Remasters are inherently nostalgic, making an attempt to evoke a sure really feel and temper once more years after the unique launch. Few of them, nevertheless, symbolize a time capsule as a lot as Poker Night time on the Stock. The idea of sitting down characters from 4 totally different franchises on the similar poker desk was novel in 2010. Now, after the likes of Fortnite have fostered an ever-increasing IP onslaught, bringing again such an oddity of a crossover makes for a big distinction.
Poker Night time on the Stock was born as a non secular successor to Telltale Texas Maintain’em. On the time, Telltale Video games CEO Dan Conners mentioned the idea grew out of an thought from staff who puzzled what online game characters do once they’re not “on the clock.” This led to Telltale choosing up stars from present licensed collection it had tailored as episodic games–Max from Sam & Max and Sturdy Unhealthy from Homestar Runner–and pitting them towards Tycho from webcomic Penny Arcade and The Heavy from Valve’s Staff Fortress 2.
Having characters from fully totally different backgrounds and collection bantering with one another was the principle promoting level. Alongside the weird premise, the actual choice additionally converged PC and on-line tradition fandoms that have been fairly vivid within the early 2010s. Contemplating this 13-year-old video compilation of jokes and trash speak between the forged has accrued 2.3 million views, it is protected to imagine there was some lingering fondness over the years–especially contemplating the sport was delisted in 2019.
The idea itself can be connected to a particular time period within the recreation trade. Strains like Tycho asking The Heavy about his involvement in Staff Fortress 2, declaring the sport had been out “for 3 years” at that time, can instantly make you’re feeling previous. But, it is this dichotomy that stands out. Skunkape Video games, the developer in control of the newly introduced remaster, appears to be leaning into it, providing Staff Fortress 2 gadgets as in-game rewards once more, one thing we have not seen for Valve’s workforce shooter in fairly a while.
There’s additionally the truth that, again in 2010, crossovers had a tantalizing worth that has turn out to be commonplace in recent times. In a method, the misplaced worth is paying homage to the movies of modded Guitar Hero video games that includes random pop-culture characters jamming earlier than Fortnite Pageant principally turned that concept right into a recreation. Fortnite, Name of Responsibility, Lifeless by Daylight, and PUBG, amongst others, have been heavy-handed with IP collaborations. But, most of them really feel guided by advertising and marketing and zeitgeist pegs, relatively than attempting to make an intentional expertise that leverages objective to a crossover.
In the intervening time, Poker Night time on the Stock making a comeback is a welcome shock. It is a uncommon remaster in and of itself, carrying the duty of preserving a time and place of web historical past and the sport trade as a complete. Typically, that may imply being uncovered to jokes about disbarred lawyer Jack Thompson and his anti-video recreation activism. Different instances, it may be a reminder of the contaminated legacy of a few of these properties, such because the Dickwolves controversy with Penny Arcade. And its prospect additionally introduces a newfound worth, serving as a reminder of how some novelty developments acted earlier than they turned commodified by massive companies, targeted on selling the following launch or luring a particular fandom relatively than exploring concepts that may have individuals excited for over 16 years.