Ours, Played

We’re finally back! This summer was a challenging one, and we are thrilled to be at the mic and recording again. During our months away, we had the chance to try out some competitive games (we know - not our usual). But these four competitive board games all share elements of our favorite cooperative games. Join us as we find co-op within competition in these casual competitive games. In this episode we cover:A special dedication to our late listener and biggest fan, Rob’s momBailey confusing several of the games Rob’s been playing, and doubling down thinking she’s rightFinding the co-op qualities in competitive games Game Details:Name: Machi KoroPublisher: GroundingYear: 2012Name: PiepmatzPublisher: Lookout GamesYear: 2018Name: AzulPublisher: Plan B GamesYear: 2017Name: Sushi Go!Publisher: GamewrightYear: 2013Connect with us!To stay up to date with the show, talk to us about what we have been playing, or even suggest a new game, we encourage you to follow the show and connect with us on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram.

Spring may have sprung, but we head to the frozen north for this episode! Join us as we adventure through a co-op game unlike any other - the educational, inspiring, and culturally-diverse, Never Alone, by Upper One Games.In this episode we cover:The irony of deliberately sitting on a game review, only to be delayed in publishing by a sinus infectionBailey’s getting a big head over her YouTube skillsIntroducing, World Games - culturally rich games for a global audience A win for diversity in gamingGame Details:Name: Never AloneWe played it on: PCAlso available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Series X|S, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Upper One Games - the first indigenous-owned game company in the USYear: 2014Connect with us!To stay up to date with the show, talk to us about what we have been playing, or even suggest a new game, we encourage you to follow the show and connect with us on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram.Ours, Played Date NightTo pair with Never Alone, we recommend Bailey’s recommendationExplore other Inupiat/Inuit stories from cultural organizations - we’ll include some links in the show notesNative Languages of the Americas: Inuit Legends, Myths, and StoriesEskimo Folk-TalesRob’s recommendationSticking with the educational theme - find a documentary to watch! Something about climate change or the fishing industry if you want to align it with some of the issues facing the Inupiat people.

Who says you need the controller to have fun? There’s tons of co-op to be found in single-player games! We’ve wanted to do an episode like this for over a year, and the release of the latest Souls game gave us the perfect opportunity. Join us in our inaugural Co-Op Co-Pilot episode featuring the open-world dark fantasy hit, Elden Ring, by FromSoftware.In this episode we cover:10 years together - and Souls games are at our coreCo-Op Co-Pilot mythbustingBailey’s Dark Souls voice acting debutAll the Elden Ring we can talk about without spoilersGame Details:Name: Elden RingRob’s playing it on: PCAlso Available on: PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X & OneDeveloper: FromSoftwareYear: 2022 (Brand-spankin’ new at the time of recording)Connect with us!To stay up to date with the show, talk to us about what we have been playing, or even suggest a new game, we encourage you to follow the show and connect with us on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram.

TW: War and ViolenceOver there! Over there! Threats rain from the sky and danger looms all around our heroes. Can friendship triumph over the trials of war? Join these two Yanks as we hope to survive the perils of No Man’s Land in the moving cooperative World War One card game, The Grizzled, published by Sweet Games.In this episode we cover:The Bloodborne and Parks and Recreation crossover we’ve always wantedUnlearning a Match 3 mechanicFinding fun in the futility of warWhat is simple, may not be easy. In fact, it may have a 10% win rate.Game Details:Name: The GrizzledMedium: Board GameDeveloper: Sweet GamesYear: 2015Connect with us!To stay up to date with the show, talk to us about what we have been playing, or even suggest a new game, we encourage you to follow the show and connect with us on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram.Ours, Played Date NightTo pair with The Grizzled, we recommend:Bailey’s recommendationSoft Cinnamon Cookies, from Foods that will Win the War and How to Cook Them (1918) C. Houston Goudiss and Alberta Goudiss1 cup molasses2 tablespoons fat½ cup boiling water1 cup flour1 teaspoon soda½ teaspoon ginger2 tablespoons cinnamon⅛ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon of clovesMix molasses, fat, and boiling water. Sift dry ingredients. Add the liquid. Add enough more flour (about four cups) to make dough stiff enough to roll out. Cut and bake about 15 minutes in moderately hot oven.Rob’s recommendationWatch 1917 (2019), dir. Sam MendesDrink a French 751 ounce gin1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed1/2 ounce simple syrup3 ounces Champagne (or other sparkling wine)Garnish: lemon twistAdd the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.Strain into a Champagne flute.Top with the Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Our Trine adventure continues! Join us as we jump between 2 and 3D, try to coin a new phrase for a gaming mechanic, and discover the magic of flight in Trine 3 and Trine 4, developed by Frozenbyte. In this episode we cover:Rob can’t stop playing monster-catching gamesBeating Pokemon as a life milestoneThe drama of an unfinished game - Frozenbyte’s Trine 3 AMAWright Bros. moments in Trine 4Our 2022 Gaming New Year’s ResolutionsGame Details:Name: Trine 3 and Trine 4We played them on: PCAlso Available on: Nintendo Switch, Xbox and Xbox One, Playstation 3 and 4Developer: FrozenbyteYear: 2015 and 2019Post Trine 3 Frozenbyte Reddit AMA Connect with us!To stay up to date with the show, talk to us about what we have been playing, or even suggest a new game, we encourage you to follow the show and connect with us on Discord, Twitter, and Instagram.