could have done without the PC Master Racing at the end... some of us have disabilities preventing us from being able to use PCs or even Laptops and being able to afford the components necessary to build them let alone putting them together... 🤔🧐

I mean obviously. It's always better when it's particularly gay. That was certainly the opening of the podcast.

I think there was something a few years ago where Nightmare Creatures was mentioned in passing as a reference to an old Dreamcast game that people usually would not recognize.

Union efforts are not going well from what I heard only about 10% of employees are currently onboard.

If only there were some kind of... score for... gamers to compare.

3rd pty HR departments are common practice in the UK and they are the bottom rung for support or even protecting legal rights. They have their own bottom line on top of the companys, so it’s bottom line squared

NFTs,  just another way for the wealthy to launder money in my opinion 

Because apparently that’s a thing that just works.

Games we played this week include: 
Pure Maiden Captures Uncle (0:30)
Pokémon Unite (10:45)
Mini Motorways (16:30)
Microsoft Flight Sim (19:20)
Samurai Warriors 5 (21:50)
Spelunky 2 (31:30)
Cooking Mama Cookstar (32:05)
Silent Hill (35:30)

News things talked about in this episode:
California files suit against Activision for discrimination (37:30)
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/activision-blizzard-sued-by-california-over-frat-boy-culture
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-26/activision-blizzard-staff-sign-petition-supporting-labor-lawsuit
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-28-activision-blizzard-boss-bobby-kotick-tells-staff-companys-initial-response-to-discrimination-lawsuit-was-tone-deaf

--
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 344: We Demand Applause

Have we said something to offend you?

Games we played this week include: 
Lost in Random (8:25)
Inscryption (14:15)
Forza Horizon 5 (22:50)
Popeye (31:50)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (38:15)
Dying Light (39:15)
Resident Evil Revelations 1&2 (39:55)
Dorfromantik (41:15)
Binding of Isaac: Repentance (43:00)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Ubisoft staff seek public support for better working conditions with petition (45:30)
https://t.co/dqmQV96FOm

EA wants to make NFT games too (48:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-04-ea-says-nfts-will-be-an-important-part-about-the-future-of-our-industry

Nintendo can’t stop leaking games (58:05)
https://kotaku.com/pokemon-brilliant-diamond-and-shining-pearl-leak-early-1848012271

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 359: Obvious Comedy Discourse

On the Third Day, A New World Record, Out of the Blue.

Games we played this week include: 
Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Definitive Edition (13:30)
Halo Infinite (27:15)
Kill It With Fire (33:20)
Skyrim (40:15)
Shin Megami Tensei V (44:20)
Binding of Isaac: Repentance (48:40)
Dead Estate (49:30)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (55:45)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Bobby Kotick knew about sexual assault years ago (1:00:20)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680

Elder Scrolls V confirmed launching exclusively on Xbox/PC (1:12:20)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-15-xbox-boss-discusses-the-elder-scrolls-6-console-exclusivity

Nintendo acknowledges JoyCon drift (1:12:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-15-doug-bowser-says-nintendo-are-making-continuous-improvements-to-joy-con-controllers

Chip shortages delay Steam Deck (1:14:10)
https://www.pcmag.com/news/valve-delays-steam-deck-launch-by-2-months-due-to-component-shortages

Spider-Man finally coming to Avengers (1:15:45)
https://www.polygon.com/22532264/spider-man-marvels-avengers-dlc-release-date-ps5-ps4

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 360: Face the Music

No, not gamers.

Games we played this week include: 
Ender Lillies (14:30)
Death’s Door (19:20)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (24:30)
Gunfire Reborn (33:00)
Warlock of Firetop Mountain (38:30)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
GTA San Andreas gets remastered with fog to hide how it looks (44:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-30-gta-trilogy-san-andreas-adds-ground-fog-option-to-improve-visuals

Activision Blizzard protest organizer leaves company, decries Kotick on way out (47:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-01-activision-blizzard-protest-organiser-leaving-company

Nintendo’s gender equality in management is pretty bad (49:30)
https://kotaku.com/less-than-5-percent-of-managers-at-nintendo-hq-are-wome-1848137143

Twitch to identify ban evaders with machine learning (57:00)
https://safety.twitch.tv/s/safety-news/detail?language=en_US&post=Using-Machine-Learning-to-Curb-Ban-Evasion

Sony patent emerges for mobile phone controller clamshell (1:01:00)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-is-planning-a-playstation-mobile-controller-patent-suggests/

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Photo Credit: Chris Birmingham, 2012. Used under CC BY 2.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Podquisition 362: The Saddest Animals

Seltzer is nonsense.

Games we played this week include: 
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (10:55)
Gunfire Reborn (15:35)
Kill It With Fire (21:50)
Dauntless (23:40)
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance (27:30)
Mindscanners (30:10)
Paradise Lost (37:05)
Space Warlord Organ Simulator (41:10)
Lawn Mowing Simulator (45:35)
Townscaper (46:50)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Former Activision Blizzard employee comes forward in press conference (48:20)
https://kotaku.com/sexually-harassed-activision-blizzard-employee-holds-pr-1848180146
 
Walkout staged at Raven software following QA layoffs (51:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-06-raven-software-employees-walk-out-following-layoffs-in-the-qa-team
 
State treasurers getting involved in Activision Blizzard (56:35)
https://www.axios.com/state-treasurers-pressure-activision-over-misconduct-352fe2e6-64d4-4f30-ba7e-39e0e13419de.html
 
PlayStation exec fired after amateur pedophilia sting (1:00:05)
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/sony-terminates-playstation-exec-who-allegedly-appeared-in-pedophile-sting-video/
 
Ubisoft acknowledges their handling of workplace abuse has damaged trust in them (1:02:30)
https://www.axios.com/ubisoft-workplace-scandal-anika-grant-interview-aac56bc7-1551-465a-85b8-6e6d7ca36816.html
 
Ubisoft details first steps toward NFT integration in Ghost Recon Breakpoint (1:09:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-07-ubisoft-quartz-is-an-energy-efficient-nft-platform-for-aaa-games

Voice acting studio OMUK agrees to union contract protecting workers (1:17:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-06-uk-voice-acting-studio-reaches-agreement-with-equity-to-safeguard-voice-actors-working-in-games

Retail release of Halo Infinite unplayable for several hours after release due to online update (1:20:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-08-no-you-cant-play-halo-infinites-campaign-now-even-if-you-have-the-disc

Pokémon Shining Pearl already beaten by speedrunners in 15 minutes (1:22:25)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-08-pokemon-shining-pearl-finished-in-only-15-minutes

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 363: Ghosts of Flavor

Santa Claus is coming. Are you ready for him?

Games we played this week include: 
The Artful Escape (7:00)
Serious Sam 4 (14:01)
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue (18:15)
Nightmare Creatures (22:45)
A Year of Spring (26:00)
Hot Wheels Unleashed (29:00)
Dodgeball Academia (35:10)
Enter the Gungeon (36:10)


---
News things talked about in this episode:
Workers are leaving Ubisoft in droves. (37:30)
https://www.axios.com/ubisoft-assassins-creed-great-resignation-aef86e61-75a8-4446-8ad6-f2c58bd0b730.html

Ubisoft NFT program has not been a hit, but they’re committed. (41:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-20-ubisoft-appears-to-have-sold-a-grand-total-of-15-nfts
https://decrypt.co/88880/after-backlash-ubisoft-calls-gaming-nfts-a-major-change-that-will-take-time

Peter Molyneux, on the other hand, is raking it in. (46:00)
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/peter-molyneuxs-next-game-has-sold-40-million-in-nfts

Bungie having its own bad work conditions moment, HR head resigns position. (51:30)
https://www.ign.com/articles/bungie-report-battle-soul-work-culture-harassment-crunch
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-16-bungies-head-of-hr-steps-down

Chip shortage expected to persist into 2023 (57:30)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-21-intel-chief-reiterates-global-chip-shortage-will-continue-into-2023

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 365: The War on Christmas Special

Time to get soaked.

Games we played this week include: 
Super Mario 3D Land (7:10)
The Pedestrian (15:30)
The Short Games Collection #1 (19:40)
Connection Rehaunted (25:45)
Olija (29:50)
Mini Trains (33:00)
Tracks Toybox Edition (33:25)
Flight Simulator (33:40)
Aliens: Fireteam Elite (36:15)
Mario Party Superstars (38:30)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Women of Treyarch issue statement committing to better working conditions (41:15)
https://twitter.com/Treyarch/status/1473355739246710785

Riot Games settling 2018 discrimination suit for $100 million, agrees to reforms (43:30)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/12/27/riot-discrimination-100-million-settlement/

Square Enix CEO issues patronizing letter regarding their blockchain plans (47:15)
https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/news/2022/html/a_new_years_letter_from_the_president_2.html

Ken Levine’s new game reportedly in development hell after nearly 8 years (54:05)
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/the-next-video-game-from-bioshock-s-auteur-is-in-development-hell-1.1702538

Sony seemingly hasn’t given up on VR, announces new headset and controller (57:00)
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/01/04/playstation-vr2-and-playstation-vr2-sense-controller-the-next-generation-of-vr-gaming-on-ps5/

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 367: Wetter Is Better

Have a meaty one.

Games we played this week include: 
The Procession to Cavalry (18:00)
Buck Up and Drive (26:35)
Super Bomberman R (32:28)
Galaga Plus (38:35)
The Anacrusis (39:10)
Anvil (40:25)
Forza Horizon 5 (41:20)
Halo Infinite (45:30)
Deep Rock Galactic (49:05)
Blaster Master Zero 2 (51:45)
The Gunk (58:35)
Shadowman Remastered (1:00:55)
Into the Pit (1:01:50)
Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance (1:05:45)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Microsoft to buy out Activision Blizzard (1:07:00)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-is-reportedly-nearing-a-deal-to-buy-activision-blizzard/

Microsoft announces well-timed internal review of sexual harassment and gender discrimination (1:19:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-18-microsoft-to-review-its-sexual-harassment-and-gender-discrimination-policies

Bobby Kotick’s golden parachute is predictably obscene (1:22:05)
https://twitter.com/gamesbizuk/status/1483435864378290179

Kotick alleged to have attempted burying employment figures to make issues seem smaller (1:24:02)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-17-activision-blizzard-has-pushed-out-almost-40-employees-since-july-2021

James Stephanie Sterling turned into an NFT, proving them right about NFTs (1:34:35)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-17-gaming-youtubers-have-had-their-likenesses-stolen-and-sold-as-nfts

Continuing the trend of leaks from Nintendo, Pokémon Arceus is in the wild early (1:41:00)
https://www.polygon.com/22891556/pokemon-legends-arceus-full-pokedex-leak-new-hisuian-forms

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Photo Credit: Gordon Joley, used under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/

Podquisition 369: Proper Sausage

Just find a damned ledge already.

Games we played this week include: 
Pokémon Legends: Arceus (5:40)
Gods Remastered (17:50)
Labyrinth Legends (20:30)
Pupperazzi (26:30)
Dante’s Inferno (29:00)
Super Star Path (35:45)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Raven Studios QA are forming their union Game Workers Alliance, ignored by Activision Blizzard (39:45)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-26-raven-software-union-bid-pushes-on-despite-activision-blizzard-missing-deadline-to-respond

Kotick demonstrates typical disrespect to employees in all-hands meeting on Microsoft merger (43:55)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/01/20/bobby-kotick-activision-blizzard-chat-layoffs/

The next three Call of Duty games reportedly have to come to PlayStation (47:05)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-26-next-three-call-of-duty-games-reportedly-heading-to-playstation-despite-microsoft-acquisition

LEGO game developer TT Games reported to have harmful crunch culture (48:00)
https://www.polygon.com/features/22891555/lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-has-led-to-extensive-crunch-at-tt-games

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 370: A Classic Jinkies Scenario

A not-so-subtle blend.

Games we played this week include: 
Nintendo Switch Sports (10:55)
Infernax (17:10)
Dying Light 2 (19:55)
A Little to the Left (22:40)
RoboQuest (26:35)
Skul: The Hero Slayer (31:50)
Pokémon Legends Arceus (38:30)
Horizon: Forbidden West (39:10)
Pinball Heroes (40:20)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Activision Blizzard’s lawyers paint union members as “footloose and fancy free” (44:35)
https://twitter.com/_TechJess/status/1496136624358494208

Accusations made against Activision Blizzard for union-busting practices at Raven Software (47:45)
https://www.polygon.com/22939657/activision-blizzard-raven-software-union-nlrb-hearing

Bobby Kotick has been covertly funding Republicans through businesses (53:35)
https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/activision-blizzard-ceo-donated-to-republican-causes-3164956

Rainbow Six tournament in UAE, where homosexuality is illegal, is canceled (58:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-23-ubisoft-scraps-plans-for-rainbow-six-siege-tournament-in-abu-dhabi

Ubisoft hints in earnings call that it may be open to a buyout (1:00:00)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-02-17-despite-consolidation-ubisoft-says-it-can-still-go-it-alone

The Street Fighter 6 logo bears striking similarity to a stock image (1:07:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-23-street-fighter-6s-logo-looks-like-an-adobe-stock-image-and-its-creator-wants-a-cut

Platinum Games takes hard stance against NFTs (1:09:50)
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/platinumgames-2022/

Nintendo is closing the 3DS and Wii U eShops (1:10:40)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-16-3ds-and-wii-u-eshop-purchases-end-in-march-2023

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Podquisition 374: Vampire Wine

Games we played this week include: 
Guardians of the Galaxy (9:10)
Shredders (11:25)
Elden Ring (14:45)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (17:00)
Skul the Hero Slayer (33:40)
Tunic (36:10)
Ghostwire Tokyo (40:35)
Culdcept Revolt (46:50)

---
News things talked about in this episode:
Wattam developer Funomena likely to close following abuse allegations (1:02:15)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-29-wattam-developer-funomena-reportedly-closing-following-allegations-of-workplace-abuse

Another sexual harassment suit filed against Activision Blizzard (1:04:25)
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/activision-faces-new-suit-from-worker-alleging-rampant-sexism

Judge ready to approve $18m settlement of EEOC case against Activision Blizzard (1:08:00)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-29-judge-prepared-to-approve-activision-blizzards-usd18m-sexual-harassment-settlement-with-eeoc

Microsoft fine with Activision Blizzard workers forming union if Activision Blizzard is (1:09:50)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-25-microsoft-wont-block-unionisation-efforts-at-activision-blizzard

Sony about to make PlayStation Plus more complicated (1:11:35)
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/29/all-new-playstation-plus-launches-in-june-with-700-games-and-more-value-than-ever/

But Sony won’t put day-one releases on Plus (1:15:45)
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-03-28-playstations-jim-ryan-our-games-could-suffer-if-we-put-them-straight-into-ps-plus

Gran Turismo 7 to walk back its terrible pricing (1:18:00)
https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/25/gran-turismo-7-an-update-from-polyphony-digital/

Bloodborne Kart is apparently real (1:19:10)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-03-25-its-official-bloodborne-kart-is-coming

---
Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium 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 and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

Photo Credit: Stomp Photography

Podquisition 379: A Real Wrestler

Audio home of The Jimquisition, featuring its lovely little podcast, Podquisition - starring Jim Sterling, Laura Kate, and Conrad Zimmerman!

Podquisition 365: The War on Christmas Special

Jimquisition

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