Welcome to the very first episode of Between Levels.

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into some of the biggest topics in gaming, including Xbox's future, GTA VI, Summer Game Fest, and the future of Soulslike games.

In this episode, we discuss Xbox's recent showcase, industry layoffs, GTA VI's impact on the gaming landscape, Mortal Shell 2, Lords of the Fallen 2, anime games, gameplay versus graphics, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Between Levels

02:04 Upcoming Game Releases

03:21 Summer Game Fest Impressions

04:12 September & October Release Rush

05:26 Game Delays & Release Strategy

06:40 GTA VI's Shadow Over Gaming

07:56 Can Smaller Games Survive?

09:27 Xbox's Summer Game Fest Showcase

10:36 Innovation vs Established Franchises

11:30 Industry Rumors & Misinformation

12:41 Studio Acquisitions & Consolidation

14:11 Sony's Investment Strategy

15:31 Layoffs & Industry Restructuring

16:11 Gaming's Growth Problem

17:26 Are Soulslikes Here to Stay?

18:38 NFTs & Gaming Trends

19:33 Why Some Games Fail

21:03 The Death of the System Seller?

22:28 Graphics, Art Style & Immersion

23:05 Is Call of Duty Still King?

24:45 Understanding Gaming Communities

26:34 Realism vs Fun

27:10 Gameplay Over Graphics

28:52 Crimson Desert & Community Feedback

29:14 Evolve, Anthem & Games That Deserved Better

30:27 Mods & Community Support

31:12 Changing Consumer Habits

32:00 Rising Costs of Gaming

33:16 The Future of Gaming Technology

34:21 Why Gameplay Matters Most

35:52 The Power of Art Direction

36:39 Walking Simulators & Niche Genres

37:10 First Impressions Matter

39:32 Marketing & Expectations

40:43 Why Astro Bot Works

42:06 Storytelling in Games

44:02 Mortal Shell 2 & Modern Soulslikes

48:02 Pricing, Value & Expectations

50:34 Open World Design Challenges

52:27 Anime Games: Ambition vs Reality

55:42 Control Resonant Discussion

58:53 The Crowded Fall Release Schedule

62:12 Marketing, Hype & Mystery

66:38 FromSoftware's Untapped Potential

70:17 Developer Evolution & New Ideas

71:43 Gaming Through Parenthood

73:07 The Future of Between Levels

75:19 Final Thoughts & Community Questions

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