Podquisition 478: Taking the Scenic Route

Time to pivot. Games we played this week include: Hades II (8:45) Little Kitty Big City (20:00) Crow Country (22:45) Tales of Kenzera: Zau (28:20) Athenian Rhapsody (34:20) Vampire Survivors (43:55) Final Fantasy VI (49:35) Slayers X (50:15) --- News things talked about in this episode: Microsoft tries (fails) to justify studio closures (56:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-president-responds-to-studio-closures-as-commitment-to-make-sure-that-the-business-is-healthy-for-the-long-term Mike Ybarra thinks people are being too mean to Microsoft executives (59:55) https://www.eurogamer.net/former-blizzard-boss-mike-ybarra-defends-xboxs-phil-spencer-following-arkane-austin-tango-gameworks-closures --- 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: ekstrazabawki.pl / CC BY 4.0 DEED

Podquisition 488: Bump on the Noggin It’s harder than you’d think. Games we played this week include: Hades II (3:45) Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (23:35) Puppet Master (30:45) --- News things talked about in this episode: Microsoft shuts down studios, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin (44:10) https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-closes-redfall-developer-arkane-austin-hifi-rush-developer-tango-gameworks-and-more-in-devastating-cuts-at-bethesda A drunk Microsoft rep forgot to make their pitch to buy Media Molecule (52:45) https://kotaku.com/xbox-little-big-planet-steal-away-buy-playstation-sony-1851462178 Sony gets slammed, then backpedals, over Helldivers 2 PSN requirement on Steam (57:25) https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-overturns-helldivers-2-psn-requirement-following-backlash --- 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.

Your robo-friend to the end. Games we played this week include: Stellar Blade (11:00) Hades II (18:25) Harold Halibut (25:45) Fallout (30:20) Vampire Survivors (37:10) Kaichu (40:25) --- News things talked about in this episode: Square Enix abandoning projects they’ve spent a lot of money on (43:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/square-enix-abandons-112m-of-in-development-projects-in-an-effort-to-improve-quality Escape from Tarkov devs surprised by response to locking PvE mode to exorbitant special edition (54:15) https://www.gamespot.com/articles/escape-from-tarkov-boss-didnt-expect-players-to-get-mad-about-paid-pve-content/1100-6523084/ Embracer’s CEO admits he made mistakes (53:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/embracer-boss-admits-long-list-of-things-hed-have-done-differently-as-embattled-company-splits-into-three --- 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.

Wistful remembrances of days gone by. Games we played this week include: Another Crab’s Treasure (5:50) Slime 3K (28:55) Stellar Blade (40:35) Harold Halibut (51:40) Fallout (57:55) Balatro (1:04:30) --- News things talked about in this episode: ReedPop consolidating UK events EGX and MCM (1:07:35) https://www.eurogamer.net/egx-and-mcm-team-up-for-london-2024-dates Nintendo reportedly would have let Samus be in Fortnite, but only for Switch players (54:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/samus-skipped-fortnite-because-nintendo-got-really-hung-up-about-its-characters-on-other-platforms Embracer reorganizing into three companies (1:15:30) https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracer-group-splits-into-three-everything-you-need-to-know World of Warcraft adding arachnophobia mode ahead of introducing arachnid characters (1:21:05) https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/world-of-warcraft-arachnophobia-mode-2639255/ --- 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: Ian Line / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED

A saga continues. Games we played this week include: Fallout TV series (8:55) Horrified (29:10) Princess Peach Showtime (36:00) Rose and Camillia (37:50) Balatro (43:15) --- News things talked about in this episode: Apex Legends tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia (48:15) https://www.eurogamer.net/apex-legends-wont-censor-game-for-saudi-arabia-esports-tournament-respawn-says Final Fantasy VII Rebirth menu rephrased after many gameplay hours lost (54:15) https://www.ign.com/articles/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-patch-retry-from-this-battle-menu Alternate network for Wii U and 3DS online play up and running (56:55) https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/10/24126064/pretendo-resurrects-wii-u-nintendo-network-without-console-hacking Hades 2 about to enter beta, sign-ups open https://www.eurogamer.net/hades-2s-technical-test-set-to-begin-shortly-and-sign-ups-are-open-now --- 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.

Blitzball? We prefer Miyazaki's Balls.

Anyone who says otherwise is probably an even bigger criminal. Games we played this week include: Botany Manor (9:25) Little Big Adventure (17:45) Virtual Springfield (20:20) Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (31:40) Final Fantasy X (47:10) --- News things talked about in this episode: Management at Life is Strange developer Deck Nine seems pretty awful (49:10) https://www.ign.com/articles/how-hidden-nazi-symbols-were-the-tip-of-a-toxic-iceberg-at-life-is-strange-developer-deck-nine Roblox studio chief basically admits their business is supported by child labor (54:30) https://www.eurogamer.net/roblox-studio-boss-children-making-money-on-the-platform-isnt-exploitation-its-a-gift Yuji Naka claims Dragon Quest producer perjured themselves, provides no evidence (1:09:05) https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-co-creator-yuji-naka-accuses-dragon-quest-producer-of-lying-during-insider-trading-trial --- 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.

It is what it is, pal. Games we played this week include: Content Warning (11:00) MiG Switch (17:50) Rise of the Ronin (27:50) Islets (35:40) Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (43:30) Pepper Grinder (54:50) Final Fantasy X (1:00:05) --- News things talked about in this episode: ESRB claims software designed to age verify isn’t intended to be used by children (1:01:35) https://www.eurogamer.net/us-government-blocks-age-estimation-technology-that-would-have-analysed-faces After massive sell-offs, Embracer doesn’t think it’s ready to start acquiring again (54:10) https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/embracer-say-their-restructure-is-over-but-its-too-early-to-start-acquiring-studios-again --- 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.

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.