Some Patches Required

Aaron & Zak
  • 5.0 (12)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Hello everybody, and welcome to Some Patches Required. Every other Wednesday, your hosts Aaron and Zak use their backgrounds in game development and analysis to discuss various facets of the ever-turbulent games industry. From interviews with AAA/indie devs to deep dives on timely topics, the duo hopes to entertain and educate you on this wild medium we all love. 

  1. Steam Machine: Disruptive Force or Niche Hardware?

    DEC 3

    Steam Machine: Disruptive Force or Niche Hardware?

    This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to discuss Valve's new, ambitious hardware plans, especially the announcement's headliner: the brand-new Steam Machine. With the form-factor and convenience of a console and the hardware heft of a gaming PC, the cutely nicknamed "Gabe Cube" seems poised to disrupt the market as we know it... but will it? A better question may be, is it even meant to? Please, enjoy. Episode References: Linus Tech Tips - The STEAM Machine Won't Cost What You Think YongYea: Valve Drop Moe Hints On Machine Price, And... Bellular News: Valve's on the Warpath GameSpot: The Steam Machine Doesn't Even Have To Try Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1h 8m
  2. Dispatch: The Smash Hit Publishers Wouldn't Touch

    NOV 19

    Dispatch: The Smash Hit Publishers Wouldn't Touch

    This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about another (increasingly rare) industry success story: the brand-new Telltale-style adventure Dispatch! How, despite facing doubt from publishers over the game's fairly niche genre and episodic release structure, did AdHoc Studio's debut title release to rousing numbers and enviable review scores? Only one way to find out... Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1h 17m
  3. EA Buyout: What Happens to Your Favorite IP Now?

    NOV 5

    EA Buyout: What Happens to Your Favorite IP Now?

    This week, Zak and Aaron finally get around to discussing one of the most significant events in the recent history of the games industry — the $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts by a consortium of private investors, including the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, among others. In addition to running through the myriad issues tied to such politically troubling hands meddling with one of the world's largest publishers, there is one significant question at hand: what happens to the veritable mountain of IP under EA's control? Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1h 5m
  4. Chris Knight Interview: Crafting a Career in 2D Art

    OCT 22

    Chris Knight Interview: Crafting a Career in 2D Art

    This week, Zak and Aaron are delighted to present a conversation with Chris Knight, a 2D artist based in Austin, TX. Chris was kind enough to share some insights from his career, some funny (and not-so-funny) stories, and his frank opinion on what it takes to succeed in the games industry – especially in an incredibly crowded field. Please, enjoy. Check Out Chris' ArtStation! Take a Look at PolyCarp! Have a Gander at Good Knight Art! Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1h 36m
  5. Game Pass: Higher Price, Lower Value

    OCT 8

    Game Pass: Higher Price, Lower Value

    This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk about Xbox GamePass' recent price increase... again! That's right, the fabled "best value in gaming" just saw a 50% jump in cost, barely a year after the last jump. What's more, there's a compelling argument to be made that the subscription service is actually removing value for players rather than adding it to compensate for the increased asking price. Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1 hr
  6. Silksong: The Power of Lean Game Development

    SEP 18

    Silksong: The Power of Lean Game Development

    This week, Zak and Aaron... actually have something positive to talk about for once! Namely, the predictably smashing release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which, after nearly a decade in development, launched to platform-crashing numbers and fairly rapturous praise. On top of celebrating an indie success story, they discuss the game's refreshingly reasonable $20 price point and highlight the many benefits of keeping development costs and team sizes lean. In short, this is almost certainly the most uplifting episode of SPR in quite some time. Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    45 min
  7. Steam Censorship: Weaponizing Payment Processors

    AUG 20

    Steam Censorship: Weaponizing Payment Processors

    This week, Zak and Aaron kindly beg your attention to a very serious matter: the censorship of thousands of NSFW games across Steam and Itch.io at the behest of payment processors like Mastercard.  Prompted by a grassroots organization with far-right connections called Collective Shout, this incident could have far-reaching implications for free speech, result in LGBTQ+ erasure, and mean that corporations become the arbiters of what does and does not constitute art in the future. Please, enjoy. Missed what's happened? Check out the links below.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlEHovdeKZw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUMwQ1euK8Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTDhsqN2NB4 Intro: 00:00:00 21,000 Points for Censorship: 00:04:02 Collective Shout Pt. 1: 00:15:39 Morality and Context: 00:25:58 Collective Shout Pt. 2 - Erasure: 00:35:32 What About Age Ratings?: 00:42:30 Applying the Same Logic to Books: 00:51:03 Conclusions: 00:55:30 Outro: 01:03:10 Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1h 5m
  8. Roblox: The World's Worst Dating Service

    JUL 30

    Roblox: The World's Worst Dating Service

    This week, Zak and Aaron dig into a topic that's as absurd as it is concerning: the CEO of Roblox wants to officially incorporate dating into the platform. Completely ignoring the fact that the game's core audience is mostly children, David Baszucki seems to believe that bringing horny adults into the fold will act as a balm to soothe the "loneliness epidemic" plaguing the modern world. What could possibly go wrong? Please, enjoy. Listen to Beach Girl on Spotify Check Out MosscatMarket on Instagram

    1 hr
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About

Hello everybody, and welcome to Some Patches Required. Every other Wednesday, your hosts Aaron and Zak use their backgrounds in game development and analysis to discuss various facets of the ever-turbulent games industry. From interviews with AAA/indie devs to deep dives on timely topics, the duo hopes to entertain and educate you on this wild medium we all love. 

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron & Zak
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Some Patches Required
  • Show Website
    Some Patches Required