Podcast Summary: The Besties – Episode "UFO 50 with Special Guest Jason Schreier!"

Release Date: September 27, 2024
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
Special Guest: Jason Schreier
Podcast Description: "It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends – Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, and Russ Frushtick – rank and review their favorite video games. Because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?"

1. Introduction to UFO 50

The episode kicks off with Griffin McElroy humorously admitting a mix-up regarding the game of the week. Initially, he discusses "USO 50," a comedy-centric game where players perform for military heroes, which he mentions has a surprising depth by stating, “I did platinum it, so is that worth anything?" (00:19).

Quote:

Griffin McElroy [00:19]: "I did platinum it, so is that worth anything?"

The hosts quickly rectify the confusion, confirming that "UFO 50" is indeed the correct game of the week. They introduce Jason Schreier, a renowned gaming journalist, who humorously interjects into the conversation, highlighting his knack for being present on every call:

Chris Plante [01:14]: "This is how he gets the scoops. He's just on every call."

2. Deep Dive into UFO 50

UFO 50 is an ambitious compilation of 50 retro-style games developed by UFOsoft, a fictional company. The hosts explore the nostalgic essence of the NES era embedded within the collection, discussing how each game reflects the quirky and experimental nature of early video game development.

Notable Games Discussed:

• Barbuda:
  Often criticized by the hosts for its unforgiving gameplay, Russ illustrates its challenging nature:

  Russ Frostchick [16:10]: "The very first game in the package. It is incredibly unwelcoming because you move at a snail's pace..."

  Griffin adds a humorous take on its difficulty:

  Griffin McRoy [08:45]: "I think it's impossible that you can say that authoritatively."

• More Tall:
  Praised for its innovative mechanics, Russ describes it as a side-scrolling platformer where players sacrifice soldiers to create platforms, likening it to "Dark Lemmings."

  Russ Frostchick [20:05]: "It's probably my favorite from a design perspective."

• Pilot Quest:
  A hybrid between idle and strategy games, Justin delves into its complexity and unique timer mechanics:

  Justin Bakker [11:21]: "You should play this one first because it is an idle game, but it only works while you're actively playing the UFO 50."

• Valbrace & Minion Max:
  Griffin and Justin provide insights into these games, emphasizing their depth and engaging gameplay loops.

3. Navigating the 50 Games Challenge

The hosts discuss the inherent challenge of managing and enjoying a collection of 50 distinct games. Justin expresses his struggle with balancing time investment against derived pleasure, questioning the game's design:

Justin Bakker [02:15]: "I think I am in this weird spot where even if I enjoy a game pretty well, I start to think, like, I wonder if I would enjoy other ones more."

Russ shares his strategy of dedicating short play sessions across multiple games to identify favorites, ultimately narrowing his focus to about 15 games:

Russ Frostchick [24:34]: "I went through over the course of several days and played 20 minutes of every game... by the end of the 50 I had about 15 games."

Quote Highlight:

Jason Schreier [13:54]: "It's really cool. It's like a history book."

4. Special Guest: Jason Schreier on Blizzard Entertainment

Jason Schreier takes center stage, discussing his upcoming book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall and Future of Blizzard Entertainment." He delves into the intricate history of Blizzard, detailing its golden years, cultural shifts, and the impact of Activision's acquisition.

Key Points:

• Blizzard's Evolution:
  Jason outlines Blizzard's journey from a tight-knit group of childhood friends creating games to a massive corporation grappling with internal and external pressures.

• Activision's Influence:
  He explains the tension between Blizzard's creative autonomy and Activision's corporate demands, particularly highlighting the failed Titan project:

  Jason Schreier [58:04]: "The game that was supposed to be the next big thing from Blizzard... due to mismanagement... was canceled."

• Cultural Dynamics:
  Discussing workplace dynamics, Jason touches on how Blizzard's predominantly male culture faced challenges as the company grew and diversified, leading to cultural and managerial issues.

Quote:

Jason Schreier [55:48]: "It's hard to kind of sum it all up in these sweeping terms, as fun as it is from a narrative point of view."

Additional Highlights:

• Crunch Culture:
  Jason teases a story about the culture of crunch at Blizzard, stating:

  Jason Schreier [43:02]: "I'm working on a story about a culture of crunch@ufosoft."

• Personal Anecdotes:
  The hosts and Jason share light-hearted banter about his reputation in the industry, with Griffins humorously urging him to connect with his wife or girlfriend to divulge more insights.

5. The Hosts' Interactions and Banter

Throughout the episode, the camaraderie among the hosts shines through. They engage in playful teasing, especially directed at Jason Schreier, balancing in-depth discussions with humor.

Examples:

• Justin jokes about Jason being a "press sneak fuck," which evolves into a humorous badge of honor:

  Justin Bakker [59:22]: "If it was me, I'd get a tattoo."

• The hosts also share personal recommendations and discuss other media, such as movies on Netflix, enhancing the episode's conversational flow.

6. Closing Remarks and Future Episodes

As the episode winds down, the hosts thank their patrons and promote upcoming content, including:

• Resties Episode:
  A review of "Dead Rising Remastered."

• Bracket Episode:
  An anticipated segment scheduled for the following month.

• Next Week's Topic:
  Delving into a new Zelda game titled "The Echoes of Wisdom."

Final Quote:

Griffin McRoy [70:53]: "Next week, be sure to join us again for The Besties, because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?"

Key Takeaways:

• UFO 50's Ambitious Scope:
  The collection offers a nostalgic yet challenging experience, reminiscent of the NES era's experimental spirit.

• Balancing Act:
  Navigating 50 distinct games requires strategic time management and selective focus to fully appreciate each title's uniqueness.

• Jason Schreier's Insights:
  His discussion provides a deep dive into Blizzard Entertainment's complex history, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on one of gaming's most influential companies.

• Engaging Host Dynamics:
  The episode exemplifies the chemistry among The Besties, blending informative dialogue with humor and personal anecdotes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Griffin McRoy [00:19]: "I did platinum it, so is that worth anything?"
• Chris Plant [01:14]: "This is how he gets the scoops. He's just on every call."
• Russ Frostchick [16:10]: "The very first game in the package. It is incredibly unwelcoming because you move at a snail's pace..."
• Jason Schreier [13:54]: "It's really cool. It's like a history book."
• Jason Schreier [55:48]: "It's hard to kind of sum it all up in these sweeping terms, as fun as it is from a narrative point of view."
• Jason Schreier [43:02]: "I'm working on a story about a culture of crunch@ufosoft."
• Justin Bakker [59:22]: "If it was me, I'd get a tattoo."

This episode of The Besties masterfully blends in-depth analysis of the UFO 50 game collection with insightful discussions on gaming industry dynamics, particularly through the lens of Jason Schreier's expertise. The hosts’ engaging interactions and the guest’s contributions provide listeners with both entertainment and valuable information, making it a standout episode for gaming enthusiasts.