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Submit Your Question For The MinnMax Show Podcast (Patreon)

Published:
2024-02-20 18:26:26
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

This week for community questions on the podcast, we'll have Ben Hanson, Jeff Marchiafava, Leo Vader, Janet Garcia, and Jacob Geller. 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...

- ????

- Nintendo Direct Developer Showcase Highlights

- Helldivers 2

- Balatro

- Arzette

- Pacific Drive

- Skull & Bones- Mario Vs. Donkey Kong

Everybody at the Backstage Pass tier can watch us record the show live on Wednesday at 1:45pm 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 this item for sale in iam8bit’s online store, and you can use the promo code LEAPFROGYEAR 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

Zane Dukes

Why are there not more prevalent attempts at union organizing in the games industry? What can consumers do to help demand better treatment?

Brady Griffith

Which way do you face in the shower? I feel like TV/Movies show people facing the shower head, whereas I usually find that I face away from it. Am I weird?

Taylor C

I recently ran the Disneyland Half Marathon and it was amazing. It was easily one of the best days of my life, but I realized it’s actually really tough to say what the best day of my life was before that. Whats the best day of your life? Or do you have a hard time answering that?

Ben Shively

At what time of day does it go from being late to being early?

Marty

Hey y'all! I went back to Elden Ring for a second playthrough recently and am now fully invested with a totally different build and playstyle, and it left me wondering: what game have you replayed the most? And did you like it more the second/third/fourth/whatever time?

Chris H

Hey cohorts what are your gaming strategies for long weekends? Time to dig into a beefy RPG? Pick up a game you can complete over the weekend? Skip gaming and spend some time outside?

Funky Duck

Hey minnmax! What makes a good community question? Is this anything?

Sebastian Apolinario

Not necessarily a question but just want to give my support and shoutout all the passionate game developers that have been affected by the current state of the industry. Sending you a big hug and a lot of love.

Joe Holaska

What's the most Minnesotan term or phrase you can think of that literally nobody on the East Coast or West Coast who isn't familiar with Minnesota culture would understand?

Dusty Beaman

"What are some games that have been announced and forgotten that you wish would have come out?" Jeff M says Elden Ring and to play the tape back 3 years from now & Ben promised to play it back when Elden Ring wins all the game awards for 2021. Why didn't the clip get played for 2022? Why doesn't Jeff M get more appropriate levels of shame for his insistence that Elden Ring was never coming out? Please play the clip from The MinnMax Show on 09/16/2020 near the 1:39:10 mark and discuss.

SuperThisWay

Hey all! I’ve been using strategy guides on and off with video games. I just played OG FF7 with an online guide and with FF7 remake I’ve been referring to the ign one co-written by Janet Garcia! And this made me want to ask so many questions but I know there’s only time for two: what’s it like to write a strategy guide and what is your favorite strategy guide? Thanks y’all for your amazing show!

Nathaniel Day

I just picked up the first season of The Mandalorian on Blu-Ray and was shocked to discover there were no commentary tracks and the behind the scenes featurette was less than fifteen minutes. I assumed Blu-Ray boxsets were loaded with special features. Is there anything y’all have purchased recently that isn’t as feature complete as you expected?

Jason Wojnar

Last week you briefly brought up an article from The gamer about every 10 that Game Inforner gave. That was actually my article (and I pitched the idea too). Anyway, one time I got tackled by a bouncer because I snuck into a 21+ bar at 20 and the singer of the band I was seeing (The World/Inferno Friendship Society, RIP Jack Terricloth) pulled me on stage and I saw the rest of the show from behind a an amplifier on stage. What's the craziest thing you've done during a night out on the town?

Kenny Solorio

What’s your favorite video game title card and title song? The one that stands out to me is super Mario bros 3 with the theatre curtains, backdrop, and music.

Victor Garcia

Hi everyone, Over the past few months, I've developed a new pet peeve that's probably also the dumbest one I have. I've been scrolling through Reddit and notice that people still double space after a period. Why do they do this? I can understand if you were writing something by hand but it's so unnecessary when typing. Anyway, what are your dumbest pet peeves?

Ray Sweat

What mobile apps have you paid for, excluding games?

Josh LaBaw

Any good stories of the Arcade era? A friend & I had season passes to Valley Fair in Shakopee MN one summer during grade school. We spent more time playing House of the Dead 2 than riding rides. By August we got to the final boss but never rolled credits. It was worth every quarter.

Jared Piers

Hey minnmax, what is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?

Justin Deloach

If you had a penny for every time you died in a video game (from your first game to now), what's the first thing you would buy?

whitemex

I've been playing the OG FF7 for the first time and I've been waiting for the eventual fate of a certain character and that got me thinking, even though I've never actually played the game I know that spoiler. So like with big ubiquitous movie spoilers (Vader is Luke's dad or Bruce Willis is dead in the 6th Sense) what other widely known videos game spoilers reach the levels of the previous references?

SlyCut

Hello all, The scientific community has made a world-altering discovery. It is now possible to teleport human beings safely. Teleportation pads that allow you to travel across the world in an instant have been mass produced... but they aren't perfect. When teleporting, there is a .0001% chance (one in a million) that your clothes and other belongings don't teleport with you. Do you use the teleportation pads?

SenttheProphet

I have been long, long waiting for a game like Pacific Drive. Some may loathe it, but as a huge car enthusiast, and gamer, I could not be happier. This is the exact game I’ve been waiting for - taking care of my stallion, my baby, and exploring the world filled with supernatural I am beyond excited. What other game has finally filled your niche after decades of waiting?

Jake

Hey MinnMax, what are you all bringing to the cookout

mopies

Hey all. I've been doing my part to spread democracy and last night, I heard a character say Super Earth still has no idea how the bug creatures travel to different planets. How do YOU think the bugs travel from planet to planet? Wrong answers only.

Andrew

Hansen and all of the CLCs are being forced to turn into fruit. Which fruit do you choose to ensure your best chance at survival?

Travis in Fargo

A lot of people are grossed out by the word “moist,” but I think “adulting” is much worse. Thoughts?

Luke Neff

Hey MinnMax, a few episodes ago Ben lamented the lack of modern movies tackling the concept of greed and its evils. Which of the other deadly sins (pride, lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth) has the best catalogue of media devoted to unpacking it?

RickyWinterborn

Do you think a single dumb comment from a company can……. Sink a game? Seems like calling skull n bones quadruple A has triggered an industry wide dunk fest on the game.

Databit

Hey there Minnmax Following the recent Dice awards i decided to compile all the gotys of the last 10 years using the Resetera tracker. As in sports not all champions are made the same so I thought it would be fun to look back and rate them using the Richter scale to gauge the impact and influence that those game had on the industry. 2013 The Last of Us 2014 Dragon Age Inquisition 2015 The Witcher 3 2016 Uncharted 4 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2018 God of War 2019 Death Stranding 2020 The Last of Us part II 2021 It Takes Two 2022 Elden Ring 2023 Baldur's Gate III

Ryan Torbet

Hi MinnMax, long time listener first time questioner. I’ve recently been thinking about the words we use to describe people who do things, specifically words ending with “-er” or “-ist”, and why only one of those suffixes makes sense and the other sounds like nonsense for various words. Through some very mild research I wasn’t able to find the answer to this. To add some fun to this I wonder if you all have some switched suffix words that sound particularly odd to you? For example the idea of a “gamist” is hilarious to me. Anyways, can’t wait for the show this week and hopefully you all get a kick out of this potentially weird quirk in the English language.

benjicong

Hey gang, I'm currently about halfway through Persona 3 Reload and it occurred to me that the emphasis it puts on work/life balance, being sociable and self improvement seems to have made me subconsciously attempt to achieve that same balance in real life. I've now fallen down a rabbit hole of exploring the Japanese concept of Ikigai (apparently it's the secret to a long and happy life). So my question is, which games have sent you on any sort of journey towards self improvement?

Travis in Fargo

I recently played through Hotline Miami 2, and I decided almost immediately that I didn’t like the characters or story, so I skipped through all that and just enjoyed the game. What game for you had the widest margin between enjoying the gameplay, and disliking the story?

Adam Brungardt

What are some of your favorite games you’ve discovered completely on a whim with no prior knowledge of the game or franchise? Maybe the box art enticed you to check it out or it was on sale and you said “why not?” For me many years back, I had never heard of the original God of War, but I saw a big hulking guy with bloodied swords on the cover and thought that was enough for me. In more recent years I was scrolling through the Switch’s eshop were I discovered Hollow Knight without ever hearing the critical acclaim, I just saw a funny looking character and it was affordable to take a chance on. Both these games stand as some of my favorite games ever. Are there any that come to mind for you all? Thank you!

Kraven Morcome

Hey MinnMax, I've noticed a disturbing trend where people are starting to use ellipses instead of commas in there sentences. They can both be used to signify pauses in speech but the ellipses is so much more ominous. Some examples of recent emails I've received: "Thank you... I appreciate it." "Have a great weekend... talk to you later." "I thought I sent that in... but I guess I didn't." If they had used commas I wouldn't think anything of it, but the ellipses makes me feel like they are doing a Larry David staredown in the middle of their sentence. Am I crazy? Thanks... keep up the great podcasts.

David Kunker

Hi Team, hope you’re well. Can you predict dragons dogma 2 ign score and what will be its biggest faults that bring the score down? (unless you think it’ll be a 10). Thanks!

Tommy Carver-Chaplin

Hi cohorts. If you were a new challenger on Super Smash Bros, what would your special attacks be? Ben would absolutely pull out a bicycle and shout motivating kindness.

Adam Walters

You are not sick and you drink a glass of water. How long can you use that glass before it needs cleaned?

Steven Toth

This is a week late but I have a “weird custom food order” story that I think about all the time. I worked for years at a small diner that mostly was just open for breakfast. On my first Saturday a guy came in, saw that I was new, and said “just tell the cooks I want the ‘Stan special’” (note I changed his name. I mean, I assume he’s no longer on this corporeal plane, but still). I was horrified to find out that the “Stan special” was a waffle with a ladle full of the raw waffle batter on top of it. I was mortified, but didn’t say anything. I just watched this man eat this waffle with his fork and knife, smeared in the waffle batter. This guy would come in every weekend and many weekdays too and he always ordered this. Three years after I started the owner died and some restaurateur bought the joint. A few months after that I was about to service Stan the Stan special when the new owner saw what was happening and screamed “ABSOLUTELY NOT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?” and wouldn’t let me serve it. She was very adamant that we had to stop this right now. I went out with a batter-less waffle and told the news to Stan. He thanked me, ate his waffle, left, and no one ever saw him again. Every time I make waffles I think of this. One time in college I was making waffles and I got curious and dipped a waffle in the batter. It was horrible. Like dipping a chicken tender in liquified chicken tenders. Sidenote- working a breakfast joint was one of those jobs I didn’t appreciate for its awesome factor until years later. Those cooks were incredible. They could make every regional variant of egg that was asked of them. You would get people with the weirdest egg request and the cooks would be like “yeah uh huh I got it”. Amazed me every time. Go to your local diners!

TheSunIsMyDad

Hello! Imagine a scenario where you have to form a sports team using all the members of MinnMax. What sport would you choose to play to have the best chance of winning against a lowest-ranked professional minor league team? Does your answer change for winning against a championship little league team?

Scott A. Ford

On a recent podcast folks were lamenting the loss of video game rentals. I wanted to take this opportunity to shoutout THE LIBRARY. Your local public library has video games! To borrow! For free! I live in Winnipeg Canada, and even here at our local library they have hundreds of both current-gen and last-gen titles. It's how I played Spider-Man, Kena Bridge of Spirits, Horizon, Psychonauts 2, Little Nightmares 1 and 2, and so so many more. Did I mention that it's free?! (or at least in my city it is, hopefully it is in your city too) P.S. They also have Blu-Rays and as someone who loves behind the scenes special features this is a great way to still find those when they are almost non-existent on most streaming services.

Rikimaru

Hey MinnMax! With the success of Helldivers, do you think we will see more studios start making games in a similar vein? What games or series would you like to see in this genre? Defending planets in the Halo universe from the Covenant? Taking down Zerg as a Firebat in StarCraft? Another shot at a multiplayer Resident Evil? Excited to hear what you think!

Hayden Scott-Baron

Sometimes I stop playing a game because it feels too similar to my job or current life events! For example, I couldn’t handle Unpacking after moving house. Which games feel like this for you?

Orryn Echols

As someone who wants to start sharing their personal projects with the world online, I want to know what today’s crew first few uploads were like? The early days. Also, how did you get over the mental humps you may have felt, to keep going, and build your craft into what it is today?

Travis in Fargo

The only video game cancellation that ever made me legitimately sad was the Tony Hawk 3+4 remake. What cancellation bummed you out the most?

Tom Bukowski

With so many-damn games to play, and also so much streaming content to watch, I feel like I have to do both to get through everything 😓 For those on the MinnMax crew who play games and have a TV or movie playing at the same (via Steamdeck, phone or Switch, or some other unholy concoction like iPad playing a show while playing a console on the TV), how do you decide which games you should only play with something playing in the background, versus games you shouldn’t play with anything else playing in the background?

UpsideDownJay

Howdy yall, I’ve been going through a slump with not playing video games recently and was wondering, was there a stage where you didn’t play video games for an extended amount of time? And if so what game brought you back to the light?

Owen S

If you had the opportunity to go into a fellow cohort’s mind, Psychonauts style, who would you choose and why? Keep in mind, this isn’t just understanding their thoughts, there’s a whole world for you to explore in there

Malcolm Holliday

Hey MinnMax, what is the current easy task that you haven't gotten done yet for whatever reason?

Conner McCabe

Hi Ben, Jeff’m, Leo, Janet, and Jacob! In light of both Infinite Wealth and (seemingly) Rebirth having a boatload of mini games to sink time into, what are your favorite mini games tucked into big games?

Hugo Aguilar

Hey MinnMax, is there a game that has shaped the way you view something in real life? Max Payne 3 had me thinking for the longest time that the city of Hoboken was a gang heavy area, according to Jeff Bakalar it’s not.

Toke F.

Has anyone ever gotten adult scolded? If yes, what was the worst adult scolding you have ever received?

MechaPig

Hi, what are favorite game controllers? And how much does the actual tactile feel of a controller affect yout gaming experience?

LlorchDurden

writing this almost 16 hours before the Nintendo Direct Developer Showcase Highlights, scratch if Nintendo makes no Metroid mentions a) Metroid Prime 2 Remaster Deepest Dive Ben? b) Metroid Prime 4 Deepest Dive?!??!

Dustin L

Howdy MinnMix! Question for the parents on the podcast - I usually work 60+ hours a week (my normal day job, plus some fun side jobs!) I'm going to be a first time dad soon, and I assume I'll need to scale that back a bit. How do you achieve a healthy work/life balance when you actually enjoy the work that you do?

Aging_Poorly

Hi team, Bad news. The video game industry layoffs have finally hit the characters themselves. These characters have hired you to find new jobs for them, and they don't want to do anything criminal or that involves violence, as it reminds them too much of their old gigs. Where do you think these characters could have a successful new career? Aloy (Horizon) Wario Cloud Strife Ellie (the Last of Us) Tingle (Legend of Zelda)

Virgil B

With Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth released, I’m glad I got into Tekken with Tekken 7 and played all the mainline Yakuza games prior to playing the latest entries. Has there ever been a time where you had the biggest payoff for being a longtime fan of something?

Victor Pham

What's a game you initially disliked but came to enjoy or respect after revisiting it?

James from Michigan

Hey Contubernium, where do you find the time for socializing and gaming while working full time?

Michael Griffin

What is the most arbitrary thing that you dislike about where you live? Ironically enough, I live in Oklahoma and can't stand the wind!

Hayden Williams

Howdy Cohorts! What makes a perfect video game level for you? Do you have any favorites that come to mind and what makes them perfect for the genre of game they are in?

Richard Kirk

Hey Ben and the CLCs! I'm about to lose my job of 4 years and I'm trying to change careers. I've worked a lot of different jobs, ended up in social media and then fell backwards into the beer industry as a server and delivery driver. If you were given the chance to start over what would you do?

Andrew (PsylockeRules)

Surprise! a new smash bros ultimate season pack is revealed! What would your 5 characters be to push the roster to over 100 fighters, mine would be Itchiban from Like a dragon, Tifa, Ring fit Trainer, Jill valentine and Daddy Ganon

Joshua Ayers

In the name of Madame Web, it's Morbid time! You ever think about how many days you have left to live, at best? Never fails to wig me out! Years seem so long till I run the numbers. Woof!

Nicholas Alger

Hey MinnMax! With forums and subreddits for nearly every household item, I find it very difficult to casually buy something these days. After searching “best blank”, I always end up researching for weeks before making a purchase, getting too invested in what hardcore users think along the way. This has happened to me with mechanical keyboards, backpacks, coffee grinders, headphones, bomber jackets, and even vacuum cleaners (100% because of How to With John Wilson). Have any of you fallen down an enthusiast rabbit hole for something niche?

Gavin Fitzgerald

Favourite meal or dish that you've had recently? Mine - at a local food truck event last weekend I had a block of vanilla ice cream between sweet & chewy brioche buns covered in caramel & biscoff sauce. It was so good!

thejjuan1

Question for the panel. Thoughts on the rumored switch 2 delay to Q1 2025?

Juz10

Hey Ben, you said that we can try out our new jokes by sending them to the podcast. With the rumor of Nintendo's next system coming out in 2025, here is my joke. "Nintendo Switch 2, more like Nintendo Switch your expectations around playing a new system this year" (Did I nail it? Ben if no one laughed, maybe try reading the joke again in a funny tone of voice)

Voivod McGarnagle

Hey MinnMaxinistas, what if anything would make playstation revise its course on depending so heavily on bigger and bigger (in scope and budget) first party releases? Would we ever see a medium scoped God of War, for example?

Daisy

Hey everyone! So not a weird order, but I do have a bizarre restaurant story. This was way back in 2009, I was working as a host at a popular restaurant in the Sonoma wine country. So. Many. Tourists. One day a man walks up to me and shows me a picture of a young woman on his phone. “Is this you?” he asks. I exchange a confused look with my coworker, then say “no” and ask who’s in the picture. The man gave a vague, forgettable reply and sheepishly walked back to his family in the waiting area. After a few minutes his wife comes up to me to explain. She tells me the woman in the photo is Amanda Knox. She then goes on to the explain the whole murder case situation and that she and her husband just thought I might be trying to get away between trials… Having grown up in a tourist town, I have seen just how much people shut off their brains when they go on vacation. I’m totally guilty of this too. Do you guys have any weird tourist experiences? Have you been “that” tourist the locals roll their eyes at?

StillGotGame

Hey Everyone. With Nintendo's love of selling our childhood back to us, what do you think the likelihood is of them devising some way of playing DS and 3DS games on the next console? It may seem unlikely but then, when you think about it, kids who grew up with these consoles, are now in their mid to late twenties so prime nostalgia period, they're no longer available digitally and difficult to emulate so there's certainly a market I mean it must have at least been raised in a meeting room at some point right? Even if its just a wider screen and the ability to play held vertically

SuperCerberus

Has an ESRB rating ever affected your enjoyment of a game? I thought about this because I saw some people upset that Avowed was apparently rated E10+, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. I often hear people say things like “this movie would’ve been better if it had an R rating,” but I don’t think that argument comes up a lot for games.

Andres Silva

Hi everyone. I have a two-part question: 1. I am getting married this weekend at Disney World and wanted to know what are your no-nos/things you don’t enjoy at weddings. For example, some people cut speeches whereas we cut out group dances like the cha cha slide/chicken dance I favor of more salsa/bachata music to liven it up a little. And 2. As we are heading to the keys for our honeymoon, any tips on unplugging from work/business as I consistently find myself glued to my outlook whenever I’m out of the office. Appreciate each and very one single one of y’all and have a great rest of yalls week!

Derek Achoy

I’ve enjoyed all the content around video game crushes lately - but was there ever a video game crush who broke your heart?? Someone who you liked, but then their story arcs or redesigns or something else turned you away?

Vilis

I know this will be a great struggle for Ben, but I have always been taken with the incredible vastness of support Final Fantasy 7 has received from Square over the decades. Can the assembled experts think of another game to come out, and the studio said "You know what this needs? A movie sequel!" and then continued to work and spread that story through other games, and books, and then bring out an unprecedented Remake? That's a shortly answered question, the one I want y'all to discuss is can you think of any game NOW or in the past 10 years which will come close to this sort of legacy?

James Gameboy

Hey MinnMavalanche! (sorry) It is not financially viable for me to play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth until it hopefully comes out on PC. Should I follow along with the Deepest Dive? Will it offend the good name of the Deepest Dive if I'm not diving and just want to hang out with Barret and Red XIII?

Luca Alberti

Hello crew, my friend Dan just broke his arm so he's looking for great games that are playable with one hand, care to share some suggestions?

Graham Jones

Hey BennMax, There was a question on the show last week talking about Xbox naming and my first thought was that all the Xbox names that existed except the Xbox series happened before Phil Spencer took over. So I was wondering what the cohorts think about the direction Xbox naming will go under Phil Spencer. Will it become more stream lined or be as chaotic as ever?

CANAS1AN

Hey there Helldivers, I'ive started saying "and whatever" after hearing Jacob Geller say it a bunch on podcasts. Are there any mannerisms/phrases you picked up from your fellow cohorts or friends?

Kaizoku Risu

Recently ‘The Besties’ podcast has proposed shifting away from the term “Metroidvania” and instead using the Japanese name for the genre, which is “Search Action”. Are there any other alternative gaming terms you’d like to see more widely adopted?

Devin Atlee-Nutts

Hey MinnMaxxers, When I was playing through Jusant, I noticed that I was avoiding crossing the protagonist's arms over when grabbing new handholds because the animation looked too awkward to be realistic. It took slightly longer to get around but it made the climbing feel that bit more immersive by taking into account how you'd move in real life rather than what's fastest within the game's limitations. On the other hand, in some games I find myself repeatedly jumping or rolling if I notice that it gets you around marginally faster! Do you prefer to travel as quickly as possible or move naturally as you'd expect the protagonist would? Is it dependent on the game's atmosphere? Cheers, Tom

Jason Coburn

Hey gang. Jim Henson's 1986 film Labyrinth ends with all the characters, good guys and bad, having a delightful dance party in Jennifer Connolly's bedroom. What piece of media do you think would be improved by adding an everyone-invited, no hard feelings, dance party to the end?

KiwiTheGoo

Hey MinnMaxers, I am speaking from the past, but assuming Unicorn Overlord from Vanillaware doesn't make an appearance on the Nintendo Direct, what are the odds you will cover this game in some fashion? Who will pick up the strategy/tactics torch from where Suriel left off? Thanks y'all!

Aidan Tatman

I recently was thinking about the genre of 'Point and Click' and how thoroughly unhelpful that is to those who don't already know what the genre means. This could ostensibly refer to almost any game on PC, and, if I were new to games, would give me 0 information whatsoever about what to expect from the game. Modern genre labels aren't any better with games regularly being referred to as 'Soulslikes', 'Metroidvanias', 'Boomer Shooters', etc (if not several of these labels!). None of these would be quickly explainable to someone with no outside knowledge. So, my question is this: Are other mediums this obtuse and filled with hobby-specific terms, or do I notice it more with games because I simply spend more time observing gaming culture?

One One

What would be the best part of being shrunk like in Honey I shrunk the kids or Grounded?

FelixA

Hello MinnMax! I finally got to play through the FF Rebirth demo and loved it. Still a little cautiously optimistic though. I'm a fan of Final Fantasy but honestly thought Remake was an 8 at best. After beating it I had an urge to play Crisis Core and then remembered the frustrations playing it on the PSP when I was in college. Instead! I pulled out my PSVita this week (Still running great!) and started a new game of Dissidia Duodecim just so I can relive the terrible writing and beat some Sephiroth as Tifa. Anyone else have experiences like this with an reboot or remake of a franchise?

Tom Rickard

Hey Minnmax! In honor of Pacific Drive coming out this week, what is your specific memory of a road trip/vacation that had an otherworldly moment? Not creepy per se but specifically felt like you had entered the unknown? For me it was driving through Nevada to reach Vegas in the middle of the night and seeing how truly dark it gets out there but also how bright the stars can be.

Trapezoid

Do you think Pokémon would be as popular if there was only 1 version of each game?

BEEFCAKE

I struggle to think of good questions. But here I go. On the latest Xbox podcast they stated “that the next console will be the largest technical leap within a hardware generation”. How do you think they’re gonna cram AI into this thing?

wittynicknamehere .

Another user specifically requested I re-ask this question if it didn't get picked for last week's show, so here 'tis! Hey, Minnmaxers. Last week I rewatched the documentary Hoop Dreams, for the first time since the 90s. Not only does it remain a basically perfect film, but I found certain moments deeply moving and poignant which definitely didn't hit me as a teenager. Tearing up while seeing Arthur's mom defying the odds and crushing her final test for her nursing assistant certification, for instance, is just not something Teen Me was emotionally equipped to find so touching. Are there any games like this, with the ability to touch or move you when revisiting it with more maturity and life lived, outside of simply feeling nostalgic for when you'd played it before?

Ant

Hey gang!!! A few episodes ago you talked about the differences between "missions" and "quests" in games, and I really enjoyed that discussion! In 2002 Final Fantasy 11 (the other mmo) released and actually had both in the game! Missions were the ones that pushed the story along, while quests were all side content!! I just thought that was interesting and wanted to bring it up as a supplement to that convo!! Otherwise, I've been thinking a lot about early access games recently and had a question that I'd like some opinions on. In my opinion it really feels like sometimes early access can hurt a game more than it helps it. Sure, there's a lot of early access success stories! Baldur's Gate 3 and Hades immediately come to mind, but there are also some failures like Cube World and The Day Before. So my question: Is giving the playerbase an integral voice in shaping the game during early access always good? And what dictates the differences between an early access success and failure? Thank you for everything y'all do at Minnmax <3 have a good day/night!

Duderado

Do you have any strange traditions you participate in despite no longer having a reason to? I've worn a blue item of clothing every Tuesday for almost a decade in honor of "Bluesday Tuesday" - a tradition at my first corporate job where my team wore something blue every Tuesday and anyone out of compliance would get stuck handling the worst calls.

Cody Allison

There's that joke from John Mulaney where he says cartoons led him to believe quicksand would be a bigger problem in his life What your video game equivalent? Something games made seem easier, more common, whatever

ramentaco

Hey Ben and the cohorts, 2 years ago you had Jacob, Kyle, and Suriel on the minnmax show to talk about their experience with elden ring pre release. During that conversation all 3 of them mentioned they don't think elden ring would be the game to inspire new from software fans because it still feels like dark souls and doesn't really revolutionize the gameplay. You (Ben) did mention that the open world exploration might bring in more people which Jacob agreed to. Elden ring ended up being from's biggest game with over 20 million sold. I'm curious what your guy's thoughts are 2 years later and with the announcement of the dlc. Was it the open world exploration that brought it in a whole new audience?

GreenMountainState

Hey MinnMax, TL;DR - ask JeffM about the ending of his Balatro stream. I'd like to submit "Streaming moment of the year" as a new category for the end of the years awards. And my immediate nomination is JeffM's Balatro stream. Over the course of the stream he meticulously tries to calculate out the math to optimize each hand, turning to the camera and chuckling because he knows how absurd he's being and that dead time is the last thing you want from a stream. But it's JeffM, we know what we signed up for. He proceeds to spend over two and half hours playing through ONE run to finally get to the boss of the last round. Meanwhile he's trying to wrap up to send people over to Hanson's and Leo's Xbox stream. It's not looking good for him with only one hand left and the boss mechanic has most of his cards face down. He's a ridiculous amount of points behind, trying to somehow deduce the face down cards suits for a hail Mary flush draw, likely the only possibility to win. And he hits it... HE HIT IT! I lost my shit and instantly wish listed the game. I've never been so sold on buying a game before. A masterpiece stream.

Bob Buel

During the Commentary Track for FF7: Advent Children, at 15 minutes 18 seconds, now available on Patreon.com/MinnMax with two n’s, Grant (the chef from MinnSnax) asks if chocobo breeding will be in the remake, to which Hanson says “we won’t see it for a very long time.” So, since this moment it’s been 3 years & 11 months. Which leads to my question - how long would you consider “a very long time”?

Lanthian

A friend and I recently played through Dead Space Extraction. Despite positive reviews, we both found it boring and kept questioning who this game was made for. My question to the Cohorts: do you think Dead Space Extraction is at least one persons all time favorite game?

Brad Beyer

What’s your favorite Tim Shaffer game?

Edward Durbridge

Hey minnmax crew. With the success of helldivers 2, how soon to all first party games are released on the same date on PC as well as console. I can see it happen with multiplayer games, but with single player games I can see it being a while.

Eduardo Lobo

(Yakuza 3 spoilers ahead) Hey CLC's! I still remember playing Yakuza 3 for the first time back in 2010. I was 17 at the time and the character of Rikiya made a big impression on me. Seeing him grow from an annoying brat to someone willing to give his live to protect those important to him hit me at the right moment as a young guy still trying to shape his masculinity in a non toxic way. I bawled my eyes out, scaring my dad who was in the next room. My question is: do you still remember the first time a game made you ugly-cry?

Patrick Hughes

Ahoy good folks of MinnMax. Do you ever audibly say "ow" when your character in a video game takes a hit, even though you yourself are not physically in pain? Is it a trained reaction or a factor of being so immersed in the experience? Also, I looked up into the sky recently and can confirm the moon still exists at present. ;)

Matty P

Hey Everyone! Helldivers (one) was a game that came out in 2015. It was pretty niche with a total all time player count of 6,691 on steam. Not including PS4 but I’d guess it’s similar. Helldivers 2 has an all-time peak of 457,649 currently. Roughly 68 times the first game’s peak. My question is, with them having to cap the servers and people struggling to even get in the game. Whose fault is it? Is it no ones as I’m guessing Arrowhead didn’t expect such a huge player base? Did Sony even see this coming? I ask because purchasing a game to not be able to get on immediately or sometimes at all stinks, and you can see this in steam reviews slowing falling to “mixed”. I don’t blame anyone, and I’m happy for the success. I just wanted your guy’s take on the situation and thoughts! Thanks!

Ari

Hi Minnmax, FF7 Remake took the first 5 hours of FF7 and made a 40-50 hour game out of it. The film Rouge One is based of a small line in Star Wars A New Hope. If you could expand any game, film franchise or TV show into a larger piece of media, what would it be?

Rory Gladstone

I recently rolled credits on goat simulator 3. A game I never thought I'd play let alone beat. But my 4 year old saw his cousin play it last year and thought it was absolutely hilarious and it was a blast to play it with him. Mostly. Are there any games you've played because of the passion of a loved one?

Spacedentist

If you compare the timeline of movies to video games, with the silent film era being comparable to early Atari games, where are we now?

Isaac Cooper

Since Pacific Drive is out, thought I’d ask what is the best game where you drive a vehicle?

HelloAndre!

I went to day of the devs and had a blast. On my way in, I noticed they were selling the “outer wilds” soundtrack on vinyl, an album I’ve wanted to get my hands on since forever!!! I go and get a drink and when I get back, SOLD OUT! Have you ever missed out on buying something you really wanted? Keep up the fun work yall.

Tonytheswordsman

WAZZUP!? What’s a cheat code you still remember ?

HaulingGas

Hi Mr Vader and the gang, Monsieur Leo, can you please enlighten everyone on why Skull & Bones is this year's most underrated game? You have 90 seconds... and go!

BearCommando

Hi gang, Do y’all have any gaming “happy places”? A specific in-game location that you enjoy having your character be in? In BotW I would put Link next to a crackling fire in the old man’s cabin on the Great Plateau, and leave the tv on for hours while I did chores around the house to the cozy ambience.

Harrison

Hi all! Immortals of Aveum on PS5 is currently being sold by UK supermarket chain Asda for £1 (it cost £49.99 on launch 6 months ago). What's the best deal you ever got on a game? What's a game you paid full price for and wished you hadn't?

Fatt Mish

Hi MinnMax people! Do you think Sony specifically chose not to promote Helldivers II, because they hoped that it would have more of a long tail sales trajectory instead of a huge launch that would've most likely crushed the servers and left many more people without the ability to play the game at launch?

TheLastArcher

What is your favorite and least favorite use of a controller touchpad in gaming?

Grant Campbell

MinnMaxers, I am in a constant state of trying to convince myself to delete Twitter because of the negative impact it has on my life but not doing it because it's my main source of gaming news and updates. Do you all have any other places you go that serve as a good aggregate for the major gaming outlets and journalists?

John

Hello Minnmax contubernium, what is the minimum number of saves you are comfortable with? Do you let the auto save do its thing? Do you rotate between two cyclicly incase one gets corrupted? Do you have an infinite list incase you want to go back?

Bloody Waffle

What is the 1st videogame that you enjoyed so much that you couldn't wait to share with someone else? For me it was Radical Rex on the SNES when I was in 1st grade cause what's cooler than a lizard character that skateboards AND spits fire.

Brandon Sampson

When Elden Ring came out, I ditched my play through of Horizon: Forbidden West. I recently started replaying with full intent to finish…but the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer has inspired me to do another Elden Ring. How bad should I feel for Aloy that I keep leaving her hanging for a foul tarnished?