Episode 394: The Midterms

On this week's show, we can't help but talk about how we feel after Tuesday's elections. Then Stan talks about Donkey Kong Bananza's impact on his kid, Shane's bewilderment with Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and Dave's favorite new indie rock albums. When will he listen to some proper pop music?! We also review the MOBAPAD Chitu 2 C2 Lite Controller. Check out our newest affiliate partner, Aknes, for your gaming accessory and emulation needs! https://aknes.com?sca_ref=12559534.frebLtMXl51 Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - POLITICS WARNING 20:58 - Video game updates - Donkey Kong Bananza, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave 29:15 - The MOBAPAD Chitu 2 C2 Lite Controller 36:10 - Dave's recent favorite albums 54:25 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: MOBAPAD Chitu 2 C2 Lite Controller: https://aknes.com/?sca_ref=12559534.frebLtMXl51 Dave's 2026 playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1eddyILoJ8mpAxWcRETff7?si=wUYkf4-aSVW9jOf4yOnRTQ&utm_source=copy-link&pi=4IJbr_VnTK2Vy Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

On this week's show, Stan provides his book report on Dungeon Crawler Car, Shane rolls credits on Castlevania, and the boys talk about playing Riftbound. Check out our newest affiliate partner, Aknes, for your gaming accessory and emulation needs! https://aknes.com?sca_ref=12559534.frebLtMXl51 Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - The boys were back in Chicago 12:48 - This week's episode 13:27 - Old Business: Stan read Dungeon Crawler Carl 20:52 - Shane finished Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 29:32 - New Business: Riftbound! 36:31 - What's in a Riftbound deck? 45:12 - Our experiences playing Riftbound 1:03:34 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

It's time for the boys to whip back into action with their new best friend: Rose Belmont. We talk the vibe, the play, the pros, the cons of the latest Metroidvania — Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. But first, enjoy a quick diversion on Goodfellas and Nathan Fielder’s You Can See Everything. Check out our newest affiliate partner, Aknes, for your gaming accessory and emulation needs! https://aknes.com?sca_ref=12559534.frebLtMXl51 Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - We are Good Fellas 4:01 - Stan saw Everything 12:43 - This week's episode - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 22:00 - How do we feel about Castlevania? 26:31 - Is this game hard? 33:50 - What's this game's vibe? 39:35 - How does this game play? 49:30 - Is this game hard, revisited 54:00 - Some final takes 55:24 - Future games and a NEW AFFILIATE 58:16 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

On this week's show, Dave and Shane help Stan navigate the trials and tribulations of moving homes. We also chat about men's bathroom behavior and some new automations we've set up to help sell trading cards online. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - Haunted bathrooms 7:50 - Baseball. 11:45 - This week's episode 12:45 - Stan's housing transition 17:54 - Stan's consternations 22:11 - Dave's thoughts 27:15 - Shane psychoanalyzes 34:15 - Dining room rugs? 36:15 - Dave's "easy" wins 44:02 - Selling cards 57:13 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

On this week's show, we kick off the spooky season with a conversation about our favorite horror films. From the ones we watched too young to the ones that make us jump in the cinema now. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - Baseball 9:20 - Shane didn't read the chat 10:49 - Old Business: Shane's Question Speedrun 20:48 - New Business: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo takes 23:35 - Control: Resonant early takes 24:54 - Witcher 3: Remastered takes 28:02 - It's horror season! 34:22 - Our history with horror films 44:52 - Do we like horror? 51:30 - Stan's History of Horror 1:00:42 - Body horror 1:03:20 - Is American Psycho a horror movie? 1:07:05 - Parting thoughts 1:09:24 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

This week Dave, Stan, and friend of the show Adam Burke tackle the burning questions of our time. Is a hot dog a sandwich? Should you pee in the shower? Which is the best way to hang toilet paper? Is there a god? Ok -- not that one. But we have a great time getting angry with Stan about his casual littering. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:45 - Inside You There Are Two Suburbs 2:25 - This Episode: Adam Burke and the Great Debates of Our Times 4:00 - Back in the Studio 7:20 - We Threw a Party and No One Came 9:14 - A Listener Question About Magic 18:45 - The Great Debates of Our Times 19:00 - What’s the Right Way to Roll Toilet Paper? 23:50 - Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? 29:02 - Can You Ask People to Stop Talking at an Outdoor Concert? 35:03 - What Do You Do After You Accidentally Cut Someone in Line? 40:03 - What is Littering Anyway? 44:40 - Should You Eat in Your Bedroom? 48:29 - Do You Hear a Voice in Your Head When You Read Silently? 51:34 - Do You Have an Internal Monologue? 53:02 - Do You See Objects or Just Picture the Word? 55:21 - Give Us Your Bizarre Associations 57:37 - Shower Things: Do You Wash Your Legs? Do You Pee in the Shower? 1:05:09 - Ending On Number 1 and A is Number 2 1:06:04 - Closing Down Links from this week's episode: Pre-Order Adam’s Book, With Whom I Am Well Pleased from K.Co Press here: https://kcopress.com/pages/new-book/adam-burke-book Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

Stan takes a quick break with a psychic/medium and sees life a little different now. Shane has found a new media to obsess over — the oldest media: books! — and has thoughts on eReaders. Dave abides. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - The secret lives of podcasters 6:25 - Old Business: Dungeon Crawler Carl: revisited 14:26 - Dave has a poltergeist 15:05 - New Business: Stan went to a medium 23:42 - Oracle methods 36:16 - Shane loves books and technology 44:15 - Some good books 54:02 - Public Comment: Our dream guests 1:01:58 - Wrapping up Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

With Stan out this week, we've got regular guest host and true tactics-head Jason back on to discuss Star Wars: Zero Company. But before that, we go over the now-viral LitRPG sensation Dungeon Crawler Carl. There is probably some real crossover potential here, right? Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - We wake up in the morning 5:28 - This week's show 8:11 - Dungeon Crawler Carl 24:45 - DCC as LitRPG 28:40 - Is DCC funny? 37:10 - Some final thoughts 38:47 - Star Wars: Zero Company 49:48 - How we are liking Zero Company 55:35 - How to think about tactics games 1:06:08 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: Dungeon Crawler Carl: https://mattdinniman.com/books/dungeon-crawler-carl/ Star Wars: Zero Company: https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/zero-company Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

For the first time since JULY, Dave, Shane, and Stan are reunited. We talk about Shane's trip to Norway, the Retroid Pocket Nova, Guitar Hero, and piano stewardship. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - We're all back! 7:31 - This week's episode 11:52 - Stan wants his piano back 20:25 - Shane went to Norway 38:08 - Retroid Pocket Nova 50:55 - Clone Hero Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]

This week Shane and Dave welcome Christopher Harris of Harris Football to talk about his new best-selling novel Pound Foolish. Part locker room chronicle, part neo-noir, Pound Foolish is the story of a series of murders occurring around an NFL team and the investigations that unspool around them. We talk about the contradictions of loving something that is actually kind of terrible, the process of completing creative endeavors like these, and, yes, about Chris's day job — fantasy football. Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN Timestamps: 0:01 - This week's episode 4:53 - It's Chris! 6:40 - Pound Foolish and being an NFL fan 24:48 - Exploring the NFL in Pound Foolish 29:55 - Chris's creative process 42:25 - Unifying themes and pushing yourself 47:24 - Influences and recommendations 52:06 - Fantasy football! 1:01:44 - Thanks, Chris! Links from this week's episode: Harris Football Pound Foolish available now at bookshop.org Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: [email protected]