Trevor Strunk

We made it! Now on to the next

Hey all,

We made it to 1k!! Thank you to everyone for all of your help and support -- this would've been dead in the water without you and don't forget it. I'm looking forward to getting on the consistent schedule asap with a new episode today, and I'll be researching *thunder clap, lightning* video as well. And written work is in the works. So it's all humming here thanks to all of you. Two final thoughts: one, tell a friend about this place or the pod or both! And two: thank you again. You're all the best.

Oh and a PS: as things get m...

Tier Changes

Lots happening! I'm very excited as we approach 1k in pledges, and very honored by your support. That's, in large part, why I changed the 1000 mark goal to something a bit more achievable. Daily content is something I'd love to do, but won't be really feasible until I can make this a full time thing. For the meantime, I'll make a more consistent schedule and start focusing on branching further into writing and video. A decent compromise! Thanks again everyone!

5 Buxx

Hey all,

So I'm going to be increasing the subscriber pods to 5 dollars in an effort to continue improving quality and quantity around here. Most of you who are at 1 have been here forever, so I won't be changing the RSS feed. That means you'll likely retain access to all of them: this is fine with me. Future subscribers won't have the same access (presumably).

Thanks for the support, everyone -- it's been huge.

"What Danny Fetonte Warned Us About": Q&A w/@lbourgie

Welcome to another Q&A for patrons! Lena @lbourgie is back to talk with us about ideal games, the nature of fantasy writing, and grim dark for grim dark's sake on an extra long bonus ep. Enjoy, and thank you for your support!

Patron Q&A w/ Michael Lutz!

Michael Lutz (@WarrenisDead) joins us for a round of bonus questions, where he reveals his ideal game and more. And you better believe there's more literary criticism than you saw in the main episode.

Theme as always is by @prodigis, who is tremendous, and thanks to all of you for your support and patronage!

Bonus with Stefan Heck and Jesse Farrar

Hey!

Not only is this a bonus episode where we all get real jokey before getting real serious, and not only can you hear your favs from Real Good Show and Your Kickstarter Sucks, but we're debuting the new theme song by longtime friend of the show @prodigis! It's a party!

No Cartridge Bonus: Q&A with Brandon "sexualjumanji" Zaboklicki

Hey, and thanks for your support! This bonus episode is your reward, in which Brandon talks VR Battle Royale games, his relationship to comedy and games, and much much more. Enjoy!

Music is from the Ice Hockey OST and, perhaps you already know, the Seinfeld theme.

Solo Patreon Bonus: Old Time Hardcore

Hey, welcome to a solo bonus! Long promised, finally achieved. We talk Player Unknown's Battlegrounds and getting a victory condition in Sunless Sea. 

Music this week is "Old Time Hockey" by Boston's own Slapshot and "AM/PM" by the oft-embattled American Nightmare/American Nothing/Give up the Ghost. Thanks for being so generous and please definitely tell a friend!

Q&A With @RS_Benedict

Bonus material returns! Enjoy some updated material with @RS_Benedict, including their favorite violent video game and reasons why the Twlight Zone might make a perfect gaming experience.

Music this week is the theme song from the Obsidian OST, composed by Thomas Dolby.

Q&A With Andrew @illybocean

A new Patron only Q&A with Boonta-Vista Socialist's Club's own @illybocean, as he talks with us about pet peeves in interface menus, ideal games, and the future of VR and gaming as we know it.

Thanks again for your patronage! Music this week is "Suspiria" by Goblin and KFLO's "Time to Move" off of the Superhot OST.

Q&A Donald Borenstein (@Boringstein)

We welcome Donald to a special patron-only Q&A where he discusses why he just cannot stand The Castle Doctrine and what his ideal game would look like! Thanks again so much for your support -- it means the world.

Medium Piece Reading: eSports and the NCAA

Please enjoy this reading of my recently published piece "The Work of Sport in the Age of Its Reproduction Under Gaming" available at https://no-cartridge.com/the-work-of-sport-in-the-age-of-its-reproduction-under-gaming-5c266ff3ae78

Full Interviews for Medium Piece on eSports

Hi all! Thanks for being patrons -- as a thank you, I've included the full interview text Bart Pursel and Ferris Gantzman in two pdfs. These are what I pull text from in my recently published medium article, available at https://no-cartridge.com/the-work-of-sport-in-the-age-of-its-reproduction-under-gaming-5c266ff3ae78 .

Q&A with Chris Person!

We talk to Chris Person (@papapishu) about game production, old classics, and forgotten gems. More from Chris, as always, on his twitter and on Kotaku! 

Music this week is the theme from the Metal Wolf Chaos OST.

Q&A: Andrew Dunn (AnndraADunn) on Politics and Gaming!

Just when you thought I'd forgotten about these, here we are with yet another exclusive Q&A, this time with the talented and sharp Andrew Dunn on what Corbyn means for the UK and what the War of the Three Kingdoms might have to give to gaming.

Music is the "Oh Jeremy Corbyn" mashup mix and "Bandit Fight" from the Mount and Blade: Warband OST. Thanks so much for your support!

Q&A Bonus: Jon Bernhardt

Bonus material with Jonathan Bernhardt (@jonbernhardt) in which we talk baseball, Mass Effect, and the very nature of failure. As always thank you for your support!

Music this week is "C-130 Tailgating Party at 100,000 Feet" from the Alpha Protocol OST and "Oh Oh Orioles" by Warning Track Power.

Bonus Q&A: Hazel Monforton on Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

Extra special bonus material for patreon subscribers here as Hazel Monforton gives us a little more time to discuss one of her favorite moments writing in Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, her most desired literary spinoff, and the games she's looking forward to most this upcoming season. 

Thanks again to Hazel and Arkane Studios for letting her talk with us; preorder Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, which comes out September 15, 201`7. And thank you for all of your support!

Music this week is "Crosses" by Jose Gonzalez (as hear...

Patron Bonus: Dave Mangels Q&A

Hey all!

We're back again with another Patron only Q&A, this time with Bleeding Green Nation's Dave Mangels (@southern_philly). If you liked Dave's takes on politics and video games, you'll love his analysis of Eagles football, racing games, and more. As always, thanks so much for being patrons -- you make all of this possible!

Music this week is "Lux Aeterna" from the Project CARS OST and "Fly Eagles Fly!" from, well, any given Eagles game.

Patreon Bonus: Scott Benson Q&A

Hey all!

So this is practically a bonus episode, as Scott dives into his influences, the music that formed him, and the importance of aesthetic limits. And there's mixology at the end, so don't miss that for sure!

Music is "True Believers" by The Bouncing Souls and "Maxwell Murder" by Rancid.

Episodes 25/26: Interview With Scott Benson

Hey all, 

Here, in one spot, is the entire Scott Benson podcast on gaming, aesthetics, punk, rustbelt gothic, and more. And for patrons, check just above for a Q&A with Scott  that's even bigger than usual. So enjoy, and thank you again for listening, supporting, and spreading the word.

Music in this episode is "Long Journey Home" by The Bedquilt Ramblers from the Kentucky Route Zero soundtrack and the theme song from the Cart Life OST by Richard Hofmeier.

No Cartridge Bonus Questions: Kara (@QaraKoyunlu)!

We're lucky enough to get Kara in for a few questions, ranging from queer representation in gaming to the deeply fascinating Zero Escape series. As always thank you for all of your support!!

Bonus Material: Matt "cushbomb" Christman

Hey all, please enjoy these bonus questions from the incomparable Matt Christman, and thank you for all your support! Tell a friend!

Music this week is the hauntingly aggravating "Aztec Temple" music from the Goldeneye 007 OST, composed by Graeme Norgate, Grant Kirkhope, Robin Beanland.

Bonus Episode: @fender_splendor on VR

Hey all, welcome to a new patron-only episode of No Cartridge Audio! This time around, Paul (@fender_splendor) talks to us about gaming history, his ideal work simulator, and the nature of leisure time. As always, thank you so so much for your support -- it means the world.

Music this week is "Under Cover of Darkness" from the Republique Episode 1 OST composed by Zinc LeMone.

Bonus No Cartridge Audio: Hazel Monforton

Join us in this second bonus episode of No Cartridge Audio, where Hazel Monforton (@hazelmonforton) answers questions about her favorite genre, her dream game, and how exactly we might use ambiguity to tell stories in the video game genre! Enjoy!

Music this time around is the Cleric Beast theme from Bloodborne.

Bonus Episode: Felix Biederman

Hi all,

Welcome to the first of a new series of podcasts for you guys as patrons! Every time I do an interview from here on out, I will be including a brief,10-20 minute bonus podcast in which I ask our guest a few more questions about their topic and about their interests in general. This is just my way of thanking you for helping me make this dream a bit more of a reality.

This week we welcome Felix Biederman and ask him about the red-headed stepchild of the MGS franchise as well as what his ideal conclusion to the game might be. And ...

Bonus No Cartridge Audio -- Demon Tower!

Hey all!

Thanks as always for being such incredible patrons, and as thanks, here's a bonus episode of No Cartridge Audio on Night in the Woods, particularly Night in the Woods' remarkable mini-game Demon Tower. It's a rogue-lite, but it's also a pretty incredible commentary on autonomy in art...or at least I think so. Enjoy!

Music is from the Demon Tower OST (seriously) by the (incredibly hardworking and talented) Alec Holowka. Check him out at his bandcamp at infiniteammo.bandcamp.com and subscribe to No Cartridge Audio on iTunes or vi...

Patron Only No Cartridge Audio -- Episode 12, Grinding in JRPGs

Hi everyone!

Hope you've been following along at no-cartridge.com and no-cartridge.net or on iTunes as the podcast has been rolling along and the content has been flowing, however staunched from its eventual flow. Today I'm bringing to you, patrons only, a new episode about NieR: Automata, but mostly about the concept of grinding for experience and gold in JRPGs. Why do we do it? And why do we keep doing it? Find out my first grasp at a take today.

Music this week is from the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack, and was compo...

No Cartridge Audio, Patron Only Episode 8!

Hi everyone!

I'm excited to bring you the newest episode of No Cartridge Audio, on Sim Golf! Patron Andrew Meyer requested this as one of his two games to review and I couldn't be happier that he did. A longer written review is forthcoming, but try this on to start -- just for supporters.

And if you haven't been keeping up with the podcast, well get on it -- subscribe on iTunes or go to www.no-cartridge.net to subscribe via RSS. Recent episodes you might have missed include one on Failbetter Games' Sunless Sea and the classic Planescape...

Episode 6 - Planescape: Torment

 Hi all!

So, big news: the podcast is now on iTunes, with its own RSS feed and everything! Subscribe using your podcasts app on iPhone or use the RSS feed available at www.no-cartridge.net . As a result, I won't do daily updates here, but I will do weekly recaps linking back in case you don't like subscription. 

And Patron-only episodes will also continue! There's even a Patron-only RSS: if you need it, email me at trevor.strunk@gmail.com .

Upon the occasion of thinking about the seminal Planescape: Torment, I think thro...

No Cartridge Audio Episode 5: Alan Wake and Deadly Premonition

After a flu date missed, we're back with a real fleshed out No Cartridge Audio! Two Twin Peaks homages enter, and both leave, though one a bit less bloodied than the other -- find out what to make of these strange half thrillers, half adaptations, half procedurals in today's episode!

Intro music is S. Halle and P. Alanko's "Welcome to Bright Falls" from the Alan Wake OST and outro music the "Whistle Theme" from the Deadly Premonition OST.