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🎮 Why does everything feel… mid? In Episode 99 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips tackle the rise of “MID” gaming—those overhyped, overpriced AAA titles that launch with huge budgets but land with a shrug.

From shallow gameplay loops and recycled formulas to live-service burnout and lazy sequels, we ask: Has gaming lost its edge, or have gamers just wised up?

🎙️ In This Episode:

• 🧠 What is “mid” gaming? Why the term is everywhere
• 💸 AAA games with billion-dollar budgets and C-tier effort
• 🔁 Copy-paste game design – Is innovation dead?
• 🔥 Our picks for the most “mid” games of the past 5 years
• ⚖️ Can indies and AA studios save gaming from creative collapse?

🔥 Highlights:

• Why marketing is now more polished than the games themselves
• From Skull and Bones to Redfall – how the mighty fall flat
• What “mid” means to casual vs hardcore gamers
• Our vision for what studios should focus on in 2025 and beyond

📢 Join the conversation! Are you sick of mediocre gaming experiences too? Like, comment, and subscribe to help revive gaming culture—one honest episode at a time.

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🎙️ In This Episode:

• 🎨 Clair Obscur’s stunning art direction – one of the best-looking RPGs ever?
• ⚔️ Turn-based combat reimagined – why the gameplay feels fresh and dynamic
• 🧠 Deep storytelling and lore – is this the next great RPG franchise?
• 🔥 Why Expedition 33 might redefine RPG expectations in 2025

🔥 Highlights:

• First impressions of gameplay footage and demo breakdown
• How Clair Obscur compares to games like Persona, Final Fantasy, and Octopath Traveler
• RPG fans rejoice: the future looks bright for turn-based and narrative-driven games
• Predictions for critical reception, fan reception, and awards potential

📢 Join the discussion! Are we witnessing the birth of a legendary RPG? Like, comment, and subscribe for unfiltered gaming reviews, news, and reactions from the DMG crew!

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🔥 Two RPG juggernauts—one classic and one on the horizon. In Episode 97 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips dig into the resurgence of Oblivion and the rising hype for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—a game that’s already being called the next big thing in turn-based RPGs.

We explore why Oblivion still holds up in 2025, how Clair Obscur is turning heads with its art style and combat, and whether RPG fans are entering a new golden age.

🎙️ In This Episode:

• 🏰 Oblivion in 2025 – Why fans are returning to Tamriel
• 🎨 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hype – What we know so far
• ⚔️ Are turn-based RPGs making a comeback?
• 🔮 Predictions for both titles and where they stand in modern RPG history

🔥 Highlights:

• How Oblivion still outshines modern open-world design
• Clair Obscur’s visuals, battle system, and narrative promise
• Why the JRPG vs WRPG debate is heating up again
• The DMG verdict: nostalgia vs innovation in 2025 RPGs

📢 Join the discussion! Whether you’re casting spells in Cyrodiil or prepping for Expedition 33, this episode is for you. Like, comment, and subscribe to stay caught up with the realest takes in gaming.

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• 💸 Nintendo Switch 2 pricing drama – What caused the sudden reversal?
• 🧠 The strategy behind Nintendo’s cave-in – smart move or desperation?
• 😈 Daredevil Season 1 review (Disney+) – Brutal, bold, or just bland?
• 🧠 Comparing the reboot to the original Netflix series

🔥 Highlights:

• Is Nintendo playing it safe or losing its edge?
• Our spoiler-free and spoiler-filled thoughts on Daredevil
• Why fans are divided over tone, pacing, and character direction
• What Nintendo’s pricing move means for Sony and Microsoft

📢 Join the discussion! Smash that like, comment, and subscribe button to keep up with the DMG crew. Weekly gaming news, hot takes, and brutal honesty every episode.

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🚨 Is Bungie’s Marathon destined to become the next Concord-level disaster—or will it redefine PvP shooters? In Episode 95 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips break down the comparisons between Sony’s failed live-service shooter Concord and Bungie’s upcoming title Marathon.

We dive deep into the early gameplay footage, player expectations, Bungie’s track record, and why Marathon is facing a tidal wave of hype—and skepticism.

🔍 In This Episode:

• 🎯 Marathon vs. Concord – What fans are saying and why the comparison matters
• 💥 Bungie’s challenges post-Destiny 2
• 📉 Why Sony’s push for live service is failing—and what Marathon must avoid
• 🔮 Our predictions: Can Marathon break the curse?

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• Why Marathon is being called the “next Concord”
• Sony’s live-service obsession and Bungie’s place in it
• Is there still hope for PvP shooters in 2025?
• The DMG take: what we'd do differently

📢 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay ahead of the gaming conversation. Tune in now for unfiltered analysis, sarcasm, and sharp insight!

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🎮 Has Nintendo finally crossed a line? In Episode 94 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips dive into why some fans believe Nintendo is turning to the dark side—whether it’s anti-consumer practices, questionable business decisions, or something more insidious brewing behind the scenes.

PLUS—we’re joined by a special guest who brings a fresh, fiery perspective to the gaming conversation!

In This Episode:

• 🕹️ Why fans are saying Nintendo’s lost its way
• 💸 Pricing, remakes, and service models—where Nintendo might be going too far
• 🔥 Our special guest joins to drop hot takes and insights
• 🧠 Is Nintendo still the “good guy” of the gaming world, or just another corporation?

Highlights:

• Examining recent decisions by Nintendo that have divided the fanbase
• The guest's unique take on modern Nintendo vs. classic Nintendo
• Predictions on how Nintendo may pivot with the Switch 2 and beyond
• Honest, humorous, and heated discussion as always from the DMG crew

📢 Join the conversation! Do you still trust Nintendo? What’s your take on the latest moves? And did our guest say what you’re thinking? Like, comment, and subscribe for another episode full of laughs, rants, and real talk.

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🕰️ What do dire wolves and Chrono Trigger 2 have in common? Absolutely nothing—except one is now closer to reality than the other. In Episode 93 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips go full rant mode about the scientific community making more progress reviving extinct species than Square Enix has made on a sequel to one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.

In This Episode:

• 🐺 Dire wolves are actually being brought back—seriously
• 🎮 Yet somehow... no Chrono Trigger 2 in sight
• 🧠 What this says about Square Enix’s priorities
• 🔮 Could a Chrono Trigger sequel ever live up to the original?

Highlights:

• The absurdity of modern science outpacing game development
• Why Chrono Trigger still has one of the most loyal fanbases ever
• How Square Enix keeps avoiding their most requested game
• Our wishlist for what Chrono Trigger 2 should be, if it ever happens

📢 Join the conversation! Has science outpaced gaming? Are we ever getting Chrono Trigger 2? Like, comment, and subscribe to hear two disgruntled middle-aged gamers vent with passion and sarcasm. 🎙️

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🎮 Big delays and big demon-slaying energy! In Episode 92 of the Disgruntled Middle-Aged Gamers Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips break down two massive stories in gaming and entertainment:

• The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been delayed—we talk what’s behind the pushback, what this means for Nintendo’s 2025 lineup, and how it affects the gaming market.
• Plus, we give you our full review of the Devil May Cry Netflix series—how faithful is it to the games, is it worth watching, and does it hit the same high notes as Castlevania?

In This Episode:

• 🎮 Why the Switch 2 delay might be a good move (and why it might not)
• 😈 Our honest thoughts on the Devil May Cry Netflix series
• 🔥 How Netflix is handling game adaptations lately
• 🧠 What we expect from Nintendo in the next 12 months

Highlights:

• Analysis of Nintendo’s timeline, possible hardware updates, and game lineup delays
• Breakdown of Devil May Cry’s animation, pacing, voice acting, and fan service
• How this series compares to other Netflix adaptations like Castlevania and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

📢 Join the conversation! Are you bummed about the Switch 2 delay? Did Netflix do Dante justice? Like, comment, and subscribe for the latest gaming and entertainment commentary from the DMG crew. Tune in now!