Still Alive Podcast
By Sara & Mike Gitkos
Did you ever sit back and wonder, who the heck did I marry? Because we're pretty sure we didn't know what to expect when we tied the knot, and what we got was a house full of so much nerd, it could basically be a convention. But what happens to the nerd inside when life starts to get in the way? You make a podcast, that's what.
Trust us. We know what it's like. One day, you're a little kid sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cereal and enjoying Saturday morning cartoons, playing your NES, and ignoring your Tamagotchi, the next, you're trying to control two babies while working full-time and keeping your house clean with your better half. Sometimes, the best way to make time for what you love is to force yourself to sit down and talk about it for an hour.
Still Alive Podcast is a mish-mash of video game talk mixed with a little bit of insight, life, and pop culture references. So, if you're going through life trying to figure out how to have it all, the career, the family, the ability to put time into a 60+ hour RPG, then you might get a laugh or two out of our experience.
Join us as we talk about how nerd culture fits into our busy lives and examine genres, tropes, and funny observations we pick up along the way.
Trust us. We know what it's like. One day, you're a little kid sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cereal and enjoying Saturday morning cartoons, playing your NES, and ignoring your Tamagotchi, the next, you're trying to control two babies while working full-time and keeping your house clean with your better half. Sometimes, the best way to make time for what you love is to force yourself to sit down and talk about it for an hour.
Still Alive Podcast is a mish-mash of video game talk mixed with a little bit of insight, life, and pop culture references. So, if you're going through life trying to figure out how to have it all, the career, the family, the ability to put time into a 60+ hour RPG, then you might get a laugh or two out of our experience.
Join us as we talk about how nerd culture fits into our busy lives and examine genres, tropes, and funny observations we pick up along the way.
Still Alive PodcastSep 06, 2021
00:00
58:25
Episode 7: Might as well face it, I’m addicted to games: Games we can’t put down
Have you ever picked up a game, think you've put in a few hours, and suddenly, you’ve blacked out, and you’re somehow staring at the end credits? Yeah, that’s happened to us, too. Mostly Mike, but still! Or maybe you find yourself obsessing over a game you've long since beaten, and you hear that siren's call and have to pick it up again. Yep, us too. If you're like us, then you may be addicted to some games.
Disclaimer here: We’re not talking about video game addiction. We’re not even talking about “triple-A” award-winning games. They don’t even have to be favorites, but they can be. We’re talking about games that you can’t stop playing. Those titles that pull you in for days on end, and the ones you can’t stop thinking about long after you are done with them.
Those just one more hour, just one more round, I can’t put it down before I beat this boss, maybe I'll play through one more time kind of games.
We name our top 6 addictive games and why they are so near and dear to our hearts.
Disclaimer here: We’re not talking about video game addiction. We’re not even talking about “triple-A” award-winning games. They don’t even have to be favorites, but they can be. We’re talking about games that you can’t stop playing. Those titles that pull you in for days on end, and the ones you can’t stop thinking about long after you are done with them.
Those just one more hour, just one more round, I can’t put it down before I beat this boss, maybe I'll play through one more time kind of games.
We name our top 6 addictive games and why they are so near and dear to our hearts.
Sep 06, 202158:25
Episode 6: Hurt Me Plenty - Git Gud culture and video game integrity
So, what does it take to be a gamer? Can they play all kinds of games regardless of difficulty and genre, or is it only for those elite players who can beat games at the highest difficulty.
This episode takes a look at video game integrity and "git gud" culture. Spoiler alert: games would be fun and for everyone.
We look at the common "real game" tropes and argue why they don't actually matter. Oh, and as always, we trash Ubisoft a little.
This episode takes a look at video game integrity and "git gud" culture. Spoiler alert: games would be fun and for everyone.
We look at the common "real game" tropes and argue why they don't actually matter. Oh, and as always, we trash Ubisoft a little.
Aug 15, 202156:24
Episode 5: You're doing it all wrong - Why do video game movies suck?
Since the very first video game movie, fans have been in a state of constant disappointment. From Assassin's Creed to Resident Evil, game to movie adaptations tend to leave us wondering if the people in tinsel town have any clue about the source material. Probably not, but it's not just a video game problem.
Books, board games, comics, and so many other mediums have a hard time making the move to the silver screen. Of course, there are plenty of success stories too! In this podcast, we discuss the wins and pitfalls in video game movie adaptations, and how it could be trending up.
Books, board games, comics, and so many other mediums have a hard time making the move to the silver screen. Of course, there are plenty of success stories too! In this podcast, we discuss the wins and pitfalls in video game movie adaptations, and how it could be trending up.
Aug 01, 202155:16
Episode 4 - Gamespectations: There was time now!
What happens when we get a little extra free time? Mike beats three games, and Sara's stuck on the same one. THANKS, JRPGs. This episode discusses why sometimes it's good to go back and play a 16-year-old game to see what the fuss is all about and the importance of grinding.
Sara and Mike discuss Psychonauts, Psychonauts VR, and Gone Home. If clearing out a few games in a week or two wasn't enough, we also go into the dreaded backlog and why it sometimes takes so long to dig yourself out. As if one JRPG or open-world game was enough, how is it possible to work your way through them all when time is of the essence?
Sara and Mike discuss Psychonauts, Psychonauts VR, and Gone Home. If clearing out a few games in a week or two wasn't enough, we also go into the dreaded backlog and why it sometimes takes so long to dig yourself out. As if one JRPG or open-world game was enough, how is it possible to work your way through them all when time is of the essence?
Jul 18, 202140:27
Episode 3 - You can feel the monotony: Video game Immersion
Sara and Mike are back, and this time, we tackle video game immersion. So, what makes games so immersive? Is it the story, ambiance, sound effects, world-building, or is it some trumped-up phrase overused by game execs? We cover what draws us into games and what - like a splinter - can ruin the experience entirely.
Jul 01, 202101:02:36
Episode 2 - Sit down, Boy: Parenting & Video Games
We're back - and this time, it's all about parents. We discuss the stigma with parents and video games, who these devices are actually for, and look at some of the most memorable parents in games.
Jun 24, 202101:00:53
Episode 1 - So, I married a nerd and made a Podcast
Welcome to Still Alive Podcast.
Before we can dig into the sweet, sweet video game deets, it's probably best you know where we're coming from. In our debut episode, we introduce ourselves and give you a little background about our lives in games. We discuss how we ended up in this mess, what we're trying to play, and give you the run-down before tackling the hard issues...like inventory management.
Before we can dig into the sweet, sweet video game deets, it's probably best you know where we're coming from. In our debut episode, we introduce ourselves and give you a little background about our lives in games. We discuss how we ended up in this mess, what we're trying to play, and give you the run-down before tackling the hard issues...like inventory management.
Jun 17, 202141:25