December 29, 2023 • 31 mins
How many Habibis does it take to make a Top 10 games of 2023 list? Three Habibis, it turns out: one to make the spreadsheets Fawzi can copy-paste into, one to correct Fawzi's copy-pasting skills, and one Fawzi.
Happy New Year, everyone <3
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Habibi's god. I'm just I'm too
nervous. I'm too nervous. I gotit wrong last time.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
There's You're gonna get it right. You're gonna
you're still talking. You couldstill get it right.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
We're going well. Welcome to the Habibi's, the
podcast with the 3 Arab gamedevelopers drinking good Arab
tea. I'm your host for thisepisode, Rami Ismail.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And I was Salvador. Yes.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Oh, no. I'm Fozi, Massmart.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Amazing. You're almost amazing. Did you you said
3 Arab game developers. I knowthat that's accurate. That's not
the intro, but, you know, youget a pass.
You get a pass because this ispart 2.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
This is part 2. This is our first post cliffhanger.
This is so exciting.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It is so exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Do you think do you think that it's it's the kind of
thing where you're like, I neverthought I would do a cliffhanger
on a podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
But I mean, not intentionally.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
We just talked too much last time.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
That's right. Previously on the Habibis.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Previously on Habibis, we tried to figure out
what our top ten games of theyear were, but, eventually, we
just had to make a a top tenlist of games. We managed to
make that, and now I think weneed to figure out the order. So
y'all have your list ready?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
My list ready.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Ready to ready to copy paste? See what happens?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Furiously.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yep. K. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
But you're missing. Yes.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So you're not ready. I'm turning.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
The boss is like top 9.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I'm ready. I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Wait. You have the same one too. I have
Speaker 1 (01:44):
the same one too. Okay. Okay. Okay. There you go.
Hi. There's some interestingstuff here.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Very interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Some very interesting stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I I would I I am I'm shocked. Let me, let me redo
some of this so that we have aslightly better idea of where
things are.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh, it's all over the place.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wow. This is this is an absolute mess. This is great.
I am very happy about this.Okay.
Osama Fauzi, I made a separatespreadsheet behind.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So let's see if any of us very strongly disagree
with anything. Shall shall weread this?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes. Let's read this. From the box stores.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Shall we start shall we start from the bottom? Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
From the bottom of the box.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
That way, there's anticipation for the
Speaker 1 (02:34):
But this is not a final. This is just what we're
agreeing on for now. Exactly.Okay, Toman. So, shall I just
read all of them?
Go
Speaker 3 (02:41):
for it. Do it.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Alright. On 10, we have Cobalt Core with 9 points,
a space for the Unbound on 9with 10 points. On 8, we have
Final Fantasy 16 with 12 points.7, Spider Man 2 with 14 points.
6, Cocoon with 16 points.
5, Dredge with 16 points. 4,Alan Wake with 16 points. 3,
(03:06):
Zelda Tears of the Kingdom with19 points. 2, Baldur Skate 3
with 25 points, and 1, Venbawith 28 points.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know what? I'm okay with this.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah. This actually part. So I think it's
Speaker 3 (03:20):
the only thing to discuss. Alan Wake and Reg are
both 16, especially because youguys made the comparison
earlier. Yes.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So, like but I agree. In the most part, this feels
right, except for figuring outthe number 4, 5, and 6. But
let's see. We could talk about,like, the any other
disagreements that we find.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
With this order, really. I I feel like, you know,
Venda being a Habibi game of theyear makes a lot of sense,
considering the 3 the 3 of usand our lives.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yep. Agree. Agree. Yeah. But I think Alan Wake
should be higher.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah. That's that's my that's my only one. I think
Alan Wake deserves to be up.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I higher.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I don't see how Alan Wake is gonna be either Baldur's
Gate 3 or Zelda Tears ofKingdom.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah. I can see that.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Haven't played it, I know, but those were all
contenders. All 3 of the top 3games were all potentially my
top one. Right. Yeah. That is sostrong.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Alan Wake was potentially my top one.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Not even top 3, top 1. Like, for me, Alan Wake had
impossible odds to face. Like, Iam a huge fan of Alan Wake 1. I
did not think they would be ableto nail that. And Alan Wake 2 is
just like it's it's decadentlevels of of good game.
(04:50):
It's narratively smart. It'smechanically smart. It's
atmospherically smart. Like,just kinda everything about that
game is good. Like, I don'tknow.
I couldn't put it down themoment I started. You know, this
was I I think for me, 2023 isthe year of, like, Vybe, like,
Vybe based games. So That'sgenerally sort of how I think of
(05:13):
of 2023. Yeah. And I have tosay, like, in terms of vibes,
like, I think Alan Wake can giveBaldur's Gate and Zelda both a
run for the money.
I just think Venba hit so hardthat there's no way for anything
to pass it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Okay. I'm gonna say something. Don't hate me. Don't
be mad. You have to promise notto be mad.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
We've missed a game, a really important one.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh, no.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah. Know that we're very close to the final. We
forgot to carry it over. StreetFighter 6. It was on all three
of our lists, and somehow we gotforgotten.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Oh, you're right.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
He is right.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So we need to at
Speaker 1 (05:53):
least I'll be very honest. If Street Fighter 6
makes it in, it is gonna be inplace with Cobalt core for me,
so it's not very complicated.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah. Not not complicated for me too. It
definitely deserves the space ofCobalt core.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah. I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Yep. I'm okay with that too. But then we
Speaker 2 (06:08):
have to discuss where it is on the list for us. Sorry
to introduce this, but I cannotnot No. No.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
It's fine. Like, I'm we should make sure we get it
right.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah. Because I was when I was telling you before
that Venba, Baldur's Gate 3, andZelda were the 3 I debated for
1st, and I'm like, wait. Therewas a 4th one Right. That I was
debating, and then I rememberedStreetfighter 6. So to me,
that's the space it occupies.
It is
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I don't know. Like like, for me, and I'm I'm gonna
be very honest with y'all. Like,Venba, I'm I'm gonna remember
for the rest of my life. Yeah.Same.
No matter what. Right? Like, I'mgonna remember that game for the
rest of my life. Balls of k 3,I'm gonna remember until they do
a better one, which It's Larian.They will.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Zelda, you already forgot.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I I honestly, I I I did. I genuinely like, most of
it, I forgot. Like, I I thinkthere's a few story beats that
that I remember and a few, like,moments where I was like, that
was cool. Like, most of thatgame was just kind of tedious
for me, and it never evoked thesense of wonder or place. I'm
never gonna forget either.
(07:20):
Like, the the that is it it isan impossible game. It is an
impossible achievement. It is animpossible it it it it shouldn't
be possible to make Alan Wake 2,and they did it. And they did it
with confidence. Like, that isnot a game you make with
confidence.
And I appreciate that. I just Ijust very deeply appreciate
(07:42):
that. I think for most of this,I'm fairly okay. I'm a little
disappointed with Final Fantasy16 sitting on the 8th place,
but, like, hello. So I get it.
You know, if I have to hold anygame hostage here, it will be
Cocoon. I'll say, okay. Movethat down. Move something else
up. But I'm also kind of like itwas really well done.
(08:03):
I just I would play as Alan Wakeabove Baldur's Gate 3 even.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Oof. Yeah. Well, I'd but very friendly, the pillows
fight you for that one.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well, you haven't played Alan Wake too.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
No. But, like and and that's why, like the thing is if
you noticed my cut list, theonly game I had on my cut list
that I didn't play was Karatekabecause of the the the reasons.
Like, I'm I'm judging based onyour feedback of it. And
Builder's Gate 3 really deservesto be top 3 in my opinion. I
agree.
If I would squeeze 1 in, I wouldactually squeeze Streetfighter 6
(08:41):
between Zelda and Alan Wake 2,and I know you'll fight me for
that. But that's that's theplacement that I
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I won't fight you in Streetfighter, though. I'm gonna
I'm gonna get bodied.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Fosey will will body both of us. That's just
Speaker 1 (08:52):
how it works. Now for me for me, if if I would move
Alan Wake to to second place,probably.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I I can't see Alan Wake being more than Baldur's
Gate than Zelda for me.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Neither. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I'm sorry. Bulgarian than Zelda.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
It is the Khabib list. It's not the Rami list.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah. Yeah. I don't have those
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Streetfighter, I can I can replace it with space on
the, for the outbound for it tobe number 9? What's that?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Not higher than that? Because I would I I actually
think 246 is better than SpiderMan 2. Like, Like
Speaker 3 (09:27):
I would agree with that. I would agree with that.
So I
Speaker 1 (09:30):
would agree with that, but I but then I I would
argue that space for the unboundis better than both of them. I
for me.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Better than Spider Man.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah. Again, like, I did not enjoy Spider Man Fousey.
Like
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Better than Street Fighter.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yeah. Yeah. Because here's the thing. Like, Street
Fighter is a very good executionof something I've seen before.
Mhmm.
And it is the best execution ofit. No question about it. But
for me, there's a differencebetween building on something
and achieving it and doingsomething that has never been
done before and doing it. Andthey get no shortcuts in talking
about Indonesian culture,Indonesian history, Indonesian
(10:07):
music, and then they get noshortcuts. They get nothing.
Yeah. It's like it's like theythey had to build you know, it's
it's the old video gamedevelopment joke. Right? They
had to build the rails on thetrain as it was moving Yeah.
With no destination, and theylanded exactly where they needed
to go.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I think this is why it deserves the recognition.
But, also, gameplay wise,there's a lot there that we've
seen
Speaker 1 (10:37):
from emerging territories always walk into is
their location and culture isthe risk.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Exactly. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And that's unfair.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah. Right? And and this and this is why I wanted
it, on the list.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Right. You know?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And it's like and I think it deserves to be on
Habibi's, top ten list.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
For me, comparing it to Street Fighter 6, which is a
sublime sublime fighting game orSpider Man 2, which is a very
well executed Spider Man game,not for me, but very well
executed.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
I just I think I will always and I'm an independent.
Like, I can't help it. I willalways rate risk very high on
my, like, sort of, like, what doI value. It's basically, Humba
is a risky game. It's a veryrisky game.
And I think Street Fighter is arisky game. I thought Spider Man
2 was less risky. Yeah. So forme, it makes sense that it would
(11:28):
go, you know, space for theunbound, street fighter Spider
Man. And then Final Fantasy, I'mokay with dropping that all the
way to the bottom.
Like, it it was cool andinteresting. I think they didn't
really know what they weredoing, but they did a lot of
cool things.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Mhmm. I I won't
Speaker 1 (11:41):
be That's kind
Speaker 2 (11:42):
of where I would Final Fantasy, but I definitely
think that Spider Man should bebelow Street Fighter 6. And I
like what you're saying aboutspace for the inbound. If it's
higher than Spider Man, Irespect that, but I didn't play
it for long enough to comment.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Let's let's just agree. We we all agree that
Street Fighter should be aboveSpider Man.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Mhmm. Fousey, is that correct?
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Yeah. Yeah. I agree.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Alright. Alright. Cool. I'd because I think that's
not a a big a big thing to argueabout, and I think we all agree
that Final Fantasy 6 should bebelow Spider Man and Street
Fighter.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
16. 6 is a different discussion.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah. Sorry. My apologies. Not my apologies. On
the fantasy 16.
Yeah. Should be below be both ofthem.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
So then, really, our big question is where does space
of the?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I would high put it higher than Spider Man 2. The
street fighter 6
Speaker 3 (12:30):
space for the unbounded more than Street
Fighter?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I you liked Battlefront Streetfighter is
what you said?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What's that? No. No.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
No. He said should it be should space for the outbound
be above Streetfighter or underit for you?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
To me, it's under, but I I'd I'd accept over. But
for me, it's under.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I think for me, I'd be happy with street fighter,
space for the unbound, SpiderMan, and then Final Fantasy.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah. That's that's what
Speaker 1 (12:53):
we do. That is 2 votes, and 2 votes means we lock
it in.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Excellent. So now Alright. The conversation is
between the three way tie. AlanWake to Dredge and Kahoot.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
K. Because to me Oh.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I'm I'm
Speaker 1 (13:08):
My argument is made.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Yeah. To me, the the it's Dredge, then Alan Wake 2
and then Cocoon. It's I wouldswap those 2. And I know you
Ravi, you're gonna fight me, butI'm just saying
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yep. 100%. I
Speaker 3 (13:24):
haven't played reps, so I can't make that argument,
but I did play Alan Wake andCocoon. And, yeah, I'm I'm happy
with the order. Alan Wake 2Dredge then Cocoon. I'm fine
with that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
I mean, for me, it's impossible to think Cocoon ends
above above Dredge. Like,personally, like, dredge to me
is is it it is subtle in such abeautiful way that yeah. No. I
don't I don't think so. Andwhile I think Dretch nails the
sense of anxiety at times betterthan Alan Wake does, I think
(14:02):
Alan Wake as a package is justone of one of the best games of
the year.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Sounds like we have
Speaker 1 (14:10):
a broad consensus.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have a list.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I mean, you know, we I can fight for years about Alan
Wake to Baldur's Gate and Zelda,but I'm not gonna make that. So
No. I will I will I will yield.Are we happy? This is actually,
I think, one of the biggestquestions of the year.
Are we happy with Baldur's Gateversus Zelda?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
To me, it's really difficult to compare the 2. My
Zelda is higher for me thanBaldur's Gate 3, but I'm okay
with.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
It's the opposite for me, which is strange. Like, for
me, every time a Zelda game cameout, it won my game of the year
every time. This is probably theonly year which I will give it
to Baldur's Gate over Zelda.Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
K. Yeah. I I for me, it's Baldur's Gate over Zelda.
Like, we've we've been clear onthis one. So I think we'll leave
it at that.
Well, then we have a top 10.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
We have a top 10. Do you wanna count from the bottom
up Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
From the bottom up. Everybody takes turns. We do.
Yep.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Let's do it. So at at number 10, we have Final Fantasy
16.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
At number 9, we have Spider Man 2.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
At number 8, we have A Space for the Unbound.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
At number 7, we have Street Fighter 6.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
At number 6, we have Cocoon.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
At number 5, we have Dredge.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
At number 4, we have Alan Wake 2.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
At number 3, we have Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
At number 2, we have Baldur's Gate 3.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
And the Hamibi's game of the year at number 1 is
Vemba.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
And so well deserved. Yeah. So well deserved.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Do you guys wanna say a couple of words about why
Vemba is our game of the year?Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yes. I do. Can I go first? Go.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Go for me.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Vemba is a game I will think about forever. It's
it basically, it mirrors a lotof my childhood. So a little bit
about it in case you're just,you know, don't know what Vemba
is. Vemba is about a woman namedVampas. That's the the titular,
character, who is of Indiandescent.
(16:07):
Her and her husband moved toCanada to seeking a a a
Speaker 1 (16:11):
a new
Speaker 2 (16:11):
life. And, eventually, they have a child,
and the story is about all ofthem, mostly about, but also
about the child. And the child,even though I'm I'm not from
India, I'm from Iraq, thechild's experience mirrors my
own in in many ways, I can't asas an Iraqi, you know, the
(16:32):
diaspora, It it mirrors thereare some scenes in it that are
so me that in some some way someof them I've thought about for a
long time, and others I'veforgotten. I've completely
forgotten that I had thatexperience. And this was a stark
reminder of it.
Venba is art. Like, you know,the whole argument over is games
(16:54):
are or not? Venba is undeniablyart. It is an incredibly meaning
meaningful experience for me. Icried happy tears.
I cried sad tears, and I willthink about it for forever.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
It's for me, it's really a game about finding who
you are and rejecting who youare. And I think any child that
grew up between cultures ormoving between cultures, Any
child that ever had to deal withthe disconnect of the otherness
(17:32):
of not being from a place. Anychild that had to deal with
parents from a culture that is,you know, I think primarily non
Western, but pretty much globalculture everywhere else, I think
will recognize themselves inthis in some way, shape, or
form. I I described it formyself as a game about having
(17:55):
parents, and I I I cried a lot.And there's one particular game
in scene in the game that Idon't wanna I don't wanna talk
about it, I don't wanna spoil.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
But there's a particular scene in the game
that just had me bawling for,like, 20 minutes or something,
and then I called my parentsbecause I I could, and I I
wanted to, and I I didn't wannamiss the opportunity to because
the game reminds you that thereis an enormous sacrifice in
(18:33):
trying or having children in aplace that you don't recognize
Mhmm. And knowing that theymight not understand you or
connect with you throughout yourlife. And I think there there is
something I I'm gonna tear upagain. So I'm just gonna that
Vemba is my game of the yearbecause it'll make me cry just
talking about it. Mhmm.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I it's, I love what you guys said about, and it was
the same for me. You know, Ifinished finished playing the
game in the plane. I landed, andI called my mom. So, you know,
the the minute I landed, andit's exactly that. It's the game
that makes you it it speaks toreality so much that it makes
you appreciate, aspects of thestruggle of 1st and second
(19:16):
generate, generation immigrantsor people living between
cultures.
Or just, like, the idea ofcoming into terms, with your own
identity, you know.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It's it's so honest. I think one of the things that
really stood out to me is thatthere is a tremendous level of
empathy that Vizai Games musthave had to make the point of
view character the mother.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Mhmm. Right? It it shows a level of self
reflection, and understandingthat I think is is really
powerful. It also reminded methat kids, even when they don't
try to kids are mean, y'all.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Kids are mean. They don't try to. They're just
figuring their life out, but,like Yeah. Gosh. And it the game
never tries to smoothen thatout.
It never tries to sugarcoat it.It's like, hey. Listen. This was
us, and it's very clear thatthis is a game about the
developers. Right?
Yeah. Even though it's it'sprobably like a a a sort of,
(20:16):
like, averaged out or even outor, like, a selected collective
memory. But, like, it is sohonest. It's so genuine. It's so
vulnerable.
It is so self reflective. Itdoesn't hide. It's not
embarrassed. It's not ashamed.It just says, this is the line
(20:36):
we took to who we are.
And now we are making a gamethat's proud of our culture, of
our history, of our people, ofour parents and of us. Mhmm. And
I'm just I just nobody madeanything like this in games
ever, and I'm I'm I just Ican't. I can't. Yeah.
(20:59):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah. I love it.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Agreed. So
Speaker 2 (21:04):
that was the number one. They really don't.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
We also all agreed about Baldur's Gate 3. I don't
think we need to say many wordsabout it. Nope. Great game. I I
did I did wanna say one thingabout Baldur's Gate 3.
Mhmm. Which is there is this TVshow called Foulas. You know it?
No. No.
It's, a Penn and Teller magicshow. It's a US television show.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Foulas. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah.
Do you know it.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
It it's a television series where magicians go, and
they try to do a magic trick infront of, like, super famous
magicians, Penn and Teller. And,there's this particular episode
where a magician goes up, and hedoes this kind of amazing trick.
(21:50):
Right? Basically, what he doesis he he I think he forces a
guard, right, on on BenArteller. And then near the end
of the trick, he he drops thedeck of cards.
And then as the cards arefalling, he just snatches out
from the falling deck thecorrect card. Wow. Right? And
(22:12):
it's a magic trick.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
It's a magic trick. And Penn and Teller, they they
always go after the magic trickis done, you know, they kinda
keep the they they talk to thecontestant. And then as the they
talk to the contestant, Ben andTaylor, like, discuss whether
they can figure out how thetrick was done, and then they
try to communicate it in codewords
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
That a magician would understand
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
That the audience would not to see if Penn and
Teller figured it out. And thenit's an honor system. Yeah.
Right? The magician will eitheradmit Right?
Exactly. Yeah. So the the themagician will reveal whether
they were correct. And and thisone, something really,
interesting happened becausePenn and Teller kind of
explained that there's 2 typesof magic tricks. There there's
(22:56):
magic and there's juggling.
With magic, you say you're gonnado something that is that is
impossible, but you do somethingelse. And with juggling, you say
you're gonna do something prettymuch impossible, and then you do
it. And the argument that theymade is that this this this
(23:21):
contestant hadn't done magic,that there was no trick, that
they had just trained longenough to be good enough to
snatch the right card from thedeck.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Wow. That is impressive.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
And then the contestant was like, so you're
saying that I trained fordecades to do superhuman
reflexes. And then it just burstinto green. I was like, yep.
Wow. That's what I did.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
And you know what? That's how Baldur's Gate 3 feels
to me. Baldur's Gate 3 to mefeels like you know, our job as
magicians.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And Larian just rejected it and just went like,
oh, wait. No. We're just gonnado it. There's no shortcuts
here. We're just we're juststraight up gonna do it.
We're gonna make all thiscontent. We're gonna spend 20
years getting good enough to doit, and then we're just gonna do
it. No tricks. No fakes. No getarounds.
Just, like, straight up here itis.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Ravi, Fousey, have y'all watched the movie Catch Me
If You Can? Yeah. Liam Hanks. Soin that movie, it's about a con
artist who goes from place toplace, played like Lina and
Leonardo DiCaprio, and pretendsto be a million different
things. He pretends to be adoctor.
He pretends to be a lawyer. Hepretends to be a whole bunch of
different things. At the veryend, the Tom Hanks character,
(24:40):
who's, I think, CIA or, I Iremember, FBI, one of those, he
catches him. And he tells him,listen. I found out how you did
all the things, how you forgedthese checks, how you got this
certificate, all of it.
The one thing I can't figure outis how you pass the lawyer bar
exam. And then Leonardo lookslike, the the the Caprio's
character looked at him andsays, I studied. And that was
(25:03):
the trick. Yep.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah. Right? That's that's Baldur's Gate.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
That's Baldur's
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Gate. Me, that's Baldur's Gate. Yeah. It's just
it is it shouldn't be possible,and they did it.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
They did it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
And I love that.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
And, like, in, a lot of, like, games where your
actions affect gameplay oraffect the narrative. Yes. It's
usually like, all narrativethreads, they will connect back.
And your decision actuallydidn't really matter. We just
gave you the illusion that itmatters.
Yep. And those are the 3, andthat's not the case. The wildly
(25:42):
different things happendepending on what you choose.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
It's a completely different games. Completely
different video games. Yeah.Like, it's just incredible work.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
My Anyway That that that's why I was, like, you
know, number 2, the lowest.Yeah. The lowest. Is what I'm
gonna think of this thing.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Number 1.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
For me, the the weird thing is, like, I think for me,
it's one of those things whereit's just really Baldur's Gate 3
and Alan Wake are completelydifferent possible achievements.
Yeah. So it's hard to comparethem for me, but I have to go
with, like, I believe thatLarian will do a better game.
Mhmm. Right?
I I have no doubt that you cantake Baldus gate 3 and do a
(26:21):
better version of it. Or I don'tthink you can. I don't think I
can. I don't think any of uscan. Mhmm.
Larry and can.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Right? Alan Wake 2, I think Remedy knows this is the
only Alan Wake 2 they're evergonna be able to make. Mhmm.
They can do an Alan Wake 3, butit will be a completely
different video game.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Never say never. I mean, we waited 13 years for
this one.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Right. But Alan Wake 2 is not like Alan Wake 1.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
No. It's not.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
It is a completely different game. Baldur's Gate 3
is a much better iteration of
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Divinity.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
You know, divinity. Yeah. So I believe they can do
that again. I don't thinkanybody can do a better version
of Alan Wake 2. I think that isthe summit of an Alan Wake 2
style game.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
I really need to play this game. I'll get it.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Oh, you should. You should. On it. Anyway, I am very
happy with this list, y'all.Yeah.
Yes. Habibi's game of the yearlist.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
2023.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
We kept people busy for 2 hours.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Wow. We've been talking for 2 hours.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
2 hours.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
With you, honestly, HeavyV's, the time just goes. It
just It flies. It just flies,honestly. I can't do forever.
Good.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
And now I have more games to play, thanks to you 2.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Dredge, mate. You're gonna have a good time with
Dredge.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
This year is is worse than 2017 because, like, 2017
had so many good games that werelong, and so, like, was only
able to sample them. And then Ikept playing 2017 games in 2018,
in 2019, in 2020 till I caughtup with the best games of 2017.
I feel like I'm gonna be playing2023 games in like, into 2030.
(28:03):
Like, I feel
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Let's let's hope the industry picks up because it
looks like it's gonna be a quietyear otherwise.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
So Maybe maybe in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I mean, there's so many games we didn't even talk
about. Right? Like, El Pasoelsewhere, we didn't mention.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
It's a good game.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Really good. Yeah. Really good game. Yeah. But I
think I think garage was reallyspecial.
Really good. Really special.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Had some like, was the
Speaker 1 (28:26):
game possible
Speaker 2 (28:27):
game? Like, Viewfinder should not have,
existed. There was
Speaker 1 (28:32):
But it does.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah. But it does. There was, sea of stars. That
was really good. There was,Starfield, Dead Space.
Like, those are great. So manygood games this year.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
For a beautiful 2023 and for a better 2024. Because
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Happy New Year, everybody. Wish you a wonderful
2024.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I think, I think that's it. We love you, We love
you all. If you stronglydisagree with any opinions we've
had on the show, please emailinfo at the habibis.com. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Yeah. That'll make Osama very happy to receive this
agreement. Especially if we makedisagree Robbie's terms.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
If you wanna argue with us or with the community,
we have a lovely community overat discord.thehabibis.com. Join
us there. For now, I think we'resigning off 2023. We'll be back
2024. This was another episodeof Habibis.
That was Rami. My fellowhobbyies were Osamadores, who
(29:48):
you can find on Twitter atOsamadores, and Fawzi Musmar,
who you can find on Twitter atFawzi Mesmer. Send us your
questions, stories, andsuggestions via info at the
habibis.com. The intro and outromusic was provided by Malik
Subaydah, and the logo wasprovided by Ebrahim Hamdi. The
(30:10):
Habibys is a weekly podcastabout 3 game developers drinking
good Arab tea with new episodeslaunching every Friday.
If you enjoyed the show, don'tforget to subscribe on your
favorite pot casting service orcheck out the hamibis.com for
more information. Thank you forlistening.
Welcome to the Habibi's god. I'm just I'm too
nervous. I'm too nervous. I gotit wrong last time.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
There's You're gonna get it right. You're gonna
you're still talking. You couldstill get it right.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
We're going well. Welcome to the Habibi's, the
podcast with the 3 Arab gamedevelopers drinking good Arab
tea. I'm your host for thisepisode, Rami Ismail.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
And I was Salvador. Yes.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Oh, no. I'm Fozi, Massmart.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Amazing. You're almost amazing. Did you you said
3 Arab game developers. I knowthat that's accurate. That's not
the intro, but, you know, youget a pass.
You get a pass because this ispart 2.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
This is part 2. This is our first post cliffhanger.
This is so exciting.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It is so exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Do you think do you think that it's it's the kind of
thing where you're like, I neverthought I would do a cliffhanger
on a podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
But I mean, not intentionally.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
We just talked too much last time.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
That's right. Previously on the Habibis.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Previously on Habibis, we tried to figure out
what our top ten games of theyear were, but, eventually, we
just had to make a a top tenlist of games. We managed to
make that, and now I think weneed to figure out the order. So
y'all have your list ready?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
My list ready.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Ready to ready to copy paste? See what happens?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Furiously.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yep. K. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
But you're missing. Yes.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So you're not ready. I'm turning.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
The boss is like top 9.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I'm ready. I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Wait. You have the same one too. I have
Speaker 1 (01:44):
the same one too. Okay. Okay. Okay. There you go.
Hi. There's some interestingstuff here.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Very interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Some very interesting stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I I would I I am I'm shocked. Let me, let me redo
some of this so that we have aslightly better idea of where
things are.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh, it's all over the place.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wow. This is this is an absolute mess. This is great.
I am very happy about this.Okay.
Osama Fauzi, I made a separatespreadsheet behind.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
So let's see if any of us very strongly disagree
with anything. Shall shall weread this?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes. Let's read this. From the box stores.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Shall we start shall we start from the bottom? Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
From the bottom of the box.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
That way, there's anticipation for the
Speaker 1 (02:34):
But this is not a final. This is just what we're
agreeing on for now. Exactly.Okay, Toman. So, shall I just
read all of them?
Go
Speaker 3 (02:41):
for it. Do it.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Alright. On 10, we have Cobalt Core with 9 points,
a space for the Unbound on 9with 10 points. On 8, we have
Final Fantasy 16 with 12 points.7, Spider Man 2 with 14 points.
6, Cocoon with 16 points.
5, Dredge with 16 points. 4,Alan Wake with 16 points. 3,
(03:06):
Zelda Tears of the Kingdom with19 points. 2, Baldur Skate 3
with 25 points, and 1, Venbawith 28 points.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know what? I'm okay with this.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah. This actually part. So I think it's
Speaker 3 (03:20):
the only thing to discuss. Alan Wake and Reg are
both 16, especially because youguys made the comparison
earlier. Yes.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So, like but I agree. In the most part, this feels
right, except for figuring outthe number 4, 5, and 6. But
let's see. We could talk about,like, the any other
disagreements that we find.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
With this order, really. I I feel like, you know,
Venda being a Habibi game of theyear makes a lot of sense,
considering the 3 the 3 of usand our lives.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yep. Agree. Agree. Yeah. But I think Alan Wake
should be higher.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah. That's that's my that's my only one. I think
Alan Wake deserves to be up.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
I higher.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I don't see how Alan Wake is gonna be either Baldur's
Gate 3 or Zelda Tears ofKingdom.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah. I can see that.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Haven't played it, I know, but those were all
contenders. All 3 of the top 3games were all potentially my
top one. Right. Yeah. That is sostrong.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Alan Wake was potentially my top one.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Not even top 3, top 1. Like, for me, Alan Wake had
impossible odds to face. Like, Iam a huge fan of Alan Wake 1. I
did not think they would be ableto nail that. And Alan Wake 2 is
just like it's it's decadentlevels of of good game.
(04:50):
It's narratively smart. It'smechanically smart. It's
atmospherically smart. Like,just kinda everything about that
game is good. Like, I don'tknow.
I couldn't put it down themoment I started. You know, this
was I I think for me, 2023 isthe year of, like, Vybe, like,
Vybe based games. So That'sgenerally sort of how I think of
(05:13):
of 2023. Yeah. And I have tosay, like, in terms of vibes,
like, I think Alan Wake can giveBaldur's Gate and Zelda both a
run for the money.
I just think Venba hit so hardthat there's no way for anything
to pass it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Okay. I'm gonna say something. Don't hate me. Don't
be mad. You have to promise notto be mad.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
We've missed a game, a really important one.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh, no.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah. Know that we're very close to the final. We
forgot to carry it over. StreetFighter 6. It was on all three
of our lists, and somehow we gotforgotten.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Oh, you're right.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
He is right.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So we need to at
Speaker 1 (05:53):
least I'll be very honest. If Street Fighter 6
makes it in, it is gonna be inplace with Cobalt core for me,
so it's not very complicated.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah. Not not complicated for me too. It
definitely deserves the space ofCobalt core.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah. I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Yep. I'm okay with that too. But then we
Speaker 2 (06:08):
have to discuss where it is on the list for us. Sorry
to introduce this, but I cannotnot No. No.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
It's fine. Like, I'm we should make sure we get it
right.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah. Because I was when I was telling you before
that Venba, Baldur's Gate 3, andZelda were the 3 I debated for
1st, and I'm like, wait. Therewas a 4th one Right. That I was
debating, and then I rememberedStreetfighter 6. So to me,
that's the space it occupies.
It is
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I don't know. Like like, for me, and I'm I'm gonna
be very honest with y'all. Like,Venba, I'm I'm gonna remember
for the rest of my life. Yeah.Same.
No matter what. Right? Like, I'mgonna remember that game for the
rest of my life. Balls of k 3,I'm gonna remember until they do
a better one, which It's Larian.They will.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Zelda, you already forgot.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I I honestly, I I I did. I genuinely like, most of
it, I forgot. Like, I I thinkthere's a few story beats that
that I remember and a few, like,moments where I was like, that
was cool. Like, most of thatgame was just kind of tedious
for me, and it never evoked thesense of wonder or place. I'm
never gonna forget either.
(07:20):
Like, the the that is it it isan impossible game. It is an
impossible achievement. It is animpossible it it it it shouldn't
be possible to make Alan Wake 2,and they did it. And they did it
with confidence. Like, that isnot a game you make with
confidence.
And I appreciate that. I just Ijust very deeply appreciate
(07:42):
that. I think for most of this,I'm fairly okay. I'm a little
disappointed with Final Fantasy16 sitting on the 8th place,
but, like, hello. So I get it.
You know, if I have to hold anygame hostage here, it will be
Cocoon. I'll say, okay. Movethat down. Move something else
up. But I'm also kind of like itwas really well done.
(08:03):
I just I would play as Alan Wakeabove Baldur's Gate 3 even.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Oof. Yeah. Well, I'd but very friendly, the pillows
fight you for that one.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Well, you haven't played Alan Wake too.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
No. But, like and and that's why, like the thing is if
you noticed my cut list, theonly game I had on my cut list
that I didn't play was Karatekabecause of the the the reasons.
Like, I'm I'm judging based onyour feedback of it. And
Builder's Gate 3 really deservesto be top 3 in my opinion. I
agree.
If I would squeeze 1 in, I wouldactually squeeze Streetfighter 6
(08:41):
between Zelda and Alan Wake 2,and I know you'll fight me for
that. But that's that's theplacement that I
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I won't fight you in Streetfighter, though. I'm gonna
I'm gonna get bodied.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Fosey will will body both of us. That's just
Speaker 1 (08:52):
how it works. Now for me for me, if if I would move
Alan Wake to to second place,probably.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I I can't see Alan Wake being more than Baldur's
Gate than Zelda for me.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Neither. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I'm sorry. Bulgarian than Zelda.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
It is the Khabib list. It's not the Rami list.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yeah. Yeah. I don't have those
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Streetfighter, I can I can replace it with space on
the, for the outbound for it tobe number 9? What's that?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Not higher than that? Because I would I I actually
think 246 is better than SpiderMan 2. Like, Like
Speaker 3 (09:27):
I would agree with that. I would agree with that.
So I
Speaker 1 (09:30):
would agree with that, but I but then I I would
argue that space for the unboundis better than both of them. I
for me.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Better than Spider Man.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah. Again, like, I did not enjoy Spider Man Fousey.
Like
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Better than Street Fighter.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yeah. Yeah. Because here's the thing. Like, Street
Fighter is a very good executionof something I've seen before.
Mhmm.
And it is the best execution ofit. No question about it. But
for me, there's a differencebetween building on something
and achieving it and doingsomething that has never been
done before and doing it. Andthey get no shortcuts in talking
about Indonesian culture,Indonesian history, Indonesian
(10:07):
music, and then they get noshortcuts. They get nothing.
Yeah. It's like it's like theythey had to build you know, it's
it's the old video gamedevelopment joke. Right? They
had to build the rails on thetrain as it was moving Yeah.
With no destination, and theylanded exactly where they needed
to go.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I think this is why it deserves the recognition.
But, also, gameplay wise,there's a lot there that we've
seen
Speaker 1 (10:37):
from emerging territories always walk into is
their location and culture isthe risk.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Exactly. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
And that's unfair.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah. Right? And and this and this is why I wanted
it, on the list.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Right. You know?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And it's like and I think it deserves to be on
Habibi's, top ten list.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
For me, comparing it to Street Fighter 6, which is a
sublime sublime fighting game orSpider Man 2, which is a very
well executed Spider Man game,not for me, but very well
executed.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
I just I think I will always and I'm an independent.
Like, I can't help it. I willalways rate risk very high on
my, like, sort of, like, what doI value. It's basically, Humba
is a risky game. It's a veryrisky game.
And I think Street Fighter is arisky game. I thought Spider Man
2 was less risky. Yeah. So forme, it makes sense that it would
(11:28):
go, you know, space for theunbound, street fighter Spider
Man. And then Final Fantasy, I'mokay with dropping that all the
way to the bottom.
Like, it it was cool andinteresting. I think they didn't
really know what they weredoing, but they did a lot of
cool things.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Mhmm. I I won't
Speaker 1 (11:41):
be That's kind
Speaker 2 (11:42):
of where I would Final Fantasy, but I definitely
think that Spider Man should bebelow Street Fighter 6. And I
like what you're saying aboutspace for the inbound. If it's
higher than Spider Man, Irespect that, but I didn't play
it for long enough to comment.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Let's let's just agree. We we all agree that
Street Fighter should be aboveSpider Man.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Mhmm. Fousey, is that correct?
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Yeah. Yeah. I agree.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Alright. Alright. Cool. I'd because I think that's
not a a big a big thing to argueabout, and I think we all agree
that Final Fantasy 6 should bebelow Spider Man and Street
Fighter.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
16. 6 is a different discussion.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah. Sorry. My apologies. Not my apologies. On
the fantasy 16.
Yeah. Should be below be both ofthem.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
So then, really, our big question is where does space
of the?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I would high put it higher than Spider Man 2. The
street fighter 6
Speaker 3 (12:30):
space for the unbounded more than Street
Fighter?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I you liked Battlefront Streetfighter is
what you said?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What's that? No. No.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
No. He said should it be should space for the outbound
be above Streetfighter or underit for you?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
To me, it's under, but I I'd I'd accept over. But
for me, it's under.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I think for me, I'd be happy with street fighter,
space for the unbound, SpiderMan, and then Final Fantasy.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah. That's that's what
Speaker 1 (12:53):
we do. That is 2 votes, and 2 votes means we lock
it in.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Excellent. So now Alright. The conversation is
between the three way tie. AlanWake to Dredge and Kahoot.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
K. Because to me Oh.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I'm I'm
Speaker 1 (13:08):
My argument is made.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Yeah. To me, the the it's Dredge, then Alan Wake 2
and then Cocoon. It's I wouldswap those 2. And I know you
Ravi, you're gonna fight me, butI'm just saying
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yep. 100%. I
Speaker 3 (13:24):
haven't played reps, so I can't make that argument,
but I did play Alan Wake andCocoon. And, yeah, I'm I'm happy
with the order. Alan Wake 2Dredge then Cocoon. I'm fine
with that.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
I mean, for me, it's impossible to think Cocoon ends
above above Dredge. Like,personally, like, dredge to me
is is it it is subtle in such abeautiful way that yeah. No. I
don't I don't think so. Andwhile I think Dretch nails the
sense of anxiety at times betterthan Alan Wake does, I think
(14:02):
Alan Wake as a package is justone of one of the best games of
the year.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Sounds like we have
Speaker 1 (14:10):
a broad consensus.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
We have a list.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I mean, you know, we I can fight for years about Alan
Wake to Baldur's Gate and Zelda,but I'm not gonna make that. So
No. I will I will I will yield.Are we happy? This is actually,
I think, one of the biggestquestions of the year.
Are we happy with Baldur's Gateversus Zelda?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
To me, it's really difficult to compare the 2. My
Zelda is higher for me thanBaldur's Gate 3, but I'm okay
with.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
It's the opposite for me, which is strange. Like, for
me, every time a Zelda game cameout, it won my game of the year
every time. This is probably theonly year which I will give it
to Baldur's Gate over Zelda.Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
K. Yeah. I I for me, it's Baldur's Gate over Zelda.
Like, we've we've been clear onthis one. So I think we'll leave
it at that.
Well, then we have a top 10.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
We have a top 10. Do you wanna count from the bottom
up Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
From the bottom up. Everybody takes turns. We do.
Yep.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Let's do it. So at at number 10, we have Final Fantasy
16.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
At number 9, we have Spider Man 2.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
At number 8, we have A Space for the Unbound.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
At number 7, we have Street Fighter 6.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
At number 6, we have Cocoon.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
At number 5, we have Dredge.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
At number 4, we have Alan Wake 2.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
At number 3, we have Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
At number 2, we have Baldur's Gate 3.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
And the Hamibi's game of the year at number 1 is
Vemba.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
And so well deserved. Yeah. So well deserved.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Do you guys wanna say a couple of words about why
Vemba is our game of the year?Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yes. I do. Can I go first? Go.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Go for me.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Vemba is a game I will think about forever. It's
it basically, it mirrors a lotof my childhood. So a little bit
about it in case you're just,you know, don't know what Vemba
is. Vemba is about a woman namedVampas. That's the the titular,
character, who is of Indiandescent.
(16:07):
Her and her husband moved toCanada to seeking a a a
Speaker 1 (16:11):
a new
Speaker 2 (16:11):
life. And, eventually, they have a child,
and the story is about all ofthem, mostly about, but also
about the child. And the child,even though I'm I'm not from
India, I'm from Iraq, thechild's experience mirrors my
own in in many ways, I can't asas an Iraqi, you know, the
(16:32):
diaspora, It it mirrors thereare some scenes in it that are
so me that in some some way someof them I've thought about for a
long time, and others I'veforgotten. I've completely
forgotten that I had thatexperience. And this was a stark
reminder of it.
Venba is art. Like, you know,the whole argument over is games
(16:54):
are or not? Venba is undeniablyart. It is an incredibly meaning
meaningful experience for me. Icried happy tears.
I cried sad tears, and I willthink about it for forever.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
It's for me, it's really a game about finding who
you are and rejecting who youare. And I think any child that
grew up between cultures ormoving between cultures, Any
child that ever had to deal withthe disconnect of the otherness
(17:32):
of not being from a place. Anychild that had to deal with
parents from a culture that is,you know, I think primarily non
Western, but pretty much globalculture everywhere else, I think
will recognize themselves inthis in some way, shape, or
form. I I described it formyself as a game about having
(17:55):
parents, and I I I cried a lot.And there's one particular game
in scene in the game that Idon't wanna I don't wanna talk
about it, I don't wanna spoil.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
But there's a particular scene in the game
that just had me bawling for,like, 20 minutes or something,
and then I called my parentsbecause I I could, and I I
wanted to, and I I didn't wannamiss the opportunity to because
the game reminds you that thereis an enormous sacrifice in
(18:33):
trying or having children in aplace that you don't recognize
Mhmm. And knowing that theymight not understand you or
connect with you throughout yourlife. And I think there there is
something I I'm gonna tear upagain. So I'm just gonna that
Vemba is my game of the yearbecause it'll make me cry just
talking about it. Mhmm.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I it's, I love what you guys said about, and it was
the same for me. You know, Ifinished finished playing the
game in the plane. I landed, andI called my mom. So, you know,
the the minute I landed, andit's exactly that. It's the game
that makes you it it speaks toreality so much that it makes
you appreciate, aspects of thestruggle of 1st and second
(19:16):
generate, generation immigrantsor people living between
cultures.
Or just, like, the idea ofcoming into terms, with your own
identity, you know.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It's it's so honest. I think one of the things that
really stood out to me is thatthere is a tremendous level of
empathy that Vizai Games musthave had to make the point of
view character the mother.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Mhmm. Right? It it shows a level of self
reflection, and understandingthat I think is is really
powerful. It also reminded methat kids, even when they don't
try to kids are mean, y'all.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Kids are mean. They don't try to. They're just
figuring their life out, but,like Yeah. Gosh. And it the game
never tries to smoothen thatout.
It never tries to sugarcoat it.It's like, hey. Listen. This was
us, and it's very clear thatthis is a game about the
developers. Right?
Yeah. Even though it's it'sprobably like a a a sort of,
(20:16):
like, averaged out or even outor, like, a selected collective
memory. But, like, it is sohonest. It's so genuine. It's so
vulnerable.
It is so self reflective. Itdoesn't hide. It's not
embarrassed. It's not ashamed.It just says, this is the line
(20:36):
we took to who we are.
And now we are making a gamethat's proud of our culture, of
our history, of our people, ofour parents and of us. Mhmm. And
I'm just I just nobody madeanything like this in games
ever, and I'm I'm I just Ican't. I can't. Yeah.
(20:59):
I can't.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah. I love it.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Agreed. So
Speaker 2 (21:04):
that was the number one. They really don't.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
We also all agreed about Baldur's Gate 3. I don't
think we need to say many wordsabout it. Nope. Great game. I I
did I did wanna say one thingabout Baldur's Gate 3.
Mhmm. Which is there is this TVshow called Foulas. You know it?
No. No.
It's, a Penn and Teller magicshow. It's a US television show.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Foulas. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah.
Do you know it.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
It it's a television series where magicians go, and
they try to do a magic trick infront of, like, super famous
magicians, Penn and Teller. And,there's this particular episode
where a magician goes up, and hedoes this kind of amazing trick.
(21:50):
Right? Basically, what he doesis he he I think he forces a
guard, right, on on BenArteller. And then near the end
of the trick, he he drops thedeck of cards.
And then as the cards arefalling, he just snatches out
from the falling deck thecorrect card. Wow. Right? And
(22:12):
it's a magic trick.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
It's a magic trick. And Penn and Teller, they they
always go after the magic trickis done, you know, they kinda
keep the they they talk to thecontestant. And then as the they
talk to the contestant, Ben andTaylor, like, discuss whether
they can figure out how thetrick was done, and then they
try to communicate it in codewords
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
That a magician would understand
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Mhmm.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
That the audience would not to see if Penn and
Teller figured it out. And thenit's an honor system. Yeah.
Right? The magician will eitheradmit Right?
Exactly. Yeah. So the the themagician will reveal whether
they were correct. And and thisone, something really,
interesting happened becausePenn and Teller kind of
explained that there's 2 typesof magic tricks. There there's
(22:56):
magic and there's juggling.
With magic, you say you're gonnado something that is that is
impossible, but you do somethingelse. And with juggling, you say
you're gonna do something prettymuch impossible, and then you do
it. And the argument that theymade is that this this this
(23:21):
contestant hadn't done magic,that there was no trick, that
they had just trained longenough to be good enough to
snatch the right card from thedeck.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Wow. That is impressive.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
And then the contestant was like, so you're
saying that I trained fordecades to do superhuman
reflexes. And then it just burstinto green. I was like, yep.
Wow. That's what I did.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
And you know what? That's how Baldur's Gate 3 feels
to me. Baldur's Gate 3 to mefeels like you know, our job as
magicians.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And Larian just rejected it and just went like,
oh, wait. No. We're just gonnado it. There's no shortcuts
here. We're just we're juststraight up gonna do it.
We're gonna make all thiscontent. We're gonna spend 20
years getting good enough to doit, and then we're just gonna do
it. No tricks. No fakes. No getarounds.
Just, like, straight up here itis.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Ravi, Fousey, have y'all watched the movie Catch Me
If You Can? Yeah. Liam Hanks. Soin that movie, it's about a con
artist who goes from place toplace, played like Lina and
Leonardo DiCaprio, and pretendsto be a million different
things. He pretends to be adoctor.
He pretends to be a lawyer. Hepretends to be a whole bunch of
different things. At the veryend, the Tom Hanks character,
(24:40):
who's, I think, CIA or, I Iremember, FBI, one of those, he
catches him. And he tells him,listen. I found out how you did
all the things, how you forgedthese checks, how you got this
certificate, all of it.
The one thing I can't figure outis how you pass the lawyer bar
exam. And then Leonardo lookslike, the the the Caprio's
character looked at him andsays, I studied. And that was
(25:03):
the trick. Yep.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah. Right? That's that's Baldur's Gate.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
That's Baldur's
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Gate. Me, that's Baldur's Gate. Yeah. It's just
it is it shouldn't be possible,and they did it.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
They did it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
And I love that.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
And, like, in, a lot of, like, games where your
actions affect gameplay oraffect the narrative. Yes. It's
usually like, all narrativethreads, they will connect back.
And your decision actuallydidn't really matter. We just
gave you the illusion that itmatters.
Yep. And those are the 3, andthat's not the case. The wildly
(25:42):
different things happendepending on what you choose.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
It's a completely different games. Completely
different video games. Yeah.Like, it's just incredible work.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
My Anyway That that that's why I was, like, you
know, number 2, the lowest.Yeah. The lowest. Is what I'm
gonna think of this thing.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Number 1.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
For me, the the weird thing is, like, I think for me,
it's one of those things whereit's just really Baldur's Gate 3
and Alan Wake are completelydifferent possible achievements.
Yeah. So it's hard to comparethem for me, but I have to go
with, like, I believe thatLarian will do a better game.
Mhmm. Right?
I I have no doubt that you cantake Baldus gate 3 and do a
(26:21):
better version of it. Or I don'tthink you can. I don't think I
can. I don't think any of uscan. Mhmm.
Larry and can.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Right? Alan Wake 2, I think Remedy knows this is the
only Alan Wake 2 they're evergonna be able to make. Mhmm.
They can do an Alan Wake 3, butit will be a completely
different video game.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
Never say never. I mean, we waited 13 years for
this one.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Right. But Alan Wake 2 is not like Alan Wake 1.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
No. It's not.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
It is a completely different game. Baldur's Gate 3
is a much better iteration of
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Divinity.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
You know, divinity. Yeah. So I believe they can do
that again. I don't thinkanybody can do a better version
of Alan Wake 2. I think that isthe summit of an Alan Wake 2
style game.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
I really need to play this game. I'll get it.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Oh, you should. You should. On it. Anyway, I am very
happy with this list, y'all.Yeah.
Yes. Habibi's game of the yearlist.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
2023.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
We kept people busy for 2 hours.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Wow. We've been talking for 2 hours.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Oh my god.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
2 hours.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
With you, honestly, HeavyV's, the time just goes. It
just It flies. It just flies,honestly. I can't do forever.
Good.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
And now I have more games to play, thanks to you 2.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Dredge, mate. You're gonna have a good time with
Dredge.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
This year is is worse than 2017 because, like, 2017
had so many good games that werelong, and so, like, was only
able to sample them. And then Ikept playing 2017 games in 2018,
in 2019, in 2020 till I caughtup with the best games of 2017.
I feel like I'm gonna be playing2023 games in like, into 2030.
(28:03):
Like, I feel
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Let's let's hope the industry picks up because it
looks like it's gonna be a quietyear otherwise.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
So Maybe maybe in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I mean, there's so many games we didn't even talk
about. Right? Like, El Pasoelsewhere, we didn't mention.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
It's a good game.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Really good. Yeah. Really good game. Yeah. But I
think I think garage was reallyspecial.
Really good. Really special.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Had some like, was the
Speaker 1 (28:26):
game possible
Speaker 2 (28:27):
game? Like, Viewfinder should not have,
existed. There was
Speaker 1 (28:32):
But it does.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah. But it does. There was, sea of stars. That
was really good. There was,Starfield, Dead Space.
Like, those are great. So manygood games this year.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
For a beautiful 2023 and for a better 2024. Because
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Happy New Year, everybody. Wish you a wonderful
2024.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I think, I think that's it. We love you, We love
you all. If you stronglydisagree with any opinions we've
had on the show, please emailinfo at the habibis.com. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Yeah. That'll make Osama very happy to receive this
agreement. Especially if we makedisagree Robbie's terms.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
If you wanna argue with us or with the community,
we have a lovely community overat discord.thehabibis.com. Join
us there. For now, I think we'resigning off 2023. We'll be back
2024. This was another episodeof Habibis.
That was Rami. My fellowhobbyies were Osamadores, who
(29:48):
you can find on Twitter atOsamadores, and Fawzi Musmar,
who you can find on Twitter atFawzi Mesmer. Send us your
questions, stories, andsuggestions via info at the
habibis.com. The intro and outromusic was provided by Malik
Subaydah, and the logo wasprovided by Ebrahim Hamdi. The
(30:10):
Habibys is a weekly podcastabout 3 game developers drinking
good Arab tea with new episodeslaunching every Friday.
If you enjoyed the show, don'tforget to subscribe on your
favorite pot casting service orcheck out the hamibis.com for
more information. Thank you forlistening.
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