The Fork In Your Ear Podcast

The Fork In Your Ear Ep#219 The Baritone Color Clash Crown - Podcast Show Notes & Summery 8-15-26 Quick Summary Tim rolls in sounding like a congested baritone (post-sickness + weeks of wildfire smoke) while Nate hunts for his glasses. The ring lands on video games and they dive hard into Halo Campaign Evolved four-player legendary co-op — prequel missions that feel half-baked, Sergeant Johnson getting murdered on purpose, AI marines suicide-running into friendly fire, and the sudden difficulty spike once the classic levels kick in. Tim casually reveals he hit #1 in the world on Color Clash (still holding the crown at 6,118 points) and Nate is now fully addicted. No Man's Sky hits 10 years of free updates, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks gorgeous on Switch 2, and Tim got into the Duskbloods closed network test. Technology is a quick hit of folds, AI buys, and PlayStation's 2028 disc death sentence. Life delivers toilet-paper cardboard disasters, Nate's dad's computer/phone/car cascade of failures, and Tim's Calvin Klein glasses warranty nightmare. Entertainment is a full D23 firehose (Kingdom Hearts Coco world, Incredibles 3, Simpsons Movie 2, Coco 2, Tangled live-action, etc.) plus Ted Lasso comfort, Daredevil Season 3, the new Masters of the Universe love, and a Rick and Morty President Curtis spin-off that finally finds its groove. Classic Fork energy from sultry tones to "Get forked." **Detailed Show Notes** 🔥 **Life Stories**   - Tim still congested from last week's house-wide sickness plus weeks of bad air-quality smoke; Nate declares the voice "sultry baritone."   - Classic bathroom emergency: Tim reduced to shredding the cardboard tube on a job site; Nate hits the same empty-roll situation at home.   - Nate's weekend of cascading disasters for his dad: "no OS found" secure-boot scare (fixed by unplugging every USB drive and clearing TPM), phone dropped in the toilet for hours, then the car throws every warning light and has to be towed.   - Tim's new Costco Calvin Klein glasses: permanent eyelash scratches after one day; manufacturer warranty is only one lens replacement in 90 days — never buying CK again.   - Book club canceled; smoke smell concern mid-episode; Nate's wife back on two wheels soon (Triumph mentioned in prior context).   🕹️ **Video Games**   - **Halo Campaign Evolved**: Four-player legendary co-op. Prequel missions feel like restored cut content / one long mission with odd lore (jokey Chief + Johnson pre-Cortana). Marine AI keeps diving into the line of fire → Nate starts pre-emptively shooting them (and Sergeant Johnson) for survival and laughs. Difficulty jumps hard after Assault on the Control Room. Physics and AI mostly feel right (Unreal sandbox for classic logic), vehicle damage is new, soundtrack is mostly original remastered tracks (jarring in prequels). Menu crashes on Xbox; big patch incoming.   - **Color Clash**: Tim hit #1 in the world (Ultra Diamond, 6,118 points) while "taking a long shit" on August 7; still holding the crown. Nate fully hooked via Discord, running mob-heavy loadouts and climbing leagues. Deep strategy talk on placement physics, Dark Mirror, lasers, igloos, Thanos Snap counters, and why pure mob spam eventually fails. Fair monetization if you ad-block and do daily freebies.   - No Man's Sky 10th anniversary: free "Cosmos" update teased, Sean Murray still refuses paid DLC, community love-fest on Discord.   - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 edition looking modern and beautiful for nightly bed play.   - Upcoming: Orbitals (wacky anime-tone co-op Switch 2 exclusive, pre-ordered), Duskbloods closed network test (Tim selected — NDA, can't talk about it next episode).   - Quick hits: Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave direct, GTA 6 gameplay on Netflix first (weird 3-hour exclusivity), PlayStation 5 stickers announcing end of physical discs after January 2028.   💻 **Technology**   - Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 reviews: compelling but aspect-ratio app breakage and cost keep Nate on a two-generation upgrade cycle. Speculation on Apple's foldable.   - SpaceX closes $60B Cursor AI acquisition; Grok bots powered by it.   - Pixel 11 series, Alibaba Qwen models, Anthropic Claude text watermarking, Reddit joins S&P 500, self-driving trucks approved for California highways, Apple building China-specific AI with Alibaba, NVIDIA's Intel stake ballooning.   - Classic Windows update stutter mid-segment.   🍿 **Entertainment**   - D23 / Disney dump: Kingdom Hearts 4 Coco world (crowd lost their minds thinking it was Coco 2 footage), Kingdom Hearts called one of Disney's billion-dollar pillars, Ultimate collection coming, Bluey movie trailer, Tangled live-action 2028 (Catherine Hahn as Mother Gothel), Ice Age next installment, Camp Rock 3, Percy Jackson Season 3, Lilo & Stitch 2 hybrid with Angel, Kingdom Hearts anime series (original, under Nomura, likely late 2027), Coco 2 (2029), Incredibles 3 (Violet & Dash focus, "not all heroes are good," June 2028), The New Simpsons Movie (hilarious trailer, possible series end?), Princess Diaries 3.   - Watched: Devil Wears Prada 2 (Nate enjoyed but writing issues), Masters of the Universe (Tim completely obsessed, watching the original series + Dolph Lundgren for context, wants She-Ra and sequel ASAP), Netflix Daredevil Season 3 (almost done, hyped for Disney+ era + already-announced Season 4), Rick and Morty "President Curtis" spin-off (Keith David, Stephanie Beatriz, Jim Rash — finds its groove in episode 3), Strange New Worlds, Ted Lasso (comfort viewing that still makes Tim happy despite internet complaints).   **Key Quotes & Memorable Moments**   - "I think you sound like you have the sultry tones of a very baritone."   - Nate on Halo marines: "if I see a marine, I'm shooting a marine because if a dead marine doesn't jump in front of me."   - Tim on Color Clash: "I unbeknownst to me was taking a long shit… and I hit the number one spot in the world… I guess I'm the best. Ever."   - "You can't Leeroy Jenkins your way in a Warthog anymore… but boy that didn't stop me from trying."   - Tim on No Man's Sky / Sean Murray: the video-game equivalent of Tom Hanks (douchebag credits).   - Nate's dad cascade: phone in the toilet for hours → SIM in Nate's phone → still dripping water two hours later.   - "I'm never buying anything from Calvin Klein again."   - Closing: "Get forked."   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#218 Jimonthy Crickets! - Podcast Show Notes & Summery 8-1-26 Quick Summary Tim and Nate open with the usual technical chaos—Nate's ancient camera older than his kids, USB hub murders, Windows being Windows, and a new meshy chair—before Tim scrapes himself off the floor with minimal coffee. The big gaming bombshell is Nintendo snagging a FromSoftware exclusive (Dustbloods) led by Miyazaki himself: Bloodborne-vibes, industrial revolution setting, up to eight-player PvE, and Tim is currently in the closed NDA network test. Microsoft brings four original Xbox classics to PC (Fusion Frenzy, Crimson Skies, Conker's Live and Reloaded), sparking preservation vs. "just sell it again" debate. Nate digs into the new Halo campaign on PC while Tim's wrist is still sidelining him. Entertainment covers Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Tim is all-in), American Psycho after a four-and-a-half-hour serial-killer museum visit, and the couple literally dodging the Bite of Seattle shooting by having a fight and going home. Life wraps with raccoon babies, the local "Jimmathy" meme, and Nate's wife getting back on two wheels with a nearly-new 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900. Classic Fork energy from start to duck-call finish. Detailed Show Notes 🔥 Life Stories Tim still nursing the wrist/hand injury—brace, limited button inputs, still trying to play chill games like Palworld and dreaming of an Xbox Adaptive Controller (or at least a foot-switch left-click like Nate used to rock). Nate's house continues its nature-show run: Cooper's Hawk, mama raccoon + babies (one curious little guy walked right up for a close-up Discord photo), and the sudden local "Jimmathy" raccoon meme that has Tim's wife calling him Jimmathy out of nowhere. Serial-killer museum/exhibit day with the wife: interactive displays, Ted Bundy's car, Texas Chainsaw Massacre historical roots, strong victim focus instead of glamorizing the killers. VIP upgrade included a wild group VR experience in a big room full of QR codes—hand tracking, simultaneous individual sessions, and "ghost" real people walking through your virtual space. Silver lining of the century: Tim and Jessica had an argument, went home, watched American Psycho… and thereby completely missed the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle. Friends who were in the beer garden and one who arrived right after confirmed how chaotic it was. Nate's wife finally scratched the motorcycle itch. Test-rode a Triumph, then the dealer texted a low-mileage (500 miles) 2025 Speed Twin 900 for about half retail. First dual-bike ride together in over a decade. Lane-splitting/filtering legality debate (legal in CA, not in Washington or plenty of other places) and air-cooled bikes in summer traffic. 🕹️ Video Games Dustbloods – FromSoftware Switch exclusive helmed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Bloodborne DNA + industrial-revolution/vampire aesthetic, cooperative PvE for up to eight players. Tim is in the closed network test under full NDA (results in a week). Nobody really knows the exact structure yet—open-world? session-based like Nightreign? Pure co-op against the world? Original Xbox titles finally hitting PC through the Xbox app/store (and Game Pass for the Microsoft-owned ones): Fusion Frenzy, Crimson Skies, Conker's Live and Reloaded (and Blinx). No physical disc support, no online multiplayer restored. Tim goes deep on Crimson Skies nostalgia and how its flight controls still feel special; Conker's single-player remake is solid, the multiplayer changes were a crime. Halo campaign discussion: Nate has been playing on PC (high settings on a 10th-gen i9 + 5070), solid recreation of the original feel with some modern QoL and Unreal Engine 5 under the hood. Tim still hasn't gotten proper time with it thanks to the wrist. Quick hit: God of War title teased for February 16, 2027 on PS5 out of Comic-Con chatter. 💻 Technology Setup struggles: Nate's webcam is older than his children, USB hub drama, external monitor wrestling, and the eternal Windows tax. Tim's new MacBook webcam is thankfully still alive. Tim's ongoing local-LLM transcription project: feeding old Fork episodes into on-device models (Mac Whisper + Parakeet running efficiently on Apple Silicon) to build a fully searchable archive so he can finally prove Nate wrong with receipts and pie charts. Side talk on privacy trade-offs, Apple's approach to on-device intelligence, and how we're all slowly surrendering data for convenience. 🍿 Entertainment Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Tim saw it the night before, still wearing the shirt. Loved the action (Jackie Chan's stunt team influence shows), the more introspective Giacchino score, and the post-credits sting. Strong "this is Spider-Man" energy. American Psycho first watch after the serial-killer museum—Tim enjoyed the twist and how well most of it has aged (with the expected late-90s/early-00s quirks). Streaming purge at Nate's house: Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock all canceled after realizing they were paying $150+/month for basically one show. Creative workarounds for Strange New Worlds continue. Assorted MCU notes: Blade still not happening (Mahershala Ali has moved on after seven years), Wonder Man Season 2 status murky, Daredevil/Punisher catch-up attempts that got derailed by Spider-Man. Key Quotes & Memorable Moments "This camera is older than my children." – Nate, defending ancient hardware "Buck, you're a kingdom for an Xbox adaptive controller…" – Nate watching Tim mash every face button at once "I just stomped my foot down to headshot you." – Nate on his legendary foot-switch mouse "Glad I literally dodged bullets by having a fight with my wife." – Tim on the Bite of Seattle timing "Why Jimmathy? That's the dumbest name I've ever heard… but also not." – the raccoon discourse Duck-call outro chaos: "Get forked… what the fuck is that? It's a duck." 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#217 Goldblooming - Show Notes 7-18-26 Quick Summary Tim and Nate return after a short break with the usual tech hiccups (cats on keyboards, webcam fails, Windows being Windows) before diving into heavy gaming industry salt. Sony's disc production shutdown and account purge policy spark debate, while Xbox's massive reset (layoffs, studio sales, id Software cuts) gets the full breakdown—including John Carmack's level-headed take. Personal life gets real with Portland traffic nightmares, Oregon gas station confusion, back/PT woes, and Tim's Palworld co-op adventures with his wife (complete with "Slavery Corporation" clan drama). Nate suffers through Hollow Knight for his daughter, and there's plenty of He-Man movie love, Obsession raves, and Kara's corner mentions. Detailed Show Notes 🔥 Life Stories Classic Fork tech opener: Nate's cats sabotage the setup, webcam drama, and Windows device manager fails. Portland traffic hell + Costco gas station confusion in Oregon (self-serve culture shock for Tim). Back/PT issues and urgent care visit (Nate's bursitis adventure). Book club (All Systems Red/Murderbot), Santa Barbara Ren Faire plans, and Nate's motorcycle exhaust upgrade (hybrid problems). Kara's corner update (Pokémon shinies and the great feet pic debate). 🕹️ Video Games Sony Drama: PlayStation account deletion after 36 months inactive (goodbye digital purchases) + full end of physical disc production. CEO stock sales raise eyebrows. Xbox Reset: Massive layoffs, Double Fine/Compulsion going independent, Ninja Theory/Undead Labs sales, id Software cuts. John Carmack's thoughtful commentary praised as the best take. What We've Been Playing: Nate's Hollow Knight suffering for his daughter. Tim's Palworld 1.0 co-op with wife (seven-hour slave empire building, base fun, and "I need more slaves"). No Man's Sky Stargate Atlantis base envy. 💻 Tech & Entertainment Obsession movie gets a glowing review (Indy Nareet's performance is a tour de force + killer synth soundtrack). He-Man/Masters of the Universe movie love (pitch-perfect for fans, great cast chemistry, rocking score). Sam Neill passing, God of War TV recast drama (Ryan Hurst bicep injury). Key Quotes & Memorable Moments Tim on Palworld co-op: "I need more slaves… I don't feel right saying it, but I need many more slaves." Nate on Hollow Knight: "I hate every moment… I have never sweared at my screen more." Tim on Sony: "It makes more sense that they're converting the facility to camera lenses than just fucking everybody over." Running gags: Danish gooey center obsession, Goldblum impressions, and "those were the days" nostalgia. A classic Forked episode: tech gremlins, industry rage, wholesome (and unwholesome) gaming stories, and two friends shooting the breeze. Light on AI/tech this week because gaming news dominated. Runtime: ~1 hour 45 minutes of barely contained chaos.     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#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!