Quest Markers

Dr. Miko Charbonneau joins Marina Ryan to chat about best practices for remote work, how to prioritize the team’s wellbeing and happiness, and the path that took Miko from working on Minecraft to starting her own studio.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(00:06:00) Miko’s path into game development(00:13:24) What is THE SPIRIT LIFT?(00:23:23) Game design, player psychology, and narrative   (00:28:55) Starting a remote game studio (00:34:13) Running a healthy game studio that prioritizes the team’s happiness(00:56:50) What advice would Miko give her younger self? (01:04:34) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USTHE SPIRIT LIFT Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/THE_SPIRIT_LIFT/Miko’s socials: https://linktr.ee/mikocharbonneau prettysmart games’ socials: https://linktr.ee/prettysmartgames prettysmart games’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PrettySmartGames Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina RyanMiko’s podcast episode about Ada Wong: https://www.hotbaddies.club/episodes/s1-e9 Miko’s book recommendation (not sponsored): Building Your Business the Right Brain Way by Jennifer Lee This episode of Quest Markers is not sponsored.

Rachel Heleva is back on the show to answer your questions about video game publishing! Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:20) How Rachel got into the games industry (00:07:22) “What should I talk about when presenting a pitch deck?” (00:19:40) “What support do publishers offer besides financial support?”(00:27:50) “Should a game have a demo before we approach a publisher?”(00:34:55) “Where can I find a publisher that’s going to be the best fit for my studio?” (00:42:35) “What are some ideal terms and red flags in publishing contracts?” (00:49:55) Advice for independent game studios (01:00:05) What advice would Rachel give her younger and older selves? (01:07:11) Outro* * * * * * * January’s episode with Antonio Freyre: https://youtu.be/1NId9pvBvHI?si=aac3OAMNMjFRGu-h * * * * * * * FOLLOW USRachel’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hlywa.bsky.social Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinahascoffeeLive Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Tangleworm joins Marina Ryan to talk about the journey that led him to develop NOMIA, a tactics roguelike game.They delve into how fantasy and sci-fi can help us imagine a better world, how playtesters can shape the development of key game mechanics, and techniques to stay motivated while working on something as complex as a roguelike video game. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:00) Tangleworm’s path into game development(00:06:00) What is NOMIA?(00:07:35) The inspiration behind NOMIA’s development process (00:11:45) Why NOMIA is a game (and not a graphic novel) (00:15:50) NOMIA’s worldbuilding and narrative themes (00:26:00) Making indie game development sustainable (00:32:18) What’s been fun and challenging when developing NOMIA (00:36:36) Personal game dev philosophies(00:43:07) Advice for new game developers(00:48:50) What advice would Tangleworm give his younger self?(00:51:40) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USMagenesium Ninja’s website: https://magnesiumninja.com/ NOMIA’s Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3608900/NOMIA/?curator_clanid=45661602 Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Mike from Archangel Softworks joins Marina Ryan to talk about his game development journey and upcoming title, Highway Noir.They delve into what it’s like going from a solo developer to leading a team, managing complexity on larger-scale projects, the importance of prototyping, cohesive art direction, self-doubt, and much more.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro (00:03:15) How Mike got into game development(00:07:00) Mike’s upcoming game, Highway Noir(00:13:10) Being a solo dev vs. being the captain of the freelance ship(00:18:13) Managing responsibilities: coding, admin, art, marketing, music, and more(00:23:15) Party selection: how hiring decisions are made (00:27:48) Art direction and artistic cohesion (00:33:15) Prototyping and practice: how experimentation and learning (00:38:30) What has been the most challenging thing about working on highway Noir (00:43:50) What has been the most fun?(00:45:50) You’re sitting on the precipice of release, how are you feeling? (00:47:58) What advice would Mike give his younger self? (00:50:00) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USMike’s socials: https://bsky.app/profile/archangelsoftworks.co.uk Highway Noir Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3317730/Highway_Noir/ Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Antonio Freyre joins Marina Ryan to talk about his game development journey that led him to developing his upcoming title, As Time Surrenders.They delve into topics such as ambient storytelling, using art as a way to engage in conversation, how mechanics and symbols can be used to tell game stories, building appealing worlds, Antonio’s creative process, and much more. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro (00:03:23) How Antonio got into game development(00:08:55) Games that inspire Antonio(00:13:30) Using game mechanics and emotions to tell a story(00:22:43) “The point of art is to share and engage in conversation, not to impose” (00:26:57) Using symbolism to infuse games with meaning(00:30:31) Antonio’s game dev philosophies(00:37:20) Building appealing game worlds (00:44:09) Being a musician & Antonio’s creative process (00:53:40) As Time Surrenders, Antonio’s upcoming title(00:57:00) Advice Antonio would give his younger self(01:00:48) OutroFOLLOW USAntonio’s socials: https://linktr.ee/merlinogames Merlino Games Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/develo... Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Live Show on Twitch: ⁠  / marinahascoffee  Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Cody Matthew Johnson is back! He joins Marina Ryan to talk about his path into video game music, his recent Grammy nomination, his plans for 2026, and advice he has for new video game composers. They also delve into topics such as embracing failure, choosing action over hesitation, and decisive minimalism. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro (00:03:43) Cody’s path into video game music (00:10:11) A pivotal moment in Cody’s life(00:12:14) “Ready” is not a feeling, it’s a decision (00:17:55) Action over hesitation(00:20:07) Cody’s mantra for 2026 (00:21:59) Cody’s Grammy nomination(00:26:41) Embracing failure(00:34:07) New things we want to try this year (00:42:00) Cody’s favourite way of landing a gig(00:44:29) Advice Cody has for new video game composers (00:49:00) Advice Cody would give his younger self(00:55:35) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USCody’s website: https://www.codymatthewjohnson.com/ Cody’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codymatthewjohnson/ Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Cody Matthew Johnson joins Marina Ryan to talk about his creative process in making video game music. Cody has worked on everything from Resident Evil to Bayonetta, to most recently Star Wars: Outlaws, which landed him a Grammy nomination (congrats, Cody!!!). They delve into the differences between different music roles, how to balance a project’s needs with our own creative ideas, how limitations can make us more creative, what a great collaboration looks like, imposter syndrome, finding play and gratitude, and more. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro (00:05:17) What’s the difference between a composer vs. a songwriter vs. a music producer?(00:15:28) Balancing a project’s needs with bringing our artistry into the music (00:23:39) What does a good collaborative environment look like?(00:30:40) Creativity and limitations (00:32:20) What does a great collaboration look like? (00:37:25) Finding inspiration and flow state  (00:45:47) Imposter syndrome(00:47:08) The inevitable failure that is ahead (00:48:08) Finding play and gratitude (00:57:15) What does success mean to Cody? (01:03:05) What advice would Cody give his younger self? (01:07:25) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USCody’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codymatthewjohnson/ Cody’s Twitter: https://x.com/codymatthewj Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Ben Lazerbeam joins Marina Ryan to talk about the development of Team Lazerbeam’s upcoming roguelike double deckbuilder, Shroom and Gloom. They delve into the game’s design and balancing, art and implementation, and the marketing strategy that led them to 125,000+ wishlists on Steam! Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:50) Ben’s game development journey(00:10:37) Designing and balancing a deckbuilding game (00:26:29) The art, lightning, and implementation of Shroom and Gloom(00:35:05) Marketing, wishlists, and going viral on TikTok(00:54:52) What advice would Ben give their younger self? (01:02:45) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USShroom and Gloom on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3271280/Shroom_and_Gloom/ Ben’s socials: https://linktr.ee/benlazerbeam Team Lazerbeam’s socials: https://linktr.ee/teamlazerbeam Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan#gamedevelopment #gamedev #gamedeveloper #gamedevpodcast #videogames #indiegames #indiegame #indiegamedev #shroomandgloom

Vincent Adinolfi joins Marina Ryan to talk about the development of his survival horror game Heartworm. They delve into the inspiration behind the game, Vincent’s development journey, the game’s OST, visual identity, production, accessibility, and so much more. The episode is chock-full of great development and life advice. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview (00:00:36) Intro(00:03:28) Vincent’s path: working on his first game(00:04:47) Overview of Heartworm(00:05:53) The development of Heartworm & taking risks(00:09:25) The inspiration behind Heartworm(00:12:17) Heartworm’s creative direction and visual identity(00:15:35) The making of Heartworm’s music(00:30:15) Building in accessibility options(00:33:55) How difficult is it to get fixed camera angles right?(00:36:18) How Heartworm got published(00:40:10) Heartworm’s production (00:45:15) “Done is better than perfect” (vulnerability and finishing things)(00:49:49) Making games is hard(00:52:25) If Vincent could give his younger self a piece of advice…(00:55:48) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USHeartworm on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1257030/Heartworm/ Heartworm: https://heartwormgame.com/ Heartworm’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vadinolfi Heartworm’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/adinolfi.bsky.social Heartworm’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartworm.game Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Rachel Heleva (Akupara Games, Spiral Up Games, Strange Scaffold) joins Marina to talk about her games publishing and development journey.They delve into how game publishers work, what it means to be a game scout, the importance of production, and Rachel gives tons of advice for up-and-coming studios seeking their next publishing deal. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat! * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview (00:00:22) Intro(00:03:00) Rachel’s path: getting into the industry(00:05:39) What is a games publisher?(00:09:10) What is a games scout?(00:10:40) Rachel’s experiencing helping start a publishing house (00:14:50) What makes an indie studio stand out?(00:18:40) What indicates to a publisher that a studio isn’t ready for funding yet? (00:21:33) What indicates to a publisher that a studio is ready for funding now?(00:24:28) How have Rachel’s production skills helped her in her publishing and scouting work?(00:27:15) How has Rachel’s production experience helped her identify a studio’s ability to deliver on their timelines? (00:32:33) What advice would Rachel give her younger self?(00:34:47) Words of wisdom for studios (00:37:07) Outro(00:37:27) Q&A: How did Rachel first get into her role? (00:39:36) More advice for studios (feedback, playtesting, making games publicly) FOLLOW USRachel’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hlywa.bsky.s... Marina’s socials: https://linktr.ee/marinahascoffeeLive Show on Twitch: ⁠  / marinahascoffee  Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Kate Gray (Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Moonstone Island, Dimensional Double Shift) joins Marina Ryan to talk about her game development journey.They delve into what it’s like being a games writer and narrative designer, player agency and dialogue writing, the challenge of writing item descriptions, what it’s like working in VR, narrative procedural generation, Dragon Age, and more. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview (00:00:28) Intro(00:03:08) Kate’s Intro(00:04:53) Kate’s path getting into game dev(00:13:48) What Kate is most proud of(00:16:30) Writing item descriptions and dialogue (00:19:21) Player agency & writing dialogue choices(00:22:51) Seeing writers’ voices in games(00:23:55) Narrative design & writers rooms (00:28:19) Kate’s creative process  (00:31:25) Working on VR games(00:35:28) The fun and chaos of narrative procedural generation(00:44:16) Dragon Age: Inquisition, branching dialogue systems, & realistic characters(00:51:34) What advice would Kate give her younger self?  (00:53:44) Wrap up(00:57:00) Q&A: Writing about impactful emotions in cute, cozy games* * * * * * * FOLLOW USKate’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hownottodraw.bsky.social Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan#gamedevelopment #gamedeveloper #gamedev #gamedevpodcast #videogamewriting #narrativedesign #videogames #hellokittyislandadventure #moonstoneisland #dimensionaldoubleshift #dragonage

Anna C. Webster joins Marina Ryan to talk about her game development journey.They delve into what it’s really like being a games writer, how narrative design roles vary from studio to studio, their love of the Resident Evil series, and much more.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview (00:00:40) Intro(00:04:30) How Anna got into game development(00:08:30) Training as a performer(00:10:00) Lesser-known facts & misconceptions about being a video game writer and music composer(00:19:03) Using theatre techniques in game writing  (00:21:51) What does a narrative designer do? (00:26:33) How narrative designers collaborate with QA (00:28:32) Talking freelancing(00:34:05) How we got into Resident Evil (00:38:55) Our favourite Resident Evil games(00:41:41) Our Resident Evil hot takes(00:44:26) Our love of Code Veronica and Ada Wong(00:46:18) Resident Evil hot takes continued (00:48:57) Favourite narrative moments in Resident Evil(00:55:49) Resident Evil 9(00:58:56) Raid! (00:59:39) What advice would Anna give her younger self?  (01:1:44) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USAnna’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/annacwebs.bsky.social Anna’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@annacwebs Anna’s Website: https://annacwebster.com/ Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

David Kazi (Hollow Knight, ExoOne, Ember League) joins Marina Ryan to talk about his game development journey.They delve into what it was like working on Hollow Knight, the challenges that came with working on orbital physics for Exo One, and David’s journey in co-founding his own game studio, including what it means to bear the ever-changing role of Creative Director.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview (00:00:30) Intro(00:02:30) How David got into game development(00:10:37) What it was like working on Hollow Knight(00:17:53) What it was like working on Exo One (moving from 2D to 3D development)(00:23:47) David’s journey starting up Ember League(00:27:28) Ember League’s debut game (00:29:26) Excitement and hope in working on games  (00:32:10) Overcoming challenges when working on a game (00:39:49) The role of Creative Director – what does David work on week-to-week? (00:47:33) The importance of curiosity (00:52:22) David’s game dev philosophy(01:01:00) Game engines, indie game development, and player expectations(01:08:20) What advice would David give his younger self? (01:11:56) Outro* * * * * * * FOLLOW USDavid: https://x.com/davidkazidev Ember League: https://x.com/ember_league Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Terran joins Marina to talk about writing video game music.They delve into: how they start a new piece of music, overcoming writer’s block, talent vs. skill, iterating and acting on feedback, the importance of music theory, and more.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(07:04) What games we’re playing (08:50) How Terran got into music composition(12:10) The need to create(15:13) How Marina got into music composition(17:23) How we come up with musical ideas(21:51) The importance of music theory(23:26) “Your chronic mistakes are your style”(25:23) Iterating when writing music(27:53) Making fast decision is a superpower + organizing sessions(30:16) Steps of making music(32:10) Favourite tools for music making(35:52) Learning from reference tracks and song studies(37:38) Do we listen to music differently now? (39:02) Favourite time signature (40:50) What advice we have for our younger selves + the subjectivity of music + translating the ideas we have in our head (45:29) “Talent is a myth; it’s just love over time” (47:05) Terran’s dream project(48:28) Game music we love (56:30) Outro + thank you(57:40) Post-episode chat: coming back to music with fresh ears(58:32) Post-episode chat: the fear of using up ideas (1:00:42) Post-episode chat: writer’s block(1:03:44) Post-episode chat: working on a team + getting feedback + listening sessions + staying organized FOLLOW USTerran: https://bsky.app/profile/terrancam.bsky.socialUnbound Drift: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3339860/Unbound_Drift/Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Fletch joins Marina to talk about working on games, streaming, and community building. They delve into: the importance of creativity, getting into game development and streaming, building safe communities, and the importance of game vision, player experience, and accessibility. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(04:33) What is a Playdate? + Physical releases of games(08:25) How Fletch got into game development and streaming(14:50) How did the first Fletch Fest come about? (17:13) The importance of creativity, joy, and whimsy(19:06) The growth of Fletch Fest (22:18) Welcoming in raiders & shoutout to Lana Lux (23:40) Working as a solo dev vs. working with others (26:15) The importance of game vision and game direction(30:17) Designing for player experience (33:03) Accessibility in games(34:27) What is Xtris?(37:43) Games Fletch is playing(42:46) What advice would we give our younger selves? (46:22) Outro + thank youFOLLOW USFletch: https://linktr.ee/paullicinoFletch’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/fletchmakes Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Thank you again to Lana for the raid: https://www.twitch.tv/lana_lux Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

Paul Dean joins Marina to talk about working in creative roles within the gaming industry.They delve into: creative practices, habits, and techniques, what it’s like to work on a game dev team, the importance of feedback, following one’s curiosity, and time, privilege, access, and opportunity in the industry.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(06:26) Pacific Drive nominated for a Nebula Award! (09:51) Everything is interconnected (a discussion on teamwork in game dev)(18:46) Paul’s writing practice, habits, techniques, inspiration(29:19) Process and production in video games(32:00) Best practices for working on a team(47:25) Following our curiosity (1:09:40) A creative process isn’t linear (there’s no *one way* to do something) (1:17:29) Time, privilege, access, and opportunity(1:26:39) Video games we’re playing(1:35:04) Outro + thank youFOLLOW USPaul: https://linktr.ee/paullicinoPaul’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/paullicinoMarina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  Monty Zander’s Resident Evil 1 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-XJUMs6SE Live Show on Twitch: ⁠https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Music by Marina Ryan

The Souls Squad is back! Sherveen, Jack, and Marina are back again to talk about the intersection between games and their disciplines in the gaming industry.They delve into misconceptions about their work, the importance of feedback and iterating, cohesion between music and game systems, some of their favourite things about what they do, and games they love. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(04:04) What games we’re playing(19:12) What games inspired us to eventually work in gaming(37:52) What video game music inspires us(44:30) Misconceptions about working in our disciplines & talking about feedback (1:05:03) Congruence between music and game systems (1:09:18) Some of our favourite things about our work(1:19:10) Games we wish we could play for the first time again(1:28:36) Outro + thank youFOLLOW US:Live Show on Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/marinahascoffee  Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Sherveen: https://bsky.app/profile/suduwana.bsky.socialJack: https://bsky.app/profile/jackalexroberts.bsky.social Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Music by Marina Ryan

We’re back! Happy new year! Blue joins Marina once again to talk about the games they’re playing and what they’re looking forward to playing this year. They also delve into Blue’s area of expertise: video game localization, what it entails, and what game does it really, really well. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat! *********** TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Show intro (01:37) Blue’s intro (06:28) What Blue is playing (+ thoughts on ludonarrative dissonance and bugs) (10:38) Does working in games rob us of the joy of playing games? (13:08) Chatting about Octopath Traveller (17:38) Marina’s backlog (18:10) Chatting about Signalis + what Marina’s playing (21:18) The localization and writing of Final Fantasy XIV (37:40) Games we want to play this year (51:24) What are our comfort games? (54:53) Outro + thank you (57:33) Chatting with Twitch chat *********** FOLLOW US: Live Show on Twitch: ⁠  / marinahascoffee   Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Blue: https://rhapsodyin.blue/ Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ Music by Marina Ryan

The Souls Squad is back! Marina sits down with Sherveen and Jack to talk about Elden Ring’s DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree. They talk about the expanded lore of the Land of Shadow, their favourite narrative themes, their DLC builds, and their favourite bosses and music. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!To check out our prior Elden Ring episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KixVOo4TH0  * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro and what games we’re playing (08:57) Story overview (11:28) Our DLC builds (18:23) Narrative moments that stood out to us (39:39) Favourite narrative themes (56:45) Favourite bosses (and notable mentions) (1:17:34) Final thoughts (1:33:29) Is Malenia still the hardest Elden Ring boss? (1:39:16) Outro * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Sherveen: https://bsky.app/profile/suduwana.bsky.social Sherveen’s Game, Midautumn: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582380/Midautumn/ Jack: https://bsky.app/profile/jackalexroberts.bsky.social Jack’s Writing: https://tposedgaming.wordpress.com/ Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠   Music by Marina Ryan

(Note that this episode was recorded back in August 2024) Marina sits down with Rachel - who’s worked as a producer at game studios and in game publishing - to talk about the games they’re playing, and what they want to play next. They talk about games of all sizes and genres, including beloved indies, new releases, and AAA classics. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat! * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (03:00) What Rachel is playing (Cobalt Core, Against the Storm,  (11:40) Marina loves Hades & Rachel is playing Hades II (12:49) What Marina is playing (Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail)  (18:00) Games that Rachel loves (Disco Elysium, Blue Prince)  (21:44) Games that Marina loves (Nier: Automata, Hollow Knight) (24:50) What Rachel is playing next (Cataclismo) (26:43) What Marina is playing next (Outer Wilds, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus) (33:33) Rachel getting back into Apex Legends? + Kingdom Two Crowns + Marina loves FF7 Rebirth’s Queen Blood and Animal Crossing (37:21) Industry Talk: SAG-AFTRA Strike, Layoffs, & The Difference between AI and GenAI (44:08) Outro * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers Rachel: https://bsky.app/profile/hlywa.bsky.social Marina: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠   Music by Marina Ryan

Marina sits down with Myleah - Founder of Lumikha Cosplay Resale - to talk about Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. They chat about the game’s charm, sarcasm, and cheekiness, robots gaining sentience, and why Vivian is so amazing. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat! * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (10:12) Story Overview  (12:57) Why this is Myleah’s favourite game (16:40) Cheeky, sarcastic tone of the game (20:46) Favourite characters  (24:45) Narrative theme of found family (26:20) Sense of adventure (20:30) Can machines feel emotions? + Exploring serious themes  (36:10) Bowser and Kammy are Team Rocket  (28:25) The music (43:50) Spooky Twilight Town (45:30) Favourite environments (49:20) Paper mechanics  (53:25) Outro * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Myleah: https://x.com/METTALEAH Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠   Music by Marina Ryan

Marina sits down with returning guest Ren to talk about the games they’re currently playing.  They talk about collecting mermaid items in Animal Crossing, how the Elden Ring DLC feels like an entire sequel, Stardew Valley’s similarities to the original Animal Crossing, the cheekiness of Paper Mario, and our love for Final Fantasy XIV. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat! * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (05:38) Animal Crossing (12:12) Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree (20:24) Stardew Valley (28:14) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (32:03) Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (53:38) Outro * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠Ren: https://renraven.carrd.co/  Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠   Music by Marina Ryan

Marina sits down with Xander from Xander’s Cut to talk about Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3.  They talk about the importance of foreshadowing, whether Xenoblade 2’s DLC was better than the base game, their thoughts on Xenoblade 3’s ending, and their favourite musical pieces.  * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (06:00) Overview of the games (11:37) Pyra and Mythra’s story  (16:55) Is Xenoblade 2’s DLC better than the base game?  (22:53) Favourite music (28:25) The ending of Chapter 5 in Xenoblade 3  (33:21) Xenoblade 3’s final act and ending  (38:55) Moebius as characters & a critique of capitalism (44:03) Favourite characters   (49:22) Final thoughts and outro * * * * * * * LINKS & SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Xander: https://www.youtube.com/@xanderscut/featured Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina sits down with Thomas Roland to talk about the second half of the mainline Resident Evil series. They talk about why it matters to have character-driven stories in the horror genre, their favorite moments and twists, and what game they think is the scariest in the entire series. * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (06:17) Overview of the games (16:09) Why character-driven stories matter in horror games (22:18) Favourite moments in RE5 (28:04) Favourite moments in RE6 (33:16) Favourite moments in RE7 (38:44) Favourite moments in RE8 (46:31) Playing the sideline games (47:37) Scariest Resident Evil game?  (50:25) Final thoughts and outro * * * * * * *  LINKS & SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Thomas Roland: https://x.com/itsRhet  Lore Dump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhgiyBSgi4pVaR7pQK6IIQ Monty Zander: https://www.youtube.com/c/MontyZander Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina and Minnie sit down to talk about one of the most beloved games of the last 2 decades: The Sims. They talk about player-led emergent narratives, the stories they crafted for their Sims, how differently they played the games, the chaos of co-op mode, the first time they saw the Grim Reaper, and their particular fondness of The Sims 2. * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro  (05:05 Game overview  (07:38) What Sims games we’ve played  (09:28) Sims 2 is peak Sims (11:28) The Sims 4 is still adding content  (13:57) how we played The Sims  (28:28) The Grim Reaper, guinea pigs, fires, swimming pools, and Sunny the clown (40:15) Would we stream The Sims?  (42:20) Why is The Sims so beloved?  (45:17) Final thoughts and outro * * * * * * *  LINKS & SOCIALS:The Sims GDC Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjuOSgPdtS0 Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Minnie’s socials & Etsy store: https://linktr.ee/leminnie Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina sits down with Zack Parkerson to talk Nier once again, but this time, we’re trading in Replicant for Automata. We talk about Nier Automata’s masterful narrative design, how it misdirects the player until the very end, our favourite side quests, and why we love this game so much.  Grab some headphones, make a coffee, and let’s talk about one of the greatest games ever made.  * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introductions & What We’re Currently Playing  (09:51) Story Summary  (10:37) Is This “Depression, The Game?”  (14:08) A Deeply Human Game  (15:59) The Philosophy Debate (17:08) Nier Automata’s Narrative Design  (19:39) Nier Reincarnation & Drakengard 3  (20:56) Mastery in Misdirection  (30:37) Favourite Builds  (35:07) The Music (40:03) Should You Play Automata or Replicant first? (46:18) Favourite Side Quests  (52:11) Final Thoughts & Wrap Up * * * * * * *  SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠  Zack’s socials: https://twitter.com/GOcastZack  The Gaming Outsider: https://thegamingoutsider.com/  Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina sits down for a solo episode and the first one on our new segment, Side Quest!  She answers some community questions and dives into Elden Ring’s new DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, FFXIV and Dawntrail, FF7 Rebirth’s upcoming release, Baldur’s Gate 3, Bloodborne, and Resident Evil 7. A HUGE thank you to our community for all the support. Grab some headphones, make a coffee, and let’s talk games.  * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:49) Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree (08:53) FFXIV & being caught up on MSQ (09:59) FF7 Rebirth & reflections on Final Fantasy 7 (13:58) Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 3 (14:51) Bloodborne NG+ fashion run (17:57) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (20:53) Music & more community questions  (24:50) Outro * * * * * * *  SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠ Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina sits down with professional opera singer-turned-voice actor MarcoMeatball to talk all things video game music. We talk about how FFXIV and Granblue Fantasy: Relink blend genres, the sadness in Bloodborne’s soundtrack, how vertical music sequencing is used in Nier Automata, how ambient music is used to shape a narrative, and much more. We also talk about the music in the games we’re currently playing, as well as some of our favourites.   Grab some headphones, and let’s dive in. * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (01:51) Meeting Marco (05:40) Marco’s Recent Games: Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Warframe, Yakuza: Kiwami (09:54) Bloodborne, its brilliant sounds design choices, & how its music sets its narrative tone (15:26) Baldur’s Gate 3 takes us back to medieval times (18:18) Initial thoughts on Nier Music (19:25) Warframe, using music to displace pain, and whether context matters (21:21) There’s so much good video game music out there (22:50) How Enshrouded’s music surprised Marco   (24:05) Nier Automata, Chaos Language, and the game’s use of vertical music sequencing (32:01) FFXIV and blending genres (38:02) Music, storytelling, and how the player feels (43:05) FFXIV and Answers’ narrative misdirect of the century  (46:14) Community question: “How does ambient music help the player understand the tone of the narrative?” (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, World of Warcraft) (52:07) Final thoughts & outro * * * * * * *  SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠  Marco’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarcoMeatball  Marco’s socials: https://linktr.ee/marcodmeatball  Marina’s socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  

Marina sits down with games journalist Jack Alex Roberts and game dev Sherveen Uduwana to talk about our Tarnished journeys in the Lands Between. We talk about our love of Elden Ring’s lore, narrative design, music, how we got into the Soulsborne genre, what builds we played, our favourite moments in the game, how difficulty is used as a lever for intentional storytelling, and much more. Grab a coffee, and let’s dive into the Lands Between.  * * * * * * *  TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction (03:10) Meeting our guests (08:06) Story summary (16:45) Our Tarnished and the builds we played (26:15) Elden Ring’s narrative design, open world, and experience (38:50) How we felt exploring the environments in the Lands Between (45:46) Favourite narrative themes   (54:05) “Marika is Radagon” (1:03:45) Music chat  (1:11:48) Community questions (1:42:41) Final thoughts & symbolism (1:48:08) Outro * * * * * * *  THANK YOU’S: VaatiVidya: https://www.youtube.com/@VaatiVidya  V-Limit: https://www.youtube.com/@VLimit11  Anyone who’s contributed and annotated the Elden Ring Fandom site: https://eldenring.fandom.com/wiki/Elden_Ring_Wiki  * * * * * * *  SOCIALS: Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠  Sherveen: https://twitter.com/SUduwana Midautumn Game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582380/Midautumn/  Jack Alex Roberts: https://twitter.com/jackalexroberts  Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠ 

Marina Ryan sits down to recap Quest Markers’ first year – and the life lessons that video games can teach us.  We talk about community, grief, love, finding meaning in life, overcoming despair, becoming your own saviour, and so much more.  Hope you enjoy! * * * * * * *  (00:00) Introduction (02:07) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (04:00) Metroid Dread (05:48) Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy 7 Remake (07:12) Xenoblade Chronicles (08:31) NieR: Replicant (09:55) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (11:26) Pokémon Gold & Silver (12:36) Hollow Knight (14:16) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (15:25) Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (17:00) NieR: Automata (18:25) Resident Evil 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 Remakes (20:34) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (22:07) What’s coming next year for Quest Markers  * * * * * * *  Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠  Midautumn Game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582380/Midautumn/  The Gaming Outsider: https://thegamingoutsider.com/  Ren: https://twitter.com/renraven_  Billy: https://twitter.com/saturn_sounds  Snugboy: https://www.youtube.com/@Snugboy  Zack Parkerson: https://twitter.com/GOcastZack  Jack Alex Roberts: https://twitter.com/jackalexroberts  Sherveen: https://twitter.com/SUduwana  Scott Clark: https://twitter.com/GOcastScott  Thomas Roland: https://linktr.ee/thomasroland  Marina Ryan: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠  

Marina Ryan sits down with Kinsey for part 2 of Quest Markers’ anniversary episode! Thank you for 1 year of conversations, coffee, and laughs 🖤 Grab your ocarina and let’s fall into Termina for the sequel to our very first episode with our very  first guest. We talk about how Majora’s Mask tells a story of pain and healing through trauma, and we speculate about what the Fierce Deity's mask actually symbolizes. * * * * * * *  (00:00) Introduction (01:39) Link’s memories, pain, and trauma (03:10) The symbolism of the Fierce Deity's mask (08:40) Majora’s Mask is so good at making you FEEL (10:22) Would this game come out in 2023?  (11:11) Majora’s Mask’s longevity  (14:46) Music is healing (15:33) You want to save the world because you care about the world and the small moments within it (21:50) Pieces of heart symbolism (23:05) Perfectionism and getting it right the first time around (24:40) Link processing his trauma and finding his place within in (26:26) Humility and courage (28:27) Courage can manifest in other ways that aren’t slaying the monster  (31:58) Despite the dread… life is so precious (32:32) Developed in 1 year and setting an industry standard (35:30) Wrap up (38:07) Outro  * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US Quest Markers: ⁠https://linktr.ee/questmarkers⁠  Marina Ryan Socials: ⁠https://linktr.ee/marinaryan⁠   Website: ⁠https://marinamakes.co

Marina Ryan sits down with Kinsey for Quest Markers’ anniversary episode! Thank you for 1 year of conversations, coffee, and laughs 🖤 Grab your ocarina and let’s fall into Termina for the sequel to our very first episode with our very  first guest. We talk about how Majora’s Mask tells a story of pain and healing through the 5 stages of grief – and how it’s up to us to decide how we respond to a terrible fate.  * * * * * * *  (00:00) Introduction (01:57) Meeting Kinsey (08:08) Story summary (10:17) The Happy Mask Salesman & Defining Majora’s Mask’s tone (12:45) Time anxiety & grieving future versions of you (14:32) Agency, the butterfly effect, & helping the people of Termina heal (16:18) Termina feels alive (18:35) Finding joy and healing (20:50) The 5 stages of grief & why Stone Tower Temple is the final stage of grief (31:15) “This is truly a good happiness”  (33:00) Link’s trauma from Ocarina of time * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers  Marina Ryan Socials: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan Website: https://marinamakes.co

Marina Ryan sits down with Thomas Roland for a special Halloween episode covering the Resident Evil series.  This episode covers Resident Evil 0 through 5 Remake. Grab your green herbs and get ready for a dive into RE’s characters, the themes of fleeting hope and becoming your own saviour, and why the survival horror genre isn’t meant to be difficult. Welcome to (an accidental) Leon Kennedy Hour. (00:00) Introduction (07:33) Story summary for all 5 games (14:30) Why Resident Evil 4’s change in direction made sense narratively (21:53) Why is Leon Kennedy a fantastic character? (26:20) Scariest moments in Resident Evil (32:24) Jumpscares and RE’s creepy windows (35:04) Leon’s leather jacket (35:35) Fleeting hope and becoming your own saviour (40:29) Multiple endings in RE1 (44:27) Survival horror as a genre isn’t meant to be difficult (52:03) ‘Saudade’ or ‘The Bullet and the Blade’?  (54:03) Why is the Resident Evil series so popular?  (56:10) Wrapping Up & Question for the Audience * * * * * * *  FOLLOW US Quest Markers Listen Everywhere: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers Thomas Roland Socials: https://linktr.ee/ThomasRoland Email: [email protected] NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/participants/thomas-roland/projects/a-company-of-silver Marina Ryan Socials:: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan  Website: https://marinamakes.co SPECIAL THANK YOUTalking Skull on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKSgmRc-W4Y

Marina sits down for another solo episode to talk about the game she hadn’t stopped talking about for 2 years straight: NieR: Automata. This episode goes in-depth on NieR: Automata’s story, how its game elements come together, why its use of narrative design is masterful, how it explores existentialism, free will, and the meaning of being alive, and why YoRHa androids wear blindfolds.  (00:00) Introduction (03:32) Story summary (21:20) How the game elements come together (23:36) Mastery in narrative design (24:39) How NieR: Automata leans into the element of surprise (27:15) Existentialism, free will, community, joy, and finding meaning (34:28) Why YoRHa Androids wear blindfolds * * * * * * *  Our NieR: Replicant episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bC3GLTQz1lIyW6WodGyy2?si=229f9c2ca4c24475  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0nWUGi0LMI  Follow Us: • Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers  • Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan   • Music: https://marinamakes.co

Marina sits down for her first solo episode to celebrate Quest Markers entering our episodic double digits, Dawntrail’s announcement, ARR’s 10th anniversary, and her finally getting caught up in MSQ after 1.5 years of playing FFXIV. This episode goes in-depth on Shadowbringers and Endwalker lore, why Endwalker’s story hit as deeply as it did, why Emet-Selch is one of the greatest antagonists in all of gaming, and why FFXIV gets the friendship, hope, and villainous nihilism tropes so, so right.  00:00 Introduction 3:48 Recap of Shadowbringers & Endwalker 10:29 Dynamis, Meteion, Zodiark, and the Great Sundering 20:06 Why was it so power that Shadowbringers flipped the WOL's role? 22:13 Why Emet-Selch is one of the best villains in all of Final Fantasy 29:29 Why Endwalker's story hits so hard 42:27 The 2 cutscenes I could rewatch over and over again 46:40 Answers 47:37 Wrapping up * * * * * * *  Special thanks:  • Yoshi-P • Soken • G'raha Tia • My Free Company • StoutHelm for his lore videos: https://www.youtube.com/@StoutHelm  • Anyone and everyone who has ever documented any FFXIV lore over on Fandom: https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_XIV  Follow Us: • Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  • Marina: @marinahascoffee on socials  • Music: https://marinamakes.co

Marina sits down with Scott from The Gaming Outsider to talk about Scott’s favourite Zelda game: A Link to the Past. We talk about community, trust, secrets, betrayal, why King Zora is the funniest character, and whether the game holds up after all these years. Enjoy, and have a great day!  * * * * * * *  Follow Us: The Gaming Outsider: https://thegamingoutsider.com/  Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  Marina on The Gaming Outsider: https://www.patreon.com/posts/desert-island-86435008  Scott: https://twitter.com/GOcastScott  Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee & https://bsky.app/profile/marinahascoffee.bsky.social Music: https://marinamakes.co

Marina sits down with Game Director and Designer Sherveen to talk about the unexpectedly deep lore and narrative of Hollow Knight. We talk about the Hollow Knight’s tragic life, quirky characters we meet in Hallownest, the sad story of the Abyss’ vessels, and willing things into existence. Hope you enjoy! (00:00) Introduction & Meeting Sherveen (11:53) Hollow Knight's Story Overview (17:11) Discussion of Hollow Knight's Narrative (54:33) Wrapping Up * * * * * * *  Follow Us: Midautumn Game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582380/Midautumn/   Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  Sherveen: https://twitter.com/SUduwana  Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee & https://www.instagram.com/marinahascoffee/  Music: https://marinamakes.co

Jack sits down with Marina to talk about Pokémon Gold & Silver! We talk about the darker themes explored in this story, the controversy of Slowpoke tails, this generation’s lack of fire Pokémon, the glorious pink dog that is Snubbull, why Lavender town is so creepy, and finally being able to evolve Pikachu. Join us for an equally chaotic and funny conversation, and enjoy! * * * * * * *  Follow Us: Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  GGRecon: https://www.ggrecon.com/  The Indiependent: https://www.indiependent.co.uk/  Jack: https://twitter.com/jackalexroberts Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee Music: https://marinamakes.co

Ren comes back and sits down with Marina to talk about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, just before the release of Tears of the Kingdom. We talk about Zelda’s desire for freedom, Fi’s significance, our favourite emotional moments, and BOTW’s open-world design. We also speculate about Ganondorf and Demise’s appearances in Tears of the Kingdom. Enjoy! * * * * * * *  Follow Us: Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  Ren: https://twitter.com/rensomnia  Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee Music: https://marinamakes.co

Zack and Marina sit down to talk about… what would happen if humanity was faced with its own demise? In talking about NieR Replicant, we explore the topics of protagonism, sapience, willpower, and more. Hope you enjoy! * * * * * * *  Follow Us: Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod  The Gaming Outsider Podcast: https://twitter.com/TheGOCast  Smirk Podcast: https://twitter.com/SmirkPodcast  Zack: https://twitter.com/GOcastZack  Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee Music: https://marinamakes.co

Snugboy and Marina sit down to talk all things Xenoblade Chronicles. In this episode, we talk about the art of foreshadowing, earnest protagonists, misdirection as a narrative tool, and the true power of friendship (Cringey to say? Yes. True, tho? Also yes). We hope you enjoy! * * * * * * * Follow Us: Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod Snugboy: https://twitter.com/RealSnugboy Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee Music: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan

Billy and Marina sit down to chat Final Fantasy VII – both the original game and Remake. In this episode, we talk about identity, destiny, Zack Fair, Sephiroth (obviously), and a theory that may be more tragic than the events of the original game. Enjoy! * * * * * * * Follow Us: Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod Billy: https://twitter.com/saturn_sounds Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee Music: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan

Ren and Marina sit down to talk all-things Metroid Dread. In this episode, we talk about our love of the Metroid series’ environmental storytelling, Samus Aran’s history, accessibility in gaming, and why we love Samus’ broad shoulders. Hope you enjoy! * * * * * * * Follow Ups: • Can I Play That (Gaming Accessibility Reviews): https://caniplaythat.com/ Follow Us: • Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod • Ren: https://twitter.com/rensomnia • Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee • Music: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan

Join Kinsey and Marina for the first episode of Quest Markers! In this episode, we look at Ocarina of Time’s narrative, characters, music, and what makes this adventure a classic. Is OOT the saddest Zelda game in the series? Why do we love Sheik so much? Is the Water Temple our least-favourite dungeon? Idk, let’s find out!   * * * * * * *   Follow ups:   • Good Blood’s video essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUcw...  Thank you to:   • Snugboy: https://www.youtube.com/c/Snugboy  Follow us:   • Quest Markers: https://twitter.com/questmarkerspod • Kinsey: https://twitter.com/WaitWhatNoStop • Marina: https://twitter.com/marinahascoffee • Music: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan