Brainlords: Video Games of the Mind

Should Games Be Fun?

On today’s episode of Brainlords we explain why games might be better if they were a little “worse”! Jorge gives a history lesson on The Flow State while Kyle explains how it recently became synonymous with the addiction loop of a slot machine. Is fun the only emotion gameplay should strive for or should we want a bit more friction in an interactive art form?
 
CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited by Kyle
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Should games be fun? (0:04:04)
Super Mario World
What does friction mean? (0:06:39)
Dragon’s Dogma 2, Signalis, Bravely Default
What are some instances of a game that had friction that you didn’t like? (0:16:20)
Stephanie Sterling, Breath of the Wild, Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing Wild World, Street Fighter 6, Blazeblue, FF1 Anniversary PSP
What is the Flow State? (0:24:09)
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow in Games (2007) - Jenova Chen, Journey, Flow, Sky: Children of the Light, Tears of the Kingdom, Addiction by Design - Natasha D. Schull, Simon’s Quest, Diablo 1, Diablo 2, Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne
How do we tell the difference between deliberate design choices and bad controls? (0:43:20)
Pathologic, Pathologic 2, Deadly Premonition, Windwaker, Darkest Dungeon, Pseudoregalia, Disco Elysium, Silent Hill 2, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 4, Final Fantasy IX, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Game Ratings: What is the most overrated, underrated, and accurately rated game with Tank Controls? (1:09:31)
Shadows of the Empire, Resident Evil 1, RE: Remake (Gamecube), Parasite Eve, World of Tanks, Tomb Raider, God Hand, Katamari Damacy
Games as theater - Should games be Dramatic or Epic? (1:15:51)
Lisa The Painful RPG, Undertale, 1000xResist, Look Back (NOTE: we said Your Name but we meant Look Back), Doom, Doom (2016), Astro Bot, Flinthook
Should the goal of a remake be to eliminate friction? (1:03:17)
Link’s Awakening Remake, Ocarina of Time, Nightdive Studios, System Shock 1
What are some more concrete examples of a remake that took away some friction and lost something? (1:37:11)
Super Mario RPG Remake, Silent Hill 2 Remake, RE: 4 Remake
Closing Thoughts (1:47:17)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
The Question Zone (1:53:35)
What is the best objectively bad game? - Francis York Morgan
Altered Beast, Harvester, Evil Zone, Dwarf Fortress.
What is the point of preserving a game after it gets remade? - True Doom Murderhead
Monkey Island, Smash Bros Melee, Mario 64, Metal Gear Solid Delta, MGS3/Subsistence/3DS, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Wizardry
The Rec Room (2:05:59)
Magical Puzzle Popils, Dragon Crystal, Playing Games randomly for the Steam Nextfest, Angeline Era, Severance Season 2, Hydlide, Ys, Nativshark.

Does the Perfect Paper Mario Even Exist?

This week's episode we attempt craft the perfect Paper Mario using elements from each game like it was some sort of ransom note. Our first ever guest, Oceanity, uses her expertise as one of the only people who actually played Color Splash to help us identify what is at the heart of the best Mario RPGs. Kyle explains why The Origami King is a flawed gem. Does the Paper theme even matter or are the "good" games only that way because the partners are such funny little guys? We wrestle with Nintendo's relationship with Paper Mario's identity crisis, revisiting The Thousand Year Door with mixed feelings, and more in this page turner of an episode. 
 
CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David PinckneySpecial Guest: Izzy - Oceanity
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Samurai Pizza Cats
Does the Perfect Paper Mario Exist? (0:05:08)
Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Super Paper Mario, Paper Mario Sticker Star, Paper Mario Color Splash, Mario and Luigi Series, Paper Mario Origami King, Super Mario RPG Remake, Mario TTYD Remake
What is the Most Overrated, Underrated, Accurately Rated Mario RPG? (0:17:00)
Earthbound, Chibi Robo, Custom Robo, Radio the Universe, Final Fantasy Pixel Remake
Your Personal History with Paper Mario. (0:23:44)
What even is a Paper Mario game? (0:53:55)
What is Mario's Personality? (1:04:05)
Why does Paper Mario Have Such and Identity Crisis? (1:07:17)
Which Paper Mario has the Best Story? (1:19:25)
Which Paper Mario has the Best Gameplay? (1:23:44)
Which Mario RPG has the best Soundtrack? (1:31:27)
Which Paper Mario Has the Best Partners? (1:38:12)
What does paper mean as a theme and how has it changed over time? (1:50:33)
Why do other Paperverse indies struggle to do what Paper Mario does? (1:55:38)
Underhero, Bug Fabels, Born of Bread, YIIK
What do the Non Paper games do better or worse than the Paper Games? (2:01:25)
Closing Thoughts. (2:09:31)
Question Zone (2:13:28)
What Mario character or enemy would you want to see as a partner in a Paper Mario game? -Guruguru Giraloo
Can any other IP have a paper spinoff? -Flat Peach Theory
Rec Room (2:21:04)
Secret of the Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers, Keep Driving, The Pat Metheny Group, Common Side Effects, Mars Express, Unicorn Overlord
 

Game Collecting: Hoarding or Preserving?

If we can’t talk about fighting games then we’ll just have to fight each other! Our first debate episode where we ask whether game collecting is preserving or hoarding? Kyle takes the role of defender for the more positive aspects of the retro game scene and how accessible collecting can still be (as long as you’re cool). Jorge on the other hand argues the more toxic aspects of game collecting and the game industry’s failings at correcting this. And the winner of this debate… is you, dear listener! Unless you’re the type to whine about selling your copy of Go! Go! Hypergrind. In which case this is an intervention, I’m sorry. 
 
CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
 
Game Collecting: Preserving or Hoarding? (0:02:22)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Heritage For the Future.
What is the Current State of Video Game Collecting? (0:07:18)
Silent Hill 2, Pokemon Black 2, Persona 3 Reload
How Has Game Collecting Changed in 20 Years? (0:19:46)
Mega Man Legacy Collection, Tomb Raider 1-3 Collection, Night Dive Studios, Earthbound, Stadium Events, Nintendo World Championship, Gotcha Force, Gundam Vs, Armored Core 6, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, Decompiling and Recompiling game code. 
What Role Does Physical Media Play in an Increasingly Digital Landscape? (0:39:08)
Culdcept Saga, PS5 Pro, Super Mario RPG,
What Role Does the Games Industry Play in the Game Collecting Scene? (0:49:30)
Halo 3,Star Wars Dark Forces, Tiger Woods PGA 2007
Does Game Collecting Enable Preserving or Price Flipping? (1:03:58)
Closing Statements (1:12:03) 
Little Sampson, Cocoron, Nostalgia 1907, Pete Door, Business Insider Lego, Rule of Rose, The Game Chasers, Alan Wake 1, Death Stranding
The Question Zone (1:48:30)
We Dont Say How's the Film Watch of that Movie, or I love the Book Read of that novel. Imagine we eliminated the word Gameplay, what would you say instead? - Anthony Anthony Chopperelli
 
Why do you think some gamers tend to be adverse towards emulation? - Victor Viper
The Rec Room (1:58:30)
UFO 50, Retro Game Challenge, Game Center CX, Dandadan, Watching anime in theaters. Batman Court of Owls, Under the Red Hood, Crisis on Infinite Earths 
 

Why Do Kids Keep Playing Earthbound?

Say Fuzzy Pickles! This week Jorge shares his experience at the 30th Anniversary Mother 2 Exhibit in Japan. Kyle accounts some bewilderment when meeting a tween who's favorite game in the world is Earthbound. Why does the Mother series keep attracting newer generations of kids and what do we think about the future of the Mother franchise? We share the history and *our* history with Mother because our favorite series isn't dead, it's complete! 
 
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
 
(0:00:42) Why do kids keep playing Earthbound?
(0:00:51) Jorge's Earthbound Japan Trip 
Hobonichi Mother 2 Exhibit
(0:17:11) What did it mean for you as an artist to see Earthbound in such a rough, unfinished state?
Metroid Dread
(0:21:29) Kyle Encounters an baby Earthbound Mega fan. 
Earthbound Doesn't Care, The Angry Video Game Nerd (The angriest gamer you ever heard)
(0:28:32) What is the History of the Mother Franchise?
Megame Tensei, Shin Megame Tensei, Mother 1, Mother 2, Mother 3, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy 4, 
(0:44:18) What is *your* history with the Mother Series
Breath of Fire, Super Mario RPG, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, Snes9X, Chrono Trigger, FF6, Terranigma, Illusion of Gaia, Seiken Densetsu 3, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy Legend, Smash Bros Brawl, Smash Dojo, Starman DOT net, Oceanity - Twitch
(1:04:20) What's Mother 1 even about?
(1:14:43) What's Mother 2 about?
(1:22:04) What is Mother 3 about?
(1:34:02) What Mother inspired games have resonated the most with you?
Undertale, Deltarune, Lisa, Why am I Dead at Sea, Hylics, Knuckle Sandwich, Eastward, Omori, YIIK,  Yume Nikki, Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass, Space Funeral, Off, Earthbound Halloween, Moon: Remix RPG
(1:52:30) What is the future of Mother?
Oddity, Mother 4, Homestuck 
(1:57:25) Closing Thoughts 
(2:02:45) Rec room 
G.O.D. (SNES), Okage the Shadow King, DQ Remakes, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, Linda^3, Stand By Me, Geno7 Mother Type Beats,
(2:11:50) The Question Zone 
If earthbound is a game about experiencing the outside world and it's wonders, why are so many Earthbound inspired games about depression and darkness? - Peanut cheesy bread 
(2:17:18) If you could change the secondary market for video games in any way how would you? - David bunch
(2:20:45) Outro and Contact Information

BONUS APRIL EPISODE: If I See the Akira Bike Slide One More Time I Will Cry and Then Throw Up

Bievenedos a Brainlords! In today's bonus April Episode, Kyle and Jorge are replaced with alter egos Jorge and Kyle for an anime themed episode brought to you by our sister podcast Robot Carnival. We process our grief in seeing that the Akira Bike Slide got referenced in yet another piece of media. Does referencing this iconic shot in 2025 make you a poser? Yes Billy. Yes it does. 
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Anime. 

What *Should* A Character Look Like?

 "If Chun-Li's Thighs are too big it's not going to be good for the meta." Welcome to Brainlords! This week Kyle and Jorge discuss what can go wrong with a character design according to artists and more importantly (and loudly) according to fans. We wrestle with the fact that new versions of a character are caught between our expectation and brand management and talk about what its like adapting a licensed character to 2d, 3d, and real life! It's Brainlords vs our favorite crossovers and the only winner is you, the listener!
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Dragon*Con, Lies of P, Bakeru, Zenless Zone Zero
(0:06:53) What *should* a character look like?
SF4-6, Kong of Fighters, Mark of the Wolf
(0:15:57)  What does Terry Bogart even look like? - Is he a face, vibe, aura, or brand?
(0:21:10) What is the difference between street fighter and King of fighters?
(0:26:44) - Video Game Crossovers were once an opportunity to examine familiar characters in new art styles - how has this changed?
Fortnite, Naruto Ninja Storm, Steven Universe Funko Pops, Daicon IV, Soul Calibur IV
(0:41:10) What defines a character for the fans? 
Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite/1/2, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, Time Bokan Yatterman
(0:52:01) When do fans become the arbiters of fan design? 
Mario Wonder, Sonic Generations
(1:06:18) What are your favorites interpretation of a character? Least Favorite?
Bomberman R, Super Puzzle Fighter, Viewtiful Joe, megaman x, 
(1:14:49) How can a characters styles evolve over different games in a franchise?
Hyrule warriors, Smash Bros Series, Persona Series, Fire Emblem Series 
(1:27:54) Wrap Up
(1:31:21) Question Zone: What is your ideal new Smash Bros Characters? - Tornado92
Puyo Puyo Series, Chibi Robo, Shantae, Mischeif Makers 
(1:35:56) Dream Crossover, GO! -Hellhouse MD
Umiwara Kawase, Cave Story, Yume Nikki, Rivals of Aether, Lisa the Painful, Hylics, Off, Space Funeral, Ib Horror Museum 
(1:39:54) Rec Room
Lawnmower Man Directors Cut, Ys and Popfil Mail on the JP Switch eShop, Princess Crown, Frog Monster, Hundreds of Beavers

EP1.5 - The UFO50 Game Awards

"The Game Awards really need to have a hype man."
 
In this weeks episode we celebrate the Game Awards for over 49 of UFO Soft titles. Using the well defined categories from Geoff Keighleys much smaller award show, we select winners for such awards as Best Ongoing Game, Most Anticipated Game, and Game of the Year using only the games from UFO50. We even create some categories of our own. What games could win Best Golf Game? More than you'd think!
 
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
Things discussed:
Untiltled Fuimoto Ueda Game, Elden Ring Nightreign, Onimusha, Virtua Fighter, The Game Awards
Brian Lords Presents: The UFO 50 Game Awards (0:08:00)
Best Adaptation - Cyber Owls (0:9:55)
LJN
Best Accessibility - Camouflage (0:19:43)
Community Support - Star Waspir (0:22:42)
Player Choice - Party House (0:25:52)
Best Debut Indie - Night Manor (0:32:55)
Friday The 13th
Best Ongoing Game - Pilot Quest (0:36:23)
Cookie Clicker, The Legend of Zelda
Best Audio - Minnie and Max (0:45:58)
Super Metroid, Symphony of the Night, Goonies 2, 8 Eyes
Best Action - Rakshasa (0:49:56)
Contra, Ghouls and Ghosts
Best Sim/Strategy - Avianos (0:53:57)
Best AR/VR - Misasma Tower (0:59:51)
Best Director - Jerry Smolki (1:08:44)
Mad Max Fury Road, Aquaria, Humble Bundle (back when it was good), Derek Yu, Illusion of Gaia
Best Art Direction - Mooncat  (1:20:21)
Action 52
Most Anticipated Game - Party House the Board Game (1:28:41)
Best Multiplayer - Bushido Ball (1:29:47)
Windjammers, Smash TV, River City Randsom
Best Sport/Racing - Big Bell Race (1:34:30)
Astro Bot, Astros Playroom
Best Golf Game - Pingolf (1:39:33)
Golf (NES), Pinbot, Bride of Pinbot
Best Family Game - Alfazars Hat (1:43:23)
Pocky and Rocky, Diddy Kong Racing, Gimmick
Best Fighting Game - Hyper Contender (1:47:14)
Smash Bros Series, Bionic Commando
Best RPG - Valbrace (1:52:02)
Yakuza Like a Dragon, Dragon Quest, 2 Fantasy Star, Punch-Out!!, Dark Souls, Final Fantasy 1/3
Games for Impact - Porgy (1:57:40)
Best Performance - The gut who goes "MISSION START" in Cyber Owls (2:00:01)
Best Score and Music - Pilot Quest (2:01:00)
Best Narrative - Mortol (2:03:39)
Jake Steinberg - Gamers Don't Understand Story
Best Mobile Game - Overbold (2:09:13)
Smash TV
Best Indie Game - Barbuta (2:12:58)
Best Game I'll probably Play Next Year - Grimstone (2:18:37)
Best Bell Game - Campenella 2 (2:19:08)
Spelunky, Blaster Master
Best Bird Game - Avianos (2:20:05)
Best "Bad" Game - Combatants (2:21:56)
Best Game We're Sad Didn't Win Anything - Rail Heist (2:25:15)
Best  Game We Didn't Play but Have to Give and Award to Anyways - Divers (2:28:52)
Biggies Cutie - Aplha (2:30:19)
Most Faithful Throwback - Ninpek (2:32:34)
Mappyland
GAME OF THE YEAR - Party House (2:35:36)
Corn Kids, Pac Land
Question Zone: What is your Game of the Year? (2:46:51) - Greg Milk
Unicorn Overlord, Metaphore RE:Fantazio, Astro Bot, Mouthwashing, 1000xResist, 
Why did Astro Bot Win Game of the Year?  () - some guy at Gamestop)
Signialis, Arrival, Mass Effect
Rec Room - Lao Gan Ma, Transformers One (3:10:32)

EP1 - What is the Most Adequately Rated Game?

"People said that game was weird (pejorative), but I remember being 14 with SNES9X thinking this game is weird (praise)."
In this weeks episode, forget the most overrated or underrated game. Whether it's good, bad, or mid what is the game that everybody can agree on? Can a game even be underrated when a it has a reputation for being a hidden gem? How does public and critical opinion of a game change over time and does it ever stop changing? Warning, these are just our moderately researched opinions meaning they are 100% right for the rest of all time. 
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
Things Discussed:
E3 2005, Twilight Princess, Windwaker.
1. What is the Most Adequately Rated Game? (0:08:55)
Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Wonder, Metal Gear Solid
2. What does it mean to be overrated, underrated, and and adequately rated? (0:17:06)
Doom
3. How does critical reappraisal change what is good or bad in a game? (0:26:56)
Baroque, Castlevania 2, Alien Resurrection, Nier Replicant
4. Many games are aptly rated but underappreciated, what differentiates that from being underrated? (0:36:36)
13 Sentinels
5. Does the social aspect affect what games you play? (0:39:11)
Diablo 4, Borderlands, God of War, The Last of Us, Call of Duty Series, Bioshock Infinite, Super Smash Bros Melee, Summoning Salt
6. What makes a game divisive and how does that better frame a game? (0:53:51)
Death Stranding, No Rest for the Wicked, Earthbound
7. What is your most underrated game? (1:01:47)
Fallout New Vegas, Nier Replicant, Earthbound
8. What is your most overrated game? (1:11:58)
Tears of the Kingdom, Final Fantasy Rebirth
9. What is your most adequately rated game? (1:23:44)
Chrono Trigger, Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Doom, Doom 2016, Frog Monster, Katamari Damacy
10. Wrap up and closing thoughts. (1:34:24)
 
11. Question Zone (1:3650)
"How important is memetic status to a game?" Portal 1, Portal 2
"How would you improve The Game Awards (be reasonable)?"
12. Rec Room (1:49:30)
Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977 - Jordan Minor, Sisters With Transistors, Nintendo E3 2005, The Green Knight.

EP0 - What Do We Look For in a Video Game?

 
"People don't want Zelda 2, they want Zelda 1-Plus."
Our pilot episode! Come get to know us as we ask the question - What do you look for in a game? Meet your hosts Jorge, an Illustrator working on product design at Fangamer, and Kyle, an SFX artist working on video game statues and eSports trophies at Volpin Props. Together they discuss games as an art form and a culture. Topics can cover any aspect to help us appreciate video games new, retro, popular, or indie (but like, the weird indie not just the popular indie though we do that alot too). On todays episode we'll learn what attracts us to a new game, judge each other's steam wishlists, and figure out why it's so difficult to describe games without comparing them to other games. 
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Edited By David Pinckney
 
Topics and Things discussed:
 
EVO, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Marvel Vs Capcom 2-3, Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue, Skullgirls, Guilty Gear Strive, DNF Duel, Melty Blood, League of Legends, Overwatch, Sothern Fried Gaming Expo, Arm Champs II, Battlezone, Manaco GP, Black Knight, Black Knight 2000, Pinbot, Bride of Pinbot.
1. What is Brainlords and who are your hosts? (0:15:11)
Gundam The Witch From Mercury, Fangamer, Volpin Props, Final Fantasy 1, The Yetee, Kirby Superstar.
2. What do you Look for in a game? (0:26:00)
Unicorn Overlord, Balatro, Milk Outside A Bag of Milk Outside A Bag of Milk Outside A Bag of Milk, Milk Inside A Bag of Milk Inside A Bag of Milk Inside A Bag of Milk, Umineko, Clickholding, Before Your Eyes, He F***ed the Girl Out of Me, Animal Well, Pepper Grinder
3. How Important is novelty when looking for a game? (0:32:50)
Theory of the Gimmick Aesthetic Judgment and Capitalist Form by Sianne Ngai, 1000xResist, Nier Automata, Signalis
4. When looking for a game, is there a distinction between modern and retro games? (0:39:20)
Pseudoregalia
5. Do you still try out new games blind? (0:44:55)
Lisa the Painful, Lisa the First, Shenmu, Cave Story, Yume Nikki, Alien Hominid, Super Meat Boy, RPG Maker VX Ace, Mega Man X, Mega Man Command Mission
6. Lets judge each other's taste based on our Steam Wishlists! (0:53:00)
Nine Sols, Hollow Knight, Detention, Devotion, Proto Droid Delta, Megaman Zero, The Making of Karateka, Half Life 2 Developer Commentary, Dumpy and Bumpy, Toxic Crusaders, Adventures of Lolo 1 2 &3, Void Stranger, Undertale, Lorelie and the Laser Eyes, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Asura the Striker, Space Harrier, Dread Delusion, Elder Scrolls 3 Morrowind, Kings Field, Va11 Hall-A, N1rvana, Doki Doki Literature Club, The House of Fata Morgana, AI The Somnium Files, Penitment, 999, 0.45 Parabelum Bloodhound
7. Closing Thoughts (1:16:40)
Zelda 2, A Link to the Past, Castlevania 2,
8. The Question Zone (1:2020)
"What was the last video game you regret buying and why?"
Little Kitty Big City, A Short Hike, Diablo 4, Nickelodeon All Star Brawl, Super Smash Bros Melee, Rivals of Aether 2
"Do you feel like you cant recommend games anymore without taking time out of a person's life?"
Disco Elysium, 13 Sentinels, Xenoblade, Severance, Demon Turf, Zone of the Enders, Penny's Big Breakaway, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom.
9. Outro (1:35:00) 
Contact us at BrainLordsPod@gmail.com
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