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cranberry

I wish MinnMax had given a heads up that the Xbox 360 store was shutting down this week - did this catch you off guard as well?

Dusty Beaman

Longest trunks I can get and a swin shirt

Dusty Beaman

Install new water heater

Dusty Beaman

My pizza order

Dusty Beaman

Intermittent fasting and don't eat after a set time each night (preferably like 7 or 8pm)

Dusty Beaman

Under desk bicycle pedals

Dusty Beaman

Maybe because it's not free to play?

suzakuwatzu

Congratulations! You've won a sailing trip around the world! The trip will last 180 days, andyou can bring your steam deck! What games are you choosing for you 180 day sea voyage? (idea being you will not be able to download anything new)

Dennis Cortes

What’s a “mini-game” or small mechanic from a game that you wish was an entire game itself? Venba’s cooking is a recent one for me, I’d take a Cooking Mama style game of a bunch of those cooking sessions personally!

Dennis Cortes

What’s the most interesting take on romance you’ve seen in a game? Something that was maybe unexpected, weird, mismatched, stayed with you/memorable, etc?

RabidLime

has a game ever depicted food so well that it looked appetizing to you? had Ratatouille on this past weekend while cleaning and was reminded how well Pixar did on the nosh.

BEEFCAKE

Can of tuna with A tiny bit of soy sauce and Mayo On top of white rice. With drizzle of hoisen Sauce and sriracha on top. So delicious And actually good for you.

Sekiro505

Hello! I was wondering in what game do you enjoy dying? It can be for various reasons. In my case I'd say Sifu since I just get back up and say to myself oh you messed up to the enemy haha As a side note dont say any soulsbourne game!!

BEEFCAKE

Going into a vacant house for work. And there's just trails of dry blood throughout the house. It was very Max payne feeling.

Graham Jones

Hey Maxxeronis, In honor of Biden dropping out of the presidential race this year, what is the latest in a development cycle you have seen a game get cancelled? Do you miss that game?

Graham Jones

Hey cohorts, I am wondering what to make of the recent announcement of an increase in Xbox game pass price. Is exactly what it seems to be... just another greedy corporate move? Or could this be done in response to the backlash Xbox received regarding studio closures? I find it interesting that this price increase comes just over a year since the last one. Also, what does this mean for the future of Xbox?

HaulingGas

Greetings gamers, Leo and Haley talked about the best party games (or as Haley would call them, coop versus games) on this week's bonus pod (available for the $5 supporters on patreon.com/minnmax), but since I don't have that many friends I wanted to ask them about their favorite games to play with their partner. My girlfriend isn't a gamer and struggles with the modern 3D camera controls, so I would appreciate any suggestions for two-player coop games that would be fun for a non-gamer. Cheers!

KDArslan

Hey MinnMax crew, I've been thinking about UI lately and feel like a lot of modern titles go for very functional minimalist UI's but especially around the early 2000s there was a lot of character and style in UI elements. What are some of your favorite most stylish game UI's of recent years, or all time favorites?

LlorchDurden

If you had to make "Nintendo World Championships: Game Cube edition" what do you put in there? (JeffM I'm your biggest fan)

Brian Lyness

Hi folks, I was thinking recently about video game moments that were awe inspiring for the first time. It took me back to MGS2 & the part in the tanker with 30 marines standing together in a cluster listening to the commander's speech on Metal Gear Ray. I remember being blown away with that many guards on screen at once. They were all full character models, reacted when Snake got spotted etc It was such a cool scenario. What do you all regularly think of when remembering a moment in a video game that genuinely blew your mind?

Andrew Rennolds

What is the hardest thing a character can do in a game that is physically possible ?

resnet

Hey MinnMax! What's the best spice and/or seasoning?

Noble Einherjar

Do you have any general dislikes or nitpicks when it comes to character designs? For some reason I'm really bothered by ornamental weapons on outfits that don't serve a purpose in gameplay. Things like the third sword on Jin's back in Ghost of Tsushima when wearing his titular armor, or various superfluous weapons on certain armor sets in Monster Hunter. It's not even that they don't look cool or that I want devs to put time and effort into making that equipment useable. But I did find out someone made a mod for the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima that gets rid of that third sword, so at least I'm not alone.

Andrew Clabaugh

Hey MinnMax gang! Growing up on demo discs, a lot of my earliest and most cherished gaming memories come from playing through demos, often times the same ones over and over. I remember most of them as an adult, but there are a few demos I have only hazy memories of that I’ve not been able to track down - as in I don’t even know what the game titles are, despite going down many YouTube/wikipedia rabbit holes. So my question is, are there any demos you played as a kid that are now lost to memory? Maybe with some details, the community and fellow cohorts can help track down which games they were!

Graham Walker

By the way, the question last week if what media makes you feel the most seen, the answer for me is definitely Minnmax- hear you Al talk with passion about the things I'm passionate about is amazing and not something I get day to day from the people in my lifez so thank you! 😊

Graham Walker

What game or gaming moment had the most significant impact on your life, and how did it influence you beyond just playing the game?"

jkk411

Everyone kind of has a default color, yeah? For instance, I (Ben Hanson) am probably wearing blue, and if I'm not, I broke a 5 episode streak by going with something different today. As for the rest of the folks on the podcast today, for JeffM, I'm feeling a black of some kind, Leo is rocking some kind of orange/gold number, and Haley is wearing...black. I nailed it, didn't I? Now think of your fellow cohorts who are not currently on the podcast. What color are each of their shirts/tops in your mind's eye? Is anybody so careful about rotating their style that you can't pin them down to some kind of default?

Emmett Watkins Jr.

Howdy folks! Firstime longtime. So, yall heard about Humble Publishing shutting down? All staff laid off and replaced by a 3rd party company to ship out the last few games they've agreed to publish. It's a damn shame, as they've made some of the best indies of the last decade. I wanna take some time to look back on the loads of bangers they've put out, so here's a list of every game they've published since they started back in 2017. Let's see if yall can collectively come to a consensus top 5! And of course, take some time to mourn the loss of jobs and be upset at the hubris of corporations. Humble Games list: https://www.backloggd.com/company/humble-games/ News story: https://aftermath.site/humble-games-layoffs-closure-ziff-davis-ign

Bon Jon Bovi

I've paired what I see as the 5 most prestigious studios from Japan and from the West. In each of these hypothetical matchups, which studio comes out on top? 1. Nintendo EPD4 (Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury) vs Rockstar (Grand Theft Auto VI, Red Dead Redemption 2) * Think carefully, this matchup will most likely happen next year... 2. Zelda Team (Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom) vs Naughty Dog (The Last of Us Part II, Uncharted 4) 3. From Software (Elden Ring, Sekiro) vs Santa Monica Studio (God of War: Ragnarok, God of War 2018) 4. Studio Zero (Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona 5) vs Larian (Baldur's Gate 3, Divinity Original Sin 2) 5. Capcom Division 1 (Resident Evil 4 (2023), Resident Evil 2 (2019)) vs CD Project Red (Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3)

Tonytheswordsman

WAZZZUP!? If you had the opportunity to switch to third person view forever Would you? Tired of this first person life sim we call life ?

Jeorin

Howdy MinnMax crew, What's a cool new word you learned recently? I just learned the word Petrichor, which is the smell in the air produced by rainfall.

notweirder

What's the most ominous room you've been in..?

NimbleNubs

What's a version of Virtual Reality that you would love to have in real life? For example VR from Ready Player One, or The Matrix. My personal favorite is from the movie Johnny Mnemonic. I love the abstract nature of it and yet the hardware doesn't feel too far off from what we have today.

Hayden Williams

Hey cohorts! With Path of the Goddess bringing back memories of Balloon Tower defense games, what are some other things we played/did at school should be brought back? I always yearn for an Adult Scholastic Book Fair as those were my favorite days in school. Thanks!

CptCobblePot

Greetings Minnmaxers, What draws you into a new multiplayer game? I have been playing The Finals like crazy but now with so many hours in the Concord beta I’m thinking The Finals might be shelved for a bit. The versatility of a hero shooter can easily hook me.

Vilis

The MinnMax crew has some stratification to its generations of gamers in the cohorts, so I'm curious: who in the crew do you think could do best at "Nintendo World Championship: NES edition" overall, and for folks on the podcast, which game do you think you could do better than everyone else at?

MarcusAuralius

BGW was one of my “home” parks growing up it’s definitely one of the best. Absolutely stunning with some truly excellent rides.

MarcusAuralius

Which video game console, cartridge, and/or controller would made for the coolest looking birthday cake? Which would look the most appetizing?

Michael Lane

Hi Minnmaxers! My wife gives me crap when we play Apex and I get caught off guard by an enemy and instinctually yelp "eek!" out loud. Are there any exclamations or shouts you exclusively make only when playing video games?

Bezlo

Hey ya'll, After watching the Disneyland Extended Tour video, I was wondering what each of the cohorts top amusement/theme parks are. Not sure about anyone else, but Busch Gardens Williamsburg holds a special place in my heart. I also hope there are future theme park videos, as the Disneyland one was an absolute delight!

Brad Grenz

Do you have any cool scars, and how did you get them? I have two big scars on my leg from a pillow fight that sent me to the ER for over 100 stitches.

Spencer Jenson

Hey gamers and minnmax, here's a simple question. Where do you put your controllers when you're not using them? Active and extra. Please and thank you!

SuperThisWay

When at a restaurant, is there a food item you have to order no matter what just because the place has it? I always seem to get mozzarella sticks and chocolate chip cookies just because the place has it

Charlzard

Do you think there's a pawn shop in Australia called "The Prawn Shop"? Discuss

Josh LaBaw

Is David Blain really a magician?

Styster

Okay gang - what’s your best bachelor/bachelorette meal?? Asking for a friend.

Kyle Culp

Hey MinnMaxers, What game has your favorite art? I'm not talking about the art style within the game itself, but rather concept art in an art book, the key art circulating online, stuff like that. I've bought so many art books for games I've never played simply because concept art and official illustrations can sometimes strike you way harder than a game itself might. But of course it helps if you love the game as well.

Abe

Hi, MinnMax. What are some niche sub genres / micro genres of games you enjoy? I would say the type that ppl fight over what even quantifies as a game being of that genre. I recently got interested in immersive sims (currently playing and loving Deus Ex Human Revolution) and the development history of the genre is interesting because many games share a lot of the same DNA in terms of the people working on it. But many people argue over what makes one that. Anyways love the show and hope u guys have a great rest of ur week💜!

Kyle Gartner

If you had to nominate video game characters as democratic presidential nominee and running mate and republican presidential presidential nominee and running mate who would they be?

Travis in Fargo

Should every song end with “cha cha cha!”?

Dan Villone

Hi All, In Episode 0, all the cohorts talked about their favorite games of all time. JeffM's favorite game was "Tetris". Can you guess what his second-favorite game was? Naturally, his answer was "Red Dead Redemption." On a related note, what is your biggest gaming hypocrisy? For me, Final Fantasy 7 is one of my all-time favorites, but I have absolutely no desire to play the remakes. Thank you all for doing what you're doing! Dan

Matthew Weatherley

G'day Minnmax With Switch 2's announcement not far away, no one is asking the most important question. What colour scheme will they use to promote the new hardware. Are we going to return to slick whites like the wii or will they go crazy and colourful again.

Pablo Castillo

Hot Take: No spoilers and I still haven't finished it (I'm almost ready to listen to the 3rd episode of the deepest dive), but Barrett makes more sense as a potential romantic partner for Tifa over Cloud (at least in FF7 Rebirth). Am I nuts?

demo sphere

Just started playing Flock. It's like Pokemon Legends Arceus X Flower. It feels so nice to control, can't wait to try co-op. I love this game. This game rules... play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game play this game

Nicko

This is a question specifically for Jeff, Haley, Leo, and Ben: if you had to make a fellow minnmax cohort play through a game from start to end credits, who would you make play which game? The person you select would be aware of the circumstances but you would have to receive their thanks or dislike depending on your choice. PS: Orby for New Show Plus!

Michael Berry

Today, I see a lot of people play phone games like "Heads Up" while in roller coaster lines, but what did you do when cell phones were not as common?

Ari Torbin

Dear Minnmax, Is Super Mario Bro’s World 1-1 the most reused level in video game history? Does this make it the greatest opening level of all time?!? - Tetris DS standard mode’s background has you progressing through 1-1 in the background - WarioWare: Twisted! 9-Volt Boss level is a strange circular version of 1-1, that you control with the gyro sensor in the GBA cartridge - Super Smash Brothers Melee Adventure mode begins with you playing 1-1 - The Super Mario Bros Movie, the opening construction site scene has Mario running through 1-1

Tokyo Game Life

Legal question for Haley, In Nintendo World Championships, you can pick your favorite NES or Famicom game on your profile from a list. Not only can you select any Nintendo game, but also third party and licensed games including The Flintstones, TMNT, Star Wars etc. How is this possible? Can you just have the names of a ton of IP in your game with no ramifications?

Nick Crede

Hey crew! What’s something that you only started to like once you gained some exposure to it? For example, I’m a guitar instructor and a student of mine wanted to learn to play bluegrass guitar, a genre that I wasn’t familiar with and truthfully, I’ve avoided it my whole life. After trying it out, I actually grew to appreciate the style, structure and nuance of bluegrass music. What did you only start to like after getting to know it?

Loud EEL

Hello CLCs, time for a would you rather... Would you rather every meal you eat for the rest of your life be lukewarm or you burn the roof of your mouth?

Duderado

What's the last concert you went to?

transundertale

A new SSX game releases today. What modern songs would be on its soundtrack?

Phelix Diaz

Do you ever imagine yourself in a completely different career path?

RickyWinterborn

I keep getting stuck trying a boss like 50 times in late-game elden ring, then remember to use my mimic and then beat it first try... is this satisfying? Did I beat it because I had taken the time to learn the boss patterns or is the mimic just a cheese win? Am I a fake ass gamer?

jacob cummings

Touch Dic on the Nintendo DS

jacob cummings

Yes

TheLastArcher

Does your brain ever get pulled into a gamer rabbit hole with a common word or phrase? For example, to this day I still cannot hear the word “Facility” without my brain immediately hitting me with flashbacks of crawling through the air vents in the start of the Goldeneye Facility mission.

BearCommando

How did it take me this many years to realize Leo is behind the classic “buns on that guy” vine?

Cathal O'Halloran

Question for Leo, can he recite the game awards theme tune right now?

Gabriel Paree-Huff

Hi MinnMax! Is it better for a game series to keep going until it fizzles into mediocrity (thinking the decline of the Mario and Sonic Olympic games or the Crash series after the first 3) or abruptly end with no indication of future games (Half Life or Chrono Trigger series)?

Tess

Last weeks discussion on character design had me wondering, do you prefer Chocolate vs Reese's character designs. Reese's characters would be ones that combine two elements that don't usually go together into a greater whole. Chocolate characters are very rich and defined versions of what we already know. An example of a Reese's character might be Guilty Gear's Bridgette combining a Bounty Hunter and a Nun, where a chocolate character might be like Street Fighter's Ryu being the martial arts guy.

tuxpeng

What are some of the most memorable dreams you guys have ever had? Could be recent or ones that you still think about from a while ago.

claudio

Would Concord be doing better if it was like 30% more horny? Thank you

A.J. Minotti

Have you ever really chased a high score on a leaderboard for a game? And was the payoff worth it?

Owen McCarter

Hey gang, What is the worst game to google without using any identifiers (ie game, video game) in the search bar, and getting relevant results? What game name would you least want someone to see in your search history?

Luca Alberti

Hello crew, how do you eat your veggies in a salad? All together or do you kinda sort them by type as you eat?

Travis Harke

Travis from WI Youre on death row. You can choose 4 food items as your final meal. They can be homemade, something that isnt around any more or from a restaraunt. What are you choosing?

Aging_Poorly

Hey B and the Cs, On Bonus Pod, Haley and Leo discussed the best local multiplayer games and didn’t mention Rock Band. What’s the most exasperated you’ve ever been listening to a podcast?

BenMan

What is your favourite soup?

aFamiliarSpirit

Hey Ben, each week you introduce GALOT by saying it's "something we like to call" GALOT. What is its name that you don't like to call it?

Amador Lopez

Hey MinnMax, is it strange that when replaying an open world game that I just wanna redo most of what I did the first time around again? Treating the game is if my first play through is just the definitive way the game goes. I’ll read and look up the alternate paths but not do them myself.

Qax

Gonna need every one to be assigned an overwatch main, thanks!

Limp Bizquick

If you could be an Olympian in any sport what would it be (for the sake of the hypothetical you are skilled enough to be competitive in whatever you choose)?

Crayter

For those of you who haven't eaten dog food, either wet or kibble, how do you imagine it tastes? Meat cereal?

James Welsh

Were we too mean to Skatebird in that Thanksgiving joke marathon?

Virgil B

I went to EVO for the first time and had a blast. The crowd was electric and the matches were absolutely sensational. I also got my first win in a tournament! As a fighting game fan it was one of the best experiences I've ever had at an event. Did you catch any of the action from this year's EVO? Any favorite moments or noteworthy announcements?

Dan from Canada

What are the best games where you need a pad and paper out in order to play the game and solve its puzzles etc. (currently playing case of the golden idol and loving it)

Joshua Ayers

Hey crew, have any recent examples of gameplay mechanics adding narrative depth to a moment? I just beat an RPG where it showed the final attack would cost your exact amount of life to use, and it really added a tangible gut punch/conveyed exactly what the cost of victory would be.

BEEFCAKE

I'm excited for the Asheville Meet up, but then it dawned on me. IM GONNA HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE. How do you start conversations without saying How are you doing? And them just saying, "fine, you?"

Bayleaf Moon

Hey fine voices that radiate from my headphones! When you get addicted to a certain game or media, how far deep into the trenches do you get? Watching reviews, retrospectives and full length movies on said entertainment seems common nowadays, but how outrageous do you get? Thanks :)

Rob McCann (BobbyMac265)

Do you ever continue playing a multiplayer game together after a twitch stream ends? Seems like y'all were really into Chained Together during new show plus and could've went for another hour

Trapezoid

The Nintendo Wii U is just a separated DS where your TV is the top screen and the Wii U controller is the bottom screen. No question, just something I’ve been thinking about!

Sgt Peppa

Story time real quick if you'll indulge me: Last weekend I found myself with my nephew, both of us excited for me to show him how Mario 64 for the first time. The sounds of coins being collected and his laughter when we stomped goombas filled the room as we played through the first few levels. We worked together as a team, solving puzzles and conquering koopas, his excitement growing with every star we collected. Hours flew by before we knew it, and as we spun Bowser into the bombs, a triumphant cheer erupted from both of us. It might be the most adorable thing I've ever seen. In the quiet that followed, as the game returned us to Peach's Castle, my nephew turned to me with wide-eyed curiosity and said, "Hey, do you know how this whole thing operates?"

Krauser_05

Hi MinnMaxers. This week the Olympic Games start and I have a weird fascination with it. I don't do any sports, don't watch 'em, barely play any sporty video games too but there's something about the Olympics where I just *have* to watch as much of it as possible. Do you have a weird obsession like that too, where you only engage with some form of entertainment in a hyper specific situation?

KC Caleb

As someone unaware of graphtreon until this week. How are 2 of the top 3 patreons modders for a game I have never heard of? Are there any non-gaming patreons you support? I personally love secret base!

SenttheProphet

Would you allow your kids to buy microtransactions? If they came begging and begging, would you given in? Or try to shy them away towards games without them? How would you handle this is as a parent? Is there "responsible" microtransaciton use? It is like getting Pokemon booster cards, or worse?

Jason Wojnar

You ever get FOMO or once decided not to go out or do something and then regret it because something really cool happened when you weren't there?

Poofydoo

Not to be a downer - Are there any games that you played during a difficult time in your life and because of it you find it hard to boot back up? I had to go through Chemo for 9 weeks and the first week I started, Mario Wonder came out. I thought it was perfect timing to help get through the tough time. However, after playing it for a week, I couldn’t take it anymore. Now every time I want to boot it up I have to attempt to shake off the connection I have with the game. Has that ever happened to any of you guys? Have you been able to shake off the memory and create new ones? Thanks!

Jake Scott

Hey Ben and the crew, Hayao Miyazaki possibly has the best 3 films directed in a row with them being Princess Mononoke(1997), Spirited Away(2001), and Howls's Moving Castle(2004). My question is, what video game director or company has the best 3 games made in a row.

Thom Blackburn

Bonjour Minnmax, Été means Summer! What game has best expressed a season to you? Thanks Thom

Andrew Lyman

I would like to hear more about The Dells. What makes the waterparks so special and which one is the highlight to do? But the more general question: what are some local attractions to you? For instance, Boise has Wahooz, which is the only mini golf in the metro area. It’s attached to the only water park and it’s fun and quant.

M.I. Nuts

Hey MinnMaxers, On a recent episode you discussed your favourite trailers of all time and it got me thinking about my personal favourite for - Kieta Takahashi's upcoming game - 'To a T'. What makes it appealing to me is the vibrant tone, and more importantly, the undeniably catchy theme song. This also got me thinking: Everyone's discussed the greatest videogame themes to death, but what's the best *videogame theme song with lyrics*? My personal favourite has to be MGS3: Snake Eater, closely followed by Katamari Damacy! Or maybe it's 1992's 'Inca' on CD-i... Cheers, Tom

Travis in Fargo

Are there any foods you ONLY like when it’s presented or prepared in one specific way?

Muffyn Crumbs

Question: what game could most easily take over the world if they wanted to?

Travis in Fargo

Oh yeah, that’s bedtime! Too late for me, too. My kids specifically asked about watching SF6 together, so we’ll be checking it out this week. I watched through the Tekken 8 top 6, and that was thrilling!

whitemex

Hey crew! Say you're playing a fighting game solo, what do you call the other fighter? The CPU, computer, AI, NPC etc.

TechBeatNik

Hey all! In the spirit of "getting better" what's a hobby or skill you learned, not related to your job, and how did you go about starting it?

Derek

What do you actually keep under the kitchen sink?

Alex Britt

Does it annoy you when people ask you a question that can be googled? Or asked a different way: Do you ask less questions to people because it could be googled?

Dave

If you could live in one house from a video game, what would it be? I would choose the Trick House from Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire because it would be great putting my friends through a little trial whenever they enter my home.

dmoreno

The Concord beta gave me an itch for a Hero Shooter that it couldn't quite scratch (Strong "we have Overwatch/Guardians of the galaxy at home" vibes). I ended up jumping back into Overwatch 2 and Blizzard just nailed everything right. From the character designs, abilities, and game modes but the biggest fault is the monetization by a mile. Even if the prices weren't ridiculous, Why would I want to buy a single skin at $10, $15, $20 dollars? Am I crazy for thinking Loot Boxes were better versus buying individual skins at a ridiculous price with a battle pass filled with trash like avatars and banners?

jacob cummings

Good morning MinnMax! Today I'd like you to imagine a better world where the Nicole Kidman "We Make Movies Better" ad is universal. Not just playing before every movie you see at an AMC, but before every media you consume. Or at least a platform relevant alternative. If Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo consoles played an an ad of that sort every time you booted up a game on the system, what random celebrity would be representing the platform and what outdated games would they be playing? Bonus points for cheesy gamer quotes a la "heartbreak feels good in a place like this"

Jerry Young

Was curious if you think there are any major settings or time periods that are missing from video games? For the longest time it was Japan and Samurai then we got ghost of Tsushim, rise of the ronin and soon assassins creed. Is there another setting that desperately needs a game?

Treethan

Hello maxers of min What games have made you sick to your stomach due to some design choices?

Neal McMahon

Remember the first time you played a fps with the dual stick? For me it was on my ps2 in 2000 playing time splitters. I got it for my birthday and booted it up and for the life of me hated the dual stick layout. I even had my dad PlayStation support to ask if there was a way to disable this option and they said no. My question is: will video games ever pivot away from using twin sticks in FPS games? Maybe a third stick one day!?

Jacob Thompson

Both EVO and SGDQ were so fun to watch this year, but they had me thinking about how they contrast. At EVO, players compete and win money if they do well (as I think they should). But GDQ is more of a showcase of talent, and of course everything goes to charity. My question is, should speed runners get any sort of prize money for getting a top time? I feel like the time and effort they put in is similar to an esports player, and there is a competitive nature to getting the best time, yet they don't win any prizes or awards. I don't speed run, so maybe saying they should get paid goes against the spirit of the hobby. It just feels weird to see some people getting paid for being good at video games, and not others

Neal McMahon

Here is a game I call, “The Synonym Game”: I will say a video game title as a synonym and you have to guess the game! The number of words in the title will match the original title: -Scarlet Deceased Absolution (Red Dead Redemption) -Cry of Obligation (Call of Duty) -Discharge Mark (Fire Emblem) -Earliest Offspring (First Descendant) -Alloy Cog Hard (Metal Gear Solid) -Fate (Destiny) -Local Wicked (Resident Evil) -Wyvern Lifetime (Dragon Age) -Untraveled (Uncharted) -Track of Banishment (Path of Exile)

Luis Pérez

Hey CLCs! I've read sentiment on reviews that Arranger could be a bit longer, but that it doesn't overstay its welcome. Certain genres fit certain playtimes: puzzle games are 15 hours-long tops, RPGs go over 40 hours most of the time. My question is: which game from this year would you think be made better by shortening or extending its duration? All the best!

Catpurrnicus

I wanted to watch the SF6 stream, but it didn't start until after 10 pm. I ended watching the replay the next day.

Troy Ellison

How often is your game of the year a game that didn't come out that year? I hear all the time of people going back to an old game being one of their favorite experiences of the year. Do you have an example of an older game being your GOTY for the year it didn't come out?

Travis in Fargo

What’s the closest you’ve gotten to having a villain origin story? For me, it was having a boss who used to repeat things I’d say louder than me and get big laughs.

Catpurrnicus

I thought "Hey Google" or Siri would be further along than they are. I almost never get it to do what I want.

SlyCut

Hello all, Currently at a water park, Water Country USA in Williamsburg, VA, and I notice so many configurations of swimwear. What is your normal swimwear when having water fun? Does it differ between pool, beach, and water park?

Infi

Greetings Friends, Going off of the most recent (and very fun) Bonus pod, what was the multiplayer game or mode that caused you to be branded your friend groups “asshole”? Haley mentioned that she frequently took up that mantle to make the experience more enjoyable for her group, so what about y’all? For me it will always be Goldeneye: Oddjob, slappers only. Earned a lot of ire for that one. Thanks for the constant entertainment!

Patrick G

Hello, what's a home improvement job you did that you can't live without, or is totally worth he money/work

Surells

Books are constantly being adapted into films, but rarely into video games (the most notable example being The Witcher). Are there any books/series you think would make great games, and what genre would they be?

Joe Alonzo

If you had to pick one fast food item to represent your personality, what would it be?

BEEFCAKE

Putt putt saves the zoo.

Francisco

What’s a mundane task that would make for a great minigame?

Zae

Hey Minnmax, last episode Ben said Path of the Goddess could go down as a cult classic. Are there too many cult classics? Did the meaning change? What’s the cult classic of cult classics? Can a game fall out of cult classic status if too many people start playing? Thanks for all you do. You’re my cult classic of podcasts.

BEEFCAKE

When they say " this is a live service game"

Catpurrnicus

If something fantastical happened to you, like seeing a UFO, aliens, or someone using super powers, do you think you'd be able to convince your friends and family that it really happened? Even with video, I think most people would just assume you're crazy. Here comes crazy Ben talking about aliens again.

thejjuan1

Hello minnmax crew. So Tenno-con just happened over this weekend. Which is Warframe’s yearly con, that over 400,000 people watched this weekend at twitch! They showed that Ben Starr is voicing a main character for the next major update. There's going to be a romance system. Neil Newbon is a talking space fish. Evil space Backstreet Boys.All this backed by a community that loves that game. All was too much for me to not to try Warframe out. So my question is did a relationship between a game’s community and developer ever push you to play that game before? And does the gaming community not talk about Warframe enough?

Quinn Riley

What is the one game you can't quite put down. The game that even when new and exciting releases come out you think well I could play those or I could just put a couple more hours into old faithful. For me it is Destiny 2. So often I get home from work and want to play something new and find myself instead booting up destiny 2 for several hours and never getting around to the new stuff until much later

umryan

If you are hanging out with X person with plans to see Y person later, and X wants you to say hi to Y for them, do you ever tell Y that X says hi?

Shawninator

Why are dungeons such a prevalent thing in games? Is it a "the children yearn for the mines" need to delve deeper? Is the combination of monsters, loot, and the unknown that is just too good to resist? Do you have a favorite in-game dungeon? Roguelite dungeon-crawlers are some of my favorites; I quite like the punny nature of Enter the Gungeon, though Going Under did some interesting things with the concept as well.

Mathias Jülich

Hello cohorts, with all the Game-of-the-year-so-far talk, I was wondering: which console (generation) produced the most of your top ten games of all time? Is there a generation that you have lived through that hasn’t produced any top ten caliber games? The PSone was my first console and even with all the nostalgia connected to it and its peers, I would never consider any game of that generation for my top ten. Enjoy your summer, tschüss aus Berlin Mathias

Tom Rickard

Hey folks! A little bit of a question for Haley, did you ever finish House of Leaves?? I had to put it down after 300 pages as it freaked me out way too much even as a horror fan. For the crew, has there ever been something so scary or uncomfortable you couldn’t finish it? Whether it be a book, movie, or game.

Steve Zavitz

We talk a lot about remaking old games to update graphics and improve the QoL features, but I find it much more interesting when a developer demakes a game. That fanmade Bloodborne demake comes to mind, but I think a game like Crow Country also hits similar notes. Are there any modern games you'd like to see stripped down into a lo-fi version?

Michael Fahy

Other than standing desks and exercise in general, what are your best specific tips or accessories for keeping your body healthy and in tact as folks with significantly computer-based lifestyles?

Funky Duck

Do you have any low/no-stake hot takes that come up often? Mine is that a fade out pretty much ruins every good song. Let it resolve!!!

Graham Gilmore

Hey MinnMax! Missed opportunity last week when discussing Frederic Chopin to bring up the “fun” fact that his heart and body are buried in two different countries. His body is buried in France and his heart is buried in Poland. Do you know any interesting or not too well known facts about a historical figure? Thanks! Graham

Sean

Howdy Minnmax What is something you wish wasn’t shown in trailers? I feel like too many great moments are ruined by trailers these days. For games, I wish the god of war ragnarok trailer didn’t show Atreus shooting the arrow at the sun. For movies I wish Spiderman wasn’t shown in civil war.

Victor Pham

Why do you think Concord seemingly hasn't found an audience?

Mike Lynch

"We should have flying cars by now." Is there a kind of tech you expected to be available at this point in your life?

gybones

Assuming everyone was too humble in the dedicated segment: what’s the speed run and time you’re most proud of so far in NWC:NES Edition? I have a 15.63 in Pop ‘Em All in Balloon Fight

Shawninator

Oh man, Sneak King and that bumper car game were something else.

PhillyYeetSteak

Missed joke opportunity here...last episode, when talking about which scott pilgrim character he was most like, Ben said Sean Evans instead of Chris Evans. Someone should have said "oh, the hot one"

Channing Potatum

Ben, you always say that it’s “gross” to ask where a game will fall on a cohort’s end of year list. Do the cohorts find that question too reductive?

Tommy Ostrenga

I love the Burger King games. What is your favorite brand-tied video game?

Zane Dukes

Have yall played Game of the There EA College Football 25? You can tweet mean things at fans and steal your teammates girl! It’s the best

Jeremy Farbman

When do you know it's time to "break up" with a live service game?

Travis in Fargo

EVO is hands down one of my favorite times of year, second only to Christmas. I don’t play fighting games, but it’s thrilling watching the tournament progress, and I always have friends and family over to watch it - even my children get hyped for it! But, only moments ago, I just realized that it happened earlier than usual this year and that it’s already done! And the icing on this rotten cake is that the grand finals took place on my 17th wedding anniversary. Can any of you dear MinnMaxers help sooth my troubled spirit and speak about any favorite moments from this year’s EVO?