comment