Backlog battler Carl

Games I Beat in 2026 Game 1: Final Fantasy. Super charming and basic. Generic enemies mixed with future series staples. Good to see where it came from. Went in blind, made many mistakes. Chaos, especially in the Pixel Remaster, was one of the worst, hardest endgame bosses I've fought. However, it was one of the most satisfying. Overall: B+

@GWolfhart @Hideo_Fufujima wtf are you talking about?

@backlogcarl @Hideo_Fufujima Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. As long as you're not some moralist trying to tell anime fans that anime is evil just because it doesn't fit your narrow-minded views on morality, I highly recommend it.

Her future husband btw

Live with Restream x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

But that’s what I’m saying here. It’s the details: you can’t wait for all the information and thus give a different air to the situation. It gives off a feeling of glee with some outlets, almost like it’s a free paycheck. It’s not just the Xbox situation overall but how people like me feel when reading 3-5 articles you get just as frustrated with the media as with Microsoft. This isn’t exclusive to outlets but also YouTubers and randoms like me. It feels like they push out garbage and correct it later, which is an issue of the modern era. Personal views aside of the writers of course.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 If you'll forgive me for saying so, it was Xbox's decision to announce its 'reset' just three days after its best SGF showcase in a long time, then keep everyone in the dark for nearly a month while reporters like Schreier investigated the details (which, to be fair, is his job)

This is weird

Here’s what I’m going to say, and this is just my view. It’s not personally directed at you, your co-workers, or the site’s coverage, because genuinely speaking I do use you guys for a lot of news. I think it just comes down to people in your industry being the loudest barkers. Xbox layoffs basically get announced a week after the June events. Then for a month straight it’s just gossip: this studio is closing, that studio will lose 80% of its staff, etc. It does feel very ghoulish to spend weeks speculating on people’s suffering and possible job losses. Then we get the follow-ups: these games all flopped, they were given too much freedom and failed. We acknowledge Xbox is in trouble, yet they shouldn’t change anything and just keep failing. Like when Schrier said these devs were being punished for “following orders,” it removes a level of reality and accountability from the conversation that sometimes things just fail. It’s mixed messaging from competitors that helps even dumber YouTubers keep their audiences uninformed. We could have a constructive conversation, but the competition is basically who can knuckle-drag to the bottom faster. No clarification, no explanation just echo chambers that are hard to overcome. It’s death by a thousand cuts, and sometimes it splashes back on you and even me.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 If we write a story about Xbox laying off staff and a reader accuses us of 'ragebait', in reality what's happened is we've given the facts, without telling them what to think. Often, because they don't want to be angry at Xbox doing it, they're angry at us for covering it instead

@scully1888 @Dreamcast_1999 Just got off work. I'll have to read this when I get home. Also, you said you have every console as well, right? Do you have any cool ones you're proud of, like a collector's edition one or such?

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 I like it - here's my review videogameschronicle.com/review/asus-ro…

I think that's just human nature, however. People in general are frustrated with the current state of gaming over the last 6 years prices going sky high, layoffs, etc. I'm trying much harder not to fall for the rage bait, and that's why I'm happy you're talking about it. However, the issue with rage bait is it gets the clicks. It gets people talking, and for better or worse, it keeps the bills on. That's why I also hate so many of these YouTubers. I can be an asshole too, but I'm trying to be better. That's why I appreciate you taking the time to explain your point better. It did sound different to me at first, but after your clarification, yeah, it totally makes sense.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 Can I please suggest something then? I really wish more people would redirect their energy into not criticising the "insane" articles they don't like and holding them up as 'proof' that we're all pricks, and instead focus on promoting the articles they actually do like.

@scully1888 @Dreamcast_1999 How is the ROG ally x? Been considering grabbing one after I sold my stream deck.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 I've been an Xbox Live (now Game Pass Ultimate) subscriber since the 360 launch day. My Gamerscore is nearly 300,000. I own a Series X, a Series S and an Xbox ROG Ally X. But a random stranger can suddenly decide I hate Xbox because some YouTuber told them 'we' can't be trusted.

I've had 10 years of games media making insane articles with insane declarations, saying far worse than just accusing people of console bias. Now I know how frustrating it is to see people you once listened to daily become monsters that say terrible things. However, I’ve also seen the rise of the “alternative” and realized they can be just as insane. All I really want right now is to talk about what you would like Microsoft and Xbox to do going forward. What’s in the past is there, but right now it’s just this, man.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 With respect, you've got to see how frustrating it is to see a complete stranger declare us all "crying" over Xbox exclusives. People are conditioned to think this sort of shit – often by people who are faaaaar from objective themselves – and it completely undermines us.

But you keep attributing to me that I’m attacking you based on nothing, and you’re almost completely dismissing that I’ve heard your clarification just to rant that I think you hate Xbox. You’ve made a point that you hope next gen is better, and I don’t disagree that this gen has been a massive L for them. We could have a fun conversation now that the misunderstanding is over, yes? Like, actually give your thoughts on what you’d like to see? I’m willing to move on if you are, boss.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 TBF you entered this discussion with hostility and a widespread condemnation of me/my peers: I could have very easily blocked and moved on. The fact I'm engaging with you instead of dismissing you as the umpteenth "games media are scum" person I've seen today indicates respect.

@scully1888 I've given you a chance to clarify your point. Could you please stop circling back to something we've already well established and corrected, sir?

@backlogcarl There isn't any other way to take what I'm saying when you've already decided what you want me to mean. Your agenda is "the media hates Xbox", so – whether consciously or subconsciously – you're fitting everything I say into that narrative.

I have clearly given you the respect you have earned as basic courtesy, one you are clearly not giving me in this conversation where we talk and clarify things. I have also defended you in this chat from others who are more zealous, so please do the same with me. I’m disregarding both our biased natures, so please take this in good faith.

@backlogcarl @Dreamcast_1999 I'm not offended at being called "games media", I'm offended at you deciding we're all one big hivemind instead of individual people with our own thoughts and opinions. You've clearly been influenced to believe 'media=bad' instead of judging each writer on their own takes.

When you say it’s too little too late to make a difference, what am I supposed to take away from that? These are your exact words, sir, and they fall in lockstep with many of your brothers in the industry, implying Xbox is doomed. There isn’t any other way to take what you’re saying, and I find this a very bad attempt to change the meaning of “too little too late” to “it means it needs to get next gen right.” Now I’m going to take your word that what you mean is the Series X gen is lost (no argument here by me) and that you hope the next one is better (which you 100% didn’t make obvious despite your protest). Are we clear now?

@backlogcarl No, that's not what I said at all. With the greatest respect, it feels like you want us to have an agenda so you can fight against it. Any level-headed person will agree Xbox didn't win this generation. That doesn't mean it's "doomed", it means it needs to get next-gen right.

@Dreamcast_1999 @scully1888 I get you're annoyed trust me, I am as well. But I'm just having an honest conversation with Chris, that's all. Chris isn’t being overtly rude or hostile with me, and I think common courtesy in this conversation is due to him here.

@backlogcarl @scully1888 Most of these clowns didn't even want to be in games media and still don't. They are bitter. They just want clicks and nothing more. The days of proper game journalism are over, game magazines are gone and that's where people who actually wanted to be in games journalism lived.

Look, there are still a lot of good gaming journalists and personalities who work in the mainstream games media. However, yes, they have a drastic messaging issue that they don’t want to fix, from being overly political and pessimistic to doing zero fact-checking and running wild for clicks. I’m not accusing Chris here of being any of these right now. I just wanted him to state his view, and now I wonder why he’s offended at being called games media when that’s what he is currently.

@backlogcarl @scully1888 Don't worry the games media types are almost finished. People are seeing them for what they really are. Paid shills!

@myretrolifeshow Nope that’s you letting yourself be black pilled

I'm thinking of selling my PS5. Just kind of disgusted with Sony and modern gaming in general. My daughter and I love our Switch 2 and she barely plays anything on PlayStation. Anyone else feeling the same way?

So this is a nice way of saying you actually think Xbox is doomed and you kinda agree with the rest of your games media brothers that Microsoft shouldn’t bother. Look, man, why are you so offended at being called games media? Most of your articles aren’t even your own reporting; it’s someone else’s.

@backlogcarl Anyone who researches my background instead of just deciding “games media” has one opinion will know I own every system that’s released and want to see them all succeeding. If exclusives means success for Xbox I’m all for it. I just worry it’s too late to make a difference.

@Wario64 @nerdporeallife buy these or you’re a fake fan.

Magic the Gathering x Star Trek up for preorder on Amazon amzn.to/4pi7rCO #ad

Look, the only thing I know about sturgy boy is that he might be a remedial kid who simps for people who mock all his hobbies, while also liking and doing everything Twitter tells him to like and do. Beyond that, I don’t really know anything about him. He could actually be flaming, and that wouldn’t change anything.

@backlogcarl @BigChewy17 He's irresistible to men and women alike

Just when we were almost looking at him in a new light, Sturgis had to go and strike Ethan. For what, outing him as gay? He's the one who posted the videos of himself and his boyfriend in Japan's gayest amusement park. Grow a set, Sturgis!

@scully1888 Oh now it makes sense. So what is you take on Xbox getting exclusives back?

@scully1888 I'm not going to be snarky with you here, man. However, this really didn’t push the conversation or disprove what I said.