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Downloadable Content Master Post
Monday, 17 October 2011 06:32This is primarily for me, as the post will be updated every so often. However, feel free to download the episodes via the alternate download links provided (if you don't use iTunes, Stitcher, or YouTube), or just get them from the iTunes store right here. Last updated: April 21, 2014.
Episode 1: Generational Reset (recorded 1/17/11, released 1/26/11) We discuss the resurgence of 2-D gaming, and also give our predictions for the Nintendo Power awards. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 2: Series Evolution (recorded 1/17/11, released 2/6/11) We discuss how video game franchises stay relevant year after year, as well as a few that died prematurely. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 3: Legislative Gaming (recorded 1/18/11, released 2/21/11) We discuss the arguments presented to the Supreme Court over the California law that would've made the sale of violent video games to children a crime. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 4: Underrated Gems (recorded 1/31/11, released 3/6/11) We talk about video games that were critically acclaimed but sold horribly for one reason or another. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron, Ben.
Episode 5: PAX East 2011 (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/14/11, released 3/20/11) We recap our experiences of the 3-day expo known as PAX East in Boston, MA. Panel: Ben, Ian, Wyatt, Jen.
Episode 6: Nintendo Power Awards (recorded 2/25/11, released 4/4/11) We get the results of the NP Awards. Find out how our picks stood up to Nintendo Power editors and Internet voting. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 7: To The Movies (recorded 2/21/11, released 4/17/11) We chat about movies based on video games, and how they tend to not do the game justice, with some exceptions. Panel: Nick, Danielle, Daniel (a.k.a. Grendel).
Episode 8: The Blue Hedgehog (recorded 2/21/11, released 5/1/11) Sonic turns 20, and we reminisce about growing up with Sega's mascot, and also discuss what his future holds. This is the first of four episodes in which we commemorate classic gaming franchises. Panel: Nick, Danielle.
Episode 9: Into the Legend (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 5/15/11) In the second of our episodes celebrating gaming classics, we talk about Dragon Warrior (aka Dragon Quest) and The Legend of Zelda, both turning 25. Panel: Nick, Chris, Ryan, Ron.
Episode 10: Bananas & Pirates (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 5/29/11) In the third episode celebrating gaming classics, we talk Metroid and how Samus still looks good kicking ass after 25 years, and also chat about Donkey Kong, who hits 30. Panel: Nick, Chris, Ryan, Ron.
Episode 11: Under the Umbrella (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 6/12/11) In the fourth and final episode celebrating gaming classics, we harken back to Resident Evil, and how we've been blowing zombies away for 15 years. Panel: Wyatt, Chris, Ronny.
Episode 12: E3 2011 (recorded 6/23/11, released 6/28/11) E3 comes along, and with it, some big announcements by Nintendo and Sony. What offerings by the big 3 should we be concerned about? We talk about the highlights of this year's expo. Panel: Nick, Chris, Joshie, Ron.
Episode 13: Sony's Failboat (recorded 6/4/11, released 7/12/11). Oh, Sony...how you've failed. The Great PSN Outage of 2011 will go down forever as a giant PR debacle, as well as not being able to play hotly anticipated releases for 6 weeks. We discuss Sony's massive failing. Panel: Ryan, Danielle, Joshie, Ron.
Episode 14: Pay to Play (recorded 6/4/11, released 7/24/11) We discuss a new trend in gaming--buying your unlockable content in games, and paying to access content you thought you got when you bought the disc. We debate all sides of the issue. Panel: Ben, Joshie, Ryan, Ronny.
Episode 15: Supreme Court Gaming (recorded 7/23/11, released 8/8/11) The Supreme Court renders its decision over the California law to make the sale of violent games illegal. Panel: Peter, Joshie, Nick, and Ron.
Episode 16: What's Old Is New Again (recorded 7/23/11, released 8/21/11) The gaming industry is jumping on a trend of creating remakes, reboots, re-paintings, and re-imaginings. Good idea or just laziness to ensure sales? Panel: Nick, Kat, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 17: Now In Eye-Popping 3D (recorded 7/23/11, released 9/6/11) We discuss the fledgling 3D gaming movement. Here to stay or just a passing fad? Panel: Peter, Nick, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 18: 20 Years of SNES (recorded 9/12/11, released 9/19/11) The Super Nintendo was released in the US in August 1991. We wax nostalgia and recall our fun growing up playing on the console. Panel: Peter, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 19: Bleeps and Bloops (recorded 9/13/11, released 10/3/11) Music has played an important role in a game's lasting appeal. We discuss the importance of music, and also talk about the composers who've brought you some of gaming's most memorable themes. Panel: Peter, Shanna.
Episode 20: Holiday Gifts (recorded 9/14/11, released 9/17/11) We talk about this year's holiday lineup of game releases. Which games will end up being the must-haves of this season? What games do we personally want? Panel: Ryan, Ron.
Episode 21: Sacrifices Must Be Made (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 10/19/11, released 11/1/11) It's a topic brought up with every single generation of new consoles--the thought that game makers are sacrificing good story and good gameplay for the sake of selling a game that focuses entirely on graphics. Do you agree? In this 2-part episode, we debate this issue. Panel: Nick, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 22: A Biased Press (recorded 11/5/11, released 11/14/11) We talk about the business of video game reviews. How much of a game review is honest opinion, and how much of it is advertising? Do professional publications stand to profit from giving a game a positive review, even if it might be inflated? Panel: Nick, Ron, and Pat from PopuGamer.
Episode 23: Free Play (recorded 11/5/11, released 11/30/11) It's an open discussion. We bounce around topics relating to anything video games. Panel: Joshie and Ron.
Episode 24: Level Cleared (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 12/3/11, released 12/12/11) In this special 2-part season finale, we discuss our own personal best and worst video games of 2011. In addition, we chat about games we're looking forward to in 2012, as well as possible future episodes for the second season of Downloadable Content. Panel: Ben, Joshie, Ron.
Series 2 (2012)
Episode 25: FUS RO DAH! (recorded 1/28/12, released 2/1/12) Back again for another round! We kick off this season of Downloadable Content with an episode completely devoted to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. What's made the game so good? What's the appeal that's caused people to be engrossed in Skyrim for days and weeks? Hear what we think in this season opener. Panel: Ron and Nick.
Episode 26: Off Your Ass (recorded 1/28/12, released 2/29/12) Motion gaming--something brought to the forefront in this generation of consoles. Not a new idea, per se, but one that has been greatly expanded upon and perfected. However, what was once heralded as the next big thing in how we play video games now seems to be fading into history. Was it all a fad, a gimmick? Panel: Ron and Nick.
Episode 27: Of MMOs (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/4/12, released 5/9/12) It's all about MMOs in this 2-part episode. The panel discusses the appeals, draws, and annoyances of massively multiplayer online games. What makes gamers keep shelling out time, effort, and money on these? Our opinions are here. Panel: Ron and Ronny.
Episode 28: On The Go (recorded 3/17/12, released 5/23/12) Mobile games have exploded onto the scene with the advent of smartphones. Millions of people download games daily onto such devices, and many of these games are short, easy to play, and good for a quick fix. The rising popularity have caused the bigger console game makers to take notice. Will they tap into this market? Will mobile games continue to grow? Find out our thoughts on this episode. Panel: Ron, Shanna, Sara.
Episode 29: WiiU & Vita, Pre-E3 (recorded 3/17/12, released 6/5/12) We discuss our thoughts on the recently released PS Vita and the upcoming Nintendo WiiU. NOTE: this episode was recorded back in March, 3 months before E3, so some of our information is now inaccurate. We'll get up to speed with the upcoming E3 episode. Panel: Ron and Ben.
Episode 30: E3 2012 (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 6/16/12, released 7/4/12) Now that E3 2012 has come and gone, what do we make of the glut of gaming news? What new info did the big 3 provide us? Anything new regarding Nintendo's upcoming WiiU? We break it down and give our opinions in this 2-part episode discussing this year's event. Panel: Ron and Joshie.
Episode 31: Metal Gear Saga (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/17/12, released 7/18/12) We begin our block of episodes celebrating classic video game franchises hitting milestone anniversaries this year with a 2-part episode reminiscing the Metal Gear series, hitting its 25th in 2012. Part 1 talks about the origins on the NES and leads into the first Metal Gear Solid game. Part 2 discusses Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and 4, with a little bit of some of the offshoots. Panel: Ron and Ben.
Episode 32: HADOUKEN!!! Continuing our block of episodes celebrating video gaming's classic franchises, the rather large panel gets all fan-crazy as we discuss the first fighting series to make it big--Street Fighter. Since its debut 25 years ago, this series has won over many gamers, from its iconic characters, stages, and music. Listen in as we wax nostalgic over this long-running franchise.
Episode 33: Flawless Victory (Part 1, Part 2) Finish him!!! In this episode, we celebrate 20 years of Mortal Kombat, reminiscing about the moves, the characters, and of course, the fatalities--all in this 2-part episode discussing the rich history of MK. In Part 1, we discuss the classic series, MK 1-4. In Part 2, we discuss the games after MK4.
Series 3 (2013)
Episode S3E1: Final Fantasy 25, Part 1 We're back! To begin Series 3 of Downloadable Content, we start off with Part 1 of a 4-part mini-series celebrating Final Fantasy's 25th anniversary. This episode features the panel discussing their memories playing through the first 3 games, originally released for the NES. Panel: Ron and Shanna.
Episode S3E2: Anticipated Games of 2013 A new year means a new slate of video games we have to look forward to. In this episode, the panel (with special guest Chris Gannon from Gamingdeath.com) talks about what games to watch for in 2013, as well as their own personal choices for games on their want list. Do you want the just-released Devil May Cry reboot or Dead Space 3? Or are you saving your cash for something else, like BioShock Infinite, or The Last Of Us? Panel: Ron and Chris.
Episode S3E3: State of the 8th Generation In light of the imminent media event from Sony, where everyone is hoping that the next PlayStation will be revealed, the panel takes time to discuss all the wild and rampant gross speculation that the gaming media at large have created in their desire to see new consoles. We tackle many of the rumors surrounding the not-yet-announced next-gen consoles that Sony & Microsoft may make in the near future. Also, we discuss how the WiiU, the first console heralding the 8th Generation, has fared, just a few short months after its launch.
Episode S3E4: Rest In Peace, Nintendo Power For nearly 25 years, Nintendo Power magazine existed as the go-to source for all things Nintendo. Every month, readers could count on previews, reviews, strategy guides & cheats (in its early days), and the latest in Nintendo news. This past December, however, the big N pulled the plug on the magazine, leaving the USA without a single print source devoted to Nintendo. Brian & Doug recount the glory days of the magazine, childhood memories and the excitement they felt at a new issue every month. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Episode S3E5: Final Fantasy 25, Part 2 We continue our 4-part series celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy with Part 2, in which Brian, Ron, and Shanna spend time being crazy fans over the three games for the Super Nintendo--Final Fantasy 4, 5, and 6. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/composers/developers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Episode S3E6: PAX East 2013 Once again, the 3-day video game convention we call PAX East made Boston, MA, its home in late March. The panel talks about their experiences during this massive event--the concerts, panels, the expo floor, likes, dislikes, and what they are looking forward to for next year.
Episode S3E7: The Feminine Side of Gaming Newcomer Brittany joins Shanna and Brian, and they discuss women in the video game industry--from women working in the industry itself, to the portrayal of women in video games. They also talk about what they'd like to see in the future to further improve gender equality in the medium. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/etc.
Episode S3E8: Final Fantasy 25, Part 3 In Part 3 of our 4-part series celebrating 25 years of Final Fantasy, we take a look back at the three main games released for the PS1: Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. Our panel waxes nostalgia over the fun of FF7, the trials and tribulations of FF8, and the homage to the classic era that was FF9. Have a favorite moment? Share it with us. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S3E9: Mega Man Man Man Man We take a look at Capcom's most prolific franchise: Mega Man, celebrating 25 years of 2D sidescrolling platforming goodness. Nick and Ron take hosting duties on this episode, with Brian in the panelist's seat as they chat about the core numbered series and the X series. Find out their likes, dislikes, and thoughts on this long-time franchise. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
Episode S3E10: Sony & Microsoft, Your Move Sony and Microsoft have now shown their hands with the reveals of their next-gen consoles. What we know so far has gamers both optimistic and annoyed, and if both of them hope to have any shot at winning over the masses, they need to deliver gaming experiences that take us well above and beyond our current generation. We break down what we know of these consoles thus far, giving you our thoughts and opinions on the PS4 and the Xbox One. All music belongs to their respective games, studios, developers, publishers, etc.
Episode S3E11: Final Fantasy 25, Part 4 (Part 1, Part 2) In our 4th and final episode celebrating Final Fantasy's 25th anniversary, we cover the PS2 & PS3 era, talk about the offshoots, and speculate on the future of the series. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S3E12: E3 2013 (Part 1, Part 2) The excitement and anticipation of E3 always brings the best from the major game developers. With two major consoles on the horizon, Sony & Microsoft had much to offer. Nintendo, too, offered an impressive lineup. In this 2-part episode, we break down all the news from E3 and give you our thoughts. All music belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E13: The Indies Only in the last few years have we really seen indie games take off. Unencumbered by the bigger name-brand developers and publishers, independent developers are not afraid to get experimental, and thus have been giving the industry fresh ideas. Their relatively cheap costs to play have given them wide-ranging appeal, and as a result, are the fastest growing sector of the game industry. We give you our thoughts on this, and also give our recommendations of some of the great indie games out there. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, composers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E14: The Fanatic's Influence We take a look at fans of video games and their influence on video games. How much influence should they have in a game's creation? Is it wise for developers to hear critique and feedback and use it? Should they even have a voice at all? We take a look at these and give you our thoughts. All music used belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E15: Blowing Cartridges The year was 1983. The video game crash of that year nearly wiped out video games as we know them. However, a company known for making playing cards for nearly 100 years decided to try venturing into electronics. The rest, as they say, is history. For many of us, the NES was our introduction to video games, and the experiences we had playing iconic games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Mega Man (to name a few) drew us in, and created a love for video games that we have today. Video games have come a long way in the 30 years since the Nintendo Entertainment System was introduced to the world, but we look back fondly as we bring back all those childhood memories, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic gray box.
Episode S3E16: Free Play 2.0 It's an open discussion on this episode of DLC--the panel sounds off about anything related to video games. We cover a variety of things on this "free play" episode, including indie games, the upcoming relaunch of FF14, games that we're currently playing, and more.
Episode S3E17: Choose Your Destiny It's our 50th episode!!! On this special milestone, we shine the spotlight on fighting games and how they've evolved from arcade classics to e-sports main events. Along the way, we talk about our favorite fighting games and the joys and frustrations playing them. All music used belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E18: Free Play 3.0 On our second Free Play episode of 2013, Ron and Ronny join Brian and discuss a wide range of game-related topics. Topics include: should Nintendo allow its first-party properties to be sold on other platforms, the rise of e-sports, Magic: The Gathering Online, why video game movies suck, and plenty more! All music belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3E19: The Sport of Gaming As the focus of multiplayer games shift from a group of gamers gathered in an arcade for a day, then to someone's home for a day of fun, to the world of the Internet, more and more are taking full advantage of the fun that can be had by playing with a group of players from anywhere on the globe. The popularity of these games have risen to the point where tournaments are held, often with large cash prizes, and watched live by hundreds of thousands of spectators. What's the allure? Should we expect video games to continue to grow as a spectator sport? Find out our thoughts on this episode.
Episode S3E20: Free Play 4.0 Fresh off his debut episode last time, Reid joins Grendel and I as we delve into our final Free Play episode of 2013. In this open discussion, we give our thoughts on a variety of video game-related subjects: video games and their alleged relationships to shootings, how games can help to make better surgeons and also to improve child literacy. We also thrown in a couple of rants because, well, why not? Listen in and give us your two cents on what we have to say, should you be so inclined.
Episode S3E21: Holiday Lineup The holiday season is upon us, and with it, a bunch of new games and some major new consoles come rushing in. Listen in as Bem and Wyatt join Brian and break down the lineup. NOTE: this was recorded the day before Ubisoft announced the delay for Watch Dogs, so while the commentary is good, the release info is inaccurate. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, composers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E22: Final Fantasy 25, Part 5 By fan request, we've added a 5th episode to our mini-series celebrating Final Fantasy! We break down and romp through the offshoots and spinoffs--the non-numbered Final Fantasy games like Tactics, Crisis Core, and Dissidia (to name a few), and traipse through the FF media like Unlimited and the two major movies. Ron guest-hosts a 5-person panel in our last episode celebrating this great franchise. All music belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E23: LGBT Are Gamers Too We touch upon a serious topic in this episode: the LGBT community, and how they are represented and portrayed in video games. How do we as a community be more progressive, tolerant, and respectful? What can the industry do to follow suit? Catherine returns to DLC on this episode, and she brings with her two newcomers: Tanya, head of indie game developer Kisareth Studios, and Sam, head of his website Gamers Against Bigotry. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3E24: Level 3 Cleared We've come to the end of another level! It's our season finale--Ron, Ronny, and Brian recap the bests and worsts of 2013: video games, gaming industry moments, etc. The panel also has a bit of open discussion and give you what they look forward to in 2014. A massive thank you to all our panelists this year, and another massive thanks to all our listeners! All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3EP: Outtakes It's the Series 3 poopie reel: what you're about to hear are some outtakes from this season of DLC, moments that got cut from finished episodes, and in some cases, left in the finished episode and re-lived here because they're just too funny. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Series 4 (2014)
Episode S4E1: State of the 8th Generation 2.0 We begin Season 4 of Downloadable Content with a glimpse into the 8th Generation: the newly-launched PS4 and Xbox One. How are they faring little more than 2 months after their release? Now that the honeymoon is over, what games are we looking forward to in order to justify those expensive toys? And what is up with Nintendo and its floundering Wii U? All music used belongs to their respective games/composers/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S4E2: Bigger, Stronger, Faster In the 40+ years since the first video game console, these devices have gone from a living room accessory to multi-functional, all-in-one machines capable of doing far more than simply play video games. We take a look at the evolution of video game consoles and wonder just how far we can go. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S4E3: Flight of the Developers In light of the recent announcement of Irrational Games shutting down, the reaction has ranged from wishing Ken Levine well to Rage Quitting everything. Yet, he's certainly not the first big-name developer who's left behind their AAA franchises to pursue making other games (usually indie). What effects on the video game industry does this have when such talent leave behind their blockbuster franchises to pursue other creative interests? That's what we aim to discuss here. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc.
Episode S4E4: Steam-Powered Machines Joshie joins DLC for the first time this season, and brings with him his two cents on the currently-being-developed Steam Machines. With Valve wanting to get in on the console and PC market, we talk about the devices themselves and speculate on how successful we think Valve might be. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers.
Episode S4E5: An Artistic Identity Crisis Video games, like any art, have to undergo some growing pains. In an effort to try to gain legitimacy and mainstream recognition and not be seen as simply a kid's toy, some games may take on the look and feel of Hollywood-style movies. Others argue that video games should not try to be something else, but instead should stand on its own merits. Agree or disagree? We give our thoughts on this episode. All music used belongs to their games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
Episode S4E6: The Original Gray Brick In 1989, Nintendo launched a product that would change the face of handheld gaming forever. While the Game Boy wasn't the first handheld device to play games, it was the first to receive massive critical acclaim and appeal. Even now, 25 years later, Nintendo is still the runaway leader in the handheld market. On this episode, we look back at some of our greatest (and worst) memories of the original gray brick. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
Episode 1: Generational Reset (recorded 1/17/11, released 1/26/11) We discuss the resurgence of 2-D gaming, and also give our predictions for the Nintendo Power awards. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 2: Series Evolution (recorded 1/17/11, released 2/6/11) We discuss how video game franchises stay relevant year after year, as well as a few that died prematurely. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 3: Legislative Gaming (recorded 1/18/11, released 2/21/11) We discuss the arguments presented to the Supreme Court over the California law that would've made the sale of violent video games to children a crime. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 4: Underrated Gems (recorded 1/31/11, released 3/6/11) We talk about video games that were critically acclaimed but sold horribly for one reason or another. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron, Ben.
Episode 5: PAX East 2011 (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/14/11, released 3/20/11) We recap our experiences of the 3-day expo known as PAX East in Boston, MA. Panel: Ben, Ian, Wyatt, Jen.
Episode 6: Nintendo Power Awards (recorded 2/25/11, released 4/4/11) We get the results of the NP Awards. Find out how our picks stood up to Nintendo Power editors and Internet voting. Panel: Peter, Erica, Ron.
Episode 7: To The Movies (recorded 2/21/11, released 4/17/11) We chat about movies based on video games, and how they tend to not do the game justice, with some exceptions. Panel: Nick, Danielle, Daniel (a.k.a. Grendel).
Episode 8: The Blue Hedgehog (recorded 2/21/11, released 5/1/11) Sonic turns 20, and we reminisce about growing up with Sega's mascot, and also discuss what his future holds. This is the first of four episodes in which we commemorate classic gaming franchises. Panel: Nick, Danielle.
Episode 9: Into the Legend (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 5/15/11) In the second of our episodes celebrating gaming classics, we talk about Dragon Warrior (aka Dragon Quest) and The Legend of Zelda, both turning 25. Panel: Nick, Chris, Ryan, Ron.
Episode 10: Bananas & Pirates (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 5/29/11) In the third episode celebrating gaming classics, we talk Metroid and how Samus still looks good kicking ass after 25 years, and also chat about Donkey Kong, who hits 30. Panel: Nick, Chris, Ryan, Ron.
Episode 11: Under the Umbrella (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 4/9/11, released 6/12/11) In the fourth and final episode celebrating gaming classics, we harken back to Resident Evil, and how we've been blowing zombies away for 15 years. Panel: Wyatt, Chris, Ronny.
Episode 12: E3 2011 (recorded 6/23/11, released 6/28/11) E3 comes along, and with it, some big announcements by Nintendo and Sony. What offerings by the big 3 should we be concerned about? We talk about the highlights of this year's expo. Panel: Nick, Chris, Joshie, Ron.
Episode 13: Sony's Failboat (recorded 6/4/11, released 7/12/11). Oh, Sony...how you've failed. The Great PSN Outage of 2011 will go down forever as a giant PR debacle, as well as not being able to play hotly anticipated releases for 6 weeks. We discuss Sony's massive failing. Panel: Ryan, Danielle, Joshie, Ron.
Episode 14: Pay to Play (recorded 6/4/11, released 7/24/11) We discuss a new trend in gaming--buying your unlockable content in games, and paying to access content you thought you got when you bought the disc. We debate all sides of the issue. Panel: Ben, Joshie, Ryan, Ronny.
Episode 15: Supreme Court Gaming (recorded 7/23/11, released 8/8/11) The Supreme Court renders its decision over the California law to make the sale of violent games illegal. Panel: Peter, Joshie, Nick, and Ron.
Episode 16: What's Old Is New Again (recorded 7/23/11, released 8/21/11) The gaming industry is jumping on a trend of creating remakes, reboots, re-paintings, and re-imaginings. Good idea or just laziness to ensure sales? Panel: Nick, Kat, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 17: Now In Eye-Popping 3D (recorded 7/23/11, released 9/6/11) We discuss the fledgling 3D gaming movement. Here to stay or just a passing fad? Panel: Peter, Nick, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 18: 20 Years of SNES (recorded 9/12/11, released 9/19/11) The Super Nintendo was released in the US in August 1991. We wax nostalgia and recall our fun growing up playing on the console. Panel: Peter, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 19: Bleeps and Bloops (recorded 9/13/11, released 10/3/11) Music has played an important role in a game's lasting appeal. We discuss the importance of music, and also talk about the composers who've brought you some of gaming's most memorable themes. Panel: Peter, Shanna.
Episode 20: Holiday Gifts (recorded 9/14/11, released 9/17/11) We talk about this year's holiday lineup of game releases. Which games will end up being the must-haves of this season? What games do we personally want? Panel: Ryan, Ron.
Episode 21: Sacrifices Must Be Made (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 10/19/11, released 11/1/11) It's a topic brought up with every single generation of new consoles--the thought that game makers are sacrificing good story and good gameplay for the sake of selling a game that focuses entirely on graphics. Do you agree? In this 2-part episode, we debate this issue. Panel: Nick, Ronny, Ron.
Episode 22: A Biased Press (recorded 11/5/11, released 11/14/11) We talk about the business of video game reviews. How much of a game review is honest opinion, and how much of it is advertising? Do professional publications stand to profit from giving a game a positive review, even if it might be inflated? Panel: Nick, Ron, and Pat from PopuGamer.
Episode 23: Free Play (recorded 11/5/11, released 11/30/11) It's an open discussion. We bounce around topics relating to anything video games. Panel: Joshie and Ron.
Episode 24: Level Cleared (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 12/3/11, released 12/12/11) In this special 2-part season finale, we discuss our own personal best and worst video games of 2011. In addition, we chat about games we're looking forward to in 2012, as well as possible future episodes for the second season of Downloadable Content. Panel: Ben, Joshie, Ron.
Series 2 (2012)
Episode 25: FUS RO DAH! (recorded 1/28/12, released 2/1/12) Back again for another round! We kick off this season of Downloadable Content with an episode completely devoted to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. What's made the game so good? What's the appeal that's caused people to be engrossed in Skyrim for days and weeks? Hear what we think in this season opener. Panel: Ron and Nick.
Episode 26: Off Your Ass (recorded 1/28/12, released 2/29/12) Motion gaming--something brought to the forefront in this generation of consoles. Not a new idea, per se, but one that has been greatly expanded upon and perfected. However, what was once heralded as the next big thing in how we play video games now seems to be fading into history. Was it all a fad, a gimmick? Panel: Ron and Nick.
Episode 27: Of MMOs (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/4/12, released 5/9/12) It's all about MMOs in this 2-part episode. The panel discusses the appeals, draws, and annoyances of massively multiplayer online games. What makes gamers keep shelling out time, effort, and money on these? Our opinions are here. Panel: Ron and Ronny.
Episode 28: On The Go (recorded 3/17/12, released 5/23/12) Mobile games have exploded onto the scene with the advent of smartphones. Millions of people download games daily onto such devices, and many of these games are short, easy to play, and good for a quick fix. The rising popularity have caused the bigger console game makers to take notice. Will they tap into this market? Will mobile games continue to grow? Find out our thoughts on this episode. Panel: Ron, Shanna, Sara.
Episode 29: WiiU & Vita, Pre-E3 (recorded 3/17/12, released 6/5/12) We discuss our thoughts on the recently released PS Vita and the upcoming Nintendo WiiU. NOTE: this episode was recorded back in March, 3 months before E3, so some of our information is now inaccurate. We'll get up to speed with the upcoming E3 episode. Panel: Ron and Ben.
Episode 30: E3 2012 (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 6/16/12, released 7/4/12) Now that E3 2012 has come and gone, what do we make of the glut of gaming news? What new info did the big 3 provide us? Anything new regarding Nintendo's upcoming WiiU? We break it down and give our opinions in this 2-part episode discussing this year's event. Panel: Ron and Joshie.
Episode 31: Metal Gear Saga (Part 1, Part 2) (recorded 3/17/12, released 7/18/12) We begin our block of episodes celebrating classic video game franchises hitting milestone anniversaries this year with a 2-part episode reminiscing the Metal Gear series, hitting its 25th in 2012. Part 1 talks about the origins on the NES and leads into the first Metal Gear Solid game. Part 2 discusses Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and 4, with a little bit of some of the offshoots. Panel: Ron and Ben.
Episode 32: HADOUKEN!!! Continuing our block of episodes celebrating video gaming's classic franchises, the rather large panel gets all fan-crazy as we discuss the first fighting series to make it big--Street Fighter. Since its debut 25 years ago, this series has won over many gamers, from its iconic characters, stages, and music. Listen in as we wax nostalgic over this long-running franchise.
Episode 33: Flawless Victory (Part 1, Part 2) Finish him!!! In this episode, we celebrate 20 years of Mortal Kombat, reminiscing about the moves, the characters, and of course, the fatalities--all in this 2-part episode discussing the rich history of MK. In Part 1, we discuss the classic series, MK 1-4. In Part 2, we discuss the games after MK4.
Series 3 (2013)
Episode S3E1: Final Fantasy 25, Part 1 We're back! To begin Series 3 of Downloadable Content, we start off with Part 1 of a 4-part mini-series celebrating Final Fantasy's 25th anniversary. This episode features the panel discussing their memories playing through the first 3 games, originally released for the NES. Panel: Ron and Shanna.
Episode S3E2: Anticipated Games of 2013 A new year means a new slate of video games we have to look forward to. In this episode, the panel (with special guest Chris Gannon from Gamingdeath.com) talks about what games to watch for in 2013, as well as their own personal choices for games on their want list. Do you want the just-released Devil May Cry reboot or Dead Space 3? Or are you saving your cash for something else, like BioShock Infinite, or The Last Of Us? Panel: Ron and Chris.
Episode S3E3: State of the 8th Generation In light of the imminent media event from Sony, where everyone is hoping that the next PlayStation will be revealed, the panel takes time to discuss all the wild and rampant gross speculation that the gaming media at large have created in their desire to see new consoles. We tackle many of the rumors surrounding the not-yet-announced next-gen consoles that Sony & Microsoft may make in the near future. Also, we discuss how the WiiU, the first console heralding the 8th Generation, has fared, just a few short months after its launch.
Episode S3E4: Rest In Peace, Nintendo Power For nearly 25 years, Nintendo Power magazine existed as the go-to source for all things Nintendo. Every month, readers could count on previews, reviews, strategy guides & cheats (in its early days), and the latest in Nintendo news. This past December, however, the big N pulled the plug on the magazine, leaving the USA without a single print source devoted to Nintendo. Brian & Doug recount the glory days of the magazine, childhood memories and the excitement they felt at a new issue every month. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/composers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Episode S3E5: Final Fantasy 25, Part 2 We continue our 4-part series celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy with Part 2, in which Brian, Ron, and Shanna spend time being crazy fans over the three games for the Super Nintendo--Final Fantasy 4, 5, and 6. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/composers/developers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Episode S3E6: PAX East 2013 Once again, the 3-day video game convention we call PAX East made Boston, MA, its home in late March. The panel talks about their experiences during this massive event--the concerts, panels, the expo floor, likes, dislikes, and what they are looking forward to for next year.
Episode S3E7: The Feminine Side of Gaming Newcomer Brittany joins Shanna and Brian, and they discuss women in the video game industry--from women working in the industry itself, to the portrayal of women in video games. They also talk about what they'd like to see in the future to further improve gender equality in the medium. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/etc.
Episode S3E8: Final Fantasy 25, Part 3 In Part 3 of our 4-part series celebrating 25 years of Final Fantasy, we take a look back at the three main games released for the PS1: Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. Our panel waxes nostalgia over the fun of FF7, the trials and tribulations of FF8, and the homage to the classic era that was FF9. Have a favorite moment? Share it with us. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S3E9: Mega Man Man Man Man We take a look at Capcom's most prolific franchise: Mega Man, celebrating 25 years of 2D sidescrolling platforming goodness. Nick and Ron take hosting duties on this episode, with Brian in the panelist's seat as they chat about the core numbered series and the X series. Find out their likes, dislikes, and thoughts on this long-time franchise. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
Episode S3E10: Sony & Microsoft, Your Move Sony and Microsoft have now shown their hands with the reveals of their next-gen consoles. What we know so far has gamers both optimistic and annoyed, and if both of them hope to have any shot at winning over the masses, they need to deliver gaming experiences that take us well above and beyond our current generation. We break down what we know of these consoles thus far, giving you our thoughts and opinions on the PS4 and the Xbox One. All music belongs to their respective games, studios, developers, publishers, etc.
Episode S3E11: Final Fantasy 25, Part 4 (Part 1, Part 2) In our 4th and final episode celebrating Final Fantasy's 25th anniversary, we cover the PS2 & PS3 era, talk about the offshoots, and speculate on the future of the series. All music used belongs to their respective games/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S3E12: E3 2013 (Part 1, Part 2) The excitement and anticipation of E3 always brings the best from the major game developers. With two major consoles on the horizon, Sony & Microsoft had much to offer. Nintendo, too, offered an impressive lineup. In this 2-part episode, we break down all the news from E3 and give you our thoughts. All music belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E13: The Indies Only in the last few years have we really seen indie games take off. Unencumbered by the bigger name-brand developers and publishers, independent developers are not afraid to get experimental, and thus have been giving the industry fresh ideas. Their relatively cheap costs to play have given them wide-ranging appeal, and as a result, are the fastest growing sector of the game industry. We give you our thoughts on this, and also give our recommendations of some of the great indie games out there. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, composers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E14: The Fanatic's Influence We take a look at fans of video games and their influence on video games. How much influence should they have in a game's creation? Is it wise for developers to hear critique and feedback and use it? Should they even have a voice at all? We take a look at these and give you our thoughts. All music used belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E15: Blowing Cartridges The year was 1983. The video game crash of that year nearly wiped out video games as we know them. However, a company known for making playing cards for nearly 100 years decided to try venturing into electronics. The rest, as they say, is history. For many of us, the NES was our introduction to video games, and the experiences we had playing iconic games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Mega Man (to name a few) drew us in, and created a love for video games that we have today. Video games have come a long way in the 30 years since the Nintendo Entertainment System was introduced to the world, but we look back fondly as we bring back all those childhood memories, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic gray box.
Episode S3E16: Free Play 2.0 It's an open discussion on this episode of DLC--the panel sounds off about anything related to video games. We cover a variety of things on this "free play" episode, including indie games, the upcoming relaunch of FF14, games that we're currently playing, and more.
Episode S3E17: Choose Your Destiny It's our 50th episode!!! On this special milestone, we shine the spotlight on fighting games and how they've evolved from arcade classics to e-sports main events. Along the way, we talk about our favorite fighting games and the joys and frustrations playing them. All music used belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E18: Free Play 3.0 On our second Free Play episode of 2013, Ron and Ronny join Brian and discuss a wide range of game-related topics. Topics include: should Nintendo allow its first-party properties to be sold on other platforms, the rise of e-sports, Magic: The Gathering Online, why video game movies suck, and plenty more! All music belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3E19: The Sport of Gaming As the focus of multiplayer games shift from a group of gamers gathered in an arcade for a day, then to someone's home for a day of fun, to the world of the Internet, more and more are taking full advantage of the fun that can be had by playing with a group of players from anywhere on the globe. The popularity of these games have risen to the point where tournaments are held, often with large cash prizes, and watched live by hundreds of thousands of spectators. What's the allure? Should we expect video games to continue to grow as a spectator sport? Find out our thoughts on this episode.
Episode S3E20: Free Play 4.0 Fresh off his debut episode last time, Reid joins Grendel and I as we delve into our final Free Play episode of 2013. In this open discussion, we give our thoughts on a variety of video game-related subjects: video games and their alleged relationships to shootings, how games can help to make better surgeons and also to improve child literacy. We also thrown in a couple of rants because, well, why not? Listen in and give us your two cents on what we have to say, should you be so inclined.
Episode S3E21: Holiday Lineup The holiday season is upon us, and with it, a bunch of new games and some major new consoles come rushing in. Listen in as Bem and Wyatt join Brian and break down the lineup. NOTE: this was recorded the day before Ubisoft announced the delay for Watch Dogs, so while the commentary is good, the release info is inaccurate. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, composers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E22: Final Fantasy 25, Part 5 By fan request, we've added a 5th episode to our mini-series celebrating Final Fantasy! We break down and romp through the offshoots and spinoffs--the non-numbered Final Fantasy games like Tactics, Crisis Core, and Dissidia (to name a few), and traipse through the FF media like Unlimited and the two major movies. Ron guest-hosts a 5-person panel in our last episode celebrating this great franchise. All music belongs to their respective games, composers, developers, studios, etc.
Episode S3E23: LGBT Are Gamers Too We touch upon a serious topic in this episode: the LGBT community, and how they are represented and portrayed in video games. How do we as a community be more progressive, tolerant, and respectful? What can the industry do to follow suit? Catherine returns to DLC on this episode, and she brings with her two newcomers: Tanya, head of indie game developer Kisareth Studios, and Sam, head of his website Gamers Against Bigotry. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3E24: Level 3 Cleared We've come to the end of another level! It's our season finale--Ron, Ronny, and Brian recap the bests and worsts of 2013: video games, gaming industry moments, etc. The panel also has a bit of open discussion and give you what they look forward to in 2014. A massive thank you to all our panelists this year, and another massive thanks to all our listeners! All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S3EP: Outtakes It's the Series 3 poopie reel: what you're about to hear are some outtakes from this season of DLC, moments that got cut from finished episodes, and in some cases, left in the finished episode and re-lived here because they're just too funny. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Series 4 (2014)
Episode S4E1: State of the 8th Generation 2.0 We begin Season 4 of Downloadable Content with a glimpse into the 8th Generation: the newly-launched PS4 and Xbox One. How are they faring little more than 2 months after their release? Now that the honeymoon is over, what games are we looking forward to in order to justify those expensive toys? And what is up with Nintendo and its floundering Wii U? All music used belongs to their respective games/composers/studios/developers/etc.
Episode S4E2: Bigger, Stronger, Faster In the 40+ years since the first video game console, these devices have gone from a living room accessory to multi-functional, all-in-one machines capable of doing far more than simply play video games. We take a look at the evolution of video game consoles and wonder just how far we can go. All music used belongs to their respective games, developers, studios, composers, etc.
Episode S4E3: Flight of the Developers In light of the recent announcement of Irrational Games shutting down, the reaction has ranged from wishing Ken Levine well to Rage Quitting everything. Yet, he's certainly not the first big-name developer who's left behind their AAA franchises to pursue making other games (usually indie). What effects on the video game industry does this have when such talent leave behind their blockbuster franchises to pursue other creative interests? That's what we aim to discuss here. All music belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers/etc.
Episode S4E4: Steam-Powered Machines Joshie joins DLC for the first time this season, and brings with him his two cents on the currently-being-developed Steam Machines. With Valve wanting to get in on the console and PC market, we talk about the devices themselves and speculate on how successful we think Valve might be. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/studios/composers.
Episode S4E5: An Artistic Identity Crisis Video games, like any art, have to undergo some growing pains. In an effort to try to gain legitimacy and mainstream recognition and not be seen as simply a kid's toy, some games may take on the look and feel of Hollywood-style movies. Others argue that video games should not try to be something else, but instead should stand on its own merits. Agree or disagree? We give our thoughts on this episode. All music used belongs to their games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
Episode S4E6: The Original Gray Brick In 1989, Nintendo launched a product that would change the face of handheld gaming forever. While the Game Boy wasn't the first handheld device to play games, it was the first to receive massive critical acclaim and appeal. Even now, 25 years later, Nintendo is still the runaway leader in the handheld market. On this episode, we look back at some of our greatest (and worst) memories of the original gray brick. All music used belongs to their respective games/developers/composers/studios/etc.
