Crubcast

Saros is the best Ratchet & Clank successor

Crub — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

DISCLOSURE: Kevin (The Golden Bolt) received an advance copy of Saros from PlayStation

There are many spiritual successors to video games. Some are intentional homages, such as Akimbot, and others unintentionally capture specific essences and remind us of something we love. Saros reminds us why we love Ratchet & Clank. Akimbot...does not.

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TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

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154 Can new game consoles still excite us?

Crub — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

We're, somehow, a year and change away from seeing the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation hardware. The Steam Machine and Steam Frame are lurking in a nebulous "may release in 2026" limbo. There's an ocean of Android handhelds releasing seemingly weekly. So...are we too old to really be excited by any of this? What could really get us hyped?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Cassandra: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Please be excited
05:56 So what COULD get us hyped?
13:39 New control methods and portability
21:32 We're excited for the Steam Frame, actually!
26:34 New consoles are probably more exciting for younger gamers
32:35 Shoutout to the Playdate
37:37 Remembering the Kinect in 2026
45:51 Ordering food from video games
52:01 Our HOT TAKE on AI!!!! (TK_Hubworld's question)

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We Played The Expanse Game A Year Early, Here's What We Think

Crub — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Three of our crubbers played 2027's Expanse game a year early. Does this early sample show enough promise for the full game live up to its lofty Mass Effect aspirations?

SHOW NOTES
You can find The Expanse game here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3727390/The_Expanse_Osiris_Reborn/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

153 Random topic roulette (not clickbait)

Crub — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

We went into our topic fridge and pulled out a bunch of leftovers to make a roulette of random topics. We cover a LOT of random things! Games we pity, games we dropped, expectations versus reality of becoming YouTubers, LEGO...you name it!

SHOW NOTES
Digseum:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3361470/Digseum/

Emily is Away:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/417860/Emily_is_Away/

Impossible Creatures:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/324680/Impossible_Creatures_Steam_Edition/

Our Metroid Prime 4 spoilercast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvugoJplMhA

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to the roulette...
01:17 Do plot holes matter?
06:38 Which of us could aura farm the best?
10:39 Our expectations of becoming YouTubers versus reality
19:48 Games we struggled to get into (and why)
27:46 Hidden Gems?!
33:19 Mods in games...good? Bad? In the middle?
38:40 Dual protagonist games
51:07 Most memorable video game bosses
54:11 Games we pity, and the lightning in a bottle of dev environments
1:05:35 Best/worst games to make LEGO sets out of?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We saw The Super Mario Galaxy Movie...

Crub — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

cinema is so back

SHOW NOTES

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

152 The future of PlayStation & Xbox, why Highguard failed, and the state of Marathon

Crub — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

It's a grab bag of topics this week, with thoughts on the apparently incoming generation of new PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Reminiscing on Concord and what made Highguard fail, and finally...what's up with Marathon?

SHOW NOTES
The Marathon monetization summary:
https://www.thegamer.com/marathon-microtransactions-are-ridiculous/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Cassandra: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Touching on Helix and the PS6
05:45 On PlayStation's PC strategy changing
11:20 Moriarty's Hot Take
15:58 PlayStation's Dynamic Pricing
19:37 On the impact of ragebait and sales expectations
25:36 The surprising success of the PlayStation Portal (not clickbait)
28:57 RIP Highguard, RIP Concord...Marathon...?
53:53 Don't worry, we also mention Splitgate
59:21 Where we actually talk about Marathon

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#151 Games we hit a hard wall on

Crub — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

As #Gamers, sometimes we just hit a wall randomly on games we're enjoying. Life gets in the way, we lose a save file, something frustrates us...so why do we never go back? Is it worth it when we do? What food is best to baby bird into someone else's mouth? Let's find out.

SHOW NOTES
Our DK Bananza spoilercast:
https://youtu.be/zCU1Nhr8tig

Look at all of the Jak & Daxter Platinums you could technically get:
https://psnprofiles.com/series/55-jak-and-daxter

Screwllum
https://honkai-star-rail.fandom.com/wiki/Screwllum

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 We apologize for Brody this week
03:04 Fallout New Vegas mentioned, no mods needed to listen
04:09 Some thoughts on the length of Donkey Kong Bananza
11:58 JRPGs are a poster child of this phenomenon
16:47 The Industry Plant (Horizon Forbidden West)
19:58 LORD WOO FAK FAK
23:05 Sonic Adventure Two...
27:59 Games that are just hard to start up
30:41 Jak II torture sessions
36:23 Chris says something screwed up, and then 7 degrees of separation
45:31 Worst food to baby bird into someone's mouth? (RACROX)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Slay the Spire 2, Nine Sols, Pokopia, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Our sexy Crubbers are back to talk about the hottest new releases, Slay the Spire 2, Nine Sols, Pokopia, and...Nintendogs + Cats.

SHOW NOTES
Slay the Spire 2:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2868840/Slay_the_Spire_2/

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelite:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3784030/RACCOIN_Coin_Pusher_Roguelike/

Nine Sols:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1809540/Nine_Sols/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 They made a second Slay The Spire?
05:38 A brief mention of Coin Pusher Balatro, Raccoin
08:18 A glowing endorsement of Nine Sols (Nicco played it right after)
19:28 Chris has been chipping away at Pokopia (slow)
23:15 Of mice and Nintendogs

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#150 Should Zelda really stay open world? What about that Ocarina of Time remake?

Crub — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Breath of the Wild brought a surge of new and returning players to Zelda, but it left core fans of the traditional 3D style yearning for another entry in that style. While it seems like the open world style is here to stay...should it? We realized that we...don't care that much! Also, we recorded this right before the Ocarina of Time remake rumors started swirling again, so it's accidentally very timely. Happy 150 episodes!

SHOW NOTES
Here's that top 10 Zelda Dungeons video from GVG that we mention:
https://youtu.be/E5-B6MwArZE

PlayStation AI Podcast Patent thing:
https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-patents-system-to-generate-ai-podcasts-in-the-voices-of-your-favorite-playstation-characters

Our Zelda Tears of the Kingdom spoilercast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJsrW8Nfhao

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Cassandra: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

CHAPTERS
00:00 Happy 150th episode this is an introduction to the podcast
06:32 3D Zeldas are already so far and few between
13:04 The rumored Ocarina of Time remake (this aged well)
19:59 We're just gonna say it, you push a lot of blocks in Zelda
26:12 Discovery in Zelda, and shifting opinions over time
31:03 A lot of other games specialize in specific areas that Zelda does
40:03 "This could be someone's first game" philosophy, and our love of cats
48:59 Yes, we glaze Zelda Notes again
51:32 On the story of the BotW entries
55:03 Chris comes to Zelda for that charm and vibe that no other game has
1:06:36 Where was Kass?!?!?!?!?!
1:15:48 E or 6 7 ? (Azure)

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#149 Making the worst hypothetical game adaptations

Crub — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Some of us finally watched The Minecraft Movie recently, and it had us thinking. If there were still bad video game tie-ins for movies and shows, what are the worst ones we could think of? Unfortunately, we still wanted to play most of what we came up with.

SHOW NOTES
You can play The Room video game here:
https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/547307

Here's the interview on that pricing talk we had:
https://www.gamefile.news/p/peak-interview

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Cassandra: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Flint, and steel
05:23 Should there have been a Crank video game? Maybe, actually...
13:45 Open world The Office (US)
19:47 Shawshank Redemption: The Official Video Game
25:01 My Dinner With Andrew 4K First Trailer 60 FPS X360/PS3/PSP
33:11 Telltale's Marty Supreme
37:37 Ready Player One: The Dating Sim
42:57 Apple's Severance, The Innie/Outie Game
49:20 Chris finally thinks
55:48 When are you trying too hard at video games? (The1TrueBlue)

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How Pokopia won over The Golden Bolt

Crub — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Alternatively titled, Kevin tries to get Chris to spend $70.

SHOW NOTES
You can listen to the first 5 episodes of Podcastémon for free on our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/collection/387580

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#148 When does lore actually matter in a game?

Crub — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Some games have hours of lore for you to sift and read through. Some choose to offload it to other materials, like books, short films, or websites. An ARG isn't out of the question now and then...but we have to ask, when is it too much? When does it actually matter? If it isn't part of the main experience, is it adding that much?

SHOW NOTES
Go here for Elora content:
https://spyro.fandom.com/wiki/Elora

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 WAZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAP
05:02 Why we need "BEGINNING EXPLAINED" videos
10:06 Balan Wonderworld's lore book mentioned
13:23 Brody's Delfino Blaze Filibuster
19:04 Games randomly deciding to pick back up their lore decades later
24:24 Persona and Kingdom Hearts fans...we're sorry
33:43 Game of Thrones gets mentioned, we're sorry again
37:12 When fan theories get canonized and an inch becomes a mile
44:40 So WHAT makes lore matter then
49:22 The true terror, games that assume you know the lore and don't explain basics
51:29 Feel-good moments in fandoms? (Chef Kilo)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mario Tennis Fever, Pokopia, Demon Tides, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Two more Switch 2s have hit Crubber's households, so we have hot-off-the-presses impressions of Mario Tennis Fever (yes, we know you forgot it existed), Pokopia (yes, we know you can't escape it), Demon Tides, and more! Also, enjoy guessing which Pokémon Moriarty is referring to at around 13:00 in.

SHOW NOTES
Cass' review of the new Ultrakill update:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-3tSMfKAwg

Our Donkey Kong Bananza spoilercast:
https://youtu.be/zCU1Nhr8tig

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Cassandra: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Moriarty and Cass got Switch 2s!!!
02:48 We now know someone who has played Mario Tennis Fever
10:19 World's biggest Pokemon fan weighs in on Pokemon Pokopia
14:28 NEW ULTRAKILL UPDATE
21:38 Kevin's charcuterie, including Demon Tides
26:30 A little Big Hops, a little Bubsy 4D
29:47 Yoshi's Mysterious Nintendo Today App, The Movie

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#147 "Celebrating" 20 years of Achievements

Crub — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Love them or hate them, Achievements have been around for over 20 years. We gathered up crub's Achievement experts that have a love/hate relationship with them to "celebrate" this milestone. And, also, to rib on the fringe parts of the RetroAchievements community...

SHOW NOTES
Follow Chris on RetroAchievements:
https://retroachievements.org/user/MykonosFan

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

CHAPTERS
00:00 Gamers just be gaming!
09:34 The Jak II story...
11:31 Our most grueling Achievements
17:29 Our Achievement...achievements
25:48 Avatar The Burning Earth mentioned
26:24 Putting RetroAchievements sickos on blast (Chris is one)
35:02 Back to which RA sets would be the most insane...
42:59 First Hot Shots Golf PS4 mention of 2026
47:14 The "PlayStation approach" to Platinums might be the best?
51:53 So, about Nintendo
56:07 Shoutout to Insomniac's Skill Points
59:12 Finally, the hardest Achievement we've gotten?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Steam Next Fest demos that you should try

Crub — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500

There were a lot of awesome Steam Next Fest demos this year (and some depressing ones), let us point you to some that are worth trying! There's a bunch in the show notes. Plus, hear Brody talk about going back to Hollow Knight after conquering Silksong.

SHOW NOTES
Here are the games we mention that aren't huge AAA things you already know the name of:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2524850/Denshattack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2769240/Wax_Heads/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2640950/Scott_Pilgrim_EX/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3417530/Panzer_Dragoon_Zwei_Remake/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3265700/Vampire_Crawlers_The_Turbo_Wildcard_from_Vampire_Survivors/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2740750/Rollin_Rascal/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240620/UNBEATABLE/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1374860/Nocturne/

And here are links to Chris' "I meant to try these because they looked cool, but didn't have time" demos:
The Takeover 2 (Streets of Rage styled game)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4425280/Takeover_2_Demo/

Petal Crash 2 (A cool Panel de Pon-vibe falling block puzzle game)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2697670/Petal_Crash_2/

People of Note (Turn-based RPG musical)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1626170/People_of_Note/

Airframe Ultra (PS1 aesthetic racing game, seriously, click this link)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2522120/Airframe_Ultra/

Woodrot (trippy adventure game, don't know much about it but it caught my eye)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4410770/WOODROT_Demo_Oswalds_Dream/

MMO 98 (incremental game with a Windows 98 theme)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3907940/MMO_98/

Gambonanza (Balatro x Chess apparently?)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4256840/Gambonanza_Demo/

Wanderburg (Roguelike where you control a big moving wooden fortress)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4268810/Wanderburg_Demo/

Bobo Bay (Indie take on the Chao Garden from the Sonic Advenure games)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3110830/Bobo_Bay_Demo/

The Last Gas Station (Cute looking game where you manage a gas station, maybe there's a conspiracy?)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4071600/The_Last_Gas_Station_Demo/

Pro Jank Footy (Bills itself as an arcade-y comedy-sports game)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/

Croak (2D platformer where you play as a frog with a tongue grapple)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4408590/Croak_Demo/

Pluto (Bizarre looking roguelike deckbuilder, you'll know if you're in or not from one screenshot)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4103070/Pluto_Demo/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 Sorry, Hollow Knight fans
00:40 Denshattack!
04:02 Wax Heads
05:50 Scott Pilgrim EX
09:59 Panzer Dragoon Zwei Remake
13:28 Vampire Crawlers
15:26 Hollow Knight in a post-Silksong world
25:48 Justin finished Metaphor Refantazio!
28:15 Touching on the Marathon Server SLAM
29:48 Chris HUNTS and GATHERS his thoughts on an NDA-ed beta test
33:04 A surprise Rollin' Rascal mention

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#146 How we'd fix game trailers

Crub — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We're sick of game trailers that don't tell us anything about the game. We can fix your game trailers. Hire us to fix them.

SHOW NOTES
The Day Before, in case you forgot:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_Before

Selaco (which Trav edited a trailer for):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592280/Selaco/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Perfect Trailer ?!
05:09 On trailers that pretend to show gameplay
14:09 At least give us the identity in the trailer
24:29 Favorite game trailers?
34:54 GTA 6 mentioned!
38:06 If you died in 2 hours, what would you game? (BekahSims)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#145 The 'Best Worst Games (That Actually Suck)' Bracket, Part 3

Crub — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We actually weren't sorry about our comments about LittleBIGPlanet last week.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Super Mario 64 VS Wii Sports VS Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3
08:22 Madden 03 VS Goldeneye VS Bloodborne
19:24 real mario BRAID VS LITTLE_BIGPLANET VS Half-Life 2
28:40 Joel Bioshock VS Final Fantasy VII vs Red Dead 2 Redemption
36:53 real mario Braid VS Final Fantasy VII VS Super Mario 64 VS Elden Ring

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#144 The 'Best Worst Games (That Actually Suck)' Bracket, Part 2

Crub — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We are incredibly sorry for our comments on LittleBIGPlanet.

SHOW NOTES
Jonathan Blow crying in a dark room about Soulja Boy misunderstanding Braid
https://youtu.be/gWqnz-7iQbY

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Zelda LTTP VS Soul Calibur VS Super Mario World
08:31 Super Mario Galaxy VS LITTLE_BIG PLANET VS Persona 5
15:44 Call of Duty 4 VS Half-Life 2 VS Zelda: Ocarina of Time
23:14 Joel Last of Us VS Joel Bioshock VS Joel Halo 2
32:16 Breath of the Wild VS Resident Evil 4 VS Final Fantasy VII
40:14 Metroid Prime VS Skyrim VS Red Dead 2 Redemption

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#143 The 'Best Worst Games (That Actually Suck)' Bracket, Part 1

Crub — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We're tired of being nice to games. These so-called "best games of all time" need to be knocked down a peg, and we're going to figure out which one is actually the BEST worst game. Not the game that is the best, but the one that is the best at being the worst.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Please take everything we say sincerely and seriously.
02:45 Mario 64 VS Mass Effect 2 VS Shadow of the Colossus
09:36 Portal 2 VS Undertale VS Wii Sports
18:45 Chrono Trigger VS Pro Skater 3 VS DOOM (yes)
27:45 Okami VS GOW VS Madden 03
35:57 Uncharted 2 VS Goldeneye VS MGS
42:14 Elden Ring VS Fallout NV VS GTA (I)V

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Bring back dumb karma systems

Crub — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Remember when you had to decide between obviously Good things or cartoonishly Evil things in video games? We're tired of pretending that wasn't dumb, but we're even more tired of pretending that we don't miss how dumb they were.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

CHAPTERS
00:00 Karma Moment!!!
05:32 Paragon or Renegade?
09:07 We're still upset about inFAMOUS Second Son
15:06 Taking it back to Fallout 3 and New Vegas
19:38 When did this stuff vanish from AAA games?
24:51 It was getting very easy to make fun of
29:07 How Ghost of Tsushima did this well
34:33 Shouting out some recent games that still do this

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#142 Guessing more stupid eBay item prices - Rate Is Great 3

Crub — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Justin is back with new terrors you can't imagine. Old Fallout SODA, a creepy Tails statue, and doing it all for the nookie. Moriarty, Sean, and Trav are not prepared for what he has put them through this time. This is only 50% hyperbole.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 The fame does not stop coming
01:44 The Half-Life 2 Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator Replica
07:26 Fallout soda that expires next year
16:37 Rare Official 1992 SEGA Tails Statue
23:20 Round #2 begins, higher or lower?
32:52 We learn what "parlay" really means
39:28 Round #3, the bid round
48:08 Vintage "I did it for the nookie" t-shirt
58:48 Lot of 4 mini desktop trash cans
1:05:42 Which fictional city would we want to live in? (Urkman1)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Highguard, Cassette Beasts, Blake Manor, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

MORIARTY AND TRAV ARE BACK!!! And they've both been playing plenty to tell you about. Plus, the legend of Nicco has been spreading...

SHOW NOTES
Cassette Beasts:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1321440/Cassette_Beasts/

Tainted Grail:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

Definitely Not Fried Chicken:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1036240/Definitely_Not_Fried_Chicken/

The Séance of Blake Manor:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/The_Sance_of_Blake_Manor/

BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER 3: I OPENED A PORTAL TO HELL IN THE FAVELA TRYING TO REVIVE MIT AIA I NEED TO CLOSE IT
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3191050/BRAZILIAN_DRUG_DEALER_3_I_OPENED_A_PORTAL_TO_HELL_IN_THE_FAVELA_TRYING_TO_REVIVE_MIT_AIA_I_NEED_TO_CLOSE_IT/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 So...Highguard, huh?
04:14 Moriarty played Cassette Beasts!!! And hasn't played Tainted Grail
12:22 Cyberschlong 77
14:48 Definitely Not Fried Chicken
17:40 Geoff Keighley blowback?
19:31 Nicco elaborates on Blake Manor
23:27 WHAT has Trav been doing
26:43 The tale of Nicco spreads

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#141 Metal band or Soulslike?

Crub — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Sean came to us with a simple torture routine. Metal band, or Soulslike? Can one musician and two people who have never heard music in their life get any of these right...?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@wolfkaosaun

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sean the Marriage Fairy, Big Hops, Date Everything, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Nicco has been playing some Blake Manor...however, Sean has also been a marriage fairy. Meanwhile, Brody has some deep dive impressions on Big Hops and Date Everything. Mad Catz, dawg.

SHOW NOTES
The Séance of Blake Manor:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/The_Sance_of_Blake_Manor/

Big Hops:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1221480/Big_Hops/

Loop Hero:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1282730/Loop_Hero/

Date Everything:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2201320/Date_Everything/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Scrum says hello, Sean is the Ohio Marriage Fairy
08:45 Modern Family and the new A$AP Rocky
10:21 Brody has been playing Big Hops
14:53 Sean's been playing Loop Hero and trying to beat 100 games
20:03 The Mad Catz Memory Card
24:19 Brody Dated Everything
32:28 A walk down dating sim memory lane

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#140 Guessing games based on Steam reviews (Round 3)

Crub — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

If you can believe it, it's been nearly 2 years since the last time we did this! Sean has brought another slew of Steam reviews for us to parse and guess at, the winner takes...well, they take all. But there isn't really an "all" to take home. We just get sadness.

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Scientifically predicting the year 2026

Crub — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Finally, in our trilogy of yearly predictions, we gather to tell you exactly what to expect this year. Accept no subtitutes.

SHOW NOTES
Here is the crub recipe:
https://comfortdujour.com/2024/10/17/crub-my-norwegian-family-tradition/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Get ready to tell us we're right in a year
03:38 Digital sales, and...Highguard...?
09:51 Pokemon Fire Red Fire Red Version and Tomodachi Life's Sway
16:46 Mobile gaming falling off in 2026?
22:04 A NINTH Crubber and High School Musical's 20th anniversary
27:23 FRED DURST ACCOUSTIC ALBUM
30:25 On Sony Interactive Entertainment's 2026 output...
39:20 Geoff Keighley's dark side emerges
44:36 We discovered Norwegian Crub
46:53 The effects of AI trailers and Fortnite's Falloff
51:53 Magic the Gathering's continued crossover bonanza

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#139 Reacting to YOUR 2026 predictions

Crub — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

You all sent in dozens of predictions for 2026...we're here to give our scientific stamp of approval to some and push back on others. Please enjoy being able to buy tech while you can.

SHOW NOTES
Here's that Killzone video we talked about:
https://youtu.be/2gq4gRVqQVI

This is Vexx (we are not linking the condom, it's real):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexx

CHAPTERS
00:00 Sorry Nicco
00:15 Introducing ourselves, hello
02:33 On Switch 2 and Steam Machine prices in 2026...
10:08 Is the DC (Movie) Universe already primed to fall off?
16:50 Classic PlayStation remaster? More first party titles than expected?
21:22 Remember Marathon? Remember Splitgate...?
27:19 Will Level-5 survive 2026?
32:26 Sonic Season Pass and PlayStation Battle Royale 2 (spiritual)
36:55 The rise of PS2 platformer inspired indies
43:57 We will still be waiting on major Switch 2 releases in 2026
48:01 Doug Bowser IN the Mario Galaxy Movie TM?
49:18 Naughty Dog will go off their rocker
53:33 SPYRO 4!!!

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Reacting to our 2025 predictions (we were right)

Crub — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

We pretty much nailed 2025. You're welcome for the advance warning we gave you. Soon we'll predict 2026, as well as review YOUR 2026 predictions in future episodes!

SHOW NOTES
As promised, here's one of the TikTok videos that Sean and Chris are familiar with (go team):
https://www.tiktok.com/@wockyslushholsteinheifer/video/7592029912018554167

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#138 NINTENDO RAGEBAIT

Crub — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Is Nintendo DOOMED? Um, guys? Has anyone else noticed that Nintendo has been KIND OF OFF lately???

SHOW NOTES
Chris made a review/talky boi about the Legends ZA Mega Dimension DLC, click in if you want to know more about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns3-lsnr8TQ

CHAPTERS
00:00 Nintendoomers
08:52 All time low FOMO
16:06 Are we out of touch? No...it must be the others...
19:01 What could get us excited in 2026?
29:57 "This is gonna be ragebait for sure"
37:41 PlayStation is also missing that "hearts and minds" sentimentality, in fairness
53:57 No one is prepared for the Valve downfall...
1:02:35 Achievements, do people still like em?

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#137 We Liked Metroid Prime 4! That said...

Crub — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

A Beyond-Lengthy Spoilercast. Get it? Please?

SHOW NOTES
Make sure to follow our wonderful guests from this episode!
Brendan: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrawl
Wayne: https://www.youtube.com/@Wayneisboss

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
0:00 Spoiler-Free Section
27:59 Spoiler-Expensive Section

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#136 Our worst episode yet

Crub — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

We really had good intentions for this episode. We promise.

SHOW NOTES
We're sorry.

The "Christmas"-y music is Diamond Dust Zone Act 1 from Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn), if you are curious.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Pledge to our Patreon to buy Brody Red Bull
06:32 Brody breaks a leg to game more
12:00 This was originally a "Favorite gaming snacks" episode...
20:22 Brody's steroid sandwich shop story (real, not clickbait, why)
26:47 We finally had to edit an episode
33:04 Seriously though, what's up with our surveillance state
41:57 A literary analysis of girlrotting, bedrotting, failmaxxing, etc.
45:55 nicco's new word
52:28 If our most recently played game had Sonic in it, would it be harder? (MickJaeger)

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What we want from Pokémon Gen 10

Crub — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

With the Mega Dimension DLC out for Pokémon Legends ZA, our resident Pokéxperts gathered share their wishes for the next iteration of the series. Honestly, a lot of the main mechanics have been pretty ironed out over time, so we delve into a bit more of the hardcore fan desire in this one.

Also! If you enjoyed this, we've launched a new watchalong podcast over on our Patreon, Podcastémon Horizons! In it, us 3 are watching and discussing the Pokémon Horizons anime series. The first episode is free right here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/podcastemon-001-145863303

In addition, we've been doing the same with the original Ash run of the anime and are currently in the Johto run. The first 5 episodes are free here:
https://www.patreon.com/collection/387580?view=expanded

SHOW NOTES
We mention Cassette Beasts, so we wanna toss a link for it here:
https://www.cassettebeasts.com/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

CHAPTERS
00:00 Finding a balance between fanservice and never having old characters around
05:36 A return to bespoke, crafted areas in the world
11:24 Let's refine an old battle gimmick instead of making another new one
17:24 Better Pokemon Home communication and a new game plus mode?
20:21 Fewer but longer versions of Legends ZA's sidequests
24:45 A return to a narrative throughline, not an endgame plotdump
27:39 Our "pie in the sky" wishes

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#135 We miss being dumb kids who played games

Crub — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Do you remember not knowing every single game that was coming out years in advance? Or the first time you connected a game console to the internet? Are you...even old enough to remember a time before that was just a commonly accepted thing? We're old! And we're tired of acting like we're happy about it!!!!!

SHOW NOTES
This week only, get 20% off of a month of our Patreon!
Our ULTIMATE holiday gift guide for Gamers | Patreon

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Remember the first time you took a console online?
07:53 Invoking Spank The Monkey for the first time in 2025
11:33 CHAIN E-MAILS!!!
13:00 Sean's shortest relationship, ever
18:57 We miss the old YouTube algorithm, and classic gaming rumors
29:00 Did anyone ever have a good day with PictoChat?
33:56 When you didn't know that video games could "end"
38:33 Chris misses feeling scared by games
41:55 He also misses not knowing what games are coming out
44:30 Screw it, we wet Nicco's whistle
47:03 Which non-human Zelda species would we romance?

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Why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is our game of the year (spoilercast)

Crub — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Listen in expecting to get spoiled! We don't have much of a preamble on this one before getting right into it, so make sure you're familiar with the game already before you listen. If you haven't played yet but think you might want to, save this until you have. Trust us. We just really needed to talk about this game now that we've finished it.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#134 Crub's 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Crub — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Happy holiday season! If you're out of gift ideas for yourself or a Gaming Loved One, we have your back. By the end of this episode you'll know EXACTLY what to give EVERY gamer. And you'll also be made aware that a Horizon VR game exists.

SHOW NOTES
Here's the article we mention in the first few minutes of the show, about v-bucks:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nearly-half-of-us-kids-want-in-game-currency-this-christmas

Anomia card game:
https://www.anomiapress.com/collections/anomia

Fluxx card game:
https://store.looneylabs.com/collections/fluxx-games

Everything Brody suggested (not affiliate links) -
Backbone/phone controllers:
https://backbone.com/products/backbone-one-usb-c-playstation

https://www.amazon.ca/BACKBONE-Mobile-Gaming-Controller-Android/dp/B0CCT2TJW4?th=1

Kirby blindboxes:
https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/916825/bandai-shokugan-kirbys-dream-land-kirby-friends-4-blind-box

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/897390/kirby-plush-cuties-capsule-surprise

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/910640

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/929756/kirby-paldolce-blind-box-asst-vol-3-assorted

Video games:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1030300/Hollow_Knight_Silksong/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1569580/Blue_Prince/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 Happy holladay
03:27 Tabletop and card game gift ideas
6:39 Little knick-knacks that we suggest (no Knack, though)
18:15 Days Gone mentioned (RIP PlayStation Gear store)
19:04 Pricier gift idea: An experience
26:22 Maybe get a Backbone controller for your phone?
32:46 Drawing tablets with a screen, potential third monitor (???)
35:07 Get some custom stuff on Etsy, or go grab game music
40:01 Where to get ACTUALLY good gaming shirts/merch
44:44 The one time buying a VR headset in 202x maybe makes sense
49:07 Finally, a good old fashioned game recommendation
1:00:17 Which licensed movie games are we sad can't exist? (TheCrazyEven)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dispatch, Keeper, Ghost of Yotei, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Justin's been our big boy gamer for the week, tackling a lot of Dispatch and Ghost of Yotei to give his thoughts. Chris dug out a new Double Fine game from a month ago that the world has unfortunately already forgotten about. Brody? He's been watching anime while editing our Shorts. Lock in.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 JUSTIN LIKED A TELLTALE GAME!!!
10:08 Chris halts Yotei talk to talk Keeper
18:01 Chris lets him talk about Ghost of Yotei now
32:44 We let Brody talk about Dr. Stone

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#133 We need clearer terms in gaming

Crub — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Inspired by Silent Hill f's "optional" ending that requires 4 playthroughs, we decided to dig in on what "optional" really even means. To the point that, actually, we're not sure we even know!

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 We promise you will be confused too
07:31 We begin to talk ABOUT optional content instead of the term itself
12:34 On the utility of "secret" (missable) endings in games
20:00 Bringing it back on track to what "optional" means
27:06 Is the apex of challenge the point in Dark Souls? Or are the credits the point?
34:34 To put it another way, if the hardest challenge is up front, what's he point in the rest of it?
41:22 We just need better terms, perhaps
48:32 Power Stars versus Far Cry waypoints
51:33 Who would win, Crub or the 1994 Birmingham Barons? (Chef Kilo)

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God of War 2018, Hollow Knight, Megabonk, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

God of War! Hollow Knight! Souls! Megabonk! Digimon? Y-yeah...Digimon...

SHOW NOTES
Some of the public lore on God of War Jersey Mike's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LQqZjtdge0

Here is the Band Nicco was talking about:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ass_Truck

CHAPTERS
00:00 Trav has been playing God of War (2018)!
04:43 Sean's Hollow Knight challenge (2025)!
12:23 Sean's also been playing Pokemon Legends ZAZA
15:08 Sean checks in with Chris about Digimon Story Time Stranger
20:26 Chris has also been affected by the Megabonk plague
25:10 Nicco's Expedition 33 check-in
28:15 Nicco talks about Big Ass Truck (enjoyed)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#132 Almost True Trivia Episode 2: The Game Show Where Every Answer is Wrong

Crub — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Almost True Trivia is back! Kevin has prepared 10 more prompts to incense Chris, Moriarty, and TravGuy. Let us know if you do better than we do. We know you will.

SHOW NOTES
Here's that link Chris mentions talking about Sonic 1's "release date" if you are curious:
https://sonicretro.org/2022/06/happy-birthday-sonic-the-hedgehog/

CHAPTERS
00:00 New episode, some new rules
03:03 Question #1, about Sonic...
06:31 Question #2, about Super Mario Spikers...
10:10 Question #3, about Call of Duty Zombies...
13:32 Question #4, about us...
16:34 Question #5, about Fire Emblem Shadows...
23:53 Question #6, about Mega Man...
28:55 Question #7, about Almost True Trivia's history...
30:55 Question #8, about Genshin Impact...
32:21 Question #9, about The Emmys...
36:21 Question #10, about the Vaults in Fallout...
51:50 Crubscriber Question, what game brought us back to a genre? (Chef Kilo)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Reacting to The Game Awards 2025 nominees

Crub — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

It is once again time to go on Geoff Keighley's wild ride. We had to fall back on Discord audio for the first 20 or so minutes, so there is some light cutting out. It improves after that as we were able to use our locally recorded audio. Sorry about that!

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#131 Games we wish we could get back

Crub — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Today we are feeling nostalgic...for a time long gone, when multiplayer games were only expected to last you for a few hours a week for maybe a month or two. When console wars were the most toxic spats in the gaming space. When Kevin knew a British guy with a dead son on Xbox Party Chat (unsure if this is real).

SHOW NOTES
Some information on the return of Modnation Racers:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Modnation/comments/1o0i9ep/online_multiplayer_is_back_and_better_than_ever/

Here's a link to The Karters 2:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2269950/The_Karters_2_Turbo_Charged/

Spoilers for Flowers of Algernon are in this episode.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 God Nation Racers unite
08:27 First Starhawk mention in 2025
10:04 First Monday Night Combat mention in 2025, also
19:05 Sean misses a bygone era of vicarious experiences online
27:28 ...remember party chat? Or meeting strangers online?
37:16 Making our own fun in GTA IV, and the need for games to last forever
42:43 Touching on fans getting too far into the weeds on the "business" of games
47:04 We miss...console wars...
54:15 Growing alongside the culture of gaming growing
1:02:50 Pour one out for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's multiplayer. Literally.
1:06:17 Do we lean on save states in older games, or play them as intended? (TheCrazyEven)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Pentiment, Sonic Rumble, Pluribus, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

We were meant to play timely games, but only Nicco really understood the assignment. However, Brody REALLY enjoyed Pentiment and you may have forgotten it exists. Chris' only timely contributions this week were Sonic Rumble, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, and the first two episodes of Pluribus. Only one of those three brought him joy. Lastly, Nicco is eating crow on turn-based RPGs. The day has finally come.

SHOW NOTES
Here's some links to games we mention to save you from Googling:
Toki Tori 2:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/201420/Toki_Tori_2/

Parcel Corps:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2015960/Parcel_Corps/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Brody's been Pentimentin
04:58 Toki Tori 2 and Parcel Corps mentioned
08:30 Sonic Rumble made Chris sad, but Ichiban is in Crossworlds now
17:10 Listen to Chris badly explain Pluribus
21:28 Nicco admits it, some turn-based RPGS are good (Expedition 33 edition)
29:43 What other games came out this year? Roberto's Garden...?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#130 Crafting our ideal video game soundtrack

Crub — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

This week on the Crubcast we wanted to do something a bit more experimental. We gathered our finest minds to tackle an ethereal question...what would our ideal video game's soundtrack be like? What we incorporate "egg" as an instrument? (Yes, that comes up.)

SHOW NOTES
None. Treat yourself to a sodie pop.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Creating our ideal enemy
03:25 What is sorely lacking from most video game soundtracks?
09:55 Being a stickler for artistic intent
18:09 On leitmotifs and licensed music's place
27:07 How are we tying in the music to the gameplay?
34:39 Numetal has a fan in 2025
35:59 What emotions are we hoping to elicit?
44:16 An incredibly niche but understandable take on Doom Eternal's soundtrack
47:35 What unusual elements would we want to incorporate?
50:35 What is our funniest AVGN gamer rage moment? (TheCrazyEven)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Expedition 33 (Kevin version), Megabonk, Arc Raiders, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

After Sean's gushing about Expedition 33 the other week, Kevin decided to play it for himself. He gets why the internet was so annoying about this now. Trav has played Megabonk and foresees losing her life to it. Arc Raiders whelmed Moriarty, and Chris is just happy that there's a good Digimon game now.

SHOW NOTES
This is Megabonk:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3405340/Megabonk/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Expedition 33 fans, you're off the hook
06:48 Trav's gone and done a Megabonk
14:08 Preparing ourselves spiritually for Metroid Prime 4
18:22 Moriarty has played Marathon (NDA) and Arc Raiders (MEH)
27:19 Congratulations to Chris on the launch of Digimon Story Time Stranger
32:23 We explain Pokemon to Moriarty again

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#129 What is the hardest game series to get into?

Crub — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

We all have that one game series that seems like it'd be pretty cool to enjoy, but it's just far too daunting to actually take the time to experience. The Witcher, Yakuza, Kingdom Hearts, Fortnite...yeah, Fortnite. Which one is objectively the most difficult though?

SHOW NOTES
Moriarty's Kojima hot takes that are mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1izPM5aebY

The video discussing the first Pokemon movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4DUvX_lBeQ

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 What's a long running game podcast that you are getting into
05:50 yakuza mentioned
10:31 Surprise, Bioshock also mentioned
15:02 Fortnite? Technically a spinoff. Technically.
21:20 Franchises where the spin-offs feel kind of required (Marvel movies)
24:02 Remember that Metal Gear remake?
32:35 Your grandparents talk about Kingdom Hearts (they're right)
42:59 Which fans to actually listen to when getting into something
45:12 What is the objectively hardest series to get into?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Battlefield 6, Genshin's Roblox Mode, Outer Wilds, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This week we're checking in on Battlefield 6, Justin (not) playing Genshin Impact's new Roblox mode, and Nicco playing Outer Wilds without spoiling it. Also, RIP Limp Bizkit guy?

SHOW NOTES
This is the band Nicco mentions at the end:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Callous_Daoboys

CHAPTERS
00:00 How's Battlefield 6 been?
19:10 A very quick Pokemon Legends Z-A check-in
21:19 Justin's played Genshin, but not the new content
26:43 And a quick anime check-in
29:15 Nicco talks about his first Outer Wilds playthrough, no spoilers just vibes
36:07 "So I started listening to the entire Limp Bizkit discography..."

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#128 How much gacha is too much gacha?

Crub — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

With the impending release of...Ananta...it propelled our gacha experts to wonder...how many of these games can there really be? Surely there can only be so many gigantic, free-to-play gacha games vying for player's time and awareness, right? Also, thoughts on why Justin stays with Genshin years later, and a quick update on the Bengal's great year from their biggest fan.

SHOW NOTES
Here is the gameplay trailer for Ananta. We're not sure that it's real.
https://youtu.be/BMzzXYQ8zoQ

Also, don't worry, Justin corrects Chris on Genshin being "around for a decade". The humming in his audio halfway through is from the demon in your heart.

Here is Sean in Zenless Zone Zero:
https://zenless-zone-zero.fandom.com/wiki/Von_Lycaon

And here is Sean in Zenless Zone Zero:
https://zenless-zone-zero.fandom.com/wiki/Komano_Manato

...and...here is "Seed" in Zenless Zone Zero:
https://zenless-zone-zero.fandom.com/wiki/Seed

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Got your nose...
02:23 We decide that we should define "gacha"
06:24 Sean discovers what he's been missing in ZZZ
07:11 On pull rates
09:20 Explaining "pity" (it's not what you think)
14:44 Into The Mihoyoverse
20:56 What lets a gacha game survive?
29:18 We finally ask, why DOES Justin stick to Genshin Impact?
37:23 Justin does not financially support Genshin, rest easy
43:45 We find out where his money REALLY goes, also...the Bengals?
50:32 What would our Final Smashes be? (Urkman1's question)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Our thoughts on Pokémon Legends Z-A 40 hours in...

Crub — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

We've played a LOT of Pokémon Legends Z-A already, so we wanted to check in and give our thoughts. What's working, what it's left us wanting, and...trying to remember what the hell happened in X and Y....

SHOW NOTES
Check out the first 5 episodes of Podcastémon here!
https://www.patreon.com/collection/387580

Ash's First Pokémon League, 25 Years Later - A Retrospective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bamb2ZUcZD0

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#127 Almost True Trivia: The Game Show Where Every Answer is Wrong

Crub — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Kevin hates us. So, he devised this gaming "trivia" quiz, where our seasoned gaming veterans must listen carefully and pedantically point to the incorrect part of each "fact". It is excruciating. Back to the Future is in here, too. And Sean Combs. yeah

SHOW NOTES
Shoutout to Um, Actually, who does kind of what we did here:
https://watch.dropout.tv/um-actually

CHAPTERS
00:18 Welcome to the hell that Kevin has prepared for us
02:24 Something incorrect about Pokemon X/Y
07:54 Two incorrect things about Sonic the Hedgehog (technically)
14:03 The most important thing
15:46 Who is Doc Brown's dog?!
18:27 CONCORD MENTIONED!!!!
21:56 From Concord...to Halo (same thing) (real)
23:20 Sean Combs mentioned!!!1
25:46 Point recap and most pedantic Borderlands trivia ever
28:37 Nicco sends us to hell (Doom)
32:45 Fort knight.
35:49 Honkai Star Rail, aka torture
40:53 Smash Ultimate's character count is for the birds
45:03 THE FINAL ROUND!!! (Final Fantasy X spoiler warning)
58:24 Come here to skip the spoilers

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Yooka-Replaylee, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Silksong, and more we've been playing

Crub — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Our sexy crubbers talk about games they've been playing lately, from Yooka-Replaylee to Clair Obscur, to Silksong and Borderlands 4. We even mention Concord twice. Also, the Minecraft movie had...how many writers...?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Kevin's been playing Yooka-Replaylee
05:35 If this came out initially would people have liked it more?
13:45 Sean is our only Clair Obscur player
20:07 Wasn't gonna timestamp Concord talk but it came up for a second time
22:40 Quick circleback to talk about Yooka-Replaylee 100% length
24:33 Brody is ALMOST done with Silksong (almost)
29:05 Detour on the Lies of P final boss, heads up
32:44 Return to Silksong talk, on movesets and more
37:22 We also allow Brody to talk about Borderlands 4

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#126 Peacemaker Season 2 Review & Spoilercast (Spoilers) [spoilers]

Crub — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

As seen in Fortnite

SHOW NOTES
Heavy spoilers for Peacemaker (both seasons), lighter spoilers for both Superman and Creature Commandos

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/@allhailbuckets

CHAPTERS
0:00 All of it

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#125 ROASTING our MyAnimeLists

Crub — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Happy 125 episodes. To celebrate, we aren't talking games, we're talking anime. Not just talking anime but getting mad at each other over each other's takes on anime. Except Brody. He got off scotfree, somehow.

SHOW NOTES
Be warned, we are going to talk random spoilers about the anime series we bring up. Warning!

Here are our lists:
https://myanimelist.net/profile/Jtart9
https://myanimelist.net/profile/Wolfkaosaun
https://myanimelist.net/profile/RACROX

And he wasn't here, but he is taking recommendations:
https://myanimelist.net/profile/MykonosFan

While we're plugging, Justin and Chris went through pretty much all of Makoto Shinkai's works on our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/collection/320851?view=expanded

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Don't tell Scrum that he sounds like Narduar
04:40 The opening salvo begins against Justin and Sword Art Online
09:52 Justin DARED to only give Gurren Lagann an 8. An eight!!!
18:10 Sean takes aim at Justin's other 10/10
24:41 Wolfkaosaun explains and defends Wolf's Rain (tumblrcore)
29:52 Sean has seen FMA but not FMA Brotherhood...and Jojo dissection
37:56 Echoes of Justin's Sin
44:04 Brody HATES modern anime fans!!! (not real, clickbait)
51:45 "Brody is a lot more liberal" - Justin (with his 10/10s)
53:30 Is Death Note actually a good intro to anime?
1:06:30 Would our most recent game be easier or harder if Sonic was the main character?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#124 Do we like hype cycles more than games?

Crub — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This was recorded in a world before Silksong, so please excuse Chris' dunks on the Silksong community. He has since played 8 hours of it and thinks it's good. However, for years before it's release every gaming show would have the same meme. Where's Silksong? We've seen this with other games over time as well. Where's Half-Life 3? Where's Shenmue 3? What's Randy Pitchford doing on that bathroom floor? Sometimes we have to wonder, are we excited about the actual games, or are we just excited about being excited about games? Also in this episode, Moriarty tells us what PAX was like this year.

SHOW NOTES
Here's the Pax Autocratica game that Moriarty mentions around 25:45 in:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1067360/Pax_Autocratica/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 We've kept you waiting...
04:17 We may actually be close to Half-Life 3?
16:31 Do we value hype cycles more than the games themselves?
27:39 Moriarty wreaks havoc at Gearbox PAX booth (not clickbait)
30:42 Gamers, we've gotta do better...hygiene it up!
37:41 Overinvesting to play a game before it comes out soon after..
39:58 You don't miss E3. By the way, colonoscopies.
50:33 Shouting out our favorite obscure YouTubers/content trends from ages ago (real)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#123 What is the hardest game to become "okay" at?

Crub — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

There are easy games, and games that are notoriously difficult to "get good" at. However, Moriarty raised this question to us...what is the hardest game (or genre) to become simply "okay" at? Also, how much can a trailer spoil before it's simply objectively spoiling too much?

SHOW NOTES
The cicadas outside Chris' home make a cameo at around 15 minutes in. If you hear it, that's what's up.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Spoilers, Sean likes milk. Twice.
05:22 Sean maybe answers it in one shot: Rust.
08:37 Also? Fighting games.
14:47 Getting into a MOBA is basically signing up for university
26:10 MMOs, too. Acronym games in general actually
29:24 FBC Firebreak mentioned, don't google it, we'll tell you what it is
40:33 If we bought you a statue of a goat,
45:40 RTS games too. That's right. More acronyms. And Soulslikes!
51:21 Do trailers show too much? Can this problem be solved?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#122 Predicting which dead '90s franchises get rebooted in Fortnite next

Crub — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Fortnite's newest season is here, and it has...Power Rangers and Halo People. Have we reached a point of diminishing returns with Fortnite collabs? Has the underlying cynicism of it all finally shone through the cracks? And, more importantly, which dead and buried 90's franchises are most likely to get the Fortnite glow-up next? Chris predicts Jared Leto.

SHOW NOTES
If you don't know the video Moriarty references at 13:15, you do now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51beOlNC0qo

And yes, Street Sharks is real:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Sharks

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro, we want to be added to Fortnite too
04:49 Who the heck is the new Halo they added
08:44 The battle pass does at least still feel fair
13:15 What Moriarty wants in Fortnite most, and he talks DBZ.........
19:36 Moriarty tries to not preorder Borderlands 4 (this aged well)
23:06 Moriarty's Skin Predictions
26:31 Sean changes the entire game with one question
32:37 Chris' collab prediction that seems very obvious as he says it (cursed)
37:00 Moriarty's sugar rush, and Chris' BIGGEST ISSUE with Fortnite skins
43:01 What would it take to get sales numbers on Fortnite skins?
53:03 We become the first podcast to mention "Spellbreak" in 2025
58:49 The Pink Sauce Debacle
1:03:08 Chef Kilo questions how we could violence school children

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#121 What happens if you microwave video game characters?

Crub — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Nicco's audio had consistent crackling throughout this episode. We think we made it listenable. We apologize if we didn't. On the bright side, you can pretend that we stuck him in a microwave for this episode, much like Clank, Bentley, and the actual human child from Persona 4.

SHOW NOTES
37 minutes-ish, this is Sean's "himbo OC" from Zenless Zone Zero:
https://zenless-zone-zero.fandom.com/wiki/Komano_Manato

Tell Justin why he's Joseph Gribble canonically in the comments. Nicco said it, we don't really get it, but he might be right?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 We aren't googling "sporkle" either, don't worry
07:40 Moogle hate crime
15:40 Fat Princess mentioned for first time in 2025
23:17 Nicco wants turtle soup
30:23 What does ink do in a microwave...? (Another child is microwaved)
40:49 Just putting another human being in called "Ghost"
43:21 We begin to tally the results (yes, there can be a "winner")
47:14 The top 10 begins
58:19 How well do you replace the protag in the last game you played? (Urkman1)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#120 Reacting to YOUR Souls Hot Takes

Crub — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

We put out a call for YOUR hot takes on Souls and Soulslikes, and you delivered! We brought them to share with the class, as well as to give some of our own as well. Should FromSoftware give in and let us pause? Are the games TOO gloomy? Are these games secretly rhythm games...?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Finally, someone has talked about Souls games
03:13 Positives on the atmosphere of the games
13:22 Hot takes on said atmosphere
20:45 Opening this can of worms: the difficulty
34:13 Getting into the actual mechanics of the games (rhythm...?)
43:30 Giving attention to replayability (positive)
52:29 The Bosses
1:00:03 Just Let Us Pause, and audience questions

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#119 CRUB'S SUPERMAN (2025) SPOILERCAST

Crub — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

That new Superman came out, so we wanted to get the world's biggest Superman fan's take on it. Thankfully, Nicco was available. So, he was joined by far smaller Superman fans Moriarty and Trav to discuss the new James Gunn Superman film. Obviously, spoilers ahead.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#118 Locking in and washing GOATs

Crub — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Today, three grown men try to explain "locking in". One, with words, one, with brevity, and one...by referring to the One Piece powerscaling subreddit. Hawk Eyed guy is still the best swordsman in the series, though. Later, Chris expresses his disappointment with the continued SEGA & Roblox partnership and how his favorite thing is kind of uncool now. Also, Brody breaks our brains. Again.

SHOW NOTES
Two great videos from People Make Games on the issues with Roblox:

'Investigation: How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gXlauRB1EQ

'Roblox Pressured Us to Delete Our Video. So We Dug Deeper.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMF6xEiAaY

'Multiple Former Employees Cite Poor Pay Practices, Crunch Culture, and Lack of Transparency at Sonic Speed Simulator Studio Gamefam'
https://www.sonicstadium.org/articles/sonic/multiple-former-employees-cite-poor-pay-practices-crunch-culture-and-lack-of-transparency-at-sonic-speed-simulator-studio-gamefam-r1208/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Please block Brody.
05:19 How Minecraft and Blue Prince ruined Nicco and Brody's lives
12:41 Chris does therapy and holds everyone captive
19:45 The Contrarian's Lifestyle (Contrarymaxxing)
27:10 RARE TOPIC CHANGE - TIMES OUR GOATS WERE WASHED (Yakuza)
32:50 Chris tells Nicco what Grow A Garden is
43:55 Brody washes and then unwashes a goat
47:39 Nicco knows what the One Piece is (spoilers)
51:36 What would Brody's video game enemy gimmick be? (TK_Hubworld)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#117 THE Donkey Kong Bananza Spoilercast (with Wayneisboss)

Crub — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Chris and Kevin are joined by Wayneisboss for THE Donkey Kong Bananza spoilercast. We give some general thoughts up front, and then give a few tiers of spoiler warning as we delve further in. To be safe though, it'd be best to listen to this if you've already beaten the game or just don't mind hearing some of the places it goes.

SHOW NOTES
Go show Wayne some love, and tell him we sent you (please, we're desperate):
His Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/wayneisboss.bsky.social

His YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Wayneisboss

DKC: Return to Krocodile Isle - Animated Short:
https://youtu.be/1eggzBAzCZg

Episode of Wayne's podcast with Kevin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urXG947JyOM

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#116 A serious talk about payment processors and Itch

Crub — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

On today's episode we wanted to talk about what's going on with Visa, Mastercard, Itch.io, and potentially more and more storefronts in all mediums in the near future. We get into some sensitive topics, particularly with the discussion around the game called 'No Mercy'. There are chapter marks to skip that section, but there are a few mentions of traumatic subjects outside of that portion to help provide context for discussion's sake with what has been removed. We do have some goofy talk with the question of the week at that timestamp, if you just want some of our usual fare.

SHOW NOTES
For reading on what we're talking about:
https://www.ign.com/articles/itchio-suddenly-pulls-nsfw-adult-content-from-browse-and-search-pages-after-critical-pressure-from-payment-partners

Correction: Itch.io games are still accessible, per Itch.io Anyone who had access removed was urged to reach out to Itch, assuming the creator wasn't the one who removed the files themselves:
https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content

Correction: 'Consume Me' was not deindexed as a part of this:
https://bsky.app/profile/leafo.itch.io/post/3lv2pk2viz22q

Further reading on 'No Mercy' (content warning):
https://safeline.org.uk/news/no-mercy-pulled-from-steam-after-global-backlash/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Genuine warning, we discuss many sensitive subjects this episode
08:21 Where this begins to go even more awry
14:27 No Mercy talk, content warning if you want to skip
20:05 End of the No Mercy discussion
26:26 All that said, Visa and Mastercard shouldn't get to decide
36:33 Are you okay with something you don't like existing?
45:49 A lighter swerve, a Crubscriber question of the week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#115 Revisiting IGN's 2010 Top 100 Video Game Villains List

Crub — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

There is a notorious IGN top 100 list from the year 2010, going over the top video game villains. Some of it is expected. The aliens from Space Invaders. Bowser. Ganondorf. Some of it is weird, but acceptable. King Hippo, for example. However, some of this bends the known understanding of "video game villain". Number six may shock you.

SHOW NOTES
Here is the list that we are looking at today:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120215000000*/http://www.ign.com/videogame-villains/index.html

Captain N:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_N:_The_Game_Master

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Our top 5 video game villains, as a foundation
09:18 Some random examples to help convey this list's power
19:31 We begin at #25 on the list
32:30 Take a shot if you know #17
42:25 I feel like sometimes that I was not meant for this society.
51:35 Number six may shock you

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#114 Who should revive all of these dead franchises?

Crub — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In light of the...everything...going on with Microsoft, we wanted to take a more positive spin from it since the negatives have been thoroughly covered by those suited to do so. That said, a link to the layoff news is below as a starting point, if you missed what's been going on. So if Microsoft is going to lay off every person they hired while still keeping Xbox going...who should they contract and pay to work on their games? Heck, who should PlayStation and Nintendo do this with as well? Look, when they lay off 9000 people during the 4th layoff in 2 years, we don't have much to work with in terms of "positive"...

SHOW NOTES
Kevin's audio was weird this episode. Please do not bully him about it.

Article on layoffs at Microsoft, Xbox:
https://www.theverge.com/news/693535/microsoft-layoffs-july-2025-xbox

Article on Halo Studio's low morale, just to back that up:
https://www.trueachievements.com/news/halo-devs-reportedly-unhappy-with-the-quality-next-game

The "this guy" referred to at 29:00 is the Pale Man from Pan's Labyryinth, just so you know as an audio listener.

Check out CRANKIN OUR HOGS here: https://www.patreon.com/c/crub/posts?filters%5Btag%5D=crankin+our+hogs

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hit new single, "Ow, my schmingus!" coming soon
06:23 Brody kinda wants an IO Interactive Dishonored game
12:49 If Toys For Bob ISN'T doing Spyro 4...
22:04 You are not prepared for Nicco's galaxy brain
31:07 The team that should bring us Sly 5 is...
41:09 Successors that don't have a studio in the wings
52:32 Funkin With PaRappa (Explicit)
59:14 What have we learned today?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#113 What happened to EA, Kojima hot takes, and Sean's horrifying question...

Crub — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This week we decided to be more like a normal gaming podcast and talk about different topics. EA sure is releasing just mostly sports games and Sims packs lately, huh? Plus, Moriarty's burning hot Kojima takes that left Sean smoldering in the ashes. As punishment, Sean...he...look. You'll listen and then you'll understand our pain. We're sorry.

SHOW NOTES
An article on "Project Rene", which is NOT Sims 5, just to remind you that not even EA knows what is going on with it:
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-sims/there-wont-actually-be-a-sims-5-because-ea-is-going-to-disrupt-the-sequel-model-by-shoving-the-sims-4-project-rene-and-two-other-games-into-one-massive-sims-platform/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 We're already unsure if we should air this episode
01:00 What is up with EA...?
05:05 What's the biggest issue with Madden?
12:14 The last 2 years of EA releases are...
20:37 MORIARTY'S KOJIMA HOT TAKES!
29:53 It's not art!!! (He says, not us, don't flame please)
32:39 His second hot take
39:37 We rank "furry versus monsterbanger". We aren't timestamping these.
54:17 OK just kidding, 90's cartoon Donkey Kong gets one
1:02:22 Which character would you want to do your housework? (Atraske)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#112 How should an in-game economy be balanced?

Crub — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

How do you make an in-game economy "just right"? How do you balance it to fit the needs of the most players possible? How do you tune a game to prepare for "a Nicco"? Could the crub crew take a gorilla...?

SHOW NOTES
At around 26:40 Kevin invokes Nicco's Resident Evil Take. If you aren't aware, become aware:
https://youtu.be/3Ii5Q2uBR1M

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 This Zelda shit sounds suspicious
08:04 HOLD ON, Nicco. (Doom Eternal x Balatro)
12:11 Optimizing fun out of the experience, the gamer's way
20:29 Nicco's extreme thoughts on what an in-game economy should be
28:13 Chris mentions Bioshock Infinite in 2025
35:23 Insane Pokemon, and plight of the common gamer
47:11 *taps headband* infinite ammo
54:16 Could the crub crew beat one gorilla? (Chef Kilo)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#111 What grinds our gears about Mario Kart World

Crub — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Kevin's been putting some time into Mario Kart World and while he's been enjoying himself, he just can't stop asking why this game has 90% of the design decisions it does.

SHOW NOTES
Mario Kart World's development length:
https://www.polygon.com/news/600439/mario-kart-world-development-nintendo-switch-2

CHAPTERS
00:00 This episode is about Mario Kart World
10:21 You're not meant to complete these games, but...
23:13 On the expectations set by the Switch 2's price
32:03 On cynicism and lampshading prisoner of the moment
40:13 Once again saying that Nintendo Selects would help
47:26 This is what Nintendo has always been
59:53 We swear that we're positive (sometimes)
1:05:11 A slight anecdote about Kirby Air Ride
1:11:09 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#110 Trying to guess entry #100 on top 100 lists

Crub — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Justin approached us with a devious game. We're all familiar with top 100 lists, but we never focus on the bottom end of them. So what if we tried to guess as close as we can to #100? Dreamcast, PS3, Spotify, passing yards...we...we spent 10 minutes trying to guess ANY song from Spotify...

SHOW NOTES
If these are wrong, yell at Justin please.
Top 100 Dreamcast games:
https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/dreamcast/

Top 100 PS3 games:
https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/ps3/

Top 100 biggest restaurant chains 2021:
https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/johnharshith/top-100-biggest-restaurant-chains-2021?resource=download

Top 100 podcasts of all time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway

Top 100 IMDb movies of all time. This one seems to change when you refresh so we are working on what we had at the time:
https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?groups=top_100&sort=user_rating,desc

Top 100 NFL passing yards:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_yds_career.htm

Top 100 Spotify streamed songs:
https://kworb.net/spotify/songs.html#google_vignette

CHAPTERS
00:00 Our fastest swear jar and explaining the rules
02:07 What is Metacritic's 100th best Dreamcast game?
13:55 Metacritic's top 100 PS3 games (pain ((but not Pain)))
24:47 Point total going into top 100 chain restaurants by sales
35:54 Top 100 podcasts, WINK!
38:06 Points recap, going into top 100 IMDb movies of all time
47:24 Top 100 historic NFL passing yards (really)
55:41 Our disastrous final round, top 100 streamed songs on Spotify
1:13:40 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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Two Pokévirgins Watch The First Pokémon Movie

Crub — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

BONUS: Since we had two main Crubcast episodes last week we're skipping one this week to keep our backlog up. Still, we didn't want to not release anything for you today, so have this audio version of when M and Nicco first watched the first Pokemon movie!

Two of us who are far too familiar with Pokémon sat down two people who are far less familiar with Pokémon and made them watch the first movie. They came to us with many questions, most of which have no good answer. It made us question many things we thought we knew about this movie, and this franchise in general.

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#109 We watched EVERY Summer Game Fest conference

Crub — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Hundreds of games were shown off this past weekend at Summer Game Fest. So we brought Geoff Keighley over to introduce our own event, Crubber Games Fest, where we talk about all of his showcases. Was it worth it? Well, Brody thinks so, and Brody is the only one who actually watched them all, so...good job, Geoff!

SHOW NOTES
Avatar: Realms Collide
https://avatarrealmscollide.com/

Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree:
https://bahamutgame.com/

Azooma Escape:
https://www.ashgamesstudio.com/

King of Meat:
https://www.kingofmeat.com/

Reach:
https://ndreams.com/

The Rogue Prince of Persia:
https://www.therogueprinceofpersia.com/

Wander Stars:
https://papercastlegames.com/wanderstars/

Scott Pilgrim EX:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2640950/Scott_Pilgrim_EX/

Into The Unwell:
https://shewassuchagoodhorse.com/

Big Walk:
https://bigwalk.game/

Aphelion:
https://dont-nod.com/en/games/aphelion/

There Are No Ghosts at the Grand
https://no-ghosts-at-the-grand.webflow.io/

No Straight Roads 2:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3758980

Bobo Bay:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889810/Bobo_Bay/

Kaizen: A Factory Story:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2275490/Kaizen_A_Factory_Story/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 WELCOME TO CRUBBER GAMES FEST
08:09 The Green Game Showcase was a trainwreck
17:15 Shuhei Yoshida showed up (What does this mean)
25:56 Brody watched The Outer Wilds 2 Direct, god bless
32:26 Xbox was his favorite show (he's an SGF expert)
41:18 Why'd that guy wear that hat though
46:24 Day of the Devs, great presentation, maybe great games?
50:58 Chris is going to bring you a Silksong trailer
58:12 How many characters do Hot Shots Golf games have? One more things?
1:08:08 Don't worry, we didn't forget Frosty Games Fest

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#108 How Japanese games are regaining global influence

Crub — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In the last few years, we've seen Japanese games regain popularity after a fall starting in the 2000's. We talk through what lead to that fall and recent resurgence in influence and dominance.

SHOW NOTES
Keiji Inafune saying "our game industry is finished" in 2009:
https://www.eurogamer.net/inafune-japanese-industry-is-finished

Shuhei Yoshida talking about why the Vita failed:
https://gamerant.com/ps-vita-failed-why-shuhei-yoshida/

minimme's videos on Australian Football:
https://youtu.be/c5WmLtKpAIw

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Background leading into the main topic
08:08 The shift in 2000's development structures in Japan
19:17 And the shift to handheld gaming
29:12 What lead to the revival of Japanese games on a wider scale
37:24 Japanese franchises becoming bigger and bigger hits over time
43:17 From renaissance to revival
55:42 On game length and longevity
1:04:06 How Astro Bot may change future PlayStation plans
1:11:01 We finally mention Nintendo, and closing thoughts

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#107 On console warriors and fans not knowing what they want

Crub — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

We begin this episode by asking ourselves if we were ever console warriors. We totally never were. That question sent us down a path of examining video game fandom in general, from it never knowing what it actually wants to never knowing the reality of what it wants.

SHOW NOTES
It's true, go look:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykonos

Kevin's Ape Escape video that we mention:
https://youtu.be/YeYjWZOn_7c

Yummy Boy:
https://www.youtube.com/@yummyboys

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 We prepare for our shows, and we are console warriors
09:27 We look at Wikipedia (interesting)
16:27 Forget console warriors, what about franchise warriors
23:01 Delving into the "wounded fan" perspective
28:59 Fans wanting "essence" but not the reality of dormant series
33:19 Our Controversial Jim Ryan Take
40:25 "ASOBI should make a new Ape Escape"
46:05 Chris WEIGHS IN on SONIC ADVENTURE REMAKE!!!1
53:40 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week
1:03:40 Chris TELLS THE SMALL FRY STORY!!!1

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#106 MRIXRT, Trav, and The Golden Bolt discuss their YouTube careers

Crub — Mon, 26 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Trav, Moriarty, and Kevin sit down and interview each other about their content creation journeys, insights, struggles, and the advice they'd give to anyone looking to do what they do.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 The journey to the journey
00:39 Travis von Crubbius
07:25 Finding the Trav Style
13:39 How Kevin and Trav met, and developing the editing style
25:36 The part Trav hates most
31:46 What the next few years look like for Trav, and advice
36:49 Meet @ReallyCool, leading VR critic
43:35 The steps to modern MRIXRT and influences
52:06 Why does he want to make "negative" content?
59:30 His most and least favorite parts of the process
1:05:49 Does he worry about pigeonholing himself?
1:15:03 M's advice and his future vision for his channel
1:17:22 What lead The Golden Bolt to YouTubing
1:27:34 The early TGB "Studio" and the 5 year plan
1:34:56 What keeps him motivated, plus Plus One's origins
1:43:00 On getting video making "reps" in
1:48:23 What is the biggest misconception about starting YouTube?
1:54:16 His advice for aspiring Tubers

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#105 When is it time to let a game go?

Crub — Fri, 23 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

How do you decide when to push through a rough spot in a game versus giving it up entirely? Have you fought The Big Guy in Elden Ring? Have your friends followed you into the woods? If you don't know the answers to these questions, you're in the right place. We do. You're safe here.

SHOW NOTES
VA-11 Hall-A, the bartending game:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/447530/VA11_HallA_Cyberpunk_Bartender_Action/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Justin hates independent games, Nicco hates jumping
09:49 The pain of replaying a long game for a "true" ending
16:24 Nicco versus The Big Guy in Elden Ring
20:31 When should a game be kicked from backlog status?
28:47 Justin comes in with the steel chair (correctness)
35:53 Sean had to have friends follow him into the woods (real)
43:04 What did we learn today?
45:50 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week
52:05 We will bring the mechanical bull.

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Reacting to YOUR Switch 2 Hot Takes!

Crub — Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

We polled you in our Discord and our BlueSky for YOUR hottest Switch 2 takes, then brought them home to discuss. Let us know how wrong or right we are. Just, if we're wrong, word it in such a way that implies that we're still kind of right though

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hot take, Jtart9 is in rent-controlled Wumpus City
06:17 Hot take, Bananza is worth more than Mario Kart
17:44 Hot take, Donkey Kong's rock friend should go to jail
22:56 Cold take, bring back Nintendo Selects
28:58 Hot take, Age of Imprisonment will have the best new-era Zelda story
33:58 Hot take, Kirby Air Ride? Whatever!
38:35 Hot take, Miiverse would have sold Chris on Switch 2
40:31 Hot/cold take, Smash fans must settle down

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#104 We're in the era of distracted gaming

Crub — Fri, 16 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This is an episode about games we play while focusing on something else, or having something on in the background while we game. Scientifically this is probably our most "zoomer" episode, but putting "zoomer" in scare quotes does bring us back from the brink a bit.

SHOW NOTES
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bifurcated

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Say hi to Nicco in the comments or else
06:16 This podcast has addictions
12:55 The gang learns a new word
16:03 #Curvepilled
26:48 What is it about Bloodborne that sucked Nicco
34:52 We finally delve into The Click Issue
41:34 On trying to be more open minded and film scores
49:12 The Golden Bolt's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#103 We need to talk about game genre names

Crub — Fri, 09 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This was recorded before "frog-type game" or else that could have sustained an hour on its own

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 We're a runbased roguelite deckbuilding podcastvania
16:35 You aren't ready for this one, I promise
27:41 The RPG pandora's box is opened
38:24 Nicco has to guess what an expressive platformer is
46:50 Is Sonic 06 an immersive sim?
1:00:02 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#102 Why more gamers are flocking to indies lately

Crub — Fri, 02 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Not to hate on AAA, AA, A, or even AAAA games, but sometimes indie games just do it better. In a time where everything wants our time, experiences that convey an actual, tangible vision from a creative unit are more valuable than ever.

SHOW NOTES
Frogmonster: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1853760/Frogmonster/
Schedule I: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3164500/Schedule_I/
Playdate handheld: https://play.date/
Zero Zero: Perfect Stop (mentioned train game from some Sonic Mania devs): https://play.date/games/zero-zero/
Mars After Midnight: https://play.date/games/mars-after-midnight/
Sasquatchers, cryptid Pokemon Snap-esque game: https://play.date/games/sasquatchers/
Souljia Boy playing Braid: https://youtu.be/gWqnz-7iQbY

CHAPTERS
00:00 Trav has a voice today
17:37 Nicco breaks his silence on Balatro (doctors hate him)
26:00 Talkin bout value
30:08 Remember the Playdate? You do now
41:00 Big games exhausting the paths indies forged
45:18 Being able to feel the vision goes a long way
56:08 Azure3890's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#101 Bad games we can't help but like

Crub — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Sometimes you just like a game that no one else likes, but you also can't really explain why. Today we're baring all, and bullying Sean for existing.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Thank you, Pinecone
11:30 Trav likes Mighty No 9 (real)
19:35 Remember that Star Wars Battlefront collection...?
27:08 Kevin reminds you that Avowed exists
33:54 This episode is CERTIFIED FRESH
40:36 Reminiscing on AA licensed games
50:05 Urkman1's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#100 OUR 100th EPISODE

Crub — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

We made this podcast to bully each other

SHOW NOTES
The charity stream we mention where we read Sonic High School:
https://youtu.be/akhvXplvbRw

Rhett And Friends - Fetty Wap - 679 (Band Jam)
https://youtu.be/2dwW67RnEzI

CHAPTERS
00:00 1 vs 100
03:20 Revealing today's topic (100)
10:39 Bullying Justin for 30 seconds and then bullying Nicco again
22:32 Still bullying Nicco (Bloodborne 2 edition)
30:59 Sorry, every 10 minutes I check and they're still bullying him
38:53 Take a shot in the dark
42:02 We teach Justin to improv
49:40 Unethically ethically using unethical AI for our worst bit ever
55:48 Justin learned nothing
1:02:27 The YouTube ad situation just got worse
1:12:50 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#99 How to improve at video games

Crub — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Our resident New Gamer+ approached some of our resident expert gamers with a simple query...how does one improve at video games? What do good gamers think and examine when looking to improve their skillset at a game?

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 We talkin' 'bout practice?
08:41 Muscle memory goes far, number 5 will shock you
15:08 Nicco's call for Prey (2017) help
26:01 What separates a soft block from being skill gated?
38:56 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#98 Buy a Switch 2 or buy groceries?

Crub — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:21:02 -0400

The Switch 2, a powerful 120 FPS screen system with HDR, monkeys, and cows driving go karts. 2025 is truly a new era of gaming. But it doesn't have F-Zero GX ReGeared so we may be doomed?

CHAPTERS
00:00 General thoughts & Mario Kart World
05:50 We plan out how to push a C Button
11:00 Paid Digital Guide Game
17:22 It's a cube for games
22:54 Share your Zelda Notes with the class
33:00 Close enough, welcome back Bloodborne
42:27 Summarizing thoughts + bullying our friends

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#97 Do console exclusives matter anymore?

Crub — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

As the PS5 and Xbox Series march on, and with the Switch 2 imminent, we wanted to take a moment to stop and ask...do console exclusives actually matter anymore? Because they seem to be mattering less and less.

SHOW NOTES
That LinkedIn post we reference from the former VP of Prime Gaming at Amazon:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ethanevansvp_as-vp-of-prime-gaming-at-amazon-we-failed-activity-7295834479036702720-cDmX/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Setting the stage for exclusives
05:50 What is an "exclusive" game anymore?
14:55 What does the next generation of consoles look like, anyway?
22:32 Sorry Halo, we will mention you positively someday
31:50 Will the PS6 just be a PS5-2?
43:49 The cost of *everything* will impact consoles more than exclusives
51:19 Subscriptions replacing consoles as walled gardens
59:46 If only we knew we were 2 days ahead of Patapon on Switch

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#96 Burying the Wii U once and for all

Crub — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

With the release of Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition on Switch this week, every* Wii U game that counts has been ported to another platform. So, we convened to finally lay our favorite video game system ever to rest. And to learn way, way, way more about Taco Bell than anyone ever needed to. Did you know that the fire they cook with is fake...?

SHOW NOTES
*These games MUST BE SAVED!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wii_U-only_games

Check this link out:
https://xenoblade.fandom.com/wiki/Immovable_Gonzalez_(XC1)

And this will make sense later:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_white_cookie

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 These first few minutes are like the Wii U
04:45 Qualified Xenoblade X Fans Unite
11:26 Talkin those remaining Wii U only games
17:09 Chris fundamentally misremembers a Zelda character
18:53 He was also an Early Adopter...
28:57 Cuck chairs and Taco Bell hell
35:37 The Taco Bell story gets worse
39:54 How Taco Bell bean paste ruined inFAMOUS (somehow)
45:15 Justin saves the podcast with amiibo memories
1:03:31 TheCrazyEven's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#95 Hot take: Stop worrying about your backlog

Crub — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

So many people feel beholden to their backlogs and continually submit themselves to cycles of self-shaming just for having media they haven't gotten around to yet. We're here to say no more. Cut that out and just let yourself enjoy things!

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
BlueSky ► https://bsky.app/profile/crub.org
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 We plan our podcast
10:22 Guilt For Gifts
17:56 Talkin bout show backlogs
25:25 Chris is a mess of a human being
28:59 Moriarty's sad celebrity story
35:34 Sean only has good times with celebs
41:28 Legally admissible evidence by Sean for the court case
46:53 M tries to make Dragon Age and Baldur's Gate make sense to Chris

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#94 What happened to fun sports games?

Crub — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Arcadey sports games are mostly found in the indie space where it's tough to find them. All of the big name simulation sports games are usually the same experience repackaged each year, with a focus on microtransactions. What happened to all of the sports games that were just...fun?

SHOW NOTES
We couldn't find Kevin's Skeet that Nicco references around 16 minutes in. But if you scrolled down here to find it, we figured you should be acknowledged. Hello.

At 41 minutes Justin and Nicco mention Rhythm Doctor as a co-op game they played, we wanted to shout it out:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/774181/Rhythm_Doctor/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Let's get ready to rumble
06:26 The two kinds of sports games
18:53 Upcoming Sports Games ?
32:52 It all comes back to the packs, baby
35:18 The Shaq Chronicles
43:17 Tabreez's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#93 The great Pokemon language quiz from hell

Crub — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

What is a Snorlax called in Germany? What is a Psyduck in France? What is a Pikachu in India? Instead of asking culturally aware people, Kevin got three white guys together to torture them with a Pokemon quiz from hell. Play along in the comments and see how well you do! Hopefully better than we did.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Post-Pokemon Day Blues
02:50 Round 1 begins (write down your SSN)
35:20 Round 2 begins (seriously, write down your SSN)
1:09:47 Round 3 begins (we already knew your SSN)

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#92 What happens if you drink Olaf?

Crub — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

When Olaf melts and reconstitutes, is it the same Olaf? When you drink Olaf and he reforms later, is THAT the same Olaf? Does he remember that experience, or is he born again? What is White Vision...?

SHOW NOTES
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Marshmallow

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Vision#White_Vision

google "Pixar Cars cross section" we're not linking it

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 White guy podcast episode
08:00 Is Olaf the carrot...?
14:42 The Sandman Issue Is Concerning...
23:22 That (Olaf) belongs in a museum
28:58 What is White Vision?
34:12 Lightning McQueen Internals
40:00 Earlier Chris said "Kachussy"? Backwash Olaf....?
48:37 Trav went outside today
55:40 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#91 Pokémon TCG Pocket 3 months later

Crub — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Pokémon TCG Pocket's been out for a few months now, and we may have reached the point where we're wondering why we're still opening this app. We're not sure if our take is controversial but comment below and we'll likely find out!

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Stacking the deck
05:41 Why we've kinda lost the spark with TCG Pocket
09:54 Yo M got the premium pass
15:04 Where the dopamine illusion shattered for Chris
23:42 Anyone remember Pokemon Sleep...?
29:09 We decide that you can just go right to the dopamine source
38:01 We teach M about Pokemon gender differences
45:35 We give our rating on the Costco Guy scale
53:25 Urkman1's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#90 An argument against faithful remakes

Crub — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

As time goes on, more and more we have to ask ourselves...what is the point of a faithful game remake? When a game can either be ported or entirely transformed with modern touches a la Resident Evil 2, a faithful remake sits in a weird position where it hardly seems to make anyone happy. Let's discuss.

SHOW NOTES
Brody's Spyro Reignited video where he talked to people involved in development:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTZucl5Dnkw

Kevin's video where he didn't do that but owned Brody:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpVBnf53e10

CHAPTERS
00:00 Turn that gain up
08:30 This segment made Justin want to replay Fire Emblem Echoes still
13:43 Remakes versus the original's availability
20:08 A Metroid 2 Remake
30:44 We like faithful remakes, but
37:15 Another Metroid Remake
45:45 The fabled Sonic Adventure remake
55:20 Justin comes back to life, gives great idea
1:04:36 TK_Hubworld's Crubscriber Question of the Week

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#89 We talk about the Switch 2 and Brody's house

Crub — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Honestly, we did not plan for this week's episode. That will show. We concluded that it was simply more fun to bully Brody for existing than speculate on the Switch 2.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 We did not prepare this week and it will show
06:05 We've decided that the Switch 2 is discussionless
12:11 But will Metroid Prime 4 be there at launch?
22:31 TheCrazyEven's Crubscriber Question of the Week
29:39 In Brody's house are many mansions
38:52 We unanimously decide that adult McDonald's play places are a bad idea
42:04 Trying to justify a Day 1 Switch 2 purchase
48:54 Delivering the hottest Jet Set Radio take
52:15 Why did they give Mario Party a battle pass

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#88 We put Justin on trial for his crimes

Crub — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Jtart9 has gotten away with too much for too long. He plays gacha games, has rendezvous with Bernie Sanders, and skips court when he's on trial. We need your help to decide a verdict.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 All rise, for the honorable guy in graphic tee
05:24 The opening defense (not rigged)
08:34 Our first witness
19:56 The judge paid attention and remembers where the case is
27:48 Bad vibes charges are raised (serious)
29:37 The prosecution's junior attorney makes a statement
34:28 Jacob Wildheart is called to the stand
43:00 Bernie Sanders delivers a statement (not AI)
54:50 A clearly different Bernie Sanders delivers a statement (not AI)
1:04:08 In Summation

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#87 We Predicted the Year 2025 (Scientifically)

Crub — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Due to leveling up our crubconsciousness, we have peeked into the far-flung future of December 2025 and looked backward. Combined with rigorous pseudoscientific analysis, we have correctly laid down what you can expect this coming year. Ask us for stock advice. We can give it, legally. That's a lie, legally.

SHOW NOTES
Sean's "rocket" photo: https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2029114-post-a-picture-of-yourself-as-the-final-boss

CHAPTERS
00:00 RIP Akon
01:41 Reviewing our 2024 predictions (gone wrong)
14:06 We officially begin leaking 2025
24:16 Justin Timberlake will get rehab
37:19 A timely TikTok statement
45:41 Why SomecallmeJohnny won't return our calls
52:10 Kevin's prescient movie predictions (write these down)
1:00:57 Our Game of the Year 2025 Predictions

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#86 Crub's Big Fat Quiz Show of 2024

Crub — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

2024 was a year with 12 entire months, so we decided to do a quiz that accidentally focused mostly on just 5 of those. If you've ever wanted to see 3 entirely ill-equipped people handle questions about general culture, we did this just for you.

SHOW NOTES
Last year's edition (or search for episode 32 on your podcast service of choice): https://crubcast.transistor.fm/episodes/32-crubs-big-fat-quiz-show-of-2023

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Laying down the rules (prepare for pain)
04:21 Round 1 begins
11:45 Round 1 results
20:37 Round 2 begins
26:31 Round 2 results
34:16 Round 2 begins and course corrects (we're sorry, Nicco)
42:42 Round 3 results
50:50 FINAL ROUND BEGINS
56:57 FINAL ROUND RESULTS & WINNER DECIDED

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#85 Scientifically determining GameCube's BEST game (Part 2)

Crub — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Last week we scientifically whittled down some of the GameCube's not-best games. This week we're back to finish the job. 2 entire hours of science-backed reasoning, foolproof arguments, and straight factual evidence.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome back, crubbers
02:05 Third round of A-Block (TTYD vs Zelda TP vs Pikmin)
27:08 REAL round of B-Block (Patreon plug)
30:39 Third round of B-Block (Prime 1 vs F-Zero GX vs Any Mario Party)
41:54 Third round of C-Block (Animal Crossing vs Wind Waker vs Fire Emblem)
1:06:20 Deciding round of A-Block (Double Dash vs TTYD vs Chibi Robo)
1:15:58 Deciding round of B-Block (Sunshine vs Pokemon XD vs Prime 1)
1:33:17 Deciding round of C-Block (Eternal Darkness vs Fire Emblem vs Super Monkey Ball 2)
1:35:44 Super Drunkey Ball explained, for legal reasons
1:40:51 THE FINAL ROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#84 Scientifically determining GameCube's BEST game (Part 1)

Crub — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

For many millennia, the GameCube hasn't had anyone question what its best game is. As the years rolled by, all of its games went to get better versions on other platforms. Today, our leading team of scientists uncovered these games and used due process to deduce which is the best one...a process so intensive that we've only scratched the surface today.

CHAPTERS
00:00 We're sorry
01:46 First round of A-Block (Mario Kart:DD vs SA2B vs Prime 2)
18:53 First round of B-Block (Luigi's Mansion vs Melee vs Sunshine)
42:26 First round of C-Block (Eternal Darkness vs Pikmin 2 vs Soul Calibur 2)
1:03:14 Second round of A-Block (Chibi Robo vs RE4 vs Viewtiful Joe)
1:15:09 Second round of B-Block (Rogue Leader vs Pokemon XD vs Mario Strikers)
1:28:39 Second round of C-Block (Wario World vs Monkey Ball 2 vs Jungle Beat)
1:34:32 What we're getting to on the next episode!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#83 Games that need YOU to make them fun

Crub — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

It sounds obvious to say that some games aren't fun without a player, but some are designed to be a sandbox that almost require a player to bring their own imagination, creativity, personality, or some other form of personal input to make them fun. Today we wanted to explore some of those games (and bully Nicco).

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
BlueSky ► https://bsky.app/profile/crub.org
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Kevin's referenced video about game completion percentages:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1YhelqEGU

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Bring your own timestamps
07:52 How CoD and others have adapted to these changed trends
12:54 Justin explains Genshin (real)
23:45 The ways these games can fail are immense
31:19 The longevity of modding
42:08 Which BYOF games are our favorites?
52:06 TWO Crubscriber Questions of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#82 Sean's video game trivia quiz from hell

Crub — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

We bully our friend Sean about every single thing he ever does. He drafted a bit of payback for us by way of devious gaming trivia questions. We've truly paid for our crimes. Please let us know how well you do with these questions as well. We need to feel better about how badly we did.

SHOW NOTES
Things may be wrong in this episode. Fortunately, our participants didn't know the correct answers to the questions anyway.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Entering Sean's h*ck
02:39 Fact or Fiction round begins
27:44 Multiple Choice Quiz begins (and our sanity ends)
44:06 Sean's insane Yoshi question
54:15 Sean begins to enact his ultimate revenge (final round)
1:24:37 Results and our fabulous physical prizes
1:27:03 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#81 Our holiday gaming memories (gone wrong)

Crub — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

We intended for this to be a nice, holiday spirit type of episode. The universe had other plans in store. We are sorry. Please tell us your best and coziest holiday gaming memories in the comments or in our Discord to make up for this. Thank you.

SHOW NOTES
Here's that Oblivion mod that lets you order Domino's (if you're in the right countries):
https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/52398

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9

CHAPTERS
00:00 Pooh Bear and Funky Bunch's Turkey Double Trouble
02:01 What gets us in the holiday spirit
11:33 Brody x Kevin Butler x Butler Cup
18:10 We appreciate Animal Crossing (this will be relevant in a few weeks)
31:31 We begin to realize that Brody will sell all of our games
37:59 The most depressing Wii Speak story ever told
44:20 Reminiscing on 2000's internet communication
52:20 Farming games for the holidays? Sure!
1:00:33 Urkman1's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#80 Which games would make the worst theme parks?

Crub — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

With Super Nintendo World existing, and gaming companies looking to take their properties beyond the screen, it feels like a matter of time before more video game theme parks start popping up. Some make sense, like Animal Crossing, while others would be complete disasters. We're here to plan the latter.

SHOW NOTES
The pogging cacodemon in the thumbnail is from here:
https://x.com/dkooters/status/1226089298430132226

Yes, the Mass Effect ride is real:
https://www.cagreatamerica.com/rides-experiences/mass-effect-new-earth

A link to KidZania info (we promise this is relevant):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KidZania

crub.org/improvcomedyshow

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro (to the theme park)
04:55 We immediately perfect DOOM Land
13:32 The Animal Crossing Park
19:46 Imagining cleaning up the Splatoon Jamboree
26:45 We remind you that Criss Angel exists
35:51 No getting around it, urine theme park
43:52 We brought up Uncharted in 2024, you're welcome
47:51 TheCrazyEven's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#79 Judging 2024's The Game Awards nominees

Crub — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Gaming's only* awards show™ is finally back! This week, Moriarty and Nicco sat down to review and predict this year's winners in every category. They got best eSports team correct and you can book it. Trust us.

SHOW NOTES
Nicco is right, it does seem too easy to vote in the Grammys:
https://members.recordingacademy.com/s/?language=en_US

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to our podcast (Geoff Keighley voice)
07:00 Our hot takes on best eSports team
18:22 Best adaptation (sorry, Wade Whipple)
30:23 Best action and action-adventure game (there's a difference, trust us)
41:25 Best ongoing game (sorry, Concord)
52:03 Best game direction and game of the year
1:01:54 Tabreez's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#78 Guessing the prices of sold games on eBay again

Crub — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Justin needed an excuse to taunt Chris over the death of Concord again. So now this episode of our podcast exists. Can you guess how much a Guns and Roses t-shirt sells for? Neither can we!

CHAPTERS
00:00 This is the intro of all time
1:20 Round 1 begins
20:03 Round 2 begins
38:50 Round 3 begins
55:12 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#77 Worst Mario Party minigames to get transported to

Crub — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

It's bad enough to play a Mario Party, but what if you were transported INTO a Mario Party? Jumping fire ropes, cooking steaks, mowing lawns, pumping Bowser...honestly, we'd prefer to just die.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Our audio quality stinks this week, please put up an air freshener and forgive us.

Absolutely essential links to the Mario Party wikis:
https://www.mariowiki.com/Sizzling_Stakes
https://www.mariowiki.com/Prime_Cut

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 This is Justin's party, you're uninvited
07:37 Are we trapped WITH the Marios or...
19:42 We'd gamble with Wario, but would he gamble with us
32:03 Discussing Jamboree's viability
51:51 Is Bugs Bunny washed?
53:28 TK_Hubworld's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#76 Judging YOUR hottest takes

Crub — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

is the Switch holding back gaming? Are Pokemon Black & White awful? Should Hyrule Warriors even exist? Today we're diving into YOUR hottest takes and seeing if they pass muster. Check the link below if you want to give some for the next edition!

SHOW NOTES
Give us your hot takes for the next time we do this: https://forms.gle/usbTxVZTaoNYbsrb9

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 How the Switch is holding back gaming
07:37 Handheld consoles are the only place left for innovation currently
15:53 Pokemon Gen V sucks
21:26 You should have to use only new Pokemon in new games
26:41 Tunic is one of the best Zeldas of all time
32:15 Hyrule Warriors has the best BotW plot
37:48 SA2 is worse than Heroes and Shadow's game (2005)
45:41 Just bullying Sean
52:20 "(Thing) Explained" videos have ruined the fabric of reality
57:33 THE ALGORITHM SUPPRESSES US!!!
58:40 There could be another crash in the gaming market

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#75 Is the Yakuza show really that bad?

Crub — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

With Like A Dragon: Yakuza hitting Amazon Prime yesterday, Chris and Kevin sat down to give their thoughts on the half season that's been released so far. What did two diehard Yakuza fans think of the show? Does it deserve the hate it's been getting? How faithful should we expect adaptations to be? Let us know!

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

CHAPTERS
00:00 Spoiler-free discussion
22:05 Episode by episode breakdowns
59:56 RACROX's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#74 We leaked the Switch 2's first year

Crub — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Every gamer wants to know. When is the Switch 2 coming out? What games will there be for it? Is it going to be worth getting one? We understand, which is why we asked our incredibly legitimately real sources WHAT is going on with the Switch 2. We were amazed that we got responses instead of getting blocked, and now we are sharing the news with you. Mark your calendars, prepare your game purchasing budgets, and get ready to finally be in the know.

CHAPTERS
00:00 OUR FIRST LEAK (gone wrong)
04:51 Chris gives the correct first leak (gone right)
13:38 We are proud to give the first Monolith Soft leak
19:29 Kevin gives a deep state leak
24:34 The economics of making & selling a Switch (leak)
36:55 Star Fox Guard is mentioned, not a leak
44:11 We can confirm the leaks, Bloodborne is coming to Switch 2
48:30 How could Nintendo make everyone mad with this?
1:05:31 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#73 Crub's Overrated/Underrated Quiz

Crub — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome to crub's Overrated/Underrated Quiz! Nicco polled 22 members of YOU, our audience, on a random assortment of topics to see if you felt they were overrated or underrated. Now, our esteemed crubbers must guess which way each topic leaned.

CHAPTERS
00:00 We explain the game we're playing
04:01 The first round BEGINS
25:14 The second round BEGINS
36:35 The third round BEGINS (Nicco's Rules)
48:02 The course of history is changed
1:00:42 History is decided

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#72 Has gaming finally had its craziest spinoff?

Crub — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

We swear this episode is about spinoffs such as Like A Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii (real name), but we also take some detours to bully the Concord Discord, and also talk about Sean's friend's mom. Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland sure is weird, huh? I don't even remember if we talked about the Patrick Star game but it's in the thumbnail on YouTube. Maybe we talk about it. So much funny.

SHOW NOTES
The "where to start with Yakuza" video that Brody said Chris made is actually on Kevin's channel. We have removed Brody from the channel for this grave error. Link here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjpgNJImQIM

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Debuting Sean's new brand as a woke pirate (in Hawaii)
07:23 We are baffled yet completely unsurprised by this game
24:44 We attempt to tackle the main topic here
25:50 But instead talk about Kevin and Sean's friend's mom
34:27 The Concord Discord Story (not timestampbait)
49:12 Dissecting Persona Dancing and Pokemon spinoffs
55:41 We denounce Canadian fast food chains
1:04:51 A timely dissection of LittleBigPlanet 3
1:11:57 A random person's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#71 Which Zelda character could win the election?

Crub — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

It's an election year, and we figured we'd bravely step forward and tackle the REAL questions weighing our minds. Could a scandal tank Groose? Is the falling moon a hoax meant to incite panic? Is that weird cartography fish from Wind Waker a single fishue voter?

SHOW NOTES
In case you forgot what Bongo Bongo was:
https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/Bongo_Bongo

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 START THE COUNT
07:49 What is Zora Link's platform?
14:33 What would Linebeck accomplish as VP?
19:27 Are these candidates too old?
27:19 Could a Zelda be a good president?
33:32 Does Linebeck like couches?
41:14 Amphajack's Crubscriber Question of the Week?
50:15 Indie shoutout of the week?
55:15 What is this, a Mario Party for kids?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#70 Worst game to play at a funeral

Crub — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

What is the worst video game to play at a funeral? And nothing easy, like 'Shower With Your Dad Simulator', what is the actual worst video game to play at a funeral? Tell us. Tell us now.

SHOW NOTES
Kevin's interview with Astro Bot's developer:
https://youtu.be/cPWMTv_7qk8

crub's 2024 Predictions episode:
https://youtu.be/MOUxQnZoGC8

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Official crub Astro Bot Review
28:47 Could you play Astro Bot at a funeral, though?
34:26 We share The Tetris Effect Story (real)
42:07 Things Seto Kaiba would do at a funeral for $100
49:44 Justin actually played games at a funeral...
53:23 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week (important)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#69 Is early access to a game worth extra money?

Crub — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

This ep was recorded right after Gamescom, but we swear it's still timely. For years, publishers have offered buyers a way to play a game early by spending more money. Is it ever worth it though? You either leave your friends behind and they need to catch up, or suddenly obligations get in the day during those 3 days and you could have just saved $10. Does it ever make sense to buy a digital deluxe edition of a game? Also. Nice.

SHOW NOTES
Reanimal trailer:
https://youtu.be/yXEMXKXrrPs

Secret Level anthology series trailer:
https://youtu.be/gLihxsmI_OU

Relevant reading about Peter Molyneux:
https://www.eurogamer.net/the-god-who-peter-molyneux-forgot

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Are 3 extra days worth it?
08:17 How MMOs pioneered this strategy
18:30 Updates should be eliminated
26:41 Clarifying early access VS. Early Access
27:52 Getting into Gamescoms announcements (Indiana Jones) (timely)
31:24 Hot takes on the new Call of Duty
37:29 What was with that Starfield trailer though
42:03 We weigh in on the Squid Games...Game
44:19 Why is Peter Molyneux allowed on a stage
50:24 Borderlands 4? Yay?
56:51 Civ VII hype, in spite of its length
1:01:34 Secret Level could actually be really great
1:12:09 AllHailBuckets' Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#68 🫂HOP ON CONCORD🫂

Crub — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

They killed Concord. They didn't even give it two weeks. In this episode, we pay our respect to the video game of all time, hit game Concord. Hop on Concord, fellow gamers. Hop on Concord.

SHOW NOTES
Here's that Twitter thread from the former Square Enix Director of Business we mention:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1793779717813723521.html

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 rip red guy
13:54 Concord DID do cool things, like
17:43 We love red guy
24:47 We had an excuse to remember SEGA's HYENAS
30:43 red guy was not only fighting for our money, but for our time
34:47 Phil Spencer saved Transformers
42:43 Trav betrayed Concord for Deadlock
49:06 Trav's also been revisiting Halo Infinite
58:03 We invent Madden XXV Rebirth
1:08:29 TK_Hubworld's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#67 Games that are hard carried by their stories

Crub — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Typically, we'd urge that gameplay is king in a video game. However, things aren't always so black and white. Sometimes the gameplay is just OK, but we can't help but push through just to see where on earth the game is going. Heck, sometimes it's good, but wears out its welcome over the course of the game. We wanted to talk about said games, and even some cases of putting up with a story just to get back to the gameplay.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Justin wants to convict criminals
05:55 How Sean dangs a grandpa
13:00 What makes us want to play a story driven game?
21:28 And when do we decide we're going to finish it BECAUSE of the story?
33:57 The inverse of putting up with story for the gameplay
40:56 What Gamecube fans need to hear
52:27 Urkman1's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#66 Can too much balancing ruin a game?

Crub — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In a world where we're bombarded by patch notes and minor differences when we go to play an online game, when can it become too much? What's acceptable when adjusting a single player experience and when is it too far? Should the game creator's vision be the final say on all of this? Do we have more questions to ask you?

SHOW NOTES
Helldivers 2 (recent) nerf details in this article, with response from Arrowhead CEO:
https://www.vg247.com/helldivers-2-more-nerfs-negative-steam-reviews-ceo-responds

There's that Hitman 2 clip we mention at the end, it is incredible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6do1-cmcQHE

CHAPTERS
00:00 Balancing the intro of this episode
09:26 Nailing down the particulars of "balance"
14:32 Having to readjust muscle memory as games are patched
25:00 Balancing power fantasy vs vision of the game
31:05 How to improve the Olympics
35:30 The age-old question, where do Sonic's rings go
40:28 Snaking in Mario Kart DS + nerf vs buff
56:14 The1TrueBlue's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#65 Does 2X playback speed ruin media?

Crub — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Today we're giving our BLISTERING TAKES on 2X (or 3X) playback speed for watching media. Primarily we're focused on television series and movies in this episode, though we do touch on audiobooks, and game emulator speedup. Are we right? Are we wrong? Tell us, we have no idea.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
We wish Yu Suzuki made vaporwave.

That Vice article that was mentioned:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgx8nz/auto-battle-is-the-best-version-of-combat-in-the-new-nier-replicant

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Talk about putting us on 2x speed and we'll find you
04:32 Speeding up casual TikTok-styled content versus "Art"
09:50 Would we "take a pill" to instantly have watched a show?
17:08 Watching things just to be part of the broader conversation
20:27 A brief lesson in vaporwave
28:21 Moriarty's stance on everything not needing to be preserved
37:57 Marvel round 2
42:15 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#64 What can the MCU do to win us back?

Crub — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Robert Downey Jr returning to the MCU raised a lot of eyebrows. Some were hyped, some were deflated...and then there's us. We're fancying ourselves representative of the casual audience that Marvel/Disney are hoping to court favor with, so we figured we'd throw our opinion into the ring on what this news has done for us.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hello we are Robert Downey Jrs
07:33 Our Avengers assembled, we deliver thine take
17:31 The Problem with Kang (not that problem)
25:58 Are we headed toward a reboot?
35:02 Nicco watched Top Gun, this is just here because the movie is good
40:21 Nicco destroys Chris (real), also Xbox shutdown
48:50 What tattoo would Hank Hill get (in the reboot)?
56:28 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#63 Why do we go to gaming conventions?

Crub — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Gaming conventions like PAX, TooManyGames, and MAGFest have become bigger and bigger over the years. Toss in gaming-adjacent conventions like Momocon and Comic-Con, and sprinkle in ones run by the companies themselves like Blizzcon...there are so many. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but this week we wanted to talk about why we actually go to them.

CHAPTERS
00:00 We go to em, but why?
04:17 The growth of gaming conventions
16:10 Conventions as a social gathering
28:03 Trav's favorite moments from gaming cons
32:41 An awkward encounter with Bruce Davison
42:21 The odd side of parasocials at cons
46:42 The worst con Moriarty has went to
58:15 Justin's Funko Pop obsession
1:03:09 Will digital conventions take over?
1:13:54 TK_Hubworld's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#62 Debating the list of best games ever

Crub — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Recently over on reddit, IlmeniAVG sourced more than 100 publication's top game lists and aggregated them all into an incredibly interesting list. For funsies, we decided to go over the top 50 and see what deserves to be there and what doesn't. (RIP Bloodborne).

SHOW NOTES
You can look at the reddit post here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1e30pcx/i_aggregated_more_than_700_greatest_games_lists/?sort=confidence

CHAPTERS
00:00 What is THE best video game of all time?
05:15 Games 50 through 41
14:37 Games 40 through 31
22:22 Games 30 through 21 (and Kratos character discussion)
40:32 Games 20 through 11
52:22 THE TOP 10 GAMES (derogatory)
1:07:00 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#61 Our favorite games of the year (so far)

Crub — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

2024 has been one of the years of all time for games! A lot have come out, some quickly forgotten, some we're still playing. Today we figured we'd do a little midpoint check-in on our favorite games of the year so far. Also, a cameo by videogamedunkey...?!

SHOW NOTES
Check out MRIXRT's newest video, "How Language Shapes Legacy" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGIUJgipSuU&pp=ygUGbXJpeHJ0

8 minutes in we mention a thread from a former Square Enix employee divulging information about the company in a pre-Fortnite world. It is absolutely recommended reading. Here is a link to the start of the thread:
https://x.com/JNavok/status/1793779717813723521

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Gamers, we have been gaming in 2024
02:25 Why Palworld is Moriarty's favorite game ever
12:58 How FF7 Rebirth made Chadley the true villain
22:49 Obligatory "Kevin and Chris like Yakuza" segment
38:08 Dunkey asks Brody about Animal Well
54:04 MickJaegar's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#60 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater: The Musical, and more

Crub — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

We decided to spin a wheel, a wheel that would add modifiers to existing games. Then we hashed out how these would play out in real life. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater: The Musical, Illumination's Elden Ring, Rock Band as a found footage horror movie, and more. Please enjoy.

CHAPTERS
00:00 What are we doing today?
02:17 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater: The Musical
06:56 Quentin Tarentino's 'Peggle'
12:03 Illumination's 'Elden Ring'
18:01 Yakuza as a weight loss DVD
23:58 Spyro the Dragon as a WWE storyline
33:41 Rock Band as a found footage horror movie
39:49 Bioshock as directed by crub(TM)
47:24 LittleBigPlanet in the tone of 'Joker'
57:41 Michael Bay's 'NBA2K'
1:03:57 An MCU The Sims film
1:07:29 RACROX's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#59 Games that have too much game

Crub — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Sometimes a game just has too much game. When it's trying to tell a story it can completely disrupt the flow of the narrative. And even for games that aren't trying to tell an involved story, or a story at all, sometimes the amount of content can be overwhelming. Today, we're putting some of those games on blast.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 When does a game's size take away from its appeal?
07:24 The Elden Rings of the world
14:00 Trav's religious conflicts with Slippin Jimmy (real)
15:36 Nicco's time discovering Fallout New Vegas
31:40 We gotta shout out Ubisoft open worlds
39:51 Jumping between Souls games is a self sentencing
45:43 Chef Kilo's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#58 Remembering the mixed era of Kickstarter games

Crub — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Crowdfunded games still happen, but there was a surge of them in the 2010's. For better or worse, many, many notable games were enthusiastically funded by fans. Yooka-Laylee, Shovel Knight, Shenmue 3, Star Citizen. We wanted to look back and remember that turbulent time of high hopes and occasional unmet expectations.

SHOW NOTES
Links for some of the games we mention, in case you wanna look and go "Huh"
Lobodestroyo: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lefthanded/lobodestroyo-3d-action-platformer-game
Clive n Wrench: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1094720/Clive_N_Wrench/
Godus: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/22cans/project-godus

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 How Yooka-Laylee bankrupted Sean (real)
11:26 Issues with early access / dripfeeding the content updates
26:20 Why are we willing to pay for unfinished games?
35:54 Game development isn't a respected process
42:20 The upsides to crowdfunding games
55:35 TheCrazyEven's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#57 What makes trading card games fun?

Crub — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

TCGs have been taking over Crub bit by bit over the last couple of years, especially for Pokemon TCG for Nicco and Justin. This week we wanted to tackle what makes them fun, what keeps them relevant, how to deal with the ebbs and flows of expansion, and how digital TCGs like Magic's games, Hearthstone, and Marvel Snap bring their own twist to the table.

SHOW NOTES
Here are links to a couple of the lesser-known games brought up in this episode:
Inscryption: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1092790/Inscryption/
Wingspan: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Our history with TCGs
10:22 The economy of TCGs
22:28 On the price point of individual cards
29:13 How power creep happens in these games
37:09 Digital vs Physical TCG play
50:51 Would "fixed" TCGs be better than endless expansions?
56:55 RACROC's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#56 The problems with "difficulty" in gaming

Crub — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

This week we wanted to have an easy going talk about difficulty in games. What makes it great, what makes it difficult to design and plan around for, and some cases where it's just a necessary part of a game's core identity.

SHOW NOTES
Path of Exile's skill tree, mentioned later in the show:
https://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree

Here's some of the games we mentioned that you may be curious about:
Cyberhook: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1130410/Cyber_Hook/
Selaco (disclosure, Trav edited their launch trailer): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592280/Selaco/
Another Crab's Treasure: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887840/Another_Crabs_Treasure/
Lisa: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/77828/

CHAPTERS
00:00 What's up with difficulty in games?
08:34 Starting games on Hard difficulty
13:16 Why should games be difficult?
33:32 Design versus designing for difficulty
40:50 Harsh realities of game development
46:28 Guides and completionism relating to difficulty
55:54 Games that use difficulty as a narrative tool
1:09:24 RACROX's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#55 The rise of the "meme" game

Crub — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Who doesn't love a good meme? Even gaming is no stranger to the meme infiltration, today we wanted to discuss games designed to be a meme (for better or worse), games that rose in popularity due to memes about them, and...the Sony hack. Not that one, the other one. And then also the one you forgot about.

SHOW NOTES
Info on the Soapbox Races that Red Bull does:
https://www.redbull.com/us-en/tags/soap-box-race

This is the "not interested" kid meme discussed:
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/pajama-kid

Screw you, Brody:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Home

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaman_(video_game)

CHAPTERS
00:00 Happy birthday, Tomodachi Life
11:45 Games that grew thanks to memes
16:49 Tomodachi Life's Enduring Legacy
37:25 The Sony hack is a heck of a meme
44:27 Back on track to the memes
49:37 How Kevin gaslit Nicco about the Dreamcast
1:07:08 Chef Kilo's Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#54 What makes a good collectathon game?

Crub — Fri, 31 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Genres in gaming have become incredibly fluid over time. Is Super Mario Sunshine a collectathon? What about Metroidvanias? Are Metroidvanias even a good name for that genre? When a game is a collectathon, what makes it great? Please answer.

SHOW NOTES
Here's the PlayStation Analog Joystick that was mentioned:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Analog_Joystick

We mention Animal Well in this episode, you may not have heard of it so here is a link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/813230/ANIMAL_WELL/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Come collect a new episode of the Crubcast
03:58 How Trav came to HATE collectathons!!!
10:28 Yooka Laylee pays for its sins
24:48 How do we actually define a collectathon?
37:54 Can SM64 be beaten normally?
44:34 Completionism in collectathons (say five times fast)
53:09 RACROX's Crubscriber Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#53 Guessing the prices of sold games on eBay - Rate Is Great

Crub — Fri, 24 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Justin made us guess the eBay prices of games, medical equipment, and limited-edition Taylor Swift records this week. If you get that last one right, you get one crub cookie.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Explaining The Rate Is Great
01:29 Beginning of the first round
20:08 Beginning of the second round
39:24 Beginning of THE FINAL ROUND
1:01:01 Wolfkaosaun's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#52 Does gaming have a PR problem?

Crub — Fri, 17 May 2024 17:09:47 -0400

Week by week there seems to be worse news in the gaming industry. Layoffs, greed, and worse ends of the deal for consumers pile on as games take longer to make and cost even more to make all the while. Then, digging deeper into the core communities themselves, toxicity and harassment seem to float to the top of what's visible. Does gaming have a PR problem...?

CHAPTERS
00:00 Let us explain
02:34 Also let's define what a "gamer" is, and gaming's total audience
09:30 So what is the "problem"?
19:23 About the community's behavior, and games vs. movie production
28:16 Is the industry itself crumbling?
37:26 We get back on track here
49:35 Does gaming's PR matter?
57:21 While we're at it, let's talk "special editions" of games
1:04:16 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#51 We're glad E3 is dead (really)

Crub — Fri, 10 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

We're not afraid to say it. E3 had its pros, but given some space since its demise we've begun to feel that it may have been a net positive for Gamer Week to go away. Do you miss E3? Perhaps you miss the idea of E3? Let us know!

SHOW NOTES
Here's that bullshot Killzone 2 E3 trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-4HNmuEAKg

Let's make a meme (Ubisoft E3 2015):
https://youtu.be/RCqGxNxjKA8

Ubisoft 2016 E3:
https://youtu.be/UTd-VPD0zCg

Check out Epic Dumpster Bear 1.5 DX (the developer gave us review codes, full disclosure, but to save you a Google):
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/epic-dumpster-bear-1-5-dx-dumpster-fire-rebirth-switch/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 RIP E3
07:15 The case for why E3 should be dead
20:53 The knock-on effects of E3's demise
29:08 Oddities about Summer Games Fest
38:17 What newer game showcases can't replicate about E3
49:07 A reluctance to appreciate the medium
1:02:06 Larkrin's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#50 What makes good pacing in a game?

Crub — Fri, 03 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

What makes good or bad pacing in a video game? Is there a reliable "just right" zone or is it just chance when it happens? We gathered 4 people who have never shipped a video game to discuss this.

CHAPTERS
00:00 A well paced podcast
01:40 What is pacing?
08:44 Good versus bad pacing
14:53 God of War 2 (original) was paced very well
21:26 Times when story gets in the way of pacing
30:57 We've gotta talk about Death Stranding
41:54 Does pacing make or break a game?
52:07 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#49 How do we make time for video games?

Crub — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Every day there are at least 90 new games that friends, reviews, and content creators are telling you that you HAVE to buy and play. How on earth are you supposed to juggle the hottest new Video Games alongside making time for said friends, family, work commitments, personal goals, the gym, grocery shopping, and occasionally breathing? We don't have good answers, but we do have some answers.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Here's the CGP Grey video that was mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAhsXyO3Ck

(We had to use the stream audio for this episode due to some tech issues, apologies for the cutouts in speaking.)

CHAPTERS
00:00 There are only 24 hours in a day?? Persona?
04:39 There's just too much media to enjoy
14:12 How ADHD paralysis complicates things even more
27:48 Let's just rawdog reality
36:08 Wanting to do things but then never doing them
43:57 Implementing a triage approach to your time
53:51 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week (from January oops)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#48 Second-Annual 2024 Video Game Mascot Draft

Crub — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the second video game mascot draft! Each of our 4 hosts will pick from a (terrible) list of game mascots to round out their team, in addition to one wild card pick each, to see who has the best shot at winning randomly selected categories. Could Nathan Drake really be a good interior designer? Does Donkey Kong know chess?

SHOW NOTES
Here's the first Crub Draft, if you want homework before this episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXX4KI-jmWE

BAFTA's most iconic video game characters of all time:
https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-most-iconic-character-poll-results

Here is "Steps", for when you hit that point and go "Huh":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steps_(pop_group)

For your ease of reading, here are the characters involved. Minecraft Steve, Duke Nukem, Parappa the Rapper, Solid Snake, Qbert, Samus, Agent 47, Ken Masters, Bowser, Nagito Komaeda, Sephiroth, Gordon Freeman, Nathan Drake, Knuckles, T Shaped Tetris Block, Donkey Kong, Goro (with the four arms), Dig Dug, Krystal, Diana Burnwood, Deadman, Miles Morales, Robin (Fire Emblem)

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 We are ready to blame Justin once again
03:26 Reading the draft picks
07:14 The start of the draft
32:53 The first category: Best interior decorators
40:45 The second category: Team that will win a game of chess
47:11 The third category: Team that could win America Ninja Warrior
53:37 The fourth category: Which team would be the best boy band
1:00:18 The final category: Team that can cure the common cold
1:04:35 Surprise category: Who would win in Hole in the Wall (?)
1:07:40 A tie???
1:11:14 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#47 What makes good side content in a video game?

Crub — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

What makes good side content? Bad side content? What makes the difference between welcome variety and bloat in a game? Should you have to bathe when you're a cowboy? All this and more tackled on today's episode of the Crubcast.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Don't Google "gooning"
01:58 What is "side content"?
05:48 Justin is here to discuss Persona
08:44 How Dave the Diver kickstarted this discussion for us
15:31 Kevin is still unsure how to feel about Rebirth's side content
22:27 Some positives of side content
28:25 How most of Helldivers II's content is side content
39:37 Baths should not exist anymore (Red Dead 2)
52:28 Thank you for listening
54:07 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#46 Games that finally "clicked" for us

Crub — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

There's something magical about the feeling of finally "getting" a game. Not just purchasing it and getting it, but playing it and really GETTING it. To see the praise everyone else has given it, or to pierce the veil and appreciate it in your own unique way. This week we wanted to talk about games that are that for us, as well as Kingdom Hearts.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hello welcome to our podcast it's called the Crubcast
04:30 Nicco's descent into Pokemon TCG madness
13:09 Sean has actually played Kingdom Hearts
19:24 The first mention of Crusader Kings on this podcast
23:30 How Minecraft could help players "get" it more
30:33 Kevin and Kratos and Kloud Strife
48:22 How FromSoft games turned Nicco from a gamer into a Gamer
52:39 How Sean played Persona before Kingdom Hearts
1:06:46 The Fabian Strategy's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#45 What happens AFTER a game's story?

Crub — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

On this week's show we talk about what happens NEXT in stories with cataclysmic events. How do you come back from the Thanos snap? What's the point of living in a zombified world? Is...is Spyro the Dragon a war criminal?

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the topic (spoiler warning)
03:49 What happens next in like, any zombie story?
07:44 And like, what about after "The Snap"?
12:31 Is Brody okay?
17:43 Does insurance cover kaiju attacks? Should it?
25:00 Our recommended time to do crimes
31:21 Lord of the Rings and Banjo Tooie, what comes next for both? They're alike we swear
40:35 We get to mention The Room
45:06 How do things go for historical narratives that slightly alter one important event?
51:50 Is...is Spyro the Dragon a war criminal?
56:41 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#44 The Crub Dating Show Game

Crub — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

We love our good friend Justin. Perhaps a little too much. So, we put on a dating game show with 3 contestants to earn his undying love (or to at least earn a call back). We didn't expect it to go well, but we didn't expect it to go this badly.

SHOW NOTES
We are sorry. Also, this is what an "Exodia Necross" is:
https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Exodia_Necross

CHAPTERS
00:00 Yes, this is a dating game show
02:30 Introducing our contestants
06:37 Our contestant's green flags, acceptable (?) qualities
17:26 Their yellow flags, worse but not worst
28:53 The reddest of red flags
37:11 The jig is up, Martin
39:55 Even worse red flags (real)

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#43 Open world game design versus linear

Crub — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

This week's episode is broadly about linear vs open world game design, but also touches on a lot of other topics along the way (as you'll see in the show notes). Let us know your thoughts on these topics, and on which Sonic characters we each are.

SHOW NOTES
We mention a lot of AAA major games in this episode, but also talk some about Penny's Big Breakaway. Here's a link if you don't know what it is:
https://store.privatedivision.com/game/pennys-big-breakaway

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intros and check-ins
01:06 What is this podcast
01:57 Setting up the topic + FF7 Rebirth impressions
13:28 Discussing the old "dollar per hour of entertainment" talking point
20:44 The problem with Linear vs. Open as a discussion
25:59 How Penny's Big Breakaway comes across weirdly at first
30:40 A different way to look at the main topic
33:36 What really grinds Kevin's gears
42:36 Why major game publishers should be less concerned about audience demands
44:21 It's time to talk about Star Fox 0 more
51:56 MykonosFan's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#42 Games that really didn't need sequels

Crub — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Gaming really loves its sequels. As soon as a game comes out we're often inclined to start imagining what it's successor will be like. In some cases, however, sometimes they should have left well enough alone. This week we discuss some of those instances, and what they did to earn this designation.

SHOW NOTES
This is the article from PCGamer that was the catalyst for this discussion:
https://www.pcgamer.com/rainbow-six-siege-sequel-alex-karpazis/

At some point Chris talks about some changes Apex Legends made to spruce things up for its 5 year anniversary. Turns out most of this was through limited time modes that are gone now. Oops.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hellos and setting up the topic
03:22 How Rainbow Six Siege has stayed great over time
06:57 The tragedy of Destiny over time
13:15 Ditto for Overwatch
20:42 How things are going for Counter-Strike 2
27:34 So why does this keep happening?
35:09 Nationally recognized "Remember Skull & Bones?" moment
42:41 Our personal "sequels that didn't need to exist"
1:04:34 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#41 Guessing games based on Steam reviews (Round 2)

Crub — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Nicco takes the game show host seat this week with Steam reviews in tow. The objective is simple, read the review and the others have to guess the Steam game with no other context. Please play along, you just might win. We promise. (We don't.)

SHOW NOTES
If you want to see another episode like this one, go check out the last time we did this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPy3YV6hZrk

We mention Impossible Creatures near the end of the show, we're going to toss a link to it here because it's ten bucks.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/324680/Impossible_Creatures_Steam_Edition/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Explaining how this works (the answer, barely)
02:31 Mystery Game #1
06:05 Mystery Game #2
10:23 Mystery Game #3
12:45 Mystery Game? #3.5
15:07 Mystery Game #4
22:17 Mystery Game #5
24:33 Mystery Game #6
31:09 Mystery Game #7
37:17 Mystery Game #8
43:05 Mystery Game #9
44:06 Mystery Game #10
45:13 BONUS ROUND
51:04 TheTrueBlue's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

BONUS: Podcastémon Episode #001

Crub — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:44:32 -0500

We're watching EVERY non-filter episode of the main Pokémon anime and talking about it on our new Patreon exclusive podcast, Podcastémon! This first episode is free to give you a taste of the show, and if you want to listen to us immediately lose our sanity doing this you can join our $10 tier at https://www.patreon.com/crub to listen to more episodes. We've had a ton of fun doing this already, and we guarantee you'll have just as much fun joining us.

SHOW NOTES
Here's the filler guide we're using:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRRcvt8VScb_LO-GESJaCxIscFG_sj_0NcNqp_YevIlIp8_yC3HlKMmzRxEoI-B24LDjPpTW9S3PVCY/pubhtml

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#40 How you can build bonds through video games

Crub — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Is it possible to build actual bonds, long-lasting and meaningful friendships and relationships through video games? We think so, and this week we wanted to talk about the opportunities and enriching friendships games have granted us. Also. Is karaoke a video game? Let us know in the comments.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the topic
01:22 Brody is READY for this topic, how he met his Best Man
06:02 Nicco won't tell his parents about us, are we official
10:00 How Moriarty tests people with Portal 2
15:47 Sean's grandparents helped get him into gaming
25:46 That time Nicco made an a capella group through Smash Bros. (real)
33:14 Parasocial bonds
39:27 Nicco maybe got Bungie-employee-catfished on Halo Reach
42:18 Bonds lost from being too much of a Gamer
48:43 TK_Hubworld's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#39 The best video game myths and rumors

Crub — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

For as long as there have been games, there have been terrible and heartbreaking rumors made by their players. Today we wanted to talk about some of our favorites, from unlocking Sonic in Melee, to finding Mew under the truck, and even to Star Fox Zero fans existing.

SHOW NOTES
Here is Kevin's Catherine video that was mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ara0_O5Mfoo

And here's the Croc video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u_J_F41BoE

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:40 Madden's Curse
06:23 Unlocking Sonic in Melee (real)
09:57 How Halo's Skulls *felt* like myths
15:42 We fooled a friend with Bloodborne 2 by accident
25:59 Bringing THAT person back in FF VII
29:49 We found Star Fox Zero defenders IRL
34:52 The story of Kevin's Catherine video
38:46 Don't believe Kevin's lies (also blowies)
43:44 Croc is the king of gaming myths
47:51 We make up a gaming rumor
54:28 It's hard for game myths to sprout these days
1:02:55 The swear jar's revenge
1:04:32 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#38 The DEFINITIVE Fast Food Tournament (feat. AntDude & SomecallmeJohnny)

Crub — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Today on the Crubcast, Kevin hosts a 32-restaurant fast food tournament, debated and voted on by Trav and special guests SomecallmeJohnny and AntDude - with a twist: Every head-to-head in this tourney changes the criteria that our Crubbers are debating, from a randomly-selected list of options created by the rest of Crub. Would McDonald's or Nando's make for a better Dark Souls level? Does Sonic have better fries than Popeye's? And most importantly, we solve the Wawa vs. Sheetz debate once and for all.

Make sure to follow our special guests, SomecallmeJohnny and AntDude, either on YouTube or your social platform of choice!
https://www.youtube.com/@SomecallmeJohnny
https://www.youtube.com/@AntDude92

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

SHOW NOTES
If you're an audio-only listener and would like to visually follow along with the bracket in real-time, here's a fresh copy of the bracket to stare at while you contemplate existence: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1143738077131571230/1204926453729337446/image.png

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

04:31 Round of 32 (Left Side)

35:57 Wawa vs. Sheetz (and Round of 32, Right Side)

01:00:29 Sweet 16: Rapidfire Round

01:11:56 Quarterfinals

01:19:03 Semifinals

01:23:53 Finals & Wrap-up

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#37 Is "bad" really better than "boring"?

Crub — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

It's something we've heard a lot in reviews and critical assessments over the years, that "bad" is better than "boring", but do we agree with that? Or did it just sound good and we took to saying it over time?

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Join our Discord ► https://crub.org/join
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the topic
05:45 Using Shamu to quantify enjoyment ratios
08:18 How boring could be better
12:17 Lost potential with bad games
23:26 Using Days Gone as an example (sorry DG fans)
27:20 How a critic views bad vs. boring versus the audience
33:40 Behind the scenes pressure on the critical lens
39:11 Communicating "bad vs. boring" to different audiences of people

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#36 Which dead genre should Fortnite revive next?

Crub — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

With Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival, Fortnite revived two dead gaming genres at once in an interesting way. Naturally, this made us sit down and wonder what other dead genres would be a good (terrible) fit to put in next.

SHOW NOTES
At 01:48, Chris meant "Company of Heroes 3", not "Command & Conquer 3". He corrected this in post, if it sounded weird to you and you scrolled down to see. Very good ear.

This is the Disney restaurant that Nicco had The Experience at:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/50s-prime-time-cafe/

Here's Nicco's latest album, if you're curious after we mention it:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KFQik0d14s7rr1NhKN7QB

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the topic
03:11 Fortnite should add an endless runner...but with a twist
07:41 "Fortnews"...a news platform
11:33 Just rip off Tomodachi Life. Pleease.
17:40 Give us a Fortnite rail shooter arcade game
22:50 Fortnite, but with a couch co-op mode
29:53 Nicco's disney villain origin story (real)
39:05 Happy birthday Sean, which genres should stay dead
42:39 Let's give "retro revivals" a break already
59:41 TK_Hubworld's Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#35 Why do we collect things?

Crub — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

When it comes to #gamers, a lot of us collect things. It just goes hand in hand, you collect things in games, so naturally you may be compelled to in real life. Whether these be the games themselves, art pieces, stamps, hats, sneakers, Pokemon/Magic cards, or anything. Today we wanted to talk about why we collect things, when does it just become junk, and how our collecting habits have changed over time.

SHOW NOTES
We mention our merch sites at a point, linking here. There's no crub merch yet, but there is MRIXRT, That Trav Guy, and The Golden Bolt merch here:
https://merch.haus/

CHAPTERS
00:00 The things that we collect
07:59 How CDs may work in the future
11:15 Why Justin collects hats
17:53 How Kevin rigged a contest
23:50 How to differentiate between junk and collection
31:26 At what point is a collection finished?
35:25 Losing everything you own
46:36 One more thing we could collect if we could snap our fingers and own it
49:56 "What makes a game successful?" TK_Hubworld's Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#34 Is video game music real music?

Crub — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Effectively a subgenre of the "Are video games art?' question, "Is video game music real music?" has often been a question asked. We'll cut to the chase here like we do in the episode, yes, of course it is. However, there's a lot of interesting discussion around the question that we decided to delve into today. Do you think video game music is real music?

SHOW NOTES
Linking some of the specific music discussed in this episode, in case you want to listen yourself.
Quake - Castles of the Damned
https://youtu.be/90gID2mLPZA

Pictionary NES
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB8C47C3CC46BD805

Halo Theme (Overture) in the style of Doom Eternal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LGSItPwgjA

Wherever We Are Now - "Cassette Beasts" Original Soundtrack
https://youtu.be/bF2LtqVBWe0

Bury the Light - Vergil's battle theme from Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
https://youtu.be/Jrg9KxGNeJY

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days: Xions Theme
https://youtu.be/5moTuo-4MKU

Metal: Hellsinger — This Devastation ft. Matt Heafy of Trivium
https://youtu.be/HidvYgF9-8Q

Super Mario Odyssey - Jump Up, Super Star!
https://youtu.be/e9r5hx47kxM

Tex's Lament by Richie Havens - From The Pandora Directive
https://youtu.be/YSjcFXEZAUk

Metal Gear Solid 4 Soundtrack: Father and Son
https://youtu.be/o9Pu92St5O0

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the topic
04:00 When did video game music become "real" music?
11:29 Struggling to connect with music
18:52 Breath of the Wild and subdued music
24:33 VGM you could fool someone into thinking isn't VGM
34:45 How non-gamers respond to video game music
45:54 How legacy affects musical reception
49:50 Chefkilo's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#33 The hypothetical "worst game sequel" bracket

Crub — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

We challenged ourselves to do a bracket of the worst *hypothetical* game sequels, ones made to be bad on purpose, to figure out which would be the absolute WORST. Prepare for the ups and downs of Jaiden in Assassin's Creed: Chicago, Roller Coaster Tycoon VR, and more.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun

CHAPTERS
00:00: Intro and setting up the topic
03:53 The first bracket
09:41 The second bracket
16:37 The third bracket
25:19 The fourth bracket
31:51 The fifth bracket
38:46 The sixth bracket
42:05 The seventh bracket
49:57 The eighth bracket (end of first round)
55:41 Quarterfinals first bracket (beginning of second round)
1:00:37 Quarterfinals second bracket
1:04:52 Quarterfinals third bracket
1:10:07 Quarterfinals fourth bracket (end of second round)
1:13:23 Semifinals first bracket (beginning of third round)
1:16:50 Semifinals second bracket (end of third round)
1:25:03 The runoffs
1:27:54 THE FINALS
1:40:20 We capsize and go overboard

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#32 Crub's Big Fat Quiz Show of 2023

Crub — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

2023 is in the books, and we celebrate its demise the only way we know how. With a quiz about the year! With our host Nicco, we'll see how Justin, Moriarty, and Chris fare in remembering the biggest events of 2023.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
AUDIO LISTENERS! At 55:05 we get into the 5th round (timestamp unintentional), which focuses on drawings Nicco did from memory. We're sorry. The YouTube version is the best way to check these out in a way that will last long term. If you just need to check quickly, they're at 56:06, 56:34 (two in one), 57:17, and 57:46.

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and setting up the quiz rules
03:19 Beginning of Round 1
07:26 Round 1 Results
14:22 Beginning of Round 2
20:50 Round 2 Results
27:24 Beginning of Round 3
31:41 Round 3 Results
39:29 Beginning of Round 4
47:53 Round 4 Results
55:05 Beginning of Round 5
58:35 Round 5 Final Results
1:05:14 Stefan's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#31 Crub predicts 2024 (scientifically)

Crub — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

2024. A year that will be filled with ups and downs. Fortunately, we are crubvoyant and can see the future. A presidential Fortnite skin, game delays, deaths, rebirths, we're here to tell you what to expect from 2024 so you won't be surprised when everything we say inevitably happens.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:16 Setting up the topic and first prediction
03:27 A sleepy challenger comes to Fortnite
06:48 Under Table Dogs
09:21 Kevin's Switch 2 prediction
16:40 Chris' obvious Skull & Bones prediction
25:42 Sean predicts that Amazon will buy DC Comics
31:38 Our Xbox predictions for 2024
44:25 Sean predicts that the dead will rise
48:48 Our GOTY 2024 Prediction
57:07 zoom's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#30 Games we only loved after giving them an actual chance

Crub — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

It's easy to look at a game and make a snap judgment on it, and it's even easier to do so when everybody is talking about the game constantly. In this episode, we wanted to take a look at some games we finally gave a chance to and were wrong about. In the back half, we get into a good discussion about the ups and downs of developing your critical lens.

SHOW NOTES
We shouted out Young Scrolls again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPxvTd_jCPQ

Here is NewTubers, in case you were wondering what it was after it was mentioned:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NewTubers/

This is the McKamey Manor:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKamey_Manor

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:53 Setting up the topic
03:09 Chris did not comprehend Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs
11:25 How Moriarty actually got really, really into Fortnite
20:31 Amazingly, Nicco has gotten into a Pokemon product
29:48 Sean gives Fire Emblem Three Houses and Undertale a chance
37:31 How our culture makes it feel wrong to like a "bad" thing
43:56 Pros and cons of developing your critical lens
59:48 Lan's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#29 Our favorite comfort media

Crub — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Family Guy. Super Mario Sunshine. Shovel Knight. Fall Out Boy. What do all of these things have in common? Not much. However, they are all comforting things to our crub boys. This week, let them tell you why, while also bringing up crippling debt, sword swings in bars, and insulting Sean for owning a Keyblade.

SHOW NOTES
Here is young scroll's album SHEOGORATH, mentioned around 39 minutes in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPxvTd_jCPQ

And here's Morshu Reads the Entire Bible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTh5J0HsIAg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
03:14 Setting up the topic
04:08 Kevin and Shovel Knight
07:01 Sean throws Family Guy to the wolves
09:40 How Mario Sunshine's vibe works for Trav
13:46 Nicco learned to sing from Fall Out Boy
18:46 Kevin's favorite show is Yakuza/Like a Dragon
23:54 Bloodborne has finally been dethroned for Nicco
27:53 Trav mentions Mario again (he is in shambles)
31:00 Family Guy funny moments and Skyrim
40:52 crub's rapidfire comforts
46:30 Nicco's sword hits walls when he tries to swing
48:40 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#28 Creating (and ruining) our ideal 'Crub Direct'

Crub — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500

This week on the Crubcast we created our ideal 'Crub Direct'...with a catch. Each member brought their dream game, but also a way to ruin the others' game. Then we voted to result in the worst game showcase possible.

SHOW NOTES
This is the Mystic Ruins track from Sonic Advenure, it will explain Justin's screaming at 16:45:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSc0R_K4TVc

Wawa is a regional convenience store/gas station chain that serves a "Sizzli", which is meats, egg, and cheese on a bagel:
https://www.wawa.com/menu/breakfast/sizzlis

Banjo's "Cuck Chair" is lore from our Halloween episode, if you missed it give it a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv51LozZrcM

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:14 Setting up the topic
02:45 Creating (another) bad 3D Sonic game
17:36 Creating (another) 3rd Banjo game
27:47 Ruining Fire Emblem for Justin once and for all
44:04 Destroying the only thing Nicco wants from life, a Bloodeborne sequel
1:06:33 TK_Hubworld's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#27 Our predictions for The Game Awards

Crub — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

With The Game Awards 2023 approaching in just a couple of weeks, we got together to give our picks for the categories in addition to predicting what will win the Keighleys. Let us know what you think will take the win!

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.youtube.com/@CrubOfficial/live every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins (help)
03:31 Setting up the topic
05:49 "Best Game Direction"
18:13 "Best Narrative"
26:07 "Best Art Direction"
32:59 "Best Score & Music"
37:03 "Best Audio Design"
40:53 "Best (Voice) Performance"
46:04 "Innovation & accessibility"
50:19 "Games For Impact"
52:08 "Best Ongoing Game" and "Best Community Support"
55:08 "Best Independent Game" and "Best Debut Indie Game"
57:18 Rapidfire categories
58:30 "Best Action Game"
1:01:18 "Best Action Adventure Game"
1:02:17 "Best RPG"
1:03:42 "Best Fighting Game"
1:05:05 "Best Family Game" and "Best Sim/Strategy Game"
1:08:25 "Best Sports/Racing Game"
1:09:30 "Best Mutliplayer Game (Presented by Discord)"
1:13:43 "Best Adaptation"
1:16:16 eSports Chat
1:19:57 "Most Anticipated Game"
1:22:41 "GAME OF THE YEAR"

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#26 How game series we loved can win us back

Crub — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

This week on the Crubcast we thought we'd talk about game series that lost us along the way, and how they can get us back. Assassin's Creed, Overwatch, Silent Hill, and...Pokemon successfully doing this? Which game or game series do you wish you were still into?

SHOW NOTES
No show notes this week. Go stream Nicco's last album!
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KFQik0d14s7rr1NhKN7QB

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
02:45 Setting up the episode
06:02 Creepypasta #1: The Cat in the Hat Strikes Back
18:49 Creepypasta #2: Jtart9's Folly
26:12 Creepypasta #3: Banjo's Depression
35:43 Creepypasta #4: The Zodiac School (Part 1)
55:07 Creepypasta #5: Family Guy Spooky Moments
1:06:14 The Ending of Creepypasta #4 summarized (it was long)
1:08:23 Bad two sentence horror stories
1:14:33 Creepypasta #6: Dead Bart
1:23:08 Chef Kilo's Patreon Question of the Week
1:25:22 CreepyElliot's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#25 Our Spider-Man 2 (PS5) spoilercast

Crub — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

It's been 3 weeks since the release of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, so we figured enough time had passed to give our spoiler-filled thoughts on the game! Get our thoughts on the mechanical changes, plot beats, and sad pigeons!

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://www.youtube.com/@CrubOfficial/live every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES:
Here is the "History of Carnage" video we mention an hour in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBggA6jfGNc

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#24 Reading creepypastas with CreepyElliot

Crub — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:33:30 -0400

Happy Halloween! To celebrate this chilling holiday, we enlisted Creepyelliot to read some spine-tingling stories with us...and also some about Banjo's depression and a scary Peter Griffin. Because, well, of course.

Find more of Elliot at https://twitter.com/CreepyElliot, and on https://www.youtube.com/user/SGBLikesToPlay

SHOW NOTES
The Cat in the Hat Strikes Back:
https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Cat_in_the_Hat_Strikes_Back

Banjo's Depression:
https://www.deviantart.com/chronokix/art/Banjo-Kazooie-CreepyPasta-Banjo-s-Depression-693948252

NICCO ZODIAC SCHOOL:
https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/170r8us/every_month_my_college_goes_into_lockdown/

"The only Family Guy creepy pasta that has made me lose sleep"
https://www.reddit.com/r/creepypasta/comments/zl3mbk/the_only_family_guy_creepy_pasta_that_has_made_me/

Dead Bart:
https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Dead_Bart

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#23 The first annual crub game mascot draft

Crub — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the first ever inaugural video game mascot draft! Each of our 4 hosts will pick from a (very incredibly good) list of game mascots to round out their team, in addition to one wild card pick each, to see who has the best shot at winning randomly selected categories. No one should pick Byakuya.

SHOW NOTES
Here are the list of characters we used, in case it would help you to read them:
Mario, Sonic, Master Chief, Crash Bandicoot, Pepino Spaghetti, Wario, Croc, Ratchet, Clank, Phoenix Wright, Ryu, Mega Man, Cloud, Klonoa, Kiryu, Goku, Big the Cat, Kirby, Byakuya Togami, and Spyro. Wild card picks were Delsin Rowe, Orphan of Kaz(?), Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite, and Eggman.

I'd link to a Byakuya wiki page so you can also know who he is, but I bet it'd have serious spoilers, so just imagine he's Bakura from Yu-Gi-Oh and you'll be fine for all intents and purposes.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:30 Setting up the draft
04:35 The list of characters that are available
08:52 The picks begin
27:16 Recap of picks and wild cards
36:15 First scenario (who would win the most carnival games)
46:33 Second scenario (team who showered the least)
54:16 Third scenario (which team could build a PC)
58:37 Fourth scenario (which team would run late for work and get away with it)
1:04:10 Fifth scenario (which team would make the best holiday dinner)
1:11:06 Recapping the results
1:17:10 TK_Hubworld's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#22 Deciding the BEST PS2 game (scientifically)

Crub — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Today on the Crubcast our extremely qualified panel of PS2 experts joined together to scientifically determine the BEST PlayStation 2 game. We conducted a vigorously scientific method backed by hours and hours of definitely playing each game, and can definitively answer what the absolute crown gem of the console was.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
03:40 Setting up the rules
04:55 Our entire bracket
08:22 The first round (Silent Hill 2, SSX 3, Jak 1)
18:19 The second round (GTA: San Andreas, Sly 2, Katamari 1)
37:32 The third round (Bully, Burnout 3, MGS3)
48:42 The fourth round (Ratchet 3, Guitar Hero 3, Star Wars Battlefront 2)
1:05:34 The fifth round (Shadow of the Colossus, God of War 2, Crash Twinsanity)
1:14:07 The sixth round (Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy X, Okami)
1:28:11 The semi-final rounds
1:38:14 The final round

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#21 How we peaked in high school

Crub — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

On today's episode of the Crubcast e decided to discuss how we peaked in high school. Bullying, not helping out those in trouble, a deer on school grounds, and the snack economy. We covered it all.

SHOW NOTES
These are Sour Power Sour Strips, in case you're unfamiliar:
https://dorvaltrading.com/products/sour-power/sour-power-count-goods/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
02:31 Setting up the topic
15:05 What kind of person were we in high school?
28:08 The one athelete Nicco could think of in school
30:39 The kind of bullying we endured
47:51 The time a deer visited Chris' high school (real)
50:32 Notable people from our high school
1:07:51 Admission that our attention spans are horrible
1:18:11 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#20 What are the most useless inventions?

Crub — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Throughout time there have been many, many....many inventions. Some are useful and have improved our everyday lives. However, some are seemingly useless. These inventions have done nothing for us. And somewhere in the middle are ones that we don't think have improved our lives, but perhaps have. Today we tackle at least some of them. We're sorry in advance.

SHOW NOTES
This is the truck nut hat. We are sorry:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1147012768617222184/1156380270665138187/download_11.jpg?ex=652f208d&is=651cab8d&hm=fd3d7a10d96f88a7a5c9686c96ff6fc972da2860d90922b92cf6995ebe28a50e&

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:37 Setting up the topic
06:55 Are carpeted floors actually useless?
18:20 Truck nuts.
26:36 Single play toilet paper? Useful? Useless? Help?!
34:45 Chris learns what a supply chain is (he knew)
46:06 Check splitters? USELESS!
51:15 Non-stick pans have no use, and the great Table Debate
1:19:39 TK_Hubworld's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#19 How we play choice-driven games

Crub — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

One of the many things that helps to set video games apart as an entertainment medium is choice. Sometimes it is merely an illusion, and sometimes a crucial decision can sincerely impact a playthrough. In this episode we wanted to delve into choice-driven games, and how we play them.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins (take your preworkouts)
01:31 Setting up the topic
05:09 Questions about MAG (the game)
07:11 How do we play ourselves in RPGs?
15:23 Our morality in RPGs
22:02 Do we enjoy making "meme" characters?
30:41 Why we don't see more games where you're the bad guy
40:55 Until Dawn and Telltale's The Walking Dead
43:49 What games would we put each other into?
59:42 MickJaeger's Patreon Question of the Week

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#18 Things no one warned us would suck

Crub — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week on the Crubcast, Chris just wanted to blow the whistle on his first job. He also wanted to talk about boring things in adulthood that no one warns you will suck, or at the least explains in adequate detail *how* it will suck. Just to warn you, this is a very "old man yells at cloud" episode.

SHOW NOTES
Some reading on that cockpit seat Moriarty mentions:
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/when-u-s-air-force-discovered-the-flaw-of-averages/article_e3231734-e5da-5bf5-9496-a34e52d60bd9.html

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intros and check-ins
05:24 Setting up our topic
06:28 Chris blows the whistle
12:30 Nicco has the opposite problem as Chris
16:57 The military made the perfect seat for no one
19:38 Why Sean left Subway
28:03 Who has time for time management...?
34:07 Why are credit scores required? (Warning, very US-centric)
41:21 Recipe videos are a landmine of wasted dreams and time
45:39 Car repair videos are similarly horrible (usually)
48:41 Parking, speed limits, and realizing that we're maybe old
55:07 Changing the bag in the vaccuum and confirming that we are old
1:01:43 Renting in general sucks
1:07:30 Chef Kilo's Question of the Week

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#17 We created our own cryptid

Crub — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Today on the Crubcast we bring you a tale of a creature from Delaware. One so feared for its outrageous fondness for feet that its made waves through all of the...very mountainous regions of Delaware. Please, kick back, make sure you're safe, and join us on this tale of...The Billyhorse.

SHOW NOTES
Here is a link to our beautiful creature:
https://twitter.com/CrubOfficial/status/1699231843017728323

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-in
01:16 Setting up the topic
05:15 Determining our cryptid's home
08:56 We start talking about feet, sorry, but it makes sense
16:13 Crafting an origin and name for our little freak
28:56 How long has our creature been around? What does it sound like?
35:56 The reveal of the first draft
37:53 Trav begins the second draft
38:48 We begin to tell the canon tale of this cryptid
42:12 We get distracted by how it looks
42:50 The tale resumes
47:58 Its features canonize before our eyes
50:02 Tommy Maxwell's unfortunate involvement
56:32 The creature's sighting in the 1960's
1:01:23 Our creature basically finalizes visually
1:08:26 TheCrazyEven's Patreon Question of the Week

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#16 Guessing games based on Steam reviews

Crub — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Sean brought reviews for a whole bunch of games on Steam to the bois this week, and we had to guess which game they are solely based on a potential hint and the text of the reviews themselves. Who wins? We forgot, please tell us.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:51 Establishing the rules of our game
03:09 Mystery Game #1
07:07 Mystery Game #2
11:44 Mystery Game #3
13:54 Mystery Game #4
20:29 Mystery Game #5
27:13 Mystery Game #6
36:35 Mystery Game #7
39:13 Mystery Game #8
41:28 Mystery Game #9
48:06 Mystery Game #10
56:37 Mystery Game #11
1:00:25 Mystery Game #12
1:03:25 Mystery Game #13
1:08:13 The tiebreaker
1:15:31 TK_Hubworld's Patreon Question of the Week

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#15 Our favorite weapons in video games

Crub — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week on the podcast we wanted to talk about the most satisfying, crunchiest, brutal, or otherwise just plain fun weapons in video games. Nicco talks about a spatula, Trav talks DOOM, Brody mentions Borderlands, and Justin mentions Mario. All is right with the world.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
01:58 Can you confess after being found not guilty? (Yes, really)
05:35 Trav's first favorite video game weapon (it's from DOOM, guess)
09:50 Justin unleashes his F.L.U.D.D.
11:40 Nicco and Shadow Mario
14:59 Nicco's spatu-ler
21:14 Brody's hammer
27:34 Justin and Trav invoke the Ultrakill method
34:24 COD Zombies and its inescapable grasp
46:03 Utrakill and its cannonball
52:40 Borderland 2's saber turret (take a drink)
1:05:39 Don't worry, Bloodborne gets a mention
1:08:06 Justin talks about fighting game weapons
1:14:15 gamesEnlisted's Patreon Question of the Week

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#14 Inventions that changed everything

Crub — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Certain inventions (and even media) come along that change everything. Breath of the Wild, YouTube, the iPhone? Maybe not the iPhone. But when they do they leave a colossal impact that's felt for years. Today we wanted to discuss these things and where we'd be without them.

SHOW NOTES
Here's the history of the Wii U Game Pad, which you didn't need but may be interesting if your curiosity piqued during that talk:
https://www.ign.com/wikis/wii-u/Early_Wii-U_Prototypes

Naoki Yoshida on the advantage of developing for just one console:
https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-producer-naoki-yoshida-wishes-there-was-only-one-console

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and topic introduction
02:15 Breath of the Wild changed open world games
10:55 What was the first "Bring your own fun" video game?
16:03 YouTube and its lack of competitors
22:41 The iPhone? Big? Biggest? Ever? The iPhone? Yeah?
30:10 The Wii was a pivotal moment
34:05 The effect of Spotify on music
39:01 Gated reverb and the Amazon Kindle
50:30 The NES' impact on gaming
1:02:53 Atlus' role in reestablishing the market for Japanese games
1:12:34 Andy_MineP's Patreon Question of the Week

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#13 Times we felt like characters in a sitcom

Crub — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week on the Crubcast we wanted to share our stories of times when we were in the most unfortunate of circumstances, experiences that featured everything but the laugh track. We promise that this episode is a journey, one that makes those bad 2000's comedies seem much less exaggerated.

SHOW NOTES
Don't drink and drive.

Virginia Beach's No Cursing Law. Just worth being aware of for the "Huh" factor.
https://www.virginiabeach.com/article/va-beach-no-cursing-law

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
03:50 The time Sean woke up not knowing how he got there
13:39 Somehow that also happened to Moriarty
16:04 Sean's "Million Dollar Baby" Story
23:34 Trav gets locked in a church bathroom
29:31 Chris kicks authority
30:58 Moriarty shares his Virginia Beach story. It is an epic.
38:21 The beginning of the great towing incident at Virginia Beach
54:44 When things seem like they couldn't get worse...they do.
1:05:30 Outro (we forgot the Patron question, we're sorry)

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#12 How infinite content has killed "water cooler" talk

Crub — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

The practically infinite amount of media today is a good thing. There's always something to do, enjoy, or be baffled by. However, it has also led to an immense diversification of what we spend our time on, making it harder and harder to talk to people in our lives about what we've been enjoying lately. Today we wanted to bemoan that a bit and just talk about the current climate of infinite content.

SHOW NOTES
Statistically someone will not understand that we're joking about the moon landing being faked, so this link is here to show we don't believe that:
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/moon-landing-conspiracy-theories-debunked

Here's the story about Howard Stern and Sanjaya Malakar:
https://www.mtv.com/news/3rs9rl/is-howard-stern-behind-sanjaya-malakars-staying-power-on-idol

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and check-ins
03:54 Establishing that Lance Armstrong is dope
07:38 I'm not an expert, but the main topic begins here
13:20 Misisng Jojo Fridays
18:24 There are so many fandoms all over
34:23 Turns out Squid Game was a show
38:14 Who the heck watches Freevee
48:26 The value in pulpy, tabloid talk
51:42 The nerd version of tabloid talk is Game Company CEO talk
56:03 There is infinite music to listen to
1:12:53 Closing thoughts
1:17:53 Patreon Question of the Week and Outro

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#11 Competition and eSports in gaming

Crub — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Competition in gaming goes all the way back to the hobby's roots. While it's a part of gaming we all acknowledge as being an essential part of it, we don't always bring it to the foreground often enough. So today we wanted to talk about various topics under the umbrella like eSports, leaderboards, achievements, hardware's effect, and even the term "Sweaty" for a second.

SHOW NOTES
Some reading on the Cyberathelete Professional League, where the first million dollars was awarded to the victor in 2005:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberathlete_Professional_League

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and Chester's Check In
01:46 What is "competitive viability"?
14:30 How Overwatch has changed over time
23:37 The efficacy of online leaderboards
31:28 Do Achievements/Trophies encourage competition?
38:08 How has streaming impacted competitive gaming?
42:45 How do we feel about limited-time only items?
51:17 The canonization of "Sweaty" as a term in this space
52:24 Does hardware influence competition in gaming?
01:00:51 How should constant patches be handled in competitive games?
01:10:35 How much of the responsibility is on the publisher?
01:21:26 Patron Question of the Week and Outro

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#10 The Ups and Downs of reboots and adaptations

Crub — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:25:29 -0400

As more time goes on, more reboots, remakes, and adaptations keep coming. Today we wanted to discuss what makes them work, what makes them flop, and if its a trend that should continue or not. Also Kevin confidently states that Rift Apart is DOOM For Kids.

SHOW NOTES
Come watch some of crub take part in The Charity Room's big annual event, "Charity vs Room 2"! We're raising money for RAD this year and would love to see you there! More details at the link:
https://www.thecharityroom.com

Putting an article to explain Pokemon's "Dexit" here in case you wonder what that's about. Mentioned at around 33:45:
https://sea.ign.com/switch/155438/feature/pokemon-sword-and-shield-controversy-and-dexit-explained

Here is our discussion on games preservation that is mentioned at around 43:30:
https://youtu.be/IJHCJFHOemE

An explainer on the Dean Takashi Cuphead thing, if you want further context. Mentioned at around 49:00:
https://venturebeat.com/games/the-deanbeat-our-cuphead-runneth-over/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and catching up
02:12 Setting up the topic
05:34 Kevin on how Ratchet Rift Apart is DOOM for kids
10:04 Attempting to clarify the many definitions of remake
19:01 What's often forgotten about with adaptations
24:45 Ninja Gaiden, X-Men, and Sabrina (a problematic trio)
34:21 Empathizing with those who don't like what a reboot turns something into
45:02 What is the value in doing reboots/adaptations?
53:49 Is rereleasing an original media before its remake good? Or should it be included with the remake?
01:01:19 Maybe it's okay for us to let some things go
01:10:27 Closing thoughts and outro

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#9 Discussing our favorite indie spiritual successors in gaming

Crub — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week on the crubcast, we got together to talk about our favorite indie spiritual successors in gaming. Stardew Valley, Pizza Tower, Spark the Electric Jester 2, ULTRAKILL, and all the ups and downs in-between.
MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Get the show early and get exclusive content at our Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Our TotK Spoilercast:
https://youtu.be/vJsrW8Nfhao

Trav's new Metal Gear video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTSzlLtrtl8

The Plucky Squire:
https://thepluckysquire.com/

Buck Up And Drive!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1714590/Buck_Up_And_Drive/

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1353230/Bomb_Rush_Cyberfunk/

New Jet Set Radio leak:
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/footage-of-jet-set-radio-and-persona-3-remakes-has-seemingly-leaked/

Hover: Revolt of Gamers
https://store.steampowered.com/app/280180/Hover/

Quest Master:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2094070/Quest_Master/

ULTRAKILL:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1229490/ULTRAKILL/

30-Year-Old Boomer meme explanation:
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/30-year-old-boomer

Dusk (from the ULTRAKILL devs):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/519860/DUSK/

Prodeus:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/964800/Prodeus/

Spark the Electric Jester 2:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079210/Spark_the_Electric_Jester_2/

Poglings (Chao Garden-esque game):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2284190/Poglings/

Pizza Tower:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2231450/Pizza_Tower/

ANTONBLAST:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887400/ANTONBLAST/

Hollow Knight:
https://www.hollowknight.com/

Stardew Valley:
https://www.stardewvalley.net/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Catching up with Brody
06:15 Checking in on our Tears of the Kingdom thoughts
15:44 Pros (and cons) of the indie spiritual successor
23:07 Hover: Revolt of Gamers
32:05 Trav explains to Chris why Ultrakill is great (but not applicable)
38:18 How ULTRAKILL appealed to Justin, a genre newcomer
42:42 Spark 2 is not quite a Sonic Adventure successor, but is still really fun
54:30 We give Pizza Tower its due
01:04:22 Brody's love of Hollow Knight despite unfamiliarity with genre
01:11:36 Contrasting Stardew Valley against modern Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon
01:24:53 Trav addresses Mighty No. 9 and Outro

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#8 Making minimme confess to his crimes

Crub — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week, unofficial 9th crub member minimme joins us for a chat! We dig into his approach to YouTube, ask him what non-graphical improvements he wants to see in future games, and make him spill the beans on what modern game has made him upset lately.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/crub
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Aero GPX is the F-Zero-styled game Kevin mentions at around 1:08:12.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2160360/Aero_GPX/

Sinden Lightgun that minimme mentions at around 1:24:01.
https://sindenlightgun.com/

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Nicco: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl56kbl3tb-KiGEHT7MUGUg
Moriarty: https://www.youtube.com/@reallycool

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing minimme (Peter) (8)
04:39 Our guests must pass this test
06:47 How minimme chooses what games to cover
16:05 minimme's interest in skateboarding and film
32:49 Breaking down minimme's process in approaching a video
36:50 What minimme HATES!!!
46:55 What non-graphical improvements do we want from games?
01:29:24 What is minimme's most memorable experience as a YouTuber?
01:32:39 Favorite Fast & Furious movie?

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#7 Why Is The Internet Dying Right Now?

Crub — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

2023 has been a tumultuous year for the 3 main websites we all seem to go to, especially for Twitter and reddit. What's going on? Why is this happening? And what are we doing now that these places are becoming less appealing before our very eyes? Today, we dig in to these very questions. Also, check the link below for our marketable plushie.

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Crubscribe ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial
Podcasts are available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms are available at ► https://crub.org

SHOW NOTES
Nicco's new album "No New Thoughts":
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KFQik0d14s7rr1NhKN7QB

Tom Scott - "YouTube's copyright system isn't broken. The world's is."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jwo5qc78QU

Roundguard on Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wonderbellygames.roundguard&hl=en_US&gl=US

Roundguard on Apple:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundguard/id1672164496

BUY OUR PLUSHIE IF YOU LIKE US:
https://www.crub.org/plushie

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and Indy 5 impressions
03:08 Justin spoiled Indy so there's a cut here
07:48 Nicco spoils Posty
09:19 Twitter is dying as we speak
19:22 The folly of reddit's IPO pursuit
41:17 How did the "redditor" stereotype form?
46:15 The pros and cons of Discord
56:36 In comes Threads
59:33 What we have been doing now that the big websites kinda suck now
01:12:18 Spend more time doing things and less time looking at Twitter

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#6 How Our Entertainment Tastes Have Changed Over Time

Crub — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

We wanted to look back at the last decade and consider how our tastes have changed, and how in some ways the things we used to love back then have gotten worse with time. It's an introspective episode as we do truly believe it's important to self-reflect, self-evaluate, and do our best to change and improve over time. Also, man, Halo Infinite, huh?

SHOW NOTES
Nothing really this week, so go watch Kevin's video on the Wiimote's forgotten save feature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPtl8NNpcD8

CHAPTERS
00:00 How we're feelin
03:19 Fellas, today we're talking about how we've changed
06:00 Going from Halo Reach to Halo Infinite
24:27 How Sean developed a taste for jazz
32:47 Moriarty's taste for the MCU over time, as well as Avatar
49:05 How Moriarty's view on Far Cry 3 diversified with age
01:05:10 Nicco makes this podcast about something other than video games
01:15:11 Growing older and appreciating more "wholesome" things

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#5 We Wish Tabletop Gaming Was Easier

Crub — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Nothing beats sitting down for a good tabletop game. Whether it be board games, TCGs, role playing games, getting together with your friends can be a highlight of a miserable week. Unfortunately, in a post-COVID internet age it isn't as easy to coordinate as we wish it was. Also, we create our own tabletop game and talk about how Nicco painted his bathroom with his digestive fluids.

SHOW NOTES
Klask board game:
https://www.klaskgame.com/

Wavelength board game:
https://www.wavelength.zone/

Pokemon Card HP is OUT OF CONTROL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oj3pdPAeM0

Taco Bell Party Pack Card Game (we are only linking this to prove that it's real):
https://www.tacobelltacoshop.com/products/taco-bell-party-pack-card-game

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro & vibe check
03:05 We talk about tabletop gaming instead of bathrooms
16:01 Trying to enjoy TCGs as an adult
31:43 The Taco Bell Card Game (we go off the rails)
39:21 I want a egg
42:06 Online tabletop gaming
54:05 Beginning of a vomit story, be warned
01:04:27 This skips the vomit story
01:05:55 The upfront cost of TCGs
01:17:58 We realize we forgot about D&D

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#4 The Times That Hype Let Us Down

Crub — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Today's episode is about the ups and downs of being hyped for media. Specifically, when it's let us down when we were really looking forward to something...and when we could smell a stinker a mile away but everyone else was excited for it. From "Because the Internet" to "Ni No Kuni II" all the way to "Game of Thrones", we don't hold back.

SHOW NOTES
Nicco's new record "No New Thoughts":
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KFQik0d14s7rr1NhKN7QB

Sean's brother's band "overtheweather":
https://overtheweatherpa.bandcamp.com/music

MRIXRT's Thief video:
https://youtu.be/uOgBYR9u9Cs

The Golden Bolt's Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoQfmNepT2I

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:32 How "Because the Internet" let Nicco down
10:25 "The End So Far" and left Sean feeling cold
23:33 Why Kevin thinks "Ni No Kuni II" sucks
30:27 Kevin also says "Pokemon Sun" sucks
37:20 2014's "Thief" stole happiness from MRIXRT
44:07 How "Game of Thrones" fumbled the bag
51:42 And also how "The Walking Dead" fumbled the bag
54:56 Sean tried to save his friends from "Fallout 76"
58:54 MRIXRT saw the warning signs for "WATCH_DOGS Legion"
01:05:30 How "Click" fell flat for Nicco. Yes, "Click".
01:08:56 The things we're hyped, yet cautious for
01:27:14 Outro and Nicco's new album

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#3 Games That Remind Us of Summer

Crub — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Congratulations, you've made it to June! Unfortunately, so have we. To cheer ourselves up, Sean asks us which games remind us the most of summertime. Additionally, we also discuss the moment that certain games hooked us, and finally, we share a horrific account of the Chicken Cheese Man. HEH HEH HEH.

SHOW NOTES
Here's Trav Guy in the Burger King crown, proof of the adventure:
https://twitter.com/TheOtherTravGuy/status/1627194794840662017?s=20

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Justin: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldFamousJtart9
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Sean: https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfkaosaun
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro, meeting Sean and Justin
09:59 How Justin met Nicco
20:25 The games that remind us of summer
47:31 When Kevin got hooked on Shovel Knight
56:58 Trav experiencing the first Fallout
01:07:46 The Wii U is remembered for the first time in 2023
01:14:20 The origin of Cheese Chicken Man
01:22:36 Outro and which ice cream we buyin

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#2 What Makes a Video Game Showcase Great?

Crub — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

This week on the Crubcast, Chris and Brody formally introduce themselves and explain how they became members of crub. Also included is the story of when Brody tried THC and committed sins. All of this somehow before we move to our main topic: talking about what makes E3-styled game showcases good...and what makes them not so good. Summer Games Fest, PlayStation Showcases, Nintendo Directs, The Game Awards, you name it!

MORE PLACES TO FIND US
Our Crubcasts are recorded LIVE at https://twitch.tv/crub_official every Tuesday at 7pm Eastern, with EXCLUSIVE Pre- and Post-Shows
Crubscribe on YouTube ► https://bit.ly/Crubcast
Bird App ► https://twitter.com/crubofficial

SHOW NOTES
The Rock promotes Black Adam at Summer Games Fest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8w7nfpswBA

TODAY'S CRUBCAST HOSTS
Brody: https://www.youtube.com/@RACROX
Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@MykonosFan
Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoldenBolt
Trav: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTravGuy

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and MykonosFan's Origin Story (Sad)
06:03 RACROX's Origin Story (Actually sad)
17:02 When Kevin Met Chris
20:38 Brody discovers THC
29:41 Dealing with sponsors on content
35:39 E3 TALK STARTS HERE
48:02 The worst Ubisoft E3 moment, ever
57:00 The Game Awards
01:10:00 The Art of the "One More Thing"
01:17:20 The Crubfunded E3
01:26:40 Brody's "One More Thing" & Outro

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

#1 Welcome to the Crubcast

Crub — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:11:22 -0400

Welcome to the Crubcast's official debut! In this episode Kevin introduces himself, Trav, Moriarty, and Nicco to talk about how we all met. Then we touch on minor things that grind our gears, like Nicco's disdain for the rising cost of chicken nuggies, or our declining interest in purchasing physical video games. Finally, the story is finally told of how Nicco delayed Scott the Woz's bowel movements at a Moe's Southwest Grill. Seriously.

MRIXRT Game Preservation video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_x9wDaUmkU

The Golden Bolt Futurama video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O0FElBdmgI

TMG group photo:
https://twitter.com/MRIXRT/status/1546293086208364545?s=20

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing the Crubcast
30:41 $5 Nuggies
37:58 Our declining desire for physical media
59:54 Unfriending dead relatives on Facebook
01:07:01 Nicco stops Scott the Woz's bowels
01:18:56 Outro

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★