Jimquisition

Podquisition 382: That’s Not Yogurt!

Careful what you reach for.
Games we played this week include:
Two Point Hospital (8:50)
Nobody Saves the World (13:15)
Cho Aniki (25:50)
Pix’n Love Rush (31:00)
Pokémon Go (32:40)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Sonic Origins needed a table to explain its launch DLC (39.55)
https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-origins-fans-arent-happy-with-locked-off-dlc-content
Nintendo of America alleged to have violated worker’s right to unionize (45:30)
https://www.axios.com/nintendo-nlrb-complaint-3bb227c7-40c3-40c5-9578-5190e595a00e.html
Activision Blizzard surveyed players to gauge interest in crypto and NFTs (50:45)
https://gamerant.com/blizzard-nft-survey-online-store/
Square-Enix still determined to shove the blockchain into their games (1:00:35)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enixs-president-reiterates-desire-to-make-play-to-earn-blockchain-games/
Hideo Kojima up to his bullshit again, this time about a rumored acquisition by Sony (1:02:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/kojima-insists-kojima-productions-is-independent-after-posting-a-playstation-studios-banner-that-suggests-otherwise
Kim Kardashian threatens to sue Roblox after son finds an ad in game for her sex tape (1:06:10)
https://kotaku.com/kim-kardashian-roblox-sex-tape-advertisement-experience-1848811161
---
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 381: Take a Deep Breath

No gods, no underwater masters
Games we played this week include:
Pokémon: The Trading Card Game (11:10)
Roombo First Blood (17:40)
House of the Dead Remake (19:55)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel (28:30)
Skul: The Hero Slayer (30:50)
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (32:05)
Tearaway (39:30)
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon (49:10)
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News things talked about in this episode:
California Governor alleged to have interfered in DEFH suit against Activision Blizzard (52:40)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-13/california-lawyer-says-governor-interfered-with-activision-suit
Activision-Blizzard pay bump for QA feels oddly like a union busting tactic (58:10)
https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/7/23015033/activision-blizzard-full-time-qa-game-tester-20-dollars-hourly
ABK workers walk out over company changes to vaccine policy (1:05:35)
https://www.polygon.com/23010343/activision-blizzard-vaccine-mandate-demands-abetterabk
Bungie announces remote work for most current and future roles (1:08:25)
https://kotaku.com/bungie-remote-work-home-pandemic-covid-destiny-sony-off-1848785738
Twitch pulled paid Boost Train feature after users landed porn on the home page (1:10:45)
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/twitch-halts-paid-channel-boosts-after-people-pay-to-get-porn-on-the-front-page/
The Quarry will have a low-interactivity “movie mode” that skips all the gameplay (1:14:00)
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-quarry-has-a-movie-mode-so-you-can-watch-it-instead-of-playing-it/
---
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 380: Finding the Perfect Bush

We’re taking this show to a new level.
Games we played this week include:
Elden Ring (8:30)
Weird West (17:40)
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines (28:55)
Resistance Burning Skies (34:40)
Despotism 3k (39:30)
Chibi-Robo Zip Lash (46:22)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Undead Labs employees allege discrimination and abuse despite Microsoft buyout (51:55)
https://kotaku.com/state-of-decay-3-xbox-series-x-s-sexism-microsoft-undea-1848728682
Ubisoft stops development of Breakpoint, tells NFT buyers they “own” a piece of history (56:20)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-04-06-ubisoft-ends-ghost-recon-breakpoint-development-working-on-nfts-for-other-titles
NFT game using Formula One license shuts down after they can’t renew the license (1:03:35)
https://kotaku.com/f1-formula-1-one-delta-time-nft-crypto-cursed-shut-down-1848748953
Ron Gilbert returning to Monkey Island for new sequel due this year (1:05:30)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-04-05-ron-gilbert-working-on-new-monkey-island-game
Rearranged Kirby song wins Grammy Award (1:07:20)
https://kotaku.com/kirby-grammy-award-8-bit-big-band-meta-knights-revenge-1848745709
---
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 379: A Real Wrestler

Games we played this week include:
Guardians of the Galaxy (9:10)
Shredders (11:25)
Elden Ring (14:45)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (17:00)
Skul the Hero Slayer (33:40)
Tunic (36:10)
Ghostwire Tokyo (40:35)
Culdcept Revolt (46:50)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Wattam developer Funomena likely to close following abuse allegations (1:02:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-29-wattam-developer-funomena-reportedly-closing-following-allegations-of-workplace-abuse
Another sexual harassment suit filed against Activision Blizzard (1:04:25)
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/activision-faces-new-suit-from-worker-alleging-rampant-sexism
Judge ready to approve $18m settlement of EEOC case against Activision Blizzard (1:08:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-29-judge-prepared-to-approve-activision-blizzards-usd18m-sexual-harassment-settlement-with-eeoc
Microsoft fine with Activision Blizzard workers forming union if Activision Blizzard is (1:09:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-25-microsoft-wont-block-unionisation-efforts-at-activision-blizzard
Sony about to make PlayStation Plus more complicated (1:11:35)
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/29/all-new-playstation-plus-launches-in-june-with-700-games-and-more-value-than-ever/
But Sony won’t put day-one releases on Plus (1:15:45)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-03-28-playstations-jim-ryan-our-games-could-suffer-if-we-put-them-straight-into-ps-plus
Gran Turismo 7 to walk back its terrible pricing (1:18:00)
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/25/gran-turismo-7-an-update-from-polyphony-digital/
Bloodborne Kart is apparently real (1:19:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-25-its-official-bloodborne-kart-is-coming
---
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.
Photo Credit: Stomp Photography

Podquisition 378: Suing the Council

We demand restitution.
Games we played this week include:
Tunic (12:30)
Final Fantasy Origin Stranger of Paradise (30:30)
Inscryption: Kaycee’s Mod (35:15)
Skul: The Hero Slayer (38:10)
Chocobo GP (39:30)
Retroid Pocket 2 Plus (43:45)
Game Pass on Steam Deck (45:25)
Rune Factory 5 (47:45)
New Little King’s Story (52:00)
Soul Sacrifice Delta (55:30)
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News things talked about in this episode:
People Make Games report on abuse at indie studios (58:50)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPzZkx0cPs
Ori and the Blind Forest dev Moon Studios also accused of employee mistreatment (1:04:20)
https://venturebeat.com/2022/03/18/despite-its-beautiful-ori-games-moon-studio-is-called-an-oppressive-place-to-work/
More litigants sign on to sexual discrimination lawsuit agains Sony (1:06:45)
https://www.axios.com/sexism-playstation-lawsuit-sony-e0f42c61-8467-4940-884a-1885eb8189ff.html
Bandai Namco Mobile switching to four day work week (1:07:40)
https://medium.com/@BANDAINAMCOMobile/bandai-namco-mobile-transitions-to-the-four-day-workweek-df053bda8d0e
---
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.

Spoiler(ish)cast: Elden Ring With Gavin Dunne

Miracle of Sound Gavin Dunne rejoins the cast for a one-off Elden Ring special. Yes, we promised it years ago, and we delivered! Enjoy!

Podquisition 376: What the North Gets You

Big homes, low ceilings
Games we played this week include:
Steam Deck (9:40)
Rune Factory 4 (21:20)
Babylon’s Fall (24:35)
Retroid Pocket 2 Plus (36:45)
Are You With Us? (43:45)
Uncharted Golden Abyss (45:00)
Aperture Desk Job (50:45)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Vita software made to run on Switch (49:15) https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-new-tool-claims-to-run-ps-vita-software-natively-on-nintendo-switch/
Forza Horizon 5 sign language features arrive four months after release (51:45) https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-01-forza-horizon-5-adds-sign-language-support-today
Activision Blizzard attributes failure to hire women executives to MS acquisition (52:25) https://www.axios.com/embattled-activision-facing-increased-attrition-18d74c45-d570-4a61-abcd-fed77be7243d.html
Family of Activision Blizzard employee blames company for their suicide, files lawsuit (54:20) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/03/04/activision-blizzard-employee-suicide-lawsuit/
Former Epic employee claims they were terminated for speaking up about diversity practices (56:05) https://twitter.com/MagusFirebeard/status/1499767870003179520
You can pause Elden Ring (57:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-08-turns-out-you-can-pause-elden-ring-without-a-mod
---
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 375: It’s Just Soup

Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?
Games we played this week include:
Steam Deck (11:15)
Pokémon Legends Arceus (22:10)
Elden Ring (23:50)
Roboquest (49:20)
Gran Turismo 7 (53:05)
Undead Knights (54:45)
Infernax (57:25)
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News things talked about in this episode:
Intellivision Amico looks about to cut bait (1:00:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-01-intellivision-cuts-fundraising-campaign-for-amico-short-setting-alarm-bells-ringing
Nvidia hit by crippling cyber attack (1:05:35)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-25/nvidia-is-investigating-cyber-attack-but-business-uninterrupted
Valve open to having Microsoft Game Pass available on Steam (1:07:05)
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/valve-has-no-plans-for-a-steam-pass-but-would-help-microsoft-put-game-pass-on-steam/
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet announced (1:11:10)
https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-us/
Ubisoft does, at least, protect its employees affected by Russian invasion of Ukraine (1:15:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-26-ubisoft-provides-additional-funds-advance-salaries-and-alternate-housing-to-staff-in-ukraine
Ukranian developers discussing the invasion (1:16:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-25-ukraine-game-developers-speak-out-in-face-of-russian-invasion
Lawsuits arise from Activision Blizzard King investors unhappy about Microsoft deal (1:17:20)
https://www.polygon.com/22949594/activision-blizzard-shareholder-lawsuit-sec-violation
Sony attempts to have gender discrimination suit dismissed (1:19:15)
https://www.axios.com/sony-playstation-sexual-harassment-dismissal-dde3ab46-25c2-4b82-b028-582530617ece.html
Epic Games is acquiring Bandcamp (1:21:15)
https://blog.bandcamp.com/2022/03/02/bandcamp-is-joining-epic/
---
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.
Photo Credit: Katrin Morenz, used under CC BY-SA 2.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

The Spin-Off Doctors Monster Hunter

Wake us when it's over.
--
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium at thejimporium.com
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 374: Vampire Wine

A not-so-subtle blend.
Games we played this week include:
Nintendo Switch Sports (10:55)
Infernax (17:10)
Dying Light 2 (19:55)
A Little to the Left (22:40)
RoboQuest (26:35)
Skul: The Hero Slayer (31:50)
Pokémon Legends Arceus (38:30)
Horizon: Forbidden West (39:10)
Pinball Heroes (40:20)
---
News things talked about in this episode:
Activision Blizzard’s lawyers paint union members as “footloose and fancy free” (44:35)
https://twitter.com/_TechJess/status/1496136624358494208
Accusations made against Activision Blizzard for union-busting practices at Raven Software (47:45)
https://www.polygon.com/22939657/activision-blizzard-raven-software-union-nlrb-hearing
Bobby Kotick has been covertly funding Republicans through businesses (53:35)
https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/activision-blizzard-ceo-donated-to-republican-causes-3164956
Rainbow Six tournament in UAE, where homosexuality is illegal, is canceled (58:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-23-ubisoft-scraps-plans-for-rainbow-six-siege-tournament-in-abu-dhabi
Ubisoft hints in earnings call that it may be open to a buyout (1:00:00)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-02-17-despite-consolidation-ubisoft-says-it-can-still-go-it-alone
The Street Fighter 6 logo bears striking similarity to a stock image (1:07:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-23-street-fighter-6s-logo-looks-like-an-adobe-stock-image-and-its-creator-wants-a-cut
Platinum Games takes hard stance against NFTs (1:09:50)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/platinumgames-2022/
Nintendo is closing the 3DS and Wii U eShops (1:10:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-16-3ds-and-wii-u-eshop-purchases-end-in-march-2023
---
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.