From expanding cinematic universes to hostile fan cultures and AI-generated storytelling, this episode examines who actually shapes meaning in contemporary media. We trace the tension between corporate control, audience participation, and algorithmic systems, and ask whether storytelling is becoming more open, or more tightly managed.
This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 23 APRIL 2026.
Sources
- The Coyote vs. ACME trailer is full of hilarious digs at WB From https://www.polygon.com/coyote-vs-acme-trailer-reaction/
- Toho ‘Godzilla officer’ announces new Godzilla cinematic universe From https://www.polygon.com/godzilla-world-cinematic-universe/
- Fallout co-creator says non-linear design is all about never assuming how players will act, illustrates his point by fantasising about an NPC guard he seems to really hate https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/fallout-co-creator-says-non-linear-design-is-all-about-never-assuming-how-players-will-act-illustrates-his-point-by-fantasising-about-an-npc-guard-he-seems-to-really-hate/
- Fallout co-creator says too many gamers “like hating things,” which “doesn’t lead to a better game” for devs: “I just tapped out, and that’s sad” https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fallout/fallout-co-creator-says-too-many-gamers-like-hating-things-which-doesnt-lead-to-a-better-game-for-devs-i-just-tapped-out-and-thats-sad/
- Oscar Isaac Tried Really Hard To Make Star Wars Episode 9 Palpatine Line Not Sound Dumb https://kotaku.com/oscar-isaac-tried-really-hard-to-make-star-wars-episode-9-palpatine-line-not-sound-dum-2000689083
- Japanese man sentenced to prison for posting spoilers https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/914984/godzilla-minus-one-overlord-coda-spoilers-lawsuit-toho-kadokawa-shoten
- What Footage Could Possibly Be Added to ‘Endgame’ to Make it ‘Critical’ for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’? https://gizmodo.com/what-footage-could-possibly-be-added-to-endgame-to-make-it-critical-for-avengers-doomsday-2000748800
- Modder Discovers Abandoned Sewer Level In Dark Souls II Nearly 12 Years Later https://kotaku.com/modder-discovers-abandoned-dark-souls-ii-level-even-more-sewers-2000688887
- This wildly ambitious total conversion mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas lets you explore the setting of 2003’s Manhunt https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/this-wildly-ambitious-total-conversion-mod-for-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-lets-you-explore-the-setting-of-2003s-manhunt/
- Failed Companies Are Selling Old Slack Chats and Email Archives to Train AI https://gizmodo.com/failed-companies-are-selling-old-slack-chats-and-email-archives-to-train-ai-2000747916
- Character.AI’s new Books mode turns reading into roleplay https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/912997/character-ai-books-mode