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Submit Your Question For The MinnMax Show Podcast (Patreon)

Published:
2026-03-31 18:19:26
Imported:
2026-03
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Content

Hey everybody! Just a reminder we have Trivia Tower happening at 7:30pm Central, compete in MinnMax's Discord to win prizes. Also, here's a full (painful and absurd) playthrough of Pokémon Snap with Ben and his old friend Ronnie - https://youtu.be/pcNL2C3sBjI

This week for community questions on the podcast, we'll have Ben Hanson, Jacob Geller, Kyle Hilliard, Kelsey Lewin, and special guest Alanah Pearce. 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...

The 25 Games Everybody Should Play

Alanah's new production company Charred Pictures

Video game adaptations to film and television, ask questions about it!

Everybody at the Backstage Pass tier can watch us record the show live on Wednesday at 11am 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 the Artful Escape vinyl for sale in iam8bit’s online store, and you can use the promo code FIREFLOWERS 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

Neal McMahon

Hey MinnMax, Do you think Nintendo could eventually introduce a higher premium tier of Nintendo Switch Online that includes DS and 3DS games? I’d absolutely dive back into that library—there are so many great titles that are tough to find or revisit these days. Plus, while I love the 3DS, it’s a bit clunky by today’s standards, and those games would feel incredible on a Switch 2.

Travis in Fargo

Is there any video game remake that interests you 0% - UNLESS! - there’s a notable gender swap?

Tortolia

I was recently watching the new Warframe trailers that were released. I said to myself "That looks really cool, I should get back into Warframe". This is not the first time I've said this and it probably won't be the last. Is there a game you keep meaning to get back to and just haven't, and what's the obstacle to doing so?

Stevelution

Hey Alanah and MinnMax crew. This one is for Alanah. What are some of the pitfalls of less successful adaptations you are keen to avoid?

Jesse V

In a world where Blumhouse Films didn't exist, what movie adaptations would charred pictures have done instead?

Thom Blackburn

Hi friends and distinguished guest! What games are impossible to adapt to a tv show or film? I have a feeling Quantum Break is never leaving it's console origins. Thanks, Thom Blackburn

Jump On Everything

What's some video game trivia about a place you've lived in? The gorillas at the local zoo where I used to live were used as reference by Rare when redesigning Donkey Kong for Donkey Kong Country.

Volunder

If you had to help somebody who has never so much as picked up a controller in their life fake being a “real gamer” in conversation, what games would you suggest they play? I’d go with Breath of the Wild because of the game’s accessibility for newbies, and the open world structure of it is still being used to this day- that and you’ll also have a heavy-hitter Zelda game for your “gamer cred”!

Fancygraham

What’s the most underrated iconic sound effect in gaming? Halo’s shield regen comes to mind for me. Or maybe the beep when you select parts in VATS in Fallout? In terms of adapting a game to film or TV, how important is bringing over iconic sound effects from the game?

Jonathan Fenn

Hey Minnmaxers, I'm currently playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on hard mode, and am having to learn parry windows (in a Final Fantasy game?!), where I never once had to bother on my first playthrough. What games were completely transformed, making you see or play the game entirely differently, by alternative difficulty settings? (For better or worse)

Sky Fellowship

Not so much movies but books, do you wish more games got adapted as books? I adore Elden Ring, have beaten it countless times doing randomisers, solo, coop so many ways. But if you ask me a single thing about the story, I couldn't tell you. I'm an avid reader but when I put a game on, it's to PLAY the game, not to sit finding every shred of lore and then trying to read it all in an order that makes sense, squinting at usually very small text for hours. So as much as folks always want movies, does anyone else wish these lore heavy games would release a book with all the story in it?

Muffyn Crumbs

Hey Minnmax and Alanah! I was watching the movie It Follows the other day and thought the scene where they try to trap the creature and fail was fun! I feel like often in movies we see the protagonist making a plan or setting up a trap and it works, but to me it's often more fun when the plan doesnt work and they have to pivot. What's your favorite example in a movie or game where a plan doesn't work?

Cody A

Greetings minnmax! I know there is a lot of discourse around media going back to the same well over and over with remakes, remasters, reboots etc. The show 'Knight of the seven kingdoms' made me think wouldn't splitting the difference between new ips and reboots be this approach. New people/places in familiar worlds? Final fantasy, resident evil kinda already do this... Is this the way big studios can play it somewhat safer without making players feel like it's a cash grab?

Mahmoud Hakim

Hey MinnMax; glad to see you back to the show Alannah With the upcoming Exit 8 movie, I have a question for you. Usually with video game adaptations, we see either a giant IP being adapted (Minecraft, Mario, etc.) or an already cinematic game (Last of us, God of War, Assassin's Creed, etc.). Exit 8 feels like an excellent change of pace. What are your best picks for an UNCONVENTIONAL video game adaptation (something that wouldn't work under normal circumstances)?

Boondock-Bandit

Hi all, Congrats Alanah on your new venture with Charred Pictures! Naturally, my question is: If you decide to make a movie about MinnMax, what actors/actresses are you picking for the cohort on this show? Or are you fulfilling Ben’s dream and producing a Psych Odyssey esque documentary of MinnMax?

Victor Pham

What are some misconceptions you keep hearing about a game or genre that you like that may be preventing others from checking it out?

Swansonge

If you could pick any album to be adapted into a video game, which album would you pick and what do you imagine the gameplay would be like?

RynaGoGo

Howdy MinnMax and Alanah! One day Pokémon will get the big budget CGI movie reboot like Mario. Who should be cast as Ash, Misty and Brock? Team Rocket? The Rock will be cast as Haunter no doubt.

OhMyBlob

I think people should be looking to adapt puzzle games into films. Although they don’t have as valuable IP, they all have rich narratives. I’d be more interested in watching a film adaptation of Obra Dinn, The Seance of Blake Manor or Blue Prince than Zelda for example. Do you think this could work?

L Stockler

Hey Minnmaxers! Not a question. Alanah, after your last participation on Minnmax, I started following you and your SO's socials and I'm stunned with how you both are in the middle of a bunch of great projects! From Boltgun (1 and 2), to Dispatch, Saros and even Iron Lung, you guys seem to have a couple's midas touch. Congrats!

Travis in Fargo

Does anyone actually love apples? Is that anyone’s favorite fruit?

Riley Hopkins

Hello! Easy question, who's a guy from a media or game you don't like that still has the juice? A character that has expanded beyond their context that you now go "oh hell yeah it's the shredder" even if you don't care about TMNT? Something akin to that Thanks!

RootFunction

Do you prefer TV or film that takes tells an original story in a video game universe? Or are you more of a fan of adaptations that stick closely to an existing game plot?

Benjamin Hable

Hi everyone! Since it's the 40th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda, what would you like to see in the next installment? Do you miss elements of the old games, should it completely focus on everything that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have established?

SuperThisWay

I think the Fallout show is the best video game adaptation to TV/movies because it does an amazing job of incorporating tiny video-gamey stuff like Lucy’s skill points showcased as if it was the beginning of the game. What video gamey details made you smile in adaptations whether it’s books or movies or shows?

pork bun powered

Hi MinnMax + Alanah! Videogame adaptations are pretty common nowadays, but they usually aren't directed by superfans. Having said that, more and more adaptions are now being led by self-professed diehard fans. Between Matt Johnson's Magic: The Gathering movie, Alex Garland's Elden Ring Movie, and Zach Cregger's Resident Evil movie, what forthcoming film do you think has the best chance to be a hit with their fan base? Which of these movies will be critically acclaimed (however you want to define that)? Thanks!

resnet

Hi MinnMax! Do you have a favorite game that is adapted from something a little unusual, like a poem, a piece of visual art, a play, etc.?

KayBree

Hello! It's time for the minnmax potluck, what would be your go to recipe to bring to the potluck? Ignore the overall potluck synergy of trying to have a balanced grouping of foods

Juniper Cain

Hi Alanah and Minnmax! Over the years we've seen film media dabble with choice-based interactivity without fully being 'videogames'. Decades ago there were home video choose your own adventures, in more recent times there was Netflix's push into interactivity with Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, among others. With the modern uptick in videogame adaptions, do you think we'll ever see a resurgence in this format built for them? Not quite recreating Telltale, but adaptions that insist on retaining a degree more of that player-influence?

Travis Manick

Hello! I recently started playing Xenogears, the PS1 game from 1998. It has a famously terrible English translation. However, fans have created patches for the game that update the translation to better mirror the intent from the Japanese language. So my question is: Which version best adheres to "artist intent" to you? The version of the game that was originally released even if it wasn't what they wanted it to be, or a "fix" by someone other than the artist. Obviously there is no objective "correct" way to play but curious of your thoughts! Manick_T

Dustin Davis

What do you do after you end a zoom call? Hum a little tune, get a treat, putter around?

thejjuan1

Hello minnmax. Is Final Fantasy a Uci status game series? Mat Piscatella wrote “According to Circana's PlayerPulse, 62% of US players of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth were aged 35 or older. That number goes to 77% if you go 30+.” So is there any way that square can appeal to the younger players? Is it time to drop the numbers? Or is this franchise just for old people?

Daniel May

Hi MinnMax. As someone who did their communications college project on translating games to film media, I've been particularly keen on this decade's deluge of such films and shows (especially Netflix's animated stuff). One point me and my advisor heavily focused on was how games have a performative audience, where the audience themselves use the given controls to take on the power fantasies in the game (Swinging through New York as Spider-Man, fighting alien hordes in Halo, having a debtor friendly loan in Animal Crossing). My question is this: what school projects/papers did you all get to do where you incorporated video games (a la Haley's paper about micro transactions/loot boxes)?

MeatCastle GameWare

In honor of Trivia Tower's return: If you lived in a magical wizard's tower that could exist anywhere in the universe (and beyond), where would you build it and what would your familiar be?

Brent Carroll

Hey Alanah and crew! What video game IP would be the coolest to see turned into an animated movie? My picks would be Banjo Kazooie or Grounded 🐻🐜

Michael Berry

After seeing live adaptations like Twisted Metal and Iron Lung, game series that I'd never imagined would get live action adaptations, which video game do you believe to your core could make a fun watch? I think a first person Pizza Tower, similar to Hardcore Henry would be a hoot!

Vilis

Howdy Cohorts, With this recent re-visit of Pokémon Snap, and the ever increasing pervasiveness of Photo Modes in games, what game series do you think most needs a Pokémon Snap style spin off? I personally nominate Resident Evil (Play as the last Reporter in Raccoon City) and Horizon Zero Dawn (Aloy finds a photography function in the Focus and sends a scout out on a controlled robot on a set route to scout the area.)

Tess

Hey MinnMax! I was wondering why are Anime adaptations of Video Games so overlooked? The Gnosia adaptation just wrapped up and I thought it was a good time. Even bigger games like NieR: Automata have great adaptations, but I've heard no talk about it really. Even some of the best anime of all time like Steins;Gate are adapted from games. Why isn't anyone talking about this?

Bryan Coyne

What is your favourite game to not play? I love watching people play certain games even though I know I would hate to be playing it. For example, I'm not creative enough to play Hitman any way other than by following the mission - but I love when Leo or Dan Rykert do it on stream. I also love watching my wife play certain puzzle games, or watching family play Mario Kart. So what game do you love not playing?

Jack Seage

Ahoy hoy, everybody! Enough of all your new-fangled artistic mediums! Games are meant to be played, so obviously plays are meant to be games! What game or game-series would you be most interested in seeing a theatrical production of, be that a play, a musical, or even opera?

Devin Atlee-Nutts

Hey Ben Hanson, local gaming expert and co-founder of gaming channel: Minnmax, Congratulations on nailing the TV appearance on CBS talking about the new Mario movie. You came across very relaxed and knowledgeable with a great rapport with the two hosts, well done! What was the behind-the-scenes prep like at the studio? Do you have any tips for how to stay loose when talking to perfect strangers in front of an audience?

Piet van Rosmalen

With the Ocarina of Time remake heavily rumored, do you think it will be an extensive remake à la Link’s Awakening? (Those are rare for Nintendo ofc.) Or more of a resolution bump and some improved textures? And I can assume there will be some deep divin eh? Cheers! Pete from Rotterdam the Netherlands

Nate Voris

When deciding on what games to adapt with her production company, are there are any game narratives that are considered too difficult or not worth adapting because the interactive medium of video games is so important to that narrative being affective, or is that considered a fun filmmaking challenge?

Derek Achoy

When was the hardest time you ever laughed, but you were alone?

Random Oil Man

Ive always felt that point and click adventure game have the best narrative hooks and writing like Kentucky Route Zero, Grim Fandango or recently: The Drifter - so on that note which point and click adventure do most wish had a TV/film adaptation?

Felix davin

Hey NimmXam ! Did you know that the show Sonic Boom had an episode where Sonic travels "through himself" in a way and briefly ends up for a short scene as a human wearing a Sonic hat ? Just an actual shot of a human wearing a Sonic hat.

Sergio

Hello, MinnMax! Given that a lot of you have written stuff and critically engaged with other people's writing, what has taught you the most about the craft? Could be a person, a good game, a bad movie, or your own process. I'd like to hear Alanah's answer in terms of screenwriting!

Ariel in Seattle

Ben got me to start watching Survivor again after 20-some years away. He was right about it having great gameplay, editing, and storytelling. If you could be on any reality tv show, which one would it be and why? If a competitive show, what strategy would you use?

Kevin Kuper

Hello computer loving cohorts! I have been trying to read more but as a dad of 2 my free time is limited I am always wanting to play something. How do all balance your time with the things you want to do and the things you should be doing?

Brian Lyness

Hey Minnmax Crew! Do you ever look back at your careers & think did I appreciate the best parts when they actually happened? It's so easy to take things for granted, I wonder how you all feel when you look back upon fond memories. Thanks Brian

Nick O'Malley

Howdy. Do we need more direct video game adaptions or simply more movie moments inspired by video games? Example: Kong Skull Island’s beasts and battles being inspired by Shadow of the Colossus and Pokémon (and it shows and is incredible for it).

Aging_Poorly

Extremely important question for Alanah: when the tv show “Archer” was popular, did people call out your name “alanaaaaaaah” like Archer does to Lana in the show? For the rest of you, has pop culture ever impacted the way people have referred to you, your name, or anything related?

Luis

What is the most mundane thing you do every day that you absolutely love?

SlyCut

Hello all, Years ago, when the game Destiny was a couple of months old, I was playing solo because none of my normal crew was on. After a while, one of them got on and joined my party. This was someone I didn't really know; friend of a friend of a friend. Anyway, he joined and we started playing. After a few minutes, he said, "My dad died." Remember, I know nothing about him or his family. I said, "What? When?" He said, "Around eight o'clock." I said, "Wait, like thirty-minutes-ago eight o'clock!?" He said, "Yeah. I just got home from the hospital." I said, "Oh... I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?" He said, "No, I want to just play and think about something else." I said, "Sure, no problem." And we played as we normally did. Later, when we were about to sign off, he thanked me for just being there to help him take his mind off of things. I'm glad I was helpful, even though I didn't really do anything. But it was unbelievably awkward when he dropped that bomb with no warning. I really didn't know what to say. What is the most awkward conversation that you were a part of while gaming online?

DigDuggy

When it comes to giving games a numerical score or ranking them (for the two-tens or otherwise), how do you balance a game's competency on a game design level (this game is well made), its fun factor, and how "interesting" it is? These are all kind of different and some great games miss one of these elements.

Crazydude

Which Pokemon do you think would make a nuisance neighbor?

Machine Gun Keeley

Hey Minnmax, Hayley’s comment during last weeks show that, “Vikings had it rough” reminded me of the time that Ben was staunchly pro Viking. So…what’s the dumbest hill you’ve chosen to die on?

Chris Pelley

Kelsey, did you hear that no one on the podcast could name a single MLB player? What non-holiday movie do you rewatch the most? Sandlot has to be up there for my wife and I.

Sean

Hey Minnmax Growing up in California, in elementary school we had one whole grade where our history section was dedicated to the state's history. It seems to have been a pretty consistent curriculum because I've met a lot of people from different schools and cities who ended up doing similar projects or went on similar trips because of it. I was wondering if people who grew up in other states experience something similar or have something that connects them like that?

Jacob Mazanowski

What the best genre of video game to play while on vacation, specifically when traveling? For me, I think a rogue like game is very good. If it’s turn based, it’s even better. You can look away and pause easily if needed, and you get the satisfaction of progression after each room. Plus, you can get the satisfaction of beating a run usually in about 30mins-1 hour. I think if I didn’t have kids on vacation, the genre preference might be different but with kids, it works really well. JRPGs like Octopath Traveler or chained echos have done me well too

Dayten Rose

I recently watched Burn After Reading, which does the Coen Brothers thing of starting off pretty mundane and then just flying off the handle as you get deeper in. I feel like games *should* be really good at that completely out-of-control feeling, but I can't think of any examples. Maybe Spec Ops: The Line? Resident Evil 4? What are some games that start out normal and then go batsh*t insane by the end?

Travis in Fargo

Do you usually have an initial grasp on why you do or don’t like movies, video games, or other entertainment? Or does it take time to process and think about it critically?

Clayton Dexter

What is the “worst” game you would still recommend to people to play?

Luca Alberti

Hello crew and Alanah! The 25 games everyone should play are nice, but what are some soundtracks people should listen rather than play the game?

AnAttackCorgi

Hey guys and gals! So I’ve been in the working world for a solid amount of time now, and in my line of work, larger firms operate much differently than medium to smaller ones, with some unique opportunities/downsides. I’m curious if you’ve noticed quirks of working in large vs medium vs small journalism outlets, and would love for you to share. I’ll leave it up to you to determine what a large/medium/small outlet is since it’s all relative I suppose at the end of the day!

Victor Hensley

Howdy MinnMax! Not to get all serious on y’all, but are you ever worried that you’ll run out of stories to tell? Especially since y’all record hundreds of hours of content a year, has it ever crossed your mind that the day will come that you’ve just…said it all? It’s something I’ve always wondered as someone who’s been listening to MinnMax for years now and has never gotten tired of hearing the cohorts talk.

George Perry

Hey gang! Listening to the latest Bonus Pod got me wondering, what game code giveaway brought in the most new Patreon subscribers?

Tokyo Game Life

Years ago, Jacob Geller made a video titled “The Quiet Sadness of Super Mario Galaxy.” Do you predict The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will cumulatively have at least five seconds that evoke the feeling of “quiet sadness”?

Eric Reitz

With the latest round of price increases to the PlayStation family, how much longer do you think that console gaming has? Gaming will surely continue but if the barrier to entry reaches over a $1000, I just don't see the mass market sticking around. Are we living through the endgame of the console market?

Toke F.

How often do you taste something new? New dish, new candy, new cocktail. Personally I try to always pick a new beverage when entering a gas station.

Rikimaru

Hey MinnMax! What is a game, movie, or piece of art that you love but don't have the lived experience for? Do you wish you did to understand it even more? Or is it better to give you a perspective you wouldn't otherwise have? For example, I played God of War in 2018 before becoming a father and I remember wishing I had that perspective to appreciate it even more. Now that I have, I do relate but I think it was really impactful regardless.

Travis in Fargo

What skill did you naturally lack, but have worked the most to improve?

Travis in Fargo

What US state has the best state shape and why?

Sam Hookom

I rolled credits on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition this week. It was incredible! And while I want to jump into the second game, I know I couldn’t spend another 80 hours in a JRPG right away, so I’m taking a break. When you guys are tacking a game series, how do you go about it? Do you play them back to back, or take a break like I am?

Anthony Dungan

To build off of one of the topics: I think there are some games that everyone should play through twice because of how much knowledge and experience of the game or story changes your second experience with it, like Super Metroid. What would be everyone's pick for a game everyone should roll credits on twice?

Josh Lamm

True story, last weekend when I hit play on the latest episode of The MinnMax Show Podcast, I just so happened to begin breaking wind. Well, wouldn't you know it, that fart lasted the entire musical intro to the podcast. This isn't a question, I just want to know if you're proud of me.

Alon Zwick

Hi y'all! If I can ask a very blunt question, why make video game adaptations? What are the arguments other than "investors think a build in audience is safer than betting on a new story."

b_wood

Hey! It's Alanah Pearce from the hottest online comedy game show Um, Actually! I was wondering if Alanah could share anything about her time on Um, Actually. How did she become a contestant? Did she watch the episode yet? Does she have a rant about a dirty, little cheater? Did she recruit any talent from Dropout for her next game? Seemed to work for Ghost of Yotei.

WinnietheBoo

Hey all, thanks to MinnMax’s cohorts discovered some great small publishers helping keep long form writing for games alive like Lost in Cult (who Jacob Geller!) and Boss Fight Books (whoo Kelsey Lewin!). How did the discovery process work to get you two get connected with those publishers? Do you worry there isn’t going to be a future for this type of medium in the future? And are there other small publishers or long form written creators in the industry that you believe deserve a shout out?

Nemesis

Howdy! A few cohorts have mentioned gaming with a steam deck or switch on an exercise bike. Could you share your setups and any tips for people interested in getting started? Thank you!

Richard Hayes

Hey, I’m wondering about the economy of game codes. MinnMax seems to have a lot of them, and many codes don’t seem to have any restriction on how they can be used. I’d be curious to know how many codes are received? Do studios send initial emails with 1, 10, 20 codes for a single game? Do outlets have to request a set amount of codes? Do some codes come with restrictions? Do studios get mad if codes are used in unintended ways?

Brainfreeze

Is Mario like the best spin-off ever?

Michael Nickley

Hey folks! People are praising Project Hail Mary right now for being “hopecore” at a time when we could all desperately use some optimism. In this spirit, what games have inspired a sense of hopefulness within you?

Onlinesquid

Good evening minnmaxers, Is the leak of the original Sonic movie design the one with the most financial repercussions of all time. They are now working on a fourth movie with even more crazy additions to the voice cast. And I feel like one can make an argument that Sonic is more popular in the culture now than he was in the '90s

Nathan Ryer

Hey MinnMax! If you were a ditto, what would be your default transformation? Would you use your changeling abilities for good, for evil, or just for laughs?

Memory Card

There have been a lot of screen adaptations of video games, but also stage ones like Ace Attorney, Final Fantasy X, and Persona 3. What is a game you'd want to see adapted for theatre?

Jason Wojnar

With Zack Cregger making the new Resident Evil movie, I wanted to ask if were any of you fans of the Whitest Kids U’Know? Rewatching it now and while I was worried it would have aged poorly, I think it holds up surprisingly well because its tastelessness wasn’t playing to 2006 sensibilities. In fact, I think most of the political humor rings out even truer today, even if they are joking about very very sensitive subjects.

Kenjamin

What is the best casting choice ever in a video game adaptation? And also, what’s the worst?

Kenjamin

What bad/middling movie would work better as a game?

Kenjamin

What will be the first video game movie to win best picture? My moneys on Alex Garland’s Elden Ring

Shaun McAlpne

With Alanahs new company what game would you like to see adapted into a movie? I would love to see Spec Ops The Line.