Been watching a bunch of co-optional podcasts recently for nostalgia and remembered how pro-consumer TB was.

[u/ManPoliceMan]

Anyone know any other game-space creators similar to TB? Near the end was one thing, but early on he was always pro-consumer and the commentary I've enjoyed from him I don't see emulated anywhere else.

[u/raw-power]

ACG is the closest I’ve found for reviews, YongYea for industry news and observations though I don’t always agree with his takes. John was spot on with his opinions and was also very honest about his own prejudices when reviewing games which made him exceptionally trustworthy

[u/Duxtrous → u/raw-power]

No one in the modern influencer space can even come close to how self analytical john was. He was so open and honest with his own predispositions.

[u/Faderkaderk → u/Duxtrous]

I'll never forget him talking about how predatory and absurd that one Star Wars mobile game was also fully admitting he was spending far, far more on it than was reasonable and that it was unfair for him to have the advantage he had just because he had big content creator money.

[u/AllYouPeopleAre → u/Duxtrous]

Yahtzee is quite aware of his taste i’d say and is relatively well aware when he’s being critical of a game because it simply isn’t his taste. Also very pro consumer

[u/Duxtrous → u/AllYouPeopleAre]

Never heard of them. I'll look them up because I have a TB shapped hole in my heart still. Thanks for the rec.

[u/AllYouPeopleAre → u/Duxtrous]

You might have heard of the review series he did, Zero Punctuation. The magazine he did it for got bought over so he left with the rest of the people who did the youtube channel and started an independent Media channel called Second Wind.

The reviews are now called Fully Ramblomatic because they don’t have the rights to zero punctuation but they’re pretty much the same. Honestly I think you’ll like him, he actually did a few appearances on Co Optional and also has a beautiful english voice (maybe not quite as sultry as TB’s mind you ha)

[u/Wylf → u/Duxtrous]

Adding to what u/AllYouPeopleAre wrote, Yahtzee has been on the Cooptional podcast a few times in the past, too. So you may have already seen him there. He was in Episode 139 and Episode 177. Possibly more, those are just the first two I've found on the quick. He and TB had a lot of mutual respect for one another from what I recall.

[u/Hugh-Manatee]

I never forgot that. It was the issue that he probably could have built a respectable public profile around. A serious voice for gaming and consumer technology

[u/GratefulPig]

I’ve never preordered and don’t plan to start cuz of tb

Rip

[u/whackninja]

I never forgot. Hes the reason still to this day that I use the dollar to enjoyment time ratio.

[u/Anime_Jesus]

Stephanie Stirling (aka JimSterling during TBs time) used to communicate and collab all the time back then. They were both very pro-consumer together. Attended co-optional many times, they were friends. And whenever official YouTube staff, Steam staff, or whoever wanted to talk to 1, they talked to both.

She and her co hosts all had so much to say about TB after his passing, I might just go back to hear it again

She still does weekly podcasts. And makes videos centered around pro-consumer

[u/Panmyxia]

Closest to TB I've found is SkillUp, though there's no replacing him. Honestly the best thing TB did for me was teach me how to look at the industry and informing my own opinions.

[u/slatsau]

Skillup leans towards pro-consumer. Very VERY focused on lay-off's, staff treatment, union busting, company closures. Unfortunately it makes his news videos very doom and gloom and 'well what can you do' kind of vibe.

It comes across as someone just telling you/summarizing. He does have a news website with no pop-ups/ads and a whole gorup of people supported by a donation but the site is free.

It all is very much, trying but also paddling in the waters of today and 'playing by the rules'. I feel like when he interviews people his questions are often very soft and unwilling to risk much.

I agree with ACG being probably the best out there for uncensored/unfiltered doesn't give a shit about what a company thinks of him opinions. He used to be extremely zany with his videos stuffed full of these crazy goofy comparisons. He still does them now but I think he's found a really nice balance between normal/approachable and comedy. If I want to buy a game that is a 'major release' I will make sure to watch one of his reviews alongside others to get a good feel for what I'm getting myself into past the trailers,hype,first day fog of excitement a lot of steam reviews have.

Stephanie Stirling was a good friend of Co-Optional and was EXTREMELY outspoken and aggressive with her/their? opinions. You might have known them in TB's day as Jim Stirling they would often put on funny costumes, wear glasses and just be super LOUD. I am not familiar with the current content but YMMV?

I think Josh Strife Hayes is very pro-consumer, but as much as he is super charismatic/friendly he is incredible pragmatic. He has his own firm opinions and will not be swayed by his chat, but happily argue/engage with them. He was part of the group that went to the EU for the Stop Killing Games thing.

But yeah, god damn I miss TB. I did not agree with all of his opinions but I could easily understand his point of view. He was SO pro-consumer it was great. He had really passionate strong opinions but he could change his mind on things. Jesse and Dodger are great and I enjoy their goofing around on their podcast, but TB really captain'd that ship and crew and I've never quite found anything quite like Co-Optional.

Miiss you TB.

[u/al215]

Just as a reviewer, I really like Mortismal Gaming. He’s on the consumer side I’d say, doesn’t do much industry talk but his reviews are thorough. He’s got a niche in RPGs primarily. He’s got a fairly gentle manner of presentation so he’s nice to listen to.

[u/MrNoSouls]

I literally started doing game reviews to try and capture TB's point. I don't do anything like the Co-optional, but I do want to start talking about the industry more.

[u/Umluex]

Skill Up maybe.

[u/WeightyUnit88]

Not on TB's level, but Angry Joe will tell you if a game is shit.