Q&A: February 10th, 2021

The Great Leveler Asks
What game/games are you the most nostalgic about from growing up?

Definitely Gran Turismo 2. That's the game which got me into video-games, and I still have my memory cards for the PS1. Sadly, my TV is outright too powerful to run the sub 480p resolutions the console outputs, so I either need to port those files to PC on an Emulator, or get another TV.

What I really miss about old driving games like that is they had a style. Fantasy circuits, catchy soundtracks, and bizarre vehicles unique to them, rather than just everybody trying to be the most real of the real.

Justin Wolownik Asks
It seems like every time a new game remaster is made, people get excited, then at release complain about it either changing too little or changing too much in terms of graphics/art direction or controls. What is your general opinion on game remasters, and to what degree should they be allowed to alter the original?

Remasters are a surprisingly complex subject, especially as their popularity came in at the same time as Remakes, and the two are often confused. I've heard conversations where people say things like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, or Resident Evil 2 Remake, shouldn't be nominated for game awards, ignorant of how truly different the games are from their original counterparts.

Remasters on the otherhand, are tricky, because they're ostensibly meant to just modernized versions of a game which already existed, however, what's considered a fix, and what's considered a change, often varies on what an individual thinks of the original game.

The most obvious example of this recently has been news surrounding Mass Effect Legendary Edition, where camera adjustments pertaining to Miranda and Femshep are seen by some as "Censorship", whereas Mass Effect 1's entire gameplay is being overhauled, yet is merely seen by many as "fixing" the game rather than changing it.

The titling is absolutely horrid of these things. Mafia: Definitive Edition, sounds like just a remaster, entailing better textures, smoothed out gameplay, maybe a new feature or two. But no, it's a full remake with its own voice-acting, gameplay, and cutscenes. Then there's "Goldeneye 007" for Wii, which is a "reimagining" of the original Goldeneye for N64.

It's a mess, and while I'm not opposed to any of these games, I often find the discussion surrounding them to be tedious.

NephyrisX Asks
I recall you referencing Examined Life (of Gaming) in a few of your videos some years back. Given that his most famous series is the MechWarrior Retrospective, have you ever considered delving into the world of Battletech/MechWarrior?

Delving into, yes, making a video on? No, that's more unlikely. I've definitely got fond memories of the brief time I spent with Hawken though. Very much miss that fast paced Mech game.

OzarkTempses Asks
How much customization do you believe is needed to find the sweet spot in modern shooter nowadays? There's certainly been a trend of games allowing you to "Pimp your Gun" but these systems are oftentimes shallow and provide no meaningful change.

Certainly lower than many players it seems. I've always preferred games which trade use less sandbox complexity, and more depth. When Battlefield Hardline had fewer weapons per-class that were more distinct than Battlefield 4's seemingly endless stream of firearms, I was pleased, not disappointed.

Honestly, it could be because guns simply don't interest me too much from a gameplay perspective, and I can empathize with those players via how much I love it when racing games allow in-depth customization and specialization, building cars in NFS Heat is too much fun.

Dacody Asks
Why is your voice so creamy?

Bailey's and Hot Chocolate.

Dim Asks
having just read "the Road" and "Blood Meridian", what elements do you feel makes some cynical narratives work, and others fall flat? (essentially, what's the difference between pointless edge and poignant truth)

Loaded question. In works like Black Lagoon, or Children of Men, I can easily point to their levity as a reason they work where most fail. Max Payne 3's endless nihilism is tiring. But then again, I love work like SOMA that are pretty bleak from start to finish, same thing with many Black Mirror episodes.

Another component of it must relate to the depth of the challenges these characters face. Stories like V for Vendetta, Watchmen, 100 Bullets, etc, weren't just dark because of edgy names and dark lighting. They were dark because of how they demonstrate the sinful side of humanity.

You'll be horrified by a character accepting a strangers suitcase with untraceable bullets, not just because of their actions, but how likely you or someone you know would do the same with only a couple alternations to their lifepath. No matter where I've been in my life, I'm never going to see the humanity of "Task", "Ripclaw", "Deathwatch," or "Bloodaxe."

Dark works often inspire artists who love the aesthetic and themes, but don't grasp the subtleties.

Sponge Dungeon Asks
If milk comes from cows, who is the Milk Man?

Ah, finally, these are the sort of questions I've come to expect. I was getting concerned with all of this provoking thought.

The Milk Man is the man who spawned the Cows.

Obviously.

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