“This story is about Blaster Master. And the time I got scared shitless on my birthday.”

0:00 – Introductions

0:29 – Deanna’s thoughts on the Gwent Closed Beta.

> CD Projekt Red’s Gwent Beta is available to some through their proprietary GOG downloader this past week. Deanna discusses her experience with the few games she’s played and notes its changes from the rules displayed in The Witcher 3.

7:23 – Greg talks about his experience with DOOM.

> Despite its few drawbacks, it’s a pretty solid game that’s built around one very clear theme. Doomguy actually has a sparkling personality under his rough exterior. Contrary to what everyone told him, there’s a distinct lack of platforming and an abundance of invisible walls.

11:58 – Dan, on Pokemon Sun/Moon and Owlboy.

> Pokemon Sun & Moon, as Dan calls it, would be “the definitive Pokemon game”. Greg chimes in about how beating the Elite Four and Champion felt. Deanna puts in two cents about swap breeding.

> Dan praises Owlboy’s sound design, platforming, and difficulty. Greg agrees that attacks feel satisfying, and one achievement that throws Geddy (Luigi) under the bus.

17:33 – Greg remembers something he enjoyed about DOOM.

> Every stage has a hidden area, and you’ve got to be thorough to find them.

18:48 – Potential DOOM2?

> We weren’t expecting it to be good. “Multiplayer’s actually trash, tho.” -Dan

19:43 – Other games we want to play before we get to our Game of the Year discussions.

> Does Greg want to finish Final Fantasy XV? Only time will tell.

20:13 – Pat recaps his recent games: Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm.

> Heroes of the Storm’s just a dumbed-down version of League, which is a dumbed-down version of Dota 2.

> Dota 2 just got its 7.0 update, which took some pointers from Heroes of the Storm. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

24:12 – A new publishing day and appreciation for fans.

> Stop trying to creep them out, give them some space.

24:47 – Parappa the Rapper Demo

> The upscaled cutscenes don’t look pretty, but the remastered song sure does.

> Greg talks about the Neo demo once again… and locks it in as a contender for his top 5 Games of the Year.

27:53 – Zen and the Art of Transhumanism, as brought to you by Deanna, who heard about it from Waypoint.

> It’s a bit of a social commentary, but we look past that and take the game at face value. Transcendence at its best.

30:31 – Congratulations, you’ve won!

> We decide that we should go hunt for old Internet ads, circa 1998-2009.

> Correction! We’ll be streaming this on Friday, December 23rd as we all have families we spend time with on Christmas Eve.

> Bonzi Buddy was the best software that sold our information.

32:55 – We take your questions!

> Colin asked: What’s your favorite Christmas gaming memory?

> Colin asked (again!): What are your favorite Star Wars games? (Colin’s review of Rogue One can be found here!)

> Nick asked: Worst luck you’ve had, in gaming or in general?

> Sydney asked: What’s your favorite Christmas carol? Can you sing a few lines?

1:00:00 – Final announcements and goodbyes.

> New publishing day for this podcast: Thursdays @ 2PM.

> New day for YouTube as well: Fridays @ 11AM.

> Episode 2 of The Coda Conflict will be out Sunday.