Hot Button

Episode 100: The Life and Death of the Gizmondo

We did it, folks! It’s our 100th episode! And boy did we save one of the best topics to celebrate it, because it is time for us to remind the world of when a group of dangerous Swedish mobsters clumsily attempted to infiltrate our favorite industry with one of the absolute worst gaming handhelds ever created! There’s twists, there’s turns. Get ready for an exciting adventure, filled with guns, drugs, car crashes, sellout celebrities, and ofcourse… endless stupidity!

Hot Button Interview with Alyse Knorr on GoldenEye 007

You’ve heard the episodes! Now we go straight to the source! On a very out of the ordinary Hot Button this week, we sit down and have a chat with writer Alyse Knorr about her GoldenEye 007 entry for the highly regarded Boss Fight line of gaming-focused books. We discuss everything from our personal experiences with the shooter that started it all, to her one-on-one talks with the Rare crew, to what it was like to collect so much hard-hitting research that made our series possible!

Episode 99: Welcome Back, 007 - The History of GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64 Part 3

The thrilling conclusion to our GoldenEye trilogy is here! Today we reflect on the powerful legacy it left behind and explore the future it built for everyone involved. From Perfect Dark to TimeSplitters to full-blown remakes and remasters, oh my!

Episode 98: Welcome Back, 007 - The History of GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64 Part 2

We’re back to continue on with the tale of how one of your favorite childhood classics came to be! In our story’s middle chapter, we’ll take you through the rest of GoldenEye’s fascinating development as the crew at Rare prepares for its monumental launch onto the 64 and into our hearts.

Episode 97: Welcome Back, 007 - The History of GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64 Part 1

Hot Button has returned with something truly special. This week we take a trip to the mid-90s, and in what is perhaps the industry’s unlikeliest success story, explore the time when a crack team of young designers turned a Hollywood spy flick into one of the most beloved and influential video games to ever grace home consoles. On this first episode of our new series, hear us cover the humble beginnings of developer studio Rare as well as their budding friendship with Nintendo and secret agent James Bond.

Hot Button’s 2022 Game of the Year Deliberations

It’s officially 2023! However before we return to our regularly scheduled programming, we’re first going to take a look back at these past twelve months and decide as a group what the absolute best (as well as worst) game releases were for the whole year. So buckle down and listen to us collaboratively build our definitive top 10 list!”
 Note - This episode was recorded prior to the criminal charges against High on Life creator Justin Roiland were publicly revealed.

Episode 96: Hot Button Year-Four Edition (Kinda)

No, we’re not dead! Come hear where we’ve been! The hiatus may have been longer than expected, but that didn’t certainly stop the world from turning. And the news from happening. In this return special we got all the latest updates on our backlog of fun stories over the past near half decade. Announcements, deaths, and everything in between. Plus some laying out of killers plans for the podcast’s future too!

Hot Button’s 2021 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 5

It’s the grand finale you’ve all been waiting for! Our definitive ranked top 10 list of the absolute best releases of 2021 as well as a shameful crown for the crappiest game! Timestamps:  Worst Game - 00:01:36  Game of The Year - 00:39:43