All Episode
BORDERLANDS: The Madness of Handsome Jack
Aug. 28, 2019
Bhavya and Caleb attempt to jump inside the head of Handsome Jack and find the source of his insanity. They discuss whether Jack has always been insane (1:25), the effect the Vault of the Sentinel had on him (7:25), and the …
MINIGAME: The Perfect Ending to Mass Effect
Aug. 26, 2019
The original ending of Mass Effect 3 disappointed many longtime fans. The final piece of DLC for the game, titled Citadel, may have redeemed the trilogy. Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farri…
FALLOUT: Reasons to Settle in Appalachia
July 24, 2019
Jaden is joined by Tom, host of the Fallout Lorecast and creator of the Robots Radio Podcast Network, to explore why someone would decide to settle down in Appalachia. They discuss how the area is nearly untouched by nuclear…
MINIGAME: The Cinematic Inspirations of Hideo Kojima [Part 3]
July 22, 2019
Michael concludes his exploration of legendary video game developer Hideo Kojima's cinematic inspirations. He examines Metal Gear Solid V's odd place in the franchise, and the cinematic techniques Kojima borrowed from filmma…
HALO: Hero and Demon
July 17, 2019
Conner and Jaden explore the dual legacy of the Master Chief: a hero and a demon. They discuss humanity's desperate fight against the Covenant (2:45), the mythological status of the Master Chief (10:44), and the fear he stri…
STARCRAFT: Raynor vs. Mengsk
July 15, 2019
Abu and Kevin compare the lives and legacies of Arcturus Mengsk and James Raynor. They discuss the similarities and differences of their upbringings (2:10), the tragic events that turned them into rebels (14:47), and how the…
BORDERLANDS: Why Some Lives Matter More Than Others
July 10, 2019
Bhavya and Caleb explore what makes some people's lives more valuable than other's in the brutal and deadly world of Borderlands. They discuss the nuance of life and death on Pandora (1:48), the emotional resonance of the de…
MINIGAME: The Cinematic Inspirations of Hideo Kojima [Part 2]
July 8, 2019
Michael continues his exploration of iconic video game developer Hideo Kojima's cinematic ambitions. In this episode, he dives into the campy adventures of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and its similarities to the James B…
HALO: Child Soldiers
July 3, 2019
Jaden and Conner explore the horrific secrets of the Spartan-II and Spartan-III programs. They discuss the history of the iconic Spartan II super soldiers (1:33), the cheaper and more expendable Spartan-III soldiers (13:39),…
LAST OF US: The Tragedy of Ish
July 1, 2019
Lawerence and Leo explore one man's doomed community, and the stark reality of surviving a deadly outbreak. They recap the timeline of the CBI epidemic (2:18), compare the various groups trying to survive in the post-apocaly…
The 100 Best Video Game Stories
June 19, 2019
This is our 100th episode! In celebration of this incredible milestone, the team here at Lore Party put their heads together and compiled an epic 100-game list of the best story-focused video games. In this special episode, …
ZELDA: Breath of the Wild 2 Speculation
June 17, 2019
At E3 2019, Nintendo announced that the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is in development. Neil and Lawerence break down the teaser trailer and speculate about how the story will continue. This is an [Exper…
Introducing the Minigame podcast
June 14, 2019
The Minigame series is becoming a podcast! Michael Farris has produced and hosted the series since the very beginning of Lore Party, and now he’s evolving it into a brand new podcast. Future episodes of Minigame will still b…
MINIGAME: The Cinematic Inspirations of Hideo Kojima [Part 1]
June 10, 2019
It’s no secret that Hideo Kojima has always had ambitions to become a film director, and it becomes even more obvious when you look at the evolution of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Michael explores Kojima’s cinematic insp…
End of Season 4
May 15, 2019
The show is only a year old and we’ve come so far. Thank you to every single one of our listeners and collaborators. Season 5 starts soon. Original music by Lk.
BORDERLANDS: The Business of Vault Hunting
May 8, 2019
Caleb (@ScifiSpeedster) is joined by Shivnit from the Esports Business Podcast to explore what it takes to run a business in the Borderlands universe. They discuss the business models of Atlas, Dahl, and Hyperion (4:52), how…
MINIGAME: The Politics of ‘Prison Architect’
April 29, 2019
Video games do not have to be apolitcal pieces of art. While some developers might actively avoid overt political messaging in their games, developer Introversion Software did the opposite with Prison Architect. Minigame is …
NIGHT IN THE WOODS: Nuke Possum Springs
April 24, 2019
Neil (@neilbigdeal) and Lawerence (@Producedby_Lk) are joined by Elizabeth to explore the dying small town of Possum Springs in Night in the Woods. They discuss Mae’s decision to drop out of college (1:53), how all of her ol…
MINIGAME: The Escapist Fantasy of ‘Stardew Valley’
April 10, 2019
The slow quiet life in a small town can seem like the perfect escape for anyone stuck at a dead-end corporate job in a bustling city. That’s the fantasy Stardew Valley presents to its players, and in doing so, the game itsel…
TO THE MOON: The Value of Memories
April 8, 2019
Bhavya (@bhaviously) and Caleb (@ScifiSpeedster) explore what memories mean to someone on their death bed, the central question in the hit indie game To the Moon. They discuss the ethical dilemma of choosing fake memories ov…
MASS EFFECT: Love, Romance, and Representation [Part 2]
April 3, 2019
Abu (@abu_zafar) and Leo (@LeoWigginsVO) are joined by MJ (@ihoardlibraries) from the Reignite podcast to explore romance and representation in Mass Effect. They discuss how relationship dynamics would change in a galaxy ful…
MASS EFFECT: Love, Romance, and Representation [Part 1]
April 1, 2019
Abu (@abu_zafar) and Leo (@LeoWigginsVO) are joined by MJ (@ihoardlibraries) from the Reignite podcast to explore romance and representation in Mass Effect. MJ shares how the Mass Effect series played a role in shaping her i…
ASSASSIN’S CREED: The Tragedy of Edward and Haytham Kenway
March 25, 2019
Bruce (@BruceWalton) and Kevin (@In_the_Lupe) explore the first two generations in the Kenway family: Edward and Haytham. They discuss Edward’s growth from an insufferable asshole to respected Master Assassin (5:06), Haytham…
MINIGAME: Fear and Stress in ‘Darkest Dungeon’
March 6, 2019
In Darkest Dungeon, you are not the target of horror and tragedy. You are the source. Minigame is a short essay series produced and hosted by Michael Farris (@farristhewheel). Each bite-sized episode dives into the themes or…