The Fork In Your Ear Podcast

The Fork In Your Ear Ep#216 America's 250th B-Day-Fuck Yeah! - Podcast Show Notes Summary 7-4-26 Quick Summary Tim and Nate record an early July 4th episode to avoid fireworks. They catch up after a long gap since June 13th with very personal stories: Tim's horrific both-ends food poisoning from a fancy burger meal, Nate's Caribbean cruise (complete with dolphin swims and his wife's severe UV reaction), Nate's first visit to California Adventure, and Tim's luxurious Ocean Shores beach house rental where every TV mysteriously defaults to Michael Bay Transformers movies. The episode then dives deep into video game industry chaos, including widespread Xbox studio turmoil and the official GTA 6 release date. They also discuss Apple's shift to M7 chips for on-device AI, Nate's new motorcycle turf-claiming app, and give a mixed review of the new Supergirl movie. Kara's cookie post sparks a passionate debate about mint chocolate chips in blonde cookies. Detailed Show Notes 🔥Life Stories📝 Early July 4th recording to dodge fireworks. Welcome to new Discord members Alina, David Hudson (mutual friends with Winter/Brock), and Sway. Last episode was June 13th — long gap acknowledged. Tim's Food Poisoning Story: Extremely graphic account of both-ends food poisoning after an Outback-style meal (chocolate shake + onion rings). Shower was deemed the ideal location for the event. Nate's Cruise: Departed from Fort Lauderdale. Stops included Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the cruise line's private island. Swam with dolphins (family-friendly version). Got very tan. His wife suffered severe UV poisoning (face and body swelling + rash). Nate's Disneyland + DCA Trip: First time stepping foot in California Adventure. Rode Incredicoaster, Space Mountain, Smuggler's Run (ended up piloting with a random mom), and Radiator Springs. Brother-in-law previously worked on the Radiator Springs ride (NDA jokes ensued). Tim's Ocean Shores Beach House: Luxe rental featuring an indoor/outdoor jacuzzi, pool table, arcade games (Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam), and a massive 130-inch TV. Strange recurring detail: every TV in the house defaults to playing Michael Bay Transformers movies. Tim used edited Airbnb photos (family members removed), which Nate roasted for their AI-softened look and "melting" wall plugs. 🕹️Video Games👾 Mina the Hollower: Tim's 10/10 Game of the Year so far. 29-hour clear at 69% completion. Gripes include some "dungeons" essentially being glorified overworld sections, the game feeling smaller than it appears due to its density, and the long wait for a potential sequel. Xbox Turmoil: Widespread reports of multiple studios being shopped around or facing closure (Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Obsidian, Undead Labs/State of Decay, Compulsion, and others). Over 5,000 jobs targeted within Xbox. Nothing officially shuttered yet. Unionized developers are pushing back. Hope expressed that Double Fine could land at Nintendo. GTA 6: Officially dated for November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. Base game $80. Collector's Edition $100 (primarily digital cosmetics). Single-player only at launch. Physical discs contain only a download code. Massive pre-order success (~$3.4 billion in the first 12 hours). Strong rumors of a later Switch 2 version. PlayStation attempted cheeky marketing (logo change + store push) — Rockstar quickly shut it down. Other Games & News: Tim beat the Star Fox 2026 remake (Bear McCreary's music slaps, but tank missions still suck). Bungie laid off 50% of staff (Marathon's future uncertain). Dispatch released a free "HR Violations Pack" DLC with partial censorship rollback. Kara started Xenoblade Chronicles 1 Definitive Edition (Switch 2 version). Nate purchased a Switch 2 and began Xenoblade Chronicles. Physical Media Debate: Sony is ending physical disc production by 2028 (facility transitioning toward camera lenses). Discussion on consumer choice versus business reality, potential opportunities for Xbox, and the advantages of optimization on Switch 2 and ARM architecture. 💻Technology📲 Apple is skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max chips entirely to fast-track the M7 series, which is heavily focused on on-device AI performance. Significant memory bandwidth increases expected (base M7 targeting ~240 GB/s). Base M6 chip still coming. M7 Pro, Max, and Ultra variants planned for 2027–2028. Apple is reportedly very pleased with its on-device Gemini integration for upcoming OS releases. Conversation around local AI versus cloud/data center power consumption. 🍿Entertainment🎬 Rippen App: Nate's new motorcycle app that gamifies riding and turf claiming (very GTA San Andreas energy). He had a custom shirt made with a QR code linking to the app. Android port is in progress, partly because of his involvement. Supergirl Movie: Tim took his mom to see it. Likes: Milly Alcock's performance as Supergirl, Jason Momoa as Lobo, and the sci-fi Guardians of the Galaxy vibe. Dislikes: Heavy use of crypto as a central plot device (same issue as the recent Superman film), every classic depowering trope used at once, and the movie's unclear identity (depression? revenge? saving the dog? mourning parents?). Music is good but lacks a distinct theme or identity. Other Media: Spielberg's new alien movie (Disclosure Day?) felt like a mixed bag — very Spielbergian but unfocused. X-Men '97 Season 2 is off to a strong start with lots of Star Trek actor crossovers (including John de Lancie). Avatar: Fire and Ash runtime felt too long for Tim. Nate has been rewatching Red vs. Blue. Star Trek: Voyager is currently in syndication rotation. Kara's Cookie Post: Sparked a long debate about mint chocolate chips belonging only in chocolate cookies or brownies — not blonde cookies. Coconut was also questioned. Key Quotes & Memorable Moments Tim on food poisoning: "I crawled to the shower and then just threw up and blew out my ass… it's quite violent." On GTA 6 physical copies: "It's basically a game key card like Nintendo." Tim on Supergirl's crypto plot: "I hope the fucking dog dies in this film so that we don't have to repeat this story trip again." On the Transformers TV mystery: "No matter what you're doing, whenever you turned on the TVs, they were always playing one of the Michael Bay Transformers." Nate on Apple's camera processing: "What in the fuck is Apple doing with their cameras that made these pictures so goddamn bad?" Running gag: "The elephant in the room" (referencing Nintendo's subtle Mario post after Sony's disc production news).   Join The Fork Family Discord: https://discord.gg/CXrFKxR8uA Find all our stuff at Website: http://www.dynamicworksproductions.com/ Twitter: @getforkedpod Email: [email protected] Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamic-works-productions/id703318918 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLscuwlf6UXIBu21cEpiebuP3zquixDrwB Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Cep3iRRoDHrJ5l8c09UuJ Libsyn Direct RSS Feed: https://dynamicworksproductions.libsyn.com/rss Catch up with Tim personally YouTube: Dynamicworksproductions Twitter: Tim_T Twitch: Tim_KA_Trotter Support the Show Pick up Tim's sci-fi adventure book The Citadel: Arrival on Amazon Kindle or Apple Books for $2.99.

The Fork In Your Ear Ep#215 Eternia of Games! - Podcast Show Notes Summary 6-13-26 Gaming News – Oops All Games Edition! Tim and Nate kick off with an "oops all games" episode packed wall-to-wall with fresh showcases. They open with the Xbox Games Showcase (June 7). Tim watched with Jessica while making breakfast; Nate and Cara ran it live in the Discord. Key highlights: Gears of War: E-Day (Oct 6, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Game Pass day one, Unreal Engine 5 built from the ground up by The Coalition). The prequel Emergence Day story stars Marcus and Dom. The Coalition's deep Unreal expertise and "from-scratch" approach have everyone hyped for performance and visuals. Tim and Nate debate third-person cover shooters (Nate's not a fan of the mechanic; Tim loves the destroyed world, underground critters, and chainsaw guns). Fable – New cinematic trailer confirms Haley Atwell (Agent Carter) as the long-teased villain Isabel. Jack of Blades gets a surprise tease, hinting at multiple villains. A 30-minute full gameplay video dropped days later showing a talking pig quest, romance options, UI, and systems in action. Delayed to February 23, 2027 (Xbox, PC, Game Pass, and still coming to PS5) to polish and avoid GTA 6. Tim is very excited; Nate is cautiously optimistic but holding judgment on open-world RPG scope. Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28, Xbox, PC, PS5, Game Pass) – UE5 remake of Halo 1 with core Blam engine (physics/game logic pulled from Halo: Reach) for that authentic "spongy" feel. New Sergeant Johnson voice actor, prequel missions (Assault on the Control Room & Silent Cartographer) locked behind the main campaign, vehicle jacking, new weapons (energy sword, fuel rod, brute spiker), sprint, clambering, 40+ skulls, and a "Remix Mode" for wild enemy swaps/randomization. 4-player co-op (local split-screen + online). Previews are extremely positive; limited collector's editions sold out fast. Tim is all-in on the respectful-yet-improved remake treatment and wants to share it with new players. Other Xbox news: Persona 6 trailer reactions (mixed/underwhelmed), new Spyro game from Toys for Bob (Tom Kenny returning as Spyro, Dragonflight mechanics), Clockwork Revolution (InXile steampunk RPG, Xbox ecosystem exclusive vibes), S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-era title getting Unreal Engine help from The Coalition + Grounded-style cross-world system, new dark Metro game from the Ukrainian team (still developing in wartime conditions), Resonance (Plague Tale legacy?), Minecraft Dungeons 2, new Senua Hellblade-universe action game (Nate loved the first, mixed on the second; Tim was never a fan but this one looks more classic Ninja Theory), Crazy Taxi World Tour (2027, pure arcade nostalgia), and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (Oct 15 – Tim is already hooked into his veins; Switch 2 version delayed, which upsets him). 🕹️ PlayStation State of Play A solid but not flashy showcase. Standouts: Marvel's Wolverine (Sept 15, Insomniac's proprietary engine) – Logan vs. Reavers, R-rated tone, same universe as Insomniac Spider-Man (but no Spider-Man cameo confirmed). Fresh X-Men take before the team exists. God of War: La Faye / Faye – Kratos' wife gets the spotlight in a parallel story set in the afterlife of the gods (mixed mythologies: Aztec, Chinese, Egyptian, etc.). New director (long-time Santa Monica studio vet), talking gelatinous cube "Frank," hyper-realistic graphics leap, nimble/magic-focused combat. Tim loves the fresh vibe and new director energy but hates the title. Until Dawn 2 (2027, FireSprite Games) – "All can live, all can die" tagline. Teens as ghost hunters on an abandoned tropical island. Nate and Tim both down for more choice-driven horror. Control 2 / Resident (Remedy, Sept 25?) – Third-person melee-focused in a big open-zone New York. Tim is day-one despite nerves about the combat departure from Remedy's shooter roots; excited for the story/world. Onimusha reboot (demo out now on PS, Xbox, Epic; full game later) – Full reboot, not a remake. Tim downloading the demo immediately. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – Tim's wife went nuclear over Lara's new model (bangs "designed by a man who doesn't understand women's hair," gun-holding animation that would clock her in the face). Tim mostly fine but agrees on some animation gripes. Other: Phantom Blade Zero, No Rest for the Wicked (Moon Studios/Ori devs, console release), gorgeous but nightmare-fuel Silent Hill: Townfall (Sept 24 – Nate noping out), Ace Combat 8 (Oct 2, anime cast, light sci-fi, nostalgia for old flight games like Aero Fighters/Robotech), Dynasty Warriors remaster, controversial Rayman Legends retold (3D remake with bad voice acting – Tim and Nate baffled), Dune: Awakening (single-player campaign Sept 22 on PS5/Xbox, Game Pass early access), Stuntman revival (pure nostalgia hit for both hosts), The Last Wild (dino survival horror – "better than ARK"), and RuneScape: Dragonwilds day one on PlayStation. 🌟 Summer Games Fest Highlights Alien: Isolation 2 (Creative Assembly, UE5, original team + creative director back) – Colony setting with outdoor/indoor areas (Alien 3 vibes). Tim is terrified in the best way; the motion scanner design still haunts him. Multi-platform (Disney/Sega). Fumito Ueda's new game (The Gen / Gen Atlas) – Sci-fi open-world "Shadow of the Colossus in space." Mysterious, minimalist, ambient alien tech. Possibly Ueda's last game. Tim is all-in. Final Fantasy VII: Revelation – Final part of the remake trilogy (spring 2027, day-and-date Xbox, PlayStation, Switch 2, PC). Full planet open-world airship travel, double the minigames, complete edition bundle available at launch. Tim still has Rebirth on his backlog. The Wolf Among Us 2 (2027) + remaster of the first game (November). New studio (Tricks Studio, Argentina) after development hell. Tim hopes they stick the landing. Other quick hits: Guild Wars 3?, 1666 Amsterdam (third-person story-driven witchcraft/assassin's creed-style from the original creator who left Ubisoft to make it). Life Stories, Banter & Podcast Notes Recording gremlins struck again (test tones, choppy audio mid-episode forcing a restart, Windows insider update drama on Nate's end). Tim is in a heat advisory zone (90-95°F baseline, historic highs possible); Nate in California is unsympathetic but notes the grid stress risk. Tim was frying bacon and watching the Xbox showcase with Jessica (Fable interest). Nate and Cara watched together in Discord. Classic Fork tangents on Halo AI, Gears mechanics preferences, Fable romance options (yes please to the villain), and Tim's wife's passionate Tomb Raider trailer critique. Plenty of "get this hooked into my veins" energy for Castlevania, Doom DLC spear/whip/claw, and Alien Isolation 2. The episode is a pure gaming catch-up feast with the hosts' trademark deep knowledge, honest opinions, and laughter. Perfect for anyone who loves showcases, remakes done right, and unfiltered gamer reactions. Episode Length: Long (typical Fork deep-dive style) Hosts: Tim K.A. Trotter & Nate Foo Join The Fork Family On Discord: https://discord.gg/CXrFKxR8uA Find all our stuff at Remember to give us a review on wherever you downloaded this podcast from. And don't forget you can connect to us on social media with, at, on or through: Website: http://www.dynamicworksproductions.com/ Twitter Handle: @getforkedpod eMail Address: [email protected] Apple Podcast Direct Subscription Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamic-works-productions/id703318918?mt=2&i=319887887 Youtube Direct Playlist Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Listen Now On Youtube Spotify Direct Subscription Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Spotify Libsyn Direct RSS Feed Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Libsyn [Direct RSS Feed Subscription] If you would like to catch up with each of us personally Online Twitch/Twitter: Tim K.A. Trotter's Youtube ID: Dynamicworksproductions Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitter ID: Tim_T Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitch ID: Tim_KA_Trotter Also remember to buy my Sc-Fi adventure book "The Citadel: Arrival by Tim K.A. Trotter" available right now on Amazon Kindle store & iTunes iBookstore for only $2.99 – get a free preview download when you visit those stores. It's a short story, only 160-190 pages depending on your screen size. Buy the book and support this show! Get forked, catch you on the flippity flop.

The Fork In Your Ear Ep#214 The Mouse That Stole Tim's Soul - Podcast Show Notes Summary 5-30-26 Entertainment News: Tim gives his spoiler-light take on The Mandalorian & Grogu movie (he went in with zero expectations and came out pleasantly surprised—it feels like two high-budget episodes stitched together for the big screen). The guys also cover Sony's majority purchase of the Peanuts franchise, the sad passing of legendary voice actor Tom Kane, the X-Men '97 Season 2 trailer, Karen Gillan joining Shrinking Season 4, and their growing appreciation for the Bill Lawrence TV universe (Scrubs, Rooster, and Running Point with Kate Hudson). Nate's been revisiting Star Trek: Voyager reruns via Pluto TV's delightfully chaotic syndication shuffle.   Life Stories: Tim opens up about the tough (and first-time) experience of letting go of his employee—who also happened to be a friend and next-door neighbor—after the guy couldn't pass the required technical test. Almost immediately they lucked into hiring a new team member from the glazing industry who's already bonding hard with Tim over Halo lore. Both hosts share how packed their June (and early July) calendars are with birthdays, a final trip to the soon-to-closing Wild Waves water park, family commitments, and a few show date bumps. Nate adds some wholesome dad moments, including joyful motorcycle rides with his daughter and niece that had everyone smiling.   Gaming News: Tim is completely obsessed with Mina the Hollower, calling it one of the most charming, dense, and brilliantly designed 2D action-adventures he's ever played (think Link's Awakening meets Bloodborne with a sassy mouse protagonist, clever burrowing mechanics, absurd humor, and pixel-perfect modern polish). Nate has been tearing through Forza Horizon 6 in Japan, raving about the visual upgrades, weather effects, and dense world, while also dipping into Luna Abyss and looking forward to playing Destiny 2 post-sunset without the usual FOMO pressure.   Tech News: They discuss Ferrari's sleek new $640K electric hypercar co-designed by Jony Ive (1,035 horsepower, physical buttons, curved display, and a very un-Ferrari-but-still-cool vibe), Meta's controversial new paid subscription tiers for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp (alongside another round of layoffs in Seattle), and the spectacular methane-fueled rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket during a static fire test. They close with housekeeping notes about flexible scheduling through the busy summer months, but promise the episodes will keep coming.   Join The Fork Family On Discord: https://discord.gg/CXrFKxR8uA Find all our stuff at Remember to give us a review on wherever you downloaded this podcast from. And don't forget you can connect to us on social media with, at, on or through: Website: http://www.dynamicworksproductions.com/ Twitter Handle: @getforkedpod eMail Address: [email protected] Apple Podcast Direct Subscription Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamic-works-productions/id703318918?mt=2&i=319887887 Youtube Direct Playlist Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Listen Now On Youtube Spotify Direct Subscription Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Spotify Libsyn Direct RSS Feed Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Libsyn [Direct RSS Feed Subscription] If you would like to catch up with each of us personally Online Twitch/Twitter: Tim K.A. Trotter's Youtube ID: Dynamicworksproductions Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitter ID: Tim_T Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitch ID: Tim_KA_Trotter Also remember to buy my Sc-Fi adventure book "The Citadel: Arrival by Tim K.A. Trotter" available right now on Amazon Kindle store & iTunes iBookstore for only $2.99 get a free preview download when you visit those stores, it's a short story only 160-190 pages depending on your screen size, again thats $2.99 on Amazon Kindle & iTunes iBookstore so buy book and support this show!

The Fork In Your Ear Ep#213 The Truth Is Out There... Maybe! Podcast Show Notes Summary 5-16-26   Tim and Nate are back after an unintentional break for another Fork In Your Ear episode! They kick things off with the usual tech gremlins before diving deep into what they've been playing, big gaming news, and real-life chaos. 🎮 Gaming Talk Replaced: Tim checks out this long-awaited cyberpunk 2D/3D platformer with Blade Runner vibes, beautiful art, point-and-click elements, and Arkham-style combat. A moody, atmospheric gem from a small Danish team. The Division Resurgence: Tim's been playing the new mobile Division prequel on his phone — surprisingly solid touch controls and classic Division feel. Astroneer: Star Seeker Expeditions (Open Beta): Tim and friend Daniel jump into the co-op-focused live-service spin-off. Faster gameplay, handcrafted planets, extraction-style missions, voice acting, and a very different (but fun) vibe from the original. No Man's Sky – Zeno Arena Update: Tim geeks out over the surprise Pokémon-style creature battling system. Turn-based combat, creature collecting, leveling, and online trainer battles in the middle of space — perfectly implemented and wildly fun. Bonus: Dragon Ball news has fans (including Kara in the Discord) hyped with new DLC, fighters, and collaborations. 🕹️ Xbox & Industry Discussion of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's early moves and what they mean for the brand. 🏖️ Life Updates Tim recaps his recent Disneyland trip with the in-laws for Star Wars Nights: Hyperspace Mountain (a massive upgrade), Oga's Cantina (fuzzy Tauntaun and Jedi Mind Trick drinks!), crazy shakes, Ronto wraps, Tiana's Bayou soaking, family vacation intensity, and the inevitable post-trip sickness. Nate's been enjoying slow work weeks, motorcycle meetups, getting the kids geared up to ride, and perfect Pacific Northwest spring weather. 🤦‍♂️ Tech gripes iOS 26 woes, activation lock nightmares on cellular, and general "why does this still happen?" complaints. A long, rambling, laughter-filled catch-up episode full of gaming passion, vacation stories, and classic Fork tangents. Grab a coffee (or a fuzzy Tauntaun) and settle in! Episode Length: ~4+ hours Hosts: Tim & Nate Perfect for show notes, episode descriptions, or Discord teasers! Let me know if you want a shorter version, bullet-point list, or social media blurb. Join The Fork Family On Discord: https://discord.gg/CXrFKxR8uA Find all our stuff at Remember to give us a review on wherever you downloaded this podcast from. And don't forget you can connect to us on social media with, at, on or through: Website: http://www.dynamicworksproductions.com/ Twitter Handle: @getforkedpod eMail Address: [email protected] Apple Podcast Direct Subscription Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamic-works-productions/id703318918?mt=2&i=319887887 Youtube Direct Playlist Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Listen Now On Youtube Spotify Direct Subscription Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Spotify Libsyn Direct RSS Feed Link: The Fork In Your Ear Podcast - Download It Now On Libsyn [Direct RSS Feed Subscription] If you would like to catch up with each of us personally Online Twitch/Twitter: Tim K.A. Trotter's Youtube ID: Dynamicworksproductions Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitter ID: Tim_T Tim K.A. Trotter's Twitch ID: Tim_KA_Trotter Also remember to buy my Sc-Fi adventure book "The Citadel: Arrival by Tim K.A. Trotter" available right now on Amazon Kindle store & iTunes iBookstore for only $2.99 get a free preview download when you visit those stores, it's a short story only 160-190 pages depending on your screen size, again thats $2.99 on Amazon Kindle & iTunes iBookstore so buy book and support this show!