Some Patches Required

At this point, trying to find a new or clever way to say that the games industry is in turmoil is a profound exercise in futility. There is no one way to "fix" the problems that seem to follow developers from studio to studio, but there's one pretty clear step in the right direction: unions.

This week, Zak and Aaron sit down with former union organizer and current Austin, TX City Council candidate Adam Powell to chat about — you guessed it — unions. How do they benefit workers? What makes them so offensive to businesses at large? Where do you start if you feel it's time to organize at your workplace? And, most relevant to us, can they help get us closer to the industry devs deserve?

Please, enjoy.

Learn more about Adam's platform and City Council campaign at AdamforAustin.com

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If you've spent any time on the internet as of late, odds are you've stumbled across something about a new game called Palworld - otherwise known as "Pokémon with guns." Hell, with north of 19 million downloads and record-breaking player counts on Steam, it's easily set to be one of the biggest games of the year. But what is it, really?

This week, Zak and Aaron talk about the nitty-gritty of Palworld, from its borderline-plagiaristic use of Pokémon designs to its disjointed art style to its... surprisingly competent gameplay? They also try to quantify the fine line between inspiration and imitation and nail down why this particular mashup was such a runaway success.

Please, enjoy.

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Hello, everybody, and welcome to season three of Some Patches Required! Our intrepid hosts have been away for a while, but the games industry certainly didn't take a break with them, as mass layoffs, leaks, hacks, studio closures, and more dominated the headlines.

This week, Zak and Aaron tackle the messy topics of true early access and the recent boom in paid "early" access as a pre-order bonus. Long story short, one is a frequently misused tool with incredible potential and the other one is the laziest money-making scheme in recent memory. You can guess which is which.

Please, enjoy.

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Have you ever felt exhausted by the neverending onslaught of updates, microtransactions, generic mechanics, and performance issues that seem to define modern AAA games? Well, do we ever have a new title for you!

This week, Zak and Aaron discuss the myriad ways that the newly released Baldur's Gate 3 - and Larian Studios - break the mold established by the major players in the AAA game market. They even dip into some AA and all-indie examples for a healthy dose of contrast.

You'll hear them again (with a few exciting new guests) next season! In the meantime, please enjoy some exquisite music, incredible art, and a few fun, insightful podcasts.

To be continued...

Please, enjoy.


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Listen to: Triple Click

Listen to: The Besties

Listen to: Play, Watch, Listen

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The world is changing, and media is changing with it. What do you own? What does renting even mean in the era of subscription services and online storefronts? More importantly, what happens to a work of art when it's lost to time?

This week, Zak and Aaron dive into the topic of game preservation in the (Alan) wake of several high-profile games going exclusively digital and try to dissect the importance of preserving games for both entertainment and education.

Please, enjoy.

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After a few unfortunate delays, Zak and Aaron are back to ask you a simple question: Do you value visual extravagance over gameplay excellence, or do you think they can work together? Moreover, is there a seat for style at the table?

Between the blocky art of BattleBit, the breathtaking but broken Jedi Survivor, and an endless supply of Aaron's useless opinions on films like Avatar, this is the episode for anyone who has ever engaged in the "gameplay vs. graphics" debate. Or, someone who just wants it to finally end.

Please, enjoy.

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This week, Zak and Aaron chat about what the semi-recently-announced Apple Vision Pro could mean for the VR, AR, and MR market. Will it fall flat on its face like Google Glass? Will it spur on competition like the original Oculus or HTC Vive? Or could it change the game entirely through the power of brand cachet and good marketing? Only time will tell.

As an addendum, Zak's new recording space isn't fully set up yet, so there may be a smidge of echo on his side. Meanwhile, Aaron's computer and hard drive decided to scream their mechanical lungs out during the first 10 minutes or so, even as his cat tried to break down the door. We're genuinely sorry for the audio quality in certain spots, but we're only human.

Please, enjoy.


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This week, Zak and Aaron chat across three different time zones! Was that sensationalist enough to grab your attention?? Good, because the third time zone is occupied by Alex Malcolm, who works in music licensing for Warner Music Group.

This fella has brokered deals for numerous games, and was kind enough to share some insight into the process of what it takes to get your favorite songs into your favorite entertainment products. As they always say in Hollywood, "it's a good time for your ears." They always say that, right?

Please, enjoy.

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This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk with the profoundly talented Cameron Paxton - the composer for the game Dome Keeper - about the intricacies of writing music for games. Naturally, Aaron rambles on about esoteric ideas, Zak stays on topic, and our guest brings insight to spare. If you're interested in musical composition, creativity, or just hearing about how someone found their gateway into the industry, this is the episode for you.

Oh, and we'll let you guess who wrote the opening and closing music for this one. Your only hints are that the song was originally meant to hype you up to keep some domes, and may or may not be called Laser Party. Take that for what you will.

Check out Cameron's Work

Take a Peek at Dome Keeper on Steam

Hey! It's Bippinbits!!

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At this point, it's only a few degrees shy of impossible that you haven't heard of the newest Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. Was that sentence confusing? Well, so is trying to evaluate what makes a good sequel.

And yet, Zak and Aaron dive into the murky depths of media to discuss what makes a successful sequel, especially when it comes on the heels of a game-changing work of art. Be prepared for opinions aplenty, hot takes, and a (magical right) handful of puns.

Please, enjoy.


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This week, Zak and Aaron hop right back into the maelstrom that is the modern games industry. Wait, were you expecting something different? Maybe you don't know their particular brand.

On this particular, acronym-filled venture, Zak and Aaron try to unpack the evolution of UGC, especially as it pertains to Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. Between the Unreal Engine for Fortnite, CoD in Roblox, and a million other examples, it seems like user-generated content is poised to become the next big thing in games. What does that mean? Who knows.

Please, enjoy.


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Also, thanks to Bo Burnham. Please don't be mad at Aaron for clipping your song. He really respects you.

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Hello everybody, and welcome to an unseasonably spooky episode of Some Patches Required! This week, Zak and Aaron dive back into the murky waters of microtransactions, this time within the context of the Resident Evil 4 Remake.

Is it okay to add pay-to-win mechanics after launch? Why would a developer or publisher decide to do so? How many times can Aaron use the same word in one sentence? There's only one way to find out.

Please, enjoy.


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Well, would you look at that!? This one's on time! And it's interesting, to boot.

This week, Zak and Aaron have a chat about Jason Schreier's exceptional book "Press Reset," and each chooses a few topics that fascinate them. Zak is mostly articulate and focused. Aaron rambles a bit and bloviates a lot. But, all-in-all, the conversation incorporates everything you could want from an episode of SPR.

Please, enjoy.


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This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron team up with the crew from the Undercommon Taste podcast to discuss the lasting impact and influence of TTRPGs (or table-top roleplaying games for you neophytes out there) on the world of video games. It's a fun conversation full of laughs, relatable anecdotes, good vibes, and a lower-than-normal number of curse words. Plus, Aaron resisted the urge to list off all of the great D&D character names he's come up with over the years. You're welcome.

Please, enjoy.

Learn more about Undercommon Taste

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With all evidence pointing to The Last of Us being HBO's next big hit, Zak and Aaron decided to take a moment to discuss a few things surrounding the show, especially the difficulties intrinsic to translating games to film and TV.

Naturally, Aaron bloviated beyond belief (after one successful sentence) and steered the conversation in the wrong direction a few times while Zak desperately tried to keep things concise. Aaron also mistook episode 8 for episode 7, and in doing so confirmed his incompetence.

Otherwise, this one's pretty solid.

Please, enjoy.

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Hello everybody and welcome to season two of Some Patches Required! If you're new to the show, we're happy to have you! If you're already familiar with our particular brand of games-industry coverage/conversations, we're thrilled that you stuck around. It's only going to get better from here.

This time around, we're talking about the endearing mess that is Pokemon; specifically Scarlet and Violet. While we both enjoyed the game(s), its flaws are hard to ignore. Moreover, they say a lot about the industry at large, consumerism, innovation, fandom, and much, much more.

Please, enjoy.

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This week on Some Patches Required, Our intrepid hosts tackle a slightly out-of-date topic that sends them down a rabbit hole that may just take them a few months to get out of.* Of course, the inciting incident is the controversy surrounding Bayonetta 3 and the voice actress who claimed that Platinum Games offered her a paltry sum to reprise her iconic role.

The aforementioned rabbit hole is a deep dive into how voice actors are paid throughout the industry, as well as an evaluation of how we quantify value in game development. There's also an important announcement towards the end, so make sure to stick around for the whole show.

Please, enjoy.

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*This is a hint. Also, sorry for ending a sentence with a preposition.

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This week on Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron take on a topic of particular interest related to the rocky launch of Overwatch 2. No, it's not 2016, so Tracer's butt has nothing to do with it. Instead, our intrepid hosts try to dissect the challenging transitions games undergo when they shift from premium, pay-upfront experiences to free-to-play ones. There are hot takes, contrarian opinions, and more than a few digs at Activision Blizzard's leadership. But, really, what else did you expect?

Please, enjoy.

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This week on Some Patches Required, our intrepid hosts take on one of the more complex issues in the modern gaming world - gambling. Spurred by the news that Twitch has banned most gambling streams, Zak and Aaron break down some recent controversies and try to illustrate how games of chance can be particularly dangerous for Twitch's young audience, as well as the way more and more games seem to be implementing "surprise mechanics" in potentially exploitative ways.

Please, enjoy.

Source: How should the UK video game industry self-regulate loot boxes?

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It's safe to say that this episode didn't quite go according to plan. Instead of tackling topics like Halo Infinite's missing features, a high-profile developer leaving 343, and Ubisoft's ongoing issues with workplace misconduct allegations, our intrepid hosts spent roughly 50 minutes talking about Assassin's Creed. Well, they also didn't talk about D23 - Disney's annual self-love festival - but that was on purpose. But rest assured, it's still very fun.

Please, enjoy

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