Resties mailbag questions?
Added 2025-01-23 19:42:50 +0000 UTCNext week, The Resties will be talking about a couple of the early video game surprises of 2025. We'll also make time to answer some of your questions about games! Drop your burning Qs in the comments and we'll answer some in this episode and other episodes this year.
Comments
For clarification. A large Golden Eagle. Don't be cute.
Chase Buchanan
2025-02-07 01:46:11 +0000 UTCWhat is the worst game mechanic ever and present?
Joseph C Whitaker
2025-02-05 15:46:08 +0000 UTCI think these guys are all sincerely friends. They're all professionals and adults too. I'm sure if the other guys felt the way you do, they would have that conversation with Justin. For me, at least, a little passion and a desire to all speak at once makes me more engaged in their conversation. I get it if it doesn't do it for you, but I don't think you should have to feel bad for the other besties by proxy.
billfromamerica
2025-02-03 13:41:50 +0000 UTCI think they actually may slump from time to time. I may be misremembering, but I see to recall them talking about just NOT playing video games during these times. Read a book. Watch a show. Take a walk. No need to force yourself to game.
billfromamerica
2025-02-03 02:02:58 +0000 UTCI mean, just personally, the last of us remastered, uncharted 4 (you can skip the first 3 for now), and God of War are all fantastic.
billfromamerica
2025-02-03 02:00:59 +0000 UTCWhat's the best single player game to play with someone? Example: My wife and I played through The Witness together and it was a perfect couch co-op experience, you can both try and crack each puzzle section and it actually helps keeping from getting frustrated because you have someone to keep it from getting dry and (in theory) succeed more with 2 people putting their heads together. Looking for more games that we can enjoy together even if it's just 1 person behind the controller. Love you guys!
Harrison Stanley
2025-01-29 18:36:12 +0000 UTCI just remembered you guys were gonna do a PalWorld episode but put it back to let the discourse play out. Is there any intention to return to it or did that plan get scrapped? Or did I just miss that episode???
Victor Hart
2025-01-29 18:34:12 +0000 UTCDo you ever have trouble *just* playing a game and not also doing something else? I've found I only gravitate to games that let me also watch tv/listen to a podcast/etc which means I miss out on narrative-story games like Fantazio. It's probably just how my brain is wired but curious if any of ya'll experience that as well.
Isaac Vining
2025-01-28 16:50:00 +0000 UTCJust saying about snl 50 Henry zebrowski from last podcast on the left was the naked guy. Thankfully he didn’t get accepted now we have last podcast weekly (:
Brad MacDonald
2025-01-27 23:25:40 +0000 UTCOne small but noteworthy feature in the Switch 2 reveal was the second USB C port on the top of the console. Do y'all think it's there just for better charging? Or for some wacky Nintendo peripherals? If so, what kind of stuff would you like to see plugged into this thing?
Gibson Garner
2025-01-27 17:37:31 +0000 UTCI recently played Animal Well to a satisfying level of completion and my mind was blown. I did all but ten eggs without a guide and had the time of my life. I remember a lot of commotion about this game when it first dropped, but I feel like Balatro sucked all the “solo dev” indie oxygen out of the room for the remainder of the year. Did this game sell well? Did it meet expectations? How are things looking for Bigmode? If AW is the taste level they’re working with, I’d absolutely love more games like this!
Matthew Kalmus
2025-01-27 16:05:35 +0000 UTCI purchased Nintendo’s “2 games for $100” voucher back when TOTK came out, and still have yet to pick that second game. what first party nintendo game is most deserving of my second voucher? I have ACNH & BOTW, but that’s it!
Rowan Scott
2025-01-27 06:51:29 +0000 UTCSo. I wanna play Metaphor Refantazio because it looks dope, however, I never got around to P5R (Persona 5 Royal) because I put so much time into P5V (Persona 5 Vanilla). I've been burned before, should I trust my trepidation or should I learn to love again. Also, I'm starting to use the word Disco as slang for cool, any thoughts? Love? Chase.
Chase Buchanan
2025-01-26 23:14:18 +0000 UTCTo build off of this, I wonder how the industry will interpret Veilguard underperforming while BG3, nominally a pretty similar game, was a smash hit
Emily
2025-01-26 17:45:52 +0000 UTCI'm not sure if they have slumps as video game professionals-- there's always something new they have to try for work haha
Emily
2025-01-26 17:41:26 +0000 UTCI’ve purchased a PlayStation 5 after only owning Xboxes my entire life. While astrobot is first up, what are some PlayStation exclusives I should prioritize? I’d love to hear some of your favorites that wouldn’t show up on a “top 10 PlayStation exclusives list”.
Bea
2025-01-26 15:41:50 +0000 UTCI don't remember if this question has been posed before, but what do you all do when you're in a video game slump? Return to old favorites? Find something short and simple? This has been happening to me a lot lately and it's a huge bummer.
Sean Mackin
2025-01-25 22:51:15 +0000 UTCHey homies. It's Chase again. I'm just curious, if an only mildly sneaky genie offered a wish to the first member of The Besties to land a kick flip, who would get the wish. For bonus points, what would the wish be? Thanks guys. All the best. Hearthands!
Chase Buchanan
2025-01-25 21:35:40 +0000 UTCMy child just turned one, and while it’s still a bit early, I’m planning his introduction to video games. I’m debating whether to start him on the NES or SNES, or go with something modern. My questions are: What games/systems did you start your kids on? If you started with modern systems, have you introduced NES/SNES games later, and what was their reaction?
Baconator
2025-01-25 19:26:40 +0000 UTCI think there is a conversation to be had about how popular the Steam Deck is to the people in the industry compared to the normal gamer and listener. According to Steam Deck HQ: Only 10% of players are using the Steam Deck.
Gabriel Elfina
2025-01-25 18:51:05 +0000 UTCListening to the most recent episode and I have to say I was a little frustrated with discussion around Heroes of Hammerwatch 2 being buggy. The game is NOT Steam Deck verified and most of the hosts had mentioned playing it on the Steam Deck, so I found that criticism a bit disingenuous. I can say that I have personally not had a single bug during my 36 hours on the PC.
Gabriel Elfina
2025-01-25 18:40:24 +0000 UTCAnyone playing that new berserk game?
Johnny Doms
2025-01-25 18:04:49 +0000 UTCIf you could only listen to 2 albums for the rest of your life what would they be?
Brendan Little
2025-01-25 15:52:31 +0000 UTCWhat are your high scores in Balatro?
James H
2025-01-25 10:39:03 +0000 UTCGiven the news of Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperforming EA’s expectations, do you think we’ve reached the end of AAA games with a rare few exceptions carved out (e.g. GTA) and where does the industry go from here?
Brazen Hippo
2025-01-25 05:27:41 +0000 UTCMy burning is question is: do you post personal reviews of games that differ from how you would professionally review a game. I feel like I would give more "objective" reviews of games if I were doing it professionally--as in, giving a game points if it is novel or likely interesting to other people. When I review stuff on Steam or Backloggd, I'll say, no I don't like Outer Wilds because it does not let me rewind to right before I die and, personally, that's a dealbreaker in that game design, even though I think the game is an achievement.
Rob W
2025-01-25 03:41:37 +0000 UTCI know Russ in particular (but maybe some of the other Besties?) had serious trouble getting into Outer Wilds. In theory this game is right up my alley but I have had serious trouble making it click for me. I think the flight controls are my main issue, I just get so frustrated with them I just give up. I'll think I'm getting the hang of it then monumentally screw up and quit. Russ ended up playing the DLC first before playing the rest of the game. Is this a viable path to trying to get it to click? Any other advice to getting into it? Please, I want to love it!!
Ben
2025-01-24 18:26:27 +0000 UTCHey guys. It's me, Chase. From earlier? Anyway. I was just wondering. Would you rather fistfight a bobcat or an eagle? I await your insights.
Chase Buchanan
2025-01-24 17:45:53 +0000 UTCI had listened to the episode on how to play more games, this is more a question in life management as a whole
Rya Schell
2025-01-24 17:33:08 +0000 UTCWhat methods do you use to manage your time between so many projects and family responsibilities, yet still schedule in time for play? I'd like to play more games and keep up with hobbies between work, though I find it difficult to pencil it all in 📝
Rya Schell
2025-01-24 17:31:02 +0000 UTCTo be clear, I think Valve are doing the same with the Steam Deck. But I would give Gabe Newell my first born child before I intentionally put a penny in the pocket of Mark Zuckerberg.
Sacha Torregrosa
2025-01-24 17:28:51 +0000 UTCWith the TES Renewal project Skyblivion getting a tentative 2025 release date, do you think this has influenced the rumours of an Oblivion remake? Is there a future in which Bethesda shut down Skyblivion on the basis of it being a direct competitor to their "Oblivion remake"? Or would this result in too much bad sentiment from the significant TES modding community?
Sacha Torregrosa
2025-01-24 17:25:17 +0000 UTCFrom what I can see, the only viable "mid range" VR option is the Meta Quest 3. Does this mean that the mid-range option is actually not so viable? Is the Meta Quest 3 possibly a loss leader released with the intention of choking out any other potential players in the market?
Sacha Torregrosa
2025-01-24 17:18:01 +0000 UTCDo you think there's any possibility for the Switch 2 to have some kind of dual screen functionality? Meaning: do you think they'd create any games where you could use an OG switch as a second screen (WiiU gamepad /3DS style)? I'd personally love to see that, and it could directly influence the adoption rate if done well. It would also be cool to be able to use your switch as a remote play device for your switch 2. There were some rumors about maybe the dock having some kind of egpu functionality... probably total b.s., but it would be awesome to have that power, and still play handheld.
Bryan McGee
2025-01-24 17:08:57 +0000 UTCExtremely good question, would love to see this get talked about
Graham
2025-01-24 16:39:32 +0000 UTCJustin is getting increasingly aggressive in how much he interrupts and insists on dominating the conversation to the point that I’ve turned off several episodes midway through in recent weeks. It’s sad that someone who espouses such humanitarian views is just blithely reinscribing toxic masculine behaviors. How the fuck do you deal?
Sasha V
2025-01-24 15:54:26 +0000 UTCWhere are we going in gaming? The last many years have been characterized by figuring out remakes, remasters, and refinements (often in the form of sequels and successors), while AAA tries to get the world to believe in Live-Service. I don't have the sales data but the non-existence of most of those LS games suggests a major failure. Graphics are topping out in terms of what humans can reasonably percieve and a lot of the best stuff has been made, but AI is offering new space to explore and create with less friction (until OpenAI wants a milly for subscription fees...). Much like you can't make another Mona Lisa, Video Games have earned the title of Artform and that historical spine changes how we as humans interact with vidja. Again, where are we going? What constitutes a game in 25 years?
Bishibosh44
2025-01-24 15:16:17 +0000 UTCWhat video game quality of life feature would you most want in real life right now? Snap-to-grid interior decorating? Auto-sort inventory of your junk drawer? A "skip cutscene" button for unwanted small talk?
Will
2025-01-24 13:51:04 +0000 UTCHey guys, I just leant that, according to the court filings, that Black Ops Cold war cost $700 million to make, up 60million from the previous year's cod. With that trend in price and the general rise in prices, do you think we are close to a game costing >$1 billion or have we already had one we just dont know it?
G Bowz
2025-01-24 11:03:22 +0000 UTCYou guys have done some video content in the past. Stuff at e3, awful squad, some small highlight videos on game topics, etc. What stops you from just recording besties episodes and posting them on YouTube? I'm sure there's a host of barriers. But I'm curious which ones really get in the way of us being able to see all the besties on camera for the podcast. Is it setup time? Or camera anxiety? Etc?
AustinBStrout
2025-01-24 08:53:06 +0000 UTCIt would be nice to see them playing games in general.
AustinBStrout
2025-01-24 08:49:15 +0000 UTCHey resties. What are your thoughts on the switch 2 design? I'm personally concerned it's going to be heavy to hold and that after a while the joycons will come loose too easily.
Whatsup Studmuffin
2025-01-24 03:54:27 +0000 UTCHey resties. What is an anime you would recommend to a beginner starting anime and what is one you would suggest to an anime lover who has seen majority of the shows? Personally for people starting out I always recommend angel beats. For someone who has seen allot of anime I suggest kill la kill, soul eater or assassination classroom if they haven't seen them. Edit. I just remembered saint young men which is absolutley a watch
Whatsup Studmuffin
2025-01-24 03:51:20 +0000 UTCI’ve been impressed with what South of Midnight has shown in adapting the folklore of a part of the world I don’t see enough of in mass media. Are there any other particular cultures and parts of the world do you want to see stories from?
Benjammin’
2025-01-24 02:47:21 +0000 UTCI have found that having ADHD helps, lol. Hello, hyperfocus.
ames
2025-01-24 01:50:39 +0000 UTCAnd related, how do you decide which console to use for a game?
ames
2025-01-24 01:48:40 +0000 UTCMan listening to Russ being weirdly gentle during Awful Squad is such a delight. The little “hello” right before someone kills him, his little “I’m healing, I’m healing…”. And yet he can be the *most* savage Bestie, dropping burns like cigarette ash. 😍 I would love a one-shot Awful Squad episode. (With Pat and Simone, ofc!!)
ames
2025-01-24 01:47:44 +0000 UTCHey guys. You don't know me, but you've probably heard about me. Do you fellas have any thoughts regarding the upcoming series of Nvidia GPUs and the use of AI such as DLSS and frame generation tech? Do you think the use of AI upscalers and the like will have an effect on optimization durring development? Anyways, I'll see you guys later. So proud of you.
Chase Buchanan
2025-01-24 01:28:43 +0000 UTCObviously we don't want to tear down or shit on anyone's hard work, but (respectully) what were some games you really didn't enjoy from the past year? If the Resties Razzies were a thing what would be up (or down) for an award?
Your Good Buddy Brandon
2025-01-24 01:27:56 +0000 UTCWhat do you guys think about the future of the Playdate? With the most recent episode focusing on handhelds that either stream games from a host PC or locally play emulated games, I'd love a discussion on the Playdate given that it does neither and is its own platform with a pretty rad culture around it despite still being pretty niche. Do you see it becoming more popular? Do you see it being a one-off hardware release from Panic or something that will have it's own hardware sequel?
Zachary Emerson
2025-01-24 01:17:58 +0000 UTCWhat fundamental misunderstanding of a games mechanics has led you to becoming much better at the game? To give an example, and air my shame, I turn to Hollow Knight. When I first played Hollow Knight, despite the game literally signposting it, i somehow missed that you could heal yourself and believed for quite some time that you could only heal at benches. Despite this I managed to get up to and through the City of Tears. When I learned of my mistake, besides face palming so hard I left a mark, Hollow Knight never seemed quite so hard again.
Ian Krupnick
2025-01-24 01:09:56 +0000 UTCPlante is my podcast sherpa (ITA, the watch… that Chiefs one). I need more of his recs!
Jack F
2025-01-24 00:51:20 +0000 UTCThe only gaming console I have is a steam deck, which I love. But I am often bumping into it's hardware limitations with some games I want to play, and would really like a living room console experience with a bit more juice behind it. The problem is, I don't want to repurchase my steam games for another console, and would love to bounce between a console and the deck in the same game. Is it possible to turn a PC into a PS5 type experience in the living room? Do you think the money you'd save from not having to rebuy games would be worth it? Is it advisable to make my own steam console happen, or do you all think it's likely that Steam will develop their own anytime soon? Should I wait?
Svaldbardseedvault
2025-01-24 00:45:49 +0000 UTCWhen will the inevitable MGS4 episode hit? Also when is Ron coming back!?!?!
David Tobin
2025-01-24 00:16:12 +0000 UTCFor years I would refuse to play Fromsoft games because it was too brutal (and part of me just likes being contrary) but Elden Ring changed that for me. Since beating Elden Ring multiple times plus the DLC, I have now beaten Sekiro and played Bloodborne multiple times through. Now my brain is broken. Other games just don't seem to hit the same. It's been hard to get into other stuff, and then I started Demon's Souls and I'm back in. In short, I ask: 1- How do I stop comparing everything to Sekiro and Elden Ring? 2- What is it about these games? Despite their obvious faults, faults that other games could NOT get away with, they're considered Everest.
Dan Brown
2025-01-23 23:57:40 +0000 UTCHow do you manage your Steam (or other) wishlist? Because Steam is so good at recommending games and so many good games are coming out, I feel like I have to go through my wishlist every couple of months to weed out what I'd actually play from things I just think are neat, but I feel bad for every game I remove. What do you do?
Robert Miller
2025-01-23 23:46:55 +0000 UTCWhat made the four of you decide to start a video game podcast sorry if you have already answered this one before
Cameron Foster
2025-01-23 23:21:51 +0000 UTCWill there ever be a return of the Awful Squad? Even if its not Pub G, I miss seeing you all play together. If not, have you considered doing a Besties live stream of you all playing?
Brandon Wood
2025-01-23 23:11:41 +0000 UTCWhat is your favorite mod for a video game? In that vein, do you prefer small quality of life mods, or more game changing conversion mods?
David Baxter
2025-01-23 23:04:26 +0000 UTCWith the new Mario Kart seemingly having 24 racers, chaos is sure to ensue. What changes to do you think would be great to add chaos to new additions of classic series?
Samantha MacHardy
2025-01-23 23:02:33 +0000 UTCWith so many ways to play games, what is your preferred system to play on and with what controller? Switch, Xbox, PC, maybe even PHONE? Mouse and Keyboard, 8BitDo (which one?), Xbox Controller, a handheld?
toucanpete
2025-01-23 22:52:37 +0000 UTCHow has creating the Patreon changed your relationship to the podcast and your fans? Any lessons learned in the first year?
Anthony Basilio
2025-01-23 22:49:20 +0000 UTCWith the passing of David Lynch, What are some y'alls favorite Lynch influenced games? I feel like so many games have his DNA throughout it. Someone on Twitter recently pointed out how much FF7's soundtrack sounds like Twin Peaks and I can't get that out of my head because it makes so much sense.
frogobongo
2025-01-23 22:44:14 +0000 UTCWhat is an established and beloved franchise that you’d like to see explore a completely different genre i.e. the murder of sonic the hedgehog?
witchcatcher
2025-01-23 22:41:53 +0000 UTCWhat do you do when you *want* to play video games, but none of the ones you have/have been playing are really hitting the spot anymore? Do you have old games you always go back to when you’re “in a slump”?
CPT_Turboshaft
2025-01-23 22:16:58 +0000 UTCHi Besties, Any recommendations for podcasts about game design or featuring game designers?
Jimmy Wilkinson
2025-01-23 22:08:23 +0000 UTCI just got a steam deck and I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the options I now have for games. What are some good starter games to get me playing it regularly?
Literate Shellfish
2025-01-23 21:49:07 +0000 UTCWhat is New York Giraffe's pick for game of the year?
Jade
2025-01-23 21:48:36 +0000 UTCWhat’s the best upgrade in a search action game?
Peter
2025-01-23 21:34:11 +0000 UTCDid you guys play Space Marine 2?
Lars Soderlund
2025-01-23 21:28:35 +0000 UTCThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out and quickly became my favorite game of all time. As I near the age where I want to start thinking about having children, I dream about the day where I get to hand my copy of BotW to my kid and watch the sparks fly in their eyes. What is or was that game for y'all?
MomBabyAsynchronously
2025-01-23 21:25:56 +0000 UTCWhat’s the best game to introduce to your kid?
The Biggest Papa
2025-01-23 21:20:23 +0000 UTCA while ago y'all talked about enjoying content "about" something while not actively doing the hobby. (I think Russ mentioned listening to a comic book podcast without actually reading comics?) Well that's me -- I listen to you guys and over the last year I have watched hundreds of hours of video game streamed content on YouTube and Twitch. But I can count on one hand the number of times in the last 12 months I've picked up a controller. How do you talk to people about games you've listened to people discuss, and watched people play, but not actually played yourself?
Maria Elkin
2025-01-23 21:15:51 +0000 UTCWill handhelds/mobile devices replace consoles/PCs before you retire at a ripe old age, or will there simply be an essential blurring of the two as improvements are made on processing power/battery life for handhelds?
Ryan McGee
2025-01-23 21:14:48 +0000 UTCWill definitely look for local meetups/events! Definitely agree with motivation issues for personal projects - I find it nearly impossible to do any programming for my own sake on top of a full time dev job. I took a career break recently and have already done more side projects than I have in my entire career.
Paul
2025-01-23 21:10:07 +0000 UTCWhen can we expect an animal well spoilercast? I’m ready to hear about that onion and all its little layers!!
Noah
2025-01-23 21:06:02 +0000 UTCI'd be interested to hear about each of your experiences with modding games. What games have you felt the urge to tinker with, and what sorts of mods have you enjoyed the most?
Tom N
2025-01-23 20:56:41 +0000 UTCThey've mentioned that they're not very good at RTS games so they tend to avoid talking about them. Still, I'd love for them to try Northgard one day, which does a lot of smart things to make the genre more accessible.
Devin White
2025-01-23 20:51:52 +0000 UTCOver your careers as gamers and games journalists what game do you think about most that seemed less remarkable at the time?
zach winstead
2025-01-23 20:50:02 +0000 UTCIf you were to do a required reading 2.0, what are some deeper cuts you might include? I’m thinking, after the entry level class, what’s in the higher level syllabus?
Isaac Goff-Mitchell
2025-01-23 20:45:09 +0000 UTCDo you all have any favorite board games?
Ellysia
2025-01-23 20:42:50 +0000 UTCIf you were starting a Game Awards style video game award program, and you had a maximum of 20 awards, which awards do you think should be game awards? (essentially, one of the issues with the game awards is poor category systems, and I think this is quietly one of the biggest areas for improvement.)
Kyle Keller
2025-01-23 20:41:17 +0000 UTCWhat's the most time you spent in a game that you will for sure never touch again?
J. Brian
2025-01-23 20:39:23 +0000 UTCAre you near a big city? If so find an indie games meetup and talk to people there. I will say this is only the first step. I think it's key you get out there and make stuff, build a portfolio you can show. I would love to be hired by a studio and have applied many places with my background in web development, but find it hard to build my own projects on a motivation level — I think the bigger your portfolio the better, almost regardless of language, just show that you're motivated! Unfortunately the industry LOVES industry experience so it seems kinda like do whatever you can to get in the door, crummy as it is... Also, there is a talk that at least occurrs regularly at PAX East and probably elsewhere, how to get into the industry. Might be worth attending.
Nate Stevens
2025-01-23 20:38:43 +0000 UTCSeconded, as well as maybe other survivor likes like brotato. Or civ games?
Brendan
2025-01-23 20:38:09 +0000 UTCI am not a game dev, but I do see little circles in my city of meetups of people in the industry or trying to get in so they might have some good advice if it exists locally for you!
Brendan
2025-01-23 20:36:02 +0000 UTCHey Resties crew! I’d be interested to hear what social games y’all enjoy playing when traveling or casually hanging at a bar? These could be card games, games on your phone, outdoor activities, or even a trivia nights. My partner and I picked up the small 1v1 card game “dust biters”, created by some of the Vlambeer team, and reliably play it, along with the game Wavelength (on our phones) whenever we find ourselves at a local bar or on a trip. Cheers!
Jackson Foley
2025-01-23 20:34:28 +0000 UTCVampire Survivors is a pretty fun on mobile if you've never played it!
Paul
2025-01-23 20:34:27 +0000 UTCI really only seem to enjoy content that challenges me or makes me think or feel or learn something new. I find "fun" secondary to those things. Is this something any of you relate to? Videogame discussions often just assume "fun" (often felt through mechanics) is the base level of games, but I'm not so sure it is for me! The extra polish of an Astro Bot or, heck, a lot of Nintendo games just leaves me unmoved! Am I alone in this?
Nate Stevens
2025-01-23 20:34:11 +0000 UTCDo you have fat pipes?
James H
2025-01-23 20:33:48 +0000 UTCWho would win in a fight between Mario and sonic? Actually?
Big Ian
2025-01-23 20:31:17 +0000 UTCHow do I get my newly retired father back into video games? He introduce me to them back in the day with Quake, Doom, Sim City, etc. I'd love to buy him a console and some games to get him back in the hobby. Any recommendations?
Michael Fell
2025-01-23 20:26:35 +0000 UTCWith Apple TV+ working hard on scifi niche, i was thinking of story rich games that might be better for the small screen in that type of genre. One that came to mind was thr Frostpunk series. You think anything like that would ever be on any horizon?
Bret Scofield
2025-01-23 20:20:35 +0000 UTCAny recommendations on where to start for someone looking to get into the gaming industry as a programmer/developer? I've been working for nearly a decade as a software developer in other industries (mainly at startups) but not sure if it would be feasible to switch over with no experience with any game engines. Especially with how toxic the industry seems, with smaller studious getting bought up and then the parent company doing mass layoffs. I have made a handful of browser games using JavaScript, which definitely isn't feasible long term but has been fun playing with different types of mechanics and ideas. Wondering if it makes sense to pick up a specific gaming language and go from there? I know Griffin mentioned liking Godot and Unity seems pretty popular, but I know y'all have talked about issues they had with pricing structure changes.
Paul
2025-01-23 20:20:34 +0000 UTCThey are not.
Donnie Halinka
2025-01-23 20:20:23 +0000 UTCalso a legitimate question for new parents who have to hold a dang baby all night.
Ben Burbank
2025-01-23 20:20:22 +0000 UTCHow many games do you have in your steam libraries?
Cameron Dickerson
2025-01-23 20:19:54 +0000 UTCI think decades ago I had this mentality, or also similar mentalities (e.g. I want to see all the endings!). I think for me, what helped was looking at it all as a specific experience, which may not cover everything. In life, we don't always get the closure we want or need for other very real life things or relationships or experiences, and thinking about that helps give some perspective. But good question.
Bret Scofield
2025-01-23 20:18:42 +0000 UTCI asked this in a recent episode’s comment section but: How do you decide/justify if and when games deserve second chances after failed launches? I’ve been put off voting with my wallet for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man’s Sky because their launches felt consumer unfriendly but I also hear from a lot of gaming personalities like you all how much they’ve fixed the games since then.
William (Biggggg5) Mason
2025-01-23 20:18:22 +0000 UTCIt doesn't feel much different than subtitles in a films. Sometimes films are made for a very domestic audience, with cultural references and local knowledge being paramount the artistic experience according to some filmmakers. That said, people from other areas can and do enjoy those films. (Same could be said about books too). In the end, a work of art or experience is a two way street, we bring ourselves to the thing, and all the baggage that entails, and we meet the thing somewhere in between it and our own experience!
Bret Scofield
2025-01-23 20:16:05 +0000 UTCIf there were "coffee table" video games, what video games would you leave on your coffee table for when guests come over?
TheMatthew3
2025-01-23 20:16:00 +0000 UTCWhat are some of your favorite videos game genre mash ups? I'm thinking of Actraiser or Galactic Conquest in Star Wars battlefront 2 - the kind of mashups that feel like they don't quite go together normally but are absolute bangers
Caleb Ackerman
2025-01-23 20:15:10 +0000 UTCHow do you recommend someone stick with long games and actually complete them, when the feeling of downloading a new game and diving into a whole new world is so enticing? If you search “how many games do you play at a time?” on Google, you’ll find plenty of forums and Reddit threads with people overthinking this question and struggling with spreadsheets, systems, and rules to force themselves into clearing their backlog. To me this sounds less like a hobby and more like they’ve assigned themselves homework. So for those of us who don’t have a talk show to help dictate what they play, what would you recommend?
ShootTheRodeo
2025-01-23 20:14:28 +0000 UTCWhat's your current pet peeve game design trend? What's your favorite game design / QoL perk that you're seeing more and more?
VacantExpressionComics
2025-01-23 20:13:26 +0000 UTCSeconding this! I have carpal tunnel issues in both wrists, and I'm always looking for more accessible/ergonomic setups. I know some of you all have mentioned wanting to protect your hands as well! thanks :)
warriorsoprano
2025-01-23 20:13:07 +0000 UTCWhat video game VA would be your dream guest to have on the besties?
Luke 'Punquillity' Elias
2025-01-23 20:08:43 +0000 UTCRuss, not a question but I think you might enjoy a game called "filament".
Jarl Snargl
2025-01-23 20:07:10 +0000 UTCI just broke my wrist and had to get surgery! :( This is a bummer for my video game habits. I looked for one handed games on Steam and (no surprise) they are mostly very porny. I’ve discovered some good options on Apple Arcade (stardew, balatro, slay the spire) but I’m wondering if you guys have any recs?
liz t
2025-01-23 20:07:07 +0000 UTCIs the video game industry doing enough to self-regulate predatory micro transactions and gambling-lite games? I have ADHD so feel personally vulnerable to games like these and often have to take aggressive action (uninstalling, deleting save files, etc.) to unhook myself. A prime example is Marvel Snap which had a worrying hold on my brain and wallet for a bit. I realize one person’s “addiction” is another’s “passion” but I would love to hear thoughts on this.
Thomas Walsh
2025-01-23 20:05:29 +0000 UTCThey said in one episode that in Japan they are called Search Action games and everyone agreed it made more sense than metroidvania and have been running with it ever since
Jonathan Mitchell
2025-01-23 20:05:01 +0000 UTCWhat question would you like to be asked?
Jade
2025-01-23 20:04:34 +0000 UTCI wish for an answer to that myself. The thought of not-completeing every little thing has stopped me from enjoying even the best of stories in games.
Fezsrcool
2025-01-23 20:04:33 +0000 UTCHear hear! The Eggplant podcast just did a feature on an awesome sounding point and click game called Queer Quest which you might want to check out.
Joel Castelli
2025-01-23 20:02:44 +0000 UTCBeen replaying Witcher 3, which I played at launch after playing Witcher 2. In that ten years, I read all books as well. It's *brilliant* how the game is really just a "fan-fic" continuation of the story. Made me wonder though, how many other games are canon in a multi-media storyline, or stories that include a game in the overarching plot? Once I 100% W3, I know I'm going to be looking for a like experience and could use some recommendations. Thanks for all you guys do!
Fezsrcool
2025-01-23 20:02:33 +0000 UTCis that how it is spelled becuase a google search yields no good results
Jonathan Mitchell
2025-01-23 20:02:26 +0000 UTCWhat is the most property damage you've caused while playing video games, intentionally or otherwise? Looking for that time you broke your (ex-)girlfriend's meemaw's new flat screen TV because you were too full of pride to don the wiimote wrist strap or whatever. Thanks.
Daniel Devillier
2025-01-23 20:02:24 +0000 UTChave any of the besties kept up with the playdate? I’ve recently made my way through season 1 and was blown away by Saturday Edition, a classic-ish adventure game with some remarkable writing and sound design. It’s unironically one of the best games i’ve played in years on any platform. It’s been fascinating to see what developers have been able to accomplish with such limited hardware.
Last Swearbender
2025-01-23 20:00:26 +0000 UTCAre there any Early Access games from previous years that you think might make a bigger splash in 2025? Stuff like Manor Hades 2, Fields of Mistria, Manor Lords, etc. (I know, widely different genres/development stages) that have more content to release before they are "Finished" that might catch a second wind in the new year?
MajorDX25
2025-01-23 19:59:06 +0000 UTCThe industry tends to go through stages of certain genres oversaturating their markets. FPSes in the early 2010s, Battle Royale/Hero Shooters in the late 2010s and farming sims currently are some examples I can think of. Are there any genres you can foresee/fear that happening to in the near future?
Victor Hart
2025-01-23 19:58:25 +0000 UTCI remember the Besties crew really liking Desperados 3 and other similar strategy games. Is the new Commandos game, Commandos: Origins, on your radar at all?
Jonathan Mitchell
2025-01-23 19:56:34 +0000 UTCI recently played Before Your Eyes, which uses eye tracking, blinking, and keeping your eyes closed as game mechanics, and these enhanced the story experience a lot. What outside the box game mechanics enhanced your experience of a game?
Bret Scofield
2025-01-23 19:56:20 +0000 UTCI found a game by accident called "I was a teenage Exoconlolist". I think I may have heard it mentioned but not sure. From the card game to every decision affecting the game in a way that made me feel true emotions. To the point to had to put the game down for some triggering moments. If anyone knows any games similar I would greatly appreciate any recommendations.
Jaime Perez
2025-01-23 19:55:54 +0000 UTCMy dudes, sakara cards is right your collective alleys. It's a deck builder that's just dripping with neon 80's anime style with a dope chill lo-fi sound track that I can't get enough of. The closest analog I can think of is into the breach with its spacial gameplay. I'd love to hear an episode with y'all's thoughts on it!
Johnny Overstreet
2025-01-23 19:55:39 +0000 UTCAny Non-steam games you've particularly loved on the Steamdeck? Or games that are not verified / traditionally thought of as SteamDeck games that you have had fun playing? I ask because recently a mod pack for Oblivion came out that allows the game to run on the SD, which along with OpenMW and OpenRTC2 have quickly become some of my favorite games to play in the comfort of bed.
Adrian Kenyon
2025-01-23 19:54:36 +0000 UTCWhat were your early games that really inspired you and led you your lifelong love for this form of media?
Andy
2025-01-23 19:54:28 +0000 UTCI hope this includes the roottrees
Andrew van Baarsen
2025-01-23 19:54:20 +0000 UTCGAMING ACHIEVEMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF, "OFFICIAL" ACHIEVEMENT OR NOT.
Jarl Snargl
2025-01-23 19:53:59 +0000 UTCYall always bring the jokes and are very funny, and I'm a big fan of comedy podcasts, stand up, TV, sketch, etc. However, when it comes to humor in games I feel like it is a pretty consistent miss for most games. Certain games like Stanley parable, thank goodness you're here, etc. Do get a laugh out of me, but they seem to be the exceptions to the rule. When I think of games humor, I think of how badly the Borderlands franchise misses the mark on its humor and becomes cringy. Similarly, I feel like jokes in AAA games fall flat while indie game humor seem to hit harder. What do you think constitutes a good funny game, and why do so many big budget games seem to miss the mark when trying to incorporate humor? Thanks fellas.
Jake Johnson
2025-01-23 19:53:39 +0000 UTCIf Atlas does a future expanded release of Metaphor ReFantazio with new content, a la Persona 5 Royal or SMT 5 Vengeance, what changes would you like to see? Any gameplay updates, particular story threads to pick at, etc?
Max!
2025-01-23 19:52:49 +0000 UTCWhat was your first video game purchase regret? Like what was the game that made you realize that video games could be bad actually and they're not always as exciting as their box art implies?
Devin White
2025-01-23 19:52:40 +0000 UTCWith the continued rise of cozy farm sims similar to Harvest Moon and Stardew, in your experience how much are these games essentially relying on the exact same mechanics/goals/choices vs making new strides and having new ideas? Is this genre becoming a genre of repeats without innovation or are there still places developers are going which excite you?
Elliott Rabbit
2025-01-23 19:52:39 +0000 UTCJust seen that Earthblade has been cancelled. Absolutely gutted. Which game were you most looking forward to that never made it?
beampatrol
2025-01-23 19:52:28 +0000 UTCHey Besties! Any recommendations for games by queer/trans creators, especially queer/trans poc? If they feature queer/trans characters even better, but I'm mostly looking to support diverse devs and teams. Thanks for being awesome!
Grandpa Wheeze
2025-01-23 19:52:00 +0000 UTCWhy are The Besties putting so much effort into rebranding metroidvania as search action games? I'm not asking as a hater, or even a defender of the term metroidvania, I'm just genuinely curious. Because you guys have gone so far as to correct yourself when you accidentally say metroidvania. I mainly find it interesting because I would argue that other game genres I have heard you guys talk about in the last year are just as confusing for those not already in the know, such as: roguelite, roguelike, "schmups", etc
LeonDrinksFreon
2025-01-23 19:51:55 +0000 UTCTHOUGHTS ON THE BEST SNACKS WHILE PLAYING GAMES? PLEASE DONT TALK ABOUT CHOPSTICKS.
Jarl Snargl
2025-01-23 19:51:49 +0000 UTCThis is not a video game question, but as a Canadian, I need to ask: are y'all okay? And then, as maybe a more constructive addendum to that, here's a follow-up: in light of recent developments, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ safety policies being removed from big tech company's websites, and Elon Musk literally doing the Hitler salute (no, not a "strange gesture"), do you have any recommendations for great recent queer representation in video games, or games about the immigrant experience? I feel these are more important than ever to shine a spotlight on. And if you can't answer this on the air, I'll understand. Sending love and thanks for all you do to bring levity and cool new games and stuff into my life. Thanks, guys!
Joel Castelli
2025-01-23 19:51:22 +0000 UTCAny must play RTS games y'all would recommend? They aren't necessarily brought up in conversation anymore.
Baclava of Lies
2025-01-23 19:51:16 +0000 UTCPlease share your thoughts on marvel rivals! Maybe even a full episode after the whole gang has played?? It’s really a gem of a game. Love your content!
Cindyy
2025-01-23 19:51:15 +0000 UTCFavorite mech game? I've been craving some good chunky mech games. Before y'all say it, yes have played Into the Breach.
Walter Blakey
2025-01-23 19:51:11 +0000 UTCToday's announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4, co-developed by Platinum Games and Team Ninja, got me thinking: Which studios do you think could synergize well codeveloping a game. Personally I'm hoping for some indie studios to work together soon to claw into that double/triple A space. (Putting a team with strong gameplay like Echopoint Nova's Greylock Studio with a strong narrative team like Mouthwashing 's Wrong Organ would be my dream)
Kunib3rt
2025-01-23 19:51:05 +0000 UTCMy personal GOTY of 2024 was Nine Sols, which seems to have flown under the radar of almost everyone. I don't think I've heard anyone on the pod talk about it. Any chance of you guys giving it a shot? Sekiro + Hollow Knight
Tyler Stercula
2025-01-23 19:51:00 +0000 UTCHey besties! If you could will into existence a game from a particular franchise, but in a different genre, what would you pick? I would love a Diablo style action RPG but set in the StarCraft universe.
Brian Leon
2025-01-23 19:50:50 +0000 UTCWill we ever get a 4k Criterion Collection of the work of New York Giraffe?
Isaac Harris
2025-01-23 19:50:36 +0000 UTCThere’s a lot of discourse around how gaming will change over the coming years, but I’m curious to know what gaming journalism will look like as well. What do you think Polygon and other games outlets might be doing differently in five years?
Jerrod Schwarz
2025-01-23 19:50:35 +0000 UTCWhat are the lyrics to the Besties Theme Song? I’ve made my own up, but curious what the official ones are.
Ryan B.
2025-01-23 19:50:09 +0000 UTCHow do you balance out the opposing ideas of "Not my genre" vs "Letting a game surprise me." As stated in the main feed neither Justin or Russ thought Tactical Breach Wizards or Steamworld Heist 2 would be their thing, but there are some episodes where a game feels like a complete non-starter to some of the besties Where do you draw lines and what are the factors needed to cross those lines?
Ian
2025-01-23 19:49:56 +0000 UTCHey Besties! As I get older I find myself drifting away from competitive games as a service because I don’t have the time to get good enough at them to compete. How do you approach games like these or fighting games that have a skill barrier? Do you find that the time put into them is equatable to time spent playing a single player or local co-op game? Thanks!
Colin Mallee
2025-01-23 19:49:31 +0000 UTCAny new thoughts on "bike games" from y'all? I had to do a lot of biking recently due to hip surgery, and found that Slay the Spire and Balatro were some of my favorites to play while riding!
Hortense
2025-01-23 19:49:28 +0000 UTCWhat are your thoughts on the discourse over whether GTA 6 potentially costing $100 would be good or bad for the industry?
Greg K
2025-01-23 19:49:18 +0000 UTCHave either of you ever heard of the game "Homebody", and if ypu have, have you given it a try yet? Don't let the Game Grumps sticker fool you, it's one of the rawest games I've ever played. Topics such as ocd, depression, aging, and hatred are explored with a surprising gravity, and the puzzles are surprisingly fair to the player.
DMAN
2025-01-23 19:49:02 +0000 UTCI'd love for them to do an ep or half ep about marvel rivals
Hfire
2025-01-23 19:49:01 +0000 UTCDo you think games should compromise their mechanics for the sake of accessibility? The example I'm thinking of is Unsighted, which allows you to turn off the time limits on people to explore the game at your pace, despite said time limits being not only central to the gameplay but the narrative theming. Obviously I'm all for bringing people in and allowing customization when able, but games having a player be able to opt out of the artistic experience feels like a bridge too far
Daniel
2025-01-23 19:48:14 +0000 UTCWhat was your favorite gaming news of 2024?
Hfire
2025-01-23 19:48:11 +0000 UTCYou’ve talked in the past about good “bike games”, do you have any recent discoveries you’d recommend for someone just getting into stationary biking?
Dylan Hanwright
2025-01-23 19:47:54 +0000 UTCWhat are your thoughts about the video game pricing discussion, especially with rumours that GTA6 could bring AAA pricing even higher? I think video games are still a good deal in terms of how many hours you can get out of them, but will we just end up with everything moving to subscription models if no one wants to pay 100+ dollars for one game?
Leo Siebert
2025-01-23 19:47:43 +0000 UTCFor years I’ve had chronic “100% everything” syndrome with games. Even if I don’t end up 100%-ing a game, I play it as if I will, compulsively exploring every corner and doing every side quest until I’m worn out with the game. Do either of you experience this? How do I just relax and play a game for fun?
Ryan Parker
2025-01-23 19:47:26 +0000 UTCI recently finished Hoops' recommendation of the Chain Gang All Stars Audiobook, and I read through Piranesi (another of his suggestions) last year. Any other suggestions for books/audiobooks from the Besties?
Jim Redding
2025-01-23 19:47:20 +0000 UTCI feel like AAA games have gotten pretty stale and with Balatro winning awards at the VGAs it makes me think that indie games might get bigger than lots of AAA. As people in the industry do you think this is possible?
Tokyo
2025-01-23 19:46:32 +0000 UTCThoughts on Warframe 1999, and or Warframe in general? Thx dooooodz
Alec Maure
2025-01-23 19:45:50 +0000 UTCCurious of a discussion about games that seemed extremely great when they came out but have aged poorly? Many folks say this about Bioshock Infinite.
Hazel Bachrach
2025-01-23 19:45:50 +0000 UTCHave y'all checked out Marvel Rivals?
SaintGwyn
2025-01-23 19:45:31 +0000 UTC
