Is this the Beginning of the End for Live Service Games?!? ft. Alec Taub

What's up and Welcome to another episode of The Single Player Experience Podcast. In this episode Sebastion is joined by Alec Taub to talk about the current state of Live service games, some video games news, and Alec is going to attempt the ProNerd Trivia Challenge.

Alec is a game developer, an avid Destiny player, and one of the dopest guys on planet Earth.

We've got all this and more on this episode of The Single Player Experience podcast!

Alec's Social Links:

Instagram: @cygnusstudiosllc

Twitter: @LlcCygnus 

Sebastion and The Single Player Experience Links:

Head to Discord to join the FREE Single Player Experience Discord Server! https://discord.gg/YeCwD6gtDv

For more episodes, head to Apple Podcasts.

Connect with Sebastion:

Write In Here: https://pronerdreport.com/contact/

What's up, everyone?

2

Welcome to the Single Player Experience,

the best podcast since pizza was invented,

3

the best things since pizza was invented.

4

As always, I'm your host, Sebastian

Mauldin, and joining me today is

5

an absolute rock star, an absolute

mega star, because he has never

6

been defeated in Mario Kart.

7

He is the master of all things destiny.

8

He is the wonderful individual that has

conquered the latest Star Trek convention.

9

In Las Vegas.

10

Ladies and gentlemen, my guest

today is none other than Alec.

11

Alec, how you doing today?

12

I am fantastic.

13

Thank you for that intro.

14

Man, I told you I'm fired up today.

15

I'm so excited to have you on the show.

16

Alec, you know, like this, it's, I

know you've been on the show several

17

different times now, but every time

you're on, it's a, it's a vibe, it's

18

an energy and I'm, I'm all here for it.

19

Hey, I'm happy to bring

the vibe and the energy.

20

So Alec, are you doing well today?

21

Yeah, I'm doing pretty well.

22

You know, I, uh, got to watch

the, or I've been catching up

23

slowly on strange new world.

24

So it's been nice to be able to

do that today as well as get some

25

new job applications out there.

26

So, you know, fun times.

27

Yeah, for sure.

28

For sure.

29

Alec, you know, like, before we get

into all the video game stuff, like,

30

you're, there's a show that people have

been recommending to me, but like, I'm

31

not, they're not, they're kind of light

into sci fi, whereas I know you're

32

a sci fi, like, buff at this point.

33

Like, people have been recommending

this show called The Orville to me.

34

As a Star Trek person, is

this like, basically like, off

35

brand, like, Star Trek, or is

this like, an actual good show?

36

So from the people that I've talked to who

have watched it, that's what they've said.

37

Um, I have a friend who is a huge Trekkie.

38

A shout out to Mike.

39

He...

40

Swears that the Auroville is maybe

some of the best Star Trek related

41

content that is out there right now.

42

Um, so definitely give it a whirl.

43

It's on my list.

44

If I could ever get through

my backlog of TV shows, I'm

45

going to eventually get there.

46

But it is hard.

47

It's hard to watch everything.

48

It really is.

49

So what's the top three shows

on your backlog right now?

50

So I, so about a month ago, I had started

rewatching The Next Gen, because I

51

hadn't watched, it's been probably 5 or

6 years since I've gone back through it.

52

So, that was on there, The Expanse

is another one, because I've heard

53

such great things about it, um.

54

My girlfriend and I had started a couple

episodes and again just hit the backlog.

55

And then, uh, the new season of Futurama.

56

So I've seen, I've seen

two episodes thus far.

57

I don't know if any more have come out

but it's, it's definitely on the list

58

of, uh, what I need to work through.

59

So as a guy who really enjoyed like

Futurama back in its initial run

60

and then like its rerun after they

after they decided to bring it back.

61

Do you feel like the first two

episodes of this new like this new

62

season like feels like the same

embodiment of what the the old show is?

63

Oh, a hundred percent.

64

Okay.

65

It's yeah, it really hit

the nostalgia factor.

66

Um, and I love that they keep hammering

how many times that they've been canceled.

67

Yeah, exactly.

68

It's like classic Matt Groening.

69

So it's been, it's been wonderful

to, to have Futurama back.

70

Okay.

71

Okay.

72

So I know like, uh, most of the

original cast is back, but I have

73

to ask about my favorite character.

74

Did they bring back Dr.

75

Zoibird?

76

They did.

77

Dr.

78

Zoidberg is here.

79

Yes.

80

Yeah.

81

Zoidberg is probably my favorite,

like, character in that era

82

of, like, TV, basically.

83

Oh, yeah.

84

I quote Zoidberg on the daily,

especially when I complete any task.

85

I'm like, Hooray, I'm useful.

86

Yeah.

87

I love it.

88

I absolutely love it.

89

So, Alec, you know, it's always

a joy to have you on the show.

90

Let's...

91

Let's get to a new topic of the

show and that's spicy takes.

92

Let's get spicy real quick, Alec.

93

Okay.

94

So in this, in this like

segment of the show, I'm going

95

to ask you for a spicy take.

96

It can be video game related.

97

It could be all encompassing on life, but

this is a take that is, you know, some

98

might consider it a hot take, so to speak.

99

Do you, do you have one for me, Alec?

100

Do you need a moment to think about it?

101

I have a spicy take, but

I'm afraid to say it.

102

I wonder what it is.

103

I'm so curious.

104

So, my spicy take is that gaming

communities are, at the same time, one

105

of the best things, and also one of the

absolute worst things on planet Earth.

106

Like...

107

They are this interesting dichotomy

of people who find really cool things

108

in games, and they, you know, show you

new builds, or show you a bug that's

109

hilarious, you come across things, but

then you have the members of the community

110

who want the game to absolutely burn to

the ground, and are, you know, grabbing

111

their pitchforks, and are trying to rile

up the community as much as possible, and

112

it's, uh, it's, it's, This, it's so weird.

113

It's so weird to see both sides of the, to

see both sides of the aisle because it's

114

like, oh my God, it's the passion though,

you know, like, you know, we, we gravitate

115

and we find something passionate about it.

116

And I think people express passion

in so many different weird ways.

117

Oh, 100%.

118

A hundred percent, like, uh, I know

that we're talking a little bit before

119

this, but yeah, like I was saying how

Destiny right now is in this really

120

weird spot with the community where

there are members of the community

121

who are trying to defend devs.

122

And then you have other members of the

community who think the devs are just

123

the worst people that have ever existed.

124

And this.

125

The clashes that are happening

are something to behold in comment

126

sections, uh, regardless of whether,

regardless of medium, like even on

127

their, uh, their community posts.

128

It's just people just, they

are, it's, it's Wyland.

129

I bet it is.

130

I bet it is.

131

You know, it's, you know, like, um,

here's like, I had an idea about

132

this and like me and a couple people

were talking about this like concept.

133

What if like we get to a future, there's

a game that comes out and like all of

134

its new features are all of its new

components like after the base game is out

135

are basically voted on by the community.

136

Like by the committee of like community

members and such that are the community

137

like they upvote like, Hey, like we are

going to nerf this character by like 20

138

percent like y'all for this and against

this we'll leave this up for like two days

139

and we'll see we'll come back to it if you

vote yes, that character has been nerfed.

140

Well, what kind of what kind of

world would we live in do you think

141

it'd be more peaceful you think

it'd be more pandemonium there.

142

It's really hard to say I think.

143

Yeah.

144

Like, that's one of the beauties of indie

developing, right, is because you are sort

145

of the sole developer of your product in

a lot of cases, especially outside of,

146

you know, distribution companies, then

it, because you are the creator, you can

147

really have that connection with fans and

fans can really influence those decisions

148

that you're making because there's

not all the red tape in between it.

149

But I mean, yeah.

150

There was a there's I think it's

an interesting discussion because

151

it's one of those things where

especially in the destiny community.

152

Yeah.

153

Like, I just don't think

people, especially depending

154

on the size of your audience.

155

It's impossible just to

make everybody happy.

156

Yeah, for sure.

157

Like, uh, there's a big problem right

now in destiny to PVP with, uh, uh.

158

With Titans.

159

Specifically, there's a subclass of

Titan called, uh, well, Arch Titan.

160

And the Arch Titan is dominating the

Crucible landscape so much that it's

161

really pushed the other classes out.

162

And so you have...

163

Very vocal part of the community who's

saying, Oh, they need to nerf this at all.

164

They need to nerf that.

165

No, they need to change this.

166

And then you have members who

are Titans who are like, well,

167

this is we're, we're good.

168

We're good right now.

169

So don't touch it.

170

Like, leave it.

171

Just let us have our fun.

172

And then maybe we can change it

down the road and the clashes

173

that are happening over it.

174

It's just hilarious to sort of watch

it all unfold all the time because

175

the arguments are always the same.

176

So that's right.

177

Yeah, and I, like, I think the voting

is good for sort of the majority of

178

the community, but you're always going

to have outliers of people who are

179

dissatisfied with one change or another.

180

Yeah, that's, you can't please everybody.

181

It's just that simple fact, right?

182

Yeah, yeah, and I think part

of it too, especially in games,

183

nerfing is so hard to do.

184

Um, I think you're...

185

It's such a dangerous line to walk,

because I think the only way that you

186

can sort of successfully nerf things

is bring everything up around it.

187

Um, because when you have one

item that's sort of dominating a

188

meta, it just sort of ruins the

experience for all of the other items.

189

So when you then nerf that one item

that people become really attached to,

190

it then causes all kinds of issues.

191

And so it's almost better to sort

of lift everything up as opposed to

192

nerfing, but then there's that whole

discussion of, okay, well, then what do

193

you buff and how much do you buff it?

194

And it's just.

195

It's all chaos.

196

It's all just chaos.

197

Yeah.

198

That's, that's, I don't know.

199

It's like, whatever you do, you just

can't please everybody at that point.

200

You're, you're damned if you do and you're

damned if you don't like there's, there's

201

really no in between on it, especially

for like something that's living,

202

breathing, like destiny to like, Oh yeah.

203

So that kind of brings me to an

interesting question like, which community

204

do you think is upset the most right now?

205

Do you feel like it's Destiny 2 or

because you're a part of that community?

206

Or like, do you feel like

it's the Diablo 4 community?

207

Like right now?

208

Oh yeah, yeah.

209

Uh, it's so hard to say.

210

I think Overwatch 2, they

have a claim to fame.

211

Oh my gosh, yeah.

212

I think there are so many communities

that have set up such high expectations.

213

And now I should say,

I don't want to defend.

214

certain decisions that have been

made across all three communities.

215

I think there are, I think

there's, there's wrongs on

216

both sides of every aisle.

217

Um, but yeah, it, it really is.

218

There are a lot of communities

right now who are not satisfied with

219

where, with where their favorite

games are heading, which I get.

220

Like, it's, you know, you spend as much

time and energy as you do into a game.

221

And then of course, when.

222

Changes are made to the

system that you're used to.

223

It's difficult to adjust to it.

224

Especially if you feel like

those changes are unjust.

225

So, so do you feel like we're entering

in a new era of live service games?

226

Like, do you feel like the, like,

are people being like tired or people

227

getting saturated on that, that market?

228

Yeah, I think we're reaching a point and

I've, I've had this discussion a lot with

229

my friends and destiny is I think a lot

of the outrage around destiny is people

230

have played destiny now for nine years.

231

Um, it's been a live

service game since what 20.

232

I'm trying to remember when destiny

233

Yeah.

234

So they've been dealing with

a live service game in a

235

seasonal model since then.

236

Um, and.

237

You know, you have seasons that

deliver, and you have seasons that

238

don't deliver, and you have content that

people really like that got vaulted,

239

and you have content that people really

didn't like that's still in the game.

240

Um, and I think if you've played a game

that long, uh, and especially have put

241

in the hours that a lot of members of the

community end up putting in, because it's

242

one of those games where it's like, if you

start playing it, you can't put it down.

243

I think people are just sort

of fed up with every aspect of

244

it, whether it's PvP or PvE.

245

Um.

246

And I think, uh, the same goes for

a lot of these live service games,

247

is the longer these seasons seem to

go on, the more people seem to keep

248

playing it, the higher the expectations

are, and I think it's hard for

249

developers to raise those expectations.

250

And then on top of it, you know,

I think you can only play...

251

Uh, the same kind of content

for so long before you sort

252

to expect something different.

253

Um, which is not really the,

what I think game devs want.

254

I think they want to establish something

that players know and something that

255

they know how to create and have really

tried to perfect in terms of the system.

256

But then, you know, the communities

want to grow and do something different.

257

And I think it's hard for devs to...

258

Be able to switch gears like that.

259

So it's this really weird

dichotomy of burnout and devs.

260

I don't think quite knowing what to do.

261

So, so it's, here's a,

here's a weird thing.

262

Um, I want to ask you is like all

these live service games seem like

263

they, like the community is like

pitchforking they're up and they're

264

up in arms right now, but like.

265

Fortnite's not having that problem,

like, with their narrative or anything

266

like that, and I'm not, I don't play

Fortnite, so I can't, like, speak

267

personally to, like, I can't say the

community's not a hundred percent, like,

268

mad about something or anything like

that, but, like, publicly, at least,

269

it seems like no one is up in arms and

yelling at the rooftop, we need to shut

270

this thing down at this point, so I'm

like, why, why is Fortnite succeeding,

271

at least, like, from a community base,

like, perspective, whereas like these

272

other ones are really struggling.

273

Do you feel like it's the

constant drip of content?

274

I think it's probably the constant drip

of content, but I think it's also cost.

275

So in the case of Destiny, right, you have

a 60 base game for what was the Lightfall

276

expansion, and then you have the seasonal

pass and the dungeon pass, and All of

277

these passes that you're consistently

buying, plus all the vaulted content.

278

Um, So when you're purchasing all

this content, like, when you're ending

279

up having to spend something like

180, 200 on this game, you start to

280

be a bit more scrutinous with it.

281

And it is, you know, every three

months having to fork out what is

282

now, I think, 15, but then Bungie's

store isn't set up right, so you

283

end up spending 20 for a 15 product,

and it's just sort of a nightmare.

284

Um, I think, uh, I think it is cost,

uh, you know, in terms of Fortnite,

285

the only thing that I think that you

pay for in Fortnite is the cosmetics.

286

Yeah, I think you're right.

287

So, I mean, they have access

to new seasons and new content.

288

I know there's a seasonal pass model for

them, but that seasonal model is based

289

on, I think, Cosmetics, I don't know

if it determines access to the special

290

characters, like I know you can grab

Darth Vader and those kinds of things.

291

Um, but yeah, since I think it is more

cosmetic based, and the base game is

292

sort of free to play, I think most

people are generally happy with it.

293

I mean, you saw it with, uh, Warzone.

294

Uh, Warzone went through...

295

Their player drop off, because

they switched maps, which people

296

didn't like, they switched whole

systems for that, and then on top

297

of it they had a cheater issue.

298

But I remember, I remember before that

people loved it, um, because it gave

299

them everything that they really wanted

in terms of, uh, a free to play game

300

that didn't require you to have to

spend the money, as opposed to something

301

like Diablo or Destiny or, um, I don't

know about Overwatch either, but, uh,

302

yeah, I think it's, I think it's a

cost, a cost issue with expectations.

303

Okay, okay, I, I can see that.

304

So, here's a, here's the thing I wanted

to ask you based on all this information.

305

It's like, like, with reaching an

oversaturation point, like, Does this

306

make you worry for the like the future

for all these like you know live service

307

games because you do have like like

here let me list out some it's like you

308

have the suicide squad which kind of

got it was supposed to come out this

309

year and like the reception upon the

trip like the trailer was so terrible

310

that they moved into the next year you

had skull and bones which was been in

311

development hell for a very long time

now ubisoft is like rescheduled that

312

out for next year but at this point it

feels like it's being sent out to die and

313

they like PlayStation, like we had like

several different games, Knockout City

314

and all those, all those type of games,

just like unfortunately closed their

315

doors and no longer working on those.

316

And then you have like PlayStation

devoting 60 percent of like their

317

upcoming like budget, you know,

going towards live service models.

318

Like, do those kind of

feel like dead on arrival?

319

Do you feel like that's a good

initiative to have in this like

320

landscape we're in right now?

321

I'm like, I'm so confused.

322

I.

323

I personally think that the issue with

a lot of these live service games is

324

they're just getting pushed too early.

325

I think a lot of AAA developers

are very quick to release games.

326

And I don't think that is a

fault of the developers as much

327

as it is boardroom members.

328

Um, but like Battlefield 2042 is

like the perfect example of...

329

The set expectation was this is this

battlefield supposed to play like

330

battlefield four and it's going to be

128 player maps and everything's going

331

to be wonderful and I, I bought the hype.

332

I've been a long time battlefield

player was really excited to play it

333

and then I fire it up and it was far

from anything that had been advertised.

334

I mean the environments

were Not detailed at all.

335

They were very lifeless.

336

There was very little cover.

337

It just felt like it was incomplete.

338

Um, and then in the course, in the

interviews that have come after that,

339

and the reports that have come after

that was members of the development

340

team at dice knew it was incomplete and

had been pushing back against the board

341

to, you know, get those dates extended.

342

But because of it.

343

You get what we had in Battlefield 2042,

and I think it sort of feels that way

344

with a lot of games that are coming out,

especially from AAA developers lately, is

345

you're getting, even though we're getting

games into our hands a lot quicker,

346

and that's been incredible, at the same

time, they still probably need more work.

347

And I think the expectation, especially

from games like Grand Theft Auto or

348

the Witcher or um, even Diablo, I

think they've set the bar so high

349

that when we are not finding games

that are coming out with that content,

350

like right off the bat, I think the,

especially for the cos point that has

351

gone up, I think a lot of consumers are

just so dissatisfied, especially when.

352

Then after you get, you pay in

the case of what I did, I paid a

353

hundred dollars for Battlefield 2042.

354

And then you get the whole, Oh, now

come by our season pass or, Oh, now

355

come by this or come by this cosmetic.

356

And you're just sitting there

going, what, why fix this?

357

I'm not going to give you more money.

358

Um, and so I think that's, that's

sort of the problem with the live

359

service games is that I think

they're falling into the pit of.

360

Uh, the sort of a multitude of reasons

of burnout plus underwhelming results.

361

And I think there's like,

you've talked about really an

362

oversaturation of a lot of game types.

363

I mean, how many battle royales

are on the market right now?

364

I'll tell you so many,

so many at this point.

365

And, and I definitely get the appeal.

366

Like I get the appeal of

companies wanting to do that.

367

I mean, they, those games make good

money, but at the same time, I think

368

consumers are starting to get to a

point where they're a little fed up.

369

With, with where their money is going.

370

Yeah.

371

And then, um, like.

372

You know, to add on to this component,

like with everyone making like with all

373

these companies making these live service

games with this, like the landscape

374

kind of shifting underneath their feet

as well as like, we're starting to

375

see like single player games like it

have this big renaissance right now,

376

like, yes, Zelda Tears of the Kingdom

selling like crazy Baldur's Gate 3

377

is taking over everything right now.

378

It is amazing to see it's like, yeah.

379

Baldur's Gate, like a game, like the game

that was put out during the summer where

380

we thought it was going to be the quiet

time before like Starfield came out, is

381

now like the biggest game in the world.

382

It's like the rock star that just rose

up and just put out this pop hit that

383

everyone can't stop singing at this point.

384

It is, it's a game that like so many

people probably, myself included,

385

had never played Baldur's Gate 2 or

Baldur's Gate 1 and this game is like

386

Life now, like this, like, it's, it's

here, it's like, it's the, it's the new

387

king that was promised, so to speak,

it's, it's so, it's so cool at the same

388

time to see all this, like, how do you

feel about, like, all the, the single

389

player renaissance just swooping in,

whereas, like, even amongst all the,

390

like, uncertainty with, like, the, the

multipliers, like, landscape right now?

391

Oh, I love it.

392

I mean, I am so, I, I grew up

in the whole single player game.

393

Focus.

394

I mean, uh, whether it was the heck,

the original call of duties, I know

395

that they broke ground for multiplayer,

but the campaigns were so much fun.

396

Um, so I grew up on those, the original

halo campaigns, uh, elder scrolls,

397

oblivion, elder scrolls, Skyrim, the

original GTAs, like those original

398

campaigns were absolutely everything.

399

And so to be coming back around to

more of a single player focus game, I

400

think is really answering a lot of the.

401

things that people have

wanted in the market.

402

I think a lot of people, as we've sort

of just like noted, are a little fed up

403

with multiplayer games at the moment.

404

So to have something that is so

strictly single player, so narratively

405

focused, um, has been awesome.

406

Not to mention all of the reprises

that are going on as well.

407

I mean, we had, um.

408

Oh, what was it?

409

Oh, it's gonna drive me nuts.

410

We had...

411

Didn't come out this year.

412

Resident Evil 4!

413

Yeah, RE4.

414

It was just recently reprised and

people just absolutely adored it.

415

And again, it's a totally

single player focused game.

416

Um, so to see that...

417

MetroProm as well!

418

Yeah, Metro Prime as well.

419

And so to see those games sort of

shine again and to see really this

420

focus on coming back to these really

narratively focused really like gameplay

421

mechanic focus games without all of the

multiplayer matchmaking and everything

422

else involved is really awesome.

423

Yeah, it's a man it's it's crazy

like I don't know if I'm if I'm

424

a studio right now if I'm like,

I find out feel comfortable like

425

staying the course at this point,

like, I don't like, I don't know.

426

I'm like, I might shift.

427

I'm like, I might shift if I'm like

one or two years into development.

428

I'm like, can we can we make a

lot of this concept into a single

429

player experience at this point?

430

As are do we kind of like move, move and

keep doing what we've been doing at this?

431

Like, I don't get it.

432

I really don't.

433

I think that's the hardest

decision in the world right now.

434

Yeah, I think, and I think a big

part of it too is also IP focused.

435

Yeah.

436

I mean, you see it, Bethesda's

taking a big risk right now.

437

Yeah.

438

They have delayed Fallout developments.

439

They've delayed Elder Scrolls

developments for something that

440

is totally different and new.

441

Um, and so to...

442

Sort of forsake the, the fallout 76

route and then go for a totally single

443

player focused experience and something

like Starfield is so exciting to see.

444

And so I'm, I'm hoping that more companies

are willing to take that risk, that

445

they're willing to sort of put down

some of the more popular IPs and go for

446

something that's totally different from

everything that we're seeing right now.

447

I, I don't think like

448

give me a better example, but

I don't think in recent memory.

449

I can't remember any game having this

much pressure on it than Starfield like

450

Starfield feels like it has the weight

of it feels like it has the weight of

451

the empire of Xbox on it like because

of the the drought of their first party

452

exclusive lineup and the feel like the

I say what you will about like a like

453

Halo and everything like that that

game did not live up to expectations.

454

Yes.

455

And then Redfall happened and then

like, Outside of, yeah, Red Ball

456

happened and then outside of Forza,

I'm like, they haven't really had

457

a big victory outside of that.

458

So it's, it's hard to think of

a game that has been this highly

459

publicized outside of cyberpunk.

460

Which again, another game that had

its own issues, but like, it's really

461

hard to, or I know, well, Zelda,

of course, was another extremely

462

highly publicized releases as any

Zelda releases, but yeah, I can't.

463

The very much the weight of Xbox

is gaming platform is, I think,

464

going to be very reliant on

whether Starfield can land or not.

465

And that's going to be, yeah,

that's what I was just like, it's

466

like, that's so much pressure.

467

It feels like you just like.

468

He, like, Xbox put all the chips

on the table in Las Vegas and

469

just said, let it roll, baby.

470

It just, like, let it roll.

471

Please be a son, baby.

472

I, I'm gonna make a prediction

that might not age well, but...

473

It's my decision to take!

474

I,

475

I adore Bethesda games.

476

I absolutely love them.

477

But what is well known amongst

Bethesda games is they are buggy.

478

So I have a feeling that this

is going to be a very polarizing

479

release for a lot of folks.

480

I think there's going to be a lot

of people who are really happy

481

with it, who are like, this is

what I wanted out of a space

482

exploration RPG, and this is amazing.

483

And then you're going to have

people who are not as familiar

484

with the Bethesda IP who get on

there and go, what am I playing?

485

What am I playing?

486

Yeah, I was, I remember talking to

my brother once about, um, there was,

487

uh, with the original Skyrim release

for testing for internal testing,

488

they couldn't get Skyrim to run.

489

So they had to, they had to release

it on its test mode because that

490

was the only way it could run.

491

They could not run it in release mode.

492

And that's how Skyrim released.

493

Um, so based on those things.

494

Plus all of the Fallout 76, plus Elder

Scrolls Oblivion, plus the Fallout 4, I'm

495

like, this is gonna, it's gonna be a spicy

release to say the least, and I think, I

496

think overall, at like, at the end of the

day, kind of like Cyberpunk, despite the

497

bugs, it's gonna be an incredible game.

498

You're gonna get incredible narrative

storytelling, you're gonna get

499

incredible gameplay, but you're

also gonna get a lot of bugs.

500

Yeah.

501

I'm going to go the opposite for you,

like, I think it's, yeah, I think it's

502

going to be like, I think it's going

to be polarizing in the system where,

503

like, I think every, I think it's

going to be a polished experience.

504

Cause I don't think Xbox can afford a

buggy mess right now, but I, yeah, I,

505

so I, I think like that game's probably

done now, except for like just polishing,

506

polishing, polishing at this point.

507

But yeah, I think that.

508

It's going to, I think like it's

game is going to be pretty pristine.

509

I think that 30 frames per second thing

is going to affect a lot of people because

510

it's a shooter game for a lot of it.

511

And then I think like it being the fact

that you can explore a thousand planets.

512

I feel like a lot of those

planets are going to be lifeless

513

and have nothing to do on them.

514

And I feel like that is really

going to hamper a vast majority of

515

people's experience with the game.

516

Yeah, sort of the no

man's sky thing, Exactly.

517

No,

518

I, I mean, I wouldn't doubt it.

519

I'm, it's gonna be really,

really fascinating to see how.

520

This releases, like, typically I'm

very quick to pre order Bethesda games,

521

but this one I'm like, I, I have been

burned so many times lately with pre

522

orders that I'm like, I'm just going

to let it release, maybe let it even

523

sit for a year, depending on how the

reviews are, and then come to it.

524

Because it usually, it seems like every

game that drops nowadays, especially from

525

AAA developers, unless it's good off the

bat, that it's like, come back in a year.

526

It's all polished up and fixed.

527

I think for the drama aspect, like,

for both sides of the fence, like,

528

the, like, for all the issues that you

listed out with Bethesda's history,

529

and then my theory, I'm like, this is

probably my most anticipated, like,

530

game this year, and I adore Spider Man.

531

I think Spider Man, like, Spider Man is

probably, like, the most Sebastian game

532

there probably is coming out this year.

533

It's just, like, The drama, the

tea, the mat, like the anticipation

534

for how good or bad or everything

in between Starfield is going to be

535

like, and how much is riding on it.

536

Like, I'm just a spectator at the casino.

537

Like, well, Xbox is shaking its

hand right now with the dice

538

and I'm like, Oh my goodness.

539

Are they going to go?

540

Oh, they're going to do it.

541

Like, Oh, like, like that

is how I feel right now.

542

Like, like, I think about it and

I like get excited because I'm

543

like, I need to know, like it is.

544

Uh, it is almost like a Game of

Thrones like cliffhanger level

545

of like, of like, Oh, snap.

546

If they fail at this, it is,

it's, it's not just Halo Infinite.

547

It is.

548

It feels like everything.

549

Like, it feels like, yeah, it feels

like this is the generation on the

550

line for Xbox and Oh, for sure.

551

Yeah.

552

So I'm like, I, that drama, that level of.

553

Of anticipation for me.

554

It's gotten to a point that fever

pitch, like it's the bowling

555

pot that is bowled over now.

556

I'm like, I need to know

how this is going to end.

557

Like I'm in it now.

558

So yeah, Starfield is Starfield

is my most anticipated game now.

559

I'm like, Oh, I need to

know, I need to know.

560

Oh, a hundred percent.

561

I mean, Xbox is in such a tough spot.

562

I mean, you have everything Nintendo

does that just seems to turn to

563

gold, and then all of the exclusive

Sony releases, like things like God

564

of War, which came out earlier this

year, which again, did not miss.

565

They are in a very tough spot,

especially after Halo Infinite.

566

Even though I do have some gripes

with that community as well,

567

but it's, it's interesting.

568

It's going to be really interesting to

see and I, I really hope for everybody

569

at Bethesda and Xbox that it lands

because I personally, again, love their

570

studio, love the work that they've done.

571

Really excited and really hope that

Starfield is that sci fi experience that

572

we all want, of being able to explore an

open world and have those narratives and

573

have the cool combat things and design

your own ship and bully the adoring fan.

574

Like, we always want those kinds of

aspects, but yeah, it's gonna be,

575

it's gonna be a very spicy September.

576

I, like, I know Game Pass is probably

going to, like, and completely, the

577

servers for Game Pass, they better, like,

up those because, like, they better,

578

like, they better up those because, like,

it is less than, as of this recording,

579

so, like, this is, we're August 10th

when we're recording this right now.

580

It is going to be September 6th when

Starfield officially releases and

581

They better be ready because like

the floodgates are going to be like

582

open for people who are interested

in this game to see if it's going

583

to succeed, fail for people who

just want to play a good video game.

584

Like that, there's going to be like a

wave of people like old school black

585

Friday, kind of like people rushing

through the gates of those servers.

586

It's yeah, I, I, I can't wait

to see what type of like.

587

Drama in ensues.

588

If this , if this, because it has

to be a game of the year contender.

589

It's like it's, yeah, it has to be, yeah.

590

Any, anything less than that

is considered like, yeah.

591

Like a misstep at this point.

592

A misfire.

593

Yeah.

594

This is sort of the perfect storm of an

enormous studio with high expectations.

595

Yeah.

596

An enormous platform

with high expectations.

597

And if it is anything less

than absolutely stellar.

598

Yeah, for sure.

599

Yeah, for sure.

600

Xbox fans are gonna be burning

down the gates, . Oh yeah.

601

They really are.

602

They really are, you know, like, and,

you know, as like the other Xbox studios

603

have to be like waited on bated breath

thinking to themselves like, please don't

604

let this fail because like, then that

wait, that wait, like the hope of the

605

new saviors like switches on to fable

like coming up and then like, can fable

606

be the the savior that was promised at

that point and it's like, yeah, it's

607

Starfield has so much riding on it.

608

It's so interesting.

609

Oh, yeah.

610

And not only that, but especially

for those other studios.

611

If Starfield lands and lands well,

then people are interested in

612

whatever Microsoft has to sell.

613

Yeah.

614

So, for those other studios,

they need Starfield to succeed.

615

Because like you said, like either

the pressure falls on them, or

616

their sales are also going to tank.

617

Because their s They're going to be

somewhat reliant on whether Microsoft

618

can deliver a good product or not.

619

Um, because if Microsoft

can't, then it's, it's, yeah.

620

Then Xbox is going to be

very dead in the water.

621

Yeah.

622

Oh, this whole generation.

623

And it's, that's sad.

624

I hope, I hope for their sake

and also for mine, because I

625

really want this game to be good.

626

Yeah.

627

Yeah.

628

Yeah.

629

And not only that, but like the.

630

One of the great, uh, hilarities

of my time has been the, the whole

631

PlayStation versus Xbox versus

Nintendo versus, you know, PC debate.

632

And it's, and part of the enjoyment

of that though, is that you have so

633

many different platforms that have so

many different access to great items.

634

And so, you know.

635

Having that competition is healthy, but

at the same time, it's also really good

636

to be able to be like, Hey, you know what?

637

I want to go play a Bethesda product

or, Hey, you know, I want to go

638

play Spider Man and, and have those,

those games be good because they're

639

all trying to one up each other in

terms of, uh, where their games are.

640

And for us as consumers, it's great.

641

It really is.

642

This is magnificent.

643

Yeah, it's magnificent.

644

So, you know, I gotta ask you like.

645

I want to get to another, the

next topic of the show, because we

646

have a very interesting segment.

647

It's something, nothing, or everything.

648

I'm gonna read out a couple of news

stories, and you, Alec, are gonna tell

649

me if this is something worthwhile,

if this is everything, like the whole

650

existence of gaming is riding on this.

651

Like, this is a very important

story, or like, you know, this is

652

nothing at all, nothing of note.

653

So, like, Baldur's Gate, You know, I

want to start with like Baldur's Gate 3.

654

This game, it's already everything.

655

Already everything.

656

That is, that's so funny because

I, I, I'm already with you.

657

Like, it feels like it's just

everything at this point, but yeah.

658

Um, yeah.

659

So Baldur's Gate 3 had, had a very

interesting story, um, where basically.

660

It had, it had like saves that were bigger

than a lot of indie games out there like

661

the save files were bigger than a lot

of the indie games completely like, is

662

that something nothing or everything like

how, how, like, how cool and also like.

663

I guess you could say intimidating

that is for like a hard drive.

664

Yeah, I would say that's definitely, it's

definitely something, um, like, so to,

665

I've had this discussion a lot with people

because they ask me why are games so big?

666

And typically games are So big because you

have to so like if you develop a let's say

667

you develop a first person shooter for an

xbox game right xbox has such set hardware

668

that you know exactly what you're getting

you know exactly how every xbox well

669

Every Xbox, you know how every Xbox is

going to run for like the next five years.

670

So when you develop a game,

you're like, okay, cool.

671

I'm going to use these textures.

672

I'm going to have this many

items in my environment.

673

I'm going to have this lighting

set up and that's going to

674

dictate your frames per second.

675

So typically, like, especially with

something that's a PC game, that's why

676

like war zone is like 300 gigabytes.

677

Cause they're having to account for.

678

This large bandwidth of hardware

across all of these different systems.

679

So to hear that a save is, like, bigger

than some indie games is like, what?

680

It's crazy, isn't it?

681

Like, I'd be curious to see

what all the save data is about.

682

I assume it's about, you know, uh,

player interactions and, uh, sort of

683

the information that it needs to...

684

Store, but I don't know.

685

Obviously, that's what save data is, but

I, uh, yeah, that's, it's really something

686

because I think it also highlights

this, this really big thing that my

687

brother and I were talking about, which

is this, this, this sort of shift in

688

hardware, um, that's sort of occurring.

689

Like, I know everybody has to

update their PC every three to five

690

years and you need to yada, yada.

691

But I think, again, it sort of

highlights how much space do

692

you need for a game and how.

693

That affects your GPU and how that affects

the whole price of your PC in general.

694

Like if I buy a Steam Deck, how

much space do I need on my Steam

695

Deck for a Baldur's Gate save?

696

So that's, yeah, I think that's definitely

something and it's definitely something

697

consumers should keep an eye on.

698

Cause yeah, that affects, it

could potentially affect a lot.

699

Yeah.

700

Here, here, let me further the

story and let me add a little,

701

little spice on top of all this.

702

So, I'm reading a report from The

Gamer written by Joshua Robertson

703

and like, he wrote, According to the

game's most recent hotfix, a lot of

704

players in Boulder Skate 3 were doing

so much in their own adventures that

705

their personal stories, databases, were

getting too big and causing all sorts

706

of issues such as crashes and glitches.

707

Obviously, Boulders Gate 3 is a game full

of personal choices and the game takes

708

into account all your decisions, even

in the side quests and optional content.

709

So all of you completionists

out there were doing too much

710

and cramming your databases so

much that things needed fixing.

711

It also probably doesn't help that save

scumming is quite popular thing to do

712

in a choice driven game titles such as

this, which is the act of saving your

713

game before a big decision in order

to potentially reload your game if an

714

outcome isn't what you want it to be.

715

So, like, that's also,

like, attributed to this.

716

Interesting.

717

Yeah, I, that, that makes more sense now.

718

So they're just stacking saves on

saves on saves on saves on saves.

719

Cause, you know, you have the

people out there who they make

720

a decision and they're like, no.

721

No, I save and then they work

through the three other things.

722

And they've saved on top of that save.

723

And they're, you know,

50 hours into the game.

724

And that's, yeah, okay,

that makes more sense.

725

But holy moly.

726

But still, I'm like.

727

Like, there's what, like, I think

they said, what, like, close

728

to 17, 000 lines of dialogue in

this game, and it is Okay, yeah!

729

And like, every little

decision, like, matters.

730

Like, if you kill someone

later, like, that plays, uh,

731

early, that plays a factor.

732

Like, all the side quests also

integrate with, like, the main quest.

733

Like, and they play a part in the

main quest later, and Whether it be

734

a little part or a big part, or like,

everything matters in this game.

735

It feels like Game of Thrones, like, but

a video game It really is D& D, I love it.

736

Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I'm

like, this feels like...

737

In a weird way, you know, like, everyone

was praising, uh, like, Zelda Tears of

738

the Kingdom's game mechanics, and, and

it was revolutionary, but, like, this

739

feels like it's doing, like, the impr

like, this is, like, ze to the level

740

of Zelda's impressiveness of, like, ga

like, Zelda was game mechanics, but this

741

is, like, storytelling and character

progression, and character, like, and, and

742

character development, and it feels like

they're, like, putting that same level

743

of, like, Development towards that those

facets and almost balancing the scales

744

a little bit like, yeah, it's weird.

745

It is.

746

It's a weird thing.

747

Yeah, it's it's really fun to see

that, though, because it's to to have

748

a game that's so focused on what it

knows it wants to be is phenomenal.

749

Um, and that's what made Zelda so

incredible is they knew from day one.

750

What's going to make this fun

is people playing with physics.

751

Um.

752

And so they just built on top

of, okay, if I were to play with

753

physics, what can I, how can we make

everything interact with each other?

754

So people can build their, their,

their Mecca robots and stuff.

755

So it's great to see another,

another really focused, okay,

756

we are a story driven game.

757

So let's go as big as we can in terms

of, uh, being able to tell a story.

758

So that's phenomenal.

759

That's really cool.

760

It's like, so.

761

You know, before we move on to

our next story, like mm-hmm.

762

, do you feel like you're gonna

jump into a Boulder Skate three?

763

Oh, yeah.

764

Oh, oh, for a hundred percent.

765

I know it's, it's on the list.

766

So not only that, but it's

got like a 97% on meta critic.

767

It beat tears of the Kingdom man.

768

Like, which, what?

769

It's unbelievable that Tears of

the Kingdom is, is the, the second

770

highest rated of game this year.

771

So to see a game that's, that's up

there like that, I mean, that's.

772

This, yeah, that's really second

to none, like, that's incredible.

773

I, I didn't think this was, like, I

didn't think this was possible this

774

year, like, I thought if any game had a

chance, it was Starfield, just because,

775

like, a western RPG, based on all the

things we said earlier, like, if it lived

776

up to the highest of highs, I thought

it was, like, possible, like, that it

777

would be, like, those two going toe to

toe, but, like, Is there a chance we

778

might live in a world where Boulders

779

I would love that so much.

780

That would, that would make me so

happy to see that, because that game,

781

like, the hype around it and the joy

that it's giving people is phenomenal.

782

So to, to see a D& D...

783

Style game be the, be the

number one game in the world.

784

I can, I can live with that.

785

So cool.

786

Like what world are we living in though?

787

That this is a possibility that

Zelda game comes out, a Spider Man

788

game comes out, like you got a Todd

Howard, Western RPG that comes out

789

and like a final fantasy 16 dropped

this year, a Star Wars game dropped,

790

you know, like a Metroid game dropped.

791

And then like the game of the

year might be a D and D game.

792

That would be wonderful.

793

I love it.

794

I absolutely love it.

795

Like, oh man, that's,

that's so fascinating.

796

So I want to, so moving on to

the, to the next thing is this

797

something, nothing or everything

Devolver Digital had a showcase.

798

Did you hear about this?

799

No, I didn't.

800

Okay, so Devolver Digital had a showcase,

um, a couple of days ago, where it

801

had what they called Devolver Delayed.

802

It's a cheeky take on game

announcements, where they basically

803

had a showcase of games that

they're delaying until next year.

804

I love Devolver Digital, but like,

included into that, um, was like...

805

The Plucky Squire, which looks absolutely

amazing, um, Freelives Stick It to the

806

Stickman, Sam Egg's Skate Story, Freelives

Angry Foot, and the Air Etch Pepper

807

Grinder are all being pushed to 2024.

808

The showcase had a very cheery

vibe that felt like it was

809

reminiscent of Nintendo's Direct.

810

Like, is this something,

nothing, or everything?

811

I wanna say that's everything.

812

I love it!

813

As a developer, I love it!

814

Like, delays are never fun.

815

Reporting delays are never fun.

816

And as we highlighted earlier,

your community will tell

817

you about how it's not fun.

818

So, to see a company actually be so

transparent and, and almost make fun of

819

themselves for the delay is wonderful.

820

Like that, I really wish that was

the approach to how these delays

821

are occurring as opposed to,

nothing kind of cracks me up more.

822

That when a game gets delayed and you

get on social media and it's like reading

823

a funeral eulogy or something about, we

are so sorry, you know, this happened.

824

And then, you know, we made

these expectations and it's not

825

at the point that we want it.

826

So like reading those suck.

827

So to see that instead that they're

having fun with it, that's wonderful.

828

I think that's That's phenomenal.

829

I wish, I wish that was

more of the approach.

830

Cause I think it gets the

community behind it more as well.

831

Man, I like that.

832

I thought this was, this was fine.

833

It gave a good vibe.

834

They, they did confirm that they still

have games coming out later this year.

835

So I'm like, if you have to delay a

game, like, and break news to people,

836

like this is a fun way of doing it.

837

Yes.

838

Totally agree.

839

Totally agree.

840

so, I want to move on

to the next story here.

841

And this is one that I,

I had to have you on for.

842

Because, Destiny 2 has, you know,

replaced the late, great Lance Reddick.

843

With, um, Keith David.

844

For everyone listening who don't know,

who doesn't know who Keith David is.

845

Phenomenal, like, actor,

especially voice actor.

846

He's been the voice of,

um, Spawn before, like.

847

Um, he's also was the Arbiter and,

um, Halo, like the Halo series.

848

He played, um, let's see the

president and Rick and Morty for all

849

you Rick and Morty fans out there.

850

He's been in Saints Row.

851

He's been in like a Mass

Effect as, um, David Anderson.

852

And, uh, he was the Black Panther in

the animated Avengers show as well.

853

So I'm like, he was

mongled in Young Justice.

854

Like, this dude's been

in the Proud Family.

855

He was the bad guy in the

Princess and the Frog movie.

856

Like, for all you Disney fans out there.

857

Like, this guy's been killing it.

858

Like, absolutely killing it.

859

He was my childhood, basically, is

what I'm finding out right here.

860

My whole damn childhood.

861

But, um, yeah, he, so he is

replacing the, like, great

862

Lance Reddick as the character.

863

And correct me if I'm wrong, is it Zavala?

864

Yes, Zavala.

865

Yeah.

866

Is this something, nothing, or everything?

867

So, it is definitely something.

868

Okay.

869

It is...

870

It has been really tough.

871

Uh, everybody who plays...

872

Destiny and who has played it,

especially over the last 9 years.

873

I've only been a part of this

community for a year now.

874

Uh, have dipped my toes into Destiny

1 recently and started playing

875

through some of those campaigns and...

876

Zavala is, like, the guy.

877

He is...

878

He is the leader of the Vanguard.

879

He is the, the voice of wisdom.

880

He is like the focus and, and Lance

Reddick very much embodied that.

881

Like he, his voice acting with

Zavala was incredible, but like he

882

also to a degree led the community.

883

He was a Destiny player himself.

884

He loved to talk to Destiny fans

about his experiences, recording

885

what it's like to be Zavala and

all, and everything surrounding it.

886

And he's, Zavala is such

a beloved character.

887

That, uh, I think a lot of

folks were really struggling

888

with how do we move forward?

889

Like, do you kill off Zavala?

890

Uh, there was a debate whether to just

stick Zavala in his office because

891

technically he has an office in the tower

and they're like, well, if we just stick

892

him in the office, then we never lose him.

893

Um, so.

894

To recast him with the incredible Keith

David is, is I think the right play.

895

I think, I think Bungie

made the right call there.

896

Um, I'm, I'm so happy that we

get to continue to have Zavala

897

continue on as a character.

898

Um, and, you know, losing Lance was really

rough for the community, but I think Keith

899

is really going to fill that role well.

900

So, I'm really excited for Keith

to be there, and I'm also really

901

excited to still hear Lance in game.

902

Uh, because I know that they're going

to keep a lot of his voice lines in for

903

stuff that he's already created, and I

think they said that there might be a

904

couple of his voice lines in next season.

905

So, I'm, I'm really excited to, uh,

to see Zavala continue on, especially

906

through another incredible actor.

907

Okay, everyone, before we continue,

I'd be remiss in saying that Keith

908

David also voiced the one and

only Goliath from Guard Rolls.

909

Yes!

910

Like, yeah, I was about to say,

probably one of the most iconic

911

roles of all time as Goliath.

912

But, um, yeah, like, so, so wonderful.

913

But, um, I want to ask you, so,

like, Zavala, like, the way you're

914

describing him kind of reminds me

of, like, Is he the Charles Xavier

915

of, of like, Destiny 2, basically?

916

Yes.

917

Of the Destiny universe?

918

He, he is the stoic, brilliant, cool guy.

919

Like, he is the guy who

is so cool under pressure.

920

And this, this season in

particular, I know there are a

921

lot of folks who had an issue with

sort of the drip story mechanic.

922

Beyond the point.

923

The stories that were told this

season, the cutscenes that we got,

924

particularly between Zavala and

other characters, I think was.

925

Unbelievable.

926

In fact, there's, uh, I don't want

to spoil anything for anybody in case

927

anybody hasn't played it, but there

is an interaction in one of the story

928

missions between Saint 14 and Zavala,

and Saint, uh, is sort of, he's another

929

leader in the Vanguard, but he's seen

as, he's like, he has a, a PVP content

930

thing called Trials of Osiris that he

runs, but from a story standpoint, he

931

used to be the leader of the Vanguard, and

there's this incredible exchange between

932

the two of them, um, that sort of goes

about, That talks about the difficulties

933

of leading, the difficulties of losing

people under your command and, you know,

934

how do you go about sort of overcoming

everything that's going on at the moment?

935

And so, uh, yeah, Zavala really

is sort of that, that Professor X.

936

He's the, he's, you know, the, the full

leader of this group and has sort of been

937

the stable, I hold everything down, but

at the same time, he's a Freakin badass

938

and it's, it's so cool to be able to, to

have such a, a transformative character

939

like in the, as sort of the lead of, of,

of everything about it and the community's

940

respect for Zavala has been unbelievable.

941

I know when Lance passed, a lot of

people put on their salute emotes and

942

went up to Zavala and saluted for hours

and just the, the love, the outpouring

943

of love that people have for that

character has been incredible to see.

944

I love that.

945

It sounds like, you know, like, you know,

this, it's always tricky whenever you

946

have like a real life person pass away

who played a beloved character because I'm

947

like this, you know, this whole situation

kind of reminds me of the debate that

948

happened when Chadwick Boseman passed

away and with the Black Panther situation.

949

Should they recast him?

950

Should they retire that mantle of like

T'Challa and everything like that?

951

They went the opposite direction to

where they retired Chichalas, like the,

952

the whole mantle for, for his character.

953

But like, it, it's so interesting to see

like how different, how the response is

954

for the other side of the foot to where

like the, to see the recap, like recasting

955

this character, this beloved character.

956

A hundred percent.

957

I know, I, I might be biased too

because one of my, Zavala is my favorite

958

character to, to have him in the series

and to have Lance be, one of the reasons

959

I love Zavala is because of Lance.

960

I mean, Lance's work across all

different kinds of mediums has

961

been incredible to experience.

962

But, uh, yeah, to.

963

One of my, uh, one of the things I

remember telling my friend before

964

Lightfall dropped was, man, if they

kill off Zavala, I would be so bummed.

965

Oh, no.

966

To lose Lance like that, like a couple

months later, was like, oh, come on.

967

That's real rough.

968

Yeah.

969

But yeah, it's, it's, I'm, I'm happy to

see Zavala continue on and I'm, I'm happy

970

to see Zavala continue on through, uh,

such a legendary actor as Keith David.

971

I mean, I would be lying to you if I

told you I did not adore The Arbiter.

972

I mean, The Arbiter is such a

fixture of my childhood and, and

973

especially as I got older and started

to understand the lore around Halo.

974

And it not just being a big, bad space

Marine killing aliens and actually

975

understanding the arbiter story.

976

I remember when I played Halo

two and being disappointed that,

977

Oh, I have to go be the covenant.

978

I don't want to be the covenant.

979

And then growing up a little bit and

understanding the entire backstory of

980

everything, the arbiters going through,

it's like, Oh my God, this is incredible.

981

So I, to, to play another bungee

product with Keith David in

982

it is really, really exciting.

983

So I, I.

984

Yeah, wish him all the best in that role.

985

Oh, that's good, man.

986

That's good.

987

I hope he's everything

y'all want him to be.

988

Cause like, I, you know, I'm so curious

because like, he also played another

989

beloved character in video games, and

that was like his role in Horizon, the

990

Horizon series, like for Ben West and

Horizon Zero Dawn, and I'm like, I'm so

991

curious on if like, That kid that his

role in that like game is also going to

992

be recast at this site at least but or

whether or not they're actually going to

993

just have the you know, like Find a way

to write that character out of the story.

994

So, yeah, it's, it's, it's definitely

interesting, but I'm glad the,

995

I, it seems like the reception

for this online has been very

996

positive for the destiny community.

997

So I'm, I'm very glad

everyone's happy there.

998

I got to ask you for this next,

um, story, we have a review round

999

up for a game called Atlas fallen.

00:52:35,813 --> 00:52:37,053

Have you, have you heard about this one?

00:52:38,463 --> 00:52:38,853

Okay.

00:52:39,073 --> 00:52:41,018

Atlas fallen is like a.

00:52:41,178 --> 00:52:46,048

It is basically the newest RPG from Deck

13, which is like a company based in

00:52:46,048 --> 00:52:48,068

Germany, is owned by Focus Entertainment.

00:52:48,188 --> 00:52:55,018

It is, it is an action RPG that

was, that is kind of like a mixture

00:52:55,068 --> 00:52:58,768

between like, um, it's sort of

appeals to Devil May Cry fans.

00:52:58,808 --> 00:53:02,978

It's like, yeah, so it has,

it has some really cool vibes.

00:53:02,998 --> 00:53:07,998

Um, but It is, let me see if I

can, I'm trying to figure out

00:53:08,008 --> 00:53:09,328

how I can describe this game.

00:53:09,378 --> 00:53:13,328

It's like, I'd probably say it's very

reminiscent of like Lords of the Fallen.

00:53:13,328 --> 00:53:14,388

Have you played that game before?

00:53:14,408 --> 00:53:15,978

No, I've played Lords

of the Fallen either.

00:53:16,138 --> 00:53:16,528

Okay.

00:53:16,858 --> 00:53:22,858

So like, it kind of has, uh, some, some

like hack and slash elements, but it also

00:53:22,858 --> 00:53:28,443

kind of has like some, some cool, like,

um, Magic, magical elements and kind of

00:53:28,743 --> 00:53:32,453

to me, it feels like if I'm looking at

these characters, it sort of feels like

00:53:32,453 --> 00:53:37,353

a mythology, like magical version of

almost destiny, like the way that these

00:53:37,353 --> 00:53:42,033

characters move around Atlas falling and

such like that you, um, so yeah, it's.

00:53:42,448 --> 00:53:46,778

It feels like kind of like a

more mythological, mythological

00:53:47,028 --> 00:53:50,268

version of Destiny, so to speak,

but like, it feels like this.

00:53:50,458 --> 00:53:54,308

It looks like it's a single player game,

more so than it is like a multiplayer

00:53:54,308 --> 00:53:55,788

game but I could be mistaken there.

00:53:56,328 --> 00:54:02,703

Um, but anyways, so the review roundup,

like, It seems like this game is kind

00:54:02,703 --> 00:54:05,893

of just mid, um, it, it based on legit.

00:54:05,983 --> 00:54:06,803

It's based on reviews.

00:54:06,803 --> 00:54:07,143

It's good.

00:54:07,143 --> 00:54:08,473

Like, um,

00:54:11,483 --> 00:54:12,003

yeah, sure, sure.

00:54:12,003 --> 00:54:16,883

All this to say like scream rant, gave

it a four out of five, IGN 10 push square

00:54:16,883 --> 00:54:19,573

seven out of 10, um, RPG site right now.

00:54:19,593 --> 00:54:22,053

Six to six out of 10 games.

00:54:22,063 --> 00:54:23,413

So I'll give it a two out of five.

00:54:23,443 --> 00:54:24,863

It is so.

00:54:25,268 --> 00:54:30,298

Yeah, so it seems like, just to

read a little bit from like, uh,

00:54:30,978 --> 00:54:32,798

IGN's review here, just a snippet.

00:54:33,038 --> 00:54:36,948

Atlas Fallen is a solid open world

RPG with plenty of platforming and

00:54:36,948 --> 00:54:38,178

large monsters for you to fight.

00:54:38,368 --> 00:54:42,248

Putting aside its weak story and the

console's version's gritty graphics,

00:54:42,498 --> 00:54:47,738

there's a hidden gem of excellent combat,

robust exploration, and surprisingly

00:54:47,748 --> 00:54:53,178

deep customization to uncover in

the sinking sands of its Wilderness.

00:54:53,518 --> 00:54:56,848

Um, Games Hub, the one who gave it a

two out of five, basically said, the

00:54:56,878 --> 00:55:00,528

first time you're given a chance to surf

down a sand, um, sand cover mountain

00:55:00,528 --> 00:55:02,478

and atlas fall, it is invigorating.

00:55:02,688 --> 00:55:06,498

You immediately want to do it

again and again if, and you can.

00:55:06,688 --> 00:55:10,578

Anywhere there's sand, you can surf,

slide, and leap great distances while

00:55:10,858 --> 00:55:15,063

admiring the, The static horizons,

a moment like that doesn't exist

00:55:15,063 --> 00:55:18,513

in the game's combat, though, when

it's lackluster combat makes up

00:55:18,863 --> 00:55:21,043

the bulk of Atlas's Fallen's loop.

00:55:21,093 --> 00:55:24,813

It makes it a much harder to work up

the motivation to continue exploring

00:55:24,823 --> 00:55:27,343

everything else the world has to offer.

00:55:27,693 --> 00:55:31,523

So kind of middle of the road there,

like it seems like if you're into this

00:55:31,563 --> 00:55:35,973

game, you know, like maybe Maybe wait

for a sale or maybe just try it out,

00:55:36,313 --> 00:55:37,883

you know, if you got big bucks to spend.

00:55:38,553 --> 00:55:40,013

Yeah, that's what it sounds like to me.

00:55:40,013 --> 00:55:43,743

It sounds like even though the

combat's a little, it's going

00:55:43,743 --> 00:55:44,933

to divide opinion a little bit.

00:55:44,933 --> 00:55:47,963

I mean, yeah, it sounds like definitely

a game that you'd want to pick up in a

00:55:47,963 --> 00:55:49,573

sale or just keep an eye on in general.

00:55:49,573 --> 00:55:52,513

I mean, if it's something, I've

always had the opinion that if you're

00:55:52,523 --> 00:55:55,143

really interested in it, you should

just buy it anyways, because at

00:55:55,143 --> 00:55:57,613

the end of the day, you'll, you'll

know whether you like it or not.

00:55:57,718 --> 00:56:05,238

Um, and you know, depending if that's

at full price or not, but you know, I

00:56:05,238 --> 00:56:10,018

mean, yeah, it sounds like I generally

speaking, it seems like to me that if a

00:56:10,018 --> 00:56:15,168

game is at least or six or a seven for

most people, then I would give it a play.

00:56:15,378 --> 00:56:18,688

I bet that's something that I would

take a chance on, especially because

00:56:18,688 --> 00:56:22,358

I come more from the, initially from

the GameSpot side of things, where

00:56:22,358 --> 00:56:25,788

they were once upon a time, they were

a little stingy with their ratings.

00:56:25,788 --> 00:56:30,118

Now they've sort of gotten a bit more

liberal with giving people higher reviews.

00:56:30,528 --> 00:56:35,398

Um, I think, uh, generally anytime that

I came across a game that it was a six or

00:56:35,398 --> 00:56:38,368

a seven, even though it wasn't, Perfect.

00:56:38,448 --> 00:56:39,508

I generally enjoyed it.

00:56:39,538 --> 00:56:41,978

So yeah, that's something

that I would give a play to.

00:56:42,868 --> 00:56:43,248

Okay.

00:56:43,588 --> 00:56:43,918

Okay.

00:56:43,918 --> 00:56:44,978

That's, uh, that's solid.

00:56:44,978 --> 00:56:46,648

I, you know, I'm, I'm

right there with you.

00:56:46,658 --> 00:56:47,568

Try it, try it out.

00:56:47,568 --> 00:56:51,438

If you are interested in it, if you like

it, hopefully you'll, you'll love it.

00:56:51,478 --> 00:56:57,538

But, um, yeah, so the, our next

story, um, Twisted Metal revs up

00:56:57,538 --> 00:56:59,198

and breaks records on Peacock.

00:56:59,528 --> 00:57:02,298

The, have you, have you seen

the Twisted Metal show at all?

00:57:02,348 --> 00:57:03,518

I haven't seen it yet.

00:57:03,548 --> 00:57:05,298

I had an interest in it though.

00:57:05,318 --> 00:57:12,053

So it's, The most binged original

series record like recorded on

00:57:12,053 --> 00:57:13,213

Peacock basically right now.

00:57:13,223 --> 00:57:14,013

Okay.

00:57:14,233 --> 00:57:14,633

Yeah.

00:57:14,663 --> 00:57:17,013

Um, I'm gonna be honest with you.

00:57:17,063 --> 00:57:18,863

I've watched all 10 episodes of the show.

00:57:19,293 --> 00:57:20,313

Okay, what'd you think?

00:57:20,783 --> 00:57:24,193

I am surprised I'm gonna say

this, but I really enjoyed it.

00:57:24,873 --> 00:57:25,113

Okay!

00:57:25,803 --> 00:57:26,363

I really enjoyed it!

00:57:27,003 --> 00:57:30,303

That's, that's, I cannot tell

you how reassuring that is,

00:57:30,403 --> 00:57:33,483

as, as a enormous fan of Halo.

00:57:33,983 --> 00:57:36,733

And then to get the TV

show that we got, which...

00:57:36,733 --> 00:57:37,103

Yeah.

00:57:37,358 --> 00:57:43,348

To put it bluntly was so far off of

expectations that it was maybe one

00:57:43,408 --> 00:57:47,378

of the most disappointing things

I've ever seen in my entire life.

00:57:48,678 --> 00:57:54,578

So to to go from to go from that

I especially when it was announced

00:57:54,578 --> 00:57:59,688

I was like oh boy like That's,

that's, that's a tough one.

00:57:59,688 --> 00:58:01,358

I really hope that they land that.

00:58:01,368 --> 00:58:05,498

So to hear that you're, that

you enjoyed it is reassuring.

00:58:05,928 --> 00:58:09,808

This, okay, so put like this, this

is very popcorn flicky type of show.

00:58:09,818 --> 00:58:12,578

Like, don't go in this thinking

you're gonna get like the Bear

00:58:12,578 --> 00:58:16,848

Succession, Ted Lasso level of

like, of like cinematography here.

00:58:16,848 --> 00:58:18,398

Like, you're not getting the masterpiece.

00:58:18,398 --> 00:58:21,528

You're not getting like House of

the Dragon level like, of like.

00:58:22,663 --> 00:58:23,863

Can I get an Oppenheimer?

00:58:24,043 --> 00:58:26,333

No, for sure, you're damn sure

not getting an Oppenheimer.

00:58:27,913 --> 00:58:29,273

You're for sure not

getting an Oppenheimer.

00:58:30,483 --> 00:58:31,733

But, um, it's...

00:58:32,533 --> 00:58:33,053

It's hot.

00:58:33,083 --> 00:58:33,443

It's hot.

00:58:33,473 --> 00:58:36,883

It's got heart, you know, it's

got some heart like the characters

00:58:36,903 --> 00:58:38,373

really resonate with me.

00:58:38,423 --> 00:58:43,493

It's like I, it feels like if it

feels like a goose goofy, like twisted

00:58:43,493 --> 00:58:48,988

metal version of Mad Max in a way

that yeah, so I'm like, it's not.

00:58:49,238 --> 00:58:51,248

It's not great, but it's not like bad.

00:58:51,508 --> 00:58:54,728

It's the only show this year that I

wanted to rewatch after it was done.

00:58:55,118 --> 00:58:55,758

Wow.

00:58:55,938 --> 00:58:56,548

Alright.

00:58:56,708 --> 00:59:00,008

Yeah, so it just got me in

the right mood, I guess.

00:59:00,308 --> 00:59:01,188

The right mind frame.

00:59:01,188 --> 00:59:03,038

I was just like, it's fun.

00:59:03,078 --> 00:59:05,178

It's just fun TV at this point.

00:59:05,578 --> 00:59:10,378

It's like, I'm like a person who

loves like heartfelt storylines

00:59:10,438 --> 00:59:12,928

or like really in depth storylines

where everything matters.

00:59:13,178 --> 00:59:16,158

This is not that, but

it is very much like...

00:59:16,878 --> 00:59:20,588

They're trying, and that's more than I

can say for a lot of video game stuff,

00:59:20,868 --> 00:59:24,728

period, like, as far as, like, movie

to TV adaptations and stuff like that.

00:59:24,998 --> 00:59:26,098

This is better I.

00:59:26,098 --> 00:59:26,178

e.

00:59:26,178 --> 00:59:26,548

Halo.

00:59:27,168 --> 00:59:27,928

Exactly!

00:59:28,178 --> 00:59:28,758

Exactly!

00:59:28,788 --> 00:59:29,618

Oh, Resident Evil!

00:59:29,628 --> 00:59:30,728

The Resident Evil show as well.

00:59:31,048 --> 00:59:31,988

Oh, yeah.

00:59:32,058 --> 00:59:32,288

Yeah.

00:59:32,308 --> 00:59:35,488

Uh, yeah, I heard such bad

things about it that I didn't

00:59:35,488 --> 00:59:36,608

even give it the time of day.

00:59:36,608 --> 00:59:41,888

Whereas opposed to Halo, I Again, Halo

was such a huge part of my childhood,

00:59:41,888 --> 00:59:43,508

so for that to have released...

00:59:44,933 --> 00:59:49,813

And I think for those that

haven't had a relation to Halo, it

00:59:49,813 --> 00:59:51,613

probably was enjoyable for them.

00:59:51,633 --> 00:59:52,303

And that's great.

00:59:52,333 --> 00:59:54,403

I'm happy that those people

were able to enjoy it.

00:59:55,033 --> 00:59:58,773

But it's like, when you actually have

an interest in the lore, and Master

00:59:58,773 --> 01:00:00,223

Chief is taking off his helmet.

01:00:00,503 --> 01:00:04,423

Like every two seconds you're like

and there's like I think a grand total

01:00:04,423 --> 01:00:08,183

someone put together one of those like

warthog compilations you get like a

01:00:08,183 --> 01:00:12,323

warthog for a grand total of like five

seconds over the 10 episodes you're just

01:00:12,323 --> 01:00:18,423

like no no this missed my my expectation

of what I wanted but yeah so to hear

01:00:18,423 --> 01:00:23,478

that I'm happy that it sounds like it

was fun and that, which is what you

01:00:23,478 --> 01:00:24,968

really want about a Twisted Metal.

01:00:24,968 --> 01:00:27,768

I remember playing it as a

kid and not really, I know it

01:00:27,778 --> 01:00:29,318

has actually pretty deep lore.

01:00:29,318 --> 01:00:32,198

I had a friend who was telling me about

the Twisted Metal lore the other day

01:00:32,198 --> 01:00:34,048

and I was like, holy crap, really?

01:00:34,738 --> 01:00:39,188

But to hear everything else, I was like,

so to hear that it's fun, I'm like, okay.

01:00:39,493 --> 01:00:40,623

I can I can live with that.

01:00:40,823 --> 01:00:41,613

I can live with that.

01:00:42,083 --> 01:00:45,953

I'm gonna be honest here, like, we live

in a world, like, I I can't believe

01:00:45,973 --> 01:00:51,313

we live in this world, but like, this

is my second favorite adaptation based

01:00:51,313 --> 01:00:55,863

on a video game this year, and we got

the and we got The Last of Us this

01:00:55,863 --> 01:00:59,603

year, we got Mario this year, we got

another Resident Evil type of show.

01:00:59,873 --> 01:01:04,398

I'm like All these, like, the, um,

Gran Turismo, I think it's coming

01:01:04,398 --> 01:01:07,383

out, like, later this week or

something like that to that nature.

01:01:07,383 --> 01:01:12,418

It's like, I never thought, I thought this

would be the worst out of all that batch.

01:01:12,458 --> 01:01:16,478

And I, I like this more than

Mario, like, and I actually enjoyed

01:01:16,478 --> 01:01:19,498

the Mario movie, but like, I

think this is better, like, but.

01:01:19,958 --> 01:01:24,148

Yeah, so this is, yeah, I, I think

if people, if you're interested

01:01:24,148 --> 01:01:27,968

into, into something that like has

some heart, that has some character

01:01:27,968 --> 01:01:31,838

development, some really, Anthony

Mackie's really great in this, like,

01:01:31,878 --> 01:01:35,148

um, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure.

01:01:35,148 --> 01:01:38,838

And then like, um, I think

Stephanie Patriz is also like one

01:01:38,838 --> 01:01:41,268

of the roles she played, um, um.

01:01:41,648 --> 01:01:43,198

In Brooklyn nine nine as well.

01:01:43,198 --> 01:01:45,548

So like also really, really good.

01:01:45,548 --> 01:01:49,308

And then like, if you're a professional

wrestling fan, Samoa, Joe play sweet

01:01:49,318 --> 01:01:53,408

tooth and this is all like, yeah,

it's, it's got all sorts of craziness

01:01:53,428 --> 01:01:55,008

to it, but I really enjoy it.

01:01:55,643 --> 01:01:57,473

Alright, I'll have to give it a watch.

01:01:57,823 --> 01:02:00,383

Yeah, uh, give it a two episode watch.

01:02:03,333 --> 01:02:05,083

Cause that first one,

it might not hook you.

01:02:05,083 --> 01:02:07,793

But that, like, that second one,

you maybe see if you like it.

01:02:07,833 --> 01:02:10,323

But, yeah, that's an hour.

01:02:10,763 --> 01:02:14,033

So each, each is like

23, roughly 23 minutes.