Tales from the Backlog

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Join Dave and special guest Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki and Fayer, 2024). Arco blends tactical turn-based combat with a revenge story spanning multiple protagonists. It's an ambitious game that coalesces in some magical ways, but falls short in some others, making it ripe for discussion. As always, no spoilers in the episode for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: Luis Aguasvivas (he/they)

Check out Luis's writing https://aguaspoints.com/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/aguaspoints.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:20 Introductions

3:56 Our Histories with Arco

6:52 Top-Level Thoughts

13:13 Story Setup

17:52 Multiple Protagonist Structure

22:58 Dramatic Irony and Post-Colonial Narratives

28:48 Visual Design

35:33 Soundtrack

40:13 Combat

49:38 Fantasy Elements and Morality System

1:03:55 Who Should Play?

1:07:55 Luis' Writing

1:11:58 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:14:20 Spoilers- Different Story Paths

1:26:01 Spoilers- Act Five

1:39:41 Spoilers- Tizo's Story

1:51:22 Spoilers- Violence as Interaction in Games

2:01:54 Spoilers- Fighting the Ocean in Historical Fiction

Music used in the episode is credited to Bibiki. Tracks used: Arena y Alquitrán, Forgotten Memories, Blood Spit, Whispers of Magic, Where Iyos Live, Sempiternal

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Emily Merritt (No Small Games) as they do their best to unpack AP Thompson's Titanium Court. Even AP Thompson's simplified description of "a match-3 tower defense game for people who like to read" still hides a mountain of detail, so this was a fun discussion about those component parts and especially how they tie together into a genuinely interesting narrative and commentary on the way we play games and "consume" media in general. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: Emily Merritt (she/her)

Check out No Small Games https://nosmallgames.com/

Follow on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/aspecificegg

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title

0:20 Introductions

4:52 Our Histories with Titanium Court

8:18 Top-Level Thoughts

14:59 Story Setup and Worldbuilding

22:46 Theatre Inspiration and Humor

33:02 Visual Design

41:04 Music

48:45 Gameplay- Jobs and Goals

59:23 Gameplay- High/Low Tide

1:12:22 "Addictive" Games

1:17:24 Who Should Play?

1:23:04 No Small Games

1:28:19 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:30:17 Spoilers- Curses Lifted

1:45:11 Spoilers- Story Discussion

1:57:00 Spoilers- Story, Continued

Music used in the episode is credited to AP Thompson. You can purchase the soundtrack on Steam. Tracks used: Chimera Solo, Timeskip Titlecard and the Ten Years Later, The One AP Doesn't Like, Metamind Defense Grid Blues, Biome Select, Fourth Quarter, For a Dollar

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Jared Moss (Play Along Podcast) as they take over the land in Pokémon Conquest. This crossover between Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition puts the familiar monsters in tactical grid-based combat, with satisfying (if slow) progression. It's a fun twist on the familiar, even if it makes zero effort to tell an accompanying story with any juice. Please enjoy the discussion, and as always- no spoilers for a while!

Guest info: Jared Moss (he/him)

Listen to Play Along Podcast https://linktr.ee/PlayAlongPodcast

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/playalong.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:27 Introductions

5:20 Our Histories with Pokémon/Conquest

9:17 Top-Level Thoughts

16:10 Story Setup and Thoughts

23:31 Teambuilding and Conquering the Land

37:43 Turn-Based Tactics

55:48 The Gateway to Grand Strategy?

1:06:13 Soundtrack

1:08:03 Wrap-Up Thoughts

1:12:39 Pacing for Handheld Play

1:16:36 Who Should Play?

1:21:13 Play Along Podcast

1:26:03 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:28:04 Spoilers- Favorite Pokémon and Teams

1:42:58 Spoilers- Story and Final Fights

Music used in the episode is credited to Shin-ichiro Nakamura, Ayako Toyoda and Takashi Yoshida. Tracks used: Main Theme, Episode Opening, Normal Battle, Dungeon Theme 1, Map Theme 1, Staff Roll

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie Young for an introductory lesson about how to listen to and discuss video game music in more effective ways. The episode starts with some terminology and examples, then moves to a "close listening" exercise where you can apply what was taught earlier. Hope you enjoy!

Guest info:

Charlie Young (he/him)

Rick Firestone (he/him)

Check out Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card and Introductions

2:00 Topic Introduction

7:36 Developing a Palate- Melody, Harmony, Rhythm

19:37 Developing a Palate- Timbre, Instrument Choice, Dynamics

33:42 Developing a Palate- Texture and Form

46:07 Developing a Palate- Character, Affect

1:00:39 Patron Thank-Yous

1:02:39 Close Listening- Champion Cynthia (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum)

1:14:43 Close Listening- Decisive Battle: Yu Yevon (Final Fantasy X)

1:29:04 Close Listening- Gone Angels (Library of Ruina)

1:48:02 Close Listening- Alicia (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)

2:09:02 Outro and Pixel Project Radio

Music used in the episode:

Earthbound OST- The Runaway Five on the Move! (Akio Ohmori, Ritsuo Kamimura, Keiichi Suzuki, Hirokazu Tanaka)

Blue Prince OST- Stories of All Manor (Trigg & Gusset)

Super Mario Bros OST- Ground Theme (Koji Kondo)

Final Fantasy IX OST- Vivi's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)

Final Fantasy IX OST- Steiner's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)

Dark Souls OST- Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (Motoi Sakuraba)

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector OST- Signalchaser (Amos Roddy)

Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum OST- Champion Cynthia (Go Ichinose)

Final Fantasy X OST- Final Battle (Masashi Hamauzu)

Final Fantasy X OST- Zanarkand (Nobuo Uematsu)

Library of Ruina OST- Gone Angels (Studio EIM)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 OST- Alicia (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier)

Video-

5th Elite Four Battle Cynthia- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vzpDrO9dH0

Pokemon Trauma Cynthia Battle Flashbacks- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEKlXY-SYc

Final Fantasy X Trailer- https://youtu.be/riNzVUJumM8

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) as they discuss Yacht Club Games' long-awaited action adventure game, Mina the Hollower. Blending several influences from The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, FromSoftware's catalogue and more, Mina the Hollower still managed to carve out a strong identity of its own while leaving a lasting impression. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while.

Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)

Listen to "Fun" and Games https://funandgamespod.com/

Listen to Reignite https://reignitepod.libsyn.com/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:23 Introductions

6:41 Personal Histories with Yacht Club Games

12:34 Top-Level Thoughts

20:08 Story Setup and Weapon Choice

23:20 Exploring Influences

28:50 Visual Design and GBC Aesthetic

32:47 Burrowing Gives Mina Its Identity

43:47 Ways to Mitigate Difficulty

58:14 Open-Ended Structure and Exploration

1:09:07 Lightning Round!

1:14:34 Modifiers, Feats and Achievements

1:25:04 Music and Sound

1:34:43 Who Should Play?

1:40:15 "Fun" and Games, Reignite Podcasts

1:46:24 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:48:13 Spoilers- Weapons, Areas, Bosses

2:12:43 Spoilers- Final Boss and Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Jake Kaufman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Cinematic - Intro, A Sinking Feeling (Loner's Landing), The Congealed, Gator Gallop (Nox's Bayou), A Sickly Shore (Bone Beach), Central Ossex, The Brilliant Truth (Radiant Manor), End Credits

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures