

The Nextlander Podcast
The Nextlander Podcast
Longtime friends and games media colleagues Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro share their combined decades of knowledge, expertise, and passion for games with weekly discussions about what they're playing, what's happening in the industry, and whatever else they're up to.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 16, 2024 • 2h 12min
150: Indie-cent Proposal
A ton of interesting indies hit last week, and we picked Animal Well, Cryptmaster, and Crow Country to dig into this week. Also in the news, PlayStation's new leader(s) announced, a multiplatform future for Square Enix, our initial thoughts on Assassin's Creed Shadows, and a new Doom next month?!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:01:04) Doctor (doctor)? Mr. M.D.?(00:09:22) Are ads just memes?(00:13:01) I'm a fan of the Whopper(00:21:09) The ants are coming...(00:21:57) Cryptmaster [PC (Microsoft Windows), PC (Microsoft Windows)] on May 09, 2024(00:40:00) The ants... they won't stop(00:43:35) Animal Well [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on May 09, 2024(01:05:05) Crow Country [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on May 09, 2024(01:12:04) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:16:14) News(01:16:47) Jim Ryan gets two replacements at PlayStation(01:26:05) Next Assassin's Creed details emerge!(01:41:22) Square Enix has high hopes for multiplatform releases(01:54:12) Is a new DOOM on its way?(02:00:15) Emails(02:07:08) Wrapping up and thanks(02:09:11) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:10:50) Nextlander content updates(02:11:33) See Ya!

May 9, 2024 • 2h 17min
149: Stylish Nun Action
It's been a week in the games industry with both Xbox's closures of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks and the Helldivers 2 account backlash, and we dig into the whole mess. On the upside, Hades 2 came out! Nintendo said the words "Switch successor!" We played Indika, Minishoot' Adventures, and the Balatro update! Podcast!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:02:27) Shows about video games on my TV?!(00:04:37) George Lucas and his Jar Jar suit(00:11:26) That Fallout show continues to make waves(00:15:48) Hades II [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on May 06, 2024(00:33:10) Indika [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on May 02, 2024(00:41:56) Minishoot' Adventures [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 02, 2024(00:45:59) Stardew Valley [Xbox One] on Dec 14, 2016(00:48:57) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One] on Feb 20, 2024(00:54:20) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:04:37) News(01:04:53) Take-Two shutting down Kerbal dev?(01:08:48) Microsoft closing and shifting around studios(01:37:30) Helldivers 2 facing backlash after requiring PSN login(01:47:55) Ghost of Tsushima will also face login issues(01:51:31) Nintendo's Switch Next Model...?(01:56:51) Welcome to the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition(02:02:45) Emails(02:10:53) Nextlander content updates(02:14:30) Wrapping up and thanks(02:16:46) See Ya!

May 2, 2024 • 2h 26min
148: No Mall Katanas
We're thrilled to be joined by Remap Radio's Rob Zacny this week to talk about everything from Shogun: Total War to Qui-Gon Jinn's Force balls, Manor Lords, Another Crab's Treasure, the post-Embracer troika, strategies for truly unplugging, and plenty of other stuff!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:00:38) Welcome Rob Zacny!(00:01:09) How many days of vacation before you're in the zone?(00:15:46) Total War: Shogun 2 [PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux] on Mar 15, 2011(00:29:42) Where does Nobunaga fit into all of this?(00:33:19) How many swords does Rob own?(00:40:09) Wait, Yoda?! Ok, let's just get into it...(00:55:00) Another Crab's Treasure [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5] on Apr 25, 2024(01:03:16) Manor Lords [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 26, 2024(01:19:41) Harold Halibut [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Apr 16, 2024(01:23:17) Citizen Sleeper [Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac] on May 05, 2022(01:32:17) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One] on Feb 20, 2024(01:39:13) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:44:37) Fallout 76 [Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Nov 14, 2018(01:54:37) Switch 2 getting cool magnets?(02:01:57) Nintendo loves a DMCA(02:04:44) PSVR 2 possibly inching closer to PCs?(02:08:01) Embracer Group breaks into smaller, oddly named, units?(02:19:43) What happened to Dark Void?!(02:21:30) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:22:42) We're returning to Twin Peaks on The Watchcast(02:23:02) Thanks to Rob Zacny for joining us!(02:25:25) See ya!

Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 23min
Special Ep: Never Been a Better Podcast 004: Snakes, Sneaks, and Stew Leonards
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/NEXTLANDER to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code NEXTLANDER.We're taking a week off of the regular podcast, so in its place we offer an episode of our monthly reunion show, in which Dan Ryckert and Jeff Bakalar join us to talk about snakes in the basement, Stew Leonards, and cotton candy versus popcorn!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:01:03) Intro(00:02:06) Oh, it's marijuana(00:03:01) Concerned Citizen Dan Ryckert(00:04:36) Never screaming. Always hollering.(00:07:15) Sneaking into places(00:09:18) Stories from backstage(00:15:35) If a wrestler were a console...(00:19:00) The days of the easy fridge joke(00:21:09) Cotton Candy is more dazzle than razzle(00:23:59) Intentionally ruining the popcorn(00:27:42) The Lantern Fly issue and the end of nature(00:32:25) Cash only please(00:34:05) Catching cabs(00:40:18) Never take an actual cab from Newark?(00:47:30) Mystery substance in the basement(00:55:02) Home construction issues(00:56:40) The TV version of New Jersey(00:58:21) Early Seinfeld episodes(01:02:50) Being jealous of another state's identity(01:10:10) Tips on running into David Letterman(01:11:26) What is a Stew Leonards?(01:15:41) Trunk or Trick or treating(01:17:45) Punished Dan Ryckert(01:20:15) Wrapping up(01:22:37) See ya

Apr 18, 2024 • 2h 30min
147: Ah, Yes, He Is Internet Boy?
Let's talk about such games this week as Harold Halibut, Life Eater (eater of life!), and Laysara: Summit Kingdom, plus news and sundries like the games of the Triple-I initiative, what "PS5 Pro Enhanced" is going to mean, $90,000 copies of Castlevania, awkward dining experiences in Japan, and plenty more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:09) Intro(00:01:40) Dog allergies and feathers?(00:12:10) Harold Halibut [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Apr 16, 2024(00:29:03) Life Eater [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on April 16th, 2024(00:41:01) Laysara: Summit Kingdom [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 10, 2024 [Early Access](00:56:34) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:00:19) Dyson Sphere Program [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Jan 21, 2021 [Early Access](01:09:49) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy [Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4] on Apr 09, 2019(01:18:28) Sony's PS5 Pro Enhanced Games?(01:34:07) Sony PC games getting Trophies(01:40:45) The Big Triple-I Initiative Showcase(01:58:57) Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 in possibly 3 years?(02:03:55) Fallout 4 upgrade coming soon!(02:14:37) Emails(02:23:28) Coming up on Nextlander(02:25:14) Wrapping up and thanks(02:25:57) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:28:15) No streams next week, but get yer podcasts here!(02:29:36) See ya!

Apr 11, 2024 • 2h 6min
146: I'm a Fan of Clothespins!
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/NEXTLANDER to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code NEXTLANDER.This week we all bend bullets in Children of the Sun, Vinny parties at the Gold Saucer, Brad digs deep into the childhood archive, and we enjoy our new post-eclipse mutations. EA reassigns Motive to Battlefield (and kiboshes a Dead Space 2 remake?), Gears 6 appear to be imminent, and the 3DS and Wii U servers are gone... or are they??Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:00:15) Our post-eclipse New Jersey(00:12:44) Fixing things that don't want to be fixed(00:22:17) Children of the Sun [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 09, 2024(00:44:17) A Little to the Left [Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4] on Feb 15, 2024(00:48:06) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:00:51) Brad's Video Game Experiments(01:31:38) Xbox's new console and "game preservation"(01:35:56) Xbox talking new Gears and Call of Duty this summer?(01:42:51) Folks from the Dead Space team working on Battlefield?(01:47:43) Roku filing patents that make you sad(01:51:52) Wii U servers are gone... but not forgotten(01:54:54) A Dredge movie? Sure!(01:58:37) Emails(02:02:22) Wrapping up and thanks(02:03:15) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:04:43) Nextlander content updates(02:05:45) See ya!

Apr 4, 2024 • 1h 59min
145: The Game That Clips Well, Ships Well
This week we all dig (lol) into the indie drilling platformer Pepper Grinder, continue catching up with FF7 Rebirth and LAD: Infinite Wealth, and do battle with American air travel. Also: Embracer and Sega divest of Gearbox and Relic (respectively), a disc-less Xbox Series X is sighted in the wild, we think seriously about Krull and Willow and Ladyhawke, and more!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:01:29) Another trip another weird and long delay?(00:09:40) The escalation of Egg Hunts(00:14:55) Trying to make a list of the best couch co-op games (for kids)(00:17:37) [Possible Minor SPOILERS] Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(00:35:55) Pepper Grinder [Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch] on Mar 28, 2024(00:46:39) [SPOILERS] Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024(00:53:28) Dragon's Dogma II [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 22, 2024(01:00:03) News(01:00:08) Stop Killing Games!(01:04:47) Take-Two is buying Gearbox!(01:10:04) Sega sells of Relic(01:15:35) New white Xbox Series X with no disc?(01:25:56) People like to play old (and maybe free) games, apparently(01:42:27) Emails(01:53:01) Wrapping up and thanks(01:55:03) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(01:58:08) Coming up on Nextlander(01:58:55) See ya!

Mar 28, 2024 • 2h 21min
144: You Sparkled My Darkle!
Viiiiideo games on the show this week include Dragon's Dogma II, Princess Peach: Showtime, Open Roads, and the Stellar Blade demo, plus we talk about Phil Spencer's comments on an Xbox handheld and third-party stores on the Xbox, Larian moving on from D&D, a possible open-world Resident Evil, busting open your Switch, our dream game show appearances, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:00:41) We're back from PAX East(00:02:42) More Switch repairs(00:15:07) Dragon's Dogma II [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 22, 2024(00:47:50) Open Roads [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 28, 2024(00:56:46) Princess Peach: Showtime! [Nintendo Switch] on Mar 22, 2024(01:10:59) Stellar Blade [PlayStation 5] on Apr 26, 2024(01:20:13) Phil Spencer and the state of Xbox (and video games)(01:45:31) Larian says they are done making new Baldur's Gate content(01:55:16) Dragon's Dogma 2 update roadmap(01:57:16) Resident Evil 9 rumors(02:03:02) Emails(02:14:32) Breaking news?(02:16:30) Wrapping up and thanks(02:18:37) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:21:15) See ya!

Mar 21, 2024 • 2h 22min
143: Jean-Luc Godard's Dragon's Dogma II
We get our pawn on in Dragon's Dogma II this week and check out the new Outcast, even as we dutifully continue plowing through FF7 Rebirth and LAD: Infinite Wealth, plus we cover the latest on PlayStation 5 Pro, the state of PSVR 2, the new Marvel 1943 from Amy Hennig and team, international standards of measurement, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:02:11) Alex and I will be at PAX East(00:06:33) Long board games are also piling up(00:14:01) Dragon's Dogma II [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 22, 2024(00:39:55) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:02:09) Outcast: A New Beginning [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 15, 2024(01:07:44) Contra: Operation Galuga [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Mar 12, 2024(01:10:13) The Outlast Trials [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 05, 2024(01:14:11) [Spoiler Warning] Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024(01:24:37) News(01:24:48) More details on the PlayStation 5 Pro(01:44:07) PSVR 2 production has been temporarily halted(01:53:58) Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra announced(02:08:05) Emails(02:13:48) Wrapping up and thanks(02:17:01) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:18:38) Nextlander Content Updates(02:21:44) See ya!

Mar 14, 2024 • 1h 51min
142: Private First Class Lance Bean
We're awash in new games this week, with Mars After Midnight, Contra: Operation Galuga, WWE 2K24, and more joining old favs like FF7 Rebirth. Also: the tragic loss of Akira Toriyama, the harassment campaign around Sweet Baby Inc., the mystery of the flying space bugs, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:09) Intro(00:00:36) Daylight Saving Time is here again(00:03:17) Vermont and Casey Jones have the freshest powder?(00:10:14) Show rundown(00:10:58) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(00:25:21) WWE 2K24 [PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Mar 08, 2024(00:33:00) Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch] on Mar 13, 2024(00:41:47) Mars After Midnight [Playdate] on Mar 12, 2024(00:48:39) Contra: Operation Galuga [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Mar 12, 2024(00:54:51) Top Racer Collection [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 07, 2024(00:58:52) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One] on Feb 20, 2024(00:59:55) Akira Toriyama has passed away(01:10:00) Sweet Baby, what's going on here?(01:23:32) Summer Game Fest gets a date(01:27:30) MultiVersus is coming back(01:35:13) Stig Asmussen has a new studio(01:37:34) Helldivers 2 continues to be pretty cool(01:41:44) Wrapping up and thanks(01:46:02) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(01:47:29) Nextlander content updates(01:50:34) See ya!


