Video Games

At length discussions of topics in video games.

Games & Gaming Culture: Synthwave

July 31, 2019 Chris Morgan Games & Gaming Culture, Video Games 00:35:42

Sailing on the soundscapes from the days of future past, TLS steps into the genre known as synthwave; tracking its precursors and influences while highlighting some of their current favorite artists producing this unique style of music.

NOTE: All samples are solely the property of their respective owners/creators, used here only for review/ analysis purposes.

Read more at the article mentioned in the episode: https://ironskullet.com/2018/03/01/what-is-synthwave-2018-edition/

John Carpenter- Assault on Precinct 13 main theme

Tangerine Dream – Firestarter (“Crystal Voice” – opening theme)

Tangerine Dream – Phaedra (full album)

Kavinsky – Nightcall (Drive Original Movie Soundtrack)

College & Electric Youth – A Real Hero (Drive Original Movie Soundtrack)

Power Glove – Hunters (Blood Dragon soundtrack)

Magic Sword – In the Face of Evil (from Volume 1 album, and featured in Hotline Miami 2 soundtrack)

Mitch Murder- Terminator theme remix/cover

Perturbator- The New Black (from I Am the Night album)

Gunship- Tech Noir (feat. John Carpenter)

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Games & Gaming Culture: E3 2019

June 26, 2019 Scott Thurlow Video Games 50:32

E3 rolls around for 2019 and TLS dives in once more to cherry-pick items of interest to discuss from it.

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Games & Gaming Culture: Bullet Hells

May 8, 2019 Scott Thurlow Video Games 34:53

Surrounded on all sides, TLS attempts to navigate another genre definition, as well as the games that may fall under it, this time specifically concerning bullets hells and their variations.

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Games & Gaming Culture: Metroidvania

April 22, 2019 Scott Thurlow Video Games 36:43

TLS backtracks and upgrades themselves during a discussion on the idea and appeal of Metroidvania style games.

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Games & Gaming Culture: Top Games of 2018

March 27, 2019 Scott Thurlow Video Games 56:26

We’re back with our picks for the best games of 2018, as well as some not-so-top, a few in-between, and a look at some of the intriguing forthcoming titles of 2019.

A few friends mentioned in this episode: Michelle Iannantuono of Octopunk Media, who we interviewed last year, has recently released a trailer for an upcoming game-based project.

And check out Steevo’s noted wine supplier/reviewer of choice: International Wine Report.

Finally, Scott has a breakdown of the GDC game winners over on Dialogue Tree.

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Games & Gaming Culture: Industry Madness Wrap-up

March 13, 2019 Scott Thurlow Video Games 46:04

TLS opens this new season of Games Culture with a look back at some of the big, and often bad, noteworthy occurrences from around and within the video gaming industry in the past year.

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Games and Gaming Culture: Play to Pay: The Machinations of Microtransactions & the Lure of Loot Boxes

November 14, 2018 Chris Morgan Video Games 00:08:32

TLS have been very busy boys recently, but a few of us found some moments to spare this year to attend, and one of us to actually present again at the 29th Mid-Atlantic Pop & American Culture Association (MAPACA).

Always a great time put on by a fantastic and important organization. Hopefully next year more of the crew will make it, but for now, enjoy this talk given by our very own Scott Thurlow.

Full length written version can be found over at Scott’s blog section of the site here.

 

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Fallout 76 Round Table (Crossover Episode!)

November 2, 2018 Steve Ormosi Crossover Episodes, Video Games

On this bonus episode Matt and Jesse of the American Slacker Podcast sit down with Steve and Scott of The Lost Signals and discuss the soon to release Bethesda production, Fallout 76. The guys dive into the Fallout timeline, what to expect and much more!

Check out more stuff from the Slackers at the book face, tweedzler, or by searching American Slacker Podcast wherever dem ‘casts are found. Enjoy!

Games & Gaming Culture: The Mechanics of Tension

October 17, 2018 Scott Thurlow Video Games 41:26

In keeping tradition, TLS closes off this season of Games & Games Culture with a discussion on horror games, this year focusing on their mechanics and design features via this article from Gamasutra.

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Games & Gaming Culture: Time-Travel Based Games

October 15, 2018 Scott Thurlow Video Games 0:29:34

Travel through time with TLS as we attempt to parse out how best to integrate the conceit of time-travel in videogames, narratively and/or mechanically.

 

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