Jimquisition

This is all on the up and up, we promise.
Games we played this week include:
PS5 Access Controller (8:30)
Elemental Survivors (22:15)
Warhammer 40k: Darktide (33:50)
Stardew Valley (36:55)
GWAR: Rumble in Antarctica (40:30)
Forza Motorsport 2023 (44:10)
A Tiny Sticker Tale (55:00)
Whisker Squadron: Survival (57:05)
Another Crab’s Treasure (58:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bungie sued for wrongful termination by former HR manager (1:17:05)
https://www.ign.com/articles/former-bungie-hr-manager-is-suing-for-wrongful-termination-after-she-reported-potential-racial-bias
BioWare accused of underpaying severance for laid off workers (1:21:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/former-dragon-age-staff-seek-further-compensation-following-layoffs
Recently unionized QA workers for BioWare all lost their jobs (57:55)
https://www.polygon.com/23903782/dragon-age-dreadwolf-qa-workers-laid-off-keywords-studios
Game developer union forms in Poland, including staff at CD Projekt Red (1:27:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/cd-projekt-red-devs-unionise-after-its-third-round-of-layoffs-in-three-months
John Riccitello quietly slinks away from CEO post at Unity (1:13:50)
https://www.wired.com/story/john-riccitello-retires-unity-ceo-controversy/
Everything is okay at Ubisoft now, says Ubisoft, using Ubisoft surveys as evidence (1:16:20)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/4/23901575/ubisoft-executives-arrest-sexual-harassment-investigation
As ABK merger set to close, Kotick inflicts one more torment on employees (1:22:00)
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/activision-offers-a-timeframe-for-xbox-game-pass-inclusions-ahead-of-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3s-launch
---
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.

I want something else. Like a bed.
Games we played this week include:
El Paso Elsewhere (8:30)
Amanda the Adventurer (30:00)
Model Builder (35:00)
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (49:30)
Forza Motorsport 2023 (56:20)
Dynasty Warriors 9 (1:02:10)
Helldivers (1:05:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Epic lays off 16% of workers, gutting studios and seeking to liquidate assets (1:17:05)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/epic-laying-off-more-than-800
Hatoful Boyfriend dev claims two years of royalties unpaid by Epic (1:21:30)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hatoful-boyfriend-dev-accuses-epic-of-unpaid-royalties
Fortnite to implement individual age ratings for all third-party content (57:55)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/3/23899988/fortnite-creative-age-ratings
Team 17 also lays off workers (1:27:15)
https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/10/02/worms-dredge-publisher-team17-is-the-latest-to-be-hit-by-layoffs
Naughty Dog quietly severing developer contracts early
https://kotaku.com/naughty-dog-ps5-playstation-sony-last-us-part-3-layoffs-1850893794
Former Ubisoft executives arrested on charges of sexual assault (1:33:55)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/4/23901575/ubisoft-executives-arrest-sexual-harassment-investigation
---
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.

Worship that? Never.
Games we played this week include:
Payday 3 (12:30)
Amanda the Adventurer (18:25)
Rewind or Die (24:30)
Sniper Killer (26:40)
Train Sim World 4 (34:00)
Pinball Wicked (36:55)
Xenotilt (38:55)
Trombone Champ (41:10)
Halls of Torment (46:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
CMA withdraws major objections to Microsoft acquisition of ABK (52:42)
https://gamerant.com/microsoft-activision-acquisition-cma-preliminary-approval/
More layoffs at Embracer Group, including Crystal Dynamics (50:45)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/09/embracer-group-more-tough-decisions-to-come-as-crystal-dynamics-suffers-layoffs
Capcom issues statement on Microsoft desire to acquire them (57:55)
https://www.eurogamer.net/capcom-would-gracefully-decline-an-acquisition-offer-from-microsoft
SAG-AFTRA votes to approve voice actor strike (1:00:00)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hollywoods-video-game-performers-authorize-strike-if-labor-talks-fail-2023-09-26/
---
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.

It’s really important you know that they’re on your side.
Games we played this week include:
Lies of P (16:00)
Solar Ash (17:35)
F-Zero 99 (20:20)
Nun Massacre (27:10)
No One Lives Under the Lighthouse (27:35)
Blood Wash (31:40)
Trombone Champ (39:55)
Gloomhaven (42:05)
MythForce (47:05)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft leaks everything, like, everything, on FTC website (52:42)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880165/xbox-leak-ftc-documents-new-xbox-series-x-controller-next-gen
Ubisoft Montreal workers get screwed by sudden “return-to-office” demands (1:13:15)
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/09/11/xbox-mastercard/
Unity makes a crap “apology” for runtime fees, but has not reversed course yet (1:37:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/unity-apologises-for-confusion-and-angst-over-fee-changes
Terraria developer Re-Logic donated $200k to alternative game engines Godot and FNA (1:25:35)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/re-logic-donating-100000-to-godot-and-fna-in-response-to-unity-backlash
Bobby Kotick might be only person outside of Nintendo to play a Switch 2
https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/18/23878412/nintendo-switch-2-activision-briefing-next-gen-switch
---
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.

Everyone is being very reasonable about differences of opinion.
Games we played this week include:
Starfield (13:35)
Stardew Valley (20:15)
Lies of P (24:40)
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (56:50)
Night at the Gates of Hell (58:15)
The Booty Creek Cheek Freak (1:04:55)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Unity to introduce ‘Runtime Fees’, charging devs for every install of a game (1:13:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/unity-reveals-plans-to-charge-per-game-install-drawing-criticism-from-development-community
An Xbox credit card is coming (1:36:10)
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/09/11/xbox-mastercard/
ReedPop officially pulls out of E3 after putting on zero events (1:37:30)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/reedpop-and-esa-part-ways-over-e3
---
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.

It’s a good scene and all, but…
Games we played this week include:
Starfield (14:30)
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (45:05)
Goodbye Volcano High (54:25)
Halls of Torment (1:01:10)
Sea of Stars (1:02:55)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Volition closed by Embracer Group (1:03:30)
https://www.polygon.com/23853963/saints-row-volition-closure-layoffs
Baldur’s Gate 3 wasn’t meant to be quite that horny (1:03:35)
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2055007/baldurs-gate-iii-game-bug-made-its-characters-too-horny.html
Charles Martinet doesn’t know what his new job is (1:23:15)
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/09/charles-martinet-on-his-new-role-as-mario-ambassador-i-dont-know-what-that-is-yet
---
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.

Painful payoff.
Games we played this week include:
Star Trucker (8:00)
Pizza Possum (11:20)
Immortals of Aveum (13:25)
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (24:00)
Jackbox Party Pack 10 (32:00)
Sonic Superstars (39:55)
WrestleQuest (43:40)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (52:20)
Black Myth Wukong (54:10)
Homeworld 3 (58:35)
Billie Bust Up (1:00:45)
Space Boat (1:03:16)
Sea of Stars (1:05:15)
Goodbye Volcano High (1:08:20)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bethesda didn’t give Starfield review code to many UK publications (1:12:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/eurogamer-and-bethesda-starfield
Black Myth Wukong developer’s CEO has made some weird, sexually inappropriate posts (1:15:50)
https://www.resetera.com/threads/black-myth-wukong-developers-sexist-culture-and-sexually-explicit-remarks.474300/
Mortal Kombat 1 adds audio descriptors for fatalities (1:23:15)
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/08/mortal-kombat-1-ps5-has-gruesomely-descriptive-audio-fatalities
Microsoft’s Xbox X/S parity requirements begin to erode with Baldur’s Gate 3 (1:25:30)
https://www.vg247.com/baldurs-gate-3-could-still-get-split-screen
---
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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon. You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

Oh, did you expect it to be opened first?
Games we played this week include:
Atlas Fallen (5:50)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (6:45)
SnowRunner (23:25)
Vampire Survivors (30:25)
PowerWash Simulator (38:30)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
MS to sell 15 years of streaming rights for ABK games to Ubisoft if merger succeeds (40:50)
https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-submits-revised-activision-blizzard-takeover-deal-2023-8
Charles Martinet announces retirement from voice acting for Nintendo (45:50)
https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/mario-voice-actor-retires-charles-martinet-nintendo-1235701097/
---
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/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

The PSP gets its due. Lobster stuff happens.

The answer was inside yourself all along.
Games we played this week include:
Baldur’s Gate 3 (13:50)
30XX (34:50)
Stray Gods (42:00)
Atlas Fallen (52:25)
Vampire Survivors (54:50)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Failed Embracer Group deal discovered to have been with Saudis (58:50)
https://www.axios.com/2023/08/14/saudi-arabia-savvy-games-embracer-group
Pokémon Company announces tournament in Honolulu at the worst time (1:10:20)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-company-makes-donation-for-hawaii-relief-after-honolulu-2024-world-championships-announcement/1100-6516845/
New Xbox policy to ban players sure gives a lot of leeway (1:16:02)
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/15/xbox-enforcement-strike-system/
---
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. You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.