Side Story

This week on Side Story, Sylvi and Jack delve into the spooky, scary world of New York City in Control: Resonant. They dig into the paranatural mystery, float around in the shifting gravity, and spend some time talking about the joy of a human-made multimedia bonanza in a world drowning in AI assets.

This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/friends_table.

Show Notes

Who made the art inside Control Resonant?Doug Foster's Art

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:48 Control Background and Setting 27:02 Core Mechanics 49:05 Game Structure

This week on Side Story, Ali takes to the stars with long time No Man's Sky players Keith and Darcy, who welcome their newly spaceborne fellow traveler the only way they know how: by letting her sing the praises of alien languages, giving her good advice on hostile orb economies, and interrogating her on why it is she hasn't secured a freighter for herself yet.

This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/friends_table.

Show Notes

Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy) (No Man's Sky ByteBeat)

Featuring Ali Acampora, Keith Carberry, and Darcy Swan

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Have you heard? The Duke died. Yeah. Yeah. Well that's the thing. The funeral's going to be a whole to-do. Everyone is going to be there, even that little pigeon who just landed in town, Marie. You haven't met her? Well you will. She plays at being grounded but have you seen how she dresses? I just know she'll be trying to get everyone to look her way. That's why I came to you: Because they should be looking my way instead. Yes. The funeral. That's right. No, not "something black." Hm. Disappointing. I thought you had more imagination than that.

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Show Notes

Janine's Dress Crime

Featuring Janine Hawkins and Jack de Quidt

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

What was that sound in the other room? Who is gathering in the Kitchen? Wait, whose body is it we found again? And what the hell is up with the butler? Answer these questions and you'll... well, you'll be on your first step towards solving the mystery of the Incident at Galley House.

This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/friends_table.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 04:46 No Spoilers: The Incident at Galley House 13:32 No Spoilers: Impressions 26:26 No Spoilers: Comparisons to Type Help and The Roottrees Are Dead 34:00 Spoiler Discussion 01:01:34 DEEPER Spoiler Discussion

Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Sylvi Bullet

Produced by Ali Acampora

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

After telling us for months that we needed to play and talk about Kingdoms of Amalur, Jack has made good on the threat. But is it a threat? Isn't Kingdom's of Amalur a classic 'better than you think it is' game of the early 2010s? Once you look past all the legal hoopla (and the politics of 38 Studios' founder), doesn't it have a pretty unique setting and a combat system that lets you pull off, frankly, sick maneuvers?

Well. Opinions differ.

This show wouldn't be possible without your support. Please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/friends_table.

Show Notes

Listen to Jack's segment on WCBN on September 8th at 9PM EST

Watch Janine play some Kingdom's of Amalur

Assassin's Creed Animation Change

Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Jack de Quidt,

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Today, Janine and Ali go to a little world of catboy couriers and witches with high standards: Go-Go Town!, a frenetic city builder that splits the difference between Animal Crossing and Anno. They discuss its myriad tasks (both hands-on and delgated), its numerous vehicles (subway, truck, skateboard, and horse), and its many, many marble-like residents.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction 03:41 Go-Go Town!: A Game About Building Up a Little Town 12:11 Wait, What Is Go-Go Town! 19:47 The Courier System 26:28 Does It Have Longevity? 39:29 Early Game vs Late Game 52:31 Final Thoughts and Feelings

Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

It's music week on Side Story! Keith, Jack, and Sylvi kick off a conversation around music creation game Offbeat, a game about using a toy keyboard and a bunch of input cables as a sequencer to create little jingles as a freelance musician. But of course, this is Side Story, so their conversation quickly ranges to the act of music-making writ large.

Show Notes

Yamaha MU80 - Performance Demo

The Gen Alpha Melody

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 02:00 Every Company Only Makes One Good Thing 09:51 What is 'Offbeat' 17:44 Wait, what is a "Sequencer" 31:27 Permission to Make Busted Work 40:46 How Tools Shape Music 01:08:02 Keith Reccomendation 01:14:09 Secret Bonus Track (Deluxe Edition)

Go check out the Special Edition 10th Anniverary Marielda Vinyl Album!

Featuring Jack de Quidt, Keith Carberry, and Sylvi Bullet

Produced by Ali Acampora

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

We talk about friction a lot here on Side Story. Friction as difficulty. Friction as texture. Friction as erotics. But today, as the gem slides onto the lathe, as the clay spins around the wheel, as the brush strokes across the long arm, we talk about friction-as-friction, literally. But I mean, yes, we also talk about it as all that other stuff. Of course. Who do you think we are?

Show Notes

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:17 Lapidary 31:43 Master of Pottery 58:29 Meccha Chameleon

Gather up your ore nuggets, bind quicksave to an easy to reach button, and prepare to be killed in one hit by a level 1 mole creature because this week, Jack and Austin descend into the Khorinis mines and the magically-sealed penal colony within, delving for the first time into the renowned Gothic series via the newly released Gothic 1 Remake.

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Show Notes

The Lost Art of Collectivist RPGs by Crocodile Gambit

Sin Vega's Gothic 1 Remake Review

https://xetoxyc.github.io/gothic-remake-lockpicker/

Go check out the Special Edition 10th Anniverary Marielda Vinyl Album!

Featuring Jack de Quidt and Austin Walker

Produced by Ali Acampora

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Go check out the Special Edition 10th Anniverary Marielda Vinyl Album!

Begin. Motion. D4. Nav 3 R4; gather all. D4. D3. Nav 1 R3; Motion. D5. Nav 3 R5. Interface. Scan. Defense. D6. Nav 3 R6; Gather All. Fuck. Defense. Nav 1 D6; Tow. Nav all R1. Exit.

Chapters

00:00 Marielda Vinyl Announcemnet 01:33 Intro 05:09 Today's Topic: Duskers 18:43 Introversion's Uplink 22:35 Duskers: When Things Go Bad 43:18 For All Mankind 46:28 Space Horror 51:10 Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator 53:01 Duskers Final Thoughts

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Sylvi Bullet and Jack de Quidt

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

We've all been there. You sit down and break the seal on a new pack of cards, you smell the new card smell, you deal out a starter hand of Solitaire -- and then it dawns on you: you accidentally bought evil cards again! This keeps happening!

Today, Jack and Austin sit down to talk about evil card games and discuss Forbidden Solitaire and Black Jacket.

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Jack de Quidt and Austin Walker

Produced by Ali Acampora

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 05:06 An Introduction to Evil Games 15:00 Forbidden Solitaire 38:20 Black Jacket

Stop. Take a breath. Make the decision: Which Pokémon would you choose as your roommate. Could Voltorb help you keep the electricity bill down? Would Houndoom make you feel safe at night? Might you let Sinistcha make you its delicious Matcha Gotcha even though it is, somehow, the matcha in question?

Today, Ali and Janine take you on a tour of Pokopia, and at least one of them will reveal their answer to this question. Any guesses?

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 01:21 Pokopia Intro 05:28 Basics: Interacting, Building, Exploring 29:22 Building Philosophies 34:54 Pokemon Roommate Choices 01:10:26 A Game Built For Building 01:18:59 Entering the Spoiler Zone 01:36:33 Re: The Social Media Response

With spring turning into summer, Art, Jack, and Austin have found that it's time to once again drink the Potion of Liking Baseball. Well, no, it's not that broad: It's the Potion of Liking the Weird Ludic Corners of Ambiguity at the Heart of Officiating, Especially With Regard to the Use of Automated and Mechanical Tools, As in the MLB's Newly Arrived Automated Ball-Strike System.

But that's unfortunately a little too long for an episode title.

Show Notes

The First Instant Replay

Jerar Encarnacion challenge mentioned at 38:00 Minutes

Cam Smith Challenge mentioned at 38:30

Watch Jack, Austin, and Sylvi Play Thomas Colthurst's 2025 Game Pt.1

Media Club Plus Soprano's Screenshot Stream

Late Pledges Still Available for Realis

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 05:07 How Is the Baseball Going 12:59 Wait, What Is Baseball? 22:57 The Instant Replay World 31:41 ABS: The Automated Ball-Strike System 42:10 The Referee Is Part of the Pitch 54:58 Why Is Baseball Like This? 59:53 The Spectator Experience of ABS 01:04:20 Instant Replay and Referee Bias in Video Games

Featuring Austin Walker, Art Martinez-Tebbel, and Jack de Quidt,

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Have you heard the news? There's a new Postman in town, and a new Fairie Queen in the court. I hear the Postman keeps bringing her big palettes of wood, and she's using it to build some sort of cat tower. I hear she's sending her entourage to business school, and he's got to carry her letters of recommendation. I hear war is coming, but don't worry, we're safe here on our island court in the fog. I hear we'll always be safe here.

Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to https://friendsatthetable.cash/ to support us!

Show Notes

Realis Kickstarter

Blood Machine's Bluesky Post which first clued us into Island Off Outer Darkness

Austin's Realis Interview Roundup | Clockwork Worlds

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 10:23 Island Off Outer Darkness 01:19:34 Titanium Court

Featuring Austin Walker, Keith Carberry, and Jack de Quidt,

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Somewhere between Goo and Glue and Goop, is Gloop. And that's the stuff that makes up the middling (and middle-ing) parts of many vast, open world RPGs. Flat but enjoyable-enough random encounters. Rhythmically repetitive dungeons. The Good Old Fetch Quest. The mortar holding the bricks of the castle wall together. Gloop.

Support us on Patreon!

The Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live!

Show Notes

Crunch returns to Naughty Dog for Xmas as Intergalactic devs work overtime on a demo for Sony, claims report

No Games for Genocide

The Indiana Pacers Fan Couple Clip

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 01:55 ToeJam & Earl Aside 07:30 Ardenfall 52:12 Road to Vostok

Featuring Austin Walker and Jack de Quidt

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

Happy Side Story anniversary! To celebrate our first year of the show, Austin, Janine, and Jack get together to talk about the year they've spent playing Nine Dots' RPG-meets-sim Outward (which you can watch them play by supporting us at https://friendsatthetable.cash/!)

Speaking of supporting our work, the Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live!

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

With too many games coming out recently, Austin, Sylvi, and Dre had to determine a metric to decide which ones to cover on this week's episode. What makes the most sense? Maybe 'games relevant to ongoing Friends at the Table campaigns'? Or perhaps 'games that we've teased wanting to talk about in the past'? No, absolutely not. There is only one metric: Games that look sick as shit.

Show Notes

Marathon Thief Grapple

"If you're hoping to make friends in Marathon like you can in Arc Raiders, expect a knife in the back" | PC Gamer

Marathon, Reprise | Aurahack

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Icebreaker Marathon Upate 07:34 The Cool Games We Don't Have Time to Talk About Yet 10:32 Romeo Is A Dead Man 47:43 Marathon (2026)

Featuring Austin Walker, Andrew Lee Swan, and Sylvi Bullet

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

With Austin separated from his microphone because of a snowstorm, Janine and Ali (who herself had to record on a travel mic) return to chat about the rise of Devices. You know? Gadgets? Geegaws? Retro emulation handhelds? Also, we have a classic Friends at the Table "Now is not the time for this diversionary topic" followed by 30 full minutes on the diversionary topic.

It's a good podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 01:03 Device Talk Begins 26:34 Palia Diversion Begins 55:11 Back to the Gadgets and the Games We're Playing On Them

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt

On Sunday 15th and Monday 16th of February 2026, we're going to be hosting ICEBREAKER, a two day fundraising marathon on https://www.twitch.tv/friendsatthetable to raise money for the Women's Foundation of Minnesota's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund!

As Minnesota faces the brunt of a violent anti-immigrant crackdown, and ICE's cruelty continues to spread nationwide, we are inspired by the solidarity, community, and mutual aid demonstrated by those on the front lines of immigration justice. The WFM's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund distributes funding to organizations working to provide food, housing, rent relief, transportation and healthcare as well as legal support for immigrants, detainees, and their families. The fight for immigration justice is immensely important to us all. Please join us to help raise some money!

In addition to streaming, new limited edition t-shirts will be available on the Friends at the Table store on Sunday 15th, featuring the incredible ICEBREAKER art by Conner Fawcett. For the months of February and March, all proceeds from any purchases made at https://friendsatthetable.shop/ will go to the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, which provides free legal representation to immigrants and their families. After March, this t-shirt will no longer be available!

Please stay tuned to our social media and here on Patreon for upcoming information about the schedule, as well as our fundraising goals. We'll be kicking off around 11am ET and going all day with a carefully selected blend of games, running the gamut from emergent multiplayer disasters to 90s educational software to — let me just check my notes here — it looks like someone's written down "Flegg Hell"? We'll see you on Sunday!

The winter is here and our love of warmth means that we're stuck inside, dreaming of greener pastures. Greener pastures like: "A train that you can make prettier" and "A frozen over dystopia where you are forced out into the cold to deliver pizzas and televisions." Hey, wait a minute...

Show Notes

Run Button's My Summer Car Let's Play

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 02:33 Spatial Puzzles (Kanoodle, IQ Gears, IQ Circuit) 08:10 Locomoto 27:19 Locomoto Full Game Spoilers 56:07 Easy Delivery Co.

Support us on Patreon!

Featuring Austin Walker, Janine Hawkins, and Jack de Quidt

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover Art by A Liang Chan

Music by Jack de Quidt