Bricks and sticks, pixels and lines. This week we cover a crop of endearing and surprisingly emotional indie games that have carried us through some tumultuous past few weeks. Also, Spencer draws an unhinged connection between Zach Cregger's summer thriller Weapons and Okomotive's atmospheric alpine expedition game Herdling. I feel like you guys will get it. Games discussed this episode: 01:36 - Phasmophobia - Kinetic Games10:19 - Herdling - Okomotive 29:29 - Is This Seat Taken? - Poti Poti Studio36:05 - Time Flies - Playables, Raphaël Munoz46:56 - LEGO Voyagers - Light Brick StudiosWatch the live stream recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/m8Ijpui2RCYSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
It's more common than you think. Join us this week as we load up our top-heavy backpacks, strap our tiny sentient dolls to our hips, and unpack DEATH STRANDING 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions' and Sony Interactive Entertainment's much-anticipated sequel to 2019's polarizing Death Stranding. While we likely could have spent 6+ hours unpacking this genre-defying experience of a game, what we can promise is this: Opposing viewpoints! Can something be somehow super trans AND super not queer? Norman Reedus MPREG fantasies! Gender essentialism?! AND MORE!**Heads up! We unfortunately were having some significant internet connection issues while recording, some of which did carry through to the final podcast. Apologies!02:12 - Pixel Therapy is looking for a third09:55 - Twisted Metal Season 214:53 - Main Topic: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach01:14:04 - SPOILERS BEGIN for Death Stranding 201:57:59 - END OF SPOILERS, OutroReferenced article - "The Women of Death Stranding 2 Are Stuck in a Sad Cycle" by Maddy Myers, https://www.endlessmode.com/video-games/death-stranding-2/the-women-of-death-stranding-2-are-stuck-in-a-sad-cycleSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
In the midst of an ongoing apocalyptic meteor shower that has forced the world's population of adorable pixelated animals underground, a kitten named Shell awakens to discover her mother missing. Join us as we dig into Nautilus Games' Everdeep Aurora, published by Ysbryd Games, which we had the pleasure of demo-ing at PAX West 2024! 01:38 - Death Stranding 2 impressions08:24 - Quick film/TV talk (The Bear S4, Superman, Yuri on Ice)16:06 - Everdeep Aurora discussionReferenced in this episode: "Everdeep Aurora review: Searching for a home at the end of the world", Will Borger, Shacknews - https://www.shacknews.com/article/145053/everdeep-aurora-review-searching-for-a-home-at-the-end-of-the-worldWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/qjH3LH3kMS4Side Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
This Pride Month, we played three iconic LGBTQ+ visual novels that are each a little spooky, a little spicy, and have a whole lot of heart: Midnight Scenes: From the Woods (White Blanket Games), Mediterranea Inferno (Lorenzo Redaelli, Santa Ragione), and We Know the Devil (pillowfight)! Plus: Is the Babdook a queer icon? Are trans people actual biblically accurate angels on earth? Does kink belong at Pride? (yes) All this and more await you!! 05:18 - Why does the horror genre pair so well with stories that explore LGBTQ+ themes?12:59 - Midnight Scenes: From the Woods discussion30:03 - We Know the Devil discussion45:35 - Mediterranea Inferno discussion01:16:00 - Some final thoughtsWatch the live recording of this episode at https://youtube.com/live/RWv4zXg0YIESide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Could it really be a contender for Game of the Year 2025? Join us as we break down Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG...or maybe...J'RPG (with MANY a twist) from French studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. This episode includes a heated debate on the game's endings if you wanna stick around for our spoiler discussion (and don't worry, we'll warn you when it's coming!). 00:58 - Patreon shoutouts03:10 - Game Informer's back!05:25 - Summer Game Fest25:34- Herdling preview33:36 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 discussion01:44:28 - SPOILERS for Clair Obscur: Expedition 3302:19:51 - END OF SPOILERS & Episode OutroCheck out the articles referenced in this episode:"We're Really Just Going Through With All This, Aren't We," Luke Plunkett, Aftermath - https://aftermath.site/summer-game-fest-2025-switch-2-launch-geoff-keighley"The 'deprofessionalization of video games' was on full display at PAX East," Bryant Francis, Game Developer - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-deprofessionalization-is-bad-for-video-games"No, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wasn't made by 30 people," Nic Reuben, Rock Paper Shotgun - https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/no-clair-obscur-expedition-33-wasnt-made-by-30-peopleWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/TmpmX1_VfakSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
We didn't mean to record a 2 hour, 42 min podcast, but sometimes these things just happen. Join us as we dissect the second season of the show the internet loves to hate: HBO's The Last of Us. Episode contains full spoilers for both the games and the show.No time stamps for this one because we pretty much jump right in!Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/tCfOAWyECX0Side Questhttps://gazafunds.com/Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza, surfacing different campaigns each time the page is reloaded. Please visit, share, and donate if you can.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Spencer is freshly back from Tokyo and the jet lag is strong, but they're pushing through it for this month's double hitter of an episode that has the Pixel Therapy pals discussing a pair of recently released games about mysterious, abandoned houses: the visual novel/point-and-click puzzle adventure Your House, from quirky Spanish studio PATRONES & ESCONDITES, and the smash hit, first-person, genre-defying Blue Prince from Dogubomb and publisher Raw Fury. Put your thinking caps on and get curious with us as we unpack these two unique experiences with similar themes and marvel at the innate human desire to rifle through other people's shit.0:57 - Patreon shoutouts3:59 - Spencer went to Japan!22:25 - Your House discussion46:57 - Blue Prince discussionWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/3VLsIlPjpscSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Join us as we chat about Wanderstop, a "cozy" tea shop management game about "change and tea" from the new indie developer Ivy Road, co-founded by the creator of The Stanley Parable and folks who've worked on games like Gone Home and Minecraft. In Wanderstop we play as the young fighter, Alta, once the greatest in the world, who suddenly can't pick up her sword. And she's tired. Super tired. But it's nothing. She just needs to keep going, keep pushing, like she always has. But when Alta passes out in the forest and is saved by the affable tea shop owner, Boro, he suggests she stay and take on a role at his woodland tea shop. Just until she can pick up her sword again, of course. Maybe Alta just needs a break?1:07 - Patreon shoutouts4:12 - Steven Universe (the show)21:54 - Wanderstop conversation beginsWatch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/1XBngY4OmH4Side Questhttps://chuffed.org/project/justice-for-mahmoud-khalilMahmoud Khalil is a Columbia University grad student and Palestinian activist who, despite being a lawful green card holder and lawful resident of the US, was abducted from his home by ICE without being shown a warrant or any charges, and is now in a detention center in Louisiana facing deportation. This chuffed fund is raising money to support Mahmoud’s legal fees and support his wife and unborn child during this time, in return for his lifelong dedication to advocating for justice himself.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Jump Over the Age and Fellow Traveller's Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG focused on choice, risk, and survival in a hostile interstellar world. A game that is inherently queer and earnestly hopeful, it explores themes of collective care, bodily autonomy, and capitalistic greed within a compelling tabletop-inspired framework. In this episode we explore its many layers, and where it hits and misses.0:47 - Patreon shoutouts6:22 - crafting talk14:30 - Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector conversation begins35:38 - ** CONTENT WARNING ** for discussion of abuse and sexual assault37:39 - End of ** CONTENT WARNING **Watch the live recording of the episode on YouTube! https://youtube.com/live/8FKXJkolD28Side Questtransdefensefundla.orgTrans Defense Fund LA is a mutual aid resource and network collecting info about ways to help community members as well as distributing safety kits and funds to trans folks across the city. About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
In light of a slew of layoffs at BioWare, the future of the Dragon Age series is unclear. But at a time when storytelling like this -- of building community across differences to fight back against impossible odds, and of finding spots of joy along the way -- feels more important than ever, we kind of surprised ourselves with how much we had to talk about. It's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the fourth installment in BioWare and Electronic Arts' long-running fantasy RPG saga full of side quests and flirting!!!!0:46 - Patreon shoutouts11:24 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard conversation begins1:09:13 - *SPOILER WARNING* for a detailed conversation about a specific companion romance moment1:16:49 - *END SPOILERSWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/-FCVout3irU?si=Ae4gE2yepvciaAo7Side Questtransdefensefundla.orgTrans Defense Fund LA is a mutual aid resource and network collecting info about ways to help community members as well as distributing safety kits and funds to trans folks across the city. About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
It's time for our fourth annual totally unserious end of year roundup! Let's revisit the games that got us through the trash fire that was 2024, and get excited for a new year of gaming ahead of us.1:24 - Patreon shoutouts3:56 - Holiday catch-up9:17 - 2024 year of gaming overviews20:22 - Spencer and Jamie's Top 5 Games of 20241:26:05 - Favorite characters of the year**SPOILERS** 1:30:20 - 1:33:23 for some mid-game narrative stuff in Metaphor: ReFantazio1:35:57 - Honorable mentionsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/n7UB2y6-ph8About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
From developer Studio Zero and publisher Atlus (creators of the beloved Persona series) comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, the developer's first foray into the fantasy genre -- with a sprawling epic RPG that imagines a utopic new world and fights to make it real. Built upon radical ideas from as far back as 1516, Metaphor brings them to life for a new generation to draw strength from as the fight for liberation and equality across our real world continues. The game was nominated for Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards, where it won Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction. Whether you're an art history nerd like Spencer or love little bat guys like Jamie, this rich tapestry of a game has something for everyone. What are you waiting for?! FANTASY IS ALIVE!1:43 - Patreon shoutouts6:43 - Our trip to New Orleans12:50 - Metaphor ReFantazio conversation beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/zBu6hd3SypYAbout Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
From Nomada Studio, the creators of Gris, comes new puzzle-platformer Neva: the moving tale of a young swordswoman named Alba and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world. And all we have to say is...HOW DARE YOU?! But forreal though, this game packs a ton of emotional weight in a short, beautifully wrapped package, with lessons on grief, growth, and the cyclical nature of life. Let's get into it!1:01 - Patreon shoutouts3:32 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard said trans rights14:22 - Neva discussion begins57:41 - SPOILERS begin1:09:59 - SPOILERS end"In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, This Dialogue Option Lets You Declare Your Character Is Trans" by Kenneth Shepard for Kotaku - https://kotaku.com/dragon-age-veilguard-trans-choice-rook-gender-pronouns-1851682607"Neva Review: Parenting at the End of the World" by Mitchell Demorest for Slant Magazine - https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/neva-review/ Side Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EWRIG2BF_-MAbout Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Welcome to Part 2 of our PAX West 2024 coverage! PAX West is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world, existing as a celebration of gaming and gaming culture and featuring panels, a massive expo-hall, and more. While there, Spencer and Jamie got hands-on demos with more than 40 games (!!!) and recorded interviews with over a dozen game-makers. We've boiled down our experience into the best stuff we saw presented for you in these two hefty podcast episodes.Find the full list of all our favorite games from PAX, with links to Wishlist on Steam and learn more, on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fill-up-your-our-1124517040:45 - Patreon shoutouts3:47 - Whisper of the House9:24 - Winter Burrow, feat. an interview with Benjamin Salqvist (he/him), CEO & Creative Director at Pine Creek Games18:13 - Moonlight Peaks22:00 - Woodo27:58 - Rooster, feat. an interview with Sticky Brain Studios Art Director Connie Choi (she/her)37:29 - Moses & Plato - Last Train to Clawville42:17 - Urban Myth Dissolution Center47:34 - Drăculești, feat. an interview with Mads Mackenzie (they/them), Director at Fine Feathered Fiends57:51 - Heartworm1:02:35 - Love Eternal, feat. an interview with Lead Developer (among other titles) Toby Allden (they/them) from brlka1:18:26 - Usual June1:22:34 - Time Flies1:28:17 - While Waiting, feat. an interview with Dong Zhou (he/him), Founder of Optillusion & Creative Director1:34:39 - Spirit of MidnightSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
At the beginning of September, we spent a jam-packed whirlwind of a weekend at this year's PAX West Convention in Seattle, WA. A celebration of gaming and gaming culture featuring panels, a massive expo-hall, and more, PAX West is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world with over 100,000 attendees present this year alone. We put our time there to good use, getting hands-on demos with more than 40 games and recording interviews with over a dozen game-makers, so now we're breaking down the best stuff we saw in two hefty episodes releasing a week apart. Here's Part 1, enjoy!Find the full list of every game we're covering with links to Wishlist on Steam and learn more on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fill-up-your-our-1124517040:53 - Patreon shoutouts3:58 - We went to fucking PAX West!!16:45 - The Big Con21:09 - Astro Bot27:43 - Spiral, feat. an interview with Jess Vaillancourt (she/her), Project Manager at Folklore Games37:35 - Seasonspree41:51 - Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom47:08 - Beastieball, feat. an interview with Director Greg Lobanov (he/him) and Beastie Art Director Alexis Dean-Jones (she/her) from Wishes Unlimited53:35 - Techno Banter, feat. an interview with Tom Tomaszewski (he/him), Head of Studio at publisher Crunching Koalas1:02:36 - Outrider Mako1:05:33 - Tears of Metal1:10:14 - Feltopia, feat. an interview with Andrea Love (she/her), Creative Director at Wooly Games1:17:40 - Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch1:22:04 - Everdeep Aurora1:27:49 - Herdling, feat. an interview with Co-Founder and Creative Director Don Schmocker (he/him) and 3D Artist Samuel Flores (he/him) from Okomotive1:42:02 - despeloteSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
You give me a genderless, silent protagonist, and you bet I will project ALL OF THE FEELINGS onto your tower defense game. A unique blend of action and strategy, Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess puts players in the role of Soh, protector of the maiden Yoshiro, as they slice with elegant, dance-like sword moves and strategically command villagers against ominous foes in their journey to cleanse their mountain home of corruption. 1:05 - Patreon shoutouts4:34 - Yuri on Ice9:20 - Creatures of Ava12:37 - Kunitsu-Gami conversation beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/vFyXnYqPiaEAbout Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
We do not choose what we inherit, but we can choose what we carry. This week we're joined by sunset visitor 斜陽過客 Creative Director Remy Siu and Narrative Designer Pinki Li to chat about their journey as indie devs bringing 1000xRESIST to life -- and the resonance that has been deeply felt by players within and outside of the Asian diaspora.Hailed by PASTE Magazine as one of the best games in the genre AND one of the best games of the year (agreed), 1000xRESIST is a thrilling sci-fi adventure where a disease spread by an alien invasion keeps you underground. You are Watcher, dutifully fulfilling your purpose in serving the ALLMOTHER -- until the day you discover a shocking secret that changes everything.1:11 - Patreon shoutouts2:21 - Welcome Pinki and Remy!11:29 - 1000xResist conversation begins52:34 - 1:01:45 - SPOILERS!!1:05:42 - 1:13:15 - MORE SPOILERS!!Read the essay '1000xRESIST is a game for a post-2019 Hong Kong protest generation of diaspora children that doesn't exist yet' by kastelpls: https://cohost.org/highimpactsex/post/5960606-1000x-resist-is-a-gam Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/YIubeBZyPbMSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
This week on the podcast we're chatting about Akupara Games' CRYPTMASTER -- a bizarre dungeon-crawling adventure where words control everything. It's like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, but with more necromancy. And we mean that in the best way possible.0:55 - Patreon shoutouts3:22 - We're going to PAX West!6:28 - Cryptmaster conversation beginsWatch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/RT775n2Zep4Side Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
This week we're joined by AstralShift's Kira (António Lopes / @kirariinn) to talk everything Little Goody Two Shoes -- a lush, gorgeously detailed horror-adventure-visual novel following Elise, a rebellious young woman daring to build a better life for herself in a deceptively peaceful small town. The game expertly explores the queer subtext beneath the horrors of witch hunts and religious ostracization, and we had an absolutely lovely time unpacking it with the game's lead artist and co-director!PS - there's still time to enter our giveaway of a Steam key for Little Goody Two Shoes! Just visit patreon.com/pixeltherapypod and sign up as a free or paid subscriber! The winner will be notified on Patreon by this Sunday, May 5th. Thanks, AstralShift! 0:52 - Patreon shoutouts3:04 - Introduction of Kira7:19 - Discussion of Little Goody Two Shoes beginsSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/wp8zS3TyjX8About Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, originally released in 2013 to critical and fan acclaim, transformed the way many people thought about what games could be and laid the groundwork for director Josef Fares' later explorations in cooperative mechanics (y'all may remember his title It Takes Two won Game of the Year in 2021!). Lovingly remade by Italian developer Avantgarden, critics have been torn on Brothers 2024 -- but we sure aren't! Join us as we re-traumatize ourselves on this heartbreaking adventure while Spencer recaps their experience at GDC 2024. For real though: Content warning for discussions of gameplay involving depictions of attempted suicide and death. 0:58 - Patreon shoutouts3:09 - Spencer went to GDC34:58 - Brothers conversation begins1:07:27 - Content Warning: Mention of Suicide1:10:35 - End of Content Warning section1:17:09 - SPOILERS for Brothers1:35:10 - End of SpoilersSide Questtinyurl.com/opolivebranchOperation Olive Branch is a grassroots collective effort to amplify Palestinian voices and their GoFundMes – visit the link to learn more or visit their Instagram page at @operationolivebranch.Watch the live recording of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/Etg-ZgICP-gAbout Pixel TherapyWe're a podcast queering and transcending video games for all kinds of gamers and those who love them--get cozy with us! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) and subscribe! Want more? Join for free or unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod