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Video Games! Social Justice! We play through the ENTIRETY of http://itch.io's "Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality." 1365 games. New eps every Tuesday.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
We have a very special one coming at you today, folks. The truly delightful Jess Marchbank joins us from the All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center to tackle a set of bundle games. You might recognize this important foundation as a cause from a previous episode: we donated to them way back on Episode #11. We thought it would be lovely to have someone from All-Options on the podcast, and lo and behold, some 54 episodes later, Jess met us at the Bundle Buddies HQ. And how lucky were we! We discuss classic games of old like The Hunt for the Wumpus, the "good Gap cologne", audiobook narration, and so much more.
We also take a moment to discuss the important work All-Options is doing, as well as the Hoosier Abortion Fund Fund-a-Thon, which kicks off in a few days, on April 1st. All-Options is looking to raise $35k for this crucial cause, so let's do what we can to help them get there. More information about how to contribute and participate is available at the campaign webpage.
It's also worth mentioning that Jess isn't just a rock star who devotes her life to an important cause -- she's also a talented voice actor who lends her sonorous pipes to audiobooks, video games, and more.
Here's what we played this week:
- Orison of Mercury, by dualhammers
- Jabberwocky, by python-b5
- Four Sided Fantasy, by Serenity Forge
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
We're hamming it up with the wonderful Nate Sherman today on Bundle Buddies. We talk the amoral violence of superheroes, cool parents, and Blitzball on an episode that may or may not have been intercepted by the NSA. Plus: Nate makes Alex envious by bringing up Xenogears and Chrono Cross (but Alex keeps his cool), we explore the evolution of grinding in RPGs, and much, much more!
Here's what we played:
Gun Rounds, by Blabberf
Skeletris, by Ghast
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You, by Osmotic Studios
Our cause this week is BlackLivesMatter-Los Angeles, the original chapter of the global movement built to challenge state-sanctioned violence against Black people and to vision and build a just and free society. Since 2013, BLM organizers have been doing work to disrupt systems of oppression and work vision and build the kind of world in which we want to live.. Their work includes non-violent direct action, policy work, movement building, strengthing alliances, community self care, and creative engagement.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Eric invites the boys over for our first official book club. We're drinking wine, eating gluten free cookies, and playing his first book club selection: Ocean Software's 1991 "classic" (?) Hook. The sleepover antics don't stop there: Eric asks Alex and Matt questions, promptly yells at them, makes everything wonder why we're playing this god-forsaken game based on a Robin Williams movie from 1991, and in the end nearly (almost. not really.) has a cathartic moment.
Also: Elden Ring! The Peterpaniverse! Buying games as children! And some real honest-to-goodness conversation about game design. Wouldn't you know it, we walk away appreciating the artistry of our lovely Itch.io developers and their access to game development tools and resources.
On that note: our cause this week is The Bundle for Ukraine, on Itch.io. If you haven't purchased it yet, what are you waiting for? Support an important cause during a dire time, play games alongside the podcast, and receive an absolute treasure trove of incredible indie gems.
All proceeds from this bundle will be split between the following charities:
International Medical Corps provides medical assistance in the region. They have very low fundraising overhead (1% of income), with 89% of donations going to medical aid and 10% to administration.
Voices of Children, a Ukrainian organization that helps children cope with the horrors of war, PTSD, readjusting to school, and getting back to being kids. They have also been doing a lot of grassroots impromptu work during the war, such as helping set up shelters. Our hope is that this war will be over soon, and they can begin the work of healing these kids' hearts.
Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
It's an emergency bundle update! The itch.io Bundle for Ukraine
A bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games (makers of Gunhouse) with content from 733 creators.
So many games! A Short Hike, Baba Is You, Celeste, Hidden Folks, Super Hexagon, TowerFall Ascension, Bleed 2, Death and Taxes, Golf Peaks, KIDS, Old Man's Journey, Tenderfoot Tactics, Ynglet, SO MANY MORE!
As of posting they shattered the goal of $2 million dollars and are now shooting for $4 million!
All funds go to International Medical Corps & Voices of Children.
Go support a very worthwhile cause and get so many amazing indie games!
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
What if you could mod a book? How will penguins claim real estate in the aftermath of the impending climate apocalypse? Can you adopt a pet drone in Cyberpunk? And so what if you can't?! Isn't it the imagination of the player, the deliberate suspension of disbelief, that matters more than anything in roleplaying games?! We are tackling the big questions this week with the one and only Jonah Cooper. You might remember her first appearance, where she helped the buddies achieve their first triple-triple play. This time, she joins the two-timers club (that's what we're calling it, right?), returning to the show to play through a trio of fresh bundle games. WILL the coveted triple-triple be achieved again? FIND OUT IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE!
This week's games:
- Serre, by insertdisc5
- A Normal Lost Phone, by Dear Villagers
- Penguins Arena, by Frogames
Our cause this week is the Montrose Center in Houston, Texas. The Montrose Center empowers our community—primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and their families—to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We envision a healthier society marked by permanent, positive changes in attitudes and behaviors toward the LGBTQ communities, and the ability of all LGBTQ individuals to realize their fullest potential. Check out their website and twitter for more information and to make a donation.
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
A very special and exciting episode with Dyala and Holly, designer and "fart director" (respectfully), from Echodog games, the studio behind Signs of the Sojourner, a game we covered way back on Episode One! Sixty episodes later, Eric admits he may have been a bit brash in his early-days-of-the-podcast opinion making, the crew gets deep about the creative process, and a new distinction -- the "pizza game" -- is coined.
Here are the games we played this week:
- Demon Truck, by Triger Mountain
- Marchland, by glitchirs
- FutureGrind, by Milkbag Games
Our cause this week is the Los Angeles Food Bank. Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. Check out their website to make a donation.
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Alex takes the week off and producer Matt joins Eric for our second rodeo with the pod's FIRST GUEST -- Brian Biancardi! We talk the beauty of Pilot Wings, our VR future, product placement in snowboarding games, and so much more.
This week's games:
- Volo Airsport, by Ramjet Anvil
- Drake, by Gawain
- Ball Buster, by Joseph Quested
Our cause this week is the LGBT Center of Los Angeles. Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Check out their website for more information.
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
The buddies come together to kick off the first iteration of a new series, Bundles Buddies Book Club, where we play through classic games that are important to us. In this episode, we struggle to complete the task we assigned ourselves, but nonetheless come out the other side with a plan.
Also: Eric's new mustache, plans for ANOTHER series, and what Fight Club got wrong.
Our cause this week is the Pilipino Workers Center. Founded in 1997, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) is a non-profit that organizes the low-wage Pilipino community in Southern California to demand better living and working conditions. Check out their website and twitter for more information.
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
We are joined by none other than Daniel Mullins, the mastermind behind last year's mind-bending Inscryption, a game that wormed its way into our collective subconscious by subverting the medium and freaking us out (in a good way.) Clearly, we can't stop talking about this game, so we take full advantage of our time with Daniel, picking his brain about his iterative game design process, the importance of playtesting, and whether or not he actually murdered someone and buried the body in a forest for the Inscryption ARG. Also: Keanu's empty chair at the Game Awards, the possibility of balloon porn, and looking to The Orange Box for inspiration. You don't want to miss this one.
This week's games:
- OneShot, by futurecat
- Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist, by Crows Crows Crows
- The Night Journey, by Game Innovation Lab
This week's cause is the Maximum Impact Fund from GiveWell. Givewell uses their latest research to grant the funds to the recommended charity (or charities) where they believe they’ll do the most good. More information at their website.
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
In a bit of a departure, the buddies dive into the strange and fascinating world of Slovak games from the late 80s, plumbing the strange depths of behind-the-Iron-Curtain digital experimentation. They plot murders, get murdered, and learn more about obscure Alexander Dumas books than they bargained for. Also: Beer Hunt, bonding with your dad through Final Fantasy XIV, and the labor of gaming.
This Week's Games:
- Fuksoft (1987, Sybilasoft)
- La Dame de Monsoreau (1987, IKO a RGSoft)
- Perfect Murder (1987, Ultrasoft)
- Pepsi Cola (1987, Miami-Soft)
- Super Discus (1987, Sibylasoft)
- The Stig 4 (1987, Antok Software)
- Agent 99 (1988, Alkoholsoft)
- Perfect Murder 2: Bukapao (1988, Ultrasoft)
- Satochin (1988, Sybilasoft)
- Kewin 2 (1989, Kamasoft)
Playable English Localizations of Slovak Digital Games From the Late 80s Period (ROMs and Emulator)
More Information on Slovak Game History
This week's cause is The Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC). The LAFPC works to ensure food is healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable for all. Check out their website and Twitter for more information.