Idle Weekend

August 1, 2018: Transition Points

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 17:22:46 +0000

It’s been a little while since we Idle Weekended, but for good reason! Your fearless hosts have been going through some *life stuff* and playing games that help us cope. Get ready for some talk about comfort games, the place of challenge and difficulty, and getting our brains into better spaces. Welcome back to the weekend!

Discussed: Into the Breach, World of Warcraft, Total War, mental health, Sonic Mania, Animal Crossing, health, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, State of Decay 2, Dishonored 2, The Americans, The Last Jedi, Blade Runner 2049, biases in media, New Girl, Party Down, GLOW

June 22, 2018: The Sensitive Badass Type

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 20:38:38 +0000

We consider a favorite archetype of ours in sci-fi: the sensitive badass! Rob and Danielle talk gender in sci-fi, the ways in which Farscape and the Expanse rock our socks, and why Thor is a whole lot more awesome than Guardians of the Galaxy. Discussed: The Expanse, John Wick, Farscape, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2, Black Panther, Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario, Uncharted series, Uncharted 2, Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Hitman, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

May 26, 2018: The Franchise in Your Heart

Sat, 26 May 2018 02:17:14 +0000

It’s been too long, friends. But we have a solid, meaty Idle Weekend for you, ripe with discussions of long-running franchises we have a long relationship with, our trials in not ruining games for ourselves, and the utterly bananas part time work experiences gained by working for weirdos. It’s Idle Weekend all right!

Discussed: Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia, Total War Rome II, Total War: Medieval, Into the Breach, The Evil Within 2, Kitchen Confidential, SuperStore

April 1, 2018: Hot 'n' Cold

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 19:23:11 +0000

On this belated episode of Idle Weekend (Danielle is sorry for the wait), we discuss the things that really just do it for us—and the alternative, the games that leave us cold. It’s a very hot and cold weekend here, just like real life! Sort of!

Discussed: The Division, Surviving Mars, Black Maps: The American Landscape and the Apocalyptic Sublime, Into the Breach, The Martian, Tropico, Star Trek, Dude Watching with the Brontes - Hark, a Vagrant!, Daniel Ortberg’s Texts from Jane Eyre, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Goodfellas, The Punisher, Bringing Out the Dead, Legion

March 10, 2018: Joker Liberace

Sat, 10 Mar 2018 06:44:02 +0000

Rob and Danielle take some time from playing the latest and greatest to do things they enjoy even more: play old games that actually scratch the right itches. It’s like 2007 all over again in here! Discussed: BioShock, BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite, Warcraft 3, The Hour, War Thunder, Don’t Starve, The Hour, Mindhunter

February 18, 2018: Sometimes, You Gotta Try Twice

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Rob and Danielle regale one another with tales of TV shows (and movies, and books, and games!) that they weren't too keen on at first, but those frowns turned upside down with a little persistence.

Discussed: Brooklyn 99, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Altered Carbon, Game of Thrones, Tombs of Atuan, The Expanse novels, The 100, 2312, Rubicon, All Our Asias

February 4, 2018: An Underrated Trek

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:49:14 +0000

This week, we welcome freelance writer Dia Lacina to the Idle Weekend world in order to discuss lesser entries in franchises or series that everyone shits on, but we love them. There’s a whole lot of Star Trek Talk in this one, a serious appreciation for Michael Mann’s Manhunter, and a slew of delicious trashcan eclairs.

Discussed: Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Bourne Legacy, Manhunter, Banjo-Tooie, BioShock 2, Dark Souls 2, Jupiter Ascending, Guardians of the Galaxy, Legend of Galactic Heroes, Bloodborne, Forever Knight, The City in the City by China Mieville, Dark Matter

January 28, 2018: He Was A Good Captain, Til We Went Out The Airlock

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 17:32:07 +0000

What dark depths lie under bright futures we like to imagine? That, and other lofty questions, are addressed on this episode, where we look at the authoritarian side of the sci-fi we love, the colonialism of games we’re enjoying, and the very difficult question of what on earth to do with David Cage Games.

Quick content warning: this episode contains discussion of sexual harassment and abuse in media.

Discussed: They are Billions, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Roadside Picnic, Battlestar Galactica, Dark Matter, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Black Mirror, Cory Doctorow’s Piece on Cold Equations and Moral Hazards, Quantic Dream and David Cage, Louie CK, James Franco, Person of Interest, Thimbleweed Park

January 24, 2018: It’s Back, Baby!

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:00:07 +0000

with copy! Idle Weekend 1/21/18 It’s Back, Baby! This weekend, we talk about what it takes to make a game come back into the conversation, even if it’s just our little corner of the internet. It’s because we have a little Bloodborne on the brain, and a little Darkest Dungeon in the hands. And Strangers Things afoot. Note! Rob’s audio is a little funky in this episode, but he’ll have his proper mic back next week.

Discussed: Bloodborne, Dark Souls, Darkest Dungeon, Stardew Valley, LA Noire, Night in the Woods, GTA V, BioShock: Infinite, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Quantic Dream, Battlestar Galactica (with spoilers!), Counting Crows, Star Wars, Blade Runner: 2049, Stranger Things, The Shape of Water

January 15, 2018: The Way We Play

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 01:24:31 +0000

This weekend, we extol the virtues of consoles and games that change our relationship to games, in honor of Rob’s newfound love of the Nintendo Switch. We also get into some good questions about gender stereotypes and game preferences, and profess a deep love of 20s gangster period pieces.

Discussed: Nintendo Switch, Breath of the Wild, Stardew Valley, LA Noire, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, Peaky Blinders, Boardwalk Empire

January 5, 2018: The Bomb Cyclone of Podcasts

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 23:27:13 +0000

In the extreme(ly bad) weather, it’s important to note one thing: we all have to work together to survive. Hence, we recount our favorite games and movies with extreme weather, from the comfort of our snowed-in houses.

Discussed: Max Payne, The Grey, The Long Dark, Kona, The Division, Super Mario 3D World, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nightwing, Grayson, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

December 31, 2017: Homelife, 2017

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 23:59:00 +0000

The Idle Weekenders bid this crappy year adieu with the help of friend and colleague Cameron Kunzelman. They talk home settings in games, from the cozy confines of Stardew Valley’s quaint town, to the too-millennial aspirations of later Sims, to the much wackier ways in which horror games set family life. Then, we talk some serious trash about White Christmas and other fabulous trashcan eclairs. Like Dark Matter.

Discussed: Stardew Valley, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Quiet Year, Crusader Kings, Animal Crossing, Wolfenstein: The New Colossus, Resident Evil 7, Tacoma, Hyper Light Drifter, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds, White Christmas, Dark Matter

December 25, 2017: Merry Night In the Woods Christmas

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 06:38:26 +0000

Rob and Danielle survived a truly, comically terrible fall to podcast again! We chat about the too-realness of Night in the Woods, going home for the holidays, and the games and movies that have made the last few months vaguely tolerable. Merry Holiday time to you all! (Mild content warning for discussion of domestic abuse in I, Tonya)

Discussed: Night in the Woods, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Tacoma, Prey, I, Tonya, Thor: Ragnorok, A Christmas Gift

November 24, 2017: What a Twist!

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 00:55:06 +0000

Danielle and Rob are here, in Idle Weekend-land, a very good place, to discuss... The Good Place (spoilers abound), and many other games, shows, and movies that do twists well. Discussed: The Good Place, Mad Men, The Visit, Blade Runner, Momento, The Prestige, Westworld, BioShock, BioShock Infinite, Prey, Edith Finch, SOMA, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Mass Effect 3, Forza 7, Valor, Hidden Agenda

October 13, 2017: Into the Woods

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 22:44:29 +0000

Rob and Danielle both had delightful woodland experiences to recount this weekend, as well as stories about gaming happy places (like Prey) and a beloved movie—Blade Runner. The first one. Don't worry, we'll talk about the new Blade Runner soon!

Discussed: F1 2017, Game of Thrones (the board game), Prey, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Blade Runner: The Director's Cut

September 30, 2017: The Vacation Games

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 22:45:58 +0000

Sometimes, you have to pay to play. Danielle returns from glorious Scotland to regale Rob with tales of sightseeing, martial arts, and Mario Vs. Rabbids, while Rob has many vacation tales of his own, including the time he was too tall to ride Space Mountain. Both Weekenders learn of childhoods similarly spent in gay seaside resort towns, and everyone is interested in good sitcoms. It's a very idle weekend indeed!

Discussed: Saugatuck MI, Ogunquit ME, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Forza 7, Warhammer: Total War, A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Half-Life 2, X-com (original game), Dishonored, The Good Place, Father Ted

September 15, 2017: Use It or Lose It

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 17:44:20 +0000

Idle Weekend is back! After a too-long lapse where PAX happened and we all worked too much, Rob and Danielle return to what they know best: talking about Star Trek, Farscape, and immersive sims. After a riveting discussion of criminally under-utilized licenses in games and the new Dishonored, they open a heavy mailbag and an especially exciting discussion of weekend projects.

Discussed: Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek (TOS), Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Farscape, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Guy Fieri, Wonder Woman, Vienna Blood: A Max Lieberman novel, The Sheriff of Babylon, Starfighter (comic)

August 18, 2017: Sleepovers, Prey Tell?

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 22:11:09 +0000

In this fine installment of Idle Weekend, we get really excited about (GOTY) Prey, the finest damned immersive sim this side of the solar system. Rob has finished it, and we spoil the hell out of the ending. We also talk about fun sleepover games: the games of our younger years that we enjoyed on an all-night basis with buddies. It's a very happy episode of idle Weekend!

Prey Spoilers!

Discussed: D&D, Donkey Kong Country, Perfect Dark, Sonic 3, Prey, BioShock 2, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Dark Knight Rises, Jane the Virgin, WWE, Lucha Libre, Dunkirk, Atomic Blonde, On the Move (autobiography by Oliver Sacks)

August 11, 2017: The Mooch

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 22:07:58 +0000

In honor of the Mooch, we go through our gaming torrid affairs: games we had a very brief, very intense love affair with. Sometimes, these things just don't work out.

Discussed: Kingdom, No Man's Sky, Empire: Total War, Mass Effect 3, What Remains of Edith Finch, Ruse, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

July 27, 2017: The Little Engine That Could

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:19:31 +0000

This weekend, we wade into the game engine kerfuffle with opinions, context, and that characteristic Idle Weekend spice. Then, we go hard into a discussion of weekend projects, with action movies, professional wrestling, and combat sports. Like you do on a gaming podcast!

Apologies this episode went up late, and double apologies for a missing episode last week. More Idle Weekend is on the way!

Discussed: game engines, Mass Effect Andromeda, Ultimate General: Civil War, John Wick 2, Kingsman: the secret service, GLOW, Game of Thrones, WWE, Lucha Underground, Japan Pro

July 2, 2017: Bleacher Bums

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 16:05:34 +0000

Rob and Danielle meet for an overdue weekend after a Rob's cross-country move. Rob's been getting re-acclimated by playing a lot of MLB The Show 17 and discovers it's like watching baseball with a cool, knowledgeable friend. But a discussion of sports leads to a discussion of Boston sports and their deserved reputation for racism. But somehow, Xander Cage makes it all okay.

Discussed: MLB The Show 17, Animal Crossing, Boston sports

June 18, 2017: Madness Mechanics

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:52:12 +0000

We survived E3! That's reason enough to do a horror-themed episode this weekend, thanks to a nifty demo for Distrust. We take a lovely tour through some of our favorite, terrifying game experiences, with a light sprinkling of film. Then, we move on to our mailbox and dig into two very exciting weekend projects.

Note: we had some slight mic issues this episode.

Discussed: Distrust, Alien: Isolation, It Follows, Alien, Lost, The Babadook, Prey, System Shock 2, Alan Wake, Soma, Her Story, Doom III, Gabriel Knight II, Xena: Warrior Princess, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Orange is the New Black

June 11, 2017: Off to the Races

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 18:10:46 +0000

This weekend, we're all about going really fast in pretty places. We discuss our favorite racing games, spurned on by a couple of recent humdingers, Dirt 4 and Wipeout Omega Collection, and Rob's love of F1.

Discussed: Wipeout Omega Collection, Dirt 4, Codemasters' Formula 1 series, Dirt 2, Dirt 3, Split/Second, Road Redemption, Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing, Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing, Rad Racer, Side Effects, LadyKiller in a Bind, Anna Anthropy's Triad, Lip Service, The Hunger, American Gods, Michael Chabon, Farscape, The Americans, The Good Wife, Turn, Wonder Woman.

June 2, 2017: Pushing Our Buttons

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:26:46 +0000

This weekend, we decided to talk about hard-stops in games. The things that make us look a game in the face, in disbelief or exasperation, and break up with them on the spot. We also dig in on music we love in games, sexism in sports and action movies, and two films we are feeling hot and cold on, often at the same time!

Discussed: Endless Space 2, The Witness, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Demon's Souls, Dark Souls 3, The Longest Journey, Yooka-Laylee, Prey, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Max Payne, Mission: Impossible 2, Godzilla (2014), Alien: Covenant, Prometheus

May 28, 2017: Renaissance Morgan

Sun, 28 May 2017 00:34:42 +0000

This weekend, we are still obsessed with Prey, the Immersive Sim in Space that could. We also chat about other fine games: like Dishonored 2 and Deus Ex, and we close out with a discussion of TV shows we're not 100% sure we like—it sure is an Idle Weekend, folks!

Discussed: Prey, Dishonored 2, Xcom 2, Fallout, Civilization, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Crew, Perfect Dark, Deus Ex, Alpha Centauri, Transmetropolitan, Children of Men, Space Hulk, Disney Afternoon Collection, Privateer, Riverdale, Fargo, Apocalypse Now

May 18, 2017: Eat, Prey, Love

Thu, 18 May 2017 17:53:34 +0000

This episode is either really early, or really late, and either way, you can place the blame entirely on Prey for being so goddamned awesome. We talk Prey, space lesbians, immersive sims in general, and, a little more about problematic media!

Content warning for mentions of partner abuse in The Witcher 3, and a reference to sexual assault in Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

Discussed: Prey, The Witcher 3, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, American Gods, Side Effects

May 8, 2017: Good Old Games

Mon, 08 May 2017 04:25:29 +0000

This weekend, we're talking about games that are old... but despite our approaching them with the trepidation befitting older, jankier software, they hold up like a dream. Elsewhere, we talk about difficult media (again, with a content warning for the mention of movies that depict sexual assault), and really, REALLY enjoy our weekend projects.

Discussed: Alpha Centauri, The Last Express, Brutal Legend, System Shock, Tex Murphy, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Assassin's Creed, LA Noire, Persona 5, sexism at E3, Dawn of War 3, Cloud Atlas, Jessica Jones, GNOG

May 1, 2017: Your Thorax Sure Is Supportive

Mon, 01 May 2017 06:19:15 +0000

This weekend, we are exploring our other selves. Our gaming selves, silly, not some Jungian archetype business. When is role-playing not even really role-playing, but... something else entirely?

Discussed:Expedition: Viking, Bloodborne, Dishonored, Mass Effect, BioShock, Fallout, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Eagle's Heir, The Witcher 3, Firewatch, Gone Home, Sunless Sea, Agents of Shield, The Dialogue Box Podcast

April 24, 2017: Cull Your Frustums

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 21:36:11 +0000

How much do game players know? Do they know things? Let's find out! We wade into a minor kerfuffle online about how much devs like to disclose about tech, and then, we dip into some serious territory in the weekend correspondence and projects.

Please note! There is some fairly heavy talk about sexual assault and rape in movies and TV in this episode.

Discussed: Horizon Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda, The Dialogue Box podcast, Idle Thumbs, Containers, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, Eminem, Roman Polanski, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Chapelle's Show, Remember the Night, The Thing, The Fall, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Say Anything, Notting Hill, Blade Runner, Billions, Colony, Occupied

April 15, 2017: The 90s Were Great, Ok?

Sat, 15 Apr 2017 03:36:10 +0000

This weekend, we get good and mad about genres that just happen to be from the decade when we were kids/teens, that get stomped all over. Genres like the 3D platformer and the FMV. Why? Because some people on the internet are besmirching the good name of our dearest Banjo and/or Tex. Don't worry, we have plenty to say about newer games as well!

Discussed: Yooka-Laylee, Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Psychonauts, FMV Adventure, Tex Murphy, Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within, Wing Commander 3, Contradiction: Spot the Liar, C&C: Red Alert 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Uncharted 2, Nier: Automata, Life is Strange, The Uncle Who Works at Nintendo, Caprica

April 11, 2017: Making Up Is Hard To Do

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 03:11:07 +0000

Yes, this is something of a make-up episode, since we have been tardy lately. Comically so! But that won't stop us from discussing things that we stick with, even if we don't think they're super great.

Related: we appreciate that YOU stick with us, even when we aren't super great about being on schedule.

Discussed: Caprica, Snake Pass, Battlestar Galactica, The Bridge (FX series), Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears, The Young Pope, Nier, Nier: Automata, The Last Express, Ashes (comic), The paintings of Mark Tansey at the Broad Museum

March 30, 2017: My Gaming Renaissance

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:32:15 +0000

Danielle would like to apologize for the tardiness of this episode. But! There is a lot of good stuff here, as we discuss games that have made us fall in love with the format all over again. It’s an all-gaming Idle Weekend!

You can find Norco: Faraway Lights (one of our Weekend Projects) here: yutsi.itch.io/norcodemo

Discussed: Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nier: Automata, Afghanistan 11, Dead Space, Persona 4, Norco: Faraway Lights

March 20, 2017: Be the Recon You Want to Ghost in the World

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 19:12:48 +0000

Both Rob and Danielle are playing a LOT of games: so many that there aren't even any letters in this episode. This week features a freewheeling discussion of Ghost Recon: Wildlands, genre-jumping in long-running franchises like Resident Evil and Zelda, and open-world design. We only barely mention The Witcher 3 in this one!

Discussed: Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Resident Evil, Dead Space, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Kona, The Campaigns of Napoleon by David G. Chandler, They Can't Kill Us All by Wesley Lowry

March 11, 2017: PAXing Makes Me Feel Good

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 15:15:59 +0000

It's a very special Idle Weekend, because, not only is Danielle at PAX, but Rob is finishing his first week as an editor at Waypoint! We talk PAX, open-world solutions and games that deal with death in this special, blitz-edition of the show. Note: please don't yell at Danielle for her somewhat crappier-than-usual audio, her travel mic isn't as amazing as her home mic.

Discussed: PAX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy VIII, Life is Strange, The Witcher 3, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Americans, The Expanse, Olen Steinhauer's mysteries

March 6, 2017: An Austin Walker Original

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 02:07:52 +0000

Today, we are joined by Waypoint Editor in Chief, mech enthusiast and friend of the show Austin Walker, for a whopping 2+ hour idle weekend extravaganza. We talk deconstruction in games, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Wire, amongst other things. Stay tuned for a *VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* at the end of the show!

February 27, 2017: Archie and The Unreality of the Real

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 23:39:15 +0000

This weekend, we welcome special guest Evan Narcisse to the show, to talk comics, games and books. We're especially interested in conflict in games and comics that *doesn't* come from cartoon bad guys, but instead, a slightly more realistic—and complex worldview. There's a lot of Archie in this one.

Also! Here's the link Evan talks about when we discuss one very special episode of The Expanse Season 2: http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-expanses-executive-producer-tells-us-everything-tha-1792685368

Discussed: Archie Comics, Riverdale, The Lego Batman Movie, Dishonored 2, Life is Strange, Horizon Zero Dawn, Get Out, Legion, The Expanse

February 20, 2017: When Live Gives You a BFG

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:19:08 +0000

This weekend, we talk about our fatal flaws in gaming: sometimes, we need to learn to just use our goddamn BFGs. In other media, we're both digging Legion, and the violent stylings of one John Wick.

Discussed: Hearts of Iron IV, Doom, Dark Souls III, Alien: Isolation, Prey, terrible childhood fables, fitness, agile development, Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman '66, Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Batman v. Superman, Legion, John Wick Chapter 2

February 13, 2017: Stat Decay

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:20:20 +0000

This weekend, we get too real about aging, athleticism, and the brutal pain of stat decay, in games and in real life. But don't worry, we manage to have some fun too. And we apologize for the lower-than-usual sound quality—to make up for it, there's a post-episode mini-gush about how much we want to wear cowboy hats and watch Westerns together.

Discussed: Punch Club, Pitch, Sid Meier's Pirates, Overwatch, A Normal Lost Phone, Emily is Away, Tombstone, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

February 6, 2017: Batman Academy

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 03:39:19 +0000

It's time to talk Batman! Well, sort of. Rob is having second thoughts about Batman: Arkham Origins, which prompts a discussion on games that give a very particular kind of feedback during play. Also, Superman Returns is an underrated movie.

Discussed: Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Street Fighter V, Metal Gear Solid IV, GTR, Crazy Taxi, BioShock, BioShock 2, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, Mafia 3, Papers Please, Superman Returns, Avatar: The Last Airbender

January 29, 2017: Mailbag for a Tattered Nation

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 22:23:36 +0000

Rob is protesting the unlawful executive order on travelers from Muslim countries, so I'm doing a short mailbag episode centered on self-care and giving yourself the space you need to get through the damned day. Keep Weekending, friends.

Discussed: Kingdom Hearts, self-care, The Witcher 3

January 22, 2017: We're Watching Here!

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:08:27 +0000

Games are fun to play and all, but watching—that's where it's at. At least, for some games. This weekend, we're all about the spectator sports, from speedrunning to Hitmanning to eSporting.

Discussed: StarCraft, Overwatch, League of Legends, MMA, Hitman (2016), Final Fantasy VIII, Lady Killer in a Bind, Revolutionary Girl Uetena, Far Cry 2, Neptune's Inferno James, Hidden Figures

January 16, 2017: What to Play

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 03:50:48 +0000

There's a lot of existential dread in the world right now, and I think we're all feeling it. It even seeps into our favorite escape, in the form of choice paralysis and gaming guilt. Things get REAL in this episode, about our lives, the place of games, fear of mortality and over-exertion. But don't worry, we also get to fun synth-singing, our favorite games, and our mutual love of sports in other media.

Discussed: The Witcher 3, Mafia 3, Battlefield 1, Star Wars, Yowamushi Pedal, The Natural, Pitch, Creed, Halt and Catch Fire, Hadyn

January 7, 2017: Get Your Camera Out of Trico's Butt

Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:21:31 +0000

This weekend, we chatted about the worst—and best—frustrations we've experienced in games, inspired by recent explorations of the great-but-so-unpolished The Last Guardian. Control schemes, systems running beneath the hood, and talk of movies loved and hated round out our weekend projects. So watch where you point that camera, bub.

Discussed: The Last Guardian, Black and White, Resident Evil, Dishonored 2, Thief, Myth, Overwatch, Harry Potter, John Wick, La La Land

December 30, 2016: Self-Care in the New Year

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:46:24 +0000

This weekend, we're talking about self-care games: what we play when we need to chill out, ease our anxieties and have a breather. So what do we like best? Catching em' all, shooting zombies, and just taking off in a beautiful car, man.

December 23, 2016: The Top Ten Before Christmas

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 22:00:00 +0000

The Weekenders are here to wish you a very merry Whatever You Celebrate! And also, to count down their most favorite games of 2016. Enjoy!

Discussed: Homeworld: Deserts of Karak, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Dishonored 2, Overwatch, Hearts of Iron IV, Commander: Great War, Even The Ocean, Total War: Warhammer, Event[0], Darkest Dungeon, Mafia 3, Doom, Quadrilateral Cowboy, Banner Saga 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Twilight Struggle, Firewatch, Battlefield 1

December 20, 2016: Mythology in the Midst

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 03:47:09 +0000

Danielle apologizes for making this episode more of an Idle Monday than an Idle Weekend. Even though we're late, we have an exciting episode for you, as we examine the constant reinterpretation of popular characters in our own modern mythologies. There is Star Wars talk! Star Trek talk! And we manage to not even talk about The Witcher, somehow. Warning: there are spoilers for Star Trek Beyond, if you are afraid of hearing about the (totally stupid) reveal at the end of the movie.

December 11, 2016: The Mailbag Before Christmas

Sun, 11 Dec 2016 18:47:39 +0000

It's a ridiculous holiday season, which means Danielle is doing a dip into the ol' mailbag before going on her merry way. Don't worry, Rob will be back next weekend for more adventures! A quick note: Audio quality isn't up to our usual standards this week, thanks to heavy travel. Our apologies!

December 3, 2016: The One Hundred Percenters

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 19:49:56 +0000

This weekend, we're talking about the pleasure and queasy terror of games that make us want to find every last drop of #content. Based on our Dishonored 2 and Mafia 3 experiences, and the horrible FOMO feelings that we carry, we need a little help.

November 25, 2016: Happy Dishonored Black Friday

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 20:11:37 +0000

It's a holiday weekend! Which means we're finally getting to catch up with our beloved games, including Dishonored 2, which everyone is currently enjoying like a fine Karcannan Plantain, heaped upon a golden plate. We're also ready to feast upon a plentiful mailbag, and enjoy a bunch of smaller leftovers. Happy Dishonored Thanksgiving Weekend, everyone! The Good Bundle, discussed in the episode, is available here: https://itch.io/b/149/a-good-bundle

November 21, 2016: Electing Better

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 04:14:39 +0000

Hey listeners! This was the first Idle Weekend episode we recorded after the 2016 presidential election, and we talk about politics, a lot. But, instead of cutting bits and pieces, we elected (ha!) to keep it all in, to give you an open, honest conversation between friends. Also, we played some games and watched some movies and TV! So join us, friends. We promise to always try to give you thoughtful, honest, from-the-heart conversation, no matter what happens to the world around us.

November 14, 2016: Even the Advocates

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:52:12 +0000

We recorded this weekend's episode before the election, so there is little talk of presidential politics and despair this time around. But we do talk about games that we really love, and want to advocate for. It's a healing salve for things that ail us on this dreary week.

November 5, 2016: Marathon Time!

Sat, 05 Nov 2016 22:44:06 +0000

A very tired Danielle and a Halloween-spirited Rob come together to discuss marathon gaming. Nothing is finer (or more rare) than this most exquisite of pleasures: the ability to sink hours and hours into an all-encompassing game. Whether discussing a 72-hour smorgasbord or a dedicated session with The Last of Us, the Weekenders praise the virtues of endurance gaming.

October 31, 2016: Happy Halloween 2015!

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 16:03:41 +0000

Danielle is streaming for 72 hours straight, so we're playing a trick (or treat) on you this Halloween Weekend: by offering you our never-before-heard Halloween test episode from last year. Marvel at our hot SOMA talk. Shiver as we discuss horror in games. Reach for the bloodied knife when we talk about the books and movies we were really into a year ago. It's a true chiller-thriller weekend!

October 22, 2016: Crazy Uber

Sat, 22 Oct 2016 22:16:33 +0000

Sit down, friends. It's time for a frank chat about expectations, marketing hype, and why Nintendo keeps naming things so... sexy... this fall. Then we SWITCH over to a robust mailbag, and a little tour of great American cities. Don't forget to give your Crazy Uber driver five stars!

October 18, 2016: My Anime Life Coach

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 05:04:00 +0000

Danielle brings aboard friend of the show Amanda Cosmos for a very special Idle Weekend from a tiny cabin in Ticonderoga, New York! Since we recorded in less-than-ideal conditions, sound quality is somewhat reduced, but that didn't stop us from discussing Mystic Messenger, Shin Megami Tensei and all sorts of wonderful anime!

October 8, 2016: Dangerous Realism

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 23:38:24 +0000

We're going to some scary places this weekend on the show. The dark hearts of our friends, playing Subterfuge. The streets of Mafia III's New Bordeaux. The Idle Weekend inbox, after dissing magical realism last week. But don't worry, friends! We brought our finest weapon: our imaginations. It's a very magical (but still totally real) episode of Idle Weekend!

October 1, 2016: A Whole Candy Bar

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 06:04:21 +0000

We're discussing the phenomenon of the ever-game this weekend, including the curious case of Destiny, a game that is good—but never too good. We also have our fun with low-budget Canadian science fiction, the secret best export of our northern neighbors. Finally, we dis magical realism and The Leftovers, and enjoy the greatest pleasure in life: finding a huge chunk of candy in Ben & Jerry's ice cream. It's the weekend, after all!

September 24, 2016: A Very Idle Weekend

Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:49:51 +0000

It's September, the official wacky fall release season, but that doesn't mean that the weekenders are enjoying the harvest's AAA bounty. No, space-y indies, Destiny and a very special, monstrous art exhibit are on our minds as we embark upon pumpkin spice time. We also managed to talk a little bit about both The Witcher 3 and Farscape. It's a true Idle Weekend!

September 17, 2016: Alexis Kennedy on Writing the Zee

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 06:47:40 +0000

The Weekenders are joined by special guest Alexis Kennedy, co-founder of Failbetter games (creators of Idle Weekend GOTY contender Sunless Sea), who came by to chat about writing good player-created characters, his work on Stellaris, and a bit about his new gig at BioWare. Also, he's a Farscape fan, which made Danielle an even bigger fan of his.

September 10, 2016: 4K's Gone By

Sat, 10 Sep 2016 20:16:06 +0000

The Weekenders take a brief moment to marvel at the PS4 Pro, a system that promises 4k graphics, but only to those who possess the K power of EIGHT MILLION PIXELS. Then it's on to a robust mailbag, a pair of gritty movies, and a weekend well-deserved.

September 3, 2016: PAX the Mailbag

Sat, 03 Sep 2016 19:18:11 +0000

With Danielle at PAX and Rob buried under a mountain of work, Danielle goes it alone and presents another short mailbag episode. But never fear! There's talk of Alien 3, sentimental memories with loved ones, and sports anime aplenty, enough to hold us all over for another week. Keep the PAX.

August 27, 2016: Sci-Fi's Sky

Sat, 27 Aug 2016 21:12:50 +0000

It's an all-sci-fi extravaganza this weekend, as your hosts ponder the curious hype of No Man's Sky, the smaller scale of corporate space exploration depression sim Corpse of Discovery, and the beautiful weirdness of The Order: 1886. And enjoy a massive Alien-loving discussion of Aliens, the second-greatest movie in one of cinema's darkest and most beloved series. I'm ready, man, check it out!

August 21, 2016: Magic, Mister Worf

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 23:16:11 +0000

It's a detail-oriented weekend for your hosts, who spent this episode delving into the mysteries of the Whorfian hypothesis, their gaming compulsions, and the beauty and flaws of The Magicians. On that note, don't play racing sims without getting a note from your doctor.

August 12, 2016: The Weekend Sky

Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:04:45 +0000

This weekend, it's a topical blend of No Man's Sky, the challenges of historically and racially conscious art, and bike anime! So, another typical episode with your weekenders-in-chief. Danielle is enamored by the dizzying scale of No Man's Sky, while Rob prefers the grit of an old favorite—Elite: Dangerous. Then, Rob brushes up on the best of Star Wars as Danielle gets an education in cycling. And anime.

August 5, 2016: The World Ends (and Begins) With You

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 22:50:49 +0000

This weekend, we take a trip to our favorite game worlds: places we want to go back to, places that opened our eyes, places that might have been "better" than the games they supported. Elsewhere, Danielle reads about a radical future and Rob goes back to Arrow. Plus: how is Mass Effect like Bernie and Hillary?

July 30, 2016: Look at You, Hacker

Sat, 30 Jul 2016 20:38:11 +0000

With the release of Blendo Games' Quadrilateral Cowboy, the Weekenders are once again enamored with all things hacking. Danielle expounds upon the virtues of heist-by-deck, while Rob ponders the power fantasy of becoming a god among machines. Elsewhere, they grapple with diversity and historical accuracy, Rob takes a peek back at Entourage, and Danielle devours season three of BoJack Horseman. Holywoo!

July 23, 2016: Early Accessification

Sat, 23 Jul 2016 22:19:15 +0000

This weekend, Danielle and Rob ponder what it is to be a "finished" game in 2016. What hath Early Access (and its ilk on other platforms) wrought for the world of games? Are strategy games particularly well suited to this new world, or are they... just for boys? Elsewhere, Rob is enjoying the beauty and subtle brutality of Tour De France, while Danielle, a reviews editor, enjoys a show about reviews.

July 16, 2016: Diamonds in the Rough

Sat, 16 Jul 2016 18:45:34 +0000

The weekenders discuss the rarest and most magical of gaming experiences - when a game that looks like generic garbage surprises you in the best way. Elsewhere, the Weekenders ponder the mysteries of Pokemon Go, Rob reads about time travelers and jerks in the 1940s, and Danielle listens to bedtime stories about messed-up mermaids.

July 10, 2016: Roughing It

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 20:37:34 +0000

Rob returns from a major cross-country move with stories of his Zombi adventures, surviving the apocalypse on the mean, dead-infested streets of London from his new home on the west coast. Danielle recounts her own move last year, and the comfort that her little virtual buddies brought her in Animal Crossing. And both Weekenders are hooked on new TV series. It's back to the home routine for Idle Weekend!

July 2, 2016: Going Solo

Sat, 02 Jul 2016 07:24:28 +0000

This weekend, Rob takes a quick break to do a tiny errand - that is, move across a continent - and Danielle opens up the mailbag. It's a quickie, but don't worry - Rob will be back next week!

June 24, 2016: 2016 Halftime Show

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 22:03:08 +0000

2016 is half over, so the Weekenders have chosen to review their favorite games (and non-The Americans TV series!) of the year so far. You know, so we don't forget about them in December. Elsewhere, they contend with movies depicting sad-but-true historic events of the 90s and remember that The Expanse is really, really good TV.

June 18, 2016: We Happy E3

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 03:56:59 +0000

It's the big E3 show, with a roundup of the games that looked the most interesting at this year's massive industry trade show. But it's also a sober week, as we spend much of our mailbag time pondering the industry's reaction to the Orlando tragedy. It's two Big Topics for the price of one this weekend.

June 10, 2016: One (Million) Console Future

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 23:03:32 +0000

With the PlayStation Neo and Xbox Scorpion potentially (probably) getting their big stat reveals next week at E3, the Weekenders ponder the brave and/or very annoying future of console iteration. Elsewhere on the cast, Danielle has a giant philosophical brainfart and Rob ponders the real meaning of the best BioShock movie: Snowpiercer.

June 4, 2016: Get You a Game That Can Do Both

Sat, 04 Jun 2016 20:24:41 +0000

This episode, the Weekenders discuss a favorite topic: the push and pull between tight, well-constructed scenarios and wide-open rulesets. How open is an open-world game, after all, and how open should it be? Elsewhere, we discuss sexy characters, comedy that takes on mental illness with sensitivity, and the very strange sci-fi/action/romance of The Adjustment Bureau.

May 27, 2016: We've Been Playing

Fri, 27 May 2016 17:29:33 +0000

The Weekenders break with their usual format to discuss the sort of thing most gaming podcasts do: what they've been playing. Rob charts the waters of Uncharted 3 in preparation for A Thief's End, Danielle dives into Overwatch fandom, and everyone is enamored with The Witcher 3 all over again. And spy TV shows. It must be Idle Weekend!

May 20, 2016: History Doomed to Repeat Itself

Fri, 20 May 2016 18:11:46 +0000

The Weekenders are enamored with the most gloriously goofy video game of 2016 thus far: id's fast, furious, and self-assured Doom reboot. When not scouring demon-infested Martian hellscapes (or just... Hell's hellscapes) for Doomguys to fist-bump, Danielle ponders the delights of Soft Body and Rob goes toe-to-toe with a million-orc army.

May 13, 2016: Just, like, your opinion, man

Fri, 13 May 2016 02:14:52 +0000

The weekenders examine the curious case of a game critic who... gave his opinion on a video game. Then the game's publisher told its fans that it's ok for a critic to do such a thing. It's the curious case of Stellaris! Elsewhere, the weekenders ponder sexism in games they enjoy and tackle Captain America: Civil War.

May 6, 2016: Top This

Fri, 06 May 2016 22:32:29 +0000

The Weekenders are joined by freelance game critic extraordinaire Heather Alexandra to discuss AAA game franchises' ever-present need to top themselves. Will every major franchise end up in space? Is marketing to blame? Is Saints Row really the best? Plus: Overwatch, Blizzard's candy colored shooter, and Kim, a Rudyard Kipling novel adaptation. So, basically the same thing.

April 30, 2016: PAX Americana

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 01:55:05 +0000

The Weekenders have a full plate this time around, with PAX stories of fake wrestling, playing Pyre, and taking in the atmosphere of an overcrowded show floor. Later, Rob dives into the wonderful Mad Max: Fury Road, and Danielle gets her secret decoder ring ready for a wild marathon of The Americans.

April 22, 2016: Getting Ready to Rumble

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 21:16:10 +0000

With both Weekenders starting a love affair with Street Fighter V, this week is all about coming to blows with fighting games and the real-life combat sports that inspire them. The depth, heart, and complications of controlled violence—in real life and its digital formats—offer a great deal for us to wrestle with.

April 16, 2016: The Dark Souls Of...

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 06:28:15 +0000

(The original version of this file had a minute-long gap about 36 minutes in. The updated version is fixed—sorry about that!) Inspired by Danielle's Dark Souls misery and Rob's experience with hardcore sims, the Weekenders ponder the costs and the pleasures of high investment games. Is it really worth dozens of hours of your busy life to defeat an imaginary dragon, or to land a phantom plane on a digital aircraft carrier? Do the highest highs always have to be accompanied by the lowest lows? And is "get good" ever an appropriate response to whining about difficult games? No. The answer to that is no.

April 8, 2016: I'm Walking Here

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 19:08:27 +0000

We here on Idle Weekend are pretty fond of story-based games, so you can imagine we have fond feelings for the genre terribly known as "walking simulators." The weekenders chat about Adr1ft, a space-walking simulator, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, a ghost walking simulator, in order to suss out the future of the genre.

April 1, 2016: Now We're Let's Playing with Power

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 20:24:05 +0000

The question used to be whether or not to play a game. Now, it's whether or not to Let's Play a game, and man, we wish we had a better term for it. Controversy over whether or not Let's Play video cut into indie sales has us pondering the ways and means of the form. Elsewhere, we tackle the evergreen subject of "objective" game reviews.

March 25, 2016: The Way Wii Weren't

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 03:01:43 +0000

The Weekenders ponder the strange case of the Wii U, a weird console from a company that only makes weird consoles these days, with some of the best games of the last few years. Has Nintendo Splatooned its way into the Wii U's demise? Is the Wii U the new Dreamcast?

March 18, 2016: In Search of (Burnout) Paradise

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:24:39 +0000

It's GDC week! Which means the Weekenders have serious FOMO. Rob is dealing with it by playing a ton of Burnout Paradise, one of the finest arcade racers ever produced. Danielle went to GDC for two days, and has the burned-out vocal cords to prove it.

March 11, 2016: Buried Treasure

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 11:10:12 +0000

Like a perfect diamond wrapped in layers of greasy wrapping paper, this week we're talking about great games that happened to be buried in... other stuff. Does a focus on meaty game length ruin a wonderful, if shorter, experience, or merely water it down? Helping us answer these questions are the aliens, wolf men, succubi and vampires that we know and love (and spend too much time with).

March 4, 2016: Soft Spots

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:27:15 +0000

Idle Weekend invites you to a judgment-free zone where the hosts reveal their gaming soft spots. You know, those juicy indulgences that will always call to you, whether it's the fashionable (or acclaimed) thing of the moment or not. For your intrepid hosts, those siren songs may include cyberpunk, weird horror, learning new places, and, naturally, The Witcher 3.

February 26, 2016: Hack the Planet

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 19:49:49 +0000

The Weekenders are joined by cyberpunk expert and friend of the show Austin Walker of Giant Bomb to talk about our dreams of the 90s. SUPERHOT has us in a 90s cyberpunk frame of mind, so we take a jog down the information superhighway paved by Hackers, The Net, and Strange Days. It's a transhumanist treat!

February 20, 2016: The Right Way

Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:53:55 +0000

Is there a right way to play, or are video games the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups of the entertainment world? Are you doing it wrong? Are WE doing it wrong? The Weekenders investigate. On the way, they encounter Sherlock Holmes, shrieking YouTube streamers, and one very pissed-off alien named Frankie the Xenomorph.

February 12, 2016: Mad Skills

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:51:18 +0000

The Weekenders welcome longtime friend Tom Chick to the show to talk about how skill matters in our ability to understand games. Can we ever truly "get" something we're terrible at? Do some games give us an ego boost that we should consider in reviews? Also this week: XCOM 2 gives Rob the howling fantods, Danielle yells at empty rooms in The Witness, and Tom has strong opinions about MOBAs.

February 6, 2016: Playing at World's End

Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:36:40 +0000

In a slightly tardy Idle Weekend (sorry!), our hosts ponder what makes apocalyptic video games so damned entertaining. Is it their artful graffiti? The heroism at the end of the world? The gank-or-be-ganked mentality that comes with every helicopter landing? Then weekenders also find inspiration in the unlikeliest moment: after four hours of staring at one puzzle in The Witness. Plus, more on game reviews, Steam, and a whole lot of Rocky.

January 29, 2016: Far Gone Prestige

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 19:45:56 +0000

What makes a "prestige" game? Is it arty graphics? Heady themes? Years of adoration in the press? Difficult puzzles mixed with BBC lectures? The Witness is only the most recent example of the phenomenon. Elsewhere, there are adventures to be had rating bad video game movies and spoiling the hell out of Fargo Season 2 in a post-show free for all. (But don't worry, we made it easy to skip!) Wear your fluffiest coat!

January 22, 2016: Reaching a Consensus

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 20:08:21 +0000

The Weekenders take on their meatiest discussion of 2016 (so far) in their handling of critical consensus. Does it hold games back? Does it mess with game reviewers' tender hearts? Are Kane and Lynch the real MVPs? Does it necessarily suck if you go to Mars in a broken spaceship? What about settling those deserts in Kharak?

January 15, 2016: Zombie Train Beyond Earth

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 21:21:11 +0000

The Weekenders travel wide and far, with thoughts on advanced space-cities and train travel for the undead. Bigger questions are tackled, including: is Resident Evil cheesiness good? Is it wrong to make a game about a terrible disease? Should we have any heroes at all? Strap on your "Don't Be A Piece of Shit" wristband, and join us on our journey!

January 8, 2016: Keyframing the Issues

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 21:40:12 +0000

Welcome our first-ever guest to the show: one Jake Rodkin, Idle Thumb and Firewatch-maker, to weigh in on animated and mo-capped performance in games. Plus, the Weekenders ponder topical questions, such as: What is a keyframe? Are speed runners performance artists? Are we all just faceless members of cultural demographics? And, once and for all, we come to a decision on whether Rob is crazy for liking Limitless.

January 1, 2016: The Finest of the Year

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 20:58:24 +0000

Weekenders Danielle and Rob have had a hell of a 2015, and they want to tell you all about it. Well, mostly they want to tell you about the games they loved best in the (old) year. Plus, some of their favorite game music of 2015, and tales of unusual video game improvisation!

December 25, 2015: A Very Dark Forces Christmas

Fri, 25 Dec 2015 02:28:38 +0000

Idle Weekend is visited by the ghost of video games past, present, and future, as Danielle and Rob excavate their holiday memories for your amusement, and look toward the year ahead. Hear about Danielle's bloody-faced determination in Diddy Kong Racing, and appreciate how Dark Forces taught Rob the true meaning of Christmas. It's a gaming miracle!

December 18, 2015: Destined for a Reboot

Fri, 18 Dec 2015 21:03:07 +0000

This episode, the weekenders ponder the curious monstrosity of Destiny, a game that still has Rob caught firmly in its snares. Danielle, meanwhile, is caught Raiding Tombs, trying to raise a floating crypt with an ancient water wheel just like the good old days. Ancient architecture certainly makes for fertile rebooting ground. You can learn more about the show at idleweekend.net, and send us questions for our weekend correspondence at questions@idleweekend.net. To keep up with the latest from us, follow us on Twitter at @idleweekend.

December 11, 2015: TGIF, Finally

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:09:47 +0000

Join hosts Rob Zacny and Danielle Riendeau as they kick off Idle Weekend—and yes, they really mean it this time! The Idle Weekenders take on the new-and-improved The Game Awards, wherein actual good games were honored, and talk up 2015's obsession with bigger, broader and more... badass? open worlds. You can learn more about the show at idleweekend.net, and send us questions for our weekend correspondence at questions@idleweekend.net. To keep up with the latest from us, follow us on Twitter at @idleweekend.