PODCAST

Hot Button

Chronicling strange and interesting stories in the world of video games.

games & hobbies video games

All Episodes

01:23:01

Episode 122: “Hentai_Overflow” - The Time Bigoted...

Hot Button ·

2025/07/25

Today we take a trip back to 2021 to have a concerning conversation as well as share some insights on the insecurities and impermanence of online video game ecosystems. This along with witnessing, in two different examples, the worst of what can happen when your once beloved property is taken over by the dregs of the internet.

02:02:14

Episode 121: Not Like This - The Sad Story of Tony...

Hot Button ·

2025/06/13

Let us relive some trauma on this episode as we dig into the dark chapter of one of the absolute best franchises to ever grace gaming. Turns out that underfunding an inexperienced studio to tackle a major project in an unreasonable time frame is a poor path to success, who knew!

01:36:56

Episode 120: The Seven Deadly Sins of Dante’s Inferno

Hot Button ·

2025/03/28

Who’s ready to party like it’s Easter Sunday, because this week we’re going to get blasphemous and explore what is probably the most elaborate and insane PR campaign for a video game ever. Seven full months of religious-infused stunts destined to promote the character action title that time forgot. Ain’t no sunshine into these layers of Hell!

01:49:06

Episode 119: The Joy of Sex - A Hot Button Guide to...

Hot Button ·

2025/02/14

It’s an 18+ adults only Valentine’s Day special today as we break out the worst console ever made, the Philips CD-i, and recount the true story of when a “sex manual” from the early 70s was bizarrely adapted into an interactive video game from the early 90s. Not even the folks responsible can hide from us!

06:08:03

Hot Button’s 2024 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 2

Hot Button ·

2025/02/08

The discussions conclude as we find our answers to the four final categories: Best Surprise, Biggest Disappointment, Worst Game, and of course a collaborative list of the ten Best Games overall!Biggest Surprise 0:02:02 Most Disappointing 1:30:04 Worst Game 2:36:45 Best Game 3:26:21

05:58:17

Hot Button’s 2024 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 1

Hot Button ·

2025/01/30

This week begins our mission of naming the top of what gaming in 2024 had to offer. In our first half of the debates, we honor our picks for: Best Aesthetic, Best Story, Best Character, and (perhaps our personal favorite) Best Moment or Sequence. Let the arguments commence!Best Aesthetic 0:01:02 Best Narrative 1:12:38 Best Character 2:00:31 Best Moment or Sequence 3:03:46

02:05:42

Episode 118: Hot Button Year-Six Edition

Hot Button ·

2024/11/29

Woo lad! It’s been a whopping six years and nearly 120 episodes! You know what that means. Today we reinvestigate the back catalog to see what’s new with our topics. It’s honestly surprising just how much can change in the last 12 months. Come find out!

01:35:11

Episode 117: “Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!” - The...

Hot Button ·

2024/10/31

We close out the spookiest of all holidays with the unusual tale of how a fun 80s arcade shooter came to be! That was before it killed someone, played a role in a homicide case, and found itself in the middle of multiple conspiracy theories!

02:08:20

Episode 116: This is a Brutal Blood Sport! - The...

Hot Button ·

2024/10/19

Halloween season has officially started so this week we get our hands dirty with Rockstar’s found footage murder simulator… classic? From its controversial portrayal of a deranged man forced into the seedy underground world of snuff film creation to its divisive launch, ensuing bans, and connection to a heinous real-life crime! We cover it all! Not to mention provide a nuanced discussion of using violence as a form of artistic expression and social commentary! Hooray!

02:42:48

Episode 115: Oh, Bugger - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Hot Button ·

2024/09/30

It’s our most boob-filled discussion to date as we dissect the development and release of one of the biggest box office hits to ever be based on a classic video game! A blunder filled with interesting casting choices, over the top wire work, cute snow dogs, and an eccentric soundtrack to boot.

01:43:50

Hot Button Movie Commentary: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Hot Button ·

2024/09/20

Come join the crew in watching the 2001 action-adventure blockbuster hit starring Angelina Jolie! And trust us when I say that you won’t want to take on this task alone… because this film sucks! Weak characterization, sloppy editing, and poor cinematography are only the start of this dud. But don’t worry, our audio track is here to spice things up and save you from utter chaos! Then you’ll have all the context ya need for when we dig into its full production on the next episode. Stay tuned!

01:22:30

Episode 114: Microtransactions #6

Hot Button ·

2024/09/06

We got a fresh batch of weird little stories for the pod this week as we discuss the tangled web of digital music licensing, interactive cures to fight real world disease, and what happens when a public wedding proposal inside of a popular video game goes awry.

02:06:00

Episode 113: The History of Valve Part 2 (Episode Two)

Hot Button ·

2024/08/02

And we’re back with our deep dive through the Valve timeline! This week we take a step into the realm of virtual reality as well as explore the mega company’s most recent success following the release of their SteamDeck handheld series!

01:04:36

Episode 112: The History of Valve Part 2 (Episode One)

Hot Button ·

2024/06/28

Today we dig into Valve Software’s big foray into not only developing their in house operating system, but also their very own home hardware. Everything from the Steam Link, to the Steam Controller, to the Steam Machine and everything in between!

01:11:36

Episode 111: The Failure of the Coleco Chameleon

Hot Button ·

2024/05/17

What do you get when you combine a brand new retro-style system, a botched crowdfunding campaign, and a bunch of tricksters? Why you get the Coleco Chameleon of course! The cartridge based home console that never was, from a team now only known for their deceptive attempt to fool a demographic who was all well too informed to fall for it.

01:38:40

Episode 110: The Dumb History of Flappy Bird

Hot Button ·

2024/04/22

Ten years ago, the popularity and drama of the silly little mobile app Flappy Bird was inescapable. On this episode we investigate its suspicious origins, controversies, bizarre release and unrelease, the ensuing wave of copycats, as well as find out what happens when a creator is tormented by his very own invention.

01:09:40

Episode 109: Don’t Do the Do - The Perils of the 2014...

Hot Button ·

2024/04/05

It’s a good ol’ fashioned reality show nightmare this week as we dig into the time America’s favorite soft drink sponsored a gaming television program full of popular faces and yet, production failed so hard that it never even made it to air!

02:15:50

Episode 108: Suck It Down - The History of Diakatana

Hot Button ·

2024/03/08

This week John Romero is about to make you his bitch as we explore the troubled development and release of one of the largest high profile blunders ever to grace our industry. So join us as we hop back to the optimistic days of the mid 1990s and show you just where this epic sci-fi FPS, created by some of the biggest names in games, went horribly wrong.

03:22:47

Hot Button’s 2023 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 2

Hot Button ·

2024/02/14

We’re back with our second and final part on the best (and worst) of 2023! Why not celebrate Valentine’s Day by listening to us argue four more awards categories, including… Biggest Surprise, Most Disappointing, Worst Game, and of course a ranked top 10 of the Best of the Best!Biggest Surprise - 00:01:45 Most Disappointing - 00:37:53 Worst Game - 01:47:30 Best Game - 02:03:51

04:28:11

Hot Button’s 2023 Game of the Year Deliberations Part 1

Hot Button ·

2024/01/31

With 2024 now upon us, what do you say we take a look back and discuss our top releases of last year. This week we kick it off with awards for Best Aesthetic, Best Narrative, Best Character, and Best Moment! Be sure to return for the remaining categories in Part 2 of 2 coming soon! Note - There will be story spoilers during certain conversations and we will label where to skip ahead in the time codes below. Best Aesthetic - 00:02:10 Best Narrative - 00:53:49 Best Character - 01:52:22 Best

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