Noclip's MASSIVE 2022 User Survey
Added 2021-11-14 15:00:05 +0000 UTCHello Patrons,
After 20 months of working from home, limited filming and a lot of remote interviewing, we are ready to do something new & exciting in 2022.
When we started Noclip we wanted to create an entirely new type of games coverage, and while we're really proud of the work that we've done over the past 5 years, if we've learned anything this year it's that our best work is when we are traveling, meeting developers and telling human stories.
The world will open up again. People will probably start returning to studios at a higher capacity later next year. But while we're waiting for all that to happen we want to push ourselves creatively. To get out and reconnect with the world of gaming, to test our skills as storytellers, to use the access we have to get deeper than before and to bring you along on the ride.
So while we plan to continue the Noclip Podcast and Greatest Hits, we will be significantly ratcheting back remote interviews in favor of fewer, highly produced documentaries. Hunting down interesting stories on the western side of North America and journeying to meet them. We're going to be hitting the road, travelling to remote places, visiting studios, profiling individuals and exploring behind development into areas of games culture, history, technology & preservation.
We're going to be introducing exciting new patron that takes advantage of this new ethos, and share more about us, our process, and the community of patrons who fuel all of this.
In 2022 we're going to make documentaries that stand head and shoulders above anything we've done in term of filming, storytelling and gameplay production.
I have a strong vision for what that will be but as always we want to hear about what you'd like. Both as patrons, and the most important viewers of our work. Below is a chaos poll where you can click any answer(s) that feel right, and we also invite you to share your own thoughts in the comments as we prepare for this new era of Noclip. This is not scientific, I just love to get a read of the room every now and again.
So let us know;
- What's your favorite doc and why?
- How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now.
- Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why)
- What type of stuff should we do more of?
- Where areas could we improve on?
- If you could ask for one thing what would it be?
- What would you like more of as a patron?
- What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did?
- Anything else that comes to mind...
I'm excited to close out 2021 with exciting remote projects on DMA, The Forgotten City, Black Mesa & Among Us. But folks, 2022 is going to be an entirely new evolution of Noclip, and I can't wait to bring you along for the ride.
Thank you for your continued support.
Danny
Comments
Given that it's still 2021 at the time of writing, I thought I'd give this a crack. What's your favorite doc and why? The GOG documentary. I've seen a lot of the docs, but the two I remember the most are the Half-Life retrospective and the GOG one, for similar reasons. They have a scope that goes beyond the studio itself; with GOG, the story covered all kinds of games, mostly old, but some new. It was interesting to hear about the tangled web of copyright/trademark holders and GOG's approach to DRM-Free games. The Half-Life one is very unique, and it covers so much ground. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Sure. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) I suppose it's a fair price to be able to add my voice to the pot. What type of stuff should we do more of? Historical docs, indie games, weirder topics. Where areas could we improve on? Nothing comes to mind right now. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Something Linux-y? Maybe one of the Tux games, or open source games in general. What would you like more of as a patron? I'd like to be able to watch the documentaries wherever I want; not just YouTube. So, I'd like to be able to download the original encodes before they are compressed by YouTube. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? As mentioned above, downloadable versions of the content produced. I don't want to watch it on YouTube 90% of the time. If this already exists, then...I'd like it to be more obvious. Anything else that comes to mind... I've always loved watching documentaries, and Noclip has made some of my favorite ones. And they continue to improve.
James North
2021-12-12 12:11:49 +0000 UTC- What's your favorite doc and why? Everything about Supergiant, can't pick a favorite one. Why? I think, because it shows the whole evolution of the studio. And sometimes you see all the hard work behind these games, sometimes their path just looks like a miracle. As a dev myself, I was very encouraged by Supergiant's studio culture and their success. - How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Works for me. :) - Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) I don't watch all the content (mostly the bigger documentaries), but these are worth every $ (or Euro). - What type of stuff should we do more of? Telltale's story was nice. Maybe some more "not that successful" stories? - Where areas could we improve on? Can't think of anything. - If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Mass Effect documentary? ^^ - What would you like more of as a patron? Nothing really, for me it's just the way to support your content. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Can't think of anything. And thank you for all the work you put in the documentaries! :) Anything else that comes to mind...
Maria
2021-12-11 22:05:08 +0000 UTCI've enjoyed all the long docs over the years! Keep it coming, Danny and crew. ....?? Cyan Studios - MYST & Riven retrospective ??....
Ian Houghton
2021-11-30 14:00:23 +0000 UTC-What's your favorite doc and why? Witcher 3 and Horizon Zero Dawn because i was majorly into those games. Also the series on Hades put Supergiant on my radar, i recently rewatched it as i finally got around to playing the game. - How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Good yes, i think some of my favourite ones are the more in depth multi part docs anyway! - Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes i feel that it is, i don't really expect any perks, i am just here to support the channel - What type of stuff should we do more of? i really like the fly-on-the-wall stuff following the process of developing, i also think it would be good to talk about the issues in game development such as crunch and the workplace conditions in big studios - Where areas could we improve on? Can't think of anything! - If you could ask for one thing what would it be? A documentary about From Software? Wishful thinking i know! - What would you like more of as a patron? Nah nothing in particular, i support the channel because i like the docs, not to get any other benefits - What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Nothing i can think of right now!
Alex H
2021-11-24 11:16:04 +0000 UTCOne thing sorely lacking in the games industry is investigative coverage so I would LOVE to see more of that along with the feature length docs. The insight of both would be wonderful.
Matt K
2021-11-24 03:48:12 +0000 UTC- What's your favorite doc and why? - I liked the Rocket League one as it covered a mixture of historic information about the studio and the specific storyline about the game's development and launch and combined those two things very well. - How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Generally positive as long as it's not getting too thin (e.g. just 3 or 4 docs a year would be too few in my opinion) - Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - Absolutely. I'm seeing this more as a long term thing (that's why I'm on annual btw) so I don't even care too much about a steady output each month as long as we get high quality content throughout the year, which we do in my opinion. - What type of stuff should we do more of? - The bigger, (maybe) multi-part docs, filmed at the specific studios if possible/allowed, giving as much of an inside look into the studio and its developers as you can I'd also like another series like the one on Hades, where you cover the ongoing development of a game - What areas could we improve on? - I guess it's difficult because you are kind of dependent on the goodwill of the developers/companies you're working with, but it could be interesting to tackle some controversial topics or critical questions, both general industry topics like bad working conditions (crunch, discrimination, harassment etc.) and game/studio specific things - If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - Focus on the docs you're convinced of and make the most out of those. Don't do any docs you don't think you'll get a great story out of, even if us patrons are clamoring for it. - What would you like more of as a patron? - I basically already get all I need in terms of video content. Maybe you could launch some new merch at some point and provide us with the assets if original artwork is done for that. - What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - Can't think of anything right now - Anything else that comes to mind... - It's great that you're listening to the patrons and giving regular updates. Sometimes I get the feeling you're worrying even a little too much about what people want. So I would say listen to feedback, but also follow your gut feeling and do what you think is best in certain situations. Oh, and THANKS for all the great docs so far ;-)
Benjamin Müller
2021-11-20 19:59:16 +0000 UTC- What's your favorite doc and why? The Hades series. It has a wholesome, intimate feel that's both a great vehicle for learning about the dev process, and a good provider of warm fuzzy feels. It's also how I first got into watching Noclip - I think I bought the game and then heard about episode 2 of the documentary when it launched? - How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. The quality's already really high imo, so anywhere along the quality-quantity axis is good for me. I would be supportive of the exact balance changing depending on opportunities and your creative needs. - Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yeah, absolutely. Noclip is a Thing That Should Exist imo, a valid and important project that meaningfully improves the community around it. My dollars (well, pound sterling) help that continue. - What type of stuff should we do more of? I'm open-minded, but the companionable and/or in-depth stuff tends to be my favourite. Besides Hades I also particularly enjoyed Doom, DoubleFine, FF14, Horizon/Guerrilla and the Arkane docs. They hit a good combination of the two, imo. As I'm sure is the case with a lot of the people on this patreon, I'm really interested in game design and development in general, so I'm always happy to learn more about how the projects came together. - What areas could we improve on? It's hard to think of anything. I know bugger all about video production, but also I'm always pleased and impressed with the quality and insight of your docs. I was going to say one thing that'd be great is a centralised place to go and find Noclip's content, but you're even doing that with the Archive. - If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Really, it feels churlish asking for anything, and realistically the best output is going to come from you doing the things you think are most compelling. I think if I had a Noclip wish though, it'd be for more extended interviews as companion pieces to the main docs. I'd love to hear Amir Rao talk about the technical guts of Hades for an hour or two, but maybe that's just me :P and I really enjoyed the long interviews with Hugo Martin and Mathijs De Jonge about the design process behind their games. - What would you like more of as a patron? I'm in it for the supporting more than the rewards; the behind-the-scenes stuff is the highest-value reward for me. - What does another channel/Patreon do that you wish we did? This is the only thing I've ever used Patreon for, so I have no real opinion here. I can think of random stuff like Q&As, but you have those iirc. - Anything else that comes to mind... Just to thank you for your hard work and craft over the years :)
Adam Thomas
2021-11-19 18:29:14 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - Doom: the story and struggle was interesting; there was a successful and interesting game at the end of it; we saw cancelled game footage that would have otherwise been lost; there was lots of energy and excitement in the doc itself; I'm a fan of Doom. - Edmund McMillen: McMillen was incredibly candid about his experiences, which really resonated with me; the editing was very engaging. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Sounds good to me! Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - Yes. You're doing good stuff. What type of stuff should we do more of? - Investigative pieces or profiles that aren't just about a game. Where areas could we improve on? - Helping the viewer care more about why the documentary (and game) is important, rather than just talking about the game. When I show the docs to people not into games, they should be engaged by the story too - they shouldn't need to be fans of the game. Some of your documentaries do a better job of this than others. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - Less docs; instead, better docs. What would you like more of as a patron? - Not much. There are already so many things that sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the amount of content you put out! So, I guess I would like less as a patron... What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - Maybe more categorization/branding for specific styles/types of docs (e.g. Greatest Hits)? But that's really minor. Anything else that comes to mind... - I think I like the direction you seem to be taking already!
James Osgood
2021-11-18 06:07:30 +0000 UTCI've thought this for years about patreons you should have a MaxFun style Pledge drive once a year. It's harder with video stuff, but could be done. Free idea.
Brian Rickard
2021-11-17 04:45:36 +0000 UTCAt first I thought Max had ran Lewis off the road, but after seeing the onboard shots today I'm not sure what to think.... ....shit wrong Patreon page... ah just keep up the excellent work Drew.
Stuart Turpie
2021-11-16 23:08:34 +0000 UTCI agree with everything here. I've enjoyed your content Danny, since Gamespot, and really nice to hear you regularly on Giant Bomb. FF14 doc was incredible.
Henry Gann
2021-11-16 09:03:15 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? The Half Life doc cause the scenery you went to and the game match perfectly plus it was also shock full of nostalgia How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. I would be totally fine with that Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Totally ! The main reason is that the production quality of your doc was already good, but it increased a lot those past few months now that you have more budget ! What type of stuff should we do more of? Long docs about beloved games that made waves in the industry ! Kinda like... the half life doc ! Where areas could we improve on? From my point of view, i don't see where you could improve cause it all seems pretty great already. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? A doc on Frontier Development, if they agree. They went from the ashes of the first Elite game to ordered jobs to self-publishing and now with Frontier Foundry they're publishing games from smaller devs, they basically did it all (except maybe grow up into a AAA publisher :p) What would you like more of as a patron? Not really ! What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? For me it's neat as it is now, so you'd need to ask others !
Disco Cat
2021-11-16 05:58:54 +0000 UTC- What's your favorite doc and why? I really enjoyed the Witcher series of docs. And Arkane. - How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Feel fine about it. There is already a content overload online, just get the quality up so it's worth my time. - Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Sure. - What type of stuff should we do more of? European studios. These seem to be the most interesting stories (to me at least). Do a doc about the devs for Farming Simulator. Simulator games are huge in German speaking country and i don't know why. Or other local stories about some big niche games. And also collabs. There are tons of really cool youtube channels you could collab with. I really liked the doc you did with Alana. Find some more 'faces' and let them host a doc. And this a wild idea but i see a lot of potential in kinda a production house for game docs. A bunch of channels are doing kinda the same thing and a lot of overlap. Maybe combine forces? Doing events together, gameplay capturing, creating an archive site. Those things could be combined across different channels. Gvmers has done a whole bunch of docs about a plethora of games, mostly consisting of gameplay footage. Could be really handy if you could use that for stuff as well. - Where areas could we improve on? Graphics? I really like the stuff People Makes Games does. Don't copy them but maybe something to look into? - If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Seeing docs about old stuff. Like the first Quake compos. That stuff must have been wild. - What would you like more of as a patron? Nothing comes to mind.
Mathijs
2021-11-15 22:57:20 +0000 UTCWhat's your favourite doc and why? Designing the World of Witcher 3 and The Making of Outer Wilds. I always loved hearing about the quirky issues that occur during game development and how they are creatively fixed or generate a new type or interaction or gameplay. It may just be the troubleshooting technician in me but I like to know the details. I found the challenges in those two documentaries to be fascinating to hear about and appreciate the level of thought put into the world building. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. I don't really have much of an opinion on this question. My only feeling would be that Noclip works on games documentaries that they are passionate and excited for as it comes across in the videos. There is someone engaging about someone speaking on a subject with passion, it could be the most mundane thing but their own interest in it makes me want to listen and find out why. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes, I am not part of a high tier but I feel it is worth my money. What type of stuff should we do more of? As long as there are good documentaries, which there definitely are, I am totally fine if you want to do little experiments here and there to grow and engage different audience members. Not everything will be to my liking but that is fine. I quite like understanding the history of different games engines and what technology they brought to the table. However, that would be difficult to cover and there are already other channels that do that. Someone mentioned arcade games, being of a certain age that has massive nostalgia for me. Where areas could we improve on? I can't think of anything that needs improving. Pretty happy overall. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? A chocolate malted milk biscuit. Anything else that comes to mind... Thank you for creating a channel of documentaries that I legitimately look forward to watching. They make such great viewing and well produced. Your team should be proud of what you have achieved already. You have become a more established name and always produce some quality videos even if some are named Genital Jousting... :D
Wraggle
2021-11-15 21:42:18 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? Personally, the FFXIV doc. I've been a player since 1.0 so that doc felt like it was made for me, but despite that, having the inside look at SE was huge. I want more docs on Japanese developers. Japan has so many stories to tell and no one is doing it. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Quality always trumps quantity. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes, quality of your work is high and feels valuable. Covid does cause a lot of problems, but I feel like you've navigated through it the right way so far. Still looking forward to more docs outside of the west coast though. What type of stuff should we do more of? Get the community involved more. Have community days, or do live showings and QA or something. I feel like the more a community is involved in your work, the more it will spread. Where areas could we improve on? This is something I'm guilty of so please don't take it hard, but it's hard to talk about a project and not show it soon after. I kinda got burnt out about hearing about prey and thief that it took a lot of work to get excited to watch it. I understand the excitement of sharing cause I do this a lot, and you probably feel the need to share since you're being crowd funded so I don't really know how to fix this. A "shotgun" blast of content is always more exciting than knowing somethings just "still in the cannon." If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Can you please do a doc on traditional games? Like, do the history of Wizards of the Coast or something still in the gaming sphere, but just outside the 'video' aspect. Also, would LOVE a doc on the NoPixel GTAV roleplaying servers. It's clear how massive they are but interesting how the get around Rockstar's watchful eye. What would you like more of as a patron? More community focused projects. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Merch. Y'all need 100x more merch. Anything else that comes to mind... Thanks for your hard work and always going above and beyond for your product. I'm personally a little worried about the RV stuff, but if it works, it works. Excited to see what you guys do next.
ブレーズ
2021-11-15 20:31:30 +0000 UTCI didn't even think of that, but it would be great to a doc on the new D&D edition that they're currently working on that I think is scheduled for release in 2023/24
Avi Love
2021-11-15 20:28:45 +0000 UTCFavorite Doc: Hades series for the insight into an entire project arc, especially seeing developer thoughts and answers develop over time (rather than already being pretty set and solid at the time of release). Fewer, high quality docs: Sounds great! There are already more docs than I can keep up with, and I'd be happy to feel like a formal doc release is a bit of a special event. Patron worth $: Hard to say. I'm supporting at this tier to support what you're doing, not for the content I'm getting. I like having some insight and updates into the ongoing process, but the occasional text update and monthly live stream (even though I rarely catch them) is totally fine for me. More stuff: I still want to see more projects following an entirely development cycle -- things that really diverge heavily from what you can find out if you carefully researched articles and GDC talks about that project. I don't want to feel like GDC's YouTube channel is your competitor, if that makes sense. Also would like at least some stuff or an ongoing series about the state of workforce issues in the games industry (crunch, harassment of women, poor diversity representation, etc) -- could even just be a spotlight series on companies that are doing something really well in this category. That way it's less of a call out and more of an inspiration. Areas to improve: Same as the above answer. Having some clear sense of mission/responsibility for creating change in the industry on some level. Also creating the kind of in-depth high quality docs or series where the info is totally different from the same dev's GDC talk. The Hades devs, for instance, have done a couple of great GDC talks on the dialogue system and how they worked, and it doesn't feel at all in competition with the Hades doc series as a totally different kind of coverage. One absurd dream thing: The ground up entire development of the Elder Scrolls series beginning with Arena and continuing into Elder Scrolls 6. For the historical ones, going back and trying to recreate the development process and challenges as much as possible through interviews, not just doing a post-mortem. Really tracking challenges faced and how they were handled as these games got bigger and more successful, and as Bethesda has expanded as a company. I'm talking like 20 hours just to cover the first 5 games, and then another 20 hours covering the development of 6.
Avi Love
2021-11-15 20:23:52 +0000 UTCBest Docs: I found you through the Witcher series, loved the Details about their History and the little deep dive into the History of Games in Eastern Europe. Which makes me wonder what the hell went so terribly wrong with Cyberpunks release version... I know you have the connection and if they're one day willing to share that story, that would be a fantastic noclip one for NoClip to tell. But still, the greater surprise was FFXIV. Which I couldn't have cared less about as a game for myself but the story with all its facets (the tsunami!) just blew my mind. There must be more Stories like that out there. Go find em. And tell em. Thanks! :)
Björn Vahle
2021-11-15 19:12:38 +0000 UTC• What's your favorite doc and why? - CD Projekt and Witcher. It was the first NoClip doc I saw and also the best video game doc I had seen. I loved the game and insight into their fascinating history. • How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Go for it. I think the podcast can scratch the small stories itch. • Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - Subjectively feels like there is way more than when I signed up, with podcast, Greatest Hits, and Wishlist augmenting the docs (which also seem to be more frequent). • What type of stuff should we do more of? - Following a game for awhile like Hades. Would be interesting to try to follow a few unknown devs working on their first game and see if any become the next Rockstar in 10-20 years. - Similar to another comment - would be interesting to have some more technical docs where it makes sense. This could mesh well with following devs on first game esp if they are learning: "John Dev learns AI programming" • Where areas could we improve on? - It would be great to see what some additional motion graphics work. Similar to other channels question - title slides and diagrams to further flesh out the stories could be helpful. • If you could ask for one thing what would it be? • What would you like more of as a patron? • What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - Nothing comes to mind. Pretty satisfied. And the chaos poll truly is chaos! If you wanted some calm with less chaos, there is a survey methodology called a conjoint analysis that is perfect for evaluating preference. We use it in HR for evaluating employee's benefits and perks preferences. Essentially, have everyone rank options then do some magic math to get the top choices.
Daniel Maurath
2021-11-15 18:45:03 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? FF14 documentary. I don't even play the game but I loved hearing about the issues with the original launch and how candid they were about their shortcomings. The whole documentary was really well structured. Similarly, the Hades doc is my second favourite and it shares a lot of similarites with the multi-part long form documentary. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Fine with me, I prefer the longer multi-part docs vs the shorter but more numerous docs. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yep. Love the work you do, plus I enjoyed your old work with GS so it is nice to be able to support directly. What type of stuff should we do more of? More Hades style docs where we have a window into the team behind the game. Also, more docs on interesting technical achievements like the Dishonored deep-dive on the clockwork mansion. Where areas could we improve on? Keep doing what you're doing, the channel goes from strength to strength imo. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Hard to pick one thing. Dark Souls documentary would be top of the list, but you've said that is a non-starter so maybe another big documentary with Square Enix around FF7R. What would you like more of as a patron? More content about the noclip team, more behind the scenes stuff. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Noclip is the best doc channel I watch so/support so nothing else to add really. Anything else that comes to mind... Get the RV. :D
Shackleberry
2021-11-15 18:17:47 +0000 UTCI think it would be great if there were more documentaries/videos about Asian studios/indies.
Pierre
2021-11-15 16:38:01 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - Tricky question. I’ll have to go with what has stuck in my memory rather than an absolute favourite. There’s a lot of variety in the types of docs you make, which is great but it makes a single choice hard! My top few are probably some of the really big ones: Half-Life, Warframe, FFXIV, Hades. I also really like some of the shorter ones though, Frog Fractions, Gish, RCT, outer wilds… The stories draw me to all your docs, especially the big ones. Hearing about the difficult development of Warframe and FF, behind the scenes in Hades, the background and impact of half-life. I think the human element of making games is a big part of what attracts me to Noclip in general, and you manage to get so much out of your interviews. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Sounds great - good stories are worth telling well, it makes sense to me that you should take your time. It’s unlikely you’ll get another chance with many of these. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) -Totally worth it. I’m fortunate enough to have been able to support Noclip for a while and I enjoy the content hugely, both on the main channel as well as the regular patron updates, production meetings, and the podcast. What type of stuff should we do more of? - I’m finding it hard to pick something. I like the storytelling that you do through interviews and I always want to see more of that. Just off the top of my head… Hugo Martin, Jim Stormdancer, Jonathan Blow, Steve Sinclair and Rebb Ford, Tim Schafer… It’s a long list. I also like many of the interviews on the podcast, Jeff Gerstmann, Steven Spohn, Mikey Neumann, Josh Tsui. Looking forward to more of these! Areas we could improve on? - I’m going with the idea that strengths are always worth improving. My favourite Noclip docs have fantastic storytelling through people. More of this please, including an RV if you think that will get you more, better contact with people and interviews! If you could ask for one thing what would it be? What would you like more of as a patron? What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Anything else that comes to mind... - All of these together, sort of: I think I’m very well taken care of as a patron. I can clearly see where my contribution goes, I get loads of updates and I participate (if I want to although I’m generally shy about this) in discussion about the future and the docs you make. I’ve seen plenty of things I’d like other patreons to copy from Noclip. I’m happy with what I’m getting and look forward to the future!
George Tzircotis
2021-11-15 15:47:22 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - Bethesda and Arkane studios docs, as I really enjoyed seeing behind the scenes for how some of my favorite games were made and seeing the passion of the staff! How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - I do not mind this at all. Though I also don't mind shorter "quick" docs like the Dinga Bakaba interview about the newly released Deathloop. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - Yes, I'm just glad to give some support! Even if only $5 a month. What type of stuff should we do more of? - Nothing, keep up the good work! Where areas could we improve on? - I cannot think of anything. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - A high five from Danny himself! - A doc about the Persona series would be pretty rad. What would you like more of as a patron? - A NoClip sticker What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - None come to mind, NoClip already fulfills a niche I never knew was necessary, that of providing in depth documentaries for my favorite hobby and artform. Something that hasn't really been done to such a scale before. Anything else that comes to mind... - Thanks for all you do and I look forward to seeing where 2022 takes you all!
Yitzhak Brill
2021-11-15 14:34:33 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - Doom for sure. But I'm totally biased because that game was game of the decade for me. So anything I could get my hands on about it was awesome. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Sounds awesome! Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - Yup! I'm not at a huge tier or anything, but I know that my small contribution is helping you to create some pretty wonderful stuff. And that's enough for me :) What type of stuff should we do more of? - Whatever you're passionate about! I'd be stoked to see some arcade game coverage but I truly feel that you have a better handle on what to do/make than I ever would :) Where areas could we improve on? - Nothing comes to mind. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - A Noclip style doc on 5th Edition D&D What would you like more of as a patron? - Nothin'! It's already so much that I don't keep up all that well. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - Trivia Tower :) Anything else that comes to mind... - Just want to say thanks for all of your hard work to bring us some excellent docs and fun!
Joe Truesdale
2021-11-15 14:01:24 +0000 UTC> How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. I already like the quality as is. I personally prefer variety to a few blockbuster hits. > Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES! I don't care about Patreon exclusive content, and I usually ignore it. I just want you to have the money side of this thing covered :) > What type of stuff should we do more of? I like the technical stuff. How are games being made? How are teams organized? How are technical decisions informed? What tooling is used? How is the game built and distributed? How to keep QA efficient? Now that I think of it, this would be a funny mix between a documentary and a GDC talk :D > If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Elden Ring. It probably won't happen, but one can dream, right? > Anything else that comes to mind... I really liked the on-premise interviews. Video calls are fine too, but they don't feel as good to watch. But if circumstances arise where you can't have function AND form, function is way more important. I also love that the principle of independence is one of your priorities. I imagine that it is a lot of hard work to build that kind of trust especially with the bigger studios. Kudos to you :)
lostmekka
2021-11-15 11:48:23 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - This is tough. I really liked the Arkane doc as always interesting to go through a complete back catalogue including cancelled games - the Half-Life stuff was mad as didn't know any of that and a huge fan. I think deep dives on a studio or series are good for the long-form docs. Thief one de facto functioned as window into Looking Glass really interesting. I guess I like hearing about cancelled games! How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - Current pace is pretty good to be honest but if you want more time for the longer form docs, then please take it! Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) - yeah 100% I have to say I support more because I just love what you do and want you to keep being able to do it, rather than lapping up extra content (partly as I'm busy and can only just keep up with the content as it is!) What type of stuff should we do more of? - honestly just keep doing what you're doing. If you want to pivot you've earnt my trust by now Where areas could we improve on? - It's already what I want tbh. Sorry that's not v. helpful! If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - Wildly unpopular, a Red Dead Revolver Greatest Hits. Spent a weird amount of time with that game as a kid! A deep dive on Wayne Gretsky's 3D Hockey '98 as the ultimate drinking game? Maybe not... What would you like more of as a patron? - see above What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - this is one of only two Patreon's I do and the other is Friends at the Table. Doesn't really apply! Anything else that comes to mind... - Doing a great job, hope numbers are good as I'm sure this work is tough and pretty hand to mouth. Best of luck!
Thomas Phillips
2021-11-15 10:39:38 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? -- The History of Creative Assembly and very close second the The History of Arkane Studios How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. -- Meh, I like the content you create. It already of a very high standard. Unless you are talk about something like the press rest book or blood sweat and pixels books. I don't know how I would feel about months of silence. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) -- I truly miss 1 up and the 1up show along with what came out of the shut down the coop show. This scratches a very similar itch I am happy with the money I provided to you. What type of stuff should we do more of? -- When you dive into expanded topics eg. "GOG: Preserving Gaming's Past & Future" and the section in the half-life doc about modding and counter strike. Thats gold but even in the Histroy of CA when you loop in with the old head of the studio was awesome, Games are the people that make them and play them. More of that would be cool. Where areas could we improve on? -- Happy with everything If you could ask for one thing what would it be? -- Loop in with Jason Schreier and do some mad long form topic that loops in multiple studios and stories What would you like more of as a patron? -- happy with what I got
Conor Hughes
2021-11-15 10:15:03 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? Hades- following along for so long was unique and interesting. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. SOLD! I don't watch stuff every week, so save up for the big things suits me fine. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) YES-There's so much, we shouldn't need much to want to support I think. What type of stuff should we do more of? Big docs that follow development cycles. Where areas could we improve on? More grey hair? If you could ask for one thing what would it be? What if? - talk about games that never got made from developers you know. Never ceases to be interesting. What would you like more of as a patron? Nil-I'm all good, thanks. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Also nil Anything else that comes to mind... Rarely... thanks, keep it up!
Marcus Cowen
2021-11-15 10:08:11 +0000 UTCHollow Knight!!!!!!!
Thomas Quillfeldt
2021-11-15 09:47:09 +0000 UTCDanny I needed an option to vote for “more immersive sim/imsim adjacent content”
bbkj
2021-11-15 07:10:58 +0000 UTCOh yeah, I forgot about the ESRB doc. That thing was fascinating.
Matthew LaMar
2021-11-15 05:35:59 +0000 UTC----> What's your favorite doc and why? The Witcher 3 doc and the Doom doc. I liked the approach of creating multiple half hour or so mini-docs or chapters, as it were, that had their own individual focus to them. Not only does it allow viewers to pick and choose, but it helps better tell a complicated story by splitting it into a few key points. Plus, you know, they were really interesting. ----> How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Sure! ----> Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes. I believe in your vision as an independent venture involved in documenting games in a documentary style fashion. It’s great, plus I believe it’s inspired other interesting projects (like the God of War documentary that Sony did). ----> What type of stuff should we do more of? A lot of channels can have interviews with a couple people over zoom or cover a game or talk about how good or bad a game is. What Noclip does better than anyone else is provide that independent look into a studio and into a game in a high-quality documentary style. Furthermore, you guys are excellent at understanding the story that goes into each game and how to tell it. So, in short, more multi-part docs like The Witcher 3, Doom, Rocket League, Hades, Final Fantasy XIV. Those are your bread and butter. ----> Where areas could we improve on? Honestly, you’ve done about as well as could be possibly expected during COVID times when you can’t go out and interview people. I don’t have anything. ----> If you could ask for one thing what would it be? More stuff on music. Look, I’m a musician, I get that I’m an unusual point of view, I want more stuff with guys like Mike Ault and Mick Gordon, specifically extended interviews. Those are always fascinating. ----> What would you like more of as a patron? I use Patreon primarily as a way for me to help fund projects and creators I like, not really to get any special perks or anything. So I’ll defer to the people who are more into the Patreon ecosystem. ----> What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? So, not a Patreon channel, but Polygon often does very interesting videos on game mechanics and technical work and how things are designed. I know that Noclip has traditionally focused on specific games, but this is a huge potential for you guys. There’s a lot of video game related topics (music, graphics, the history of the open world video game, etc.) that would jive with Noclip’s mission. Also, because I watched every episode of Escape From Mount Stupid when I studied abroad and I love that style of video, too. ----> Anything else that comes to mind… Take care of yourselves and don’t work yourselves to death. I know a lot of creatives who get so into their work that they don’t come up to breathe often enough. It’s hard drawing the line sometimes when you’re really into something, but still. Rest is good.
Matthew LaMar
2021-11-15 05:35:31 +0000 UTC>>What's your favorite doc and why? Witcher 3 Series and Doom. Like the in depth look at big games and the people behind them. >>How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. yep , whatever works for you. Quality over quantity. >>Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) yes? as long as it lets no clip keep doing what its doing. Not looking for any perks from being patreon. >>What type of stuff should we do more of? With NoClip having a name for itself now, hopefully opens doors and access to tell stories about the industry that no one else is doing. As an example the Final Fantasy docs were a great insight. >>If you could ask for one thing what would it be? I still hope some day a valve documentary is possible. I would like half-life documentary with the actual half-life devs from back then. >>What would you like more of as a patron? nothing, keep all the good stuff on youtube.
bluphoenix
2021-11-15 04:52:51 +0000 UTCBest docs for me were the Witcher 3 series, the Bethesda series and the half life long doc. Probably because I enjoyed these games but I really liked the fact that the half life one seemed like a passion project for you, something meaningful to explore. In that sense I think your best bet is probably to do what you feel would be the most interesting and rewarding and maybe not so much what we patrons suggest. I understand and respect your impulse to check with us but as for everybody, your best work will be the result of what you enjoyed working on the most as a team. We will certainly in turn like the output. Great work overall and keep going. All the best.
Thomas Gerardin
2021-11-15 04:09:40 +0000 UTC- What's your favorite doc and why? Maybe a small bias since its one of my favorite games, but the DOOM doc has always stood out to me as being really great. I love the all the development insight and leanring their philosophies, I love hearing how they adapted old to new, I also just in general love the history of DOOM, also of course the Hugo Martin interview. I'm also a big fan of the ESRB doc and the doc on Arkane Studio, again because i just love game industry history and design philosphies. -- How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Indifferent, as long as you guys are putting out solid content I dont really care when I get it! -- Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Absolutely, I think you guys have fantastic perks for patrons and are very generous with what you give out. Out of the few im subbed to, I think yours probably offers the best stuff. -- What type of stuff should we do more of? Whatever you want! I trust your instinct and I dont think youve had a single miss in my eyes. As i said before though, I do love docs that dig into the history of studios or the industry. -- Anything else that comes to mind... I look forward to what you have planned and I'm going to support you for as long as i can!
Dylan Gearlds
2021-11-15 04:00:30 +0000 UTC+What's your favorite doc and why? -- FFXIV - this is particularly evident due to the people and the story itself. What they did is crazy especially where we are going now. YoshiP's emotional responses have only strengthened it. +How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. --Not a very big opinion on this. Perhaps HQ for bigger stories where you travel. Smaller ones like Chivalry, Loop Hero though are nice in smaller bites more frequently. The podcast helps fill in gaps on the regular basis. +Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) --It is to me. I am content with the output and quality. +What type of stuff should we do more of? --I would like to see more on storied series. However, I know this can be hard to get the foot in the door. +Where areas could we improve on? --While the last couple of years had more zoom-based docs, I look forward to creative production. You all have done this recently. Hard to do without the opportunity for B-roll. It helps make it more something I am focused on watching than watching on the side sometimes. +If you could ask for one thing what would it be? --For me it's docs on certain franchises I like/don't know about. Namely, Monster Hunter. But other franchises that would be interesting to know more about include Persona, Spiritfarer, and Shadow Tactics. +What would you like more of as a patron? --As I was going through thoughts for these questions, I do want to see more of the high-production docs of the past, but they do require being there in person for the B-roll and conversation. The associated making-of background was additional fun (not so much if it was just zoom) +What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? --I don't understand this question. You once did a video highlighting a few other creatives. (I subbed to Archipel bc of NoClip) +Anything else that comes to mind... --I would like to see a HQ doc on 8-4 Play. I listen to them on their podcast original found through Giantbomb. More broadly, it would be cool if you planned an extensive visit to Japan in the future 2023+ (pending the state of the world) to cover many different stories. However, I'm certain it's not feasible to plan far ahead with everyone staying committed. The idea to be able to cover multiple franchises at Capcom (MH, RE), 8-4, Atlas (for SMT/Persona series) and others like Vanillaware (13 sentinels is amazing) would be great. Perhaps a collaboration would enable this like with Archipel or a comparable producer you know of.
MunnyShh
2021-11-15 03:32:34 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? -- Anything to do with Looking Glass really, its harder to find information on these old studios so just hearing from the developers themselves is really refreshing, especially considering how impactful these games were.
summerblind
2021-11-15 02:35:01 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? -- The one on sp00ky, I love that man and your doc is content sorely needed in the fgc scene How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. -- Lukewarm to the idea as tbh i don't watch a noclip doc if i don't have any relation to the topic, despite the quality eg. I passed on the witcher vids just cuz i havent played it and dont intend to. So fewer docs mean a greater chance I just don't watch no clip for several months Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) -- I will probably rollback my contribution next year to reflect my financial situation - haven't dabbled into the patreon content much I just want to support however I can What type of stuff should we do more of? -- The docs where the topic is not a specific video game but about a related video game scene/story eg. "GOG: Preserving Gaming's Past & Future", the section in the half-life doc about modding and counter strike Where areas could we improve on? -- I really don't know tough question If you could ask for one thing what would it be? -- A piece, any length, about Super Smash Bros Melee. Fizzi, creator of Project Slippi, would be an amazing subject. Or starcraft bw What would you like more of as a patron? -- Can't really answer, haven't looked through the content here
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
2021-11-14 23:51:24 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? I thought the Doom documentary had a great balance of nitty-gritty game dev talk, but also an entertaining interview with Hugo Martin. Ultimately I think the best value was getting that deep dive on never-before-seen footage from the canceled Doom 4 and the extent the team rebuilt it. Those are the stories you never hear about. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. I'd be happy with that. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Sure. I don't really pay attention tbh. I see a $50 annual subscription like any other website I subscribe to but unlike The Atlantic or DOTA Plus I actually use the product I'm paying for. What type of stuff should we do more of? I think you should prioritize developers who are willing to give you full access to developers. This may be best to accomplish by doing more documentaries on past games from studios that no longer exist (and thus have no PR/legal team to inhibit you). I love games and want to hear how they're made. Where areas could we improve on? Broken record here, so let me give an example. I was really disappointed with the Witcher 3 documentary because I felt like it was so surface level and never really got into the guts of how that team went from a project like Witcher 2 to Witcher 3. It is unbelievable and that documentary didn't really explain why. I imagine it was a combination of limited days of shooting (due to it being abroad), restriction from the developer, and maybe general skittishness — not knowing what to ask. It's important to approach these videos understanding its not just what you do on the day of the interview, but also the company's willingness to work with you and provide details ahead of time so you're in a position to get a good interview before ever going near a project. If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Documentary on what happened to Human Head's Prey 2. What would you like more of as a patron? I'm satisfied. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Maybe not a good comparison, but I really like MandaloreGaming's videos for newer titles. He has a quick turnaround of 2 weeks per video. They're much focused on the game like a classic review rather than a doc, but might be worth considering. Anything else that comes to mind... You and Jason Schreier really changed the identity of this industry with your coverage of studios and the people in them. Thanks so much.
Arthur Augustyn
2021-11-14 23:49:42 +0000 UTCI don't see a submit button for the poll so I'm hoping just ticking the boxes does the thing. Favourite doc is FF14 with Arkane a close second. FF14 because their story is very compelling even though I've no interest in the game. Arkane specifically because of the look at their LMNO and HL prototypes. I don't know if any other channel could have landed both of those stories. Regarding fewer but more quality docs, I feel from a production standpoint that the quality has already been very good from the beginning. If instead, quality is more interesting angles or stories to pursue, then I'm all about that. Make it so. A couple of other random thoughts... Don't discount the zoom calls entirely. Naturally they will never carry the warmth that an in-person interview will, but in the pursuit of a good yarn, I'll take it. The podcast and other periphery don't really appeal much. My viewing habits on the main channel consist of binging on what's available after 8 months of ignoring it, then moving on to other things. Finding time for the podcast on top of that isn't going happen.
YesButSeriouslyTho
2021-11-14 23:47:47 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? Not one in particular. I really enjoyed watching the games I new nothing about, like rolercoaster tycoon and FF Realm Reborn How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. My YT watch later queue is already full of docs I haven't had time to watch yet. Less doesn't bother me, but I also don't have a problem with the quality / style of recent zoom call docs Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yeah, I can't give much but I'm happy to support What type of stuff should we do more of? I really like the 60-90min dame development story docs. That prototype LMNO one and the unreleased half life one were fantastic
Trent Gherghetta
2021-11-14 22:44:12 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? The Outer Wilds, The Witness, Astroneer, and the Digital Extremes docs. Y'all did such an amazing job of telling the story of the people behind the game. Bonus points for the Horizon: Zero Dawn and Hitman series for getting the devs to intricately pick apart how those games were made. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. The docs are already high quality. If you feel you can do even better, I'd love to see what that looks like. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) I've been a long-time supporter at the $3 tier. It's probably the most I could do right now, and it feels like a fair amount for what I get. Most importantly, it helps y'all do what you do best! What type of stuff should we do more of? Would love to see some Guilty Treasures-esque pieces on No Clip, but the bigger docs are more important to me. Where areas could we improve on? Keep consistent on the podcast releases :) If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Really diving into the indie dev scene. I was a part of it in the early-mid 2010's and it was incredibly special being part of that community. I'd love to hear more about what it's like to be an indie developer and see interactions between people in that world, not necessarily just focused around their own games. What would you like more of as a patron? Access to helping you source ideas and get feedback. This post is awesome. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Not engaged enough to offer helpful feedback here. But maybe merch discounts, if that's a thing? Anything else that comes to mind... I love you.
Zachary Snader
2021-11-14 21:40:48 +0000 UTCYour docs are already high quality, so I’m not sure what “a quality” means
Ycros
2021-11-14 21:26:28 +0000 UTCGlad to hear everyone's having a good time. Now I think about it, another doc i loved was the Transistor one - hearing about how they struggled with the story then completely changed their focus to make such a great game. I guess there's something fascinating about watching talented people face up to and overcome creative challenges and difficulties. Makes for a more interesting story than smooth sailing at least. Same for OW and FFXIV. Food for thought, anyway. Keep up the great work.
Surells
2021-11-14 21:08:15 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? Hades: Developing Hell. Aside from the awesome subject matter in the game and dev, the idea of following a studio in an active development cycle was extremely cool to me. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Yes. Definitely like seeing a semi-consistent pace, but it doesn't matter how brisk that pace is to me. Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes. This is one of 3 internety things I am a patron of and I will always be a patron as long as I'm able and you're still doin' it. What type of stuff should we do more of? Whatever you're most passionate about in this realm. I've really liked how Danny has handed off the narrator of docs to others when it feels right. Where areas could we improve on? Adding to my previous answer: maybe having some more diverse hosts when you do hire out for certain docs (like Alanah for Dream Daddy). If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Don't burn yourself out and keep a pace that is healthy for all of you. What would you like more of as a patron? Noclip hat when? I really want a Noclip hat and would pay good money for one. I'm okay with a dad hat (standard baseball cap), but would prefer a couple options for styles. What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Honestly cannot think of anything.
Logan Johnson
2021-11-14 20:40:50 +0000 UTCMaybe it was lightning in a bottle, but for me the Hades series was your best stuff. Even though the total runtime was longer than any single doc you’ve done, I was so immersed in the story, the ups and downs, that it flew by. If you find other opportunities like that, I’d love to see you go after them.
Robert Carrillo
2021-11-14 20:31:03 +0000 UTC> What's your favorite doc and why? Hades because I really love the studio and they seems like a good bunch of people; the dynamic of the interviews was good and it felt more natural than other docs. I know that you're asking for a video but I loved the behind the scenes from the FF14 do c. > How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. A new noclip doc is a treat. I would not mind having less but more curated. > Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) This is a weird question. If it wasn't worth I wouldn't support, right? It is hard to quantify "bang for the buck" for enteritainement. Do I get more hours than a streaming or online game subscription? probably not but that's not all there is in terms of worth. I think supporting something that might not exist if everybody just think in "bang for the buck" is a reward on its own. > If you could ask for one thing what would it be? I woud like more technical details when talking with developers. Even just how work is organized was an highlight for the FF14 doc. > What would you like more of as a patron? More behind the scene stuff. I hope as you start get filming again we'll get more. > What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? This is the best patreon I'm supporting so probably others should learn a thing or two from you ;)
Dario Mazza
2021-11-14 20:18:18 +0000 UTC-What's your favorite doc and why? Final Fantasy 14. To be perfectly honest, I've never played a Final Fantasy game and I probably never will. But I feel like it's the most human story you guys have told thus far, and I find it to be the most affective. Hades is a close second for similar reasons, sans the part about not playing it. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, let's go Hades. Throw Telltale in the NoClip hall of fame as well. -How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now? I'm cool with it! I am very much not starved for content. To an overwhelming degree, frankly. So I honestly appreciate you guys lightening the load, and if it means more Giant Bomb appearances from you, then that's just the cherry on top. Also, if a relaxed shooting schedule helps you not burn out, that's a bigger, more plump cherry. -Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Sure! You make quality work and you put it out at a good rate. As I don't really care about the perks I get from a patreon subscription (most of the time), that's all I really need. -What type of stuff should we do more of? I personally prefer the approach of one longer doc as opposed to a bunch of episodes on a subject spread out over time. (Except for Hades.) So more of that. -Where areas could we improve on? I got nothing. And I say this not to blow smoke up your ass, but as a reflection of the NoClip stuff I consume. I don't really watch the behind-the-scenes stuff or the updates anymore. (Not a reflection of the quality but what I have time for.) I also don't listen to the podcast. (Drowning in them. *Mumbles something profane, but loving, about Dan Ryckert eating up all his podcast time every other week.* Also, it's not that I'm not interested in listening, it's that I can't.) I'm just for the docs, and I get what I want. I'm good. -If you could ask for one thing what would it be? More docs on weird/interesting communities around games, and not just developers. The Hillbilly Agenda and Half-Life are good ones. -What would you like more of as a patron? I'm good. I subscribe to 8 other people on patreon, so I don't need anything more... -What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? ...and everyone else I subscribe to is a video essay/review person or group. Everyone I subscribe to gives out very similar perks, so I'm good here too. In fact, you guys probably do the most as far as updating and perks out of all the people I subscribe to, so as far as I'm concerned, everything I could want is covered. -Anything else that comes to mind... I'm good. Summary of my feedback: I'm good.
Uncle Jam
2021-11-14 20:14:24 +0000 UTCgreat feedback thank you - haha and thanks for making the time before the GP. what a race eh?
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:11:47 +0000 UTCHaha I love Jeff B. We talk a bunch privately during the week honestly, all the podcast ribbing is just for fun. Appreciate all the feedback, there's a lot to think about here, thank you Russell!
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:10:26 +0000 UTCAlways appreciate your feedback Brandon. A bunch of useful feedback in there and yeah I think a more scheduled patron experience would go a long way.
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:08:23 +0000 UTCThanks for that Tom, food for thought!
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:05:50 +0000 UTCyea fair point, i could have clarified. I guess I mean the two combined. Big docs on big studios!
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:04:48 +0000 UTCThanks so much JP, that actually means quite a lot - I really appreciate it.
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:02:27 +0000 UTCThanks for the feedback, I'll take that into consideration. We're likely gonna cycle series in and our over time too (like Edit Club may change into a series on learning how to do motion graphics or something) but I think you're right - we could do better with that format.
Noclip
2021-11-14 20:00:14 +0000 UTChaha, I'll mention it to Amir :D
Noclip
2021-11-14 19:59:01 +0000 UTCI came to write basically the same thing, the best videos are the ones where it's obvious Danny has a deep personal interest.
Joshua Enes
2021-11-14 19:42:30 +0000 UTCFor me personally, was the big docs that focused in detail on specific games and the stories that were told about the development and how the team managed to put that all together. FFXIV & Witcher series were really interesting for me and that may be not so easy to produce currently, but content like that really got me hooked on the whole game documentary scene. Edit: Just have fun, I love this stuff - make all the game documentaries :D
Donovan van Heerden
2021-11-14 19:42:01 +0000 UTCI think it's important that you make stuff for you, not for me. My favorite stuff has been the videos on things I didn't even know I wanted to know about, like the Oakland Museum doc. Because of that I don't mind that you occasionally make things I'm not personally interested in. This goes for format, frequency, quality etc., I love the deep dive hour-long docs, but I enjoy the bite-sized ones too I love hearing about the "brokenness" of some games
Yan Knoop
2021-11-14 19:30:17 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - it's a tie between the big bethesda doc and the half-life doc How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - i'd feel very good about that. there's so much content atm between youtube and patreon (and i don't have as much time as i'd like) that i've fallen behind a little bit and wouldn't mind at all to have less stuff :D Is this patron worth the € each month? (and either way, tell us why) - very much so, see above What type of stuff should we do more of? - my favorites are the big docs (and the supergiant embedded stuff), so i'm always hoping for more of those whenever you tease new stuff that is in the works Where areas could we improve on? - nothing comes to mind If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - R E M E D Y E N T E R T A I N M E N T D O C. just drive that rv across the atlantic, easy and also peasy What would you like more of as a patron? - nothing What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - nothing comes to mind Anything else that comes to mind... - how about that drive from lewis in the brazilian gp? fucking hell
onnivarkki
2021-11-14 19:26:50 +0000 UTCI absolutely enjoy the greatest hit series, learning the amount of restrictions and technical challenges back then is honestly one of the coolest things that come out of the docs really hope this never stops. Apart from that I like longer docs than short if only because there is more meat and information. Money wise, its easily the most I contribute to any patreon but good work requires decent funding so here we are. For me the gems in the docs are things like the elevator conversation on Prey, how things actually need to be made in order to fit techincal constraints , physics etc. Like how the individual disciplines have to harmoniously work together , Concept , modelling , rigging , animation , FX , gameplay programming and prototyping that sort of stuff is gold and I would love to see more of it . Not sure that is of any help but hey , I'm here for you guys :)
Filipe M
2021-11-14 19:20:58 +0000 UTCWhatever you do, I always think the most exciting stuff is when we get to see footage, see concepts or even just hear about cancelled games and cut ideas and features. It's rare to get a look at a thing that maybe only ever have existed in someone's head.
Matti Hansson
2021-11-14 19:09:32 +0000 UTCMy favorite doc continues to be Flight Simulator. It was just so timely and well done. I think the best line in the entire thing was, "they flew home". That gave me chills
Cameron
2021-11-14 18:53:30 +0000 UTCMy favorite doc was FFXIV because this game was very important to me for a time AND because the story of 2.0 is amazing. I didn't know it when I started the game and I loved discovering it and hearing Square Enix staff talk about it.
Mathilde Heckel
2021-11-14 18:35:20 +0000 UTCYou've done so much fantastic work in the last five years, and I have high expectations and no doubt that no matter how you choose to proceed it will be stellar as well. (but do more indie games!) My favorite doc (series) was Hades: Developing Hell because 1) I was already a fan of Supergiant Games and it was super interesting to get an inside look into their studio, 2) you told a very compelling story throughout the series with arcs and character development that was only partly because of Covid, and 3) I had been playing Hades before I started watching the series so it was great to see all the references. I can tell that you're passionate about the RV, so I support it and wish you the best of luck with future endeavors! Edit: After browsing other comments, I have to agree that the Outer Wilds doc was top-tier content, I can't believe I forgot to mention it among my favorites!
Lionel
2021-11-14 18:22:02 +0000 UTCMy favorite thing is big docs about a single game, I love the big narrative, but i absolutely love the stories about highly specific design decisions.
Thomas Mølby
2021-11-14 18:16:32 +0000 UTC>What's your favorite doc and why? - Outer Wilds. I think just because I loved that game but had no idea about the history. Really amazed me to see it's long story to becoming a masterpiece. Closely followed by FFXIV - because, wow, what a great story. Realise it's hard to do stuff from Japan, but I'd love to see more of that. >How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. - I'd prefer that tbh, there's infinite content on YouTube, and I have limited time, so quality over quantity all the way. I'd prefer three brilliant and detailed docs that are interesting and surprising to ten good solid docs. >Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yeah, but I don't think of it like that. I'm not super interested in the behind the scenes. I consider the money a donation. I'm giving it to a good cause, and don't expect anything in return that I couldn't get as a free viewer. Just want you guys to prosper, because you're still the best and most ambitious in the space. >What type of stuff should we do more of? - Whatever makes you excited. You're the documentary creator here. I'm just some guy. I wouldn't tell a novelist what to write next... >Where areas could we improve on? - Putting yourself forward and making people know that you're a small team and a patreon/donation makes a difference. >If you could ask for one thing what would it be? - Peace on Earth >What would you like more of as a patron? - Praise and adulation >What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? - I've run out of steam/idea here, gotta be honest. >Anything else that comes to mind... - Danny, sometimes I feel like you and Jeff Bakalar aren't the biggest fans of each other. Hope you two are okay and that you're still enjoying the podcast.
Surells
2021-11-14 17:58:54 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed the Roller Coaster Tycoon, as well as the Flight Sim doc. Your Edit Club about the latter is what got me to become a patron as I was curious how the ending came together, and I've continued to watch them whenever they become available (the thumbnail one was a huge help, and I'd love for you to cover scripting of voice over soon, as well). I'd say beyond that though, you all have done a wonderful job and I'm very happy with the direction the channel is going. Chivalry 2 was a cool one, and it was clear you had fun shooting it, and that's honestly what I love to see.
Evan
2021-11-14 17:28:41 +0000 UTCThanks. I like the interviews the most and would be fine with less edited and less produced content. B roll is helpful, but not a requirement. Always fun to hear what did and didn't work out for people.
Dan
2021-11-14 17:21:21 +0000 UTCHey Danny! I wanted to leave the answers to the questions you've posed above and let you know all the choices I voted for. I am SO sorry for how long this got. Here goes: My favorite doc is the DOOM series you did for a combination of it focusing on a game I GREATLY adore, plus you being granted access to the DOOM 4 and QuakeCon footage. I understand world exclusive stuff is a pretty rare and special thing, but when you are able to receive such gifts, it makes the docs that much more incredible (Hence why the Arkane doc is a close second for me.). As long as you feel both creatively fulfilled and are not burning yourself out, I (and again, this is just me) don't really care if you did one doc or twenty in a year. Whatever you're stoked to do, I'm going to watch them all, regardless when or how often they come out. The Patreon is ABSOLUTELY worth the money. When you did the most recent round of shakeups to the tiers, it was the first time since NoClip launched five years ago I bumped up my pledge because I wanted the podcast, the Early Access, and all the other incentives you've packaged at that tier. Personally, while being a part of the Production Tier would be cool, I just can't do it financially at the moment, plus I'm not someone who cares about having their name in the credits. I know I've supported since day one, and that's enough for me. It's hard for me to think of suggestions for things to do MORE of since NoClip does so much already. Docs, Podcasts, Greatest Hits, Patron Shows/Updates, Behind the Scenes, Random videos... It's a lot. You speak to us Patrons quite often, so I can't really say communicate more since you do that better than almost anyone else I support. This also ties into improvement, and even though you're completely open (when you can because secret projects be happening from time to time), I'm not really sure what there is to improve on with such honest and constant updates. MAYBE having a video version of the podcast, but honestly, that's not really a big deal. The one thing I would ask for?............. If you could snag it, anything that would be exclusive or something very few fans/people know about the game/studio you're covering. Since that's kind of inherent with the storytelling NoClip does, it doesn't need to be footage of canceled games or documents about unannounced projects. Rather information about how beloved games got the green light to be developed or how current studios feel about IP that have been dormant for some time. The kinds of things that already come up in the docs you do. So I guess what I'm asking for is...... to keep it up? I think? I do not seek, desire, want, or what have you anything more for being a Patron. EXTREMELY satisfied from the jump in 2016 to now. NEVER, not even ONCE, disappointed in any decision/doc NoClip has done and very happy with the perks offered at my current tier. Being a big fan of both Easy Allies and Kinda Funny, they both have at least one show they produce which can be expected with a scheduled regularity (Cup of Jones, which is a Q&A with an editorial update about the goings on of the company every Monday for EZA, and of course a show you know quite well in KFGD for daily game news). Now, I haven't paid attention enough to the podcast's release cadence to tell if it's that regular, but the larger point being if there is something NoClip could do with some form of scheduled regularity, even if it's a weekly check-in that lasts 15-ish minutes that doesn't need much production or effort to let Patrons know what's on that particular week's agenda, that would be cool, but COMPLETELY understandable if that really isn't feasible with the nature of the work NoClip does (from not much to update with in a given week, secret projects you can't talk about, or perhaps intensive edits that's taking up a lot of your time) and the monthly updates do an awesome job of that already. There's nothing else that comes to mind, but as I say up top, I DO want to let you know the options I clicked on above: I'm just glad to support (This is the MOST important choice. All others I picked are secondary to this) I Love the new podcasts Prioritize big studio docs Cover more indie games Cover more games I already know Catch up with studios/past interviewees (Hillbilly Agenda ESPECIALLY!) More investigative pieces More broad/multi-interview docs I prefer the long docs I enjoy the remote docs just fine Buy the RV (Doooooo iiiiitttttttt) Again, sincerest apologies for the length, and thanks a ton for the survey! Keep up the awesome work and of the four projects you list in the post, I'm most excited for Black Mesa (and if I decoded the hint you gave on MixTape, if you're catching up with a particular studio from one of this year's games, I'm SUPER excited for that). Have an awesome rest of your day!
Brandon K Gann
2021-11-14 17:17:36 +0000 UTCHuge fan and long-term supporter. Hades was an incredible series, perhaps accentuated by the pandemic’s impacts. I don’t really have the time for the podcast so have never listened. I guess what a I really enjoyed about the Hades series is it was fairly unflinching; I’m less keen on the hagiographic pieces; nothing is perfect and I want to hear all sides of the story. I’m not really bothered by the RV concept; the remote docs have been pretty incredible and Hades showed what’s possible even without a lot of in-person filming. I also enjoy the game and the team behind the game being the story, not the travel.
Tom Page
2021-11-14 17:15:48 +0000 UTCMy favorite doc you've ever done is Outer Wilds. Not just because it's my favorite game, but also because you did such a good job capturing the magic of the game in the design of your video itself! Your marshmallow intro was so great, and the way you started THAT music around 22 minutes. The lovely developer interviews that showed the before and after of Alpha vs final game. The planet highlights. Absolutely amazing. The only other thing I've wanted from y'all (on top of all the great stuff you've been doing) is some coverage of Echoes of the Eye, which I'm so stoked for on the podcast this week! My other favorite is the Developing Hell series. It is so refreshing to not only spend more time with developers but to talk to them over time, seeing how they reflect on the process as they're in it. SuperGiant is one of the greatest indie studios out there and getting to watch them build one of the best games last few years was a real treat. I think those longer projects where you form a stronger relationship with the devs/creators really pay off. Thanks for all the work you do! Can't wait to see what's next in the coming years.
Jake Hakim
2021-11-14 17:15:16 +0000 UTCMy favorite docs were Hades:Developing Hell, the Bastion Doc, and the Creative Assembly doc. I’d still love to see a documentary on Hello Games and No Man’s Sky, getting their side of the story, and covering the game’s resurgence. But honestly, I’m just happy to support you guys
Jonathan Griffin
2021-11-14 17:09:44 +0000 UTCIt might be just me, but I'm not sure whether "Prioritize Big Studio Docs" means docs about big studios or big docs about studios.
Robert Ring
2021-11-14 17:08:56 +0000 UTCReally just happy to support, especially as my watching time is pretty limited when I'm not going on a binge, but I love the behind the scenes stuff and long docs. I don't hate the Zoom stuff, but it'll definitely be better once you're able to get access to studios directly again. I think the Doom doc remains my all-time favorite.
Michael Riser
2021-11-14 17:05:48 +0000 UTCSo my thoughts are going to be all over the place. First, I will continue to support you regardless. In terms of my preferences, I just haven’t listened to your podcast stuff (aside from I think the Jeff Gerstmann interview). I basically have 4 podcasts I cycle through in a given week and just don’t have enough time for more. I think the one-on-one style that has showed up in the feed seems to be the most interesting. In terms of docs, my favorite thing is still the longer pieces. That said, I’m down for a mix between big games and indies. If there were fewer docs, but as a result we had longer / more high production series, that would be alright. In terms of favorites from this year, I’m a little behind on stuff but from what I’ve watched my favorites are Rollercoaster Tycoon and Hades. Historically, I would say Hades, Final Fantasy XIV, the history of Arkane, and Hitman.
Michael
2021-11-14 17:04:51 +0000 UTCI'd love to see you return to FFXIV. Talk about the journey leading up to Endwalker, the delay, and it's wrapping up the main story. I'd also like to see you pick Yoshi P's brain about game preservation when it comes to MMORPGs, especially FFXI.
Andrew O.
2021-11-14 17:03:59 +0000 UTCI'm sort of ashamed to admit that I actually very rarely watch any Noclip stuff. I'm a patron because I think Danny is great at what he does and think the world needs more of this content, even if I rarely get around to watching it. I also want to put my money where my mouth is and support the idea that great content doesn't require shitty advertising and bowing to The Algorithm. I may not watch as much as I'd like, but I love what I do see, and I recommend it to everyone. Keep doing what you're doing! (PS if you ever cover the 1994 X-COM: UFO Defense I'll be there in a heartbeat, haha)
JP Burke
2021-11-14 16:58:16 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed the Deathloop doc. Yes, it would have been nice to visit the studio and interview in-person, but given the circumstances, no one can fault you for doing remote work. I think this channel is definitely worth the money! As a game designer myself, I love seeing folks get their time in the spotlight. Especially because it gives me tips and tricks about my own game development. One idea I'm hopeful for is an interview series where a well-known veteran dev sits down with a brand-new dev. Sort of an "Actors-on-Actors" thing, where gamedevs get to share what they've worked on, what that was like, and what they hope to work on next. Other than that, I say good job all around! I look forward to your content for 2022!
Tyler Boyce
2021-11-14 16:51:14 +0000 UTCAlways!
Noclip
2021-11-14 16:44:15 +0000 UTCI like the hades series, but im just here to support whatever you do :). Also would be nice if you keep youtube stuff add free.
lucasw89
2021-11-14 16:38:31 +0000 UTCMy favourite docs, and a big part of why I became a patron, were the Developing Hell (and the other Supergiant Games docs) and the Death's Door doc. Would love to see more docs in the style of Developing Hell where you embed in a studio and follow a game's development if possible
wightfyre
2021-11-14 16:34:41 +0000 UTCjust keep it ad free like you always have an I'm good
Nick Grugin
2021-11-14 16:27:26 +0000 UTCDo more quick developer interviews about newly released games like you did deathloop
Nikita Nikishin
2021-11-14 16:21:19 +0000 UTCI found you because of the Half-Life documentary. I loved your HEV sweater so much that I bought one. After a year I decided that I liked what you were doing as a concept and you deserved my financial support. I don’t need you to do any one specific thing, just keep doing it as long as you’re enjoying yourselves. If you need to change or evolve your process or focus to stay interested/mentally healthy/financially solvent, then do it. I think I enjoy what you’re making because it’s clear you enjoy making it. You don’t owe me because I give you money, I give you money because you’ve given me something I enjoy. Hopefully that made a little bit of sense.
Dylan M
2021-11-14 16:01:08 +0000 UTCI'm hoping the RV is happening and you'll be able to do road trip vlogs as well as the docs that come from those trips.
James Elder
2021-11-14 15:48:05 +0000 UTCI wish there were some docs about certain aspects of gaming, not necessarily just covering one game. For example, I'd like to see a piece on preservation or maybe retrogaming. Chiptunes or demoscene. Behind the scenes of video game conventions- how it is put together/organized. Cheating in videogames. Speedrunning/Games Done Quick. Charitable gaming. Tabletop gaming crossovers. Streaming, content creators, history of streaming platforms. Etc. I know it takes more time and effort to cover an entire subject matter instead of just covering one designer/developer/publisher/studio, but I would be more interested in watching if it could be done. Some times when I see a doc about a game I don't have interest in, I just skip it. No matter the subject, I'm going to keep supporting just because. My favorite doc was the Doom doc- it's why I became a Patreon supporter.
ColonelWEKurtz
2021-11-14 15:47:36 +0000 UTCI played 1.0 of FFXIV, so by far this was and still is my favorite doc. It's what got me to back you and I've been a patron since the day I watched part 3.
Alxa
2021-11-14 15:44:39 +0000 UTCYes I have my preferences (ticked above) but mostly I think your doing a great job and part of it is that your team develops its own ways : I trust you with your choices (even if it includes an RV).
Sébastien Delfino
2021-11-14 15:29:59 +0000 UTCMy favorite docs have all been more behind the scenes docs / development stories (Hades, Astroneer & Thief are a few examples). I feel like getting the creators big-picture vision on how they go about their creative processes and the logistics of turning that into a finished product is (IMO) NoClip's bread and butter. I would definitely prefer fewer docs at higher quality! I don't really use the patron rewards, but I do enjoy hearing from you / getting update videos. The updates turn into a sort of meta-documentary about the development of NoClip that I find interesting! Besides that, I'm a patron mostly just because I like your work and want to support, not because of any rewards, etc. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!!
Marselena
2021-11-14 15:27:03 +0000 UTCMy favorite doc is the Hades series, on top of loving the game I think what I enjoy so much is feeling as I got to know the members of the studio over the course of the series, their personalities really shine through
Brad Davis
2021-11-14 15:19:51 +0000 UTCWhat I wanted give feedback on is the new Wishlist series. I've watched the first five episodes, and to me it feels like it doesn't provide enough substance neither in making a good Let's Play because Danny switches from letsplaying to other discussion often, and because there was no preparation done to showcase the game itself in the limited runtime of the episode. Neither does it achieve a good Wishlist status explanation because Danny is constantly distracted by gameplay. I love your work and provide this feedback in the spirit that it may be useful to you.
Vyacheslav Kolobaev
2021-11-14 15:18:00 +0000 UTCThis might be a weird request but, Can you cover old games, or at least some games that have been out for at least 6 months? I stop myself from watching docs for a lot of these for fear of spoilers about the game in question or previous games from the same developer, but there is never really much of a warning for spoilers in the docs so I haven't watched one in a long time. Still happy to support
Thom Blackburn
2021-11-14 15:17:56 +0000 UTCCan you please add the poll option "Move in with supergiant and start a network sitcom".
ApeinhisApex
2021-11-14 15:11:57 +0000 UTCWhat's your favorite doc and why? - Impossible to pick one, top 3 are The Hades Series, FFXIV, and Rediscovering Mystery Hades because it was so much fun seeing the Supergiant games team over the course of development of Hades, and seeing their reactions at the end when the game was super successful and won so many GOTY awards FF14 because of the whole bad launch to redemption arc storyline which you guys did a great job translating into the documentary format Rediscovering Mystery because I like the idea of docs that focus on themes or ideas rather than specific games or studios. Plus all the interviewees were fun to listen to. How would you feel about fewer docs, but at a much higher quality than now. Sounds good to me Is this patron worth the $ each month? (and either way, tell us why) Yes, because the main reason I donate is to help the channel out, the bonuses are just nice cherries on top. What type of stuff should we do more of? Documentaries or shorts that don't cover specific games but dig deeper into things that we don't think about very often (examples: sound mixing in horror games, what QA testing is really like and the value of a good QA team, How do the best game designers plan their games even before any coding starts, etc.) Where areas could we improve on? Nothing that you have control over, the pandemic really messed things up. Hades doc was probably the gold standard, if you can somehow do more of that then you're hunky dory If you could ask for one thing what would it be? Long form documentaries on Indie Games (I know you already covered these in shorts/podcasts, but these are just examples: FTL, Into the Breach, Return of the Obra Dinn) What would you like more of as a patron? I love the commentary tracks that were just recently released, so more of those please! (FF14 and Hades series would be my top requests) What does another channel / Patreon do that you wish we did? Nothing. Other channels like Mandalore Gaming and GMTK have their niche, and NoClip has its own as well, which is what makes it great. Trying to do something other channels do would defeat the point of NoClip being NoClip. From a Patreon standpoint, idk what other channels do since NoClip is the only thing I support on Patreon :)
Kenzo Yasuda
2021-11-14 15:07:06 +0000 UTCSo I joined late but my fav so far is still FFXIV doc. Why well its beacuse you don't see many people cover a MMO and one that has had such a huge turnaround. I would love to see a followup down the line in some years if possible. I think its important work you guys do because your docs do feel omre geuine then others that I have seen. I am happoy to keep giving money and I don't really expect antyhing in return which should be special to me but thats just me maybe. hope you guys are doing good and have an awesome day.
Christophe Fettouhi
2021-11-14 15:06:38 +0000 UTC
