Podquisition 477: The Sweet Embrace of Death

It’s a choice. Games we played this week include: Atomfall (9:10) Abiotic Factor (21:00) Batman Forever (26:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: Nintendo’s big Direct (28:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrTVeYm4iIM More Embracer layoffs (41:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/tomb-raider-developer-crystal-dynamics-announces-layoffs https://www.eurogamer.net/embracer-groups-eidos-montreal-studio-lays-off-up-to-75-employees Zenimax union threatens strike (49:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/zenimax-union-overwhelmingly-votes-to-authorise-strike-if-microsoft-contract-negotiations-drag-on Zelda movie gets 2027 release date (47:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/legend-of-zelda-movie-release-date-revealed-by-nintendo-and-its-not-as-far-away-as-you-might-have-feared --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

3 Apr 59min

Even the worst people do the right thing sometimes. Games we played this week include: Assassin’s Creed Shadows (8:55) Wanderstop (14:05) Xenoblade Chronicles X (17:05) Xbox Adaptive Joystick (33:35) Resident Evil 4 (41:20) --- News things talked about in this episode: AI trailer for Ark: Aquatica is an embarrassing mess (42:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/ark-aquatica-developer-shifts-blame-for-disastrous-ai-trailer-onto-marketing-team ESA’s Accessible Games Initiative aims to standardize accessibility features (43:45) https://www.eurogamer.net/esa-launches-accessible-games-initiative-and-unveils-24-tags-for-gaming-storefronts-and-product-pages United Videogame Workers Union (49:30) https://uvw-cwa.org/ --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

27 Mar 57min

Ironic death isn’t just for grown-ups Games we played this week include: Wanderstop (8:45) Medabots (20:35) Yugioh Early Days Collection (36:15) Rogue Light Deck Builder (43:55) Metal Bringer (49:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Niantic sells Pokémon Go to Saudi-owned company (1:01:30) https://www.404media.co/saudi-arabia-buys-pokemon-go-and-probably-all-of-your-location-data/ Test of AI-generated Aloy (1:06:45) https://www.eurogamer.net/horizon-forbidden-west-actress-ashly-burch-responds-to-sonys-controversial-ai-aloy Roblox tells parents they shouldn’t let their kids play Roblox (1:09:25) https://www.eurogamer.net/parents-worried-about-childrens-safety-shouldnt-let-them-play-roblox-company-boss-says Ubisoft has something resembling a plan to protect employees on social media ahead of Assassin’s Creed launch (1:11:45) https://www.pcgamesn.com/assassins-creed-shadows/ubisoft-anti-harassment-plan --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

20 Mar 1h 21min

We're not talking about farts... or are we? We are.

14 Mar 48min

Justice for Wolf Games we played this week include: Nubby’s Number Factory (15:45) Centum (21:30) One Lonely Outpost (27:35) Wanderstop (30:30) Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (39:05) BOKURA: planet (52:25) Power Vacuum (55:00) Split Fiction (1:01:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: SAG-AFTRA strike continues as games industry refuses basic AI protections for workers (1:07:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/sag-aftra-actors-strike-set-to-continue-as-union-warns-of-alarming-loopholes-for-ai-abuse-in-latest-proposal A few of Ubisoft’s alleged abusive former executives get a day in court (1:10:00) https://www.eurogamer.net/former-ubisoft-execs-stand-trial-in-france-accused-of-harassment --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

13 Mar 1h 17min

Just vinegar. Games we played this week include: Monster Hunter Wilds (11:35) Faceminer (32:20) Shadow Hearts (37:05) Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (53:30) Blobun (46:15) --- News things talked about in this episode: Activision has been using AI to make fake game pitches for market research (47:20) https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-ai-slop-guitar-hero-advert-is-market-research-for-a-fake-game-that-doesnt-exist-and-maybe-never-will --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

5 Mar 1h

You spoke. We listened. Games we played this week include: Avowed (3:20) Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (18:40) Guns of Fury (23:55) Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (29:50) Wanderstop (40:55) Drakengard (45:45) Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (53:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: Supergiant won’t sign an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA for Hades II (1:01:12) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/supergiant-denies-recasting-hades-ii-actor-over-interim-sag-aftra-contract-request WB Games closes down multiple studios (1:11:15) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/wb-games-shuts-down-three-internal-devs-including-monolith-and-player-first Activision discloses use of AI in Call of Duty (1:12:45) https://www.polygon.com/gaming/528973/activision-generative-ai-call-of-duty-steam-disclosure PEGI reclassifies Balatro as 12+, promises changes to system (1:13:55) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pegi-to-revisit-automatic-18-ratings-for-simulated-gambling-games-after-balatros-successful-appeal --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

27 Feb 1h 20min

Powers beyond comprehension Games we played this week include: Elden Ring Nightreign (10:35) A Game About Digging a Hole (28:25) Dynasty Warriors Abyss (37:20) Ruffy and the Riverside (48:35) Astro Bot (50:55) Dawnfolk (51:55) Alundra (54:35) --- News things talked about in this episode: Bobby Kotick claims harassment suits were fake as part of ploy by unions (1:02:35) https://www.eurogamer.net/bobby-kotick-says-activision-blizzard-fake-lawsuits-were-simply-a-union-plan-to-drive-up-membership Lots of people say Bobby Kotick is full of shit (1:10:55) https://www.eurogamer.net/the-executives-of-our-company-did-not-protect-us-activision-blizzard-workers-hit-back-at-claim-harassment-lawsuits-were-fake --- 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 Instagram/BlueSky and check out his Patreon (https://patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at https://mercenarycreative.com.

20 Feb 1h 22min