EFAP Mini - Catchin' up on EFAP #366, #367, #372 - Gollum, Metroid Prime 4 and a Happy New Year!

Hello and welcome to EFAP Super Chat Catchup for episode 336, which was all about Gollum. We might just jump into Metroid Prime as well. Number four of all things because we're uh we're gamers and that's what we do. Big big old risks playing games like that. Only the best on this stream. Starting with that's a lot of Gollum for a Lord of Color. And I guess two people made this joke straight away cuz the other one says that's a lot of pixels for a person of Gollum. Or is it? I don't know. >> Or Yeah, that's or is it I don't know is an important element. Okay. You need to get the panic in the panic at realizing what he just said. >> Doesn't know what's to come at that point. >> Uh sure. When Gollum paints himself black, he becomes invisible, but when I do it, I get arrested for a hate crime. Shake my head. very good choice of them to make him go completely black with green eyes whenever he steps into a long grass I think it was or shade of any kind >> any kind of stealth I think right >> yeah uh why can't you enter Sauron's lair because there's always one Mordor Merry Christmas also high rags I indeed and yes this was around Christmas time what a great celebration indeed >> you are the casting director of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings you have finally gotten the fellowship, but tragedy strikes and they all die in a boating accident. Who are you casting to replace them? That's a difficult question because I have to be reminded of everybody who was around and doing things at that time and then trying to figure out who's like best for those roles. What do you think about Patrick Stewart Gandalf? >> I don't know about that, but at the same time, maybe there's no reason I should feel that way. >> I think he was offered it, but he said he didn't understand it. was Shan Connory. >> Well, I think I I remember reading that as well cuz I the Shan Connory one everyone knows, but um it was like a Twitter thread of different things Patrick Stewart had uh been down over time. Let me see if I can find a confirmation. >> I thought the rule at the time was if a wizard actor dies, he gets replaced by Michael Gambon. So Michael Gamon for Dumbledore for Dumbledore [ __ ] Gandalf even. Um, yeah. Who? What are the old people? Imagine they did get Chris Philly to play Gandalf as well. He just did both. >> Who? Who? Yeah. Who else was old at that time? >> Oh, yeah. The Patrick Stewart one apparently cuz he wasn't fond of the script rather than didn't understand it. >> Oh, it seems weird, right? Cuz he would just be like fond of the Well, what do you think of the books? He must have read them. He must have read them. >> You would think so. >> Um, but yes, you casting for something like that would take a long time and you probably have to take some risks, too. Al Schwarzenegger's Legolas, you try and get that. You know, you want do you want lower expressions? So, >> I' I'd have been interested to see how Russell Crow's Aragorn would have worked. I think that could have been >> Yeah. I don't think it would have been as good. I just don't think it would have been great. >> Azie Hawkins for Gandalf. >> That's a good shot. >> Yeah, it could be fun. >> Imagining him saying all the lines. Yeah. >> Uh the argument one Gollum indeed. Where's Rags? Is he safe? Is he all right? unfortunately unavailable for that stream as well. I think one more month until membership reaches 69. Woohoo. It's a good number. The QA engineers, there are some listed in the credits. So, in good faith, I assume they were real were on but they were on crack. Certainly after, if not before. Oh, imagine being a QA tester for a game like that because you you would just find mistakes constantly and you know that the devs would be like, "Yeah, I know. I know. like, "Oh, but so what are you going >> Why am I here?" >> Yes. >> Just to stop. >> Yes. >> Uh to have such an inspirational game create an entirely new genre. It's the magic of Christmas. It would also be magical if you Dumbos play DDLC. Oh, where didn't I um freaka? Oh, was this That's when that was happening, I guess. Not that that's stopped happening or anything. >> Well, isn't it that he almost certainly has changed the collar now? >> And he still sells in like retroactively. It was never a shot collar. So, I don't know what you guys are talking about. >> Yeah. It's like >> so [ __ ] obviously the like the evidence is overwhelming. And didn't he have that other dog that was like bleeding? Um they have images of >> Yeah. And then he was like getting mad when the dog was made fun of on our slice. Like, oh man, my dead dog. And it's like, dude, you don't even like really value like animals. Like, I don't even know if he would even fight that hard against >> truth, right? >> They're decorations. They're supposed to make him look more um relatable. I have dog. Dog is cute. Look at Look at my dog. >> Yeah, I have dog. And you know, only good people have dogs. It's like it's just I don't even know why people think that. Like, ah yeah, man. Dogs dogs they can sense whether or not you're good or bad. It's like um like >> well >> I mean not dogs are super cool but like you know I mean it's there there are plenty of bad people who've had dogs, >> right? >> There's one notable example that comes to mind. >> Exactly. Boogie. Two dogs. >> That's right. Yeah. Ex. Yep. But I mean he's probably the same as well. It's like oh yeah. He uses his dog for sympathy all the time. >> I mean, they ain't getting enough They ain't getting enough exercise, that's for sure. >> Uh, criticism of the day. You need to get rid of Spot. He's an evil being and deserves to get erased. Oh man, Spot doesn't even not even around that much. I like Spot. Good guy. I am pro sport. And Merry Christmas. Probably a bit early at that point maybe, but maybe not. I can get drunk off one beer because of my gastric bypass, but it lasts for less than 30 minutes. But makes you drunk, but you sober up real quick. I wonder if that's better. >> I mean, I assume it can't be because it is like the procedure itself is so unnatural. >> Yeah. Also, it's like so so it gets I'm trying to think because it does it even just balance out cuz if you have to basically drink a beer every half an hour, you get drunk really quickly. It burns off really quickly. The calories don't burn off really quickly though, so you get fat presum. Well, although you've got the gastric thing, so you can't drink that much. No, it just sounds like an inconvenience all around. Yeah, I think I agree. It's time for video games to focus on gameplay and story rather than graphics that make our CPUs commit Mitsubishi. examples, GTA 4 or RDR1 graphics. I mean, we're we're in trouble. Gaming's in a bit of trouble right now. >> There's a lot to be said for stylized graphics as well, just by they don't date. See, so someone made that comment about Wind Waker recently, is that you can play Wind Waker today, and Wind Waker isn't going to look like a really old game because Wind Waker never tried to look like a really modern game. It looks like its own thing. There's a lot to be said for trying to create something artistically valuable rather than just some simulacum of reality. >> I mean, a lot of modern stuff that attempts realism ends up getting shhat on for style and lighting and composition later rather than realism anyway. >> And then the more time goes on, >> I won't last long. >> Like early low poly [ __ ] you know, there's, as I say, semi-reently entered the halls of you're not you're not old and [ __ ] and badly aged. you're now a style, which you know, the more time goes on, the more everything gets that treatment, which is fine. >> I guess the thing is that it's hard to imagine that the way that g like the most photorealistic looking games look now will ever like have that be >> it's hard to imagine that that will be a style. Um because they're like they're realistic looking enough that that's clearly what they're trying to be, but they won't look that good anymore. you know, it's compared to games on PlayStation one where, you know, whatever efforts they were trying to do to look like realistic, even if you point it to stuff like Gran Turismo, things like that. It's like, yeah, but at the end of the day, the technology really wasn't there at all. And then that creates a very unique aesthetic. um that sort of as something that's readily I guess another thing that might might explain it as well is just that maybe it'll be the case that you know in however many years it will be easy for one you know a small team of people to create games that look like cutting edge PlayStation 5 games but that's hard to imagine what that you know compared to that the the re the reason why smaller teams can create games that are like PlayStation one esque aesthetic is because back then the teams weren't that big for a lot of these games anyway. Um it's something that's more readily producable by small teams and indie teams just like pixel art is. Um, maybe that's a maybe that also would explain, you know, how these things emerge as styles is because they're sort of born of a of a partially a necessity, partially of a nostalgia and whether or not those two things will be, you know, sort of motivating factors in 20 years for the way the games look now. Just one of the positives to me is that it um it ends up even if it's accidental on the part of the audience causes a bit of respect for like oh yeah it's not that they've badly aged. It's that the people who made them at the time worked really hard to present things in a particular way artistically. It's not like all of them were thinking oh man this is going to look like [ __ ] because it doesn't look like real life. It's like no they were all >> working their ass off with all kinds of concepts to you know create what they ended up with. I occasionally see people just post um like videos of '90s racing games on PlayStation One and like the the actual art direction, the lighting, the uh the like the cityscapes in the background, like the the the color palettes that are employed. It's like all of this is really nice. Um and so it creates like a very cool vibe and yeah, I don't know. I I feel like you get that less frequently with um you know because any particularly strong stylistic choice might alienate people. So you shouldn't do that cuz you need to sell 10 million copies to be profitable. >> Yeah. To sell a bazillion copies and be forgotten next week. It's like >> Yep. But like 007 first light. >> Does anyone even remember that? Who praised the [ __ ] out of it? >> Everybody talked about it. Everybody said it was amazing, but everybody's moved on real quick. >> I saw a thing saying, "Despite being a masterpiece at launch, it's player base is dwindling because it hasn't had enough post-launch content after what, like a month." >> There's no >> That is funny because >> Attack Sim had nothing in it. Like, it was a really feeble mode. Um, but but I guess on the the subject of, you know, like it's dying because there's no post-launch content. I think it is notable that the conversation around that game wasn't sustained for long about a week. >> What can people even talk about? What can you talk about? >> Yeah. Oh, it's anti-AII. It's like, is it like what does that even mean? I don't even >> As far as like it's anti- inaccurate AI. >> Yeah. >> Which is a bit different. make the case against it. Like fundamentally, I'd be I'd be okay with it trying to make that argument. >> What we talked about that argument >> from the game's perspective, the AI is amazing and very little to sacrifice if we keep it in terms of like, >> you know, if we had a system that just solved all problems just really well and then it's like, oh yeah, well actually no, it solves none of them and a team is doing it. >> I don't even That game is so [ __ ] stupid. But you need the real person like James Bond who lets the bad guy get away with I say the bad guy in this case being whatever her name was. It's like man that's crazy how you just sort of like let her live like kind of you know she's clearly an enemy but all right. You know, it's funny. I uh I saw a post celebrating like they want they want more masculine, emotionless killers back in like for the secret agents and it was an image um of uh I think even a clip of the world is not enough when Bond killed um Electra I think her name was in >> Yeah. >> And I was like probably a bad choice for emotionless. >> Yeah. That specific scene he's supposed to be kind of extremely emotional. He just is good at suppressing it. >> Yeah, cuz like he not only kind of really liked it, but also is brought to his limit on uh having to kill it. It's just funny cuz I think there's a bit of more nuance to it, but at the same time it's like Yeah. I mean, yeah, we're not we getting that kind of bond. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Oh well. >> A shilling for Lord of Ring, Gollum, Meter of Ring. Thank you. Play Neighbors from Hell. predicted boogie. A game with bad neighbors, I suppose. If you uh It seems you forgot the clip where Platoon started his second playthrough and Gollum's hair got set on fire. >> What? Did you do that? >> That happened? >> I don't remember. I've blotted so much of that game from my memory. It's since been supplanted by mixtape. >> That makes sense. The self-preservation thing. Uh, what we needed was a final count on the amount of alcohol required to finish Gollum. That would be funny that everyone reports their alcohol counts so that we all know how everyone did. Think between me, you, and random, we'd probably uh be able to fill a silo. >> Mhm. >> Merry Schlurpmas, and a flumpy new year, massives. A thousand thanks to you all for the many hours of entertainment that helped me through somewhat help me keep somewhat sane during a heavy year. Well, uh, you know, hope you're doing well still, sir. >> Glad we could provide some entertainment. >> You have all passed the test. Now you can diminish and go into the west and remain an efappers. We few, we lucky few, we band of efappers after having done Gollum. But they didn't know that mixtape was on the way. Didn't know what it would mean for all of us. I'm being completely serious when I say Resident Evil 6 has better gameplay than The Last of Us 2. Every time I see a gameplay highlight, it reminds me of RE6. Uh, okay. I have not played RE6, and I doubt either of these guys have. >> Um, Merry Krumbo, thanks for another year of laughter and insightful analysis. Great work on the Outlaws video. Wasn't even bored. Hi, Ragus. Well, thank you. You foreigners are so cute and funny sounding. It reminds me of the Pilbury Doughboy laugh. Oh, I I take that as a compliment 100%. Rags finally figured out where he belongs, which just goes to show that no matter how different we all are, everyone can get along with each other, except for a certain group of people. You know what I'm talking about. >> What? You know, look, it was a joke. It was a joke. It didn't land as well as I thought, but >> loads of people reading into it >> and being like Zach and uh and Michael meant this. That's what the show meant that the show is clearly just like holy [ __ ] guy. >> The whole the whole point of the joke is >> he's saying you know who I'm talking about so that you can Yeah, exactly. It's whatever you're thinking about. >> It's like a It's like a bulletproof joke at that point. Yeah, >> which is funny because it felt weird as a final episode. Well, at the time like a sign off for the season, but that final joke kind of >> really tied it together. >> Well, I guess because it was the Glap app, so you know, you were getting that backstory with Mr. Boss. >> Yeah. And see, when you watch it, you're like, "Wow, the first of what will be way more to come information, maybe." >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean they got nominated for an Emmy for the first time and that'll be the last time. >> Remake Brokeback Mountain, but make it about two lesbian homesteader wives played by Jessica Alba and Alicia Cuthbet. Okay. Yeah, >> those feel like very 2000s references for actresses. Are either of them really doing much? >> I think >> that's very thou I guess it makes sense cuz Brokeback Mountain came out in the 2000s actually. Alba's uh not acting anymore as far as I know. She's got like a it's either like fashion or perfume or something. And then Kuffa, I have no idea. I feel like I've not heard of her in forever. Um pennies for Joe Danger's excellent work. Well, thank you. Uh jam a man of precious and I must lock balls. He must indeed. and did. It came to me in a dream, but Metal totally said he'd do all the achievements. That would have been funny if we could get him to put a price on that or something. The achievement hunts golem. That's going to be way more painful than just playing the game. >> Oh, [ __ ] >> Yeah. Yeah, that would be No way. No thank you. >> Not only did Metal say it, he volunteered to do it. It was his choice. I don't think he's going to agree with that, honestly. Uh Beer McCreary did the soundtrack to Forespoken and listening to it, it was clearly a paycheck. Just a paycheck. He >> does a lot of soundtracks. That's just that's just kind of a thing that has to be kept in mind with him is that when it's something that he's really into, he can do a really good job, but he will do a lot of stuff that he isn't very into. >> It is like, you know, totally. It reminds me of like the voice acting industry. There's a lot of like jobs that go to the same people who are like, what do you want for this? It's like action guy. You're just you're just doing guy who's gonna win the day and you're like, "Okay, yeah, I can do that." >> And in the same way, it's like, "What do I need for this?" Like, "Um, epic action fantasy." >> You're like, "Yeah, all right. >> Yeah, sure, buddy." >> Meanwhile, and again, you can see him talking about each track for like Ragnarok where he talks specific character journeys and and why certain things need to move in certain ways and how excited he was. To be fair, he's been he's been talking about that with uh with La as well. Um but he did talk about it with Suds of Sparta. I'm not going to I'm not [ __ ] on the soundtrack for that, but it just as a project, man. O >> clearly came and went clearly excites him, but a lot of other >> Sons of Spider just feels like something that um they didn't care about either. >> You like as a creation. >> Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, but everything about it was just sort of awkward. Oh, here's that because we don't have Yeah. God of War remake coming at some point and then they weren't even ready to uh do the stuff for La Fay anyway. So, they didn't, you know, it's like >> every dev now with announcements for these games. One of the first questions I get from loads of fans is like, "Will it be physically released?" And it's like, >> they will be until 2028. Yeah. until 2028 because they will not reverse that decision. Of course, >> you know why it's so awkward though as a question because it's it's like do you take the route of you know rejoice fandom it's is okay you will get your which puts you in direct opposition of the decision in general like >> except but even then it's it's just like well it'll only be like it's not even up to you. No. Cool. Sony. What I'm saying is like it's probably better to say nothing instead of answering that question. >> And then of course another element to add on top is getting a physical release that doesn't even have all the content on the disc is not even that unusual anyway. So, >> you know, it's like you know when the the thing that the thing that everybody wants doesn't even exist now. >> So like what chance does it have of being returned to? Basically zero. I saw there was a video that was titled like Sony called our bluff and uh like like basically the it in this case being all of the the customers and the bluff being we're not going to buy your [ __ ] unless you blah blah blah and the bluff you know the proof being in the the COD releases. Um >> yeah, >> which is something we were talking about as well. But all the top comments and I'm not even kidding like like [ __ ] every single one highly upvoted said uh they may have called your bluff but not mine. It's like I'm sticking to it. I'm sticking to and >> No, you won't. >> Yeah, this is the thing. It's like either >> I've been around been paying attention too long. You won't. >> Either you you you won't or you will and you're going to be a part of a team of about what 100 people. >> Yeah. And you'll play no games forever, I guess, cuz like they're all going to be digital. Like it's I like I don't You're not going to You're going to buy Grand Theft Auto 6 and if it's not Grand Theft Auto 6, it'll be something else. There will be a game eventually that will come out and then you'll be like, "Oh [ __ ] I actually want that." And then you'll just get it. Like if if everybody was as if if everybody was actually able to maintain like principled positions on these things, we wouldn't have ridiculous pre-order bonuses or insane season passes or games that release incomplete on disc >> or games to release super buggy. >> Just to lay a little pressure off specifically the video game audience, like that's just humans for you. every for ages. >> It's very It's very rare that a boycott is successful. Very very rare. >> It's really rarely thought out. He says maintaining a principal position. Most of a lot not most a lot of people don't have the principal position to begin with. It's just a meme. They don't really understand the argument. They don't really have any principled objection to the thing. All their friends pretend that they do, so they act as though they do as well. It's very easy to abandon a principle you never really held. >> Mhm. And you will when there's a game that comes out and it's got a really cool trailer. Yeah. And you'll be like, "Oh shit." And the reality is is for most people it's going to be Grand Theft Auto 6. >> Like it's not We don't even have to wait that long. It'll be Grand Theft Auto 6. >> Yeah. >> Cuz how many people who even say like, "Well, no, I I'm not going to pre-order." It's like, "You going to feel that way if the game comes out and it's super awesome and all your friends are playing it and everybody's playing it on like YouTube and and on Twitch and stuff and it looks super cool." Like, nah, you won't. You'll be like, "Oh, damn. I want to play that." which to there are people listening probably even right now who are very aggressively saying to themselves like I am I'm going to boycott it's like all right it's just that it's not going to end up doing anything I'm afraid >> won't mean anything the vast majority of people who play games don't like pay attention to the games industry like they're not paying attention they're not they're not watching YouTube videos talking about like the gaming industry >> kind with like the answering that question you know Santa Monica know as well as all these other companies like this is inevitably happening so to stake your position as do not fret consumers. We will take care of you with the disc releases. Like it's not worth doing that because you know it's going to happen and you you're going to have to just be pro that like everyone else. >> I mean I guess you'll own point you'll get points but like it doesn't even matter. The only reason that your game is going to release on physical is because your game is coming out in 2027. It was coming out in 2028. You can't guarantee that because it's it's it's up to Sony. They decide whether or not this is going to happen. They'll still do physical collector's editions of some type. Like you'll still get steel boxes, you still get like Yeah. But they just won't get the disc because the disc already is highly unlikely to contain the game on it in the first place. >> They don't even do disc collectors now. >> The ultimate sort of perfect um conclusion to this is that you actually will get a disc. It'll just be an entirely empty thing. Nothing's on it at all. It just looks like a disc. And I reckon quite a lot of people would be satisfied with that. You have a a collector's edition with an ornamental disc. There you go. In memory disc. >> That might have been the better transitional period to even be explicit about that as in >> your disc. >> Yeah. Don't give them a download code. Give them a disc that has the download code on it. >> You can tell they want to shut down that whole aspect of the industry though. And I get it. I get it. >> Well, because it is a cost. It's a cost. And um and they want to make more money and they will make more money. And um and even then I mean I don't know like why do we do you don't need to be advocating for the middleman. Okay. Like the the used game market and like how much there's a conversation to be had about the nature of the used game market and sort of the companies like GameStop and stuff and how much of an industry that was of making a ton of money with zero like none of that uh ending up um ending up like you know with de I remember Total Biscuit talked about it's like yeah a used game means zero dollars for the developers and publisher. Now of course you know whether or not you want to actually argue for removing that as like a thing that people should be able to do. Again, I would prefer I would absolutely prefer that we had actual real physical discs, but we don't even have that right now. Like that's the thing. I think that's like the killer for me. We don't even have that now. >> There was like an alternate >> first light released. Basically, you can't play that game without the day one patch. There was an alternate pathway in time where they invented better or upgraded tech be it for discs or for another form cartridges USB something new give it a new name you know obviously from DVD to Blu-ray to like 4K just the next thing whatever it is and that that's where physical lives it could even be a whole new format not discs not um anything we've seen before just some some new way of presenting it but there's no incentive for them to do it >> Mhm. it's not going to happen. Um, even if they were like, we could go for a little longer. It's just like, why? >> Just end it. And unfortunately, yeah, it's like I love my physical collection of everything. But now, uh, the eye of Sauron, if you will, moves to movies. It's like, how long are they going to be tolerated? >> Not long. >> Well, a lot of people seem to think it's like much longer because you can always fit movies onto discs and the industry is like longer lived. it's been there for a much longer time. >> Um, we'll see. It depends just on how much how profitable it is, I suppose, versus, you know, I was telling Frank there was like a post about um a kid in school or whatever was talking to their their mom saying they were blown away that you can have um he was describing it in the post as like the the teacher had little keys, little round keys that you could put into this block that um it like had a single movie trapped on each one instead of just selecting it from the menu. you know, obviously referring to streaming. They were like, they capture the movie inside these little keys and then you can you can put them in different machines and it like moves the movie from one screen to another. Like basically having no way to describe what a [ __ ] DVD is and it's just like, huh? >> Yeah, it's pretty funny. >> Yeah. But also not even surprising. It's just like that's Yeah, it's just generations go by and eventually it'll become so antiquated it's not even like I don't know. It just we'll have to see. It's it's kind of interesting to watch happen, especially for our generation. A lot of things changed in the the lifetime of a millennial, huh? >> Yeah. It's why a lot of the arguments don't keep up as well. It's it's what uh the one if buying know if what was if buying isn't owning then piracy isn't stealing. It's like I I get what you're trying to do. I do get what you're trying to do. If you steal your rental car though, you are still stealing. Like I'm afraid the law does not agree with you on that point. Um if a game has in its terms and conditions it reserves the right to revoke the service that is the game and you've paid for that. That is within their rights and you are still outside of your rights if you attempt to steal it. That's just how legality works. You can't just go around stealing [ __ ] because you don't like the way the product was sold to you. Read the contract. It's always a good idea. >> Yeah. Yeah. The the crazy thing with piracy is I remember when I was like in my tens and early 20s was the discussion was whether or not it's ever ethical and then just complications related but these days it's become extremely clean because piracy has now moved into a whole significant wing of just media preservation >> like without it you know it used to be something of an argument I I used to talk about Alien Noir all the time I couldn't get it working on Steam just like all kinds of issues related to launch but if you pirate it it just worked immediately. So, I was like, "Okay, well, I think I'm I think I'm morally in the clear." Like, I bought it so I could buy it. I guess >> I did that with um is it Battle for Middle Earth and Battle for Middle Earth 2? Cuz they they let the rights slide on that. Nobody owns it. So, nobody publish or I don't think anybody nobody can publish it anyway cuz nobody can figure out who owns the damn thing. the only way you can really get it is kind of either I don't know if they still do it on on GG but otherwise like piracy for that cuz it's like it's the only way by which it's accessible. Um, but the minute something like that comes back onto like a virtual store or anything like that, then I'm afraid it's it remains illegal. But yeah, yeah, when it's not available, literally unavailable in by any legal means whatsoever, it's just not being sold. And as you say, game preservation sort of kicks in at that point. I even know, you know, devs who don't like piracy will even make exceptions for that because like what else can you do? You know, these things don't deserve to die. Nobody's claiming their rights to them. So I >> I mean and there's there's nuance like whether or not it's ethical doesn't actually correlate necessarily with whether or not it's legal. >> Yeah. Yeah. Of course. >> Just for your own state of mind, I suppose. >> Um I wish Theo was here. He would have unalived himself. Watching Theo do a full playthrough of Golem would be really funny. But again, I don't even think he streams games like ever. We got to get him doing that first. I guess we could tempt him in with a game he likes and then we do Gollum. Lap him with Gollum. My great-g grandandmother passed on Christmas Day of all days. Thank you for uh thank you for do so much for this show. You do. And hopefully 2026 is a better year all around. >> Yeah. Hopefully once we reach the end of it, we'll feel that way I suppose. And uh >> you know, how is it stacking up so far by way of comparison? >> Um >> I don't know. Sometimes it just feels like 2025 part two sort of. >> Yeah. I don't really Yeah, not a lot to say. Someone will be like, well, Obsession came out. It was a great year from film. It's like, >> yeah, that sure is one movie that came out this year. Rags going full Shakespeare saliloquy. He often does when it comes to Gollum and beers. Rags equals Curts in Apocalypse. Now he's he had a lot of he had a lot of things to go through. Rags manages to massfully straddle the line between vibosti and Shakespearean saliloquy. Rag's drunk monologues are better than pretty much anything written in a decade. Yeah, sure. I don't even disagree with that 100%. Rock balls would be Scooby-Doo. Makes sense. Rags has become the Lord of Ring. I think metal was the lord of ring the uh the final by the final count and rag streamed on his birthday right tragic there's no better way to I think by the time how however what is it like 8 years from now or something when we get our 10 year anniversary of golem if we're all still here and willing I think there'll be some level of nostalgia and happiness to playing Golem again on a stream. >> Yeah. And that it will last for about half an hour. >> Yeah. And then you'll be like, "Oh, right. I forgot." Um, Wolf's dreams have a funny bit where his life flashes before his eyes because for a moment he thought he would have to edit the Lord of Ring 2 cut. No, he didn't. But Joe Danger was just just he's just cut out to do those kinds of cuts. He just loves it. This whole thing, he's very good at it, too. Helloing. I am the reason why Random played this game. You guys can thank me by telling by telling Cinema Sins ran by Matt Walsh to watch Hasbin Hotel for me. You You want You want Cinema Sins to be run by Matt Walsh watching Hasbin Hotel? >> Someone said, was it Hello Future? I mean, was that one of his lines? It was either that random specifically or the group of people that the creator had lumped together was like Cinema Sins was run by Matt Walsh >> because you know everyone in our sphere is Matt Walsh basically. >> Mhm. >> I think that's where that comes from. >> All right. This is the hardest I've laughed in so long and I just had a parent lost a parent a few weeks ago. Genuinely thank you for this. We we very much enjoy those sorts of episodes. uh the Gollums, mixtapz, this uh it's it's it's a weird phenomenon, but you know, we've said before and this applies to stuff like a Madam Web or The Room and everything, but in a perfect world, we absolutely we we like those pieces of media existing. I would say way more so for Gollum than Mixtape. Mixtape is the kind of one where, say, for example, in 10 years, they said we play that again. It's like, why? There's just no point. Gollum um its brokenness is very, very amusing. Mixtape is more of a misery, but then again, I guess Golem is pretty miserable. It's complicated. It's hard to explain, but it creates really big old fun episodes and uh you know, we like doing them. Uh new Golem core album, of course. Describe Golem game in one word. I would use no. Um one word. >> That's nice. That's kind uh h uh unpredictable, >> stunted in basically every single aspect. >> Less kind. >> Uh the shadow is a small and passing thing. Brunwin Baggins. I'm just thinking about because Brunin that's we're getting rings of power this year, right? >> Oh [ __ ] Oh it is. Yeah, cuz there was going to be a time when that was going to be coinciding with Ahsoka season 2. Then they moved Ahsoka thankfully. So now it's just 15 other things that are on that month. >> Bears us for a little bit. Yeah. >> Uh platoon or random film talk eapat plushy when need more plushies. We did have a year without them. Perhaps that can be compensated at some point in the near future. Who could say? The Lord of Ring knew Platoon was his strongest gamer, though gave him his dumbest glitches. And lo, there was great whailing and grash negging of teeth. Yeah, you fell through the floor and [ __ ] It was very funny. >> Yeah, that was Yeah. And then although it wasn't I think I was the only one who fell through the floor in our place, but then there was the um there's that specific bit of cave wall that you can jump off and it traps you in like an invisible box. And I think I was I was not the only person who fell into that. And the only way out of that is to kill, you know, you can't even kill yourself. You have to reset the chapter. That was fun. >> Yeah, I'm certain I soft locked myself at least once. Um I feel like everyone does at least once. Mo has a sealed copy of Golem only cuz he stole it from his DVD/games department while working at Kmart. If you know, you know. Merry Christmas. That is a good good reference to my old story from the toy store where someone was stealing games like once per week and they kept blaming me for it. They just they they were like, "We're gonna catch you one day." And I was just like, "Fuck you. It's not me." And then they found, >> "We're gonna catch you one day." >> Uh, and that's the thing. They they were scoping the [ __ ] security footage of me, specifically me. And I was just in, you know how it feels, right? In my head, I'm like, I know I didn't steal it, so [ __ ] you. Like, there's nothing for me to do about this. Whatever. Um, but no, it was one of their more like veteran reliable guys. And he only got caught because they did a random bag check. Completely random. And I was there from my counter watching it happen, watching him like pause, start sweating, and be like, "We don't need to do that. We don't need to do a bag check." And I was just like, "Oo, what what's what's going on? What have we got in there?" I don't even What do you do? What is the best way to get out of that? Do you do you like fake a call and be like, "I'm sorry. What? My my dad in hospital. Oh my god, I have to go." Ah, or something like >> or do you maybe try to fake throwing up? I don't know. >> I'm not sure either. >> Yeah, >> that's a tough one cuz it's so obvious that you're lying. They just like, "Oh, what a coincidence." I had the opposite thing in school cuz we had these planner things and our parents had to sign it once a week to pretend that they were being good parents and I always my mom always forgot to sign mine. So whenever that came up cuz we'd get like detention or something if we didn't have it done. So I used to take my bag and I used to say I need to go get it from my bag. It's in there somewhere. But I had everything in my bag. So then I spent the entire rest of that like uh class session pretending to rumage through my bag until the bell rang repeatedly. And this happened like every week. The teachers [ __ ] knew. But like it was it was one of the better lies you could tell at that situation cuz I did have a lot of stuff in my bag. So you know it it takes a while to find these things. >> Just it's like a Santa sack. It's just infinite space. There's so much [ __ ] in there. It's like listen. >> Well, it didn't occur to me that most people only bought the stuff that they needed that day. So I just bought everything every day. >> Yeah. I mean it saves time. So did you ever have a time where where they called you on it and they were like me that [ __ ] planet. >> Yeah. There was one or two times later. But cuz my dad was living with my then maths teacher. Um which was a really fun time. Um but so I kind of knew most of the stuff anyway and so they knew I was bullshitting and I knew that they knew that I was bullshitting. And then like the one time one of the teachers did call me over. They said, "I was going to tell you off, but I can see from your face that your mom nags you a lot at home." Yep, that's true. Like, so please just get your dad decided instead. >> And that's when you started faking signatures. >> There is now enough eaps that a new viewer could watch one episode per day, start to finish every single day for a leap year. Massive accomplishment. Oh yeah, we would have passed 365 uh a while ago. I guess we got one for 366 as well. I can't wait for the movie. Just think about what Jackson and team can do with parkour and stealth sections. Yeah, there's a little promotional video of them sty production. It's like okay well you know. >> Yeah, that's next year. It just sucks because like I you know they were promoting it with Howard Shaw's soundtrack as well and it's funny because it would be like are you not excited and it's like I just >> just why would anybody be with how everything works now? >> It'll be it'll be bad unfortunately. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But it's Andy Circus directing. It's like look I like him a lot. I like him a lot but he directed Venom too. >> Didn't he I know there's there's like confusion and complications but the Animal Farm [ __ ] was his wasn't it? Yeah, >> it was. But yeah, I I guess it's I guess it would be more so, you know, that's Venom 2. That's a big budget, you know, liveaction film that uh that he directed. >> I know the Animal Farm one has people being like, I don't think that's what he wanted or whatever. And it's just like, I mean, I don't know, man. >> Maybe, but you know, >> we'll have to see. Maybe it won't be the worst thing ever. I was saying on it was really BC. It's like this this hurts a bit more I think for me than Rings of Power ever could. >> Yeah, cuz it's I mean it's direct continuity. >> Mhm. >> And we got a load of actors coming back. They've already announced they're using AI to deage. It's like oh god. >> I feel like whenever that happens, it's like well they get that out of the way. So something else is probably happening that they don't want to talk about yet. We'll see. Uh, we can walk. Wow. There was a there was a section like that in the Bond game that we can talk candidly now. Crazy that they would reference it. Um, I forgot he says wine at first before talk candidly now. And I am drinking wine right now. Coincidence? I think not. I assume you were referencing Incredibles, but I don't know. Maybe not cuz coincidence I think not is probably more common than I realize. It probably is, but I mean it just so funny is Yeah. >> I just I see his face filling the camera when he says it. >> Yeah, >> he's guilty. Guilty. Guilty. >> Uh, the KS for Gollum skin cost $30. The Han Solo shrug cost $50. It would be funny to have a KS skin for Golem in that game falling around. I see why Rags isn't here today. Recovering from the Gollum, the Golluming. Would love to hear you all try a Vader. No, but in the style of no merry crumbles. So like an Australian >> like that. >> That was the thing about his no. It wasn't It's not like if you I say this, they did do it with Return of the Jedi, right? But it feels as though there is a version of James L. Jones being able to say no that isn't cringe. But my gosh. >> Yeah. Like, you know, the framing, the way that he said it, the fact that it's about a relationship that's just really embarrassing and lame. >> Well, and what I'm saying is like Return of the Jedi one is no. No, no. And it's very like that's not working for me either. >> But the Revenge of the Sith one's also terrible. Like, so what's going on? >> I'm not sure. I I think uh I think maybe one of the things is that he doesn't actually he doesn't sound angry enough. >> Um you know >> and it's one of those things that they actually if you are that angry you don't generally say no. I'm trying to think because there's been so many terrible nos that I think that maybe there is something just in nature to the word black widow no >> and hell no. And >> I think, yeah, the thing is in in real life, like Charleslair screaming nose, he goes into the wall. Uh, like that [ __ ] is amazing. But that's real life. That's like what makes it I think that's what the power comes from is that it's just you can feel that emotion. It's real. It's real. And people do yell no sometimes, you know, angrily and it works. But yeah, when it's theatrical, I don't know, something something goes wrong. Apparently, uh Gary is here to get tips for playing Golem. He's the one who gives the tips. Okay. This game has a rare bug that disconnects your mic, and the only fix is to disconnect keyboard and mouse, then the mic before reconnecting. No, really, I can buy that completely. Mhler, this is Gollum chat. Long man, this is the seventh year in a row you've now showed us Lord of Ring Gollum. Well, It'll come back someday. This is by far the funniest thing I've watched this year. Thank you guys for keeping the legacy Lord of Ring alive again. We're thankful they made the I would have I said I would have loved a sequel but only if they got half the budget and half the time but same length so that just just to watch them create something like that. Um I played it four times and got the platinum twice. Where's me reward? Did you did you actually do that? That's crazy, man. Hope you're okay. If you really want a true Gollum experience, you need an unrelated actor to sign your copy of Gollum. I vote Charles Dance. That's That would be [ __ ] hilarious. Just have him. He's It's like you got to grab something from your house quickly for him to sign. I'm just like, "Lord Gollum." Yes, >> he asks you, "What is this?" >> An amazing game, Charles. >> Amazing game. You know what? You can have it. You You have to post a video of you playing it. I'm still drinking wine, which means I can talk candidly now. A phrase that all of us heard too much. Sorry. When can we talk candidly? I know, right? >> I hate bourbon and I'm just above Kentucky. Jin is amazing. James May's gin is top tier. Right. Jack Daniels honey with lemonade or red stag with coke. Good sweeter side whisies. Fair enough. Oh, I think I can tell where in the story we're at considering lock balls. Lock balls. Lock balls. One ball to ruin them all. One lock to lock them. One ball to find them all. And in the darkness, lock balls. And there's loads of like emojis of basketballs and rugby balls and stuff. So, I'm pretty happy about that. I'm in so much lock. I'm in so much balls. I'm with metal. started drinking at 10:00 a.m. Yeah, when you're dealing with this, that's that's the way to go. So, how much can we expect has been adapted from Lord of Ring Gollum into the Gollum movie? >> Probably not anything, right? >> Well, that's a shame, isn't it? I think that the guy >> isn't Isn't the film The film is set like later than the game, right? >> Well, what about Flash? >> I guess it's possible. Will they have Wizard off, do you think? >> Uh, yeah. I mean, Gandalf is going to be in the movie. He might say something offcreen, >> and so they would need to put that in the subtitles. Okay. Hopefully they have the >> closed captions version available in the theater because that's obviously all of us going to want to see that one. Um, Rags Crash, Fringy, Spyro, Mhleros, who's platoon. Are you okay with that, Fringy? those two choices for first. >> Well, I'm cra I'm Crash Bandicoot. >> No, that rags is Crash and you're Spyro apparently. >> No, it's uh No, I'm not. >> Like I like Spyro, but Crash is my jam. Like that's that's my game. And I'm And he's a bandicoot. He's Australian. >> Yeah, but I think they're connecting. You know, the thing is they made me Katto, so there is no connection really. You know, you can choose colors cuz, you know, >> if Rang is a dog, I guess he's closer to a bandicoot than a plague doctor. >> Uh, no, because it's a marsupial. >> Yeah, >> a marsupial would be as far removed from a human as a dog. >> I mean, if we look at that big old Animal Kingdom tree, there's got to be one that's closer. Uh, I mean, yeah, I guess that's possible, but like just because it's like a fluffy fellow that walks on all fours, you know, like sure, but it is a marupial, which is not like they are not the same as mammals. They are like their own separate group, I think, right? Or am I No, wait. No. Oh, no. They're cuz they're an infraass of mammals. Okay. I don't know what an infras is, but I mean, who would be closer to a dragon then? Well, this is where I mean, I threw all this out when they made me Kattos. Anyway, I don't I guess >> I don't really know what my connection is other than I like God of War. So, you know, we're trying to figure all this out so we can figure out who Platoon is going to be. >> Yeah, I don't know what the rule is. Can he be Gollum? I just I I figured if anything if the is the question what video game characters would we just be at that point? I don't I don't I don't know. This has become too answer >> cuz I don't you know unless you're calling me like [ __ ] cuz Crash is like pretty stupid. I don't know if that's what you get. >> You made yourself crash twice. They're saying rags is crash. Well, I'm just saying under this set of rules, you know, but Crash is a he's a wacky guy. His brain don't work so well. >> Well, they made you Spyro and he's pretty smart, right? >> Uh, yeah. I I I guess he's competent enough. >> Says that you just don't like Spyro. It's just that kind of compliment. Oh, he's competent enough. >> I I definitely like Spyro. It's just that if Crash and Spyro get paired together, like Crash Crash like wins definitively for me. It's not even It's kind of not like it's it's just Yeah, Crash is the one that's the one that I like more. >> It's what I have more memories with. They're more important games to me. >> Let's We can fix this. Uh Rags can be Aranine, Ringy can be Yoshi, I'll be Cthulhu, and Platoon could be Gollum. That seems like a fair trade to me. >> Platoon's like the happiest out of all of us. >> This is the day we lock balls together. Of course, balls sounds like a Warhammer 40k orc war cry. I mean, it should be if it isn't. Sorry, got to say it again. One ball to rule them all, one ball to lock them, one ball to find them all in the darkness. Lock B. Wolf's thunder struck. Lock balls remix was genius. Yeah, it was funny as [ __ ] For anyone who doesn't know that reference, that is the first Gollum episode. It does go back in time a bit. This game is a [ __ ] masterpiece. Well, there is a definition of that word that might apply. We could put it that way. I mean, a lot of people would say disasterpiece, but you know, >> is this the biggest Gollum fan base? Yes. >> Probably. It probably is. >> I think you could be more sure than probably, right? I think you just say yes. I don't know like what maybe the speedrunners who are out there who are still playing it to this day. Do you guys know about that? >> Imagine trying to speedrun Golem though. I mean, how does that even work? >> He's psychotic. >> Do you guys know the name of the person with the highest um or rather fastest run of mixtape uh speedrunners? Do you know what their name is? >> No. >> Stacy Rockford. >> Ray Pitler. I think they might be from our fandom. I have a feeling though. Yes, we are the biggest Gollum fandom as well as mixtape fandom probably. >> And Batwoman as well. Got like several accolades coming. >> Exactly. We keep these things alive. People say that we try to kill them. Wrong. Wrong. All we do is keep them alive. Thanks for a most entertaining 12 months and best wishes for a new year. Lock bows. Well, thank you very much. Replay this game on its fifth anniversary or 10th. 10th. We're not doing it every 5 years. Okay, that'll come around way too fast. Eab and Chapman, you're all fantastic company. It's been fun to hang around with you guys this year. It's an honor to lock balls with you today. An honor indeed. Pringle is in fact a bird. Thank you, Joseph. That's what I hear from a lot of people. Maybe he's a marupial. You don't know. Did anyone actually enjoy Avatar 3? No. >> Nope. >> No, probably not. >> Watched it last night and aside from the visuals, it was so awful. It was uh if it was food, it would be a rice milkshake. All right. Well, yeah. Wonderful. I wish I was Lord of Ring. Put me in, coach. Well, Metal is, so can't take that away from him. I can't recommend Kassan Kazan, the first Berserker enough. I am loving it. The bosses are hard but fun to learn. I spent at least 2 hours on boss learning attacks. I get such a rush when I I assume it it was going to end in when I beat them. Um for the working man Joe Danger, he would go on to make the mixtape super cut. Not just Gollum. He will also go on to make the third Gollum supercut, which is probably going to happen some century. They should invent Joe safe to counter Joe Danger. I think he's safe whenever he's between editing these super cuts. Uh, a tip for Joe Danger in his work. He went truly above and beyond for this uh this award. Metal, you feel like a true ring lord. He was quite happy about his win, I think. And I Metal won the argument. He did indeed. Give this $10 to Metal because he deserves it. I will donate to his own stream later. All right. Yeah, that that that's how to if you guys want to get money to these individual people, you just got to go on their streams and send it to him is uh they'll appreciate it. I'm sure protein and Gollum in argument. Protein and urine is a good good [ __ ] Like that meme. Gollum's argument is to urinate in your protein. He might do that in the movie. I've heard Andy Circus might do it himself. One ball to rule them all. Kidding. That is it. Don't be sad that it happened. Be happy that it's over. Oh well, some people want it back, you know. But then brought the long ones back for the actual Avatar sets. They then they redid Jack Skellington with them. Probably should have done this piece last episode. That felt like it was maybe a message attached to another one, but sure. Okay, one last time. One ball to rule them all. One to lock them. What ball to fight the ball? Did the darkness lock balls? They have a lock with a basketball. This is the end of the journey of Gollum. Legitimately, this is the best time I had since the passing of my mother. I genuinely cannot understate how much I needed this. Thank you everyone. Please stay safe for New Year's. Yeah, I think I think everybody probably did. And it's, you know, hope you're doing all right. And that is uh that is kind of like you know a big old goal of this show to a major extent. We try to >> have a lot of fun a bit of escapism. It's unfortunate that the very thing we use for escapist stuff ends up some somewhat annoying every once in a while but sometimes you get a masterpiece as we said like golem comes along and uh makes for some big old fun. Uh maybe once more for real. One bold rule them all. One to lock them. One ball to find them all and in the doctor's lock balls. He sent that like four times. Maybe even more. >> That's commitment. >> It is indeed. Uh let's see here. Oh. Um I I think with with how I've done my records, you know what? This works out just fine with all those happy new years. We're just we're in the happy new year section as well of uh 3 366 and now 367. Just don't mind me. This will all make sense. It starts with late and homosexual. So I'm assuming you guys, you know, it's easy to follow. Uh >> yes. Oh, >> happy new year ladies and gentlemen and tentacled Eldrich horrors proit mut. I think they just made up a whole language just to speak to Mel. That's crazy. Why no one do that? New year wish is for expedition 33 EFAB stream. Probably not going to happen. And I know that a couple people have asked on different streams like Platoon and Fringy. But not only would it take them both ages to complete it, that's a huge task. Like that game is I mean like to make an episode about it, to do a full story breakdown, a mechanical breakdown, and then it's just uh I I just don't think we can reasonably fit that into the schedule. Um but that, you know, it's a fun game, but I don't want to get anyone's hopes up on that happening. It's probably not going to. Um, which is funnier, Thurman Murman or Mongus Reedus? Thought it was Mingus Reus. >> It's Mingus Reedus, which is even funnier than Mongus. >> Yeah, I think Mingus Reus is funnier. And that's a real name. Thurman Murman was a [ __ ] bad Santa name. >> It has so many layers as well cuz whenever you hear it, you think, "Oh my god, in the hospital like little little Mingus has just been born. They have a conversation like are we committed to this? Yes. His name shall be Mingus Reedus. >> They're going to call him Aminga cuz that's already slag in Britain. That poor kid. Can we concentrate on the good things that happened this year? Sure. We We give time to the good and then time to the other stuff. >> Something good to happen in 2025 >> and or two. Was that 20's blurring together at this point? >> That's true. Yeah. >> Yeah, >> that was nice. And then back to your regularly scheduled slop. >> Mandalor and Grou. Wow. >> Yeah. Oh, January 1st. Better get going on these taxes. Yeah. Be you got to be more of a Flanders than a than a homer when it comes to taxes. Okay, guys. >> Well, really everybody. I mean, Crusty. Um, oh well Kent Kent thought that he was on it, but that is Oh, has someone got a calculator? This is the year of impossible top 10 lists. Impossible top 10s. What that means exactly? Happy New Year. Or maybe it's happy April by now. Um, I guess uh >> we It's not April. So, you were wrong. Haha. In hell, you are forced to watch a Son [ __ ] on loop. Happy New Year, fellas. On loop as well. I don't even know if that would be better or worse, like getting constant updates of new horrible arguments or just watching the same one over and over again. I guess it would keep you more sane to watch newer things, but be rough all the same. Nine of us, including chat, but there is only one Lord of Ring, and he does not share podcast space. My god. Will you do homework for Doomsday? Seems like the things to rewatch are Endgame, Thor 4, Fantastic 4, Deadpool 3, major parts of Loki, and maybe an X-Men movie. I'd say more than you need to see a lot of X-Men. >> You got to watch a lot of >> Yeah, I'd say your homework is actually like >> substantial. >> Substantially bigger than that. >> You'll be chunky. when they released that um the poster with not even all of the characters on it. And I was sitting there looking at thinking, "Oh god, there's so much work to do. Who even is the person standing to the left of Yolena?" Oh, it's it's psychoepressed Bob. That's who that is. I'm going to have to rewatch Thunderbolts. Ah, great. >> Yeah, >> it's just a it's just a really horrible lineup. And it's been it's it's uh funny seeing people like, "Oh, now that I look at it, this looks like a terrible lineup." It's like, dude, it was it was it was already plainly terrible. like >> Chang is on it. Pathetic. >> He is. That's right. Yeah. With the with the Fantastic Four there. Wow. Look at that. How exciting. Fantastic 4. That was that was a movie that people didn't Man, they really were ready to pretend that that movie was going to be great, but then it just wasn't even interesting enough to sustain that and everybody just dropped it immediately. Uh, ohana removed from Lilo and Stitch and added to Badlands. [ __ ] Badlands, dude. >> Yeah. >> You going to have a short EAP talking about Metro Prime 4 and how much people are glazing in reviews? Yes, we will indeed talk about that. >> Oh boy. >> Yes. >> Fantastic 4 is like smelling sulfur during a carbon monoxide leak. M >> uh I mean just I remember we came to the conclusion that it probably is one of the better you know phase four five six projects. It's just better in that case men of four. >> Yeah. It was in like five to 10 minutes of stuff that was not terrible like and like the backtory the origin ironically the origin story they were skipping was like oh I could have watched a movie about that. That was the best part of the film. Instead, we had all the stupid Galactus stuff. The the whole thing of, "Oh, it's going to take like a month for a ship to get here. There it is. It's over Mars. We got like a week until he gets here." It's like, um, excuse me. So, we travel through all of interstellar space in like a week. It's going to take another week to go from Mars to Earth. Okay. What's the plan? We're going to teleport the Earth. >> We have to Yeah. like build teleportation devices all around the Earth, which if the leaks are to be believed is a plot mechanic. They're kind of also using for Doomsday. It's just replace the word teleporter with cannon. >> The cannons. Yeah, man. Oh, boy. >> I remember I remember feeling distinctly like there was something very uncomfortable to me about the idea that there's this superhero team that's just going to teleport the [ __ ] planet. >> Yeah. >> Like it's almost like it's offensive. like this idea that there's any group of people that should wield enough power to change the location of Earth, but that's because they were kind of the gods of that universe, which um was kind of just a terrible decision really. >> It's just not a very good movie. >> No, not really. Hey lads, really happy to see Joe Danger on. He's made EAP even better, which I didn't think was possible. Cool to see movie cynic then. Was he on last? Are they asking when he was on last? In which case, you're going to have to check efap.me because I can't track these things in my brain. It's too small. We need a Smiling Friends quiz EAP ASAP. Hi, Rags. Oh, >> that might have happened. We might have done something like I mean, it's not to say we will never do a Smiling Friends episode in some way. It's just um >> damn them for whenever it comes up in my head that I have negative feelings. It's like what what are they doing there? It's like I'm just sad. That's all. >> At least it didn't go the way of the Simpsons. It's like it didn't amazing seasons >> and then it had a whole bunch of pretty decent ones. >> What's the um >> Yeah, I did. >> What's the math? Did we even get one season of Prime Simpsons out of Smiling Friends? >> Uh I mean season 1 is 13 episodes. So 13 22 minute episodes that I mean it might as well. So that's 26. So that I mean that is about how many Smiling Friends EP. So we got one small season of The Simpsons. >> Yeah. Like guys, Simpsons was [ __ ] rock solid for like ages. >> Yeah. For like a decade with 22 episodes and longer episodes. >> And obviously it's sad it went to [ __ ] but like it didn't go to [ __ ] Basically, what I'm saying is if Simpsons ended at season two and someone was like, "Hey man, at least it didn't go to shit." It's like, well, >> yeah, but I don't get like so much. I don't get basically any of it. Like, I don't I don't get a huge amount of what makes it worthwhile. And I mean, you know, in the case of The Simpsons, it took like a season before it sort of started to find its footing. Who's to say that Smiling Friends wasn't still finding its footing even for how good it was? We'll never know. >> We'll never know. You guys should be like the boss in Smiling Friends and tell Raggs a platoon if they don't show up right now they're fired. Well, that would that would be aggressive. All right. We're not as aggressive as him. He has issues. Some of them are very funny. Where is Duma? >> What was the game called that he was playing? >> Oh, Dance Dance Revolution or something, right? >> No, I No, no, that was that was the other episode. That was when he because that was when he called Charlie cuz Charlie was playing like the strategy game. You remember where he boots it up in the main menu and the guy pulls out the sword? >> I'm still paying off that painting I bought. >> I will happily rewatch Smiling Friends, but the problem is I'll get it done in one night and then be like, >> "Yeah, >> uh, where is Doomer? Is he safe? Is he all right? Without him, the new year is ruined." Oh well, not all is lost. You Dumbos could redeem it by playing DDLC. I see. Thank you for the year. No problem. Thoughts on Smiling Friends season 3? >> Oh, great. >> That's a question. What's the best Smiling Friends season? >> Uh man. Um season 3 was really quality like that. I mean the Halloween episode that year was great. the um the uh I mean the the episode that we were just talking about that was uh >> I will say I think season two loses the fight on the Halloween episodes. Season one and three are the best ones I'd say out of the >> uh yeah like the Halloween episode that one was pretty funny but yeah one and three were like super awesome. Um Silly Samuel was that was a that was a really that was a really great episode >> guy. >> That was that was quite funny. Yeah. Um, the Gle EP was good, but that was probably one of the weaker episodes of the show. Season two, but season Professor Psychotic. >> Yeah, that [ __ ] was great. >> Psychotic. >> The [ __ ] the flat earth thing that destroyed us. >> Yeah, that's right. The Earth is flat. No, the Earth is flat. There's a glass dove, dude. >> We We can't tell anyone about this. >> The Earth is flat. I know. It's tough. It's actually tough to >> Yeah. >> Season Season 3 had the one where they went uh >> I stand by like their first episode is still one of the best, I think. >> Ah, yes. It's a great pilot. >> I love kids, Charlie. I love kids. >> The guy in the back who looks at him. >> Shrimp and shrimp. Um, no, but uh I I love all three seasons. I just We're just kind of sad about it, you know. Yeah, >> especially when I wasn't mentally prepared for it to end to just have like a video posted on Twitter like, "Yeah, it's over, guys." >> Like, >> and how could you not expect people to speculate on that? Like, that felt really sudden and there's no actual ending in the show. It doesn't end. Yeah, it's it is it's it cuz even even with what they said, it's like wouldn't you still wouldn't you still want to do like a just one last season just to to actually like sort of get it finished in a >> one last episode at the very least. >> Well, yeah. Rather than we're just going to release the two that we were working on that would have been for season 4. So, >> which is Yeah. very obviously what happened. >> Mhm. It's not an ending. Maybe we'll find out someday. Who knows? >> I want to put Ka's lock collar on her son and make him play Gollum. Every death is a shock. Also, no one really mentions how Pokemon is just as bad. >> Pokemon gets sh on by a lot of people. >> But she doesn't talk about politics as much, right? Like that's not really >> I don't think it stick works for most like people outside of her actual fan base. A lot of people find her annoying. Uh I've seen a lot of criticism for her. >> We all know what's up. Like we know what you're doing. Yeah, >> but I mean this could be applied to a lot of a lot of people. We know what we know what your your game plan is here. Okay. >> Uh EAP memes of the year to you guys. I mean, we probably have to like look through I mean Golem must have >> it's it's gotten so crazy like I I sometimes don't remember which years spawn which which memes. >> Yeah. Um, you know, but uh, yeah, I'd have to look through like a list. Actually, this year was good for films. We got a lot of good films like Warfare, One Battle After Another, No Other Choice, Caught Stealing, Super Bad, Frankenstein, Sinners, The Long Walk, Beonia, Chainsaw Man, Black Bag, etc. A few a few bad apples shouldn't taint the bunch. One of these is an obvious sneak, but if you don't like the others, then you guys may be impossible to please. >> Um, I mean, there were a few of those movies that were in that list that I don't think were good, unfortunately. I did watch a lot of movies last year. >> A lot of movies last year. I watch a lot of movies every year. >> Watch a lot of stuff. There's There's plenty of stuff that we watch we just don't talk about. Every time I see a post like this, I picture a golemlike creature in a pit and they're thrown a grape and they're like, "What a great day this is." It's like, >> yeah, I'm not really sure what's to be said for like this this ar this idea that like you can't talk about the health like if you're going to talk about the health of the film industry that you can just like kind of ignore the biggest and most popular media of any given year like and just sort of ignore that. or like broader trends that are occurring that you could ignore that cuz there was like 10 movies that you saw that year that you liked is just silly. >> It's really silly. >> The whole um the whole like oh these these you know you don't even know how many good films are coming out sort of spiel always ignores that if you look at the uh the earlier more amazing decades the top 10 in the box office were borderline almost all gold which is insane >> by comparison. Everyone's standards have dropped. There's a lot of excellent movies. >> Yeah. And I want to go back to that. And it's not a [ __ ] crazy ask cuz like we we were in a real good position. We got a lot of [ __ ] to do like rooting out all the systems currently in place. >> When we did the the best and the worst movies, it's not that we couldn't find some decent movies. It's how hard you have to work to find even 10 good movies in a year these days as opposed to I can turn up at the cinema and reliably see something which is at least good. That used to be the thing. Um whereas now I had to go to [ __ ] China to fill out my top 10 list. It's just it's not on. >> No, it's not. And you know, and and of course when you're talking about regular people who aren't as obsessed with movies, that's a terrible ratio for just regular people that they go to the cinema. It's like, man, you got like kind of a a three in four chance that you're not going to like this movie that you had to pay to watch. Like that is a that is a bad ratio to have a fun little game in in the post as well as a list that contains Superman one battle after another and sinners. Which one did I put in as a joke and which one do I sincerely like? >> No, I know it's hard to tell with uh with uh with cuz I didn't I did not like any of those films. >> Yeah, >> that's what I mean. I go and watch some of these these Oscar bait movies and then it's like, oh, I don't even like that one. Yeah. Sorry. >> I was uh saying to Gary, there was a time where I would come downstairs and my my dad's reading the newspaper, but he was done with it. I was I'd go straight to the what's showing. Usually see one movie per week. And the names would be enough for me to be like, let's take a gamble. This could be really fun. And often times it would be. It's like we're not we're nowhere near a position like that anymore. We we are stuck all the way back in. >> You have to pay us to convince us that it's worthwhile, Hollywood, cuz I don't believe you. I mean, you know, we're at a point where like with something like Marvel, which you can't pretend that that's not like a huge part of the film industry. It is. Um, that is reliably terrible. Reliably bad. Same goes for Star Wars. Same goes for DC. Same goes for pretty much any franchise. I mean, any Disney live action film sounds at this point. >> The [ __ ] symbol of cinematic greatness. We're about to get a undercooked [ __ ] gross leftover after five seasons of a disgusting mutated slob. Like, yay. >> Mhm. >> Yep. And the slob infection getting into games as well. Even there, you're not safe. It's like Yeah. And and at the end of the day, you just have to account for the fact that people are not feeling very positive about like these industries. You can like list the handful of films that you personally liked, but like you have to deal with that reality, which is that is not how people feel, you know? It's like I mean it that that's like way more important is how people feel about it and they don't feel negatively without cause. There's good reason why people feel so pessimistic about the state of the film industry. >> Opening to 28 weeks was great, the rest bad. I didn't really like any of that movie. >> I didn't really like any of it ultimately. There there was potential. I liked the the dad and the son stuff uh for a little bit there. I was kind of interested in them. Just >> I don't know, man. Just sucks, I guess. Talk about warfare. My favorite movie of the year. We did. We talked about all these movies on our top movies list. >> I think Angry Joe gave Alien Earth an 8 out of 10. You guys should totally cover him sometime in his horrific movie takes. Why though? Like he doesn't >> There's no point. He doesn't Yeah. He doesn't have anything to offer on um even if he praises something that we like, what he's going to have to say about it is not going to be very interesting. >> He's just pretty bad when it comes to movie takes. >> I'll say I was already uninterested in his perspective, but knowing he [ __ ] caved to his audience and changed his perspective on Superman for it was really lame. It's lame for anybody to do about anything. It's just that's the one we know about where he was like came out with a lot of criticisms for it that was like actually on second watch through I no I really like it now guys and then the [ __ ] like go support Supergirl [ __ ] Holy moly. >> Yeah. And then he said and then he watches the movie like actually that's not very good. It's >> like Yeah, man. Wow. surprising nobody sensible >> cuz it's as simple as like he he wants you know he wants more Superman stuff and uh I don't know how else to explain this to fans of any given IP or character. You shouldn't just Do you remember this comes up with like uh almost everything like you know you shouldn't be rooting for this to fail because then we won't even get more of it. Doctor Who had this going for it's like at least we're still getting Doctor Who. It's like no you're not isn't [ __ ] Doctor Who anymore. You're not even getting the thing that's worthwhile. And I mean, what even and even if you were to say, "Yeah, it is." It's like, what's the point of that? What's the point of just getting crap? Why can't things end? >> Yeah. Well, it's like you got to support Predator Badlands, you might not get more Predator. It's like >> that's fine. That's okay. Yeah, I'll take that. I'll take that. I'll take no more Halo. I'll take no more I'll take no more Marvel and DC movies. I'll be honest with you. I don't need them anymore. Not if they're going to be this reliably terrible. Oh, the industry will continue to spend [ __ ] billions on all this [ __ ] It's like, all right. >> Yeah, they sure will. >> Andor I miss good Star Wars. Also, watch Black Sales. I do need to do that. A lot of people say it's real good. >> It's all right. I've seen all of it. It's um But you do have to sort of get past the it has a bit of a Game of Thrones season one thing in in its season one where it thinks, oh no, there's got to be some lengthy talking and people find that boring. So put tits on the screen in every exposition scene. There's lots of sex position in season one. Then it finds its feet in season two. >> Well, now you're selling me on the show, so you know, it's all good. >> Can 2026 be the year you guys actually give Black Sails a chance? It might just be my favorite show and it's only four seasons. I got to You're not the only There's so many things I've got to give a chance. All right, the list is enormous. There is no I've been told I'm like, you know, crazy for not having watched Venture Brothers yet. And I'm like, why? I got to do sopranos. I got to do the wire. I got to do what was the There's always a third one in my head. What's the other one? >> Uh well, oh well, I got to finish Mad Men. I've only seen the two seasons of that, I think. So, you know, there's just so much stuff. I've also seen so much stuff. It's crazy how that works. Then also new stuff comes out like Mobland or The Gentleman or Andor or Night of the Seven Kingdoms, you know? got. Did you see that? They're doing they're carrying on world tour now, but with a new cast grand tour. Sorry. They did this with Top Gear and >> Oh, yeah. Didn't Jeremy Clarkson do a thing announcing the new hosts or something. It's the >> autistic train spotting guy and two people I've never heard of. >> Like, what what are you doing? It's not going to work. >> It's just not going to work. >> Why? The the crazy thing is and I think Clarkson's phone has obviously proven this like should have just offered the like Amazon should have offered them a show that better reflects their physical abilities now because that's partly what you know was co as well which is [ __ ] disaster now in retrospect that that shut down grand tour but it's also you know they did their specials during and after >> co in retrospect was a disaster because it shut down the grand tour. that is the most harm it did in the will is getting grand tour shut down but um the the fact that um they like they like sort of had their ending if you will and part of it obviously is cuz they are getting old but it's like whatever make a show where they don't have to do much moving around and everybody would watch the [ __ ] out of it and they'd make loads of money. It was after the weakest parts of the Grand Tour anyway was when they went on the those like overly scripted setpiece things like you know jumping out of helicopters and [ __ ] So that's not actually what made Top Gear fun either. Um that's the stuff they can't do anymore. If you actually did focus it a bit more on the driving aspect of it then actually they'd probably be able to carry on a little bit longer than they did. But maybe they were all just bored of doing it. Who can say? >> Well, I don't think so. Right. I still do car stuff on like YouTube I see pop up uh like Hammond May doing doing stuff with >> fully taken with the farming [ __ ] now. May is doing all kinds of wacky fun stuff and then Hammond I think he's still got his own TV shows but um you know everyone's just waiting for when they might team back up again in whatever way that might be. Happy new year. Love y'all. Well, happy new year. Best film I saw this year was Novacane. It's Pants. Are they saying it was the best movie they saw and that it was bad? >> I I just assumed that that movie sucks. Like look, it's John Wick, but he can't feel pain and it's Huey from The Boys. >> Oh, did you see >> they apparently offered uh Kiana Reeves a script for Constantine, too. I don't know if either of you seen Constantine, but um >> I have not. Apparently, he said he was really disappointed because it's just a John Wick script basically. >> Ah, yeah. Well, that's >> Sorry, dude, but that's Yeah, that's it's no surprise that's the case. It's just John Demons instead. >> Twice, you know, before it was Neo, now it's John Wick. >> God, that's have played two defining characters, but not to the point that they totally define your career for the next decade. Well, and Constantine is so different and unique and he was apparently he had warned the cuz Peter Stormare was the the devil in the first one and that's what he had said to him about the script that like it's just that's just sad but also completely expected. >> Yep. >> Speaking of theme parks, congrats to Epic Universe. All right. Uh, best movies for me, Warfare and F1. Worst movies, 28 Years Later and Superman. Biggest surprises, Caught Stealing, Nuremberg, and Dust Bunny. >> Oh, Nuremberg was terrible, man. >> I might Sorry. >> If I No, they said biggest surprises. That could go either way. >> Oh, that could be a negative. Yeah. Okay. >> Um, I think Nuremberg might have been a big surprise if not for finding out who wrote it and I was like, "Oh, >> and then it made perfect sense." Yeah. Yeah. That movie was so bad. >> I kind of do hate that movie. It deserves more hate for sure. >> Like to to have this like film that's about that subject matter and then oriented around this very weird specific framing, this wacky stupid character. >> Mhm. >> Who says like weird things like it's it's uh it's just very much I want to make an Oscar movie. Me someone who wrote The Amazing Spider-Man movies. I'm going to give it a go and make it a real movie. And that's what they came up with. Good job, guys. Um, more good films to prove you wrong. Weapons, Smashing Machine, Companion, Marty Supreme, Rental Family, Roofman, Good Boy, etc. >> Yeah, you're running out now, huh? >> You've got barely any movies left to reference. This is what I mean about that grape analogy. I'm just like, you understand how many movies are made per year and how things used to be a lot more. You'd think with that kind of budget level, like 100 million plus, that you'd have a system in place that means you're guaranteed an okay film at least. >> Yeah. >> And also in terms of listing your movies that you liked, a few of them, a few of the ones that you're listing were just okay. They were just fine. They weren't like amazing or mind-blowing at all. Um, get stuckmanized, of course. I mean, if Stuckman's review of Spongebob is half as good as Opa Spongebob style, we're in for a treat. Of course, Chris had to sell out to make his dream come true. Shame his dream was [ __ ] It's kind of seems the other way around though, right? Like he got his dream and then cost him so much money he had to sell out afterward or something. Well, I guess he sold out before and after. >> Yeah. >> Look, man. There cinematic loans. Sure. Don't forget established titles. Yeah, a lot of classic uh swindles out there. >> That's one where it's just on its face it's just it doesn't seem true, you know, like when you when you Yeah. You can just buy like what like like a little square, you know, like a square meter of land and then you'll be officially a lord. It's like, doesn't that just sound not true at all? Like, you know, >> perhaps. Hell no. Oh, now you're giving the Lone Sharks a tracker so they can break your legs. Thanks, Chris. Shaking fist from hell. Next Stuckman review is going to start with him advertising a dark web film site. I just I wonder what's next for him. What is he up to? I don't know. Get stuckmanized. 2025 brought us three episodes of Amazing Digital Circus. 2026 will bring its end. If you haven't seen it already, I'm curious how the full series will hold up to Fresh Eyes. Also, high ranks. It does get recommended a bunch. >> I still know nothing about it, but it does get recommended. >> A loan app. Thank god I spent all my savings on the slot machine app. >> Yeah. Now I can get you a loan to charge back up on the slot machines. >> Narrative curse. It's just >> therapy to anyone apparently who isn't him. It's like, yeah, it's loans followed by payday collectors. I just even if I were doing them, which I wouldn't in that case, um just flip the order around or space them out a little bit, you know, just don't give them the ammunition. >> Chris, you must you have to space out the evil. And he's like, oh, >> mind you, this is the guy who wrote Shelby Oaks. So, you know, narrative is not necessarily his strong suit. >> He didn't space out the evil in Shelby Oaks, did he? Happy New Year you all. Been a fan since episode three. So happy you're still going strong. Since last new year, I now have a baby. You better still be going once he's old enough to understand, y'all. Well, we ain't stopping anytime soon. But, uh, we have been going for some time, old EAP. The what? Eight old 8-year-old show. It's not too bad as podcast go. Mhler and Inter Historian have never streamed at the same time. Yeah, we have. He was on He was on I think he was on two episodes of Eat back in the day. So, a lot of people say I sound like him. I disagree. We both got very different voices. >> Looks like he's getting a glimpse of the face of God. Well, that that's probably uh talking about some of the thumbnail expressions Chris Stockman has. Every defense I see of Supergirl trailer is just telling you it's based on a comic, man. >> Yeah. And it wasn't even really based on that comic, which is pretty funny when you, you know, when the movie actually comes out, it's like >> the movie writer didn't understand what the end of the comic was. So, it's >> Yeah. which is just it's never a good sign if your lead writer can't comprehend the end of a comic book. I think that should be disqualifying. >> There's a lot of >> that movie failed so hard. >> I was going to say reading any of the messages related to Supergirl going to be funny now because we have all the answers. >> Looks very vindicating. Well, I mean, you know, I don't think anyone in our audience thought otherwise. This in just I just mean that we know like the box office numbers specifically, which if anything, which is crazy in terms of uh how low, but also how amusing. Uh, do you and Metal share the same bed? Yes. And since you are so long, he surely sleeps on top. It's rumored you carry him around. Evidence is the internet. Uh, yeah, sometimes if he's let out of his cage and everything. It's a daily decision to be made, you know. how hyperactive he gets. Um, have any of you seen Auro Kurasawa films? If not, you need to do that or else your critic license is hereby revoked. Must see for all film lovers. I haven't seen all of his films. I need to see more of them though. >> Probably like an arc at some point. Um, love your streams more. Any chance you'll get around to playing Expedition 33? Oh, was this before I did that? I don't remember. I guess so. Yeah. Did I do that? Oh, I think I did it once Metal left in January. So, that makes sense. Uh, game deserves the God of War Ragnarok treatment. Again, that's not the easiest thing to pull off with video cuz movies, you know, 2 hours on average. Much simpler than games that last as much as 20 hours of narrative plus all the mechanical discussions and then the history of the series they belong to. You know, but but uh yeah, you you know, you know, foreign cultures like that of the bots, not geographical foreign cultures. Oh, like the scientific cultures or or something like in a in a in a lab. I'm not sure what this refers to exactly. Thank you for an amazing year. Here's hoping for an amazing and even better next year. Well, I think we've done all right so far. What was better, chat? Hm. Was it the Gollum 2 episode or Mixtape? Because they technically belong to the same EFAP year. So, that's probably going to be We'll see the vote on that, won't we? I I I'm going to go ahead and bet that it's probably going to be mixtape that wins out of those two, but it could be a recency bias thing. What do you guys reckon? >> Mixtape. >> You think mixtape was better? >> I agree. >> I think the audience will think that Mixtape is better. >> What do you think is better? >> I don't know where I stand. I'm not sure. I'd need to rewatch the Golem one >> in a way because there's more to say about I don't know. Golem's just a more narratively varied game. I think I'd probably enjoy Golem more, the Golem one more on rewatch. >> It's tough for me, but um I assume it could. Again, it's probably I probably pick the one that I was less familiar with at the time, but I think Golem does refresh better than Mixtape does. always look forward to the um the go-kart section with the little I love that part of the game. It's so funny. Um I used to like winter as a kid, but eventually I got a driver's license. You wouldn't understand, Molly. He jk jk I've been in vehicles when it is in winter times. All right, I understand there can be struggles. You just need to be in like a Mr. Plow type type vehicle and you'll be fine. He looks like Syndrome from the Incredibles. Oh, Chris Duckman. How could you? So mean. He cries almost as much as we all did when you guys locked balls in the Lord of Rings super cut. Except locked balls actually deserves this hype. Well, yeah, that's fair. Eric, when Ray back flips. Oh my god. Epic. Epic. Oh, this is when we were Did we show Nick Eric Bucks butts, right? I think on New Year's. He's >> I discovered he's um he's really useful as a copyright filter. >> Why don't you just play if you're doing a Star Wars project for example? I did this with the Mando and Groger video cuz all he does is stick like a like whatever he's watching in a small square in the top left of his screen screen. So you can just change that then keep him crying at it and it gets really confused and doesn't flag it as a clip. So that saved the Mandalorian and Groger video. >> You see it's clearly fair use. I am reacting from uh Superman is an immigrant story chud to if you don't like Supergirl, you're a foreigner. Have you seen uh either of you guys the the rejection of Superman being a good story? Because uh if it's an immigrant story, then why is it that his parents sent him with the intention of destroying or o overtaking the culture he was heading to? the problems that you guys create and James Gun creates by making these terrible decisions and making these weird associations. You know, >> I'm waiting for the [ __ ] day >> where I understand why he made that decision with Jorel. >> I think it's just because it would surprise you. It'd be like, yeah, you weren't expecting that, were you? Wow. It's like, yeah, I sure wasn't. I wonder if there's a reason why. >> Whenever there's a bizarre decision, I'm just waiting for the like, oh, that's why they did that. We've been getting a lot of that in House of Dragon, you know, like oh, but like with Superman, just like when do we get the benefit of you having done this ever, you idiot, shoot yourself in the foot for no reason. Oh well, that's the laughter of a madman. This man cries at a sunset. If this I don't think he does cry at sunsets. It's mainly just Star Wars or other films. If there's a sunset in Star Wars, he'd cry, which, you know, there's a few of those. Um, if this being can find a wife, know that there is hope for all of you. Of course, Eric Buts wants to shoot the beach. Why? What did the beach do to make him want to shoot at it? It distracted his wife from Star Wars. You should be there reacting with him, crying even, I would say. Uh, if he is leaving on vacation tomorrow, but he's in a hotel, does he live in a hotel or does his wife just not allow this behavior in the house? Lots of speculation to be made. ever actually seen his wife? >> I don't know. Maybe >> cuz I just it's a story I just can't believe. >> You know the bit of law. I'm sure there's mega fans out there who've seen her. Maybe. >> Maybe. I mean, this is just seems like the kind of man who'd marry like a pillow or something. Maybe that's what he's talking about. >> I was going to say, you know, I you can respect that if if it's a particularly caring pillow and they have a good life together. Uh you got a hotel room with twin beds. Your wife is not at the spa. I think I think we ended up reading that one out at the night. Uh, I've been watching evap for 30 effing years. Life well spent. Humbo rags. 30 years of eap. Um, Eric Buts is the king disloyid. Yeah, a little bit. Can't really >> just He loves every corporate [ __ ] slop ever, right? >> Yeah. And if he had a philosophy, it would probably be like this is a better way to live than to be discerning in any way. Like this is he is cipher basically. >> He'd be wrong. But yeah, >> ignorance is bliss. Okay. And in this case, bliss is bliss. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss is just just make it bliss no matter what. He's the Do you remember that episode of Doctor Who uh Platoon where the the drug Bliss gets introduced to like a populace and it just kills them all because everyone just takes it constantly? They find like a skeleton with the bliss drug or something. The the point being like if uh if if there's like no discipline, it's just infinite happiness and then nobody does anything anymore. You're like not even human if you there's a lot of things being said with it technically. >> Yeah. It's just almost hard to believe that it's a Doctor Who episode given what that became, but that's conceptually interesting and grounded in, you know, classic science fiction. Uh, Rags, you ever poo on your foot with the door open just to see how it feels? I haven't. I was just asking. This is a reference to when Rags talked about peeing on his hands. Also, this guy is kind of like my ex. She was cringe and endearing for it, as you can imagine. Humbo rags. Long live the long. Long live the long. Pringles has mystery flavor crisps. No brown yet. >> Mystery. I don't think I'd like the idea of a mystery flavor. >> I know what you're talking about. I've seen them. It's like a silver can and it says mystery flavor and it's the most like why the [ __ ] would I buy a mystery flavor? >> That is so very unappealing to me. You don't know what you're getting. It's like I'd like to know. Please. >> That's the whole reason I tend to buy things. the food kind >> it's just this sphere and it's like mystery food like well what what is it it's like mystery >> yeah like you don't even know the you know the the the the composition or the uh the consistency of the food >> you're like is it does it need to be refrigerated they're like maybe >> okay >> do I have an it is will I have an allergic reaction >> maybe >> who could say it's a mystery And then the more questions you ask, I think you're misunderstanding like what a mystery is. Okay. >> Snider does Mario. So that'll be the the gaming [ __ ] we were on then. The focus M. Oh, what a great video that was. >> Who would you consider to be more evil or bankrupt, Nintendo or Disney? I say Disney since Nintendo still loves its characters and audience. I think that's an I think it's absurd that you would even like entertain that there's a fight between those two. I think that's insane. >> Are you serious? Like what Nintendo's stuff Nintendo's big problem is that they're like a little dated and stubborn about uh about certain things. Like that's like their main problem is that they're somewhat out of touch with uh the current landscape and that can sort of run them into problems. That's like their big issue. I think there's a notable difference between that and Disney's influence as a company. >> I think one of the main concerns about the Mario movie is exactly that it would teach Nintendo they could be more like Disney, which kind of entails that they're not at the moment. >> Exactly. And they make they make good games. Like that's a big thing that works in their favor is that they still make good games reliably whereas Disney does not make good films reliably anymore. >> It's true. plus all of the other things you could speak to about the influence of Disney. >> Uh, the game I'm playing right now is literally this. Good gameplay, good graphics, dialogue, and characters feel like AI fed. Safe and generic as [ __ ] Yeah, I hated that. In Prime 4, Miles mentions save rooms. Miles, I'd rather forget he exists, but no such luck. >> Sly Cooper is a perfect example of fantastic character dynamics and writing. You could never mistake Sly, Murray, Bentley, or Carmelita for each other. >> Yep. >> Yeah, >> you sure couldn't. >> The sad state of affairs is that people blame Weeden for this when really the ones to blame are people who learned the wrong lessons from his work. Um, for some reason Weeden has been reduced down into that just happened from his characters >> as though the like sort of cleverness in the way that he writes isn't in a bunch of [ __ ] not just someone having a witty retort. And witty retort for the record could be lots of different things. It depends on what the character is. Um, at this point it's just like I don't know there's a bit of an increase of appreciation for his work because unfortunately the Toy Story stuff when five came out a lot of people were appreciating Toy Story 1 and 2 very much and then having to wrestle with the fact that Jos Sweden was at least partially responsible for Toy Story. Um, not only that, but that the specifics of uh he was the one that had uh Buzz sort of like committed to the role of the space ranger and failing to understand his nature as a toy. Isn't that [ __ ] insane? >> It's so hard to imagine what that story would look like without that. >> And so it's like, oh, that was like a really [ __ ] good decision and that was him. And it's like, yeah, because he's not just the guy who had people say, whoa, that just happened. No, he's the guy who just has good storytelling instincts. He just did >> like Avengers gets more appreciated the more time goes on. >> Yeah. >> Um but yeah, fair. You'll never hear Kattos talking like this. No. And that's something that is very much appreciated. Despite the modernisms that do infect a bit of the Norse era, Kattos's dialogue is [ __ ] great. They don't infect him with the modern [ __ ] I remember Spider-Man 2 enter electro on PS1. Spider-Man says, "I need to press R1 to zipline up quickly." >> Yeah. You know, I think older games like doing that more. >> They actually have the characters acknowledge the buttons they need to press. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We don't do that anymore. >> Uh but perfect example of diverse personalities. Li Liliana and Morgan in Dragon Age. >> Yeah, probably Dragon Age. >> Yeah, I'm not familiar. >> I remember Morgan. I don't remember Liliana. >> Why do you hate women? >> Um, they just suck. >> Oh, yeah. Fair. Hey, lads. I'm sure you've heard YMS made another drinker response. I feel like EAP is in a good position to address his terrible approach to argumentation. Even though I'm not sure how that would go without addressing the line in the room, happy new year. I I I think that's all we had our multi-hour conversation that uh just we got stonewalled over and over and over again. Um people want to do that sort of like thing just farm drinker infinitely for how he's wrong about everything. It's like you go ahead. We're going to spend our time talking about media we think works and doesn't for our own reasons I guess. But then yes, there is also the whatever the [ __ ] bonus stuff that I don't really even want to get into. So, nothing but fun on the bun on that one. Uh, I used to be really against criticism of film and games because my concern was studios would get scared, overcorrect, and make something generic and uninspired. I appreciate that EFAB does critique with the hope things will improve, but there's a lot of bad criticism out there that studios also react to, and it's hard not to be annoyed by that. Yeah, I mean sure, but the problem is that you know I mean that can't you can't like allow that to essentially prevent you from saying anything ever. You know, you have to >> you'll get it all right. >> A good reaction and a bad reaction to good criticism and then a good reaction and a bad reaction to bad criticism. Like it's all there. Uh >> Mhm. >> You know, we talked before about No Way Home is basically the only prophecy or or example of the multiverse that was used to some benefit when it came to characterization, and you got Deadpool Wolverine out of it. >> So, >> yeah, you did. And people said that was great. Which, you know, is exactly the point that you're getting at, which is that the people offer their p their feedback and the feedback makes things worse. >> Yeah. Like saying, you know, good job. be brought in legacy characters that were given respect and then they're like we can do that again by just having them you're like wait what and then and I mean Doomsday right is a direct consequence of Deadpool Wolverine. >> Yep. It does feel as well like a consequence of because George Lucas has been given a bunch of well I gave an interview quite recently talking about how some studios at least uh they they almost have fans make the movie. They're so reliant on focus groups they bring in people that tell them essentially what movie they want to make and it doesn't work because fans ultimately don't know what movie they want to make. Um there Paul Wolverine is just like it's such a focus group movie. You can almost see the creative process being let's just get, you know, like 50 groups of people all around the country and ask them what comic book characters they want to see fight and then we'll make that into a film. To me, like the clearest example or the sign that that movie was going to be corporate slop is the fact that the intro like title sequence has all of their names properly credited rather than having memes because of course the MCU would want to make sure that everything is properly credited instead of having fun. And it's even though people like they praise the hell out of that sequence like that element of it is like very disappointing to me. one of many disappointments that that is that you know that comprise that movie. >> Well, and the fact that it it pilered the [ __ ] out of the ending to a film that really tried to complete a story line to then complete a story line that we already knew was going to get upended again anyway. >> Yeah, exactly. But it's it is hilarious. Yeah, we're not going to disrespect that ending. It's like, how have you not in canon the after after the ending of Logan at some point W uh Deadpool comes back, digs up that corpse, and fights TVA agents with it. >> That's canon. You can pretend it's not, but it is. So, >> it's crazy that we need to rewatch that stupid [ __ ] movie so that we can remember everything to do with the TVA. >> No, don't make me >> insane. But that's Yeah, cuz they're not even on the poster, but the they're definitely in the movie, right? Like we know that Wolverine is in that plot leak. He's going to be the one that stays behind to destroy the Sam Ramy Spider-Man universe in the [ __ ] prologue. >> In the prologue, >> it's what can you even say, man? Like, and it's like, don't worry, there's still three hours of movie. You're like, boy, the crosshairs are already on gun. Guardians became the template for every Marvel movie since. Yeah. And every DC movie, too. Sabos, Psy, son of >> That was That was amazing. That was the best part of that game. >> Yes. >> I knew the second he he did that in my playthrough, I was already like, "Oh, Fring is going to love this." Just you need to see this guy yelling. That's going to be so >> Miles McKenzie is Miles McKenzie, dude. Imagine they made a [ __ ] like a full effort like like multi- movie plan or maybe even TV show adaptation of Metroid and they start with the fourth one. >> It's the kind of thing they would do. The thing is there's there's really a lot of room to be worried after that stupid second Mario movie. I guess the Zelda movie is going to be the one that sort of defines just how good or bad this whole thing is going to be. >> And it's going to be bad. So, you know, get rid of that. >> Uh probably like not absolute piss would be my assumption. It'll probably be like a three or a four. >> Uh White Lights critiques on Spider-Man are spot on. Also, games have gotten way too long. Um, >> it was basically the only thing in Mixtape's favor is that you we could sort of just bash out and and a couple of hours or six hours in some people's cases. But, and that was one of the the real drags about Resident Evil as well is like if it starts off on a really appalling footing, you know, you've got like it's not like a movie which is, you know, if it's [ __ ] fair enough, it's 2 hours, maybe three. I said, "No, it's going to be like 15 to 20 hours of equivalently [ __ ] stuff, which I'm going to have to sit through." Very inefficient. >> Yeah, >> but if it's a good game, it's not a problem. >> Happy New Year, Fringe. I know you usually don't answer very personal questions like this, so no pressure, of course. What's your perfect Sunday? >> My perfect Sunday? Well, the funny thing is is that, you know, my Sundays include EAP. They're on Sundays over here. Um, maybe maybe my perfect Sunday would be if EAP started a little bit later in the day than like at 4 in the morning. Maybe that would be my perfect Sunday. But hey, nothing to be done about that. >> I like the in your perfect Sunday, EAB is still happening. That's that's probably your perfect Sunday. >> It's good stuff, man. It's a it's a good it's a good part of a you know it's a it's a I like a nice cloudy day as well. That would be on my perfect Sunday as it's nice and cloudy. Not raining necessarily, but cloudy. Let's face it, we'll never get a proper black suit adaptation. >> What? For for Spider-Man. >> Uh I'm trying to think of what we would have been talking about at this point. I mean, I would say that about Spider-Man. That's probably not going to happen. >> Yeah. I think we were talking about Spider-Man because we were playing the clip where he talked about the um the dialogue as though HR is in the room uh clip if you >> Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. No, but you won't. And I mean, you didn't get it in that game and you probably won't get it. It's almost It'll be like Dark Phoenix. You'll never get a good adaptation of it. Uh they could have just made it a cut scene. Don't call out Death Stranding like that, Metal. Ooh. >> Well, that game's got like 10 hours of cutscenes, doesn't it? >> Got a bunch. Yeah. Um, DSP as a U-Hauler would be the pinnacle of horror. Oh, the DSP clip we watched as well. That was funny [ __ ] >> Oh, that was incredible. He just forgot how the road works. >> That's just hilarious. He forgot how the road works. like you clearly have to like I don't even it's it's unfathomable to me. >> My point is he was given like a realistic result of his choices in the game mechanically and he was like mad. >> Yeah. Which I mean if anything it's a testament to that game being a really good simulator whichever game it was like you got exactly what you deserved. >> Uh DSP's infamously terrified to drive on the motorway. Oh, in like real life >> is he? >> Oh, really? >> Oh, maybe. Yeah. >> I guess I guess I don't I suppose it makes sense that someone might find driving scary. Um, obviously I don't, but like I guess I can understand you are moving really fast. >> That was my first ever driving lesson experience and the only driving lesson I ever did is and there by extension like pretty much the first time I was behind the wheel of a car. instructor got me lost and I ended up on a dual carriageway being chased by lries. Was great. >> Didn't go back to her again. >> Yeah, that's pretty terrible actually cuz Yeah, I mean as long as as long as it gets built up to as long as you're just sort of building the foundation and working up from there, you know, like quiet streets and then, you know, just sort of quieter roads then main roads then freeways. You know, that's that's the way to do it. Get used to it. Uh, when Miles leaps off of rooftops, everyone says he's exaggerated swagger, but when I do it, that means I'm not okay. Shake my head. >> That clip is amazing. What a what a crazy thing to say. >> Eric reacted like my 5-year-old did to K-pop demon hunters getting emotional describing what happened, except it was too emotional. Climax of movie, so she's more mature. He does react like a 5-year-old to a lot of stuff. Uh, yeah, it's just what he does. DSP is the best semi-truck driver of all time. Yes. Road blocked. DSP. Nah, I'd win. And he didn't. Can DSP not answer the no breakfast hypothetical? That's Why would you even like There's no He's not going to be able to do that. That's That's well beyond his abilities. Joseph Anderson is a Welshman. I'm not even kidding. Does he have Welsh blood in his history? My god. Uh, I guess this is when we start Yeah. Okay. There's there's a lot of messages related to you remember this part, guys. The the legendary um silk song commentary that >> Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Happy New Year instead of Chongji. Neo Latin chongi. Is that I don't know if uh the correct plural of chungus may actually be chunodus or chunods Greek declination. Uh also a fun wombo word. Oh yeah, all of that was fun. Look outside OST update out. All the new music. Yeah, it's actually annoying how much I keep updating my uh my playlist of of stuff I listen to with with Look Outside edicts. They keep adding stuff. But it's also not something I'm going to complain about. More look outside tracks, please. Uh, Joseph saying it'll make people ask for silk song prices on other games means he accidentally revealed that it's something he would do. You mean like he's saying that he would ask for silk song prices on other games? Maybe. Don't tell him that concerned ape has been giving out free updates to Stardw Valley for coming up on this. We're about to reopen this whole thing. This this whole [ __ ] line of argument was insane. >> I expect this from every game I buy. Yeah, the >> it doesn't it breaks at the fundamental that it can only be an exchange one time. Remember he was like it's going to it's going to take up the market. It's going to [ __ ] everything up for everybody blah blah. It's like it's one game priced at obviously what is a very good price for the amount of time that people going to end up playing it. Is it even going to make a change to the market at all overall of what people expect prices are? Really? >> I don't know how it could. >> Happy New Year. Have a beer on me. Silkong is getting DLC next year by the way for free. For free, you say? >> I should charge money for it. >> That's another rainforest destroyed. >> Mhm. >> To be fair, $40 is a lot for an insect of color. Or is it not? I don't know. >> It's not. I don't know. Wouldn't Team Cherry be the David in this scenario? You have to remind me of every crazy wacky thing he said because it wasn't just that he was making wacky arguments. He got really mad at his chat as well for perfectly reasonable questions. Do you remember he started he started talking about the the mom and pop store getting crushed by Walmart as the like that was insane. >> Yeah. the the the it's so funny when it's the opposite. Like Team Cherry, obviously >> they make an amazing game and they price it low. >> This is bad. Now >> the small team Yeah. the small team that makes great games and charges very fair prices for it. >> On the topic of being lost in games, I personally try everything that seems interactable before looking up a guide, but I am quite impatient. Thoughts? You know, the way I play >> extremely impatient. I like >> if I'm enjoying the game, I might give it a chance. If I'm not enjoying the game, [ __ ] it. Google. >> Yeah. Like when you when you get in, I usually press all the buttons just to see what my character can even do. Especially if it's a game that does not tell you everything and pause it. I'm I'm I'm low on patience for the whole screen going black except for one toolbox that says press A to jump and then you press it and then you jump and then it freezes again and says press, you know, X to punch, then you punch, and then I'm just like, yeah, I'm going to have to do this for every single button instead of me just being able to run around and press buttons at at free will. But, uh, on top of that, no. Yeah, if if I do get stuck, it'll just depend on my perception of whether or not I have the capacity to defeat the problem at hand uh or or if I think that I'm either bugged or I'm lacking information that uh it's just like I'm not going to be able to get it. But everyone's different on that front. Ma, stop spoiling Naked Hornet for yourself. Oh, about this is probably about uh the stuff that happens in in Silkong, I guess. I don't know. Unrealistic standard. Hollow Night was a passion project. The devs quit their day jobs to make it and it paid off. Again, he's he's kind of wacky. IGN review score should determine game price, obviously. Yeah, you should add a zero to whatever number they give it, and that's how much you should pay. >> I think people like Joseph Fanison hate the idea of free market competition because they feel too insecure or lazy or weak or cowardly to compete themselves. >> How it works. >> Yeah. Trying to dig out whatever the [ __ ] his actual motivation was for that insane diet tribe is is a tough one. Silk song sold 6 million copies in the first month. If Team Cherry is three people working for eight straight years, 70,000 hoursish, then at the time they made $570 an hour per person. Steam takes around 30%. So 399.5, you know that there's just nothing to be unhappy about here. A passionate set of people made a really good game and they charged extremely competitively and the fans were happy about that. This is the meme of this. Is there someone you forgot to ask? A shilling veneer hopefully with better media. Yeah. Look outside was $10. Joseph, shut up. The amount of counter examples, man. It's like a hoorde of them. I don't know why he was so mad at Silk Song specifically. Holite Nestle. I feel like he's trying to equate it to Standard Oil undercutting their competitors, even though that's different. By his own admission, he doesn't know how economics works, so I doubt he was. Oh, yeah. At one point, he just says like, "I'm not even that familiar with economics." And it was like, "Yeah, so stop wing into this discussion so angrily, please." Yeah, you don't have to do that. >> He's basically implying that because AAA companies are bloated and inefficient, efficient and competent studios need to price higher than they want to make any [ __ ] sense. The assassination of Joseph Anderson by the coward Joseph Anderson. I like it. North Korea has a solid economic structure. Joseph Anderson brings a bird and I love that about him. High ranks. Well, all right. Yeah, there you go. Doomer has been playing games for 33 years. Also, I give one to 1,000 odds. Uh, Stranger Things season 5 finale is good. Happy New Year to you all. Thanks for another great year. Well, looks like your odds were >> I wouldn't have given them that odds necessarily. I would would have been lower odds, but you know. >> Well, we haven't had the fin. >> Yeah, it still hasn't come out. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yeah, that's right. skill issue. People who say artists should charge whatever they feel they're worth either asskissers trying to get ahead or live luxurious welloff lives. >> Um I mean >> that is going to be a big determinant like >> you know yeah especially with indie games it is a bit tough to to know exactly how your thing should be priced. Um, and they as artists would have calculated based on, I guess, what they believe their thing is worth against what they, you know, what their average can there's a simple bit of math happening. The lower you price it, the more people that it can reach. And is that going to create a balance? It reminds me of like when video game like tycoon games do it where like you slide one thing and then another result slider is moving in conjunction with it. And it's just about where you want to throw it. I guess what you think it's worth, what you think, you know, people will be willing to pay, what you need paid for it. I just think that it's it's hard to be definitive about these sorts of things at that uh market level cuz you know, should Bellatro charge more than Vampire Survivors like uh >> yeah should I mean I it's on those things is >> Meanwhile, of course, Alana Pierce would be like well how complex is it? That's how we know how many systems were in it. Because of course, Bellatro should never be as expensive as Outlaws, even though Bolatro provides way better gameplay for way longer. Like, h wait a minute. Feels like our system is flawed here. So, how does it work? And that's the thing. It's it's it's complicated. It's kind of interesting. Uh just seen the DSP trucking clip as a former over the road truck driver. It's legit terrifying to see, especially considering there's legit retards like this out there. This got me goosebumps. Yeah, it's not going to be fun to watch him on a simulator doing what he would have exactly done in real life probably if he were in that scenario. But luckily, he's not a truck driver, I assume. Google disposable soma theory of aging idea is evolution happens at the point your genes are copied. Reproduction. So, evolution selects for genes that make you carry on the species, not maintain what's left behind. The soma. Um, I'll have to do that at some point. Alana Pierce's voices got very deep. A m I was typing that. Are you connecting Alana Pierce to Joseph Anderson in some way here? Look outside is more valuable to Mer than to anyone else. Not anyone else. Just mainly people in, you know, the call at the time, I guess. I think Metal was there. He quite likes it. I believe it was his game of the year for 2025 as well. This guy is Smeaggle Golluming himself and he keeps doing it to himself because he's so stubborn to admit he's uh stupid. I did when he knew how much he didn't know. Why did he stumble into that conversation anyway? It's just >> it happens a lot. >> Don't do it. Quit while you're ahead, as they say. >> Uh why do you show me people saying stupid things that annoy me greatly? I'm supposed to be getting ready to celebrate surviving another year, you big old meanie. I'm Sari. H >> Oh, you were a dev. Which flavor? Unity slop of UE slop or UI slop? Hey, man, you can make good stuff with Unity and Unreal Engine, right? Right, guys? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. See, there you go. Doesn't have to be slop. Undercharging is a problem with wouldbe monopolies. Not three bloss in a madeup country down under. No, they rainforests. You got to think about the rainforest. Seest country traffic officer here guesting in. Aren't there more than a few freetoplay MMOs now? Wouldn't there have been Wait, wouldn't they have just completely ended all video games if this was an actual issue? Freeto play annihilates the [ __ ] out of everything he was talking about. Uh, I doubt he even thought to consider it because it would just ruin everything. How does Joseph account for freetoplay gacha games? I enjoy some gacha more than $60 games. I got more hours in League of Legends than I have in many games I've paid way more for. So, that's what I mean. It's kind of difficult to be definitive about these things. Um, 2014 is only 3 months away. What? Oh, to go back to the Hian age of 2014. E guys, what's your favorite memory from 2014? >> I'm trying to remember what I was doing in 2014. >> Yeah. I mean, I don't know. That was a while ago. Like, I don't know. I don't know. >> Would I have been at uni? I think I was at uni. I was probably drunk in that case. >> So, having a good time. >> Oh, there you go. I have spun the wheel of misfortune for 2026 and it landed on little platoon. The wheel of consequence landed on stolen socks. My heartfelt apologies. Damn, dude. Have your socks been stolen recently or >> I have noticed that lots of them seem to have gone missing. >> It was this guy apparently. What is this jabbering animal making a yappuccino about? Silkong being $20 is a freaking steal. It's selling hot cakes and I know it's made it back. Oh yeah, they were probably more than fine. The entire point of supply demand curve is that everybody above the sale price on the demand curve would pay more. By definition, most people who buy it consider it underpriced because they'd pay more. I don't get why he has such a hard on for wanting to pay more for a game. Schedule one came out at less than $20, I believe, and it has quite a few mechanics in it. Again, you I could see someone playing schedule one and being like, "This isn't even worth a dollar." But then someone else, maybe someone like me would be like, "Dude, I I got many hours out of that that were very fun." So >> it's also the calculation you have to make in hindsight. It's I would have paid more for this in hindsight. >> But people obviously can't make that judgment call before playing. So you have also to price it with >> what people's actual knowledge is and what their expectations are, which can also be a disincentive to price it unusually low, right? Because there's a certain reputation associated with it. if you released a AAA game at $20, lots of people would look at that and say, "I guess that's a relatively small indie thing that I'm not that interested in." Um, there's all kinds of complicated calculations that go into it. >> Well, you know, I think we' referenced I I've gotten so much immense fun out of uh Resident Evil 4 that I've bought it like four different times >> and it's it's like, "Oh, isn't isn't that terrible?" And it's like, "No, I mean like it earned it. it. I I have no discomfort with putting that much money into one game that I've gotten that much fun out of. Uh, what does Doomer think of Team Cher's pricing model? He is the ultimate 30-year expert. Probably closer to 35 now, to be honest. Yeah, that's the thing. I'd update that meme. Been playing games for like 33 years now. This guy's demanding to pay more for a game he loves. There's a long chat to have about pricing and value, but Silkong kills it in value. YMO probably why is chat >> kills it so much it kills it so much that uh yeah >> nobody is always the case in these conversations there is nothing to stop you personally writing a check to the company that made the game if you want to pay more for it you can do that that's the thing you can do uh you should be grateful Silkong is so kind to his coffers anyway war oh wait we can sort that out in a moment we got a Warhammer request of a of a We've been staring at Naked Hornet for 1.5 hours. Hey, his it was his visuals. Okay. What can you do? He could easily buy more copies for his friends. True. Been playing video games for 30 years. I'm going to buy Silk Song right now just to spite this Snowy boy. Well, hey, I mean, you know, from what I gather, you'll have lots of fun. So, there's that. Um, hello. I'm Mr. Anderson. This is my stream. I say, "Oh, so this would be a Hello, I'm Mr. Anderson. This is my stream." I say stupid [ __ ] This is the end. Bye now. Sorry. I would watch that show. New year is here. Mhler and Metal Kiss Time. Oh, 2D animation being more expensive is a myth that comes from the fact that 2D film animators are unionized 30 years earlier than 3D animators. >> Well, I didn't know that. But also that can make them more expensive. >> Yeah, >> it's not there's two different things you're describing there is how much the average like what is the cost and when they were unionize the two they're related questions often but they're not necessarily related questions. >> Um another Samos think uh makes a lot of sense. Zero from Mega Man X happens to be the top tier in every Capcom fighting game he's been featured in. He's also the best character in Super Mario 64 co-op DX. Uh, I don't know anything about that, but fair enough. >> No. >> And yet another Samos. >> It's just iconic. What can you say? Prime 4 is the rise of Skywalker of video games. H. >> Oh, let's not be too harsh. It's bad, but The Rise of Skywalker. >> Yeah, I'm not sure I agree. I get the sentiment. I'm not sure what I would refer what what would its movie counterpart be? I don't know. That's hard to say. >> Maybe. That could be fair. About to get real nerdy in here. Where's the Lord of Ring? Is he too busy moving things with his freaking mind? I don't know. Maybe recharging. And here we are once more. Amnesia, Afterbirth, Scoredom, and now Metroid Prime 4 [ __ ] added to the list of games that just [ __ ] it up. Yeah, like I said though, with Amnesia after Rebirth, I I was very excited cuz it was the first major game after S and that was horribly disappointing. Uh, Scorn looked really [ __ ] unique and cool and there was it was just like barely a game or at least from what I remember. Metro Prime 4 I was I was never quite convinced with its marketing. I was always like h and then as soon as the Miles McKenzie stuff happened it was like oh god this might be absolutely awful. >> Uh, I'm watching Simpsons all the way through and for fun I checked all the ranking sites. They all say that the principle and the porpa is the end of the golden era. What do you guys think of that? I think that means you don't have an actual opinion. Not you. Who wrote this? Anyone who says Simpsons died with the principal in the P, but they got it from a YouTuber. >> They didn't say it cuz they felt that >> very specific YouTube video. Exactly. >> We've been asked this a bazillion times as people who are obsessively watching it constantly. The correct answer, as far as I'm concerned, is there's loads of really fun [ __ ] to be had done in Simpsons after The Principle and the Porpa. It doesn't die between two episodes. It doesn't die between two seasons. It just really gradually dies. Um, and you'll just find yourself losing the passion to continue watching it because it'll just become less and less funny. But, uh, yeah, Principal and the Porper is one that a lot of people pick. And again, it's just you'll find there's like seven different major YouTube videos that talk about how that's the one that killed the show and they just have different theories for it cuz it's like a popular thing. Um, my day one switch stopped turning on right after I bought Prime 4. It killed itself to save me. Thank you, soldier. Oh, >> criticism of the day. You guys need to say more dumb stuff. I'm running out of criticisms. Oh, >> maybe need better criticisms. >> Yeah, criticism for you. Uh, what's everyone's favorite episode of Fargate? Mine's the one where Captain Stevens gets put in a psychic coma by the space elves and dreams he's married to the ship's doctor in the 1970s. Heartbreaking. Yeah, probably uh where they go to the moon. Um that's that's that's one of the I know it's I have a generic choice, but it's still the one I go with. Just uh really good [ __ ] especially the ending. Criticism of the day, Black Ops. What does that mean? >> Yeah, we reference it maybe. I don't know. >> It's the same um it's the same criticism of the day. Cood. >> Oh, cool. Call of the Duty Black Ops. I guess it's not COD, it's cootd. >> That's right. >> Call of the Duty. >> Sheamus being in Smash played a part in early 2000's Renaissance or Metroid. Are we saying like it helped? >> Say that again. Sorry. >> I assume they spelled this wrong on purpose. So So Samos being in Smash played a part in the Renaissance for for Metroid in general. Is that what they're saying? >> Uh, may well have, but yeah, may may well have contributed to that. I mean, Super Smash Brothers is probably very responsible for essentially allowing certain Nintendo franchises to persist with some sort of cultural footprint >> bringing into like Fire Emblem. It gained a lot of popularity in the West for one that weren't traditionally released over here. So, it does have a big impact. Ice Climbers. There's an annoying assistance character in The Amazing Digital Circus. He's a bubble. They just pop him. Also, he's actually funny. Don't believe me? You should see for yourself. Also, high rags. All right, fair enough. Focus Metroid. Yeah. Yeah. How's Metroid focus when Miles keep talking to him? Um, it it was rough. Miles was [ __ ] rough. I played the Ball X pit demo after your Outlaws video. Not my taste, but earlier today I worked out to Boneyard soundtrack. I'll buy it eventually. Yeah, that that was a part of the selection of games I was like, if if you're into this style of game. Well, I guess that applies to all the games I was recommending in that list. But there's a couple of stuff I like to pick up and play because it doesn't take too much attention or doesn't take too long to beat in a particular way. And uh I don't know. Yeah. Uh, but I think Mel uh uh completed it as well. It's called Ball X Pit where it's just like you're in this underground place getting attacked by wave by wave of enemies and you got to fire balls at them and you unlock different balls and combine balls to make more elemental balls. It's it's there's loads of balls. Of course, I like it. >> Can you play the PS4 version of Lord of Ring? I'm sure someone can. I miss the Wii Virtual Console. Good times. >> Uh, sad. >> Yeah, I mean it was a good way to play, you know, older games. Oh well, never mind. >> Yeah, I miss you, Mullen. Fringy. Come back to me. We We We're We're right here. It's okay. Don't you worry. Right here. >> Lock morph balls. Oh my. Um, Prime One music is legendary. Correct. There's nothing more to say about that. Metro Prime 1's soundtrack is just excellent. >> Excellent. >> Sad that Rags isn't here, but at least Jon's doing pretty well in his place. Either way, you Dumbo should consider playing DDLC. John is an old reference, sir, but it checks out. Meren Pine 4 or Xbox One version of Lord of Ring. Oh, we Well, the thing about comparing those two games, which one's faster? Which one do you complete faster if you were to be right, I think? >> Is that true? Because of the [ __ ] stupid green crystal [ __ ] >> Is that true? >> That took That took a while. That was annoying. Dour a delight. if you were like really booking it in Gollum. I wonder if I don't know which one would actually be taking longer, but you know, some reviewers said Prime 4 has moments where it feels like classic Prime. And I think they're going off of a 15 plus year memory that they played the trilogy recently. They realize how abysmal four is, even if it's at its most prime. >> You're giving them too much credit. This this is not something that people say because they actually think or believe it. They're saying it because it's a good thing to say to sell copies, and that's what many reviewers are indirectly paid to do. Yeah. Uh, this game shows how incompatible a Metroid game and open worlds are. You can't have your cake and eat it too in this case. Um, I I could go either way on this in terms of how I feel cuz it's it's complicated, but like I kind of want to just go the direction of I hate how much open world gets slapped on IPs and they just think it makes it better. It's like first of all, incorporating that is difficult in something that is very linear and deliberately linear, but secondly, why does everyone think open world means it's better? Who came up with that? And where can I find them and drown them? Uh, a shilling for the Metroid empty busy work meter. Well, thank you. Beep beep beep. I see you started a stream. Cool. Did you know you can end it by pressing the end stream button with your mouse? I did know that. I did know that indeed. Is Mison Sen the new Luda narrative dissonance? >> No. >> No. Because they just established term to refer to visual storytelling assets. >> Lord of Prime Metroid. I don't like where this is going. You shouldn't because it doesn't go good places. I'm right here, guys. Oh, I know. At help me. I I think I think a lot of people were dying at this point with coming to understand just how impactful Miles was. I'm watching the super cut and the dialogue is making me want to commit un alive. Love or hate Ragnarok, but boy howdy that comparably superb dialogue. This where I meet Ragnarok gets thrown under the same [ __ ] bus that something like Metro Prime 4 does. And it's like Jesus guys. just uh the average conversation where, you know, you find the um the murals and stuff which then unlocks something for Mamia to talk about regarding like a a dead giant or an ancient battle between Thor and someone. And so then when you you're crossing any given area, that's like that's like how the game cycles in dialogue. They'll have it feel a bit more natural that you look at a big image and you're like, "Oh, wow. Who's the guy with six arms and six hammers? And then Mile will be like, "Oh, that's Thrudenlar and he was the guy who built blah blah blah and then this and this." And then when you get onto the water, they'll give you a bit extra. Andratos will say something very dry about how someone was stupid in that whole, you know, I shouldn't have trusted this person or whatever. Um, I guess what I'm getting at is like not only does it feel so much more natural in terms of how it's prompted, it like matters by how you find things in the world, but that the way they actually weave the dialogue and then the purpose of building up other characters. I just versus the [ __ ] you get in this game. Remember that dude who's just in the middle of the open world areas just you you have to find him to progress the actual plot line and >> find him. Yeah, that was stupid. God. And and I think was it me and you that it was like you got to go find him out there. You can't talk to him in here. It's like huh? >> What do you mean? >> I just need to talk to him now. >> [ __ ] nearly I would. And that's an example of me. I'd have to have if it not for the fact that I was streaming it, I would have had to Google what the [ __ ] I'm supposed to do cuz I would have been so confused. Pretty ironic for a game that doesn't want you getting lost at all. >> Mhm. Remember big Jack Horn her in Pussing Boots the Last Wish? He had a better villain backstory than this Metroid Prime villain. Jack Horner was hilarious. A movie I need to rewatch sometime. >> Thank god they stopped talking about me. We can we can Metroid candidly now. Whenever I hear you have a companion like Eva on MGS3 or Ashley in R4 for an entire game, you better make it worth it uh by the story because if not, I'm not even going to try to play a game. I don't know. I didn't know I had to accompany Ian McNPC for the entire game. [ __ ] that. No. Yeah. I mean, it's a fair point, right? Like there's there's a design discussion to be had about, you know, for for um escort [ __ ] how it creates different balancing and and there's different ways to approach that. But if if it's also a character that's just extremely [ __ ] annoying, why even bother? >> Why do that? Why deliberately have annoying characters in your story? >> George is just coming to my not a video game. Just Jaw Jaw Pigs. Like George, why did you do that? and he's like funny. >> Yeah, he's funny. It's like, all right. Uh, on the topic of puzzles and God of War, how long did it take you to solve the Tetris puzzle? And be honest, the Tetris puzzle. >> Is that I don't remember >> the puzzle in God of War Tetris puzzle. I don't remember there being because not in Metroid Prime 4 or or in any the God of Wars. If only you were more specific, I'd be able to help you out. I don't remember a Tetris puzzle really. Was there one in Uncharted? >> I don't Nothing's coming to mind. >> I feel like Uncharted already solved this puzzle dialogue issue. If you take a long time, you have the option of getting a clue from the journal. Eventually, you have the option for the whole solution. Yeah, but that's the olden days. Nowadays, it's can we solve this for you before you've even seen the [ __ ] puzzle? You're like, um, no. Really? Uh, Molly, you said it best in one of your streams. If this was a WIP partway into development, you'd be like, "Yep, looks fine so far. Just need to add more. Looking forward to the finished product." Oh, regarding um Metro Prime 4, it's like if we have a year more of development time, it would be okay. like if we're well far behind sort of thing >> maybe I think there's just some fundamentals to four that just don't work. >> I don't think within an extra year of development time that you can really mesh the the open world concept of the desert and the linear concept of I think that's just that's a studio has come in and said hey we want you to do this thing that doesn't fit the fundamental nature of your game. Um I don't think you can make unanoying characters annoying unless you realize that they're annoying. Yeah, that's very true. Um, what's funny is I'm thinking about it and it's like, yeah, it would need a lot more than a year probably if we're being realistic, even with like a full working team. Cuz >> what is even the best part of that game? It's like the I mean, some of the areas sort of feel a bit like they were >> mod look nice, but you know, the actual level design is nothing. So, it's just nothing really worthwhile about it. >> Yeah. Um, McKenzie focus M. If only he'd said that. Beep beep beep. Hey chat, do you know you can talk in chat? They do know that. Samus, I know you just soloed this guy and you're incredibly skilled at combat, but you need to teleport away so we can throw ourselves at him and perish horribly, plant a Christmas tree in our honor. And she does. Have you watched any of Metal's for spoken streams? I miss the quiet of the desert. And I miss McKenzie. He was just trying to help. If you know, you know. Uh I saw some of the super cut, but no, I didn't get to see Metal Play and For Spoken. And from what I I I can't remember what he said in conclusion about like the difference between Forspoken and uh Dustorn in terms of which is the more painful. But poor guy, he did it. And that's all because you guys got him the uh those plushies. He came through. He came through. I don't want a pickle. I just want to ride my motorcycle. I don't want to die. I just want to ride my motorcyclely. All right. So, they admitted failure on their own terms. Bold move, Cotton. Let's see how it works out for him. Uh, yeah, cuz we read out a bunch of like the meta stuff about how the game was horrendous. Um, not many people left to defend it either. It's one of those situations. Prey 2017 is more of a Metroid vania than this garbage. I guess the psychic powers are kind of cool, but it's the laziest implementation I've ever seen. Yeah, it's not particularly creative. Uh, especially when you think about it in concept. It sounds amazing. And then you watch it, you're like, "Oh, all right then." What are some of your favorite game emulators? I assume you two don't even have an answer for this. >> Um, >> no. >> I I've got What have I got at the moment? Dolphin is obviously a standard. Um, Project 64 for N64 stuff. Yep. >> What else have I got or had? Those are the ones I have at the moment. I used to have some more, but I can't remember what they were. >> I don't know that there's a better emulator than Dolphin. If there is, I'm not aware of it cuz Dolphin is [ __ ] amazing and has been for a really long time. Just the work they did making that function is uh it feels like space age technology or something. I don't know. Magic is what it is. Uh Nintendo and Sony fanboys are the one of the worst. I'm gonna say this is great when I haven't even played it. They keep the fanboy style alive and well. You can never take seriously anyone that really licks the boot of a company ever. I I feel like a lot of Nintendo fans were not happy with Metro Prime 4 though. >> It was it was controversial to say the least. >> Well, >> uh conform and consume or perish. Obviously. Yeah, we were covering a um a YouTuber, I think, who was pretty hype on Metroid Prime 4, if you remember. Remember the ranking? >> Oh god. Yeah, I do. Where Metroid Prime 4 was really high and he clearly didn't like Super Metroid, but then he got bullied into putting it as like number one. >> Oh, people are so lame. Uh, fun fact, in the promotional material for this game, Nintendo thought to make a point about how Samus' suit gives her the ability to jump. Okay. >> Nintendo doesn't do VA because it takes resources that the hardware cannot handle. Their consoles are too [ __ ] to account for the file sizes associated with VA. Voice acting. >> Yeah, but they do increasingly. And that's the point of contention because a lot of their modern voice acting stuff sucks. Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh, the logical conclusions of believing criticism of beloved media is inherently wrong is made manifest by this man. Is that something that he went over? I I think he was just ridiculously I I mean, we did cover someone who had said like uh people have been way too critical of uh Metroid Prime 4. I think this was this was a guy who hadn't played it as well, right? He was going off of early reactions or something. He was saying like, "See, >> oh yeah, yeah, >> it's going to be good." Um, the prequels all over again, guys. Why are you hating? It's new and different from the OT. Do you guys just want the same thing over and over again? I hate it when people say that [ __ ] You guys just wanted the same thing forever. Accessibility can be the death of deliberate design. Yeah. Like not specifically, you know, you want to help people out who can't actually like their senses aren't as uh attuned for like default human, putting it that way, but more so an effort to make it so the game can be completed by everyone of every level. It it sort of starts to seriously get in the way of what is your game on a challenge level in the first place. Um, I think we went over this with some of the Sterling and Alana Pierce [ __ ] right? The situational disabilities and all that sort of stuff. >> Which was the game, was it the Bond game where you can just have like autocomplete for QTS and puzzles and stuff. >> Yes, that is that's one of many games that does that, >> which uh >> gameplay optional. I love that about my video games. >> Did you have you turned because I could totally imagine people doing it if they're just annoying. I always wonder whether or not I have like a reason to do that or not, you know, to turn on or off QT [ __ ] cuz like I do kind of hate them. >> Especially if it's tying a bow tie. I would have turned it on if I'd known that's what was coming. >> Yeah. See, at that point now I'm thinking it's like I probably would keep them on so I know what they actually designed, if you know what I mean. It's like it can slip by otherwise. And I I'd rather know. I don't want them to lie to me. It's like what did you actually put this [ __ ] on? You weirdos. Last of Us 2 defense. It work. It looks pretty. It's surprising how much [ __ ] is described that way in both film and game. At least it looks good. Play Dread Mhler. Play Dread, but then play Dread Mhler. All right. I think they want me to play Dread. Pinball Sweep. >> Sounds like it. >> Metro Prime 4 being bad is actually a Vecna illusion. Nintendo is going to release Metro Prime 5 soon as a surprise. BJ is chicken jockey. Oh, they're going to try and make the second Minecraft movie memeable, aren't they? They're going to really want it. >> They sure are. They sure will. I'm have no doubt. >> Don't think that's going to work. I think everyone's had their fill of that kind of content. It's not going to do as well. It's going to and and everyone will know that that's what it's trying to do. And when everyone's in on the joke, it ceases to be funny in a way. >> No. Yeah. I think you're I think you really could be right on that. Like it's it's a gross corporate like Hey guys, we're still here. Are you guys still here? Yay. We're all having fun, aren't we? >> Yeah. Lava chicken do part. >> We shall see. Uh Lord of Ring better or worse than Merin Pine 4. Did we sell on that being that the Prime 4 is better? >> I mean, it probably is. >> We're not happy about it. >> No. you know, picking between them. It's a tough tough life. Uh, this is easy to explain. They mistook Google searches for iconic status. Lara Croft number one. Yeah. Oh, I remember that discussion. >> Oh, yeah. The ranking. Yeah, Lara Croft is more famous than Mario. Uh, have you uh platoon have you seen the um because me and Fring have talked about a couple of times the thing where they do the the Mount Rushmore of superheroes and they do Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, then they're like who's number four and loads of people like it's Wonder Woman. It's Wonder Woman. It's Wonder Woman. It's like I'm not sure that it is guys. >> It might be Wonder Woman, but like it might be Wolverine or it might be the Hulk. I think yeah, Wolverine above Wonder Woman just in terms of I mean Wonder Woman >> in terms of people actually knowing things about you know the character like how many people even know that Wonder Woman's name is Diana? M I think uh cuz cuz I know there's a lot of posts that are like pissed off that it would be like of course you're going to make it four guys like listen that's not even in consideration it's not about that about which ones sort of control cultural conversation I guess and it just doesn't like like how relevant is Wonder Woman? >> Not very >> not very >> like that one film did pretty well but literally every superhero film made a billion dollars back then. Yeah. And the next one, the woman's going to be written by the Supergirl writer. So, >> if Yeah. >> Um Oh, and the the next one, of course, nice and suitable because there's not too many times you could ever post this. Sus from Psyux. Yeah. Son of Peen is what they got here. >> Good stuff. So, uh, we have a Pokemon entry of the day, 366, which is Clam Pearl. I don't know if that sounds familiar to you guys at all. Let me see if I can get an image here. Please work. Big pity on me. Discord. Um, Lamp Pearl grows while being protected by its rock hard shell. When its body becomes too large to fit inside the shell, it is sure evidence that this Pokemon is getting close to evolution. >> Like a lame version of Cloyster. >> Yeah. >> Which someone can't remember who once called Cloyster the anti- rape goblin, but when you look at it, it makes a surprising amount of sense. >> Well, yeah. I suppose that it's inevitable that they would start returning to older designs and just sort of making a new version. Speaking of which, I'm not even sure which uh Pokemon I would pick for this one, but Hunale is the next one. Withstand the crushing pressure of water deep under the sea. Its spine is very thick and sturdy. Its tail, which is shaped like a small fish, has eyes that light up. >> I think it looks a bit [ __ ] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. This is um he he looks almost like too clowny like like like too embarrassing. He's weird. >> All those dots. >> Yeah. Uh and we have Beon. Do any of these names sound familiar to you guys? >> No. These are all going to be late like Gen 3 stuff. Begone harbors a neverending dream of one day soaring high among the clouds. As if trying to dispel its frustration over its inability to fly, this Pokemon slams its hard head against huge rocks and shatters them into pebbles. >> Yeah, he's not great either, honestly. >> I'm not sure why that one seems particularly [ __ ] to me. It just it just feels like someone who took pieces of someone else and was like, "What about this?" I don't know. >> It's Teimu Charmander. Is this like this? Yeah, >> it's a pal world knockoff. >> Oh, yeah. Anyway, um we have uh extinct animal of the day, the unopura. I think that's how that's pronounced. Um and all they've said is the comment for this is what was god smoking. So, uh looking he's looking very spore like, isn't he as in the game? >> Yeah. Yeah. He is. >> There's a lot of creatures like that. God was just having fun, you know, putting different things different places and he was like, "Oh, >> he settled on some stuff eventually." >> Then we got the large proopadon, which this is for scale to understand what we're dealing with here. Uh, the giant shortfaced kangaroo who walked like a dinosaur. >> Ah, yes. The mega. That's kind of an interesting because we don't really have much megaporner now, but there used to be a lot. But that was and that wasn't even modern like advanced humans. That was just the hunter gatherers got rid of those lads too. >> Yeah, they big. >> That's a great unifier of humanity is our ability to wipe out animals. >> We got the matter. >> I remember talking about >> Oh, yeah. There's no animal. There's no animal that's killed as many uh I mean, we've got the record over every over events, too. Like, I think we've wiped out more species. >> Yes. I think we're we're matching the uh the rate of the extinction of the dinosaurs after the um after the asteroid. >> Yeah. So, don't [ __ ] with us animals. >> Well, I mean, the crazy part again is that most of the time it's not even on purpose. This is like what it looks like when we're not even trying. >> We're just doing it accidentally or indifferently. But I mean, when people put their mind to it, they wipe out the bison in what, like 20 years or something? There were like 100 million of them and then there's like none. >> Oh, it would take us a day if we had to wipe out all life. We'd be pretty uh pretty good at it. Uh Lego piece of the day is the Exploran's helmet. Just looks really cool. And that's it, right? And here it is. have to imagine they used this for like an alien Lego creature at some point. >> Yeah. No, that's cool. That's you can you can make a lot of Yeah. Cool. Cool designs with that. >> And then we have uh the Warhammer model of whenever the Saturnine Ptor, the biggest boy of M31. I That's all I know about this guy. I like his hammer. He looks like >> the last 15 of those that we've seen. >> Look, there are details that change, but it is hard sometimes as a non Warhammer person to know exactly what the differences are. >> He's got a little ray gun. Look at it. >> Yeah, look at him guy. >> Um, then we got Lego piece of the day is the Zotaxian pilot head. Why is Why his ho ho look like kind of like Samos? That's what they've said. And that's what this looks like. Unless I've got the wrong thing here. I don't know cuz I don't see how this looks like I mean a little bit, but like did Sam design her ship after a helmet or a helmet after a ship? >> I actually don't know the answer to that. Well, I'm sure we'll discover it before next time, but for now, we're going to say goodbye. Thank you all so much for your kind messages and for the support. We shall see you in the next one. For now, byebye. Cheerio. Bye. See you later.