Press START

An IGN article about how a playthrough of the Gollum game leaked early.

This incredible tweet about Gollum.

Naoki Yoshida floats removing Final Fantasy's numbers.

A rumored update on the Star Wars open world game Ubisoft is working on.

A late 3DS update is messing up modded consoles.

Kritiqal.com.

Special thanks to Nathalie for some gaming thoughts and for the use of her track it's the end of the world, i love you off of her recently released record "
before we hate each other." Listen to more at booitsnathanie.bandcamp.com and give her a follow on Twitter @booitsnathalie.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about Zelda at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Eurogamer on the story behind some of TotK's new abilities.

Garage Sale on Steam. Add it to your wishlist, it looks cute.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about Zelda at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The Verge's Ash Parrish's review of Tears of the Kingdom.

Polygon: Silk Song is officially delayed.

Homestuck Made this World.

Horse Master: The Game of Horse Mastery on itch.io.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about your favorite moon games at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

From Polygon: Microsoft hits another snag in the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

Polygon's follow-up on why it's interesting that cloud gaming, specifically, is the hang up.

SEGA of America workers are unionizing (hell yeah).

The New Yorker's profile of WGA writers and why they're striking.

Kotaku's post-mortem of Waypoint, a good website.

Here's where you can buy Waypoint merch before it goes under. 15 percent off with the coupon code: FCGH.

Kotaku covering the Tears of the Kingdom leaks.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us (especially if you're under 20 and have Star Wars hot takes that are generationally different than ours) at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

On Instagram @noella.jpg

And on Twitter @yonoella

THINGS MENTIONED:

YouTuber Princess Weekes.

Culture writer Tai Gooden.

Resonant Arc’s Final Fantasy VI series on YouTube.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The Verge on Sega's strange decision to buy Rovio.

Hey, remember that time the Edward Snowden leak revealed that Angry Birds was one of the apps the NSA was using to spy on people?

Someone modded Kirby into Pokemon BDSP.

Hidetaka Miyazaki is one of Time Magazine's most influential people of 2023.

Nintendo Indie World.

The Powerful Responsibility of Twilight Princess from YouTuber Liam Triforce.

Everything Is Sludge: Art in the Post-Human Era from YouTuber Lily Alexandre.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The new Zelda trailer seen around the world.

Final Fantasy 16's newest trailer.

Fortune on the insane amount of money the Mario movie is making.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

YouTuber Nando v Movies on what he thinks is missing from the Mario movie.

Polygon on the supposed Persona 3 remake leak.

Insider Gaming on the PlayStation portable leak.

Eurogamer on Quantum Break's removal from the XBOX marketplace.

(Read this with a deep sigh) Destructoid on the Street Fighter movie that's in the works.

A basic breakdown from Star Wars.com of the new stuff announced at Star Wars Celebration.

This cool Twitter thread about the history of gaming in South Korea.

Special thanks to the band always other. You can listen to more of their music at their bandcamp: alwaysother.bandcamp.com.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Tori and Noah are joined this week by Robin Bea and Willa Rowe, the hosts of Girl Mode, another great gaming news podcast. We talk everything from the current state of games media to how much we adore the great games that are only really sevens out of 10 at the end of the day.

You can find Girl Mode wherever you listen to podcasts and on twitter and cohost.

THING MENTIONED:

Check out the TTRPG for Trans Rights in Florida bundle on itch.io!!

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Polygon: Fortnite expands its creative mode in neat ways.

Brendon Bigley's video about F-Zero GX.

SMT 4chan leak.

Mixed feelings in the world about Disco Elysium's new photo mode.

Anime girl tax filing simulator.

Gamestop is doing better?

Fight, Magic Items by Aidan Moher.

Patrick Klepek from Waypoint on Metroid Prime and its remake.

Here's an example of the bonkers Just Dance lore.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your favorite video game deep lore at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Special thanks to Nathaniel Wilson for co-hosting this week's episode. You can find him on twitter @nathanbased.

THINGS MENTIONED:

An IGN article explaining the Diablo 4 KFC collab.

Cooking Mama and the Mama-verse from YouTuber Dream Jelly.

This wasn't mentioned on the show, but here's a link to a good beef stew recipe Noah made instead of playing video games this week.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your fave 3DS games at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The Vice Munchies video about Army Base Stew.

Maangchi on YouTube.

Saniya Ahmed's funny tweet.

Polygon on Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4's announcement.

A Kotaku article about Adam Sessler, Tarks Gauntlet and G4's weirdly racist past since some of those original tweets are gone.

A GameSpot article about the proposed names for the XBOX.

Saniya Ahmed's column for Unwinnable.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your Fire Emblem hot takes at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

You can find Alanna Okun on Twitter @alanna, on substack at buttonmash.substack.com and on itch.io at alannabean.itch.io.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

YouTuber Skill-Up's Final Fantasy 16 interview with Naoki Yoshida.

The Verge’s FF16 interview.

The Pokemon explanation trailer.

The Gamer on more than 200 Apex Legends testers getting fired.

A GameRant breakdown of some of the canceled Apex Legends side projects.

Alanna's game development YouTube recommendations:

Shaun Spalding

Peyton Burnham

Friendly Cosmonaut

Game Maker's Toolkit

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your Fire Emblem hot takes at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Good Vibes Gaming's video about the Tales of Symphonia remaster.

Video Game Podtimism.

IGN: Mortal Kombat 12 accidentally announced, coming this week.

Gameranx swears that the classic Metal Gear Solid games are coming to Steam.

Tears of the Kingdom art book did leak, but I can't find a good link to the pictures due to copyright strikes. Google this one at your own risk.

Extra special thanks to Palette Knife for the use of their track Damn Son, Dim Sum off of their new record New Game+. Find more of their stuff on Bandcamp: https://paletteknife.bandcamp.com.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about your fave Harvest Moon romances at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Nintendo Life's video about Direct announcements that weren't in the Direct.

This Kotaku article on Keke Palmer's Twitch escapades.

Gamerant on the latest live service deaths, including Rumbleverse.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about your fave Harvest Moon romances at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

IGN's exclusive report about how E3 ain't looking so good this year.

r/gamingleaksandrumours

PapaGenos on YouTube.

Polygon on Jedi: Survivor getting pushed back a month.

Kotaku on Sports Story's secret complaint room.

From Kotaku: Modders have reverse engineered The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

EA does an inclusivity with the Sims, and it's neat.

One-time Press START guest Jenny Windom/Kimchica's new venture, Geeks and Grounds, a monthly game club.

Extra special thanks to Nicky Flowers for the use of their track Mr. Tuesday. Find more of their stuff, like their Wii Shop Channel remixes, on Bandcamp: nickyflowers.bandcamp.com.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about your fave 3DS games at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Boy, it's been another killing week for games media. On the bright side, Nathaniel is back for a special report at the top of the episode to share his compelling tale of buying a new 2DS XL on Facebook Marketplace. We've also got some Disco Elysium talk (Noah beat it), discussion about the Forspoken Discourse and Tori's update on Mario & Rabbids.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Into the Aether.

The Verge on Proletariat's decision to not vote for a union.

The New York Times: Unions and Video Games.

Meet the Washington Post's new columnists. (eyeroll emoji) 

GamesIndustry.biz: Fandom is also laying people off, too.

Former Waypoint Radio host Austin Walker's essay on Forspoken, cringe culture and maintaining artifice in fantasy worlds.

Framerater on YouTube on how different Rayman Raving Rabbids almost was.

Willa Rowe for Inverse on a surprisingly queer social link in Persona 3: Portable.

Kay and Skittles from the AGAB podcast on how awesome Disco Elysium is.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us strategy game recommendations for Tori at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Noah's out this week but Nathaniel and Tori are picking up the slack and covering the news and what they're playing. Is it the season of the 3DS? We sure think so.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

The Verge on the slew of layoffs at Microsoft.

IGN's breakdown of what's different about the various 3DS models.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your favorite 3DS game at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

QA workers at ZeniMax Media organized from TechCrunch.

Rumor has it that a Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch is on its way.

TheGamer asks whether the Breath of the Wild sequel will be the last major Switch game.

This great tweet about Final Fantasy from Ash Parrish on Twitter.

videogamedunkey's publishing house, Big Mode, announces its first game, Animal Well.

Kotaku reports Ubisoft is having a rough time.

Also from Kotaku: the next Assassin's Creed will be smaller.

Polygon's most anticipated indie games for 2023.

The Origin Story podcast on the game Venba.

PCGamer on the lawsuit that might kill any future Disco Elysium plans.

Extra special thanks to musical guests Expert Timing and their track Special Hell from their 2022 release Stargazing. 

You can listen to more of their music on bandcamp at: https://experttiming.bandcamp.com.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us your Final Fantasy alignment at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Special thanks to HeyKipp for sharing their favorite games of 2022 with us. You can find more of their stuff at twitch.tv/HeyKipp and twitter.com/heykipp. 

THINGS MENTIONED: 

The Axe of the Blood God podcast.

The Triple Click podcast. 

ThorHighHeels video about all of the Square Enix games that released this year.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about where you think Ed Sheeran belongs at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The AGAB podcast's GOTY episode.

Ciao Papa from Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio.

Special shout out to our guests from this year who jumped in to share their GOTYS.

Emily Price.

The COMMNTD podcast.

Rae Paoletta.

HeyKipp.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod  and on tumblr at press-startpod.tumblr.com and you can email us about your GOTYs at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

 Nowadays, all you see is violence in video games and sex in ... video games. That's why Nathaniel and Noah are here to share some video game news about the Mario theme park in California and all of the holiday events in live service games. Nothing says holidays like Fortnite :)

THINGS MENTIONED: 

USA Today on the Mario theme park article.

Mario Kart 7 update from Nintendo Life.

Gematsu on We Love Katamari ReRoll.

Final Fantasy 1-6 pixel remasters rated on Switch, which have been formally announced to be coming to Switch since we recorded.

The TRUMP NFTs (from the Daily Beast) in case you need a laugh.

Special shout out to Jake Amaranthine for use of their track again. You can catch more of their music at their bandcamp: https://amaranthine.bandcamp.com. 

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us your thoughts on Family Guy at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Special thanks to Nathaniel for joining us.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

This article from The Verge about the FTC suing to prevent Microsoft’s purchase of Actiblizz. 

This article from PC Gamer about unionization efforts at Bethesda. 

Polygon’s pro-union zine. 

This article from The Gamer about an anti-union snafu at the Game Awards. 

Kotaku on Fortnite not paying artists. 

Kotaku on the supposed woke opposition to Days Gone (lol).

GamesIndustry.biz on IGN layoffs.

ConcernedApe’s Alvvays music video.

Vice on Dwarf Fortress’ reasons for coming to Steam from 2019.

Gameplay of the Ultimate Frisbee video game. 

Oh and while we’re at it here’s the website for the Ultimate Frisbee game. 

Star Wars Explained on Jedi: Survivor.

Polygon’s interview of the Game Awards kid.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us your favorite Fortnite skin or your favorite conspiracy theory at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Yuji Nika arrested for insider trading in Gematsu.

New Mario trailer (I’m gonna assume you don’t need the link for this one)

The Haunted PS1 Madvent Calendar for 2022.

This Polygon article about Masahiro Sakurai's hopes and dreams for Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Defector on Master of Disguise and 9/11.

Special thanks to Blvck Hippie for the use of their track Mansion in this episode. You can listen to more of their stuff on their bandcamp at: https://blvckhippieband.bandcamp.com.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions about the gift exchange at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Press Start Gift exchange form 

Things Discussed:

Gaming

Horse Tales Emerald Valley Ranch

Dressage

Carly Rae Jepsen's 2022 masterpiece The Loneliest Time

Elden Ring

Goncharov (1973)

Goncharov: why has the internet invented a fake Martin Scorsese film? from The Guardian

The Garbage Day newsletter from Ryan Broderick

Pokemon Violet

Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk

Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk

Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix

Taylor Swift's 2022 masterpiece Midnights

//

Follow us!

The show - https://twitter.com/asynchpodKim - https://twitter.com/OhKimmiesAJ - https://twitter.com/ajfillari

//

Thanks to _amaranthine for our theme music! Listen to his other stuff on bandcamp! - https://amaranthine.bandcamp.com/Follow him on Twitter! - https://twitter.com/_amrnthne

Thanks to Scout for making our art! Check out her ko-fi! - https://ko-fi.com/humblegoatFollow her on Twitter! - https://twitter.com/humblegoat

//

Produced & edited by AJ Fillari

https://theworstgarbage.online/

(00:00) - Hey look! This is in the show notes!

(00:41) - Intro feat. gaming journalists (journalists that game)!

(06:01) - An update on the Ranch

(10:20) - The Horsiest Shit (courtesy of Matt Horton)

(37:18) - Elden Ring

(46:08) - Elden Ring | Volcano Manor SPOILERS

(50:11) - Elden Ring

(54:01) - Goncharov (1973)

(01:05:17) - Pokemon Violet

(01:17:20) - Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk & Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk

(01:25:34) - Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix

(01:34:29) - The Main """""Game"""""

(02:02:15) - We love video games. And we love YOU!

(02:02:39) - Listen to Press Start!!

(02:04:38) - Thank you for listening!

Game Awards nominees for this year.

Sonic Frontiers Digital Foundry review.

I am Jesus Christ from EW and from Vice.

Maggie Mae Fish on the movie Fireproof.

Matt Horton Tunic.

This post about Tunic on Cohost.

Noah’s cohost chost about Shenmue.

The Girl Mode podcast.

Willa Rowe on Persona 3's ending for Inverse.

And special thanks to this week's musical guest, Vivid Fever Dreams, and their track "WHY DID U GO." 

You can listen to more of their stuff at: https://vividfeverdreams.bandcamp.com/

Vivid Fever Dreams Bandcamp, special thanks for their use of the track WHY DID U GO.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions about the gift exchange at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The first official Press START video game gift exchange. Click on this hyperlink to get to the Google form. If you have questions, email us.

Nibellion is leaving Twitter.

This Nintendo Life article about SEGA's "super game."

The Weekly Planet podcast.

Gaming Alexandria's article about Sacred Pools, SEGA's lost erotic FMV game.

The band Pom Pom Squad on Bandcamp.

SPOILERS FOR FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES FROM 54:00 to 1:07:10.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions about the gift exchange at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This article on Inverse about some fans' misgivings about a Silent Hill 2 remake.

Video Game Podtimism's Silent Hill 2 episode.

This Bloomberg article about solving Final Fantasy XIV's housing crisis.

This Washington Post article about Microsoft laying people off.

And another Washington Post article about Microsoft's concerns with cloud gaming.

This Bloomberg investigation into whatever the hell is going on with Bayonetta 3.

This episode of Triple Click explaining the Xeno- series of games.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about who your favorite Webkinz pet was at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This article on Futurism about Decentraland, a failing Metaverse project.

This Kotaku article about Facebook’s Metaverse.

This tweet from Meta about how legs are coming.

This Inverse article about the Kingdom Hearts pilot.

The link directly to the Kingdom Hearts pilot. 

The first of Ray Mona’s videos about Saban Moon, the American Sailor Moon that has been lost media forever.

Video Game Podtimism on Twitter.

The Asynchronous podcast on Twitter.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about your favorite roadtrip gaming memories at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

GamesIndustry.biz on Fandom acquiring a ton of games websites.

This Washington Post article about the latest in the Activision Blizzard anti-union saga.

This Kotaku article about a Bush-era torture apologist working at Activision Blizzard.

Flight Reacts to the Dream face reveal.

This Polygon article about the Dream face reveal, if you give a shit about that.

Blizzard's blocking people from playing Overwatch because of their phone plans, from Kotaku.

And special thanks to musical guest Shake Onigiri for their voice and the use of their track Catfood.

Shake Onigiri on Tiktok.

Shake Onigiri on Bandcamp.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about your favorite Overwatch hero of choice at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

With Tori off tending to wedding stuff (and a hurricane) we couldn't let the podcast go unhosted, so friend of the show Nathaniel Wilson jumps into the co-host seat and talks about the games he loves, the "Metaverse" and Star Wars.

THINGS MENTIONED:

This story from Kotaku about Walmart's weird new venture into Roblox.

This Reddit thread about how a semi-credible leaker says Disney wants more Star Wars games.

This YouTube video from TripleJump ranking every Star Wars video game.

This video from BadEnd about how modern games are wasting our time.

Tom Rogers' odyssey of a YouTube video reviewing the PS1 classic Boku no Natsuyasumi.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about your favorite Fortnite skin or your go-to independent book publishing house at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Videogamedunkey’s video about his new publishing house, BigMode.

This article about Ted Woolsey’s weird translation choice in Final Fantasy IV.

Let’s Mosey, a slow translation of FFVII from Tim Rogers.

Jimmy Fallon is coming to Fortnite for some reason, from The Gamer.

A Polygon article about the weird, tone-deaf Fortnite MLK Jr. event.

This funny Tumblr post about the Mario movie.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about books you're reading or games you're playing at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Kotaku article about Queen Lizzy's adoration for the Wii.

Vice on Keffals battle to take down Kiwi Farms.

This Waypoint article about SNES emulation juggernaut Near.

Kotaku on G4 layoffs.

And here's Kotaku on the layoffs at Fanbyte, too.

No Escape in response to the Fanbyte layoffs.

SPOILERS FOR SOUL HACKERS 2 FROM 1:00:2 — 1:00:6

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news together and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about your favorite sparkling water (or, you know, video games) at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Twitter: @GamesByKinmoku

Instagram: @GamesByKinmoku

Tiktok: @GamesByKinmoku

Steam: @Kinmoku

And on Itch.io @Kinmoku.

You can also wishlist VIDEOVERSE on Steam HERE.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Tim Rogers' review of Tokimeki Memorial.

The Ren'Py Engine.

The COMMNTD podcast.

The Asynchronous podcast.

Coyote Cocktail's video about video game intros.

Mark Haha on YouTube.

Radiohead's Idioteque in the Mario 64 sound font.

The Into the Aether podcast.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us visual novel recommendations at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Polygon article about Wyrdsong.

This Rock Paper Shotgun article about Lies of P, the Pinnochio Bloodborne-like.

This Flandrew video about the Phantom Menace game.

This IGN article the various Neon Genesis Evangelion endings.

This Cruncyroll video about the 37 different Evangelion timelines.

Spoilers for Evangelion from 46:47 to 1:06:00. Within that chunk there are mentions of gore and sexual assault.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us dark sci-fi anime recommendations at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

These articles from Kotaku about ongoing harassment allegations at Nintendo and the company's internal response.

This Polygon article about Diablo 4.

Another Polygon article about Diablo Immortal's scummy microtransactions.

This article from The Verge about Embracer Group's buying spree.

Polygon's explainer on the nutty Lord of the Rings licensing deals.

Gamespot on Multiversus' leaked content disappearing.

PCGamer on NexusMods.

That Twitter thread about nazi bars.

Renata Price's review of Soul Hackers 2 for Waypoint.

George Yang's Soul Hackers 2 review for the Washington Post.

ThorHighHeels excellent PS3 video.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us about your favorite Fortnite skin at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Noah Samson on YouTube.

FD Signifier on YouTube.

Khadija Mbowe on YouTube.

Shrine of Cards on itch.io.

You can listen to COMMNTD wherever you find podcasts and check the show out on Twitter and Tiktok. 

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us K-Drama recommendations and your thoughts on Kingdom Hearts at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This article from The Verge about how busted KOTOR II was when it launched on Switch.

This Bloomberg report about the craziness going on at Aspyr.

Pictures of some of the leaked figures for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

This Polygon article about Hokko Life.

The tiktok user making the Wiiata

This IGN article about how Playstation’s accolades are going away.

The latest episode of Waypoint Radio that touches on MultiVersus.

This tweet thread from Waypoint Radio host Renata Price.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions or your thoughts on microtransactions at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show. 

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Paul Tassi for Forbes on why Minecraft saying no to NFTs is such a big deal.

Folding Ideas on sandbox games and colonialism.

This Polygon article about the dangers of gaming outside amid record heats.

The Washington Post on Blizzard Albany's unionization efforts.

These articles in the NYTimes and Huffpost about the Medieval Times castles unionizing.

The new Jacob Geller video about Zelda.

Skyhoppers new video about the Wind Waker.

The new Chill Goblin video about gender theory.

Video Game Podmitism.

Our cool sounds and intro/outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. We curate your gaming news and Noah produces the show. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions or your thoughts on James Cameron's Avatar at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show. Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This video from YouTuber KBash exploring Persona 3.

This Patreon bonus episode from the Into the Aether podcast about Personas 3, 4 and 5.

Our cool sounds, as well as the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions or thoughts on what you're playing at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show. Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

The itch.io bundle for abortion rights.

Caro Asercion on Twitter and itch.

This Destructoid article from earlier this year about how Nintendo was still repairing JoyCon drift for free.

Kotaku on the Polium One.

Ryan Broderick’s tweet thread about the Polium One.

This Kotaku article about Gamestop getting in on NFTs from a few months ago.

This Variety article about how E3 is apparently coming back.

The team that won Twitch Plays Pokemon

This video from The Gamers From Mars that does a good job breaking down the lore and “story” of Twitch Plays Pokemon.

Our cool sounds, as well as the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions or thoughts on what you're playing at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show. Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Unwinnable. 

Emily’s review of Norco for The Washington Post. 

Emily’s latest column for Unwinnable. 

This Vice article further explaining the Call of Duty Highway of Death controversy. 

Jacob Geller on YouTube. 

Geller’s videos about Disco Elysium and Call of Duty.

Waypoint’s Lore Reasons series about Kingdom Hearts (Start at the bottom for the first episode). 

A Polygon article breaking down the weird history of Kingdoms of Amateur. 

Homestuck Made This World on the Ranged Touch network of podcasts. 

Emily on Misericorde for Paste Magazine. 

Our cool sounds, as well as the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us questions or thoughts on what you're playing at heypressstart@gmail.com. We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice! Good text reviews will be read out on the show. Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Polygon article about Elden Ring re-imagined as a SNES game.

Another Polygon article explaining the Yuji Naka tweet heard around the world.

Space Michael on the Space Channel 5 wiki.

Some additional info from the Lost Media Wiki about the N64 Final Fantasy tech demo.

This Eurogamer with more information about the latest update from GSC Game World, the Ukrainian dev team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2.

The Star Fox vid by Transparency.

Water Womb World on itch.io.

Our cool sounds, as well as the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us your fond summer gaming memories at heypressstart@gmail.com.

We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice!

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Video Games Chronicle says a Nintendo Direct is nearly upon us.

This No Escape article about needing new verbs.

How to make the industry greener, from WIRED.

The latest update on Actiblizz unionization from CNN.

This Square Enix press release about their Pride mascot from last year.

The episode of Mom, We Can't Pause that Noah guested on.

This Kazuma Hashimoto article about Ghosts of Tsushima's depiction of Japan.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations what you're playing at heypressstart@gmail.com.

We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice!

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

New Pokemon trailer.

This Kotaku article about how tasty Lechonk looks.

Toby Fox Homestuck mpreg Pokemon music.

This Nintendo Life article breaking down the Dragon Quest Day news.

The tweet that BioWare used to announce the next Dragon Age game.

The new Sonic gameplay we made fun of.

The Hard Drive article also making fun of the new Sonic gameplay.

The latest episode of the Into the Aether podcast.

This Polygon article about the new game Eternights.

Oh yeah, this new trailer for a Sims 4 werewolf expansion.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and what condiments you would use to dress your Lechonk kawali with at heypressstart@gmail.com. 

We'd also appreciate if you left us reviews on your podcast app of choice!

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Vice article about Raven Software's QA team unionizing.

This Kotaku article about Reggie Fils-Aimé's comment about unions.

This tweet about how unions are good, actually.

This Vice article about how game devs are more interested than ever in unions.

This GameRant article about how Capcom appears to be teasing Dragon's Dogma 2.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum FAQ page.

Yoshihiro Togashi's Twitter account.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and your best gaming thrift store finds at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Kotaku article explaining Blizzard's diversity chart.

This Bloomberg article about Jim Ryan being Relatable and taking a flimsy stance on abortion.

This GamesChronicle article about the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor rumor.

This VanityFair article about Star Wars.

This GamesChronicle article about impending news about FFVII Remake Part 2.

The new Playstation Plus games list.

The Waypoint review of Citizen Sleeper.

This old Tumblr post.

This video essay about the MOTHER series.

This YouTube video about old Kingdom Hearts fan theories.

Oh yeah, and GameFly is still renting out a select few PS2 games, Kotaku reports.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and how many copies of Skyrim you own at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Lots of labor news in the world of gaming this week, from Nintendo (allegedly) being shitty to Bobby Kotick (allegedly) being shitty (again). Tori and Noah break it all down as well as give updates on Fortnite, recommend some dungeonsynth and, uh, play Fortnite.

THINGS MENTIONED:

Jack Yarwood’s follow-up article about crunch at Traveler’s Tales.

VGC's scoop about 2K LEGO sports games.

Kat Bailey’s story at IGN about Nintendo’s culture.

This NintendoLink article about the company using prison labor and this Gamespot article about Nintendo allegedly using Uyghur prisoners for forced labor.

This Polygon article about Square Enix's crypto aspirations.

This IGN article mentioning Reggie Fils-Aimé's blockchain beliefs. 

This Axios article about Bobby Kotick's latest legal troubles.

This Polygon article explaining who Let Me Solo Her is.

The episode of the podcast Sample Platter featuring the artists behind Chug Jug With You.

And, of course, Chug Jug With You.

This article on The Verge about Bluehole's lawsuit against Fortnite.

Waypoint’s review of Citizen Sleeper.

Hole Dweller on Bandcamp, and Hole Dweller’s YouTube compilation.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and and whatever's on your mind at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Gary Larson's Cow Tools from the comic The Far Side.

This weird, cryptic tweet about the Mario movie from Nintendo.

This Gamerant article about Nintendo's alleged union-busting.

This Game Developer article about the working conditions at Nintendo EAD.

This article in The Verge about 4-day work weeks at companies like Crows Crows Crows.

This GamesIndustry.biz article about Gamefreak's 4-day work week.

This Kotaku article about the supposed GBA emulator for the Switch.

The Persona mouthwash.

This Nintendo Life article explaining what El Shaddai is.

It's Bugsnax! by Kero Kero Bonito on Bandcamp. (Sarah Bonito, if you're reading this, please come on the show I want to talk about how you sampled video game sound effects in some of your earlier tracks, please)

Hiromu Arakawa's Yomi no Tsugai on Mangakalot.

Carto for the Switch.

The folks at Into the Aether showing off Knotwords.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and and whatever's on your mind at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Tori and Noah are joined by cozy gamer Jenny Windom, also known as Kimchica. She's a streamer, indie game curator and one part of the worker-owned collective and dev team Soft Not Weak. We talk all things cozy, what it means for a game to be cozy and about her background and experience in games.

You can find Jenny on:

Tiktok: @Kimchica

Twitter: @Kimchica25

YouTube: Kimchica

Twitch: Kimchica

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Rami Ismail on Twitter. 

This article in The Intercept about Amazon's Orwellian chat service.

Soft Not Weak's flagship title, Spirit Swap on Steam.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us game recommendations and and whatever's on your mind at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media, and wherever else podcasts are found, here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

This Kingdom Hearts IV trailer.

This article from The Gamer about a potential Star Wars world in Kingdom Hearts IV.

This IGN article with the Final Fantasy Uniqulo leaks.

This dot.LA article about the latest Actiblizz labor drama.

This Bloomberg article about Gavin Newsom’s potential involvement in the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit.

The New York Times Elden Ring story.

Chris Plante’s tweet thread about the New York Times’ games coverage.

Gene Park's rebuttal in the Washington Post to the New York Times Elden Ring article.

Lizard in the Spring’s Undertale banjo cover on Bandcamp.

This IGN article about how large Breath of the Wild 2 might be.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Find us on social media here: linktr.ee/press_startpod.

Tori and Noah want freelance writers to be paid a livable wage, and they also want to get into point-and-click adventure games. Oh yeah and there's a new LEGO game and Noah is trying to decide whether to buy it or not. 

LIGHT SPOILERS INSIDE FOR ELDEN RING AND SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: PERSONA 3

THINGS MENTIONED:

This article in The Verge about Bloodborne Kart.

This PC Gamer article about the new Monkey Island.

Norco.

Chinatown Detective Agency.

Information about the new Playstation Plus subscriptions brackets.

This Polygon article about the new Limited Run Games store in North Carolina.

This crowdsourced spreadsheet of freelance rates.

Hazel on YouTube.

This Polygon article about crunch at Traveler’s Tales.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah are joined by special guest Alanna Okun to talk about the games that inspired Alanna to dive deeper into gaming. We're talking Persona, crafting and, you guessed it, Elden Ring. Noah also tests Alanna and Tori's gaming knowledge with the Real Game vs. Fake Game challenge.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Vox's The Goods.

Into the Aether, a lowkey video game podcast.

Alanna's books.

Katie Heaney's article in The Cut, Video Games Are a To-Do List You Play.

The Asynchronous podcast.

SPOILER ALERT FOR: Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3, Persona 4 and Elden Ring.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

SPOILERS for Earthbound from 34:00 to 44:10. There's also some spoilers for Deltarune in there, too. Tread lightly. 

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

GodGamerKate on Twitch.

Kanye West in Elden Ring.

Samwitch on Twitch.

nan_dre on Twitch. 

The new Pokemon starters. 

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

There's some pretty serious shit going on in the world this week, so join Tori and Noah in some frivolous-feeling discussions about some stuff that doesn’t suck. We’re talking Shin Megami Tensei (shocker) news, Pokemon news and about the games we’re loving right now (spoiler: it’s mostly just Earthbound).

THINGS REFERENCED:

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah have good news and bad news about Nintendo, plus there's a lot of Earthbound talk, game preservation talk and some Big If True rumors.

THINGS REFERENCED:

Our cool sounds, and the intro and outro music are by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah bring on special guest and certified Pokémon Expert Rae Paoletta to school us about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. We talk all things Pokémon, smoothies and dog photography. 

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Some story spoilers for Pokémon Legends: Arceus throughout. 

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

There’s a lot of Donkey Kong talk in this one for some reason. Tori and Noah talk about new game studio announcements, another big-money acquisition and our favorite ape: Donkey Kong.

THINGS MENTIONED: 

This Polygon article about the Playstation Bungie acquisition.

This Nintendo Life article about the Donkey Kong rumors

DKVINE.com

This Nintendo Life article about Gardens

Slight spoilers for Xenoblade Chronicles: 22:38 — 23:28

Slight spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett: 47:30 — 49:50

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us who your favorite kong is at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah talk Star Wars, Final Fantasy VII, their indifference to the Steam Deck and how they're ready to be wowed by the new Pokémon game. 

THINGS MENTIONED: 

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter @Press_StartPod and you can email us what you enjoyed in 2021 at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori’s back from vacation and Noah has been slaving away in the video game news mines to keep her abreast of the biggest (sort of) gaming headlines. We talk Mario Kart, cyberbullying and tabletop card games.

THINGS MENTIONED:

This article about a Fallout TV show

This article about the sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order.

This article about Capcom banning a rapist from their platform.

This article about XBOX and the blockchain

Sanic

Sokpop

The podcast Origin Story, specifically this episode featuring a conversation with the creator of Umurangi Generation

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter at twitter.com/press_startpod and you can email us what you enjoyed in 2021 at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Forget the Game Awards, Tori and Noah reflect on the games that they loved in 2021, the games they weren’t in love with and their predictions for 2022.

Slight spoilers for Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order (31:35 — 32:28) and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (47:45 — 49:00)

Things mentioned:

Games we recommend checking out:

Tori:

Noah:

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter at twitter.com/press_startpod and you can email us what you enjoyed in 2021 at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah return after a holiday hiatus to talk gaming labor news, the Persona series, and, uh, predatory video game economies.

Things referenced:

Our intro and outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST and our show art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics. You can follow the show on Twitter at twitter.com/press_startpod and you can email us what you enjoyed in 2021 at heypressstart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah reluctantly watched the Game Awards and have their thoughts about the show, abuses in the industry and, uh, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Further reading:

https://www.polygon.com/22380535/quantic-dream-lawsuit-toxic-workplace-harassment-racism-sexism-france-court-david-cage

https://www.fanbyte.com/news/report-goddamnit-it-looks-like-quantic-dream-is-making-a-star-wars-game/

https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/9/22826714/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-trailer-the-game-awards

https://maximumfun.org/episodes/triple-click/whats-the-deal-with-the-game-awards/

Intro/outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST, podcast art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics.

Want to get in touch with the show to ask us questions or share your dream Smash Bros. characters? Email us at HeyPressSTART@gmail.com.

Noah takes Tori down a Smash Bros rabbit hole, exploring the epic highs and  lows of Smash Bros speculation, leaks and rumors from 1999 to about a month ago. Tori learns more about the Super Mario RPG character Geno than she has ever wanted to.

Things referenced:

https://www.reddit.com/r/pokeleaks

https://www.ssbwiki.com/List_of_leaks

https://sourcegaming.info/2016/04/29/duflupdate/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwyzZFOAU3M&list=PL3boxNKcToc1o1FpkHxl_LRC2JXMCIPa9

https://itch.io/b/520/bundle-for-racial-justice-and-equality

https://copychaser.itch.io/speeddatingforghosts (Also available on Switch)

https://kinmoku.itch.io/one-night-stand (Also available on Switch)

Intro/outro music is Burn Tap by GEIST, podcast art is by Kai at Wisp Graphics.

Want to get in touch with the show to ask us questions or share your dream Smash Bros. characters? Email us at HeyPressSTART@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah come back from a week away from the show to discuss Animal Crossing updates, the sorry state of Nintendo's emulators, some gaming rumors and what we're playing. 

Things referenced: 

This tweet about Zelda and this rumor.

Our logo was designed by Kai Sorenson at Wisp Graphics. Our music is Burn Tap by GEIST.

Want to hit our line? Send questions, comments and concerns to HeyPressStart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah use Sora's addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an excuse to talk about Kingdom Hearts ad nauseum. 

Things referenced: 

Slight spoilers for: Kingdom Hearts (just like, as a franchise), The Haunted Island: a Frog Detective Game and Eastward.

Our logo was designed by Kai Sorenson at Wisp Graphics. Our music is Burn Tap by GEIST.

Want to hit our line? Send questions, comments and concerns to HeyPressStart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah discuss their favorite (and the most frustrating) announcements from the latest slate of Nintendo commercials. 

Our logo was designed by Kai Sorenson at Wisp Graphics. Our music is Burn Tap by GEIST.

Want to hit our line? Send questions, comments and concerns to HeyPressStart@gmail.com.

Tori and Noah introduce the show with their top three favorite games of all time. 

*Slight spoilers for Final Fantasy VII (Remake and the original) and Earthbound. 

Our logo was designed by Kai Sorenson at Wisp Graphics. Our music is Burn Tap by GEIST.

Want to hit our line? Send questions, comments and concerns to HeyPressStart@gmail.com.

Our logo was designed by Kai Sorenson at Wisp Graphics. Our music is Burn Tap by GEIST.

Want to hit our line? Send questions, comments and concerns to HeyPressStart@gmail.com.