The Bright Side of Gaming | Cold Take

This week on Cold Take, we're going a bit more positive!
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[@swivelskittle3926]

"I'm not prudish with principle, I am addicted to quality, and all I'm saying is that the crack was better before you got here" is an exceptional line. Amazing work Frost

[@utisti4976]

That line went so hard. :D

[@blaster915]

Agree, great line

[@MrFaranox]

That really hit me like one of the Cheshire cat's lines from American McGee's Alice.

[@michaelwesten4624]

yeah that's what he said. congrats on your short term memory working

[@swivelskittle3926]

@@michaelwesten4624 Thank you

[@tylerroman4179]

“Why are you here?” You have a cool voice, that’s why I’m here

[@abeherbert6603]

Real, I could listen to Frost talk about literally anything

[@AManChoosesASlaveObeys]

@@abeherbert6603 The Story of How The Furry Legion Rose Against The Tides of Political Unrest - By Frost, 2029

[@kurtisdeakin]

The noir twist is a big pull for me, too.... not gonna lie lol

[@jiado6893]

I saw Viva Piñata in the thumbnail, and it rooms me back to 4Kids. That’s why I clicked. (After my job shift, that is).

[@Tudsworth]

Frost's videos are quickly becoming one of the highlights of my week.

[@GermyJer]

Big same

[@MikieCotignola]

Same!

[@CErra310]

Same here. And to think I didn't know he existed before the Exodus. Second Wind is the best thing that has happened in my life for a long time

[@JetstreamGW]

The weird noir delivery is probably the best thing :D

[@TylerLarson]

Aye. And I find it surprising that I'm more excited to see something new from Frost than even from Yahtzee. The humor is similar; all subtle sarcasm and one-liners, but from Frost the delivery is as dry as a glass of Scotch, while from Yahtzee it's dry like an unexpected dildo.

[@LukeDJoyce]

I work in the film industry (for the last few years in VFX) and ask myself the same 'why are you here' questions weekly at this point, with a lot of the same answers. I think all the creative entertainment industries in general are in a very precarious, squeezed-the-life-out position at the moment.

[@arthanor9631]

From the outside, it seems like both industries have exhausted themselves chasing the big bucks. The MCU was to movies what live services were to gaming: showing that hooking your audience can generate the big bucks. But then it became all hooks, no bait and they wonder why the 10th derivative marvel thing or uninspired broken ongoing game doesn't get the same turnout. With all that research in hooking people, they haven't figured out we weren't there for the hook, but for the bait (ie story and/or gameplay promises). Destiny sold epic mysteries and promising gameplay, became mundane and repetitive. MCU sold epic story arcs and became bland. And on the side, all that could be innovative died because all the cash is funneled into these dead on arrival projects. Eventually, enough will have died that the ground will be fertile for new sprouts, I hope.

[@the_amazing_raisin]

I'll admit I'm an outsider to the industry but one very interesting aspect is that today's creative industries (gaming, filmmaking, music, writing, etc) seem to simultaneously be in a creative vacuum and renaissance In many ways the big players in all those industries have squeezed their various IPs dry and are now struggling to make anything compelling However for someone trying to get into those industries it's easier now to get something published to a good level of quality than ever Taking the example of film, cameras are cheaper, VFX and editing are more available and there's an always increasing amount of talent out there. And you no longer need a big studio to discover you, you can publish a short movie to KZbin or something and get noticed there

[@jamesrule1338]

Art is important. Thank you for making it.

[@LukeDJoyce]

​@@the_amazing_raisin Yeah unfortunately there's a real 'double-edged sword' to it all, in a couple of ways. I agree that a lot of entertainment media has had a real renaissance for the past decade, spurred on by talented people being given the opportunities, budgets and creative freedom to branch out. This leads to mainstream success and mass profits, and then inevitably a huge influx of studio interference, meddling, and trying to capitalise on trends, which stifles and kills the creative freedom in it's tracks, which we have seen over the past couple of years. There's something cyclical and frustratingly unavoidable about the whole process. Similarly, it's absolutely now easier and cheaper than ever to create your own projects to a higher level of quality. And this is fantastic and lowers the barrier for entry for everyone. But this also means that it is harder than ever to stand out from the crowd, to get your projects to be given a chance from audiences or potential employers/funders alike. There is always a sweet spot, like how in the 90s anyone who self-produced a halfway watchable feature film could get a distribution agreement from a major studio for it, and build there career. Or how in 2008-2013 there was the room for every well-made indie games to thrive and succeed, before the whole market became saturated. We are currently in a difficult time where we are well past the sweet spots for creativity to thrive, and all we can do is wait for the next moment when economics, industry and technology align again

[@troutfish8590]

I am with you buddy. In comms and TV in vfx. There is a lot of doom and gloom out there, and a lot of colleagues are dooming hard. But videos like this one is a good reminder that there is a lot of good and ways up. If film is still dragging there is a lot of work in commercials and episodic still. Not as fun or glorious, but it is a bit more stable at the moment. Keep kicking ass man. We will all get through these times.

[@DetectiveLance]

Frost, our insightful scoundrel, doling out hope like a dope dealer reminding us "the first taste is free" .

[@ryangale3757]

Well, if his autobiographic introduction is anything to go by, I'd imagine he has a fair bit of experience with that haha. Either way, he does it so god dang well.

[@jiado6893]

Was Frost seriously a dope dealer years back?

[@dosbilliam]

@@jiado6893 Bills gotta get paid and sometimes the way you pay them isn't glamorous; whether he did isn't something I know, but escapism by any means is an industry where demand is infinite and the product tries to match it as best it can.

[@BigHatStudios]

I think the relentless hype cycle has been a problem not just in games media, but all media. I think probably in films the longest but certainly the most drastically in games.

[@SolaScientia]

Any time I see some big game or film getting massively hyped up I am almost immediately less interested in it simply because of the hype itself. Too many times have things been hyped up and then failed to live up to it. I've never really fallen too much for the hype, but I remember having my hopes up about Jurassic World and then being massively disappointed when I saw in theaters. Worst waste of a movie ticket ever for me. I saw it again 6 or so months later just to see if it would be better in a different setting. Nope, just as bad. I didn't even bother to see the 2nd and 3rd Jurassic World movies as a result. I know people rag on JP3, but I love even that one and it still holds some of the magic of the first one. Jurassic World had, to me, none of what makes Jurassic Park special even to this day. So yeah, I got badly burned by hype and as a result I tend to judge something a lot stricter the more it's hyped up.

[@Ghorda9]

@@SolaScientia the hype machine is just for investors, it works the same way in the art industry where the only why to succeed is to artificially inflate the perceived value of your work so that you can sell it at a premium

[@DeadpoolX9]

@@Ghorda9I’m not a fucking investor Sell me a story!

[@Ghorda9]

@@DeadpoolX9 i'm sure you don't need an over paid celebrity to lie to you about how "great" the story or game is

[@cryssnail]

I see Viva Pinata in a thumbnail, I click

[@robertjandejager6758]

Best game ever made

[@m1rrorshades]

Filled with fun!

[@dudestep]

Had a great time back in the day getting high as fuck with my buddies and playing it all night.

[@brendanmohareful]

Yorp

[@jokhartsarnaev7545]

I'm glad I'm not the only one

[@brittb1696]

"I hope Cold Take is the only time of the week you get a whiff of the video game industry's dirty laundry." Ha! At this point, the industry is taking laundry out of the hamper, sniffing it and saying "good enough," and we've simply gotten used to the smell, only raising an issue with HR when the odor-- or sights-- become too disturbing to ignore.

[@BladedEdge]

Scratches the itch Jimquisition used to years ago.

[@user-jz8dd3zj8e]

@@BladedEdge I’m new here. What do you mean by “used to”?

[@arcanum3000]

Why haven't we gotten a new Viva Piñata game? With the recent popularity of cute, cozy relaxing games, farming sims, and survivalcrafting games, now is the perfect time to release a reimagined Viva Piñata!

[@catiseith]

Because Microsoft already has Minecraft. Although I wonder if Playtonic would want to give a it try to bring in a Viva Pinata's spiritual successor...

[@DisgruntledDoomer]

Or simply just release _any_ colorful games on the PC, because everything is still so drab. Only mobile-games are allowed to be colorful, it seems...

[@yesac100]

Something tells me neither Rare nor their business daddy, Microsoft, are willing to risk pulling people off of Sea of Thieves to revisit an old IP. While WE can see the market is right for it, that level of clarity rarely (pun not intended) persists into board meetings.

[@tomforge614]

There is that RareWare Flashback on platform. And you have some Indie attempts like Monster Harvest. But, yes, Viva Piñata kid of fell off far sooner than it should, probably because XBox stopped competing for the family market and became the Pew Pew console.

[@svenbtb]

At this point it's more surprising that Rare wasn't just totally laid off during Microsoft's 1,500 people hit job.

[@robeeri]

God damn, Frost's combination of sexy ass voice, insightful observations, and poetic writing all wrapped up in a noir package makes for some of the most stylish and entertaining games journalism around.

[@SteamedToast]

I'm an aspiring indie dev and I genuinely believe video games have an unprecedented level of potential still to be explored, an art form yet to be truly honed, and the homogenisation trends that have only gotten more pronounced in the last decade means it's all low hanging fruit ripe for the picking.

[@LegendStormcrow]

Good luck. Personally, I've been pleasantly surprised a few times recently. The fact indie games are beating CoD and the Fortnitificatio of art styles of games, certain games saying screw it and owning the bizarreness, Baldur's Gate selling well, and the surprise goodness of Unicorn Overlord. Heck, even ex Blizzard devs are making something akin to StarcraftXWarcraft. You guys are doing great. Keep it up.

[@Concord003]

I wish you all the luck and success in the world, man! Oh, how I wish 15 years ago, when I still had the time and energy, game dev industry had as much accessibility through tools and funding models as it has now!

[@danaugust993]

Hi-Fi Rush proves to me that making good, colourful and fresh games like a decade ago is still possible. Even Ubisoft had shown its devs and creative leads can make original games like the new Prince Of Persia metroidvania or Mario+Rabbids. Those devs and creative directors need to be the ones deciding which ideas of theirs get funded.

[@UnNuclear]

It's all about letting creative minds loose with a normal budget. We don't need games that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. You can make more games and lessen the risk of failing because only a few need to be a hit instead of pouring a ton of money into a single "can't fail" game and watching it flop. Hollywood is going through something similar in that movies need to make a billion dollars to be profitable.

[@RippahRooJizah]

@@UnNuclear I am not against big budget games as a concept, there has certainly been ones that Inrather enjoyed. And there are some that flop. But for an industry as varied as gaming, I wouldn't want to have some arbitrary budget limit. That said, the issue is the lack of variety to keep games more mainstream.

[@LazlowUK]

I really enjoy these cold take videos.

[@THELITTLERIVERNERD]

Game dev here. One reason to be here is that it *is* getting better. All of my older coworkers talk about working insane hours for months of years at a time. This has been a bad year, but even so it's obvious that things are better than they were in the recent past. There are still some studios who work their devs to death, but the majority are pretty decent now-a-days.

[@henryfleischer404]

Game dev student here. Yeah, I hear that Sega Of America unionized recently. My main worry was that I'd be going into an industry where I'd have to work 60 hours a week, and I'd be unable to do that, but now things are looking better. Hopefully when I'm out of college things will be better then they are now.

[@THELITTLERIVERNERD]

If you prioritize that when applying for jobs you can get it.

[@kingcrowbro2486]

The ice cold wordplay is, as always, on point. And honestly, taking the time to just pull myself up and out of the muck and putting in real effort to look at the upsides is a kindness I don't grant myself nearly often enough. What I'm getting at, my dearest fellow commenters, is that it would seriously do all of us some good to just close Xwitter and walk away from it every few hours. Or minutes, if you're feeling generous.

[@NayrAnur]

Why stop at Twitter? Step off the Internet for a while and keep yourself busy with something else in the meantime.

[@handlesshouldntdefaulttonames]

That wasn't about viva piñata at all. Still good.

[@ognjentasic7537]

The last two cold takes have really elevated this show in my eyes from a kinda cool thing on second wind to one of my favourite things to see in my inbox

[@Souchirouu]

Cold Take: There is only so much demand for video games globally. Which doesn't really gel well with this mandate for business to squeeze out as much profit as possible. If we know that the market can be saturated we know that the only two ways to make more profit is: 1. To make things better so they do more stuff in less time at better quality.l 2. Make things more shit because it makes it cheaper. I want more of the former than the latter as I expect people do. Yet most of our economy is managed by people that just really LOVE Nr.2.

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

The problem is that too many people in power think that creative mediums are subject to economies of scale. That a hundred crap games will somehow be considered just as viable as one good one, that you can get a slice of an existing audience pie just by offering equivalent material, never once thinking about how much that audience has already invested and will be loathe to lose in a switch to a new product. I'm glad the bottom is falling out on the idiots who think that.

[@HenshinFanatic]

There's also the inconvenient fact that unending growth is a bad thing for whatever system it takes root in. We know this from how it works on biological systems, where it's called cancer.

[@Level80Sorcerer]

I have also watched one of Kyle Bosman's Delayed Input in which he explains that by virtue of FF VII Rebirth being so much of a good game, he is "Full for now" and many new games will just not be interesting enough until he is done with it because he is not going to divert attention from one to the other. Not only is the demand lower than they think, a big part of the audience will be content with the same game for months or years and these suits will rather let decent games die of starvation because it was not the next big thing and keep pumping more budgets for software that fails to entertain or try to pump monetization to justify said longevity.

[@typacsk]

3. Loot everything and run like hell before the stock price catches up.

[@DannyboyO1]

@@subtlewhatssubtle Hell yeah. I was reminded recently of just how many workplaces do "open plan" workplace studies. (yes, I'm going somewhere with this.) Because c-suites can never grasp that it's bad for productivity to shove all your employees into a noisy, smelly, oversized room along with the crappy managers who harass everyone, not just the scandal way, but the very real way that a low level manager's actual job is "harass employees", punishing them with micromanagement for drawing any kind of attention, good or bad. A corporation will read the industry studies on how bad open plan is (I highly suggest looking up modern jails and prisons and comparing them.), pay top dollar for their own study, which inevitably comes back agreeing that it's a bad idea... And do open plan anyway. Because the goal of capitalism is obviously not profit, it's maximum wealth gap... and if they can't pay you less, they'll make damn sure they get away with making you more miserable. Hell, why do you think we always hear about toxic execs protecting serial workplace harassers? It's not out of friendship. And, yeah, the audience pie is real. I've logged near a hundred hours in Helldivers. As a result, Pacific Drive and Baldur's Gate 3 are sidelined. It's not even an equivalency issue, my time is finite.

[@MTLAlex]

This writing is so god damn good. It’s got no business being this good.

[@alvaromachado1388]

That viva piñata thumbnail made me feel so old lmao

[@kombinat0r]

“Third world country wearing a Gucci belt” goes so hard

[@ianstewart-vital]

Honestly, my favorite line.

[@maisatanel]

godspeed you! black emperor - bbf3 vibes

[@Mustafa_AhmedPGH]

I think we needed this video. And you're right, social media has really disintegrated in recent months.

[@davidskidmore3442]

Like any self-reinforcing system, it spirals either outward or inward at an increasing rate until it falls apart or implodes. The 'algorithm' was a terrible idea.

[@MrSpartan993]

Good riddance.

[@sid6645]

Recent months ? dawg. It kinda stopped being real since around 2016... The psyops got too much for the mods and they just stopped trying.

[@BladedEdge]

Social media jumped the shark around 2015-2016 when it flipped from goofy fun to reactionary right-wing churner and state sponsored psyops. Really, now that the guy running the official Sonic accounts is retired what even is the point of these sites?

[@cassidy8307]

I've noticed a lot more literal neo nazis in the past few months now that elon took over twitter

[@MindOfGenius]

9:22 "like game ownership" Ross says thank you for helping spread the word!

[@dizzycriminal]

I think 2007-2012 was a golden age for video games. People had really gotten to grips with getting the most out of the HD Gen, the processing power was there to create interesting mechanics and still hit a threshold of visual fidelity. I took a little break around 2015 and came back to video games properly in the last couple of years. Nothing has really changes in terms of the gameplay options in that time. Sure they look better, but the features are carved up behind grind and the title menu resembles a shopping app. Games have gotten bigger but not better. There are gems here and there, but it feels like we've peaked in terms of quality.

[@fritzophrenia3146]

Gonna have to disagree, even as someone who grew up in that era myself. The industry and media surrounding games is much more mature now, we live in a media ecosystem that actually supports nuance and subtle conversation, e.g. this video we're commenting on. There exists support structures and actual career paths for indie devs outside the studio system, they have platforms for support that are well established, and with games being more mainstream, they're able to reach a bigger audience than they ever could previously. More games than ever are being released, and sure a lot of the AAA stuff doesn't interest me at all, but more games period = more good games, statistically speaking. And we're miles ahead on hardware, I have a steam deck that allows me to play games literally anywhere I want, and if the deck can't run them, I can just stream from my PC, which is still *insane* to me. We have SSDs and literal terabytes of storage on consoles, controller tech has gotten better, literally every aspect of the experience has improved You can certainly have nostalgia, and I wouldn't dream of telling you what your tastes should be, but to say that an industry that's only 30 years old peaked 10 years ago is just flat out incorrect

[@aturchomicz821]

Not really no, it was such a shitty time for the city builder, the only genre that really matters

[@BladedEdge]

The 360/ps3 era seems to be the last era that was actually creating new franchises and series.

[@LunamrathP]

@@paultapping9510 31 here, also in agreement. I loved that era of gaming for what AAA looks like, but when the titans of the industry started slipping, I simply switched focus away from AAA and to no one's surprise I still love games.

[@TheMightySceptile]

"The crack was better before you got here." Is such a funny and accurate way of describing the state of free to play games

[@shadicnion500]

man seeing that jimquisition vs digital homicide article really just made it hit how far weve come in what felt like a short time. I dont watch em anymore for various reasons that i wont get into but back then everything did honestly feel allot simpler. Ive grown as a person allot in those years being able to tell at a glace what games are usually worth my time not at all or worth the risk. i miss those comforting days of everything being in that fun middle ground of not knowing what is beyond the horizon but I know im better for my growth as a consumer. after all it just makes those games that do make me feel that way again all the more special.

[@ianstewart-vital]

Honestly, I highly encourage people who were fans of theirs to check them out again. Their editor is far better at their job, the jokes tend to be funnier, and most importantly they don't just cover the doom and despair aspects of video games they also seem to generally enjoy themselves more and are much much happier than they used to be.

[@shadicnion500]

@@ianstewart-vital trust me man i dont think going back is a good idea for me. It was never their content that drove me away. I hope shes doing well but for my own mental well being i cant stay in enviroments that toxic.

[@irishijo1]

I wasnt expecting to see Viva Piñata today, but here we are

[@libertylemonz7145]

For me one of the best things about this new channel was discovering Cold Takes. I think I actually watch it more than Fully Ramblomatic.

[@ItsHyomoto]

That's why I followed the people at second wind, people who want to just sit down and have a discussion without making everything one thing. A bit of middle ground is needed for people to shake hands, otherwise it's just trench warfare and seriously fuck social media for being so entrenched 😂

[@nomms]

Frost, please write a noir character that monologues. I can't get enough of these lines, they're amazing. Would love to see you on a writing team making a CRPG or something. Great video as usual

[@ashuggtube]

"I'm not bitter, I was built for this." What magnificent work you do, Frost.

[@Raida7]

"Grow an extra tastebud on my one note palate". That's such s great description

[@lolavale]

A scurrilous screen presence, and a bastion of hope for those of us who dredge along in the industry. Appreciate y’all.

[@SolaScientia]

"Third world country wearing a Gucci belt" is the best description I've heard for the US in a long while. I stick to single player games more because I've never had much of an interest in playing online with others, but at the same time I have some friends who play online MMOs and MOBAs so I can also understand that side of things. I know enough about LoL that when a friend said she started playing it I just went "oh no".

[@UrbanTheFox]

I blurted "oh that's so on the money!" out loud at that line.

[@SolaScientia]

@@UrbanTheFox Yep. I've tried to explain it before, but that descriptor is perfect. It's short and gets the point across immediately when trying to describe how things are in the US.

[@Zeverinsen]

I used to play League _a lot_ before, and honestly, it is very fun when you play with friends and in moderation. When you start playing ranked, that's when sh*t goes south! I haven't played it in years now, because I just don't have the time, but I wouldn't discourage people from trying it TBH.

[@LoganChristianson]

@@SolaScientia I don't think you've spent a day in your life in a third world country. Likely, neither has Nick.

[@SolaScientia]

@@Zeverinsen I'm pretty sure she plays with people she doesn't know, but I'm not sure. I just know she started playing it a couple of months ago. If she's been on her PS5 in the past month, though, she's been invisible since I haven't seen her actually online on it in a little bit now.

[@RandyJimenez2010]

I see Viva Piñata, I click 😤

[@Zararthur]

Nick, stop using your alt accounts 😂

[@timtheenchanter6418]

I would love to see a modern VP3. Game would look stunning with modern hardware, and the depth you could take garden creation..... *sigh* Just made myself sad knowing its never gonna happen :(

[@aalabarces]

I want to become a game developer for the same reason i make music: for the sake of making art, making someone feel something. I couldn't care less about being a wheel in Ubisoft's blood machine for the 6 months before they fire me. But it's clearly a class privilege: most people do have to think of their livelyhoods first.

[@TheYashakami]

Viva piñata is in my top 5 games of all time. Wish I could buy it on every console. I'd buy it 15 times

[@user-ur4nl6dq2x]

This is one of my favourite gaming videos of all time. Seriously, well done

[@sativa-sloth6099]

Just by chance before leaving for work I stumbled upon one of your videos for "Cold Take" was instantly hooked and very soon subbed, and now this comes out right as my lunch break starts. What amazing timing.

[@blackamaterasuflame]

Writing like at 6:10 is why I'm a proud supporter of this channel on patreon.

[@thechalkrse4842]

Sees Viva Piñata, Automatic watch.

[@1Raptor85]

My issue with the whole "F2P/Liveservice games allow more people to play who couldn't before" is that while yes, that's true, it's also by nature forces in microprogression loops, and grind to incentivize purchases, as well as holding back content in general as releasing "too much" means you don't have anything to sell later. So yes, more people can play it, but for everybody the game is also made into a shallow reflection of what it could have been. Just look at any modern fps, sure there's hundreds of unlockable skins and you can put an american flag on your rifle, then you can use them to play grind more of your daily objectives on your battlepass on the same 3 levels over and over. Same with the mobile market they all take on this extremely shallow time-wasting design, and unless you're a gambling addict who gets hooked on that feedback loop honestly...they get boring extremely fast. Even the people who play them a ton don't seem to be having fun, they're just there to grind out some new skin for a weapon they'll probably never use. Wouldn't be that big of an issue if every major AAA dev hadn't decided this is how ALL their games will function going forward, and while I'm all for indie games some game types just don't work so well with the lower player counts that come with that. I would fucking kill for a new online FPS to play that wasn't infested with battlepass nonsense and just let us have our custom games, mods, and maps....

[@DeadpoolX9]

“It’s the best of the human spirit working against itself” What a line

[@IngieKerr]

We may have come for the voice. But we stayed for the resonating sausage. ... as a motto, that might still need work, now I read it back.

[@halfbreedindustries]

Frost, you and I may not see eye to eye on somethings but damnit if that isn't the point of expanding perspectives. I will always appreciate your intellect and ability to recognize the multifaceted nature of this bizarre industry.Thank you for this show, and you're continued efforts, sir.

[@angelus_lucifero]

My girlfriend's a writer (and an incredible one at that) and between you and Yhatzee, you've gone and got her just as interested in the gaming industry as I am. We genuinely have to stop and just process or gush over your command of the English language. Fine work!

[@DillonAD]

As a kid my mom got me Viva Piñata and Gears of War on the same trip to the store, polar opposite experiences that I probably put an equal amount of time into over the years. In these modern times of Pal World and Minecraft inspired survival games it's hard to imagine a garden simulator type game that wouldn't contextualize itself much like GoW, around a player avatar that can sprint, jump, etc; as opposed to the floating icons you inhabited in VP, which really let you zoom in on details and arguably felt more personal in a similar way to your silent protagonists. Such a game would likely have a chorus of people calling it "dated" or a "mobile game" under a false veneer of objectivity, as opposed to simply "not my kind of game".

[@frozenninja4030]

Excellent Tony Bordain reference. His insightful scoundrel-ness and down to earth humanity were some strong influences on me in my younger days.

[@savethefunk]

Frost, you make my heart sing.

[@templarw20]

Well put, Frost. I'm in a social media group for TTRPG players that are "old dudes," and I feel like I'm in the minority when I say "the kids are okay, we're the ones that got screwed." Thank you for bringing up the "freemium" monetization and how it actually does help in that one way...

[@op4000exe]

It's curious honestly, you're always just stating the obvious in these videos, but it feels real nice to have someone actually point those things out. One can get too bogged down in the negativity of it all at times, so it's nice to see some positive aspects too. A balanced diet has both negatives and positives, previously mine may have been a bit too negatively focused. As always thanks for the great video Frost :p Looking forward to the next one.

[@crackedemerald4930]

frost lore gets cooler every new installment

[@ArtDadDraws]

Thanks fo this video man. I'm a former copywriter who has been doing the stay-at-home dad grind and teachinf myself to be a 3D Environment Artist and acting as a Producer for some friend's indie studio. The layoffs in the industry have been disheartening, but this video is a great reminder to just stick with the passion.

[@TheRealDeadRock]

Love your work! Always looking forward to the next one right after I finish one.

[@kkattrap]

Reaching for the kind of impact that Anthony Bourdain had sounds like good motivation, Frost. I hope you didn't mean that ending "I will gladly be the Anthony Bourdain of the gaming industry" flippantly.

[@TomBombadil515]

Another exceptional observation on the video games industry, Frost. Honestly, the reason I’m still here? Well, it’s not to chase the latest and greatest of the current year in gaming - I haven’t kept up since circa 2016, and the only gaming I do partake in is on my SNES Classic with my son (Solid package, by the way). No, the reason I’m still here is to gain perspective on the human experience, with video games as the main MacGuffin. I love hearing perspectives on the industry from yours in particular and The Second Wind team’s in general. You guys continue to keep me in the loop. Hearing you guys gush about video games as art and citing what you like and dislike, that resonates so much to me, and I’m glad there’s an entire team that can communicate that in their own unique way.

[@Minimax04]

This guy seriously knows how to write. Superb stuff.

[@CassidyBooks]

Thank you for reminding me not only why I fell in love with Cold Take Frost but also why I still watch Cold Take now, thank you💖😄😊

[@cathallynch8269]

1:55 Is that a reference to Nick discovering he was fired through losing access to his email? Nice touch.

[@dragonmaster1500]

Man, if I wasn't already subscribed to you, I would again because that take was chill as ice.

[@rowancarreira2826]

Your writing is better and better every time. I love this series.

[@MadeByJoey]

We're all human, and you seem like a good one to me. Keep sharing your truth and I'll keep listening.

[@AlsoKnownAsYou]

I only ever watched Zero Punctuation under the old regime, but these videos are really, really good

[@Flufficuss]

Having absolutely no background whatsoever in business or it's ilk, your opinions and insights are refreshing and intelligently put. They give me something to chew on and consider, seeing it from another angle that a small town nobody farm boy who adores gaming very dearly and just wants to afford things in his life would never, ever see. Not to mention they make baffling things-failing upward-suddenly click and make sense, and give me a direction to direct my vitriol. It won't do anything, sure, especially not in this modern world. But it helps me know where I stand and where I want to stand, having more options, opinions, and information to work off from, and should a chance come down the line, I'll have the most important thing in my toolbox: Information. Doesn't hurt that your voice is absolutely sweet, creamy caramel for the ears. Keep on keepin' on Frost, I'm glad you're here, positive or negative video.

[@BlazingJacob]

This entire take made me feel warm and fuzzy inside because it resonated so well with me

[@RH1812]

I’ve yet to play cyberpunk….ive been told its finished now

[@MrSpartan993]

It’s…fine. Either don’t bother with it like I did (that’s MY recommendation) Or wait for it to go on a HUGE sale.

[@connorross123]

Buy a physical version second hand, I got mine for like 16 bucks. It’s a decent game, but ignore the (apparently) majority of people who say the game is now “everything CDPR promised”. It’s not. It’s worth playing, but it is by no means a 10/10

[@redpup112]

If you ask me, it's an average Bethesda-style game set in a world the developers were clearly extremely excited about. It is by no means what was promised (and it will never be what the people who were incredibly excited about it wanted), but it *is* exactly what I expected it would've been around launch.

[@Ghorda9]

@@redpup112 still better than a bethesda game, it's systems are more fleshed out and has much better combat

[@Darkprosper]

@@Ghorda9 Yes, but that bar is below the floor. I was tricked by all the fans going "the bugs are fixed now so the game is perfect", and I strongly disagree, the game is ok at best.

[@alsoSeeb]

I spent most of my teenage years getting into programming, graphic design, and what have you to try and "break into" the game industry out of school. And all the while, I watched- in horror- the shift from what I considered "pure" game development into the live service swill we often get now (and I did my time with World of Warcraft all the same). Since then, I've worked in a few different areas from VR research for government projects to web development while only tiptoeing around the *idea* of making games, thinking the industry just wasn't worth it. These days, it seems I was only half-right: sure, the executives behind some of the larger companies have got "it" wrong about games and what they mean to me, but indies time and time again prove me wrong by reminding me that you CAN have your quality game cake and eat it without the absurd monetization and addiction-enabling sprinkles on top, too.

[@jamesewing6591]

I am here because I could listen to frost read the operators manual for a weed wacker and be enthralled, insight into my favorite hobby is a bonus.

[@velnon3876]

To answer your question: "Why are you here?" For the your brilliant, biting, writing and for a voice I would literally kill for.

[@gaberiando]

Frost publishing a video named "the bright side of gaming" is all you need to know how Second wind has changed the lives and mentality of everyone involved on it. Just, Frost don't end like Bourdain.

[@hibernationgaming]

Frost's vidoes make me feel like I'm sitting in a dimly lit room wish a glass of whiskey and a cigar.

[@MoadDib]

Your videos are some of the best on the platform. Keep it up!

[@TheGremalin]

One of your best pieces yet, Frost. Keep on being you. if you ever change that intro though I may become one of those internet strangers who demands a duel, tho :p

[@llamatronian101]

I still remember when indie games really took off. Playing Braid, and Aquaria. Gaming got so much better, and it seemed to happen almost overnight. Now I can play stuff that hits as hard as Hyperlight Drifter, Transistor, Crosscode, Tunic, and Dredge. There's so much choice right at our fingertips. Damn Braid was good.

[@Darkprosper]

Yes, for players who are able to ignore hype culture and AAA releases, gaming is incredible nowadays and has been for a long time. I hope that more and more people realise how much better gaming is when you spend a little time looking beneath the surface.

[@sammayes948]

I look forward to the cold take more and more each week

[@sigyn4340]

I saw Viva Pinata. I had to click

[@jonastio]

What a wonderfully hopeful outlook. Cheers.

[@alexdalyin9105]

EVO 09 SPOTTED! Daigo vs. Justin Wong was my gaming moment, where I knew this was what I wanted to do. I'm glad to see it featured.

[@thest0mpa]

I'm here because you voice is amazing to listen to. It helps that the writing is good and the content is interesting.

[@Kamunchu]

Third world country wearing a gucci belt. Fantastic!

[@SageRuffin]

I don't know if that analogy quite works. I think a better one is that the US is a gorgeous skyscraper full of various rodents and critters and is also one loose brick away from total collapse. Solid video otherwise, though.

[@loganusher591]

Damn, just quotable lines all around as always! Keep up the good work Frost and team

[@bigallru]

Thank you for the very important work you do.

[@ELEMENDRAGON]

frost thank you so much for your videos, i watched all of them from southamerica also thanks to second wind for be a good spotlight for yahtzee, desing delve and obviusly you 😊

[@dennisconcepcion1108]

That Bourdain line hit hard in the right places. You, good sir, are well on your way.

[@discordinmymind6565]

I really like the second wind crew because they actually think, even if I disagree with some things, I stopped being burned by preorder culture after Homefront 2. After that I only played if I could watch video after video of a game and never get bored, or thinking I could do better. And hella indie games, lots, a bit too many according to my steam library, lol

[@Sivick314]

listening to that beautiful voice talk about video game stuff is the best crack on the planet.

[@timcarroll552]

This video is basically the mission statement for Cold Take

[@KSignalEingang]

Frost strikes me as a guy who's actually been to Palookaville. Spent a couple months there, worked some odd jobs, pushed a broom, turned a few wrenches, kept a watchful eye on the door while some folks dealt with business he knew better than to ask questions about. Still has friends there. They don't keep in close touch but he gets the occasional Christmas card, or appeal for bail money. Sometimes it's both.

[@HiImKangarou]

Bold of you to post your quarterly earnings. With your output, I'd say you deserved/earned every cent.

[@Pratalax]

that edit around the monkey paw line was fucking beautiful

[@alexanderwizardjar9540]

if nothing else, Frost's videos are always filled to the brim with immaculate vibes and even better lines

[@RoninStorm]

Cold Take is captivating. Thank you. :)

[@Eleanorotica]

That drug analogy really cracked me up I love these videos Frost! ❤

[@modsquad89]

I do enjoy getting info about how the industry functions, it's shaped my playing and buying habits, helped me enjoy games in ways that also fit my values and how I wish the world be.

[@AT7outof10]

You mentioning you've been a voice actor doesn't surprise me. I would have said you SHOULD voice act if you hadn't already. I'd hire you!

[@Ash-V]

As long as you keep bringing the dulcet tones and insightful remarks, I'll be here.

[@courtney.p.s.]

I see Viva Piñata I click. I love those games so much.

[@777-twitenoise3]

Yup, this is it. This is a perfectly incisive examination of the current vibe hanging over gaming as an art form and as an industry. gotta say, ya'll going independent seems to have won a lot of your passion back. Not only does yahtz seem more passionate and incisive and authentic than he's ever been, but being exposed to the other stuff outside of his label shows a really well-rounded body of work that builds on each other ya'll got here. Keep it up. I'm enamored.

[@alyxgraff9121]

I didn't expect the narrator of LA Noir to be such a skilled writer when it comes to describing the state of modern gaming (or completely nailing that fact that (anti)social media seems to be the source of a lot of the modern problems when it comes to just talking about games.

[@TheStrangeBloke]

Nostalgia always comes back to a cold reality that you don't miss the games of 2005, you miss *being* 12 and having loads of free time.