Q&A: March 27th, 2024

GiantPurplePen15 Asks
With the way Triple-A games production seems to be buckling on itself lately due to the ridiculous budgets and even more ridiculous profit expectations (e.g. Suicide Squad: KTJL & Skull and Bones) while smaller titles like Helldivers 2 and Palworld have been extremely profitable and well received, do you think there's a chance we'll see publishers revert back to making more smaller titles with lower budgets or are we past the point of no return where we end up with more live service dumpster fires?

Hell no.

Not while there's a handful of games out there (FIFA, Destiny, League) who are swimming in gold. Not to summarize things in memes, but the industry really is this...

The industry didn't stop chasing World of Warcraft because they finally came to their senses and realized you can't dethrone an MMO of that size and scope overnight, they stopped chasing WoW, because they started chasing Call of Duty instead.

Until Helldivers 2 or Palworld overtakes FIFA, Destiny, League, etc, I'm sure most heads of big publishers have never even heard of either game.

Ze Nightman Asks
Planning on reviewing console titles like Uncharted or God of War?

I've been meaning to cover Naughty Dogs 8th-Gen games since last year and I played through them, in the weird order of TLOU2, ATE, LL...

God of War, I still haven't gotten around to playing yet!

Scarlet Asks
Do you have any updated views on Halo 5? I’ve binged your Halo years later series multiple times now and while I do agree with some criticisms of 5 (I was even harsh on it back when it came out) I’d be curious if you’ve got any updated thoughts nearly 10 years later. Doing a Halo series replay last year I found 5 more enjoyable that I originally did honestly

My updated view is I don't miss the new abilities nearly as much as I thought I would. Much of Halo 5's MP enjoyment at the time might've stemmed from the "speed" and getting Onyx in FFA.

Campaign-wise, it's still easily, by far, the worst effort in the series, and an utterly boring game to slog through, with an even worse storyline.

Tucker Legate Asks
Most hated game you played to completion?

Halo 5.

No, that's a lie.

Although I really hated playing it in Legendary Coop for the Channel with fans... and not because of the fans.

Ghost in the Shell SAC on PS2 was fucking infuriating...

I only finished it because of the video.

Michael Gross Asks
Recently read Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau which is set in univserve of the game Enderall. Nicolas wrote the narrative for that so it fits that he'd want to expand on the universe he created. You've mentioned you've read some novels which take place in/expand the stories of games you've enjoyed. Which would recommend and why? Any favorites? Any of them function as standalone novels (i.e. you don't have to have already played the game to understand/enjoy it)? Any of these written by the original developers?

I specifically remember the Dragon Age novels (much better than the Mass Effect novels) doing that. The Culling and Asunder being the main-two.
There's the Ghost in the Shell SAC novels, though I've admittedly only finished the first of that series.
And the last ones I read were Cyberpunk 2077's "Your Voice" and "Trauma Team", the latter of which my be my favorite of the bunch, its like Dredd meets Saving Private Ryan.

Kronk The Level Puller Asks
I have recently been playing the horizon series. While the world and story in my opinion are really interesting, the combat is shallow and boring enough to where I put the game on easy so I can get to the story and discover the world. Is there a game where you turn down the difficulty to its easiest setting to get to the story?

Besides Alpha Protocol...

You can read my mind.

KOTOR immediately comes to my mind.

Its not just the gameplay is bad, it's also incredibly punishing. There's portions of that game I legit have no idea how you could possibly win if your under-leveled.

Hey Williaso, you wanna talk about games that need a remake?

THERE's one for you.

Though I'd still much prefer a KOTOR III because damn you Obsidian and your fuckin cliffhanger.

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