Show Notes
Our heroes convene to discuss the changes at Microsoft and Sony, the liberation of Cookie’s Bustle, and the Year of the Horse.
Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.
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SHOW NOTES:
Sunsoft
Plastic Man
Catwoman
Ragman
Sandman
Sgt. Rock
Sega Genesis
Game Boy Color
Batman Returns (1992)
Michelle Pfeiffer
“I love you! Don’t reject me!”
Mega Max X
Maverick
Jaeger
Guns N’ Roses
1: What does the landscape of console gaming look like now and in the future? (03:58)
Asha Sharma named EVP and CEO, Microsoft Gaming
Sony Has Reportedly Returned to Console Exclusivity
MindsEye developer announces more job cuts while alleging ‘corporate sabotage’
Highguard
Overwatch
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Pokémon Pokopia
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Mat Piscatella
2: When in a video game would you prefer to play as yourself, versus a character with a distinct personality? (12:45)
White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
White Men Can’t Jump
Atari Jaguar
Elena
Dark Souls series
Nathan Drake
3: If you had to lock in video game aesthetics forever, would that point be right now, or another time? (17:36)
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XIII
Yakuza series
The bread scene
Vagina Bones
Steam Next Fest
Street Fighter III
Scott Pilgrim EX
4: What was the endgame for the Cookie’s Bustle patent troll? (23:59)
We’ve freed Cookie’s Bustle from copyright hell. Here’s how.
Cookie’s Bustle
Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
Mr. Boop
Chiitan
4chan
Mr. Bones
5: Frank, talk about the weird NextFest experience you had (32:03)
Steam Next Fest
Fester’s Quest
HowLongToBeat.com
230 games came out the first week of 2026: An Investigation. (Jenna Stoeber’s video)
Apple Arcade
Steam Deck
6: The AV Club’s Catherine Masters asks: Happy year of the horse! What does a AAA horse game on the level of Forza or God of War look like? (41:34)
The Patreon.com/insertcredit Gacha Machine
Forza series
God of War series
Turbo
MLB The Show series
Red Dead Redemption II
The Mane Quest
The Legend of Khiimori
Horses of Hoofprint Bay
Shadow of the Colossus
Tina Belcher
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
7: The AV Club’s Catherine Masters asks, what would the Pink Pony Club be like as a place in a game? (48:52)
Pink Pony Club
Chappell Roan
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Crazy Horse Too
LIGHTNING ROUND: Year of the Horse - Mane Six (54:56)
Twilight Sparkle
Fluttershy
Rarity
Applejack
Rainbow Dash
Pinkie Pie
Recommendations and Outro (01:01:06):
Brandon: The second Kekko Kamen movie, Riverbend (1989): 6K Restoration Kickstarter, The Caller (1987), don’t overexert yourself while exercising
Ash: Touch grass, move your body, look at the sky
Jaffe: Go to physical therapy
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