The Resties mailbox is now open
Added 2025-03-12 23:09:43 +0000 UTCThe Resties will be answering your questions in the upcoming episode — along with talking about why the annual Game Developers Conference matters to the average gamer.
Drop your questions in the comments below!
Comments
Are there some bracket battles missing?
Devon Kelly
2025-03-26 15:44:54 +0000 UTCIf, hypothetically, there was a huge fallout in the AAA game market, such as all the biggest companies either decided to or were forced to stop making games because of how unsustainable AAA has become, would the indie game market continue to thrive? Or, in other words, do the indie game market and AAA game market require each other in order to persist in their current form?
Brandon
2025-03-24 06:38:24 +0000 UTCJust wanted to share something to keep on your radar: I played a beta test of a game called Little Rocket Lab and it was incredible even with only a few hours of gameplay completed. It's like cozy Factorio. I think gamers who like Stardew Valley and more technical sims like Factorio will LOVE this game! I can't wait for it to be finished :)
Dani Watson
2025-03-24 05:43:19 +0000 UTCI also thought of this the other day! I'd love this!
Dani Watson
2025-03-24 05:41:14 +0000 UTCHi Resties! I recently joined the Patreon because I needed MORE of the best, and have been catching up on all the old eps. Was wondering if you guys ever checked out Sorry We’re Closed? It’s the super stylish brain child of an artist and their spouse (first time devs) inspired by ps1 survival horror but with some very fun twists. It released late last year and recently got an update and console release. I really enjoyed it (especially the excellent cast of NPCs). I would love to hear what y’all think about it.
grumpy
2025-03-22 12:46:28 +0000 UTCThank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. I’ll check that out this weekend.
Alejandro Lopez-Black
2025-03-21 22:05:10 +0000 UTCThere's a great site called steamdeckhq.com with concise performance breakdowns for tons of games on Steam Deck. It also gives you the optimal in-game and Steam Deck settings for each game. When I first started Infinite Wealth my Deck sounded like a jet, but once I tweaked the settings from that site it ran smooth and quiet. Definitely worth checking out, and it also never hurts to Google "game title + Steam Deck performance" to see what you can expect. Hope that helps!
Doctor Doomscroll
2025-03-21 21:28:38 +0000 UTCHave you considered making a Steam Curator channel? This would be something I would personally find very helpful to keep up with all the awesome games y'all recommend. Especially since I am usually not close to my computer when listening.
Mark Jones
2025-03-20 21:51:52 +0000 UTCHi Besties, I picked up PoP: The Lost Crown on Steam Deck recently after your episode on it last January. I'm super impressed, specifically with how fluid & expressive the movement and combat is. Did any of you go back to the game after the Divine Trials update dropped? I'd highly recommend, the platforming challenges are a blast and nearly as hellish as the Celeste B and C-sides.
chris danaran
2025-03-19 14:50:57 +0000 UTCHi Besties! I’ve been listening to you for years now so it’s pretty to think you might answer my question. I’m a lifelong gamer and always get try to play the latest games and my girlfriend bought me a steam deck last year which has been perfect for me because I get to play all the games that my Xbox series x can’t play. I want to play spider man 2 and I saw it was steam deck verified but I’m nervous that it might not actually run well at all. Do what would you recommend for tweaks when it comes to these newer games on steam deck?
Alejandro Lopez-Black
2025-03-18 22:53:33 +0000 UTCOh my God, I've been trying to remember "the forgotten city" for DAYS but couldn't recall enough of it to even search for it! Thank you so much, I'll definitely check those out!
Paul Clouse
2025-03-17 12:21:56 +0000 UTCI'd recommend playing Hades, Spiritfarer, and The Forgotten City. I consider them a fun trifecta of chthonic themed games, and all three have wildly different things to offer. Hades is a game ass gamer game with incredible feel where you continually try to do this one thing and continually fail. Spiritfarer is a cozy farmer game where you help the dead find peace. The Forgotten City is a really neat puzzle scenario where you (a person in the 2000s) get stuck in an ancient city under the ground that suffers under the Golden Rule - if any person commits a sin (undefined), everyone in the city dies. When you enter, the city is stuck in this time loop, and you need to get them through a day without sin to survive. All three are marvelous games, run perfectly on the steck, they're all in conversation with each other and have different takes on similar topics, they're all meditations on life and death, patience and peace
Groove Wizard
2025-03-17 12:18:19 +0000 UTCHow much of that is impostor syndrome talking? If anything, we've seen the fanbase will embrace what y'all are passionate about, it's at least interesting to hear new takes
Groove Wizard
2025-03-17 12:12:40 +0000 UTCWhy do game devs always make my character walk faster than the person I’m supposed to be following. Why.
ames
2025-03-17 04:19:46 +0000 UTCAny chance you would all talk about space marine 2 which came out a bit before award season last year? I know it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I was really excited to hear you all talk about it since it’s definitely more story driven than the other warhammer game you played
Zane Rader
2025-03-17 01:03:06 +0000 UTCAs the amount of elder gamers continues to grow I wonder about the future of game development as it caters to an older audience. I imagine nursing homes full of former competitive gamers who are now looking for a more relaxed but equally satisfying experience. Do you think the geriatric market will become valuable enough to develop for? What kind of games or evolution of games do you predict could come from this?
Zachary Martel
2025-03-17 00:12:33 +0000 UTCa little late to the party, but i’ve been finally playing through baldurs gate 3 and am absolutely loving it. out of all the incredible writing, i think what has stuck with me the most so far is how well it handles the romantic chemistry between characters, and how the moments between them are genuinely sweet. what do yall think is the secret to making romance work well within the realm of video games without feeling stilted and awkward?
Rocki Raccoon
2025-03-16 21:49:50 +0000 UTCHave either of you revisited Ender Magnolia, that search-action game from earlier this year?I rarely 100% games I play but this one was so welcoming with the map changing colors after you fully explored a room. Would love to see more games of this genre borrow that in the future
ItsYaBoi_Bobby
2025-03-16 18:35:24 +0000 UTCChris: I just want you to know that I’m Pro-Kiryu when it comes to Yakuza. Ichiban is delightful as hell, but I won’t stand for the rest of the Besties denigrating Uncle Kaz. I’ve played through all of the mainline games starting with Yakuza Zero and genuinely fell in love with the big oaf. My question: to Russ’s point, the storylines to the games can be kind of impenetrable: but Kiryu’s character keeps things grounded emotionally. Can you think of other series that has the same kind of protagonist, or can you once again come to the defense of the 4th Chairman?
Chuck Metcalf
2025-03-15 23:40:53 +0000 UTCFriendly reminder to like the post. Seeing the ratio always makes a creator's heart stop. Plante, I really like Wes Anderson and Hayao Miyazaki's films (Grand Budapest Hotel and the Cat Returns are my favorites if that matters). I don't see a ton of movies but enjoy the artform. The arthouse movies you discuss often sound interesting as emotional/temporal investments but I don't know if I'd "get it" or even simply enjoy them. How do I broaden my horizons in cinema to better appreciate movies?
Bishibosh44
2025-03-15 14:03:32 +0000 UTCNot a question, but I wanted to chime in and concur with something Plante has brought up a few times: peanut butter and pickle sandwiches are S-tier comfort food—you've got the soft bread, the creamy and savory PB contrasting with the salty, sour and sweet crunch of pickles. Tips: butter the bread before spreading the smooth peanut butter and use FRESHLY sliced baby dill pickles—pre-sliced pickles don't hold a candle to the crunch of freshly sliced ones. Best enjoyed as late-night snack after a drink or two. It may sound weird, but in the immortal words of Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, you might like it! It's like a party in your tummy, so yummy, so yummy!"
Braden Roy
2025-03-14 22:25:24 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rob W
2025-03-14 17:07:29 +0000 UTCThat’s the best… we need new lyrics now! 😆
Ryan B.
2025-03-14 15:45:09 +0000 UTCHave you guys heard of or played a game called Shadows Of Doubt? Procedurally generated mystery game seems right up your alley but it was a somewhat low key release
Colin Covington
2025-03-14 14:25:54 +0000 UTCAnd don't forgot about the feathery spinoff- Roosties
Orb_Is_Horse
2025-03-14 09:29:58 +0000 UTCI keep thinking of questions! I would love a chat about some of the best genre on-boarding games for when someone is interested, but maybe hesitant, to try something new. There have been so many genres I've bounced off of, but have eventually come around to once I'd played their best ambassadors. Citizen Sleeper was probably my first visual novel type, and now I'm head over heels with Pentiment and heavily eyeing 1000 x Resist. Similarly, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew was the first time a stealth tactics game actually hooked me, and I'm really excited to play more Mimimi (RIP) games and others from the genre.
Doctor Doomscroll
2025-03-14 05:50:42 +0000 UTCIn the latest episode of Resties Russ ends his honorable mentions about Star of Providence with some tips for new players. Even though I haven't played this game yet, I realized it's the not the first time Russ or other Besties have given helpful tips and they've always been really concise, insightful, and well...helpful (Plante's suggestion to lean into dual classing in Avowed for example). I know it's not the kind of thing that can organically fit into every segment for every game, but I did want to voice my personal appreciation for it. I would always welcome little insights when jumping into a new game, especially if it's a genre I may not have tons of experience with.
Doctor Doomscroll
2025-03-14 05:33:21 +0000 UTCNo and I need to for both!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:59:42 +0000 UTCI'd love to but I think people would revolt!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:55:24 +0000 UTCBody Harvest would literally be my answer!!!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:55:05 +0000 UTCCool idea! bookmarking this!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:54:12 +0000 UTCA++
Chris
2025-03-14 03:53:20 +0000 UTCShout it from the mountains!!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:52:40 +0000 UTCThat is a great Lentin sacrifice! As the resident Catholic, my recommendation is Space Invaders Extreme. Which will feel like giving up music for Lent and then going to a rave. https://store.steampowered.com/app/744050/Space_Invaders_Extreme/
Chris
2025-03-14 03:47:22 +0000 UTCI tend to be more of a movie person than a show person. I find it tough to return night after night the same thing. As a result, I rarely play long games (Elden ring and BG3 being exceptions). What are your favorite games you can basically play in one or two night or a series of work nights? For example, I loved Journey because I basically sat down, played it, and moved on.
Tom Mueller
2025-03-14 03:46:16 +0000 UTCBookmarking this as a potential future episode topic!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:44:58 +0000 UTCSetting up a Clockwork Orange-style chair for Russ' screening
Chris
2025-03-14 03:43:57 +0000 UTCBut realizing it won't air before you attend: Focus on making strong connections with a few people rather than min-maxing collecting business cards Write down notes from your conversations, so you remember details when you follow up after the conference Attend the panels that genuinely interest you, not stuff that feels like homework Wear a mask in large events/bring hand sanitizer/avoid the convention flu If you see someone you admire and they're not busy, don't be afraid to politely introduce yourself! Have fun! This sounds like obvious advice, but it's easy to get overwhelmed!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:43:22 +0000 UTCWe'll talk about this on the show!
Chris
2025-03-14 03:40:18 +0000 UTCHey Resties! I got a question for you. In reference to the discussion about Tokyo Xtreme Racer last episode of the Besties, it has me wondering something. Is there truly a game genre that goes completely dead or does it feel like certain antiquated or outdated genres nearly go into a hibernation state until someone with the passion and drive goes out of there way to revive it? And if that’s the case, what’s an “outdated” genre that you’d like to see revived?
MajorDX25
2025-03-13 23:02:17 +0000 UTCIs there a game with mechanical depth where feeling clever doesn't go away as you advance? I played The Great Sky Island in Tears of the Kingdom completely backwards when I first started the game. Instead of going straight ahead to the Temple of Time and working my way counter clockwise, I went back to the snowy area, cooked up a bunch of spicy food, beat up robots with sticks, and worked my way through the island clockwise. Getting to the Temple of Time this way took forever but was a total blast. I had to be scrappy and fully utilize every non-ability mechanic in the game to make it past areas you're meant to get through with the abilities you find. Unfortunately, I felt like the game became less fun as I got all the core abilities and then built bridges and hot air balloons to solve all my problems. Similarly, early in my Elden Ring playthrough I beat a troll boss by staggering it with a great sword I didn't have enough strength to use properly and spamming my Catch Flame ability. And like Tears of the Kingdom, the final stretch of that game felt like a bit of a slog after I had solidified my build and was playing the "right" way. To be clear, both of those games are masterpieces but having my enjoyment spike in the first couple of hours was a bummer. So do any other games with a fully scrappy vibe come to mind?
Nick Hagen
2025-03-13 22:12:20 +0000 UTCWhat is the best way to get on the radar for press lists to get press keys for games? I am trying to get more game reviews going for my university newspaper but we are broke college students and can't keep up with new releases.
pitfallen
2025-03-13 21:39:33 +0000 UTCIf you were stranded on a deserted island but had access to any one video game (you also have internet access but can’t use it to get rescued from the island), what would it be?
William Mitchell
2025-03-13 21:39:14 +0000 UTCWhat is the state of intellectual property rights when it comes to mechanics or the less clearly-copyrightable aspects of game design, like unique physics and movement. Do companies ever try and file copyrights/trade secrets/etc. for specific mechanics or physics? E.g. the unique jumping mechanics of a 3D Mario, or a novel puzzle mechanic.
Bea
2025-03-13 19:58:10 +0000 UTCBesties it happened to me. I finally clicked with a Monster Hunter! Wilds is really working for me and i’m loving it. Is this a retroactive fix now/do you think or rec going back to older entries now that i’ve learned the language of this one? I had a similar experience of beating my head against the first hour bloodborne for a decade before finally elden ring helped me learn fromsoft’s language and i was able to go back and take it on. Any other games that worked as turnkeys for a franchise for you? thanks for helping me take the leap into monhun!
Gothzilla
2025-03-13 18:24:26 +0000 UTCI just recently got the Polycade Sente wall mounted MultiCade arcade cabinet and I have been playing a ton of UFO50 and Spelunky on it. What are your favorite arcade games, and what modern games would you think are a perfect fit for playing on an arcade cabinet?
Dustin Siegel
2025-03-13 17:34:10 +0000 UTCAre video games worth it once their zeitgeist subsides? I'm thinking Elden Ring, Balatro, Stardew Valley, Breath of the Wild
C Rivera
2025-03-13 16:01:54 +0000 UTCHa! I was going to fix but I will leave the typo now 😄
Ryan B.
2025-03-13 15:43:21 +0000 UTCI think about this all the time.
Mike Kenney
2025-03-13 15:32:23 +0000 UTCHey Resties, I always appreciate the takes, especially as a dad of a young daughter, as I don’t have much time to game anymore. If there was one indie game from the last year that is worth my time, what is it? I’ve poured many, many hours into Balatro, and have really enjoyed shorter experiences, like the excellent Little Gater Game. Thanks for the recommendation.
Mike Kenney
2025-03-13 15:28:48 +0000 UTCI just started listening to "The History of Fun" podcast and I'm loving it! Any chance you guys might return to it some day?
Jonsie Miltz
2025-03-13 14:49:01 +0000 UTCHow much did Chris enjoy the Death Stranding 2 trailer? The exchange where he says Death Stranding was one of the best video games ever made and Griffin tells him he can't say things like that on air lives rent free in my head.
Dan Cunningham
2025-03-13 14:24:23 +0000 UTCIs it likely that we will continue to see smaller games such as Balatro becoming popular or being represented at the Game Awards?
Sticky Dylan
2025-03-13 14:16:09 +0000 UTCI'm going to GDC for the first time! Do you have any tips for making the most out of one these gaming conferences?
Rob W
2025-03-13 14:15:16 +0000 UTCHey there Resties, long time listener first time caller, just have a quick question for you. Do you think if Jeanne Dielman was able to find a replacement button for her son's coat at one of the four stores she visited that everything would have turned out okay and we could have avoided this whole scissor mishap incident? Would really be interested in Russ's take on this, and if he's unsure, i can send him a copy of the film that I've slowed down to 0.75x speed so he can really take it all in. Thanks! I'll take my answer off the air.
Christian
2025-03-13 14:02:07 +0000 UTCWhile I can imagine how dificult it would be but some help weeding through the mobile game market. There are great games hidden in there but so much garbage/cash grabs as well. Even the console stores are getting stuffed full with those as well
BeerMage
2025-03-13 13:47:54 +0000 UTCWhat games have you put the most time into or completed on your retro handhelds?
David Tobin
2025-03-13 13:45:31 +0000 UTCHi Resties, I am a big fan of in game lore. I am curious which video game series has your favorite lore. Personally I am a fan of the Bendy and the Ink Machine lore.
Little Mel
2025-03-13 13:33:32 +0000 UTCI know this is a typo, but now I'm picturing them as anthropomorphic video game playing animals.
Little Mel
2025-03-13 13:03:27 +0000 UTCDo you have any favorite quiet spaces in games? I've been watching a lot of Any Austin's videos lately where he explore the mundane or unobserved parts of game. When he did the rivers of Skyrim, it got me thinking about how you can just stand in the world and observe the quiet of it all. Any games that you can think of that have those spaces?
Steven Kagler
2025-03-13 13:01:02 +0000 UTCHi Resties, in light of the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons that’s out now for the game’s 50th anniversary, I wonder if you could talk about D&D and its outsized influence on video games, from the text adventures and Rogues of the 70s and 80s to the Elden Rings and Baldur’s Gates of today. Why do you think designers keep returning to the well of D&D’s themes and mechanics, and why do those themes and mechanics still resonate with players 50 years later?
Tim B
2025-03-13 11:40:36 +0000 UTCMy favorite thing in videogames podcasts is deep coverage of niche games, or games the hosts have deep passion for. Into the Aether is tied for my fav games podcast (with you guys) for this reason. The more context the better for me. The older the games get the more context we have available and I love the kind of media analysis angle, wish I could find more of that.
Nate Stevens
2025-03-13 10:01:05 +0000 UTCGet a Playdate! Both for inspiration and ease of development!
Nate Stevens
2025-03-13 09:56:24 +0000 UTCIf you had to choose one very good game to fix and make it a masterpiece with only a single change, which game would you choose, and which single thing would that be? Keep up the good work!
Allan Thomaz Stiubiener
2025-03-13 08:19:46 +0000 UTCOn one hand, all 4 fingers and your thumb can each have an infinite supply of a different liquid from them. What liquids would you choose and from which fingers/thumb?
beampatrol
2025-03-13 07:00:23 +0000 UTCwhat game (or series) do you think is a "hole" in your video game knowledge? I been playing video games for 30+ years and have never actually played a Final Fantasy game (tried a few times with 7 but just didn't have time or couldn't get into it), so curious what games you wish you liked or experienced.
Nicolas Barreto
2025-03-13 06:11:29 +0000 UTCI decided to stop playing video games for Lent. What are you recommendations for the first game to play after lent is over? I want to let you know that 100% of the games i’ve purchased over the last few years are directly from Besties/Resties. From Balatro to Deep Rock galactic survivor. I value the work you all do! .
Santiago Uribe
2025-03-13 03:53:04 +0000 UTCI have always been on PlayStation and been perfectly content as a Sony Crony but I've been playing almost every game you talk about and have found myself replaying a ton of old games like MGSV and Neon White. I'm starting to feel FOMO about all these Steam games and I'm thinking of starting my first PC adventure. What are some tips on where to start, it can be pretty overwhelming as a noob? Thanks boys!
Dan Brown
2025-03-13 03:44:24 +0000 UTCAs a Canadian bestie, I’m bummed that our countries are currently having a domestic dispute. Could you guys say something nice about Canadian games? Celeste, The Long Dark, Spiritfarer, Fez, Moose Life … did I miss anything? Love the show y’all! 😊 🇨🇦
Doug McArthur
2025-03-13 03:25:01 +0000 UTCIf you suddenly found yourself at the head of a midsize indie game studio, what game would you make?
Sacha Greif
2025-03-13 03:13:13 +0000 UTCWould love to learn more about all of your personal stories as they relate to getting into the gaming hobby and industry. In terms of format, I really like a "long conversation" where you start with a typical one-on-one interview, then after a certain amount of time, the initial interviewer exits, and the initial interviewee becomes the interviewer for a new person that joins. Then you continue like that until you circle back to the first interviewer rounding things out by being the last person to answer questions.
Duncan
2025-03-13 03:01:21 +0000 UTCWhat are the official lyrics to the Beasties Theme song? I’ll share mine if you share yours.
Ryan B.
2025-03-13 02:57:02 +0000 UTCI realized playing on a smaller screen farther from my face helps. I actually got into emulation because of it. I used to play 6 hours of Minecraft and can't even handle 20 min now. But on my phone or emulator I can handle an hour.
soapy hiss
2025-03-13 02:53:48 +0000 UTCI'm new to emulation. I've only gotten some 3ds and PSP games running so far--games I never had the chance to play when I was younger. What kind of emulated games do you find yourself gravitating toward-- mostly what you used to play, or the greatest hits?
soapy hiss
2025-03-13 02:50:47 +0000 UTCI want to love Outer Wilds, I've given it multiple tries, I know it would appeal to me based on what I know about it and my attempts. But I just can't get it to click. The flying controls are the biggest barrier for me. Any advice for getting into it? Russ, is doing the DLC first like you did the best option for someone like me?
Ben
2025-03-13 02:49:29 +0000 UTCI would like an update on the mobile games y’all have been playing!
Paige Reiring
2025-03-13 02:45:55 +0000 UTCNew Dad here, thinking into the future about how to introduce my child to video games. I always imagined that I could keep specific games out of the house to avoid unnecessary exposure to content that wasn't age appropriate. But I'm struggling to understand how to police games within games. The best example of this is Roblox. The other day, I watched my niece play a seemingly benign game about high school friends, only to hear her tell me that the goal was to form the most powerful clique of mean girls and exclude as many others as possible. As parents of young gamers yourselves, what's your strategy with this type of user-generated and constantly shifting content? Thanks, appreciate you all.
Duncan
2025-03-13 02:32:37 +0000 UTCWhat game do you think you could beat each of the besties at
zach winstead
2025-03-13 02:29:01 +0000 UTCI have to take Dramamine for certain games. For example Outer Wilds made me super queasy if I didn’t. 😵💫 My husband and I referred to them as my “space pills.”
D. Alfonso
2025-03-13 02:28:40 +0000 UTCHi resties In your opinion both as gamers and as gaming journalists. Do you think that the end of E3 was a improvement now that each studio does their own press releases at their own speed or is the lack of a convention is a downgrade I'm sorry if I am misinformed and there is a convention that replaced E3.
Whatsup Studmuffin
2025-03-13 02:17:55 +0000 UTCHi Resties, have you been continuing to play UFO 50? Which games have you been digging and which ones have you been bouncing off of? Which games did you expect not to like but won you over in the end?
Anna
2025-03-13 01:52:32 +0000 UTCDo you guys have any suggestions for “morning” games? Specifically things that you can play while drinking a cup of coffee and waking up, I’m a bartender and don’t have much time for unwind games, if anything I need wind up games.
Elias Wilson
2025-03-13 01:52:06 +0000 UTCIf you could choose a director for a video game adaptation, which director and game would choose? I'd personally love Sean baker to make a leisure suit Larry movie
Joe Moore
2025-03-13 01:50:01 +0000 UTCHello, Resties. Two guys behind the counter at the lunch place were explaining their Monster Hunter Wilds builds to the manager today. It seemed wholesome and fun. I do not typically engage in these situations, but wondered if you have had any memorable spontaneous surprise game interactions "in the wild." Shout-out to the crew at Moe's Southwest Grill, keep it real guys.
Carey Nelson
2025-03-13 01:32:45 +0000 UTCRecommendations for introducing non-gamers (of any age) to the medium that work well on a TV? Co-op titles are appreciated, but not required. My usual goto is Journey, but that’s getting long in the tooth.
amrig
2025-03-13 01:28:52 +0000 UTCAlso: Most Disappointing Game (based on anticipation) and Best "Bad" Game That's Still Fun
Dan K
2025-03-13 01:26:59 +0000 UTCI've probably mentioned it before but I loved the history of fun podcast y'all did with Allegra (and Russ's book). I'd love something like that where one of you chooses a game and does a deep dive into how it was made, came to be, any weird quirks with it. Maybe even bring Allegra on and have her talk about the ladder in MGS3 again.
Joe Moore
2025-03-13 01:25:42 +0000 UTCAre there any genres of game that you just can't get into despite thinking they're cool? For instance, I respect rts games and enjoy watching people play them, but I don't really enjoy actually playing them despite trying to get into it several times
Joseph Moore
2025-03-13 01:20:09 +0000 UTCNew York Giraffe, are you my dad?
New Jersey Giraffe
2025-03-13 01:06:46 +0000 UTCHere’s a question I think about every time I start a new AAA game: if you were going to be stuck alone for one year with just one offline video game, what game would it be? You have all your basic needs met, but you can’t go outside or talk to others, and there’s nothing else to do. Would you prioritize a game that makes you feel like you’re really outside? With variety? With good social mechanics? Would you choose a game you know and love, or one you’ve never played before?
Emily Coleman
2025-03-13 00:53:01 +0000 UTCI actually had a question for Chris. Cineflix has been doing a series around their Top 100 films. For Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind the topic of whether Kate Winslets acting or Michel Gondry's directing made that film the critical success it was. What do you think has a larger impact on a film? Would that film been as good if it wasn't Michel Gondry behind the camera or is it Kate Winslet's performance that ties the whole film together?
Rodrigo Gonzalez
2025-03-13 00:51:36 +0000 UTCI know this may be a tired question, but with the Game Developers Conference right around the corner, I'm ever wondering: How much you think developers are already using generative AI for art, sound, music, writing, and coding during development? How do you think this has and will continue to affect the industry? Some context: I hear a lot that AI-generated images, for example, are very easy to spot, but I wonder if that's only because people of course don't realize when they aren't spotting it. I even once worked with a dev team that later used artwork generated by AI in another project and demoed it at GDC, and not only was it never questioned, but it was repeatedly complimented.
eden
2025-03-13 00:46:59 +0000 UTCAny time I finish a massive open world game like Cyberpunk or Tears of the Kingdom I play the Titanfall 2 campaign as a palate cleanser. It’s always fun and a great way to reset my brain before trying to pick up anything else. Do any of you have a particular “palate cleanser” game you return to in a similar way?
Scott Underwood
2025-03-13 00:46:40 +0000 UTCOne of my favorite marriage memories is watching my wife (normally a very light gamer) play through Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube. I hadn't yet played it, so we got to experience it for the first time together. She beat it on New Year's Eve, at which point I surprised her with a complete set of RE4 action figures.
Muncle
2025-03-13 00:40:10 +0000 UTCBoring answer but I wanna see y'all play a few games for once. The Resties hosts, not those other guys
rylander
2025-03-13 00:34:39 +0000 UTCOk Men, let's discuss the worst of the worst: what's the absolute worst game you've ever played?
BASED HEFF
2025-03-13 00:31:41 +0000 UTCNot so much a question but a passionate defense of Kazuma Kiryu--you know how Ichiban is basically a shonen anime protagonist but an adult in a very normal world? Kiryu is ALSO a shonen anime protagonist, but the other kind of shonen anime protagonist. Like, he's the Sasuke to Ichiban's Naruto, or the Shouto to Ichiban's Deku. Absolutely 100% is taking everything super seriously, ESPECIALLY when it does not need to or deserve to be taken seriously at all. Please... he's just a weird little dude in a buff old man body... give my king a chance...
Titania Nguyen
2025-03-13 00:24:44 +0000 UTCHey Resties! I too am a lifelong gamer with young children that want to do whatever daddy is doing. I love playing games with my kids, but like any parent I also want to moderate the quantity and quality of their entertainment. How do you guys moderate games and game time for your little gamers? Bonus question: do you have any plans to retain the upper-hand as they get older?
Patrick Riney
2025-03-13 00:24:43 +0000 UTCHas Justin read "In the Beginning Was the Command Line" by Neal Stephenson? Dated, but some fun philosophical thoughts on Linux, and a quick read.
Muncle
2025-03-13 00:23:20 +0000 UTCHey Resties! You recently talked about two types of roguelikes, one where all damage could be avoided with skill and one where some damage was unavoidable. All of the latter examples were turn based, but I've struggled to think of any that are in real time! Can you? PS, check out Shogun Showdown!
Noah Wood
2025-03-13 00:22:22 +0000 UTCWhy hasn't Russ tried eating a snack (i.e. Cheetos, Takis) with chopsticks? It makes it so much easier to manage your intake and keeps all the dust off your fingers. I love to snack on these treats during work, and since I work on a computer and with paperwork all day it helps keep my keyboard cleaner and from putting dusty fingerprints on paper.
Cody Waychoff
2025-03-13 00:20:17 +0000 UTCBest hat in video games?
Ian
2025-03-13 00:17:55 +0000 UTCMy perfect console has many stories like that from people often less famous than that. The Henk Rogers episode is really great.
Evan Grossman
2025-03-13 00:15:38 +0000 UTCWe have the Besties and the Resties. When are we going to get the Russties?
Groove Wizard
2025-03-13 00:11:20 +0000 UTCwhat are some of your favourite older games that still hold up even in comparison to more modern entries that may have been inspired by them?
Sunny Liu
2025-03-13 00:08:17 +0000 UTCHey Resties, I’m making a conscious effort to finish more games that I start this year, which can be really challenging when trying to finish a massive RPG like metaphor or infinite wealth, on top of all the wonderful smaller releases that constantly are being released. When do you make the call that finishing a game might just not be in the cards for you? Do you ever just decide to push through something you might not be enjoying just to finish it and not have any lingering guilt of an ever growing backlog? Thanks, Walt
Walt W.
2025-03-13 00:07:03 +0000 UTCI really liked how UFO 50 reminded me of late 00s/early 10s flash games. As game journalists during the 'peak' of flash gaming, what are some titles that stand out in hindsight? And how do you think that era influenced current trends?
Pierce Pettit
2025-03-13 00:05:18 +0000 UTCDoes Russ think it's weird that MAR10 Day is in March?
Kid Moxie
2025-03-13 00:01:23 +0000 UTCI'd love to see a bracket episode along the lines of 'Best game to experience as a viewer.' My wife will sit and watch me play single player games so she can see the stories. She's not a gamer but will often sit next to me and watch and give me input. She demanded I go back and save Mordin in Mass Effect 3 after he sacrificed himself. I told her I would need to redo some choices from ME1 and ME2. Her response was 'So?' Great moment. She also had a great time watching Portal 2 and letting me know how to solve the puzzles.
Anthony
2025-03-12 23:56:53 +0000 UTCIf you were invited to a video game themed costume party, what would you wear?
Shart Carbuncle
2025-03-12 23:55:36 +0000 UTCI’d love to hear the gang’s history with the Suikoden series if any
Jody Anthony
2025-03-12 23:54:38 +0000 UTCAny protips on dealing with 3D game induced nausea/motion sickness? Mine seems to get worse rather than better with age.
Kristin McFarland
2025-03-12 23:52:18 +0000 UTCWhat's the worst game you actually loved despite sales figures and reviews? I'll go first with N64's Body Harvest- the strangest, jankiest game for fighting giant bug aliens. It is the sole reason I love Earth Defense Force games now.
Orb_Is_Horse
2025-03-12 23:45:51 +0000 UTCWhat games invade your dreams? When I was young, I played an mmorpg and due to the tension of permadeath, sometimes I'd have dreams about that. Now sometimes interesting narratives or resonant stories make their way in -- Citizen Sleeper, Kentucky Route Zero, etc. So, what games have you dreamed about?
Bret Scofield
2025-03-12 23:44:17 +0000 UTCI'd love to hear responses from other subscribers too: I haven't done much gaming for the last decade or so, but just got a steam deck. What should I play? What are your favorite single player narrative experiences of the last few years?
Paul Clouse
2025-03-12 23:42:58 +0000 UTCWould you guys ever do a movie episode? Like, just once. Maybe do a poll here to gauge interest? The slow burn of Russ getting deeper into the cave Plante has been spelunking in has been great for me. Something like a Russ top 10 movies with cinephile recommendations based off them from Plante would be super fun to hear!
Fezsrcool
2025-03-12 23:40:13 +0000 UTCWhat advice do you have for someone interested in getting into creating a game, with no experience?
Literate Shellfish
2025-03-12 23:38:46 +0000 UTCAs someone looking to get into gaming journalism and communications industry do you have any networking connections or recommendations of places to start
Caleb Ackerman
2025-03-12 23:37:01 +0000 UTCWhat book or movie would you like see adapted into a videogame?
Doctor Doomscroll
2025-03-12 23:36:44 +0000 UTCI think it could be fun to do some more interviews like what you did with Russ from retrogamecorp.
Caleb Ackerman
2025-03-12 23:35:59 +0000 UTCLove this question!
Doctor Doomscroll
2025-03-12 23:35:38 +0000 UTCHello Besties! My question is for NY Giraffe. I’m planning to come to visit the big apple this summer. What are the top 3 things a tourist should do while in the city? Thanks!
RynaGoGo
2025-03-12 23:33:42 +0000 UTCYou've both been games journalists for a long time now. Do you see yourselves doing it for the rest of your lives/until retirement?
Alan Bradley
2025-03-12 23:33:06 +0000 UTCWhat’s a game that you initially didn’t like but, after giving it another chance, ended up loving?
Ryan Lane
2025-03-12 23:32:13 +0000 UTCA “where are they now” for long time game devs would be pretty cool. Example: Kojima and where he started, why he’s so well known and some big moments that led to him opening his own studio. As decades long game journalists, I can only imagine how many names ya’ll have seen rise and fall in the industry. Would be personally very interesting to me
Ryan Giglio
2025-03-12 23:31:28 +0000 UTCDude..I forgot about Mr Mosquito. I think I had it on demo disc for something else and just played the demo WAY too many times than probably intended.
Garrett Jackson
2025-03-12 23:29:58 +0000 UTCI would love to hear industry stories from people who aren't famous in the industry already. I've heard the same Miyamoto and Kojima stuff over and over. What crazy stuff can Bob the programmer tell us? Some of the most interesting stuff from the Double Fine documentaries was from the people whose names I had never heard of.
Nathan Lariviere
2025-03-12 23:29:29 +0000 UTCnow that justin's getting into linux, what's the general opinion on games that teach linux skills? the one that stands out to me is "hacknet", it helped me get comfortable with navigating via the command line *very* quickly
Kit Geraghty
2025-03-12 23:28:20 +0000 UTCMy favorite part of both Besties and Resties are the little windows of TV show and Movie reviews. I would love to hear larger segments dedicated to reviewing a specific TV series or a movie. I know it’s a video game podcast but…. I want it.
Michael Cummings
2025-03-12 23:26:39 +0000 UTCHey Resties! If you were suddenly put in charge of any game related company in the industry, what changes would you make to them or how would you change what they do? Would you get Nintendo putting games on other consoles or PC? Would Bethesda license Unreal Engine and drop their in house stuff? What would you do?
Nathan Lariviere
2025-03-12 23:26:28 +0000 UTCRuss mentioned that he's introducing his kid to gaming by pressing the "A" button on the controller while he controls the aiming of a golf game. How did the rest of you introduce the controlling side of gaming to your children? (And what was the game)
Garrett Jackson
2025-03-12 23:26:02 +0000 UTCMy question for yall: what stuff would you like from gaming podcasts that you don’t hear enough or? Formats? Areas of coverage? Not exclusive to Besties/Resties.
Chris
2025-03-12 23:25:09 +0000 UTCWhat are you're guys' thoughts on a 'console PC' experience? I only have a steam deck, and sometimes want that high fidelity experience, but don't really want to buy a PS5 and then have to repurchase my whole library. What do you all think of building and setting up a living-room PC using one of the may linux-based, controller-based SteamOS clones? Is it time to become good Russ, and hack the net?
Svaldbardseedvault
2025-03-12 23:24:25 +0000 UTCI second this motion!
Michael Cummings
2025-03-12 23:24:05 +0000 UTCRuss was on the Eggplant podcast for their Year of UFO 50, is anyone else scheduled? How's the collection treating you?
Mark Smith
2025-03-12 23:23:49 +0000 UTCWhat are some of your favorite gaming "ah-hah!"/ revelation moments that you wish you could share with others, but would have a hard time convincing to play enough of the game to experience it?
Beebles00
2025-03-12 23:22:39 +0000 UTCQuestion on Justin’s broken brain. I am fascinated with starting my own raspberry pie journey but just don’t know where or how to start? Help!
Colin Cooper
2025-03-12 23:22:33 +0000 UTCWho is the average gamer?
Levi Grove
2025-03-12 23:20:58 +0000 UTCIs the era of the silent protagonist over? Gaming in the early 2000’s seems defined by its stoic unvoiced protagonists: Gordon Freeman, Chell, Doomguy, Jak, Jack (apparently the bioshock protagonists name). Have been replaced by fantastically acted and voice acted heroes: Kratos, Aloy, Joel and Ellie, Alan Wake, Jin (Ghosts of Tsushima). Modern games seem defined by their main characters and the days of the cipher protagonist seems gone. Was this voiceless protagonist a result of limited tech or has something else about video games shifted away from this trope?
Fungalore Lives
2025-03-12 23:20:25 +0000 UTCNice! I love watching GDC vids. You’ll even see some GDC speakers quote older GDC vids as inspiration for future projects hah. It’s a really cool place for everyone to celebrate behind the scenes genius! Question: When I was a kid I remember dinking around in the limited settings of my PS2. I remember seeing a setting to format my PS2 memory card. Excited by the potential powers I could unlock by FORMATTING my memory card, I decided to try it to see what happened. I was then horrified to find out I’d irreversibly erased years worth of saves for all my games 😆 but it led me to a life of tinkering and breaking things in IT. Do you guys have any embarrassing gamer memories, potentially involving horrible gamer loss? 😂
BadStar
2025-03-12 23:20:18 +0000 UTCWith the instability of global relations (Taiwan) and rising price of chip manufacturing I believe that game streaming will quickly become the most affordable way for people to enjoy AAA games in the future. How do you feel about the encroaching servitization of games through streaming services? How do you feel about current streaming services?
Jarl Snargl
2025-03-12 23:19:20 +0000 UTCDo yall plan on checking out Marvel Rivals? I know yall cant get to every game but it seems like a somewhat large omission if not
SaintGwyn
2025-03-12 23:18:49 +0000 UTCIs there any hope in the near future for shorter development cycles? 12 years since Grand theft auto 5, 14 years since Skyrim, 9 years since fallout 4, 8 years since Mario Odyssey, 8 years since Metroid prime 4 was announced, - it feels like with the last generation development times tripled, which increases development costs which puts more pressure on sales performance - will we ever see the days of 3 years between franchise releases again? Or was crunch culture to blame for all of that
Eliot Cirivello
2025-03-12 23:18:43 +0000 UTCMy wife and I share many hobbies, and I've been trying for a long time to get her into more games, but as a lifelong gamer I've consistently been surprised by what is easy and what is a fun-ending roadblock. Recently tried Rise of the Golden Idol and she thought it was like doing homework. Astro Bot is the most recent success, but those later levels are straight up mean for her. Any cool ideas?
rylander
2025-03-12 23:18:40 +0000 UTCWhat do you think is going to be the “trendy buzzword” thing added to games that developers overhype and try to get us on board with?
Chris W
2025-03-12 23:18:00 +0000 UTCHave you guys considered doing something like an obscure old game series during slower periods? If so I would do anything for ya’ll to play and talk about Mr Mosquito!
Ryan Giglio
2025-03-12 23:17:50 +0000 UTCWhat do you all think of Konami starting to give life to the suikoden series after all these years? Do you think more like this will be on the horizon?
BeerMage
2025-03-12 23:17:48 +0000 UTCWhat is your most desired feature for the upcoming Switch 2 (unannounced but within reason)? For example: If they could find a way to make our two screens (the TV and the switch's screen) work together to add DS/3DS games to the virtual console. Like you would hold the switch and use its screen for the bottom screen while seeing the top screen displayed on your tv.
Paul Coffee
2025-03-12 23:17:30 +0000 UTCAs journalist what are some personal biases you over came or are still struggling with when it comes to reviews. (P.S. I’m working on a game(which won’t be done soon) but when it is could I send it to you, not for review necessarily, you have made a big impact on my life and it would mean a lot
Tokyo
2025-03-12 23:17:00 +0000 UTCHas Plante ever checked out Cultist Simulator or Book of Hours?
witchcatcher
2025-03-12 23:16:25 +0000 UTCWhy are you all trying so hard to replace "Metroidvania" with "Search Action Game" but are content with other genre names like "Rogue-Like" and "Souls-Like"?
Colin Klein
2025-03-12 23:16:24 +0000 UTCHey Besties! With you guys playing so many games and needing to review them, how do you decide you’ve seen enough of a game to review it? Are there things you are looking for or is it just by feel? Love the show and thanks for the great Patreon content!
Sam R
2025-03-12 23:16:12 +0000 UTCHey guys! What do you think the recent rumored sell off of Ubisoft IPs could mean for the industry?
Andrew Owens
2025-03-12 23:16:06 +0000 UTCCommenting because I’d also love this!
Chris W
2025-03-12 23:15:44 +0000 UTCWill you be looking at kingdom come deliverance 2?
Jarl Snargl
2025-03-12 23:14:20 +0000 UTCRuss mentioned an indie dev on the cusp in the last episode - what are some other devs you feel are about to blow up?
DieselDonkey
2025-03-12 23:13:31 +0000 UTCIdk if it's still the case but do you agree with so many of the presentations being locked behind a paywall after the conference is over?
Josh
2025-03-12 23:13:30 +0000 UTCWhat's your most anticipated game that has no release date information at all right now? I'm really looking forward to Clockwork Revolution, the new big first person RPG from InXile (the developers of Wasteland 2 & 3)
cameron Swingle
2025-03-12 23:13:04 +0000 UTCHey Besties, is there a game that each of you loved and wished had spun into a franchise, but sadly only received a single game? Mine is Jade empire, I just read an article about how BioWare was talked into releasing it during the later stages of the original Xbox instead of releasing it as a launch title for the 360 like they wanted to, and how it would have been more successful had they gone with their original plan.
Brian Leon
2025-03-12 23:13:02 +0000 UTCIf you made a video games required reading 2.0, that was like the higher level syllabus than the original 25 game list you made, what are some games you would include?
Isaac Goff-Mitchell
2025-03-12 23:11:41 +0000 UTCHow many games do y’all have in your steam/other libraries at this point?
Cameron Dickerson
2025-03-12 23:11:18 +0000 UTC
