Shows
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Present - Fireside Magic #1#MagicTheGathering #MTG Welcome to a new entry in The NPCs world - Magic the Gathering! Join Kyle & Travis as they explore MTG, talk about what’s going on, and more!
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2024-02-041h 05The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!CES 2024, Game Shark & Switch 2, Valve + AI - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of January 13th#CES #Switch2 #Overwatch
In this week’s news:
CES 2024 - the gaming roundup: Gamesradar Best of CES 2024, Inverse Best Gaming Hardware @ CES, Nvidia announces RTX 40 Super series, AMD announces new CPUs, GPU
Game Shark is coming back, and it may have leaked the Switch 2 release
Valve will now require disclosure of AI-generated content in games on Steam
Overwatch 2 Season 9 will add passive healing for DPS & Tanks
13-year-old becomes the first gamer to beat Tetris by reaching the “Kill Screen”
The latest Xbox Series S uses physic...2024-01-141h 07The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!GTA V Source Code, Wii U & 3DS Online Go Bye-Bye, Bobby Kotick is Gone - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 30th#GTAV #NintendoNetwork #ActivisionBlizzard
In this week's news:
GTA V Source Code leaks, Reveals previously planned DLC
Wii U & 3DS online services shut down months ahead of schedule
Bobby Kotick leaves Activision Blizzard, and employees speak out
Intro: Getaway by J+1
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-12-3143 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Bungie Revenue Turmoil, GTA VI Trailer, Game Awards Recap - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 8th#GameAwards #Bungie #GTAVI
In this week’s news:
Bungie layoffs attributed to potential Sony takeover
GTA VI trailer drops, internet obviously goes wild
Twitch leaving Korean market due to rising costs; Twitch usage stats for Korean market via SullyGnome
The Game Awards 2023 Winners & Game Awards Announcements
Australia up next to get 18+ Only Switch Online app
After unexplained bans, PlayStation users report their accounts have been restored
Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo has been canceled
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com
...2023-12-091h 28The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Game Awards 2023 PredictionsWelcome everyone to a special episode of The NPCs Discuss! In this episode, we will be talking about our predictions for 20 of the 31 categories for the Game Awards 2023!
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Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-12-051h 33The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Sony PS Store Lawsuit, N64 18+ App, Ubisoft Pop Up Ads - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 1st#Playstation #N64 #AssassinsCreed
In this week’s news:
Sony set to face $7.9 billion class action lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices
Nintendo is launching an 18+ n64 Switch Online App in Japan
Ubisoft blames “technical error” for showing pop-up ads in Assassin’s Creed
Dave the Diver comes under the Game Awards nomination controversy and Geoff Keighley weighs in
Embracer CEO confirms Free Radical is facing closure
Netflix lands the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy
Level 5 Vision announcements at the November Showcase
New Sonic Movie 3 teaser reveals Shadow the Hedgehog’s shoes
Resident Evil 4 Remake PSVR2 coming next week
New Tribes...2023-12-0257 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Blizzcon 2023 Announcements, MW3 Campaign Disappointment, Sakurai & Smash Bros Future - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of November 3rd#Blizzcon #CallOfDuty #Destiny2
Main Stories:
Blizzcon 2023 Opening Day Recap
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 reviews are out, and it’s not pretty
Bungie lays off 100 devs, and gamers respond
Sakurai thinks it’ll be difficult to push Smash Bros further
Fortnite OG has brought in nearly 4 million players in the first day
Microsoft set to cut free Xbox Game Pass benefit from employees, until Phil Spencer steps in
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Support this pod...2023-11-041h 02The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PS5 External Disk Drive, Gaming PC + Human Blood, Nintendo Smash Bros Rule Changes - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of October 29th#PS5Slim #DiabloIV #SmashBros
In this week's news:
PS5’s external disk drive will require an internet connection at install time
Blizzard will give away a gaming PC… cooled with human blood?
Nintendo drops new rules for Smash Bros tourneys, and it’s not good.
Xbox Series S gets a massive price hike in Brazil
Microsoft looks to be alerting to unauthorized 3rd party accessories on Xbox
Want to smell like Solid Snake? Well fret not!
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https...2023-10-3052 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!What's Next for ABK + MSFT, Analogue 3D, Roblox a big hit on PS5 - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of September 21st#ActivisionBlizzard #Analogue #Roblox
In this week’s news:
With Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition done, what’s next?
Analogue is making a 4K Nintendo 64
Roblox launch on PS5 a big hit, but how big?
Nintendo removes Switch announcement trailer, but hold steady!
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Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-10-2254 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!ABK + Microsoft, PS5 Slim, Animal Crossing Lego - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of October 14th#Microsoft #ActivisionBlizzard #PS5Slim
In this weeks’ news:
Microsoft completes their acquisition of ABK
PS5 Slim announced, to replace current model in November
Cyberpunk 2077 live action adaptation in the works
Halo Infinite Season 5 announced
Lego and Nintendo showcase Animal Crossing sets
Someone bought a brand new Wii U in 2023?
Sony adding streaming to PS Plus Premium memberships
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-10-151h 14The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!CS2 Releases, No New Steam Deck Yet, Bye Bye Jim Ryan - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of September 30th#CounterStrike2 #Unity #SteamDeck
In this week’s news:
Valve doesn’t expect to launch another Steam Deck for a few years
Unity apologizes by walking back some of its planned changes
Crystal Dynamics, Epic hit by layoffs
Counter Strike 2 officially drops
Someone gets Phil Spencer to sign a PS5 faceplate
PlayStation head Jim Ryan to retire this spring
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-10-011h 06The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Unity against Unity, Sept Nintendo Direct and PS State of Play Recaps - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of September 16th#NintendoDirect #PlaystationStateOfPlay #Unity
In this week's news:
Developers unite against Unity’s new pricing model
F-Zero, Paper Mario, and more in a new Nintendo Direct
Apple Event shows off AAA titles coming to iPhone
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, and more in a new PlayStation State of Play
Embracer Group may sell Gearbox
Microsoft & Barclays are launching an Xbox Credit Card
Xbox has shared the Game Pass Core games list
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.ban...2023-09-171h 13The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Switch 2 Tech Demos, Starfield's a hit, Rockstar DRM Kerfuffle - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of September 8th#Starfield #Switch2 #E3
In this week’s news:
Nintendo shows off Switch 2 demos @ Gamescom
Starfield hits 1 million concurrent players on launch day
E3 2024 not happening; maybe in 2025?
Steam will soon show players which games support PlayStation controllers
Rockstar may have sold some games with DRM cracks on Steam
Miss the Xbox 360? Why not build one with Mega Bloks!
Stray is getting an animated movie
Were you hoping for an Assassins' Creed Black Flag remake? Think again!
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Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ht...2023-09-0941 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PlayStation Portal, Denuvo on Switch, Charles Martinent no longer voicing Mario - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of August 25th#PlaystationPortal #Denuvo #CharlesMartinet
In this week’s news:
Sony dubs Project Q the PlayStation Portal
Denuvo offers built-in protection on Nintendo Switch & Unreal Engine
Charles Martinet stepping away as the voice of Mario
Overwatch 2 director responds to review bomb on Steam
Atari releasing the 2600+, which will play original cartridges
Microsoft finally ends production of the Kinect
Microsoft selling wraps for your Xbox
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Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...2023-08-2651 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Switch 2 in 2024, Ratatan Kickstarter, Xbox Controller parts - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of August 4th#Switch2 #CSGO #Transformers
In this week’s news:
3:09 - Switch 2 may be out in 2024
16:26 - Ratatan beats Kickstarter goal, coming to consoles
23:52 - Twitch bans CS:GO skin gambling sponsorships
30:03 - Microsoft now selling replacement parts for controllers
37:22 - Hasbro says Activision lost “Transformers” games, retracts soon after
43:14 - Quest Markers
Vampire Survivors may be getting a “Director's Cut”
PS5 Beta adds Dolby Atmos, 8TB SSD support
Fans aiming to beat player count record on Half Life Opposing Force
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their trac...2023-08-0548 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!FF XIV on Xbox, Dreamworks Kart Racer, Ubisoft terminates accounts - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of July 29th#FinalFantasy #Ubisoft #Playstation
In this week’s news:
Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy XIV to Xbox
Emulation working again on Xbox, until the suspensions began.
Dreamworks is joining in on the kart-racing genre
Ubisoft said to be deleting inactive accounts, immediately steps back.
Playstation Project Q handheld leaks, and it’s not pretty so far.
Microsoft reveals “pizza-scented” Xbox controller
Nicki Minaj is going to be a Call of Duty Operator
Neopets are making a comeback
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https...2023-07-3056 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PS5 Project Trinity, Activision Blizzard eSports Layoffs, Major Nelson leaving Xbox - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of July 21st.mp3#ProjectTrinity #OverwatchLeague #Spiderman2
In this week’s news:
Project Trinity is supposed codename for PS5 Pro
Dolphin Emulator no longer coming to Steam
Activision Blizzard lays off 50 eSports staff, terms change for OWL
Major Nelson is leaving Xbox
Spider-Man 2 PS5 & controller coming soon
Blizzard adding games to Steam, starting with Overwatch 2
Ratatan, spiritual successor to Patapon, has been announced
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Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/su...2023-07-2254 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Cloud Gaming#xcloud #playstationplus #geforcenow
On today’s episode:
Over the last 15 years, the tech industry has continued to push us into using the cloud for nearly everything we do. While many of the things we do in the cloud today have become commonplace, such as document generation and photo sharing, one of the things that hasn’t hit its stride yet is gaming in the cloud. We as gamers are used to our physical systems more than anything, knowing that we can play games with (hopefully) minimal fuss because everything is at our fingertips. However, the noti...2023-07-131h 16The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PS5 Slim, Valve & AI games, Sega on NFTs, 90s Sega Leak - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of July 7th#Playstation5 #Steam #Sega
In this week’s news:
Even Microsoft thinks Sony is going to launch a PS5 Slim
Valve says “no” to possible ban on games with AI-generated art on Steam
Sega withholding franchises from blockchain games
Leak of Sega documents from the 90s surfaces
Microsoft lawyer may have inadvertently leaked Elder Scrolls 6 release date
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-07-081h 03The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Microsoft vs FTC, Nintendo Direct Recap, Robolx 17+ - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of June 23rd
#Xbox #NintendoDirect #Roblox
In this week’s news:
Microsoft vs. the FTC in court over the Activision-Blizzard acquisition
June Nintendo Direct recap
Roblox will now allow 17+ rated content in game
Social & Casual gaming still found to be decimating console gaming
Fan buys $3500 in Nintendo stock just to heckle them about… Splatoon.
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Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-06-241h 05The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Summer Games Showcase 2023 Roundup (Mostly) - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of June 11th 2023#Xbox #Starfield #SummerGamesFest
Welcome to the great Summer Games Showcase of 2023! In this week’s roundup, we (mostly) talk about all of the game showcases that have taken place (so far):
Day 1
Summer Games Fest
Day of the Devs
Devolver The Return of Volvy
Day 2
Tribeca Games Spotlight
Day3
Wholesome Games Direct (50 games?!)
OTK Games Expo
Future Games Show
Day 4
Xbox + Bethesda (Starfield) Showcase
PC Gaming Show
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Ba...2023-06-121h 40The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Meta Quest 3, Redfall's Downfall, Nintendo stops emulator on Steam - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of June 2nd 2023#MetaQuest #Redfall #Nintendo
In this week’s news:
Meta Quest 3 has been announced
Meta Quest Gaming Showcase recap
We now know what happened with Redfall
Nintendo shuts down Dolphin release on Steam w/Valve’s help
Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater will reuse the original voice lines
Do you want your name on a Diablo 4 statue?
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Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-06-031h 15The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PlayStation Showcase, MSFT Appeal to CMA, Xbox Summer Showcase Leak - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of May 27th#PlaystationShowcase #Xbox #Nintendo64
In this week’s news:
PlayStation Showcase Recap
Microsoft appeals UK’s CMA ruling on ABK acquisition
Xbox Summer Showcase reveal list may have leaked
Nintendo Japan will soon stop repairs on the Wii U
Would you trade a limited edition Nintendo 64 for a Switch?
Intro: Getaway by J+1
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2023-05-281h 08The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Blizzcon 2023, OW2 loses PvE, Mortal Kombat 1 - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of May 19th#ActivisionBlizzard #Overwatch2 #MortalKombat
In this week's news:
EU approves Activision Blizzard + MSFT deal
Blizzcon is coming back this year
Overwatch 2’s PvE “Hero Missions” are going away, more info from game director
Mortal Kombat 1 has been announced
Could we be seeing GTA 6 next year?
Did you know a popular CoD map was added by accident?
For some reason, Nicolas Cage is being added to Dead by Daylight
Intro: Getaway by J+1Outro: Run by J+1Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcas...2023-05-201h 03The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Phil Spencer Reaction to Xbox News, TOTK Leaks Early, Discord Usernames - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of May 5th 2023#Xbox #LegendOfZelda #Discord
In this week's news:
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer reflects on the state of Xbox at CMA and thinks, “Losing the Xbox One generation was the worst one to lose.”
LoZ Tears of The Kingdom leaks 2 weeks early - beware of spoilers!
Could we be at the tail end of Overwatch League and Call of Duty League?
Discord is forcing a username change
Seagate drops price on Xbox Series X & S expansion cards
Apex Legends problems to blame on a single line of code
Intro: Getaway by J+1Outro: Run by J+12023-05-0658 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!CMA says NO to MSFT+ABK, Tears of the Kingdom Performance, Lego DK - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of April 29th#ActivisionBlizzard #LegendOfZelda #Lego
In this week's news:
CMA says no to Microsoft + Activision Blizzard deal
LoZ Tears of the Kingdom first impressions good, but Switch shows it’s age
Lego Donkey Kong announced, and Lego Pac-Man leaked
Asus ROG Ally may cost only a bit more than the top tier Steam Deck
Call of Duty board game on the way… for some reason
Armored Core 6 gets a new gameplay trailer and release date
Steam Deck is being used by the Ukrainian army to control a turret
Intro: Getaway by J+1Outro: Run by J+1Pi...2023-04-301h 03The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Rovio and Sega, LoZ TOTK Final Trailer, Ubisoft+ on Xbox - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of April 14th#LegendOfZelda #Xbox #AngryBirds
In this week's news:
Rovio Entertainment, makers of Angry Birds, reported about to be sold to Sega for $1 Billion
Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom final trailer released! (Kotaku article for reference, too)
Ubisoft Plus subscription is now available on Xbox… and costs more than Game Pass?
Microsoft is experimenting with Windows Handheld Mode for Steam Deck-like devices
Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League has been delayed till February of next Year
Hidetaka Miyazaki, of Elden Ring and Dark Souls fame, has been named as one of Time’s Most Influential People of 2...2023-04-1558 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!E3 Cancelled, Zelda TOTK Gameplay Reveal, PSVR2 may need price cut - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of March 31st#LegendOfZelda #E3 #PSVR2
In this week's news roundup:
E3 has been cancelled, and no one is shocked
Legend of Zelda TOTK gameplay revealed
Sony may have only sold 300k PSVR2’s - analyst says price cut may be needed
Microsoft patent hints at Xbox controller with touchscreen
Microsoft ends $1 Game Pass Ultimate trial
Horizon Forbidden West DLC will be PS5 exclusive… because clouds
Intro: Getaway by J+1Outro: Run by J+1Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-n...2023-04-011h 06The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Counter-Strike 2 Announced, UK nearly says OK on ABK+MSFT - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of March 24th#CounterStrike2 #EldenRing #ActivisionBlizzard
In this week's news:
Counter-Strike 2 Revealed
Counter-Strikes Skin Market Goes Wild
Valve could cancel matches immediately if they detect cheating
Elden Ring now has ray tracing, and it might be breaking the game
Microsoft is Developing its own App store to Rival Apple and Google
Microsoft gets a big boost in the Activision Blizzard acquisition
Epic’s Biggest Announcements from State of Unreal keynote
Smell Like Mario, Luigi, and Friends
Ninja Turtles graphic novel The Last Ronin to be adapted into a game
EA announces 3 Battlefield games are going away…. Forever
Intro: Getaw...2023-03-271h 20The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Counter-Strike 2 On the Way, more Sony vs Microsoft drama, RE4 cancelled pre-orders - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - March 10th#CounterStrike #ResidentEvil4 #ActivisionBlizzard
In this week's news:
Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad game has been delayed once again; Poorly received footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBczhEOp-m0
Obsidian apologies for buggy launch of Outer Worlds Spacers Choice Edition
Sony throws more shade at ABK + Microsoft deal, says CoD on PS will get bugs
GameStop cancels in-store pre-orders for Resident Evil 4’s collector’s edition
Is Counter-Strike 2 on the way? Nvidia drivers seem to indicate so
Super Metroid has been recompiled and ported to PC.
Epic will now let developers self publish games on the Epic Game Store
...2023-03-111h 00The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Multiverses low player count, Tetris movie trailer, PSVR2 reviews - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - February 17th 2023#PSVR2 #MetroidPrime #Tetris
In this week's news:
Original Metroid Prime devs are pissed at Nintendo for omitting them in credits of “Remastered”
Player count for WB’s smash clone Multiverse plummet
The Tetris movie trailer drops, and I didn’t know what I was expecting.
PSVR2 Reviews are out, and it’s a mixed bag: Ars Technica, The Verge, Forbes, GameSpot, TechRadar
Sega joins Nintendo in increasing salaries of its staff instead of layoffs.
Power Wash Sim is getting FF VII’s Midgar?
Horizon Forbidden West comes to PS Extra and Premium this month
Intro: Getaway by J...2023-02-181h 06The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Nintendo Direct Recap, more drama in MSFT + ABK | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | February 10th#NintendoDirect #CallofDuty #MetroidPrime
In this week's news:
Nintendo Direct recap
More Sony Vs. Microsoft drama in ABK acquisition
Bobby Kotick says Sony is trying to sabotage the acq.
Sony accuses Microsoft of “harassment” in court filings
UK CMA says to spin off CoD to separate unit/org
Nintendo announces Switch sales milestone, will not perform layoffs in Japan
Team Fortress 2 is planning a “full on update sized update”
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nj_4Gwrntw
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks o...2023-02-111h 02The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Why are these games shutting down or being canceled! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - February 3rd#Titanfall #PS5 #PSVR2
In this week's news:
Multiple games being delayed, shut down, or canceled
Back 4 Blood
Titanfall - Apex Legends Crossover
Last of Us Pt 1 PC
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
Apex Legends Mobile & Battlefield Mobile
CrossfireX
Unannounced titles from The Coalition
Playstation Plus Collection
Microsoft may or may not be shutting down Xbox 360 Marketplace
Sony refutes report that it’s slashed PSVR2 production
343i is starting over with Halo, switching to UE5
Sony says 30% of PS5 players never played via PS4
PS5 beta system update adds support for...2023-02-071h 04The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Developer_Direct, GTA Online vulnerability, Riot Hack - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - January 27thIn the news this week:
GTA Online has a vulnerability, be careful
Xbox + Bethesda Developer_Direct recap
Riot hit by social engineering hack, LoL source code stolen
Xbox, Bethesda not safe from 10k layoff at Microsoft
Marines fool AI on robot with Metal Gear style tricks
Guy saved from being fired for “playing video games” at work because his graphics card was too underpowered
Last of Us TV series renewed for 2nd season
Goldeneye 007 only just re-released today, plenty of gripes arise from players
Full VOD can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rOxJ_oXhP...2023-01-2851 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!MK2 source code, Ubisoft cancellations, "Developer_Direct" | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | January 13th#mortalkombat #ubisoft #sony
In this week's news roundup:
MK2 source code leaks out, reveals cut details.
Nvidia & Google join Sony in protesting MSFT + ABK deal
Ubisoft cancels several titles and pushes Skull & Bones release date
Xbox + Bethesda “Developer_Direct” announced for Jan. 25
Sony may have a new shooter title in the works (Resistance, perhaps?)
TMNT Shredder's Revenge is on mobile thanks to… Netflix?
Meta is ending support for the Quest 1
Steam hits new record with 10 million concurrent players
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2TrnwnUH5A
Outro: Run by J+12023-01-1450 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PlayStation @ CES, EA didn't test backups, no new Switch | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | January 6th#nintendo #playstation #ea
In this week's news:
Sony’s PlayStation announcements at CES
EA says 60% of user franchises in Madden are gone due to file corruption / data loss
Analyst predicts no new Switch until 2024
Square Enix will still proceed with blockchain/NFT push
Zenimax QA staff form largest gaming union
GDQ founder is stepping down
Wizards of the Coast reportedly canceled 5 games
Kojima jokes about becoming an AI and carrying on his legacy
PlayStation 5 Liquid metal catastrophe
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN6Y08YXR3U
Outro: Run by J+...2023-01-071h 11
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!75% of UK Gamers OK with Xbox + ABK, Epic fined $520M | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | December 23rdIn this week's news:
75% of UK respondents are good with Microsoft - Activision Blizzard merger
Assassins Creed Jade footage leaks from closed beta
Epic Games fined $520 million for deceptive practices in Fortnite
John Carmack is leaving Meta
Valve wants to take another crack at the Steam Controller
Goat Simulator 3 ad pulled due to GTA6 clip
God of War to get a live action series at Amazon
Kojima says Microsoft understood his “unusual” concept
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAJA5OzrU2Q
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on B...2022-12-241h 06The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Handhelds in 2022What a year for handhelds! Not only do we have the appearance of the Steam Deck and all of it's glory, but the number of retro handhelds that have graced the market made it easier for gamers to play classic titles on the go! In this world of handhelds and the ability to play console-worthy titles on your mobile phone, how does the juggernaut Nintendo handle the new competition... or is the competition starting to show up the House of Mario?
Intro: Run by J+1
Outro: Haunt by J+1
Pick up his tracks on Bandcamp...2022-12-151h 05
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Game Awards Recap, FTC sues Microsoft for ABK Purchase | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | December 9th#GameAwards #Microsoft #CallistoProtocol
In this week's news roundup:
Game Awards winner roundup
Game Awards announcements
FTC Seeks to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Bizzard Activision King
Microsoft will join Sony in raising game prices to $70 next year
Callisto Protocol bugginess blamed on “damn clerical error”
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wh_vcTwWa4
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2022-12-111h 21
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Nintendo shuts down Smash tourney, says sorry for Pokemon | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | December 2nd#Nintendo #mariobrosmovie #activisionblizzard
In this week's news:
Nintendo shuts down Smash World Tour ‘without any warning’
Elite Dangerous’ aliens are pissed and aren’t going to take it anymore
2nd “Mario Bros” trailer released, shows off Donkey Kong, Peach, and Mario Kart?
Nintendo says sorry for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet performance issues
Microsoft may offer concessions to make Activision-Blizzard deal happen
A video game console for Dogs?
Win a Steam Deck while watching Game Awards
Google starts refund process on Stadia hardware
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGU4SOxsOvs
Outro: Run by J+12022-12-031h 09
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Bethesda responds to Mick, Project Keystone on Hold | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | November 19thIn this week's news:
Bethesda replies to Mick Gordon’s blog post
Blizzard to be pulling games from China in January
Project Keystone on hold due to costs
Microsoft releases its first transparency report
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are the lowest rated Pokémon games on Metacritic
Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka Arrested amid insider trading scandal
Gundam Evolution to be released on Console December 1st
Crystal Dynamics Says it hears fans “Loud and clear” on the Soul Reaver series
A supersized Switch with a 12" screen?!
Full VOD here: https://youtu.be/gXize3lP2tY
Outro...2022-11-201h 04
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Mick Gordon & Doom, Lego Legend of Zelda, Gears of War! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - November 11thIn this week's news roundup:
Mick Gordon shares his take on the Doom Eternal OST fiasco
“Verified” Twitter accounts are causing chaos within the gaming world
Could a Lego Legend of Zelda set be on the way?
EA has sent Project CARS to the junkyard
Netflix will be making a Gears of War series, and Bautista wants to play Marcus
Who wants to build their own portable Wii/GameCube???
Bioware teases us with Mass Effect 4 again
Beware the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet leaks
Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com...2022-11-121h 12
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PSVR2 Price & Release Date, 'Overdose' game, EA + Marvel - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - November 5thIn this week's news roundup:
PSVR2 price and launch date announced
Kojima’s next game may have leaked, titled Overdose
Square Enix announces NFT project called “Symbiogenesis”
Sony shares PS5 sales #’s, and it’s not pretty.
EA to be making 3 AAA Marvel games
In the Quest Markers:
Sega wants players feedback on next mini console
God of War Ragnarok is the 2nd highest rated game of 2022
No shock to anyone, but Modern Warfare 2 launch breaks sales records
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2022-11-061h 09
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!MW2 Disk only 72MB? RTX 4090's are melting! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - October 29th#ModernWarfare2 #Overwatch2 #RTX4090
In this week's news roundup:
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 disks only contain 72MB of data(?!) and still require you to download the entire game!
If you're an Xbox or PC player you can't disable cross-play in Modern Warfare 2... but PlayStation players can!
Phil Spencer confirms prices on some Xbox services (maybe even hardware) will have to go up but not until after the holidays.
Nvidia's RTX 4090 GPUs are suffering at the hands of their own wiring and are partially melting at the 12VHPWR connector.
A superfan has archived every US PlayStation 2 game man...2022-11-0147 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!G4 is no more... again, Silent Hill & Resident Evil recaps | NPCs Weekly News Roundup | October 21st#G4 #ResidentEvil #SilentHill
In this week's news roundup:
Devs are asking Xbox to drop the Series S compatibility requirement
G4 is no more... again.
Resident Evil Showcase & Silent Hill Transmission discussion
UK agency seeking public comment on Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard
Xbox update lets you control your TV's volume & set your Home Xbox much easier
EA shutting down multiple online servers for older games
The father of "The Sims" is making a blockchain game
Full VOD can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPw3X6EGVYE
Intro: Run by J+12022-10-221h 03
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Ubisoft's Project U Leak, Quest Pro, Project Keystone?! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - October 14th#Overwatch2 #MetaQuestPro #SteamDeck
In this week's news roundup: Ubisoft's Project U is shown off (kinda) in a (now taken down) leaked developer video, Todd Howard takes your Q&A on Starfield and shares some new details regarding dialog and traits, Meta announces the Quest Pro and it ain't cheap, Phil Spencer yet again teases everyone with a supposed look at Xbox's Project Keystone streaming box, and Valve registers a trademark for a new game(?!). In the Quest Markers, Blizzard sends an apology to Overwatch 2 players by giving out a free skin, Meta acquires the developers behind Iron...2022-10-1552 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Early AccessOn today's episode: In the days of old (and yes, we do mean old), the only way to get your hands on a video game early was to play at one of several kiosks at Walmart, K-Mart, or Target OR purchase a video game magazine that had a demo disk attached to it. Now with both the demo disk gone and the majority of kiosks all but history, the industry has found new ways to adapt to bring early peeks at games into your home. Open betas and closed alphas are ripe for signing up, enticing hundreds of thousands...2022-10-061h 05
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!RIP Stadia, Overwatch 2 Grind, GTA6 Hacker Arrested - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - October 1st#Stadia #Cyberpunk2077 #Overwatch2
In this week's news: Google will be shutting down Stadia in January of next year, and it's offering refunds on both hardware and software purchased since launch. Also, Sega is bringing one of it's arcade games to the blockchain, Cyberpunk 2077 has had a round of success over the last few weeks reaching 20 million in sales thanks to support from the new anime on Netflix, new Overwatch 2 players will need to play 100 matches to unlock all original characters, and the hacker behind the GTA 6 leaks has been arrested and charged! In the Quest Markers, Valve...2022-10-0252 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Nintendo + Playstation + Ubisoft Reveals and More! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - September 17th#PSVR2 #SteamDeck #NintendoDirect
Hoo boy, it's been a crazy week in the gaming news universe! Here's what happened:
Sony confirms the PSVR2 will not be backwards compatible with it's predecessors' games, a developer at Valve shows off some of the bootable(?!?) prototypes of the Steam Deck at the Asian launch event, and of course the meat of this week's news: The PlayStation State of Play, the Nintendo Direct, and the Ubisoft Forward! Kyle & Travis talk all about these three events and what's coming down the line for gaming fans everywhere!
Full VOD of...2022-09-201h 49
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - The Arcade Resurgence#Arcade #BandaiNamco #Arcade1Up
In this week’s episode of Discuss, we take a look at the resurgence of a beloved form of video game entertainment and what its revival means for gamers and non-gamers alike. I’m of course talking about the Arcade!
While the Arcades in the US had begun to drift into the murky depths that imprison Blockbuster and Radio Shack, it doesn’t mean they went away for good. The home console space and its adoption of online play made for a more enticing experience than leaving the house with a pocket...2022-09-1553 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PS Boss not happy about CoD & Xbox, Cyberpunk 2077 DLC - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - September 9th#PlayStation #CallofDuty #Cyberpunk2077
In this week's news roundup: PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan is not happy about the terms set by Xbox for Call of Duty on the PlayStation, Cyberpunk 2077 gets it's first DLC and will be skipping the last-gen hardware all together, the next Battlefield game (sorry 2042) will get a mainline campaign headed up by a former Halo co-creator, the newer & lighter PS5 gets a teardown showing exactly where Sony shaved off some weight, and Disney + Marvel announce some details on upcoming titles from their game series! In the Quest Markers, Tencent is still buying more and...2022-09-131h 16
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Assassin's Creed Mirage, Game Pass Friends & Family - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - September 4th#GamePass #AssassinsCreed #HaloInfinite #PS5 #SteamDeck
In this week's news roundup: Microsoft announces a new Game Pass tier, dubbed Game Pass Friends & Family where you and 4 other family members (or friends) can take advantage of Game Pass Ultimate for a price much lower than buying individual accounts. Also, Assassin's Creed Mirage is the next named title in the Assassin's Creed universe based on leaks (and a subsequent confirmation from Ubisoft)! Then, Halo Infinite Season 3 has been pushed to March of next year (5 more months?!?), Microsoft says Activision-Blizzard titles will show up on Game Pass, and Valve says there...2022-09-051h 06
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Embracer Group buys everything but the kitchen sink! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - August 20th#EmbracerGroup #DiabloIV #Fallout
In this week's news roundup: Embracer Group has gone on another buying spree and picked up the IP for Lord of The Rings media along with several other game companies. Plus, the Fallout TV series sets have been shown off in leaked images, Blizzard confirms no pay-to-win mechanics in Diablo IV, Sony could very well be adding a PlayStation-branded launcher to PC, and Space Channel 5 & Comix Zone could be the next Sega games to head to the silver screen! In Quest Markers, Kyle talks through Multiversus' sales record for the month of July, Death...2022-08-2148 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - We Are VR#VR #OculusQuest #HTCVive #Meta
On today's episode: We aren’t strangers to the world of VR. TV and movies have taken us to places in virtual reality that truly seem like a world within a world - a world free from restrictions where you could do anything you want in the virtual space. And of course games aren’t new to VR, either. Gaming juggernauts of the 90s made attempts to capitalize on virtual reality during the 16 & 32-bit eras, offering unique takes to bring VR to the masses. However, for some, it wasn’t the right time or the...2022-08-111h 12
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Square Enix wants to sell, Pokemon Scarlet+Violet details - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - August 6th#SquareEnix #Pokemon #DiabloImmortal
In this week's news: Square Enix has indicated it wants to diversify itself and sell stakes in it's subsidiaries due to rising game development costs. Also, Xbox Series S is getting a memory bump so devs and players have a better in-game experience, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get a Direct and new details on regions and Pokemon (like one that ferments things as it breaths?!?), and a player in Diablo Immortal can't play PvP because they spent too much on microtransactions. In Quest Markers, Diablo 4 alpha is showing to be promising, Nintendo says no new...2022-08-0750 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!GTA 6 details come out, Quest 2 price bump, PSVR2 features - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - July 16th#gta6 #oculusquest2 #roblox
In this week's news roundup: Bloomberg reports on GTA 6 and it's return to Vice City! Also, Meta plans to bump the Quest 2 price up $100 per model on August 1st, Sony shows off some more PSVR2 goodness, Backbone is bringing a Playstation-themed mobile controller to market, and Roblox is dropping the 'Oof' sound. Plus, this week's Quest Markers include Steam support for Switch retro controllers, speedier Xbox Series console boot times, and Sims 4 update havoc!
Link to the VOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H8urU-RwXk
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Support this podcast: https...2022-07-3150 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - MicrotransactionsOn today's episode: The allure of cosmetics, boosts, and customizations have always been a way to hold onto a gamers attention hoping for that one drop. That one rare skin that makes you look like Darth Vader, or maybe the butterfly knife that displays the logo of your favorite eSports team - there’s always a hook to keep you playing those games. But the C-suite executives in these gaming companies knew that gamers were eager for faster progression, or for the quick fix of a particular drop, so they capitalized on it and embraced the microtransaction model. Games th...2022-07-2158 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Ubisoft pulling plug on some online games, Ragnarok scalpers - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - July 16th#Ubisoft #godofwarragnarok #apexlegends
In this week's news: Ubisoft is pulling the plug on some online services for some classic games, including one they just had on sale during the Steam Summer Sale (gasp!)! Also, Rockstar addresses Red Dead Online's lack of new content, God of War: Ragnarok collector's editions go on sale then get scalped immediately, Respawn is supposedly working on a single-player game in the Apex (nee Titanfall) Universe, and EA retires BioWare Points and gives us Dragon Age & Mass Effect DLC. All that, and more in this week's news roundup!
Full VOD here...2022-07-1940 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Retro in the Now-OOn today's episode: Let’s make this as easy as possible: nostalgia and retro are everywhere! From the rise of the Pop Vinyls covering each category known to entertainment, to T-Shirts sporting logos and designs from a bygone era, and even some forms of entertainment from our childhoods being made available for us to relive the days of yore. This happens to include video games, of course! A portable version of Oregon Trail that lets you get dysentery on the go, Atari and Intellivision making new consoles, and Nintendo going against Sega and Sony to deliver a mini version of...2022-06-3059 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Game Devs Respond to Roe V. Wade, Sonic 3 + Michael Jackson - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - June 25th#roevwade #sonic3andknuckles #diabloimmortal
In this week's news roundup: Kyle & Travis start off discussing the recent decision surrounding Roe Vs. Wade by the Supreme Court and how they and the video game industry have responded to it. Also, Xbox Series consoles outsold the Playstation 5 in Japan, but will that momentum last? And, we also learn that Sonic 3 did have Michael Jackson tracks within it, as well as a streamer spending $16k in Diablo Immortal to prove a point, and 343 thinking about microtransactions for Halo MCC?!?!
Full VOD can be found here: https://www.youtube.com...2022-06-2651 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Overwatch 2 Launch, Diablo Immortal $$, Crisis Core Reveal - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - June 18th 2022#Overwatch2 #DiabloImmortal #FinalFantasy7
In this week's news roundup: Overwatch 2 launch details have been revealed, including news on when it'll launch, how the F2P model will work, and more! Also, Diablo Immortal made $24M in just a few weeks of launch?!? Plus, we talk about Final Fantasy 7 and Crisis Core announcements, Amazon's Prime Day giveaway of 30+ PC games, and 343 stirring up a mess of problems with their Juneteenth nameplate name...
Intro: Run by J+1
Pick up his tracks on Bandcamp today @ https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com...2022-06-1954 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs 3 Year Anniversary Episode!It's The NPCs 3 Year Anniversary Episode! Join Kyle & Travis as they reminisce about the last 3 years of making content together, including how things started, things evolved, and where things have led up to since episode 1 was published on SoundCloud on June 8th, 2019. Also, as a throwback to the days of yore, The NPCs give it a go with a Whadaya' Playin' in Pt. 2 of this episode, where they talk about Halo Infinite, Trek to Yomi, Fortnite, and many other titles from recent months that have kept them gaming along!
Intro: Run by J+1
Outro: Haunt by...2022-06-081h 44
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Paid Memberships & Game Streaming#XboxGamePass #PlayStationPlus #Streaming
On today's episode: The days of handhelds have come and gone, thanks to the success of the Nintendo Switch and its hybrid console approach, as well as the deluge of smartphones that grace nearly everyone’s pockets. With handhelds now a thing of the past AND we can all be sure that the present console shortage isn’t helping in any way, developers and publishers alike are looking for more ways to get their games into people’s hands. In comes the internet to save the day once again! Kinda… Game and nongame companies alike ar...2022-06-021h 24
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - The Grasp of DRMOn today's episode: Remember when you bought a PC game in the 90s, and to fully install the game you needed to input a 16-character code? Ahh, to be in a time like that again. However, in our effort to access games faster, developers did away with pre-packaged codes and either made it so the access was embedded into the disk, was a part of the computer or console… or stood up a server that the game needed to talk with. As fears of digital piracy continued to grow with internet access expanding and evolving, developers and publishers needed to...2022-05-261h 03
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Open World Games (Fun at the Expense of Chores)On today's episode: The open world genre - a mainstay and staple of modern video games that lets you take more control of your experience than the tried and true linear progression system. Our ability to explore is only hampered by the enemies and mobs that litter the different regions, and whether we’re brave (or high level enough) to push through the chaos. While a majority of open world games provide a rather enjoyable experience, there are some that seem to cross into the repetitive and frustrating: Save this outpost, and this outpost, and that outpost; run materials fr...2022-05-121h 09
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Embracer buys Square Enix West Devs, Xbox Streaming Stick - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - May 7th#SquareEnix #Xbox #Fortnite
In the news: Embracer Group snags Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal from Square Enix West for $300M, Xbox has an intermittent outage throughout the weekend that even affected offline play, and is that something to be concerned about with the upcoming Xbox Streaming Stick? Also, a modder turns a toddler toy into a fully working controller - and plays Elden Ring, and Epic Games finds a way to say "F*** YOU APPLE & GOOGLE" with their partnership with Xbox to add Fortnite to Xbox Cloud Streaming.
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com...2022-05-101h 01
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!MSFT+ATVI Merger, OW2 breaks Twitch Record, Disney does ACNH - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - April 30th#Overwatch2 #ActivisionBlizzard #DisneyDreamlightValley
In the news: Sony blocks PlayStation Plus subscription stacking in advance of it's upcoming revamp to the service, but is what they're doing potentially illegal? Also, Activision-Blizzard shareholders vote yes on merging with Microsoft, Overwatch 2's beta launch breaks Overwatch's previous Twitch streaming records, Disney drops their own take on Animal Crossing, and remember kids... the wrist straps that come with your Nintendo Switch for your Joycon's are there for a good reason.
Full VOD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c7zRlGZ3LY
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters...2022-05-0353 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - The Battle Royale DilemmaOn today's episode: It seems like only yesterday that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds launched, and with it a wave - nay, a tsunami - of change that is still with us to this day. 100 players depart from a cargo plane, hover bus, drop ship, helicopter, or some other type of flying object and split across a massive map in hopes of finding the right weapons and gear and making it to the center of the zone before they die or succumb to the wall. However, in those 5 years since PUBG’s release, player expectations for Battle Royale modes have shifted, and...2022-04-281h 02
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Godzilla+Kong+Warzone, GBC-GBA Switch Online, Sony & Xbox Ads - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - April 23rdIn this week's news roundup: 343 shares the roadmap for Halo Infinite Seasons 2 and 3, including when we'll see campaign co-op and Forge. Also, Call of Duty is going to be promoting (for some strange reason) Godzilla vs. Kong in Warzone starting in May, and the handhelds of yore including the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance are rumored to be on their way to Nintendo Switch Online!
Full VOD of News Roundup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efaTvTT3tCg
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2022-04-2658 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - The Struggle with A Game’s LongevityOn today's episode: We’re not shy to admit that we’ve given our fair share of criticism about games in past episodes. When a feature, modification, or change is promised -or- implemented in a well known game series, and it changes the core experience, we’re there to talk about it and what its potential impact might mean for the game - and games like it - going forward. However, as games continue to age and new games come out, the fans of the series look to the devs for more content, more updates, and at the overall health...2022-04-071h 00
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PS+ Tiers, BoTW2 Delayed, E3 2022 Cancelled! - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - April 2nd#PlayStationPlus #HaloInfinite #BreathOfTheWild2
In this week's news roundup: Sony finally announces their answer to Xbox Game Pass... kinda. Also, the Halo devs know that the fans are upset but are the fans really understanding why they're upset? And, Breath of the Wild 2 has been delayed to next year, Minecraft gets (and immediately loses) ray-tracing support on Xbox Series X, and E3 2022 is fully cancelled! Plus, Travis gives his brief review after watching episode 1 of the Halo TV series.
Full VOD of the News Roundup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INYj5maJrFw
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S...2022-04-0557 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Revisiting 'NFTs' and 'Online Only'On today's episode: We last spoke about NFTs in January and Online Only games in July, but there’s been enough that’s changed in the last half a year that has us talking. From big names in the gaming sphere embracing NFTs, and outages on popular titles causing frustrations and game rankings to drop, we felt it necessary to come back around and discuss what these new developments show for the present and future of gaming. In today’s episode, we’re revisiting "NFTs and Gaming," along with "Online Only."
Intro & Outro: Run by J+1
Pick up...2022-03-311h 03The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!GT7 down for 30+ Hours, Doc + NFTs, Hogwarts Legacy SoP - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - March 19th#GranTurismo7 #DrDisrespect #HogwartsLegacy
In this week's news roundup: Gran Turismo 7 is down for over 30 hours due to a bugged patch limiting even "offline" play to... well, nothing. Also, Dr. Disrespect takes his newly created game dev company and starts... selling NFTs? We also talk about the Hogwarts Legacy State of Play, and the first major reviews for the Halo TV Series are out!
Full VOD of the News Roundup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI4YY7hiG88
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support2022-03-2259 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!Dr. Disrespect & Twitch Resolve Issue, Steam Deck + Windows - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - March 12th#DrDisrespect #Overwatch2 #SteamDeck
(Note: Kyle's audio for some reason wasn't working at the start of the livestream, so his audio appears around the 4 minute mark or so. Sorry about that...)
In this week's news roundup: Dr. Disrespect & Twitch appear to come to some type of resolution regarding his ban back in 2020, however The Doc will not be returning to Twitch. Also, the remake of Dead Space is set to drop in early 2023, Overwatch 2 devs say changes in how they approach content with the sequel are incoming, you can now install Windows on your Steam Deck...2022-03-1555 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Controversy's Place in GamingOn today's episode: The video game industry hasn't been shy to embracing controversy in their video games. In 1976, developer Exidy stoked fears from the media with their arcade game, Death Race, and its portrayal of violence against enemies in it's virtual world. Midway Games took it to another level with it's fatalities in Mortal Kombat in 1993 - so much so, that it spawned the ESRB. As graphical and compute power has increased greatly since those games came out, so has the potential to stir even more controversy - increased violence, sexual representation (over-sexualization), controversy for the sake of controversy...2022-03-031h 27
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!PSVR2 Reveal, Street Fighter 6, Tesla wants Steam in cars - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Feb. 26#SteamDeck #Tesla #PlayStationVR2
In this week's news roundup: Valve has indicated that they won't be offering a subscription service like GamePass but wouldn't shy away from helping Microsoft bring it to the Steam Deck, Tesla wants to stir up more chaos by adding Steam to their cars, we get the first official look at the PlayStation VR2, Street Fighter 6 has been announced and quickly torn apart for it's logo choice, Activision has confirmed no mainline Call of Duty will drop in 2023 - a first for the series in 20 years, and Nintendo seemingly acquires a development studio that...2022-02-281h 06
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Nintendon't#Nintendo #3DS #WiiU #eShop
On today's episode: Nintendo has recently announced that they will be shutting down the 3DS and Wii U digital storefronts in March of 2023. For those who continue to play games on both of these consoles, it means access to digital downloads will slowly dwindle away until that time. While we have grown acustom to store shutdowns and inability to access games, there's something about Nintendo's comments on the matter that have us concerned. Why would those comments have us, and the broader preservation and retro communities worried, and what could we see happen...2022-02-241h 02
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!iFixit + Steam Deck, Cyberpunk fix then broken, Halo Forge Leak- NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Feb. 19#Cyberpunk2077 #HaloInfinite #SteamDeck
In this week's news roundup: A former Nintendo of America employee shares the details with Nintendo Life about the Wii U eShop shutdown, iFixit and Valve enter a partnership for iFixit to sell replacement parts for the Steam Deck, Cyberpunk 2077 gets it's 1.5 patch but immediately causes problems for Playstation 4 and PC players, and more!
Full VOD of the news roundup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shU4GVcULT0
Check us out on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNPCsPodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thenpcspodcast2022-02-211h 05
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - The Future of Handheld GamingOn today's episode: Handheld gaming was originally dominated by a select few. The likes of Nintendo's Game Boy and it's offspring, the Nintendo DS, were the rulers of the gaming-on-the-go scene. Competition from Sony with it's PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, Sega with the Game Gear, and many others could not keep pace with the house of Mario. However, Nintendo's attempt to bridge the gap between handheld and home console became an overnight success, and the Switch continues to be a best seller since it's release in 2017. That got many others thinking of what they could provide in lieu...2022-02-171h 08
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Game Company AcquisitionsOn today's episode: Microsoft's announcement to acquire Activision-Blizzard for $69 Billion sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. The powerhouse behind Windows, the Xbox, and Clippy wants to bring in the likes of Arthas, Kerrigan, and Tracer to their broader Xbox Games Studios family. And just the week prior, TakeTwo announced their intent to acquire mobile and web-game studio Zynga for $12 Billion, which had been the record before the Microsoft announcement. With the last few years of big studio purchases and acquisitions by some of the top game companies in the world, this means more and more development and publishing under...2022-02-0357 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - In-Person Gaming EventsOn today's episode: COVID-19 and it's variants continue to cause delays to in-person gatherings, and for us in the gaming sphere many a conference and event have moved online. The likes of E3, GDC, PAX, and many others have had to rethink their approach to an event without risking the health and safety of thousands of people. The efforts to move events online was swift, and was not without some compromise, but was also a chance to branch out some offerings that many regular people didn't get to experience unless they made the pilgrimage to the conference center. Because...2022-01-2042 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - NFTs and GamingOn today's episode:
NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, has been the latest buzzword and craze across the internet for months. While it seems NFTs have been focused on digital art, it hasn’t stopped others from thinking about what is next in the space of blockchain-backed assets. Konami, Ubisoft, and even GameStop have all announced efforts to join in the NFT space, with Ubisoft suffering some backlash from fans about their attempts to include NFTs in Ghost Recon. Some companies have outright refused to allow NFTs on their platform, namely Valve, due to the concerns of this new ma...2022-01-111h 09The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Emulation's FutureAccess to classic video game consoles isn't necessarily hard, but the upkeep of so many different consoles as well as the cost of those consoles and games can be taxing. To solve this, many gamers have turned to emulating those consoles and downloading ROM files of the games they so dearly want to play. However, while the possibility of having every single classic console from the Atari 2600 through the Wii on a single device is there, it doesn't mean that it's legal. If you don't already own the game, then congrats: you have entered the world of piracy. But...2021-12-0354 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Right to Repair In the Gaming WorldOn today's episode:
Electronic waste has become one of the most problematic forms of pollution in the world, with the Americas accounting for 13.1 metric tonnes of e-waste in 2019. The main driver for e-waste generation is the speed at which devices become obsolete, or which a new device surpasses it's predecessor and drives home new value that the previous model didn't. In the world of video games, this is also a serious concern. Attempting to repair your own failed device can be costly and potentially dangerous without some kind of direction or guidance on how to perform the r...2021-11-0453 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Battle PassOn today's episode:
Freemium games, or games that are free but offer pay-to-win options, are all too common in the gaming world. While they originally found more of their home on mobile devices, the idea of the pay-to-win in PC and console video games is expanding and is increasingly becoming the norm. Unlockable skins, guns, characters, you name it... all in the name of either looking better than someone else or getting the upper hand before others can. How has the idea of the pay-to-win scheme affected the likes of gamers everywhere, and what does the market...2021-10-2843 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Consoles, the Next Home PCOn today's episode:
What do the Xbox Series consoles, the PS5, and the last generations of consoles all have in common? It's not cross play, and it sure isn't the exclusive count - but the chips and silicon inside the consoles themselves. These chipsets are derived from those being sold for the PC market, with AMD working in tandem with Sony and Microsoft to deliver on their hardware. With the Xbox taking things further and adding in support for Keyboard and Mouse, and a browser that works near 1 for 1 with it's desktop component, we are curious: have...2021-10-0758 minThe NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Next Gen Hidden CostsOn today's episode:
One of the key selling points for the Xbox Series consoles and the PlayStation 5 was the ability to purchase a game once and play that title on both the new console and it's last generation counterpart. With limited console supply, this allowed gamers to purchase a title and potentially allow for them to play it in it's next gen format without paying for another of the same game. With Sony's recent announcement that one of their exclusive titles would be requiring a repurchase or a purchase of a higher tier version, we wonder if m...2021-09-0953 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - PC Gaming on the Go!On today's episode:
While PC gaming is not new, its popularity has increased greatly in the last two decades. The barriers for those wanting to purchase or even build their own gaming PC have been torn down, and outside of current component prices, is a much simpler task to accomplish nowadays. For those who prefer to play PC games comes the hope to take those games on the go without having to either pack up a whole desktop OR spend more money on a dedicated gaming laptop. Device makers now see the opportunity to launch portable products t...2021-08-261h 08
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Cheating & HackingOn today's episode:
Cheating has been a part of gaming history for a long time. From the days of yore with GameShark attachments for the PS1, Cheat Code Central providing you the button presses to unlock all weapons, and the infamous rosebud cheat in the Sims to add money to your account, it's a part of normal business. But what about the darker side of cheating, not to mention hacking? Aim bots, wall hacks, exploited glitches... these are terms that have become a part of the cheating lexicon. What does cheating and hacking look like now compared...2021-08-0550 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Live Service GamesOn today's episode: Are the chances for standalone, single release titles starting to become a thing of the past? It sure seems to be that way. Games that release once but continue through many years of content updates and "seasons" are becoming more of the norm. MMO's have been notorious for this for some time, but titles such as Fortnite, Warframe, and Destiny have taken the same approach and been successes in their own right. We ask the question again: Are the chances for standalone, single release titles starting to become a thing of the past? We look into...2021-07-2956 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Video Game PreservationOn today's episode: video games as we know them have been around for nearly 50 years, with the release of the Magnavox Odyssey in September of 1972. Over time the industry grew, crashed, revived, and re-grew, and we have experienced 9 generations of consoles and games with memories and experiences tied to each. But to experience those classics in their original form this day and age has become a challenge, as the efforts to maintain a large swath of titles including those with now-defunct online services increases with complexity each and every day. What does that mean for those working to collect...2021-07-221h 13The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!The NPCs Discuss - Online OnlyIn the video game days of yore, a player would be able to purchase a game from KB Toys or K-Mart and know they were getting a fully functioning and complete title. As the internet entered our homes and our consoles, games that were considered complete were found with game breaking bugs or missing content. And thus the Day 1 Patch was born. And to top it off, game companies felt the need to be sure we were always connected to the internet, even if a game may not look like it requires it. Couch co-op was relgated to party...2021-07-0856 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs Weekly News Roundup | Week of May 7th 2021Kyle & Travis get together every Friday night and talk about this week's gaming news! Check out the livestream every Friday night on Facebook Live and YouTube Live!
Timestamps:
Intro: 1:34
Walmart's Project Storm: 3:26
Nintendo Announces Game Builder Garage: 21:51
Yakuza Sequels & Lost Judgement: 28:46
The Division Mobile Game: 35:42
Switch Sales Numbers: 45:29
Playstation Digital Store Lawsuit: 54:16
E3 Adds Square Enix, Bandai, & more: 59:53
Tribeca Games Award: 1:08:02
Titanfall 2 Gauntlet Record Beat, again!: 1:11:39
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The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Roundup Finale - Best Game of 2020Hello everyone, and welcome not only to a new year, but the last episode in The NPCs '...Of the Year' roundup for 2020! We've talked about Best New Game, Best Art Direction, Worst Game, Best Story, and Biggest News of 2020. The battles were hard, the wars were long, but we have finally reached the end! It's time to determine which title earns Best Game of The Year!
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Intro: Run by J+1
Outro: Haunt...2021-01-071h 27
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Roundup Ep. 6 - Biggest News Stories of 2020Extra, extra! Read all about it! The NPCs are doing yet another "...Of The Year Award" for 2020 podcast ! That's right folks, for the week of December 19th 2020, we are back at it to decide which of the items in this list earns one of our awards for the year. In this episode, it's time to rewind the news reels, review the breaking stories, and determine which Video Game News Stories were the biggest of 2020.
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Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thenpcspodcast
I...2020-12-241h 19
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Roundup Ep. 5 - Best Game Story of 2020Welcome you beautiful people to the 5th episode of The NPCs "...Of The Year Awards 2020," for the week of December 19th 2020. It was only a few weeks ago that we sat here and deliberated over which video games throughout history had the best story of all time. Now it's time to hit the brakes, throw this ride into reverse, and do the same thing over again for this year's game releases. That's right folks, buckle up! It's time to determine which games released this year had the Best Story!
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Facebook...2020-12-221h 02
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Roundup Ep. 4 - Worst Game of 2020Welcome everyone to the 4th episode of The NPCs ...Of The Year Awards 2020,, for the week of December 12th 2020. After the trials and tribulations of 3 episodes so far, you'd figure we would have learned our lesson and stopped doing this... but nope! Here we are! In this episode we torture ourselves, dig the game disks out of the trash, and force ourselves to give an award to the Worst/Most Disappointing Game of 2020...
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Intro...2020-12-1753 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Awards Ep. 3 - Best Music-Score-Soundtrack of 2020Welcome everyone to the 3rd episode of The NPCs ...Of The Year Awards 2020, for the week of December 12th 2020. Yes, that's right everyone, it's time for Preston, Kyle, and Travis to sit back and deliberate even more on the games released this year and whether or not they earn one of our Best Of awards. For episode 3, we plug in the headphones, crank up the volume, and immerse ourselves in these video game worlds to determine which game has the Best Music-Score-Soundtrack of 2020.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNPCsPodcast2020-12-1558 min
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs ...Of The Year Awards Ep. 2 - Best Art Direction of 2020Welcome everyone to the second "...Of The Year" Awards episode from The NPCs! We have finally entered the last few weeks of 2020, and as such, it is time for the 3 of us to sort out the massive list of video games released this year and determine what reigns supreme in several major categories. For the week of December 5th, 2020, Preston, Kyle, and I began our journey earlier by determining the Best New Game of the year. Now, we band back together and sort out the list we have to determine which video game of 2020 had the Best Art Direction. 2020-12-101h 17
The NPCs - Video Game Commentary, Video Game News, And More!NPCs "...Of The Year" Awards Ep. 1 - Best New Game of 2020Welcome everyone to the first "...Of The Year" 2020 Awards episode from The NPCs. We have finally entered the last few weeks of 2020, and as such, it is time for the 3 of us to sort out the massive list of video games released this year and determine what reigns supreme in several major categories. For the week of December 5th, 2020, Preston, Kyle, and I will work out which game of 2020 earns the "Best New Game" award.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNPCsPodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thenpcspodcast
2020-12-081h 05