Welcome to the Crystal Core Radio Podcast's special Thanksgiving episode with your favorite hosts, Brian and Kirk the Gamer! In this episode, we delve deep into the world of gaming awards as we enter the much-awaited Game of the Year award season. Get ready for a jam-packed discussion as we explore the hottest topics and the most glaring snubs throughout the gaming industry.

We kick things off by catching up on what Kirk has been playing. He's been diving into indie darlings like Nava and checking out Unicorn Overlord, among other titles. Kirk's gaming adventures also include revisiting Death Stranding and diving into the latest expansions for Star Wars Outlaws and Outlast Trials.

The duo then breaks down the major categories for this year's Game Awards, such as Best Multiplayer, Best RPG, and Best Action-Adventure. They highlight the stiff competition in Best RPG with contenders like Dragon's Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and the highly anticipated Metaphor: Re Fantasio. Despite personal favorites, predictions are made and bold opinions are shared.

Our hosts don't shy away from discussing the snubs of the season either. They passionately debate the deserving games that were overlooked, such as Power World in Best Family game or the indie gem Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden in Best Action-Adventure. The indie landscape is thoroughly explored with hidden gems like Ultras and Dungeons of Hinterberg being strong contenders.

Whether you’re a fan of blockbuster RPGs or indie innovations, this episode is your guide to what to expect from this year’s gaming awards. Tune in for genuine insights, unexpected picks, and get ready to root for your favorites as we navigate the exciting landscape of gaming recognition.

Welcome back to another episode of Epic Loot Radio! In this episode, host Ginger Prime is joined by Colt Eastwood, a renowned figure in the Xbox community, to discuss what might just be the greatest Xbox showcase in history. Rated a 9 out of 10 by Ginger Prime, with the music alone deserving an 11 out of 10, this episode is packed with insights, highlights, and expert opinions.

Colt Eastwood, who has been creating Xbox-focused content for over seven years, joins the conversation with excitement about Xbox's latest showcase. He reflects on the long wait for Xbox to truly shine and expresses his enthusiasm for the games revealed. The discussion kicks off with a look at Perfect Dark and Gears of War, two standout titles from the showcase. Colt and Ginger Prime delve into the gameplay, aesthetics, and future prospects of these games.

The conversation then shifts to South of Midnight, a game that took everyone by surprise with its unique style and Southern charm. Colt and Ginger Prime share their thoughts on the game's potential and its impact on the Xbox lineup. They also discuss the intriguing themes and settings that make South of Midnight a title to watch.

Next, the duo tackles the topic of Xbox's strategy, especially in light of Phil Spencer's recent statements about publishing more games on various platforms, including PlayStation and Switch. They explore the implications of this move for Xbox fans and the gaming industry as a whole. The discussion covers the evolving landscape of exclusivity and how Xbox's approach could reshape the future of gaming.

The episode wouldn't be complete without a deep dive into the potential of Xbox Game Pass. Colt and Ginger Prime analyze the showcase's emphasis on Game Pass, the addition of titles like Call of Duty, and the long-term strategy behind this service. They also touch upon the possibility of including World of Warcraft subscriptions in Game Pass and what that could mean for the MMORPG landscape.

Throughout the episode, Colt and Ginger Prime address various viewer comments and questions, providing a well-rounded and engaging discussion. They touch on topics like the future of consoles, the impact of cloud gaming, and the significance of Xbox's extensive game library. The episode wraps up with a look at what was missing from the showcase and the games that fans are eagerly anticipating.

Join Ginger Prime and Colt Eastwood for a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of Xbox's latest showcase. Whether you're a die-hard Xbox fan or just curious about the future of gaming, this episode has something for everyone.

Find Colt Eastwood on Twitter and YouTube, and don't miss his XC Podcast every Monday at 5 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. Eastern. For more content from Ginger Prime, check out the top link in the description.

Socials, Discord, & Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/gingerprime Become a channel member: youtube.com/@GingerPrimeGaming/join Cohosts: @whatsnewvideogames @DarksideRoyaltyLore Affiliate Deals 💸 ExpressVPN: https://www.expressvpn.com/gingerprime ExitLag: https://www.exitlag.com/aff.php?aff=1015591 SecretLab Chairs: https://bit.ly/SecretLabGP Ashes of Creation: https://ashesofcreation.com/r/ZPKZJBYUWHNIF1UU Star Citizen Referral: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/enlist?referral=STAR-XTSY-6LGQ #epiclootradio #podcast #videogamepodcast Chapters: 00:00:00 - Getting ready for the show 00:03:36 - Gaming News and Updates 00:07:14 - The Year of Bad Games 00:10:15 - Working on Game Development 00:13:04 - The Appeal of More Mature Games for Adults and Kids 00:16:12 - Reviewing the Bad Games 00:19:00 - The Value of Video Games and Consumer Justification 00:22:09 - PVE and PVP in Sea of Thieves 00:25:09 - Embracing Chaos in PVP Multiplayer 00:28:03 - The Appeal of Games with Community Leverage 00:30:57 - Prince of Persia and Ubisoft Games 00:33:54 - Gamplay with Joker 00:36:42 - The Decline of Player Base in Suicide Squad 00:39:34 - The Importance of New Content in Video Games 00:42:35 - Natural Moments and Artificial Interactions 00:45:37 - Dragon's Dogma 2 and Rise of the Ronin 00:48:44 - Microtransactions and Monetization 00:51:52 - Disappointing Visuals and Performance 00:54:59 - The Joy of Playing Unpopular Games 00:57:53 - Performance of "Rise of the Ronin" 01:00:50 - The Quality and Price of Games 01:03:44 - The Year of Bad Games 01:06:44 - Where to Find Us 01:09:26 - Wrapping up the show