Let Them Smash || CheckPoint 493

[@ojrmk1]

Seeing Graham's customary hirsute-ness begin to return makes me happy. I work for a cancer charity so seeing him having finished, or at least taking a break, from the ordeal is heartening.

[@infinull]

his doctor's declared him cancer free. He announced it on Desert Bus (though I'm having a hard time finding anything besides twitter screenshots when I search for it)

[@utility63]

@@infinull "Graham is Lymphoma-free" is the title of the video. Great news!

[@LexYeen]

@@infinull it's on the Desert Bus youtube channel

[@lexslate2476]

He's bringing hairy back! I do not know if he has a hairy back, though. Probably not at the moment.

[@elfinfluff]

IN fairness, someone going on a DLC buying spree in Watchdogs in 2022 was probably enough of a red flag for them to believe his story.

[@stevethepocket]

Even buying a copy of the game would be mildly suspicious.

[@a-dragon-hoarding-teacups]

I would genuinely be interested in some end-of-year awards from y'all.

[@HeraldBFC]

Honestly with how many games get played on stream, I don't see how they couldn't do even just "X's Fave Game" stuff.

[@dandylionwine]

I haven't seen them give a yearly award to anyone since James gave a sympathetic wince to Casino Royale, so I'm on board for this too.

[@Mac_Omegaly]

It's about time they check those points. The checkies would be great. But the chillies afterwards would be a blast going over the details and the voting of the LLR crew, where the winners got coin tossed. Etc. Also please Cover all the awards no one else will. •Beej's favorite checkpoint story related to a video game award. •The game, five PS5 Paul, picks to make those five PS5's worth the purchase. •Kathleen's I'll kill you with a smile on my face if you don't give this game an award, award. •Graham is fine with this game and you should be too award. •Serg spent too much time playing this game, award. (Sorry I know I missed a bunch of you guys. But you get the point.) Then Three-D print a few Checkpoint logo trophies, and have a blast scripting each one out. Each LRR voter gets to take their trophie home, until desert bus '23.

[@leppaman2719]

Both the GDC Awards and the DICE awards are industry awards. DICE Awards are run by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the exact sort of group Beej was describing.

[@leppaman2719]

Also, while I'm here, disappointed to see so few remember the unanimous ENN Game of the Year 2009: Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (the re-release with the stickers).

[@leppaman2719]

I think about that episode of ENN all the time. To this day one of my favourite LRR videos.

[@stevethepocket]

Imagine a world where hardly anyone has heard of the Oscars but winning Movie of the Year on some trashy TV channel's trailer showcase is considered a major achievement. I don't like what the Oscars have turned into either but holy shit do I not want to live in that world.

[@leppaman2719]

@@stevethepocket You are preaching to the choir. The Game Awards are an embarrassment to the industry as well as the medium. Just thinking about it gets my blood boiling. I've been watching the DICE Awards every year since 2012 (back when they were called "The Interactive Achievment Awards" (I Like this name better)) and I remember the feeling amongst gaming press at the time was that the Spike TV Awards (the TGAs predecessor) where on the way out and the DICE awards were set to take over the limelight. Then TGAs started calling themselves "the oscars of gaming" in all their press and completely stole all of the AIAS' momentum. Such a trashy marketing ploy. Set the medium back years but it worked.

[@flushmastercyclonis186]

Fun fact, the Academy Awards trophy is called the Oscar because while they were trying to come up with a name somebody came into the room, looked at the statue, and said, "That looks like my uncle Oscar," and everybody decided that sounded cool so they went with it.

[@zcipher]

You can tell the smash story was written before the latest round of drama because I cannot imagine a world in which one would not take the time to dunk on the fact that Alan's personal statement is *thirty one fucking pages long*

[@LRRVG]

OH MY CRAP, I cannot wait to read this

[@empoleonmaster6709]

@@LRRVG What is the insanity of the 31 pages like?

[@Ckapter]

I really fucked up the celebration of my 30th anniversary… I can’t wait for my wife and I’s 30th. She’s going to get so much Sonic themed shit and have zero clue why. It’s going to be glorious.

[@Junebug89]

I assume the anniversary celebration is going to last well over a year, as well?

[@flushmastercyclonis186]

@@Junebug89 Hopefully she figures out the joke and finds it funny, otherwise someone might need a good divorce lawyer...

[@Frostwriter111]

The "making out like bandits" joke caught me so off-guard, and I love it.

[@hughcaldwell1034]

I know, it was so perfectly done. I had to rewind for a second go around.

[@Tama23]

That CanCon joke was SO ON THE MONEY

[@jackielinde7568]

Wait? Beej? Question? Are we SUPPOSED to be sharing your voice? Because I've been keeping it all to myself. Couldn't say why, either. Donno. I also eat too much, so there's that. Oh, well. Color me gluton.

[@IbunWest]

Glad to see the Ultrakill story at least got a passing mention.

[@jamescolvin8429]

Beej's joke about how bandits make out was hilarious 😂

[@KingTaltia]

"Shouldn't there be game development people involved" From years of being a fan of Warframe, their devs; Digital Extremes, have proven to me the exception that proves the rule. In general, I find that there's a SUSPICIOUS number of devs who do not play games, or at least not the games they make. I find, if someone doesn't enjoy Mario, how are they supposed to make a Mario game for others to enjoy? I find the same is true for everything.

[@KraftLawrence1]

Oh shit, a Strongbad shirt!

[@ladsworld]

beej says he doesn't want an award named after him which is fair but now i can't stop thinking about how funny of a name "the bee gees" as an award would be. like literally just pronounced the same as the band

[@AtariEric]

Not the Dery-aires?

[@sirspate]

It's a Beejee award. It's for Bideo Games

[@JWK1101]

@@sirspate Bideo James.

[@Haseri8]

I hope the "Sonic's 30 Anniversary" joke continues into the new year somehow

[@azninja888]

RE: The first story; “LOOOOL Canada. Our home a- oh.”

[@FuriosoDrummer]

I dread the day it is no longer Sonic's 30th anniversary. May it never come.

[@WigglesMother]

The most baffling thing about the first story? That Playstation refunded the purchases. My account got hacked. I spent a good while arguing with the person on the phone that no, I did not actually download the games to my device, and no, my device is not in Russia it's in the US, as my billing address will show, and no, I did not intend to order those games so could they please refund my money before I have to get my bank involved in filing a chargeback? He finally capitulated, but with a tone like he was doing me a favor refunding me money someone STOLE.

[@ben_burnes]

My wife and I always wondered why the Steam Awards aren't called Steamies.

[@CJWproductions]

Steamers, even

[@Doodlesthegreat]

@@CJWproductions And given out in Cleveland.

[@Junebug89]

I think what we've all learned from this is that the awards from The Game Awards should be called the Beejees

[@Flickstro]

This whole Smash Bros. saga has really soured me on Nintendo as a whole. I grew up with them, but I guess I've outgrown them if this is the way they wanna act.

[@brettd2308]

The Keighleys is legit a great name for the award.

[@whoisbatman]

I'm pretty obsessed with the Beejies to be honest.

[@keab42]

I was going to suggest the Geoffs.

[@pBlackcoat]

Dear whoever does the lower third, thank you for the obscure was (not was) reference

[@njnjhjh8918]

props to the Game Awards for caring about Accessibility

[@Sheer_Falacy]

It's nice that they recognized God of War for having like 5 menus worth of accessibility options.

[@chrisnotaperson8127]

how long has sonic's anniversary been running? it feels like more than a year at this point.

[@BrotherAlpha]

"how long has sonic's anniversary been running?" At least 35 years at this point.

[@ladambell]

Like the hedgehog himself, Sonic’s anniversary simply cannot stop running

[@TimothyFrisby]

I think the technicality is that Sonic 2 was released in 1992, so it's 2 years of 30th anniversary, but they also had a yearly sonic release up through Sonic Blast in 1996, so we'll see how long they keep it up for :P

[@Grassdragon193]

it's been Sonic's 30th anniversary for so long it's now Tails' 30th anniversary. Hope the bit keeps going long enough to also include Knuckles' 30th anniversary.

[@Spartan045G]

We always call them "The Golden Keighleys"

[@EternalDensity]

I needed that Watchdogs laugh

[@stevethepocket]

"I've done a real journalism more than once." - Graham Stark, 2022

[@maxcloud753]

Shout out to Beej and his Stinkoman shirt!

[@williamjohnson5022]

I look forward to next year's Beejies! I am so engaged by this content I should talk to a physician.

[@terhuurne]

Is Beej wearing a Stinkoman shirt?! Nice!

[@PharaohBender27]

Huh, I never thought I'd have *any* respect for the Game Awards . . . but honestly, after hearing that bit starting at 11:57 actually has me respecting the selection process, if not the presentation.

[@ASpaceOstrich]

For whatever reason Aiden Pierces iconic hat is permanently cemented into my memory and as such, for me specifically, it is iconic. I have no idea why.

[@blackdragonxtra]

Jim Sterling, maybe?

[@ASpaceOstrich]

@@blackdragonxtra Maybe. I actually really enjoyed the first Watch Dogs so its not entirely ironic. The gunplay had no business being so good in that game.

[@leftwingdragon6235]

I love watchdogs and recognised that wasn't the right hat.

[@thehittite6982]

I vaguely remember the LRRys. I think you gave Uwe Boll a Lifetime Achievement award in the hope that he would stop.

[@gnyrinn]

It also included a “least appropriate use of a bear suit” award.

[@anilaurel]

The little Calgary intermission was great

[@blackdragonxtra]

...Okay, but the Deerys would be an awesome name for an award.

[@Noatzon]

So good to see your hair start growing back Graham! C:

[@Sientir]

That's a sweet Stinkoman shirt, Beej! :D

[@UpstreamKaraoke]

20X6!

[@analoren4745]

I love Beej's Stinkoman shirt

[@ColorwaveCraftsCo]

“I’ve done a real journalism more than once” 😂

[@pyredynasty]

The first annual Beej awards for achievements in the field of excellence

[@wearwolf2500]

The dog bought my homework?

[@terryodactyl]

In case anyone at LRR is interested, I'll gladly take a full hour of "Graham and Beej Being Pedantic Time". Weekly. Or daily. Actually, just mainline it directly into my bloodstream.

[@UnboxedtvNet]

I remember you guys did a video, years and years ago where you gave Uwe Boll the lifetime achievement award just so he would stop. You called them the LRRies or something lmao

[@alphawolf2993]

Graham looking good with a full head of hair. Appreciate the Canadian jokes as a fellow BCer !

[@simplydavemn]

An award show called "The Beej's" would probably draw and disappoint the wrong demographic.

[@Allikiza]

Did Beej come up with the title today?

[@alexreffand]

I vote we call the game awards "The Stickies"

[@MetaJokeTT]

You should have an award. The LoadingReadyRuns. For short, The Runs. :)

[@Mirality]

I dunno, a chili cheese dog can have quite an impact, depending on chili type, if frozen, and what velocity is achieved from my potato cannon.

[@jackielinde7568]

You guys jest, but there are shows like The Ig-Nobles and The Golden Raspberry Awards that are long running shows in their own right. You guys should TOTALLY start up your own award show for video games in the same vein. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do this. I'd suggest calling them the Trollies, but seeing there is a toy line called "Trolls" I'm gonna say trade mark law won't allow this. Then again, you could tell us NOT TO, and yet we then pull a Kleenex and genericide the heck out of their trademark. But you guys are Canadian and too polite to let such shenanigans go on. I'd suggest The Kotex, but it sounds too much like Kotic, and we can't let Bobby's head get any bigger than it's already. I'm sure we can find something derisive enough. Uhg... We can't call them The Trollies, either, because it would still cause Bobby's head to swell. (stupid little troll running ATK always making our lives hard.) I guess we're gonna have to workshop that name.

[@InShortSight]

Surely they'd be the Pointys. Or perhaps the pointless awards.

[@jackielinde7568]

@@InShortSight Need to see if anyone's using The Buggies or The Glitchies.

[@InShortSight]

@@jackielinde7568 The Beejees.

[@jackielinde7568]

@@InShortSight I thought the Beejees was Beej's 70's disco cover band.

[@THESP-rz3hg]

Very coy of Graham and Beej to avoid saying how the Checkpoint editorial staff voted for the game awards. Much like baseball writers for the hall of fame. It shows true journalistic integrity

[@Brozard]

How does Pixys (for pixels) sound for the awards?

[@GumbyBrainDoctor]

Incidentally, Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier (the game Yuji Naka's insider trading was based on) will be shutting down in a month.

[@mrwhyt]

please tell me the "hey Dad, you're in Jail" title is a reference to "Hello Dad, I'm in Jail"

[@darkshadow1416]

Cleary after TGA we now have a name for at least GotY: the GOAT-y.

[@mxg75]

C? Oh, right, ice time, that makes sense.

[@ianlovell4539]

I vote the Jeffies as the new name for the awards

[@njnjhjh8918]

That's not how he spells his name though

[@Doodlesthegreat]

@@njnjhjh8918 Geoffies?

[@0ButterBall]

You mean there isn't already an award called the Grahamies? I feel lied to

[@kasper1787]

for the record i have gone curling... i live in the states.....and I totally LOVE IT!!!!

[@mowinckel10]

Ah. Perfect

[@jazzf8246]

Call the awards the Polys bc of the polygonal design!

[@AManCalledBigTime]

The Gaming Awards... The Beej's!

[@trident042]

Speaking of emboldened, Beej that is a fantastic shirt you have on there.

[@MilesAndMayhem]

Hmm... time for "The Beej Awards" ? ... perhaps

[@Ryu_Himora]

I actually did notice that wasn't the iconic cap, because Aiden's ripoff Batman logo is burned into my brain from watching the ChipCheezum LP way too much

[@ravensbreedsmyth1367]

Call them the Gamies. Boom, job done.

[@HEJUSTBROUSING]

Tbh you should have your own awards show.

[@theunwelcome]

and yet Sonic's 30th is still somehow going better than MtG's 30th

[@potatosordfighter666]

Is it just me or has Sonic been having his 30th anniversary for like 5 years now?

[@donbionicle]

Whaaaat? Noooo.

[@blip_bloop]

I look forward to the checkys? Czechys? checkees? Checkie's?

[@mungodude]

Chequees

[@PaladinGuy]

No joke, I know what Aiden's hat looks like so you didn't fool me.

[@Dovorans]

The FTC clearly planned the Microsoft ABK acquisition lawsuit announcement to mess with Checkpoint specifically.

[@chemann2944]

Smash that engagement button!

[@BenMarcWilliams]

Is that a Stinkoman shirt Beej is wearing?

[@Lordlaneus]

I really hope that in like 30 or 40 years, the Game Awards, are actually considered prestigious

[@ElianaDelune]

I do distinctly remember there being LRRies at one point since I think it was Lifetime Achievement award went to Uwe Bowl to get him to stop making movies since he "peaked".

[@redshiftproductions7158]

Start a lawsuit with Nike and call the Game Awards the Nikes y'know like the Greek Goddess of victory

[@dessilk]

Engagement to please the algorithm gods

[@Mac_Omegaly]

Oh man Reggie was outed as a possible murderer.

[@tigirus4656]

Call the awards 'the waifus' just to make everyone uncomfortable.

[@TK-_-GZ]

algorithmic punch!

[@ignatious1138]

Ah yes, Cal the Gary.

[@ExhaustedElox]

Don't be silly, Beej. It was Sonic's 30th anniversary last year! What's that? December? When did that happen?!

[@Lotties_handsaw]

didn't the dog thing happen in like... 2009? Im sure I read about a dog making in game purchases on ps3 in Ripley's believe it or not back in gradeschool.

[@jcblacksmith]

Put Beej in smash you cowards!

[@Duraxy]

So does anyone have a ready to go list of indie Games that were nominated or won and award already? :)

[@thcollegestudent]

Fuck the Oscars, Graham look at you!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜

Is anyone else upset by the 'q' in the image used during the Smash segment not being italicized? Is that just me? I feel it sticks out like a sore thumb and I can't unsee it.

[@LRRVG]

We noticed that too! That’s on IGN.

[@TheLittleMako]

I wonder who'll win this year's Beejies?

[@Lambda3141]

What is the deep lore behind Ceiling Egg?

[@EdJames0]

Call it the gameys?

[@frankthetank2550]

Mustache Graham!!

[@loziclec.1295]

Sonic losing to a game from 2020 is not going to help Sonic fans’ victim complex. On Sonic’s 30th anniversary no less.

[@Thalarion]

I feel like its been sonic's 30th anniversary for 5 years wtf is going on

[@ChristopherHallett]

You absolutely SHOULD have the "Checkies" and one of the categories has to be "dumbest game of the year".

[@parkerdixon-word6295]

I think y'all did awards back when this was a satire show called ENN, but I don't think you did awards after it was revived as checkpoint.

[@MITOMANOx]

Boo!