#22: Fontaine: A Game Design Retrospective

Genshin Impact's Fontaine was a mixed bag. As a group of podcasters with various degrees of AAA game industry experience, we are here to close the curtain on a flawed but often brilliant chapter of Genshin's development history. In this episode, let us bid adieu to the land of Focalors and turn to the blazing sun. Why are we sick of lore? What succeeded and what didn't? Did Arlecchino steal Furina's hair? Will Kujou Sara get her hot dog? This time, on The Shade Chamber: a Genshin podcast. TIP JAR: https://ko-fi.com/theshadechamber TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ShadeChamberPod ___ 00:00 Misc News and There Is No W In Tengu 08:41 French and other irl inspirations for Fontaine 27:58 The theme of Justice, and where it went wrong 40:54 Spicy Takes: Lore Burnout and Cannibalism 52:48 Arlecchino 1:04:42 Fontaine Wins, Fontaine Bingo 1:16:27 Wrap-up and Road To Natlan

Discord: https://discord.gg/wYFbcr9PcD The churls have plenty to say about the writing and gameplay of the Fontaine and Version 4.X World Quests. Plus, the winner of our annual Golden Teppei award! 00:00 World Quests 2:44 Narzissenkreuz 10:46 Chenyu Vale 16:09 Remuria 22:12 Wrap-up and Golden Teppeis

The churls reflect on some of the changes we've seen occur over the last year of Genshin, including a new endgame mode to free us from the shackles of Spiral Abyss. What this means for the Genshin meta - or "metas", rather - and why you're probably using that word wrong in the first place. Also, what the heck was Chronicled Wish? This time, on The Shade Chamber. 00:00 Chronicled Wish (remember that thing?) 04:29 Early Game Changes & QoL 08:33 Imaginarium Theater and The End (and Beginning) of Meta

Join our new Discord! bit.ly/shadesofteyvat In partnership with fellow Genshin podcast https://wawndinery.com/tales-of-teyvat/ The churls started off this season of The Shade Chamber discussing the writing of the Fontaine Archon Quest. Now as we prepare to depart Fontaine, we're looking at the region and the 4.X patches of Genshin Impact from a game design perspective. What could have been better? What could have been a lot better? And what was really great? Join us in the first of 3 episodes in our Fontaine Finale series. 00:00 Allons-y Fontaine 8:08 Underwater Gameplay 21:42 Fontaine Overworld 36:48 HP Mechanics & Bond of Life

This episode we sent our beloved green gigachurl Break to the first Genshin Impact Podcast Summit Jeopardy competition! A huge thank you to Tales of Teyvat for hosting and producing this episode, it was an absolute blast facing off against them, Genshin Guys and The Resonance. Looking forward to the next collab!

Ready for patch 4.6? We're not! Let's take a quick rewind and revisit a the history of Lantern Rite, the new zone, Chenyu Veil, and play up two-month stale memes. Join us for 45 minutes of Liyue laughs (ugh), and ask yourself: Who in the cast has been co-opted by malignant forces? 00:00 -- Opening 03:13 -- Previous Lantern Rite Recaps 07:12 -- Lantern Rite 2024 19:26 -- Receiver of Friends From Afar - Our worst segment yet ?? 29:42 -- Chenyu Vale 43:12 -- Closing

Just a normal episode for a normal live service game podcast that has always been about Bluey.

Join the Churlmen as they board the Astral Express, and give their thoughts on the first few months of Hoyoverse's latest wallet hunter: Honkai: Star Rail! MAIN EPISODES: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQBtjtx5pxJjCeQDppskmE4GSIl0520wR TIP JAR: https://ko-fi.com/theshadechamber TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ShadeChamberPod ___ 00:00:00 -- Intro 00:09:29 -- Lore and Leigion 00:15:11 -- Characters 00:33:31 -- Herta Space Station 00:45:52 -- Belabog 01:03:14 -- Xianzhou Luofu 01:07:33 -- A playable character snaps her own neck on screen == Or == Tingyun 01:15:31 -- Gameplay 01:20:30 -- Fluff 01:30:13 -- Closing

Beefy tells you what's up in advance of The Shade Chamber Season 3!

The full force of 8 Genshin theorists pile into the Opera Epiclese and discuss the Fontaine Archon Quest: its ups, its downs, its way downs, and its butts. Now in glorious video format on spotify and yt. Thank you so much to Tales of Teyvat for joining us in the Shade Chamber for this most French of Archon Quests. We had a blast collabing with you and hope to do so again in the future! 00:00 Welcome To The Show 05:09 Fontaine AQ Hot Takes 32:58 Neuvillette & The Dragon Sovereigns 49:14 Furina, Focalors & Celestia 1:12:00 Arlecchino, The Harbingers & The Fatui 1:23:25 Childe, Skirk, & The Realm Beyond Teyvat 1:35:06 Concluding Thoughts