Shall We Play a Game?

Anarchy in the U.K. edition! JJ and Chris talk about why they loved “Volume,” the retro stealth game for PC and PlayStation 4 from Mike Bithell, the designer of “Thomas Was Alone.” Then, Chris talks to the critic and journalist Simon Parkin--who has written for The New Yorker, the Guardian, and Eurogamer, among other places--about his new book, “Death by Video Game.” SHOW NOTES: Mike Bithell’s “Volume” http://www.volumegame.net/ Simon Parkin’s “Death by Video Game” http://www.simonparkin.com/books/

To celebrate the first American victory at The International, the "Dota 2" world championship, Chris talks to Rob Zacny of “Esports Today.” Plus, Chris and JJ review “A Knight to Remember,” the first episode of the new “King’s Quest.” These topics are unrelated: “King’s Quest” is not yet an esport. We're normally PG rated, but for mild language, this episode is closer to PG-13. SHOW NOTES: The new podcast “Esports Today” https://www.idlethumbs.net/esportstoday

Chris talks to Tom Bissell, who ends a two-year sabbatical from games criticism to defend the critically panned PlayStation 4 shooter “The Order: 1886.” Tom is a writer for "Uncharted 4," "Battlefield: Hardline," "The Vanishing of Ethan Carter," and "Gears of War: Judgment,” and the author of "Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter." SHOW NOTES: Kirk Hamilton's pan of "The Order: 1886" in Kotaku: http://kotaku.com/the-order-1886-the-kotaku-review-1686595338 Chris Suellentrop's review of "Extra Lives" in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/books/review/Suellentrop-t.html

JJ interviews the novelist Ernest Cline about growing up with video games, and why he mined the geek culture of his youth for “Ready Player One” and “Armada.” Then, JJ talks to Laura Hudson of Offworld and Wired about her review of “Armada” in Slate. SHOW NOTES: The website for “Armada,” Ernest Cline’s new novel: http://armadabook.com/ Laura Hudson’s review of “Armada” in Slate: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2015/07/armada_by_ernest_cline_follow_up_to_ready_player_one_reviewed.single.html

A show about talking about playing a game about playing a broken game. What's better, the talking or the playing? Plus, the supervising producer of the 'Tonight Show' lifts the curtain on Jimmy Fallon's decadent FIFA aftershow parties.

Have you ever played video games--on your telephone? You will. And the company that will bring it to you? Not AT&T. JJ and Chris review "Lifeline," a game designed for the Apple Watch, and "Fallout Shelter." Plus, Chris talks to Cara Ellison, a game designer and critic, about working on "Grand Theft Auto IV" and "Dishonored 2." SHOW NOTES: Play Cara Ellison's "Sacrilege": http://www.unwinnable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Sacrilege.html Read Cara Ellison's "Embed With Games": http://embedwith.tumblr.com/

JJ and Chris review Sam Barlow's FMV murder mystery "Her Story," as well as "Sunset," a game from Tale of Tales about being a housekeeper during a South American revolution. SPOILER: JJ did not like it.

The new Batmobile: nuisance or menace? Chris and JJ review Rocksteady's "Batman: Arkham Knight." And Laura Miller, Salon's literary critic, confesses to an obsession with the video game "Don't Starve."

Chris talks about putting his hands on — or his head inside — HoloLens, Oculus Touch, What Remains of Edith Finch? and No Man's Sky. And not playing Fallout 4. JJ confesses to a compulsion to donate money to Star Citizen. Plus: The ambient sounds of Rhode Island frogs.

Dragon Age: Inquisition vs. The Talos Principle. Plus, JJ plays This War of Mine and compares it to his experiences as a war reporter.

Broken Age in Smell-O-Vision CONFIRMED.