Meanwhile, Mixtape sends the conversation in a more reflective direction, as they talk about the people, places, and moments that quietly disappear over time. Along the way, they revisit the music, technology, and atmosphere of growing up in the 90s, from mixtapes and CDs to 80s movies and the feeling of discovering media before the internet flattened everything into algorithms.

It’s part gaming discussion, part nostalgia trip, and part meditation on memory, complete with fatalities, feelings, and far too much reminiscing about obsolete technology.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

The brothers discuss Sea of Thieves and how modern pirate games often portray pirates less as romantic adventurers and more as chaotic nuisances. From there, they trace the pop-culture resurgence of pirates through classics like The Secret of Monkey Island, On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, and of course the hugely influential Pirates of the Caribbean series.

They also revisit the legendary Sid Meier's Pirates!, discussing why it remains one of the definitive pirate experiences in gaming, and how pirate fiction has evolved from mythic rogues to loud people stealing your loot online.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

From there, things spiral (as they tend to) into a deep and entirely necessary discussion about lockpicking mini-games, wrestling briefcases, and why some mechanics stick in your brain long after the rest of the game has faded.

They then jack back into ReBoot to tackle Season 1, Episode 6: “The Belly of the Beast.” It’s another surprising departure from the expected “game of the week” format, instead focusing on Enzo and Frisket in what feels like an early sidekick episode. The brothers question why the series pivots away from its core concept so quickly, explore the odd low-stakes nature of kidnapping in Mainframe, and inevitably Chris brings up the topic of bowel movements inside a computer system.

Along the way, there’s talk of the origins of CGI animation (including connections to the iconic Money for Nothing music video), the quirks of 80s and 90s kids’ TV structure, and the enduring mystery of why sidekick characters are almost always the worst.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

We do eventually move onto ReBoot season 1, episode 5 where we ponder how the writers came up with game ideas in the early days, touch on “space prison” scenarios, and explore connections between ReBoot and Secret Level. Chris is also blindsided by the existence of the live-action continuation ReBoot: The Guardian Code, prompting plenty of questions—some more pressing than others, including why Bob occasionally needs to find a bathroom inside the system.

Finally, they round things off with a look at the career of the unmistakable voice actor Tony Jay, whose presence looms large over many childhood memories.

From co-op platforming to text adventures, and from retro design philosophy to unexpected reboots, it’s another eclectic wander through gaming past and present.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

Chris has been playing Scorn, set in an unsettling world inspired by the biomechanical style of H. R. Giger, which reminds him of the 1992 point-and-click classic, Dark Seed. That memory leads to a childhood story involving a bee that proves not all horror is virtual.

Chris also talks about playing Indika, reflecting on its Russian-cinema influences and how he’s increasingly drawn to games that are conceptually challenging rather than mechanically difficult. That opens the door to a broader discussion about the state of the industry, the console wars, and the perception that Xbox has effectively conceded ground. The brothers also reminisce about the communal excitement of playing a new release everyone’s talking about, recalling their experiences with Cyberpunk 2077.

Finally, they return to Mainframe to unpack “The Medusa Bug”—how the absence of a game changes the pacing, what it does for character development, and how it compares to the storytelling structures common in kids’ TV of the 80s and 90s

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

Back in Mainframe, they also explore how the episode plays with expectations—most notably by letting Dot save herself rather than falling into the usual damsel-in-distress trope, a surprisingly progressive twist for a 90s kids’ show.

Elsewhere, Pete brings along the animated film Vivo for discussion, while the conversation drifts into murkier waters with the Lovecraft-inspired fishing game Dredge.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

Elsewhere, the conversation takes a spooky detour as they discuss the indie horror title Fear the Spotlight and reminisce about the distinctive atmosphere of PlayStation 1-era horror games. Along the way they also attempt to wrap their heads around hexadecimal numbers.

It’s racing, retro horror, and a little bit of computer science, all in one podcast episode.

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan

Noobs by C.G. Regan

Cover Art by Charlotte Regan

Music by Peter Regan