Q&A: May 17th, 2023

Nick Asks
What's the best game developed by only one person and why is it Katana ZERO?

I'm pretty certain OTXO is a solo game, and it's certainly my favorite at the moment. Though, reading the development of Stardew Valley has me hoping that these solo devs only do that once in their lives...

Snuron Asks
2 weeks ago, I've watched a video of Unrecord's gameplay. For a sec, I thought it was someone was recording IRL but it was a game that was photorealistic in a way. What do you think of photorealistic games? Is it your thing?

I don't much care about uber-realistic visuals in AAA games, probably because it's, to be frank, expected? Which itself, is kinda amazing that we've gotten to a point where photorealism is now expected, though, that does stem from thousands of developers working slave labor with a gazillion dollars.

These photorealisitc indie games however, I'm far more excited for, as now we can hopefully get some games with the graphical cofidence of AAA without the need to waterdown an experience, either mechanically or thematically.

Having that much money devoted to one project virtually assures that said project isn't going to say anything of substance nor stem from somebody's personal experience, there's exceptions, but that's just what they are, not the rule.

Photorealism and production value aren't the same thing, and this potential new wave of indie games will prove that, though, really, that's a pretty good problem to have.

People complaining about Indie Games being HD Miniclip certainly won't have the last laugh.

andylad Asks
Cyberpunk 2077: 3 Years Later?

Unlikely this year as the Expansion hasn't come out yet, but I do really wanna talk about Cyberpunk some day...

Immortalkrogan Asks
You recently mentioned something about a relationship. Whats your go-to method for meeting new people? Do most of the people you date play games? If not, do you have any luck getting them into gaming?

I don't really have a method. When I joked in the Q&A about meeting people at the liqour store, that was only a half joke, as that's how I ended up dating somebody.

They were an employee who thought I was cute.

Same thing with my previous date, who worked at a Diner.

That's it though, prior to this, living with lifelong chronic pains put me into such depression, that the only reason I went out with that woman at the liqour store, was because I thought "Fuck it, how much worse could it get."

Turned out, that was all it took to snap me out of that trance.

I'm not skipping along sunflower fields, but I know I don't need to lock myself away from other people, and I don't need to turn down opportunities to try something with someone, even if it doesn't pad out, because you had an experience with the potential to inform the rest of your life.

Really, the only advice I can give is that if there's a chance, don't evaluate if it's ideal, just take it, and see where it takes you. I garuntee you'll learn more than if you hadn't.

Speaking from experience...

...oh, and yeah, they casually played games.

One of them was disappointed a roommate was leaving because that also meant, the Xbox with their Stardew Valley save file was leaving.

Purple.PP Asks
How long does it take you to decide if you like a game/want to make a video about it. Backstory: I was talking to a friend about how disappointed I was with Witcher 3 after multiple attempts to play it. He asked how much I had played it and at that time I had about 25 hours (I really wanted to like it) and he said that wasn’t enough time to make a decision about a game which I thought was ridiculous, I feel as though I often know in the first hour if I like a game, and I definitely know if I want to invest time to make a video about it.

Your friend's insane.

Completely insane.

One of the things I've noticed since more Essays have been popping up on Youtube, is more regular people thinking they have to complete a game or play it for hours and hours, or else their opinion won't be "valid" in the eyes of people like this friend.

Art's like sex.

You can deny it for any reason you come up with.

I've dropped films after ten minutes, sometimes less.

I've dropped songs in seconds.

I've dropped books in sentences.

Was I being fair?

Would my arguments for why I did so hold much value to someone who engaged with those works to completion and beyond?

Does it matter?

The only context I can think of it would matter is if you are doing a Youtube video where an "analysis" suggests you've analized all of it, or at least, whatever is precisely relevant to what you're covering in-depth.

Outside of that...

If you're not enjoying something, don't engage it for another hour, let alone 25.

Skyrim taught me that.

I've realized this doesn't really answer the question...

Ugh, sometimes forever.

Right now being one of those occasions.

When it takes a while, it's almost never for lack of ideas, it's lack of finding an idea that's grabbed you by the horns.

I mentioned dropping the Dead Space video, an analysis on current UI design, and I've gone back and forth on expanding upon a Randomly Mine I wrote about Ubisoft.

I feel like I'm at the point now where I don't want to cover a game just for the sake of it like I had with Firewatch, Battlefront II, Jet Set Radio, etc. I've always wanted to focus on telling stories in these videos, but now I'm even more committed to that goal.

Before, I'd play a game, and then try to insert a narrative on top of it, which sometimes worked, sometimes didn't, but now, I want the story to be there from the moment I'm writing.

Which I am currently working on a project regarding a "Better Hotline Miami" that's the perfect excuse to talk about iteration in game design,  and how much progress can be achieved through just one game that alters a couple core pillars.

I'm certainly more excited about the topic than I am learning a new editing program...

Submit your questions in the comments below, for future Patreon Q&A's.