Resties AMA!

Hey besties I have a couple questions. Answer them all or only one I don't mind 😊 As besties who game professionally how do you avoid gaming burnout where you just cannot play games and have lost your groove? Are there any games you wish you had finished? How do you find time to game amid your busy life? Are there any games you consider a guilty pleasure? How big is your backlog of games? And for movie questions do you have any actors or actresses who you will watch anything they're in no matter how terrible it sounds?

Whatsup Studmuffin

Any games on the Switch that are comparable to SteamWorld Heist 2? I absolutely loved the turn-based strategy aspect of the game, but I know a lot of other games in that genre get a lot more complex and granular with the tactics. I'm not really interested playing a game that is going to require me to do a bunch of math, so SWH2 hit a real sweet spot for me.

Landon Cotham

Way late on this, but wanted to ask if yall would be open to doing a D&D one shot on the Patreon sometime? 👀

Patrick Hynes

I know we're not exactly in AMA time any more, but your boy got an iPhone for the first time (always been Android, changed for reasons) and I don't know where to start with games for it. Any out-there recommendations?

BlueEmolga

Do you feel like there are maybe too many games? I’ve been wondering lately if there’s too many releases nowadays, and would like to know your thoughts on if this creates an industry where there’s just too many things going on for people to sit back and properly enjoy their experiences before dropping them for the next big thing

Ryan Giglio

What's the worst game you've played and loved?

Brendan Little

What would it take to get all you nerds to play FFXIV with Griffin? For real though, it’s a really great game, and worth a time sink.

Daxlein

Oh my, I didn’t know that a Stanley Parable style game narrated by Werner Herzog, was all I needed in my life haha

Jan Vonhoegen

I know this is for the Besties to answer, but may I humbly offer up Down By Law or any other Jarmush film? Ooooor, a documentary narrated by Werner Herzog please.

Christoph Angehrn

No question, but wanted to give a shoutout to Still Wakes The Deep. It’s a first person horror game, taking place on a Scottish oil rig in 1975. It’s giving strong The Thing vibes and sports incredible writing and performances throughout. With most story driven games asking for tens or hundreds of hours, Still Wakes The Deeps modest five hour runtime hits the spot for me. A fully fledged adventure with an earned, emotional ending that crushes what it came to do and doesn’t overstay its welcome for a minute. Curious to hear if the game connected with any of the besties. Cheers Christoph

Christoph Angehrn

A lil' while back Chris (if I recall correctly) teased Harold Halibut as a possible contender for episode content. Just curious if any of you played it and your opinion? I found the art to be the selling point, the characters memorable and endearing (I actually remembered their names haha) but the gameplay and pacing kind of weak.

The Final Dan

I grew up playing Mac games in the 90s and aside from major titles like Lucas arts and blizzard games my #1 source of new games was getting comp cds of demos, shareware and freeware. There were some great freeware and shareware developers like Ambrosia that made the Escape Velocity games. Did you guys have any unusual methods for finding and acquiring games when you were young? What was your source for small pc games before steam and other online marketplaces. Pre internet distribution especially

Mac Pohanka

Some of the video game magazines of the 00's had each reviewer's genre preferences listed in the back of the magazine (Action, Adventure, etc). I loved this as a kid so that I could find a reviewer that I matched with and take their reviews more to heart. - How do you approach reviews on the Besties or elsewhere for games that are a bottom tier genre for you specifically? - In your opinion, does games journalism at the moment promote monolithic or diverse tastes? - Any game genres where your tastes don't match with the other hosts (ex. JRPGs)? - Is there a host on the Besties, friend, or a reviewer elsewhere that absolutely matches your tastes and you wholeheartedly trust their recommendations?

Nicholas Pozza

A lot of folks are familiar with pokemon nuzlockes because of griffin's series at polygon. Do you all have any other favorite "wrong" ways to play games/series to watch or participate in?

Matthew Beckett

Why is seemingly everyone, including this podcast, switching terms from "metroidvania" to "Search Action"? Is it just a matter of using proper nouns whereas "souls-like" gets a pass because it's more generic?

Classic Kev

What video game opinion of one of the other hosts bothers you the most?

Patrick Hightower

What is your favorite game that you’ll never play again

Radkickflips

Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom, please play it?

Addison

Is there a minigame within a game that become your favorite part of a game? To the point of that's why you played the game? Being a kid playing Kingdom Hearts 1 the Gummi ships became my absolute favorite part and more hours went into designing ships then anything else.

J. Brian

One thing I appreciate about the podcast is the variety of tastes among the hosts. What is one game for each of you that the others hate? I.e., what game do you, specifically, want to champion to listeners in spite of the naysayers you host a pod with?

Ted Lundholm

Is there a demake you would love to see get made? And if so what game with what era of gameplay? I personally wish Demakes got more love from publishers as a console user, Would love to see the Bloodborne PSX on PS5.

Harrison Stanley

What does Russ do at Polygon? I've gotten something of a feel for Chris's day-to-day there from listening over the years, but I have no idea what Russ's looks like. Thanks!

kelly strauch

It gets mentioned off-handedly every once in a while so I'd love to know : are any of y'all actively playing any tabletop stuff? Obviously Hoops and Griffin have Adventure Zone, do y'all have a game that's 'just for you'? Plante? Russ?

Raneff Winters

How do you prevent video game burnout? If I had to play a new game every MONTH I’d be exhausted, much less one per week. Also, what are you “comfort” games that you return to when you’re tired of the “new stuff”. I think I know that Russ’s is BoI but I’m interested if y’all have others you return to.

Noah

Since russ mentioned outer wilds soundtrack making him cry(me too) the other day is their any other video game sound tracks that draw deep emotions out of you when you hear them now? Also is there any games that you love despite never finishing them? For me it's hollow knight just hit a wall difficult wise and never ended up going back but love it.

James Saldivar

Have any of you played Nine Sols? 2D search action game with Sekiro style combat. Very much scratched the Hollow Knight itch. Surprised not to have heard Russ speak about it already

Killian Doherty

Saw it at a local theatre in Spain. I can only find it for rent.

Love That Travels Far

i haven't but the trailer is great! is it streaming anywhere?

Chris

Chris! Have you seen the Italian film the sun of the future!? A movie that makes you fall in love with life

Love That Travels Far

Love the show. Really appreciate it. Listening to old episodes and hearing yall talk about games that didn't quite hook me the first time, made me want to go back and try some games with a new perspective and actually like them. Are there any games for either of you.. that on initial release you didn't jive with, but upon hearing different perspectives you came around and now love?

sirusXsirus

Seems like retro gaming handhelds are becoming more and more popular. How do you think the landscape will evolve as the market becomes more saturated? Will we see them hit the mainstream? With Nintendo going after emulators like Yuzu, do you think they’d ever go after companies like Anbernic for selling devices with their games pre-loaded on them?

Ben Wood

I honestly enjoy listening to them rip a game.

billfromamerica

What is a game you think gets more fun with easier difficulty/full blown cheating?

Dusty Regalia

This is a great question

Chris Classen

Also, Frushtick, WILD to hear you shout-out Walters hotdogs last year. I had a good chuckle at that, since my uncle always recommends it to any he meets (he works in Rye). Also also, your pick for best gaming/comic book store, past or present, in Westchester? Mine was Modern Myths for knowledgeable staff, or Alternate Realities for MtG cards.

Casey Mitner

That memory card lived in my backpack at school. I was beyond excited at what it meant for gaming.

Seemah C

Every console generation, I get more hyped than a grown person reasonably should over what additions will be made to the controller. Remember when the Dreamcast came out and everyone at school thought all future consoles would have secondary screens in the controller? Wild.

Casey Mitner

I was excited to watch my husband play Animal Well when he bought it shortly after launch. (I'd love to play it myself, but I'm crap at platforming.) Weeks and weeks later, he's played a grand total of three hours. My question is, can I go watch a playthrough of it on YouTube now?

kelly strauch

Also, it's been a while since we've seen New York Giraffe or any other characters on the show (Jean Baptiste the indie game producer was always my favorite). Will we ever see a return?

billfromamerica

As an enjoyer of bad movies, I was thrilled to hear Plante mention StarCrash in a recent episode. Do either of you like MST3K? Any highlights if so? Also, Plante, my film recommendation is Space Mutiny, a classic film about the foibles of a DukeNukem-type guy and his Joan Rivers looking girlfriend, in space.

Casey Mitner

These technically aren't all video game or movie questiona, but here goes! What percentage of your time and energy do you put into Besties compared to your other occupational or personal pursuits? Also, how much time does each of you spend playing games per week or day? Thanks! Love the show

billfromamerica

What is your development studio: 1. Crush 2. One night stand 3. Guilty pleasure

Dillon Ireland

Should we be paying more for video games? As a PC gamer, I'm patient and frugal enough that I buy pretty much all of my games on discount. But with studios closing all around us and goods getting more expensive in general, it has me second guessing the pricing structure for games - indies and AAAs alike.

Craig

Why are you guys so convinced that the next Nintendo console, is going to be a switch but more powerful, and not something out of left field?

X_Blade_Mage

What do you think about the Naked Gun remake with Liam Neeson?

Luis

Has your time in the industry change how you view games and if so how?

Tokyo

Is there a singular gaming mechanic/trope/system that's an instant turn off for you? Along the same lines, is there one thing in a game that makes you say, "This is going to be great." ?

Al Sharp

Are Russ and Chris planning on a follow up to the required reading list? Possibly a “Video Games 102” list?

Chris Block

Is there an option you take into account when deciding to see a movie? Or just see if it you think it looks good? There’s so much negativity out there. Question works for games too!

Michael Brosius

What’s a great bit that was either lost to technical issues or never made it to an episode that you can recall? Griffin and Justin aren’t here, any embarrassing podcasting stories?

Jimmers

What's the most awkward movie-viewing experience you've had with a relative?

Ghostie Cat

Have you ever appeared offline to play a single player game when your friends wanted to play something multiplayer? Have you ever been caught?

BigBoyPeePants

Are there any genres you couldn’t get into, UNTIL a certain game came along that clicked for you?

James Terhaar

Listening to both The Besties/Resties and Triple Click, I'm often hearing you guys talk about the great experience that Games Media people get by playing a game before it's full public release when spoilers and guides are so prolific that it's hard to go into a game fully fresh. Animal Well and it's many puzzles, Elden Ring and the many surprises and emergent experiences, and so on. Do you feel like this puts a sort of barrier between people in Games Media and the average players who are coming to them for recommendations/reviews/whatever? I know that recently I personally have felt a little like I'm missing out on a more pure and more enjoyable experience of being in that exclusive club of people who get to be the first to uncover the mysteries of a game, rather than being in the subsequent waves of people who are just hearing about how cool it was to do. Is there even a solution to something like this?

Adrian Kenyon

I was going up ask "which Animal Well egg would make the best egg steam?".

Dustin Belyea

Do you ever find time to just play games for fun, or is it always in service of besties?

Meagan

Movie question: how much do you trust your opinions on movies you watched many years ago? Do you ever feel the need to re-watch your favorite movies to make sure they're still great?

Brandon

What should an ideal "Xbox handheld" offer to be a viable alternative to a Steam Deck for portable PC gaming?

Federico Viticci

What is one game that is universally loved but that you happen to hate? (or if "hate" is too strong a word, that you don't get the appeal of?)

Sacha Greif

Why do you guys care so much about the distinction between AAA and indie games? Will you guys ever change your discourse to allow the generic term "game" to generally and without caveat include games from any source, instead of AAA by default?

Brandon

Do you have a backlog system ? Do you use a backlog tracker and if so, which one ?

Nicky Bodsworth

Indika showed us that an arthouse aesthetic in a video game is possible. Which existing movie in that “genre” would make sense to adapt into a video game, or which established video game series would you like to see receive the arthouse treatment?

Jan Vonhoegen

Does your state of mind or perspective on a game change depending on whether you're approaching is as a "games journalist" versus just playing it for fun?

Jeremy Elbourn

Loom, Grim Fandango, Syberia

Sir Robert Cashew

We played some of the Batman Telltale game and the Game of Thrones one…wasn’t something that sustained her interest but worked for an evening

SlimLeaper

This isn't a practical answer but man did anyone else ever rent the mouse based games Genesis did you compete with Mario Paint?

Sir Robert Cashew

What's y'alls dream Switch 2 release games?

OldBoomstick

What would you like to see next in the legend of Zelda series?

Julie Hernandez

An oddball thing I enjoyed with my wife was Her Story. Narrative games with choices and puzzles that can be communicated through like that could be an option, also would love recs in this category

Sir Robert Cashew

Mostly order games since most big titles go cross platform now but if you're into shooters, which given the Half-Life shout-out, prolly? The OG Doom is still a shockingly fun play and there's tons of others in that lineage. You can dive into the fathoms deep world of RTS games old and new, and there's just a ton of indie delights that may not make to consoles soon or ever. Depends on your interests but you can filter app stores like steam by genre and popularity!

Sir Robert Cashew

Is Justin actually afraid of jack o lanterns??

Jim

I was thinking recently about how much I want non-fiction / educational games geared toward adults as well.

Somm Bombadil

It seems like there are many handheld devices coming out recently, is it better to hold off and wait for “the one” that has everything I want or just bite the bullet and get one that seems kind of built towards my preferences?

Devon

Second favorite video game soundtrack?

Jordan

I found the Besties while searching for Fire Emblem content; an early episode covered FE:Awakening, very enjoyable. I was bummed 3 Houses had never gotten covered, but it looks like the podcast may have been on hiatus or limited production at the time of it's release. With a relative lull in major studio developments in the near future, would there be any interest in covering past games that never got the Besties treatment, or is that an insurmountably open-ended idea? Also has CTP seen Bringing Out the Dead? Scorsese's adaptation from the novel is just wonderful, the small cast give virtuoso performances, definitely worth the watch.

16-Xray

@Plante - Have you always loved heavy and difficult to watch movies? If not, what was the movie that set you down that path?

James Prothero

If you were to design your “perfect” game, what features would it have? I don’t mean story, but things like a mini-map, search action style gameplay, romance options, fishing mini games,chests hidden behind waterfalls, etc.

Chris W

For Plante, if you're still studying Japanese, have you played or do you plan to play any games in Japanese?

Rachel

Do game developers have any say in whether their game goes on sale, and for how much of a discount? To be honest I feel kind of bad spending only like $2 on a game during the Steam summer sale...

Brandon

What criterion collection movie would make a fun video game adaptation?

trashimal

What are some things a game can do that maybe don’t make it a very good game to play, but a great game to talk about and dissect?

Ian Krupnick

Best Fromsoft game to play after Elden Ring? I had never really gotten into Fromsoft before Elden Ring and now that I threw myself into it I loved it. What Fromsoft or any souls-like would you recommend next?

Ben Rosenthal

If you could create a game based on an album, what album would you pick?

Lou

There are always a few things I recommend @ criterion depending on what you're into: - any works by Charlie Chaplin - The Human Condition - Tokyo Story - Seven Samurai - Hara Kiri - Bicycle Thieves - M - The Third Man - Lower Depths (Kurosawa version) And if you're looking for weirder things - Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence - Ballad of Narayama - Death by Hanging - Boudu Saved from Drowning

Bret Scofield

Who do you think have been the most influential people/sites in games journalism? Where do you see games journalism and media 10 years from now?

Sam G

After finishing FF7 Rebirth I felt a strong burn out from video games that has only been recently reignited by Shadow of the Erdtree, what video games if ever have you found yourselves let down by so much that it altered your enthusiasm? What helped bring it back?

Jace Elledge

Which eggs make the best egg steam?

Andrew Birmingham

It's Criterion sale season at Barnes & Noble! Chris Plante! Buyer's guide! Now!! Related question: what would be your pick for induction into a Criterion-esque video game collection? My picks would be the PS2 era Irem games. (R-Type Final, Steambot Chronicles, Raw Danger, etc.) Bonus game: pick a random number between 1 & 1235 and look up that Criterion spine number. What is the video game equivalent of that movie?

Thomas Dempsey

Is the first thing Griffin does to a new object is to put it in his mouth? Can you bring back griffin’s amiibo corner? PS Griffin, thoughts on the new taste coating (denatonium benzoate)?

Zach

Is there any type of game you'd like to see come back. For example games like guitar hero or rhythm games like Parappa the rapper? I feel like it's been refreshing to see older favorites like armored core make a return even though it's a big gamble for game companies to invest in them.

David Wright

How do you decide what platform/ storefront to buy a game on if it’s multi platform? Do you have a set preference? Does it depend on the type of game?

Somm Bombadil

Balatro, but good q

Sir Robert Cashew

What happened to edutainment games? As a 90s kid, I played so much Carmen Sandiego, ClueFinders, Zoombinis… What happened to those kinds of games? I want to chase a criminal through history and solve math problems to beat the bad guy. Or, at least I want kids today to do that! I’m a teacher now but in school I loved computer lab day when we got to play something from Broaderbund. Do you have fond edutainment memories? Would you boot any up for your own kids?

Emily Lewis

The besties have made me very curious about Handhelds again. My question is that I don't know where to start. Any advice on what to get? Looking at a Miyoo Mini Plus or RG 35xx?

kid_inkarus

Let's give Chris and everyone else what they want and combine the video game/movie questions! What video game franchise has made the best leap to movies. I can't think of any solid ones off top. There is that weird Super Mario Bros that's a cult classic now, and I'm actually looking forward to whatever Kojima has been cooking up for A24 that is supposed to be set in the Death Stranding world. Anything you fellas feel strongly about? And the reverse; what movie has made a great video game? Or what movie would be a great video game?

Carrie Dzike

Zelda: Tiers of the Kingdom is a perfect example of this concept.

Dustin Siegel

How do you balance the needs of consumers/g@mers, your affinity/solidarity with workers in the industry, and your own aesthetic preferences when you engage in gaming criticism? There are material limitations especially in the kind of games you tend to favor, and it's been interesting to hear your collective thinking on graphical fidelity, value for users, crunch, and accessibility.

James Clemer

I know that my previous questions probably ruffled some feathers. No hard feelings, I am genuinely curious about your opinions on them. One more (Movie) question: Have y'all seen the 1986 "satirical musical", True Stories? Directed by Talking Heads front man David Byrne, it stars John Goodman as an everyman who is looking for love. It is genuinely my favorite move and is where the band Radiohead got their name.

Dustin Siegel

What is the worst game you’ve ever played hands down? Don’t evade this by picking something unsavory, I want total chaos.

PoohGhoulBear

This is resties:)

Rory Hellekson

What games do you think have the most authentic approach to representing mental health struggles. I always appreciated Disco Elysium for the accuracy of how blunt and incessant the depression is. It’s suitably oppressive

Rory Hellekson

Zelda: Tiers of the Kingdom's constant need to browse menus is immersion breaking and the Zonai powers make the dungeon design less interesting when compared to Breath of the Wilds (only 4) amazing transforming puzzle box dungeons. Do you really think that Tiers of the Kingdom is the better game, and what do you want from the next mainline Zelda game?

Dustin Siegel

Do you guys get distraught with just how long with how long video games are these days? When I was younger I considered Final Fantasy 7 to be the longest game in existence, but according to hltb it turns out most people beat it in under 40 hours. Today that's like a third of the length of a typical AAA experience! I've played one video game this year, coincidentally that game is Final Fantasy 7 rebirth. As of now my file stands at nearly 90 hours and I have no idea when I'll be ready to take on another of this year's big boys.

jtingl

The camera control in Zelda: Ocarina of Time (on SNES) is incredibly broken and the early attempt at 3d polygonal graphics is very muddy. How much of y'alls love for this game is nostalgic and how much is based on legitimate critique?

Dustin Siegel

Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link has the best combat in the entire series and deserves a far higher ranking in the Zelda tier list. When (if ever) was the last time that each of you actually played through the entire game?

Dustin Siegel

Be honest, do any of you ever enjoy ripping on a game for the show if it’s generally agreed to be a terrible game?

Josh Quimby

This gave me a great idea! To keep it video game club related; best video game movie bracket! Though with the long fraught history of video game movies, it’ll probably be a best of the worst bracket.

ThanaThots

Do you guys have your own fandom get in the way of a review? Like you wrote the review and looking back at it, you realize that you were wearing rose colored glasses?

pthree

Movie question! Would there ever be maybe a mini-bracket episode for best movies? Perhaps best Blockbuster type movies to keep it fun?

Josh Quimby

What is something you miss from the industry pre-COVID? Could it come back in a different form?

Pepe D Sapiens

Good call, ty

SlimLeaper

Third-ing that I would love to hear the Besties thoughts on this great question!

Jordon

What is the longest you've ever gone with a game in your library (physical or digital) between purchase and actually sitting down and playing it (for more than ten minutes)?

Sir Robert Cashew

I've always been a PC gamer but I stopped for many years and only got back in when the steamdeck was released. My recommendation is to listen to all of the besties game of the year episodes. I did this and it was a huge help.

Dustin Belyea

Jody Anthony

What video games should have board games? And what board games should have video games?

Fezsrcool

If the four of you were forced to design a game together, what genre/type of game would it be, and what would the setting/plot/characters be?

Seth Geib

With the delisting threat of adult swim games through warner bros, it would be really cool if you were able to highlight some of them as it is an interesting library of games

zach winstead

I’m with Evan here! I mainly want to know how Griffin plays through 80+ hour jrpgs with such ease.

The Driving Crooner

What game (and for Chris, what movie) do you think most needs a re-release/remaster/remake?

Noah Wood

This one. Please answer this one.

Will Gainsborough

How do you manage your time playing games outside of work? I feel anxiety when I find time to play games that I may not be making the most of it. You all, especially Justin, discuss games that feel like they are not respectful of your time. Since you all have children and I am expecting my first child soon, I would love to hear how you make time for games without worrying about its scarcity.

Evan Grossman

A while ago there was a discussion around motion controls and how Chris (I think, if memory serves) believed that something like the Kinect will come back eventually because a lot of video games trends are cyclical. This made me think about a peripheral that seemed big when I got into games during the NES/SNES era -- light guns. Do you think at home light guns or something similar will ever come back again, or are they relegated to arcade cabinets from now on?

Ian Lunderskov

If your kids like to play video games, what would be one you would want them to play (when they are old enough)

Tokyo

My father in law plays like 3 hours of solitaire on a free solitaire website every day. How do I tell him that video games have come a long way since solitaire?

Nathan Greenberg

Do you find Strands kind of meh

Nathan Greenberg

Final Fantasy 14 is one of my favorite games, and this new expansion is the biggest game of the year by far for me. However the expectation any of you would keep up with an MMO is insane. Do you have thoughts on these type of games that get left out of the discussion because of the shows format?

Chase Curtin

What're your thoughts about cloud gaming? What's your experience with it? Have you tried it? It seems like more and more companies are jumping on the cloud gaming train (Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix). Are these kinds of services just a fad or what we should expect for the future?

Mica C

Saw in the newsletter you post the MJ lenderman music video, was stoked to see it. What other music have you been listening to this year? Also separately, I saw Hundreds of Beavers at the Frida, was such a great time! I noticed Chris Plante was on the board, what’s that entail and how’d you get involved?

Elijah Guess

You all don’t talk about strategy, and crpg games as much as indies and other more action oriented games (turned based a much lesser extent). Is that a personal taste thing or do you find those games just tend to be worse/more filler (the non bg3 ones anyway)? I find turned based and strategy less stressful (more logic and planning vs speed and skill). There are some real gems out there.

Sandy Archer

Do you think VR gaming is dead? If so, is there anything that could bring it back to life?

Cindyy

What are some of the best "mod" games? I'm thining of full, commercial games that use another game's code, assets, and/or engine in wholly unique ways. For example, Forgotten City, myhouse.wad, and umm... I'm sure there are others. In addition to your favorite picks, I'm curious if you guys have thoughts on why more developers don't recycle older games' into new ideas more often. It seems like a good way to save money and also an interesting design constraint that tends to lead to really fun experiences.

Gobblurrito

Do you guys ever struggle with finding enjoyment out of games that are unanimously deemed "good" or even "great"? Or like is there a turning point in games you haven't enjoyed but now you do?

Walter Blakey

How can anyone not love Outer Wilds? It's simply wonderful.

Sam Fisher

What are some modern day video games you would love to see remade into 90’s FMV’s to the likes of phantasmagoria, Gabriel knight or even toonstruck?

Brandon Leahy

Two consensususes in games journalism seem to be A: AI is bad for development because it could eliminate jobs, and B: AAA is doomed because of ballooning costs. ...Don't these sort of address each other? Firing all your creatives and having an AI write all your dialog and make all your assets is an awful idea. But, AI as a tool for speeding up some of the more repetitive tasks or coming up with prompts that inspire real writing sounds like a responsible use. I've reluctantly started using Copilot in my programming job, and I've found two things: It's not good enough to replace me, but it is good enough to get me unstuck and to explain unfamiliar code. It feels gross to use it but it really does make me more productive. A leaner team doing the work of a larger team is more sustainable, which seems preferable to just not having a team at all when the studio gets shuttered. God, I feel so dirty having written all that. Forgive me, Resties boys.

Eryk Nielsen

Alternatively, what are your favorite free-to-play games, or at the very least what you think the best examples of that genre are?

EtherEli

YESSSSS Second this so much, I can never finish 10+ hour games

EtherEli

Do publishers try to pitch games to press in a different way than they try to market them to the public? If it’s mostly the same, are there any notable discrepancies that you can recall?

Daniel Nugent

What experience do either of you have with the world of modern board games? Are there any board game mechanics/design ideas you would like to see video game developers adopt more widely (or vice versa)? If neither of you are very plugged into the board game scene, what kind of barriers or obstacles exist that prevent you from exploring games in the tabletop medium?

Christopher Elman

997, even

EtherEli

(1000 is arbitrary, you can go earlier if you really want)

Matthew Parsons

If video games had been invented in the year 1000, which historical figures would have made the best game devs? What would their games be like?

Matthew Parsons

I know it’s not specifically about games themselves, but I’d be interested to hear from you guys about what it was like to start Polygon, to continue there over the last decade or so, and in a wider view, what it’s been like working in games journalism and seeing that industry change since you first started out? Without getting into, like, hot water, I’d be interested in hearing a bit about how the sausage is made when it comes to covering games for news media, etc

EtherEli

In light of your incredible Resties Required Reading List, what games might you include in an advanced class? Assuming someone has played all of the required reading games, what should they do next?

Isaac Goff-Mitchell

Any favorite short games - something you could beat in a plane ride or a couple nights? Either playing for the first time or games you love going back to knowing you can get that complete experience in one hit.

Maps A Million

Are there any multiplayer games you all still play together?

zillybanz

I recently came across the quote `Given the opportunity, players will optimize the fun out of a game.`This resonates, as I vividly remember breaking Castlevania SOTN by farming the Crissaegrim... but I also adored my time as a min/maxed sneaky archer during multiple Skyrim playthroughs. How can good game design provide a satisfying power curve yet not remove the enjoyment of the challenge? Does MGSV's "if you rely on headshots, the enemies wear helmets" philosophy nudge the player toward tackling problems in a new fashion, or does it punish a player for finding the way they want to play?

Scott Vesely

We all know Frush’s love of egg steam, but what are your favorite ways to eat a potato? (E.g. fries, tots, mashed. And yes, sweet potato variations count).

CPT_Turboshaft

I love seeing Kinect in the wild running some sort of interface at a children’s museum or theme park. The Kinect was truly amazing for so many reasons!

E2theMFD

With the ever-increasing amount of monetization and micro transactions in games over the last decade or so, do you guys think there’s any hope for AAA games to keep coming out without them? I know there are a few studios/publishers who continue to put out great games every few years without them (like Elden Ring), but with how expensive and time consuming development is nowadays, what’s your take on the future?

CPT_Turboshaft

I've been thinking about how people talk about gamers as comprised of strictly "casual" and "core" gamers. Recently I gave my dad a switch and then he asked me what games he should play. There were a few easy recommendations for him specifically, but in general, I was stumped. He does not play games frequently and doesn't speak the "language" expected of the player in modern games, which can make a lot of games very confusing and, as a result, frustrating for him, but by no means is he bad at games. He played the whole tomb raider series back on ps1/ps2 and recently beat both God of War 2018 and Ragnorak. But put games with lots of complex menus and systems like Minecraft and he gets overwhelmed and quits in minutes. With that being said, I wouldn't really call him a casual or core gamer, and it takes a lot of thought to find him games that he likes. Do you have any experience with this? If so, how do you go about selecting games for that person? Do you think there is a large group of people who fall into this space of between casual and core gaming or do you think it's very niche?

Connor Berson

What is your favorite singular musical moment that totally elevated a video game for you? A moment that shifted a game from something you liked to something you LOVED, or maybe a moment that changed you take on a game altogether? For me it is the Ashtray Maze in CONTROL. I was enjoying the game, but not loving it, but when the music kicked in during that sequence my mind was blown. It was when I finally really got the vibe of the game, and it elevated CONTROL to one of my all-time faves!

L.B. Morse

What was your most memorable "a ha moment" from a game where something clicked and it made everything make sense when before you'd been struggling

Nick Farmer

What is your favorite trope of a certain VG or movie genre? And what is your least favorite?

Lucas Mathew

What would you tell someone who gets overwhelmed by the fact that they'll never be able to play all the games that interest them? Especially people who listen to video game podcasts, so are getting a pretty constant stream of game recommendations.

Sebbo Mode

Justin, and anyone else who has insight - what is the relationship between video games and anxiety in your life? Have you made any special rules or accommodations to keep your mental health in check throughout your video game adjacent career?

Jordan Milano

What are your favorite Steamdeck games that are not technically Steamdeck supported?

Dan Reeser

Russ, what did you learn from publishing your book that relates to your podcasting?

Luke

You guys have been talking about the Playdate so much so I decided to pick one up. What are your favorite games on there?

Rob Steller

The PS5 has 15 exclusive games that can only be played on PS5. Xbox seemingly has very little exclusive either. For context the Virtual Boy had 22 exclusives. Nintendo however is pumping out at least one exclusive first party game a month in the dying days of the Switch. Admittedly they have a lot of what could be described as “double A” games such as the recent slate of remasters. It feels that we’re at a stage where chasing the technological and graphical cutting edge is unsustainable. Its ballooning budgets and dev cycles for both Sony and Microsoft. Games are taking too long to come out and PS5 and Xbox owners seem to have little exclusive to play. How can you see both these companies coming back to a place where they can be sustainable and release a decent slate of exclusives in a timely fashion?

David Tobin

When deciding PC gaming setups, what is too much or excessive vs trying to have the best quality experience while playing any number of games?

Rob D

Why don’t y’all ever stream together? It also seems rare that y’all do 4-player anything together.

Dorian Young

When was the first time you realized games could be more than just entertainment and really invoked serious emotions in you? For me I think the first time is the last of us. I'd never become so invested in characters so quickly in an opening before and Troy baker put on a clinic for voice acting that had me sobbing. Another more recent example is outer wilds and how that wraps up with a idk, a happy feeling of existentialism i guess?

solidsnakemg

What’s the best directed cutscene in games?

Joe Payne

Movie to video game adaptations generally suck...but what movie would you pick to create a game out of, and how would you "get it right"?

Mark Barone

What would your letterboxd top 4 have been at ages 10/20/30/40(ish)

Joe Payne

What are your thoughts on moderating gaming? I love games, but I tend to get obsessed to the point where I played 60 hrs of hades in 6 days, or did a 15 hour sprint to the finish in TOTK. These events make me question whether I have a bit of a problem. Should I moderate, abstain, or stop being paranoid? I am an adult-ass man if that provides context. Thanks!

Halophyte

I've had a blast with the x-box Kinect! Only playing just dance tho 😂

Love That Travels Far

We know a lot about all of your favorite games, but can you talk more about your most cherished gaming experiences and memories? For me one is playing Spider-Man 2 on gamecube with my much older brother and seeing who could jump off the Empire State Building and swing away closest to the ground before splatting

AnonymousPython

Assuming the studio was narrow-casting to just your interests, which film in the criterion collection would you want made into a 100+ hour game?

Cameron Jackson

I know a spoilers episode in like a decade was mentioned, but is there any chance we could get a "hint episode" for Animal Well? I would love an episode with y'all's cryptic hints to get me into the deeper layers. I beat the core game and saw a little of what might be beyond, but the threads were a little too scattered for me to really get hooked further.

Spughetti

Regarding emulator handhelds: I'm a father of two young kids and don't have a lot of time for games. One thing that keeps me from investing in these neat little gadgets is the lack of syncing save states, like Steam Cloud takes care of for me. Do you have any advice for me for keeping save states safe on Dropbox or Google Drive or something on these little Ambernics and Retroids and such?

Leo Herzog

Any new party games that should get a shout-out? (Like Jackbox games, towerfall, Mario kart)

Love That Travels Far

Did you ever play DDR at the mall?

Diana Lee

Should Valve make a Steam Deck Lite? Weight of a switch (or less) that can play all the great indies but maybe not Elden Ring?

Nathan Greenberg

We know all about your favorite video games, but what are your go-to physical games? (card, board, dice, etc) I recently got back in Magic's commander format and I think you all would go ham with it.

Taylor Kelty

I think it's worth it if you have a big steam library or want to play bigger games or games that aren't available on the switch.

Love That Travels Far

Here’s something I’ve always wondered: when journalists reviewing a game before release talk about “receiving code,” what are they referring to by code? The language used makes it sound like they are referring to the literal code written by developers that the computers read and run the game by. But to refer to the game as “code” seems so silly to me it’s hard for me to accept as what they mean. So is it that or do they mean they got a code to be redeemed for a game download?

Patrick Keppel

I was a lifetime console guy but the Steam Deck has given me access to a ton of older PC titles I missed (Half Life 2, etc.). For people who missed out on the last few decades of PC gaming, what’s worth going back to, specifically on the deck?

SlimLeaper

Could you both talk a little about your gaming blindspots, in terms of genre?

Bret Scofield

When I was wronger I preferred meaty rpgs and actually had trouble getting into rogue likes and short indie games. Mostly because I thought they were repetitive after long hours of gaming. Not that i am a father and work I find much interests switching where I prefer rogue like and shorter indie games that I can progress in like 30 minute sports. Over an rpg that requires hours of time just to feel like i progressed anywhere. As parents yourselves as well as full time workers and reviewers. That you find it easier to enjoy and get into the shorter games and find it harder to get into longer ones? Follow up when reviewing games do you think that the sway one way or the other affects your opinion of a game where you are less forgiving of how much more time a rpg or longer game requires to get moving?

Josh Andrews

My wife is a very casual gamer. She spends a decent amount of time playing Candy Crush but previously, she played The Sims and Marvel Snap. On consoles, we’ve played a decent amount of Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. I love gaming and want to experience it with my wife as much as possible. - What games, mobile and console, are good for couples? It doesn’t necessarily have to be couch co-op if we could do something turn based on our phones. - How would you approach the skill gap between you and your partner? For example, when we play Mario Kart, she wants 50cc, which is super boring for me. Anything out there that allows two people to engage where their respective skills are?

SlimLeaper

What game was the most "I loved this as a kid!" that upon re-playing as an adult / through a modern lens was just no longer fun?

Josh C

I know this is a video game podcast, but I'm curious if you've played any non-video games recently that have jumped out at you (board games, card games, or just other activities I guess). I appreciate the sharing of movies or tv shows and it's interesting to see how interests spread and overlap between movies and the video games you discuss, for example.

August Rulewich

What's a trend you're over and what's one you really want to take off?

Alexander Moralez

From the games in the last year, what game do you think is underrated? Which is overrated?

there is thunder

Silksong? Like, ever?

Travis P

why are zelda games like OoT and links awakening not classified as search action games? basically open worlds with gear gating and even returning to old areas with new powers to unlock things you miss, but zelda is never mentioned when people talk about search action games

kieran

Also, do you still intend to do a new gaming history series like the Required Reading List? I loved the focus and intentionality it provided the episodes, even if I think the two of you are crazy for a position you take. And if so, any updates on when to expect and what the topic will be?

E2theMFD

Do you guys enjoy mobile games as well as console? What are the benefits?

Kel Bennett

At what point is it worth it to get a Steam Deck? I have been hearing everyone talk about them for years, but I don’t know if I play enough PC games to justify it. Also it seems like my Switch has many of the games on it already? Thanks!

JQL

What’s a game that you love and no one else liked or vice versa, a game universally loved but you just don’t get it

Brock Maust

Chris, you’ve mentioned a talk a few times about entering a meditative state for Shmups. Are there any other talks that break apart the nature of games/genre that you can recommend?

Will Maciejewski

I feel like this is where VR could have been the next step up, but the cost and requirements were so prohibitive at the start it didn't happen. I remember looking into getting a VR set when it was first kicking off, and I needed something like a 10x10 ft empty space in my living room. I live in Vancouver, that's like $2k/month lol

Jon Marcopoulos

Which ‘video game worlds’ or fictional settings are your favourite? Or which ones conjure the fondest memories?

Greymire

What are your favorite gaming peripherals? Maybe there are two categories, ones that evolved consoles and controllers vs. ones that captured a moment in time like the Sony anolog joystick vs. the Guitar Hero guitar.

E2theMFD

Are you talking only about the podcast? Because they founded polygon and have been in games journalism for, I dunno, most of their adult life, so I would guess the only reference they have for not monetizing their hobby is like childhood lol

EtherEli

What are your thoughts on digital vs. physical games in respect to game preservation and personal preference? Is there worry of losing access to the digital games at some point in the future? I have certain game series that I want the physical copy of.

Luke Lubbers

Do you guys have any game or movie related holiday traditions? For example, I watch Jaws every 4th of July, I play KH2 every summer (it reminds me of all my time playing it during summer break), my family would watch Jackie Brown and The Last Waltz on Thanksgiving and then after dinner immediately watch A Christmas Story.

Colton Butcher

What game most shaped the gamer you are today? For example, BG2 as a kid made me fall in love with CRPGs and is still the yardstick to which I compare RPGs today.

Ian Stokes

How do you think mobile games can be "fixed"? As in, it can be hard for people to get into because it's so full of games that are just advertising apps or micro transaction farms, but there are plenty of great small games mixed in, some of which might have ads or micro transactions (ongoing games need a way to make money, so I don't hold some basic micro transactions against them, and usually you can pay a couple bucks to get rid of ads), and the ones that don't you often have to buy to play (unless you have apple arcade or Google play). What would have to happen for the good games to have better visibility, or for people to want to put in the effort to find them? Is there a (realistic) way we can regulate or desentivise such ad heavy games? Or those with straight up false advertising? I love mobile games and it's always sad to see how people dismiss it as a medium unless it's some major games or ports of PC/console games.

Jackie aka Jax

As an active ad hater, this is a great question. I feel like video game "billboards," or whatever is appropriate for the game, could be relatively unintrusive while still providing extra income for smaller studios.

Jon Marcopoulos

Is it a coincidence that Griffin is mysteriously absent from any episode where you discuss a game that involves mouths and going inside of bodies?

WarioTush

Any tips for getting through long games (i.e. your Elden Rings, Personas, any large sweeping open world games) when you have limited time for play sessions? Ive found myself in a season where I can typically only carve out 30-45 minute chunks at a time for leisure (unless I’m doing something like going to a movie with my partner)

Stephen Taubner

Hey goobers, Damien here: Are there any (worthy) titles that have come out in the last year that you feel got almost no fanfare? To be specific, I'm referring to games that you personally enjoyed, but for some reason or another, even you didn't talk as much about it as it deserves? Please use this prompt to do exactly that! My example: last year one of my favorite games, a survival puzzle horror game launched by Game Grumps called "Homebody", released, and it felt as though nobody noticed. I heavily recommend it!

DMAN

What are your top 3 games on Steam by playtime (and how much time is it)? How many games are in your Steam libraries?

StonewallBanks

Chris Plante, what do you think about the comparison between 1000xresist and Evangelion? Is there merit to it? Does that comparison make the game more or less appealing?

Jevin Kames

LOL

Vince

In the first 3 months of my son's life (He's 22 months now) My wife and I alternated 3-hour shifts at night to be with him and to keep our sanity. In those wee hours between midnight and 3:00 or 3:00 and 6:00, I managed to play the entirety of Persona 4 Golden with just one hand on a controller while the other held my sleeping infant. The game was incredible. We're thinking about having a second so what other game can I play one-handed that will be the same-ish vibe with an incredible story that's also complimentary to a sleep deprived Dad brain? Thanks in advance because I will not have the mental fortitude to thank you in that first 3 months should a second child arrive.

bjorktribe

Hi Resties! What are your most realistic and pragmatic estimate on a release date for Silksong? Also Chris, what's the best movie you've seen this year? Keep up the good work!!

Gavin

In a previous episode, you mentioned a comparison between how the games industry is mirroring the movie industry (large studio productions vs. indie films). I think one obvious difference in the movie industry is the strong presence of unions for workers to balance power. What other differences do you think the games industry should adapt to protect the longevity of the AAA and indie productions?

Dave Reid

They already said they're not doing a "Best Romance-able Character" episode

Monty

What will it take for Plante to play Scarlet Maiden?

Monty

I'm Luke and I have a Problem. I love starting new games but I finish very few of them. It's not caused by not enjoying the games, if anything it's the opposite. I'm enjoying myself so much that I don't want it to end. In my imagination this game could end in any number of ways, but in reality it ends just one way and that way might be bad enough to recolour my entire opinion of the game. I've tried convincing myself in sunk cost terms that I owe it to myself to finish but then I just find a new game and play that instead. How do you motivate yourself to finish video games? For context the only games I've fully finished this year are Yakuza 4, 5, 6, Lies of P, and Hades 2

Luke

Is four face buttons on controllers enough? Do you think controls are done evolving?

Seemah C

Will we reach a point where games like Still Wakes the Deep or Indica aren’t classified as video games but are instead considered their own thing? As in, games that are visually and storytelling-wise very interesting but that are ultimately very light on the actual game play aspect. Would these walking simulators have more freedom if we stopped expecting gameplay out of them? (Or if that question doesn’t make enough sense) You have to ride out a hurricane with the protagonist of the last game you played. You have 2 hours to get essentials from the store and that’s it. How you holding up?

Angstbot 5000

Chris i’m gonna guess you’ve seen the film Possession, from 1981. I stumbled across it and am immediately obsessed and want to watch everything else remotely like it. any recommendations along those eerie, east berlin, divorce-as-psychosis lines?

Michael Fell

What’s your favorite snack while gaming?

Vince

Are there any plans to interview industry professionals on this show? I know it's not what this show typically does, but after the Scarlet Maiden episode, I think behind-the-paywall would be a great place to talk to someone about why they chose to make "adult games," among other makers in the entire gaming sphere

Jon Marcopoulos

How did you feel about the substantial change in tone from Far Cry 2 to Far Cry 3? Was that part of a larger cultural shift in gaming and do you think that a game like Far Cry 2 could happen again in today's gaming culture? Thanks!

Casey Francis Alger

Which games have given you the Tetris Effect? (invading your dreams)

mitzvahmelting

Do you all feel that monetizing your interest in video games has diminished your enjoyment of them?

Noah (without an Ark)

Who are the villains of the video game industry? (It’s a patron exclusive so you can be real 😉)

BeanieBoy

What is one game/genre that you stay away from because you know that it would absorb your entire life, similarly, what is one game that has this ONE thing that prevents you from playing it (For example I agree with Plante that I cannot play Binding of Isaac because the aesthetic is so offputting)

Ian

What is Chris’ opinion on the film Hundreds of Beavers, and how many times did he watch it?

SwanTzu

After having some time away from Animal Well, have your opinions on the game changed at all? I think obfuscation of mechanics and deep secrets are really popular design choices right now, but I honestly think Animal Well goes too far with its secrets to the point where most players will never even be able to see most of what that game has to offer on their own (obviously Russ you are kinda just built different). I think Tunic struck a better balance than Animal Well in making the secrets attainable while not having to resort to outside help/info. What do y’all think? Is this a new genre? How do you strike the balance between making secrets deep and interesting, while still allowing most people to experience the game as intended? Thanks y’all much love!!!

Nic Stelter

In the last couple of years, indie and “AA” devs have been releasing games which are arguably better than most AAA titles at a fraction of the price. The AAA space seems creatively held back by corporate interests who push out GaaS and battle-pass focused titles. My question is, do you think there is a future where we see a true return to form for AAA games or will the big corporate owners and investors continue to fund cash grab titles forever?

Ty

Have you guys tried Plate-up, a restaurant simulation Rogue-like that works great for both local and online co-op?

Bill Abilhours The Eternal Winner

What (classic or more recent) point and click games would you recommend to someone who is new to PC gaming?

BilboGreggins

If you could each add one new prediction to your 2024 lists for the second half of the year, what would you choose?

Joel Castelli

My friends and I were talking recently about the wonder we had as kids seeing video game characters we knew going from 2D to 3D, or similar graphical upgrades. Is that experience something that just won't happen for kids anymore since hi def graphics are so commonplace now?

TheZeldaMuse

What was your first gaming handle/name? What was your most embarrassing name you used ?

KC Maw

My brother introduced me to Shadow of the Colossus a few years ago. Isn't that creator known for taking like 10 years between games? How does that work? Who pays while games take a decade to be developed?

Arwen

With the end of Destiny 2's content cycle, do you believe another looter shooter will step in to fill the void, and if so, do you think there are any current contenders to fill that spot?

Who's Jordaddy

For the most part video game based off movies have been known to be pretty lackluster, there are some great games based off of the property itself, instead of just the movie (Star Wars KOTOR, Mad Max, Ratchet & Clank). What’s a movie/IP that you think could make for a good video game?

Daniel Meyer

Which defunct console or handheld do you wish still was around and successful?

Mr. Pulley

Hey Besties, thank you for everything you do. I love listening weekly and I feel like you guys keep my passion and love for gaming alive. I appreciate the insight you provide on studio closures. One thing I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on is that EA is looking to put in-game ads within AAA titles. Naturally, like most gamers I feel like this would be a terrible idea, especially after already spending $70 on a game (and I work in advertising!). However, I’m curious to hear your insight on whether this could be an additional revenue stream that could influence the profitability of games. When such high levels of financial and time investment go into games and the industry is so unstable could an additional revenue stream in the form of ads provide a level of stability in the industry? Love the show, keep up the good work!

Jamie W

What are your favorite board games to play with friends or family? :)

Hfire

With the success of Elden Ring showing that open world games can be great beyond the Ubisoft formula, what changes to do you feel other developers can make to the genre to push it beyond Towers and Checklists?

Casual Flying

What was your moment when you realized, "oh...games can be works of art"?

Garrett Jackson

I just picked up a laptop that can finally play Steam games. Any recommendations for recent-ish games from the past few years that you would recommend? Any games discounted for the Steam Summer Sale?

Jim Redding

I find little time to play games these days and, while I understand that this is a job for the besties, I still have to ask: how do you juggle all your responsibilities while making time to play games for the pod, and for yourselves?

Zardoz

What games do you think have the best stories? I took a class in college comparing/contrasting video games to literature and I’ve always wondered what video games you felt held up to other literature and media.

Jed Hall

Why do you play games? Why this medium for entertainment?

Connor Young

What are your all-time favorite games? Is it really Binding of Isaac for Russ and Nier: Automata for Plante?

Adam Lindeman

What is an episode you’ve always wanted to do but the other besties weren’t interested in?

Samantha MacHardy

What is your favorite genre of games? Also, which game do you keep coming back to that has stuck with you the longest?

Epsilon

For me, as a high schooler in the early 2010s, the og Humble Indie Bundles were an incredible curator of games. Hell, they introduced me to Bastion, and I instantly became a follower of Supergiant Games, which has only grown in fame. Is that just a me thing? From an industry perspective, did the original Humble Indie Bundles have an impact on the proliferation of indie games?

Shmaheel

What has the new York giraffe been up to, and when will he be appearing on the pod again?🦒

PaxSnax

Why are we seeing so many remakes/remasters of already good games? Is it just the safe bet? Wouldn’t it be more interesting to remake/remaster a game that was bad or possibly just tossed aside to see if it could be done right?

Paul George

What's a game you played when you were younger, absolutely loved, but don't want to revisit because you don't think it'll hold up? Mine are Mystical Ninja 64 and Shadow of Memories.

Nic

Yesterday Peanut Butter the dog speedran Ken Griffey Jr Baseball for SNES on SGDQ. What game do you think your pets should Speedrun?

cameron Swingle

What's the next big "thing" for games? (An emerging trend you think will be everywhere in the next year)

DieselDonkey

With so many video games getting mainstream television and movie adaptations, what piece of media (book, tv show, movie) would make a great video game?

Annie the Feywild therapist

How good are the Resties at Resting?

Kyle Starr

Are there any games you want to play for personal enjoyment but can’t manage to fit into your schedule due to professional obligations?

Glorious Griffin

Have you all considered playing any RTS games like AoE, or are those out of the wheel house?

Tartar biscuits