Please support Game Informer. Magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Jeff M Answers Your Questions
Earlier this week, I invited the Game Informer community to ask me questions about whatever their hearts desired. Reader inquiries ran the gamut from serious questions about the state of video game journalism, to even more serious questions about pizza. Here are all the answers I could muster.
First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their submissions; from the questions that made me stop and think to the ones that made me laugh out loud, I had a lot of fun answering as many of them as I could. Please note that some questions have been edited for the sake of clarity and brevity.
Game Informer/Industry-Related Questions:
How did you start out
in gaming journalism/working at GI? – Numerous readers
I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree
in English composition, and landed an internship at GI shortly thereafter.
Ultimately, my path into the industry was the same as most editors: I went to
school, did a lot of independent writing and some freelance work, and built up
a portfolio of writing samples. If you're interested in writing about video
games, don't wait until some is paying you to do it – create a blog and start
posting. Shameless Plug: We've got a great community
for it!
How
stressful/demanding is your job at GI? – BRAV0 F1VE
Things always get
busy towards the end of the month, when we're trying to finish and proof the
magazine while also continuing to post online content. The job involves a lot
more writing than it does playing games, but the most stressful assignments
(usually longer pieces for the magazine) are also the most rewarding ones.
What are some of your
favorite times/most stressful times working at GI? – Qdgyu
Some of my favorite
times at GI have involved working with indie developers on previews and
features, because the coverage means a lot to them and you have the opportunity
to introduce your readers to a game they've likely never heard of. Big industry
events like E3 are the most stressful aspect of the job, but the GI staff is
good at pulling together and working as a team.
What is the chain of
command like at GI? Who do you work with the most day-to-day, and what are your
usual methods for pitching a story to Andy McNamara? – Tim Gruver
We all work with each other regularly – whenever someone has
a story that needs proofing, they usually just stroll through the bullpen and
look for someone who is free. Every story gets read at least three times
(considerably more for print), so people are always discussing articles/ideas/games/etc.
As for pitching stories: Everyone attends the issue meetings, so you're not
pitching a story to just Andy per se, but the entire editorial team.
Do you think that GI
and game journalism at large do a good-enough job separating rumor/speculation
from statements provided by an actual developer/publisher/console manufacturer?
– Joseph
This is something
we've discussed a lot recently, and the reason we instituted clear Rumor
and Report tags for news that we can't verify ourselves. The system isn't
perfect; it still requires us to judge which sites/sources we deem trustworthy,
and we might be wrong when we make those calls. However, it does give our
readers a clear indication to take the reported story with a grain of salt, and
we are continually reevaluating which sources we consider credible. I don't
think anyone strives to just be "good enough" – we want to be the best, and we
won't stop trying to improve our coverage.
There was an
initiative started last year to recognize excellence in video game journalism
by soliciting nominations for articles from various authors and having a panel
vote on winners. What are your thoughts on video game journalism awards? – Saint
Just what we need, our own Peabody Awards! Seriously though,
the positive feedback I occasionally get from readers means a lot more to me
than an award ever would. If you really want to recognize quality writing,
share the articles you enjoy with your friends or write the author an email.
Any writer who needs more than that should rethink his or her priorities.
In your opinion, who
has the best beard at the GI office? – aidanrinku
I see we've come to the hard-hitting questions. That would
definitely be Jeff Cork – not only is his facial hair incredibly thick, but
it's straight enough that he can grow one of those pointy-chin beards like
those guys who have goat legs. Or Satan.
What was it like
winning the Super Replay Showdown despite being the underdog in every round
according to the Facebook group? – OcarinaOfHeel
The Super Replay Showdown was actually a lot of fun. I was
worried about having to host an entire Super Replay, but it seemed to go over
well with the Replay community, so all-in-all I consider it a success.
What is the stupidest
thing you have seen Dan do at the office? – firedude3663
Pffttt – more like
what isn't the stupidest thing I've
seen Dan do at the office...
Coming Up Next: Readers ask about next-gen gaming and the big three console makers...
Next-Gen Gaming And Console Makers:
What is your opinion
on next-gen consoles from a personal viewpoint? Do you feel as if social
integration is an advancement or determent to the future of gaming? – Drop Dead
I'm really excited
for the next-gen consoles, and can't wait for them to get here. I'm optimistic
that the more powerful hardware will give us genuinely better game experiences,
and not just better graphics. In terms of social integration: I don't want
games to tweet my progress or post things on my Facebook, but coming up with
more ways to connect and interact with my friends on my console – like Xbox
Live did this generation – is definitely a welcome addition.
What can the GIO
community look forward to from GI in the next console generation? Do you see
how you approach reporting and reviews changing with some of the new features
offered by Xbox One or the PS4? – Picker
of nits
Great question! I
think we'll probably see some new forms of coverage, in the same way that we've
evolved our approach this generation to accommodate downloadable and mobile
games. I'm particularly excited about the ability to record and stream gameplay
with the new consoles – hopefully it will allow us to come up with some
interesting features and community events!
Do you think that
Nintendo is going to last? I mean, I never really want to see them stop making
games, but compared to all the insanely deep games of today coming out for 360
and PS3, I feel like Nintendo's been a little lacking. – Fufilment
I don't think
Nintendo is going anywhere. Gamers have been prophesizing the company's doom
for generations, but it seems like its systems always find an audience. Worst
case scenario: Nintendo goes the way of Sega and creates a wealth third-party
titles for other systems.
Hangtime, during the Sony
E3 2013 Video Recap, you didn't say much compared to Mike and Matt. I am
really interested in hearing more about your opinion. What are some of the
things that you like or dislike about Sony's conference or PS4? – MARIO NARDI
I think Sony did a
remarkable job of identifying the aspects of the Xbox One that people were upset
about and presenting the PS4 as a more gamer-friendly alternative based on
those perceived weaknesses; the fact that MS has made numerous changes to the
Xbox One since E3 shows how effective Sony's strategy has been.
As for the PS4: I'm happy with the new controller (finally, real triggers!), and hopeful that Sony has improved PSN's social functionalities. My only complaint is I'm not all that excited for Sony's exclusives thus far; I'm looking forward to Infamous Second Son, and Killzone: Shadow Fall looks promising, but I'm still waiting to be impressed by the other announced titles. That said, Sony has an excellent indie lineup, and I can't wait to see what the company's first-party developers like Naughty Dog and Media Molecule are working on.
Do you believe that
Nintendo gets fair coverage on GI in comparison to Microsoft and Sony? – Tim Gruver
Yes, I do. We cover
every Wii U and 3DS game we can, and love being impressed by Nintendo's
offerings – which we occasionally
are. However, Nintendo's platforms simply don't have the third-party
support that other platforms have, which is why it might seem like we focus on
Xbox 360 or PS3 more. If Nintendo released more games, they would get more
coverage.
Why is most of the
gaming press so biased against Microsoft now they've hit the top? – Bloody Bladel
I don't think the
press is biased against Microsoft, and I don't think anyone is dissatisfied with
Microsoft because of the company's past success. Consumers responded negatively
to the reveal of the Xbox One because they didn't like some of its proposed
features and policies, and because Microsoft did a poor job explaining and
justifying its decisions. The gaming press reported those problems – it didn't
create them.
What do you think of
the Vita? Please answer in the form of a question about pizza. – BrokenWing
Ha! Let's see...Is a pizza that tastes great but is expensive
and light on toppings really worth buying?
Coming Up Next: Readers ask for favorites and things get personal...
Playing Favorites:
What is your favorite
game of this generation? – Numerous readers
That's a tough one. Skyrim is up there, as is The Last of
Us. Maybe I'll cheat and say the Mass Effect trilogy as a whole? Ask me again
in September – my answer might change around then.
What is your favorite
game of all time? – Numerous readers
That's an even tougher question. It's impossible to remove
nostalgia from the occasion, but it's probably either The Legend of Zelda: A
Link to the Past or Super Metroid.
Kimberley Wallace had
an article on favorite game endings and I was wondering what is your favorite
ending to any video game that you have played and why? – Toothdecay
Well, when I was a
kid the ending to Super Metroid made me cry. However – and I might just be
saying this because it's fresh in my mind – I really liked Naughty Dog's understated
and nuanced approach to the ending of The Last of Us. I know I'll get hate mail
for this, but I also still love Mass Effect 3's ending. What can I say? I'm a
sucker for open-ended conclusions!
Are there any games you
like that are either underrated or not a lot of people are fans of? – LADodgersFan
I've always been a huge fan of the Hitman series (while
fully acknowledging its flaws), which I know puts me in the minority. Hitman:
Absolution reviewed and sold reasonably well, so maybe it got the credit it
deserved, but I still think its disguise mechanic and mix of stealth and action
is great.
Are there any sci-fi
games that you really like, but probably flew under most people's radar? – Wahman
There have been a
couple of indie games. FTL
is a fun strategy game, and Xenominer
is a sci-fi themed voxel game. I've also been keeping an eye on Blockade Runner, which is another
Minecraft-style game that lets you create your own ships.
I'm a pretty big
zombie game nerd myself, so I was wondering, what is your favorite zombie-related
game of all time? – jellybanana99
Depends on what I'm in the mood for. The Last of Us is
probably the best all-around, but I think the Left 4 Dead series is the best
FPS, and Dead Island is the best open-world zombie game.
Getting Personal:
Where did the nickname
"Hang Time" come from, and do you like it? – Numerous readers
Dan referred to me as Hang Time in some stupid video,
probably a Replay. I can only assume he chose Hang Time because of my
incredible jumping abilities. As far as nicknames go, I guess it could be
worse.
How much joy do you
get out of writing Feedback responses? Do you have a favorite out of all of
your sassy replies? – Devin McLean
Writing Feedback is
a lot of fun. Feedback is one of the few venues where you can be completely
serious one moment, and goofy the next – which fits my personality nicely. I
don't have a favorite reply, but I always enjoy challenging false assumptions
or calling someone out for bad behavior. I also love siding with responsible
parents, and the inevitable complaints we receive for it from upset kids.
What was your first
gaming console, and your favorite game on that console? – pAc0tAc019
My first console was
an old Bally Astrocade that my parents had received as a wedding gift. It was made by Midway and had
these strange pistol-grip controllers that had a joystick on the top. Most of
the games were variations on Pong, but the best game for it was The Incredible
Wizard, followed by Gunfight.
How tall are you? – attackcobra
Apparently Reiner
said I was 5'1" during the Ninja
Gaiden Super Replay, and I guess I agreed with him while not paying
attention. I wasn't actually sure how tall I was, so I measured myself last
night to set the record straight – I'm 5'7", which is good enough for me.
How long did you live
in Higashi Hiroshima, Japan? Are you fluent in Japanese? What's your favorite
story from living in Japan? – TheLaughinManFL
I lived in Japan for
a year while I was in college, and sadly wasn't even close to being fluent in
Japanese (and have only gotten worse since I moved back home). My favorite memory
is probably a homestay I did in a small city called Mihara. We went to an
elementary school, and the students had planned an entire day of activities and
presentations for us. At the end of the day I went home with one of the families,
and we played Mario Party after dinner and watched a dubbed version of Predator on television while we drank
beer (the dad and I, that is – not the children).
Do you plan on
getting a gaming PC anytime soon? – Andrew
Marcos
Given the impending
releases of next-gen consoles, probably not. Unless Valve finally gets its act
together and releases a Steam Box...
I also can be
horrible at gaming despite 30+ years of experience. What's your most
embarrassing moment? – shootist2600
On two different
occasions I've had playable demos of puzzle games at E3 where I've totally
blown it and felt like an idiot. E3 isn't exactly the ideal setting for playing
games that require a lot of thought, and by the end of the show I'm lucky if I
can figure out how to open my hotel door. I must not have been the only one who
had trouble focusing, because both developers politely walked me through my
troubles without seeming too surprised (then again, maybe I just look like an
idiot too).
How do you like to
spend your free time outside of playing games? – Bryan Timm
I hang out with
family and friends, watch terrible
horror
movies, and do boring grown-up things like exercising, cooking, and
gardening (which is currently limited to some raspberry bushes, because if it
doesn't result in me having delicious fruit to eat, I'm not interested).
Have you ever been to
Italy? – Adrian
I haven't, but it's
on my to-do list. In addition to visiting the town where my ancestors came
from, I plan on stopping by Game Informer Italy and demanding that they move my
name up the masthead.
Coming Up Next: More questions about games, and some tantalizing hypotheticals...
Game Time:
What is the worst
game you have ever reviewed at GI? – Timothy
Repasky
That would be Kung
Fu Rider. My review headline was titled "Less Fun Than A Kung Fu Kick To
The Groin," which I'm still quite fond of.
Did you play Mass
Effect as Male or Female Shepard? – RadiantChaos
Male Shepard, and
from what I've heard I really missed out. I think for my next big RPG I'll play
as a female character.
What video game of
2013 do you think has a big shot of being game of the year? – Amaihana
I think it will come
down to The Last of Us and GTA V, and unless something goes majorly wrong with
GTA V, I think it's going to be a really hard decision.
What is the hardest
game you have beaten? How does it stack up against Ninja Gaiden? – dork jedi
That would probably
be Spelunky,
due to its randomized levels and permadeath. I died 499 times before I beat it,
and that was using warps. Playing the game from the beginning to end on one
life remains the most nerve-wracking gaming experience of my life – Ninja
Gaiden seems downright forgiving in comparison.
What's your favorite
water-cooler moment of 2013 so far? – sirraklov
The opening of The
Last of Us was discussed in the office a lot. I thought it did a great job of
establishing the characters and their motivations, while also introducing you
to the world and gameplay.
I like open-world
games too, and was wondering if you have seen the steps that developers have
taken to make their experiences occur within an open-world setting? What do you
think this means for the gaming industry? – John
Marston
A lot of developers
are adopting open-world formats for their games, and I couldn't be more excited.
Open-world games are fun because they provide players with more freedom and
personal agency. I'm glad developers are recognizing that desire and trying to accommodate
their fans.
Hypothetically Speaking:
Would you play an
open-world Call of Duty game? – Buddy
Acker
I sure would – I'd love to play an open-world military
shooter that places a greater emphasis on strategy and tactics than just
shuffling players from one shooting gallery to the next.
If you could live in
any video game world, which world would that be? Remember, some of these
worlds may not contain pizza! – sthomson20
I'd say probably a
peaceful and laid-back world like Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon. Those games
have pizza, right?
If you had the chance
to create any game you wanted with unlimited funding and the help of an
all-star development team, what would that game be? – LHD6
Easy: An open-world sci-fi action/RPG that lets you design and
pilot your own ships, hire a crew (that's susceptible to permadeath, naturally),
and then travel to and explore procedurally generated worlds. In case you
couldn't tell, I may have thought about this once or twice before.
If you could have
BioWare make any of the following, which would you choose: A.) Star Wars KotOR
3 B.) Battlestar Galactica RPG or C.) Star Trek RPG – JohnWrek
Battlestar Galactica
RPG, times a thousand!
Do you watch The Walking Dead? Do you think it could
make a good, next-gen, triple-A gaming experience? Like Survival Instinct, but
actually good? – Patrick
Absolutely. I think State
of Decay would provide a good blueprint, even if it has its flaws.
What sci-fi title
that hasn't been a game do you think has the most potential? I'd go with The Space Vampires (which was adapted to
the film Lifeforce). It's essentially sci-fi + zombies! –Tyod
I'm a huge fan of Lifeforce and would definitely play a
game based on it. As previously mentioned, I'd also love to play a game in the Battlestar Galactica universe, or Firefly universe.
Given your experience
with playing the bad games so that we don't have to, what amazing feature in a
horrible game do you wish would be implemented in an actually good game? – W Anthony Cox
Avatar:
The Game was pretty bad, but it had an interesting turn-based strategy
meta-game. I've always wished that shooters would add a strategic layer to
their gameplay by letting you manage your resources and personnel, and choose
which missions and locations you wanted to undertake. Avatar at least tried
something along those lines, even though it ended up being pretty bad.
If there were one
terrible, horrible thing you could do to Dan with a push of a button and have
absolutely no legal repercussions, how long would you push that button, and
would you stop once your fingers started to get sore or just work through the
pain? – Kanin usage
Ha! A number of
readers asked how Dan and I get along, and if I actually want to murder him in
real life. I don't. As annoying as he can be, Dan's a good guy (that, or I'm trying
to establish an alibi right now – I'll let you be the judge).
Questions From Morons:
What's it like to sit
behind a genius? – Ben Hanson
I certainly wouldn't know.
Coming Up Next: The topic you've all been waiting for...
Pizza Questions:
What makes you GI's
resident pizza expert? – Several Game Informer editors
Surprisingly, several editors have questioned my pizza
expert qualifications since I posted my Ask An Editor feature on Monday. Aside
from my Italian heritage and 31 years of pizza-eating experience (yes, I
started eating pizza when I was zero years old – deal with it), I was the first
to declare myself GI's resident pizza expert. If anyone else felt qualified,
you'd think they would have spoken up before now.
Deep dish or thin
pizza? – Boyzby
Both pizza types have
their time and place, but deep dish has many more times and many more places.
What is your favorite
pizza topping? – Gotham's Reckoning
Pepperoni. I'm old-school like that.
Have you ever been to
Pizza Luce? – firedude3663
We just ate Pizza Luce last week, courtesy of el Guard Duck.
Do you eat pizza
whilst playing video games? – Elgarta
No. Greasy controllers are not cool.
When you make pizza
sauce, do you go with San Marzano or with the classic NY style sauce? – Tyod
Pizza sauce is
actually the next thing on my "Learn How To Cook" list. If you've got a recipe,
email it to me!
Have you ever tried a
broccoli and tomato pizza? If not, you should. – AbsoluteDeicide
Yeah. It's alright,
but I'm decidedly not a broccoli-on-pizza kind of guy.
How do you feel about
pizza chains such as Pizza Hut and Domino's? – tombot7
Chain restaurants are certainly cheap, but if you're looking
for quality, you're better off finding a family-owned restaurant. I do consider
Little Caesars a guilty pleasure, though.
Which national/global
pizza chain is your favorite? – musicalham
I'd say Papa Murphy's is probably my favorite, even if you
have to cook it yourself.
Why can't I find
Crescent Moon pizza anywhere? – Timothy
Repasky
It's only in Minneapolis! Try looking for a place that has Afghani
pizza, as that's what Crescent Moon serves.
What do you think
about calzones versus pizza? – leatherceltic
I like calzones too,
even if they are just folded pizzas. Heck, you could probably serve a pizza
stuffed in a shoe and it would still be delicious.
What's the best pizza
you've ever had in your life? – Jared
Corbett
My favorite pizza place is still Sal's Pizzeria, which
was a block away from my apartment when I lived in New York. I go back every
time I visit, and I'm still trying to talk Mike into mailing pizzas on a
regular basis. Come on, Mike, take one for the team!
Thanks again to everyone who submitted a question!