GenCon – Page 2 – The Download Podcast

All posts filed under “GenCon”

December 4, 2017

Episode 124: An Entire Planet Modeled After ME

First Keith talks about the new Thor movie, which Andy hasn’t seen yet, then they continue to discuss The Orville and Star Trek Discovery. Topics include the classic Trek trope of the character who’s an outsider who wishes to be an insider, Harry Mudd version 2.0, and the expectations of new stories set in an existing universe. This leads to a discussion of Minority Report, Tomorrowland, and utopias vs dystopias in general. Then Keith talks about the games he ran and played at AmberCon, including a new Phoenix adventure, and Andy talks about playing games at GameHoleCon. Lastly they discuss season 2 of Stranger Things.

November 21, 2017

Episode 123: I Bought the Moisture Farm

First Keith & Andy talk about their plans for upcoming events, including the pending release of the next Thor movie. This gets into yet another discussion of new works based on older works, and how well — or not — the new works adhere to the vision of the original. In particular, they discuss Star Trek: Discovery, Blade Runner, and Star Wars: Galaxies vs. Knights of the Old Republic. Then they discuss episode 7 of the Orville at length. Other media topics include The Goldbergs, The Good Place, Mr. Robot, Stranger Things season 2, and Riverdale. Andy laments the issues surrounding the way new shows are released now, and wishes new episodes of TV shows were released monthly, instead of weekly with big gaps vs whole seasons at once with even bigger gaps.

September 12, 2017

Episode 118: Cool Things You Can’t See

This episode was recorded live before a small audience when Andy & Keith got together during a panel at the WashingCon gaming convention. First Keith talks about trouble he had when he couldn’t get a sandwich, and Andy talks about trouble he had when his vintage car caught fire. Andy tells a few stories from Burning Man, then gives Keith a box of old cassette tapes for him and Jenn to listen to as they drive around in their vintage camper. He also gives Keith a mix CD he made of his favorite They Might Be Giants songs since after their first six albums. Then Andy tells some more Burning Man stories, including getting to ride on the Sensatron art car to the big burn, and Keith tells stories about DragonCon. Near the end Andy also mentions that Doctor Who Fluxx is at the printer, and Keith talks about the season finale of Game of Thrones.

Note: Special Thanks to the Dragon’s Demise podcast for providing audio services for this episode!

Additional Note: Here’s the TMBG playlist Andy mentions during the show:
1 Doctor Worm (Severe Tire Damage)
2 Operators Are Standing By (Long Tall Weekend)
3 Bastard Wants to Hit Me (The Spine)
4 E Eats Everything (Here Come the ABCs)
5 Brain Problem Situation (Cast Your Pod to the Wind)
6 Can’t Keep Johnny Down (Join Us)
7 When Will You Die (Join Us)
8 You’re On Fire (Nanobots)
9 The Darlings Of Lumberland (Nanobots)
10 Oh You Did (Why?)
11 I Am Invisible (Why?)
12 Definition of Good (Why?)
13 Or So I Have Read (Why?)
14 Elephants (Why?)
15 So Crazy for Books (Why?)
16 I Am Alone (Phone Power)
17 Erase (Glean)
18 I Can Help The Next In Line (Glean)
19 Madam, I Challenge You To A Duel (Glean)
20 All The Lazy Boyfriends (Glean)
21 Another Weirdo (Dial-a-Song – Single)
22 Instant Fan Club (test mp3)
23 Emily Messner (ringtone)

August 29, 2017

Episode 117: You Really Don’t Need ‘em When You Don’t Need ‘em, But When you Need ‘em, You Really Need ‘em!

Andy & Keith are back from GenCon and begin by telling GenCon stories, with Keith’s including Traveler’s Rest beforehand plus general life-in-a-van-with-a-pug stories, and Andy describing the total eclipse of the sun he got to see on the way home. In between they discuss they ups and downs and reading reviews of their games, and Andy talks about a small gameplay issue he’d like to make to the Creepers in Firefly Fluxx. They also talk about the samples of fantasy money they picked up at GenCon from a game called Shadows of Esteren, which leads to a discussion of currency design, and of course, game design. Later topics include Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, the newer works of They Might Be Giants, and the differences between dogs and cats. Then they brainstorm ideas for a game about cryonically frozen heads hoping their investments allow them to buy good replacement bodies upon resuscitation, and an idea for a Star Trek sitcom starring the cryonically-revived trio of characters from 20th century who appeared in TNG Season 1, Episode 26. Lastly, the guys give non-spoilery reactions to the newest episodes of Rick & Morty and Game of Thrones.

August 15, 2017

Episode 115: The Kramden/Kramer Theory

The conversation begins with the word Fiddlesticks, which leads to the discovery of the Kramden/Kramer theory as well as a discussion of the Blinovitch Limitation Effect. Their meandering discussions include villains who control the weather, and the tick bite that causes meat allergies. Lastly, they discuss Rick and Morty, the Santa Clarita Diet, and the differences between zombies and vampires.

August 1, 2017

Episode 113: Apoplectic Giraffe

First Keith reports on the status of the Action Cats! Kickstarter, and describes his 9 step process for evaluating photos of cats. Keith also talks about an amazing birthday party he just attended, the theme of which leads them into a discussion of Game of Thrones. Other topics include cosplayers, fashion police, and sword-fighting lessons. Andy talks about what’s new and different in the new edition of Nanofictionary, which launches on August 17th. He also reports on the status of Zendo. Media topics include Better Call Saul, The Leftovers, Rick & Morty, and a movie called Her.

July 18, 2017

Episode 111: Zombies Rule Belgium!

First the guys talk about what they’re each up to, including Keith’s newest Kickstarter. Then they talk about how movie sets of important locations, like the Oval Office, must get re-used by various film productions. Andy observes that many episodes of the original Twilight Zone series were westerns, and wonders if the real reason for that was the easy availability of western-themed backlots at the time. They discuss Spider-Man movies at length, along other superhero movies, including the Fantastic Four. Other media topics discussed include GLOW, Man in the High Castle, and Rick & Morty.

July 11, 2017

Episode 110: Eyeballs or Vomit of Death?

First, Keith talks about his new van, the first real copy of Illimat. and the upcoming start of his Action Cats kickstarter. They yammer about the issues around owning an older car. Keith talks about an unpublished role-playing game which employs Tarot cards, called The Nightwood Society, by a friend of his friend named Dan. Keith talks about a new board game called Potion Explosion, which leads to a discussion of the vintage 3DO videogame called Trip’D. Media topics include Moana, The Man in the High Castle, Twin Peaks, Dreamland, Falling Water, and after dropping the spoiler curtain, they talk about the finale of Fargo. Andy again reminds Keith that he really needs to watch Rick & Morty, and further calls him out for having an attitude against animation.

SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers inside!

March 29, 2017

Episode 98: Keith & Andy’s Precious Little Podcast

This week Keith is finally able to reveal the details of his mysterious “Project Ex” game: It’s “Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Card Game,” which will be released later this year from Renegade Games! Keith also talks about marketing plans for Illimat which leads to a discussion of GenCon and summer travel plans in general. Andy talks about the total eclipse of the sun that will be happening on August 17th, and recounts some of the events that just happened at the GAMA Trade Show. Media topics include Continuum, Last Man on Earth, Time After Time, Fargo, Legion, This Is Us, The Americans, and Powerless. They also grouse about how unrealistically Hollywood portrays poker games and sword fights. Lastly, Keith mentions a new podcast he’s going to be appearing on, called Manifest Zone.

August 23, 2016

Episode 70: Phoenix: A Very Special Episode

It’s a very special episode of the Download, recorded at GenCon, featuring special guests Kristin Looney, Leila Zucker, and Laurie Menke, who join Andy in a demo session of Keith’s just-released RPG, called Phoenix: Dawn Command. Can this new team of Phoenixes save the Flame-Keeper from The Chant?