What a lovely surprise.
Games we played this week include:
Balatro (5:15)
Pullfrog (13:40)
Mars After Midnight (15:05)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (18:50)
The Thaumaturge (31:15)
Princess Peach Showtime (48:40)
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley (51:25)
Rise of the Ronin (54:40)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
SAG-AFTRA’s video game voice actors might be next to strike over AI (1:01:30)
https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/ai-duncan-crabtree-ireland-sxsw-1235936090/
Bobby Kotick can’t stop, won’t stop, wants TikTok (1:03:05)
https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-activision-ceo-bobby-kotick-wants-to-buy-tiktok-report-2024-3
600 QA employees unionize at Microsoft companies (1:05:30)
https://www.polygon.com/24093254/activision-qa-600-workers-union-microsoft
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.
Mar 14
1 hr 9 min
Yeah, that’s right. We said it. What do you intend to do?
Games we played this week include:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (4:30)
Supermarket Simulator (33:00)
The Outlast Trials (41:05)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun (51:10)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Warner Bros. continues to learn the wrong lessons about live services (42:05)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/warner-bros-discusses-volatile-aaa-console-games-will-lean-into-free-to-play-and-mobile/1100-6521597/
Yuzu and Citra emulators quickly fold under legal action from Nintendo (49:05)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-lawsuit-shuts-down-switch-emulator-yuzu-and-3ds-emulator-citra/1100-6521589/
A complex scam involving imitated games hits Steam (1:15:50)
https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-pulls-fake-steam-helldivers-2-games-but-devs-express-concern-they-appeared-in-the-first-place
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.
Photo Credit: Forest Runner / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED
Mar 7
1 hr 23 min
It’s a lovely day for a drive.
Games we played this week include:
Pacific Drive (8:00)
Geometry Survivor (30:00)
Pocket Card Jockey Ride On (33:20)
Pepper Grinder (37:30)
Penny’s Big Breakout (38:45)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
WWE 2K24 seems to be dropping a couple of significant wrestlers (42:05)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/wwe-2k24s-confirmed-final-roster-seemingly-removes-vince-mcmahon-and-brock-lesnar/
Nintendo sues developer of Yuzu emulator (49:05)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/27/24085075/nintendo-switch-emulator-yuzu-lawsuit
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Feb 29
59 min
We welcome it.
Games we played this week include:
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore (6:35)
Helldivers 2 (16:15)
Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (21:05)
Cookie Cutter (25:00)
Heartworm (31:15)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
MS really bungled their cross-platform announcement (46:45)
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/20/xboxs-business-update-event-attempts-to-address-rumors-vaguely/
Embracer-owned Flying Wild Hog joins with Polish Gamedev Workers Union (53:55)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/embracer-owned-studio-flying-wild-hog-has-unionized
ZA/UM continues to be a mess (1:04:05)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-za-um-will-lay-off-25-percent-of-staff-after-project-cancellation
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Feb 22
1 hr 1 min
The bar has been raised yet again.
Games we played this week include:
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:50)
Helldivers 2 (16:30)
Mouthwashing (31:10)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25)
Final Fantasy Rebirth (40:45)
Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (47:15)
Hardcoded (49:20)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
MS to address rumors around console exclusivity (56:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/12/24070445/microsoft-xbox-business-update-event-future-february-15
French worker unions call for strikes at Ubisoft (58:10)
https://www.pcgamer.com/unions-call-for-strikes-at-ubisoft-studios-in-france-to-protest-wages-we-cannot-tolerate-being-treated-as-expendable-to-mitigate-their-bad-decisions
Microsoft layoffs hit Toys For Bob hard (1:04:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-layoffs-affect-86-staff-at-spyro-crash-bandicoot-studio
The FTC seems irritated by Microsoft’s layoffs (1:01:30)
https://www.polygon.com/24065269/ftc-microsoft-activision-deal-layoffs-appeal
Voice actor responsible for PEGI rating stingers was paid 200 Euros for the gig (1:05:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/the-voice-actor-behind-pegi-18-says-he-was-paid-just-200
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Feb 15
1 hr 12 min
A crisis averted.
Games we played this week include:
Silent Hill: The Short Message (7:15)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (27:30)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (37:25)
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (39:03)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Rumors swirl around possible changes to Xbox first-party exclusivity (53:20)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-microsoft-rethinking-exclusivity-plans-to-bring-starfield-and-indiana-jones-to-ps5
Development of The Day Before was allegedly a shitshow (1:02:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/new-the-day-before-report-alleges-employees-fined-for-making-mistakes
Square Enix has decided it wants to make better games (1:04:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-reviewing-overall-game-development-to-improve-quality
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Feb 8
1 hr 9 min
We’re just not qualified.
Games we played this week include:
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:30)
Metroid Dread (26:50)
Granblue Fantasy Relink (32:50)
Interaction Isn’t Explicit (35:30)
Go Mecha Ball (40:30)
Celeste 64 (51:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft lays off 8% of its game division despite 49% revenue increase in Q2 (59:05)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24049050/microsoft-activision-blizzard-layoffs
Eidos Montreal staff laid off, previously unannounced Deus Ex game canceled (1:05:05)
https://www.polygon.com/24054575/deus-ex-game-canceled-layoffs-eidos-montreal
SEGA of America to drop 61 employees in March (52:15)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sega-of-america-to-lay-off-61-employees
Early Suicide Squad players had the game finished for them (59:40)
https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-pulled-offline-1235890502
Bloodborne Kart won’t be Bloodborne Kart anymore (1:10:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/bloodborne-kart-isnt-allowed-to-be-called-bloodborne-kart-anymore-but-it-is-still-coming
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Feb 1
1 hr 15 min
What a terrible strain.
Games we played this week include:
Piñata Smashlings (5:35)
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (16:15)
Last of Us Part II Remastered (28:15)
Palworld (33:35)
Home Safety Hotline (48:05)
Luck Be a Landlord (53:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
MiG Switch flash cart could lead to bans for second-hand game buyers (59:05)
Rockstar and Remedy logo thing got settled late last year (1:05:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/take-two-and-remedy-in-trademark-dispute-over-r-logo
Developer Piranha Bytes seemingly dropped by Embracer Group (52:15)
https://www.pcgamer.com/embracer-owned-elex-studio-piranha-bytes-is-trying-to-save-itself-from-closure-dont-write-us-off-yet/
Riot lays off more than a tenth of its staff (59:40)
https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/2024-rioter-update
After selling off all their previously acquired IP, Square Enix things it needs more diverse offerings (1:10:00)
https://www.ign.com/articles/square-enix-president-says-the-company-wants-to-release-fewer-more-diverse-games
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Brown / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED
Jan 25
1 hr 14 min
Sounds like a cozy spot, doesn’t it?
Games we played this week include:
Luck be a Landlord (4:25)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (17:20)
Last of Us Part II Remastered (24:30)
The Gnorp Apologue (33:15)
Legend of Grimrock (39:25)
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (39:25)
The Shopping List (49:40)
The Witcher 3 (51:20)
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (51:55)
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (53:40)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
UK retailer GAME ends trade-ins because locations are increasingly in Sports Direct stores (43:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/uk-retailer-game-to-cease-video-game-trade-ins-staff-say
Rockstar and Remedy Games in a legal tiff over their logos (49:30)
https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/01/16/rockstar-parent-company-take-two-files-trademark-dispute-over-remedys-logo
Lost Boys latest studio hit by Embracer layoffs (52:15)
https://www.pcgamer.com/embracer-owned-lost-boys-interactive-reportedly-undergoes-sizable-layoffs/
GameShark re-emerges as AI company and drops a Switch 2 release date rumor (59:40)
https://kotaku.com/switch-2-release-date-leak-ces-gameshark-ai-shark-1851159992
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Jan 18
1 hr 17 min
Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean we all should be.
Games we played this week include:
God of War: Ragnarok (7:45)
Luck be a Landlord (15:50)
Grand Theft Auto V (22:25)
Lies of P (23:15)
Buckshot Roulette (26:40)
Pokémon (30:10)
Orc Massage (33:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Another round of layoffs hits Unity, Twitch, and Bossa Studios (43:30)
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/8/24030695/unity-layoff-staff-25-percent
https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2024/01/10/a-difficult-update-about-our-workforce/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bossa-studios-lays-off-one-third-of-its-staff
Netflix considering plan to insert ads into its published games (49:30)
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-eyes-ways-to-make-money-from-videogames-in-potential-pivot-705bd3b3
SAG-AFTRA makes AI deal for game voice workers seemingly without consulting them (52:15)
https://www.pcgamesn.com/sag-aftra-ai-voice-actor-reaction
Lawsuit claims discrimination at Activision-Blizzard against old, white men (59:40)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ex-activision-exec-accuses-publisher-of-discriminating-against-old-white-guys
Xbox bans Baldur’s Gate 3 players who have default share settings on while saving sexy content (1:05:45)
https://www.pcgamer.com/xbox-insists-its-willy-nilly-bans-of-baldurs-gate-3-players-from-its-online-services-are-not-automatic-suggests-turning-off-its-opt-out-feature-to-avoid-horny-upload-crimes/
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com
Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday.
Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.
Photo Credit: Santosh Kumar
Jan 11
1 hr 11 min
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