Achievement Oriented
Every week, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion delve into the virtual world, discussing the latest video game releases and trends, interviewing industry experts, and exploring fascinating subcultures.
Video Games
Leisure
Games of the Year, 'Gorogoa,' and 'The Last Jedi' (Ep. 67)
In an extra-long, year-ending episode, The Ringer's ...
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Dec 29 2017 2h 17m
Chapter 1 1 min
In an extra-long, year-ending episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Ben's VR Christmas giftChapter 2 3 mins
Then they bring on indie designer Jason Roberts to explain how he conceived of and created the new hand-drawn narrative puzzle game 'Gorogoa'Chapter 3 3 mins
before welcoming Ringer colleagues Justin Charity and Matt James for a roundtable debate about the best games of 2017, which they share via four personal top 10 lists and an overall combined rankingChapter 4 2 hrs 8 mins
And finally they wrap up with an in-depth exploration of the highs and the lows of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and the future of the Lucasfilm franchise
Ever-Evolving Games: 'PUBG,' 'Star Citizen,' 'GTA Online,' and 'Zelda' (Ep. 66)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Dec 15 2017 1h 12m
Chapter 1 8 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their opinions about porgs and cute creatures in 'Star Wars' and imagine an alternate history in which BioWare adapts 'Game of Thrones' instead of 'Star Wars'Chapter 2 33 mins
Then they bring on three writers to discuss four games whose content keeps changing, talking to Polygon's Charlie Hall about 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' coming to consoles and 'Star Citizen' going to courtChapter 3 17 mins
Kotaku's Zack Zwiezen about the new Doomsday Heist in 'GTA Online'Chapter 4 13 mins
and Geek.com's Jordan Minor about 'Breath of the Wild' DLC
Triumphant Nintendo, 'Xenoblade,' and Loot Boxes vs. the Law (Ep. 65)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Dec 8 2017 1h 5m
Chapter 1 7 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the scare-reducing "safe mode" in the new Xbox port of sci-fi horror game 'Soma'Chapter 2 34 mins
then welcome colleagues Justin Charity and Victor Luckerson to talk about Nintendo's dramatic 2017 turnaround, 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2,' and the future of the SwitchChapter 3 22 mins
Lastly Ben and Jason bring on Representative Chris Lee of the Hawaii House of Representatives to explain his plans to win the political battle against exploitative loot boxes
EA's Reddit-Driven Downfall and Overwatch League Unknowns (Ep. 64)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Dec 1 2017 1h 8m
Chapter 1 30 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the microtransaction controversy sweeping the industry and talk to the influential Reddit poster who helped start the backlash against 'Battlefront II'Chapter 2 28 mins
then bring on ESPN esports reporter Jacob Wolf to preview the advent of the innovative Overwatch League and address the questions that Blizzard still has to answer about 'Overwatch' as an esport and the big-buy-in league's long-term viability
We Finally Did a Mailbag Episode (Ep. 63)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion soun...
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Nov 24 2017 53m
Loot Boxes Are Bad, but 'Battlefront II' Is Good (Ep. 62)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Nov 17 2017 1h 7m
Chapter 1 5 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the recent releases of several high-profile Switch ports, what their success means for the system's future, and what might have been for the PlayStation VitaChapter 2 20 mins
Then they review the highlights and lowlights of the multiplayer modes and single-player campaign of 'Star Wars: Battlefront II' and lament the game's heavy-handed use of microtransactions and loot boxesChapter 3 40 mins
Lastly, they bring on 'Battlefront' writer Walt Williams to talk about the special thrills and unique challenges of creating characters and stories inside the 'Star Wars' universe
'Assassin's Creed: Origins' and the Xbox One X (Ep. 61)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Nov 10 2017 46m
Chapter 1 14 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether 'Assassin's Creed: Origins' innovates enough on the franchise's familiar formula to bring them back to the foldChapter 2 31 mins
then welcome Polygon senior reporter Samit Sarkar for a conversation about the benefits and shortcomings of the Xbox One X, the 4K and HDR difference, why the console's presence in the market makes for such a difficult purchasing decision, and what the Xbox One X signifies for the future of console releases and mid-generation hardware updates
'Call of Duty: WW II,' 'The Frozen Wilds' DLC, and 'Super Lucky's Tale' (Ep. 60)
In an intimate bonus episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindb...
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Nov 9 2017 40m
Chapter 1 5 mins
In an intimate bonus episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's concussionChapter 2 18 mins
and Ben's binge with three newly released games: back-to-basics big-budget shooter 'Call of Duty: WW II'Chapter 3 9 mins
'The Frozen Wilds' (the first downloadable content for game of the year candidate 'Horizon Zero Dawn')Chapter 4 7 mins
and throwback Xbox/PC platformer 'Super Lucky's Tale'
More 'Mario,' Visceral, Gambling on Loot Boxes, and 'South Park' (Ep. 59)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion brie...
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Nov 3 2017 1h 5m
Chapter 1 7 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion briefly discuss the latest trailer for 'The Last of Us Part II'Chapter 2 17 mins
then bring on Kotaku news editor and 'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels' author Jason Schreier for a wide-ranging discussion about 'Super Mario Odyssey' and Nintendo's stellar 2017Chapter 3 14 mins
the fall of Visceral Games and the cancellation of another high-profile 'Star Wars' gameChapter 4 12 mins
the proliferation of loot boxes and microtransactions; whether loot boxes constitute gambling' and the cyclical nature of the video game industryChapter 5 11 mins
and the crowded release calendar and 'South Park: The Fractured But Whole'
'Super Mario Odyssey,' 'Shadow of War,' 'Wolfenstein 2,' and 'Darkwood' (Ep. 58)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion mark...
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Oct 27 2017 1h 20m
Chapter 1 20 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion mark the pod's first anniversary by discussing a quartet of recent releases. First, Ben and Jason examine what makes 'Super Mario Odyssey' amazing and why the Switch is owning 2017Chapter 2 13 mins
Then they talk to 'Achievement Oriented' producer Kyle Crichton about 'Middle Earth: Shadow of War'Chapter 3 20 mins
before welcoming in colleague Justin Charity to recount his impressions of 'Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus' and explain why the game's story takes on added depth in the current political climateChapter 4 24 mins
Lastly, Ben talks to 'Darkwood' developer Gustaw Stachaszewski about why he made a horror game despite being scared of horror games, how he channeled his real-life fears into the game, and why he decided to give the game away on torrent sites
The Holiday Deluge, 'Stardew' on Switch, and the AI of 'Echo' (Ep. 57)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Oct 20 2017 1h 12m
Chapter 1 8 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the beginning of the grueling/exciting torrent of fall releases and what they anticipate will be a successful gaming holiday seasonChapter 2 28 mins
then bring on comedian Nick Wiger to discuss his experience with 'Stardew Valley,' the secret to the game's addictiveness and longevity, and its recent Switch portChapter 3 33 mins
Lastly, Ben talks to Martin Emborg, the game director and art director of newly released PC/PS4 stealth game 'Echo,' about the game's innovative, adaptive AI; the influence of 'Hitman'; and the video game acting debut of Rose Leslie
'NBA 2K' Player Ratings and the Rise and Fall of 'Backyard Baseball' (Ep. 56)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk...
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Oct 13 2017 1h 4m
Chapter 1 7 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk about Ben's video game bachelor party, how 'GoldenEye 007' has aged, and ultra-precise esports competitorsChapter 2 23 mins
Then they bring on Mike Stauffer of 'NBA 2K' developer Visual Concepts to ask how he manages rosters and develops player ratings for the game, how he incorporates (or ignores) feedback from NBA players and fans, and how advanced stats have made the ratings more sophisticatedChapter 3 32 mins
Lastly, they welcome Ringer colleague Zach Kram to discuss his retrospective article on the 20th anniversary of the cult classic 'Backyard Baseball' series and the games' development and decline
The Frustration-Free Challenge of 'Cuphead' (Ep. 55)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Oct 6 2017 52m
Chapter 1 5 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's ever-changing real-life look and how his hairstyles affect his character-creation strategyChapter 2 6 mins
then share their impressions of the new Windows and Xbox run-and-gun game 'Cuphead'Chapter 3 33 mins
Next, they bring on brothers and 'Cuphead' co-creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer to explain how they conceived and perfected the game's eye-catching art while delivering difficulty without frustration, and to discuss the benefits and burdens of hype, the game's speedrunning potential, and their newfound financial prospects and future plansChapter 4 4 mins
Lastly, Ben and Jason wrap up with a few words about Ben's upcoming wedding and video game-themed bachelor party
The SNES Classic, Revisiting 'Night Trap,' and Gaming Fear (Ep. 54)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion remi...
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Sep 29 2017 52m
Chapter 1 5 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reminisce about 'Red Dead Redemption' and react to the trailer for 'Red Dead Redemption 2'Chapter 2 20 mins
Then they bring on their colleague Victor Luckerson to recap his all-day marathon with the newly released SNES Classic, weigh in on which 16-bit classics have held up the best, and forecast the future of retro gamingChapter 3 25 mins
Lastly, Ben and Jason bring on Kotaku's Stacie Ponder to discuss how the notorious (and recently rereleased) 'Night Trap' holds up 25 years later, her love-fear relationship with horror games, and the endless porting and remaking of 'Resident Evil'
Video Game Writer Walt Williams on 'Significant Zero' (Ep. 53)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion refl...
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Sep 25 2017 1h
Chapter 1 20 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reflect on why video game makers are hesitant to talk about the development process publiclyChapter 2 4 mins
Then they talk to one who isn't: Walt Williams, who's worked on 'BioShock,' 'Spec Ops: The Line,' and 'Star Wars Battlefront II,' among many other games, and joins the podcast to discuss how game-writing worksChapter 3 13 mins
the perils of crunchChapter 4 4 mins
the pitfall of player choiceChapter 5 16 mins
how to make morality interesting in interactive games
'2K18' Release Week (Ep. 52)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Sep 22 2017 47m
Chapter 1 16 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's inaugural experience as a video game writer on 'NBA 2K18'Chapter 2 29 mins
Then they talk to 'NBA 2K18' director Chris Papierniak about the difference between game direction and film direction, how to handle the development of a game that can't be delayed, how to channel NBA drama into an E-rated game, and the expanding scope of sports games
Streaming Sins, Space Games, and 'Metroid' (Ep. 51)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Sep 15 2017 1h 12m
Chapter 1 4 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's return to the new and (possibly) improved 'No Man's Sky'Chapter 2 16 mins
then bring on colleague Justin Charity to talk about celebrity streamer PewDiePie's latest offense, indie developer Campo Santo's response, the uncertain symbiosis between streamers and publishers, and why gamers get toxic onlineChapter 3 30 mins
Then they bring on NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory systems engineer Molly Bittner to discuss her work on NASA's Cassini and Europa Clipper missions, what it's like to talk to a spacecraft, how she finds time to play games while working at NASA, and her thoughts on 'Hellblade' as well as 'Destiny 2,' 'Mass Effect,' 'Kerbal Space Program,' and other space-based gamesChapter 4 18 mins
Lastly, Ben and Jason welcome The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to reflect on the 30th anniversary of the release of the original 'Metroid,' share his impressions of the newly released 'Metroid: Samus Returns,' and explain why 'Metroid' might be gaming's greatest space series
'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels,' 'Destiny 2,' and 'Localhost' (Ep. 50)
For their 50th episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh a...
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Sep 8 2017 1h 11m
Chapter 1 48 mins
For their 50th episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion welcome Kotaku news editor Jason Schreier to discuss the industry trends and revelations inside his new book ('Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made') and their early impressions of 'Destiny 2'Chapter 2 20 mins
Then they bring on Sophia Park and Penelope Evans, the cocreators of 'Localhost' and 'Arc Symphony,' to talk about how they provoke emotional reactions in players, how they build games in Twine, and the economics of indie development
Recent Releases, 'Uncharted,' and 'Good Game' (Ep. 49)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Sep 1 2017 1h 17m
Chapter 1 15 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their impressions of 'Undertale,' 'Sonic Mania,' and 'Uncharted: The Lost Legacy'Chapter 2 31 mins
then interview 'Uncharted' writer and Naughty Dog veteran Josh Scherr about the game's breakneck development, Naughty Dog's winning formula for 'Uncharted' ideas, and how he feels about working on sequels versus new seriesChapter 3 29 mins
Lastly, Ben and The Ringer's Alison Herman talk to Jesse Cox and Michele Morrow, cocreators and executive producers of the new esports sitcom, 'Good Game'
Making Mo-cap Magic, and Going Inside an Esports Team (Ep. 48)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk...
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Aug 25 2017 1h 21m
Chapter 1 53 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to stuntwomen and voice actors Maggie Macdonald and America Young about their work in video games including 'Halo 5,' the 'Dead Space,' 'Uncharted,' and 'Saints Row' series, and the newly released 'Agents of Mayhem,' as well as how working in video games compares to big-budget movies, the advancement of video-game motion-capture technology, the most challenging stunts they've had to perform, and fighting while looking like Lara CroftChapter 2 25 mins
Then Ben and Jason bring on Kyle "Beef" Bautista, general manager of compLexity Gaming, to discuss his team's involvement in a new TBS 'Dota 2' documentary, attempting to qualify for The International 2017, the economics of esports, managing interpersonal issues and turnover on team rosters, and the future of esports statistical analysis, coaching, and corporate partnerships
'Dream Daddy' and Giant Bomb's Successful Pivot to Video (Ep. 47)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion bant...
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Aug 18 2017 1h 5m
Chapter 1 7 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion banter about 'No Man's Sky' updates, mundane objects that look great in games, and Ben's plans for a video game bachelor partyChapter 2 23 mins
then bring on their colleague Alison Herman to discuss the summer hit 'Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator,' a Steam game that subverts the tropes of traditional dating simsChapter 3 33 mins
Finally, Ben and Jason talk to Giant Bomb founding member and video producer Vinny Caravella about the origins of the site and how it anticipated trends in podcasting, streaming, and video that media members are still wrestling with today
Gamer Grooming and the Golden Age of Board Games (Ep. 46)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Aug 11 2017 1h 7m
Chapter 1 5 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the addition of a free-for-all deathmatch mode to team-based shooter 'Overwatch'Chapter 2 19 mins
then bring on makeup artist Ada Trinh to discuss her work with Blizzard, Riot, and esports athletes; why gamers need help in the complexion department; and why it matters that competitive gamers look goodChapter 3 41 mins
Then they talk to ESPN senior baseball writer (and Paste Magazine board-game reviewer) Keith Law about his gaming past, the current golden age of tabletop gaming, why tabletop games are making up an ever-larger share of the "gaming" category on Kickstarter, the parallels and differences between board games and video games, how designers have developed tabletop adaptations of video games, and which board games he thinks gamers should try
'Tacoma' and 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' (Ep. 45)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion disc...
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Aug 4 2017 1h 5m
Chapter 1 4 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether makers of future consoles will feel pressure to support portability to keep pace with the SwitchChapter 2 21 mins
then talk about Ben's impressions of 'Tacoma,' the new game from The Fullbright Company (makers of 'Gone Home'), and the temporarily game-breaking bug that prevented Jason from playing itChapter 3 36 mins
Then they bring on professional fantasy sports player Al Zeidenfeld to discuss how he started streaming 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds,' why the game has become such a phenomenon, the best and worst tactics that players employ, a community controversy, and what's in store for the game's future
Developing 'Pyre' and Composing Supergiant's Soundtracks (Ep. 44)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk...
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Jul 28 2017 1h 15m
Chapter 1 41 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to Greg Kasavin, creative director and lead writer of indie developer Supergiant Games, about the company's new game, 'Pyre,' its surprising shoutout from Arby's, the apocalyptic settings of Supergiant's games, how 'Pyre' is different from their previous works, 'Bastion' and 'Transistor,' whether 'Pyre' has potential as an esport (and the pitfalls of online multiplayer), why the company wants to stay small, how he uses music to aid his work, and how his past experience serving as editor-in-chief of Gamespot is still helping him make gamesChapter 2 31 mins
Then they bring on Greg's colleague Darren Korb, Supergiant's audio director, to discuss his process for composing the soundtracks for all of the company's games, how he branched out into new genres and instruments for 'Pyre,' the secret to making a video game soundtrack that stands on its own, how to account for the player's actions when making music for games, how to write songs that repeat but never get annoying, and more
'Splatoon 2,' 'Destiny 2,' and Aliens and Love in 'Grand Theft Auto' (Ep. 43)
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh, Jason Concepcion, and Ju...
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Jul 21 2017 1h
Chapter 1 22 mins
The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh, Jason Concepcion, and Justin Charity discuss their impressions of 'Splatoon 2' and the 'Destiny 2' betaChapter 2 33 mins
Then, Ben and Jason bring on Kai and Gramz, two members of 'Grand Theft Auto' data-mining group Team Guru, to talk about their years-long hunt for 'GTA' Easter eggs, what motivates them to keep up their quest, the tools of their trade, their successful hunt for in-game aliens, and their real-life, long-distance romance that was kindled in 'GTA' and recently led to marriage