Topics include: viral PlayStation UK tweet, recent purchases and recording setup, reflections on game reviewing, gaming convention experiences, Starfield mixed reviews, exploration in Starfield, settling on different planets, user experience in Starfield, open world games and faction system, passion for games and Starfield review, benefits of Liquid IV hydration product, opinions on photo modes, interview with Terry Poulanger, launching a campaign in 2020, indie games on subscription services, impact of achievements on gameplay, hints on future projects, preserving character voices, AI in voice acting, wrapping up the episode and discussing future plans.
03:14:12
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Starfield's reception has been divisive, with players prioritizing different aspects of the game and having varying expectations.
The lack of charismatic characters and lore in Starfield has left some players feeling that the game lacks personality and charm found in other Bethesda titles.
Exploration opportunities and emergent gameplay moments in Starfield have been appreciated by some players.
Photo modes in games offer a way for photographers to practice their skills and capture stunning virtual landscapes and moments.
Including photo modes in games can lead to increased player engagement and content creation.
The creative director of Sea of Stars discusses the success of the game's Kickstarter campaign and its inspiration from classic RPGs.
Deep dives
Mixed Reactions to Starfield
Starfield has received mixed reactions from players and reviewers. Some people love the game and are enamored by it, while others are unimpressed. The reactions have been reflective of the diverse range of experiences players have had with the game. The game's serious and straight-laced tone, along with issues in storytelling and character writing, has led some to feel that it lacks personality and falls short compared to previous Bethesda titles. However, others appreciate the game's exploration opportunities and emergent gameplay moments. Overall, Starfield's reception has been divisive, with players prioritizing different aspects of the game and having varying expectations.
The Sterile Atmosphere and Serious Tone of Starfield
One aspect that has been commonly mentioned is the sterile atmosphere and serious tone of Starfield. The game takes itself very seriously, with little goofiness or quirkiness. It lacks the charismatic and memorable characters and lore that players have come to expect from previous Bethesda titles. The art direction, while visually impressive, can make it difficult for players to easily determine what can and cannot be interacted with in the environment. This can detract from immersion and exploration. Some players have mentioned that the game feels cold and lacks the personality and charm found in other Bethesda games.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Starfield
Starfield has its strengths and weaknesses. Some players appreciate the sense of adventure and depth in the game, while others find it lacking compared to previous Bethesda titles. The storytelling, character writing, and main quest have received mixed reviews. The serious tone, lack of goofiness, and siloed worldbuilding are areas that some players find underwhelming. On the other hand, exploration opportunities and emergent gameplay moments have been praised by some players. The diverse reactions to Starfield highlight the subjective nature of enjoyment and the varied expectations players bring to the game.
Photo modes enhance the gaming experience for players.
Photo modes in games offer a great opportunity for players to capture and share their favorite moments. Even if you're not personally interested in using photo modes, it's enjoyable to see the creative and impressive screenshots that other players produce. It's a feature that adds an extra layer of fun and artistic expression to gaming.
Photo modes provide unique opportunities for photography enthusiasts.
For those with a passion for photography, photo modes in games offer a way to practice their skills and capture stunning virtual landscapes and moments. They can experiment with composition, lighting, and filters, creating beautiful and unique images within the game's world. It's an excellent opportunity for photographers to explore their creativity in a digital environment.
Developers should continue to include photo modes in games.
Photo modes have become increasingly popular among players, and they have even led to the emergence of digital photography communities centered around gaming. Including photo modes in games provides players with an additional feature to enjoy and can lead to increased player engagement and content creation. Therefore, developers should consider including photo modes in their games to cater to the growing interest and enhance the overall gaming experience for players.
Creating a personal photo collection through video games
The speaker shares their hobby of taking in-game photos and creating a photo collection as a personal snapshot of their gaming experiences. They mention specific games like Cyberpunk and The Last of Us Part II that they enjoyed using the photo mode feature in. They also mention a YouTube channel called Other Places that showcases beautiful environments in games through free camming and video editing.
Interview with Terry Poulanger, Creative Director of Sea of Stars
The host speaks with Terry Poulanger, the creative director of Sea of Stars. They discuss the success of the game's Kickstarter campaign and the excitement of reaching 250,000 copies sold in the first week. Terry talks about the inspiration behind the game, mentioning that it is a love letter to classic RPGs like Chrono Trigger. He also shares insights on the game's development process, including working through COVID-19 challenges, the decision to self-publish, and the experience of collaborating with renowned composer Yasunori Mitsuda.
Launch of Dreamcast and Sonic Adventure
On September 9, 1999, the Dreamcast was released, along with the launch title Sonic Adventure. Despite its jankiness, Sonic Adventure remains a beloved game, featuring the debut of Crush 40's iconic song 'Open Your Heart'.
Release of The Sims 4
On September 2, 2014, The Sims 4 was released, marking nearly 10 years of the game's existence. Despite a rocky launch, The Sims 4 has undergone significant improvements and continues to receive new content and expansions, making it a long-standing and popular game.
Release of Destiny 2
Today, six years ago in 2015, Destiny 2 was launched. Despite a rocky start, the game has experienced a significant redemption and has become a beloved title, with ongoing updates and expansions that have captivated players.
Release of Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Thirteen years ago, on September 8, 2010, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was released. While not personally loved by everyone, its significance in gaming and YouTube culture cannot be denied, as it became a popular choice for Let's Plays and helped pave the way for horror games on the platform.
Thanks to Liquid I.V. for sponsoring this episode! Head to https://www.liquidiv.com/ and use promo code ‘FRIENDS’ to get 20% off anything when you order.
Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring this episode! Head to https://buyraycon.com/friends to get 20% off sitewide and FREE shipping! -- Thumbnail credit: thanks to @sergioodoardi on Twitter for the image of Todd. -- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 12:03 Gamescom and PAX Wrap up w/ Lucy & Jirard 40:06 Starfield with Michael Higham 01:42:48 Liquid I.V. (Ad) 1:44:52 User Question 1:52:08 Sea of Stars Discussion with Game Director Thierry Boulanger 2:42:16 Raycon (Ad) 2:44:26 User Question 2:55:05 What We've Been Playing 2:57:03 This Week In The Wayback 3:00:34 Wrap Up -- Let's meet our hosts:
- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino
- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons.
- Jirard (aka The Completionist: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatOneVide...) has been doing YouTube since before Noah wore short pants. Over the course of more than a decade, Jirard has completed HUNDREDS of games to bring you the quality of review that almost no other reviewer dare bring you, getting the 100% completion trophy for every title before putting pen to paper. Jirard has a let's play channel and in his spare time he fires off the occasional hot-take over on Twitter: @TheCompletionist
- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he's never had a better job since. -- Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheFPSPodcast
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspers...
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friendspersecond --
