Hot Button

Hot Button’s 2023 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 2

We’re back with our second and final part on the best (and worst) of 2023! Why not celebrate Valentine’s Day by listening to us argue four more awards categories, including… Biggest Surprise, Most Disappointing, Worst Game, and of course a ranked top 10 of the Best of the Best! Biggest Surprise - 00:01:45  Most Disappointing - 00:37:53  Worst Game - 01:47:30  Best Game - 02:03:51

Hot Button’s 2023 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 1

With 2024 now upon us, what do you say we take a look back and discuss our top releases of last year. This week we kick it off with awards for Best Aesthetic, Best Narrative, Best Character, and Best Moment! Be sure to return for the remaining categories in Part 2 of 2 coming soon! Note - There will be story spoilers during certain conversations and we will label where to skip ahead in the time codes below.  Best Aesthetic - 00:02:10  Best Narrative - 00:53:49  Best Character - 01:52:22  Best Moment or Sequence - 02:36:08

Episode 107: Unity Returns!

Sometimes something happens that we just can’t sit on. In perhaps what is likely THE most self-destructive move we have ever seen in almost any industry, today we buckle down and discuss the recent explosion of controversy from the folks at the Unity company. Please note that this recording is not only an expansion of the latest anniversary update, but also a follow-up to the history we covered of the game engine in episode 85!

Hot Button Game Awards 2023 Special Follow-Up

The annual VGAs have officially concluded. This week we give a play-by-play of the night’s events as well as our thoughts on every major reveal and announcement. This along with the tallying up the results of who in the podcast room made the most accurate predictions of them all!

Hot Button Game Awards 2023 Special

Awards season is upon us! Today we place our bets and personal picks as we run through all the main categories set to presented at Geoff Keighley’s big show. Who’s chosen group of nominees will come out on top? Tune back in next time to hear which one of us is crowed the winner!

Episode 106: Hot Button Year-Five Edition

Five years! Can you believe it? Take a trip through time with us this week as we check back in with all our past episodes and update a half decade plus of some of the biggest stories in gaming!

Episode 105: Cruis’n Toward Bankruptcy - The History of Midway

Get over here! At long last, we cover the third great pillar of defunct American software publishers! From the arcade classics to seventh gen sleepers, we take a look at everything these dead kings of the “B” game threw at us. The hits and the misfires! These folks left quite the mark on our industry. So allow us to take you on a guided tour of their humble beginnings, rise to stardom, fall from grace, and eventual collapse.

Episode 104: Dark Horse - The Twisted Tale of Drowned God

Halloween is now upon us… therefore it’s time the podcast tackles what is likely one of the most distressing stories to ever find its way into gaming history. Today we explore the tragedy and mind of an artist faced with the unimaginable. So you best be prepared for our discussion of death, conspiracies, aliens, PC adventure titles, and psychobilly rock music?