Jimquisition

Podquisition 422: Freakin’ Dragons

We’re seeing them.
Games we played this week include:
Forspoken (7:45)
Cyberpunk 2077 (33:10)
Hyper Meteor (46:10)
Zipper (47:10)
Theatrhythm Curtain Call (53:00)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Yves Guillmot tried to walk back “ball is in your court” comment to workers (1:01:45)
https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-assassin-s-creed-mirage-far-cry-delay-canceled-1850001343
Ubisoft Paris workers will be striking (1:02:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-paris-unions-call-for-strike-on-friday
Games industry layoffs are brutal (1:04:05)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unity-lays-off-nearly-300
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-layoff-xbox-343-halo-bethesda-coalition-1850002600
Study finds self-regulation is inconsistent at labeling games with loot boxes (1:15:15)
https://osf.io/asbcg/
Workers at Activision-Blizzard studio Proletariat drop bid to unionize following CEO pressure (1:20:55)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/proletariat-unionization-vote-request-dropped
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 421: Your Choice of Crabs

One option seems less desirable.
Games we played this week include:
Melatonin (5:00)
Hades (10:40)
Cyberpunk 2077 (19:45)
Omaze (38:40)
Demon Quest 85 (41:35)
Chibi-Robo! (45:25)
A Short Hike (51:10)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (46:50)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Ubisoft delays Skull & Bones again and ends development on three unannounced games (1:05:35)
https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/01/11/ubisoft-cancels-three-unannounced-games-skull-and-bones-delayed-again
Beyond Good & Evil 2 allegedly still in development despite other cuts at Ubisoft (1:09:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/beyond-good-evil-2-still-in-development-ubisoft-insists
Ubisoft stock plummets, Yves pressures staff to take responsibility (1:13:40)
https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-skull-bones-delay-assassins-creed-far-cry-cuts-1849975925
Workers being called to strike at Ubisoft Paris (1:15:25)
https://twitter.com/SolInfoJeuVideo/status/1615263954955116546
Activision acquisition now coming under fire from Google, Nvidia (1:18:55)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-12/google-nvidia-express-concerns-to-ftc-about-microsoft-s-activision-deal
The EU has their own antitrust concerns about Microsoft acquiring ABK (1:20:15)
https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-faces-eu-antitrust-warning-over-activision-deal-sources-2023-01-16/
The Bored Ape game is hilariously convoluted and bad (1:22:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7LiVBCZ69Q
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 420: There Goes Tokyo

Go go go Zilla.
Games we played this week include:
Satisfactory (11:20)
Flipper Lifter (14:00)
Echoic Memory (16:20)
Chained Echoes (19:00)
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (30:45)
Baba Files His Taxes (35:15)
Hades (36:40)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (46:50)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Sony announces an accessibility controller (57:15)
https://blog.playstation.com/2023/01/04/introducing-project-leonardo-for-playstation-5-a-highly-customizable-accessibility-controller-kit/
Majora’s Mask devs used in-game dialogue to express unhappiness about crunch (1:03:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/majoras-masks-most-infamous-line-is-actually-all-about-crunch
Microsoft didn’t mean to file claim FTC lawsuit was unconstitutional (1:05:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-admits-unconstitutional-ftc-lawsuit-claim-was-a-mistake
Vampire Survivors dev talks about how their mobile version happened (1:17:40)
https://www.vg247.com/vampire-survivors-developer-talks-mobile-port
Bloober Team won’t be touching the plot in their Silent Hill 2 remake (1:13:35)
https://www.dreadxp.com/interview/bringing-the-fear-interview-with-anna-jasinska-from-bloober-team/
The Last of Us television series seems to be a critical darling (1:16:15)
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_last_of_us/s01/reviews
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 419: Medical Surprises

Fun with bodies.
Games we played this week include:
Pick, Pack, Pup (15:30)
Lost Your Marbles (18:00)
Tamagotchi Pix Party (22:30)
Satisfactory (31:55)
Super Lesbian Animal RPG (37:15)
Lil’ Gator Game (41:25)
Spelunky 2 (50:45)
Dragon’s Dogma (52:30)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Zenimax QA union formally recognized by Microsoft (53:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-recognises-300-person-zenimax-testers-union
Microsoft’s responds to FTC suit attempting to block ABK acquisition (59:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-claims-ftcs-lawsuit-against-activision-blizzard-buyout-is-unconstitutional
Square Enix dropping Bravely Default live service game, reiterates all-in position on blockchain (1:13:20)
https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/news/2023/html/a_new_years_letter_from_the_president_3.html
Yuji Naka formally indicted on charges of insider trading (1:17:40)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/yuji-naka-indicted-in-square-enix-insider-trading-case/
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 418: It Was A Year

Thanks for spending some of it with us.
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Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 417: Yuletide Perils

One for you, one for me.
Games we played this week include:
High on Life (13:30)
Vampire Survivors Moonspell DLC (50:40)
Potion Craft (56:50)
Blacktail (1:10:10)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Expensive Dual Sense Edge has less battery life than standard PS5 controller (1:07:40)
https://www.theverge.com/23518070/sony-ps5-dualsense-edge-gamepad-battery-life
Tesla cars can now play your Steam library (1:11:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/tesla-rolling-out-steam-integration-in-cars
Activision COO leaving to run the ape JPEG company (1:15:10)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-19/activision-s-departing-coo-to-lead-startup-behind-bored-ape-nfts
Chocobo Racing GP abruptly announces end of services (1:21:20)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/phil-spencer-claims-playstation-wants-to-grow-by-making-xbox-smaller/
Self-described “video gamers” file suit to prevent Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard (1:23:15)
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-activision-merger-lawsuit-ftc-call-of-duty-1849917017
Goat Simulator 3 trailer pulled on copyright grounds for including leaked GTA VI footage (1:27:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/indie-dev-suggests-players-dont-buy-his-game-as-the-relationship-with-their-publisher-has-dissolved
Limited edition G-Fuel energy drink powder based on Conker’s Bad Fur Day (1:29:55)
https://gfuel.com/products/conker-mighty-poo-collectors-box
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 416: Rollin’ with Roiland

Aw geez.
Games we played this week include:
High on Life (5:45)
Yum Tum Cookstar (28:55)
Clumsy Rush Ultimate Guys (33:15)
Armored Core IV (37:25)
Crisis Core Reunion (43:05)
Potion Craft (54:00)
Octopath Traveler (1:04:25)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Twitch drops anti-LGBTQ hate group from its list of supportable charities (1:07:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/twitch-removes-hate-group-from-approved-charities-following-backlash
Activision countersues California Civil Rights Department, implies collusion with unions and media (1:10:20)
https://www.axios.com/2022/12/08/activision-lawsuit-california-civil-rights-department
FTC files to block Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard (1:15:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ftc-suing-to-block-microsofts-69bn-activision-blizzard-acquisition
Phil Spencer accuses Sony of attempting to grow by eating Microsoft’s dinner (1:20:10)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/phil-spencer-claims-playstation-wants-to-grow-by-making-xbox-smaller/
Microsoft reportedly offered to allow Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus to appease Sony and regulators (1:23:00)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-12/microsoft-s-offer-to-sony-for-call-of-duty-includes-subscription-service#xj4y7vzkg
Indie dev sued by publisher after discouraging players from buying game, defacing Steam page (1:25:25)
https://www.eurogamer.net/indie-dev-suggests-players-dont-buy-his-game-as-the-relationship-with-their-publisher-has-dissolved
Days Gone director attributes his failures to ‘woke’ critics (1:30:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/days-gone-wasnt-a-hit-because-reviewers-were-too-woke-director-claims
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 415: Strep Yourselves In

All doctors are bastards.
Games we played this week include:
Callisto Protocol (6:00)
Marvel’s Midnight Suns (27:55)
Mirror Forge (39:35)
The Devil In Me (49:45)
Gungrave (56:25)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (1:06:20)
Void Scrappers (1:12:45)
Beautiful Mystic Survivors (1:15:55)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft agrees to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo for 10 years after Activision-Blizzard acquisition (1:20:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-agrees-10-year-deal-to-bring-call-of-duty-to-nintendo-if-activision-blizzard-buyout-goes-through
https://www.eurogamer.net/ftc-reportedly-softens-stance-on-blocking-microsoft-activision-blizzard-merger
QA unions formalized at Blizzard Albany and Zenimax studios (1:26:00)
https://www.polygon.com/23490063/activision-blizzard-albany-qa-union-vote-win
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-zenimax-bethesda-elder-scrolls-fallout-union-1849855756
Polygon’s games industry unionization explainer (1:29:35)
https://www.polygon.com/23485977/video-game-unions-guide-explainer
Twitch implements long-needed tools to deal with hate raiders (1:31:35)
https://www.eurogamer.net/twitch-implements-shield-mode-to-improve-hate-raid-protection
Newly published research shows loot boxes are harmful to children (1:32:20)
http://www.gaminggamblingresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ESRC-BGG-Final-Report-2022.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMmNy11Mn7g
Vampire Survivors first DLC announced (1:33:45)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/6/23496626/vampire-survivors-legacy-of-the-moonspell-expansion-dlc-release-date
Victoria 3 players are surprised to learn how communism and fascism work (1:34:25)
https://kotaku.com/victoria-3-communism-op-paradox-simulation-capitalism-1849832954
https://twitter.com/Ancommiey/status/1599211229339594752
Yuji Naka has been arrested for insider trading… again (1:42:20)
https://www.eurogamer.net/former-sonic-boss-yuji-naka-re-arrested-as-fresh-insider-trading-allegations-emerge
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 414: Consummate Professionals

Keep your head.
Games we played this week include:
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (14:10)
Evil West (21:30)
Gungrave VR (51:20)
Gungrave G.O.R.E. (56:15)
Roller Drama (1:00:45)
What the Bat? (1:13:40)
Among Us VR (1:16:40)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Latest Super Mario Bros. movie trailer provides more plot and character details (1:23:45)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGl01FkMMo
Australia now looking to regulate loot boxes (1:30:20)
https://www.eurogamer.net/australian-mp-proposes-loot-box-regulation-bill
Microsoft likely to make concessions on CoD exclusivity to avoid antitrust concerns (1:31:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-likely-to-make-eu-concessions-in-activision-blizzard-deal-soon
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/23/exclusive-feds-likely-to-challenge-microsofts-69-billion-activision-takeover-00070787
UK gaming startup announces gaming console specifically for dogs (1:34:55)
https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/dogs-video-games-joipaw
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 413: Fappy Holiday

May all your issues be joyful.
Games we played this week include:
Gingrave G.O.R.E. (14:40)
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (27:15)
The Evil Dead: The Game (1:06:10)
Ghost Lore (1:09:15)
God of War Ragnarök (1:11:05)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft offered to let Sony have Call of Duty for a decade after acquisition (1:15:25)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-says-it-offered-sony-10-year-deal-to-keep-call-of-duty-on-playstation
Activision loosens multiplayer requirements, allowing non-contract phone plans for online gaming (1:17:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blizzard-eases-sms-verification-requirements-for-call-of-duty-and-overwatch
Cooking Mama Cookstar publisher gets judgment in suit against developer (1:19:50)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/11/cooking-mama-ip-holder-sues-planet-entertainment-for-sale-of-cooking-mama-cookstar
Yuji Naka arrested on charges of insider trading (1:23:45)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221118/p2a/00m/0na/042000c
Riot and Ubisoft coordinating their chat logs with AI to fight online harassment (1:29:40)
https://www.vg247.com/riot-games-and-ubisoft-team-up-in-ai-research-project-using-player-chat-logs-as-training-data
---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.