Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Guest info: Doug Lief (he/him) and Gen Moonen (they/them)

• Listen to Nostalgium Arcanum https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/
• Listen to Playing By Ear https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/playing-by-ear/id1815995146
• Listen to Still Muppeting https://www.patreon.com/c/stillloadingpod/posts
• Listen to "Fun" and Games https://funandgames.libsyn.com/

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:10 Introductions and Top-Level Thoughts
• 7:20 Unpredictability- Problem or Opportunity?
• 19:48 Failure Can Be Funny
• 38:35 Jokes In Any Form
• 50:07 Unique Challenges Facing Game Comedy
• 1:32:15 More Ways Games are Uniquely Funny
• 1:44:46 Wrap-Up Thoughts
• 1:48:56 Gen & Doug's Podcasts

Music used in the episode:

• Secret Hoppin' (Vacation Mix)- ClascyJitto (Pizza Tower OST)
• Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp- Peter McConnell (Psychonauts OST)

Dave's guest appearance on Play Along Podcast- https://linktr.ee/PlayAlongPodcast

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest TroytlePower as they discuss Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines, developed by Troika Games and published by Activision in 2004. Any recommendation to play Bloodlines comes with all sorts of disclaimers attached, which makes it nearly irresistable for someone with a brain like mine. And while all of those bad things I had heard about the game turned out to be extremely true, it's still a fascinating game that led to a fun discussion. Check out the podcast for more!

Guest info: TroytlePower (he/him)

• Check out all of Troy's work! https://troytlepower.com/

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:17 Introductions
• 4:30 Our Histories with Bloodlines
• 8:39 Top-Level Thoughts
• 13:57 Story Setup and Clan Selection
• 21:03 The Masquerade and Vampire Society
• 28:06 Presentation and Game World
• 36:53 Music and Vibes
• 44:34 Vampire Lore TM
• 51:00 Character Building
• 1:02:04 Combat
• 1:17:00 If They Only Had More Time...
• 1:25:52 Who Should Play Bloodlines?
• 1:31:00 Troy's Podcasts and Writing
• 1:35:56 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:37:51 Spoilers- Early-Midgame Quests and Stories
• 2:23:00 Spoilers- The Sewers and Onward

Music used in the episode is credited to Rik Schaffer. Tracks used: Main Menu, Downtown, Disturbed and Twisted Combat, Generic Combat, Santa Monica, Crypt Combat

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Dave recaps 13 indie games that he played on the PAX East 2026 show floor.

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:25 The Secret of Weepstone
• 2:05 Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes
• 2:59 Canvas City
• 3:51 DREADMOOR
• 5:03 Fractured Blooms
• 6:20 GNAW
• 7:31 Valor Mortis
• 8:32 Well Dweller
• 9:39 Never's End
• 11:17 ZWAARD
• 12:15 Project Lexa
• 13:37 Backyard Baseball
• 15:20 Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
• 16:31 Wrap-Up
• 17:06 More Indie Game Coverage!
• 17:52 Outro and How to Support

Game links:

• The Secret of Weepstone- https://store.steampowered.com/app/3702100/The_Secret_of_Weepstone/
• Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes- https://www.astrocrow.com/throwback
• Canvas City https://store.steampowered.com/app/3226830/Canvas_City/
• DREADMOOR https://store.steampowered.com/app/3629430/DREADMOOR/
• Fractured Blooms https://store.steampowered.com/app/3730310/Fractured_Blooms/
• GNAW https://store.steampowered.com/app/2306490/GNAW/
• Valor Mortis https://store.steampowered.com/app/2828710/Valor_Mortis/
• Well Dweller https://store.steampowered.com/app/3699590/Well_Dweller/
• Never's End https://store.steampowered.com/app/1999930/Nevers_End/
• ZWAARD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251170/ZWAARD/
• Project Lexa https://store.steampowered.com/app/3162890/Project_Lexa/
• Backyard Baseball https://store.steampowered.com/app/3935020/Backyard_Baseball/
• Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

Music used:

• High Above the Land (The Flying Machine)- Jake Kaufman (Shovel Knight)
• Various tracks from The 16-Bit Starter Pack, composed by Bert Cole [bitbybitsound.com](bitbybitsound.com)

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures