Remasters are inherently nostalgic, attempting to evoke a certain feel and mood again years after the original release. Few of them, however, symbolize a time capsule as much as Poker Night at the Inventory. The concept of sitting down characters from four different franchises at the same poker table was novel in 2010. Now, after the likes of Fortnite have fostered an ever-increasing IP onslaught, bringing back such an oddity of a crossover makes for a significant contrast.
Poker Night at the Inventory was born as a spiritual successor to Telltale Texas Hold’em. At the time, Telltale Games CEO Dan Conners said the concept grew out of an idea from employees who wondered what video game characters do when they’re not “on the clock.” This led to Telltale picking up stars from existing licensed series it had adapted as episodic games–Max from Sam & Max and Strong Bad from Homestar Runner–and pitting them against Tycho from webcomic Penny Arcade and The Heavy from Valve’s Team Fortress 2.
Having characters from completely different backgrounds and series bantering with each other was the main selling point. Alongside the bizarre premise, the particular selection also converged PC and online culture fandoms that were quite vivid in the early 2010s. Considering this 13-year-old video compilation of jokes and trash talk between the cast has accrued 2.3 million views, it’s safe to assume there has been some lingering fondness over the years–especially considering the game was delisted in 2019.
The concept itself is also attached to a specific period of time in the game industry. Lines like Tycho asking The Heavy about his involvement in Team Fortress 2, pointing out the game had been out “for three years” at that point, can immediately make you feel old. Yet, it’s this dichotomy that stands out. Skunkape Games, the developer in charge of the newly announced remaster, seems to be leaning into it, offering Team Fortress 2 items as in-game rewards again, something we haven’t seen for Valve’s team shooter in quite some time.
There’s also the fact that, back in 2010, crossovers had a tantalizing value that has become commonplace in recent years. In a way, the lost value is reminiscent of the videos of modded Guitar Hero games featuring random pop-culture characters jamming before Fortnite Festival basically turned that idea into a game. Fortnite, Call of Duty, Dead by Daylight, and PUBG, among others, have been heavy-handed with IP collaborations. Yet, most of them feel guided by marketing and zeitgeist pegs, rather than trying to make an intentional experience that leverages purpose to a crossover.
For the time being, Poker Night at the Inventory making a comeback is a welcome surprise. It’s a rare remaster in and of itself, carrying the responsibility of preserving a time and place of internet history and the game industry as a whole. Sometimes, that can mean being exposed to jokes about disbarred attorney Jack Thompson and his anti-video game activism. Other times, it can be a reminder of the tainted legacy of some of these properties, such as the Dickwolves controversy with Penny Arcade. And its prospect also introduces a newfound value, serving as a reminder of how some novelty trends acted before they became commodified by big corporations, focused on promoting the next launch or luring a specific fandom rather than exploring ideas that can have people excited for over 16 years.
