Sharks, entering the Tank today are three scrappy entrepreneurs. They're each seeking an investment with the hope of bringing their new products to market. Now these aren't just any products. These business owners found the best items video games have to offer and they want to make them consumer grade. So grab your notebook and check under the bed for Mark Cuban because we're doing a Shark Tank episode!

Todd's bringing the beat. Andrew's bringing the box. Kyle is bringing his brother.

Recommended Reading:

• Dubstep Gun video - https://youtu.be/SZaE7QkME38?si=KctbT_EeTK7aI8LJ 

The title of this week's episode was NOT selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community because we didn't want to spoil the bit! That said, if you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast!

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/@debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Shark Tank, Horizon Zero Dawn, BioShock, Final Fantasy VII, Animal Crosssing, Saints Row, Metal Gear Solid, Mega Man Battle Network, Rainbow Six Siege, Crank

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Photo Credit: Photoshopped a Mavs jersey onto Tom Nook as requested.

Society is collapsing all around us and 4 out of 5 dentists say it's because people don't have "Third Places" anymore. Everyone has home, the "First Place." Everyone has work, the "Second Place." But so few of us have the mythic "Third Place" that allows us to hang out, unwind and exist without spending an exorbitant amount of energy. Well, in hopes of saving society, we're turning to video games to find our next leisure space.

Andrew has biplanes. Matt has buckets. Todd has battle games.

The title of this week's episode was selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community! If you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our YouTube? www.youtube.com/@debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Diddy Kong Racing, Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Nintendo Switch Sports, Reboot

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: Via wiisports.fandom.com

It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor of Mankind has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. But, how did we get here? Was the deified head of the Imperium of Man always a rotting corpse sitting atop an actual golden throne? And, how did the universe become littered with zombified men mutating into horrifying flesh demons? It's been a minute, but we're treading back to the grim, dark future of Warhammer this month. Namely, we're talking all about the most pivotal era of the lore's long, long history, the Horus Heresy! Come and join our fellow Warhammer junkie and Acolyte of Chaos Andrew as he details this defining moment for the once-thriving Imperium.

This month's FLAVOR TEXT was commissioned by...nobody! This was all from Andrew's brain. But, if you want to request MORE Warhammer or info on any other property out there, head over to patreon.com/debatethiscast.

If you're interested in more WH40k content, here are a few suggested YouTube channels:

• https://www.youtube.com/@Luetin09 - Andrew's favorite long-form Warhammer lore source

• https://www.youtube.com/@ArbitorIan - Specifically Horus Heresy content

• https://www.youtube.com/@Lorekeepers-Librarium - "Warhammer Lore To Sleep To"

• https://www.youtube.com/@MidwinterMinis - Miniature painting

• https://www.youtube.com/@SquidmarMiniatures - More miniature painting

• https://www.youtube.com/@PlayOnTabletop - "40k In 40 Minutes"

• https://www.youtube.com/@auspextactics - Info and strategies on building an army

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast 
Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast 
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net! 

Image Credit: Thanks to SpikeyBits.com for this high-res Horus image

If you like to talk to tomatoes, if a squash can make you smile, if you like to waltz with potatoes, then I hope you're ready to learn about tax evasion. That's right everyone, we're doing Veggie Tales! But the execs at DT!HQ have asked that we "do secular Veggie Tales." That's why we're on the hunt for the next great literary work to be adapted by Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber.

Todd is riding a bike. Matt is surviving spread. Kyle is breaking out of jail.

The title of this week's episode was selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community! If you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/@debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Veggie Tales, Larry Boy, Grapes of Wrath, The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: I put Veggie Tales on the Grapes of Wrath.

Long ago, two races rule over Earth: HUMANS and MONSTERS. One day, war broke out between the two races. After a long battle, the humans were vicorious. They sealed the monsters underground with a magic spell...or so the opening crawl of Undertale would have you believe is the full story.

Special thanks to @squirrelmancer for commissioning today's episode! You can commission your own FLAVOR TEXT right now! If you want us to breakdown your favorite, niche IP, head over to patreon.com/debatethiscast!

Recommended Reading:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTHWT9pZso

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH05QKkk6Q8

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr4IYjeplJA

• Toby Fox's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@toby-fox-music/featured

• Undertale - Epic Cover Collection: https://open.spotify.com/album/3XwEBM7qrMDNlba3HDrTMH

• Filled with Pride: An LGBTQ+ Tribute to Undertale: https://gamegrooves.com/music/filled-with-pride

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our YouTube? youtube.com/@debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Photo credit: It’s Sans Undertale! Via Versus Compendium Wiki

When a podcast records its ninth season premier, it begins to ponder its relevance. Are people still listening? Are there any debates left to be had? Have we done all the bits there are to do? When these questions begin to plague a podcaster, they return to their roots: Pokémon and formative British literature. Don't worry, we found another bit! This time we're building Pokémon games on a budget.

Kyle suggests standardization. Matt suggests recycling. Andrew suggests seizing the means of production.

The title of this week's episode was NOT selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community because we didn't want to spoil the bit! That said, if you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our YouTube? youtube.com/@debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Pokemon, Animal Farm, Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Go

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: I swapped the pig on the 2014 Penguin version of George Orwell’s Animal Farm for a Lechonk and then called it POKEMON FARM.

Here's a trailer for Debate This! Season 9 and what we have on the calendar for this year. 

See everyone? It's a trailer! You can start here! You don't have to go back and listen to episode 1. Please don't go back and listen to episode 1.

Have you seen our Patreon? patreon.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

2025 has been the year of the LIVE! show at DT!HQ, so we're capping off the season with one more. Back in July, we braved the muggy streets of downtown Pittsburgh, PA and had our largest crowd yet at Tekko! With large crowds comes large responsibility and thus we asked: which IRL job would make the best subject matter for a JRPG?

Andrew is marketing, Todd is installing, and Kyle is at home in bed.

Recommended reading:
You can find the PowerPoint at the following link. If your podcast app doesn't support links, please visit our website to find the slides at debatethiscast.com! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1btW1ztuclWB8N9mLE6JaVGVMjQiSbgTuE_X9o7vuOgc/edit?usp=sharing

A massive thank you to the folks at Tekko Pittsburgh for inviting us to their event! You can find out more about their other events at https://tekko.us!

Have you seen out Patreon? patreon.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Mad Men, Severance, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Triangle Strategy, Garrus Vakarian

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: It us!

DONATE TO FEED AMERICA HERE: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/Debate-This

After seven, non-denominational, winter gift exchanges, we here at DT!HQ decided to change things up. We've gifted each other so many ridiculous video game peripherals that we forgot to set aside a game to play! Well we summoned the Ghosts of Gamings Past, Present and Future to teach us about the winter, nond-denominational holiday could be. They're going to lead us through a retrospective journey as we determine which cancelled video game of yore should be revived for gamers in 2026.

Andrew is ready to show us what you can do with infinite crowd funding money. Kyle is ready to show us what you can do if you don't feed into corporate monopoly. Todd is here to show us what you can do if you keep your promises.

The title of this week's episode was selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community! If you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast!

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net!

Properties we talked about this week: Star Citizen, No Man's Sky, Diddy Kong Racing, Overwatch 2

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: Took the Overwatch 2 logo and put a 3 on it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

DONATE TO FEED AMERICA HERE: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/PodcastersFightHunger

Esports may seem like a wild, new phenomenon, but the story of competitive gaming starts in 1972. Sure, they weren't filling arenas or handing out scholarships 50 years ago, but these proto-esports paved the way for the modern industry. From the first women to be called "professional gamers," to the release of Quake in 1996, to the rise and fall of the Overwatch League, strap in for the story of modern esports!

You can commission your own FLAVOR TEXT right now! If you want us to breakdown your favorite, niche IP, head over to patreon.com/debatethiscast!

Recommended Reading:

• Debate This! FLAVOR TEXT: The Console Wars

• Debate This! FLAVOR TEXT: Emesis Blue

• Rolling Stone "SPACEWAR"

• Gremlin Girls

• Amusment Players Association PDF

• Thresh Quake Run at Red Annihilation

• Original Team Liquid news blog

• Evo Moment #37

• Newzoo Esports Audience Report

• Modern MBA "The Crooked Economics of Esports"

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast
Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast
Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Image Credit: Major League Gaming logo via Logopedia