Have any games journalists lost their job after the GameJournoPros leak?
It's hard to overstate to people outside of the workforce how normal it is to talk to other people in your profession about your profession.
Ask @BenKuchera
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Love your work and your twitter talks. Seen you go through some tough days too. Keep doing what you do!
Life is a sine wave: Some days are up, others down. Can't have one without the other. Thanks for the kind message!
After all the time you've spent as a critic, do you have any game concepts you'd love to see / you'd be willing to share?
Nope. I just write about 'em, other people can make 'em.
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If you had to play one game competitively for your life (assume bond style trap or something) against either a human or high score record, what game would it be?
League of Legends. I figured it'd take a few years just to get good, much less get bored.
How often does the entire polygon team get together? Seems like most staff are in different places. Is it just big events like E3?
Even then it's not everyone, just most people. It's a good-sized crew, and we're spread all over the place. I like to talk via video calls and Skype though, so I feel like I see everyone rather often.
Have any plans to be on any video content for polygon? I don't think I've ever seen you in any in the past.
I've done a few, but I'm way more comfortable behind a keyboard than in front of a camera.
Hey Ben, I'm a Digipen student headed to GDC for the first time this spring, and I was curious if you had any tips for getting to know people in the industry and how to have a great time. Thanks!
Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to people or ask to join a group of people chatting. But be aware of body language and social cues; if they're busy or don't seem to want you there, take the hint, be polite, and go. Go to panels that interest you, and ask questions, most speakers will hang around outside the door to meet people and talk to them. Go to the parties and the mixers. Be outgoing, have business cards ready, but don't monopolize anyone's time or attention. Good luck!
What's the furthest northern latitude you've been? City or number is cool.
Reykjavik!
Do you have a Vita? If so, what vita games (not necessarily exclusive) are you looking forward to in 2015?
I do, but I'll admit to not having turned it on in quite some time.
Super Mario RPG, should it get a true sequel instead of the spiritual sequel of the paper marios or am I just being overly nostalgic.
I'd love to see a true sequel, myself.
I know your super into VR lately, so do you see it having a lasting presence in the market or do you see more as a passing fad?
Lasting. Once people get a few hits of the good stuff they're not going to want to let it go. There's a few problems getting it to market, price and the power needed to do it well are the two obvious ones, but it's a game changer.
If you could take any game (like, say, a specific RPG) and have it redone in a completely different genre (like, say, a turn-based strategy) by your favorite dev in that genre, what game/genre combo would you choose?
Holy shit what a great question. I would love to play a Panzer Dragoon MOBA.
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Xander C
Hey Ben, Ian H. here! Just wanted to wholeheartedly thank you for the interview today! You're a hell of a guy! Tell you oldest I said happy birthday!
Will do, I'm glad it went well!
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Xander C
Gold Star or Skyline? How hard was that Bengals game to watch? I haven't bought into any of the current gen consoles because i just don't spend my time gaming a ton anymore. What would be the best choice to get?
Skyline.
So hard.
PlayStation 4.
So hard.
PlayStation 4.
What do you think fair compensation for writers in your field is? It seems like very few sites pay a rate that anyone could reasonably live on. (I don't know Polygon's rates, this is genuine curiosity rather than a dig or troll).
It depends on your level of experience and the work you're doing. In writing it goes anywhere from unpaid internships to editors who make a very decent living. I'm not going to put any kind of general number on it, there are way too many variables.
If a game has the damsel in distress trope even with a female protagonist is it sexist?
What game are you referring to?
You like this cold?
I'm already looking forward to Spring, to be honest. Winter is fun for exactly two weeks.
Now that your one of the top video game journalist in the world, do you feel as if you have more Bond like villains looking to stop you?
I wish they were Bond villains! Might make it more interesting. It's more like the Three Stooges.
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Xander C
I'm a pretty new developer and was wondering what you think of endless runners?
I think they've been done to death, but I'm also addicted to Crossy Road, which is an endless Frogger, so what do I know? Originality is overrated, IMHO, it's all about interesting execution.
Have you seen the shenanigans of amiibo shortage? What do you think about Nintendo not producing enough for the demand? Also, how are you? How're the kids?
I'm great! They're doing awesome, they had a snow day today!
I love the fact that Nintendo made collectibles out of their characters, because that's the sort of thing they should have been doing years ago, and I dig that there's such a huge demand for them. I have a few myself. I kind of enjoy the idea that finding the rare ones is hard, just because collecting is kind of its own reward. I'm really curious about what supply will be like moving forward.
I love the fact that Nintendo made collectibles out of their characters, because that's the sort of thing they should have been doing years ago, and I dig that there's such a huge demand for them. I have a few myself. I kind of enjoy the idea that finding the rare ones is hard, just because collecting is kind of its own reward. I'm really curious about what supply will be like moving forward.
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
42
If you could live forever would you?
I feel like saying yes is a selfish answer. It would hard watching my wife and children grow old and die without taking that journey with them. I feel like we get a pretty good run, although a part of me would certainly be tempted by the idea.
If Totalbiscuit asked you to be on the Co-optional podcast, would you take him up on the offer?
In the tiny bit of free time I have in my day I would much rather hang out with my wife or kids, play some games, or see my in real life friends. I don't have enough time for the people in my life, and I'm not going to take any away for almost any podcast, to be honest. It's not a personal thing, there's just little upside in it for me and I'd rather be doing literally anything else.
Do your friends ever say your last name in a sing-song voice to the tune of "Que Sera Sera"?
They have not, but holy shit I hope they start. Now it's stuck in my head.
I've made up my mind and decided a Wii U needs to be my Xbox One's companion in the media cabinet. Can't wait to play some new Nintendo titles. Ben, I remember you talking about having a hard drive hooked up to your Wii U. How does storage work with the Wii if I only get physical game discs?
You shouldn't need to worry about it! You just need room for saved games, and the Wii comes with plenty of space for that.
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