Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! Well, I know I have a bit of a reputation for sounding like a broken record, but my work got the better of me I was not able to get to compiling the community created GOTY content on the site. I mean it when I say I will get to it during the week of Christmas. Nonetheless, last week was certainly "interesting," what with CD Projekt Red and Cyberpunk 2077 being on the news around the clock. As to be expected there are TONS of discussion threads and blogs related to Cyberpunk and its launch debacle. However, it's not all doom and gloom on the site, and with that in mind, let's jump into the site-related housekeeping!
- The staff have decided to delay all 2020 GOTY plans until January 2021. As Alex shared during the 12/10/2020 drum stream, there are plans to host a ton of guest lists and for there to be remote "skits" for GOTY. However, all of this will take place some time next year.
- Giant Bomb is offering FREE 30 Day Trials for Giant Bomb Premium! If you have a friend or family member who might be interested in checking out Giant Bomb's premium content, this might be the best way to do it!
- Pre-Orders for Giant Bomb's NEW Vinnyvania Shirt end on December 23rd!
- ASK, AND YOU SHALL RECIEVE! Vinny has posted an update on the Site Goings-On Thread! Give it a read and learn all about the machinations of the site!
Tweets
There's really only one way to make @VinnyCaravella's "Sting" more funny... (@giantbomb @GBDudersFeed) pic.twitter.com/iiL28SxFF7
— Giant Bomb Nonsense (@GB_Nonsense) December 17, 2020
I've been saying for a long time that @DanRyckert had just been "Forrest Gumping" his way through life... pic.twitter.com/m1trInkU83
— Giant Bomb Nonsense (@GB_Nonsense) December 17, 2020
— Derek (@HeyDerekStone) December 18, 2020
AHH! The results are in! Thanks to WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE YOU out there on the Internet, I’m the #1 fundraiser for this year’s Bike MS ride!!! Thank you so much, everyone. This means the world to me! pic.twitter.com/7SefkgHfV1
— Drew Scanlon (@drewscanlon) December 19, 2020
It dumped a foot of snow on us this past 24 hours, so what better way to cuddle up than with a hot cocoa with toasted mallows, peppermint stick, and whipped cream while listening to old Beastcast episodes.@giantbomb @thebeastcast pic.twitter.com/iumJ2IBcpy
— Tim Eident (@teident) December 17, 2020
So I've been doing some farming with my hoe here.
— Giant Bomb Out of Context (@giantbomb_ooc) December 17, 2020
- Jeff Gerstmann, 2013
Video Clip
Jeff Was On German TV Talking About Cyberpunk 2077 (By: @rorie)
This clip of Jeff being on German TV talking about Cyberpunk has been making its rounds on the internet, but if you missed it, here's a link to the video. Also, feel free to share your thoughts about the points Jeff made about the game's rough launch.
Vector Bomb (By: @buzz_clik)
Many moons ago, Jeff played a Vectrex during UPF and Drew commented the sounds the console made should be sampled into the form of a song. Well, buzz_clik made it happen, and I think we can all agree the final product is amazing!
Galleria
Vinnyvania T-Shirt Behind The Scenes (By: @fobwashed)
Over on Twitter, friend of the site, Fobwashed, shared some behind the scenes Tweets about the new Vinnyvania t-shirt! Use the link above to see what they did to make the shirt all the much better! Also, send your thanks and appreciations for their hard work! As always, support artists however you can!
Community Activities
Mahjong Soul Community Group (By: @redwing42)
Inspired by Jan's continual efforts to get better at Mahjong, we now have a Mahjong Soul community group! Use the link below if you want to hookup with other Mahjong playing community members!
Blogs
Go! Go! GOTY! 2020: Game 6: Lenna's Inception + Game 7: Neversong +
Game 8: Helltaker + Game 9: Lair of the Clockwork God (By: @mento)
I do not normally showcase every blog Mento writes, but for this week I am going to make an exception. Mento is by far the most "prolific" blogger on Giant Bomb by a country mile, and their consistent output is something that warrants a bit more recognition than it sometimes gets on the site. So, please, if you can, check out some of the blogs they wrote this week and share your words of support!
My Top 10 Korean Songs of 2020 + My Top 10 Japanese Songs of 2020 (By: @wemibelle)
For those you interested in getting some Korean or Japanese music suggestions, Giant Bomb user Wemibelle has you covered! This week, they used two blogs to talk about the best K-Pop and J-Pop from 2020!
2020 - The Games That Got Me Through (By: @stantongrouse)
stantongrouse went with a different approach with their 2020 GOTY blog, this time they compiled a list of games that "Got Me Through 2020!" Read all about the games that helped them survive the pandemic
Discussion Thread & Forums
CDPR Publicly Announce They're Going To Offer Refunds (By: @haz_kaj)
What do you make of CDPR's apology for the console releases of Cyberpunk? Do you have any fears about their continual use of crunch? Does their refund policy hold up or seem appropriate?
Cyberpunk Delisted From PlayStation Store (By: @frytup)
What is YOUR reaction to the news of Sony delisting Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store? Were you shocked? What do you think are CD Projekt RED's next steps? Do you expect a similar reaction from Microsoft?
Has Your Opinion Of CD Projekt Gone Down? (By: @liquiddragon)
As the title suggests, have recent events impacted your perception or opinion of CD Projekt Red? Did you have a high opinion of them as a developer before the launch of Cyberpunk?
Genitals in Cyberpunk: Did You Chose to Have Them? (By: @jasonr86)
So... to those community members playing Cyberpunk 2077, did you enable genitals with your character? Vote and discuss how you dealt with and reacted to the game's genital slider.
EA Buys Codemasters Discussion Thread (By: @bigsocrates)
EA's purchase of Codemasters is official! How do you feel about this end of an era for Codemasters? What does it say about the continual contraction of the racing field?
Games In 2020 That You Felt Were Underrated? (By: @mocbucket62)
What are the "underrated" games or buried treasures from 2020? Where there any indie games or B-tier games that got buried during the pandemic? Can you think of any games that you feel did not get their proper due?
Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online December Update Discussion Thread (By: @bigsocrates)
What are your feelings about the recent batch of new games coming for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online? Is the December update getting you excited? What are your hopes for the platform next year?
What Next-Gen Console Did You Buy Or Going To Buy? (By: @giant_gamer)
Do you plan on buying or owning a next-gen console before the end of the year? Did you already buy a PS5 or XSX? Join the community discussion and poll and share where you stand!
Are Cinematic Games Good For The Medium? (By: @finaldasa)
Here's an interesting discussion thread on the Giant Bomb forums: Are cinematic games good for the medium? Should big budget video games continue their quest to be "movie-like?" Share your thoughts using the link!
Any Rocketry Fans Or Space Launch Fans? (By: @monkeyking1969)
It may have missed Drew and Austin, but Giant Bomb now has a "Space and Rocketry Appreciation Thread!" If you have been following the space efforts of SpaceX or Boeing, use the link above to chime in!
Lists
10 (Give Or Take) Video Games I Played and Probably Didn’t Finish But Really Liked in 2020 (By: @williamflattener)
williamflattener went above and beyond the usual GOTY list by sharing a chunky paragraph detailing their mythodology which involves a summoning ritual to consult shadowy gaming deities on "The Other Side."
Odd Kid Adventures (By: @shangissskhan)
ShangisssKhan has been working on this "interesting" list on the site. Unable to capture their idea on a concept page, they decided to work on this list of adventure games that have kind of "odd/outsider kids as protagonists and are kind of quirky and stuff."
User Reviews
- @danryback continues their quest to play the worst of the worst from the 16-bit era of games with a review of Mazin Saga Mutant Fighter! Read why they think the game features some of the cruelest bosses they have ever seen!
- @riostarwind's Days Gone review shares why they ended up enjoying the game more than they initially thought they would.
- @villhaver's Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales review briefly shares why they did not feel like they got their money's worth out of the game.
- @yyninja finally gave Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE a shot on the Nintendo Switch! Read why they enjoyed the game but were not enthused by its saccharine world.