So Many Bits

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

We Should Talk is perhaps the most sophisticated and granular look at dialogue in gaming out there, and this week Bill, Carol Mertz, and Jordan Jones-Brewster, discuss the game, their work on the Pixel Pop Festival, and their go-to duet karaoke song!

Meanwhile, Di Billick is back and allows Bill to shoehorn one of his favorite shows into Screenwatching!

Screenwatching: Cowboy Bebop (1:12)
Interview: Carol Mertz + Jordan Jones Brewster (30:22)
Bill's Magic Minute (1:02:04)

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

Reconnecting the isolated fruits of a a village (or an orchard?), Garden Story's charm is embodied in Rose City Game's Community Manager Jenny Windom. In this week's interview we discuss the Portland indie gaming scene, working from home, and the inimitable Broccowilli Broccolewis.

Meanwhile, Shelby Mongan returns to bang the gavel in Screenwatching to discuss Law and Order: SVU! (Content warning for description of sexually oriented crimes.)

Screenwatching: Law and Order SVU (5:09)
Interview: Jenny Windom (50:05)

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

Flying power disc action returns! The Neo Geo cult classic will finally receive a well-deserved sequel soon, and DotEmu Game Designer Jordi Ascensio is on this week to discuss the game's history, new additions, and improving on what he considers a perfect game!

Meanwhile, Brandon Shockney is back on to discuss the brand new Apple TV show Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet on Screenwatching!

Screenwatching: Mythic Quest Raven's Banquet (1:57)
Interview: Jordi Ascencio (23:08)

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

Back with Part 2 of my trip to PAX: demos, Magic, GDQ, and more interviews!

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

So they're finally here, interviewing for you
Bill says the words, and the guests do too
Put your hands together, if you want to clap
As we take you through this PAX recap!

Part 1
Part 1's here
Part 2
Part 2 next Monday

Erik Johnson of Vertigo Gaming (Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!) - 2:30
Hugo Vaz of Behold Studios (Out of Space) - 11:14
Andrew Brophy (Knuckle Sandwich) - 16:03
Jaycee Salinas of Ask An Enemy Studios (A Duel Hand Disaster: Tracker) - 24:07
Bennett Tyler of Bomb Shelter Games (Depths of Sanity) - 30:41
Jorge Garcia of Mecha Studios (Neon City Riders) - 35:01
Francesca Carletto-Leon of Contigo Games (StarCrossed) - 43:10
Taylor Miller of Team D-13 (Monolith) - 51:03

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