Shine Get! A Video Game Collecting Podcast

The Playstation 1 was the start of something special in the gaming industry. Sony entered the ring with the perfect JRPG device that tried to tackle both 3D and 2D games in equal measure. Did it end up good at both? We're joined by PS1 fan Matt Morgan to discuss the highs & lows. Follow Matt: https://bsky.app/profile/mathimus55.bsky.socialEpisode #44Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

Man, remember licensed video games? Every new movie obviously needs a poorly made game ported to the PS2 and Gamecube and Xbox and Game Boy Advance but the Game Boy Advance game is entirely different! Oh, also the games could be good. Let's talk about Goldeneye, Lord of the Rings, Willy Wonka, & more. Episode #43Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

XBOX has been on a heck of a brand trajectory over the last several decades. From plucky upstart on launch to the market dominance of the Xbox 360 to the slow decline of the One into the Series it's been nothing short of a roller coaster. Cal & Murph discuss what went wrong and what could be coming next. What the heck is up with Project Helix anyways?Episode #42Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

Video game history is full of just plain strange video game peripherals. The Power Glove, the DK Bongos, the GameBoy Printer & more. On this one, Cal & Murph discuss some of their favorites! Episode #41 Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

The Wii U has a complex history - stumbling right out of the gate, it went on to be decently supported by Nintendo & few others. Over a decade removed from its launch, what is collecting and playing on the system like in 2026?Episode #40 Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

Follow Dan: https://bsky.app/profile/moderatelymtg.bsky.socialCal has always loved Pokemon - but for this one, he needs some help. Friend of the show Dan joins to talk about their love of all-things Pokemon. Murph isn't that caught up - so we get to educate him on how much these dang games cost these days.Episode #39 Follow Murph: https://bsky.app/profile/alsonamedjosh.bsky.socialFollow Cal: https://bsky.app/profile/caljones.com

Simply sell stuff. Cal has been thinking about the size of his video game collection, along with others he has, & is looking to downsize. How did he get here? What will he do? Plus, how does Murph feel about his collections? He has a sick plan for 2026.Episode #38

YEAR IN REVIEW!! As 2025 comes to an end, Cal & Murph can't help but look back on their year in gaming. Which games did they play that stuck with them the most? What were the highs and the lows? We discuss!Episode 37Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/MTGCal

There's few things in video games more memorable than a console's venerable boot up sound. We hear it ever time we start gaming and some have even entered larger cultural consciousness. On this one, Cal & Murph tier-list an arbitrary list of console boot ups. Join us.Episode #36Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/MTGCal

Cal & Murph love backwards compatible consoles. As the industry has changed and evolved, ability to play older games on your newer consoles has waxed and waned. On this one, we talk through how different manufacturer's obviously value it differently and which consoles do it the very best.Episode #35Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/MTGCal

On this one, Cal & Murph discuss the parts of great games that they don't like as much. Join us as we discuss common friction points from titles that we - other than a bit here and there - completely loved. Not trying to be negative, it was just a fun idea. :) Thanks for listening! Episode #34Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/MTGCal

Cal & Murph love to collect video games. They also love to collect consoles! There ARE consoles they won't collect for though - what are they? It turns out, even the consoles they "won't" collect for, they're still interested in, but just can't get around to it. Listen to them discuss why these consoles just don't hit the mark for their interests! Episode #33------------0:00 - Intro3:05 - Virtual Boy8:50 - Atari 260014:30 - NES22:05 - Playstation Vita31:38 - Sega Dreamcast39:44 - Atari Jaguar 44:05 - Game Boy Micro / Sega Nomad53:10 - Sega CD1:00:00 - Recent Pickups

When you're buying a video game, you often have to make an immediate decision: do you want the game physically or digitally? Collecting makes the thought a little bit easier and some games are literally only available physically, but there are downsides to having to keep track of something. Cal & Murph discuss what they buy, how, and why. Episode 32------------0:00 - Intro0:42 - Main Topic1:35 - How do We Decide What We Buy?6:00 - The Difficulty & Ease of Digital Games16:40 - Lets Talk Nintendo24:50 - Digital Media Induces Decision Paralysis29:24 - The Intentionality of Physical Things31:10 - Storing Any Game is Annoying40:20 - Modern Physical Games Aren't Real47:14 - Video Game Preservation (Or Lack Thereof)55:45 - Recent Pickups

The Final Fantasy series can be daunting for a new player. 16 numbered games, tons of spinoffs, and more gameplay styles than you can shake a stick at is a lot to take in for any gamer. So where to start? In this special episode, Cal and Murph are joined by special guest and Final Fantasy aficionado Paige Smith, AKA TheMaverickGirl, to talk about the highs and lows of the series, what makes it special, and why it's something every fan of video games should at least try.Episode #313

On this episode Cal is the star, because that's right, we're taking an in depth look at every single GameCube he owns! From a Panasonic Q to a dev kit to a 1 in 50 Heineken GameCube, Cal and Murph go over all of them, and because this is the internet, of course rank them in order from least to most cool. Grab your Wavebird and boot up that classic GameCube intro, cause this is a topic you won't want to miss!Episode #3000:00 - Intro02:41 - DOL-101 Special Editions08:32 - Stock DOL-00111:38 - DOL-001 Special Editions13:20 - Much Ado About Jewels16:52 - Spice Orange24:57 - Starlight Gold27:46 - Pearl White34:14 - HeineCube40:38 - Char's Customized47:38 - Teal Dev Console50:39 - Hanshin Tigers57:41 - Panasonic Q01:07:13 - Tales of Symphonia01:15:30 - What is Cal Missing?01:21:29 - Recent Pickups

If you're looking to add more quality games to your collection without breaking the bank, we have the solution. With both must-play classics and enjoyable deep cuts available for under $15, we made a list of 15 games that you can get on the cheap!Episode #2900:00 - Intro0:25 - Main Topic4:50 - Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt7:35 - Super Mario Galaxy10:05 - Madworld14:53 - Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + Kingdom Hearts 2.520:25 - F-Zero23:09 - Need for Speed: Underground 228:30 - Aladdin 30:57 - Sonic GT 2002/Jet Set Radio Future34:08 - Sonic the Hedgehog 238:16 - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D43:29 - Grand Turismo 1/246:35 - Mass Effect Trilogy51:40 - Virtua Cop54:38 - Lego Star Wars57:50 - Just About Any Great PS2 & Xbox Game!1:03:30 - Recent Pickups

Cal and Murph have both just finished playing through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive, and boy, do they have thoughts. How do they feel about the gameplay? The plot? And how about that ending? Be warned, there are spoilers ahead, so proceed at your own risk!Episode #2800:00 - Intro02:38 - What Piqued Our Interest?07:33 - First Impressions14:02 - Gameplay Thoughts35:17 - End of Act 145:47 - Act 21:01:59 - End of Act 21:15:08 - Act 31:26:54 - The Ending1:43:04 - The Music1:47:49 - Closing Thoughts1:48:49 - Recent Pickups

The podcast has a new name and a new look, welcome to the Shine Get Podcast!To commemorate this momentous occasion (and now that Mario Kart World has been out for a bit), Cal and Murph decide to go through the entire Mario Kart series and rank every game from worst to best. Do any of the classics stand a chance against the modern titans? Where do the hosts land on the Mario Kart 8 vs. World debate? All that and more in this weeks episode!00:00 - Intro04:43 - 9.08:03 - 8.12:33 - 7.20:12 - 6.26:17 - 5.31:36 - 4.37:52 - 3.50:41 - 2&11:03:43 - Recent Pickups

CONSOLE WARS! Many of us grew up right around the time of the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 - they're near and dear to both Cal & Murph's hearts so we decided to pit them against eachother to find out which one we think comes out on top!0:00 - Intro0:35 - Main Topic5:20 - Tale of the Tape7:30 - Strengths & Weaknesses of Both16:55 - THE GAMES!18:55 - Favorite Xbox 360 Exclusives26:30 - Favorite PS3 Exclusives34:20 - Many of the Best Games are on Both!40:55 - Backwards Compatibility!47:22 - Collecting for These Consoles49:22 - What Console Version to Get?1:05:45 - Recent Pickups!Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Sports games have a long history of being both massively purchased 0 and also massively maligned by gamers everywhere. The key franchises release year after year while more boutique titles steal our hearts while commercially failing. Cal loves em' though, so we're gonna talk about 'em. What's fun? Can you collect them? That & more! 0:00 - Intro 0:30 - Main Topic 1:45 - Why do Sports Games have a Bad Rap? 8:25 - Do We Play Sports Games? 16:30 - What Happened to Arcade Titles? 23:38 - Collecting Sports Games 28:50 - The Fantasy Mode 35:55 - Playing Older Sports Games 43:23 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

STAR WARS GAMES!!! An epic universe surely deserves games to match. Cal & Murph run through many of our favorites from the long and varied history of games that take us to that long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. 0:00 - Intro0:30 - Main Topic4:00 - Lego Star Wars13:30 - Battlefront 1/2 (Classic)21:24 - Battlefront 1/2 (Modern)27:30 - Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader31:14 - Shadows of the Empire34:44 - Masters of Teräs Käsi 37:36 - Episode 1: Racer41:40 - Knights of the Old Republic 1/246:05 - The Force Unleashed51:45 - Jedi Fallen Order/Survivor57:08 - The Clone Wars1:00:21 - Recent PickupsFollow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Plenty of gamers remember the golden era of readily accessible rhythm games - Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Rockband and more dominated the space for several years. But what happened since? Cal & Murph reflect on our favorite Rhythm games, what newer games from the genre we enjoy, and ones we want to play as well. 00:00 - Intro1:02 - Main Topic2:00 - Why did Murph Get Back into Rhythm Games?5:13 - More than Guitar Hero7:30 - PaRappa the Rapper13:17 - Dance Dance Revolution19:30 - Donkey Konga22:22 - Taiko Drum Master/Taiko no Tastujin24:07 - Guitar Hero/Rockband35:10 - Patapon / Elite Beat Agents38:55 - Channel 540:48 - Just Dance45:02 - Thumper46:38 - Beatsaber51:20 - Hi-Fi Rush54:20 - What Rhythm Games We Want to Play1:01:00 - Recent PickupsFollow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Cal & Murph have been excited about a very specific console mod recently - so they decided to talk about modding your Retro consoles more generalized! What kinds of mods are available? What pros and cons do they offer? Are they worth it? What do we with was more prevelant in the scene?00:00 - Intro00:30 - Main TopicFollow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

If you play video games at all, you are familiar with the dreaded backlog. It creeps up on you; slowly piles up until you are drowning in games you want to play but can never seem to get to. In this episode, Cal and Murph walk through some tips on how you can beat your backlog, find joy in playing games again, and get back to some happy gaming.Episode #2000:00 - Intro00:27 - Main Topic03:13 - Prioritize09:18 - Stop Buying More16:33 - Slow & Steady24:52 - Guides27:25 - The Completion Mindset31:28 - Moving On37:02 - Peer Pressure39:19 - Making Yourself Happier41:38 - Wrap Up44:49 - Recent PickupsFollow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Controllers are the interface between us and the game that we're playing - and have even dictated much of video game design along the way! On this episode, we talk about which controllers are our favorite, which just plain stink, and the plenty in the middle. What are you favorite controllers and why? Episode #19 00:00 - Intro 00:34 - Main Topic 03:13 - Atari 2600 06:15 - NES 10:00 - Sega Genesis 13:25 - SNES 18:03 - Sega Genesis 6 Button 20:00 - Sega Saturn Model 1 & 2 23:27 - Playstation 26:53 - Nintendo 64 36:26 - Dualshock 1 (Playstation) 41:10 - Sega Dreamcast 44:45 - Dualshock 2 (Playstation 2) 49:40 - The Duke (Xbox) 54:23 - Nintendo Gamecube 1:00:35 - Xbox Model 2 1:02:55 - Xbox 360 1:04:45 - Nintendo Wii 1:09:22 - Dualshock 3 (Playstation 3) 1:13:24 - Wii U Gamepad 1:17:30 - Wii U Pro Controller 1:20:48 - Dualshock 4 (Playstation 4) 1:25:50 - Xbox One 1:27:40 - Joycons (Nintendo Switch) 1:30:54 - Nintendo Switch Pro Controller 1:33:20 - Xbox Series 1:34:52 - Dualsense (Playstation 5) 1:39:48 - The Level Up Controller Tier List! 1:44:01 - Recent Pickups 1:49:20 - Outro Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, it's time to take a look back on the first Switch console: its successes, its failures, and its overall legacy. As one of the best selling video game consoles of all time, does it deserve all of its success and praise? 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - Main Topic 05:29 - Our Experiences 16:33 - Switch Hardware 36:38 - The Games! 1:06:55 - Final Thoughts 1:17:14 - Switch Online 1:17:59 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

So, you want to build your ultimate game room? Unfortunately, that requires a lot of thought and planning. You have to figure out where your games go, where your consoles go, how they're hooked up, etc. In this episode, Cal and Murph take a look at how they've organized their game collections in the past, how they have things organized now, as well as tips, tricks, and other things they wish they did differently! 00:00 - Intro 01:20 - Main Topic 03:43 - Organizing Our Games 22:42 - Organizing Our Consoles 41:32 - Controllers & Accessories 57:08 - Final Thoughts 59:58 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

While venturing into new and challenging games is often a lot of fun way to spend your free time, it's great to play something you're familiar with and love. A comfort game, if you will. On this episode, Cal & Murph talk about comfort games, why we think we have them and what some of our own are!Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Getting into retro game collecting can seem super daunting. Cost of hardware, software, scalers, splitters; it's very easy to get lost in nitty gritty of it all. In this episode, Cal and Murph break down step by step what you need to get started in your retro game collecting journey, as well as provide some tips and tricks to help out even the most advanced of collectors. Episode #15 00:00 - Intro 02:16 - Starting Out 03:13 - Buy a PS2 10:15 - Connecting to an HDTV 15:16 - Expanding Your Collection 17:45 - Scalers and Connections 23:40 - Where to Buy Retro Games? 32:17 - How to Use Pricecharting 34:11 - Loose vs. CIB 38:03 - Buying Accessories 42:09 - Final Thoughts 47:19 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

The release of Sony's PlayStation Portable was realistically the only time anyone was able to challenge Nintendo in the handheld gaming space, and with the DS on Nintendo's side, what a challenge it was! Cal and Murph put these two titans of the portable gaming market head to head by examining the hardware, software, and everything in between in order to see which was the true king of the generation. 00:00 - Intro01:49 - Our Experiences08:46 - Hardware24:17 - The Best DS Games35:24 - The Best PSP Games55:23 - Waxing Poetically About RPGs58:03 - Backwards Compatibility?1:06:46 - Collecting in the Present Day1:20:11 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

With how many video games have come out over time, it's easy for games to slip through the cracks. Some games don't live up to expectations that were set to high or just don't get the love the deserved. Heck, some titles just have fallen off modern gamer's radar. Join Cal & Murph as they dig up some of their favorites of these titles, their hidden gems!00:00 - Intro01:50 - What is a Hidden Gem?03:25 - Gladius08:25 - James Bond 007: Nightfire13:30 - Auto Modelista18:30 - WWE! Smackdown vs. Raw 200625:00 - WrestleMania 200031:24 - Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life41:25 - Sunset Overdrive46:13 - Are "Hidden Gems" a Dying Breed?55:44 - Recent PickupsFollow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Has this ever happened to you: You like the idea of playing classic, older games, but when you actually play them, they aren't as fun as you thought they’d be? What's up with that? Cal and Murph tackle this surprisingly common scenario by taking a deep dive into what people struggle with when playing retro games, and potential ways to get in the right mind-set. 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Hardware/Software Limitations 17:52 - Controls 24:36 - Lack of QOL 32:51 - How to Get Around These Problems 39:44 - If All Else Fails 53:32 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Collecting for the OG Xbox is great. The games are mostly cheap, and the hardware is awesome. However, it definitely has a perception as being nothing more than a Halo machine. What other games do Cal and Murph recommend when getting into collecting for the Original Xbox? 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Our History 05:02 - Quick Facts 08:49 - The Good18:56 - The Bad 23:27 - Special Editions and Revisions 33:43 - Best Exclusives 43:37 - SEGA45:50 - Best 3rd Party Games 50:38 - Backwards Compatibility 54:38 -The Modding Scene1:04:42 - Recent Pickups Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

The terms remake and remaster get thrown around a lot, but what do each of them mean? How much do Cal and Murph expect out of each? Are they a net positive or negative to gamers and the game collecting scene? All this and more on this episode of the Level Up Podcast! 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Criteria 06:37 - What We're Looking For 08:53 - Remakes/Remasters and Collecting 14:09 - What Makes a Good One? 24:00 - What Makes a Bad One? 35:14 - Unnecessary Remakes/Remasters 45:04 - Our Dream Remakes/Remasters 50:47 - Recent Pickups Follow us on Twitter/X! @LevelUpPod_ Cal: @Nintendo_Cal Murph: @alsonamedjosh

Metacritic can be a great way to find some of the best games of all time, but do all the games deserve to be there? Cal and Murph take a deep dive and look at the top 10 best games of all time as listed by Metacritic and re-evaluate them with a modern lens.00:00 - Intro03:08 - Metroid Prime13:54 - Red Dead Redemption 222:13 - Perfect Dark31:47 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 338:35 - Breath of the Wild49:46 - Mario Galaxy 1& 256:30 - Grand Theft Auto IV01:04:24 - SoulCalibur01:09:28 - Ocarina of Time01:18:03 - Final Rankings01:22:42 - Recent Pickups

GameStop Retro was announced recently as an initiative to pivot the largest video game retail giant into the classic video game space. Does GameStop know what they're getting into? Is this a service die-hard collectors would even use? In this episode, Cal and Murph break down the announcement, and talk about what they want from an ideal retro video game store. 0:00 - Intro 00:36 - Main Topic 43:53 - Recent Pickups Follow us on Twitter/X! @LevelUpPod_ Cal: @Nintendo_Cal Murph: @alsonamedjosh

So you want to get into GameCube collecting but don't know where to start? Join Cal and Murph as they talk about the best, must have games for any GameCube owner's library, as well as other tips and recommendations for hardware and accessories!Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_ Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJosh Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

Its easy to hate on things, but what about the hidden gems that got overlooked? Can we even call some of these hidden gems? In this episode, Cal and Murph each talk about 3 games that they really love even though the general consensus might not be so positive.--------Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

There are a lot of popular games that are popular for a reason... but what if we just don't like them? Today Cal & Murph are getting the irrationality out of the way, talking about the games that everyone else loves but they just can't understand. Mario 64 hate incoming, unfortunately.--------Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

When you're collecting, there are always going to be grails to add to your collection. Cal & Murph already have some - what are they and were the worth the trouble? ---------------------------------Follow LevelUp: https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal

The Dreamcast is looked fondly upon by many gamers today, but is it warranted? Cal and Murph take a deep dive into the legacy of Sega's final console, its library, and all the weirdness and quirkiness that comes with it. Follow us on Twitter/X! https://x.com/LevelUpPod_Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_CalMurph: https://x.com/alsonamedjosh

Many gamers swear by the Cathode Ray Tube Television, claiming it to be the ultimate piece of tech for a retro game setup. But is this true? Cal and Murph talk about the pros and cons of CRTs, what they're good for, what they're bad at, and the reality of living with a CRT in the household to hopefully come to the conclusion of whether they really are worth it or not. Episode #2 Follow us on Twitter/X! @LevelUpPod_ Cal: @Nintendo_Cal Murph: @alsonamedjosh

The Nintendo Gamecube is pretty awesome - at least Cal & Murph think so. On this episode we wax poetic about the system, what we love about it, and the obvious problems it also had. Also - why are the games so dang expensive?--------Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJoshFollow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal