Mark and Justin and Matthew of Watcher Gaming talk what they do when starting a new game for the first time, how that's changed over the years, and why we form these habits Let us know: What is your new game ritual? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Listen online: Quick Play RSS: Quick …

Mark and Landry Smith and Jake Martin and Parker Deal draft their picks for a hypothetical lineup of ✨Nintendo Selects✨ Switch games, along with a brief discussion on the likelihood of Nintendo Selects returning and a potential price point. Vote for your favorite lineup of selects (this link is also your spoiler warning) Let us know: What game do y…

Mark and Billie Cox talk about the controversy around Palworld vs. Pokemon, the differences between what is inspired by something vs. ripping it off, and why we see so many games copying each other's homework. Let us know: What is the biggest ripoff in video games? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|…

Mark and Jake Martin talk about the ways video games can uniquely present their story, a few different categories for stories in games, and what we hope to see from video game narratives in the future. Let us know: What do you want to see in narrative from video games? Play Metacritic Golf QUARTER 2: ⁠⁠shoot your shot⁠ Follow us on the proper socia…

Mark and Jake Martin talk about the lack of truly good video game protagonists and how the medium itself creates a challenge to write great characters. Let us know: Can we ever get a truly great video game protagonist? Play Metacritic Golf QUARTER 2 by April 15: ⁠shoot your shot Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @Qu…

Mark takes a look back at the games of Q1 2024, along the results of Metacritic Golf to see how we perceived games matches up to their ultimate review scores. See the charts: i wanna see the charts Play Metacritic Golf QUARTER 2: shoot your shot Let us know: What's your favorite game from 2024 so far? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @Quic…

Introducing the Second Opinion: a brand-new format of revisiting an old topic with a fresh perspective. Mark and Nate McKeever of The Backlog Breakdown talk about the continual shift towards digital media, the potential pitfalls and concerns, but also why not getting up from your couch is nice. Missed the original episode? Listen to Ep. 54, The Dig…

Mark and Justin and Matthew of Watcher Gaming talk about the use of time limits in video games, when they're implemented well, and when they're just the worst. Let us know: Do you like time limits? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Listen online: Quick Play RSS: Quick Play Email us: qui…

A real quick podcast about video games. New episodes go up on Wednesdays. What happened to 11 & a Half Minutes to Talk About Video Games? We never left. We just found a little bit more time. Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Listen online: Quick Play RSS: Quick Play Email us: quickplayp…

Mark and Sarah Erickson talk about the collaborative games they've played, loved, and tolerated, and how they relate to each other through cooperative games. Let us know: What's your favorite collaborative game? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes…

Mark and Jake Martin talk about the stories around and behind their favorite games and consider what it would take to have a new favorite game. Let us know: Why is your favorite game your favorite game? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us…

Mark and Nate McKeever of the Backlog Breakdown talk about how exclusive games (or the lack thereof) brand a console, particularly when it comes to Xbox. Let us know: Should we have console exclusives? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us:…

In this booster pass-sized episode, Mark and Sarah Erickson talk about playing through all 96 courses now in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and their individual and collective best and worst courses. View the full rankings here (and complete your own rankings!) Let us know: What are your top 8 courses from Mario Kart 8? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitte…

Mark and Billie Cox talk about games where you're a tiny character in a big world, why there might be so many of these games, and what they'd like to see from from tiny games. Let us know: What is your favorite tiny game? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11poi…

In this Big Discourse, Mark and Billie and Elizabeth and Henry and Jordan and Landry and Parker talk about some of their favorite games they played in 2023. Let us know: What is your own game of the year? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email …

Mark talks through the results of 2023 Metacritic Golf, how we perceived games would turn out vs. how they were critically received, and announces the big winner(s). Let us know: Did this year’s games measure up to what you expected? Check out the charts ⁠here⁠. Participate in 2024 (Q1!) Metacritic Golf ⁠here⁠. Follow us on the proper socials: Twit…

Mark and Landry Smith talk about the oft-reviled CGI trailer, how they impact the discourse around upcoming games, and why they're maybe not so bad after all. Let us know: Do you like CGI trailers? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.…

Mark and Jake Martin talk about when they find themselves listening to video game music, some of their favorite soundtracks, and why we like listening to this music. Let us know: What’s your favorite video game soundtrack? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11po…

Mark and Billie Cox talk about the continual shift to digital media, what we lose with that shift, and what opportunities there are in an all-digital landscape. Let us know: Are you okay with an all-digital future? (Will that ever actually happen?) Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minu…

Mark and Elizabeth and Tyler Bowen talk about the Bowen's recent trip to Japan, including Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Osaka, the 84 Hashi Cafe, and a whole bunch of other cool places. Let us know: What would you do in Japan? Have you been to Japan? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @1…

To celebrate 50 episodes, Mark reviews 50 video games in a single episode. Let us know: Give your quickest game review! Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.5minutespod@gmail.com If you enjoy this podcast: subscribing, rating, reviewin…

Mark and Jordan Leithart of LuxCor Studios talk about how Jordan came about founding the studio, the challenges of game development, and what gamers should know about the development side of the industry. Let us know: What questions do you have for game developers? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes G…

Mark and Landry Smith talk about Landry's recently-developed appreciation for the classics, what NES games have to offer modern gamers, and how to overcome the challenges in playing these games. Let us know: How many NES games have you played this year? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point…

Mark and Parker Deal of Re:Direct talk about the kinds of games that get stuck in our minds, why we can't stop thinking about them, and what stops us from playing them every chance we get. Let us know: What game lives in your mind rent free? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anc…

Mark and Matt Intemann talk about their favorite uses of cheat codes, why they've fallen by wayside in recent years, and how they can be used well in the future. Let us know: What is your favorite cheat code? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Em…

Mark talks through his Top 10 Zelda music tracks and what makes Zelda music so special. Let us know: What's your favorite Zelda track? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.5minutespod@gmail.com If you enjoy this podcast: subscribing, r…

Mark and Nate McKeever and Josh Broccolo of the Backlog Breakdown talk about the games they're looking forward to playing in the near and slightly less near future. Let us know: What are you looking forward to playing next? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11p…

Mark and Parker Deal of Re:Direct talk about why we get excited about financial reports in the gaming sphere, the drawbacks of emphasizing this data, and if maybe we're the weird ones. Let us know: Why do you like tracking financial data of video games? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point…

In this part 3 of 2 episodes on characters, Mark and Henry Overos talk about the mechanic of creating your own character in video games, and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of being able to create your own avatar. Let us know: Which game has the best character creator? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point…

Mark and Matt Intemann talk about how the role of productivity has impacted how we approach gaming as a hobby and what a healthy approach may look like. Let us know: Do you see gaming as a guilty pleasure? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email…

Mark and Nick Porch talk about the strategy of minmaxing in RPGs and talk about the video game skills and real-life skills they would each minmax. Let us know: What would you minmax in real life? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG|: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.5m…

In this Big Discourse, Mark and Parker and Landry and Jake and Elizabeth and Billie talk about their thoughts, feelings, appreciations, and criticisms of the monumental The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, now that we've had time to sit with it. Spoilers: we talk about temples, major areas, and a few significant side quests. We do not discuss…

Mark and Josh Broccolo of The Backlog Breakdown talk about video game addiction, why good games may necessarily addictive, and how to respond to that. Let us know: How do you check yourself on an addiction to video games? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.f…

In this part 2 of 2 episodes on platformers, Mark and Parker Deal of Re:Direct talk about their favorite 3D platformers, how the genre rewards exploration, and why they can be difficult to make. Let us know: What's your favorite 3D platformer? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5mi…

In this part 1 of 2 episodes on platformers, Mark and Parker Deal of Re:Direct talk about what makes 2D platformers so dang good, a few of their favorites, and how 2D platformers can stay fresh for years to come. Let us know: What's your favorite 2D platformer? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| -…

Mark talks about his experience with Xbox Game Pass over the past few years, its footprint in the industry, and Xbox/Microsoft's place in the industry. Let us know: Will Xbox Game Pass destroy the video game industry? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11…

Mark and Henry Overos talk about a study on gaming and well-being, the study methodology, and what we ought to do about its conclusions. Let us know: Do you think your well-being is impacted by video games? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minut…

Mark and Josh Broccolo of The Backlog Breakdown talk about games made by small developer teams or a single person, what makes those games special, and why we love knowing the people behind the games we like. Let us know: What is your favorite small team game? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - M…

Mark and Billie Cox talk about difficulty modes in games, how they can hamper the experience, and how accessibility options factor in. Let us know: Should games have difficulty modes? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.5minute…

Mark and Nate McKeever of The Backlog Breakdown talk about hookshots, grappling hooks, and whatnot and what makes them so dang great. Let us know: What game has the best hookshot or grappling hook? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email …

In this big ol' double episode, Mark and Landry Smith talk about the news coming out of Summer Game Fest, give their highlights, a few lowlights, a few awards, and wax poetic a bit about CGI trailers. Let us know: What was your favorite game announced at Summer Game Fest? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5mi…

Mark, Landry Smith, and Jake Martin (aka BitBloggist) talk about their excitement levels for Summer Game(s) Fest, the showcases they're looking forward to, and the E3-shaped hole in our hearts. Let us know: Are you excited for the big video games news week? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mar…

Mark talks about the old Lego games of his childhood and rediscovers what made them so special. Let us know: What was your favorite Lego game when you were younger? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes Email us: 11.5minutespod@gmail.com If y…

Mark and Billie Cox talk about getting caught up in and missing out on the hype cycle of newly-released games, and a few ways to avoid succumbing to FOMO. Let us know: When have you bought a game out of FOMO? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5min…

Mark and Elizabeth "Biza" Coats Bowen talk about their first few hours with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, what they love about it, and how it compares to Breath of the Wild. Watch the commercial we referenced here. Let us know: What's your first impression of Tears of the Kingdom? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minu…

Mark and Nate McKeever of The Backlog Breakdown talk about if an original, innovative game or its successor is "better," and the value of each game. Let us know: Do you prefer an original game or its improved successor? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/…

In this special 11-and-a-half-month anniversary episode, Mark hosts a "fictional Nintendo Direct" draft to see who can craft the greatest Direct from a shared pool of Nintendo franchises. Participating in the nonsense, we have: Jake Martin (aka BitBloggist), Landry Smith, AJ McRae of Re:Direct, and Parker Deal of Re:Direct. A video version of this …

Mark and Landry Smith talk about what games they would rate a 5 out of 10, how those games end up with that score, and if a 5 is truly a "middle" score. Let us know: What game do you give a 5 out of 10? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: anchor.fm/11point5minutes E…

Mark and the guys of Nintendo Watcher, Justin and Matthew, talk about the Final Fantasy series and all of its nonsense, history, and significance in the video game industry. Let us know: What is your favorite Final Fantasy game? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: a…

Mark and Kurt Weisheit talk about why people play video games (besides, y'know, because they're fun), using the real-time strategy game Starcraft as a case study. Let us know: Aside from having fun, why do you play video games? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @11point5minutes Instagram: @11.5minutes GG| - Mark: @11point5minutes Anchor: an…