Double Shift Podcast

We're finally here. The end of the Last Best Era. With probably the best console in The Last Best Era. The Nintendo Gamecube. That's not to say that the Gamecube is the last best console...it might not even be the best Nintendo Console, let alone the last best one. Categorizing your memories can be confusing, and sometimes painful... BUT FEAR NOT! We will be talking all things Cube today. How they were so cheap that you could casually pick one up at the counter, last minute, like you would a candy bar. We'll talk about some of the most iconic games of all time. Mikey will make a promise to NEVER badmouth a first party Nintendo game ever again on this podcast. Let's see how long he can keep that promise. We'll also talk about food...and that get's confusing too...but we sort it out...we think. And don't worry...we know that we talk about old stuff a lot, but after this episode, we'll go back to talking about...(checks notes on next weeks episode...) Well, we'll be talking about Video Games...just a little bit...

This week on part two of "The Last Best Era" we talk about PS2. The Champion of the three consoles. This best seller gave us some bangers, too many to talk about in one episode. And Mikey wasted time by talking about GTA again, even though he said he wouldn't. That's fine...because we also talk about Burritos, exploiting the hard working people at Blockbuster Video and games, games, games! Gamefly may have to send their goons after us to collect their credit payment after they hear this episode (we never did find that Dead 2 Rights disc...)

The time is finally here. The moment that you all have been waiting for! Well...at least like 4 of you anyways. Mikey has been droning on and on and on and on and on and on (he needed help getting out of this loop) about the "Last Best Era" for video games. This is not only his opinion...oh wait, yes it is. Here what era it is (if you haven't been listening) and some of the reasons why. More importantly...remember some of the games from this last best era and finally answer the burning question, "Famous Mo...what's your favorite Mech?"

Riddle me this...What is green, bounces, has weird scoring and says "WHOOOOOO"? If you said an owl playing tennis, you'd be wrong, but we'd understand why you said that. The answer is...well nothing really. It's all just descriptors for the game of Tennis. The beautiful game (oh wait that's soccer), America's Pastime (shoot...baseball). We don't know what Tennis is referred to as, but we do know that we love the video games. From playing Virtua Tennis in arcades while listening to local bands to angrily uninstalling Mario Tennis because it's too dang hard, we cover it all. Well, not all...just some (there's a ton of Tennis games out there). We also talk about crazy chickens and John Daly for some reason. So tune in, tone up and TURN DOWN THAT RACKET!

You ever have fond memories of stuff from back in the day? Yeah, us too. That's basically what this Podcast is every week. You ever just have memories about stuff from back in the day? Fond not really being a part of the equation? Well today we're talking about those old electronic handheld video games! We have memories of them, that's for sure. We also think, maybe some people didn't even buy them, but they just magically appear in houses all across the country. I mean some of them are cool. Re-imagined classics, cool box art and hell...some of them even have clocks. Even though Danelle seems to hate clocks. But most of them are just...there. They exist. And we remember. But maybe not fondly. Oh and we talk about candy. And how candy might be alive...tune in!

We're tired of talking about Video Games. All we do is talk about Video Games...and Snax. We want to talk about something else for once! Like TV Channels of yesteryear...yeah...that's the ticket! So today, we're going to talk about the Cable Channel that is gone, but not forgotten, G4. The channel for gamers, by gamers. It's a channel about Video Games!!! Ha! We tricked you! That's what people on the internet do, they trick you into reading more and then really they've said nothing, kinda like this whole paragraph. So join us as we watch a channel about Video Games and reminisce on our favorite Video Game shows and watch as they slowly replace all of those shows with episodes of Cops. Also, we grill burgers and play Mortal Kombat...but that's more just like...everyday life!

Back in the day, when you could have it your way, you could buy Video Games at BK. They were very cheap and they came with a treat. Some fries and drink please with a whopper with cheese. Now you'd think they'd be bad and you'd think they weren't strong. But hey, if you thought that, guess what? You're WRONG! These games were not bad, not even one bit. A four dollar banger and super legit. Chex did this too, but it came in a box. Turns out cereal games also f@!%ing rock. So tune in and see, game's best mystery. Of how BK released not one game...but three!

Do you like things? How about things that used to be things, but aren't things anymore? You know...like things from yesteryear? We like thing and sometime those things aren't around anymore or they've changed. We miss those things. Some of those things happened a long time ago, which means we're old. We're Old and We Miss Things. For some reason we miss standing in lines at midnight, or basically having a Demo Kiosk in our own home...and for sure we all miss rental stores! I mean, all of these things weren't great things at the time...but they were our things, and we miss them...dag nabbit! So, if you have a Choco Taco in your freezer still then grab it and pull up a chair and gather around Double Shift as we remember things!

Here at Double Shift, we LOVE love. And we also love Producer Geoff! And Producer Geoff just so happens to love Valentine's Day. So much so, that he wanted to pick the games for our V-Day Special!So we let him do just that. Snax and everything. And the results are adorable. From some NES Classics (maybe) to a Round Robin of Dating Sims, Geoff spans generations to provide us with fantastic game recs for the Holiday.We'll even celebrate some of Video Game's most exciting couples! So join us, as we present the episode that Geoff totally wrote. We swear! These are his picks. Don't believe us? You'll have to tune in to find out!

Double Shift is back and we're celebrating the New Year! Celebrating the new...by talking about the old. But like...the new old. Old new? Trying to figure out a good way to say this is Demaking us Crazy! You've heard of remakes, but what about de-makes? Did you ever play a modern game and think to yourself...I wish this was the same game but less modern. I wish there was less music and more bleeps and bloops. Too much story, I just want to walk around... Well you're in luck, because that is what we are celebrating today! Smash on Gameboy, Halo on Atari and Pac Man with Sidewalk Chalk and Sandwiches (we may have made that one). Grab some beef jerky and put new batteries in your retro handheld consoles and enjoy this episode on an old radio, so that we can be de-made as well!

Happy Holidaze to all of you Nifty Nerds out there in Pixel Land! Join us for our holiday special, as we pay tribute to the iconic N64 Unboxing Video by pairing N64 games with beer! Danelle doesn't play The Grinch Game, but she reviews it anyways. Mikey does play it and also reviews it. Geoff didn't play it and did not review it. What a Grinch! You'll find out what sweet treat to pair with the perfect nostalgic game, here Christmas tales of video game glory from the Double Shift Crew and you'll find out what you should do on New Year's Eve instead of going out. And of course...most of these things go great with beer!

Happy Turkey Day to all of you Nifty Nerds, Gaming Goons and Joystick Jockeys out there in Gravy Land! Today we celebrate the Turkey Call! It seems like we get a Call of Duty every year for Thanksgiving. So today we will be talking about that game franchise and some of other bangers in the genre as well. We also talk about potato tacos...seriously...they are bomb. If you AREN'T doing this with your leftovers...then well...you should start! Get nostalgic with us as we try to recreate awesome Thanksgiving Days from our past and stay tuned for our Rapid Fire Edition of Danelle Reviews Games!

Nobody likes a cheater. Unless it's the legendary Konami Code! If you told us you beat Contra as a kid without that...you're lying! Probably... Ever wanted to see The Beastie Boys dunk against 90's NBA Stars? All things are possible if you believe! Or just cheat... Dancing Dinosaurs, Angry Pedestrians and Big Heads Unite! Today we are talking about cheat codes! We also might talk about Velveta as well...

Horse Hockey! Malarkey! FISH STICKS! Sorry for the foul language, but today we’re swearing. Well, we’re not…but we’re talking about video games that do! What happens when QBert messes up at his job? What if Tony Montana survives the onslaught in his mansion? What do you get when you take heavy inspiration from Pulp Fiction for your bad guy? Tons of swears, that’s what! We also talk about Geoff’s favorite swear words and snax as we say “Hail to the King, baby!” Cover your children’s ears and join us and stick around for our original game idea!!!

It’s a special day here at Double Shift. We have our first special guest! It’s our former boss, so we were on our best behavior… But our guest wasn’t! Please join us as we hang out with Sean Shimoda! A QA legend and a great friend! Mikey attempts to interview him, but mostly has dumb joke questions, Sean gives us his own Snax segment (and shows us the proper reaction to twizzlers) and Danelle designs games based on Shimoda catch phrases!

Snax? Snax, you say? We got you! For our last Spooky Season Episode we talk about our favorite Halloween Candy and we pair it with a game. You know the Segment. The one where we pair dope food with even doper games, like one might do with a fancy feast and fine wine. But that's all we do!!! Danelle, Mikey, Guest Writer Sam Squanch and yes...even Producer Geoff give their favorite candy and game pairings. Does that mean we will hear Producer Geoff's actual voice for the first time? Or did the Double Shift crew speak on his behalf? And if they did...does it actually represent him? Tune in to find out!!!

Här på Double Shift pratar vi inte svenska, men vi firar ett fantastiskt Folk Horror-spel som kommer från ABBA:s land! Bramble: The Mountain King är ett utmärkt och vackert spel, perfekt för Spooky Season och perfekt för fans av forntida folklore. Dessutom är Halloween och forntida folklore i grunden menade att skrämma barn, så jag tror att de två går hand i hand. Åh... vi pratar också om svenska köttbullar. Sitten vaihdamme kieltä ja puhumme Noitasta. Tämä peli kertoo noidasta, joka kuolee paljon. Se on todella hauska ja sopii hyvin yhteen lihapullien kanssa. Try the games: Bramble: The Mountain King: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1623940/Bramble_The_Mountain_King/ Noita: https://store.steampowered.com/app/881100/Noita/

We've heard many Urban Legends growing up...babysitter cooking the "wrong turkey", Bloody Mary, Geoff saying something witty and interesting... But have you heard the one about the kid named Ben, who haunted a N64 Cartridge? Or how about the one where Sonic the Hegdehog attacked all of his friends and ruined your computer? Why, there might even be the one about the Troll that lives inside the Game Build!!! You'll have to tune in to find out...plus we want to know if you remember what novelty pizza from the 90s was served from the various pizza chains!Oh and Bigfoot...we talk about Bigfoot... BUT DO WE? You'll just have to tune in to find out!

Have you ever been watching a movie and thought to yourself that it would make a great video game? So you look it up, and it doesn't have a video game adaptation? So you make up a fake Video Game about that movie? Or maybe, there is a video game based on a movie, but you thought of a different one. A BETTER ONE! So you design that game as well? And then, after that...did you ever have a podcast where you can share these ideas? Maybe you even design an original game completely for the Snax segment? Well...don't worry, if you haven't...WE DID! Join us as we make up Video Games for Spooky Movies, come up with our own Doritos Flavors and even design an original Halloween Game!

Not everything that is Spooky has to be terrifying. Sometimes you want to just open up the window, let the cool fall breeze in, wrap yourself in a blanket and leisurely manage a graveyard! Or, maybe you throw on a nice coat, put some hot coffee in a to go cup (throw in a little pumpkin spice maybe) and walk to your Plant Shop that may or may not prevent a cult from taking over the town. Even witches like to feel cozy as they are capturing people's souls for a demon goat that they made a pact with years ago! This week is all about the spooky games that are also cozy! Those to-do list games that make you put off your to-do list from real life! Oh...and we also eat a zombie hand...so gather all of your coziest accessories and join us for the most light hearted spooky episode of this season!

Dinner is served! And what's on the menu? Why...it's YOU! Well, hopefully not you...we need all of our fans around... Today we talk about Cannibalism in Video Games. And not the fake kind either. Zombies? Pshh...Danelle HATES zombies. We're talking humans eating other humans! And then we get grossed out about that and starting talking about Tofu. Stay tuned until the end and see what beer or wine pairing Danelle chooses for our 6 course video game character meal! Spoiler alert...the video game characters ARE the meal!

Have you ever woken up, only to find yourself in strange 1950s town, not knowing who you are? Does your mother bake cookies for a charity event too early and throw them away because they’ll get stale? Ever needed to seek answers from the local cult? Boy I hate when that happens…but it doesn’t need to happen to you! You can simply play the 1990’s PC game called Harvester! This week, we have an episode dedicated to one of the most bizarre games ever in honor of spooky season! Careful though, there are some spoilers… We also talk about apples and what a game would look like if a bunch of goth film students developed it. If you listen to this episode but can’t remember it after…then we knew you were always such a kidder…

Tune in this week as we blah, blah, blah...you know what? This episode really sucks. The Double Shift Podcast ought to be laid to rest. Yeah. In a coffin! We only come out at night for this episode about our favorite blood suckers. We see what it's like when Van Helsing is more fit for the old folks home, rather than hunting vampires. We get bored of our day jobs, so we join the circus, which is also boring, so we hunt vampires. We move to the suburbs, as vampires, and eat people who are jogging at midnight for some reason. And of course...we eat Oreos and play a game with vampire in the title, but with no vampires in the game. Stay tuned to the end, because it seems as if one of our hosts turns into a vampire themselves!!! Talk about blah, blah, blah!

Join us, Double Shift fans, if you dare...for this week's episode is something so creepy, so vile, so juicy...wait juicy?That's right! This weeks episode is TIKI TIME! And what better to celebrate Tiki Time than with a Zombie! NOOOO! Not the drink! The walking undead. The ghouls who rise from their graves, just to feast on our brains. The slow moving infectious disease that aims to end all of mankind!!!!OK, we will talk about the drink too, why not. Hell, we may even go to Disneyland again!Join us as we talk about Zombie Video games that aren't best selling franchises, but ones we might have played in school back in the 90s. Heck, you may even learn how to type better in the end!

Here at Double Shift, everyday is Halloween. So we are starting to celebrate early! Starting with this show, until the greatest night of the year, we will be celebrating all things SPOOOOOOKY! So set your game consoles to October 31st. And after you do that, launch some games to see what surprises might appear! If you stick around, you can also learn how to make the perfect pumpkin seed! And listen, we're not hating on other holidays either...you can start drinking the best beer in the world around this time of year, even though it's meant for Xmas time. So get your video game costumes on (even if they kinda suck) because it's about to get SPOOOOOOKY up in here!

Now listen, if you are someone who is a Collection Completionist for retro games, well...you're straight outta luck, homie! Because today we will be talking about Homebrew Games. People are still making retro games and they are actually releasing physical copies for these old relics! Pretty soon you can even buy one at your favorite Halloween Super Store! Tune in as we gasp at modern features on a NES Cart, look for our lost Groom amongst Killer Clowns, have EPIC pool sandwiches and even design our own game!

This episode is difficult to understand. It’s hard to explain. It’s almost like it’s lost in translation… In fact that’s what we’re talking about today! The early days of gaming gave us some great sentences and phrases that don’t quite make sense and we are grateful for it! A Winner is Us, for sure! We also dream about traveling the world just so we can try different McDonald’s menu items! So join us as we talk about Error…

It's Boxing Day! Well...not the holiday (but we love you, America's Hat...) Today we celebrate boxing video games. From the zany arcade style to the more realistic simulation, we cover it all. We also talk about Michael Jackson. We order Boxing PPVs and eat Korean BBQ. We also talk about Michael Jackson again. We test boxing video game instruction manuals and give a couple game reviews. We also talk about...Michael Jackson? Again?!?!? Tune in to find out why boxing and Michael Jackson seem to be so intertwined.

Hope you're ready for The Next Episode...Hip Hop Anonymous. Hip Hop and Video Games go way back...like, back in the day when we were young (we're not kids anymore...but some days we certainly wish we were). There are some goofy entries, no doubt, in the history of Hip Hop Video Games, but there are some real bangers as well. In fact, some of the best games of all time (in our opinion)! So if you consider yourself a Street Legend or often find yourself fighting for NY, then you are going to want to tune in. Grab some Rap Snacks, kick back and enjoy the ride!

You. Look. MARVEL-lous. With so much Marvel in MCU Movies, it's kinda hard being the Double Shift, you see...but we...somehow, someway...keep coming up with funny, dumb podcast every day. Well...every week at least. But yeah...Marvel comics are awesome! And you better believe there are a lot of FANTASIC Marvel Games out there! So we talk about some of them...well, not all of them fantastic...and certainly more than four of them! So, join us as we go back to Disneyland, rank emotes, trick our local video rental stores into giving us a new game and punch and superhero the heck out of bad guys!

We love skateboarding here at the double shift! Can we do it in real life? Heck no! But can we do a kick flip? Heck yes…in video games!Join us as we SKATE OR DIE and dirty old bees chase us around, rad music plays in the background, miracles are performed and for some reason random tv characters that have nothing to do with skateboarding join the show!

What makes a bad game? Well that's just like...your opinion, man! And a lot of people on the internets have those opinions. They organize these opinions in list form and present us with what they think the WORST video games of all time are. We talk about some of these games and try to defend them as best as possible! Making video games is a hard job! So...shut up! Disclaimer: We may or may not always be able to defend some of these games. Also, we talk about Shrimp Chips. Yay!!!!

Who doesn't love Mario Kart? Seriously...who? We'll wait... That's right! Nobody doesn't love Mario Kart and we don't not love it as well! Join us as we recall our favorite memories tied to the game, discover new ways to play it with a little help from Ol' Grandpa's Cough Medicine and enjoy Snax from the best Taqueria in San Francisco!

gen·e·sis - the origin or mode of formation of something.Sega Genesis - Sega's 4th Console...wait why did they call it that?!?!?! Anyways, we're not talking about The Genesis today. We're talking about an 8-Bit Powerhouse that was sent to America to rival the Mighty Nintendo Entertainment System! The Sega Master System! And when it arrived on U.S. Soil it...it was...well it was here, that is for sure. BUT we still remember it fondly with it's bright colors and loud music. Put on your Alf pajamas as we remember a console that millions of others don't, but that Brazil still loves today!

Doom. Doom is awesome. Doom is super metal. Doom rips. Doom, Doom, Doom, Doom and more Doom. Join us as we celebrate Doom. From it's origins to the brand new Doom: The Dark Ages. We talk about it all. Did we mention Doom yet? Oh...well...just in case we didn't. Doom.

This episode is more fun than a barrel of monkeys! What do you think of when you think of video games, barrels and monkeys? Well, if you guessed Donkey Kong...you would be correct! But this episode isn't about him or his barrels. It's about barrels in Capcom Games. That's right...a whole episode by the fact that Capcom loves barrels! We'll sneak in a little more Capcom stuff in there too, but the Double Shift Crew and their Gamer Snax are here for the barrels!

It’s gonna get sloppy! Join us as we talk about games based on Nickelodeon Shows! Were these games in their Prime or just full of Slime? There were so many games that had the Nickelodeon name and there is no way that we have played them all. So eventually, we just made up the plot to these games ourselves! We Double Dare you not to listen and take a trip down memory lane as we eat Turtle Pies, give love to Rugrats, throw shade at Rugrats and ask important questions about Catdog!

Let’s All Go To The Moooovieees! And hit up the Movie Theater Arcade first, because this week we’re talking about the ol’ Silver Screen! Well…more so Silver Screen to Video Game Adaptations. Most gamers don’t like Games based on Movies, but wait until you hear OUR opinion on them (I didn’t say it was different, I just told you to wait)... Make sure to tune in as Danelle gives her review on a Game that inspired a Movie! Grab your popcorn bucket, make sure to get the free refill BEFORE you sit down and strap on your 3D glasses as you listen to this week’s episode! Disclaimer* 3D Glasses may or may not be compatible with this Podcast, but you should still wear them.

Listen kids...Winners Don't Do Drugs! And neither do we! And you didn't either back in the day! Because if you even thought about it, you were presented with that message in your local Arcades on all of the screens! Join us as we talk about the countless Anti-Drug Video Games of yesteryear! Well, maybe not countless...we counted them. How many you ask? Tune in to find out!

This week the crew talks about questionable Video Games. Mostly, the question is...Bro...WHAAAT?!?! Thanks to games like GTA, most of society is desensitized by crazy Video Games. But there was a time where guys named Larry wore Leisure Suits, Arcade Machines had weird joysticks, General Custer got some sort of Revenge and Mike Tyson made fun of everyone. Some of the games are definitely going to make you say "Bro WHAAAAT?" and some may just bring back some good memories. Shame on you...

On this week’s episode, we sit on the couch! We’ll be playing some Couch Co-Op games together as Mikey becomes Danelle, Danelle mentions Ace Combat yet again, Oddjob chops up and we spell Assume! Strap on that plastic Vinyl and join us as we remember old stuff while making sound effects!

This week the crew is watching TV. But they fast forward through all of the boring show bits so they can watch all of the awesome Video Game commercials! Join Mikey, Danelle, Paul Rudd, Ethan Suplee and get ready to have your hair stand up on your head, your ear drums blown out and ask important questions about these Video Game TV Commercials, such as..."What?" Disclaimer: Paul Rudd and Ethan Suplee may or may not actually be in this episode themselves...guess you will have to tune in to find out!

In this week's episode, we take a peek behind the curtain...AH! Sorry sir...wrong curtain... Join us as we relive some stories from our time in the Video Game Industry. This episode is full of Celebrities, Food, Gross Stuff, More Food, Getting yelled at, Even more Food and maybe we mention a Video Game here and there, who knows! We babbled on for so long while recording this that we had to edit it down for time. But fear not...maybe someday we will have THE LOST EPISODE where we...get lazy and just pick up scraps off the cutting room floor and throw them together for an episode. STAY TUNED!

In this week's episode, we don't just get sidetracked on food. We talk about Weird Video Game Characters! Well, one of them is a Mushroom so...that is a food. But the rest is just weird video game characters, no food. Well there's Gamer Snax...but we also design a game! About a marshmallow. Darnit!

Meet Em Up 2 Beat Em Up - The team discusses all things Beat Em Up, the genre that exploded in the 80s and 90s and saw countless street punks get punched in the mouth with a fist full of justice. They also talk about Salad Bars...But they get back to Beat Em Ups eventually!

Meet Mikey and Danelle as they go over all of the shenanigans they will be getting into.