Side Story

28: The Abstraction Gap

We've all been there. You sit down and break the seal on a new pack of cards, you smell the new card smell, you deal out a starter hand of Solitaire -- and then it dawns on you: you accidentally bought evil cards again! This keeps happening! Today, Jack and Austin sit down to talk about evil card games and discuss Forbidden Solitaire and Black Jacket. Support us on Patreon! [https://friendsatthetable.cash/] Featuring Jack de Quidt and Austin Walker Produced by Ali Acampora Cover Art by A Liang Chan [http://formyths.com/] Music by Jack de Quidt [https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:06 An Introduction to Evil Games 15:00 Forbidden Solitaire 38:20 Black Jacket

27: The Machine Needs the Blood

Stop. Take a breath. Make the decision: Which Pokémon would you choose as your roommate. Could Voltorb help you keep the electricity bill down? Would Houndoom make you feel safe at night? Might you let Sinistcha make you its delicious Matcha Gotcha even though it is, somehow, the matcha in question? Today, Ali and Janine take you on a tour of Pokopia, and at least one of them will reveal their answer to this question. Any guesses? Support us on Patreon! [https://friendsatthetable.cash/] Featuring Janine Hawkins and Ali Acampora Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan [http://formyths.com/] Music by Jack de Quidt [https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Pokopia Intro 05:28 Basics: Interacting, Building, Exploring 29:22 Building Philosophies 34:54 Pokemon Roommate Choices 01:10:26 A Game Built For Building 01:18:59 Entering the Spoiler Zone 01:36:33 Re: The Social Media Response

26: The Juice Is in the Ambiguity

With spring turning into summer, Art, Jack, and Austin have found that it's time to once again drink the Potion of Liking Baseball. Well, no, it's not that broad: It's the Potion of Liking the Weird Ludic Corners of Ambiguity at the Heart of Officiating, Especially With Regard to the Use of Automated and Mechanical Tools, As in the MLB's Newly Arrived Automated Ball-Strike System. But that's unfortunately a little too long for an episode title. Show Notes The First Instant Replay [https://youtu.be/TuFkY-ZjR5s] Jerar Encarnacion challenge mentioned at 38:00 Minutes [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=83f00b4b-9d15-3394-b204-546438a059be] Cam Smith Challenge mentioned at 38:30 [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=50661037-1927-3a66-946a-8ad51adb7e99] Watch Jack, Austin, and Sylvi Play Thomas Colthurst's 2025 Game Pt.1 [https://youtu.be/WSOBV81TSKo] Media Club Plus Soprano's Screenshot Stream [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CTFQciACE] Late Pledges Still Available for Realis [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/realis] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:07 How Is the Baseball Going 12:59 Wait, What Is Baseball? 22:57 The Instant Replay World 31:41 ABS: The Automated Ball-Strike System 42:10 The Referee Is Part of the Pitch 54:58 Why Is Baseball Like This? 59:53 The Spectator Experience of ABS 01:04:20 Instant Replay and Referee Bias in Video Games Featuring Austin Walker [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social], Art Martinez-Tebbel [https://bsky.app/profile/amtebbel.bsky.social], and Jack de Quidt [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social], Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan [http://formyths.com/] Music by Jack de Quidt [https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/]

25: Submerged in Fish Medication

Have you heard the news? There's a new Postman in town, and a new Fairie Queen in the court. I hear the Postman keeps bringing her big palettes of wood, and she's using it to build some sort of cat tower. I hear she's sending her entourage to business school, and he's got to carry her letters of recommendation. I hear war is coming, but don't worry, we're safe here on our island court in the fog. I hear we'll always be safe here. Side Story only exists because of support from listeners like you. Go to friendsatthetable.cash [https://friendsatthetable.cash/] to support us! Show Notes Realis Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/realis] Blood Machine's Bluesky Post which first clued us into Island Off Outer Darkness [https://bsky.app/profile/bloodmachine.bsky.social/post/3mjroeeo2fs2v] Austin's Realis Interview Roundup | Clockwork Worlds [https://www.clockworkworlds.com/three-days-left-to-back-realis/] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 10:23 Island Off Outer Darkness [https://store.steampowered.com/app/3661790/Island_Off_Outer_Darkness/] 01:19:34 Titanium Court [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/] Featuring Austin Walker [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social], Keith Carberry [https://bsky.app/profile/keithjcarberry.contentburger.biz], and Jack de Quidt [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social], Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan [http://formyths.com/] Music by Jack de Quidt [https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/]

24: A Key Part of the Gloop

Somewhere between Goo and Glue and Goop, is Gloop. And that's the stuff that makes up the middling (and middle-ing) parts of many vast, open world RPGs. Flat but enjoyable-enough random encounters. Rhythmically repetitive dungeons. The Good Old Fetch Quest. The mortar holding the bricks of the castle wall together. Gloop. Support us on Patreon! [https://friendsatthetable.cash/] The Kickstarter campaign for Austin's new TTRPG, Realis, is now live! [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/realis] Show Notes Crunch returns to Naughty Dog for Xmas as Intergalactic devs work overtime on a demo for Sony, claims report [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/crunch-returns-to-naughty-dog-for-xmas-as-intergalactic-devs-work-overtime-on-a-demo-for-sony-claims-report] No Games for Genocide [https://nogamesforgenocide.com/] The Indiana Pacers Fan Couple Clip [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LhQVvJ9s7Uo?feature=share] Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:55 ToeJam & Earl Aside 07:30 Ardenfall 52:12 Road to Vostok Featuring Austin Walker and Jack de Quidt Produced by Austin Walker Cover Art by A Liang Chan [http://formyths.com/] Music by Jack de Quidt [https://notquitereal.bandcamp.com/]