The Batter may be mean and the Brickman may be scary. But Silksong is coming out. And video games...are still good."Why Silksong Took Seven Years to Make" by Jason SchreierMemoria's great video about day-old steam games"Hollow Knight Is One Of The Best Games You'll Play This Year" by Joshua Rivera"As the Trails series' ending is in sight, Nihon Falcom prepares to tackle the impossible" by James GalizioDunkey's UFO 50 experienceDiscussed:  Reading under trees, Silksong announced, the issue of game discoverability, Trails in the Sky FC Demo, what makes Trails and its development special, breaking news regarding Demonschool, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, VOID/BREAKER, Raccoin, Kill the Brickman, Off, the 2000’s era of indie games, Road Trip to the End of the World, and SpawnCheck out KP Kilbride's science fiction mystery novel with an LGBTQ+ romance subplot, Spaceships Passing in the Night at https://www.kpkilbrideauthor.com/booksFollow them on Threads and Instagram at https://www.threads.com/@kpkilbrideauthor and https://www.instagram.com/kpkilbrideauthor/Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (03:28) - Hollow Knight: Silksong | Extremely surreal to be typing this chapter (36:49) - Break (38:12) - Demonschool | BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!! (40:43) - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound | A game from 2025? (54:18) - Break (54:20) - Tidings from Lizzy to Joe! (55:02) - Tidings from Ian to Will! (55:53) - THREE roguelikes (56:00) - VOID/BREAKER | Haha yeah baby yeah hell yeah (01:17:18) - Raccoin | Coin-pushing roguelike (01:22:57) - Kill the Brickman | Poncle shadowdrop (01:29:43) - Break (01:29:45) - OFF Remake | How's it goin? (01:50:08) - Break (01:50:11) - Roadtrip to the End of the World | HOLD ME NOOOW (01:58:18) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back! And we somehow have too many games to fit into one episode.Discussed: The PSP Premiere, Patreon Updates, Metal Gear Solid, The Adventures of Elliot, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Is This Seat Taken?, Öoo, Tiny Bookshop, Sky the Scraper, and games we're playing for next weekRobin's review of Öoo: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/ooo-steam-indie-puzzle-gameFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:22) - Thank you so much for listening to the premiere! (03:17) - Changes to the Patreon! (08:12) - Metal Gear Solid | Hmm... Weird... (27:24) - Break (27:26) - That's a LOTTA games! (28:07) - The Adventures of Elliot | Link doesn't wear red THIS ISN'T LINK!!!!! (58:31) - Break (58:33) - BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster | We're so back in 2014 (01:24:14) - Break (01:24:16) - How, Dee? (01:24:54) - Is This Seat Taken? | Three indie games (01:28:00) - Öoo | A game we played six months before six months from now (01:33:43) - Tiny Bookshop | Books but small?? (01:45:04) - Sky the Scraper | No Clip, Windex% (01:50:22) - Some teasers for next week! (01:53:37) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Welcome to the eighth season of Into the Aether! For this season premiere, we will be discussing our favorite games for the Sony PlayStation Portable. The PSP was a very special console and is still a joy to play. Some might say it's the "Walkman of the 21st Century." As always, thank you all so much for listening to and supporting the show. Whether this is your first time joining us or you've been here since 2018, we're so happy you decided to give us a listen. Here's to friendship, summer, portability, and the rest of season eight!Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:58) - Imagine if you could take a console with you (02:42) - Welcome to the Aether! (07:10) - Changes to the Patreon (GOOD!) (17:57) - Basic recap (18:56) - New merch! (21:46) - How we prepared for the episode (57:53) - Taking the podcast out of sleep mode (59:10) - The symbol criteria (01:00:59) - 2005 (01:01:17) - Lumines (01:08:04) - Burnout Legends (01:16:03) - Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix (01:21:59) - Me & My Katamari (01:28:05) - Meadowtron by Hideki Tobeta | Me & My Katamari OST (01:28:39) - PSP's proof of concept (01:30:45) - Star Wars Battlefront II (01:37:26) - Wipeout Pure (01:43:44) - SHININ' by Mondo Gross | Lumines OST (01:44:21) - 2006 (01:44:52) - Megaman Powered Up (01:52:03) - Daxter (01:59:22) - Ridge Racer 2 (02:14:21) - Tsui Tsui by Yu Miyake | Ridge Racer 2 OST (02:14:57) - Gitaroo Man Lives! (02:23:35) - Soft Machine by COIL | Gitaroo Man Lives! OST (02:24:04) - Tales of Eternia (02:31:25) - Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (02:37:33) - Pulse Phaze by Yu Miyake | Ridge Racer 2 OST (02:37:58) - 2007 (02:38:20) - Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (02:49:21) - Map by Steve Fawkner | Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords OST (02:49:51) - Jeanne d'Arc (03:04:31) - Synthesis Frog by Takeshi Inoue | Jeanne d'Arc OST (03:05:03) - AJ wants to know about the frog (03:06:27) - Main Theme by Takeshi Inoue | Jeanne d'Arc OST (03:06:59) - 2008 (03:07:02) - Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 (03:12:02) - Main Menu by Gon Ohtsuji | Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 OST (03:12:30) - 2009 (03:15:02) - Patapon 2 (03:20:57) - Half-Minute Hero (03:25:50) - Issuing apologies and corrections!!! (03:27:42) - Rock Band Unplugged (03:33:06) - Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (03:51:35) - Armored Core 3 Portable (04:00:51) - Gathering Hall Theme by Akihiko Narita | Monster Hunter Freedom Unite OST (04:01:21) - 2010 (04:02:24) - Persona 3 Portable (04:16:15) - Way of Life by Shoji Meguro | Persona 3 Portable OST (04:16:47) - God of War: Ghost of Sparta (04:23:14) - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (04:31:42) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (04:40:52) - Dearly Beloved by Yoko Shimomura, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Takeharu Ishimoto | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep OST (04:41:26) - Valkyria Chronicles 2 (04:49:15) - Ys Seven AND Ys: The Oath in Felghana (04:59:16) - Extensive Forest Green by Hayato Sonoda, Takahiro Unisuga, Saki Momiyama, Masanori Osaki | Ys Seven OST (04:59:48) - 2011 (05:00:39) - Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (05:06:21) - 15 seconds of Kingdom Hearts III spoilers (05:06:36) - How do you say 012? (05:07:40) - The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (05:22:15) - The Byway of Departure by Hayato Sonoda, Wataru Ishibashi | Trails in the Sky OST (05:22:40) - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (05:33:16) - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together - Overture by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata | Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together OST (05:33:45) - Honorable Mentions (05:34:04) - Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX (05:35:28) - Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny (05:37:16) - LocoRoco (05:39:01) - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (05:44:38) - Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (05:47:09) - The 3rd Birthday (05:52:16) - Persona 2: Innocent Sin (05:55:27) - Brave Story: New Traveler (05:59:26) - Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (06:05:25) - Every Extend Extra (06:08:30) - Water, Banana Bread, and Math (06:10:09) - Deciding the top 5 of the Aether (06:25:27) - Standing up (06:25:37) - The Into the Aether Top 5 Video Games for the Sony Playstation Portable (06:27:05) - Thank you so much for being here! (06:32:32) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When will they make a two-sided SD card that always lands text?Discussed: PSPrequel on Patreon, upcoming flights to Jersey, flipping an SD card, Cobalt Core, StarVaders, FTL, He is Coming, Loop Hero, whether or not roguelikes need to be infinite, Void Stranger, Stephen finishing The Hundred Line, games with multiple endings, Sacred Stones, the best introductions to Fire Emblem, A Link to the Past, New Leaf, the potential of a new Animal Crossing, all kinds of Za, Patapon on Switch, The Forgotten City, 1000xResist, the “last time on” mechanic, Jersey diners & New York pizza Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:19) - Check out the PSPrequel on Patreon! (06:05) - There are other video games believe it or not (07:27) - Cobalt Core | The Text of video games (22:02) - He is Coming | The Pins of video games (37:15) - Star Vaders, Blue Prince, Void Stranger, Hundred Line | When a game is finished (47:53) - Break (47:55) - Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones | BREAKING: Water is wet (55:35) - A Link to the Past | Stephen answers for his bad takes (01:03:53) - Animal Crossing: New Leaf | Brendon Breezely (01:25:05) - Patapon 1+2 | Brendon Bailley (01:25:38) - The Forgotten City | Brendon Bailley (01:29:30) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

I guess it’s kind of like a Bananza?Discussed:  Upcoming episode for Patrons, TWG on Bluesky, Donkey Kong Bananza, early 3D Nintendo games, Donkey Kong as a series, the history of Nintendo console launch windows, the appeal of Zelda speed runs, Word Play, Boss Keys (GMTK), Developing (GMTK), the journey of any creative project, the dream of portrait mode, Nurikabe World, Brendon’s ROM Hack corner, Animal Crossing: City Folk Deluxe, why Animal Crossing works best handheld, and BeardoFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (01:10) - Some announcements! (08:18) - Donkey Kong: Bananza | Punching our way into the episode (50:15) - Break (50:17) - Wordplay | Puzzle time (01:00:53) - Nurikabe World | An actual minesweeper segment (01:06:15) - Break (01:06:17) - Brendon's ROM Hack Shaq (01:08:15) - Animal Crossing: City Folk Deluxe | Brendon's ROM Hack Shaq (01:28:27) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

I heard you like video tapes. You might not like this movie, but you’re gonna LOVE these games. Mmm, mmm.Discussed: The weird animorph phase, a little bit more of Death Stranding 2, Stephen’s fear of dolls, Press Start joins TWG, Blitzball, Mario Golf: Super Rush, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Ages, the beauty of the 8-bit aesthetic, Baseball (’89), The Sword of Hope, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, how Fire Emblem stands out in its genre, the customization in Final Fantasy Tactics & Tactics Ogre, the approachability of Jeanne d’Arc, Edelgard’s quest to high five, CTGP Nitro, the “za” of Mario Kart DS, our love of retro racing games, Toad’s BBQFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (01:24) - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | All aboard the SS Mad Max (02:07) - The Mm-Mm Doll | An Electric Nightmare (08:50) - Welcome PressSTART to TWG!!! (11:04) - Mario Golf: Super Rush | A quick putt to this game (12:49) - MINOR SPOILERS Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Remember video games? (20:28) - How do we move on? (20:42) - The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | Spinnin' the classics (39:45) - Break (39:47) - Baseball for the Gameboy | Daniel Simulator (40:58) - The Sword of Hope | Way better than Baseball (42:11) - Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones | Divine Pulse back to the GBA (01:02:03) - Break (01:02:05) - CTGP Mario Kart Nitro | A small drift (01:17:52) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

I made it through Dom's dream and all I got were these podcast show notes.Discussed: Indie the Aether, Dom Nero: Prophet, Death Stranding 2, I Believe in Pizza (w/ Chris Plante), Deltarune Chapter 3+4, Persona 5: The Phantom X, the plight of mobile gacha games, Bacon - The Game, Nintendo Wiid, Super Mariomon, Pokémon Odyssey, Elden Ring: Nightreign Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:56) - Indie the Aether (02:28) - Dom Nero: Prophet (04:55) - Death Stranding 2 | AJ is the little puppet guy on the belt of the podcast (49:16) - Deltarune Chapter 3+4 | Brendon's in the dust (01:17:08) - Welcome back (01:17:31) - Persona 5: The Phantom X | Three mobile games (01:19:17) - SPOILERS FOR THE OPENING OF THE GAME (01:36:32) - Bacon - The Game | The other side of the mobile coin (01:38:22) - Pokemon Odyssey | One last game (01:57:40) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members:Zachary DIanfaceMcGeeMatt HClayton MChris Yw0nderbradShawn LCody RZach RFederico VLogan HAlan RSlinkmattjanzz DeaconGrokCorey ZDirectional JoySusan HOlivia KDan SIsaac SWill CJim WEvan BDavid Hmin2Aaron GVErik MBrady HJoshua JTony LDanny KSeth MAdam BJustin KAndy HDemoParker EMaxwell LSpiritofthunderJason WJason TCorey TMinnow Eats WhaleCaleb WfingerbellyJesse WMike TCodesWesleyErik BmebezacSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseAndrewJustin MPeterStellar.BeesBrendan KScott RwreckxNoah OMichael GArcturusChris RhepaheCory FChase ALoveDiesNick QWes KChris MRBMichaela WAdam FScott HAlexander SPTherese KjgprintersJessica BMurrayDavid PJason KBede RKamrin HKyle SPhilip  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hey everyone! We have some big changes coming to Into the Aether in the near future and we wanted to talk through them a bit. To avoid burying the lede here: We’re leaving the Pickaxe podcast network and returning to complete independence. This has actually been in the works for a little while, but we wanted to only share the news when all of the boxes were checked.This is not a decision we made lightly, but we’re confident it is the right decision for us and for all of you. To be clear, we have no ill-will with Pickaxe and there are no hard feelings either way. This was entirely our decision. As breezy as the process of joining was, the process of offboarding has been equally breezy. We want to extend a huge thanks to the team over there for taking a chance on us and being so cool over the last few months. It’s not often you’re given as much creative control as we were in situations like this. Immediate Changes: 1) No more programmatic ads The first and most obvious change will be the removal of programmatic advertising in the podcast. We hugely appreciate the feedback from you all regarding the inclusion of these ads. While we’re happy to have tried this method out — it clearly didn’t work for us, the vibe of the show, or the values of Aether as an entity. This change will affect the entire backlog of the podcast as well, so all episodes will return to being ad-free – with the exception of our host-read ads from before the Pickaxe era. We’ll share more about our plans for returning to host-read ads at a later date, but for now: If you’re currently backing the show at the $10 tier, we completely understand if you’d like to downgrade or cancel your membership for the time being. While we will be returning to an advertising model that feels better to us and focuses on lifting up bands and games and projects we can get behind, the reality is that those ads won’t be present in the show until August at the earliest. We hope to have you back, but also understand if you need to pull your support for the time being.  2) Chapters are back! Another welcome change (cue the applause sfx) is that chapter markers are back on the menu. The move to Pickaxe unfortunately wiped the chapter markers from all episodes of the show, meaning you all needed to rely on the written timecodes in the episode descriptions. While this wasn’t the end of the world, it also wasn’t intentional or desirable on our part.  We’re happy to say that chapter markers should be working in the entire backlog, including the episodes which were produced during the Pickaxe era. The Future: We have some other big changes and ideas in the works that we’ll be announcing on the PSP retrospective episode (which we will be recording on August 2nd). These changes are all positive and double down on our desire to keep the show independent for the foreseeable future. We’re excited to share them with you! We’re immensely proud of what Into the Aether has become over the past seven years (!!) and want to make sure its future is sustainable and bright as an indie show on TWG. The reason we are able to try all the things we do and push ourselves further is entirely due to all of your support. So just another huge thank you to everyone for listening and giving us the confidence to try and make this show in our own way. If you have any questions, feel free to post them here in Discord or email us at intotheaetherpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks again, BB + SH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I miss the good old days where all you had in your pockets were your keys, your iPod, and your Demon in a Tube. Discussed: Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, Monster Train 2, Slay the Spire 2, Hades 2, 17bit, Galak-Z, Awaysis, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online Buy some merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast --- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.online Produced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social --- Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/ Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/ --- Timecodes: ~~TIMES MAY BE OFF DUE TO DYNAMIC AD PLACEMENTS~~ (00:00) - Intro (01:11) - Death Stranding 2 | Please walk us out of the weather (03:03) - Donkey Kong Bananza is coming!!!! (06:36) - Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army | A perpendicular segue (36:58) - Monster Train 2 | For my next trick (57:10) - Break (57:12) - 17bit | Brendon took a trip (01:00:16) - Awaysis | Brendon went to 17bit (01:36:05) - Break (01:36:07) - The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- | We're back baby (02:02:23) - Wrapping up --- Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members: Zachary D IanfaceMcGee Matt H Clayton M Chris Y w0nderbrad Shawn L Cody R Zach R Federico V Logan H Alan R Slink mattjanzz Deacon Grok Corey Z Directional Joy Susan H Olivia K Dan S Isaac S Will C Jim W Evan B David H min2 Aaron G V Erik M Brady H Joshua J Tony L Danny K Seth M Adam B Justin K Andy H Demo Parker E Maxwell L Spiritofthunder Jason W Jason T Corey T Minnow Eats Whale Caleb W fingerbelly Jesse W Mike T Codes Wesley Erik B mebezac Sergio L ninjadeathdog Rory B A42PoundMoose Andrew Justin M Peter Stellar.Bees Brendan K Scott R wreckx Noah O Michael G Arcturus Chris R hepahe Cory F Chase A LoveDies Nick Q Wes K Chris M RB Michaela W Adam F Scott H Alexander SP Therese K jgprinters Jessica B Murray David P Jason K Bede R Kamrin H Kyle S Philip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Intelligence is hating the blue shell. Wisdom is knowing that you're so good that being hit by the blue shell won't make a difference. Discussed: The Nintendo Switch 2, sales, Mario Kart World, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-, Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mariomon, Pokémon ZA Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online Buy some NEW merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast --- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.online Produced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social --- Season 7 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/ Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/ --- Timecodes: ~~TIMES MAY BE OFF DUE TO DYNAMIC AD PLACEMENTS~~ (00:00) - Intro (00:21) - Switch 2 | There's a new console release and we're talking about it (37:25) - Break (37:27) - Quick sales update (40:55) - Mario Kart World | Vroom. (01:30:09) - Break (01:30:11) - The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- | Non-Switch 2 grab bag (01:38:32) - Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo | Non-Switch 2 grab bag (01:43:06) - Fire Emblem: Three Hopes | What if the game could feel better? (01:49:45) - Tears of the Kingdom upgrade | Performance bumps (01:52:47) - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet | Performance bumps (02:03:56) - Wrapping up --- Thanks to all of our amazing patrons including our Eternal Gratitude members: Zachary D IanfaceMcGee Matt H Clayton M Chris Y w0nderbrad Shawn L Cody R Zach R Federico V Logan H Alan R Slink mattjanzz Deacon Grok Corey Z Directional Joy Susan H Olivia K Dan S Isaac S Will C Jim W Evan B David H min2 Aaron G V Erik M Brady H Joshua J Tony L Danny K Seth M Adam B Justin K Andy H Demo Parker E Maxwell L Spiritofthunder Jason W Jason T Corey T Minnow Eats Whale Caleb W fingerbelly Jesse W Mike T Codes Wesley Erik B mebezac Sergio L ninjadeathdog Rory B A42PoundMoose Andrew Justin M Peter Stellar.Bees Brendan K Scott R wreckx Noah O Michael G Arcturus Chris R hepahe Cory F Chase A LoveDies Nick Q Wes K Chris M RB Michaela W Adam F Scott H Alexander SP Therese K jgprinters Jessica B Murray David P Jason K Bede R Kamrin H Kyle S Philip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices