Trust Sircle

It's not often that the entire TSG staff all plays the same game to completion so that they're able to talk about it. In another special episode of Trust Sircle, the boys compare the action-packed Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 to its spiritual successor: The Batman Arkham series. {SUPPLEMENTAL READING} TSG Asks: What makes Marvel’s Spider-Man special http://topshelfgaming.net/tsg-asks-most-impr...

We know it's been a while, but your favorite hosts just had to come back to talk about this insane scandal that has blown up in the game industry. Here's our post-mortem of Filip Miucin's plagiarism drama that is still infuriating Marcus and Devin weeks later. Catch up with them and their lives over the last year and then dive into the deep with the kind of thoughtful discussions you've been mi...

Listen to our thoughts on this year's E3.

We recorded this episode the week before E3 but we're just getting around to posting it. Now with your knowledge of the future, feel free to laugh at how wrong we were.

Games based off of popular books, movies, or tv shows have always been a part of gaming culture. Historically these games relied on the intellectual property to sell copies and focused little on making the game itself fun to play. This week Marcus, Devin, and Evan talk about how licensed games are treated today. {SUPPLEMENTAL READING} Five Movie Licensed Games That Are Actually Goodhttp://top...

Marcus doesn't always make the best financial decisions. That's why he spent over $1200 on a single weekend. Unrelated, anybody looking to buy an NES Mini? Have you ever seen a movie based off a video game that didn't make you cry out of disappointment? This week, Devin, Evan, and Marcus talk about video game movies over the years and if there is any hope for them to be legitimately good. {SU...

Why are tutorials so long and boring? What's the deal with invisible walls? Why do so many of the female characters have giant wobbly breasts while all the men are snarling bearded white guys? We love video games but they're far from perfect. Hear us talk about the ways we think video games and the games industry could improve. If that isn't enough for you, learn how Marcus became best friends...

We haven't missed a week and we (hopefully) never will. We're just trying out the whole bi-weekly thing. We missed you, but now that we're back together, we're celebrating with this week's topic: What makes a good party game? {SUPPLEMENTAL READING}Why Nintendo is King of the Couch:http://topshelfgaming.net/king-of-the-couch/ The Loss of Local Multiplayer Part 1: The Myth of Progresshttp://top...

There are guests galore on this riveting episode of Trust Sircle where we compare the differences between Japanese Role Playing Games and Western developed RPGs. Fan favorite Evan Maier-Zucchino returns to the show to reveal his inner fanboy. Matthew Charles, host of the Geek Stew Podcast and a former RPG localization specialist, lends his expertise to the conversation as well. After discussing...

The Nintendo Switch and Zelda are finally here. The Trust Sircle gets down and dirty in Hyrule to discuss why The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a world that's fun to get lost in. {SUPPLEMENTAL READING}What The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild means for my lifehttp://topshelfgaming.net/legend-zelda-breath-wild-means-life/ Horizon Zero Dawn review: beauty in the apocalypsehttp://top...

One of the hardest parts about growing up is discovering who you are and finding your place in the world. It is something that every human wrestles with at some point. This week we discuss the indie game Night in the Woods and how this game about cartoon animals can be so gosh darn relatable. This of course, comes after we give Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa a proper send off by eating way ...

PewDiePie, the most popular YouTuber in the world with over 53 million subscribers, has faced more sanctions facing his recent slew of anti-Semitic videos than the Trump Administration can impose on law-abiding American Citizens. Disney officially severed ties with him and YouTube itself has limited the amount of money he can generate from ads and canceled his YouTube Red show Scare PewDiePie w...

On the Valentine's Day episode of Trust Sircle, Valerie makes some friggin' sweet Overwatch Valentines and the gang plays a game of Ctrl+Alt+Del (the video game version of Marry, Kiss, Kill). We then dive into the charities featured in this month Humble Freedom Bundle and ask "How do you share the things you love with the people you love?" Apparently, Valerie thinks the best way is to just "sli...

Marcus takes the reigns while Devin and Valerie are off playing Dungeons & Dragons. He is joined by Evan, Garry, and Edwin who talk about Fire Emblem's debut on mobile devices as the gang becomes ever obsessed with Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa. {SUPPLEMENTAL READING}Fire Emblem Heroes Reviewhttp://topshelfgaming.net/fire-emblem-heroes-review-battle/How I celebrated Genesis 4 like it was t...

People like Jim Sterling, "Angry" Joe, and of course, the Game Grumps, make their living off of complaining about video games. So Valerie asks a simple but poignant question: If gamers love games so much, why do they spend so much time criticizing them? {SUPPLEMENTAL READING}"N****r" and other words I learned while playing Overwatch: http://topshelfgaming.net/nigger-words-learned-playing-overw...

On our second edition of “How You Doin’?”, the gang games the system to get free Taco Bell, learns what it’s like being the ugly stepsister, and offers advice on how to be compassionate people in this tumultuous political season.

Valerie rejoins the group and brings special guest Evan Maier-Zucchino to discuss the Nintendo Switch Presentation from the week before. Meanwhile, Devin climbs deeper and deeper into the realm of Dungeons & Dragons in his pursuit to become the next great Dungeon Master and in a shocking turn of events, meat fanatic Marcus cooks and ENJOYS a (mostly) vegan dinner. {SUPPLEMENTAL READING}Nintend...

Valerie decides to see other people and leaves Devin and Marcus alone to discuss Awesome Games Done Quick, a week-long charity gaming extravaganza. The boys then reminisce about the ways they used to make up their own adventures in video games. Watch AGDQ and consider donating: https://gamesdonequick.com/What's new on the site: http://topshelfgaming.net/rise-fall-last-guardian/Follow us on Twi...

Today we choose our Game of the Year by pitting all of our Game of the Month winners from 2016 against each other.

Marcus and Garry invade the Valdivia's apartment while they're out of town and rant about the future and what it means to be a good person in today's American society.

In the final episode of Trust Sircle of 2016, the gang discusses their favorite gaming moments of the year. Highlights include talking about this year’s’ hit game Overwatch and giving Disney Infinity a proper send off.

This week, we're still not over Moana, Devin shares his most harrowing DnD moment yet, and we talk some of video games' weakest moments of 2016. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

We near the end of 2016 as we talk Moanna, Krampus, holiday cynicism, and then recap the Video Game Awards and PSX. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week we discuss Moana, Skyrim mods, Guillermo del Toro, and distract Marcus from his tapeworm fear by asking "What's up with Watch Dogs 2?" Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week we are joined by Marcus' childhood friend, the one and only Gary, to discuss the release of Sombra, female nudity in Watch Dogs, and some of our favorite memories of games growing up. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week we are joined by yet another member of the Top Shelf Gaming intern team, Josh Smith, as we talk about the awkwardness of paying at group meals, the smoothness of Titanfall 2, and just some of the ways gaming makes you a better person. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

In our final pre-election recording, we celebrate our 10th episode by taking some time to catch up on life and just ask each other "How you doin'?" Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week the trio discusses the merits of WatchDogs despite its boring protagonist, and returning to Skyrim. Then we comment on Bethesda's new review policy, and what we use to make purchase decisions. Please like @topshelfgaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

We are joined this week by Top Shelf Gaming Intern Makena Morgan, as we discuss Lego Corellian YT-1300s, design some edgy shirts with Jackbox Part Pack 3, and speculate over the reveal of the Nintendo Switch and how the way we engage media is changing. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week the gang is joined by Top Shelf Gaming intern Kara Ashbeck as we review our trip to Indiecade. Then we discuss Kara's article about the use or avoidance of explicit content in games, and how not pulling punches can lead to stronger connections between characters and players. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

On this week's Episode, Marcus wins a cool hat, Devin and Valerie get an important document, and we receive our first piece of fan art! Then we compare Paladins to Overwatch as we discuss where imitation goes from flattery to rip off. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week, Marcus gets an online dating profile courtesy of his mom, we binge on Luke Cage, then discuss the different ways games contextualize violence in their worlds and mechanics. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

This week, we discuss the appeal open world games, but not before opening the can of worms on whether video games are sports. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

Marcus and Devin dive face first into VR at Gamestop Expo, and Valerie and Devin adventure into the world of Dungeons & Dragons. It's a week of pure imagination! Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes! Download

The gang picks apart Sony and Apple's latest announcements, then dive into a spoiler infested discussion about Playdead's newest game release, Inside. Please like @topshelf_gaming on Twitter and subscribe and rate the show on iTunes!

Welcome to the very first episode of Top Shelf Gaming's new podcast Trust Sircle, a comedy show where two gamers discuss weekly topics with a non-gamer and realize just how much of an impact gaming has on larger culture. On this episode the gang theorizes if Nintendo's perceived downfall means that a brighter future is coming for the company. They also discuss how Deus Ex: Mankind Divided handl...