Side Story

Have you heard the news? There's a new Postman in town, and a new Fairie Queen in the court. I hear the Postman keeps bringing her big palettes of wood, and she's using it to build some sort of cat tower. I hear she's sending her entourage to business school, and he's got to carry her letters of recommendation. I hear war is coming, but don't worry, we're safe here on our island court in the fog. I hear we'll always be safe here. Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Show Notes Realis Kickstarter Blood Machine's Bluesky Post which first clued us into Island Off Outer Darkness Austin's Realis Interview Roundup | Clockwork Worlds Chapters 00:00 Introduction 10:23 Island Off Outer Darkness 01:19:34 Titanium Court   Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Jack de Quidt, Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Somewhere between Goo and Glue and Goop, is Gloop. And that's the stuff that makes up the middling (and middle-ing) parts of many vast, open world RPGs. Flat but enjoyable-enough random encounters. Rhythmically repetitive dungeons. The Good Old Fetch Quest. The mortar holding the bricks of the castle wall together. Gloop. Support us on Patreon! The Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live!   Show Notes Crunch returns to Naughty Dog for Xmas as Intergalactic devs work overtime on a demo for Sony, claims report No Games for Genocide The Indiana Pacers Fan Couple Clip Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:55 ToeJam & Earl Aside 07:30 Ardenfall 52:12 Road to Vostok Featuring Austin Walker and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt  

Happy Side Story anniversary! To celebrate our first year of the show, Austin, Janine, and Jack get together to talk about the year they've spent playing Nine Dots' RPG-meets-sim Outward (which you can watch them play by supporting us at https://friendsatthetable.cash/!) Speaking of supporting our work, the Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live!   Support us on Patreon! Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt  

With too many games coming out recently, Austin, Sylvi, and Dre had to determine a metric to decide which ones to cover on this week's episode. What makes the most sense? Maybe 'games relevant to ongoing Friends at the Table campaigns'? Or perhaps 'games that we've teased wanting to talk about in the past'? No, absolutely not. There is only one metric: Games that look sick as shit. Show Notes Marathon Thief Grapple "If you're hoping to make friends in Marathon like you can in Arc Raiders, expect a knife in the back" | PC Gamer Marathon, Reprise | Aurahack Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Icebreaker Marathon Upate 07:34 The Cool Games We Don't Have Time to Talk About Yet 10:32 Romeo Is A Dead Man 47:43 Marathon (2026) Featuring Austin Walker, Andrew Lee Swan, and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt  

With Austin separated from his microphone because of a snowstorm, Janine and Ali (who herself had to record on a travel mic) return to chat about the rise of Devices. You know? Gadgets? Geegaws? Retro emulation handhelds? Also, we have a classic Friends at the Table "Now is not the time for this diversionary topic" followed by 30 full minutes on the diversionary topic. It's a good podcast.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Device Talk Begins 26:34 Palia Diversion Begins 55:11 Back to the Gadgets and the Games We're Playing On Them Support us on Patreon! Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt  

On Sunday 15th and Monday 16th of February 2026, we're going to be hosting ICEBREAKER, a two day fundraising marathon on twitch.tv/friendsatthetable to raise money for the Women's Foundation of Minnesota's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund! As Minnesota faces the brunt of a violent anti-immigrant crackdown, and ICE's cruelty continues to spread nationwide, we are inspired by the solidarity, community, and mutual aid demonstrated by those on the front lines of immigration justice. The WFM's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund distributes funding to organizations working to provide food, housing, rent relief, transportation and healthcare as well as legal support for immigrants, detainees, and their families. The fight for immigration justice is immensely important to us all. Please join us to help raise some money! In addition to streaming, new limited edition t-shirts will be available on the Friends at the Table store on Sunday 15th, featuring the incredible ICEBREAKER art by Conner Fawcett. For the months of February and March, all proceeds from any purchases made at friendsatthetable.shop will go to the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, which provides free legal representation to immigrants and their families. After March, this t-shirt will no longer be available! Please stay tuned to our social media and here on Patreon for upcoming information about the schedule, as well as our fundraising goals. We'll be kicking off around 11am ET and going all day with a carefully selected blend of games, running the gamut from emergent multiplayer disasters to 90s educational software to — let me just check my notes here — it looks like someone's written down "Flegg Hell"? We'll see you on Sunday!  

The winter is here and our love of warmth means that we're stuck inside, dreaming of greener pastures. Greener pastures like: "A train that you can make prettier" and "A frozen over dystopia where you are forced out into the cold to deliver pizzas and televisions." Hey, wait a minute... Show Notes Run Button's My Summer Car Let's Play  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Spatial Puzzles (Kanoodle, IQ Gears, IQ Circuit) 08:10 Locomoto 27:19 Locomoto Full Game Spoilers 56:07 Easy Delivery Co. Support us on Patreon! Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt  

Happy 2026! We're kicking the year off (a little belatedly) with what would've been Ali's 2025 Main Story Award winning Silent Hill f. She's joined by Keith and Jack as they talk (with full spoilers) about the first new full length Silent Hill game in over a decade.  Featuring Ali Acampora, Keith Carberry, Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Jack, Keith, and Austin as they discuss (the) Blue Prince, before Keith tags out for Sylvi, so that we can end the year chatting about Horses (the game and, briefly, the animal). Show Notes I Hope You Get To Live Your Entire LIfe As A Human Being by Harper Jay What Can Men Want? by Nathan Rochelle Duford Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, Jack de Quidt, and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Dre, Art, and Keith who are bringing us Yes Nostalgia! and No Nostalgia! awards! Featuring Keith Carberry, Andrew Lee Swan, and Art Martinez-Tebbel Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Keith, Janine, and Austin who are bringing us The Best-Yet Version of a Game That Isn't What I Truly Want Award! Show Notes   Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Keith Carberry Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, Side Story's end-of-year sendoff to the games and topics that captivated our attention this year. Look forward to a new short episode Every Day This Week! Today you'll be hearing from Sylvi and Jack, who are bringing us the Feel the Love Award. Show Notes moon: Remix RPG Adventure moon Soundtrack: Heads in the Clouds Featuring Jack de Quidt and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Welcome to the inaugural Main Story Awards, a week long showcase where we make up awards to give the games and topics that really took center stage for us this year, and which we felt like deserved a little more attention than they already got on the show this year. It's not a traditional game of the year, but we did try to restrain ourselves to a single game or topic each, which means that there are definitely some things that were big that didn't get included.   We'll have a short episode every day, normally, but not always, covering one game or topic suggested by a member of the cast. Not everyone had topics or was able to record during this window, so I will say that Ali's game will be covered in a spoiler cast, hopefully in January! Today's award, presented by Austin (me), is the Clockwork World Award!  Enjoy! Show Notes Earthborne Rangers Many Nights a Whisper Featuring Austin Walker and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Today we explore a bevvy of different worlds: 2.5D fantasy realms, alien FMV planets, and a land of climate apocalypse and raw nerve paranoia. Wait, that last one is... it's kind of sounding familiar. Oh well, get in, buckle up, and make sure to bring your favorite childhood food, because we've got places to go. Games discussed this episode: The Octopath Traveler series,  Blippo+, No, I'm Not a Human, Horses (and the other games of Santa Ragione) Show Notes "I Hope You Get To Live Your Entire Life As A Human Being," Harper Jay's essay on Horses Studio Oleomingus Announcement Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:01 Octopath Traveler 0 01:06:22 Blippo+ 01:26:45 No, I'm Not Human 01:54:31 HORSES Featuring Austin Walker and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Mysterious internet occurances abound this week on Side Story. Mysteries like "What is the dark secret of the famed Roottree family, Pittsburghian candy magnates" and "Why did Austin's connection totally fall apart before we could reach the second half of the podcast?" Like all good mysteries, the twists and turns are just as exciting as the answer, as a stunning second segment appears, drawing the listener (you) in closer... closer... ever closer, until it is too late. Support us on Patreon! Show Notes Granny Cream's Hot Butter Ice Cream - Hypnospace Outlaw Ad Jingle by Hot Dad Eurogamer Arc Raiders Review Level-5 Inazuma Eleven AI Presentation Run Button Arctic Alive Let's Play AMCA KOTOR II Let's Play Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:27 The Roottrees Are Dead 21:45 "AI" in Game Development 47:14 Back to The Roottrees Are Dead General Impressions 01:09:18 The Clock Tower Series Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, Keith Carberry, and Jack de Quidt, Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Between the barter system and the coin, there were other currencies. Cyrus the Great's Achaemenid Empire, which would one day stretchout from the Iranian plateau as far west as Egypt and north as the Aral Sea, used silver bullion when this-for-that wasn't an efficient enough means of trade. Could you decide who's paying for lunch on a flipped silver bar? Unsure. Perhaps, slightly later, the 'knife money' of the Zhou Dynasty or Old Chosŏn would be better suited for such chance game. Perhaps they tossed them straight up, wagering on them as they fell, to see if they'd stick in the ground. Yes, binary action is better for bets, but is the blade balanced for even odds? And so, let's give thanks to the Anatolian kingdom of Lydia, their electrum mines, and their little coins, discs with lions and stags punched in, begging to be flipped. Show Notes Tom Walker Coin Stream 1 Tom Walker Coin Stream 2 Autopsy Pile for Anthology of the Killer Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Unfair Flips 21:47 Q-Up 01:01:18 Anthology of the Killer 01:24:22 Digmon Story: Time Stranger 01:29:06 Poco 01:31:58 Vein Featuring Austin Walker, Jack de Quidt, and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

This episode contains an extended conversation about the death of a pet. See the chapters below for time stamps. What makes a city good? Is it walkability? A wide variety of dining options? A good chance that while you're on your way to work, you'll bump into between five and seven little creatures, teaming with elemental power? Well if it's that last one, we've got the city for you. Rent may be high, but so are the Pidgeys.    Show Notes Skyehoppers' Pokemon video essays: Pokémon Black & White Asks the Impossible and Pokémon's Riskiest Game   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Pokemon Legends: Z-A 01:16:58 Absolum 01:46:32 Dealing with Pet Death / Dissociating via Video Games 02:12:44 More Absolum Talk Featuring Austin Walker, Andrew Lee Swan, and Keith Carberry Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

The ocean is draining. Where is it going? Is there a drain down there? Is someone drinking it? Wouldn't they be getting very thirsty? I guess there are lizardly astrologists and coral-covered automatons, so maybe there is someone who can drink the sea. Hard to say. Hard to say. This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/friends_table. Show Notes Endless Legend 2 UI/UX Next Steps Endless Legend 1 Screenshots Endless Legend 2 Screenshots   Janine's Comparisons Keith's Edit Skill Trees Additional Notes Media Club Plus Run Button Metal Gear Solid Let's Play Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:28 Endless Legend 2 01:04:10 Break (On the Nature of Time) 01:09:16 Civilization Revolution 01:11:08 Longest Played Demos 01:15:44 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes 01:20:27 The JRPG Zone: Star Ocean: The Second Story R, the Octopath Series, and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter 01:28:17 The Coin Zone: Unfair Flips and Q-Up 01:30:39 Phantasy Star Online 01:40:18 The Outro Begins Featuring Austin Walker, Andrew Lee Swan, and Keith Carberry Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Take a deep breath in. Can you smell it? That's right, the summer is finally behind us, and we can turn to the finer things of the autumn: Genetic splicing, cursed relics, and hobby-kit helicopters. Make a warm drink and settle in. The crisp air of the fall is going to take us many places.   Show Notes The Making of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion   No Man's Sky: Oasis Island   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 08:30 The Saboteur 11:31 Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion 01:03:23 Strange Antiquities 01:29:44 No Man's Sky: Voyagers 01:39:30 Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter 01:49:03 Hollow Knight: Silksong Featuring Austin Walker, Jack de Quidt, and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

This week in a special double-part episode, Ali, Dre, and Janine retun from the windy climes of Zephyr Town to tell us about the highs and lows of running a weekend produce market in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. Then, with the sort of clarity that only comes in the immediate aftermath of COVID recovery, Austin descends into the strange, probabalistic dungeons of Sol Cesto only to find Jack with a mouth full of strange, cursed teeth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar 57:15 Sol Cesto Featuring Austin Walker, Ali Acampora, Andrew Lee Swan, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

After a long week of moving apartments, Austin breaks in his new podcasting setup. Finally, he and Janine get to talk about Popucom, the colorful co-op action-puzzle game that we've run out of time for in the last few episodes. Plus, Sylvi regales us with tales of her cyberpunk exploits in the New Boston dystopia of Cyber Knights: Flashpoint. Show Notes The Creators of This New Co-Op Game Don't Care If Kids Cheat Death While Trying to Have Fun | Crossplay A little Info on POPUCOM's color blindness options     Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Leaks Are Poison to All Creation 07:43 Punirunes Update 09:30 POPUCOM 33:49 Cyber Knights: Flashpoint Featuring Austin Walker, Sylvi Bullet, and Janine Hawkins Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Ali returns to the show to lead Janine and Austin in an exploration of contemporary Tamagotchi culture, focusing on the recent Tamagotchi Uni and brand new Tamagotchi Paradise releases, before diving headfirst into one of the clearest ways that gambling/gacha culture is spreading into the mainstream: The Pop Mart Hint System. Also: You can put your finger into it and touch the slimy button.  Show Notes Further Info on How and Why to Call Payment Processors  Someone Did Surgery to a Tamagotchi Paradise Official Punirunes Quick Start Guide — here's how to play! Parasocial Relationships in Social Contexts: Why do Players View a Game Character as Their Child? (Re: Travel Frog familial status)   Chapters00:00 Introduction 03:51 The World of Contemporary Tamagotchi 55:51 Pop Mart and the Labubu Culture 01:40:44 Punirunes: The Slimy Virtual Pet You Must Touch 01:52:22 Call the Payment Processors! Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Ali Acampora Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

After a few episodes of exclusively appearing in the Outward Let's Play (available to $10 Patrons right here!), Jack and Janine return to Side Story proper. And oh what a trek it has been. They've crawled the the shadowy woods of a vague gothic forest. They've traversed the craggy slopes of the Australian outback. They've had to fend of both bats and BTs. And Austin? Seated comfortably in front of the microphone, Austin has many questions. Show Notes The Fort-Da Game IS in Death Stranding! Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:02 V Rising 01:02:18 Death Stranding 2 Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Despite our audio editing software totally devouring Austin's file and corrupting nearly a fully produced episode file, this week's episode of Side Story could not be stopped. Not by the ups-and-downs of gacha horsegirl racing. Not by the whims of the Pokemon League. Not even by actual, real life athletic leagues and the many games they inspire. Catching a theme? Thats right, this week Austin, Keith, Dre, and first time guest Art Martinez-Tebbel dig into everyone's favorite subject: Sports. Show Notes How I Won a Tournament with the Hardest Strategy   Run Button Let's Play Silent Hill Homecoming - Part 17 - This One Is About Baseball Soulcalibur IV playthrough - Arcade mode - Yoda Adam Dunn had the weirdest career in MLB history | Dorktown "When I Point At You, You Speak" | Moneyball | CineClips | With Captions Remap: THE RETURN OF OBERHOF RACING STARTS NOW! Kofie on YouTube How to Change Rules in NBA2K! Quote Origin: When He Turned Out the Light He Was in Bed Before the Room Was Dark The Ghost of McCoy: The death of professional baseball in Rhode Island Overview on Microsoft BDS Boycott   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:39 Uma Musume Pretty Derby 29:51 Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet 01:14:59 What Makes Sports Games Interesting 01:21:11 Baseball Is The Best Sport, or Keith: The Sports Hater 01:42:10 NBA2K, Franchise and MyCareer Modes, and the Sports Gacha 01:50:46 Interesting Weird Sports Things Happening 02:18:47 MLB: The Show's Storylines Mode 02:28:01 Lootboxes, Large Language Models, and Layoffs Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, Andrew Lee Swan, and Art Martinez-Tebbel Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt (Brief additional music from Run Button Podcast theme, Statikz ft J Arthur Keenes - Let's Go To Tokyo)

With Austin and Keith itching to talk about Elden Ring: Nightreign, they bring Dre--who carried the group to their first win--on for their for their first appearance on the show. Plus, some mid-game impressions of the town management, relationships, and V-Tuber-esque character design of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. Show Notes DBFZ: GO1 Vs Leffen GREATEST SET EVER!!! CEO 2018 Digmon the Movie Soundtrack What's Wrong With You Guys? - PokeMMO | streamed 4-11-25 Stephen A. Smith foils assassination attempt (General Hospital) Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Characters Light No Fire Announcement Trailer Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:58 Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero 17:50 Elden Ring: Nightreign 1:06:08 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma 1:37:20 No Man's Sky Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Andrew Lee Swan Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

After promising not to talk about the Summer Games Fest for too long, Janine, Keith, and Austin spend a full hour chatting about the event's resonance with various ongoing malaises and maladies affecting games culture. Then, finally, they dig into Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. Has she also stolen their hearts, or is their dream game just a fantasy? Show Notes Unearthed Treasure Room Showcase New Virtual Influencer Is Unbelievably Bad - Jarvis Johnson (Anna Indiana context) Janine's Fantasy Life Witching Hour LP Playlist Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Summer Games Fest & the Green Games Showcase 01:09:46 Break 01:09:52 FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time 02:07:08 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma 02:10:15 Elden Ring: Nightreign Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Keith Carberry Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Today we dive deep into the mysterious manor of Mt. Holly as Austin, Sylvi, and (for the first time on Side Story) Keith talk at length about Blue Prince, the first-person puzzle game by Dogubom. We talk favorite puzzles, end-game secrets, and the strengths and weaknesses of the game's narrative about familial affection, political intrigue, and spending your childhood getting lost in big houses. Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Show Notes Betrayal at House on the Hill Clue: The Great Museum Caper Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist 'Does Blue Prince Never End?' by Chris Person Bluff City Season 1 on Patreon Bluff City Season 1 on YouTube Featuring Austin Walker, Sylvi Bullet, and Keith Carberry Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Look, over there, at that tower. What sort of secrets could it hold? Perhaps some terrible Multiplayer Activities to waste your time. Or, no, wait, maybe it's one of the good towers, the kind you can zipline down or hover-grapple your way up,  the kind with an loot... or even better, an agility orb on the top! No... no, wait, what's that number on the front?? Why is it counting down? And why does this whole thing smack of the French? Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:40 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 56:14 Echo Point Nova 01:18:32 Infinty Nikki Boycott & Multiplayer Update 01:28:43 Arc Raiders 01:42:08 Despelote 01:47:13 Questions Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Sylvi Bullet Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Would you leave an NPC so broken hearted that they just clam up for the rest of the game? Would you trade the AAA flash of 2025 for the animated FMV flair of 1992? Would you get upset if you engaged in hijinks so chaotic that you ended up slipping on a banana peel you put on the ground to begin with? Or would you understand that sometimes, the player getting what they want looks a little bit like the player not getting what they want? These questions and more answered on this episode of Side Story...    Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 05:24 Fields of Mistria 01:02:49 Skin Deep 01:30:21 LUNAR Remastered Collection 01:43:55 Upcoming Farm/Life Sims (Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time) Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Ali Acampora Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

What would you do if you were a little digital guy, running around in a Tron or Reboot style game world? Would you solve puzzles and investigate the myserious of the mansion-that-would-be-your-inheritence? Would you stalk the bogs of Britain, evading authoritarian robots and hunting for giant batteries? Or perhaps you would commit yourself to the noblest of goals, God's One True Task: Repeatedly raising and lowering all four windows of your Hyundai IONIQ 5, one at a time, while repeatedly taking selfies... Games Discussed this episode: Blue Prince, InZOI, Closer the Distance, Orwell, Atomfall show notes Inzoi's 'Smart Zoi' AI system sounds great on paper but seeing it in a live demo didn't exactly wow me by Christopher Livingston BDS Calls for a Boycott of Xbox Due to Microsoft's Partnership with Israel Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash to support us!  Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt

Around these parts, it isn't April Fools Day, it's April Truths Day, and today's big truth: Friends at the Table has a new podcast for you. It's about games and the stories they make us tell. It's that simple. It's hosted by Austin, with guests from the rest of the main show's cast.  It's going to come out every two weeks, probably on Mondays. Today was an exception. Because of the holiday.  Oh, and for $10 Patrons, it means the beginning of an exclusive Let's Play, the first episode of which is available right now (and hey, we'll put this one out for free).  Wanna know a little more? Check out this post on our Patreon page for a little more into the creation of Side Story! show notes  Valnet Blues: How Online Porn Pioneer Hassan Youssef Built a Digital Media 'Sweatshop' CWA games union Media Club Plus Cover art by A Liang Chan Soul Frame Preludes 9 notes explosions update repo   Support us on Patreon! Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan  Music by Jack de Quidt