Waypoint Radio

The crew have been having some computer issues, where for some reason or another their computers won't sleep correctly. I think they should probably stop giving them coffee right before bed, but apparently it has something to do with rogue usb devices. Patrick, Ren and Cado then continue their talk of Elden Ring, and consider where different people can find the Role Playing in a RPG video game. After the break, Rob takes us on a journey of discovery in Gran Turismo 7, where the cars are beautiful and Rob's Racing Wheel driving is not.Discussed: Elden Ring 19:54, Elden Ring Quest Spoilers 45:02 - 46:31, Gran Turismo 7 51:13, Announcements and Outro 1:24:22 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ren and Cado have introduced the world of the Wired to the Waypoint crew. They discuss Serial Experiments Lain on today's pod, a late 90's anime that is surprisingly precinct about the malleability of information in online contexts and the formation of identity in a hyper-connected world. After the break, Rob's been considering the supply chain, and how we've ended up where we are now (spoiler: it's capitalistic greed!) Then, finally, after being wrongly cast aside last podcast, Patrick is here with his impressions on his time so far with the Steam Deck.Discussed: Serial Experiments Lain 1:53, The Supply Chain 38:28, Steam Deck 1:10:16Planet Money Podcast - Of Boats and Boxes, American Prospect - How We Broke the Supply Chain See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We open this pod with a short discussion on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the reactions from a few developers that are headquartered in and nearby the affected regions. Then, Ren and Patrick have awoken as Tarnished and seek a better horse in Elden Ring. Ren's enjoying her time but wishes some of From Soft's design ethos was more evident in the open world (and that damn horse), and not just in specific (spectacular) moments. After the break, Cado is exploring a different kind of fucked up swamp in Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, the latest expansion which adds a bevy of new mechanics and a more engaging campaign than past Destiny 2 dlcs. Rob's been checking out Grid Legends, an racing game with delightfully charming FMV storyline, and the racing is ok too.Discussed: Ukraine 0:44, Elden Ring 6:40, Small quest spoilers 32:42 - 34:09, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen 57:06, Grid Legends 1:27:53, Outro and Announcements 1:53:37 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Patrick interviews Dimitri Pascaluta, writer and host for theScore Esports. They chat about Dimitri's Counter Strike skins, how the CS skin market has exploded during the pandemic, and how that left him with a collection worth about "a down payment on a house." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You can thank new Waypoint crew Ren for that title, btw. Rob and Ren have been streaming Total War: Warhammer 3 over on our channel and experiencing all sorts of foul taints, like the foul taint of a hard counter faction setting up shop right next to you, or the taint of realizing the game was trying to get you to not have to fight them right away once you've already spent most of your stream fighting them. Cado's been dealing with the foul taint of corporations in Citizen Sleeper, a node-based RPG set on a space station in a future where people rent their minds to corporations to pay off debts, with strong indie TTRPG roots and great worldbuilding. After the break, Patrick makes the hard decisions in Infernax, a 2D pixel art metroidvania with story branching choices. Then the crew dive into the Question Bucket for more Branded Jeep mayhem.Discussed: 0:55 Total War: Warhammer 3 0:55, Citizen Sleeper 41:07, Infernax 1:00:23, The Question Bucket 1:11:16, Outro and Announcements 1:29:17 See acast.com/privacy for

We have special guest Matthew Gault on pod today to talk about Horizon: Forbidden West. He and Patrick have both put time into it, but they're both starting to experience fatigue around this particular open world design philosophy. If what you've wanted is a prettier, bigger Horizon: Zero Dawn though, this game seems made for you. After the break, Cado puts the end cap on Pokemon Legends: Arceus, confirming his suspicions that the narrative doesn't satisfyingly address the conflict between colonizers and indigenous people that they've based their story on. Then there's a quick dive into the question bucket for some deliberations over being a "Rob Zacny type," accidental boat purchases, and video game branded jeeps.Discussed: Horizon: Forbidden West 12:53, Pokemon Legends Arceus 1:10:38, Spoilers for final mission in Arceus 1:14:24 - 1:16:22, The Question Bucket 1:27:10 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our brand new gen-z correspondent Renata Price is on the show today to tell us that gamers age 15-25 did Not like the Nintendo Direct. However, us 30 somethings were hootin' and hollerin' about the various remakes and something called "mouthful mode." Patrick and Cado have both checked in on new MMO du jour Lost Ark, a South Korean produced MMO that's been making waves in its home country for a few years now. After the break, Rob takes us on a journey through his medieval monarch machinations as he checks out the new Crusader Kings III Expansion: The Royal Court. Then we answer some questions and really get deep into the ergonomics of bath sitting.Discussed: The Nintendo Direct 0:48, Lost Ark 29:13, Vampire Survivors 40:26, Crusader Kings III 50:11, Outro and Announcements 1:29:50 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Patrick and Rob are having heating issues, and are absolutely not going to commit any crimes at all to fix them. Patrick's been checking out Bloodborne PSX, a game that controls too well to have ever actually been on the PS1. Speaking of controls, Patrick and Cado check in with King's Field IV, and find that after some cough cough controller rewiring cough cough, there's a lot of Souls DNA in this PS2 game, more than they'd assume without Miyazaki at the company. Then Rob, Patrick, and Cado put Back 4 Blood to bed after finishing the finale finale on stream last week. Then a quick dive in the Question Bucket is followed by a hefty discussion of this week's NFL controversy.Discussed: Bloodborne Demake and Kings Field IV 29:02, Back 4 Blood 48:18, The Question Bucket 1:16:17, NFL Talk 1:45:25, Outro and Announcements 2:05:41 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rob and Patrick have been parkouring it up in Dying Light 2 this week. Or rather, kinda parkouring it up while they get enough levels to unlock the full parkour suite? They go in deep on the structural problems with the latest from Techland, reminisce about Dying Light and Dead Island, and bemoan the trajectory that first person open world design has taken. Cado is of course still living his best(?) Pokémon life in Pokémon Legends Arceus, mostly because he's finally getting around to unlocking the best rideable Pokémon. Patrick and Cado then dive into the question bucket and remember some uncomfortable truths about an old fighting game.Discussed: Dying Light 2 1:46, Pokémon Legends Arceus 1:03:27, Mina the Hollower 1:20:10, The Question Bucket 1:25:15, Outro and Announcements 1:58:53 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to Waypoints! What's usually a very video games light show actually gets interrupted by breaking news: Sony is going to buy Bungie, the studio behind the Halo and Destiny franchises. Next, Cado and Rob talk through the Expanse as it closes out it's final season, and track how the show has changed season to season, and the difference between the Syfy and Amazon Prime eras. After the break, Patrick introduces the crew to Yellowjackets, the new Lost-esque show that people have been raving about. Then Rob tells us about his new Motorsports obsession. What's that? Rob's already into Motorsports? Ok maybe but not these Motorsports!Discussed: Sony Buys Bungie 2:15, Halo TV show 27:16, The Expanse 31:41 , Yellowjackets 54:43, Rob's Motorsports Mania 1:25:46 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Natalie is back after a long time away from the pod, and brings us news from post-COVID life. Patrick has been playing fast and loose with his computer upgrade, but the PC gods have decided to give him a second chance. Then the crew dives into some news updates, checking back in with the unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard, and talking through the new Star Wars game announcement out of Respawn. After the break, Cado's pleasantly surprised to find that Pokemon Legends Arceus is a dramatic departure from Game Freak's usual structure. Natalie is living her best plant girl life in Strange Horticulture, an indie game about plants, witches, and cults. Then we dive into the Question Bucket to decide which X-man we'd least like to cook dinner for us.Discussed: COVID talk 9:06, Patrick's Costco PC 16:34, Activision Blizzard Unionization 27:03, Respawn Star Wars Announcement 31:01, Pokemon Legends Arceus 40:39, Strange Horticulture 1:17:40, Structural spoilers for Strange Horticulture 1:25:35 - 1:38:04, The Que

Boy oh boy is it football season. To start off the pod, Patrick and Rob dive deep into the weekend's playoff games. Then they discuss recent developments in the Microsoft Activision acquisition, as workers at Ravensoft begin the process of forming a union. After the break, Patrick checks back in with his final Halo Infinite thoughts, and then he and Cado go full spoiler mode for Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye.Discussed: NFL and Gambling 1:31, Gambling talk ends 4:34, Microsoft Activision Acquisition Updates 32:58, Halo Infinite 1:01:16, Vampire Survivors 1:19:21, Outer Wilds Echoes of the Eye 1:27:21, Spoilers for Outer Wilds Echos of the Eye 1:30:26, Outro and Announcements 2:08:32 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What was originally a slow news week got suddenly extremely busy when Microsoft announced their intention to acquire Activision-Blizzard. Rob and Patrick wrote a lengthy piece for the site and go over some of the nuances of the announcement, how we got here, and whether or not the FTC will do anything to stop what seems like a fairly obvious step towards monopoly. After the break, Patrick is enjoying the grind in Nobody Saves the World as much as he didn't enjoy the end of Halo Infinite. Cado ran into a fan in Valorant, and accidentally ended the game in a 3 vs 1 clutch. Rob's "Old Game I'm Revisiting" this week fits right in with the rainy weather.Discussed: Microsoft Activision Merger 1:31, Nobody Saves the World 54:35, Valorant 1:05:58, Alan Wake 1:13:33, Anchorhead 1:28:07, Outro and Announcements 1:29:53 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

2022 is barely two weeks old which means there isn't a lot of new games yet, so we look towards the future to consider: "You think that's actually gonna come out this year?" But first, Patrick is sweeping through some 2021 indie platformers, Rob's rediscovering Halo: Combat Evolved, and Cado's griping about the latest Valorant season.Discussed: Coffee Talk 1:11, Filmechanism 22:36, Below the Ocean 29:47, Halo MCC 34:32, Need for Speed: Shift 40:43, Valorant 44:42, Ubisoft NFTs 57:05, Games of 2022 1:03:02, STALKER 2 1:03:17, Pokemon Legends: Arceus 1:09:41, Hogwarts Legacy 1:16:11, Grand Turismo 1:20:30, Elden Ring 1:23:13, Advanced Wars Reboot Camp 1:25:00, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 1:27:52, Breath of the Wild 2 1:30:03, Warhammer 40k: Darktide 1:35:38, Midnight Suns 1:40:04, Weird West 1:42:10, Triangle Strategy 1:44:04, Stray 1:45:02, Homeworld 3 1:46:02, Starfield 1:47:42, Outro and Announcements 1:48:54 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The most of the WPR crew is getting back into the swing of things by wrapping up some games of 2021, but not before Rob and Patrick can talk about the end of the NFL's regular season. Cado however is going way back, to 2018, to check out Death Crown: the 1-bit art style and short match times made this RTS the perfect fit for a weekend full of other obligations. Patrick is closing the loop on Outer Wilds: Echos of the Eye, an ultimately welcome addition to what was a fantastic base game, even if the DLC does at moments rub the wrong way against the base game's structure. Then a surprise guest, a certain "mech-spert" if you will, joins us to talk about these Armored Core Rumors. After the break, Rob's been checking out WRC 10, a rally racing game in a franchise he's been largely (and maybe erroneously) ignoring.Discussed: NFL Minute 4:31, Death Crown 23:50, Echos of the Eye 35:39, Echo's location Spoilers start 42:34, Spoliers end 43:20, Armored Core Leaks 55:05, NFL Aside 1:16:50, Lake 1:17:57, WRC 10 1:29:27,

We're back from the holiday break and we're here to share our experiences being tiny little gremlins. Patrick was the least gremlin of us all at first, playing through The Forgotten City in a normal, non-gremliny amount of time. Cado was his usual MOBA gremlin self, just a bit more than usual over the break. Rob's become a nog gremlin, as well as a tactical naval combat gremlin in Highfleet. Patrick re-entered Halo gremlin mode with Halo Infinite, just on Normal mode this time, while Rob is gremlining it up over in the Master Chief Collection.Discussed: The Forgotten City 2:42, Cado's Gremlin Zone 25:08, Cado's Cruise Zone 31:23, Hightfleet 50:47, Halo Infinite 1:19:01, Halo MCC 1:38:19 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the year comes to a close, Rob, Patrick, and Cado gaher one last time to talk about how cool Inscryption (last time this year, at least). Then they clear out the question bucket for 2021 by trying to decipher the contents of a company christmas "dinner," genres they would be into in an alternate universe, and whether or not this image is loss.Discussed: Inscryption 3:52, The End of Year Question Bucket 41:34 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

GOTY Season. The time when many games media people really reflect on the year that was, and the game that they played through it. But what if instead of a list of just our favorites we talked about the ones we stuck with too long, the ones that we wished we played more, or the ones that caused the most discourse? This year, we asked you, our listeners, to submit your GOTY categories, and we sat down with 20 of the best to take a look back at 2021 from a slightly different point of view.Discussed: Art of Rally 17:26, F1 2021 25:25, Suzerain 31:48, Hell Let Loose 35:00, Loop Hero 36:38, Mundaun 39:35, The GOTY GOTYs 46:19 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rob, Patrick, and Cado gather today to record their final podcast of 2021, so of course the first thing they talk about is COVID. After sharing stories about their booster shot symptoms and discussing the way this pandemic just keeps happening, they turn their gaze to The Game Awards. Having already lambasted Geoff's weak response to the culture of abuse at Activision-Blizzard on a previous podcast (that will release sometime in the next two weeks), they take a look at some of the game trailers that have them the most excited, anxious, and confused about the games we might play in 2022. After the break, Patrick has been playing Moncage, a puzzle game that's all about perspective, and Cado has been dropping in a whole new way with Babble Royale, the surprise Scrabble-meets-Battle-Royale that dropped for free this week.Discussed: COVID 2:10, The Keighlies 17:49, A Bit Keighley More 58:51, Moncage 1:06:21, Babble Royale 1:12:14, Solar Ash 1:22:21 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've got a special treat for y'all on Waypoint Radio today, a glimpse into our Waypoint Plus feed and the discussions on The Matrix Franchise we've been having. Special guest Gita Jackson joins Rob, Patrick, and Cado to dissect the 9 short animated films that make up The Animatrix, the lore and story implications they have, and how transmedia marketing became a diluted standard operating procedure after The Matrix.Discussed: Final Flight of the Osiris 8:17. The Second Renaissance 20:21. Kid's Story 1:08:41, A Detective Story 1:27:59, World Record 1:33:09, Beyond 1:48:02, Matriculated 1:59:25, Program 2:15:41, The Animatrix and the Transmedia Blitz 2:24:41 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.