Q&A Session #11 -- ANSWERS November 2017

Hey again. So we're back with an altered version of the streamed answers. We went directly with Oxygen Not Included and, as you'll be able to tell, I gave it very little attention as we went through the questions (the dupes are all about to die at the end). I think it worked out much better. I didn't read the questions ahead of time either so I think that goes doubly so since I was hearing them for the first time as Lili read them aloud.

Here's the link to YouTube this time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbIzYmKWM1U

There are timestamp links in the pinned comment below the video. Last time I did them in a list here on Patreon and I think that was a bit confusing and they could get lost. So we'll use the comment instead. The questions are still pasted below as well. The timestamps should be the same for the twitch VOD if you'd prefer to watch there with the chat included.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/203784827

Questions Below

John T

Let's start off with a quick one. How do you like streaming so far? (I'm enjoying it a lot) Anyways on to the longer questions. 

Q1: As a riter, do you sometimes get frustrated reeding peoples with improper spelling/grammer? Do you ever find urself correcting peoples grammar/ spelling? Yes all those mistakes were on purpose. 

Q2: Assuming starvation/dehydration are NOT factors, would you rather: only be able to eat cheese, or only be able to drink wine for the rest of your life? 

Q3: Have you read Asimov's "The Last Question"? If not, it's only 9 pages, probably a 15-20 minute read and it's a really interesting thought piece. If you have, what are your thoughts on it as a piece of literature and as an idea? If you haven't read it here's a link to a PDF of it: https://www.physics.princeton.edu/ph115/LQ.pdf Hope the stream is going well!

Nasigil

1. Do you have a standard of some sort to decide whether to stream a game(that you plan to critique) or not? I think you can consider play gameplay-heavy game's first time on stream and then the second time off-stream, and play story-heavy game's first time off-stream and second time on stream, what do you think?
2. You mentioned in the stream chat that you won't be streaming any Witcher games, why? You also mentioned in your "lion, patreon, and Witcher" video that you want "uninterrupted" time with Witcher series, does that mean you won't stream others games when you are working on the Witcher project? 
3. Do you have any criticism for yourself? What aspect do you think you can still improve on as a video game critic?

Trash tier waifu, happy laifu

Q: When you started to think critically about games, did it 'Pull back the curtain' so to speak, did your enjoyment fall off after that? 

Q: Do you have any favorite authors or genres to read? 

Bjarne

I have two questions about your reviews. 

1. Often times, you spend a comparatively low amount of time on positive things about a game and discuss negative aspects in great detail. Why do you do it this way? Do you think criticism of bad parts of games is more useful than talking about the things they do well? Personally, I think that someone like Mark Brown who spends a lot of time talking about and explaining good game design can be just as useful to people who play and make video games. It makes you come off as more negative than you are and while I understand that your videos would get unbearably long if you also analyzed the positives as deeply as the negatives, there are obviously some aspects that are more relevant than others. This is not criticism of your way of doing things I am just wondering why you make the reviews like you do and if you would consider changing it up a bit. I think both approaches are fine (it’s not like Mark Brown is very balanced in that regard either), but I am still interested in your thoughts nonetheless.
2. In your last Q&A stream, you briefly talked about objectivity vs subjectivity in game reviews. You came to the conclusion that it might not be a thing at all because we can only perceive the world as humans. While that is an interesting philosophical idea, I think it misses the point when it comes to the question in regards to game reviews. There needs to be at least some objectivity for your thoughts to hold any value besides being your personal opinion that might interest some people. Otherwise why even criticise something to begin with if there is nothing more to it than a personal preference? So I think a more sensible distinction than objective/subjective would be personal opinion/preference vs (somewhat) objective criticism/praise that is built on logical arguments and facts. How do you make sure that when you notice something about a game that you dislike it is not just something you dislike because of your preferences, but something actually worthy of criticism? 

Jack L

Q: With regard to YouTube game analysis and critique content, do you think there are topics that aren't being covered that you look forward to seeing? What is it that you seek out in others' critiques?

Aydin O

Q1. You've probably answered this question before but what made you move from the U.K to Canada? 

Q2. You keep saying that you’re from the U.K but I’m not buying it. Can you do your best impression of a British accent? Say something British like “What chu lookin' at bruv? You takin' the piss? I'll smash ya fookin' teef in, mate.” Or “ ‘at bird there’s got a right set of tits on ‘er.”

Raphael P

Who's your favorite patreon ?

Baris M

Q1. Have you ever played the games Sudeki, Jade Empire or Lost Odyssey? I've been on a bit of a nostalgia trip of these Microsoft exclusive RPGs which didn't get the love I felt they deserved. Curious what you'd make of them. 

Q2. I recently spent a feverish night playing through Doki Doki Literature Club. It was an absolutely terrific time and I won't be forgetting the experience soon. I'd love to know your thoughts on this game because I believe it did two things extremely well: conveying a sense of hopelessness while still providing the player with agency and telling an impactful story in a way that can only be done through the medium of video games. In case you haven't played it, some other games with similar strengths (in my mind): Nier: Automata, LISA, Undertale, Spec Ops: The Line, and Knights of the Old Republic 

Q3. This one is for your wife: how did you have the courage to support someone pursuing a career that's often perceived as risky, particularly while pregnant and then raising a small child? My girlfriend supports all of my stupid dreams and actively encourages my writing, design and videos, but I've always wondered if she would really feel the same way if forced into a position of responsibility such as through pregnancy.

Alex O

Q1. Now that its been announced are you going to play WoW Classic, if you are what are you most looking forward to doing in it and what class will you role assuming they dont mess with the balance? 

Q2. Is there a waifu who can top BT? 

Q3. Is there a game franchise you would like to see get a reboot (i feel like i might have already asked this at some point idk)

Jonathan S

Hey Joe! This is my first Q&A as a patreon supporter how exciting! My first few questions are quite simple: 

Q1: What was the first route you took in New Vegas to finish the game? (I.E. who did you side with). 

Q2: I've always been fascinated by the way a game can tell a story and allow you to expierence it. If you could create your own personal video game story right now, what would it be? 

Q3: This one is for Lili: I asked you this in a steam once, but has watching Joe play more and more games (while monitoring chat) influenced/changed your opinion on video games at all? Are you more inclined or less to play them on your own time? 

Will M

Do you think the existence of video game genres and the tropes within them is good for the industry? Obviously genres give a basic idea to the consumer as to what they can expect from a game, but for a developer, I feel choosing a genre might stifle the creativity that comes from having no preset path by which you could make your game. If you want to make a game to appeal to the multiplayer shooter population, you are less likely to step out and try something crazy; since, you can easily find out exactly what that demographic already wants. Love the videos!

Thaddeus W

Hello Joseph, first time asking questions so I hope some of these aren’t repeat questions. 

-Quick questions: 

1. Question of semantics, would you consider chocolate to be candy?
2. What are some “dead” or inactive YouTubers you love but no longer produce videos? 
3. Will you ever do a video on Fallout New Vegas? (I ask since it will be the example for my last question) 

-Longer question: To preface, I asked the question on how do separate the main narrative and lore in writing - or in the case of games, narrative and lore/side content. However, due to the scale in many games, it can be difficult to distinguish where one ends and the other begins. For this I will use Fallout New Vegas as an example since I know that you have thorough experience with this game. Fallout New Vegas has the various factions to interact and side with, however the main story still remains centered around the interactions between the key leaders vying for control for the Hoover Dam in a literal power struggle. Would the main campaign just be the overarching story or be based on the mini narratives that depends on who you side with? Alternatively on the topic of side content, Arcade’s companion quest, although delegated to side content, ties directly into the main narrative of a power struggle over the Hoover Dam by allowing an additional faction’s support. Additionally, quests like “I Put A Spell on You” allows you to take part in the Legion’s plans to sabotage the monorail into the Strip, or the NCR efforts to thwart these plans. Both of these are considered side content but each in some way intersect with the overarching story at play, whether it be actively working towards that goal by aiding a faction or gaining the trust of a new faction. Games and elements like these are why I ask this question. I love your content and will happily continue to support you. Look forward to hearing your response. From, “DoughnutSandwich”

Kev

What do you think of SotFS edition of DS2? I felt like the enemy placements made the game significantly worse.

Matt O

Hope the stream wasn't too tiring today Joe :) ~Long questions~ 

Q1. I'm curious as to what your opinion on Modding and the community surrounding it? Also what games have you modded heavily in the past and what would you recommend? 

Q2. After Nioh and tomorrows Undertale stream, would you consider a Knights of the Old Republic playthrough? Also what are your detailed (more or less) thoughts on the first and second game? 

Q3. Whats it like becoming a bigger face in the gaming critic community and your YouTube fame? Getting responses from boards like /v/ and r/gaming, how does it feel knowing that your opinions are heard and cared about outside the community? Thanks for the Answers dad you should come on discord more for the memes and shitposting we miss you... ~Victus

Micah W

Hey Joe, I absolutely love the new answer format; your reaction to my religion question was priceless!! Thank you so much for answering it. I figure I'll start off with another "deep" question, this time about parenting. Lily, your answer would be welcome here too! 

1. How do you feel about “bad language” being used by kids? I find it interesting how passionately most parents will try to keep their children from saying “fuck” and “shit” and anything that might “use God’s name in vain”, yet these lessons rarely stay in their minds into adulthood. Almost everyone I know curses at least a few times a week, and none of them are worse people for it. Do you think it’s important to keep bad language out of children’s mouths, or are they just words that society has artificially assigned a greater significance? Do you think their usage at a young age has a negative psychological effect? Will you and Lily stress the importance of not using those words to your kids? Why or why not?
2. What’re your thoughts on the use of prophecies in storytelling? I find that, in the majority of cases, they are just lazy ways of telling the audience that the villain will be defeated, and how it will happen. Or, if it’s a “bad” prophecy, then it obviously won’t come true. Rarely do prophecies leave much to interpretation, or they’re so vague that there’s nothing to interpret. Do you think that prophecies are just really bad foreshadowing, or do they have their place in stories? 
3. This isn’t a question, I just wanted to offer you some friendly, spoiler-free advice for how you approach your Undertale playthrough. On your 1st playthrough, kill everyone that attacks you. On your 2nd playthrough, spare everyone that attacks you. If you have time, on your 3rd and final playthrough, go out of your way to kill every enemy in the game. This is by far the hardest ending to get, so save it for last! The reason for this recommended order is so you won’t have to repeat identical conversations that you’d normally be forced through if you spared people on your 1st run. The Pacifist ending is unavailable on your 1st run, so there’s no point in dragging out the 1st playthrough with conversations that you’ll just be having again on your 2nd run. This method of playing greatly speeds things up for both you and the viewers. Once again, thank you so much for answering these! I hope you love the game!

 Stuart H

Hey Joe and Lili, hope all is well. 

1. What are some challenges with making your videos that you think people dont appreciate? Something that takes more time or effort than most people expect?
2. What makes a good video game review? How do you think they should be, what advice would you give to someone trying to make them? 
3. I think Nintendo surprised us all with Super Mario Odyssey. Nobody expected them to touch on the ethical implications of mind control, how do you think they handled it? Do you think future Nintendo games should be so deep moving forward?

Joshua S

Hey Joe and Lili :D 

1. What's your favorite childhood video game?
2. Was there ever a movie in theaters you saw that you walked out of before it finished? 
3. What was probably the most frustrating vid for you to make? And do you think your efforts paid off?