MinnMax Spotlight - 17-Bit/Sarah And Haley's Japan Adventure (Extended Version) (Patreon)

Hello everybody, we're very happy to finally share the legendary MinnMax Spotlight from Japan! MinnMax's Sarah Podzorki and Haley MacLean traveled to Kyoto, Japan to visit the indie studio 17-Bit on their 17th anniversary. After creating games like Skulls of the Shogun, Galak-Z, and Song in the Smoke, 17-Bit is almost done with their new co-op dungeon-brawler called Awaysis. It's currently planned as a 2026 release and takes inspiration from games like The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords while forging a new, bold path with its physics system. The game also is composed by Chip Tanaka, who you might know as the composer for METROID, SUPER MARIO LAND, and the rest of your childhood. In addition to touring the studio and learning about 17-Bit, Haley and Sarah explore Tokyo by visiting the Muscle Girls bar, Pokémon store, and more.

Any help sharing the MinnMax Spotlight is appreciated. Our goal is to make them the most fun AND the most insightful videos possible. https://youtu.be/4c4d85dFsoU

One of the reasons this video took so long in the editing-oven was that it's our biggest video ever. Because you're at the Backstage Pass tier here on Patreon, you've unlocked the 22-HOUR VERSION of this video. Time-stamped for your convenience. If you upgraded to the Backtsage Pass tier a while ago expecting to find this extended video then and felt stringed along, please DM me on Patreon and I'll give you a refund for the last couple of months. I never want to stretch anybody along at a higher tier than they're comfortable with. Enjoy your extended, two-part (because of YouTube length limits) journey to Tokyo and Kyoto with Sarah and Haley!

MinnMax Spotlight - 17-Bit's Awaysis In Japan (Part 1) - https://youtu.be/JpDMDm5JWLI

MinnMax Spotlight - 17-Bit's Awaysis In Japan (Part 2) - https://youtu.be/PBL9WG2naqs

MinnMax Spotlights aren't sponsored content, we choose the games and studios worth highlighting. That said, you could help thank 17-Bit for being so welcoming to Sarah and Haley by wishlisting Awaysis on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3334760/Awaysis

As always, thanks for making this type of content possible through your support. Keep the comments rolling about how we can improve MinnMax Spotlights moving forward and the outlet overall. We're trying our best to share game development insight (and fun travel adventures) that you can't get anywhere else. THANK YOU!

Here’s a list of all MinnMax extended videos, available to you at the Backstage Pass tier…

MinnMax Spotlight - 17-Bit's Awaysis In Japan (Part 1) - https://youtu.be/JpDMDm5JWLI

MinnMax Spotlight - 17-Bit's Awaysis In Japan (Part 2) - https://youtu.be/PBL9WG2naqs

Jeff Kaplan Rapid-Fire Screening - https://youtube.com/live/dA2-zx-cdCU

MinnMax Plays Big Walk (Part 1) - https://youtu.be/u5saGKRtPkQ

Control Resonant - Rapid-Fire Unedited - https://youtu.be/518qSH-_s54

MinnMax Goes Camping (4 hours) - https://youtu.be/5tj3r10vlSE

Dead By Daylight Travelogue (7.5 Hours) - https://youtu.be/TLCk3I18o7Q

Summer Game Fest 2026 Extended (3 hours) - https://youtu.be/S70VE25KfU4

Mina Hollower/Kyle Bosman Rapid-Fire Screening - https://youtube.com/live/xTwpkTmZKRw

Devs Talk Shop - Dan Teasdale - Extended (47 minutes) - https://youtu.be/ibWImMhdkOg

MinnMax Spotlight - Spain and Deconstructeam (11 hours) - https://youtu.be/m8uiKAWe6V8

GDC 2026 Travelogue (3.5 Hours) - https://youtu.be/_wtnp5UfFqg

The Best Of MinnMax 2025 (7.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/FqCxl5aDzYY

2025's The Two Tens Post-Show "Pissy Zone" (1 hour) - https://bit.ly/48GyJML

Thanksgiving Jokes 2025 Extended (2.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/smdGYTaKoX0

Janet and Ana Explore Gamescom in Germany (9.75 hours) - https://youtu.be/9sSx6as5ZuY

Ghost of Yotei Rapid-Fire Screening (1.5 hours) - https://youtube.com/live/AW1vhrtwAf8

Valleyfair Lunch Podcast (35 minutes) - https://youtu.be/GdG7Os7Df8Q

MinnMax’s Summer Community Meetup - (9 hours, 40 minutes) - https://youtu.be/7blL0gwBpaY

Bosman and Geller Attend Monster Jam (40 minutes) - https://youtu.be/HHpCtOVETFA

Summer Game Fest 2025 Extended (6.25 hours) - https://youtu.be/k8qeV6nP5aY

Meal Prep Volunteering (1.75 hours) - https://youtu.be/vcHfrFTa26M

The Big Brazil Travelogue (8.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/VWAgVkIfYPk

Leo Flies To Ohio To Eat Chili (1.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/iWK6yBIoNAI

Nintendo Switch 2 LA Event (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/fcooF917tRU

Leo and Ben Clean Up New Show Plus Ideas (1 hour) - https://youtube.com/live/IIQbUn9RQso

GDC 2025 Extended Travelogue (6 hours) - https://youtu.be/x_TWptnH_Rg

Ronnie and Ben’s Pizza Break During Split Fiction (25 mins) - https://youtu.be/4OWTP00IZ1g

Devs Talk Shop - Ryan Payton (35 mins) - https://youtu.be/LAuhr_TN_z8

Avowed Rapid-Fire Extended/Review - https://youtu.be/JH9tGkX-8GY

Jurassic World Rebirth Live Reaction - https://youtu.be/Ki4Po9f7Wao

The Best Of MinnMax October-December 2024 - https://youtu.be/QOgSYzEbB98

2024's The Two Tens Post-Show "Pissy Zone" (1 hour) - https://bit.ly/400hEJh

Charles Visits Osaka, Japan for Monster Hunter (2.25 hours) - https://youtu.be/blT21zagU3s

Thanksgiving Jokes 2024 Extended (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/LROKhMsZBUE

Give To The Max 2024 Travelogue Extended (35 minutes) - https://youtu.be/cEZ4mf5gyRw

Indiana Jones Rapid-Fire Extended/Review - https://youtu.be/20kUQF8bEeo

Dan Ryckert's 2003 Game Informer Commercial (1.25 hours) - https://youtu.be/Zq0q4jSK2xY

MinnMax New Studio Tour 2024 - (12 minutes) - https://youtu.be/6i8ZLhphO-w

Pumpkin Patch Tour 2024 (slight extended) - https://youtu.be/fctya9aWpnE

Vinyl Record Shopping (slightly extended) - https://youtu.be/ZmbpKnyAo7U

Panic in Portland (8.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/TXUQngfLtaA

Sick Stunts in Spider-Man 2 (1.5 hours) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC7OsmtqQYM

The Best Of MinnMax July-September 2024 (2.5 hours) https://youtu.be/nHcVps1jDSw

Sarah Takes Ben Shopping - Extended Version (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/DqoaFtarrYw

The Grand Canyon Extended Travelogue (1 hour) - https://youtu.be/AsCfMTmGnc4

The Unedited Astro Bot Rapid-Fire Interview (1 hour) - https://youtu.be/G1_li9Ld7Zw

The Extended Chicago/Rebirth Concert Travelogue (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/WXiRgmjCZB0

Unedited Game Informer Reunion Episode (5 hours) - https://youtube.com/live/P6C2IjxmVfA

Game Informer Office Footage (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/3JQdsCjXD1g

Disneyland Tour With Mike Minotti (4 hours) - https://youtu.be/MKo2C8B1HAU

The Best Of MinnMax April-June 2024 (3 hours) - https://youtu.be/T2u6ufFn_aA

Summer Game Fest 2024 Travelogue Extended (7 hours) https://youtu.be/cBT3J27e84o

Leo’s Dome-King Cabbage Documentary - Extended Cut (5 hours) -  https://youtu.be/yfS4chU21E0

The Best Of MinnMax Jan-March 2024 (2 hours) - https://youtu.be/ZbMA5xOzz4Y

The Extended GDC 2024 Travelogue (3.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/pfJ10m35tRA

The Best Of MinnMax 2023 (5 hours) - https://youtu.be/gugi4I4kn-4

2023's The Two Tens Post-Show "Pissy Zone" - https://bit.ly/3RohPZa

PAX & Nintendo Live Extended Travelogue (4 hours) - https://youtu.be/KBQZm4l4rWY

Alternate intro for I Want Candy with Dan Ryckert and Leo (6 minutes) - https://youtu.be/83P21FwZYkQ

Summer Game Fest 2023 Travelogue Extended (10 hours) - https://youtu.be/SUC1EWuP77g

Summer Games Done Quick Extended Tour (1 hour) - https://youtu.be/Z5JFk7mRpak

The Extended GDC 2023 Travelogue (1.75 hours) - https://youtu.be/ImmzLXQtxSo

2022's The Two Tens Post-Show "Pissy Zone" - https://youtu.be/Fw2mByK6n2o?t=10256

The Extended Minneapolis/Trek To Shrek Travelogue (3.75 hours) - https://youtu.be/c7DJQHa93rI

One Piece/San Diego Extended Travelogue (.5 hours) - https://youtu.be/yqK_4fQ-3Lo

Janet Garcia and Bruce the cat (1 hour) - https://youtu.be/Z0ROVAfT6Js

Leo Vader’s cats (11 minutes) - https://youtu.be/qy2tUB4LLB8

The Best Of MinnMax 2022 (4.45 hours) - https://youtu.be/Bk1UsmU0oSk

Not For EverQuest (Ben’s high school fan films) (30 minutes) - https://youtu.be/tOZEudqYiH0

Wade Wojcik's Game Informer Studio tutorial (45 minutes) - https://youtu.be/M5y2Zc7xVIY

Mussel Documentary - Extended Version - https://youtu.be/yFae76jhtGU

The Raw MinnMax Pitch Video (20 minutes) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp0b_bIs43g