The three finest minds in video games plumb the depths of our listener-submitted Question Hole, dredging up all manner of holiday cheer, the Floridafication of America, and the return of Seaman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Tradegood asks, what is the best video game to play on a first date? (03:04)

2: Kiko B asks, aside from jumping and running, what are the most important verbs in a platform game? Are there any that don’t get the attention they deserve? (06:28)

3: Breadytodie asks, which is the better racing game series: Initial D or Wangan Midnight? (07:34)

4: Goonbag asks, what's the most shame you have ever experienced playing a video game? (08:48)

5: Hobart Painsborough asks, why do so many games lie to the player when they say “press any button to continue” when in reality “any button” does not, in fact, allow you to continue? (11:23)

6: A small rabite asks, is the Mana series the most mismanaged Square-Enix franchise? (12:43)

7: LeFish asks, who is the coolest videogame character whose design is family friendly or specifically aimed towards kids? (13:27)

8: Tom Arrow asks, I recently noticed while playing the Dreamcast that a bunch of these games feature an arcade-style race against the clock mechanic. What was the deal with that? (13:43)

9: Connrrr asks, can playing a video game be a form of puppeteering? (15:48)

10: Michael from Cyprus asks, it was Alain Badiou I think that said ” Most people resort to the certainty of misery than the misery of uncertainty.” What two Video Games ultimately answer to the two paths? (16:27)

11: LowGuppy asks, what video game most needs a sequel subtitled “On the Beach?” (17:55)

12: Spencergifs asks, what is the best video game that is not played with a controller, mouse and keyboard, or arcade stick (19:19)

13: Rice_9 asks, when looking at a new game online, do you watch the video, read the copy, or look at screenshots first? (21:39)

14: Why Why asks, how do you make destructible items fun to destroy? (22:01)

15: Psinuxie asks, what are some later games that figured out design fundamentals? (23:29)

16: Dustin asks, what was a favorite multi-disc game for you? (26:36)

17: BluntForceMama asks, is GTA 6 late to the party regarding Florida culture? (29:18)

18: Anonymous asks, how do one’s actions in the human realm affect which video game world you go to when you die? (30:39)

19: Anders Matsen asks, what specific elements make up a “hang out game?”

20: Will Heydt Minor asks, is the world ready for Seaman 2? (35:36)

21: Kyle Karesh asks, what game series is better to play in chronological order rather than release order? (37:54)

22: Cara Esten asks, what video game would make the memory of a traumatic event worse? (38:49)

23: Dilson asks, what makes in-game lore compelling? (39:22)

Credit Report (52:00)

Recommendations and Outro (52:37):

  • Brandon: Do what you can
  • Frank: Help those around you
  • Ash: Keep hope alive

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Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn. Original Music by Kurt Feldman.