The Two Vague Podcast

Cheyenne joins Ben this week to talk about a word that gets a lot of bad press, but in reality, it is a necessity in most activities involving progress and self-improvement. After conversing about what games they are playing (and discovering Ben’s Hogwarts House), they dive right in to deep end and commence with the festivities. Topics explored: the “Epic Fail” meme, Tom Platz, CrossFit acronyms, the invention of Post-It Notes, John Cleese’s speeches and educational videos, corporate culture, points of failure in engineering, stories about successes and failures in the academic settings, the roguelike and roguelite labels, and looping game mechanics.  Games discussed this week are as follows—Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Infinity Nikki, Hogwarts Legacy, Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, Papers Please, Plate Up, Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades, Kenshi, Deathloop, Disco Elysium, Indigo Prophecy, Super Meat Boy, and Seaman. Finally, Ben and Cheyenne “tie a bow on it” with some words of wisdom and a couple of Spock references—the Star Trek character, not the pediatrician. 
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00:00:20 - A city of roses, serving up smiles, parking lot beatdown, Dragon Age: The Veilguard00:02:35 - Mass Effect opinions, Ben likes the synthesis ending, Liara T’Soni, and Infiniti Nikki00:06:40 - A cozy fashion battling platformer, getting homework at PAX, and impatient much?00:08:48 - Thoughts on Hogwarts Legacy, mediocre story, and Cheyenne guesses Ben’s house00:11:11 - The new Indiana Jones game trailer, the nitty and the gritty, and a previous customer00:13:01 - Ox Ford has a comma, Cheyenne’s failure, person versus thing, and positive views00:15:13 - The Google Ngram Viewer (no exceptions), the EPIC FAIL, and planking nostalgia 00:18:02 - The Tom Platz weightlifting philosophy, muscle building, and success through failure00:20:53 - A tale of 3M’s Post-It Notes, the John Cleese speech, and the Video Arts sales story 00:24:31 - The perception of mistakes in corporate culture, and the measure of an employee 00:28:17 - “In a world…,” Mr. Perfect’s Plex, SPOFs and SPORs, and in failures in academia 00:32:20 - A bell curve, thoughts on grading, the architecture shoe, and teams on instruments00:41:43 - Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop summary, 5 endings (not 4), and “not for all ages” humor 00:47:12 - Ben’s least favorite descriptors, the rogue prefix, no barrels, and looping mechanics00:52:00 - “Leveling” characters, weakness before strength, and broadening your knowledge00:55:52 - Fireworks tampering, the thematics of failure, and “failure is preferred” scenarios 01:03:11 - Excessively difficult games, back to the rocket shop, wrapping up, and Star Trek 
***
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://twovaguepodcast.substack.com/On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
***
References, Links, and Tags
For more information on Infinity Nikki, check out the official website!https://infinitynikki.infoldgames.com/en
For more information about Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, developer Beard Envy Games, and publisher Kasedo Games…https://www.unclechops.com/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1849790/Uncle_Chops_Rocket_Shop/https://www.beardenvy.co.uk/https://www.kasedogames.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #InfinityNikki #KasedoGames #UncleChopsRocketShop #BeardEnvyGames 

Although it would be more thematically appropriate of us to NOT tell you about this week’s episode, we are going to be rebellious and do it anyway—sans mohawk and safety pins.  Andrew joins Ben this week to ruminate over the work punk.  After discussing what they have been up to, debating the importance of a thesis statement (or lack thereof), and sharing their experiences with the game they have both (YES BOTH) been playing, Dungeon Clawler by Stray Fawn Studio, they embark upon a sensory adventure together… in STEREO!  Following the traditional definition festivities, they explore their thoughts and feelings associated with the word.  Finally, Ben talks about Suda51—recognized by many as one of the most “punk rock” game developers out there in addition to being author responsible for a favorite gaming narrative of his.        
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00:00:00 - Andrew’s Crowdfundr ADHD pin promo and the obligatory 2VP theme song
Please contribute to Andrew’s latest Crowdfundr campaign and buy a swanky “Advanced Dungeons Have Dragons” ADHD enamel pin!https://crowdfundr.com/dragonpin?ref=ab_5eGT0FGiaC55eGT0FGiaC5
00:02:03 - Book progress, a 25 percent different demon, veggies, and many presidents ago00:04:37 - Ben breaks kayfabe, the Piper Cafe, the Safehouse, price tags, and trading cards00:06:37 - Verified on Bluesky, Andrew’s 2025 call, allies for decades, and Bash the alarm clock00:09:25 - Thoughts on the thesis, eating children, Substack review handling, and epic poems00:14:24 - The Hunt for Red October, embargo date debate, and Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop00:17:23 - Looking at manuals, divergent vs. diverse, symptoms of life, and rewiring the brain00:21:01 - Autistic trends, a mom’s introduction to Rick and Morty, and a claw machine thesis00:24:22 - Christopher Nolan, Dungeon Clawler impressions, and Andrew describes the game00:27:45 - Ben wants more stuff, Count Clawcula, thumbs up, and speaking of potato snacks00:29:35 - In stereo, lining them up in post, the bouquet, the mouth feel, and a mystery flavor00:31:53 - Aged in wooden tubes, the proof with vinegar, maltodextrin, and the aging problem00:34:44 - Ben’s bourbon belch, she smelled like soup, the comma, and ten points in Scrabble00:37:40 - The derogatory definition, Ben’s Allen Funt impression, and the skipped definition00:40:01 - Punk sticks, anarchy, being adjacent, punk credit, and getting out what you put in00:43:03 - The Bumblebee Tuna theme in Ska, the energy, and questionable stuff in Tucson00:45:00 - Going to the Meet Rack, the condom machine, lubricated regulars, and river rafting00:47:24 - Not inherently political, Andrew’s Portland punk experiences, and The Young Ones 00:50:00 - The Seattle WTO Protests, moving into retail, against the grain, and hybrid formats00:53:44 - Not Punky Brewster, punk as a suffix, Daft Punk origin, and Max Headroom shows00:57:02 - The Video Toaster, actor Matt Frewer, platinums, and Ben sells 100 million albums00:58:40 - Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, not Sudafed, and the games of Suda5101:01:23 - Punk Rock sub-genres, Franz Kafka game gets canceled, and Garcia is a Mexi-CAN01:04:37 - Something that happens, expired donuts, mistook it for a Cybertruck, and food love01:07:30 - So romantic, Michigan, final thoughts, Joe saved the podcast, and formica dragons 
***
Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/partlyrobot.comOn Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobotAnd his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
***
References, Links, and Tags
For more information about Stray Fawn Studio’s game Dungeon Clawler…https://strayfawnstudio.com/https://dungeonclawler.com/
For more information about Uncle Chops Rocket Shop, developer Beard Envy Games, and publisher Kasedo Games…https://www.unclechops.com/https://www.beardenvy.co.uk/https://www.kasedogames.com/
Check out Ben’s review of SlavicPunk: Oldtimer on the Two Vague Podcast Substack…https://substack.com/home/post/p-154373300
Check out Red Square Games and SlavicPunk: Oldtimer on Steam…https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44288282-Red-Square-Games/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1820140/SlavicPunk_Oldtimer/
Check out SUDA51 / Grasshopper Manufacture’s gameshttps://www.grasshopper.co.jp/en/https://www.shadows-of-the-damned-hellaremastered.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #StrayFawnStudio #DungeonClawler #BeardEnvyGames #UncleChopsRocketShop #KasedoGames #GrasshopperManufacture #ShadowsoftheDamnedHellaRemastered #Suda51

Erik from Imaginary Game Studios joins Ben in HIS virtual studio this week to chat about all manner of things—his experiences as a sports writer, his love of literature, his creative process, and of course his philosophy of game design.  After discussing what’s "under construction" in the world of Rogue Climber, what games they have been playing, and their odd experiences in Chicago (which in itself is a thematically appropriate path), they dive in to the topic at hand… the word circuitous!  They follow the conversation through the unique topography of books, movies, games, and cultural references to its destination where Ben asks Erik to share his advice on creating, developing, and prototyping a video game concept.
***
00:00:21 - Many spreadsheets, Ed’s Excel love, freaks at the coffee shop, and a Magic 8-Ball 00:03:39 - Pro bono, what Christian and Erik learned at PAX, and the Roblox generation00:05:50 - Rogue Climber ancillary stuff, the correct direction, about seven, and what is janky?00:08:32 - Eighty or weighty, the Tron level, a cardboard cutout, and Millennial gamers are soft00:10:57 - Erik platinums Black Myth: Wukong, the Cyberpunk 2077 caveat, and a good segue 00:14:00 - Writing the sports news, Ben’s question about quality, and SlavicPunk: Oldtimer00:16:33 - A film noir soundtrack, amazingly crafted world, and the banal hacking mini game 00:18:45 - Dragonage and Blueski, pocket experiences, broken English, and an annoying boss 00:22:55 - Small font, Red Square Games’ next title, bad translations, and finding drug crumbs00:26:45 - Erik’s Chicago story, a dead pigeon, absorbance, and the emcee of the spelling bee00:33:10 - The nature of the creative process, in inches or graphs, and the perils of efficiency   00:35:48 - Two types of fiction, Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, and Gene Wolfe books00:40:22 - John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, “The Hobbit” LP, and a well kept secret about babies00:43:25 - Rock & Rule, Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards, the Washington Bullets, Joust, and Zardoz00:46:16 - A talking point itinerary for next time, and Ben’s favorite commercial fiction authors 00:48:15 - American Psycho, three if you’re keeping score, Bono as Satan, and the message00:50:59 - Swimming up the waterfall, getting it all out of your head, and evaluation at the end00:53:10 - Being creative for yourself, figuring out where to start, and creating the prototype00:58:59 - Catch the vibe, the next word, gorilla arms, crushing heads, and strategic saving01:01:30 - Agreement about NieR: Automata, three times, no connection, and the same river01:03:06 - Erik’s words of wisdom, something unique, planning, and make no assumptions 
***
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
Check out SlavicPunk: Oldtimer on Steam…https://store.steampowered.com/app/1820140/SlavicPunk_Oldtimer/
Follow all of the shenanigans going on at Imaginary Game Studios…On their website: https://www.imaginarygamestudios.com/On their Discord: https://discord.gg/YyDD7ECtdJOn their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@caxtnovaImaginary Game Studios GAMES on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/  <—- WISHLIST ME NOW!!!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2175790/Meticulous/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #ImaginaryGameStudios #CaxtNova #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic

Aron Koh from JOFSOFT joins Ben this week to talk about the development of their latest game Pizza Bandit AND one of his favorite words—rather appropriately, iteration.  They start out talking about Aron’s childhood favorite PC games, how Sierra On-line games inspired him to work in the online gaming industry after he graduated, and his experiences working for the Korean game company Nexon on “games as service” games. Next, Ben and Aron share their thoughts and philosophies about how software is improved through incremental changes.  Finally, Aron expounds upon Pizza Bandit’s development timeline and forthcoming genre blending plans while Ben pitches mission and story ideas.
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00:00:20 - Skewed console game experience, Korean games, and starting a career at Nexon 00:03:30 - Sitting down, breaking windows, opening doors, and “games as service” opinions00:06:40 - Our favorite Nexon games, many of which are still doing strong business in China 00:08:33 - Start somewhere, how games as service companies improve games, and QuizQuiz00:11:07 - Moving to the United States, and Korea’s big three: Nexon, NCSOFT, and Netmarble  00:13:22 - The definition, the waterfall method, three spectrums, and assorted game engines00:19:14 - Don’t talk about Frostbite, no plans for a 16-bit version, and inspired by Outriders 00:23:06 - Rift Sweepers lessons, gameplay iterations, reusing assets, and finding the balance00:28:09 - Antiquated hacking with discs, and balancing Pizza Bandit missions from feedback 00:31:55 - A time traveling bounty hunter, "Cowboy Bebop" adjacent, and plan for more cooking00:34:28 - Keeping the pizza parlor dream alive, pizza purism, and the home of Hawaiian pizza 00:36:34 - Australia’s favorite, sweet potato pizza, yam confusion, and other Kimchi variants00:40:46 - When game development becomes work, prototyping joy, and mundane content 00:43:12 - Frustrations finding balance, making the hard pivot, and the semantics of change00:47:08 - Taking design risks during development, expectations, and hikers not swimming00:50:30 - The financial risk, always in debate, knowing your audience, and using feedback 00:54:43 - The Remnant franchise, Western and Eastern gamer differences, and the Alpha test00:57:16 - Stories from PAX, one chef and three zombie killers, doubling down, and Ben’s idea01:00:16 - Ontario Canada in 1962, it will always be invented, and Hawaiian pizza prevention  
***
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twovaguepodcast.com
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
For more information on JOFSOFT’s freshman release Pizza Bandit… https://www.jofsoft.com/WISHLIST Pizza Bandit on Steam HERE…https://store.steampowered.com/app/2475010/Pizza_Bandit/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #JOFSOFT #PizzaBandit

Andrew joins Ben this week to talk about something which thanks to pop culture is turtle adjacent and thanks to an obscure martial arts publication is also peach adjacent… weird eh?  They catch up on what has been going on in their lives—lots of writing for each! Andrew has been working on his ADHD focused book, and Ben has been playing Edge of Sanity for game review material on Substack. They explore an assortment of topics before moving to video games including the following: the Insane Clown Posse, the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, household appliances, motorcycles, the movie You Only Live Twice, G.I. Joe toys and comics, the Community episode “G.I. Jeff,” The Tick, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja (Hero) Turtles franchise. In closing, Ben and Andrew talk about some of their favorite ninja themed arcade games and the PC games they would play in their youth.
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00:00:21 - The intersection of life stuff and writing stuff, lots of stickers, and a fleet of snails00:03:44 - Andrew’s “Attention Dragons” mini-zine, a new Ko-Fi page, and shuttering Patreon00:06:33 - Taxes, staying out of Etsy jail, a flu fighter, the plural of ninja, and asking a Juggalo 00:09:33 - Learning on a bus, the quintessential alcoholic clown movie, and the 2VP Substack00:12:05 - H.P. Lovecraft, separating art and artist, the Cthulhu-verse, and “The Cats of Ulthar"00:16:18 - Ben’s preliminary thoughts on Edge of Sanity, the madness meter, and Xenophobe  Check out Ben’s full review of Edge of Sanity on Substack!https://substack.com/home/post/p-150996029
Check out Andrew’s reference to the song “Night Boat to Cairo” by Madness! https://youtu.be/lLLL1KxpYMA?si=b5eoHuDOmllJKNeP
00:19:20 - It literally means spy, food processors, motorcycle names, and You Only Live Twice00:22:46 - From blenders to Snake Eyes, comic loopholes, and “PORKCHOP SANDWICHES!!!”00:26:50 - Complicated personalities, the government issue Jeff episode, and the original Joes00:29:12 - A surrounding hedge, straight outta Birnam Wood, ninja parody, and TMNT or TMHT 00:35:41 - Adventures with Chicago weapon vendors, finality of death, and parodying parodies 00:36:57 - Cheap 80s and 90s newsprint, cashing in on trends, arcade remakes, and The Tick00:39:07 - Bitch or ninja, czars in government, subreddits, Ninja Mind Control, and fruit theft  00:42:52 - Memorable ninja arcade games, 28 quarters, Arcade Archives, and Mystic Warriors00:45:32 - Telling stories in shortened arcade experiences, and Andrew briefly checks out00:48:20 - Sinistar’s backstory, board games, and Andrew ponders if he likes “story” games00:50:30 - His name was Richard Garriott, remembering Tabula Rasa, and Ultima with Andrew’s00:53:02 - Games of the college days, Ben remembers Strider, and a Vancouver microbrewery 00:56:00 - Strange beers, brewing, the flavor of the day, juice pouch problems, and apologies00:58:05 - Andrew remembering the Juggalo lore and Ben remembering a Patton Oswalt bit
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Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/partlyrobotAnd his TREE o’ LINKS: http://linktr.ee/partlyrobot
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
***
References, Links, and Tags
Episode 122 Show Notes - https://substack.com/home/post/p-151404155
The Edge of Sanity Linktree page - https://linktr.ee/Edge_Of_SanityVixa Games - https://vixagames.com/Daedalic Entertainment - https://www.daedalic.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersOfThreads #Substack #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #EdgeOfSanity #VixaGames #PositiveVibes

Ben is flying solo again this week. After managing technical and medical difficulties, he’s champing at the bit and excited to talk about his PAX West 2024 Exhibit Hall experiences! But first, Ben has an abbreviated review of Deathbound; for the full review of this game check out our Substack page! Any feedback would be appreciated! Then Ben dives right in and shares his favorite games and booths at the show this year. If any of these games sound interesting to you, please follow the links in the show notes, like, wishlist, subscribe… do ALL the things!
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00:00:20 - Intro, explanation, apology, and CHECK OUT OUR SUBSTACK!
00:02:02 - Ben’s Deathbound thoughts00:04:26 - 3 UPs: amazing music, great graphics for an indy, and the unique combat system00:05:30 - 3 DOWNS: issues with targeting, perspective shift bug, and too few essences at first
You can read Ben’s full Deathbound review “It’s Inspired by… Don’t Call it a Soulslike - A Review of Deathbound on PS5” on Substack here… https://substack.com/home/post/p-149861815
00:08:43 - PAX West 2024 
Day 100:09:05 - Ysbryd Games - https://www.ysbryd.net/00:09:24 - Love Eternal - https://loveeternalgame.com/ 00:10:33 - Everdeep Aurora - https://www.everdeepaurora.com/ 00:11:40 - ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist - http://www.endermagnolia.com/en/ 00:13:39 - Anshar Publishing - https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/AnsharPublishing00:13:48 - Coridden - https://www.coridden.com/00:14:32 - Bytebond - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1952690/Bytebond/00:15:49 - Rugrats: Adventure in Gameland - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2633950/Rugrats_Adventures_in_Gameland/00:16:33 - Railgun Games - https://www.railgungames.com/00:17:01 - Virtual World Centers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BattleTech_Centers 00:17:32 - Red Planet - Training Video  https://youtu.be/DIPMK4L_Qv4?si=ho3Wj0xcJ2rRt9TF00:17:51 - Deathland Drifters - https://www.youtube.com/@railgungamesdev00:18:37 - A Corgi’s Cozy Hike - https://scalisco.com/pages/a-corgis-cozy-hike00:19:09 - Ukiyo Studios - https://www.ukiyostudios.com/00:19:12 - Nine Sols - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1809540/Nine_Sols/00:19:20 - Infinity Bullets - https://infinitybullets.com/00:20:37 - Pacific Drive - https://www.pacificdrivegame.com/00:21:20 - Heartworm - https://heartwormgame.com/00:22:37 - The Mortuary Assistant - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295920/The_Mortuary_Assistant/00:23:12 - Section 13 - https://oceandrive.studio/blackout-protocol/00:24:51 - The Behemoth Games - https://www.thebehemoth.com/00:25:51 - Path of Exile 2 - https://pathofexile2.com/
Day 2 00:27:19 - DORONKO WANKO - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2512840/DORONKO_WANKO/  00:29:09 - Pizza Bandit - https://www.jofsoft.com/ 00:30:00 - Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch - https://www.interabangent.com/00:31:11 - Optillusion - https://www.optillusion.games/00:31:28 - While Waiting - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2449160/While_Waiting/00:31:50 - Pick Me, Pick Me - https://www.pickmepickme.ai/00:33:08 - PLAYISM - https://playism.com/en/00:33:21 - Nitro Express - https://playism.com/en/game/nitro-express/00:33:43 - Homura Hime - https://playism.com/en/game/homura-hime/00:34:09 - Outrider Mako - https://playism.com/en/game/outrider-mako/00:34:26 - Metal Bringer - https://playism.com/en/game/metal-bringer/00:34:45 - HARUKA: Beyond the Stars - https://playism.com/en/game/haruka-beyond-the-stars/00:35:25 - Million Depth - https://playism.com/en/game/millionｰdepth/
Day 300:35:58 - Shroom Siege - https://www.upsidedownbird.com/shroom-siege00:37:07 - Exercise Your Demons - https://www.vyersoft.com/eyd00:38:15 - MythWalker - https://mythwalker.com/00:43:38 - Highway Police Simulator - https://highwaypolicegame.com/00:46:51 - Fish Game - https://www.fish.game/00:48:14 - Kriegsfront Tactics - https://www.togeproductions.com/project/kriegsfront-tactics/00:49:10 - Alterium Shift - https://alteriumshift.com/
Day 400:51:01 - ANTONBLAST - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1887400/ANTONBLAST/00:53:09 - Honeycomb: The World Beyond - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1510440/Honeycomb_The_World_Beyond/00:54:22 - Winter Burrow - https://www.pinecreekgames.com/00:56:27 - Rogue Climber - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/
Other Things00:58:00 - Bateman Labs - https://batemanlabs.com/00:58:28 - Dragon Roast Coffee - https://dragonroast.coffee/00:58:58 - Small Rice Studios’ new game Roast -  https://www.roast-game.com/
00:59:53 - PAX West 2025 Plans  
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Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries email us at twovaguepodcast@gmail.comFor all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
References, Links, and Tags
For more information about Deathbound and the developer Trialforge Studio…https://deathbound-game.comhttp://www.trialforgestudio.com/en/
Check out Small Rice Studios’ YouTube page…https://www.youtube.com/@smallricestudios6703/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic #TateMultimedia #Deathbound #TrialforgeStudio #PAXWest_2024 #PAXWest2024

Prepare yourself for the conversational snips of the previous thirty episodes… a potpourri of what may be our final clip show for a while. Over the last 3 years we’ve obviously refined a few things. Ben is starting to get right into the show when he’s in charge of recording; a side effect of this is that warmups are no longer as much of “a thing” for us anymore. Ben has also worked diligently on reducing the necessary recording time for special guests, so these days we are also cutting far fewer segments due to time. However, we reserve the right to revisit the clip show concept in the future, but they will no longer occur on 30 episode intervals as they have in the past. And now… on to the scraps!
***
00:00:21 - Why?00:01:47 - Ep 92 Logic clip introduction00:02:23 - Unity fee restructuring, SAG striking, Andrew’s support, and supporting indies 00:09:19 - Ep 95 Animate clip introduction 00:10:23 - Martin’s opinions about Unity, showing support by being vocal, and StarVaders00:13:23 - Ben asks Martin about controller support on the Mac and development challenges00:17:07 - The benefits of being a part of the Unity developer community and 3rd party tools00:20:33 - Effective game QA testing, using Discord, and how game engines lock down code 00:25:14 - The pros and cons of making your own game engine, and Starbucks’ in Sweden  00:26:58 - Ep 96 Robot clip introduction00:27:38 - Differences in salts, nobody wants goiters, PRINGLES® slogans, and “Hi Julius!”00:31:38 - Let them breathe, smells like potato water, hearing Idaho, and eating them in stacks00:34:01 - ASMR, salt favored, the most expensive salt, condiment reminder, and library garlic00:38:41 - PRINGLES® freshness dates foreign and domestic, ASMR+, and a bathroom break00:43:51 - Ep 98 Ink clip introduction00:44:19 - Sensory adventure triggers another sensory adventure, and an animatronic callback00:48:06 - Ep 100 Review clip introduction00:48:41 - Drop dead, postmortem, rail sharing, trains falling down, and high altitude littering 00:54:47 - Ep 102 Narative clip introduction00:55:28 - Andrew loves all things Richard Ayoade, his first, and 0118 999 88199 9119 725... 301:00:54 - The “Critical Film Studies” episode of a Community, and it’s just a television show01:03:09 - Ep 103 Rhythm clip introduction01:04:00 - Some tech talk, definitions of art, “but also that elephant…,” and walking on the flag 01:07:48 - Heather Cassils’ performance art, and Star’s experience at Purchase College 01:11:01 - Exploring what you want to learn in community college, and don’t not be happy01:13:24 - Decoy show start, a dress rehearsal for a podcast, and short term memory screens01:16:15 - The WiiU, The Wonderful 101, Veiwtiful Joe, and an extreme button mashing pro tip 01:19:11 - Ep 104 Lukas Eggan Interview clip introduction01:19:50 - Discussing Alan Wake 2, Quantum Break, and a choice for the current generation01:22:23 - Bethesda needs a win, collecting priorities, changing it in post, and LAN Parties01:26:24 - Lukas’ noticeable change in sound quality, our cats, and Ben’s pre-show coffee01:28:10 - Ep 106 April Fools / Turbo Tax Game Review clip introduction01:28:59 - Agendas, sensitivity readings, the moral “high ground,” and conspiracy theories01:32:16 - Splitting hairs of the definition, trying to explain things, and being empathetic 01:35:49 - Ep 107 Trend clip introduction01:36:48 - A documentary about coinage, Norah’s traffic commentary, and interview feedback01:39:32 - Actively being a passenger, Norah reveals Alaska plans, and ambient sounds 01:43:17 - Ep 109 Beat clip introduction01:44:13 - AI responding to AI generated content, where we get our news, and the FTC ruling01:46:41 - Twenty year old cat FRAPs, old politicians, and refusing to work with people  01:50:33 - Printed infographics, teach yourself with the internet, and positive attitudes01:53:58 - Ben starts showcasing his writings on Substack, and closing the show  
***
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Substack: https://substack.com/@twovaguepodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic

This week we have an AMAZING episode for you!  We received another PS5 review code compliments of the fabulously kind PR ninja Robert, but before Ben spills the entire cup of tea on his time KIWIWALKS’ latest remaster of the original WitchSpring game, he recounts his 7 days of experiences in Seattle when he wasn’t busy at PAX West 2024 proper.  After the review, Ben shares his LIVE (at the time) “Podcast in a Bag” interviews from the Arch Building of the Seattle Convention Center.  The first one is with The Behemoth’s co-founder, artist and game designer Dan Paladin; he “sits down” with Ben to talk about his game design inspirations and of course, his favorite word.  Next, JOFSOFT’s Aron Koh, the Executive Producer of the upcoming genre bending game Pizza Bandit, speaks to Ben about the circuitous route they took in their development of the game, as well as the importance of pivoting and iterating when developing for a general gaming audience. 
***
00:00:21 - On this episode… two interviews, a game review, and Ben’s non-PAX Seattle stuff 00:01:41 - In Seattle, corned beef and cabbage, the story turns sour, and a mixed blessing00:05:27 - The What’s Good Games party, Polaroid cameras, and dinner with Christian and Erik00:07:25 - New friends in your 50s, Ben starts a Seattle walk, and selfie museum shenanigans  00:09:49 - Repopulating the planet, the Space Needle, and thanks to Nancy for the photos00:11:03 - A fancy sandwich, more waking, a putting the bow on the trip with delicious Thai00:13:16 - Witch versus evil pope, same story with different perspectives, and Suyoung Jang 00:16:14 - Building at your atelier, managing difficulty, a fat bird, and the experience system00:19:42 - Increasing your other levels with training mini-games and bonus percentages00:22:01 - 3 ups: well balanced, superior audiovisuals, and smart map zoom view and usage 00:23:30 - 3 downs: pet capture tutorial, inconsistent mission arrow, and blacksmith mini game 00:25:59 - Ben recommends playing, wants to see more witch stories, and closes the review00:27:45 - The interviews, a quick disclaimer on the audio quality, crowd noise, and hot mics00:30:23 - The seldom used a cappella Podcast in a Bag theme song!00:30:35 - The co-founder of The Behemoth, Dan Paladin; words = ladle and cheeseborough00:44:42 - The executive producer of JOFSOFT’s “Pizza Bandit,” Aron Koh; 00:51:44 - Aron’s words are pivot and iterate, the difference between the two, and WISHLIST!00:53:13 - Ben shares what is in store for you on future episodes of the Two Vague Podcast
***
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- ...for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
For more information on WitchSpring R from KIWIWALKS…https://witchspringr.com/en/
For more information on The Behemoth’s amazing games…https://www.thebehemoth.com/
For more information on JOFSOFT’s freshman release Pizza Bandit… https://www.jofsoft.com/WISHLIST Pizza Bandit on Steam HERE…https://store.steampowered.com/app/2475010/Pizza_Bandit/ 
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #witchspring #witchspringr #kiwiwalks #DanPaladin #TheBehemoth #AronKoh #JOVSOFT #PizzaBandit
 

In this special pre-PAX West 2024 edition of the Two Vague Podcast… does Ben have a couple of imaginary guests, the titular “Drop Dead Fred” perhaps?  Nope!  He’s got something far more engaging than a Phoebe Cates movie up his sleeve.  Christian and Erik from Imaginary Game Studios join Ben to talk about their experiences in the AAA gaming space and their latest project Rogue Climber!  It’s an episode that is guaranteed to be more exciting and interesting than driving a desert bus from Las Vegas to Tucson, Arizona.
Ben’s interview with Christian 00:00:20 - Introducing Imaginary Game Studios founder and Meticulous game creator Christian00:02:46 - Correction, the game Ben played at the Local H concert was Battle Arena Toshinden 00:04:25 - Finding the fun, exorcising the design demons, mixing inspiration, and rage climbers00:07:52 - The indie game flavor of the month, Steam genre tag problems, and the Cybertruck00:11:55 - Ben’s arcade memories, Christian’s time in Japanese arcades, and a Dreamcast tip00:14:53 - Getting Over it with Bennett Foddy, Penn & Teller’s Desert Bus, and Airplane Mode 00:17:54 - Capsule hotels, themed stuff in Japan, Studio Ghibli stores, and back to Desert Bus00:21:25 - Cozy rage, Christian’s experiences in the AAA space, and speculating on the cause00:24:40 - Cutting Peter Dinklage’s Ghost, and stratification of creatives, leaders, and execs00:27:27 - The Imaginary Game Studios game jam, YouTube content creation, and the news00:28:32 - Favorite word - imagination 
Ben’s interview with Erik00:30:19 - Introducing 2VP to Erik, focus required, a lifeline for Meticulous, and the first to play00:33:07 - Meeting Christian at EA, working at Blizzard on Diablo 3, and a heroine killing spoiler00:36:38 - The perils of stories “under wraps,” crafting meaningful stories, and is it censorship? 00:39:19 - The easiest thing to change, creating a simulacra, incorporating feedback, and DEI00:42:55 - Everyone is NOT a narrative expert, the creative process, and remembering Anthem00:45:08 - Getting to the fun questions, Counter-Strike bunnyhopping, and a Venn diagram00:48:34 - Correction, only review copies of Penn & Teller's Smoke and Mirrors were made00:51:11 - Favorite word -  a tie between scofflaw and bindlestiff 
Erik’s interview with Ben00:52:50 - Where did you come up with the word concept?00:54:44 - Tell me about your dad, what would his favorite word be, and connecting with Norah00:57:54 - Ben gets a little personal about his relationship with his father00:59:42 - What story about your father do you think had the biggest impact on you?01:00:40 - Erik talks about his experiences writing for a Sports Illustrated subsidiary01:02:19 - Andrew and Erik are in the same boat, the 23 year gap, and the booth babe sash
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
Follow all the shenanigans Imaginary Game Studios is up to…On their website: https://www.imaginarygamestudios.com/ On their Discord: https://discord.gg/YyDD7ECtdJ On their YouTube channel - they post all sorts of stuff from gaming news, to gaming podcasts, to game jams, to the occasional cooking video: https://www.youtube.com/@caxtnova
Imaginary Game Studios GAMES on Steam:https://store.steampowered.com/app/2673440/Rogue_Climber/  <—- WISHLIST ME NOW!!!https://store.steampowered.com/app/2175790/Meticulous/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #ImaginaryGameStudios #CaxtNova 

Norah and Ben are excitedly hosting the pod this week.  The topic word is one that most people associate with childhood, but the benefits for adults are well documented by psychologists.  Ben talks about what he is playing (Wife Quest and Stellar Blade) and Norah talks about the weather before they get in to the meat and potatoes of the discussion and start playing with their fictitious food.  Why are adults reluctant to use the word play in their day to day lives?  Are hobbies a form of play?  What was the origin of the Sony PlayStation?  Our hosts explore these questions and more!     
 
00:00:21 - Fan thanks, OnlyFans, Tucson weather, the monsoons, and Norah’s hall of records
00:04:15 - Playing baseball, fat bottom games, the nature of addiction, and not Wife Swap
00:06:45 - Norah hates reality… television, Ben explains Wife Quest, and the ABBA connection
00:09:47 - Ben recommends for a dose of nostalgia, chibi-ish style, and on to Stellar Blade
00:13:16 - The “back in my day” card, DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and why robot women?
00:17:06 - Ben likes strange stories, finding your girlfriend in a dumpster, and just Flemming
00:19:29 - Reading all the verbs and nouns, Norah’s “hot take,” and mostly recreational 
00:23:55 - The origin, leaping for joy, usage in print, and other phrases containing play
00:25:46 - Plays-on-words, Ben doesn’t like golf, and burning tangerine segments at the stake 
00:30:03 - Imagination, mailing snails, one class short, masters of play, building with LEGOs
00:34:27 - The stigma of playing, Ben challenges, throwing arrows and TikToks, and humor
00:37:26 - Creativity throughout life, playing funky music, and Richard Melville Hall scores
00:40:40 - The story of Play-Doh, coal residue, scent libraries, and the Doctor Drill N Fill toy
00:44:10 - A Hasbro patent, used by Homer Simpson, and the Psychology Today definition
00:47:25 - Two ways of doing puzzles and having fun, maths, and the benefits for adults
00:50:12 - After a quick pee break, a connection to Nintendo, and some CES shenanigans 
00:53:31 - Developing hardware out spite, a PlayStation at a concert, and Local H’s big song
00:57:08 - You can do that outside, final thoughts, and an association to creating and learning
 
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com 
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
-AND- 
…for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!
https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
 
References, Links, and Tags
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic 

Andrew joins Ben this week to talk about a particular piece of punctuation that isn’t a dinkus!  People have strong opinions about when and where the ellipsis should and shouldn’t be used, so our hosts decided to investigate… for SCIENCE!  Along the way they discovered a number of new words to share (including dinkus)!  Fortunately there won’t be a vocabulary quiz at the end of the show, but there will be an exploration of the use of the ellipsis in the text and dialog of comics, manga, and video games.  Finally, they close the show with a couple of odd questions from Ben and some of their soon to be famous tangential discussion nonsense.
00:00:21 - Unrefrigerated, getting a Whirlpool, Kevin Meaney, and no refrigerator magnets?!00:02:56 - Ben throws some crazy, cabinet positions, still a general, and getting over… again00:04:53 - Birthday time travel, trust the process, meeting on Threads, and Judy Blume books00:08:04 - Best social media wingman, and “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai…” references00:10:00 - Ben wants to compare arcade attendant notes with streamer AdventurerJessica 00:11:47 - Visual migraines, multifactorial, “the matchy color fun game,” and accomplishment00:14:16 - Breaking up chapters, text message teaser, a very wordy hybrid, and linguistics00:16:45 - Greek origins, graphs, two dollar words in 1800s, and the MLA format for writing00:20:00 - Andrew thinks it’s judgmental, prescriptive versus descriptive grammar, and ain’t 00:22:31 - Interesting trends in language development, dialect coaches, and Ohio is derpy 00:24:51 - Generation Alpha’s meme inspired phrases, Florida man, and ellipsis use in texting 00:28:03 - Unspoken anger, punctuation usage confusion, the Mongolian ellipsis, and math00:30:52 - Folding, nobody else cares, picking up styles, and guides for technical writing00:35:10 - Vocabulary words of the episode: aposiopesis, cæsura, and “elision or deletion”00:37:40 - Andrew goes off on Shakespeare, the days of Solid Snake, and fancy Breakout 00:39:46 - “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” conversations, and Zero Wing’s bad translations00:42:07 - Pac-Man eating punctuation, more frequent in Japanese media, and pauses00:44:12 - Widening the gap, interpreting the worst, and problems deciphering body language00:48:29 - Andrew hopes he’s getting paid, the movie rights, and Ben Mezrich’s strategy00:50:32 - Who would play you in a movie about your life, and does the face include ears? 00:52:34 - Tenet, Andrew’s nemesis, Inception, and Ben threatens to buy Andrew a BluRay   00:54:10 - Final thoughts, to confuse and annoy, that’s it, and a hero named “The Ellipsis” 
Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
Threads/IG Shout Outs for Liz, Kaja, and Jessica… (please be on the podcast)!
https://instagram.com/liz_lapoint AND check out her GenXcellent Substack!https://instagram.com/booksbyblackleyhttps://instagram.com/adventurerjessica 
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #PartlyRobot #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic

Lukas Eggen from gameonmedia.net is back in the virtual studio with Ben to do a proper show on a subject that he, as a seasoned journalist, is incredibly qualified to talk about.  Before getting into “the news,” they talk about a few articles that Lukas has been working on for his new publication "Game On!"  Then they discuss how the journalism landscape has changed with the advent of digital media and what games they have been playing recently.  Following the definition, Ben and Lukas move on to their thoughts on the pitfalls of news delivery, maintaining journalistic integrity, the potential impact of AI in journalism, and navigating “tough” interviews.  Finally, Ben closes the show with his obligatory goofiness and some puppet centric trivia. 
00:00:20 - Hot Las Vegas, being thankful for AC, gameonmedia.net, and podcast coaching00:03:56 - Modules, Jennifer Hale, SkillsHub, the joys of podcasting, and Ben says…00:06:40 - Breaking news, Lukas’ focuses on journalism, and from Evo to AI in gaming00:09:17 - Old school reporting, how news stories have changed, and digital versus printed00:12:51 - What Lukas has been playing: Animal Crossing, Child of Light, and Marvel Snap00:14:46 - Ben has been playing Wife Quest since TEVI, and he is pleasantly surprised00:17:15 - miHoYo’s “Zenless Zone Zero,” “pay to win” popularity, and live service games   00:20:17 - The vision of kids today, wives snapping necks, and the definition and origin00:23:54 - Editorial, perspective, integrity, things presented as news, and bias game news00:27:06 - Content creators, “us older people,” the evolution of cable news, and complicity 00:29:57 - IGN buyouts, where the silicon grows, AI in journalism, and the Gannett connection00:34:30 - Connecting with authors, investing in AI development, and what AI can’t do00:37:35 - Expressions, connecting coincidentally, and the potential for analyzing big data00:40:05 - Nudity for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the optics of interviewing Phil Spencer 00:43:36 - Esports World Cup controversy, asking the tough questions, and getting denied 00:46:51 - Everyone has a price, the word association question, and supporting journalists 00:49:50 - Ben brings the goofy, The Great Space Coaster trivia, and no Gary Gnu news00:52:01 - Balancing the tone, and Billy Basso draws inspiration from “Indy Game: The Movie”00:55:23 - Lukas thanks his supporters, there is a me, and closing the show with an invitation 00:57:57 - Open to Threads sponsorship, meeting cool people, and Andrew’s TeePublic promo
For all things Lukas Eggen check out…https://www.gameonmedia.net/ -AND-https://linktr.ee/LukasEggen
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
SkillsHub for Actorshttps://acting.skillshub.life/
Wife Quest by Pippin Gameshttps://www.pippingames.com/wife-quest
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #LukasEggen #GameOnMedia #GameOn #SkillsHubforActors #SkillsHub #JenniferHale #PippinGames #WifeQuest

This week, Ben is joined by long time fan and “aunt of the pod” Norah for a game review episode.  After a BIG thank you to a PR ninja and some miscellaneous chatter about the origin of the “bunny girl” archetype, Ben dives right in to his assessment of the platform / bullet hell shooter mashup, TEVI!  Stay tuned after the show for the latest 2VP tee shirt advertisement, brought to you by Partly Robot Industries.
00:00:21 - Traffic on the 1’s and 7’s, a year of Norah, Alaska, and a smoked salmon monsoon00:02:41 - Ben’s PAX West 2024 plans, Bust-A-Move, and giving thanks to Robert… a PR Ninja00:05:21 - PSN certification delays, Norah’s thoughts on aesthetics, and video game romances 00:09:26 - Norah is like the squirrel, and developing relationships with fictional characters 00:14:03 - Cutscene spectacles, being desensitized by the media, and a bunny wants to fit in00:17:50 - “Metroidvania” / “bullet hell” mashup, Rabi-Ribi’s story, and the Playboy connection00:20:19 - Try to be unbiased, reading for the articles, and from the perspective of a Boomer00:23:04 - The mistreatment of people, power dynamics, and articles by well known authors00:26:25 - Back to the bunny, Norah learns a new word, and looking for hidden objects00:28:53 - The would of Az, an interesting use for a belt, and angel and demon shot mechanics00:31:28 - The anime segments of TEVI, Ben cancels his scoring math, and Norah buying PS500:33:06 - Ben starts his 3 ups with a platform genera comparison and ends with cool graphics00:35:38 - Starting with a mini-down, too many sigils, missing the sweet spot, and a big map00:39:40 - Norah asks about skipping things, Ben’s playing strategy, and linear storylines00:43:01 - Generational perceptions of game length, and DO check out TEVI for a nostalgic trip00:46:23 - Another PR ninja shoutout, what Norah is wearing, and Andrew’s TeePublic ad
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
-AND- ...for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
TEVI Review*** A big thank you to Robert Lashley… PR Ninja from Team Critical Hit for the review key! ***Developed by CreSpirit, GemaYue, Ein LeePublished by CreSpirit, Neverland Entertainment for PC versionAnd PM Studios Inc. for the PS5 and Switch version
3 UPs - TEVI is a masterfully crafted platform game with a significant number of exploration opportunities and gameplay depth.- Tevi and supporting characters are highly customizable through the use of sigils to match your style of play.- TEVI looks, sounds, and plays like a “best in class” retro 4th (16-bit) or 5th (32-bit) generation console platform game.
3 DOWNs- The voice acting is not in English; however, there are English subtitles.- The pool of sigils which grows throughout the game (up to a grand total of 250 possible) and their varying point values can make it very time consuming when creating your customized character build.  - The map of Az’s explorable areas was too far too vast and confusing to figure out where you wanted to go with ease.  This goes for the story as well.  At times I was disoriented or lost within each.   
DO BUY and PLAY if… You love retro style platform games; this game has lots of gameplay depth for a low cost!  
References, Links, and Tags
For more information on CreSpirit’s latest game “TEVI” (now available on : Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S)…https://www.tevi.games/en
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #TEVI #CreSpirit #PMStudiosInc 

Andrew joins Ben for 2VP’s “leather” anniversary and a chat about things AND stuff!  Andrew has been writing, playing with baby CJ, and preparing for a stand-up comedy show.  Ben has been playing games, but instead of following the typical show segment order, he decides to call an audible.  They take the scenic route on their way to talking about the games “Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key” from developer Gust and “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” from developer Shift Up.  Topics discussed include: amateur stand-up comedy writing, the origin of the name of the show, the baby schema theory, Funko collectables, the manga of Osamu Tezuka, and an AI generated art deep dive / debate.  
00:00:21 - Mango’s cute vocals, 3 years of vague, Andrew’s retirement, and LtHTT the musical00:03:07 - Time traveling, GMT or UTC, timezones in India, and Gandhi’s fake quote about hate 00:07:02 - Andrew’s joke writing process, spoken word Bohemian Rhapsody, and bring it back00:09:34 - Star Trek actor rap battle, Ben’s laniard check silliness, and developing improv skills00:13:14 - Tig Notaro’s piano bit, the extra sauce, adaptive humor, and Ben’s show flipflop   00:16:13 - The definition of that word, vague activities degrees, and staying in the vagus nerve 00:19:53 - Zippy the Pinhead, Chuck Norris’ second coming, and the ethologist Konrad Lorenz00:24:00 - Chibi style and cuteness, Astro Boy, Princess Knight, and the vague duality of Kevin  00:28:19 - Ben’s next time at Texas Roadhouse, Andrew’s old hustle, and mentioning merch 00:33:22 - Soda ingredients, the Father’s Day edition of “The Buzz,” and advertising budgets 00:36:25 - Andrew’s description and a AI generated composition, and the giant swan Kaiju 00:40:07 - The changing job landscape for commercial artists and detecting AI generated art  00:43:42 - Give Clippy some work, carbon footprints, being human, and Ben really means food00:47:14 - Humans learning art, shots fired, Ben likes a Smashmouth song, and photography 00:49:57 - The joys of day jobs, anti-AI scrubbing tactics, resume hacks, and the number three00:55:01 - Ben’s choice, a game about doing chores, and petting all the animals in the JRPG00:58:13 - Changing the percentage, a strange choice of robot design, and broken arms 
Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…His website: https://partlyrobot.com/On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobotOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobotOn Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
-AND- …for all of your PRI and 2VP merch check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
References, Links, and Tags
Time travel to Andrew’s comedy set at the Helium Comedy Club https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23IW96eVf0Y
The official Atelier Ryza 3 sitehttps://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/ryza3/
For all of your exposed “side-boob” needs, the official “Goddess of Victory: Nikke” sitehttps://nikke-en.com/
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #Gamer #KoeiTecmoAmerica #AtelierRyza3 #ShiftUp #GoddessOfVictoryNIKKE

Cheyenne joins Ben in the studio this week for an episode a year in the making!  They start off talking about a big move that Cheyenne is making this year and what games they are playing.  Cheyenne has been playing a couple of Larian Studios game and romancing mostly vampires.  Ben has finished Pacific Drive and is trying to figure out what he’s going to play next.  The hosts discuss the definition, share their results from a wikiHow “What is your aesthetic” quiz, and talk about how the definition has changed in recent decades.  They also take a peek at the Aesthetics Wiki and talk about recent TikTok shenanigans before moving on to discussing their favorite video game aesthetics.  Before closing the show, they ponder and explore what censorship in today’s gaming environment looks like.
 
00:00:20 - And Ben will, moving to Portland, explaining the podcast in a bag, and Ben’s “mo”00:02:08 - The Rand McNally store, Cheyenne’s “Eras Tour,” and 1200 hours invested in BG300:05:05 - Experiencing simulated bears for science, having legs, and Pacific Drive is done00:10:28 - Romancing things in games, not enough tabletop taglines, and on to the definition00:14:35 - How generation Z uses the word, the quiz, Y2K and Cottagecore, and the suffix00:19:08 - Normcore, Dark Academia and E-kids, transcending image, and what is Ben’s vibe 00:22:47 - It’s giving Beigecore, investigating the Wiki, and pronouncing Sega Uranus properly 00:28:00 - Traditional aesthetics, beauty is subjective, the inspiration of an image, and TikTok00:32:15 - Filters, the kind of talker, Dada expression, and ByteDance divestiture speculation00:37:31 - Asking intelligent questions, Congressional Dadcore, and wearing appropriate attire 00:42:04 - The first and last time, in Cheyenne-ese, a black and white realm, and Vanillaware 00:46:51 - Style documents, thoughts on censorship and graphics, and Shift Up’s Stellar Blade 00:52:21 - Changing demographics of players, identifying with characters, and connections 00:55:14 - Reflective morons making a difference, voices being acknowledged, and toxicity 00:58:31 - Just a misunderstanding, Cheyenne’s vampire hill, and moving towards inclusivity01:00:35 - Not engaging, opinions about “barrelmancy,” and a Dadcore time out is needed01:04:54 - Closing thoughts, the importance of aesthetics in games, and we’re ALL Beigecore! 
 
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: https://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For ALL of your Partly Robot Industries and 2VP merchandise NEEDS, check out the Partly Robot Industries store at TEEPUBLIC!https://www.teepublic.com/user/partly-robot-industries
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
References, Links, and Tags
The Aesthetics Wiki https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Aesthetics_Wiki
#Podbean #DIYPodcast #ApplePodcast #VideoGames #Trivia #Comedy #Talkshow #2VP #TwoVaguePodcast #PodernFamily #InterviewShow #GamersofThreads #GamerThreads #Portland #AestheticsWiki #PartlyRobotIndustries #TeePublic