BitCast - A Gaming Podcast

BitCast Ep. 132 - Console Health, Subscription Fatigue, and Fixing Storefront “Slop”

Jake Martin and co-host Landry Smith return after a long break to discuss the current “state of play” for gaming, including major shifts at PlayStation and Xbox, the Switch 2’s early momentum, and how PC and console experiences are increasingly converging. They share frustrations with rising subscription costs and debate whether subscription models help or hurt creativity. In Landry’s new segment “Let’s Fix That,” they call out digital storefront “slop”—misleading, low-quality, and explicit shovelware flooding PlayStation and Nintendo shops—and suggest stronger curation and publishing limits. They wrap with what they’ve been playing, including Landry’s praise for Xenoblade Chronicles X and Jake’s surprisingly addictive time with Pokémon Pokopia. Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:48 Show Rundown and New Segment02:30 State of Play10:54 Are Game Subscriptions Worth It?14:06 PC vs Console23:14 Lets Fix That - "E-Slop"38:32 What Are Ya Playin'?38:50 Xenoblade Chronicles X44:27 Pokemon Pokopia54:48 Wrap Up and Plugs

Our Hopes for the Future of the Switch 2 | BitCast Ep. 131

Jake and Landry dive into their hopes for the Switch 2, including game releases, NSO updates, and future gimmicks/features. They also chat about how their gaming habits have evolved over the years. Stick to the end to compete in Skill Tree Trivia! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:54 Podcast Topics Overview 07:40 Hopes for the Switch 2 08:54 Future Games for Switch 2 14:34 Mario Kart World DLC 17:05 Next 3D Mario Game 21:25 New Zelda Game 27:11 Animal Crossing and Nintendo's Creative Philosophy 30:37 Nintendo Switch Online and GameCube Games 34:52 Switch 2 Features and Functionality 38:55 Gaming Preferences: Short and Concise Experiences 45:48 Was the quick release of Silksong & Hades 2 insensitive to smaller devs? 54:20 What are ya playin'? 01:08:32 Outro

Donkey Kong Bananza Review - August 2025 - Ep. 130

Jake Martin and Landry Smith dive into their review of Donkey Kong Bananza for the Switch 2, sharing their honest thoughts and critiques. Don't miss Skill Tree Triviai!! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:53 COVID Experiences and Parenting Challenges 03:02 Book Discussion: East of Eden 05:24 Gaming Disconnection and Industry Trends 12:08 Housekeeping and Podcast Overview 12:47 Donkey Kong Bonanza Review 14:25 Gameplay Mechanics and Design Critique 24:35 Exploration and Level Design Issues 36:53 Critique of Game Design and Levels 37:27 Challenge Rooms and Puzzles 38:32 Character and Enemy Design Flaws 40:21 Music and Soundtrack Disappointments 42:23 Suggestions for Improvement 45:58 Boss Fights and Mechanics 53:18 Comparing to Mario Odyssey 58:32 Skill Tree Trivia 01:06:58 Podcast Conclusion and Future Plans

Switch 2, Mario Kart World, and DK Bananza - June 2025 | Ep. 129

In this episode of BitCast, your hosts Jake Martin and Landry Smith discuss the concept of nostalgia in gaming, the recent DK Bonanza Direct, and delve into initial thoughts on Mario Kart World. Don't miss the new segment called Skill Tree Trivia! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 05:20 The Issue with Nostalgia in Gaming 21:17 Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Impressions 35:23 Game of the Month - Mario Kart World & Dragon Age: The Veilguard 50:53 Skill Tree Trivia 58:00 Outro

The 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games | February 2025

Landry and Jake are back on the mics and ranking the ten best Nintendo Switch games on the eve of the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2. They also detail their experiences replaying Kingdom Hearts for the Gaming Club. Thanks for tuning in to talk about some stuff! Time stamps: 00:00 - Intro 04:51 - The 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games 53:06 - Game N' Watch March 2025 58:29 - Kingdom Hearts - Game of the Month Club 01:17:39 - Outro