The Cynical Optimists

The Final CynOpt (#100)

This week, Phill and Nick bring the show to a close with a lookback at the podcast and how things have changed since episode 1 in 2015. Thank you to all those who have supported the show - we’ll see you again soon! Subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app! -FOLLOW THE HOLOPROJECTORS- Main YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJcv-2uNceRYJCn-4jaVgw Let's Plays: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlI8cBeHHGf-8-WjziZiNw Twitter: https://twitter.com/holoprojectors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holoprojectors Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/holoprojectors Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3Pn0XY0g0axDBInXULItw -CREDITS- The Cynical Optimists is created and hosted by Phill (@holophill) and Nick. Logo by Nick Cynical Optimists Theme and Stingers by Idris Hayward “CynOpt100 Theme” and special stingers by Idris Hayward Edited by Phill Show Outline and Time Stamps: Intro 0:00:44 Segment 1: How has everything changed since 2015? 0:02:35 Phill and Nick go back through popular film, TV and gaming series like Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel and reflect on how they’ve changed (or haven’t) since 2015. In order: - Marvel - DC - Streaming Services (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime etc.) - Doctor Who - Star Wars - A24 / Indie Studios & Cinema - Video games (Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Indies etc.) Segment 2: Weirdest Product of the Week (+ other CynOpt segments) 0:48:47 Phill and Nick look back at the best weird products highlighted on the podcast in order to find the “Weirdest Product of CynOpt”. They then look back at the shorter lived segments which were trialled throughout the show. Segment 3: Reflecting on The Cynical Optimists podcast 2015-2022 1:09:54 Phill and Nick reflect on the podcast itself, how it changed over the years, and how our hosts have changed too. Outro 1:47:49 Thank you for listening to The Cynical Optimists! Love, Phill & Nick x (the post-outro ending is us leaving the room and bumping into one of Phill’s housemates coming up the stairs…)

The Out-of-this-World Star Wars Quiz (#99)

This week, Phill and Nick are joined by friends for one last quiz episode - Star Wars! Subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app! -FOLLOW THE HOLOPROJECTORS- Main YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJcv-2uNceRYJCn-4jaVgw Let's Plays: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlI8cBeHHGf-8-WjziZiNw Twitter: https://twitter.com/holoprojectors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holoprojectors Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/holoprojectors Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3Pn0XY0g0axDBInXULItw -CREDITS- The Cynical Optimists is created and hosted by Phill (@holophill) and Nick. Guest starring Vicky and Stef. Logo by Nick Cynical Optimists Theme and Stingers by Idris Hayward Edited by Nick Show Outline and Time Stamps: Intro 0:00:37 The Star Wars Quiz! 0:02:23 Vicky hosts as Phill, Nick and Stef compete to see who can get the most points in the Star Wars quiz!

Dr. Strange 2, New Doctor Who, Weird Al Biopic, Nintendo Labour complaints, Cuphead Hot Sauce (#98)

This week, Phill and Nick bring this whole thing full circle by talking about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Other news includes the new Kenobi trailer, the release of the Playdate and the teaser for the Game of Thrones spin-off. Subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app! -FOLLOW THE HOLOPROJECTORS- Main YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJcv-2uNceRYJCn-4jaVgw Let's Plays: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlI8cBeHHGf-8-WjziZiNw Twitter: https://twitter.com/holoprojectors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holoprojectors Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/holoprojectors Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3Pn0XY0g0axDBInXULItw -CREDITS- The Cynical Optimists is created and hosted by Phill (@holophill) and Nick. Logo by Nick Cynical Optimists Theme and Stingers by Idris Hayward Edited by Phill Show Outline and Time Stamps: Intro 0:00:37 TV/Film news 0:04:59 - Spider-Man director Jon Watts pulls out of Fantastic Four film - New trailer for Obi Wan Kenobi on May 4 - Ashoka has started production - Avatar 2: Way of Water trailer released - Justin Lin drops out of Fast X over dispute with Vin Diesel - First trailer released for Weird Al Yankovic biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe - Sony announces “El Muerto” film - First images of Margot Robbie as Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s film of the same name - New Dungeons and Dragons movie subtitled “Honour Among Thieves”; stars Hugh Grant and Justice Smith - Game of Thrones: House of Dragon gets new teaser trailer - Ncuti Gatwa announced as the Fourteenth Doctor on Doctor Who Gaming news 0:30:28 - Playdate releases to positive reception - LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is getting DLC from the non-Skywalker TV and Films - GOG and CD Projekt Red introduce menstrual leave for employees - Nintendo of America receives allegations of mistreatment of contractors and labour complaints - Sony’s gender discrimination lawsuit has been dismissed but may be resubmitted - The State of New York is suing Activision-Blizzard over the sale to Microsoft - Yuji Naka forced out of Balan Wonderworld, takes to Twitter to vent - Amy Hennig and Skydance New Media are working on a new Star Wars game - Force Unleashed publisher shows interest in bringing Star Wars: Rogue Squadron back - PlayStation is starting a new games preservation department according to tweet - Sony reportedly requiring some developers to create timed trials for PlayStation Plus Premium - Microsoft and Bethesda doing their E3-ish showcase on 12 June - Microsoft reportedly working on putting in-game ads in free-to-play Xbox games - Marvel’s Avengers game is adding Jane Foster, the Mighty Thor - Sega plans to delist digital versions of games in upcoming Sonic Origins - Rockstar has edited transphobic elements in GTA V re-release - Intel CEO says to expect chip shortages until at least 2024 - Weird Product of the Week 1: Final Fantasy VII Buster Sword Clock (https://www.destructoid.com/this-final-fantasy-vii-buster-sword-clock-has-alarm-music-from-the-game/) - Weird Product of the Week 2: Cuphead Hot Sauce (https://inkwellislesstore.com/collections/hot-sauce) Discussion: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 1:00:04 Phill and Nick enter the multiverse for the new Doctor Strange movie - spoilers from 1:12:27. Outro 1:39:43

Secrets of Dumbledore, Jurassic World’s Joker, Kirby’s Grammy, A24 Kids Movie, Epic Metaverse (#97)

This week, Phill and Nick talk about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Other news includes the trailers for Heartstoppers and Stranger Things season 4, plus the QA testers for Activision-Blizzard getting a pay rise. Subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app! -FOLLOW THE HOLOPROJECTORS- Main YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJcv-2uNceRYJCn-4jaVgw Let's Plays: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlI8cBeHHGf-8-WjziZiNw Twitter: https://twitter.com/holoprojectors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holoprojectors Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/holoprojectors Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3Pn0XY0g0axDBInXULItw -CREDITS- The Cynical Optimists is created and hosted by Phill (@holophill) and Nick. Logo by Nick Cynical Optimists Theme and Stingers by Idris Hayward Edited by Phill Show Outline and Time Stamps: Intro 0:00:41 TV/Film news 0:03:40 - Fantastic Beasts 3 censored in China to remove 6 seconds of references to Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship - Official trailer for Netflix’s Heartstopper released - Trailer released for Stranger Things season 4 - Percy Jackson series has lead in The Adam Project’s Walker Scobell - Ahsoka show reveals first director as one of the directors from Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse - Mandalorian Season 3 just wrapped production - Robert Downey Jr. has discussed more in the Sherlock Holmes series - Doctor Who trailer released ahead of Easter special (which would have aired yesterday?) - Jurassic World Dominion will have dinosaur that is the “Giga” and is “like the Joker” - A24: “Marcel the Shell with the Shoes on” trailer released - first family A24 movie - James Bond catalogue coming to Amazon Prime in the UK Gaming news 0:22:00 - New LEGO Star Wars is the best launch for a LEGO game in the UK - Xenoblade Chronicles reference found in LEGO Star Wars - Interesting potential skip tactic found in LEGO Star Wars - Star Wars Squadrons and Dragon Age 2 coming to Xbox Game Pass - Epic Games and LEGO are partnering on a metaverse project; Sony and LEGO invest a billion dollars each - Kirby remix wins award at the Grammy’s (https://youtu.be/E-gTlQn8wec) - Gran Turismo 7 gets criticised for turning game into grind, new update slightly reverses impact - Ubisoft ends new content for Ghost Recon Breakpoint shortly after announcing NFTs, but pledges more coming - Original Jack tweet NFT fails to gain any significant bids after originally selling for $2.9 million - California lawyer has resigned after alleging that Gavin Newsom interfered with Activision-Blizzard lawsuit - Vicarious Visions is “officially merged with Blizzard” - Activision Blizzard moves its QA testers into full-time positions and grants pay increase - Assassin’s Creed is latest Fortnite cross-over - Two Point Campus delayed to August - Remedy to develop Max Payne 1&2 remasters - Nintendo building new $40m R&D department - Nintendo getting Bandai Namco to work on HD remaster (Editors note: it is not specifically an N64 game being remastered, this was a misspeak - although Nick said Luigi’s Mansion, which is a Gamecube game - so it doesn’t really matter) - Sony and Nintendo changing their rules around auto-renewal in the UK - Dragon Ball Xenoverse is still getting DLC six years later - Weird Product of the Week 1: Super Kiwi 64 throwback platformer (https://youtu.be/1urHoR60wz8) - Weird Product of the Week 2: Peridot, Niantic’s new smartphone pet game (https://twitter.com/playperidot/status/1514288492259422209) Discussion: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore 0:49:03 Phill and Nick debate whether the new Fantastic Beasts is better than the second one - spoilers from 0:55:10. Outro 1:18:29

Sonic Movie 2, Oscars 2022, Zelda delayed, Bruce Willis Retires, Fallout TV Show, E3 Cancelled (#96)

This week, Phill and Nick review Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The film, not the game. Other news includes a delay to Breath of the Wild 2, plus we discuss this year’s Oscars controversy (not that one, a different one) and more cyberattacks. Subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app! -FOLLOW THE HOLOPROJECTORS- Main YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJcv-2uNceRYJCn-4jaVgw Let's Plays: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlI8cBeHHGf-8-WjziZiNw Twitter: https://twitter.com/holoprojectors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holoprojectors Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/holoprojectors Stream Archive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3Pn0XY0g0axDBInXULItw -CREDITS- The Cynical Optimists is created and hosted by Phill (@holophill) and Nick. Logo by Nick Cynical Optimists Theme and Stingers by Idris Hayward Edited by Phill Show Outline and Time Stamps: Intro 0:00:38 TV/Film news 0:06:09 - Oscars 2022 discussion - animation comments - Oscars winners discussion - Troy Kotsur, first deaf Oscar winner, also helped on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett on Tusken Raider signs and culture - Kenobi will release later with 2 episodes - Moon Knight has started - Even more casting for Oppenheimer - Bruce Willis has announced his retirement from acting due to aphasia - one of the greats, he will be missed - Jim Carrey reportedly looking to retire from acting - Viral marketing website for The Batman features deleted scene between Batman and the Joker - Full trailer released for “Men” by Alex Garland - Morbius has had a lesser than anticipated launch in cinemas (spoilers in this discussion point - skip to 0:34:51 to avoid) - Fallout TV show has new lead in Ella Purnell, opposite Walton Goggins - Phill and Nick talk about Arrested Development season 4 Gaming news 0:38:47 - Elden Ring has sold over 12 million copies - Kirby and the Forgotten Land has had the biggest launch of a Kirby game in the UK ever - Nintendo planning a music concert to celebrate 30th anniversary of Kirby - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released its first DLC courses - The sequel to Zelda Breath of the Wild has been delayed to Spring 2023 - The Suicide Squad game has been delayed to Spring 2023 - Epic and Xbox are donating all proceeds from Fortnite to Ukraine relief - EA has launched 2 new partnerships for STEM-based learning in schools - Xbox are launching a women’s mentorship programme - Updates on a lot of ongoing gaming court cases - Epic facing yet another new lawsuit over Fortnite dance emotes - Both Microsoft and Ubisoft have been victims to cyberattacks recently - E3 has been cancelled this year all together - EA have also cancelled their EA Play Live event for 2022 - Cyberpunk 2022 is getting fresh updates - CD Projekt Red also announces a new Witcher game in development on Unreal Engine 5 - The director of the new Witcher: there’ll be no crunch “on his watch” - The original Angry Birds has made a return to mobile - BioShock Infinite is mysteriously getting updates nine years after its release - Microsoft reportedly set to launch Game Pass family plan - Super Nintendo World coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023 - LEGO Super Mario: Princess Peach sets coming this summer - Weird Product of the Week 1: Official furry Sonic Xbox controllers https://www.destructoid.com/these-official-furry-sonic-xbox-controllers-will-get-gross-real-quick/ - Weird Product of the Week 2: CD Projekt Red to release an official Witcher Cookbook https://www.destructoid.com/official-the-witcher-cookbook-cd-projekt-red-gets-our-mouths-watering/ Discussion: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) 1:03:47 Phill and Nick dissect the launch pad for the first video game cinematic universe as they talk about Sonic the Hedgehog 2. (Spoilers from 1:22:36). Outro 1:41:54