Still Loading #416: Metal Arms, StarCraft Ghost and Game Development w/ Scott Goffman

You know.... Dexter and I have been doing these cartoon rewatch series for a few years now and the episode we discuss in this podcast is probably one of the MOST UNHINGED episodes of a cartoon we have ever seen in these series. This week we discuss episode 15 of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Toad goes on numerous rampages, a werekoopa gets a wine bottle thrown into their throat and chokes on it, Mario gets waterboarded and that is just the tip of the pasta plate. Believe me when I tell you this episode GOES places. Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky Shout-out Song: Through the Clouds Artist: Fxsnowy Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03632 End Song: Mushroom Maddness Artist: Jredd Original Composer: Asuka Hayazaki, Hajime Wakai, Koji Kondo Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01539 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Metal Arms: Glitch in the System is an under loved game but it is also a game that was very impactful to me as a kid. I did an episode on Metal Arms close to a decade ago and while I do want to revisit the game for the show I'm not quite there yet. So I figured the next best thing is to get one of the developers who worked on the game on the podcast to talk about it! I'm joined by Scott Goffman on this episode. Scott was one of the founders of Swingin' Ape Studios, the developer of Metal Arms, and I had SO much fun getting to pick is brain about his time working on the game as well as his time in the games industry in general. We talk about how he got his foot in the door of the games industry, what it was like working on Hydro Thunder, the origins of Metal Arms and Swingin' Ape Studios and so much more. I'm hoping to get more developers from Swingin' Ape Studios on the show to talk about their work on the game and in the games industry so keep an eye out for future interviews! Check out Scott's website HERE Check out Panic Ensures Software HERE Shout-out Song: Droid Town Artist: N/A Original Composer(s): Keith Arem, Orpheus Soundstation Album: Metal Arms Glitch in the System OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3mMAJa0ur4 End Song: Metal Arms Artist: N/A Original Composer(s): Keith Arem, Orpheus Soundstation Album: Metal Arms Glitch in the System OST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv64aG6ldeE Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Wrapping up backlog month this year is a doozy of a game that took me over 80 hours to beat it along with it's DLC. I am joined by my Still Muppeting (join the patreon to listen) co-host with the mo-host, Doug Lief, to talk about Horizon Forbidden West. This game is a text book example of the "bigger must be better" philosophy in sequels, and largely... it works! Doug and I had a lot of fun playing through and talking about this game. It was a game that was hard for me to put down. Even now writing this nearly 7 months after beating it I just wanna go back and play it again. We talk about what changes were made to the Horizon formula, the expansion of the world/lore and of course it's amazing story. Follow Nostalgium Arcanum on Bluesky HERE Listen to Nostalgium Arcanum HERE Check out Nostalgium Arcanum on Patreon HERE Shout-out Song: Shafts of Sunlight Artist: Mel Decision, Treyt Original Composer(s): Alexis Smith, DarkMessenger, Joe Smith, Jonathan Williams, Joris de Man Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04983 End Song: The Edgerunner with Blazing Hair Artist: Treyt Original Composer(s): Alexis Smith, DarkMessenger, Joe Smith, Jonathan Williams, Joris de Man Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04596 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Sequels are hard man. It's super challenging to take what made the first game in a series good, update it, make it fresh and more challenging while also not alienating new players coming to the series for the first time. I'm not sure if today's game entirely succeeds at this but it puts in one of the better efforts for a sequel. This week I am joined by Mike aka Dongled from the YouTube channel of the same name to talk about Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest! With a new character coming to the table and a familiar one leaving, the titular character no less, this game was surprisingly risky for the developer of the game, Rare, to make. Like I said above, finding that balance of new and exciting but warm and familiar, is tough to do; but Rare somehow managed to pull it off. Mike and I talk about the new things they added to the game, new themes/world settings, the music and so much more. Go play Donkey Kong County 2 Follow Mike on Bluesky HERE Check out Dongled on YouTube HERE Follow XVGM Radio on Bluesky HERE Listen to XVGM Radio HERE Shout-out Song: All Aboard the Glitter Express Artist: Light Pillar Original Composer: David Wise Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03126 End Song: By Your Side *Donkey Kong Country 2* Artist: Mega Ran & K-Murdock (Bits & Rhymes) Original Composer: David Wise Album: Forever Famicom DLC 2 https://megarankmurdock.bandcamp.com/album/forever-famicom-dlc-2 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

This week on the show we drink some rusty nails and go into the underbelly of NYC. All for revenge. An also for bullet time of course. This on the show we are talking about Max Payne! Helping me break down Max's slow descent into madness is returning guest Phil Morgan from the Deleted Saves podcast! Between super bad film noir monologues (mostly from me) and some intelligent discussion of the game (mostly from Phil), we break down everything this game has to offer. With a healthy dose of Sam Lake appreciation too! Follow Deleted Saves on Bluesky HERE! Listen to Delete Saves HERE! Check out Phil's Art HERE! Shout-out Song: Flight 142 Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon End Song: Where'd You Find That Acid? Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Two years ago I finally crossed the original Sonic the Hedgehog game off my backlog. I am following up that episode by covering the sequel for backlog month this year! I am joined by returning guests, Zach from the Classic Gaming Brothers Podcast and my good friend Jordan Kuhns to break down the speedy hedgehog's sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As always I ask the age old question, which name for the antagonist is better... Dr Egghead or Dr Robotnik? But we also talk about the game and what not. Follow Classic Gaming Brothers on Bluesky HERE Check out their Podcast/Website HERE Follow Jordan on Bluesky HERE Shout-out Song: Sky High Artist: NoTuX Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03613 End Song: Chemical Burn Artist: OverShield Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03495 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

There are monumentally important games that come out and don't get the recognition they deserve. They are heralded by the people who have played it as one of the best and many game developers cite it as an inspiration. Andre from Fine Time joins me on this one to dive into the Quintet SNES launch title ActRaiser. ActRaiser is one of the games I described above. A game that doesn't get as much recognition even though it deserves it and is cited by game devs as a inspiration and building block for games to come. Dre and I break all this down. We discuss what makes this game unique, strategies for ruling our people, cherub cheeks and a whole lotta biblical references. Follow Andre on Bluesky HERE Follow Fine Time on Bluesky HERE Check out Fine Time's Link Tree HERE Shout-out Song: Thy Followers Artist: Russell Cox Original Composer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: FX3 Remastered https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00745 End Song: Fillmore Freestyle Artist: MkVaff Original Compsoer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00211 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Only in the last few years have I finally delved into the Remedy-verse of video games. Two years ago I played Alan Wake for the first time and this year my Patrons chose Max Payne as one of my backlog month games (an episode on which you will hear in a month or so!). I also played Control this year. This game is just straight vibes man. It builds such a fully realized world and it was a joy to both explore it and discuss it in this episode. I am joined by Matt Storm from the "Fun" & Games Podcast and Try from My Life in Gaming to break down the game that basically started the Remedy-verse as we know it today! We discuss the skill trees, the exploration, the story. We cover it all and you should REALLY play this game before getting to the spoiler section of the episode. Follow Matt on Bluesky HERE Check out "Fun" & Games Podcast HERE Check out My Life in Gaming on Bluesky HERE Check out My Life in Gaming on YouTube HERE Shout-out Song: Survivors Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered End Song: Choppastyle Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

We come to speak of the glory of.... HERCUFLEAS! This week on the show Dexter Morrill returns to break down episode 14 of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! We go back to mythological times and learn about the very real Great Balls of Fire that King Koopa wants to steal to.... roast.. marshmellows.... Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky Shout-out Song: Fourty Eight Hours (Super Mario 2) Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume III https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iii End Song: Underground Pipe Society [Super Mario Bros. 3 - World 7 Map] Artist: DDRKirby(ISQ) Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume 1 https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/remixes-volume-1 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Once in a while a game comes along and enrages you beyond any words you have in your vocabulary but that game simultaneously also provides you with one of the most profound experiences you have ever had playing a video game. NieR Replicant is that game to me. Returning to the show is my good friend Andrew Kinsey from The EXP Point to help me break it all down. We discuss what this game does well, why I loathe it, why its amazing and why I never want to play it again. Shout-out Song: Ancient Dreams Artist: Dj Mystix, Sabivee Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02474 End Song: Kaine (Absolution) Artist: DigiE, Katskachi Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03390 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod