{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6786cf573ceecdbe85eac067/693b28e3593d8f20b60cfcfe?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Episode 24: They Play Horses, Don't They?","description":"<p>In this episode we discuss the (frankly, needlessly) controversial HORSES, an Italian surrealist horror game that has been banned from Steam and, latterly, the Epic Game Store, and boy everyone and their mother has been yapping about it. What do we think of Steam's ban? Is nudity ever okay? And what's up with this Ian dude? (Answers: Steam can do what they want but this is still bad; no, live in shame you freaks; it is beyond the remit of this podcast to discover that). </p><p><br></p><p>A big thank you to God Ribbon for our music, Marsh Davies for our art, and our Patron supporters, who are all too hot for TV. You can share comments, suggestions, and NO FEEDBACK WHATSOEVER to <a href=\"mailto:totalplaytimepod@gmail.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">totalplaytimepod@gmail.com</a>.</p><p>You can listen to the episode directly right here, or find it in your pod catching apps.</p><p>iTunes:&nbsp;<a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/total-playtime/id1790845149\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/total-playtime/id1790845149</a></p><p>Spotify:&nbsp;<a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/1jPv8y9BRzqATFT7zXRxKW\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://open.spotify.com/show/1jPv8y9BRzqATFT7zXRxKW</a></p><p>RSS:&nbsp;<a href=\"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6786cf573ceecdbe85eac067\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6786cf573ceecdbe85eac067</a></p><p>Acast:&nbsp;<a href=\"https://shows.acast.com/total-playtime\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://shows.acast.com/total-playtime</a></p><p><br></p><p><u>Links!</u></p><p>*deep breath* Horses got banned from Steam, in events described by the devs <a href=\"https://www.horses.wtf/BannedFromSteam/index.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a> and supplement by a <a href=\"https://www.eurogamer.net/valve-responds-with-additional-context-following-horses-steam-ban-controversy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">statement from Valve</a>; Eurogamer also further interviewed Pietro Righi Riva, studio director, <a href=\"https://www.eurogamer.net/its-extremely-frustrating-and-also-fcked-up-one-of-the-worlds-best-indie-studios-is-facing-shock-closure-following-confounding-steam-ban\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. The game was also yoinked from Epic and briefly delisted by Humble (a summary from the Verge <a href=\"https://www.theverge.com/news/837278/horses-banned-steam-epic-games-store\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>). This kerfuffle despite the fact that most people who play the game <a href=\"https://aftermath.site/horses-indie-game-banned-steam-epic-review-impressions-santa-ragione/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">kind of shrug at the content</a> (Edwin, at our old stomping ground, seemed to like it, and <a href=\"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/horses-review\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">his review</a> provides a lot of context). Also, Ian Bogost rose from the dead <a href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/ibogost.com/post/3m7aomsg7w22w\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">to remind us</a> that games shouldn't have stories anyway, and if they do they're bad. Horses is available on <a href=\"https://santaragione.itch.io/horses\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Itch</a>, <a href=\"https://www.humblebundle.com/store/agecheck/horses?\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Humble</a> and <a href=\"https://www.gog.com/en/game/horses\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">GOG</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><u>Games!</u></p><p>Brendy has been shredding in <a href=\"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1263240/Skate_Story/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Skate Story</a>. Jonty has been playing <a href=\"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/The_Sance_of_Blake_Manor/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Séance of Blake Manor</a> and is incorrect about it. Santa Ragione's website with links to their other games is <a href=\"https://www.santaragione.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><u>Recommendations!</u></p><p>Brant recommends <a href=\"https://ooh.directory/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Ooh Directory</a> (via <a href=\"https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/google-is-desperate-for-us-to-forget-the-simple-joy-of-the-original-internet-links/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PCGamer</a>), Jonty recommends internet newsletter <a href=\"https://maxread.substack.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Read Max</a>, and I recommend cooking channel <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@KazMielony\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Kaz Cooks</a>.</p>","author_name":"Total Playtime"}