The Game Deflators

In this episode of The Game Deflators, John and Ryan welcome special guest Barry Carenza from PM Studios! Barry dives into the exciting lineup of upcoming titles from PM Studios and gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how ESRB ratings are set up for video games—yes, there's more to it than just slapping a letter on the box.

The trio then tackles the latest legal drama surrounding Palworld, including updates on the Nintendo ...

In this episode of The Game Deflators podcast, hosts John and Ryan unpack a wide range of gaming topics with their signature blend of insight and nostalgia. They kick things off by sharing their latest game pickups and current playthroughs, offering listeners a peek into what’s hot on their consoles right now.

The conversation takes a chilling turn as they revisit survival horror staples like Silent Hill and Dead Space, before divi...

In this electrifying episode of the Game Deflators podcast, John and Ryan sit down with legendary game designer and animator Brian Colin, the creative force behind arcade classics like Rampage and Arch Rivals. Brian takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the unpredictable early days of game development—described as the "Wild West" of the industry—and shares how a twist of fate launched his career in gaming.

From the explosi...

This week on The Game Deflators, John and Ryan kick things off with their latest gaming pickups and a spoiler-filled discussion of Silent Hill f. The guys break down the ending and share whether it lived up to the series’ legacy—or left them scratching their heads.

Next, it’s on to Magic: The Gathering, where recent comments from Mark Rosewater have reignited debate around Universes Beyond. Is Hasbro enriching the game with crossov...

In this episode of the Game Deflators Podcast, John and Ryan share their hands-on impressions of Silent Hill f, discussing their current progress in the game and how its unsettling atmosphere and narrative twists are stacking up so far.  They also dive into industry-shaking rumors, including speculation that Xbox may be shifting away from console hardware to focus exclusively on cloud gaming, and the possibility of a new ad-support...

In this week’s episode of The Game Deflators, John and Ryan dive headfirst into the eerie world of Silent Hill f, sharing their early impressions and how the game’s unsettling progression is shaping up. But the horror doesn’t stop there—Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set is spinning a web of disappointment with weak pre-release numbers and sluggish sales.

The duo also tackles a major retail shake-up: Costco’s decision to pull al...

In this episode of The Game Deflators podcast, John and Ryan dive into a whirlwind of gaming topics. 

Starting with their latest Magic: The Gathering pickups and Ray's experience with the Spiderman pre-release. The duo then shares what they’ve been playing lately, with John visiting the gritty fantasy world of The Witcher 1 and Ryan eagerly exploring the atmospheric depths of Hollow Knight: Silksong. 

The conversation heats up as t...

This week on the Game Deflators Podcast, John dives into some current gen PlayStation 2 accessories and his recent play of Prince of Persia Sands of Time. Meanwhile, Ryan’s deep into Silk Song, and he’s got thoughts—lots of them. 

The duo also tackles Nintendo’s latest round of controversial patents, raising eyebrows across the gaming community. From overbroad language to stifling creativity, John and Ryan break down what these mov...

This week, John and Ryan kick things off with some fresh gaming pickups. John dives into his full playthrough of Neva, sharing thoughts on its emotional beats and visual storytelling, and gives a first-timer’s take on Beyblade Episode 1—no nostalgia goggles, just curiosity about the hype.

Ryan’s been hands-on with Hollow Knight: Silksong, and while the gameplay hits hard, the guys unpack the early reviews and why some folks aren’t ...

This week on the Game Deflators Podcast, John and Ryan dive into a whirlwind of gaming goodness. Ryan returns from PAX West 2025 with fresh impressions, indie highlights, and a few surprises from the show floor. Meanwhile, John wraps up his journey through Final Fantasy VI with final thoughts on its legacy and storytelling, then jumps into the lush, emotional world of Neva PS5 for a first look at its gameplay and tone.

The duo also...

In this week’s episode of The Game Deflators, John and Ryan dive into their latest pickups—from video games to spicy new Magic: The Gathering cards—and share updates on what’s been dominating their playtime lately. But the real chaos begins with the ripple effect of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release date announcement, as developers scramble to dodge the indie titan’s shadow.

The duo also break down Critical Role’s Season 4 decision...

This week on The Game Deflators Podcast – John and Ryan dive into the cardboard chaos of Magic: The Gathering, unpacking their latest pickups and sounding off on the absurdity of collector booster prices. Is Wizards of the Coast pricing out its own fanbase?

Meanwhile, John shares his progress on Final Fantasy VI and The Witcher, revealing whether pixel nostalgia or monster hunting is winning his attention.

In the news, Nintendo sti...

In this week’s episode of The Game Deflators, John and Ryan dive into a treasure trove of gaming updates, pickups, and hot takes:

Magic: The Gathering fans won’t want to miss the duo’s latest haul from Edge of Eternities, plus an update on the closure of Strixhaven Year Three in their long-running Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

The Game Deflators also explore Hasbro’s initiative to attract more women to Magic: The Gathering, anal...

On this week’s Game Deflators episode, John and Ryan unbox their latest gaming hauls and share what’s hitting their shelves. The duo then dives into Wizards of the Coast's latest attempt to heal wounds in the D&D community by offering virtual tabletop map access across DnD Beyond. Is it a gesture of goodwill, or just clever cartography?

Next, the guys give their unfiltered reactions to the newest Nintendo Direct, unpacking the ...

In this week's episode of The Game Deflators, John and Ryan tackle a dynamic mix of gaming news, nostalgic throwbacks, and anime hype. They kick things off with a breakdown of the latest One Piece anime episode and dive into their current progress reading the manga. Ryan then shares his newest Magic The Gathering pickups as John contemplates his next MTG purchases.

The duo then dissect a recent job listing showing Sony’s push for m...

John and Ryan are back at it with a jam-packed episode of gaming goodness and industry buzz. Things kick off with their latest gaming-related pickups and what’s currently stealing time from their backlogs.

Then it’s onto the mystical halls of Strixhaven, as John leads a recap of their ongoing D&D campaign discussing enchanted puzzles, morally murky professors, and all the magical mayhem you'd hope for from an academic arcane ad...

This week on the Game Deflators Podcast, John and Ryan share what they've been playing lately, swapping thoughts on new digital adventures and long-time favorites. John recaps his Crit Hit experience packed with tabletop energy and provides an update from the duos ongoing Strathaven Dungeons and Dragons campaign—expect magical mayhem and unexpected twists.

The discussion shifts toward the industry as they explore a new study showin...

In this episode, John and Ryan bring a fastball of nostalgia and digital reckoning to your speakers. The duo dives into EA’s announcement to shut down Anthem's servers in January 2026, dissecting the legacy of a game that promised big but struggled to soar. Then it's a deep-tech discussion as they unravel the silent killer behind your favorite handheld and console games—bit rot in SSDs affecting Nintendo 3DS, Vita, Switch, and even...

In this episode of the Game Deflators Podcast, John and Ryan unpack an action-packed week in gaming with a lineup that spans kart racing chaos, collectible card surprises, corporate culture wins, and a splash of retro nostalgia. 

They kick things off with the wild new Sonic Racing CrossWorlds where iconic franchises like Minecraft, TMNT, and Avatar: The Last Airbender collide on the track. The conversation then shifts to cardboard ...