Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, John is joined by Brendon Bigley to explore the wide world of videogame companion apps from media trackers to game-specific companion apps.
On AppStories+, John and Brendon dig into 16 years of App Store history to compile a list of games that have defined gaming on the iPhone.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon and John cover the ONEXSUGAR Sugar 1 dual-screen handheld, Sony’s power-saving and controller updates, and the latest ES-DE update for Android. Then, John reports back on the MagicX Zero 40 homework that Brendon gave him last week.
On NPC XL, Brendon and John revisit two handhelds from the past year. Brendon explains why he loves the Ayn Odin 2 Mini even more than ever, and John rediscovers the AYANEO Pocket Micro in all of its overpowered glory.
AppStories, Episode 47, ‘Gaming Sidekicks: Videogame Companion Apps with Brendon Bigley’ Show Notes
Gaming Companion Apps
Game Trackers
Backloggd
GameTrack
GamingBuddy and SwitchBuddy
GamePal
Game and Franchise Companion Apps
ACNH Travel Guide
TotK Travel Guide
MK World Travel Guide
Ketchup
General Media Trackers
Sofa
Sequel
Letterboxd
StoryGraph
Other
Ally Pro
Quick Reviews
Also mentioned:
Brendon’s Animal Crossing video
Animal Crossing City Folk Deluxe
Bloons
Severed
Domino Drop
Follow Brendon’s work at:
Wavelengths.online
Into the Aether
NPC: Next Portable Console
NPC, Episode 43, ‘The Multitool of Handhelds’ Show Notes
The Latest Portable Gaming News
ONEXSUGAR Sugar 1 goes up for preorder
OneXSugar Playing with the first dual-screen transforming handheld
ONEXSUGAR Sugar 1 handheld game console hits Indiegogo for $599 (Dual-screen Android handheld game console with a convertible design)
The Kickstarter for this weird little transforming handheld just went live
OneXSugar Officially Launches, and It Sure is Something
Crazy New Take on Dual-Screen Gaming
Sony’s beta controller update – power settings and multi-pairing controllers
Sony’s new PS5 Power Saver mode sounds ideal for a PlayStation handheld The Verge
New PS5 system update beta previews DualSense wireless controller pairing across multiple devices – PlayStation.Blog
Sony DualSense Edge
ES-DE Launches Version 3.3 and Adds New Fucntionality
Also mentioned:
Forgotten City
The MagicX Zero 40
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and Perks
Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.