Kinda Funny Gamescast — August 15, 2025

Episode Title: Hot Take: Insomniac Should Stop Making Spider-Man
Hosts: Roger Pokorny & Blessing Adeoye Jr.
Notable Guests/Voicemails: Multiple community hot takes discussed

Overview

This episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast is all about hot takes from the Kinda Funny community. Roger and Blessing dive into listeners' spiciest (and sometimes not-so-spicy) gaming opinions, debate their merits, and are forced to take a hard stance: 100% agree or 100% disagree. Expect lively, candid debate with plenty of Kinda Funny’s signature irreverence, lots of laughter, and deep dives into major trends and controversies in gaming.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The “Hot Take” Format & Rules

• The episode pivots away from the usual format: instead of the hosts pitching hot takes, they're tackling audience submissions.
• Rule: No fence-sitting; they must wholly agree or disagree with each take.
  • Roger: “We refuse to give judgments within the gray area. We will each either 100% or 100%—100% agree or 100% disagree.” (09:05)
  • Blessing: “I don't know if you've ever listened to any of my opinions. I love the gray area.” (09:25)

2. Fortnite’s Effect on the Industry

Hot Take: "Fortnite ruined the game industry." (Andy, 10:16)

• Main Points:

  • Fortnite’s financial success changed what companies expect from games.
  • The crossover craze and borrowed features ("thievery") have diluted uniqueness and pushed companies to chase trends.
  • Missed opportunity for unique licensed games as big properties chose Fortnite crossovers over their own games.

• Blessing (leans agree, 12:01):
  “I agree 100%. I mean, I don't 100%... I agree with a lot of what he said... As far as it being the number one enemy, I don't think so, but I do think there’s a legitimacy to the impact that Fortnite had.”

• Roger (disagrees, 14:10):
  “I 100% disagree. I don't think that Fortnite is the number one enemy, and I think that we're looking at this incorrectly, like Fortnite is kind of the scapegoat.”

• Discussion Highlights:

  • Fortnite as the “McDonald’s of gaming” (Roger’s analogy).
  • Both agree the trend would’ve happened regardless, due to the direction of online and free-to-play gaming.

Memorable Quote:
Roger: “It’s almost like blaming the entirety of obesity in America on McDonald’s...” (14:13)

3. Microtransactions Saved Video Games?

Hot Take: "If it weren't for microtransactions, we'd get almost no new games." (Mic Drop, 18:50)

• Mic Drop’s Argument:
  Microtransactions allowed the business to survive and are why we have as many games as we do.

• Blessing (disagrees, 19:45):
  “Did it save the industry? No. I think games would have just gotten more expensive.”

• Roger (disagrees, 20:32):
  “I 100% disagree... I am so interested in the alternate universe of what the world would look like if we didn’t have microtransactions... it also hurt a lot of the games industry, specifically when it comes to original video games that are just not made nowadays.”

• Further Discussion:

  • Microtransactions prolonged $60 price point.
  • Roger dives into the dangers of gambling mechanics in games (Counter-Strike, loot boxes).
  • Blessing on trade-offs: “I think microtransactions are what you do with them... probably are [a] net evil thing, but depending on the game, they can be useful.”

Notable Quote:
Roger: “If you’re allowing people to sell it [loot] for real money and then people get addicted on making money off of your virtual thing, you’re going straight to hell. That is evil shit right there.” (28:09)

4. Fighting Games Aren’t That Hard

Hot Take: “Fighting games are not that hard to learn.” (Claw Master, 31:47)

• Blessing (agrees, 33:00):
  “I think fighting games, especially the modern ones, have given so many good tutorials and tools... I ultimately agree.”

• Roger (disagrees, 34:53):
  “Sure, it is easier to get into it, but every time I get into it... my brain is just not built like that... once you start telling me to add things, it just doesn’t work for me.”

• Key Points:

  • Blessing argues modern fighting games are more accessible than ever.
  • Roger feels action games are easier and fighting games’ required coordination just doesn’t click.

5. Mouse Cursors in Console Games

Hot Take: “Fake mouse cursors in console games must go.” (Samson, 39:53)

• Both strongly agree these UI elements break immersion, are slow and annoying, and that a dedicated console UI is always better.

• Roger: “Destiny ruined the video game industry with this.” (40:53)

• Blessing: “The mouse cursor always, it’s discouraging when it comes up... it’s slow and there’s no setting for it.” (41:37)

6. Should Insomniac Stop Making Marvel Games?

Hot Take: “Insomniac was better making original games than Marvel games, Spider-Man is safe, derivative, and should end.” (Barista Brand, 42:02)

• Blessing (disagrees, 43:03):
  “I 100% disagree. I think Insomniac is at the peak of their powers with Spider-Man... are you gonna sit here and tell me resistance is more worth their time than Spider-Man?”

• Roger (agrees, 44:07):
  “I 100% agree with this take. I do think... they are locked into this world now of Marvel and... we’ve all seen the leaks, we all see what they’re working on in the next 15 years.”

• Key Points:

  • Blessing argues Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank best display studio's talents.
  • Roger laments loss of original ideas, feeling Spider-Man 2 was a disappointment, and worries being locked to Marvel stifles creativity.
  • Debates on whether Insomniac’s created worlds (Ratchet, Sunset Overdrive) are as compelling as the Marvel ones.

Memorable Quote:
Roger: “This is a very unique studio... I like creative studios doing unique things that they've created.” (44:32)

7. Political Content in Games Now vs. Then

Hot Take: “Games aren’t more political now; they’re less political. Examples: Sonic was an eco-terrorist.” (Unnamed, 53:02)

• Epic narrative delivered by listener, using Sonic’s ‘90s anti-corporate themes vs. sanitized modern Sonic.

• Roger: “100% agree on my side. Yeah, I agree.” (55:06)

• Blessing refuses to take it seriously but enjoys the artistry of the submission.

• After the hot take, Barrett brings up recent examples (modern Wolfenstein, Mafia III) as games that did tackle heavy political themes.

8. Ray Tracing is Overrated

Hot Take: “Ray tracing is overrated for consoles; it’s mostly a marketing gimmick and not worth the performance cost.” (K, 57:48)

• Blessing (agrees):
  “I agree. I think ray tracing is overrated. Cause every single time... this lighting looks incredible... and I look into it and it’s not ray tracing.” (58:56)

• Roger (agrees):
  “We're just kind of pushing our hardware just to push our hardware... sometimes ray tracing creates a weird look... I’m not sold on ray tracing.” (59:09)

9. Retro Gaming Elitism

Hot Take (Super Chat): “People who play retro games they didn’t play as kids, not for history, are tryhard posers.” (ICwiener, 60:55)

• Both mostly disagree but appreciate the “heat” of the take.
• Blessing: “Cause why you playing that?... But I also disagree, I disagree in the sense that I didn’t grow up—like, can’t be curious about a game and try it out?”

10. Remasters Are Good

Hot Take (Super Chat): “Remasters that add 60fps and DualSense features are worth it.” (Guitar Hero Arrow, 63:03)

• Not actually a hot take among the panel; both supportive.
• Roger: “I 100% agree with their take. There’s nothing wrong with that.” (64:01)

11. Supergiant Was Better Pre-Hades

Hot Take (Super Chat): “Supergiant was better when they were making Bastion and Transistor.” (Norman Vadabankur, 64:41)

• Strong disagreement, especially from Blessing.

12. Spiritual Successors Are Overrated

Hot Take (Super Chat): “Spiritual successors are boring compared to what inspired them—just full of references.” (Koba, 65:37)

• Blessing agrees, especially bringing up ukulele as an example, but others push back and note exceptions like Stardew Valley.

13. Shooter Esports Are Boring

Hot Take (Super Chat): “Shooter esports are not fun to watch, Pokémon is better.” (Dante the Cleric, 68:41)

• The hosts largely agree or don’t push back: fighting games are their preferred spectator esport.

14. Kojima Is a Prankster

Hot Take: “All Kojima games are one giant bit, there’s no real gameplay.” (Colin Berry, 69:36)

• The hosts are baffled but largely disagree, with Roger: “100% disagree... I just appreciate that...” (70:28)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Blessing, on Fortnite & trends:
  “Fortnite is kind of just a result of where online has gone, where trends were going.” (17:00)

• Roger, on microtransactions:
  “This is gonna get real and a little bit dark here is that the side of microtransactions that we should be fucking angry about... is gambling.” (25:10)

• Blessing, on mouse cursors:
  “The mouse cursor always. It's discouraging when it comes up... I gotta drag this thing across the screen to change my gear. Yuck. Get the fuck outta here.” (41:37)

• Roger, on Insomniac’s future:
  “They’re just locked into being the Marvel studio. It’s way less interesting to me as a studio.” (44:21)

• Sonic Eco-Terrorist Hot Take:
  “That’s right. Sonic the Black Block anarchist. He took one look at those death egg factories and what do you think he did? Did he call his member of Congress? Did he donate to the Sierra Club? No. That’s Mario shit.” (53:33)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Opening & Hot Take Rules | 00:00 – 09:50 | | Fortnite Ruined Games | 10:16 – 18:35 | | Microtransactions Debate | 18:50 – 29:00 | | Fighting Games—Hard or Not | 31:41 – 39:53 | | Mouse Cursors Suck | 39:53 – 42:02 | | Insomniac & Marvel Debate | 42:02 – 52:17 | | Games Are Less Political Now | 53:02 – 56:14 | | Ray Tracing is Overrated | 57:48 – 60:31 | | Super Chat Hot Takes | 60:38 – 73:25 | | Kojima "Big Prank" | 69:36 – 72:58 |

Tone & Style

• Language: Casual, humorous, irreverent, self-deprecating; hosts freely tangent and riff, but always return to deep, well-considered analysis.
• Dynamic: Mix of serious critique and friendly ribbing, with all hot takes evaluated earnestly (even when obviously outlandish).
• Audience Engagement: Strong—lots of references to listener submissions, chat commentary, and super chats.

Conclusion

A quintessential Kinda Funny episode blending wild community opinions with sharp commentary and industry perspective. Whether dissecting Fortnite’s influence, the value of microtransactions, or pondering if Insomniac should break free from Spider-Man, the hosts bring both heat and insight—never settling for a “safe” opinion. If you want a pulse on gaming’s current debates (with laughs), this is unmissable.