Play, Watch, Listen

Such a great group…yes there are tangents but it’s part of the charm. Love the discussions they have and even when they don’t agree or are on a more sensitive topic, they are respectful.

Don’t what cosmos had to align to get these 4 together, actually it was just DICE, but nonetheless I’m sure glad they did. Each one brings a unique perspective to a leading entertainment industry. The BTS (behind the scenes, though I’d love to see them do a Korean karaoke night) stories are awesome and are all enough of a peek behind the curtain to keep you coming back for the next week. That said, we have been spoiled by weekly iterations for the past two years and now as the world begins to churn at a normal pace again, we unfortunately must get less of these amazing individuals. Alanah: Does her best to keep these genius minds in-line and on topic despite it being futile. Initially wished in some eps she had a chance to talk more but realized she’s listening just as intently as I am. Mike: Offers dry British humor and cynicism which in my personal limits are about two hours and so this show hits the perfect marker for me. Game dev stories are insightful and give way to a bigger picture. Austin: Delivers the best behind the scenes stories in my opinion, and is wicked at the piano. I love his genuine love for the craft and his respect for his colleagues. There are times where I wish he wasn’t cut off and times when I wish he’d get to the point. That’s nuance, baby! Troy: A guy who feels like your really cool uncle you love to hang around but is the one person who is very hard to get ahold of. When you guys do hang, he makes crystals with you from the crystal kit that you both went to Michael’s and bought in the arts and crafts section. After failing twice, and getting it right the third time, he tells you that’s what being a scientist is all about. By the way, did you know he’s done voice work for two Cabela’s Hunts games?

This rambling group of misfits manages to never stay on topic yet continually enlighten me on the state and history of music, film, and games. That statement might seem a contradiction to the review title, but I invite you to give the show a listen and disagree with me, babyyy.

The tangential aspects of the podcast were difficult to get used to. The more I listened, the more I adapted. Talks of movies, music, politics, and gaming are prevalent, but sometimes gaming is an afterthought. That’s okay! It’s called “Play, Watch, Listen” for a reason. The expertise each host holds in their respective industries is immeasurably palpable. Learning more about games journalism, voice acting, scoring, and game development is invaluable. Learning how the many aspects of the games industry operates will allow you to look at games in a completely different light. Highly recommended.

As a game developer myself, I enjoyed their conversations and insights. However it’s basically ruined by the audio quality of one of the hosts (Mike?). He is very echo-y, hard to understand, and it contrasts poorly with the other hosts (who sound great). At first I thought it was just an issue with the specific episode I started with, but nope, his audio is always bad. So it’s hard to recommend this podcast in its current state.

Austin Wintory is the only reason this podcast is worth a listen post Troy Bakers exit. Austin is a fantastic & fascinating host with great insights into the games industry. And that is the only positive thing worth saying about this podcast… I just listened to the episode where Alannah & Mike ridiculed those who expressed displeasure with Joanna Dark’s appearance in the new Perfect Dark stating that anyone who didn’t like it “probably has never been close to a woman.” As a female gamer, which according to Alannah & Mikes' standards should not only make me one of the leading authorities on the appearance of female characters in video games but also one of the only relevant authorities, I could not be more disappointed in Joanna Darks watered-down new look as a long time Perfect Dark fan. If fans are allowed to express a displeasure in the re-creation of a beloved character like Sonic, why are we not allowed to express displeasure in Joanna Dark’s? Because she’s a woman? Mike and Alannah are every bit as sexist as they accuse gamers of being. We should be allowed to kindly but critically express a dislike for a character design without an implication anyone who disagrees with them is a troll who has never been near a woman and therefore an invalid opinion. Mike & Alannah are overly political clowns. If you’re looking for a podcast that just talks video games without shoving other kinds of bull down your throat - look elsewhere.