Holiday Catch‑Up And Concert Stories

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Thank you, and welcome to another episode of the Carolina Utaku Podcast. I am Afro and I am here with my co-host Lexi. Yeah, welcome back. You know, we wanted to get an episode in before the holiday season and stuff like that, because next week I am not going to feel like doing anything but cooking.

SPEAKER_04 0:30

Yeah. And we love you guys.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

Yeah. Oh, for sure, for sure. Um, so you guys know how we start these off. Uh, we kind of see what we've been up to. Um, and kind of just go into the topics. We actually have some I think some pretty good topics to talk about. So what have you been up to, Lexi? Wait, you have been up to something. I saw pictures of something.

SPEAKER_04 0:52

Why do you gotta say it like that? Like, God.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

It's not it's not a bad thing. I saw pictures of something, and I was like, what was it?

SPEAKER_04 1:00

He sounds very stalkerish, by the way. Anyways, um, I went to see Leon Thomas for like the third time again. Gotta meet him again.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Um Diddy Remember you?

SPEAKER_04 1:11

No, it wasn't like so. So let's put I'm in sports. I also like last year met Schoolboy Q, right? That was like my first meeting greet that I actually paid for, right? And so Schoolboy Q is like the chillest person ever. Like he was sit and talk to you, like he was out there taking pictures with people that didn't even pay for like the mint and greet. He was out there like just smoking and vibing with, like, it wasn't a rush thing, it was just like, you know, whatever. Leon is another story, it's just like when Bam took that picture, all right, go. Like, this is like that's all you get, right? And so before we even got there, this girl had posted that she had brought all her like her vinyls she wanted him to sign, but on the VIP thing, it was like, no, he's not he's not doing any citizens, don't bring any gifts. Yeah, like have your phone ready out, like, yeah. And so we couldn't even have pictures during the sound, like we had no pictures of videos allowed during the sound check, which was stupid because he played like wasn't even like new material or anything that he was like practicing, it was literally just like him just singing songs that he was wanting to play during the show. It's like yeah, it was very lackluster, uh, but like him like as an individual, as a singer, like he's amazing or whatever. Just like I just don't like how he does his meet and greets, but you know, I digress.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

I mean, does he put on a good show?

SPEAKER_04 2:43

Yeah, he does put on a good show. Okay, um, it's just like it's a little short, so like I think the show started at 8. We were out of there by like 10:30. Usually when I go to like concerts, I'm not usually out until like 11, 11:30, just depending on who it is and if they're gonna pay those fees for being late after 11. But yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Oh wow, shit. Okay, well, that's what's up. I mean, at least you it's it was a good show. You got your money's worth and everything. Where was it?

SPEAKER_04 3:14

Uh Charlotte. Okay, that's what's up.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

Cool. Um, I haven't really been up to

Kitchen Mishap And Mandolin Caution

SPEAKER_00 3:20

shit. So I cut my finger off. Well, not off, but I cut a piece of my finger. One of the most dangerous kitchen appliances in any kitchen is a mandolin.

SPEAKER_05 3:30

A knife. A mandolin. What the hell is a mandolin?

SPEAKER_00 3:33

The thing that you use to cut like rings of vegetables. Yeah. And it has a blade on it.

SPEAKER_04 3:40

That thing.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Yeah. So those things are dangerous. I was cutting a cucumber making uh pickles, and see, that's the damn pickles.

SPEAKER_04 3:50

Yes, he has things.

SPEAKER_00 3:52

Alright, so I said, uh, yeah, this thing is going in the trash. I am never, ever, ever gonna buy one of these ever again, right? They're cool, they do what they need to do, but those motherfuckers are dangerous. I don't even think people in like professional kitchens use those things because of just like how dangerous they can be.

SPEAKER_03 4:13

So yeah, um don't buy one, not worth it.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

Other than that, getting ready for the holidays, prepping, cleaning, all that shit, you know, getting ready for family to come down and everything like that. Nothing, nothing too crazy. So um like I said, it we have actually like really good topics this episode that are just like it's not random shit.

SPEAKER_03 4:37

So the I guess the first thing that I want to start off with is that

Steam’s New Hardware Lineup Overview

SPEAKER_03 4:46

Steam has come out with something beautiful.

SPEAKER_04 4:51

Okay, you over-exaggerate. You know they already did this right now.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

No, it's it's I'm I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_04 4:56

But you know, all three that they're doing, they've already already done this. You're not like this is brand new.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Here's the thing though, here's the thing these Steam is literally making it so that you have no excuse not to have everything that you need. Literally. And if the price is good, I mean, come on. And also, if they're doing this, that means that a new Steam Deck is gonna be on the way too.

SPEAKER_04 5:26

Probably like next year, but not like anytime soon.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

Yeah, so it's definitely gonna be on the way. I just heard something falling out of the room. That's why I'll look back. So they're coming out with uh the Steam Machine, which is basically a mini Steam OS PC. Their Steam controller looks kind of weird, it reminds me of the old like first gen Xbox controllers. Yeah, like big. So basically they try to get everything that was on the Steam Deck control wise onto this controller, the touch pads and the buttons on the back and everything, and they tried to get that on their con on that controller, which I have big hands, so it might fit me well. But even on my Steam Deck, I don't use those touch pads.

SPEAKER_05 6:15

I don't either. I don't use them, I don't use them.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

And they have the Steam frame, which is the standalone VR headset.

SPEAKER_04 6:27

Yep. So like I mentioned before, he wanted to be like, ooh, this is amazing. Steam has literally done all three of these products before, they did it 10 years ago, so they did the Steam Machine. This is where I was getting to. So when they did the Steam Machines, they did more of the OS side of so the more of the software side, they didn't do so much the hardware, so the hardware got licensed out to different companies. Like there's an alienware version and a few other different kinds of versions that came out with Steam Machine, it just it wasn't a great product, it flopped, right? So then they also did the uh the AGC um Val headset that that was them. Yeah, that was it. You remember the pricing of that? It was like outrageous for the pricing of that. And I think they did the a controller before, but they did the controller, I think, even before

Lessons From Past Steam Hardware Failures

SPEAKER_04 7:15

they like did the Steam Deck. So these are all things that they've done before. I am curious to see with like the Steam machine, and I was talking about this when it dropped last week. My big thing with the Steam, like I I like I will give them their their flowers, like this is literally putting them in like all gaming pockets, right? You have them on console front, and then you also have them on like the PC front. I know the Steam Machine is technically not a console console, but it is being positioned and pitched as a console, right? Yeah, and you also have them now on the handheld front, you got the Steam Deck, right? Then you're gonna have them on the uh VR front. Then you know now we have them on the controller front. So the only really front that they're missing with gaming is probably like the mobile front, but I so that's interesting. My big thing about it is you know, yes, PC players know what Steam is and how it works and everything, but not so many console players are gonna know what Steam is, and so I wonder how they're going to pitch that to those particular customers, like that demographic. Like we all know that player that like plays nothing but console game, they don't like no, I don't do anything PC or whatever, or how did it go with that market of like moms with kids and like hey, they want a console, you know, like what's a steam, what's a steam machine? I ain't never heard of a steam machine, like I heard of Xbox, I heard of like PC, but I never heard of a Steam Machine. Like, so I wonder how they're gonna captivate that market or like capture that market of people that have like never heard of

Pricing Strategy And Console Market Position

SPEAKER_04 9:05

them before and position this machine.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

I think sorry, go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 9:12

No, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

I was gonna say, I think it's gonna come down to the pricing of it and also the openness of just what you can do with Sneam. Like, you don't have to pay for an online service to play their games, right? And wait, is Xbox getting rid of that?

SPEAKER_04 9:31

Or are they still we still have they just raised the prices? That was another big gripe that we had.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Yeah. So I think that's that's gonna be a big thing.

SPEAKER_04 9:42

I think that's gonna be their their big thing. Is like, yeah, you can play games with your friends and you don't have to pay a subscription fee. Yeah. Right. And then also the the price, it has to be like comparable or like less than like a regular Xbox or a PS5 to get those people.

SPEAKER_00 10:04

How much is a PS5?

SPEAKER_04 10:06

Uh I don't know as far as right now with the price index. I know Xbox just went up, I think it's between six and seven, depending on what size you get. So I think PlayStation is probably gonna be the same depending on which one you get. And because they got a few models, they got like a pro model and the regular model, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

So if they make the pricing of this at an even like five fifty, I think that's perfect.

SPEAKER_03 10:33

Oh yeah, I'll say that.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

I think that's perfect, but that also means that they're gonna have to bring down their Steam Decks. Unless they come out with something that's like in that same realm, like a look that's better, you know what I mean, then the then they're first gen and the well, they're both first gen. So it's gonna be it has to be better, and I just hope that pricing is actually at a good point. But what this shit I don't know. I'm looking at a list of all these features AMD custom CPU and GPU, storage is 512 gigabytes to two terabytes. Uh the SSD is replaceable,

Specs, Ports, And Entry To PC Gaming

SPEAKER_00 11:12

HDMI, display ports, USB Type C, four USB A, Ethernet, also a micro SD, Wi-Fi 6E plus Bluetooth. That's fucking great. And also, this also helps people that want to get into PC gaming. You don't have to go and I'm not, I love it, I love doing this shit. Some motherfuckers are not built for that. Going to a micro center, going online, finding all the parts, going to pick your part, getting everything outlined that you need to get, saving up the money for stuff and putting all that shit together, troubleshooting if it don't work, uploading a OS to it and all that shit. Some motherfuckers don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_04 11:57

That's true. Some people just don't want to do that at all. Like, I'm going through that right now. One of my friends is wanting to build a computer, and I'm like, just get a pre-built.

unknown 12:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

But like, it would be better if you build it, but I'm not building it for you. Right. But like, yeah. Anyways, um, the only thing I am concerned about, too, it I mean, it does make a great entry into PC gaming for most people, but it's also running a Linux. So that is something different that most people are not gonna be familiar

Linux Usability And New‑To‑PC Friction

SPEAKER_04 12:35

with on using. True. So it's gonna be like a little bit of a learning curve, like say, like the kid on Christmas, right? It's like, oh, I want a PC game, like I want a PC for my birthday or whatever, right? And the mom goes and buys the steam machine, like the steam machine, and they're like, what the fuck is this? This isn't what I fucking asked for. Technically, yes, it is what you asked for, but it doesn't, it's not what you're used to. Exactly. And the way I think about it is like it's going to be like the Chromebooks in a way. That's that's no, I don't I'm not I don't mean for gaming, I mean for like usability, like browsing, that kind of thing. It's just like that, like like schools use Chromebooks, like typically people who buy Chromebooks are not tech savvy, they don't really know what they're getting into, but the price is cheap for a Chromebook versus like a Windows laptop in most cases, right? And it has much text. So it's kind of like that. And I want to see how like they overcome that. Like I said, these are all things I think about in my mind that most people probably don't even think about, but I think about them. So we're discussing them.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

Sure, I agree. I do wonder. Like I said, it's a I do think it's a great entry level. I know this might not be for some people. I don't think a lot of people that would buy this that are coming that are getting into this aren't gonna really dig deep into like OS stuff and trying to stream from it and stuff like that. They're not gonna try to do that.

SPEAKER_04 14:12

But I mean, you might have some people that try to stream from it and all that stuff.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Yeah, for sure. And and the funny thing is, those are the people that will learn as they go and gain more experience with it and be able to add that to their whole shit. But I guess, like I said, the biggest thing for me, based on these hard respects, I think it's great. I can travel if I really wanted to, I can put this motherfucker in a suitcase and just go. It's six, it's a six-inch cube.

SPEAKER_04 14:43

It is somebody like okay, so I was on Reddit the other day. Somebody literally brought that point up. They were like, should I get the ROG Xbox LIX or should I get the Steam Machine? And like, I mean, to me, it doesn't really make sense because they're two different devices, but it's also depends on the person's need. I mean, it's probably gonna be cheaper, yeah. It's gonna be more powerful, but then again, are you using it for like So it's full capable? Right. Are you using it? The are you using the ally for like on the go gaming, but where you need like you don't need to be carrying around extra equipment, or can you carry this around like in your suitcase or whatever? Right, and get your little monitor and just take that around. Like

Use Cases Versus Handhelds And Travel

SPEAKER_04 15:30

it just depends on what you need at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Yeah, I I love the idea. I like everything behind it. I would get one in a heartbeat. For sure, for sure. I would get everything in the VR headset, just so I can try it. Look, it's like it's like getting into an ecosystem. It's like getting into the Apple ecosystem. Literally. That's what you that's what it is, and that's what they're trying to do.

SPEAKER_04 15:58

And yeah, I mean, a lot a lot of companies now are trying to push like ecosystem all one in devices, but like I don't know. I wouldn't get the the VR heads that I'm not a big VR fan, even though I have like the the MetaQuest or whatever, but I I wouldn't get that, and I wouldn't necessarily get the controller, I have enough controllers or whatever, but but I wouldn't get the Steam Machine, probably yeah, because I like I have consoles, right? But like I can literally use this in like in my bedroom or like downstairs in my living room and play like my PC games. I mean, technically I can do it now because they do have like remote links of what it can download and play stuff from, like but like it's still like it's a separate piece of hardware that you can game from. And like you also can like throw it in your suitcase and and travel with it.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

So I think the like I said, I think it's I think it's great. I love it. And if you get in, if you want to get into PC gaming, I think this is like a really good stepping stone to get into it. And if you like it, then you can branch out and build your own stuff. But and also, I'm just gonna be real with y'all. This it doesn't really affect

Emulation Talk And Competitive Threats

SPEAKER_00 17:21

it, does affect other consoles, to be honest with you. Because I know a lot of people will look at this and be like, well, Nintendo doesn't have anything to worry about. Yes and no, because if somebody gets into this and they actually want to get into it, you could run emulators on this thing, but you have to go through steps to do it, but it is fucking possible.

SPEAKER_04 17:42

Yeah, but I mean, even like on PC, I mean we have emulators, I don't I don't see it being like a major, major threat to like Nintendo at all.

SPEAKER_00 17:53

No. I think the biggest threat would be Xbox to me.

SPEAKER_04 17:57

Because I think they're coming out with Xbox is coming out with something they're supposed to have their own like little hybrid PC that's supposed to be their next gen console.

SPEAKER_02 18:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 18:07

I mean, I I guess they're kind of testing it now with the the LA, you know. So we'll see how that does. And that and then that might change how they do this, they may scrap that all together and be like, fuck, we'll just make a regular console. Well, yeah, who knows?

SPEAKER_00 18:24

I I love it. Love saying it. So good for Steam, and hopefully they come out with a newer Steam Deck also that can complement all of this too. Um, so yeah, I love it. Love it. Something I want to talk about. I don't even play this fucking game. I don't, I don't fucking play it because I haven't played it in years, I would say almost a decade, maybe even more.

SPEAKER_04 18:47

But I play it.

SPEAKER_00 18:48

Yeah. But the new Black Ops came out November 14th. Lo and behold, who would have thought that people would be mad about a fucking campaign on Black Ops? I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_04 19:02

This isn't the first time this happened though.

SPEAKER_00 19:04

Yeah, I know, but really they give a fuck about campaigns. I'm surprised about that, to be honest with you. I didn't think nothing, nothing against them, nothing against it. But I didn't think that motherfuckers that play black ops were looking for campaign shit. I thought they were just going straight to the online.

SPEAKER_04 19:29

It depends on your

Steam Sales Culture And Bundles Hopes

SPEAKER_04 19:30

player. Like, I'm one of those people, I just really don't care about the campaign. I really I don't think I've played the campaign mode since like Black Ops 4, right? Yeah, so but there are some people that are diehard, they love the story, they love the you know, the whole lore and everything behind it, and they play the campaign mode. And so for them to make it like online only, yeah, and them not being able to play. Like, for instance, there's like I know people that love COD and they love the campaign mode because they can play it offline. Like, there are still places in the United States that do not have adequate online like service, and so they play a lot of games like offline. Call of Duty just happened to be one of them where they can play the campaign, they don't have to worry about anything. So I I can see why this is a big to-do, but that's not the only big to-do that this game has. They're using AI imagery um in the game, so they're using AI render images. Like, personally, I've played it, I don't like it. I didn't like it in the beta, I don't like the way it looks compared to six. Like, for me, I like six better, and then also the zombies map. Like the first one, I don't like it. It's still round-based, but like it's closed quarters, and usually when you're playing like zombies, you can like go to different areas of the map. Like, it's it's the open, it's more open of a map than it is in this one. This one's just kind of like you're stuck on a farm, at least so far that I've played, I don't know yet. But like trying to do like as many rounds as possible on this one little map is like tedious. I'm like quitting like level like round 26 or whatever, because like I'm bored at this point. Like, anyways, that that's my suit buff. I digress, I'm gonna step off now.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

I get that, but it when

COD Black Ops Campaign Controversy

SPEAKER_00 21:27

okay. When there are certain games that when I hear that, oh yeah, there's this game coming, it's just certain shit that I expect, oh yeah, this campaign is gonna be great. Like, I'm expecting more attention to the campaign than the online shit.

SPEAKER_04 21:47

But what with like what Call of Duty has never been like a major show for like the campaign mode. It's it's never really been that, but it's been mostly like the multiplayer and the zombies.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Exactly. So I was I was confused as fuck when I heard that people were like, the campaign is this campaign. I saw a picture of some dude that was like a giant motherfucker, like, and it looked like people had to fight him. And I was like, what the hell? But the the biggest campaign issues that they have is no checkpoints, fail, you start over, like it's some Hades type shit. Fuck uh always online required, even for solo. You can't pause, no AFK, it's designed for four players, co-op, no solo.

SPEAKER_03 22:37

That's crazy, and short length, four to five hours for some missions.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

So I'm I and it also stories over the top, sci-fi monsters.

SPEAKER_04 22:55

Yeah, that's literally it. Like that's why I don't like the multiplayer is like it's just it's just bad.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

So do you think that Call of Duty is drifting away from its identity? Do you think it's going away from what it was and becoming just do you think I'll put it to you like this Do you think with esports and the way that streamers play Call of Duty, do you think it's becoming just like that? So the the campaign person that wants to play Call of Duty as a campaign, that shit is just it's just dissolving just very slowly.

SPEAKER_04 23:46

Wasn't there a Call of Duty that did not have a campaign at all?

SPEAKER_00 23:49

Yes, yes, right, yes, and straight online, yeah, it was straight online, right?

SPEAKER_04 23:53

Yep, and like that was a big thing. I think as time goes on, yes, let's pay people play the campaign, excuse me, you guys, but I think it it needs to remain a part of it because there are people that are going to always play the campaign, like I said, in those situations where that's all they can play, right?

SPEAKER_03 24:14

Um

COD Identity: Multiplayer, Zombies, And Esports

SPEAKER_03 24:16

and I think Call of Duty over the the years is just been trying to like stay relevant, really.

SPEAKER_04 24:29

That's that's all it's trying to do is stay relevant and you know get money.

SPEAKER_00 24:35

What's their what's their usual like release like time frame? It's not like a every year thing, is it?

SPEAKER_04 24:41

It's a it's an every year thing.

SPEAKER_00 24:43

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. And then you can get other branches of Call of Duty 2, like Mono Warfare and all that. Yeah, so it's it's I don't know. It's almost I don't want to say that. I think that game is just dying.

SPEAKER_04 25:01

It's literally like 2K Yeah, it's literally what it is at this point.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

Oh, that's not what I was gonna say. I was gonna say it's it's dying like destiny. I'm serious.

unknown 25:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:13

I'm so I am so look, I am so serious. I'm to the point where I'm just like, damn, is this shit like it's not, it's not, it's not going to die. If they said we're not doing campaigns anymore and we're just doing online, it's gonna be people that complain, but they know that that bread and butter is the online gameplay and people you know going against each other.

SPEAKER_03 25:36

They know that. So when I when I see this, I'm like I don't think it's gonna f like fade away, but it's just I think it's just one of those things, and it's and I just thought about destiny.

SPEAKER_00 25:54

Destiny is trying, they're trying so much to try to keep it keep them relevant, keep themselves relevant, but it's like you got you guys gotta do something new.

SPEAKER_03 26:07

You got to like bungee, come on man. Um, I mean true, like it it they need to do something.

SPEAKER_04 26:16

I don't I don't know at this point, like if they can do anything different, like it's the same show and dance every year, and every year I buy the same show and dance. Anyway, but there's so many games out there now that are like doing different stuff. Like I just got done, I just got done playing Where Wings Meet and it's a free-to-play game, and like I'm not gonna lie, it's not bad. I like I literally probably spent like today, I think maybe four or five hours playing it so far, and I really do like it. But like I think as time goes on, gamers have so many different options of games that they can play, like, and then we have these games that are like pushing like the envelope, doing new stuff, kind of like changing, like not major, but like small tweaks that you know you haven't seen before. I think a lot of us are more gravitating to those type of games versus like the same song and dance every single year.

SPEAKER_00 27:27

I think a lot of us are going back to old games and just in them.

SPEAKER_04 27:31

That's it.

SPEAKER_00 27:32

I think a lot of I think a lot of people are just saying, fuck it. I'm gonna go back to the games that I actually just love fucking playing. You know, and I know we talked about this, you know, a couple weeks ago when it came to like you know remasters and stuff like that. But I still think they're a fucking crash grab, whatever. But it's something about replaying a game that you

Indie Momentum And Player Tastes Shifting

SPEAKER_00 27:55

like and it looks great, and it's on a it looks totally different. I think that just adds something new to the game that you love. Also, we're not gonna get into this, but out of scrolls uh six, yeah. That's still whatever that's still in a fucking bucket somewhere waiting to you know come out. But yeah, I mean, I I think a lot of the people are just playing old stuff now. Like I said, people go through new new games like napkins, literally. What's the um there's a game out, what is it called? Dispatch?

SPEAKER_05 28:29

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

I've been seeing people with clips play that and stuff, like playing that, seeing clips of it and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_04 28:35

Like our creators, you know?

SPEAKER_00 28:37

Yeah. Which is which is killing it right now. Like I said, we talked about this last time too. I don't think that's ever gonna like, it's not it's it's up.

SPEAKER_03 28:46

It's up right now, and I think it's gonna be up until the end of the year.

SPEAKER_04 28:53

But I think so too.

SPEAKER_03 28:54

What is that?

SPEAKER_04 28:55

No, I think so too. Like, if you gotta think, like a lot of the games that have been coming out lately, they're not like all triple A. It's been like smaller studios and like indie studios that have been putting stuff out, and people have been literally gravitating and playing those versus these triple A titles. Like, Call of Duty, like, I think they're like their game for stats for like seven have been like dog water.

SPEAKER_02 29:25

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

Um I think Battlefield Six has lost a lot of its players, and like I mean, we talked about this, like it it's up, it's up because streamers are doing it. Companies get streamers, hey, play this game, let's get it out there, let's get this moving, let's get this shaking, let's get people one to play it, you know, make it look good and everything. And as soon as streamers are like, all right, I'm done with this shit, let's on to the next, and you start to see those numbers fall. That's just the way that this that's just the way the shit is now.

SPEAKER_04 29:57

I mean, yeah, that's that's one way, but it's also right now we don't have anything like we don't have any major releases coming out. So, like late, literally, I have been playing like just a bunch of different games or whatever. And Like I never thought I would be playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, but I have been playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and it's actually been pretty fun. And then, like I said today, I've been trying like Where Wins Me, and that's been fun.

SPEAKER_03 30:22

And like you know, whatever sticks.

SPEAKER_00 30:29

I I don't know. Uh play what you want to play. Play your old shit. Like I said, we always talk about this. Find shit that's on sale and just give it a try. That's also another big thing when it comes to Steam 2 with this new system.

SPEAKER_04 30:48

Four sales.

SPEAKER_00 30:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:51

But I don't know. I don't know. Are we still gonna get them four sales a year?

SPEAKER_00 30:57

We should. I don't think I don't think they're gonna change that. I don't think they're gonna change that. If they change that, I'm gonna revolt.

SPEAKER_04 31:04

Start changing the prices.

SPEAKER_00 31:05

They're not gonna change those. They're not gonna change.

SPEAKER_04 31:08

Like y'all, y'all using them discounts now. We'll give y'all like a little 5% discount for this game during these sales or whatever. We'll see. Um I'm the I am curious to see the pricing. That's that's one thing I want to know. Like, I want them to drop how much those steam machines are gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 31:25

Especially if it's like a bundle. Yeah. Shit. I'll do that. You could buy an individual,

Game Awards Nominations And Predictions

SPEAKER_00 31:30

but they put that shit in a bundle. I'm in it. I'm in it. Jesus. Um all right, that's enough about Black Ops. I thought I'd think I'm um over it. Um and also, I think this was today, too. Uh the Game Awards has their nominations.

SPEAKER_04 31:49

Yeah, Expedition 33s.

SPEAKER_00 31:51

Yeah, which that looks like it looks like a very beautiful game.

SPEAKER_04 31:56

It's a very beautiful game. Like I've watched, I've watched a few people play it, right? Yeah, it's a very beautiful game, and like I I can't play it. Like, it's not a game for me, but I can sit some and watch somebody else play it. Yeah, but apparently it's the story is about grief, I guess, and how you you know take that. Uh yeah. But no, I was gonna say we were talking about like how smaller studios are like winning. That game is made by a show. Yeah.

unknown 32:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 32:27

Smaller studio.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

Yeah, totally French. Um, so for Game of the Year this year, it's I'm kind of surprised by well, not really. Um it's Expedition 33, uh Death Stranding 2 on the Blue.

SPEAKER_05 32:46

I haven't played that one yet.

SPEAKER_04 32:49

I don't have anything against the first.

SPEAKER_00 32:53

I just know how I feel. I I'm a I I I love Kojima. Love that man to death. Never met him before, but I love that man because I'm gonna be a good one.

SPEAKER_04 33:04

Oh, King of Kong Delivers 2 is on this list as well. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:09

Umkey Kong Bonanza, Hades 2, and Hollow Knights Silksong.

SPEAKER_01 33:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:19

I'm just gonna say this. I really do think that Expedition 33 is probably gonna come out on top on this.

SPEAKER_04 33:27

Yeah, I think so too. And I kind of want them to like come off on top as well. Just because to show like smaller studios are like really crushing ground when it comes to gaming versus some of these triple A studios, and kind of have triple A studios thinking, hmm, like maybe we need to take some lessons.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

Yep, anyways. Because it it's I'm trying to see something. I want to see what the most anticipated game is. Oh, I already know what this is. Um 007, uh, first light, Grand Theft Auto.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

I'm looking at best RPG, and we really got a vowed on this list.

SPEAKER_03 34:14

You got what? A vowed. Oh, really? Yeah, oh shit. That game is not good.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

Um we also have Expedition 33 has been nominated, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, they're gonna Wars 2 and Monster Hunter World's in that category, so I think Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and I think Expedition 33 is probably gonna be taking a couple awards home. Yeah, I think they're gonna be taking a couple. I do think that something that might not do well is Ghosts of Yote. I don't think that's gonna move the way that people think it's gonna move. Like, I know people love it and that series, but I don't think it's gonna win awards like you know, the first one. Ghosts of Shima.

SPEAKER_04 35:07

We'll see. We'll see.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

Um and also with the game awards, I was I'm definitely kind of wondering what they're gonna be releasing or what like uh new shit is gonna be coming out. You know what I mean? Hopefully, hopefully. I heard that Kojima is working on something that's almost like Metal Gear like. So I hope that he him and his interpreter walk on that stage, and he has something to tell us.

SPEAKER_04 35:42

Okay, have a quick like so. I'm looking at Best Multiplayer, right?

SPEAKER_03 35:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 35:47

And they have Arc Raiders on here.

Categories Deep Dive And Likely Winners

SPEAKER_04 35:50

This game just came out. Houseway, and then we have Battlefall 6, Elder Rain, Night Rain, Peak, and Split Fiction, but Arc Raiders, it literally like came out like not that long ago. It's already on here.

SPEAKER_00 36:06

They must have just made like the cutoff for that shit.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

Had to must have.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

And also within that category, I think Peak is gonna win.

SPEAKER_05 36:16

We'll see.

SPEAKER_00 36:17

Because it's just more community shit. It's just more like Peak is basically shit. What's the thing that everybody was playing during COVID?

SPEAKER_04 36:26

Shoot, Among Us?

SPEAKER_00 36:27

Yes, it's like, and I'm not saying it's the exact same game, but it's definitely within that type of realm, like playing with your friends and all that stuff. I do think it's in that realm. So I can definitely see that winning that category. For sure, for sure. Damn, this is nice. What else is on there? Some of these categories I really don't give a fuck. Best fighting game. I mean, I already know what's on there. SKO, Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Oh, that's surprising. Fate of Fury, uh, City of Wolves, Mortal Kombat, not gonna win. And Virginal Fighter 5. Oh, this is tough.

SPEAKER_03 37:04

This is actually tough. Because I'm thinking that Capcom might actually win this. That's tough. Damn, I know it's not gonna be Mortal Kombat.

SPEAKER_00 37:20

I know that for a fact. I know that Mortal Kombat is not gonna win. But Capcom, because I actually have this, I actually bought that one myself, which it's actually really nice. And honestly, I like playing the game, but I also bought it because of the music. I like the music with it, so it's good, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_03 37:39

Uh C, are there any other categories?

SPEAKER_00 37:45

Uh, best esports game.

SPEAKER_04 37:48

Yeah, the rest of the categories are just like Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:51

I mean, we already Valorant.

SPEAKER_04 37:53

Uh I mean, there's no change. These are like the top esports game, like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, Mobile Legends. Nothing great. Will people still people playing mobile legends? Bang bang? Okay, and Valorant.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

It was one that was the best mobile game. Okay, so with this best MOMO game, it's Destiny Rising, it's Persona 5, the Phantom X, it's Sonic Rumble, it's Uma Moose. Um Uma I'm something like that. It's a horse ride, uh, horse like Derby game.

SPEAKER_05 38:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 38:28

That's going to win. I'm telling you, that is going to win.

SPEAKER_04 38:33

I don't know. Wondering Ways might. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 38:37

It's going to win. I'm telling you. That shit is going to win. Is anime coded like a motherfucker. Oh god. And it's horse racing. That shit is going to win. I was literally watching a podcast. There's this voice actor dude named Damian Haas. And he's in like in the anime shit. He did um a Netflix series and all that stuff. And he plays this game. And I hate to say this, but if that motherfucker is playing this game, he heard it. I never heard of this shit, and I looked it up and I said, That shit's gonna win. Big time. It's gonna win. Anything else on this list? Sonic, Persona Fi. Yeah. That game is going to win. It's crazy, but it is. Jesus. I hate saying that, but it it's gonna win. It's definitely gonna win.

SPEAKER_03 39:37

Really don't care about racing. But yeah, it's uh it was one other one.

SPEAKER_00 39:49

I don't know if it was voice acting, I don't think it was the narrating. But it

Remote Work Programs For Inmates

SPEAKER_00 39:55

was one category where the one of the people that you can pick was actually what is his name? Charlie Cox? I think that's what his name is. He plays Daredevil.

SPEAKER_03 40:07

Because he was a voice he was a voice actor in Expedition 33. So I think he might win that too just because I mean he's fucking Daredevil.

SPEAKER_00 40:21

I mean, come on. You know, we already know what the fuck is about. So Yeah, man. It's uh oh yeah, best uh performance awarded to individual voice acting. Uh Vince Star, Charlie Cox, uh Erica who she's the uh the English voice over for uh Ghost of Guiltag. But on this in this category, there are three people that are from Expedition 33.

SPEAKER_04 40:54

That tells you like they're gonna be taking home like all the awards all night.

SPEAKER_00 40:58

Yeah, yeah. Expedition 33 is going to kill.

SPEAKER_03 41:03

It's gonna kill. And it's gonna put this French gaming company on a map. Because would this be considered independent?

SPEAKER_00 41:14

Nah, they are considered independent.

SPEAKER_01 41:17

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

Yeah, because they're in the independent category too. Damn.

SPEAKER_04 41:25

Was game one last year? Like it took home all the wars. I think it was another like independent game. Astro No, I mean on that yeah, Astro won one game of the year.

SPEAKER_03 41:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 41:38

And then the year before that, Baldur's Gate 3 was winning everything.

SPEAKER_03 41:42

Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, it was.

SPEAKER_04 41:46

It's been a hot minute since like a triple A game is like took home tons of awards.

SPEAKER_00 41:53

Oh yeah. I think another game that won a lot was Bellatro last year. Bellatro won a couple of another independent game. Yeah. People love Bellatro.

SPEAKER_04 42:03

Um I do too.

SPEAKER_05 42:04

I have it on my uh Steam Deck.

SPEAKER_00 42:07

Yeah, I mean shit. I mean, this this one, you know, oh also the Steam Machine is expected for uh early 2026.

SPEAKER_04 42:21

I know. They said spring of 2026.

SPEAKER_03 42:24

Yeah. So uh excited. Excited.

SPEAKER_00 42:29

Um, there's one more topic that you uh sent me today. Lexi sent me a uh article or video about inmates that are working remotely in tech.

SPEAKER_04 42:48

And I it wasn't just tech, it was literally they were just working remote. So some were doing customer service, yeah, but the guy that was making six figures, I think he was working in tech.

SPEAKER_00 42:59

Yeah, and I can I actually really like that shit. I do. It's people like that's the that's the point. You give you go in, you did some crazy shit, and you come out as a different person.

SPEAKER_03 43:12

I get it, it's great. Here's the shit.

Public Backlash, Restitution, And Reentry

SPEAKER_00 43:20

I do I can understand also if somebody were to watch that video that is on their couch looking for work, they're gonna be hot, like 10,000 hot. They're gonna be pissed as hell. They're gonna be so fucking mad. I get it, I totally get it.

SPEAKER_04 43:38

So, all right, so I came across today this video from like MSN and uh MSN CMBC, whatever, right? So this is case um in Maine, they have like four DMAs that are working remote, doing different various jobs or whatever. And so it's not that they just make this money and they get to keep it, like it's they have to go through steps, they have to get like they have to improve themselves, like they have to be pursuing higher education and a few other things before they can even get into this program, right? And so when they're in this program, 25% of what they make goes towards their restitution, so like that's paying back like victims that they like that they have heard or wronged in the past, and then 10% goes to their like board and like everything of that nature, and so I agree with that, like he said, it is a really good idea, like it gives them the chance to like get out and have money in their pocket, so they're less likely to like reoffend because they can't find a job, you know, or you know, they're trying to like basically survive. This allows them to like have money and and be a get out as a working individual. Yep, you know, it's really hard for inmates when they get out to find a job. Um, also, it allows them to have money while they're there, they don't have to like scam and do all kind of crazy stuff in jail to make money. This allows them to have money on their books and things of that nature. But I can see why, like, because I was looking at some of the comments and people were not happy. They're like, so they get to get free education, they get to eat every day, have a roof over their head, and now they get to take jobs from like people that are free, you know, and can't get jobs. So it is a it's a lot, but like for me, I I think it's a really good idea just because it has more positives than it does negatives, right?

SPEAKER_00 45:49

And I do think, I don't think this is just like in the remote world. I think this, I think there are inmates that are probably going through like blue collar stuff, like electrician, plumbing, and all that stuff also. So it's not just the like I can, like I said, I can totally understand.

SPEAKER_04 46:11

Like, so like there's there's that are already like doing jobs with you or whatever, depending on where you are. But I I I I think I like this better I like this setup better than having them out on the streets because I forgot what case or something. Like they get out, they

GameStop “Trade Anything” Day Details

SPEAKER_04 46:30

start talking to females out on the street while they're still in prison, having them do a wild crazy shit. Like this at least limits their image, you know, their interactions with people to a remote world, you know, they don't they're not out seeing each other, touching each other, doing all that stuff or whatever. They're literally just freaking together.

SPEAKER_00 46:47

So speaking of invate, I saw a video, it has nothing to do with like work or anything, but I saw a video of it was this guy who got in jail, right? And he's at this party with his girlfriend, right? And some guy walks up and is like, but how'd you guys how'd you guys meet? Yeah, I was the lady was like, I was a security guard at uh his jail, and the guy behind was like shaking his head, like, no, no, no, no, no, don't say nothing. Like, you need to be quiet, like you need to stop talking, stop talking, shut up, shut up, fuck up, shut up, shut up. Yeah, shut up, don't talk about that. It was it was crazy. But like I said, I can understand how a person can be can see that article, look at that article, and be like, what the fuck? But also, it's it's not something that's like not common, it's just in a different sector. And that's it. That's all. I think if it was if there was an article about somebody and oh yeah, we have you know, inmates becoming electricians and plumbers, I don't think people would even give a fuck, even though that's still tough to get into if you're not like just in general, like it's tough to get into. So I I get why people can look at that and be upset and also like, oh yeah, that's great for them. So yeah, you sent that to me, and I said, I was at work. I said, What the fuck?

SPEAKER_04 48:12

I know because I saw it and I was on the phone, like I was in Discord talking to like my twin or whatever, and like we were talking because he's like been trying to find like a remote job, and I was like, I stumbled upon this, yeah, I did.

SPEAKER_00 48:27

That's fucked up. That's fucked up, man.

SPEAKER_04 48:30

It's not, it's not fucked up, it's more just like okay, if these inmates can do it, um, sir, what are we doing? I need you to get it, get it done, find, find something. But also, it's just like if these inmates are out here, they're locked up and they can get a job. Yeah, what are we doing out here in America? We need to better ourselves.

SPEAKER_00 48:55

One other thing, one last thing. I don't know if this is real or not. Could be fake. I don't know. But uh GameStop will hold a trade anything day in December. Funny thing is, then after that, it says, like I said, it says GameStop will hold a trade anything day in December. And then the next sentence says, Here are the items that you can trade in.

SPEAKER_04 49:16

It is a legit thing. It's even on USA today, yeah. It's it's a thing.

SPEAKER_00 49:23

So, yeah, I don't know. Um if you still go to GameStops, uh, well, there you go. Go ahead

Sign‑Off And Holiday Wishes

SPEAKER_00 49:30

and trade shit in and I'm gonna say very far away.

SPEAKER_04 49:34

I want no parts.

SPEAKER_00 49:35

Oh no. Hell no.

SPEAKER_04 49:36

No parts.

SPEAKER_00 49:38

Hell no. You can keep that shit. But yeah, uh, I think that's it. I think, you know, that was good. You have anything you want to add? I think it's at all GameStops. Yeah, all of them. Game City. I think it's at most uh GameStops if you wanted to go ahead and trade that stuff in.

SPEAKER_04 49:57

Yeah, it the restrictions are that it has to fit in a 20x20 by 20 box.

SPEAKER_03 50:04

The fuck?

SPEAKER_04 50:05

Yeah. So anything that's larger than that, you can't do a trade on. No hazardous waste, nothing with lithium ion batteries, no weapons, no ammo, no dead or alive dogs or animals, excuse me. Legal or illegal alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or pharmaceuticals, computers, excluding some MacBooks. Okay, other machines like document scanners, printers, 3D printers, label printers, picture frames, uh, no small electronic devices, VCR, DVD players, no gift cards, no sexual or explicit content, or anything resembling body parts. I imagine you had to put the last one on the freaking list.

SPEAKER_00 50:48

Okay, that. But I can definitely see, I can definitely see some motherfuckers walking in there with like tons of DVD players. Like, what the fuck can I get for these, man? Like, I'm trying to, what the fuck can I get for these, man? I got like 15 DVD players. The fuck is up? What y'all what y'all want for these? Like, I'm I'm not using them. I got a I got a couple VCRs and a couple CDs, some some CD players too. Like, what can I get for that?

SPEAKER_04 51:16

I feel like some old granny's gonna like some pawn about her basement and like, yeah, I got all these DVDs and like VCR tapes and like all this stuff she's been hoarding since like the news like uh that's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 51:30

That is crazy. But yeah, y'all. Uh thank you for uh listening and watching this episode. Make sure you follow us on all socials TikTok, uh Facebook, Instagram, uh, and YouTube, Carolina with Takus for everything. And uh, like I said, thank you for listening. And we will see you.

SPEAKER_04 51:50

Happy Thanksgiving, guys.

SPEAKER_00 51:52

Happy holidays, eat all that shit, enjoy it, don't get too drunk, and if you go to jail, the first person you need to call is your lawyer. All right, see you guys later, and uh yeah, have a good holiday.

SPEAKER_05 52:04

Bye, guys.

SPEAKER_03 52:08

I don't even know.