Stop. Take a breath. Make the decision: Which Pokémon would you choose as your roommate. Could Voltorb help you keep the electricity bill down? Would Houndoom make you feel safe at night? Might you let Sinistcha make you its delicious Matcha Gotcha even though it is, somehow, the matcha in question?

Today, Ali and Janine take you on a tour of Pokopia, and at least one of them will reveal their answer to this question. Any guesses?

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Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:21 Pokopia Intro
05:28 Basics: Interacting, Building, Exploring
29:22 Building Philosophies
34:54 Pokemon Roommate Choices
01:10:26 A Game Built For Building
01:18:59 Entering the Spoiler Zone
01:36:33 Re: The Social Media Response

With spring turning into summer, Art, Jack, and Austin have found that it's time to once again drink the Potion of Liking Baseball. Well, no, it's not that broad: It's the Potion of Liking the Weird Ludic Corners of Ambiguity at the Heart of Officiating, Especially With Regard to the Use of Automated and Mechanical Tools, As in the MLB's Newly Arrived Automated Ball-Strike System.

But that's unfortunately a little too long for an episode title.

Show Notes

The First Instant Replay

Jerar Encarnacion challenge mentioned at 38:00 Minutes

Cam Smith Challenge mentioned at 38:30

Watch Jack, Austin, and Sylvi Play Thomas Colthurst's 2025 Game Pt.1

Media Club Plus Soprano's Screenshot Stream

Late Pledges Still Available for Realis

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
05:07 How Is the Baseball Going
12:59 Wait, What Is Baseball?
22:57 The Instant Replay World
31:41 ABS: The Automated Ball-Strike System
42:10 The Referee Is Part of the Pitch
54:58 Why Is Baseball Like This?
59:53 The Spectator Experience of ABS
01:04:20 Instant Replay and Referee Bias in Video Games

Featuring Austin Walker, Art Martinez-Tebbel, and Jack de Quidt,

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Have you heard the news? There's a new Postman in town, and a new Fairie Queen in the court. I hear the Postman keeps bringing her big palettes of wood, and she's using it to build some sort of cat tower. I hear she's sending her entourage to business school, and he's got to carry her letters of recommendation. I hear war is coming, but don't worry, we're safe here on our island court in the fog. I hear we'll always be safe here.

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Show Notes

Realis Kickstarter

Blood Machine's Bluesky Post which first clued us into Island Off Outer Darkness

Austin's Realis Interview Roundup | Clockwork Worlds

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
10:23 Island Off Outer Darkness
01:19:34 Titanium Court

Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Jack de Quidt,

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt