War, war never changes. Keifer returns with the most ambitious episode of the show to date, bringing on Jane from the Unwise Girls podcast to talk about war through Spec Ops: The Line. We also talk about perspective as artistic intention, exploring gender through customizable characters, life on the road with a Steam Deck, and more.
Other games discussed in this episode: Bastion, Transistor, The Beginner’s Guide, Undertale, Deltarune, the Professor Layton series, Deep Rock Galactic, Civilization 5, Misericorde, Hades, Live A Live, We Love Katamari, Ridger Racer 2, Ridge Racer Type 4, Mario Kart Wii, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series, Thomas Was Alone, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, Army of Two, the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and more.
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
0:00 - Prologue
11:00 - Introducing Jane
42:10 - On Harry Belafonte
48:40 - Introducing Spec Ops: The Line
1:11:30 - No Country for Old Games
1:26:20 - Discussing Spec Ops: The Line
2:03:25 - White Phosphorus and war crimes
2:27:10 - Perspective, abstraction, and cognitive dissonance
2:43:00 - The legacy Spec Ops The Line
3:00:25 - Impact, weaknesses, and final thoughts
3:10:45 - Recommendations and Outro
Support Jane and her projects:
https://www.patreon.com/unwisegirls
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:gmybspzp4ycf32zql3ssivsm
https://moonshotpods.com/unwise-girls/
Follow Keifer and support the show:
Artwork provided by Avry Ott:
https://linktr.ee/avryrobinott
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry:
Murder at the Birch Tree Theater
Works Cited:
Research:
Chalmers Johnson - American Militarism and Blowback
Gamesradar - Spec Ops: The Line - Learn about the story with lead writer Walt Williams
Digital Spy - 'Spec Ops: The Line' - interview
The Verge - Spec Ops: The Line permanently removed from Steam and other digital stores
Delisted Games - Spec-Ops: The Line
Steam Curator - Games at risk of removal
George Monbiot - 11/ 15/2005 - War Without Rules
NBC News - U.S. denies using phosphorus against civilians
Washington Post - Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in Lebanon attack
Under Fire: White Phosphorus, Civilians, and Arkansas | Amnesty International USA
Human Rights Watch - Lebanon: Israel’s White Phosphorous Use Risks Civilian Harm
Audio Sources:
Colin Powell's Speech at the UN
Defense Department Briefing March 21st, 2003 C-SPAN.org
Rumsfeld "known unknowns" and "unknowns unknowns"
Joe Biden: Were there not an Israel the USA would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region. | Video | C-SPAN.org
In-game audio sources:
Spec Ops The Line - Combat Barks and Animations changes
Spec Ops: The Line - Chapter #4 - The Refugees
Eerily Realistic AC-130 Mission - Modern Warfare Remastered
Other referenced works:
Reik, Theodor (1965). Curiosities of the self: illusions we have about ourselves.
Jacob Geller - What We Don't Talk About in "Spec Ops The Line"
The Second Coming - W.B. Yeats
The Hollow Men - T.S. Eliot
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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It's good to be back. Keifer brings on Emmett, co-host of the ASOIAF Re-Read Podcast NotACast, to talk about the PS2 classic Sly 2: Band of Thieves.
We also talk about the rise and decline of 3D platformers, the platformers of the PS2 era, inappropriate games to play next to your partner, and more!
Other games discussed in this episode include Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, The inFamous series, Spider-Man, Uncharted, Astro Bot, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Katamari Damacy, Death Stranding, Rocket: Robot on Wheels, Super Mario 64, and more!
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introducing Emmett
6:50 - The rise and fall of 3D Platformers
26:25 - Sucker Punch and Sly Cooper
34:15 - Introducing Sly 2: Band of Thieves
43:45 - 2004 in video games
47:15 - Sly 2 Discussion
1:14:20 - Children Left Behind
1:26:22 - No Country for Old Games
1:35:32 - What Sly 2 means to us
2:12:40 - Keifer's recommendations and Outro
Support Emmett and his projects:
https://notacastasoiaf.podbean.com/
https://www.patreon.com/NotACastASOIAF
Follow Keifer and support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner
Artwork provided by Avry Ott:
https://linktr.ee/avryrobinott
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry:
Murder at the Birch Tree Theater
Works Cited:
The Making of Sly 2 - Bonus Video
Sucker Punch's Nate Fox on Sly 2
Creating the Visuals of Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Humongous cuts 40 percent of its staff - Seattle PI
125 Rapid-Fire Questions About Ghosts of Yotei With Sucker Punch's Nate Fox - MinnMax
The Sly Collection - Sly Cooper Wiki
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Writer, editor, and critic Autumn Wright joins me to talk about the Boycott, Divest, Sanction Movement and the Microsoft Boycott.
Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 6:35 - What is BDS? 9:42 - Boycotting Microsoft 12:58 - We can do it 36:05 - Ideology, values, and the material 50:07 - What is to be done? 1:08:15 - No Azure for Apartheid 1:12:02 - External Pressure 1:14:52 - Developer Pressure 1:16:10 - Other Pressure Points 1:19:45 - Change da world 1:29:45 - How does this affect the show?
Works cited:
Autumn's piece for Aftermath:
BDS Movement:
Other pieces referenced during the episode:
Microsoft’s Retaliation Against Employees:
Microsoft and Gen AI:
No Azure for Apartheid:
August’s Recommendations:
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Follow Autumn Wright: https://autumnwright.bearblog.dev/
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://linktr.ee/KeiferL
Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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After an unscheduled hiatus, Select and Start returns! Shannon Strucci comes on to discuss the polarizing Twin Peaks-inspired open world horror game Deadly Premonition!
We also talk about video game creator SWERY65, mourn the loss of artist David Lynch, talk about how he was one of the most influential filmmakers on the medium of video games, and interview beloved writer and video game character Alan Wake!
Other games discussed in this episode: Alan Wake, Killer7 Silent Hill 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Mouthwashing, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Balatro, Disco Elysium, Sam and Max, Tomba, Persona 4, Persona 5, Lake of Roaches, Tetris, Psychonauts, and more.
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
0:00 - Prologue 8:45 - Introducing Shannon 39:07 - Interview with a Writer 43:35 - Introducing Deadly Premonition 1:04:00 - No Country for Old Games 1:14:12 - Deadly Premonition 2:12:12 - Recommendations and Outro
Support Shannon and their projects: https://www.youtube.com/c/struccimovies https://www.oddityroadshow.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/strucci.bsky.social
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL
Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Works Cited:
Greenvale: A Deadly Premonition Fansite, https://www.shshatteredmemories.com/greenvale/game-developer-magazine-post-mortem-article/.
“GDC Vault.” GDC Vault, 12 July 2013, https://gdcvault.com/gdmag.
Hadfield, James. “How 'Twin Peaks' turned David Lynch into Japan's favorite weirdo.” The Japan Times, 23 January 2025, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/01/23/tv-streaming/david-lynch-twin-peaks-georgia-coffee/.
“IGN PS2 Interviews Silent Hill 2 Producer Akihiro Imamura.” 28 March 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20110629140227/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/092/092865p1.html.
Jan Strusiewicz, Cezary. “David Lynch and Japan - The Twin Peaks of a Decades Long, Mutual Obsession.” Tokyo Weekender, 17 January 2025. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/movies-tv/david-lynch-and-japan/
Lada, Jenni. “Masahiro Ito Said Silent Hill 2 Influenced by David Lynch Movies.” Siliconera, 23 August 2024, https://www.siliconera.com/masahiro-ito-said-silent-hill-2-influenced-by-david-lynch-movies/.
Klepek, Patrick. “'Final Fantasy VII' Director on 'Twin Peaks,' Princess Di, and High-Res Star Destroyers.” VICE, 7 April 2020, https://www.vice.com/en/article/final-fantasy-vii-director-on-twin-peaks-princess-di-and-high-res-star-destroyers/.
Kollar, Philip. “The Sinner's Sandwich.” Polygon, 12 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130328032217/http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/12/3977154/the-sinners-sandwich-deadly-premonitions-creator-on-making-a-good-bad
Litchfield, Ted. “Visionary filmmaker David Lynch, whose influence can be felt throughout games, has died.” PC Gamer, 16 January 2025, https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/visionary-filmmaker-david-lynch-whose-influence-can-be-felt-throughout-games-has-died/.
Meslow, Scott. “The direct influence of Twin Peaks on Zelda.” The Verge, 24 February 2024, https://www.theverge.com/24078662/twin-peaks-zelda-links-awakening-influence
Robinson, Martin. “SWERY, the Accidental Hero.” Eurogamer, Eurogamer, 2 20 2013, https://web.archive.org/web/20140503222044/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-20-swery-the-accidental-hero.
Schilling, Chris. “The Cult of Deadly Premonition.” Eurogamer, 7 July 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20140503221804/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-07-the-cult-of-deadly-premonition-article.
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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Here comes a new podcast! Award-winning podcaster, author, and game designer Jeff Stormer stops by to talk about why the crossover fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 2 means so much to him!
We also talk about Jeff’s love of Dan Hibiki and the biggest losers in video games, Akira Toriyama's impact on the video game medium, how RPGs got Jeff into tabletop games, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, and more!
Other games discussed in this episode: Dragon Quest III, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Balatro, Kingdom Hearts, Freedom Force and Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Dead or Alive 2, MUGEN, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, Marvel's Midnight Suns, Marvel Rivals and more!
0:00 - Introducing Jeff 3:45 - Jeff's gaming background 13:39 - Dragon Ball FighterZ 19:30 - Freedom Force 22:00 - The Ballad of Dan Hibiki 33:11 - Introducing Marvel vs. Capcom 2 59:00 - No Country for Old Games 1:06:39 - The Punisher arcade game 1:08:53 - The Fighting Collection 1:15:56 - Marvel vs. Capcom 2 1:56:50 - Recommendations and Outro
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Support Jeff Stormer and his projects: https://jeffstormer.com/ https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ultimate-Fantasy-Character-Creator/Jeff-Stormer/9781507222676 https://www.partyofonepodcast.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/jeffstormer.gobirds.online
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL
Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20160212083459/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/265496/17_moldbreaking_fighting_games_that_all_developers_should_study.php https://www.siliconera.com/you-know-porting-marvel-vs-capcom-2-wasnt-easy/ https://web.archive.org/web/20171109031031/https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/interview/2017/vol01/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/3680/marvel-vs-capcom-2-new-age-of-heroes/credits/ps2/ https://wiki.supercombo.gg/w/Marvel_vs_Capcom_2/Roll https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266750/?ref_=tt_mv_close https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/02/marvel-titles-no-longer-available-digitally https://www.eurogamer.net/street-fighter-retrospective-article
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/select-and-start/7b684c1c-382d-4351-a4d6-0ff46013df5b
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Keep on rocking! YouTuber and fighting game aficionado IdolismJ drops in to talk about Guilty Gear Xrd and how it changed his life! We also talk about the fighting game community, what makes a good fighting game, the delightful vision of Daisuke Ishiwatari, eroge games, and more!
0:00 - Intro 0:56 - Introducing IdolismJ 13:36 - The Huniepop Talk 18:18 - Fighting games 34:10 - Introducing Guilty Gear Xrd 1:06:38 - No Country for Old Games 1:15:54 - Xrd Give It to Ya 2:11:15 - Recommendations and Outro
Other games discussed in this episode: Dead Rising, Skies of Arcadia, Jet Set Radio, Dragon Quest VIII, Lumines, Meteos, Huniepop, Street Fighter IV, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Undernight Inbirth, Power Stone, Super Smash Bros, BlazBlue, King of Fighters, Rez, Space Channel 5, Clannad, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and more!
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
This episode of Select and Start was co-edited by Riley Hopkins. Please support Riley and their projects: https://moonshotpods.com/rhataf/
Support IdolismJ and their projects: https://supercombo.gg/author/idolismj/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK0Z6sTXuf70AMBqx6b3hSA https://bsky.app/profile/idolismj.yase.world
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL ** ** Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode Sources: https://www.siliconera.com/arc-system-works-will-sell-framed-guilty-gear-art-in-japan/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140713005558/http://www.4gamer.net/games/216/G021678/20140703095/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212120/http://www.4gamer.net/games/216/G021678/20130920032/ https://www.famitsu.com/news/201406/11054539.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTnAGIZRtB4
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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About that podcast I owe ya! Select and Start is back to talk with artist Anthony Barbara about Half-Life 2, its impact on the game industry, the world, and himself.
We also talk about video games on field trips, the far-reaching impact of the Source engine and Steam, and more!
Other games discussed in this episode: The Portal series, The Halo series, Super Mario World, Mario Party 5, Team Fortress 2, Portal, Portal 2, Garry's Mod, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim, Ico, and more!
0:00 - Introducing Anthony
6:32 - Anthony's gaming background
21:32 - Machinima
30:58 - Achievement Hunting
36:15 - Introducing Half-Life 2
45:56 - Our Half-Life 2 History
51:15 - Half-Life 2 Discussion
1:11:30 - No Country for Old Games
1:23:58 - Half-Life 2
1:55:40 - The other Half-Life games
2:01:15 - How Half-Life 2 impacted us
2:11:20 - Recommendations and Outro
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Support Anthony and his projects: https://linktr.ee/anthonybarbara
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL
Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode Sources:
https://kotaku.com/steam-is-10-today-remember-when-it-sucked-1297594444
https://backlinko.com/steam-users
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2/1100-6112889/
https://www.pcgamesn.com/is-steam-too-powerful
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Hey! Watch out! I break from format a bit and bring on Petra, co-host of the wonderful Hello Hyrule podcast, to talk about our experiences with Zelda randomizers! We talk about how randomizers alter our perception and relationship with the games, their appeal, and the myriad of games with their own randomizers!
Other games discussed in this episode: The Zelda series, the Pokemon series, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Okami, Mario & Luigi, Metroid Prime, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Lost Kingdoms, Nightmare Ned, Battle Chef Brigade, Sea of Stars, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Outer Wilds, Battle for Bikini Bottom, Quest 64, Donkey Kong 64, GoldenEye 007, and more!
0:00 - Introducing Petra
20:18 - Relationship with the Zelda series
25:28 - The Zelda Timeline
29:11 - Hello Hyrule
32:16 - Favorite Zelda games
34:48 - Petra's favorite games
41:33 - Ocarina of Time thoughts
49:11 - Zelda Randomizer Discussion
1:35:50 - Other Randomizers
1:54:00 - Outro
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Support Petra and her projects: https://linktr.ee/hyrulepod https://bsky.app/profile/theedgeofmypete.bsky.social
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL ** ** Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode sources: https://randomizers.debigare.com/
Find out more at https://select-and-start.pinecast.co
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Hey! Listen closely as Keifer brings on animator and illustrator momopatchi to talk about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and the monumental impact it left on both of their lives.
We also talk about the ways Ocarina of Time impacted the video game industry, its status as the "best game of all time", whether or not it's showing its age as Time marches on, the real-life lessons it taught us, and more!
Other games discussed in this episode: Blue Dragon, The Pokémon series, the Kirby series, Katamari Damacy, Plants vs Zombies, Drawn to Life, the Munchables, Fossil Fighters, Pikmin, Flipnote Studio, Petz Dogz 2, and more!
Support Momo and their projects: https://www.momopatchi.com/ https://linktr.ee/momopatchi
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL
Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode sources: https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_ZeldaOcarinaof_Time_3D#Changes_and_Additions
https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/04/zelda-bundle-at-99
https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/
https://web.archive.org/web/19980530122635/http://www.nintendo.com/home/features/e3_98/mqna.html
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I've hosted podcasts, you know. Happy Halloween! Filmmaker and co-showrunner of the Savannah-Pooler Indie Comics Expo Roman Fruehan returns to the show! No, not as a member of the undead, but as a guest to talk about Dead Rising and the impact it made on his life!
Since it's a horror episode we also get into all things spooky! We talk about our favorite horror games and our favorite horror films, particularly the influential works of George Romero, and why his films are so difficult to find!
Other games discussed in this episode include: The Silent Hill series, the Resident Evil series, Eternal Darkness, Fatal Frame, Deadly Premonition, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Baldur's Gate 3, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Katamari Damacy, Michigan: Report From Hell, Overblood, and more!
0:00 - Happy Halloween! 13:51 - Favorite Horror Games 25:55 - Introducing Dead Rising 44:05 - No Country for Old Games 57:21 - No Country for Old Films 1:07:00 - Dead Rising Discussion 2:28:48 - The Dead Rising Sequels 2:38:05 - Recommendations and Outro
Select and Start is a video game podcast where the host, Keifer Lirette, talks with his guests about their most meaningful and memorable video game experiences. It is part of the Moonshot podcast network.
Support Roman and his projects: https://www.instagram.com/revolverroman/ https://www.instagram.com/sav.s.p.i.c.e/
Follow Keifer and support the show: https://www.patreon.com/KeifersCorner https://linktr.ee/KeiferL ** ** Artwork provided by Avry Ott: https://linktr.ee/HotSodaDesigns
Theme Music Provided by Mike Pettry: https://linktr.ee/mikepettry
Episode Sources: https://www.mobygames.com/game/23514/dead-rising/credits/xbox360/ https://deadrising.fandom.com/wiki/Differences_between_Dead_Rising_and_Deluxe_Remaster https://deadrising2mods.proboards.com/thread/1733/complete-development-history-dead-rising https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPqJfnnMrZY
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