Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight and I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to your host this week as we look back on the best offerings from the Giant Bomb community. This week the community was practically buzzing about Gears of War 4 as well as PlayStation VR like a hive. That aside, the big "theme" for this week was discussion threads. I had more than a dozen wonderful discussion threads this week to sort through and share with you this week, so see if any of them tickle your fancy and inspire you to comment about gaming-related issues. With that behind us let's have a look at some site-related housekeeping:
- Extra-Life 2016 Giant Bomb Team (November 5th)! The community effort to get ready for Extra Life is here! Learn how you can help support the effort to raise money for charity RIGHT NOW!
- Your eyes do not deceive you! Hyperlinking does indeed come with an underline! Why was this done you may ask? It turns out that it is a colorblind assist for those that use the white version of the site as links are impossible to see on white backgrounds.
Clip(s) of the Week
Giant Bomb x Family Matters (Intro Mashup) (By: bob buel/Bob B Backwards)
Over on YouTube Bob Buel published a truly inspired television mashup video that crossed the Family Matters introduction with Giant Bomb...plus a great producing credit for Vice Gaming.
Best of Giant Bomb's Persona 4 Endurance Run--17 (Parts 145 to 150) (By: @clagnaught)
Clagnaught's journey to compile all of the funniest moments from the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4: Endurance Run is drawing to a close soon. This week he found Vinny and Jeff's best banter about the "normal" ending.
Giant Bomb Galleria
BANNER -Ryan Davis Inspired T-Shirt Design (By: xaiax)
The banner this week actually gets immensely better once you learn more about it. It turns out that it came from a Twitter user named xaiax who created it as a one off printable t-shirt design so he could cosplay as a young concert going Ryan. I shit you not, here he is posing with Vinny:
PSVR Sketch (By: @morehandclaps)
morehandclaps is back with another hilarious Giant Bomb-inspired sketch. This sketch was inspired by Giant Bomb's amazing coverage of PlayStation VR, and the green screen shenanigans that ensued.
Best of Blog
Harmonix Music VR Easel Mode Was My "Holy Crap VR!" Moment (By: @bigsocrates)
BigSocrates articulates why Harmonix Music VR's easel mode opened his mind to VR in gaming, as well as a means of expression, on his latest blog.
Last Night I Finished Final Fantasy VII For The First Time (By: @bhlaab)
bhlaab finally finished Final Fantasy VII for the first time! Read what they enjoyed and disliked about the game from the perspective of a Final Fantasy VII neophyte.
The Enduring Success of Magic: the Gathering (and a Grand Prix London Tournament Report) (By: @dinocity)
DinoCity responds to comments on the Bombcast related to Magic The Gathering, and what it was like participating in a massive community tournament for the card game.
Fighting Final Fantasy IX - Parts 1-13: Final Fantasy IX Is Turning Me Into A Grumpy Old Man (By: @zombiepie)
A crazy person on Giant Bomb has started a let's play blog series for Final Fantasy IX where he yells at the game like a grumpy old man. You should under no circumstances read this blog.
Weekly Flounder: Have Games, Will Travel (By: @theflamingo352)
TheFlamingo352 recently participated in a Game Jam! Read how he approached his theme of "education," and how his game ended up despite having only twelve hours at his disposal.
On Actual Sunlight, Depression, and Toronto (By: @darth_navster)
Darth_Navster comments on the emotionally gripping Actual Sunlight, its moving depiction of depression, and why it is a somber journey through Toronto you should take the time to experience.
Mining for Fun and Profit (By: @shivoa)
Shivoa has been excitedly preparing for the Kerbal Space Program 1.2 patch for the past week. By checking out his latest blog you can discover how the game has changed since the halcyon days of Project B.E.A.S.T.
2016 Extra Life: Trace's 24 Hours of Horror 3: Still a Bad Idea, Still For The Kids (By: @trace)
Trace will be playing twenty-four hours of horror games for Giant Bomb's ExtraLife team on Oct. 21st at 10 PM ET! Read all about how you can support him and what his incentives/prizes are.
Sunday Summaries 09/10/2016: Batman: Arkham Knight & Dragon Quest Builders (Demo) & Wiki Project: Legend of the PC Engine '92-'94 (By: @mento)
Mento assures us that he's done writing about the PC Engine for now. Feel free to be skeptical of this claim as you also take in his views on Batman Arkham Knight and the Dragon Quest Builders demo.
Storytime With Old Man Fenix: Let's Talk About The Campaign (By: @sweep)
Giant Bomb moderator, Sweep, details how Gears of War 4's story manages to meet, but not exceed, his low expectations and avoid being a complete disappointment.
Join the Discussion
The SICKEST Saxophone Tunes That Gaming Has Ever Produced Discussion Thread (By: @squirrelgod)
Join our exciting community discussion debating the "SICKEST saxophone tunes" in video games. This discussion thread has featured some of the most riveting debates I have seen on this site practically in years.
Elusive Target Central 11: The Fixer October 14th (By: @pyrodactyl)
How did you approach Hitman's "The Fixer" Elusive Target? Share your tips, tricks, and overall impressions of the latest Elusive Target mission.
Teaching Someone To Play Video Games Discussion Thread (By: @mattimus_prime)
What's the best way to "teach" someone how to play games nowadays? Share your video game picks and personal techniques over here.
Your First Impressions Of Playstation VR (By: @hampe)
Whether they be positive or negative feel free to share your early impressions of PlayStation VR based on what you have seen on Giant Bomb's livestream, or from personal experience.
Overwatch Halloween Brawl Impression Sharing Thread (By: @dudeglove)
What are your impressions of Overwatch's Halloween event this year? Share your thoughts on the various new character skins, as well as the Halloween event itself with the Giant Bomb community.
"Detective Vision" In Video Games Discussion Thread (By: @howardian)
Mafia III has ignited a discussion related to "Detective Mode," and which games should and shouldn't use it. How do you feel about how the concept is being used nowadays?
Tips for Learning Gears Multiplayer (By: @dharmabum)
Do you need tips and tricks for jumping into Gears of War 4 multiplayer? Or maybe you are a master at the franchise's many multiplayer modes! Either way, check out our community help thread.
Which Game Most Resembles Your Job? (By: @superpow)
We have a real interesting discussion thread titled "Which Game Most Resembles Your Job?" that you can join. Share if the monotony of Papers, Please or frantic chaos of Cook, Serve, Delicious! resembles your work-life the most.
What Are The Great Tragedies Of Gaming? (By: @nta_luciana)
Discuss the saddest studio closings, or games that were never released, on our "great tragedies of gaming" discussion thread.
Dragon Quest Builders Tips And Tricks Sharing Thread (By: @alistercat)
Do you have any tips and/or tricks related to Dragon Quest Builders? Feel free to share them over here if you do.
Lovable Lists
StealthRUSH's Top 100 Favorite Brawler Games (By: @stealthrush)
StealthRUSH lists out his top 100 favorite "brawler games," on his latest user-created list.
Danny O'Dywer - First Encounters (By: @ohagan)
Are you wondering where you can get your fill of Danny O'Dwyer? OHagan is using this list to conveniently link to every one of Danny's First Encounter livestreams.
Useful User Reviews
- @dharmabum highlights why he has had a smashing time with Gears of War 4, and highly recommends the game on his review.
- @vert_vermillion's Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse review shares how the game manages to bring a sense of newness to an old formula.
- @riostarwind revisited Ghosthunter on the PS2 as part of his preparations for Halloween, and by checking out his review you can discover why he regrets doing so.
Wonderful Wikis
It is the device that provided us all with the greatest amount of laughter this week, and you can feel free to learn more about the device on our wiki page.
Rise of the Tomb Raider was recently released on PS4 as well as VR! Read why some people might be excited for this game in the first place on our wiki page for the game.
Did you want to know who all of the "voice actors" are in 100ft Robot Golf? Well you can actually find out by checking out our wiki page.