Co-op Mood
Co-op Mood is a podcast about video games and why we play them. Every other week, co-hosts Sally Tamarkin (@sallyt) and Shane Vaiskauskas (@mundangerous) talk about video games, exploring topics and themes as well as the stories they tell, the worlds they create, the characters who live in those worlds and the gameplay mechanics and story structures that make it all possible.
Language
en
Released
Creator
Sally Tamarkin, Shane Vaiskauskas
Genre
leisure
Popularity
2.1
Trending
1.3
Episodes
5
Update Freq
Irregular
Priority
★ Normal
Latest Episodes
Co-op Mood 16: Hades, Thee Bisexual Thirst Trap
On this episode Shane and Sally talk “Project 007,” the upcoming James Bond video game by IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman games. Then they talk about about the gameplay and aesthetic of the horny roguelike dungeon-crawler, Hades. They also talk about games they’re playing right now, including League (season 11 patch), Breath of the Wild, and Watch Dogs: Legion. Things we talked about: -Hitman developer IO Interactive is making a James Bond game -Hades: The Team from Supergiant Games & Hades Discuss the Game, Reactions & More -What Shane’s excited about: Tehran (the Israeli espionage thriller on Apple+) -What Sally’s excited about: The Crown (Netflix)
View DetailsCo-op Mood 5: The Best of Us
Sally and Shane talk mostly about Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2. Although they skipped big story spoilers, there is plenty of discussion of how the game feels to play, the richness of the environments, and the exquisite storytelling. They also discuss whether video games have any place in high school curricula, the simple but deep joys of Minecraft Dungeons, and kicking a villager off your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island. Here are links to some of things we discussed this episode: -This War Of Mine Added To Poland's High School Reading List -Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture -Spec Ops: The Line
View DetailsCo-op Mood 4: Jones in the Fast Lane
Shane and Sally open by talking about the Madden player who won the Madden bowl without having a QB or even throwing a single pass. Then they dive into the genre of games that includes Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing—known as “tend and befriend”—that are all about doing a job once your IRL workday is over. Read More:On anti-blackness and police violence: 5 Ways White People Can Be Helpful Right Now 31 Resources That Will Help You Become a Better White Ally Movement for Black Lives Official George Floyd Memorial Fund Justice for Breonna Taylor fund On silly video game stuff: Madden Bowl Winner Didn't Use A QB, Or Throw A Single Pass STARZ and the show Black Sails and 1987’s G.I. Joe: The Movie Nookazon
View DetailsCo-op Mood 2: War is Hell (of a Good Time)
After discussing the Nintendo PlayStation and how weird and (apparently) valuable it is, Shane and Sally talk about how video games explore and portray war, from the jingoistic gun porn options to the games that are grounded in the brutal reality of combat trauma. Read More: Engadget: Bidding for the 'Nintendo PlayStation' prototype is already over $200k Contact Us: Sally on Twitter: @sallyt Shane on Twitter: @mundangerous Co-op Mood on Twitter: @coopmoodpod Co-op Mood Email: coopmoodpod[at]gmail.com
View DetailsCo-op Mood 17: God Mode
On this episode Shane and Sally discussed a recent WaPo story about how video game developers are creatively approaching difficulty settings in their games and the exciting things that are possible when devs think intentionally about playability and accessibility. Then they dove deep into their final impressions of the horny roguelike dungeon-crawler Hades, including what they liked and didn’t like, and when roguelikes should just be JPRGs or visual novels. They also talked about the games they’re playing right now, including League, Twin Mirror, and Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter. Things we talked about: -The uneasiness of ‘easy modes’ prompts creative approaches from game developers -“Stop the Madness” episode of the podcast Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams -Hitman 2, the game we’re playing next -What Shane’s excited about: Happiest Season (Hulu) -What Sally’s excited about: The Expanse novels
View DetailsCo-op Mood: Announcement (2/2/2021)
An important announcement about the future of Co-op Mood. It doesn't involve GameStop, but it does involve work and family.
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