So Many Bits

With Panzer Paladin's official launch tomorrow, I checked back in with Tribute Games to talk with game / level designer Fred Gemus! We discuss the game's sophisticated weapon system, how to pace an action game, and his 3 (3!) complete system libraries he's collected.Meanwhile, Bill might have been mistaken about how much video games appear in this episode, but that doesn't stop him and Di Billick from checking out Neon Genesis Evangelion for Screenwatching!Screenwatching: Neon Genesis Evangelion (2:48)Interview: Fred Gemus (16:34)

Time for a check-in on what games Bill and Shelby have been playing lately! You'll hear about the Isle of Armor expansion to Pokemon Sword / Shield, Waltz of the Wizard, Vice Project Doom, Wild Arms, Steamworld Heist, and Rock Band 4!

Sometimes a game is a cartridge. Sometimes a game is a disc. Sometimes a game is a paper shredder, or five people with buttons on their chest. For the latter two, I've spoken with Alistair Aitcheson about his work on The Book Ritual, his multiple live theater shows that integrate video games, and more!Meanwhlie, Shelby Mongan returns to chat the mid-00's tween Nickelodeon show iCarly!Screenwatching: iCarly (2:05)Interview: Alistair Aitcheson (39:55)

The recent release of the Turbo-Grafx 16 Mini has rekindled Bill and Cliff's nostalgia for their childhood gaming system! They talk through their early gaming memories, some games to try out (even if they're not in English!), and some games to avoid. Johnny Turbo would be proud!

Starting back in 2012, the Indie MEGABOOTH has given a diverse group of indie game devs a platform to show off their work until recently going on hiatus. This week Bill talks with the founder Kelly Wallick about the early days of the booth, curating hundreds of applicants, and the challenges of setting up shop all around the world!Meanwhile, Brandon Shockney is back on to talk about the classic Batman: The Animated Series for Screenwatching!Screenwatching: Batman: The Animated Series (1:47)Interview: Kelly Wallick (31:43)Bill's Magic Minute (1:07:13)

We're back to talk about more games we've been playing! Brandon Shockney and Bill discuss Persona 5 Royal, Splatoon 2, Monster Prom, Rocket League, Skribbl.io, and Final Fantasy VI!

This week Bill welcomes Bennett Tyler of Bomb Shelter games to talk about his team's upcoming game Depths of Sanity. They talk about innovating within the Metroidvania genre, how to set a game 8,000 feet underwater, and the bond he and his teammates share through online gaming.  Meanwhile, Cliff Murphy stops by to explore the obscure animated sitcom Mission Hill for this week's Screenwatching!Screenwatching: Mission Hill (2:27)Interview: Bennett Tyler (33:25)Bill's Magic Minute (1:12:35)

Just a quick update, So Many Bits will return1

Stopping by with more games we've been playing! Cliff Murphy and I talk about Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ratchet and Clank (2016), Call of Duty Modern Warfare Warzone, and Resident Evil 3.

If it really is the "final" fantasy, is there really need for a remake? Di Billick, Eric Garneau, and Bill have decided the answer is "yes", and they've gone and talked about everything they love about this recent release. We're talking about everything to do with both the original and the new hotness, so spoilers abound!

No, I didn't leave off a letter. This week Di and I will be talking one game only: Final Fantasy VII Remake. Check out our NON-SPOILER discussion of the game and what we like / don't like about it, and keep an eye out for a SPOILER discussion coming next week!

We Should Talk is perhaps the most sophisticated and granular look at dialogue in gaming out there, and this week Bill, Carol Mertz, and Jordan Jones-Brewster, discuss the game, their work on the Pixel Pop Festival, and their go-to duet karaoke song!Meanwhile, Di Billick is back and allows Bill to shoehorn one of his favorite shows into Screenwatching!Screenwatching: Cowboy Bebop (1:12)Interview: Carol Mertz + Jordan Jones Brewster (30:22)Bill's Magic Minute (1:02:04)

Shelby returns to the podcast to talk about the games we've been playing! We cover Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Human Fall Flat, Beat Saber, Ringfit Adventure DLC, Murder By Numbers, Persona 3 / 5 Dancing by ___light, and Super Mario RPG!

Reconnecting the isolated fruits of a a village (or an orchard?), Garden Story's charm is embodied in Rose City Game's Community Manager Jenny Windom. In this week's interview we discuss the Portland indie gaming scene, working from home, and the inimitable Broccowilli Broccolewis.Meanwhile, Shelby Mongan returns to bang the gavel in Screenwatching to discuss Law and Order: SVU! (Content warning for description of sexually oriented crimes.)Screenwatching: Law and Order SVU (5:09)Interview: Jenny Windom (50:05)

Brandon returns this week to talk about his time with Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Afterparty, while Bill talks Bury Me, My Love and Return of the Obra Dinn. Plus they've both been playing the Final Fantasy VII Remake demo and Man of Medan and are comparing notes!

Flying power disc action returns! The Neo Geo cult classic will finally receive a well-deserved sequel soon, and DotEmu Game Designer Jordi Ascensio is on this week to discuss the game's history, new additions, and improving on what he considers a perfect game!Meanwhile, Brandon Shockney is back on to discuss the brand new Apple TV show Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet on Screenwatching!Screenwatching: Mythic Quest Raven's Banquet (1:57)Interview: Jordi Ascencio (23:08)

Due to a technical hiccup we're skipping a week of So Many Bits, but I wanted to offer some real quick tips for gaming on the cheap, so give a quick listen. Be back next Monday for a new interview!

Back with Part 2 of my trip to PAX: demos, Magic, GDQ, and more interviews!David and Sophie of Fishing Cactus (Nanotale) - 4:07Rita Lebedeva of Hypetrain Digital (Tunche) - 10:35Michael Hermann of Retrosoft Studios (Retromania Wrestling) - 15:28Mark Laframboise of Lightning Rod Games (A Fold Apart) - 23:31Emi Spicer of Casa Rara Studio (Mini Maker Good Enough!) - 28:26Frederic Gemus of Tribute Games (Panzer Paladin) - 41:18Andrew Shouldice (Tunic) - 48:05

So they're finally here, interviewing for youBill says the words, and the guests do tooPut your hands together, if you want to clapAs we take you through this PAX recap!Part 1Part 1's herePart 2Part 2 next MondayErik Johnson of Vertigo Gaming (Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!) - 2:30Hugo Vaz of Behold Studios (Out of Space) - 11:14Andrew Brophy (Knuckle Sandwich) - 16:03Jaycee Salinas of Ask An Enemy Studios (A Duel Hand Disaster: Tracker) - 24:07Bennett Tyler of Bomb Shelter Games (Depths of Sanity) - 30:41Jorge Garcia of Mecha Studios (Neon City Riders) - 35:01Francesca Carletto-Leon of Contigo Games (StarCrossed) - 43:10Taylor Miller of Team D-13 (Monolith) - 51:03

A few new games to play this week: Di is grinding on slimes in Dragon Quest XI, while Bill explores group dynamics and mysteries with Zanki Zero: Last Beginning and The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan!