Edge Guard

The boys are back and ready to talk to you about Pokkie (by returning dev Tijmen Tio). Jordan and Blake talk about the state of permadeath in games, the implicit trust that players place in PC developers, and the way that devs can violate that trust for exciting (or malicious) reasons. Also, the guys almost ruin the game by being lured into its greatest trap - Flappy Bird.

 

Play the game here: https://tijmentio.itch.io/pokkie.

Follow Tijmen Tio on twitter @tijmentio.

 

Next week, Subsurface Circular: http://store.steampowered.com/app/676820/Subsurface_Circular

Today’s game is Farbenspiel, a first-person arena shooter about mixing primary colors to match the color of enemies. Jordan and Blake discuss the significance of using color as a game mechanic, the movement for accessibility in video games, and Jordan’s weak-ass inner ear.

 

Be sure to check out the game on itchio: https://figjig.itch.io/farbenspiel

 

And follow the creators on Twitter: @MustDeath, @DanniSquiggles, @noodles4life__

Next week, Pokkie: https://tijmentio.itch.io/pokkie

As promised, this week is about a game that focuses on mechanics rather than message: Bamboo Heart, a side-scrolling sword-fighting game by Tijmen Tio and the Sokpop Collective. Blake and Jordan swap sword-fighting strategies, talk about what it means to say a game “feels good,” and Jordan is appalled to hear that Blake ran to the left in a sidescroller.

 

Be sure to check out the game on itchio: https://sokpop.itch.io/bamboo-ep

Or Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/561190/Bamboo_EP/

And follow @TijmenTio and @sokpopco on Twitter to hear from the creators.

 

Next week, we play "Farbenspiel": https://figjig.itch.io/farbenspiel

This week: Pippin Barr’s “It is as if you were doing work”. Topics of interest include the human need for monotony, the satisfaction of optimizing tedious tasks, and getting lung cancer by standing at your desk all day.

 

Check out the game online here: https://pippinbarr.github.io/itisasifyouweredoingwork/  

Support Pippin Barr by exploring his website and following him on social media: http://www.pippinbarr.com/

 

Next week: "Bamboo Heart" by Sokpop: https://sokpop.itch.io/bamboo-ep

 

TREEEEEEES (that's 7 E's) is on the docket today, prompting Jordan and Blake to discuss video games as performance art, the value of absurdity, and whether or not the creators are fucking with us. 
Be sure to play the game for yourself at www.treeeeeees.com 
and support the creators, @solimporta and @waiwha_.

This week, we discuss The Tearoom by Robert Yang; a game about police surveillance, cruising for sex in public spaces, and fetishised gun violence. Yep, you read that correctly. It's a doozy!

The Tearoom can be found on itch.io: radiatoryang.itch.io/the-tearoom
And also check out Robert Yang on twitter to get updates on his future game projects: twitter.com/radiatoryang

This week, Hosts Blake Beckett and Jordan Pruett introduce themselves, talk about their backgrounds, and discuss some of their favorite games. 
If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our other episodes, where we discuss a specific fringe game each week!