Tech Won't Save Us27 Jan 2022

Microsoft Wants to Dominate the Games Industry w/ Rob Zacny

Paris Marx is joined by Rob Zacny to discuss the potential consequences of Xbox’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and what subscriptions and consolidation might mean for the future of games and the industry.Rob Zacny is a senior editor at Waypoint and co-host of Waypoint Radio. Follow Rob on Twitter at @RobZacny.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. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.Also mentioned in this episode: Rob discussed the consequences of the proposed acquisition with his colleague Patrick Klepek. Microsoft plans to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. In November, Phil Spencer said he was troubled by the harassment and abuse at Activision Blizzard. QA workers at Activision’s Raven Software are seeking to unionize. The company said it won’t recognize the union, and is reorganizing the division. A new Game Developers Conference found 55% think the industry should unionize. On January 18, the US Federal Trade Commission began a process to rewrite its merger guidelines. Google shut down its Stadia game studios at least in part due to Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax. At GDC in 2005, a developer rant session featuring Warren Spector, Jason Della Rocca, Greg Costikyan, Brenda Laurel, and Chris Hecke presented a grim picture of where the industry was going. Support the show

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(343)

The Left Doesn’t Hate Technology w/ Gita Jackson

Paris Marx is joined by Gita Jackson to discuss why the left’s hatred of AI is justified, why a different approach to technology is necessary, and how they’re reassessing their own relationships with ...

12 Mars 1h 2min

Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Tim Schwab

Paris Marx is joined by Tim Schwab to discuss the evolving story of Bill Gates and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the issues that arise from allowing billionaires to use philanthrop...

5 Mars 58min

The Luddite Club is For Everyone w/ Amanda Hanna-McLeer & Lucy Jackson

Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Hanna-McLeer and Lucy Jackson to discuss the story of The Luddite Club, from its beginnings as a high school organization to its pivot into a non-profit and growth into ...

26 Feb 55min

What’s Driving the Push For Humanoid Robots w/ James Vincent

Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social im...

19 Feb 59min

The Green Transition Needs So Much Mining w/ Thea Riofrancos

Paris Marx is joined by Thea Riofrancos to discuss the global struggle to move away from fossil fuels and the future of the green transition, including the limitations of existing supply chains, geopo...

12 Feb 1h 1min

Netflix Buying Warner Would Be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah

Paris Marx is joined by AS Hamrah to discuss the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger and what it might mean for the state of decline already facing modern cinema. AS Hamrah is a film critic...

5 Feb 55min

Elon Musk Profits Off Non-Consensual Deepfakes w/ Kat Tenbarge

Paris Marx is joined by Kat Tenbarge to discuss the explosion of abusive deepfakes on X, including how Elon Musk is profiting from the sexual exploitation of women and children while his followers use...

29 Jan 1h 6min

Bring Back Meddling With Tech Hardware w/ Chris Person

Paris Marx is joined by Chris Person to discuss the state of hardware and manufacturing in the tech industry, ways to hack your stuff, options to undermine Microsoft’s software dominance, and how the ...

22 Jan 58min