Well you did it. You've made it through another half a year. But... we have some things we need to talk about. Like all this amazing media we've enjoyed in 2026! Tune in for our favorites of our favorites from movies, games, music, TV and a few other things. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Shane gets fired 2:27 - We're Mad Men 7:30 - This weeks episode: a first half review 9:35 - Oldish business: Takes on the Steam Machine 20:54 - New business: The best movies of the first half of the year 36:50 - The best music 54:05 - The best games 1:05:03 - The best TV 1:13:42 - Public comment: Games that surprised us 1:19:00 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

As promised, we welcome Jason, aka Kilgore Trout, to the podcast to spend far too long talking to Shane about one of the best games of 2024: Metaphor: ReFantazio. We get into the mechanics, the gameplay, the writing, the themes, and even spend some time talking about our favorite fast food meals. Contemporary? Kinda. Thorough? Definitely. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - CamelStan 4:21 - Who is this guy? 6:10 - This week's episode 13:37 - So what is Metaphor: ReFantazio? 18:04 - How does this compare to Persona? 32:24 - How we played it 35:09 - Plot takes 38:50 - The Archetype system 44:50 - The combat 53:39 - Friendships 1:01:40 - Writing good 1:03:40 - Using guides and managing your calendar 1:11:30 - Politics & religion 1:25:28 - Grief 1:30:31 - What a twist! 1:34:00 - Quick topics 1:43:24 - Where this game ranks in our RPGs, and comparisons to other RPGs 1:50:08 - Public comments: Our favorite fast food meals 1:52:10 - SPOILER ZONE BEGINS 1:59:46 - What's next? 2:01:42 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: TenSquare3's amazing Metaphor guide: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox-series-x/409958-metaphor-refantazio/faqs/81526/introduction Buy Metaphor for PS5: https://amzn.to/4g2nQZJ Buy Metaphor for XBOX: https://amzn.to/4gEacMv Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

On this week's show, we reflect on a lifetime of playing video games with strangers. What do the Univeristy of Illinois, Xbox Live, and quarter munchers have in common? They brought people together. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Stan with a huge tease 5:21 - Stan's irresponsible purchase 10:45 - This week's episode - the multiplayer games of our history 17:46 - Our defining multiplayer experiences 39:15 - The multiplayer games of now 51:36 - Public comment: Some of our formative experiences 1:01:31 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

So many announcements and trailers came out of Summer Games Fest, but which reveals had the boys most excited? We talk about Wolverine, Bad Magpie, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and much more! Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Pokémon Caboodle 7:37 - This week's episode 9:03 - Old Business: Mina the Hollower 14:34 - Shane finished Metaphor 16:07 - The Steam Deck might be dead 20:41 - Dave's watching One Piece 22:21 - The Horn Dogs are back 24:12 - New Business: So many games! 26:24 - Marvel's Wolverine 28:59 - God of War Laufey 31:04 - Control Resonant 33:11 - Ace Combat 8 35:00 - Fable 38:50 - Bad Magpie 40:25 - Halo: Campaign Evolved 43:08 - Gears of War: E-Day 45:27 - Final Fantasy VII Revelation/Stellar Blade: Blood Rain 47:54 - Guild Wars 3/Gundam Rogue Orbit 50:35 - Stranger than Heaven/Gen Atlas 52:34 - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 53:53 - The Nintendo Direct 1:00:39 - Some quick hits 1:03:26 - What we are most hyped about 1:05:10 - Public comments: Our favorite international media 1:16:05 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

On this week's episode, the boys discuss the 1993 action thriller, The Fugitive. Starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, who were invited to be on the show but declined our offer. We also take a minute to talk about Mina the Hollower, and our favorite board games. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - We attempt to talk about The Fugitive (1993) 47:38 - Mina The Hollower 57:27 - Public comments: Our favorite board games Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

On this week's show, Stan falls back in love with Modern MTG, we continue to guide Dave on his fashion journey, Shane gears up for the Antique Roadshow, and we shake our fists at prediction markets for spoiling Survivor results. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Disguising our moms at Antiques Roadshow 8:24 - What should Shane take to Roadshow? 14:52 - This week's episode 15:45 - Dave's clothes 23:47 - Stan is playing Magic Online again 34:18 - Shane is scared of RE9 39:28 - Metaphor: still ReFantazioing 42:56 - Survivor 50: Spoiled by Kalshi? 50:40 - Takes on The Truman Show (1998) 1:00:04 - Public comments: what game changed our relationship with gaming? 1:04:57 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

The Rhino boys are back. Exciting news in the weird world of Magic: the Gathering was all it took for Dave and Stan to reunite with D00mwake to chat about Modern bans and unbans. We pour one out for Phlage, daydream about Crashing Footfalls, scrach our head over Umezawa's Jitte, and act like we know how to talk about Lotus Field. Is Modern back, baby? Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - It's 1979 and d00mwake is back 5:15 - d00m ate Skyline and didn't tell Shane 9:17 - Modern is changed, again 16:08 - Phlage is banned 23:59 - Lotus Field is banned 30:47 - Violent Outburst is unbanned 50:46 - Umezawa's Jitte is unbanned 57:52 - Premodern fun 1:01:38 - Public comments - our favorite pieces of physical media 1:11:53 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: twitch.tv/d00mwake https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/banned-and-restricted-may-18-2026 Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

Stan's away — so this week the olds play. Shane and Dave catch up about Shane's perfect Steam Machine, his even more perfect AYN Thor, polo shirts, and four albums that were pretty good. We also give flowers to a true Chicago hero: Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. Dive Down Nation, your slop bowls are ready. Fall in line for episode 369. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Lettuce entertain you with cilantro 9:43 - This week's episode 15:06 - Old business: Shane "finished" his Steam Machine 27:11 - New business: Shane also bought an AYN Thor 37:31 - Polo shirts 43:28 - Dave brings some albums - Broken Social Scene: Remember the Humans 51:31 - Cut Worms: Transmitter 57:23 - Friko: Something Worth Waiting For 59:36 - Brigitte Calls Me Baby: Irreversible 1:03:41 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

On this week's show, the boys play Capcom's latest AAA foray, Pragmata. We talk about father/daughter dynamics in video games, the joys of hacking, and what it means to be a slayer gamer. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Sparking graphic novels 4:01 - This week's episode 6:34 - Dave's old business: cookin' and cubin' 11:55 - Pragmata - the basic setup 26:48 - What this game does well 37:58 - Competence vs. excellence 59:52 - The psychology of gamers 1:05:46 - Public comments: The card(s) that got us into Magic 1:12:04 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down

On this week's show, Stan offers his closing arguments on Shadow of the Colossus (2018), Shane revisits Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024), then he turns a pile of parts into a working computer, and Stan makes tacos out of fish sticks. Thank you Aaron for this week's public comments. If you'd like to submit public comments to The Dive Down, become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation at http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - Oranges, micro-looting, cameras off, vocoders, frogs, and more 11:52 - Dave's gone and Boston memories, the Boston Tea Party 18:05 - Shane picked up some new PS5 games, and a preview for next week 24:20 - Old business: Stan beat Shadow of the Colossus 36:15 - Shane restarted Metaphor: Refantazio 45:10 - YouTube sleepin' 47:40 - New business: Shane made a Steam Machine 54:32 - Public comments: Food we like to make 1:07:38 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected] The Dive Down