Waypoint Radio

Microsoft announced a slew of games and the Waypoint Radio crew is here to talk about it! We go over the games announced, Patrick tells a college story, and we discuss the particulars of MJOLNIR armor functionality.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nintendo announced a surprise direct! Get ready to kill god, cause there’s Shin Megami Tensei news! Austin, Gita, and Cado have been playing Ooblets, and have a discussion about how Ooblets would wear pants. Patrick is playing Paper Mario: The Origami King, and is starting to recognize patterns even if he's still bad at geometry. Gita takes us to the ToTALy TwiSTEd world of SINoAlice, and we learn that Yoko Taro has been trolling us the whole time.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Austin, Cado, and Patrick gather this week to talk Paper Mario: The Origami King, what each of them looks for in an RPG, how Patrick is bad at geometry, and how the game takes a bit too long between introducing new mechanics. Austin’s been playing Lithium City, a game self described as “The Last Flash Game” with a killer look, soundtrack, and level mechanics that are gone as quickly as they arrive. Patrick has also been playing Deadly Premonition 2, and the crew talk about some of the game’s issues and an apology from the developer. Then, as always, Cado is here with the Destiny Download, ready to shout about eggs or something.Discussed: Paper Mario: The Origami King, 8:32, Lithium City 41:09, Deadly Premonition 2 46:51, Aria Chronicle 1:11:50  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've got special guest Matthew Gault on to talk with Austin and Patrick about Ghost of Tsushima, the samurai game from Suckerpunch. They discuss the line between authenticity and homage, the game's dated take on open worlds, and how haikus weren't a thing yet. After the break, Rob joins in to talk about a few Ubisoft games that he got hands on time with.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So, Rob may have let this podcast get away from him just a bit. What we thought would be a quick 2 hour tour of Naughty Dog’s zombie game du jour turned into a total 6 hour deep dive into the few highs and many, many lows.with Cado and special guest Maddy Meyers along for the ride, the crew discusses vague character motivations, repetitive didactic morals, and “universal" truths that are anything but.Articles Discussed:'The Last Of Us Part 2' Is A Game About Healing, Not Just Violence by Sam GreerAs Naughty Dog Crunches On The Last Of Us II, Developers Wonder How Much Longer This Approach Can Last by Jason SchreierTheir World by Yussef ColeThe Cisgender Voyeurism of The Last of Us Part II by Waverly  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s one of the most talked about games of the year, a swan song for the current generation of consoles from one of the most lauded AAA developers. So of course we here at Waypoint Radio spent nearly 6 hours carefully and thoroughly dissecting why, despite almost universal acclaim, we found the game lacking in the way it presents it’s story, the narrative pitfalls it continually runs afoul of, and some of the real world parallels that didn’t sit right with us. Joining Rob, Patrick, and Cado are special guests Emanuel Maiberg from Motherboard, and Maddy Myers from Polygon, both here to finally get it all out, and put this all behind us.Articles discussed:https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/video-games/news/the-last-of-us-part-2-ellie-evolution/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's summer, so why don't y'all cool yourselves in the crisp waters of our question bucket! We dive deep for questions, stay deep for answers, and come back to the surface with some truly cursed knowledge. We talk about the Chicago Bulls, donuts, PR, and more!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Spoilers for one of the endings of Signs of the Sojourner from approximately 50:18 to 54:25Do you hear that? That noise in the distance? That’s the Pokémon Hype Train, and conductor Cado is bringing it into the station! He goes over the recent announcement of the PokéMOBA Pokémon Unite and his time in Pokémon Cafe Mix, a very cute mobile puzzle game with some less than stellar signposting around it's microtransactions. Rob has been playing Desperados 3, a real time isometric stealth game that doesn't quite scratch his stealth game itch. Austin is checking out Signs of the Sojourner, a narrative focused game that's a new twist on the "roguelike deckbuilder" whose mechanics are emotionally brutal (in the best way). And finally, Patrick has been playing Mr. Driller DrillLand, a switch port of the gamecube game that never made it state-side.Discussed: Pokémon Unite 12:19, Pokémon Cafe Mix 20:24, Golf on Mars 30:29, Desperados 3 32:42, Signs of the Sojourner 43:14, Cyberpunk 2077 1:04:29, The Last of Us Part

Content Warning: Discussion around recent abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault allegations from approximately 14:33 - 53:15. Specific reference to abuse within families from 46:28 - 48:29Over the past several days a still increasing number of victims in the video game industry, from streamers and influencers to developers, have spoken out about their abusers. We discuss how this current wave of allegations came about, the systemic issues that enable abuse, and the hope for a safer future. After the break we catch up with Patrick, who's back from paternity leave with stories of playing games not for content, imagine that!Discussed: Video Game Industry Abuse 14:33, Gears Tactics 57:56, Divinity Original Sin 2 1:02:26, Hades 1:14:52, Humankind 1:23:05  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's Announcement Season in the world of video games! Austin took a deep dive into the Steam Game Festival over the weekend and played a bunch of game demos, including the absolutely wild sounding Paradise Killer, a first person mystery game with outrageous characters and killer music. Then both he and Rob talk about dipping a toe back in to Greedfall to find the water is not fine, it's kinda putrid honestly. Gita has relaxing with the calming and meditative Among Trees, going to a place few of us have been in the last couple of months. Then Cado fills us in on the latest Pokémon and Super Smash Bros news!Discussed: The Last of Us Part II 5:41, Iron Harvest 11:21, Chaos Galaxy 17:19, Paradise Killer 22:48, She Dreams of Elsewhere 30:43, Space Crew 31:51, Greedfall 33:17, Among Trees 1:15:52, Pokemon Presents 1:25:02, Super Smash Bros Ultimate ARMS fighter announcement 1:32:06  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cado is back so OBVIOUSLY we’ve got to talk Destiny and its new season, but first: special guest Emanuel Maiberg is joining the crew and tells us how Call of Duty: Warzone has become a new place for him to relax and socialize. Gita has been playing Hades and is enjoying how that game delivers narrative in a roguelike setting. After the break we enter the Chill Zone. Emanuel has been chilling out with SnowRunner, a game where you get an increasingly large series of trucks stuck in mud and snow. Austin's finding zen in the art of ship deconstruction with Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and Cado is seeking bliss by becoming a Hanafuda master in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics.Discussed: Warzone 3:12, Hades 18:12, SnowRunner 34:40, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics 1:00:38, Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals 1:06:09  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Come one and all to see the latest curiosities and wonders of the electronic entertainment industry. While back in the Industrial Age we would have had to gather in exhibition halls to see the latest ludological wares, now we can watch things like the PC Gamer Show and the Future of Games show from the comfort of our own homes. What tickles our nostalgic fancy, and what offends our aesthetic sense? The answer won't surprise you!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Spoilers for the ending of The Last of Us (Part 1) at approximately 2:23:56 - 2:30:25We have a truly five star runtime today! Special guest Patrick Klepek joins Austin, Gita, Rob, and Cado to go over the PS5 reveal event, discussing each game shown, picking our favorites, and firing Patrick for besmirching an Arkane game. After the break, Rob and Patrick lead Austin and Cado through their time with The Last of Us II, a game who’s repeated use of extreme violence seems to amount to little by the end of its runtime.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gita and Cado spent their weekends streaming to raise money for various bail and mutual aid funds, and talk about that experience and how important mutual aid is. Austin has started playing a secret game that Rob is really excited for him to check out, something about victorian cops and wolves? After the break, Cado and Austin re-cap Destiny’s lackluster first “live event” and the general vibe of where Destiny is in it's "it's fine, it's bad, it's good again!" cycle. Austin is playing Xenoblade Chronicles and enjoying the through lines between its lore and mechanics, and Gita has finally dipped her toe into Valorant and is enjoying the new Spike Rush mode.Discussed: Golfing With Your Friends 2:36, Austin's Secret Game 16:29, Destiny 2 48:15, Xenoblade Chronicles 1:00:04, Valorant 1:10:53  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As protests continue, Austin, Rob, and Cado discuss the ever growing demand for the defunding and abolition of police. In games news Rob had some hands on time with Total War Saga: Troy, a game that eschews the mythological trappings that surround the Trojan War to mixed results. Austin and Cado are back at it again in Valorant, and discuss the changes made for launch and having to learn new agents due to the influx of new players. Cado's been spending time in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, and has found the tutorials and assists particularly well done. Rob's checking out Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within and finds its reexamination of the Wayne family a compelling story that few other Batman properties have touched on.Austin's first Valorant ace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoOfgyPWit4Discussed: Total War Saga: Troy 21:06, Valorant 39:22, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics 39:22, Batman: The Enemy Within 1:28:06, Xenoblade Chronicals 1:32:21  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and

Rob, Cado, and Gita sit down to talk about the past week’s protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police and the myth of there being a “correct way” to protest. After the break, Gita and Rob discuss the two different versions of Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill A Mockingbird that they attended way back when theater was still a thing, and how the different casts dramatically change the reading of Sorkin’s script.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back at it again talking about Umurangi Generation this week. Gita is taking her first foray into it, and Cado and Austin have "finished" the game but are both far from done with it. Gita is also undertaking a staggering project in The Sims 4, and then we answer a food question.Discussed: Umurangi Generation 2:57, Totem 23:40, Sludge Life 28:08, The Sims 4 33:45, Question Bucket 44:42  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Spoilers for Umurangi Generation from aprox. 1:06:27 to 1:15:13The Sims has a new expansion coming out and our resident Sims expert Gita is on the case. She teaches Austin and Ricardo a special lesson on Sims sexual activity (woohoo isn't sex!) and lays out all the new info on the Eco Lifestyle Expansion, which introduces the first "antagonist" to the Sims 4 in the form of pollution. After the break, Austin and Ricardo have been playing Umurangi Generation, a new photography game from an indigenous creator that has a great vibe Jet Set Radio inspired aesthetic and a strong emotive core.Discussed: The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Expansion 1:36, Boral Tales 29:01, Umurangi Generation 42:08, If Found 1:21:33, Pirates Outlaws 1:24:29  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Austin, Gita, Ricardo, and Rob gather around their mics this week to talk about video games, but first! What is the nature of Sheev Palpatine's desires? Is becoming Emperor of the Galaxy enough? What drives him once he reaches this goal? Austin has been having some Star Wars thoughts that we gotta work through. Gita spent time being on streams and thinking about the boom of new, inexperienced streamers breaking onto the scene and what experimentation they might bring with them. After the break, Cado's been playing Tonight We Riot, the leftist beat-em-up game about liberating your fellow workers and fighting back against corporations with some really great group dynamics, and Boreal Tale, a mystery-horror-adventure game with an enhanced PS1-era aesthetic and a VHS magical realism narrative. Rob is revisiting Alien Isolation and realizing that hiding from the alien isn't always the right call, sometimes you just gotta walk right past it.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rob and Gita both had hands on time with Crusader Kings III, a game about kings, crusades, and offing your heirs so you don't have to play the one with a 5 intrigue stat. They take Austin and Cado through the new game and how this one might be the perfect one for the Crusader Kings-curious to finally hop on. Then after the break, they dive back into the question bucket and discuss sequels that should've been made. If you have a question for us, send them in to gaming[at]vice.com with Question in the subject line.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.