Jimquisition

Podquisition 430: A Champion In Our Midst Have you heard the news? Games we played this week include: Boneraiser Minions (9:35) Vampire Survivors (23:15) Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (24:45) Aliens Infestation (34:45) Anemoiapolis (38:10) Void Scrappers (44:05) Bloom (51:05) You Cannot Go Back (55:50) --- News things talked about in this episode: Ubisoft implementing machine learning to write NPC dialogue (58:55) https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-ai-writing-scriptwriting-ghostwriter-machine-1850250316 Sony claims the loss of Call of Duty would be irreparable to their business (1:06:50) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6411a823d3bf7f79daa1123b/Sony_Interactive_Entertainment_s_response_to_the_provisional_findings.pdf But Microsoft believes that Sony can replicate Call of Duty if they try (1:09:45) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6418811b8fa8f547c1112371/Microsoft_s_supplemental_response_to_the_notice_of_possible_remedies.pdf EU regulators push back date of their decision on the Microsoft merger (1:13:25) https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/microsoft-offers-eu-remedies-seeking-ok-activision-deal-2023-03-17/ Microsoft to launch their own mobile app store (1:14:05) https://www.ft.com/content/7707705e-b288-4531-b30d-7fa993325018 Canadian judge says EA loot boxes aren't ‘illegal gambling', lets deceptive practices claim move forward (1:16:51) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/canada-judge-rejects-unlawful-gambling-accusation-in-ea-loot-box-lawsuit Rare's co-founder now has to lick a 25 year-old BAFTA made of chocolate (1:18:15) https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/03/random-tim-stamper-has-to-lick-25-year-old-chocolate-bafta-because-banjo-kazooie-won-a-twitter-tournament --- 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.

Make sure people know what they mean to you before it's too late. Games we played this week include: France Horn (8:50) Bloom (11:20) Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Demo (16:40) Dome Keeper (32:50) Core Fault (37:55) Fatal Frame Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (44:35) Generations (53:20) Down the Oubliette (56:00) BROK the InvestiGator (58:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: Microsoft takes out ads in UK papers to promote Activision-Blizzard merger (56:00) https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/8/23631142/microsoft-really-wants-call-of-duty Microsoft makes more deals promising to keep Call of Duty non-exclusive for ten years (59:20) https://news.microsoft.com/2023/03/14/microsoft-announces-partnership-with-cloud-gaming-provider-boosteroid-to-bring-more-games-to-more-players-around-the-world/ https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/1635989326202011655 Microsoft claims confidence in ability to bring Call of Duty to Switch (1:04:00) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64088cf9d3bf7f25f61ff804/Microsoft.Activision_-_Response_to_Remedies_Notice_-_NCV__2_.pdf Sony suggests Microsoft might use dirty tactics to make Call of Duty less desirable on PlayStation (1:03:25) https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-says-microsoft-may-release-a-playstation-version-of-call-of-duty-where-bugs-and-errors-emerge-only-on-the-games-final-level-or-after-later-updates Newly discovered cockroach species named after Pokémon (1:05:30) https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/new-species-of-cockroach-discovered-in-singapore-named-after-pokemon --- 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 428: Positive Feedback He's trying. Games we played this week include: b360 (15:50) Ratcheteer (18:35) Dome Keeper (20:55) Final Fantasy IX (27:20) Recommendation Dog (33:50) Reel Steal (35:50) A Joke That's Worth 99 Cents (39:05) Wo Long (41:15) Super Princess Peach (43:20) GameKid (48:05) Super Corporate Tax Evader (50:15) --- News things talked about in this episode: Square Enix reportedly planning to replace CEO Yosuke Matsuda (56:00) https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-square-enix-ceo-nft-crypto-blockchain-1850184312 Yuji Naka admits to insider trading (57:50) https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/03/yuji-naka-admits-guilt-during-insider-trading-case ABK acquisition expected to be cleared by EU regulators (59:20) https://www.polygon.com/23604013/blizzard-entertainment-mike-ybarra-qa-meeting Microsoft releases survey results suggesting few CoD players will jump ship from PlayStation (1:04:00) https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/microsoft-key-call-of-duty-sony-uk-cma FTC judge gives Microsoft access to Sony communications regarding exclusivity agreements (1:03:25) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-granted-access-to-sony-documents-the-ftcs-response-in-detail Activision accused of firing QA employees over protest (1:05:30) https://kotaku.com/activision-accused-of-illegally-fired-qa-testers-over-r-1850171073 Jack Black's huge swinging balls censored on daytime television (1:09:35) https://kotaku.com/jack-black-bowser-super-mario-bros-movie-balls-nbc-1850181162 --- 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.

It's all about those family values. Games we played this week include: Ragnarock (08:25) Octopath Traveller 2 (15:39) Humanity Demo (44:28) Tentacular (49:05) Resident Evil Village VR (49:55) Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe (52:08) Laura's Playdate Corner (1:00:00) Battleship Godies (1:00:48) Forrest Byrnes: Up in Smoke (1:03:35) Fantavision (1:06:08) Sector's Edge Beta (1:20:31) --- News things talked about in this episode: Final Fantasy XVI Producer uses "Gamer Pride" to Justify Accessibility Option Choices (1:09:45) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-xvi-producers-pride-as-a-gamer-influenced-new-take-on-difficulty-settings/1100-6511849/?fbclid=IwAR2eKM3uCCLPgO6_B3nhRAQSN0-Qp3Cfangbkv_yxSD4KCTqduefvLR7KaI Atomic Heart Contains a Racist Cartoon (1:23:33) https://www.eurogamer.net/mundfish-apologises-after-racist-cartoons-were-discovered-in-atomic-heart?fbclid=IwAR2SD5OvQIZT0CVt7VYUz1yDJpA3g0GDfNyE0ARCTspZwzj-WZ4LOFMRqwA Beyond Good & Evil 2 studio reportedly under investigation for "unprecedented" burnout and sick leave (1:25:48) https://www.eurogamer.net/beyond-good-evil-2-studio-reportedly-under-investigation-for-unprecedented-burnout-and-sick-leave?fbclid=IwAR1gV-LDO9JU0K_cUskP1ZlDHRbYI7QG1GKxSzQ27_4D2tO7wS42dnhCIco EA Lays Off 200 Apex Legends QA Workers (1:28:40) https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-reportedly-lays-off-200-apex-legends-qa-testers?fbclid=IwAR3UqMSL0EzK85VSfHGnBJ7mubWlML-MId3yDO_5X869CALiqI2W5oPWX1E Rovio Hides Angry Birds Because It Doesn't Have Enough Microtransactions (1:32:40) https://www.eurogamer.net/angry-birds-will-leave-android-store-developer-says-its-just-too-popular?fbclid=IwAR2aeomYoT3KMo_XpPhAfjn7V4wVjT1rAnMhJBH8eOOSpd45lFWu9ai3PVA

After a while, it all runs together. Games we played this week include: Rez Infinite (08:15) Horizon: Call of the Mountain (10:00) What the Bat? (11:45) Thumper (12:35) Tetris Effect Connected (13:05) Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (13:30) Townsman VR (24:45) Tales From the Galaxy's Edge: Enhanced Edition (25:15) Moss 1 & 2 (26:30) Kayak VR Mirage (27:50) Jurassic World: Aftermath Collection (29:10) Atomic Heart (30:30) Cities VR (40:40) Gran Turisimo 7 (41:15) Atelier Breaker (44:40) Wanted: Dead (47:50) Snak (50:15) Sasquatches (52:40) --- News things talked about in this episode: Microsoft makes deals with Nintendo and Nvidia in attempt to placate antitrust regulators (56:00) https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/21/23608634/microsoft-activision-blizzard-deal-nintendo-nvidia-partners Microsoft says ABK acquisition will not happen without Call of Duty (57:45) https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2023-02-21/microsoft-says-no-to-activision-merger-without-call-of-duty Mike Ybarra responds poorly to employee concerns at Blizzard (1:00:20) https://www.polygon.com/23604013/blizzard-entertainment-mike-ybarra-qa-meeting Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom art book leaks, reveals loads about the unreleased game (1:04:00) https://kotaku.com/legend-zelda-tears-kingdom-spoilers-art-book-leak-1850134905 Monster vaginas are in The Witcher III for a limited time (1:05:25) https://kotaku.com/witcher-3-wild-hunt-mod-hd-monsters-reworked-vaginas-1850114314

A very special friend returns. Games we played this week include: Redtape (15:45) Wanted: Dead (21:00) Spellcorked (35:00) Inventory Hero (40:00) Satisfactory (44:30) Metroid Prime Remastered (49:00) Commodore 64 Games (59:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Saudi Arabia believed to have increased investment stake in Nintendo (1:19:00) https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/saudi-arabia-has-reportedly-increased-its-stake-in-nintendo-again/ Metroid Prime Remaster doesn't credit original Metroid Prime team (1:20:15) https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/02/metroid-prime-engineer-let-down-by-exclusion-of-original-credits-in-remaster Bobby Kotick expected to stay in CEO role at Activision Blizzard if Microsoft merger fails (1:20:15) https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/activision-ceo-kotick-will-stay-in-unlikely-event-microsoft-merger-fails Sony claims Microsoft demands for documents in FTC case are harassment (1:24:55) https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-gaming-5a973220-9675-4245-964a-3476a3e9c4ec.html Square Enix delivers one obvious detail about their first blockchain game and little else (1:26:30) https://www.coindesk.com/web3/2023/02/15/gaming-company-square-enix-partners-with-polygon-for-nft-art-project/ --- 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.

Never trust a banana. Games we played this week include: Hi-Fi Rush (11:55) Final Fantasy XII (29:30) Final Fantasy XV (35.40) Star Sled (42:55) Saturday Edition (45:30) Tomodachi Life (53:40) --- News things talked about in this episode: UK regulators determine Microsoft and ABK merger might be bad for consumers, make demands (1:00:55) https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/02/uk-regulators-come-down-hard-against-microsofts-activision-acquisition/ https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1623320803738517504?s=20&t=XSLimLtI9cihZE4jOiLQfQ Bobby Kotick suggests UK opposition to Microsoft merger could ruin its economy (1:05:50) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMhgIxo1Xi0 Unannounced single-player Titanfall/Apex Legends game gets axed, 50 employees affected (1:10:10) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-01/electronic-arts-cancels-secret-apex-legends-game-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.

Welcome to your home for the hottest reviews of imitation beef. Games we played this week include: Dead Space (2:20) Hi-Fi Rush (27:00) Forspoken (45:00) --- News things talked about in this episode: Ubisoft Paris workers perform strike action, plan more (1:00:55) https://www.axios.com/2023/01/30/ubisoft-workers-strike-paris Xbox exec claims Last of Us TV success means FTC should leave merger alone (1:02:20) https://kotaku.com/last-us-tv-xbox-activision-blizzard-acquisition-sony-1850051036 All three console manufacturers expected to pass on E3 show (1:08:15) https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-nintendo-sony-skipping-e3-2023 Run-up to Sony VR2 launch doesn't seem to be going well (1:14:40) https://kotaku.com/playstation-vr2-price-preorder-sony-ps5-virtual-reality-1850052811 --- 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.

A brand new show comes to the Jimquisition Podcast Outlet! Our lovely Trashgirls Stephanie and Elsa try to stick to the script as they discuss everything around the topic they set out to discuss. Collector's editions, sausage boxing, Dragon Age, and the beloved Stranger of Paradise hat... what more could you want?

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

Thanks for spending some of it with us. --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Oubtound 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.

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.

Just let us photosynthesize a little longer. Games we played this week include: A Plague Tale: Innocence (10:20) Vampire Survivors (19:30) Arcade Paradise (22:20) The Last of Us Remastered (28:00) Immortality (32:10) Red Steel (37:40) --- News things talked about in this episode: Supposed Silent Hill remake screenshots leak (40:00) https://www.vg247.com/silent-hill-2-remake-screenshots-reportedly-leaked Microsoft is *so committed* to keeping Call of Duty multiplatform (43:10) https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/2/23334619/microsoft-sony-call-of-duty-playstation-letter-commitment-activision-blizzard Of course, Call of Duty will be a day one Game Pass release, but it'll be on Playstation same day (45:30) https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/09/01/gaming-everyone-everywhere/ UK regulators will perform an in-depth investigation into Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard (47:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/uks-competition-regulator-to-undertake-in-depth-investigation-of-microsoft-activision-deal --- 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.

Did you feel that? It's the sensation of a rug being pulled out from under. Games we played this week include: Vampire Survivors (12:30) Steel Rising (21:30) Arcade Paradise (30:10) The Last of Us Remastered (41:15) Jetpack Joyride 2 (51:00) Control (56:20) We Are OFK (1:03:10) A Plague Tale: Innocence (1:07:40) Alien Isolation (1:11:15) Opoona (1:15:50) Mad Dog McCree (1:17:30) Wii Sports (1:19:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: Bizarre lawsuit tries to claim all of Sony's profit from PlayStation Store in UK as “overcharging” (1:22:30) https://news.sky.com/story/sony-playstation-being-sued-for-5-billion-amid-claims-it-ripped-off-nine-million-consumers-12678949 Xbox boss Phil Spencer wants to see fewer platform exclusives, honest (1:27:20) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-24/microsoft-xbox-s-chief-see-progress-with-regulators-on-deal-for-activision Denuvo is pitching their anti-piracy software to third-party publishers on Switch (1:29:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/denuvo-may-start-appearing-in-switch-games --- 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.

This has gone on far too long. Games we played this week include: Cult of the Lamb (31:15) Saints Row (34:45) Cursed to Golf (43:30) Vampire Survivors (53:20) Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (1:02:00) House of the Dead Overkill (1:03:40) --- News things talked about in this episode: No news is good news. --- 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.

Jordan's here with the new hot diet. Games we played this week include: Rollerdrome (7:05) The Mortuary Assistant (16:15) Cult of the Lamb (26:45) Kirby's Dream Buffet (53:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: Nintendo brought up on another labor board complaint. (1:01:00) https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-labor-complaint-nlrb-lawsuit-union-1849396722 Picture painted of Nintendo QA shows it to be the same as the rest of the industry (1:02:15) https://kotaku.com/nintendo-of-america-sexual-harassment-sexism-aerotek-1849414921 Microsoft accuses Sony of buying exclusivity from Game Pass (1:05:30) https://kotaku.com/microsoft-sony-xbox-game-pass-playstation-ps-plus-1849400688 Reggie Fils-Aime reveals Nintendo was working on a universal accessibility controller (1:08:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-was-working-on-platform-agnostic-accessibility-controller-reggie-fils-aime-says --- 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.

Feels like home. Games we played this week include: Turbo Golf Racing (18:55) Cult of the Lamb (26:35) Metal Gear Solid V (32:00) Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered (34:50) The Mummy Demastered (38:00) Demon Throttle (43:10) Escape Academy (46:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: Bridget of Guilty Gear now canonically trans (49:20) https://kotaku.com/guilty-gear-strive-evo-2022-bridget-dlc-trans-rights-1849386887 David Cage thinks people are being very mean to him (50:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/david-cage-defends-response-to-allegations-of-unhealthy-studio-culture-at-quantic-dream-in-new-interview Tencent seeking to be largest shareholder in Ubisoft (59:10) https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/exclusive-tencent-plans-raise-stake-assassins-creed-maker-ubisoft-sources-2022-08-04/ GameStop NFT marketplace sells stolen indie games, now there forever (1:01:40) https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/08/indie-devs-outraged-by-unlicensed-game-sales-on-gamestops-nft-market/ Activision Blizzard's revenue last quarter dominated by mobile gaming (1:04:10) https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-blizzard-earned-more-on-mobile-games-last-quarter-than-pc-and-consoles-combined/ Cheat codes for a stage select and two-player mode found in Super Punch-Out (1:05:05) https://twitter.com/new_cheats_news/status/1556727895778856960 --- 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.

It's not enough to just have power over someone's life. Games we played this week include: Stray (15:45) Multiversus (22:35) Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (38:50) Vampire Survivors (46:55) Frogun (51:30) LIVE A LIVE (54:00) --- News things talked about in this episode: First hints of what Disco Elysium devs are doing found in job listings (54:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/disco-elysium-dev-seeks-artists-with-a-love-of-sci-fi-and-video-games Former Xbox exec Peter Moore says Microsoft encouraged console wars (55:50) https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-encouraged-console-wars-peter-moore Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is latest first-party Nintendo release to leak in advance of release (58:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/xenoblade-chronicles-3-leaks-playable-on-steam-deck-before-switch-release Resident Evil Village getting accessibility update, but third-person mode pushed to paid DLC (59:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/resident-evil-village-will-receive-free-accessibility-update-alongside-dlc Ubisoft's failure to address their issues is making them worse (1:01:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/a-year-later-a-better-ubisoft-says-none-of-its-demands-have-been-met Rockstar has finally made some changes to work culture (1:07:45) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-27/gta-6-release-date-rockstar-cleans-up-image-after-employee-backlash Last of Us Part 1 remake includes audio descriptions of cutscenes for visually impaired players (1:06:05) https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-part-1-remake-naughty-dog-sony-playstati-1849320167 Sony expresses concern over Microsoft acquisition of Activision, specifically Call of Duty (1:08:45) https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-doesnt-sound-thrilled-microsoft-is-buying-call-of-duty-maker-activision Diablo Immortal player spends so much the game becomes unplayable for them (1:12:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/diablo-immortal-player-spends-100k-on-game-now-cant-find-anyone-suitable-to-matchmake-with --- 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.

The character of the summer has arrived. Games we played this week include: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (7:30) Stray (17:15) As Dusk Falls (29:50) My Time at Sandrock (34:50) LIVE A LIVE (39:10) Hell Pie (48:00) --- News things talked about in this episode: Blizzard Albany QA make moves to organize another union (51:25) https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxndpx/revealed-documents-show-how-roblox-planned-to-bend-to-chinese-censorship Nintendo didn't ask for Bayonetta 3 ‘Naive Angel' mode, wanted sexier Link costume (56:05) https://nintendoeverything.com/bayonetta-creator-says-nintendo-never-asked-to-make-the-series-less-risque/ Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is latest first-party Nintendo release to leak in advance of release (58:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/xenoblade-chronicles-3-leaks-playable-on-steam-deck-before-switch-release Twitch implements features to address hate raids, needs to do more (1:02:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/twitch-streamers-positive-about-new-raid-feature-in-response-to-harassment VRChat nopes out of moderating user-generated content, shuts down all mods (1:05:00) https://venturebeat.com/2022/07/26/vrchat-is-banning-all-mods-including-one-for-the-hearing-impaired/ Meta Quest 2 headset is getting a $100 price increase in August (1:07:45) https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/26/23279272/meta-quest-2-occulus-100-price-increase --- 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.

We know we said it was hot previously, but we've learned a lot since then. Games we played this week include: PowerWash Simulator (9:20) Metal Gear Solid V (20:05) Jekyll vs. Hyde (33:20) The Quarry (37:40) Monster Boy: The Dragon's Trap (41:50) OVERWHELM (44:10) Billie Bust Up (47:30) Road Redemption (49:15) --- News things talked about in this episode: Blizzard Albany QA make moves to organize another union (52:20) https://www.polygon.com/23270111/blizzard-albany-activision-blizzard-union-vote-nlrb John Riccitiello calls devs who don't heavily monetize, “fucking idiots” (56:40) https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/79190/unity-ironsource-john-riccitiello-marc-whitten-merger/ BioWare drops BioWare Points, makes DLC items purchasable with them free (1:01:30) https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/vy92np/ea_will_be_removing_bioware_points_as_of_october/ Modders have added online multiplayer, graphics to leaked beta of Skate (1:02:45) https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgp89y/play-skate-4-multiplayer-online-leaked-build --- 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.

This podcast is too damned hot. Games we played this week include: Unplugged (11:30) The Thing (15:00) Resident Evil 4 VR (21:00) Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series (24:45) Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak (27:30) Vampire Survivors (31:00) Satisfactory (34:00) Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (34:55) Kill.Switch (37:00) TMNT: Shredder's Revenge (38:40) The Quarry (39:25) Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde (41:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Bayonetta 3 will have nudity options (49:00) https://www.polygon.com/23206846/bayonetta-3-naive-angel-mode-nudity-options Developer blasts NFTs at convention panel on stage paid for by NFT companies (51:40) https://www.pcgamer.com/developer-turns-future-of-gaming-talk-into-a-surprise-attack-on-conventions-nft-and-blockchain-sponsors/ Ubisoft promises it's only taking your DLC away after Ass Creed Liberation debacle on Steam (55:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/assassins-creed-liberation-hd-steam-notice-states-game-will-become-inaccessible-from-september Photo of Hideo Kojima claimed to be of Shinzo Abe assassin finds its way into media (56:45) https://kotaku.com/shinzo-abe-assassin-killer-kojima-greek-news-confusion-1849157839 Convention organizer ReedPop to take over management of E3 in 2023 (59:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/reedpop-is-helping-bring-e3-back-in-2023 Activision-Blizzard employees plan another walkout demanding support for civil liberties (1:03:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blizzard-staff-plan-fresh-walkout-after-recent-attacks-on-the-civil-liberties-of-our-employees Monopoly regulators in Britain now examining Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard (1:07:22) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-07-06-uk-regulator-investigating-microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition Studio Canal films dropped from PlayStation Store in some regions, revoking licenses from purchasers (1:08:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/purchased-studio-canal-films-will-be-removed-from-playstation-store-in-austria-and-germany Electronic Arts alerts people to leaked version of Skate, politely asks people not to download it (1:10:05) https://www.ea.com/games/skate/news/an-update-from-the-team --- 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.

And you thought this show couldn't get filthier Games we played this week include: The Suffering (10:55) The Quarry (22:20) The Simpsons: Hit & Run (29:00) Mighty Goose (35:20) Satisfactory (36:35) Shadow Hearts (40:45) Drakengard (46:05) Darkwatch (48:25) Bujungai (50:50) Pupperazzi (53:50) Disc Room (54:05) Mercenary Kings (55:35) --- News things talked about in this episode: Itch.io launches bundle of nearly 800 games in support of abortion access (1:00:10) https://itch.io/b/1472/indie-bundle-for-abortion-funds Politicians in the Netherlands are eyeing a loot box ban (1:00:45) https://www.eurogamer.net/dutch-political-parties-back-gaming-loot-box-ban Blockchain-based games marketplace swipes name and design from itch.io (1:01:35) https://www.pcgamer.com/owner-of-itchio-accuses-newly-launched-alternative-w3itchio-of-theft/ As Ubisoft turns off online features, players will lose access to paid DLC (1:05:30) https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-to-pull-online-from-older-games-which-also-takes-away-your-dlc/ Sexy nightclub party brands itself with Final Fantasy assets (1:07:15) https://www.pcgamer.com/nobody-thinks-buying-billboards-to-promote-this-nsfw-final-fantasy-14-nightclub-was-a-good-idea/ --- 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.

We're sorry for the first five minutes. Games we played this week include: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (5:00) Dynasty Warriors 3 (12:45) PlayStation Plus (20:25) Satisfactory (25:50) Warhammer 40k: Tau Fire Warrior(29:40) Live A Live (35:00) Vampire Survivors (39:00) Gitaroo Man (40:20) Dead Cells (46:20) Portal 1 + 2 Switch (48:55) --- News things talked about in this episode: MMO Studio behind The Day Before using unpaid labor for development (49:35) https://kotaku.com/the-day-before-fntastic-volunteers-steam-wishlist-1849113533 Yves Guillemot takes a one-third pay cut, still makes half a million annually to ignore misconduct (54:25) https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisofts-chief-exec-takes-sizeable-pay-cut-after-companys-poor-performance --- 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.

For the moment, anyway Games we played this week include: Street Fighter 6 (12:30) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (21:40) Satisfactory (28:40) Terra Nil (32:55) The Last Worker (34:50) Tinykin (36:45) Ynglet (38:30) Nomad Survival (39:55) 20 Minutes Until Dawn (46:15) Overrogue (50:10) Exhausted Man (51:30) Endling: Extinction is Forever (53:30) Ultrakill (56:00) Agent 64: Spies Never Die (57:25) Cult of the Lamb (58:00) Fall Guys (1:01:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: Activision Blizzard has determined Activision Blizzard did nothing wrong (1:04:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-investigation-claims-no-widespread-harassment-at-activision Activision Blizzard shareholder vote for transparency seemingly brushed aside (1:07:00) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/21/activision-blizzard-shareholder-meeting-vote/ Shareholders also vote to keep Bobby Kotick on the board (1:08:45) https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/activision-blizzard-ceo-bobby-kotick-is-re-elected-to-the-board-for-another-year EA's Andrew Wilson gets 50% pay cut… to 20 million dollars (1:10:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-boss-andrew-wilson-sees-20m-annual-pay-cut# SEGA denies future woman and hedgehog romance (1:12:00) https://www.vg247.com/sonic-human-kiss --- 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.

A big fish come back to the pond Games we played this week include: Agent 64: Spies Never Die (13:25) Gloomwood (15:20) Anger Foot (20:40) Binary Domain (23:25) Melatonin (29:20) Spirit Swap (31:50) Typing of the Dead Overkill (33:05) The Textorcist (35:50) Lost in Play (39:45) Elden Ring demake (43:30) Getsugumaden (44:50) Satisfactory (47:45) Turbo Golf Racing (51:45) --- News things talked about in this episode: Fake E3 week sure was a week. --- 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.

A dream realized. Games we played this week include: MIYOO-Mini (14:20) Warped Kart Racers (18:30) Satisfactory (23:20) Hardspace Shipbreaker (26:15) Binary Domain (30:25) --- News things talked about in this episode: ESA is saying E3 will return to an in-person event in 2023 (40:30) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/07/esa-e3-2023-summer-game-fest-nintendo-direct/ Nintendo pirate given 40 month prison term (46:25) https://kotaku.com/nintendo-piracy-case-bowser-xecuter-team-prison-pirate-1849026479 Classified military information is being leaked to settle disputes over a video game (50:15) https://www.pcgamer.com/more-classified-military-intel-gets-posted-to-war-thunder-forums-because-thats-just-what-happens-now/ Dragon Age QA contractors vote in favor of forming a union (53:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/dragon-age-contractors-vote-to-form-union --- 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.

We're waiting with baited breath. Games we played this week include: Core Keeper (7:10) Satisfactory (11:00) Card Sharks (17:10) Pac-Man Museum+ (24:20) Hardspace Shipbreaker (30:30) Pocket Crystal League (33:45) Days Gone (37:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: Sony planning to ramp up number of PC releases in coming years (45:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/playstation-expects-nearly-50-of-game-launches-to-be-pc-and-mobile-by-2025 EA won't make a statement on abortion or trans rights, but isn't stopping individuals (47:20) https://kotaku.com/ea-roe-v-wade-abortion-trans-rights-fifa-apex-legends-1848977494 https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-execs-individually-speak-out-on-womens-and-trans-rights Microsoft's corporate culture maybe hasn't undergone the dramatic improvements they claim (55:10) https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-toxic-culture-ceo-satya-nadella-sexual-harassment-pay-disparity-2022-5 Phil Spector says Microsoft will recognize Raven QA union following acquisition of ABK (1:00:20) https://www.vg247.com/xboxs-phil-spencer-reiterates-company-will-recognize-ravens-union-once-activision-blizzard-deal-is-complete Shareholder group publishes open letter asking for Activision-Blizzard board to be voted out (1:01:35) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-05-27-soc-urges-shareholders-to-vote-against-reelection-of-activision-blizzard-directors --- 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.

You can get in, but can you get out? Games we played this week include: Pokémon Go (7:45) Vampire Survivors (8:40) Riddled Corpses (14:45) Trek to Yomi (21:45) Steam Deck (24:40) Days Gone (25:45) Jurassic World Evolution 2 (31:50) Roller Champions (34:45) Lost Epic (40:00) --- News things talked about in this episode: Raven QA workers successfully vote in favor of unionization (45:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/qa-testers-at-activision-blizzard-studio-raven-software-successfully-vote-to-unionise Activision-Blizzard worker committee forms, sends list of demands to management (50:50) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/24/activision-blizzard-breastmilk-harassment/ Sony sexual discrimination case lives on in new suit filed following dismissal (55:30) https://www.axios.com/2022/05/20/playstation-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-returns Sony restricting subsidiary companies from making statements supporting reproductive rights (57:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-reportedly-will-not-approve-any-statements-from-playstation-studios-on-reproductive-rights Bungie claims they won't be “muzzled” in midst of acquisition by Sony (1:06:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/bungie-says-there-will-never-be-a-muzzle-big-enough-to-stop-us-from-standing-up-for-whats-right Electronic Arts seems thirsty to get acquired, but wants Android Wilson at the helm (1:09:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-is-reportedly-pursuing-acquisition-and-merger-options-with-a-number-of-potential-suitors The Sims 4 now allows players to customize pronouns for their Sims (1:11:45) https://www.polygon.com/23140040/the-sims-4-custom-pronouns-create-a-sim --- 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: diamond geezer / Milton Keynes Central station / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Don't rain on our brown parade. Games we played this week include: Steel Assault (14:25) Ravenous Devils (24:00) Evil Dead: The Game (25:10) Pokémon Go (34:55) Steam Deck (36:15) Fight Knight (42:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: Organizing QA contractors for BioWare will not be forced to return to offices (45:10) https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/9/23063933/bioware-keywords-studios-contractors-unionize-return-office Nintendo of America's Doug Bowser is “troubled” his contractors aren't happy (46:35) https://www.axios.com/2022/05/12/nintendo-contractors-investigation PlayStation boss Jim Ryan wrote a weird and bad email to staff about abortion rights (48:20) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-12/sony-playstation-staff-fume-over-ceo-s-abortion-comments Images claimed to be from new Silent Hill project leak (59:55) https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-silent-hill-concept-art-has-leaked Fall Guys going free-to-play, coming to PS5, Switch and Xbox (1:04:35) https://www.eurogamer.net/fall-guys-goes-free-to-play-in-june-arrives-on-switch-and-xbox-at-the-same-time --- 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.

Take the good, take the bad, roll it up and there you have the rail system. Games we played this week include: Steam Deck (9:50) Vampire Survivors (14:45) Revita (26:22) Nightmare Reaper (31:30) Evil Dead: Regeneration (40:40) Sonic Lost World (49:10) Death Trash (56:50) --- News things talked about in this episode: Reggie Fils-Aimé distancing himself from contractor claims against Nintendo of America (59:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/reggie-fils-aime-distances-himself-from-nintendo-contract-worker-reports Activision-Blizzard's continued anti-union messages just keep getting sadder (1:03:00) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/09/activision-union-vote-begins/ Blizzard names a new VP in attempt to quell discrimination claims (1:04:35) https://www.eurogamer.net/blizzard-hires-new-vice-president-of-culture-amid-ongoing-company-controversies VR technology must be stopped (1:07:25) https://www.pcgamer.com/scientists-add-mouth-haptics-to-vr-complete-with-spiders/ --- 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: Brian Robert Marshall / Commuter train towards Reading, Kintbury / CC BY-SA 2.0

Just being honest. Games we played this week include: The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (7:55) Vampire Survivors (13:45) Peglin (26:25) Nintendo Switch Sports (29:40) Revita (36:45) --- News things talked about in this episode: Dragon Age QA team seeking to form a union (43:30) https://kotaku.com/bioware-keywords-studios-qa-union-mass-effect-dragon-ag-1848847955 Square Enix selling off studios and IP to fund its crypto future (47:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-sells-off-western-studios-and-ip-including-tomb-raider-and-deus-ex Reggie Fils-Aimé calls himself a “big believer” in blockchain (54:55) https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/reggie-fils-aime-is-a-big-believer-in-blockchain-and-play-to-own The global chip shortage is expected to continue on (56:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-hit-by-worker-complaint-over-right-to-unionise https://twitter.com/katiecasper/status/1518763066661425152 Yuji Naka claims Square Enix knowingly released Balan Wonderland in unfinished state (1:00:50) https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-creator-yuji-naka-was-removed-as-director-of-balan-wonderworld-before-disastrous-launch --- 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.

No more slouching for us! Games we played this week include: Elden Ring (6:10) The Force Unleashed (13:20) Nobody Saves the World (18:40) Lost in Random (25:40) Chernobylite (28:00) Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (32:30) The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (40:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg alleged to have helped bury story about Bobby Kotick restraining order (45:20) https://www.wsj.com/articles/sandberg-facebook-kotick-activision-blizzard-daily-mail-11650549074 Activision names two women to board despite their best effort not to (50:50) https://www.axios.com/activision-blizzard-board-women-lulu-cheng-meservey-bc7824aa-cfa8-4ab9-ab9b-392e8af8a543.html Raven QA testers gear up for vote to formalize union (53:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/call-of-duty-qa-testers-getting-closer-to-unionisation-regardless-of-activision-blizzard-wishes Nintendo responds to claim of union busting (56:40) https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-hit-by-worker-complaint-over-right-to-unionise https://twitter.com/katiecasper/status/1518763066661425152 Thousands of Joy-Cons a week were being sent to Nintendo for repair weekly at height (1:00:50) https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-joy-con-drift-fix-repair-center-replace-1848828886 SEGA delisting original Sonic trilogy ahead of re-release in Sonic Origins (1:03:20) https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-delisting-standalone-versions-of-sonic-1-2-3-and-cd-ahead-of-sonic-origins-arrival Gender discrimination lawsuit against Sony to proceed after some counts dismissed (1:06:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/playstation-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-falters PlayStation hiring someone to get more games on PC (1:08:10) https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/sony-is-hiring-a-senior-director-for-pc-planning-and-strategy/ Elden Ring demake in development (1:08:55) https://www.eurogamer.net/playable-elden-ring-game-boy-demake-on-the-way --- 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.

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) --- 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.

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) --- 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.