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This week-ahead reading for Oct 13-19, 2025 is an excerpt from this week's Somatic Space class with Renee Sills. For the full-length forecast and embodied practice for this week, purchase the recording here. Over the course of Libra Season's sessions we are working the energetics of balance, polarity, opposition, and duality, exploring love, equanimity, and justice as somatic states and embodied ideals.
This week on the show, after the news - We're going to talk about the recent EA buyout and what that move could mean for the rest of the games industry.
What is the future of the EA profession? In short: Strategic executive operations supercharged by AI. Melissa Peoples breaks it down. Recorded at EA Ignite Spring 2025 and produced by the American Society of Administrative Professionals - ASAP. Learn more and submit a listener question at asaporg.com/podcast.
Roger and Annie sit down with Blake Oliver, founder of Earmark, to cut through the AI confusion. Blake explains why AI is more like a brilliant Harvard-trained intern with amnesia than a tax professional replacement, sharing practical applications from document organization to quality control that can work in firms today. The conversation explores which AI tools are worth trying, why voice mode changes everything, and why tax professionals who start experimenting now are still early adopters, not late to the party.SponsorsPadgett - Contact Padgett or Email Jeff PhillipsGet NASBA Approved CPE or IRS Approved CELaunch the course on EarmarkCPE to get free CPE/CE for listening to this episode.Chapters(00:00) - Welcome to Federal Tax Updates (01:19) - Guest Introduction: Blake Oliver (03:27) - Diving into AI: Initial Thoughts and Comparisons (07:58) - Understanding AI and Its Limitations (15:47) - Effective Use of AI in Accounting (21:41) - Choosing the Right AI Tools (24:49) - Security and Cost Considerations (30:46) - Best Practices and Pitfalls in AI Usage (33:17) - AI Struggles with Tax Complexity (34:34) - Human Verification in Tax Analysis (35:01) - AI's Limitations and Cost (36:29) - Misconceptions About AI in Tax (40:25) - AI's Role in Administrative Tasks (41:47) - AI in Quality Control and Research (43:26) - AI in Radiology and Tax (50:10) - Future of AI in Transportation (53:05) - AI in Manufacturing and Economy (56:17) - Adapting to AI in the Accounting Industry (57:21) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow the Federal Tax Updates Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/FedTaxPodfacebook.com/FedTaxPodlinkedin.com/showcase/fedtaxpodConnect with Blake Oliver https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliverConnect with the Hosts on LinkedInRoger HarrisAnnie SchwabReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Federal Tax Updates podcast in your favorite podcast app!This podcast is a production of Earmark MediaThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this pageAll content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.
The gang talks about selling out and hiring fuckable personal chefs after a Saudi Arabian company buys EA. We also chat about Doug Bowser stepping down at Nintendo and being replaced by DEH-VAWN, our top 5 metroidvanias, HADES MOTHERFUCKING TWO, and Silent Hill F. We also hear Greg's final thoughts on Hollow Knight and Aaron's final thoughts on Shinobi.
Bu bölümde Xbox Game Pass zammı, OpenAI'ın Sora uygulaması, Mert'in Krakow gezisi ve One Battle After Another filmi üzerine sohbet ettik.Bizi dinlemekten keyif alıyorsanız, kahve ısmarlayarak bizi destekleyebilir ve Telegram grubumuza katılabilirsiniz. :)Yorumlarınızı, sorularınızı ya da sponsorluk tekliflerinizi info@farklidusun.net e-posta adresine iletebilirsiniz.Zaman damgaları:00:00 - Kıbrıs02:26 - Krakow22:50 - Sora 21:10:40 - Tim Cook'un emekliliği1:24:08 - iOS Bootcamp1:32:42 - Okuduklarımız1:49:26 - İzlediklerimiz, One Battle After Another2:08:18 - Xbox Game Pass Zammı2:41:08 - EA satıldı2:51:08 - Haftanın albüm tavsiyeleriBölüm linkleri:MonoforPierogiKvassKrakow SimitiWawel DragonSora 2 is heresomeone should go to jail for thisAI Slop Is Destroying The InternetSora 2 clones start flooding the App Store worldwideSora, AI Bicycles, and Meta DisruptionOpenAI's computing deals top $1tnAI startup Anthropic agrees to pay $1.5bn to settle book piracy lawsuitConnectionsHow people are using ChatGPTMeta will soon use your AI chats to personalize your feedsThe head of ChatGPT won't rule out adding adsParazit: Böcekleştiren Kapitalizm / Emrah Safa Gürkan - Opus Magnum 52Apple's Next CEO IdentifiedApple sidelines lighter Vision Pro to prioritize smart glassesBenjamin Button Reviews macOSStatus and CultureMaterial WorldThe Lost BusOne Battle After AnotherSlow HorsesList of highest-paid film actorsThere Will Be BloodDisney Plus is getting another price hikeMicrosoft revamps Xbox Game Pass plans and hikes Ultimate to $29.99 a monthCDKeys$55 billion EA buyout hands Madden over to investors including Saudi Arabia and Jared KushnerMammal Hands
We have an update about the game preservation story from last episode with some more context on why this might not be as big of a disaster as we first claimed. EA was rumored to be going private by being purchased by several investors representing Saudi Arabia. (This was confirmed the day after we recorded this episode.) Doug Bowser announced his retirement as the President of Nintendo of America. Microsoft has announced that there is yet another price increase on Xbox consoles thanks to "macroeconomic conditions." Then we talk to Rob about the music festival I went to last week and how I'm too out of shape to attend music festivals.
sci-fi, podcast, gaming, Lego, Comic-Con, Duffer Brothers, EA, Hogwarts Legacy, Marvel Zombies, nostalgia Summary In this episode of the Sci-Fi Podcast, the hosts discuss a variety of topics including gaming nostalgia with Lego sets, the impact of Comic-Con announcements, the Duffer Brothers' approach to show releases, EA's significant sale, and the immersive experience of Hogwarts […] The post Episode 492 – Marvel Zombies, Duffer Bros, EA Sports, LOTR appeared first on Podcast4Scifi.
Pinball: We discuss Planetary Pinball's new collectable figurines and discuss a listener email about the viability of sending a message to pinball manufacturers when individuals do not buy a particular game. Video Games: We talk about Zaccaria Pinball, a new table announcement from Zen, EA being purchased by a new investment group, Vantage Studios handling Ubisoft's big properties, Microsoft making the best deal in gaming one of the worst, Fallout 76 getting a big update, Funcom doing lay-offs, Mindseye doing lay-offs, Battlefield 6's launch, Nintendo suing some Reddit moderator, and the next Minecraft movie. Episode Links: Knapp Arcade article about the Pinball Legends collectable figurines: https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/planetary-pinball-launches-new-pinball-legends-line-of-collectable-figurines Show Links: EGP Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eclectic_gamers Website: http://eclecticgamers.com EGP T-shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/eclectic-gamers-podcast iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/eclectic-gamers-podcast/id1088802706?mt=2 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-465086826 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eclecticgamerspodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC40Frd1Fep4u5bjrw3cvwoQ Discord: https://discord.gg/sgnrsBT Email: eclecticgamerspodcast@gmail.com
Embodied Astrology's Renee Sills and Aziz Bisanz sit down with Palestinian artist and dancer, Saed Mansour, to reflect on his offering, Dancing The Political. In this joyful, thoughtful and thought-provoking conversation, the three consider the intersections of their work in healing and embodiment as that which tends our aliveness; the possibilities that await when we are willing to inhabit more of ourselves; and the deep relevance of this work at this time.❤️
En este episodio comentamos la sorprendente compra de EA por parte de Arabia Saudí, repasamos todas las novedades del 40 aniversario de Mario con nuevos títulos y hardware especial de Nintendo, y celebramos las últimas locuras creativas de LEGO. También hablamos de los nuevos periféricos de Logitech diseñados para la nueva generación, analizamos la subida de precios de GamePass por parte de Microsoft, y terminamos con nuestras primeras impresiones del esperadísimo Marvel's Wolverine de Insomniac. Un programa cargado de giros, anuncios y emociones fuertes, porque aquí las fieras no descansan ni cuando el mercado se vuelve salvaje. #ea #arabiasaudí #nintendo40añosmario #lego #logitech #gamepass #wolverine #insomniacgames #ps5 #xboxseriesx #pcgaming #fierasenjuego #videojuegos Únete a nuestro chat de telegram en el que miles de personas hablamos cada día de series: - Telegram – Grupo de debate: https://telegram.me/fueradeseries - Telegram – Canal de noticias: https://t.me/noticiasfds Síguenos en nuestras plataformas y podcast sobre series: - Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/fuera-de-series/id288039262 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3RTDss6AAGjSNozVOhDNzX?si=700febbf305144b7&nd=1 - iVoox - https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-fuera-series_sq_f12063_1.html Redes Sociales - Twitter: https://twitter.com/fueradeseries - Facebook: https://facebook.com/fueradeseries - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fueradeseries/ - Youtube: https://youtube.com/fueradeseries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liebe Freunde, heute feiert Sebastians Magazin seine 200ste Sendung. Und für`s Jubiläum hat er sich für seine kleine News-Sendung gleich zwei Änderungen am üblichen Konzept überlegt. Zum einen hat er mit JR und André Gäste in das Format eingeladen, das sonst eine Solo-Veranstaltung ist. Und zum anderen ist diese Folge direkt frei für alle. Und seien wir ehrlich: Es ist eine „Auf ein Bier“-Folge im Kostüm des Magazins. Aber vielleicht ist das ja ein schöner Vorgeschmack für alle, die dieses Backer-Format noch nicht kennen. Außerdem diskutieren wir ausgerechnet zum Magazin #200 so erklecklich krasse Schlagzeilen wie „EA geht für 55 Milliarden Dollar an die Saudis“ oder „Game Pass Abos werden krass teurer!“ Der Nachrichten-Gott meinte es gut mit uns! Viel Spaß bei dieser Sendung! André, Sebastian und Jochen Jetzt Abonnent werden: https://www.gamespodcast.de Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Einleitung 00:04:30 - Ein geplantes Assassin's Creed wird eingestellt 00:15:28 - Ein Abo für Payday 2 00:24:52 - Keine Updates mehr für Windows 10 00:31:04 - Brasilien verbietet Lootboxen 00:42:02 - EA wurde verkauft 01:21:50 - Microsoft erhöht Kosten für den GamePass 01:51:18 - Release- Ausblick In dieser Folge zu hören: Andre Peschke, Sebastian Stange & Jochen Redinger
China is stirring the pot on the tech trade wars once again. Sora has grown faster than even ChatGPT did. Is OpenAI now better at vibe coding than Anthropic is? How just a handful of malicious documents and poison an LLM. And in the longreads, the one game that has the fate of EA on its shoulders. China blacklists major chip research firm TechInsights following report on Huawei (CNBC) OpenAI's Sora hit 1 million downloads in less than five days (CNBC) OpenAI Is Catching Up To Anthropic in AI Coding (The Information) Meta Tells Its Metaverse Workers to Use AI to ‘Go 5X Faster' (Wired) It's trivially easy to poison LLMs into spitting out gibberish, says Anthropic (The Register) Kalshi, a Prediction Market, Raises Funds and Expands Overseas (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Battlefield 6 is a pivotal moment for the series — and EA (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is the famous “Tic Tac” a home-grown technology? In this deep-dive, Martin Willis sits down with mathematician and technologist Joshua Bertrand to explore the cutting edge—and century-long history—of America's lighter-than-air programs, vacuum-based aerogels, and the black-budget pathways that may intersect with the Nimitz Incident. Bertrand (B.Math, University of Waterloo; Computer Science honors; former EA/industry engineer) has spent nearly a decade cross-referencing open sources, defense programs, and material-science breakthroughs.SHOW NOTES Support the Show & Stay Connected!
WBS: This is Halloween Halloween Halloween #330 -- The gang is at it again. Brimstone is joined by his wing-man Alex DaPonte and Brim's wife Danielle as they chat about misfortunate cat adventures, EA in process of being bough and brought private, and is Garth Brooks a serial killer. They discuss pregnancy robots, suddenly Sidney, and Stan Lee Holograms at LA Comic Con. Brim explains what gets Within Brim's Skin.
Watch the full podcast: https://youtu.be/t1gtUpXSqW8 Nintendo tries to ruin everything for the rest of us and EA...well EA is just ruining things.
COMPLETAS VIERNES - TIEMPO ORDINARIO(Oración antes del descanso nocturno)*Link de apoyo al canal al final del escrito*INVOCACIÓN INICIALV. Dios mío, ven en mi auxilioR. Señor, date prisa en socorrerme. Gloria al Padre, y al Hijo, y al Espíritu Santo.Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.Salmo 87 - Ant. Señor, Dios mío, de día te pido auxilio, de noche grito en tu presencia.Señor, Dios mío, de día te pido auxilio,de noche grito en tu presencia;+ llegue hasta ti mi súplica,inclina tu oído a mi clamor.Porque mi alma está colmada de desdichas,y mi vida está al borde del abismo;ya me cuentan con los que bajan a la fosa,soy como un inválido.Tengo mi cama entre los muertos,como los caídos que yacen en el sepulcro,de los cuales ya no guardas memoria,porque fueron arrancados de tu mano.Me has colocado en lo hondo de la fosa,en las tinieblas del fondo;tu cólera pesa sobre mí,me echas encima todas tus olas.Has alejado de mí a mis conocidos,me has hecho repugnante para ellos:encerrado, no puedo salir,y los ojos se me nublan de pesar.Todo el día te estoy invocando,tendiendo las manos hacia ti.¿Harás tú maravillas por los muertos?¿Se alzarán las sombras para darte gracias?¿Se anuncia en el sepulcro tu misericordia,o tu fidelidad en el reino de la muerte?¿Se conocen tus maravillas en la tiniebla,o tu justicia en el país del olvido?Pero yo te pido auxilio,por la mañana irá a tu encuentro mi súplica.¿Por qué, Señor, me rechazasy me escondes tu rostro?Desde niño fui desgraciado y enfermo,me doblo bajo el peso de tus terrores,pasó sobre mí tu incendio,tus espantos me han consumido:me rodean como las aguas todo el día,me envuelven todos a una;alejaste de mí amigos y compañeros:mi compañía son las tinieblas.LECTURA BREVETú estás en medio de nosotros, Señor, tu nombre ha sido invocado sobre nosotros: no nos abandones, Señor Dios nuestro.RESPONSORIO BREVEV. En tus manos, Señor, encomiendo mi espíritu.R. En tus manos, Señor, encomiendo mi espíritu.V. Tú, el Dios leal, nos librarás.R. Te encomiendo mi espíritu.V. Gloria al Padre, y al Hijo, y al Espíritu Santo.R. En tus manos, Señor, encomiendo mi espíritu.CÁNTICO EVANGÉLICOAnt. Sálvanos, Señor, despiertos, protégenos mientras dormimos, para que velemos con Cristo y descansemos en paz.CÁNTICO DE SIMEÓN Lc 2, 29-32Ahora, Señor, según tu promesa,puedes dejar a tu siervo irse en paz,porque mis ojos han visto a tu Salvador,a quien has presentado ante todos los pueblosluz para alumbrar a las nacionesy gloria de tu pueblo Israel.Gloria al Padre, y al Hijo, y al Espíritu Santo.Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.Ant. Sálvanos, Señor, despiertos, protégenos mientras dormimos, para que velemos con Cristo y descansemos en paz.OREMOSSeñor, Dios todopoderoso: ya que con nuestro descanso vamos a imitar a tu Hijo que reposó en el sepulcro, te pedimos que, al levantarnos mañana, lo imitemos también resucitando a una vida nueva. Por Cristo nuestro Señor.CONCLUSIÓNV. El Señor todopoderoso nos conceda una noche tranquila y una santa muerte.R. Amén.ANTÍFONA FINAL DE LA SANTISIMA VIRGENDios te salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia, vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve. A ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva, a ti suspiramos, gimiendo y llorando, en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra, vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos, y después de este destierro muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre. Oh clemente, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María! (587)
Live From Top Golf with JT's Interview with Coach Carroll and Roundtable with EA and Q
We start off with an update on the 3I/Atlas object in space as it just made its way past Mars, as well as discuss a potentially new object that may hit Earth in the year 2032! We then take a few minutes to talk about Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau publicly dating. Speaking of celebs, the new AI actor Tilly Norwood has Hollywood enraged as the AI intity is being sought after by talent agencies. Sticking on the topic of technology, Elon's new kung fu robot that he brought to the premier of the new Tron movie might have a few more applications than he has been alluding to. Denmark grounds ALL drones, both military and civilian, as it preps for an EU summit in Copenhagen to discuss Russian air space breaches. Speaking of adversarial air movements, China sent fighter jets to run "constructive kills" on British Royal ships near Taiwan, as a way to train for what many belive will be an attack coming soon. The Saudi royal family just purchased EA gaming company, which may lead to a whole new wave of games to come from the company very soon! We just recieved word that there MAY finally be a ceasefire agreement in Isreal, which then leads us into a history debate about this region and the tactics of the past. Speaking of weapons and tactics, Lockheed Martin just secured new contracts for 296 more F35s to be built. There seems to be some contraversy in the WNBA about the pay the atheletes are recieving, and the cheif of the organization's comments are not pretty. Comey plead not guilty to the purgery charges, while 9 Republicans names are being brought up because their phone records were subpoenaed in relation to Jan 6! We then shift over to the government shut down conversation, and why Trump says he doesn't want to back pay federal employees. Florida man was responsible for the Palisade fires... I honestly didn't see that coming. We finish by discussing the possibilities of Trump invoking the insurection act, and what is really going on within the big cities of America. To join in on the conversation next Wednesday ight at 9 pm cst, come to patreon.com/CajunKnightBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cult-of-conspiracy--5700337/support.
Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Jacob's new book Gilded Rage, which explores the radicalization of Silicon Valley leaders, who are exerting their growing influence to shape our society for the worse. Jacob Silverman is an independent journalist and the author of Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley. Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Jacob recently wrote about Musk's latest dodgy business dealings. The world continues to wonder at Trump's ability to get away with corruption and scandal. Saudi Arabia has been involved in Silicon Valley more than folks may have realized (prior to the EA buyout, anyway).
Feynriel returns with a new magical problem. This time, he is stuck in a dream and can't get out. The danger is intense–his power is catnip to demons and he would be unstoppable if turned into an abomination. Thanks to some ancient dalish magics, we can step into the fade despite not being mages and confront Feynriel's demons–literally. But, will our companions be able to resist temptation? Will Feynriel succumb to a demon's bargain? How will Varric tell this story if he refuses to enter the fade? Special thanks to Redd Spinks for our amazing logo as well as to Miracle of Sound for the song Age Of The Dragon, which we use as our theme music. You can find the show on Instagram and Bluesky!! You can find Matt's other work here! You can find Frankie's other work here! Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts! Rate us on Spotify! Wanna join the Certain POV Discord? Click here!
We're thrilled to speak with Trip Hawkins, founder and CEO EA, 3DO, Digital Chocolate and more. From childhood football strategy, to WWIII Sims, he grew to make a company of electronic artists who made legendary games. Calming Steve Jobs, hacking consoles and many firsts - this week!Episode Highlights[00:01:20] Celebrating 100 Episodes and a Wild Week for EA Alex and Aaron mark The Fourth Curtain's 100th episode and react to the breaking news that Electronic Arts is being taken private.[00:02:31] What Happens When a Giant Like EA Gets Bought? The hosts break down what a private-equity acquisition really means for EA, from stock prices to internal culture shifts.[00:05:10] Founding Electronic Arts: Trip's Vision for Creative Freedom Trip shares how he built EA around empowering developers and treating them like rock stars — a radical idea in the early '80s.[00:17:44] The Apple Years: Working Under Steve Jobs Trip reflects on his early days at Apple, what he learned from Steve Jobs, and how that experience shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.[00:33:28] Madden, Licensing, and Building a Sports Empire Trip talks about the birth of Madden NFL, navigating licensing deals, and why the franchise became a cornerstone of EA's success.[00:48:56] The 3DO Era: Ambition, Innovation, and Hard Lessons He opens up about the 3DO console — what went wrong, what it taught him, and how to recover when innovation gets ahead of its time.[01:04:37] The Future of Games and Trip's Next Chapter Trip closes by sharing his outlook on AI, creativity, and what he's building next after a lifetime of shaping the games industry.[01:20:14] Trip Hawkins on Failure, Resilience, and ReinventionTrip opens up about the three “acts” of his life — the rise, the fall, and learning to rebuild after hitting rock bottom.Support the showThank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron MarroquinFind us at www.thefourthcurtain.com Join our Patreon for early, ad-free episodes plus bonus content at https://patreon.com/FourthCurtain Come join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfeVideos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtainFollow us on Twitter: @fourthcurtainEdited and mastered at https://noise-floor.com Audio Editor: Bryen HensleyVideo Editor: Sarkis GrigorianProducer: Kimya TaheriArt: Paul RusselCommunity Manager: Doug ZartmanFeaturing Liberation by 505
SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!! on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher & Audible. This week on the Press X to Start Gamer's Digest: DJ & Sean talk about Xbox's tone deaf Game Pass decision; EA planning to cut costs with AI; Amazon's revamped Luna; Ghost of Yotei and much more! Gaming News - Time code: 1:41 Xbox makes the universally panned decision of raising the price of Game Pass Ultimate by 50%; Ghost Of Yotei clears a big financial milestone upon release; Arc Raiders delayed for 3 years after devs realized that wasn't a good time; The new overlord of EA plans to use AI to "cut operating costs"; FFVII Remake pt 3 won't be impacted by the new multiplatform approach; Amazon's revamped cloud-gaming service features party games and...Snoop Dogg for some reason; Capcom leaves fans baffled as it locks the SF6 Finales behind a paywall; The Black Ops 7 beta just dropped and people are already cheating; Applications for Marathon's closed tech test are now open. What Have We Been Playing - Time code: 53:11 Sean finally beats Donkey Kong Bananza and then joins DJ in Japan for some samurai shenanigans with Ghost Of Yotei. If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you're using. Every little bit helps! Want to ask a question, ask us at PressX2start.com/Questions Join/Follow Us: Youtube: Press X To Start TV Twitch: pressxtostarttv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pressx2start Twitter: @PressX2S Instagram: @PressX2Start TikTok: @pressx2start You can find more info about the Press X and who we are at www.PressX2start.com. If you have any questions or just want to tell us how great (or just slightly okay) we're doing or how we can be better, be a friend and reach out and email us at pressxtostartpodcast@gmail.com End music by @MarcoMavy on IG & Twitter Be good to each other, Peace!
Off the Deep End is on the pulse of hot and relevant video games this week with a look at a video game from last year that you likely forgot came out, Dragon Age The Veilguard. Can moxie and half-decent combat overcome a deeply troubled development? Did Braden really say he wants this game to be *more* like Destiny? Is Dragon Age even a coherent series? Are their jokes about this being The Last Bioware game more or less funny in light of the EA buyout news? All this and more talking in this week's thrilling episode! Please consider donating to the National Network of Abortion Funds: abortionfunds.org/donate If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens If you like our new art and want to commission some of your own, reach out to Tyler at tylerorbin.net
Electronic Arts' $55 billion privatization sparks debate over the state of gaming. The panel examines EA's financial struggles, originality fatigue, and cinematic excess in modern titles. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Guy Serle, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, Jim Rea and Mark Fuccio explore Saudi investment motives, shareholder pressures, and what defines real playability—fun, challenge, and creativity over graphics and spectacle. This edition of MacVoices is supported by MacVoices Magazine, our free magazine on Flipboard. Updated daily with the best articles on the web to help you do more with your Apple gear and adjacent tech, access MacVoices Magazine content on Flipboard, on the web, or in your favorite RSS reader. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:09] Electronic Arts Goes Private[0:35] EA's Financial Struggles and Industry Concerns[2:27] The Problem of Unoriginal Games and Sequels[3:38] Franchise Fatigue and AI's Potential Role[5:10] Costs, Live Games, and Slower Development Cycles[7:21] Nintendo and the Power of Fun Gameplay[8:59] Shareholder Motives and Buyout Dynamics[13:34] Saudi Influence and Alternate Agendas[15:34] Defining Playability and Game Design Essentials[19:54] AI Engines and Future Storytelling in GamingLinks Links: EA confirms it will go private in $55 billion acquisitionhttps://www.engadget.com/ea-confirms-it-will-go-private-in-55-billion-acquisition-133841614.html Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky. Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast. Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud. Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon. Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud. Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC). Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon. Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @Macparrot@mastodon.social, and find everything at VertShark.com. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
Electronic Arts' $55 billion privatization sparks debate over the state of gaming. The panel examines EA's financial struggles, originality fatigue, and cinematic excess in modern titles. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Guy Serle, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, Jim Rea and Mark Fuccio explore Saudi investment motives, shareholder pressures, and what defines real playability—fun, challenge, and creativity over graphics and spectacle. This edition of MacVoices is supported by MacVoices Magazine, our free magazine on Flipboard. Updated daily with the best articles on the web to help you do more with your Apple gear and adjacent tech, access MacVoices Magazine content on Flipboard, on the web, or in your favorite RSS reader. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:09] Electronic Arts Goes Private [0:35] EA's Financial Struggles and Industry Concerns [2:27] The Problem of Unoriginal Games and Sequels [3:38] Franchise Fatigue and AI's Potential Role [5:10] Costs, Live Games, and Slower Development Cycles [7:21] Nintendo and the Power of Fun Gameplay [8:59] Shareholder Motives and Buyout Dynamics [13:34] Saudi Influence and Alternate Agendas [15:34] Defining Playability and Game Design Essentials [19:54] AI Engines and Future Storytelling in GamingLinks Links: EA confirms it will go private in $55 billion acquisition https://www.engadget.com/ea-confirms-it-will-go-private-in-55-billion-acquisition-133841614.html Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky. Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast. Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud. Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon. Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud. Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC). Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon. Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @Macparrot@mastodon.social, and find everything at VertShark.com. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
Mike and Spencer discuss the buyout of EA by private investors and the decision by Xbox to increase the cost of Gamepass to $30 a month.
In this inspiring episode of The EA Campus Podcast, Nicky Christmas sits down with the brilliant Julia Schmidt, Executive Assistant, author, speaker, and Executive Vice Chair of IMA (International Management Assistants).Julia shares her remarkable 20-year journey from Brazil to Norway, highlighting the three key decisions that shaped her career: joining a professional community, pursuing a business education to build strategic influence, and becoming a certified Reinvention Practitioner.Together, Nicky and Julia explore what it means to be an agent of change in a profession that's constantly evolving. They discuss how Executive Assistants can align personal growth with organisational goals, lead through reinvention, and use feedback as a tool for transformation.Whether you're looking to refresh your goals for 2025, boost your confidence, or simply hear from one of the most forward-thinking voices in the EA profession, this conversation is packed with perspective, warmth, and practical advice. The EA Campus
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KJoin Analytic Dreamz on Notorious Mass Effect for a deep dive into EA's historic $55 billion buyout by Saudi PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Analytic Dreamz unpacks the largest private equity LBO ever, with $20B debt and $210/share premium. Explore EA's $7.5B revenue, franchises like EA Sports FC, and risks of layoffs, microtransaction focus, and creative stagnation. Analytic Dreamz breaks down analyst views, gamer backlash, ethical concerns, and AI-driven shifts, offering a data-rich look at gaming's biggest deal and its impact on the $500B industry. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
There are too many good video games being released! In what might be the greatest gaming years of all time, we have reached critical levels of drowning in awesomeness. There is plenty of horrible news to balance out the good vibes as we discuss the EA sales, Xbox Game pass draining our wallets, and much more!Theme Song by David WiseTo support our show and get exclusive access to over 75 bonus episodes, check out https://www.patreon.com/hairofthedogcastContact Us: Blue.Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/hairofthedogcast.bsky.socialInstagram: @hairofthedogcastE-Mail: Hairofthedogcast@gmail.com Write us a review! We appreciate your support!
Fred is still plunging into Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Jake takes on Ghost of Yotei, and we share some awesome listener feedback about self-care and making sure we're not burning the candle at both ends. Thanks to everyone for understanding our short break! In news, Battlefield 6 physical copies have leaked ahead of release, which is surprising for two reasons — hardly anyone buys physical games anymore, and most don't actually contain the game on the disc. This one does, though online is still required even for the campaign. October's PS Plus Essential lineup features Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, and Cocoon. Rumors are swirling that Xbox might not release a next-gen console at all, which could leave PlayStation unmatched when the PS6 eventually launches. There's also talk of a new DualSense controller with a removable battery, and reports that EA may be going private amid a potential $50 billion buyout. Short, spooky, and full of PlayStation talk. We also dive into the State of Play that we didn't get a chance to discuss last week. — it's good to be back!By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn't quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Electronic Arts (EA), one of the largest video game companies in the world, just sold for $55 billion, a record for a leveraged buyout. The sale is sending shockwaves through Seattle's video game industry. Not just because a lot of people in Seattle worked on EA games, but because the company is banking its future on generative AI. Generative AI has created a cultural conflict so deep, it's sliced the video game industry in two -- like a battle axe through a rotten zombie. On one side: indie game developers and their fans who believe video games are an art form that should be made by humans. On the other: big companies pushing generative AI that could replace workers, making games cheaper and faster to produce. Today: can generative AI make better games than humans can? Do we want it to? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. Coming up: Have you or someone you know decided to go to a trade school instead of pursuing a four year degree? If so, we want to hear from you. Tell us why. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail with your experience -- it could be featured on an upcoming episode. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg.Support the show: https://kuow.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wes, Eneasz, and David keep the rationalist community informed about what's going on outside of the rationalist communitySupport us on Substack!News links:Youtube is the latest company to give Trump a payoffHegseth sent 200 national guard troops to PortlandE.J. Antoni nomination to BLS withdrawnHHS said it is referring Harvard for suspension and debarment proceedings.Trump defunding the ethics watchdogspaused $2.1B in federal funds for Chicago infrastructure projectsTrump made an Israel-Hamas peace plan?James Comey indictedTrumpRX is apparently going to be a thingFederal Judge: Trump Administration violated 1A by deporting Palestinian sympathizersHegseth called in all the generals to tell them they're too fatTrump apparently all-in on support for Ukraine.EA bought out by (among others) the Saudi Public Investment CorporationHappy News!San Fran Supervisor going YIMBY on business regulationsJames Web Space Telescope is now examining the atmospheric make-up of exoplanets!Denver's Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program is working!city reports 45% decrease in street peopleRecent study in Lancet shows people dying from chronic diseases globally fell in four out of five nations between 2010 and 2019The 60th nation ratified the High Seas Treaty, meaning it'll soon become legally bindingChina has signed on to this one and a related treaty20% increase in kids getting school lunches in last five years, worldwideHuntington disease treated for the first time!Got something to say? Come chat with us on the Bayesian Conspiracy Discord or email us at themindkillerpodcast@gmail.com. Say something smart and we'll mention you on the next show!Follow us!RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/themindkillerGoogle: https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iqs7r7t6cdxw465zdulvwikhekmPocket Casts: https://pca.st/vvcmifu6Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-mind-killerApple: Intro/outro music: On Sale by Golden Duck Orchestra This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindkiller.substack.com/subscribe
Las bandas IA ya están superando en streams. Hacemos pedagogia con la actualización del Windows 11. La película Colombiana Noviembre en salas de cine. El gigante de los videojuegos EA confirma su venta por 47.000 millones de dólares.
This week-ahead reading for Oct 6-12, 2025 is an excerpt from this week's Somatic Space class with Renee Sills. For the full-length forecast and embodied practice for this week, purchase the recording here. The writing read in today's class was by Assata Shakur, you can read the excerpt here.Over the course of Libra Season's sessions we are working the energetics of balance, polarity, opposition, and duality, exploring love, equanimity, and justice as somatic states and embodied ideals.
This weeks crew: Webby, Darren, Nick, Graham We spend an hour discussing Xbox and the fall out of raising the price of Gamepass, all Xbox Studio games being muti-platform and what this means for the gamers. We also discuss Xbox rumoured to be leaving the console business and the fallout of stores not stocking the consoles or games. Playstation Slim now has a smaller hard drive and EA being bought out by the Saudi's. Games we have played include: GT7, Cronos, Batman Telltale, Sword of the Sea, Puzzle Quest, Astrobot, Star Citizen, F1 25, Goldeneye, Mario Galaxy, Earthion, Ghost of Yotei, and more. https://www.patreon.com/360gamercast https://discord.gg/CqDMSg9 https://www.facebook.com/groups/360gamercast/ https://twitter.com/Webby360G https://twitter.com/360GamerCast All Access Patrons - John Smith
This week we talk about Electronic Arts, 3DO, and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.We also discuss Jared Kushner, leveraged buyouts, and loot boxes.Recommended Book: Bandwidth by Dan CarusoTranscriptElectronic Arts, often shorthanded as EA, was founded in 1982 in California by a former Apple employee named Trip Hawkins, who also went on to found the ill-fated 3DO company, which made video game hardware, and the somewhat more prolific, but also ultimately ill-fated casual game developer Digital Chocolate.EA, though, has been an absolutely astounding success. It's business model was predicated on the premise of selling video games directly to retailers, rather than going through intermediaries. This allowed them to gain more market share than their competitors right off the bat, and it helped them glean higher margins than their competitors from each direct sale, too.EA also established an early reputation for treating its developers really well. They were the first gaming company to feature their developers in advertising and to give them platforms, promoting them as video game artists, basically, and it shared the profits netted from those direct sales with these develops—which in turn meant all the best developers really wanted to work for EA, which led to a beneficial cycle where they created better and better, and more and more financially successful games.In the late-80s, they started deviating from this model somewhat, scooping up a collection of successful independent game development studios and deviating, at times, from the creative lead's vision when releasing their games. They also refocused a fair bit of their resources on franchises, like the immensely successful, as it turned out, Madden NFL series, and they branched out into producing games for the console market, including the still-new Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1990.That same year, EA went public on the NASDAQ, the company got new leadership when Hawkins decided to refocus on his far less successful 3DO hardware startup, and in an interesting twist, the arrival of the Sony Playstation in North America caused EA to drop support for 3DO hardware in the mid-90s so it could refocus on Playstation games, which were a lot more lucrative.By the mid-90s, EA had an astonishingly large and successful software library, including franchises like the aforementioned Madden games and the FIFA soccer games, but also celebrity-tied games like Shaq Fu, and military shooters like Jungle and Urban Strike.By the early-2000s, EA was making exclusive licensing deals with the NFL and ESPN, in order to stave off newfound sports game competitors, and it was the only video game company to consistently make a profit, most others experiencing feast and famine cycles, with periodic wins, but a whole lot of losses they had to cover with the profits from those wins. EA, in contrast, had a reliable stable of profit-sources, and it thus had a whole lot of leverage in terms of attracting and retaining talent, but also getting big names and brands on board, for collaborative projects.What I'd like to talk about today is what happened to EA during and following the 2008 economic crisis, and how and why it recently became an acquisition target for Saudi Arabia.—In 2008, when the global economy was collapsing, EA suffered a bad holiday sales season and fired 1,100 employees and closed 12 of their facilities early the following year. Later in 2009, the company announced the firing of another 1,500 employees, which was about 17% of their total workforce at the time, and in 2010 they acquired a gaming company that focused on mobile games, which were becoming increasingly popular, now that many people had touch-capable smartphones, which brought hot new franchises like Angry Birds under their brand umbrella.On the strength of that acquisition and all those downsizings, in early 2011, EA announced that it hit $3.8 billion in revenue in the financial year for the first time, and in early 2012, it announced it surpassed $1 billion in digital revenue during the previous year, which was a huge figure that early in the digital media landscape. It used some of those profits to scoop up another mobile-first gaming company, adding properties like Plants vs Zombies and Peggle to their library.EA completed another mass-firing in 2013, dismissing 10% of their employees under what they called a reorganization, around the same time they announced an exclusive license with Disney that would allow them to develop Star Wars games.Their stock value boomed in the following years, as a result of those cost-savings measures, and those new relationships, and emboldened by record-high stock valuations, in the mid-20-teens, the company started releasing big-name games, like Star Wars Battlefront 2, with random-content loot boxes and other sorts of microtransactions.This did not go over well with players, who decried these in-game purchasing options as ‘pay to win' mechanics, as players could pay more money to get better characters and equipment, and a lot of the content, even after paying for the expensive games, was still locked behind paywalls, requiring more payments to unlock that content. A bunch of gaming journalists cried foul on this shift as the game careened toward its full release, as did a whole lot of early players, and Disney complained, too, so by the time it hit shelves, the game's loot system was substantially changed, but that whole controversy spooked investors, and led to an 8.5% stock value drop in just a single month, knocking $3.1 billion from the company's valuation. As a result of that controversy, EA also became the face for a larger legal and legislative debate about in-game purchases and how it's kinda sorta like gambling, from that point forward.Soon after, EA experienced a series of bad quarters, including a huge drop of 13.3% to its valuation when a major entry in one of their larger franchises, Battlefield V, was released late, and received very mixed reviews when it was released, which led to a million fewer sold copies than anticipated. The game was also lagging in terms of gameplay behind smaller, nimbler competitors, including then-burgeoning Fortnite.The company saw an overall boost with the surprise success of Apex Legends, and the COVID-19 pandemic boosted sales dramatically for a while, since everyone was staying home, which allowed EA to gobble up a few more competing companies with successful franchises, and they knocked out a few more successful Star Wars games, as well.In early 2021, Saudi Arabia's public investment funds bought 7.4 million shares of EA for about $1.1 billion, which flew under the radar for most gamers, but that'll be important in a moment.Later that year, the company experienced a massive hack, a lot of its data, including the source code for games, stolen and sold on the dark web. EA bought some more competitors, but word on the street in 2022 was the the higher ups at EA were quietly shopping the company around, themselves looking to be acquired by a larger entity, on the scale of Apple or Disney.In early 2023, the company announced more mass-layoffs and launched another internal reorganization. It gutted several of its most popular gaming sub-brands, including BioWare, it cancelled an upcoming Star Wars game, and it announced that it would be shifting away from licensing agreements and refocusing on EA-owned IP.The pattern of layoffs leading to better financial fortunes didn't pay off this time, though. In early 2025, EA divulged that it expected to underperform in the coming year, several of its big-name titles not doing as well as expected; the company cast blame on the market, but players and journalists pointed at the company's gutting of its big-name studios, and the firing of many of its veteran developers to explain the reduced sales.EA had another mass-firing in April of this year, and followed by another in May, which paralleled an announcement that they would no longer be moving forward with a big, planned Black Panther game.In late September of 2025, EA announced that it had reached a deal, worth $55 billion, to go private, no longer selling shares on the stock market, with the financial assistance of a group of investors, which included Affinity Partners, which is led by Jared Kushner, US President Trump's son-in-law, Silver Lake, which is a US-based private equity firm that helps make these sorts of big sales happen, and the aforementioned Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.This deal isn't done yet, it still needs to get regulatory approval and a successful vote by stockholders, but it seems likely to go through, since the US regulatory environment is pretty lax at the moment, and because Kushner is involved, it's unlikely President Trump will take a personal disliking to it.But the big story here seems to be that Saudi Arabia is buying up not just a video game company, but one of the biggest and most successful video gaming companies in the world, which, although it's lost a lot of fan-credibility over the years, still owns some massively influential intellectual property and has just a stunning number of relationships and connections throughout the media world, alongside its huge valuation.If the sale does go through, and we should know for sure by sometime around June 2026, it would be the largest-ever leveraged buyout, which means the purchase was completed by using borrowed money that was borrowed against the asset being purchased; so those investors have taken out debt against EA itself, which is an increasingly common means of buying a large asset on the cheap, but it also typically burdens that asset with a simply astounding amount of debt which must then be recouped, often by selling off undervalued assets.When this happens to a newspaper, for instance, the buyer will often sell off the paper's real estate and fire all their employees, to make money and pay off that debt, and in this case, there's a chance that debt will be paid by throwing up a bunch of new paywalls and really leaning into those in-game transactions that nobody really liked, including politicians, back in the day, but which in this current regulatory environment would probably be allowed, and they would probably make some serious bank off of it initially, before players started getting wise and moving on to other games released by less predatory companies.The really interesting facet of this story, though, is the question of why Saudi Arabia wants a video game company.And to understand that, it's important to understand that, first, the country's Public Investment Fund is meant to help its economy shift away from purely extractive resources, like oil, and it has thus invested in all sorts of things, including luxury beach resorts, minority stakes in financial service companies like Citigroup, stakes in companies like Disney and Boeing and Meta, and increasingly, investments in companies run by allies of President Trump, like the aforementioned Affinity Partners, which was formed by Jared Kushner.So this is an economic play, but also a political play, almost certainly, by the Saudis, to get in good with the people who are in good with the US government.It's also been alleged that this might be an attempt by the Saudis to engage in what's being called game-washing, which is similar to greenwashing, but instead of trying to make a company seem green and sustainable by doing kinda sorta green things, but only as a veneer to cover up the opposite, in this case it means using sports and video games and the like to increase a nation's reputation with humanistic seeming things, despite, well, the truth being much more complicated.Just as when the Fund participated in buying a Premier League football, a soccer team, back in 2021, then, alongside their concomitant establishment of LIV Gold, a golf league meant to compete with the PGA, this investment in EA, and other investments it's made in video game companies like Capcom and Nexon, might be part of a larger effort to diversify the nation's brand, not just its economics. It's human rights record is abysmal, and it's possible they're trying to cover that up, make people forget about it, by creating more connections between Saudi Arabia and more positive things, like sports and games and the like.There are additional concerns about this purchase of EA, too, by the way, because Saudi Arabia's cultural values are very anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-liberal, democratic values. So there are fears that we might see less representation and fewer what we might call western values portrayed in the games released by these studios, as a result of this ownership.The folks running EA have said their core values will remain unchanged by the buyout, but it's expected, bare-minimum, that this will lead to another several restructurings and mass-layoffs throughout the company in the coming years, to help recoup all that debt, at the end of which even the people making those promises might be long gone.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Investment_Fundhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/business/dealbook/electronic-arts-buyout-jared-kushner.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/business/deals/ea-private-deal-buyout-video-game-maker-808aefechttps://www.ft.com/content/61cef75e-ceba-43ee-80e3-040756c6154f?accessToken=zwAGQAMTiJKIkc9hzvdezrpD7tOA4wQHVsYVTw.MEUCIHND3WOT4rS4frIMIOoeXHQeil_Ma1yGrwOqUD2m306DAiEAtA_QLvpyObai9zoo_9GZSljJuJyTKxJgFHpQDcCcVsE&sharetype=gift&token=03dd6ca5-c34f-4925-8a3d-a89f4058ee80https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/ea-silver-lake-deal-jared-kushner-c145cd55?st=eZghQHhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Arts This is a public episode. 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In this episode, we discuss EA going private and potentially some major layoffs before end of Year. Before deep diving in the state of play from the PlayStation conference.Connect with us:•
The ASAP Career Stages Framework is a data-driven resource for executive assistants and administrative professionals to identify skills gaps and map their career progression. Want something executives and HR will listen to and that will move the needle for your career advancement? This is it. Recorded at EA Ignite Spring 2025 and produced by the American Society of Administrative Professionals - ASAP. Learn more and submit a listener question at asaporg.com/podcast.
All anyone wants to talk about right now is Electronic Arts, and reasonably so. The American publishing titan is on the verge of being purchased by external interests for $55 billion, and when we say external, we mean it. The major player in reverting EA to a private corporation is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, muddying this already complex deal that also happens to be the largest leveraged buyout in human history. Perhaps not surprisingly, this gives us much to pontificate on. Other news this week includes rumblings of a DualSense revision with a removable battery, the very real potential that a Prototype remaster is imminent, the wisdom (or perhaps lack thereof) in Forza Horizon 6 skipping PlayStation 5 at launch, and more. We then get into listener inquiries to wrap up the show, as we always do. What are our thoughts on Xbox's staggering Game Pass price hike? How do we feel about Magic: The Gathering's stylish new collaboration with PlayStation? Is Destiny officially on death's door? Will Dustin have a coffee named after him at a cafe in Texas? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:27:35 - Sacred Sweaters! Preorder starts Monday!0:30:44 - Sacred Coffee specials0:38:06 - Salary for a henchman0:44:03 - EA sells to a consortium for $55 billion1:31:33 - Is Sony a "terrible company"?1:46:24 - New DualSense revision1:53:25 - Revisions to the PS5 Slim1:54:51 - Prototype remaster incoming?2:05:22 - Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PS5, but delayed2:14:03 - Ubisoft and Tecent's collaboration is called Vantage Studios2:17:13 - What We're Playing (Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, BioShock 2, Baby Steps, Silent Hill f, Megabonk)2:46:17 - Xbox's price hike3:23:32 - What's next for Halo?3:40:36 - Direct sequels or spiritual successors3:47:29 - Sony/Magic the Gathering3:57:56 - Is Destiny 2 dead?4:04:54 - Series prime for AA sequels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jeff and Christian welcome Daniel Bloodworth from Easy Allies to the show this week to discuss the huge price increase to Xbox Gamepass, the huge sale of EA to the Saudis, and huge amounts of ads for a free cloud gaming service. The Playlist: Daniel: Tokyo Game Show, Anata, Power Wash Simulator 2, Lego Party, Carimara Christian: Hades II, Fortnite x Kpop Demon Hunters Jeff: Cloverpit, finished Lego Voyagers, Lego Party, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds Parting Gifts!
In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the latest provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill and how these updates directly affect retirees and pre-retirees. Joined by tax expert Taylor Wolverton, CFP® and EA, they dive into key areas of the 2025 tax changes that could significantly impact your retirement planning strategies. From estate tax exemption levels to the nuances of the QBI deduction, these insights help you better understand how to navigate Taxes in Retirement while maximizing opportunities for long-term tax savings.Listen in to learn about how provisions such as the new auto loan interest deduction, expanded charitable deduction, and the innovative Trump accounts for newborns can play a role in your personal retirement tax planning. With practical explanations and forward-looking strategies, this episode provides essential knowledge for anyone seeking to secure your retirement and prepare a thoughtful retirement checklist.In this episode, find out:· Why the current tax rates are considered “permanent” and what that really means for your tax strategy for retirees.· How the estate tax exemption impacts your legacy and protects families from unnecessary gift and estate taxes.· What the Qualified Business Income (QBI deduction) means for self-employed individuals and small business owners.· The new charitable deduction opportunities even for those who take the standard deduction.· How auto loan interest deduction and Trump accounts for newborns could change the way families plan for the future.Tweetable Quotes:· “There's significant opportunity ahead of us to take advantage of today's lower tax rates before changes come in the future.” – Radon Stancil· “Even small provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill can create big opportunities for retirees who want to plan smartly.” – Murs TariqResources:If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.
Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield cover Silent Hill f, the sacrifice of EA to the monster of private capital, and thirty PlayStation hot takes. Hosted by Esper Quinn, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Laparoscopy “Don't you dare throw chunks.” Tetris Effect Lumines Arise Silent Hill f Hollow Knight: Silksong Rhythm Heaven 1: Y'all playin' that Hilf? (05:29) Silent Hill series Al Yang Konami Kingdom Hearts series Lucy James Pyramid Head 2: EA got bought. That's not good, right? (14:53) Video gamer Electronic Arts to be bought in largest-ever private equity buyout valued at $55 billion EA's new owners are making “a huge bet” on generative AI cost-cutting to help repay a $20 billion loan, claims report Madden series Battlefield series EA Sports FC series Rockstar finally fixed the disastrous GTA remastered trilogy years after it released BioWare The Sims series Xbox One Xbox ROG Ally 3: What do you think the CEO of Nintendo of America does? (21:03) Nintendo Of America President Doug Bowser Announces Retirement Reggie Fils-Aimé Sega Genesis Mother 3 Pokemon GO 4: Which real world non-extinct animal is presented as the most powerful in video games?(24:39) Lion Wolf Gorilla Donkey Kong Shark Red Dead Redemption II T-Rex Komodo dragon Dragon Grizzly bear Legendary Axe Golden Axe Tiger Tokyo Jungle 5: What is a “real gamer?” (26:35) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sam Bankman-Fried Super Smash Bros. series Legend of Zelda series Valorant Counter-Strike Words With Friends Wordle Spelling Bee Zach Gage Puzzmo 6: Are there protest video games? (32:02) 1000xRESIST Mouthwashing Jack Thompson This War of Mine Spec Ops: The Line Disco Elysium itch.io Despelote Consume Me Hades II Ghost of Yōtei LIGHTNING ROUND: 30 Years of PlayStation (42:02) Recommendations and Outro (52:51): Brandon: Kimimi the Game Eating She-Monster, Coyote Media, skip the commentary track for Blood of Heroes, Makeruna! Makendou 2 - Versus Menu Music Frank: Silent Hill f, Coyote Media Ash: Log off, get your uterus checked out if you have a uterus Esper: J2ME, DoCoMo i-mode, KDDI ezWeb, etc. The Mobile Gaming of ol' thread, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads (i actually watched this the day after recording but since I write the show notes i'm going to recommend it here, it's less than 2 hours to watch the whole first season and it's incredible) This week's Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. This week's horrible buzzer was sent in by Matt McNeely. Thanks! To submit your own horrible buzzer, send an original recording no longer than two seconds in mp3 or wav format to show@insertcredit.com, and maybe we'll use it on the show! Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield cover Silent Hill f, the sacrifice of EA to the monster of private capital, and thirty PlayStation hot takes. Hosted by Esper Quinn, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Laparoscopy “Don't you dare throw chunks.” Tetris Effect Lumines Arise Silent Hill f Hollow Knight: Silksong Rhythm Heaven 1: Y'all playin' that Hilf? (05:29) Silent Hill series Al Yang Konami Kingdom Hearts series Lucy James Pyramid Head 2: EA got bought. That's not good, right? (14:53) Video gamer Electronic Arts to be bought in largest-ever private equity buyout valued at $55 billion EA's new owners are making “a huge bet” on generative AI cost-cutting to help repay a $20 billion loan, claims report Madden series Battlefield series EA Sports FC series Rockstar finally fixed the disastrous GTA remastered trilogy years after it released BioWare The Sims series Xbox One Xbox ROG Ally 3: What do you think the CEO of Nintendo of America does? (21:03) Nintendo Of America President Doug Bowser Announces Retirement Reggie Fils-Aimé Sega Genesis Mother 3 Pokemon GO 4: Which real world non-extinct animal is presented as the most powerful in video games?(24:39) Lion Wolf Gorilla Donkey Kong Shark Red Dead Redemption II T-Rex Komodo dragon Dragon Grizzly bear Legendary Axe Golden Axe Tiger Tokyo Jungle 5: What is a “real gamer?” (26:35) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sam Bankman-Fried Super Smash Bros. series Legend of Zelda series Valorant Counter-Strike Words With Friends Wordle Spelling Bee Zach Gage Puzzmo 6: Are there protest video games? (32:02) 1000xRESIST Mouthwashing Jack Thompson This War of Mine Spec Ops: The Line Disco Elysium itch.io Despelote Consume Me Hades II Ghost of Yōtei LIGHTNING ROUND: 30 Years of PlayStation (42:02) Recommendations and Outro (52:51): Brandon: Kimimi the Game Eating She-Monster, Coyote Media, skip the commentary track for Blood of Heroes, Makeruna! Makendou 2 - Versus Menu Music Frank: Silent Hill f, Coyote Media Ash: Log off, get your uterus checked out if you have a uterus Esper: J2ME, DoCoMo i-mode, KDDI ezWeb, etc. The Mobile Gaming of ol' thread, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads (i actually watched this the day after recording but since I write the show notes i'm going to recommend it here, it's less than 2 hours to watch the whole first season and it's incredible) This week's Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. This week's horrible buzzer was sent in by Matt McNeely. Thanks! To submit your own horrible buzzer, send an original recording no longer than two seconds in mp3 or wav format to show@insertcredit.com, and maybe we'll use it on the show! Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
Another price hike has happened in the Microsoft world, as the price of Game Pass is set to go up very soon, with the highest tier going from $20 to $30. Was the government right about this the whole time that this was an end game of the Activision Acquisition? Or was this the result of some bad planning from the top? We share our opinions and as always share out some of yours, on another week of the longest running video game podcast, Orange Lounge Radio! Also in the News: * EA Sale Rumors Appear to be True * Lego Gameboy Playable * Unity Exploit Dating Back to 2017 Discovered * An Important Update From Us All this and more on the show where EVERY gamer has a voice-- Orange Lounge Radio! LIVE on the VOG Network, Sunday nights at 6 Pacific, 9 Eastern www.vognetwork.com Mailbag: participate (at) orangeloungeradio dot com
Xbox happened. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:14 - Health Is Wealth0:10:02 - Are we still Xbox fans?0:26:22 - What's happening with Forza Horizon 6?0:36:23 - Xbox Ally preorders are live0:48:50 - EA is going private in a $55 Billion deal1:05:47 - Ken Levine interview recap1:19:18 - Fallout 76 Burning Springs update1:20:14 - Prototype is coming back?1:27:07 - Ubisoft forms Vantage Studios1:30:23 - AAA Lord Of The Rings game in development1:38:49 - What We're Playing2:25:25 - Xbox Game Pass gets a major price hike3:14:00 - Do we keep doing Game Pass Pick Of The Week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
(0:00) Bestie intros! (1:53) EA acquired for $55B in biggest LBO ever, why PE is in trouble (17:42) IPO market, SPAC 2.0 (27:41) The AI rollup opportunity (36:01) Sacks joins the show! (38:27) OpenAI and Meta launch short-form video apps: "AI Slop" or the future of content? (45:04) Open source AI: DeepSeek's new model, pressure on US AI industry (1:05:11) State AI regulation frenzy: States' rights vs Federal control, overregulation Follow the besties: https://x.com/chamath https://x.com/Jason https://x.com/DavidSacks https://x.com/friedberg Follow on X: https://x.com/theallinpod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallinpod Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theallinpod Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinpod Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://x.com/yung_spielburg Intro Video Credit: https://x.com/TheZachEffect Referenced in the show: https://apnews.com/article/ea-electronic-arts-video-game-silver-lake-pif-d17dc7dd3412a990d2c0a6758aaa6900 https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-ultimate-price-rises-to-30-a-month-microsoft-adds-more-day-one-games-and-throws-in-fortnite-crew-and-ubisoft-classics-to-help-justify-the-cost https://x.com/Jason/status/1973461806585966655 https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5529404/anthropic-settlement-authors-copyright-ai https://x.com/scaling01/status/1972650237266465214 https://www.insidetechlaw.com/blog/2025/09/californias-transparency-in-frontier-artificial-intelligence-act https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/google-withdraws-rezoning-proposal-for-468-acre-data-center-project-in-franklin-township-indianapolis