The GameCola Podcast

Which big player is doing the most damage to gaming? Is it Sony deprioritizing the single player experience? Microsoft anointing a new AI focused Xbox CEO? Nintendo treating major franchises as cheap cash grabs? Join Joseph Martin, James Pelster, and Blu Ryder as they discuss all this and the following on the last of the 100's of the GameCola Podcast! - Paul Franzen and Michael Gray's Cat President: 3rd Rate Candidate is out! - The Slop of Xbox Live Arcade vs the Slop of today - Sony's new gaming priorities - The CEO shuffle of Xbox - How does Pokémon Winds and Waves stack up to our fears and experiences with Gen 8 and 9? - Games we've been playing in RECENT TIMES ~ [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

James went to Awesome Games Done Quick, and in that spirit let me speedrun this description. Join Joseph Martin, James Pelster, Blu Ryder, and Alex Jedraszczak as they talk about: - James at AGDQ - Blu's new opinions on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Jeddy makes an NES game where door is locke - Games we've been playing in recent times - The potential for the sequel to 'Coladachi Life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRvM8rEQuyA) [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Has it been 365 days already? Well, Joseph Martin, Anna Bryniarski, John Rizzi, and Blu Ryder are here to look forward to the next year as well as look back on the most memorable moments from last year! Such topics include: - Anna is Back In Action - What are we looking forward to in 2026? - Jason Momoa has electricity powers now - What were the most memorable moments of 2025? - What videogames did we play last year (aka in recent times)? [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

While companies try to gaslight us into thinking their AI art makes sense, while the new Steam Machine is affectionately referred to as the "GabeCube" and while Rosalina and Peach go head-to-head on who can be the biggest Mario girlboss, Joseph Martin, John Rizzi, James Pelster, and Blu Ryder truthfully allow male-individual-contributors into the biggest and best gaming news and discussion that also happens to be on this podcast. Such topics as: - The Gang discusses the implications of the Steam Machine - Grand Theft Auto 6? More like Grand Theft Employment-Due-To-Alledged-Union-Busting... 6 - The Game Awards have more indie darlings, confirming the suspicions of the previous podcast - Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 uses AI art that's bad, even for AI art - The Legend of Zelda movie had a few production photos revealed. Discuss. - Getting ready for princesses to gaslight and gatekeep as they girlboss their way through The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Games we've been girlbossing in recent times [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

High prices, low expectations, gambling... it seems like the Golden Age of Videogames is long over. However, we're optimistic that we can convince you that the Silver Age of Videogames ain't to shabby either. You'll either agree with us (Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, and James Pelster) or our out-of-touch opinions will drive you into a fevered rage. I guess you'll just have to listen to the following topics and see! - James claims Halloween is over before October 31st - How do videogames stack up as other media landscapes evolve? - Joe pitches the Silver Age of Videogames and how it's not so bad - Joe caveats that gambling is not included in things that aren't bad - Blu makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 mad - James makes Blue Prince fans mad (including Blu) - I'm sure Joe said something to make people mad [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Sometimes videogames are good. Sometimes they are not good. Sometimes your host and podcast commander Joseph Martin is compelled to tell you about the not good ones. Join him, James Pelster, Alex Jedraszczak, and Blu Ryder as they discuss such games of varying quality as - Videogames are too expensive - Virtual Boy Befuddlement - All the folks there are to see in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion - Blu interrogates the acclaim of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33  - Silksong and managing difficulty in videogames - Joe and James compare notes on Metroid Fusion - Joe's titular crash out over Metroid - Crystalis [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

It's been 8 years since the last podcast... or something like that. Anyway, sometimes we have to wait a long time to get our videogames, and that makes us have thoughts when they eventually come out. Join Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, and James Pelster as they ponder such related topics as: - James gives a summary on Hollow Knight to get us up to speed for its sequel - So why is everyone so excited for Silksong anyway? - Joe explores his trepidations with long development cycles (he's been hurt before) - Other games that have delayed due to Silksong's announced release date - James still hasn't done his videogame homework - What videogames have we been playing in recent (not 8 years) times [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

On this episode of The GameCola Podcast, Joseph Martin and Blu Ryder go deep in the paint on Creature Creators and the Creature Collector and Monster Taming videogames they make. If you can see the thumbnail for this episode, you'll see my attempts at my own Creature Creation, so you can judge for yourself if I have a right to speak on this topic, along with many other topics including - Warner Bros. Discovery has been cleft in twain, what does this mean for videogames that Blu likes? - The genre names people use to avoid mentioning their game is like Pokémon - Tentpole games of comparison for various videogame genres - The harmony of nature and technology inherent to the setting of Pokémon - How did Overwatch get people to care about their characters so quickly? - Should all videogames start by having a TV show? - The importance of good human characters in Creature videogames - Blu's experiences with card game rougelikes such as Monster Train - Joe's continuing investigation into Coromon [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

This podcast serves as a checkpoint, if you don't think that's cheating anyway. Join Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, and Alex Jedraszczak as they save more than just states on this episode of The GameCola Podcast! Topics include: - Is there anything more videogames than save states? - Videogame dialog options and their various videogame effects, or lack thereof - Jeddy's New adventures with Animal Crossing [Old] Horizons - It doesn't take much to get Jeddy to give his opinions on various JRPGs - Would certain videogames be as well received if they didn't have mascots and brands to promote them? - Frame data and the average gamer - What videogames have we been playing in recent times? [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Welcome to the Mainline GameCola Podcast! This is the real deal you guys, not one of those weird spin-off episodes. Featuring your Very Mainline Cast of Anna Bryniarski, James Pelster, Joseph Martin, and Blu Ryder, we’re here to tell you all about what videogames deserve the honor of being part of their Mainline series, and what videogame topics deserve to be part of our Mainline podcast. - What factors do we consider important for determining a “mainline” videogame? - There seems to be an exception to every rule - Can a videogame become un-mainline? - What Mario games does Anna consider to be mainline? - Some of our and our fans’ favorite mainline edge cases. - The people who make superhero videogames sure do have it out for Blu - What videogames have we been playing in recent mainlines? [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

The price of videogames is going up, and your GameCola Podcast friends Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, and James Pelster are here to guide you through these tumultuous times for your wallet. And don't worry, this one's on the house! - How do you feel about $80 Mario Kart? - Some theories as to why games are getting more expensive now - Is it tariffs? It's probably tariffs. - Expensive videogames are like long movies. I'm sure Joe has a point. - Things you can do instead of spending money on videogames (cry) - The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has a lot of endings and a lot of Not Dying Forever [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Never before could a podcast be shared with friends digitally, but now it can! Join Joseph Martin, James Pelster, and John Rizzi as they discuss this and other technological marvels such as: - Trying to figure out Nintendo's Virtual Game Card - Digital games don't have limited supply - Mario Party 3 controls on Nintendo Switch Online are inscrutable - How do different controllers' reliabilities hold up over time? - James flies an airplane in Minecraft - We are in a new golden era of videogame movies [Podcast Intro/Outro "5 is Average" by Meteo Xavier]

A battle of the titans! Join Joseph Martin and James Pelster as they witness the colossal battle between Blu Ryder and the fiend responsible for the destruction of so many DC superhero games! Pay no attention to the 3rd discussion in a row about the Nintendo Switch 2... there are plenty of other topics like: - The new Pokémon Presents shows us who are Z-A ChamPions - Blu's eternal battle with the new Warner Bros. and DC Comics videogames - The PS6 and the NeXtbox - Your Favorite RPG is not something James wants to play - Marvel Rivals and Rank Inflation - James' return to No Man's Sky - Joseph's frustration with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team on Nintendo Switch Online [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

We tried to warn you! After talking about our Nintendo Switch 2 predictions, we got the Nintendo Switch 2! Join Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, Alex Jedraszczak, and John Rizzi as they discuss Nintendo's latest successor and what that means for videos and games. - The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer - Generative AI has taken over indie game storefronts - We try to figure out which Marvel Rivals would be good at soccer - We celebrate the long lasting friendship of Canada and the United States - Jeddy is once again playing a videogame he does not like - Joe is still struggling with Golden Sun - John made a cool list of (not) videogame movies [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

It's a New Year, and a New Switch! Well, hopefully not a "New Switch" in the way we had a "New 3DS." Look, just listen to the podcast and you'll understand what I mean. Anna Bryniarski, James Pelster, Blu Ryder, and Joseph Martin have all the details on the upcoming year, up-to-and-including: - Last call for theories, hopes and dreams for the upcoming Nintendo Switch Successor - Joe talks about the Mega Man episode of the Secret Level animation anthology - Blu and Anna unsuccessfully play Rock Paper Scissors - Public Domain Mickey Mouse gives James a licensed therapy session - What videogames not-of-the-future have we been playing in recent times? [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Welcome to Blu's premiere as GM for this brand new GameCola RPG adventure! Join as he guides GameCola members you love in the roles of characters you know on an epic journey across multiple videogame worlds. This ragtag group of players consists of James Pelster as Samus Aran (from Metroid), John Rizzi as Obi-Wan Kenobi (from Star Wars) and Leaf as Grandpa (from Stardew Valley). - This raucous episode promises to leave you on the edge of your seat, with such exciting events as: - James losing all his items at the start of the game - Leaf traumatizing a poor old man at least once, but almost certainly less than 12 times. - John using awesome force powers and a lightsaber (obviously) - Complaining about how weird Mega Man world-building has been over the decades - Uh oh, a Final Boss battle already!!?? - Blu pulling a bunch of mean tricks on the unsuspecting players because their dice told him to - A handful of original musical pieces and rearrangements of classic videogame themes, all done by Blu just for this series …and much, much more! The game played is Interstitial: Our Hearts Intertwined 1st Edition, available for purchase here: https://revryebread.itch.io/interstitial-our-hearts-intertwined The Apparition playbook used for Grandpa was made by Little Winky and features art by scribbles_and_dragons. Get the Apparition playbook here: https://little-winky.itch.io/ and follow the artist here: https://www.instagram.com/scribbles_and_dragons/

No goody-two-shoes allowed, this time we're breaking all the rules! Join Joseph Martin, Blu Ryder, and John Rizzi as they discuss all the ways you can do videogames in ways that aren't the ways people think videogames should be done by people who do videogames for fun. These incorrect ways of videogames include - Playing videogames too fast - It sucks when someone plays a videogame wrong but then complains about it - Playing videogames for sport even when the developers don't want you to - Using achievements to encourage people to play videogames wrong - Using hacking to play videogames wrong - What videogames have we been playing incorrectly in recent times? [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Long ago in a distant land, one Quarrior set out Questerdly  to achieve heroics of great repute. His legacy is documented in this very podcast, by Questern Questorians Quoseph Quartin (Joseph Martin), Quohn Quizzi (John Rizzi), and Quames Queslster (James Pelster). Join us on this very special episode of the QuameQuola QuodQuast including such topics as: - John doesn't know where Japan is - The Dragon Quarrior playthrough has got Joe's brain in RPG mode - A brief summary of RPG history and tropes - Joe tells of his early impressions of Golden Sun - James recounts his adventures with Dragon Quarrior - John compares and contrasts Kingdom Hearts - James tells us about the next great chess game: Ace Attorney Investigations 2

You've been served! On this session of the GameCola Podcast, we deliberate upon many trials and tribulations facing crimes in the videogame community. Join Chief Prosecutor Blu Ryder, Primary Council James Pelster, and The Honorable Judge Joseph Martin Presiding as they argue their cases on the following topics: - Nintendo is taking Palworld to court over Patent Infringement - Why do people feel differently about patents and copyright? - No one knows what they are talking about (except Joseph obviously) - The last Nintendo Switch emulator has been taken offline - The inconsistencies of ethics in emulation, preservation, and piracy - What even happened with Concord? - Games we've been playing in recent times [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]

Sun Tzu said: "On this episode of the GameCola Podcast, we spend a significant amount of time discussing the subject of "tactics" games. Follow along with Joseph Martin, Alex Jedraszczak, John Rizzi, and Blu Ryder as they discuss their experiences with the genre and more!" Historians have been baffled by the meaning of this passage UNTIL TODAY. - Uh-oh, Jeddy played a videogame and didn't like it again! - Front Mission displays a lot of the major issues with tactics games - Most tactics games we have enjoyed have had significant departures from the standard formula - Mega Man Battle Network 4 is still frustrating for all the same reasons - The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer was very tactical - Tactical videogames we've been playing in recent times [Podcast Intro/Outro “5 is Average” by Meteo Xavier]