Fanbyte writer and podcaster merritt k sits with the panel to cover the darkness within Viva Pinata, Bad Boy Reggie Fils Aime, and an explanation of what Touhou actually is. Original music by Kurt Feldman. (Content warning: This episode contains strong language.)

Questions this week:

  1. From Ash Parrish: Congress has a button to destroy all video games, and you’ve been brought in to convince them not to press it. What’s the worst game to present? (03:25)
  2. What are the most egregious cases of falling upwards in the video game industry? (08:47)
  3. What game did you come around to liking after vocally disliking before playing? (14:12)
  4. How do video games express extreme speed, without sacrificing control? (20:06)
  5. Leaving aside Lester the Unlikely, what is the most unlikely video game? (24:45)
  6. Dirtbag Derek asks: What do you predict will be the cause of the next video game renaissance? (32:16)
  7. What’s happened in the Japanese indie game scene since Cave Story? (38:14)
  8. What examples of fans officially taking a game forward have worked out? (42:58)
  9. What is the Alvin and the Chipmunks of video games? (48:52)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Seven Virtuous Minigames (54:40)

Think you have better answers than the panel? Politely discuss this episode in the Insert Credit forums.

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Brandon: Clazziquai - Remix Pinch Your Soul, Yukiko Tanaka - Reflection, Nobody (2021), Enter The Fat Dragon (2020), recognize the misogyny and colorism in Baahubali

Frank:  Feel free to pirate games, Gumby

Merritt: Fanbyte, Fanbyte Podcasts, twitch.tv/fanbyte

Edited by Esper Quinn. Original Music by Kurt Feldman.