The Explosive Alan Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Gareth, Ash and a very croaky Dan rate new, AI-generated intro themes, answer a lot of your deeply personal questions and share their love for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Robocop: Rogue City, Venba and V Rising. Plus! A quiz to test our knowledge of weirdly named classics, and we mourn the loss of two wonderful studios at the hands of bad Microsoft management. Good job our podcast has just been acquired by Microsoft*, eh?

(Fact checking Dan here: I realise now that Robocop: Rogue City is set *between* Robocop 2 and 3, but I'm glad it barely references the awful third film.)

*For roughly an hour

Welcome to the world of tomorrow!

In this jumbo comeback edition of the show, Ash, Dan and Gareth are back in the saddle and ready to fill you in what they've been up to for the last four years while offering zero explanation for their extended absence.

The show itself has emerged from stasis unchanged, so expect the usual answers to your questions, a rundown of what we're playing and a quiz inspired by Gareth's universal currency of choice. Rather embarrassingly, it's been so long since our last recording that we completely forgot that the Great Debate topic is EXACTLY the same as the previous episode's. Whoops.

(Also, contrary to Jazz McVoiceover's claims in the intro, Simon Chong doesn't appear in this episode. Sorry.)

Against the soundtrack of a life support machine's rhythmic beep, The Explosive Alan Podcast's eyes finally flicker open. Weakly, it attempts to rise from its prolonged slumber, limbs limp, head heavy, throat parched. A passing nurse spots this unexpected recovery and rushes over, immediately guiding the straw within a nearby cup of water to its cracked lips. It takes a short sip, then mutters something barely audible. "I'm sorry, can you say that again?" ExAlPod motions for the nurse to come closer; he duly obeys. With the nurse's ear now inches from its mouth, it quietly repeats itself: "We're back, bitches."

While ExAlPod continues its stay in the Hyperbollock Time Chamber, Dan has rustled up a new podcast concept and wants to use you, our neglected listeners, as guinea pigs. It's called Word/Play, features contributions from Noclip's Danny O'Dwyer and Final Games' Liam Edwards and, for this pilot show, tackles the subject of crime. Give it a listen, and let Dan know what you think by dropping him a Tweet or DM @MrPointyHead.

Featured music:

L.A. Noire - Main Theme

Yakuza - For Who's Sake

Payday 2 - Blueprints

Hotline Miami - Miami

Watch_Dogs - Lucky Quinns Theme

GTA2 - Main Theme

Gunpoint - Stealth Crawls And Dance Halls

FFVI - Kefka's Theme

GTAIV - Main Theme

Yakuza 0 - Money Makes Money

Sam & Max Hit The Road - Another Idiotic And Baffling Assignment

The Getaway - Art Appreciation

Persona 5 - Interrogation Room

GTA Vice City - Main Theme (Extended Mix)

LEGO City Undercover - 'Quiet 01'

Watch_Dogs 2 - Eye For An Eye (Reprise)

Reports of our demise might have been slightly exaggerated, but the departure of Simon Chong is 100% true. Sadly, his prodigious animating talents caught the eye of Hollywood bigwigs, and no amount of promises of being paid in real money or upgrading his Etch-a-Sketch could convince him not to flee 5,400 miles across the world to escape our clutches. Were we going to let him flee without recording a goodbye podcast? Were we fork. So, we took our mics out of hibernation for one last huzzah as the awesome foursome and put together this special show. ('Special' in this instance means poorly prepared.) Find out more about what Simon will be up to in California, hear a special story from a 9 year-old Chong, listen to his horrified reaction to our special parting gift, and catch our reactions to your tributes at our premature funeral. It's going to get emotional.

WE'RE BACK! Again. Again.

Yes, after the lofty high that was the 100th live episode, we took a small break from podcasting while we, amongst other things, had surgery, fell ill, travelled to Edinburgh, worked very hard and tried to finish your Mum's 10.000 piece jigsaw she's had round the back for the last 13 years.

No, but really, we forgot to get any audience participation this episode, so it's just us rounding up all our love for the Switch and Zelda, as well as a challenge about the Bechdel Test. Finally, as it's episode 101 we have ourselves a lovely rip of section based on TV classic Room 101.

Enjoy, friends. It's nice to be back, eh?

Wholesome Memes: https://twitter.com/wholesomememe?lang=en

A 99 ice cream, 99 problems and 99 luftballons. There are many things that have 99 in quantity, but it's 99th Explosive Alan Podcast that's really where it's at. This week, Dan and Simon are talking all things Horizon Zero Dawn, as well as discussing our desert island games, Ubisoft, and oh, THE LIVE EPISODE THAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW (25/02/17) IN LONDON! Get your tickets if you haven't right here www.bit.ly/exalpod100

What Makes Us Happy Links
The Sentinel: http://boketto.tv/
Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/live/
2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z04M6NhkIKk

It's the filler episode of all filler episodes! Episode 98 is a bit manic, but by golly we're going to make our 100th episode our actual 100th episode! This week it's just Dan and Simon chatting about absolute nonsense for half an hour, some things about video games, some things about naughty things we've done. ENJOY IT! WE DID!

What makes us happy link: Halloween finger - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZFT7odS-2I

Get your tickets to the live show! There aren't many left now, and it's happening soon. 25th of February 2017 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) at the Secret Weapon in Stratford. Tickets here: www.bit.ly/exalpod100

Episode 97 is here with its hands in the air like it just doesn't care! This week the fantastic foursome discusses things from Superhot VR to Dandy Dungeon and everything in between. You can't say we aren't eclectic on this show! Also, don't forget, our 100th episode will be in front of a LIVE audience in Stratford, London on the 25th of February at 7.30pm. Get your tickets while you can here (they're free) www.bit.ly/exalpod100