Let's Scramble

INCOMING MESSAGE

>run “jordanrant.txt”

Okay, so my Cyberpunk reality hasn’t happened yet. And let’s face it, we’re nearly there. But I am trying to continue. I haven’t updated the website that often since August because, well, quite frankly, I have been a bit busy on other projects (i think is say this constantly)

Kind of weird, I decided to end Game Shows I Suppose, yet in the process record MORE game shows I suppose whenever I want to put them out, there on Patreon, but don’t really feel like advertising them that much. I am the worst at marketing myself, aren’t I?

So let’s see, what happened in the news - Biden will be our new president, New Consoles have been released, and G4TV is coming back.

I’m happy G4TV is returning, and they are doing all sorts of fantastic content on the lead-out to it’s launch. Lots of great people are working there, and it feels like they are treating it the way I envisioned that place to become - a happy, place full of editorial mixed with comedy. You go for a really funny video game review, and leave understanding why Cyberpunk gets delayed so much.

I am currently also working on the Giant Bomb Game of the Year list again - which might be the strange time where I have so many games that I enjoy, I just finished “Watch Dogs Legion” on Twitch (a rare feat - playing Watch Dogs on Twitch!) and currently playing BugSnax on the Patreon (Spoiler - “It’s Cute, But Just Okay”) and finally, all the Jackbox Party Pack 7 and Hades.

I wish I can talk about this in more depth, like the media reviewer you expected me to be, but honestly, It’s kind of tough to explain without just saying “Hades is fun because it’s fun” like a 6 year old explaining the plot to Jurassic World.

With Jackbox Party Pack 7, it’s exactly what I expected, I really love “Blather Round” because it’s a really neat idea for a guessing game, and something I think stands out perfectly. Quiplash 3 is an even better Cards Against Humanity, which means you can say more than just “penis” to win the game. Talking Points is “the improv exercise game” and I think that’s hit and miss depending on who understands acting and improv, Champ’d Up is a fun Quiplash-Style Drawing game based on Adjectives, but I think the time it takes from drawing-to-payoff takes time, and the weakest is “Everybody Help Grandma, But Devils” (The idea is to talk over at once making things complicated, which, if the idea is “Funny Goofy Game At Party” or “Goofy Game Played on Twitch” delivers on neither. However, the art and music is still very funny and cool. The main issue is, like always, they can’t figure out how to make their games accessible to all types, you have “maybe a 4 person group chat” to a “400-viewed twitch channel” or even bigger if you’re “the big ones” and they don’t really mix well with that live audience, It did however do a back-to-basics approach which I really do enjoy. You won’t buy it, you’ll probably just log-in to jackbox dot tv when a friend buys it and wants to play it with you instead.

Did I mention new consoles? Because honestly, this feels like the PS3/Xbox 360 all over again, a console that for maximum effort needs a better television. for that generation, it was that convert from AV to HDMI, that 4:3 experience to a 16:9 720p ride. Later 1080, but I think that more fits the Xbox One and PS4.

So bigger resolution, this time the 4K television. Do you have anything that plays 4K movies? Do you know any shows that are recorded and broadcasted in 4K? Would you know how to change it to the console from the smart tv through all the apps? I am asking rhetorical questions, but assume the answer is “no” to most of you, and that’s perfectly fine! Don’t let the Fear of Missing Out because Sony didn’t produce enough consoles worry you, worry that just like those consoles - the early adopters will probably be prone to whatever will be the new “Red Ring of Death”. I get it, they look nice and I am sure Raymond Tracing is a nice person to meet and spark conversations with over cocktails, but we simply put - aren’t really there yet.

This isn’t a “doom and gloom” like a few articles - “how can we buy an expensive console when COVID-19 wiped out the economy and killing people and leaving them homeless”, yes that’s serious, yes that’s terrible, but seriously, unless there are 2 or 3 titles you REALLY want to play, like a Cyberpunk or a Madden or a Assassins Creed Valhalla, there really isn’t a need to grab it in Q4 2020. wait until next year, preferably maybe the summer? When hopefully, you’ll still be alive to enjoy it more? My biggest worry with these consoles are the storage, 4K gaming is a HUGE download on that virtual store, and if your internet can’t handle it, expect waiting hours before it finishes. I was gonna do a snarky joke about “the length of The Irishman” but I figure that’s a little TOO obnoxious nerdy blogger. And what about if you buy it on disc and they have to download an update? Maybe we could say goodbye to the disc? Gaming PCs hardly have a CD drive these days for that very reason.

I am calling the new Xboxes “The Xbox Series” or just “Series”, so if you were playing along at home the order is “Original”, “360”, “One” and now “Series”. Got it? Playstation is… PSX or PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and, wait for it, PS5.

Nintendo, that’s for another day, but boy was I disappointed by the 3D Mario All-Stars. You aint getting me back in that Boo’s Haunted House with the damn piano, NOT ANYMORE NINTENDO!

So, anyway, I think that just about concludes this update. I hope to catch up with you before this year is over, but if not, I will make sure to say “Happy New Year” just in case".

Thanks again for all your kind words!

— Jordan

P.S. - Was heartbroken by the loss of Alex Trebek. One of the greatest game show hosts we’ll ever have. His effectiveness to understand the game and present the show in different styles (Compare Concentration to Battlestars to Jeopardy) and his easy-going attitude was something we all admired. Jeopardy was the ambassador of game shows for a reason, it’s appeal to all people of all backgrounds, sports fans, pop culture nerds, literature buffs, somebody had something in that show, and Alex was that faithful companion to that show. So his passing is one that obviously sends shockwaves across the entire landscape of culture. We will all miss him.