1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Anny and Smantha and welcome to stuff 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: I never told you production of My Heart Radio. 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 2: And welcome to well this kind of fun episode. I 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: want to say, kind of fun. We've been planning on 5 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: doing another gaming episode for a minute now and I'm like, 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: you know what, let's do this. So here we are. 7 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 2: I am going to put a date on this because 8 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: we do have so many of these episodes, and I'm 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 2: sure we're going to continue to talk about it because 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: it's something that we both have interest in as well 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: as it's a growing industry that we want to keep 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: a watch on, especially when it comes to involving marginalized people. 13 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: So today is as of the recording January twenty seventh, 14 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six. It'll be released on January twenty eighth, 15 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six. That turnaround, Yeah, look, she's the best 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: we left. So in this one, we decided to review 17 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 2: at least so three. Picked out three games, one that 18 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: I have played and recommended, one that Aie has played 19 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: and recommended, and one that is new to both of us, 20 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: so that we were going to kind of break down 21 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: what we chose and how we liked them and what 22 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 2: we think about these games and then just to have 23 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: a con of conversation about how these games made us 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 2: feel or didn't make us feel. I don't know. But 25 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: before we get into all of that, I wanted to 26 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: take a minute about the state of cozy games and 27 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: gaming today and what it looks like if anything's changed again. 28 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: I think we started really talking about this. Was that 29 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 2: pre COVID or post COVID or mid COVID pandemic closed down. 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 2: I don't know how you say that. 31 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: I think it was like early COVID. I think that's 32 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: when we started to do it. Yeah, because I you know, 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: I've always been a gamer, but I feel like that's 34 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: when you started. 35 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: I was picking up things because I'm like, I am bored. 36 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: I think it was a little past COVID for me 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: because Animal Crossing was not on my radar, even though 38 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: it was huge. 39 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, it came out right where like shut down was happening. 40 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: I remember you were getting like fan requests, like all 41 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 2: of our listeners like any you have to play this, 42 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: you have to play this, and they're like Samantha, you exist, 43 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: and then I'm like I kind of like it. But 44 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 2: all that to say, I think this journey has been 45 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,799 Speaker 2: coming over a round. So we've been at least we'll 46 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 2: say five years for as a smnteezy interest, meaning we're 47 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: talking about it because you've been talking about that gaming beforehand, 48 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: because we talked about the doxing and as as such, 49 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: but specifically to cozy gaming and gaming specifically aimed at 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 2: women more so than not. Again, cozy games have been 51 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: marketed towards women more than men, but that doesn't mean 52 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: much because everybody enjoys animal crossing, am I right? 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you can see the episode we did on 54 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: tech Stuff with Jonathan, Yes, where we talked about cozy gaming, 55 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: but no, they're just nice and there's a lot a 56 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,119 Speaker 1: variety within the genre. So yes, even though it has 57 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: been marketed traditionally towards women, I think that pretty much 58 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: everybody has a cozy game that they could go to. Well. 59 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 2: So since the growing popularity of cozy games, there have been, 60 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 2: you know it, some concerns, especially recently and what is 61 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: happening with the new games being released. One of the 62 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: conversations we had is the fact that cozy games have 63 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: really allowed for more diversity in the gaming community. That's 64 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: not one of the concerns, by the way, that's not 65 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: a concern, that's yays happening. Maybe things will change, and 66 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: different reports show an increase of women or non body 67 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 2: of folks being involved in the world of gaming, everything 68 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: from actually creating and developing, to reviewing and critiquing, to 69 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: playing and competing within these worlds, like there are some 70 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: big names coming out all of a sudden, like we're 71 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: excited to see it that are of the marginalized community. Now, 72 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: the gaming worlds outside of the Cozy games are still 73 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: mainly made up of men, with a lot of toxic 74 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: gatekeeping is still happening. It still exists, a lot of 75 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: dick pics, doxing, a lot of that has happened, but 76 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: the gozy games have helped change that a bit. So 77 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 2: in the GDC survey they report an increase of women 78 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: within the industry and this is specifically written in Women 79 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: in Games dot Com, so they write the latest GDC 80 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: State of the Industry report has revealed that twenty five 81 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: percent of the game's workforce are women, compared to twenty 82 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: three percent reported in last year's survey. So, you know, 83 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 2: two percent, we'll take it. It's not great, but wins 84 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 2: agains gros. So Meanwhile, they say six percent of the 85 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: three thousand developers who responded to the survey identified as 86 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: non binary. Men are still dominating the sector at sixty 87 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: six percent. However, as highlighted by the authors of the report, 88 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: that figure was seventy five percent in twenty twenty. Again, 89 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: all right, nice change, meaning that we've seen a nine 90 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 2: point change over the past five years. Elsewhere, the research 91 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: has aveuiled that LGBTQ plus representation has also increased, up 92 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 2: from twenty one percent to in twenty twenty four to 93 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 2: twenty four percent of this year. So again it's not huge, 94 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 2: but it's still progressed. So we're gonna take our wins 95 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: where we can, y'all. So we're going to and we're 96 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: gonna cross our fingers. It's gonna go upward, right right. 97 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: So some numbers that I saw while researching include these 98 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: from gnmnews dot com. Gender diversity in the game industry 99 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: has been a notable shift over the past few years. 100 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: Women and non buying developers now make up thirty two 101 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: percent of game developers, compared to twenty nine percent last 102 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 2: year and twenty four percent and twenty twenty two. Again, 103 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: men make up two thirds. We saw this and the 104 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: increase of diversity in gaming is positive as well. Quote 105 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 2: the industry has also seen a change in racial and 106 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: ethnic diversity in the game development community since last year, 107 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 2: though it's a little more difficult to quantify as many 108 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 2: of these changes are too small to draw conclusions. According 109 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: to the survey done by GDC, sixteen percent of developers 110 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: are East, South or Southeast Asian, one tenth are Hispanic, 111 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: Latino or of Spanish origin, and three percent are Black, 112 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: African or Caribbean. The combined increases did manifest in a 113 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: year over year decrease in the number of respondents identifying 114 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: as white art Caucasian, going from sixty four percent in 115 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four to fifty nine percent today. So of 116 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 2: course that's a lot of numbers saying that, yes, there's 117 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: small changes happening, we are seeing better looks. It did 118 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 2: talk about EDI or DEI essentially being placed in a 119 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: lot of these companies, but we know we have regressed, 120 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: and these numbers come from twenty twenty four, so that 121 00:06:55,160 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: was before this awful administration occurred. Women of Silence moving on, 122 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 2: but again, so with the continued increase of women in 123 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: non byfolk in the industry, it is great, but slow, 124 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: very slow, very very slow. Again, a win is a win, 125 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: is a win is a win, especially when we see 126 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: how many games are coming now, So that means that 127 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 2: maybe even though we're seeing in percentage, the actual numbers 128 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: are higher than you would think. So that is good 129 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: to note because we see new companies popping up, we 130 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: see new developers popping up, we see new like companies 131 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: popping up, so you know, we're gon we're gonna be 132 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: really optimistic with that one. And again, it isn't surprising 133 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: to know that the cozy gaming industry has grown significantly 134 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: and not all of that is positive, like we said, 135 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: uh So, in twenty twenty four, one YouTuber ducky Games 136 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: states that the industry made around nine hundred and seventy 137 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: three million dollars, so it's getting close to a billion 138 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: and cozy games alone, I'm guessing in the next year 139 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: or so we're gonna hit the They're gonna hit that 140 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 2: billion dollar mark for sure. And she has noted that 141 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: the large quantity does not equate to quality. And again 142 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: she's not the only one to see this, and if 143 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: you go watch her videos, she's got a lot of 144 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: good stuff on gaming she I think, says she's not 145 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 2: necessarily a cozy gamer herself, like she loves gaming in general, 146 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 2: but this is what she's seen and doesn't love the 147 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 2: cozy gaming industry. Again, this goes back to the like 148 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: back and forth of like who's a gamer or who's not. 149 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: But she's not necessarily talking about all of that, but 150 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 2: is talking about again the quality that is being split 151 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 2: out right now and who is profiting off of it. 152 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: And I think that's always something that we should look at, 153 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 2: no matter what industry. Right So, the indie Game Culture 154 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 2: site talks a bit about this as well. They say 155 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 2: people value authentic and honest content and coverage, something that 156 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: is becoming harder and harder to find in mainstream gaming media. 157 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: And they continue, I know firsthand that plenty of the 158 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 2: big sites we consume now run on semi and full 159 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: blown AI rider models, and I know that the content 160 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: they produce is all about volume rather than quality, as 161 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: a system where they burn out contributors and cast them 162 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 2: aside like the used napkin, replacing them with a new 163 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: bump in the seat when they are of no further use. 164 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 2: But that's not what I want to point the finger 165 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 2: at today. I want to point the finger at cozy 166 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 2: gaming as a genre and why this niche pocket of 167 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: gaming is making it so much easier for websites to 168 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: trick consumers into believing that cute equates to quality. And 169 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 2: that's a complaint from many of the cozy game content creators. 170 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,599 Speaker 2: So it's not just gamers that are talking about this, 171 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: it's those who would consider themselves in the cozy game niche. 172 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 2: They say that too. I've seen several complaints about that 173 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 2: big companies are trying to trick consumers with style, but 174 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 2: again they have no sub instances. So back to that 175 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 2: indiegameculture dot com article, they say, what I'm saying here 176 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 2: is that you are being sold marketing. If a game 177 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 2: looks cute and cozy is easier to sell, and when 178 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,719 Speaker 2: you discover it was all style over substance, you will 179 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: end up feeling cheated. And that's not a mistake, it's 180 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 2: a pattern. And some argue that the term is what's 181 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: causing a bit of chaos within the industry. So from 182 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: her Cozygaming dot Com they write, the problem with cozy 183 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: game is the blanket use of the term cozy to 184 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 2: sell any game. A developer reached out to me via 185 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 2: email before Christmas to ask my opinion on whether or 186 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 2: not I felt their new game was cozy enough. I 187 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: gave my opinion and never heard from them again. I 188 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: feel like developers are slapping cozy in their titles or 189 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 2: descriptions of their game simply debate cozy gamers, and they 190 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: aren't the only ones arguing this. I think the question 191 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 2: is what are we or what are people labeling as 192 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: cozy games? Is it cozy or is it just that 193 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 2: this term is subjective, Like different people have different ways 194 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 2: of being cozy, and he likes to be sad eternally 195 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: that makes her cozy. That makes me want to throw ones. 196 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: That's why I'm very I'm excited to talk about our 197 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: uh our Selections service because I think it showcases something 198 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: it does. 199 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 2: It does by the way it does, but also like 200 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: there's a new genre like cozy horror games, cozy dark games. 201 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 2: We had the conversation because I said, I don't think 202 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 2: Zelda Breath of the Wild is cozy, and many people do. 203 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, and this is also we talked about this 204 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: in that episode with Jonathan. But there's also cozy games 205 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: and comfort games. And I would say last of us 206 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: is a comfort game. Yes, I would never ever ever 207 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: say it's a cozy game. That's a different thing. 208 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 2: That's a different thing. And that's kind of the back 209 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: and forth, like who's using this term? Why are you 210 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 2: using this term? This isn't cozy, this is comfort like 211 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 2: this is a different Lyrically later and again Duckie Games. 212 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 2: Actually I had talked about that in her videos. She 213 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 2: was like, I have comfort games that I know are 214 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 2: not cozy like type of conversation. But because of this, 215 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: they really are putting this as a market. Again, one 216 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: thing can be certain in the world of capitalism, big 217 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: companies will try to take advantage of any profit margin, 218 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 2: seeking quick content for quick bucks. So again that was 219 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: my statement. We know this in capitalism point blank. If 220 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: they can make money off of women and marginalized communities, 221 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: they're gonna because the people who are buying the most 222 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: typically are the women of the family. And now that 223 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: women have hopped on board and be like, oh this 224 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: is made for me, and not feeling as ostracized as 225 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 2: if they were as they were in other games, finding 226 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: this community has become a new well obviously a big market. 227 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 2: They're butt hit billion dollars in profits. 228 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and we have talked about this a lot, 229 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: and it's one of the things that frustrates me is 230 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: that women have been left out of the what we 231 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: call console gaming market for a long time and or 232 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: just been kicked out or been harassed out or whatever 233 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: it is, and it's not been a safe space. And 234 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: so it it frustrates me and it makes me sad 235 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: because cozy games are usually kind of relaxing, nice pretty 236 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: like music. The music is nice, the graphics are nice 237 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: and kind of simple with the controls, and they're they're 238 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: really lovely and I don't want to like make them 239 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 1: sound lesser at all. But it makes me mad because 240 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: it's clear that women do like games, right, and so 241 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 1: we've kind of put them in this will have your 242 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: cozy game then, right, Which if that's all you want, 243 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: that's that's perfectly fine, there's nothing wrong with that. But 244 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: I do think like it's clear that we've kind of 245 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: been like, okay, they. 246 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: Can relegate it to the space, yes. 247 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: And now that they're like, oh, we can make money. 248 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 2: Right, And that's a bigger conversation is also, are you 249 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 2: trying to segregate women from other games essentially by creating 250 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: this category and not understanding the bigger picture of what 251 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 2: this could be again, like introducing Breath of the Wild 252 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: as a game option. Because you like this game, you 253 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 2: like these things, so why don't you try this type 254 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 2: of conversation? And I think it's a bigger point of 255 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: seeing that, like, oh, is that just cashing in on 256 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: bad games that are similar to other games? Again, like 257 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 2: you can get inspirations from other game and if it's good, great, 258 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 2: you know, like more power to you. You've made a 259 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 2: better version or just as good version. And people have 260 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: been wanting that, like I'm still waiting for some update 261 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 2: to Snuffkins. Why won't give me that? And is that's 262 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 2: one of the most simple games that you're ever gonna have. 263 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 2: But I loved the simplicity of it. I love the 264 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 2: tale of it, and I love the legend behind it. 265 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: It goes way back in the storytelling. So stuff like 266 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: that like made me very happy. It's very simplistic. There 267 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: are these levels of conversations that could be had of 268 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 2: like good games versus And I will say so each 269 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 2: of the sites that I quoted or used, they have 270 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 2: a lot of reviews and they do talk about make 271 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: sure you go to reputable people who do good reviews 272 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: so that you don't waste your money and they can 273 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 2: tell you first hand, because even they are saying, and 274 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 2: many people have said, even the headlines that we see 275 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 2: like the big grabs and like, oh you need to 276 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 2: these games are coming up, we're so excited can be 277 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: bought and are oftentimes bought, and so not all of 278 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 2: them are great. Just because they're on a list does 279 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: not make them an actual quality game. And to make 280 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 2: sure to wait it out unless it's something that you 281 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: already invested in, because I love kickstarters for that, because 282 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: oftentimes that does hopefully mean the likelihood of it being 283 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: better because people see the interests so they want to 284 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 2: grow on that. But allowing for reviewers to come in 285 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: and have talk to give you true, honest reviews and 286 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 2: be able to investigate and invest in a good game, 287 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: or do like me and wait till Anie plays it 288 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 2: and she tells you to pay play that game. 289 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: I try, I mean I try to think of what 290 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: you would like. 291 00:16:48,120 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you do the job with that. So 292 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: with all of that, the one thing that has uppealed 293 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 2: to consumers like us are the indie creators and the 294 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: studios who are doing good quality work for better experiences. 295 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 2: So we're going to talk about a few of them. 296 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 2: I think we picked out some good ones. I don't 297 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: know that. I don't know if you think this any 298 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 2: but I think we did a good job. And we're 299 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: going to take some time to review three and let 300 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 2: you know our experiences thus far. Yes, and we're going 301 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: to start off with the one that was new to 302 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 2: us game like I just kind of reviewed it. It 303 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: is supposedly from an indie creator, women led or at 304 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 2: least women involved game called tavern Talk, So go ahead 305 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: and we put this in caveat. It is like Coffee Talk, 306 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 2: which we loved. You know this we did part one 307 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 2: and two because we really really enjoyed this level of 308 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 2: storytelling making simple coffees, which, by the way, in the 309 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 2: second one, I got stumped. I was like, I don't 310 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 2: know what you want. I don't know what you want. 311 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: I'm doing this wrong. So I did pause on that one, 312 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 2: but we'll get back to it. But tavern Talk is 313 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 2: very similar to that. And sometimes these games don't have 314 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: their own sites or don't update their sites well, so 315 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 2: we have to go to other people and back to 316 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: the game the indie game reviewer dot com. They wrote 317 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 2: this about Tavern Talk. Tavern Talk a self described a 318 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 2: cozy visual novel about running a tavern in a D 319 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 2: and D inspired fantasy where you serve drinks to high 320 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 2: fantasy adventures. It goes on as a seemingly nameless innkeeper 321 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 2: in the land of Hysteria. Your job is anything but simple. 322 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 2: Between posting up quests on the local board and trying 323 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: to pry drink orders out of chatty adventurers, everyone comes 324 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 2: to talk about their problems. Thankfully you are the patient 325 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 2: sort I hope. Okay, any I'm gonna tell you honestly, 326 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 2: it took me thirty minutes with the break in between 327 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 2: because I got frustrated. Oh no, trying to figure out 328 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 2: how to do the drinks is like, what the hell 329 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 2: is this? I even looked it up on like one 330 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: of those like how do you make drinks? 331 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: Oh no? 332 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 2: Because I was Yes, you have simple, simple simpletons like 333 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 2: myself who are like what this doesn't make sense? Am 334 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 2: I supposed to memorize what these are? You are not 335 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: you do like I had troubles? Okay, it it took 336 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: me a minute. It took me a minute. Once I 337 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 2: figured it out. Oh okay, okay, I got it. I'm there, 338 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: I get it. I get it. I finally jumped in, 339 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,479 Speaker 2: and I have not gone far because I will say 340 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 2: your game distracted me pretty hardcore. So but I've gotten 341 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 2: into a few days. I'm like, okay, and thus far 342 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 2: I do like it. What what are your thoughts on 343 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 2: this game? Did you struggle? I know you didn't, but 344 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: you know whatever, I did a little. 345 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 1: I So what I really like about this game obviously 346 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: the D and D yees component. 347 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 2: This is where you and I go differentcause I have 348 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 2: no idea. I know the just of it, but I'm like, 349 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 2: I don't know if any of these significants. I feel 350 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 2: like they have all these significance because they've already had 351 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 2: inside Jos and I'm like, I don't know what that means. 352 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, So this is why I think I was able 353 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: to probably get over my struggles more quickly, is that 354 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: it has the drinks are like charisma based or dexterity 355 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: based or constitution based, which is all that's all D 356 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: and D those are your stats? 357 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:31,360 Speaker 2: Is that the diceing? 358 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: Okay? Yeah, so like basically your character has high charisma, 359 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: which means you have a much better likelihood of charming 360 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: someone into doing something, or you have high dexterity, which 361 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: means you're much stealthier things like that, So they usually 362 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: ask for like I want to drink with high dexterity 363 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: or something, or they'll even let you choose. Sometimes they're 364 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: like either this or this. So I think because of that, 365 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: the way you make the drinks, it has all of 366 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: the traits kind of around a circle and you're trying 367 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: to make sort of a shape. And I was able 368 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: to be like, they want some dexterity here, this is here, 369 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: this is ever here. So I think my Dungeons and 370 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:19,719 Speaker 1: Dragons knowledge really came in came in clutch. Also, I 371 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: did really like I've been nostalgic and missing Dungeons and 372 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: Dragons lately. My group, all of us are busy, we've played, 373 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: we haven't played in years, but I got asked to 374 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: DM a new campaign, so I'm feeling like all of 375 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 1: these memories are coming back. And I was also coaching 376 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: a new DM recently and DM being Dungeon Master, and 377 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 1: so it was nice playing this. But it's a very 378 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: common Dungeons and Dragons trope to have the bulletin board 379 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: to have the like quest on a bulletin board and 380 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: people can look at them. But they were the first 381 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: time I was a DM, I had this, I had 382 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: I made like all of these flyers, and of course 383 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 1: the one they picked up was the silliest one I made, 384 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: which was about Old Blumpy who was a fortune teller. 385 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: And they were like, you know, the wolves are killing 386 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: everybody over here and all of these other more important things. 387 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: They're like, let's go see the fortune teller. But so 388 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: I really appreciated that because there's an element of sort 389 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 1: of a bulletin board of as signing quest and trying 390 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: to figure out these characters and what they need as 391 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: being the innkeeper. 392 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 2: So the innkeeper's the DM. Is that what we're saying, okay, okay, okay. 393 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: I would say that there at least you're trying to 394 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: figure out, Oh I should give them this quest and 395 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 1: then they should do it with charisma, which is what 396 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: I did for the first one. 397 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 2: Oh okay. So yeah, so obviously those went over my head. 398 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 2: I was just trying to figure out what I was 399 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 2: doing because I did not understand what these were. I 400 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 2: understood they were potions that I got, so my navigating 401 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 2: it was a little more difficult because I'm also coming 402 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 2: from like Coffee Talk, which was very like these are ingredients, 403 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 2: I know, macha, sugar, honey great, So like this was 404 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 2: a little bit of a term. But I did like 405 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 2: the storytelling, the art, and the reminiscence to Coffee Talk 406 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 2: was really nice. That's why all the characters are fun. Yeah, 407 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: I'm enjoying that. Rearranging the boards, putting them in files. 408 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 2: That was fun. That's a new thing to add. 409 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's very beautiful and it is funny because you 410 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,360 Speaker 1: do have these characters in usually in Dungeons and Dragons, 411 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,959 Speaker 1: and I always am embarrassed. The first one I played 412 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: was such a stereotype of like the person who never 413 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: talks to anybody, and they're so frustrating, Like how do 414 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: you play with a character that never talks to anybody? 415 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: And there's a character like that in this game? And 416 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: I was like, I know you, I knew you. 417 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 2: I was you. Oh that's funny. Well how far did 418 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 2: you get into the game? 419 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: Are you? I got to the second I've assigned two quests. 420 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 2: Okay, yes, I'm not. I've gotten all some several quests together, 421 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: like the I have like four quests up there, but 422 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 2: I've only assigned one and that was a whole back 423 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: and forth. 424 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: That was the whole back. Yeah, that was well. 425 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: Did you not have this back and forth? It was like, yes, 426 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 2: are you going to? Do you want to? You sure 427 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 2: you want to? You kind of want to? What do 428 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: you what type of conversation. 429 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: Well, that's the one where you choose between charisma and dexterity, right, 430 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: And I said charisma. I think she's going to be 431 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: better with charisma for thinking of the same. 432 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did too. We'll see what happens. But yeah, 433 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 2: so I'm I'm about the same. I think you're a 434 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 2: little farther ahead of me. Like I said, the frustrated 435 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 2: should have had me and I was like, no, that's 436 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 2: what's happening. No, but I do enjoy it thus far. 437 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 2: Now that I've got gained, I was like, okay, okay, 438 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 2: now gain knowledge. So I'm guessing I'm going to learn 439 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 2: some things about D and D maybe through this game. 440 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. Honestly, I think that a lot of stuff as 441 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: complicated as D and D is, I think a lot 442 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: of it is pretty like oh yeah, if you have 443 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 1: a high dexterity, you can sneak around more. I don't know, 444 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: but yes, I think you will learn. 445 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 2: More well, and this game has already expanded. There is 446 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,719 Speaker 2: downloadable content. I did buy the package, and I think 447 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 2: there's a secondary one coming through. So it's it's building, 448 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 2: like it has become successful enough that it is building 449 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 2: is entirety, and I think there's a lot more as 450 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 2: we know when D and D can go forever. So yes, 451 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 2: we'll see, I guess with that, mm hmmm, we'll see. 452 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: There's a twist with thee. 453 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 2: The way it sounds to me that there is. Yes, 454 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: the way they're setting this up, especially with like the 455 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 2: clues and the previews and like the details of like 456 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: seemingly simple. 457 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: But this could be another instance where we've just watched 458 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 1: too many Yeah, too many. 459 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 2: Horror figured out the murder mystery was not that complicated. Yeah, 460 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 2: moving on, So we'll see, we'll see, we'll come back 461 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 2: and report, But thus far, I do recommend. I think 462 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 2: I should have put this at the very beginning. None 463 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: of these are sponsors. Yeah, I want if you want 464 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 2: to talk to us about sponsors, just here. We enjoyed 465 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 2: these things, so come at us bro. And then the 466 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 2: second game was my recommendation and actually a Jonathan recommendation. 467 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 2: We did talk about this earlier, and that is Unpacking, 468 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 2: which is a big game. This has won all of 469 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 2: the awards. It is on top of every list that 470 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 2: could be created. It is women created, women created. It 471 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 2: is very fun, nostalgic. 472 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 1: Uh. 473 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: And this is from unpackinggame dot com. They write Unpacking 474 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 2: is a game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions 475 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 2: out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. 476 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 2: Part block fitting, puzzle, part home decoration. You're invited to 477 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 2: create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the 478 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 2: life you're unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, 479 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 2: you're given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy 480 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 2: with a character you never see in a story you're 481 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 2: never told. And that took me a minute to figure 482 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: it out. I'm like, oh, this is her childhood home. 483 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 2: Oh this is our high school. Oh this is our 484 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 2: college times. Oh this is our first relationship. Like there 485 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: are so many things that you see that you slowly unpack, 486 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 2: and you slowly see I will say I did not finish. 487 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 2: I have not finished this game. I'm slowly working on it. 488 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 2: My partner's sister, like we sent this this game up, 489 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 2: specifically like this switch up and for him and his 490 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 2: family when I wasn't with them, and she played it 491 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 2: and loved it, and I was like, yeah, she went 492 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 2: through it very quickly apparently, and she finished it and 493 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 2: she was like, oh my god, this is so great. 494 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,959 Speaker 2: So I'm like, okay, okay, I love it. But I 495 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 2: think it was very It is when I first started 496 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: playing it. It is very satisfying, and there's thing very like. 497 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 2: This is to me, the epitome of cozy. It's kind 498 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 2: of like how Animal Crossing became a beginning cozy as well. 499 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 2: It was part of the epitome of the packaging of 500 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 2: cozy gaming because it is puzzle solving but simple, and 501 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 2: the music is like appeasing and relaxing. That's my opinion though. 502 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 2: But Annie, this was your first time play through. What 503 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 2: was your thoughts? How far did you get through it? 504 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:26,360 Speaker 2: Tell me everything? 505 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: Okay. First of all, I have to say we dodged 506 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: a bullet, Samantha, because I almost downloaded the game called 507 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: Unboxing Oh No, and it was very poorly reviewed, and 508 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: I was like, surely this is not the games that 509 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: was talking about. So I found I was like, this 510 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 1: one must be the one. Yeah, yeah, you played the 511 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: right one. But it was a close call. You know before, 512 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: I've made this mistake on this podcast. Uh No, I 513 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: really enjoyed it. It was It's very funny to me 514 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: because I think this brings us to the crux of 515 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: our different games. We like. I really enjoyed it, But 516 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:15,479 Speaker 1: it made me feel like I needed to clean up, 517 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: clean up my apartment. 518 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 2: I was satisfied with that. I'm like, I'm done, I clean. 519 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: I felt like I needed I was like, well, I 520 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: should go, and. 521 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: It was judging you for not doing it to your 522 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 2: own place. 523 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: I liked that you were figuring out this life of 524 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: this character through what you were unpacking. I was a 525 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: bit specific about where I would put things. Again, I 526 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: think I wasn't relaxing as much as I should. I 527 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: was like, well, space wise, you. 528 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 2: Said no, we should go here. Why are you not 529 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 2: let me? I did do that a couple of times, 530 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 2: like why is it? Why can't I put it here? 531 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: I want to hear Yeah, like if you have a 532 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: desk and I can't fit all of the computers stuff 533 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: on the desk, you need a bigger desk. But yeah, No, 534 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: I really did enjoy it. I thought it was fun 535 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: and it was really easy, like it was a very 536 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: simple thing to pick up, and it was soothing and 537 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: it was satisfying when the blocks would close up, like you. 538 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 2: Did this, nicely done, nicely done. I feel like now. 539 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 2: And then they would throw things in there. They're like, yeah, 540 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 2: where'd that come from? 541 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: There were some things I couldn't even tell what they were. 542 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, it's definitely like so we know, 543 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 2: like the like almost pixelated animations is kind of associated 544 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 2: with cozy gaming as well. It's the throwback level of 545 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 2: gaming that we know. But like it is it was like, uh, 546 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 2: what is that? 547 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: Is that a toy? 548 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 2: Or is that a what is it? 549 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 1: Is that a toilet bush? There are a bunch of 550 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: like small, little like spiral looking things. 551 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,719 Speaker 2: I was like, where does this go? It's very tiny. 552 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I just put them all on the shelf and 553 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 1: it's like it seemed to belong together, so that's where 554 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 1: they go. 555 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 2: I did really like when you figured out what something was, 556 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 2: like a stuffed animal, but it went to different places 557 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 2: as you grew up. 558 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, yeah, it does have a lot 559 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: of moments like that where you feel kind of almost 560 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: somehow nostalgic for yourself. I have the animal that's gone 561 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: here or whatever it. 562 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 2: Is, like it saved with me, but it's no longer 563 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 2: in this prime spot. Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Everything's fine, everything. Yeah, overall, 564 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 2: how far did you get? How long did you get 565 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 2: this one? 566 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: Four rooms? Okay, I've done. 567 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 2: Four so as opposed to like open world like, this 568 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 2: does have like a fine finality to it. So I'm 569 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 2: sure for you that's but nice. 570 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: Yes for listeners who don't know, open world games stress out. 571 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: The cozy games can stress me out, but open world 572 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: games are like homework to me, and I'm freaking. 573 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 2: Out finish at all? 574 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I never I got it. Tomorrow's the 575 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: school day and I haven't finished all of these things. 576 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, but we know this one has I'm surprised, and 577 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 2: I could be wrong because I haven't looked it up 578 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 2: because we know things like Animal Crossing actually just supposedly 579 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 2: got free content for a new version. I couldn't find it. 580 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 2: I only saw that for Nintendo's switch too, which is 581 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 2: gonna make me very sad because I'm not buying a 582 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 2: new switch. I ain't got money like that. No, we're 583 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 2: not buying new things anymore people. But I wonder if Unpacking, 584 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna lie I didn't research this bart has 585 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 2: new updates to it because it was such a successful game. Yeah, 586 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 2: I feel that's when I imagine they're not going to 587 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 2: grow it. 588 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: Again for it nothing on here is a sponsor. 589 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 590 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: I played Unpacking on my Steam deck, and I feel 591 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: like when when I was downloading it, there was another 592 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: version or something else as long. I just don't get 593 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: the basic the basic one. 594 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 2: Okay. The newest thing I see is they have merch. 595 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 2: They have merch, which we didn't talk about that earlier, 596 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 2: but yeah, that's a big conversation too, like as a 597 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 2: money maker as well, that they use merch, knowing that 598 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 2: if it's cute enough and it can be merchandised, you 599 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 2: might have a great concept. Especially you have McDonald's deals 600 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 2: because like Animal Crossing got huge in March World and 601 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 2: crossovers and collaboration. So uh. But I don't see anything 602 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 2: new for them outside of the being on phone games. 603 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: Just been patches sometimes Steamjeck does that. 604 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, interesting, interesting, interesting. Well I'm glad you enjoyed it. 605 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 2: You have to let me know we'll come back when 606 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 2: we both finish it. I feel like I got to 607 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:12,719 Speaker 2: finish it too, so we will come back. I think 608 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:14,399 Speaker 2: I'm in a room like six or seven. I'm kind 609 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 2: of sad about it ending, so I kind of paused. Yeah, 610 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: I did that with like TV series too, like it's 611 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 2: gonna be ending. I can't I can't watch the end. 612 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,879 Speaker 2: That means it's so over. So that's just my own thing. 613 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,440 Speaker 2: So coming to our final game, it is Anie's choice. 614 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 2: You want to talk about that, Anie, Yes. 615 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: This is a game that I absolutely love. I have 616 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,040 Speaker 1: talked about it before on this show, back when I 617 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 1: had a brief lived idea that I would do like 618 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: game reviews during the pandemic. It was the first one 619 00:34:55,680 --> 00:35:02,760 Speaker 1: I reviewed. It is oxen Free. I love this game. 620 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:05,839 Speaker 1: It was a recommendation from my brother, my little brother, 621 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: and I'm so glad that I took him up on 622 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 1: it because a lot of times people are like, you 623 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: should play this, and I'm like, I will, and then 624 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 1: I downloaded it and I never do, but I'm very 625 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 1: glad I did. So. This is from Night School Studio 626 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:24,320 Speaker 1: dot com about it. Oxen Free is a supernatural thriller 627 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,760 Speaker 1: about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. 628 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: Play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenager who brings her 629 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:35,280 Speaker 1: new stepbrother Jonas, to an overnight party on an old 630 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:39,319 Speaker 1: military island. The night takes a terrifying turn when you 631 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 1: unwittingly open a ghostly gatespond from the island's cryptic past. 632 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 1: How you deal with these events, your peers, and the 633 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: ominous creatures you've unleashed is up to you. You determine 634 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:55,880 Speaker 1: every aspect of Alex's story while exploring Edward's Island, uncovering 635 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 1: the bass dark secret, and changing the course of your 636 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: friends lives. So, first of all, this is what I'm 637 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: talking about when I think it's very funny, the differences 638 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 1: in our Because I would call this a cozy game. 639 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:14,360 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people would not. 640 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 2: Oh, I would definitely call it a cozy game. 641 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 1: I think it is. I think this is the closest 642 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:22,400 Speaker 1: of a game that I absolutely adore. That is a 643 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:25,840 Speaker 1: cozy game, But I think some people might not think so. 644 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:33,440 Speaker 1: But it is a very like atmospheric, kind of eighties 645 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:39,640 Speaker 1: the Goonies, Stranger Things type vibe. But it's mostly just 646 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: there are these very brightly colored text bubbles that you 647 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:52,320 Speaker 1: can choose for your character Alex to say to her friends, 648 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:56,919 Speaker 1: and through that you get points with certain characters. It's 649 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:00,640 Speaker 1: very kind of like way Haven almost where. 650 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 2: You're you're change your adventure type of game. 651 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, and you mostly outside of that, you just 652 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: kind of walk around and explore, and it does. It's 653 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:16,240 Speaker 1: very It does have its creepy moments. It's got time travel, 654 00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: which I love, and when you based on what happens 655 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: when you get to the end, the story can change 656 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,200 Speaker 1: the second time you play it, and there is a 657 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: sequel and the story can change in that based on 658 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,319 Speaker 1: what you did in the first one. So I love it. 659 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: I have played it. I was looking at it when 660 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:36,640 Speaker 1: I suggested it to you because I was like, Okay, 661 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 1: this one is one I can just talk about. I 662 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,000 Speaker 1: don't need to replay it, even though I desperately want 663 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:45,799 Speaker 1: to now, and I've played it for fifteen hours. It's 664 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 1: not that long of a game. 665 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:53,400 Speaker 2: Noh. So I was when I first started this game, Annie, 666 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,520 Speaker 2: So it was like, hey, heads up. The dialogue boxes 667 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 2: go quickly, and you're right like I thought at first. 668 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:00,400 Speaker 2: I was like, I'm pretty fast reader, Like I'm pretty 669 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:02,799 Speaker 2: quick to make decisions that I'm but sometimes it would 670 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 2: just disappear, like you look away for a second, it 671 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:06,360 Speaker 2: is gone. I was like, oh, something was done. I 672 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:11,040 Speaker 2: don't know what just happened. But I loved this game, Nnie, 673 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:13,560 Speaker 2: like you you got who knows? Because I was like, 674 00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 2: what is this? I actually jumped a few times in 675 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,240 Speaker 2: the game, and I was playing it on the switch 676 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,279 Speaker 2: when I first played, so instead of because you can 677 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:22,879 Speaker 2: connect this to your TV, and I have a very 678 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,920 Speaker 2: giant TV all with surround zund so you could get 679 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 2: all the effects if you want it, which I did. 680 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:31,439 Speaker 2: As I'm going through my second run through, I haven't 681 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:33,200 Speaker 2: finished it, but I'm going through my second run through. 682 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:36,279 Speaker 2: That's which I liked it. I've got very into this 683 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:38,760 Speaker 2: game of like what is happening? What is this game? 684 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:41,759 Speaker 2: They're in this because you did tell me, hey, you 685 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,960 Speaker 2: also your choices will affect everything, and I'm like, okay, cool, cool, 686 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 2: cool cool cool. So in that first run I was like, 687 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:53,800 Speaker 2: all right, I figured out I am still scared to 688 00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 2: be judged even in games, like I can't make mean 689 00:38:57,239 --> 00:39:00,720 Speaker 2: comments or mean decisions even in games. 690 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:05,840 Speaker 1: I'm the same Samantha. It's very hard for me to 691 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:06,239 Speaker 1: do it. 692 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 2: I was like, I don't like this, to the point 693 00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:11,880 Speaker 2: that when I was trying to do the second one, 694 00:39:11,880 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 2: I was like, I'm want to do the opposite. I 695 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 2: still couldn't do the opposite. I didn't realize I was 696 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 2: picking some of the same choices. 697 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:20,200 Speaker 1: Yes, no, I am absolutely the same. But I don't 698 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: know if this ever happened to you. But if you don't, 699 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:25,920 Speaker 1: I should have said this when I warned you. But 700 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,759 Speaker 1: if you don't choose a text bubble, then it just 701 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:32,920 Speaker 1: gives you the negative, the most negative response. So it's 702 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:36,240 Speaker 1: not like, I guess it is bad, but you don't 703 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:40,439 Speaker 1: have to choose a text bubble. Not choosing a text 704 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 1: bubble actually is a choice. 705 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:43,200 Speaker 2: Is a choice. 706 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: Okay, that's unfair. 707 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:49,239 Speaker 2: Well, I've also discovered that you can't go like in 708 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:52,320 Speaker 2: the second run through, because again you open a gate 709 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:53,960 Speaker 2: and you don't realize. I try to see if I 710 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 2: can refuse to do it. I just wanted to see 711 00:39:56,080 --> 00:39:59,479 Speaker 2: if you cannot. There's several they kill you out because 712 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:00,880 Speaker 2: I try to go to the wrong way. They're like, you 713 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 2: can't go that way. We have to do this thing first. 714 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,440 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, okay. My partner came in while I 715 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 2: was part playing it. He's like, oh, there's dialogue, there's 716 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,759 Speaker 2: actual texts, because like you you see that and like 717 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:15,239 Speaker 2: gave the Last of Us and all that, but not 718 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:18,320 Speaker 2: in many cozy games, like you don't see that level 719 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 2: of acting voice acting. So he was actually kind of shocked. 720 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:27,279 Speaker 2: I will say, this is a Netflix studio, which threw 721 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:28,000 Speaker 2: me off. 722 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:31,240 Speaker 1: It was when it was okay, I didn't think. 723 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:32,920 Speaker 2: So, I didn't think I doubt it. It was it 724 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:33,279 Speaker 2: was too. 725 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:38,520 Speaker 1: Quick, like it was an indie game first, but then 726 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 1: it was very successful and then Netflix now yeah, now 727 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:44,080 Speaker 1: you can see it on Netflix, and it always blows 728 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:44,359 Speaker 1: my mind. 729 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 2: I'm like, yeah, shrew me off. I was like, she 730 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:50,040 Speaker 2: puts a Netflix game. That's interesting. But I assumed in 731 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 2: my head. I was like, I bet they bought it 732 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:55,320 Speaker 2: out because that's what Netflix does. Uh not that whatever, 733 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:57,839 Speaker 2: whatever it is, what it is. But as you heard 734 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:01,360 Speaker 2: in the beginning of our episodes, there are some eyebrow 735 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:05,040 Speaker 2: raising when it comes to corporation. Yeah, anyways with that, 736 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:08,600 Speaker 2: but this game was thoroughly enjoyable, very kind of sad 737 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 2: that I was like, oh God, this subtext is really 738 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:17,640 Speaker 2: like kind of heartbreaking. I don't I'm I'm also very 739 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,880 Speaker 2: as you can tell when we were talking about simplistic 740 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 2: things and plots and then we go bigger and lay no, 741 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 2: there is conspiracy theories. This isn't even worse in my mind, 742 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:28,560 Speaker 2: this is worse. Like when I left, it seemed like 743 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 2: a happy ending and I was like, I don't know, 744 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,919 Speaker 2: I don't think it was. There's so many questions to this, 745 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:39,560 Speaker 2: but it was very enjoyable. The mystery was interesting. It 746 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,399 Speaker 2: was easy play, like I was able to catch onto 747 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 2: this way faster than Tavern talk. 748 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:48,719 Speaker 1: I'm so glad because I haven't played this in like 749 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:53,279 Speaker 1: I think six years. Yeah, I love it. But when 750 00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:55,920 Speaker 1: we were discussing this, I kept running into I do 751 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:59,319 Speaker 1: not want to fake a game. Samantha will late. I 752 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 1: want to she might enjoy it. No, it's fine, but 753 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:10,239 Speaker 1: I was like, I remember being pretty easy to pick up. 754 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:10,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 755 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:16,200 Speaker 2: Easy. It's an easy, simple gameplay, but very intriguing storyline. 756 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 2: You get to make choices, you have to figure things out. 757 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:22,680 Speaker 2: It was easy on my easy year with my switch 758 00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 2: because I was able to do touch screen first, because 759 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:28,200 Speaker 2: some of them remote stuff, even though they are very 760 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:31,239 Speaker 2: good and giving you specific instructions to do this use 761 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:33,319 Speaker 2: this if you're if it looks like you're stalling, like 762 00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:36,440 Speaker 2: if you're confused, it knowes that. So when I played 763 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 2: it on the TV, which I am now in my 764 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:43,040 Speaker 2: second run through, which is really fascinating to do now 765 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:45,719 Speaker 2: because now I know what's going on a little bit, 766 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:48,839 Speaker 2: so but doing it on the bigger screen, I very 767 00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:52,640 Speaker 2: much enjoy this, just like Unpacking. Actually, the composers for 768 00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:55,680 Speaker 2: this are award winning composers, the same as it was 769 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:59,880 Speaker 2: for Unpacking. They were award winning BAFTA winning composers, so 770 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,120 Speaker 2: they made sure they did this purposely. They put quality 771 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:08,160 Speaker 2: content and everything in music and dialogue and acting, so 772 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:12,400 Speaker 2: in artwork like they were purposeful both Oxen Free and Unpacking, 773 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:16,319 Speaker 2: So we love when that happens. Uh tavern talk too. 774 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,319 Speaker 2: I don't see much about their music, but I know 775 00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:22,680 Speaker 2: they really worked on their artwork, but these two specifically 776 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:27,560 Speaker 2: award winning level, so I did find that interesting. I 777 00:43:27,680 --> 00:43:32,360 Speaker 2: loved the cartoonishness, but not the cartoonishness, the ability to 778 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:34,520 Speaker 2: like it was very clearly marked that what you can 779 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:37,320 Speaker 2: interact with even though you might miss it. I figured 780 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 2: that out after I was like, oh I missed that 781 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 2: the first time round or stuff like that, things that 782 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:44,080 Speaker 2: you absolutely have to do, you have to do the 783 00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:46,360 Speaker 2: way they market for you. You realize what you're supposed 784 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:49,080 Speaker 2: to do because there's a radio involved and you got 785 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,520 Speaker 2: to play on that. So all of those things were 786 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:55,719 Speaker 2: very interesting. I didn't have to jump do these type 787 00:43:55,719 --> 00:43:58,000 Speaker 2: of things, like it was really easier to figure out 788 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:00,440 Speaker 2: both on the controls and on the switch. So being 789 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,839 Speaker 2: able to do all of that really made it easy. Again, 790 00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:08,080 Speaker 2: the touchdown level helped me, like the touchscreen level helped 791 00:44:08,080 --> 00:44:11,680 Speaker 2: me navigate it first and then realizing what I needed 792 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:14,440 Speaker 2: to do with the controls after the fact. I'm like, okay, this, 793 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:17,279 Speaker 2: I get it. I get where I'm at. I'm not 794 00:44:17,320 --> 00:44:20,840 Speaker 2: gonna use The storytelling was really good. The choice is 795 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:26,000 Speaker 2: very interesting. Again. The animation was it looks like a 796 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:31,440 Speaker 2: flipping TV show, Like literally the static level like this 797 00:44:31,480 --> 00:44:33,920 Speaker 2: is like this is a game. This is what you 798 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,520 Speaker 2: do for a like a movie level. 799 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's cool. The contrast because the characters are 800 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:45,080 Speaker 1: kind of animation y yeah uh, kind of cartoony, but 801 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:49,280 Speaker 1: then the setting is not. The setting is very much 802 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:55,440 Speaker 1: like you're creepy, the something is off here. So I 803 00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:58,840 Speaker 1: love that contrast of it. I do. I love the 804 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:01,520 Speaker 1: music of it. Something else that I was trying to 805 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:04,000 Speaker 1: take into account when I was picking a game for you, 806 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: and so I knew for you you had said previously 807 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:11,320 Speaker 1: that you didn't like like combat necessarily and you didn't 808 00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:14,800 Speaker 1: like games where you die necessarily, and so I was like, 809 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:16,799 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure an oxyd for you, like you never die, 810 00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:17,959 Speaker 1: you don't have to release. 811 00:45:18,120 --> 00:45:22,839 Speaker 3: I can't fall off a cliff. I actually walked off 812 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:29,280 Speaker 3: of this. I didn't glad, And it is nice. 813 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:31,040 Speaker 1: It's nice to play a game like that where you 814 00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:32,839 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about that, where it's just you're 815 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 1: trying to solve this mystery and you're seeing these like 816 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:39,360 Speaker 1: character relationships and deciding like do I want to be 817 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 1: with this guy? And maybe I don't do I hate 818 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:44,440 Speaker 1: my step Yeah, I like. 819 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:47,400 Speaker 2: Who you just met, which were like how do you 820 00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:49,759 Speaker 2: do this? But interesting we do? I was like. The 821 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:52,520 Speaker 2: only hiccup I really had. There's a portion in here 822 00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:54,640 Speaker 2: where they ask you some questions and at one point 823 00:45:54,840 --> 00:45:58,200 Speaker 2: the screen flips and I was so confused. I kept 824 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:01,160 Speaker 2: pressing the wrong button even though though I knew the answer, 825 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:06,120 Speaker 2: and that ticked me off because I hate being wrong 826 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:09,040 Speaker 2: I'm like, I know that answer. It just flipped the 827 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:11,359 Speaker 2: screen and I can't. I can't forgeret which button to use. 828 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:15,000 Speaker 2: Now I'll see that did that? Did that? Was the 829 00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:18,080 Speaker 2: time of was like oh but I mean again, now, 830 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:19,839 Speaker 2: if you heard me talk about flipping experience, you're like, what 831 00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:24,000 Speaker 2: that's the level of fascination in these optics, Like they 832 00:46:24,239 --> 00:46:28,480 Speaker 2: use every way to kind of discombobulate you without doing 833 00:46:28,480 --> 00:46:30,680 Speaker 2: too much, but it does it in such a way 834 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:34,440 Speaker 2: that it does feel like is this alien's is this ghosts? 835 00:46:34,760 --> 00:46:37,879 Speaker 2: Is this a possession? Is this a dream? Like? There's 836 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:41,160 Speaker 2: so many points to this in this that they I 837 00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:45,279 Speaker 2: feel like they put a lot of genre, yeah into 838 00:46:45,320 --> 00:46:48,600 Speaker 2: the into a game. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Again. I'm 839 00:46:48,640 --> 00:46:50,879 Speaker 2: now on my second replay because I liked it so much. 840 00:46:50,920 --> 00:46:53,839 Speaker 2: I will be purchasing the second one, uh soon after 841 00:46:54,200 --> 00:46:55,680 Speaker 2: because I want to see what the second run through 842 00:46:55,760 --> 00:47:00,399 Speaker 2: looks like. And I again I will say, I think 843 00:47:00,440 --> 00:47:02,200 Speaker 2: we need to give content warning if you do play 844 00:47:02,200 --> 00:47:05,760 Speaker 2: this game. It does involve death and loss of a sibling, 845 00:47:06,719 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 2: which comes like oh okay, which you find out pretty 846 00:47:09,080 --> 00:47:14,200 Speaker 2: early on, Yeah, what has happened? But like I was like, oh, 847 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:16,600 Speaker 2: that's kind of dark. Oh, this is real dark. Like 848 00:47:16,719 --> 00:47:19,439 Speaker 2: it kind of was one of those moments of like, yeah, 849 00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:25,319 Speaker 2: and he just likes to be sad. I don't like 850 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:28,359 Speaker 2: to be numb, and he likes to be sad or 851 00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:30,080 Speaker 2: scared like those two things. 852 00:47:30,160 --> 00:47:33,359 Speaker 1: Yes, and they do have. That's another thing in it 853 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,120 Speaker 1: is that it's like oh, and then you will hear 854 00:47:36,160 --> 00:47:37,000 Speaker 1: like a scream. 855 00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:37,439 Speaker 2: Yeah. 856 00:47:37,719 --> 00:47:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's like from out of nowhere. 857 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:43,359 Speaker 2: I jumped a couple of times. I was like, what 858 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:46,080 Speaker 2: where did that come from? 859 00:47:46,360 --> 00:47:49,720 Speaker 1: Definitely my type of game, It wasn't your. 860 00:47:49,640 --> 00:47:52,879 Speaker 2: Type of game. But I also surprisingly love this game 861 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:55,719 Speaker 2: to me, And if we have another run through, I'm 862 00:47:55,719 --> 00:47:59,600 Speaker 2: gonna make you play the Snuffkin games. It's that same 863 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:05,680 Speaker 2: level of like simplicity and like narration and you can't die, 864 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:07,880 Speaker 2: you can't really you can lose, and you have a 865 00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:11,440 Speaker 2: few little things, but like it's just the storyline that 866 00:48:11,520 --> 00:48:13,520 Speaker 2: just goes through, like you just have to walk it 867 00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:17,840 Speaker 2: through to find the ending. But like, but it's a 868 00:48:17,880 --> 00:48:21,360 Speaker 2: lot more childish and animation is obviously a lot but 869 00:48:21,520 --> 00:48:25,040 Speaker 2: more bubbly. In Snuffkins. They have like spots that you 870 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:26,879 Speaker 2: can go to that they'll let you do that and 871 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:28,719 Speaker 2: just see views like you can put it on a 872 00:48:28,760 --> 00:48:32,759 Speaker 2: screen where you see stars. Because he's laying down to 873 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:33,960 Speaker 2: look up at the gorgeous stars. 874 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:40,439 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, yeah. 875 00:48:38,239 --> 00:48:40,400 Speaker 2: Like I think I see you a picture of me 876 00:48:40,520 --> 00:48:44,200 Speaker 2: playing huge TV. Yeah. I was like, this is amazing. 877 00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:47,799 Speaker 2: It's a lot shorter game than any other games I 878 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:52,120 Speaker 2: think you play in any form, but instead of venturing 879 00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:54,640 Speaker 2: like it shows you where you need to go, it 880 00:48:54,719 --> 00:48:56,840 Speaker 2: kind of tells. It tells you a story. It's not 881 00:48:56,880 --> 00:48:58,680 Speaker 2: so difficult that I have to be in combat all 882 00:48:58,719 --> 00:49:01,239 Speaker 2: the time. They're surprise is here and there. There's a 883 00:49:01,239 --> 00:49:03,040 Speaker 2: few things that wake you up to make sure that 884 00:49:03,120 --> 00:49:05,880 Speaker 2: you remind you you were playing a video game. I 885 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:08,600 Speaker 2: enjoyed that very much, and this one really did have 886 00:49:08,800 --> 00:49:11,720 Speaker 2: me wanting to know the next part, make the next choice, 887 00:49:11,920 --> 00:49:14,319 Speaker 2: make the next move, see what can happen to this? 888 00:49:14,680 --> 00:49:16,680 Speaker 2: Oh it's over all right, We're coming back to this 889 00:49:17,239 --> 00:49:20,040 Speaker 2: and want to relive some of these things to really 890 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:23,920 Speaker 2: do these choices. So really great game. Ten out of 891 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:27,280 Speaker 2: ten recommend to anyone any gaming person I think would 892 00:49:27,280 --> 00:49:30,480 Speaker 2: love this aspect in this game also feels like it 893 00:49:30,520 --> 00:49:33,759 Speaker 2: as a personality desk. I told my partner I wanted 894 00:49:33,800 --> 00:49:35,480 Speaker 2: him to play so I can see what he chooses. 895 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:42,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does for sure. 896 00:49:44,200 --> 00:49:46,560 Speaker 2: So yeah, I know again, some of these games that 897 00:49:46,560 --> 00:49:51,640 Speaker 2: we've talked about past, we've been listener recommendations as well. 898 00:49:52,120 --> 00:49:53,879 Speaker 2: I think that might be our next episode. We'll pick 899 00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:56,360 Speaker 2: a few games out that we've not played from listener 900 00:49:56,400 --> 00:49:58,600 Speaker 2: recommendations and we'll talk about those. 901 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:02,959 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yes, and you all thank you so much for 902 00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:08,160 Speaker 1: sending in your recommendations. If we have not responded to you, 903 00:50:08,360 --> 00:50:12,880 Speaker 1: I promise we've gotten it just behind on the listenermil 904 00:50:12,920 --> 00:50:15,920 Speaker 1: but we really appreciate it, so thank you, thank you, 905 00:50:15,960 --> 00:50:18,160 Speaker 1: thank you, and we would love to do that would 906 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:21,360 Speaker 1: be really fun. I'll look at what you all like 907 00:50:21,520 --> 00:50:25,400 Speaker 1: in our plane. So if you would like to contact us, 908 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,799 Speaker 1: you can or email us Hello at stuff Wenever Told 909 00:50:27,840 --> 00:50:31,200 Speaker 1: You dot com. We're also on Blue Sky at mom 910 00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:34,040 Speaker 1: Stuff podcast, and on Instagram and TikTok at stuff We 911 00:50:34,120 --> 00:50:36,200 Speaker 1: Never told You. We're also on YouTube. We have some 912 00:50:36,280 --> 00:50:38,120 Speaker 1: merchandise at comp Bureau and we have a book you 913 00:50:38,120 --> 00:50:40,319 Speaker 1: can get where you get your books. Thanks as always too, 914 00:50:40,360 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 1: our super producer, Christeam, our executive producer, and your contributor Joey, 915 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:46,120 Speaker 1: thank you and thanks to you for listening stuff I 916 00:50:46,160 --> 00:50:48,000 Speaker 1: never told you. Production by heart Radio. For more podcasts 917 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:49,359 Speaker 1: from my heart Radio, you can check out the heart 918 00:50:49,440 --> 00:50:51,279 Speaker 1: Radio app Apple podcast where I really listen to your 919 00:50:51,280 --> 00:50:52,200 Speaker 1: favorite shows,