Shows / Some Patches Required
Some Patches Required
Hello everybody, and welcome to Some Patches Required. Every other Thursday, your hosts Aaron and Zak use their backgrounds in game development and analysis to discuss various facets of the ever-turbulent games industry. From interviews with AAA/indie devs to deep dives on timely topics, the duo hopes to entertain and educate you on this wild medium we all love.
Episodes
Some Patches RequiredBaldur's Gate 3: Breaking the AAA Mold
Have you ever felt exhausted by the neverending onslaught of updates, microtransactions, generic mechanics, and performance issues that seem to define modern…
Some Patches RequiredAlan Wake 2: Physical Distribution & Game Preservation
The world is changing, and media is changing with it. What do you own? What does renting even mean in the era of subscription services and online storefronts?…
Some Patches RequiredGraphics vs. Gameplay: BattleBit & Stylized Games
After a few unfortunate delays, Zak and Aaron are back to ask you a simple question: Do you value visual extravagance over gameplay excellence, or do you think…
Some Patches RequiredApple Vision Pro: Is this a Watershed Moment?
This week, Zak and Aaron chat about what the semi-recently-announced Apple Vision Pro could mean for the VR, AR, and MR market. Will it fall flat on its face…
Some Patches RequiredAlex Malcolm Interview: Music Licensing in Video Games
This week, Zak and Aaron chat across three different time zones! Was that sensationalist enough to grab your attention?? Good, because the third time zone is…
Some Patches RequiredCameron Paxton Interview: Composing Music for Indie Games
This week, Zak and Aaron sit down to talk with the profoundly talented Cameron Paxton - the composer for the game Dome Keeper - about the intricacies of…
Some Patches RequiredTears of the Kingdom: What Makes a Successful Sequel?
At this point, it's only a few degrees shy of impossible that you haven't heard of the newest Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. Was that sentence…
Some Patches RequiredFortnite: The Evolution of UGC Platforms
This week, Zak and Aaron hop right back into the maelstrom that is the modern games industry. Wait, were you expecting something different? Maybe you don't…
Some Patches RequiredRE4 Remake: The Ethics of Post-Launch Microtransactions
Hello everybody, and welcome to an unseasonably spooky episode of Some Patches Required! This week, Zak and Aaron dive back into the murky waters of…
Some Patches RequiredPress Reset: The Human Cost of Making Video Games
Well, would you look at that!? This one's on time! And it's interesting, to boot. This week, Zak and Aaron have a chat about Jason Schreier's exceptional book…
Some Patches RequiredDungeons & Dragons: The Influence of TTRPG's on Gaming (ft. Undercommon Taste)
This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron team up with the crew from the Undercommon Taste podcast to discuss the lasting impact and influence of TTRPGs (or table-top…
Some Patches RequiredThe Last of Us: Challenges in Translating Games to Film & TV
With all evidence pointing to The Last of Us being HBO's next big hit, Zak and Aaron decided to take a moment to discuss a few things surrounding the show…
Some Patches RequiredPokemon: When Fandom & Consumerism Limit a Franchise
Hello everybody and welcome to season two of Some Patches Required! If you're new to the show, we're happy to have you! If you're already familiar with our…
Some Patches RequiredBayonetta 3 Controversy - Voice Actors and Fair Payment
This week on Some Patches Required, Our intrepid hosts tackle a slightly out-of-date topic that sends them down a rabbit hole that may just take them a few…
Some Patches RequiredOverwatch 2 - How Games Shift from Premium to Free-to-Play
This week on Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron take on a topic of particular interest related to the rocky launch of Overwatch 2. No, it's not 2016, so…
Some Patches RequiredTwitch Bans Gambling Streams - The Issue at Hand
This week on Some Patches Required, our intrepid hosts take on one of the more complex issues in the modern gaming world - gambling. Spurred by the news that…
Some Patches RequiredAn Abundance of Assassin’s Creed, Oodles of Ubisoft, and No Love for D23
It's safe to say that this episode didn't quite go according to plan. Instead of tackling topics like Halo Infinite's missing features, a high-profile…
Some Patches RequiredThoughts on Games as a Service, a Trio of Intros, and Netflix as a Cereal Box
Just when you thought the fine individuals at SPR industries couldn't make a conversation about the games industry sound even more casual than usual, they…
Some Patches RequiredDiversity in Games, Its Potential Impact, and a New Nintendo Update
Brace yourself, this one gets a bit esoteric. That's because this week, Zak and Aaron take a good long look at the very real issue of diversity in the games…
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SPR Watch Party - "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" with The Nerd Alternative
In this very special - and especially long - episode of Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron were lucky enough to sit down with Levi and Hassan from The Nerd…
Some Patches RequiredIndie Dev Insights from New Future Kids, Gone Wandering, and Finding the Right Work-Life Balance
If you couldn't get enough of Austin's unique perspective in episode 42, you're in supremely good luck! This week, Zak and Aaron were happy to continue their…
Some Patches RequiredDiscussing Game-Dev Education with Game-U Course Director Austin
This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron sit down with their mutual friend Austin, who has some cool stuff to say. What, you need more? Alright, Austin is a Course…
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Examining the Xbox Showcase
Are you tired of hearing about exciting, upcoming video games? How about the borderline- unprecedented value offered by Xbox Game Pass? Hot takes on the…
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Diablo Immortal's Predatory Practices, Unionization Updates, and State of Play Impressions
Everyone said they'd never make it, but Zak and Aaron finally made it to 40. Well, the podcast did, and the number refers to episodes rather than years, but…
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EA Enters the Acquisition Race, Raven Workers Unionize, and Pooh Goes Dark
Two weeks can feel like an eternity in the entertainment industry, and this episode is listenable proof. Zak and Aaron are at it again, discussing monumental…
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Embracer Group Embraces Square Enix, Nintendo Loses Face, and Arin Hits the Canvas
As a wise and well-respected philosopher once said, "Another (every other) Friday, another episode of Some Patches Required!" That may be apocryphal, but hey…
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Dissecting the Current State and Future of the MCU with Stew From the Stew World Order Podcast
Are you ready for something special but not especially game-related? If not, too bad! This week, Zak and Aaron are proud to welcome Stew from the Stew World…
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Discussing E3 2022's Cancellation, Kingdom Hearts IV, LEGO Star Wars, and Activision Blizzard's Newest Headlines
Unlike E3, Some Patches Required is back and ready to talk about all the games you crave. Well, not exactly... or at all. Semantics aside, Zak and Aaron have…
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SPR Watch Party - "Voyage of the Rock Aliens" With Joey from 'So Wizard Podcast'
Get ready for an episode that's out of this world (pun very much intended), because this week Zak and Aaron are joined by Joey from the So Wizard Podcast for a…
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Games Industry Protests Russia, Addresses Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation, and Celebrates Elden Ring’s Explosive Success
Look, not every episode can be the very best (like no one ever was). But one thing is for sure: SPR will never be is false. As such, here are a few…
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Pokemon Gen. Nine and the Emphasis on Game Length in Value
This week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss the complicated, multi-faceted, and often inscrutable relationship between the length of a game and its…
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Talking Self-Value, Career Trajectory, and More With VR/Tech Coordinator Michelle House
This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron chat with Michelle House to discuss her job as a VR/Technology Coordinator at Pure Imagination Studios, her journey in media…
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SPR Watch Party - Star Wars: The Last Jedi with Daniel DiManna From the GNP
Welcome back, loyal listeners! Zak and Aaron went off the proverbial video game reservation again this week for a snark-filled conversation about the baffling…
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Addressing the Elephant: Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision/Blizzard
To say that we never thought this would happen would be an understatement of the highest order. But now that it's happened, what does it mean for you and the…
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Why Are So Many AAA Game Studios Losing Their Positive Reputations?
Well, gang, it finally happened: Aaron uploaded an episode late. But, by his count, that puts them ahead of more than a few other podcasts, so we've decided to…
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A Very Krampus Christmas - SPR Holiday Special
Well, everybody, its the holidays, and you know what that means! Wait, you have no idea what that means within the context of a podcast? Well, you're in good…
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Discussing The 2021 Game Awards and Co-Op’s Triumph with “It Takes Two”
Another year, another awards show. This time around, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about the 2021 Game Awards - a show that neither of them actually watched…
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Todd Howard and the Pantheon of Game Dev Personas
We're back, and the same as ever! Wait, is that disappointing? If it is, what we mean to say is that we're here and just as enjoyable as you've come to expect…
Some Patches RequiredDiscussing In-Game Cinematics and Career Introspection with Blizzard Technical Artist Bruce Evans
Hello, and welcome to yet another episode of Some Patches Required. Yep, we're still doing the dang thing. This week, we're proud to introduce a special guest…
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A Smörgåsbord of Intriguing Topics, Facebook's Big Re-brand, and Halo's Speculative Space Crisps
Consider the calendar. Sometimes, minutes, hours, days, or (god forbid) weeks go by without updates pertaining to things you care about. For better or worse…
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Mobile Game Marketing, Celebrity Likenesses, and the Joker's Book Blockade
We know that the last few episodes served as a showcase for the guest-heavy format we're looking toward, but we wouldn't judge you for missing the dulcet tones…
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Double Trouble With Doug Trein, Reviewing Reviews, and Evaluating the Value of Wikis
Are you ready for another dose of in-the-trenches insight from Doug Trein? Well, you'd better be, because this episode concludes our first collaboration with…
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SPR Watch Party - Star Wars: Episode VII With Daniel DiManna From The GNP
Brace yourself: SPR is trying something new. That's right, Some Patches Required — ever a bastion of consistency — is shaking things up. This time around, Zak…
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Indie Insights From Basileus Games, Building a Visual Novel, and a Hint at What’s To Come
We usually start these descriptions with an overlong, unnecessary description of our topics based on a tangentially related idea. Today, we break the mold. On…
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An Episode of Intros, Lots of Roblox Talk, and an Unnecessary Adherence to Naming Conventions
As one great Greek philosopher famously said: "Sometimes, you've got enough material in the bag to make a beautiful quilt, even if you may see it as too…
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Remasters, Re-releases, and Googling "Frank"
Before you begin this episode, Zak and Aaron invite you to revisit the treasured memories you built while playing your favorite games. Were you trying to best…
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Switch OLED, Steam Deck, and Activision Blizzard's Moral Reckoning
CONTENT WARNING: During the first part of this episode, the discussion references harassment, suicide, and sexual abuse. If you would like to avoid these…
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Gameplay vs. Narrative, Second Chances, and Our First Concise Outro
A wise podcaster once said, "Look to your games for gameplay; nothing else." Another said, "narrative is vital, no matter the experience." Neither Zak nor…
Some Patches RequiredTalking Shop With GuessworkVR, Indie Dev Insights, and a Surplus of Sarcasm
Here at Some Patches Required Industries, we like to think of ourselves as people of the people despite our staggering success and record-breaking download…
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E3 2021, Opinions Aplenty, and the Colonel's Nasty Boy
At the risk of sounding like the introduction to nearly every article, press release, or set of podcast show notes written since the start of "you know what,"…
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$70 Games, Appropriate Compensation, and the Legendary Lost Lozenge of Hades
Here at SPR, we like to think that highlighting serious topics within the games industry doesn't require emulating the tone of a particularly boring episode of…
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Bad Video Game Movies, a Ton of Monster Hunter, and Commander Shepard's Nasty Knob
An intellectual once said, "To err is human, to complain for a really long time about movies that tried and failed to capture the nature of the games from…
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Sony, Game Preservation, and The Taking of a Tremendous Duke
Cast your mind back to the halcyon days of one episode ago, when we spent more than an hour talking about wacky licensed video games with Aaron's brother. Fun…
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Licensed Games, Godzilla, and a Very Special Guest Host
Oh, hey, didn't see you come in there. Well, now that you're here, we'd like to welcome you to a very special episode of Some Patches Required! This week, we…
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Gaming Superiority, The Snyder Cut, and an Unfortunately Clicky Chair
We try to structure every episode around a clear idea, use our first- and second-hand experiences to bring some level of knowledge to the conversation, and do…
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Open World Games, Blaseball Banter, and the Naming Of a Toilet
Today we celebrate an astronomical achievement. It's the first time we've managed to post an episode that's under an hour. But fear not, dear listener. We…
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Google Stadia's Empty Stadium, Plenty of Pokémon, and a Very Vocal Feline
Have you ever wanted to hear two white fellows in their mid-twenties talk about a big tech company's most recent bungle while a very cute cat with a tiny face…
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IP Usage in Games, Star Wars, Warhammer, and the Horror of Texas Snowstorms
As the well-trodden platitude says, "life happens." Sometimes that means the majority of your state goes dark because of a winter storm. Sometimes it means you…
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Exclusivity 2: Electric Boogaloo
We’re nothing if not people of our word, and we deliver on our promises at least 50% of the time, 100% of the time. So, as promised, here’s the second…
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Platform-Exclusive Games, King Kong, and a Michael Caine Mea Culpa
Well, we've finally done it. How long did you really think it would take for Aaron to invite his very good friend Michael Caine to do a guest spot on this…