Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am honored to be your host as we look back at the best community-created works from the last week. If you are reading this during the weekend, be aware that the Giant Bomb staff and community are running an emergency community fundraiser for the National Network of Abortion Funds! Expect plenty of exciting streams all weekend, which you can watch in the Giant Bomb chat! If you want a schedule of the planned events, feel free to check out the announcement thread. Also, please click the team page and help out some of the people on the team still looking for their first donation!
The Giant Bomb staff were active around the internet beyond your regularly scheduled content this week.
- Jess and Jeff Grubb were guests on a RiffTrax livestream where they played more of the RiffTrax video game.
- Jeff Bakalar was a guest on a recent episode of Nextlander's Never Been a Better Podcast! For that particular Nextlander podcast, you need to be a $10 or more contributor to their Patreon.
Finally, last weekend marked the 9th anniversary of the passing of Ryan Davis. In the Tweets section you will find a handful of touching tributes to one of the original members of Giant Bomb. Consider sharing your memories of the man in the tribute thread linked.
Tweets
Ryan Davis o7 pic.twitter.com/kAPbQAwUXK
— Steven (@StevenWallaby) July 4, 2022
Every year, on July 3rd, my husband @AxelStreamer pulls up videos of Ryan Davis & I shed a tear, reminded how I never really got to know him while he was alive because I didn’t get into @giantbomb until later. Yet, years later, here he is, filling our home with laughter. RIP Ryan pic.twitter.com/zMcyMqB2Al
— Elise Rose 🥀 (@eliserose781) July 4, 2022
TODAY!
— Orlando Furioso (@DemiSinc) July 3, 2022
We remember Ryan Davis.
♥
Apply directly to the forehead:
🔪 https://t.co/hkrmKcYhsX
📎 https://t.co/e7UVbNwjWs
🦜 https://t.co/qF2FzhxvfW
And now... Ladies and Gentleman!
Give it up for the Insane Clown Posse! 😙
<>https://t.co/ahe01jtajm
I loved being in cahoots with Ryan Davis on doofy shit. Such a warm, open, enthusiatic, hilarious human being. I still miss you every day, mate.
— Cal Skuthorpe (@buzz_clik) July 3, 2022
Drinking a bunch of Eagle Rare (in honor of our dearly departed Ryan) at 1 in the afternoon is the best Friday decision I’ve made in a while. Feeling loose and fancy free and ready to do jack shit this weekend.
— Yo La Waingro (@alex_navarro) July 1, 2022
The GB thermos isn't dishwasher safe!! But it gives me a great reason to put stickers all up on it (and hand wash it from hereon out)
— VoidBurger (AKA Jess) 🍔🎮 (@VoidBurger) July 8, 2022
Stickers by @paperbeatstweet, @noelleevepalmer, and @acursedpixel! pic.twitter.com/StPJ21Qj9S
Very minor but neat across GB and GS today, you'll get metadata when listening to podcasts and videos on your OS level player. Show art will also populate. pic.twitter.com/PUhxRucmVD
— Chris (@cshomo_dev) July 5, 2022
Another @giantbomb Premium-only shirt leak? @DanRyckert @_janjerome and @JeffGrubb are to blame for this. pic.twitter.com/gaDDhoQovY
— Kone (@KoneBomb) July 5, 2022
Galleria
Silent Hills 2 Is Done, Jan (By: @jearum)
With Jan finally done with Silent Hill 2, jearum tried to find a creative way to capture Jan's mixture of elation and anxiety knowing that there are plenty of more Silent Hill games to play in the future.
Neon White Open Character Cards (By: @jearum)
In light of Giant Bomb's new Neon White Open feature, jearum decided to create playing cards for each of the participants thus far! Give them a viewing and send them tanks for their hard work!
Burgle My Toadstool (By: @jearum)
Inspired by the 745 Bombcast, jearum also thought about a possible reboot of a feature starring the one and only Dan and the unwitting subjects that agree to his whims.
Videos
Drive-Thru Review - The Speedrun (With Giant Bomb's Dan Ryckert) (By: MinnMax)
If forgot to share this, and it is a bit weird putting it here, BUT, Dan was on a video with MinnMax where he cyberbullied one of their editors into going to various fast food chains in the United States and billowing what they should order in their drive-thrus. If you need more Dan in your life, then this is for you.
Activities
Neon White Giant Bomb Leaderboard Chasing (By: @slax)
If you enjoyed Giant Bomb's Neon White stream featuring Vinny and Brad earlier this week, don't forget to post your Steam or Nintendo ID in the Official Neon White Giant Bomb Community Leaderboard! Chase after the best times posted by the community.
Unsanctioned Unofficial Game Pass Game Club Voting Thread For Cycle Starting 7/11/2022
Bugsnax Is The 12th Game Of The UUGPGC! Finish By July 11, 2022 To Join In The Discussion! Mark All Spoilers. (By:@bigsocrates)
A new voting cycle for the Community Game Pass Game Club is up and running! The choices this time include: Telling Lies, Paradise Killer, Olija, Unpacking, AND Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge! Speaking of which, the current game pick is Bugsnax! If you have any NON-SPOILER impressions or thoughts about the game, feel free to click the second link!
Blogs
Game OVA Episode 2: Iria: Zeiram the Animation +
Indie Game of the Week 277: Songs for a Hero: Definitive Edition (By: @mento)
Moderator Mento continues their extremely thorough exploration of mediocre '90s anime-to-game adaptations continues this week with Hyper Iria. Marvel at how many '80s sci-fi villains can be imitated simultaneously! Also, Mento played Songs for a Hero: Definitive Edition as part of their "Indie Game of the Week" series on the site. Click the second link if you are interested in learning more about this action-platformer.
Riders On The Storm... (By: @pauljeremiah)
pauljeremiah penned an exhaustive look at Sunset Riders on the site! Read why he continues to come back to the game even after all these years and what parts of its do and do not stand the test of time.
Rogue-likes On Exercise Bikes (By: @tartyron)
A while back, tartyron asked the community on how to make their gaming hobby more healthy. Well, 29 lbs. later, they have an update on how they have been playing games, especially rogue-likes while using a desk cycle!
A Few Words About CHORUS (By: @humanity)
Humanity wrote a blog about the space combat Chorus, and why it's a fun Game Pass title to pass the time with that gets better the more your play it. If you haven't heard of the game, give it a read!
Discussion Threads
What's Your Top 5 From The First Half Of 2022? (By: @chaser324)
It's crazy to think, but we are over half way done with 2022! As such, what are your early frontrunners on your GOTY list? Can you think of at least five games you have played thus far that will still be on your GOTY?
ReedPop, Organizer Of PAX, Officially In Charge Of E3 2023 (By: @zombiepie)
E3 2023 will be run by ReedPop, the organizer of PAX and NYCC! What is your reaction to the news? Are you just happy to hear that E3 isn't dead? What do you think the 2023 edition of the event will look like?
Is Familiar Bad When It Comes To Video Games/Media? (By: @topcyclist)
When you see the words "familiar territory" in a review, what's your reaction? When do you welcome "more of the same" in a video game and when do you hate it? Share your thoughts about good and bad examples of repetition in video game franchises.
Crisis Core Reunion: New "Menu-based" Battle System, Rearranged OST, Full Voice Acting & More Updates (By: @pauljeremiah)
Square-Enix have recently Tweeted the first hint of what Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion will look and play like! Get the details and join the discussion if this is a positive sign of things to come.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown July 2022 Trailer Discussion Thread (By: @gtxforza)
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown got a new trailer and if you haven't seen it yet, click the link below! After you give it a view, do you think Solar Crown will be able to reboot the franchise?
The Vtuber Thread (By: @mindbullet)
ALRIGHT ALREADY! There's now an "OFFICIAL" V-Tuber discussion thread on the forums! Feel free to talk about your favorite V-Tuber, exciting upcoming events, and gaming-related V-Tuber properties after clicking the link above!
AAA Games Saints Row And Skull And Bones Coming To Stadia Day And Date (By: @jdeslip)
Google Stadia recently announced it will have Saints Row and Skull & Bones day and date! Are you surprised that the platform/service is still working to sign big AAA games?
Elden Ring Update Or DLC Wishlist Thread (By: @topcyclist)
If you could make an update or expansion for Elden Ring, what would you include in it? What quality of life features would be on the top of your design docket? What themes or locals would you explore?
This Is The First Time Where I Quit On A Souls Game By FS (By: @giant_gamer)
Speaking of Elden Ring, a growing number of community members are coming forward about not finishing Elden Ring and having no desire to do so anymore. Do you relate to people saying they enjoyed the game at first but couldn't get into it after a certain point?
WRC Generations Hybrid Rally Cars (By: @gtxforza)
Hybrid rally cars are coming to WRC Generations and there's even a trailer promoting the announcement! I know of at least one person that is excited by the news and if you are also, drop a comment in the thread!
Graveyard Keeper Discussion Thread (By: @cubbielover)
The game was recently included in the PS Premium subscription, but has anyone checked out Graveyard Keeper? Is it a good alternative for people who want a game that is like Stardew Valley but different?
Lists
Top 30 Favorite Video Games of All Time (By: @odysseyrpg)
As their username might suggest, OdysseyRPG is a big fan of RPGs. Going by that metric, think about your favorite genre and then consider whipping up a list of your forty to fifty favorite games in that genre.
Ranking Games Of The 2020's (By: @j_unit2008)
It has only been two years, but j_unit2008 has already played FORTY GAMES released in the 2020s! As such, they decided to rank every game from this decade so far from best to worst! If you are up for the challenge, consider making a list of your own using the same format.
Community Reviews
- Ryan Davis wrote the single greatest review on Giant Bomb with their highly professional assessment of Rayman 2, which he posted as a user review, and it is still what I think about whenever we reach the anniversary of his passing.
Wikis
I apologize for not linking this last week, but here's to the many memories that Ryan provided over the years. The man, the myth, the legend, Ryan Davis, is gone but not forgotten.