Ep.496 – SAG Episode 496: 2023 Year in Review

Looking back on the year that was 2023

Show Notes

It’s the final show of the year! Dan and Kris look back on 2023 and all the wonderful games (and horrible news) it brought with it. It was a banner year for excellent game releases and unfettered corporate greed. They’ll go month by month and break it all down because that’s what they do! At the top of the show, Kris completes his Atari Recharged series thanks to a big ol sale on the VCS, Dan didn’t get the coffee warmer he was so desperate to find under his tree, and a whole lot more. Happy New Year!

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Ep.495 – SAG Episode 495: The Bones are Solid

The last 10 20 30 40 of 2023

Show Notes

It’s time for the final 10 20 30 40 of 2023! Dan and Kris look back at notable game releases from 10, 20, 30, and 40 years ago this month and discover that December might not be the best month for video games, historically speaking. Well, they didn’t really discover that so much as had the notion reinforced. Sill, some pretty great stuff did find its way through the cracks, and they discussed it all via Dan’s new spreadsheet that was intended to streamline the 10 20 30 40 so it doesn’t take quite so long to get through. Did it work? You’ll have to listen to find out! In Week Old News, PlayStation backpedals on their decision to yoink back all those TV shows people bought, but only for as long as they feel like it. The kid who leaked a bunch of GTA6 stuff is getting punished as well, and Zack Snyder wants to direct a Fortnite movie. At the top of the show, Kris regails Dan with the tale of how his electric company tried to ruin his Christmas by literally stealing all of his money and refusing to give it back in a timely manner, while Dan actually got the cards he was after in Marvel Snap. It’s a Christmas miracle! Have a happy and safe holiday, everyone, and thanks for listening.

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Ep.494 – SAG Episode 494: I Will Go Get a Colonoscopy With You

Bidding a very fond farewell to E3

Show Notes

E3 is officially dead, so Dan and Kris have set aside some time to eulogize the once great Electronic Entertainment Expo. Looking back on fond memories of its most exciting moments, remembering what it used to be, and lamenting its failure to evolve with the times, resulting in the overwhelming mess of live streams it has become. In Week-Old News, they learn that people have been huffing Steam Deck fumes for some reason, Death Stranding is being turned into a movie that hopefully stars Norman Reedus as the baby, and some lost Sonic 2 content is finally found. There was also a lengthy discussion about the whole Completionist situation, which is as sad as it is disturbing. At the top of the show, Dan has more adventures in dog care, while Kris struggles to make it through the endless pestilence that refuses to stop ravaging his household. Super Mario RPG on Switch continues to be a delight, Dan’s luck in Marvel Snap continues to be terrible, Suika Game continues to be addictive, and other things continue to be other things as well. Enjoy!

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Ep.493 – SAG Episode 493: It’s Okay to Hold the Goat

It’s time for the 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Show Notes

As is tradition around this time of year, Dan and Kris have gathered around the digital Yule Log to compile their 2024 Holiday Gift Guides. What sort of things should you buy the gamers in your life? Just how cool is an electric mop? How far has keyring technology progressed? Find out now! In Week Old News, of course the big deal is the GTA 6 trailer, and its early leak which was just plain awful all around. And then lots, and I mean LOTS of time is spent discussing The Game Awards, how suspect and poorly thought out the awards themselves are, and the various trailers that made the event worth watching in the first place.
At the top of the show, Kris dives into the world of Suika Game, the new fruit matching game that seems to be sweeping the globe. It’s rather addictive. Also, he got Berzerk Recharged. Is it any good? Yes! But how good? Listen to find out! Meanwhile, Dan has an enormous pregnant dog in his house, and terrible luck with Marvel Snap, to an almost comedic degree. Enjoy!

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Ep.492 – SAG Episode 492: It’s A Tolerable Life

What the heck is Incredible Crisis?

Show Notes

It’s time for this month's entry in the Alphabet Soup-er Series! The letter I was the subject this time around, and Kris decided to go with the PlayStation cult classic Incredible Crisis. It’s a deeply bizarre game about a Japanese businessman who runs away from modern art, gives a stranger a massage on a ferris wheel, answers trivia questions in an ambulance, and way more that’s even more bizarre than that. There’s no doubt its concept is sound, but is the game actually any fun to play? In Week Old News, the guys discuss the surprise announcement that Atari wants to actually focus on what they’re good at, and how Digital Eclipse is dropping 12 more free games into their already incredibly impressive Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration collection. There’s a fancy new port of NES Metroid to the Super Nintendo, and similar treatment was given to Kid Icarus by one of our listeners! (Great job, Rumbleminze!) And speaking of homebrew-style work, someone has finally fan-translated the Samurai Shodown RPG that neither Dan or Kris even knew existed, and Level 5’s November showcase announces some beefy delays. At the top of the show, Kris talks about his upcoming dental surgery, which will surely be a good time for all parties involved. He also got a new dog from Dan who he’s deathly allergic to (sorry again for all the coughing, but there’s less this week! Dan is displeased with the state of digital media, especially in the wake of PlayStation’s announcement that a ton of their old TV content will be forcibly removed from peoples systems, and a whole lot more!

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Ep.491 – SAG Episode 491: Stone Age Starter Kit - Xbox One

If you had $100 to start a physical Xbox One collection, which games should you get?

Show Notes

That’s it, folks. The final Stone Age Starter Kit is done. After years of asking the question, we finally ask it for the last time. If you had $100 to start a physical Xbox One collection, which games should you get? Of course, ending on Xbox One maybe wasn’t the best idea because neither Dan nor Kris have extensive knowledge on the console and its library, but they tried their best, gosh darn it! Even though Kri still can’t stop coughing.Apologies for that. Regardless, the Xbox One has an interesting game library, and a number of physical releases that made for an interesting conversation. Or at least we hope so. At the top of the show, Dan and Kris talk a bit about their Thanksgiving holidays, and their Black Friday shopping experiences, or lack thereof. There weren’t a lot of deep discounts out in the world this year, and nobody seemed interested in getting trampled for a good price on a new TV. They also discussed some hate mail they got recently, because nothing brightens up one’s day quite like a stranger on the internet letting you know how much they hate you. (Seriously, the term “woke Battletoads” was used.) Also, Super Mario RPG is great. Enjoy!

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Ep.490 – SAG Episode 490: They Made One

One of the better 10 20 30 40s we’ve had all year

Show Notes

November is nearly behind us, and that meanest it’s time for Dan and Kris to tackle the November 10 20 30 40, when they talk about notable game releases from 10, 20, 30, and 40 years ago. And what a month this was, especially 20 years ago with some absolutely massive titles like Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Beyond Good & Evil, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Counter Strike, and more. How did the other decades hold up? What is the true significance of Clay Fighter? What is the worst version of Cliffhanger? Why is Chuck Norris on Atari 2600? Let’s find out together! At the top of the show, things moved along rather briskly as Dan didn’t have much time for games this week. Kris finished Super Mario Bros. Wonder, though he had some choice words for the game’s final hidden level, and he finally picked up Super MarioRPG, which is a gosh dang delight. In Week Old News, the guys talked about the recent layoffs at Embracer Group, a limited edition Bluey themed Xbox One, the Retro Tink 4K’s high price, and the failings of The Game Awards. Kris also coughed a lot. Sorry about that. He’s still sick.

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Ep.489 – SAG Episode 489: Cookies are for Closers

Who should star in the upcoming Zelda movie?

Show Notes

There’s a live-action Zelda movie in the works, and you know that means. The Stone Age Casting Gall is back! Dan and Kris (well, mostly Dan) comb through Hollywood’s finest to determine who should play the various characters that could be portrayed on the big screen in this frankly ill-advised upcoming Zelda movie. Is Liam Neeson Middle Eastern? Should Gannondorf be a buff, CGI dude? Let’s discuss! We’re also introducing a brand new segment to the show called Week Old News! Going forward, we intend to spend some time covering a handful of notable gaming news topics, but since we record a week in advance, the news will be at least a week old before it gets to you. This week, we talk about Nintendo’s recent financial reports, the announcement of the announcement for Grand Theft Auto 6, the completely unsurprising crunch involved in Call of Duty’s latest release, and more! All set to the Wii New Channel’s catchy music. Enjoy! At the top of the show, Kris set out to replace a kitchen faucet and wound up with a $350 plumbing bill. Pipes shouldn’t disintegrate when you touch them! Plus, Air Twister’s confusing existence (especially its soundtrack), Dan’s PAD-iversary is absurd, Kris falls asleep at the wheel in Horizon Chase 2 (through no fault of the game, he’s just tired), and a whole lot more!

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Ep.488 – SAG Episode 488: You’re Not a Dog Dumpster

The Alphabet Soup-er Series returns with A Hat in Time

Show Notes

After taking a month off to give the game enough proper attention, the Alphabet Soup-er Series has returned with Dan’s pick for the letter H, A Hat in Time. Because we don’t count the “A” in that title. Or at least Dan doesn’t. Anyway, if you;’re unfamiliar, the Alphabet Soup-er Series is where Dan and Kris take turns each month choosing a game to play that starts with a different letter of the alphabet, preferably a game that one or both of them haven’t played before. Dan’s been a fan of this game for years, and thinks Kris would be too if he spent time playing it. So now that he has, what did he think? Did the game’s charm win him over, or did his distaste for 3D collectathon platformers get the better of him?

At the top of the show, Dan spent even more time with Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, and continues to be frustrated with Marvel Snap. They’re doing some scuzzy stuff with their cards lately, and Dan is having none of it. Kris got a review code for Colored Effects, a new game from Flynn’s Arcade that's actually quite good. Horizon Chase 2 was also finally updated, Super Mario Bros. Wonder continues to be a non-stop delight, Arkanoid is a disappointment at $3, and a whole lot more!

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Ep.487 – SAG Episode 487: Stone Age Starter Kit: PlayStation 4

If you had $100 to start a physical PS4 collection, which games should you get?

Show Notes

The Starter Kits are almost over! With the PlayStation 4, we’ve made it to the penultimate chapter in our multi-year Starter Kit escapade. So once again, we pose the question, if you had just $100 to start a physical PlayStation 4 collection, which games should you get? Assuming you had whatever peripherals required to okay said games, based on Price Charting North American listings. IS this the best way to actually start a PS4 collection? Absolutely not! But it makes for a fun conversation. PS4 was a weird category because which games will our heroes choose? Which classics will fall by the wayside? Let’s find out!

At the top of the show, Dan spent some more time with Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, and well, it certainly is a Star Wars game! He also has a lot of words to say about the current state of Marvel Snap and its various workings compared to the love of his life, PAD. Kris, on the other hand, had very little gaming time this week, and has dedicated what little he had to both A Hat in Time for next week’s show, and the ever wonderful Super Mario Bros. Wonder. What did they spend the rest of their time talking about? Listen on!

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