Novel Gaming! – Details, episodes & analysis

Are you afraid of the dark?? We know a video game couple who is! And one of them looooves writing about it! Join us as we wade through the shadows and talk about our experience with Alan Wake Remastered, a 2021 psychological action thriller. But before that, we check in on what we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately.

Reading

• Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man

• ‘Everything She Does is Magic’ by Bridget Morrissey

Watching

• Crowd Control (Dropout)

• Pew Pew Bang (MinnMax)

Thinking About

• Censorship

Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod

Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!

Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Pirate and sirens and dragons, oh my! It's a sequel book club episode! This month we read Maggie Tokuda-Hall's 'The Siren, the Song, and the Spy'! Conversation begins around 27:50. Of course, before we do that, we check in on some stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about.

Playing

• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA on NSO)
• Hollow Knight (Switch)

Watching

• Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (YouTube)
• Twisted Metal (Peacock)
• The Paper (Peacock)

Thinking About

• Nintendo Direct... before it happened
• Finding old artwork

Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod

Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!

Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

This episode we played Sayonara Wild Hearts, a stylish 2019 rhythm action game featuring motorcycles, magical girl transformations, robot wolves, and of course, incredible music. But before we get into that, we check in on some stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about.

Reading

• To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

• Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Watching

• Little Tiny Egg (YouTube)

• Revenge of the Sith theatrical re-release

• Sinners (in theaters—go see it!)

• Lazarus (Adult Swim/Max)

Thinking About

• Post-Direct Switch updates

• Shaboozey

Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod

Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!

Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

It's the sequel to our gaming Q&A! Each of us prepared one video games related question for the group to chat about! If you find yourself answering them as you listen, be sure to let us know, and we'll read your answers next time! As always, before we dive in, we check in on what we're reading, watching, and thinking about.

Reading:
The 'Animorphs' series by K. A. Applegate
The 'Goosebumps' series by R. L. Stine
The 'Mass Effect' comics series by Mac Walters, John Jackson Miller, Omar Francia
'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' by V. E. Schwab
'Unfamiliar Fishes' by Sarah Vowell
'Just Beyond' (comic) by R. L. Stine
'Bountiful Garden' by Ivy Noelle Weir and Kelly Williams

Watching:
Glow Up S3 (Netflix)
Making It S3 (NBC/Hulu)
Grace & Frankie S7 (Netflix)
Centaurworld (Netflix)
Stephen Universe (CN/HBO Max)
Grey's Anatomy S16 (ABC/Netflix)
The Chair (Netflix)
LEGO Masters (Fox/Hulu)

Thinking About:
Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' album and music lawsuits
Doug's goals update: Let's Go Pokedex & Pokemon Sword
The Blizzard/Activision lawsuit

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

This episode we're discussing 'Black Water Sister' by Zen Cho, a novel set in Malaysia that features ghosts, gangs, and gods! Conversation starts around 19:25. Before we get into it, we catch up on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about.

Playing:

• Hey Pikmin! (3DS)
• New Pokemon Snap (Switch)
• Pokemon Sword Fairy Monotype Run! (Switch)
• Bastion (Switch)
• Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World (3DS)

Watching/Listening To:

• Grey's Anatomy (Netflix)
• Grace & Frankie (Netflix)
• The Suicide Squad (HBO Max)
• Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
• Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)

Thinking About:

• Britney Spears & Conservatorship
• Fatal Frame: Black Water Maiden Remaster for Current Consoles

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

We're logging on to talk about all of our favorite multiplayer online games! Buuut before we get into all that, we squad up the lobby and chat about everything we’ve been reading and watching these last few weeks.

Reading:
• Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
• Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
• Goosebumps Classics Audiobooks by R.L. Stine
• The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

Watching:
• Making It (NBC/Hulu)
• Grey's Anatomy (Netflix)
• The Olympics (NBC), Simone Biles, and mental health
• Jeopardy (Syndicated) and LeVar Burton
• Black Widow (Disney+)

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

We're halfway through 2021! To mark the occasion, we check in and give progress reports on the gaming goals we set for the year. Conversation starts around 29:30. Before that, we chat about what we're reading, playing, watching and listening to.

Reading:
• Animorphs: The Invasion by K.A. Applegate
• The Harvester by Gene Stratton Porter
• Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
• Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai

Playing:
• Chicory (Steam)
• Trauma Center: Second Opinion (Wii)

Watching/Listening To
• Fear Street Trilogy (Netflix)
• Grey’s Anatomy (Netflix)
• WandaVision (Disney+)
• Aack Cast (Podcast)

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Book Club Time! We're reading 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke. This episode contains books spoilers. Discussion begins at 31:26. Released a decade and a half after her debut novel, Clarke's second book is certainly a challenge to describe and provides a wealth of discussion. One thing is for sure though: we loved it! But before we get into all of that, we check in on all the media we've been consuming lately.

Playing:
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5)
Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Steam)
Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Mass Effect 2 (PS4)
My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (3DS)

Watching:
Grey's Anatomy, Season 8
WandaVision
Loki
Luca
Kim's Convenience, Season 5

Thinking About:
#FreeBritney & Britney Spears' testimony
Critical Race Theory and its recent weaponization

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

We're traversing the great outdoors... from the comfort of our living rooms! Listen in as we highlight video games that inspire us to explore and get connected with the outside world. Conversation starts around 27:00. As usual, we check in first about what we're playing, reading, watching, and listening to.

Playing:

• Mass Effect 2 (PS4)
• Gravity Rush (PS4)
• Pokemon Shield Monotype Run! (Switch)
  

Reading:

• 'To Be Taught, If Fortunate' by Becky Chambers
• 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke (Next Book Club Pick!)
• 'Oryx and Crake' by Margaret Atwood
• 'Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things' by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant
• 'I Think Our Son is Gay' by Okura
  

Watching/Listening To:

• In the Heights (HBO Max)
• My Dad Wrote a Porno (Podcast)
• Clone Wars (Disney+)
• Survivor - Australia & South Africa
  

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod

Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!

Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

It's time for Book Club, and for the first time on the podcast, we're talking about the sequel to a book we've already discussed: 'Infinity Reaper' by Adam Silvera! This episode contains books spoilers. Discussion begins at 27:22. Picking up immediately where the first book left off, the story of magical superheroes, fantastical creature, and severe family drama continues and deepens the world far more than we could've expected. But before we get into all of that, we check in on all the media we've been consuming lately.

Playing:
Pokémon Shield monotype challenge (Switch)
Smash-Up (iOS)
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PS4)
LEGO Harry Potter Collection (PS4)
New Pokémon Snap (Switch)

Watching:
Haikyu!!
Mare of Easttown
Grey's Anatomy
Fargo (series)

Reading:
Yu-Gi-Oh!, vol. 1 (manga)

Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com

Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux