There is something really delightful about Justin writing recipes. It reminds me of comedians writing their biographies - where you can actually hear them reading it in your head. Would love a Justin written-ASMR instructional for how to install a bathroom fan.
Sep 2, 2023·edited Sep 2, 2023Liked by The Besties
Re Todd’s future this has come up in (I think) FTC filings or antitrust litigation. He’s retiring after TES VI which they think is ~5 years away
On his legacy I think a lot of the whackiness in Bethesda games will go away with Todd. Take the bug Justin describes where NPCs are running around during dialogue. Most games just freeze time during dialogue! They wouldn’t allow something so strange to happen because a producer 10 years ago said “do we really need all these characters to have pathing and a routine?” Because Bethesda has stayed private Todd never had to answer that question. Yes, the clutter has physics. Yes NPCs need to sit down at a table and pantomime eating. Yes there is a model of NPC affinity that makes them smile at weird times.
I’m not saying these choices are good. But they are choices characteristic of TH. They are one humans idea of verisimilitude, not a corporation or an algorithm. He’s the last individual producer with the power to make games according to his vision and after him AAA will all be God of War, where NPCs never do anything weird and everyone has the correct amount of hair.
I’ve just started Starfield, like less than an hour, and I already love it. Not comparing it to BG3, but I prefer Bethesda style role play to D&D. It’s a little more linear and a lot more clear. The trait and background options in this game were a lot of fun to choose from.
I'm about 5 hours into starfield, unfortunately I had to work today but good god it exceeded all expectations do far. 10/10 for me goty. I really don't understand how bethesda fans don't like this one. It's like fallout 4 and no man's sky had a baby. Can't wait for mods
I am excited to check it out as well, despite the review. All of the stuff that bugs folks about other Bethesda games never really bothered me 10% as much as they annoyed other people, so I'm wondering if that will be the case here, as well.
I decided to boot up Fallout 4 again last night while I wait for Starfield and had an absolute ball with it. Started the Silver Shroud questline and played for like 2 hours straight. I may actually just stick with this for awhile.
Hi guys! Quick Baldurs Gate 3 question before its PS5 release. Is playing it fully couch co-op going to detract from the experience? Should I have one single player save and then another for co-op so I don’t miss anything, or is it fine to play the whole thing co-op only. Love the show, thanks!
I will preface what I’m about to say with this, I’m a career Bethesda hater.
My first big, open world game was BotW. I had played some older games and toyed around with some CRPGs, but my first big foray was Zelda. To go bag and play Skyrim felt sluggish, empty, and uninteresting to me. It feels like a game design to be open and nothing more. During its time that was compelling. BotW and other recent games have shown how compelling an open world can be beyond pure freedom.
For me, in a post BotW world, pure freedom doesn’t cut it. If Starfield isn’t better than Skyrim, it doesn’t hold up against TotK and Baldur’s Gate.
Despite many attempts, Starfield included, I can never get into their games. Their games are as big as they are empty. And surprising no one, fans are already fixing their game.
After listening to your thoughts on starfield I'm Interested to hear if any of you have/had experience playing Star Wars: Galaxies. The Star Wars MMO from like 15 years ago. It feels like an oddly apt comparison to Starfield.
They were different types of games of course, but a lot of the pain points you all mentioned from Starfield feel like they were addressed in this game that went offline in 2011. The main one I thought of was traversing empty landscapes. Many SWG planets had player owned housing and towns that included shuttle crafts. Not to mention speederbikes and animal mounts. It was truly fun to explore even though landscapes were pretty barren.
you played with the swg restoration at all? I went straight back to the cantina in kor vella and got out my star wars flute and wow was it ever as thrilling as it always was.
I remember when there were like only 2 people who had found holocron cubes and become jedi and one time they were gonna duel and it took us like 45 minutes to get there on speederbikes. it was.. AWESOME
Okay, how does one get started on retro handhelds? If I'm looking to play SNES (U.N. Squadron!) and Gamecube (Viewtiful Joe), what's a good handheld to start with and where do the games come from?
Since I don't want to mess with the required ingredients, I wonder what the taste difference would be if you used dark corn syrup instead of the light corn syrup? Would there be too much of a molasses flavor when combined with the brown sugar?
The first steps to a "Justin's Kitchen Whips Ass" cook book! Finally!
Stoked about this. @Justin can we get the infamous popcorn recipe down on paper?
Our prayers have been answered
There is something really delightful about Justin writing recipes. It reminds me of comedians writing their biographies - where you can actually hear them reading it in your head. Would love a Justin written-ASMR instructional for how to install a bathroom fan.
Lmao i agree. I could listen to justin reading the dictionary
Re Todd’s future this has come up in (I think) FTC filings or antitrust litigation. He’s retiring after TES VI which they think is ~5 years away
On his legacy I think a lot of the whackiness in Bethesda games will go away with Todd. Take the bug Justin describes where NPCs are running around during dialogue. Most games just freeze time during dialogue! They wouldn’t allow something so strange to happen because a producer 10 years ago said “do we really need all these characters to have pathing and a routine?” Because Bethesda has stayed private Todd never had to answer that question. Yes, the clutter has physics. Yes NPCs need to sit down at a table and pantomime eating. Yes there is a model of NPC affinity that makes them smile at weird times.
I’m not saying these choices are good. But they are choices characteristic of TH. They are one humans idea of verisimilitude, not a corporation or an algorithm. He’s the last individual producer with the power to make games according to his vision and after him AAA will all be God of War, where NPCs never do anything weird and everyone has the correct amount of hair.
Fantastic comment!
I’m doing this recipe this weekend! Thank you Justin!
I’ve just started Starfield, like less than an hour, and I already love it. Not comparing it to BG3, but I prefer Bethesda style role play to D&D. It’s a little more linear and a lot more clear. The trait and background options in this game were a lot of fun to choose from.
Please please please talk about the cyberpunk DLC and 2.0 patch when they come out!
I'm about 5 hours into starfield, unfortunately I had to work today but good god it exceeded all expectations do far. 10/10 for me goty. I really don't understand how bethesda fans don't like this one. It's like fallout 4 and no man's sky had a baby. Can't wait for mods
I am excited to check it out as well, despite the review. All of the stuff that bugs folks about other Bethesda games never really bothered me 10% as much as they annoyed other people, so I'm wondering if that will be the case here, as well.
How do you guys feel about the newer Mario powerups and are there any older ones that you’d wanna see return?
I decided to boot up Fallout 4 again last night while I wait for Starfield and had an absolute ball with it. Started the Silver Shroud questline and played for like 2 hours straight. I may actually just stick with this for awhile.
Hi guys! Quick Baldurs Gate 3 question before its PS5 release. Is playing it fully couch co-op going to detract from the experience? Should I have one single player save and then another for co-op so I don’t miss anything, or is it fine to play the whole thing co-op only. Love the show, thanks!
Nah, co-op shouldn't detract!
I will preface what I’m about to say with this, I’m a career Bethesda hater.
My first big, open world game was BotW. I had played some older games and toyed around with some CRPGs, but my first big foray was Zelda. To go bag and play Skyrim felt sluggish, empty, and uninteresting to me. It feels like a game design to be open and nothing more. During its time that was compelling. BotW and other recent games have shown how compelling an open world can be beyond pure freedom.
For me, in a post BotW world, pure freedom doesn’t cut it. If Starfield isn’t better than Skyrim, it doesn’t hold up against TotK and Baldur’s Gate.
Despite many attempts, Starfield included, I can never get into their games. Their games are as big as they are empty. And surprising no one, fans are already fixing their game.
After listening to your thoughts on starfield I'm Interested to hear if any of you have/had experience playing Star Wars: Galaxies. The Star Wars MMO from like 15 years ago. It feels like an oddly apt comparison to Starfield.
They were different types of games of course, but a lot of the pain points you all mentioned from Starfield feel like they were addressed in this game that went offline in 2011. The main one I thought of was traversing empty landscapes. Many SWG planets had player owned housing and towns that included shuttle crafts. Not to mention speederbikes and animal mounts. It was truly fun to explore even though landscapes were pretty barren.
you played with the swg restoration at all? I went straight back to the cantina in kor vella and got out my star wars flute and wow was it ever as thrilling as it always was.
I remember when there were like only 2 people who had found holocron cubes and become jedi and one time they were gonna duel and it took us like 45 minutes to get there on speederbikes. it was.. AWESOME
Okay, how does one get started on retro handhelds? If I'm looking to play SNES (U.N. Squadron!) and Gamecube (Viewtiful Joe), what's a good handheld to start with and where do the games come from?
Our favorite starter YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/retrogamecorps
Yesss love this guy. Helped me with my Miyoo
Since I don't want to mess with the required ingredients, I wonder what the taste difference would be if you used dark corn syrup instead of the light corn syrup? Would there be too much of a molasses flavor when combined with the brown sugar?
Too much molasses flavor? Impossible. I say go for it.
Have y’all heard of Wildfrost? It’s a great deck building roguelike. Definitely right up some of y’alls alleys.
Email newsletters?? Yes please!