The Dune book club continues in part 2, where Paul and Jessica enter the desert, he has a family (theoretically?), and somehow Jonathan misses an orgy.

Literate Gamer

Book Club: Dune, part 2

Nick regales Jonathan with the first-person multiplayer shooter Aliens FireTeam Elite, a fun game and faithful use of the IP.

Aliens FireTeam Elite

The gang discusses the first part of the classic sci-fi novel Dune, the original text, how it was, how it is: ahead of its time, but also a product of it.

Book Club: Dune, part 1

Jonathan and Nick speak with Justin from TheTallGuyGamer about Returnal, a haunting experience of platforming, bullet-hell, and don't forget despair, desperation, and madness. This game is a masterpiece, and incredibly strong early entry for the PS5. Check out more of Justin's good works on YouTube, or his featured post on Destructoid: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkqmxgDz3GpV2fvFiHE5XNQ https://www.destructoid.com/video-game-memories-throughout-the-years/

Returnal

Jonathan recounts the serene-yet-intense side-scrolling tower defense game Kingdom: New Lands, a delightful diversion for a few hours per run, at an extremely affordable price.

Platformer Short: Kindom: New Lands

Jonathan and Nick speak with El Whitcomb, Community Manager for Ox-Eye Media, which includes DeepWater Games, and their fantastically fun and accessible games, named FloorPlan and Welcome to your Perfect Home. Also Hot new games coming soon! DeepWaterGaming.com @DeepWaterGames

Ox-Eye Media & DeepWater Games

Jonathan recounts and wonderful gameplay experience of Rogue Legacy: charming, fun, and a great rogue-lite all around.

Platformer Short: Rogue Legacy

Nick and Jonathan speak with Matt Forbeck, a truly phenomenal font of creativity, writer of dozens of books, contributor to scads of games, including BioMutant and the upcoming tabletop Marvel role-playing game, and of course his own Shotguns and Sorcery. Check out everything at Forbeck.com.

Matt Forbeck

Jonathan recounts the joy of Castle Crashers, a fun, brilliantly-animated beat-em-up, great for couch co-op, or as a solo experience.

Platformer Shorts: Castle Crashers

Jonathan and Nick discuss Marvel's Avengers, Read Dead Online, and other live service games. In each are some successes, some failures, noble attempts, and bad behavior. A few rays of hope pierce the gloom.

Marvel's Avengers and other Live Services

Jonathan gushes about the hilarious platformer by Le Cartel "Heave Ho". Great for couch co-op, great for the family. This game is an absolute delight, laughs and fun from start to finish.

Platformer Short: Heave Ho

Jonathan and Nick reminisce about a decade of MineCraft, from alpha survival to bedrock goats, this game continues to improve, bringing wondrous joy, pleasant solitude, and immortal, cave-dwelling madmen.

MineCraft

Jonathan recounts his experience with the diablo-esque overhead action game in the Warhammer 40K universe "Inquisitor: Martyr". Great for when you just need to mow down some chaos scum and pointy aliens.

Platformer Short: Inquisitor - Martyr

Nick tells Jonathan about Story of Seasons, the zen art of butter and cheese, and they discuss the calming, ephemeral city-builder puzzle-esque game Islanders.

Story of Seasons

Jonathan recounts a wonderful experience with the Castlevania Netflix show, and the collection Castlevania Anniversary. I got it for $5 on the Switch store, though it may have been on sale. Even for the full price of $20, it's a great collection. https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/castlevania-anniversary-collection-switch/

Castlevania Anniversary and on Netflix

OctopusPark's Literate Gamer: a discussion of games, their meaning, and their impact on people and art.