Tales from the Backlog

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

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

Join Dave and special guest TroytlePower as they discuss Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines, developed by Troika Games and published by Activision in 2004. Any recommendation to play Bloodlines comes with all sorts of disclaimers attached, which makes it nearly irresistable for someone with a brain like mine. And while all of those bad things I had heard about the game turned out to be extremely true, it's still a fascinating game that led to a fun discussion. Check out the podcast for more!

Guest info: TroytlePower (he/him)

Check out all of Troy's work! https://troytlepower.com/

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:17 Introductions

4:30 Our Histories with Bloodlines

8:39 Top-Level Thoughts

13:57 Story Setup and Clan Selection

21:03 The Masquerade and Vampire Society

28:06 Presentation and Game World

36:53 Music and Vibes

44:34 Vampire Lore TM

51:00 Character Building

1:02:04 Combat

1:17:00 If They Only Had More Time...

1:25:52 Who Should Play Bloodlines?

1:31:00 Troy's Podcasts and Writing

1:35:56 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:37:51 Spoilers- Early-Midgame Quests and Stories

2:23:00 Spoilers- The Sewers and Onward

Music used in the episode is credited to Rik Schaffer. Tracks used: Main Menu, Downtown, Disturbed and Twisted Combat, Generic Combat, Santa Monica, Crypt Combat

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

Dave recaps 13 indie games that he played on the PAX East 2026 show floor.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

0:25 The Secret of Weepstone

2:05 Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes

2:59 Canvas City

3:51 DREADMOOR

5:03 Fractured Blooms

6:20 GNAW

7:31 Valor Mortis

8:32 Well Dweller

9:39 Never's End

11:17 ZWAARD

12:15 Project Lexa

13:37 Backyard Baseball

15:20 Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

16:31 Wrap-Up

17:06 More Indie Game Coverage!

17:52 Outro and How to Support

Game links:

The Secret of Weepstone- https://store.steampowered.com/app/3702100/The_Secret_of_Weepstone/

Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes- https://www.astrocrow.com/throwback

Canvas City https://store.steampowered.com/app/3226830/Canvas_City/

DREADMOOR https://store.steampowered.com/app/3629430/DREADMOOR/

Fractured Blooms https://store.steampowered.com/app/3730310/Fractured_Blooms/

GNAW https://store.steampowered.com/app/2306490/GNAW/

Valor Mortis https://store.steampowered.com/app/2828710/Valor_Mortis/

Well Dweller https://store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/Well_Dweller/

Never's End https://store.steampowered.com/app/1999930/Nevers_End/

ZWAARD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251170/ZWAARD/

Project Lexa https://store.steampowered.com/app/3162890/Project_Lexa/

Backyard Baseball https://store.steampowered.com/app/3935020/Backyard_Baseball/

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

Music used:

High Above the Land (The Flying Machine)- Jake Kaufman (Shovel Knight)

Various tracks from The 16-Bit Starter Pack, composed by Bert Cole [bitbybitsound.com](bitbybitsound.com)

For more PAX and indie game coverage, check out:

https://theindieinformer.com/

https://www.sixoneindie.com/

https://nosmallgames.com/

https://funandgames.libsyn.com/

https://youtube.com/@crossplayconvos

https://youtube.com/@danomak

https://leftbehindgame.club/

https://youtube.com@NOLAnerdcast

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/pixelspectrum/

https://www.gamesandwich.com/

https://www.buzzsprout.com/747596

https://kzum.org/podcasts/underplayed/

https://youtube.com@CGDannyB

https://youtube.com@Kimchica

https://bossrush.net/

https://passthecontroller.io/

https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@PSTrophyRoom

https://datewithuspodcast.podbean.com/

https://epiloguegaming.com/

https://somanygames.co.uk/

https://dotzip.online/

https://skyboxcritics.com/

https://www.quitthebuild.com/1h1d

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 guest Travis Colenutt on their language-learning journey up the tower in Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc, Focus Entertainment, 2023). What do our languages say about our culture, and how can learning another language change the way we see the world? All of this and more in the discussion!

Guest info: Travis Colenutt (he/him)

Check out Left Behind Game Club https://leftbehindgame.club/

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

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:21 Introductions

4:53 Why Did We Play Chants of Sennaar?

9:50 Top-Level Thoughts About Chants of Sennaar

16:06 Story and Language Learning Setup

28:00 Using Language to Make Progress

33:40 Learning About Culture Via Languages

39:04 Making Connections Via Languages

48:02 Stealth In My Puzzle Game?

53:58 Visuals, Music and Sound

1:08:31 Do We Recommend?

1:11:17 Left Behind Game Club

1:15:10 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:17:34 Spoilers- The Devotees & Warriors

1:40:05 Spoilers- The Bards & Alchemists

1:55:32 Spoilers- The Anchorites & Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Thomas Brunet. Tracks used: The Call, Out of the Cavern and into the Light, Catch Me!, Envers, Bonds Reforged

Catch Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about Rocky https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/

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 guest Bryan Skursha as they deep dive Death Howl (The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios, 2025) on their journey through the underworld to find out what the hell a soulslike deckbuilder even is. Brutal turn-based combat, a story about grieving and a mother's love, and all the fucked up guys a gamer could ask for. Listen in to find out more!

Guest info: Bryan Skursha (he/him)

Check out Pixelated Playgrounds https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/

Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/bsushi.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:18 Introductions

5:39 Our Histories with Death Howl

10:50 Top-Level Thoughts

15:42 Story Setup

23:58 Dreamy, Hazy Visuals and Sound

40:01 Combat Basics and Deckbuilding Strategy

54:58 Is It Soulslike?

1:05:00 Open-Ended Structure and Side Quests

1:10:22 Combat Depth

1:16:40 Who Should Play Death Howl?

1:19:00 Pixelated Playgrounds

1:22:55 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:24:58 Spoilers- Favorite Areas, Bosses, Decks

1:41:00 Spoilers- Final Area and Final Bosses

1:55:46 Spoilers- Story Discussion

Music used in the episode is credited to Chris Bjørumslet & Malte Burup. Tracks used: Death Howl, Olvi, Shadows of Rot, Cantharsis, Meadows of Delusion, Moon Eel, Ever Since Your Heart Stopped Beating

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 Josh Leslie as they discuss Skate Story, developed by Sam Eng and published by Devolver Digital in 2025. How does the skating compare to touchstone games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or skate.? How does its poetic storytelling land? How do the aesthetics enhance other aspects of the game? All this and more- enjoy!

Guest info: Josh Leslie (he/him)

Check out IndieQuest podcast https://indiequest.buzzsprout.com/

Check out The Monthly Mishap podcast https://monthlymishap.buzzsprout.com/

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:21 Introductions

5:00 Our Histories with Skate Story

9:05 Top-Level Thoughts

16:00 Story Setup and Poetic Storytelling

23:42 Open Zones and City Life

27:58 Visuals and Music

41:00 Skating and Downhill Sections

50:48 Boss Encounters and Challenges

59:43 Plan and Perform

1:03:30 Recommendations

1:07:13 Josh's Work- IndieQuest and The Monthly Mishap

1:11:34 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:13:21 Spoilers- Eating the Moons

1:31:08 Spoilers- Emotional Arc & Interpretations

1:50:20 Spoilers- Final Boss and Ending

1:56:32 Spoilers- We Still Exist

Music used in the episode: Collapsing, Like Clouds Into Smoke (Blood Cultures), Where the City Can't See (Blood Cultures), Redvoid (John Fio), Lyceum (John Fio), Alcian Blue (Blood Cultures), Hole in the Sun (Blood Cultures), Godhook (John Fio)

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