@BenKuchera

Ben Kuchera

Ask me anything Follow
Ask @BenKuchera

Sort by:

LatestTop

Previous

How do you handle all those on social media who constantly associate you with "what's wrong with gaming journalism"?

WildCardCorsair’s Profile PhotoChristopher Summers
I mean, I have a big readership and I have very strong opinions. When people get angry it's usually because they disagree with you and don't have a good way of expressing that feeling in a constructive or respectful way. You kind of get used to it, but if things get too dicey I just step away from social media for a bit.

Related users

alwaysmileguys’s Profile Photo Sabrina Diamanti♋
michaelwarming’s Profile Photo Michael Warming
jingelbells21’s Profile Photo Elisabeth Prunt
rodrichime6’s Profile Photo PoIoRoDRI❌DLC❌
Mpolich’s Profile Photo Michael Polich
Shado_Temple’s Profile Photo Shado_Temple
Nika784’s Profile Photo Werczix
Chorapina’s Profile Photo ☆ ask fm e velik ♡
Xander C

Got any favourite board games?

I'm a big fan of Dungeon Command. The figures are cool, it's quick, and easy to learn. It's a very relaxing game.

Do you respond to all freelancer culture-section pitches sent to your Polygon address, or do you let the crappy ones languish unanswered? Has a freelancer ever pitched you successfully? In what form do you prefer bribes?

It's rare to take someone up on a culture post if they're pitching a freelance piece, because that's the sort of thing I like writing. I like to pay people for posts I couldn't write, or wouldn't have done as good of a job covering. My number 1 question when looking at pitches is just to see what makes THIS PARTICULAR PERSON uniquely suited to write this post. What about this story could only they tell?

What do you think of Giant Bomb?

I think the Giant Bomb folks are great. I've had the pleasure of hanging around the crew a few times and they're very warm and open with people. You don't get that kind of fanbase by accident.

I am about to go out for lunch, but can't decide what I should get. What do you suggest?

Find a place with good pancakes. Pancakes for lunch are the best. My second pick would be a nice grilled cheese.

How long did it take you to get over motion sickness when using your Rift?

This really depends on the game. Some games feel amazing and are comfortable right off the bat. Others can make you a bit ill but you can get used to them rather quickly. Others are completely broken and make you sick quickly, and there's little you can do about it.
So there's no one answer, and I think this is going to be different for everyone. Devs are still learning how to do it well, but a lot of really talented people are cranking out a lot of really cool experiences.

Do you listen to many podcast's? If so, can you name a few of your favorites?

I like Freakonomics, I'm biased but I love My Brother My Brother and Me, and I'm a huge fan of This American Life. My wife likes Judge Joel Hodgman. That's really it for podcasts for me, I much prefer to read than listen.

Do you think reviewers have been too harsh on Destiny?

No, the game has some major flaws. I think the coverage of the game has been fair. I'm also having fun playing it, while seeing all those issues, so I wish people would stop thinking that anything below a 9 means that the game is terrible or something.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how the game evolves in the next few months. I'd love an expansion with a story you can grasp and characters you actually care about. At the very least I think the post-20 leveling system needs to be tweaked.

Are you a baseball fan? If so, are you pro-designated hitter or anti-designated hitter? And if you're not a baseball fan, I guess never mind!

Not a fan, sorry.

A variation on the desert island question: You can take 5 games with you - sport, rpg, multiplayer, adventure, puzzler. What console would you choose, knowing that someone else would be bringing games, sight unseen?

This feels like homework.

Does Polygon have any actual office space, or do you all work from home? Is a challenge to keep communicating if you don't share a physical space?

There is office space, but many of us work from home. Communication isn't hard, a lot of instant messages and Skype video calls.

Do you spend any time over on the Ars Technica OpenForum since you've left, and why?

Nah, it's too weird. Like coffee with an ex.

Do you sometimes play old games you loved to see if they still hold up or if nostalgia has colored your memory of them?

Not really, it's hard to find the time.

Which game that you've previewed has shown the most improvement from preview to final release?

Here's the trick: Previews only show a game that looks good. They're marketing, and often artificial chunks ripped out of the game. So it's really hard to see a big jump in quality. It's kind of weird that way.

So I just found out im going to be a father. Any tips on games for really young kids? I recently read about a d20 lite system made specifically for kids called princesses and palaces (sic), so I'm looking forward to that when he or she hits the appropriate age.

Not really, every kid is different. Take a look at what's around and just let them explore at their own pace. Make up your own rules. Use their imagination. Games at that age are about pure play, so facilitate that as much as possible.

Lots of big loud games coming up in the next few months. Are you looking forward to anything smaller that's coming out soon?

A lot of great stuff is coming to hit for Gear VR, the Oculus portable VR ... thing they're doing with Samsung. A lot of indie devs who are big in the VR scene will finally get to sell their games. It's going to be great.

I didn't know who you were until PAR and I stuck with you on Twitter after they shut it down. Not really a question but I love what you write about and looking to reread everything you wrote on Oculus once I have one in my hands. :)

Thanks, you're the best!

How do you not get depressed about the mass of horrible rude people that are owning our hobbies these days? I feel like everywhere I look (rpg communities, celeb leaks, gamergate, reddit comments, etc) there is close minded hate and ignorance. I feel like it's creeping into my life everywhere.

I don't not get depressed. I get depressed. It sucks. Sorry I don't have better news.

Next

Language: English

4.1

1,266,418 reviews
© Ask.fm 2024