What happens when your computer runs out of space…

Your podcast recording dies…

And the backup plan becomes the shortest Side Quest episode so far?

You talk about FIFA.

Jono recaps his Monday night at New Zealand vs Iran at SoFi Stadium, officially transformed into Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup. There were hundreds of Kiwis, a rooftop pregame, street hot dogs, stadium beers, traffic chaos, and one very patient soberish wife.

New Zealand came in as the underdog.

Outnumbered.

Out-chanted.

And definitely not expected to do much.

But then they scored.

And then they scored again.

Which means, at the time of recording, Jono could proudly say New Zealand was undefeated in the World Cup.

Technically true.

The boys also talk about nostalgia, being surrounded by your people far from home, Dan’s sports background, and why stadiums are really just social quests with overpriced drinks.

Then the episode shifts.

From FIFA…

To games.

Dan introduces Every Day the Same Dream, Super Mario World, Kaizo levels, speedrunning, Mario Maker, and the strange little internet worlds that form around classic games.

And that sparks the next Side Quest:

Can two non-programmers use AI to build a simple browser game?

Maybe.

Probably badly at first.

But that’s the quest.

This week’s level ups:

Jono crushed three gym sessions a week for the whole month of June.

Dan is preparing a deeper gaming segment for Episode 7.

And now we need your help.

Send us a simple old-school game idea, mechanic, or childhood game memory.

We might try to vibe-code it into something playable.