Podcast Title: The Besties
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
Episode: How to Get Started in Handheld Gaming with Retro Game Corps
Release Date: January 17, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Besties, the hosts welcome Russ Crandall from Retro Game Corps, a prominent figure in the retro gaming handheld community. The conversation kicks off with a humorous exchange about emulators and Pokémon sprites, setting a relaxed and engaging tone for the episode.

Notable Quote:

• Griffin: “[00:05] ... when's he gonna get here? He's late, and it's really embarrassing.”
• Chris: “[00:10] ... His car.”

Getting Started in Handheld Gaming

The hosts dive into the core topic: how to begin with handheld gaming. Russ Crandall shares his extensive knowledge on choosing the right handheld device based on budget and performance needs.

Key Points:

• Budget Considerations: Russ emphasizes evaluating your budget to select a device that offers the best value within your price range. He suggests starting with more affordable options before moving to higher-end models.

• Device Recommendations:

  • Trim UI Brick: Priced around $50-60, it's highlighted for its high-resolution screen (768p) and capability to play up to Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast games.
    • Russ Crandall: “[07:32] ... it's now one called the Trim UI Brick. And so this one looks a lot like the Miyoo Mini, but smaller, with a really high-resolution screen.”
  • Retroid Pocket 5: Positioned in the $200 range, suitable for more demanding games.
  • Odin II: A higher-end option around $300, offering superior performance comparable to a high-powered smartphone.

Notable Quote:

• Russ Crandall: “[06:30] ... it's probably going to be pretty magical on its own and then just kind of go from there.”

Emulation and Legal Challenges

The discussion shifts to the complexities of emulation, including legal concerns and platform-specific challenges.

Key Points:

• Legal Considerations: Russ addresses the delicate balance between emulation and piracy, advocating for legality by providing guides on ripping ROMs from original cartridges.

  • Russ Crandall: “[11:49] ... I assume you already have those games. And so I don't, don't kind of get into that thing.”

• YouTube Strikes: Russ shares his experience with YouTube strikes due to emulation content, highlighting the ongoing challenges content creators face.

  • Russ Crandall: “[13:29] ... I got two strikes on my channel ... And just since then, I haven't really shown any Nintendo at all on my channel.”

• Platform Differences: A detailed comparison between Linux and Android for emulation, with Russ favoring Linux for its stability and ease of use.

  • Russ Crandall: “[24:37] ... Linux, you can just take that thing offline and you'll never have to worry about it again.”

Notable Quote:

• Russ Crandall: “[25:03] ... Android, you feel like you need constant tweaking... Whereas Linux... is just way more stable.”

Balancing Tinkering and Gameplay

The hosts explore the dichotomy between those who enjoy tinkering with their devices and those who primarily want to play games.

Key Points:

• Audience Segmentation: Russ acknowledges the split between newcomers who need detailed setup guides and experienced users who seek in-depth technical discussions.

  • Russ Crandall: “[20:20] ... my videos are always geared towards the newcomer ... but there are also those who are already in the scene.”

• Content Creation Challenges: The rapid release of new devices makes it difficult for Russ to keep up, leading to a backlog of reviews and guides.

  • Russ Crandall: “[20:59] ... my big kind of regret is that they come out so fast that I don't get enough time to really live with each one.”

Notable Quote:

• Russ Crandall: “[22:18] ... I was a linguist in the military, so not like a grunt or anything, you know. And that attention to detail just completely carries over to my videos too.”

Review of the New Indiana Jones Game

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to reviewing the new Indiana Jones game developed by Bethesda. The hosts express their admiration for the game's fidelity to the character and its engaging gameplay mechanics.

Key Points:

• Voice Acting and Performance: Troy Baker's portrayal of Indiana Jones is highly praised for its authenticity and depth.

  • Griffin: “[32:13] ... starting with Troy Baker's performance as Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is genuinely one of the most impressive, I think, like VO performances I've ever seen.”

• Gameplay Mechanics: The game blends exploration with melee combat, reminiscent of the Chronicles of Riddick game.

  • Griffin: “[34:04] ... it's a first person exploration and brawling game ... similar to Chronicles of Riddick.”

• Stealth vs. Combat: The hosts discuss the game's approach to stealth, noting both its innovative elements and some frustrations.

  • Griffin: “[44:48] ... I just like going around as Indiana Jones. Like, it feels pretty cool and sometimes you'll find something that helps, but for the most part, it's just exploring for exploring's sake.”

Notable Quote:

• Chris: “[33:00] ... there's a tiny one second cinematic where he kind of looks at the guys he's fighting, gives him a little like smirk, like. And it... feels like exactly right.”

Recommendations and Honorable Mentions

Towards the end of the episode, the hosts share additional recommendations for games, shows, and tools that their listeners might find interesting.

Key Points:

• Games:

  • Balatro: A card game with a unique playstyle.
    • Russ Crandall: “[48:32] ... time management great for not like sinking an entire night on just playing Balatro.”
  • Final Fantasy 16: Highlighted for its accessibility and engaging mechanics.
    • Russ Crandall: “[53:29] ... it's just so casually minded, which you wouldn't expect from Final Fantasy.”

• Shows and Movies:

  • The Circle France Season 1: Recommended for its strategic gameplay elements.
    • Griffin: “[48:14] ... Circle season one of Circle France was highly recommended.”
  • Y2K (Comedy): A horror-comedy set against a robot apocalypse backdrop.
    • Chris: “[51:22] ... it's a sort of horror comedy, heavier on the comedy ... It's very well done, it's very funny and it's really smart.”

• Development Tools:

  • Godot and GDQuest Course: Griffin discusses his experience learning game development with Godot.
    • Griffin: “[49:08] ... it's very logically designed and a lot of it really makes sense.”

Notable Quote:

• Griffin: “[49:04] ... Godot is totally open source, free to download, and lots of games are made in Godot.”

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a recap of the discussed topics, reinforcing the key takeaways for listeners interested in entering the handheld gaming space. The hosts also tease future episodes, including an upcoming discussion on Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Key Points:

• Recap of Handheld Recommendations: Trim UI Brick, Retroid Pocket 5, Odin II.
• Game and Show Mentions: Indiana Jones, Balatro, Final Fantasy 16, The Circle France Season 1, Y2K.
• Future Topics: Upcoming episode on Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Notable Quote:

• Griffin: “[58:18] ... it's coming out on Switch and it's a very good platforming game. So I'm excited to check that out.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Besties offers a thorough exploration of handheld gaming, providing valuable insights for both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts. From device recommendations and emulation challenges to in-depth game reviews and personal experiences, Russ Crandall brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion. The engaging dialogue, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps, ensures that listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

For more detailed guides and reviews, listeners are encouraged to visit Russ Crandall's YouTube channel, Retro Game Corps.

Additional Resources:

• Russ Crandall's YouTube Channel: Retro Game Corps
• Rocket Money Promo Mentioned at [03:20]: Rocketmoney.combesties