Submit Your Question For The MinnMax Show Podcast

Weekday: 1hr-2hr; weekend: 4hr-5hr

Dusty Beaman

Playstation already started this with the disc drive being able to be attached on

Dusty Beaman

I sleep on the plane

Dusty Beaman

Thanks for this question. I can't wait to check out Sly Cooper on ps5

Dusty Beaman

Yes

Dusty Beaman

Jeff M to play Red Dead 2

Dusty Beaman

This is probably too late in the conversation, but what you and the 'hortpotenuse think of Sony's acquisition of popular movie chain Alamo Drafthouse? With Sony's buying Crunchyroll and Funimation, and all of their game franchises and movie chops, do you think we will start seeing more videogame movie and theater experiences show up? Link: https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/12/24177124/sony-buys-acquires-alamo-drafthouse-cinema

Herb Alamo

The absence of all light

BEEFCAKE

Midwest >>>>>> LA

Dusty Beaman

This seems good to me boss

Dusty Beaman

Could we please set a Patreon goal next month? If we hit a certain amount of supporters, Hanson and Huber can only be called Ben and Michael for one month.

Mike Lynch

Thank you, I'm sure it's a weight and melancholy that I'm sure won't ever go away but that's okay. It's a price worth paying for that bond ❤️💔

OrlandoGoldblum

Auntie Anne pretzels are amazing

Dusty Beaman

Did you go into Summer Game(s) Fest with any specific business goals, or was it more about getting to know the upcoming releases?

Funky Duck

They want you to think the easy decision is to not break these employee's hearts and wallets, keep them employed, and then the whole company shuts down

Dusty Beaman

My wife and I have different views on this… but what are the minimum ingredients for a Taco? A shell is a freebie, but for me it’s a protein and at least one other topping.

Justin Dale

lol We're going to see the day where a firmware update is going to do a check on how old your controller is and then implement stick drift or disable a button after a certain age point.

Nick Smith

What is Perfect Dark?

Beau!

The trailer for Mixtape peeked my interest, mostly for the "songs of a generation" soundtrack. Looks like the characters were in HS, so what artist/songs would you put in your mixtape back when you were in high school? mine would be mostly rock with bands like SOAD, Tool, Deftones. But would definitely have blow up the outside world by Soundgarden repeating daily.

nogrannydont

The high of the new Life is Strange reveal came to a sobering halt with the unveiling of the Ultimate Edition preorder which allows players to play two chapters of the game two weeks earlier. For a single player narrative experience like LiS where discussing the ongoing plot was core to it, this is just evil. Fans are not only being forced to dump 30(!) dollars more into the game just to be a part of the conversation, but even worse....to avoid two weeks straight of spoilers online because the youtube algorithm loves spitting out spoiler filled thumbnails at you and games media is bad about spoilers in general. I haven't seen any videos on youtube discussing this yet and would love to hear your guys' thoughts, especially since LiS fanatic Huber will be on board.

Nick Smith

Hey Minn Max, i was wondering if we could chat about “interact” buttons. there’s one in almost every game but i especially love when devs get a bit creative with how they implement them. my favorite one off the top of my head is ghost of tsushima using the right trigger as your interact button. there was something really satisfying about the button press combined with sound and UI design. sucker punch also gets bonus points since the right trigger is used to switch stances as well. what’s your favorite odd but elegant implementation of the “interact button?”

dingus2k

After watching a preview for Metal Gear Delta, i started wondering... What is the most recent game that you expect will get a full remake within our lifetime?

PhillyYeetSteak

I don't even know if anyone besides Kyle finished the game, which is a shame.

BEEFCAKE

Yeah, he's a psychodyssey fan, not a psychonauts fan.

BEEFCAKE

I'm really interested in expedition 33 and mostly because of the voice cast - if both Ben Starr and Jennifer English (Shadowheart) are on board it must be good *fingers crossed*. What is the last time you got hyped for a video game because of the actors involved?

Mikkel Juul Thomsen

Hello everyone! Over the past few years, I’ve become very interested in how people spend their time. Not in a creepy way mind you, but as someone who really considers how they spend their time with family, work, and hobbies I find it fascinating. With a family and full time job, I still find time to game most days, although the time is variable. Some days I wish I had more time to play and some days I feel guilty if I have a longer session than normal. In a perfect world in which you have full control, how many hours a day would you choose to play videos games? Thanks for all the entertainment and fun! Josh from Louisville

jbholm02

Hi MinnMax. What trailers, game trailer or otherwise, have you rewatched the most? For me, the original trailer for Death Stranding is one of the most captivating trailers I've seen and I still rewatch from time to time.

Mabroon

Hello MinnMaxers! One of my favourite parts of the Summer Games Fest this year was the announcement of Outersloth and Blumhouse games as publisher initiatives, alongside the growth of publishers like Keppler Interactive, do you think we're in for a new wave of non-corporate publishing labels? Was Yacht Club Games a precursor in that regard?

Luca Alberti

White Cheddar used to be my lowkey favorite but I feel like they've declined as of late, idk what it is! Lol

lilcczar89

Hey MinnMaxers, what's your favorite bossfight? Bossfights combine the art, gameplay, strategy, music, and sometimes even story within the game, making them the highest art form, and a really good bossfight does all this while putting me in a flow state of attacking and defending that becomes a dance across the screen. My favorite fight this year is Lady Ethereal in Nine Sols, but the standout overall is still Nightmare King Grimm from Hollow Knight. Who's yours?

CANT BLINK

What are single player games that would work well in multiplayer? I recently enjoyed Mario 64 multiplayer in the fan pc port and two different slay the spire Co op mods.

10 11

Commenting to predict that the next Nintendo console distinct from the switch will be called the “Nintendo snap,” a reference to the snapping sound they use in all of their directs and alluding to the way that the console will have interchangeable parts for different functionalities in order to open the design space for games. Just like how the Switch heralded the Steam Deck and PlayStation portal, the Snap will change the landscape such that consoles will become more modular in their composition, making them more closely resemble computers and removing the need to come out with completely overhauled consoles every generation and instead just replace single components at a time as technology progresses

Nicko

Welcome back SGF gang! I’ve been thinking about paid early access recently and wondering what y’all think of it? Increasingly we’re seeing expensive Ultimate Editions of big games come with a period of early access as an incentive to spend more on the Ultimate Edition. It seems kind of shady to be monetising this, especially as we’re frequently seeing games released in a not totally finished state, reviving months of substantive updates. Am I ‘old man yelling at cloud over’ this? What are your thoughts?

Stevelution

The god of war 2018 reveal is often talked about as one of the great E3 moments. But I vividly remember watching it live on GameSpot and all the chat were saying "boring", "last of us ripoff", "yawn of war" etc. I thought everyone hated that reveal. What's your gaming Mandela effect moment?

CrabPalace

Hey MinnMax. Tim Robinson's appearance during SGF made me think that it's high time comedy and video game crossed collaborated. Who are some comedians you would like to see in an upcoming title and what are their roles? For examples, Ricky Gervais as an assassination target in the new Hitman, or John Mulaney as a stoned up quest giver in GTA 7.

resnet

I have the exact same problem. I kinda wish I never have to fly again

resnet

It’s SGF 2025. Keighley hands you the mic. You’re hosting. What is your first sentence?

Prof and Dev Play Games

Hi Minnmax crew. As I get older, I find flying more nerve-wracking. Not to the point I won't do it, but it's very uncomfortable. When I'm mid-air I try and play the Steam Deck to take my mind off things, but occasional turbulence makes it difficult to enjoy myself. Taking off is the worst part. I find distracting myself the best tactic, for example, as we take off I count the lights above everyone's seats in frtont of me, and the rapid counting apears to occupy my brain enough to help. My question is do you have any little coping mechanisms to help you fly? Thanks for all the great SGF coverage.

Tom K

Yeah it’s not like we never talk about it, it’s mainly about making sure she can switch off from work

Manic_pixel_

Hey MinnMax, I'm tired. I'm guessing you all might be too after SGF. How much would you pay to guarantee you always wake up well rested for the rest of your life?

Luke Butchart

Hey folks! To celebrate Sly Cooper coming to PS5, care to share your favorite Sucker Punch game? And where would you like to see Sucker Punch go next? I love Ghost of Tsushima but I’m also a little sick of open world games. I could see that team pulling off a really great, refined version of Sly 5. Love the show and can’t wait to hear about SGF!

Tom Rickard

Hey gang, last week Ben didn't mention Psychonauts 2 when discussing games Elijah Wood's been in. Fake Psychodyssey fan confirmed??

Niklas

Do you think it was too soon for Phil Spencer to show up in the Xbox showcase and talk like it was business as usual?

Derek

I hope this is the right place for it, but there was a missed transition/segue opportunity in last weeks episode. When Jacob was talking about Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, at the end Ben should’ve asked who the bad guy from the first Metal Gear Solid is. It’s Liquid Snake! Do you know what else is liquid? Todays sponsor Liquid IV! Thanks for the good times! Love and respect. Wait, wrong podcast, but still lots of love and lots of respect. Benni

Benni Buchal

Hey MinnMax! I've been wondering what will go down as the best year in RPG history. A time in gaming's past or could it be the year we're living in now? Will you settle with the tried and true or take a chance on the promising present? It's time to play "RPG Rewind or Unwind with a new RPG!" (sorry) 2000: Baldur's Gate II Chrono Cross Deus Ex Diablo II Final Fantasy IX Skies of Arcadia Vagrant Story 2024: Dragon's Dogma 2 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Granblue Fantasy: Relink Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Metaphor: ReFantazio Unicorn Overlord Visions of Mana

Rikimaru

In this season of Keighley I have to ask what is the point of a cinematic trailer? It doesn't show you what the game is or is about- it's just a little film about nothing. I don't want to see or hear about your game until you have gameplay. Am I the only one to think this?

Graham Walker

Do you see a change in the gaming landscape coming where the smaller titles end up taking over the AAA titles in sales and popularity? With Publishers like Dunkey, Blumhouse, and Innersloth rising up, and Keighley’s point about the top 10 Steam sales being Indie coupled with Large studio and Publisher woes it seems like we are in a pivotal swing where the quantity of AAA games will be drastically reduced and smaller scope and budget titles will prevail.

Timothy Smith

Hey all. My favourite thing about these events besides the games themselves is hearing from the developers. Were there any particularly insightful or just jolly interactions you had with any devs this SGF?

notweirder

Blasphemous. White cheddar is goated

Shimmy Neutron

Felt this way for awhile, it happens, then I played Nier Auto, and Tlou 2, indies too, FF14, it'll happen

Shimmy Neutron

Amazing. Heart wrenching. Bungie can still do the thing. Hope better leadership gets that more consistent

Shimmy Neutron

Com' on dawg don't put that image in my head damn you lol

Shimmy Neutron

Take your time brother. I still think of my cat long passed. It'll get better, never will it be the same but there's more cats that could use the love. Be well

Shimmy Neutron

I'd say both. All turn based fans know that interactivity was the biggest flaw in that gameplay format, so add it. Legend of Dragoon, Mario, lost odyssey. Seems like expeditions is taking it the furthest it's gone and it looks sic af. Wish FF had done this years ago but they still can one day let's hope

Shimmy Neutron

T.N.L.U!

Shimmy Neutron

Lol I love those, especially the batman trailer.

Shimmy Neutron

Hey all great job doing most of the shows, missed your presence Ben Hanson. My question, Mark Cerny was recently interviewed and he said games are taking as long as they are to make because the developers want to make their games with the level of detail and whatnot, so it takes longer. Now this could be spin from someone close to leadership, but what if it's true atleast internally. Maybe Sony has a bunch of perfectionists at the heads of their studios. Has anyone ever asked dev teams the how and why of these timetables and if they choose that fate? I can see a possible culture of competing studios trying to one up each other's game elements and that resulting in longer dev times. Obviously it can't continue as is, moderation or efficiency must step in but could it be these timetables came from an honest place of wanting to make the best art as they see it. BG3 took forever and we love them, you can see the care in that game. Theres love in the recent FF's and Yakuza and many other 3A games, not everything is madden and COD and those come out every year! Sorry for the long one. Thanks for being you.

Shimmy Neutron

Best meal you had at SGF weekend? And worst meal?

Dennis Cortes

Love then if they have a chill vibe. And you have to have the right mixture of games v. bar space

Dusty Beaman

I don't believe it's a bad thing but I feel you. It's a singular end point realism, so that's gonna happen. It is the most relatable however. Picasso last of us doesn't quite hit the same as unique as that would be. I am behind your expeditions comment and I also look forward to more 3a devs using that high fidelity combined with a unique art style, bg3, elden 💍, it's probably more expensive than realism but find a good balance and start expanding what kinds of unique art styles we can have in the 3A space.

Shimmy Neutron

They drain the battery faster

Dusty Beaman

Elden Ring changed my life. I will now try other souls games. It's why I tried and loved Lies of P

Dusty Beaman

Cheez-its aren't good

Dusty Beaman

Ben, do you have any insider updates on Legacy of Goku 4? Deepest Dive on the Legacy of Goku Triology maybe? Reference the MinnMax Show on 6/30/2021 at the 1:05:30 mark

Dusty Beaman

Well you did say your worst opinion so it's fitting. FF content alone makes it a wild statement but I support the honesty. My worst take might be I never want there to be one gaming device with all the games because someone's gonna control how that device is made and I may not like who that is. Walled gardens allow for distinct tastes and cultures to flourish. Just trade occasionally and be friendly.

Shimmy Neutron

Hey cohorts, first-time long-time. I've been trying to get into meditation recently but have found it a lot harder to do than expected. Is there anything that you've tried doing that you thought would be easy but turned out to be a real struggle? Thanks for all the entertainment!

Coxtopher

Hey MinnMax, what would you title your autobiography?

Malcolm Holliday

Hey Minnesota Maximums, now that games are getting closer to photorealism do you think they are starting to look too similar? Watching many of the trailers back to back there is a sort "realistic looking game" style that really makes a lot of games bleed together. Unless a realistic looking game is REALLY pushing a strong art direction (Expedition 33, DOOM Dark Ages) it just gets visually lost in the shuffle even if it's doing something neat mechanically. Really miss the days when there were a hundred ways to make a palm tree in a videogame, now they all just look like the same photorealistic palm tree copy pasted across a hundred different games.

sn00zer

It's a bad opinion! Also, I've played all of the games you've mentioned and loved none of them and only like P5.

Lee Wang

This is a hell of a cliffhanger

BEEFCAKE

Whaaaaa.. persona 4&5. Neir, breath of the wild, Mario Odyssey, like a dragon, the resident evil game, all the fromsoft games. There's soo many great games from Japan

BEEFCAKE

I’m going to the boardwalk tonight. What ice cream order should I get? And what’s the most over rated ice cream order?

Bob Buel

Probably because of your name.. but I can only think of Frances McDormand... or Steve buscemi

BEEFCAKE

What's the worst opinion you have? In terms of gaming, mine is that there have been no great games from Japan since Wind Waker and Vagrant Story.

Lee Wang

Wouldn't they be into it if they've made it their profession? I think most people in games likes to talk about games

BEEFCAKE

Pretend you are playing a video game and I tell you to press "X" What did your hands do? What controller were you holding in your hand? Were you on a keyboard? Xbox? Switch? PS5? or something else altogether?

HelloAndre!

The last of us

BEEFCAKE

timpanis

BEEFCAKE

The one in gta5 that spawns you in the air.

BEEFCAKE

Hey crew, Is it still weird meeting people in-person for the first time when you've only known them online, or have you gotten over it?

Duderado

I think it looks more paper Mario inspired

BEEFCAKE

Shitty slowed down dramatic covers of 90s songs like in the Batman trailer

BEEFCAKE

Zach R.

Hey MinnMax, I absolutely love the MGS series—Snake Eater is my favorite game of all time followed by MGS 4 as my number 2. With the recent showcase from Konami, I wanted to get the team’s thoughts on legacy vs innovation. While I lean more towards not changing a thing, especially the brilliantly directed cutscenes from Kojima, at what point should points of the game be changed? I appreciate the option for the old school, pre-subsistence camera controls but I really have no interest in that and prefer MGS V controls. What would you do if this remake was in your hands?

Neal McMahon

If attention spans are shorter and the youth favor short form content over long, why do games keep getting bigger? Are 10 year olds really going to play the new Assassins Creed? Or are they going to jump between 30 different maps in Roblox? This isn't unique to tweens, I also see myself playing demos or 2 hour experiences over indies. Even Elden Ring which I was anticipating I never beat. COHORTS. How are your attention spans affecting your experience with games today?

Charnel

Is Doom underrated? After finishing Eternal and seeing the reveal for the Dark Ages, I'm starting to feel like it should be included in the most exclusive tier of legendary gaming franchises alongside things like Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, and GTA. It's had wide influence, consistent quality, and never does the same thing twice. Yet it never really seems like it's considered a viable GOTY candidate. What more could you ask for?? (Thanks to Huber for getting me to try the series! L&R)

Bon Jon Bovi

*****Hey all,********* Remember the first time you played a FPS with dual sticks? Perhaps this only applies to a slightly older audience but for me it was on my PlayStation 2 in 2000 playing the first Time Splitters on release week. I got the ps2 for my birthday, which was one of the most magical memories I have. I booted it up and for the life of me couldn't wrap my mind around it— hated the dual stick layout at first. This was in a time where all FPS games were played with a single joystick or the d-pad. I even had my dad call PlayStation support to ask if there was a way to disable this option and they said no. My question is: will video games ever pivot away from using twin sticks in FPS games? Maybe a third stick one day?! Just joined the Patreon a couple weeks back and been listening to MinnMax since day 1, and love the show!

Neal McMahon

I decided to prep for SGF 2024 by looking back at last year's presentations. The following are the games which were announced with a non-specific “2024” release date and, as far as I can tell, haven't come out, weren't at any of this year's showcases, basically haven't seen much in the way of updates at all. 1. Toxic Commando (This is the John Carpenter zombie/monster shooter. Maybe with vehicles? Who knows.) 2. Towerborne (Side-scrolling, co-op hack-and-slash from the Banner Saga devs.) 3. Towers of Aghasba (3rd-person action-adventure/settlement builder with sky whales. The characters appear to speak in an invented language. A weird one.) Questions for the cohorts: Were you interested in them at the time, and has the general radio silence changed that? Did you even remember they existed? What games at this year's SGF with a 2025 release date are most likely to be on this list next year?

Joe Kafchinski

Quick unrelated bonus question: if you kiss a ghoul on the mouth, do you think your nose would fit into their nose cavity?

Crayter

Better Quest Goal: I have started journaling in a big bad way this year. It's very useful to know exact dates for projects, and it's also fun to see how my hobbies shift from week to week. What are y'alls journaling habits?

DylanTheWizard

Isn’t there a whole grain one? If so, that’s my answer. But yes, white cheddar ain’t all that.

Poofydoo

Hey all, with it being more than likely that xbox will release a handheld at some point, what would you be willing to pay for it, or what do you think the price might be? Love the show and as side note, just recently been watching Leo Vaders YouTube..had no idea he was that funny, I mean he's funny on MinnMax, but his stand alone videos are on another level!!

FinalSin

Hi there CLCs! With the advancements in general computing power paired with looming AI technologies, might it be possible that we could be playing, or virtually replaying, parts of historical video and or theatrical films? If this becomes possible (and I assume it will), what types of experiences would you want to "play" through or experience interactively when considering humanity's entire catalog of recorded video? Thank you for the wonderful show. Mars from MN

Mars Barrow

Lately I've been not feeling games. I still listen to podcasts and read up on upcoming releases, but I don't regularly play much. Have you ever been in a gaming slump? If so, do you try to break out (besides it being your job) or do you do something else?

pork bun powered

Hey folks! Would you rather be able to eat at any one of the restaurants/food trucks you ate at over SGF but never eat with any of the folks you ate with at SGF again or only be able to eat generic store brand hot dogs at every meal but with any of the folks you shared a meal with at SGF?

Daniel Doran

I recently @'ed everyone in the MinnMax Book Club in the private behind the scenes Book Club thread granting everyone access to it. Thankfully Neill fixed it no problem, but I was extremely embarrassed. What's an embarrassing mistake you made recently? I find sharing embarrassment lessens it. Please share your embarrassment and grow stronger from the sharing. PS Join the MinnMax Book Club

Joe Dean

If you could have anyone play a game and give their thoughts, who would it be and what game? For example, getting Shigeru Miyamoto to give an analysis of The Outer Wilds.

Tess

Hello, are you going to try to make an appearance at SGDQ this year? I feel like the GDQ events have fallen off a bit in popularity but I think they are still fantastic!

Travis Manick

Hi CLCs! What are your thoughts on Dragon Age Veilguard? After a mixed general reception from Inquisition (which came out over 10 years ago) what do you think this game needs to stand out, especially now that we live in a post BG3 world?

Isaac Cooper

For Janet (and any other fashionistas) - All the talk about Infinity Nikki has got me thinking about fashion games, and how untapped the market feels to me. I was really into Fashion Dreamer for like a week, but like you, I dropped off because I felt like it lacked a core ingredient of something to work towards. I'm curious - what would your ideal fashion game include? (For me, it's some kind of mechanic where you run your own boutique and have quests to design the perfect outfit for customers who come in, possibly with a storyline attached.)

Caroline

i just started playing FFVII *original* because i want to gain an unhealthy knowledge about it and become a freak like Ben. fr, tho. i'm playing with a couple mods (mainly QoL stuff and a model swap because i really don't like the chibi style). but, that's my question: do you consider playing a game for the first time *with mods* to be in poor taste? or disrespectful to the developers, going against their intended vision? i personally don't think so because personally i usually stay in the realm of fixing the experience and not "cheating " it. e.g. having XP spread across the whole cast instead of whoever i have in my party at the time (just to take some of the grind away cause i'm not 15 anymore and don't got time for that).

RabidLime

With the death of E3 now official, what would you say where some of your favourite moments from it over the years?

Kelsey Sims

Hi everyone! My parents didn't allow me and my brother to play Age of Mythology as they deemed it "violent and not modest (because of the goddesses' attire I guess?)". Did your parents not allow you access to games / other media for the wrong reasons?

Falafel

What do you think the song of the summer is?

Kellogs

Attending SGF last year, there was some surprisingly good food at the event. Can we discuss what the best/worst offerings were this year?

Garrett Hulfish

Can you make "Huber Watches Billy Jack" a New Show Plus option one of these weeks?

Jason Wojnar

Nintendo didn't participate in Summer Games Fest, but they did announce Game Boy versions of Mega Man 1-5 coming to Switch's online service. I owned two of these back in the day, and I played through them at least a decade before I ever experienced the NES versions. Are there any game franchises that you're a fan of but you have unusual or atypical histories with?

Paul Zajac

What's the most bespoke gaming-only thing that never happens in reality but is common in gaming? Is it the "oh no I'm gonna explode" dance when you hit a flamethrower guy in the back/flame tank?

Joshua Ayers

Having watched game trailers for 5 days straight - what type of trailer trope needs to go?

Aging_Poorly

Missed joke opportunity: When Jacob mentioned that a couple of his friends were also making bingo cards for Grand Design, Ben should have chimed in to freak him out even more

JT

Hello hello! I decided to finally finish Control in the last 6 months since I found time, just decided to turn on the immortality assist and experienced the story as I wanted. Plus all the talk about Alan Wake 2 and Remedy legacy continuity reminded me to play it. And of course during the playthrough, I found something I did not know about or expect since I haven't played Alan Wake. But there was a "case file" about an "Oh Deer Diner Coffee Thermos" with some background information and weird effects. Like the simple effect of "...the coffee from the thermos is always refreshing and strong, no matter its quality before being poured into the item." With back ground like "According to witness statements, Alan Wake (see Prime Candidate Program entry for further information), who went missing shortly before the discovery of the thermos, had been seen -redacted- collecting similar thermoses for an -redacted- purpose." Fun thematic connections between seemingly unrelated games are always so interesting. Thanks for all the pods! -Groffles

Geoff Enright

Hey yall, with the announcement of Gears of War: E Day, what're the best video game prequels? I'll shout out my favorite - Halo: Reach of course!

Muffyn Crumbs

Does visiting LA ever make you want to leave the tundra or has living in the Midwest gotten you to conquer your seasonal affective disorder? If so how?

Max B-Z

Hey Clcs, for you which period is the turning point between classic/retro games and modern gaming? For me ps3/360 generation is the start of the "modern era", ps2/xbox/game cube are a kind of weird transitional generation, and anything before that is retro.

Lucas Felipov

Non-missed joke opportunity: When I was heading out wearing my very passable swim trunks for shorts my wife said, “What are you wearing the Ben Hansen special today?”. C’mon, they look 95% like real shorts.

Jacob Marker

Thank you so much. I'm really sorry for your loss as well, that's an incredibly difficult time. I lost my mom quite a while back now, but I did something similar when she passed and played a lot of the original Mario. She played it when pregnant with me and loved it. Hope you're doing alright

OrlandoGoldblum

😂

Poofydoo

Cut their patreon

Tanner Hoisington

How does the vibe of Summer Games Fest feel compared to the now deceased E3? From an at home perspective, it seems about the same besides PlayStation and Nintendo not having as much of a focus due to a lack of “press conference” this week. But with Sony doing a State of Play a week early and still have LEGO Horizon announcement at it, does that matter? Content wise, it’s felt like the spiritual successor to me, maybe just a touch less special.

Parker Aden

Do y'all think Expedition 33's extravagant turn based combat has to do with Persona 5's popularity? It seemed almost like an evolution from what I could see.

Vilis

Hey gang, Who did you have the most interesting interaction with at Summer Game Fest?

Owen McCarter

What game is just straight up the weirdest? - Brad

Brad Sharp

So incredibly sorry about your loss… I want to second this question. I lost my mom last year very suddenly and grief is definitely a day to day thing. I don’t know if this is helpful, but I found a lot of joy recently going back to games and media that make me feel closer to my mom. It’s of course sad and difficult, but I’ve found a lot of joy too in reminding myself of those really good memories by revisiting those things that remind me of her.

Justin Toledo

Not trying to be pushy, just curious because my schedule is filling up and I'd be coming from New Jersey... Any idea when the Asheville meetup will be? Or how soon you'll be announcing that?

Gabriel Cleveland

Hey folks, serious question here. How cool would it be to play videogames with dogs?

Crayter

What’s up everyone. Now with E3 gone and SGF here. I know the coverage of all the news is not as cohesive but generally we still get a one big week to look forward to. Of course we still get our directs and showcases at other times. Do you as the people covering them feel it would be better for yourself and/or the industry if it was spread out more throughout the year or keeping it condensed with the big week? Do you like what it’s evolved to in terms of release schedules?

Joshua H.

For the folks who attended SGF, what's the Xbox sentiment around town? When I look at comments on the showcases, I see a lot more praise for Xbox than I do discussion about the layoffs. What would the developers you spoke with at SGF recommend we do to hold Xbox's feet to the fire? Cheers, -Stevo

Stevo

I just played through Metal Gear Solid 3 for the first time, and the title drop in that absolutely floored me. (The full title sequence where Snake Eater plays in full for the first time). My question is, which video game title drops stand out the most. It might be a bad question because the answer is just MGS3

Republic_Rabatine

Hey minnmax. What's your favorite video game cheat code?

Cody Allison

What makes a hotel stay comfortable for you? any specific detail that enhanced your stay greatly?

Bloody Waffle

If this is too much of a downer, then no worries for not reading this one, but I just lost my cat (Beasley) who've I've had and cherished for 18 years, half of my life. I'm devastated, and I'm at a loss of what to do with myself and have been wondering if you all may know of any games that may help with grief? Either as a distraction or as something to help come to terms. Thank you

OrlandoGoldblum

Never played it - apparently I should!!!

Travis in Fargo

What is your favorite overlooked track from a videogame ost? It could be a song that either comes from a relatively overlooked game, a game that may be popular but isn't though of as having great music, or a game known for great music, but nobody ever mentions this track as their favorite.

Sabai

Do you have a musical instrument that the moment you hear it come a song you go "oh yeah, this is gonna be good"? It hit me just last week how powerful the saxophone is to make any song a certified banger

Troy Ellison

Pretzels are a top tier bread and I will not stand by and let them be slandered

BEEFCAKE

I know this doesn’t count, but my good buddy Garrett is playing it, and he seems to absolutely love it. He said something about weird geometry.

Travis in Fargo

Are pretzels the worst form of bread? True, croutons would be the closest comparison but I think croutons are better.

Poofydoo

I'll ask what my 5 year asks me every day: "When I make pokemon real, what pokemon do you want me to make you? Do you want Mew?"

BEEFCAKE

In the age of remakes and reboots, what is a media franchise you think SHOULDN'T be given that treatment? Could be something you think is already perfect, or maybe something you think needs to stay dead and buried!

tuxpeng

If laying off staff or closing studios is the "hard decision" to keep a sustainable business like Xbox open, at least according to Phil Spencer, what is the "easy decision"?

Victor Pham

Anybody play Destiny 2:the final shape? Thoughts?!?

Trey Collins

Ok gang I need help, I’ve just started seeing someone new, she is lecturer on video games and a professor in video game music.. I am very aware that I have a passion for what to her is work.. If you were seeing someone who didn’t work in the games industry but had a passion for games where would you want the boundaries to be? (obviously the answer is talk to her about it, but I’m curious what you guys think).

Manic_pixel_

Favourite/most reliable go-to poker hand for a winning run in Balatro?

Falstaffian fustilarian

Welcome to the Activity Corner! I created a game I’m calling Shminn Shmax. It’s similar to another word game called Hink Pink, where players are given a prompt phrase, and the answer they seek is two rhyming words (for example, the prompt phrase given is “arithmetic trail,” and the solution is “math path”). But in Shminn Shmax, rather than being two words that rhyme with each other, the answer will rhyme with Minn Max. Ready?! (The prompts and answers have been directly messaged to Ben on Patreon).

Travis in Fargo

Howdy MinnMax! If you had the power to change one—and ONLY one—thing about Summer Game Fest, what would it be?

Joshua Novalis

It was sick meeting ya'll minus hypeman huber, thanks again for throwing the meetup, and thank you Ben for agreeing to do a deepest dive on kingdom hearts at gunpoint. My question is, what's your opinion on Barcades? Cool? Cringe? A dank nostalgia dungeon where millennials desperately grasp onto the fleeting essence of a bygone youth?

RickyWinterborn

Will there ever be another attempt at a Triple-A avengers game? I find it baffling that the only game for the biggest franchise in the world was a failed live service game. Follow up - What kind of game would you make?

Jonah Abraham

On this weeks episode of BonusPod: Jacob mentioned that no one is “mid” on Life is Strange. Well that’s me! I don’t love it or hate it. I appreciate it for the work of art it is and the story it’s trying to tell but I’m not in love with it either nor do I hate it. That got me thinking though. What is something incredibly polarizing in the gaming world that you are just like “meh” about. What has journalists, Reddit forums and gamers screaming about the pros/cons that you are like : “ I don’t get the passion on either side” P.S. no one can say the console wars because it’s pretty well documented on this show that no one is for them and that they died in the early 00s. K thanks bye!

Admiral Ackbar's Snackbar

How did you end up with / choose your internet handles (Yozetty for Ben, Gameonysus for Janet, ChuckDuck for Charles)?

Lamb Dance

I remember in this classical private school I used to go to there was a music class that was mandatory. My teacher was asking about previous experience with music theory and instruments and whatnot so naturally I proudly stood in front of the whole class and spoke about my superior rhythm skills that came as a result of my ability to beat the first world of rhythm heaven megamix with my eyes closed. I have never successfully played any song on any instrument ever. Did you guys ever feel like you gleaned specific skills or knowledge from video games growing up? That you believed were far more impressive than they actually were?

Eli Medina

Hi MinnMax crew, I've heard that video game themed conventions can be quite... smelly. So, how was the funk at SGF?

Jeorin

White cheddar is overrated in general imo

BEEFCAKE

I recently made a pretty drastic career change from music to civil engineering. So, my question is if you were not doing game journalism what career would you be pursuing?

Forbin

Not much of a question as much as I'm singing the praises to Mass Effect 2. Wow baby. Wow baby. What a game. Wow baby.

Victor Jesus Moreno

Now that you have finally made it onto the Giant Bomb couch, How did it feel to get to that moment after being a long time listener? Was it surreal or did it barely register on the long list of things you did this weekend?

Shakenbake67

Do controller updates actually do anything? I’ve had to do them dozens of times and have never once noticed a single difference.

Chase Reid

Hi computer lovers. I'm worried when the final FF7 remake comes out, it will be the last time I ever experience a formative game that changes my life in a significant way. When was the last time a game changed your life, and do you think it's likely to happen again?

Tommy Carver-Chaplin

Every time Michael Huber is on the podcast an angel gets its wings. Question: Why do people think Bloodborne remake or Bloodborne 2 will never happen? If you look at the Astro Bot update and pre orders, Bloodborne is prominent. Will Bloodborne happen this decade or next decade or the decade after, I don’t know, but it seems inevitable one day!

Logan Young

Are white cheddar Cheez-its the worst cheez-it?

lilcczar89

Hey cohorts, non-gaming question this week. Name a music artist that people would probably be surprised you listen to! Something left field, out of character, you name it! Thanks crew

Ryan Clausen

What's the most obnoxious thing a game has done to you? Death stranding has an absolutely infuriating credits sequence

Thom Blackburn

What’s your earliest memory of the internet? Mine is playing a digital scratch card game, trying to win a Furby.

Travis in Fargo

Last week Mike Stoklasa announced that Mr Plinkett was being put out to pasture. Two questions: would the Star Wars Sequel trilogy exist without the Plinkett Prequel reviews, and what would YouTube look like if Mr Plinkett didn’t create the long form video essay

Zane Dukes

Who are your celebrity crushes?

Travis in Fargo

Hello all, The sales success of video games is measured by the number of units sold, not the money earned. Why is the box office success of movies measured in money earned and not the number of tickets sold? When I see a headline saying, X movie set new box office record besting Y movie, I think, well, ticket prices have gone up since then, so yeah. The stat-lover in me wants to know the true box office kings. It drives me nuts!

SlyCut

Missed joke opportunity: Last week when you said people left bungie and founded Probably Monsters you should've said that they "bounced back" by founding it

Jump On Everything