Welcome back to the Game Surgeons Podcast, a podcast series where we DISSECT video game mechanics and the way that they interact and intersect with both each other and the narrative being told.

Join Kyle and Shane (and sometimes others) as they make an incision to observe the still beating heart of video games. Too much? Each fortnight, Kyle and Shane will pick a game from their extensive libraries and pull it apart to see what makes it work.

In episode 12 we get territorial. Splatter up and paint the town red as we take an in-depth look at the stage control mechanics in Splatoon 2.

If you enjoyed the sultry tones and well-informed opinions expressed in this episode, stick around for the next episode where things get emotional. Neither of us broke down crying, but we did take a look into Life is Strange: True Colours.

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

In episode 11 we boost our way around Paradise City, looking back on the now defunct Burnout brand as we ready ourselves for Criterion's new NFS.

Break down gates, bust down billboards and takedown the other racers in your quest to... you know what? We're not sure, but either way it's fun. Just don't let go of the boost button.

If you enjoyed the sultry tones and well-informed opinions expressed in this episode, stick around and make sure to ink your home-base when we discuss Splatoon 2 (because at the time of recording, 3 wasn't out yet).

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

In episode 10 we try out a new combo, inviting Chris from the Wrestling Roadshow to talk interesting Minoru Suzuki facts, the disadvantages of getting older, arcades in Japan, and the tangentially related Tekken series.

We grapple with the evolution of the series from 1994 to now and how the addition of features over 2 decades has transformed how the game is played despite the core mechanics remaining largely unchanged. If you liked the sound of Chris's voice or maybe just his innate ability to inject random wrestling statistics into any conversation, give a listen to the Wrestling Roadshow podcast, and give Chris and Greg a follow on Facebook and Twitter by checking out the links below.

https://www.thewrestlingroadshow.com/

https://www.thewrestlingroadshow.com/category/podcast/

https://twitter.com/WrestlingRoads1

https://www.facebook.com/TheWrestlingRoadshow/

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

Episode 09 crawls under the skin of famed Horror Series, Resident Evil.

We rip into the mechanics of horror and tear apart the systems that keep the player tense. Resident Evil 7 draws on player instincts and toys with them, changing things up, tricking the player, and dynamically adjusting the challenge. But how does it work?

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

Episode 08 lifts the veil over the murky World of Assassination Trilogy as we cover Hitman 3 (and incidentally, the other 2).

We pull apart the most complex set of systems covered in the Operating Theatre so far. Hitman 3 weaves a tight and very exploitable and often hilarious web of mechanics that forces players to wait and learn and think, or just blaze guns right through. It's all valid, and all fun.

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

Episode 07 grinds everything to a halt and forces you to watch ads; or pay to get to skip them... whatever. The focus this time is on a genre (because there's not enough substance to focus on one game), we're talking about Idle Clickers!

Enjoy the tangent we go on about my new home, the ridiculous amount of censoring I had to do while editing and the beautifully annoying noise that accompanies that, and maybe some talk about Cookie Clicker and AdVenture Capitalist. What do they bring to the gaming space? Are they actually all that new? What is the point? All these questions are posed and some of them might be answered!

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

Episode 06 takes us on a quest for answers and meaning in Journey, an indie title developed by thatgamecompany and Sony Santa Monica and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

It is probably one of the most unique experiences of it's generation, and still holds up as a truly profound interactive journey. This episode we talk about the little things that add up to make this game so affecting; the features, the absence of features and how mechanics can influence how we feel while playing. In a rare move, we also dive a little into developer intentions, and the story behind how Journey was made.

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613

Episode 05 shoots for the stars with the newly released (a few months ago) Halo Infinite, developed by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft for release in 2021.

This episode we talk about a number of things, very little of which feels like Halo. Don't worry, we get there.

Game Surgeons Podcast (c) copyright 2022. No part of this recording is to be used without permission.

Intro & Outro - Drive by Alex (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/43098 Ft: cdk & Darryl J

Potty Break - Oreilles froides(Kalte Ohren) remix Blue by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/59613