Explore every episode of the podcast Shack Together
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shack Together 058 - Blue Prince Review, Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders, feat. Lucas White | 11 avr. 2025 | 01:54:21 | |
Welcome to episode 58 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Lucas White to discuss his recent reviews of SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered and Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, while also exploring Ozzie's review of the newly released Blue Prince, a game making waves as an early GOTY contender. Today's show features our first and likely only "Donkey Kong Sixty-Farce" segment, where we separate fact from fiction about the N64 classic, before diving into the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news. The upcoming console's pre-orders face delays due to tariff concerns, with Nintendo, the ESA, and even protesters in NYC responding to Trump's proposed 90-day tariffs on video games and tech. In Story Time, we go on to cover announcements including Marathon's April 2025 gameplay reveal, Hades 2's Switch console exclusivity, and the Nintendo Switch 2's achievement system, or lack therof. We also discuss Microsoft's AI Quake 2 Copilot demo, Vampire Survivors' free Emerald Diorama update, and Doug Bowser's comments on Nintendo game prices. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 057 - Nintendo Switch 2 Hands On + Unpacking the Direct | 03 avr. 2025 | 02:11:57 | |
Welcome to a special episode of Shack Together! Today's show is entirely dedicated to the Nintendo Switch 2, as our host Asif Khan shares his exclusive hands-on experience with Nintendo's next-generation console, set to launch on June 5, 2025. This two-hour deep dive explores every aspect of the new hardware and its launch lineup. The Switch 2 represents a significant leap forward with 1080p handheld gaming at up to 120 FPS, HDR support, and 4K output in docked mode. New features include an innovative camera peripheral for GameChat and a redesigned Pro Controller sporting additional buttons and an audio jack. The system will even support mouse input (via the JoyCon 2) for compatible games, reminding us once again of their pedigree for fun, strange hardware design. The launch lineup is headlined by Mario Kart World, alongside an impressive roster of titles including Donkey Kong Bananza, The Duskbloods, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Third-party support is robust with announcements for Elden Ring, Borderlands 4, Hades 2, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. The long-awaited Silksong also finally gets a 2025 release date on the platform. And that about covers things for today's special episode! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 056 - Final Switch Nintendo Direct, GDC Recap feat. Donovan Erskine + Ozzie Mejia | 28 mars 2025 | 02:25:38 | |
Welcome to episode 56 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guests Donovan Erskine and Ozzie Mejia to share insights from GDC 2025, while we also dive into Nintendo's final Direct for the original Switch, packed with exciting updates on Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's release date, and even more info on the new Pokémon Legends title. Today's show features our "Final Nintendo Direct: Wii U Edition" segment, where we test our knowledge of Nintendo's historic announcements from the Wii U era. Afterward, we explore an extensive lineup of GDC previews, including promising titles like Dreams of Another, Revenge of the Savage Planet, and TMNT: Tactical Takedown, while discussing the newly announced ShackMaps feature. Next, we cover significant industry developments including Game Informer's return independent from GameStop, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's PS5 release date announcement, and ESA's new accessible games initiative. We also discuss GameStop's convertible notes situation and Ubisoft becoming a Tencent subsidiary. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 055 - Xenoblade Chronicles X, Assassin's Creed Shadows feat. TJ Denzer | 21 mars 2025 | 02:06:53 | |
Welcome to episode 55 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to discuss his review of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, while also diving into the inexplicable announcement of Taco Bell's partnership with NVIDIA for AI integration. The show features the lovely, slightly belated "Operation Siege or Sham" segment, testing our knowledge of Rainbow Six Siege's numerous operations. Today's episode covers several major releases, including our review of Assassin's Creed Shadows and an extensive preview lineup from GDC 2025 featuring titles like FBC: Firebreak, Winter Burrow, and The Finals Season 6. We also discuss Balatro's big win at the IGF GDC Awards 2025, where it took home Game of the Year honors. In Story Time, we explore significant industry developments, including EA Sports College Football 26's player likeness payout details, Silent Hill F's platform reveal, and the formation of a united US-Canada video game workers union under CWA. We also cover NVIDIA's new partnership with GM for AI factory vehicles and Tesla's recall of 46,000 Cybertrucks. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 054 - Wanderstop Review, Death Stranding 2 Pre-Order Trailer, feat. Sam Chandler | 14 mars 2025 | 01:41:57 | |
Welcome to episode 54 of Shack Together! Today's show kicks off with John sharing his excitement about his new tabletop SEGA arcade, while we dive into major gaming news including Death Stranding 2's release date announcement as well as Josh Broadwell's (who was not able to join us today) emphatic reception of Wanderstop. The gaming industry sees some significant shifts this week, with Niantic selling Pokemon GO to Scopely and Nintendo announcing their San Francisco location's opening date. We also explore new previews of Rainbow Six Siege X Dual Front and Mandragora, while touching on our review coverage for Wanderstop and The Hungry Lamb. In addition, we discuss several curious announcements, including Katamari Damacy Live coming to Apple Arcade and the unfortunate shutdown of Mountaintop Studios' Spectre Divide. We also cover Apple's AI Siri delay and other industry developments. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 053 - Split Fiction Review, Atomfall Preview, Publisher Rankings feat. TJ Denzer | 07 mars 2025 | 02:02:53 | |
Welcome to episode 53 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to discuss his review of Split Fiction, while we all buzz with nostalgic excitement over the (formal) announcement of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Remake. Today's show also features an in-depth look at Metacritic's 2024 publisher rankings, where a certain prolific publisher, famous for a certain Blue Blur, claimed the top spot. The show features our Publisher Draft segment, breaking down Metacritic's comprehensive ranking system that evaluates publishers based on their average Metascores, quality ratios, and ability to avoid critical failures. From industry giants like Capcom and Sony to smaller publishers like Aksys Games and Gamera Games, our squad competitvely drafts last year's top players in an effort to come out on top. In Story Time, we cover major industry developments including Monster Hunter Wilds reaching 8 million sales, Neil Druckmann's comments on The Last of Us Part 3, and the revival of the Acclaim publishing brand. We also discuss Pokemon TCG Pocket hitting 100 million downloads and explore several Steam Next Fest demos including Fumes and Curiosity. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 052 - Monster Hunter Wilds, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, feat. Bill Lavoy | 28 févr. 2025 | 02:00:30 | |
Welcome to episode 52 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Bill Lavoy to discuss his take on Monster Hunter Wilds, while Pokemon fans worldwide buzz with excitement over the newly revealed Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay and the announcement of Pokemon Champions. Today's show features Asif's mystery game segment which does feature a Monster Hunter flavor, alongside discussions of fresh previews from Steam Next Fest including Monaco 2 and Splitgate 2. We also dive into reviews of recent releases like Two Point Museum and Omega 6, while covering major industry news including Fable's delay to 2026 and Bloober Team's mysterious new collaboration with Konami. In Story Time, we explore NVIDIA's impressive Q4 2025 earnings report and growing demand for their Blackwell GPUs, while also discussing devestating industry developments like Warner Bros. Games shutting down Monolith Studios. PlayStation VR2 gets a significant price cut for March 2025, and the Annapurna Interactive Showcase brings exciting new announcements and gameplay reveals. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 051 - Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Elden Ring Nightreign, feat. Sam Chandler | 21 févr. 2025 | 02:01:42 | |
Welcome to episode 51 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Sam Chandler to discuss his in-depth (and belated - our fault, not his) review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and share insights on the latest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 update. In addition, TJ Denzer (not present) has published their review of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which we touch on during today's episode as well. Our main segment today introduces "NOW! That's What I Call Trivia: Volume Gaming," a game that tests the crew's knowledge on everything from Marvel Rivals to Annapurna Interactive's catalogue of releases. In Story Time, we cover significant industry developments, including NetEase Games' Marvel Rivals layoffs despite the game's enormous popularity, GameStop's sale of its Canadian and French operations, and Pacific Drive reaching 1 million units sold. We also discuss the newly announced Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2025 and share impressions of the Delta Force: Black Hawk Down campaign. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Timestamps
Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 050 - State of Play, Killing Floor 3, Onimusha Rennaissance feat. TJ Denzer | 14 févr. 2025 | 01:44:52 | |
Welcome to episode 50 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to break down the latest PlayStation State of Play showcase, which brought major announcements including Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's release date and Housemarque's new project Saros. TJ also shares his hands-on impressions of Killing Floor 3, giving us insight into the next chapter of the zombie-slaying franchise. The State of Play dominated our discussion with its packed lineup of reveals, from Sonic Racing CrossWorlds to the intriguing Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. We also got a demo release announcement for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii along with the announcement of Lies of P: Overture, a snowy expansion of the beloved title. In Story Time, we explore previews of South of Midnight and Elden Ring: Nightreign, alongside reviews of unique titles like Rift of the NecroDancer and Urban Myth Dissolution Center. The industry news rounds out with PS5 reaching an impressive 74.9 million units sold and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii providing an update on the mysterious Dragon Quest 12. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 049 - WWE 2K25 Preview, iicon, Forza to PS5, feat. David Craddock | 07 févr. 2025 | 01:50:19 | |
Welcome to the 49th episode of Shack Together! This week, we're thrilled to have fan-favorite David Craddock joining us for our "49er or Capcom Fighter" segment. In this segment, we challenge the crew's knowledge of San Francisco 49ers players and Capcom video game characters. Why this particular combination, you ask? Sometimes the best ideas start with a catchy title. Also sometimes mediocre ideas start with a catchy title. I'm not sure this title's even catchy. In Story Time, we dive into hands-on previews of upcoming titles including WWE 2K25, Apex Legends: Takeover Season 24, and Dune: Awakening. We also cover major reviews of anticipated releases like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization 7, and Citizen Sleeper 2. The news brings some interesting developments, including Forza Horizon 5's surprise PS5 release announcement and Steam's new warning system for abandoned Early Access games. Industry updates include ESA's announcement of IICON 2026, Nintendo Switch reaching new lifetime sales milestones, and EA's latest live service revenue reports. We also discuss Google's removal of their AI pledge and the slow sales figures for Mario and Luigi: Brothership. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 048 - Xbox Developer_Direct, DOOM: The Dark Ages, feat. Donovan Erskine | 24 janv. 2025 | 02:02:03 | |
Welcome to episode 48 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Donovan Erskine to break down all the exciting announcements from the Xbox Developer_Direct, including the highly anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages. The presentation brought several major reveals, including Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight's release date, and an in-depth look at what's next for the DOOM franchise. In Story Time, we cover a wide range of topics including Ted Price's retirement from Insomniac, the winners of the New York Game Awards 2025, and reviews of interesting new titles like Synduality: Echo of Ada and Mika and the Witch's Mountain. We also cover some discouraging industry news, with the cancellation of both the God of War live service game and Extremely OK Games' Earthblade, while celebrating Balatro's impressive milestone of 5 million copies sold. Last, we discuss Netflix's latest subscription price hike and Samsung's AI-focused Galaxy S25 announcement. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 047 - Nintendo Switch 2 Announced, Civ 7, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, feat. Greg Burke | 17 janv. 2025 | 01:45:30 | |
Welcome to episode 47 of Shack Together! Our gaming adventures continue as I wrap up Astrobot with a decidedly above average score and subsequently dive into Yakuza Kiwami, while Greg Burke joins us to share his continued thoughts on Marvel Rivals. John's been splitting time between Marvel Rivals, Fortnite Ballistic, and completing God of War Ragnarök, while Asif maintains his ever-eclectic mix of Disco Elysium, F-Zero, Balatro, and (you guessed it) Marvel Rivals. Today's show, however, is dominated by the recent Nintendo Switch 2 announcement. We dive deep into the reveal, discussing our expectations for the launch lineup (including potential titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Silksong, and Metaphor ReFantazio), backward compatibility concerns, and our hopes and fears for Nintendo's next generation of gaming. In Story Time, we cover a range of news including hands-on previews of Civilization 7 and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, AGDQ 2025's impressive fundraising total, and Sony's intriguing AI player input lag patent. We also discuss the upcoming Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo release and TikTok's preparation for potential USA server shutdowns. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 046 - Gaming Resolutions Draft, AGDQ, CES feat. Sam Chandler, Ozzie Mejia | 10 janv. 2025 | 02:14:48 | |
Welcome to episode 46 of Shack Together! Today's show features our first-ever Gaming Resolutions Draft, where we compete over a set of insane pre-defined gaming goals for 2025. It's a chaotic way to start the year, as we each try to draft the most achievable (or least ambitious) gaming goals for the many months ahead. In Story Time, we cover some exciting developments, including AGDQ 2025's ongoing charity marathon, Ubisoft's potential strategic changes, and NVIDIA's reveal of their RTX Blackwell 50-series GPUs at CES 2025. We also discuss LocalThunk's Golden Thunk GOTY award going to Animal Well, and Valve's interesting move to bring SteamOS to the Lenovo Legion Go S. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 045 - Shacknews Awards 2024 Recap feat. Greg Burke, TJ Denzer | 31 déc. 2024 | 02:09:48 | |
Welcome to episode 45 of Shack Together! Today's episode breaks from our usual format as we dive deep into the Shacknews Awards 2024, celebrating an incredible year in gaming. As your producer, I'm excited to guide us through our comprehensive awards coverage, which features an impressive 24 winners each in both our Game of the Year and Indie Game of the Year categories. This special episode showcases the breadth and depth of gaming in 2024, from major releases like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Astro Bot, and Black Myth: Wukong to standout indie titles like Balatro, Animal Well, and The Plucky Squire. We'll be discussing everything from technical achievements in categories like Best Graphics and Best Water to our cherished "Do it for Shacknews" award, which recognizes individuals and groups who went above and beyond for the gaming community - including nominees like The Zelda Orchestra, Brandon Cole for his accessibility advocacy, and the dedicated developers at GSC Game World. As we wrap up our final episode of 2024, we want to thank all our listeners for another fantastic year of gaming discussions and community engagement. We'll see you in 2025 for more Shack Together! And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!
| |||
| Shack Together 044 - The Gang’s All Here! Feat. The Games of 2024 Trivia Bonanza! | 19 déc. 2024 | 01:33:51 | |
Welcome to episode 44 of Shack Together! We've got a packed house today with Sam Chandler exploring Isles of Sea and Sky, Greg Burke and Donovan Erskine both diving into Marvel Rivals, David Craddock adventuring through Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and John trying out [checks notes] Musk Sticks. As your faithful producer, I'm excited to announce I've completed Final Fantasy IX putting my franchise count at three titles finished in the past 12 months. Asif, of course, ends his Mario Kart 8 Deluxe journey and continues his F-Zero 99 one and tells us all about them before we dive into today’s special main segment. The first ever Games of 2024 Trivia Bonanza, where we put our gaming knowledge to the test with questions about 2024’s most coveted releases, has arrived and our contestants delivered the goods. Featuring a two-team battle for the ages, you’ll want to stick around for this one and play along if you so dare. Hit us up on Chatty and let us know how you performed, while you're at it. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and we’ll see you toward the end of December for one final installment of Shack Together in 2024! | |||
| Shack Together 043 - The Game Awards 2024 Recap feat. Greg Burke, Ozzie Mejia | 13 déc. 2024 | 02:03:58 | |
Welcome to episode 43 of Shack Together! Today's episode is particularly special as we dive deep into The Game Awards 2024 results and announcements! The show centers around our comprehensive breakdown of The Game Awards winners, where Astro Bot dominated multiple categories including Game of the Year and Best Family Game. The competition was fierce across all categories, with standout victories for Balatro as Best Debut Indie Game and Best Mobile Game, while Helldivers 2 secured both Best Multiplayer Game and Best Ongoing Game. In Story Time, we unpack an absolutely gargantuan slate of game announcements from last night’s Game Awards, including some truly exciting reveals like Elden Ring: Nightreign, a new Ninja Gaiden game from Dotemu and The Game Kitchen, and the surprising announcement of Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. We also covered some significant industry news, including Nintendo's full acquisition of Monolith Soft and the latest Cyberpunk 2077 update adding car customization. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 042 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Gaming Handhelds, feat. TJ Denzer | 06 déc. 2024 | 01:35:01 | |
Welcome to episode 42 of Shack Together! Today we're joined by TJ Denzer, who's been exploring Two Point Museum and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, while I've been diving into a diverse gaming menu of 1000xResist, Jedi Survivor, and Final Fantasy IX. As always, Asif keeps his F-Zero skills sharp, making for a truly unforgettable "What we've been playing" segment. The show features our special Handheld Trivia segment, which couldn't be more timely given the breaking news about Sony reportedly working on a new PlayStation handheld device! Story Time was packed with exciting developments, from Path of Exile 2's promising early access plans to major industry shifts like Ubisoft canceling XDefiant and Shuhei Yoshida's departure from PlayStation after an incredible 31-year tenure. We also covered some impressive milestones, including Cyberpunk 2077 surpassing 30 million copies sold and Balatro's mobile success with $4 million in revenue. Plus, Baldur's Gate 3 fans have plenty to look forward to with cross-play and 12 new subclasses coming in 2025. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 041 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, The Game Awards Nominees, NVIDIA Report, feat. Sam Chandler | 22 nov. 2024 | 02:11:39 | |
Welcome to episode 41 of Shack Together! Today we're joined by our regular crew of Asif Khan, myself Joe Stasio, and special guest Sam Chandler. We’re excited to talk to Sam today about his time with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl before Asif dives into his most recent (successful) adventures in F-Zero. Today's show features a shallow dive into The Game Awards nominees, sparking heated discussions about this year's contenders, along with some opportunity to predict where we think Geoff’s proverbial chips will fall next month when the show airs. Story Time is packed with exciting updates, including our hands-on preview of Avowed's dynamic combat system, reviews of highly anticipated titles like the aforementioned S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and LEGO Horizon Adventures, and breaking news about Final Fantasy 14's mobile version. We also cover NVIDIA's impressive Q3 2025 earnings and some exciting Half-Life 2 20th anniversary celebrations. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode • Rage of the Dragons NEO review: They are comin' back! And fighting! • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl review • Lego Horizon Adventures review • Final Fantasy 14 is coming to mobile • Pokemon TCG Pocket hits 120 million downloads • Control 2 confirmed as action RPG • Sony in talks to acquire Kadokawa • Half-Life 2 20th anniversary update | |||
| Shack Together 040 - Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D, Tetris Forever, Super Nintendo World, feat. Lucas White | 15 nov. 2024 | 02:08:24 | |
Welcome to episode 40 of Shack Together! We're excited to bring you another fantastic episode featuring our regular crew of Asif Khan, co-ghost John Benyamine, and special guest Lucas White, who's been crushing it lately with his in-depth reviews of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Tetris Forever, and Death Note: Killer Within. The centerpiece of today's show is our highly competitive Dragon Draft segment, where the crew goes head-to-head selecting video games with "Dragon" in the title, each hoping their picks will yield the highest combined Metacritic score. As your steadfast producer, I can finally truly focus on the task at hand now that my journey through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is complete, allowing me to keep everyone in line during this heated and important competition. In Story Time, we dive into a packed lineup of gaming news and reviews. From our comprehensive coverage of Rise of the Golden Idol and Luma Island in Reviews Palooza, to breaking news about GOG's new preservation program and Super Nintendo World's exciting Donkey Kong Country expansion. We also tackle some serious industry developments, including the Bethesda union strike and NVIDIA's GeForce Now policy changes. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 039 - Switch 2 Backward Compatible, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, feat. TJ Denzer | 08 nov. 2024 | 01:45:11 | |
Welcome to the 39th episode of Shack Together, everyone's favorite Shacknews video games podcast! Join host Asif Khan and co-ghost John Benyamine, along with myself producer Joe Stasio and special guest TJ Denzer as we kick off our weekly audio adventure with our classic "What we've been playing" segment, including Joe's experiences with FFVII Rebirth and Asif's ongoing F-Zero 99 saga. Mark those off your bing cards, folks! In our main segment "19Q Magoo," the team plays an alternative version of 20 Questions before heading over to our news segment. As always, Story Time delivers a comprehensive roundup of gaming news, previews, and reviews, covering everything from the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake preview to major industry developments like Death Stranding's Xbox release and Nintendo Switch hitting 146 million units sold. The team also covers industry news, including Apple's acquisition of Pixelmator and more. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 038 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Indiana Jones Preview, feat. TJ Denzer + Bill Lavoy | 31 oct. 2024 | 01:38:19 | |
Join hosts Asif Khan, co-ghost (wow, very spooky) John Benyamine, and Joe Stasio on this, the 38th installment of Shack Together, featuring special guests TJ Denzer + Bill Lavoy. In this episode, TJ shares his thoughts on "Dragon Age: The Veilguard," an action RPG that impresses visually but might lack a bit of focus. Next, we play Game Guillotine 2024, a competition where contestants navigate alliances and betrayals to keep their favorite video games in the running. After the bloodbath, we head over to Story Time. Get a sneak peek at upcoming releases like "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" and "Alien: Rogue Incursion" in Story Time, plus catch up on the latest industry updates, including the launch of the new M4 iMac. And that'll do it! Thanks as always for listening, and enjoy! Articles in this episode:
| |||
| Shack Together 037 - Alarmo, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Tesla Reports, feat. Donovan Erskine | 24 oct. 2024 | 02:15:34 | |
We're excited to welcome Donovan Erskine as our special guest on this week's episode of Shack Together! He joins host Asif Khan and co-ghost John Benyamine, along with myself Joe Stasio, for an extended chat on the latest in gaming and tech news and reviews. The episode features "Metacritic Re:ScoreGuessio", a segment where the crew competes to guess the Metacritic scores of this year's most and least beloved games. From highly anticipated titles like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to lesser known entries like Bleak Faith: Forsaken, this game really tests the depths of the team's knowledge. Our Story Time segment covers a wide range of topics, including previews of the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers game and Masahiro Sakurai's confirmation of his next project. We dive into reviews of recent releases like Sonic x Shadow Generations and Zero Sievert, discuss industry news including It Takes Two reaching 20 million sales, and cover Tesla's extensive Q3 2024 earnings report and various legal challenges. The episode also features updates on studio closures, including Netflix's SoCal team and the disbanding of Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown team. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 036 - Silent Hill 2, Metaphor ReFantazio, Xbox Partner Showcase, feat. TJ Denzer | 17 oct. 2024 | 01:42:17 | |
Welcome to another exciting episode of Shack Together! Host Asif Khan and co-ghost John Benyamine are joined by myself Joe Stasio and special guest TJ Denzer for a lively discussion on the latest in gaming news and reviews. Our main segment, "UFO Shifty," challenges the team's ability to distinguish between real and fake names. Our jam-packed Story Time segment covers a wide range of topics, including the 1st-party release of Shackpets Version 2, the announcements that came as a result of Xbox’s Partner Showcase, the pre-order launch of Analogue 3D, impressive sales figures for Metaphor ReFantazio and Silent Hill 2, and exciting previews of upcoming titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl and Phantom Blade Zero. We also discuss the announcement of Summer Eternal, a spiritual successor to Disco Elysium, and share impressions of various game updates and demos. That about does it for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 035 - Metaphor ReFantazio, Brothership, Silent Hill 2 Remake, feat. Donovan Erskine | 11 oct. 2024 | 02:32:19 | |
Welcome to a special and spine-tingling episode of Shack Together! Our host, Asif Khan, is joined by co-ghost John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and News Editor Donovan Erskine for an exhilarating discussion on the latest happenings in the gaming world. We begin by sharing our recent gaming adventures, featuring the newly released Metaphor ReFantazio and upcoming Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Donovan, who reviewed Metaphor, generously shares his insights and experiences with us. In our main segment, we introduce a thrilling twist on our classic trivia game with "Final Jeop-horror-dy!" This Halloween-themed challenge invites contestants to test their knowledge of horror games in the style of a typical Shack Together trivia session, but with a spooky Final Jeopardy twist. Our ever-lengthening Story Time segment explores a diverse array of stories, including the arrival of Resident Evil 2 on iOS, Nintendo's whimsical Alarmo clock, and the delisting of LittleBigPlanet 3 DLC. We also touch on reviews of recent releases like Undisputed and the Silent Hill 2 remake. And that wraps up today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 034 - MGS Delta: Snake Eater, Monster Hunter Wilds, TGS Recap, feat. TJ Denzer | 03 oct. 2024 | 02:21:00 | |
We're excited to welcome TJ Denzer as special guest on this week's episode of Shack Together! TJ joins hosts Asif Khan and co-ghost John Benyamine, along with myself Joe Stasio, for an in-depth discussion on the Shacknews crew’s experiences in Japan, for the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) and much more. TJ shares first-hand accounts, offering insights on titles like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Monster Hunter Wilds. Next, our "Whence I Hail" segment challenges the crew to match video game characters with their respective titles in something of a “reversi” of last week’s game. In our ever-packed packed Story Time segment, we cover updates to F-Zero 99, reviews of recent releases like The Jackbox Naughty Pack and Hollowbody, and exciting announcements such as the Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG and Masahiro Sakurai's final episode of his game development series. We also discuss industry news like Hideo Kojima's involvement with the Metal Gear Solid Delta demo and OpenAI's massive funding round. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 033 - The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review, State of Play, feat. David Craddock | 26 sept. 2024 | 02:31:59 | |
We're excited to welcome David Craddock, our Long Reads editor, as a special guest on this week's episode of Shack Together! David joins host Asif Khan and ghost John Benyamine, along with producer Joe Stasio, for an in-depth discussion on the latest gaming news and reviews. Most notably, we’re all about Asif’s recently published review of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Today’s episode features a segment called "PMC: Playable Main Characters," where our hosts test their gaming knowledge by guessing game titles and characters based on cryptic clues. In our packed Story Time segment, we cover a range of topics, including previews of upcoming titles like Tales of the Shire and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and a comprehensive recap of the recent PlayStation State of Play event. We also cover industry news such as the SAG-AFTRA strike against Riot Games and the latest developments at OpenAI. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 032 - Frostpunk 2, DRDR, Pokémon vs Palworld, Ryan Cohen Fine, feat. Sam Chandler | 19 sept. 2024 | 01:57:10 | |
We're thrilled to welcome Sam Chandler as our special guest on this week's episode of Shack Together! Sam joins respective host and ghost Asif Khan and John Benyamine, along with myself Joe Stasio, for an exciting episode covering the latest in gaming news and reviews. After our usual round of “What have you been playing?”, focused primarily on Sam’s time with Frostpunk 2, the crew dives into the second ever installment of "TV Toys: The Game" where the team test their gaming knowledge by trying to guess popular video game titles from synonym-laden clues. In our ever-jam-packed Story Time segment, we cover a wide range of topics including reviews of recent releases like Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and The Plucky Squire, the ongoing Pokemon vs Palworld controversy, previews of upcoming titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and industry news such as Diablo 4's impressive sales figures and AMD's potential involvement with the PS6. We also dive into the recent $1 million antitrust fine for GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 031 - Space Marines II, PS5 Pro, Astrobot, Apple Intelligence feat. Greg Burke | 12 sept. 2024 | 02:03:32 | |
Welcome to another monumental episode of Shack Together, the one-and-only Shacknews video games podcast! This week, we’re excited to welcome Video Editor Greg Burke to our regular crew of host Asif Khan, co-ghost John Benyamine, and me, Joe Stasio. Greg brings an ever-faithful bounty of insights, including his love affair with Space Marines II. In our main segment, we dive into a fun game of Name That Robot! where our hosts test their knowledge of iconic robotic characters from video game history. It's a challenging journey through gaming's famous metal companions and heroes. Let’s see if generative AI makes it nearly impossible to validate the results of this contest like it did last week’s. Story Time is jam-packed with gaming news this week. We cover everything from the release of Shacknews' own Dreamcast 25th Anniversary Documentary (which Greg had a major role in) to the impressive 2 million player milestone for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. We've got reviews for games like Ace Attorney Investigations Collection and Wild Bastards, plus updates (and a review, for that matter) on Satisfactory reaching version 1.0. The team also talks industry news, discussing Apple's latest announcements and the reveal of the PlayStation 5 Pro. That’s all for today’s show! Thanks as always for tuning in, and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 030 - PAX Recap, Concord’s Swift Death, Echoes of Wisdom Hype, feat. Donovan Erskine | 05 sept. 2024 | 02:16:12 | |
Welcome to another exciting episode of Shack Together, the best and only Shacknews video games podcast! This week, we're thrilled to have News Editor Donovan Erskine joining our regular crew of host Asif Khan, coghost John Benyamine, and producer Joe Stasio. Donovan brings his fresh perspective and gaming insights to the show, making for a lively and engaging discussion. In our main segment, we dive into what everyone's been playing lately. Donovan shares his thoughts on his recent reviews of The Casting of Frank Stone and Concord, while Joe excitedly recounts his 82-hours-so-far journey through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Asif's been enjoying some F-Zero 99 action as alway while he salivates and idly waits for Echoes of Wisdom. Our Story Time segment is packed with gaming news this week! We cover everything from the newly released Minecraft movie teaser to industry moves like Hideaki Itsuno leaving Capcom. We've got a slew of previews from PAX West 2024, including looks at The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Dragon Quest's HD-2D remake, Little Nightmares 3, and more. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 029 - Star Wars Outlaws, Nintendo Direct Recap, feat. Bill Lavoy | 30 août 2024 | 01:44:53 | |
Welcome to another episode of Shack Together! Today, we kick off with our host Asif Khan, myself Joe Stasio, and managing editor Bill Lavoy. We're eager to hear Bill's thoughts on the much-anticipated Star Wars Outlaws and whether Ubisoft delivered on their ambitious vision. Our main segment features a game called "Star Wars or Farce Lore," where our hosts test their knowledge of Star Wars characters and lore. How well do you know the peripheral characters who linger in the cantina and pose idle threats? In our "Story Time" segment, we cover exciting news and reviews from the gaming industry. From the reopening of GameStop's retro locations to the remastering of classics like Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, we dive into the latest happenings. We wrap things up with a recap of the recent Nintendo Direct before signing off and wishing you a wonderful weekend. Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 028 - Opening Night Live, Pokémon WC, Indiana Jones on PS5, feat. Ozzie Mejia | 22 août 2024 | 01:50:00 | |
We're thrilled to welcome senior editor Ozzie Mejia to this week's episode of Shack Together! Joining hosts Asif Khan and the will-he-won’t-he John Benyamine, along with myself Joe Stasio, Ozzie brings his gotta-catch-em-all insights to your favorite podcast. Today’s exciting segments comes in the form of "Name That Game", where our hosts test their video game knowledge across a wide range of titles. Aftewards, in Story Time, we dive into the latest gaming news, including extensive coverage of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. We discuss exciting announcements like Borderlands 4, the new Dying Light game, and the reveal of Mafia: The Old Country. We also explore a variety of game previews, from indie darlings like The Plucky Squire to AAA blockbusters like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode
| |||
| Shack Together 027 - DOOM: The Dark Ages Preview, DOOM Ports, Tango Acquired, feat. TJ Denzer | 15 août 2024 | 01:47:54 | |
Welcome back to another exciting episode of Shack Together, the official and only Shacknews video games podcast! This week, we're joined by our fantastic crew - host Asif Khan, myself Joe Stasio, and Senior News Editor TJ Denzer. Get ready for another lively discussion as we dive into the latest in gaming. Our main segment this week asks the age-old question: "Can it run DOOM?" We explore the most unexpected devices that have been modded to play the classic FPS, from refrigerators to pregnancy tests. The team buzzes in with their name to see if they know know wether each device can handle the legendary software. In Story Time, we cover a wide range of gaming news, including hands-on impressions of Visions of Mana, the release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the acquisition of Tango Gameworks by Krafton. We also touch on some industry news, like the passing of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode:
| |||
| Shack Together 026 - Zelda Fantasy Draft, Echoes of Wisdom Hype, Bye to GI, feat. Donovan Erskine | 08 août 2024 | 01:39:02 | |
Welcome to another exciting episode of Shack Together, where we're joined by News Editor Donovan Erskine to discuss the best and brightest in gaming. Our host Asif Khan leads the conversation with everyone’s favorite apparition John Benyamine as well as myself, producer Joe Stasio, as we dive into what we've been playing and the latest gaming news. This week's main segment features a Zelda Item Fantasy Draft, where we select our favorite items and abilities from across the Legend of Zelda series. From the iconic Master Sword to the versatile Sheikah Slate, we ruthlessly cling to our favorite gadgets in a draft so dramatic it should have had it’s own combine. In Story Time, we cover a wide range of topics, from the closure of Game Informer after 33 years to new details about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. We also discuss Avowed's delay, the latest on Star Wars Outlaws, and Sony's recent PS5 sales figures. Beyond gaming, we touch on some tech and business news, including Reddit's earnings and Berkshire Hathaway's pulling out of Apple. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode | |||
| Shack Together 025 - Fallout London, Name That Weapon: The Game, feat. Bill Lavoy | 01 août 2024 | 01:22:14 | |
Welcome to episode 25 of Shack Together! I’m your producer, Joe Stasio, and today we’re joined by host Asif Khan and Shacknews Managing Editor Bill Lavoy. We kick things off with our usual "What Have You Been Playing?" segment. Bill shares his thoughts on Fallout London, while I give the crew my quick impressions of Valorant and update everyone on my continued journey through Thedas in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Asif also gives us a glimpse into what he’s been playing recently, and spoiler alert, it involves a certain pixelated racing revival. Our main segment today is "Annie Guess Your Gun," a game where the crew tries to identify weapons from both the Fallout and Metro series. Over in Story Time, we delve into a range of recent gaming news, detailed below, before addressing some feedback from the Shacknews community. And that’s going to do it for today’s show. Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles Mentioned in This Episode
| |||
| Shack Together 024 - EVO 2024 Recap, Fighting Game Trivia feat. TJ Denzer and Ozzie Mejia | 26 juil. 2024 | 02:14:48 | |
In this episode of Shack Together, we’re joined by Senior News Editor TJ Denzer and Senior Editor Ozzie Mejia to discuss all things EVO. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Today we've got Asif Khan, a will-he-won’t-he cohost in John Benyamine and of course myself, producer Joe Stasio. Today we’ve got some hard-hitting trivia for the fighting game literate among you. Questions range from identifying famous competitors from EVOs past to naming unique mechanics in some of the most beloved fighting games of all time. Who will emerge victorious? You’ll have to listen to find out. Story Time includes it’s usual slew of both fun and occasionally demoralizing industry news, most of which is listed below for your convenience. And, that will do it. Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles Mentioned in This Episode
| |||
| Shack Together 023 - EA Sports College Football 25, Concord Preview, Trivia! feat. Donovan Erskine | 18 juil. 2024 | 01:43:30 | |
In this special episode of Shack Together, we’re celebrating our 23rd episode by welcoming a fan-favorite guest, news editor Donovan Erskine. We've got host Asif Khan and myself Joe Stasio on the mic today, too. Donovan shares what he’s been playing lately, including insights from his reviews and previews such as Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus and Concord, alongside his excitement for EA Sports College Football 25. In our main segment, we introduce the Shack Together World Championships with a series of both challenging and laughably easy trivia questions. We'll test the crew’s knowledge on topics ranging from the Apple Vision Pro's unique input methods to the most backlogged game of all time. As always, We then head over to Story Time to discuss the latest news and reviews from the past week. Toward the end, Asif goes on a rant about GameStop, satisfying a certain chatty user’s thirst for such content. And that’s it! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles Mentioned in This Episode
| |||
| Shack Together 022 - Is Xbox Game Pass Healthy? Nintendo’s Spooky Teaser, feat. Sam Chandler | 12 juil. 2024 | 01:36:56 | |
In this episode of Shack Together, the ultimate (and currently only) Shacknews video games podcast, your hosts Asif Khan, (maybe) John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and guides editor Sam Chandler dive into another exciting (read: slow) week of gaming news. Asif, John, and Sam share what they’ve been playing recently, while I talk about finally tackling my own white whale, one long-time listeners will be plainly aware of. Prompted by the Xbox Game Pass price increases, we a play a little game that dares to ask what are gamers actually playing on Xbox. The crew tries to guess the fifteen most played Xbox games for the week ending July 7, with our reigning champ Sam kicking things off, proving it pays to win Shack Together games. Articles covered in Story Time this week include:
We wrap up with some comments from the Shacknews community, as we’re wont to do before signing off. Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 021 - Kunitsu-Gami + Nintendo World Championships, Gamestop Fun, feat. Ozzie Mejia | 04 juil. 2024 | 01:45:07 | |
Join us for a riveting installment of Shack Together, brought to you by Shacknews! Today, our lovely team—host Asif Khan, mysterious and invisible cohost John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and senior editor Ozzie Mejia—kick things off with a discussion about what we’ve been playing recently. Ozzie dives deep into his experiences with Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Stray Gods: Orpheus DLC and the much-anticipated Nintendo World Championships NES Edition. You can read his full previews and impressions on Shacknews. Meanwhile, I share some quick thoughts after completing Animal Well and exploring Excavation of Hob's Barrow. Finally, Asif updates us his time with [checks notes] F-Zero 99 and more. Next, we play a few rounds of "One Bid," where our contestants try and guess some of the hottest deals from the Steam Summer Sale in the style of The Price is Right. From here, we pivot over to our usual story time segment where we cover the latest news in gaming and tech. Finally, we close with a segment where we look into our souls and try and figure out what on earth is happening over at Gamestop. And that's it! Thanks as always for lisetning and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 020 - Belated Nintendo Direct Reactions, Dead Rising Trivia, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, feat. Donovan Erskine | 27 juin 2024 | 01:27:58 | |
Join us for the latest episode of Shack Together, where we delve into all things gaming with our special guest, Donovan Erskine! This week, our hosts Asif Khan, John Benyamine (will he show face?), and myself, Joe Stasio, along with Donovan, chat about what we've been playing and share our latest gaming experiences. Most importantly, I give my long-awaited take on the Metroid Prime Remaster and recap my time at the Distant Worlds NYC concert this past weekend. We then have some fun with Dead Rising Trivia, testing our panel's knowledge of the beloved zombie game series. From the original game’s release date to the protagonist’s profession, we test the crew’s knowledge of this no-longer-dormant franchise. In Story Time, we bring you quick updates on some of the hottest news in gaming, including the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster announcement (which I am choosing to give copious airtime, as you can see), Super Monkey Ball's latest review as well as Asif's impressions on it, and more. Since we weren’t able to record last week, we also dive deep into the recent Nintendo Direct, with exciting announcements such as Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Thanks as always for listening, and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 019 - SGF Recap, Xbox Showcase, AC Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, WDC 2024 feat. Ozzie Mejia | 14 juin 2024 | 02:17:43 | |
Welcome to the nineteenth episode of Shack Together, the ultimate Shacknews Extended Podcast Universe podcast for video game enthusiasts and skeptics alike! Join your host Asif Khan, a wild John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and senior editor Ozzie Mejia, as we dive into the latest and greatest from Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest. But first, Ozzie takes center stage to discuss Ubisoft's upcoming titles, Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, providing a sneak peek into these two behemoths. Next, we stroll down memory lane with a retrospective look at E3 2014, revisiting some of the most significant game announcements from that year, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Bloodborne, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. We take a beat to reflect on how these groundbreaking titles shaped the gaming landscape and set the stage for the next decade of video game innovation. While we’re at it, we rewind an additional ten years, too, because I personally never miss an opportunity to trash Twilight Princess. In our Story Time segment, enjoy an exhaustive recap of this year's Summer Game Fest, the E3 replacement that brought us announcements like UFO 50, Cairn, and Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. Plus, stick around for highlights from the Xbox Games Showcase and Apple WWDC 2024. Why are you reading this instead of tuning into this jam-packed episode full of insights, nostalgia, and the latest in gaming news. While you’re at it, subscribe and join us every Friday for more Shack Together! | |||
| Shack Together 018 - The Final Shape Launch, Shadow of the Erdtree, GME Stock Chat, feat. Bill Lavoy | 07 juin 2024 | 02:01:21 | |
Thanks for joining us for another episode of "Shack Together," the most-together Shacknews video games podcast there ever was! Asif Khan, possibly John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and managing editor Bill Lavoy are today’s crew and we’re all stoked to bring you the latest and greatest in gaming. We kick off with what we've been playing lately: Bill gives us the down low on Destiny 2’s latest DLC and how launch has fared, I finally finished the Three-Body Series, both the book and the show which means I will now shut-up about it, while Asif brings his usually litany of dramatic F-ZERO 99 victories and defeats along with a few other treats. Next up, we play a little game called “D2ceives: Is this a Destiny 2 God Roll or did I make it up?” before diving into our Story Time segment where we cover the latest gaming and tech stories from the past week, including such topics as the Elden Ring DLC preview, Cat Quest 3, and Skydance’s Behemoth for PSVR2. This week’s Story Time includes:
Last, we share a post or two from the Shacknews community. Don’t forget to subscribe to Shack Together on your favorite podcast app and catch us every Friday for more Shack Together. Thank you as always for listening and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 017 - SGF Predictions, State of Play, CoD on Gamepass, feat. Donovan Erskine | 01 juin 2024 | 01:52:16 | |
In this seventeenth episode of Shack Together, we bring you your weekly does of gaming chatter, predictions, and community interactions. Join us as your host, Asif Khan, is joined by myself Joe Stasio, and News Editor Donovan Erskine. As always, we kick things off with what we’ve been playing, including titles like MultiVersus, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Animal Well, F-Zero 99, Vampire Survivors, and more. Our Summer Games Fest predictions are red hot, featuring bold takes and plenty of (possible) excitement. From updates on F-Zero 99 and Kojima's next games to brand-new horror movie adaptations and potential teasers from XCOM 3 and Dragon Age IV, we cover a wide array of (potential, hopeful) announcements. It's a thrilling ride through the future of gaming - or rather it might be. We’ll find out this September. Stick around for our Story Time segment, where we cover the latest gaming highlights including Sony's recent State of Play, as well as previews on upcoming releases like EA Sports College Football 25 and Frostpunk 2. We wrap things up with community questions, so make sure to join the discussion on Shacknews.com/chatty or reach out to us via email! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Stories Mentioned:
| |||
| Shack Together 016 - Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Animal Well, Open AI vs ScarJo, feat. TJ Denzer | 23 mai 2024 | 01:19:51 | |
Welcome to another episode of Shack Together! Today’s show is brought to you by your host, Asif Khan, myself Joe Stasio, and Senior Editor TJ Denzer. In this episode, we dive into what games we've been playing, including Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, and the mystifying Animal Well. Plus, we play a few rounds of a brand new game called TV Toys, where Asif and TJ go head-to-head and try to decipher stylized re-mixes of popular video game titles. During Story Time, we cover news about Tesla ending Steam support in its vehicles, Larian Studios opening a new studio in Warsaw, Jason Voorhees joining the roster of MultiVersus, and of course a whole bunch of updates on what’s happening in AI, as is our recent prerogative. That’ll do it for today’s episode. Thanks so much, as always, for listening and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 015 - Animal Well, Day-Z, F-Zero Renaissance, Google I/O feat. TJ Denzer | 17 mai 2024 | 01:57:22 | |
Welcome to Shack Together, the definitive Shacknews podcast experience where we discuss all things gaming, entertainment, and technology. Asif Khan, a belated John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and TJ Denzer team up and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. In this episode, the crew discusses their thoughts on indie-sensation "Animal Well”, TJ’s overseas Day-Z adventure, and Asif’s F-Zero resurgence before challenging themselves to an exciting game of AI Captain where contestants have to guess which AI-forward video game I'm describing based on a (severely) redacted summary. From [redacted] to [redacted], the crew tests their gaming knowledge in this fun segment. Over in Story Time, we cover the latest news from the gaming world, including reviews of games like Paper Trail and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, as well as updates on EA Sports College Football 25 and Dead by Daylight's upcoming Castlevania content. All this before our requisite tech and finance industry deep dive in the last section of the show. As always, thanks for tuning and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 014 - Rabbit R1 Review, HLTB Star Wars, iPads, NTDOY Earning, Feat. Ozzie Mejia | 09 mai 2024 | 01:37:25 | |
Another episode of Shack Together, the Shacknews video games podcast where we celebrate May the 4th a week late because I forgot about it last week. Fronted by our host Asif Khan, myself Joe Stasio, and Senior Editor Ozzie Mejia, we dive into a fun new segment entitled How Long 2D2 where the crew tries to guess how long Star Wars video games take to complete. We also discuss the latest stories from the past week in our Story Time segment, featuring reviews of games like Heading Out, Indika, Surmount, the new Razer Viper V3 Pro mouse, and the 1.0 release of V Rising. In addition, we touch on the latest major news such as Microsoft’s shut down of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, Hades 2 Early Access, Apple's newly announced iPad models, Nintendo’s latest fiscal reports, and some actually legitimate news about the Switch successor. Plus, we take a look at last week’s Shack Chat, involving the community chiming in on which developer they’d like to see make a Star Wars game. As always, thanks for listening and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 013 - Corrupt Human Executives, Fallout 4palooza, ToTK Greed Feat. Bill Lavoy | 02 mai 2024 | 01:30:39 | |
In this episode of Shack Together, host Asif Khan is not joined by cohost John Benyamine, but is joined by myself Joe Stasio, and managing editor Bill Lavoy for a fun-filled discussion about the latest in video games. The team chats about what they’ve been playing lately, including titles like Fallout 4, Tears of the Kingdom, and [checks notes] Snood. Today’s installment of Shack Together features a special segment called Steampreciation: Fallout 4 Edition, where we take a look at Steam reviews for Fallout 4, some of which are a real hoot. During Story Time, the hosts dive into the latest gaming news, including the latest Starfield patch, layoffs over at Tesla, and the upcoming and mysterious Xbox Games Showcase schedule for June. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Shack Together on your favorite podcast app and tune in every Friday for more togetherish discussions about gaming and beyond. Thanks for listening as always. Enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 012 - Stellar Blade, JRPG Reviewfest, Tesla + META Earnings Feat. Donovan Erskine | 25 avr. 2024 | 01:23:02 | |
It’s Shack Together! Today we’re brought to you by Asif Khan, producer Joe Stasio and news editor Donovan Erskine. Donovan shares his thoughts on Sony and SHIFT UP’s sci-fi action game, Stellar Blade, in his detailed review. The gang also discusses their latest gaming adventures, including Asif’s resurgent, duplicative journey through Tears of the Kingdom and Donovan's exploration of retro Pokémon games on iOS. In today’s Game segment, the crew dives into a fun challenge called The Blade Itself (yes, this title stolen from Mr. Abercrombie’s literary work), where Asif and Donovan must name games with the word "blade" in the title - how many can they come up with? During Story Time, we cover the latest news in the gaming world, from TikTok bans to Fallout 4's resurgence in popularity. All this and more on today’s show. Enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 011 - Sea of Deceives, Smell-o-vision, Nintendo Indie World Feat. Sam Chandler | 18 avr. 2024 | 01:32:55 | |
Join Asif Khan, a few moments of John Benyamine, Cake Producer Joe Stasio, and the lovely Sam Chandler on this episode of Shack Together as we discuss what games we’ve been playing lately and so much more. From F-Zero 99 to Destiny 2, we dive into our gaming (and reading) experiences of the past week. Afterward, we play a few rounds of “Sea of Deceives!” where Asif and Sam try to discern wether a word or phrase hales from Rare’s Sea of Thieves or Joe’s mind palace. In Story Time, we cover the latest headlines from the gaming world, including a Lawbreakers 2.0 revival, Keanu Reeves’ casting as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and much more. Plus, we run through the announcements and updates that came out of the Nintendo Indie World Showcase, which notably did not include Hollow Knight Silksong. And that’s it! Have a listen and enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 010 - Cake By Proxy, Sequels vs Originals, Broken Roads Review, feat. Lucas White | 12 avr. 2024 | 01:47:22 | |
Join us for this week's Shack Together, the official Shacknews video games podcast. Asif Khan, John Benyamine, myself Joe Stasio, and freelance contributing editor Lucas White discuss their latest adventures, including a very special update on F-Zero 99, Lucas’s jaunt through SaGa Emerald Beyond, and Joe’s continued love affair with 3-Body Problem. Soon after, the crew has a conversation on whether certain sequels live up to or faceplant in comparison to their franchise’s first release. From Portal to Zelda to Doom to Fable, find out which sequels and which originals we prefer. Over in Story Time, we catch up on the latest gaming news, from Fallout 4's next-gen update to the announcement of yet another Five Nights at Freddy's movie. All this and more on a truly iconic and important episode of Shack Together. Enjoy! | |||
| Shack Together 009 - PS4 Trivia, Helldivers 2 Still Good, Apple Robotics feat. Dennis White | 05 avr. 2024 | 01:43:02 | |
Join us on this episode of Shack Together as we celebrate our favorite pasttime live, for you! Hosted by Asif Khan, John Benyamine, and myself, this episode is jam-packed with fun and informative edutainment for all! What’s more is we’re joined by Shacknews community manager, Dennis White! From discussing what games we’ve been playing lately to testing the crew’s knowledge with our aptly dubbed PSFortune trivia game, this episode is sure to steer you right. Can you name the highest rated Playstation 4 game on Metacritic, or what Bluepoint studios accomplished in the PS4 era? Tune in and test your own gaming knowledge alongisde our (often stumped) squad. After our jaunt through trivia lane, Asif takes us through the latest gaming news stories from the past week. We’ve got coverage on Ubisoft Forward 2024, Saber Interactive’s sign-of-life confirmation, and of course the requisite stock updates on Tesla and Intel. As always, thanks for listening and enjoy! | |||