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Submit Your Question For The MinnMax Show Podcast (Patreon)

Published:
2025-01-14 23:53:13
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

We're recording a live episode of the podcast this week on YouTube this Thursday at 3:15pm Central. We don't have any inside information, but with so many rumors that the next Nintendo console is being revealed this Thursday we want to be able to cover that on this episode. So fingers crossed. There won't be early access to the podcast for $5 supporters like usual, since it'll all be recorded live. But we'll put up all versions of the podcast in all of the feeds as soon as we can on Thursday.

This week for community questions on the podcast, we'll have Ben Hanson, Kyle Hilliard, Janet Garcia, and Haley MacLean. It's your turn to make the show better by leaving a question, news story, BetterQuest goal, or anything else for us to read on the show as a comment below! We’ll choose our favorite and iam8bit will ship out the great prize below for the winner! We'll stop pulling questions around noon on Wednesday.

On this week’s episode we’ll be talking about...

Nintendo's next system (hopefully)

The state and future of Ubisoft

You could do us a favor by subscribing to the audio version of the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app, telling a friend, leaving a review, and subscribing to our YouTube channel!

https://apple.co/3lRbzbE

https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

You can also find Neon White on the PS5 for sale in iam8bit’s online store, and you can use the promo code TWOTWOSANDONEFIVE for 10% off everything under $100. Psst… please don’t post that promo code anywhere else on the internet. It’s a MinnMax-exclusive thing. https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/all

Files

Comments

Jump On Everything

What's the best game series that had worst start/first game

Neal McMahon

Thoughts on video game generators? Are we repairing too many?

HydraTower

Since the Switch 2 reveal totally just happened before this, how would you rank what we just saw? Breath of the Wild 3 over Super Mario Galaxy 3? I personally think Ice Climbers 2 looks insane.

John Filipowicz

Hey MinnMax crew What is the first game Xbox will port to the Switch 2 Thanks!

Jordan G

Hey MinnMax! Been wanting to ask this question for a while, and it seems like the right time. Why does Nintendo get a pass so often? Don’t get me wrong, I am a Nintendo fan, but it really surprises me that they went an entire console generation without directly addressing the Switch’s biggest problem: stick drift. Whether they’re independent joy-cons or part of a Switch Lite, Nintendo made out like bandits when it comes to a lifetime console issue. I feel like Sony and Microsoft would not be able to get away with this, especially on such a large scale.

Travis in Fargo

What’s your biggest gaming blindspot? Whether it’s a popular game, franchise, or even a console you’ve never played.

Stevelution

Hey gang! Whats one goal you’ve set for yourself personally or professionally for this year? I’m hoping to become a first time homeowner after a year of trying for my big goal.

resnet

Hi MinnMax. In the spirit of the show betting on Nintendo to announce the switch 2, does any of you have a personally memorable moment when it comes to gambling or betting in games or in real life?

Palo

Is it called 'petting' because its what we do to pets, or are pets called pets because we pet the pets?

Travis in Fargo

What’s the most iconic movie poster of all time?

Travis in Fargo

If you could watch any animal play any video game, what animal and game would you choose?

Matthew Delprado

I’ve just started playing Minecraft with my kids, do you have any great Minecraft stories or memories, and what in game projects should tackle with them. We’ve built 100 houses

Adam Castellanos

Ok SPOILERS for persona 4 potentially in my question. I was playing through persona 4 for the first time and got the bad ending. This ending was so bad and unsatisfying I had to look up how to get the good ending and reload my save. So my question is, what was an ending of a game that was so bad you went back and tried to get the good/true ending of the game?

Tokyo Game Life

What letter or symbol needs a button on a game controller that hasn’t had one yet?

PhillyYeetSteak

With the switch 2 on the horizon and the boom of handheld PCs, what features are missing that would improve the handheld experience?

Swansonge

Haley and Ben’s discussion on Bonus Pod has me thinking about some great “three word names” (MLK, FDR, etc). What’s your favorite “three word name?”

Chesnutt

Happy January 14th. Psyche! April Fool's! What is an April Fool's hoax/joke that you remember that you would consider your favorite? As a kid I looked forward to every April GameInformer to get to GameInfarcer, if you have any fun memories of those or any you have stories behind I'd love to hear that too.

Benjamin

Have you guys ever invested in a video game company? Do you view that as unethical?

SenttheProphet

Can you imagine the meetings in Sony post-Marvel Rivals success? PlayStation could have had an amazing hero shooter entry with their cast of character - Spyro up against Snake, with Daxter swooping in Will Sony try again for a hero shooter? What would be your dream hero shooter? Which universe, other changes?

Fancygraham

“Investing” in things like Pokémon cards and Lego. Yes or no?

RynaGoGo

Howdy MinnMax, How often you barfin? I literally can’t remember the last time I yacked. I have a newborn and this little dude loves to spit up all the time. You yackin? PS: I can’t believe Silksong was finally given a release date with the Switch 2! Happy days!

Juniper Cain

Unlike Playstation and Xbox, Nintendo rarely names their follow-up consoles "[Console name] 2." Under the assumption that the Switch 2 has been revealed and is called, 'Switch 2' what would you have named it instead to be more in line with their usual naming scheme?

Aging_Poorly

While struggling to complete the final gauntlet challenge in AstroBot by going too fast through the trickier parts, I found myself leaning as far back as I could and muttering out loud, "this isn't hard, you're making it hard. this isn't hard, you're making it hard" to help myself calm down and beat it. Do you have - or have you ever had - a mantra or superstition that helps when playing tough stretches of video games?

Kraven Morcome

Hey Minnmax, I'm reading the first tie-in novel for the new game franchise Exodus and it's actually a fantastic sci-fi novel. It's so good that even if the game is bad I think I'm going to keep reading the books because the world is fascinating. That got me thinking, do you think there is a single person on this planet that has read the over 30 halo novels but never played one of the games?

Joshua Ayers

Are console launch titles historically more demonstrative of system tech than they are good games? Any console launch titles that you've really loved?

SlyCut

Hello all, Which game has the best box art of all-time? As odd as it may sound, I think Metal Gear Solid is my favorite. Yes, the all-white background with the red lettering. So simple, but I it always caught my eye on the shelf. Plus, it gets bonus points for incorporating the box into the gameplay.

Sam Worms

Hypothetical: The world as we know it has ended. Humanity survives only in small communities. What skill do you have that will convince them to let you join their settlement?

Tom Rickard

Hey folks! With the Super Switch being announced today (please let this be right) what would be the most uninteresting lineup of launch games? I remember hearing that rumor some time ago about Nintendo showing off a remastered Breath of the Wild which feels like maybe the worst case scenario big launch game. Thanks for all the hard work and looking forward to Minnmax in 2025!

Mitch

So what were you going to talk about today if the Switch 2 wasn’t announced?

Lutzy

If MinnMax did the Deepest Dive on your life, which cohort would you trust with hosting it, and who else would be participating?

Chris Tesiny

Think of a product or game that changed your life or you would really hate to be without. If you were in charge of the PR campaign to save that thing, how would you convince people to love it to and finally get it?! Mine, easily, is a roomba. My adhd brain makes it hard to prioritize tasks, so having a little vacuum buddy go suck up the random cat litter all over my place twice a day is a huge relief for barefoot walking around non carpeted apartments, plus I barely have to interact with it? It’s a win… Except when it’s really dumb and thinks it’s on a cliff but it’s just running over a sandal.)

Tess

For the next week water taste like curry or gravy. All water, including the water in food and other drinks. Which do you choose?

Blazingscourge

Hey MinnMax! How often are we cleaning our game consoles and not just the controllers? (Monthly, Bi-monthly, etc.)

wittynicknamehere .

Trying this one more time since Janet is on this week: Hello, Cohorts. In light of Janet's and Ben's recently championing the adoption of "rogues" to replace the meaningless terms "roguelike" and "roguelite," I agree and hereby propose another long overdue one: Let's get rid of "Metroidvanias." We don't need it! They're just "metroids"! The only reason Castlevania ever got glommed onto it was that it found great success by deciding to move away from its core style of game and emulate... you guessed it... Super Metroid! Isn't it easier to just say "there's a new metroid game coming out soon"? There's a reason shooters were called "Doom clones" for ages instead of "Wolfendooms," after all.

Chrisp

Hi MinnMax! Long time listener first time Patreon comments section-er. There’s been a lot of talk about what pre-existing third party games will be ported to the Switch 2, but do you all have a dream unannounced third-party game that you’d specifically want to play on a Switch 2? I remember when DOOM Eternal, a dream sequel to a game I really enjoyed, was announced to be released day one (lol) on the switch along with every other platform.

reallyBearHands

I am an avid outdoors person, as such, many of my hobbies tend to be seasonal, or some things I enjoy are much too expensive for me to do in real life. To get my hobby fix, however, I often turn to games like theHunter: Call of the Wild, or Car Mechanic Sim. My question is: what are some "hobby-sim" games you guys enjoy and when/why do you find yourself playing them?

James Z Hale

Love your podcast! Can you speculate on what you think is going on inside Nintendo regarding the Switch 2, and why things have been so messy?

Bloody Waffle

What is the your favorite nintendo accessory? The rumble pack on the N64 blew my mind when I first tried at my cousin's house.

Patrick G

Hey all, Is/was this the most hyped and talked about console launch? Is the C button really for Cornhole?

FinalSin

Hey all, if yinz could be on any game show, what would it be? And what show do you think you could actually win on?

That's Mildly Raven

What's a phrase you say often, but only you and a few others know what it means? After the discussion on last week's episode about how many chunks of life we all have left, my wife and I have started saying "live every chunk like it's your last." My parents think we're nuts.

Victor Pham

Are they button up or button down shirts?

Xavier Richardson

Which EA sports BIG title needs an update? Those games had a way of making sports fun and accessible in a way that no madden or 2k game ever has in my opinion. Personally, as a lifelong soccer fan I'd kill for a new fifa street.

Nathan Schultz

What game would you most like to see remastered or ported to Switch 2?

Lamb Dance

I've seen a lot of people say Nintendo should somehow utilize Sabrina Carpenter / Espresso in the Switch 2 Marketing. What would be the best way for them to feature her?

Chablahblah

What was the first game you remember playing? Do you have any pictures of you as a kid playing video games?

Bryce Blackmore

Why isn't breakfast at cafes a big social thing in so many parts of the world? In Australia there's a massive cafe breakfast/brunch culture but I don't really see that much in other countries I've traveled to.

tuxpeng

What's your most memorable "this isn't even hard, why am I struggling here" section you can remember hitting in a game?

Travis in Fargo

Can you think of any good toaster or microwave hacks?

Justin

Putting ubisofts mismanagmeent aside - people like junk food and people like accomplishments. Why do people hate ubisoft checklists? It tastes delicious!

Jacob Mazanowski

What is your strangest food combination you love and recommend? There was a pizza place near me that had a shrimp pizza that came with a side of sour cream and I decided to try it with a slice a pepperoni and it was a game changer. It’s cold with a little tang that goes well with the sweetness of pizza sauce and it doesn’t overpower the flavor like ranch would. I now feel like I’m missing something if I don’t have sour cream to dip my pizza in. My wife thought I was nuts and now she swears by it too.

Will K.

As a 39-year old gamer, I still feel weirdness/shame sharing my hobby with people around me, mainly because I don't have enough gamer friends (surprisingly few in my work/industry!). Did you guys ever struggle with this? How did you manage to be comfortable being big nerds?

Chandler

When you go to Subway or any of those places where you can make your own sandwich/pizza/burrito do you like to choose your own ingredients or do you prefer to pick one of the premade options? Follow up question: is making a choice of toppings equivalent to making narrative choices in video games? I just want to understand Kyle

Kiki

Whenever I hear someone like Kojima say that they watch a movie a day, read x amount of books per month, and have time to run a studio, I just wonder how someone finds a way to crunch so much into their day to day life. Do you feel like there's anything you've done/can do to fit more into your days? What are they?

Andrew Burleigh

What's the most essential part of your at-home desk setup or couch gaming setup?

Zach Bugge

Which game on the 2024 Two Tens would be most improved by replacing the cast with muppets?

RickyWinterborn

This is the first time Nintendo has made a numbered console sequel like playstation with the Switch 2. (Wii U is close but they still tried to have a whacky name) Do you think they will make a Switch 3, 4, 5? Is this the end of the road for Nintendo's creative consoles or do you think they would reboot after the Switch 2?

Anthony Russo

What pet peeve do you have about sayings in the gaming industry? Mine is people calling Square Enix "Square". I get why people do it but Square Enix have been one company for what I feel like is 2 decades.

ThomperPippin

Hello MinnMax! I'm a high school teacher in Canada. I teach at an Alt Ed school for kids who, for one reason or another can't make things work in the neighbourhood school system. Video games are one of the best ways to connect with these kids, as they're literally all either hardcore CoD-obsessed or full-on fanfiction-writing Honkai-types who live and breathe anime. I'm currently trying to go where the heat is and bring their interests into their studies; I've got about half of them researching industry career paths to learn a little about gamedev, and the others are learning about narrative writing and development, specifically for games. They're all running it as a loose project together, almost like an imaginary studio. (It's pretty cute) My question: When you were game-obsessed high schoolers, what would have been a dream assignment from a teacher that would've both piqued your interest AND had some real benefit for you, career-wise?

Gabriel Cleveland

Hey, hotshots! With the official name of the Switch successor out in the world now (in theory), could you do better? What would *you* call this new console?

Chris Pelley

What's your dream game announcement that releases during the first year with the new switch? For me, Animal Crossing with proper multiplayer and shared islands.

David Edgar

Hello minnmax crew. After nearly 20 years of making art for video games, I've finally been hit by the layoffs. What are your tips for coping with layoffs/unemployment?

Marzipan Archer

I miss cheat codes. I loved smashing seemingly random button combos and making miracles happen. yall miss cheat codes too? if so whats your favourite?

strategineer

What's your favorite condiment and what's your favorite food to put it on?

Christian Jimenez

Hello, If the video game industry had a draft (like in sports) which companies would be the top destinations? My top 5 destinations: Naughty Dog FromSoftware Rockstar Nintendo Supergiant

Ary Rose

Hey Max. As a kid, I always hoped that my parents would one day “realize” how special video games were. I once showed Majora’s Mask to my dad knowing that Groundhog Day was one of his favorite movies. I even planned out specific activities in the game that most showed off my Bill Murray-ness. I don’t think I convinced him that video games were art or anything, but he occasionally chimed in with a “cool” or “that’s neat”, so I guess I’ll count that as a victory haha. So I was wondering, do any of you have specific memories of trying to show your parents/guardians how special Video Games were/are to you? Also, how has that conversation evolved now that video games have become your job?

Michael Berry

Hey Minnmax! I wanted to give a tip of the hat to a video game that is always in the back of my head and lives there rent free. The game is Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon. In it, you have to make webs to capture bugs and it is a quirky puzzle game that shows how and old mansion becomes decrepit over time with webs. But the reason I constantly think about it is because it introduced me to a real life secret society called the Knights of the Buried Chambers that were probably active during the 18th-19th century. There is a whole Kotaku article that highlights this rabbit hole: https://kotaku.com/the-people-trying-to-uncover-a-games-real-life-secret-s-1727023156 I just thought it was really interesting and wanted to share.

pork bun powered

Congrats MinnMax on having the clairvoyance to totally nail the Switch 2 announcement! I never had a doubt that you guys would be validated. Note: Don't read the above if the Switch 2 is not announced. NOTE: Don't read the above note or this note if the Switch 2 is announced!

Shakenbake67

Hey Minnmaxers What do you think about the final ending of Suicide squad kill the justice league? Where they reveal that in the original game the justice league you killed were just clones……..I know it’s comic books and that can happen…….but really??

Cody A

Hey there! Imagine video games are added to the Olympics and you get to pick which games get to be included in a video game decathlon! What are you picking?

Abe

Hi MinnMax! This one’s geared for Haley. Everyone is always dumbfounded by how many games and the variety of games she plays and I wanted to ask how DOES she do it? What’s that schedule like? Curious to know as a serial game not-finisher.

David Dubs

Hey Gang, I got a quick bone to pick with Nintendo. My home recently was broken into with my Xbox and 2 switches getting stolen. It was awful, but honestly I am happy that those were the worst items missing. I've gotten the unique experience of trying to deactivate and track my stolen consoles, and the difference between Xbox and Nintendo is ridiculous. With Xbox, I was able to grab my serial number, deactivate it, and even track my location. Very easy and took maybe 5 mins.  With Nintendo, you couldn't do much without the console itself and their website didn't have any device management. Their support team was able to get the serial numbers for me but it is crazy to me that a portable console doesn't have basic security features that every phone has had for a decade. 

PoorAndCurly

Hey Minnmax! Do you have any favorite specific game + other media pairings? I just played through Pentiment and watched The Name of the Rose afterwards, which went together perfectly. Event Horizon and Dead Space is another favorite of mine.

God's Garage

I really miss those crappy multiplayer modes they crammed into adventure games in the late 00’s and early 2010’s. Some of my favorites include Sonic and the Black Knight, Batman Arkham Origins, and Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2 (for Wii). What are some of your favorite worst multiplayer/couch coop modes

Graham Jones

Hey crewhorts, I have found the discourse around Ubisoft really interesting as someone who has played a lot of their games through the years. In recent months the news has rightfully focused on their ineptitude at running a company but I also think 2024 had examples of some great games a game management post launch with Prince of Persia and Star wars outlaws respectively. This has me thinking... What will the retrospective of Ubisoft be purely from a video game making perspective?

Sincerly, Eric

Sometimes I think we get too lost in the every day of games that we do not appreciate how far everything has come as a whole over just the past couple decades. If you could tell your childhood self one thing from the Game Industry now, what would it be? Whether something with the tech, or the controllers, or the story telling abilities. My throw away example is: A card game that takes up 40mb of data, made by one person is objectively wayyyy better then the most recent addition to the FPS Franchise thats been around for years.

Quenton Cassidy

Hey all! I've been playing Castlevania: Circle of the Moon from the Castlevania Advanced Collection recently. The magic system in the game is pretty cool - there are two types of "cards" you can collect from enemies (attribute and element), and the spell you cast is determined by the combination of attribute and element you have equipped. It's awesome! However, the drop rates on some of these cards are atrociously low (I'm talking less than 0.5%). As I was grinding for a card, I starting thinking about low loot drop rates as an element of game design. My question is: how do you feel about games where you're incentivized to grind for rare drops? Is it outdated/inherently bad design? Good in some contexts but not others?

BigRed

G’Day Cohorts from Australia! With the Nintendo Switch 2 Rumoured to be announced by the time this podcast goes live. What older titles would you like to see announced for Day 1? Or is it just Windwaker HD?

Lanthian

What is a game you’ve felt like you’ve enjoyed more than you should? I’m playing Tales of Arise and that combat system leaves a lot to be desired… but I do like the story and characters enough to push through it.

Hector Aleman

In case the Switch 2 doesn’t get revealed in time for the show, what other game system (new or old) would you like to see a new iteration of?

Vilis

Has Nintendo considered making a sequel to itself? Nin11do?

Joshua H.

Hey MinnMax! What is a system seller considered for you nowadays? Hope all is well!!!

Bob Buel

If Kirby slurped a spaghetti noodle, would he just gain a pip of health or would he turn into a Kirby with spaghetti powers? I’ll take my answer off the air.

Ari

What video game location would you take a week vacation to tomorrow? Besaid Island anyone?

McGreevy

We all remember the world before screenshots and clips were built in to gaming. Right? Am I old? Anyway what's the best/coolest/wackest thing you've done in a game that you have no proof of?

Onlinesquid

Theoretically, would it be a smart business move for valve to release half-life 3 as a steam OS exclusive? Despite all the bad press, half-life 2 being a steam exclusive lead to them having a near monopoly that just prints money. Would the same gambit work twice?

Capen

I’m curious about negativity at MinnMax. It seems like Ben discourages negativity from the other cohorts, but now we all know the pissy zone is a lucrative gold mine of rage and cynicism. So has Ben loosened up on negativity over the years? Cohorts blink twice if no.

Bon Jon Bovi

Have you ever noticed that you can kind of trace the evolution of the Video Game Protagonist through Naughty Dog's games? From the goofy mascot characters of Crash and Jak1, to the adolescent edginess of Jak 2 and 3, to the sarcastic quippiness of Uncharted, and most recently giving us the "sad dad" era with The Last of Us. You can clearly see how each phase was a reaction to the precious one, and I don't think Intergalactic will be an exception to that. Which direction do you think the Video Game Protagonist is heading next?

Rikimaru

Hi MinnMax! It's time to play the game you've all been waiting for: Final Fantasy XV Recipe or Michelin Star Dish! Dry-Aged Tender Roast Stew The Hen and the Egg Miso-Marinated Black Cod Anointed Allural Sea Bass Carp of the Diem Black Truffle Explosion Triple Truffle Risotto Meldacio Meat Pie Meat Fruit Kenny’s Original Recipe Culinary Masterpiece Paella de Pollo Plump & Pungent Tofu Fluffy Chiffon Cake Raspberry soufflé Answers in the comment!

Travis in Fargo

When someone misuses or mispronounces a word, how and when do you correct them, or do you let it slide? Personally, I appreciate it when someone corrects me, as long as they aren’t a jerk about it.

Aurora Thiessen

Hey Minnmax. Tonight I rewatched 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time since I was a teenager. I found it excruciatingly boring this time around and suspect I only lauded it back then to appear more intelligent than I was. Have you ever lied or stretched the truth about appreciating a critically-acclaimed piece of media in order to fit in and avoid the label of an uncultured philistine? P.S. I don’t know if this is appropriate for your family-friendly guidelines but I took shrooms beforehand and they never kicked in. Very disappointing but I may not have asked this question otherwise

Longstaff

Greetings! On the last episode, Haley was critical of Red One, the Rock holiday action move--a reasonable response. However, when she scoffed at the idea of a Christmas witch, I HAD to write in. There are actually several prominent Christmas witches. Gryla is a troll witch and mother to the Yule Lads, who show up on Yule Tide to terrorize people by licking their bowls and stealing their candles. Then there is La Befana, a much nicer witch. And finally, my favorite, Frau Perchta (google some images of her). If you don't keep your house tidy around the Yule Tide, Frau Perchta will sneak into your house, slice open your guts, and stuff you full of sticks. If your home is nice and clean, she leaves treats in your shoes. My family celebrates a more traditional Christmas that hearkens back to Yule Tide, and the true beginning of Christmas. The book, "The Old Magic of Christmas," is an awesome introduction to the scary lore of the darkest and creepiest of the holidays. Not to mention, Krampus is cool and an awesome tool in the parents tool belt!

ian c

Hello MinnMax, first time/long time! When better than the start of a new year for a BetterQuest-ion for Kyle and the cohorts? I started playing the drums last year and I'm absolutely loving it, and really hoping to hone my skills in 2025. Trouble is, when I sit down to play, all I really ever want to do is play along with songs, but I know what will get me to improve is focusing on my fundamentals and rudiments. How do you balance finding joy in your quests with truly bettering yourselves?

Jeorin

Heya MinnMax crew! If you made your own game, which genre would you chose and why?

Cathal O'Halloran

What’s the worst game that you love like a 10/10? For me it’s Sonic and the secret rings on Wii.

DiggingTrapHoles

good afternoon minnmax and Ben. we all want a new nintendo exclusive. mario, zelda, pokemon. Yada Yada Yada. but what is on your wishlist for 3rd party releases on the switch2?

Zae

With the switch 2 on the horizon, I’m hoping it iterates just enough on the switch but keeps a lot of what makes the switch special. If you had a sequel of yourself, not a child, but like a new and improved version of yourself, what would you change or iterate? How would you stay special and true to yourself? And what weird little design flaw will make itself known as time goes on? I’d keep my adhd because I feel like I’d be a different person without it sadly but i would change how I deal with it along with my anxiety. And my flaw would be talking too fast because I’m always hopped on caffeine like in Gilmore Girls.

David Tibble

Happy belated New Year, MinnMax! In the spirit of the “getting better” part of “games, friends, and getting better” what is the New Year’s resolution you are most proud to have accomplished and what’s the New Year’s resolution you are most embarrassed to have not met?

Quaznarg

My betterquest goal this year is to make more art! I find it very therapeutic to work through things by making light of them, and I am finishing up a documentary about creating a dating profile using photoshopped images of me falling in love with myself with a wig. Take that fear of putting myself out there!

MyNameIsDan

*Missed Joke Opportunity* During the last episode, Jacob Geller at one point says, "I got so sick of myself." Someone could have easily cut him off and said, "Oh, you too?" AYYOOOOOOOO (This is just a joke, we all love Jacob!!!!)

Kendra

What’s something obvious that you missed for a long time? It was months of listening before I got MinnMax with two n’s. Originally, my assumption had been that MinMax with one n was already taken.

Toke F.

With a sequel to ultimate chicken horse announced (ultimate sheep Racoon) have you ever ridden a motorcycle, scooter, atv, or even a dirt bike? Here's to another cannon great year of Minnmax.

Ecto Coolest

If video games did not exist what would replace them as your number one hobby?

Groovydude

Haley, did you see that Kyle Bosman streamed a Nancy Drew game? Please reach out to get him on Bonus Pod or New Show Plus or SOMETHING. The best would be if you could stream together as you coach him through one of the games. I know that is a lot to ask though. I don't think he is going to reach out to you, so if MinnMax doesn't reach out to him, I don't think this dream collaboration will ever happen. The VoDs are free on his twitch and on his stream dump youtube channel if you want to do some research about your future detective partner. Thank you for your consideration. P.S. With the silverware, following the squirrel, the memorization game on the computer, etc. He was on the struggle bus for real.

Dominic Cichocki

What is the most obscure game you can name without looking anything up? Or one no one talks about ever? My go to answer right now is 2008's Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason for PC, but there are likely better ones!

Michael Griffin

Are there any games that you prefer playing with a particular controller?

Cashewual

Dear Minnmaxers: If you could put your name on a game/series, like a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or a Sid Meier's SimGolf, which one would you choose? I personally like the ring of "Kyle Hilliard's Super Monkey Ball: Bananamania" !

LlorchDurden

off the AGDQ MinnMax discord channel. Do people in the Mushroom Kingdom eat Yoshis? Is there like yoshi cuisine? Maybe they're like pets in some areas of the kingdom but food in others?

noonrisekingdom

Hey y’all from Texas. Here’s my question, a simple one, but definitely fun to answer. What was your greatest real life video game moment? For instance: I was involved in a car chase in a foreign country (not by choice!), a real wild experience and probably as close to a true “video game” moment that I’ll ever get. It can be a tale of heroics, great struggle, or a time you jumped into action for the good of another. As a listener of the GI show since Matt Helgeson was hosting, thanks for always being my weekly companion.

Jason Wojnar

What's the most challenging piece of literature you ever read. Was it worth it in the end or were you just confused the whole time? In my native language Gravity's Rainbow is probably the hardest book I read, and it was an entertaining read from start to finish.

Jonathan Fenn

Hey Cohorts, one last piece of 2024 GOTY analysis! I'm a bioinformatics researcher in the UK, and I thought it would be fun to do a bit of statistical analysis on the cohorts' individual top 10 lists. Main takeaway - people generally fall into one of two distinct groups based on their rankings. One one side you have the UFO50 & Indiana Jones heads, and on the other, the 1000xResist and Metaphor sickos. Interestingly, the two cohorts at the extremes of each group are Charles McGregor and Charles Harte, respectively. The least controversial game (i.e. the one which didn't really distinguish anyone into one of the groups) is, perhaps predictably, Star Wars Outlaws. I'll drop an image of what these groups look like visually in the discord in case you're interested. Keep up the good work in 2025! Jonathan

Tom Brien

50 bucks there will be no Nintendo Swotch 2 news this week

Greg Lovell

Hi Cohorts Assuming the Switch 2 is announced very soon, I thought I'd look back on what I've played on the Switch in the past two years. The list is Tears of the Kingdom (great), Pikmin 4 (really good), Super Mario Wonder (pretty good), Echoes of Wisdom (pretty good) and Metroid Prime Remastered (not for me, honestly). Without trying to be controversial, has the Switch actually been quite a bad place for games for the past 2/3 years? With other ways to play on the go now, does Nintendo need a better and more frequent roster of good, exclusive games for the Switch 2, or should we just celebrate a limited selection with the occasional world beater? Thanks! Greg

Harrison Holt

Hey people! Is it just me, or does your desire to watch Squid Game Season 2 rapidly decrease with every marketing crossover that you see? Duolingo, Johnnie Walker, Food Delivery Apps, Call of Duty, Kia, Dominos, Puma. I get Netflix want awareness but I feel allergic to this marketing that seems to be permeating all of popular culture, and feels all the more weird and dystopian when the crux of the narrative of the show seems to be anti-capitalism.

Thorn23

Hey Minnesota Maxers and More Cherished out-of-staters Question for Janet (as we missed her last week & hope she’s still okay w current, evolving emergency 🔥 situation), apologies if this was brought up previously, but I like most in the gaming community who grew up and especially valued the timeless and more importantly priceless artifact that is Physical media, am devastated by the loss and heartless destruction (or should that be desecration? do u think resident Poet and wordsmith Janet haha) of beloved GameInformer magazine last year, in the still honestly-painful shadow of which, heard on the reddit boards about a Kickstarter for a new crowdfunded gaming magazine called Generations, which colour me pleasantly surprised, when I looked into it, saw Wesley Le Blanc, a GI alum, was in fact on board & also alleged to be supported by a regular-issue contributor by the one and only Janet Garcia! Apologies for the extended preamble, but I wanted to check as the Kick starter Wrapped up just shy of a month ago, and wanted to know if she had heard anything, or had any insight, info, or updates on how it was going? (as I had done a v quick check - but could not seem to locate any immediate updates from them, and kinda lowkey have fears that it may have gone a little dark...) 😰 Otherwise, like Hanson (hope u don't mind a smidgen of informality haha) characterised so well (in ep 252), and should it still be full steam ahead, I honestly don't know how Janet's keeps stacking so many things on, but Super congrats on the regular-writing get! Well deserved! and can I just quickly say your drive and unstoppable work energy is no kidding a lowkey inspo for me personally, so yeah, haha! Keep up the good work MinnMax crew! (& soz, can I also give special fan shout outs to u Hanson, Leo & Haley too! - All the crew are ofc appreciated for what u bring, keep it up! - also honestly no such thing as too much content! pls if u can more audio content tho would be greatly appreciated!) P.S. (this part might just more for Hanson lol) Honestly am also willing and eager to give as much feedback as you're happy to take in, if you want - pls let me know if there is a best way to contact you generally/let you know about feedback, if this sounds okay to you. (not sure sometimes, where to put suggestions - and feel reluctant to just annoy/overwhelm the discord community with a text dump of my honest thoughts on positive little tweaks I think could be made!) (Feedback and seeing how to improve things is honestly such a core part of me - that it's honestly a blessing, ref to Janet's oth podcast colleague ofc heheh, and curse sometimes lol - love to have somewhere to share it, and grateful to have someone happy to listen, if you have the time - for making the show better for all! #betterquest #community) (& this part for all cohorts again haha) Apologies once again for the ramble, With that said thanks for what you all do & to another 5 years and more - Viva MinnMax! #GIproud P.P.S. Feel free to filter as much of this out as you like Hanson, for the reading. (if 🤞 chosen as a Show Q) Thank you & Let’s Go (2025)!! 🎉🥳🎉

Chris from Maryland

While it's indisputable that Nintendo does a fantastic job with their single player games, they seem to be more hit and miss with multiplayer. Do you think Nintendo will ever go all in on multiplayer games? Is the only thing holding them back the friend codes? Thanks in advance! Love your show!

Tom Brien

I went into a toy store over Christmas break and saw official, branded Skibidi Toilet toys. Skibidi Toilet is the head of a Half-Life 2 NPC coming out of a toilet. Does Valve know that these toys are for sale? Did they cut a skibidi deal? Can you imagine being that guy who scanned his face for a game 20 years ago?

Shimmy Neutron

I wanted to continue a talk from last week about game length. What would be each of your tangible solutions to games being to long? Should no story ever extend beyond 20 hours or so? What would happen to all the jrpgs and the like? Take metaphor for example. Would that have to be broken up into 3 parts, metaphor 1 2 and 3? Or do you just chop off 60% of the game and call it a day? I know it doesn't take 80 to tell a good story or fall in love with a group of characters, but there are so many endearing moments in a FF, and atlus rpg, yakuza, mass effect etc that would either be gone, or split up into multiple sequels? What say you all. Thanks again for everything you do Ben and crew, skoll to another year of minnmaxxing.

Dylan Caudill

Good news, there is a new Tony Hawk game coming out! However, Mr Hawk is diversifying his brand it’s not a skateboard game. What would be the best (or funniest) possible game? Tony Hawk’s Pro _____

BEEFCAKE

I can't believe they named it the Switch U.

Parker Aden

Hey gang! What is your most chaotic story from being a pet owner?

KDArslan

Hey MinnMax! I've still been thinking about Starstruck Hands of Time and its Guitar Hero controller integration. What are some of the most interesting "alternative" controllers you've used? Bonus points for examples outside of rhythm games.

TheLastArcher

Hey everybody! According to Google: Experts say that too many toys can have a negative effect on a child. Toddlers can get overwhelmed by a lot of toys and can’t focus on playing with one thing if there are too many choices. Children six and older may find a toy surplus makes them feel as if everything is replaceable and toys have no real value. Children may not appreciate their possessions or feel responsible for them if they have too many things. Do you think this is true for adults and that access to too many video games makes us like them less?

Josh Lamm

When I was really little, I remember the first time the automatic doors opened for me at Kroger and thinking "wow, I'm a big boy now". What's your earliest memory of feeling like you were "growing up" as a child?

Tristan

Put up your numbers! How many Switch 2s are going to be sold in its lifetime? I'm thinking 70 million.

humblebees

Can we see you tootsie roll?

Mahmoud Hakim

While there are a lot of amazing games out there, it’s not all that take advantage of the medium to tell a story that cannot be presented in any other medium. What stories have used the medium to their fullest in such a way that would be impossible to do justice in another medium? My answer would be Outer Wilds. That game really pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling in such a way that no two playthroughs are similar. Your discovery of the fate of the Nomai happens completely through your own exploration and goes through different ups and downs depending on how you go about it.

Jonathan Dinh

Hey Hanson and crew, We all have some very obvious predictions for Switch 2 launch titles: 3D Mario, new Mario Kart, Metroid Prime 4, etc. What out-of-pocket, deep cut or at the very least not too obvious predictions would you have for Switch 2 launch or launch window games? I think a new Animal Crossing wouldn't be about of the question or a Fire Emblem game.

Malcolm Holliday

Hey MinnMax, if you had to do an entire song and dance number from a musical, which would it be?

clay_dough

What do you think the cartridges of Nintendo’s new console will taste like? I’m personally hoping for strawberry.

sandeezy

hello gang! not too long ago ben mentioned something about Borderlands dropping the subtitle “Pandora” for the GameInformer cover, and I have not stopped thinking about it ever since. Any other weird stories about GI or games media in general shaping a game’s marketing in such a drastic way?

Anthony J Kane

Are you going to pre-order 3-4-Switch? Bahhhhh just kidding… What other terrible sequel titles can you come up with from original Switch launch titles?

Nick from Atlanta

Hello Cohorts, This is less a question and more just a challenge. I want you to think about somebody in your life that has done something for you, big or small, you feel you haven't thanked properly. Talk about what they did and how important they are to you here if you want, but the more important part is to reach out to that person and let them know how you appreciate them. Nick from Atlanta

Luca Alberti

Hello crew, is a Retro Studios rapid fire question session possible? Nintendo was game for the BotW one, so I feel like it's time to arrange another one if possible!

Lucas Patricio

Hey minnmaxers. Which cities or countries have you visited and felt a sense of familiarity because you played a game set in the same location? For me, the first experience I had was with California Games when I visited Santa Monica.

SuperCerberus

What motivates you more: enemies being shocked at how easily you’re killing all their friends or constantly taunting you and saying you have no chance?

CJ

Mark Cerny recently made some comments about the majority of players on ps5 playing in performance mode. Similarly, there is some nvidia data this week saying that 80% of their gpu users have gamed with DLSS engaged. What types of framerate modes / upscaling / frame gen options do the cohorts like/dislike? This seems like a divisive topic amongst internet gamers, casting shade at nvidia/sony, claiming they are paying more $ for “fake frames”!

Smooth_One

Man, how crazy is it that they decided to call it the Super Switch? I'm glad they didn't name it something dumb like the Switch U, or Switch 2. Close one! haha Question time: Is all y'all's favorite console the one you played when you were about around 12 years old too, or am I nuts? I ask because I know the GameBoy Advance *probably* isn't the best console ever (unless....?), but it's still my favorite. God, what a system. -Ben Baydee from Missouri

Devin Atlee-Nutts

Missed joke opportunity: When the topic of Undertale's Megalovania came up, Jacob said "My favourite is when they played it for the pope", and Hanson replied "-and he did a genocide run, which seems bold". Someone should have chimed in with "He hasn't done that since the crusades".

Philip Flood

Hey guys! what console launch cycle do you have the most nostalgia for? I remember reading about the Wii for months online and in gaming magazines in the leadup to release, dying to get my hands on Twilight Princess specially. In a monkey paw situation, I did get my hands on Twilight Princess but only Twilight Princess that Christmas day, as due to stock issues my parents couldn't get the console for another month so I spent Christmas Day reading the game manual 🥲 good times

AnAttackCorgi

Hello MinnMaxers! How many hours do you think it’d take you to finish playing through all your backlog? I’m not saying “100%” every game; just a gut check that you’d play every game to a “satisfactory level”, whatever that means for you. Happy gaming!

Ryan K

Hi MinnMax! For the Switch 2, I've been wondering if Nintendo will update or replace the iconic "joycon snapping into place" sound and animation they use in their videos. What _should_ they change it to, and what _will_ they change it to?

Neal McMahon

Hey all, Let’s play a game, called “ Blank is to Blank” where I say the name of a game and each member of the crew gives the closest, most similar game to the first. Example: GTA is to {Saints Row} Horizon Zero Dawn is to {Zelda Breath of the Wild} Fallout: New Vegas is to {STALKER} Give specific games and not just the series to score higher! Dying light is to: Sea of Thieves is to: Zelda TOTK is to: Alien Isolation is to: MGS 4 is to: Splinter Cell: Blacklist is to: Fire Emblem: Three Houses is to: If we ever play this, then I will keep writing in until we can try to chain them all together where we say it back to back to back.

Dill Pickles

Howdy Minnmax! What’s something that made you smile today? Personally, my cat used the giant hamster wheel I got her for the first time this morning! Keep up the good work everybody!

BearCommando

Do you think Nintendo is balancing Switch 2’s performance with battery life? Would you rather better graphics/frame rate if it meant only a 2-3 hour battery life?

Daniel Bishop

Hey Cohorts! It's the beginning of the year, so that means it is time for some review score predictions! I am going to give you a hypothetical score for a game that "will" come out in 2025 and you are going to guess whether the OpenCritic score will end up being higher or lower. At the end of the year I will do a review and let you know who wins this friendly competition! Monster Hunter Wilds - 90.5 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 - 81.5 Avowed - 86.5 Ghost of Yotei - 87.5 Death Stranding 2 - 88.5 Metroid Prime 4 - 90.5 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - 81.5 Grand Theft Auto 6 - 93.5 Pokemon Legends Z-A - 85.5 Assassins Creed Shadows - 84.5 Doom: The Dark Ages - 88.5 South of Midnight - 82.5 Split Fiction - 87.5 Hollow Knight: Silksong - 91.5 FairGame$ - 76.5

Devin Atlee-Nutts

Is the Batarang the most recognisable fictitious gadget?

actually a dawg

Hey yall, What's the best/worst nick name you've ever had stick?

Ben64

Hey cohorts! Watching the Switch 2 reveal with the new Mario Kart, it looks like they are going back to more classic designs for some of the characters (notably for DK) . Sometimes our favorite characters are just a little ugly. Is there any particular character you love that you wish would get a redesign or maybe a particularly ugly redesign you have a soft spot for?

Michael Lane

Hey MinnMaxers! How is everyone feeling about the new Nintendo console simply being called Switch 2? I believe this is the first time Nintendo has had a standard naming convention for one of their console follow-ups, and it kind of feels anti-Nintendo. I get why they did it (especially after the Wii-U), but to me it feels a bit sterile. Give me the Super Switch!

Craig Stuart

With the advances in magnet technology, the Joycons now simply snap on. Why didn't they call it the Nintendo Snap... It was right there!

Craig Stuart

If I pay an upgrade fee, will my existing switch transform into the new one like in the trailer?

SlickJames

Hello MM, with the Switch 2 being a pretty basic name what would your name have been for the new console if Nintendo let you name it?

Space Pretzel

Hey Minnmax, what do you think the best game you’ve never played is? Basically what you expect to be the best game on your backlog.

Space Pretzel

Do you prefer Donkey Kong’s new design or his Rare design?

Mjiggy

So the Nintendo Switch 2 looks a lot like the Nintendo Switch 1. Do you think this was the correct path or is there a chance it backfires and casual gamers ignore the new one because it’s so similar to what they already have, especially if games release on both generations?