Show notes
John and Ryan return with a jam‑packed conversation that swings from tabletop quiet spells to the wild frontiers of modern gaming culture. They kick things off by digging into why Dungeons & Dragons has been unusually silent in 2025, exploring the slowdown in new book releases and what it might mean for longtime fans.From there, the discussion shifts to the trading‑card world, where the duo reacts to the surprising new policy requiring One Piece card game products to be opened upon purchase at local game stores. That leads into a deeper look at the ongoing scalping issues plaguing the One Piece TCG and how scarcity, hype, and opportunism are affecting the community.Collecting chaos doesn’t stop there. John and Ryan take a closer look at the cost of Pokémon LEGO sets and what’s driving their premium price tags. They wrap up with a breakdown of the GameStop digital game lawsuit.Capping off the episode for their ongoing theme for January—Agonizingly Long Tutorials Month—is a spotlight on Red Dead Redemption 2. The guys reflect on the game’s famously slow, cinematic onboarding and how it sets the tone for one of the most immersive open‑world experiences ever made.Find us on TheGameDeflators.comTwitter - www.twitter.com/GameDeflatorsFacebook - www.facebook.com/TheGameDeflatorsInstagram - www.instagram.com/thegamedeflators

