4 - Cracking the Backlog

We said that we wanted to hear from you, and you came through! On this special episode of Retro Next Gen, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames respond to the first slew of listener questions from our first 10 episodes. We discuss our "stranded in a room for a year with only one game" answers, share our experiences playing fighting games, and gripe about the most annoying game-breaking bugs we've had to deal with. Special thanks to our listeners, this one's for you! Join the discussion! We had so much fun responding to your listener questions, that we want more…MORE! Reach out to us on socials or at [email protected]. Want to chat with us on discord? Let us know and we'll send you an invite!

The video game industry is beleaguered by terrible news: layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, and rising costs, to name a few. The latest of these developments is the closure of legendary RPG studio BioWare and the end of development on Mass Effect's future. This week on Retro Next Gen, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames discuss their experiences in the worlds of BioWare's making, from Knights of the Old Republic to the Mass Effect Trilogy. Please note that Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for Nintendo DS is not mentioned in this episode. Sorry, Sonic fans. Wait, should we be sorry? We really gush about Mass Effect in this one, and who could blame us? Join the discussion! Who did you romance in Mass Effect? Tell us in the comments or reach out to us directly at [email protected].

Hey, you. You're finally awake! On this special retrospective episode of Retro Next Gen, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames look back at The Elder Scrolls franchise, share their Skyrim midnight launch story, and explain what the games have meant to them. After many years of waiting for the next mainline entry, we consider how the series is going to move forward following the Microsoft acquisition, an Xbox leadership shake up, and recent layoffs for the Elder Scrolls Online team. Grab a sweet roll and settle in for our longest episode to date. Join the discussion! Are you the master of your own dreams? What's your favorite Elder Scrolls game? What's your favorite Jeremy Soule or Brad Derrick track? Tell us in the comments or reach out to us directly at [email protected]. LotusOfDoom VinnyOhGames

The launch of a new game is cause for celebration: new worlds to visit, new enemies to best, and, if it is more your thing, new ways to dunk on noobs into oblivion. As physical media is sliding into the dark, so too have midnight launch parties. On the heels of an announced midnight launch for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames talk about their experiences at midnight launch parties and discuss what's been lost in the gaming world from their near-extinction. Join the discussion! Are you a fan of midnight launches? Which ones have you been to? Tell us in the comments, or reach out to us directly at [email protected]. LotusOfDoom VinnyOhGames

The days are getting shorter and colder, pumpkins adorn every doorstep, and that noise in your basement is almost certainly something nefarious. It's spooky season, and on this episode of Retro Next Gen, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames discuss their very first experiences with horror games and how involved they are in the genre still. No horror game discussion is complete without mention of royalty like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, but we comb the depths and our memory for some lesser-known gems as well. Join in on the discussion! What was your first horror game? What spooky games are you playing this October? Tell us in the comments, or reach out to us at [email protected].

Have you been working on your Gamerscore since 2005? Are you hoarding Platinum Trophies to prove that you're the most accomplished gamer on your friends list? You guessed it, on this episode of Retro Next Gen, your hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames talk all things achievements and trophies. It seems that unless you're a Nintendohead, digital "you did it" rewards are here to stay. We talk about how we feel about them, how they've changed in the last 20 years, and more! And, since October is finally here, we delve into a few seasonal classics in this week's What We're Playing segment. What's your favorite trophy or achievement? Are you a completionist? What games are you playing this spooky season? Tell us at [email protected]

Is your backlog something you rarely think about, an integral but fun part of your gaming hobby, a daunting wall of shame? Cast off your dread, because on this episode of Retro Next Gen, your podcast hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames share their thoughts on maintaining a backlog and list some of the most noteworthy games they have yet to complete. What games are on your backlog? Tell us at [email protected]! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:10 News roundup: Microsoft layoffs and disc-to-digital 00:05:58 Where are the Gamecube games? 00:17:45 What's a backlog to you? 00:28:02 Managing a backlog 00:52:34 Our top-3 most noteworthy backlog titles 01:22:45 Latest game pickups 01:25:30 What we've been playing 01:33:01 Listener feedback 01:36:25 Outro

On this episode of Retro Next Gen, hosts LotusOfDoom and VinnyOhGames recap the excitement of the 2026 Retro World Expo, an annual video game event full of competitions, guest appearances, and a sea of retro game vendors. VinnyOh shares his pickups from the expo and tips for classic game hunters. With BlizzCon 2026 in the books, Lotus covers the announcements around Diablo V and the future of StarCraft. In our most game-packed episode yet, we talk about the Sega Dreamcast controller, Quest 64's combat, BloodRayne's gore, and so much more! 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:45 Retro World Expo and retro game chat 00:33:03 Expo game pickups 00:54:49 BlizzCon 01:08:17 What we've been playing 01:41:30 Outro

Robots Radio Network Crossover Episode discussing older forms of media actually selling more than newer creations and what that could mean, as well as possible reasons why. LotusOfDoom joins other hosts from Robots Radio to discuss this topic in a bonus episode that we hope you'll enjoy until the next official episode of Retro Next Gen. Please be aware this episode is audio only. Check out the hosts other shows at RobotsRadio.net