Patron Update #8: The next big video REVEALED + future ideas
Added 2022-10-30 15:51:16 +0000 UTCHey everybody! Hope the Spooktoberween season is treating you well.
So, it's been a minute since my Xenogears video was released, and I wanted to let my Patrons know that the next big video is going to be for Yakuza 5! It's a series that I've wanted to talk about for a while, and the fifth game is so dense & varied with it's content, that I think it'll work great for a video.
I've got a few other people involved in this one, including a voice cameo from a recognizable YouTuber friend of mine. I'm also doing a live action introduction, which should be ridiculous. I'm planning on dropping the "Review" moniker from the video titles now, because I don't know if it's the best way to describe them, but structurally this'll be similar to most of the others. While this may seem a *slight* departure from the longer video styles, I'd still argue that Yakuza 5 fits the JRPG bill.
Now I've got a LOT of ammunition for future videos. Some games floating around my head include Wild Arms, Star Ocean, Koudelka/Shadow Hearts, Sweet Home (which I might make a short video for soon), assorted Western made "JRPGs", Golden Sun, Terranigma, Tales of the Abyss, and the list goes ON and ON.
While I'd like to just crank out reviews of games from the same series, my brain just doesn't work like that. Even moving from Symphonia to Dawn of the New World, I felt myself burning out on the Tales series. That's not to say I won't return to Tales - my interest will inevitably swing back around. Conventional YouTube wisdom states that when you find success, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING! I take that to heart, but I wouldn't want the quality of my reviews to slip as a result of it (E.G. If I'm bored of a particular battle system, I may develop an unconscious bias against it, nitpicking, etc.)
Hopefully you've noticed that my reviews are heavily based on my own thoughts, feelings & observations while playing. That's why I go into whatever game I'm working on with a spirit of curiosity, trying to balance "thinking" with "feeling" in my writing. I'm not sure if I would've played Xenogears if not for the channel, but suddenly it started knocking around my head, I wondered "Why are people so passionate about this game?". I knew I had to make a video on it, and I'm so glad I did.
Anyway, the only purpose of the latter half of this post was to let people in on why I choose the games I do. Some YouTubers are much more methodical about their videos, reviewing games and sequels in a linear order to satisfy the maximum number of people. I respect that workmanship, but the desire for novelty is my weakness. I'm glad you're all along for the ride regardless, and as always, greatly appreciate your support!
Also, just to mention it: from here on out, Saturday morning is (usually) going to be stream day. This is also a fun way to decompress & get to know you guys, I've had a really good time with the streams the last few weeks. Hope to see you there!
Comments
Yes that’s the plan. Kiwami is the next Yakuza I planned to play. Is there a different order to play them in, do you think? Since I’m not doing it all in one go (like, I’m taking a break between 0 and Kiwami etc) hopefully they’ll have remastered some more of them by the time I get to them. Oh, here’s the interesting but weird RPG maker game I was mentioning on your stream. I haven’t played it myself yet, but it looks good… or maybe a bit too weird: https://youtu.be/h41JkYzNUfc (It has a hidden dating sim!)
Joe Arnold
2022-11-03 23:53:43 +0000 UTCNothing is THAT good... But yes, Yakuza 0 is incredible. I daresay the best in the series. Are you going from Zero to Kiwami 1 + 2? You'll have a bit of technological hurdle to overcome once you play 3, but I think they're all worth playing in some capacity.
Majuular
2022-11-03 21:43:22 +0000 UTCHello, my Mayo Man! Yakuza is definitely at least JRPG-adjacent. I’d only played one of them years ago, can’t remember which, but I recently decided to start with 0 and work my way through. Yakuza 0 is so, so good. Like Root Beer Mayo Float good!
Joe Arnold
2022-11-02 20:14:19 +0000 UTCThanks for the support Avvil, its legitimately reassuring to know I can have creative freedom while still keeping people's interest. It's great that the potential "people pleaser" games are also those I'm already interested in, that's a sweet position to be in as a YouTuber.
Majuular
2022-11-02 04:24:14 +0000 UTCReally appreciate the insight into your method, and honestly -- I prefer it that way to a significant extent. It's the genuine feeling, curiosity, passion, and the desire to share those aspects that shines through in your videos and made me want to support them in the first place. Doing something exclusively for views seems like it would be utterly antithetical to what makes your style fantastic. I know you have dozens of games to check out, and personally I'm fine coming along for the ride on wherever your interest settles (for what it's worth, I definitely think the games of the Yakuza series are RPGs), though my own top interests among things that are...in the vicinity of games you've covered in the past are Grandia, Golden Sun, and Koudelka/Shadow Hearts. Regardless, I'll continue to be excited for everything you put out, and if it's at all encouraging, there isn't a single game you floated in this post I wouldn't be excited about. As always, I hope your process goes smoothly, and you don't overdo it/burn yourself out!
Avvil
2022-10-31 07:53:13 +0000 UTCI appreciate that Fronswath, and I can say I'd never let it get to that point. If I ever felt burnout approaching, like you say, I'd just temporarily pivot my style of content. Thankfully I enjoy the work a lot, and I don't see that changing in the foreseeable future :)
Majuular
2022-10-31 00:11:38 +0000 UTCI was just mentioning on stream how surprised I am by the volume SoA recommendations! I was expecting it to be one of these forgotten cult games. But then again, I thought the same about Legend of Dragoon and that's my most viewed video. I am definitely interested in checking out Arcadia sometime, minimal bribing required!
Majuular
2022-10-31 00:10:00 +0000 UTCIncredibly hype for your take on Golden Sun (and god save you if you plan on covering Dark Dawn). If I may make another suggestion, the crazy amount of characters in Chrono Cross made me think of Skies of Arcadia, which while doesn't let you have a ton of party members, does let you build up a full crew of unique NPCs. I'd love to hear your take on Skies someday if you get a chance to get around to it (and are actually interested of course-- this is not a bribe unless you want to consider it one).
Hime Takamura
2022-10-30 18:11:54 +0000 UTCThe info is great for what people can look forward to Also I I say to everyone I support on Patreon or other platforms be careful if burn out I'd rather just post and smaller stuff for a long time than say 2 big projects back to back and never hear from you ever again
Fronswath
2022-10-30 17:37:41 +0000 UTCThanks Silvar, do appreciate that and I have some non-JRPG ideas as well :) Next time you're in the chat, got something INCREDIBLE to show you.. sounds a bit weird & ambiguous here but TRUST ME.
Majuular
2022-10-30 16:23:27 +0000 UTCGlad to see you sticking to your style, I would say don't feel like you need to box yourself in to just JRPGs, your non-JRPG videos may get less views but they're just as good and it's the quality that's really appealing to viewers I think. Also, definitely easier for me to catch Saturday streams personally!
Silvar
2022-10-30 16:05:37 +0000 UTC
