Shows
Some Patches RequiredAshley Ruhl Interview: Regarding Romance and Game NarrativeThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat with Ashley Ruhl, the Narrative Director at Broadsword Online Games, currently in charge of Star Wars: The Old Republic! She was kind enough to tell us a little bit about her role working on SWTOR before moving on to the... ahem, meat of the conversation: romance! Specifically, romance in video games, how it can be approached thoughtfully, and where we'd like to see it go in the future.Please, enjoy.Check out Ashley's recommended reading!Digital L...
2026-02-181h 27
Some Patches RequiredHighguard: A Golden Marketing Opportunity Turned SourThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss yet another curious case of misguided marketing — this time with fewer questionable hats. Highguard, which secured the headlining spot at The Game Awards 2025 thanks to Geoff Keighley's personal fondness for the title, launched last week to overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam and a rapidly dwindling player count. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Does the game deserve all of this hate, and will it ever be able to overcome it? Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify...
2026-02-041h 03
Some Patches RequiredSplitgate: A PR CatastropheThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss how a series of PR... er, let's call them "miscalculations," arguably torpedoed Splitgate: Arena Reloaded (formerly Splitgate 2) before it even had a chance. This story has it all: politically-charged headware choices, petty Twitter arguments, $100 million investments, off-putting apology videos, and much, much more!Please, enjoy.Sources:Splitgate 2 Live Service Relaunches, Immediately Dies A Second Time…Splitgate Dev Insists Steam Charts Aren't Important As Player Numbers Plummet…This CEO Burned $500k To Humiliate His Own GameI’ve Nev...
2026-01-211h 05
Some Patches RequiredNetflix: The Fate of Warner Bros.This week, Zak and Aaron are back in hell to discuss the pending acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix. They touch on what the merger could mean for the future of movie theaters before diving into the main topic at hand: the fate of WB Games and its treasure trove of IP. Spoiler alert: things are looking bleak.Please, enjoy.P.S. Aaron recorded a portion of this episode while holding a sick pupper, so if you hear any coughing, please be kind to Louie.
2026-01-071h 05
Some Patches RequiredSteam Machine: Disruptive Force or Niche Hardware?This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss Valve's new, ambitious hardware plans, especially the announcement's headliner: the brand-new Steam Machine. With the form-factor and convenience of a console and the hardware heft of a gaming PC, the cutely nicknamed "Gabe Cube" seems poised to disrupt the market as we know it... but will it? A better question may be, is it even meant to?Please, enjoy.Episode References:Linus Tech Tips - The STEAM Machine Won't Cost What You ThinkYongYea: Valve Drop Moe Hints On Machine Price, And...
2025-12-031h 07
Some Patches RequiredDispatch: The Smash Hit Publishers Wouldn't TouchThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about another (increasingly rare) industry success story: the brand-new Telltale-style adventure Dispatch! How, despite facing doubt from publishers over the game's fairly niche genre and episodic release structure, did AdHoc Studio's debut title release to rousing numbers and enviable review scores? Only one way to find out...Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-11-191h 17
Some Patches RequiredEA Buyout: What Happens to Your Favorite IP Now?This week, Zak and Aaron finally get around to discussing one of the most significant events in the recent history of the games industry — the $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts by a consortium of private investors, including the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, among others.In addition to running through the myriad issues tied to such politically troubling hands meddling with one of the world's largest publishers, there is one significant question at hand: what happens to the veritable mountain of IP under EA's control?Please, enjoy....
2025-11-051h 04
Some Patches RequiredChris Knight Interview: Crafting a Career in 2D ArtThis week, Zak and Aaron are delighted to present a conversation with Chris Knight, a 2D artist based in Austin, TX. Chris was kind enough to share some insights from his career, some funny (and not-so-funny) stories, and his frank opinion on what it takes to succeed in the games industry – especially in an incredibly crowded field.Please, enjoy.Check Out Chris' ArtStation!Take a Look at PolyCarp!Have a Gander at Good Knight Art!Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify
2025-10-221h 35
Some Patches RequiredGame Pass: Higher Price, Lower ValueThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk about Xbox GamePass' recent price increase... again! That's right, the fabled "best value in gaming" just saw a 50% jump in cost, barely a year after the last jump. What's more, there's a compelling argument to be made that the subscription service is actually removing value for players rather than adding it to compensate for the increased asking price.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-10-0800 min
Some Patches RequiredSilksong: The Power of Lean Game DevelopmentThis week, Zak and Aaron... actually have something positive to talk about for once! Namely, the predictably smashing release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which, after nearly a decade in development, launched to platform-crashing numbers and fairly rapturous praise.On top of celebrating an indie success story, they discuss the game's refreshingly reasonable $20 price point and highlight the many benefits of keeping development costs and team sizes lean. In short, this is almost certainly the most uplifting episode of SPR in quite some time.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify
2025-09-1844 min
Some Patches RequiredSteam Censorship: Weaponizing Payment ProcessorsThis week, Zak and Aaron kindly beg your attention to a very serious matter: the censorship of thousands of NSFW games across Steam and Itch.io at the behest of payment processors like Mastercard. Prompted by a grassroots organization with far-right connections called Collective Shout, this incident could have far-reaching implications for free speech, result in LGBTQ+ erasure, and mean that corporations become the arbiters of what does and does not constitute art in the future.Please, enjoy.Missed what's happened? Check out the links below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il...
2025-08-201h 05
Some Patches RequiredRoblox: The World's Worst Dating ServiceThis week, Zak and Aaron dig into a topic that's as absurd as it is concerning: the CEO of Roblox wants to officially incorporate dating into the platform. Completely ignoring the fact that the game's core audience is mostly children, David Baszucki seems to believe that bringing horny adults into the fold will act as a balm to soothe the "loneliness epidemic" plaguing the modern world. What could possibly go wrong?Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-07-3059 min
Some Patches RequiredStop Killing Games: The Best Hope for a Better Industry?This week, Zak and Aaron delve into the nitty-gritty of the Stop Killing Games movement — an initiative with the simple goal of persuading publishers to, well, stop killing games. From preservation to protecting consumer interests, Stop Killing Games aims to solve a lot of high-level problems, and your hosts have many thoughts to share.Oh, and feel free to jump ahead to Chapter 3 (or the 29-minute mark) if you don't want to hear two goobers explain what the initiative is in exhausting detail. Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spo...
2025-07-161h 06
Some Patches RequiredPeak: The Rise of "FriendSlop" GamesThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down, inexplicably inspired by a meme, to discuss the rise of so-called "FriendSlop" games. These are titles like Repo, Lethal Company, and the recently released Peak, all of which are currently laying waste to the Steam charts as we speak. Why are these games so successful at the moment? What differentiates them from others on the market? What could this be saying about the industry at large? Your intrepid hosts are ready with, if not answers to these questions, at least a bunch more to match.Ple...
2025-07-0357 min
Some Patches RequiredDisney vs. Midjourney: The Future of AI in EntertainmentIt finally happened! A set of entertainment juggernauts — Disney and Universal — are taking the fight to AI in a big way. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the new lawsuit against image generator Midjourney, why it's happening, and what it could mean for the future. They also spend some quality time complaining about generative AI in general, because, well, there's a lot to complain about.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-06-181h 00
Some Patches RequiredGame Movies Galore: An Adaptation Avalanche This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the absolute onslaught of video game movie adaptations coming down the pike at breakneck speed. From questions of quantity over quality to musings on which projects have the most potential, your intrepid hosts dig into what may be the next Hollywood craze - or an unsustainable bubble building towards an inevitable burst.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-06-041h 05
Some Patches RequiredExpedition 33: Success Can't "Save" Single-PlayerThis week, Zak and Aaron take a moment to celebrate the runaway critical and commercial success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33... and then dig into why it won't matter at all to big publishers and the money-making machine behind them. Tragically, the narrative that breakout hits in the singleplayer space can somehow make them appealing to investors again is misguided, and Clair Obscur is just the most recent example. This is why we can't have nice things.Please, enjoy.Watch: The games industry is screwed - Alanah PearceRead...
2025-05-1459 min
Some Patches RequiredMarathon: Can Bungie Fulfill Sony's Live Service Ambitions?This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss Bungie's newest project, Marathon! The dig into everything from the upcoming extraction shooter's aesthetic to its narrative to its choice of genre in service of answering one question — will this finally be the game to make good on Sony's lofty live service ambitions? Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-04-301h 09
Some Patches RequiredNintendo Switch 2 Prices: Changing the Industry $80 at a TimeThis week, Zak and Aaron dive into a new controversy that may have long-lasting implications for the industry at large — Nintendo's decision to price some first-party AAA games at $80.The duo discusses why this price increase is not only unnecessary and bad for consumers, but also how it stands to open the floodgates for greed among big publishers looking to make the all-powerful line go up for shareholders. They also spend some time dissecting why the argument that games need to increase in price to keep up with inflation is myopic at best, and completely misguided at wors...
2025-04-171h 15
Some Patches RequiredUnited Videogame Workers: Is This the Moment Devs Have Been Waiting For?This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the newly formed United Videogame Workers Union — a brand-new collective attempting to bring the power of collective bargaining to every corner of the industry, regardless of company or position.They spend some time outlining the circumstances that brought us to this crossroads, and then dissect some of the potential positives of the movement as well as the challenges it may face moving forward. There are still a lot of questions left to answer, but one thing is for certain: this is a significant moment in video game history....
2025-04-021h 01
Some Patches RequiredKevin Messenhimer Interview: A Developer's Journey to Founding FiveampThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down for a delightful conversation with Kevin Messenhimer, one of the co-founders of the indie game studio Fiveamp. The trio covers a broad range of topics as they follow Kevin's journey from a member of Intel's hardware team to his time at Gearbox Software and eventually to the recent release of NIMRODS on Steam Early Access. It's chock-full of insights into the development process, humorous anecdotes, and entertaining asides that the whole family is sure to love. Well, maybe not the whole family, but the point stands.Please, enjoy.
2025-03-191h 21
Some Patches RequiredMarvel Rivals Layoffs: Why Headlines MatterThis week, Zak and Aaron revisit the world of Marvel Rivals, albeit tangentially and under less than pleasant circumstances. In the wake of some unexpected and unfortunate layoffs at NetEase's Seattle-based studio, the duo noticed some hyperbolic headlines circulating online that not only felt slightly misleading, but also contrasted with the titles for similar articles about the much more severe job cuts recently suffered at the hand of Warner Bros.So, they set out to have a (hopefully) nuanced discussion about the importance of headlines, what we should expect from good reporting, rage-baiting, and profit motives, among...
2025-03-0657 min
Some Patches RequiredSPR Reviews Bobby Kotick's Podcast AppearanceThis week on Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron sit down to do something they've never done before: review an episode of another podcast. Then again, they've never encountered one that prominently features ex-Activision-Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sharing anecdotes from his career, drumming up wild accusations against the CWA Union, and loudly eating celery into a microphone before today. Suffice it to say, they have some opinions to share.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket on Instagram
2025-02-191h 09
Some Patches RequiredMarvel Rivals: Quality, Quantity, and Post-Launch Content CadenceThis week, Zak and Aaron return to the world of gaming topics not as friends, but as rivals... Marvel Rivals™!Inaccurate and misleading introductory statements aside, your intrepid hosts sit down to discuss the latest chart-topping game in the highly saturated hero shooter genre, Marvel©'s Marvel Rivals™, a Marvel© product, presented by Marvel©. More specifically, they dig into some of the issues inherent to the game's aggressive content release cadence and whether or not its current pace is sustainable without eventually sacrificing quality.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spoti...
2025-02-0758 min
Some Patches RequiredMeta's AI Bots: How to Ruin Society With Artificial IntelligenceAs 2025 begins in earnest, we have some phenomenal news for you! Everybody's favorite dewy salamander, Mark Zuckerberg, is going FINALLY going to rebuild trust in our most hallowed institutions, enrich your social life, and help stave off those pesky feelings of loneliness, isolation, and general ennui. How will he accomplish this, you ask? By flooding all of Meta's social media platforms with AI bots, of course!This week, Zak and Aaron take a break from discussing the games industry to chat about why dumping a bunch of artificial intelligence all over Facebook and Instagram is, in fact...
2025-01-2257 min
Some Patches RequiredHandheld Gaming: Xbox and Sony's Next Big BetXbox and PlayStation, two brands locked in what may be an eternal conflict for market superiority, seem to have found yet another field on which to clash: the rapidly growing world of handheld gaming. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the landscape for handhelds at the end of 2024, what new entries from Sony and Microsoft may look like, and what each is likely to do to achieve success. They also dig into the key differences between handheld consoles and handheld gaming PCs, as well as how those key factors position each competitor in a s...
2024-12-1846 min
Some Patches RequiredSony Looks to Acquire Kadokawa: What Could it Mean for From Software?Well, would you look at that? It's consolidation time again in the games industry! Who knew 15 minutes could pass so fast?Jokes aside, this is a big one: Sony is looking to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, which is best known as the owner of From Software, the industry titan behind generation-defining hits like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring.This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss why this particular buyout could be a game-changing deal, from expanding Sony's media empire even further in the realms of anime and manga to what a PlayStation-exclusive future...
2024-11-2749 min
Some Patches RequiredGTA 6: The Game to Save All Games?This week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss Grand Theft Auto VI, but not in the "WHEN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL IT FINALLY RELEASE" way to which you may be accustomed on the internet. Instead, they dig into the industry-wide perception that Rockstar's newest will be some sort of savior for the whole business of games.Between driving the adoption of current-gen hardware and giving the industry at large a billion-plus dollar shot in the arm, the hopes for GTA VI are sky-high. But how did we end up relying on one title...
2024-11-061h 00
Some Patches RequiredHalo Studios: A New Dawn?This week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss the newly renamed Halo Studios (so long, 343! We're sure Xbox didn't rename you because of all that bad press you've accumulated!) and chat about some of the big changes coming down the pipe for future titles. The most notable of these is the sunsetting of the Slipspace engine in favor of the shiny and ever-so-popular Unreal Engine 5, which will power all new Halo installments for the foreseeable future. But will this fresh direction be enough to shake off the franchise's funk? Only time will tell.P...
2024-10-231h 03
Some Patches RequiredUbisoft: A Desperate SituationBrace yourselves for a shocking revelation: Ubisoft is in serious trouble again. Or still... or, maybe, both.This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the newest plan to wrest control of the storied French studio/publisher away from the Guillemot family — this time at the hands of activist-investor group AJ Investments — and what that all-too-possible future may look like. They also discuss Ubisoft's many failures, a few of its more telling strategy shifts, and just how we got here in the first place.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on
2024-10-091h 00
Some Patches RequiredJohn Henderson Interview: Insights From 16 Years in and Around Austin's Game IndustryThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down with notable Austinite John Henderson, who has shipped numerous games and made a name for himself in the local development community for hosting Game Dev Beer Night and supporting aspiring professionals as they try to make sense of their careers.John was kind enough to share his insights on a wide range of topics from advice on finding fulfillment in your job to maintaining motivation to the state of the industry at large. A few technical difficulties during the recording may have changed the shape of this episode a bit...
2024-09-2557 min
Some Patches RequiredConcord: An Unprecedented FailureAlas, poor Concord, we hardly knew thee.That's right, Sony's next big foray into the wild world of live service shooters, is no more. And the real kicker? It barely lasted two weeks. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the unprecedented failure of Concord. In addition to enumerating some of the factors that led to the AAA game's unceremonious sunsetting (namely questionable character design and a general lack of innovation in a decade-old genre), our intrepid hosts also speculate on the title's tentative future. Just for good measure, they also...
2024-09-1150 min
Some Patches RequiredMonopoly Go!: The Obscene Cost of Games MarketingWhen you look at a game like Monopoly Go!, your first thought is probably not that its marketing budget was nearly twice the annual GDP of the Marshall Islands. That's right, Hasbro and Scopley spent a borderline-obscene $500 million to get their new mobile title in front of as many eyes as possible... and it seems to have worked. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk about the cost of marketing games both huge and humble, and why the mobile sector tends to see such enormous price tags when compared to their AAA counterparts.P...
2024-08-1458 min
Some Patches RequiredGame Pass: Higher Prices, Higher StakesXbox Game Pass has been called the best deal in gaming, and for a while that was hard to dispute. But the times are changing, and with it comes a new era for Microsoft's subscription service - one that costs considerably more than it used to.This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the Xbox Game Pass price hike, and why it's far more significant than it may seem at face value. Between the impact of Call of Duty, flagging growth numbers, freefalling console sales, and the full weight of the Activision Blizzard merger all...
2024-07-311h 03
Some Patches RequiredElden Ring: Game Difficulty & AccessibilityEvery few years, notoriously sadistic game studio From Software releases a new title, and with it comes a heated debate about game difficulty. Well, that time has come again with the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree, the one and only (massive) expansion for auteur director Hidetaka Miyazaki's magnum opus, Elden Ring.So, with some people conflating the DLC's brutal skill requirements with a legitimate accessibility issue, Zak and Aaron sat down to discuss game difficulty, easy modes, artistic integrity, and the difference between impairments and impediments. Aaron also complains a lot about the Tree Sentinal. So...
2024-07-171h 12
Some Patches RequiredDragon Age: Homogenizing Video GamesAmong the bombastic trailers showcased in the Xbox showcase at Not E3™ — er, I mean Summer Game Fest™ — was one particular reveal that some fans have been waiting for for the better part of a decade: Dragon Age: The Veilguard. And boy oh boy, was it ever a bewildering first look. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss their impressions of the newest iteration of Dragon Age 4, and why it seems to feel so little like the beloved games that came before it. They also discuss what's lost when IPs that used to have a strong i...
2024-06-271h 04
Some Patches RequiredJosh Bowlby Interview: UI/UX Design & Community BuildingThis week, Zak and Aaron chat with Josh Bowlby, a UI/UX designer (user interface and user experience, for the neophytes out there) who has experience at companies like Virtuix and Wayfinder developer Airship Syndicate, among others.Not only was he kind enough to speak on some of his experiences in that space, but also his active role in the Austin, TX, game development community. From tips on networking to thoughts on how to get through a rough layoff, Josh proved to be a font of wisdom and good advice.Please, enjoy....
2024-05-301h 02
Some Patches RequiredFallout: A New Era of Multimedia Franchises?War. War never changes... but the media landscape sure does. With Amazon's new Fallout show dominating headlines and streaming charts alike, Zak and Aaron returned to the vault this week to dust off an old favorite topic: video game adaptations. This time, the question at hand isn't the program's quality (spoilers: it's pretty good), but rather what its success means for the future of some of your favorite IPs. Namely, are we moving towards a world where successful games will be forced to operate as multimedia franchises to maximize profit? And how will that ultimately impact the a...
2024-05-0156 min
Some Patches RequiredDragon's Dogma 2: Does Review Bombing Work?Rejoice, RPG fans, for Dragon's Dogma 2 is finally here! The reviews are in, and the consensus is... well, complicated as hell. While critics are stoked overall, fans seem to have some grievances — and they're quite happy to share them. This brings Zak and Aaron to the ever-relevant topic of review bombing, or the practice of leaving droves of negative reviews on a product as a response to some real or perceived slight at the hands of its makers. The whole endeavor is a political, economic, and ethical mess, but does it ever actually work? And while we're at...
2024-04-0358 min
Some Patches RequiredSuicide Squad: The Desperate State of AAA GamesWhen you think of AAA games, does your mind fill with excitement imagining what spectacular worlds dedicated artists have crafted for you with the benefit of near-limitless resources? Or do you imagine boardrooms filled with disinterested people demanding endless compromises in pursuit of maximum profit?This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to politely inform you that option A is likely a nice dream you once had, while option B may very well be playing out somewhere right now. With high-profile failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Ubisoft's AAAA fumble Skull and Bones simultaneously ge...
2024-03-2058 min
Some Patches RequiredAdam Powell Interview: Union Organizing and the Games IndustryAt this point, trying to find a new or clever way to say that the games industry is in turmoil is a profound exercise in futility. There is no one way to "fix" the problems that seem to follow developers from studio to studio, but there's one pretty clear step in the right direction: unions.This week, Zak and Aaron sit down with former union organizer and current Austin, TX City Council candidate Adam Powell to chat about — you guessed it — unions. How do they benefit workers? What makes them so offensive to businesses at large? Where do y...
2024-03-061h 12
Some Patches RequiredPalworld: Imitation, Inspiration, and Poké-PlagiarismIf you've spent any time on the internet as of late, odds are you've stumbled across something about a new game called Palworld - otherwise known as "Pokémon with guns." Hell, with north of 19 million downloads and record-breaking player counts on Steam, it's easily set to be one of the biggest games of the year. But what is it, really?This week, Zak and Aaron talk about the nitty-gritty of Palworld, from its borderline-plagiaristic use of Pokémon designs to its disjointed art style to its... surprisingly competent gameplay? They also try to quantify the fine li...
2024-02-211h 00
Some Patches RequiredChasing Pre-Orders: Early Access Monetization MadnessHello, everybody, and welcome to season three of Some Patches Required! Our intrepid hosts have been away for a while, but the games industry certainly didn't take a break with them, as mass layoffs, leaks, hacks, studio closures, and more dominated the headlines. This week, Zak and Aaron tackle the messy topics of true early access and the recent boom in paid "early" access as a pre-order bonus. Long story short, one is a frequently misused tool with incredible potential and the other one is the laziest money-making scheme in recent memory. You can guess which is...
2024-02-0754 min
Some Patches RequiredBaldur's Gate 3: Breaking the AAA MoldHave you ever felt exhausted by the neverending onslaught of updates, microtransactions, generic mechanics, and performance issues that seem to define modern AAA games? Well, do we ever have a new title for you!This week, Zak and Aaron discuss the myriad ways that the newly released Baldur's Gate 3 - and Larian Studios - break the mold established by the major players in the AAA game market. They even dip into some AA and all-indie examples for a healthy dose of contrast.You'll hear them again (with a few exciting new guests) next season! In...
2023-08-161h 15
Some Patches RequiredAlan Wake 2: Physical Distribution & Game PreservationThe world is changing, and media is changing with it. What do you own? What does renting even mean in the era of subscription services and online storefronts? More importantly, what happens to a work of art when it's lost to time?This week, Zak and Aaron dive into the topic of game preservation in the (Alan) wake of several high-profile games going exclusively digital and try to dissect the importance of preserving games for both entertainment and education.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify
2023-08-031h 12
Some Patches RequiredGraphics vs. Gameplay: BattleBit & Stylized GamesAfter a few unfortunate delays, Zak and Aaron are back to ask you a simple question: Do you value visual extravagance over gameplay excellence, or do you think they can work together? Moreover, is there a seat for style at the table?Between the blocky art of BattleBit, the breathtaking but broken Jedi Survivor, and an endless supply of Aaron's useless opinions on films like Avatar, this is the episode for anyone who has ever engaged in the "gameplay vs. graphics" debate. Or, someone who just wants it to finally end.Please, enjoy.
2023-07-211h 09
Some Patches RequiredApple Vision Pro: Is this a Watershed Moment?This week, Zak and Aaron chat about what the semi-recently-announced Apple Vision Pro could mean for the VR, AR, and MR market. Will it fall flat on its face like Google Glass? Will it spur on competition like the original Oculus or HTC Vive? Or could it change the game entirely through the power of brand cachet and good marketing? Only time will tell.As an addendum, Zak's new recording space isn't fully set up yet, so there may be a smidge of echo on his side. Meanwhile, Aaron's computer and hard drive decided to scream their...
2023-07-051h 17
Some Patches RequiredAlex Malcolm Interview: Music Licensing in Video GamesThis week, Zak and Aaron chat across three different time zones! Was that sensationalist enough to grab your attention?? Good, because the third time zone is occupied by Alex Malcolm, who works in music licensing for Warner Music Group. This fella has brokered deals for numerous games, and was kind enough to share some insight into the process of what it takes to get your favorite songs into your favorite entertainment products. As they always say in Hollywood, "it's a good time for your ears." They always say that, right?Please, enjoy....
2023-06-221h 21
Some Patches RequiredCameron Paxton Interview: Composing Music for Indie GamesThis week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk with the profoundly talented Cameron Paxton - the composer for the game Dome Keeper - about the intricacies of writing music for games. Naturally, Aaron rambles on about esoteric ideas, Zak stays on topic, and our guest brings insight to spare. If you're interested in musical composition, creativity, or just hearing about how someone found their gateway into the industry, this is the episode for you.Oh, and we'll let you guess who wrote the opening and closing music for this one. Your only hints are that the...
2023-06-071h 18
Some Patches RequiredTears of the Kingdom: What Makes a Successful Sequel?At this point, it's only a few degrees shy of impossible that you haven't heard of the newest Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. Was that sentence confusing? Well, so is trying to evaluate what makes a good sequel. And yet, Zak and Aaron dive into the murky depths of media to discuss what makes a successful sequel, especially when it comes on the heels of a game-changing work of art. Be prepared for opinions aplenty, hot takes, and a (magical right) handful of puns.Please, enjoy.Listen to...
2023-05-251h 16
Some Patches RequiredFortnite: The Evolution of UGC PlatformsThis week, Zak and Aaron hop right back into the maelstrom that is the modern games industry. Wait, were you expecting something different? Maybe you don't know their particular brand.On this particular, acronym-filled venture, Zak and Aaron try to unpack the evolution of UGC, especially as it pertains to Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. Between the Unreal Engine for Fortnite, CoD in Roblox, and a million other examples, it seems like user-generated content is poised to become the next big thing in games. What does that mean? Who knows.Please, enjoy.
2023-05-101h 12
Some Patches RequiredRE4 Remake: The Ethics of Post-Launch MicrotransactionsHello everybody, and welcome to an unseasonably spooky episode of Some Patches Required! This week, Zak and Aaron dive back into the murky waters of microtransactions, this time within the context of the Resident Evil 4 Remake. Is it okay to add pay-to-win mechanics after launch? Why would a developer or publisher decide to do so? How many times can Aaron use the same word in one sentence? There's only one way to find out.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart...
2023-04-261h 11
Some Patches RequiredPress Reset: The Human Cost of Making Video GamesWell, would you look at that!? This one's on time! And it's interesting, to boot.This week, Zak and Aaron have a chat about Jason Schreier's exceptional book "Press Reset," and each chooses a few topics that fascinate them. Zak is mostly articulate and focused. Aaron rambles a bit and bloviates a lot. But, all-in-all, the conversation incorporates everything you could want from an episode of SPR.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart on Etsy
2023-04-121h 14
Some Patches RequiredDungeons & Dragons: The Influence of TTRPG's on Gaming (ft. Undercommon Taste)This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron team up with the crew from the Undercommon Taste podcast to discuss the lasting impact and influence of TTRPGs (or table-top roleplaying games for you neophytes out there) on the world of video games. It's a fun conversation full of laughs, relatable anecdotes, good vibes, and a lower-than-normal number of curse words. Plus, Aaron resisted the urge to list off all of the great D&D character names he's come up with over the years. You're welcome.Please, enjoy.Learn more about Undercommon Taste
2023-03-301h 13
Some Patches RequiredThe Last of Us: Challenges in Translating Games to Film & TVWith all evidence pointing to The Last of Us being HBO's next big hit, Zak and Aaron decided to take a moment to discuss a few things surrounding the show, especially the difficulties intrinsic to translating games to film and TV. Naturally, Aaron bloviated beyond belief (after one successful sentence) and steered the conversation in the wrong direction a few times while Zak desperately tried to keep things concise. Aaron also mistook episode 8 for episode 7, and in doing so confirmed his incompetence. Otherwise, this one's pretty solid. Please, enjoy.Listen...
2023-03-151h 13
Some Patches RequiredOverwatch 2 - How Games Shift from Premium to Free-to-PlayThis week on Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron take on a topic of particular interest related to the rocky launch of Overwatch 2. No, it's not 2016, so Tracer's butt has nothing to do with it. Instead, our intrepid hosts try to dissect the challenging transitions games undergo when they shift from premium, pay-upfront experiences to free-to-play ones. There are hot takes, contrarian opinions, and more than a few digs at Activision Blizzard's leadership. But, really, what else did you expect?Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify...
2022-10-211h 10
Some Patches RequiredTwitch Bans Gambling Streams - The Issue at HandThis week on Some Patches Required, our intrepid hosts take on one of the more complex issues in the modern gaming world - gambling. Spurred by the news that Twitch has banned most gambling streams, Zak and Aaron break down some recent controversies and try to illustrate how games of chance can be particularly dangerous for Twitch's young audience, as well as the way more and more games seem to be implementing "surprise mechanics" in potentially exploitative ways.Please, enjoy.Source: How should the UK video game industry self-regulate loot boxes?
2022-10-071h 10
Some Patches RequiredThoughts on Games as a Service, a Trio of Intros, and Netflix as a Cereal BoxJust when you thought the fine individuals at SPR industries couldn't make a conversation about the games industry sound even more casual than usual, they strike back with an episode so off-the-cuff that even they aren't quite sure where it's going. This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss the various nuances of the "games as a service model," as well as other oddities like Netflix canceling the "Resident Evil" show, the PS5 price hike, Aaron's enduring hatred of "Rogue One," and the very idea of hate. If that sounds like a lot to cover in a scant 66...
2022-09-091h 06
Some Patches RequiredDiversity in Games, Its Potential Impact, and a New Nintendo UpdateBrace yourself, this one gets a bit esoteric. That's because this week, Zak and Aaron take a good long look at the very real issue of diversity in the games industry and some of the implications of consuming media made predominantly by white males. They also touch on the new wave of workplace misconduct allegations rocking Nintendo of America. It's all a bit heavy, but hey, those patches won't install themselves.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart on Etsy
2022-08-261h 11
Some Patches RequiredSPR Watch Party - "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" with The Nerd AlternativeIn this very special - and especially long - episode of Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron were lucky enough to sit down with Levi and Hassan from The Nerd Alternative to talk about The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. It's got laughs, it's got insights, it's got analysis. Unlike the movie the guys focus on, though, it's noticeably short on overt racism and there are no 45-year-olds pretending to be high school students. In short this episode is a bounty for the ears.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on ...
2022-08-121h 33
Some Patches RequiredIndie Dev Insights from New Future Kids, Gone Wandering, and Finding the Right Work-Life BalanceIf you couldn't get enough of Austin's unique perspective in episode 42, you're in supremely good luck! This week, Zak and Aaron were happy to continue their conversation, this time focusing more on the indie development side of Austin's story, as well as his experience finding his place in the industry. There's lots of good stuff in here, not the least of which is a reminder that you can play New Future Kids' first official release, "Gone Wandering," right now. And you should. It's honestly really, really fun.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on
2022-07-2950 min
Some Patches RequiredDiscussing Game-Dev Education with Game-U Course Director AustinThis week on SPR, Zak and Aaron sit down with their mutual friend Austin, who has some cool stuff to say. What, you need more? Alright, Austin is a Course Director at Game-U - an organization devoted to teaching youngsters and people with special needs the fundamentals of game development - and part of the dynamic duo that makes up the indie studio New Future Kids. They discuss everything from the ins and outs of Game-U's approach to teaching to the value of higher education in this, the first part of their conversation. Stay tuned for the...
2022-07-1544 minSome Patches RequiredExamining the Xbox ShowcaseAre you tired of hearing about exciting, upcoming video games? How about the borderline- unprecedented value offered by Xbox Game Pass? Hot takes on the current streaming ecosystem? If reading this has you laying infirm, overcome by some sort of pop-culture-related malaise, our humble hosts fully understand. That having been said, Zak and Aaron still decided to dedicate this episode to discussing all of the aforementioned topics, and more. Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart on Etsy
2022-07-011h 06Some Patches RequiredDiablo Immortal's Predatory Practices, Unionization Updates, and State of Play ImpressionsEveryone said they'd never make it, but Zak and Aaron finally made it to 40. Well, the podcast did, and the number refers to episodes rather than years, but why quibble over semantics?This time around, our intrepid hosts dip their proverbial toes into the depths of depravity by chatting about Blizzard's new mobile title "Diablo Immortal," look at the sunny side of life by shining a light on some new game workers' unions, and use the recent State of Play to evaluate the state of PlayStation.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl...
2022-06-171h 03Some Patches RequiredEA Enters the Acquisition Race, Raven Workers Unionize, and Pooh Goes DarkTwo weeks can feel like an eternity in the entertainment industry, and this episode is listenable proof. Zak and Aaron are at it again, discussing monumental moves like EA's ravenous - and somewhat bewildering - quest for a merger/acquisition, the major victory won by QA workers at Raven Software, and Sony's inconsistent stance on reproductive rights. Naturally, they also spend a bit of time discussing the upcoming Winnie the Pooh horror film, which is an actual thing that exists in the same world you call home.Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach Girl...
2022-06-031h 05Some Patches RequiredEmbracer Group Embraces Square Enix, Nintendo Loses Face, and Arin Hits the CanvasAs a wise and well-respected philosopher once said, "Another (every other) Friday, another episode of Some Patches Required!" That may be apocryphal, but hey; you've got to put those patches somewhere, right?This week, Zak and Aaron discuss a few of the headlines you may have seen recently, including Square Enix selling off most of its western studios to the little-known but increasingly powerful Embracer Group and yet another wave of employee grievances - this time levied against Nintendo of America. They also talk about Ubisoft's most recent attempt to fend off a hostile takeover and the...
2022-05-201h 02Some Patches RequiredDissecting the Current State and Future of the MCU with Stew From the Stew World Order PodcastAre you ready for something special but not especially game-related? If not, too bad! This week, Zak and Aaron are proud to welcome Stew from the Stew World Order Podcast to discuss the current state of the MCU and the multitude of directions it may go in the future.Which Future? There's no way to no... unless you listen. Maybe not even then, but hey, it's still a fun episode.Please, enjoy.Dig into The Stew World Order and all of Stew's stuff Listen to Beach G...
2022-05-061h 10Some Patches RequiredDiscussing E3 2022's Cancellation, Kingdom Hearts IV, LEGO Star Wars, and Activision Blizzard's Newest HeadlinesUnlike E3, Some Patches Required is back and ready to talk about all the games you crave. Well, not exactly... or at all. Semantics aside, Zak and Aaron have curated an hour or so of interesting topics for your listening pleasure, ranging from the surprising success of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga to Activision Blizzard's most recent moves in the industry.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart on EtsyCheck out even more edouggieart on
2022-04-221h 08Some Patches RequiredSPR Watch Party - "Voyage of the Rock Aliens" With Joey from 'So Wizard Podcast'Get ready for an episode that's out of this world (pun very much intended), because this week Zak and Aaron are joined by Joey from the So Wizard Podcast for a discussion about the glorious mess-terpiece that is "Voyage of the Rock Aliens." What's it all about? We're not quite sure. Is it a psychosexual romp through a bizarre 80s fever dream? Absolutely. Is Joey to blame for bringing it into our - and by extension your - lives? You can bet your sweet pompadour and studded leather jacket on it.Listen to Beach Girl...
2022-04-081h 05Some Patches RequiredGames Industry Protests Russia, Addresses Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation, and Celebrates Elden Ring’s Explosive SuccessLook, not every episode can be the very best (like no one ever was). But one thing is for sure: SPR will never be is false. As such, here are a few disclaimers:- Aaron sounds a little sick, because he was.*- There's a fair amount of overtalk, mostly due to Aaron's internet being dump.*- Aaron spends a good few minutes towards the end trying to adjust his mic after hitting it, all the while pretending nobody would ever notice because he's so devilishly smooth.*Even when faced with...
2022-03-251h 07Some Patches RequiredPokemon Gen. Nine and the Emphasis on Game Length in ValueThis week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss the complicated, multi-faceted, and often inscrutable relationship between the length of a game and its value. They also manage to vamp for a good long while about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, so that's something. Right?Listen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck out edouggieart on EtsyCheck out even more edouggieart on InstagramListen to Beach Girl on SpotifyCheck Out MosscatMarket...
2022-03-1155 minSome Patches RequiredTalking Self-Value, Career Trajectory, and More With VR/Tech Coordinator Michelle HouseThis week on SPR, Zak and Aaron chat with Michelle House to discuss her job as a VR/Technology Coordinator at Pure Imagination Studios, her journey in media, and the importance of valuing yourself in business. They also spend a fair amount of time discussing food poisoning and other various gastrointestinal maladies. It's fun, it's dumb, and when Michelle talks, it's rather insightful. What more could you ask for in a podcast?Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7d3stbZda2NcV2DPjsDvAj?si=8TQz8E7tTT2...
2022-02-251h 08Some Patches RequiredSPR Watch Party - Star Wars: The Last Jedi with Daniel DiManna From the GNPWelcome back, loyal listeners! Zak and Aaron went off the proverbial video game reservation again this week for a snark-filled conversation about the baffling mess that is "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi." Better yet, they brought The Godzilla Novelization Project's Daniel DiManna along for the ride!In other news, Aaron sounds like a small, feeble child this week. He begs your forgiveness and hopes that the gang says something insightful or entertaining enough to make up for it.Please, enjoy.Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify: https://open...
2022-02-111h 23Some Patches RequiredWhy Are So Many AAA Game Studios Losing Their Positive Reputations?Well, gang, it finally happened: Aaron uploaded an episode late. But, by his count, that puts them ahead of more than a few other podcasts, so we've decided to take the moral high ground on this one.In the newest installment of the SPR, Zak and Aaron welcome you to 2022 with a surplus of drama, reconsider accidentally trapping several prospective guests in a pipe, and discuss why AAA studios like BioWare, Activision/Blizzard, Ubisoft, and more have seen their reputations dip in recent years.We also welcome the sequel to Mildred: Zak's roommate's vacuum.
2022-01-151h 03Some Patches RequiredA Very Krampus Christmas - SPR Holiday SpecialWell, everybody, its the holidays, and you know what that means! Wait, you have no idea what that means within the context of a podcast? Well, you're in good company, as Zak and Aaron decided to play this one off the cuff.In the spirit of the holiday break, our intrepid hosts decided to break with tradition and leave video games out of the equation for one episode. Instead, they have a chill chat about the 2015 Christmas horror-comedy film Krampus. Thoughts are shared and spoilers abound, so enter with caution. As an added bonus, a special guest...
2021-12-311h 06Some Patches RequiredDiscussing The 2021 Game Awards and Co-Op’s Triumph with “It Takes Two”Another year, another awards show. This time around, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about the 2021 Game Awards - a show that neither of them actually watched. Don't worry, they still did the requisite research.Their big takeaway was just how freaking cool it was that a split-screen co-op game took home the top prize, especially since those seem to be rarer than ever these days. Apart from It Takes Two's impressive victory, the discussion covers titles like Guardians of the Galaxy, Cyberpunk 2077, and more. Please, enjoy.Source: https://kotaku...
2021-12-171h 06Some Patches RequiredA Smörgåsbord of Intriguing Topics, Facebook's Big Re-brand, and Halo's Speculative Space CrispsConsider the calendar. Sometimes, minutes, hours, days, or (god forbid) weeks go by without updates pertaining to things you care about. For better or worse, this was not such a week. Between breaking news regarding Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft's dedication to negging players for not spending enough time in Far Cry 6, the ongoing NFT war between Steam and Epic Games, Space Pringles®, Zuck's ambitious new plan to trap you in the internet, and the release of Dune, it's safe to say that it's been a been an interesting few weeks. With so much going on in th...
2021-11-051h 21Some Patches RequiredMobile Game Marketing, Celebrity Likenesses, and the Joker's Book BlockadeWe know that the last few episodes served as a showcase for the guest-heavy format we're looking toward, but we wouldn't judge you for missing the dulcet tones of Zak and Aaron as they agree about things and talk about KFC way too much. Well, Aaron might, but that's more of a reflection on him than you. You're great, and you have great taste in podcasts.All of that is to say that this week's episode comes without frills. It's just two well-intentioned fellows talking about the frustrating and shady world of mobile game marketing, discussing the...
2021-10-221h 14Some Patches RequiredSPR Watch Party - Star Wars: Episode VII With Daniel DiManna From The GNPBrace yourself: SPR is trying something new.That's right, Some Patches Required — ever a bastion of consistency — is shaking things up. This time around, Zak and Aaron invited The Godzilla Novelization Project founder (and elder brother to Aaron) Daniel DiManna to talk about "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens."Spoilers abound as these three affable chaps talk about how they felt the first time they sat down to view the first chapter of the last chapter of the so-called Skywalker Saga, how they felt after a rewatch, and how the subsequent movies mercilessly eradicated any...
2021-09-241h 20Some Patches RequiredIndie Insights From Basileus Games, Building a Visual Novel, and a Hint at What’s To ComeWe usually start these descriptions with an overlong, unnecessary description of our topics based on a tangentially related idea. Today, we break the mold.On this, the 20th episode of Some Patches Required (who would have guessed it would last this long?), we invited long-time friend and all-around swell gent Doug Trein to talk about his experience co-founding the indie studio Basileus and working on the virtual novel Romance of Raskya. We also asked him to reflect on his six-year stint writing about games for the site now known as Fandom, but we spent so much time...
2021-09-1044 minSome Patches RequiredRemasters, Re-releases, and Googling "Frank"Before you begin this episode, Zak and Aaron invite you to revisit the treasured memories you built while playing your favorite games. Were you trying to best your father on the digital be-iced colosseum that plays host to hockey? Working night and day to stop the Reapers from destroying humanity? Perhaps doing a Bethesda thing? Now ask yourself: how much would you pay for that experience to look better or run smoother?In this episode, our humble hosts dive into the murky, confusing, and often contentious topic of video game remasters, re-releases, and remakes. How...
2021-08-131h 09Some Patches RequiredSwitch OLED, Steam Deck, and Activision Blizzard's Moral ReckoningCONTENT WARNING: During the first part of this episode, the discussion references harassment, suicide, and sexual abuse. If you would like to avoid these topics, please skip to at least 20:48.At the risk of getting a bit too real, Zak and Aaron ran into an issue while preparing/recording this episode. On one hand, we wanted to speak about the recent news regarding Activision Blizzard, which is both deeply troubling and infuriatingly unsurprising (making it all the more troubling). But we also wanted to publish a podcast episode that wasn't...
2021-07-301h 11Some Patches RequiredGameplay vs. Narrative, Second Chances, and Our First Concise OutroA wise podcaster once said, "Look to your games for gameplay; nothing else." Another said, "narrative is vital, no matter the experience." Neither Zak nor Aaron know where to find the ancient texts that hold the ultimate truth as to whether story is more important than mechanics or vice versa. One thing's for certain: they'll need to solve a few puzzles to come to a conclusion.This time, hosts Zak and Aaron try to make sense of the strange relationship between gameplay and narrative, and weigh in on whether one is more important than the other. Naturally...
2021-07-161h 04
Some Patches RequiredTalking Shop With GuessworkVR, Indie Dev Insights, and a Surplus of SarcasmHere at Some Patches Required Industries, we like to think of ourselves as people of the people despite our staggering success and record-breaking download count. As such, we decided to grant Tyler Blust and Anthony Mikicic from GuessworkVR an audience (meaning you).Bloviating aside, these are some seriously talented individuals working on some really cool projects along with a full crew of other awesome people. Based on our conversation, it seems like they're onto something with this whole "virtual reality" idea, and their recent grant from Oculus Launch Pad only serves to further the point....
2021-07-021h 04Some Patches RequiredE3 2021, Opinions Aplenty, and the Colonel's Nasty BoyAt the risk of sounding like the introduction to nearly every article, press release, or set of podcast show notes written since the start of "you know what," the world looks a little bit different today than it has in years past. But, since 2021 marks the return of E3, that's what today's episode of Some Patches Required is all about!Episode 14 comes right out of the gate with a failed intro bit handcrafted by Aaron with all the grace of a fainting goat, followed by the world debut of everyone's favorite KFC mistake, the Colonel's Nasty Boy...
2021-06-181h 14Some Patches Required$70 Games, Appropriate Compensation, and the Legendary Lost Lozenge of HadesHere at SPR, we like to think that highlighting serious topics within the games industry doesn't require emulating the tone of a particularly boring episode of "Mr. Wizard's World." If you're not 150 years old (or Aaron), that means we try to balance research-based discussions with our unique brand of insanity.If you need proof, look no further than this episode. We inexplicably start out with a guest appearance by the lord of the underworld before transitioning to a conversation about how much the Internet hates the perceived design tweaks Aloy received for Horizon Forbidden West. Then, we...
2021-06-041h 13Some Patches RequiredBad Video Game Movies, a Ton of Monster Hunter, and Commander Shepard's Nasty KnobAn intellectual once said, "To err is human, to complain for a really long time about movies that tried and failed to capture the nature of the games from which they drew inspiration is the height of entertainment." Who was that shining light, whose voice seemingly sprung from the well of unnecessary verbosity and pointless metaphors? The world may never know.While that quote may never find proper attribution, you can take a break from fancy turns of phrase and enjoy two friends talking about bad video game movies. In preparation for this episode, Zak and Aaron...
2021-05-211h 11
Weirdly Helpful (formerly The Best Advice Show)Dressing Salads with Aaron Mondry
Aaron Mondry is a journalist and salad maven.PAUSING WITH AARON MONDRY.To offer your own advice, call Zak @ 844-935-BESTTRANSCRIPT:ZAK: It's Food Friday. And today, we're gonna discuss a long held, deeply felt belief of mine. You don't need to buy salad dressing.AARON: I take 2 parts oil, 1 part vinegar and put them in a glass jar. A reused jam jar is a great option. And I shake it up. That's the really, really basic blueprint for a salad dressing. But there's lots of ways you...
2021-05-2106 minSome Patches RequiredSony, Game Preservation, and The Taking of a Tremendous DukeCast your mind back to the halcyon days of one episode ago, when we spent more than an hour talking about wacky licensed video games with Aaron's brother. Fun times, right?Now, pop your earbuds in and listen to us talk about the borderline catastrophe that was Sony's plan to blitz the online stores for the PS Vita, PS3, and PSP (all of which Aaron owns, none of which he regrets buying), and the threat that poses to the preservation of games both new and old. It may be a bit on the heavy side, but it...
2021-05-071h 06Some Patches RequiredLicensed Games, Godzilla, and a Very Special Guest HostOh, hey, didn't see you come in there. Well, now that you're here, we'd like to welcome you to a very special episode of Some Patches Required! This week, we take a trip down memory lane while talking about licensed video games. What makes that so special? We're joined by a distinguished guest, Aaron's brother Danny!He kicks things off by talking about The Godzilla Novelization Project, his insanely ambitious attempt to write unofficial, full-length adaptations of each and every Japanese Godzilla Movie. Then we move on to hard-hitting issues like the fact that Zach tried to...
2021-04-231h 11Some Patches RequiredGaming Superiority, The Snyder Cut, and an Unfortunately Clicky ChairWe try to structure every episode around a clear idea, use our first- and second-hand experiences to bring some level of knowledge to the conversation, and do our best to address societal issues while recognizing our privilege. But, sometimes, we also spend an immoral amount of time discussing the Snyder Cut of "Justice League" despite the fact that neither of us has yet found the gumption needed to sit through a 4-hour version of "Justice League." We've also started recording our audio differently, which shines the sonic equivalent of a spotlight on one of our recording setups...
2021-04-091h 05Some Patches RequiredOpen World Games, Blaseball Banter, and the Naming Of a ToiletToday we celebrate an astronomical achievement. It's the first time we've managed to post an episode that's under an hour. But fear not, dear listener. We still dive into the nitty-gritty of a topic that's on the tip of everyone's proverbial tongues — are open world games inherently shallow?In the process, Aaron makes a "joke" about setting pubic hair on fire, Zak teaches his incompetent cohost about the phenomenon that is Blaseball, and Aaron provides a flawless synopsis of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." We also name an angry toilet. And yes...
2021-03-2659 minSome Patches RequiredGoogle Stadia's Empty Stadium, Plenty of Pokémon, and a Very Vocal FelineHave you ever wanted to hear two white fellows in their mid-twenties talk about a big tech company's most recent bungle while a very cute cat with a tiny face you can't see and a loud voice you can very much hear screams in the background? Well, have we got a show for you!This week, Zak and Aaron try to dissect what's good, bad, and terribly misguided about Google Stadia. That is, after talking about Pokémon for far too long while being consistently cut off by the sonic blight that is Mildred.Aaron a...
2021-03-121h 07