In our second Game Dip, Zac and Xan "snorkel" through their current games. Xan is obsesseed with Tekken 8, Balatro, and restarting Final Fantasy XIV. While Zac is playing Dragon Quest 3, the Japanese Gameboy title Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (translates to "The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls"), and tabletop dungeon crawler Dark Tomb. Then we finish with a Zac-focused game of our own: Macaroni or Acrimony?

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins

In light of Summer Game Fest, we dive into conventions and gaming events, IRL and virtual. What we've been to and where we'd like to see events go in the future. How have gaming conventions changed over time, and how does the audience affect the programming?

• 0:00 - What we're playing: Dragon Quest III, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Zac); Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto V, The Sims 1 (Bryan); Dave the Diver, Steamworld Dig, The Sims 4 (Xan).
• 21:18 - Our personal experience with conventions: E3, anime & music conventions, game reselling conventions, Tokyo Game Show.
• 32:51 - The prototypical "gaming convention": E3. Its beginnings as a tradeshow for retailers, to press conferences that broke news to the public, to its influence on more social events. Experience at D.I.C.E., IndieCade.
• 40:08 - Bigger publishers doing their own virtual shows to replace their E3 press conferences, and now SGF trying to round them up again. Where do indie developers fit in?
• 47:27 - The social function of conventions: hanging out with friends, meeting like-minded gamers with similar interests. Community! How that purpose got lost, and how do we get it back?
• 55:13 - Virtual events, live-streamed showcases: a replacement for conventions in some ways but not others. SGF, Wholesome Direct, Nintendo Direct, Sony State of Play, etc.
• 1:02:08 - Retro computer/gaming conventions, serving gamers as they age. Celebration of gaming culture & history rather than products.
• 1:15:37 - SoCal Gaming Expo and panels we want at cons.
• 1:20:17 - Xan's request for remote events and playable demos at home, like Steam Next Fest. AbleGamers Gala. Online events for accessbility as well as a platform for indie devs.

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins

Our first mini-episode! Bryan and Xan get together to talk about our current games and how we choose what to play in the age of subscription services.

• 0:00 - Fun Dip and retro candy. When was blue raspberry invented?
• 03:22 - Bryan's current games: Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil Remake.
• 05:36 - Video game "Hall of Fame," Nintendo's original Zelda hotline.
• 13:45 - Xan's casual games, and the hypnosis of Balatro.
• 20:27 - What's an ideal customer for a subscription service? PS+, Game Pass. How to get your money's worth.
• 30:06 - Fallout TV show/game zeitgeist and our predictions for Bethesda.

Bryan - @analogdarling on Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram

Xander - @xanwithaplan on Twitch and Twitter

Zac - @zacaroniandcheez on Twitch, @GaijinWota on Twitter and Instagram

Contact and Episode Suggestions - GameDeep.fun

Theme Song by Robotprins