The Community Spotlight 2023.05.06

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the best community-created works from the previous week.

For the past few weeks, the introductions of these Spotlights have reviewed information from Fandom about the state of the video player. This week is no different.

On May 3, a fix dropped for the on-site video player and it was recommended that viewers also try clearing their cache before attempting to watch videos. This fix worked for some, but not everyone. If things are still non-functional, report that the update did not help you and indicate the browsers you have used and the operating systems you have tried those browsers on.

Every comment in that thread has been logged as an IT support ticket. As a result, Fandom classified the issue with the video player as a massive priority. On May 4, the Fandom engineering team pushed an update to force a "refresh" of everyone's cookies. If you are still unable to use the on-site video player, continue to send emails to support@giantbomb.com or add comments on the forums. Again, include the browsers you have used and the OSs you have used them on.

I know several people have come forward to say that using the video player on Firefox or Safari seems to be working on new and old videos. However, still there are many of you still struggling and I want you to know efforts are being made and your comments and emails are being read. It's slow, and I know seeing the same problem over and over again is frustrating, but people who care are working on the issue. And, as I said last time, you have a right to feel angry or frustrated.

The issue with the Bombcast or other podcasts, such as JeffJeff's Bizarre Adventure, not showing up in podcast apps/platforms should be fixed.

On far more positive news, our sister-site GameSpot is introducing a new slate of shows and programs!

• Jean-Luc will be attached to a show titled "No HUD", which is about exploring different ways to play video games.
• Tamoor and Lucy debuted the first episode of Spot On, a weekly news and discussion show.
• Also, Michael Higham has been re-hired at GameSpot!

A few weeks ago, some people shared concerns about Giant Bomb continuing to use Twitter as a means to share polls and updates from the staff. In regards to polls, moving forward, Game Mess Mornings will experiment with creating polls on YouTube on top of using Twitter. Likewise, Jan and Mike have created accounts on the new social media app, Bluesky Social.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who tuned into and supported the Giant Bomb Community Endurance Run last weekend! The team raised over $8,000 towrds charity and none of that would have been possible without you!

Tweets

Art

Mike Minotti Quick Doodle (By: @StickerChamp)

Mike continues to be a popular topic of the Giant Bomb community in terms of works of art and this week them donning their RoboMitch mask proves to be a common subject as you can see here.

Activities

UUGPGC Voting Thread For Cycle Starting May 8, 2023. All Are Welcome To Vote!

Olija Is The 9th Game Of The 2nd Year Of The UUGPGC! All Are Welcome! Finish By May 8, 2023. Mark All Spoilers! (By: @bigsocrates)

Hey, Giant Bomb community! Don't forget to vote for the next GB Community Game Pass Game Club pick! Click the link below and drop a comment nominating TWO GAMES you'd like to see get played!

Also, don't forget that Olija is the 9th game selected for season two of the Giant Bomb Community Game Pass Game Club! Have any of you checked out this tale of a harpoon-wielding knight? If so, or you just want to join the fun, clicking the link above!

The GB Album Club 030 - Beasts of No Nation by Fela Kuti (By: @unclejam23)

Beasts of No Nation by Fela Kuti is the latest pick by the Giant Bomb Album of the Week Club! Do you have anything to say about this work? How many of you remember catching some of the album's tunes on the IF99 radio station in GTA IV?

Blogs

Returning To Hyrule Feels Different This Time (By: @wess)

With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom just a one week away, Wess is blogging about their excitement and uneasiness in revisiting the same world in a mainline Zelda game.

Saying Goodbye To Ash Ketchum (By: @zombiepie)

If you are missing Jan's Pokémon content on the site, moderator ZombiePie is here to talk about watching Ash Ketchup's farewell tour in the anime, and what that made them feel as someone that remembers the first episode.

Indie Game of the Week 318: Severed Steel +

The Kobayashi Mario: Part 2 (By: @mento)

Moderator Mento is back with a new edition of their "Indie Game of the Week" feature on Giant Bomb and this one is all about Severed Steell! Click to read if they enjoyed this destructible environment laden FPS game!

Mento is also looking at the full slate of retro achievements for Super Mario 64! Whether it be swimming lessons or hard to reach stars, read which ones drove them crazy. Also, there's a fun Mike Minotti cameo in that blog.

What's the Greatest Video Game: Catherine (By: @imunbeatable80)

It is time to tackle the beloved, but highly controversial Catherine with imunbeatable80's latest "What's the Greatest Video Game" blog! Did they enjoy its puzzle-based gameplay or themes of eroticism? Read to find out!

All PS1 Games In Order: Part 023 (By: @borgmaster)

borgmaster is back with another blog looking at every North American PlayStation video game release in chronological order! This time, they delve into the classics and not so classics of the summer of 1996!

Turtle After Dragon +

Of “Buddha’s” Revolution, and “Keanu Reeves’” Gang (By: @infantpipoc)

infantpipoc decided to do a "double billing" of The Way of the Dragon (1972) and Gamera Guardian of the Universe (1995) after watching Yakitate!! Japan due to Tamoor's recommendation on Jeff Jeff Bizarre Adventure. Are either worth a watch?

Likewise, it's time for another sci-fi literature review from infantpipoc! This time, they are reviewing Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny, a novel they strongly recommend to fans of The Matrix and Cyberpunk 2077!

Discussion Threads

Do You Invest In An Improvement Plan/Roadmap Or Cut Bait With Redfall? (By: @zombiepie)

What kind of a roadmap would you plan for Redfall? What video game turnarounds do you think could serve as a case study for the future of Redfall? If you heard the game improved, would you give it another shot?

Should I End My 10+ Year Friendship With My Primary Multiplayer Partner Over This? (By: @bigsocrates)

If there's anyone in the community who needs a good laugh, here's a fun discussion thread and the title says it all but get ready for a plot twist. I won't spoil it, but it's a good one!

Of The Games You Played, What's The Lowest Score (Critic Wise) On Metacritic, For A Game You Love? (By: @topcyclist)

Of the games you enjoy non-ironically, which one has the lowest Metacritic score or worst reception among critics? What is your favorite "problematic" or diamond in the rough video game?

What Is The Point Of Having The Bonfire Mechanic In Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order And Survivor? (By: @notsosneakyguy)

How do you feel about the meditation circles in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor? Do they still "work" without the exhaustive equipment and job options of other Souls-like or do they feel out of place?

Gran Turismo Movie Trailer Discussion Thread (By: @gtxforza)

The Gran Turismo movie dropped a trailer this week. What do you all think of what has been shown? Will this be better than the Need for Speed movie adaptation? Anyone surprised this is where Neill Blomkamp ended up?

Playing A Final Fantasy Game In 2023 (By: @sombre)

sombre wants to return to the Final Fantasy franchise after letting their fandom lapse since FF13! Are the Pixel Remasters or FF7 Remake the better starting positions?

User Reviews

@sbc515's Stupid Invaders review lays out why they think the game deserves to be in the consideration for "Worst Game of All-Time." If you have never heard of this choice title, or want to read why they are so passionate about this game, give this review a read.

Lists

Green Characters (By: @jacobproper1)

We have a few list projects that need YOUR HELP! For example, JacobProper1 is working on a list that compiles every single playable video game character that has green skin whether they be human or otherwise.

Town Vibes (By: @emotiontheory)

EmotionTheory is trying to create a list of games with the best "town vibes." Can you think of games with starting worlds, cities, or hubs that just ooze vibes? Share YOUR suggestions on their list if you have any input.

Wiki Of The Week

Darius

Jeff Grubb's discussions with his daughter about "meeps" and what counts as a "meep" reminded me of the weird fish monsters in the Darius franchise. As someone on Twitter pointed out, Sagaia/Darius II has an enormous hermit crab using the World War II battleship Yamato as a shell, and that might qualify.

However, we had someone that created an account just to go HAM on the wiki game pages for the Darius franchise, especially the first game. Once they completed the pages they felt they needed to edit, they never logged back in.

What a champ.