Any Blockers?

We discuss Decs visit to Joe Biden's official's island in Animal Crossing, AOC and Ilhan Omar streaming Among Us, and the US Presidential Debates.
Then Dec shares his experiences in taking on casework and representing workers for the union.
Amazon and Google are getting into the gaming industry, and cloud gaming & subscription models are set to change what kinds of games we make.
+ some hot takes about JRPGs.

Further Reading:

• Amazon Luna hands-on: Plays great, less filling

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We're back after one year with an impromptu interview with the previous chair of the IWGB game workers branch: Austin Kelmore.
(There is some background noise in the beginning.)

Further Reading:

• The Cyberpunk 2077 crunch backlash

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We're back from an unintended summer break to talk about the DCMS report on loot boxes, as well as the various responses to it, the striking game devs at Nexon, the unionization effort at Kickstarter & bad job postings.

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Further Reading:

• Immersive and addictive technologies report by DCMS
• The ESA 'strongly disagrees' with UK Parliamentary inquiry's finding on loot boxes
• Nexon's labor union calls on the management to guarantee job security
• Workers Accuse Kickstarter of Union-Busting in Federal Complaint
• Twitter thread on Facepunchs' jack-off job ads

We talk about the firing of 134 French Blizzard employees, Battlefield V selling Nazi skins, Call of Duty and its attempt at social commentary, Death Stranding and Hideo Kojimas obsession with white male actors.

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Further Reading:

• An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness
• Statement on the firing of 134 French Blizzard employees
• Former Rockstar Designer Says Former Top Executive Groped Him
• Death Stranding Has a Gameplay Trailer and a November Release Date
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Can't Decide Whether War Is Bad or Badass
• Battlefield V Is Selling Nazi Stuff, and It's Really Weird

We talk about esports player "tfue" suing the gaming organization FaZe over an exploitative contract, how the US-China trade war results in a 25% tariff on videogame consoles, the World Health Organization recognizing 'gaming disorder' as an illness, the implications of the US loot box bill, the Sonic Movie is getting delayed, and Kevins' trips to speak at the Arcadia festival in Dundee and the Nordic Games Conference in Sweden.

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Further Reading:

• Esports Pro Sues Gaming Organization FaZe Clan Over "Oppressive" Contract
• US considers 25% tariff on game consoles
• US loot box bill receives bipartisan support
• Sonic the Hedgehog film delayed
• World Health Organisation recognises 'burn-out' as medical condition
• World Health Organization makes 'gaming disorder' a recognised illness

We talk about the implications of the EU Working Time Directive, the Marx at the Arcade book launch party, the aftermath of the Riot walkout, the working conditions at CD Project Red, and Activisions' changes to the Call of Duty development cycle.

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Further Reading:

• What yesterday's EU court ruling means for the games industry
• As Deadline Passes, Riot Games Doesn’t Budge On Key Walkout Issue
• CD Projekt Red wants to be "known for treating developers with respect"
• As Cyberpunk 2077 Development Intensifies, CD Projekt Red Pledges To Be 'More Humane' To Its Workers
• Sources: Call of Duty 2020 In Upheaval As Treyarch Takes Over, Plans Black Ops 5

We continue talking about the Walkout at Riot Games, the international Uber & Lyft strike, Deltas' attempt at anti-union propaganda, the spectacular vanishing of Spanish publisher Syndiecate, how Detective Pikachu is surprisingly diverse, and why the Wikipedia page for game jams starts with a photo of Kevin.

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https://www.gofundme.com/ammoboxstudios-legalbattle
https://itch.io/jam/organising-at-work

We discuss the goings on at our first annual general meeting and the workers at Riot Games trying to organize a walkout.
PSA: This episode was recorded BEFORE the riot walkout.

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Further Reading:

• Riot Employees Plan Walkout To Protest Company Blocking Lawsuits From Going To Trial (Kotaku)
• Facts about Forced Arbitration (endforcedarbitration.com)