Heavy Metal, Chainsaws, Oh My!
DOOM is a major, influential series in the gaming world. With DOOM Eternal releasing, now is the time to discuss the series, it's influences, themes, and more. But we're not going in on this series alone: we're joined by the DOOM expert himself, PastorDoostyn! If you have never played a game in the series before, this is the episode to listen to and get caught up.
Housekeeping (2:35)
What Have We Been Playing (4:12)
PastorDoostyn talks about building his team out on Pokemon. Logan discusses Dragon Quest XI’s crazy storytelling and the new game, Bloodroots, the game where everything is a weapon, including a carrot.
What Have We Been Reading (11:40)
PastorDoostyn discusses the book “41 Will Come” by Chuck E. Tate that unpacks the different times in the Bible we the number 40/41 is mentioned. He also discusses John 15, specially the well-known “I am the vine” passage. Logan discusses reading through 2 Thessalonians, specifically a passage in chapter 3 that stood out during his reading.
Topic (18:20)
DOOM is one of the most influential series in gaming. But it’s also one with it’s own set of controversy. The guys sit down to give an overview of the overarching story throughout the games, it’s themes, and ask questions about our engagement with the games. If you have never played a game in the series, this is an episode that would be the perfect primer for the upcoming DOOM Eternal.
Patron Thank You’s!
Thank you to these lovely Deer Patrons supporting us on Patreon: Alex Castellanos, Andre Swann, Andrew Steedman, Ashley Kronenbitter, Caleb Schmidt, Christopher Commander, Collin Gregory, Connor Felty, David Matthews, Derek Smith, Jake Walker, James Barker, Jesse Penu, Joanne Monroe, Josh Broccolo, Lava Burner, Luke Strain, Mark Fromme, Matthew “White Chocolate” McDougal, Melvin Benson, Micah Hendrick, Michael Toller, Nate McKeever, Retro Rewind Podcast (new), Ryan1701e, Sam White (new), Samuel Colunga, Wesley Rea
Follow PastorDoostyn
Reco's!
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
Bad times...are just times that are bad
Animal Crossing New Horizons arrives later this month so we decided it was a good time to do an episode on the Animal Crossing series! Henshin Dad joins us to help discuss our the series and it's themes of community, capitalism, and what we can learn as Christians.
Henshin Dad
Housekeeping (3:45)
What Have We Been Playing (6:25)
Wesley discusses his year-long journey of playing through all of the Dragon Quest games, arriving at DQ6. Adam discusses playing through the Spyro games because Logan hasn't sent him Control and Outer Worlds. Logan gushes over how Dragon Quest XI has raised the bar for JRPGs.
What Have We Been Reading (24:05)
Wesley discusses reading The Hobbit with his son. Adam has been reading 1 Thessalonians 4 and shares about doing more in regards to our Christian walk. Logan shares from Romans 1 the urgency of sharing the Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Topic (39:45) *SPOILER-FREE*
This entire segment is spoiler-free because Animal Crossing doesn't really have a story to spoil.
Animal Crossing is a game that, at first glance, one would not be judged for thinking it's a goofy doll-house style game. But through a deeper inspection, you find a game that teaches basic fundamental principles for success as an adult such as managing finances, giving back to your community, and fostering relationships. Logan and Wesley discuss these themes, as well as the Biblical parallels.
Reco's
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
My name is Commander Shepherd, and this is my favorite podcast on the Citadel.
How we made it 5 years in without doing a Mass Effect episode is beyond us but we brought on David Matthews of The Black Techies podcast to crash into a deep discussion of the Mass Effect series, it's themes, and more.
Housekeeping (2:30)
What Have We Been Playing (4:25)
David dives into the world of Control on PC and climbs the leaderboards in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Logan threatens Adam with snowballs. Adam finally gets into the Titanfall 2 campaign. Logan discusses how to "git gud" in Sekiro.
What Have We Been Reading (17:50)
David gets into how technology can trip us up in 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. Adam discusses the importance of studying the Bible and knowing it from Confronting Christianity. Logan discusses how God is the definition of creative from Ezekiel 1.
Topic - Mass Effect Series (32:18)
Mass Effect is a massive series. The guys discover a variety of topics such as the standout characters of the series and their experiences with the games. The guys also discuss the controversy surrounding the game's M-rating and the importance of our choices.
Thank You Patrons (1:22:00)
Thank you to the following patrons for supporting us on Patreon: Alex Castellanos, Andrew Steedman, Ashley Kronenbitter, Caleb Schmidt, Christopher Commander, Collin Gregory, Connor Felty, David Matthews, Derek Smith, Eric Bryant, Folic Acid (new), Gareth Evans, Jake Walker, James Barker, Jesse Penu, Joanne Monroe, Josh Broccolo, Klay Brandon, Lava Burner (new), Luke Strain, Mark Fromme, Matthew “White Chocolate” McDougal, Melvin Benson, Micah Hendrick, Michael Toller, Nate McKeever, Ryan1701e, Samuel Colunga (new), Wesley Rea
Reco's (1:23:38)
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Started From The Bottom, Now We Here
It's wild to think that TRG has been around for over 5 years now. Join Logan, Adam, and Skinner as they reminisce over some of the things they've learned doing the podcasts, their favorite episodes, and more.
Housekeeping (2:19)
WHYBP (4:18)
Adam discusses what it's like to be a Jedi and giving the PS Vita it's viking funeral. Skinner talks going for Platinum trophies in inFamous: Second Son and The Witness and also plays Skyrim for the very first time, in Bob's honor. Logan discusses Eternal, a free-to-play card game. Deer Listeners can try out Eternal and net some extra in-game loot via this link.
WHYBR (18:39)
Adam dives into Revelation, Skinner discusses the Decalogue, and Logan gets into attributes of God in Isaiah.
Topic (31:24)
TRG is old in Internet years but the show continues to grow by God's grace. The guys discuss some of their favorite moments of doing the show, what it's like coming on to the show, and take a look ahead at some of the things coming to TRG.
Reco's (1:21:20)
Control is a deep game. Micah joins Logan to help unpack the different themes of the game, elaborate on what the Hiss is, how Dr. Darling's videos are key to the plot, and how a janitor is more than he appears.
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
From Pokemon to Doom and Everything In Between
Continuing #5YearsofTRG, we brought on Christian gaming streamer, PastorDoostyn, on to discuss all things live-streaming, gaming, and Christian engagement with the platform.
Follow PastorDoostyn on Twitch, Twitter, Instagram.
Housekeeping (4:56)
What Have We Been Playing (6:36)
Doostyn discusses two Metroidvania games that have caught his attention: Bloodstained and The Messenger. Logan gains 3 Platinum trophies in his goal to get 20 Platinums in 2020.
What Have We Been Reading (15:00)
Doostyn discusses Clear the Stage on how we should seek God in worship, not a performance. Logan begins studying the book of Revelation and becomes confused immediately.
Topic (27:05)
Game live-streaming has grown over the past few years. Along with that growth, Christians have appeared on platforms like Twitch and Mixer to reach gamers for the Gospel. Doostyn discusses what it's been like for him, some of the opposition he faced, and where he sees streaming going in the future.
Patron Thank You (1:12:32)
Special thanks to all of our patrons who support us on Patreon!
Reco's! (1:13:55)
Kicking off 5 years of TRG, Marty Estes from Nintendo Dads and Youth Worker's Guide to Video Games joins Logan to discuss how ministry staff can wade the waters of gaming and help parents in the process.
What Have You Been Playing
Up first, Marty discusses how amazing Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is. Logan discusses his recent Platinums and his time with Untitled Goose Game.
What Have You Been Reading
Marty discusses a new book by Doug Fields written to help youth pastors manage time more effectively by learning to say no. Logan finishes The Power in Prayer by Charles Spurgeon.
Topic
The guys discuss gaming within a ministry context, should M-rated games be played in ministry, one thing parents should know about gaming and more.
Recos!
Check out Nintendo Dads and Youth Worker's Guide to Video Games! You can follow them both on Twitter through the following links: Nintendo Dads / Youth Worker's Guide to Video Games
If you like what we do here at TRG, consider supporting us on Patreon! Support as low as a $1 a month helps continue discussing gaming from a Biblical worldview and nets you extra unlocks such as early, uncut access to all episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special roles in our Discord server.
You can connect with us on a variety of platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and join our Discord server to join the discussion.
Who's that Pokemon?
Pokemon is a massive franchise and a powerhouse in the world of gaming. Join the Henshin Dad himself, Wesley, as he and Logan discuss the Pokemon series, what makes it great, their favorite games, and give their review of Pokemon series, what makes it great, their favorite games, and give their review of Pokemon Sword & Shield!
Before the show begins, the two discuss their Thanksgivings and Black Friday hauls. Logan started learning Spanish so that couldn't possible go wrong on the show.
Housekeeping
What Have You Been Playing (10:05)
Wesley jumped back into Persona 5 after playing Dancing in Starlight, noting the game's darker themes compared to Persona 4 Golden. He also discusses one of the best JRPGs to have released this year on the Switch: Dragon Quest XI S! Logan abandons the Platinum for Code Vein after 67 hours of playtime.
What Have You Been Reading (25:47)
Wesley is taking it easy with "The Christmas Carol" after finishing The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. Logan discusses "The Power of Prayer" by Charles Spurgeon.
Topic of the Show - Pokemon (31:00)
The guys start the discussion off with how they got into the series. Both of the guys jumped in at the beginning with Red/Blue, with Logan's parents thinking Red and Blue were the first two in the series. From there, they discuss their favorite generations and Pokemon. Around the 1:07:50 mark, the guys discuss the controversy surrounding Pokemon Sword and Shield, giving their thoughts on if the complaints have any weight. Following that, the guys give their full review of the game from the things that made the games great to the things that left them scratching their heads.
Reco's
Henshin Dad Podcast Links
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
Light A Candle
Days Gone was a Playstation exclusive that was adored by gamers and fizzled with critics. But is it as bad as the reviews say? What kind of themes are held within? Join us in this episode as we deep dive into Days Gone on the Playstation 4.
Housekeeping
WHYBP
Adam catches more fish and loses his new wife in Fire Emblem. The guys briefly discuss Luigi’s Mansion 3. Logan talks diving into the Castlevania series which then led him to start collecting retro games and revisiting retro X-Men games.
WHYBR
Adam discusses being forgiven in Christ, specifically how we are no longer held guilty in Christ. This brings up a discussion of how, in Christ, we are more than conquerors and Romans 9. Logan discusses a sermon he heard at a recent convention from Revelation 22. Discussion turns toward the dire nature of the phrase “Lord come quickly”.
Topic
The guys start the discussion of Days Gone off with the review controversy around the game’s launch and if it was warranted. After a brief introduction to the set up of the game’s story, the guys begin discussing the main character, Deacon, and his biker brother, Boozer, and the theme of loyalty between the two. The world of Days Gone has an effect on people, as clearly shown in the group known as the Rippers. The Rippers religion is one of darkness, something we see out of Romans 1. There is more discussed in this section, but due to spoilers, they cannot be elaborated on in the show notes.
Reco’s
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
Join Logan and "James Bond" as we discuss some of the scariest games in gaming. The guys kick off the show by discussing the different ways you can support the show by supporting on Patreon or leaving a rating & review on your podcast app of choice.
What Have You Been Playing/Reading Highlights
The guys are pleasantly surprised by Apple Arcade's offerings such as WhatTheGolf, the golf game for folks who hate golf, and Sayonara Wild Hearts, a pop album video game. Both Adam and Logan have also beaten Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and offer their final thoughts on the game. Adam says the game is charming and Logan didn't really have anything negative to say about the game. You can read the official TRG review here.
For reading, Adam has been reading out of Psalm 123. During his quiet time, Adam learns about being ready, and waiting, for God's call to action. Logan nears the end of Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp and recommends it to anyone in ministry. Logan discusses how pastors ought to take opportunities to let others lead and teach, instead of getting a prideful spirit.
Topic: Scariest Games We've Ever Played Highlights
As the topic of discussion gets underway, Adam starts off with The Mummy on PS1. Logan discusses the urban legends surrounding missingno from Pokemon. Reader submissions discussed games such as Resident Evil 7 and Bloodborne. Bloodborne brings up bad memories for Adam regarding a time the game almost made him poo his pants. Logan reminisces about the time he got to the sewers for the first time in Resident Evil 2 and why he nearly broke his Gamecube controller.
The guys give thanks to all of the lovely Deer Patrons for supporting the show
Reco's!
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider lending support to the show! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us continue discussing Biblical theology and games.
Be sure to follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more content and interaction!
The Wives Tell All About TRG
This is an episode of firsts! Adam's first episode back since transitioning to a new chapter of life and it's our wives first time on the show! Join us as we learn what they think about the podcast, some of their favorite games, and ask us why we play Persona so much.
Reco's!
If you like what we do here at TRG, head over to Patreon to consider supporting us financially! Support as low as $1 a month goes a long way to helping us stay 100% independent and ad-free.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as well for more TRG content and interaction!
A Bonus Episode for the Deer Listeners
Join Logan and Micah as we head back into Raccoon City to discuss Resident Evil 2 Remake, how Umbrella acts a lot like sin, and the cautionary tale of gaining the world but losing your soul in the process. We also talk about how surprisingly fun the road to getting the Platinum trophy is.