Podcast Summary: Smosh Mouth – S1: #7 - The Return of Smosh Games

Hosts: Mari Takahashi, Ian Hecox, Lasercorn
Release Date: April 3, 2019

1. Introduction and Return of Smosh Games (00:00 - 02:15)

The episode opens with friendly banter among the hosts, Mari, Ian, and Lasercorn. Ian introduces the primary focus of the episode: the revival of Smosh Games.

• Ian Hecox: Announces the return of Smosh Games, emphasizing the unity of the Smosh family.
  "There's no reason why we look at Smosh and Smosh Games as any different." (00:04)

• Excitement About the Revival: The hosts express their enthusiasm about returning to gaming content, specifically hinting at playing Mortal Kombat.
  "Smosh Games is coming back April 10th." (02:04)

2. Nostalgia and the Evolution of Gaming Channels (02:15 - 06:10)

The conversation shifts to reminiscing about the early days of Smosh Games and the games they previously played together.

• Mortal Kombat Memories: Mari recalls playing Mortal Kombat at the old Sacramento studio, highlighting the humorous attempts at creating "fatalities" with basic editing tools.
  "The person that lost got fatality." (02:31)

• Transition from Clever Games: Discussion about the disappearance of Clever Games, an early Smosh gaming channel, and the acquisition of its URLs by Smosh after Defy's closure.
  "Clever Games is gone. And I... someone erased it." (03:26)

3. Old Internet Properties and Defy Closure (06:10 - 15:02)

The hosts delve into the history of various online properties previously managed by Defy, the former parent company.

• Acquisition of Defy's URLs: Ian explains how Smosh acquired numerous Defy-owned URLs, some of which had controversial or outdated connotations.
  "We got breaksucks.com. We got a lot of really sexist, weird URLs..." (05:09)

• Impact of Defy's Management: Critique of Defy's strategy to segregate Smosh main and Smosh Games, treating them as separate entities for easier marketing, which led to a disconnect within the Smosh family.
  "There shouldn't be so much of a separation. That's what I want to do going forward." (73:53)

4. Current Gaming Landscape: Fortnite vs Apex Legends (11:10 - 15:18)

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the dominance of Fortnite in the gaming industry and its comparison to Apex Legends.

• Fortnite's Ubiquity: The hosts express their frustration with Fortnite's widespread popularity, especially among younger audiences, and its impact on other games.
  "There's nothing more frustrating to me than going to shoot someone and having a clear line of sight and getting, like, one shot off and then a wall instantly appears in front of me." (12:26)

• Apex Legends as an Alternative: Ian shares his preference for Apex Legends, hoping it can capture a similar audience without the drawbacks he associates with Fortnite.
  "Fun sight of Apex Legends overtaking them... we can enjoy Apex Legends." (12:17)

5. Mobile Gaming and Social Media (15:18 - 26:38)

The conversation shifts to mobile gaming trends and the role of social media platforms like Instagram.

• Mobile Gaming Preferences: The hosts discuss their limited engagement with mobile games, contrasting with Mari's extensive travel experiences and how it influences her gaming interests.
  "I have like two games and then I have a Kindle full of books." (15:51)

• Instagram Habits and Gestures: Lasercorn humorously shares his risky habit of checking Instagram while his wife is around, leading to exaggerated discussions about following cosplayers and the recurring joke about "double fist cucumbers."
  "Opening Instagram when my wife is around is always a huge risk because I follow cosplays." (15:15)

6. Personal Stories: Travel, Lobbying, and Identity (26:38 - 59:53)

Mari shares her recent travels, including lobbying for NASA on behalf of Bill Nye's Planetary Society, and reflects on the importance of being well-rounded and experiencing different cultures.

• Lobbying for NASA: Mari recounts her experience advocating for continued NASA funding, emphasizing her role as a private citizen interested in space exploration.
  "I went on behalf of Bill Nye's organization, Planetary Society, to talk to our state senators..." (25:43)

• Travel Experiences: Detailed accounts of Mari's visits to Japan, including family celebrations and observations about the country's culture and history, such as Hiroshima's atomic bomb memorials.
  "They have this really cringy, like, announcement video. Right." (11:04)

• Hair Color and Identity: A light-hearted debate ensues about the significance of hair color in personal identity, with Lasercorn considering transitioning back to brown and Mari affirming her love for her purple hair.
  "Don't forget that your outward appearance is the only thing that truly matters." (34:08)

7. Fun Stories and Anecdotes (59:53 - 77:55)

The hosts exchange humorous and personal stories, including Mari's injury while inside a hamster ball with a GoPro and Lasercorn's involvement in Lasercorn's unique identity.

• Mari's Injury Story: Mari narrates how she almost broke her nose while inside a hamster ball during a party, highlighting the unpredictable nature of their adventures.
  "I went back and I'm like, yeah, I did it, cuz, you know..." (65:07)

• Lasercorn’s Identity Struggles: A playful discussion about Lasercorn's real name vs. his persona, culminating in humorous imaginings of Lasercorn in old age fighting with mech robots.
  "Your identity's solely rests on how you look." (34:08)

8. Conclusion and Future Plans (77:55 - End)

As the episode wraps up, Ian emphasizes the importance of unity within the Smosh family post-Defy and reiterates the excitement for the return of Smosh Games.

• Unity and Collaboration: Ian stresses the need to eliminate the separation between Smosh main and Smosh Games, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive environment.
  "We're just a big old family. There shouldn't be a reason why we look at Smosh and Smosh games as any different." (73:53)

• Return of Smosh Games: Final encouragement for listeners to subscribe to Smosh Games, with teasers about upcoming content including exclusive gameplay of Mortal Kombat 11.
  "Mortal Kombat video will be coming out on the 13th. So subscribe to Smosh Games." (69:26)

• Personal Reflections: The hosts reflect on their personal growth, the value of genuine interactions, and the importance of being true to themselves beyond their on-screen personas.
  "Just be yourself. And that's. And that's interesting enough." (77:36)

• Closing Remarks: Light-hearted jokes about future mech battles and continued camaraderie conclude the episode on a humorous and uplifting note.
  "We won't even die in a retirement home. We'll die in the throes of a mech battle." (40:18)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ian Hecox (00:04): "That's what I want to do going forward. You know, we're just a big old family."

• Mari Takahashi (02:31): "Did I get fatalitized?"

• Lasercorn (05:09): "I think we also got breaksucks.com. We got a lot of really sexist, weird URLs..."

• Ian Hecox (12:26): "There's nothing more frustrating to me than going to shoot someone and having a clear line of sight and getting, like, one shot off and then a wall instantly appears in front of me."

• Lasercorn (15:15): "Opening Instagram when my wife is around is always a huge risk because I follow cosplays."

• Mari Takahashi (25:43): "I went on behalf of Bill Nye's organization, Planetary Society, to talk to our state senators..."

• Lasercorn (34:08): "Your outward appearance is the only thing that truly matters."

• Mari Takahashi (65:07): "I went back and I'm like, yeah, I did it, cuz, you know, I was just trying to be the mom."

• Ian Hecox (73:53): "There's no reason why we look at Smosh and Smosh games as any different."

Key Takeaways

• Revival of Smosh Games: Smosh Games is making a strong comeback, aiming to unify the Smosh family under a single, collaborative banner.

• Nostalgic Reflections: The hosts fondly reminisce about the early days of Smosh Games and the evolution of online gaming content.

• Critique of Defy's Management: A critical look at how Defy managed Smosh's various channels, leading to unnecessary separations and loss of original charm.

• Gaming Industry Insights: Discussions highlight the challenges posed by dominant games like Fortnite and the potential for alternatives like Apex Legends.

• Personal Growth and Unity: Emphasis on the importance of genuine interactions, personal experiences, and maintaining unity within the Smosh family post-Defy.

Conclusion:
"Smosh Mouth" Episode #7 serves as both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and a forward-looking announcement of the return of Smosh Games. Through candid conversations, personal anecdotes, and insightful critiques of past management decisions, the hosts underscore the importance of unity, authenticity, and adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of online content creation.