Animalcast

In Episode 103 of the Weasley-House Podcast (formerly the Mugglecast), the guys discuss the recent legal threats that have forced them to adopt the new name of the podcast. Never ones to wallow in self-pity, however, the boys march on and discuss some listener mail. Kyle has two stories for his recurring spot on crazy-behaving muggles. Then the guys get into a nontraditional fringe segment of the Harry Potter community-- slash fic. The guys have researched some of the best... and some of the worst... Potter slash fic and each come to the table with what they consider the best.

In Episode 102 of the Zombiecast, the guys review some of the more relevant books and movies to be released lately. In their weekly segment, Epicurian Delights, the guys give recipes they've been enjoying in the past several weeks. And, as promised, they open up the mail bag and answer questions directly from you- the loyal listener.

This is a no-prep episode.

In Episode 100 of the Animalcast, the guys decide that it's time to give back to the listeners. Not wanting the fans to deprive the fans of their last opportunity to hear some legendary stories that have never been told, the guys tell all their untold stories. How did Kyle make his paralegal cry? What last two pitches did the guys never get a chance to use? Did Kyle's neighbor catch him peeping on her dancing naked in her shower? What was actually said during the missing 23 minutes? Did Kyle sing Brian's Song when Mike dropped off the call? And they even reveal what the undiscovered April Fools Day joke of 2009 was. Then they wax philosophic about what the podcast has meant to them and how proud they are of what they were able to accomplish in 100 episodes. Warning: this last episode is over 2 hours and 30 minutes. But it's worth every single second.

In Episode 99 of the Animalcast, the guys discuss the latest installment in their ever-educational series, the Airing of Grievances. This week the guys air their grievances against Kids Today. You know that jackass who's gunning his engine at you at the stop light, thinking he's all big-shit-McGee in a Hummer his daddy bought him as a graduation present? A Hummer? A fucking Hummer? I mean, holy shit! If I had my fucking IROC-Z that I cruised in highschool, I'd show this motherfucker how a car can tear off the stop line. A Hummer. Fucking kids today.

In Episode 98 of the Animalcast, the guys dig deep into their journalistic roots to bring you Geek News. What's the latest on smoking hot Megan Fox? Which geek-icon starlet has gone gay? Is the first story related to the second, and if it was... well that's just hot. In any event, the guys go to great lengths to find the stories that matter to you, you big fat nerd. So enjoy. And as always... you're welcome.

In Episode 97 of the Animalcast, the guys read some and listener mail from Beorgbeard, and then answer the age-old question about their listeners: are they Geeks, Nerds or Australians? In preparation for this episode, listeners sent in stories of embarrassing episodes in their lives that have scarred them permanently. Then the guys provide their verdict for each listener's story-- was it an example of them being a geek, a nerd, or just plain old Australian? Which listener got caught in their middle school library reading the Monster Manual with an erection? Which listener got de-pantsed at Gen Con? Which listener tried to hit on a female with a reference to his Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds? And most importantly, were the listeners geeks, nerds or Australian?

In Episode 96 of the Animalcast, the guys do a momentous top five list. It's the top five reasons they should quit the show at or before episode 100. Could it be the fans? Could it be the work? Could it be the lack of originality? Could it be that they're bored with it. Or perhaps a dispute has grown between the guys. Hmmmmm. Listen and judge for yourself. Link to the Show

In Episode 95 of the Animalcast, the guys get sidetracked by a little Instant Podcast. The topics are random, and all suggested by you... the listener. So you only have yourself to blame, don't you? Don't you? Well, I hope you learned a lesson.

In Episode 94 of the Animalcast, the guys countdown the greatest spoilers of all time. You know those movies or books that had that great twist at the end that you didn't see coming? And how awesome it was when you were shocked at the reveal? Well, the guys are going to provide you with the single greatest examples of the best spoilers ever. But never fear, the guys actually want you to experience these spoilers for yourself and then post up your experiences, so they go to great lengths to NOT actually spoil the different movies, books or other entertainment in their lists.

In Episode 93 of the Animalcast, Mike and Kyle channel their inner-juveniles and spend the entire hour playing F/Marry/Kill and Power to the People. You know the rules to F/M/K-- three people and three horrible choices that will change the world forever. Power to the People is the exact same game, but with superpowers and no fucking (unless you get the Multiple Man power). Enjoy the most immature episode yet.

In episode 92 of the Animalcast, the guys conclude their experiment in listener participation with The Fresh Grind. Listeners have posted discussion topics on the animalball message boards and they guys didn't look at or read the topics until they started recording this episode. They talk about a myriad of topics including: how to break the news to your boy/girlfriend that you're a nerd gamer; which monster is the next "it" creature; and the guys favorite cocktails. They also spend a little bit of time whining discussing the Ennies and why they didn't get nominated.

In Episode 91 of the Animalcast, the guys try a different angle on listener participation. Last week they asked listeners to post up questions or show topics they wanted the guys to talk about. Mike and Kyle didn't look at the thread or read any of the posts until they started this episode. It's the Fresh Grind! The listeners suggested a variety of important topics: how do you tell your co-workers that you're taking time off from work to go to Gen Con? How stupid is Shadowrun? If Mike and Kyle had to pick any celebrity to play them at the Ennies Award show win they win best podcast, who would they pick? What about that story about how Kyle played a prank on a co-worker that was so bad she locked herself in the bathroom crying for half an hour? And of course, where are the missing 23 minutes from the drunk no-prep episode? The questions and more are answered in the Animalcast's first installment of Fresh Grind.

And they're baaaack! After a brief summer hiatus, the guys are back in Episode 90 of the Animalcast to catch up on their latest gaming escapades. They start the episode by talking about their plans for viewer participation in next week's episode. Then Kyle talks about playing Paizo's Pathfinder, Munchkin, Unexploded Cow, Girl Genius: The Works, Infernal Contraption and Paizo's reissue of James Ernest's Falling. Mike talks about how he wishes he could have played Heroscape, but he didn't have time to game in the last month. And for the hardcore fans, they tell old war stories about bowel problems and the horrors of being buried up to your neck in sand while sitting on your hands.

In Episode 89, the guys introduce the second installment in their ongoing educational game series-- The Animalcast's Guide to Better Gaming. The topic this time: how to be a better player at your game table. From how to make the perfect "game-oriented" character to how to raise the level of discourse amongst your fellow players, the guys cover the spectrum and provide unique insights and advice for players of every game genre. No matter what game you play, every RPG player will be able to take something from this episode and make their gameplay better.

Proving that their gaming cred is unmatched, in Episode 88 of the Animalcast, the guys talk about current gaming news. As longtime listeners would expect, the conversation devolves into criticisms over WotC's poor decisions and failed opportunities with D&D 4th Edition. They also talk about Free RPG Day, the recent press release accusing the guys of being insensitive racists, and the announcement of several new games being launched. In non-gaming news, both Mike and Kyle giggle like 10 year old girls over the news that Dollhouse would be renewed. The guys also discuss how Felicia Day stars in the final episode of Dollhouse, and then in a truly gratuitous bout of self-congratulation, they brag about their interview with Felicia Day in Episode 70.

In this episode, the guys celebrate their two year anniversary the only way they know how-- A NO-PREP EPISODE! They guys think they are recording in high quality, but mid-episode something horrible occurs. Listen to stories about Mike's balls hanging out, Kyle peeping on a naked mentally handicapped girl and other odd and compelling stories. They guys wax philosophic on important topics like the new Star Trek movie and how awesome Dollhouse is. Finally, they answer the all important question- what's wrong with lesbians. It's been a good two years.

In the second part of their 27 part "Airing of Grievances" series, the guys take on Sci-Fi RPGs. The bastard child of gaming, Mike and Kyle examine the worst offenses in this genre of roll-playing games. Why has every adaptation of the Jetsons been shitty? What's the problem with the late 80s rpg version of Leather Goddesses of Phobos? Which registered member of Animalball once pitched a gritty, grim RPG game about anthropomorphic squirrels being the first explorers to colonize Mars? Is it really funny everytime someone mentions Uranus? We can't answer those questions here in this post, but listen to the podcast for more insights.

In honor of Highlander II, the worst sequel ever released, the guys discuss their lists of the other worst sequels they've ever seen.  And then for the first time they read the listeners lists for worst sequels as well.

In this episode, the guys decide to shift gears from their normal wacky antics and examine the issues and obstacles related to women and the roleplaying game culture. The guys explore why tabletop roleplaying games are overwhelmingly dominated by males, and whether the limited participation of women is an actual phenomenon or just a perceived one. They discuss the potential failings of the gaming industry itself and whether large gaming companies have done enough to include all players, including women, into their most popular lines of games. Finally, the guys advise both male and female gamers about things they can do to make gaming a more inviting and enjoyable experience to women players.

In this episode of the podcast, Mike and Kyle introduce answer the ever-burning question-- Hey, dude! Whatcha playin'? And they spend the hour discussing all the various and sundry roleplaying games that they've experimented with over the last several weeks. But as it turns out, they've both only played Paizo's Pathfinder. Specifically, they both only played the Rise of the Runelords campaign. But they love it, as loyal listeners well know. They spend time talking about problems that have arisen and how they've adapted the campaigns to the particular problems with their groups.

That's right, faithful listeners, this episode is our second Animalball Roundtable! In the Animalball Roundtable, we invite our listeners to join us on the recording to answer all the important geek questions that matter. Which Brady Bunch family member was the monster? Supervillains aren't evil, they're just misunderstood, right? If your life depended on you LARPing, which genre would it be in? The Roundtable is NOT a closed invitation event. Any listener that wants to participate simply calls into the conference call and... BOOM... they're a part of the show. Why didn't you participate in these high-stakes shenanigans? I suppose only you and your insecurities can answer that question. Just because we're pointing the shame finger at you doesn't mean we judge you.

In this episode, the guys finally wade into the shady territory of actual play. If you have listened before, you know that the guys regularly deride other podcasts for having "actual play" episodes where they simply record their gaming session. Long time listeners will now that Mike and Kyle find this lazy and self-indulgent. But once they recognized that they also were lazy and self-indulgent, they decided it was time to change the world of actual play podcasts forever. And what better game to showcase than the single greatest pick up and play game ever, Instant Game-- Animalball's free downloadable game. Mike rolls on the random setting, tone and plot charts at the beginning of the episode, and then they play out an entire Instant Game session in the span of this one hour episode. Are you a fan of actual play podcasts? Are you a fan of pick up and play games? Have you always wanted to try Instant Game but were frightened that your parents would shun you because of its rebellious and unpredictable nature? Then this is definitely the podcast for you.

Oh how we hath suffered through the slings and arrows of crappy comic book movie adaptations! Behold the mighty robot that magically folds in on itself to become a boombox, never once worrying itself for a plot or the assistance of a writer. And yea, though we sing the literary praises of He Who Punishes... his cinematic interpretations have been much like a plague of locusts beset upon our minds. All rise for the honorable Mike and Kyle! The Airing of Grievances shall now commence!

In Episode 79, the guys answer their viewer mail.  They talk about their Gen Con plans, some technical information about how they record and answer questions about their gaming set up.  But this doesn't really do it justice because, well, it's VIEWER MAIL!

Before concluding their RPG Pitch session, the guys point their listeners to a friend of theirs, Jeff Preston, who does excellent fantasy art (and did much of the art for some of Animalball's free games). He's currently offering character portraits for a bargain. Then the guys get into the pitches. Kyle offers a unique look at Let's Kill John McClain, Karma Police and Messiah Complex. Mike pitches a cool angsty Disney idea and something cool called The Undertakers. Once again, faithful listeners... you're welcome.

In Episode 77, the guys talk briefly about Mike's homebrew scout camp horror RPG (more details here) and Kyle talks about how much he loved playing Unexploded Cow (more details here). Then the guys really do the RPG Pitch show they've been promising for weeks. Without giving too much away, here's just a few titles-- Suburban High School Zombie Apocalypse: The Musical (80s Edition); Scrapworld; Gratuitous; Instant PB3; Zombie: The Masquerade; Everyone is Highlander (a Game of Decapitation); and BOARDROOM! Absolutely brilliant. You're welcome.

In Episode 76 of the Animalcast, the guys invite all their new listeners to try the Animalball Stat Yourself Quiz. While it has been copied many times, the guys' Stat Yourself Quiz is the original and a pretty good approximation of what someone's statistics would be in D&D. Please note, this is a 3.5 version quiz, but the guys are working on the new 4E version. In the rest of the podcast, the guys engage in yet another RPG Pitch episode, in which they each pitch new game ideas to each other that they haven't shared before. Without giving away the results, the guys are confident that you'll find they have some really cool and really surprising things to say.

In Episode 75, the guys talk about their current obsession... ROKU! That's right, the guys give their top five recommendations for movies that are available on Netflix's "Watch Now" feature. Why does Mike have such a man-crush on Quentin Tarintino? What's the fascination with Horror/Post-Apocalyptic/Stylized/Action movies? And for anyone over the age of 30, Kyle relates a story guaranteed to make you feel old.

In this episode the guys talk about their newest roleplaying game discovery, Zombie Cinema. It's got zombies, brains, desperate people trying to escape the apocalypse- what more could you want? Simply put, they think it's awesome. Next the guys experiment with the next wave in audio entertainment: Instant Podcast. Instant Podcast is 120 different topic ideas listed on fancy charts. Mike randomly rolls and then... BAM! Instant Podcast. If you're thinking, "Whoa, awesome" then you get the idea. If you don't understand, then maybe you should be listening to Keith and the Girl.

In Episode 73, the guys discuss their top five most embarassing moments that don't involve getting caught masturbating.  Not to give anything away, but this is the seminal episode that secures the guys' position as complete and total dorks.

In Episode 72, the guys talk about the various games they bought and played over the holidays.  They talk about Settlers of Catan, Mike's problems with his Pathfinder campaign, Zombie Cinema and Lost Worlds.  They also have an enlightening discussion of hotel porn.

In episode 71, the guys interview Felicia Day, the writer and star of the hysterical geek web-series, The Guild. The guys talk with Felica about shooting Season 2 of the Guild, what it was like working on the set of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, and they argue with her over the merits and failings of D&D 4.0. Knowing she has a degree in mathematics, they find out if she's ever talked math with Winnie Cooper, and they also talk to her about her work on the web-series, The Legend of Neil. Finally, Felicia undergoes the gauntlet of the Animalball Hotseat and answers the dreaded five questions.

In Episode 70 the guys have their biggest interview ever planned... only to have it canceled by the guest at the last minute. The guys are clearly depressed and are forced to do a no-prep episode, but FEAR NOT! Knowing that the best no-prep episodes involve stories of themselves hurting/being hurt as children, the guys open the treasure box of stories from their past. Want to know who got their lips split by the angry fist of Animalball Legend Steve Safford? Want some good stories about Roblogic acting like an ass and falling down a flight of stairs? Better yet, want to know how Rob lost two testicles in horrible accidents? These answers and more are in this unplanned, yet quality episode.

Kyle's sick, so no show notes.  But it's one of the best banter episodes yet.

Kyle's spending the Thanksgiving holiday roughing it with his family outside of cell phone range, so this week, Mike's son Gygax fills in with his best Uncle Kyle impression. In this short episode, Mike and son fill the time with more Pathfinder talk, and a brief look at the current crop of geek television shows.

In episode 67, the guys get sentimental and sappy thinking back about their favorite and least-favorite episodes in the past year and a half. The guys give details behind specific episodes, which you can easily link to in the episode guide in the Animalcast forum. The guys also solicit listener input on the best and worst episodes and whether there is interest in another voicemail line or viewer mail episode. Click Here to Listen.

Mike has abandoned the podcast... or at least had to cancel, so Kyle tried recording this episode without him.  He tries to talk about gaming news (you should really check out Cartoon Action Hour: Season Two), but quickly runs out of steam and starts babbling about his family.  For kicks, he opens Mike's private banter list and critiques it for the audience.  Good times.

In Episode 65, the guys do another no-prep episode, something they haven't done in a year.  But this time they are doing it with a twist.  They're also taking shots of alcohol every 15 minutes.  Needless to say, things get out of hand.  This episode originally was recorded at one hour and fifty-four minutes.  It has been significantly edited, mostly removing the "I'm so drunk" commentary that pervades the last half.

In Episode 64, the show gets interactive. Very interactive. In the inaugural episode of the Animalball Roundtable, the guys are joined by ten listeners in a rapid-fire question and answer session that Mike and Kyle pose to the various fans. How would Cazmonster escape a Zombie apocalypse? Does Akiva have a better option? Other Guy and Mimekiller take issue with some superhero matchups and Crazy Elf is obsessed with Ewoks and everything Lucas did wrong in the Star Wars movies. And everyone loves the Ironman movie. This is only the tip of the iceberg, though and the discussion also turns to cannibalism and other topics. The listeners did a great job and made an awesome show.

In Episode 63, Mike and Kyle welcome guest co-host Dar to the show. Then they get down to business in this jam-packed episode all about retro video games. Showing exactly how old they are, the guys count down their top 10 retro games from the Atari 2600, Commodore 64 and Colecovision days. They also talk briefly about King of Kong, an excellent documentary that both guys love.

In Episode 62, the guys interview Steve Kenson, the creator of everyone's favorite supers game, Mutants and Masterminds. The talk to Steve about everything from his history with Shadowrun, Earthdawn and working for Green Ronin. Steve discusses some of his recent projects, including the Wild Card Campaign Setting for M&M. As their resident superhero expert, the guys pose some of the most controversial superhero battles that fans have longed to know who the ultimate victor would be. Finally, Steve submits to the gauntlet of the Animalball Hotseat, giving some of the most well thought out answers of any previous guest.

Sorry for the lack of show notes.  The debacle of trying to change hosts for the website delayed the release of this.  To sum it up, this is the most awesome episode of banter you have ever heard.  Bask in the banter.

In Episode 60 the guys finally get to interview author and game designer Nick Logue. Nick talks about writing for Paizo's Pathfinder, WotC and his own awesome game company, Sinister Adventures. Never one to back down from a cussing contest, Nick brings a strong game as he tells stories of almost dying in real life playing Icy Death, troubles he got into in certain foreign countries, and he shamefully admits to his history of LARPing. They talk at length about all the new offerings at Sinister Adventures, including the upcoming "open world" adventure omnibus Razor Coast and the dark sci-fi vision of Dark Horizons. Kyle recommends that anyone unfamiliar with Nick's work should spend a couple of bucks on Sinister's Indulgences for a taste of his insanity, or go back and buy his work with Paizo, particularly the Hook Mountain Massacre. Nick then gives it his all as he braves the Animalball Hotseat, but you'll have to listen to see how many points he scores.

In Episode 59 the guys talk about all the loot they hauled back from Gencon. Mike discusses what he likes, and more importantly what he doesn't like, about Aces and Eights. Kyle discusses his oldest son's newest addiction to Order of the Stick, which was started with an OotS book he brought back from Gencon. Both guys talk about some kids' board games their kids have enjoyed- Walk the Dogs and Penguin Rescue. Mike and Kyle both review an awesome card game from Privateer Press, Infernal Contraption, and Kyle details how his kids have loved their new Grimm campaign. Finally, Mike also talks about a hybrid game he's running that uses both Instant Game and Wushu. And even though he promised to get a link for a free download of the Wushu rules, he never gave it to Carl the Intern, so they couldn't be included in the show notes. Mike's a jerk.

In Episode 58 the guys talk about their experience at the Ennie Awards. They discuss how cool it was to see Dave Arneson speak, the awesome goblin-acceptance music of Paizo, and the flagrant disregard of a dress code by Ken Hite who wore cargo pants and a Hawaiian shirt. Kyle also comments on the weird phenomenon involving White Wolf people who all seem to model their hair styles after Michael Bolton circa 1986. The guys also talk about what the Ennies can do to make the awards better, and Kyle shares a special moment that he shared with the beautiful and angelic Gertie Barden (who the guys mistakenly refer to as Baden throughout the episode). The guys wrap up the episode with a discussion of how pathetic WotC's showing was at Gencon, especially with their failure to feature anything related to Heroscape.

In Episode 57 of the Animalcast, the guys give the rundown on their trip to Indianapolis for Gencon. Click here for their pictorial travelogue of the trip. The guys talk about all the nerds in costumes, the cool dice and games they got, being overwhelmed by sheer magnitude of Gencon. They complain a bit about WotC's poor showing, and go on at length about all the "famous" people they met, including the guys from Paizo that they'd interviewed before. Some were awesome (James Jacobs) some were not (Jason Buhlman). Finally, they talk about what they'll do different next year.

In Episode 56, the guys talk about their plans for GenCon-- which of course means that Kyle again serenades the audience with a new song. They also talk about Mike's progress with his kids on the Pathfinder series of adventures, which leads to another discussion (in a roundabout fashion) to the future of Paizo and the Pathfinder RPG, and the abandonment of Gleemax by WotC. Continuing the love of the largest tabletop roleplaying company, Mike and Kyle then gripe about how WotC screwed up Heroscape. Somewhere in there, they also talk about how their brother, Boner, got locked in a suitcase, dangled over a ledge, used to think he was a cat, and used to throw up at anything green-- but not all at the same time.

In Episode 55, the guys finally sit down for the long-awaited interview with Paranoia XP designer and author Allen Varney. Allen talks about how he got into the business, his love for Paranoia-- the greatest game ever invented-- and the difficulties in trying to revive a cherished game that had hit hard times. The guys also ask him about his newest project, Ninjalistics, which is a humor website set to launch in the fall. Finally, the guys submit Allen to the Animalball Hotseat-- will he score more than 2 points and set the new record? Finally, Kyle sings yet again and promises to continue doing so until he gets sufficient response from the listeners.

In Episode 54, the guys talk about the greatest RPGs that they've never played, but want to. Both came to the show with a list of three, including Little Fears by Jason Blair, the Kill Puppies for Satan by Vincent Baker, Wushu by Dan Bayn, Sea Dracula by Nick and Jake, the Marvel Universe RPG, The Mountain Witch by Tim Kleinert, and The Collectors by Thomas McKay. Oh, and the guys celebrate their Ennie Nomination... again. Worse yet, Kyle sings and threatens to do so again if he doesn't get good responses to his listener inquiry.

In Episode 53, the guys celebrate the fact that the show has been nominated for an Ennie. They dance like fat, middle-aged white men while shouting "special" messages to all the jealous player haters. And then they sip bacardi. They sip it like it is their birthday. But the bulk of the show is dedicated to interviewing Zach Houghton, one of the Ennies judges. The guys ask Zach about the process, some of the controversies that have arisen, and all the products he has had to review. As you would anticipate, the guys then subject Zach to the single most grueling and painful Animalball Hotseat in the history of the show. Listen and find out if Zach made it out alive.

In Episode 52 of the Animalcast, the guys introduce their new Gamer Girl correspondent who is going to start providing game reviews for the podcast. Kyle also announces that July is World Adventure Writing Month, and advises everyone to visit Jeff Rient's website and participate. The guys then conclude their discussion of online RPG gaming, including their experiences with WebRPG, GRiP, IRC gaming and unabashed speculation on Gleemax. In an extended divergence from the main topic, the guys also talk for a bit about D&D 4.0.

You should be reading show notes, but Kyle's baby screwed everything up, and so now all you get is this pithy commentary.

Holy half-century marks! The Animalcast has reached episode 50! Just like all those people who said we'd never be able to publish games in print, we have now proved wrong all the naysayers and haters who said we'd never make it to 50 episodes. With absolutely no fanfare, the guys spend this episode talking about online gaming. From play-by-email to play-by-bulletin board, the guys begin their discussion of the pros and cons of gaming via the internet. Some experiences have been great (Paranoia PBeM) and some have sucked (everything else done via board and email), and as one would expect, the horror stories are abundant. However, time runs out on this subject as the guys get distracted by various stories from their past. So they resolve to continue their discussion next week with IRC, WebRPG and speculation on Gleemax's pipedream.

Kyle is tired and cranky.  Mike compensates.  The guys engage in banter for the entire episode.

In Episode 48 of the Animalcast, the guys get to the bottom of the controversy stirred up in Episode 47. Specifically, they get the real answer as to the similarities between Father Llymic in WotC's Elder Evil's supplemental book and Kyle's project, Gemini's Glade. It turns out it was a case of parallel development. In this indepth interview, the guys talk with Jason Bulmahn, who authored the Father Llymic portion of Elder Evils. Kyle offers a full apology and retraction to both Jason and Robert Schwalb. The guys then talk to Jason about his work on the Pathfinder RPG rules for Paizo with Monte Cook as a consultant. Jason talks about what it's like working with Monte, how good Monte smells and answers the burning question Kyle has been trying to get an answer to- does Monte ever ask about him? Jason also talks about working at Paizo, and they conclude the episode with a few choice words Kyle has for Nick Logue at Sinister Adventures. Jason predicts Kyle will be issuing a retraction and apology to Nick Logue in the near future.

In Episode 47, the guys continue with the second part of their RPG pitch experiment, where they pitch to each other secret ideas they've developed for games and try to flesh them out. But first, Kyle reveals a shocking controversy that he has only just discovered. On a tip from an anonymous source... one of his brothers, but not Boner... Kyle learned that a recent WotC product contained an idea remarkably similar-- some would say identical-- to an idea he developed in March of 2004 and discussed publicly on the podcast last July. Kyle's lawyers have advised him not to make any accusations of intellectual property theft, so he is careful not to. But he does state a rather strong opinion about how the similarities between his idea of Gemini's Glade and the Father Llymic villain in WotC's Elder Evils could potentially be explained. Kyle then pleads for the book's author, Robert J. Schwalb, to come on the podcast to clear up the situation. So after half an hour of this nonsense, the guys pitch four ideas, two of which suck and two of which are awesome, but remarkably similar.

In Episode 46, the guys dedicate the entire hour to pitching new RPG ideas to each other. Over the past two weeks they have individually tried to develop a handful of original RPG ideas and are revealing them to each other on the podcast, then working together to flesh the ideas out. Mike first pitches a supers game with a unique take on what being a hero means. Then, inspired by the Sinister Adventures podcast and his musings on Grand Theft Auto IV, Kyle comes up with a new Dungeons and Dragons supplement. Trying to develop a game that his kids can play, Mike pitches an idea based on cartoon premises and quasi-super powers. Finally, Kyle tries to make a fun, playable game that involves racism and genocide. Much to the guys' surprise, they both agree that he has.

In Episode 45, the guys talk about the various games they have available for free download on the website. But first, Allen Varney, the author of the most recent iteration of Paranoia, makes a guest appearance and surprises Mike when he and Kyle turn the tables and subject him to the Animalball Hotseat. Click Here to Listen.

In Episode 44, the guys interview James Jacobs, the editor-in-chief of the Pathfinder adventure line at Paizo Publishing. The guys get into an indepth discussion of the ins and outs of the first Pathfinder adventure path, Rise of the Runelords including questions from Mike and Kyle's kids who are currently playing through the adventure arc. The guys try to figure out how exactly what it takes to try to coordinate the massive story lines and plot twists of Pathfinder's six-issue adventures. They also talk about the Pathfinder RPG, what James thinks about the dicks at Wizards of the Coast (our words, not his), how cool it is to get an adventure published in Dungeon at age 14, and how to exact your bitter revenge on Erik Mona. Finally, James undergoes the gauntlet of the Animalball Hotseat, answering the five hardest questions he's faced since taking the SAT.

In episode 43, the guys get back to their gaming roots. In an effort to demonstrate just how out of touch they are with modern gaming, they decide to review the latest announcements in gaming news. It is a valiant effort, but Mike had to bail after 30 minutes so he could get into banter. But before the banter, they talk about a crazy sounding game called Sea Dracula, crappy press released like the one for PCGen, the Fear the Boot interview with Erik Mona, The Lazy GM's book of 450 personalized Orcs, and Paizo's press release on the Pathfinder RPG. Mike had some stories too, but was too lazy to bookmark them, so they did not get included in the shownotes. Random banter then included how the guys once almost got kicked out of a theme park due to their Mom's foul mouth, and limitless stories of their childhood friend, Billy Light, and his adventures in bodily functions.

In Episode 42, the guys examine their elaborate and juvenile April Fool's Day prank.  They name names and call people out as they laugh and laugh at who fell for it, and the dicks that didn't.  After spending waaay too much time patting themselves on the back, Kyle reads some scintilating accidental porn that he found this week, and the guys are joined by a special guest at the end-- drunk Mrs. Mike!

In Episode 41 of the Animalcast, the guys list their top five movie badasses off all time. What constitutes a movie badass? Is it the sheer number of kills or is it something a bit more... badass? Is it possible that Judge Reinhold from Beverly Hills Cop made the list? As is typical with the list episodes, each of the guys gives their top five and then they bicker incessantly over each others' choices. Trying to increase their gaming street cred, the guys also tie the topic back into gaming, getting into a discussion of how badass players and villains work their way into their RPG sessions.

This episode we talk about the five greatest single posts on the message boards. We also get into banter about nicknames as kids, my kid gaming at school with friends and other stuff.

In Episode 39 of the Animalcast, the guys address more questions from the listening audience about gaming with small kids, whether D&D 3.5 is an appropriate starter system for kids, and differences between girls and boys in beginning gaming. As is becoming increasingly more common, they bicker about who is monopolizing the show time and Mike throws a hissy fit. After they get that sorted out, Kyle explains the mystery of why his entire house smells like urine every night, and Mike babbles about some boring stuff the intern could not remember to put in to the show notes. They both review the movie 1408 and talk about the last time either of them cried at a movie.

In this Episode, the guys full well intend to answer some long winded questions from Nicephorus and ALMOST do. But unfortunately they only address about half of his questions before getting distracted by topics such as Oppenheimer, Buffy Season 8, Darkon and King of Kong. Sorry Nicephorus.

In Episode 37, the guys have decided to go with the worst show idea ever.  In this episode, they have decided to each list the five Animalballers that they hate the most and give the reasons why.  Are you on the list?  Where does Tahlvin rank?  Do the guys actually have the balls to list people that they know listen to the show?  (Hint- yes, and we don't care if you're offended).Why would Mike and Kyle do a show that will achieve nothing more than the alienation of their entire audience?  For the reason they go through with every bad idea-- it made them laugh really hard when they first thought of it.  So go ahead and find out where you land on the list, jackass.  And if you think we forgot anyone or disagree with our choices, post up your responses on the boards.

In this episode, the guys talk rampant speculation about the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons.  Before that, however, Mike describes a fight and near arrest from his last night driving a cab, and Kyle gives an update on his necrotic dog.  Mike then mysteriously drops off the recording, giving Kyle an opportunity to get some things off his chest.

In Episode 35- Kyle introduces more never-before-heard outtakes.  Mostly about how Mike was a giant dick and used to hurt Kyle when they were kids.

In Episode 34, the guys conclude their discussion of gaming with kids.  Kyle also gives a review of Teeth, and Mike explains the problems with large men going down water slides.

In Episode 33, Mike and Kyle talk about the intricacies they have experienced while gaming with their kids.  That's right, faithful listener!  The Animalcast is regaining its street cred with a bit of gaming talk!  Their kids range in age from 6 to 13 and they talk about the ways to keep them interested and adjust to the complexities of the game.  In other news, the guys talk about the new format and weekly recording schedule as well as the new theme music.  Even though Mike and Kyle can't agree on the value of SDQ, they both concur that Raygun is awesome.  Opening theme courtesy of Raygun.

Due to technical difficulties and general laziness, this episode was recorded in December and is only now being released. But what an episode! The guys start with a fervent discussion of Heroscape. They discuss wave 6 and 7 expanions and Kyle reveals how he finally broke the back of the ever present "Team Up Against Dad" Alliance. The guys then talk about Instant Game finally getting completed and being released for free download. As one would expect, they then bicker about which of them did more work on the game with Kyle pulling the "I Pay for the Website" card and winning the argument. Kyle gives a short review of World War Z by Max Brooks, and Mike talks about his mancrush on Monte Cook after reading a free pdf about Ptolus. Kyle also raves about his Marvel Digital Comics subscription and geeks out about his past reading comics. Continuing the hodgepodge discussion, the guys also talk about good games to play with your kids like Apples to Apples or any Cranium games.

Well we really screwed the pooch on our last listener mail episode.  Due to a technical glitch which we don't understand (Mike's audio was actually echoing a half second BEFORE he spoke-- how's that happen?)- the viewer mail episode was a total loss and unfixable.But due to popular demand-- here's the voicemails themselves!As a testament to our listeners, we had almost ten minutes in just voicemails.  You guys must really, really like us.  You would think that would somehow motivate us to buy some real recording equipment so these things wouldn't happen... but let's not get crazy or anything.

Due to technical difficulties with the already-recorded viewer mail episode, that episode is being delayed to try to fix some of the audio bugs.  Instead of leaving everyone high and dry, we've put out these never-before-aired outtakes.  Enjoy!

In Animalcast Episode 30, Mike and Kyle interview independent horror movie writer/director Scott Phillips. Scott wrote and directed the cult movie classic Stink of Flesh, which the guys first discussed in Episode 23. Scott's getting ready to release his newest horror flick, Gimme Skelter. The guys talk to Scott about his experience getting into script writing, his first major script for the movie Drive, and his experience with a failed Steven Seagal project (spoiler alert-- we think Seagal is a bit batshit... our words, not Scott's). They also get into an indepth discussion of Stink of Flesh and all its zombie greatness, including the controversial nature of filming a movie based on alternative sexual lifestyles in a post-apocalyptic zombie world. Scott also talks about working with Gunnar Hansen (Leatherface) in Gimme Skelter and the obstacles of low-budget filmmaking versus studio productions. The guys also wax poetic over their favorite horror movie Icon-- MATOOL! Finally, Scott graciously participates in the Animalball Hotseat and answers the ever-dangerous f/marry/kill question, among other things. Scott was a great sport about this. If you want to purchase Gimme Skelter, visit Scott's website (www.edpmovies.com) to get your copy of this violent, story-driven gem of a horror movie. Note: This podcast was recorded telephonically using talkshoe teleconferencing services, so the quality of the recording is below our usual standards, however the substance of the interview is our best stuff yet.

Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, the guys took a couple of weeks off. Fear not, faithful listener! We have outtakes! In this half-hour episode, Kyle introduces three sets of outtakes, including a discussion of their respective families' Halloween, Kyle's favorite book (House of Leaves), how Mike is a callous ass to Boner, and an indepth discussion of the 'new' television season (okay, this outtake is a bit dated)- including Bionic Woman, Reaper, Heroes and Pushing Daisies. The guys will return next week with a new Viewer Mail episode! Viewer f'ing mail!

In an unprecedented experiment in cutting-edge podcasting, Mike and Kyle record an entire episode without any preparation. Daring, no? In this episode, Mike and Kyle intentionally decided not to preplan any topics for this show, and when they accidently thought of things to talk about before the recording, those topics became forbidden to discuss. To re-emphasize-- they allowed themselves absolutely no preparation. Miraculously, they still manage to talk for an hour. Kyle gives his thoughts on the vampire movie, 30 Days of Night, and shows his usual caution with respect to spoilers. Mike and Kyle talk about their upcoming interview with a surprise guest, and Kyle relates a ribald tale of debauchery in his most recent Dungeons and Dragons game session. Then the guys trade stories about various times they seriously injured each other while kids. Curious about how Mike gave Kyle a concussion with a bed frame? Ever wonder how many ways Kyle can get run over with a runner sled? How dumb is Mike to run with his eyes closed? These burning questions are finally answered.

In Episode 27, Mike and Kyle scrap their planned show on Gencon 2008 plans for Animalball and instead focus on a variety of different topics. Kyle begins by serenading the listeners with a Whitney Houston ballad. Mike and Kyle decide on the new codename for their real-life brother... Boner... and they explain the story behind the nickname. In very important gaming news, Mike gives more information on Animalball's most anticipated contest every year... the Animalball Deadpool 2008! Anyone is welcome to play and draft their own team of decrepit celebrities. Animalball's deadpool is unique in that there is a draft and absolutely no overlap of celebrities on each person's list. Sign up and enjoy the laborious fun of waiting for people to die. Kyle gives the listeners a voicemail request (call 206-202-5279) for a special kind of listener mail, and then the guys continue Daki's Challenge- Daki's game of giving roleplaying scenarios and the listeners calling in with potential responses. The guys reveal the winner of the last challenge, and Mike proposes a new one. Then the guys engage in a new dork segment on the podcast- Random Supers Deathbattle.

In Episode 26, the guys try to talk about Heroscape, the miniature-style wargame by Hasbro. But they get sidetracked by a lot of side issues. First they offer some expensive comics in return to anyone that can provide a good, original theme song. They talk about Kyle's bad haircut and what not to tell your barber. Mike goes on about how much he loves Allen Varney and Paranoia XP. Mike and Kyle also talk about Paizo Publishing's Critical Hit Deck, and their new Pathfinder books for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5. Kyle gets nearly orgasmic reviewing Paizo's current Rise of the Runelords adventure arc. Finally the guys get around to talking about the subject at hand. Both Mike and Kyle have been playing Heroscape for many years with their kids and have loved the game since it first came out. The guys talk about the basics of the game, the low cost of getting into it, the ease of rules, and epic battles they have waged. They discuss the merits of having Snake Warriors fighting Futuristic Robot Warriors fighting the Hulk and Spiderman. Kyle promises in the show to link to some sample maps from the animalball forums, but when typing up the show notes decides it is just too much trouble. Just kidding.

In Episode 25, the guys answer more viewer mail.  But first, Mike has a surprise guest jump on the microphone for an impromptu interview.  Simply put, it is the biggest name guest on the show yet.  The guys answer questions related to the ongoing war between ninjas and pirates, their favorite Dungeons and Dragons settings, the new Pathfinder series from Paizo Publishing and technical issues asked by a loyal listener.  Listener Daki poses a new game which the guys stumble through, but then request help from the listening audience.  They have a request related to their Ron Weasley for Muggle President 2008 prank, and in response to another listener questions they speculate on Dungeons and Dragons 4.0.  And finally, Kyle responds to the vicious attacks on him from the Reel Horror Podcast.

This is a very short episode where Kyle introduces a few outtakes, including a discussion of an altercation with the infamous band, Harry and the Potters, and how Meryl Streep's breasts brought a previous episode to a screeching halt.  Kyle addresses his pending feud with the Reel Horror Podcast and also introduced a new promo that the Scorpion King recorded.

In Episode 23, Mike and Kyle conclude their discussion of movies so bad they are good.  The final three movies are Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Sophie's Choice, and The Stink of Flesh.  Kyle also gives a Rizzob in the Hizzouse to the inventor of nicotene lozenges and Mike continues to try to answer the unanswerable question- what can brown do for you?

In Episode 22, Mike and Kyle begin their experiment in reviewing movies so bad that they are good.  Using user suggestions from the website, the guys watch the first three movies in this episode, including Snakes on a Plane, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Deathrace 2000.  Kyle also makes a shocking announcement about a lifestyle choice he has been hiding from everyone, and Mike bitches at Kyle over the shownotes.

VIEWER MAIL!  CALL (206) 202-5279 WITH MORE!Show Notes Are for Sissies!

In Episode 20, the guys conclude theiir discussion of their most Australian moments, which include Australian press releases, a fake presidency campaign and the ongoing struggle with Wil Wheaton.

In episode 19, Mike and Kyle discuss their most... ahem... Australian moments.  They get into an indepth discussion of the various pranks they've played on each other, the members of Animalball and other websites.

In Episode 18, the guys conclude their interview with Caz Granberg, the author of Covert Generations.  The guys also discuss Caz's work on Aquanauts and other mysterious projects he is not authorized to give details about.  Caz talks about his friend, Jason Blair's, project Normal, Texas.  And Blair's rewriting and reissuing of the controversial rpg Little Fears.  Not surprisingly, Kyle panders for attention.

This clip is an edit of the interview Mike and Kyle did with Caz Granberg in Episode 17.  That episode has been edited here to focus just on his latest RPG, Covert Gen.  Visit his website at www.heftywrenches.com for more information and to purchase the game.

This is the Cazcast!  Mike and Kyle interview Caz Granberg-- better known as Cazmonster on the Animalball forums-- about his experience writing and selling his first major game, Covert Generations.  But first, the guys put Caz on the Animalball Hotseat and task him with five difficult questions.  You'll have to listen to figure out how superaids, poisoned kool-aide and zombie hitler work into it.  And the guys finally answer the question of the most evil gamer in the world.

In Episode 16, Mike and Kyle discuss random gaming topics that they've been meaning to discuss for a while.  This includes a pre-review of RPGPundit's new game, Forward.. to Adventure!  They also discuss the scifi channel original series Who Wants to Be a Superhero and some game ideas they forgot about for a previous episode.

Back to form!  In Animalcast Episode 15 the guys get involved in a serious and important disussion- the greatest movies to portray nerds in a good light, and the worst movies to portray nerds in a bad light.  You think Anthony Michael Hall might be in some of these movies?  You are probably right, but we refuse to give anything away, so you will just have to listen to the episode to find out.

In this outtake from Episode 14, the guys talk about their nerdy listening habits: books on tape.  Mike reveals that he likes to listen to college lectures on tape and Kyle reveals his love for salt-- the History of Salt, that is.

In this outtake, Mike makes sure to clarify any impression the guys may have given in the last week's outtake that Maureen Trentman was a whore.  In an interesting twist, the conversation then leads to Kyle's most recent communications with Wil Wheaton.

That's right, devoted listener!  We now have a voicemail number!  Want to harass us?  Want to put in your 2 cents (23 Euros)?  We'll try to play all in voicemails in full episodes or at least in outtakes.  Call us:(206) 202-5279And guess what?  Paul's already left us half a dozen messages?  Click the mp3 to listen!

Episode 14- The whisper quiet episode.  Okay, Kyle takes full reponsibility for not being able to hear him well.  He was in a house of 10 sleeping people recording the podcast on a crappy phone using new software.  Next time will be better.  But here's the point!  It's the "Things We Like to Listen To" Episode!  Uh... this sounded interesting in theory.  In any event, the guys talk about various things-- cds, music, satellite radio, and their favorite podcasts.  Podcast-wise, the guys talk about Fear the Boot, Reel Horror Podcast, the Ogrecave Audio Report, Night of the Living Podcast and Dr. Rotwang's single podcast.  Listen closely... because you'll have to if you want to understand what Kyle is saying.

As the night wore on recording Episode 13 (the third episode recorded in a row), the guys got a bit loopy and answered a ribald question from Daki questioning the parentage of Kyle's children.

In this outtake from Episode 13, the guys answer questions from the Hauze.

Viewer Mail!  We answer questions from Paul, Caz, Iantha (Paul), Zircher, Gunny, Jeff Hauze, Hellion, Angel and Paul again! Discover the answer to mysteries you never knew you cared about-- why does Gunny hate Kyle's wife so much? What are the guys currently working on? Why is television so bad (or is it)? Is Jeff Hauze hot for his minions? And what the hell is going on at the RPGSite anyways?

In this outtake, Kyle talks about his most recent game purchase-- Star Wars Saga Edition, and how excited he is about running it with his kids.  Unfortunately, Mike drags up some old history about Kyle's published hatred of all things Star Wars.  Then Mike commits the unforgivable act and reveals Kyle's shameful, secret hypocrisy.

In Episode 12, Mike and Kyle finish their discussion of the best games they never developed.  This includes:Tabloid a game of weird news journalists;Ragnorak's Ghosts, a body jumping, combat-intensive game;An untitled, over the top time travel game with big guns;Legacy of Justice, a post-apocalyptic supers game;Working Class Monsters, a... game (you will see the problems with this in the discussion);Genre Clash, an experiment with the fudge system that uses characters from any genre of roleplaying;Revelation's Agents, where players working for the church try to stop the end of the world;Legacy of MAN, the coolest furries game EVAR; andCell Block Orc, the best idea the guys have ever come up with.  You'll just have to listen to hear what that one's all about.

In Episode 11, Mike and Kyle discuss the greatest ideas they never developed.  From two dungeons and dragons-based adventures-- Battle for Gemini's Glade and The Dungeon Crawl-- to their own homebrews (Aquanauts, Disaster!, BFF and God's Dice). And Kyle has a message for all the listeners:  I allow you to exist; that makes me better than you.

In this brief outtake from Episdoe 10, Mike prompts Kyle to describe his first IRC Dungeons and Dragons experience... and the costume his family made for him.

In this extended outtake from Episode 10, Mike and Kyle talk extensively about which supers they would like to have a one night stand with and which they would like to marry.  The conversation gets sidetracked onto the sheer awesomeness of Colossus.

In Episode 10, the guys continue their unabashed journey through all things superhero and comic related.  They face off against each other, discuss the Frank Miller and Alan Moore revolution, and genenrally geek out on supers.

In this outtake from Episode 9, Mike feels remorse about being so unprepared for the Order of the Stick game that Daki sent in for Episode 8.  Mike makes amends and addresses the game properly.

In Episode 9 the Animalball crew engages in the first annual Superhero Geekfest.  But first, Kyle gives a loving tribute to his wife to memorialize their 13th anniversary.  Back on topic, the focus on this episode is on all things supers and all the complete geek questions that comic fans contemplate.  Which super would you go gay for?  Pirates vs. Ninjas- the supers version.  What power would you like and what power would you inflict on someone else?  'Nuff said.

In Episode 8, the guys discuss the single greatest roleplaying game of all time.  Paranoia.  Just how can an absurdist, comedic, science fiction roleplaying game be so great?  If you listen, you will find out.  Also, the guys are happy to introduce their new announcer, Michael Dorn from Star Trek the Next Generation.

In this outtake from Episode 8, Mike and Kyle lose it as they recall one of their favorite Paranoia moments of all time-- when Roblogic's character took the beatdown of a lifetime.

In this outtake of Episode 8, the guys talk about theRPGSite's donation drive.  This sidetracks into a discussion of the Paladium Game's debacle from last year, or as Kyle calls it "a total ream job."  The guys discuss when donation drives are legitimate, and when they just leave you feeling like a chump.

In this outtake of Episode 8, Kyle describes his first ever experience with playing an rpg online.  His humiliation is your entertainment for the day.<a href="http://odeo.com/claim/feed/b4012c7e53debc2e& quot;>Animalcast Odeo Channel</a> (odeo/b4012c7e53debc2e)

In Episode 7, the guys devote the entire hour to viewer mail!  Answering questions from Daki, Serious Paul, Angel, Jeff Hauze, Zircher, Flameblade and Silverwolf, the guys talk about a myriad of different things including: creepy homeschooled kids, Order of the stick, Chinese food and more.  Links discussed in the show:  the animalball stat yourself quiz (http://www.animalball.com/quiz2.htm).

In this short outtake from Episode 7, a technical problem with Mike's microphone leads to a racist impression of Don Knotts.  It cannot be explained any better than that.

In this outtake from Episode 7, Mike and Kyle get sidetracked from viewer mail to discuss movies so bad they turned them off.  That discussion, in turn, leads to a discussion about movies with the best (and worst) alternate endings, and then the guys talk about Kyle's love for Clerks II.

In this outtake from Episode 7 (viewer mail), the guys get sidetracked in the middle of an email from Jeff.  Before they even finish reading the email, they begin discussing the Jeff Hauze-LordHellion seniority debate, which branches into a mystery of why Roblogic is such a beloved member of Animalball.  Kyle explains to Mike "The Eva Effect" to solve this conundrum.

In this outtake of Episode 7, Kyle relates how his kids are repeatedly being suckered by kobolds in their D and D campaign.  Halfway through his story, someone unexpected reveals that he heard the whole nefarious plot.

There was just too much to talk about in Episode 6, so in this bonus episode, Mike and Kyle continue their discussion on the best movies and television shows to play as RPGs.  As usual, other unrelated conversation crops up, including two actresses that Kyle professes his love for.

In this Episode, Mike and Kyle step out of character in a somber moment to announce the passing of someone very close to the show, and to take a moment to honor their memory.  When they return to the normal format of the show, Kyle relates some recent criticisms from a listener.  Mike and Kyle go through the new geek fall line up, and finally the guys discuss the top ten movies or tv shows they think would make good rpgs.  In a candid moment of anger, Kyle reveals a brand new group of people that he just might hate worse than LARPers.

This is a five minute outtake that is being cut from the next episode because of time considerations.  I won't give it away, but Mike poses a truly heinous f-marry-kill that we couldn't leave on the cutting room floor.  Not for the weak of heart.

In Episode 5, the guys finally get their timing straight for the belated interview with Crazy Elf.  This episode also features the most shocking installment of viewer mail, and Kyle explains to Mike how he saw accidental porn while watching the Dungeons and Dragon Cartoon with his kids.  The guys talk about the finer points of Order of the Stick, and their favorite comic strips.  Kyle reveals which male animalballer is into girly drinks with umbrellas in them.  And the guys conclude their discussion of Instant Game which started last episode.  They discuss their best runs of Instant Game and actually go through an example of coming up with two different campaigns using the same set of roles.

In Episode 4, Mike and Kyle intend to talk about Instant Game, the role playing game where the genre, world and campaign are determined randomly at the beginning of the game session. However, before they get there, they are a bit distracted by some preliminary matters: (1) an indepth discussion of Heroes and how no one likes Nikki; (2) the Dragon and Dungeon magazine debacle and what Kyle is going to do about his canceled subscription; (3) a new game, Name the Poster; (4) viewer mail from Lordhellion; and (5) an indepth discussion of which female Animalballer is comfortable walking around naked in certain circumstances. The guys also give shout outs to Zirchir for his instant story generator homage to Instant Game and Dr. Rotwang for his experience with Instant Game. And finally, the guys try to hook in Crazy Elf for his belated appearance.

In Episode 3, Mike and Kyle discuss the positive and negative feedback on the first two episodes of Animalcast. The guys hook up with their first ever guest on the program, and much to everyone's relief, Mike has purchased a new microphone which greatly improves his sound quality-- but he still can't stop wiping his butt with it. The first installment of Viewer Mail is introduced with a question from Jeff Hauze, and the guys get sidetracked by a D&D version of f/marry/kill. Finally, the guys talk a bit about the free stuff they have for download, including their newest product, "50 Bar Encounters."

Mike and Kyle conclude the discussion of their history of gaming, including talk about their experiences with: James Bond; Villains and Vigilantes; Star Fleet Battles; Shadowrun; Melee; Paranoia; Champions; Car Wars; and the single greatest D&D experience ever. They also talk about gaming in college with Runanide, Peter, and Not Mike, and how they were humiliated by a pizza guy when he spotted their giant D&D world map. They even discuss the finer points of Heavy Metal the Movie-- you'll never guess what they loved about that.

Mike and Kyle talk about an assortment of stuff: their history of getting into gaming together; Caz Granberg's Covert Generation; Serious Paul, Tahlvin and AnHi's PB3 game; the inappropriateness of babysitters introducing children to D&D; and the one time Kyle actually had a character use the knife hidden in his boot.