Digest

The podcast kicks off with sponsor mentions and then dives into gaming news, featuring layoffs at Take-Two, the reveal of State of Decay 3, and the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. Hosts share personal gaming updates and discuss Super Mario Galaxy 2, along with the absence of Donkey Kong in the Mario movie. The conversation expands to the Planet of the Apes franchise and the box office performance of video game movies. They also touch upon the highest-grossing animated films, re-evaluate Hancock, and discuss critical reception of The Batman. Audience feedback on the Mario movie's story and emotional impact of animated films are addressed, alongside discussions on AI in game development, gaming hardware price increases, and the passing of the Double Dragon creator. The episode concludes with debates on franchise preferences, industry regulation, and linguistic nuances.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Gaming News

The podcast begins with sponsor mentions and an invitation to support the show. It then dives into gaming news, including layoffs at Take-Two, the reveal of State of Decay 3, and the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. Hosts introduce themselves and share personal gaming updates, discussing titles like "Deadlock" and "Marathon."

00:02:00

Mario Movie and Franchise Discussions

The hosts express strong positive opinions on Super Mario Galaxy 2, comparing it to other Nintendo sequels. They discuss the surprising absence of Donkey Kong in the Super Mario Bros. Movie and speculate on the reasons. The conversation shifts to the Planet of the Apes movie franchise, with hosts sharing their opinions and highlighting the quality of recent installments. The Super Mario Bros. Movie's massive global success is highlighted, becoming the first animated franchise with two films exceeding $350 million in opening weekends. They also discuss the highest-grossing animated films and revisit the movie Hancock.

00:13:37

Audience Feedback and Animated Film Critiques

The hosts discuss the critical reception of The Batman and share a story about a child's reaction to the Mario movie. They address audience feedback regarding the Mario movie's story, comparing it to games and discussing adaptation expectations. The writing and humor in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem are praised, contrasting it with the Super Mario Bros. Movie. The emotional impact of animated films is discussed, noting the lack of emotional depth in the Mario movie. Audience super chats are read, touching on media longevity and comparisons to Bionicle.

00:28:01

Industry News and Developments

The hosts debate their preference between the Sonic and Mario franchises, leaning towards Sonic due to perceived higher quality in its movies. Take-Two Interactive's layoff of its AI team is discussed, bucking industry trends. Gaming hardware price increases are attributed to "Ramageddon" and rising RAM costs. The State of Decay 3 trailer is revealed to be largely "fake," with the game in early concept stages. Quick news updates include Slay the Spire 2 sales and game cancellations, alongside the passing of Double Dragon creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto.

00:58:31

Industry Influence and Listener Interactions

Hosts read super chats discussing Mega Man Star Force and Xbox's game reveals, with a critical look at the company's strategy. The speakers discuss their limited influence on YouTube and the need to engage powerful figures like Jeff Kealy for positive change in the video game industry. The potential for industry regulation is explored, emphasizing the need for standards and ethical practices. Listener recommendations for games like "Modulum" and "Arkham Asylum" are shared, along with critiques of the Mario RPGs versus movies writing quality, with speculation about AI involvement.

01:05:11

Creative Content and Linguistic Debates

The speakers touch upon Illumination's anti-AI stance and how characters can feel like "Minions," lacking distinctiveness. They humorously suggest alternative script ideas for a better Mario movie. Listeners correct the speakers about Donkey Kong's space adventures, citing game examples and sparking a discussion about game canon. The conversation briefly touches on long-term subscriptions and delves into a linguistic debate about the use of "maths" versus "math," particularly from an American perspective.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the latest news regarding Take-Two Interactive's AI team?

  Take-Two Interactive has reportedly laid off its entire AI team, a move that goes against the industry trend of investing in AI technologies.

• What was revealed about the State of Decay 3 trailer?

  The initial trailer for State of Decay 3 was confirmed as largely "fake," with the game in its very early conceptual stages and the zombie deer not in the final game.

• Why are gaming hardware prices increasing?

  Gaming hardware prices are increasing due to rising RAM costs, a phenomenon referred to as "Ramageddon," impacting devices like the Lenovo Legion Go 2.

• How successful has the Super Mario Bros. Movie been?

  The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been a massive global success, becoming the first animated film franchise to have two titles with opening weekends exceeding $350 million.

• What are the hosts' opinions on the Planet of the Apes movie franchise?

  The hosts hold the Planet of the Apes movies in high regard, particularly the recent trilogy, praising their storytelling and visual effects.

• Which movie franchise do the hosts prefer, Sonic or Mario?

  One host expresses a preference for the Sonic movie franchise, citing a perceived higher overall quality in the Sonic films compared to the Mario movies.

• What is the significance of Take-Two's decision regarding AI?

  Take-Two's decision to lay off its AI team bucks the industry trend of AI adoption, suggesting a belief that AI cannot be creative on its own.

• How has the Super Mario Bros. Movie performed at the box office?

  The Super Mario Bros. Movie has achieved remarkable box office success, with its opening weekend gross exceeding $372 million globally.

• How can the speakers influence the video game industry?

  They believe they can act as a "ripple" to influence key figures like Jeff Kealy, who might care enough about the industry to enact change and regulation.

• What are the criticisms of the recent Mario movie?

  Listeners and speakers felt the writing was disjointed, potentially AI-generated, and that characters lacked distinctiveness, often feeling like "Minions."

Show Notes