The Great Apple Anomaly: Rock Paper Shotgun's Weekend Plans Are Wilder Than You Think
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
This weekend, the Rock Paper Shotgun crew's gaming plans are a hilariously chaotic blend of *Jump Space* triumphs, the unending *Silksong* wait, and a truly baffling, office-wide apple deluge – all observed with Jeff's signature blend of curiosity, skepticism, and genuine enthusiasm for the absurdity of it all.
Right, so usually, when you peek behind the digital curtain at what game journos are playing, it's a fairly standard affair: a bit of this new AAA, a dash of that indie darling, maybe a nostalgic dip into something classic. But mates, this time around, the Rock Paper Shotgun crew has managed to concoct a brew that's wilder than a rogue spell in an unstable reality – a potent blend of gaming anticipation, existential dread, and an absolutely baffling, persistent deluge of apples. Seriously, it’s like someone accidentally opened a portal to a dimension solely populated by Granny Smiths.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's got layers. It’s not just about what they're queuing up for the weekend; it’s about the underlying currents, the collective consciousness of a gaming community grappling with endless waits and unexpected fruit.
First up, we've got James, who’s diving back into *Jump Space*, that chaotic space crew sim. Now, this is where it gets interesting. He reckons the little quipping robot co-pilot is 'better at the game than my friends in every measurable way.' Oof. Talk about a brutal honesty bomb! As someone who's spent countless hours herding digital cats (and actual friends) through co-op, I totally get it. Sometimes, the AI just *gets* it, y'know? No distractions, no 'ooh, look at that shiny thing over there,' just pure, unadulterated objective completion. But what does that say about our human connections? Is the future of co-op simply letting a perfectly optimised bot do all the heavy lifting while we, the meatbags, provide the comedic relief? It’s a thorny question, mate. And I reckon James might need to have a serious chat with his mates (or just introduce them to the robot and let it do the talking).
Then there’s Nic, who's apparently channeling some serious witchy woodland vibes, peeling apples impassively. His face 'as still as the mountainside.' But wait – the apple peel arranges itself into a 'happy rictus.' Now, this is the kind of subtle, mystical chaos I live for! Is Nic inadvertently performing a ritual? A divination perhaps, foretelling the fate of upcoming game releases or, more pressingly, the source of this weekend's peculiar apple infestation? It’s a delightfully cryptic moment, a quiet digital wizardry amidst the usual gaming chatter, suggesting deeper, unseen forces at play in the RPS office kitchen.
And speaking of unseen forces, Ollie is still (STILL!) grappling with the existential question: 'What else rhymes with Silksong?' Oh, Ollie, my friend, you are not alone in this purgatory. The *Hollow Knight: Silksong* wait has become a shared, sacred torment for an entire generation of gamers. It’s reached legendary status, like some ancient, prophesied game that will only appear when the planets align, or when someone finally figures out a truly brilliant *Silksong* rhyme. (My money's on 'along,' 'strong,' or maybe 'King Kong' – just kidding, don't ban me.) It's a reminder that some of the greatest anticipation in gaming isn't for a new reveal, but for the elusive promise of a sequel that feels like it’s been lurking just around the corner since the dawn of time. We feel your pain, mate. We truly do.
Jeremy, meanwhile, is living his best life, skateboarding up and down the playground, swiping fizzy apple juice, and drawing a smile in the air with its golden spray. This is the pure, unadulterated joy of gaming (or, in this case, post-gaming antics). A moment of simple, carefree fun amidst the impending apple doom and the *Silksong* void. It’s a good reminder that sometimes, the best part of gaming culture isn't the games themselves, but the shared, often absurd, experiences we have around them. A brief, effervescent burst of happiness, much like that apple juice.
But the true spectacle, the absolute pièce de résistance of this weekend’s roundup, belongs to Mark. A bleary Mark opens his kitchen cupboard, and *CRASH!* – a deluge of falling apples. He reels back, accidentally yanks open the fridge – *WHOOSH!* – another deluge. And just when you think it can’t get any wilder, a grinning postwoman upends a bag of apples over his head. Bloody hell, Mark, what have you done to incur the wrath of the Apple Overlords? This isn't just a few apples; this is a full-blown fruit-based invasion! Is this some sort of cosmic joke? A glitch in the matrix where all reality is slowly being converted into Gala apples? Perhaps Mark's gaming habits have somehow angered the digital spirits, leading to this peculiar, fruity curse. It’s like a magical mishap on a grand scale, where a simple 'What are we playing?' has triggered an unexpected, and frankly hilarious, cascade of produce. My curiosity is absolutely piqued – what happens if he tries to play a game? Will his controller transform into an apple?
Finally, we have Edwin, trying to maintain some semblance of order amidst the chaos. He’s planning a mixture of *Endless Legend 2* (a solid strategy choice, for sure), more *Silksong* (because, apparently, the dream never dies, even when you're drowning in fruit), and an 'unexpected Mass Effect spin-off novel reading for a podcast.' Now that’s a deep dive! But even Edwin, the master of editorial round-ups, can't escape the fruity grasp. He still has '100 foraged apples' he’s trying to use up. How can you tell? Well, mate, when the entire office seems to be caught in an apple-pocalypse, it’s not exactly subtle, is it?
This whole affair, frankly, is a delightful microcosm of the gaming world itself. A mix of genuine excitement for new titles (*Endless Legend 2*), the eternal vigil for mythical releases (*Silksong*), the quiet joys of individual gaming experiences, and the utterly bizarre, often hilarious, situations that crop up along the way. It’s a reminder that behind every screen and every headline, there are real people with real, wonderfully quirky lives – and apparently, an endless supply of apples. It makes you wonder what kind of digital wizardry or misfired spell led to this peculiar, shared experience. So, while the RPS team is battling fruit and patiently waiting, I'm left pondering: what chaotic delight awaits us next in the gaming universe?
(Original reporting by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell and the team at Rock Paper Shotgun)
Tags: gaming culture, indie games, co-op, gaming trends, humor
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun