Ever since Ben applied for a job as a Narrative Lead at a game company he’s been contemplating the differences between narrative and story, so he’s invited his good friend Andrew from partlyrobot.com to help him navigate toward a satisfactory conclusion… and hilarity ensues.  Other topics visited in this episode: Cult of the Lamb’s new DLC, crispy Japanese snacks, Instagram trends and scammers, defunct mall stores and search engines, story structures, reality television, the games of Vanillaware Ltd., AI art fails, Atari 2600 games, differences between Marvel and DC comics, and THE Guttenberg! 00:00:21 - Awesome baby, secret mukbang video, fried toothpicks, and school supply mirages00:03:32 - Ben’s been playing “Cult of the Lamb: Sins of the Flesh,” and genre pet peeves  00:06:13 - Happy cults, strategically sacrificing heretics, and back to fried vegetable starch00:08:25 - Kanda Curry Grand Prix Museum, and revelations of what snack foods can be00:10:27 - Girl dinner, in the spirit of satire, a proprietary blend, and chicken and waffles flavor00:13:47 - Ben’s critique of Scorchin’ Medium BBQ Pringles, and a new Brett Eason Ellis book00:15:47 - Sharper Image, Spencer’s Gifts, the definition of narrative, and conflicting origins  00:20:09 - Ben mishears declension, ask.com actually DOES exist, and Scrabble scores 00:23:12 - Andrew’s Instagram scammer saga continues, and a review in the New York Times 00:25:40 - 2/10 net 30, your accounts receivable department, and alternative review channels00:27:48 - The “story vs. narrative…” narrative, and Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet 00:31:37 - “A Christmas Story,” the Die Hard, Melina Dillon movies, and ending on a bummer00:34:42 - Andrew’s writing is a process, finding the threads, and a side of the denouement     00:37:37 - An agreement on dialogue, informing the story, and a “no middle” accusation 00:40:00 - Season 3 of “The Real World,” a question of reality TV, and a different episode00:43:31 - Contest shows, Noel Fielding wranglers, and Ben puts Andrew on the spot 00:50:10 - The narrative design job, about Odin Sphere, and weaving character narratives 00:53:50 - Starting with Gwendolyn, distinct character diversity, and “picking” the ending00:55:45 - Ben is looking forward to “Unicorn Overlord,” and Andrew gets distracted00:57:49 - The hugging a unicorn AI art fail, not a good sign, and the “Pitfall!” narrative? 01:00:22 - Activision’s 2600 success, the Atari Force comic book, and DC vs Marvel stories01:02:31 - The Marvel method of storytelling, writer-artists, and Jack Kirby’s bone of contention 01:05:50 - Don’t belittle the inker, and a creative narrative choice in Batman: Arkham Asylum01:10:47 - Closing thoughts, Maine, James Joyce, changing perceptions, and trailer mashups01:15:05 - Ben’s editing, changing the podcast name, and get the Guttenberg out of retirement    Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…  His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on… Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] References and Hashtags: Cult of the Lambhttps://www.cultofthelamb.com/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1313140/Cult_of_the_Lamb/ Odin Sphere: Leifthrasirhttps://atlus.com/osl/https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0177-CUSA05083_00-ODINSPHERELE0000 Unicorn Overlordhttps://unicornoverlord.atlus.com/index.html?lang=enhttps://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0177-PPSA09770_00-UNICORNOVERLORD0 Old Wise Man Hugging a Unicornhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/pierre-de-lacaze-b11026b_this-illustrates-why-common-sense-and-activity-7158116939326742528-DgnJ #Podbean #DIYPodc

Ben is flying solo this week, but he still has lots to talk about (and one cat to apologize for).  After letting us know what he’s up to, he moves on to his experiences with the “Quilts and Cats of Calico” online multi-player beta test!  A big thank you goes out to Monster Couch for inviting us to beta test!  You had us at cats!    00:00:21 - ”That which does not kill you…” and why is South Korean fried toothpicks trending?00:02:31 - On a more positive note… Star★Vaders news and Ban’s minimalist advertising00:03:53 - Ben has completed "Soul Hackers 2" and has started a new cult… the Cult of Vague00:05:45 - Mango shenanigans, Christmas sale purchases, and "Armor Core 6: Fires of Rubicon" 00:08:48 - Monster Couch’s “Quilts and Cats of Calico,” had Ben at cats, and Calico history00:10:43 - Gameplay description, how to score to points, color buttons, and the obligatory cats CORRECTION - After playing a piece, you pick 1 piece from a 3 tile "public" draw pool; then a random tile is removed from the bag to replace the one chosen by the player.  00:14:45 - Ben bought Michaela the board game version based on the strength of the beta 00:15:48 - Ben’s unexpected use of his Steam phone app, and waking up and petting cats00:17:33 - Words coming soon and thank you for listening! Follow Two Vague on… Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn (ex-)Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] References, Links, and TagsFollow "Star★Vaders" lead designer Eddie (@AxolotlStar on X) and learn more about the game using the links belowhttps://star-vaders.com/https://store.steampowered.com/app/2097570/StarVaders/ https://www.twovaguepodcast.com/e/episode-94-nature/ For more information on the board game "Calico"Follow Calico Designer Kevin Russ on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kevinruss/Follow Calico Illustrator Beth Solo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bethsobel/Check out the catalogues of boardgames from AEG and Flatout Games…https://www.alderac.com/ AND https://www.flatout.games/ For release date and development news from Monster Couch on "Quilts and Cats of Calico…"https://www.monstercouch.com/quilts-and-cats-of-calico/While you’re at it, check out their other amazing adaptation of the board game Wingspan!https://www.monstercouch.com/wingspan/ #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow#2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #Calico #QuiltsAndCatsOfCalico #MonsterCouch #StarVaders

This week Ben is dealing with some critic’s remorse, but Andrew is here to help him process his thoughts and improve his video game assessment method.  After talking about what’s new for each of them, they get right into the definition.  From unwanted Instagram solicitations to well-known Chicagoan movie reviewers… the conversation goes to some strange destinations before settling down upon the task at hand.  Andrew provides his input on Ben’s plan of attack, Ben learns a cool new word to add to his vocabulary, and they end the show with some advice and a silly drink name. 00:00:21 - A loaded question, the preferred condiment for pizza, and emulsions o’ plenty00:02:23 - Soul Hackers 2, Kelly LeBrock, the word queer, the Dead Milkmen, and magnets00:05:46 - You MUST listen to the “Yahoo!” hold music by Snow, and the kids definition 00:07:40 - The Two Vague Revue, missing for a while, Mango misses Dad, and verbs00:09:05 - Miriam gets overlooked, Aldous Huxley, interesting, Ben sings, and removing letters00:12:35 - Reading the dictionary, the grammar rabbit hole, Howard the Duck, and the movie00:14:17 - Performance reviews, when you are wrong, magnetic superfluids, and MRI’s work00:16:22 - IG book review solicitations, the 100th level, make 100, and the joys of PayPal00:20:46 - Instagram jail, Andrew loves the USPS, Rudy Flores, and Andrew’s seminars 00:25:08 - Podcast mission, carrier pigeons, vocalizations at Sam’s Club, and loopholes00:27:23 - Remembering Gene and Roger, a greenroom priming, and can’t say that on PBS00:29:35 - High Noon in space, review the impression, up or down, and Godzilla (1998)  00:34:43 - Andrew’s warning about “Poor Things,” a synopsis, and movies on a first date 00:38:03 - The “Speed” tagline, put a shark under it, math, and more acceptable in comedies  00:40:22 - Mixed feelings, how the sausage is made, review philosophies, and troll policing00:44:02 - The benefits of using rubrics, and “Aesthetics, Mechanics, and Story… oh my!”00:47:54 - Summarizing the 3 categories, food critics, and Guy Fiery in the mirror universe00:50:26 - Influencers, formulas, the new segment, 3 ups n’ 3 downs, and Andrew’s suggestion00:54:35 - Loose ends in stories, speaking your truth, entertaining reviews, and tax season00:57:22 - Reviews can be helpful, a Mark Twain quote, learning by doing, and John Deere 00:59:51 - Read reviews objectively, some people are jerk-holes, Die Hard, and sex on a bus Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]   References and Hashtags:- To support Andrew’s “make 100” Kickstarter… https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/partlyrobot/make-100-booger-bear-comic-mini-zines- Check out Rudy Flores’ art projects and services… http://www.rudyfloresart.com/ AND https://www.hexandhew.com/- For all your fictitious carrier pigeon deliveries… https://flypigeon.co/ #Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #Kickstarter #Make100 #HexandHew #Partlyrobot #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #CarrierPigeons

Ben and Norah are on deck for the first show of 2024!  Ben does something a little different to start out this year… a game review!  The game is… <drumroll>… Outerloop Games’ sophomore release “Thirsty Suitors,” and in an effort to quench, Ben has a big bucket of opinions he’s going to dump on us.  He starts by explaining his assessment method (which will be discussed in more detail on a forthcoming show) and then gets in the weeds with sharing his critique of TS’s aesthetics, game mechanics, and story.  Ben also provides 3 examples of what the game does well and 3 examples of what needs improvement.  Norah unintentionally closes the show with a SICK BURN! 00:00:21 - Norah compliments Andrew, buys new things, and reviews "The Maestro" in brief00:02:37 - Thirsty, UK slang, based on context, Annapurna, and Outerloop’s mission statement 00:05:07 - Falcon Age summary, Thirsty Suitors described, and Norah’s impressions of trailer00:07:51 - Jala’s introduction / summary / prologue, and Ben explains his review structure   FORMULAAesthetics (A) + Game Mechanics (GM) + Story and Narrative (SN) = a video game experienceBen’s importance percentages = 20% A + 35% GM + 45% SN Aesthetics (A) 00:10:32 - Ben’s audio / video / aesthetics score is 10/10, and Norah’s assessment from trailer Game Mechanics (GM) 00:12:21 - First, Thirsty Suitor’s skateboarding game mechanics 00:13:16 - Second, a description of QTEs and how cooking works in Thirsty Suitors00:17:29 - Third, a detailed breakdown of how turn based battles work in Thirsty Suitors  Story and Narrative (SN)00:23:32 - Finally, the story and narrative in Ben’s words followed by Norah’s questions  Three Positives00:27:24 - For the first 6 hours of gameplay the synthesis of the game mechanics, the striking visuals, and the compelling story combine to make a near perfect gaming experience.00:27:59 - The game has well written dialogue, powerful emotional moments, and contains authentic portrayals of LGBTQ+ and S. Asian experiences.  00:28:22 - The amazing aesthetics and style are a tribute to the love and effort the developers poured into this game. Three Negatives00:28:35 - Feels unfinished in a number of ways. There are only 5 super moves and only 2 of the 5 are exes. The level meter maxes out at 31 but it continues to appear like it is filling after each subsequent battle has concluded.  There is a beautiful, but unnecessary map screen which gives one the impression that there would be much more to explore. 00:30:23 - The story has an “identity crisis” at the midpoint of the game and doesn’t commit to develop any of the storylines as significantly as the first 6 hours did.  Additionally some story details don’t make sense logically or are counter to what you would expect that characters would have learned. 00:34:25 - South Asian cultural and historical exploration is not comprehensive as expected from Outerloop based on the statement at their website.  Side note: please include the recipes next time. Wrap-up Discussion00:35:59 - When A’s turn (based on a true story), design creep, skateboarding, and Aggretsuko00:40:03 - In retrospect not a great look, conflict resolution, Jala’s arc, and Rob in High Fidelity00:43:13 - Meaningful stories, sales techniques, T.S. Eliot quote, and agreeing to a point 00:48:30 - Ben nitpicks the title and tagline, succinct, and Norah’s unintentional “sick burn”00:51:04 - An apology, on a tear, global warming, mayonnaise, and an official close.    Ben’s FINAL VERDICT on Thirsty Suitors aka the MATH!(10 * .20) + (6 * .35) + (6 * .45) = 6.8 out of 10… things. DO BUY… if you want to support marginalized voices in game design (and companies like Outerloop and Annapurna).DO PLAY… if you are new to JRPG style games and want an introduction to how those types of game mechanics work.DO PLAY… if you would be satisfied with 5-6 hours (out the 12 hours it took Ben to thoroughly explore and complete the game) of super solid, amazingly crafted gameplay.  Fol

Andrew is in his studio this week… joining Ben via satellite to talk about what is arguably his favorite artistic medium.  But first, some encouraging news about Andrew narrowly avoiding the robot / AI takeover, and how his new daughter is keeping him positively occupied during a period of union drama.  Then Ben shares his experiences with what he has been playing lately: Thirsty Suitors by OuterLoop Games, and Dead Island 2 by Dambuster Studios.  Be warned… there are a few DI2 spoilers in the conversation, so if you want to play this game at some point, you might want to consider skipping to 00:17:00.  Andrew takes yet another sensory adventure trip to Japan before the hosts dive into a discussion about the word ink.  Additional subjects include: independent comics, participating in Inktober, the pros and cons of AI generated art, the origin of Andrew’s recurring character Booger Bear, and the seldom seen Mortal Kombat arcade clone from Data East… Tattoo Assassins!    00:00:21 - Sometimes Pringles, sometimes Y, not partially, buying domains, and radicalization 00:03:20 - Picketers borrowing babies, the temperament of custodians, and Skynet is at bay00:05:13 - Ben started playing Thirsty Suitors, High Fidelity, and correction … 5 not 5000:09:35 - Los Angeles is not an island, escape from development hell, and zombie cults00:12:26 - Ben critiques Dead Island 2, zombie types, CHiP bursters, and an artist ruins horses00:17:00 - Killing another can of Japanese Pringles for Andrew’s Sensory Adventure!00:22:26 - A message to the hot honey flavor designer, and a unique airport Pringles side quest00:25:53 - Mollusk adjacent words, Admiral Ackbar gets scared, and Andrew discovers comics00:28:34 - DC and Marvel comic book story differences, and utilizing existing infrastructures00:31:41 - Art classes, not the shoes, the ink aesthetic, using art software, and a first Inktober00:36:19 - AI art, outside observer perspectives, the purpose of your art, and deeper meaning00:41:56 - The definition, the government buys highlighters, and Ben’s memories of drafting00:45:27 - Tattoo designs, the power of creating art, words as structure, and a choir of angles 00:48:03 - The origin of Booger Bear, Andrew’s 1st political cartoon, and from a different angel00:50:39 - Jake Parker, no NaNoWriMo for Andrew, Inktober controversies, and staying current   00:55:01 - Whamageddon, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Googling sports things, and “real”00:57:06 - Ben’s hometown arcade "The Machine," and the dumpster fire of a test game 00:59:11 - Bob Gale, didn’t make it out of COVID, MAME nostalgia, and not on VHS footage01:02:53 - Over 2000 finishers… “eat ship and die” and the DeLorean were 100% Bob Gale01:04:50 - The roster, the backstories, abandoned by the Army, and back to finishing moves01:09:04 - Farting flamethrower, the Night Trap documentary, and the Hot Honey equivalent01:11:40 - A cut above, Andrew doesn’t have tattoos, help from Harryhausen, and bad tattoos01:13:56 - Just do Inktober, maybe wait until you are 30, and the calamari episode   Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] References and Hashtags:https://www.thirstysuitors.com/ - #thirstysuitors https://outerloopgames.com/ - #outerloop #outerloopgameshttps://deadisland.com/ - #DI2https://www.dsdambuster.com/https://www.theonion.com/cia-realizes-its-been-using-black-highlighters-all-thes-1819568147 - #theonionhttps://inktober.com/ - #inktober #diypodcasting, #applepodcast, #podbean, #podernfamily, #videogames, #

Andrew joins Ben to discuss a word that is the sliver of overlap in the Venn diagram of the previous two episodes: animate and robot.  Ben brings up a (very) minor controversy for Geoff Keighley’s “The Game Awards” independent game nominees this year involving Mint Rocket’s “Dave the Diver.”  Andrew goes on an exotic adventure with a Pringles flavor all the way from Japan!  After a very quick definition segment, Andrew shares a traumatic event from his youth involving an animatronic alien at Universal Studios, and then more 70s and 80s movies are discussed.  Ben drops a quick Hall of Presidents conspiracy theory and some sad Chuck E. Cheese news before he talks about the interesting origin story of Scott Cawthorn’s incredibly popular “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise.  Finally, they come up with an amazing new restaurant idea to close out the show.   00:00:21 - Vacuuming robot revolution crisis possibly averted, pictures with Santa, and work00:03:35 - Fight Club villain discovery, mental health, and more happy controversial things 00:05:27 - “Dave the Diver” Independent GOTY nomination, and the inventor of the seed drill00:08:34 - No GOTY love for “RoboCop: Rogue City,” and Ben is just a little disappointed00:10:15 - How to classify games a independently developed, and a Double Fine edge case00:12:10 - Andrew’s sensory adventure… Addictive Garlic Butter flavored Japanese Pringles!00:16:45 - The official verdict, the definition, Disney’s contributions, Billy Bass, and clockwork 00:22:32 - Scary animatronics, the Neil Diamond antidote, and Andrew’s E.T. ride trauma 00:27:00 - Eliot the insurance policy, Stranger Things, and extraterrestrials for the woke agenda 00:29:36 - Blue Thunder, the underrated acting prowess of Roy Scheider, and a JAFO hat00:31:42 - Bruce the pneumatic shark, cool to creepy, and wanting to take Teddy Ruxpin apart 00:34:29 - At an appropriate distance, David S. Pumpkins, and SNL’s the Merryville Brothers 00:36:53 - 45 in the Hall of Presidents… gate - https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-animatronic-conspiracy-theory-explained-disney-world-2023-6 00:38:04 - Not realistic enough, points of articulation, computer animation, and young versions00:41:55 - Chuck E. Cheese’s decision is not FNaF related (allegedly), and Willy’s Wonderland  00:46:20 - Scott Cawthorn’s inspiration for Five Nights at Freddy’s, and his game design arc00:53:01 - Latest FNaF game was at PAX West, the pandemic was hard, and a story summary 00:56:27 - CORRECTION: Night Trap filming was originally funded by Hasbro for their Control-Vision system which was canceled in 1989. 00:57:27 - Having animatronic clowns in the workplace is breaking the Geneva Conventions00:59:38 - The movie S1m0ne, the SAG strike, a brilliant restaurant idea, and a double dose.  Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] #Pringles#GOTY2023#TheGameAwards#DIYPodcast#podernfamily#podbeanpodcast#applepodcast#twovaguepodcast#partlyrobot#videogames#trivia#FNAF

Ben is joined by Andrew (insert mechanical transformation sound) to form this week’s hosting duo!  What’s new with them?  Ben’s still playing “Dave the Diver,” but is having trouble getting through the grind.  Andrew is adjusting to a “new baby schedule,” and working toward the completion of his second novel set in the “Larry-verse.”  After the obligatory definition proceedings, Andrew shares the origin of his Partly Robot moniker.  Then they dive in to a conversational exploration of memorable robots in assorted forms of media.  Andrew talks about watching the movie “Robot and Frank,” and then Ben excitedly talks about his experiences with “RoboCop: Rogue City.”  Within the mishmash of it all, they also have a teachable moment… don’t smoke at the gas station or else you’ll end up like Emil. 00:00:21 - Andrew is a “yo” guy, Andrew’s adventures in parenting, and Ed Asner babies00:03:25 - Too much stuff in “Dave the Diver,” and a rapper wearing a Chicago Balls jersey00:05:55 - The Premises Premise, “Larry-verse” sharks, and the lamest form of time travel00:09:03 - Writing chapters out of order, robot ninja monkeys, and contract or barter00:11:45 - Domo arigato, Styx’s 11th studio album, and Kilroy was imprisoned by Dr. Righteous 00:15:20 - According to “Kilroy was Here” cannon, not cool Oxford, and web crawler memories00:17:42 - Following Nietzsche for the mustache, the Czech word for forced labor, and R.U.R.00:20:05 - We love Ricky Junior, hazardous bar stools, and being oblivious to the robot revolt  00:22:58 - Andrew’s alter ego, being partly robot, empathy, R2D2, and robotic stereotypes 00:25:42 - Scary robots, more problematic acting choices, eating data, and a deep question00:29:15 - The land of Cartesianism, AI hallucinations, and observing human development00:33:44 - Isaac Asimov’s 3 laws of robotics, logical problems, and “Detroit: Become Human”00:36:54 - Discovering the universe without senses, and “Foundation” series connections00:39:48 - Algorithms, psychohistory, not Arthur C Clarke, and the Hugos and the Nebulas   00:42:19 - The butt kissing robot, seeing the train wreck, and emotional robots in literature00:45:50 - A pop culture pet peeve, Gopher was a member of Congress, and Forbidden Planet00:50:58 - Futura in Metropolis, upper management, and a summary of “Robot and Frank”00:52:00 - Ben is excited to talk about RoboCop and playing Teyon’s “RoboCop: Rogue City”00:55:55 - The acting of Peter Weller in the movie, and an explanation of “texture popping” 01:00:05 - Emil M. Antonowsky’s lesson, Paul Verhoeven’s backstory, and crime evidence01:03:45 - Concluding the robot trip… WALL-E, 2-XL, Conky, R.O.B., and give robots a chance  Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] #videogames, #robocop, #robocoproguecity, #teyon, #podernfamily, #diypodcast, #podbean, #applepodcasts, #trivia, #autism, #partlyrobot #twovaguepodcast

Martin from Soupmasters, the lead designer of Big Boy Boxing joins Ben this week to talk about game development as it relates to this week’s word!  First the hosts talk about what they are up to.  Martin is moving offices, coding facial expressions, and not playing recently purchased games (but maybe next week).  Ben… he is trying to contain his excitement about his recent pre-order for a game inspired by a Paul Verhoeven cult movie classic!  Then it’s on to the definition and coincidentally learning two Swedish words in the process.  Next, Ben has lots of questions for Martin about his cartoon, movie, and video game inspirations.  Finally, they engage in a side conversation about their favorite Christopher Nolan movie Tenet, and leave a mystery unsolved… for now.    00:00:30 - Introducing Martin, moving, and the importance of desk tchotchkes and large TVs00:02:55 - Adding more character expressions, Super Mario Wonder, and SpiderMan 200:05:02 - Ben’s favorite Red Dead Redemption bug, and thoughts on RoboCop: Rogue City 00:08:15 - The better RoboCop, throwing away scripts, and Martin is nostalgic about Nintendo00:10:11 - Franchise exclusives, more of a PC guy, the joys of Minecraft, and meeting Ludvig 00:13:37 - Developing characters, story, and levels using the iconic “Punch-Out!!” formula00:16:28 - Getting in to the word, thank you Google-machine, and Swedish pronunciations 00:18:40 - The characters of Big Boy Boxing, technical feats on the NES, and animation fluidity00:20:20 - About the BBB animating process, and working with talented professional artists00:22:01 - Kineographs, “Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey, and bonding over “Hot Fuzz”  00:24:55 - A pun, Cuphead, Pizza Tower, Skullgirls, Indivisible, and Them’s Fightin’ Herds 00:28:11 - Being juggled, “Super Smash Bros.” annoyances, and characters over balancing00:29:40 - Inspiration from Disney, “Treasure Island” the Russian 1988 film, and modern shows00:32:15 - Rick and Morty Season 1, Episode 7 and the numerous Zardoz references therein 00:34:45 - Martin enjoys the “Death Note” animation style, and favorite animated movies00:37:55 - Nelvana Enterprises’ decision to work on “Rock & Rule” instead of “Heavy Metal”00:42:28 - The works of Don Bluth, Lucas Arts games of the 90s, and Tim Schafer’s games00:44:48 - Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2 development and respective publishing dramas 00:46:21 - “Inception” connections to the Psychonauts games, and the amazing movie Tenet00:49:45 - Ben’s bittersweet memories, and the importance of connecting with the protagonist00:53:45 - Closing but saving the Minecraft inspired company name origin for the next time    Keep up to date on the progress of Big Boy Boxing development at the Soupmasters website https://soupmasters.com/ !  Be sure to add Big Boy Boxing to your Steam wishlist… and while your at it, download and play the demo!  https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680780/Big_Boy_Boxing/ Follow Two Vague on… Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected] #PAX2023, #soupmasters, #bigboyboxing, #twovaguepodcast, #DIYpodcasting, #podbean, #podernfamily, #videogames

Ben is joined this week by Star★Vaders developer Eddie for their chosen, dare we say, philosophical word!  Ben gets right down to business asking Eddie questions about the recent kerfuffle surrounding the game engine Unity.  After dispensing with that subject, the hosts move on to nature.  Ben talks about an argument (which to a scientist, is actually a question), and Eddie shares some of the their favorite outdoor activities.  On the subject of games, the hosts discuss Geometric Interactive’s “Cocoon,” Teyon’s “RoboCop: Rogue City,” Maxis’ “Spore,” Niantic Inc.’s “Monster Hunter Now,” Mojang Studios’ “Minecraft” (hold the suspicious stew), Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” and Larian Studios’ “Baldur’s Gate 3.”   00:00:20 - Introducing Eddie, the lead game designer for Star★Vaders! 00:01:35 - A window into game development cycles, and Ben shares his software experiences00:04:39 - Using “paper prototypes” in game development and modeling in Tabletop Simulator 00:07:45 - Ben has a loaded question, and Eddie explains the pros of using Unity00:10:10 - The proposed Unity fee changes from an independent developer’s perspective00:12:25 - An abundance of install counting loopholes points to a lack of understanding!00:14:35 - Developer Innersloth’s install counting concerns, and Unity being “out of touch”00:16:17 - Shady behavior with the “Terms of Service,” DIY installation counting, and changes00:21:49 - Ben’s story about changing a perception; can Unity build back the trust of devs?00:23:04 - A developer poking fun at the Unity situation with “Install Fee Tycoon”00:24:29 - Finally moving on, the axolotl, and the duality and philosophical nature of… nature00:27:37 - The Nature of the Canadian, generational identities, and according to “Ox Ford” 00:29:58 - Québécois French, don’t forget the ducks, and connections in day to day life00:32:41 - Nature vs nurture, more of a question for Eddie the scientist, and being nuanced 00:35:33 - A true escape for Eddie, communing with nature, and growing orchids in AZ00:37:30 - An introduction to dragon boating, bubble tea, and investigating other biomes00:41:03 - The awesome canyon, birds are basically dinosaurs, and Eddie describes “Cocoon” 00:44:24 - How Eddie likes his stories, the “no instructions” trend, and indie games research00:46:53 - The movie RoboCop, practical (horror) effects in films, and “The Thing” prequel00:49:41 - “Spore,” too many cooks, the AAA studio octopus analogy, and scope creep 00:52:07 - Games as art… a designer’s perspective, and stories we tell through art00:55:00 - Ben has been hunting and harvesting carcasses in “Monster Hunter Now”00:57:47 - Minecraft from Mojang Studios DOES hold the record for number of units sold. 00:59:41 - No PvP in Star★Vaders, and a closing question about realistic game ecosystems   Keep up to date on the progress of Star★Vaders development at https://star-vaders.com/ !Be sure to add it to your Steam wishlist… and while your at it, download and play the demo!  https://store.steampowered.com/app/2097570/StarVaders/ Follow Two Vague on… Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]

Andrew joins Ben this week for a spork-tacular show (in cover art only); and here is your Halloween surprise… a no candy, prank-less, normally dressed, scare-free episode… that is the PREMISE!  After voicing his focused excitement about a forthcoming child and how it has impacted his short term view of his job, Andrew tries Hot Honey flavored Pringles.  Ben talks about the many games he has been playing as of late, but also drops a few hints about the Pringles roadmap he has devised for Andrew.  Then the hosts move on to the word at hand. Ben has lots of questions about Andrew’s comedy writing process before the conversation shifts to ridiculous video game premises, followed by Ben's gameplay experiences with Squanch Games’ “High on Life.”  Other tangential digressions visited include: “Kung Fury,” favorite Canadian comedy troupe “Kids in the Hall” skits, 80s and 90s contemporary authors, the creative process, “Rick and Morty” drama,  Nicolas Cage movies, and much more!  Oh yes… and Happy Birthday to our biggest fan NORAH!   00:00:21 - Heavy on the trivia, heavy on the video games, and a sprinkle of Pringles dust.00:01:28 - No more vacated bowling alley Targets in Portland, too art deco, and ready to bowl00:04:26 - Baby excitement, appropriate levels of detachment, and paternity leave priorities  00:06:49 - Find a baby, paid leave irony, making it difficult for the employer, and labor unions00:09:18 - More robust and fleshed out, salmon country, and the Oregonian food handlers card  00:13:35 - “Baywatch Nights,” “Monster Hunter Now,” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart”00:15:12 - It’s oaky to pay for DLC if Idris Elba stars in it, and Pringles Hot Honey high jinks00:21:12 - Andrew has one at home, an underwhelming experience, and a Madonna lyrics00:22:55 - The definition(s), Andrew gets too vague, and an unintentional syllogism callback 00:24:49 - An assortment of ethically sourced (?) definitions, regime, regimen, and not… THAT00:28:02 - David Hasselhoff vehicles, a “Kung Fury” love fest, and describing the premise00:32:13 - Rotating your owl, bad premises, if you will, and going down to Premise Beach!00:34:32 - Lorne Michaels impressions, guy has meat hand, and favorite KITH sketches 00:39:46 - Eating tacos made out of coelacanth, and Andrew’s process for writing his novel00:42:17 - Authors developing emotional connections or relationships with their characters00:45:06 - Trends in 80s contemporary fiction, and Andrew’s Michael Crichton movie theory 00:50:26 - “Stranger Than Fiction,” down the Nicholas Coppola rabbit hole, and all roads lead00:54:20 -  Ridiculous game premises according to Cracked: Mario, Megaman, and Tetris 00:56:31 -  Ben’s opinions about a “thoroughly mediocre” game called “High on Life” 00:59:58 - Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, too much lowbrow humor, and alien bodily fluids01:02:48 - Looking back on being in middle-school; where does teen humor originate from? 01:04:59 - No knife DLC for Ben, final words, and a book title for Andrew’s eventual legal thriller     Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: [email protected]