State of the Arc Podcast
Our podcast breaks down the techniques of great storytelling across our favorite games, movies, literature, and music. I also occasionally upload music I've arranged or composed!
Episodes
February 23, 2026 • 133 mins
The way you critique games says far more about your thinking, your communication, and even your relationships than you might realize.
In this episode, we break down what good criticism actually looks like, why so many people approach it the wrong way, and how learning to critique art properly can genuinely improve your life. From heated online debates to everyday conversations, the skills behind thoughtful criticism are the same s...
Mark as Played
February 15, 2026 • 63 mins
I always felt like I was born in the wrong time. I grew up on science fiction-- Star Trek, Star Gate, Star Wars--but I knew I would never live in a world where I could actually sit in the cockpit of a spaceship and travel to other planets. Now I've come as close as I ever will! After finally diving into VR, with games like No Man’s Sky, Elite Dangerous, Resident Evil 4, and Half-Life: Alyx, I had a moment that genuinely surprised m...
Mark as Played
February 8, 2026 • 93 mins
Meta cut several studios and fired over a thousand people who were working on Virtual Reality and now we're wondering if VR will EVER catch on. What are the biggest obstacles to VR finally catching on, or will it just never be something the majority of people feel comfortable with? Join us and Keith Comito of Lifespan.io to discuss THE FUTURE. Thanks for watching and support us on Patreon if you like what we do! https://www.patreon...
Mark as Played
February 1, 2026 • 77 mins
Another week, another quote from a Final Fantasy developer that made people on X mad. We give our take on what Hamaguchi actually said, then take a look at an AI-slop Zelda trailer and talk about Dragon Quest's 40th anniversary!
Time Codes
01. Intro (0:00)
02. FF7R Director Made The Internet Mad Again (1:11)
03. AI Slop Zelda Trailer (24:16)
04. Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary (1:01:20)
Mark as Played
January 25, 2026 • 79 mins
We got to play the demo of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined and absolutely loved it! But then, of course, we got curious about the original DQ7 game and so Casen started playing it and.... Wow. These games are quite different. If you are new to the series or a seasoned veteran of all things Dragon Quest, we'd love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this new reimagined version of the game? If you enjoy deep-dive game design anal...
Mark as Played
January 18, 2026 • 95 mins
If there is no spoon, then what's to keep you from bending it with your mind? Or is it you that bends instead? Here is part 2 of our analysis of That Matrix! Will Neo save the planet? Find out in not this movie but the ones after but this movie is still awesome! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjG...
Mark as Played
January 13, 2026 • 106 mins
For this episode, we decided to go back through all of the breadcrumbs left by the storytellers throughout acts 1 and 2. Don't watch this episode if you have not yet gotten to the very start of act 3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is such a blast to play! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
...
Mark as Played
January 6, 2026 • 106 mins
What if we're all in The Matrix....? Are we in a simulation? How is the word "simulation" best defined? Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc
**Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id...
Mark as Played
December 30, 2025 • 141 mins
We play through the end of Act 2 and stop right at the very beginning of Act 3. This is where much of the games mystery is revealed and we can finally talk more openly about what's been going on in this game the whole time. We fight the Paintress and discover her secrets. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIz...
Mark as Played
December 25, 2025 • 104 mins
Act 2 kicks off with a quest for the heart of the paintress. We meet Monocco and get to have a lot more fun before a very dark and unfortunate ending. We're glad you can join us as we discuss this roller coaster of emotions. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: ht...
Mark as Played
December 16, 2025 • 65 mins
We meet the man from the beach again, and things go poorly for the party. Act I ends and Act 2 begins without much hope. But we do meet a new character named Verso. The party has to regroup and move forward despite having even less chance than ever of completing their task. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4g...
Mark as Played
December 9, 2025 • 107 mins
We talk everything up to the end of Act 1 today! We didn't actually get there in this episode but we still threw in a thing or two from that part. We meet Esquie and the Gestrals who are just a joy to be around. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcl...
Mark as Played
December 2, 2025 • 125 mins
In this episode, we go from the beach through the flying waters. We only got about halfway through Act I. For next week, finish Act I completely. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc
**Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple....
Mark as Played
November 25, 2025 • 88 mins
For the start of our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 analysis we take a slightly different tact than we have previously. Instead of doing Dev History first, we're just diving right into the game itself! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/reson...
Mark as Played
November 16, 2025 • 90 mins
JRPGs weren’t born where you think. We unpack the origins of the term, the genre, and the influences that defined it.
In this episode of State of the Arc, Mike and Casen begin a multi-episode deep dive into the history of JRPGs—where the genre came from, how it evolved, and why it took the shape it did. We’re joined by Pat Holleman, author of the Reverse Design series and director of the indie RPG Quartet, whose research into genr...
Mark as Played
November 9, 2025 • 116 mins
While Final Fantasy 13 is often praised for its graphics, it is the music that really elevates this game to a whole new level. The complexity and creativity on display here by Masashi Hamauzu make this soundtrack a spectacular treat for the ears. We spend more time going through this soundtrack than I think any other game yet. It is just so textured and dynamic and intriguing. Hope you enjoy! If you care to support us, here's a lin...
Mark as Played
November 4, 2025 • 87 mins
With the release of Dragon Quest I & II HD 2D, I decided to try out all the previous versions of the game to compare. What I found is an endlessly charming little RPG that I have absolutely fallen in love with. While I've played many Dragon Quest games before (DQ5, DQ8, DQ9, and DQ11), it's the first game that has now made me a fan for life. What a fantastic game and what a great remake to introduce a new generation to this timeles...
Mark as Played
November 2, 2025 • 21 mins
In Episode 0 of our analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we discuss our approach to this analysis as well as the reason for a delay in uploading the first episode. This game is amazing AND YOU SHOULD PLAY IT OK! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://sou...
Mark as Played
October 30, 2025 • 144 mins
If you beat the game in all 3 routes, you get what is typically called the true ending of the game. Luckily, playing Eternal Darkness 3 times over is a treat, not a chore. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc
**Listen On iTunes*...
Mark as Played
October 26, 2025 • 77 mins
Eternal Darkness deserves your attention this Halloween season. Why is this game not up there with Resident Evil and Silent Hill in terms of sequels and movies and the like? We get into how this masterpiece of a horror game found itself on the outside looking in. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHj...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com