The School of Everything Else Archive

The Sony PlayStation (Revisited)

[School of Everything Else 2018]

I go back to the console everybody is talking about, but rather than making this all about the micro PlayStation Classic I endeavoured to find the alternative best way to play specific games I remember and love as well as a mix of some I missed before.

It's nowhere near as easy as you might think, to just pick up and play. This is an account of what happened.

Games discussed include Resident Evil 1-3, Final Fantasy VII-IX, Tekken 3, WipeOut, Gran Turismo, Soviet Strike, Bloody Roar 2, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Soul Blade, Driver, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Siphon Filter, Vagrant Story, Spider-Man, Bust-A-Groove, Parappa the Rapper, Dino Crisis 1 & 2 and the promise of more Metal Gear Solid.

To the Moon

[School of Everything Else 2017]

A five hour, retro RPG with a story that will stay with you. We recommend everyone play the game before listening. 

It's kind of like a fun Inception.

Laura Kate Dale joins us for a very textured, emotional and personal discussion about this extraordinary experience. 

This show was commissioned by Emanuel Matius, Sean Lyons Burke and Nick Grugin. Patreon supporters at the five dollar level can enjoy a bonus re-release of the episode of Do try This At Home that Sharon recorded in 2013, on this same game. 

Next week; Donnie Darko.

Guest:

Laura Kate Dale of Let's Play Video Games

Analogue: A Hate Story

[School of Everything Else 2017]

A commissioned show from Mark Lucksch. First thing I said when I saw the art was "No anime." Mark assured me that with its writer based in the west and Korean rather than Japanese artwork, as well as lack of animation that this text-adventure available on Steam was not, in fact, anime. 

After many hours of playing through this tale of an intelligent, female consciousness inside a computer on a spaceship, with its themes of oppressive, patriarchal tradition, and a woman's prerogative, we both had a rather... strong reaction.

Enjoy?

Next week: Gargoyles

Legends of Zelda III

[School of Everything Else 2017]

This is the third show I have put together about the Legend of Zelda series. The first was back in 2010 for Digital Cowboys when we covered most of the games in the series. The second was in early 2012 on Digital Gonzo when we covered the contentious Skyward Sword on the Wii (This episode is now available exclusively through Patreon). This time we're looking at a bunch that we missed first time round, and one or two that have emerged more recently.

2001. Oracle of Seasons/Ages
2004. The Minish Cap
2006. Twilight Princess
2007. Link’s Crossbow Training
2007. The Phantom Hourglass
2009. Spirit Tracks
2011. Ocarina of Time 3D
2013. A Link Between Worlds
2013. Wind Waker HD
2014. Hyrule Warriors
2015. Majora's Mask 3D

My guests this time are Laura Kate Dale, Gary Blower, Glen Watts, Iain Hopwood, Lloyd Huhn, David Garcia Abril and Richard Lago. This show was recorded back in 2015 while the Switch was still called the NX, Breath of the Wild didn't have a name and Twilight Princess HD had yet to be announced. When we do a fourth Zelda show it will be a lot sooner and will be all about Breath of the Wild, which after thirty or so hours of play may be my favourite of them all.

Guests:

Laura Kate Dale of Lets Play Video Games

Gary Blower of GameBurst

Iain Hopwood of Year of Steam

Lloyd Huhn

David Garcia Abril

Richard Lago

Glen Watts

Nintendo

[School of Everything Else 2017]

Welcome to a show which explores why, after decades of producing consoles and video games, Nintendo feels special in a way that the others do not. More than two dozen people have recorded their memories and insight and sent them to me to arrange. A picture begins to emerge of a troubled relationship with someone capable of amazing creative endeavours and baffling business decisions. Someone who many of us can never fully let go because of the power of these happy memories of childhood, family and the hundreds of gaming worlds which we charted together (some of us literally, you had to draw your maps in pencil back then).

As the Switch is launched we look back on what the emergence of a new console meant to us, and why we always come back to a place of hope.

Infinite thank yous to my guests, without which this show would not have been possible.

1.   Intro*
2.   Brendan Agnew of Cinapse
3.   Sam Chapter
4.   James Batchelor of Bond and Beyond
5.   Collin
6.   Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits
7.   Daniel Den Heijer
8.   Toby Jungius
9.   James Carter of Cane and Rinse
10.   Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse
11.   My Old Friend Nintendo (Alex)
12.   Paschal Dooley
13.   Chris O Regan of Spong
14.   Leon Cox of Cane and Rinse
15.   Blast Processing (Lyra)
16.   Bob Chipman of Geek.com
17.   Neil Taylor of TheKiddDogg
18.   Nama Chibitty
19.   Derrick Ritchie
20.   James Perkins of The Digital Fix
21.   Gary and Imogen Blower of GameBurst
22.   Dan Mayer
23.   Darren Gargette of Cane and Rinse
24.   Holly Dotson
25.   Player 1 & Player 2 of Cartridge Bros
26.   Jason Slate of The Mana Pool
27.   Matt Wardle
28.   Laureta Sela of New Century
29.   Alex Shaw
30.   Lyra Shaw

*Voices in the opening montage also include Alexander Jahans, Gustav Dahl and Johan Kristian Milde

Resident Evil

[School of Everything Else 2016]

This is a deep dive into the very first Resident Evil game, as well as the GameCube remake and the HD remake of the remake. By no means the first survival horror, but a definite landmark in the genre and a stone cold classic that is somehow better today than it was in 1996. 

Far from the clodhopping buffoonery of the movie series the first game is a deceptively simple premise. Two special forces units investigating a bizarre series of murders which leads them to a darkened and horrifying mansion, itself the greatest character in this series. Before too long you're solving elaborate puzzles, avoiding traps, combing through rooms to find useful items, stockpiling ammunition (which if you're playing on the right difficulty setting for you there will always be scant available) and fending off attacks from the shadows from all sorts of bloodcurdling monsters. 

It's nothing short of a masterpiece, endlessly replayable and now with the HD remaster the obtuse control scheme is fixed. 

With me is Neil Taylor of TheKidDogg on YouTube (and you should check out his Resident Evil video retrospective here) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH9jfP2Sask

Laura Kate Dale AKA Laura K Buzz of projects too numerous to name (here's her Patreon) https://www.patreon.com/LauraKBuzz/posts

And we're also joined by my good friend Derrick Ritchie.

The Xbox One vs. The Ps4

[Digital Drift]

We pit the two most powerful consoles of the age against one another. 

Gamergate

[Digital Drift 2014]

This is the full, combined trilogy of podcasts about GamerGate; How it developed, what its effects have been and how we can move forwards.

For the first show I had eight contributors, two of whom would like to remain anonymous, the other six were; M.P.J. Dillon, Holly Dotson, Gavin Greene, A. Reece England, Livio De La Cruz and Kevin Murphy. 

Nine more contributions make up the second part. Some were in response to Volume 1, some elaborated on ideas laid down in that one, others were simply inspired to speak on hearing about this series.

Rihanna Pratchett

[Digital Drift 2014]

For this episode we are very proud to interview writer Rhianna Pratchett. She has worked on some of our favourite games, and very specifically helped to craft some of the best female characters in the medium. Her experience includes Heavenly Sword, Overlord, Mirror’s Edge, BioShock Infinite, Viking: Battle for Asgard, Prince of Persia, Risen, Thief and perhaps most notably she was instrumental in transforming Lara Croft from Mary-Sue, gun-toting tit-machine to the far more real person she represents today in 2013’s Tomb Raider.

We talk at length about her past experiences and connections, the requirements for a writer in the world of gaming, female/female relationships in narrative, Conan the Barbarian, and of course Time Bandits.

Her website can be found here: http://www.rhiannapratchett.com/

The Video Game Crashes

[Digital Drift 2014]

We talk about why the video game market crashed twice before. 

The Married Gamers

[Digital Drift 2014]

We interview The Married Gamers, Chris and Kelly Brown. 

Special Effect

[Digital Drift 2014]

In this, the first non-movie-related episode of the third volume of our shows, we speak to the charity Special Effect, who help disabled and disadvantaged people play video games. 

Fan Response

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This episode, originally published in September 2013 I invited on Bob Chipman, AKA MovieBob along with Daniel Floyd and Leelee Scalaferri of Extra Credits to talk about the age old scenario of fans flipping their lids when something they love is perceived as being meddled with. With the ascent of Twitter and Facebook, forums, comments sections and YouTube we have more opportunities than ever before to voice our discontent, and voice it we have in ways often so hostile and illegible that some sections of the internet appear to be transcripts of the death-screeching of broken killer robots with electronic Tourette's syndrome. 

Among other specific instances we cover Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist frequency, The Xbox One, Batfleck, Phil Fish, Grand Theft Auto V, Devil May Cry, Mass Effect 3, Green Lantern, The Star Wars Special Editions and Fifty Shades of Grey. The aim was not to be wholly objective and detached and there is a lot of opinion being flung back and forth during this crackling debate with four vibrant personalities all vying for the mic, but we do try our best to be fair.  

To illustrate the many facets of this immense debate I have employed audio segments from some of the best and brightest.

With Great Power [Bob Chipman: The Big Picture]
Crass Effect [Bob Chimpan: Game Overthinker]
Rebecca Black [Charlie Brooker: 10 O’ Clock Live]
Anita Sarkeesian: The Monster Gamers Created [Jim Sterling: Jimquisition]
Harassment [Daniel Floyd & James Portnow: Extra Credits]
GTA V Review Revulsion [Johnny Chiodini: GameSpot - Feedbackula]
Guide to Comments [Vi Hart]
A Day at the Park [Kiriakakis: Mused]

Bob, Dan and Leelee have made hundreds of video presentations between them and their recommendations if you're newcomers are the following.

Extra Credits [Of Penny Arcade TV]

• Call of Juarez: The Cartel
• A Little Bit of Yesterday
• Art is not the Opposite of Fun

Moviebob

• The Big Picture - Skin Game
• Game Overthinker - Never Grow Old

Music on the show played by Lindsey Stirling

• Crystallize 
• Elements
• Electric Daisy Violin

Of course there wasn't time to discuss a bunch of well known examples, including the Derpy Hooves debacle but we do want this show to spark debate on ways for the more considerate side of the internet to gain more of a vocal share of the general discussion, which often seems to be dominated by the enraged and abusive.

Mass Effect 3

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This was the most requested Gonzo show in history. For a project of this magnitude we needed a Dynamic Analysis, so the first hour is a collection of audio articles. The second half focuses on the rest of it. There are definitely still issues with combat and structure that affect the gameplay experience regardless of how you felt about its close, but there is also a deep and rich adventure to be had finding everyone and everything in the last hours before the galaxy takes on the Reapers. There were so many people who wanted to talk about this game that I couldn't not confine them to a single, epic round-table, so instead we have three.

Appropriately you'll meet many old faces and some new. Everyone has something to say. At the close we spend a good 48 minutes talking about the Citadel DLC with full plot spoilers for that as well as Leviathan and Omega. Everyone present agreed that Citadel was downright essential if you love the characters of Mass Effect so if nothing else, play that before you listen to the last third of this show.

Introduction
FilmCritHulk: A Few Words on the Ending of Mass Effect 3 [Read by Alex Shaw] (0.00.50)
Sharon Shaw: The Third Choice (0.21.37)
J.C. Hutchins: Blood on My Hands: My Failure and Redemption in Mass Effect(0.30.50)
Leelee Scaldaferri: The Center of the Universe (0.53.07)
Alex Shaw: On Taking Back Earth (1.03.00)

Round Table 1: Margeurite Kenner & Alasdair Stuart (1.05.44)
Alex Shaw: Some Statistics (1.40.30)
Round Table 2: Neil Taylor, Jerome McIntosh & James Perkins (1.44.25)
Round Table 3: Matt Ramsey, Leelee Scaldaferri & Sharon Shaw (2.21.38)
The Idea Channel: Will Space Travel Save Us? (3.07.00)
Alex Shaw: Shepard Effects (3.15.16)
Citadel (3.21.40)

Margeurite can be found on Cast of Wonders, Leelee is the artist for Extra Credits. You'll also hear a segment from The Idea Channel which is available on YouTube and something I sincerely suggest you each spend a few hours delving into. Some incredible, funny, lightly delivered, deeply considered six-minute lectures on there. Kind of like TED Talks but with more visual flair and packed to the gills with blink-and-you'll-miss-it geeky references. It's been a great ride on the Normandy. I hope some day soon we can come back and re-enter this universe which has played host to some of our favourite games of all time.

Mass Effect 2

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This is the second part of our epic trilogy of review podcasts focusing on the Mass Effect game series from Bioware. Game two was a significant polishing up of the original's formula with tighter combat, more fluid and dynamic presentation and a greater focus on characterization. As a result and for many other reasons detailed within, this is widely regarded as the most beloved of the trilogy.

So in this week's episode my crew and I go deep into the shadowy world of the resurrected and reinstated Commander Shepard, now assembling a small army, all of whom must be ready to die to protect our galaxy.

If you haven’t played it, once again we keep the major spoilers regarding the finale and the essential Shadow Broker DLC for a section at the end. Returning to the Normandy are Matt Ramsey of the DO Try This at Home podcast, Neil Taylor and James Perkins of GameBurst and Jerome McIntosh of the Gonzo Planet community. We’ll be back in a month to talk about Mass Effect 3.

Mass Effect

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This is the first part of our epic trilogy of review podcasts focusing on the Mass Effect game series from Bioware. Originally released in 2007 on Xbox 360 and following on the heels of Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, this was the Canadian developer’s original take on a serious Sci-Fi space opera.

The first game is not without its flaws and the frustrating combat, slow beginning, vehicle sections, simplistic hacking, texture pop, and crazy glitches are all hauled over the coals, however, this is balanced with effusive praise for the characterization, in-depth discussions about the textured and detailed worlds they have built, first rate voice acting, storyline and narrative sweep.

If you’ve played it and enjoyed it overall you will be well at home. If you haven’t played it we keep the major spoilers for a section at the end so you can listen in and find out what all the fuss is about. My crew are Matt Ramsey of GamerDork, Neil Taylor of GameBurst, James Perkins of GameBurst and Geek Wad, Justin Smith of Last Save Loaded and Jerome McIntosh of the Gonzo planet community. We’ll be back in a month to talk about Mass Effect 2 and then four weeks after that for Mass Effect 3.

BioShock Infinite

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits and Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse make their first appearance on the BioShock shows here. In actual fact we actually recorded a session a week ago, but the file corrupted and not being slaves to calamity we geared up for another go.

A late addition to the cast is long-time gaming journalist Matt Lees of Videogamer.com. He was brought in to mitigate the gushing praise that dominated the first, doomed recording. The end result is a more balanced show. 

The show starts with audio adaptations of YouTube videos on BioShock Infinite from myself and Matt. If you've already seen them you can jump to the relevant time-stamp.

04.00: BioShock Infinite Explained [Gonzo Planet Style]
21.00: Everything BioShock Infinite Gets Wrong
37.00: Main Show

For Part 2 If I was going to suggest people who had problems with the game listen to the first part, I'd say by the same token that those who loved it will get more out of this second installment. Of course if you're up to having your feelings on this delicate matter royally challenged you should listen to both. 

Once again I'm joined by Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits, Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse and Matt Lees of Videogamer. 

This show starts with a trio of audio articles on BioShock Infinite. My deeper thoughts are scattered about the podcast in a hopefully cogent fashion. Among other things we talk music, sensory memory, free will, constants and variables, plot holes, religion, and the ramifications of this title on the greater games industry. 

02.04.00 Meeting Elizabeth [By Daniel Floyd]
02.15.00 Infinite Criticisms [By David Merrett]
02.21.00 Is a Better Home Awaiting? [By James Batchelor]
02.33.00 Main Show

BioShock 2: Minerva's Den

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This time we focus on the DLC for BioShock 2, a five hour standalone narrative centering around Rapture's early computer system.

The fictional technology of BioShock is woven in with real world events and people, chiefly Alan Turing and in this show we get to discuss how this is presented and what makes this a powerful, effective, personal little narrative.

I would imagine everybody has played this by now, but if not it's well worth the 800 point asking price. This show is full to the brim with spoilers over the first three games so make sure you know everything you need to going in. 

My guests are once again Sharon Shaw of Do try This at Home, Mark Ord of Gaming ORDtopsy and we're joined by Chris Eason of GameBurst. You will also hear a snippet of Gary Blower from the GameBurst replay covering this game and more from Tony Atkins of Cane and Rinse on the multiplayer mode and Protector Trials.

We do of course steer clear of Columbia for one more week, but next time we're all about BioShock Infinite, and I will as always endeavour to put out the most entertaining, deep and complex podcast covering this game. 

BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

For time and pacing reasons I have separated out the BioShock 2 coverage. In the next show we talk Minerva's Den as well as the Protector Trials and Multiplayer mode, known to fans as Fall of Rapture.  

In this show we discuss the main story, to which I have re-applied the working title of Sea of Dreams. Just so we all know which one we're talking about and because frankly just shoving a '2' on the end does a disservice to the game, which in several very important ways is actually better than the original. Cease your protestations and allow us to convince you over the course of this rather emotional tale, which balances the political rhetoric of the first game with a personal, poignant story of love and loss, sacrifice and inspiration. Or on the other hand, depending on how you play it, something else entirely.

This also gives us a chance to talk about it's the combat throughout the game series, something honed to perfection here. We do talk about the action in Infinite but steer clear of anything remotely resembling a spoiler to that game. Storytelling through gameplay, collectivism, parental responsibility and pressure to exceed your predecessors are all discussed.

My guests are Sharon Shaw of Do Try This At Home, Mark Ord of Gonzo Planet and for the first time as a reviewing guest on Digital Gonzo, former Digital Cowboy and current co-host of Cane and Rinse, Mr Tony Atkins. 

BioShock

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

Strangely enough this was not a podcast series I had planned for. Right in the middle of the third act of the Mass Effect shows BioShock Infinite gets released and grabs me by the soul. I went back and started playing the 2007 original, then BioShock 2 and Minerva's Den. Mark Ord has done a fantastic video investigation on the first game for Gonzo Planet and an edited audio version of that piece forms the first act of this show. 

If you've not seen it, I recommend that you do. Alternatively if you have seen it and would like a refresher or would rather listen to it in audio form then enjoy the experience of his lovely, calm, Scottish voice talking us through the game. If you've seen it already or want to skip forward the main discussion starts at the 56 minute mark. 

I brought back Mark because he knows his Rapture. In fact we recorded and lost an entire two hour session last Monday. That almost never happens and can really take the wind out of your sails so the second attempt had to be even better than the first. I recruited James Batchelor and Gary Blower of GameBurst and we managed a fascinating 98 minute round-table discussion on the deeper aspects.

I pulled out all the stops with the edit to ensure you got the absolute best I could deliver. I have not left this kitchen table since 8am and it is now 8pm. 

But the end result might just be the best episode of Digital Gonzo I've ever put out.

Enjoy, and I will be back shortly with three more podcasts on the incredible world of BioShock.

Tomb Raider

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

This episode focuses on the 2013 reboot of the long-established Lara Croft franchise. My guests and I go into great detail as to the strengths of this game, it’s alarmingly serious tone, it’s abandonment of the franchise staples of the Mary-Sueperwoman and enforced fiendish puzzling, the new narrative thrust, the frantic combat, the potential for exploration and most of all the completely transformed central character herself. We also outline clearly why it’s neither an Uncharted clone nor torture porn, how it’s already raising the bar on third-person action and how tricky it’s going to be to write a sequel that does this initial outing justice. 

With me on this nightmarish trip to the island are Sharon Shaw, Matt Ramsey, David Merrett, Paul Gibson and Jerome McIntosh. All key figures in the Gonzo Planet community. 

Predictions from the Past

[Digital Gonzo 2013]

Back when I was recording the Digital Cowboys podcast with Tony Atkins we used to ask our guests what the state of the games industry would be like in five years time (along with a bunch of other questions). This one is the most interesting in hindsight as it shows where we thought we might be going from 2007-2011. 

Mark of the Ninja

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

This turned out to be one of my top ten video games of all time. An amazing example of stealth mechanics applied with perfect communication from developers to player. 

The 10 Most Important Video Games of the Seventh Generation

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

We got together to discuss which games were not necessarily best by any means, but most important for the period between 2005 and 2012 that makes up the so-called seventh generation. The list ended up quite contentious. 

Arkham Asylum + Arkham City

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

Two of the finest games focused on a comic book hero, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are the subject of this week’s show. This is 50+ hours of content to cram into 123 minutes but my team of assembled guests are once again entirely dedicated to their art.

They’re enormous and filled with secrets and we endeavour to uncover and explore some of the more intriguing aspects. We look at these cocktails of Batman history, character representation and citing the responses of FilmCritHulk the knotty situation of gender issues inherent in a small but significant percentage of one of these titles.

In the Batcave; Neil Taylor of GameBurst, KDS 2.0 and Desert Island Gonzo and Jerome McIntosh and Paul Gibson of Gonzo Planet.

What Happened to GAME?

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

We go wayyy back to early 2012 when UK retailer GAME were severely in trouble. They somehow managed to save themselves for several years by making many shrewd and often cruel decisions. This episode is a look at how they got where they did. 

Guests: Gary Blower and James Batchelor of GameBurst.

Legends of Zelda II: Skyward Sword

[Digital Gonzo 2012]

Listen back to how very hand-holdy it was, as well as some of the brilliant things it achieved with Wii Motion plus. 

You will hear from six guests on the highs and lows of one of the last significant games on Nintendo's most popular console to date.

* Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits
* Leah Haydu of GamerDork
* James Batchelor of GameBurst
* Gary Blower of GameBurst and Big Red Potion
* Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse
* Darren Gargette of Cane and Rinse

All of whom have produced work for Gonzo Planet in the past. Their interviews are set against a backdrop of music both from Skyward Sword and the Zelda 25th Anniversary symphony. There are sections on what made them happy about the game, what made them unhappy and what they would like to see in future Zelda games. There is also a spoiler section at the end covering plot points from the Temple of Time onwards. It's safe to listen to all but the last 20 minutes or so of the show, even if you've not yet played Skyward Sword, but save the ending for when you've finished or if you don't mind spoilers. 

Crysis

[Digital Gonzo 2011]

A show all about the first two games in the Crysis series. 

Flawed Gems

[Digital Gonzo 2011]

This was the return of Digital Gonzo after many months hiatus in mid-2011. It was a discussion show all about video games that aren't great but have some good stuff to be found within. 

Shadow of the Colossus

[Gonzo Gaming 2010]

A short account of my experience playing this sacred cow of a game. 

Heavy Rain

[Gonzo Gaming 2010] 

A short account of my experience playing this ambitious, frustrating game. 

E3 2011 - The Dream

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

A largely improvised account of an E3 that never happened (broadcast days before the actual event, just to confuse people).

Portal 2

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

Tony, Paul and I review one of our favourite games of all time. 

World of Warcraft Charity Marathon

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

24 hours solid of playing World of Warcraft for charity. 

Those We Have Left Behind

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

A discussion about the video game deaths that really made an impact on us.

Guest:

Daniel Floyd of Extra Credits

Far Cry 2 / Homefront

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

This was only our second Game Club, and it was a format I really wish mwe'd explored more before parting ways. Far Cry 2 remains my second-favourite in the series, despite its mountainous flaws, outmatched by the often extraordinary Far Cry Primal. 

Look Back 2005

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

A look back on the hallowed year of 2005 when some of the greatest video games ever emerged.

Guest:

 Leon Cox of Cane and Rinse

The 20 Lamest Characters in Gaming

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

Twenty of the very worst. 

Features that Changed the Face of Gaming

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

Various aspects throughout gaming history that have changed the way we play. 

Survival Horror

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

A look at where survival horror stood, some years ago, prior to the evolution of the jump scare Let's Play, Dark Souls, the transformation of Dead Space and Resident Evil's overhaul. 

Time to Crown the New Kings

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

This episode was all about accepting the classics of the past and celebrating their new successors. 

Look Back 1998

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

We travel to a landmark year in video games. 

Have I Got Games for You #2

[Digital Cowboys 2011]

A video gaming quiz in the style of the BBC classic. 

The 50 Greatest Video Game Characters [Part 2]

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

The second part of our epic countdown, as voted for by our community. 

The 50 Greatest Video Game Characters [Part 1]

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

We polled our forum and you guys decided on who your favourite 50 were. This is the first 25. 

Red Dead Redemption / Sandbox Games

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

A discussion on one of the best titles on 360, expanding to the concept of the sandbox game. 

50 Games in 50 Weeks

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

Over the course of the year I undertook to play 50 games to completion. This is my account of that lengthy experience. 

Legends of Zelda

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

Maybe the best of the Digital Cowboys episodes. This is all about Zelda through the years, covering every game and it comprises extracts from many, many interviews with podcasters and the DC community.

What comes across is a very special game series. There is a justified reason why Nintendo releases these games in gold boxes and treats the moment as a major event. It's difficult in fact to imagine many others being recounted with such fondness and with such importance. The frustration is also there; the bad design decisions and the repetitive formula, amid hopes for the future, all underscored by 25 years of incredible music.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed towards this show, without your submitted rich experiences, it wouldn't have been a fraction as good.

Originally published July 16th 2010.

Guests:

Dan Ilson - Everything is Better with Beer & Gonzo Planet
Adam Capone - Joypod
Leon Cox - Cane and Rinse & GamerDork
Dits Symeou - The Gamerscene & Gonzo Planet
Alex Shaw - Digital Cowboys, Digital Gonzo & Gonzo Planet
Luke Carson - Digital Cowboys community
Mik Phillips - The Fanboys Lunchcast & Gonzo Planet
Ryan Astley - Gonzo Planet
Michelle Smith - Pink & Deadly
Paul Shotton - Digital Cowboys
Tony Atkins - Cane and Rinse & Digital Cowboys
James Batchelor - GameBurst, The WiiDS podcast & Gonzo Planet
Leah Haydu - GamerDork, Some Other Castle & Gonzo Planet
David Turner - Joypod
Roy Fortitude - Digital Cowboys community cast
Chris O'Regan - Superhappyfuntimeshow
Josh Garrity - Cane & Rinse, Digital Cowboys Community cast & Gonzo Planet
Edie Sellers - Gamehounds
Daniel Floyd - Extra Credits

Have I Got Games for You

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

A video game news quiz show modeled on the BBC classic. 

Final Fight

[Digital Cowboys 2010]

We talk to one of the developers of Final Fight: Double Impact about how his team brought the classic arcade game into the modern age whilst making the most of a retro presentation.