• Spider-Man
    Dec 21 2022
    Introductory Gaming PodcastEpisode # 8: Spider-Man

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    This is episode 2 of our 5-episode journey. Today’s episode will talk about one of the most popular PlayStation exclusives, Spider-Man. Spider-Man is one of the most popular characters in Marvel, so we just had to include him in our agenda. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals of how to play, and we will even partake in rounds of trivia. We got Anish on this episode, and Josh is also back. They will most likely be here for the next 5 episodes. Be sure to check him out on Spotify at Fantasy Football Fanatics.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we'll briefly overview the game Spider-Man. There have been 2 Spider-Man games in the past 4 years, but we will only be talking about the first one. The first Spider-Man game was released as a PlayStation exclusive on September 7, 2018. This game has many accolades as at the 2018 Gamers’ Choice Awards it won Fan Favorite Action Game, Fan Favorite Single Player Gaming, and even Fan Favorite Character of the Year. Marvel’s Spider-Man is an open-world third-person action-adventure game, in which the gamer can play as Peter Parker. You can play his superhero identity of Spider-Man to fight crime in New York City. I’m going to pass it over to Duke so he can explain the storyline a bit more in-depth.

    ---Story Line

    • Next, we’re going to talk about the storyline. The game takes place eight years into Peter Parker’s career as Spider-Man. The main villain of this game is a super-human crime lord named Mister Negative, and he plans to seize control of New York City’s criminal underworld. He threatens to release a deadly virus with the assistance of the Sinister Six, so Spider-Man must confront him and save the city while dealing with the personal problems of his civilian personas. He is accompanied in his journey by his ex-girlfriend Mary Jane Watson, NYPD captain Yuri Watanabe, and even Miles Morales.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guests. The minigame that is featured in this episode will be trivia. Yash will go through a series of questions, and Anish, Josh, and I will compete to get the correct answers. The person with the most points at the end of this segment will be the winner. The twist is that bonus points will be rewarded through a series of challenges. The trivia questions will test the guests’ knowledge on the entirety of the character, not just the game. For the people who are listening, feel free to answer the questions with us and see how extensive your knowledge is about our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

    Before I proceed with the questions, I wanted to recap the trivia leaderboard to let you guys know who is at the top. Anish is at the top of the leaderboard with 2 wins, but Josh is catching up because he just won the last episode. Duke on the other hand is having a little bit of trouble. Maybe he can turn that around in this episode.

    Segment 3: Our opinion

    In this segment, we will just voice our opinion of the game.

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    22 mins
  • God Of War: Ragnarok
    Dec 16 2022
    Introductory Gaming PodcastEpisode # 7: God Of War: Ragnarok

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    Today, I want to outline our plan for the rest of our episodes. We will be embarking on a 5 episode journey together, so buckle up. For this episode and the next, we will be directing our attention to PlayStation exclusives. For episodes 9 and 10, we will be jumping ship to Xbox exclusives. Then finally, for our final episode, we will be comparing and contrasting the two consoles to finally decide once and for all which one is the best. There are so many great PlayStation exclusives, so it was hard to choose only two, but we finally made the decision. First on our list will be a game that was highly anticipated all year, God of War: Ragnarok. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals of how to play, and we will even partake in rounds of trivia. Anish will be back on yet another episode, making him 7 for 7. We also have a familiar face from the last episode, Josh Kohlhepp. Josh will be present for the next 5 episodes so we can get his opinion through the entire discussion. Be sure to check him out on Spotify at Fantasy Football Fanatics.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we'll briefly overview the game God Of War: Ragnarok. The first installment of God of War was released on March 22, 2005. Santa Monica Studios have released 9 installments of the game up until now, with God Of War: Ragnarok being the latest installment. The player primarily controls the character Kratos in combo-based combat and puzzle game elements. Kratos' main weapons are a magical battle axe called the Leviathan Axe, and his signature double-chained blades, the Blades of Chaos. He also has a shield, the original version of which is called the Guardian Shield. I can’t say too much without spoiling the story, so I’m going to pass it on over to Yash who will be talking about the storyline.

    ---Story Line

    • Similar to its predecessor, God Of War: Ragnarok takes place in the world of Norse mythology, 3 years after the previous game. In this new release, you’re able to explore all 9 realms of the Norse world. You are able to visit 3 previously inaccessible realms known as Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, and even Asgard. The story follows the series protagonist Kartos along with his son Atreus and they have to deal with the harsh winter environment. Kratos and Atreus discover the prophecy of Ragnarok in which they are the center of all the events that take place. They must find a way to stop it through a series of quests and challenges. The writers of this game took a lot of time to accurately incorporate Norse mythology into the storyline, and they ended up doing a fantastic job to end up with a really good storyline that engages the player.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guests. The minigame that is featured in this episode will be trivia. Yash will go through a series of questions, and Anish, Josh, and I will compete to get the correct answers. The person with the most points at the end of this segment will be the winner. The twist is that bonus points will be rewarded through a series of challenges. For the people who are listening, feel free to answer the questions with us and see how extensive your knowledge is about God...

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    17 mins
  • Madden 23
    Dec 6 2022
    Introductory Gaming PodcastEpisode # 6: Madden 23

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming Podcast, we will be continuing with the enre of sports games. We’re going to move on to a game equally as popular as 2K23. The game featured in this episode will be Madden 23. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals of how to play, and we will play two distinct minigames. For this episode, we have a fan-favorite guest, Anish Ponam. We also promised you guys a surprise for this episode, so we brought in two special guests from another podcast run in this building. They are perfect for this episode because one plays football and the other has a fantasy football podcast so please welcome, Andrew Rowan and Joshua Kohlhepp.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we'll give a brief overview of the game Madden 23. Madden 23 is a very young game as it was released on August 19, 2022. Madden 23 is an American football game developed by EA Sports, and it is based on the National Football League (NFL). The game featured is similar to ones that came before it, however, it has updated rosters and more advanced features. Madden 23 has every current football player programmed into the game, and each player has a rating that corresponds to their ability in real life. You can pick any of the 32 teams in the league and play as them. You can play this game with your friends either by playing on the same console with two controllers or separately online. If you’re by yourself you can play against the AI or even indulge in the Franchise Mode.

    ---Story Line

    • There is no real storyline in Madden 23 because most sports game don’t, but the closest thing to it would be the Franchise Mode. In the Franchise section of the game, you can create an avatar with his own stats and put him on a team. You can then play as that player against various teams. Most years, your player would start off as a rookie, but this year, you start off as an underutilized fifth-year free agent. You then play lots of matches until you eventually make it into the hall of fame. This game mode is very special because you can simulate a career in the NFL in various ways.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guests. This episode is unique because we are breaking a pattern that we’ve been doing since the start of this podcast. You might have noticed that we pair games off, meaning that every two episodes feature games that are similar in genre. For these pairs, we usually play the same minigame, but because drafting an entire NFL lineup is tedious, we decided to play two smaller minigames. These two games have never before been seen on this podcast. We will be playing “Higher or Lower” and we will also be doing a “Keep 5 Cut 5”. In the “Higher or Lower” segment, I will read two characters at a time. I will give the guests the rating of one player, and they have to guess if the other character has a higher or lower rating. The person with the most points at the end wins. For the “Keep 5 Cut 5”, I am going to say a list of 10 players, and the guests will have to keep 5 of the players but cut the other 5. For the people listening, feel free to play along with us to see if your knowledge and opinions are on par with...

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    24 mins
  • 2K23
    Nov 22 2022
    Introductory Gaming PodcastEpisode # 5: 2K23

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming Podcast, we will be shifting the genre to sports games. First on our agenda is one of the most popular in the genre, NBA 2k23. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals of how to play, and we will also participate in a mock draft. For this episode, we brought in a recurring student guest, Anish Ponam.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we’re going to give a brief overview of the game NBA 2K23. 2K23 came out very recently as it was released on September 8, 2022. NBA 2K23 is a basketball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports, and it is based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). The game featured is similar to its predecessors, however, it has updated rosters and new features. 2K23 has every current basketball player programmed into the game, and each player has a rating that corresponds to their skills in real life. You can pick any of the 30 teams in the league and play as them. You can play this game with your friends either by playing on the same console with two controllers or by playing by yourselves online. If you’re by yourself, you can play against the AI or even indulge in the Career Mode.

    ---Story Line

    • There is no real storyline in 2K23 as it is just a sports game, but the closest thing to it would be MyCareer. In the MyCareer section of the game, you can create an avatar known as a MyPlayer. Your avatar embarks on a journey to the NBA starting from high school. From there you can choose to go to college or play in the G League. This mode is very unique because there are so many possibilities and you can simulate a career in the NBA in various ways.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guest. For this episode’s minigame, we will be partaking in two mockdrafts. The first mock draft will be restricted to current players while the second one will be open to all-time players. The rules of the draft are as follows: We will take turns selecting players from the game that we want. If somebody takes a player, you are no longer allowed to use them as that wouldn’t make sense. Each person will devise a five person squad with a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and a center. In the end, we might discuss to see whose squad is the best. Finally, we will repeat this process with all-time players. For the people watching, feel free to draft with us to see if your instincts are similar to ours.

    Segment 3: Our opinion

    In this segment, we will just voice our opinion of the game.

    ---Rate it or Hate it

    ---Our favorite player.

    Well, that’s it for our episode, tune in next time where we will talk about Madden. We have a special surprise planned for the next episode. So we’ll see you then, buh bye.

    Music Credits: List the artist and song...
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    24 mins
  • Injustice 2
    Nov 14 2022
    Introductory Gaming PodcastEpisode # 4: Injustice 2

    Hello, my name is Duke and you are listening to the Introductory Gaming Podcast. We are proud members of the Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network found online at hvspn.com. The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the host only, not of HVSPN or Hopewell Valley Regional School District. Please enjoy the show.

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming Podcast, we will be discussing a really popular superhero game. If you haven’t already guessed, we’re going to talk about DC’s take on a fighting game, Injustice 2. This podcast will detail what the game is about, and the fundamentals of how to play, and we will even be doing rounds of trivia. This podcast will only cover the second installment of the game. For this episode, we brought in a student guest, Anish Ponam.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we’re going to give a brief overview of the game Injustice 2. Injustice 2 released on May 11, 2017. This game, similar to Mortal Kombat, was made by NetherRealm Studios. Injustice 2 is a fighting game with a superhero twist on it. The game has a roster full of characters from the DC universe, and it even has some guest characters from the Mortal Kombat franchise. You can find your favorite superheroes from Batman to Superman, and for more hardcore fans, you can find obscure characters like Doctor Fate and Atrocitus. Every character has a list of moves that you can perform when battling. This game has a unique factor to it. It has a customization slot where you can equip gear for your favorite characters. Each character has hundreds of gear pieces unique to them, but you just have to unlock them. The gear is great because you can transform your character to make them look completely different and give them a new style. This gear also has a combat advantage as it increases or decreases certain attributes of the character. You can play this game with your friends in the multiplayer section. If you happen to be playing alone, you can play against the AI or even indulge in the story mode. While playing solo, you can also play in a place called the Multiverse where you battle many bosses to get really overpowered rewards.

    ---Story Line

    • The storyline for Injustice 2 takes place on Earth. The Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane, along with their son. A nuclear weapon was also detonated in Metropolis, leaving the city in ruins. Superman is enraged, so much so that he kills the Joker, and becomes a dictator of sorts. Superman runs around with the philosophy in mind that he should eliminate bad people before they do bad things. Batman hears about this and knows he must stop Superman because that is morally wrong. Batman creates a team of superheroes who agree with him to take down Superman’s Regime. Injustice 2's storyline centers around Batman and his insurgency's attempt to restore society after the fall of Superman's Regime; however, the arrival of the newly formed supervillain group "The Society" and the alien Brainiac force Batman to consider freeing the imprisoned Superman to help combat the threats.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guest. The

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    16 mins
  • Mortal Kombat
    Oct 31 2022
    Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name: Introductory GamingEpisode Title: Mortal Kombat

    Hello, my name is Duke and you are listening to the Introductory Gaming Podcast. We are proud members of the Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network found online at hvspn.com. The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the host only, not of HVSPN or Hopewell Valley Regional School District. Please enjoy the show.

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming Podcast, we will be discussing a prominent game series. If you haven’t already guessed, we’re going to talk about the Mortal Kombat franchise. This podcast will detail what the game is about, and the fundamentals of how to play, and we will even be doing rounds of trivia. Since there are eleven versions of the game, we will only talk about the newer installments. For this episode, we brought in a student guest, Anish Ponam.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we’re going to give a brief overview of the game Mortal Kombat. The first installment of the game was just called Mortal Kombat, and it launched on October 8, 1992. NetherRealm Studios created the game, and It was playable on arcade machines at the time. Mortal Kombat is a fighting game in which each installment has its own set of unique characters to choose from. Every character has earned their spot in the game. Every character has three different variations to choose from and each comes with its own set of moves. You can play this game with your friends in the multiplayer section. If you happen to be playing alone, you can play against the AI or even indulge in the story mode. I’m going to give you a sneak peek into some of the characters:

    ---Characters

    • Mortal Kombat XL: Sub-Zero
    • Grandmaster: Sub-Zero gains an Ice Klone that can be thrown or used as a shield.
    • Cryomancer: He gains the ability to create weapons out of Ice.
    • Unbreakable: Gives him two new defensive moves called Frozen Aura and Barrier of Frost.
    • Sub-Zero is one of the original characters from the very first franchise, and he plays an integral role in the storyline. I personally love to play him with the Cryomancer variation because of the cool weapons he can make.
    • Mortal Kombat XL: Scorpion
    • Inferno: Scorpion gains the ability to summon a demonic minion.
    • Ninjutsu: He gains unique attacks utilizing his dual swords.
    • Hellfire: Gives him three new offensive moves called Fire Ball, Hellfire, and Flame Aura.
    • Scorpion is my favorite character from the original franchise because of how cool he is. I love that he has a flame aspect to him, and he just is a really
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    17 mins
  • Warzone
    Oct 31 2022
    Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

    Show Name: Introductory Gaming

    Episode Title: Warzone

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming  Podcast, we will be discussing a controversial FPS game that blew up in popularity, Warzone. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals on how to play, and we will even be playing this or that with our own little twist. For this episode, we brought in a recurring student guest, Anish Ponam.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    Firstly, we will briefly give an overview of the game Call of Duty: Warzone. The game was initially released on March 10, 2020. In Warzone, you queue up in a lobby filled with one hundred players. In the lobby, you create a loadout with your preferred weapons and items, later in the game when you have enough money you can buy a care package loadout so you can pick up the loadout you created. The point of the game is to be the last one left standing. You drop in from a chopper on the map and start with a pistol. You then scour the map to find items and money. You can pick up the money on the ground to help you buy special items, and get yourself a “Warzone Victory”. You have the option to play by yourself, or even load up into matches with your friends.

    ---Story Line

    • Verdansk is used as a common setting across various multiplayer maps in Modern Warfare. In December 1944, Butcher authorizes Operation Vulcan, a top-secret SOE mission to infiltrate Caldera Island and track down fleeing Axis soldiers and scientists. As he arrives near the island accompanied by Task Force Trident, their plane is shot, forcing Trident to jump out while Butcher crashes near the beach.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guest. The minigame that is featured on this episode will be this-or-that. Yash will go through a list of the items in the game, and Anish and I will decide which one we prefer. The twist is we have to say why we make our decisions. For the people who are listening, feel free to play along and see how our opinions compare with yours.

    Segment 3:  Our opinion

    In this segment, we will just voice our opinion of the game.

    ---Rate it or Hate it

    ---Apex or Warzone

    Music Credits:   List the artist and song name
    • Ehrling - Dance With Me
    • Ehrling - Dance With Me

    Connect with us on Social Media
    • @theHVSPN



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    17 mins
  • Apex Legends
    Oct 31 2022
    Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name: Introductory GamingEpisode Title: Apex Legends

    You are listening to the Introductory Gaming podcast with your host(s) Duke and Yash.

    In this episode of the Introductory Gaming  Podcast, we will be discussing the Battle Royale Game that is taking the world by storm, Apex Legends. This podcast will detail what the game is about, the fundamentals on how to play, and we will even be playing this or that with our own little twist. For this episode, we brought in a student guest, Anish Ponam.

    Segment 1: Introducing the Game

    For our first segment, we’re going to give a brief overview of the game Apex Legends. The game launched in February 2019. In Apex you play as a character who earned their spot in the games. They all have their own unique abilities that you can use to your advantage. There are 60 people in each lobby with teams of 3. You have a wide variety of characters to choose from. Each character has three unique abilities that give a strategic aspect to the game. Every legend is equipped with a passive, tactical and ultimate ability that make playing with them more diverse. Here are some of the legends from Apex:

    ---Characters

    • Lifeline
    • Passive: Combat Revive-Heal teammates
    • Tactical: D.O.C Heal Drone-Drone that heals herself and teammates
    • Ultimate: Care Package-Crate that falls from the sky with lots of heals
    • Lifeline is a great support character because she has the ability to keep her teammates alive for a long time.
    • Newcastle
    • Passive: Retrieve The Wounded- He can revive teammates as he protects them with his shield
    • Tactical: Mobile Shield- A shield that is able to be moved around
    • Ultimate: Castle Wall- Giant castle wall that will stun enemies if they run into it.
    • Newcastle is a legend that is great to use for defense. His wide variety of shields are a great way to make cover, and prevent himself and his teammates from taking damage.

    ---Story Line

    • Apex takes place in the Outlands, a small cluster of planets at the far end of the Frontier. This corner of the galaxy has its own history, which took a violent turn after the Frontier War. The IMC provided the Outlands with security and stability since the 2600s, which fostered relationships between the planets. The relationship between multiple organizations that led to a blood sport called the Apex Games.

    Segment 2: Minigame

    In this segment, we will be playing a minigame with our guest. The...

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    24 mins