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Idle Thumbs

Idle Thumbs is an independent podcast network whose podcasts span comedy, pop culture and entertainment, video games, and TV.

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All Episodes

01:32:37

Three Moves Ahead 641 - Europa Universalis 5

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/11/01

Len, Rowan, and Jon are at last granted the liberty to speak on their experiences with Europa Universalis 5, Paradox's latest and most ambitious grand strategy game. Is it actually good? Is it even possible to evaluate it in a that straightforward of a way at this point? And why has it turned Rowan into The Joker?

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00:59:54

Three Moves Ahead 640 - Endless Legend 2 & Friends

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/10/09

Len and Mike are joined by Ruth Cassidy and Sin Vega to give some early impressions of Endless Legend 2's Early Access launch, as well as a whole bunch of other stuff we've been playing, in this chill variety chat.Games discussed in order of mention: Endless Legend 2, Zephon, Feastopia, The Alters, Against the Storm, Hades 2, The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily, Town to City, Rise of the White Sun, Tempest Rising, Victoria 3, Silent Hill f, Super Robot Wars Y

en

01:04:21

Three Moves Ahead 639 - The Past and Future Dawn of War

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/09/20

Len, Ian, and Fraser are placed onto the battlefield from strategic reserves to talk about the past and future of Dawn of War. The past: the recent Dawn of War: Definitive Edition and how well it holds up for a 20-plus-year-old game. The future: Dawn of War 4, which Len and Fraser both got some hands-on time with.

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01:05:32

Three Moves Ahead 638 - Bobr

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/08/16

Timberborn is one of those Early Access games that we missed covering at its original launch, and we're not sure when it's going to be actually done... so what better time to talk about it than now, honestly? Len, Ian, Mike, and Sin sink their oversized incisors into the beaver city builder to discuss its ecological themes, potential for hydrological urbanism, and where it's at in its development journey.

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01:01:27

Three Moves Ahead 637 - Stormgate: Ashes of Earth...

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/08/05

With Stormgate leaving Early Access alongside the release of its first full single-player campaign, Ashes of Earth, Len chatted with Frost Giant's Top Tims, Tim Morten and Tim Campbell, about what has changed in the last year and what this new chapter means for the RTS.Check out this wild custom map made without triggers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjGR4HGuiU

en

01:51:04

Three Moves Ahead 636 - Civil War Midlife Crisis

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/07/31

Aftermath's Riley MacLeod has developed a sudden interest in the American Civil War, and we've assembled a 3MA all-star team featuring Rob Zacny, Rowan Kaiser, Len Hafer, and Luke Plunkett to walk him through this difficult and confusing time. We use Ultimate General: Civil War as a launching pad to discuss the conflict itself, the games based on it, as well as the tricky elements of adapting it for an entertainment product through the wonder-filled eyes of a strategy newbie. Inspired by the

en

01:41:59

Designer Notes 90: Patrice Desilets - Part 2

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/07/25

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Patrice Desilets, best known for his work on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Assassin’s Creed series, and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. They discuss why they couldn’t put rewind into Assassin’s Creed, the problem with designing for a meeting, and why he needed to have players beat up the pope. This episode was recorded on April 15, 2025.Games discussed: Assassin’s Creed, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Civilization

en

01:06:41

Three Moves Ahead 635 - The Strategy Games of Steam...

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/07/12

Len, Mike Williams, and Dominic Tarason run down the most exciting and interesting strategy and tactics games (and a couple from outside our usual wheelhouse) of Steam Next Fest 2025. From squat mechs to Italian vampires, there's a little something for everyone.

en

01:44:26

Designer Notes 89: Patrice Desilets - Part 1

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/07/03

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Patrice Desilets, best known for his work on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Assassin’s Creed series, and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. They discuss being hired as the first developer at Ubisoft Montreal, the similarities between improv theater and game design, and why he wants to remove UI from his games. This episode was recorded on April 15, 2025.Games discussed: Lode Runner, Choplifter, Metroid, Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart,

en

01:11:47

Three Moves Ahead 634 - 9 Kings

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/06/30

Len, Mike Williams, Luke, and Jon roll out the red carpet for 9 Kings, a tile placement base defense game with roguelite elements. It's hard to describe, honestly. But trust us: it's worth a look.

en

01:25:58

Three Moves Ahead 633 - Even More EU5

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/05/23

It's Three Moves Ahead Original Flavor as Len, Fraser, and Jon gather for a second panel discussion on the press hands-on for Europa Universalis 5. We discuss how this game made us feel like absolute fools, argue about whether or not Greenland is a good starter nation, and discuss who has the most Troy Energy.

en

02:02:18

Designer Notes 88: Caroline Marchal - Part 2

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/05/17

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Caroline Marchal, best known for her work on Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, and As Dusk Falls. They discuss how much a narrative game should acknowledge that it is a game, if a 50/50 player split for a binary choice is desirable, and whether you are in the shower or under the shower. This episode was recorded on September 6, 2024.Games discussed: Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, As Dusk Fall, Old World, the Sorcery! series

en

00:42:14

Three Moves Ahead 632 - We Played Europa Universalis...

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/05/08

This is a free preview of this month's Patreon episode. Check out the extended version at Patreon.com/3ma!Len, Lambert, and Lorris have gotten some hands-on time with the Actually Really Announced game Europa Universalis 5! We discuss our impressions, our praises, our gripes, and even some of our most precious wishes.

en

01:08:12

Three Moves Ahead 631 - Cataclismo

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/04/23

Len is joined by special guest Casey Explosion to talk about Cataclismo, a horde defense RTS with a unique, LEGO-like base building mechanic. We touch on the aesthetics, the tactics, and the story, as well as Casey's latest indie recommendations for 3MA listeners.Casey's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/caseyexplosion Casey's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyExplosion Casey's Steam Curator Page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28340174-Casey-Explosion/ Get 20% off your first month at

en

01:52:59

Designer Notes 87: Caroline Marchal - Part 1

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/04/19

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Caroline Marchal, best known for her work on Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, and As Dusk Falls. They discuss whether narrative games should show all paths to players, should we care if characters walk up stairs correctly, and how Heavy Rain was built for non-gamers but enjoyed the most by gamers. This episode was recorded on September 6, 2024.Games discussed: Tetris, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Solid, Phantasmagoria, Grim

en

01:06:20

Three Moves Ahead 630 - Two Point Museum

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/03/17

Len, Mike, and Luke dust off their Indy hats and take a close look at Two Point Museum. We discuss how it's such a great fit for the formula Two Point Studios built over their previous two games, how you make a museum game without presenting a tacit endorsement of grave robbing, and why crime never pays.

en

01:05:07

Three Moves Ahead 629 - RTS Shoutcasting and...

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/02/27

This week, Len sits down with Philip "BeoMulf" Mulford, a professional RTS esports caster. We discuss how you get that gig, how you develop the skills for it, and how it compares to traditional sportscasting. We also dig in a bit to the recent 0.3.0 patch for Stormgate and how the first big graphical refresh, automated control groups, and fully rebindable hotkeys change the experience.NOTE: We found out after the show was recorded that Philip will be handling the main stream for the CHOC

en

01:21:27

Three Moves Ahead 628 - Sid Meier's Civilization 7

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/02/15

Three Moves Ahead 628 - Sid Meier's Civilization 7 by Idle Thumbs

en

01:09:33

Three Moves Ahead 627 - Look Ahead to 2025

Idle Thumbs ·

2025/01/27

Len, Mike, and Nerium gaze down the road ahead at the most interesting and promising strategy games coming out (we hope) in 2025, from the heavy-hitters to some indie oddities.Games Discussed: Civilization 7, Kaiserpunk, Two Point Museum, Tempest Rising, Alliance of the Sacred Suns, Europa Universalis 5, Beyond These Stars, City Tales - Medieval Era, Demonschool, Falling Frontier, Dino Lords, Kingmakers, Menace, Slay the Spire 2

en

01:03:16

Three Moves Ahead 626 - 2024 Wrap-Up

Idle Thumbs ·

2024/12/31

Len, Mike, and Sin gather 'round to sing the praises of our favorite strategy and tactics games of the year, as well as trying to identify the ever-elusive narrative throughline.

en

544 results

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