The Dive Down

On this week's show, Stan provides his book report on Dungeon Crawler Car, Shane rolls credits on Castlevania, and the boys talk about playing Riftbound.

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Timestamps:
0:01 - The boys were back in Chicago
12:48 - This week's episode
13:27 - Old Business: Stan read Dungeon Crawler Carl
20:52 - Shane finished Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
29:32 - New Business: Riftbound!
36:31 - What's in a Riftbound deck?
45:12 - Our experiences playing Riftbound
1:03:34 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

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It's time for the boys to whip back into action with their new best friend: Rose Belmont. We talk the vibe, the play, the pros, the cons of the latest Metroidvania — Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. But first, enjoy a quick diversion on Goodfellas and Nathan Fielder’s You Can See Everything.

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Timestamps:
0:01 - We are Good Fellas
4:01 - Stan saw Everything
12:43 - This week's episode - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse
22:00 - How do we feel about Castlevania?
26:31 - Is this game hard?
33:50 - What's this game's vibe?
39:35 - How does this game play?
49:30 - Is this game hard, revisited
54:00 - Some final takes
55:24 - Future games and a NEW AFFILIATE
58:16 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, Dave and Shane help Stan navigate the trials and tribulations of moving homes. We also chat about men's bathroom behavior and some new automations we've set up to help sell trading cards online.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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Timestamps:
0:01 - Haunted bathrooms
7:50 - Baseball.
11:45 - This week's episode
12:45 - Stan's housing transition
17:54 - Stan's consternations
22:11 - Dave's thoughts
27:15 - Shane psychoanalyzes
34:15 - Dining room rugs?
36:15 - Dave's "easy" wins
44:02 - Selling cards
57:13 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, we kick off the spooky season with a conversation about our favorite horror films. From the ones we watched too young to the ones that make us jump in the cinema now.

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Timestamps:
0:01 - Baseball
9:20 - Shane didn't read the chat
10:49 - Old Business: Shane's Question Speedrun
20:48 - New Business: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo takes
23:35 - Control: Resonant early takes
24:54 - Witcher 3: Remastered takes
28:02 - It's horror season!
34:22 - Our history with horror films
44:52 - Do we like horror?
51:30 - Stan's History of Horror
1:00:42 - Body horror
1:03:20 - Is American Psycho a horror movie?
1:07:05 - Parting thoughts
1:09:24 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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This week Dave, Stan, and friend of the show Adam Burke tackle the burning questions of our time. Is a hot dog a sandwich? Should you pee in the shower? Which is the best way to hang toilet paper? Is there a god? Ok -- not that one. But we have a great time getting angry with Stan about his casual littering.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
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Timestamps:
0:45 - Inside You There Are Two Suburbs
2:25 - This Episode: Adam Burke and the Great Debates of Our Times
4:00 - Back in the Studio
7:20 - We Threw a Party and No One Came
9:14 - A Listener Question About Magic
18:45 - The Great Debates of Our Times
19:00 - What’s the Right Way to Roll Toilet Paper?
23:50 - Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich?
29:02 - Can You Ask People to Stop Talking at an Outdoor Concert?
35:03 - What Do You Do After You Accidentally Cut Someone in Line?
40:03 - What is Littering Anyway?
44:40 - Should You Eat in Your Bedroom?
48:29 - Do You Hear a Voice in Your Head When You Read Silently?
51:34 - Do You Have an Internal Monologue?
53:02 - Do You See Objects or Just Picture the Word?
55:21 - Give Us Your Bizarre Associations
57:37 - Shower Things: Do You Wash Your Legs? Do You Pee in the Shower?
1:05:09 - Ending On Number 1 and A is Number 2
1:06:04 - Closing Down

Links from this week's episode:
Pre-Order Adam’s Book, With Whom I Am Well Pleased from K.Co Press here: https://kcopress.com/pages/new-book/adam-burke-book

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Stan takes a quick break with a psychic/medium and sees life a little different now. Shane has found a new media to obsess over — the oldest media: books! — and has thoughts on eReaders. Dave abides.

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• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
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Timestamps:
0:01 - The secret lives of podcasters
6:25 - Old Business: Dungeon Crawler Carl: revisited
14:26 - Dave has a poltergeist
15:05 - New Business: Stan went to a medium
23:42 - Oracle methods
36:16 - Shane loves books and technology
44:15 - Some good books
54:02 - Public Comment: Our dream guests
1:01:58 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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With Stan out this week, we've got regular guest host and true tactics-head Jason back on to discuss Star Wars: Zero Company. But before that, we go over the now-viral LitRPG sensation Dungeon Crawler Carl. There is probably some real crossover potential here, right?

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
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Timestamps:
0:01 - We wake up in the morning
5:28 - This week's show
8:11 - Dungeon Crawler Carl
24:45 - DCC as LitRPG
28:40 - Is DCC funny?
37:10 - Some final thoughts
38:47 - Star Wars: Zero Company
49:48 - How we are liking Zero Company
55:35 - How to think about tactics games
1:06:08 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
Dungeon Crawler Carl: https://mattdinniman.com/books/dungeon-crawler-carl/
Star Wars: Zero Company: https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/zero-company

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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For the first time since JULY, Dave, Shane, and Stan are reunited. We talk about Shane's trip to Norway, the Retroid Pocket Nova, Guitar Hero, and piano stewardship.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - We're all back!
7:31 - This week's episode
11:52 - Stan wants his piano back
20:25 - Shane went to Norway
38:08 - Retroid Pocket Nova
50:55 - Clone Hero

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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This week Shane and Dave welcome Christopher Harris of Harris Football to talk about his new best-selling novel Pound Foolish. Part locker room chronicle, part neo-noir, Pound Foolish is the story of a series of murders occurring around an NFL team and the investigations that unspool around them.

We talk about the contradictions of loving something that is actually kind of terrible, the process of completing creative endeavors like these, and, yes, about Chris's day job — fantasy football.

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• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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Timestamps:
0:01 - This week's episode
4:53 - It's Chris!
6:40 - Pound Foolish and being an NFL fan
24:48 - Exploring the NFL in Pound Foolish
29:55 - Chris's creative process
42:25 - Unifying themes and pushing yourself
47:24 - Influences and recommendations
52:06 - Fantasy football!
1:01:44 - Thanks, Chris!

Links from this week's episode:
Harris Football
Pound Foolish available now at bookshop.org

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, Dave's friend and comedian Adam Burke returns to talk about humor, laughter, and joy. We chat about today's comedy scene and culture, in Chicago and beyond.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Teeth and lips
4:16 - Welcome back, Adam
9:31 - Old guest, new job
11:35 - Adam's comedy origins
19:55 - Adam's new book
33:19 - Doing comedy
47:26 - Getting cancelled
49:58 - Comedians Adam likes
54:50 - Has comedy changed, or us?
1:02:03 - Where to find Adam
1:03:46 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Shane's on vacation this week so Dave and Stan bring back friend of the show Jason (aka KilgoreTrout) to talk Control, Vampire Crawlers, Spider-Man, and dad stuff.

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• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:00 - On Following Shane's Rules
13:45 - Control
29:21 - Vampire Crawlers
38:22 - Spider Mans
51:10 - #dadlife

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's episode, Dave and Shane first discuss their experiences with the critically acclaimed co-op game Big Walk, then massage their sore calves as they talk about seeing some music shows. Have Zoomers figured out how concerts should work? Finally, Shane shares his thoughts after a few days with the Retroid Pocket Nova, the latest in a series of "endgame" retro handhelds.

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• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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Timestamps:
0:01 - Wisconsin 2: The Squeakquel
8:31 - This week's episode
9:10 - Big Walk with us
28:11 - Dave saw The Smashing Pumpkins
39:16 - Shane saw American Football
52:15 - The Retroid Pocket Nova
1:06:03 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, Jason returns to talk about The Odyssey, the latest international blockbuster from the visionary mind of Christopher Nolan.

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• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Kilgore is back
6:28 - This week's episode
7:58 - Jason played... Magic? (and Stan did, too)
17:23 - Our Odyssey begins
22:10 - Our history with Nolan
30:24 - How we saw it
42:50 - IMAX and locking in
50:45 - The actual film
1:07:50 - The performances
1:18:40 - Our favorite scenes - SPOILERS HERE
1:20:54 - SPOILERS OVER - where does Nolan go from here?
1:24:28 - Our Nolan tier lists
1:29:51 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, Dave and Shane talk about their sordid adventures in Cyberpunk, while Stan tries to save what's left of the western United States in Horizon Forbidden West.

Also Stan discovers and beats an apparently important indie game called Bastion. And Shane relives his high school years in Rock Star's Bully. We wrap with some public comments about fatherhood (and unclehood).

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane got caught having fun while old
6:18 - Dave's AI band name quiz
17:18 - The cold open is too warm
18:20 - Old Business: Shane dodged AI convo
20:21 - We decided to check out Cyberpunk 2077
38:14 - New Business: Stan is playing a lot of Horizon Forbidden West
47:07 - Stan beat Bastion
50:28 - Shane is playing Bully
55:20 - Public Comments: Dad memories
1:05:36 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, we share a couple of our deepest spiritual awakenings, then rant for a while about our weird feelings on AI and LLMs. Then we manage to keep the mood lively with public comments about MTG's Universes Beyond.

We're not glazing AI. Don't be mad at us.

Timestamps:
0:23 — Dudes Rock
4:40 — Space Rocks
7:48 — Intro: We Had a Terrible Idea to Talk About AI
13:40 — A Little Background on Us
20:05 — Stuff We Hear About Every Day
24:17 — The Misgivings Begin
31:42 — New Kinds of Learning
34:42 — The Misgivings Continue
35:02 — Is AI the Source of Existential Enshittification?
42:33 — The Dunning Kruger Machine
48:52 — Thoughts on Future Work
50:05 — Could Some Good Outcomes Make It Worth It?
52:14 — Some Things We Actually Do
59:24 — Dreams of the Apocalypse
1:06:23 — Public Comment from The Stalk

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• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, Stan wears a sports vest to religitate some of his favorite 2026 movies, Shane arrives with notes, Dave discovers chiral matter, and the boys watch Widow's Bay.

Timestamps:
0:01 - The devil on Shane's shoulder
6:36 - This week's episode, sort of
9:43 - Old business: Shane watched Send Help
18:46 - Shane also watched The Furious
22:50 - Shane ALSO finished Resident Evil 4 Remake
28:46 - Dave plays PS5
33:29 - New business: Widow's Bay
55:54 - Public comment: Our guilty pleasures
1:06:20 - Wrapping up

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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On this week's show, we're covering another cinema blind spot. Dave has never seen John Wick, so Shane came all the way from Ohio to make him watch it. Stan watched too.

Then we tell Dave what to play on his new PS5. Turns out he's really into some lewd stuff!

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane's crabby, and there's a bird
8:11 - This week's show - John Wick
10:38 - Our history with the Wick
16:08 - Dave's first watch
26:10 - Getting into Wick
36:40 - Why did this movie hit?
42:35 - Tying a bow on Wick
46:28 - Dave got a PS5 Pro
1:06:35 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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Well you did it. You've made it through another half a year. But... we have some things we need to talk about. Like all this amazing media we've enjoyed in 2026! Tune in for our favorites of our favorites from movies, games, music, TV and a few other things.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
• Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN2025 for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com
• Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN
• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - Shane gets fired
2:27 - We're Mad Men
7:30 - This weeks episode: a first half review
9:35 - Oldish business: Takes on the Steam Machine
20:54 - New business: The best movies of the first half of the year
36:50 - The best music
54:05 - The best games
1:05:03 - The best TV
1:13:42 - Public comment: Games that surprised us
1:19:00 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

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As promised, we welcome Jason, aka Kilgore Trout, to the podcast to spend far too long talking to Shane about one of the best games of 2024: Metaphor: ReFantazio. We get into the mechanics, the gameplay, the writing, the themes, and even spend some time talking about our favorite fast food meals. Contemporary? Kinda. Thorough? Definitely.

• Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown
• Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store
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• And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:
0:01 - CamelStan
4:21 - Who is this guy?
6:10 - This week's episode
13:37 - So what is Metaphor: ReFantazio?
18:04 - How does this compare to Persona?
32:24 - How we played it
35:09 - Plot takes
38:50 - The Archetype system
44:50 - The combat
53:39 - Friendships
1:01:40 - Writing good
1:03:40 - Using guides and managing your calendar
1:11:30 - Politics & religion
1:25:28 - Grief
1:30:31 - What a twist!
1:34:00 - Quick topics
1:43:24 - Where this game ranks in our RPGs, and comparisons to other RPGs
1:50:08 - Public comments: Our favorite fast food meals
1:52:10 - SPOILER ZONE BEGINS
1:59:46 - What's next?
2:01:42 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:
TenSquare3's amazing Metaphor guide: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox-series-x/409958-metaphor-refantazio/faqs/81526/introduction
Buy Metaphor for PS5: https://amzn.to/4g2nQZJ
Buy Metaphor for XBOX: https://amzn.to/4gEacMv

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

Support The Dive Down

On this week's show, we reflect on a lifetime of playing video games with strangers. What do the Univeristy of Illinois, Xbox Live, and quarter munchers have in common? They brought people together.

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Timestamps:
0:01 - Stan with a huge tease
5:21 - Stan's irresponsible purchase
10:45 - This week's episode - the multiplayer games of our history
17:46 - Our defining multiplayer experiences
39:15 - The multiplayer games of now
51:36 - Public comment: Some of our formative experiences
1:01:31 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

Support The Dive Down