Cup of Jones - December 7, 2020
Added 2020-12-07 17:57:55 +0000 UTCThe Game Awards are this Thursday, and last week we ironed out the month’s schedule for most of our shows and streams, but EZA is in full-on review mode right now. I love to check in with each member of the team on a daily basis, but during times like these, silence is golden. It reminds me that the allies are laser-focused on covering as much stuff as we can before the break, and figuring out what should take priority as the days count down until we gather to vote for our own GOTYs. For me, I’m going to have an open-world bonanza, marching through Immortals: Fenyx Rising, then pillaging the rest of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and finally wrapping up Ghost of Tsushima. It’s exciting to add things like Hades and DOOM Eternal to the list as well, so I’ll be ready to add up the best of the best of 2020.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Gp21MGJjA
- Brandon
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Comments
Hey Brandon We’re coming to the end of the year and it’s that time to celebrate and reflect on a great year in video games and equally another great year to be a member of this wonderful community. I could as I have often done, sing all your praises for keeping us informed and entertained in difficult times, the quality and creativity of the shows and content, or my gratitude for the welcoming camaraderie and companionship that I always feel when in the company of the Allies which in turn has helped to keep me sane since COVID hit. But when there is a ‘but’… and there is a ‘but’, I don’t like to diminish the sincerity of my plaudits with the ‘but’, or minimize the importance of the ‘but’ especially as it could be a contentious ‘but’ albeit meant as constructive criticism and is certainly offered as such. Simply put, in my opinion, “Shout Outs!” (a.k.a. Shoudow’s) as they are presented on the Easy Allies podcast are not working in their current form. The setup is great as is your delivery of the patron names but because the panelists are invariably focusing on when it is their turn and when they should come in, what should be experienced as heart-felt and commemorative most often comes across as apathetic and flat. At best it’s a game of Russian roulette that has the unpredictable entertainment value of a Vaudeville sideshow and at worst it feels like it mocks rather than honors those who support the Allies at this level. As a patron, I know how much you and all the Allies deeply appreciate the support of your community but as a newcomer or passing audience member, I could be forgiven for misinterpreting it as lazy or indifferent, and surely during the Allies’ flagship show the delivery should be the brightest and most resonant. It was a great idea given the circumstances but unlike ‘Love and Respect’ which also understandable took time to transform from a rambling mess to the confident, synchronized exclamation of itself it is today. The current approach to ‘Shout Outs’ while at times comical or cute and on rare occasions to your great relief ‘meditative’, it feels like it has about as much chance of improving as the Coronavirus epidemic does without a vaccine. Maybe the new year is the perfect time to try something new? As always, with deep appreciation, love, and respect. Elliot M
Elliot Moscow
2020-12-14 05:36:47 +0000 UTCHello Jonesy, Last time on the Showcase, you've made an astute observation! I did actually plan to make the horse-riding drawing with the Cup, but my head was racing with ideas, indecisions, and I worked through the whole night grasping at only mere minutes before the deadline, so I had to take the one looking at the sunset as a safer bet. After the deadline, I did have the time to make this alternate version with you looking directly at the front in two variants, so you're free to take those two as well, and looking at them now I think they're even better. https://i.imgur.com/xyggL9y.png https://i.imgur.com/vGDYqYw.png This is a habit of mine, I always make dozens of alternate versions of any drawing before I find "the one". I'm very glad when I give people the choice though. On the last Showcase there was also a collage you might have skipped from my post, it's just a collage of all the previous Allies I've drawn and are all sorted in one grid. It's not a big deal though, as none of the drawings here are new. https://i.imgur.com/nvteWMJ.png I've been following your "move" saga for the past month and I'm very glad that you finally landed in your new home. Congratulations! I really liked that Yellow Submarine poster in the temp-room. I know there's still gonna be time and opportunities to fully deck out your new office, and I'm eager to see what sorts of things you're gonna cram in there. Astounding juggling act on the last episode, by the way! You're just so full of surprises. That's all, send all my best wishes to Amanda and Milo. Thanks for being the kindest and most generous host I've ever seen, and for all of your tireless work and effort to stand by that. Love & Respect!
Nik Gothic
2020-12-14 02:34:42 +0000 UTCHey Jones, Just wanted to add on about spoiler mode being free. Maybe test the waters on having a free spoiler mode when you release multiple a month. Thanks Iboshow
Ibrahim Sozer
2020-12-14 01:11:26 +0000 UTCLet's talk about crunch and Easy Allies. Ian made a passing comment on the most recent podcast (and he's mentioned it before) about how what EZA, and probably a lot of other gaming outlets, does is essentially crunch. It got me thinking about what is considered part of your "work shift" in your unique position in the industry. That is, your hobby is also your job. Obviously editing and writing is a normal work thing. Nobody would say that's not part of the work day. As is planning, organizing, and hosting a podcast. But what about for the panelists that are just going on Frame Trap podcast or something to talk about games for a couple of hours? I work in electronics retail where I talk about tech all day with people. But then I go home and do the same thing on forums! The things I do are similar between work and home, but the lines are clearer since I get paid by the hour, and I know that every bit of "work" I do is at that one specific location. And then, of course, there is the gaming part. Technically, almost every time you guys play a video a game it could be considered work, since you can use that information to talk about games on your podcast or elsewhere within the content pipeline. But at the same time, you all love playing games and that is what most or all of you do for fun. Maybe it was more clear when you were at the studio. You being at the studio is 100% part of your work day. Now that you're working from home, your job and your personal life can become mixed and blurred. I guess my main question is, how do you know if you're crunching in the unusual work circumstances you have? L&R, Josh Read
Josh Read
2020-12-13 03:21:27 +0000 UTCHeya Jones, Yeah, sorry, I just don't know anything about that. I mean, I can try but no guarantees. But if Easy Allies was a Greek comedy, would it describe itself as something familiar, something peculiar, something appealing, or something appalling?
Asbo Zappruder
2020-12-12 22:01:15 +0000 UTCHello Brandon. Over the past month you’ve produced 4 reviews, while other allies reviewed only 1 or 2 games. And you’ve edited some of those reviews. And you keep producing Easy Allies Podcast, Cup of Jones and Community Showcase. Not to mention guest appearances on Q&A, Fiasconauts, streams, etc. How do you manage to find time for all of this?
Alexander Zyryanov
2020-12-08 09:31:29 +0000 UTCWith Mandalorian Season 2 ending a week before Christmas, will you guys have time to produce a spoiler mode before the holiday break?
Steve S
2020-12-08 04:31:55 +0000 UTCThis is so bizarre I was thinking about just today how it was one of the things that I wish I could do is juggle even a little bit and was practicing on some 8 oz water bottles and being terrible.
Mikey "MyxeQ" Novak
2020-12-07 23:19:51 +0000 UTCDummy response as I had to make an edit and I don't trust Patreon's comment system once something is posted.
Brandon K Gann
2020-12-07 22:06:03 +0000 UTCHey Mr. Jones! I’m sure you will go into much more detail when EZA has reconvened after the Winter Break, but I wanted to take the opportunity to ask how you all will handle GOTYs in light of everyone having to do so from home. Will it be live streamed, a large-prerecorded deliberation with a subsequent packaged video of the winners, or something else entirely? As such, with everyone not being able to be in the same room, is there a way to establish a (for lack of a better term) “Speaking queue” in attempt to cut down on potential of people talking over one another? I know this is something (thankfully) EZA has done really well at with podcasts this year, but in a heated discussion in a stacked category, I think it’ll be more likely than normal two or more Allies will try to make a point or response and with the nature of not knowing if someone is done speaking via Zoom/Discord/etc. instead on in person, I think deliberations could be a little messier than it’s been. Just wanted to check in to see where the Allies’ heads were in how they want to handle what is always one of the best things EZA does every year. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful rest of your day! Cheers! QUESTION: In light of the Allies having to be working from home, how will EZA handle GOTYs next month? Will it be livestreamed, or be like last year as a massive pre-recorded deliberations with a follow-up recap video of the winners? I’m curious to see how having the discussions digitally as opposed to in-person will add a unique twist to this iteration of one of EZA’s best pieces of content every year.
Brandon K Gann
2020-12-07 19:01:14 +0000 UTC
