Rogue https://www.rogue.site Ad-free video game news, guides, opinions, history, culture, previews, interviews, and reviews written by humans, for humans en Rogue Copyright 2026 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:35:30 -0400 Rogue Ad-free video game news, guides, opinions, history, culture, previews, interviews, and reviews written by humans, for humans Your Name youremail@example.com clean Pat's Labor 09: Shin Godzilla https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-09-shin-godzilla/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:29 -0500 6946eb1b1c89460001f0b13c While there's plenty of mecha anime that share Patlabor's DNA, when we thought about another piece of media that really feels like Patlabor, we all immediately agreed: Shin Godzilla.

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]]> While there's plenty of mecha anime that share Patlabor's DNA, when we thought about another piece of media that really feels like Patlabor, we all immediately agreed: Shin Godzilla.

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]]> Pat's Labor 08: Patlabor: The Movie https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-08-patlabor-the-movie/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:10:47 -0500 6934c04cf73a0500018f2ee0 Biblical allegories and autonomous Patlabor's abound in the series first feature outing. Patlabor places a high value on life. In a genre that often focuses on the cool or terrible violence giant mecha can cause, it's a notable element of the first OVA. This theme is even more clear after watching Patlabor: The Movie, where this tension is at the heart of it's drama.

An image from the Patlabor anime, with two broken Patlabor's standing facing each other with an ocean sunrise in the background.
We duel at sunrise.

There's still plenty of Labor-on-Labor battle, in both comically and terrifyingly animated ways: the bigger movie budget is put to stunning use here. But it remains restrained in the ways that makes Patlabor special, with quiet, thoughtful moments and the trademark skewering of bureaucratic and corporate politics. There's even a helping of Biblical allegories to give the cinematic length and plot's central mystery more grandeur, but it's Noa's very human story that really shines.

An image from the Patlabor anime, showing Noa Izumi in her Patlabor's cockpit.
Noa the GOAT?

Suffice it to say, we liked the movie. We also tease our next bonus episode for subscribers: here's a hint, it's about a non-mecha movie that's also the closest thing any of us could think of to Patlabor's overall vibe.

Song: Heavy Armor by Kenji Kawai, from the Patlabor: The Movie OST.

Show notes:

Ultraman's Catholic Connections

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Biblical allegories and autonomous Patlabor's abound in the series first feature outing. Patlabor places a high value on life. In a genre that often focuses on the cool or terrible violence giant mecha can cause, it's a notable element of the first OVA. This theme is even more clear after watching Patlabor: The Movie, where this tension is at the heart of it's drama.

An image from the Patlabor anime, with two broken Patlabor's standing facing each other with an ocean sunrise in the background.
We duel at sunrise.

There's still plenty of Labor-on-Labor battle, in both comically and terrifyingly animated ways: the bigger movie budget is put to stunning use here. But it remains restrained in the ways that makes Patlabor special, with quiet, thoughtful moments and the trademark skewering of bureaucratic and corporate politics. There's even a helping of Biblical allegories to give the cinematic length and plot's central mystery more grandeur, but it's Noa's very human story that really shines.

An image from the Patlabor anime, showing Noa Izumi in her Patlabor's cockpit.
Noa the GOAT?

Suffice it to say, we liked the movie. We also tease our next bonus episode for subscribers: here's a hint, it's about a non-mecha movie that's also the closest thing any of us could think of to Patlabor's overall vibe.

Song: Heavy Armor by Kenji Kawai, from the Patlabor: The Movie OST.

Show notes:

Ultraman's Catholic Connections

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 10: Equilibrium is the Matrix we have at home https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-10-equilibrium-is-the-matrix-we-have-at-home/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:56:11 -0500 6931e542f73a0500018f2199 The one where we talk a lot about Star Wars It's episode 10 of Rogue Signal! Wild. Thanks for sticking around with the Rogue crew!

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan are back to chat about some pretty great games, Ryan's trip to Bungie last month for Destiny 2: Renegades, and get into a bit of the old Game of the Year.

Here's a full list of all the games in this week's show:

  • Xenopurge
  • Puzzle Parasite
  • Cross Blitz
  • Soulframe
  • Helldivers 2's new Warbond
  • 9 King's new Quest Mode

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we talk a lot about Star Wars It's episode 10 of Rogue Signal! Wild. Thanks for sticking around with the Rogue crew!

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan are back to chat about some pretty great games, Ryan's trip to Bungie last month for Destiny 2: Renegades, and get into a bit of the old Game of the Year.

Here's a full list of all the games in this week's show:

  • Xenopurge
  • Puzzle Parasite
  • Cross Blitz
  • Soulframe
  • Helldivers 2's new Warbond
  • 9 King's new Quest Mode

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Answering Destiny 2 player's Renegade questions, a Rogue Signal bonus episode https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/destiny-2-renegades-q-a-bonus-episode/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:03:16 -0500 692621dd6ebacf000164f0f2 Sitting down with three dedicated Destiny 2 players to chat about Lawless Frontier, blaster weapons, and more Earlier this month, I traveled to Bungie's HQ in Bellevue, Washington to check out Destiny 2: Renegades, the Star Wars-inspired expansion hitting the game on Dec. 2.

You can read all of my thoughts about Renegades elsewhere on the site, but I wanted to do something a little less stuffy and formal than just a written preview and an interview. I wanted to give Destiny players the chance to ask questions about the expansion that would be relevant to real, high-engagement players like me and like them.

So I invited my own Fireteam to have a little chat.

In this bonus episode of Rogue Signal, I chat with three Destiny friends who I not only made through the game, but have been playing with for many years – since D2 came out eight years ago, in one case.

We talk through basically everything I'm able to talk through, including the campaign, Lawless Frontier, new weapons, and more.

You can check out the audio version of the show above. And for this special episode only, anyone can watch the video version of the show via the embed below.

Transparency note: Bungie provided travel accommodations for the visit to their headquarters. However, there are no restrictions from Bungie on how critical we could be of the content we saw at the event. Bungie did not review or demand edits on this Q&A before it was published.

]]> Sitting down with three dedicated Destiny 2 players to chat about Lawless Frontier, blaster weapons, and more Earlier this month, I traveled to Bungie's HQ in Bellevue, Washington to check out Destiny 2: Renegades, the Star Wars-inspired expansion hitting the game on Dec. 2.

You can read all of my thoughts about Renegades elsewhere on the site, but I wanted to do something a little less stuffy and formal than just a written preview and an interview. I wanted to give Destiny players the chance to ask questions about the expansion that would be relevant to real, high-engagement players like me and like them.

So I invited my own Fireteam to have a little chat.

In this bonus episode of Rogue Signal, I chat with three Destiny friends who I not only made through the game, but have been playing with for many years – since D2 came out eight years ago, in one case.

We talk through basically everything I'm able to talk through, including the campaign, Lawless Frontier, new weapons, and more.

You can check out the audio version of the show above. And for this special episode only, anyone can watch the video version of the show via the embed below.

Transparency note: Bungie provided travel accommodations for the visit to their headquarters. However, there are no restrictions from Bungie on how critical we could be of the content we saw at the event. Bungie did not review or demand edits on this Q&A before it was published.

]]> Pat's Labor 07: SV2, Go North! https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-07-sv2-go-north/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:17 -0500 6924cbcc885dee0001dffb52 Turns out we all forgot about ANOTHER type of labor. Going into this episode we were all wondering, how would Patlabor follow up it's 2-part thrill ride and cap off the OVA with it's seventh and final episode. Do we found out the aftermath of the nearly successful nuclear-armed military coup mentioned? Nope! Could this episode have conceivably taken place all most any time after the first season? Probably! But we do get to go out on a perfectly executed tag-team clothesline. WRESTLING MENTIONED.

A still from Patlabor: A semi truck from directly ahead, lights bright on a nighttime highway.
Truck.

Other than the episode's seeming resistance to connecting itself to the character's growth in the last episodes or the trajectory of the plot, we do get some top tier Patlabor action. There's stunning hand-crafted semi truck animation and a genuine labor-on-labor fight, plus an efficient critique of the military industrial complex. And three men making a show about Patlabor and labor history realize there's another type of labor they hadn't considered...

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

And since wrestling was referenced in the final fight, Pat couldn't avoid talking about a pair of subjects near-and-dear to his heart: wrestling and labor law. We all learn a little bit about "kayfabe" employment in the wrestling industry and why the WWE ultimately never got a union.

A still from Patlabor: Goto stands and Nagumo sits on a bench in a nondescript hallway.
I just want them both to be happy.

Show notes:

» On WWE and Organized Labor
David Shoemaker
Working Stiff: Extending the Statutory Labor Dispute Exemption to WWE Wrestlers – NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law
NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment LawSkip to content

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Turns out we all forgot about ANOTHER type of labor. Going into this episode we were all wondering, how would Patlabor follow up it's 2-part thrill ride and cap off the OVA with it's seventh and final episode. Do we found out the aftermath of the nearly successful nuclear-armed military coup mentioned? Nope! Could this episode have conceivably taken place all most any time after the first season? Probably! But we do get to go out on a perfectly executed tag-team clothesline. WRESTLING MENTIONED.

A still from Patlabor: A semi truck from directly ahead, lights bright on a nighttime highway.
Truck.

Other than the episode's seeming resistance to connecting itself to the character's growth in the last episodes or the trajectory of the plot, we do get some top tier Patlabor action. There's stunning hand-crafted semi truck animation and a genuine labor-on-labor fight, plus an efficient critique of the military industrial complex. And three men making a show about Patlabor and labor history realize there's another type of labor they hadn't considered...

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

And since wrestling was referenced in the final fight, Pat couldn't avoid talking about a pair of subjects near-and-dear to his heart: wrestling and labor law. We all learn a little bit about "kayfabe" employment in the wrestling industry and why the WWE ultimately never got a union.

A still from Patlabor: Goto stands and Nagumo sits on a bench in a nondescript hallway.
I just want them both to be happy.

Show notes:

» On WWE and Organized Labor
David Shoemaker
Working Stiff: Extending the Statutory Labor Dispute Exemption to WWE Wrestlers – NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law
NYU Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment LawSkip to content

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 9: Disgusting Movie Feet https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-9-disgusting-movie-feet/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:02 -0500 691defdc6830b6000102c34e The one where we talk about Dispatch and The Game Awards It's been two weeks since the last time we told you all about the fun stuff we've been playing and covering over here at Rogue.site, but we're back this week with another podcast episode. But, notably, not the final Rogue Signal episode of November. Stay tuned for a super secret, special bonus episode next week ...

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan are back to chat about some pretty great games, The Game Awards' nominations, and the scourge that is people who take their shoes off in public.

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Dispatch
  • Tower Factory
  • Surviving Mars Relaunched
  • Whiskerwood
  • Planet Zoo
  • Forestrike
  • Winter Burrow
  • Cronos
  • The Last Caretaker
  • 9 Kings
  • Darktide
  • Look Outside

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we talk about Dispatch and The Game Awards It's been two weeks since the last time we told you all about the fun stuff we've been playing and covering over here at Rogue.site, but we're back this week with another podcast episode. But, notably, not the final Rogue Signal episode of November. Stay tuned for a super secret, special bonus episode next week ...

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan are back to chat about some pretty great games, The Game Awards' nominations, and the scourge that is people who take their shoes off in public.

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Dispatch
  • Tower Factory
  • Surviving Mars Relaunched
  • Whiskerwood
  • Planet Zoo
  • Forestrike
  • Winter Burrow
  • Cronos
  • The Last Caretaker
  • 9 Kings
  • Darktide
  • Look Outside

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Pat's Labor Episode 06: The SV2's Longest Day (Part 2) https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-episode-06-the-sv2s-longest-day-part-2/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:17:28 -0500 69126ea312ff610001565ef6 Coup, Part Two When a clueless bureaucracy is easily captured by an internal rebellion of the state security force, who do you call? A rag-tag group of outcast dorks and overachievers led by a man who's not had a good shower in a week, obviously. Goto gets the center stage here, facing off with his old college buddy (?) and nuclear-armed terrorist Kai, but SV2's Longest Day (Part 2) is an episode where every character is firing on all cylinders.

An image from the Patlabor anime of a lady riding a motorcycle in front of a blue flatbed truck carrying a robot holding a huge chaingun on a highway. In the distance flies an attack helicopter.
Firing on all cylinders... get it?

Even more impressive is how this episode manages to walk an incredibly fine tonal line between depicting a government-paralyzing nuclear armed-paramilitary coup right alongside Patlabor's sillier personalities and jokes. The trademark obsession with bureaucracy and logistics is part of what makes it all work, by constantly reminding both us and the team that in a situation like this, most government leaders really just want scary things to resolve themselves.

WHY DOES THAT SOUND SO FAMILIAR?

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

Wildcat Strikes

"Strike Authorization" example

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Coup, Part Two When a clueless bureaucracy is easily captured by an internal rebellion of the state security force, who do you call? A rag-tag group of outcast dorks and overachievers led by a man who's not had a good shower in a week, obviously. Goto gets the center stage here, facing off with his old college buddy (?) and nuclear-armed terrorist Kai, but SV2's Longest Day (Part 2) is an episode where every character is firing on all cylinders.

An image from the Patlabor anime of a lady riding a motorcycle in front of a blue flatbed truck carrying a robot holding a huge chaingun on a highway. In the distance flies an attack helicopter.
Firing on all cylinders... get it?

Even more impressive is how this episode manages to walk an incredibly fine tonal line between depicting a government-paralyzing nuclear armed-paramilitary coup right alongside Patlabor's sillier personalities and jokes. The trademark obsession with bureaucracy and logistics is part of what makes it all work, by constantly reminding both us and the team that in a situation like this, most government leaders really just want scary things to resolve themselves.

WHY DOES THAT SOUND SO FAMILIAR?

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

Wildcat Strikes

"Strike Authorization" example

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 8: L0uvr3 https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-7-l0uvr3/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:51:59 -0500 690b5a8d0fcc2c0001f176c9 The one where we talk about the Louvre, Outer Worlds 2, and more The show is now officially bi-monthly! Bi-weekly? Technically that's the same thing, and it means both things. So let's say twice-monthly.

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to talk about a ton of interesting games and how bad the Louvre is at cyber security!

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Farmer Was Replaced
  • Riddlewood Manor
  • Slots & Daggers
  • Tower Factory
  • The Séance of Blake Manor
  • Cronos
  • Necesse
  • Arc Raiders
  • Warhammer 40K: Darktide
  • Hades 2
  • The Outer Worlds 2

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we talk about the Louvre, Outer Worlds 2, and more The show is now officially bi-monthly! Bi-weekly? Technically that's the same thing, and it means both things. So let's say twice-monthly.

Anyway, this week Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to talk about a ton of interesting games and how bad the Louvre is at cyber security!

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Farmer Was Replaced
  • Riddlewood Manor
  • Slots & Daggers
  • Tower Factory
  • The Séance of Blake Manor
  • Cronos
  • Necesse
  • Arc Raiders
  • Warhammer 40K: Darktide
  • Hades 2
  • The Outer Worlds 2

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Pat's Labor Episode 05: The SV2's Longest Day (Part 1) https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-episode-05-the-sv2s-longest-day-part-1/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:24 -0400 68fe2f3257363f000162fe9c What’s a coup look like? What’s a coup look like? For better or worse, we’ve had a number of answers to that question. In the world of 1989’s original Patlabor OVA, Mamoru Oshii imagined the long tail of American empire leaving Japan’s capitol wide open for a Christmas-time coup. SV2’s Longest Day (Part 1) is a tightly wound geopolitical thriller, full of shady g-men and conversations of few words and dire implications. And it’s just part one!

An image from the Patlabor anime, with Asuma sitting in a ramen shop frowning at Noa, who's part way through a curtain, with her eyes closed and hands together in prayer.
Ah, young love!

The episode still manages to be both funny and obsessed with logistics in Patlabor‘s trademark way, but here the show’s focus on granular details like ammo procurement makes the danger the rebel forces pose much more tangible. This faction is a threat in a way the previous episodes giant kaiju or ghost Labor weren’t. 

Then, with one swift decapitation strike, Pat takes over the podcast for a little story about the Bonus Army, America’s most famous almost-coup, and the civic optimism of Patlabor.

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

The Gangster's of Capitalism

The MacArthur's

The Bonus Army

Business plot

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> What’s a coup look like? What’s a coup look like? For better or worse, we’ve had a number of answers to that question. In the world of 1989’s original Patlabor OVA, Mamoru Oshii imagined the long tail of American empire leaving Japan’s capitol wide open for a Christmas-time coup. SV2’s Longest Day (Part 1) is a tightly wound geopolitical thriller, full of shady g-men and conversations of few words and dire implications. And it’s just part one!

An image from the Patlabor anime, with Asuma sitting in a ramen shop frowning at Noa, who's part way through a curtain, with her eyes closed and hands together in prayer.
Ah, young love!

The episode still manages to be both funny and obsessed with logistics in Patlabor‘s trademark way, but here the show’s focus on granular details like ammo procurement makes the danger the rebel forces pose much more tangible. This faction is a threat in a way the previous episodes giant kaiju or ghost Labor weren’t. 

Then, with one swift decapitation strike, Pat takes over the podcast for a little story about the Bonus Army, America’s most famous almost-coup, and the civic optimism of Patlabor.

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

The Gangster's of Capitalism

The MacArthur's

The Bonus Army

Business plot

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 7: The Great Steam Next Fest Catch-Up Mechanic https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-7-the-great-steam-next-fest-catch-up-mechanic/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:37:19 -0400 68f9066c57363f000162f113 The one where we finally talk about Absolum and Ball x Pit (also a ton of Next Fest stuff) It's technically week eight here at Rogue, but we missed last week due to a holiday and Steam Next Fest, so we're only on episode 7 of Rogue Signal. Sorry about that.

Anyway, we're a lot of days into this whole indie media thing now, and had one of our best weeks yet covering Steam Next Fest, a wonderful time of year where we're all able to glimpse some of the most exciting gaming projects coming our way. We talk about a lot of them this week, in addition to some great games that are already out – some of which we missed on our week off – like Absolum and Ball x Pit.

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Final Sentence (demo)
  • Cairn (demo)
  • Motorslice (demo)
  • Switchboard (demo)
  • ARC Raiders (playtest)
  • Slots & Daggers (demo)
  • Tears of Metal (demo)
  • Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road (demo)
  • Korridor (demo)
  • Bladesong (demo)
  • Blind Descent (demo)
  • Desktop Explorer (demo)
  • Séance of Blake Manor (demo)
  • Quarantine Zone (demo)
  • Fish Hunters (demo)
  • Whiskerwood (demo)
  • Absolum
  • Ball x Pit
  • Fellowship
  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Pokemon Z-A

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we finally talk about Absolum and Ball x Pit (also a ton of Next Fest stuff) It's technically week eight here at Rogue, but we missed last week due to a holiday and Steam Next Fest, so we're only on episode 7 of Rogue Signal. Sorry about that.

Anyway, we're a lot of days into this whole indie media thing now, and had one of our best weeks yet covering Steam Next Fest, a wonderful time of year where we're all able to glimpse some of the most exciting gaming projects coming our way. We talk about a lot of them this week, in addition to some great games that are already out – some of which we missed on our week off – like Absolum and Ball x Pit.

Here's a full list of all the demos and games in this week's show:

  • Final Sentence (demo)
  • Cairn (demo)
  • Motorslice (demo)
  • Switchboard (demo)
  • ARC Raiders (playtest)
  • Slots & Daggers (demo)
  • Tears of Metal (demo)
  • Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road (demo)
  • Korridor (demo)
  • Bladesong (demo)
  • Blind Descent (demo)
  • Desktop Explorer (demo)
  • Séance of Blake Manor (demo)
  • Quarantine Zone (demo)
  • Fish Hunters (demo)
  • Whiskerwood (demo)
  • Absolum
  • Ball x Pit
  • Fellowship
  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Pokemon Z-A

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Pat's Labor Episode 04: The Tragedy of L https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-episode-04-the-tragedy-of-l/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:19 -0400 68ec53773a35c30001c19aa7 A simple ghost story… or is it? Like lots of TV shows, Patlabor is a show about cops. It's funny, gorgeous, and prescient, but its entire cast of main characters are all members of a (giant robot) police force. The show has touched briefly on what it means to be an armed agent of the state, but mostly through the prism of Japan's governmental bureaucracy and regulation. Episode 4 takes this topic head on.

An image from Patlabor with a characters hand holding a highly detailed pistol that is sitting in a tub of bathing supplies.
Clancy get your gun.

In The Tragedy of L, the often irresponsible ways that cops use guns (or simply have them on hand) is not just the explosive instigating incident, but at the core of the episode's themes. Also, ghosts! This is also a spooky mystery story set in a remote school that was recently host to a tragedy all it's own. This gives Pat the opportunity to explore the real ghosts of the labor movement.

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

Joe Hill by Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson's Wikipedia

The Haunted House of Labor

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> A simple ghost story… or is it? Like lots of TV shows, Patlabor is a show about cops. It's funny, gorgeous, and prescient, but its entire cast of main characters are all members of a (giant robot) police force. The show has touched briefly on what it means to be an armed agent of the state, but mostly through the prism of Japan's governmental bureaucracy and regulation. Episode 4 takes this topic head on.

An image from Patlabor with a characters hand holding a highly detailed pistol that is sitting in a tub of bathing supplies.
Clancy get your gun.

In The Tragedy of L, the often irresponsible ways that cops use guns (or simply have them on hand) is not just the explosive instigating incident, but at the core of the episode's themes. Also, ghosts! This is also a spooky mystery story set in a remote school that was recently host to a tragedy all it's own. This gives Pat the opportunity to explore the real ghosts of the labor movement.

Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days

Show notes:

Joe Hill by Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson's Wikipedia

The Haunted House of Labor

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 6: The arrival of Canadian Thanksgiving (featuring Matt Leone) https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-6-the-arrival-of-canadian-thanksgiving-featuring-matt-leone/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:14:02 -0400 68e6a3d20ebed50001706035 The one where we talk about Ghost of Yotei, CloverPit, and more It's week six at Rogue, and we are well and truly into our second month! Your support continues to amaze us, and the video games just keep coming out. So we're here to talk about them.

This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat about Canadian Thanksgiving and what we're thankful for. Alice sits down with former Polygoner Matt Leone about his upcoming oral history project: Design Room.

The gang also chats about a host of games this week:

  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Mars First Logistics
  • CloverPit
  • A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad
  • The Hole Keeper
  • World of Warcraft: Midnight

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we talk about Ghost of Yotei, CloverPit, and more It's week six at Rogue, and we are well and truly into our second month! Your support continues to amaze us, and the video games just keep coming out. So we're here to talk about them.

This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat about Canadian Thanksgiving and what we're thankful for. Alice sits down with former Polygoner Matt Leone about his upcoming oral history project: Design Room.

The gang also chats about a host of games this week:

  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Mars First Logistics
  • CloverPit
  • A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad
  • The Hole Keeper
  • World of Warcraft: Midnight

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 5: No one expects the Saudi acquisition https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-5-no-one-expects-the-saudi-acquisition/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:46:58 -0400 68dd3290d90e6b000187c69d The one where we're still talking about Hades 2 and finally get to Silent Hill F It's week five at Rogue, and we are nearly a month old! Thank you all so much for your support already. We have a fun show for you this week.

This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat briefly about EA's privatization and acquisition, why indie horror games are so hot right now, and a whole host of games.

Here are all the games discussed on this week's show:

  • Hades 2
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Megabonk
  • CloverPit
  • The Kentum demo
  • Silent Hill f

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we're still talking about Hades 2 and finally get to Silent Hill F It's week five at Rogue, and we are nearly a month old! Thank you all so much for your support already. We have a fun show for you this week.

This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat briefly about EA's privatization and acquisition, why indie horror games are so hot right now, and a whole host of games.

Here are all the games discussed on this week's show:

  • Hades 2
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Megabonk
  • CloverPit
  • The Kentum demo
  • Silent Hill f

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> Pat's Labor Episode 03: The 450-Million-Year-Old Trap https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/pats-labor-episode-03-the-450-million-year-old-trap/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:12:53 -0400 68d57bff1c43640001a43527 Men will literally hyper-evolve a life form instead of going to therapy. We really, honestly thought we were starting to understand what Patlabor is about: a "realistic" and at times satirical mecha-police procedural that highlights the logistical and bureaucratic difficulties that would necessarily follow from using giant robots. And in the 3rd episode of The Early Days, that's all still true... it's also a kaiju thriller now too!

From the very start, this episode zigs where we expect it to zag, and brings in a whole new cinematic flair to the series. We also get numerous references to Tokusatsu franchises like Ultraman and Godzilla and an ending none of us saw coming.

This gives Pat the chance to dive deep into the uncharted waters of "guys in a big rubber suit" unions and the ways entertainment union's work to protect their members and ensure their fairly compensated. Also, FYI, Goofy is a union man.

Three men sit behind a steering wheel looking to camera, their faces distorted by a fisheye lens effect.
Fisheye lenses: a Mamoru Oshii trademark.

Show notes:

What caused the Cambrian Explosion?

Panspermia: Could life be delivered to a planet?

The Man in the Godzilla Suit - Haruo Nakajima

Magic United

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Men will literally hyper-evolve a life form instead of going to therapy. We really, honestly thought we were starting to understand what Patlabor is about: a "realistic" and at times satirical mecha-police procedural that highlights the logistical and bureaucratic difficulties that would necessarily follow from using giant robots. And in the 3rd episode of The Early Days, that's all still true... it's also a kaiju thriller now too!

From the very start, this episode zigs where we expect it to zag, and brings in a whole new cinematic flair to the series. We also get numerous references to Tokusatsu franchises like Ultraman and Godzilla and an ending none of us saw coming.

This gives Pat the chance to dive deep into the uncharted waters of "guys in a big rubber suit" unions and the ways entertainment union's work to protect their members and ensure their fairly compensated. Also, FYI, Goofy is a union man.

Three men sit behind a steering wheel looking to camera, their faces distorted by a fisheye lens effect.
Fisheye lenses: a Mamoru Oshii trademark.

Show notes:

What caused the Cambrian Explosion?

Panspermia: Could life be delivered to a planet?

The Man in the Godzilla Suit - Haruo Nakajima

Magic United

Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!

]]> Rogue Signal ep. 4: Hades 2: Olympian Boogaloo https://www.rogue.site/podcasts/rogue-signal-ep-4-hades-2-olympian-boogaloo/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:39:53 -0400 68d429cd1c43640001a43191 The one where we're still talking about Silksong It's week four over here at Rogue, and we're ... trucking along in spite of the horrors — some of which we discuss on this week's show.

Welcome to Rogue Signal episode 4. This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat about one of the biggest games of the year (Hades 2), spooky video game season and the vast scary game backlog, a semi-final revisit to Hollow Knight: Silksong, and studios firing devs for social media jokes.

Here are all the games discussed on this week's show:

  • Hades 2
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Dusk Punk
  • Ale Abbey
  • FTL
  • Palia
  • No I'm Not Human

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]> The one where we're still talking about Silksong It's week four over here at Rogue, and we're ... trucking along in spite of the horrors — some of which we discuss on this week's show.

Welcome to Rogue Signal episode 4. This week, Cass, Jeff, and Ryan sit down to chat about one of the biggest games of the year (Hades 2), spooky video game season and the vast scary game backlog, a semi-final revisit to Hollow Knight: Silksong, and studios firing devs for social media jokes.

Here are all the games discussed on this week's show:

  • Hades 2
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Dusk Punk
  • Ale Abbey
  • FTL
  • Palia
  • No I'm Not Human

*Edited by Clayton Ashley

Subscribe to us on your podcast app of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Amazon Music! Or, if you're so inclined, here's our manual RSS feed: https://media.rss.com/rogue-signal/feed.xml.

While you're there, consider giving us a 5 Star review, as it really helps us grow the show and expose more folks to what we're doing over here at Rogue.

Our Mini-Boss and Big Boss subscribers can find the video version of the show below!

]]>