Q&A: September 23rd, 2020

DaCody Asks
You become a reactionary let's play YouTuber.  What is your catchy intro?

"It is Wednesday my dudes!"

(Even when it's not Wednesday.)

The Great Leveler Asks
How did you and Mandalore meet?

I think it was through Sparky's Podcast Artism Speaks? Him and Shammy are practically tied at the hip, so it was only natural that speaking to one lead to speaking with the other. Mandalore is just one of the most effortlessly entertaining people I know, whether he's writing a script, or in casual conversation.

I'll always remember working with him on the Metro video, I contacted him to just to discuss the series as I knew he was very familiar with, and 3-4 hours later we had gone down the rabbit hole of Russian websites where eventually, he found the early Metro build.

That was all him, I wouldn't have had the balls to give a suspicious Russian website my Twitter account.

Sandraincloud90 Asks
What is your stance on the implementation of fan service in games? (Such as fan-fav items, characters, locations, etc.) And what are some examples of poor implementation in your experience?

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the most obvious example of poorly done fan-service, which SuperBunnyhop broke down superbly. What confuses me about bad fan-service in media is that it often goes against the very principles of what made people fans of a particular property in the first place.

My view is that like many things, it requires a smart creator to understand when it's appropriate. I've just started playing Bayonetta and that game is Fan-service+, however, you don't see the same controversy around it as you do other obnoxious action games, and I think its because Bayonetta reserves its over the top nature for its sexy lead character, it's everywhere.

The lead's dominatrix persona isn't contrasted with a grounded world, it's one with steampunk cargo-planes crashing on a highway where two "Witches" slay demon-like monsters with boots that fire guns. The whole game is so ridiculous that its fan-service is just rolling with the game's punches.

Unlike MGS4, where the game suddenly shoves a camera angle up a long-running female character's skirt, then later butches her with a hilariously contrived storyline.

Now in-terms of items and locations... again, it depends. Need for Speed Heat pointlessly including the iconic BMW M3 GTR from NFS Most Wanted I'd argue is bad fan-service. The vehicle itself is rendered brilliantly and is fun to drive, but it has absolutely no plot relevance, and in context of the story, has no context.

Fan-service needs reason. It needs justification. It needs context.

That's not to say fan-service for fan-service sake is outright bad or damages the intergrity of a particular property, but like action, drama, romance, etc, it's far more engaging when there's an actual reason for it to be there.

Josepheous Asks
Are there any games that you really struggle to make a video about?

Years Later videos.

I'm always nervous when starting them that there's not going to be enough material in research or gameplay to justify a longer video, to which then flips a month later when I realize there's actually so much, I gotta figure out how to cut it down.

But in-terms of games I struggle to write about, I take the easy (or lazy) solution of just not talking about those ones.

ImmortalKrogan Asks
Other than Klayton, who is your favorite artist under the FIXT label?

I've damaged neck from head banging on more than one occasion with Blue Stahli, but he's one I've known for years. The artists that really impressed me were I Will Never Be The Same & The Anix. Both are just so, so atmospheric on their albums and would be perfect fits for more sci-fi work.

Though my outright favorite is Comaduster by default, as he made two of my favorite albums of all time, before he worked for the label. Hollow Worlds & Solace are absolute masterpieces.

The_Survivor Asks
Which trailer sold you the most on a video game?

Probably Deus Ex Mankind Divided's reveal, because it somehow got past all the barriers I made post-ME3. Mostly because of the music, Michael McCann did an outstanding job, and the rest of the promo material for the game did an excellent job of selling a dark sequel.

Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy the game because my PC couldn't even run the unoptimized hog of an engine.

Jerry llamas Asks
Advent Rising..... _____ years later video? 

I recall booting that game up years ago and stopping after the 2nd major vehicle section. One day, I might give it another go, though I've got an inkling it won't receive a full Years Later video like Alpha Protocol or Spec Ops did.