Novel Gaming! Novel Gaming Podcast
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- Leisure
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Novel Gaming is a twice-monthly podcast where long-time friends Vicki, Doug, and Katie talk about video games, books, and pop culture with a spattering of current events or anything else they just can't get off their minds.
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#93 — Book Club: 'Infinity Kings' by Adam Silvera
It's been an on-podcast journey of several years, but we've finally arrived at the epic conclusion of the Infinity Cycle! We're talking all about 'Infinity Kings' by Adam Silvera. Discussion begins ~30:00. And of course, before we get into all that, we check in on some things we've been playing and watching.
Playing:
Pokemon Sword (Switch)
Pokemon Trading Card Game (Switch)
Viewfinder (PS5)
Stardew Valley Expanded Mod (Steam)
Watching:
4'33" by John Cage
The Acolyte (Disney+)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition theatrical release
Thinking about:
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux -
#92 — We Played The Archipelago!
We played The Archipelago, a short 2022 tea-making game developed and published by Never Done Games, a two-person studio that makes the kinds of games that have never been done! Discussion begins around 28:00. But of course, before we exchange tea recipes, we catch up on some things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about!
Reading:
Childhood favorite picture books
'Can't Spell Treason without Tea' by Rebecca Thorne
'Retro Gamers Ultimate Retro Hardware Guide'
Watching:
RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15 (MTV/Paramount+)
RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars Season 9 (Paramount+)
But I'm A Cheerleader (Paramount+)
Smartypants (Dropout)
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux -
#91 — Book Club: 'Fireheart Tiger' by Aliette de Bodard
We read 'Fireheart Tiger' by Aliette de Bodard! Conversation around this short, sapphic fantasy begins ~18:25. Before that, we check in on the things we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately.
Playing:
Pokémon Emerald (GBA)
Pokémon Conquest (DS)
Slay the Princess (Steam)
Watching:
Planet of the Apes Movie Series
Arrival (2016 Film)
Thinking About:
2024 Summer Olympics
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux -
#90 — Mentor Characters in Video Games!
You ever just need some direction or advice? Well, do we have some video game characters for you! Listen is as we discuss mentors in video games. Conversation begins ~24:05. And before we get into it, we check in on the things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately.
Reading:
DeadEndia Series by Hamish Steele
'How to Keep House While Drowning' by KC Davis
'Lagoon' by Nnedi Okorafor
Watching:
Alien (1979 Film)
The Mummy (1999 Film)
Challengers (2024 Film)
Severance (Season 1, 2022)
Thinking About:
Delta Emulator on iOS
Sixteenth Minute (Podcast)
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux -
#89 — Book Club: 'Dead Astronauts' by Jeff VanderMeer
Vicki's back again, and this time for a book club episode! So you know that means: we've got a complicated, slippery, and confounding scifi tale to dissect. Listen to us unravel and do our best to understand Jeff VanderMeer's 'Dead Astronauts'. Discussion begins ~30:35. And of course, before we get into all that, we check in on some things we've been playing and watching.
Playing:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5)
Pokemon TCG Live (mobile)
Pokemon Scarlet Starters Tournament (Switch)
Watching:
3 Body Problem (Netflix)
Grey's Anatomy Season 19 (ABC/Hulu)
Immaculate & The First Omen (in theaters)
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux -
#88 — The Highs & Lows of Tie-In Video Games
Since the dawn of home console video games (and technically even before that), there have been tie-in, licensed property, and cross-promotional video games based on your favorite movies, TV shows, comics, and more. Some are great, and some are... not. We share some of our favorites and not-so-favorites. But before that, we touch on stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about!
Reading:
'To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma' by Molly Millwood
'Dead Astronauts' by Jeff VanderMeer
'The Sunbearer Trials' by Aiden Thomas
'Be Dazzled' by Ryan La Sala
'Out of the Blue' by Jason June
Watching:
Better Call Saul, Season 6 (AMC/Netflix)
The Bear (FX/Hulu)
Love Lies Bleeding (in theaters)
The Ghostbusters film series
Thinking about:
Chappell Roan
'Cowboy Carter' by Beyonce
House of Villains' second season cast reveal
Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod
Send us an e-mail: novelgamingpodcast@gmail.com
Logo by: Katie!
Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux
Customer Reviews
Thoughtful & Kind
Listening to the podcast feels a lot like sitting in a coffee shop and accidentally (and then purposefully) eavesdropping on a pop culture conversation between three really thoughtful and genuinely kind friends. You get the sense that the podcast hosts, Doug, Katie & Vicki, genuinely listen to one another and aren’t just waiting for their chance to talk— it’s super refreshing how mindful they are about everyone getting a chance to talk. It’s like the Great British Bake-off of pop culture podcasts: come for the delicious discussions of books & video games— stay for the gentle vibes.
Pleasant conversations and great recommendations!
The Novel Gaming hosts vibe incredibly well together and have a really pleasant, easy-to-listen-to energy, and they’re full of thoughtful insights! I’ve found some solid recommendations for books, games, and even TV shows based on their discussions. I also love how their topics often intersect with various angles of social justice, but they never sacrifice their feel-good presence even when discussing heavier subjects.