Call and Response: WOFF Dispatch November 2023
Added 2023-11-17 17:24:23 +0000 UTCHello! The purpose of this post is to call for your questions and prompts for WOFF! Dispatch. Please respond by Monday Nov 20th, by leaving a comment on this post.We're looking for two kinds of things:
-Suggestions for our long-form discussion prompt.
-Q&A about the shows, behind the scenes details, and miscellaneous (including off-the-wall and off-topic questions). Ask us about games or other media, life in general... You name it.
One caveat we've given in the past: If the question is too personal or gross, we may dance around it and not give a direct answer.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Comments
As far as my limited research shows, they were written by mostly the same people. I wonder if perhaps it was a cultural change at Rockstar, or if it's as simple as the writers growing as people? Either way, I'm just glad that we got such an excellent AAA experience. It will definitely be interesting to see what direction they go in for GTA6, if they'll fall back into the same tropes of the GTA franchise, or if perhaps it will be a more well written game. Only time will tell I suppose🤷♂️
MonsteR_NuggetS
2023-12-14 06:40:44 +0000 UTCExcellent! I have been thinking about this for quite some time. It feels like they were written by different people (perhaps they were?). I feel that RDR2 has excellent characterisation and tone. I wonder if it was because they weren't beholden to an expectation that comes with GTA? Or was the boys club on it's way out during writing of RDR2?
Elliot Nial
2023-12-14 05:17:44 +0000 UTCHey gang, Monster here! listening to your episodes on GTA V really helped me solidify my opinions on the GTA series as a whole. They were absolutely fun games when I was in my early teens, but as a grown man the writing is far too juvenile and tone deaf, and it makes the prospect of revisiting any of the games in the series seem like an absolute nightmare. However, equally solidified is my opinion on the Red Dead Redemption series, specifically Red Dead Redemption 2. It's is a FAR more mature, serious game, and it's criticisms of American life and the Old West seem much more deftly observed. It still maintains a sense of humor in it's more lighthearted moments, but has far more likeable characters and interesting things to say. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the tonal shift between the two series, if either of you have played RDR2. Keep up the great work gang🤙
MonsteR_NuggetS
2023-11-22 23:19:31 +0000 UTCWhat are your worst failures of cooking? I had thought the time I made cookies and forgot the flour was my all-timer until this weekend, when I discovered that if you don't use enough confectioner's sugar to make royal icing, it looks exactly like human semen.
KL
2023-11-21 03:38:47 +0000 UTCHey fellas, I'm surprised you had minimal comments for Amnesia: The Bunker so I'm going to throw one in here. Better late than never! I got the game based on your recommendation for the Halloween season. Up front I want to say I enjoyed the shit out the game. But in my first couple hours of playing, the game kept crashing on me! It was so bad, I almost had to quit it and I almost did because I had Baldur's Gate 3 on deck just eye balling me in my game library. But thankfully some bugs were fixed and I was able to complete it. The sound design was SPECTACULAR. So much so, that I think it really made the playthrough experience top tier. All the 'systems' working together as you mentioned was a thrill to navigate. You need go slow and not alert the monster - but you need to go fast to shit done with the generator still running. SO FUN. I think I died like 70 or more times. The recap of stats at the end of the game is cool (not sure if you discussed that part). Thank you very very much for the rec and I look forward to the Real Lich Hours. Woooooo!
Troy Sand
2023-11-20 19:30:15 +0000 UTCIn the recent GTA V episodes you guys were very critical of the game's tone and writing, which made me curious about your thoughts on the Red Dead Redemption games. While Rockstar's infamous sense of humor is still present in them, it's significantly toned down in favor of dramatic storytelling and character writing. How successful do you feel they are at this?
MisterMundus
2023-11-20 17:40:00 +0000 UTCHappy birthday, Kole! Any cool fictional characters you share your bday with?
Drew on arrival
2023-11-20 17:29:40 +0000 UTCHello from Ohio! Hope you’re staying cozy as it gets colder. I know at least Gary has mentioned watching Parks and Recreation. love Parks and Rec; the town of Pawnee is kinda like Springfield of The Simpsons if everyone cared about each other. It makes me feel warm inside. Perhaps I particularly identify with the wholesome midwestern town themes. Are you guys Parks enjoyers? If so, who are your favorite characters? Thank you! And happy holidays!🎅
Caden
2023-11-20 14:48:49 +0000 UTCDuring the DOOM Eternal woff Gary called it a "1st person character action game", and that got me thinking about non-standard formats to popular gaming genres. What would a 1st person RTS look like? What about an over-the-shoulder fighting game? I have no idea if this idea has any conversational legs, but it could be a fun thought experiment. Stay cool, fellow humans
Jonathan Scratch
2023-11-20 04:29:50 +0000 UTCNot a question as much as a PSA because I didn't hear it mentioned in the RE4 Remake episode. If you read the backs of the stone pillars near the end of the game, it is revealed that they canonically gave Saddler the first name "Adam." That's right, Adam Saddler. It's good to know that the RE Team has so many Billy Madison fans in its ranks. "STOP LOOKING AT ME, LEON!"
Holland Hume
2023-11-20 01:03:29 +0000 UTCHey folks! Been lurking for years and am happy to be a member of Patreon. What are some games for when you are anxious? I graduated law school, passed the bar, and now I'm making my way into the world as a baby lawyer. I have been experiencing a great deal of work anxiety during this transition. Working out, eating right, and sleeping help but I love games and have not found one that eases me during my free time. Would enjoy hearing your stress relief games and any other strategies that help.
fityspence
2023-11-19 22:59:35 +0000 UTCThoughts on music videos generally, and any favorite ones? Personally I love how the bite-sized nature enables experimentation in a way that other visual mediums generally don’t. To me, the right video has the ability to elevate an okay song into something great, and an already great song into something truly special. That said, MOST music videos are just kinda there and may as well be background noise, and the occasional deeply embarrassing videos never quite RUIN a song for me, but they certainly create some questionable connections in my brain whenever I listen. Also you definitely don’t have to read this part obviously (or any of this comment - it’s your podcast!) but I direct music videos occasionally and I’m pretty proud of this one that was released recently and thought you all may appreciate it so I wanted to share (you’ll almost certainly hate the music though). It started out as “what if I just ripped off Hypnospace Outlaw?” but hopefully kinda turned into its own thing? https://youtu.be/TzOFIVB7C7s?si=Il0008gtJgkez8iK
Drew Edgar
2023-11-19 20:57:15 +0000 UTCHi! Gary, I noticed you often use the word "vorpal", which I recognize from Jabberwocky but always interpreted as a nonsense word. There are "definitions" online, but I just wonder what you mean when you say it. Thanks!
Wade Hausken
2023-11-19 18:45:31 +0000 UTCRandom battles, forced grinding, limited saves, all of these archaic mechanics have their defenders. But there is just one mechanic I can think of where Gamer Americans have crossed the aisle, locked arms and reached a post 9/11-style bipartisan consensus: "QTEs suck, thank god they're gone." Can you guys - even a tiny bit - defend the humble QTE? Is there *ever* a time and a place for them? Were they ever used well?
Rob
2023-11-19 11:51:03 +0000 UTCI revisited the Silent Hill 2 WOFF and Gary mentions There Will Be Blood is one of his favorite movies. As a PTA fanman I would love to hear y’all talk about that movie in full and I think it could work as an Unfilmable episode. I would love to hear both of your opinions on his filmography. I believe there is even a quote from PTA somewhere calling it a horror film! anywho, Love you and thank you!
Luigiatlarge
2023-11-19 04:42:07 +0000 UTCHello! So I haven't played Baldur's Gate 3 yet, but I hear it kinda falls flat in the last act if you've alienated your party members or gotten them killed. If that's true, is that a concern for Gary's "asshole" playthrough for Real Lich Hours? Without spoiling anything, how much of the narrative are you planning upfront?
Nina
2023-11-19 00:08:59 +0000 UTCHey fellas, thanks for the great show, I just got boulder’s gate 3 and am looking forward to playing along with you. This question is for Kole. I’ve heard you mention ambient music a couple of times now, I also really love the genre, and am always looking for recommendations, are there any artists you particularly like?
Connor Morgenthaler
2023-11-18 16:13:30 +0000 UTCI dun goofed. I somehow thought Berserk was finished and was disappointed when I read through its entirety only to just "catch up" to its current run. Do you have any unfinished stories you hope to finish? Are there any stories you waited for and were glad to see its conclusion?
Jonathan Yih
2023-11-18 13:58:11 +0000 UTCWith GTA6’s trailer around the corner, we’ll soon know what it’s all about. But before we do, what are you wishing for it to be in terms of setting and gameplay?
Naveen Sivakumar
2023-11-18 12:41:05 +0000 UTCHello Gents Got a random question for you, preceded by an unsolicited anecdote. I recently turned fifty and as fate would have it, my local half-marathon was held on the same day. I made a playlist to carry me through the ordeal and some of the songs sounded especially topical: “Taking Too Long,” by Wipers, It’s Catching Up” by NoMeansNo, “Getting Nowhere Fast,” by Girls at our Best, and most of all “Don’t Stop Now,” by GbV. In hindsight, I should really have included “Getting Older” by The Clean as well. What are some tunes that hit you in the “getting older” feels? Love all your content and hope you are both well. What are some tunes
William Habington
2023-11-18 11:18:04 +0000 UTCHey guys! I was just listening to the excellent Adaptation Decay on Biohazard the Stage. While I'm not a Japanese person (and if this is not the response you're looking for, feel free to discount this), Japanese contemporary theatre studies was a big part of my postgrad, and I thought I may be able to shed some light on this production. Biohazard can be easily categorised alongside stage musical adaptations of anime, which first started to take off in the mid 00s. These generally feature younger actors with the hopes of gaining experience to graduate onto something a bit more respected. Many are not the greatest singers, as spectacle and looks are valued over skill. As you may have guessed, these tend to be exploitative and tiring productions in which the actors are not well compensated. There's usually one or two bigger name "cameos" to lend credence, but these tend to be pop stars or voice actors. Sonny Chiba was a big get. Usually running for a week or two, annualised performances tend to be a little rarer. Tickets are expensive, but even bigger venues tend to sell out because there are just that many otaku. The real moneymaker is the DVD sales–video rentals remain illegal in Japan, so the DVDs are easily sold at an eye-watering $150-$200 to the more dedicated and affluent fans. Stage adaptations of games are a little newer, first starting around the late 00s and just recently hitting full swing. Recently there have been a number of successful Persona 4 and Persona 5 plays, and even a Steins;Gate play where the audience votes on the ending, like a collective visual novel. Funnily enough, one of the more respected and skillful productions is the 2009 all-women's Phoenix Wright musical. Anyway, love the Ducks, keep up the good work.
Robert M Fenner
2023-11-18 10:34:29 +0000 UTCI just want to thank both of you for making my work nights easy to get through. I discovered BSC earlier this year. I finished up all of the free episodes and joined patreon to continue with Sekiro . I am now halfway through the Elden Ring episodes. I have listened to select episodes of WOFF. Every episode i listen to makes me want to replay the game. I hope to hear an episode on Wasteland 3 at some point.
Chris
2023-11-18 00:17:59 +0000 UTCHey guys! With the holidays upon us, I’m spending much more time on the road delivering packages and have been spending that time listening to older Duckfeed shows. I really enjoyed Heartbeat City and I’m working through File Under Water, along with all of the REM albums for the first time. This got me thinking. Have there been any shows that you guys have thought of that never came to be? Any of them make it to planning or even a recording? You guys are amazing with every show and I look forward to listening to Real Lich Hours. Thanks!
Steven Riddle
2023-11-17 23:03:47 +0000 UTCI feel like 2023 has been one of the best years on record for new games coming out. What was your favorite new game that was released this year, and what was your favorite 'older' game (made before 2023) that you played for the first time?
Greg Polander
2023-11-17 22:21:04 +0000 UTCI haven't really thought about this in a while, but it came up on an episode I listened to recently. Has J.G.Greer ever mentioned receiving any confusing and/or annoying emails? In case you forgot: that's the default mail address Gary recites whenever he doesn't want anybody to correct him.
Robert Lützner
2023-11-17 21:55:26 +0000 UTCHeya cool guys, I just had to drive from Illinois to Tennessee and the passenger in charge of the aux cord decided to play a playlist of the worst songs ever, real fun time as you would expect. What is the worst song y’all have ever heard? What’s your favorite song people generally hate?
Jordan and Maya M.
2023-11-17 21:39:49 +0000 UTCHi guys! The recent months of WOFF have been some incredible content and discussion. For a question, I wanted to ask: what are some of your favorite running jokes or examples of shorthand between the two of you? "There's a problem with the bathroom" is something I find myself muttering in the day-to-day. How do you feel about the dialect you've developed as a creative partnership, and do you ever worry it presents a barrier to new listenership? Keep up the great work!
Glukeose
2023-11-17 21:34:04 +0000 UTCThe semi-recent news that Fables author Bill Willingham was attempting to make his comics public domain led to me discovering he holds some pretty vile right wing views. Why do you think the comics industry, compared to other forms of art, has such a prevalence of awful people? Is Alan Moore on to something with his “superheroes are fascist power fantasies” comments?
Ben Sapatka
2023-11-17 20:22:55 +0000 UTCWhat's the price point on Patreon so we can get a limited run podcast of every episode of Rubik the Amazing Cube? You're delight was infectious.
Eric Jedraszczak
2023-11-17 19:49:57 +0000 UTCI love having the premium feed and the public combo, as I listen to probably 95% of your episodes. Occasionally, there's a show or episode that I *don't* listen to. For example, I’ve not yet gotten into the Venture Bros., but when I eventually do, I’ll listen to ORB from the back catalog. I have my podcast player auto-download new episodes, as I frequently find myself on a subway or other areas with poor cell service, so having all of my podcasts already downloaded is convenient. I’m guessing each of these downloads counts as a "listen" in your stats. My question: Should I and other listeners avoid pre-downloading all shows if we don't listen to every one of them? I’d hate for my habits to pollute your statistics, especially around making decisions based on which shows perform well. It's possible that we're a statistically insignificant few who use podcasts players this way, but I wanted to ask publicly so we can get your take and learn a bit more about how listener counts affect future show and episode planning. Keep up the great work!
Michael Liberatore
2023-11-17 19:19:07 +0000 UTCHello, new patron from germany here! A little bit late to the party, but I just listened to the Lisa The Painful WOFF - First of all: what a great, thorough and well thought out episode! Gary very understandably stated that he disliked the narrative of children of addiction, that are doomed to turn to addicts themselves. That made me think of one of my favourite tv-shows: bojack horseman, a show that heavily plays with that narrative. This got me wondering: how do you guys feel about Bojack Horseman? Best wishes! PS: the german autocorrect function on my phone keeps on trying to turn "that" into "thatcher" - what the fuck?
Marius Magaard
2023-11-17 18:13:17 +0000 UTCHey guys. One of my favorite shows on the network was File Under Water. As a huge fan of the music pods that Scott Aukermann and Adam Scott do, I was very happy to find that my Duckfeed boys have a show with a similar concept. Can’t help but wonder if there is another band that you guys would consider doing for an additional season of that show?
The Accident Channel
2023-11-17 17:52:42 +0000 UTCHow do you guys feel about games getting better over their lifecycle? I am thinking of cyberpunk and it’s recent 2.0 update and awesome phantom liberty dlc. This game is in my top 5 now but when it released I couldn’t have been more disappointed. No Man’s Sky is also lousy with content nowadays and tons of fun.
Soulful Bison
2023-11-17 17:50:41 +0000 UTCWhat is your favorite media you can't recommend to people in good conscience, be it for content or other reasons. For me, I love the Wheel of Time books, but recommending a 15 book series to a fellow human being is basically an act of violence in and of itself.
Kyle S.
2023-11-17 17:36:13 +0000 UTCHey guys, Magnolia’s always been used as a shorthand on the network, and though I kinda gleaned what you meant I finally watched it sort of recently. With the return of BQV I’ve been relistening to that show and listening to the season 2 episodes I’m left wondering. Do you guys like Magnolia? Personally I loved it (the Goodbye Stranger scene is a particular highlight) but it’s way too goddamn long. Oblibabory thanks for da shows
Eli Leslie
2023-11-17 17:31:56 +0000 UTCWhat is a piece of media you consumed when you were younger that was foundational to your sense of right and wrong, and why?
Doug Lief
2023-11-17 17:28:58 +0000 UTCWhat are yalls favorite games to play during the holiday season?
Patrick Swearingen
2023-11-17 17:28:44 +0000 UTC
