ahifi

Gosh, why did you have to remind me of the Florence moment with Vinny... my eyes started welling up thinking about that and I've yet to play the game!

I wouldn't worry as I can't see them spending all of their time on the Top 10. I do think there will be a 'Hottest Mess', 'Best Moment' and 'Worst Game'. Or at least two of those. We'll soon find out!

Okay, my view (for what it's worth):

I'm going to be sad if we're done on the cross-coast Xmas content like Hitsmas and the Winter Games. I do feel pretty disappointed. I sincerely do not like being negative like this but... don't want to lie nor stay silent as, much like others speaking out, I don't want this to be the norm going forward. Who knows? Maybe they're saving those videos for next week... maybe...? I'm not getting my hopes up.

I quite like the individual videos if I view them as the equivalent of stocking fillers - although, with that said, Jeff's WWE video is kinda like that present that ended up in a stocking, is stretching the stocking to breaking point and really should have just sat out as a standalone present - but I don't think they're going to go down well if they are replacing the aforementioned 'let's all get together around a fake fire at the holidays and have a good old goofy time playing video games' videos.

I get that the past few years of GOTY content must have been a tiring couple of weeks for the staff, and trying to do that stuff in a week is going to be even more tiring, but would it be possible to pull a double shift during those 5 days (like they do with the cross-coast Unprofessional Friday) and take away 5 full regular days around the holiday period? I imagine CBS probably has some rules and regulations surrounding all of that which would make it difficult, plus I would think that everyone on the staff would have to be happy to take this approach, but... just floating it. As I'd happily miss out on a few quick looks, a UPF and a playdate if it meant for some really fun videos during the holidays. I mean, you go on Infinite and you'll see that GOTY videos (alongside Mario Party) are almost always picked ahead of quick looks and other stuff. That's not just happening for no reason - it's because people love that kinda stuff!

On the actual GOTY podcasts: I don't mind whatever way they want to do it. I do agree that three days of running down the game is less interesting, as it does come across as 'Best of Bombcast/Beastcast gaming discussions' for those three days, but I imagine these podcasts are the most emotionally taxing and stress-inducing things for the whole crew to do. So if this is how they stay sane, and don't have any (or anywhere near as many) grievances with one another that go beyond that room, then so be it. I mean, if the current format is how they started doing the podcasts in the first place then I don't think there would be any requests to change the format, it's just that maybe we have been spoiled with the heated discussions which are, admittedly, a lot of fun to watch/listen to but... not necessarily a lot of fun to take part in, I'd imagine.

Perhaps we could say the same for the group videos but, hey, at least the GOTY podcasts still exist and are still a good watch - they've just changed.

TL;DR: Please don't drop the fun group, cross-coast holiday videos if possible!

Just posting this code for anyone who would like it: 4G9T-Q2N4-H7H5

I think it has to be redeemed by December 12th. If it has been taken, please reply and let folks know. Thanks!

@gundato said:

Well, I've got some good news for you if you already have Gold...

Microsoft are basically converting your remaining Gold subscription (up to 36 months) into Game Pass Ultimate for a $1/£1 right now. It's a shockingly good deal that the press seem to have mostly skipped over - instead reporting that you get the first month for £1/$1. This is true, but not the real story - I imagine because Microsoft didn't advertise it in their press release.

I had a year and a half left of Gold, I paid for a 12-month gold card, added the code onto my account so that I had a subscription until October 2021, paid the nominal £1 and now I have Ultimate Game Pass until November 2021. Basically, I paid roughly £100 (for the 2 and a half years of subscription + the nominal £1) to get just under £400 worth of supposed value (2 and a half years of Game Pass Ultimate).

Not many people seem to be talking about it - but it's one of the best gaming deals I've seen in a long time, especially if you've been holding out on this 'dark future' (which I had been). But you do need to add the time to your subscription BEFORE you make the $1 purchase - as it makes the 1:1 conversion after the purchase - so you can't just add it on afterwards.

Ultimate includes Gold, console Game Pass and PC game pass - making this a hellavu deal that, I'm positive, is to make the skeptics see the true value of Game Pass. And it worked for me (for now at least). I'm one of those skeptics. However, after watching the MS conference, and seeing a lot that I want to try out coming to the service, I don't regret it. I literally just paid £1 to access Game Pass, and some extra money to extend a service that I have subscribed to for 15 years anyway - and will, hopefully, subscribe to for 15 more years.

You can cancel and go back to Gold after the <36 months - which, right now, I would do unless they convince me that the £10.99/$14.99 is worth it over buying the games that I like from their service and not being at their whim. But, given that I am at their whim with my increasingly digital purchasing patterns anyway, this may be an irrelevant point.

Here's the link (should redirect you to your country's site if not in the US): https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/xbox-game-pass-ultimate/cfq7ttc0khs0?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab

If you click the 'Purchase' button (don't worry, there's still another step), it'll explain there that it will convert up to 36 months of Gold and/or Game Pass to Ultimate Game Pass.

Honestly, when I saw this, I thought someone had made it up - but it's an amazing deal if you have Gold down as a default yearly payment that you make anyway.

If I'm being hoodwinked into this crappy subscription model future, at least I can try it out for a significant period of time for next to no money before I decide if it's worth it.

@shadow961 said:

@gamerchicck said:

Clicking on the three bars at the top left gives me a black screen.

iPhone 6 Plus

iOS 10.3.3

Safari

@ahifi said:

I'm also having the same mobile problem as @gamerchicck with the three bars, menu drop-down at the top left of the screen. It's showing the black, transparent background box but it isn't populated with anything. I'm iPhone 5 and also iOS 10.3.3 and Safari - so seems like it might be related to the latter two. I can't go any further than 10.3.3 on iPhone 5.

Having the exact same issue with Safari on iOS 10.3.3.

People talk about the site being designed for mobile at the expense of desktops but without the dropdown menu the site isnt very mobile friendly when you're forced to scroll left/right so much. The Shows carousel isnt even in alphabetical order so I cant even scroll quickly to get exactly where I need to be.

Also what's up with the text formatting in every deck?

For devs: please also see comment #392 and #542 for reference on the iOS 10.3.3 issue. I also have the text overlap.

Actually, in relation to the above screenshot, I've just found out that I can't switch from the free Beastcast to the premium Beastcast on my iPhone 5 running iOS 10.3.3 in Safari. I think it's something to do with 'More Options' being overlapped by the text (as pictured above). That is, presuming that the option to change versions is under 'More Options'? I don't know, but hitting 'More Options' does nothing.

Just tested with the Bombcast and it's the same deal.

Unfortunately I can't even navigate the 'old site' way because, as quoted in the comment above, I can't even access the navigational bar - so, even though I'm premium, I'm being pushed to the free version on the front page.

My only workaround for the above quandary - outside of using Google or a direct URL - is to site search (which does work) and find the Premium Beastcast show page, so at least I can do that for now.

It would definitely be nice to know what is/isn't being supported. I noted that there wasn't a lot of love for iOS on the last Devcast, so it has made me a bit concerned that making the site functional on iOS versions older than 11 isn't on any priority list. Hopefully it's above the 3DS in the pecking order. ;)

Yup, this has been mentioned in #31 and #76. It does seem to be related to 10.3.3. I don't seem to have any way to access the forums (other than direct URL) on my iPhone or, as you say, access the essential navigation bar. I can't actually sign-in/sign-out unless I go to /chat, as this is still using the old design.

As far as I'm aware, about 10% of iPhones/iPads still run iOS 9 or 10 versions. That's a sizeable market when you consider it's one of the big two mobile operating systems, so I hope support for older iOS versions hasn't been phased out just yet.

I'm hopeful that it's based on everything being rushed out and having to deal with all of the issues. Still, I'd like to think that a site breaking issue should be higher up than less impactful issues. It has been mentioned by three users now, so hopefully it's on the list!

I'm also having the same mobile problem as @gamerchicck with the three bars, menu drop-down at the top left of the screen. It's showing the black, transparent background box but it isn't populated with anything. I'm iPhone 5 and also iOS 10.3.3 and Safari - so seems like it might be related to the latter two. I can't go any further than 10.3.3 on iPhone 5.

Just adding a few more 'out there' ones that fit some of the criteria (but not all). Probably not any of them, but worth a go as it's always possible for memories (especially if they are childhood memories?) to be (figuratively...) squished and stretched over time until we remember some aspects that were never really there or that were from other things/memories:

O.D.T.: Escape... Or Die Trying

Deathtrap Dungeon

Nightmare Creatures

Shadow Man (Just noticed that was already suggested but just doing so again for the 'bald character' reason. It was the first one I thought of when I heard that!)

For those critical of Abby, consider this alternative view:

Abby had been hearing from her East co-workers around her how you have to be ready to fight for your games at GOTY deliberations. I recall hearing this a few times on the Beastcast, and the discussions were always being presented to Abby in a negative light.

The community, to me, also gives the same impression.

Now if that's me, and that's my context for what to expect, I'm going in there with metaphorical fists swinging!

And Abby certainly did just that.

As such, Abby was, at times, being a bit too much during the deliberations.

But given that Abby is being told by everyone around her that she needs to be prepared for a fight, can you blame her?

So, yes, while I agree Abby could have been a bit more co-operative than competitive (she'll get there), I also have to acknowledge that she made some of the best politicised points.

And, bizarrely, it is for two of these points in particular that she been criticised by some on the site: Nier and Dream Daddy.

A major point against me playing Nier was consistently almost feeling like I'm going to see up one of the character's skirts.

It's fucking creepy.

Abby brought this up and Alex, within a minute or two, seemingly started to realise he couldn't and shouldn't debate this with a woman.

Whether that was his reason or not, the discussion pretty much killed Alex's enthusiasm for arguing anything Nier. Or arguing anything.

As much of a shame as that was, because he really loves that game, Abby was right. It alienated me; it alienated her; and it may have alienated a lot of women and people who don't like that shit.

That's often what NOT having an all-white, male (mostly) privileged panel does - causes views to be considered that otherwise may not be considered.

(I say mostly because Dan's working class background has very much had an effect on his output - despite how unpalatable and 'unrefined' that may be to portions of the community...)

Also, Nier's creator Yoko Taro collected lots of 'dirty' pictures regarding the aforementioned character.

I mean, what the fuck?

(NSFW links included below btw)

https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/9/14213182/nier-automata-2b-art

Additionally, there's an achievement for trying to look upskirt. The achievement is a bit shame-inducing - called 'What are you doing?'

Nevertheless, the player is being awarded for doing this.

Just think: in order to get 100% achievement/trophy completion, you HAVE to do this.

10 times.

You have to look upskirt 10 times to get that trophy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/5vs6zj/in_nier_automata_there_is_a_trophy_called_what/

Secondly, I appreciate Abby wanting to have Dream Daddy be recognised.

I can be a bit miffed when queerness is co-opted as cudgel by others, cause we can speak for ourselves (admittedly I don't know whether Abby sees herself as queer or not), but Trump has clearly diminished the rights of people under the queer umbrella in the States.

https://www.advocate.com/politics/2017/11/09/trumps-14-most-egregiously-homophobic-and-transphobic-moves

So what better way for Giant Bomb to send a somewhat inconspicuous 'Fuck you' to Trump by having Dream Daddy - a game all about a queer utopia and featuring a character who happens to be transgender - in their top 10.

They skirted around the topic of Trump in 2017, and talked about how it had been the worst year, but they never came out and said: "Fuck Trump".

And that's because they'd probably be reprimanded for doing so.

But this is a great way to send a message that requires simple interpretation from us.

I mean, yes, most of us believe Dream Daddy doesn't really belong there just as a game - especially when compared to genre contemporary Doki Doki Literature Club:

https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/community-game-of-the-year-2017-voting-results/1100-5722/

And that's a little annoying.

But for queer folks in the States, this year has been way more than a little annoying.

Consider that.

Anyway, thanks Abby; fuck you Trump.

@mirado:

I think there are far more variables at work here that makes asking people to name 3 characters from Rogue One a bit reductive and redundant, no?

Also, characters that I can name whilst confidently spelling correctly:

- Jyn Erso

- Director Krennic

- K2S0

- Cassian Andor (or Endor, but I'm pretty sure that's what caused me to remember it being Andor!)

They were the major characters who had the most spotlight so that seems about right.

Others I struggle to name, but I can remember existing:

- Donnie Yen's character - Chimmut Iwre? No chance in hell of spelling that right

- The big guy, Bale or Baze?

- The Imperial pilot (he was in Four Lions)

- Forest Whittaker's character - Sol Guerrera?

- Jyn's mom and dad

- The Scottish rebel soldier on the beach

- The big bear thing in the U-Wing

- The rebel general guy played by that dude from the Doom movie, actor is Ben something?

I'm not sure there were that many more original characters to be honest.

I watched the movie twice at the theatres. Haven't seen it since.

And since I mentioned Four Lions, a character-driven movie following a group of wannabe jihadists, let's see how many characters I can name from that. It has been about three years since I last watched it:

- Waj

- Barry

- The Wookie (or is it a bear?)

Blanking... Well, darn. I guess the movie must suck!