Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight and I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back on the best creative endeavors of the Giant Bomb community! Sorry for the delay in what was meant to be a "return to normalcy" for the Community Spotlight, but as they say, shit happens. Anyways, it was a busy news week for the site, and we have a lot to review before jumping into the wonderful things the community has been up to recently. So, let's jump right into it!
- For those users struggling to keep up with all of the streaming content during Lockdown 2020, user TigerDX made a terminal application for grabbing the latest videos on the site!
- The French Abby parody account on Twitter is a complete delight. If you are not following it right now, then you should fix that immediately.
- Moderator @finaldasa celebrated their birthday last week! Feel free to wish they a "Happy Birthday" if you have not already done so.
- Ben started a huge debate on Twitter if the Mario in the Paper Mario franchise is canonically the Mario in the mainline series or some alternate timeline bullshit.
Tweets
On this day in 2008 (can that possibly be right?), there was a website about...video games. pic.twitter.com/m1q1ZDmiYQ
— Giant Bomb (@giantbomb) July 29, 2020
This feels like Twilight Princess all over again. https://t.co/N0F4N3tFXT
— I'll Be Right Ben (@bvigeant) July 28, 2020
Me finding out Uzumaki was delayed... *sigh* #uzumaki #junjiito @adultswim @junjiitofficial pic.twitter.com/sFW5lDBF29
— Jea;rum (@jea_rum) July 28, 2020
There are somehow over 200 emotes in @giantbomb chat now.
— Brad Lynch (@MarinoV1) July 31, 2020
I'm only responsible for about 40 of them. You know...the good ones. pic.twitter.com/on6qUDFJr1
Two years ago, on this very day, it was proven undeniably that you absolutely cannot beat 35%.
— Tony (@Boots_33) August 1, 2020
Happy 2-Year Anniversary, Exquisite Corps.
o7 #XCOM @giantbomb @VinnyCaravella @alex_navarro @ybbaaabby @DanRyckert pic.twitter.com/Z8SSBhSo9N
@giantbomb Big fan of the site.....I'll see myself out now pic.twitter.com/91wia1Wu3M
— Hey I Like That Game (@LikeThatGame) July 28, 2020
Clips
Gamespot/G4 Cinematech - Full Episode (1998) Found (By: @jford)
So, long story short on this one: GameSpot's Cinematech episodes where brought up during a HotSpot a few weeks ago. What some people maybe do not know, is until this week the episodes were considered "lost media" with the shuttering of G4 and GameSpot unable to re-acquire the episodes. However, this week, a user took to the forums to post live recordings of the episodes.
Artwork
Twochadeer (By: @danauer)
This week site design lead Dan Auer shared a Luchadeer design they have been working on that combines the Icon of Sin with the proverbial Giant Bomb mascot, Luchadeer.
Community Activities
Giant Bomb Unofficial: Path of Exile Community Guild (By: @meatsofevil)
The community Path of Exile community guild, Path of Duders, just got updated! Read what has changed and how you can join the fun using the link above!
Blogs
Finding Myself as a Gamer: Building Confidence After all these Years (By: @thebadgamer)
TheBadGamer takes to the site to talk about why multiplayer experiences are what they seek out the most, and how online multiplayer have helped them build their confidence over the years.
Microsoft Is Giving Us The Best Deal For The Next Generation But It’s Not What People Want–For Now (By: @actuallydeevees)
ActuallyDeevees writes about Xbox Game Pass and how Microsoft are creating the "deal of the generation" for gamers, but why that is still not enough to convince them to buy and Xbox Series X.
I Don't Think Ubisoft Cares About Beyond Good & Evil (By: @igort)
Igort responds to the recent news of Netflix making a Beyond Good & Evil film by writing about why they think Ubisoft doesn't care about Beyond Good & Evil as a video game franchise anymore.
Which Do You Prefer? Play What You Want, Where You Want or "True Next-Gen" (By: @colourful_hippie)
colourful_hippie shares where they stand regarding the upcoming batch of video game consoles, where they stand, and what could cause them to switch. Give it a read and feel free to share your thoughts.
Halo 3 And Me (By: @purpleshyguy)
PurpleShyGuy uses their latest blog on Giant Bomb to discuss why Halo 3 represents the end of an era, and the last time they truly "loved" a Halo video game both from a single-player and multiplayer perspective.
Yakuza 6: An Unfamiliar Future +
Indie Game of the Week 181: The Lost Art of Innkeeping (By: @mento)
First, Mento looks at Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and reviews the innovations it brings to the Yakuza formula, including an exhaustive look at the minigames! Finally, their "Indie Game of the Week" is all about "The Lost Art of Innkeeping!" Give their latest blog a read to discover why they enjoyed the adventure life-sim despite its budgety shortcomings!
Discussions & Threads
How Might Game Pass-like Services Change Game Design? (By: @finaldasa)
Here's a discussion thread on the forums that has a lot of users thinking deeply: do you worry how Xbox Game Pass will influence game design? Are we already seeing a change in game design with games as a service?
Grounded First/Ongoing Impressions Thread (By: @bladeofcreation)
Have any of you checked out Grounded yet? Are your initial impressions of the game positive or negative? What would you change about the gameplay or structure of the game?
Splinter Cell is BACK, BABY! (By: @rorie)
Splinter Cell is back! But as an anime helmed by one of the writers of John Wick? Say WHAAAAAAAAT?! Read all about it and join the community discussion about the rather surprising news!
Does Your Expectation Change At $70? If Yes, How? (By: @liquiddragon)
If AAA games jump to $70, do your expectations of what the games provide and do (i.e., single-player and multiplayer) change or grow? Vote and discuss the matter using the link, and here's what the community thinks thus far!
Sekiro Is Getting A Big Patch In October With Boss Replays, Ghosts, And More (By: @rorie)
It sounds like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is getting a BIG PATCH in October and you can read all about it and join the discussion about what this update means for the future of the game!
Suikoden Successor Eiyuden Chronicle (By: @rubberluffy)
What do you make of Eiyuden Chronicle's resounding success on Kickstarter? Have you backed the project yourself? What are you hoping for in the final game? Does this remind any of you of Unsung Kingdom?
Make One Change To A Game You Don't Like To Make It Great (By: @nexivselecaf)
Here's a fun thread that has drawn some really creative comments from the community! As one might expect, some of the community suggestions are downright SPICY and hopefully you feel inspired to get in on this action!
Make One Change To Your Favorite Game To Ruin It(By: @sombre)
Here's a fun forum topic for the community: Make one change to your favorite game to ruin it! Here's my contribution: have the jump from LittleBigPlanet in Super Mario World! Share your game mishmashes using the link!
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone (By: @bizarrohash)
Here's a more introspective discussion thread on the forums: when was the last time you went out of your gaming "comfort zone?" When was the last time you played a game from a franchise or genre you normally avoid?
Konami Entering The Gaming PC Market (By: @dochaus)
In news that took the internet by storm, Konami is making HIGH-END GAMING PCs! No, seriously, this is NOT a joke! Read all about it and marvel over this turn of events.
What Are The Best Licensed Soundtracks Of The 8th Generation? (By: @bigsocrates)
The title says it all: What are the best licensed soundtracks of the 8th generation? Common community picks include Red Dead Redemption 2, Forza Horizon 3, Life is Strange, and GTA V! Share your pick using the link above!
Lists
21 Great Horror Games (By: @chlomo)
chlomo drafted a list of the 21 GREAT horror games they recommend for people who do not normally enjoy horror games! Give it a read and possibly pick up some spooky recommendations!
Human Entertainment/Grasshopper Manufacture Lineage (By: @chiearale)
ChieArale traces the linage of Human Entertainment to several modern-day game studios that are still pumping out video games!
NamCompendium: Atari Lynx RANKED (By: @jeffrud)
If you are in need of a good laugh, check out jeffrud's latest "NamCompendium" list in which he "scientifically" ranks the Namco games that launched on the Atari Lynx!
Indie Game Recs For My Seastar (By: @totalpatoot)
totalpatoot's latest list on Giant Bomb annotates their favorite indie games on the Nintendo Switch! Give their list a read and feel free to share your own picks.
User Reviews
- @darnocris is reviewing every game in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection on Steam and this week looks at Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse! Read if they think this game is worth returning to today!
- @thebadgamer shares in their review of Marvel's Spider-Man why they think the game is a perfect example of how to do a super hero game and story without an "origin story."
- @junior_ain took the time to strike Deus Ex: Human Revolution from their gaming backlog! Check out their review to read why they think it is a fully realized cyberpunk immersive sim!
- @junior_ain uses their review to explain why they love the narrative of Tomb Raider (2013), but feel like it suffers from excessive "hand-holding."