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Episode 33: Destiny - From Beginning to Endgram Part 2

How does the most expensive video game ever made release to lukewarm reviews? In Part 2 of our series on Bungie's epic space MMO Destiny, we cover more of the troubled development, and take a deeper dive into what went wrong in our own little post-mortem. What was cut last minute, what was shifted around, and how did most of the story and lore end up on a website instead of in the game?

Episode 32: Destiny - From Beginning to Endgram Part 1

Only a few times in a generation does a title change the way we play games, redefine a genre, and cements itself as one of the most groundbreaking and entertaining games of all time. That game of course is Halo, but those guys made another game called Destiny. In part 1 of our series on Bungie's new loot-driven massively multiplayer epic, we discuss the development, and the lead up to it's release. What went right? What went wrong? Why was there a Beatle involved? Follow us as we piece together a story from bits of information, just like they did!

Episode 31: Skyrim's Paid Mods

Despite being released in 2011, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still one of the most played video games on many platforms to this day. How is that possible? One word, Mods. Join us for the story of what happens when Skyrim developer Bethesda decides it’s time for them to profit off of the beloved free feature that has been keeping their game on top for so long.

Hot Button E3 2019 Special

It’s that time of the year again y’all! And no, I’m not talking about the Cricket World Cup. It’s E3 time! Join us today from a living room sofa as we break down each conference and game announcement day by day, along with all your favorite Twitch chat stirring moments. Everything from breathtaking Keanu to plucky Japanese presenters to doggies out on stage. We cover it all off script and unrehearsed!

Episode 30: Occupy Eorzea - The Final Fantasy XIV Housing Crisis

This week we talk about everyone’s favorite Final Fantasy XIV feature, gentrification! That’s right, not even in video games can you escape the housing crisis. Special guest (and now ex-criminal land owner) Chelsie Romano runs us through the events of when one of the world’s most massive online RPG’s suddenly became a property rush hellfest. We got the inside scoop right here. Please look forward to it!

Episode 29: Nintendo vs Let's Players

Youtube drama is all the rage these days, so we're jumping on the bandwagon with the story of the Nintendo Creators Program! We go over Nintendo's "generous offer" to allow people to stream and make Let's Plays of their games while only taking half of the money, and the millions of angry youtube rants and reaction videos that followed.

Episode 28: Requiem for a Dreamcast - History of Sega Consoles (Part 2)

Our Sega Saga continues! In our second and final part, we cover the story of how Sega learned nothing from the success of the Genesis, and made a bunch of bad decisions leading up to the release and failure of their last console ever, the Dreamcast. Learn how they went from almost dethroning Nintendo to completely exiting from the console business in just over decade.

Episode 27: Requiem for a Dreamcast - History of Sega Consoles (Part 1)

For better or worse Sega has been a part of our culture for 80 years. From a domination of the arcade industry to pissing off the entire internet with a hedgehog's teeth. Today we look into how Sega sprinted, tumbled, innovated, and poorly timed it's foray into the console game, in which they were either wildly successful or a horrible failure, depending on when and where you look.

Episode 26: Warner Bothers - How the Westworld was Lost

It's time for some more court documents! This episode, it’s Robot Cowboys vs Mutants as we cover the lawsuit between Bethesda and Warner Bros over the “similarities” in Fallout Shelter and the Westworld mobile game. We’ll tell you about how one smaller company plagiarizing itself led to two entertainment giants fighting it out in the courtroom.

Episode 25: Video Game Special Editions Live!

Hot Button Live from the Volume Cafe! Special Edition!! In our very first live episode, we break down a list of some of the dumbest, most unnecessary, most inappropriate, and most ill conceived video game collector’s bundles ever. From the cheapest add on junk to the most expensive publicity stunts. Fridges to figurines! Panties to Baterangs! Remote control cars.. to real cars. We cover it all!

Episode 24: Birth of A Killer App - The Origin of Halo Part II

For the second and final part in our series on Halo: Combat Evolved, we learn about the game's journey from Mac game to Xbox exclusive. Want to hear a bunch of billionaires get mad at each other over a game about a spaceman shooting purple aliens? We got you covered. Join us to catalog everything that made the cut and everything that didn't, as one of the the best FPS games of all time limped its way across the finish line.

Episode 23: Birth of A Killer App - The Origin of Halo Part I

Every once and a while a game comes along that changes the industry forever. And few have changed the game in the way that Halo: Combat Evolved has. From Microsoft's success in the console game, to the proliferation of the FPS genre on consoles, a lot can be attributed to the Halo series. On this episode, we dive into the history of Bungie, and the story of how Halo came to be. Join us on part one of a two part journey, as we discover how one of the most iconic first person shooters of all time didn't even start as a shooter let alone a first person game, and how it almost had some of the stupidest names we have ever heard.