May 14, 2024 • 25 mins
Life's a game, and we're all players—sometimes leveling up, sometimes facing the final boss in the form of daily challenges. That's the essence we're exploring today, as I recount the rollercoaster of moving into a new home, creating a sanctuary for my gaming passion, and grappling with the bittersweet symphony of Final Fantasy VII's legacy and its rebirth. Meanwhile, Jenny LeBron pulls back the curtain on her own saga, tackling the consistency of Legends of Runeterra amidst navigating the turbulent waters of her professional world and health. Gene Wong offers a breath of fresh air with his musings on the changing of seasons, and we take a moment to shout out to Kaylee Lopez from the Anthropology and Gaming podcast for her invaluable support in keeping our community engaged and our discussions vibrant.
Let's talk pixels and personas as we journey into the intricacies of world-building and side quests, with a focus on Chadley's role in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. As we dissect the shift to 3D open worlds and the strategic play involved in the seemingly mundane tasks that fortify our characters, we also ponder the more controversial aspects, like the omnipresent microtransactions that are reshaping our beloved pastime. For those with their ear to the gaming ground, you'll appreciate my personal anticipation for the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth—and the lengths I'll go to avoid spoilers. So power up your consoles, press play on this episode, and join us as we piece together the mosaic of gaming and its undeniable influence on the everyday.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Welcome to the gaming persona podcast.
This is the show that exploreswho we become when we play games
.
I'm your host still, drGamology, from YouTube and
online classrooms across thecountry, and I'm joined by two
of my best friends from mygaming journey, jenny LeBron and
Gene Wong.
Friends, I still have you.
(00:39):
How are you doing this week?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I'm doing fantastic and I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I'm doing pretty alright, we're coming out
of winter.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Winter is leaving.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Alright, that's awesome.
I have been looking forwardjust to doing something normal
that doesn't have to do withunpacking boxes or assembling
furniture and has faces on thescreen with me.
So thank you so much.
Can't wait to do an episodetonight.
Before we get started, wherecan our listeners find us?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You can find my photography page on Instagram at
jlebronphotography orjlebronphotographycom, if you
are curious about what a nerdyperson's photos look like.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
And I'm Dr Daniel Kaufman.
I am Dr Gameology on YouTube,twitch and other social apps
mostly threads if you want tosend me a message and talk to me
, and you can find me on thisshow every week.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
The Gaming Persona can be found on Apple Podcasts,
spotify, google and mostanywhere else podcasts can be
found.
If you are enjoying our content, be sure to leave a review on
your favorite listening app.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Absolutely, and we're in the month of March 2024.
Wow, this year has been sodifferent than I thought it was
going to be three months ago andI just want to give a shout out
to our patrons on Patreon.
You can also support the showas a membership on YouTube.
But we have Kaylee Lopezjoining us.
(02:14):
She runs a podcast calledAnthropology and Gaming and I've
really been enjoying listeningto it because I've actually been
questioning whether counselingwas the right field for me,
because it turns out I loveanthropology because it connects
so nicely with philosophy andreligion and all the mythology.
(02:39):
Just really fun to listen.
Thank you so much forsupporting the show and, all
right, jenny, you'rehistorically the one who answers
this question.
What are we talking about today?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I guess we're just talking about life lately.
I actually don't know how longsince the last time that we
podcasted all together and alot's gone on in our personal
lives probably not so much inour gaming lives, but we'll
touch on all of it, I'm sure allright.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, let's just look at tonight like it's a great
big heaping portion of ordinaryworld yeah because, uh, it has
been busy.
There isn't really an academictopic tonight, but, jenny,
you're absolutely.
Let's do a transition to theordinary world where we share
(03:36):
everyday life through our games.
Ha, I remember how to do this.
There are more Final FantasyVII games now than there were
the last time we spoke.
But, unfortunately, I haveplayed the same number of Final
Fantasy VII games as the lasttime we spoke, so that should
(03:57):
tell everybody what life hasbeen like in February and March.
All right, let's share thespotlight here in February and
March.
All right, let's share thespotlight here.
How have we been doing sincethe last episode where we were
talking about what is FinalFantasy for our third part in
the series?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It seems like a lifetime ago, like I've lived
many lives in the month ofFebruary and it is the shortest
month of the year and I cannot.
Video game wise, I will say Ihave lives in the month of
February and it is the shortestmonth of the year and I cannot.
Video game wise, I will say Ihave the only game that I've
been playing consistently, if atall, has been Legends of
(04:37):
Runeterra, and I've talked aboutthat game a couple times in the
past, but it's a like roguelikecard game digitally, like a
video game based on league oflegends, like that lore.
So it's in that world and it'sbeen a lot of fun we are.
(04:58):
I play with my boyfriend and hebasically controls everything
physically, but I tell him whatto do most of the time, which is
fun.
We have just been grinding,leveling up our people, doing
our dailies and our weeklies andtrying to get new powers and
(05:19):
such.
So it's been fun.
I think since the last time werecorded it was announced that
they changed the.
Either they fired a bunch ofpeople or they just changed the
focus of the game to be less PvPand more PvE, which I'm excited
about because we don't play PvP, we don't play PvP and so that
(05:43):
means there's more attention,more energy on that side of the
game.
So I'm happy about that.
But yeah, that's been my gaminglife.
We did watch, or start to watch, the first episode of the
League of Legends animated show.
That's on Netflix, or is it onNetflix?
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
It's on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I'm pretty sure I fell asleep.
Excellent yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Not because it wasn't interesting, but that's just
been my life.
I've been extremely overworkedand health-wise things have been
crazy.
I was supposed to be on acruise working photographing but
I ended up having to cancel itthe day before.
Because I was supposed to be ona cruise working photographing
but I ended up having to cancelit the day before because I was
in the hospital.
It was not a good month for me.
It's been extremely stressfuland I'm pretty sure the stress
(06:35):
is what landed me in thesituation that I'm in currently.
So I'm trying to relax and notoverwork myself right now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I really hope the podcast doesn't feel like work
to you, janet.
Sometimes it feels like work tome because I'm thinking about
how great the conversation isand then my brain slips into
you're going to have to editthis.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Oh no, oh man.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
But I'm really glad to see you.
You, I'm sorry that happened toyou.
I can't imagine the stress ofhaving to accept that you have
to cancel a job like that.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
That was awful.
I've never had to do anythinglike that before and I don't.
Oh, so terrible.
Thankfully, a photographerfriend of mine who was already
working with them was able totake over for me, and so that
(07:34):
made me feel a lot better.
But yeah, it was devastating.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Cool, cool.
I used to think that I'mlimitless in terms of what I can
do professionally, and I thinka lot of that mentality actually
comes from whatever happens inmy brain as I level up video
(08:01):
game characters, and I want tosave the world in whatever way I
can too, because if thesecharacters can do it and they
never stop as long as I'mholding the controller.
And the last six months or soI've really come to understand
that there is a line there whereI can't keep going.
(08:22):
I really don't remember thatline being there.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I know, yeah, it's definitely an aging thing and it
was really hard for me toaccept.
Like I still, even after beingin the hospital, was like I can
still do this, like I'll stillgo, I'll just tell them what's
going on and I'll try and be onlight duty or whatever.
But there is no light duty withthat job.
(08:48):
It's an extremely demandingweek and thankfully I have very
understanding bosses and theywere like please don't do
something that you don't.
You don't want to be trapped ona boat while you're really sick
.
So I would have been in themiddle of the ocean for three
days before I could get help.
So it was not, it was justterrible.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
That's like the plot of a movie.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I know.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Okay, jean, you might be the only person who can
recenter our discussion on thegaming Persona.
Goodness, no pressure.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
My life hasn't been so bad?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I actually got the game, so there's that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Are you Final?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Fantasy VII Rebirth.
No, I'm not.
So the issue is I startedPersona 3 Reload Okay.
Issue is I did I startedpersona 3 reload okay, and that
is a monster of again in ofitself, which pushed back my
start date of rebirth.
That's how I finished it andstarted rebirth.
Now I'm only roughly 40 of theway through a rebirth.
(09:54):
Maybe I just got the goldsaucer in terms of the context
of this game and so on, like, Ithink, the fourth so zone out of
10 zones nine or ten zones?
Speaker 1 (10:07):
yeah, so how many hours do you think they made
this game to to be to play it,because I know remake was about
30 ish I would say no, thisone's way longer.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
At this point, at the 40, I'm at like 30 hours okay
that's a lot more similar to howlong my playthrough of persona
5 royal was then yeah, becauseif you refer, if you compare it
to the original final fantasy 7things like you know the part
where you go from midgar to calmand then you just blitz through
(10:46):
, get a chocobo and go throughthe mithril mines, that's a
couple hours of gameplay.
No, the entire region of calmis full of side quests and
things to do.
So just going to get yourChocobo and go through Mifflor
Mines, that's 10 hours ofgameplay.
Yeah Well, not 10, but manyhours of gameplay, like five or
(11:06):
six.
And then you get past the minesand before you go up to Junon,
there's a whole region downthere called Under Junon, and
that's another eight hours ofgameplay.
So it's like they really beefedup each individual section of
the game.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, I noticed in remake too that there were a lot
of instances where somethingthat takes 30 seconds has a
whole chapter segment builtaround it, and they really got a
lot out of that first part ofthe story that way.
So it makes sense that theywould continue to do that,
because this is the part of thestory that way.
So it makes sense that theywould continue to do that
because this is the part of thegame where the map is open to
(11:45):
you.
And, yeah, so if you takethings that took five minutes
and turn it into a one hourthing, you do that enough.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
You get a 100 hour game very easily yeah, and they
really took the 3d open worldgame design inspiration to it,
because there's random loot allover the map.
You're running around yourtruck while digging up items.
There's this random things toscan and get data on.
Yeah, they really went all inon making it a 3d open world
(12:18):
game okay are.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Are you scanning things because of Chad Lee?
Yep, that's how you get a lotof yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So one thing is you can't really not do it.
Unfortunately you can, butyou'll be weak Because they've
added this.
It's similar enough-ish to arelationship point system, right
when your party has a level,and so when your party gains
level, you gain access to moreabilities.
(12:49):
And so if you don't go arounddoing random craft for Chad Lee,
you don't gain as much partyexperience.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I am only on this planet to do whatever Chad he
has me to do.
If that menu has a number thatis not 1 out of 1, 17 out of 17,
with a green checkmark, I willnot leave the area Right.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
So I'm going to explain to you what Chadley is,
because I have no idea what he'stalking about is because I have
no idea what he's talking about.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Chadley is an android boy that gives you extra
missions that are a completedistraction from the mission of
saving the world yeah he claimsthat he needs to do scientific
research to understand humansand stuff.
So he's go do things chadley isnot someone who I would talk to
chadley also gives you a VRheadset so you can fight the
summon bosses inside your ownhead and earn them in battle for
(13:49):
real.
So you defeated Ifrit in yourmind, so now you can actually
channel him.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Oh yeah, chadley is a little more.
He's more annoying, but he'smore interesting at the same
time.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
This time around, because as you go around
scanning things.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
As you go around scanning things, he actually
tells you the history of thingsas, oh, you scanned all the
stuff in junon.
Let me give you some backgroundinformation on junon, which
didn't exist in original FinalFantasy VII.
You're just like, oh, thecity's here.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Yeah, so if you want to be a historian, become
friends with Chadley.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Pass.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, sidequests give you EXP, better weapons and
better gear.
Jenny.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's a waste of time.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
It's hard to avoid him this time.
He's everywhere.
He's a menace.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
That's why I asked, because I've already heard a
little bit online that peopleare not into what he brings to
the table in this game.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
He's just.
He's just like entity, becauseevery 10 feet he's like there
again.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
You can learn something from this.
You can learn something fromthat.
Find me something from that.
Find me five more of these.
Defeat 10 more of that.
So I guess we're just doing theordinary world today and I
realized that I probably didn'tcover exactly what happened to
me.
I moved, I'm in a new house,I'm in a new office.
It's not completely set up yet.
(15:18):
I don't have my chair isflickering on my green screen
like crazy this whole episode.
But you know what A recordedepisode is better than an
episode that never happened.
Here we are.
I have played one new game sincewe all talked and that is WWE
(15:39):
2K24.
I did hear great things aboutit.
It is so good.
They have improved my factionmode so much.
They created a system where youspend tickets to play a
completely randomized style ofmatches and they made a debuff
(16:00):
system.
That really fixed one of themost aggravating problems in tag
team matches in the previousgame and I'm enjoying it a lot.
Wwe is ramping up to theirWrestleMania season right now in
actual life.
So playing the game, justchecking in each day to get your
(16:20):
daily bonus and stuff is fun.
I have resisted spending moneyon their microtransaction store
Because it's a scam of the IGCCB, which is for the International
Gambling CounselorCertification Board.
(16:42):
We are going to have to do aconversation about 2K and their
microtransaction schemes in afuture episode, because that has
to happen Now.
I have bought microtransactionsin WWE games, but the cards that
they're offering as the bestyou can open in the pack it's
(17:04):
just a scam.
And now they have timers.
They're like this pack is onlyavailable for three more days.
It's, I see, through the liesof not the Jedi of the game
studio.
So they've added a couple newmatch types.
The roster is amazing.
The history of WrestleManiamode is fun and also I feel a
(17:30):
lot better picking up acontroller and playing one match
that could take under sixminutes and then going back to
work.
Or my coffee's done, brewingnow, so back to work or unbox
something.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirthalthough I bought it as a
pre-order and it's on my PS5, Ijust don't feel like In the
(17:55):
midst of all that chaos, is thebest time to enjoy that.
I want it to be.
I want it to be a specialexperience, because Final
Fantasy seven is the game.
That sort of that triggered allof this for me, and so I just
(18:15):
hope I don't get spoiled by theInternet that's.
That's a big fear too.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
People are rampant on the internet about Ereth dying.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Ereth died what 27 years ago.
This is not graffiti about thatevent.
It's on the subway in Wreck-ItRalph.
So yeah, is on the subway InWreck-It Ralph, right?
So yeah, that's the reference.
I went with everybody.
That's funny.
(18:48):
So I'm getting settled in.
Work is going good.
The book is going really well.
I am going to be At WonderConAt the end of the month in
Anaheim.
So if anyone's listening that'splanning to go to that event,
they have all kinds of rules andas of today, march 12th, I'm
(19:10):
not allowed to say why I'm goingto be at WonderCon.
But if you've listened to thehistory of the show or any of my
streams where I'm talking aboutconvention stuff, I recently
said during a Final Fantasy XIVstream that there are so many of
(19:30):
those that I could go to thatthere is only one reason why I
would ever go to them.
I didn't say why I'm going tobe there, but you can figure it
out Cryptic.
Yeah, come on.
That's.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I feel, like.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
that's obvious.
That's not even Riddler-esque,but the fantasy seven will be
fun.
And then topics.
We're in a we're in a conundrum.
We were going to do an episodeabout pow world yeah it's old
news now, and every day that wego beyond this point, another
(20:08):
studio seems like it's eitherclosing or getting closed or
firing hundreds of employees.
So the game industry is not ahappy place right now.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So that's been really big in the news and it's been
really devastating as I listenedto all of my usual podcast
rotation.
Just really sad.
And also at my school.
I'm on this committee to createour game development and game
(20:43):
design bachelor's programs andI'm just thinking to myself oh
my gosh, if the world keepsgoing this way, do schools need
to have these programs?
Ah, negativity.
So I hope it turns around.
I hope that the games industrystabilizes, because when people
(21:04):
make games like the ones we'retalking about, it really does
make a difference in people'sdays.
So that's everything with me.
I got the move, the con.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
I mentioned wwe are you actually moved?
Are you still unpacking?
I'm in my new office.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
I guess my definition of moved is if I'm in the house
but all my stuff is still inboxes, I don't count it.
Oh no, we're functional, thefurniture is in place and
appliances are set up and we canlive our day.
But when you look around,there's still things like ah,
that's not quite the way we wantit.
Yet what do you like in yourhouse?
Oh, I like it a lot.
(21:48):
I hope the finance stuff getsyou the first of the following
month right.
We'll see how cheery I feelbetween.
April 1st and April 10th I feelbetween April 1st and April 10th
, but yeah, I'm really excitedto to see what it's like being
here.
I don't want to move ever again, so maybe just let's just stay
(22:08):
here.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I'm hoping I don't have to move
again.
I need, are you?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
hoping you don't have to move again, Jean.
Yeah, I'm having a great timeall right, we are now all
officially unmovable and silenceall right.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I've just discovered I should have lived in this
climate my whole life.
I think it's a much moreagreeable to me physically than
90 degree, yeah like I can gooutside.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Oh yeah, gene, I don't see any grand theft autos
being in your state, so okay,yeah, I like to visit up north,
but I wouldn't say it's moreagreeable I don't know I.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I like being able to walk around outside without
being drenched yeah, that isnice I I used to never go
outside and that made me feelicky after a while.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah that makes sense .
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Right now it's really nice to go outside here yeah,
it's 50 in the morning and lowmid 80s in the afternoon.
It's been very nice.
All right, we give ourlisteners an exorbitant amount
of weather information for avideo game podcast I know, I
(23:41):
think it's funny all right, Ithink that we are good to wrap
up.
It's been really niceconnecting with all of you
talking about what role gameshave played as we deal with the
chaos of life.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Yeah, and yeah, it's definitely like the nights that
I get to play runeterra with myboyfriend.
Like I get excited for it.
It really is.
It really is such a good winddown moment for us yeah I agree.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Unfortunately, I probably have to do work after
we're done recording, so I justgot to figure it out right?
What's the schedule?
That I will be happy with thatI can actually keep yeah, and
then my potential will beunlocked.
All right, if theseconversations sound fun to you
(24:40):
and you're looking for somegreat people to play Olin games
with, check out AIE ataie-guildorg.
And I have one last quest foreveryone to collect for the day.
I don't know what should I sayhere.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Find your balance.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
I'm sure I've said that many times.
All right, and I have one lastquest for everyone to collect
for the day Find your balanceand continue the journey.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
See you next week.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Bye, thank you.
Welcome to the gaming persona podcast.
This is the show that exploreswho we become when we play games
.
I'm your host still, drGamology, from YouTube and
online classrooms across thecountry, and I'm joined by two
of my best friends from mygaming journey, jenny LeBron and
Gene Wong.
Friends, I still have you.
(00:39):
How are you doing this week?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I'm doing fantastic and I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I'm doing pretty alright, we're coming out
of winter.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Winter is leaving.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Alright, that's awesome.
I have been looking forwardjust to doing something normal
that doesn't have to do withunpacking boxes or assembling
furniture and has faces on thescreen with me.
So thank you so much.
Can't wait to do an episodetonight.
Before we get started, wherecan our listeners find us?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You can find my photography page on Instagram at
jlebronphotography orjlebronphotographycom, if you
are curious about what a nerdyperson's photos look like.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
And I'm Dr Daniel Kaufman.
I am Dr Gameology on YouTube,twitch and other social apps
mostly threads if you want tosend me a message and talk to me
, and you can find me on thisshow every week.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
The Gaming Persona can be found on Apple Podcasts,
spotify, google and mostanywhere else podcasts can be
found.
If you are enjoying our content, be sure to leave a review on
your favorite listening app.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Absolutely, and we're in the month of March 2024.
Wow, this year has been sodifferent than I thought it was
going to be three months ago andI just want to give a shout out
to our patrons on Patreon.
You can also support the showas a membership on YouTube.
But we have Kaylee Lopezjoining us.
(02:14):
She runs a podcast calledAnthropology and Gaming and I've
really been enjoying listeningto it because I've actually been
questioning whether counselingwas the right field for me,
because it turns out I loveanthropology because it connects
so nicely with philosophy andreligion and all the mythology.
(02:39):
Just really fun to listen.
Thank you so much forsupporting the show and, all
right, jenny, you'rehistorically the one who answers
this question.
What are we talking about today?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I guess we're just talking about life lately.
I actually don't know how longsince the last time that we
podcasted all together and alot's gone on in our personal
lives probably not so much inour gaming lives, but we'll
touch on all of it, I'm sure allright.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, let's just look at tonight like it's a great
big heaping portion of ordinaryworld yeah because, uh, it has
been busy.
There isn't really an academictopic tonight, but, jenny,
you're absolutely.
Let's do a transition to theordinary world where we share
(03:36):
everyday life through our games.
Ha, I remember how to do this.
There are more Final FantasyVII games now than there were
the last time we spoke.
But, unfortunately, I haveplayed the same number of Final
Fantasy VII games as the lasttime we spoke, so that should
(03:57):
tell everybody what life hasbeen like in February and March.
All right, let's share thespotlight here in February and
March.
All right, let's share thespotlight here.
How have we been doing sincethe last episode where we were
talking about what is FinalFantasy for our third part in
the series?
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It seems like a lifetime ago, like I've lived
many lives in the month ofFebruary and it is the shortest
month of the year and I cannot.
Video game wise, I will say Ihave lives in the month of
February and it is the shortestmonth of the year and I cannot.
Video game wise, I will say Ihave the only game that I've
been playing consistently, if atall, has been Legends of
(04:37):
Runeterra, and I've talked aboutthat game a couple times in the
past, but it's a like roguelikecard game digitally, like a
video game based on league oflegends, like that lore.
So it's in that world and it'sbeen a lot of fun we are.
(04:58):
I play with my boyfriend and hebasically controls everything
physically, but I tell him whatto do most of the time, which is
fun.
We have just been grinding,leveling up our people, doing
our dailies and our weeklies andtrying to get new powers and
(05:19):
such.
So it's been fun.
I think since the last time werecorded it was announced that
they changed the.
Either they fired a bunch ofpeople or they just changed the
focus of the game to be less PvPand more PvE, which I'm excited
about because we don't play PvP, we don't play PvP and so that
(05:43):
means there's more attention,more energy on that side of the
game.
So I'm happy about that.
But yeah, that's been my gaminglife.
We did watch, or start to watch, the first episode of the
League of Legends animated show.
That's on Netflix, or is it onNetflix?
I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
It's on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I'm pretty sure I fell asleep.
Excellent yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Not because it wasn't interesting, but that's just
been my life.
I've been extremely overworkedand health-wise things have been
crazy.
I was supposed to be on acruise working photographing but
I ended up having to cancel itthe day before.
Because I was supposed to be ona cruise working photographing
but I ended up having to cancelit the day before because I was
in the hospital.
It was not a good month for me.
It's been extremely stressfuland I'm pretty sure the stress
(06:35):
is what landed me in thesituation that I'm in currently.
So I'm trying to relax and notoverwork myself right now.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I really hope the podcast doesn't feel like work
to you, janet.
Sometimes it feels like work tome because I'm thinking about
how great the conversation isand then my brain slips into
you're going to have to editthis.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Oh no, oh man.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
But I'm really glad to see you.
You, I'm sorry that happened toyou.
I can't imagine the stress ofhaving to accept that you have
to cancel a job like that.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
That was awful.
I've never had to do anythinglike that before and I don't.
Oh, so terrible.
Thankfully, a photographerfriend of mine who was already
working with them was able totake over for me, and so that
(07:34):
made me feel a lot better.
But yeah, it was devastating.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Cool, cool.
I used to think that I'mlimitless in terms of what I can
do professionally, and I thinka lot of that mentality actually
comes from whatever happens inmy brain as I level up video
(08:01):
game characters, and I want tosave the world in whatever way I
can too, because if thesecharacters can do it and they
never stop as long as I'mholding the controller.
And the last six months or soI've really come to understand
that there is a line there whereI can't keep going.
(08:22):
I really don't remember thatline being there.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I know, yeah, it's definitely an aging thing and it
was really hard for me toaccept.
Like I still, even after beingin the hospital, was like I can
still do this, like I'll stillgo, I'll just tell them what's
going on and I'll try and be onlight duty or whatever.
But there is no light duty withthat job.
(08:48):
It's an extremely demandingweek and thankfully I have very
understanding bosses and theywere like please don't do
something that you don't.
You don't want to be trapped ona boat while you're really sick
.
So I would have been in themiddle of the ocean for three
days before I could get help.
So it was not, it was justterrible.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
That's like the plot of a movie.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I know.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Okay, jean, you might be the only person who can
recenter our discussion on thegaming Persona.
Goodness, no pressure.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
My life hasn't been so bad?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I actually got the game, so there's that.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Are you Final?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Fantasy VII Rebirth.
No, I'm not.
So the issue is I startedPersona 3 Reload Okay.
Issue is I did I startedpersona 3 reload okay, and that
is a monster of again in ofitself, which pushed back my
start date of rebirth.
That's how I finished it andstarted rebirth.
Now I'm only roughly 40 of theway through a rebirth.
(09:54):
Maybe I just got the goldsaucer in terms of the context
of this game and so on, like, Ithink, the fourth so zone out of
10 zones nine or ten zones?
Speaker 1 (10:07):
yeah, so how many hours do you think they made
this game to to be to play it,because I know remake was about
30 ish I would say no, thisone's way longer.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
At this point, at the 40, I'm at like 30 hours okay
that's a lot more similar to howlong my playthrough of persona
5 royal was then yeah, becauseif you refer, if you compare it
to the original final fantasy 7things like you know the part
where you go from midgar to calmand then you just blitz through
(10:46):
, get a chocobo and go throughthe mithril mines, that's a
couple hours of gameplay.
No, the entire region of calmis full of side quests and
things to do.
So just going to get yourChocobo and go through Mifflor
Mines, that's 10 hours ofgameplay.
Yeah Well, not 10, but manyhours of gameplay, like five or
(11:06):
six.
And then you get past the minesand before you go up to Junon,
there's a whole region downthere called Under Junon, and
that's another eight hours ofgameplay.
So it's like they really beefedup each individual section of
the game.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, I noticed in remake too that there were a lot
of instances where somethingthat takes 30 seconds has a
whole chapter segment builtaround it, and they really got a
lot out of that first part ofthe story that way.
So it makes sense that theywould continue to do that,
because this is the part of thestory that way.
So it makes sense that theywould continue to do that
because this is the part of thegame where the map is open to
(11:45):
you.
And, yeah, so if you takethings that took five minutes
and turn it into a one hourthing, you do that enough.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
You get a 100 hour game very easily yeah, and they
really took the 3d open worldgame design inspiration to it,
because there's random loot allover the map.
You're running around yourtruck while digging up items.
There's this random things toscan and get data on.
Yeah, they really went all inon making it a 3d open world
(12:18):
game okay are.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Are you scanning things because of Chad Lee?
Yep, that's how you get a lotof yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So one thing is you can't really not do it.
Unfortunately you can, butyou'll be weak Because they've
added this.
It's similar enough-ish to arelationship point system, right
when your party has a level,and so when your party gains
level, you gain access to moreabilities.
(12:49):
And so if you don't go arounddoing random craft for Chad Lee,
you don't gain as much partyexperience.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I am only on this planet to do whatever Chad he
has me to do.
If that menu has a number thatis not 1 out of 1, 17 out of 17,
with a green checkmark, I willnot leave the area Right.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
So I'm going to explain to you what Chadley is,
because I have no idea what he'stalking about is because I have
no idea what he's talking about.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Chadley is an android boy that gives you extra
missions that are a completedistraction from the mission of
saving the world yeah he claimsthat he needs to do scientific
research to understand humansand stuff.
So he's go do things chadley isnot someone who I would talk to
chadley also gives you a VRheadset so you can fight the
summon bosses inside your ownhead and earn them in battle for
(13:49):
real.
So you defeated Ifrit in yourmind, so now you can actually
channel him.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Oh yeah, chadley is a little more.
He's more annoying, but he'smore interesting at the same
time.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
This time around, because as you go around
scanning things.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
As you go around scanning things, he actually
tells you the history of thingsas, oh, you scanned all the
stuff in junon.
Let me give you some backgroundinformation on junon, which
didn't exist in original FinalFantasy VII.
You're just like, oh, thecity's here.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Yeah, so if you want to be a historian, become
friends with Chadley.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Pass.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, sidequests give you EXP, better weapons and
better gear.
Jenny.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's a waste of time.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
It's hard to avoid him this time.
He's everywhere.
He's a menace.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
That's why I asked, because I've already heard a
little bit online that peopleare not into what he brings to
the table in this game.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
He's just.
He's just like entity, becauseevery 10 feet he's like there
again.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
You can learn something from this.
You can learn something fromthat.
Find me something from that.
Find me five more of these.
Defeat 10 more of that.
So I guess we're just doing theordinary world today and I
realized that I probably didn'tcover exactly what happened to
me.
I moved, I'm in a new house,I'm in a new office.
It's not completely set up yet.
(15:18):
I don't have my chair isflickering on my green screen
like crazy this whole episode.
But you know what A recordedepisode is better than an
episode that never happened.
Here we are.
I have played one new game sincewe all talked and that is WWE
(15:39):
2K24.
I did hear great things aboutit.
It is so good.
They have improved my factionmode so much.
They created a system where youspend tickets to play a
completely randomized style ofmatches and they made a debuff
(16:00):
system.
That really fixed one of themost aggravating problems in tag
team matches in the previousgame and I'm enjoying it a lot.
Wwe is ramping up to theirWrestleMania season right now in
actual life.
So playing the game, justchecking in each day to get your
(16:20):
daily bonus and stuff is fun.
I have resisted spending moneyon their microtransaction store
Because it's a scam of the IGCCB, which is for the International
Gambling CounselorCertification Board.
(16:42):
We are going to have to do aconversation about 2K and their
microtransaction schemes in afuture episode, because that has
to happen Now.
I have bought microtransactionsin WWE games, but the cards that
they're offering as the bestyou can open in the pack it's
(17:04):
just a scam.
And now they have timers.
They're like this pack is onlyavailable for three more days.
It's, I see, through the liesof not the Jedi of the game
studio.
So they've added a couple newmatch types.
The roster is amazing.
The history of WrestleManiamode is fun and also I feel a
(17:30):
lot better picking up acontroller and playing one match
that could take under sixminutes and then going back to
work.
Or my coffee's done, brewingnow, so back to work or unbox
something.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirthalthough I bought it as a
pre-order and it's on my PS5, Ijust don't feel like In the
(17:55):
midst of all that chaos, is thebest time to enjoy that.
I want it to be.
I want it to be a specialexperience, because Final
Fantasy seven is the game.
That sort of that triggered allof this for me, and so I just
(18:15):
hope I don't get spoiled by theInternet that's.
That's a big fear too.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
People are rampant on the internet about Ereth dying.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Ereth died what 27 years ago.
This is not graffiti about thatevent.
It's on the subway in Wreck-ItRalph.
So yeah, is on the subway InWreck-It Ralph, right?
So yeah, that's the reference.
I went with everybody.
That's funny.
(18:48):
So I'm getting settled in.
Work is going good.
The book is going really well.
I am going to be At WonderConAt the end of the month in
Anaheim.
So if anyone's listening that'splanning to go to that event,
they have all kinds of rules andas of today, march 12th, I'm
(19:10):
not allowed to say why I'm goingto be at WonderCon.
But if you've listened to thehistory of the show or any of my
streams where I'm talking aboutconvention stuff, I recently
said during a Final Fantasy XIVstream that there are so many of
(19:30):
those that I could go to thatthere is only one reason why I
would ever go to them.
I didn't say why I'm going tobe there, but you can figure it
out Cryptic.
Yeah, come on.
That's.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I feel, like.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
that's obvious.
That's not even Riddler-esque,but the fantasy seven will be
fun.
And then topics.
We're in a we're in a conundrum.
We were going to do an episodeabout pow world yeah it's old
news now, and every day that wego beyond this point, another
(20:08):
studio seems like it's eitherclosing or getting closed or
firing hundreds of employees.
So the game industry is not ahappy place right now.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So that's been really big in the news and it's been
really devastating as I listenedto all of my usual podcast
rotation.
Just really sad.
And also at my school.
I'm on this committee to createour game development and game
(20:43):
design bachelor's programs andI'm just thinking to myself oh
my gosh, if the world keepsgoing this way, do schools need
to have these programs?
Ah, negativity.
So I hope it turns around.
I hope that the games industrystabilizes, because when people
(21:04):
make games like the ones we'retalking about, it really does
make a difference in people'sdays.
So that's everything with me.
I got the move, the con.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
I mentioned wwe are you actually moved?
Are you still unpacking?
I'm in my new office.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
I guess my definition of moved is if I'm in the house
but all my stuff is still inboxes, I don't count it.
Oh no, we're functional, thefurniture is in place and
appliances are set up and we canlive our day.
But when you look around,there's still things like ah,
that's not quite the way we wantit.
Yet what do you like in yourhouse?
Oh, I like it a lot.
(21:48):
I hope the finance stuff getsyou the first of the following
month right.
We'll see how cheery I feelbetween.
April 1st and April 10th I feelbetween April 1st and April 10th
, but yeah, I'm really excitedto to see what it's like being
here.
I don't want to move ever again, so maybe just let's just stay
(22:08):
here.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Yeah, yeah, I'm hoping I don't have to move
again.
I need, are you?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
hoping you don't have to move again, Jean.
Yeah, I'm having a great timeall right, we are now all
officially unmovable and silenceall right.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I've just discovered I should have lived in this
climate my whole life.
I think it's a much moreagreeable to me physically than
90 degree, yeah like I can gooutside.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Oh yeah, gene, I don't see any grand theft autos
being in your state, so okay,yeah, I like to visit up north,
but I wouldn't say it's moreagreeable I don't know I.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I like being able to walk around outside without
being drenched yeah, that isnice I I used to never go
outside and that made me feelicky after a while.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah that makes sense .
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Right now it's really nice to go outside here yeah,
it's 50 in the morning and lowmid 80s in the afternoon.
It's been very nice.
All right, we give ourlisteners an exorbitant amount
of weather information for avideo game podcast I know, I
(23:41):
think it's funny all right, Ithink that we are good to wrap
up.
It's been really niceconnecting with all of you
talking about what role gameshave played as we deal with the
chaos of life.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Yeah, and yeah, it's definitely like the nights that
I get to play runeterra with myboyfriend.
Like I get excited for it.
It really is.
It really is such a good winddown moment for us yeah I agree.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Unfortunately, I probably have to do work after
we're done recording, so I justgot to figure it out right?
What's the schedule?
That I will be happy with thatI can actually keep yeah, and
then my potential will beunlocked.
All right, if theseconversations sound fun to you
(24:40):
and you're looking for somegreat people to play Olin games
with, check out AIE ataie-guildorg.
And I have one last quest foreveryone to collect for the day.
I don't know what should I sayhere.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Find your balance.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
I'm sure I've said that many times.
All right, and I have one lastquest for everyone to collect
for the day Find your balanceand continue the journey.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
See you next week.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Bye, thank you.
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