Jimquisition

Breathe it in. Games we played this week include: Princess Peach Showtime (6:30) Rise of the Ronin (23:10) Darkwood (34:40) Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line (43:50) --- News things talked about in this episode: First Neuralink patient, upon release, immediately pulls Civ 6 all-nighter (47:10) https://www.ign.com/articles/first-human-patient-to-receive-a-neuralink-brain-implant-used-it-to-stay-up-all-night-playing-civilization-6 $400k worth of PlayDate handhelds misdelivered and stolen (54:10) https://kotaku.com/playdate-handheld-stolen-1851369066 Microsoft wants to invite more storefronts to the Xbox platform (55:15) https://www.polygon.com/24108670/xbox-epic-games-store-phil-spencer-interview An Xbox handheld increasingly seems like a thing that is happening (1:00:30) https://www.polygon.com/24108660/xbox-handheld-console-phil-spencer-interview --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

Like you’ve never thought about it. Games we played this week include: Balatro (3:20) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (10:35) The Veil: Shadow of the Crown (25:12) The Thaumaturge (29:20) Contra: Operation Galuga (29:55) Alone in the Dark (41:35) --- News things talked about in this episode: Ubisoft’s AI NPC dialogue generator is pitiful (49:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss-generative-ai-is-just-another-new-technology-to-be-tested PS5 Pro confirmed by leak from third-party developer (53:10) https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2024/03/19/ps5-pro-specs-leak-being-investigated-by-sony/ You can now drink mayo (55:15) https://kotaku.com/stardew-valley-16-update-drink-mayonnaise-1851344320 --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

What a lovely surprise. Games we played this week include: Balatro (5:15) Pullfrog (13:40) Mars After Midnight (15:05) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (18:50) The Thaumaturge (31:15) Princess Peach Showtime (48:40) Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley (51:25) Rise of the Ronin (54:40) --- News things talked about in this episode: SAG-AFTRA’s video game voice actors might be next to strike over AI (1:01:30) https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/ai-duncan-crabtree-ireland-sxsw-1235936090/ Bobby Kotick can’t stop, won’t stop, wants TikTok (1:03:05) https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-activision-ceo-bobby-kotick-wants-to-buy-tiktok-report-2024-3 600 QA employees unionize at Microsoft companies (1:05:30) https://www.polygon.com/24093254/activision-qa-600-workers-union-microsoft --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

Yeah, that’s right. We said it. What do you intend to do? Games we played this week include: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (4:30) Supermarket Simulator (33:00) The Outlast Trials (41:05) Warhammer 40k: Boltgun (51:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Warner Bros. continues to learn the wrong lessons about live services (42:05) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/warner-bros-discusses-volatile-aaa-console-games-will-lean-into-free-to-play-and-mobile/1100-6521597/ Yuzu and Citra emulators quickly fold under legal action from Nintendo (49:05) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-lawsuit-shuts-down-switch-emulator-yuzu-and-3ds-emulator-citra/1100-6521589/ A complex scam involving imitated games hits Steam (1:15:50) https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-pulls-fake-steam-helldivers-2-games-but-devs-express-concern-they-appeared-in-the-first-place --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at https://thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on https://LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com. Photo Credit: Forest Runner / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED

It’s a lovely day for a drive. Games we played this week include: Pacific Drive (8:00) Geometry Survivor (30:00) Pocket Card Jockey Ride On (33:20) Pepper Grinder (37:30) Penny’s Big Breakout (38:45) --- News things talked about in this episode: WWE 2K24 seems to be dropping a couple of significant wrestlers (42:05) https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/wwe-2k24s-confirmed-final-roster-seemingly-removes-vince-mcmahon-and-brock-lesnar/ Nintendo sues developer of Yuzu emulator (49:05) https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/27/24085075/nintendo-switch-emulator-yuzu-lawsuit --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

We welcome it. Games we played this week include: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore (6:35) Helldivers 2 (16:15) Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (21:05) Cookie Cutter (25:00) Heartworm (31:15) Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25) --- News things talked about in this episode: MS really bungled their cross-platform announcement (46:45) https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/20/xboxs-business-update-event-attempts-to-address-rumors-vaguely/ Embracer-owned Flying Wild Hog joins with Polish Gamedev Workers Union (53:55) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/embracer-owned-studio-flying-wild-hog-has-unionized ZA/UM continues to be a mess (1:04:05) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-za-um-will-lay-off-25-percent-of-staff-after-project-cancellation --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

The bar has been raised yet again. Games we played this week include: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:50) Helldivers 2 (16:30) Mouthwashing (31:10) Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (34:25) Final Fantasy Rebirth (40:45) Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed (47:15) Hardcoded (49:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: MS to address rumors around console exclusivity (56:10) https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/12/24070445/microsoft-xbox-business-update-event-future-february-15 French worker unions call for strikes at Ubisoft (58:10) https://www.pcgamer.com/unions-call-for-strikes-at-ubisoft-studios-in-france-to-protest-wages-we-cannot-tolerate-being-treated-as-expendable-to-mitigate-their-bad-decisions Microsoft layoffs hit Toys For Bob hard (1:04:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-layoffs-affect-86-staff-at-spyro-crash-bandicoot-studio The FTC seems irritated by Microsoft’s layoffs (1:01:30) https://www.polygon.com/24065269/ftc-microsoft-activision-deal-layoffs-appeal Voice actor responsible for PEGI rating stingers was paid 200 Euros for the gig (1:05:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/the-voice-actor-behind-pegi-18-says-he-was-paid-just-200 --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

A crisis averted. Games we played this week include: Silent Hill: The Short Message (7:15) Yakuza: Like a Dragon (27:30) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (37:25) Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (39:03) --- News things talked about in this episode: Rumors swirl around possible changes to Xbox first-party exclusivity (53:20) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-microsoft-rethinking-exclusivity-plans-to-bring-starfield-and-indiana-jones-to-ps5 Development of The Day Before was allegedly a shitshow (1:02:10) https://www.eurogamer.net/new-the-day-before-report-alleges-employees-fined-for-making-mistakes Square Enix has decided it wants to make better games (1:04:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-reviewing-overall-game-development-to-improve-quality --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

We’re just not qualified. Games we played this week include: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (10:30) Metroid Dread (26:50) Granblue Fantasy Relink (32:50) Interaction Isn’t Explicit (35:30) Go Mecha Ball (40:30) Celeste 64 (51:50) --- News things talked about in this episode: Microsoft lays off 8% of its game division despite 49% revenue increase in Q2 (59:05) https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24049050/microsoft-activision-blizzard-layoffs Eidos Montreal staff laid off, previously unannounced Deus Ex game canceled (1:05:05) https://www.polygon.com/24054575/deus-ex-game-canceled-layoffs-eidos-montreal SEGA of America to drop 61 employees in March (52:15) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sega-of-america-to-lay-off-61-employees Early Suicide Squad players had the game finished for them (59:40) https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-game-pulled-offline-1235890502 Bloodborne Kart won’t be Bloodborne Kart anymore (1:10:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/bloodborne-kart-isnt-allowed-to-be-called-bloodborne-kart-anymore-but-it-is-still-coming --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com.

What a terrible strain. Games we played this week include: Piñata Smashlings (5:35) Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (16:15) Last of Us Part II Remastered (28:15) Palworld (33:35) Home Safety Hotline (48:05) Luck Be a Landlord (53:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: MiG Switch flash cart could lead to bans for second-hand game buyers (59:05) Rockstar and Remedy logo thing got settled late last year (1:05:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/take-two-and-remedy-in-trademark-dispute-over-r-logo Developer Piranha Bytes seemingly dropped by Embracer Group (52:15) https://www.pcgamer.com/embracer-owned-elex-studio-piranha-bytes-is-trying-to-save-itself-from-closure-dont-write-us-off-yet/ Riot lays off more than a tenth of its staff (59:40) https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/2024-rioter-update After selling off all their previously acquired IP, Square Enix things it needs more diverse offerings (1:10:00) https://www.ign.com/articles/square-enix-president-says-the-company-wants-to-release-fewer-more-diverse-games --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter/Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at mercenarycreative.com. Photo Credit: Rebecca Brown / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED