Brandon Jones On Life After Easy Allies - MinnMax Interview

MinnMax's Ben Hanson talks to Brandon Jones, the co-founder of Game Trailers and former editor-in-chief of Easy Allies. They talk about the frustrating days after he sold Game Trailers to a larger company and what it's like to create content for a Patreon like Easy Allies for six years. You can unlock the podcast version of this discussion (and a whole lot more) and help support independent games media by supporting MinnMax on Patreon! / minnmax
You can help support Easy Allies right now here - / easyallies
Follow us on Twitch - / minnmaxshow
Please support us on Patreon - / minnmax
Buy MinnMax merch here - minnmax.com/merch
Follow us on Twitter - / minnmaxshow
Go behind the scenes on Instagram - / minnmaxshow
Become a Game Champion by supporting MinnMax at the $50 tier on Patreon and lock in the game of your choice! / minnmax
Team Fortress 2 - DJDio
Ghost of Tsushima - ProcyonNumber6
Earth Defense Force 2017 - ErinJBear
Jak and Daxter - SteveB
Wordle - PrettyGoodPrinting.com
Spy Fox in: Dry Cereal - Clemens Zobel
Journey - Spider_Dan
BioShock - Maniac
The Addams Family Pinball Machine (Bally, 1992) - Bob Buel
Elite Beat Agents - Divorced Cougar (Mike M)
Snowboard Kids 2 - Tanner
Borderlands - Jawarhello
Viva Piñata - Nickfilo
God Hand - Patrick Polk
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker - Otsego12
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Starkiller

[@minnmax]

Help support independent games media by checking out MinnMax on Patreon, where you can unlock the podcast version of our interviews and more! www.patreon.com/minnmax

[@WackoWambo]

1. Ben Moore Interview please. 2. I learn so much from these interviews that’s applicable to my own career. Thank you Ben.

[@Ceriden]

I imagine you know but for anyone that might find this comment. Ben has basically disappeared. He was offered remote work and turned it down. And it sounds like he has essentially disconnected from the Easy Allies crew. At least if we have anything to go by on the Kyle & Isla talking show Isla mentions that she saw him active on Steam but that's it. So unless they are playing it close to the chest in terms of privacy it appears that Ben just wanted to make a clean break. Don't think there was any falling out, bad blood, but we may never know.

[@Cheesepuff8]

@@Ceriden I found out from this comment, I hadn’t been seeing him in the vids I was watching and didn’t know why, maybe he’s just really busy with family stuff and likes his privacy

[@1mikehart]

Huge fan of Brandon Jones. Been watching his content since the early GT days. Much Love and Respect for that dude.

[@NapoleonBonaparteMAGA]

Same

[@AdonisIsBeast]

He should do VO for the next 30 years. Legendary

[@jamesbrincefield9879]

I was a huge fan of GT back in the day and followed them when they left and formed Easy Allies. The end of the GT era and the first 1-2 years of EZA were something really special. Once Kyle left I mostly stopped watching regularly but still checked in every so often, particularly for E3 and other conferences. Now that E3 is finished, Brandon, Kyle, Brad, and Ben are all gone, and Ian isn’t “Ian” anymore I feel like there isn’t much incentive left to watch. I’m thankful for all the content Jones and the rest of the group has created over the years and I’m glad there are still people who enjoy it, but the charm was lost for me when the core group started to disband. It seems like most of them saw the writing on the wall too. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@FullMetalElectroma]

Nothing but respect for this king

[@TheTovstar]

Jones is a first ballot video game hall of famer, absolute legend

[@joaofreitas2899]

Brandon Jones is the man, hope good things happen for him and his family. Cheers

[@imadetheuniverse4fun]

Dude, this is a fascinatingly insightful interview. Well done to both of you!

[@andymoney6530]

Been waiting for this one for a while, hopefully we’ll get a Ben Moore interview soon

[@MellowFelloh]

Awesome awesome chat. Great video. And Jones I'm sure a bunch of people are itching for you to stream if you have the time. Even just one stream a week of some random game would be such a treat. Glad you're doing well!

[@timeiszzz]

One of the things I realized since online media has become a trend is that people forget that things have to end. Imagine if you will a tv series that ends after 5 seasons. Online media with personalities/producers have trouble ending things. Especially on KZbin. With groups people leave. Dynamics change. Either they end suddenly. Change or fizzle out on the long end.

[@wii58739]

I have watched since the GT days, the vibes changed with EZA it was fun seeing them together again but honestly i havent really been watching that actively ever since Kyle left, huge respect to Brandon though for pulling this off for so many years, its sad that he left. Love and respect Brandon!

[@BoyBlunder66]

Yeah, early EZA was great but as more and more of the originals left the vibe there just changed completely.

[@GamingInTheWild]

What a treat. I miss hearing from Jones. This hit the spot. ❤️

[@ubersoldat91]

These are some of the best. Thanks for all your years of content Jones, and thanks for these great interviews Ben.

[@kylevesa2810]

Was waiting for this to drop, actually was thinking it might take longer but today was a great day for it. There is at least a good amount of GT videos still on the youtube GT archive but of course still missing stuff. Though for me the Retrospectives will always be something I remember, also something I watch now and again when working on my game, even though EZA only did a few retros I still appreciate they are out there. As well as seeing many other channels pop with retrospective style content.

[@sebastianmauritzell6072]

Yeah the Final Fantasy retrospective id top tier content. Also gotta shout out Timeline that Damiani worked on (the Kingdom Hearts one especially since that one got me back into the series) and the levels series where Bloodworth would do a deep dive on a specific game level.

[@Nirosis]

I found out about Easy Allies from Ben Hanson's guest appearance on the podcast during the GI days and have loved them ever since. Thanks Ben, I appreciate it.

[@mwmrhdm]

On the other hand I found out about Ben Hanson from the guest appearance he did on Easy Allies and I've been following him ever since.

[@ChrisLT]

I appreciated Brandon's extended goodbye from EZA. A bunch of shows and podcasts and his outgoing cups. Dude deserves nothing but the best. Total opposite of how the Jeff Gerstmann/GB divorce went down.

[@stonehorn4641]

Gertsman didn't have a choice in that.

[@sincerlyeric6585]

Wait. What happened with JeffG and them? I knew a few announcements went through in a weird way but never saw the JeffG reasons.

[@ChrisLT]

@@sincerlyeric6585 No one knows, not worth speculating. He was just gone one day. I only mentioned it since they opened with a Jeff G. impression.

[@seangocongo8169]

I loved this. I've been a Patreon member of MinnMax for over 2 years now and I have to say I'm very happy with how the company has evolved. I can't imagine how hard it is to feel like you need to please so many people, but personally I find the most enjoyable thing is seeing so many people doing what they love for a career. So, no matter where things go, as long as you guys seem like you're having fun, I'm down.

[@GroundPunch2]

this was such a gooooood interview, Ben - nice one 👌

[@Starfals]

Woa, this is a perfect video and timing. I was just missing Brandon, cus he has been gone from Easy Allies for quite sometime now...

[@AverageUser-]

You should have him back to talk more about the Gametrailer days. It’s so interesting to hear everything that went on with that website.

[@wesleylang172]

Jones is a absolute legend

[@SaladXIV]

Very excited for this one thank you Hanson! L&R

[@Maxbeedo2]

Brandon is a good dude with a great voice, a great wife, a great kid, a great dog, who contributed to some great gaming communities, who retired in his 40s. If only we could all be so lucky.

[@Valkyrutn]

The american dream

[@brainfreeze10]

And a great cat!

[@codeninja100]

Brandon Jones is so wholesome. Stopped watch EZA a couple years back but the vibes were immaculate. Enjoy your retirement sir.

[@Sikkasill]

I can literally listen to jones talk all day every day.... Love & Respect

[@jfncho]

the peoples Geoff Keighley. #legend.

[@sebastianmauritzell6072]

Love these interviews Ben! Was really nice to hear Brandon again. Dude is a egend in the industry but I feel like he get somewhat overlooked.

[@alpacachino3647]

Love these interviews, they seem so geniune and Hanson is such a good interviewer, which I think has something to do with him belmg so pasonate as he is.

[@DarkStryder360]

Great video! Could listen to you guys yammer on for hours.

[@quagthias]

I remember when Jones was on a particular episode of Fiasconaughts some of the stuff he'd come up with was so good that I remember thinking that this man needs to write some fiction. Looking forward to a Brandon Jones book someday.

[@QStorm321]

Two legends. Thank you both for taking the time to do this. Glad to hear Brandon is looking into creative writing and best of luck with his family. Hopefully you guys can collaborate again in the near future.

[@forrestbarnes6035]

Jones is the best! Just seems like a genuinely nice guy!

[@aneru9396]

I'm thankful for the joke reviews gametrailers did, those were really fun to watch.

[@Lo-Kag]

Hahah, I was a bit dissapointed when this didn't show up after his departure. Great to see it now

[@archonrex5600]

Best in biz. Hanson & Jones. MinnMax & Easy Allies. *L&R*

[@Frumlock]

A+. Thank you

[@Zeldafan355]

Now yall need Ben Moore on to be the true Easy Allies Exit Interview show.

[@IHJello]

The GT Retrospective VO legend 🙌

[@mhjmstultiens]

"Oh, they went HD!" Haha, love it.

[@danielcarrasco5251]

This interview is interesting to me because it's only been about fifteen minutes since he left

[@beng6149]

7:03 WAIT.. MinnMax is like that because Minnesota...wtf

[@hugokalm]

Love and respect for Brandon and Easy Allies 🙏❤️

[@christrengrove]

pretty sure the garage design comment was me... lol

[@jperezacosta]

Name of the song at the endddd

[@Le_Samourai]

this is starting a bittersweet trend of easyallies members leaving and doing an episode of minnmax. we'll have to get ben on here

[@wideface]

Love & Respect always Jones

[@pellaeon1877]

The Man, The Myth, The Legend!

[@EricJackson]

Love and Respect. Miss you, Jones.

[@archonrex5600]

That ending hahaha you Gents will always be The Best 👍 👍 and shout out Delayed Input!! A+ baby * beep! *

[@AnotherRobotGames]

These interviews are amongst my favorites to watch, period. More often than not, they feel very cathartic. It’s nice to see people exhale after years of holding their breath. I wonder how many folks in the industry want to quit their jobs but don’t because they may feel there’s an expectation to do this interview. I mean, selfishly, there are a few people in the industry I’d like to see quit their jobs for that very reason.

[@tuliobednarczukpecinemisko5606]

Nice talk! I wonder if he was impressed by Keighley's production quality? ;)

[@timothyphan9346]

Holy shit. When Gametrailers ended, I assumed Brandon just moved onto different things. I had NO IDEA he moved to Easy Allies to continue gracing us with his voice. I've got so much to catch up on.

[@Squall2020]

Great interview. Now, on to Dan Tack!!

[@minnmax]

We already did that on an episode of Party Chat.

[@Squall2020]

I feel the man could go on for an hour or more! Just saying. :)

[@Waifu4Life]

Anytime I read a game review, I always have Brandon Jones' voice in my head.

[@samueldanby]

omg the Jeff Gerstmann joke

[@jordandallford]

L&R Jones and Minn Max!

[@elementInfinitium]

Glad you finally wrangled Jones long enough for an interview. Now go back home and be a family man!! Love & Respect!

[@anrkist]

Ben Moore next please!

[@shavedraven]

🥺💜

[@sheepymiix]

Stopped listening to the pod when covid started but I’ve been meaning on going back. Should be interesting to see how he starts to move on from EA

[@Choom89]

Tbh that was a good time to jet. It's not the same anymore. Seeing members leave is bittersweet but it's probably time.

[@DarshUK1]

Jones hype

[@92KevinRafa]

Check out SIFTD Games with the former Editor in Chef of GameTrailers

[@duckhive]

I sometimes wonder if he's done a million voice-overs.

[@tasseiviews2947]

It's Jones!

[@NapoleonBonaparteMAGA]

God bless you Brandon Jones

[@MarkArnoldMusic]

Brandon Jones, The Paul Rudd of Gaming journalism...

[@TheKijib]

Kool

[@joemurray]

[@AverageUser-]

Invite him back to talk about GT

[@louisebrown103]

Can we get one of these 4 ben 2.

[@cybernetichype661]

L&R, Always!

[@cameronpitcher6562]

No one can replace you dude! Have you seen that Ben left as well? Easy allies feels different now. Not bad but just different

[@Ionic457]

epic

[@iXiClub]

I was hoping to hear Jones asked how much he made off that Game Trailers sale back in the day lol. I know you must've thought about it, Hanson 😎

[@Ionic457]

Iirc something north of 2 million

[@iXiClub]

@@Ionic457 Whatttt, that's crazy.

[@joekaf]

I give this video a B+.

[@abel5333]

Fair

[@BullCraftMaxx]

Doesn't he still does Voice Overs on Easy Allies tho?

[@charoleawood]

42:20 Not true, Jones is quite funny. I'm not sure what the title of the video is, but I recall Jones and Bosman telling jokes together or perhaps coming up with creative punchlines and I thought that Jones's jokes were better by a mile. Which is not to say that Bosman is unfunny, he's clearly got talent in the humor department, but Jones is also very witty. And you know what? So is Ben Hanson --- remembering we're here in the comments section of a Minnmax video and not EZA

[@christopherjbsnow]

I'm leaving Bosman a letter grade from now on! 🤣

[@Hexentric8]

I've always had a crush on him

[@64garrett]

The language. Trailer Jones more like Sailor Jones

[@jwconglomerate332]

Oh man, The Voice is retiring, it's the end of an era. I'll never listen to another VO ever again.

[@user-ct8my8rv9c]

I wonder why he left, low view counts maybe had something to do with it?

[@bossdoor]

I think it's messed up that Brandon Jones said that Kyle just stumbled into fame and has a lot to learn. Maybe some of that is true, but calling someones entire career basically a sham is so bitter to me.

[@licka]

He was clearly joking.

[@CorrionReap]

Whoosh goes the joke over some heads

[@ChichiNaka]

Interviews like these, the one Jones did with Colin Moriarty and Cup of Jones are such interesting looks into running a business on Patreon, I feel like EZA went the complete opposite direction of Minnmax and Last Stand Media in that even though everyone came from pretty old fashioned, dated forms of game coverage Minnmax/LSM branched out and adapted to what that could look like in current year while EZA still feels like it has eight fingers in eight different pies, without ever clinging to their best stuff. The sharability of Minnmax/LSM with my friends who might not even be into games 350 days out of the year but throwing them a trivia tower link or a deepest dive has been great, Minnmax also having so many women on the shows has given my friends a lot of unique experiences, like bonding over Sarah's Hamtaro memories

[@dougiehockeym8071]

Ben STOP! I can only feel so guilty for not paying for this :(

[@minnmax]

We're doing everything we can over here!

[@joeyisabsb1]

I dont watch a lot of Minnmax content despite living in the same town as these guys but I still stay subbed and I still watch whenever it tickles my fancy. You can only do so much with everything vying for your attention so watching them, let alone commenting which helps the KZbin algorithm, is in my opinion already showing you support them.

[@Ayoul]

Of course it's not like Ben has hours of the interviewee's time, but I wish he'd ask Jones to elaborate on some of the things he's glossing over. Not that he never did, but around the middle I was like, what's all these stories Jones is alluding to and he'd go on and on from tangent to tangent. Ben would have a confused face just like I did, but they'd move on to another question/topic and I'm sitting here like "wait up, what's all this". I'm sure it's stuff Jones talked about in the past, but not easy to dig up. Other than that nitpick, very fun convo to listen to. As for the amount of people who have heard Jones' voice, it's gotta be millions over the years, but it can't be all that much total. It's not like every view on every review is a new person. GameTrailers and to an even smaller extent EasyA were never all that big. Most reviews would've had a lot of repeat viewers and same things for Easy Allies, a lot of fans to this day and just people who followed them since GT and it would only be a fraction of new viewers for each new review/video.

[@powerstone05]

Jones left?!? and Ben did too?? I'm both quite surprised but also was sort of expecting it. I have to imagine alot of the allies are feeling some amount of fatigue after all these years. I had stopped watching EZA after the fairly hectic summer of 2020. I wouldn't describe it feeling toxic, but it was fairly uncomfortable during podcasts and I didn't feel welcome there anymore. That summer did a large number on everyone unfortunately and I stopped watching at about that time. It was a good run though, and Jones was a wonderful and entertaining individual amongst the Allies. I hope he continues to find happiness in his future endeavors and I thank him for the great times I had with EZA.

[@AgentAika001]

I watch some of the weekly podcasts and their betting specials but don't watch many of their livestreams(unless it's a direct or sony showcase). What was toxic about their content in 2020?

[@liljes34]

What made you feel not welcome? I started getting uncomfortable back then when Ian started pushing vaccines.

[@imadubsfan1]

@@liljes34 Not the OP, but I really only started feeling somewhat uncomfortable once Kyle Bosman left, which was around 2 years ago I think. But things really started ramping up once Brandon left and especially now that Ben Moore is now gone and it's just a shell of it's former self. I still like the rest of the cast overall, especially Michael Huber (aka Hype Man), but yeah things have changed for the worse. You can just feel it. Oh and I do think that Isla has become REALLY unbearable to watch after she revealed her identity change. Since openly admitting it (and all the respect to her really i'm happy for her to be who she wants), but her whole personality and demeanor has completely changed since the reveal. She makes all kinds of sexual jokes now and screams obnoxiously during group streams about hating men (in a joking but still condescending way), also points out hot video game girls she'd like to have sex with every chance she gets, etc. It's just so uncomfortable cause the Easy Allies were never a raunchy kinda group. They're all pretty chill and wholesome overall. So whenever she does that, nobody really reacts to her jokes and stuff and it's just incredibly awkward as hell. And worst of all, she KEEPS on doing it regardless cause now she's more free spirited I guess. Anyways, she's good at her job and I don't hate her per se, but she's become pretty unlikeable to me.

[@abel5333]

@@imadubsfan1 Same Isla is a mood killer, and seems like no one really engages with her humor... I had to turn off some group streams because of her especially the Quarry group stream damn that was rough.

[@Xristophero]

You guys hit the nail on the head, and to be honest I’m a bit sad. I’m no prophet (or am I?), but I could sense the rumblings of change way back before Bosman ever left. I distinctly remember a tonal shift as Kyle and Ian began low key disingenuous religion (although Bosman was respectful) on one of the infrequent shows. From that point onward, the group became less wholesome in general and while it’s to be expected (they’re human, and not my ACTUAL friends), it still hurt to lose a sense of the fleeting “goodness” in the world. I guess that’s what we get for propping up Messiah figures out of ordinary Joes. Easy Allies’ founding and first year of content was legit was the first time I’d ever recaptured that ol’ unadulterated gaming love and zest for life of childhood since entering my 30s and realizing how cruddy the world generally is. When the group made it clear that I’d gotten them wrong, it may be corny - but it hurt. It still does. I had so many memories with these guys over the years, but it feels as if it’s over. Not that I don’t love the remaining guys, but the tonal shift seems permanent. I can get raunchy, abrasive politically innuendo anywhere else. I pray that each of the Allies finds the peace of God since it would seem that each is being haunted by some very real demons (aren’t we all). It was a fun run.

[@kephalai]

minnmax a.k.a easy allies runoff channel.. wonder when ben moore is gonna be on next

[@Darklink1017]

The studio tanked easy allies

[@Jonathan-fw6ty]

"I don't understand people who loved the garage" says the dude who is filming from home. The studio looks sanitised and fake. That's why some people hate it. The vibe of the group clearly changed since then too. It's less "bunch of friends hanging out", and more "workers doing their obligatory streams". Hell, it often feels like nobody wants to be there.

[@Wolfstorm701]

^

[@stonehorn4641]

He's filming from home because he's not a content creator anymore.

[@KOdestroyer]

Hard disagree. The studio has really given them flexibility that they didn't have in the garage

[@ChichiNaka]

@@KOdestroyer I think people confused 'studio' with 'GT Office' people expected them to drop in on each others videos, do full playthroughs at the office where Kyle will drop in before he heads out for the day etc THen immediately the guys were complaining about not wanting to travel into the studio and now it feels most of their content is like, a solo stream from home

[@abel5333]

Grow up

[@Erlaxis]

Love Jones, but I can't wait until he actually rides into the sunset and we can move on from this.