CGMagazine Presents: The Pixels & Ink Podcast

With 2024 almost here, the Pixels and Ink crew take some time to look back and remember some of the most impactful moments that shaped gaming going forward. From the incredible set of releases that are gobbling up everyone's time to the heartbreaking series of layoffs, this year won't be soon forgotten. Brendan, Jordan and Chris also take some time to remember some of their personal favourite games and look back on some of the personally impactful memories. With events now back on and no shortage of newsworthy moments, this is your perfect podcast to wrap up the year in gaming that was 2023.

With over 100 million people tuning in, the Game Awards once again proved to be one of the biggest nights in gaming. But with so many eyes on the event, has the focus on what an awards show should be about been lost? This is the question that the Pixels and Ink podcast tackles this week as the panel of Brendan, Jordan, and Chris dives into what the show means to gaming, what was done right, and what could be improved for next year's show. As if that were not enough, the cast also dives into the winners, discusses some of the big announcements from this year's show, and dissects what the categories mean and if there are games that are unfairly paired in ways that do not help their change.

The Pixels and Ink gang gathered around the virtual campfire this week to discuss the highlights and snubs of this year's Game Awards. They agreed that this year's line-up was solid, with many titles well worth playing. Touching on what made last year's winner Elden Ring such a dark horse entry, they delve into all the titles on this year's shortlist, including Resident Evil 4 Remake, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Balder's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While it's hard to say who will walk away with this year's big prize, the crew dives into the arguments for each option and why they're worth your time. From everyone thinking that Resident Evil 4 Remake was an odd inclusion to the fact that Balder's Gate 3 has a strong case to walk away with some major accolades, this is shaping up to be an exciting night in gaming. As if that were not enough, Jordan and Brendan delve into the sad state of the Silent Hill franchise and the hopes that Silent Hill 2 Remake can revive the legendary horror franchise.

CGMagazine is back this week with The Pixels & Ink Podcast Episode 432, and we are switching things up! This episode is all about conventions! After returning from Lucca, Italy, for Lucca Comics & Games, Dayna and Brendan reflect on the event, and it inspires a conversation about conventions as a whole. Brendan, Dayna, Chris and Jordan then discuss their first conventions, like Niagara Falls Comic Con, Anime North and more. The team has also been to some less-than-conventional conventions, but we will let you listen to find out which ones! The cast rounds out the podcast with some of their dream conventions, like PAX West, Tokyo Game Show, gamescom and discusses some of their favourite convention moments like interactions with the Sons of Anarchy cast, karaoke at Anime North, Star Wars interviews and killer demonstrations at Lucca Comics & Games.

With Halloween just around the corner, the Pixels and Ink crew dive into all things autumn game releases, with a nice dash of horror thrown in for good measure. From the latest reviews of games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder to an in-depth look at Alan Wake 2 and what made it so exciting, this is one podcast you won't want to miss. To bring the magic of autumn, Jordan, Brendan and Chris are joined by Justin Wood to ensure we know everything we need about the darkness lurking in Bright Falls. It's going to be a full show for everyone, so sit back, grab a nice cup of coffee and let's dig in.

This week CGM presents The Pixels & Ink Podcast with Brendan, Chris, Dayna and Jordan. The cast gives a quick—or not—rundown of where everyone has been. Jordan has been power-binging shows for review, like Loki Season 2. Chris took on the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 preview in LA with Sony. Brendan hung out with Intel in Malaysia. Dayna and Brendan headed to Iceland again for EVE Fanfest and had a great time learning about EVE Vanguard. Dayna saw something top-secret while Brendan covered some cool Nintendo previews like WarioWare: Move It! And finally, Dayna and Brendan got to check out Ubisoft Montreal for the Assassin's Creed Mirage launch! Now that they're all back in person, it's time to catch up on what everyone's been playing. To no one's surprise, Jordan had some thoughts on the Nintendo Direct from a few weeks back, and Dayna won't shut up about Fae Farm. But mostly TV has taken over Jordan's life with Loki, Fionna & Cake and Castlevania. Chris just finished up Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless and is currently working on his Marvel's Spider-Man 2 review, so no comment! About the Pixels & Ink Podcast Castors: Jordan Biordi:NinjaYouTubeNinja-Jordan ReviewsChris de Hoog:gamesFinal FantasyNESStar Warsstreamingtwitch.tv/guildtwotapsBrendan Frye: CGMagazinegamingthe mediumDayna Eileen:gamergamesTwitter@thedaynaeileen

On this week’s Pixels & Ink Podcast, the team chats about Starfield and all the ups and downs of reviewing the title ahead of its August 31 embargo. Justin and Dayna have spent two weeks hands-on with Starfield, and though they believe the beginning was rocky, it pulls through to make it one of our top games of 2023 so far. From there, the cat talks about the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and wonders how the festival will work while actors and writers are rightfully still on strike. Dayna and Justin attended Fan Expo Canada, where actors could still attend but were unable to discuss their work, and Chris headed to London, Ontario, to check out TennoCon and learn more about Warframe and Soulframe. They finish off with a quick rundown of upcoming events, including Dayna’s Forza Motorsport preview that she just came back from New York for, which you can expect on September 11th, our newest issue, The Summer of Gaming 2023, Eve Online Fan Fest and some top-secret previews to come! About the Pixels & Ink Podcast Castors: Chris De Hoog: A writer and podcaster from Ontario, Chris discovered roleplaying games with Final Fantasy on the NES and has been overthinking them ever since. When he’s not obsessing over Star Wars, you can find him streaming at twitch.tv/guildtwotaps Brendan Frye: Editor-in-Chief of CGMagazine, Brendan is as snarky as he is seasoned in the gaming industry. With over a decade working as a journalist and EIC, he has covered festivals and conferences, interviewed the industry’s biggest names, and is always excited to see how the medium changes with new technology and fresh voices. Dayna Eileen: Executive Editor and long-time serial gamer, mom of two, aunt to many; she absolutely loves introducing the people she knows to her love for games and nerd culture. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter and Instagram as @thedaynaeileen Justin Wood: Justin is one of the newest staff members at CGM, with an affinity for horror movies and games. Find him on Twitter as @The_JustinWood

After a short break, the CGMagazine crew is back to dive into all things gaming, comics, tech and media. With some massive titles like Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, Armored Core IV, and more either out or coming out soon, the crew takes time to dive into the exciting games and the ones that are less exciting for this Summer/Fall season.

With the release of Final Fantasy XVI, the Pixels and Ink crew decided to spend some time discussing one of the most exciting games of the year. Joined by Hayes Madsen, Brendan, Chris and Jordan, the crew delve into what makes this latest entry in the long-running, legendary series so exciting. Avoiding major spoilers, the crew discusses everything from what is new and exciting about the game to dispelling misconceptions about the series and what FF XVI brings to the table. As if that wasn't enough, the latest Nintendo Direct took place this week, so the crew took some time to break down the biggest announcements and look at what made the selection of releases so exciting or disappointing, as the case may be. With over 20 games announced during the Direct, there was a lot to digest, and the whole crew had plenty to say about the biggest titles making their way to Nintendo Switch.

As a special Saturday edition to the Pixels & Ink Podcast, Brendan, Dayna, and new staff and cast member Justin chatted about Summer Game Fest, Xbox Games Showcase and Ubisoft Forward since they were at the events live in LA. Since it was Justin's first live and in-person event, the cast talked about our expectations ahead of arriving in LA. Summer Game Fest keeps impressing and seems to expand every year. The team discusses some of their ideas to keep this running smoothly. In terms of games, Brendan and Justin rave about their experience with Alan Wake 2, while Dayna still can't stop talking about Fae Farm. Disney Illusion Island definitely left a great impression, and of course, Mortal Kombat was a hands-down favourite. Foamstars seems to be this year's surprise winner, and after the Xbox Game Showcase and Starfield Direct, Dayna, Brendan and Justin are hopeful for what Starfield can bring to the table.

Last week on the Pixels & Ink Podcast Brendan, Chris, Dayna, and Jordan chatted about their Summer Game Fest and Summer Showcase predictions! This week, some of our dreams came true! The team jumps into the first Summer Game Fest showcase talking about their favourite announcements. A release date for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, Prince of Persia, Nic Cage, and showcase-ception kept viewers on their seats, but not every game packed a punch. Stay tuned for some coverage directly from the showcase on CGMagazine and Pixels & Ink in the near future! The Xbox Game Showcase blew Dayna away as they kicked off with the long-awaited Fable trailer. Spoiler alert: she cried. Forza Motorsport is looking slick with its new ray-tracing capabilities, and South of Midnight has Brendan very curious. Of course, we had to chat about Final Fantasy XVI, even though it wasn't officially part of the show, too!

This week on the Pixels & Ink Podcast, Brendan, Chris, Dayna, and Jordan chat about what they can expect to see announced during the gaming showcases this summer. With plenty of showcases on the way—some sooner than others—the group talks about their hopes and dreams for the summer of gaming. What do we think will be announced? What do we think we won't see just yet? What's the most anticipated game of the summer? What's the most anticipated game announcement of the summer? What will be the biggest let down? AND is Summer Game Fest the new E3? Find out what the cast thinks and more on the Pixel's & Ink podcast to kick off the summer of gaming!

This week on the Pixels & Ink Podcast Brendan, Chris, and Cody dive into the world of movies, tech and gaming. From the use of prompt-based tools to create video game backgrounds to the role of AI in creating content, we discuss the pros and cons of relying solely on technology in the creative process. We also delve into the legal complexities of copyright law in the digital age and the challenges of getting fair compensation for content creators. If this were not enough, the crew dives into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaks and what they mean for Nintendo, and for one of the Switch's biggest titles. With streamers all over showing off the game, what could be done to clamp down on these leaks, and is it something Nintendo even should do? The cast also dives into the Magic the Gathering leak, how Wizards of the Coast managed that one, and if there is something that can be learned from that reaction. Finally, the cast looks at Star Wars: Visions, a collection of short animated shorts set in the Star Wars universe and discusses the importance of collaboration and artistic vision in creating memorable experiences. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of art and technology.

Welcome to another thrilling episode of Pixels and Ink, with your team commentators, Chris, Jordan, and Brendan, at the helm! This week, the team takes on the hottest topics in the gaming world, starting with the unexpected UK government intervention that blocked the Activision Blizzard merger. They'll dissect the reasons behind the decision and ponder its implications for the gaming industry's future. Moving on, the team pays homage to Waypoint, the beloved gaming website that sadly announced its shutdown. Chris, Jordan, and Brendan reminisce about the site's impact on the gaming community, discussing their favourite moments, articles, and the reasons behind its closure. Lastly, the focus shifts to Brazil's burgeoning Esports scene. The hosts explore the rapid growth of Esports in the nation, highlighting top players and the unique challenges faced by the Brazilian gaming community. They'll also be joined by special guests, including Brazilian Esports experts and industry insiders, who share their insights on the future of gaming in the region. Don't miss this action-packed episode of Pixels and Ink! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show to stay updated with the latest gaming news and insights.

This week on the Pixels & Ink Podcast, it was all about the game movies! Brendan, Chris and Jordan dive into the world of movies, tech and gaming. This week Chris delves into the fascinating world of Jedi Survivor, providing his insightful impressions on the much-anticipated game is looking and what fans can expect. Jordan jumps headfirst into the Super Mario Bros. Movie review, sharing his thoughts on the latest adaptation of the iconic gaming franchise. If that were not enough, Brendan tackles the Tetris Movie, examining the challenges and triumphs of turning a classic game into a compelling cinematic experience. Finally, the entire Pixels & Ink crew comes together to discuss the potential of Sony venturing once again into handheld gaming and the spine-chilling Five Nights at Freddy's Movie, finally getting a release date. Don't miss out on this jam-packed episode filled with entertainment analysis, lively discussions, and plenty of laughs!

This week on the Pixels & Ink Podcast, it was all about the theatre! Brendan, Dayna, Chris and Jordan all found out they are a little out of touch regarding the Oscars. The team talks about the wins—big and small—and, of course, about Brendan Fraser's big comeback! From there, the cast discussed some of the big movies releasing in 2023. Some were obviously eager for movies like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, others for Evil Dead Rise. Dayna was just happy she found out there was a Bob Ross parody starring Owen Wilson coming out soon called Paint! Wonka and Barbie are sure to bring some nostalgia to the table, and there is always a slew of new superhero films to come. Also on the docket were the PS5 Pro rumours, which led to a chat about whether or not consoles are really ready to be releasing new models or if they should stop this mid-tier release and wait until a brand-new console is ready.

On this week's Pixels and Ink podcast, the crew sits down to discuss the latest news from Tango Gameworks. Shinji Mikami is now leaving the studio he founded, which leads to a larger discussion about game developers getting older and changing their roles in the industry. What does this mean for game development in the future, and how will it change the gaming landscape in the coming years? From here, Brendan, Jordan, and Chris talk about the return of Destiny 2 with the new Lightfall expansion, the delay of Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox, and more details that have emerged from the Activision-Microsoft merger story. It's a jam-packed episode, so sit back and enjoy all the talk about games, the industry, and what it means for gamers eagerly waiting to play all the new releases.

The Pixels & Ink Podcast crew kick off episode 417 by discussing the future of E3. After confirmation that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have confirmed they won't be participating, the team wonders exactly what the once massive event will look like in 2023. With talk of Summer Game Fest and E3 competing this year, the team begins discussing who these events are really for, gamers, journalists or a combination of the two. From there, the cast dives into everything going on with EA, from removing Apex Legends Mobile and Battlefield Mobile, as well as some unannounced projects for Apex and Titanfall. After an attempt at discussing the future of gaming, the podcast crew dissect game sequels, remakes, and how the industry is moving forward—or not.

The year is now 2023, and with 2022 over that means it's time for the Pixels & Ink Podcast crew to talk about the Game of the Year winner! The cast chat about their personal picks and their experiences with the games on the list this year, including Cult of the Lamb, Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Forbidden West. After the team chats about the process—and the surprising results this year—the winner is officially announced. Reminiscing about the year also brought up some of our comfort games, and what "cozy game" means to each of the cast. This was before diving into the less-than-appealing review standards from Blizzard, and a bit of chat about the latest Xbox Developer Direct!

With CES 2023 now over, Brendan and Dayna join Chris and Jordan to look back at tech's biggest trade show to see what everyone is talking about and what was the coolest and most exciting new gadgets and concerts on the show floor in Las Vegas. Beyond the chaos of CES, the cast also dives into the latest news from the world of gaming, tech, movies and comics.