A magician stands on stage, staring at the crowd as they uproariously applause at his entrance, filled with fireballs and explosions. He revels in the audible praise, feeding his ego to near-unsustainable levels. He raises his hands to quell the cheering. The applause and shouting slowly dies down, as the audience becomes more eager to see what the magician will do. Silence overtakes the hall as the magician proudly stares at his fans.

“You want to be amazed? Well, you’ve come to the right place.”

“We love you!!!” a fanatical fan shouts, eliciting more wild cheers and thunderous clapping. The magician quiets the audience once more.

“First, I will show you the most influential games of my time, driving me to become what I am today.”

The audience looks perplexed, but remains impassioned and hopeful for the best show of their lives.

“I will also discuss games, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Destiny, Monster Hunter World, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Witcher 3, Spiderman, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Diablo Infinite.”

At that moment, another man walks on the stage, and some people clap, as they are confused by what is unfurling before their eyes. There is something familiar about this man, but they cannot pinpoint it.

“Last, my usual assistant is gone for the week. He is a drunkard, so he is nursing his health in an ice bath. In his place is one of the most respected magicians on the other side of the country. Give it up for Cosmic Poptart!”

Recorded November 10, 2018