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Lair Of Secrets

Lair Of Secrets

By: Lair Of Secrets
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 The podcast about gaming and being a geek by two forty something geek dads.Copyright 2025 by David Moore and Ken Newquist Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Why We Keep Coming Back To Cyberpunk 2077 (S5E13)

    Why We Keep Coming Back To Cyberpunk 2077 (S5E13)
    Feb 14 2026
    When it was released in December 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was glitchy as hell. Five years later, we’re still playing it … but why? Chapters 00:00 The Allure of Cyberpunk 207701:53 Cyberpunk's Reflection of Reality04:24 Exploration and Discovery in Night City06:55 Game Mechanics and Play Styles09:43 Updates, Mods, and Community Engagement12:36 Emotional Storytelling and Character Impact17:54 The Evolution of Cyberpunk 207722:37 Realistic Dialogue and Player Choices24:32 Interweaving Storylines and Lore26:39 Bittersweet Endings and Moral Compromises32:00 Gameplay Mechanics and Character Development36:31 Future of Cyberpunk Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch Why We Keep Coming Back To Cyberpunk 2077 on YouTube. Show Notes Huge, Immersive World We want to discuss how Cyberpunk feels oddly familiar…like, even with all the over-the-top-ness of the ads, the violence, etc, the concepts are familiar because we are sort of living in it right now. I have THOUGHTS on this. ( we were raised on Star Wars, or Trek, Or Harry Potter, and Cyberpunk. Which of those actually gives you a blueprint for today?) Exploration of the sights, sounds, and in world storytelling is deep. I have played several times and still discover something new when I have another playthrough. Ignore the main quest, focus on the small stuff THe main quest is pretty great, but there is SO MUCH small stuff that it is a lot of fun on replayed to focus on different small sidequests and details. One criticism: you can max out your level and such fairly early by doing this. I’d love a mod that lets you keep levelling up. Multiple starts Latest editions of the game added some RPG lines specific for each start, which was good. I’m not sure they made a difference in the overall story plot, but it was good from an immersive RPG standpoint. Great being able to play the game for the 4th? 5th? time and still get a new experience when going the Corpo route. Multiple endings Yep, and even the ones for Phantom Liberty are noteworthy. And can be very noir – endings that are not tidy. Or even truly happy. So Many Toys… So Much Lore The texts you find, the documents you read in the side quests, they often reference other sidequests or jobs. There is a ton of lore you can learn if that’s your thing. The old just won’t leave us. It tells a good story. It brings into question what we are here for and how we leave this life. When I think about this game, I think a lot of the joyful/rageful defiance that informs Punk. The question “How does one live when all signs point to being trod upon and powerless?” comes up, and Cyberpunk (fiction in general) often answers this with that defiance, usually in the scenery or side characters. Usually it means breaking the law, but in this situation where the law is corrupt and unjust, it is easy to see why that decision is made. I believe this dovetails into my earlier thoughts about CP being familiar on a level. Mods: Dark Future mod for Cyberpunk 2077 DayDream Gaming Night City Videos 36 Streets Featured Image Meta Edgerunner artwork from Cyberpunk 2077.
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    45 mins
  • Cozy Video Games – Campaigns & Coffee

    Cozy Video Games – Campaigns & Coffee
    Jan 26 2026
    In between shoveling out from snow storms, we took the time to talk about cozy video games. We delve into the expected (Animal Crossing, Tiny Bookshop, Planet Crafter) and the not-so-expected (Fallout, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Red Dead Redemption 2). Chapters 00:00 Defining Cozy Games02:35 Exploring Popular Cozy Games05:16 The Role of Objectives in Cozy Gaming07:44 Unique Cozy Game Experiences10:16 The Impact of Gaming Platforms on Cozy Experiences12:53 Crafting and Terraforming in Cozy Games15:41 The Whimsical World of Slime Rancher19:49 The Thrills of Open-World Exploration21:22 Cozy vs. High-Risk Gaming Experiences23:36 The Importance of Homesteading in Games27:07 The Comfort of Building and Community30:17 Cozy Survival in The Long Dark32:16 Artistic Expression in Gaming33:20 Finding Comfort in Cyberpunk 2077 Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch Cozy Games - Campaigns & Coffee on YouTube. Show Notes Definition of what is a cozy game. From Wikipedia: A cozy game (cosy game in Commonwealth English) is a video game which emphasizes non-violence and relaxation. Initially derived from the life simulation genre, cozy games commonly include activities such as gathering and growing plants and nurturing other characters. They often have open-ended goals that encourage self-expression. Chris' definition: "Cozy game is any game that evokes that cozy feeling within you" Our Big list of Cozy Games Animal Crossing: New Horizons Strange Horticulture Strange Antiquities Tiny Bookshop The Planet Crafter Slime Rancher 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 Fallout 4 No Man’s Sky Dystopika Lightyear Frontier The Long Dark – Pilgrim Mode Aloft Lonely House Outside the Blocks Cyberpunk 2077 Featured Image Meta Cover art from Animal Crossings video game for Nintendo Switch.
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    37 mins
  • Defining Cozy – Campaigns & Coffee

    Defining Cozy – Campaigns & Coffee
    Jan 24 2026
    Our cozy Saturday morning coffee and games show returns to answer the question … what is cozy? Reading a book while sleet pounds the windows on a winter night? Putting your phone in a Faraday cage so you can get a few minutes of non-digital peace? We give a couple of definitions cozy can be … and then talk about what we personally find to be cozy. Chapters 00:00 Defining Cozy02:21 Personal Cozy Rituals and Experiences05:01 The Role of Sensory Input in Creating Cozy Atmosphere07:50 Cozy Games and Downshifting in a Digital Age10:20 The Importance of Cozy Practices Listen to the Episode Watch to the Episode Watch Defining Cozy - Campaigns & Coffee on YouTube. Show Notes Defining Cozy Hygge (/ˈh(j)uːɡə/, H(Y)OO-gə; Danish: [ˈhykə]; Norwegian: [ˈhŷɡːə]) is a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality. As a cultural category with its sets of associated practices, hygge has more or less the same meaning in both places and in both languages;[1] however, the emphasis on hygge as a core part of Danish culture is a recent phenomenon, dating to the late 20th century. In the 21st century, the concept has also been familiarized abroad. Gluggaveður (GLOO-ga-veth-ur): Weather that looks appealing from inside but would be unpleasant to be outside in. What is cozy? No wrong answers ... but here are ours. Ken: Hockey jerseys Coffee, comfortable mugs, and good books (or comic books) Cold, dark winter nights with Christmas trees and chill music Lo-fi listening Cabin camping in winter /Hammocks on the Lake Snuggling puppies Chris: Storms, sitting on the porch or in the garage with the door open in a storm Reading Cooking and listening to 1920-1940s music and radio Coffee & coffee shops Coding while listening to music Sipping bourbon hot cocoa w/ the Xmas lights on in the dark Being off the internet David: Rain on the roof as I head to bed Reading a good book on the couch or in a comfy chair while warm and cozy Laying out under an umbrella on the beach, sometimes with a book, sometimes looking at the surf Music around the house while puttering around and doing minor chores Sitting out on the porch in the predawn hours with a cup of coffee Cozy Links Darth Vader Yule Log Nick Offleman drinking scotch Star Trek: Titan LCARS display Feedback We love feedback! You post a comment below or connect with us using these channels: Email Bluesky Discord DiceCamp (Mastodon) YouTube Twitch Featured Image Meta A yellow Labrador retriever puppy snuggles with an older Labrador retriever.
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    21 mins
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