With 2024 almost here, the Pixels and Ink crew take some time to look back and remember some of the most impactful moments that shaped gaming going forward. From the incredible set of releases that are gobbling up everyone's time to the heartbreaking series of layoffs, this year won't be soon forgotten.

Brendan, Jordan and Chris also take some time to remember some of their personal favourite games and look back on some of the personally impactful memories. With events now back on and no shortage of newsworthy moments, this is your perfect podcast to wrap up the year in gaming that was 2023.

With over 100 million people tuning in, the Game Awards once again proved to be one of the biggest nights in gaming. But with so many eyes on the event, has the focus on what an awards show should be about been lost? This is the question that the Pixels and Ink podcast tackles this week as the panel of Brendan, Jordan, and Chris dives into what the show means to gaming, what was done right, and what could be improved for next year's show.

As if that were not enough, the cast also dives into the winners, discusses some of the big announcements from this year's show, and dissects what the categories mean and if there are games that are unfairly paired in ways that do not help their change.

The Pixels and Ink gang gathered around the virtual campfire this week to discuss the highlights and snubs of this year's Game Awards. They agreed that this year's line-up was solid, with many titles well worth playing. Touching on what made last year's winner Elden Ring such a dark horse entry, they delve into all the titles on this year's shortlist, including Resident Evil 4 Remake, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Balder's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

While it's hard to say who will walk away with this year's big prize, the crew dives into the arguments for each option and why they're worth your time. From everyone thinking that Resident Evil 4 Remake was an odd inclusion to the fact that Balder's Gate 3 has a strong case to walk away with some major accolades, this is shaping up to be an exciting night in gaming. As if that were not enough, Jordan and Brendan delve into the sad state of the Silent Hill franchise and the hopes that Silent Hill 2 Remake can revive the legendary horror franchise.

CGMagazine is back this week with The Pixels & Ink Podcast Episode 432, and we are switching things up! This episode is all about conventions!

After returning from Lucca, Italy, for Lucca Comics & Games, Dayna and Brendan reflect on the event, and it inspires a conversation about conventions as a whole. Brendan, Dayna, Chris and Jordan then discuss their first conventions, like Niagara Falls Comic Con, Anime North and more. The team has also been to some less-than-conventional conventions, but we will let you listen to find out which ones!

The cast rounds out the podcast with some of their dream conventions, like PAX West, Tokyo Game Show, gamescom and discusses some of their favourite convention moments like interactions with the Sons of Anarchy cast, karaoke at Anime North, Star Wars interviews and killer demonstrations at Lucca Comics & Games.

With Halloween just around the corner, the Pixels and Ink crew dive into all things autumn game releases, with a nice dash of horror thrown in for good measure. From the latest reviews of games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder to an in-depth look at Alan Wake 2 and what made it so exciting, this is one podcast you won't want to miss. To bring the magic of autumn, Jordan, Brendan and Chris are joined by Justin Wood to ensure we know everything we need about the darkness lurking in Bright Falls. It's going to be a full show for everyone, so sit back, grab a nice cup of coffee and let's dig in.

On this week’s Pixels & Ink Podcast, the team chats about Starfield and all the ups and downs of reviewing the title ahead of its August 31 embargo. Justin and Dayna have spent two weeks hands-on with Starfield, and though they believe the beginning was rocky, it pulls through to make it one of our top games of 2023 so far.

From there, the cat talks about the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and wonders how the festival will work while actors and writers are rightfully still on strike. Dayna and Justin attended Fan Expo Canada, where actors could still attend but were unable to discuss their work, and Chris headed to London, Ontario, to check out TennoCon and learn more about Warframe and Soulframe.

They finish off with a quick rundown of upcoming events, including Dayna’s Forza Motorsport preview that she just came back from New York for, which you can expect on September 11th, our newest issue, The Summer of Gaming 2023, Eve Online Fan Fest and some top-secret previews to come!

About the Pixels & Ink Podcast Castors:

• Chris De Hoog: A writer and podcaster from Ontario, Chris discovered roleplaying games with Final Fantasy on the NES and has been overthinking them ever since. When he’s not obsessing over Star Wars, you can find him streaming at twitch.tv/guildtwotaps

• Brendan Frye: Editor-in-Chief of CGMagazine, Brendan is as snarky as he is seasoned in the gaming industry. With over a decade working as a journalist and EIC, he has covered festivals and conferences, interviewed the industry’s biggest names, and is always excited to see how the medium changes with new technology and fresh voices.

• Dayna Eileen: Executive Editor and long-time serial gamer, mom of two, aunt to many; she absolutely loves introducing the people she knows to her love for games and nerd culture. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter and Instagram as @thedaynaeileen

• Justin Wood: Justin is one of the newest staff members at CGM, with an affinity for horror movies and games. Find him on Twitter as @The_JustinWood 

After a short break, the CGMagazine crew is back to dive into all things gaming, comics, tech and media. With some massive titles like Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, Armored Core IV, and more either out or coming out soon, the crew takes time to dive into the exciting games and the ones that are less exciting for this Summer/Fall season.