Digest

The podcast begins with sponsor advertisements before diving into discussions about the game "Avowed." The hosts analyze the anniversary update, highlighting new playable species, New Game Plus, and quality-of-life improvements. They debate whether these updates warrant a replay, comparing "Avowed" to other Obsidian Entertainment titles like "The Outer Worlds" and "Fallout: New Vegas," and praising its combat while critiquing its narrative depth. The conversation then shifts to "Crimson Desert," an upcoming open-world action-adventure game. The hosts express both excitement and concern over its ambitious features, such as town building and complex combat mechanics, while also speculating about potential performance issues on PC and consoles. Other topics include discussions on "The Witcher 3," "Animal Crossing: New Horizons," and various upcoming games like "Pomura Hime" and "Echoes of Mastralia." The episode also features humorous anecdotes, personal gaming experiences, and reflections on the gaming industry, concluding with final game recommendations and sponsor messages for Boot.dev and Shopify.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction, Sponsorships, and Avowed's Initial Impressions

The podcast kicks off with sponsor ads for boot.dev, Shopify, and Patreon. Greg Miller introduces GameCast Plays and shares his initial thoughts on "Avowed," noting its strong combat but lack of personal connection to its world and characters.

00:02:32

Avowed Anniversary Update: New Species, Features, and Replayability Debate

The hosts detail the "Avowed" anniversary update, introducing new playable species (Dwarves, Orlins, Ow-maw-ows), New Game Plus, and quality-of-life enhancements. They discuss whether these additions make the game worth replaying, weighing its strengths in combat and visuals against a perceived lack of new story content and comparing it to other Obsidian RPGs.

00:08:23

Character Creation Shenanigans and Shared Gaming Experiences

Andy joins the discussion as they continue to humorously create a character for "Nick," exploring different backgrounds and appearances, particularly focusing on the Dwarf species. Mike and Andy share their past experiences with "Avowed," with Mike nearing completion and Andy enjoying it but awaiting more sentiment on the update. They also touch upon Nick's previous streams and debate magic versus gun-focused builds.

00:11:34

Avowed's Features, Comparisons, and Technical Aspects

The addition of a photo mode in "Avowed" is discussed, alongside rendering issues with character models. Comparisons are drawn to "Outer Worlds 2," with a preference for the latter's narrative. Performance issues at launch and the appeal of character customization are also revisited.

00:14:11

Personal Anecdotes and Industry Insights

The conversation drifts to personal anecdotes, including a green screen mishap, weather experiences, and a humorous story about a "secret Snickers" bar. Greg teases upcoming announcements, referencing a PlayStation State of Play. The hosts also discuss game embargoes and publisher confidence.

00:16:41

Reconsidering Avowed and Player Preferences

The hosts discuss the "Avowed" anniversary update, noting the addition of new classes and New Game Plus but expressing disappointment about the lack of new story content. They debate the game's appeal, considering personal preferences for sci-fi over fantasy and other games they are currently playing.

00:19:53

Deep Dive into Avowed's Character Creator and Witcher 3 Comparisons

The discussion revisits "Avowed's" character creator, focusing on "Godlike features" and player preferences for appearance. The hosts praise "The Witcher 3" for its storytelling and character writing, comparing it favorably to "Avowed" and other RPGs, with a listener suggesting "The Witcher 3" makes returning to "Avowed" more difficult.

00:22:13

Diverse Game Discussions and Industry Observations

Brief discussions cover games like "A Run in the Slide," visually stunning titles, and Obsidian's IPs. Listener feedback on the Indiana Jones DLC and game reviews is shared. The hosts praise impressive visuals and gameplay mechanics, even in games with less engaging narratives, and discuss player choices in NPC interactions.

00:27:01

Game Design Trends and Developer Comparisons

The implementation of third-person perspectives in games is discussed, along with the experience of playing multiple titles from the same developer. "Avowed" is recommended, especially for Xbox Game Pass users. Modern Obsidian RPGs are found more engaging than "Fallout: New Vegas," with dissatisfaction expressed regarding "the courier" role.

00:30:44

Culinary Critiques and Industry Hot Takes

A Domino's ad sparks a discussion about restaurant experiences. The hosts analyze the failure of "Chipotle of pizza" concepts, attributing it to consumer preference for simplicity. "Hot takes" are shared, including the resilience of the gaming industry and critiques of "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" compared to its predecessors.

00:35:41

Animal Crossing's Evolution and Nintendo's Strategy

The comparison between "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" and the GameCube version highlights a shift towards universally friendly villagers, impacting player engagement. Nintendo's tendency to soften "sharp edges" in major franchises for broader appeal is discussed, potentially affecting the unique charm of games like "Animal Crossing."

00:38:34

Avowed Update Value and Technical Glitches

The hosts revisit the "Avowed" update, questioning its value and reiterating the purpose of "Gamescast Plays." They discuss "Avowed's" gameplay, noting improvements but also potential visual glitches like character head rendering issues. Speculation about haptic feedback on PS5 and favorite spells/combat styles in "Avowed" follows.

00:41:22

Player Progression, Patreon, and Sponsor Messages

The hosts comment on player progression and game length. They remind listeners about supporting the podcast on Patreon and YouTube for ad-free content before transitioning to sponsor messages for Boot.dev and Shopify, highlighting their features and benefits.

00:52:47

Crimson Desert: Ambition, Potential, and Performance Concerns

Anticipation for "Crimson Desert" is high, with discussions on its combat, building mechanics, and ambitious features like interior decorating and town building. Parallels are drawn to "Jagged Alliance," with potential for emergent gameplay. However, concerns arise about the complexity of controls, input overload, and whether the developers can successfully implement all features.

00:55:11

Game of the Year Predictions and Input Complexity

Game of the Year predictions are touched upon, with skepticism about "Crimson Desert." A speaker recounts being overwhelmed by the "Crimson Desert" demo at SGF, anticipating user complaints about complicated button inputs and the desire for "tactile" controls.

00:58:27

Backlog Catch-up and Outer Worlds 2 Disappointment

The conversation shifts to catching up on games, mentioning "Mass Effect 2," and then discussing "Outer Worlds 2." There's a disagreement on its score, with a consensus that the overall story was a letdown despite a strong start. Differing opinions on "Crimson Desert's" appeal are also discussed.

01:00:31

Crimson Desert: Console and PC Performance Predictions

Speculation about "Crimson Desert's" console performance arises, drawing comparisons to "Black Desert's" issues. The speakers predict a potential "shit show" on PC, with inconsistent performance across different machines and user frustration due to complex technical specifications and stamina-draining mechanics.

01:01:57

Giant Bomb, Game Reactions, and Avowed Update Revisited

A mention of Giant Bomb and reactions to game content leads to humorous speculation about "Naughty's" behavior. The question of "Crimson Desert's" performance is raised again, followed by a discussion of "Avowed's" anniversary update and new playable species.

01:03:41

Avowed's Value and Upcoming Game Schedules

Speakers discuss "Avowed," with one recommending it as a "strong seven" game, while another expresses regret for playing it due to time constraints. The conversation shifts to upcoming games and the busy review schedule, with mentions of "Planet Alonot 2" and "Starwind's Paradox."

01:04:58

New Demos and Game Mechanics Discussions

"Pomura Hime," an anime-inspired "Returnal," is introduced as a demo for Steam Next Fest. The speakers discuss playing demos, game delays, and the Metal Gear franchise. They also touch upon audio feedback, a debate about "headies" vs. "headshots," and sniping preferences.

01:07:31

Game Aesthetics, Release Dates, and Unique Sounds

The Darwin demo is mentioned as fun, and the discussion touches on games with a "fancy heavy" aesthetic. Release dates of upcoming games are discussed, along with the effectiveness of dual pistols. A unique sound effect is described, and there's a question about Greg giving something to Spartan.

01:08:59

Game Lengths, Roguelites, and Controller Preferences

The speakers discuss game lengths, with a 20-hour estimate for one, and its fit within the Metroidvania genre. "Echoes of Mastralia" is highlighted as a roguelite with a unique spellcrafting system. The conversation shifts to controller preferences, specifically GameSir G7 Pro controllers, and a final recommendation for "Avowed."

01:12:20

Podcast Outro and Final Recommendations

The podcast concludes with thanks to the audience and reminders to support the show through Patreon and YouTube. Final thoughts on games are offered, emphasizing the enjoyment of playing together and the value of certain game mechanics.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main new features introduced in the "Avowed" anniversary update?

  The "Avowed" anniversary update includes new playable species like Dwarves, Orlins, and Ow-maw-ows, a New Game Plus mode, and various quality-of-life improvements such as custom difficulty modifiers.

• How do the hosts feel about "Avowed" after the anniversary update?

  While acknowledging the game's strong combat and visual appeal, some hosts are hesitant to replay "Avowed" without new story content, preferring other genres or games.

• What are some of the challenges discussed regarding character creation in "Avowed"?

  Hosts humorously debated creating a character for "Nick," focusing on his appearance as a Dwarf, his hair, and choosing appropriate backgrounds, highlighting the detailed customization options.

• How does "Avowed" compare to other Obsidian RPGs like "The Outer Worlds"?

  Some hosts prefer "The Outer Worlds" for its narrative and characters, while acknowledging "Avowed's" strengths in combat and world design, especially with the recent updates.

• What are the main concerns surrounding the game Crimson Desert?

  Key concerns include whether the developers can successfully implement its ambitious features like town building and interior decorating, potential performance issues on consoles and PC, and the complexity of its control scheme.

• What makes Avowed a recommended game, and why might some players not want to replay it?

  Avowed is recommended for its fun gameplay and is considered a "strong seven" game. Some players may not wish to replay it because it consumed time they could have spent on other anticipated titles.

• How does Echoes of Mastralia differentiate itself from other roguelites?

  Echoes of Mastralia stands out with its innovative spellcrafting system, allowing players to deeply customize their spells by choosing elements, patterns, and effects, offering a unique approach to combat and gameplay.

• What are the technical specifications and potential performance issues discussed for Crimson Desert?

  Minimum specs include a GTX 1060/1070, recommended specs a RTX 2080. Concerns exist about console performance mirroring Black Desert's issues and PC performance being a "shit show" with inconsistent results across different hardware.

• What are the hosts' general thoughts on the current state of the gaming industry and upcoming releases?

  The hosts discuss the resilience of the industry, critique specific game design choices (like in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"), and express excitement for various upcoming titles across different genres.

Show Notes