The Community Spotlight 2025.04.26

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site-related news and best community creations from the last week.However, there's no doubt about what we need to discuss today. As many of you will see, there's no "Power Block" section on this edition of the Community Spotlight. Also, the site's streaming schedule has come to a noticeable halt. As Grubb indicated at the introduction of episode #395 of Game Mess Decides, a boss' boss got a new boss and they have ordered a temporary cessation of live streaming on Giant Bomb and GameSpot. This directive is indeed temporary, but it does impact plans for the week of April 28th. During that week, Grubb and others can promise the Bombcast will still air next week and that they have been working on a slate of video programs in case this order doesn't change.The staff have been vague about what the future holds largely due to the powers that be being unclear. The good news is that Jan has stated "We ain't done yet," and Dan has maintained "Nothing will stop Blight Club." I have also been assured by the Community Manager that the site itself is "safe" and I know them to be someone who would never lie about something like that.We head into the weekend and start of next week with some hope and a lot of uncertainty, that much I think we can all agree on. Hopefully things will change to allow everyone to do what they want to do here. Grubb and others have been firm about one thing, they love this community and want to continue sharing great stories and hours of entertainment to you all.If you are as frustrated by this news as many others and myself are, consider chiming in over here that you appreciate everything Grubb, Dan, Jan, Bakalar, Mike, Shawn, Niki, and many others have done for the site. Consider also sharing that you just want them to "cook" and do the things they think are best for themselves and this community. As disheartening as all of this news might seem, I had a touching commiseration with a fellow long-time Giant Bomb fan on Discord, AlisterCat. Both of us have been around for over fifteen years and they pointed out that the site has gone through management changes that resulted in abrupt directives or pivots before, and yet, we all manage to stay together for the most part. Don't get me wrong, we should be able to do it alongside the same people that cause us to feel like a community. But, I'm not leaving; I'm in too deep as I often joke, but it's true.I hope that continues. I know it can. If anything, I hope the sudden change in streaming on Giant Bomb afforded you some time to rest, be with others that bring you joy, and possibly an excursion outside. I think we all need that.Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jearum.bsky.social/post/3lnks33n47k2f https://bsky.app/profile/danryckert.com/post/3lnfga5whh22i https://bsky.app/profile/frailgesture.bsky.social/post/3lnm5ftmuss2a https://bsky.app/profile/marinov1.bsky.social/post/3lnbmupqmhc2d https://bsky.app/profile/drewscanlon.bsky.social/post/3lnpsdibbpf2i ArtTurboShawn x Peanuts +Lucha-beagle with Bomby Woodstock +The Lonely Blight Club (By: @jearum)Art wizard jearum was on a roll this week with three goodies.Finally, if you have ever enjoyed jearum's artwork on or about the site, be aware, they are opening up commissions again! If you want personalized artwork in a variety of styles, I can think of few people as good or as solid as jearum.VideoTime to relive their Mac and Cheese discussion all over again. Best of Blight Club - Blues Grubbers 2000 (By: AlexWP)Over on YouTube, AlexWP is starting a new video series where they make compilation videos highlighting what they consider the best and funniest moments from Blight Club. This week, they published a 45 minute highlight video of the most iconic moments and discussions from Grubb's attempts to play and finish Blues Brothers 2000!ActivitiesSome BANGERS to pick from on this nominee list! UUGPGC Voting Thread For Cycle Starting May 1st, 2025 +Atomfall Is The 4th Game Of UUGPGC Year 4! Finish By May 1! Mark All Spoilers (By: @bigsocrates)The Giant Bomb Game Pass Game Club has added The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Blue Prince, AND Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been added to the list of nominees which still has some recurring names that you might want to consider as well! When you have the time, vote away!Also, don't forget that the Game Pass Game Club pick for April is Atomfall! As we near the deadline, and spoilers about the game are unleashed, what do you make of the game's last few set pieces and acts?BlogsOne of the most infuriating bosses of all-time. I'm Playing Everything From Idol FX (Part IV): The Modern Release Of Drake of the 99 Dragons Is Better, But By How Much? (By: ZOMBIEPIE)It does ZombiePie no pleasure to inform the Giant Bomb community and fans of Blight Club that the modern PC release

Apr 26, 2025 - 20:25

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site-related news and best community creations from the last week.

However, there's no doubt about what we need to discuss today. As many of you will see, there's no "Power Block" section on this edition of the Community Spotlight. Also, the site's streaming schedule has come to a noticeable halt. As Grubb indicated at the introduction of episode #395 of Game Mess Decides, a boss' boss got a new boss and they have ordered a temporary cessation of live streaming on Giant Bomb and GameSpot. This directive is indeed temporary, but it does impact plans for the week of April 28th. During that week, Grubb and others can promise the Bombcast will still air next week and that they have been working on a slate of video programs in case this order doesn't change.

The staff have been vague about what the future holds largely due to the powers that be being unclear. The good news is that Jan has stated "We ain't done yet," and Dan has maintained "Nothing will stop Blight Club." I have also been assured by the Community Manager that the site itself is "safe" and I know them to be someone who would never lie about something like that.

We head into the weekend and start of next week with some hope and a lot of uncertainty, that much I think we can all agree on. Hopefully things will change to allow everyone to do what they want to do here. Grubb and others have been firm about one thing, they love this community and want to continue sharing great stories and hours of entertainment to you all.

If you are as frustrated by this news as many others and myself are, consider chiming in over here that you appreciate everything Grubb, Dan, Jan, Bakalar, Mike, Shawn, Niki, and many others have done for the site. Consider also sharing that you just want them to "cook" and do the things they think are best for themselves and this community. As disheartening as all of this news might seem, I had a touching commiseration with a fellow long-time Giant Bomb fan on Discord, AlisterCat. Both of us have been around for over fifteen years and they pointed out that the site has gone through management changes that resulted in abrupt directives or pivots before, and yet, we all manage to stay together for the most part. Don't get me wrong, we should be able to do it alongside the same people that cause us to feel like a community. But, I'm not leaving; I'm in too deep as I often joke, but it's true.

I hope that continues. I know it can. If anything, I hope the sudden change in streaming on Giant Bomb afforded you some time to rest, be with others that bring you joy, and possibly an excursion outside. I think we all need that.

Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/jearum.bsky.social/post/3lnks33n47k2f

https://bsky.app/profile/danryckert.com/post/3lnfga5whh22i

https://bsky.app/profile/frailgesture.bsky.social/post/3lnm5ftmuss2a

https://bsky.app/profile/marinov1.bsky.social/post/3lnbmupqmhc2d

https://bsky.app/profile/drewscanlon.bsky.social/post/3lnpsdibbpf2i

Art

TurboShawn x Peanuts +

Lucha-beagle with Bomby Woodstock +

The Lonely Blight Club (By: @jearum)

Art wizard jearum was on a roll this week with three goodies.

Finally, if you have ever enjoyed jearum's artwork on or about the site, be aware, they are opening up commissions again! If you want personalized artwork in a variety of styles, I can think of few people as good or as solid as jearum.

Video

Time to relive their Mac and Cheese discussion all over again.

Best of Blight Club - Blues Grubbers 2000 (By: AlexWP)

Over on YouTube, AlexWP is starting a new video series where they make compilation videos highlighting what they consider the best and funniest moments from Blight Club. This week, they published a 45 minute highlight video of the most iconic moments and discussions from Grubb's attempts to play and finish Blues Brothers 2000!

Activities

Some BANGERS to pick from on this nominee list!

UUGPGC Voting Thread For Cycle Starting May 1st, 2025 +

Atomfall Is The 4th Game Of UUGPGC Year 4! Finish By May 1! Mark All Spoilers (By: @bigsocrates)

The Giant Bomb Game Pass Game Club has added The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Blue Prince, AND Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been added to the list of nominees which still has some recurring names that you might want to consider as well! When you have the time, vote away!

Also, don't forget that the Game Pass Game Club pick for April is Atomfall! As we near the deadline, and spoilers about the game are unleashed, what do you make of the game's last few set pieces and acts?

Blogs

One of the most infuriating bosses of all-time.

I'm Playing Everything From Idol FX (Part IV): The Modern Release Of Drake of the 99 Dragons Is Better, But By How Much? (By: ZOMBIEPIE)

It does ZombiePie no pleasure to inform the Giant Bomb community and fans of Blight Club that the modern PC release of Drake of the 99 Dragons is a more functional game. But by how much and is there a moral hazard in playing these bad game re-releases on Steam and GOG?

The Dredge of Seventeen Rising: Redredgence (Part Three)+

Indie Game of the Week 417: Vernal Edge (By: @mento)

Moderator Mento's efforts to clean up their 2017 backlog continues with a write-up about their experience with finishing Dishonored: Death of the Outsider! Is this a worthwhile entry in the Dishonored series or is it something you should skip? Read their blog to see what they think.

Likewise, Mento has another entry in their "Indie Game of the Week" feature and this time it is for Vernal Edge! Read why they loved the game's small touches and retro game callbacks even if they weren't completely enthused by its beat-em-up style combat system.

Blue Prince For A Fascinating Game (By: @mooseymcman)

MooseyMcMan, like many, was utterly fascinated with Blue Prince, but they were also incredibly frustrated with it as well. Read all about their odd mix of feelings about the game and why they feel like they can't completely join the game's effusive critical reception.

Check Out My 15 Inch Pipo (By: @poconopaul)

You might recall me sharing this blog a while back. Well, we have an update and it is a fun one, at that. We have since had TWO people make their own attempts at 3D printing a version of Pipo from OverBlood! Triple_3 made a small figurine and aera had a go at making a 15-inch model you can check out to the left!

Discussion Threads

Yeah, they didn't take this out of the remaster.

Taking A Break From Streaming? (By: @bitrott)

Once again, if you been a fan of Giant Bomb's streaming content, whether it be Blight Club or anything else the last few years? Join the rest of the community in sharing support and love for the staff and everything they have done in past and presently.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Might Look Different But It Sure Seems Like The Guts Are Mostly The Same (By: @zombiepie)

Do any of you have thoughts about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered? Did they change too much or do you think they should have changed more? Join the conversation about both of those questions and whether or not the release represents hints about the future of the series in the thread linked above.

It Seems... The French Made A Very Good RPG With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (By: @zombiepie)

How French is this game? You fight a mime during the opening act.

Are you enjoying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Also, which version of the game did you get or plan on getting? Are you possibly checking out the game through Game Pass? Share away on the forums!

I Am Starting To Hate Some Services: Anyone Know How To Fix Your Ubisoft Account When It Gets Hacked? (By: @topcyclist)

Have you had your account hacked on a digital marketplace like Steam, Epic, GOG, or maybe even a streaming service like Game Pass? What advice or tips do you have to limit the damage? As someone who once got their Steam account hacked a few years back, I can attest at how shockingly bad customer service is with most of these digital marketplaces.

Talk About A Pleasant Surprise, GOG Added Breath of Fire IV To Its Preservation Program (By: @zombiepie)

Wanna enjoy some classic Capcom pixel work?

In some refreshingly positive news, GOG recently announced that Breath of Fire IV has been added to its "GOG Preservation Program!" The fourth entry in the cult JRPG series is now readily available on modern PC OSs but it does seem like you need to play around with some settings to really get the game to look the way it should.

Lists

Best First Person Action sure rolls off the tongue.

All Keighley’s Swashbucklers +

All Keighley’s Gunners Plus Those Bore Farewell To Firearms (By: @infantpipoc)

If you want a trip down memory lane, infantpipoc looks back at the always changing "Best Action Adventure Game" award category as well as the "Best Action Game" category at every single Keighley-led awards show, with the latter once being named "Best First Person Action Game".

2024 Year of the Games! (By: @csl316)

Some might say csl316 is a bit late but who's judging?! Here's a link to their 2024 GOTY list and if you still haven't made one feel free. I'm always happy to promote new lists here and elsewhere! There's no such thing as "too late" when it comes to GOTY content.

Reviews

Is it time for a reconsideration with this game?

@gio-117 makes the case that it is high time for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to get the same re-assessment treatment that a lot of games from the sixth generation of consoles, especially those from the GameCube, have been getting recently.

@gio-117 also decided to boot up Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and penned a review on why they still consider it the best vampire life simulator and RPG in video game history. Whether it be the game's variable factions or the many iconic NPC interactions in the game, read what they think makes the game tick.

Wiki Of The Week

Vinny sure had fun making some wild and wacky designs in this game.

Kerbal Space Program

It is a game that has provided some of the most iconic moments in Giant Bomb's history, so, join me in recognizing the 10th anniversary of Kerbal Space Program's full release. Whether you enjoyed crafting your own spacecraft to explore space or just sat back at Vinny accidentally murdering would-be galactic explorers, Kerbal Space Program is a game that has proven to last and our wiki page continues to be a resource for anyone interested in giving it a shot.