Hello friends!
When I first started this blog, I was doing a lot of different experimenting to figure out what types of posts I could write in order to keep up my two blog post a week quota. So at some point, I decided to try a mailbag post. As someone who read a lot of Bill Simmons growing up, this was always a concept I enjoyed, and I thought it’d be fun to do something similar for the blog.
There was one big problem with me trying to launch a mailbag post, though. I didn’t have any fucking readers! The few times I tried it, I did receive some pity questions from friends, but my readership for those posts was even lower than my normal posts at that point. I’m not one to write just for the views, but the process of begging for questions and then not getting any looks after the fact was a bit too much for me, so I moved on.
A few months ago, I decided to try again, and much to my surprise, I received more questions than I could answer. Even more surprising, it ended up being one of my better viewed posts off of social media. So, I think I’ve reached a point where I want this to be a feature every couple of months, as I love firing off various takes on different topics.
Being able to do a post like this and actually get engagement now has me reflecting on the journey I have been on. I’m certainly not a big deal in the gaming scene, and I’ll probably always think most of the people who consistently read my stuff are doing so because they like me personally over liking my actual writing, but I did want to take a second to comment on how much the support for this blog means to me.
I have a great life in so many ways, but when I started Big Nerd Gaming, there was a bit of a void in my soul. My job was not fulfilling to me in the slightest at that point, and I just needed something extracurricular to really put my heart into. As great as being a parent is, I’m a big believer in balance and maintaining an identity outside of just being a father or a mother. I think it’s healthy for both the parents and the child. This blog has been that outlet for me and then some. Additionally, the interactions that have stemmed from this have meant a great deal to me as well.
Life has changed a fair bit since I wrote that first mailbag post. I have a second child now, and after being at the same company for 12 years, I finally changed jobs about two and a half months ago. My new job is significantly more demanding, but I am genuinely enjoying it and feel a drive at work that I haven’t felt in a long time.
These big changes have made maintaining the blog much more of a challenge. I am not able to interact with others as much on social media, and I’m finding it difficult to post more than one blog post a week. I was more than expecting these two factors to lead to less interest in my blog, but that has not been the case thus far. So I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone who clicks in these posts, even if I’m not quite as present as I used to be.
At this point, no matter what happens to my readership, I plan on doing this blog until my fingers don’t work anymore. I think it’s good for me in a lot of different ways. Also, I have a slightly foolish hope that my kids will think it’s cool down the road. Or maybe they’ll find it embarrassing, and I might also find that hilarious. So it’s a win-win for me. Once again, if you are reading this, please know how much I appreciate you. Now, let’s get to some questions!
How do you strike the balance of being a fan of games / IPs while also recognizing they’re connected to companies & people who commit varying levels of horrible things? (Something every gamer grapples with to varying degrees.)- Iffi on Bluesky
This is a very interesting question. I feel like I’m in an odd middle ground where I don’t exactly align with many on how I view this one, at least when it comes to those who actually take the time to think about these things.
I think the first time I ever had to grapple with this was back when I was in my early 20s and LA Noire was about to come out. I was hyped beyond belief for that game, and it pretty much lived up to everything I wanted from it. However, the stories of how Team Bondi treated their workers through development were upsetting. In some ways, it didn’t feel like a product I should support, but it was genuinely my most anticipated game of that year. Regardless of how they were treated, I had to imagine that the rank and file workers were still proud of what they did, so I went ahead and purchased the game. And frankly, that’s the way I’ve pretty much gone about these things since. Even when I know that a bad or unethical person is heavily involved with a game, it’s rare for it to move me one way or another when it comes to purchasing it, as I’m also aware that most companies are likely doing bad things one way or another, even if I don’t hear about them.
That paragraph mostly aligns with a phrase I often see in these sorts of discussions, which is “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.” But I don’t fully agree with that statement either. I feel like it is a bit of a cop-out. If you really distill the process of making anything, there is definitely a point in the chain where someone is “exploited” or treated in an unfair way. I’d argue that this is true in any economic system possible and not just capitalism as well.
However, there are very clearly some purchases that are significantly more ethical than others. For example, I have always been a cereal guy, so I need milk for that. I used cow’s milk for most of my life. Over time, I read a lot of articles about the cruelty to cows and the environmental impact, so I decided to try a plant-based milk instead. At first I tried almond milk, and it was a success. But then, I read about how much water almonds need, so I switched to oat milk, and it’s all I’ve used since. Is oat milk fully “ethical”? Probably not. I’m sure there are some evil people making money off of me. But also, when you look at both animal cruelty and greenhouse gas emissions, I’d say it’s a significantly more ethical purchase. I’m proud of my decision to go this route.
The important thing here is that after a small acclimation period, I like oat milk more than cow’s milk now. It’s not as heavy, and it doesn’t expire so quickly, which is useful for me, as I will go through some stretches where I don’t eat cereal as much. If I hated oat milk, there’s no way I would still be doing this. I want to make a difference where I can, but I also recognize that things are rarely that simple. My one decision is not saving the environment. Everyone in the world switching to oat milk would not come close to ending climate change or animal cruelty, but it’s a move that helps, even if it’s in the smallest of ways. But because it’s such a small decision, I’m also not going to make my life worse or less enjoyable for it. If I only enjoyed cow’s milk, I’d still be using it, despite the unfortunate costs.
This is pretty much where I come down with games as well. There are very clearly much more ethical purchases to make than others out there. There are plenty of small indie studios that seem to treat their employees well and that align with my values. However, I’m also not about to run a background check on every person involved with a game before I make a purchase. It’s just not tenable. I’ve no doubt given plenty of money to bad people unknowingly while exploring this hobby, even some that seemed like they were doing the right things.
That knowledge makes it harder for me to care as much when I directly know I’m giving money to a bad person. I will almost assuredly be purchasing Order of the Sinking Star, despite the lead developer having some truly awful beliefs. As long as the game itself isn’t directly espousing those beliefs, it’s just tough for me to care. I have come to feel this way because the reality is that most people in general are so disengaged from the world and politics, that trying to boycott things for moral reasons just isn’t effective. Passing up on a game that could be one of my favorites this year to make some statement that won’t matter isn’t something I’m willing to do.
Considering I mostly post on Bluesky, which is very liberal/leftist, I’m already prepared for plenty of people to tell me I’m a bad person for buying that game. It is what it is.
My one counterargument to someone mad at me for this is simple. What has shaming people done to further your movement? What has blocking people and refusing to engage with those who cross these red lines done to make this world better? I feel like these tactics have only driven people away and have been one part of how we have our current awful government in America. I think it’s clear that people want a positive vision to follow instead of having to constantly worry about what one thing will get a bunch of people angry with them on the internet. I thought that the insane sales numbers for Hogwarts Legacy would cause some people to have introspection when it comes to their tactics, but that doesn’t feel like it has been the case. Imagine the good that could have been done if activists encouraged people who purchased Hogwarts Legacy to also donate to the Trevor Project instead of just yelling at them on the internet. I think a lot of people would have done so, myself included. If I end up purchasing a Hogwarts Legacy 2, I will personally be doing that and encouraging others to as well.
This is a very long answer to say a few things. First off, I’m simply not going to greatly stress out about the ethics of a company I buy from, because I do think there are various levels of corruption and bad behavior happening everywhere, and trying to police it all is exhausting and hasn’t been effective in the slightest. However, I recognize that some companies are better than others, and if these types of obviously good companies deliver a great product, I will be more likely to support them first before a company I don’t feel good about.
Finally, in cases where I buy a game and absolutely know that some of my money is going to a bad person (who is likely already unfathomably rich anyway), my goal is to find a positive way to spend money to help offset the damage that person might be doing in other ways with the money they got from me.
Life is short, and we only have one. I think that the internet is an amazing tool, but I also think that it is slowly driving a lot of people insane for a variety of different reasons. Being engaged with the world isn’t a bad thing, but there’s a point where you just have to let go to some extent if you don’t want this life to be a constant state of misery.
In a few (10?) years, your daughter will be old enough to want to try some “retro” games. Imagine she looks at your Top 25 list (you framed it on your wall out of pride). Guess how she would rank them!- Iffi on Bluesky
First off, thanks to Iffi for being the true MVP of this mailbag!
This is too big of a project for this post, but I’m going to jump off this question to say that I will be very interested to see how my children view “retro” games once they get old enough to truly engage with the medium in the way I do.
For those of us in our mid-30s or older, it’s weird to say that we’ve kind of been there for almost the entire existence of gaming as a popular home console medium. I wasn’t around when arcades were king or for Atari, but I was somewhat there for the NES, and definitely fully engaged from the SNES and on. So I was there to understand the entire context of when each game came out. You have to be pretty old to be able to say that for TV, and I’d say almost no one alive can really do that for movies now. Those of us at this age are in a very unique spot to truly understand the medium on a level that people just won’t be able to down the road. For example, if my daughters ever play any sort of modern Pokémon game first, I’m not sure how I will be able to go back and introduce them to Pokémon Red and have them actually think it’s as cool as I did when I was a kid. I’d say that will be almost impossible. That game is a classic, but it’s also very much a byproduct of when it came out.
Yes, there are indie games that retain these sorts of aesthetics, which gives me hope that a lot of retro games will still be playable for them, but these games still have plenty of modern principles attached to them. Stardew Valley is a very different game from Harvest Moon for the SNES, for example, even though they don’t look drastically different.
I feel like the only way my kids will be able to truly enjoy some of these games is if they grow to truly love this art form in the same way that I do. And frankly, I find that to be unlikely. But also, it’d be really cool if that actually happens. I’ll support my daughters no matter what, but it’ll definitely be another level of special if I’m publishing their own ranks on the blog one day. Hopefully, those ranks end up with a few of those retro games in the mix.
Obviously you love lists. You’re a list guy, and we love you for it. Is there a list you remember reading or watching that turned you into a list guy? Do you have a canon of best lists you’ve ever read?- Jordan on Bluesky
I do not have a canon of best lists (outside of the time I ranked my own lists), but I’m pretty confident that my love of lists directly stems from my love of sports. I loved all-time ranks, weekly power rankings, stats, and all that sort of stuff for basketball growing up.
Games and sports are obviously different animals. Sports are all about “definitively” discovering who is the best. Gaming is not the same thing; it’s an art form. Yes, there are awards, but there will never be a consensus champ in any given way. Over time, that actually made me enjoy making these lists even more than I would in a sports context. There are so many great games out there that there is a constant battle for each of them to stand out among the crowd. It is constantly overwhelming for everyone who really engages with this medium to figure out what to play next.
I will likely play 50-60 new games this year, and I’ll enjoy at least 40-45 of them. Individual reviews can definitely help people, but the most definitive way that I can tell someone that I truly stand behind a game is to put it on my top 10 list at the end of the year. That is the ultimate marker that you should truly set aside time for a particular game in this very crowded landscape. I know that is why I really try and push my friends to make their own lists at the end of the year, even if they tend to be list-averse. It’s my way of seeing what games I might have missed that they truly stand behind. That’s why lists are freaking awesome.
What’s your writing process like l? I assume lists and game reviews are completely different beasts. Either way, how much outlining, note taking and other planning goes into your writing?- Hushed Pixel on Bluesky
Honestly, not much! I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with this blog if I really outlined and planned out my writing more. I feel like if this were my job, I would do things that way, but when it comes to reviews, I pretty much just sit down and start writing. My reviews are usually decently long, so if I don’t remember one small thought that I had from a game when I’m reviewing it, my thought process is that it probably wasn’t that important anyway. The one thing I do try and plan out is my intro, as everything stems from it. So if I know I’m about to write a review, I might randomly think about what angle I want to approach it from over the course of the day as I’m doing other things, but that’s about it.
As for my lists, my in-year stuff is always easy, as I do have a notepad file that I update all year with all of my ranks and ratings and such. If I’m doing an all-time list, there is a bit more work involved. Obviously, there are usually certain games that I know are near the top. From there, I will scroll through my various digital game libraries, and sometimes Metacritic and other sites to make sure I didn’t forget about something. Then, it’s the same thing; I just kind of go with a stream of consciousness and edit from there. A lot of people ask me how I’m able to write and game and such as a father, and a lot of it comes down to most of my pieces being done with a few hours of work.
Do leaks ruin the expectations and potential fun factor of directs/showcases
And also, what even is a good showcase/who decides that- Hana from Bluesky
I’m lucky to be pretty good at avoiding leaks, but yes, I view them as a completely bad thing.
In the world of American sports, draft day can often be one of the most exciting days of the year. Unfortunately, I have to completely stay off of social media on NBA and NFL draft days, because all of the picks get spoiled before they are officially announced. We are talking leaks that happen roughly five minutes before the pick is going to happen. It is “reporting” that is completely useless in every capacity. It’s the same thing with video games. We don’t need to know this stuff before it is officially announced. None of this is groundbreaking news, it’s just fun. There is zero value in it, and all leakers should feel guilty, but they are also leakers precisely because they have no shame or worth in life.
I suppose whether a showcase is good or not comes down to personal preference, like anything else. Obviously, whether the specific games shown click with you is a big one. For me, I’m usually going to find some games I click with, so I’m really all about the general pacing of the show. I don’t like a lot of fluff or filler, and I want trailers to be showing me new things about the game. As an example, I’m sure the new Onimusha game is going to be cool, but I’ve seen it at like five straight showcases, and there wasn’t really much new shown with any of the trailers after the first two.
I personally much prefer fewer games getting 2-5 minutes over a lot of games getting a minute. I don’t mind some deep dives, but the pacing in those has to be really good as well. The recent showcase for Final Fantasy VII: Revelation was long but awesome, because it showed off so much about the game. The recent showcase of God of War: Laufey was a very strange way to show off 20 minutes of a game, as an example from my personal mindset.
As a child, I remember reading magazines like Gamepro and Electronic Gaming Monthly, and dreaming about one day becoming a games journalist.
Do you remember when you first decided that you wanted to write about games?- Squat from Bluesky
I read a lot of Nintendo Power, the Official Xbox Magazine (I needed those demos!), and Game Informer growing up.
It’s funny because I was reading a lot of people who wrote about video games for a living, but I never once thought about doing it as a profession. I grew up as a massive fan of newspapers. I always dreamed about writing for the Detroit Free Press one day, which didn’t really have people writing about video games.
Then, right when I got into college, the newspaper industry was starting to crumble big time. We have had a lot of discourse in America about things like lost coal jobs, but we’ve lost way more journalists in society than almost any other industry in the past few decades. Some reports say we’ve lost 80% of them, and I’d say that number is probably just as bad in the gaming world.
In some ways, I guess I should be grateful that the writing industry as a whole got so bad right before I was looking to enter it. On one hand, I had to deal with some lost dreams for a while. But on the other hand, I imagine it’s even harder if you actually were in the industry and then had to watch it all dissolve around you. In the end, I’d love it if by some miracle I could do this for a living, but I’m not sad about having a good, stable career and being able to do this for fun instead.
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