Eric invites the boys over for our first official book club. We're drinking wine, eating gluten free cookies, and playing his first book club selection: Ocean Software's 1991 "classic" (?) Hook. The sleepover antics don't stop there: Eric asks Alex and Matt questions, promptly yells at them, makes everything wonder why we're playing this god-forsaken game based on a Robin Williams movie from 1991, and in the end nearly (almost. not really.) has a cathartic moment. 

Also: Elden Ring! The Peterpaniverse! Buying games as children! And some real honest-to-goodness conversation about game design. Wouldn't you know it, we walk away appreciating the artistry of our lovely Itch.io developers and their access to game development tools and resources.

On that note: our cause this week is The Bundle for Ukraine, on Itch.io. If you haven't purchased it yet, what are you waiting for? Support an important cause during a dire time, play games alongside the podcast, and receive an absolute treasure trove of incredible indie gems.

All proceeds from this bundle will be split between the following charities:

International Medical Corps provides medical assistance in the region. They have very low fundraising overhead (1% of income), with 89% of donations going to medical aid and 10% to administration. 

Voices of Children, a Ukrainian organization that helps children cope with the horrors of war, PTSD, readjusting to school, and getting back to being kids. They have also been doing a lot of grassroots impromptu work during the war, such as helping set up shelters. Our hope is that this war will be over soon, and they can begin the work of healing these kids' hearts.