Left Behind Game Club: A Video Game Podcast

Left Behind Game Club

Canada’s #1 video game book club podcast! We tackle games large & small, new & old while keeping it informative, funny and (mostly) positive. Hosted by Jacob McCourt, Mike Ruffolo, Moe Murtadi, Katie Lesperance, Flora Merigold and Travis Colenutt. After almost 6 years of twice-monthly shows, we now publish new shows when we have something to say! Looking for a good place to start? Download an episode for a game that you really love and hit play. Looking for suggestions? Consider our episodes on The Last of Us, Undertale, Firewatch, What Remains of Edith Finch episodes or our Hitman, Wolf Among Us or Kentucky Route Zero series! read less
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Episodes

181: PAX East 2024 Mega Show
04-04-2024
181: PAX East 2024 Mega Show
The roomie crew of Jacob, Katie, Flora and special guest Dave Jackson are here to talk about the video games they played and the memories they forged at PAX East 2024! Four friends for over two hours talk through 21 games with 6 interviews from the show floor! PLAYERS: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) SPECIAL GUEST: Dave Jackson (@realdavejackson) | Tales from the Backlog | A Top 3 Podcast Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00​​ Intro 1:40 Tales from the Backlog 2:55 Housekeeping 3:35 Overall Impressions of PAX East 2024 10:00 A Typical Day at PAX 16:00 Panel Time 19:00 Game Time (Please Wishlist The Games That Look Cool) 19:30 Animal Well 23:40 Kind Words 2 (lofi pop city) 28:00 Enter the Chronosphere 33:25 LUCID Interview with Eric Manahan 38:20 LUCID 41:30 Duck Paradox 45:55 Athenian Rhapsody 49:50 Deathbound 54:55 Let's! Revolution! Interview with Michael Highland 1:00:45 Let's! Revolution! Interview with Spencer Casey 1:03:45 Let's! Revolution! 1:05:05 Fallen Aces 1:10:35 Sorry We're Closed 1:15:00 Fretless Interview with Jeff Linville and Connor Smith 1:21:00 Fretless 1:28:30 Scramble Star Crossing 1:31:15 Tape to Tape 1:32:55 The Art of Flight 1:33:50 Kriegsfront Tactics 1:34:25 Path of Exile 2 1:35:15 Part of You 1:37:45 Buckshot Roulette 1:38:45 Olliefrog Toadskater Interview with Phillip Woytowitz 1:43:35 Starvaders Interview with Eddie Cai 1:50:15 So To Speak 1:51:25 Questions 1:57:35 Outro DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server! RESOURCES: Tales from the Backlog - The Last of Us (Part 2) ft. Flora Tales from the Backlog - Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name ft. Matt Storm & Flora Tales from the Backlog - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ft. Jacob Jacob's Between 2 Screens: A Nintendo DS Retrospective Panel Brenden Groom's Video Game Cocktail Party ft. Jenny Windom, Kenneth Shepard, Kate Sánchez, Jesse Vitelli & Michael Higham Tales from the Backlog - Rainworld  The Sequel I Couldn’t Have Predicted: Demoing ‘Kind Words 2’ at PAX East by Flora Merigold Katie's Enter the Chronosphere Moment ...and Jacob went viral at PAX East 2024
180: Between 2 Screens – A Nintendo DS Retrospective [Live from PAX East 2024]
27-03-2024
180: Between 2 Screens – A Nintendo DS Retrospective [Live from PAX East 2024]
How could Nintendo improve an already great handheld experience after the release and success of the Game Boy Advance? By adding a touch screen to it! Over an hour, our 5 Nintendo DS experts will help you reminisce about the history of the console. Then with the help of the PAX East audience, we will build the essential list of 15 must-have Nintendo DS titles. Audience members will be given 15 seconds to make their pitches, so come prepared!  Between 2 Screens - A Nintendo DS Retrospective was recorded live at PAX East 2024 on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre. There's one section that relies on visual aids; you can download the slides here. There's also a video version available on PAX's YouTube channel. Sections: 0:00 Intro 1:30 Panel Intros 2:50 Panel Format 3:30 A Speedy History of the Nintendo DS 18:00 Our 11 Pre-Selections 27:50 Audience Pitches 59:55 Panel Outro Panel: Jacob McCourt (https://twitter.com/JacobMcCourt) Jenny Windom (https://twitter.com/kimchica25) Scott White (https://twitter.com/ProfessorRPG) Brenden Groom (https://twitter.com/begroom) Danny Bass Jr. (https://twitter.com/CGDannyB) Dave Jackson (https://twitter.com/RealDaveJackson) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
175: Final Fantasy XVI [Part 2]
06-12-2023
175: Final Fantasy XVI [Part 2]
We fight god in the second part of our Final Fantasy XVI podcast series. Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit III | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: June 22, 2023 Jacob, Katie, Flora and special guest Dave Jackson say nice things about the game, read about so much lore and tell a great story about a chivalrous man. You may want to listen to Part 1 before jumping into this spoiler-filled discussion! This is our last show of 2023 - see you in 2024! PLAYERS: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) SPECIAL GUEST: Dave Jackson (@TFTBLpod) | Tales from the Backlog: Podcast | Twitter Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00​​ Start 1:30 Fave/Least Fave Characters 6:00 What We Loved About FFXVI 10:50 Active Time Lore 18:50 Eikon Battles 201 27:10 Jill and Clive 35:40 Final Loadouts 42:15 Favourite Moments 45:50 A Ben Starr Moment 48:50 Okay, Back to FFXVI 51:20 Final Boss Battles 55:50 Ultima Explainer Speedrun 59:45 Making FFXVI Better 1:05:50 The Future of Final Fantasy RESOURCES: Tales from the Backlog - Final Fantasy XVI ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Has An Identity Crisis By Flora Merigold via Epilogue Gaming  Tales from the Backlog - The Last of Us (Part 2) ft. Flora Tales from the Backlog - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ft. Jacob DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
174: Final Fantasy XVI [Part 1]
22-11-2023
174: Final Fantasy XVI [Part 1]
We activate our Eikon Abilities with Final Fantasy XVI. Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit III | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: June 22, 2023 Jacob, Katie, Flora and special guest Dave Jackson wait for our cooldowns, appreciate Torgal and go get five piles of dirt. PLAYERS: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) SPECIAL GUEST: Dave Jackson (@TFTBLpod) | Tales from the Backlog: Podcast | Twitter Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00​​ Start 1:20 Intro to Dave Jackson 4:30 The Gauntlet 9:20 The Fast Pitch 10:55 Our Personal Histories with Final Fantasy 13:45 How is FF16 Different than Other Numbered Games? 15:25 The Game's Demo 17:00 Setup of the World 24:00 Spoiler for the First Five Hours 25:40 Intro to Eikon Battles 30:30 Intro to Combat 38:30 "Is This a Bad Game?" 45:10 Sidequests 50:20 Full Spoiler Warning 51:00 Ambrosia Sidequest 54:00 Torgal Sidequest 57:30 Tentpole Story Moments 1:03:45 World Building Lessons from George R.R. Martin 1:07:00 Dave Brings In FromSoftware 1:10:45 Outro RESOURCES: Tales from the Backlog - Final Fantasy XVI ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ Has An Identity Crisis By Flora Merigold via Epilogue Gaming  Tales from the Backlog - The Last of Us (Part 2) ft. Flora Tales from the Backlog - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ft. Jacob DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
171: PAX West 2023 Mega Show
20-09-2023
171: PAX West 2023 Mega Show
We went over to Seattle to play video games in our PAX West 2023 episode! This is our last piece of audio about PAX West! Jacob, Katie and special guest Adam Gumbert walked a whole lot and played some great video games! PLAYERS: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) SPECIAL GUEST: Adam Gumbert (@AdamGumby) | Respawn Aim Fire Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00​​ Intro 1:00 Intro to Adam Gumbert 1:50 Housekeeping 2:50 Overall Impressions 8:00 NoClip Panel 10:30 Our Panels 14:10 Leaf Blower Man: This Game Blows! 15:15 Interview on Leaf Blower Man with Jakub Kasztalski (Founder and Creative Director @ Unbound Creations) 18:15 Antonblast 20:50 Starvaders and Cobalt Core 24:25 Biomorph 27:50 Ascent: Rivals 30:35 Mirthwood 35:15 Fraymakers 38:45 Interview on Fraymakers with Max Silverman 49:10 Mythic Protocol: Riftstorm 52:50 [I] Doesn't Exist 56:05 Big Boy Boxing 57:35 Interview on Big Boy Boxing with Martin Calander 1:01:25 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown 1:06:00 Survivor Mercs 1:09:45 Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To 1:12:00 Thank Goodness You're Here 1:16:25 Another Crab's Treasure 1:20:15 Yellow Taxi Go Vroom 1:20:35 Foamstars 1:22:20 World of Horror 1:23:00 Techno Banter 1:23:55 Below the Stone 1:27:00 Wrap-Up DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server! RESOURCES: Nintendo GBA Retrospective & Best Games List (Live from PAX East 2023) Video Game Trivia Live 3: DUB Edition from PAX East 2023 NoClip at PAX West 2023
170: Video Game Trivia Live 3: DUB Edition (from PAX West 2023)
18-09-2023
170: Video Game Trivia Live 3: DUB Edition (from PAX West 2023)
Video Game Trivia Live returns to PAX West! This competitive video game trivia game hosted by Jacob McCourt pits pairs of video game press/PR folks content creators and developers against one another to see who knows the most about the obscure corners of video game history. BUT maybe the PAX audience will be able to help "team audience" steal a big victory for the city of Seattle! This panel is not about the 2005 Rockstar racing title but there will be vanity license plates. Confused? Come to the panel and find out what I mean! Video Game Trivia Live 3: DUB Edition was recorded live at PAX West 2023 on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 at the Seattle Convention Centre. There's one section that relies on visual aids; you can download the slides here or watch the video version here. Sections: 0:00​​ Intro 4:45 Panelist Intros 9:30 The Speed Round (Rapid Fire Questions) 20:00 Box Art Blitz (Guess the Game Box Art from a Sample) 26:00 Step Up To The Plate (Video Game Vanity License Plates) 32:45 Metacritic Critic (Guess the Metacritic Score of a Game) 47:25 The Bargain Bin (Guess the Price of a Game) ​​1:02:25 The Bonus Round (Final Question) Panel Intro: Asa Greenriver (@agreenriver07) Panel: Dave Proctor (@blankdave) Mike Towndrow (@itsmiketown) Haley Early (@hayorzea) Geoff Moonen (@geoffmakesnoise) Jake Dekker (@jacobdekk) Lucy James (@lucyjamesgames) Video Producer: Luke Lewis (@lukewarmlewis) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
169: Game Boy Advance Retrospective (Live from PAX West 2023)
12-09-2023
169: Game Boy Advance Retrospective (Live from PAX West 2023)
Not only did Nintendo launch the greatest home console of all time in 2001 with the Nintendo Gamecube but they also released the greatest handheld of all time as well. Live at PAX West, we collected a group of Game Boy Advance experts to discuss the device's history and their memories of the console and build an essential collection of Game Boy Advance games. Members of the PAX West audience contributed their suggestions - watch to see the final list! The Game Boy Advance Was The Greatest Game Handheld Ever Made was recorded live at PAX West 2023 on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 at the Seattle Convention Centre. There's one section that relies on visual aids; you can download the slides here. Big thanks to the Video Game History Foundation for providing research assistance. Find them on Twitter, Patreon and on the web. Sections: 0:00 Intro 4:05 A Speedy History of What Led to the Game Boy Advance 5:20 Why It's the Greatest Console of All-Time 26:00 A Definitive List of the 15 Best Game Advance Games as crafted by the PAX West Audience Panel: Jacob McCourt (https://twitter.com/JacobMcCourt) Jenny Windom (https://twitter.com/kimchica25) Celia Schilling (https://twitter.com/CeliaBeee) Matthew "Finn" Finneman (https://twitter.com/NOLAnerdcast) Adam Gumbert (https://twitter.com/AdamGumby) Harris Foster (https://twitter.com/HarrisFoster) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
166: Coffee Talk
26-04-2023
166: Coffee Talk
We drink lots of caffeine in Fantasy Seattle thanks to Coffee Talk. Developer: Toge Productions | Publisher: Toge Productions, Chorus Worldwide, Serenity Forge | Initial Release: January 29, 2020 Jacob, Flora, and special guests Luke Lewis and Matt Storm listen to some lo-fi chill beats, fight about the best way to caffeinate and swoon over Hyde. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Special Guests: Matt Storm aka Stormageddon (@dj_stormageddon) | "Fun" and Games Podcast Luke Lewis (@lukewarmlewis) | LukeWarmGames Podcast Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00 Start 1:30 More about Luke and Matt 4:05 The Fast Pitch 6:10 Our Coffee Orders 9:50 What You Do in Coffee Talk 13:55 Characters 19:30 Storylines 24:30 The Metanarrative 26:45 First vs. Second Game 31:30 Music 35:20 Checking Our Phones 39:30 Multiple Playthroughs 42:00 Coffee Talk Episode 2 Preview 48:00 Fahmi and his Lasting Impact 50:40 Games We'll Play After Coffee Talk: A Space for the Unbound VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action The Red Strings Club Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) Varney Lake When The Past Was Around Emily is Away Emily is Away Too Boyfriend Dungeon 1:01:45 Wrap-Up RESOURCES: Review: Coffee Talk [via Kotaku] Coffee Talk Review [via Game Informer] Emily is Away & Emily is Away Too [via Left Behind Game Club] Side Quests Episode 163: Coffee Talk with Keith Lehtinen [via "Fun" and Games Podcast] DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
165: PAX East 2023 Mega Show
10-04-2023
165: PAX East 2023 Mega Show
We went down to Boston to play video games in our PAX East 2023 episode! This is our last piece of audio about PAX East, promise. Jacob, Flora, Katie and Travis became friends in real life, waited in lines and played lots of cool video games. PLAYERS: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Travis Colenutt (@TravisColenutt) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: 0:00​​ Intro 1:40 Thoughts from PAX Newbies 9:25 Making Small Talk 16:10 Panels! 22:45 The Video Game Section (Please Wishlist Your Faves) 23:00 Backpack Hero 26:55 The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story 28:25 The Mageseeker Interview with Javi Gimenez from Digital Sun  39:30 Gori: Cuddly Carnage 44:00 Terra Nil 48:15 Slay the Princess 55:55 A Knight in the Attic 57:30 A Knight in the Attic Interview with Dave Proctor from Mighty Yell 1:03:45 Strayed Lights 1:09:25 Capes 1:14:35 Every Day We Fight 1:20:20 Wrestle Story 1:23:35 Wildmender 1:28:55 Demonschool 1:35:10 Goons: Legends and Mayhem 1:35:35 Goons: Legends and Mayhem Interview with Samuel Bouchard from RageCure Games  1:38:30 Pacific Drive 1:44:50 Bread and Fred 1:48:15 Rightfully, Beary Arms 1:50:15 Recap DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server! RESOURCES: The Best Games at PAX East 2023: Highlights From My First Gaming Conference by Flora Merigold via Epilogue Gaming Nintendo Gamecube Retrospective & Best Games List (Live from PAX East 2023) Video Game Trivia Live from PAX East 2023 Pax East 2023: Can We Finally Admit That Games Should be in Classrooms? Our PAX West 22 Mega Show featuring our interview with Brandon Sheffield
164: Video Game Trivia (Live from PAX East 2023)
05-04-2023
164: Video Game Trivia (Live from PAX East 2023)
Video Game Trivia Live returned to PAX with its first trivia gauntlet in Boston! This competitive trivia game hosted by Jacob McCourt pits three teams of content creators and the video game press against the entire audience. Will PAX East attendees be able to outbrain our panel of video game experts? Bring your wealth of video game knowledge and find out! During this hour-long interactive trivia game, participants will need to estimate video game critic scores, identify video games from a small sliver of their box art, and much more! Buckle up, Boston. Video Game Trivia Live: PAX East 2023 Edition was recorded live at PAX East 2023 on Friday, March 24th at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre. There's one section that relies on visual aids; you can download the slides here or watch the video version here. Sections: 0:00​​ Intro 4:10 The Speed Round (Rapid Fire Questions) 15:30 Box Art Blitz (Guess the Game Box Art from a Sample) 24:15 The Bargain Bin (Guess the Price of a Game) 41:15 Metacritic Critic (Guess the Metacritic Score of a Game) ​​56:10 The Bonus Round (Final Question) Panel: Kyle Stephenson (https://twitter.com/MrKStep) Flora Merigold (https://twitter.com/LudonarrativeFM) Brenden Groom (https://twitter.com/begroom) Jesse Vitelli (https://twitter.com/jessevitelli) Katie Lesperance (https://twitter.com/lesperak) Travis Colenutt (https://twitter.com/TravisColenutt) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!
163: Nintendo Gamecube Retrospective (Live from PAX East 2023)
29-03-2023
163: Nintendo Gamecube Retrospective (Live from PAX East 2023)
2001 was an excellent year for gaming, thanks to the little purple lunch box that could. In this special bonus episode of the podcast, live at PAX East 2023, some of the biggest fans of the Nintendo Gamecube were assembled to discuss the device's history and their memories of the console, as well as build an essential collection of Nintendo Gamecube games with help from the PAX East audience. The Nintendo GameCube Was The Greatest Game Console Ever Made was recorded live at PAX East 2023 on Friday, March 24th at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Centre. There's one section that relies on visual aids; you can download the slides here. Big thanks to the Video Game History Foundation for providing research assistance. Find them on Twitter, Patreon and on the web. Sections: 0:00 Intro 2:40 A Speedy History of What Led to the Nintendo Gamecube 4:20 Why It's the Greatest Console of All-Time 26:40 A Definitive List of the 15 Best Gamecube Games as crafted by the PAX East Audience Panel: Jacob McCourt: https://twitter.com/JacobMcCourt​​ Cam Hawkins: https://twitter.com/CamFinalMix Janet Garcia: https://twitter.com/Gameonysus Matt Storm aka Stormageddon: https://twitter.com/dj_stormageddon Mike Towndrow: https://twitter.com/itsMikeTown Asa Greenriver: https://twitter.com/agreenriver07 Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!