The Two Vague Podcast

Ben and Norah are on deck for the first show of 2024!  Ben does something a little different to start out this year… a game review!  The game is… <drumroll>… Outerloop Games’ sophomore release “Thirsty Suitors,” and in an effort to quench, Ben has a big bucket of opinions he’s going to dump on us.  He starts by explaining his assessment method (which will be discussed in more detail on a forthcoming show) and then gets in the weeds with sharing his critique of TS’s aesthetics, game mechanics, and story.  Ben also provides 3 examples of what the game does well and 3 examples of what needs improvement.  Norah unintentionally closes the show with a SICK BURN!
00:00:21 - Norah compliments Andrew, buys new things, and reviews "The Maestro" in brief00:02:37 - Thirsty, UK slang, based on context, Annapurna, and Outerloop’s mission statement 00:05:07 - Falcon Age summary, Thirsty Suitors described, and Norah’s impressions of trailer00:07:51 - Jala’s introduction / summary / prologue, and Ben explains his review structure  
FORMULAAesthetics (A) + Game Mechanics (GM) + Story and Narrative (SN) = a video game experienceBen’s importance percentages = 20% A + 35% GM + 45% SN
Aesthetics (A) 00:10:32 - Ben’s audio / video / aesthetics score is 10/10, and Norah’s assessment from trailer
Game Mechanics (GM) 00:12:21 - First, Thirsty Suitor’s skateboarding game mechanics 00:13:16 - Second, a description of QTEs and how cooking works in Thirsty Suitors00:17:29 - Third, a detailed breakdown of how turn based battles work in Thirsty Suitors 
Story and Narrative (SN)00:23:32 - Finally, the story and narrative in Ben’s words followed by Norah’s questions 
Three Positives00:27:24 - For the first 6 hours of gameplay the synthesis of the game mechanics, the striking visuals, and the compelling story combine to make a near perfect gaming experience.00:27:59 - The game has well written dialogue, powerful emotional moments, and contains authentic portrayals of LGBTQ+ and S. Asian experiences.  00:28:22 - The amazing aesthetics and style are a tribute to the love and effort the developers poured into this game.
Three Negatives00:28:35 - Feels unfinished in a number of ways. There are only 5 super moves and only 2 of the 5 are exes. The level meter maxes out at 31 but it continues to appear like it is filling after each subsequent battle has concluded.  There is a beautiful, but unnecessary map screen which gives one the impression that there would be much more to explore. 00:30:23 - The story has an “identity crisis” at the midpoint of the game and doesn’t commit to develop any of the storylines as significantly as the first 6 hours did.  Additionally some story details don’t make sense logically or are counter to what you would expect that characters would have learned. 00:34:25 - South Asian cultural and historical exploration is not comprehensive as expected from Outerloop based on the statement at their website.  Side note: please include the recipes next time.
Wrap-up Discussion00:35:59 - When A’s turn (based on a true story), design creep, skateboarding, and Aggretsuko00:40:03 - In retrospect not a great look, conflict resolution, Jala’s arc, and Rob in High Fidelity00:43:13 - Meaningful stories, sales techniques, T.S. Eliot quote, and agreeing to a point 00:48:30 - Ben nitpicks the title and tagline, succinct, and Norah’s unintentional “sick burn”00:51:04 - An apology, on a tear, global warming, mayonnaise, and an official close.   
Ben’s FINAL VERDICT on Thirsty Suitors aka the MATH!(10 * .20) + (6 * .35) + (6 * .45) = 6.8 out of 10… things.
DO BUY… if you want to support marginalized voices in game design (and companies like Outerloop and Annapurna).DO PLAY… if you are new to JRPG style games and want an introduction to how those types of game mechanics work.DO PLAY… if you would be satisfied with 5-6 hours (out the 12 hours it took Ben to thoroughly explore and complete the game) of super solid, amazingly crafted gameplay. 
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcastFor show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
References and Hashtags:https://annapurnainteractive.com/en - #annapurnainteractive https://outerloopgames.com/ - #outerloopgameshttps://www.thirstysuitors.com/ - #thirstysuitorshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1617220/Thirsty_Suitors/https://www.falconage.com/ - #falconagehttps://www.polygon.com/23940890/thirsty-suitors-release-date-interview-annapurna - #gamedevinterview #polygon #diversity 

Andrew is in his studio this week… joining Ben via satellite to talk about what is arguably his favorite artistic medium.  But first, some encouraging news about Andrew narrowly avoiding the robot / AI takeover, and how his new daughter is keeping him positively occupied during a period of union drama.  Then Ben shares his experiences with what he has been playing lately: Thirsty Suitors by OuterLoop Games, and Dead Island 2 by Dambuster Studios.  Be warned… there are a few DI2 spoilers in the conversation, so if you want to play this game at some point, you might want to consider skipping to 00:17:00.  Andrew takes yet another sensory adventure trip to Japan before the hosts dive into a discussion about the word ink.  Additional subjects include: independent comics, participating in Inktober, the pros and cons of AI generated art, the origin of Andrew’s recurring character Booger Bear, and the seldom seen Mortal Kombat arcade clone from Data East… Tattoo Assassins! 
 
00:00:21 - Sometimes Pringles, sometimes Y, not partially, buying domains, and radicalization 00:03:20 - Picketers borrowing babies, the temperament of custodians, and Skynet is at bay00:05:13 - Ben started playing Thirsty Suitors, High Fidelity, and correction … 5 not 5000:09:35 - Los Angeles is not an island, escape from development hell, and zombie cults00:12:26 - Ben critiques Dead Island 2, zombie types, CHiP bursters, and an artist ruins horses00:17:00 - Killing another can of Japanese Pringles for Andrew’s Sensory Adventure!00:22:26 - A message to the hot honey flavor designer, and a unique airport Pringles side quest00:25:53 - Mollusk adjacent words, Admiral Ackbar gets scared, and Andrew discovers comics00:28:34 - DC and Marvel comic book story differences, and utilizing existing infrastructures00:31:41 - Art classes, not the shoes, the ink aesthetic, using art software, and a first Inktober00:36:19 - AI art, outside observer perspectives, the purpose of your art, and deeper meaning00:41:56 - The definition, the government buys highlighters, and Ben’s memories of drafting00:45:27 - Tattoo designs, the power of creating art, words as structure, and a choir of angles 00:48:03 - The origin of Booger Bear, Andrew’s 1st political cartoon, and from a different angel00:50:39 - Jake Parker, no NaNoWriMo for Andrew, Inktober controversies, and staying current   00:55:01 - Whamageddon, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Googling sports things, and “real”00:57:06 - Ben’s hometown arcade "The Machine," and the dumpster fire of a test game 00:59:11 - Bob Gale, didn’t make it out of COVID, MAME nostalgia, and not on VHS footage01:02:53 - Over 2000 finishers… “eat ship and die” and the DeLorean were 100% Bob Gale01:04:50 - The roster, the backstories, abandoned by the Army, and back to finishing moves01:09:04 - Farting flamethrower, the Night Trap documentary, and the Hot Honey equivalent01:11:40 - A cut above, Andrew doesn’t have tattoos, help from Harryhausen, and bad tattoos01:13:56 - Just do Inktober, maybe wait until you are 30, and the calamari episode  
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: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
References and Hashtags:https://www.thirstysuitors.com/ - #thirstysuitors https://outerloopgames.com/ - #outerloop #outerloopgameshttps://deadisland.com/ - #DI2https://www.dsdambuster.com/https://www.theonion.com/cia-realizes-its-been-using-black-highlighters-all-thes-1819568147 - #theonionhttps://inktober.com/ - #inktober
#diypodcasting, #applepodcast, #podbean, #podernfamily, #videogames, #diversity, #lgbtqplus, #twovaguepodcast, #comedy #pringles #pringles_japan

Andrew joins Ben to discuss a word that is the sliver of overlap in the Venn diagram of the previous two episodes: animate and robot.  Ben brings up a (very) minor controversy for Geoff Keighley’s “The Game Awards” independent game nominees this year involving Mint Rocket’s “Dave the Diver.”  Andrew goes on an exotic adventure with a Pringles flavor all the way from Japan!  After a very quick definition segment, Andrew shares a traumatic event from his youth involving an animatronic alien at Universal Studios, and then more 70s and 80s movies are discussed.  Ben drops a quick Hall of Presidents conspiracy theory and some sad Chuck E. Cheese news before he talks about the interesting origin story of Scott Cawthorn’s incredibly popular “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise.  Finally, they come up with an amazing new restaurant idea to close out the show.
 
00:00:21 - Vacuuming robot revolution crisis possibly averted, pictures with Santa, and work00:03:35 - Fight Club villain discovery, mental health, and more happy controversial things 00:05:27 - “Dave the Diver” Independent GOTY nomination, and the inventor of the seed drill00:08:34 - No GOTY love for “RoboCop: Rogue City,” and Ben is just a little disappointed00:10:15 - How to classify games a independently developed, and a Double Fine edge case00:12:10 - Andrew’s sensory adventure… Addictive Garlic Butter flavored Japanese Pringles!00:16:45 - The official verdict, the definition, Disney’s contributions, Billy Bass, and clockwork 00:22:32 - Scary animatronics, the Neil Diamond antidote, and Andrew’s E.T. ride trauma 00:27:00 - Eliot the insurance policy, Stranger Things, and extraterrestrials for the woke agenda 00:29:36 - Blue Thunder, the underrated acting prowess of Roy Scheider, and a JAFO hat00:31:42 - Bruce the pneumatic shark, cool to creepy, and wanting to take Teddy Ruxpin apart 00:34:29 - At an appropriate distance, David S. Pumpkins, and SNL’s the Merryville Brothers
00:36:53 - 45 in the Hall of Presidents… gate - https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-animatronic-conspiracy-theory-explained-disney-world-2023-6
00:38:04 - Not realistic enough, points of articulation, computer animation, and young versions00:41:55 - Chuck E. Cheese’s decision is not FNaF related (allegedly), and Willy’s Wonderland  00:46:20 - Scott Cawthorn’s inspiration for Five Nights at Freddy’s, and his game design arc00:53:01 - Latest FNaF game was at PAX West, the pandemic was hard, and a story summary
00:56:27 - CORRECTION: Night Trap filming was originally funded by Hasbro for their Control-Vision system which was canceled in 1989.
00:57:27 - Having animatronic clowns in the workplace is breaking the Geneva Conventions00:59:38 - The movie S1m0ne, the SAG strike, a brilliant restaurant idea, and a double dose. 
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: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#Pringles#GOTY2023#TheGameAwards#DIYPodcast#podernfamily#podbeanpodcast#applepodcast#twovaguepodcast#partlyrobot#videogames#trivia#FNAF

Ben is joined by Andrew (insert mechanical transformation sound) to form this week’s hosting duo!  What’s new with them?  Ben’s still playing “Dave the Diver,” but is having trouble getting through the grind.  Andrew is adjusting to a “new baby schedule,” and working toward the completion of his second novel set in the “Larry-verse.”  After the obligatory definition proceedings, Andrew shares the origin of his Partly Robot moniker.  Then they dive in to a conversational exploration of memorable robots in assorted forms of media.  Andrew talks about watching the movie “Robot and Frank,” and then Ben excitedly talks about his experiences with “RoboCop: Rogue City.”  Within the mishmash of it all, they also have a teachable moment… don’t smoke at the gas station or else you’ll end up like Emil.
00:00:21 - Andrew is a “yo” guy, Andrew’s adventures in parenting, and Ed Asner babies00:03:25 - Too much stuff in “Dave the Diver,” and a rapper wearing a Chicago Balls jersey00:05:55 - The Premises Premise, “Larry-verse” sharks, and the lamest form of time travel00:09:03 - Writing chapters out of order, robot ninja monkeys, and contract or barter00:11:45 - Domo arigato, Styx’s 11th studio album, and Kilroy was imprisoned by Dr. Righteous 00:15:20 - According to “Kilroy was Here” cannon, not cool Oxford, and web crawler memories00:17:42 - Following Nietzsche for the mustache, the Czech word for forced labor, and R.U.R.00:20:05 - We love Ricky Junior, hazardous bar stools, and being oblivious to the robot revolt  00:22:58 - Andrew’s alter ego, being partly robot, empathy, R2D2, and robotic stereotypes 00:25:42 - Scary robots, more problematic acting choices, eating data, and a deep question00:29:15 - The land of Cartesianism, AI hallucinations, and observing human development00:33:44 - Isaac Asimov’s 3 laws of robotics, logical problems, and “Detroit: Become Human”00:36:54 - Discovering the universe without senses, and “Foundation” series connections00:39:48 - Algorithms, psychohistory, not Arthur C Clarke, and the Hugos and the Nebulas   00:42:19 - The butt kissing robot, seeing the train wreck, and emotional robots in literature00:45:50 - A pop culture pet peeve, Gopher was a member of Congress, and Forbidden Planet00:50:58 - Futura in Metropolis, upper management, and a summary of “Robot and Frank”00:52:00 - Ben is excited to talk about RoboCop and playing Teyon’s “RoboCop: Rogue City”00:55:55 - The acting of Peter Weller in the movie, and an explanation of “texture popping” 01:00:05 - Emil M. Antonowsky’s lesson, Paul Verhoeven’s backstory, and crime evidence01:03:45 - Concluding the robot trip… WALL-E, 2-XL, Conky, R.O.B., and give robots a chance 
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: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#videogames, #robocop, #robocoproguecity, #teyon, #podernfamily, #diypodcast, #podbean, #applepodcasts, #trivia, #autism, #partlyrobot #twovaguepodcast 

Martin from Soupmasters, the lead designer of Big Boy Boxing joins Ben this week to talk about game development as it relates to this week’s word!  First the hosts talk about what they are up to.  Martin is moving offices, coding facial expressions, and not playing recently purchased games (but maybe next week).  Ben… he is trying to contain his excitement about his recent pre-order for a game inspired by a Paul Verhoeven cult movie classic!  Then it’s on to the definition and coincidentally learning two Swedish words in the process.  Next, Ben has lots of questions for Martin about his cartoon, movie, and video game inspirations.  Finally, they engage in a side conversation about their favorite Christopher Nolan movie Tenet, and leave a mystery unsolved… for now.   
00:00:30 - Introducing Martin, moving, and the importance of desk tchotchkes and large TVs00:02:55 - Adding more character expressions, Super Mario Wonder, and SpiderMan 200:05:02 - Ben’s favorite Red Dead Redemption bug, and thoughts on RoboCop: Rogue City 00:08:15 - The better RoboCop, throwing away scripts, and Martin is nostalgic about Nintendo00:10:11 - Franchise exclusives, more of a PC guy, the joys of Minecraft, and meeting Ludvig 00:13:37 - Developing characters, story, and levels using the iconic “Punch-Out!!” formula00:16:28 - Getting in to the word, thank you Google-machine, and Swedish pronunciations 00:18:40 - The characters of Big Boy Boxing, technical feats on the NES, and animation fluidity00:20:20 - About the BBB animating process, and working with talented professional artists00:22:01 - Kineographs, “Captain Underpants” by Dav Pilkey, and bonding over “Hot Fuzz”  00:24:55 - A pun, Cuphead, Pizza Tower, Skullgirls, Indivisible, and Them’s Fightin’ Herds 00:28:11 - Being juggled, “Super Smash Bros.” annoyances, and characters over balancing00:29:40 - Inspiration from Disney, “Treasure Island” the Russian 1988 film, and modern shows00:32:15 - Rick and Morty Season 1, Episode 7 and the numerous Zardoz references therein 00:34:45 - Martin enjoys the “Death Note” animation style, and favorite animated movies00:37:55 - Nelvana Enterprises’ decision to work on “Rock & Rule” instead of “Heavy Metal”00:42:28 - The works of Don Bluth, Lucas Arts games of the 90s, and Tim Schafer’s games00:44:48 - Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2 development and respective publishing dramas 00:46:21 - “Inception” connections to the Psychonauts games, and the amazing movie Tenet00:49:45 - Ben’s bittersweet memories, and the importance of connecting with the protagonist00:53:45 - Closing but saving the Minecraft inspired company name origin for the next time   
Keep up to date on the progress of Big Boy Boxing development at the Soupmasters website https://soupmasters.com/ !  Be sure to add Big Boy Boxing to your Steam wishlist… and while your at it, download and play the demo!  https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680780/Big_Boy_Boxing/
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#PAX2023, #soupmasters, #bigboyboxing, #twovaguepodcast, #DIYpodcasting, #podbean, #podernfamily, #videogames

Ben is joined this week by Star★Vaders developer Eddie for their chosen, dare we say, philosophical word!  Ben gets right down to business asking Eddie questions about the recent kerfuffle surrounding the game engine Unity.  After dispensing with that subject, the hosts move on to nature.  Ben talks about an argument (which to a scientist, is actually a question), and Eddie shares some of the their favorite outdoor activities.  On the subject of games, the hosts discuss Geometric Interactive’s “Cocoon,” Teyon’s “RoboCop: Rogue City,” Maxis’ “Spore,” Niantic Inc.’s “Monster Hunter Now,” Mojang Studios’ “Minecraft” (hold the suspicious stew), Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” and Larian Studios’ “Baldur’s Gate 3.”
 
00:00:20 - Introducing Eddie, the lead game designer for Star★Vaders! 00:01:35 - A window into game development cycles, and Ben shares his software experiences00:04:39 - Using “paper prototypes” in game development and modeling in Tabletop Simulator 00:07:45 - Ben has a loaded question, and Eddie explains the pros of using Unity00:10:10 - The proposed Unity fee changes from an independent developer’s perspective00:12:25 - An abundance of install counting loopholes points to a lack of understanding!00:14:35 - Developer Innersloth’s install counting concerns, and Unity being “out of touch”00:16:17 - Shady behavior with the “Terms of Service,” DIY installation counting, and changes00:21:49 - Ben’s story about changing a perception; can Unity build back the trust of devs?00:23:04 - A developer poking fun at the Unity situation with “Install Fee Tycoon”00:24:29 - Finally moving on, the axolotl, and the duality and philosophical nature of… nature00:27:37 - The Nature of the Canadian, generational identities, and according to “Ox Ford” 00:29:58 - Québécois French, don’t forget the ducks, and connections in day to day life00:32:41 - Nature vs nurture, more of a question for Eddie the scientist, and being nuanced 00:35:33 - A true escape for Eddie, communing with nature, and growing orchids in AZ00:37:30 - An introduction to dragon boating, bubble tea, and investigating other biomes00:41:03 - The awesome canyon, birds are basically dinosaurs, and Eddie describes “Cocoon” 00:44:24 - How Eddie likes his stories, the “no instructions” trend, and indie games research00:46:53 - The movie RoboCop, practical (horror) effects in films, and “The Thing” prequel00:49:41 - “Spore,” too many cooks, the AAA studio octopus analogy, and scope creep 00:52:07 - Games as art… a designer’s perspective, and stories we tell through art00:55:00 - Ben has been hunting and harvesting carcasses in “Monster Hunter Now”00:57:47 - Minecraft from Mojang Studios DOES hold the record for number of units sold. 00:59:41 - No PvP in Star★Vaders, and a closing question about realistic game ecosystems
 
Keep up to date on the progress of Star★Vaders development at https://star-vaders.com/ !Be sure to add it to your Steam wishlist… and while your at it, download and play the demo!  https://store.steampowered.com/app/2097570/StarVaders/
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

Andrew joins Ben this week for a spork-tacular show (in cover art only); and here is your Halloween surprise… a no candy, prank-less, normally dressed, scare-free episode… that is the PREMISE!  After voicing his focused excitement about a forthcoming child and how it has impacted his short term view of his job, Andrew tries Hot Honey flavored Pringles.  Ben talks about the many games he has been playing as of late, but also drops a few hints about the Pringles roadmap he has devised for Andrew.  Then the hosts move on to the word at hand. Ben has lots of questions about Andrew’s comedy writing process before the conversation shifts to ridiculous video game premises, followed by Ben's gameplay experiences with Squanch Games’ “High on Life.”  Other tangential digressions visited include: “Kung Fury,” favorite Canadian comedy troupe “Kids in the Hall” skits, 80s and 90s contemporary authors, the creative process, “Rick and Morty” drama,  Nicolas Cage movies, and much more!  Oh yes… and Happy Birthday to our biggest fan NORAH!
 
00:00:21 - Heavy on the trivia, heavy on the video games, and a sprinkle of Pringles dust.00:01:28 - No more vacated bowling alley Targets in Portland, too art deco, and ready to bowl00:04:26 - Baby excitement, appropriate levels of detachment, and paternity leave priorities  00:06:49 - Find a baby, paid leave irony, making it difficult for the employer, and labor unions00:09:18 - More robust and fleshed out, salmon country, and the Oregonian food handlers card  00:13:35 - “Baywatch Nights,” “Monster Hunter Now,” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart”00:15:12 - It’s oaky to pay for DLC if Idris Elba stars in it, and Pringles Hot Honey high jinks00:21:12 - Andrew has one at home, an underwhelming experience, and a Madonna lyrics00:22:55 - The definition(s), Andrew gets too vague, and an unintentional syllogism callback 00:24:49 - An assortment of ethically sourced (?) definitions, regime, regimen, and not… THAT00:28:02 - David Hasselhoff vehicles, a “Kung Fury” love fest, and describing the premise00:32:13 - Rotating your owl, bad premises, if you will, and going down to Premise Beach!00:34:32 - Lorne Michaels impressions, guy has meat hand, and favorite KITH sketches 00:39:46 - Eating tacos made out of coelacanth, and Andrew’s process for writing his novel00:42:17 - Authors developing emotional connections or relationships with their characters00:45:06 - Trends in 80s contemporary fiction, and Andrew’s Michael Crichton movie theory 00:50:26 - “Stranger Than Fiction,” down the Nicholas Coppola rabbit hole, and all roads lead00:54:20 -  Ridiculous game premises according to Cracked: Mario, Megaman, and Tetris 00:56:31 -  Ben’s opinions about a “thoroughly mediocre” game called “High on Life” 00:59:58 - Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, too much lowbrow humor, and alien bodily fluids01:02:48 - Looking back on being in middle-school; where does teen humor originate from? 01:04:59 - No knife DLC for Ben, final words, and a book title for Andrew’s eventual legal thriller  
 
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: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcastOn X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

This week Ben and Andrew are channeling their inner Vulcans and to a lesser extent androids.  Andrew kicks the show off with a sensory adventure... "French Fries and Ketchup" flavored Pringles!  After the (kids) definition of the word logic, they move on to their very different first thoughts.  For Andrew it’s Star Trek, and for Ben it’s a joke Norm Macdonald told on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1996.  Andrew lists a few of his favorite logical fallacies before Ben talks a little bit about boolean (not bullion) logic.  Most games include some sort of logic, but the hosts brainstorm a bit and come up with some examples of their favorite types.  Finally, Ben has a few movie recommendations for Andrew, and Andrew has some parting advice about cults.  Also… do not taunt Happy Fun Ball!
00:00:20 - Andrew played something literally ridiculous, and the king of shark movies, Jaws00:03:20 - Waffles, Ben talks about playing Dave the Diver, and the understatement of the year00:06:42 - ANDREW’S SENSORY ADVENTURE… ASMR… not yet sponsored by #Pringles00:12:27 - The verdict… how it stacks up (pun intended) to other flavors, and the catsup saver00:16:15 - Spock’s Wikipedia, “kids definition,” adult etymology, the 12th century, and words00:19:36 - Human nature, foreshadowing fallacies, Paramount Star Trek shows, and Spock00:22:27 - Pon farr, “to mate or to kill,” the Eugenics Wars, and a glittering generalization 00:27:27 - Data, the Star Trek tie-in that should have been, and medium for a long long time.00:30:02 - A generalization loophole, and Norm Macdonald’s “Professor of Logic” joke 00:34:21 - Denying the antecedent, joke construction, and the illusion of logic in language00:37:19 - Political discourse, slippery slopes, guns, nudity, and using logical fallacies 00:40:17 - The ad hominem fallacy, insults, the bandwagon appeal, and no true Scotsmen  00:43:06 - The ones that sound the funniest, and Ben misses Andrew’s obvious sarcasm 00:45:00 - Lessons Andrew learned about logical fallacies from teaching persuasive essays 00:47:29 - Goalpost moving, picking cherries, gamblers, booleans, and the Autism Quotient00:52:53 - Moving on to video games… chess, turn based strategy, puzzle, and story games00:55:16 - The card game Flux, the mysterious kinetic sand, and do not taunt Happy Fun Ball00:58:55 - Tower defense, Animal Well, the Barbie movie, and Andrew’s long standing feud01:02:22 - Billy’s inspiration for getting in to game design and “Indie Game: the Movie”01:06:00 - Artistic expressions using logic, itchy shirt tags, and “Logical Fallacy Theatre!”01:08:49 - Analysis paralysis, don’t join a cult, Ben talks briefly about “Cult of the Lamb”01:10:24 - Closing the show with a crisp-centric soundbite from Ben and a little goofiness
Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…
His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
On X-Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoVaguePodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

Get your snacks and buckle up for a “beefy” program this week; it’s time for another show composed of cutting room floor trimmings!  Don’t let that keep you away; it’s all great conversational content featuring previous cohosts: Amaya, Andrew, Ben, Cheyenne, Madison, Melody, and Norah.  We start with Andrew’s Sensory Adventures (not yet sponsored by Pringles), and then dive into the deep end… of CLIPS!  The diverse selection of topics include: Pringles tasting, chess incidents, the “cheekmate” device, commercials, dietary plans, old television shows, parking cars, a silly themed graph, snacks, utilitarian loops, underwater vehicles, parenthood, movies, Ben’s new waifu, and many others. 
 
00:00:21 - A brief introduction to 2VP clip shows and then… WE’RE OFF!
 
00:00:51 - Clip #1 - Cut from the “Episode 89 - Ben at PAX West Day 2” opening monologue 
00:02:00 - Ben and Andrew’s Philly Cheesesteak Pringles recurring bit nonsense
 
00:06:24 - Clip #2 - Warmup conversation from “Episode 65 - Intelligence” 
00:08:58 - A very dramatic, “chess-centric” stories conversation with Ben and Cheyenne  
 
00:17:36 - Clips #3 and #4 - From “Episode 67 - Economy,” a warmup and a topic diversion 
00:18:22 - Meal kit VPN idea, “Confess, Fletch,” Tom Hamm, police shows, and Andy Sipowicz
 
00:24:54 - Clip #5 - From a conversation with Melody after recording “Episode 71 - Fit”
00:25:24 - Ben’s supplemental box of ice cream sandwiches weight loss program
 
00:28:01 - Clip #6 - A bit from “Episode 76 - Heal” that was cut for… excessive goofiness 
00:28:53 - Amaya’s parking mishap and Ben’s age vs. number of points in a 3 point turn graph 
 
00:30:27 - Clips #7 and #8 - “Episode 77 - Rating” warmup banter and a section cut for time
00:31:12 - Cookies are fruits, the dog’s bollocks, spices, sneaking in, and moose lodges 
 
00:39:18 - Clip # 9 - Madison, Ben, and Norah’s "Episode 80 - Childhood” pre-show chat
00:40:25 - Birthday twins, by the numbers, healing growth, the youngest, and skateboards 
 
00:53:26 - Clips #10 and #11 - Some recording adjustments from “Episode 81 - Loop”
00:54:04 - Mucous, Beer Nuts, recorded burps, Mango security, hair fasteners, tables, and age 
 
01:00:33 - Clip #12 - “Episode 82 - Airplane!” content that was removed due timing of release 
01:01:14 - Gamers save the day, submersibles, James Cameron movies, and tendril aesthetics  
 
01:10:54 - Clip #13 - A conversational warmup from “Episode 84 - Italy (part 1)”
01:11:13 - Sound baffle, Katherine doesn’t, geriatric pregnancies, a good one, and “the talk”
 
01:16:36 - Clip #14 - Ben and Madison before sitting down to record  “Episode 86 - Gratitude”
01:17:07 - SF6’s Marisa… designing jewelry, beating down fools, and having multiple partners 
 
01:22:10 - Clip #15 - The “Episode 87 - Control,” a pre-show recording
01:22:38 - Andrew laugh track from the “Slotherhouse” trailer, and some “Knee High Mischief” 
 
01:27:33 - Upcoming words, and closing the third clip show succinctly but unceremoniously 
 
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com 
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
 
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

PAX West 2023 part 3 of 3... it is the bow on the present, the cherry on top of the sundae, the other bookend, the roof on the… I digress.  On day 3 Ben met Azusa, Creason, Eddie (Axolotl), Ludvig, Martin, and Bartosz.   Games he played and other video game related items he saw include: “TrinityS,” “Sky the Scraper,” “Never Awake,” “Extremely Powerful Capybaras,” “StarVaders,” “Big Boy Boxing,” “The Gap,” and the Playdate handheld.   Ben’s stream of consciousness associations include: the 1980 arcade game “Crazy Climber,” the largest living rodent, the axolotl, Boxing Day, the largest US clothing retailer, and a trip to the first Starbucks.  Ben wraps up the show by discussing his plans for the next PAX he attends. 
00:00:20 - PAX 2023 Day 3, the “Podcast in a Bag” theme song, and another minimal breakfast00:01:30 - Playing the Indie-us Games’ “TrinityS” with Phoenixx Inc. Promotions VP Azusa - https://en.indie-us-games.co.jp/trinitys 00:03:59 - Playing the Toydium developed game designed by Ryo Kobuchi, “Sky the Scraper” with Phoenixx Inc. Promotions VP Azusa - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2387430/SKY_THE_SCRAPER/00:06:51 - Playing the Neotro Inc.’s “NeverAwake” with Phoenixx Inc. Promotions VP Azusa - https://neverawake.neotro.jp/00:10:17 - Ben’s memories of the arcade game Crazy Climber00:11:35 - Playing the Studio Bravarda developed “Extremely Powerful Capybaras” with PM Studios Marketing and Production Coordinator Creason - https://studiobravarda.com/extremely-powerful-capybaras-en00:14:35 - Background audio guest appearance by Mango 00:15:25 - Capybara facts00:16:46 - Playing “StarVaders” with StarVaders Studio game designer Axolotl (aka Eddie) - https://star-vaders.com/00:22:11 - A critically endangered amphibian… the axolotl00:23:56 - Talking to Soupmasters game developer Martin about “Big Boy Boxing” - https://soupmasters.com/00:28:49 - Just a little bit of trivia about Boxing Day00:29:31 - Playing the Label This developed game “The Gap” with Crunching Koalas Marketing Chieftain Bartosz - https://thegapgame.com/ 00:32:34 - Why they should change the name of the game and all about Gap Inc.00:33:19 - Playing the somewhat notorious (hipster-ish) handheld console “Playdate” and learning about their SDK00:36:41 - Cuphead cosplay, dumpling dinner, and stopping by (arguably) the first Starbucks!00:40:15 - A “postmortem,” lessons learned, and my plans for the next PAX I attend 
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance requests and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#PAXWest2023 #PAX2023 #PhoenixxInc #TrinityS #SkytheScraper #NeverAwake #PMStudios #StudioBravada #StarVaders #BigBoyBoxing #Soupmasters #JoystickVentures #LableThis #TheGapGame #CrunchingKoalas

This week… no time for pleasantries (Kyle)… Ben gets right into it!  On day two he met Hollie, Johnson, Daniel, Cory, Sawyer, Andrew, Natalie, Chris G., Chris R., and Chris S…. all of whom he hopes will consider being a guest on 2VP in the future.  Games he played, demos he experienced, and other video game related items he saw include: “PixelJunk Eden 2,” “PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe,” “A Corgi’s Cozy Hike,” the VArmchair, “Castle Doombad,” the Pokémon card game, the VR game “Journey to Foundation,” “Animal Well,” and “Roman Sands RE:Build!”  Ben’s stream of consciousness associations include: the word pixel, Ikea’s  Poäng chair, and D.B. Weiss’ novel “Lucky Wander Boy.”
00:00:20 - the “Podcast in a Bag” Seattle theme00:00:45 - PAX 2023 Day 2 starts with a boring breakfast00:01:35 - Playing Q-Games Ltd.’s “PixelJunk Eden 2” with Hollie https://www.q-games.com/en/pixeljunk-eden-2-en/00:05:41 - Playing Q-Games Ltd.’s “PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe” show attendees - https://www.q-games.com/en/pixeljunk-scrappers-deluxe/00:08:20 - The mysterious origin of the word pixel00:09:30 - Playing and discussing the inspiration behind Scalisco Games’ “A Corgi's Cozy Hike” with Johnson and Daniel - https://scalisco.com/pages/a-corgis-cozy-hike00:12:51 - Talking to furniture designer, carpenter, and gamer Cory about the VArmchair - https://batemanlabs.com/00:16:24 - Ben’s favorite chair for podcasting and Poäng trivia00:17:48 - Playing Grumpyface Studios’ “Castle Doombad” with Creative Director Chris - https://www.castledoombad.com/00:22:12 - My failed attempt to learn how to play the Pokémon card game.00:24:21 - Playing Archiact’s new VR game “Journey to Foundation” with PR specialist Chris - https://www.journeytofoundation.com/00:30:51 - Talking to solo game developer Billy about his first game “Animal Well” - https://www.animalwell.net/00:35:35 - Playing Serenity Forge’s “Roman Sands RE:Build!” with QA Specialist Chris - https://serenityforge.com/games/roman-sands-re-build 00:39:45 - D.B. Weiss’ “Lucky Wander Boy” and an uneventful yet enjoyable dinner00:42:27 - Almost 3 burgers and a slice of key lime pie to close the show.
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance requests and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#PAXWest2023 #PAX2023 #QGames #PixelJunk #Salisco #Grumpyface #GrumpyfaceStudios #Archiact #SharedMemory #AnimalWell #VArmchair #BatemanLabs #SerenityForge
To help Johnson and Daniel reach their Kickstarter goal go here!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scalisco/a-corgis-cozy-hike

Ben is back from Seattle and incredibly excited to talk about it!  On day one he met Becky, Ty, David, Haylee, Rob, and Brandon… all of whom he hope will consider being a guest on 2VP in the future.  Games he played or saw demos of include: “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown,” “Wild Country,” “Cuisineer,” “Sail Forth,” “World of Horror,” and “Demonschool.” Of course it wouldn’t be Two Vague without diversions.  Ben talks about his college PC, cooking in games, the origin of yacht rock, Junji Ito, and Mortal Kombat’s friendliest finishers.
00:00:20 - Intro and a brief history of the Penny Arcade Expo also known as PAX00:04:16 - Going to PAX West 2023 my plans and expectations as a content creator00:06:09 - Inspiration from travelogues, MS Excel love, and the next 3 episodes
00:07:43 - The slightly altered “Podcast in a Bag” theme… Seattle edition   
00:07:55 - A sustainably sourced breakfast at Homegrown - https://eathomegrown.com/00:08:32 - Playing UbiSoft’s “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” demo - https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/prince-of-persia/the-lost-crown00:11:35 - The original Prince of Persia games and memories of my 486DX00:12:46 - The “Wild Country” demo with Becky from Lost Native - https://www.lostnative.co/wild-country00:16:31 - Playing BattleBrew Production’s “Cuisineer” - https://www.cuisineerthegame.com/00:18:58 - Remembering episode 63 on the word cook and the game BattleChef Brigade  00:20:35 - Playing Quantum Astrophysics Guild’s “Sail Forth” with publisher Ty and game designer David - https://www.qag.io/sail-forth.html00:25:33 - The “yacht rock” interlude with Christopher Cross’ hit song Sailing (NOT literally)00:26:32 - Playing “World of Horror” with Rob from Ysbryd - https://www.wohgame.com/00:30:39 - Manga horror writer Junji Ito, and Ben is most interest in the one with the cats00:33:41 - Playing Necrosoft’s “Demonschool” with game designer Brandon - https://necrosoftgames.com/demonschool/00:39:43 - Mortal Kombat friendships, Jax playing jazz saxophone, and congressional hearings00:41:30 - Dinner at Dough Zone - https://www.doughzonedumplinghouse.com/seattlepine
Follow Two Vague on…Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance requests and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com
#PAXWest2023 #PAX2023 #LostNative #UbiSoft, #QAG, #Ysbryd, #Necrosoft #ReedPop

It may not seem like it at first, but Andrew and Ben are absolutely in this week’s word.  They start out with what Andrew has been doing, and then Ben is a voyeur on Andrew’s flavored crisps adventure.  First thoughts on the word include a life lesson, a pop singer’s breakout album, a trilogy of books by Jeff VanderMeer, and controlling the weather.  On the subject of video games, the hosts discuss Starcraft, tower defense games, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, the Atari 2600 joystick, and 3 games by Remedy entertainment. 
 
00:00:21 - Andrew’s geographical clues, Ghostbuster Afterlife, and back to school
00:03:30 - Commissioning a Christopher Walken sketch from “Bottle Rocket” era Owen Wilson
00:06:45 - Andrew’s Sensory Adventures with Suspicious Stew, Pizza, and Loaded Nachos!
00:10:34 - Satisfying Andrew’s expectation for Flame Medium, and no control group Pringles
00:13:30 - A modest proposal, a Twitter analogue, TikTok exists, blue skies, and Ben’s criticism 
00:19:38 - Long list of definitions, old timey subtweets, and Ben repeats himself to feel better 
00:23:24 - The limits of control, Janet Jackson (the youngest of 10), and the album Control
00:27:13 - Our utopia, Ben should call Janet Jackson, and you don’t have to eat them all now.
00:29:30 - The Souther Reach trilogy, Get Smart, current weather in Arizona, and cloud seeding
00:37:00 - Table salt, chaotic systems, weather, The (real) Avengers, and James Bond’s wife.
00:39:44 - Shade balls, no concrete evidence, AI hands, knuckles, and a giant space umbrella 
00:43:51 - The Central Arizona Project, lessons not learned, Flint, and the butterfly effect
00:47:13 - Unknowns, recharge basins, the 2008 Summer Olympics, and smog elimination 
00:50:01 - Andrew prefers turn-based game mechanics, and Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels
00:54:47 - The lack of resilience in controllers, a linear progression, and winning the PEABODY!
00:57:58 - The game Control… Jesse is promoted to director of the FBC by the janitor
01:02:22 - Alan Wake 2 and Control share the same universe, and a hypothetical question 
01:05:23 - Final thoughts on the word control, and Andrew will email his Buckaroo Banzai DVD
01:08:08 - Watch out for “Don’t Be Terrible” coming soon on ETC or Big Cartel, and potatoes 
 
Follow Andrew / Partly Robot Industries on…
His website: https://partlyrobot.com/
On Instagram: https://instagram.com/partlyrobot
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@partlyrobot
On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/partlyrobot
 
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com 
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcast
On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
 
For show appearance requests and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

Madison and Ben are excited to get philosophical with this week’s word which has a simple definition but a uniquely nuanced meaning, but first… what’s new with the hosts?  Madison is reading American Dirt and Ben is playing Tango Gameworks’ “Ghostwire: Tokyo.”  They take turns reflecting on what they are grateful for: experiences, trips, connections, books, and more.  Before closing out the show, Madison teaches Ben about the “five love languages.”   
00:00:21 - Tattoos, leg sleeves, cummerbunds, and Madison does not support the torso-pants00:03:27 - Ben’s sphere, playing “Ghostwire: Tokyo,” and it’s actually called etherial weaving00:05:10 - Lithuanian hosts, folklore, American Dirt by Jeanine Cumminsand, and arithmetic 00:08:29 - The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, weird noises, and Ben’s dating fail at Fermilab00:11:21 - Words in gratitude, number of boobs, the straightforward definition, and usage 00:14:05 - A continuation of childhood, abundance, being thankful, and being supportive00:17:00 - Growing up in Big Bear, reflecting on experiences, Arizona storms, and PUDDLES!00:20:48 - No public puddles, video game friendships, unexpected learnings, and thankfulness00:25:15 - Being a drone, respect, word trees, White out, and a coworker filled support system00:29:06 - The merits of Facebook, handfuls of coinage, not a stalker, and Sarah get married00:31:36 - A “stretch” moment, meeting friends in New Zealand, and sharing wisdom00:34:33 - Remembering photographs, scrapbooks, blackmail material, and dreaming of Japan 00:37:35 - Phalanges, gravitas, not wrong, universal thankfulness, and picking favorites 00:40:41 - Gratitude journals, food for your food, showing gratitude, and Ben is not familiar 00:43:43 - Exploring the definitions of the love languages: touch, time, words, gifts, and service 00:47:55 - Reading your partner’s love language, and Ben starts to understand the concept 00:50:18 - Religious twang, felines told the Egyptians to build, connections, and Westworld00:53:57 - Peter Henry Fonda (not Henry), Andrea’s Westworld event experience, and cravings  00:57:29 - Ben has never been pregnant, the “no” jynx, and wrapping it up with final thoughts01:00:04 - Madison recommends journaling via the “BRAIN DUMP” method.
 
Follow Two Vague on…
Our website: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com

Continuing the conversation about Italy… sort of… Andrew and Ben discuss Pringles flavors from around the world .  Ben adds a little bit of trivia about their brand mascot before the conversation switches to video games.  Street Fighter 6 has introduced a new character from Italy named Marisa (secretly Ben’s new waifu)!   As promised in the airplane episode, Ben reluctantly played Assassin’s Creed 2 which he describes as a “game out of time,” and he shares his thoughts from his first 10 (and only) hours of play.  To close out the show… Andrew’s recommendation and irony.     
00:00:21 - The Pringles display at the Schiphol Amsterdam Airport… and flame medium00:02:58 - Ketchup flavored Pringles in Italy, and Andrew didn’t go to Europe to buy Pringles00:04:17 - Explosive chili, an age related medical procedure, and TikTok friendly proctologists00:06:10 - Culinary fouls of the Pringles variety, and Minecraft suspicious stew description 00:08:58 - How Mr. P got his first name, herbs, and the Screaming Dill Pickle show!00:11:56 - Descending further down the flavor rabbit hole, and refreshing sassiness 00:14:01 - Andrew is still playing Civilization, and Marisa the master of Pankration and jewelry00:17:00 - Marrow bones, fine arts, and Ben’s least favorite franchises Assassin’s Creed00:19:10 - Meeting Leonardo DeVinci, blood oath humor, and Ben’s favorite line in the game00:21:28 - Ezio’s backstory, learning stealth from sex workers, and being casual on the roof00:24:50 - Plague doctors, secondhand leaches, creepy masks, and the third SNL reference00:26:50 - The Hunt for Red October, stereotypical accents, and vaginas aren’t enough00:30:45 - Hangover movies, playing chess, and getting liquored up… on a plane00:33:48 - Sleeping on airplanes, our least favorite airlines don’t believe in legroom00:36:02 - Go to Italy, finding history, no turtle shells or banana peels, and licensing Mario00:39:36 - An “espresso with panna” callback, social media trepidation, and a sense of irony  
 
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: http://www.twovaguepodcast.com On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/two_vague_podcastOn YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@twovaguepodcast
For show appearance and other inquiries, contact us at: twovaguepodcast@gmail.com