Make It Sound Fiction
50 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 5 years ago - ★★★★ - 10 ratingsA podcast profoundly interested in picking apart pop culture media and narrative.
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Episodes
A Portal to Nowhere
August 12, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBMentioned: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Steven Universe, Avatar the Last Airbender Links: Your Favorite Netflix Show Will Soon Be Cancelled
The Aesthetics of Cool
August 05, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBMentioned: Overwatch, Arkham Asylum, various comic books Links: Blizzard on Overwatch's hero design, mental health and baby soft feet Overwatch artist says Sigma's bare feet meant to 'sell the asylum look' Sigma's New 'Asylum Skin' Raises Concerns About Overwatch's Handling of Mental Illness Tropes
Returning to the Past
July 22, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBTyler and Nico discuss what the critical value of returning to previously experienced media is, through their explorations of notoriously compatible Dark Souls 3 and Veronica Mars. Mentioned: Dark Souls, Veronica Mars, Assassin's Creed, Steven Universe, Terriers, iZombie
Angels Around Us
July 01, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 92.5 MBTyler and Nico talk about the last 14 episodes of Evangelion, as well as End of Evangelion movie and how the characters and themes evolve. Mentioned: Neon Genesis Evangelion, End of Evangelion, Nier Automata
Get In the Robot, Shinji
June 24, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 64 MBTyler and Nico discuss the first 12 episodes of the Netflix release of Neon Genesis Evangelion, as well as recollections about the show's place in popular culture thus far. Mentioned: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gundam Wing, Gundam Seed Links: Neverending Evangelion
Girls, Guns, Gold
June 17, 2019 14:35 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBTyler and Nico continue their E3 discussion from last week with regards to more critical topics surrounding Cyberpunk: 2077, Fallout 76, Watchdogs: Legion and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Romance Salsa
June 12, 2019 22:50 - 1 hour - 72 MBTyler and Nico discuss E3 highlights: Google Stadia, Microsoft PC Game Pass, Elden Ring as well as Breath of the Wild sequel. Part one of our E3 discussion. Mentioned: Stadia, Xbox PC Game Pass, Elden Ring, Breath of the Wild, Dark Souls, Animal Crossing, Slay the Spire, Destiny 2 Links: E3 2019: Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin Present: Elden Ring
ACAB
May 27, 2019 14:30 - 53 minutes - 53.3 MBTyler and Nico talk about Brigette from Overwatch's riot cop skin and the legacy of including military and cops in video games. Mentioned: Overwatch Links: Shooters: How Video Games Fund Arms Manufacturers Stop Turning Overwatch Characters into Cops Formal: 76 Flies in the Face of Overwatch's Hopeful Future 7 Very Queer Overwatch Skins We'll Never Actually See in the Game
No Man Should Own an Island
May 20, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBTyler and Nico talk about the hyper-industrialized capitalist sheen inherent in Forager as well as in games in general, as well as the mistakes Blizzard made with their newest D.va skin. Content Warning: Some brief use of misogynist language for discussion purposes. Mentioned: Forager, Stardew Valley, Factorio, Minecraft, Terraria, Overwatch, Sonic the Hedgehog (movie), Detective Pikachu (movie) Links: Off-Topic: Forager Looks Cute But Still Makes You Feel Terrible
Get Crunt
May 13, 2019 14:30 - 50 minutes - 51 MBTyler and Nico talk about Netflix's new series by showrunner Lisa Hanawalt, "Tuca and Bertie" and what the zany, frenetic show does that other similar shows, such a Bojack Horseman, do not. Content warning for some light discussion of sexual harassment and assault. Mentioned: Tuca and Bertie, Bojack Horseman
For Eternia
May 06, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBTyler and Nico talk about Season 2 of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and how the show handles things like relationships as well as heavier thematic elements. Mentioned: She-Ra S1 and S2, Steven Universe
What Is Dead May Never Die
April 30, 2019 00:04 - 1 hour - 68 MBTyler and Nico talk about the two latest media franchises to be wrapped up: Game of Thrones and Avengers Endgame and what it means for things to come to a close. Mentioned: Game of Thrones, Marvel Cinematic Universe movies
Across the Narrow Sea
April 14, 2019 18:47 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBTyler and Nico talk about all things Game of Thrones in advance of the newest season debuting - what makes the show great, but more often what makes it hard to get into. Content warning: Discussion does include detailed depictions of rape and gendered violence in the show. Mentioned: Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Dark Souls Links: Overwatch Teams Owe Care to Their Players, Not the Other Way Around
No Laughing Matter
April 08, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 69 MBTyler and Nico talk about the upcoming Joker movie, based on the initial trailer, and also about a critical essay by Tevis Thompson bashing other game critics. Mentioned: Joker, Batman: The Animated Series, The Dark Knight series, as well as Tim Burton's Batman movies Links: Joker trailer Interlude - The Failure of Game Critics
Broken Straight Sword
April 01, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBTyler and Nico talk about both Sekiro and Dark Souls in detail - difficulty settings, narrative and thematic elements and why neither game fulfills a traditionally masculine power fantasy. Mentioned: Sekiro, Dark Souls (series), Bloodborne, World of Warcraft Links: Thread about Dark Souls' difficulty by @dirigiblebill Thread about Dark Souls' accessibility by @drtoddharper
A Fat Ass and Big Titties
March 18, 2019 14:31 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBTyler and Nico talk about the newest Hulu original show, Shrill - what it does with fatphobia and what it's like watching fat bodies dominate a TV show in a positive way. Mentioned: Shrill, Dietland
Captain Marvel Spoilercast
March 11, 2019 14:30 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBTyler and Nico talk thoroughly and utterly about their feelings regarding the new Captain Marvel film.
The Devil's Luck
March 04, 2019 15:30 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBTyler and Nico add about Baptiste's addition to the Overwatch roster and what it means for the state of the game overall. Links: Media Mavens Podcast - "Carrie Would Work for Gawker" What Winning Means For An Esports Team Whose Identity Was Losing (Waypoint) Slam! (Capsule Crit) Overwatch PTR has more balance changes than ever, and nobody knows what the new meta will be
Inside the Circle
February 18, 2019 15:30 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBTyler and Nico talk about the debate surrounding Apex Legends vs. Overwatch and what they find interesting about both. Mentioned: Overwatch, Apex Legends, Team Fortress 2, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Fortnite
Abyssal Canon, Lore Dictators and Wizard Shit
February 04, 2019 15:30 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBTyler and Nico do a deep dive on Mike Rugnetta's "Canon is an Abyss" essay and talk about the impacts of various factors on canon, how fandom interacts with lore and why maybe Tyler hates Dark Souls now. Mentioned: Harry Potter, Dark Souls, Overwatch, League of Legends, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, World of Warcraft Links: Canon is an Abyss Fanfiction Through the Ages: From the Midrashim to The Magicians
The Show Must Go On...and On...and On
January 28, 2019 15:30 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBTyler and Nico talk about the season (SERIES?) finale for Steven Universe and dig deeper into the nature of franchises not stopping where they should. Mentioned: Steven Universe, Sandman, Dark Souls, Avengers/MCU Links: Canon is an Abyss (Mike Rugnetta)
Mete and Potatoes
January 19, 2019 21:01 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBTyler and Nico talk about what they've been watching on TV lately: the lack of interest in True Detective season 3, as well as Sex Education. Mentioned: True Detective, Sex Education, Sharp Objects Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSdY5joEfR0 (interview with Nick Pizzolato about episode 1 of S3) Soldier: 76 Is Gay, but Overwatch Still Makes Fans Work for Queer Representation
We're in the Experience Business, Kid
January 14, 2019 23:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBTyler and Nico go deep on Overwatch's first short story, Bastet and why Blizzard ultimately fails at telling stories. Mentioned: Overwatch Links: Bastet Overwatch’s Latest Gay Hero Is Great, But Let’s Not Praise Blizzard Just Yet (Paste Games) Blizzard confirms Overwatch Contenders player Ellie was actually someone’s “fun” idea of a “social experiment” (Blizzard Watch)
The Sexism Special!
January 07, 2019 15:30 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBTyler and Nico go deep into the "Ellie" controversy and what sexism contributes to the e-sports community at large. Mentioned: Overwatch League Contenders Links: https://twitter.com/AnneDroMedia/status/1081348982876655616 Women in Overwatch Esports List Overwatch Contenders controversy has once again made things more difficult for women in esports (Rock Paper Shotgun)
Reverence is Temporary Until the Truth Comes Out
December 24, 2018 15:30 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBTyler and Nico talk about their end of year picks in movies, music and life in general. Mentioned: Widows, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Black Panther, Avengers, Tacoma, Dance Gavin Dance Links: Tacoma Playthrough Artificial Selection on Spotify
Super Into the Spider-Verse
December 17, 2018 15:30 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBTyler and Nico talk about Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse as well as answer a reader letter about the responsibility of gaming press. Mentioned: Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse Links: The Root review: https://www.theroot.com/i-expected-to-hate-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-t-1831076221 Kyle Kenworthy tweet: https://twitter.com/kyle_kenworthy/status/1073651237374095361
All of Geoff Keighley's Best Friends
December 10, 2018 15:30 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBTyler and Nico talk about last week's Game Awards - the highlights, the low moments and also what happens when games journalism stops doing it's job. Mentioned: Red Dead Redemption, Return of the Obra Dinn, Dead Cells, Celeste, SonicFox, GoG, CD Projekt Red Links: This is a Challenging Segment SonicFox Steals The Show At The Game Awards Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy? Troubling GOG tweets, a fired CD Projekt employee, and the spectre of GamerGate ...
Key Frames
December 03, 2018 15:30 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBTyler and Nico talk about the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, Spongebob Squarepants and growing up with animation in their lives, as well as answer reader letters. Mentioned: Spongebob Squarepants, Rocko's Modern Life, Bojack Horseman, Steven Universe, Animaniacs, Thundercats, She-ra, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, The Punisher, Overwatch League Links: SpongeBob Squarepants: The reasons we love it, and always will Neon Genesis Evangelion is heading to Netflix (Verge) Liv...
You'll Want A Dose Of This
November 26, 2018 15:30 - 58 minutes - 55.1 MBTyler and Nico talk about Riot's latest offerings with K/DA and Neeko, and what gay representation and re-envisioning characters looks like. Mentions: League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch Links: K/DA - Pop Star K/DA Explained (Polygon) Fortiche Productions Worlds 2018 Opening Ceremonies with K/DA AR Neeko Champion Page Neeko Revealed to be League's First Openly LGBTQ Champion Tyler's Work on Fanbyte Ashe is Everything Wrong with Hero Diversity
Bob, Do Something
November 12, 2018 15:30 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBTyler and Nico give a full breakdown of Blizzcon - the highs and lows. Mentioned: Diablo: Immortal, Overwatch, World of Warcraft Links: https://kotaku.com/blizzard-explains-why-overwatch-still-doesnt-have-a-bla-1830241379
The Good, The Bad, And The Labor Inequality
October 29, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBTyler and Nico talk about everything Red Dead Redemption 2: labor exploitation, consuming culture produced in inequitable situations, as well as why the game tries to ape the cinematic. Mentioned: Red Dead Redemption 2 Links: http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-10-15-rockstar-has-been-working-100-hour-weeks-on-red-dead-redemption-2 https://kotaku.com/inside-rockstar-games-culture-of-c...
To the Coolest Girl in the World
October 22, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBTyler and Nico talk about Eighth Grade, the new indie film written and directed and Bo Burnham, and what they liked and disliked about the film. Mentioned: Eighth Grade Links: Eighth Grade Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lFgF_IjPw Eighth Grade Behind the Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFs4Dp-VBjI Build Series interview with the Cast of "Eighth Grade": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUzFkqby6-c&t=2639s (Skip to 10 minutes in)
Terrible Television Men
October 14, 2018 03:34 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBTyler and Nico talk about why media has such a love of making men with very low moral character entertaining, or worse, sympathetic. Mentioned: Bojack Horseman, Breaking Bad, House, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black
Feminism isn't a Genre
October 08, 2018 22:17 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBTyler and Nico talk about how to navigate comprehensive media criticism and what it means when artists use outside analytics to adjust their content. Special thanks to Twitter user @donniemnemonic for his tweets about Fukanaga. Mentioned: Insecure, Girls, Maniac, Westworld, Steven Universe, Wonder Woman (film), True Detective, Black Mirror Links: https://www.gq.com/story/cary-fukunaga-netflix-maniac http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/race-and-pop-culture-a-roundtable-conversation.h...
Like A Slipknot Band Mask
October 01, 2018 14:30 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBTyler and Nico talk about what precisely keeps them from watching a lot of horror and horror-adjacent content, as well as a review of the film Mandy. Mentioned: It Follows, The Witch, American Horror Story, Beyond the Black Rainbow, Mandy
Methodologies
September 24, 2018 14:30 - 53 minutes - 50.5 MBTyler and Nico talk about how they've come into their media consumption habits as well as the closing of Telltale Games. Mentioned: Artifact, Overwatch, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Links: https://twitter.com/Binkysaur/status/1043263777477517312 https://www.pcgamer.com/rainbow-six-toxicity-ban/ https://letterboxd.com/appleciderwitch/film/gone-girl/ https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/09/21/telltale-games-reportedly-shutting-down?abthid=5ba548581f4dbfd10b0000f1
Can Yogg'Saron Be Hot?
September 17, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBTyler and Nico talk about where exactly World of Warcraft's story is heading next, if anywhere and we go into why games with persistent end-game content like Warcraft and Destiny 2 can be unhealthy for players. Mentioned: World of Warcraft, Destiny 1 and 2, Shonda Rhimes' TV oeuvre, World of Warcraft: Chronicles book series Intro and outro music courtesy of Maddy Myers (http://midimyers.net)
The Maker Space of Rivia
September 10, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBTyler and Nico talk about the new actor cast for Netflix's upcoming Witcher TV series, the simplicity of creativity in woodworking videos as well as what Tyler believes the point of the Dark Souls series is. Mentioned: The Witcher series, Four Eyes/Chris Salomone, Frank Howarth, Dark Souls Links: https://twitter.com/_poneria/status/1037442610695233537 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ7yfkBbsiw (How to Woodturn a Sphere) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCi8u_fXTfI (Concrete Cof...
Power Fantasies
September 03, 2018 14:30 - 57 minutes - 43.3 MBTyler and Nico discuss what Hollow Knight is missing, why Warcraft is messing up the gear scaling, and why Netflix doesn't have social features. Mentioned: Hollow Knight, Dark Souls, World of Warcraft, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, MUBI, Blockbuster Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi8BwUh3XOk (The Verge's doc on the Last Blockbuster) https://www.twitch.tv/videos/300939546## (World of Warcraft developer Q & A)
For Gamers, By Gamers
August 27, 2018 14:30 - 53 minutes - 35.8 MBTyler and Nico discuss Cyberpunk 2077's team as well as CD Projekt Red's overall image issues, and the new D.va cinematic, "Shooting Star." Mentioned: Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, Overwatch Links: CD Projekt Red's apology: https://kotaku.com/cyberpunk-2077-tweets-transphobic-joke-studio-apologiz-1828502562 D.va Cinematic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7j2d6YCQbg
Other Disgusting Adjectives
August 20, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 48.4 MBTyler and Nico discuss frustration with mechanics when playing video games, as well as what it's like to consume trash media. Mentioned: Pyre, Transistor, Bastion, Undertale, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Insatiable
No Strong Feelings
August 13, 2018 14:30 - 59 minutes - 45.8 MBTyler and Nico discuss what has interested (and confused) them about the new Castle Rock show, as well as puzzling over fandoms around Detroit: Become Human and how to mix criticism into those communities. Mentioned: Castle Rock, most of Stephen King's work, Detroit Become Human Links: https://kotaku.com/the-super-fans-of-detroit-become-human-hate-most-of-th-1828260985
The Spectrum Retweet
August 06, 2018 14:30 - 57 minutes - 45.1 MBTyler and Nico discuss Warcraft embedding atrocities into their game and the jokes made about it, and when games overstay their welcome. Mentioned: World of Warcraft, Wolfenstein, Mass Effect 2, The Spectrum Retreat Links: https://twitter.com/CadenHouse/status/1024771277389623297 https://twitter.com/SeTec9/status/1024755135854010368 https://twitter.com/StevenDowlingJr/status/1024741969665257472 https://twitter.com/StevenDowlingJr/status/1024745229172109312 https://www.reddit....
Kissing Diamonds
July 29, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBTyler and Nico discuss what they love and what frustrates them about the latest season of Steven Universe, how fandoms around media operate and what getting back into World of Warcraft's lore has been like. Content warning: There is a spoiler-full discussion of Steven Universe's latest season from 15:00 until 33:57. Mentioned: Steven Universe, World of Warcraft Links: https://kotaku.com/the-valley-of-trials-is-my-favorite-place-in-world-of-w-1827777156
In Space, Corporations Can't Hear You Scream
July 23, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBTyler and Nico discuss the finer points of Tacoma's anti-capitalist sci-fi message, and why Overwatch is suddenly buffing all of their supports except Mercy. Mentioned: Tacoma, Cyberpunk 2077, Alien, Overwatch Links: Where Are the Radical Politics of Cyberpunk? https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/ne5jg7/radical-politics-cyberpunk-2077 Upcoming balance changes for Overwatch support heroes: https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/overwatch/t/upcoming-balance-changes-for-support-...
Rotating Lines
July 16, 2018 14:30 - 1 hour - 47.9 MBTyler and Nico discuss the fundamentals of puzzle games and how they teach us, as well as what it is like to be high level in Overwatch, and why film trailers are cut the way they are. Mentioned: Obduction, Portal, The Witness, Myst, Overwatch, The Meg Links: https://kotaku.com/overwatchs-highest-level-player-games-12-hours-per-day-1827526240 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDCWRdS1olw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S3phVSi0tI
Cowards and Criticism
July 09, 2018 14:30 - 56 minutes - 45.1 MBTyler and Nico discuss the ArenaNet firings as well as how the industry treats its employees, why feedback from fans should be invisible and dealing with self-criticism and mental illness in competitive games. Mentioned: Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, Overwatch Links: https://kotaku.com/guild-wars-2-writers-fired-for-calling-out-fan-on-twitt-1827401422 https://twitter.com/cetaillefer/status/1014512762817400832
All's Fair in Love and Hamsters
July 02, 2018 14:30 - 57 minutes - 46 MBTyler and Nico discuss why gaming has an allergy for portraying friendships and other relationships, particularly among women, the new Symmetra changes in Overwatch and why the hell there's a hamster in the game now. Mentioned: Mass Effect, Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Overwatch Links: Hammond discussion: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/278623877?t=37m40s Overwatch Developer Interviews: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/278653958
Globular Shapes
June 25, 2018 14:30 - 52 minutes - 39.2 MBTyler and Nico discuss what makes good boobs in Dark Souls, why L.A. Noire isn't precisely of the noir genre, and what's the deal with new heroes in Overwatch. Mentioned: Dark Souls, Overwatch, L.A. Noire, LA Confidential, Sin City Links: https://twitter.com/K34dsds/status/1010220738178007040 https://twitter.com/PlayOverwatch/status/1009858492994236416 L.A. Noire stream playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCOcRe_ErTA&list=PLhaHI55qV1cJlODQpkdmehi2YfqpgakEQ
A Beautiful Landscape and a Gun
June 18, 2018 12:49 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBTyler and Nico talk about their impressions from the E3 show, the particulars of visual storytelling in video games as well as why they decided to start a podcast. Mentioned: Fallout 76, The Division 2, Last of Us 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Unraveled 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, Rise of the Tomb Raider, West Virginia, Ooblets, Sable, first person vs. third person cameras, why every game trailer has a single piano note in it, more guns than necessary Links: https://twitter.com/dannyodwyer/status...