This week we talk about Brett’s continued adventures in Monster Sanctuary, Walker's experience with Roboquest which is an early access title on Game Pass that plays like a FPS Risk of Rain 2. Walker also shares about the PS5 and a random smattering of other titles. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspod Jo…

This week Walker talks about his time with the recent hit Neon White. Neon White is an FPS parkour platformer with lots of style and speedrunner like mechanics that make for a really fun experience. Neon White is unique in a variety of ways and delivers on all of them and the sound track by Machine Girl wraps the entire game in a wonderful mix of s…

Tell us if you have heard this one before. A metroidvania, a monster tamer, and a JRPG all walk into a bar... Ok there isn't a joke like that BUT if those three had a night to remember then 9 months later we would have Monster Sanctuary. The game is made with love in all aspects and delivers an awesome platforming, creature taming and battling, RPG…

This week Brett and Walker dive into Maneater. Maneater is a unique title in which the player assumes the role of a powerful and deadly shark in Georgia. Walker briefly tried the game a year or so ago and Brett recently completed the main campaign. Maneater brings about a variety of responses both good and bad. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Stick…

This week we Brett and Walker talk about the bold and delightful MMO Project: Gorgon. Project: Gorgon offers a sense of discovery and exploration through its sizable web of skills and abilities. Brett and Walker share their favorite ways to play and how the game offers a compelling PvE adventure experience. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a …

This week Brett shares stories from his recent trip to the Kinetic Fire Retreat and we chat about the importance of becoming comfortable with failure when learning something new. This is a common theme in gaming as well in something like Elden Ring or Starcraft 2 ladder. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puys…

This week we talk about the enormously popular board game Terraforming Mars. The board game version also supports single player which is not common in all board games. Terraforming Mars features a variety of strategy layers and replayability in what is effectively a 4X board game. There is also a digital version available on PC which is basically a…

This week we dive into a variety of MMOs including Crowfall, Mortal Online 2, Book of Travels, Lost Ark, and Guild Wars 2. Each MMO has something unique to offer and its own twist on a genre that has seen immediate flops and decades long worlds (or galaxies *EVE* ahem) for players to be immersed in. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of C…

This week we talk about Brett's recent vacation to the Gamer's Ranch in central Missouri. Brett and about 20 other friends stayed at the Gamer's Ranch for a few days and played some awesome co-op and single player board games, got to see what pinball looks like in 2022 and had access to just about every type of game under the sun. Episode notes: Bu…

This week we talk about the latest expansion pack for Risk of Rain 2, "Survivors of the Void". We also touch on the fun auto battler Super Auto Pets and look forward to the new Rocket League season. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspod Join the discussion! All of our links including twitter, discord, you…

This week we talk about the long-shambling zombie survival title Project Zomboid from developer The Indie Stone. Project Zomboid has been in (and remains in) early access on Steam for close to a decade. Project Zomboid is a terrific example of Early Access done right and was featured in an epsiode we did in November of 2020. In the last several mon…

This week Brett and Walker talk about #VampireSurvivors, the indy hit on PC and mobile from developer poncle. Vampire Survivors is an incredible value combining Castlevania style art (and floor chicken) into a time survival game with minimalistic gameplay and roguelite elements. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.…

This week Brett and Walker talk about Assassin's Creed Origins which served as the first title in the series reboot. Shifting to an every other year release schedule and incorporating a much heavier emphasis on RPG elements, AC: Origins is heralded a hallmark of the series. Walker recently completed the game and shares his thoughts. Episode notes: …

This week Brett and Walker talk about the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft and why they think its a win. Brett and Walker also dive into Halo Infinite and talk about the campaign and multiplayer goodness that Halo has delivered for 20 years. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspod Join the di…

This week Brett and Walker dive into a couple of awesome gaming related TV shows on Netflix. The first is the live action The Witcher which recently released season 2. Next we talk about Arcane, the new series based on League of Legends. Neither Brett or Walker has deep experience with the gaming franchises but found both shows to be awesome for a …

This week Brett and Walker talk about Supreme Commander which originally released in 2007. Despite its age Supreme Commander brings ideas and mechanics to the RTS genre that are still not replicated in other titles. Enormous maps, a continuous campaign structure, and a unique multiplayer experience that still has a faithful and competitive player b…

Brett and Walker look back over the last year and review the moments from gaming and the podcast that stood out. There were lots of awesome guests on the show in 2021 as well as plenty of titles to look back on, what did you like most from 2021? Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspod Join the discussion! A…

This week Brett and Walker talk about Walker's new gaming PC and what he has been enjoying on the new rig. Ark Survival Evolved finally runs at max settings without a hitch and DOOM Eternal has never looked so good. Despite the new hardware Hexcells Infinite also gets some more love. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://k…

This week Brett and Walker talk about the indie delight Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator. Brett has yearned for years to play a proper alchemy game in which the emphasis is on discovering and creating potions rather than just running a shop. Potion Craft delivers in many ways and still being in early access is sure to only improve. Developer Nicep…

This week Brett and Walker discuss Blizzard's fall from grace. While events about the workplace culture have dominated headlines this year and driven many to seek work or play elsewhere, we wanted to explore the degradation in Blizzard's gaming catalogue. A company that constantly pushed the envelope with innovation has failed to innovate in a mean…

This week Brett and Walker talk about Walker's recent purchase of a Nintendo Switch. Walker is currently playing Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart, and Smash Bros with a few other titles in the mix. Will Walker ever complete a game on the Switch? Will an MMO come to the Switch to satisfy Walker's constant MMO thirst? Listen in and decide for yourself!…

This week Brett and Walker talk about the incredibly engaging puzzle game Hexcells Infinite. Combining elements of sodoku and minesweeper along with its own unique ideas Hexcells Infinite shows that games can be meaningful and engaging even without cutscenes or character arcs. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.co…

This week Brett and Walker talk about Crowfall the MMO that released in July 2021. Walker has been eagerly awaiting Crowfall as it offers a variety of unique ideas and systems that could prove to make it the best version of a sandbox MMO. Walker has also cohosts The Crowfall Podcast which shares stories and perspectives from the world of Crowfall. …

This week we are joined by Starcraft Legend Artosis. One half of the legendary GSL casting duo "Tastosis", Artosis has been living in South Korea for over a decade casting the highest level Starcraft 2 tournament in the world. Artosis shares about his life prior to moving to Korea, what it was like in the mid 2000s moving to Korea with ambition, a …

This week Brett and Walker talk about the brilliance of Horizon Zero Dawn. Visually Horizon Zero Dawn is a striking a satisfying game with the robot wildlife and dinosaur like creatures that the player encounters. Mechanically the game is fun to play and perhaps most impressively the game manages to tell a post apocalyptical story in completely inn…

This week Brett and Walker have an interview with longtime Starcraft 2 Pro Nina from PsiStorm Gaming. Nina talks about her journey into professional gaming, living in team houses, what separates top level ladder players with the pros, and what she is pursuing now outside of gaming. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-…

This week Brett and Walker chat the endless creativity and variety in Starcraft 2 with BeNeFiT. BeNeFiT is a Master's level player and former team manager in Starcraft 2. BeNeFiT has played Starcraft 2 since he was 9 years old and loves getting into his opponents head and finding innovative ways to solve the endless situations found in the Starcraf…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Chris Mango the developer of a new 16 Bit JRPG "Mango Mischief" which is coming to Steam in 2022. Chris talks about the interesting approaches he is using in Mango Mischief from the perspective of both game mechanics and story. Chris also dives into the games that inspire him, growing up with gaming, and the…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Starcraft 2 caster and streamer Philip 'BeoMulf' Mulford. BeoMulf talks about his journey into Starcraft 2 casting, getting to Masters level in ladder and then leaving the game for 5 years only to return to play at a similar level and getting back into casting. BeoMulf also talks about his pursuit of a Ph.D …

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Bryan "Gwop" Andersen. Bryan started as a professional gamer before moving on to work for the ESL helping to put on gaming shows around the world. Most recently Bryan has become a part owner of PSISTORM Gaming which features pro players across a variety of titles. Bryan has fascinating stories from his time …

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Tom "Raiden" Weiss who started playing Starcraft 2 at eight years old and was coaching players through the ranks in his early teens. Raiden currently balances playing Starcraft, learning about investing, and pursuing a double masters degree. Raiden talks about the similarities he sees between gaming and inve…

Pick Up Your Sticks has hit episode 100!! This week Brett and Walker are so excited to welcome long time supporter and fan of Pick Up Your Sticks, Chris Johnson. Chris has supported the show since it started and is himself a lifelong gamer. Chris joins the show to share his journey of gaming, what games he plays these days, and why gaming matters t…

This week Brett and Walker share the delight of Subnautica and its improved successor Subnautica: Below Zero. While on the surface the Subnautica games look like other survival games the largely underwater atmosphere, clear narrative, and lack of persistent combat really set it apart from other sandbox titles. Both games are great and certainly wor…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Creighton Olsen who is a world class Starcraft 2 caster, tournament organizer, and wildly entertaining personality on twitch. Creighton has an incredible story taking him around the globe and a background in theatre that empowers him to bring a professional quality to his entertainment that is first class. C…

This week Walker talks about his return to Burning Crusade Classic and all of the fun and weirdness that comes with playing a version of WoW that he played 16 years ago the first time it released. Walker then shares his excitement about a new MMO called Crowfall that is releasing in July with some interesting ideas to solve longstanding problems wi…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Nathan Lawrence "Nathanias" Fabrikant who is a professional commentator and caster for Starcraft 2 on all of the biggest stages for the last decade. Nathanias decided to try his hand as casting matches and quickly found a natural talent and passion for what would become his career. Nathanias shares his story…

This week Brett and Walker talk about the indie strategy game Mindustry available on PC and mobile. Mindustry combines gameplay from Tower Defense, Real Time Strategy, and Logistics games to create a fun and unique experience can be completed in bite size chunks or extended play sessions. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: http…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by retired Starcraft 2 professional Dan "ViBE" Scherlong who had a long career as a Starcraft 2 pro before shifting to full time Twitch and YouTube content creation. ViBE has multiple iterations of the Bronze to GM series in Starcraft 2 which are an amazing place for any new or returning player to start from. E…

This week Brett and Walker discuss the complex and innovative title Loop Hero from developer Four Quarters and publisher Devolver Digital. Loop Hero combines staples from multiple genres to create a thoughtful, challenging, and rewarding experience that is truly like nothing else. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-f…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by professional Starcraft 2 player and Twitch Streamer JimRising. JimRising shares his journey into playing Starcraft 2 at a high level, the state of being a pro gamer and streamer, and how he was introduced into gaming growing up in Mexico. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.…

This week Brett shares the magic of two different Virtual Reality music related games. Beat Saber is a very popular rhythm and dance game with sweet light sabers that is more of a traditional game. Electronauts offers more of a music experience as there is no real way to win or lose. Both games are awesome experiences in VR and should be checked ou…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by Trevor Gray who is the founder and owner of the international multi title eSports organization and tournament organizer Genesis Gaming. Genesis Gaming has bases of operations in Europe, NA, South Korea & South Africa and features players in CS:GO, Dota 2, Hearthstone, and Starcraft 2. Trevor provides an insi…

This week Walker gushes about his love for the very popular title Hades. Hades is from Supergiant Games who have a track record of great titles the first major hit being Bastion. Hades checks every box including combat mechanics, character builds, beautiful art, great sound, and terrific writing. Hades strikes a balance that few games achieve and d…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by longtime Starcraft 2 pro Aleksandar "Beastyqt" Krstic. Beastyqt started gaming in his home of Serbia before moving to the United States in 2012 to pursue his dream of playing professional Starcraft 2. Beastyqt played professionally for many years before transitioning into creating content for Twitch and YouT…

This week Brett and Walker visit one of their least played genres, fighting games, with Injustice 2 and Lethal League Blaze. Injustice 2 features DC comic characters but is made by the same people that make Mortal Kombat so shares much of that DNA. Lethal League Blaze is a very different game that oozes style and a great aesthetic that Brett and Wa…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by veteran professional Starcraft 2 commentator Ravi "feardragon" Pareek. Feardragon has been casting professional Starcraft 2 on some of the biggest stages for several years. The discussion includes insight into feardragon's journey, his love of Starcraft, Celeste, and Smash Bros, along with how gaming can be …

This week Brett shares his thoughts on the enormously popular and polarizing Cyberpunk 2077. Brett found himself somewhere in the middle of the spectrum on his satisfaction with the game and while some portions were less than ideal in many ways the game succeeds. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/puyspod Join…

This week Brett and Walker are joined by special guest Barnabas "Skyler" Yu from Team eXon. Skyler has been playing Starcraft since his early childhood as his father played Broodwar and introduced Skyler to the game. Since then Skyler has logged countless hours of gameplay and enjoys streaming on Twitch and coaching when he isn't competing. Be sure…

This week Brett shares about his podcast Dungeons & Dinners which explores the fun and adventure had in both Dungeons & Dragons and cooking. Brett talks about his background with both topics, why they blend together so naturally, and what some of the themes of his episodes are. Brett also recently collaborated with Maps N Quests to create an advent…

This week Brett and Walker share their thoughts and experiences in the recently released and massively popular Valheim. Valheim is selling millions of copies, and with good reason, its one of the best takes on the survival adventure style genre that either Brett or Walker has ever seen. Episode notes: Buy Pick Up Your Sticks a Cup of Coffee: https:…