Pick Up Your Sticks

This week we talk about Brett’s continued adventures in Monster Sanctuary, Walker's experience with Roboquest which is an early access title on Game Pass that plays like a FPS Risk of Rain 2. Walker also shares about the PS5 and a random smattering of other titles.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Walker talks about his time with the recent hit Neon White. Neon White is an FPS parkour platformer with lots of style and speedrunner like mechanics that make for a really fun experience. Neon White is unique in a variety of ways and delivers on all of them and the sound track by Machine Girl wraps the entire game in a wonderful mix of songs that deliver over and over.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

Tell us if you have heard this one before. A metroidvania, a monster tamer, and a JRPG all walk into a bar... Ok there isn't a joke like that BUT if those three had a night to remember then 9 months later we would have Monster Sanctuary. The game is made with love in all aspects and delivers an awesome platforming, creature taming and battling, RPG experience that is excellent. Brett shares about his recent time with the game.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker dive into Maneater. Maneater is a unique title in which the player assumes the role of a powerful and deadly shark in Georgia. Walker briefly tried the game a year or so ago and Brett recently completed the main campaign. Maneater brings about a variety of responses both good and bad.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we Brett and Walker talk about the bold and delightful MMO Project: Gorgon. Project: Gorgon offers a sense of discovery and exploration through its sizable web of skills and abilities. Brett and Walker share their favorite ways to play and how the game offers a compelling PvE adventure experience.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett shares stories from his recent trip to the Kinetic Fire Retreat and we chat about the importance of becoming comfortable with failure when learning something new. This is a common theme in gaming as well in something like Elden Ring or Starcraft 2 ladder.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we talk about the enormously popular board game Terraforming Mars. The board game version also supports single player which is not common in all board games. Terraforming Mars features a variety of strategy layers and replayability in what is effectively a 4X board game. There is also a digital version available on PC which is basically a recreation of the board game.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we dive into a variety of MMOs including Crowfall, Mortal Online 2, Book of Travels, Lost Ark, and Guild Wars 2. Each MMO has something unique to offer and its own twist on a genre that has seen immediate flops and decades long worlds (or galaxies *EVE* ahem) for players to be immersed in.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we talk about Brett's recent vacation to the Gamer's Ranch in central Missouri. Brett and about 20 other friends stayed at the Gamer's Ranch for a few days and played some awesome co-op and single player board games, got to see what pinball looks like in 2022 and had access to just about every type of game under the sun.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodGamer's Ranch Website: https://gamersranch.com/Join the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we talk about the latest expansion pack for Risk of Rain 2, "Survivors of the Void". We also touch on the fun auto battler Super Auto Pets and look forward to the new Rocket League season.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week we talk about the long-shambling zombie survival title Project Zomboid from developer The Indie Stone. Project Zomboid has been in (and remains in) early access on Steam for close to a decade. Project Zomboid is a terrific example of Early Access done right and was featured in an epsiode we did in November of 2020. In the last several months the game has seen a surge in popularity with the addition of several new features and streamlined multiplayer. If you like RPGs and survival then this game has to be on your radar as it is one of a kind.

This week Brett and Walker talk about #VampireSurvivors, the indy hit on PC and mobile from developer poncle. Vampire Survivors is an incredible value combining Castlevania style art (and floor chicken) into a time survival game with minimalistic gameplay and roguelite elements.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker talk about Assassin's Creed Origins which served as the first title in the series reboot. Shifting to an every other year release schedule and incorporating a much heavier emphasis on RPG elements, AC: Origins is heralded a hallmark of the series. Walker recently completed the game and shares his thoughts.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker talk about the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft and why they think its a win. Brett and Walker also dive into Halo Infinite and talk about the campaign and multiplayer goodness that Halo has delivered for 20 years.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker dive into a couple of awesome gaming related TV shows on Netflix. The first is the live action The Witcher which recently released season 2. Next we talk about Arcane, the new series based on League of Legends. Neither Brett or Walker has deep experience with the gaming franchises but found both shows to be awesome for a variety of reasons.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker talk about Supreme Commander which originally released in 2007. Despite its age Supreme Commander brings ideas and mechanics to the RTS genre that are still not replicated in other titles. Enormous maps, a continuous campaign structure, and a unique multiplayer experience that still has a faithful and competitive player base all culminate in Supreme Commander being loved and played to this day.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

Brett and Walker look back over the last year and review the moments from gaming and the podcast that stood out. There were lots of awesome guests on the show in 2021 as well as plenty of titles to look back on, what did you like most from 2021?Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker talk about Walker's new gaming PC and what he has been enjoying on the new rig. Ark Survival Evolved finally runs at max settings without a hitch and DOOM Eternal has never looked so good. Despite the new hardware Hexcells Infinite also gets some more love.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker talk about the indie delight Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator. Brett has yearned for years to play a proper alchemy game in which the emphasis is on discovering and creating potions rather than just running a shop. Potion Craft delivers in many ways and still being in early access is sure to only improve. Developer Niceplay has created a unique and innovative experience that is one of a kind and very enjoyable to play.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com

This week Brett and Walker discuss Blizzard's fall from grace. While events about the workplace culture have dominated headlines this year and driven many to seek work or play elsewhere, we wanted to explore the degradation in Blizzard's gaming catalogue. A company that constantly pushed the envelope with innovation has failed to innovate in a meaningful way in years. The workplace culture of sexism and misogyny would be sufficient reason to walk away in the first place but the quality of games hasn't held up either.Episode notes:Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspodJoin the discussion!  All of our links including twitter, discord, youtube, email, and more can be found at:  https://puyspod.carrd.co/Music by Misha Zarins https://mekzvsbear.wixsite.com/mekzArt by Riley O’laughlin  riley_olaughlin@ymail.com