@BenKuchera

Ben Kuchera

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Thank you for hosting anonymous ask.fms. Question is hypothetical. If crime rises with censorship and there's not hypothetical evidence it does then what do you think we should value more? Lower crime rate or less offensive things? Pretend it must be one or the other for this. Thanks for discussion!

Well, no, because that doesn't mirror reality. Violent crime in the US is down. There are more ways to express yourself than ever. If you look at actual reality in the US content is only getting freer while people are becoming safer on the average. Why pretend the opposite?
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Liked by: Xander C

What is your opinion of Die Hard and it's role as a Christmas movie?

Die Hard is an amazing movie. From the writing to the casting, it's fucking PERFECT. It's economical, it juggles multiple conflicts with ease, it's fun to watch, and it's violent without being pornographic about it. It has a great setting, it keeps the stakes relatively low while making them feel epic, and it achieves a ton of great moments working within a structure other films would find stifling.
It also works great during Christmas, but every time is the right time for Die Hard.

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Xander C

Following re: video game criticism. One of the problems that I see with it is that the voices seem really scattered. Lots of individuals doing great work, but I keep wanting there to be a site I can go to that brings things together better. Is there anyone doing that?

I think our opinion section does a pretty good job! But honestly if you find a bunch of writers you like, follow them on twitter and click on the links. There's a ton of good work out there, and if you want a good place that collects it Critical Distance is a must read. I hope this helps!

Have you considered starting your own site again? I like what you did in the PA report and while you're doing great work at Polygon, I like your work best when you're running your own show. Thoughts?

Running a site more or less by yourself is a ton of work. A TON of work. I'm enjoying working with a big team of interesting people. Who knows what the future holds, but for the time being I'm very, very happy at Polygon and hope to be a part of the site for a very long time.

do you miss working retail in the holiday season?

I miss a few aspects of it, I enjoyed pointing people towards good games and meeting people who were nice and excited about giving gifts. The downsides were also, obviously, many. I'm glad I'm out of that game.

Playing the new hearthstone card expansion at all? Any thoughts on it? Do you think Polygon will update a review of the game based on it?

We've done some videos on it, but I haven't personally played it. Getting back into Heroes of the Storm!

Like you I've been super excited about everything I've seen on Star Wars Episode VII so far. What is your biggest concern/fear that could hurt the quality of the movie if they do wrong?

I'm 100 percent onboard. It can't possible be worse than the prequels, so basically whatever they do it will be a net win.

What TV shows have you been watching?

I just finished Sons of Anarchy, even if the last season was pretty dire. I loved Fargo, looking forward to Game of Thrones coming back, and I need to get caught up with Orphan Black. I watch a LOT of television, and I think it's a great art form these days.
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Liked by: RealslimshadyMc

When you swing on a rope or vine in a video game does your sphincter tighten?

I always hold my breath until I'm safe on land.

What is your current opinion on the picking up a DK2 or Gear VR at this point? Any experiences compelling enough at this point, or best to wait for CV1?

I adore both pieces of hardware, but I'm an enthusiast who is willing to put the work into getting them running smoothly. The Gear VR is a much simpler piece of technology to use, but it's early days; there aren't many pieces of content yet nor is there even a working store. Both headsets prove that VR is coming and working, but for most people I would say wait a bit. It's already great, but it's only going to get better.

What do you think of the state of video game criticism? Engagement in the discipline beyond merely reviewing, etc.

I think it's better than it has ever been. More voices, things like Patreon make it easier for people to make money writing, a lot of interest in analysis even after a game has come out. I don't have time in my day to read everything I would like to, so I'm pretty happy.

How much of the blame for the recent spat of show-stopping bugs at launch should the console manufacturers shoulder? Don't games still get submitted for QA approval when they "go gold"?

That's a great question, and I'd love to know the answer.
1
Liked by: Xander C

Given the abysmal online launches of DriveClub, AC, MCC, which heavily online reliant game do you think had the smoothest launch of 2014?

The latest Call of Duty seemed to do very well! They nail those launches.

How has life been since you change your Twitter permissions and notifications?

Amazing. Twitter is good for some things, but on the whole it's a drain on your time and mental health. Taking a few steps back from social media in general has been a really great move. I'd much rather do things like this where it feels like we're talking a bit and can really hang out rather than small messages on Twitter.

Herbal tea Ben! And a regimen of mucinex and cough drops to lure out what sounds like a buildup of phlegm. I'm not a doctor btw :) Just sharing some home remedies. Add a ton of spicy food to that list. Kick back and watch the kids play or binge on some brainless movies while recovering - get better

Thanks for the advice!

Do you think Bungie will do something like Ubisoft when Halo MCC starts running smoothly? I'd be furious if they pushed online DLC maps and no retribution for people who got it on launch day (and yup that whole day your article about not getting a game on launch came to mind *sigh*).

Gosh I hope so, I'm tired of games not working.

Hey, how's life in Ohio? :)

It'll be better once I shake this crud. I think we're going to put the tree up this weekend.

How would you evaluate the current state of Kickstarter for the indie developer / indie gamer community?

It's pretty dire. I think most of us have had at least one bad experience on Kickstarter, and people are finding out just how tricky game development can be. I doubt we'll see any more super-huge projects that were common for a few months.

What's ailing you this evening? Let's have a misery party! I'm running with double ear infections and strep. Each kid had one or the other, I got both.

I have no clue, some kind of hacking cough thing. I've barely been able to work all week. I'm wearing a surgical mask right now to try to keep it from spreading further. Sorry to hear you're not feeling well either!

What are your thoughts on the Suicide Squad cast list? Do you think WB can actually get the best out of the cast or are we just looking at an expensive train wreck?

It's hard to get something good out of a cast that big and talented. I'm not sure WB has really proven it knows how to do so, but I'd love to be proven wrong. It's a great cast, but I get the feeling they're just throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks.

Scripted linear experience or freeform sandbox open world?

I like 'em both. I love the Call of Duty SP games, which are 100 percent linear and scripted, but I'm also enjoying the hell out of Far Cry 4, which is the opposite. It mostly depends on my mood.

How do you see video games as an art form? And how can we move forward and improve in this medium?

This one is easy: Make, buy and play different kinds of games. Get out of your comfort zone. Try something new. Support people making cool things, whether it's AAA or indie. Reward the cool stuff and ignore the bad stuff. There's already so many different kinds of games, but it can be hard for the weirder stuff to find an audience. Be fearless in trying new things!

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