As a seasoned gaming enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest announcement from Jackbox Games has certainly piqued my interest. The upcoming release of the Naughty Pack, scheduled for September 12, 2024, promises an M-rated twist on their popular party games.
As a passionate admirer, I’m thrilled to share my excitement about the Jackbox Naughty Pack, a naughtier, more mature version of the classic Jackbox Party Pack. For the first time ever in the franchise, this pack offers three M-rated games that inject a spicy twist into the traditional formula. In the Jackbox Naughty Pack, players can dive into Let Me Finish, a lively debate game where competitors go toe-to-toe to present responses to some genuinely amusing and offbeat prompts. Moreover, it brings fresh twists to two beloved Jackbox mini-games with Dirty Drawful and Fakin’ It All Night Long, which are adult reinterpretations of the evergreen games Drawful and Fakin’ It.
Game Rant recently had a chat with Mike Bilder, CEO of Jackbox Games, to gain insights into the creative thought process and choices made when putting together the Jackbox Naughty Pack. Bilder shared his thoughts on how they narrowed down their vast array of possibilities for the pack’s content. He also disclosed his personal favorite game from the Naughty Pack, delved deeper into future plans, and much more. (The conversation has been shortened and clarified for better understanding.)
Why Jackbox Games Created The Naughty Pack
A: Can you share some insights regarding the reasoning for launching three M-rated games and the development of the Naughty Pack bundle?
Images: Over the years, we’ve gathered plenty of customer feedback. To be more precise, we conduct an annual customer survey to gain insights into how they interact with our games, what they find enjoyable, and what improvements they suggest for future releases. Interestingly, when asked about their wish list, many customers have repeatedly requested that we develop a game rated M. It’s no surprise since many players already engage with our games in this manner.
Historically and within the US, these games have been given a Teen (T) rating by the ESRB. Since many of them utilize user-generated content, players can essentially tailor the game’s maturity level to their preferences. However, we consistently maintain a teen-friendly approach in our design and editorial work. The users are free to create more mature content as they see fit. Interestingly, our fanbase often requests an M-rated game, but we have chosen to focus on maintaining the teen rating in our official offerings.
It’s not too unexpected, given that we’ve had Party Packs for ten years now. So, if someone started playing these games as a teenager, they would be in their twenties now. If they began playing in their twenties, they’d be in their thirties. As our original games have been around for quite some time, it seems reasonable that there would be an interest in more mature versions of our games. This year, we thought, let’s mix things up a bit and focus on creating games tailored towards this established audience.
Absolutely, it seems that since you’ve been releasing games for the past decade, many of your fans have grown up alongside these games. This means we are now catering to an audience that has matured, isn’t it?
Bilder: Yeah, slightly older audience, I guess, yeah.
How Jackbox Games Chose Games For The Naughty Pack
Q: How did you decide which games to include?
At Jackbox, when it comes to our game pitching, everyone in the studio takes part. We prefer to examine titles that have been well-received but haven’t yet had a sequel, and we aim for a balance or “bell curve” of gaming experiences within a pack. This means we don’t just focus on drawing games, fill-in-the-blank, or trivia games – we strive to create a diverse selection when considering new game ideas.
Among our collection of games, Fakin’ It stands out as a crowd favorite, yet we haven’t produced a sequel for it. Given its potential for mature or slightly risqué content, which could add an exciting twist for adult players, Fakin’ It was the first idea that came to mind. We were in need of a game centered around drawing and a unique drawing mechanic, and Drawful, being a much-loved choice, seemed like the perfect fit. To keep things fresh, we decided to revamp the content for Drawful and explore what an M-rated title could offer.
In addition to constantly seeking fresh ideas and intellectual property, Let Me Finish served as a pitch for us. It’s essentially a phase of imaginative brainstorming. At our studio currently, individuals are engaged in ideation and concept development for games, followed by game pitches. The creation process for the Naughty Pack was similar, where we chose what we believed to be the most balanced pack with the most enjoyable games – those that brought on the most laughter or seemed to connect best with consumers.
Was there any other game that you took into account while making the pack, or did you consider any entirely new games during this process?
As a gamer, I can’t help but chuckle. It seems like it’s always the case with M-rated games – there are plenty that could easily be included in a pack. Perhaps one day, we might see such a collection, and who knows, maybe even more games will join the fray. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that sometimes, games are revised annually, even if they weren’t quite polished or hadn’t fully figured out certain mechanics, like the final round or scoring system.
Each new gaming season often sees familiar titles resurface, with some eventually progressing to production. For example, the widely acclaimed Trivia Murder Party was proposed several times before it got approved. There have been numerous games that weren’t inherently adult but could be adapted for mature audiences, and conversely, there were a few that were initially conceived as adult-themed. These types of games tend to reappear in subsequent game development phases.
In addition to examining past game proposals, we often search for unique elements that made these games distinctive, but didn’t guarantee their approval. Sometimes, we extract these ideas and incorporate them into our approved projects, either as a level, a game mode, or a question format. This process has been common over the years with various pitches, but regarding the Naughty Pack, there were many original concepts presented, and “Let Me Finish” was the one that stood out the most.
How To Play Let Me Finish In Jackbox’s Naughty Pack
Q: What can players expect from Let Me Finish?
Let Me Finish: Essentially, this game resembles an interactive presentation experience. If you’ve dabbled in Talking Points, Patently Stupid, or are accustomed to such mechanics within the Jackbox collection, then Let Me Finish should feel comfortably familiar in terms of gameplay. It’s worth noting that it contains adult content with a hint of spice. The game will display an image or a sequence of images, pit multiple players against each other, and pose a question like, ‘Which part is the thing’s butt or backside?’
In this game, each participant will either circle or mark specific areas on a displayed image using their phones, mimicking the process in Drawful. However, unlike traditional drawing, they are not creating images but rather highlighting certain aspects to emphasize them. Once all entries are submitted, players take turns presenting their chosen areas and explaining why that’s their answer. The game then becomes a direct competition between individuals, as the rest of the team votes for the most entertaining response.
In contrast to games like Quiplash, where players take turns responding to prompts head-to-head, Let Me Finish encourages more collaboration. If other players believe they can be funnier or have a unique perspective, they can participate by raising their hand and joining in the exercise. This leads to increased interaction and laughter since everyone tends to have distinct views on things, and with some mature content, humor ensues rather swiftly.
How Far Jackbox’s Naughty Pack Pushes The Boundaries And Use Of Sensitivity Consultants
A: How might the boundaries be challenged in each game, as we play through them?
Images: For clarification while creating the game, when we chose to develop a mature-rated product, we formed an agreement with the team who elected to work on it. We made this opportunity available to all studio members and stated, “We understand this is different from our usual projects.”
While some individuals might enjoy playing this type of game with friends or family, they may prefer not to engage with coworkers in such activities. To ensure a relaxed atmosphere and respect everyone’s preferences, we designed our platform to let users choose whether they want to participate or not. If an individual decides that this isn’t their cup of tea, they are free to opt out and refrain from joining the game.
Regarding this topic, we aim to handle it delicately, ensuring our content isn’t offensive or disrespectful towards anyone. We avoid making jokes at the expense of others, which is often referred to as “punching down.” However, we want to emphasize that our game carries a mature rating and is intended for mature audiences. To ensure sensitivity, we worked with consultants on this project, something we do routinely across all our games. We review our content editorially, and did so for this title too, aiming to create content that aligns with what we’re comfortable producing and what we would be proud to associate with our brand. While we strive to minimize offenses, it’s important to understand that certain content may still provoke discomfort due to individual sensitivities. This is a nuanced issue, after all.
As a fan myself, I believe you’ll discover its uniqueness lies in its spiciness, setting it apart as one of the best games out there. We strive to keep things engaging without crossing into offensive or overly mature territory, unlike some adult party games. It’s essential to remember that this game is intended for mature audiences, so a certain level of caution is advised. Rest assured, everyone involved in creating this title takes great pride in their work and stands behind it wholeheartedly.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve come across this term ‘sensitivity consultants.’ You might wonder what they do. Well, these folks help in fine-tuning games to make them more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. They consider factors like color blindness, motor skills, hearing impairments, and cultural sensitivities to ensure that the gaming experience is inclusive and engaging for all players.
Images: Absolutely, we engage various consultants for an extensive evaluation of our game design. Once the game is operational, we analyze a playthrough of the game. Primarily, this review focuses on the editorial aspect; it examines the prompts, the voiceover narration, and the script for the host. We’ve been using this approach on our games for several years, but we’re paying particular attention to this one because we want to ensure that we maintain balance in our creation. Understanding the fine line we’re treading, we aim to do it as effectively as possible.
Jackbox CEO’s Favorite Game In The Naughty Pack
Q: Have you got a favorite game from the Naughty Pack and if so, why?
Game: For my taste, it’s more likely that I prefer Dirty Drawful over other games. I genuinely enjoy Drawful too, and the concept behind this game is amusing; people draw badly intentionally, making it a challenge to guess what they’re trying to depict or what their drawing represents. The prompts that players type in are often humorous, especially when you consider adult-themed ones, as they make for some hilarious interpretations and revelations of the actual title. Playing Drawful is always a good laugh for me because it’s entertaining to see the absurd drawings, guess what people think they are, and then discover the truth behind their creations—the real titles. It never fails to bring laughter whenever I play it.
Yeah, I can imagine the humor getting properly amplified.
Yeah, yeah.
How Jackbox’s Naughty Pack Works With The Megapicker
As a passionate collector, I’ve pondered if some fellow enthusiasts might prefer concealing the M-rated packs within their game libraries, due to personal preferences. Now, regarding the upcoming titles and the Megapicker, can you enlighten me on how this will work? Is there any possibility to implement restrictions or control access in any manner?
Sure thing!
At the moment, the Megapicker doesn’t require a separate login. Instead, it uses your Steam account details to determine your access to games. However, it lacks features like parental controls or the ability to restrict use for other users. It’s essentially an open tool that we’re working on enhancing in future updates to make it more user-friendly. For now, there will be a filter option that lets you hide M-rated games from the catalog.
Jackbox’s Naughty Pack’s Content Filter, Streamer Settings, And Accessibility Options
Q: Could you tell us a bit more about the Naughty Pack’s content filter and streamer settings?
Bilder: Fakin’ It is quite distinctive. Playing it during an event like VidCon, over platforms such as Zoom, Hangout, or Discord, can be challenging because certain game mechanics wouldn’t function properly in this setting. For instance, raising hands, looking into people’s eyes, or noticing the subtle cues that Fakin’ It requires to spot the Faker might become difficult. However, a streaming mode has been incorporated into Fakin’ It All Night Long, which enables remote play of the game, making it unique for us.
In essence, Dirty Drawful functions similarly to its original version. It accommodates 3 to 8 players and typically lasts around 20 minutes per round. There are adjustable sensitivity settings for filtering out explicit content, allowing you to customize the level of strictness. This feature was introduced in previous Party Packs, I believe in Pack 10 and possibly Pack 9, and it continues to be a part of this game as well.
As a gamer, I want to emphasize that while playing our M-rated game, there are some controls in place to help regulate or adjust the intensity of certain content. However, please be aware that this game contains adult material, so you’ll still encounter mature themes and visuals. We’re ensuring this message is clear not only to players like me but also to streamers and influencers who enjoy our games.
At PAX West, we’re all set to unveil our “Naughty Pack,” however, please be aware that this panel is specifically designed for mature audiences due to its M-rating. This means the game contains content that may not be suitable for younger viewers. While there are adjustable settings within the game to help with moderation, it’s important to note that these settings do not alter the game’s rating. In other words, it remains an M-rated game as intended.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about the Naughty Pack’s accessibility options?
Images: These elements continue our long-term efforts towards accessibility improvements. You’ll notice features such as closed captioning, color and light sensitivity adjustments for animations, longer timers, and other accommodations that we’ve implemented previously, all of which are now included in this new title.
Jackbox Games’ Future Plans
Q: Have you got any plans to expand the Naughty Pack in the future, or introduce similar packs?
Images: At present, I don’t have much to share about our upcoming plans, but here’s an update on what we’re working on: We’re brainstorming ideas for next year’s titles, as previously mentioned. It’s important to note that this phase isn’t a shift in the company’s direction; instead, all future projects will be mature-rated titles. This is an exciting response to a popular fan request, but rest assured, we’ll also continue creating teen-friendly traditional party games in the future.
It’s clear that if this project is successful, there are numerous other titles within our collection I believe would benefit from a similar approach, along with fresh concepts. Some of these ideas have been proposed but not yet approved, while others remain untapped and could be exciting to explore. It’s possible we might revisit something like this in the future, but for now, there’s nothing definite to discuss on that matter.
Q: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
Images: We’ve set a release date – mark your calendars for September 12, as that’s when the Jackbox Naughty Pack will be launched. This year, there are more announcements to come, though I can’t reveal too much about them just yet. But rest assured, there’s a lot more to anticipate from Jackbox in 2024. We’ve also got plenty of intriguing projects brewing for the following year, and we’re eagerly looking forward to what 2025 will bring us as well. We have some interesting and exciting developments underway.
[END]
The Jackbox Naughty Pack is due for release on September 12, 2024.
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2024-08-24 13:25