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Submit Your Question For The MinnMax Show Podcast (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-15 19:23:19
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

We've got a funky week here at MinnMax, we'll be recording The MinnMax Show on Thursday after our live reaction to the Nintendo Direct covering Mario Kart World on the Switch 2. So there won't be an episode going up early for supporters on Wednesday. You can watch that live Nintendo Direct reaction at 8am Central this Thursday on MinnMax's YouTube channel here - https://youtube.com/live/W9RxNR2uPmM?feature=share

For the first time ever, we're giving away THREE PRIZES this week thanks to iam8bit. They are vinyl soundtracks for Persona 3, 4, and 5, learn more about them here - http://bit.ly/8bit-megamix

Feel free to submit a question for Janet and I to answer about our time playing the Nintendo Switch 2 in LA. Watch and share our Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on preview here - https://youtu.be/tA1qbyzMisU

This week for community questions on the podcast, we'll have Ben Hanson, Kyle Hilliard, Leo Vader, and Janet Garcia. 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 8am Central on Wednesday.

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

Mario Kart World Direct

Biggest Surprises Playing Switch 2

Wildgate

Rematch

Haste

Everybody at the Backstage Pass tier can watch us record the show live on Thursday at 10am Central, with an exclusive pre and post show. The unedited archive will be available to view after the fact. 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 these three Persona vinyls for sale in iam8bit’s online store, and you can use the promo code HAPPYBIRTHDAYMRRESETTI for 10% off everything (except for the Persona vinyls) 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

Neal McMahon

Simple question: do you miss long loading times?

Travis in Fargo

If you compare your favorite movies and favorite video games, are there complementary, overlapping things you love about them? Maybe the tone, action, humor - do similar things appeal to you in both categories?

WeGoGiant

Hey MinnMax. I bet we all have that one friend that we just send memes to back and forth. Who is that friend for you and what was the last meme you sent to them?

Jacob Mazanowski

How much does the previous game you played effect how you see the next game you play?

Aging_Poorly

What’s the longest you’ve ever stood in line for something? Midnight release? Theme park ride? Something else?

Zane Dukes

When’s silksong coming out

Brent Carroll

I’m flying to Japan tomorrow and was curious if y’all have go-to plane games, or genres? Any memorable experiences playing anything specific?

The Sleepy MailMan

Hey, MinnMax! Am I the only one who can’t shake the feeling that game names aren’t as good or memorable these days?! Why is this happening?

Matthew Hornyak

Hello cohorts! The switch successor has been hyped ever since the switch came out it feels like. Do you have a favorite console launch? Maybe a favorite console lead up to launch?

Andrew Danglis

Kyle, congrats on the resurrection of GI. Now, I can’t imagine why you may have been too busy or anything, but…have you had a chance to right your wrong and watched The Tale of the Princess Kaguya yet? And yes, I will keep in asking!

Jump On Everything

Hey minnmax crew, Do all games deserve to be treated with respect even if they really really suck?

Mike Lynch

Great bosses are few and far between. They make the job easier *and* they treat you like a human? Who's the best boss you had? Is there one thing you learned from them that you continue using in your life?

Stevelution

Hey MinnMax crew. In the recent LA Switch Hands On video, Janet mentioned how big it felt attending a pre launch console hands on for the first time and I was wondering, have any of you any personal career bucket list items you’d love to check off and are comfortable sharing?

RiskyChrisP

If your own house changed its layout every day like the manor in Blue Prince, which rooms would you want to draft? Would you try to pick new rooms every day, or go for as many of the same as possible so you don’t get lost? Also, what happens to the hamster in that one room if it doesn’t spawn for multiple days?? I’m worried.

CaffeineDad

Hey all! Who is everyone’s main in Mario Kart? And please psycho-analyze what that choice says about everyone. Go full astrology on this one.

Chris Cwik

Hello MinnMax, Ben and Janet’s reaction to Drag x Drive got me wondering, what are the best and worst video games that were made specifically to show off a new piece of hardware or technology?

Malcolm Holliday

What's a long forgotten Sony or Microsoft IP you think could thrive with Nintendo, especially on the Switch 2? I think series like Jak and Daxter and Gravity Rush would fit at home on a Nintendo console.

ChazCheeto

Did anything available to demo with the switch 2 match the high highs of Kirby's Mouthful Mode?

Fancygraham

Once a game is pushed off my homescreen, there's a low chance I'll come back to it. It took me at least a year to remember that Dishonored 2, a game I really like and is on my pile of shame to finish, is still installed on my PS5. I know that you can "lock" games to the homescreen on PS5, but there's got to be a better way to keep track of all the options immediately available when you boot up your system. Or do you think that if a game gets kicked out of the "homescreen club", maybe it was meant to be? 

Tess

Hey MinnMax! Who are your favorite Anime/Cartoon protagonists?

MrHighway94

Hey MinnMax, with the current rumours of a Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion remake shadow dropping next week, what is one game that you personally think still needs that remake treatment? The value of new IP is unquestionable however if there was one game you could bring back what would it be? Bonus points: who do you think should develop it?

Joe Kafchinski

With Jon Hamm hosting SNL this week, I was reminded of my all-time favorite sketch, Hamm and Bublé (pronounced "bubbly") about a pork and champagne restaurant started by John Hamm and a hilariously terrorized Michael Bublé. (Seriously, look it up if you haven't seen it - Bublé's performance is perfect.) What's your all-time favorite sketch? You can keep it SNL specific or open it up to any and all sketch shows, YouTubers, whatever.

Nate Voris

Going off of steam reviews and forum posts online it seems like the general public reception of Blue Prince has been more mixed compared to the near universal critical praise it received. Why do you think there is such a gap? I can think of plenty of games that critics didn't love but developed a devoted cult following, but the inverse seems more uncommon. What are some other critically acclaimed games that the general audience was more mixed on?

AnAttackCorgi

Hello MinnMax Comrades! I recently learned that king crabs aren’t actual crabs. Like how a tomato is actually a fruit instead of a vegetable, what game is commonly put into one genre, but technically belongs in another? Bonus question: if you could be any type of crab, what crab would you be? (Hermit crabs are also not 'true' crabs; they're in their own class.) Keep gaming on! AnAttackCorgi

TRUEfoe

What's up MinnMax? I've been to a few MinnMax gatherings and feel like my heart could come out of my chest at the anxiety of meeting random people in a new environment. Do you still get that way and what are some tips you have to calm those nerves?

Troy Ellison

What do game remakes/remasters have against art design and color? I think this is a steadily reoccurring critique of game remake projects over the past few years. Whether it's critiques of Bluepoint sacrificing the original art direction for better fidelity or the leaked Oblivion ramie screenshots showing a lot less color compared to the original. Do you share these critiques when looking at remake projects of older games, and does this affect your critique of said remake of a game?

NappyNinja

Hey MinnMax crew, 18 months ago I played Yakuza Like A Dragon for the first time, fell in love with it and since then have become a big fan of RPGS, despite never enjoying them beforehand. Has a game ever managed to turn you around on a genre so severely that you become obsessed with it? Or the opposite, have you disliked a game so bad that it pulled you away from that genre or series? Hope you all had a good week!

Ken H (Kenny2Slice)

On a scale of 1-10, how likely do you think it is that Nintendo stuck with the name Switch because of the “Switch it up like Nintendo” lyric in the 2024 Sabrina Carpenter hit “Espresso?”

Lamb Dance

Hey, I saw Janet and Kyle dissing Dunkin Donuts Coffee on Bluesky recently, so maybe this is a good group for a Coffee Talk? What's the best and worst Coffee you've had lately?

Corey Losey

With Blue Prince, a game I am greatly enjoying, now out in the wilds of the general public, I find myself mildly disappointed by it, because it's not meeting the lofty expectations from all the early talk and hushed whispers from games media on social media from the past month or so. Have any of you experienced something similar? Also as games media is this a concern that you all have, making sure not to oversell how good a game is or might be?

BEEFCAKE

Have you ever fell for a scam? Cause I just did in the discord.

Samuel

What dumb moment in a video game made you say or think well that just happened? For example: I was playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and I startled a npc. He yelled The Hell you want? which caused his horse to get startled kick the guy killing him and ran away. I looked at the TV for 30 seconds dumbfounded about what I saw and said well that just happened.

Rabat or Rabbit

Hey Minnmax! Here's a simple question, I think. If you had to go and live in a city/town from any video game for 1 year, which one would it be? You don't have to worry about work, but you'll still have access to the Internet and stuff, so you can if you'd like.

Shane C

A few weeks ago, Matt Miller said he managed to prevent his kids from finding out about the Darth Vader reveal in Star Wars, and it made me wonder: what is the best reveal you've gotten to see someone experience? I recently watched Predator with my wife, not realizing she had never seen the iconic Predator design. Her absolute shock and delight when the Predator removes his mask at the end of the movie brought me an unbelievable amount of joy -- I have no idea what could top that for me.

aFamiliarSpirit

Suriel Vasquez has said that he thinks about Advanced Wars every single day. What piece of media do you all think about the most often? Anything that you think about every day?

Chandler

Hi. I've heard Ben say "ish" a few times. I think it means something is gross? What's up with that? Where does this come from and how do you all feel about it?

Erik Mangano

Hey there Cohorts! Longtime fan, first time question! I often associate some my favorite video games with periods in my life (i.e. Zelda BOTW dropped in the same time period as my college thesis final and losing one of my grandparents). That game was how I kept sane during a very stressful part of my life and it will always be attached to that transitional period, on top of being amazing in general! Doesn't need to be sad, but do you all have games you associate with specific periods of your life? Do you remember them simply because they stood out at the time or because they're intrinsically tied to a critical time in your life?

Adam Castellanos

I recently went down a rabbit hole looking at the work of movie director Wes Ball because they are directing the Zelda movie. I found testing footage for a cancelled movie called Mouse Guard ,that is based off of the Redwall novels, and it looked amazing. What canceled or defunct media project do you wish would get resurrected?

BurnAfterGaming

Hey MinnMax! Thinking about the Switch 2 mouse functionality - what tech do you remember blowing your mind? Guitar Hero/Rock Band peripherals and the Wiimote were big ones for me. Answers don’t have to be gaming related!

Daniel Doran

Hey folks, we've got our first baby on the way at the end of May! Do you have any tips for handheld gaming while holding or taking care of a new born? Any insights on switch 2 size and weight are welcome...

Bloody Waffle

Which nintendo franchise do you NOT want to see on the switch 2 ? What are you tired of seeing from their usual first party line?

Nathan Ryer

Hello MinnMax! As someone who generally prefers Gran Turismo to Mario Kart, will Cow make me care? What crazy or crossover character has gotten you to dive into a franchise you never much cared for?

Andy Dwyer

Hi Minnmax crew, are you doing any spring cleaning related to gaming this year? Such as clearing a game off your backlog or paring down your collection?

Bob Buel

Prediction time! In the next 20 years, will either Sony or Microsoft release a home console that isn’t named PlayStation or Xbox? Or will they stick with those tried and true names for the next two decades? Or, if you don’t like that one, has anyone actually had a roast turkey that had those frilly little covers on the end of the turkey legs? They are always in old cartoon but I’ve never seen one in real life ever.

Juniper Cain

Hey all, I’ve heard all this hype about deep puzzlers over the last few years and gosh darnit I too desire the “oh! That means that!” moment, but I’ve been struggling with what to go with. There’s Lorelai, Void Stranger, Blue Prince, Outer Wilds, yet I struggle to get a read on which I’d enjoy (or be capable of working out!) because they’re all so spoiler-gated, and some people love one or two but hate the others. Do you have different ‘sub-genres’ to these sorts of games to describe them? Have you learnt any ways over the years as reviewers to explain them without ruining the mystery? Or is everyone just too worried about ‘going in as blind as possible’?

Kraven Morcome

Hey MinnMax, My oldest son is 4 years old and has briefly played a couple video games now that he has better coordination, Astrobot and Lego Marvel. This past week I thought it would be fun to show him 1 2 switch since he has never used motion controls, but after losing a few rounds of the duel minigame his toddler attitude came out and he threw a fit. That's when I realized this was the first competitive game he has ever played and the first time he was losing. All of the hours we spend together with action figures or at the playground is never us competing. Do you guys remember your first time competing or learning to deal with losing? And how many times do I now need to destroy my son in mario kart before he can become a better loser?

SlyCut

Hello all, I've asked so many times over the years for you to rank waffles, pancakes, and french toast to no avail. Turns out, all I had to do was ask which is your favorite, since that was answered last week. I was so close to the right question. French toast, waffles, then pancakes is the correct order, by the way. In that case, rank the... er, rather, who is your favorite actor to portray Bruce Wayne, not Batman.

Gooseberry

It’s pizza week in Portland. Why do people hate pineapple on pizza? Can its rep ever be renewed?

thejjuan1

Hello minnmax crew. What are your thoughts on the showcase of Marathon? Do you think this game is going to save Bungie and Sony's live service push? Or this is the final nail in this vantage for both Bungie and Sony. (In terms of live service games)

Patrick G

I can’t stop thinking about blue prince. What’s a room you wish you could draft at anytime? Like next time you enter your living room it could be something else.

Sam Kennedy

Fourteen years later, is Skyrim good? I’m well aware of the strides it made in popularizing open world games, but I struggle to name a single thing Skyrim does especially well. Is this a “more than the some of its parts situation” or does the game kinda stink?

Tyler Sticka

Hey, cohorts! Everyone says FPS games are best played with keyboard and mouse. The Switch 2 joy-cons have mouse functionality. This begs the question: Is the keyboard actually a good game controller, or has it been riding the mouse’s coattails all along?

Nick from Atlanta

Hello Cohorts! What's your most precious gaming related collectible? I think mine is a Monster Hunter figure my partner got for me while they were in Japan. Thanks, Nick from Atlanta

Thom Blackburn

Can we have a ranking of subscription game services? Perhaps with a minn and a max?

Krauser

Hello gang, saw a clip of Shuhei Yoshida on the Easy Allies podcast stating he thinks the Switch 2 diverts from Nintendo's unique identity as it is just (his words) "a better Switch". It made me realise Nintendo is stepping further away from their Blue Ocean Strategy than they ever have, something they used to be very proud of. Do we think this is a good development for the company's future, or is it more of a necessary step in the current video game climate?

Shuya82

Hey there MinnMax! Do you have any meaningful relationships that originated from online gaming? I met one of my closest friends while playing Final Fantasy 11 over 15 years ago. They live in Australia and we have never met in person, yet they are the only friend that I talk to every day.

That's Mildly Raven

Will Donkey Kong Bananza will feature a new DK rap or will Nintendo be cowards?

Andy Weas

Hey Y’all! First things first, thanks for being incredible. Watching people’s passions for what they do create such an amazing community around it gets me so stoked. This is super better-quest coded, but what is the one ah-ha realizations that has stuck with you? What’s the little quote in your mind? I thinks it’s fascinating what sticks for people and how those insights can genuinely help people. Mine was hearing “Perfect is the enemy of good.” Thank yall!

James from Michigan

Howdy gang, I just finished Persona 3 Reload, which took 125 hours according to my Xbox but it felt like 350 once I started the post game dlc The Answer. Question is: have you ever had a game that's made you emotionally invested, and then had that game annoy you out of/almost out of investment?

Cath

As someone who always end up in the walls and physically lean left when I have to turn left I want to know why is the rainbow road the worst Mario track? I can’t play that one. Am I the only one or what is your worst track in Mario kart

Arturo Perez

Hi Minnmax! I saw a post about a possible minnmax thing in Brazil, and I started wondering how do your global audience stats look like, and if you ever do programming considerations because of your non us-listeners. Cheers from a south american listener!

Montequilla

Hey cohorts, did you know that a livestream of Janet playing 1000xRESIST is constantly broadcasted on the game's steam page? Have any of you ever stumbled upon something you (or one of the other cohorts) made somewhere on the internet, that you didn't expect to see?

Brian W

What’s the silliest argument you’ve used when discussing games with people? I once argued the name “far cry” made no sense against a co worker who kept trying to convince me to play it.

Cody A

Hey there, if aliens came to earth and wanted to learn about video games who is the one person you would elect as Earth's video game leader?

JHerb

Hey MinnMaxers! If you could pick one more Nintendo IP to get the Donkey Kong Bonanza treatment (new game, new style, fresh gameplay loop), what would it be and why?

Infinite

So my cat is an adorable pain, as cats are wont to be. My wife has a special trick however, to get him to to listen to her and even go to her when she calls him, it’s hilarious and fascinating because he doesn’t listen to me. Any of y’all have a special trick to get a pet to listen to you? Love the show! Thanks!

Felix davin

Hey MeanMax. This September will mark the 40th birthday of the original Super Mario. Any bold predictions as to what Nintendo might have in store for switch 2 regarding this ? Maybe a 10 dollars gif. Cheers.

HydraTower

If Call of Duty blipped out of existence, assuming nobody but you remembers it, would you realize before the end of the year?

Travis in Fargo

What video game from the past 5 years or so do you feel has the best chance of being played or discussed in 100 years?

Michael Berry

As a kid, I would create comics. The Quaker Oat Man and Daffy Duck were some of the heroes in my comics and they often fought the evil Pringles guy and Marvin the Martian. Did you have any unconventional characters you would routinely write, talk about or draw?

Rich Lynch

Would drag and drive be better if it was a new Katamari game instead?

Luis Pérez

Heya CLC's! Following up on that juicy nugget about Superman ice-cream flavor, can you guess which of these names is NOT used for it? Super Moo Super Rainbow Scooperman Tie Dye Burst Triple Treat Super Madness Scooper Hero __________________________ Answer: It's Triple Treat

Michael Archer

Would it ever be possible for a ROM hack to be in your personal GOTY list? Obviously it would have to have come out in the year you were compiling the list to be eligible, but it's an interesting thought.

Caitlin

Atlus loves releasing updated and expanded versions of their games that add new mechanics, story content, characters, etc. Are there any other games or series you think be great with an Atlus-style revamp?

Poofydoo

What’s the difference between a cookout and a grill out?

twobears

Can you play games in any mood? Or do you have to be in the "right" mood for gaming? I often can't play if I'm really stressed, though I find multi-player fps games to help take my mind of things in a way single player games can't.

Devin Atlee-Nutts

Hey MinnMaxers, My most anticipated upcoming game also happens to have my favourite reveal trailer in recent memory - Kieta Takahashi's 'To a T'. What makes it appealing to me is the carefree 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...

Michael Lane

Hey MinnMaxers! Spurred by a recent playthrough of Dead Space using only the Plasma Cutter, I was thinking about how much more interesting trophies and achievements were in the 360/PS3 era. What are the most memorable achievements/trophies to you, and are there any that you would still like to go back and try to unlock?

LlorchDurden

Question for Ben, How could you tell the staff of the Welcome Tour booth and I quote "I'm embarrassed of this game"? 🔥🤣

Francis Brenner

Hey MinnMax! On Bonus Pod this week, there was a lot of discussion about how hard it's been to talk about Blue Prince because "you can't explain why it's good without spoiling it". As journalists, how have spoilers impacted the way y'all review and communicate about games? What twists in games do you wish you could talk more about?

SunniDee22

Hello Cohorts, One of my favorite parts of the show every week is seeing how Hanson transitions from one topic to another. Whether it’s for ad reads or going from one game to another. A lot of the time, they are super clunky and they make me laugh every time. Do you all have any memorable ones? A recent one that stuck out to me was, “Hey, something for cool people who like smoking joints and loosening up their trucks.” Said as a transition from two point museum to Tony Hawk. Thanks!

Travis in Fargo

If the tariff situation remains or, god forbid, gets worse, what’s the most Nintendo will charge for the Switch 2, aka “the Swi2ch?” Is $1,000 out of the question, and will people pay that much? WHAT’S HAPPENING? Will gamers lead the revolution? Can we expect a Boston tea party style overboarding of Swi2ches into the harbor?!?

James Carr

What’s good cohorts, When playing a game, how do you decide when you’ve given something you don’t like enough time? Do you feel compelled to play for a few more hours to further develop your feelings or would your time be better spent on a different game?

Limp Bizquick

What should I name my rec league volleyball team?

JorSneezy

How do y'all deal with the word 'sure'? My boss uses it as an absolute 'yes,' but my wife takes it as a 'no,' and I personally take it as a 'yes, but only because you want to.' Very few other words cause such confusion in my life.

Victor Hensley

Blue Prince is essentially just a rogue about walking around your uncle’s (very big & mysterious) house. What would be a part of your daily life that would work great as a rogue game?

Dusty Beaman

When people say things like "long time listener, first time questioner", do you ever fact check them?

RickyWinterborn

Whats one feature you wish the Switch 2 had included? I think they should've made a stylus pen that you could draw on the touch screen and compete a bit with ipads. Would've added some Nintendo charm to the reveal. They could've revived PictoChat, Mario Paint or Flip Note studio, so many options.

Swansonge

What’s your favorite character unlock moment in a video game? Before all the fanfare of modern Smash Bros character reveal trailers, I can remember my shock at unlocking Sonic in Smash Bros Brawl and thinking “but he isn’t Nintendo?!?”

Tom Brien

Okay let's see you design a game with 2 mouse controllers

whitemex

When trying to find new music to listen to on a streaming service, how long does a song have to "wow" you before a skip?

Vilis

Hey Minn to the Maxers, is there a less awkward way to ask if someone if they are going to "Switch to the Switch 2"? Saying it twice feels egregious.

Robert Haass

Out of all video game animals ever, what would you choose as your ideal pet? It can be anything from Pokémon to anthropomorphic sidekicks. I’m not sure if horses count but you can debate that. Mine would be Trico from the Last Guardian.

Justin Chen

When you are in a creative rut, what’s your favorite thing to do?

Dennis Cortes

If Nintendo brought back one dead franchise for the Switch 2, what should it be?

lilcczar

Can you actually see yourselves actually using the Switch 2 mouse functionality? And what is your ideal ‘mouse forward’ Switch 2 game? I think Sims 4 could be veeeery interesting

Brooke Gossard

Hey, Minnmax crew. It is time to settle the most important question of all time. Does pinnapple truly belong on pizza?

pork bun powered

Hi MinnMax! Digital Foundry had some articles comparing the Switch 2's performance to the PS4. Regardless of how true that is, I've personally decided I don't *ever* need graphics better than the PS4 as long as I can hit 4K and 60fps. What do you think? Have we reached YOUR bar for "games don't need to look better than this?"

Kendra

What’s worse: people who don’t use their turn signal, or people who cut in line at the store?

Chris Pelley

How far away is the next Animal Crossing?

humblebees

Hey MinnMax folks, With the Switch 2 releasing soon was wondering, what do you guys do with your old consoles? Sell them immediately? Put them away? Give them to friends or family? After getting an Xbox Series X I had my XB1X hooked up to a second TV in front of a treadmill. But I haven't used it in years since that TV also is hooked up to my desktop PC (with a wireless keyboard/mouse). I gave my PS4 Pro to a friend when I got my PS5. And my WiiU is sitting in a closet collecting dust. Not sure what I'll do with my Switch when I get a Switch 2. Everyone I know owns a Switch so it won't make sense to give it to anyone. Maybe I can find a way to donate it. Cheers, Bevan

mantaguy

Hey, MinnMax! Which of the following do each of you think has the best shot at sweeping Dumbest Thing at this year's MinnMax Awards, with 8 months still to go: A: $80 Switch 2 games B: The Assassin's Creed Shadows discourse C: The Minecraft Movie chicken jockey scene shenanigans D: Sony raising the price of the PS5 outside of America for the second time.

Steven Nelson

What has happened to the stealth genre? Are games like Splinter Cell doomed to fade away or do you think the indie side of the industry can/are keeping that genre alive? Or has it just evolved into something different over time?

Parker Aden

MinnMax runs on Patreon! What has been your favorite New Show Plus to do? Was there one you expected to not like but surprisingly enjoyed? I upped my membership to the $10 tier this week to try and support another episode of Scripted Podcast, but alas am still excited for a new charge shot episode next week. Keep up the great work!

Infinite

Hey all! What game do you feel the most nostalgia for while actively knowing you’d never play it again. For me it’s Uncharted. I’ve tried several times in recent years to replay the series but I get an hour in and the clunky mechanics just completely ruin the experience and I put it on the shelf yet again.

Sincerly, Eric

Hi. Hey. Hello. Ben and the CLCs. A year and a month ago I was struggling a lot trying to get over a bad drinking habit. At least one a day for many many years. Finally with some help from Allen Carrs Easy Way to Quit Drinking book and some will power I was finally able to go a day without one. I wrote in with this single accomplishment and Ben's exact words were "hey, do better. Go on a quest and I'll see you in one year" (I mean, don't quote me on that.) So, I'm here a year later to say that thanks to Ben's challenge for a full year. I've made it a full year! Now initially I just sat out to take a break and not have it be a habit. Without Ben saying anything it may have just been a month or two, and who knows, I may have fallen back into the old habits by now. But by going a full year, I don't know if I even want to drink anymore. So, thanks to all the CoHorts for making this Outlet happen and thanks to Ben for double dog Daring me to go a year. Just to add a question if I may. I recently picked back up Tales of Vesperia after it didn't connect with me the first time and am really enjoying it. Is there ever a time you all didn't click with a game everyone else said was good just to come back to it later and connect it the second time? Thanks!

FinalSin

Hello people, ok stupid question, but I know you all don't wake up with these happy joyful faces. So have you had a day when you were ln no mood to podcast, but put on the happy act to get through.. how do you power on through without us knowing?? Also how many hours a week do you think you spend on planing the show? Sure there's people out here that just think it's a once a week job.

James A

Question: What videogame could you see being made into a board game/table top experience? I could see a deck building hitman game, where you draw into random items/outfits/scenarios.

Max B-Z

I'm fairly certain Ryan Reynolds is trying to get rid of us all with his suspiciously inexpensive Mint Mobile business, since I've seen Kingsmen. What media-inspired conspiracy theories (or otherwise) are *you* convinced are real?

Fro

I am part of the local pinball and all around nerd community. I also am part of the local fighting game community. Considering how small of a group as it is locally, I wish I was in it more when I was younger and living in a larger city. Is there any community nerd or not that you wish you were apart of and why?

Devin B

During the ice hole trip, Ben said "tell you the thing I'm worried about... sturgeons" and for some reason that joke still lives rent free in my head. What's a joke or comment another cohort has made that still makes you laugh?

Toke F.

In the 2011 Hollywood blockbuster movie "We bought a zoo" Starring Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson, my question is why did they buy that zoo?

Duderado

What's your favorite Massive Multiplayer OFFLINE RPG?

TheLastArcher

You’re hiking in the woods, you come across 3 sticks on your journey. One shaped like a gun, one shaped like a sword, and one shaped like a wizard staff. These are some epic looking sticks and would be excellent conversation pieces. You only have room to carry one. Which stick are you taking home with you?

Sean

Hey MinnMax, How well do you know the gamertags and handles of your friends and colleagues? Is that something you remember off the top of your head or do you only know when you see it on various platforms?

Ari

Is it me or does anyone else have an inkling that the Mario kart world free roam mode will have a breath of the wild style reveal. That it will be a lot larger and more detail that we expected. It is called Mario kart WORLD for a reason, right?

ThomperPippin

Hello MinnMax! Can you please discuss which Blue Prince room everyone in the cohort would be?

Travis in Fargo

What’s your favorite kind of special feature? Commentary, making of, bloopers?

Sam Shepard

With the launch of the Switch 2 approaching, I'm getting ready to free up an HDMI port on my TV for the new console, and odds are I'll disconnect the Switch 1. This had me wondering: do any of you all keep a previous-gen console hooked up to your TV even though you've got the newer system installed too?

Jonah Nicholson

Hi Cohorts! I’ve been really enjoying Tunic recently and it’s made me nostalgic for a time when physical video games came with manuals. What was your favorite video game manual you have ever came across? What set it apart from all the others? Thanks for all the awesome content you make!

Fachasaurus

Have you ever noticed or experienced something in a video game that you then saw in real life later with a whole new level of appreciation for it? Years ago, I remember when playing Drive Club I noticed how incredible the dynamic rain physics were in the game - actually floored at the time. Before that game, I would drive around in the rain and not think anything of it whatsoever - but now - I am in absolute awe at how individual raindrops falls on to the windshield or pools up and slides around the hood or brilliantly swishes away with each swing of the wiper blades. Something so mundane but I would never have thought twice about it without being enamored by the physics they implemented in that game.

BobaFets

Is there a game that you know you'll enjoy but are too intimated to play? Maybe due to difficulty or time commitment? I have gamer friends who I know would love Read Dead 2 but they won't tough it due to the time commitment.

Maestro_T

Hey hey hey cohorts! So stoked to finally join the patreon! You guys are the best of the best 4ever! My question is this, With the announcement of Respawn’s Star Wars: Zero Company finally seeing the light as what we can expect to be XCOM but Star Wars this time, do you have a dream IP+Genre collab for a new take on a universe you know and love? I would personally love to see the Gran Turismo team take on a Speed Racer project, or a Trek to Yomi style TMNT game about Splinter’s origin. Thanks for everything

Cambino

Hello minnmax, With the strong character design and world building shown in the marathon 8 minute short. What type of game would you want it to be other than an extraction shooter?

landsealion

We all know what being "mario karted" means, what would other games-as-verbs be? What would being "donkey konged" mean? Getting "metal geared", "pokemoned", "sonic-ed"? What about being "ploked" or "Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue-ed" or "Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew-ed"?

SlickJames

Hello MM, are you guys pro blue shell in Mario Kart or anti blue shell? I’m anti blue shell. Imo it punishes the player for being in first place and ever since Mario Kart 8 made the update where you can turn items you don’t want off, I’ve won a lot more games.

PhillyYeetSteak

Hey cohorts, How do you handle it when a kid assumes they know more about videogames than you, even though you know they don't? Sincerely, someone who works in education

BacklogBusters

Question for Janet and Ben, First off, thank you for the wonderful and informative extended switch 2 travelogue where you ripped apart switch 2’s! But I have to know, was there a demo being shown with the audio of children screaming? Or was someone just excited to play Donkey Kong Bananza? I noticed the wails start at 1:33:40 *ive solved my own mystery at 1:43:47 the culprit seems to be the Mario party scream meter mini game Follow-up question: Did the screams help or hurt your gameplay experience on the switch 2?

Christian Hall

Hey MinnMax! The Switch and now Switch 2 have their recognizable snap sound effect. If you could change that sound effect to something else, what would it be? I’d like Mario’s “wa” sound when you connect one controller then the “hoo” sound when you connect the second controller. Not sure if that makes any sense

Crayter

Is the joy of warming weather worth the horrors of a minnesota winter? I struggle with the question more as I get older. Were the snow birds I made fun of in my youth right all along?

Max

Hey crew, I'm curious to hear your take on Bungie's reveal of Marathon. Since it isn't listed in this weeks topics I'm hoping for maybe just a quick take on what everyone thought and the first impressions so far. Destiny was the game that turned me towards gaming podcasts and eventually led me to hearing Ben and multiple cohorts to follow for the first time at GameInformer. I figured with the reveal of their next big game it would be interesting to hear from the cohorts on how you are feeling about it. A side note (maybe better overall question) : What game/media/thing led you to listening to your first podcast?

william hittle

Hey cohorts. Any advice on how to keep gaming revelations a secret from my son as he grows up? He's not even 1, yet, and I don't know if he'll even care about video games being spoiled, but I've been thinking lately about how long I can go with him not knowing major movie plot twists like Empire Strikes Back, etc. Should I actively try to feed him misinformation about old games if he shows interest in them so that he doesn't know what to expect and can still be surprised? Or are spoilers for games different enough from books and movies that it's not something to worry about?

ayr

Hi Minnmax! With the Switch 2's reveal, everyone is now calling the original console the "Switch 1." How do y'all feel about adding the "1" retro-actively to a console or any piece of media? Do you think it spoils the intent of the original name or the "1" really needed for clarity? It's tough for me to imagine a world where someone assumes "Switch" means "Switch 2" in casual conversation, but maybe I'm wrong. Thanks, and subscribe to PewPewBang

LawlWorthy

Whassup Minn Macks, Is there a piece of art you saw once and haven't stopped thinking about? My grandpa is a painter and as a kid I used to attend his studio viewings. At this particular viewing he had an ambiguous painting that I was drawn to. I couldn't make out of it was a painting of rain, or a painting of trees. My mom convinced me to ask him by the end of the day. He replied by pointing to the name plate that I had failed to notice which read "Rain Trees" I think about that painting all the time. I think my uncle (his son) has it in a shed somewhere and I hope to get it one day.

Colm Jude Mitchell

Your pick for most out there unannounced Mario kart character. Mine is cappy. Love the show!

Vilas

Hey MinnMax! Compared to film and literature, video game writing hasn’t been explored as much in linguistic research. Are there any aspects of game writing that you think would make for a fascinating study? Maybe how different genres shape dialogue, how character interactions evolve based on player choice, or even unique patterns in how games convey information. Have you ever noticed anything in game writing that felt distinct from other media?

Luketheman5

Hey Minnmax, what was the first game to do the "wait until the monster's mouth opens, then throw a bomb inside to damage them" boss design?

Bryan Tylec

Hey, Minnmax Crew! So, what do y'all like for question of the week?

Shakenbake67

In the recent ending to Bonus Pod( don’t listen Ben ), Leo said Blue Prince might be “bad for the parents” I’ve had the benefit of just having a child and blue prince coming out relatively soon after that so paternity leave has been wonderful. Currently Day 38 and utterly engrossed by the game. So for Ben & Kyle what were your paternity leave games you got lost in? And for the rest of the crew if you had a kid, what would your maternity/ paternity leave game be?

CrabPalace

It's time for a game of MinnMax Multis! Guess the game from the multi-syllabic rhyme. 1. Few Hints (Blue Prince) 3. A Card Show (Balatro) 4. A Map of the Napa (Parappa The Rapper) 5. Pie Pooper (Sly Cooper) 6. Jak 2 (Shaq Fu) 7. Read the captions Ding Dong: Need a little pain with the beauty (Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie)

Cathal O'Halloran

What’s the longest you’ve left between starting a game, and finishing it? I played sekiro on and off for 5 years before I beat it. I still intend to finish Chrono trigger which I started in DS when it came out in 2008. Some day!

Dan Villone

It's time to answer the age-old debate: is Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 the #7 most influential game of all time? For context, that's where BAFTA listed the game, just ahead of Super Mario 64. Please discuss.

Robinsong

The BDS movement has called for a boycott of all Microsoft gaming related products: https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft Are you going to join in on this boycott in terms of coverage of Microsoft related products?

Phil McKrackup

Hey MinnMax! All the rumors about a remastered Oblivion releasing soon got me thinking about when it released. My friend showed it to me because he was loving it. I was mesmerized by it. I ended up getting my own Xbox 360 and Oblivion was the first game I bought. It was the first open world RPG I’d ever played and I fell in love. I’ll never forget that feeling of just walking around the towns and feeling like I could do anything I want. Do you all remember the first time you experienced an open world RPG? Did you feel similar to how I felt? Also a side note I just started my 11 day vacation so I’m feeling pretty good right about now.

Cashewual

Dear Minnmaxers: What's the funniest media format and why is it the UMD? What a nutsoway to watch movies!

Robert Key

I have a theory about Nintendo pricing games at $80. I know historically their first-party games rarely have sales that are worth while because they value their own brand. Do you think starting at $80 will allow more flexibility to put games at a more appealing sale while potentially still getting a lot of money from day one and early adopters?

Hugo Aguilar

Hey Cohorts, On Easy Allies, Shuhei Yoshida discussed how he feels that Nintendo is losing its identity by just releasing an upgraded Switch and not innovating on a new piece of hardware. That statement left me wondering what you guys think about this. Does Nintendo need to invent something new and exciting the next time around or will you be satisfied with a Switch 3?

Ari

Is Drag x Drive the first adaptive sports video game? Do any Olympics games include Paralympics events? What other adaptive sports games would you like to see?

Tanner Hoisington

In my opinion too much of the games press response to $80 games has been personal reactions and not how it could really backfire for Nintendo. They have presented themselves as a family friendly gaming company, and until now have been priced that way. But now Little Timmy wants their $80 games and $450 hardware that his parents can't afford, and he's going to be sent to mobile gaming instead. And what about attach rate? Because I'm not going to be buying a mid Yoshi game - even at $60 - if I just bought a $80 game from them. It's looking like my 40 game physical Switch library is going to become a much smaller and digital collection. What are they thinking?

Blake Barber

Kirby just swallowed you. What ability does he receive from you?

Rick

Hey Minnmax, What are your favorite games that you have spent more time thinking about or watching lore breakdowns than time you have spent actually playing the game. Signalis or Rainworld will have me watching hour long lore videos monthly compared to the 5-10 hours I played to beat them. Thanks!

Jonas Schlotterbeck

If you could instantly travel to anywhere (real world or video game location) where would you go and why?

JDoubleDub

I was surprised after all the hours of coverage of Blue Prince that I consumed that it wasn’t until I listened to the Besties podcast that I heard the only mentions of how difficult the game was for those (like me) who are colorblind. It’s always shocked me that even though the video game industry has traditionally been dominated by men that color blindness, which is primarily a male problem, is rarely addressed properly. Is anyone at MinnMax color blind? On the same podcast Justin McElroy, bless his heart, asked if Steam communicated to users any information that they were going to have a bad time because of accessibility issues. In addition to color blindness, I’d love to see warnings for games that have a heavy focus on parrying and high-pitched tinnitus (ringing in the ears) sounds! Ever since sound designers discovered high pitch noises to mimic tinnitus after explosions they really don’t hold back and it makes it almost impossible for me to consume TV shows and movies in theater if I can’t quickly ninja mute that God awful triggering noise. Big shoutout to Last of Us Part 1 and BLOPS 6 for including a tinnitus toggle in the accessibility options. Are there any new content warnings/accessibility options that you’d like to see standardized?

Dylan Frye

When I was unemployed last fall, I ended up eating a lot of frozen buffalo chicken pizzas and burning through the entire Evangelion series. Now, several months later when I occasionally have one of those pizzas, I'm compelled to accompany it with anime. My question is: do you have any strange associations between food and activities that just feel right to you?

curley arsoney

Have you learned anything in a documentary (or something similar) that has changed your world view in a way, in a big or a small way?

Neen C

If you could add one room to the Blue Prince manor, what would it be and would you make it helpful, horrifying, or just complete chaos? And would you want players to craft an existing (or new) item to use there?

Dustin L

What's your favorite game with a one word title?

Chris Fantry

Hey MinnMaximos! The impending remake of Oblivion made me remember how it was the first game. I really modded. What games do you remember either first starting modding out with or that you feel mods enhanced the way you played the game?

Surells

I knew I wanted to play Expedition 33 form the first teaser trailer, and haven't watched anything since to go in pure. Fingers crossed it doesn't let me down. Are there any games (or anything else) that you saw just a trailer or screenshot of and immediately knew - "this thing is going to become part of my personality", and were you right?

Joseph Horak

howdy! since being a part of the media requires you to stay actively interested in the industry you report on, how do you keep your passion for games alive? how do you resist becoming jaded?

Memory Card

Everyone give a compliment to a game you otherwise hate.

NeighBuRrR

Rematch? More like someone take this game away from me I need some sleep, Am I right ?

Luca Alberti

Hello MinnMaxers! It's time to talk abour the most exciting sport out there: make a big round of applause for soccer!! Despite not being a fan myself, as a European I see a lot of potential in Rematch to be a hit, akin to EA College Football last year in the US. What is a game you saw coming as a hit before most people knew about it and what is a game that didn't quite splash as you expected?

Plastic_Sinatra

Hey Minnmaxers, Since starting Blue Prince, I've been thinking a lot about paratext, text distinct from the game but still a part of your experience of the game (could be guides, instruction manuals, or even a video essay on YouTube). In the case of my play-through of Blue Prince, an endless pile of notes. While fun to meticulously catalogue the many many rabbit holes this game has you go down, at times it can absolutely be a slog. How do you all make sure the paratext you use when playing a game preserves the fun and have you ever ruined your time with a game because of paratext?

MrButtons

Howdy Cohorts, Last week the Minecraft theme was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, joining the Super Mario Bros. theme as the only two pieces of video game music to be preserved in the Library for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” to American culture. My question is if you could pick one piece of video game music to add to Library, what would it be and why?

Kevin Kuper

In avengers age of ultron there is scene where everyone tries to lift the hammer and Tony has his iron man arm on but not the rest of the suit and I'm still confused on what that helped with other than a strong grip

Ecto Coolest

What is a game cliche’ you wish would go away for good? I’m tired of the walk slowly while character hallucinates/dream sequence type moments.

Charlzard

What are some games that you expected to ( and want ) to love but for some reason or another just didn't? I love survival horror and was excited for Signalis and Crow Country but I quickly bounced off . FF7 Rebirth is another example, sorry Ben!

DontBashAsh

How do y’all feel about themed weddings? Cool or lame? There’s your typical Halloween wedding where everyone goes in costume, and then there are the ones that have everyone dressing upsteampunk, or like they’re at a Renaissance fair (to name a few of the more common themes). Would you be reluctant to go to a themed wedding or would it be something to look forward to?

AcetrainerVic

Hi there cohorts. I am getting old and video games have been around for as long as I’ve had consciousness and therefore they were always in my periphery even when I was too young to play. So when I was finally able to play video game I immediately loved them, but always thought of them as toys or ways to experience movies and shows I love in different ways as I played lots of licensed garbage and then Kingdom Hearts came into my life and my entire view on video games, licensed products, and art changed forever. Did you ever have an awakening like this or did you come into video games already aware of their artistic merit?

thisisMarkymoo

Hey lovely Minnmax people! I've had a question on my mind for the last few weeks and will share with the group here - which non-speaking video game character do you think would swear the most? (my mind went straight to Wario, but there's fun options like Kirby or the Prince from Katamari too). Thoughts?

Guilherme Amud

do you guys think that the switch 2 mouse capabilities will allow for grand strategy games and citybuilders to reach a larger audience? I say that because those games have always been mostly popular on PC and the console way of playing them always felt like a weird mess of menu navigation