Reviving an old favorite Episode Description It’s the holiday send-off episode for 2025. Jeremy, Patrick, Kevin, and Frank check in on life, work, conventions, and the ongoing “we’re actually being consistent now” era of KVGT. After some quick gaming updates, the crew leans into seasonal nostalgia and swaps stories about classic Christmas gaming moments from growing up in the 80s and 90s, including late-night console sessions, renting games from Blockbuster, and that magic feeling when a new system felt like a generational leap. To close things out, KVGT brings back a fan-favorite segment: Versus, now with a new cinematic twist. Topics Covered Life Updates (Non-Gaming) Jeremy’s second week as a full-time stay-at-home dad and the behind-the-scenes grind of rebuilding the KVGT website. Holiday season chaos and the “how is it already Thanksgiving/December?” feeling. Frank and Patrick hitting a comic con, visiting a friend’s booth, and getting the itch to go to more conventions. The legendary crab feed (and Kevin catching heat for missing it). Kevin becoming a regular at a San Francisco pub and accidentally turning “going out” into a hobby. What We’ve Been Playing Jeremy steps away from DC Universe Online and talks about finally losing the pull. A co-op horror night in Devour featuring a new carnival map, plus some frustration with one of the game’s tougher levels. Patrick’s time with the newest Call of Duty and why the internet outrage doesn’t match his experience. Marvel Rivals updates and experimenting with a new character kit. Patrick returning to Silent Hill F for a second playthrough. Frank wrapping up his obsession run with Infection Free Zone and returning to Rocket League after years away (and discovering how “rust” works in real-time). Kevin going deep into Baldur’s Gate 3, including the joys and dangers of “perfect outcome” decision-making. Versus Returns Versus is back, and it’s getting the full KVGT glow-up. This is our “nerd bar fight” segment where we toss two iconic characters into the same arena and argue it out like it’s the most important court case in gaming history. The difference in 2025? It’s more curated, more cinematic, and we’re bringing in a KVGT-trained AI to help generate tighter matchups, add flavorful fight breakdowns, and serve as a tiebreaker when the table inevitably deadlocks. Same chaos, better scaffolding. Samus Aran vs. Doom Slayer @ Midgar (Final Fantasy 7) Samus Aran isn’t just a bounty hunter, she’s a one-person tactical strike team in a power suit. She fights like a scientist with a cannon: patient, methodical, and always gathering information before committing. With long-range firepower, mobility tricks, and the kind of adaptability that comes from surviving hostile alien worlds on the regular, Samus thrives when she can control space, use cover intelligently, and force her opponent to play her game. The Doom Slayer is the exact opposite kind of nightmare. He’s pure forward pressure, a walking apocalypse with a toolkit designed to keep momentum never-ending. He doesn’t “engage,” he arrives like a violent weather system, chaining weapons and movement with relentless purpose. The longer he stays close, the worse your life gets. In a battlefield like Midgar’s wreckage, the question becomes brutally simple: can Samus keep the fight at her preferred distance long enough to dismantle him, or does the Slayer close the gap and turn Sector 7 into a one-person horror show? Who do you think wins: Samus or the Doom Slayer? Drop a comment and make your case. And if you’ve got a matchup you want us to throw into the arena next, send it in. Holiday Nostalgia Classic memories of opening consoles, staying up way too late, and sharing games with family. The “wow” moment of early PlayStation era upgrades: CD audio, intros, and graphics that felt unreal at the time. Christmas gaming staples: NES, Genesis, Madden, Twisted Metal, and the magic of that first real “next-gen leap.” A side tangent into tech nostalgia, including old TVs, old phones, and how quickly everyday tech becomes “ancient artifacts.” Notable Moments Jeremy calling out the new intro still throwing him off, mid-intro. The group roasting their own “consistency era” while actively trying to be consistent. The crab feed talk turning into a culinary victory lap (and Kevin getting dragged for missing it). Frank describing Rocket League “warm-up science” like it’s a sacred ritual. Kevin casually revealing that his BG3 “playtime” and his “save file time” are wildly different… for reasons. The Versus segment returning with full dramatic narration, instantly provoking maximum group chaos. AI picking a different winner than the hosts, which immediately becomes part of the fun. What Next? Got a Versus matchup you want us to debate? Or want us to cover a specific game, topic, or bit of gaming news next month? Send it in. 📧 kvgt04@gmail.com And follow KVGT across the realms: 🐦 Twitter: @KVGTpodcast 📸 Instagram: @KVGTpodcast Episodes drop monthly (on a day ending in “Y,” as Patrick helpfully noted in a previous episode). Thanks for hanging out—see you next month!
