EXP Podcast #409: Games of the Year 2016

"And here's me at the end of 2016..."

As the year draws to a close, it's time to hunker down and talk about our favorite games from 2016.  Robots, demons, and even a little timeline trouble dominated the last 12 months.  It was a great year for games, but we forced ourselves to each pick our three favorites.  Break out the champagne and settle in for a year-end debrief!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 39 mins 34 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Overwatch: Watching in a Winter Wonderland

Bundle up, everyone. It's time to get festive with your favorite Overwatch heroes. Do omnics function normally in sub-freezing conditions?

EXP Podcast #408-2: The Thrilling Conclusion of the 2016 Gamey Awards

BT, winner of 2016's "Best Buddy" award

When last we spoke, we left you with a cliffhanger that totally wasn't caused of a weird technical issue.  But don't worry, the moment you're all waiting for is here: the award for the gamey-est game of 2016.  Please hold your applause until the end.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 20 mins 14 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

EXP Podcast #408: The 2016 Gamey Awards

And the nominees are...

Happy holidays everyone! It's time again for the second annual Gamey Awards. One of the most prestigious and sought-after awards in the games industry. Will this be the first year an AI wins the Waifu/Husbandu award? What game might actually be Frog Fractions 2? Is your best buddy in Final Fantasy XV? All this and more in the premier EXP event!

Quick note on this episode. We did have to leave you a cliffhanger before we reveal the Gamey-est Game of 2016, but we'll be back next week with more. In the mean time, you know where to find us.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 35 mins 33 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Let it Die: Never say die

That old axiom "haters gonna hate" has never been more true than in Suda 51's free-to-play rogue-like: Let it Die.

EXP Podcast #407: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Debrief

Oh E3N, your eye is so dreamy.

Hey everybody, it's E3N: your fun-loving Robro, inter-planetary guide, and remorseless killing machine!  We've finally finished Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and it's time to debrief.  Strap in for some angry Martians, incompetent captains, and shaky cameras.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 35 mins 33 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: Infinite Duty, Part 2

In the future, the cameras are shaky, the spiders are explosive, and people from Mars are real jerks.

EXP Podcast #406: The PlayStation Experience 2016 Debrief

Why so angry Ellie? 

Somehow Sony turned their small-ish fan event into a major venue for big video game news. This year's PlayStation experience brings us a bunch of new trailers, announcements, and (tangentially) another bizarro look into Kojima's latest, Death Stranding. Join us as we discuss some of the notable news from the latest PSX!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 44 mins 30 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Overwatch: Sick Plays

I'm sick this week, so Dr. Scott ordered three rounds of Overwatch. Pardon the audio, I may have been dying during these matches, in more ways than one.

EXP Podcast #405: Titanfall 2 Debrief

A Titan practices its hadouken

Forget Siri, Google Now, and Alexa: BT is the only AI assistant you'll ever need.  He'll help you with turn by turn directions while crushing your enemies.  This week we're doing a Titanfall 2 debrief.  Between the new single-player campaign, swords-wielding titans, Harambe-themed multiplayer networks, there is plenty to discuss.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 44 mins 30 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: Infinite Duty

Fighting in space sure seems loud and confusing. Also: that Game of Thrones guy was really mean to us. Can't we all just put this space skirmish aside and marvel at this robot that seems to have been programmed to warm our hearts?

EXP Podcast #404: Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel Debrief

Don't take paintings from strangers, kids.

This week on the EXP Podcast, we forlorn souls visit the cold and lonely painted world of Ariandel, AKA Dark Souls 3 DLC. What do we find there in the rotten world? Why, quite possibly the best boss in all of the Soulsborne franchise. Join us as we ignite out tiny ashen fire and die repeatedly to wolves.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 43 mins 46 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Overwatch: 3v3 Arcade Mode Battle

Arcade mode is out in Overwatch, so this week we try our hand at some 3v3 and discover that, sometimes, Torbjorn is all you need.

EXP Podcast #403: Professional Overwatchers

How long until someone gets this as a tattoo?

As consummate professionals, Jorge and I are always on the lookout for others striving to be the best in their fields.  That's why we are fascinated by the upcoming esports estorm that is professional Overwatch.  Blizzard seems intent on fostering regional rivalries and after watching the World Cup exhibition and learning about the forthcoming location-based Overwatch teams, we are hooked.  I want to believe that if Winston from Overwatch had a choice, he'd play for the Bay Area Brawlers.  We're very progressive when it comes to animal rights.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 39 mins 27 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel Adventures

Just a peaceful little stroll through a snowy mountain town.

EXP Podcast #402: The Nintendo Switch Itch

"You'll comfort me, right controller dog?"

While your reeling under the weight of the recent presidential election, we bring you this belated discussion of the Nintendo Switch. Consider it a memory of an earlier, more peaceful time, when all we did was go to rooftop parties and play videogames.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 35 mins 16 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Furi: Why So Angry?

It's election day. Come down and get your mind off it by going shoeless in Furi.

EXP Podcast #401: Report from Worlds 2016

No pressure...there's definitely not a huge crowd watching...

Hey, I don't want to alarm anyone, but this esports thing is getting wild.  So wild in fact, that Jorge ventured into the belly of the beast to bring us a report.  This week, we talk about the League of Legends 2016 World Championship.  Enjoy stories about the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the sweet smell of stadium chicken tenders.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 32 mins 22 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Overwatch: Mercy Me

Welcome to the land where Pharahs and Mercy's abound.  Or as we like to call it: "eternal damnation."

EXP Podcast #400: Games on the Field

"400 episodes? Hell yea!"

The world of sports and the world of gaming have never been so intertwined. We've got real life announcers adding color commentary to Madden patches and professional soccer players raising a fit over in-game FIFA stats.

What's going on here? And more importantly, when are Americans finally going to care about soccer!? This week on the show, we kick around the influence games and sports have on each other.


- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 33 mins 33 sec
- "How Video Games Are Changing the Way Soccer Is Played," by Rory Smith, via the New York Times
- Music by Brad Sucks

Overwatch: Junkenstein Spooktacular

It's nearly Halloween, which means it's time to play a spooky version of Overwatch with Junkenstein's Revenge mode!

EXP Podcast #399: Red Dead Redemption 2 Rumors

#squadgoals

Consider this an old west time capsule, amigos.  It was buried under the digital soil during a simpler time; a time before we knew about Red Dead Redemption 2.  Essentially, Jorge and I got super excited and we recorded this the day after Rockstar began tweeting cryptic pictures of Red Dead Redemption 2.  Since we still don't know too much about it, feel free to partake in our child-like hope and whimsical speculation.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 33 mins 51 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

100ft Robot Golf: Going Clubbing

Take note PGA: if you want to increase golf's popularity, consider the addition of enormous mechs.

EXP Podcast #398: Virginia Debrief

"Ugh. This badge is filthy!"

If you're a fan of bizarre or surreal television, then we have a game for you! This week on the EXP Podcast, we debrief on Virginia, a narrative-based game that's part Twin Peaks and part X-Files. Is this short little game worth your time? And more importantly, what's the buffalo and the weird racist cult? All this and more in our journey to the Old Dominion.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 34 mins 15 sec
- Music by Lyndon Holland via Virginia OST

Overwatch: Sick Comebacks

Scott's sick, but that doesn't mean he can serve up a heaping plate whoop ass. Mostly while I jump off cliffs.

EXP Podcast #397: Super Titanfall Run

If you read it right, it kind of sounds like a threat...

Fall is well underway and that means gearing up for new games.  This week, we take a look at two of our most anticipated titles that couldn't be more different from one another: Super Mario Run and Titanfall 2.  Join us as we wistfully imagine a world where we tweet Mario levels while using Titans as farming equipment.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 34 mins 01 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Broforce: A Shakey Brodeo

In which we bro out and ask the big questions, such as: what do eagles taste like?

EXP Podcast #396: PS4 Professionals

Looks the same to me...

I recently went on an extended vacation. While I was gone, Sony dropped the big news that Project Neo would actually be called the PS4 Pro. And not only is this fancy new piece of hardware selling for $399, it's launching this November.

What does this mean for early adopters and folks who don't make the upgrade? Will VR games take a hit on old hardware? All this and more on this week's podcast!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 32 mins 59 sec
- Music by Dan Deacon and Brad Sucks

Tricky Towers Trio

Tricky Tower is legitimately a great game. It's especially perfect for sitting on the couch talking about Harambe and Jenga.

What is this? - Super Exploding Zoo

Welcome to our new zoo!  All the animals are exploding, but they're knowingly sacrificing themselves in order to fend off an alien menace.  Please don't tell PETA.

EXP Podcast #395: Patch Patrol

New in v1.027: nerfed Gronk's hamstring

Almost all modern games share something in common, regardless of genre and style: patches!  Whether it's a single-player sci-fi epic like No Man's Sky or an annual sports franchise like Madden, the game released on launch day is often significantly different than the one we play a week, month, or even year later.  In this episode we talk about the good, bad, and wacky sides of version updates.

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 31 mins 35 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks

Tricky Towers: Sick trick bro

When the magic of physics meets wizardly magick, you know things are about to get tricky.

EXP Podcast #394: PAX, Poochy, and Picross News

Calling it right now: GoTY

Before we head into the busy fall season, we're wrapping up summer with a relaxing news update.  Well, it was relaxing until we stumbled upon Miyamoto-san's secret time travel abilities.  How else can you explain Nintendo's plans to put out a Mario Maker game that doesn't allow you to upload courses to the Internet?  Clearly 1987 Miyamoto-san has usurped his modern self and taken over Nintendo.  Also: Picross 3D is back, baby!

- Here's the show's stand-alone feed
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking here, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format, or click play below.

Show Notes:

- Runtime: 34 mins 33 sec
- Music by Brad Sucks