Sockscast Game of the Year 2019 Day Two!
December 25th, 2019

And we wind down not only 2019, but the entire decade with the top five games that the three of us played this year along with the final salvo of listener lists to keep things nice and cozy for the holidays!

And, of course, a huge thank you to everyone that stuck with us through the year and even an entire goddamn decade! The fact that this dumb site is still here and running all these years later, with what is still a dizzying number of folks hanging around our community means a lot, even if we're not the most active content-wise anymore.

So, we'll catch you again in 2020! Have yourselves a happy new year!


Pollymadeitthroughanotherdecade

Sockscast Game of the Year 2019 Day One!
December 24th, 2019

We're here, we're queer, and it's time to reflect upon the year! That's right, it's time once again for the Sockscast end of the year Game of the Year double-episode spectacular!

On today's episode, we'll be going over our own personal favorites from the last 365 ranked 10 to 6 as well as a huge glut of listener lists, so settle in and get comfy!

Programming Note: Album of the Year days 1 and 2, and the next episode of God is in the Podcast will be recording after the new year. I had a bit of a dental emergency that kept me from being able to comfortably record either this holiday break. Apologies!


Pollyinsertsawthemehere

Sockscast Episode 107
December 9th, 2019

Hard to believe, but here we are. The final "normal episode" of the Sockscast of 2019 before we cruise into end of the year shenanigans, and also the final regular episode of the DECADE!

So, we decided to drag our good pal Samurai Karasu out of podcast retirement to join us once again, and he's on all sorts of wacky adventures, but specifically catching some -mons. Polly's embarked once again on the S.S. Idea Factory (which can only go well), Rhete's feelin' pretty awful this episode but that won't stop him from laying waste to any wicked hellspawn that threaten our world, and John's still on his PS1 RPG kick with the absolutely delightful Legend of Mana!

Also, FINAL CALL. If you wanna get your Game of the Year list read on the year-end Game of the Year Sockscasts, be sure to follow the information in the post directly below this one! Your deadline is noon on December 14th.


Pollyendrequest

Sockscast Game of the Year Listener Submissions Open!
November 26th, 2019

It's gettin' to be that time of year again, and I swear to god, I probably begin this post the same way every year, but you'll have to just deal with it YET AGAIN! Because I already got ya! You read it! Sucker!

Anyway, yep, we're taking listner/reader lists to read during our Game of the Year podcasts this year, and if there's some games you wanna blabber about, all you have to do is follow these simple instructions:

1. Get a list of three games you enjoyed this year together. They don't have to have been released this year. If you played it this year, it's fair game, so go ahead and include Bubble Bath Babes on Famicom, we don't care!

2. Write a brief summary about why the game's on your list. Try to keep it within a reasonable 2-3 sentences. If things end up too long, we'll just paraphrase.

2.a. Alternatively you can record your list to an .mp3 and send it to us too! Just be sure to keep it under 5'ish minutes!

3. Send that list off to podcast@socksmakepeoplesexy.net. Shoot that list right on over to our inbox BEFORE NOON ON DECEMBER 14TH. We'll be recording the Game of the Year podcasts around the 14th or 15th and definitely need your lists by then, so if you're any later, you won't make the cut.

So, there ya go! You've got yourselves a decent amount of time to get things squared away and sent off to us! Happy listing!


PollyDoesntKnowWhatCopyPasteIs

Sockscast Episode 106
November 25th, 2019

We were all in love with castin', we were drinkin' from a fountain, that was pourin' like an avalanche comin' down the mountain. This time around on ye olde Sockscast, Polly's been banished to fairytale jail for a dungeon crawling adventure, John's got some complicated feelings he needs to work out about the Suikoden series, and Rhete's anime viewing habits are the only thing that can keep this episode from being a total downer.


PollySkelter

Polly & After5 Interview Sean Chiplock
November 18th, 2019

On this special edition of The Sockscast, Polly is joined by Sockscast Pal After5 as we welcome aboard Professional Voice Actor, Sir Sean Chiplock for an extended interview. Best get your best set of ears on and pay attention because Sean takes us through the ins and outs of being a professional voice actor with an eye-opening amount of honesty and an entire truck load of humor!


Pollywhere'sthefuckingcat

Sockscast Episode 105
November 10th, 2019

Got a hot new Sockscast that's just bursting at the seams with content as Polly completes the journey through Trails of Cold Steel III, John's choice in games continues to demonstrate just how much of a big ol brain he is after devils make him cry, and Rhete finds himself immersed in the burgeoning "Portal, but boring" genre.


Pollytrailsoff

Sockscast Episode 104
October 28th, 2019

If it came down to your one true love or The Sockscast, we know we'd be in good shape, because they're one in the same! This time around, Rhete's over here using videogames to get S-W-O-L-E, John becomes a demon-slaying bishie-boy, and Polly's long-awaited re-enrollment at Thors Military Academy has finally come to be! And let's not forget the bloodbath Rhete and John engage in over Symphogear...


Pollytrailstoyou

Sockscast Episode 103
October 14th, 2019

The Sockscast welcomes Jetstorm4 back to the show after five years of having not been on an episode, and he's gonna help us navigate through all the feelings we have about these danged RPGs. After that, we're gonna check to see if John's alliances are still alive, find out if Polly opinions on a certain game are divisive, and Rhete's going to cry us through the end of the Symphogear saga!


Pollyogear

Sockscast Episode 102
September 23rd, 2019

Just because the summer's winding down into autumn doesn't mean your pals at the Sockscast are winding down with it! In this episode, Rhete's finally done the one thing no human being has ever managed to do, John's in shmup land and may have found the next Sockscast-Approved game, and Polly is here to make your dreams her personal playground! Also, this episode, Sockspal FreezingInferno joins us to talk the new Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening remake!

Be sure to drop on by the forums too, if'n that's your kinda thing!


PollySomnium

God is in The Podcast Episode II:
Smells Like Children
September 15th, 2019

And now we take a turn for the weird... Which is a strange thing to say given the artist we're talking about is Marilyn Manson, but as you'll see with today's episode of the podcast things definitely can get stranger. Today, we examine the band's breakthrough remix EP Smells Like Children, which finds the band experimenting as much with digital sound as they were drugs at the time!

Bet you guys didn't know Manson loved Willy Wonka and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!


Pollydoesntsmell

Sockscast Episode 101
September 9th, 2019

Welcome to a post-Sockscast Episode 100 world where almost literally nothing has changed! Or has it... On today's episode, Rhete's got a feels trip coming on at the end of Trails in the Sky The 3rd, Polly's diggin' through the ditches and burning through the witches and she brought her nun's habit for extra holiness points, and John's really feeling some kind of way about Chantelise!

You can even talk about it on the Sliders 'n Socks forums if you want!


Pollypost100world

God is in The Podcast Episode I:
Portrait of an American Family
September 1st, 2019

Welcome to the beginning of a new podcast series hosted by your pals Taylor and Polly!

God is in The Podcast is a new podcast series where we group review each of shock-rocker Marilyn Manson's mainline album releases! The catch is that Taylor and Polly are fans, and that our guest for each episode will feature someone a little less familiar with Brian Hugh Warner's musical output to hopefully create interesting and fun perspectives.

We're going to start with the group's first commercial outing Portrait of an American Family released in 1994, and joining us on that adventure is long-time Sockspal lieronet who has stayed largely blind to Mr. Manson's discography. We'll be circling around to stuff prior to this album's release at some point in the future, but for now, this felt like a good logical starting point.

Also, a reminder that we've re-opened the Sliders 'n Socks forums, so come hang out if that's your thang!


Pollydebut

More Polly Dungeon Behind The Scenes!
August 30th, 2019

Can you believe it's almost been a year since we released the world's best roguelike, Polly Dungeon? Well, how about a little extra Polly Dungeon making of content to prematurely celebrate the one year anniversary?

Ghosty has done a little writeup on the creation of the Polly Dungeon OST and it's a nice and informative read! So drop on over there and give it a look!


Pollytunez

Sliders 'n Socks Returns
August 26th, 2019

Since the forums were removed a couple years ago due to both inactivity and security issues with the site, I've received no shortage of emails asking when/if the forums would ever be coming back. Well, today I'm happy to announce to those people, and any perspective new members of the community, that Sliders 'n Socks has returned as of now.

You can visit the new, lighter-weight Sliders 'n Socks forums by clicking this link right here.

I appreciate everyone who has emailed about this and hope we can all bring back that bit of fun that some felt may have been missing with the forums being gone. Here's to a new start!


Pollysns2.0

Sockscast Episode 100!
August 24th, 2019

The Sockscast celebrates 100 Episodes with some special guest call-ins, listener emails and voice messages, and even a musical number or two! This is truly a Sockscast for the ages that you simply won't want to miss!

You can also download the two musical numbers featured at the links below:
Download Nate's "The Completely True and Accurate History of Polly Part 1"
Download Pauncho Smith's "Polly (Sockscast Mix)"

A HUGE thank you to everyone that came out for the celebration and sent in emails/voice messages! Much love to each and every one of you.


Polly100

Final Fantasy Tactics A2
August 13th, 2019

Did you even imagine that we'd be here once again... TWICE in the same year? Well, it's not just illusion, and your mind isn't playing tricks on you. And neither am I!

Socks Pal, and reason most of you are here, Pat has graced the site once again with his writing and I know that I, and I'm sure many of you as well, couldn't be more pleased to have him back again for another dose.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 will be today's subject of long-form essay and I'm sure we all hope poor Pat's mind is okay by the end of it. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

And, I'll close today's post out to remind you that Sockscast Episode 100 is on the way, and you can be a part of it. You can find out how by clicking that link.


PollyA2

Sockscast Episode 99
August 12th, 2019

The Sockscast broadcasts its final episode as a double-digit wonder, and we're leaving our double digits in style this time around with an episode that ended up strangely packed full of Japanese Cartoons! John's back on his Nasuverse kick checking out Garden of Sinners, Rhete's watching some weird show about magical girls who are also idols but also Eva pilots, and we round out the last hour of the episode with a timely spoilercast for Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion!

And don't forget that there's still time to be a part of Sockscast Episode 100, so be sure to get your submissions in!


Pollydoublenines

Play John Thyer's EXPANSE
August 7th, 2019

Looks like that crazy ol' John's at it again! Makin' and releasing videogames on the internet for your consumption!

His latest offering is EXPANSE a retro-styled quick-fix arcade shmup that's as easily summed up as the first part of this sentence and doesn't really need anymore accompaniment, which really just makes all these extra words kinda pointless, but I started typing them anyway, and holding down the Backspace key just felt like too much effort, so here we are. Go play EXPANSE!

And also, you still have time to get something sent to us for Sockscast Episode 100 happening on August 24th!


Pollyspanse

Announcing The Sockscast Episode 100 Live Show
August 2nd, 2019

Sockscast Episode 100 is rapidly approaching, in fact, we've even got a date and time set for it, but the most important part is that we want YOU to be a part of it if you can!

To celebrate both 100 Episodes of the Sockscast AND our five-year podcasting anniversary, we'll be hosting a very special Sockscast live over on my Twitch channel. Typically, we'd do an all call-ins show for this kind of occasion, but this time around technical limitations are going to keep us from being able to do so.

So, I've devised a backup plan that'll still let EVERYBODY that wants to be a part of the show be a part of the show, and that even includes our pals in timezones where it's harder to catch our live shows.

All the information to get yourself to the show, and more importantly ON the show is provided below.

Sockscast Episode 100 Live Show
WHEN: August 24th, 2019, 5:00PM Eastern Estimated Start Time
WHERE: http://twitch.tv/pollyhead

HOW:
Method 1 - Let Yourself Be Heard:
Step 1: You're gonna need a microphone!
Get a microphone and plug that sumbitch up to your computer.

Step 2: Record Us A Message
Record us a message! Anything you gotta say or anything you wanna ask or something you'd like to see us talk about, baby, it's up to you. This isn't just our moment to shine, you've been with us every step of the way, and we want you to be there for the big show too! Wanna sing us a pretty song? Read that epic poem you wrote about your friend Patty? Propose to someone? Pretty much everything's fair game here (within reason, of course), so if ya got somethin' on your mind you'd like your Sockspals to talk about or just wanna do your own little thing, record and save it as a .mp3 (preferably) or .wav.

Step 3: Send It To Polly!
Send that hot little message of yours attached to an email on over to polly[at-sign]socksmakepeoplesexy.net so that I can get it and have it ready for the show!

If you need an alternative:
Alternatively, you can also use a site like Vocaroo to record your message and send me a link to it.


Method 2 - For The Quieter Types:
If you'd rather not record a voice message just send me a plain ol' email to read on the air and I'll make sure it gets read during the broadcast!


On the day of the podcast, I'll have rounded all submitted voice messages and emails up and we'll go over each one on the podcast, responding to any comments or questions you may have for us!

So, get that noodle going and thinking about what you'd like your Sockspals to hear and/or talk about on Episode 100 and get those submissions on over to us.

The deadline for submitting messages will be 12:00PM Eastern Time on August 24th.


Pollyprepare

Sockscast Episode 98
July 29th, 2019

Midsummer madness strikes the Sockscast and we've come loaded with three massive hours of conversation to help you stay cool wherever you may be! In this episode, Polly attempts to understand what Ibuki meant when she said the world of girls' love is "slippery when wet," John has completely given up but not enough that he can't appreciate Mega Man 11, and Rhete still has his hard hat and hammer out in Mario Maker world, but has enough time to render judgement on other videogames as well.


Pollyuri

Play Byron Hulcher's POWER SLIDES!
July 23rd, 2019

Y'all remember longtime Sockspal and super rad podcast co-host Byron Hulcher, right? Well, peep this flavor, he's just released a new game called POWER SLIDES and you should get yourselves over there and play it right now.

What IS POWER SLIDES? It's a fun improvisational party game you play with your friends, co-workers, AND EVEN YOUR PETS, where you have to create a 5 minute pitch for an app based on the randomly shown slides. Anyone can easily grasp the concept and it's easy to just play anywhere!

So, get on over there and start makin' YOUR dream app pitches today!


PollySlides

Sockscast Episode 97
July 8th, 2019

Can you believe that in this post-Independence Day edition of the Sockscast that there aren't any neighbors with leftover fireworks on hand to interfere with things? That means you'll get to hear us gush for 17 hours straight about Mario Maker 2! And if that's not enogh, John's out here watching weird and creepy movies, Rhete's attacking titans, and Polly has some very important and correct opinions to share about Dragon Quest XI!


PollyQuestXI

Sockscast Episode 96
June 17th, 2019

We're COMPLETELY out of control this episode! The future is John Thyer's to command, as is this episode of the Sockscast, so of course you can bet he's gonna take us on a wild ride through the world of SaGa and maybe even change a few hearts and minds along the way. After that, Rhete's reaching the depths of the sea only to find himself washed ashore on a deserted island where he runs into Polly who's mysteriously taken up bartending as a side-job to her usual alien-blasting activities.

Oh, and I guess some big games reveal thing happened, too? We might talk about it.


PollE3

Sockscast Episode 95
May 27th, 2019

What better way to once again celebrate our triumph over nature, collectively dropkicking the winter season into the sun to welcome some warmer summer vibes than a hot new Sockscast for your ear holes? In this episode John's ready to take on all alien forces that would threaten our world's livelihood from any corner of space, Polly's embarked on a grand, maybe Dragon Slaying adventure, and Rhete kicks off a Falcom/Trails in the Sky love-fest in which we successfully manage to avoid spoiling anything at all!


PollyTheLuminary

Sockscast Episode 94
May 13th, 2019

Gotta hot new Sockscast ready, fresh out of the oven for your listening pleasure! In this episode, Rhete's donned his finest maid uniform and stashed a few thousand daggers up under it for maximum lethality, John's still in search of his moon princess, and Polly is here to sell you on the raw potato agenda!


Polltato

Sockscast Episode 93!
April 29th, 2019

Okay, we've been gone for almost a month, but real life keeps folks busy like that sometimes. That just means there's plenty of stuff to talk about, like John's foray into interacting with media that's not aggressively bad (at least for a while), Rhete's still playing Saykeeroh but he's also on a lightning round of about a hundred other things too, and Polly's taking Rhete's lead from last episode and getting lost in the Scramble as well!


Pollyscrambled

No, It's Not A Joke
April 2nd, 2019

Well, well, well, here's an update I bet nobody thought they'd see coming in about a million years.

Anyone remember that cool guy, Pat? Star of this site's official webcomic? Renowned author? Putting himself through hell and back for the sake of our entertainment? Well...turns out the crazy bastard is at it again, and I had to delay it by a day so nobody would think I'm actually joking here. Soooo...

For reasons I'm sure he'll discuss in the article, Pat felt compelled to write about Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Your eyes are not deceiving you! And if you click the link to head on over there, I'm sure nothing but good times await!


Pollytacticsadvance

Sockscast Episode 92
April 1st, 2019

Nope, it's not April Fool's. It's just us, your friendly neighborhood Sockscast crew getting together without any kinda special shenanigans. Today, we're joined by Sockscast Artist Sayara who'll be going over his recent trip to the world of Japanland. All that and we still have time for John to finally experience an existence lacking any sort of Fate-related content ever and Rhete finds himself lost in the Scramble!


Pollyitsnotafool

Sockscast Episode 91
March 18th, 2019

As winter takes its last gasps (THANK GOD) here in the states, your pals at the Sockscast are still keeping the fires of "good conversation" going with Rhete blazing trails through the skies AND space, John is probably talking about some more Fate stuff or something, and Polly seeing a surprising end to her recent run of the survival horror genre. I can see you're almost as excited as I am to download this one!


Pollythecosplaymaid

Sockscast Episode 90
February 25th, 2019

Hot diggity dang, we're back with another jam-packed episode of The Sockscast and we've even brought our official fourth, Beepner, along just to make sure there's loads of things worth talking about! Beepner kicks things off by telling us about his adventures as princess in the Mushroom Kingdom, Rhete has fallen in love with the only TRUE Battle Royale experience worth having, Polly's lost inside another gosh dang scary mansion, and John wants to be enlightened on the true nature of music criticism.


PollyHDRemake

Afterward Is Officially Out!
February 14th, 2019

Happy Valentine's Day and happy two-year anniversary to the release of mine and John's visual novel, Her Lullaby! We hope you're good and caught up on that game, because today we're proud to present to you our follow-up/extended epilogue to the tale with the release of Afterward.

It's been a long journey to get here. About sixteen months, in fact, but this is a story we believed in and felt was worth taking the time to tell, and we hope that if you were invested in the original that you feel it's a story worthy of being told. So, click the link above, get yourself comfy, and find out what happened...Afterward.

I, of course, have to give a shout out to our co-conspirators in this game's creation. Carmichael Micaalus once again returns on character art and design work, and Taylor has returned with a hot new set of tunes that help amplify every key moment of the story. Pauncho Smith also lent a hand with some much needed photography to help our game have a little more of an identity in its setting.

It's hard not to feel a little sappy and sentimental when you've reached the end of a huge project like this, but once again, I just want to thank everyone who supported the original game, the people that have helped and encouraged us along the way, and anyone who may find and connect with our little duology in the future. What creative roads hold from here, I'm not certain, but having had these experiences only assures me that this is only the beginning.

Love to you all!


Pollyward

Sockscast Episode 89
February 11th, 2019

Don't feel lonley, your pals at The Sockscast will be your Valentine this coming Valentine's Day! All you have to do is sit back and listen to them blabber on and on about all the things they've been up to lately. Rhete spent his time being freaked out by zombies and being chased around by DMX, Polly took a trip to Crossbell and, of course, tears were shed, and John's making sure he never forgets anything again with his shiny new chain of memories!


Pollygongiveittoya

Sockscast Episode 88
January 28th, 2019

And we're back with 2019 in full gear, and your pals at the Sockscast have certainly been up to quite a bit since the last episode! On the docket today, Polly's taken a trip to a cursed mansion, Rhete now knows the difficult life of being sentient space suit, and John's...ya know...Fate stuff again...


PollyMakesAPost

Afterward Announcement
January 21st, 2019

Myself and John Thyer have something new to share with you.

If you find that you need yourself a refresher before the game is released, you can play Her Lullaby here.


Pollynewgameannounce

Sockscast Episode 87
January 14th, 2019

Your favorite talking head internet pals return with the first Sockscast of 2019, jam-packed with all sorts of topics that have just been building up and building up over the course of the holidays. Rhete's got himself some videogames to talk about as well as some anime ABOUT videogames, Polly has found the perfect game that exemplifies everything that is John Thyer, and John's gonna get all touchy and feely with Heaven...in more ways than one!


PollySocksAliveIn2019