Game Scoop! Episode 800 Summary: Wonder Woman's Amazonian Adventure Axed

Release Date: February 27, 2025
Hosts: Damon Hatfield, Nick Limone, Sam Claiborne, Mark Medina
Podcast: IGN & Geek Media's Game Scoop!

1. Episode Milestone and Introduction

Celebrating its 800th episode and 100th as part of the Game Scoop series, Game Scoop! 800: Wonder Woman's Amazonian Adventure Axed kicks off with enthusiasm from host Damon Hatfield and the core team—Nick Limone, Sam Claiborne, and Mark Medina.

[02:25] Damon Hatfield: "This is our 800th episode. This is the 100th episode of Game Scoop which is absolutely insane."

The hosts express gratitude towards longtime listeners and tease the week’s topics: the unexpected cancellation of the Wonder Woman game, insights into Avowed, and an engaging game of Video Game 20 Questions.

2. Cancellation of Wonder Woman Game and Monolith Productions' Closure

The episode dives straight into the shocking news: Warner Brothers has canceled the highly-anticipated Wonder Woman game and subsequently shut down its developer, Monolith Productions.

[03:54] Nick Limone: "That was monologue wow with actual canon about the Matrix universe."

Monolith Productions, known for successful titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, has a storied history dating back to 1997 with games such as Blood and the Fear series.

[03:54] Damon Hatfield: "Their first game was Blood on PC and they did the Fear games... They did the Matrix Online."

The hosts reminisce about Monolith's innovative contributions, particularly the Nemesis System—an AI-driven mechanic that created dynamic enemy relationships within games.

[08:41] Nick Limone: "They're excellent, they feel good to play and there's just a perfect power fantasy game."

Sam Claiborne highlights the Nemesis System's legacy:

[07:22] Sam Claiborne: "...the fact that this Nemesis system... it's just really sad to lose that because I don't think we're going to get it replaced in anything."

3. Impact on the Gaming Industry and Developer Community

The cancellation marks a significant blow to the gaming landscape, as Monolith was a pioneer in open-world and AI-driven game design. The hosts express concern over potential loss of innovation within Warner Brothers Games.

[09:46] Nick Limone: "It seems like there's a lot of things that might be affecting something that they have no control over, and that's always a bummer."

Sam emphasizes the difficulty in rebuilding such a talented team:

[11:00] Sam Claiborne: "They were all working on games... they're just really feeling it, you know? Like, it just... it feels terrible."

4. State of Warner Brothers Games

Discussion shifts to the broader challenges facing Warner Brothers Games, including recent shutdowns of other studios like Player First Games and WB San Diego. The hosts critique Warner Brothers' strategic direction, noting a shift towards "sure wins" and live-service models.

[09:03] Mark Medina: "...currencies have gotten so high that they have to cut all this experimentation... we're seeing it with PlayStation a lot right now, too."

Nick adds a layer of speculation regarding internal conflicts influencing these decisions:

[09:46] Nick Limone: "It feels like there is this left hand not talking to the right and vice versa."

Sam laments the loss of creative experiments within the company:

[09:46] Sam Claiborne: "They're all working on games... it's just really sad to lose that."

5. Positive Shift: Avowed Discussion

Transitioning from the somber news, the conversation lightens as Damon shares his growing enthusiasm for Avowed, an upcoming title from Obsidian Entertainment.

[21:46] Damon Hatfield: "I'm really liking Avowed. I was a little bit lukewarm, but the switches flipped where I'm thinking about it during the day..."

The trio discusses gameplay mechanics, character companions, and the immersive open-world experience that Avowed promises.

[24:08] Nick Limone: "I love that the game doesn't have enemy scaling so that you can accidentally wander into an area where enemies will kick your ass..."

Mark praises the game's combat feel:

[24:42] Mark Medina: "...it just feels good. The melee feels great in that game."

6. Video Game 20 Questions Segment

In the interactive segment, the team attempts to guess a listener-submitted game through a series of questions. The suggested game, Mini Ninjas, proves challenging, highlighting the diverse and sometimes obscure preferences within the gaming community.

[74:44] Mark Medina: "This is Mini Ninjas."

Despite numerous attempts, the hosts struggle to identify the game, ultimately revealing it and reflecting on its unique place in the audience’s gaming history.

[78:17] Nick Limone: "Mini Ninjas. I don’t think anyone would have gotten this one."

7. March 1992 Issue of Nintendo Power Review

Damon presents an analysis of the March 1992 issue of Nintendo Power, offering nostalgia and insights into the gaming culture of the early '90s. The discussion covers:

• Cover Art and Featured Games: Examination of the Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening cover and other NES, Game Boy, and Super Nintendo titles featured.

  [46:14] Damon Hatfield: "...they have an ad for the Super Scope 6."

• Reader Contributions: Highlighting fan art and letters, such as parents painting Mario scenes on their child’s bedroom walls.

  [48:03] Damon Hatfield: "Christian, DJ actually live in Super Mario Brothers world. ... we still spend time squashing creatures, dueling monsters..."

• Nintendo Power Awards '91: Overview of award categories and nominees, reflecting the popular games of that era.

  [60:49] Mark Medina: "Best overall Super Nintendo was Super Mario World, Final Fantasy 2, Final Fight, and SimCity..."

The team shares personal anecdotes and fond memories associated with the games featured, enriching the review with a sense of shared history.

[43:19] Nick Limone: "Final Fantasy 2 is up there. Probably because it looks dramatically different from Final Fantasy 1 NES."

8. Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, the hosts invite listeners to continue engaging with Game Scoop! and share their thoughts and questions for future segments.

[77:00] Damon Hatfield: "Viewers, listeners, if you have your own suggestions for video game 20 questions, email them to me at gamescoopgn.com..."

They express excitement for future episodes and gratitude towards their team and listeners, cementing Game Scoop!'s place as a cornerstone in the gaming podcast community.

[77:36] Damon Hatfield: "Thank you to Tayo and everyone working behind the scenes to make this episode possible."

Notable Quotes

• [02:25] Damon Hatfield: "This is our 800th episode. This is the 100th episode of Game Scoop which is absolutely insane."

• [07:22] Sam Claiborne: "...the fact that this Nemesis system... it's just really sad to lose that because I don't think we're going to get it replaced in anything."

• [21:46] Damon Hatfield: "I'm really liking Avowed. I was a little bit lukewarm, but the switches flipped where I'm thinking about it during the day..."

• [24:08] Nick Limone: "I love that the game doesn't have enemy scaling so that you can accidentally wander into an area where enemies will kick your ass."

• [24:42] Mark Medina: "...it just feels good. The melee feels great in that game."

• [02:06] Nick Limone: "I'm back, baby."

• [03:54] Nick Limone: "That was monologue wow with actual canon about the Matrix universe."

• [42:27] Nick Limone: "You gotta play Link to the Past. You gotta do it."

This episode of Game Scoop! masterfully balances critical industry news with passionate discussions on beloved games, providing listeners with both insightful analysis and heartfelt nostalgia.