Jimquisition

Podquisition 412: Ol’ Blue Eyes

The fan base is fucking insufferable.
Games we played this week include:
Sonic Frontiers (9:30)
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (16:00)
Fallout 4 (34:10)
God of War Ragnarok (38:45)
Ghost Song (44:20)
Sonic Forces (54:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Translated tweet from Sonic Frontiers director suggests game shipped unfinished (59:45)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-frontiers-is-a-global-playtest-and-there-are-still-improvements-to-be-made-director-says/
ZA/UM dispute raises questions about company sale and employee mistreatment (1:03:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/fired-disco-elysium-director-claims-new-owners-took-control-of-zaum-through-fraud
Microsoft did make a streaming-only Xbox, literally shelved it (1:07:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/phil-spencer-says-xbox-shelved-game-streaming-box-because-it-was-too-expensive
Sony files patent for means of tracking digital ownership with NFTs (1:08:25)
https://gamesual.com/news/sony-patent-tracking-history-assets/
Rockstar was pitched a Grand Theft Auto movie with Eminem for the lead in 2005 (1:09:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/rockstar-once-rejected-a-gta-film-starring-eminem
---
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 411: Milk That Pig!

Someone will buy this premise.
Games we played this week include:
God of War Ragnarok (13:20)
Sonic Frontiers (20:50)
New Tales from the Borderlands (49:45)
The Last Oricru (55:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey built a VR headset designed to kill the user (1:09:20)
https://palmerluckey.com/if-you-die-in-the-game-you-die-in-real-life/
Activision-Blizzard attempts further stalling tactics, withholding (1:19:55)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-files-motion-to-impound-albany-union-vote-ballots
Bobby Kotick supported election denier candidate in House race (1:21:40)
https://kotaku.com/bobby-kotick-activision-mike-garcia-republican-election-1849754755
Activision-Blizzard drags feet on every issue in first Game Workers Alliance bargaining session (1:34:15)
https://gameworkersalliance.com/2022/11/03/november-2nd-2022-bargaining-session-update/
League of Legends characters’ queer status will be erased in some markets (1:37:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/riot-admits-to-censoring-league-of-legends-characters-in-some-markets-in-wake-of-first-gay-black-champion
Director Naoki Yoshida claims lack of racial diversity in FF16 based on historical accuracy (1:37:50)
https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-square-enix-interview-lore
Street Fighter VI adds “Dynamic Control” mode for the button mashers (1:40:20)
https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive/2022/11/08/street-fighter-6-exclusive-first-look-at-new-dynamic-control-scheme-meant-to
---
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 410: Penetrating New Markets

Gotta pay those bills.
Games we played this week include:
God of War Ragnarok (11:40)
Bayonetta 3 (20:40)
Signalis (40:00)
New Tales from the Borderlands (58:20)
Super Lone Survivor (1:04:45)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
PlayStation VR 2 alone priced higher than PS5 console at $550 (1:08:00)
https://kotaku.com/s5-psvr2-price-release-date-horizon-call-mountain-1849731902
Players are finding it easier to get Overwatch 2 skins by playing World of Warcraft (1:10:30)
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/its-faster-to-earn-overwatch-2-skins-through-playing-wow-than-the-actual-game-players-suggest
Burger King promo skin for Call of Duty unavailable in US and UK getting high prices on eBay (1:13:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/call-of-duty-fans-spend-30-on-in-game-burger-king-skins
Digital charm in Overwatch 2 priced higher than a real-world counterpart (1:14:20)
https://www.vg247.com/overwatch-2-charm-cheaper-real-life-than-in-game
Disc release of Call of Duty contains practically no data on the disc (1:15:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/modern-warfare-2s-disc-has-a-whopping-70mb-of-data
Phil Spencer states commitment to releasing Call of Duty on PlayStation after Microsoft acquisition (1:17:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-will-keep-call-of-duty-on-sony-platforms-as-long-as-theres-a-playstation-out-there-to-ship-to
Microsoft board urges shareholders not to investigate US defense contracts (1:18:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/microsofts-board-of-directors-votes-against-independent-report-into-military-contracts
Tesla wanted to put Her Story and Untitled Goose Game in cars in exchange for exposure (1:12:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sam-barlow-was-offered-exposure-to-put-her-story-in-a-tesla
Square-Enix once again states commitment to blockchain strategy (1:22:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-wants-to-make-global-hit-titles-and-believes-blockchain-will-play-a-key-part-in-future-growth
---
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 409: All Business

We’re professionals, after all.
Games we played this week include:
Hot Tentacle Shooter (3:40)
BOSSGAME: The Final Boss is My Heart (11:15)
FAITH: The Unholy Trinity (17:10)
Batman: Gotham Knights (24:10)
Potionomics (35:05)
Donut Dodo (42:50)
Cultic (46:30)
A Plague Tale: Requiem (49:55)
Vampire Survivors (53:10)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Another charge of unfair labor actions by Activision Blizzard is filed (56:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blizzard-facing-new-charges-from-abk-workers-alliance-over-unfair-labour-practices
Activision Blizzard marketing deal with Sony prevents Call of Duty from appearing on Game Pass (59:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-imposes-restrictions-on-call-of-dutys-ability-to-be-in-game-pass-xbox-claims
Microsoft is working on their own mobile app store (1:03:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/19/23411972/microsoft-xbox-mobile-store-games
Overwatch 2 custom game modes need better/any moderation (1:04:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/blizzard-insists-its-working-to-improve-overwatch-2-moderation
Voice actors still deserve better pay, even if Hellena Taylor sucks (1:08:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/bayonetta-voice-actress-issues-new-statement-defending-her-reputation-in-the-industry
Robert Kurvitz, lead designer of Disco Elysium, has filed suit against ZA/UM (1:11:20)
https://kotaku.com/disco-elysium-robert-kurvitz-suing-za-um-rpg-amazon-1849693328
---
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 408: Silicone Babies

So lifelike.
Games we played this week include:
Stories of Blossom (9:10)
Scorn (12:30)
Cryohazard (28:50)
Alice is Missing (32:45)
A Plague Tale: Requiem (38:35)
Vampire Survivors (46:45)
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (52:35)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bayonetta performer Helena Taylor raises controversy over voice actor pay (1:01:40)
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/oct/18/an-insult-video-game-voice-actors-speak-out-to-demand-fair-pay
https://www.eurogamer.net/bayonetta-3-voice-actress-jennifer-hale-asks-fans-to-be-kinder-following-abuse
Streamer Adriana Chechik breaks back jumping into foam pit at TwitchCon (1:07:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/streamer-who-broke-back-at-twitchcon-out-of-hospital-following-second-surgery
Netflix considering expansion into game streaming (1:13:30)
https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/18/netflix-to-expand-into-cloud-gaming-opens-new-studio-in-southern-california/
Activision only requiring phone verification for PC players of Call of Duty (1:15:25)
https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2022/10/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-II-warzone-ricochet-anti-cheat-open-beta-recap
Diablo quality assurance testers will have unionization vote (1:16:30)
https://kotaku.com/blizzard-albany-qa-testers-diablo-iv-union-activision-1849674924
Nintendo settles with former QA worker, must post notification of worker rights in office (1:17:40)
https://www.tweaktown.com/news/88846/microsoft-reveals-how-much-money-game-pass-actually-makes/index.html
Apex Legends introduces trans woman, Catalyst, as latest character addition (1:19:35)
https://www.gamesradar.com/new-apex-legends-character-catalyst-is-an-out-and-proud-transgender-woman/
Pilot for Kingdom Hearts animated series leaked by director following heart attack (1:20:45)
https://www.vg247.com/kingdom-hearts-tv-pilot-shared-online
Nintendo putting the squeeze on boobs in the eShop (1:21:05)
https://www.vg247.com/nintendo-is-cracking-down-on-risque-content-on-the-eshop
---
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 407: Seize the Means of Malarky

The only thing you have to lose is your dignity.
Games we played this week include:
Hazelnut Hex (10:30)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (14:20)
A Way Out (27:40)
NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition (34:10)
NeuroDeck (35:50)
Fallout: New Vegas (40:20)
Fallout 4 (46:35)
Too Human (55:30)
Red Faction: Armageddon (1:00:00)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Chris Pratt’s incredible voice in The Super Mario Bros. Movie finally revealed (1:04:25)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KydqdKKyGEk
Scant additional details about ZA/UM Studio departures emerge (1:07:45)
https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/fans-have-the-right-to-know-disco-elysium-co-creator-talks-zaum-l/z04ad7
Activision/Blizzard implementing verification process requiring players to have contract phones (1:11:10)
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-joins-overwatch-2-in-requiring-phone-number-verification/
Bug in Overwatch 2 causes accidental purchases, Activision/Blizzard refuses to refund (1:18:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/overwatch-2s-auto-purchase-bug-has-been-fixed-but-blizzard-still-wont-issue-refunds
Yet another sexual abuse claim filed against Activision/Blizzard (1:19:35)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11300499/Call-Duty-video-game-maker-Activision-Blizzard-sued-female-worker-sexual-assault.html
Cyberpunk 2077 QA contractor allegedly misrepresented themselves to CD Projekt Red (1:20:45)
https://www.pcgamer.com/quantic-QA-tester-report/
Antitrust investigation reveals information on Microsoft’s Game Pass revenues (1:25:30)
https://www.tweaktown.com/news/88846/microsoft-reveals-how-much-money-game-pass-actually-makes/index.html
Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier shutting down after a year in service (1:29:45)
https://kotaku.com/ff7-first-soldier-battle-royale-mobile-shut-down-pc-ps4-1849647758
---
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 406: Lucozade Lifestyle

Our secret agenda is laid bare.
Games we played this week include:
Dreamlight Valley (16:00)
Return to Monkey Island (22:00)
BioShock 2 (30:30)
FRANKEN (35:05)
The Binding of Isaac (37:00)
Trombone Champ (38:00)
Middle Earth: Shadow of War (39:25)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Activision Blizzard found to have withheld raises from unionizing workers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/10/03/activision-raven-union-raises-nlrb/
Key writers and artists on Disco Elysium were quietly pushed out of ZA/UM last year (47:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/disco-elysium-dev-reveals-some-team-members-left-involuntarily
PC ports of PlayStation titles will arrive at least a year after console release (57:05)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-games-will-wait-at-least-a-year-before-their-pc-release-except-for-live-service-titles/
Stadia is dead (1:00:10)
https://blog.google/products/stadia/message-on-stadia-streaming-strategy/
Saudi Arabia wants to own a major game publisher (1:04:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/saudi-arabia-is-eyeing-up-the-acquisition-of-a-major-game-publisher
Tencent now wants controlling interest in game companies outside of China (1:05:35)
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/tencent-shifts-focus-majority-deals-overseas-gaming-assets-growth-sources-2022-10-01/
Beyond Good & Evil 2 has now been in development longer than Duke Nukem Forever was (1:06:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/beyond-good-evil-2-overtakes-guinness-record-holder-duke-nukem-forever-as-game-longest-in-development
---
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 405: REJOICE!

Love it when a plan comes together.
Games we played this week include:
Trombone Champ (16:30)
High Speed II: The Getaway (26:30)
Scratching Memory (29:45)
My Time at Portia (32:15)
BioShock 2 (33:20)
Dreamlight Valley (38:00)
Mail Time (46:05)
CorpoNation: The Sorting Process (47:00)
Railbound (49:30)
BLINNK and the Vacuum of Space (50:15)
Sonic Frontiers (51:30)
Prodeus (57:30)
Shovel Knight Dig (1:01:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Alleged GTA VI hacker arrested in UK (1:04:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/suspected-grand-theft-auto-6-hacker-set-for-court
https://www.eurogamer.net/suspected-gta-hacker-teen-held-in-youth-detention-centre
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot seems happy with his company culture (1:08:00)
https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-ceo-assassin-s-creed-far-cry-toxic-harassment-1849583341
ReedPop announces new format for E3, with separate days for press and public (1:12:00)
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/e3-is-back-in-a-new-form-in-june-2023-and-here-are-the-dates
Hellblade II will not be using AI voice actors in the final product (1:14:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ninja-theory-disputes-claims-it-is-using-ai-to-replace-voice-actors
---
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 404: The Genital Line

Cross it.
Games we played this week include:
The Secret of Monkey Island / LeChuck’s Revenge (10:00)
Return to Monkey Island (16:35)
My Time at Sandrock (22:20)
Thymesia (29:00)
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (35:40)
Ring of Pain (37:30)
Wayward Strand (42:35)
You Suck at Parking (47:00)
Aliens Fireteam Elite (53:40)
The Outbound Ghost (56:20)
Soulstice (58:00)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Twitter account leaking info exposed as YouTuber breaking embargoes (1:02:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/youtuber-slips-up-reveals-he-was-behind-insider-twitter-account-which-leaked-ubisoft-details-and-more
Massive leak of GTA VI in-development content hits the interwebs, FBI is on the case (1:05:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/fbi-investigating-hacker-who-claimed-to-have-breached-rockstar-and-uber
Microsoft, like a fox, suggest they’d be crazy to take Call of Duty off the PlayStation platform (1:13:25)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-activision-acquisition-expected-to-face-deeper-investigations-in-uk-eu
Andrew Wilson claims to believe Battlefield could replace Call of Duty as a cross-platform juggernaut (1:15:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-boss-says-questions-over-call-of-duty-exclusivity-tremendous-opportunity-for-battlefield
Twitch’s gambling issue flares up again over public incidents, site bans some gambling content (1:16:20)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/20/23363760/mizkif-trainwreckstv-sexual-harassment-twitch-adrianahlee
Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 map has loads of poorly translated Arabic and cultural ignorance (1:23:05)
https://www.thegamer.com/warzone-2-0-al-mazrah-city-incorrect-arabic/
Disturbing report shows how Twitch enables child predators to find targets (1:24:00)
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-twitch-problem-with-child-predators
---
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 403: The Queen’s Dead Special

We’re being very respectful.
Games we played this week include:
Wayward Strand (13:30)
My Time at Sandrock (20:20)
Fall Guys (21:35)
Ashigaru: The Last Shogun (24:30)
Steelrising (27:35)
Ayn Odin Pro (43:10)
Justice Sucks: Tactical Vacuum Action (50:30)
Splatoon 3 (53:15)
The Last of Us Part II (54:10)
HoloCure: Save the Fans! (1:03:50)
Let’s Tap (1:07:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Unreleased Meta Quest headset found in hotel trash a month before public reveal (1:13:00)
https://kotaku.com/meta-quest-pro-vr-oculus-quest-2-facebook-zuckerberg-1849524690
Babylon’s Fall shutting down after less than a year as a live service game (1:16:30)
https://hanging-garden.babylonsfall.com/news/pages/63034abc74473009630079
Yves Guillemot calls decade of workplace abuse and cover-ups at Ubisoft a “stumble”; also Tencent owns most of them now. (1:19:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/two-years-on-from-its-workplace-crisis-ubisoft-boss-says-company-stumbled
---
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.