Some Patches Required
Hello everybody, and welcome to Some Patches Required. Every other Thursday, your hosts Aaron and Zak use their backgrounds in game development and analysis to discuss various facets of the ever-turbulent games industry. From interviews with AAA/indie devs to deep dives on timely topics, the duo hopes to entertain and educate you on this wild medium we all love.
Episodes
123 episodes
Twitch Bans Gambling Streams - The Issue at Hand
This week on Some Patches Required, our intrepid hosts take on one of the more complex issues in the modern gaming world - gambling. Spurred by the news that Twitch has banned most gambling streams, Zak and Aaron break down some recent controve...
An Abundance of Assassin’s Creed, Oodles of Ubisoft, and No Love for D23
It's safe to say that this episode didn't quite go according to plan. Instead of tackling topics like Halo Infinite's missing features, a high-profile developer leaving 343, and Ubisoft's ongoing issues with workplace misconduct allegations, ou...
Thoughts on Games as a Service, a Trio of Intros, and Netflix as a Cereal Box
Just when you thought the fine individuals at SPR industries couldn't make a conversation about the games industry sound even more casual than usual, they strike back with an episode so off-the-cuff that even they aren't quite sure where it's g...
Diversity in Games, Its Potential Impact, and a New Nintendo Update
Brace yourself, this one gets a bit esoteric. That's because this week, Zak and Aaron take a good long look at the very real issue of diversity in the games industry and some of the implications of consuming media made predominantly by white ma...
SPR Watch Party - "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" with The Nerd Alternative
In this very special - and especially long - episode of Some Patches Required, Zak and Aaron were lucky enough to sit down with Levi and Hassan from The Nerd Alternative to talk about The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. It's got laughs, it's...
Indie Dev Insights from New Future Kids, Gone Wandering, and Finding the Right Work-Life Balance
If you couldn't get enough of Austin's unique perspective in episode 42, you're in supremely good luck! This week, Zak and Aaron were happy to continue their conversation, this time focusing more on the indie development side of Austin's story,...
Discussing Game-Dev Education with Game-U Course Director Austin
This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron sit down with their mutual friend Austin, who has some cool stuff to say. What, you need more? Alright, Austin is a Course Director at Game-U - an organization devoted to teaching youngsters and people wi...
Examining the Xbox Showcase
Are you tired of hearing about exciting, upcoming video games? How about the borderline- unprecedented value offered by Xbox Game Pass? Hot takes on the current streaming ecosystem? If reading this has you laying infirm, overcome by some sort o...
Diablo Immortal's Predatory Practices, Unionization Updates, and State of Play Impressions
Everyone said they'd never make it, but Zak and Aaron finally made it to 40. Well, the podcast did, and the number refers to episodes rather than years, but why quibble over semantics?This time around, our intrepid hosts dip their prove...
EA Enters the Acquisition Race, Raven Workers Unionize, and Pooh Goes Dark
Two weeks can feel like an eternity in the entertainment industry, and this episode is listenable proof. Zak and Aaron are at it again, discussing monumental moves like EA's ravenous - and somewhat bewildering - quest for a merger/acquisition, ...
Embracer Group Embraces Square Enix, Nintendo Loses Face, and Arin Hits the Canvas
As a wise and well-respected philosopher once said, "Another (every other) Friday, another episode of Some Patches Required!" That may be apocryphal, but hey; you've got to put those patches somewhere, right?This week, Zak and Aaron dis...
Dissecting the Current State and Future of the MCU with Stew From the Stew World Order Podcast
Are you ready for something special but not especially game-related? If not, too bad! This week, Zak and Aaron are proud to welcome Stew from the Stew World Order Podcast to discuss the current state of the MCU and the multitude of directions i...
Discussing E3 2022's Cancellation, Kingdom Hearts IV, LEGO Star Wars, and Activision Blizzard's Newest Headlines
Unlike E3, Some Patches Required is back and ready to talk about all the games you crave. Well, not exactly... or at all. Semantics aside, Zak and Aaron have curated an hour or so of interesting topics for your listening pleasure, ranging from ...
SPR Watch Party - "Voyage of the Rock Aliens" With Joey from 'So Wizard Podcast'
Get ready for an episode that's out of this world (pun very much intended), because this week Zak and Aaron are joined by Joey from the So Wizard Podcast for a discussion about the glorious mess-terpiece that is "Voyage of the Rock Aliens." Wha...
Games Industry Protests Russia, Addresses Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation, and Celebrates Elden Ring’s Explosive Success
Look, not every episode can be the very best (like no one ever was). But one thing is for sure: SPR will never be is false. As such, here are a few disclaimers:- Aaron sounds a little sick, because he was.*- There's a fair a...
Pokemon Gen. Nine and the Emphasis on Game Length in Value
This week, Zak and Aaron take some time to discuss the complicated, multi-faceted, and often inscrutable relationship between the length of a game and its value. They also manage to vamp for a good long while about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, s...
Talking Self-Value, Career Trajectory, and More With VR/Tech Coordinator Michelle House
This week on SPR, Zak and Aaron chat with Michelle House to discuss her job as a VR/Technology Coordinator at Pure Imagination Studios, her journey in media, and the importance of valuing yourself in business. They also spend a fair amount of t...
SPR Watch Party - Star Wars: The Last Jedi with Daniel DiManna From the GNP
Welcome back, loyal listeners! Zak and Aaron went off the proverbial video game reservation again this week for a snark-filled conversation about the baffling mess that is "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi." Better yet, they brought The Go...
Addressing the Elephant: Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision/Blizzard
To say that we never thought this would happen would be an understatement of the highest order. But now that it's happened, what does it mean for you and the gaming industry at large?If you don't know what we're talking about, you eithe...
Why Are So Many AAA Game Studios Losing Their Positive Reputations?
Well, gang, it finally happened: Aaron uploaded an episode late. But, by his count, that puts them ahead of more than a few other podcasts, so we've decided to take the moral high ground on this one.In the newest installment of th...
A Very Krampus Christmas - SPR Holiday Special
Well, everybody, its the holidays, and you know what that means! Wait, you have no idea what that means within the context of a podcast? Well, you're in good company, as Zak and Aaron decided to play this one off the cuff.In the spirit ...
Discussing The 2021 Game Awards and Co-Op’s Triumph with “It Takes Two”
Another year, another awards show. This time around, Zak and Aaron sit down to chat about the 2021 Game Awards - a show that neither of them actually watched. Don't worry, they still did the requisite research.Their big takeaway was jus...
Todd Howard and the Pantheon of Game Dev Personas
We're back, and the same as ever! Wait, is that disappointing? If it is, what we mean to say is that we're here and just as enjoyable as you've come to expect. Is that better? Worse? Marketing is hard.This week, we take a look at some o...
Discussing In-Game Cinematics and Career Introspection with Blizzard Technical Artist Bruce Evans
Hello, and welcome to yet another episode of Some Patches Required. Yep, we're still doing the dang thing. This week, we're proud to introduce a special guest by the name of Bruce Evans, who just so happens to be a technical artist at Blizzard....
A Smörgåsbord of Intriguing Topics, Facebook's Big Re-brand, and Halo's Speculative Space Crisps
Consider the calendar. Sometimes, minutes, hours, days, or (god forbid) weeks go by without updates pertaining to things you care about. For better or worse, this was not such a week. Between breaking news regarding Activision Bli...