Ep 27 Giving Thanks for Video Games

Pacific Drive is stealing the show this week as we cover how to drive, upgrade, and repair a sentient 1980s station wagon, find the gems in the Xbox Partner Spotlight show, and figure out whether kids should be playing video games with ads in them. It's another packed hour of video games, industry analysis, and real conversation about capital V, capital G Video Games.

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Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Pacific Drive opening & station wagon commentary​

00:32 – Welcome to Episode 27, multitasking, Thanksgiving season​

01:33 – Episode preview: Game Awards, Xbox Partner Preview, Pacific Drive, The Expanse, Moonlighter 2​

02:01 – Pacific Drive overview: exclusion zone, sci-fi atmosphere, roadlike gameplay​

04:56 – Vehicle mechanics: scavenging, crafting, upgrading your sentient wagon​

08:58 – Pre-run preparation: checklists, fuel management, energy decisions​

10:13 – Early anomalies: UFO encounters, road flares, chaos mechanics​

11:47 – Silent protagonist questions: identity, radio contacts, attachment to the car​

13:30 – Pacific Drive platforms & Switch wishlist talk​

13:56 – Gaming 411 newsletter: "Top six cars in video games" teaser​

15:36 – Cars mentioned in newsletter (station wagon, Batmobile from Arkham Knight)​

16:12 – 2025 Game Awards nominees announcement & voting​

17:13 – GOTY lineup breakdown: Claire Obscure, Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Hades II, Hollow Knight Silksong, Kingdom Come II​

18:07 – Defending sequels: Andrew's two-game IP rule explanation​

19:25 – Death Stranding vs Death Stranding 2: combat expansion & new systems​

20:34 – Donkey Kong Bananza portmanteau discussion & IP freshness​

22:21 – Missing nominees: Kingdom Come II early-year release, Indiana Jones, Metroid Prime 4 timing​

23:45 – Xbox Partner Preview overview & showcase format​

24:10 – Quick game hits: 007 First Light, Dave the Diver, Re-Animal, Tides of Annihilation​

24:42 – Zoo Punk discovery: F.I.S.T. prequel, anthropomorphic action RPG​

26:01 – Zoo Punk trailer breakdown: Zootopia meets Mad Max cyberpunk aesthetic​

27:22 – Zoo Punk combat analysis: action-based, party mechanics, visual grittiness​

29:01 – Vampire Crawlers reveal: Vampire Survivors team, deckbuilding + roguelike hybrid​

29:26 – Vampire Crawlers gameplay: card mechanics, screen-filling chaos, 2026 release window​

30:12 – Too much news: Patreon exclusive deeper dive episode planned​

31:07 – Wisper Flow ad read & personal usage stats​

33:20 – The Expanse: Osiris Reborn media blitz & marketing push​

33:30 – The Expanse main theme video & sound design focus​

34:29 – Space physics in The Expanse: mag boots, hull vibrations, muffled audio design​

35:48 – Hard sci-fi angle: time dilation, near-FTL, Mass Effect comparisons​

36:39 – The Expanse release date prediction: Game Awards announcement expected​

36:45 – Moonlighter 2 trailer & early access launch recap​

37:44 – Moonlighter 2 visual upgrade: 3D isometric style vs original pixel art​

39:12 – Parenting & mobile games: Amazon Kids+ vs Apple Arcade comparison​

48:38 – Loot boxes, gacha mechanics, and avoiding pay-to-win for kids​

50:19 – Community Spotlight: Barbados listeners, Playtropic, Caribbean game dev​

52:12 – Call for more international listeners to boost show growth​

52:39 – Outro: holiday gratitude, Patreon reminder, Thanksgiving sign-off