Cup of Jones - 01/02/18

Yes! i hope this gets addressed today. I absolutely LOVED the pink lighting, it gave it like a retro, GTA:ViceCity feeling. i miss it.

Andrew Left

This is probably too late for the episode but if not, just a PSA. You have mentioned quiet a few times how Patreon will delete peoples comments, and I just wanted to say that it seems one of the main reason this can happen is through over editing of a comment. I played around with it a bit, and it seems that once you edit your comment any more than 3 times, there is a good chance it will get deleted shortly afterwards, this may possibly be due to a spam filter, but I'm not sure. Anyway I though it might be something to keep in mind for anyone who has been having this problem.

BeatenDownBrian

I really liked the Q&A with a smaller number of allies. It seemed to flow better and they managed to answer all of the questions for the first time ever. How do you feel about experimenting with doing two Q&A' s a month?

klastical

Good morning, Sir Jones. Just a quick reminder that Video Games Live is performing at the Symphony Hall in Phoenix on March 12, 2018 (too close to 2-year anniversary, I know). I went to the one in Vancouver a few years ago and it was nothing short of a blast!! If there are any allies out there who haven't been to one of those shows, you simply must. The place was jam packed with video game fans and it almost felt like a one-night-only PAX. I wouldn't be surprised if you guys could pick up a few new patrons if you somehow get on stage or get Tommy Tallarico to give a shout out. Sorry about the essay. Q: Do you have a relationship with Tommy Tallarico? If you have been to a VGL show before, what did you think of it? I appreciate your entertaining "content". Have a wonderful day and have fun painting tonight. L&R. ***** READ IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT VGL IS ***** Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Top orchestras & choirs perform along with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience! ***** READ IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT VGL IS *****

D-Up Gaming

I wonder if Jones would think tanks, the vehicles. lol

D-Up Gaming

Good morning, Sir Jones. How would you rate the team's overall satisfaction with Slack? What are some of the challenges you all faced when starting the workspace? I just started a workspace for 3 people and I can't imagine how hectic a workspace for 9 would be. Are there any tips for a newbie here? Any apps you think is a must for a production group? I appreciate your help and your entertaining "content". Have a wonderful day and have fun painting tonight. L&R.

D-Up Gaming

Hi there Jones, I would like to know what your 2018 crazy out there (see note) new years resolution / Goal is for you personally and for Easy Allies? note: Just like the end bets what are your crazy hopes and dreams for 2018. And just fyi i feel the studio is totally attainable.

The last CoJ included a question asking about the food ordered during group streams. That got me totally curious now about the behind the scenes food logistics of EZA group streams. I assume you order it - how do you decide what to order? Just whatever you're in the mood for? Has any ally ever called you beforehand and put in a specific dinner request? Can we have a patreon tier to ensure that everyone gets a second slice of pizza??

Hi Jones, What's on your wishlist of new features for the next Animal Crossing? Thanks, rar

Hey Jones, This question has 2 points to it. Number 1: I still see a lot of love for The Final Bosman and I'm currently binge-watching it right now. Is there officially zero hope that Kyle would ever want to do that kind of show again? I feel like, even with the podcast, we don't get enough Bosman commentary on the gaming industry and he brought such a unique voice to the table that I'd love to hear more from him in a creative way. I know the answer is probably no, but curious about how much this has been discussed behind the scenes. (Note: this is also with the fact that I have no idea what Box Peek will be about but I am very much looking forward to that show either way!) Number 2: Thinking about The Final Bosman, I wonder if there's a chance of any of the Allies doing shorter form content like that. I don't mean exactly like that show, but shorter episodes of different kinds of shows as opposed to long form talking shows (which shouldn't go away because I love those too). I know it really comes down to how much time everyone has, of course, but wanted to hear your thoughts. Love everything the Allies are doing and I really hope the Patreon gets up to $50,000 this year! Thanks, rar

Hello Mr Jones, There seems to be a lot of apprehension among some of the allies when it comes to Divinity Original Sin 2 maybe because the game seems too complex and there’s a lot to learn. I’ve been a console only gamer until the last 3 years, so from someone who never grew up with these types of games let me say it’s no way near as bad to get into as some have suggested. I think the game does a good job of easing the player into the mechanics and on the normal difficulty I never ran into a challenge I couldn’t overcome, you got to use those quick saves! The turned based aspect is the most appealing to me as you have time to explore and plan your moves. For those who don’t like keyboard and mouse the game also includes native controller support, this includes a revamped UI with larger text I think it’s very user friendly to newcomers. The biggest issue with this game; it’s a huge time commitment but I think it’s worth it. I know I’m not telling you why I think it’s good, I think the critical acclaim speak for themselves, rather I’m trying to ease any concerns that the game is too difficult to get into. It seems a lot of the allies have beaten both Mario and Zelda and I understand playing the Switch on the go makes that easier, however looking from the outside it does seem like some of the allies would rather spend additional time on Zelda and Mario than try this game, I hope I’m wrong. If Divinity Original Sin 2 doesn’t come up in your GOTY discussion I hope it’s because most of you didn’t like it rather than most the allies hadn’t tried it. Having said that, I can’t wait for your GOTY deliberations and I hope none of the allies are uncomfortable with it being broadcast live. Love and Respect Robert Lee

robert7lee

Hi, In response to the discussion in the most recent Q&A about moving to a 20 point review system. I have to say I passionately implore you to stick with the stars/ half stars. The move to the star system was one of the most exciting changes at the birth of easy allies. The way star ratings are perceived is very different to the classic games industry decimal scale, granting more freedom for the reviewer to use the whole scale. The games industry is extremely guilty of failing to use the whole scale and this is because we have trained ourselves to believe 7/10 is the lowest acceptable score. But stars are different, a three star score is decent, you probably would stay well away from a game that scored 6/10 but at 3 stars it is still worth a shot. I would be really interested in hearing your feelings about the way different scoring systems are perceived? 1 to 10? 5 stars? Eurogamer's avoid, recommended and essential? Is the way the score is directly converted to a decimal scale by aggregate sites a reason for some allies doubting the system? Please stick to your stars, it doesn't need more granularity, it's forward thinking, it allows some lesser known games to stand shoulder to shoulder with the big boys on their own merits without a small meaningless decimal penalty. It's something you should be proud of. Also maybe stop Kyle making you use a ten point rating scale on the podcast 😋, embrace the stars! Much L&R DDSlawson

Daniel Slawson

Hey Jones, was curious. Have you ever thought about (unless you already have) doing VO for an audiobook? I know it's a lot of work to record these, and props to all of the voice and speech experts who've been such a joy to listen to on Audible (Marc Thompson is a personal favorite of mine on all of Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books). There is definitely one element missing to my audible adventures, and that is the enriching voice of Brandon Jones[TM]. Would love to see if you've ever done this, be it of your own shorter works or if other authors had ever reached out, and if you'd ever want to/be interested. Love and Respect man and keep up the great work, -drd7of14

drd7of14

Mr. Jones, Here are some personal questions, feel free to skip any you don't care for. 1- What gives you the largest sense of accomplishment in life? 2- What is a decision that you wish you could go back and change? 3- When was a time you overreacted and later regretted it? 4- What are some likes and dislikes for the Easy Allies community? Respectfully, Morgan Mohalla

Morgan Mohalla

Jones! I need to buy plane tickets to California and request off for work! Which I weekend(week?) will the 2 year festivities be in March? Thanks in advance! -Tony

Tony

Greetings Jones! Apologies if you've had this question on CoJ already, but I'd love to hear some of your dream Lego game crossovers. With Nintendo's unprecedented crossover of Mario + Rabbids, how would you feel about a Lego Nintendo game? Or maybe Lego Pokemon? Lego SOULS?? Personally I'd love to see a Lego EZA game. Maybe keep it mind when you're thinking of new Patreon tiers. ;) Keep it classy. L&R - BartoBud

Jones, I'm sorry to add to the constant stream of merch requests, but if it isn't too much trouble, could we get some EZA tanks? Something suitable for a tropical beach? It's vacay season, baby!

Rinney

Hey Jones, I don't have a question or suggestion. I just want to sincerely thank you and the rest of the allies for everything you guys do. I didn't expect you to actually read my silly THPS comment on the show, it made me realize how much work must go in to each EZA show, and how much you all genuinely care about this community. Of all the gaming channels I've followed through the years, none feel more like a tightly-knit community than EZA, and that's all thanks to the hard work you and the crew put into keeping it thriving. You guys put so much work and care into keeping up with this constantly growing community and reading all this feedback you get, even a dumb little comment about how THPS3 is the best Tony Hawk game. The passion you all have for EZA has never been more apparent to me, and I would be remiss to not thank you for all of the fun times I've had watching. L&R, thank you for everything you do.

What are your thoughts on Arnold Schwarzenegger?? I grew up with his movies and I really still enjoy them. The good ones and espeacilly the silly and dull ones, like Commando, Predator, Kindergarten Cop ... everyone. What do you think of him as a politician? Especially as a Californien resident. Recently read his biographie and it was amazing. Have you checked it out yet?

Tim Bechen

I think my post got deleted, but anywho. I have a thought on how to improve the induvidual streams, at least for my own enjoyment. I love the Kyle, Brandon and group streams, but I keep passing on most of the other streams. I think its mainly because of the tiny headshot, I feel like there is a disconnect when I have to squint to see emotions. Please consider making them bigger.

wobess

Pop Fiction was one of the hottest shows back in GT's glory days, and it's successor, Game Sleuth, has shown that there's still plenty of demand for the format, with two of its episodes in EZA's top 10 most watched videos, both ahead of EZA's most watched review. However, while Pop Fiction was monthly, Game Sleuth isn't even quarterly, with the existing episodes having been released 4 to 6 months apart. As best you can (as it's Damiani's thing), can you explain what it would take to get Game Sleuth at least somewhat closer to a Pop Fiction-like schedule? I personally think it should be one of EZA's highest priorities, given how it, reviews, and reactions seem to be the only EZA products reaching a wider audience at the moment. P.S. The Group Stream Committee suggested Tony Hawk no less than 5 times this week, none of them from myself. *gently nudges*

TurboChickenMan

SOMETHING has got to change with the GSC, because unless you reply within 2 hours of it going up each week, your pick is firmly out of the running.

TurboChickenMan

Blood: I think I'll leave comments here when I spot something I can answer just to make it easier for Brandon to spot and include. I try hard not to over-promise on things, and while some reviews are more certain than others, there are times when we want to do a review and for various reasons it simply doesn't work out. So for the purposes of the "Also in the Works" section on the schedule, I never include a review until I actually have a draft of the script in my hands. As for including a more detailed status on other projects, it's something to think about, but may be hard to communicate in such a short space. -Bloodworth

Easy Allies

Hi Jones! I hope this isn't a weird question, but what's the best way to approach you at a meet up? I went to the PSX meetup, but I struggled to find a way to get "in" the groups as every ally was busy with their own group and having a great time. It may be overthinking, but I just didn't want to step on anyone's toes while they were talking to you. How would you suggest to approach you, or any ally, at a meetup? Love and Respect!

Hi Jones! I feel like the "Also in the Works" section on easyallies.com has been underutilized lately and it seems quite random to me which projects are getting listed there. For example, Ben's Divinity Original Sin 2 review is currently not listed whereas Bloodworth's previous review of Need for Speed was listed prior to its release. A suggestion I'd like to make for bigger projects that are time consuming like Game Sleuth and Retrospectives is to add the current pipeline stage of the project (scripting, doing the VO, being edited, etc.) to the "Also in the Works" section to give people an idea on the current situation. I know it's nothing important or game-changing but it's something I would definitely appreciate. This is my first comment on Cup of Jones so I hope it made some sense :) L&R Robbl.

"One of the things I'd like to do if we do countdowns again is by lines" Brandon Jones, this video. Wha wha what? Haven't you always shot down EZA countdowns? Is this a change of heart, or maybe just thinking of a far off studio future possibility? L&R Matt

Matt Brookbank

What's your experience with Spreadshirt? If I were to buy an EZA t-shirt, I'd like to be sure of its quality and comfort. I have bought many band/fan shirts over the years and very often get disappointed by their quality (and comfort). Never heard anything good about Spreadshirt, just seems to be the "go-to" brand usually with these. I would suggest you look into what's the best brand. I have heard good things about Gildan and have some myself.

Lauri Laivo

I’m really happy to hear you're doing the GOTY talks Jones, though I’m surprised you decided to do it live, and hope it doesn’t cause any of you to hold back when debating something. Either way, I think it will be fine and should make for very interesting viewing. In terms of people not getting their questions answered on the podcasts/Q&A, I really don’t think there is much you guys can do about that. If our questions don’t make it then we can simply try again next week, not to sound rude, but if you repost a question a few times and it doesn’t get on, then maybe it’s time to try a different question. That's generally the way I look at it, if my question didn't make it, then it wasn't good enough, so I try something else.

BeatenDownBrian

There is a white door behind you. Where does it leads to and why Lightning guards it?

Alexander Zyryanov

The Sea of Thieves discussion on the podcast spurred this question for me. Jones, did you ever watch a cartoon called Pirates of Dark Water?

Olf Himself

I know you wanted feedback about the forums, so I took the time to compile a "Visual Guide" of the problems I see as someone who has gone to a couple of times, but isn't a user. <a href="https://imgur.com/a/IYpE5" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://imgur.com/a/IYpE5</a>

micspam

Do the allies have the capability to do race or duel streams? The Intramural Tournaments are great fun watching multiplayer games where allies go head to head, but its a whole different vibe seeing players race through the same game simultaneously. Some examples of this are race streams done during Games Done Quick where 3 or 4 players try to get through Super Mario World, Super Metroid, or any game enough of the allies feel that are race worthy. To keep as many allies in the loop as possible, it could even be team races (i.e. Super Mario 64, after every 5 stars collected, tag out to another ally). Just an idea to spice up the tournaments and give single player games a chance to show a competitive side. Love and respect, double love to Sophie!

No question from me today just a follow up for clarification for my question on this episode. I was suggesting using the official EZA youtube channel to comment on other channels' videos. Like just commenting on a No Clip video. This can also be done on Twitter obviously. No need to specifically promote but simply comment on something cool. L&amp;R PS Nailed the pronounciation Jones!

Steven Vella

Hey Jones! 2017 was really fun, but what game, besides Red Dead Redemption 2, will you this year likely spend this most time playing? L&amp;R, ToonForToon

There’s an interesting wrinkle to all this, as in the old EU (pre-Disney buyout) I believe Breha did indeed die when Leia was very young, but the Disney era has firmly established that she survived until the Death Star destroyed Alderaan (a short story in a recent anthology even shows the destruction from her point of view, alongside Bail who had just returned home after Rogue One).

Erunion

Hey Jones, me again! I had to take a break from work and do some quick research on the whole Leia remembering her mother thing :D. Originally it was my own take on it since after I saw episodes 1-3 and revisiting the original trilogy. I always thought that it was odd that she just casually comes up with some memories of her mother (after Luke asked her about it) when Luke had none. That always felt like she automatically went to mrs. Organa. After doing some quick reading though I found out that Lucas always intended that Leia really does remember her real mother (Amidala) which was stated in "Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays" book. So she might have been so strong with the Force as a newborn that she created strong memories from the beginning. There was also a novel, "Children of the Jedi" by Barbara Hamly (not canon, since they were written before episode 1-3) which had Leia mention that she was raised by her aunts, suggesting that her adoptive mother died when she was young. So touche! I admit defeat! I underestimated a newborn's sensitivity to the Force ;). Just a simple continuity issue when working on two trilogies in different times. Happy New Year to you and the rest of the Allies! L&amp;R!

You mentioned a few Cup of Jones ago that you once binged all the James Bond movies, so I gotta ask, which is your favourite movie and actor of the bunch? Conversely, your least favourite of each? And if you'd like, any standout moments, villains, Bond girls, etc.? Personally, my favourite is Casino Royale, and although I only like 2/4 of his movies, Brosnan is my favourite Bond. He was the most enjoyable actor, even if the material he had to work with isn't the greatest. Moonraker and Roger Moore would be my least favourites. I just didn't like his interpretation of Bond, and his movies were the most forgettable to me.

Logan Tawse

I have a suggestion relating to the Group Stream Selection Committee. The way it works now seems a bit less than optimal. Doing it through Patreon means you have to scroll through hundreds of posts, click likes, and then through some Patreon site shenanigans, have those likes either randomly removed or assigned to things you never clicked like on to begin with. I feel like the optimal solution would be setting up some kind of polling site where everyone in the tier could input a nomination, and when it came time to voting, a nice clean list would be presented to vote on.

Minamik

Hi Jones! Forgive me if you've answered this elsewhere, but: have you ever approached any of the amazing fans that make best-of videos to upload them for the official EZA channel? Some fans (most notable, SomeGameNews) have shown serious chops in putting together compilation and best-of videos, with professional-level editing. I can't help but feel that making a deal with these fans to upload their videos to the EZA channel would be a win-win: EZA gets great videos that are the perfect way to ensnare new fans (or just entice existing fans to check out content - like livestreams - they otherwise wouldn't); and the editor might get to collect the ad revenue on their compilation videos from the &gt;130K EZA YouTube subscribers. It's something that I think many members of the community would seriously support, as EZA makes plans to extend its reach in 2018. Cheers, James

James McCoy

As a fan of the Tales of series, I'm still a little bit salty about that Top 10 Series That Deserve to Die video.

Minamik

Hi Jones! Any progress or more ideas about the amazon affiliate link for EZA? Video games of course a no go, and you did say you would do something like gundam kits. I was thinking about it, and I am asking this because I had the idea that you could fill your amazon "storefront" with all the candy and treats you are gifted. I feel that would be wonderful, since looking for a lot of that stuff seems like it would be hard if we didn't have the package in front of us. Just something to consider!

Parasitepaladin

i get that, though to me it felt lacking that it was only an hour or 2 of the following games, i feel like kicking it off with a full play-through and then staggering it eg opening game- 2 hours of mario- 5hours vanquish playthrough-1 hour blah- co-op re5 playthrough (5ish hours)- etc it gives you a chance to easily do something during a 5 hour game(nap, shop )

Michael James Hudson-kohlmeyer

​This might have been asked before, but I guess that's the nature of the question itself - have you considered putting an FAQ page together for Patrons? I know a number of questions have been asked multiple times, as I've done it myself (for example, "how many of the Allies work full-time?") and those kind of questions might be best written down somewhere as an Easy way for Allies to reference and not have to ask again. Mainly, this question comes from knowing a question has been asked before but forgetting the answer and having to cruise through all of the Cup of Jones episodes to find an answer. So you could see a question that gets asked a lot here, write it down with your answer, and add it to the FAQ page. Just an idea! Thanks, rar

Hey. I already asked once, and it's such a dumb little thing, but what happened to that to that pink light in the garage? I remember how everybody was really impressed after you and Ian put up the new lights and I guess they're still being used. But there was this red or pink filter that made it all look a lot better. Please bring it back. You wanna look good. Don't ya?

Mikkel Bak Sørensen

I am curious about another minor unimportant question. For you, what is the most fun bad game you have ever played?

Mr.V

Hey Jones! Happy New Year! What is one of your favorite pieces of entertainmet that you loved so much, that you felt the need to share it with a close friend, and they just straight up didn't like it? How did you handle the situation? Did you repeatedly or still repeatedly try and get them to get into that piece of entertainment? or did you give up right away? (I ask because I just recently tried to get my gf into Game Of Thrones, and she cant get into it. She tried watching the show AND tried reading the books, and she just isnt into it. it was really upsetting since that is one of my favorite books. but everyone has their own tastes i guess.) Thanks! L&amp;R

Andrew Left

My biggest issue with Easy Livin was the Mario Full playthrough. It took up most of the day in he EU. I wasn't feeling it, so I didn't watch a lot of it until it got more varied. So hearing you say less games is a big disappointment. I was hoping next time there would be more variety rather than huge full playthroughs

BeardedScotsman86

Correction on the Star Wars correction. Leia is NOT talking about Breha Organa. Luke specifically asks her about her REAL mother. She is definitely talking about Padme.

Olf Himself

Hey Mr. Jones! Happy New Year! While listening to your response about trying to get one's question read I could not remember whether or not you've answered the following, so if you have please ignore this: Has there been the idea kicked around where Easy Allies has an ever growing Q&amp;A database located on the website? It could be cumulative from questions across all shows or there could be show-specific sections like questions answered in Cup of Jones, the Monthly Q&amp;A, etc. I feel this could help in preventing duplicate questions being asked, provide for curious fans/Patrons if they're looking for a specific answer, and be an archive for all kinds of information. Granted, if this were possible, everyone would probably have to answer some questions one more time, but having a one-stop location for queries regarding policies, official positions, etc., would prove to be quite valuable. Thanks for the time, reading or answering, and have a great day!

Brandon K Gann

Does the prospect of a PS5 or an X Box One X XXX by 2019 make you nervous, or is that just me? I feel like I was able to get a good lifespan out of my PS3 and PS2, with some stellar content tending to come out at the end of a generations life cycle. I still think there's enough room to grow with the current generation, and the prospect of having to spend $500+ on a new console bums me out because I don't really have the money for it.

Kanlink

Yeah...That's a really odd question.

drd7of14

Jones! I beat Nioh at launch and then took a break and after jumping into the Complete edition on PC I'm incredibly satisfied with the new weapons and the amount of additional DLC/patch content and endgame loot progression that they have been constantly rolling out since release. I'd say that one of my bigger disappointments for last year was seeing you and Huber miss out on all of the fun for the reasons that you both gave. I could pretty much promise to you that I could explain the blacksmith to you in a way that you could easily understand, and for Huber I felt like him being burned out on "Souls" is selling Nioh short because of how much cool and original stuff it has - it's better than every Dark Souls in my opinion. Even then, I promise to you that you do not have to worry about the blacksmith stuff for your first playthrough of the game - it does not really have to come into play until NG+ or late DLC if you don't want it to because you will be getting better and better loot drops as you go from mission to mission. Do you think you guys might ever get around to playing it? It's such a satisfying game to play. Just let me know if you ever feel like you need a crash course on some of the mechanics

VGJunky

What's the color of the underwear you are wearing right now? (if you are allowed to say it)

What are your fitness goals for 2018?

Professor Metal Gear