Shane Plays Geek Talk

Shane Stacks
  • 4.1 (9)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Bimonthly

A journey into the things we love: D&D / RPGs, tabletop games, wargames, video games, comics and comic books, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, fan films, movies, TV, books, sci-fi, fantasy, more! Hosted by a fellow geek that supports and encourages geeks and our fandoms in all of their various splendor! Come along and get your geek on (or maybe even discover you inner geek)!

  1. Aug 31

    CRPG / Video Game Gabfest With Matt Barton Of Matt Chat - Episode 294 - 8/31/2026

    Professor Matt Barton of Matt Chat joins Shane for a gabfest on CRPGs and other things video gamey, plus a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. EverQuest and World of Warcraft still have players. What is Mr. T's connection to WoW, and are fools involved? A cruise through player activity stats for various MMOs, plus which MMO has (or had) the highest player base. Playing tabletop RPGs on a virtual tabletop versus in person. Shane's weekly game group has a hard time finding multiplayer video games they all agree on. Against all odds, a rhomboid is both a muscle and a geometric shape. The age-old question of what is a CRPG? Shane thinks Baldurs Gate 3 is the best adaptation of the tabletop experience ever in a CRPG. What does rat milk taste like, and is it good for the hair? The Army is giving time off to…. play a video game?? (What amazing game could this be??) MMO shooters for the glory of the state. Matt is very impressed with Fallout: New California. The legal ins and outs of game mods. Classic Ultima Online (multiplayer classic Ultima, not the Ultima Online MMORPG). The "1,000 Good Fans" theory. Shane and Matt used to play MUDs. Never cast invisibility on the fountain. Matt loves smashing rats, and Shane loves driving around in the Mako and blasting the crap out of stuff in Mass Effect. KOTOR essentially runs the D&D D20 system under the hood. Creators and companies becoming victims of their own success. Shane pre-ordered Star Wars Zero company. And of course the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and more! Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #294 8/31/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Matt Chat (Matt Barton on YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@MattBarton  1,000 True Fans Essay by Kevin Kelly https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/  Project 1999 - Classic EverQuest https://www.project1999.com/  EverQuest Legends https://www.everquestlegends.com/home  Project Zomboid https://store.steampowered.com/app/108600/Project_Zomboid/  Army battalion in Georgia offering 4 days of GTA 6 play as reenlistment incentive https://www.fox16.com/news/national-news/army-battalion-in-georgia-offering-4-days-of-gta-6-play-as-reenlistment-incentive/  America's Army link https://store.steampowered.com/app/203290/Americas_Army_Proving_Grounds/  Operencia: The Stolen Sun https://store.steampowered.com/app/985950/Operencia_The_Stolen_Sun/  Fallout: New California https://www.gog.com/en/game/fallout_new_california  Classic Ultima Online https://shatteredmoon.com/cuo/  Empire (1977 video game) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(1977_video_game)  New Rumors Suggest KOTOR Remake May Be Re-Announced This Year (and Potential Launch Windows) https://www.mmorpg.com/news/new-rumors-suggest-kotor-remake-may-be-re-announced-this-year-and-potential-launch-windows-2000138547  Star Wars Zero Company https://store.steampowered.com/app/2075800/STAR_WARS_Zero_Company/  Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  2. Aug 1

    Palace of the Vampire Queen: The First Ever D&D Module with Pacesetter Games

    Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games holds forth on Pacesetter Games updates and the 50th Anniversary of Palace of the Vampire Queen, the first module ever published for Dungeons & Dragons. Palace of the Vampire Queen isn't just the first published D&D module; it's also the first published megadungeon. What are Pacesetter's plans for the 50th anniversary of Palace of the Vampire Queen? (hint: they're cool). Shane's inner 13-year-old asks the obligatory question that a 13-year-old would ask about the Vampire Queen. Bill gives his definitive answer on whether the Vampire Queen would own Strahd.  OTHER COOL STUFF IN THIS EPISODE: Bill's market view is that people are playing a lot of 5E but aren't buying a lot of new 5E product. Bill predicts the timeframe for the new version of D&D to come out. A surprising amount of B/X D&D is being played vs "Red Box" and BECMI at cons. The third edition of the BX RPG from Pacesetter is unleashing. Dungeon X is coming… Dungeon X is taking the best of D&D from the last 50 years and molding it into a new game. Choose-Your-Own-Path Stories are a new choice on the market. Solo adventures (one play only, not a duo between DM and player) definitely have a place in the hobby. Pacesetter runs one of the longest-running consecutive D&D tournament series at cons. There was a time when TSR thought publishing adventure modules was a terrible idea with no market. Let's be real, OD&D is super important to the hobby, but it's not the most organized and readable set of rules. What game does Shane declare as THE "D&D" success story of the past couple of years?  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #293 7/31/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Palace of the Vampire Queen at Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_the_Vampire_Queen  Pacesetter Games https://pacesettergames.com/  Kickstarter: Adventures from Farrador Keep: Choose-Your-Own-Path Stories! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pacesettergames/adventures-from-farrador-keep-choose-your-own-path-stories  Save For Half Podcast: Original Dungeons & Dragons, Edited by Greyharp https://saveforhalf.com/2022/08/29/episode-42-original-dungeons-dragons-edited-by-greyharp/  Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  3. Jun 27

    Video Game Dev Johnny Wood-Brooks and No One Left To Die - Episode 292 - 6/27/2026

    Video game developer Johnny Wood-Brooks discusses his career and No One Left To Die, his new quirky retro indie video game. An update on his Classic Ultima Online project. An overview of his 20+ year career in video games, including Midway, Turbine, Standing Stone, and ZeniMax. How he got into the industry (and what method he used to "cheat"). What programming language is still surprisingly dominant in video game development? The video game industry can be a tough biz. Johnny has been pleasantly surprised by the Godot game engine's capacity for rapid game development. Multiplayer is still surprisingly hard to implement in games after all of this time. The process and challenges of getting your game on Steam (Johnny says the easy part was making the game!). The 8-bit / chiptune soundtrack for No One Left To Die is by Matthew Lister aka Cobra Commander. Shane compares his podcasting approach to Ed Wood.  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #292 - 6/27/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES No One Left To Die on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/4459140/No_One_Left_To_Die/  Classic Ultima Online https://shatteredmoon.com/cuo/  GoDot game engine https://godotengine.org/  Johnny (Jonathon) Wood-Brooks Video Game Developer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnywood-brooks/  Matt Lister's "Lunch Break" Chiptunes Album https://commandersupreme.bandcamp.com/album/lunch-break  Chiptunes with Matt Lister aka Cobra Commander – Episode 246 – 9/1/2021 https://shaneplays.com/chiptunes-and-retrocomputers-with-matt-lister-cobra-commander/  City State of the Immortal Goddesses RPG Campaign Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevecrompton/city-state-of-the-immortal-goddesses-rpg-campaign  Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  4. May 30

    Frankenstein Movies - Episode 291 - 5/30/2026

    Fellow movie buffs Chris Holmes and Stephen Clements join for an electrifying ambulation through the gothic corridors of over 30 Frankenstein movies, past and present. Chris and Shane disagree on the merits and content of the original Frankenstein novel. Shane has thoughts on spoilers and people expecting them to apply forever. There's Iconic, and then there's iconic. What Frankenstein movie was so bad that Stephen wished his heart would have stopped while watching it, and he begs all of humanity never to watch it? For you Mage: The Ascension fans out there, Dr. Frankenstein was a Son of Ether (and so were the Ghostbusters). Do Frankenstein movies play into our fear of being eaten? Stephen manages to invoke the old military urban legend of the Ether Bunny. Chris will sit through every second of a putrid, horrible movie that he despises at least twice. Chris saw a movie in the theater using Smell-O-Vision… in 2025. Stephen has super-strong (like, super-strong) opinions about Poor Things. Did we mention that Stephen has super-strong opinions about Poor Things?  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #291 - 5/30/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Stephen Clements on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@stephen.clements Frankenstein movies list we went into the podcast with: 1910 Frankenstein aka "Easy Bake Frankenstein" (according to Stephen :D ) 1931 Frankenstein 1935 Bride of Frankenstein 1939 Son of Frankenstein 1942 Ghost of Frankenstein 1944 House of Frankenstein 1957 I Was a Teenage Frankenstein 1957 The Curse of Frankenstein 1958 The Revenge of Frankenstein 1958 Frankenstein 1970 1962 The Brain That Wouldn't Die 1964 The Evil of Frankenstein 1965 Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter 1967 Frankenstein Created Woman 1968 The Astro-Zombies 1969 Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed 1969 The Horror of Frankenstein 1971 Lady Frankenstein 1972 Flesh for Frankenstein 1973 Frankenstein: The True Story 1973 Blackenstein 1974 Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell 1974 Young Frankenstein 1975 The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1981 Frankenstein Island 1984 The Bride 1985 Re-Animator 1990 Frankenstein Unbound 1990 Frankenhooker 1990 Bride of Re-Animator 1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein 2012 Frankenweenie 2015 Victor Frankenstein 2023 Poor Things 2025 Frankenstein 2025 Dead Lover Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  5. Apr 30

    Ken St. Andre Part 2 - Episode 290 - 4/30/2026

    The second of two interviews with game designer Ken St. Andre, this time focusing on his video game design history (see part one for discussion around his tabletop RPG design). Games discussed in this episode: Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan, Adventure Construction Set, Wasteland (without which there would be no Fallout), and Wasteland 2. Ken's favorite Christopher Reeve Superman movie. One of Shane's pet peeves with current superhero comic book stories (especially DC). The origins of storytelling. Did the Empire from Star Wars have a good side? What happened when Ken and Roberta Williams of Sierra On-Line offered Ken a job? What two classic 80s action flicks helped inspire Wasteland (one is sort of obvious, one might not be), and what does Daffy Duck have to do with it all? What does the Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes RPG have to do with Tunnels & Trolls, and what do they both have to do with Wasteland? Ken's thoughts on being involved with Wasteland 2. Ken's never-released superhero game version of Tunnels & Trolls called Power Trip. The most important rule in Tunnels & Trolls (as opposed to the most important principle). Watch out for snollygosters. Ken's thoughts on power scale in superhero RPGs (think Batman and Superman in the same fight). Q&A with Ken based on questions submitted by Matt Barton of Matt Chat. Ken's advice for game designers. What would Ken have done differently in his career? Cockroach population analysis. How Ken made it into the Hall of Fame.  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #290 - 4/30/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Ken St. Andre Part 1 – Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode 288 – 3/8/2026 https://shaneplays.com/rpg-designer-ken-st-andre-part-1-podcast/  Ken St. Andre on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_St._Andre  Trollgodfather Press (Ken's Publishing Company) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/9559/trollgodfather-press  Wasteland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_(video_game)  Wasteland 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_2  Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan https://mobygames.com/game/3398/tunnels-trolls-crusaders-of-khazan/ Adventure Construction Set https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Construction_Set  Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  6. Mar 30

    John M. Ford with Victor Raymond - Episode 289 - 3/30/2026

    The one and only, amazing, science fiction and fantasy writer, game designer, and poet, John M. Ford (aka "Mike") with Dr. Victor Raymond. A very quick Tékumel update. John M. Ford won a prestigious award for a Christmas card. In addition to his novel writing, he also wrote for RPGs, including Traveller, GURPS, Star Trek, Paranoia, and Ghostbusters. Paranoia is a joyful HOOT. John M. Ford's take on Klingons (including linguistics) is excellent and sublime, and it's a shame it's not Star Trek canon. "Realistic" space combat in science fiction. Reading a John M. Ford novel is a very rewarding exercise in inference. Recommendations on where to start in his bibliography. A brief digression into Harlan Ellison. Sweet memories of Mike (and Darklands, too).  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #289 - 3/30/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES John M. Ford on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Ford  The Disappearance of John M. Ford by Isaac Butler https://slate.com/culture/2019/11/john-ford-science-fiction-fantasy-books.html  Bibliography: John M. Ford on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database  https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?226 Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  7. Mar 8

    Ken St. Andre Part 1

    Historic RPG designer Ken St. Andre (Tunnels & Trolls, Starfaring, Monsters! Monsters!, Stormbringer, more) joins for this episode. The game that shall not be named. Is it wise to go into dungeons as an adventurer, or do you just need luck? The practicality of six-siders versus Platonic solids. The most powerful buttons in the universe. Who's tougher, the Romulans or the Klingons? Marbles were the collectible card game of their day. Diplomacy variants. Gary Gygax's first introduction to Tunnels & Trolls. Dave Arneson's contribution to Flying Buffalo Games. Ken's impressions of Dave. Ken's opinion on whether OD&D was an actual RPG. Ken told TSR's lawyers, and I quote, "go piss up a rope." Ken's advice to game designers. Clever solutions in dealing with a Balrog. What is "stunting" in an RPG? Tunnels & Trolls on the MetaArcade app. Ken and Shane's predictions about AI's effect on the RPG industry. Mata Hari. Ken was a pioneer in solo RPG adventures (which Shane feels is important). What game of Ken's does he think is better than Tunnels & Trolls? Some Elric discussion. The secret brotherhood of librarians (or lack thereof). A brief diversion into chicken psychology.  Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #288 - 3/8/2026 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Ken St. Andre on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_St._Andre   Trollgodfather Press (Ken's Publishing Company) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/9559/trollgodfather-press   Tunnels & Trolls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_%26_Trolls   Starfaring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfaring   Monsters! Monsters! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters!_Monsters!   Stormbringer RPG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormbringer_(role-playing_game)   Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

  8. 11/24/2025

    Heroes of Might and Magic (and Other Goodness) with Neal Hallford - Episode 287 - 11/24/2025

    Neal Hallford joins to discuss his new book Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Retrospective. The history of HoM&M games is, in many ways, an "epic story" that tells the history of the video game industry and the related human drama in general. Since it's Neal, we also meander into other interesting things, including Planet's Edge, Betrayal at Krondor, and Dungeon Siege (including why they named Farmer "Farmer"). A game company trying to launch seven games all at the same time is probably not the wisest idea. The "box of rocks" approach to writing for games. Neal's new Planet's Edge: Fractured Empires project. Singular vision / small teams versus large teams in game design. Neal has very strong feelings on trends that have hurt the video game industry. What's the connection between Star Trek and Heroes of Might and Magic? The fine line game creators have to walk in making sequels by adding new stuff worth buying, but not changing things so much that it alienates the audience. What is the number one-selling game on GOG? Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #287 - 11/24/2025 Like what you hear? Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays Listen to the Shane Plays Geek Talk podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Podbean and Stitcher (and other fine, fine podcast directories). Hey, you! Yeah, you! Buy cool stuff, support Shane Plays Geek Talk with these affiliate links! Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com?partner=shaneplays DriveThruRPG.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=488512 SHOW NOTES Heroes of Might and Magic: 30th Anniversary Retrospective Book by Neal Hallford https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Might-Magic-Anniversary-Retrospective/dp/150675130X  Neal Hallford on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Hallford  Betrayal at Krondor 30th Anniversary & Fan Film Challenge with Neal Hallford – Episode 266 – 3/14/2023 https://shaneplays.com/betrayal-at-krondor-crpg-30th-anniversary-neal-hallford-fan-film-challenge-podcast/  Star Fleet Battles With Bill Barsh – Episode 272 – 12/29/2023 https://shaneplays.com/star-fleet-battles-with-bill-barsh-podcast/  Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition Shane's book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

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Ratings & Reviews

4.1
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A journey into the things we love: D&D / RPGs, tabletop games, wargames, video games, comics and comic books, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, fan films, movies, TV, books, sci-fi, fantasy, more! Hosted by a fellow geek that supports and encourages geeks and our fandoms in all of their various splendor! Come along and get your geek on (or maybe even discover you inner geek)!

Information

  • Creator
    Shane Stacks
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Shane W. Stacks
  • Show Website
    Shane Plays Geek Talk