Exploring the Frustrations Surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II

Julian Meush November 16, 2017

Star Wars Battlefront II officially launches tomorrow. What should have been an overwhelmingly exciting day for gamers and Star Wars fans alike is instead mired in a controversy. Microtransactions, specifically loot boxes, have reportedly poisoned the games multiplayer and people aren't happy. I look at the reason why so many gamers are frustrated by EA's microtransaction strategy.

What EA's Star Wars "Update" Really Means

Julian Meush October 18, 2017

This week EA announced that there would be major changes coming to their much anticipated action-adventure Star Wars game. Along with that news we learned that they would be closing Visceral Games, the studio who had been working on the game since 2013. I examine what their curt press release says about the future of the game, the publisher and the games industry as a whole.

Playstation VR Impressions

Julian Meush August 16, 2016

Playstation brought their VR headset to town so I swung by their demo booth to check it out. From underwater shark encounters to 3D puzzle games Sony came with a diverse line-up of VR titles. Not everything blew me away though, check out my impressions to learn more about my experience with what many people are calling "the future of gaming".

Pokémon GO: One Trainers Journey to "Catch em' All"

Julian Meush July 19, 2016

Pokémon GO has taken the world by storm. It’s boosted Nintendo’s stock by over 25% and it hasn’t even been released worldwide. With over 10 million daily active users and growing it’s quickly become the newest mobile gaming craze, and one that looks to stick around a lot longer than Flappy Bird. Having only just been released in Canada on July 17th, we here at the ToB Podcast are about a week behind the phenomenon that’s been sweeping the US. But now that it’s here and I’ve had just under 48 hours to sink my teeth into it I’m ready to document my experiences going forward. Stay tuned to this blog post, as I’ll be updating it as the days go by with my latest thoughts and new screen grabs as I try to catch em’ all.

Harnessing Gaming's Potential

Daniel D'Souza March 2, 2015

Some exciting food for thought. We're all aware of the problem solving and coordination skills video games can endow, this TED talk considers other more unorthodox benefits and their social applications.

American Redemption - Expolring the Similarities Between American Sniper and Red Dead Redemption

Julian Meush January 28, 2015

While watching American Sniper something dawned on me. I'd seen this story before, in a game I'd played years ago. Red Dead Redemption was released in 2010 and remains one of my favorite games of all time. After realizing the similarities between the film and the game I jumped at the chance to look at the phenomenon that is American Sniper through a Red Dead coloured lens.

July 30, 2026

Bonus Episode - ToB Film Club - The Warriors (1979)

Another cult classic, 'The Warriors' brings a distinctly unique sense of style and grittiness that feels right at home on the grimy streets of 1970's New York City. The gang-centered heightened reality of the film feels almost Shakespearian in nature, as if you're watching an mythological journey fraught with peril of all kinds - violence, temptation, and the law. This movie was selected as a double-feature of sorts with Nolan's recently released 'The Odyssey' and the comparisons between these stories feels apt. At the end of the day it's just people trying to get home and doing their best to overcome the challenges the world throws at them. The stakes are clear, and while the nature of good guys vs bad guys is more than a bit muddied here (Ajax... dude, wtf?) the thrilling chases, bombastic action sequences and the long awaited final confrontation are all working at a high level (despite some pretty flat performances and lackluster dialogue). While there are certain elements of the movie that DO NOT age well (looking at you gender politics), the core of the film remains strong and executed well. Plus, as an added bonus, the soundtrack for this movie absolutely slaps! This is a fun ride and it's easy to see why it's endured over these many years.

July 23, 2026

Episode 207 - Avengers: Doomsday Trailer + News Roundup

We're into the full swing of blockbuster season. With 'Obsession' breaking box office records, 'The Odyssey' now filling IMAX theatres, and 'Spider-Man' right around the corner, movies feel very "back" right now. Plus, with Comic-Con next week Marvel released their first full-length 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer. Julian and Matt try to decide if the hype is there, which feels crazy when considering it's an Avengers movie after all, but that might speak more to the situation Marvel currently finds themselves in. Meanwhile, DC doesn't want to be left behind, releasing a new trailer for 'Clayface' , which is shaping up to be a sneaky hit in the body-horror space (despite still not Batman). This all leads to Matt's idea that comic book movies should be treated like jury duty. Plus, a news rundown covering the passing of Sam Neil, Netflix updates (they're bad), some box office updates, and more!

June 25, 2026

Episode 206 - Shrek 5 or Austin Powers 4?

Time marches on and we all feel old. This week, 'Toy Story 5' hit theaters, and while reviews have been positive, it's crazy to think we're onto the fifth installment in that franchise. In a similar vein, we recently learned that Mike Myers is interested in returning to 'Austin Powers', on the heels of his appearance in the trailer for another fiver, 'Shrek 5' (which already has people in it's own tizzy). Matt and Julian debate the merits of either prospect, and then turn the page to stare into the abyss that is AI invading Hollywood. Plus a grab-bag of entertainment stories covering odd popcorn bowls, a Knicks documentary, a scrapped Palpatine show and much more! Finally, to wrap things up, a brief discussion on 'House of the Dragon' season 3 premiere, 'Obsession', 'The Furious', and 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (both in and out of concert).

May 27, 2026

SSSW - The Mandalorian and Grogu

It's hard to believe it's been so long since the last Star Wars movie hit theatres. After years of announcements, failed projects, and even a change in leadership at Lucasfilm, the first movie in nearly a decade is a follow-up to the first ever live action Star Wars show. Maybe that's fitting for a new era, under new management. The film itself is a fast paced, action-packed, adventure that hails back to the old serials that George Lucas loved. While it is certainly a fun time at the movies, with exciting set-pieces, characters inclusions from across the lore, all of which set on planets with diverse biomes (i.e. some of the things Star Wars does best). Unfortunately, the movie lacks compelling stakes, character depth (where's Din's arc?), much of any plot to speak of, or even a sense of real "importance" - and while that may be a bit intangible, it prompts the question: why was THIS movie the first to bring Star Wars back to feature films in almost a decade? Julian and Rachel try to answer that question and dive deep into all the nerdy details.

Exploring the Frustrations Surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II

What EA's Star Wars "Update" Really Means

Playstation VR Impressions

Pokémon GO: One Trainers Journey to "Catch em' All"

Harnessing Gaming's Potential

American Redemption - Expolring the Similarities Between American Sniper and Red Dead Redemption

Support the Show

REcent Episodes

Tower of Babble Podcast